The First On The Ground

Perverse Instantiation, Part One

(AUGUST POV)

We are waiting on the rover to charge so we can head back to Arkadia. Clarke hasn't said a word to me since I said that we were going to use me.

"Rover's almost charged. We need to pack up. We'll be home soon," Bellamy says as he climbs down from the rover.
"Then what, run away?" Clarke asks. What is it going to take for her to listen to me?

"We're not running away, Clarke. We need to regroup with the others, and find another way to defeat.." Bellamy goes to answer.

"There is no other way," Clarke says and I roll my eyes. "We need to find a Nightblood."

"We have one," I say but I'm ignored.
"We need to unlock the Flame," Clarke continues. "It's the only way to stop A.L.I.E."
"What do you expect us to do, Clarke, walk into random villages asking for their Nightbloods?" Jasper asks her.

"If that's what it takes," Clarke answers.
"No, Clarke. If A.L.I.E. can find us on Luna's rig, then she can find us anywhere. I won't help you destroy another innocent Grounder village. We have August," Octavia argues. Finally, someone is siding with me!
"If we don't find a Nightblood, that's not August, there won't be any Grounder villages or a home for us to go back to," Clarke argues.
"That's all the more reason we go there and make sure our friends are okay," Bellamy says. Clarke looks to Octavia and Jasper to see if they agree with her or Bellamy. Clarke then walks off.
"She'll be fine. Just let her cool off," Jasper says.

"No. She's going to listen to me," I say before taking off after her. I see Clarke stop and pull out the flame.
"I'm sorry," Clarke says to the flame. I guess she feels like she is talking to Lexa.

"Clarke," I say making her turn to me. "Why are you so against putting the flame in me?"

"I can't lose you too, okay?" Clarke answers.

"Clarke, you are not going to lose me," I tell her. "I was brought back so I could have the flame put in me. It's what Lexa wanted."

"I just don't want to lose you," Clarke says and I pull her into a hug. "I already lost her."

"You won't. I'll protect you," I tell her. "Just like I promised Lexa." We pull away and share a small smile.

"Fine. After we get back to Arkadia, we'll put the flame in you," Clarke says and I hear a twig snap. I quickly load my bow with an arrow. A chipped Arkadian comes from around a tree and before I can let my arrow go, an arrow goes through the Arkadian's neck. I shift my bow to where the arrow came from and find Roan.
"Roan?" I ask as he runs over to us. I put my arrow back in my quiver before putting my bow on my back.

"Looks like I'm not the only one who's been following your tracks," Roan says as he grabs the flame from Clarke.
"Give that back," Clarke says.
"Goodbye, Wanheda and Keryon Gona," Roan says as he turns to walk away. I quickly unsheathe my sword.
"Wait," Clarke says as she aims her gun at Roan and I put my sword to his throat.
"You have a real gratitude problem. You know that?" Roan asks as he snatches the gun from Clarke's hand and throws it away. He turns to walk away but I'm in front of him with my sword raised.

"Would you just hear me out?" Clarke asks him. "I need to put that in August or another nightblood."
"I already have a Nightblood to put it in," Roan says as he moves my sword quickly and kicks me in the stomach sending me to the ground.
"Please just stop," Clarke begs as I stand back up.
"Because of you, Ontari never ascended, so, no, I won't stop, not until the Ice Nation has its Commander," Roan says.

"And it never will," I say as Roan turns to find Bellamy aiming a gun at his head.
"You were saying?" Bellamy asks him. "Hands where I can see them." Bellamy then turns to look at me while I hold my stomach. "You okay?"