xiii. peace and unity. maybe.
unity day

HOLIDAYS WERE not something Sawyer knew much about. Not really. She read about them in her history classes on the Ark. How there were specific days throughout the year reserved for celebrations. All of them different from the next. In recent times, they were no longer mentioned. Sawyer did not know if their significance dwindled with the passing years, or if they were outlawed by past Chancellors, but it did not matter much.

And while those ceased to exist, one was created in their absence. Unity Day, a time when the residents of the Ark celebrated how their home came to be. How twelve, operational space stations survived the nuclear war and were forced together to form one. The Ark.

At least, that was the version the Council liked to tell. 

The truth was that the Ark only formed after a thirteenth station had been blasted into oblivion. Most people chose to ignore it, not wanting to ruin their reason to party, while few used it as an excuse to hate those in charge that much more.

Sawyer did not know how she felt about it, but she knew the human race had a complicated and violent past. All too similar to their present. It happened, and she could not do anything to change it. Why harp on it?

"My friends," Chancellor Jaha's voice sounded through a screen setup outside in the clearing of the camp. Several of the hundred were crowded around it to watch the man's speech and the pageant that would follow. "This is a historic Unity Day. Every year, we mark the moment our ancestors of the twelve stations joined to form the Ark, but this is the last time we do so while aboard her. Next year – on the ground."

Applause erupted on the Ark. None transpired on the ground.

Sawyer watched from her spot across the camp, perched on a platform built as a lookout point for observing what lied beyond their walls. From there, she could see almost everything, even the strained stares and twisted expressions of her fellow delinquents. Not one of them wanted to hear Jaha talk about how he and everyone on the Ark would come down and take credit for what they did. What they established on a planet meant to kill them.

Miller scoffed from where he stood near the screen. "Right. After we did all the work. Someone shut him up."

"You shut up, Miller," Raven snapped from a few feet away from the boy. "No one's forcing you to watch."

Jaha continued, "for ninety-seven years, we have eked out an existence, hoping that someday our descendants would return to Earth."

Yeah, against their will, Sawyer thought. Although, she realized it all had been for the best. She would choose a hostile Earth over the dictatorship of the Ark any day. Except for maybe the murderous Grounders. She could do without them.

"Whoo!" Jasper shouted as he emerged from a tent with a metal canister in his arms. "Yeah! Monty strikes, again!" He ran through camp, capturing everyone's attention. "Call this batch Unity Juice! Who's thirsty?" he called out, filling up cups as people swarmed him. "Happy Unity Day. Pass it around."

Sawyer could not help but smile. Her people needed some fun after the hellish weeks they had. She returned her gaze back to the forest that surrounded them on all sides. They were all on high-alert since the Grounder escaped the dropship, waiting for the moment he returned with an army to wipe them out, but they decided to take a day to forget their worries and celebrate their singular holiday. That did not mean Sawyer wanted to leave the camp completely defenseless.

When the sound of someone on the side of the platform reached her ears, Sawyer turned to see Bellamy climb up over the edge. "Thought you'd be the first in line for Monty's moonshine," she quipped as he stepped onto the flat surface

Bellamy grinned in return, moving to where she stood near the wall. "Well, if I'm first, you're definitely second."

Sawyer laughed as she glanced back at the man. "Oh, he's got jokes."

"Plenty of them." Bellamy followed her line of sight to the darkening forest. "You know, there are people on watch."

Sawyer nodded with her arms crossed on her chest. "I know. Doesn't mean I can't stand here and stare at the trees for a while."

Bellamy's brows creased. "Stare at the trees?"

"The ground's version of staring at the moon," Sawyer stated, before she looked to find his curious gaze on her. "Never thought I'd say it, but I kind of miss the Ark's views. Nothing like catching a glimpse of Mars at three in the morning."

Bellamy's expression scrunched some. "Wouldn't say I agree, but..."

"...but you do," Sawyer added. "It's okay, you know. To miss things about the Ark. It was our home for our entire lives."

"And our prison," Bellamy retorted.

