The One Who's Fallen

Chapter 24

"I'll help you take down the mountain," I offer.

"It will not be a simple task, Clarke. It will be extremely dangerous."

"I know, but I still want to help. With your knowledge of them and the ground in general, and my knowledge about technology, we might just be able to defeat them."

Lexa purses her lips and I sit in silence, letting her think. "Very well. When we get back, I will show you everything I have on the Maunon. Just promise me you will be careful and not take any unnecessary risks, beja (please)."

"I won't." I promise, but we both know that I might anyway.

Lexa lets out a breath, slowly eating the meat she cooked (which is incredibly delicious, by the way. She could be a chef). "What were you writing earlier?"

"Oh, I was drawing." Please don't want to see what I drew.

"May I see what you have drawn?"

I know I can refuse and she wouldn't be offended or anything but... "Sure."

I hand her my note book, and it falls open to the page with the butterflies I hastily drew after drawing Lexa for so long.

"This is remarkable, Clarke. They look exactly like them." Lexa's voice is full of awe, like I drew  the Mona Lisa instead of a couple butterflies. "You are an incredible artist."

"Mochof (thank you)." I say, blushing.

"There is no need to thank me, I am merely stating facts. May I look through the rest of it?" Lexa asks hesitantly.

She's going to find my drawing of her if she does. If I say no, it'll seem like I'm hiding something. I mean, at least I didn't draw her naked or anything. I tense my jaw to keep from groaning at myself. That's not something I want to think about when she's right there. Float me, can I just sink into the ground and disappear?

"Um, there isn't much in there yet and some of it isn't done, but feel free to look."

She goes to the front, the sound of pages flipping filling the quiet. "You can draw maps?"

She must've found my back up map I drew at the front, so in case I ever get lost without my good one I'm not completely screwed. "Sha. My dad taught me how. It's really come in handy down here."

"You are good."

She turns the pages again. There are a few drawing I did when I first got here of the trees and some animals. There are some I drew after coming to TonDC of Anya, Nyko, and Artigas. Then there's a drawing of Indra (I thought if I drew her she wouldn't seem so intimidating but I was wrong) and then there's three, well there's four now, of her. One of when we first met, one when she was training with Anya, and one of her after a day of helping me after I saved that boy with her help. It's one of my favorites, though I haven't been able to spend much time on it an it's just a bunch if sketched lines. She looked absolutely gorgeous, so tired she could barely stay awake and had to prop her head up with her hands. The most difficult part of that drawing (and every drawing of her) is going to be getting her face right. This time, I'll have to draw the sleepy yet pleased smile she wore the entire time.

"Are these of me?" There's no animosity or anything in her voice, just surprise. I nod in response. "I look... is this how you see me?" Lexa's voice is quiet and she's staring at my notebook like it holds the answer to the universe.

"Sha."

Lexa looks up at me, the emotions in her eyes making me want to stare into them forever but also look away. "These are incredible, Clarke."

Her eyes flick down (did she look at my lips?) before flitting back up to meet my eyes almost immediately. Does she want to kiss me? What is happening?

The moment is broken by a thunderous roar from outside the cave. I jump up, my hand on my sheathed sword (I haven't unstrapped it from my hip yet).

"That was the Pauna. Which could mean one of two things. One, it knows we are here and that we are here to kill it, or it is very aggravated."

I groan, "Neither of those are good. Though if it's angry, maybe it got injured or something."

"Perhaps." Lexa gives me a small smile and hands me back my sketchbook. She takes a deep breath, grabbing a nearby stick to stoke the fire. "You should rest."

"So should you. If you're exhausted, you might get hurt or worse."

Lexa's hesitant, but follows me to where she made our beds. They're close enough to the fire so we'll be able to feel the warmth, but it's far enough away that we won't have to worry about accidentally catching on fire in our sleep.

"One of us should stay up and keep watch." Lexa protests, but keeps following me to our furs anyway.

"We have the horses. I bet you're a really light sleeper, so if anything spooks them, you'll know."

Lexa sighs and I grin victoriously, knowing I've won. "Very well. If we are killed during the night, I will blame you." I love how she's simultaneously joking and not joking. Lexa rummages through the bags, pulling out what look to be pajamas for both of us. "I was not certain about your size, but Anya's nomon (mother) was more than helpful. This should fit you."

Lexa hands me a simple black dress while she holds one that looks very similar, but hers has an opening for her leg to peek through when she walks.

She turns her back to me and begins taking off her armor. My cheeks flush (holy crap, is that a tattoo on her back?) and I manage to avoid staring at her muscles. Once I'm facing away from her, of course. Float me, it should be illegal for her to be that attractive.

I take a deep breath before changing, hoping I'll be able to fall asleep tonight. I change quickly, but apparently not fast enough if the sharp intake of breath behind me is any indication. I ignore the blush coloring my skin and finish.

"Reshop (good night), Lexa."

"Good night, Clarke."

Well, that chapter got... interesting. Thank you for reading and stay awesome!