Grounders

CHAPTER 3

They had been walking for about an hour when Raven leaned into Clarke. “Hey Griff, my three o’ clock, Lincoln up in the tree.” Clarke nods and very discreetly looks where Raven had said and sure enough there was Lincoln. She smiled to herself so happy to see him.

“Hey O, can you and Monty head over that way and look around. Just stay where we can all see one another.”

“Sure, thing Clarkie. Come on Monty lets go look over there.”

Raven smiled, “way to send her straight to Lincoln.”

“They deserve as much time as we can give them.”

“Yeah, they do.” As they walked a little further ahead, they heard Octavia scream, so they rushed over to where they were. When they got to them Lincoln had them stopped with his sword pulled out. Clarke stopped Raven and then put her hands up. “We don’t mean any harm. I don’t know if you saw something fall from the sky, but that was us. Our ship in the sky called the Ark is dying and we came down to see if Earth was viable for us to survive on. It wasn’t supposed to be survivable for another 100 years, but we had to try. We have been told that we were the only human survivors, and no one survived on Earth.” Lincoln took her in and then scanned over everyone else in the group ending on Octavia, where Clarke noticed his eyes soften.

“I am Lincoln Kom Trikru.”

“Hi Lincoln, I’m Clarke and this is Raven, Monty and Octavia,” she said pointing to everyone as she introduced them. He nodded to everyone except O got a slight smile.

O held out her hand to Lincoln, “Hi, I’m Octavia, but you can call me O.” Lincoln reached out and took Octavia’s hand in his. They both had blushes on their cheeks, and shy smiles on their faces.

Raven elbows Clarke in the ribs causing Clarke to yelp and jump away from Raven. This in turn causes Lincoln and O to move away from each other. Then a voice cuts through the silence. “Um…Hi, I’m Monty.” Clarke laughed out loud at him, with everyone else joining in and Lincoln to have a small smile on his face.

“Finding you here on Trikru lands and very close to our village, I must take you to our leader.”

“We understand Lincoln. We don’t want to cause any trouble with anyone,” Clarke said. “Can I ask what the name of the village is.”

“Yes Clarke, it is called TonDC.”

“That sounds very close to Washington D.C. It was the capital of the United States of America before the bombs went off,” Raven said.

Lincoln nods. “There is a big green sign very close to the village that they named the village after.”

They walked for about twenty minutes until they came to some gates. “If you have any weapons, please leave them here.” Everyone followed Lincoln’s directions since all they had were some daggers. Once they were inside the gates Lincoln talked to someone who was as big as the gates they just came through. They finished talking and the warrior ran off into the village.

“They are going to find Indra and have her come to meet us.” He led them to a hut and let them in. “Welcome to my home, please have a seat. Would anyone like some tea?”

Clarke answered for everyone, even though she knew that only her and Raven had ever had the tea before, and they both really liked it. “Please Lincoln that would be very kind of you. Thank you.”

While Lincoln was in the kitchen the front door opened. Standing there was one of the most intimidating women they had ever seen. She just starred at the group on the couch. Clarke noticed that Octavia was just as enamored with Indra as she was with Lincoln only her look toward Indra was of pure wonder. It was at that time that Lincoln walked back in with a tray of tea.

“Indra so glad you could get here so quickly. Please come in, I would like you to meet some of the people that fell from the sky yesterday. They were wondering in the woods and as per our laws I brought them here so that you could talk to them.” Indra huffed and glared at them. Clarke could see that Monty was terrified of Indra. She just hoped he didn’t literally shit his pants. Lincoln walked over next to Clarke and put a hand on her shoulder. “This is Clarke, and she is their leader.” He then pointed at the other three, “and this is Raven, Octavia and Monty.”

Indra just nods her head and sits down in the chair across from them. “You’re lucky your ship landed where it did, in the neutral zone.” Clarke and Raven share a glance, they had planned that so they would be safe. They had also planned to land between Trikru and the Trishanakru, since they were the most peaceful of the Kru’s beside the boat people, but they were in the ocean. They were also the farthest away from the Azgeda. Indra continued, “so what can we do for you.”

“We had no idea people survived on the ground. We were told we were the last of the human race. We wanted to see if we could find food and water, and that’s when we ran into Lincoln,” O said. Indra just eyed her, but Clarke saw the intrigue Indra had in O.

 “Well, I will have to send a message to our Commander to let her know that there are strangers here and how she would like me to handle the situation,” and with that Indra stood up and nodded before she rushed out the door and was gone.

