No Hero: Lost Among the Flame

Shallow Valley

Lexa

8 years 3 months later

"It's me again, hodnes" I leaned back against the windshield and spoke into the radio. The usual soft static followed. "Today is day three thousand and thirteen since the nuclear melt down. And day three thousand and twenty three since we were separated" I continued.

I sighed setting the radio beside me on the hood. Lightly I traced the edge of the image on the page I kept in my notebook. She was smiling in it. Almost like she was with me. Except she's not.

Picking up a small pouch I began eating the tree nuts. The sun was making its way toward the horizon signaling it was almost time to head back. This time I stayed for four days working on clearing the rubble from the tower. But my supplies are running low and theres only one place to get more.

My eyes never left the drawing. They are the only thing I have that make me feel close to her. I could never forget what she looked like, I saw her every night in my dreams. I've wept over this drawings. Wept until I couldn't breathe.

I took up the radio again, "I don't know if you can hear me but I hope you can. I have not given up on you even though it's been so long. I'm sorry." My finger drew along the line of her jaw, "Ai hod yu in."

The familiar feeling of water forming in my eyes returned. I let a few tears slip while I gazed at her image longingly. Gathering myself I looked up at the sky until my eyes dried. 

"Today I-" I was interrupted by a beeping noise from the radio. I sighed letting my head fall back to lightly thud against the windshield. "I have to go, hodnes. My battery is dying and my supplies are low. I'll be back in a couple of days" I brought it to my lips to sign off. I took one last moment to hold Freya's picture up with the sky behind her. Like she was smiling down at me like she used to do when she won't up before me.

Sliding off the hood of the rover I gathered my supplies into my knapsack. I took my sword and got into the rover setting it next to me. I set Freya's picture in the corner of the windshield so I could still see her. Then I started my way home, slowly backing away from the ruins. 

It took awhile for me to accept Clarke's offer to show me how to drive this thing. Our home in shallow valley has some livestock but after our donkey died in one of the debris storm I told myself it was time. I had just barely found cover during that storm to save myself. There are still scars on my sides where the first storm injured me.

The route back was second nature so much so that I spent the time mentally planning when I could return to the tower. I was close to uncovering the hatch in the basement.

The sun was setting as I came upon shallow valley. Clarke looked up from her spot sitting in front of her home. As I turned off the rover she waved. I took the drawing and closed it in my notebook. The passenger door opened, "You're back." Madi smiled leaning her hands on the seat.

"I am" I gave her a simple smile even though it didn't reach my eyes.

She picked up my knapsack and walked around the rover to my door. "We're about to start dinner, will you sit with us?" she asked hopefully.

I picked up my sword and stepped out from behind the wheel. "I will in a little bit" I told her. The young nightblood smiled holding out my bag to me. I slung it over my back and head towards my single room cabin.

"She's going to come to the fire tonight" I heard her say too Clarke.

I stepped into my cabin next door and kept the door cracked to listen for a minute. "That's good" Clarke said to her.

Madi sighed, "How come she never looks happy when she comes home?"

"You know why" the blonde said softly.