They had made a stop in the middle of Trikru.
Madi didn't know where it was, exactly, only that there were a bunch of unmistakably dead, ashen remains of trees and that there were no landmarks nearby. But if she had to pinpoint it somewhere on the map, she would put it about halfway into the territories of the Woods Clan. Because they had been travelling for a long time in that truck, and after the feeling of exhilaration had worn off, Madi had felt extremely cramped and sore and tired for being in that truck for so long.
So she was pretty relieved when Clarke made a stop after the sun went down, and told them that they would be camping out for the night. It wasn't exactly a camp-out, not really because they were gonna sleep in the truck instead of inside the tents, but making a bonfire and talking stories by the campfire was a camp enough by Madi's means.
For the night, they roasted a rabbit they've brought from Shallow Valley. Madi had eaten it heartfully, and after a whole lot of storytelling and eventual sleepiness, she settled into the comfy seat-row in the front of the truck for the night, which was just her length. And even as she couldn't sleep she watched the stars outside from the open door; and felt a little bit better about herself.
...
Finding a Dropship in the midst of an irradiated forest proved easier than she'd expected.
They had gone as far into the forests as they could go and stopped when there were far too many broken, shrivelled trees littered together than the truck could pass or surmount. From there on, Clarke set out on foot, with Madi by her side. She had invited Lexa to come along with her, but she was adamant about staying, because all in one, they were once Clarke's people, and the Heda was, after all, partially at fault for their deaths. And though Clarke didn't voice it, she appreciated Lexa's discretion. There were memories, far too much than Clarke had wished to have, and though Lexa's presence was usually comforting, in this instance it would've doubled the weight she felt, doubled the atmosphere of death. Worse than for the better.
It was the only grave she could visit; in a sea of a million dead.
There was one by a valley; which she'd buried before Praimfaya struck, the dozen that followed them in a band. She couldn't remember where it was—because the pain, the heat, the sluggishness was too much for her even to distinctly recall those days—aside from a notebook, which she'd stashed away and tried to forget about because those seven days were ones she didn't need to remember. And there were the graves of the eighteen killed by Finn; another eighteen that were murdered by Pike; and both the perpetrator's tombs as well, all of which she knew was in Trikru but didn't know where.
This was the only one she knew for certain was.
And she had to make sure of one thing.
The bodies.
She shouldn't care, not really, and from her mind, she dredged up Lexa's words—the dead are gone, Clarke. The living are hungry. But even though she might've well just forgotten, she was never going to forget. And she especially wouldn't forgive herself if she forgot that she remembered.
Through the dead trees and the ashy ground, Clarke spotted the Dropship in the middle of a clearing. Making a beeline through the elevated ground and tightly-woven trees, despite Madi's weak protests, she marched on.
And when she made it to the clearing, she looked around and prayed her memory was right. With a small breath, a drink of water to muster up her confidence, she followed the line of shrivelled trees by the far end of the Dropship to enter a smaller clearing.
Please be there. Please be there. Please be there...
The first sight she saw was a mess. Trees, shrivelled and broken on the ground. Branches all over the soil, as if it were some frantic party-decoration. Soil, swallowing up mounds and then some more...
