sparks || r. reyes

three.

DAWN MANAGED TO MAKE THE TRIP TO POLIS IN LESS THAN A DAY. Which was very impressive, considering it usually takes a day and a half by horseback. She didn't need to introduce herself to the guards. As soon as the hood of her cape came off her head, they knew exactly who she was and the look of determination and anger on her face told them exactly who she needed to speak to. 

Dawn discarded her weapons outside the tower before she was escorted by two guards up to the throne room. As she entered, she fell to one knee to bow in respect. "Heda."

"Rise, Dawn of the Tree People," The woman sitting in the throne before her stated. Usually, Lexa and Dawn were good friends. They grew up close before Lexa was taken to be a novitiate, both the girls being from the same village and being trained by Indra. But Lexa knew that Dawn didn't show up like this. Disappearing for days on end and showing up all battered and bruised; something was wrong. "What business do you bring to me?"

"I was kidnapped by Skaikru," Dawn stated, holding her chin high to speak with confidence. Even though she had known Lexa since she was a baby, she needed to be fearless when speaking to the Commander. "I have seen their camp. Their weapons, soldiers, everything. I want to help you in taking them down."

"No inhalation has been declared yet, Dawn," Lexa rebutted. "Justice will be served  for the ring of fire, and your knowledge will be of much help."

"I do not seek justice. I want vengeance, Commander. I lost my father in the ring of fire. Skaikru must pay," Dawn's emotion began clouding her words. 

"Calm down," Lexa's confident voice was like a knife cutting through the thick cloud of Dawn's rage. Knowing the young girl all those years, Lexa knew Dawn well enough to know she never allows her emotions to get in the way of her duties. But when she walked in to the tower with bruises littering her skin, cuts and grazes all over and eyes that looked as if she hadn't slept in days, the Commander knew something was wrong. "I am sorry for your loss. Cassian kom Trikru was a fierce warrior. Yu gonplei ste odon."

"Yu gonplei ste odon," The guards and officials in the room echoed. 

"We mustn't mourn the dead until the war is done," The Commander stated. 

"I thought there was no war?" Dawn replied sarcastically.

"Of course there is a war. However, it must be dealt with the right way. The Sky People have weapons that can end our people. You are a smart warrior, Dawn. Think about what you are insinuating. We must go about this in a smart way."

Dawn took a breath, recollecting her thoughts. "I apologise, Heda."

"There is no need," Lexa replied softly before looking up at the rest of her guards. "Leave us," She ordered. And with two words, the room was emptied beside Dawn and Lexa. 

Lexa stood, stepping closer to Dawn. "Are you alright?"

Dawn swallowed and nodded. "Of course."

"It is okay to be human, Dawn," Lexa assured, wrapping her arms around the younger girl. 

That is when Dawn broke. 

Tears fell from her eyes like waterfalls as her breathing sped up, too fast for Dawn to catch up with it, causing her body to wrack with sobs. Lexa held her tighter, not wanting to see the girl she grew up with like a sister in such a broken state. 

In the past week, Dawn had lost her father and many friends in a massacre, and was then kidnapped and tortured by the same people who commited the aforementioned massacring. Tough week. And to top it all off, one of the most well known and skilled warriors amongst all of the coalition was breaking down like a cowardly, soft child to none other than the Commander herself.