「 ✦ Bambi- Bellamy Blake ✦ 」

Morosis

the stupidest of stupidities 

 After this statement , Athena did not even hear the rest of the conversation. In shock , she sat on the tree stump , this time Octavia staring at her worried. "You idiots. Life support on the Ark is failing. That's why they brought us down here. They need to know the ground is survivable again, and we need their help against whoever is out there. If you take off your wristbands, you're not just killing them. You're killing us!" 

Athena's stomach churned with nausea as the grim reality settled over her like a suffocating shroud. She did not have any family on the ark but the thought of these countless people dying made her feel sick to her stomach.

"We have to find Jasper," Athena murmurs, the urgency evident in her voice, though it seems more like a thought slipping out rather than a directed statement. Octavia, beside her, silently acknowledges her words with a nod.

 As Athena observes Clarke's determined stride toward the dropship, she rises from the tree stump and trails after her. "Clarke, hey Clarke," she interjects, catching up to the blonde girl. "I want to come with you to find Jasper." Clarke pauses, considering Athena's request before ultimately consenting.

Athena swiftly returns to her tent, snatching up a jacket in preparation for a potential overnight stay in the forest. Once equipped, she rejoins the group, where Clarke is inquiring about Bellamy's firearm. 

Bellamy complies, revealing the weapon concealed beneath his shirt. "Good. Follow me," Clarke instructs him. Bellamy hesitates, questioning her directive. 

Athena shoots Clarke a puzzled glance, silently echoing Bellamy's skepticism. "Yeah, why do we want him with us, Clarke?" she asks, her voice not bothering to conceal her doubt.

" Because you want them to follow you, and right now , they're thinking only one of is scared" says Clarke,  prompting Athena to scoff in disbelief. "That doesn't even make sense, Clarke. All he's going to do is get us in trouble," she retorts, her frustration evident. 

"You know I can hear you," Bellamy interjects. "Yeah, I am aware," Athena retorts dismissively, shrugging her shoulders as she resumes walking.

As Finn and Clarke lead the way, Athena lingers behind, taking in the sights with a childlike excitement. She's so absorbed in her surroundings that she almost bumps into Murphy. 

"Sorry," she quickly murmurs, receiving a friendly nod from her old neighbour in return.Despite the tension that was lingering between them, there's a brief moment of mutual understanding in their exchange—a fleeting reminder of their memories on the ark.

"Jasper screamed when they moved him. If the spear struck his heart, he'd have died instantly. It doesn't mean we have time to waste." Clarke asserts, her tone firm as she reprimands Bellamy. 

Suddenly, Bellamy reaches out, grasping Clarke's hand with a smirk, locking eyes with her intently. "As soon as you take this wristband off, we can go," he challenges. Athena shakes her head, a sense of vindication washing over her. 

"See, I told you, Clarke, it was a bad idea to bring him with us. You should've listened to me," she remarks, frustration evident in her voice. Clarke offers her a quick, apologetic glance before turning away.

Athena turns to follow Clarke, but Bellamy's sudden grip on her bicep stops her in her tracks. His hand trails down her arm, lifting her sleeve. "How about you, Bambi? Don't you wanna take your wristband off?" he teases.

Athena jerks her arm away, shooting him a sharp look. "How about you mind your own business, Freckles?" she retorts, her tone laced with irritation. Taken aback by the unexpected nickname, Bellamy watches her walk away, a mix of surprise and amusement flickering across his face.

After hours of walking, Athena's exhaustion starts to weigh heavily on her, her thoughts drifting to the comfort of her sleeping bag. Abruptly, the conversation is interrupted by a loud groan echoing through the forest, halting them all in their tracks.

They dash towards a green field, devoid of trees, where Jasper hangs suspended from a single tree. "Jasper!" Athena's voice breaks with concern as she barely recognizes the boy she had been bantering with just a day ago. 

With urgency, she moves to approach him, but before she can reach him, the ground beneath her suddenly collapses. As she begins to plummet, a hand snatches hers, and she looks up to see Bellamy, his expression reflecting her own fear, gripping her tightly, preventing her fall.

He swiftly pulls her up, ensuring she lands safely beside him. "Are you alright?" Bellamy's concern is palpable as he gazes down at her, gently brushing her hair out of her face to assess any injuries. "I'm okay, I'm okay," Athena assures, addressing the worried expressions of those around her.

"I'll climb up there and cut the vines," Finn volunteers, stepping forward to take action. Bellamy rises to his feet and offers Athena his hand, helping her up from the ground. As she stands, they remain holding hands for a moment longer than intended, a realization dawning on both of them as they exchange a brief, awkward glance.

Athena reluctantly releases Bellamy's hand, feeling an unexpected pang of longing as she withdraws. Shaking off the thought, she redirects her focus. "Why did they string him up like that?" she asks, her brow furrowed with concern.

Bellamy considers her question before responding, his tone tinged with grim speculation. "Maybe what they're trying to catch likes its dinner to be breathing," he suggests, his words carrying a weight of unease.

Finn's response is more gruesome, his voice laced with a sense of foreboding. "Maybe what they're trying to catch is us," he proposes, his words hanging heavy in the air.

As she watches the boys lower Jasper to safety, Athena's senses prick up at the sound of a  growl. "Did you hear that?" she whispers to Clarke, her voice hushed with fear, though she's not entirely sure why she's whispering in the first place.

Suddenly, Athena's gaze snaps to the bushes as a large black panther leaps out, only to be swiftly taken down by a gunshot .Expecting to see Bellamy with his gun raised, Athena's surprise registers as she observes Wells standing over the fallen predator, his weapon pointed at the creature.

Following the terrifying encounter, they hastily retreat back to the dropship. Finn, Clarke, and Wells take charge of Jasper, taking him to safety while Athena trails behind the other two boys. With a triumphant air, they proudly announce to the now cheering group that they've brought back food.

"Who's hungry?"

15/4/24