Clarke followed behind Lexa as they walked through the forest. The sun's light dappled on the forest floor in front of them, the wind continued to sing quietly against the leaves and the branches overhead and even the moss seemed to whisper out at her.

Maybe it was because Clarke was with someone now, perhaps it was because she felt more at ease on the ground than she had just a day ago, but she truly began to take in every single thing she saw. The forest was beautiful, it was quiet, calm. There were plants, flowers, little things she glimpsed for which she had no name, but she cared not for they were simply a beautiful thing that existed without a worry or care for her naivety.

Her feet ached just a little. Whatever paste Lexa had applied did much to help soothe the pains but they still lingered in the back of her mind. And yet Clarke found herself able to push aside those pains. At least for the time being.

Every now and then Lexa would pause and seem to listen for something that Clarke couldn't hear. Perhaps it was the presence of the birds that would chirp and sing quietly around them, maybe it was the lack of roaring beast in the distance. Whatever it was that Lexa seemed satisfied but Clarke could tell Lexa was alert, that her eyes scanned the forests around them.

Clarke wanted to ask her questions, she wanted to ask her anything, really. But she could tell for the time being that silence was needed, perhaps required as they walked to whatever source of water Lexa had in mind.

And so Clarke found herself content to remain quiet, content to follow Lexa's footsteps. But maybe Clarke would wince every now and then as she stepped upon a twig underfoot, the snapping of it loud as it echoed around them. And the slight narrowing of Lexa's eyes and pursing of lips in response to her poor footing? Not lost on Clarke at all.

Clarke didn't realise when exactly she started to hear the sounds of water bubbling by but eventually she realised they were close when she started being able to smell something distinctly fresher in the air. She didn't know if she imagined it or not but Clarke even felt like the air seemed fresher, crisper in some way.

Clarke's eyes widened as both her and Lexa pushed through a small thicket of bushes and mighty trees before they broke through the forest. Before them was what seemed like a large river. So large in fact that Clarke struggled to see the other side through the subtle mist that hung over its surface. The body of water flowed in one direction, parts of the current could be seen as it swept by in something a little more strong than Clarke was comfortable even venturing near. Other parts of the river flowed more lazily, haphazard and uncaring.

The shoreline was dotted with driftwood, some sun-bleached, others still glistening from their travels. Pebbled shore and riverbed spread out before Clarke and she thought the scene before her charming, beautiful, magnificent and so many other words she had no way to describe or appreciate in that moment.

But Lexa's hand coming to rest upon her shoulder pulled Clarke to a stop before she could approach the water's edge.

"Hod op," Lexa said quietly and Clarke looked at her to see the other woman scanning the water's surface carefully.

It took Clarke just a second to curious uncertainty before she remembered whatever beast she had seen in the water the first time. Lexa continued to scan the water and as Clarke turned her own gaze upon the river's surface she realised she couldn't and wouldn't be able to even begin to guess at what she should be looking for.

Lexa reached down and picked up a fist sized smooth stone and cradled it in her hand as she slowly approached. Clarke didn't move as Lexa took just a few short steps forward until she was as close as she clearly wanted to get to the water's edge before she threw the stone outwards in an easy arc.

Clarke watched the stone soar through the air, she watched as it tumbled and twisted and spun. Sunlight caught its surface and it seemed so charming in flight before it splashed into the river with a low plop.

Clarke's gaze snapped back out to the water as she scanned the river's surface, she tried to see any sign that a monster was approaching but she saw nothing save for the bubbles and the flowing current. Lexa looked over her shoulder and gestured for her to approach and though Lexa seemed a little more at ease Clarke couldn't help but to feel just that little bit wary.

And yet approach she did.

Clarke came to a pause beside Lexa, she couldn't help but to grip onto her rifle more tightly and she really didn't like the fact that Lexa deemed it necessary to test the water before approaching.

"Klark," Lexa said.

She looked at her to find Lexa holding the empty bucket out to her.

Clarke found herself frowning at the bucket before looking up at Lexa to find her staring at her with something between expectant iron and understanding.

"What?" Clarke said before looking back at the bucket.

Lexa shook the bucket just once before pushing it forcefully into Clarke's arms, "teik," Lexa said.

Clarke frowned at her before looking down at the bucket now cradled awkwardly in her arms.

"Nou," Clarke said.

She knew exactly at Lexa wanted her to do and Clarke really didn't want to be the one to fill the bucket.

"Sha," Lexa said and stepped backwards.

"Lexa," Clarke looked at her. "Nou."

