Bygones

~{Chapter 26}~

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"Bellamy! Where's Bellamy?!" Octavia asked someone as we got back to camp.
"What's wrong? Are you two hurt?" Bellamy rushed to us.
"No we just... found something new. Someone we... haven't encountered," I coughed, completely out of breath.
"Sloan, you weren't-"
"It's fine, it's fine," I straightened myself.
We went into the meeting room as everyone else curiously crowded the entrance.

"And what is this unknown?" Jaha asked.
"Possibly a man. Another tribe even. All we saw was a person dressed similar to a Grounder, but was carrying a gun," I explained.
"What kind of gun?" Finn leaned against the main table with the palm of his hands, "My crew noticed some missing one's while taking count."
Octavia sat down and rubbed her forehead, "It looked like a rifle. Like the one's we have, but they couldn't have taken it from us. Lincoln and I along with others have taken turns scouting the outer rims of camp. There's no way anyone could've got in."
Kane's eyes widened, "That's it. No one could get in, but someone could get out."
"Why would anyone need to sneak out into death zone at night?" Raven crossed her arms.
"They are supplying whoever is on the other side of these wires," Clarke said, "We need to question these people."
"Exactly what I was thinking," Kane agreed.
"That will cause too much conflict," Abby shook her head, "Times like these are already too much to handle. Let us approach this another way."
"How would we do that?" Kane asked.
"We monitor them. At all times. Put more people on more shifts guarding the camp."
Jaha stepped in, "Don't get me wrong, Abby, I am on board with finding who it is, but don't you think that it's a little excessive?"
"These people could possibly helping the kidnapper of a child."
Everything was silent and all eyes were on me.
"I... I'm sorry, Sloan," Abby said softly.
"It's okay. Things are stressful enough," I fiddled with my necklace.
We all sat back and sighed restlessly.
"Let's start small. Simple questions won't interrogate anyone too much," Clarke suggested.
I spoke up, "I think that's for the best of all of us."
Everyone murmured in agreement and parted on our own ways.

I tipped my canteen over my lips and let the last few drops slip. I re-screwed the cap on and got up from the work bench to re-fill it.
"We're out. A team is down by the river right now getting some more," Bellamy said, studying a map him and Finn sketched. He handed me his canteen without breaking his concentration on the map.
"It's okay, I can wait. They should be back soon."
He gave me a disapproving look.
"I'm not that thirsty, don't worry," I smiled and sat down next to him.
"You'd figure that we'd have enough water supply since it's still winter."
He rubbed his eyes and sighed.
"Jaha talked to me about going out back to where you and Octavia were and getting a closer look. But before you object, everyone decided for you to stay here."
"Everyone meaning you," I raised one of my eyebrows.
He shook his head and smiled, "You know what I mean."
"Bel-"
"I can't have both of you getting hurt."
"I didn't the last time. Bel, his is Leyla we're talking about. I can't just not do anything. She could be out there starving or freezing for all I know. Why do you think I can't sit still for a minute? I am restless all the time knowing she's not by our side," I stood and paced the room. The subject always gets me worked up.
He stopped me and gently place his hands in my shoulders, "We are doing everything we can-"
"I know you are, I know. It's an instinct. I'm sorry."
"I know how you feel; none of this is your fault. But I need you to stay here. With Matthew and Abby, where you can't get hurt."
"...Did you just say Matthew?"
He looked surprised, "I-yeah. I was thinking of names. For the baby."
"Matthew..." I smiled and cupped his face, "I like it."
"Bellamy, we're-," Finn walked in and looked away, "Sorry. We're leaving in a few hours."
We pulled away as he nodded.
"We split into groups again and we go further this time. Then we meet at the clearing and enclose around it."
"Got it. Everyone's meeting in medical," Finn said and then left.
I watched as Bellamy packed his things. He then came up to me and hugged me, "Don't do anything stupid."
"I won't," I smoothed down his hair.

"Let's go!" someone shouted.
I sat beside a fireside as I watched Finn, Raven, Bellamy, Clarke, Octavia, Jasper, Monty, and others file out of the camp.
"They'll be just fine," Abby sat down next to me and handed me a cup of hot soup.
"Thanks."
"How are you feeling so far?"
"Normal. Nothing too serious."
"Nothing to serious?"
I waved her off, "Ah, just a few minor side pains thats all."
I took a sip and my stomach gurgled. Next thing I know, my face is against the damp ground and I'm looking up at the stars.

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