Disclaimer: I own nothing.
AN: Hey guys. Sorry for the wait. Most of the chapter has been written for weeks, but there was something off about it. I wasn't happy with it. I hope you like it now though. You've waited long enough for it. Sorry for any mistakes I missed. Let me know what you think.
Thank you for all the reviews, favs, and follows. It makes my muse purr.
Chapter Three: Comfort
Clarke was resting in Lexa's bed when her mother returned from Camp Jaha. She was feeling much better than she had earlier, but her stomach was still filled with dread. Clarke knew her mother wasn't going to understand why she did it, and it was those shamed filled eyes that cause the dread. She laid there with her eyes closed as her mother entered Lexa's private quarters.
Abby sat on the bed next to Clarke and felt her forehead. "I've been warned not to say anything that will upset you."
Clarke sighed, warmth spread through her chest. Lexa was trying to protect her.
"I'm assuming that Lexa was speaking about what you did in the mountain," Abby said, as she opened her knapsack. She pulled out the thermometer, and put it up to Clarke's lips. "Open," She demanded softly.
Clarke opened her mouth knowing that her mother was aware she wasn't sleeping. Her lips wrapped around the glass. She slowly opened her eyes. Her mother was staring at her with soft features.
"I understand why you did it. What I'm not understanding is why you had to kill them all. There had to be another way."
"There wasn't," Clarke mumbled around the thermometer.
"No talking," Abby scolded, and Clarke realized that the thermometer was just an excuse for her not to talk. "I did this to you. I turned you into this person, and I'm sorry. I'm sorry for my role in your father's death, I'm sorry for letting them lock you away, and I'm sorry I sent you down here without any preparation. I thrust you into a fight or die life and I am sorry."
"I don't need your apology," Clarke mumbled angrily. She pulled the thermometer out of her mouth and sat up. "I did what had to be done. My actions had nothing to do with you. It had nothing to do with what you did to dad and to me. You had no honor when you turn dad in. You signed our death warrants when you did that. You only sent me to the ground because you had no choice. I had a month to go until I would be reviewed and you know damn well that they would have floated me to keep me from telling their secret."
"I did what I thought was best," Abby said defeated.
"And I did what needed to be done," Clarke countered. "You act as though I don't understand the impact of what I did. I do Mother. I am not the child you think that I am. I do not need your disappointment. I carry their deaths with me every second. What I need now is my mother."
Abby sighed and took the thermometer out of Clarke's hand. She flicked it a few times to lower the meter and then put it back to Clarke's lips. Clarke allowed her mother to slip the device under her tongue.
"So much has changed," Abby sighed. "Being on the ground is all that our people have wished for, and here we are. We are on the ground, and it has been nothing like we dreamed. It has changed you and changed the rest of the Hundred."
Abby took the thermometer out of Clarke's mouth and read. "Fever's gone done. It seems as though Lexa took good care of you while I was away."
"She's not the person you think she is," Clarke said. "None of us are. The ground has changed us, but not for the bad. Just different."
"Different is right," Abby stated sadly. "I wish I could go back and change things."
"I don't," Clarke said. "If you changed the past, then our present could be worse. I may have never gotten Lexa to agree to an alliance. We could be at war with the grounders, and have our people stuck in Mount Weather."
"But you wouldn't have to bear the burden of killing those people," Abby said.
"I bare it, so other don't have too," Clarke said strongly.
Tears welled in Abby's eyes, but she hid it. "Are you hungry? Lexa said that you ate a few hours ago."
Clarke looked shock at the sudden change of topic, but she obliged her mother's need to change the subject. "Yeah. I am a bit."
"Good. That means you are getting better. I'll go get you something to eat," Abby said, and quickly walked out of the private area.
Lexa was sitting on her throne when Abby came out of her bed area. Abby looked surprised to see her but quickly got over it. "Clarke's hungry."
Lexa stood, and went to the tent's entrance. "I will take you to the food prep building."
Abby and Lexa walked in silence through the ruins of Ton DC. Lexa stopped near the hole where the missile landed. "She is stronger than you think"
"And she is not nearly as strong as you think," Abby countered.
"No. I just choose to see a different strength than you," Lexa said. "I once believed Clarke to be weak. She let her heart rule her actions, and it is only recent that I realize her heart is her greatest strength. She cared for the people who died here, she cared for Finn, and she cared for the people in the mountain. And yet she allowed their deaths, to save people who now condemn her for her actions."