"Klark," Lexa simply levelled her chin at her, eyes turning a little more iron. "Yes."

Clarke simply snorted at the fact that one of the few words Lexa managed to say was to tell her to do something she'd rather not do. But Clarke didn't feel like arguing. She had had enough drama to last her a lifetime and Lexa seemed content to be just as stubborn as Clarke felt. But Clarke needed her help so if filling the bucket would satisfy her then Clarke could find a little more bravery in her just this once.

Clarke muttered a quiet curse under her breath before she gripped and readied the rifle in her left hand as she tucked the bucket under her right.

Walking to the river's edge didn't even take more than a few short seconds but Clarke felt like it lasted an eternity. She could feel Lexa's eyes on her but she dare not take her eyes off the water's edge. Eventually Clarke ducked down onto her knees as she slowly started submerging the bucket into the river.

Thankfully the current helped fill the bucket and before long Clarke had it almost completely full. Every now and then movement would make her jolt a little as she snapped her gaze up towards the river only to find the shimmering that she saw in the corners of her eyes to be nothing but the sunlight dancing upon the water's surface.

And then Clarke was done.

She stood, cradled the bucket against her and hurried away with barely a look back. Lexa stood just where Clarke had left her, eyes squinted slightly in the sunlight.

"Happy?" Clarke asked, she held the bucket back out to Lexa. She thought it only fair that Lexa be the one to carry it back.

"Sha," Lexa said with a slight lifting of her lips. "Nopro, Klark."

"Yeah," Clarke said. "Easy for you to say."

And despite her words, despite the fact that Clarke really didn't want to hang around the river's edge more than she had to, she found herself returning Lexa's small smile with her own.

The walk back to the bunker seemed to go by faster than Clarke expected. She didn't know why but she felt a little lighter than she had previously. Maybe it was because she was one step closer to getting to talk to her people, maybe it was because she felt like she had made progress in whatever journey she was on. Even Lexa seemed a little lighter but perhaps that was just Clarke's own imagination.

Clarke still walked behind her, too. Lexa seemed to know the way without much issue and Clarke was content to follow her footsteps. She even tried not to make as much noise as she had initially, with each step she took being a little more purposefully placed upon the forest floor.

Clarke didn't entirely realise it but she found herself staring at Lexa's back as she followed her. Clarke couldn't help but to wonder what Lexa was like without the armours that adorned her body. Clarke wondered if she had a family, brothers, sisters, partner or friends. She assumed Lexa had to have a village or people that she belonged to.

It wasn't lost on Clarke that she hadn't actually seen anyone else either but for some reason she didn't think it too unusual yet. Perhaps Lexa was a scout, perhaps she was sent to investigate Clarke's appearance while others were quietly waiting for her to report back.

But Clarke knew, or at least hoped, that she'd get answers sooner rather than later.

And so they arrived at the bunker, Lexa was quick to open it and duck down inside with the bucket before coming back up with a satisfied nod of her head before shutting the bunker door and hiding it amongst the foliage faster and more easily than Clarke had time to truly comprehend.

"Lexa," Clarke said as Lexa patted herself down and smoothed some of her ruffled leathers from jumping in and out of the bunker.

"Klark?" Lexa answered as she looked up from inspecting her armour adorned forearm.

"I need to talk to my people," Clarke said. "Ai kru. Chich ai kru."

Lexa nodded in understanding.

"The mountain," Clarke said, she gestured with her hands and made a triangular shape. "I need to get up higher," she mimed walking upwards with two of her fingers. "Up high. Chich ai kru."

Lexa seemed to think for a very long moment before she sighed.

"Maun," Lexa said, she mimicked the triangular shape with her hands."Hazod," Lexa drew her fingers across her neck slowly.

Clarke understood what Lexa meant but perhaps she couldn't quite understand the why.

"The mountain? Mount Weather?" Clarke asked. "It's dangerous?"

"Sha," Lexa said with a single nod before she made a triangular mountain shape with one hand. "Maun. Hazod," she said and swept her other hand down under the other.

"Beneath?" Clarke asked. "Under Mount Weather is dangerous?"

"Sobwe," Lexa said. "Hazod."

Clarke stared for a moment at Lexa's lips as she tried to figure out what she meant. Again she found herself making an assumption that she hoped as right.

"Underground," Clarke said. "There's danger under or inside Mount Weather?" she asked.

"Sha," Lexa nodded her head.

Clarke took a moment to consider what Lexa meant.

Perhaps it made sense. She truly hadn't seen any evidence that anyone had been inside Mount Weather for years. Clearly Lexa's people had avoided it and perhaps Clarke couldn't blame them.