Raven noticed the sad look that came across Clarke’s face. She thought she would get Lexa back today, but she must still be in Polis, which is a two-day ride away. She was sad herself as she thought she would get her cheekbones back as well. So, she leaned over to whisper in Clarke’s ear, “I’m sorry Clarke, but it will happen soon.” Clarke just looked at Raven and gave a half smile knowing Raven was feeling the same way she was.

“I know Raven, for you too,” and Raven gave her a knowing smile.

There was a knock on the door, so Lincoln went to answer it. There were hushed words and then Lincoln came back in. “Clarke the Commander will see you now.” Clarke’s breath hitched. When Indra said she had to send a messenger, she was for sure she meant to Polis.

“Are you ok Clarke. The messenger is waiting outside to take you to the commander.”

“Yes, Lincoln I’m ready.”

“It’s ok Clarke.” He opened the door and there was the same big guy that was at the gate. “Clarke this is Ryder, and he will take you to the Commander. Ryder this is Clarke.”

Clarke, even though she knows who Ryder is, is nervous in his presence, but she nods to him, and he nods back. He then turns around and leads Clarke away to a large building down the road.

Once at the door he turns around quickly causing Clarke to almost run into him. “Wait here,” and with that Ryder went into the building. A few moments later he came back out, “follow me.”

Clarke took a deep breath to try and calm her heart from beating so fast. She took two more and then followed Ryder inside. She is led to another door where she comes to a stop in front of it. Ryder nods to the man standing there and with that Ryder leaves. She watches Ryder leave and then looks back to the man standing in front of the door. It was such a short amount of time, but this man had become like a second father to her. Gustus just stairs at her and then motions for her to move forward. “If you so much as look at her the wrong way I will slit your throat.” It took everything in Clarke to not smirk at the big man that she now knows is just a big teddy bear to those who he loves and a grizzly bear to those he doesn’t.

“I understand,” Clarke says. He looks at her one more time and then turns to open the door. The walk in and as soon as Clarkes eyes land on Lexa she stops and sucks in a breath. She looks just as magical and mysterious as she did the first time sitting on her throne with her war paint on and full Commander dress. Clarke had seen everyone nod or bow to each other so she feels she may as well try to show respect and Clarke bows her head to Lexa. Lexa raises a brow but makes no other movements.

“Clarke of the Skai people, I’ve been told your story. What is it that we can do for you?”

“Thank you for meeting with me Commander. I was wondering if I could talk to you privately for a moment.”

Everyone in the room starts talking, but Lexa never takes her eyes off of Clarke. “Enough,” Lexa yells. “Ban op,” she tells everyone in the room. They all take one look at Clarke and then went to exit the room, except Gustus who turned to Clarke, “remember my words.” Clarke nodded her response to the man. Once everyone was out and the door was closed Clarke turned to look back to Lexa. “Ok Clarke they are gone.”

“Hodnes,” Clarke says. Lexa’s eyes go wide and then they gloss over. Clarke waited for the glaze to go away, so she could jump into Lexa’s arms.

“Clarke,” Lexa says in such a soft voice. Like she couldn’t believe it was finally happening. Before she knew it, she was getting plowed into with arms wrapping around her neck and lips crashing into hers. It only took her a second to catch on to what was happening and start to kiss Clarke back with the same hunger Clarke was kissing her with. Once they parted both needing air, there was a cough to get the pairs attention.

“Not to cut in, but I would like a hug from my favorite girl,” Gustus says, and Clarke let go of Lexa and ran into Gustus waiting arms getting her big bear hug.

Lexa scoffed at her father, “hey, I thought I was your favorite girl.”

Gustus looked at her with a very serious look and spoke, “um…third favorite.”

Clarke burst out laughing and Gustus joins in with his booming laugh. “The look…oh my god…the look on your face hodnes. Ouch my sides and cheeks are hurting. Oh Pops, you are too funny.” Pops is what Clarke had started calling Gustus when they were all with the Fates.

“I know my Skaiprisa, the look on her face. Wait till Luna finds out she is number two.”

“You know she will kick your ass Nontu,” Lexa says.

“Yeah Pops, she is way scarier than Heda here,” Clarke chimes in.

“Clarke,” Lexa whined. As she was looking at the other two the doors swung open and in came Anya and Indra. Both went straight toward Clarke to give her a hug, which surprised both Lexa and Gustus.

Anya looked at both of them, “What we both missed blondie here.”

Indra straightened up, “what she said.”

“I’m so glad to see you all. Anya, I don’t know if you know this, but Raven is here with Octavia and Monty at Lincoln’s house.”

