Chapter 3

Clarke sat by her side and held Anya's hand for a long time. When she knew that Anya was finally in REM sleep, she placed Anya's hand under the covers and made sure that she was tucked in, snuggly. With Anya asleep, she knew that she needed to take stock of what was in the bunker. With the storm blowing outside, they would be there for a few days. She hoped that the rain didn't bring the acid fog down on them and taint the ground in such a way that they got burnt when they were climbing out.

It was this with this thought that she looked around to see what she could use to counteract the acid. She found some cleaners with ammonia and a really old box of sodium bicarbonate. She was lucky she even found that. The box was so faded that she could barely read the label of baking soda on it. She didn't really know what it was for, but she knew it would help. She only had the one box, so she would have to use it sparingly if it was needed.

She moved back to the little desk. The oil lamp was still bright. There were hours left of oil in it. She didn't need to look around. She knew what was in there.

She went to the back to the area where she could relieve herself and did. Thankfully, there was a fan of sorts that pulled the smell up and out of the main chambers of the bunker. After taking care of business, Clarke went to where the items for the children that were supposed to have survived there during the bombs. She pulled out some crayons and colored pencils. She found some paper and then went back to the desk.

She was amazed at the color that they produced and happy to have them. Never having anything like this on the Ark, she knew that it was common place for the children before the bombs. She was amazed that their parents or the adults in charge managed to save them so many sets for them to use. She didn't know if they were high quality or not, but she knew that they would get the job done for her now.

She was steadily sketching and coloring while Anya slept. It didn't just help her relax. It helped her think and plan. She could gather her thoughts. She felt like there wasn't any pressure. She could just think about it while her hands were busy drawing. Yeah, it passed the time, but it always her remember what she was fighting for. It never failed that she always drew her father. He was the one that always pushed her and made her focus on the bigger picture, especially when she was fighting with her mom. Other people showed, too. She couldn't help drawing Madi. She'd spent so much time with her on the ground and then...She didn't want to think about that. She also didn't know how she was going to explain Madi to Anya. She doubted that she'd understand. There were pictures of Octavia, Raven, and her mother. Some of Bellamy, Miller, Jasper and Monty.

She hadn't really heard Anya stirring. She knew that she should have, but she was just too lost in her sketching. It was her whimpering moan that finally got Clarke's attention. She turned around to face the other woman. She could see the pain etched on her face. Clarke was up and out of the chair immediately. She got to Anya's side, hoping that she could soothe her back to sleep if she did wake.

Anya was sweating just a little. Clarke wondered if she had a fever, so she reached out to feel her forehead. It was a little clammy, but she didn't have a fever. She was just warm under all the blankets. Clarke went to move a blanket when Anya caught her arm.

"Going to kill me in my sleep, Skaigada?" she quipped. "So much about your union."

"No, I wasn't going to kill you. I don't want to kill you. I'm not a warrior, Anya. I'm a healer. I want to help people not hurt them," Clarke told her. "You're hot. I thought you might have a fever, but you don't. I was just going to remove a blanket so you would be more comfortable."

Anya watched her. Clarke did as she said. She reached down and pulled one of the blankets off the bed. She folded it and placed it on the other bed, so it was still close if needed. Looking back over at Anya, she realized that the warrior needed more water.

"You need to drink," Clarke said as she handed her a canteen of water.

Anya took it, but she didn't stop staring. Clarke couldn't figure out what her issue was, but she decided that now wasn't the time to worry about it. They were stuck together in the bunker for a few days, according to Anya's prediction with the storm and the fog. There would be time for them to hash out their issues.

Clarke knew that it should unnerve her with the way that Anya had started watching her. It was different. There wasn't this overwhelming need to hide and hope that the warrior woman didn't kill her. Now, it was different. It was reverent and and full of admiration. It was like a switch or something was clicked inside Anya's head while she slept. She was still wary of Clarke, but she wasn't as cold to her. Honestly, it reminded her of her mother on some points, but on others, it was Lexa. It was like Anya was always studying, learning, and assessing. Clarke understood that she was that way because she was a warrior, but it just surprised her at how much Anya was doing it towards her, now.

"How do you feel?"

"Tired, sore, free," Anya replied.

"I get all that."

"You should rest, now

," Anya told her as she moved to sit up.

"No, I'm fine. Rest some more, Anya. You had it worse than I did in there. I can wait a few more hours," Clarke stated as she gently pushed Anya back down in the bed. "Besides, I want you to be at all most full strength when we leave. We've got a few days of being stuck in here, remember? A few hours more of sleep isn't going to hurt either of us. Rest. I'll try to make something a little more palatable out of the stores."

