The One Who's Fallen

Chapter 116

After taking care of the few people that were wounded in the Maunon's attack, we continue marching until we reach where we intended to stop tonight. Hopefully we won't have to stay in this spot for too much longer. That all depends on Bellamy and Maya.

Everyone sets up their tents with higher spirits than they had just this morning. This small win against the Maunon means so much. From what I understand, the Grounders really haven't won much of anything against them so this is a pretty big victory.

Because of that, I decide not to chastise the many warriors and medics gathered around fires that I see passing around bottles of clear liquid which can only be alcohol. I do remind a few I know to be heavy drinkers not to drink too much, for we may have to march again tomorrow.

After that, I head back to Lexa and my tent. I pause for a moment in surprise at the entrance. Everyone with red cloths on their arms are here.

"Hey, what's up?" I ask.

"Bellamy's supposed to radio in soon," Raven explains.

The walkie talkie is sitting on the table in front of her. I walk around everyone in order to stand next to Lexa, who reaches out to take my hand. We wait for what feels like a few hours but can't be longer than one, since dinner hasn't been brought to us yet. That's when the radio crackles and we all jolt, immediately more alert.

"Bellamy? Bellamy, are you there?" I question, keeping my voice quieter than normal just in case.

"Yeah. Hey Griffin." Bellamy says quietly but I can hear the giddy excitement in his voice. Did he succeed? "It went almost flawlessly."

"So it worked?" Lexa asks.

"I'm pretty sure it did." I frown at his answer. If he did everything, the word he should have used would be 'definitely.' "They're pretty pissed. So what happened is that everything was going to plan. I set up explosives while Maya worked on figuring out how to neutralize the acid. But then like as soon as it's neutralized, an alarm starts to blare. And then there's the sound of people in boots running."

I curse under my breath. "So you didn't blow it up?"

"Not yet, no." Bellamy answers. "Maya and I are currently in a metal grate in their air filtration system hiding from them. As soon as the room is clear, we'll blow it up."

"Like I've told you, Bellamy." A woman's voice comes through the radio. "That won't work, they won't leave the room until they've gotten more acid in there and fixed the problem."

"Hang on, shh." Bellamy shushes her.

"Bell-" her voice is cut off like he put his hand over her mouth.

A muffled, more far off comes through the walkie talkie and Raven cranks up the volume so we can hear it.

"What do you mean team Alpha failed? The targets are still alive?" The man sounds like he's someone who has power in the Maunon and is not happy. Is he talking about the people who tried to kill us earlier? There's a quick pause. "No, no. I don't want to hear excuses. Get team Beta ready. They're going NOW. What? I don't care, kill them in their sleep. Those savages will run around like a chicken without its head when they lose their leaders."

The voice fades away as he continues to insult someone on his own radio. Raven turns down the volume on our own and we all exchange glances.

"Did you guys hear that?" Bellamy whispers.

"Yes, we did." Lexa confirms.

"Good. Be careful, you guys. I'm going to blow this sucker up now. I'll radio back in the morning or if I have any information."

"Stay safe," Octavia says.

"I'll be careful, O. I promise. Love you."

"Love you too."

The radio clicks and I look up at the others. Indra is the first to speak. "I will inform the others to keep an eye out and increase the patrols."

Lexa nods and Indra bows her head before walking out of the tent.

"You two cannot stay in this tent tonight." Anya says. "It is large and labeled as the Heda's tent." She exchanges a quick look with Raven and Luna, who both nod. "You can sleep in our tent with us. Let us go there now so the Maunon do not see that you are not in your tent."

"Mochof (thank you)." Lexa says, grasping forearms with Anya. "Clarke and I will sleep on the ground."

"I'll bring you two furs." Mom offers.

"Thanks," I say.

Mom purses her lips and hugs me tightly. She puts a hand on Lexa's arm, knowing she probably would not appreciate being hugged, even if it's just in front of her closest advisors.

"Let's go." Raven says, gesturing for us to follow her.

I squeeze Mom one last time before letting go. I grab the few things in our tent we may need, mainly something to put on our armor so it doesn't smell like we've been wearing it for a while. I take Lexa's hand again and we follow Raven, Anya, and Luna. The guards I see as we make the short journey has more than doubled. They all are standing straighter and look more serious than they did an hour ago.

We get to their tent and a guard comes in to hand us all dinner. We eat in relative silence, with them sitting on the bed and Lexa and I standing up. Mom comes in not long after we finish and hands us furs. She doesn't hold back this time and hugs me then Lexa. Mom kisses my cheek before she leaves.

We lie down on the floor after that and say goodnight to Anya, Luna, and Raven. Sleep doesn't come as easily as usual when I'm sleeping next to Lexa. She notices and gently moves me so that my head is resting on her chest. I fall asleep to the comforting rhythm of her heart.

The story's progressing! The acid fog is knocked out! And stuff is going to continue to happen... :) Thank you all for reading and for your amazing comments! Stay awesome!