Lexa and her people weren't dumb, they weren't stupid. They must know that people in Mount Weather had once existed and didn't anymore. Perhaps they thought something inside had killed them. Perhaps they had seen technology and hadn't quite known what to do with it and decided it was best to leave it be.

Whatever the reason Clarke wouldn't push it. Not yet. Not until her people had come back down to Earth.

"I don't need to get into Mount Weather," Clarke said. She held up her hand in the same shape of the mountain before gestured down beneath it like Lexa had to indicate underground. "Nou," Clarke said. "Nou. Not underground," she added. "Climb. I need to climb on top," she mimed walking with two fingers up the mountain again. "Sha? Do you understand?"

Lexa seemed to think for a moment longer before nodding her head.

Clarke let out a sigh of relief. Though she wasn't sure Lexa understood everything she had said she was pretty sure the message had gotten through.

Clarke was about to say something more when the sound of her stomach grumbling interrupted her. She winced at just how loud it was and she really wished she didn't notice Lexa's eyes snapping down to her stomach before quickly looking away.

"Sorry," Clarke said. "I just don't normally walk this much," she didn't expect Lexa to understand but for whatever reason Clarke found herself liking just talking to her.

"Ton DC," Lexa said. "Dina," she pointed in away from them. "Ai stegeda."

Clarke recognised most of those words again and knew Lexa was talking about her village.

"Dina?" Clarke repeated. "Dinner? Food?"

"Sha," Lexa said and pointed back to Ton DC.

Clarke's stomach grumbled again and she started chewing her lip. She only got a few seconds into it before wincing at the split she had once more opened up. She knew getting into contact with the Ark was her goal now. She knew everyone, even her mother would be worried sick after three days of no contact. But Clarke was hungry. She was tired. She looked up into what little of the sky she could see and though it was an assumption she thought the sun already slowly beginning to drift towards the horizon. Clarke knew it would begin to get dark long before she made it up the side of the Mountain and she didn't want to even try embarking on that journey in the dark.

Perhaps getting rest, getting help would be worth keeping her people waiting just another day. She'd tackle it rested, with a full belly and hopefully with company.

And perhaps she'd be able to figure out just what Lexa ment by Mount Weather being dangerous.

"Ok," Clarke said. "But first I need to get my things," Clarke pointed to her backpack and then to where she assumed Mount Weather and the rest of her supplies were.

Lexa seemed to understand that too for she nodded her head and started walking. And so Clarke fell into step behind Lexa, the smallest hints of fatigue pulling at the corners of her mind.

Truthfully Clarke didn't entirely consider how awkward it was going to be walking with all her stuff trying to keep up with Lexa. The trip to her small campsite at the mount of Mount Weather had been easy, but now that she was carrying her netted supplies she was starting to regret the decision.

Part of Clarke wondered if Lexa was also pointedly not offering to carry anything and yet from the frequent times Lexa would pause and seem to listen for things or stop and scan the forests around them Clarke could tell she was a little more on edge this little bit closer to Mount Weather.

Clarke wondered if a pack of animals had taken residence within Mount Weather that she hadn't noticed or if the remnants had turned into some kind of story passed down from generation to generation amongst Lexa's people.

Whatever the reason Clarke decided she wasn't going to push her luck.

She was happy that there was still the occasional birdsong. She was happy that the wind still whistled through the trees with a gentle rustling overhead. She was getting a little more used to those sounds and she thought them soothing, grounding, things that kept her a little more sure that she was in some way still on the right path, whatever that was.

Clarke didn't realise it at first either, but with each step she took her nerves started to get a little more agitated or excited. She found herself trying to picture what Lexa's village looked like. She found herself imaging something grand at times only to flip the image in her mind to something small, quaint, gentle and calm.

She was nervous. Clarke had no idea what to expect. She had no idea what she'd do or how she'd try to explain to whoever was in charge that she needed their help. But perhaps if they were as understanding as Lexa, if they were as open as she was then it wouldn't be too hard.

Or at least Clarke hoped that muc—

—Lexa's hand gripped her upper arm and pulled her into an old hollowed out tree trunk.

"Ow, fu—"

Lexa's hand clamped over Clarke's mouth and silenced whatever words were about to come out.

Clarke was pressed roughly into the tree. The netted supplies in her arms were shoved up against her cheek so much that she could hardly see past them. Moss covered wood pressed against her shoulder blades and the hollowed tree trunk's entrance was covered by deep vines and moss and plant that slowly swayed back and forth with there presence.