Anya looked at her harder. Clarke had to know about their rituals. Anya didn't know how she'd learned about them so quickly. And, then she stopped and thought about it. Linkon, she mused. He must have told the one he liked called Okteivia about their customs. He was trying to woo the girl. Even Anya could admit that she would be a good match for him and for the Trikru. It had only been a few weeks and Clarke had only met her a few times. Watching her as she moved around the bunker, Anya began to wonder. Did Clarke think that bonding with her through a union was the best thing for both of their people? She had to have her reasons, right? And, was Anya the best candidate for her to union with? She found it all strange. She decided that she wouldn't worry about it now. Clarke was right. They had time. They were alone in the bunker and Clarke wanted to plan their union out.

Did she not already know that she was almost half way there? It made Anya feel weak, again. Clarke, a relative goufa, was courting her easily. Anya shook her head. Clarke didn't just have the spirit of the leader and a healer. She had the spirit of a leader. She knew that it was rare. Lexa had it, and it was obvious that Clarke did as well. She was thinking beyond the feud between their people and to their futures, together, as one. And, now she was proposing a union between them. Anya was just a little surprised that she had been so adamant about it that she'd completed two of three requirements for a union between them. Anya knew that she would have to think about it some more. She sunk down in the bed and stared at the ceiling. Her thoughts racing.

Clarke was beautiful, Anya couldn't deny that. She was sure that if Lexa ever met her, she'd swoon over the blonde. While women could be soft in a strong sense, Clarke wasn't completely soft. She was more woman than child. She had needs and wants like any other adult, and it seemed that Clarke had set her sights on Anya. She preened a little at the thought, but she knew for Clarke it was more of a means to an end. They needed each other in order to attack the Mountain, and being unioned with Anya would make things hard for Lexa to deny the rest of Skaikru and an alliance.

Clarke had already fulfilled two of the four things to make a union between two souls. Clarke had used those words. She specifically said a union. She didn't ask for an alliance or a trade agreement. Clarke spoke of a union between the two of them, and she wanted it completed before Anya took her to Lexa. Clarke was playing the long game. She'd picked Anya. She selected Anya out of all those in the cages and rescued her. Clarke chose her and then she started the ritual. She knew then that Clarke must believe that they would be good together. The thought made her proud. Clarke was claiming her for her own. Anya smiled at the thought. And, then she realized that Clarke might not have realized that she was the one that was proving how well of a houmon she would be for Anya. It wasn't grand and overt gestures. They were were more meaningful and intimate. They were more Clarke.

Anya thought about the four offerings that a potential suitor would provide. Clarke had unwittingly given her freedom. Anya wasn't sure if she meant it as part of her offering of protection, but Anya would count it. And, it was just the beginning of Clarke's protection. She'd freed Anya, gave her shelter from the storm and the fog, and she helped protect her from the Mountain Men that were chasing them by telling her about the tek in her arm. And, then to top it all off, she healed her, protecting her body. She watched over her while she slept and promised to check her arm, protecting it like was the most precious thing in the world to her. She promised to hide the fact that Anya was weak from her people. Clarke was giving her protection in abundance, and all Anya had done was let her. But, that hadn't stopped Clarke from continuing. Next, she gave her nourishment. Sure, it wasn't a lot, but the jerky and nuts were more than she'd had in days. Anya hadn't failed to notice that Clarke gave her more than she took for herself. And, now, Clarke was looking to make something for them to eat when she woke again. Once again, Clarke was providing and she wasn't. If Clarke somehow managed to give her an offering of creation... Anya stopped. She knew that the blonde would. She wouldn't stop the courtship now. Clarke would just find a way. If she did, then all they would have to do was share her body with Anya and the ritual would be complete.

Again, Clarke must have thought this through as she saved her from the Mountain. Maybe that is why she was looking for her. It was clear that Clarke thought enough about her to risk her own life to rescue her, and all Anya did was leave her alone and then threaten to kill Clarke herself. She hadn't acted appropriately. She would have to change that. Clarke was more than worthy of her, and she would prove it.

Clarke's ability to adapt and think ahead made her a brilliant tactician. Anya appreciated that. Clarke stood out, even among her people, with her sunray golden hair and eyes like a summer sky. She was passionate to a fault, but her confidence could be deceiving, arresting, and just plain appealing. Anya realized that she had to do something. She had to answer Clarke's passion with her own. She knew if she didn't, Lexa wouldn't be the only one that didn't let her live it down. Anya was a strong and proud warrior. She was a provider. She wasn't selfish. She would answer Clarke's call with her own.

