Survivors

Chapter 18- Caring for Each Other

Clarke Griffen:

Ali's long, light brown hair, sprawls out into a crown above her head. Scratches and wounds still cover her body, but she should be able to get out and about soon. Hopefully, we can avoid any attacks before Ali gets to train in combat with Bellamy. I've been teaching some people about different herbs that can mean the matter between life and death, and how to stitch wounds. Many of them are good listeners, and tend to become very interested very fast. I've also been taking training, but in combat. Bellamy instructs me on simple defense moves and how to use a gun. I particularly like knife throwing better though.

"Hey Clarke." Jasper pokes his head into the drop-ship. Jasper is one of the few who dislike medicine studies and prefer mechanics. I don't hate him for it, the poor kid just wants to fit in. "How is she doing?" He refers to Ali.

"She's doing better, just exhausted like most of us." We haven't gotten much sleep with all of the training we've received.

"I watch after her for awhile. Go get some sleep." He places his hand on my shoulder. I don't know if he did it out of comfort or out of love, but it makes me uncomfortable. I think of Jasper as a friend, no more no less. I shift away and brush Ali's hair with my finger tips one last time.

"Thanks." He nods his head and I walk out. Darkness floods the outside and the wind gently swishes the tress, side-to-side. I see Bellamy sitting by the fire. I walk over to him and take a seat on a nearby log. "Are you going to bed tonight? You need some sleep." He rouses and jumps not knowing I was there. He must be so tired after all he's been through.

"Nah, I can survive 24 more hours." He gives a reassuring grin, but the dark circles under his eyes say it all. Last time I tried to stay up for a couple of days, I started to see things. That could take our camp down a difficult path if he's gonna try to train kids with guns.

"No you can't, Bell. You seriously need some sleep." He rubs his eyes.

"Clarke, I have to take watch. I'll be fine." I start to get mad.

"Fine, if your staying awake, I am too." He has to go now. He actually cares about me, and he told me himself before Octavia died.

"Okay, fine." Crap. I thought that he would argue and insist that I sleep and he would finally give in. Instead, we sit around a fire, forcing our eyes open, watching the dancing shadows in the forest.

Bellamy Blake:

Her head bobs up and down as she catches herself falling asleep. I feel guilty, practically making her stay awake. I didn't think that she cares for me enough to, but once again, I was wrong.

"Clarke,please..." I plead. She stares at the fire unresponsive. I can't help but notice how stubborn she is. She'll get her way one way or another. I guess the the nickname "princess" suites her well. Just like Octavia. Octavia. Just the thought of her name, brings in a weakness that I never thought I could have. A weakness that I thought would never dare to haunt me after the death of my mother hardened me like the frozen ground I sit upon.

"I'm not going to sleep unless you promise to too." Her head slowly turns towards me, sharp blue eyes pleading for a chance to sleep. I sigh.

"Okay." I say softly. "But let me find someone else to take watch. Clarke slowly nods her head and gives a reassuring smile. I walk over to Finn's tent and open the flap, not giving a though about giving him privacy.

"Hey!" He yells shielding his eyes from the moonlight the seeps through the open space.

"Get up, Spacewalker. Your turn to take watch." Finn rolls his eyes and huffs. Instead of hearing to the awaiting lecture, I go back to where Clarke and I sat, finding her head laying on the log. Her eyelids are shut and her breathing has become even. How can she sleep in the snow like that? I walk over to her, grinning. Its gonna be fun waking up a princess. I shake her shoulder gently at first, but when she doesn't rouse I shake harder. "Clarke, wake up." A groan escapes her mouth and a single drop of blood, trickles out of her nostril. "Clarke!" I say louder now. I roll her to her side and see a knife, plugged into her lower back.