Children of the Blood

Child of the Blood

Chapter 4 - Child of the Blood

Lexa watched, a deep frown marring her features, as members of Flokru quickly filled and overwhelmed the old airlock which had been made into a makeshift triage area. Abby and Clarke moved as quickly as they could through the group as moans of pain and agony filled the air.

Luna helped the last of her people in to lie on the floor and await any kind of relief. The Flokru leader looked pale and exhausted. Lexa helped her back to her feet and pressed a cup of warm liquid into her hands.

Luna automatically pushed it away, "I must help them..."

But Lexa stopped her with a firm but calming hand on her arm. "You've done all you can," she said quietly. "Let Clarke and her people help them now."

Luna slumped back against the wall, her eyes still roaming helplessly over her people littering the ground.

"Drink," Lexa prompted.

Luna put the cup to her lips without looking and after a hesitant sip, brought the cup back to her lips and drank deeply. "I don't think I realized just how cold I was until now." She glanced sideways at Lexa, studying her troubled profile. "Thank you, Lexa," she said quietly.

The Commander turned to meet her gaze. They studied each other, once friends, then adversaries, now in a wary truce. Finally Lexa gave a barely perceptible nod of acceptance.

Luna looked back over the sea of agony before them. She shook her head. "I should have listened to you when you warned us."

"Yes, you should have." After a moment Lexa released a sigh. "But even so," she turned and met Luna's dark eyes once more, "I doubt you would have avoided suffering. None of us have."

"I was surprised to see you here," Luna said. "Shouldn't the Commander be in Polis commanding?"

Luna was attempting to lighten the mood, but at Lexa's silence her concern grew. Finally Lexa looked at her. "Polis is gone."

Luna blinked and shook her head, certain she must be hearing things. "Gone? I don't..."

Lexa pushed to her feet. "Come, we'll speak outside." She gave the room one more glance, finding Clarke's blonde head bent over a young girl, her head cocked, listening intently for a heartbeat. She watched as Clarke's eyes slid closed only a moment before giving a quick shake of her head and moving to the next patient. Then she slipped from the room, Luna behind her.

She spoke again as they crossed the Arkadia courtyard. "You've seen the storms?"

"The ones with blue lightening? Yes, of course," Luna said.

"One of those, larger and stronger than we've ever seen, swept through Polis and destroyed it, not even a week ago," Lexa explained. "Everyone that is left is on their way to the encampment to the west."

Luna grabbed her arm and stopped her. "And then what? Are the Skai people immune?"