CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

"Well you killed me! So I think I win here!" 

***

 "Okay, so let me get this straight." I began, tripping over a branch and swaying slightly. My head was still pounding dimly, but it wasn't bad. "You're taking me to this bridge, and I am supposed to be the victim that is saying I am cool with being killed." 

 "Yes," Clarke looked distracted, glancing behind us every few moments. She left Finn at the bridge with Octavia and the Grounder... I am honestly super confused what that dude did... he stabbed Finn, Bellamy tortured him, Octavia helped him escape, and now they're like... together? What is happening? 

 "What's the Grounder's name again?" 

 "Lincoln." 

 I nodded, pursing my lips and clearing my throat as the bridge came into view. Lincoln was standing with Octavia wrapped in his arms, and my whole body tensed. This is weird, I don't like it. 

 Finn ran up to us almost immediately, and grabbed Clarke hand and raised it when Lincoln shot her a stiff look. His eyes flashed in my direction, and recognition flashed in them. I knew why. I was the kid who walked up, minutes from death, threw up, and then called the guy who was torturing him stupid. I hope that is enough to get me on his good side.

 The sound of sharp footsteps approached, and multiple large animals emerged from the forest. If not for the riders on their backs, I would have grinned. Horses. I have only heard about them in stories. They're gorgeous, and super tall, with pitch-black manes that blended in with identical bodies. Best of all, they aren't mutated! 

 "Oh my God!" Clarke turned to me, her eyes lighting up as she grabbed my am and pointed, "horses!" 

 "I know." We began walking to the center of the bridge, where a woman on a horse was waiting. She had long, auburn hair, and a hard face marked with dark patterns. Beside her, on the ground, was a girl. 

 I almost whined aloud. They brought the girl who beat me up? That is making this so much harder!

 She gave me a devilish grin, her features light, but her hair short and dark as night. I managed a sarcastic smile in return, and stuck my middle finger up behind my back.

 "Hey, we said no weapons!" Finn demanded, coming up behind us and pointing accusingly at the Grounder comrades. They were all armed, with either spears or swords. I found myself unconsciously wincing. 

 "I was told there wouldn't be." It was the first time I heard Lincoln's voice, and it was a lot higher than I originally anticipated. 

"Well, too late for that." I mumbled, trying to hide the fact that a small blade nestled in my boot, out of sight. 

 "They go alone." Lincoln told Finn, and I gave him a curt nod as Clarke and I took a few steps forward until we were face-to-face with the two scary Grounder-ladies. 

 As I got closer, I realized they had identical facial markings, and they were both shorter than me. Their expressions, and clothing, were enough to tell me that I had no upper hand in this situation though. 

 "You are Clarke, you are Nathaniel." She didn't phrase it as a second, and her voice was sharp yet strangely musical. 

 "Yes. I am Clarke, this is Nathaniel."  

 I had to bite back a comment that Clarke didn't really look like a Nathaniel, but all the usage of my full-name was throwing me off. Like I forgot it.

"I am Anya." She turned to me, her eyebrows raising. "This is Phia." Her eyes drifted to my stomach. "Let me see your wound." 

 "What-" I wasn't ready for that question, but the sound of twenty swords unsheathing in unison made me comply. I lifted my shirt just until the top of the bandage, and wondered why they cared so much about me. Finn got stabbed for crying out loud! 

 Phia's lips twitched up in satisfaction, and my heart thumped from the strain it was taking to not loose my cool. 

 "You were injured by my soldier, yet, you still want peace... why?" 

 I shifted, dropping my shirt and suddenly feeling like I was on a game-show. "Uh, I dunno-" I ruffled my hair anxiously. "'Cause me getting beat up shouldn't cost the lives of..." I cleared my throat. "Um, a lot of people." 

 "He is well spoken." Phia spoke, her voice also sharp and commanding. Annoyance twitched in me, and I growled slightly. Clarke elbowed my arm, giving me a warning look.

 "Fine, uh-" I searched for the words that these chicks would get. "In my solemnest truth, and my direst moments... I have decided to embrace forgiveness as if we were one." I paused, swallowing the laugh that threatened to come out if I continued speaking. "I'm sorry, I have no idea what the hell that was." 

 A long pause. 

 "We're cool." 

 Clarke muttered something under her breath, she looked like she couldn't figure out why she though bringing me was a good idea, but what did she expect? As Monty once said, I get sassy when I'm emotionally traumatized. 

