The Lost Grounder

Chapter 10

"Raven where's Artemis?" Bellamy asked as Wick placed her on a bed back at Camp Jaha. She looked to him,

"she's not here" she replied weakly. Bellamy slammed his fists into the table in frustration, he knew they weren't telling him the truth about her.

"Where is she?" He growled.

"Hey take it easy" Wick said placing his hand on Bellamy's shoulder. Bellamy brushed his hand off his shoulder,

"Raven where is she?" He asked angrily, his teeth gritted as he tried not to shout at her.

"She left a week ago to get a group of people who left for the City of Light with Thelonious." She answered quietly. Bellamy nodded his thanks before heading to the door but Wick stopped him from leaving.

"Get out of my way!" He shouted as he tried to push Wick aside.

"You can't just go out there looking for her, you have no idea where she is."

"I'll be fine." He snarled as he pushed Wick aside.

"Bellamy you'll get lost" Wick called after him but he didn't listen.

They struggled forward, all drained of energy and severely dehydrated and famished. It had been a week since Artemis had eaten anything and it was painful for her to walk, her stomach constantly growling at her. The forest was just in sight and Artemis knew she could get food and water in there for the group, they just had to get there without collapsing. Some of the weaker ones had fainted and had needed to be carried by others until they regained consciousness. Ideally they would have stopped and waited but they couldn't stay in the blistering heat any longer than was absolutely necessary.

They all happily collapsed at the river bank, quickly scooping up the cool water and slurping it down before splashing it on their faces and sighing with relief. Artemis smiled as the cool water hit her face,

"god that feels good." A man exclaimed. Artemis looked to him and nodded,

"I have never wanted water so much in my life." She said. "Can you collect some fire wood within this area whilst I find something to eat?" She asked. They all nodded eagerly, the prospect of food spurring a sudden wave of energy to course through their bodies. "I'll be back shortly, hopefully with something good" she smiled as she rose to her feet and disappeared into the depths of the forest.

When she returned they had set up a fire and were trying to light it,

"bloody hell girl!" The man exclaimed looking at the small deer she dragged by its hind legs. She looked to him and smiled shyly,

"a rabbit just wouldn't quite do for all of us." She smiled. He nodded still looking at the deer with wide eyes. He hadn't expected someone like her being able to kill something like that, that's when he remembered who she was-a Grounder. Up until that point he had forgotten who she was and although he remembered now it didn't change everything she had done, to her he was one of them no matter what anyone else thought.

They spent the night around the camp fire cracking jokes whilst they ate, all the problems that had been weighing down on all of them since they landed on Earth were forgotten for one night-one night full of laughs with friends.

Meanwhile Bellamy blundered through the forest heading North like he had been told to, although right now he wasn't sure he was heading North. He had been walking all day and was sure that he should have reached the desert by now, but there was still no sign of it. He kept travelling in the same direction praying that Artemis was alright and that he would find her.

In the morning they continued their journey back to Camp Jaha, Artemis predicted that they would arrive before the second sun set if they kept up a steady pace. The journey was much more pleasant now they weren't dying of exhaustion and malnutrition in the desert. They were able to have conversations with each other and to joke around like they had done the previous night. Artemis found herself amongst friends, something that she had never really been able to say before.

Bellamy heard the sound of voices in the distance and lifted his gun, he knew that there shouldn't be anyone dangerous out here but the possibility of it lurked in the back of his mind. He stared down the scope and watched as Artemis and a group of ten appeared in the distance. Artemis must have seen him because she trailed off mid-sentence, her eyes fixed on him unsure if he was really there. He let the gun drop from his hands and swing on its strap to his back as he ran towards her.

"Go." The man said softly giving her a small nudge. She didn't need to be told twice.

Bellamy spun her around in his arms with a big smile on his face,

"god I missed you" he exclaimed before kissing her frantically as though he would never see her again. She smiled at him as he placed her back on the ground, her arms draped around his neck.

"I missed you too" she said softly into his lips before bringing them against her own in a hesitant motion. Bellamy smiled into the kiss, his lips moving in perfect time with her own.

"Wooo!" The man called wolf whistling along withthe other men in the group. She turned to them and smiled at their enthusiasm.