Clarke woke to birdsong, the quiet sounds of voices outside and the occasional whisper of wind. It took her a second to realise where she was before her mind truly caught up with her.

She blinked to clear the sleep from her eyes, she sat up and she groaned at the aches in her body. Her muscles hadn't had time to adjust to the ground, her body felt weighed down from exertion, from gravity, from the climb up and down the tree and each and every movement hurt a little too much for comfort.

She sat, the fur blankets pooled around her waist and Clarke shivered at the loss of its warmth but the cold had long since become a companion in her year of isolation. Clarke took a moment to dress quickly, her clothes perhaps not as fresh as they had once been and as she readied herself for the day she made a note to seek out the bathhouse again, or any other kind of way of bathing to rid herself of the day of grime or sweat.

Eventually Clarke felt herself ready for the day and as she turned to the door she realised she didn't know what to do, where to go, or what was even expected of her. She half expected the door to be locked or for someone to be standing right outside but as she pushed it open she found herself standing on that very same platform just a little ways up from the ground. As she looked out towards the other side of the street, where more trees and platforms and structures rose up from the ground she saw other people moving about, a handful or two in conversation some moving one way or the other, some simply content to watch the early morning pass them by.

Clarke looked down at the street below and just as she saw in front of her, those below moved, lived, did as they pleased and Clarke thought it charming, she thought it quiet, she thought it so very different, magnificent, foreign to what she was used to.

Not for the first time she knew she and her people had so much to learn, so much to experience and she hoped beyond hope that they would find their place and be able to become one with these people.

It was the only way.

She knew enough about Mount Weather that something bad had happened, that integration hadn't worked, that things had almost destroyed everything and everyone and Clarke was determined not to let that happen again.

But Clarke needed to freshen up for the day. She needed to wash away the aches and pains and she needed food.

And so Clarke started walking—

A small package lay at her feet and as she stooped down to pick it up she realised it was a bundle of clean clothes, undergarments, things that were clean and readied for her day. She bit her lip and she looked back over her shoulder and at her supplies that lay in the corner of her room. It was a small gesture, the clothes, and it made her realise she hadn't even thought about if her supplies would be stolen or not. She had things, technology, bullets, her tablet, her lamp, things she had just days before considered sacred, paramount to her survival on the ground and now she had almost forgotten about them.

She thought it so very strange how just a day or two could reshape her frame of mind, could pull herself into directions so very different.

Clarke still had her drop pod, too, she still had some of her other supplies somewhere out in the forest that she'd need to retrieve but even those things she realised weren't as needed in the moment.

And so Clarke simply shook her head, turned back from her supplies and closed the door.

Clarke walked slowly, each step she took ever filled her aches and pains but she thought it made her feel alive, feel refreshed, feel like she had finally found where her people had always belonged. The few warriors and village people she passed nodded at her, some more cautiously than others. She even recognised one or two warriors who had accompanied her on the handful of trips she had made, their nods of approval perhaps a little more respecting than she thought she deserved.

She didn't entirely realise the steps she took but eventually she found herself back at the bathhouse, the fresh bundle of clothes ever held close to her chest. She could hear voices inside, and she knew others were already washing for the day.

Clarke pushed through the door, she coughed at the steam that met her and she stepped through.

It took her a second for her eyes to adjust to the light but once they did she found herself staring at the inside of the bathhouse in a new light.

Before she had been the only one, but now most of the baths were full. Some warriors stood and talked, others relaxed. A few walked one way or the other, many half undressed and others bare to the world. Clarke didn't mind the nudity, she didn't mind the fact that it was expected she bathe amongst others, she was used to it on the Ark, it had happened at times. Sometimes the power would go out, sometimes supplies would need to be rationed and everyone would need to share in some way.

But Clarke bit her lip as she stared at the closest warriors to her. A man and two women stood taking to each other, fur towels wrapped around their bodies just enough to give some modesty but Clarke stared because each person she looked at was strong, muscled, they stood proud upon their feet.

Their bodies were full, toned from years on the ground. Muscles seemed to ripple with each movement they made and Clarke suddenly felt so very awkward, so very ashamed, so very self aware of the fact that she was more skin and bones than able bodied and capable.

Clarke quickly pulled her attention elsewhere lest she be caught staring as she started walking towards a free basin at the far end of the building. She felt the eyes of some warriors on her just as she had as she had walked through the streets of Ton DC but she ignored it.

Eventually Clarke came to a stop, she put her bundle of fresh undergarments down on the small bench and she started to undress.