"I think we got to a rough start... but I think we should find a way to live together in peace." Clarke says, trying to fix my mistake. Anya's lips twitched as she was amused, and dread settled in my stomach. Phia observed me like I was some sort of prey, and I didn't like it at all. 

"I get it, you've started a war you don't know how to finish." 

 "Excuse me?" I began, they went low. "We didn't start anything. You attacked us for no reason!" 

"No reason?" Anya spoke up, her eyebrows shooting up. "Phia."

 "The missiles you launched burned a village to the ground." She spoke, crossing her arms with an indignant tone.  She looked grateful for a reason to speak. 

 I could see Clarke's mental gears turning, and she turned and gave me a look, mouthing flares?

 I frowned as she spoke up, "the flares? No, those were just a signal for our families, we had to idea-" 

 "You're invaders!" The young Grounder hissed, taking a step forward and jabbing my stomach. I held back a grimace at the burning pain in brought, not providing the satisfaction that she hurt me. "You landed in our territory!"

"How the hell were we supposed to know that?" I began loosing my cool, and Clarke grabbed my wrist so I didn't move. "In case you haven't noticed, we are from space! We though radiation killed everything!" 

 "You knew we were here when you sent an armed party to capture one of our own and torture him!" 

 "Well you killed me! So I think I win here!" 

 "Nathan!" Clarke scolded, the same time Anya barked something in a language I didn't recognize. Phia's cheeks reddened, and she muttered something back before stepping back to her leaders side. I didn't move, but relaxed my arm to show Clarke I was cool. 

 "These are all acts of war." 

 "And killing me isn't?" 

 They all made the consecutive decision to ignore me. 

 "I see your point." Clarke kept her gaze even and her voice clear. She is the voice of reason, I am the one who argues. "That is why we need to put an end to all of this." 

 "Lincoln said there is more of you coming down. Warriors." Anya jutted her chin out, her eyes drifting between Clarke's and my own. 

 "Yes!" Clarke jumped on the opportunity to have a real conversation. "They're called The Guard, but there is also doctors, farmers, engineers." I counted off the roles on my fingers as Clarke spoke. "We can join forces, exchange what we know... but not if we're at war." 

 "Can you promise that these new arrivals won't attack us, and they'll respect what we have agreed on?" 

 Clarke and I shared a troubled look. Will the actual people in charge on the Ark listen to a bunch of thieves and liars about not attacking? Probably not if we are being honest. 

 "We promise we will do everything we can to honor the terms we have set." i finally decided on the perfect wording, keeping the nerves from my voice. 

 "Why would I agree to an alliance your people could break as soon as they set foot here?" 

 Dammit, she's smart. 

 "If you fire the first shot-" Clarke began, "these people won't bother negotiating. Our technology, they will wipe you out."

 I gave Clarke a 'are you really threatening her right now?' look. Anya's jaw tightened. 

 "They wouldn't be the first to try." 

 I feel like I was watching a ping-pong game. They both kept firing things back and forth, always knowing exactly what to say to match the others argument. I really understand what it feels like to be the 'dumbest in the room.' 

 "You don't understand." I began cautiously, holding my hands out. "They have guns. Guns that your swords cannot get close too-" 

 "You seem to doubt our skill." 

 My cheeks reddened as Phia smirked. I cleared my throat. "I do not. I just don't think you understand what bullets can-" 

 As if on cue, Jasper's voice shouted from somewhere in the forest. "They're gonna shoot! Nate! Clarke! Run!" 

 An array of loud gunshots rained down, and two knives were drawn in unison. Anya lunged for Clarke, while Phia ran at me. 

 I swore loudly, turning to grab Clarke's hand, and yanking her out of the way right before she was stabbed. "What the fuck happened?" 

 "I don't know!" 

 An arrow whizzed past my ear, and I shoved Clarke forward as a knife embedded itself in the wood in front of me. Not thinking, I bent down at picked it up, grabbing the small knife from my boot, and turned to chuck it at the opposing force, somehow managing to hit an arrow out of the air. My heart was beating fast and hard. What just happened? That all happened so quickly, I-

 "Finn get back!" Clarke shrieked as the Spacewalker ran over, grabbed Clarke's hand, who grabbed mine as we all ran to the protection of the forest. I held the hilt of the dagger tight in my free hand, occasionally jumping as I was almost hit by a bullet or arrow. 

