Sacrifice and Survival

The Future

He gently patted dirt over the row of seeds he just planted and surveyed his work, almost a full days labor, the garden soil had been tilled, he'd pulled out all the rocks, added manure and now the seeds were in. He smiled as he wiped the soil from his hands. He'd grown to love the feel of dirt on his hands, but it wasn't always that way, there was a time when he couldn't seem to get his hands clean enough, but after all this time the blood stains under his nails have finally been replaced by the rich earth soil. This year the winter had been long and hard and he couldn't wait to for spring so he could till the soil and spend his days working in the garden. This was his solace, his redemption. He smiles as he always does when he realizes how different life is now compared to 2 years ago. He looks back at the home they've made and at their friend Sara, sitting on the ground playing with their 1 year old son, Blake.

Sara came to visit whenever she could; a few times a year at least and she was even here when Blake was born. She never stayed in one place too long, she moved around a lot. She lived a nomadic life because it was necessary but she was well suited for it. He worried about her a lot during the cold months, when the ground was frozen and animals were scarce, he didn't know how she survived the winter months and he didn't ask, but he knew that as soon as the snow began to melt and the wild crocuses began to bloom that she would be here, to spend the spring with them. He and Sara were close, they were bonded by blood, death and sacrifice, and she was as close to him as if she were his sister. They were family.

Niylah came out on the porch to call them in for lunch. John wiped the dirt off his hands and brushed it off his pants as he turned to look out into the fields and woods that surrounded the trading post where they lived. It had a long time since the truce was established between Trikru, the 12 clans and Arkadia, but he was always on watch, especially when Sara was here. No one ever recognized him but Sara; well it seemed everyone knew the story of who she used to be. As he reached down to gather up his tools he paused as he watched the tree line he thought he saw movement in the woods, he set down the tools and pulled the pistol from the handmade holster at his hip and watched as a lone figure walked out of the woods and headed towards the post. As the man came closer, his features became clear and John relaxed, he smiled as he holstered his weapon and called to friend "Sara..." he waited and when she didn't respond he thought maybe she has gone inside but when he turned he saw she was still there playing with Blake. John just shook his head. She picked the name Sara because she said in ancient times it meant Princess but half the time she didn't answer to it, so he tried again "Clarke" he called and she looked up.

He motioned for her to come over. She stood up and took the toddlers hand and walked over "What's up Murf?"

He didn't way a word he just picked up his son, pointed out to the field and watched as her expression changed, a smile grew on her face and her eyes began to light up. John patted her shoulder and walked back to the house as Niylah came out on the porch, he put his arm around her and said "Guess who's coming to lunch" he smiled and watched as his old friends found each other again.

He felt tears well up in his eyes, he knew they would see less and less of Clarke now, but he was happy for her. She had waited a long time.

Clarke looked towards the man walking closer and closer, there was no mistaking who it was, the tall lean body, the mop of dark curls...a gasp caught in her throat and tears spilled out of her eyes as she began to walk towards him.

She wondered if he would recognize her. She darkened her hair a little and kept it pulled back, mostly as a way to disguise her most prominent feature, her golden hair. Her skin was tan from living mostly outdoors and she was a thinner than she used to be. But her fears were unfounded, all Bellamy needed was to see those blues eyes and a smile spread across his face as his pace quickened and Clarke began to run.