Into The Woods- Bellamy Blake

Chapter 39

Ember rode beside Lexa and Clarke. They had been riding back to Arkadia for the past two days, Nia’s body in tow. Ember’s knew most of the trusted Grounder’s Lexa had brought with them, and had trained with a few of them in the past.

She hadn’t talked much since the fight, Clarke and Lexa had spent most of their time together, and Ember felt like she was third wheeling. It was obvious to her that something was happening between the two, and while she supported it fully, she felt like neither of them wanted her there as much. Because of that, Ember had been avoiding the two since the fight.

Which was hard to do when they were two of nine other people traveling to Arkadia. That number included the dead body. She also was required to ride up front with Lexa as her second, and Clarke rode with them. They two had been talking the entire trip, as Ember rode only slightly behind them, having heard all of their conversation, but participating in none of them. “Thinking about home?” Lexa asked Clarke, who had also gone silent for a few minutes.

They had both noticed that Ember was quiet, but neither believed she’d answer them about it, so they didn’t ask. “Thinking about whether Arkadia is home. When I left, it had a different name. I was different.” Clarke replied.

“You left a hero to your people. And you’ll return one. The mountain slayers return with the body of the Ice Queen. You bring them justice.” Lexa said, looking between Ember and Clarke.

“You bring them justice.”  Clarke told Lexa in return.

Lexa shook her head, making eye contact with Ember and then Clarke. “We bring them peace.”

“Heda!” Ember rode forward quickly when someone ahead of them called out for Lexa. She was the second to arrive at the scene on the back of Nightmare, quickly looking around in horror.

The field in front of her was covered in dead bodies, and Ember glanced back over her shoulder when she heard more footsteps, seeing Clarke and Lexa. She kneeled down to the ground, taking a moment to notice what killed them all. “All bullet wounds.” Ember told the two, looking back in horror.

“Heda! Come quick!” A grounder yelled, and once again, Ember was the first to get there, running quickly as she dodged stepping onto the scattered bodies.

She looked down at Indra in horror, as Clarke yelled, “I need bandages!”

“Stay away.” Indra said, glaring at Clarke. “You're one of them.”

Ember, who had the bandages, kneeled down to help Indra, glad she didn't consider Ember a member of Skaikru, even when she had the brand for them. “What happened here?” Ember asked Indra.

“They attacked while we slept.” Indra started to explain, and Lexa kneeled down at her side to help, Clarke close by but not moving closer. “Our watch was to the north looking for Azgeda. They killed our archers first. Our infantry couldn't get close. Then they executed the wounded.”

“The summit was two days ago. How could Kane do this?” Clarke asked.

Ember and Indra both looked to Claire, unable to believe she thought Kane would do this. “It wasn't Kane. There's only one person who would do this. Damn it! I knew this would happen!”

Indra put her hand on Ember's arm. “I should have listened to your warning.”

“Who are you guys talking about?” Clarke asked, looking between them confused.

“Pike.” Ember growled out. Her hatred for him was only growing, and she knew she’d get her revenge the first chance she got. She looked down at Indra as she finished wrapping the wound. “How did you escape?”