Anya jumped and turned to run out of the door. When she got to the door she stopped and turned back around to Lexa. “Go you branwoda and see your girl. Just remember the other two don’t remember anything.”

“Sha Heda,” and with that Anya was out the door.

Indra stood, and you could see she wanted to go see Octavia. “Go Indra and see your seken. Maybe she will be your seken again.”

“Sha, I hope so. I will be different with her this time around. I will be a better Fos for her.”

Clarke looked at Indra and went to her, “you were a great Fos for her before, but this time she has lost Bellamey. He sacrificed himself so that she could live and not go into the skybox. Her mother was killed by one of the guards when she tried to save Bell from being floated. So, she has different battle scars, but I was able to become her friend and try to help as much as I could.”

Indra reached out her hand out to Clarke, but then shocked everyone by pulling Clarke into another hug. “Thank you, Clarke. Thank you for taking care of my daughter.”

“Of course, she is like a sister to me, so I will always take care of her to the best of my ability.”

“Good,” Indra said as she moved away from Clarke and quickly wiped at her cheeks, hoping that no one saw. Of course, they all did, but no one said anything. After that she left out of the same door Anya did to go and find her daughter.

Lexa, Clarke and Gustus remained in the room. “I will return to my duties Heda,” he said with a bow, but before he could leave Clarke gave him another big hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“Love you Pops. How about dinner very soon.”

He smiled and kissed her forehead. “Sounds wonderful my Skiprisa.” He leaned in, “and please bring my other daughter with you or she might get jealous.” He looked at Lexa and saw the scowl she had on her face, and he let out a booming laugh as he headed out the door.

Once they were alone again, they moved towards each other and wrapped up in a hug.

“I missed you so much Lexa.”

“I missed you to niron,” Lexa said with her noise in Clarke’s neck.

“We have to be quick today as we were just going out to try and bump into Lincoln and be brought here. The rest of our people at the dropship will start to worry if we are not back soon. I left Murphy in charge so I hope he will be able to keep them calm for as long as he can.” Clarke started looking around the room. “How do we do this Lexa. How do we make are people one without everyone going crazy?”

“I had thought about this when we were at the Fates. I think you should bring them here and we can have a feast so people can mingle and get to know one another. Nothing has happened yet to make my people worry about you yet. It can be informal and a celebration of sorts.”

“That sounds wonderful Lexa. We should return so we can come back as soon as possible. I don’t want to waste any time with you. I’m not letting you out of my sight when I don’t have to,” Clarke said while she leaned into Lexa for a kiss.

When they both needed air Lexa smiled, “same goes for me. You will not be far from me either.” Lexa took Clarke’s face into her hands, “but now it is time for you to go and bring your people here so we can start to become allies.”

Clarke smiled at Lexa, but she had that look on her face like she was thinking really heard. “Clarke you are thinking too hard. What are you thinking about,” Lexa asked?

“I have a question. I thought of something, but I don’t know if it will work or can even be done.”

“Yes, niron what is your question.”

“Would it be possible for us to become Trikru instead of our own clan.”

Lexa thought a moment about how amazingly smart her niron is. “Yes, Clarke there is a way to become Trikru. There is a quest that you can do to become Trikru. You would train here for two weeks with the warriors and then you would take the quest. One week to spare and do other things around camp, to prove you are a member who adds value to the clan. Then you would be sent out for a week to survive and hunt for the clan. Everyone would have to bring back something that has been prepared to share amongst everyone. You would be grouped together so it would be smaller parties and warriors would follow to watch and help if only you truly needed help. They would also be telling the Chief of the clan, Indra, Anya and myself what they witnessed and their opinions on if we should allow you to join. Once the quest is complete then a ceremony would be held to initiate you into Trikru. At the ceremony any who may want one can receive a Trikru tattoo.”

Clarke smiled, “Would three groups work so one of us would be there to make sure things go ok out there.”

“Sha four groups would be just fine, but you four would have to be careful to not let on to my warriors that you four know how to survive.”

“Sha, ai hodnes,” Clarke said and then gave her a kiss. When she pulled back Lexa had a dopey smile on her face. “I will be back as soon as I can. I love you.”

“I hod yu in.”

With that Clarke and Lexa come out of the room and go in search of the other three. It wasn’t shocking to find Indra and Octavia at the training pits. Clarke saw Octavia with a serious look on her face, but her eyes were sparkling. “Would you look at her Lexa.”

“Yes, she is having a wonderful time with Indra. Have you looked at Indra?” Clarke looked at her with the same sparkle in her eyes. “I’m so glad she got her adopted daughter back,” Lexa said with a slight smile. They were outside with her people, so she had to be the Commander in their presence.