"I don't condemn my daughter for what she did," Abby stated strongly. "I fear for her sanity. I fear for her safety."
"The more you play the disappointed mother, the more Clarke will doubt what she did. You and your people must fall in line. Accept that she saved you, and the way she chose to do it, or I will banish you from Ton DC until she is ready to face you."
"You wouldn't dare," Abby said angrily. "Clarke would never allow it."
"She didn't want me to take her to Camp Jaha, nor did she want to see you today. I honored her wishes at first, and I will honor them again if Clarke chooses not to see you after tonight."
Lexa turned away from Abby. She pointed to a hut up on the hill. "That building is where our food is prepped. Choose if you want to stay in your daughter's life, or be banished from it until Clarke's choosing. I have a matter to attend to. I will return before the moon is high in the sky."
Lexa walked through the woods into a well light clearing. There were several tree stumps around the edge of the clearing used for sitting, and lanterns hung from low tree branches. Indra, Octavia, and Lincoln waited on the other side of the clearing for her. They were sitting on two tree stumps quietly discussing something.
When they heard the Commander approach, they stood and bowed.
"Rise," Lexa commanded. "Have you decided?"
Lincoln and Octavia looked into each other's eyes before turning back to Clarke. Lincoln bowed his head slightly. "Sha, Head. We have."
"Octavia kom Skaikru, what is your decision?" Lexa asked.
Octavia looked to Lincoln, and then stood tall, and unwavering. "I choose to become Trikru, and will accept any punishment you choose for my betrayal on the mountain."
"Very well," Lexa said, and then turned toward Lincoln. "Lincoln kom Trikru, what have you decided?"
"I choose to remain with Trikru, and will accept any punishment for my betrayal on the mountain," Lincoln said confidently.
"Very well," Lexa said again. "As you know, disobeying a direct or in an act of treason. I understand you wanted to help your friends, but you must trust that I know what is best for our people. All of our people, including Skaikru. Indra will decide your fates tomorrow."
Lexa turned to look at Indra and nodded. She then looked the couple over. "Octavia, your initiation into Trikru will begin now with the cleansing. Has Lincoln explain the rituals to you?"
Octavia nodded slightly.
"Good. Follow me," Lexa said, and turned around. She led them to the center of the camp near to where bath hut is. The ruins from the missile were father behind the bath hut. A pole had already been placed in the center of the clearing.
Octavia stepped into the clearing, and began to disrobe. She stripped down to her underwear and bra, and stepped up to the pole. She turned around and faced the growing crowd. She held her arms up and allowed Indra to tie her to the pole.
Lexa stepped up to the pole and turned to the people already gathered. She shouted in Trigedasleng, explaining to them why Octavia was being tied up.
Abby walked into Lexa's tent with two bowls of steaming boar stew. Clarke was leaning against the head rest with her eyes closed. Abby could tell by Clarke's chest movement that she wasn't asleep.
"What is on your mind?" Abby question softly.
"The same thing that goes through my mind every time I close my eyes. The people I killed to protect our own."
Abby looked closely at her daughter's sad eyes. Sadness that she helped put there. She realized that Lexa was right. It wasn't her job to punish Clarke for her actions, because Clarke was already doing that. She couldn't let that darkness consume her baby. Not when their lives were just starting. "Eat honey. You look too thin," she said as she handed her daughter a bowl.
Clarke stared down at the bowl in amusement. This was the third time she was being handed a bowl of stew since she had woken just a few hours before. First by Nyko, then by Lexa, and finally by her mother. She shook her head and accepted the bowl. Her stomach kept flip flopping between being hungry, and refusing to keep anything down.
They sat and ate in silence, neither were sure what to say to the other. Shouts from outside the tent caught their attention, and Abby stood to go investigate. She was shocked to see Indra tying Octavia to a pole. Her heart seized in her chest and stepped toward to circle. She reached the circle just as Lexa had finished her speech in Trigedasleng.
Abby went and stood next to Indra, and asked, "What's going on here?"
Indra looked to the angry woman in annoyance. "A cleansing ritual," she stated.
"I won't let you kill her," Abby said and stepped towards Octavia.
Indra grabbed Abby's arm and roughly escorted her away from the circle. "Octavia won't be physically harmed," she said, once they were far enough away from the crowd.
"She's being tied to a pole," Abby screeched. "You have one of my people strung up like some kind of animal."
"Octavia is not Skaikru no more. She has chosen to become Trikru," Indra said proudly.
Abby looked dumbfounded for a moment. "Huh?" she asked, not caring if the other woman understood the ancient term.
