The Tribute (Clexa)

Chapter 15

Deciding that Clarke needed to see something other than TonDC, an executive decision was made to ride to Arrowhead Lake. Once there, they would set up camp and spend the night. The omega was trepidatious about spending the evening outdoors, but everyone assured her that she would be safe.

They did give her the choice of going home, but her curiosity beat out her nervousness. Lexa had explained that Arrowhead Lake was one of the largest lakes in the area, and that it was named such because, from the top of a nearby hill, the lake was shaped the same as the sharp tip of an arrow. The alpha also explained that there was a good chance that they would see deer, rabbits, birds, and even a moose. That information was what made up Clarke's mind. Except for horses, a few birds, a rabbit, and a pet cat, she had seen no other animals.

"Are there lions?" Even from atop her horse, she hadn't put her stuffed lion back in her bag. She clung to it like it was a lifeline.

Lexa smiled. "There are no lions, but there are panthers, but not in the area we are going to," Lexa quickly added when Clarke paled.

"You said there was an alpha novitiate that ran away from the Conclave. What will happen to her if she returns?" Clarke asked, abruptly changing the subject.

Lexa was quiet for a few minutes, knowing that the answer would upset Clarke. If Luna were to return, the runaway alpha would be killed on the spot. She would be viewed as a coward and a disgrace to her clan. With the changes Lexa planned to make, by abolishing the Conclave, maybe she could change Luna's. She was Heda now, and if she wanted to allow Luna to live, she could make it so.

"Ordinarily, Luna would be killed as a coward, but that won't happen, not while I am Heda," Lexa finally answered. For the time being, Lexa was riding at Clarke's side. "Of all the participants in the Conclave, Luna is the only one who I would have called a friend. I was happy when I saw her running away. I am glad she got to live."

"Me too," they heard from behind them where Anya was taking the rear this time.

It was late afternoon when they arrived at the lake, and Lexa could see Clarke's energy was flagging. She assisted the omega off Haula and led her to the shore while the others prepared a meal. Anya was off hunting while Nyko and Indra took care of the food they had brought with them.

The sun would be setting soon, and Lexa got excited. It would be a new experience for Clarke.

She helped Clarke sit in the sand, assisted with taking off her brace for a while, and encouraged the omega to take off her boots and socks so she could feel the sand between her toes.

Clarke, as expected, was hesitant to be barefoot in the sand and only pulled off her footwear when she saw Lexa do it. The alpha dug her feet deep into the cold sand, enjoying the sensation.

"What does it feel like?" Clarke asked shyly.

"You will have to try it for yourself if you want to know," Lexa said playfully. She sat with her feet buried as she started to play in the sand. "Come on, Klark, live a little. After today, it will be too cold to sit on the beach."

Clarke dipped a toe into the sand and shivered. "It's cold."

"It is, but after a few minutes, you won't notice at all." Lexa started gathering damp sand into a pile. She formed it into shapes that Clarke couldn't make any sense of.

Clarke shoved her feet into the sand, frowning at first but then giving Lexa a small smile.

"See, it's not so bad, is it?" Lexa said, leaning sideways to bump the omega's shoulder with hers.

"No, it feels kind of neat. I've never felt anything like it," Clarke admitted.

"Wait until it is warm enough to go swimming. Have you ever been?" Lexa asked.