Lexa's hand slowly pulled away from Clarke's mouth before Lexa held up a finger to her lips.

Clarke's heart was beginning to race in her chest. She had been so lost in thought that she hadn't noticed or sensed whatever it was that Lexa had.

She felt her pulse strumming through her veins and Clarke's ears began to strain in the hopes of hearing whatever it was. But as hard as she tried to listen she couldn't push past the rushing in her ears.

Lexa slowly turned back to face the entrance and Clarke's eyes widened when she saw Lexa draw out her knife pull back her arm enough that she could slam it forward and strike if she needed.

Clarke swallowed hard. Her eyes were straining to see past the vines that blocked most of her vision and she still couldn't see, couldn't hear, couldn't sense—

But she did.

There was a subtle shift in the air, there was a subtle pressure somewhere in the back of her mind that spiked and Clarke's senses seemed to go into overdrive.

At first it was subtle, at first it was quiet, barely there but then she started to hear the odd shuffling, the odd snuffling of something, of many things somewhere in the forest.

Clarke's mouth was dry.

Her heart was screaming in her chest and she dared not breathe, dared not even think about anything other than staying silent.

Not even with the Pauna had Lexa been this quiet and Clarke knew enough to know she needed to stamp down her desire to run or flee.

Clarke swallowed the lump in her throat as she watched Lexa reach out ever so slowly with her free hand and steady the vines that still swayed just a little with the momentum of both of them forcing their way into the hollowed tree.

But Lexa froze mid motion as something just barely visible shuffled past.

Clarke could barely make it out. She could barely see more than a silhouette of something snarling forward. It moved, staggered, trembled past them both as if it fought within itself for control of which way, which direction it desired to go.

Clarke couldn't make out enough of it to know what kind of beast it was. She couldn't make out enough of its shape to see if it was bear, great ape, ghastly deformed wild cat or something else she couldn't think of in that moment.

But she saw enough to know she needed to remain silent.

Still.

Afraid.

The beast paused, Clarke could see it looking, staring, searching. It seemed to look one way then the next over and over and over—

Something sounded in the distance. Perhaps a stick being snapped, perhaps a branch giving way to an animal trying to remain as quiet and still as they had been.

But whatever the sound was it was enough.

The beast's head snapped over in the direction of the sound, it let out a terrible roaring gnash of teeth and spittle and then it started scrambling, running, giving chase to whatever creature's nerves had given it up.

More shadows darted out that Clarke could barely make out and then just as quickly as the darkness had descended upon them, there was silence.

But Clarke didn't dare speak or breathe or move a muscle.

Lexa hadn't moved either. She hadn't done anything but keep her knife poised to strike. She remained so still that Clarke was almost sure Lexa had become frozen in place but then she slowly eased, slowly relaxed.

Clarke let out the breath she was holding at the same time as Lexa sheathed her knife. She lifted off Clarke and looked over her shoulder at her with something close to worry in her gaze.

"Moba," Lexa whispered quietly as she stepped off Clarke.

She hadn't noticed it at first but as Lexa pressed off her she realised she had been forced back into as small a space as possible as if Lexa had hoped to keep her hidden from view even if they had been discovered.

"Mochof," Clarke said just as quietly. Her voice was a little shaky and her nerves were still frayed.

Clarke didn't know what it was. She didn't even get a good look at it. But it had been dangerous, it had been something that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up on end.

"What was that?" Clarke asked and though she knew Lexa wouldn't have the words to explain it yet Clarke felt like she needed to ask lest her mind lose all semblance of sanity.

"Ripa," Lexa said quietly.

Clarke swallowed the lump in her throat once more before nodding her head and she started to understand what Lexa meant by danger near Mount Weather.

And perhaps the experience, the beast, that ripa, whatever it was, was enough to tell Clarke that things weren't so simple on the ground after all.

The remainder of whatever journey they were on passed in heightened silence. This time even Clarke found herself more in tune with the sounds that echoed around them. She didn't kid herself. She knew she probably wouldn't hear anything abnormal until it was too late, but at least trying to take an active role in listening made her feel a little more in control.

But that control was well and truly frayed.

She kept replaying whatever it was in her mind, she kept trying to put into shape the silhouette she had seen and still she couldn't quite grasp, could't quite understand.

Perhaps she had been lucky not to run into any of these ripa before. She knew she was.

The pauna was bad enough.

Clarke glanced up at Lexa who still walked in front of her. The other woman still seemed more tense and on edge. She seemed to carry herself little more tension as if she were a coiled spring and Clarke didn't blame her one single bit.

