Blodreina

Targets

Sage's POV

Well before Abby arrived at Tondc to bring Clarke and I back to camp I had my first training lesson as Lexa's second. She wasn't kidding that it would put me through hell and back but that's what actually made it enjoyable and well worth waking up so early. At first she took it slow because she had no idea how much Lincoln taught me in so little time, but based off of her reactions it seems like I'm surprising her. Before the grounders attacked the drop ship there were probably a few days where Octavia and I could sneak off and get proper lessons from Lincoln. That meant we only knew how to attack and simple defense, but there was a lot more to learn than that. "Your attacks are predictable, you're using anger to fuel them." Over and over again she'd tell me that but at no point did she stop me to show me how I could do better or what exactly the problem was. If she wanted me to be less frustrated or angry she probably should've done that because now that's all that's feuling me after an hour of hearing those words. Instead she sped up her attacks to make me put more thought into my movements and slowly I felt myself 'slow down' but it still wasn't good enough. Then out of nowhere after I somehow knocked her to the ground she looked up at me with a smile before jumping right back in. Only when I knocked her down a few more times did she stop. "If you keep doing that you may actually be able to beat me one day. Well maybe," she says with a smirk. Her cockiness makes me roll my eyes while waiting for her to tell me what's next but instead she walks back into her tent. I jog after her and when I walk in I see her taking off her armour but obviously struggling. As usual it gets caught on one of her furs. Before she could even turn around to yell for me to help her I already untangled in and walked back across the room while also turning away so she could change. When she finished she asked me to turn back around and from then on we talked about training and how most of it will be done since she won't be coming to camp that much. It's too dangerous for her to travel that often which means I'd have to make the trip. While I'm stuck there and can't come here, Indra will take over for her, especially when she goes back to Polis. That journey is way too far for me to go alone. Just as we finished up talking about training Abby and Clarke walk in asking where I was but stop once they see us both sitting at the table. Both of them look extremely nervous. "What's going on? Is it Bellamy?" The blonde shakes her head while also shrugging, giving Lexa and I an unreadable look. So either he's okay or he's in trouble. There's no way to tell based on her body language. Instead she asks if it's alright for me to leave and of course Lexa agrees, we planned on leaving today no matter what. She hands me back my sword I ran back to my tent to grab my bag and then hop on one of the horses Lexa made her guards bring over for all of us. After a quick and sort of awkward goodbye between Clarke and Lexa we quickly ride into the forest with a few of her warriors close behind.

After an hour or so we finally reach a clearing where Abby spots some water. She's been wanting to stop for a while but with no sign of a clean source Clarke had us keep going instead. All of us jump down from our horses to either take a break from how uncomfortable the saddles are or get some water, all of us listening to Abby and Clarke bicker back and forth. "Be careful where you shoot, our scouts are patrolling the woods too," I say. When the grounders listen to me Abby seems surprised but it was a direct order from Lexa that they listened to us and she was there when she told them. Apparently she didn't think they'd actually do it once away from her. Abby wants Clarke to have something to drink but she won't listen, she's too worried about Bellamy but I understand why she's in such a hurry. She's worried our plan isn't working and without an update from Raven we're in the dark. But that's not what Abby is worried about, she's worried about how Clarke thinks she's in charge and not her. While Abby may have the title Clarke has the trust and respect. "Clarke I know you don't think you need my protection still but you do. You have to trust that I know what's best for us." Although the blonde looks like she's listening and taking in what her mom is saying it all goes in one ear and out the other. Her mind is too busy thinking over the possibilities of Bellamy successfully making it in the mountain or not. Quickly after that we're told to mount up and while doing so the silence that falls over us becomes deafening and the air becomes thick with tension. Something's off. Just as Clarke finally settles down in her saddle a gunshot can be heard and instead of her falling to the ground the guard right behind me does. While the grounder, Clarke and I were all standing in a perfect row it was obvious who the bullet was for, who else would the mountain men be after? Right away the blonde takes off on her horse in the direction where the shot came from, yelling for me to follow. When we finally get there I see Indra watching Octavia while she fights the second mountain man, kicking him to the ground after a small struggle. But before she could kill him Clarke yells for her to stop so we can take him back to camp with us and by the look Indra gives her she's not pleased with this. It's obvious this is part of Octavia's training and Clarke took Octavia's first kill from her just so we can possibly save the man and interrogate him. I jump off my horse and rush over to help Octavia look for the patch kit and by the sounds of the man's screams we have very little time to waste. "Here, here! I got it!" She throws it at me and something else comes with it and falls to the ground, redirecting her attention from the task at hand. I had no idea what was going on until I finished patching him up and the screaming finally died down and the news isn't good at all. Turning the pieces of paper in my direction I see pictures of Clarke and Lexa, both of them having me in the background. This makes it quite clear that they were the targets the mountain men were after but what's unclear is if I was too. I'm the only one without my own picture. Based off of how similar Lexa and I look, it could've very easily been me shot earlier. Indra sends our guard back to Tondc to warn the commander while scanning the woods around us. Silently figuring out the rest of her plan, but it's quite clear we're going back to camp. Reluctantly she walks over to Clarke and jumps up on her horse, making Octavia happily jump up behind me on mine, the both of us trying to desperately contain our laughter. Shooting us a glare she tells Clarke to get on with it and right before my horse follows them Octavia leans forward to kiss my cheek quickly, tightening her hold around my waist.