Surviving the Sky

Chapter Seven

I wish we could just have one day, just one day, when we aren't searching for someone or something, or running from someone or something. Just one day of peace. Is that too much to ask?

Apparently so.

We spread out in the woods looking for Octavia. I've never really spoken to the girl, other than to inform her of Adam's death or when she was sat next to Bellamy and Miller interrogating me.

But from the amount of respect everyone had for her, I assumed she was smart. Or at least crazy enough to nearly get eaten by an overgrown river slug at some point. I don't really know how I missed that, but it happened at some point before Jasper got speared.

"Octavia!" People yelled throughout the forest.

It was dark, and torches were once again the only source of light, "We should go back," Clarke suggested, "Regroup-"

"I'm not giving up on her," Bellamy snapped, "My sister, my responsibility."

"Down here!" I heard. I think it was Miller or Jasper who announced finding something.

Bellamy lowered himself down the steep slope of sharp rocks on the rope.

"Octavia was here!" Bellamy announced.

"Blood?" Clarke asked.

Bellamy nodded gravely, "Fresh."

"Oh," I said, "Wait- I think I might know where she is-"

"We're trusting the grounder?" Miller asked.

I tried to fight back the urge to punch him square in the nose. I failed.

Pinching his bloody nose, he glared at me, "Proof."

Bellamy grabbed my arm before I could strike again, "We go back, regroup." Sure, no, don't listen to me when I have an idea. I'm probably wrong anyway.

First thing in the morning, a small group of us left camp again. I believe among us were a few girls, Monroe, Harper, Roma, Clarke, and I. And Bellamy managed to drag Atom, Jasper, Sterling, Monty, and a couple others.

We continued walking until we reached an area full of spikes. Tied to them were human skeletons.

"I don't speak grounder, but I think this means 'keep out'," Finn joked. Not really the time.

"I shouldn't be here," I mumbled.

Sterling turned and asked, "Why, scared?"

"Yeah, and rightly so," I snapped back.

"Didn't you used to be a grounder?" Monroe asked, taking Sterling's side. I think the two of them are like twins, despite no one on the Ark having siblings to preserve oxygen and supplies. I guess that's what made Bellamy so scared for Octavia all the time.

I rolled my eyes, "This is Trikru territory."

"And?" Monroe demanded. Harper remained silent.

"Indra made it very clear if she ever saw me in her territory, she'd hunt me down and kill me," I said.

Clarke sighed, "You don't have to come."

"Octavia was my friend. I think," I said, "Anyway, I'm coming."

"Thanks," Bellamy said.

One of the boys ran ahead. A spike flew down from the trees and impaled him.

"There are traps everywhere," I muttered, "Of course. To keep out the mountain men and Azgeda- the ice nation."

"Why would the ice nation come this far south?"