Fallen

Chapter Fifty-Four: Madi

Ash and Clarke walk around the village, taking in the sight. The only sign of the Death Wave went through here are the dead bodies scattered about. None of them even had a chance. Without even saying a word to each other, the two start picking up the bodies and taking them to the same location. It is a slow process to gather all the corpses that are scattered about. But they feel they need to. Out of respect, they wrap the bodies and building a mass pyre. They burn the bodies, as part of funeral rites. By the time they finish, it's dark out. The two wait until all the flames die down. No need to burn down the only place where they can find vegetation. Soon they head into one of the buildings, going to sleep on the floor.

*****

Clarke and Ash sit at a table, eating berries they have collected. It tastes amazing after not eating much for so long. Clarke is talking into the radio in hopes of someone hearing her. Ash tosses a berry at Clarke, chuckling. Clarke pretends to look offended before throwing one back at her. Ash just chuckles as she bites into a berry, the juice staining her lips and fingertips. Clarke sits up straighter, looking past Ash.

"Hey," she calls out. Ash turns to see a little girl running off towards the woods. Another person survived. The two get up and hurry off after her.

"We just want to talk," Clarke calls after her. The girl comes to a stop as Clarke steps into a trap. She lets out a cry of pain as the metal teeth sink into her flesh.

"Ai won't go kom yu, Flamekeeper," the young girl cries out before running to attack Clarke. Ash puts her arm out in hopes of deterring the young girl without hurting her. Instead she just gets bitten. The girl's teeth sink deep enough to draw blood. Once the girl sees the dark blood from the two older females, she stops.

"Nightblood," the girl gasps before running off. Ash turns to help get the trap to release Clarke's leg. She helps the blonde get back to village and inside a building. She rushes around and start gathering tools she needs. Going right back inside, she starts cleaning the wound.

"This will hurt," Ash warns. She cleans the needle and thread before she starts stitching. Clarke lets out a cry of pain as the needle pierces her skin. "I'm so sorry, but you need to stay still."

Clarke nods her head and Ash goes back to stitching. Clarke manages to stay still long enough for Ash to stitch her up. Ash cleans the wounds once finished.

"I don't have any of Monty's moonshine to disinfect it," she jokes.

"Thank you," Clarke tells her. 

"Of course."

"Let me see your arm." Ash holds it out and Clarke cleans the bite wounds. "You're lucky. You don't need stitches."

She grabs a clean cloth next to her and wraps Ash's arm. Ash grabs some furs to elevate Clarke's leg and form a pillow for her. She starts cleaning up all the bloody items and move them away from where they will be sleeping. Throwing some furs down on the bed, Ash curls up on makeshift bed. Quickly, sleep overtakes over her.

Ash is woken up to the sound of the door slamming. She sits up, reaching for a weapon. Though there is none by her. She looks over to see Clarke trying to find a weapon as well. Both happen to look out the window at the same time to see the young girl staring at them. The girl runs off. Ash falls back on the bundle of furs.

"She just stole our stuff, didn't she?" she mutters.

"Yep," Clarke responds.

"We'll deal with that in the morning. I'm too tired and you need to let your leg heal some."

*****

Ash helps Clarke to the rocks by the river. While the blonde sketches in her notebook, the other sets up a trap for the fish to swim into. A little bit down the river, Ash can see the girl a little further down the river, trying to spear some fish. She notices Ash and starts to back away. Ash slowly stands up with her hands in the air.

"We don't want to hurt you," she tells the girl. Then remembers that she may not speak English, so she repeats in Trigedasleng. "Osir laik nou na hurt yu."

The girl hurries off back to the woods.

"It was worth a shot," Clarke calls to Ash. "Leave it be the last people on the face of the Earth are us and a demon child."

"It may take a bit before she feels comfortable around us," Ash remarks, ignoring Clarke's last comment. In the corner of her eye, she sees the blonde shoving a piece of paper in the cracks of the rock.

*****

Ash stabs a fish with the spear in her hand before pushing lose stands of hair out of her face. She looks to the bank of the river to see her girlfriend walking up. Clarke's now short hair seems to glow gold in the sunlight. 

"Madi will be waiting for us," Clarke calls. It took months for Madi to get close to them, and over the past few years, she's became the couple's adoptive daughter. The last three on the surface of Earth and they formed a family.

Ash puts the fish in the bucket before walking over to the bank. Clarke grabs the bucket from her as Ash puts on her boots. The two walk back to the village. As Clarke sets the bucket of fish on the table, Madi come bounding over with something in her hand. Her brown hair is now tamed a bit and she is more fit. 

"Look," she smiles, holding out her cupped hands. Inside are brightly colored berries. "There are plenty. And you said when there are more than we need you'll do my hair."

"You did promise her," Ash chuckles, wrapping her arms around Clarke's waist. 

"Did I?" the blonde smirks, twisting to face her partner. She wraps her arms around Ash, smiling at her. "Was this when you volunteered to cook?"

"I see what you did there," Ash chuckles. "I'll cook the fish while you two gather berries for tonight."

The two briefly kiss before all three split off to do their tasks. It doesn't take Ash long to fillet and cook the fish, given she's done it so many times already. Some pieces she salts and leave hanging over the fire to smoke. It should preserve the fish a little longer. Once the berries are gathered and they finish eating, the three gather by the fire. 

While Clarke uses the bright berries to stain Madi's hair, the young girl flips through the sketchbook. The images depict stories she's heard a hundred times. Ash sits near the fire, sharping her knife. The only object she's managed to hold on to these past six years.

"What drawing are you looking at?" Ash asks.

"Your coronation," Madi responds. "It's weird to think about how you were Queen of Azgeda."

"For a month," Ash reminds her. "And then Praimfaya happened."

Madi flips the page. "Do you miss them?"

Them being their friends and family. Clarke and Ash look at each other.

"We do," Clarke slowly responds for both. "But we got to meet you."

"I know their all safe," Madi smiles. 

"Why's that?" Ash muses.

"Because Skairipa is with them."

The image Madi is staring at is Octavia back when they first landed. Back before she was called Skairipa. Back when the biggest issue was what berries they shouldn't eat. A lifetime ago. And yet, these past few years have been the most peace Ash has had in a long time. No fighting. No needing to deal with mass catastrophe. Just a small family living off the land. If only the others were here to also enjoy it. 

Madi flips the page once more. One of the few images Clarke included herself in. It's of her, Ash, and Bellamy. One day they will all see each other again. That'll be quite the reunion. Ash stands up, stretching.

"I'm going to bed," she informs the other two. 

"I laid the blankets down in the rover," Clarke calls after her. It took them three days to get the rover to the village and then took them over a year to fix it enough to function. Neither are Raven, who could have possibly fixed it in a day just cause she was bored. 

Ash kicks her boots off before climbing inside the vehicle. There is plenty of room for the three of them to sleep in. She undoes her braid before laying in the blankets. Soon she doze off, letting sleep take over her.