The One Who's Fallen

Chapter 95

Raven's POV

Luna, Anya, and I wait for a while for them to call back, with them staying silent and understanding that I just need them near me. We can talk about all of this later, when I'm not internally freaking out about what's happening thousands of feet above our heads.

When I draw all of the comfort I can from them, I speak up. "Can one of you get Clarke and Lexa? I'm sure they want to know what's going on."

"I can go," Anya offers.

"Thanks." I murmur, smiling softly when she kisses my forehead before leaving.

I lean my head against Luna's shoulder, humming as she starts running her fingers through my hair. It almost lulls me to sleep, my exhaustion from not sleeping last night catching up with me. I take in a sharp breath when the rustling of the tent flaps snaps me out of it.

"Hey, Griff." I greet without looking over my shoulder. I can see their reflections in the dark screen in front of me.

"Hey Raven. How are you doing?" Clarke asks.

"I'm okay." I respond. I don't have to look at her to know no one quite believes me. "I will be."

Anya sits back next to me and takes my hand in hers. She and Luna tell Lexa and Clarke what's been happening. When they're finished, we sit in relative silence until the radio crackles.

"Raven? Are you still there?" Abby asks.

"Yeah, hang on." I flip a few switches and Abby's face comes into view.

"Is that Clarke?" She asks, her eyes going wide.

"Hey, mom." Clarke gives her a little wave, smiling shyly.

I don't blame Abby for being surprised. Clarke has grown up a lot since coming down here. The strength that radiates from her is so different than the scared girl I first met. Plus, she's wearing armor and has swords and is standing next to her badass girlfriend who is also wearing armor and has swords. Lexa's not wearing her warpaint today, so she looks slightly less intimidating. Slightly.

"Hey sweetie. Is that Lexa next to you?"

"Yes," Clarke replies confidently but I can see the worry in her eyes.

"It is good to meet you, Doctor Griffin." Lexa greets her politely.

"It's good to meet you too." Abby says but it sounds like she's automatically saying it. "Hurt her and I will personally tie you to a rocket and launch you into space to suffocate. Or vivisect you."

"Vivisect?" Lexa asks, cocking her head.

"It's like dissecting except the subject is alive," Clarke explains. I cover my mouth to muffle my laughter when the great Commander pales.

"That was successfully threatening, Mama Griffin." I compliment. "But can we get back on track? What happened?"

"Jaha is no longer the Chancellor." Abby states.

I let out a breath of relief. "Good. So who is? Have you elected a stand in until there can be a proper vote?"

Abby clears her throat and shifts. "Until there's a vote, I am the acting Chancellor."

"That's awesome!" I say, grinning when I see the Chancellor pin on her.

"What are you going to do first?" Clarke asks, the pride in her voice making Abby beam at her.

"First, I have to tell them all what's going on down there with you all."

"Wait, I thought you already did. Then what was that meeting earlier about?" I ask.

"It was about whether we should tell the general population about the hundred. After I, hopefully with all of your help, tell the rest of the Council about what's going on, they might be more accepting of the idea."

"I'll help," I offer.

"We will as well." Luna says after exchanging a look with Anya and Lexa.

"I will too." Clarke adds.

"Thank you," Abby breathes out and gives us a smile. "I'll connect you to the Council's room. I will be there in a moment."

With that, the screen cuts to the Council without Jaha and I fight the urge to smirk victoriously. Take that, you slimy bastard.

"Where did they put Jaha?" Lexa asks. Shoot, I hadn't thought of that.

"He's been escorted to his room." Kane answers. "He will remain there until we decide his punishment." He pauses and cocks his head. "Why are you connected to us? I thought Abby was just going to tell you about Jaha."

"Well, we're here to tell you what's been going on down here on the ground." I explain.

"Alright." He squints at the screen. "Is that... Clarke?" His eyes widen.

"Hey Kane." She waves shyly as her mom walks into the Council's room.

"You survived all this time?" He sounds impressed. "And who are these people with you? I've seen every face of the hundred and I don't recognize them."

"They are part of the reason we need to talk about what's happening on the ground." Abby says as she sits in the chair Jaha was sitting in. "They're Grounders."

Anya groans quietly and grumbles under her breath. "I cannot believe that stupid name has caught on."

"Grounders?" A Council member asks.

"It's the name the hundred have come up with to call the group of people on the ground." Clarke explains.

"There's a group of people of the ground that survived? They can live in the radiation?" The Council member sounds dumbfounded.

"Yeah," I confirm.

"How many people are in this group? Tens? Hundreds?" Kane asks curiously.

"Thousands," Lexa answers.

I snicker when a Council member chokes on the water they were sipping.

"And who are you, young lady?" A Council member asks.

My eyes widen. Oh man. Lexa's not going to be happy about being referred to like that.

"I am their Heda. The Twelve Clans and the hundred answer to me. And I suggest that if you ever feel the urge to call me young girl again, you should cut out your own tongue to save me the trouble." Lexa says in such a calm but stern tone that the Council members all look shaken.

The idiot that called her young girl isn't finished yet, though. "The insolence!" His face is red as he yells. "You should learn manners, girl!"

"And you should learn respect," Lexa responds in the same deadly tone. "My army alone has more people than you have in all of your stations. I have been kind, I have become allied with the Skaikru and was hoping for the ArkKru to join us, but if everyone is like you..."

She trails off and her words leave a tense silence.

"Apologies for him, Heda." Abby says before turning to the man who still looks mad but as mad as Abby. "Johnson, if you speak out of line again I won't hesitate to replace your seat on the Council. She is the leader of the people on the ground, and we should treat her with the respect she deserves."

Whoa, longer chapter... Next chapter, more yelling and Lexa being awesome! And don't worry, even though that guy is a douche nozzle, he won't jeopardize the Ark's future alliance with Lexa because Lexa's forgiving. To a certain extent, of course. Thank you all for reading and for your lovely comments! Stay awesome!