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▁ ▂ ▅ ▇ █ Stupid █ ▇ ▅ ▂ ▁
The camp was quiet, the stillness unsettling after two days without any sign of the Grounders. It should have been a relief, but to Iris, it felt like the calm before a storm. She stood at the edge of the camp, her rifle slung over her shoulder, eyes scanning the treeline for any movement, as she was on guard duty at the moment.
Her breath fogged in the cool morning air as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other, trying to ward off the chill creeping through her boots. To anyone passing by, she looked every bit the capable leader they expected her to be—focused, unshakable.
What they didn't know was the small flask tucked away in her jacket, its weight a constant reminder of her private war. She'd taken a quick swig before her shift, just enough to dull the ache in her chest. It wasn't something she was proud of, but it got her through the day.
"Iris," a voice called, breaking her concentration. She turned to see Clarke and Bellamy approaching, their expressions serious.
"Any movement?" Clarke asked, stopping a few feet away from her.
Iris shook her head "It's been two days, I thought they'd be here sooner."
"Maybe the bomb at the bridge scared them off for good," Clarke offered, though her tone lacked conviction.
Iris exchanged a look with Bellamy before he spoke. "You really believe that?"
Clarke hesitated, then shook her head. "No. They're coming."
A heavy silence settled over the three of them, the weight of what was to come hanging in the cold air.
"Jasper thinks he can make more gunpowder if he gets his hands on sulfur," Bellamy said, breaking the quiet.
"Raven says she can turn that into landmines," Iris added.
"Great. Just watch where you step," Bellamy quipped, trying to lighten the mood.
Clarke gave a half-hearted laugh. "Hilarious."
Bellamy's expression hardened. "What I really need is a thousand more of those tin-can bombs. I'd roll them straight into their village and blow those Grounders to hell. It's what they'd do to us."
Clarke and Iris both frowned, disappointment evident in their eyes. Clarke sighed. "I can't believe we survived 100 years just to start slaughtering each other. There has to be another way."
