chapter 29
There were perhaps 40 delinquents with Mbege and yet Clarke knew there wasn't much that they could do to stop her. She could dodge their bullets, Instinct would save her from any traps they might have set for her and any wounds she did sustain would heal.
It was this very reason why Clarke couldn't wear her father's watch since the day she had killed for the first time. She had gone from a teenaged prisoner to a killer in what felt like a matter of moments. She could barely recognise herself anymore and the Novus was only a small part for the change.
The powers given to her were just another weapon and it chilled Clarke that she knew that if worst came to worst she would still kill people who meant her harm whether she had powers or not.
It was said that survival was ingrained in the DNA of all living beings. It was why she hadn't hesitated to kill the Grounder she had stolen the healing powers.
He would have come back to kill her at some point and her very being had screamed at her to eliminate the threat now for the simple reason that he might come back and harm her or any of the other delinquents who couldn't protect themselves.
Every time Clarke had killed she had always reasoned it as being for her people. Yet, this time despite Mbege having seceded from them they were still her people.
Could she really kill some of her own people for the sake of those that were lucky enough to be on her side?
Mbege had always talked about how things under her rule was just like how things were on the Ark. In a cruel and ironic twist of fate, Clarke now had to decide if she could do what all the Chancellors on the Ark had done before.
Could she really forsake her some of her own people for the greater good?
The memory of her father in the air lock struck her. His comforting words doing little good to ease her anguish. The sheer pain Clarke had felt when the outer door had opened and her father was dragged out of the air lock and into the dark, frozen depths of space.
"I can't execute them all,"said Clarke before adding,"I won't. That's not how we do things. We can't decide who gets to live and who gets to die because then we would have turned into Jaha and the council. I'll go speak to Mbege and try to convince as many of the innocents to rejoin our camp. The rest I'll take to Anya and then she can have her justice. "
Bellamy nodded and said,"That's fine with me. I'll come with you, Princess. We should head out as soon as the sun rises tomorrow. We don't even know where Mbege's camp is so we'll need to find it."
Clarke shook her head and said,"You need to stay. The camp can't have the both of us out at the same time. These people listen to us and we can't both be out of the camp at the same time anymore not when something might happen. I'll take Finn and Raven with me."
Bellamy raised a brow at that and said,"Finn and Raven? Are you sure that's a good idea?"
Clarke nodded and said,"They have their issues, but they're bigger things than their beef at work here. I'd take Octavia, but she hasn't activated her Duos powers so her body is still weak and slow. It's going to be a long haul and unsafe so I'll need Raven's firepower and Finn is the best tracker in the camp."
In the face of that reasoning Bellamy nodded and said,"Okay, but if things go wrong don't say I didn't warn you. Anyways, I need to go check on the guards at the wall so shout if you need anything. "
Bellamy left after a nod at Lincoln and Clarke and he closed the hatch as he began to descend the ladder.
There was silence in the room before Clarke said,"Where can I find Anya? That's where I'll need to go first before anything. I didn't tell Bellamy since he'd practically force his way onto the team and he's not the best at diplomacy."
Lincoln smiled slightly at that and said,"I'm not entirely sure where exactly she would be now, but I believe she'd be stationed at one of the villages near the river close to the Mountain. This plan of yours is good. Anya is one of the wisest amongst the Trikru and she has the ear of the Commander. I'm sure she would see the benefit of being allied with your people."
Clarke felt less anxious at that news. She was lucky that Anya was apparently not quick to anger despite her rather harsh demeanour. It made her feel a little less worried about their longterm survival.
There was virtually no information on whether the Ark was dead or alive and regardless there was no way for them to get down. Raven had said the Ark was never meant to survive a decoupling from the Exodus ship and if there were people up there then they wouldn't be alive for much longer.
Clarke rather sheepishly remembered that Lincoln was still tied up and she moved behind him and began to undo his bindings,"Sorry for tying you up, but it was the only way I could get people to agree with you being here. What are your plans now?"
Lincoln rubbed his wrists once he was free and said,"I understand why you had to tie me up. I could have withstood far worse than this, but I'm glad things didn't go that far. I plan to seek refuge with another clan in the Coalition. It is not Trikru, but they are a peaceful people and I suspect that you'll enjoy living amongst them should you and your people ever get the chance. Their leader, Luna, is an old friend of mine."