“I’m happy O has her Fos back.” It was then that Indra noticed them and told O to stop and come with her. Once they reached Lexa, Indra bowed so Octavia followed her lead and bowed as well.

“Indra, it looks like you might have found yourself a Seken.” Octavia looked at Clarke with questioning eyes.

“I have not asked yet Heda, but I just might have found myself a Seken.”

“Um…what is a Se…Sek…Seken,” Octavia asked.

“Well Octavia, a Seken is a warrior in training who is asked by a more experienced warrior to learn from them. That warrior is called a Fos. Being asked is a high honor but being asked by one of Heda’s most trusted Generals is the highest honor there is. It means they see this warrior becoming a leader and possibly a General for Heda in the future,” Lexa tells her. “Indra is one of my Generals.”

When Octavia heard that her eyes went wide, and her jaw hit the floor.

“Close your mouth, Octavia. First lesson, a warrior does not show their emotions in public. If we do, we give our enemy an advantage over us.” O quickly changed her face to one of steel and stood up straight. “Good. Now Octavia would you like to be my Seken.” Before O could answer Indra kept talking. “I want you to understand before you answer that being my Seken will not be easy, and it is a lot of hard work and dedication.”

Octavia bowed to Indra, “I understand Fos, and I would be honored to be your Seken.”

Clarke was so happy for Octavia. She knew this was exactly what O needed. She needed Indra and the fact that this happened so fast will make it so that Octavia will have a positive experience and have more time to learn.

Indra nodded her head, “very well. Do you see that tent over there?”

“Yes, Fos.”

“It is the Seken tent. That is where you will sleep. It is also where you will get your duties for the day. It will include your training times with me. The only time you will not follow the schedule is if Heda, Anya, the Clan Chief or I tell you otherwise. Is that understood.”

“Yes, Fos.”

“The word for yes is sha in our language. You will also have lessons to learn the language.”

“Sha, Fos.”

“Very well. You will start by going with Clarke back to your camp to help get everyone back here. For that time Clarke is in charge and you will follow her orders. Is that clear.”

“Sha, Fos,” O said with a nod, and with that Indra walked up to Heda and Clarke. “She is ready to go.”

“Very well. Let’s go and find Monty. Indra, please retrieve Anya and Raven. I’m sure you will find them together,” Heda said with a smile. Indra nodded and then grumbled under her breath when she left. “I better find them with their clothes on.”

Heda and Clarke left with Octavia walking behind them. They found Monty out on a field with one of the farmers. Clarke chuckled, “should have known where he would be.” Lexa just smiled at her. Clarke had a great idea of just bringing them into Trikru instead of their own clan. She watched the farmer talking and smiling having someone new to talk to. When the farmer saw Heda, he came over to her and bowed.

“Heda it is an honor to have you on my farm.”

“The pleasure is mine Sven. I see you have met one of our new visitors.”

“Sha Heda and let me tell you he has so many wonderful ideas on how to make the crops better and how to make more crops for trade with other clans that need it. It’s amazing Heda. I have never seen anyone with this kind of knowledge for farming,” he said with a huge smile while bouncing on his toes.

“Well then Sven we will have to get Monty out here to start working on his ideas. Monty we would be most appreciative for any help you could provide.”

“Yes, Heda I would love to help. I was a part of farm station on the Ark, up in space where we came from, so I have worked with crops my whole life like I’m sure you have,” he looked at Sven and Sven shook his head yes.

“Well then when things are settled, we will have you two get together and start working on this,” Lexa said. Both men smiled at her.

“Heda, I guess Monty and I should find the others to start heading back to our people,” Clarke said.

“Yes, Clarke let’s do that. Sven a pleasure to see you again.” Sven bowed his head as the three left the farm. Both Clarke and Lexa noticed the big smile on Monty’s face as they left.

On the other side of camp Indra was going to find Anya and Raven. When she got close to Anya’s tent, she heard noises and just rolled her eyes. As she was about to go inside, she saw Nyko come around the corner and got a wicked smile on her face. Indra called Nyko over and asked if he wanted to embarrass his daughter, which he happily replied yes to. Not many people knew that they were best friends growing up and always got into trouble when they were younger.

“Where’s my little gona,” Nyko shouted coming into Anya’s tent with Indra coming in behind him. As soon as he gets in, he sees both his daughter and Raven laying on the bed with no shirts on. “My eyes, oh Indra my eyes,” he yells as he covers his eyes. “Indra please help me; I have been blinded by my gofa.”

