Fallen

Chapter Two: First Rescue

Ash tosses more dirt onto the bodies. Her and Wells buried the two that died in the dropship the day before. Most people only do something around here if it pleases them so far. Though people seem to listen to Bellamy, so there may be some order implemented soon. 

"I see you don't have the band any more," she states as they finish bury the bodies. He glances at her, making it clear he doesn't want to talk about it. She drops it before stretching. They pick up the clothes and walk back towards the dropship. One guy walks over.

"I'll take the dead's clothes," he tells them.

"We'll give them to those that need it," Wells states. "Just like what we did on the Ark."

"There are no rules here," they hear. Bellamy walks over. "We're not on the Ark anymore."

A girl lets out a scream and the four hurry in that direction. Murphy is holding a girl over the fire.

"I have a great idea," he smirks. "If we're going to let them think we died, we should show signs of fear."

Wells quickly shoves Murphy while Ash pulls the girl away from the flames. Murphy pulls out a blade, threatening Wells.

"Hey," Bellamy calls. He pulls out a knife and throws it in front of Wells. "Fair fight."

He picks up the blade and the two lunge towards each other. Ash goes to intervene, but Bellamy grabs her shoulder to stop her. Wells manages to get the upper hand and knocks Murphy down, pressing the blade against his throat. She could never have expected this from the typically kind teen. Ash spots the group that had left returning, however they are short one person. 

"Octavia," Bellamy calls, going to help her. "You're hurt. What happened? Were able to find food?"

"No," Clarke responds. "We were attacked."

"There are other survivors?" Ash asks. A crowd is forming around them.

"Yes. They took Jasper." She notices Wells' wristband is missing. "You're idiots. The Ark is dying and that's why they sent us to the ground. You're killing them. You're killing us!"

People start muttering among themselves. Ash's first thought is her grandmother. And she's not the only with family up on the Ark and there are limited ways of letting them know it's safe.

"We will be fine without them," Bellamy snaps back. "They abandoned us and yet we have survived. We're survivors and we are in charge here."

People start cheering at the sound of that while Clarke storms off. Ash follows after her. The blonde goes straight to packing a bag with some supplies.

"I'll help you find Jasper," Ash states, starting to place a knife between her belt and waistband.

"That won't do you much good. They have spears and attack from the trees."

"Then I'll borrow Bellamy's gun."

"Do you even know how to shoot a gun?"

She pauses a moment before quietly responding, "No."

"See if he will go with us."

She nods her head before leaving the dropship. Wells enter as she exits to talk to Clarke. Ash heads straight to where Bellamy is, bandaging his sister's leg. 

"We need you to help us find Jasper," she tells him bluntly.

"I can go," Octavia states.

"You need to rest," her older brother argues before looking back at Ash. "Why do you need me?"

"We actually need your gun and you know how to actually fire one."

"Fair enough. Murphy you're with me. Atom, watch Octavia while we're gone."

Murphy walks over before the three go to meet up with Clarke and Wells at the edge of the woods. Wells hands a bag to Ash before the search party leaves the camp. 

"You know," Bellamy states. "It might not be a bad thing to lose the wristbands. You really think they are just going to forgive us when they come down? We're just criminals to them."

"We have family up there," Ash reminds him. 

"Like your dad?"

"Like my grandma."

Clarke just remains quiet and firm in her stance. A crunch of leaves behind them causes them to quickly turn. Ash's hand goes straight for her knife. Finn, one of the people who went with Clarke originally, walks up to the group.

"We should probably split," he states. "Cover more ground that way."

Clarke pairs off with Finn, Wells with Bellamy, leaving Ash with Murphy. The three groups spread out to look for Jasper, or at least any sign of him. Murphy walks along side of Ash. Her eyes darting everywhere while he just acts calm. They come to the river that Clarke and Finn mentioned. The water is crystal clear and seems to be about waist deep. She reaches her hand in to feel the cool water rush by. Cupping her hands, she's able to bring some to her lips.

"You don't know if it's safe to drink," Murphy points out. She finishes it off before using her jacket sleeve to wipe her mouth.

"Better if I test it then," she states. "We need a source of fresh water to survive."

She spots Finn in the distance motioning them to follow. She takes off in that direction with Murphy following behind her. Finn leads them to where the others are waiting. He takes the lead, tracking a path. In the corner of her eye, she sees blood smeared across a stone.

"Do we even know if we're going in the right direction?" Murphy asks.

"We don't," Bellamy responds. "Spacewalker thinks he is a tracker."

Finn shakes his head before pointing out some blood on the ground. The six continue down the path as they follow the track of blood. A scream of pain draws their attention, causing them to pick up their pace. They follow the cries until they come across a terrifying scene. Jasper is tied up to a tree in the middle of a clearing. Clarke takes off only to fall into a covered pit. Bellamy quickly grabs her hand. Ash hurries over to help pull the blonde up onto solid ground.

"Thanks," she mutters. Finn steps forward.

"I'll cut Jasper down," he states.

"There could be more traps," Clarke points out. Ash walks to the edge of the woods, picking up a fallen branch.

"We can use this to press against the ground before stepping there," she tells them. Bellamy grabs it from her and leads the group to where Jasper is tied up. Finn and Murphy quickly scale the tree, cutting him down. Ash and Bellamy carefully grab him while the other two lower him down. A growling sound echoes through the clearing before a black panther lounges at them. Bellamy reaches for his gun, but it is Wells who fires it. He first grazes the beast before officially killing it. 

"Well we have food now," Ash mutters. 

"We'll get Jasper to the dropship and you three bring the panther," Clarke orders. Her, Wells, and Finn help Jasper while the rest work on picking up the creature. The group makes back to camp as it gets dark. Bellamy and Murphy cut up the meat, cooking it over the fire. People are taking off their wristbands and tossing it into the flames. As Ash reaches for some, Murphy stops her.

"Only those without wristbands can get food."

"Get bent Murphy."

Finn just walks over and grabs a couple pieces of meat.

"No rules, right?" he asks. He walks away and goes to where Clarke is sitting. Ash grabs some food before sitting down. Bellamy walks over and sits by her.

"Tomorrow is your birthday," he states. "First one on Earth for a long time."

"There are people who grew up here."

"But you're the first from the Ark that gets to celebrate here."

The two sit there eating in silence while the rest of the camp is full of energy. She is worried about the path Bellamy is going down, but unsure what to do at the moment.