The First On The Ground

The Four Horsemen

(AUGUST POV)

I had received word from my father that Rafel was found dead, so Roan would not be challenged. I remained in Arkadia to help with the sorting and rationing.
"Two meals a day for people working as hard as ours, we won't make any friends," Bellamy says as we move things into the storage area.
"Well, if there's one thing our people understand, it's rationing," Clarke says.
"Besides, once you close those doors, it'll be one meal a day for the next 5 years," I say.
"Try one meal every other day," Raven says from where she was repairing the station. "Hunting parties are coming back with less and less. Thanks to your friend Niylah, we're preserving more meat than ever, but it's still not enough. Without a way to make water, growing our own protein like we did on the Ark is not an option. Remember that when we're starving." Raven glares at Bellamy.
"I won't be starving because I won't be inside," Bellamy says. That's what he thinks. He will be inside if I have anything to do with it.
"Yes, you will," I say.
"Does that mean you made the list?" Raven asks. She wants Clarke and I to make a list of who the hundred people should be.

"No," Clarke answers. "What about drinking water?"

"Clarke, don't change the subject. We need to know who's gonna be on the inside of these doors when the radiation comes," Raven says.
"We don't need to know now," Clarke says.
"We need some medical help at the front gate. Looks like we got some sick people there," The P.A. says. We all head outside to the gate.
"Do not come any closer," A guard says.
"Please. They need Skaikru medicine," I hear Nyko's voice.
"Move. Stand back," Bellamy says as we make our way through the people.
"Nyko," Clarke says as we make our way over to them. I see Luna and the girl she is fond of. I start looking around for Mika before I find her at the back of the group.
"What if it's a Grounder attack like they did with Murphy?" Miller asks Bellamy.

"Mika," I say as I run over to her.

"What happened to them?" Clarke asks.

"The sickness. We lost more than 40 on the way," Nyko answers and I feel Mika's forehead. She's burning up.
"Luna?" Bellamy asks.

"Please don't turn us away because of what I did to you," Luna says.
"Out of my way. Please let me through," Abby says as she makes her way through the crowd.
"Abby they have fever, lesions, vomiting," I tell her as she starts looking at the others. Mika starts to throw up so I rub her back soothingly.

"Mom, what is this?" Clarke asks.

"It's ARS," Abby answers.
"What's ARS?" Bellamy asks as he looks at me in worry.

"Acute radiation sickness," Abby answers. "When did the symptoms start?"

"Not sure. Right before the fish started dying," Luna answers.
"The fish are dying?" Raven asks.

"Floating on the sea to the horizon in every direction," Nyko answers.
"It's not contagious. Let's get them to medbay," Abby says.
"I got you," I say as I pick up Mika into my arms. Clarke and Bellamy bend down in front of the dead body. "It's already here." I take Mika to medbay. I help Abby and Jackson look after the sick especially the ones who only speak Trigedasleng.
"They're getting worse," I say as I sit beside Mika and rub a wet rag on her forehead. "There's got to be something we can do."
"Delactivene might help, but Raven's got the meds on lockdown," Jackson says.
"Leave Raven to me. What, exactly, do the tests show?" Abby says.

"The exposure is acute. Without treatment, there's little to no chance of recovery. It looks like the radiation is internal, ingested from irradiated fish. None of the outbreaks appear to be from airborne exposure," Jackson explains. I watch as Bellamy helps Luna who is throwing up. "That's the good news."
"Not for them," Clarke says.
"You think I deserve this for refusing the Flame?" Luna asks Bellamy.