Post Praimfaya Chapter 34

We arrived at the ruins of Polis, the once-thriving capital of the Grounders. It was no surprise to find the place deserted, and the bunker empty. To be fair, I expected at least some of the people to stay behind, but it seem that Octavia was not so keen on letting her warriors idle around when she could use them in combat.

"We're not going to find anyone here," Clarke said, "Let's keep moving."

Zoe nodded in agreement, sharing both mine and Clarke's thoughts. "It's like we expected to find anyone here, so let's catch up with them before it's too late."

Since there was nothing for us to do here, we quickly left the ruins and after driving for almost two hours, through the empty sands, we finally saw Wonkru.

And sadly, Clarke and mine's prediction did happen as several of Octavia's warriors lay motionless, their bodies scattered like discarded pawns. The sandstorm hit them badly and judging by the number of injured people as well as the no less than thirty dead warriors, this campaign of hers failed miserably even before it started. But that's when the biggest obstacle appears. If Octavia doesn't retreat more and more of her people will die to the sand storms.

Carefully parking the rover near the largest tent, we stepped out, to see if we can our friends or if we could help. Thankfully, almost as soon as I parked the car, Bellamy walked out from the tent alongside Monty, and boy did they look awful.

"Guys," Bellamy greeted us, with a forced smile on his face. "I'm glad you made it."

"What happened? How did things escalate to this point?"

Bellamy's shoulders sagged, as he looked back at the tent. "O was determined to press forward despite the risks you and Leon told her. She believed that Wonkru could conquer the desert and reach the valley, but she underestimated the razor-like glass that came with the sand storms. I should have stopped her."

"How bad is it Bellamy? Is there any hope of salvaging the situation?"

Monty sighed deeply. "The sand storms wreaked havoc on our forces. Many warriors were injured by the sharp glass fragments, and she lost a significant number of lives. Harper and Emori are doing everything they can to help, but if Octavia still chooses to continue, no one will remain alive or unscratched by the time we reach the valley."

"We can't let this spiral further out of control. Octavia needs to understand the consequences of her actions. We have to find a way to reach her even if that means forcing her."

"I don't know what to say about that Leon. I've tried reasoning with her, but every time I try to talk to her, Indra and her people are either forcing me away or O is simply not listening telling me that as Blodreina she needs to keep Wonkru united."

After that we all walked inside the tent where we saw Octavia standing beside a wounded Indra, not saying anything nor doing anything, just staring down at her mentor. As soon as she saw Clarke, she got up and asked her, "What's wrong with her?"

"I don't think so. I'm guessing there's glass in her lungs. We have to get her back to Polis."

Before Octavia could respond, Miller walks up. He nodded to me before giving an update to Octavia. "Blodreina, there's 34 dead. Thirty-five including Obika."

"Take their weapons and their armor. Leave the bodies." She turns to Cooper, who was lingering nearby. "Sound the retreat. We take our people back."

Cooper seems shocked to hear the words, but she didn't say anything before running off to inform the others. Clarke stands and walks over to Octavia, checking over her arm. "Damage to the muscle should be minimal, but, we'll know more in a few days."

Octavia looks up at her, nodding her head. "Thank you, and I'm sorry. I should have listened to you and Leon when you told us about the sandstorms."

"O, you saved everyone. You were right, Wonkru is strong. Just like their leader."

Octavia pulls herself up, getting closer to Bellamy, their faces nearly touching, and she whispers, "I'm glad you're alive, big brother."

They hug each other, putting their feelings into it, and everyone smiles at the siblings, glad to see that things seem okay. But then Octavia surprises everyone by pulling away slightly, resting her forehead against Bellamy's. "But if you ever speak out against Wonkru again, then you are an enemy of Wonkru. And you are my enemy."

And here she was, for a moment I thought that Blodreina disappeared, but it seems that she was still mostly in control of Octavia. Bellamy looked at us and frankly, I knew that he was starting to freak out since this wasn't his little sister, the one he wanted to hold in his arms after five long years, while she pulls away and lowers herself into the sand, just as someone begins to yell in the distance about an incoming sound.

As soon as the shout was heard, we rushed outside the tent. And there, in the sky, a drone hovered briefly, sunlight before swiftly disappearing beyond the horizon.

"What was that? Is it one of Dyoza's drones?" Monty questioned

Bellamy's expression mirrored everyone's fears. "It's possible. We can't take any chances. We have to move now."

"We need to move. Pack up camp, and be ready to leave at a moment's notice." Octavia shouted and all of her people start packing up and preparing the wounded for the journey back.

As soon as Octavia announces the retreat, Clarke offers to take Indra and a few of the other badly injured people back to Mount Weather in the rover to see Jackson. Thankfully, Octavia didn't refuse, she even told Clarke that they would return to Polis while she takes the wounded to Mount Weather. But deep down I felt that Octavia might be having other thoughts here since there was no way she would retreat without a fight, especially since she's now the commander of the grounders.

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