She looked back at Clarke, what little she could see of her from her position on the bed. Resolute in her steadfastness, Anya rolled back and let the comfort of the bed take over again. She would see what she could do to bolster her spirit and provide her offerings to Clarke when she woke again. She would allow Clarke this day to protect her complete in order to heal, but tomorrow, she would prove how strong she was and give Clarke her union.

Clarke looked back into the other room. She'd heard Anya thinking hard as she restlessly moved around in the bed. She knew that the proud warrior wasn't used to be down for so long. She'd seen in Lexa and Octavia. Anya would be no different. Finally, however, she heard Anya settle with a sigh.

She'd stayed in the back longer than needed because she didn't want Anya to think that she was crowding her. She knew that if she thought Clarke was babying her, Anya would rise from the bed and demand to march onwards to TonDC or wherever. She needed the rest, so Clarke was giving her room to maintain her pride. She also knew that Anya had to be stiff. The bed was better than the forest floor and a cage, but it rivaled the ones in the Mountain.

Clarke shivered. She didn't want to think of the Mountain. She hated that place. It was nothing but trauma, in ever lifetime...at least so far. And, Anya always broke her heart when she found her. They shared the trauma of that room and what the Mountain Men were doing to the Grounders. And, it was a trauma that Clarke was determined to stop. Having a union or alliance with Anya would make things easier when they spoke with Lexa. She knew how the Commander felt about Anya, so giving her back was a big boon in her book. Shaking off the thoughts of the Mountain, Clarke grabbed the dried meats, so roots Octavia said were good, and a small stash of berries. It wasn't much, but it would make a find dinner before Clarke changed places with Anya and slept

In a small pot, she added water and the jerky. She figured rehydrating it for a while would make it better and easier to chew. She let that sit. She found a small camp stove and used the one of the lantern cans of oil to light it. She hadn't lit it yet, though. She wanted to wait on the meat. She wanted to test it before she cooked it with the roots and stuff. She kept the berries on the side for something sweet, like a dessert. Clarke wasn't even sure what she was going to make was going to be good. She hoped that it was and that it would be better than just the dried meats, nuts, and berries.

After a while, she pulled out a piece of meat and chewed it. It was better, but it would be even better hot. She lit the stove and placed the roots in first to make them more tender. She was glad that she watched Murphy, learned from Octavia, gather with herbs with Monty, and listened to the cooks in the Tower in Polis. She wasn't a ranzi, but she could make something out of this. She went back for some spoons, hoping a soup would be good enough for Anya to eat when she woke. She tested the roots and they were soft enough for her to add the meat back. She used some of the herbs and other things to give it more flavor. She stirred it a few times before tasting it.

"Not half bad," Clarke said, proud of herself for being able to cobble something together out of what they had.

She heard Anya stirring in the bed again. She was just about to go wake her for dinner, when the taller blond shot up in the bed. Clarke moved quickly to calm her. She didn't want Anya to hurt herself anymore than she already was.

"Whoa, there, Anya," Clarke stated, softly. "You're safe. We're safe. We're not in the Mountain anymore."

Anya's eyes were wild, but they calmed at Clarke's words. Her golden eyes turned and locked onto Clarke's azure gaze. They held, and slowly, Anya remembered where they were and what had happened. She sniffled, but covered it with her hand, and realized that she didn't smell the mountain. She smelled soup or stew, a road camp classic. Turning she faced Clarke and cocked her head in both speculation and wonder.

"You made soup?"

"I did. It's probably shit, but it's better than jerky, right?" Clarke replied. "Do you want some?"

"Of course," Anya said carefully. "It would be my honor to accept your gift of nourishment."

Clarke cocked an eyebrow at her wording, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she brought over one of the small bowls and spoons. She handed the meal to Anya and waited for her to taste it.

"This is good," Anya told her. "You've done well. Are you secretly a ranzi?"

"I don't know what that it," Clarke lied. "Should I be impressed?"

"Ranzis are heda's cooks. They are the best in all of the kongeda. So, yes, you should be impressed."

Clarke smiled and nodded. She took the praise for it was. She'd impressed Anya, and she knew how hard that was to do.

"Good. Eat up. When we're done, I'm going to look you over and check your arm. Then, I'm going to loosen up your muscles some before I go to sleep."

"Loosen up my muscles?" Anya asked. "I don't understand."

"I'm going to use my healer's touch to make sure that you aren't cramping and can still move fully. It won't take long and it shouldn't hurt. But, we'll worry about that later. Eat for now," Clarke explained. "I also have some berries."

Anya smiled. Yes, Clarke would make a great houmon. Anya would give her the union, but first she would get her offerings together for Clarke.