Sky to Ice

Friends

Clarkes' pov

„Looks like the feast will start soon." Artis' voice snaps me out of my trance. „By the way, what did you want to tell me previously?"

„Oh, right. I finally met a girl just a year older who I can actually communicate with." I smile. „she was a little too closed up for my liking but she still seemed to be nice."

By now Artis has a smile on his face too and asks: „Well, what is her name? Maybe I know her."

As he asks that my smile turns into a grin. „Echo." 

His smile falters. „Please stay away from her. She is very close to the queen and that could be dangerous for you."

My grin fades too.

„But she is really nice and I don't think she has any friends other than me." I whine. 

„Stay away from her. Otherwise I might not be able to protect you." Artis looks like he is genuinely worried about me. Nevertheless I know I won't follow his request. Echo is lonely and I am about to change that.

———————————————

A few hours later the feast starts and wherever I look I see kids younger than me running around and grown-ups drinking something that Artis says I'm not allowed to drink too. It's probably alcohol like we had on the ark.

As soon as my thoughts start to go to my parents, I shove them to the side and try to stay the here and now.

I see Lexa on the side line of the cleared room where people are dancing. She wanted to talk to me, I remember myself so I make my way over to her.

„Hello Commander." I smile and keep my fear on the low.

„Hello Clarke. And I asked you to call me Lexa." Her face remains stoic but her eyes don't seem as icy as they were earlier. Just now I notice how she says my name popping the „k" out. It sounds unique and I think I like it. 

„Right. So, Lexa. You said, you wanted to talk to me again later. Is this later?"

„Yes. Of course. I just wanted to ask you if you, now that you saw a little from Azgeda, want to stay here and become a part of this clan or if you maybe want to come to Trikru, where it is warmer. I think you mentioned that there is a constant temperature on that station you lived on?" It is more a statement than a question. 

„Yes, there was. But I'd like to stay here, if that's okay?"

„If that is your decision, I will talk to the ice queen and make sure you get an admission ceremony soon. I will stay until then and after that you will officially be azgedan."

I just smile at that and nod. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a slightly familiar figure.

It is Echo, I realise as I turn my head. She stands on the other side of the dance floor and looks kind of lost.

I turn around again and say goodbye with a quick bow. Then I make my way up to Echo.

„Hey, Echo."

She looks up. When she sees me a slight smile makes its way on her face. That's progress. Last time she was mostly stoic and all, but now she looks less tense.

„Clarke. Nice to see you around."

„You too. I wanted to ask if you maybe wanted to dance a little? There isn't much else I can do tonight and for that I need a partner. So," I indicate a bow, holding out my hand, „would you do me the honor and dance with me?" By now a full blown is to see on her face and she takes my hand.

„My pleasure to do so." We laugh and I pull her to the middle of the dance floor.

As we spin around and almost bump into other dancers, we have the time of our lives. I don't think I've ever laughed that much. Echo seems to have a great time too and I can't stop smiling at that. It's nice to see her relaxed and full of joy when she as it seems usually has to be all serious.

An hour or so later we leave the dance floor again with hurting feet and go to get ourselves something to drink. Who would've thought that dancing is that exhausting?

„When do you leave?" Echo suddenly asks with a more serious tone again, while we drink out water.

I look at her confused. „What do you mean?"

„Well, I figured, since heda is here, she probably will take you with her when she leaves to go back to Polis."

That makes sense. „No, I got to decide if I want to stay here or leave." Her expression is questioning and I think she might expect me to say that I will leave Azgeda for good. „Of course I said I said I'd stay. Lexa- I mean heda said she will make sure I get an admission ceremony or something like that as soon as possible."

Echo grins and throws herself at me, pulling me into a tight embrace. I laugh and reciprocate. 

We stay up for another two hours dancing and laughing with no worries at all. It is close to midnight as I make my way to Artis' hut where he allowed me to stay as long as I want. I actually am thinking about officially moving in there if he wants that too because he slowly starts to grow on me and besides that, where else would I stay? 

Just as I'm about to enter I get stopped by a voice.

„Clarke." The way she says my name tells me that it is Lexa before I even turn around. „I spoke to the queen and I just wanted to inform you that you will become a part of this clan on the day after tomorrow."

I nod. „Thank you. I really appreciate the effort. Not everyone would have done that in your position."

That makes her smile. An actual smile. But it is gone again after the blink of an eye.

„Reshop, heda." I learned that from Echo just a few minutes ago but that doesn't matter now.

„Goodnight, Clarke." She says her lips tick up into a quick smile before she turns around walking in the direction where I know her tent is.

May I present to you: Echo. I had the spontaneous idea to add her in as she is from Azgeda too. In some fanfics I've read Echo is just a bitch (that is if she is even in that fanfic which she often isn't) and I just thought that maybe a little friendship between her and Clarke could be really sweet. Let me know what you think.

(1045 words)