Of the Night: A Story From the 100

{16} Leaving Them Behind

I couldn't say that I wasn't shocked when Lexa tried to kill Octavia. I knew she would try something, but I didn't expect it to be so soon. When Clarke realized what Lexa had done, she stormed into the commander's tent. I could only watch helplessly from far away, guilt piercing me.

"Octavia, are you alright," I asked, walking up to her and Indra.

Octavia nodded, although I could see the hurt of the betrayal in her eyes. Before I could say anything else, a Gounder shouted in Trigedasleng, alerting the commander of the signal. I smiled as I heard that Bellamy had been successful. Lexa and Clarke emerged from the tent and came to stand by my side.

Clarke breathed in relief. "Bellamy did it."

Lexa nodded with a small smile. "You were right to have faith in him. Now we fight." Grounders gathered around, murmuring excitedly about Lexa's reaction to the signal. "Teik em laud tromon-de!" Lexa commanded, ordering the sounding of the war horns. It rang with a rumble across the sea of Grounders and everyone shouted triumphantly. "To war!"

In response the crowd cheered before beginning to march forwards, leaving the tents and supplies behind them at the base camp. I walked with Clarke as Lexa paced to the front of the mass. Octavia moved beside us and the tension between her and Clarke was stifling.

"Hey," Clarke tried to say to Octavia.

"What do you want?" the younger girl asked bitterly.

Clarke sighed. "I'm changing your mission. You're not going to the mines with Indra. I'm placing you in the rear guard, where you'll be safe."

I narrowed my eyes as Octavia snorted in amusement. "Like hell you are. I don't take orders from you. I take orders from Indra."

"I'm trying to protect you, Octavia," Clarke told her.

"Protect me?" Octavia repeated with a scoff, her glare sharply aimed in the blonde's direction.

Clarke flinched at her reaction, remembering that the bombing of Tondc was her fault. "One day, hopefully, you'll understand what I did."

Octavia shook her head. "Never. I'll fight this war with you now because I want our friends back. But after that, we're done."

Indra butted in, looking at Clarke as she slowed her pace to walk beside them. "The Commander's looking for you." Clarke excused herself and I watched her back as she left to jog to the front. Indra turned back to Octavia. "What was that about?"

"Clarke's trying to reassign me to the rear guard," spat Octavia.

"You're a warrior. You'll be in the mines with me," Indra told her and I nodded in agreement. She sighed. "I know it bothers you. They knew about the missile."

Octavia gaped in shock. "How could you not hate them? Indra, they almost killed you."

"They didn't do anything. The enemy did," I told her and Indra dipped her head in favor. "Lexa's a great Commander because she's ruthless. That's why we'll win this battle."

Octavia frowned. "That's wrong."

"That's war," Indra reminded her. She looked down at me as Lexa commanded for their party to split off.

"Good luck," I told her.

She murmured her thanks before letting out a battle cry and charging towards the tunnels that were hidden in the shadows. Octavia grabbed my shoulder compassionately before following after her chief with a shout. I smiled at her enthusiasm.

"Welcome, Sky Crew. Join us," Lexa said to the group that had arrived the Ark as I rejoined her and Clarke at the front near the entrance to Mount Weather.