─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

IT WASN'T UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING THAT THEY DEEMED IT TO BE SAFE ENOUGH TO LEAVE. The fog hadn't cleared away until it was beginning to darken, and they decided it was too dangerous to leave and navigate their way through the night with grounder's roaming around, so staying in the vehicle was their only option. June tried to make herself as comfortable as possible, a thin dusty sheet pulled over her curled body and head resting against the cushion of the seat. It wasn't easy, but she soon dozed off, letting out soft snores.

When June woke up, she prepared herself to leave by rubbing her tired eyes and stretching until her muscles relaxed in place. Clarke popped open the vehicle's door, sticking her head out before announcing. "The fog's cleared. Come on, let's go!" She urged them, crawling out of the opening. Wells motioned for June to go next, helping by giving her a boost. June clutched the edge, pulling herself up with a short grunt and swinging her leg over. She steadied herself onto her feet, swinging the bag that contained the seaweed on her back as the two boys scrambled out themselves.

It was warm out, as usual, June thought as they walked back to camp in silence. It was a nice way to keep her awake, although wishing they had been sent down with more supplies. It'd be much more pleasant for some food but supplying them with soap so she didn't smell like a walking bag of trash. June grimaced as she reached up and touched the knots in her blonde hair, already beginning to tie up. It certainly didn't help that she had to sleep on the ground. She set her focus ahead, attempting to forget about her sanitary issues, to see that Finn and Clarke had put quite a few feet ahead and were quietly talking.

"Need a bath?" A voice spoke up from beside June, and she turned her head to see Wells, smiling this time, who had been watching her try to brush aside her twisted hair.

Letting out a short and quiet laugh, June tucked the blonde mess behind her ears. "Yeah, that'd be nice," she responded wistfully. "A brush wouldn't hurt either." Pulling it back in a braid or ponytail was nice, kept her cool, but she had a minimal supply of bands. Wells nodded back in understanding.

Taking a moment, June scanned the area sure that Clarke was out of earshot enough to not hear what she'd say to Wells. "So, last night was pretty intense," she commented, remembering what cruel words Clarke had spat out towards him. She didn't believe he deserved it, not for a minute.

"It was," Wells replied calmly, composed under the conversation he knew was coming.

"Why'd you do it?" June questioned, expecting the straight answer he wouldn't give to Clarke. "You, of all people on The Ark, knew the rules. You wouldn't do something like that to Clarke, or even the Griffins." Clarke, especially. He'd never put her through that much pain. Not with how Wells was, June believed. Not in the slightest. He would pawn his rations for art supplies to give to Clarke, and would sometimes split his with June on the occasion that hers were taken by her father. He was selfless, kind, and would keep a secret as big as that to himself. June knew it.

Wells was silent, hesitating, before shaking his head. "I don't know," he finally answered.

Expecting that, June nodded. "Because you didn't." Wells' head snapped to the side, eyes wide and staring at June in disbelief. She tilted her head, waiting for her accusation to be disregarded, but received nothing. She assumed he was more afraid that Clarke would be told the truth. "I won't tell her, Wells," June assured him. "But you should."

Coming back from the shock of June knowing the truth, Wells shook his head. "I can't," he declared, making June's shoulders droop in disappointment. If Clarke knew the truth, the two could repair their friendship. "I made a choice. If she hates me for the rest of my life, I made the right choice."

"But that's not fair, Wells," June argued, frustrated. She opened her mouth to continue, try and convince Wells to break the news to Clarke, but a young girl screaming in the distance made her stop suddenly. "Who the hell was that?" She asked, turning her head to find the source of the sound.

"This way!" Clarke called out, already dashing forward with Finn. June reluctantly followed, not wanting this conversation with Wells to end, but worried for whoever was screaming. She ran, feeling more sweat began to pool up from the exercise towards the girl whose screams grew closer before stopping for a minute.

Arriving at the sight, June stopped suddenly, her lost breath hitching in her throat. Bellamy was knelt on the ground, clutching a knife in his hand, and Atom was sprawled on the ground, blistered and in a lot of pain. Her jaw dropped in surprise, figuring it was the outcome on the acid fog. She was stricken with grief, slowly treading forward after Clarke, unable to take her eyes off the dying boy. Atom's eyes were a pale white, and he was gasping.

"I heard screams," Clarke whispered, falling to her knees on the other side of Atom, observing him.

"Charlotte found him," Bellamy replied quietly, full of emotion. "I sent her back to camp."

June peered over his shoulder, knowing that Atom's state was beyond help, but her blind hope wanting to help him. She tore her gaze away, looking towards Clarke, knowing that she had some knowledge of giving medical help from her mother. "Clarke, can you.." She trailed off.

Inspecting Atom, Clarke made the choice that she couldn't and shook her head in regret. Bellamy grew stiff, but he nodded back, understanding. June felt a few tears prick the corners of her eyes and she fought them, but seeing Atom in this way and in so much pain that he wanted to be killed wasn't helping. There was nothing they could do to save him, but they could help him.

"Okay," Clarke whispered, soothingly and running her hand through Atom's dark hair. "I'm gonna help you, all right?" Despite the distress laced in her tone, she smiled, doing her best to comfort him. She reached over, taking the knife from Bellamy's hand. June knew what she meant by now. Clarke began humming softly, letting Atom's head fall to the side, as she slid the blade into his neck. She continued the tune, stroking his hair, keeping him at ease until his eyes fluttered shut and he died peacefully.

June let out a shaky breath she didn't know she was holding, bringing her hand up to cover her mouth. It was the first real death she's witnessed on Earth, and she didn't doubt that it was going to be the last.

