𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐑, bellamy blake ²

13; tondc

"Peace is always beautiful." 

― Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass

➳ ➳ ➳

THE CITY WAS ALIVE WITH LAUGHTER. Children ran through the streets in a wild chase, cheering and screaming. Flags billowed overhead—painted with the symbol of the commander.

Naomi and Ley strode through the city, trailing after a giggling Kasey and Amira. The two children were snatching food samples from stalls and letting the older girls put up a chase as they weaved around the stands. They were clutching hands and laughing.

People came up to Naomi with praise and free gifts—it wasn't every day that the Graunshila visited TonDC, even though Naomi felt like she wasn't living up to the title. A child ran forward to pass her a flower. "Thank you," she said, placing the rose against the front of her shirt.

The radio at her leg crackled. "How are you going, Dove?"

Naomi grinned and picked up the radio. Raven had managed to make portable versions of the radio, so everyone could communicate, Bellamy included. Naomi only ever had it turned to his frequency. "Good. TonDC is awesome, and they know how to throw a good celebration."

Bellamy laughed. "Gotten smashed yet?"

"Not yet," Naomi rolled her eyes playfully, "I've got the little girls with me. They begged to let me take them to the celebration. I believe Kasey told me she'd 'stab me with a fork' if I didn't take her along."

"She sounds just like you."

"She does, doesn't she?" She watched as the girls pranced around the dirt streets, smiling. "No one's found you yet?" she spoke into the radio.

"No, no, I'm good. So far," he said. Maya stood beside him, on watch. He looked behind them worriedly. "I don't know how long until they start suspecting me though."

Naomi nodded to herself. "Be careful, Bellamy. Just focus on staying undercover, okay? And get that acid fog down. We don't know what they're doing to our friends."

"Clarke and Raven are trying to get me up through the vents to eavesdrop. I'll tell you what I find out."

"Good. See you, Bellamy."

"Bye, Dove," he said, and the radio clicked off. She sighed and tucked it back into her hip. It was lonely without him, she decided. Not being to be beside him every step of the way made her unsure—she hated how she wouldn't be able to protect him, if the time came to it.

Naomi spotted Octavia through the crowd, following behind Indra. The girls made their ways to each other. Naomi touched Octavia's cheek, fingers skimming over faded warpaint. "I hear you're a warrior now," she said, smiling.

Octavia nodded gently to her. "I'm Indra's second."

"Bellamy's not going to know what hit him. Now he's got two badass warrior chicks in the family." She grinned and tucked a braid behind Octavia's ear. "You look beautiful, O." The two girls embraced again.

There was a crash from behind, and Naomi saw Kasey assaulting her sister over a candy stall. Noe raised her eyebrows. "I should go take care of that." Octavia smiled at her as Naomi peeled away. Ley and Naomi hurried over to the younger girls, the latter pulling Kasey from her sister.

"What are you up to?"

Kasey smiled guiltily. She raised a finger towards her younger sister. "She was stealing mine." Amira was gripping sweets in her hands and glaring at the other girl.

Noe rolled her eyes at them. "I think that's enough candy for today," she said, taking the sweets from a disgruntled Amira.

"No," she complained, but let Naomi peel them from her hands. Both children crossed their arms. Naomi just smiled at them and pulled them into a hug.

The next hours were filled with talks from the commander, eating and intense chases of the girls—who seemed to be trying their best to escape from the watch of Naomi and Ley. Music was playing now, and the city was in celebration. "Celebrations like this only happens once in a lifetime," Indra had said.

The two of them were paused to admire some artwork a woman had on display outside her stall. Wires of copper and string were twisted into the shapes of animals. Naomi had it in her mind to get one each for the girls.

Bellamy's voice came through the radio, alert and worried. "Naomi—are you with Clarke?"

Naomi took a hold of the radio and held it up. "What? No. I haven't seen her. I thought she was staying back at camp."

"Okay, listen," his voice was frantic. "You need to get out of there."

"What—"

"They're sending a missile towards TonDC." Naomi's eyes widened and Ley glanced over from her side with an expression of shock. "Just get O and get out of there."

"Going," Naomi informed him with wide eyes, and slid the radio against her thigh. She nodded to Ley, "Come on." The two dashed through the streets, finally tracking down the two girls. "Kasey! Amira!" She took both of the girls by the hand. "We have to go," she said, momentarily forgetting to translate into their language. The children looked confused but let her drag them along.

Ley ran beside her. "We need to warn everyone!"

"I don't think we have time," Naomi said, turning worriedly to glance at her. "Octavia!" Naomi was yelling, searching frantically through the crowds. She was attracting attention now, the grounders facing to watch her. "Octavia!" But she couldn't find her friend anywhere.

"Keep going," Ley told her, grabbing a hold of Naomi's shoulder and guiding them down the street.

"Octavia!" Naomi called again, snapping her head to gaze around her. Where are you? The group pressed past stalls and huts—heading towards the forest. Naomi looked behind. They were still too close.

They heard the missile before they saw it: the whistling of wind and metal. It roared overhead like a great winged beast. Naomi gripped the two girls in her arms, ducking over them as they weaved through the paths.

The ground shook as fire loomed into the sky, an explosion ripping through the air. The world went orange and the earth shattered behind them. Naomi was thrown off her feet by the force, slamming into stone as raw heat scraped at her back.

Smoke rose in the air and long tendrils of flame licked towards the stars.