Sawyer went to reply until a round of 'boos' and shouts erupted. She turned away from the wall to where a crowd still remained in the center of camp. They faced the screen that would have held the Unity Day pageant, but it only showed static.

"Looks like the signal's out," Sawyer voiced.

Bellamy smiled. "Best Unity Day ever."

Sawyer shook her head, but she could not keep her own smile away. "I agree with that." She lowered her arms and started for the edge of the platform. "Think I'm gonna get some of Monty's moonshine, after all."

"Don't forget to have a little fun, while you're at it," Bellamy called out to her.

Sawyer met his gaze as she clung to the side of the platform. "Fun's my middle name, Blake," she exclaimed and proceeded down to the ground.

_______

"Yes!" Sawyer cheered, watching her metal washer bounce off the table and into the tin cup across from her. "Beat that, bitches."

Fox, a long, dark haired girl around the age of fifteen, groaned, having been standing in front of the cup. "This is so not fair. You haven't missed once," she complained as she reached out to grab the cup from the table.

Sawyer shrugged and flashed the girl a wide smile. "I've been playing this game for years. Besides, I also got good aim." She clapped her hands. "Now, chop-chop."

Fox blew out a breath, before she downed the contents in the cup. Her face scrunched as she swallowed. She plucked the washer from the bottom when she set it back onto the table. Fox glanced around at the other two competitors in the game. A boy named Drew, and Clarke Griffin.

Sawyer found herself surprised when Clarke decided to join them for a drinking game. The Clarke she knew did not party, or even have the least bit of fun. But, she decided to overlook it. If Clarke wanted to let go and get drunk, she could.

Fox settled on Clarke and aimed the washer for the girl's cup.

"You're not gonna get this one," Clarke taunted, drumming her hands on the edge of the table.

"Yes, I am," Fox replied, getting ready to launch the washer.

Clarke shook her head. "No. It's not happening."

Fox ignored the blonde and flicked her finger to hit the washer. The circular piece of metal bounced off the table, hitting the inside of the cup with a clink. "Whoo! Alright!" she cheered, pumping her fist in the air.

Sawyer grinned at Clarke's slight frown. "Get to drinking, Princess."

Clarke sent her a flat look, picking up her cup and downed the contents. She swallowed the moonshine, but she kept the washer in her mouth and shoved it between her lips.

Drew chuckled. "What do you know? Her highness can actually party. I like it."

Clarke grabbed the washer from her mouth, before she asked, "so, what are you gonna do when the Guard come down and commandeer Monty's still?"

Drew shrugged. "Build another."

Sawyer's grin grew wider. "Oh, yes, we will." She held up a hand and slapped it against his in a high-five.

Clarke pressed her lips together and nodded. "Alright." She lifted the washer in her hand, looking at the others around the table. "You ready?" she questioned as she raised the washer to her nose, tilting her head back in an attempt to balance it. "Oh, no. Wait. I have done this before, I promise."

Sawyer hummed. "Sure, you have."

Clarke managed to get it to stay on her nose and tipped forward to into Sawyer's refilled cup. Before it could hit the bottom, someone's hand shot out and caught the washer.

Sawyer gapped at the sight, snapping to the side to see Finn. "Hey, what the hell? She's was about to make it."

Clarke sighed when she spotted the Collins boy. "What is it?"

Finn looked from Clarke to the others and Sawyer and then back. "Let's take a walk."

Clarke eyed him for a moment, before she shot a glance to the Wesley girl.

Sawyer noticed and her mood instantly fell. "You sure?" she asked as her gaze narrowed toward Finn.

It did not take a genius to pick up on the tension that developed between Clarke and Finn since Raven landed on Earth. Sawyer knew that Clarke did her best to keep her distance from the boy, and she also knew Finn failed to notice it. He tried to keep her in his life no matter how many times she pushed him away.

The entire situation pissed Sawyer off. Finn did not know boundaries, or blatantly ignored them, and still inserted himself into Clarke's life. And at the same time, he continued to be with Raven. She did not know if he wanted to string them along, or lacked the awareness to his own feelings, but he needed to figure it out before he hurt Clarke and Raven beyond repair.

