Defender of Men

02:02

Alasdair Maven Wolfe

"If he didn't do it, I would have!"

- - - -

The first thing I noticed about camp was how bad it smelled. And then...I noticed the bodies.

My stomach stirred and all of my senses seemed to be heightened. It was like all the dead bodies were watching me and it was really freaking me out. I got off my horse—which I still haven't named. I held my horse's reins in my hand and I saw Nate jump over a rock, cursing.

"Jesus fucking Christ!" Nate snapped as he used Finn's arm to steady himself after he almost tripped over one of the Ark Guard's big bags. 

Nate yelled, "Pick up your shit, guys!" I heard Finn mumble underneath his breath, "You probably shouldn't be yelling at them," while Rhea laughed loudly to annoy the guard that was holding her.

I stopped walking and waited for Rhea's guard to get to where I was standing. I asked, "What should I name her?" motioning to my horse once Rhea was near me. Rhea suggested, "Trikova? It means shadow." Trikova? Hmm, I like it. 

I replied, "Thanks, Ray." Rhea looked taken aback by my new nickname for her, but she replied, "You're welcome, Red." I looked at Trikova and I whispered, "Hello, Trikova."

Surprisingly, Trikova looked over at me immediately. I smiled before walking away from Rhea. I walked over to Bellamy and tapped his shoulder. Bellamy looked over at me and I asked, "Lift?" Bellamy sighed, before nodding his head and kneeling on one knee. 

I put my left foot on his leg and grabbed onto the other side of Trikova's reins. I lifted myself up and threw my right leg over Trikova's back and Bellamy stood up. I told him, "Thanks, Bells." Bellamy nodded before turning around and walked over to my brother's side. 

I urged Trikova forward and she began slowly walking forward. I pulled her reins back once she was standing next to Nate, and she stopped walking forward. I patted the right side of her neck with my right hand.

I heard Kane yell, "We need a stretcher!" from inside the camp. Who's inside the camp? Bellamy, Nate, and Finn all took a step forward in unison. If they found someone, they're one of our friends. I craned my neck, trying to look inside the dropship, but to no avail. 

One of the guards shot his arm out, "Woah." The three boys shared a look—having a silent agreement—and as soon as the unfamiliar guard deemed that they had given up, they all turned and broke into a dead sprint. 

Idiots, I think as they duck and push through the tunnels that lead into the camp. I saw the guards bring out Raven on a stretcher with Murphy following behind. 

Murphy looked at me with fear as he said, "It was awful. There were hundreds of them, if not for Raven, I don't know what would have happened." I looked at Murphy, seeing his face bloody and he was walking with a strong limp, but other than that he seemed fine, which only seemed to irk my brother more.

Murphy looked at Nate and his eyes went wide, "Nate," as an unreadable expression darted across his face. Murphy stuttered, "B-Bellamy...you're alive." Yeah, no thanks to you. Bellamy didn't even try to stop Nate as Nate launched forward. 

Nate grabbed onto Murphy's shoulders, making both of them harshly fall to the ground, and he reared his fist back. Nate launched his fist forward, his fist colliding harshly with Murphy's face.

"You son of a bitch!" Nate shouted as he slammed Murphy's shoulders into the ground again. I watched as Kane grabbed onto Nate's arm, trying to stop him, but Nate ripped his arm out of Kane's grip, going to punch Murphy again, and that's when I saw it.

An electric baton.

No. No, no, no. I yelled, "Nate, enough!" as he is shocked by the electric baton. Nate crumpled to the ground and another guard grabbed him, Kane ordered, "Put him under arrest." Bellamy demanded, "Under arrest?" 

Shut up, Bellamy! Preferably before you're arrested as well. Bellamy continued, "Murphy's a murderer! If he didn't do it, I would have!" Kane nodded, "Good to know, Mr. Blake. But in case you haven't noticed, you're not in control any more," as Nate was shoved harshly into a tree.

The question is, were we ever in control?

Bellamy walked over to Nate and whispered something in his ear. We all started walking, all of us following behind the Ark's stupid Guard.

- - - -

We got back to the Ark's Alpha station on the ground and I immediately exited camp, staying on Trikova. I didn't have to see Nate get arrested the first time and I'm not gonna watch this time either. 

The guards tried to stop me as I exited camp, but I just stopped Trikova next to Rhea and commanded, "Get on." Rhea looked at me before looking at her guards—who currently weren't paying attention to her.

Rhea quickly cut her ropes from her wrists and got on Trikova's back, sitting behind me. I snapped the reins as I shouted, "Hyah!" Trikova took off and Rhea wrapped her hands around my waist. I heard Rhea murmur, "I prefer riding Sheidgeda." 

I shrugged, "Closest thing we got to that right now." Rhea didn't reply as Trikova continued galloping. I closed my eyes and let go of Trikova's reins, spreading my arms outwards. The wind rushed through my hair, probably hitting Rhea with my hair, but I heard no sounds of annoyance from Rhea. 

I like this, I think as I open my eyes and grab Trikova's reins once more.

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