One of the 100th

You like her

I'm riding a large horse, on my way to TonDC. Milo and Alan are following me, their long legs have no trouble keeping up with my pace. I experimentally send my horse in a gallop for the first time. Clarke is gone for the day with Octavia, Raven and mom, trying to get closer to the radio tower on Mount Weather. I think they plan on destroying it. 

"Sky pauna you must not get hurt," Milo yells after me.

I slow down, grinning on top of the horse. I no longer have the privilege to ride the commander's horse, instead I got my own. Beautiful dark horse. Some horses have two heads and I am lucky enough that mine doesn't. I named her Trooper. Grounders don't name their horses though. "Try to keep up!" I yell towards my two guards. It has taken some time for mom to get used to having two large Grounders follow me around. It doesn't help that Octavia braided my hair and with dirt on my face I look more like them than Sky people.

I gallop again through the gates of TonDC and abruptly stop, causing the horse to make a loud noise and step on its back feet. I laugh and pet its head. "Good girl," I coo. "You're such a good horse." I jump down, no longer needing assistance from the Grounders and lead it to the horse stables. I tie Trooper and give her a carrot as a treat.

"Octavia is not here today," Indra says, eying me suspiciously. 

I am still intimidated by her presence. "I know. I thought maybe someone else could train me or I could just... Help others. I'm still learning how to hunt with a bow but I can help."

"You'll train with me," Indra says sharply. Something tells me that it wasn't her idea because she looks displeased. "Heda's orders." I nod. I put my sword down and go to grab a wooden one but Indra's hand on my wrist stops me. "I don't play with toys. We'll train with real swords today."

I gulp. So far I haven't used it. "Okay," I say quietly. My ankle is healed and now I have no trouble standing on it. I put myself in the stance that Octavia taught me and wait. But Indra is looking at me annoyed and I'm terrified of making the first move. I take a step towards her, my stab slow and she roughly knocks the sword out of my hand, making the skin over my palm burn. I pick it up and swallow hard. This time my grip is harder and I attack quicker. But Indra knocks the sword out of my hand again. I grunt and pick it up again.

"Sky pauna is no nickname for you," Indra grumbles. "Be stronger. Faster. Tougher."

I swallow and attack again. This time our swords meet with a loud clink but it stays in my hand. Indra attacks back, waving it left and right and my eyes are wide as I barely manage to block her attacks. Suddenly her sword is pressed against my throat and I gasp. 

"Indra!"

Indra quickly removes the blade away from me and bows her head in front of the commander. "We are only training."

"Leave us," Lexa demands and steps closer, pulling the sword out of the sheath on her back and moving it in front of her. "What have you learned so far?"

"I, uh, the stance," I stutter, nervous around her, "and a f-few moves." I cringe at how awkward I sound.

Lexa nods. "Good." She raises my sword by putting pressure on it with her own. "You need to hold it higher, for defense. Use both hands."

I wrap both hands around the handle of my sword. But my hands are shaking and I probably look like an idiot.

"We do not train our gonas until they turn 12," Lexa explains, not making any moves and by now I know gonas means warriors. "However, the training for Nightbloods begins when they turn two."

I lower my sword. "Nightbloods?"

Lexa nods. "Only Nightbloods can be commanders. It has always been our way."