She even felt herself more to blame, too. She was sure Lexa would rather not be out in the forest alone with someone who didn't understand the world she was in and yet she was stuck with her.

But perhaps that fact started to make more sense.

Perhaps Clarke's appearance was something Lexa had seen and had given her some kind of idea, some kind of hope or dream that Clarke and whatever she brought with her could help in some way.

And maybe that revelation would make Clarke feel a bit hurt, a bit used, but it didn't. How could it when she had thought of Lexa in just the same way?

They'd need each other. That much Clarke could se—

Lexa came to a stop and Clarke almost walked into her back before she managed to side step her. The suddenness also made Clarke's hair stand up on end as she started scanning out around them for danger but Lexa seemed more relaxed, more at ease.

Clarke let out a sigh as she turned back the way they had been walking. She tried to see whatever it was that had made Lexa stop but all she saw was a large copse of trees that stood mightily in front of—

And then Clarke saw it.

It took her a second of staring but as she looked, as she stared, she realised that the trees had things amongst them.

It almost looked like scaffolding, buildings, constructed things that blended in so well that it was easy to miss.

And then doors opened.

Clarke's eyes widened as large doors slowly started to slide apart amongst the trees. Vines and moss that grew upon the mighty doors had all but hidden them from view but now that they opened Clarke could see.

There were other structures that stood up and out from the trees in front of her. Perhaps something close to a lookout tower was high up in one with what she could almost imagine as well hidden stairs or ladders woven in amongst the mighty vines.

There was a brief flash of movement and Clarke's eyes snapped to what she thought was a person perched high up in another tree staring down at them.

Clarke instinctively stepped closer to Lexa who remained quiet and still where she stood.

But Clarke's gaze was drawn to the gates that now lay open to her.

Before her and through the gates she could see life. Buildings, homes, structures spread out behind the open gates that told Clarke that people thrived, but what really stole her breath away, what really made her mind run wild wth so many different thoughts were the people.

People stood before her. Men, women, younger, older, even some children seemed to peer out from behind legs and torsos.

Each person wore leathers, furs, fabrics that all seemed to blend into the forest colours. But most of all, what Clarke noticed the most were the armours, the weapons. The adults, almost every single one to a T held a weapon. Some a sword sheathed on her hip. Others held a spear, an axe, a weapon she couldn't find a name for.

Tattooed faces stared at her, some with scorn, some with wariness, others with interest or caution.

There was so much to see, too many things to take in that Clarke couldn't believe, nor could she take in what she wanted to take in fast enough.

Lexa started walking forward, one hand lifted in simple greeting. Clarke was quick to fall into step beside her. She didn't know what she expected, she didn't know what to think or how to act.

Her mind was racing, her heart was screaming and she needed to make a good first impression, she needed to make sure these people saw use in her and her people.

Clarke swallowed the lump in her throat, she tried not to grimace at the nerves that she felt spinning within her belly and she forced herself to breathe as normally as she could—

Lexa's voice cut into her thoughts.

Clarke look at Lexa as she started talking in a flurry. A man stepped forward. He was a beast of a man, taller than anyone Clarke had seen before. Broad shouldered, weathered face with a mighty beard and keen eyes stared down at Lexa before he pinned Clarke with an iron stare.

Clarke could tell this man was important from the way others around him gave him space. She looked at Lexa to see her gesturing back and forth quickly.

The man said something. His voice was deep, gravelly. It seemed to bore into Clarke's own mind and she tried not to let her worries show on her face as he looked at her again with something very close to distaste.

Clarke looked back at Lexa to find her looking at her too with an expression Clarke couldn't quite place. It almost looked like Lexa was going to say something to her before a large hand snatched out and gripped Lexa by the upper arm. The man barked something in her face, the tone in which he spoke pulling a snarl from Clarke's own lips. she had enough time to see Lexa's face contort in pain before the man started pulling Lexa away harshly.

"Hey," Clarke didn't mean to start moving towards Lexa. "Get off her," Clarke's voice turned to iron as she shouted out at the man and started moving towards him only for her to feel someone's own hands grip her by the shoulders and spin her around. "Get off me," Clarke snarled.

She felt anger, indignation, annoyances, fears, frustrations, so many emotions bubbling to the surface suddenly. And Clarke didn't know why, she didn't know how she found the strength to push back, to argue. But she did.

Lexa had saved her life twice, she had kept her alive and she had helped her more than she needed so Clarke wasn't going to let Lexa get punished if she had anything to do with—