XX

[ PREVIOUSLY: Octavia and Finn discuss a grave matter with Clarke. Turns out, the Ark dropped them on the wrong mountain and the only way to get to Mount Weather, where all their supplies are, is to trek through a radiation simmering forest ].

Finn and I gazed at Clarke in shock as we heard the startling news.

"Is - is this some sort of punishment?" I stuttered, my words tumbling over themselves. "I - I mean, did they do this to us - on purpose?"

Clarke shook her head and shrugged as she began rolling up the map. "I - I really don't know."

"Wait," I took a step forward, blocking her path back to the drop-ship. "W-what were you locked up for? Do you know something that we don't? Something that involved the reason for us being sent down here?"

"Hey, back off!" Wells called out as he struggled to his feet and glared in my direction. "Clarke is under no obligation to explain herself to you."

"If something bad is happening up there I think we deserve to know," Finn spoke up, his brow furrowed in thought. "I mean, they're our people."

"And they sent us down here to die," Wells spat out. "I don't see why you'd even care about them anymore."

I opened my mouth to protest, but Clarke cut me off. "No, Wells, it's fine," she said. "They have a right to know."

"A right to know what?" I persisted.

Clarke sighed heavily as she glanced up at me. "Look, I know we didn't get off to a brilliant start, okay? But I - I respect your brother and his leadership skills. He knows how to deal with everyone here and I'll need his support in the coming future."

"So, what are you trying to do?" I raised my eyebrows and crossed my arms, an unimpressed demeanour encompassing my appearance. "Bribe me into whispering a good word for you into Bellamy's ear every now and then? Do you think I'm stupid? I may have spent my entire life beneath the floor, but I know all about you and your tactics from Bellamy and let me tell you this: he doesn't appreciate you barging in and sticking your nose in where it's not wanted. So, let life take its course and if Bellamy warms up to you, then great, but there is no way in hell that I am being your intermediator, got it?"

"She's kinda got a point there," Finn gave Clarke a pointed look.

"Shut-up, Spacewalker, that's not helping!" she frowned at him before turning back to me. "Y-you know what? You're right. You, out of everyone, deserve to know what's happening up there; seeing as you have absolutely no one left in the Ark that you care about ..."

"Whoa, this isn't confrontation time, Clarke," Finn held up his hand to stop her. "Just tell us what you know or ..."

"Or you'll what, Finn? Please, tell me what you'll do. I'd love to hear it," Clarke purposefully strung out each word, interlacing a sarcastic tone between each.

"Alright, we get the point, you're a traitor," I backed off and lifted my hands in the air. "C'mon, let's go Finn."

"Whoa, whoa, wait!" Clarke yelled after us. "I - I can't get to Mount Weather alone. I - I called you up here Finn because, well, I want you to go with me."

Finn and I turned back around to face her before exchanging knowing glances.

"You tell us what's going on up there in the Ark and I'll happily go with you," Finn told her. "But until then, it looks like you're on your own."

"Alright, alright!" Clarke gritted her teeth and huffed, knowing her game was over. "You've won. I'll tell you."

I smirked. "Now we're listening."

It was only ten minutes later that Clarke, Finn and I left the drop-ship, packs on our shoulders, a weighty load on our hearts and a sickening knowledge in our minds.

According to Clarke, the unthinkable was happening: the Ark was dying. There was not enough oxygen to sustain the two thousand people on it. They had a total of three months before their oxygen would run out. They hadn't sent the one hundred down to Earth to get rid of them, they had sent them down to see if the Earth was still survivable. If it was, the others on the Ark could follow us down within the month. Apparently, the silver cylinder wrist bands that everyone was wearing transmitted our vital signs up to the Ark. If someone was killed, they would know all about it by a signal telling them TRANSMISSION TERMINATED. Our wristbands were the only form of communication left with the Ark so Clarke made a point of telling us how important it was that we keep them on. Everything else had been destroyed by the drop-ship's rough landing.

Clarke was imprisoned for threatening to reveal the oxygen crisis to the rest of the people. The government was trying to keep it a secret in order to prevent a riot. However, Clarke's father thought otherwise and tried to warn everyone. He was caught and floated before he could carry on with his mission so Clarke tried to see it through, only, she didn't get very far.

For all we knew, the chancellor could be killing off more of the population as he tried to make more time for the rest of the privileged that remained.

In order for the others to return to the ground safely, though, we needed to sustain ourselves; and the only way we could do that was by getting to Mount Weather.

The three of us, Clarke, Finn and I, headed down the hillside towards where the rest of our crew were lazing around, enjoying the warm summer sun and the fresh scent of sweet green grass.

We had just crossed the river when Bellamy's alarmed voice arrested us.

"O? Where the hell do you think you're going?"

I sighed and rolled my eyes as I glanced back over my shoulder. Bellamy was striding across the ground towards me, a look of determination on his face.

"W-we're leaving," I announced as he approached us. "There's a bit of a situation going on. Clarke doesn't think the others should know in case it creates a panic."

"What on earth are you talking about?" Bellamy demanded.

"Well ..." I glanced over at Clarke and motioned for her to continue.

"The Ark dropped us on the wrong side of the valley," she explained in a hushed tone. "We were supposed to land on Mount Weather. There are bunkers there stocked with food and supplies; things we desperately need to survive. Octavia, Finn and I are going there to retrieve as much stuff as we can."

"What? You three are gonna carry enough food for a hundred people?" Bellamy laughed scoffingly.

Finn's eyes narrowed as he quickly glanced around. "Oh, wait, nope, the five of us," he leaned over and grabbed two boys who were standing nearby. He swung them around to face Bellamy.

"Wait? What's happening?" one of the boys questioned in confusion.

Finn just ignored him.

"That's still not enough," Bellamy jibed. "You'll be weighed down by your loads before you even get ten feet."

"Whatever you're doing, make it seven," another voice piped up from behind us.

We turned to see two younger boys, around the ages of thirteen and fifteen, trek across the grass towards us.

"Sure," I nodded and smiled before turning back to Bellamy. "C'mon, Bell. We need to know what's out there! We need to know what waiting for us on the other side. I'll be careful, I promise."

Bellamy hesitated before turning to gaze at Finn. "You keep an eye on her, got it?"

Finn gave him a firm nod. "It'd be my pleasure." He turned to smirk at me but I just chuckled in response.

I jumped forward to give my brother a hug as I squealed, "Ah, Bell, you're the best!"

Bellamy rolled his eyes and shoved me away playfully. "Go on. Stay safe."

I grinned and brushed back the stray strands of hair that were tickling my face. "You know I will, Bell. Thank you."

"C'mon, Princess, let's go!" Finn yelled from up ahead. "We don't have all day."

"Princess?" I repeated incredulously.

"Yeah," he smiled. "It's your new nickname."

My hand drifted up to the flower in my hair. I smiled as I shouldered my pack and set off after them.

We were going to Mount Weather.

Gif: Octavia as she wraps up her conversation with Bellamy and gets ready to leave.

XX