The One Who's Fallen

Chapter 12

Days fly by and the day the Commander is coming gets closer and closer. Knowing that the head of the clan I'm with (which I've learned is called the Trikru), and the head of the twelve clans is coming here to meet me is making me nervous. There's a constant uncomfortable heat in my abdomen I've come to recognize as anxiety.

In the week or so (I've lost count of the days because sometimes I'm a zombie after Anya's training) I've been here, the people of TonDC have surprisingly grown to like me. The kids love to find me during meals and beg me to tell them stories of the sky. The other people in the town now respect me, but I still get the rare suspicious glance. I guess Nyko was right; they do like their healers and treat them well. The fact that I've been doing well fighting wise as well makes the warriors respect me more.

Of course, no one would really ever say anything bad to my face, even when I was generally disliked. I am the girl who fell from the sky, and since that's what happened to their first commander, saying something bad about me might accidentally be saying something bad about their beloved first Heda. But that's another thing entirely.

Now, when I go anywhere in the town, I'm greeted warmly by most, and can name almost all of the people in the town. My healing abilities have saved more people in a week than I thought I ever would in space. Up there, there were few problems other than the occasional undernourishment and oxygen deprivation. I mean, the engineers and the mechanics sometimes cut themselves on loose metal or burned their arm or something, but nothing like down here. Here, there are people and beasts alike to fight, and they don't go down easy. One big difference I've noticed is that despite everyone seeming genuinely happier than people on the Ark, people down here are more hardened. Basically everyone has impressively large muscles and most can swing a sword or some other weapon.

Anya and Nyko have been working me tirelessly, and though I love it, I also love sleep. Which I don't ever seem to get enough of. Anya makes me train from sunrise to sunset unless there's an emergency and I'm needed at the healers' building. I've been making Artigas go to bed before me. Just because I'm deprived of sleep doesn't mean he has to be, too.

There have only been a few medical emergencies, like when this young boy went swimming in the river and got bit by the giant river snake and when a hunter ran into a group of panthers and nearly got ripped to pieces. She's mainly okay now, but she'll never be able to walk normally again. But nothing compares to the day Anya decided to take me outside the walls to practice in a larger clearing. On the way, we found a badly beaten man who I was honestly surprised was not dead. He gasped out "Pauna" and died soon after, despite me trying to save him. His wounds were too great. Anya hurried me back to the village, the both of us carrying the dead man back as quickly as we could. We covered him with my spare jacket so if he had friends or family in TonDC they wouldn't have to see him in this state.

I've come to learn since then that Pauna means a giant bloodthirsty gorilla, which is weird, even for radiation soaked earth. The man's houmon claimed him soon after, and his loving accounts of the man he loved before he was burned and his spirit set free had everyone in tears. Even Anya, but I made the mistake of mentioning it once. If I mention it again, she'll apparently behead me or cut out my tongue. Maybe both.

Anya's actually been a really good teacher, despite her constant sarcasm and helpful yet insulting comments (I'll never admit this out loud, but she's  actually pretty hilarious. But she doesn't need to know that). She's taught me how to dual-wield swords with real swords not the sticks. It was pretty terrifying to see her in her element, twisting and turning and making her swords effortlessly slice through the air. Anya even have me a compliment yesterday. Well, she said "not bad" but in Anya speak, it basically means "I'm impressed. Good job".

Between Nyko and Anya, they've managed to get me to be able to hold a conversation in Trigedasleng. Which has definitely come in handy because only the warriors speak English, or Gonasleng.

"Are you ready for today?" Artigas asks as he walks into my tent.

I sigh, "I'm really nervous. From what I've heard, the Heda is basically a warrior goddess. I'm not sure I'll ever be ready to meet her."

"You will have to today." Artigas states, grinning when I groan. "It will not be now, first you will be meeting Indra."

"She's the leader of Trikru, right?"

"Sha. I must warn you, she is somewhat like Anya. She is honest and intelligent, as well as a good leader and gona (warrior), but she does not trust people easily."

"Clarke, Artigas, come." Anya walks into the tent with a scowl. "Indra laik hir (Indra is here)."

Anya leads us out of my tent and towards one of two larger tents that have been put up in preparation for Indra and the Heda.

Artigas holds the flap open for Anya and me. I thank him and walk in after her.

Anya's face breaks out into a small grin and she walks toward a dark skinned middle aged woman. There are tattoos on her face and looks like she could be more intimidating than Anya. She smiles at Anya and they grasp wrists, which I've learned is basically their version of a hug, or a warm greeting or something.

"Anya. It has been too long, old friend." Indra says in a slightly scolding tone as they pull away.

"We're both busy people, Indra. And the last time you were Polis, you did not bother coming by."

Indra huffs, but I can tell she's more amused and happy to see Anya than really annoyed. "It was an emergency meeting called because some girl fell out of the sky. Speaking of which, I am supposed to meet her. Is that her?" She studies me, looking me up and down.

"Sha. This is Clarke. Nyko and I have been training her since I brought her to TonDC."

"Nyko?" Indra raises an eyebrow, which I did not think people could do in real life. "She is a healer?"

"And a warrior. She has been learning how to use two swords."

"If this girl is anything like the last you trained, she is no doubt a great warrior."

The last person Anya trained? "I am sure she will want to find out for herself." Anya replies.

The tent's flaps open and Artigas pokes his head in. "Apologies, but Heda has arrived. She would like Anya and Clarke to go to her tent."

Lexa and Clarke finally meet next chapter... I was going to draw it out more, but I love Lexa too much to not have her in the story soon. Thank you for reading and stay awesome!