"The Commander gave Octavia and Lincoln the option to return to Camp Jaha and the Skaikru, free of punishments, or remain with Trikru. They both chose to remain and accept whatever punishments Heda chooses."
"Oh," Abby said, and then looked back at the couple, who were mostly hidden by the gathering crowd. "What are doing to her?
"This is the first stage of her initiation. The cleansing. She will be tied to the post until first light. She will be drained of her blood and given the blood of a Trikru."
A look of horror crossed Abby's face. She went to walk back to the clearing, but was stopped by Indra strong grip."
"I was joking Chancellor," she said with a smile. "Octavia will be fine. Tonight her body will be painted with symbols of the Skaikru, and in the morning she will be cut down and taken to the river where her body will be dipped and spiritually cleansed of her former clan."
"And then she will be Trikru?" Abby asked hesitantly, almost afraid of the answer.
"No. After the cleansing, there is the marking ceremony. Octavia will choose an inking to represent her new clan, the Trikru. Then at the celebration she will officially be introduced to the clan as Octavia kom Trigedakru.
Abby looked up at Octavia in wonder. She had had much interaction with the girl before she had been sent to the ground. The first time she had met Octavia had been after her arrest. The girl had been brought to Abby in sick bay for a routine checkup. Octavia had been quiet, shy, withdrawn, but curious by her surroundings and what Abby was doing. Abby had been one of the few council members to vote to integrate Octavia with a family on the Arc instead if sentencing her to the sky box. Most of the council were worried about how Octavia would react around the populous after being locked away for sixteen years. Just one of the many travesties the council committed in the name of the law and populous control. The girl being tied to the pole was not the same girl who had been brought into her office. She was changing along with everybody else, but there was a calm in Octavia that wasn't present in the rest of her people.
As if sensing Abby's train of thought, Indra said, "Octavia found a home, and a family among us. She stayed and accepted this because this is where she feels comfortable. She may have been born in the sky, but her spirit was born Trikru. She is a true warrior."
"You talk about Octavia like a mother would," Abby noted.
"I have grown fond of Octavia. I see much of myself in her," Indra said proudly.
Abby smiled softly, and then bid Indra goodnight. She walked past the circle where Octavia was tied up, and almost laughed at the accosted look on Octavia's face, as a child no older the three was finger painting on her thigh. Now that she was sure Octavia was safe, she could appreciate the need for Octavia to join Trikru. Everybody just want a place to call home, and people who love and accepted her.
Abby slipped back into the tent with ease of mind. For the first time since landing she has seen the grounders in a different light. Indra's soft tone, reminded Abby that their people weren't much different. They were all just trying to survive in a tough world.
She walked into the bed area to find Clarke sitting up. She was pleased to see a little color back in her daughter's cheeks. She placed her hand on Clarke's forehead to see if her fever had returned.
"I'm fine mom," Clarke said annoyed. "I feel much better than I did a few hours ago."
"I'm glad to hear that, but the worst is not over yet. The drugs are suppressing your symptoms not curing them."
"Great. I survived nearly eighteen years in space, some crazy grounder illness, a grounder army of three hundred, getting kidnapped, held captive many homicidal maniacs, and winning an impossible war, only to be done in by a measly cold."
"Flu darling," Abby said with a chuckle. "You have the flu, not a measly cold, and it's going to take a few more days for you to be back to your old self."
"I'll never be back to my old self," Clarke mumbled.
Abby choose to not let the words slip by un-noticed. She knelt in front of Clarke, and put her hands over Clarke's. "No you won't. You will never be the Clarke who I sent to Earth on a dropship, and I'm starting to realize that Clarke was never who you really were. The real you was just waiting for a chance to shine through."
"What if I don't want to be this Clarke?"
"Then become the person you want to be," Abby said. "I may not agree with some of the things you've done, but respect them. You did what had to be done, and only you can say if it was the right thing or not."
"What have you done with my Mother?"
"She got a little sense knocked into her," Abby chuckled.
"What was all the commotion outside?" Clarke asked as Abby helped her lay back down.
"Oh," Abby said dumbly. She was unsure of how Clarke would react to hearing about Octavia's initiation into Trikru. "Indra was just tying Octavia to a pole for the night," she said nonchalantly.
Clarke's eyes widened, and she started to get out of bed again. Abby pushed Clarke (who was still weakened from the flu) back into the bed. "She isn't being hurt. She is just being tied to a pole and being painted on. It's part of her initiation into the Trikru clan."