Clarke nodded. "Yeah," she said and glanced toward the others. "Sorry."

Sawyer watched her step away with Finn and then returned her attention to the table.

Fox's brows furrowed as she stared after them. "What's that about?"

Sawyer huffed, snatching her refilled cup from the table. "Who cares?" She tipped the contents into her mouth and swallowed the burning drink. Once it was gone, she set it back down and exclaimed, "who's ready for another round?"

They only managed to make it through another toss of the washer, before Clarke stormed over to the table and grabbed Sawyer by the arm. "Sorry, guys, but I have steal your queen away for a bit," she told Drew and Fox and proceeded to drag her away.

Sawyer huffed, wriggling out of the blonde's hold, and walked alongside her. "What's got you so worked up?" she questioned until she remembered her conversation with Finn. "This has to do with Finn, doesn't it? What'd he say? Do I have to go kick his ass?"

Clarke shook her head. "Sawyer, Finn set up a meeting with the Grounders. I'm leaving to go talk to them."

Sawyer skidded to a halt, whirling to face the Griffin girl. "He what? And – and you're going to talk to them? What about me? What about Bellamy? We're co-leaders here?"

"I don't think Finn really cares," Clarke stated.

Sawyer scoffed. "Or he still wants to get in your pants." Clarke gave her a sharp stare, causing her to sigh. "Look, he chose not to tell me or Bellamy because he knew you'd go along with it."

Clarke's brows creased and asked, "what's that supposed to mean?"

"It's no secret that neither me or Bellamy trust the Grounders," Sawyer told her. "They chased us through the woods last week, and killed John Mbege and Roma and Diggs. They haven't shone any desire in wanting peace with us. You haven't seen that. Finn knows it."

Clarke nodded. "Okay, I get it. That's why I'm here. I've already talked to Bellamy, and I want the two of you to be our backup."

Sawyer paused. "You want us to go with you?"

"Finn's not thinking straight. I am," Clarke retorted and started to back away. "Finn doesn't need to know. Bellamy probably at the armory tent. Meet him there, and bring guns." She then turned on her heel and made her way through the camp.

Sawyer stood there for a moment as she processed the conversation. Not only did Finn go behind their backs and set up a meeting with the Grounders, he wanted to put his and Clarke's lives on the line for a possible peace treaty. She did not know whether to scream or find Finn and punch him in the face.

Without another thought, Sawyer spun on her heel and headed for the tent where they kept the guns, otherwise called the armory tent. She ignored the excited chatter and shouts of those around her, letting them enjoy the night in a drunken bliss. They did not need to know about the Grounders. It would just cause a panic and worry everyone. She, Clarke, and Bellamy could handle it on their own.

Sawyer reached the tent and spotted Bellamy inside. He held one rifle in his hands and another slung over his shoulder. "Hey," she voiced as she entered the cloth structure.

Bellamy turned when she approached. "Finn or Clarke?" he questioned.

"Clarke," Sawyer breathed. She held out a hand, and he passed a gun to her. "We're gonna need more people."

Bellamy nodded, grabbing another rifle from their collection. "There's hardly anyone left who's sober. I'm not even sure you should be handling a gun."

Sawyer gave him a flat stare. "I'm a little tipsy. I'm fine." She pondered who could handle their mission, before she thought of the perfect person. "I think I know of someone," she said and pushed the tent flap aside to exit with Bellamy on her heels.

Sawyer knew that including Raven might lead to more problems, especially with Finn involved, but they were out of options. She and Bellamy moved a few tents down to where Raven set up her own space to inspect their bullets, making sure they were operational and not duds. She shoved the flap to see Raven stood in front of a table with Jasper next to her.

"Great. Two for one," Sawyer quipped.

Raven and Jasper turned to Sawyer and Bellamy with furrowed stares.

Bellamy glanced between them and said, "Jasper, you're coming with us."

Sawyer nodded the Reyes girl. "You, too."

Jasper fumbled when the rifle was passed into his hands. "We are?"

"You handled yourself well in the cave with the Grounder," Bellamy told him.

