Fallen

Chapter Twenty-Three: Search for Wanheda

Bellamy bounces his leg while waiting. He is still trapped in the rover. And every time he looks towards Ash, it gets him angry. She breaks up with him without an explanation and left. Just after she left, so did Clarke. And Octavia has become distant. Leaving him to deal with everything he is going through on his own. 

He shouldn't be so angry at them, because everyone has to heal in their own way. But it seems wrong. And then he met Gina. They aren't a thing yet, but he started having feelings for her. The problem is, he still has the same feelings for Ash.

He glances over to Ash, who is glancing through the back window. He looks at the clock.

"It's been three hours," he states. "What are they waiting on?"

"For us to do something," Ash suggests. "I don't see anyone my side. You?"

"Nothing here. I'm going to take a look through the roof."

"Are you stupid?" she asks, looking at him. "They could be waiting for us."

He just ignores her, opening the moon-roof. As he pushes himself up to look out the opening, a knife is against his throat. He is yanked out of the vehicle by multiple people.

"Everyone out," one of the Grounders order. He looks to see several people in Ice Nation uniform. "Leave your weapons."

Ash is the first one out with her hands up a bit and the others follow her. The warriors quickly start grabbing them and pushing them towards the ground. Bellamy is pretty much pushed off of the rover before some pin him down. Monty keeps struggling.

"Monty stop," Bellamy orders. "It will anger them more."

"Monty?" A woman asks, stepping forward. She removes the face covering.

"Mom," Monty gasps. He gets out of the others' grip and embraces her.

"Stand down," the leader of the group orders. Everyone is released and people start taking off masks. The entire group are members from Farming Station. The leader turns out to be Pike, the Earth Survival teacher back on the Ark. He goes and shakes hands with Kane. Bellamy walks over to them, as does Ash.

"Not surprised this one made it," Pike jokes, motioning to Ash. "She was a good student."

"I was one of your best students," she chuckles. "How many of you are there?"

"Sixty-three," he tells them. "Everyone from Farming Station had survived. It was three times more than what we have now, but Grounders picked us off. The rest of us are camped in the mountains in the north. Grounder killers, every single one!"

In response, the group he is leading shouts back, "Hoo-rah!"

Bellamy notices how uncomfortable Indra looks among the group. Ash must have noticed this to.

"Ice Nation is brutal," she states. "But we have an alliance with the Coalition now and there are many great members."

"Like Indra here," Kane states, motioning to her. "She is the leader of Trikru and a great ally. Indra, this is Pike, one of our best teachers back on the Ark."

Bellamy pulls Ash to the side.

"We need to find Clarke," he reminds her. 

"Right. We need to get going."

She walks over to her father and reminds him of what they have still to do. He explains to Pike who they were looking for and he quickly orders for people to move the trees. Pike orders the others to gather the rest of the group and head towards Arkadia. 

"I'm not leaving Monty," his mother states.

"I already figured," Pike chuckles. "Hannah and I will help you find Clarke."

The others put back on their masks and head north. The rest pile back into the rover. This time with Bellamy driving so Monty can sit with his mother. Ash climbs into the passenger seat, looking out the window. As Bellamy drives, those in the back talk about everything needed to catch up on. He glances at Ash briefly before back to the road.

"I need to tell you something before others do," he states. "I met someone. Um... Gina Martin."

"From the Ark?"

"Yeah."

"She's really nice."

"She is. We're not anything yet, but-"

"I'm happy for you," she states. "You deserve to be happy."

In the corner of her eye, he can see her closing herself off some. As the trading post comes into view, Ash has Indra hand her the bow and arrows. She is the first to get out and goes to open the door. As she barely cracks it, she motions for the others to be quiet.

"Where is Wanheda?" a voice echoes out. Ash notches an arrow while Bellamy raises his gun. He quickly opens the door and Ash lets the arrow fly. The big mass of a Grounder falls to the ground. A woman is tied to a chair. Ash goes over and unties her. Bellamy checks for a pulse for the man on the ground. Dead. Terrifying how quickly Ash learned to use a bow.

"Are yu kei?" Ash asks the woman. Bellamy looks at the two. The woman is covered in bruises and cuts, most likely caused by the dead man.

"Chit are emo doing hir?" she asks, staring down Pike.

"Emo're hir gon help, Niylah," Ash reassures her. Niylah looks at Bellamy as he tries to mentally translate the conversation. 

"You're Skaikru," she mutters. 

"Do you know where Clarke is?" Bellamy asks. Niylah looks at everyone before telling them what she knows.

"She was here last night. He was a bounty hunter. Said his partner was Ice Nation. And both were missing this morning."

Ash stands up, a slew of curse words leaving her lips. She hurries outside with Monty following her. Indra talks to Niylah while Bellamy looks around the place. There are items from all over. Even stuff from Arkadia. Most of what is on the shelves are things useful for survival and furs to buy. Ash and Monty come back in.

"They will be heading towards the border," she states. "They're moving on foot, but there are too many trees for us to follow in the vehicle. If we go now, we may be able to intercept them before they get there."

"Lead the way," Kane tells his daughter. He looks at Niylah. "Thank you for helping us."

"Just help her," she tells them. The group grab everything they need and follow the tracks out. There are a few signs of struggle. Clarke would not go down without a fight. As they move through the woods, Monty talks to Hannah about what happened to his dad. After a couple hours, Ash holds up a hand, trying to get them to stop.

"The tracks are recent," she tells them. "If they hear us, we could lose them."

"She has learned quickly," Indra quietly tells Kane. "She would make an excellent warrior if she wants." 

Bellamy tries to ignore it as they get to a field. There are two Ice Nation scouts dead. He looks over to see Clarke being dragged along by a Grounder. She looks terrified. The sound of drums echo through the field.

"We need to hide the bodies," Indra orders. "Or they will kill us."

"Clarke is right there," Bellamy argues.

"We will die if we don't hide," Indra tells him. 

"You guys hide," Ash tells them. "Bellamy and I will deal with the bodies."

"Are you sure?" Kane asks.

"I won't let Bellamy get caught by the Ice Nation," she promises. Her dad nods his head before leaving with the others. Ash and Bellamy go to drag the bodies into the woods.

"Are we about to put on their outfits?" he asks in a hushed voice.

"Of course," she responds.

"Just like old times."