Fallen

Chapter Fifty-Three: Desert

As time goes on, it never gets easier adapting to the new world. The moment Clarke and Ash think they figure everything out,  a new obstacle is thrown at them. But they are adapting. Though the lack of food and water does not help at all. They probably would do better if they weren't hungry and also a bit dehydrated. 

Clarke stops the rover and the two get out. Ash climbs onto the roof to look around them. Clarke places a map on the hood, studying it. They had just chose a random direction and went with it. Clarke has been recording where they go so they can make it back to Polis after the six years is up. Ash sees nothing but dead trees around them. She jumps down and goes to stand by Clarke.

"I think we should go this way," the blonde states.

"That works for me." Ash looks off in another direction. She could have sworn she saw something move in the distance. "I want to explore around here before we leave. Just in case."

"I'll wait here for you."

"I'll mark the trees just in case."

Clarke nods her head and Ash wonders off. Every so often, she puts a small cut a tree to find her path. It must have been a mirage or something. Just as she is about to turn back, she hears thunder. She turns around in time to see a sand storm coming right towards her. There is no way she would be able to make it to the rover in time. She pulls her scarf over her face and goggles over her eyes. She starts running from the storm, eyes scanning for a place to hide. Even with the extra layers of clothes on, it's still possible for the storm to tear up her skin. Eventually she finds a cavern that she quickly slides into. 

It's just deep enough where she is safe. The sand storm rages outside the entrance; some grains of minerals spilling in the cavern. Sitting there, waiting, it seemed like her early days on Earth. Back when they first figured out about the acid fog. At least she wasn't alone then. Now she has been separated from the only person she has now. 

After what feels like hours, the storm dies down and she is able to leave. Ash steps out of the cave and looks around. Shit. She didn't have time to mark which way she had ran. And the storm erased any signs of where she was. Trying to remember where the sun was when she looked around earlier, she takes a guess on where she was. But there are no markings on the trees. They could have possibly been stripped clean or she could've ran down the wrong path. After running so long, she stops, looking around. It's hard to catch her breath, but she needs to keep going.

"Clarke!" she calls out. "Clarke!"

Nothing. No response. She starts thinking of the map Clarke had shown her. West. Clarke wanted to head west. So that's what Ash will do. Hopefully the universe will do her a favor and allow her to find the blonde. So using the Sun, Ash starts in that direction. As she leaves the dead forest, she feels the Sun beating down on her skin. She keeps getting more and more dehydrated and tired; however she refuses to stop. She needs to find Clarke.

*****

Two days Ash has been walking. Two days on her own. Her condition is getting worst but she can't stop. A desert soon lies in front of her. Ash's legs give out as she collapses onto her knees. A dry sob racks her body. It's been useless. She is alone and she needs to accept it.

A noise above draws her attention. A noise she hasn't heard in a couple months. A bird is flying overhead. That means there has to be water and food near by. A scream rings out through the desert.

"Clarke," Ash gasps. She weakly pushes herself up before sliding down sand dunes. In the distance, she sees a figure on their knees. Clarke. It's really Clarke. She runs towards her, but the blonde doesn't notice her. Instead Clarke is looking at the sky. She slowly pulls out her gun, aiming it at her head. Seeing this, Ash picks up her pace. She runs straight for Clarke. She thankfully makes it in time. Ash's hand grabs Clarke's, moving it away from her. This seems to snap Clarke from her daze.

"Ash?" she asks. Instead of responding, Ash throws her arms around Clarke's neck, pulling her close. Clarke wraps her arms around Ash's waist, dropping her gun. Without thinking, Ash grabs Clarke's face, pressing her lips against hers. Clarke responds by kissing her back. As they pull away, they see a bird fly over head. They quickly look at each other before Clarke picks up her weapon. They both run up the dune to see the most wonderful sight that they have seen in a long time. Lush green in front of them. An oasis among the desert. The bird lands on the tree next to them.

"Thank you," Clarke tells it. She raises her weapon towards it, muttering, "Yu gonplei ste odon."

She fires the gun once, killing it. The blonde picks up the dead bird and the two walk into the garden to gather wood and start a fire. They are lucky to have found this place. The one corner of the world untouched. Maybe the universe is actually doing them a favor for once. Maybe they found a home for the next six years.