The One Who's Fallen

Chapter 32

With Lexa's help, it doesn't take long until we get the Pauna up on it. The three of us are starving by that point after exerting so much energy, so Luna walks back to the cave before Lexa and I to get a head start on cooking.

We're getting the horses back to the Pauna to pull it back into the cave so the other hungry animals won't get to it.

"What do you think Luna meant earlier by saying 'you chose a stubborn one'?" I ask Lexa as we lead the horses.

Not taking her eyes off of them, she responds. "Perhaps she thinks our relationship is romantic."

I nearly trip over a pebble after hearing that. I stare wide-eyed at Lexa for a moment before remembering what we're doing and turning my attention back to the horses, encouraging them with a click of my tongue.

Once Lexa and I are satisfied that the Pauna is in far enough, we unhook the raft thing from the horses. They whinny happily, barely managing to stay still as we take everything off of them. As soon as we're done, they trot over to the grass near the entrance and start grazing.

"Come on, you two. The food is nearly done." Luna calls.

Lexa and I head over and sit on the ground near where she's cooking.

"Mochof (thank you)." I say as she hands me a plate of berries and steaming meat.

We eat in silence for a while, the only sounds coming from the horses, outside, and the water. After we finish, stay there, all of us tired but not motivated enough to get up and go to our pelts.

"Why Clarke?" Luna asks after a while, breaking the quiet. Lexa and I turn to her. "Out of everyone, why did you bring Clarke with you to kill the Pauna?"

"I trust her. She has proven herself to be a good warrior." Lexa states.

"That may be true, but that cannot be the only reason. Surely there were more experienced and skilled warriors you trust to go with you."

"Clarke wanted to come. She had just saved a young boy from dying. If she were not there to heal him, he would have died from the wounds Pauna inflicted."

Luna's eyebrow raises. "Not even Nyko could have saved him? Was he not there?"

"He was there, but to save the boy with our technology and knowledge was impossible. Clarke and I were going to go on a hunting trip the next day, and after saving the boy she told me that we were going to hunt the Pauna."

"And you agreed?" Luna sounds both exasperated and shocked.

"No, not at first. But Clarke is very good at arguing. That is one of the reasons she is going to be my advisor." Lexa gives me a smile and she's so cute I can't help returning it.

Luna chokes on a piece of meat, coughing and waving off our concern. "She is going to become your advisor? You trust her that much already?"

Lexa frowns as if she's irritated by Luna's words. "Sha, I do. She has already proven herself multiple times and has saved my life from the Pauna."

"Yes, but you have known her for how long?"

"Long enough." Lexa practically growls, making Luna calm down immediately and making me shiver. "Do not question this decision."

"Apologies, Lexa, I did not mean to offend you." Lexa nods at Luna's words, and she continues. "I wanted to make sure you are certain. If she is your advisor, she will have access to everything. Not that I do not trust you, Clarke, I do not trust just anyone with the safety of my strisis (little sister)."

"That's understandable. I'm sure that with enough time around Lexa, I'll be as paranoid as you." I say the last sentence teasingly, relieved when I notice subtle tells that they both noticed I wasn't being serious.

"Rude." Luna scoffs, pushing my shoulder. "I guess she has to be if she is going to have to argue with you."

"She will not always argue with me as my advisor. I am certain I will make some decisions she agrees with." Lexa protests and I purse my lips to stop my smile from getting too big. They're acting like sisters and it's simultaneously adorable and hilarious.

"I am not so sure about that, strisis." Luna says, smirking. "But I know you will definitely need Clarke to tell you when you are wrong. She is not like Titus, she is not afraid of you. He blindly agrees to everything you say unless it contradicts his beliefs. Like what I have heard he tells you about Costia, and love. Which he is wrong about anyways. Essentially, he is useless. If we go to Polis, can I kill him?" Luna asks excitedly. Man, everyone hates this Titus guy. I would feel sorry for him if he didn't sound like such an asshole.

"No. His insight is useful, he knows the twelve clans better than anyone." Lexa responds.

"Except you. Strisis, when we were younger, if you were not training with Anya you were studying books. And when you ran out of books, you started asking travelers about different places and kept record of everything you had learned. You have been to the twelve clans. He has not." Luna argues.

"He is still the Fleimkepa and has served many Hedas before me. I respect his service."

"I do not respect him." Luna mutters before speaking louder. "Clarke would make a better Fleimkepa than Titus."

Lexa frowns and I can see the worry in her expression. "She would have to go through many perilous trials."

"Hey, I'm right here." I say, waving my hand at them. "You'll have to tell me more about this later, Lexa. For now, let's just go to bed. We have a long ride ahead of us."

Luna and Lexa nod. We head to our furs and I find myself falling asleep fast, tired after such an eventful day.

Sorry this is posted later than usual! I was forced into doing lawn work and it took two and a half hours of my time, and I only was half done when I had to start working. Luckily, this shouldn't happen often. The lawn work, preferably never again. Happy Fourth of July, to my fellow Americans who celebrate it! Thank you all for reading and stay awesome!