An entire day passed, slipped right through; no one came to see Athena other than to give her another tray of food. It seemed that they were no longer willing to waste their strange, mushy, packaged food on her as she refused to touch it the first time, and they sent in a platter of berries, some fruit, mushrooms, and nuts. She picked out the poisonous mushrooms, hoping that some of the Arker’s ate them just in spite, and then began to feast on the small amount of food that they had gotten her. They filled her belly somewhat, but reminded her of how hungry she really was. Downing the cup of water they gave her to wash down the dry but fat-filled nuts, she decided she needed to keep up her strength.

                Whether she was trapped in here for a week, or years, she would need to remain strong. She began doing push ups, to strength her arms, pecs, and back, pulling her leg to her elbow during each down phase of the push up, she also worked her oblique’s and her hip flexors. Staying flexible, strong, nimble and energized was important, but she was working off of very little stamina.

                When the doors opened, it was early afternoon, the sun was still warm and shining bright, but it was beginning to hide behind the tree tops. The weather was getting colder, it was nearing the fall now, but the sun still offered a much desired warmth. Athena herself got a fraction of sunlight each day she was locked away, just enough to warm her skin. Gun fire had sounded only fifteen minutes before they brought him in; a Grounder, like her.

                At first she didn’t recognize him, and worried that she was suddenly and unwillingly thrown into a gladiator pit and was going to have to fight for her life. The mud and blood on his face shrouded his identity, but when he looked up and Athena saw his brilliant blue eyes, she knew it was one of her own. She felt the weight of Kira’s necklace in her pocket and her heart sunk; but at least some of her warriors had made it out alive, rather than charred.

                “Lucifer…” She spoke softly. Would he lash out at her for leaving them? Did he even know that she had slipped out, or had Aslan made sure no one found out where she had gone? She had a million questions, and his slow response made her stomach churn.

                “Athena, you’re alive?” He looked up, startled, their native tongue a strong reminder of who Athena was.

                “Obviously.” She retorted, a bit harsher than she intended. “What are you doing here?”

                “After the slaughter, I went to the commander, she instructed I get some information on these strangers. Things didn’t work out as planned.” He walked up to her, his honey skin showing through the blood and gore on his face, mixed with the black smears around his eyes. “I thought you were back with Aslan.”

                “I decided to stay here.” She said, only evading the full truth. “My work is not done.”

                Lucifer began to walk around the perimeter of the room, dragging his fingertips along the edges, searching for weak spots. If anyone could have broken them out it would have been Gendry, but he had died long ago now, so it felt. Every passing day felt like weeks, the terrible events of the past already forgotten, and the dread of upcoming events filled her every inch. To her surprise, Lucifer didn’t know of the events that happened before the attack on the Sky People, and so he was holding no grudge against her for now. It wouldn’t take long before he learned, she was willing to bet on that.

                Time would tell how loyal her warriors would be to her, when she had not been loyal to them. In light of recent events, Athena learned that she was willing to change easier than she had once believed. She had not wanted to betray her people, she wanted them to leave, to sever the ties between Ice and Wood clans, but that was too much to ask from them, and instead she deliberately left them without telling them she would be on the other side. Perhaps she had expected an angered Aslan to turn them against her, but from what she had seen of Aslan last, she knew that he would never had done a fraction of the things she had done. He was a good person, deep down to the bone.

                The doors opened another day later and Lucifer was the first to respond. Before Athena could even see who it was coming through, Abby, Kane, a guard, Lucifer had lunged to his feet and was blocking her view. He had no weapons, but he had his strength and viciousness; the look of murder in his eyes scared away half of the people who tried to stand in his way, but this person didn’t back down. Her voice was smooth when she spoke, “I’m here to see Athena.”

                “Lucifer!” Athena recognized the voice as Clarke’s. “Stand down!”

                Lucifer looked at Athena with that same murder in his eyes and glared at her; he was beginning to piece everything together, and Athena just hoped she was no longer trapped in a cell with him when he found out. Clarke was covered in dirt and blood, her eyes wide with terror, as if she had seen something she never wanted to see. The brunette walked up to her, glancing at the two guards who stood at the door, ready to fire at anyone who tried to hurt Clarke. Lucifer crept back to the corner, scowling.

                “I thought the Mountain Men had you.” Athena inquired.

                “I escaped, with Anya.”

                “Anya?” Athena was weary about her.

                “She… She’s dead.”

                Athena took a moment, wondering how she felt about that. If all the warriors from the battle were dead, then she was in the clear about her treason. She suspected word got to Lexa already, though, by some of the surviving warriors who didn’t try to kill the remaining Sky People, like Tristan did. When she had recovered from this knew knowledge on Anya’s state, she looked up into Clarke’s eyes, studying them. What did she want?

                “I need you to do something for me.” Clarke began, “I need the Grounder army, to take down Mount Weather. My friends are still in there and I’m beginning to worry about their safety.”

                “As you should. They are a cruel, twisted people.”

                “I saw… I saw what they do to your people. They treated us like guests, like we were part of them, but after seeing what they were doing to your people, I sense it won’t be long before they start trying ours.”

                “You’re not wrong.” Athena said. “What makes you think I can get you an army?”

                “Talk to your commander, make a deal. Anya was on her way to do just that, until…”

                “Yeah, she was killed.” Athena wasn’t too distraught about it, though she respected Anya’s willingness to try to create a peace between the Sky People. If it meant taking down Mount Weather and every twisted person within the walls, Athena wasn’t going to pass this offer up. She knew she might be killed the moment she stepped anywhere near Lexa’s guards. But, it was worth the risk. “I’ll need to go with Lucifer, as well.”

                “Him?” Clarke nodded to Lucifer at the back of the room.

                Athena nodded, “I fear my word means little now, and Lucifer may be able to help me.”

                “I’ll talk to Kane.” Clarke said.

                “You haven’t already secured my freedom?” Heat rose to Athena’s cheeks.

                “I have a strong bargaining chip. I’ll get you free, then I’m going to bring back Bellamy.”

                Athena raised an eyebrow, trying not to show that she cared. “Send Lucifer to talk with the commander, I’m coming with you.”

Bleeh, just had to write so much so that I could post for you guys. :P I suppose I should go make a lunch for work now. See? I put your enjoyment of my writing ahead of my own health sometimes.