Clarke let her mind wander as she stripped of her clothes before she took a cautious step into the searing heat. The heat of the water stole her breath but she pushed forward as she sunk deeper and deeper into its embrace. Once she sat within the basin and once she reclined against the metal confines. The heat from the water began seeping into her muscles, into her bones and it helped soothe away the pains, it helped ease her body and her mind and she sighed, she closed her eyes and she let herself enjoy the moment.

Clarke's mind wandered slowly, her ears moved from conversation to conversation she heard, from the words she didn't understand and the back and forth of friend and acquaintance and she could almost imagine herself back on the Ark. She didn't know if that thought was welcomed or not but it was a familiar feeling, one she embraced for it simply made her feel a little less alone in the world.

But Clarke couldn't stay hidden forever, she couldn't shy away from what she needed to do and so she shook her head and she pulled herself back to the present lest she lose herself too completely to the wants out of her reach.

Having returned from the bathhouse to drop off her clothes Clarke stepped out of her room feeling refreshed. The air seemed crisper now, the sun a little stronger upon her face. Clarke had expected someone to come gather her and yet she found herself still free to do as she pleased and the newfound freedom seemed so very strange to her. Clarke looked around herself to find people still moved about, some warriors once more in conversation but the guards who had once been present were still gone.

Clarke needed to speak with Lexa though. She needed to make plans, figure out how to integrate her people, how to cure the ripas and she knew the only way she could do that would be if she had more information.

She started walking once more, her mind slowly turning over the conversations she was to have. Strategies and plans began to formulate in her mind as she walked and she started trying to figure out what the ripas really were. She knew it had to do with Mount Weather, she knew the survivors would probably have more information but still Clarke couldn't really understand how it had happened.

She was missing too many pieces of the puzzle and she knew the answer would be somewhere within Mount Weather's walls. She knew if she could somehow get inside, find out what had happened, then she could help.

But that would be a challenge, in part because she knew the dangers, in part because she wasn't sure if Lexa would even let her go and she was more than sure Lexa wouldn't send her warriors down into Mount Weather for a hunch, Clarke was certain of tha—

She came to a pause as she realised she had somehow remembered the way to Lexa's tent.

Stood before her was a warrior who stared at her for a harsh moment.

"I need to speak with Lexa," Clarke said, she tried to square her shoulders and stand up proudly lest she show signs of weakness.

The warrior simply nodded his head before ducking inside the tent. In the few short moments he was gone Clarke reordered her thoughts. She needed to make a plan, figure out what her people could do to help Lexa, to help cure the ripas. She knew they'd have supplies on the Ark, equipment that could be used to cure the ripas, they even had knowledge, decades and centuries of medical science backed up on their systems that might be of use and Clarke wouldn't let this opportunity go to waste. She heard muffled voices before the warrior emerged and stepped aside.

"You may enter," he said.

Clarke stepped inside, she cursed as she almost tripped on the raised furs that lined the floor before she found her footing and looked around herself. The first thing she noticed was the ever present war table with carvings and small statues dotted upon its surface. The second was that a handful of other warriors stood inside, each one turned to face her. Clarke's eyes then landed on Lexa who remained seated at her throne, her legs crossed elegantly as if she had been draped upon the throne without any effort.

"I—" Clarke swallowed. She hadn't realised Lexa could have been in the middle of something, nor had she expected to be allowed to meet with her if she had been in the middle of anything.

"You wished to speak with me, Clarke?" Lexa asked, her head tilted to the side slightly.

"Yeah," Clarke said after an awkwardly long pause.

She looked to the others around her. She didn't know why but suddenly Clarke felt like she was being tested, she felt like she was being studied. Indra stood close by, the woman's gaze steady. Gustus stood by Lexa's side, the man's eyes staring at her keenly and for the briefest of moments Clarke considered turning around and saying she'd come back but she dismissed that thought as soon as it appeared.

She needed to be strong. For herself. For her people. To prove that they could be of use.

"There's a few things we need to discuss," Clarke said. She looked around at everyone present before her gaze settled back onto Lexa.

"Yes?" Lexa said and not for the first time Clarke found herself staring at someone who seemed so very different to the person she had first met.

"My people," Clarke said. "When they come down they can help," Clarke began.

Lexa just nodded her head as if that was to be expected.

"We have knowledge," Clarke said. "Different ways of doing things that could help," Clarke took a moment to consider how best to phrase her nexts words. She didn't want to insult, she didn't want to demean or talk down on Lexa's people. "We've got a different perspective," Clarke said. "Maybe our experiences could let us see things a different way," she tried not to sound condescending, she tried not to sound demeaning and she didn't know if she was succeeding but Clarke pushed forward regardless. "We want to help," Clarke finished.

Lexa remained quiet and Clarke knew she hadn't really said anything Lexa hadn't heard before. She had probably even already considered what Clarke had already said.

