Mortality

♛Ruination♛

{ s e v e n t e e n }

♛ ❦༄

Someone covers my mouth, and my eyes shoot open, grabbing at the person to get away.

"It's me," Nyko whispers. I relax, and he lets me sit up.

"What's going on?"

"Someone is here. I need you to go to Iana's hut and stay with them."

"What about you?" I panic.

"Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself. Now go," he urges. I rush out of the back door and toward Iana's hut. Before I can knock on the door, Iana pulls me in.

"Did Nyko send you?" I nod, still confused as to what's going on. "I need you to take Nio and Artigas and hide in the basement."

"Basement? Iana, what's going on?"

"Someone is in the village, and I don't think they are here for a chat." She wakes up Nio, and he walks out of his and Artigas' bedroom, rubbing his eyes.

"Nomon, ai laik dednes," Nio complains.

"Ai get, strikon. I need you to stay with Everlyn and Artigas, okay? It is just the monthly drill," she lies. Nio nods. Iana moves a rug and opens a hatch, revealing a ladder that descends into the darkness. She hands me a lantern and a knife.

"Iana," I whisper, growing increasingly worried.

"It will be all right, Everlyn. Don't worry." She nods into the hole, and I help Nio in before I follow. Artigas emerges from his and Nio's room holding a sword.

"I'm staying up here with you, Nomon," Artigas says. Iana stares at Artigas before sighing.

"Very well. Stay close to me." Artigas grins down at Nio and me, saluting.

"See you on the other side," he teases.

"See you on the other side," Nio replies. Iana takes one last look at Nio and me before closing the hatch. I listen as she moves the rug and what I assume to be the kitchen table over it, ensuring we're adequately hidden. Nio yawns and lays his head down on my lap.

"Everlyn?" I run my hand through his hair.

"Hm?"

"I'm glad you're here," he whispers. Before I can respond, he's snoring softly, curled into my lap. I smile down at Nio. I kiss the top of his head and lay my head against the rough stone wall, waiting.

♛ ❦༄

Clarke groans, sitting up. Her mom is sitting on the edge of the bed, watching her.

"I thought you were kicked off the Council?"

"Oh, this is the Chancellors' pin," Abby replies.

"You?" Clarke asks in disbelief.

"Thelonious didn't make it, and Kane left two days ago to try and make peace with the Grounders to get you and the others back."

"I told you, the Grounders don't have us. How long was I asleep?"

"Almost ten hours." Clarke's eyes widen, and she slides to the edge of the bed, much to Abby's dismay. "Clarke, slow down. It's too soon."

"Mom, we need to move against Mount Weather. How many guards are here? Where is Everlyn and Bellamy?"

"Clarke, please. You need rest." Clarke huffs in annoyance. Why doesn't she understand that she needs to find her people? Find Bellamy? Everlyn?

"I don't need rest. I'm fine. And I don't need you to protect me. What I need is to save my friends." Abby opens her mouth to protest, but Major Byrne interrupts.