"Oh," Clarke said and then relaxed back into the bed. "You should have started with that. I was about to go yell at Lexa for allowing her friend to be hurt after their last disagreement over Octavia.
Abby smiled at her daughter softly, nodding her head in agreeance. "Are you okay with Octavia joining Trikru?"
Clarke smiled tiredly at her mother, and then laid back against the head board. "More than okay. Octavia is at home with the Trikru. She found her people."
"She does seem to be at home with the grounders. I wish all of us could acclimate as smoothly," Abby mused.
"We will in time. Peace with the grounders will make adjusting easier. Lexa proved that she has our back. I just wish she hadn't diverged from the plan." A sad looked crossed Clarke's face as images of the dead in Mount Weather filled her mind. The dull ache that had taken up residence in her chest intensified.
"She did what she thought was best in that moment," Abby said quietly. Thoughts of her husband Jake were brought to mind. "Just like you did."
"Can we not talk about this?" Clarke asked solemnly. She didn't want to keep having this conversation with her mother.
Abby looked at Clarke in concern. She knew her daughter was hurting, but at this point she didn't know how to help Clarke if she refused to talk about it. To be honest, she wasn't even sure if she could help her daughter. How do you help somebody responsible for the deaths of over three hundred and fifty people? She was torn up over her role in her husband's death, and the culling of section seventeen.
"Sure sweetie. If that's what you want," Abby said kindly, and then laid her hand over Clarke's. "I'm here if you need me. For anything."
They sat and ate in silence, neither were sure what to say to the other. Shouts from outside the tent caught their attention, and Abby stood to go investigate.
Clarke gave Abby a strained smile. "Thanks." The smile disappeared. "Can I be alone for a while? I'm tired."
"Sure honey. If that's what you want. I'll come by in the morning and check on you."
Clarke watched her mother leave, and sighed slightly. She shivered slightly, and sank further into the warm furs. Clarke's mind was overloaded with everything that had happened since those guards came into her room in the sky box to take her to the dropship. Images of every moment that had happened since the hundred landed flashed through her mind. Her first sight of the amazing world she dreamed of. Octavia jumping into the river, and the giant snake that nearly killed her. Jasper getting speared when they crossed into Mount Weather territory. Saving Finn after Lincoln stabbed him, and watching Lincoln be tortured in order to do so. Meeting Anya, escaping with her, and watching her die. The three hundred grounders she burned in a ring of fire. The first time she met Lexa. Killing Finn. Kissing Lexa. The look of Lexa's face when she was telling her she took Emerson's deal. Pulling the lever that killed the Mountain people.
It all raced through her mind like a horror film. She wanted it to stop but no matter how hard she tried, it kept playing.
Her troubled mind turned her dreams to nightmares, and it was her nightmares that woke Lexa several hours later. A scream rang out through the tent, followed by whimpers. Lexa looked around her tent from her spot on her throne confused at first. The whimpers continued, alerting her to what had woken her. She relaxed slightly, no longer afraid somebody was attacking, and made her way into her private quarters.
Clarke was laying on her right side, facing the opening. In the dim room, Lexa could see Clarke's contorted features. The nightmare was causing such a real reaction. It was like Clarke believed that it was real.
That's because it was real. Lexa realized that Clarke must be dreaming about the mountain again. She knelt down, and gently shook the girl. Clarke's eyes flew open almost immediately, and she flung herself back to the edge of the bed in terror, tearing the IV out as she moved. Her breathing was raged, her eyes were wide with fear, and tears were already forming there.
"It's okay Clarke. It was only a dream," Lexa said softly.
Clarke blinked back the tears, and tried to compose herself. She was tired of looking weak in front of the commander. She was tired of feeling weak because of her emotions. She was weak though. She was tired, sick, weak, and she was going to stay that way for at least a few more days.
She decided that she didn't care what Lexa thought of her. If Lexa thought she was weak, then that was her opinion. She would just have to prove Lexa wrong. She laid back down on her side, and hesitantly reached her hand across the bed. The nightmare was still fresh in her mind, and she needed a little comfort. Even if it was just touching hands.
Lexa looked at the reaching hand briefly before grasping it in hers. With that soft touch Clarke's mind was at ease. It only lasted a moment before new images raced through her mind, through her heart. In that moment though, Clarke could enjoy the fluttering feeling in her heart. In that moment, she could let go of what she did, and see Lexa how she was before the mountain.
