Sacrifice and Survival

The Dispatch

Instead of riding they walked their horses for several hours and in doing so they managed to avoid the Grounder Army, their scouts and trackers. Kane would forever be grateful to Lincoln and the other Grounders that had been 'detained' by Pike, without their knowledge of the area and Grounder Tactics they never would have made it around the blockade. While stealth was the main reason for walking instead of riding, another reason was there were only four horses and thirteen potential riders.

Marcus Kane, was one, he has come so far from the man on the Ark who felt deeply responsible for so many deaths to the man now trying to ensure that the bloodshed stops, and Lincoln, the grounder warrior with a soul of an artist, who loves a Skaikru girl so much he would do anything to share his life with her. Nathan Miller, former criminal, a boy sent to certain death on the dropship who learned that he was capable of so much more and who proved he was a man you could trust. Lara Harper, a pretty girl, a petty thief sent to her fate like the other delinquents and she was a follower, she followed her heart, she followed her gut and now just as before she would follow Bellamy. Octavia the Skaikru girl who became a Trikru warrior; she lived her life torn between two worlds, the world of her brother and the world of her lover.

And Bellamy, the boy who would be King; he lost his crown when he lost his Princess. And now he lives everyday reminded by his nightmares of how far he has to go to find redemption.

They were joined by seven Trikru, they were first guests of Abby in medical but they became the prisoners of Pike in his power hungry takeover of Arkadia. Together they hope to make it to Polis and broker a lasting peace and to stave off the impending war that Pikes so desperately wants. But all Bellamy wants is to find out the truth about his Princess and, if she really is dead, to bring her home to her people.

It took two full days to get around the blockade, it was not without its perils, they were spotted at least once by advanced guards from the grounder army but managed to outrun and outwit them. They made it to several villages and after the initial shock of seeing Skaikru, the grounder prisoners were able to convince village elders that not all Sky people were evil, that there was the possibility they could all live in peace. By sun up on the third day the prisoners has all been returned to their villages. And the remaining six continued their quest to Polis.

They rode most of the morning in silence. Octavia rode with Lincoln and Harper doubled with Miller. Kane lead the way with Bellamy riding alone and bringing up the rear.

"You don't trust him now do you?" Miller said quietly to Harper, seated behind him on the horse.

"It wasn't so long ago you trusted him with your life and would have followed him anywhere." She replied.

He glanced over his shoulder "Yea well, he's fucked up royally don't you think."

"I think Bellamy deserves a second chance, we all owe him our lives and anyway Clarke would forgive him, she believed in second chances."

Miller sighed "That's a low blow, don't bring Clarke in to this" Miller paused "I know Bellamy lost it when she died, but he started down the wrong path long before that happened."

Harper's voice was low "You know he thinks she's still alive." Miller turned in the saddle so he could see her face and raised his eyebrows at her and she just nodded "umm umm" she murmured.

"That makes him an idiot." Octavia said as she and Lincoln rode next to them. "He and Clarke both made crappy choices, hers to trust Lexa and his to think she'd come back, amount others. Yes they were our leaders and they kept us alive, barely."

"Do not be too hard on your brother, Pike manipulated him after Clarke left, but he is trying to make things right again" Lincoln said wrapping his arm a bit tighter around her.