One of the 100th

Sword training

It takes a few days to get back into action. The second the swelling around my ankle is gone I'm ready to leave Camp Jaha. Clarke already spends most of her time in TonDC, going through war meetings and planning a war.

What I don't plan on finding are two horses by the gates of Camp Jaha and two Grounders guarding the horses. Octavia's by my side, grinning at me. "What?" I ask.

"The commander sent me for you. Your ankle is still rusty so we're going to use horses. She specifically sent her own horse for you," Octavia says and her smirk was only getting bigger. She then throws something at me and I catch it in the last second, fumbling slightly. I look at her in confusion. "It's from the commander, for your sword. So that you don't stab yourself in the stomach when you wear that under your jacket."

I laugh, because she's right and take a moment to admire the scabbard. It's leather and metal with some gold pieces for decoration and I put it over my shoulder with pride. "I've never ridden a horse before," I suddenly admit and stop in front of the beautiful, white horse. It's also big and intimidating. And I know that only the commander rides a white horse.

"Don't worry, the Grounders will lift you up. And we'll ride slowly," Octavia says and jumps on her dark horse. 

I sigh, wishing I could do the same. I try to hop on the horse but standing only on my injured foot is not the best idea ever. I take a deep breath and get ready to jump on the horse when a Grounder walks towards me and lifts me up. "Hey, hey, what ar-, oh," I stutter and laugh when I'm sitting on top of the horse, my hands tightly wrapped around the reins. "Wow."

"Such tiny sky person," a Grounder mutters under his breath. "No wonder you injure so easily."

I frown. "That's not very nice. It's not my fault I keep getting hit in the head."

"But fierce tiny sky person," another Grounder says and chuckles at my angry expression.

Octavia is amused and laughing. "Let's get going."

I watch Octavia press the heels of her boots in the horse to start going so I do the same. I'm jolted and I squeal slightly. At first I'm swaying awkwardly with the horse until I catch the rhythm and suddenly horse riding is the most incredible experience I have on Earth.

"Look at little sky girl, puffing her chest like a pauna," the Grounder chuckles, talking to his friend.

Octavia laughs. Our pace is slow enough for them to walk with us. "Why are you following us?" I ask.

"Protection for sky people," one says. "Heda's orders."

I sigh. "What are your names?"

"I am Milo," says the one that keeps teasing me, "and he is Alan."

"I'm Talia. Not little sky girl."

Milo laughs. At least he doesn't hate me, I comfort myself. "You are very little. Most of sky people are. The space must not have enough food." He seems to think he's clever and Alan laughs too.

I kick harder in the horse, speeding up. "I will tell the commander you've been rude."

"To lie to heda, is to wish for death," Alan says and Milo agrees with a nod. "We are to protect you until the Mountain has fallen."

I look over at Octavia, who just shrugs, meaning she doesn't know about this. "So you're going to follow me around until we win this war?" I ask and look over my shoulder to see them nod. "Even around Camp Jaha?" They nod again. I grin. "My mom's going to be pissed."

We eventually get to TonDC and instead of jumping off the horse like Octavia, Milo lifts me and puts me down. I huff and cross my hands over my chest, feeling like a small child. "I'm going to learn combat skills and kick your asses."