The One Who's Fallen

Chapter 112

Lexa and I are crouched in a tree on the outskirts of the makeshift camp. People are setting up their tents and those who are done sit around fires. They talk quietly, talking about their families, who they're fighting for, as well as some war stories.

Raven walks up to where we are perched with Luna and Anya flanking her. When we see them heading towards us, we drop to the ground with a quiet "thud." To Raven's credit, she doesn't even flinch. The serious expression on her face tells me this isn't a social call.

"He's in," she says simply.

The emotions I feel are conflicting. Relief that our plan seems to working so far and that Bellamy and Lincoln are safe. But I also feel the anxiety warming my guts because it's happening and it's happening now. And there's really nothing I can do from here.

"Good. Did they say anything else?" Lexa asks.

"No, I don't think he was in a place where he could speak louder than a whisper." Raven says. "He did say that Lincoln's on his way back to meet up with us. Now all Bellamy has to do is the impossible."

"It is not impossible." Anya remarks confidently.

"Okay, then extremely difficult. Improbable. Especially if you're wrong about Maya, Clarke."

"I'm not." I sound like I believe that more than I actually do. "She will help. Have you told Octavia yet?"

"No," Raven shakes her head. "I came to you two first."

"Alright, then go tell her that Lincoln and Bellamy are okay. And go get some sleep, the three of you. We need you to be well rested."

Raven looks to Lexa to confirm what I've said and she nods. They bow their heads to us before walking past us to the camp. Anya squeezes Lexa's shoulder as she passes her and Lexa relaxes slightly. The tension she has always carried has increased exponentially since we put the plan into motion.

I reach out and take her hand, grinning when she some more tension leaks out of her body. She smiles softly at me, looking tired but I know that Lexa is, like me, too wired to go to bed right now.

"Would you like to go on a quick patrol around the perimeter of the camp before we go to our tent?" I question.

Lexa nods gratefully and tells a nearby guard where we are going and what we're doing just in case someone needs to speak to us. We walk around, using the various sounds coming from the camp to keep us from straying too far. It is mainly peaceful, with the one source of noises not coming from the tents and campfires. And that just ends up being a terrified looking squirrel who must have wandered too close.

It's peaceful, that is until it isn't. The sound of rustling leaves coming from above us alerts us that something is above it. It is not a gentle, whispering sound so it isn't the breeze or a small animal. To make that amount of noise, it has to be a large beast and clumsy or unused to being in trees.

Lexa and I exchange a look, silently confirming that we're thinking the same thing: it must be the Maunon. Or perhaps a curious Skaikru or ArkKru person. So we will have to be careful.

We keep walking, listening as it unsubtly follows us. We pretend not to notice it until it really screws up and steps on a dead, brittle branch. The noise stops suddenly, like they have frozen out of fear of being caught. Finally with an excuse to, I whip out my bow and arrow and Lexa draws her swords. I missed the feeling of my bow. I notch an arrow swiftly but don't turn and aim it just yet.

After a second of staying still, the person moves again and I spin around. I let my arrow fly and it hits the trunk of a tree right next to where I know the person is. He yelps and I resist the urge to smirk as I notch another arrow.

"That was a warning shot," I say. "Reveal yourself."

"Alright, alright." He grumbles loud enough for us to hear and slowly descends down from where he was.

It's obvious that he is Maunon, no one would wear that hazmat suit willingly. Lexa and I exchange an unimpressed look as they carefully climb down from the tree. They turn around to face us and straighten their posture.

"Hello," he greets calmly. "I'm Albert, but you two ladies can call me Mr. West. I assume you got our message, Commander?"

He says it in a way that makes me want to punch him even more. He uses her title, but says it like she doesn't deserve it, like she's beneath him. He also says it like it's something I should be surprised about, like he doesn't think Lexa would tell me about the note.

I scowl and don't lower my bow, aiming it right at his cocky face. He doesn't seemed too phased by that, as though he doubts I would actually shoot him. I'm getting more and more tempted by the second to "accidentally" loosen my grip on the bow string and shoot him in the face.

"Yes, I did." Lexa responds calmly.

The man looks between Lexa and me and frowns, like he's expecting me to interrupt their conversation and ask what the heck they're talking about.

"Well? Do you accept?" He asks.

"No."

"No?" His eyebrows furrow and he looks genuinely confused.

"No. Tell your leader to prepare for war. We're coming for you." Lexa threatens in such a flat tone that it leaves no room for doubt that she means what she says.

"Are you sure? Your people will be wiped." His eyes flick over to me. "Including your little girlfriend."

Lexa bristles in a subtle way that he doesn't notice and takes a step towards him, her fingers gripping her swords tighter.

"Is that a threat?" She hisses.

"That's a promise. You may want to reconsider."

Her pinky finger raises and I know what that means from when we came up with a way to communicate in case of emergency such as this. I mostly tune out of their conversation and listen to what's around us. Lexa's low, threatening voice is background noise.

I hear a slight rustle and don't give any indication that I heard it, pinpointing the location easily. It's close but perfect for a sniper. Once I have determined that, I turn and shoot.

The "thunk" of my arrow hitting true makes the man stop talking mid-sentence as his comrade falls, dead, from the tree with my arrow through his heart.

Well, that was longer than normal. But cool, right? Clarke's a badass. And I love the idea of her and Lexa having a way of communicating nonverbally! Thank you all for reading and for your amazing comments! Stay awesome!