The Tribute (Clexa)

Chapter 16

"Again, Clarke," Anya barked.

Clarke was holding onto a wooden fence railing doing squats. Her right leg was burning. "You told me that if I had Lexa go into the lake for a stone that you would give me two days off training."

Anya laughed, remembering the morning two days ago when Clarke had bravely walked to the beach to stare into the water as the others broke down camp. The omega found the stone she wanted Lexa to get for her, and she asked the alpha to go get it. She had actually asked. Never had Anya dreamed that Clarke would be daring enough ask Lexa to wade into ice cold water to get her a stone.

And Lexa did it. The branwoda (foolish) alpha did it, although in Clarke's defense, she had somehow spotted a very rare and very valuable piece of petrified wood. It was beautiful, and Clarke and Lexa were tickled with her find.

Still, it had come as a surprise that Clarke had been courageous enough to ask Lexa for something. After the night before, when the omega had sleepily kissed Lexa on the cheek and then had tried to run away, it was a shock that Clarke hadn't shut down again when it came to Lexa. Instead, something seemed to have finally clicked inside the omega's brain.

When the blonde omega stumbled out of her tent the next morning, something was different about her. While still reserved and quiet, most of her shyness seemed to have gone away. She trudged right over to the fire and helped herself to a cup of tea without asking, something she had never done before. She also sat next to Lexa without hesitation. Usually, her preferred spot was next to Indra.

After getting over her disbelief that Clarke had sat next to her, Lexa started a cautious conversation with the omega, asking if she had slept alright, if she was warm enough, and if she was hungry yet. She didn't ask about the kiss although Anya knew the younger alpha was dying to do so.

Instead, Lexa made Clarke a plate of food, and filled her cup of tea anytime it got low. She fussed over the omega without seeming overbearing.

When it was time to breakdown camp, Lexa insisted that Clarke did not need to assist them, so the omega walked down to the beach. She stood there the entire time, staring at the trees, the water, and the early morning creatures that were visiting the lake for a drink or to hunt. When it was down to Indra and Nyko packing up the last few items, Lexa walked to stand beside Clarke.

Anya was too far behind them to hear what Clarke said to Lexa, but she saw the omega point somewhere about ten feet into the water, and a moment later and without hesitation, Lexa went splashing into depths of the lake.

The general couldn't believe her eyes. It was late in the season, and that water was bone-chillingly cold, but Lexa plunged right in, completely soaking herself to reach for the stone Clarke had pointed to.

"What is that branwoda goufa (foolish child) doing?" Indra inquired as she stepped over to Anya. "She's going to catch her death in that freezing water."

Anya caught Indra up on what had transpired the night before, starting with the kiss and finishing with her offer to give Clarke a couple days off her training if she sent Lexa into the water.

"You did not tell our strik (little) omega to do that," Indra doubted.

"I did," Anya laughed, "only I didn't think she would go through with it. I was trying to make the point that Lexa would do anything for her. If she doesn't realize that now, it's hopeless."

"Well, I'll be." Indra stood next to Anya as Lexa fumbled in the water. They had a good laugh as the young Heda made a fool of herself, although, to her credit, Lexa didn't give up until she had the exact stone that Clarke had pointed to, and they all got excited when they realized it was a piece of petrified wood.