Mortality

❦Rations❦

{ n i n e }

♛ ❦༄

Waking up in Bellamy's bed is one of the weirdest experiences. Waking up with his arms around me is almost unreal. I look over at his sleeping face. He looks so peaceful, so young. The world isn't weighing on his shoulders when he's asleep. And, for the first time, the world doesn't feel like it's on mine, either. Although, that's probably going to change as soon as I get out of bed. I sigh and wiggle out of Bellamy's arms as carefully as I can as not to wake him. I slip on my shoes, take one last look at him, and sneak out of the tent.

And right into Octavia.

Her eyes widen as she steadies me.

"Did you..." she trails off, her eyes flicking from me to Bellamy's tent.

"Oh, God! No!" I exclaim my face bright red. She gives me a look of disbelief. "I promise. He offered his tent so I could get some sleep in peace and then I had a breakdown and he helped me through it. We fell asleep. Nothing more, nothing less." She nods, smiling a little.

"I mean, hey, I wouldn't be opposed to it," she teases. I groan and put my head in my hands.

"I would be. I can't move on that fast. I still love Wells even though he's..." I trail off, still unable to admit to myself that he's actually gone. She rubs my arm comfortingly.

"I know. I'm sorry. It will take time, but you'll get there. By the way, they have some sort of video chat up from us to the Ark." My heart leaps.

"What? Like, we can talk to them? See them? Are my parents there?" I ask, rushing toward the tent where Clarke is. Octavia follows me. "Clarke!" Clarke looks up and smiles a little.

"You look better."

"I feel a little better, thanks to you. Is, uh, can I talk to my parents?" I ask. Clarke looks down at a piece of paper and smiles.

"You're next, actually." A boy leaves the tent, looking a little happier than usual. "Go on in." I all but run into the tent and sit down. I'm met with Thelonious' face, and my heart sinks. I see Wells in him. In everything. I can't escape the hole he's left in me.

"Everlyn, it's good to see you," Thelonious says, smiling softly. I return the smile.

"You, too. How are you- how are you holding up?" He sighs and rubs his face.

"I'm dealing. It's hard. How are you?" I clear my throat.

"Probably about as good as you can imagine. Y'know, trying not to get killed constantly. Missing Wells daily." Thelonious and I are quiet for a moment, bonding over a shared loss.

"Well, I'll let you talk to her." Thelonious leaves before I can ask what he means by 'her.' Within seconds, my mom sits on the screen in front of me. Tears fall at the sight of her, alive and healthy.

"Mom?" I cry. Tears fall on her end, too. She smiles.

"Hi, Ever. How are you? Are you okay? Don't lie for my benefit." I laugh, wiping my tears.

"I wouldn't dream of it. Well, do you want all of the scary details, or should I leave those out?" She crosses her arms and leans forward.

"All of it." I take a deep breath.

"Well, within the first five hours of being on the ground, I was a chew toy for a big water snake. You know how we read about the Lochness monster?" Mom nods. "Yeah, like that big. And then my friend was speared in the chest by Grounders. He lived, and we went on a rescue mission. Then we were attacked by a big black cat while trying to get him down from the tree. So, yeah." My mom sits there, wide-eyed.