The simple touches allowed her to feel the hope she had as they marched up the mountain. Her heart ached to have that feeling back. To know that everything will be alright, and that she could have a future free of war. Free of the pain she felt every day.
Lexa ran her thumb over the slightly bleeding wound on Clarke's hand. "I must send for you mother."
"No. Let her sleep. I'll be fine until the morning," Clarke mumbled sleepily.
Lexa watched as Clarke's body relaxed into the warm furs, and slowly fell back to sleep. Once she thought Clarke was asleep, she released Clarke's hand, and went to walk out of the private quarters. Clarke's voice stopped her from retreating any further into the other room.
"Please stay," Clarke begged softly.
Lexa turned to look at Clarke, who looked back at her with pleading eyes.
"Please?"
Lexa nodded slightly and moved to sit on the bed. She removed her boots, and laid down next to Clarke, who moved closer to snuggle into her side. Lexa stiffened for a moment, but relaxed and wrapped her arms around Clarke. She would worry about the repercussions of this in the morning. For now she just wanted to enjoy the feeling of Clarke wrapped in her arms.
Lexa woke again as the sun streamed through holes in her tent. She and Clarke were still in the same position they had been before Lexa fell asleep. Clarke was snuggled up to her left side, with her head laying in her shoulder. The blonde's arm was resting across the commander's abdomen, with her hand laying in between Lexa's breasts. It was a comforting feeling, and for a moment Lexa wished she didn't have to rise. She wished that she could just lay there with Clarke until the end of her days.
Lexa sighed softly. She knew that it wasn't possible. Clarke wasn't ready for anything to happen between them, and she had duties to attend to. She moved her free arm up to Clarke's head, intending to hold it up while she slipped out from underneath her, when she felt the heat rising off the girl. Her fever had returned. Lexa cursed in Trigedasleng, and gently shook Clarke awake.
"I must get your mother Clarke. Your fever has returned," Lexa said, and tried to slide off the bed.
Clarke grasp Lexa harder. "No. I'm fine Lexa. Please stay."
"Clarke, you burn hot from the fever again. I must get your mother," Lexa insisted, and tried once again to slide off the bed.
"Please don't leave me," Clarke begged, and snuggled further into Lexa's grasp.
Lexa sighed softly. The fever was turning Clarke into a needy mess, and if she had any hope of actually getting Abby, she had to relent. She yelled to her guard in Trigedasleng to come to her. Once the guard was standing by the opening to the private quarters, she softly told him to get Abby.
After the guard left she tried once more to escape Clarke's grasp with no avail. Submitting to the girl's desire, Lexa relaxed into the warm furs, and waited for Abby to show. She didn't have to wait long before Abby came running through the tent. Panic was evident on her face. If she was shocked to see her daughter cuddling with Lexa she didn't show it. Her attention was solidly on her daughter.
"What happened?" Abby asked, as she reached across the bed to touch her daughter.
"She burns hot again," Lexa said softly. "Much hotter than before."
Abby opened her bad and pulled several things out. "I need you to move Lexa," She said firmly.
"I cannot. She won't allow me too," Lexa said. "Her grip is strong for someone weaken with illness, and I do not want to harm her."
"We might have no choice," Abby said, and then handed Lexa the thermometer to hold. She placed her knee on the bed and leaned over Lexa. "Clarke, sweetie wake up."
Clarke grumbled, but opened her eyes.
"Open your mouth," Abby demanded in a motherly tone, and plucked the thermometer out of Lexa's hand. Clarke did as she was instructed, and Abby popped the thermometer into place.
Clarke loosen her grip on Lexa, but the commander was still stuck thanks to Abby leaning over her.
Abby suddenly looked down at Lexa with an angry look. "Where is her IV?"
"She tore it out after she woke from a nightmare," She said evenly.
"And you didn't send for me why?" Abby countered.
"She asked me not to," Lexa said and looked down at Clarke, who was watching the pair with interest.
Clarke mumbled soft inaudible around the thermometer. Irritated, she pulled the thing out and handed it to her mother. "Don't blame Lexa, mom. I just wanted to give you a chance to sleep, and one night of it not bugging me. "
"Well that night is going to cost you," Abby said as she looked at the thermometer. "It's forty point five. Let Lexa go. We need to get you into cool water to lower it."
"I'm fine," Clarke said and gripped Lexa tighter.
Lexa looked at Clarke and then back up at Abby. "Move Abby," she growled.