Jasper blinked. "I mean, I hit him in the head."

"If you're planning on shooting anything, you better think twice," Raven stated as they all turned to leave. "I haven't checked those, yet."

Bellamy sighed and turned to face her. "Give me some bullets that work."

Sawyer shot the eldest Blake a look. "You could be a little nicer about it."

Bellamy rolled his eyes.

Raven grabbed three clips and handed them over to him. "What do you need them for?"

Bellamy took them from her and set his attention back on the older girl. "Your boyfriend's being an idiot."

Raven's expression fell. "I'm coming with you."

"Awesome. Well, we need to get a move on, or we'll lose Clarke's trail," Sawyer exclaimed and made a move to leave.

"Clarke's with Finn," Raven voiced, causing the others to pause, "isn't she?"

Sawyer looked to Bellamy, who met her gaze in return. They turned back to Raven for a second, before they exited the tent without another word.

_______

Once they made sure their guns held working bullets, Sawyer, Bellamy, Jasper, and Raven trekked through the forest after Clarke and Finn. The Griffin girl left a trail for them to follow, bundles of the rotten nuts they neglected to toss out, to where they were supposed to meet the Grounders.

Sawyer wanted to hope that they were just being overly cautious. That the meeting would go well, and they could establish some sort of peace with the Grounders. But, she knew better. Those people tried to kill them since the moment they landed on Earth. They did not want peace. They wanted them dead.

The morning sun began to lighten the sky as they reached the meeting place. An old, concrete bridge that set above an almost barren riverbed. Sawyer found the thing impressive, if only for the fact it survived a nuclear war and ninety-seven years of weather. Not to mention it was the largest, manmade thing she had seen since they left the Ark.

Sawyer kept a firm grip on the rifle in her hands as they came to a stop next to the riverbed. They needed to stay out of sight, so they remained hidden in the tree-line. They were only there in case something happened. Her gaze lifted to the bridge, finding Clarke and Finn on the closest end, along with someone she did not expect to see.

"Someone's coming," Bellamy said with his stare aimed for the opposite side of the bridge.

Sawyer followed his line of sight to see a figure emerge from the trees. She raised her rifle to peer through the scope set atop the barrel. A tall man in dark clothes strode out onto the flat surface of the bridge. The Grounder who escaped from the dropship.

Sawyer huffed and lowered her gun. "Figures."

"Rethinking letting him live, now?" Bellamy questioned, but he did not shift his attention away from the Grounder.

"Little bit," Sawyer quipped. She watched the Grounder man continue across the bridge and someone race across to meet him.

"What's Octavia doing here?" Jasper asked when he spotted the youngest Blake.

Sawyer eyed Octavia as she ran for the Grounder and leapt into his arms. The Wesley girl blinked. She did not expect that.

"Oh," Jasper breathed. 

Raven grinned. "I guess we know how he got away."

Sawyer nodded. "That girl really does need a babysitter."

Right then, more figures erupted between the trees on the far side of the bridge. Sawyer's eyes widened when she saw three, large animals with Grounders sat on their backs. Horses. Actual horses.

The strangeness of Earth never ceased to amaze her.

Once she looked over the horses, Sawyer's eyes landed on the weapons strapped to the Grounders backs and sides. That made her nervous. She glanced back to their people when Clarke stepped forward, heading straight for one of the other Grounders. A woman with dark blonde hair and black paint around her eyes.

Sawyer tightened her grip on her rifle as Clarke talked with the Grounder. From where she stood, the woman did not look happy at all.

"Grounder Princess looks pissed," Raven voiced as she watched the interaction above them.

"Our Princess has that effect," Bellamy added.

Sawyer would have commented, but she picked up on the tension that proceeded to build between Clarke and the Grounder. She could almost feel it.

"Oh, no," Jasper muttered from where he raised his gun and aimed for the trees on the other side of the riverbed. "No. This is bad."

Sawyer turned to him with creased brows. "What?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Bellamy questioned.

"There's Grounders in the trees?" Jasper stated.

