This Side of Paradise

Chapter 3

Clarke's head snapped toward the river, and Aspen watched the thought spark behind her eyes before the blonde finally voiced it.

"We need to distract it!" Clarke's voice was urgent—pleading.

"You're right," Aspen said immediately. The look of shock on Clarke's face would make her laugh later. Not now—not while a river monster had her best friend in its jaws, and Jasper looked ready to dive in after her.

Aspen sprinted toward a large rock hanging over the river. If they could push it in, maybe—just maybe—it would hit the creature.

"Help her!" Clarke shouted.

Suddenly Monty and Finn were at Aspen's side, helping her push the boulder. Behind them, Jasper leapt into the water.

The rock crashed into the river with a massive splash.

"It worked. It let her go," Monty said breathlessly.

Jasper swam toward Octavia. "Octavia, get to the shore—now!"

Octavia, gasping for breath, grabbed onto Jasper's arm.

"I got you," he said, guiding her toward the riverbank.

"It's coming back!" Monty shouted. "It's headed right for you guys!"

Aspen and Finn rushed to the edge and reached out, grabbing Jasper and Octavia and hauling them onto the shore. Octavia immediately threw her arms around Jasper.

"Thank you," she breathed.

The dazed look on Jasper's face made it clear: that single moment had just become the best of his life.

Aspen overheard Monty mutter with a smirk, "Note to self—next time, save the girl."

Aspen didn't laugh. She was just relieved. Her friend was alive. That was all that mattered. Bellamy might flip over her injured leg—but she wasn't dead.

⸻

It had been a while since the attack. The group kept moving, Jasper and Monty helping Octavia whenever she limped or stumbled. She was only slowing them down a little, which Aspen didn't mind. She found herself savoring the quiet moments, drinking in the strange beauty of Earth—colors and smells and sounds she never imagined she'd experience firsthand.

Clarke hadn't spoken to her since the river. Aspen didn't mind. She had no words for the blonde anyway. Not now. Not yet.

There were only two people Aspen wanted to talk to—one of them still in the sky, the other back at the dropship.

Eventually, the group reached another part of the river. Finn thought he'd found a way across—by swinging over it using a vine. Dangerous, but fun. The kind of fun Aspen had never been allowed on the Ark.

As the boys debated who would go first, Octavia stepped beside Aspen.

"Even on Earth, the boys act the same," Aspen murmured with a quiet laugh. She turned to her friend. "How's your leg doing?"

"I can tell that it's there," Octavia replied with a grin. "Which I guess is better than if it wasn't."

Aspen couldn't help but smile. She admired how tough the girl was.

"You wanted to go first. Now quit stalling," Clarke snapped, her voice cutting through the group. She was talking to Finn, who clearly had made some big argument about being the test pilot.

"Mount Weather awaits," Finn sighed as he gripped the vine, visibly regretting his choices.

"Just hang on till the apogee, and you'll be fine," Jasper called out helpfully.