Clarke was happy that Lincoln would not have to resort to slumming it out in the mountains with all those other traitors and he seemed rather happy that he got to go to Luna's people. She supposed a life of peace after being a warrior must be nice.
"Where does Luna stay?"said Clarke out of curiosity and Lincoln answered almost immediately, "Floukru territory is to the east. Towards the ocean. I'm sure Luna would like to meet you one day."
Clarke hoped that she could one day get to see the ocean. There hadn't been much time for sightseeing since they'd arrived and hopefully all would go well with Anya.
Lincoln rose to his feet before dropping to a knee and he said,"Thank you, Clarke of the Sky People. You saved my life from certain death and I am in your debt. Should you ever need a task done then I am at your service."
Clarke was surprised at the sheer emotion and dedication she could hear in Lincoln's voice. She had saved him, but she hadn't expected him to pay back the favour in such a manner. If anything Clarke owed Lincoln for all that he had done for them and saving his life was the least of what Clarke could have done to repay him.
"There's no need for that,"said Clarke hesitantly before adding,"You have already helped us a lot. There's no need to pay me back for anything. If it hadn't been for you we might have had a less friendly welcome if someone else had scouted us and all of us in this camp owe you a lot."
Lincoln reluctantly rose to his feet and said,"I understand. I hope everything goes better with your second meeting with Anya. Your people deserve a chance at life just as much as the others already on the ground. "
Lincoln put out his hand to shake and Clarke tried to reciprocate but she was surprised when Lincoln grabbed her elbow instead. Clarke mirrored his actions as they performed the most peculiar handshake Clarke had ever been apart of.
They separated and Lincoln picked up his belongings off of the table in the dropship. Clarke waited for him to gather his supplies before she motioned for him to follow her.
The two walked in silence amidst the stares and murmurs of the delinquents that were still awake. They finally reached the gate and after an order to stand down. The gate guards didn't take any further action to seeing Lincoln.
"If you don't have anywhere to stay for the night, you're welcome to stay,"said Clarke but Lincoln shook his head and said,"Thank you, but I'll need to leave now. If there are any scouts then it would be best for me to use the cover of night to my advantage,"stated Lincoln before he nodded at Clarke in a form of saying goodbye.
Clarke nodded back and she watched as Lincoln made his way into the dark forest before he disappeared from sight a few seconds later.
She finally began to make her way back to her and Raven's tent for what she was sure was going to be a fun and amazing chat about tomorrow's trip to Anya's village.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"So, Clarke "said Raven,"What makes you think we won't be attacked as soon as we reach this village?"
"We don't, "said Clarke as she followed Finn with Raven walking behind Clarke. Finn had found what he believed were human footprints and they were following them to what was hopefully a village,"You're behind me so I can cover us and Finn can go intangible."
They had left camp rather early and while Finn had agreed to come with rather easily, Raven had been a bit more challenging. Raven had caved, though, once Clarke had said that Raven didn't even need to speak to Finn and that Clarke would cover one of her night gate duties.
It had created this rather awkward situation where Clarke had essentially become the only person both Finn and Raven would speak to. For the most part, Clarke was still rather angry at Finn for all he had done, but like she had said to Bellamy they needed to push their issues aside to work together and so Clarke was trying.
They continued on in silence for another half hour before Finn lost the trail he had been following. They stopped as he tried to look for signs of the trail picking up or if there was another one that he could pick up.
Clarke paused to take a sip from her canteen and she was about to close it when Raven spoke up.
"Has it always been this quiet?"said Raven as she began to scan the surrounding area.
Clarke realised Raven was right and she began to scan the ground. After drawing a blank, she began to scan the canopy of the forest however the branches in this section of the woods were especially thick and it was virtually impossible to see through them.
Finn had his hand on a pistol he had gathered. He had been told to take a rifle, but he wasn't comfortable with having to use it and he had originally wanted to go unarmed, but Bellamy had basically stromgarmed him into taking the pistol.
Clarke was about to continue walking once she had found no signs of anyone else, but then it happened.