The First On The Ground

The Tinder Box

(AUGUST POV)

Mine and Octavia's horses have been taking us back to camp. I notice that Octavia is getting weaker by the second.

"Octavia, you have to hang on. We're almost there," I tell her as I feel my own body growing weaker. Octavia then falls off her horse. "No, Octavia." A grounder then walks out of the trees. I notice that he isn't Azgeda. "Help us, please. I'm your Heda. Please help." I watch as he picks Octavia up before putting her on her horse. I fall forward onto my horse's neck as my body grows weaker. "Mochof." The grounder then leads us in the direction of the Arkadia. We make it back to Arkadia and Harper rushes over to us. "We need Clarke." Harper helps me off my horse as the grounder grabs Octavia.

"Clarke!" Harper calls as we walk into hangar bay.

"Octavia? August?" Clarke asks as she runs over.

"She just stopped breathing," Harper says.
"Okay. Get her on the table now," Clarke orders.
"There's a stab wound in her stomach," I say.
"She's soaked in blood," Harper adds as she sets me in a chair.
"Okay. First things first," Clarke says before she starts chest compressions. "Who are you? How did this happen to them?"

"Ilian kom Trishanakru. I was on my way home from Polis when I found them," Ilian answers. Clarke breathes into Octavia three times before she starts breathing.

"Okay. Get her to medical now," Clarke orders.
"Getting us here saved her life. Thank you," I tell Ilian. Octavia starts trying to speak.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, shh, it's okay. It's okay. You're okay. Octavia, you've lost a lot of blood, but you're home now. I'm gonna help you," Clarke says.
"Azgeda's coming," Octavia barely gets out.
"What's she talking about?" Monty asks.

"Azgeda is coming. Army marching," Octavia barely says.
"Octavia, hey, hey, hey, stay with me," Clarke says.
"War is here," Octavia breathes out before she passes out.
"Take her. Go," Clarke orders. "Start an I.V, blood, and fluids, and get a suture kit ready." Clarke then turns to Monty. "Hey, I have to do this, but get Kane on the radio. Find out exactly what's going on."

"It won't do you any good," I say and Clarke turns to me.

"Why?" Clarke asks.

"He and Bellamy are hostages. Roan had Echo spying on us before I could get there to tell him about the nightblood. He thinks we betrayed him. His army marches on Arkadia. Skaikru and Trikru are enemies of Azgeda," I explain.

"Let's get you to medical," Clarke says as she throws my arm over her shoulder and helps me walk. "Harper, hey, look at me. Convene the guard. Miller's dad is ranking officer. If Azgeda's coming, we need to plan our defense, okay? We'll be there as soon as we can."
"Okay," Harper says before running off.
"Niylah, I could use the help," Clarke says before she hands me over to Niylah. I am stitched up and Clarke helps Octavia the best she can before we head to meet with the guard.

"Hey, how is she?" Harper asks as we walk in.

"Strong," I answer her.
"Listen. All we have to do is spread it in front of the outer wall. Then when the army gets close..." Miller's dad explains.

"We light them up," Riley finishes.
"That's right," Miller's dad says.
"You want to light a fire outside the ship we just spent the last month getting ready?" Monty asks.

"That's not happening," I say.
"Any word from Kane?" Clarke asks. Did she not believe me?

"No, but Jaha found the cargo truck 12 hours out, no sign of Bellamy or Stephens," Monty answers.
"I have to speak to Roan," I say.
"Yes," Clarke agrees. "Something happened, some sort of misunderstanding."
"August, Clarke, if he wanted to talk, he wouldn't be coming with his army," Harper says.
"Right, but there's only one way to get here from Polis," I say. "I'll ride out and meet him. He probably assumes I'm dead anyway."
"Are you no, absolutely not," Miller's dad says.