The One Who's Fallen

Chapter 108

"Maybe they snuck off with their partner," I suggest.

Lexa raises an eyebrow, unimpressed by my theory. "Someone who trained under Anya?"

I grimace. "That's fair. Anya would never let someone on her team of sentries if she didn't think they would take their duties seriously."

Lexa and I come up with a few more ideas on what could have happened but none of them are good. Lexa is worried that it could be Azgeda committing an act of war like they have been hinting at for years.

We also worry about how it could be Maunon. I mean, they're the most logical explanation. People don't just vanish, especially not a highly trained sentry.

The news we get on the subject throughout the day is never good. It's "we found nothing" repeated over and over and over again. But, like Lexa points out, the absence of any proof is proof in and of itself. If it were Azgeda or (gods forbid) some idiotic ArkKru people, they would have been hasty and would have left evidence the trackers would have found. But there's nothing. So that means either they were really careful (which is unlikely) or... the sentry was taken by the Maunon.

When Anya comes by the planning tent some time after lunch, we tell her we suspect the Maunon are behind it.

Anya nods, her expression grave. "If that is so, even the most experienced of trackers may not know what to look for. If it is alright with the two of you, I would like to ask Raven to take a look at the place where the sentry was last seen."

Lexa and I exchange a look before I turn back to Anya and answer. "As long as Raven's okay with it." Anya bows her head and behind to leave. "And Anya?" I call and she pauses at the tent flaps. "Take Luna if she's not too busy. Be careful."

Anya leaves and silence once again fills the air. It feels like an oppressive smoke, slowly choking me. My worries press down on my shoulders, making them sag under the weight. I chew on my lip and stare blankly at the map before me. I only break out of my trance like state when Lexa puts her hand gently on top of mine.

"Are you alright?" Lexa asks softly, then gives me a small smile.

"Yeah," I let out a breath and run my unoccupied hand through my hair. "It just feels like everything's happening at once. And when I think about everything we have to do... It's so much."

"We will take it one step at a time. We will get through all of this, Clarke." Lexa says with conviction. "Let's start small. What do you want for dinner tonight?"

I laugh, not expecting that. "That's what you're starting with?"

Lexa is grinning now, her eyes sparkling with happiness. "Yes of course. Dinner is very important, Clarke."

"You're adorable." I snort, playfully tapping her nose and making her blush. "I don't know. Something meaty I can sink my teeth into. Get my anger and anxiety out through vigorous chewing."

Now it's Lexa's turn to laugh. "And you say I am the cute one in this relationship. I have never heard of chewing being calming like that."

"It is," I insist, smiling. "It's like a stress ball for your teeth."

"That just sounds like a poorly cut piece of meat with too much fat." Lexa points out teasingly.

I stick out my tongue. "Which is still delicious when you grew up on bland crap." I point out and lean forward, feeling a lot more relaxed. "Alright. What's next on your nerdy to do list?"

"World domination," Lexa deadpans. My expression must be hilarious because she laughs so hard she snorts. "No, I am kidding. Next is looking at how our Maunon plan is going."

"Not as well as I would like," I say. I dig around in a drawer to pull out our plans and maps. "There's so much that could go wrong with our plan. And everything relies so heavily on so few people."

"Who we have chosen because of their unique abilities to do what we need them to. They are all more than willing to help us." Lexa frowns at me, squeezing my hand. "You know this, Clarke. What is it that is really bothering you?"

"You know me so well." I murmur, bringing her hand up to my lips to press a gentle kiss to it. "For the first time since my dad was killed, I feel like I have a family. A crazy, weird, adoptive family but still a family. And these plans of ours put our family in danger. Not just that, but they could be killed for. They could die for us. Because of us."

"That is part of being a leader, Clarke. It is one of the duties that comes the hardest to people." Lexa says in an low, understanding tone. "We have to look in our people's eyes and say 'go die for me.' And we have to live with the knowledge that some will die for us. It is inevitable. All we can do is try to minimize how many times that happens."

I let out a shaky sigh. "I hate that."

Lexa smiles sadly and squeezes my hand again. "I know, ai hodnes (my love). I do too." She waits until I look up at her before she continues. "Our plan is solid. We have pored over it for days. No more improvements can be made. We will do this, Clarke, and we will succeed. Trust in our friends, our family, our allies. We will do this together."

I hum and rest my head on Lexa's shoulder. "You're really good at that. You know, speeches. And reassuring me. But I also know you were avoiding reminding me that 'battle plans do not last long in battle, Clarke'." I deepen my voice in a mock impression of her.

"They do not. An I do not sound like that." Lexa protests.

I snicker at her mock-affronted expression. "You totally do, babe."

Our banter is interrupted by a pale and sweaty trio rushing into the tent. Luna, Anya, and Raven all look like they've seen a ghost.

Lexa straightens her posture and gives them her full attention. "What is wrong?"

"It was the Maunon," Raven says quickly. "And they left a note."

A note? How extra. And cool, right? I love randomly delving into Clarke and Lexa's concerns, I never expect when it happens but I love the way they reassure each other! And I'm getting a better idea on how they're actually going to take down the Maunon... No worries, there will be no dramatic betrayal or character death like in the show! I'm an asshole but I'm not THAT mean. ;) I'm a sucker for happy endings, especially in my own books! Thank you all for reading and for your lovely comments! Stay awesome!