An arrow flew over my head, twirling through the air. 

 Directly at Octavia. 

"Octavia!" I yelled as loud as I could, and before she could even turn around, Lincoln jumped in front of her, the arrow embedding itself in his stomach. I didn't know how to react to that, as he just kept going like nothing had happened. 

 "Go!" He yelled as we ran past. "Go! Take her! Don't stop until you're behind your wall, go!" 

 I didn't even stop running, I just reached my arm out and grabbed a shaking Octavia, pulling her closer since she was thrashing around like a crazy person. "Lincoln, no!" 

 "He'll be fine!" I tried to assure, slowing my pace. My heart seized when I saw tears dripping down her pretty face. "He's a bad-ass, so are you! Come on!" 

She didn't turn, but she allowed herself to be dragged. I muttered an internal 'fuck it', and kept running, she eventually found a way to rip her way out of my grasp, but I just assumed she would be behind me, so I ran as fast I could with my sore head, and burning stomach. I caught up with Clarke and Finn, and grabbed the girls hand so pull her along. 

 We ran until the sun had disappeared over the horizon, and I had to stop a few times because I wasn't paying attention and ran into a tree. The last time I ran into something, it wasn't a tree. 

 I cried out as I slammed into a body, sending us both sprawling to the ground forcefully. The side of a gun dug into my stomach, and I jumped up, clutching the bandages. 

 "We have to stop doing that." Bellamy stood up, and I dropped back to my knee's, feeling around until I grabbed the knife I took at the bridge. 

 "Wow, what the hell is that?" Bellamy asked as the rest of the group caught up, We were all panting and sweating, but at least we were alive. 

 "It's a knife." I grinned at the older Blake, who looked at me as if a grew another head. "Cool, huh?" 

 "It is not cool, it's dangerous!" 

 "You are beginning to sound like Monty, so please watch your tone." 

 We all gathered in the dark, all facing one another. "You got something to say?" Bellamy jabs at Finn from beside me. The other boy wasted no time in responding. 

 "Yeah, I said no guns!" 

 "Relax, Finn," Clarke sighs, "I told them to come." 

 "What?" Finn and I spoke in unison. His voice was laced with anger and betrayal, while mine was just one hundred percent confused. They were there the whole time? I should know these things! 

 "I told you we couldn't trust the Grounders!" Clarke fired at Finn, her breathing growing heavier as her temper increased. "Anya almost slit my throat!" 

 "She did?" 

 "And if Jasper wasn't there, we both would've died." 

 A small, proud smile quirked on Jasper's face, although he did his best to hide it. In the meantime, Raven turned to her boyfriend. "Why didn't you tell me what you were up to?" 

 "I tried, but you were too busy making bullets for your gun!" 

 "You're lucky she brought that!" Bellamy, deciding he wanted to be included in this argument, jumped in. "They came here to kill you, Finn!" 

 "You don't know that!" Finn hand whipped out to point an accusatory finger at the goggle boy. "Jasper fired the first shot!" 

 "You ruined everything!" Octavia growled at Jasper. 

 "I saved you!" Jasper defended, but Octavia wasn't having any of it. She turned and stomped back into camp, leaving us all in dumbfounded silence. Until Jasper broke it. "Uh, you're welcome?" 

 "Well, if we weren't at war already, we sure as hell are now." Finn's voice was quieter, but sad in a way. "You didn't even have to trust the Grounders... you just had to trust me." 

 Without another word, he brushed past Clarke and drfted into the camp after Jasper, Raven tagging along behind him. 

 "Best Unity day ever!" I raised my hand (the one without the knife) with mock-excitement, before letting it fall and scoffing. I was about to turn into camp, but a bright light from above floored me. 

 A ball of light was descending from the atmosphere at a speed too fast for my brain to process. It shone so bright I had to close my eyes, and I had to blink so I wasn't blinded. 

 "The Exodus ship." Clarke grinned. 

 "Your mom's early." Bellamy grinned, his eyes flashing to mine. 

 I wanted to feel happy, but a stirring feeling in my gut made me apprehensive. Something was wrong. "Wait... too fast? No parachute?"

 I glanced at Clarke and watched her face drain of all color. "Somethings wrong." 

 My suspicions were confirmed when a loud explosion cut into our conscious as the ship hit the Earth.