Even In The Grave, All Is Not Lost

The Other Side

A/N: so I don't particularly like this chapter but here we are. I like the next one better and it shouldn't be quite as long a wait before I post it since I only have two more proofreads left.

. . .

Luna ran her hand over the boy's head, feeling the dark auburn curls for the last time. There was a small braid above his ear, spun through with blue thread, and she knew who had weaved it. She had a matching one in her own hair - thicker, yes, but just the same. Adria loved to play with hair. "I'm sorry."

Once the sickness had returned to him, Reed hadn't lasted long. A day. And then his breathing had failed. The wheezes had echoed in her ears for hours before the last breath crackled free.

Clenching her jaw, Luna finished wrapping the blanket around him, sealing his face away. The sound of the waves beckoned her and, steeling herself, she lifted the far too light bundle into her arms, trying to ignore how rigid it had already become in death as she made her way to the edge of the platform. It was closest to the water's surface, the ladder relatively short in comparison to others. She would need that brevity now.

On unsteady feet, Luna made her way down, nearly losing her purchase several times.

She would not drop him.

The blood rushed from her head a moment as she reached the bottom, washing her in dizziness, before she bent over, reluctantly releasing her burden to the sea.

"From water you were born, to water you return."

Only far too soon.

The current carried Reed away, out into the dark, she felt a piece of her detach, float away with him.

Luna knew that this was only the beginning. That there would soon be more bodies to give to the sea. But how many? How many more would she have to do this for in the days to come?

How many more would she have the strength to?

"I've decided to never eat again," Luna grunted, collapsing back on the bed and cradling her stomach.

Raven watched as she breathed heavily, skin now a shade too pale and glistening with sweat - its earlier flush gone.

(and all her former grace along with it)

Raven grimaced sympathetically. "I'll join you in that."

Her stomach was still doing somersaults, despite the fact that she was fairly certain there was nothing left in it to somersault with.

Drama queen.

"At least we're not bleeding out of our eyes. That was zero fun," Raven muttered, scratching at her arm. At Luna's curious look, "little gift from your people after we first landed."

"Jus Skaikrasha." She winced. "I passed through a village that had fallen victim to it once. Most of the dead were children and elderly. It was terrible." She closed her eyes a moment, before returning her gaze to Raven. "I'm sorry."

"Not like it's your fault."

"Still," Luna's mouth lifted faintly, eyes sad, "I'm sorry."

Raven shrugged. "I mean, in their defense, we sort of kind of accidentally set one of their villages on fire."

A minor detail.

"I heard." Her expression was not amused. "Lexa told me." When the fuck had she spoken to Lexa? Wasn't Luna supposed to be in exile or something? "Your aim is impeccable, by the way. That village was sacred. Destroying it was not only an act of war, but considered to be a grave insult."