Bygones

~{Chapter 25}~

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"The chains are too mailable; I've already started on making new ones. All the wires should be rerouted except the one's in the turn box." I said to Clarke as I continued to melt metal parts together.
Raven got up from her seat in the tent and came over, "Baseboards are all fixed. Radios should be working in a further distance now."
She set down a bag of radios. Clarke picked one up and turned it on. Raven taught her how to use it. We were planing on scouting out new grounds to evacuate to just incase the war doesn't go as planned. Everyone was assigned a task to prepare.
"Got it," Clarke put down the radio and then said to me, "How are the ear buds coming along? Any progress?"
"No, unfortunately," I set down my pliers, "Everything fits and works properly except the fine-tune frequency. We have to constantly adjust it manually from busting our ear drums."
"Which means...?"
"Which means it's a no go unless we can find copper to reduce the negative feedback."
She slowly nodded and acted like she understood.
"Don't worry, we're close," I reassured her.
Bellamy then walked in and asked me, "Can I have a word with you?"
Both Clarke and Raven knew that was their cue to leave.
"What's wrong?" I asked him quietly as soon as they left.
"That necklace... Do you know something?"
"I... don't...," I stuttered, but then gave up, "It was... my father's."
He just looked at me with soft eyes.
I continued, "I'm not exactly sure if the print is his or not. It could just be the baby affecting my thoughts."
"Hey," he gently placed his hand on my stomach, "Don't blame him. He can hear."
I chuckled, "No he can't. He's only two months old."
"What about the necklace?" I asked as I eased myself into a near by stool.
"Finn and his team found it. A few days after they found a dead hog. It's neck was slit, clean cut."
"It could have been the Grounders."
"That's the thing," he took a stool and sat across from me, "Grounders don't pass over the the river which is on the North. It run like a territory mark. Finn found it on the West side of camp, in a clearing."
Thinking, I furrowed my eyebrows.
He continued, "His group is going back there tomorrow."
"I coming with," I immediately said.
"No. These grounds haven't been scouted out yet. It could potentially be dangerous."
"Finn's group is supposed to scout out areas like these and none of them have gone missing. Therefore, I will be safe. So I'm coming."
I stood and walked to a tool bench on the other side of the tent.
"We can't take that risk, Sloan."
Then someone rushed into the tent. It was Octavia, looking worried.
"It's Leyla."
I immediately stiffened, "What do you mean?"
We all paced outside quickly.
"She wasn't by my side or Jasper's or Monty's."
"Where was the last time you saw her?" My pace was quickening as I reached my tent.
"This morning."
Clarke and Raven caught up to us. We went into my tent and Bellamy started packing a backpack and loading his gun. I grabbed my weapons and threw on my jacket.
"I coming with, I'll get Finn," Raven started for the work benches.
"Clarke continue to watch the radio for any changes." I walked out of my tent and strapped the gun over my shoulder.
"I will."
Finn, his team, Raven, and Octavia were already at the entrance waiting for us.
"Here's the plan," Finn stepped up, "We split, but stay in big groups. These grounds haven't been thoroughly searched just yet. Keep all eyes and ears open."
"Sloan and you three comes with me," Bellamy pointed to a few of Finn's group members, "You three with Finn and the rest with Raven and Octavia. We split when we reach the clearing."
Everyone nodded and checked their weapons. Raven handed me a gun and a pistol, and we set off.

"Alright. Keep as low as possible. There are less trees here which means less coverage. Do not shoot unless for sure. Not only are amos low in stock, but also the sound can draw in who knows what lurks around here," Finn quietly said.
"What was she last wearing?" Octavia asked me.
"She had her normal clothes on. Navy blue jacket, grey shirt, black pants, and boots."
"Okay keep a look out for those things. Meet back here before dusk," Bellamy ordered.
We split up. My team went straight through the clearing, the others went on either side.
As we were crouching in the tall grass, Bellamy asked me, "Are you sure you can do this? Camp isn't too far; It's not too late to go back."
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me. Make sure you check the ground for any trip wires."
He nodded; he knew that I wouldn't give up so easily. Not for my daughter I wouldn't.

"Leyla?!" I whisper yelled.
"I don't think she would've came this far. I think we should head back. Night should be coming soon," Bellamy observed the trees through the scope of his gun.
"We should get back with the others, maybe they found something," one of our group members said.
I thought about it while scanning the woods.
"Fine," I reluctantly said.

"Did you find her?" Clarke came rushing up to us when we got back.
"No..." I sighed.
"Anything from the radio?" Raven asked as she put down her gear.
"Beside the hopeless static, nothing."
We followed Raven back to the conference tent. The radios were right where we left them, sitting there trying to find the slightest feedback from another possible Ark station.
"Ah!" I clutched my lower stomach, "Ooh that was a sharp one."
"Sit down," Clarke pulled a stool for me, "Keep your breathing steady."
I nodded in response.
"How bad is it?" Bellamy asked.
"Not... too much," I forced out.
"Is it a sharp pain or regional pain?" Clarke gestured to lift my shirt.
"Sharp. Really sharp."
"It could be the body not being used to the process."
"My body think's it's a parasite."
"Yes, possibly. This can be triggered by the weakness of the body. Just rest for now. Sloan," she looked at me apologetically, "I don't think it's a good idea to go back out there tomorrow. I know it's not something you want to hear."
"And if I do?" I gently ask.
"Possibly..."
I knew the answer and finished for her, "A miscarriage..."
"It's for the best. I can take your spot. Plus Grounder Princess can handle a group by herself," Raven chimed in.
"Thank you," I nodded at everyone. Then I got up slowly, "Alright, these radios aren't going to build themselves."

"Where are you..." I whispered quietly as I was in a tree.
It was the break of dawn and I couldn't sleep all night. My gun was sitting against my chest as I scanned the dark forest floor for any clues or signs. An uneasy feeling and a constant worry latched onto my chest when we learned Leyla disappeared.
"Leyla..." the words desperately slipped past my lips.
I then felt angry, of course at myself yet again. Knowing that I could've paid more attention to her.
"Don't beat yourself over it," Octavia appeared out of no where. She got herself comfortable and handed me a canteen, "Have you been here all night?"
"No, I was tired of being restless so I came out for a little while."
I took a sip.
"I've seen the way she handles herself. I'm no doctor, but I know that she has your brains and Bel's courage. She's either-"
Octavia was cut off by a high pitched scream. We both were high in alert in a split second; my gun at the ready and her sword in front of her.
She started to climb down, "That sounded close."
I followed closely with my eyes glued on our surroundings. The sun was coming up, but it was still hard to see.
"See anything?" She whispered to me while we took cover under thick bushes.
"No..." I looked through the scope of my gun, "Everything is still. Too still. There's no on- wait! I see a guy. Doesn't seem to be a Grounder."
I handed her my gun and she took a look.
"Grounders don't carry guns..." She trailed off.
I peered through the leaves and saw a figure in the distance with it's back towards us.
"What if they've been lying all this time? What if they have guns, but only use them for certain times?"
"If they had guns, they would've killed us the minute we landed here."
"Then... If this isn't a Grounder..."
"It's something we've never seen before..."

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