Raven jumped up and smacked Anya in the nose with her forehead causing Anya to scream out in pain, while grabbing at her nose. Meanwhile Raven falls off the bed trying to cover herself up with her hands. Indra is holding herself up by leaning on the tent pole laughing at the scene in front of her.

Through the tears in Anya’s eyes, she notices Indra and knows she did this on purpose. “I will get you back for this Indra.”

“Oh, gofa. That has been the best thing to happen in I don’t know how long,” Indra said while trying to catch her breath. Nyko had found his way over to where Indra was standing and was laughing right along with her.

“My gofa, I tell you Indra. That Skai girl may have just broken her nose.”

With all the commotion going on, no one noticed the other four people enter the tent. Octavia’s eyes were wide, but she had a smile on her face. Monty stopped and then ran back out of the tent. Clarke joined Indra and Nyko in laughing their asses off. While Lexa just stood there with a smirk on her face.

Once the girls had their shirts on and Nyko caught his breath, he called his gofa over to him so he could check her nose. “What am I going to do with you. A pretty girl shows up and you can’t help yourself.” While talking to Anya to distract her Nyko sets her broken nose.

“Ow, why did you not warn me you were about to set my nose.”

“You would have moved, and I needed you to be still,” Nyko said with a smile. “There all fixed.”

“Wouldn’t have needed to be fixed if you people announced yourselves before entering someone’s home,” Anya said with a huff, while sitting back down on her bed next to Raven.

Nyko leaned into his daughter ear whispering loud enough for everyone to hear. “Great job gofa she is quite beautiful.” Anya blushed, Raven smiled, Indra laughed and left the tent with an also laughing Nyko. Indra stuck her head back into the tent, “seken.” Octavia just jumped and turned to Indra. “Come.”

Octavia smiled at Raven before turning to the tent opening “Sha, Fos,” and with that she left the tent.

Clarke turned to Raven, “just couldn’t keep it in your pants could you.” Raven just laughed while Lexa and Anya looked at each other with a confused look. Clarke noticed and explained it to them.    

Anya grumbled, “I could keep it in my pants if I wanted to.” Raven laughed at her, “what you don’t think I could.”

“No babe I don’t think you could,” Raven said smiling.

Both Lexa and Clarke looked at Anya, “there is no way, Fos. Raven has you wrapped around her little finger. We all knew that the moment you laid eyes on her.”

“Yeah, Anya there is no way, but don’t worry neither can Raven,” Clarke said.

“I so could if I wanted to Clarke,” Raven said while she stood up. “You two on the other hand,” she said while pointing between Clarke and Lexa. While Anya came up next to Raven putting her arm around her waist and shaking her head in agreement.

Clarke just looked at both of them, “we never said we could.”

“Yes, Raven we know our limits and keeping it in my pants around Clarke is not something I can do.”

Raven’s jaw hit the floor while Anya made a disgusted face. “Seken, I do not need to know that. Both of you out of my tent.”

Clarke laughed while moving to the door, while Lexa started to go as well and then stopped and turned around. “Meet us at the gates in ten minutes the Skaikru will be heading back to get their people to come and make camp here and join our people.”

“Wait what do you mean join your people,” Raven asked.

Clarke answered, “I thought instead of becoming our own Kru, we could maybe become Trikru. Then people from other clans won’t see us as threats.”

“Wow Clarke, that’s really a smart idea. Sometimes I think my sister maybe a genius too.” Clarke smiled and hit Raven’s shoulder playfully.

“Come on Raven. The sooner we go the sooner we can get back to our girls.”

“I like the sound of that.”

They all met at the gates. “Indra, I would like yourself and Lincoln to go with Skaikru and help get their people return here safely,” Lexa said. “Please take the horse and cart to bring their belongings so they don’t have to carry everything and can walk here quickly.”

“Sha Heda,” they both answered and walked to get the horses. When they get back, they started out of the gates. Octavia and Monty followed behind them.

Raven looked at Anya, “may we meet again,” she said holding out her hand.

“Oh, stop it, Raven. You will be back tonight. It’s no more than an hour’s walk from here.”

Raven just rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue before turning around and headed out the gates with the others.

“Be safe Clarke and I will see you in a few hours.”

“Sha, you will Heda,” Clarke whispers to Lexa, “and then you will never get rid of me.”

“I never plan to get rid of you hodnes.”

“I hod yu in Lexa.”

“I hod yu in Clarke,” and with that Clarke left out of the gates to go back to the drop ship to retrieve the other.