Abby looked down at Lexa in shock, and then moved off the bed. Her feet had barely touched the ground when Lexa force Clarke's arms off of her, and she was off the bed. She pulled Clarke across the bed by her arm and legs, and forced her to sit up.
Lexa looked into Clarke's shocked eyes. "Your feverish mind is addled."
"Let me go, Lexa," Clarke demanded, and attempted to flee from the Commander's grip.
"No. Not until you agree to go to the river to lower your fever," Lexa said.
Clarke nodded her head lightly, and allowed Lexa to put her boots on. She was gently pulled to her feet, and held up by Lexa. She leaned into the other girl as her head spun. "Okay, maybe you are right."
"Sha," Lexa said, and helped Clarke walk out of the tent. She stopped briefly to instruct one of her guards to get drying cloths and a blanket, and then lead Clarke the short distance to the river. She and Abby stripped Clarke leaving her in just her underwear and t-shirt.
Lexa helped Clarke sit on tree stump, and instructed Abby to stand behind her to keep her from falling backwards. Once she was sure Clarke was safe from falling, Lexa began removing her own clothing. In record time, Lexa was standing in front of the Griffin woman in her underwear and t-shirt.
"I'll take her in. My guard should be coming any moment with the cloths," Lexa said, to a shocked Abby. Lexa helped an equally shocked Clarke stand, and the walked her to the riverbank. The water was freezing cold and Lexa began shivering. She knew the water must feel ten times colder to Clarke against her burning skin. Lexa lead them out just far enough for Clarke's body to be submerged.
Lexa wrapped her arms around Clarke's waist from behind her, and held her close. The water was rapidly flowing around them, and Clarke wasn't able to keep herself upright with the current pulling at her weak body. She laid her head backwards on Lexa's shoulder, and let her body float in the water.
"Thank you," Clarke said. She was shivering violently.
"You do not have to thank me," Lexa said. She was shivering too, but nearly not as much as Clarke was.
"Yes I do. This water is freezing and you're here with me when you don't need to be."
"You are sick, and your mother does not know how to swim," Lexa said logically. "I will be here for whatever you need."
Silence lapsed between them as the implications behind Lexa's word sunk in. It wasn't long until Abby was telling them to come back. Lexa helped Clarke back onto dry land. Abby was waiting with one of the drying cloths for Clarke. She helped Clarke dry off, as Lexa did the same to her own body. Abby pulled the soaked shirt off of Clarke, and then wrapped the blanket snuggly around her daughter.
An hour later Clarke was back in Lexa's bed fast asleep. The IV was back in place, only this time Abby place the needle in her arm and loosely wrapped the tube around Clarke's arm, making it harder for her to accident pull it out. Her time in the river had lowered her fever enough for Abby's worry to ease a little.
Lexa on the other hand was still worried, but for an entirely different reason. It scared her that Clarke was neglecting herself. She shouldn't have listened to Clarke last night and sent for Abby. She had a bad feeling something was going to happen, but she wanted to honor Clarke's wishes. Clarke knew what could happen if she didn't have the bag attached to her. She was sitting in her throne when Abby came out of her private area.
Abby dropped her bag next to Lexa, and stood in front of the young woman. "She's sleeping again. Next time Clarke tells you not to get me, ignore her and get me."
Lexa nodded.
"Thank you," Abby said. "Let me see your leg."
Lexa went to tell Abby that her leg was fine, but Abby was giving her a look that left no room to argue. She stood up and dropped her pants, and then sat again. She inspected the healing incision. "It's a little red and swollen. It may be infected, or it could be from being in the river." She reached into her bag and pulled out a bottle of Monty's moonshine and a clean cloth. She poured a small amount over the healing wound and then patted it dry.
"I'll check it again in a few hours. If it's the same or gets worse then I'll you some antibiotics." She put the moonshine away, and then picked up her bag.
Lexa stood up and pulled her pants back up. "Nyko has requested a healer from Polis come to Ton DC for a while. He wishes to travel to Camp Jaha to shadow you for a few weeks. I shall grant his request if you are willing."
"Nyko is welcome at Camp Jaha at any time," Abby said.
Lexa nodded her head. "I shall make the arrangements. I have duties to attend to today. When must you return to Camp Jaha?"
"Tomorrow," Abby said. "I want to spend today with Clarke. Make sure she doesn't relapse again."
Lexa nodded her head. She glanced at the slightly open curtain of her sleeping quarters. Once she was satisfied that Clarke was still sleeping peacefully in her bed, she left the tent. Octavia and Indra were waiting for her to finish the girl's initiation.