"The tablet," Clarke said as she remembered Lexa' reaction to it. "Our map," she said. "We've got more maps that we can use," she said. "Maybe there's areas on the ground that are hard to get to that we have maps for, maybe we can help open up other areas away from these ripas that new settlements can be built," she continued. Clarke stared at Gustus, she stared at another warrior who stood beside him and she studied their armour, their weapons, their scars. "We've even got guards," Clarke said. "We can help fight," she pushed. "We'll help defend Ton DC, all the other towns," she said. "We'll fight for the ground, to make everyone safer," Clarke said.

Clarke swallowed hard as she let her voice trail off. She didn't know if she had got her point across and she didn't even know if her impromptu interruption and plea for her people was well received but she couldn't take it back or back down now.

Lexa continued to watch her for a long quiet moment and as Clarke looked at her she could see something behind her eyes. She couldn't quite figure out what it was, but there was something, perhaps a hint of calculation, a hint of thought or intrigue. But whatever it was disappeared almost as quickly as Clarke had noticed it as Lexa's hand lifted.

"Everyone leave," she said, her tone even, voice sure as it filled the tent.

All those present bowed their head before they walked out the tent to leave Clarke and Lexa alone. Clarke looked over her shoulder in time to find the last of those present duck out the tent before turning back to Lexa who had come to stand from her throne without a sound.

"I didn't mean to interrupt," Clarke said.

Lexa simply started to approach her, each step she took measured and sure before she stopped in front of her.

Clarke felt Lexa's eyes drill into her for a long moment as they stared at each other and Clarke didn't know what to think or do. But with them being this close she found herself remembering the feeling of Lexa's body against hers as they had climbed back down the tree, she remembered he nervousness, the fear, the spikes of adrenaline and the pit in her stomach and Clarke swallowed, she felt her heart rate spike and she tried to stamp it down lest it make her see stars.

"Your actions impressed my people, Clarke," Lexa's voice was quiet, the sound unexpected and Clarke's eyes widened.

She wasn't sure whether that was a compliment or not.

"I'm just trying to help," Clarke answered carefully. "I'm not trying to be anything else," Clarke finished.

Lexa hummed a quiet response before she turned away from her and slowly walked towards the table once more. Clarke followed, she found herself standing beside her as Lexa looked out across the map and Clarke followed her gaze down at the small carvings that marked landmarks, villages, positions of things she didn't yet know.

"There is concern amongst my advisors that your people will throw the clans into disarray," Lexa said eventually.

Clarke winced for she didn't like the sound of that. Clarke could lie, too, she could promise Lexa that her people wouldn't cause problems. But she knew there would be. How could there not? Just her own appearance had caused so much upheaval already and—

"Here," Lexa pointed. Clarke looked at the spot on the map to find the clearing they had talked about for her people. "This clearing. Perhaps it is big enough, perhaps it will not be," Lexa shook her head. "It does not matter for there is no other place for your people to arrive," Lexa said.

"It's more than enough," Clarke answered her. She didn't even know if the Ark would fit. She didn't even know how the Ark was actually going to come down. But perhaps that would be a problem for another day. "We'll—"

"Heda."

Clarke turned to find Gustus half ducked through the tent's entrance.

"She has arrived," Gustus said.

"Bring her," Lexa's voice answered.

Clarke frowned as she watched the scene unfold only because curiosity and uncertainty had long since become a companion to her since crashing down onto the ground.

There was a moment's pause as muffled voices were heard from outside before a woman ducked through the tent's entrance.

The woman wore simple clothes, a light leather jacket strapped across her torso, pants that seemed equal parts comfortable as they did functional and Clarke knew her dressed not as a warrior but as a villager or someone whose life wasn't entirely dictated by the constant threat of violence or ripa.

"Lorelei," Lexa said as she inclined her head. "You arrived without trouble?" she asked.

"No reapers," this woman— Lorelei— answered. "Can't complain."

Clarke couldn't put her finger on it but she seemed different. She gave Lorelei a small smile as the woman's gaze shifted to her.

"I'm Clarke," she offered with a cautious wave. "It's nice to meet you," she didn't entirely know how to greet her, she assumed this woman was important in some way simply becau—

But Lorelei's eyes widened at her greeting.

"You're American?"

Clarke paused. She wasn't sure how to respond, she wasn't sure what that even meant. The Ark had been formed by the stations that had orbited Earth, each and every person who had once belonged to a country had simply become one, and Clarke hadn't considered the fact that her accent had been anything other than human but perhaps—

"How?" Lorelei's tone was incredulous.

"I—" Clarke paused as she looked back at Lexa in the hopes that she would give her guidance in how to respond.

"You may answer," Lexa said.

Clarke looked back at Lorelei and it suddenly dawned on her who this woman must have been.