Sawyer snapped her gun up. She looked through the scope to find the Grounders. Leaves and tree branches were all that she saw. No sign of Grounders. "Where, Jasper?"

Raven and Bellamy did the same.

"Are you sure?" Raven asked.

"I don't see anything," Bellamy said.

Jasper shook his head and lowered his gun from his eye. "They're gonna shoot," he exclaimed, before he ran out of the tree-line. "Clarke, run! Run!"

Sawyer went to ground him, but Jasper squeezed the trigger and sent a volley of bullets toward the trees. "Damn it, Jasper," she hissed.

The female Grounder raised her arm with a knife in hand. She tried to slash at Clarke, but a bullet ripped into her arm, causing her to fall back.

Sawyer glanced to where Bellamy turned away from the bridge. He took the shot.

Arrows and bullets were shot in the direction of the bridge. Grounders shouted and readied themselves to attack, while those from the Ark scrambled for cover as they returned fire. Sawyer fired multiple rounds where the arrows originated. She did not know if she hit any of them, not really trying to, and climbed up the side of the riverbed as she tried to avoid being impaled by an arrowhead. The others followed close behind, sprinting away from the bridge and the vicious Grounders. 

So much for peace.

_______

Sawyer's heart pounded as she and the others raced through the forest for the safety of the dropship. None of them stopped until they were right outside their camp's gates. To their luck, the Grounders did not chase them or try to attack. Sawyer took that as a good sign. They had time to prepare for retaliation.

When they came to a halt outside the camp, Sawyer gulped air by the lung-full. She hated to run. Although, she guessed she needed to get used to it.

"You got anything to say?" Bellamy questioned when he noticed Finn's pointed stare.

Finn turned toward him and exclaimed, "yeah. I told you, no guns!"

"I told you we couldn't trust the Grounders," Clarke retorted. "I was right."

"Why didn't you tell me what you were up to?" Raven asked the Collins boy.

Finn faced her and snapped, "I tried, but you were too busy making bullets for your gun."

Sawyer whirled on him. "Don't talk to her like that. If it weren't for her bullets, you'd be dead. The Grounders were ready to kill you and Clarke."

"You don't know that!" Finn shouted at her. "Jasper fired the first shot!"

"And if he hadn't, Clarke would've ended up with an arrow in her chest," Sawyer shot back.

Octavia looked to Jasper and shook her head. "You ruined everything." She moved away and headed for the gate.

"I saved you!" Jasper called after her, before he scoffed and started for camp. "You're welcome."

Finn turned to the rest of them. "Well, if we weren't at war already, we sure as hell are now." He shifted his sole attention on Clarke. "You didn't have to trust the Grounders. You just had to trust me." He then moved forward and followed Octavia and Jasper's lead.

Raven did not say a word, doing the same.

Sawyer rolled her eyes. "Drama queen."

"Like I said," Bellamy breathed, "best Unity Day ever."

Before any of them could move, a boom sounded overhead. Sawyer looked up in time to see a ball of light in the morning sky. She did not recognize it, at first, but it became clear as it grew larger. It was a ship. The Exodus ship.

"The Exodus ship?" Sawyer questioned aloud. "They weren't supposed to get here for two more days."

Bellamy nodded and glanced toward the Griffin girl. "Your mom's early."

Clarke smiled when she saw the ship. At least, for a few moments. Her expression dropped as the ship neared the ground. "Wait. Too fast. No parachute? Something's wrong."

Sawyer could not think of something to say, watching the Exodus ship fall from the upper atmosphere. She did not get the chance to agree with Clarke as the ship disappeared behind a distant mountain and exploded into a ball of orange flames.

Clarke released a strained noise as her knees buckled and dropped her to the ground.

Sawyer's stomach sunk when she realized why. Clarke's mother was supposed to be on the Exodus ship. And now, Abby Griffin was dead.

<December 29, 2019>

Up next, my favorite episode of Season 1. Well, aside from the pilot.

I honestly don't know why it's my favorite, considering everyone gets sick and almost dies, but it is.

Don't forget to vote and comment.

-Jordan

P.S. Unedited chapter.