━━━━━━━━

It was quiet and tense as the group wandered back to camp. By the time they neared the gate, night had draped over them once more. June shivered with each step she took, knowing that Atom's body was being carried by Bellamy just behind her. Out of respect, they had suspended a jacket over his body as best they could. She was desperate to be at camp quicker, hoping to know Jasper would still be breathing and to bury Atom with the other two who had died in landing.

The gate, which was just the trunk of a tree, for now, was lifted and shifted to the side as Clarke led the group through. The delinquents were calling out at their arrival in greeting, as June was pulled to the side. "We've gotta get the seaweed to Jasper," Clarke ordered her, knowing she was carrying the seaweed. "I'll need boiled water to make the medicine."

June nodded. Bellamy was commanding to get Clarke whatever she needs, as Wells offered to go dig the grave. June had wanted to go give him a hand, but she had to get the boiled water and seaweed to Jasper inside the dropship. She rushed forward, passing by Octavia who was just exiting and looking around wildly. "It's about time!" She called out, storming forward to her brother.

Stopping at the opening of the dropship, June put her hand on the wall, watching tearfully as Clarke offered to go talk. Octavia pulled away, ignoring her, and heading towards Bellamy. She couldn't hear what they were arguing about, but he was certainly attempting to stop her from seeing the body. Octavia finally won, knelt next to Atom's body and slowly lifting the jacket, revealing him. June shook her head to herself, unable to watch any further when hearing the cries of sorrow and forcing herself to head into the dropship.

A while later, Clarke finally finished making the medicine for Jasper. His wound was covered once more, and after making sure he had enough to drink, Clarke's eyes darted up towards Octavia. The two had made sure he was comfortable, while June made a blanket out of a ripped out parachute and draped it over him to keep him warm. It was cold outside, and nearly just as chilly inside the open dropship. He needed to be as comfortable as possible to recover. "I'm really sorry about Atom."

Octavia nodded back, showing she heard. "I guess we're gonna have to get used to people dying down here, aren't we?" she replied in a mumble, making June frown. "But not you." Her hand gently stroked the side of Jasper's face, weakly smiling. "You hear me? You're not allowed to die."

"June?" Clarke spoke up, motioning for her to come forward. "Can you keep an eye on him? I need to go talk to Wells."

Despite the tragedy that had occurred, June couldn't help but grin. Faith arose in her chest, more than excited that Clarke was giving in and deciding to talk to Wells. She nodded, taking the position next to Jasper as the other left by climbing down the ladder. She tried to relax and keep her attention on Jasper, who was still unconscious. "Hey there," she whispered, pressing the cool cloth left for her against his forehead, making him stir.

As June hovered over Jasper, keeping him at ease until Clarke came back, Finn, Octavia, and Monty passed around the bottle of whiskey. They took small sips, wanting it to last. She turned it down the first time she was offered but was glad to see them having some fun, regardless of the grief each one carried.

"Smooth," Finn commented after a drink, before coughing and passing it over to Octavia.

The girl swallowed sharply, before grimacing and shaking her head. "Disgusting. Love it."

The drinking game was cut short when June noticed Jasper coming to. "Can I, uh, get a hit of that?" His voice was a quiet murmur, but she gasped softly, leaning over to check on him.

"Jasper!" The others called out, forgetting about the bottle and racing towards him. June smiled widely, brushing aside the wet hair sticking to his forehead as he became more aware of his surroundings.

"Let's start with the soft stuff," Finn suggested, grinning as he poured Jasper a cup of water. He passed it to June, who carefully brought it to his mouth, holding the back of his head up until he finished.

Seemingly in a daze, Jasper glanced around, studying the members circling him. Monty outstretched his hand, grasping his best friend's, and patting it while holding a large grin. "Was that a dream or did I get speared?" He questioned.

"You'll have a very impressive scar to prove it." The sudden voice had June turning her head, smiling when seeing that Clarke was back and approaching the group.

"My savior!" Jasper greeted, a happy smile on his face.

June wanted to stay, but she knew Jasper was alright. "I'm glad you're awake, Jasper," she informed the cheerful male, patting his shoulder. "I'm gonna go check on Wells." Clarke nodded, flashing June a smile before she left. As she climbed down the ladder and headed out of the dropship, hope bloomed and she kept the smile. She circled around the dropship, heading to the graves, and seeing Wells dig his shovel into the dirt. "Hey!"

At the startling greeting, Wells jumped in surprise and whirled around, but calmed when seeing that it was only his friend. "Hey," he responded, leaning against the shovel.

"So?" June urged him, nearing him. She tried to remain patient, but she knew by the way that Wells was smiling that his talk with Clarke had gone well. She had to know what happened.

Wells grin only widened as he replied. "She knows. We're gonna be okay now." June breathed in relief, laughing shortly. She didn't know she could be so happy on a day like this, but hearing that her two closest friends made up and she was no longer torn in the middle was enough to make her more than ecstatic.

"I'm so happy for you, Wells." June threw her arms over Wells's shoulders, hugging him tightly. He returned it, practically lifting her off the ground as he fastened his hold over her hips. June cherished the moment, unaware that it was something she'd hold onto forever. She would wish it would last long, but for now, she pulled away, letting her hands hang on his arms. "Do you need some help here?" She offered, referring to the digging. "This could take a while."

Noticing that June was pretty exhausted from the day they had, Wells declined by shaking his head. "No, I got it," he assured her.

"Are you sure?" June checked. "We could watch the sunrise together."

The proposal, despite it being almost serious, made Wells laugh and shake his head. "It's alright. Go on to get some rest," he insisted. "I'll see you in the morning."

June nodded back, waving him good-bye. "See you!" She called over her shoulder, trudging her way back to the dropship with a light heart, and completely unaware that her entire world will come crashing down around her soon.