"You're from Mount Weather," Clarke guessed and now it was her turn for her eyes to widen a fraction as she stared at a woman who could have all the answers to her problems.

Shock, confusion, disbelief and so many emotions filled Lorelei's face as Clarke spoke and she didn't know what to say or do or how to respond. But she knew those same emotions had once been on her face, she knew she had felt just as much as Lorelei and she let the moment sit, she let the moment settle in the hopes that it wouldn't overwhelm either of them.

"Where'd you come from?" Lorelei asked eventually as she moved deeper into the tent until she stood before Clarke, her gaze searching hers, her eyes darting back and forth.

"From up there," Clarke just pointed up.

Lorelei's eyes followed her gesture and looked up at the tent's roof only to snap back to her face with the slightest amounts of confusion.

Clarke winced. She didn't know why she had answered so cryptically, but she had and she regretted it immediately.

"Sorry," she said. "Space," she didn't know why, but having someone who could understand her without barriers was a relief, more than she had ever anticipated. "On a station called the Ark," she continued. "We thought we were the only humans left," she bit her lip at how absurd that sounded.

"We did, too," Lorelei said quietly. "Long before I was born," she shook her head. "Then we realised we weren't and then we fucked it all up," she grit her teeth and seemed to turn darker, thoughts clearly swelled within her mind but Clarke also saw her discard them, or perhaps push them aside, fight them back, push them away lest they control her more. "Why did you come down?"

It was Clarke's turn to push her darker thoughts away lest she break the connection she had made.

"We're running out of fair," she said. "Our systems are breaking. I was sent down first," she wouldn't get into specifics. Not yet.

"Clarke," Lexa's voice broke into their conversation and Clarke looked over at her to find Lexa staring at them both. "I summoned Lorelei because she may answer your questions," Lexa said.

Clarke had almost completely forgotten why she had come, why she needed to speak with someone from Mount Weather. She took in a deep breath, she knew there wasn't an easy way of saying what she needed to say and there was no point dancing around the topic.

"I want to cure the ripas," Clarke said. She saw Lorelei's eyes widen a fraction before she sighed, shook her head and turned from her.

Clarke follow Lorelei as she stared to pace, perhaps to give herself time to think, perhaps to shake whatever nerves had settled within herself. Clarke let the woman pace though. She didn't expect this conversation to go smoothly, simply because Lorelei had in some way been involved simply because she had called Mount Weather home.

But eventually Lorelei stopped pacing, she turned around and stared at the map laid out across the table.

"Help me," Clarke said quietly to her. "Help me cure the ripas."

Lorelei sighed, she looked up at her and Clarke wondered what Lorelei must have been thinking.

"You don't think I've wanted to cure the reapers? You don't think I tried?" she shook her head. "It's not as easy as that."

It was Clarke's turn to shake her head.

"I'm not giving up, Lorelei," Clarke challenged her. She looked at the woman, stared at her, made her gaze defiant, sure, confident, she wanted Lorelei to see the seriousness of her resolve.

"It was my fault," Lorelei said.

"Your fault?" Clarke asked her.

"My fault," she shook her head and paused, seemed to think. Clarke even saw her look up at Lexa who had said nothing still.

"How?" Clarke asked.

"It doesn't matter how," Lorelei answered and there was bitterness in her tone, but Clarke could tell it wasn't directed at her. "All that matters is that I fucked up. I caused this. You don't think I've tried to cure the reapers? You don't think I've thought of everything possible?"

"I can help," Clarke challenged her. "My people can help. There's got to be a cure, something," Clarke said. "Anything."

Lorelei shook her head.

"Whatever research I still have, whatever information I had is trapped deep down in Mount Weather," Lorelei answered. "No one is stupid enough to go down there," and Lorelei barked out a laugh. "And even if they were, it's not use. You can't do anything with the research, you can't make a cure, you can't formulate a vaccine without the technology that doesn't exist anymore."

Clarke stared at her. She stared at her and she tried to think, tried to understand what Lorelei said, what she meant, what she spoke of.

Lorelei had been responsible in some way. She had research, perhaps she had been a doctor, a scientist and she had research, information, studies, perhaps there were things deep in Mount Weather that was usable, that could create a vaccine to cure the ripas.

But Mount Weather was dead. The technology lost to everyone on the ground with no way to create, no way to develop, no way to…

And Clarke realised.

She realised that there was no way to create a cure on the ground.

There was no way to use Mount Weather because it was dead.

But Clarke knew she had the answer.

The Ark still had technology. The Ark still had the capability of creating medicines, of creating cures, of healing.

Mount Weather was dead, but the Ark?

It was still alive.

But it wouldn't be for long.