𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐀𝐖𝐍 | the 100

41 | Punishment

"I should have listened to you."

‧ ✩ ｡ ✭ ° ☆ ･ _______ ･ ☆ ° ✭ ｡ ✩ ‧

"Hey, Troublemaker," Elias says when he finds Amber by one of the fires at Camp Jaha, boots resting on the pit's edge to warm her cold toes. She gives him a smile and he sits down on the stump next to hers with a sigh that speaks of a long day.

"Tired?"

"Aren't we all," he responds and raises his eyebrows, not bothered to actually shrug his shoulders.

"Yeah..." She turns to look into the fire. Somehow they've avoided any more mention of Jules, but her presence is felt through every conversation. "Unfortunately, you don't get a lot of beauty sleep down here."

"That doesn't seem to be a problem for you, and you've been here longer than anyone."

She gives in to an amused chuckle. "Well, you know... Fighting against starvation, and Grounders, and dehydration, and uh- wild animals—at least it keeps me in shape."

"Yeah, I'll never compete with that," he admits and with a pained expression leans back far enough for Amber to think he will tip over. Then he looks back at her with a mysteriously smug grin. "Good thing I know other tricks."

She raises an eyebrow. "Mhm, like what?"

"Like..." He glances around, clearly unprepared for the challenge, then he leans into the fire pit and swats a stick from the flames. Its ends stain his fingers with soot, which he proudly shows her. "Here. Eyeshadow."

An unconvinced laugh escapes her. "I'd call that eye infection."

His eyes narrow, considering her, then he nods. "Alright... I see how it is, Amber Hale. You laugh while you can."

Without hesitation, he begins to apply the soot over his eyelids, smudging dust as black as his hair in uneven strokes to contrast against his skin. Scattered sprinkles fall onto his cheekbone, but she can't deny that the joke's on her once he's done. It suits him.

"So? How do I look?" he asks, pleased with her silence.

She purses her lips, pretending to be a critic evaluating a work of art, then quickly leans forward to brush away the stray powder on his cheek. "A bit of a mess, but... good. You look good."

"Come on," he teases. "I already looked good."

At first her eyes roll but just as she's about to dismiss him, her own face betrays her and twitches into a smile. "Touché. Whatever comes after good then." She quiets a moment. "Actually, you look a bit like a Grounder."

"Hold your fire! She's back!" Bellamy's shout reaches them from the gate and Amber shoots straight up, remembering why she was waiting outside in the first place.

Throwing Elias a quick, apologetic look, she hurries toward the other side of camp. From afar, she can see Clarke's silhouette enter camp and grab Finn, dragging him away from the gate where Amber glimpses two Grounders straddled on horses. People are pulled to the commotion and Amber reaches them just as Griffin does, who embraces her daughter with a tight hug. Wondering if Clarke has already told Bellamy anything, Amber gives him a look, but he simply shakes his head.

"What did she say?" Griffin asks once she's pulled back, voicing the thoughts of the gathering crowd around them. "Is there a chance for a truce?"

"Yes." Clarke's voice is quiet.