─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"THE GROUNDERS CAUTERIZED THE WOUND. SAVED HIS LIFE."

"Saved his life so they could string him up for live bait," Finn mumbled. "Garden of Eden this ain't."

Frowning, June leaned closer on her knees to observe Jasper. Clarke tensed as she got closer, but she tried to ignore it. She knew it was because of the missing band on her wrist. The ache was still there, and she almost missed the feeling of pins digging in her wrist. She didn't keep it on because she had family in The Ark or anyone who cared whether or not she was alive. She left it on for Wells and Clarke, and Murphy took that from her. The memory of him and his friend pinning her down and popping off her wristband made June's blood boil. She should have broke his nose when she had the chance.

Shaking off the chill, Clarke focused her attention back on Jasper. She studied the wound on his chest, looking disturbed. "This is infected. He could be septic." She cleared her throat, sending a glance over her shoulder to Monty. "Any progress on using the wristbands to contact The Ark?" He was a short distance away, at the dropship control panel and gazing at his best friend sorrowfully. "Monty?" Clarke blurted, needing an answer, forcing him to focus on her and respond to her question.

Snapping out of his daze, Monty finally shook his head. "That would be a firm no." Jasper was moaning louder, and every now and then, June would hear someone shout to shut him up. It left her revolted, wondering why they didn't think he was worth saving.

Blocking out the noise, June tried to assure Monty. "You got this. Do your best, okay?"

The doors latch flung open, and June turned her head to see Wells approaching with a look of concern towards Jasper's. He squatted on the other side of her, in between her and Clarke. "How's he doing?" He asked.

"How does it look like he's doing, Wells?" Clarke snapped back harshly, her voice echoing in irritation. June grimaced, seeing the look on his face from the sharp and unneeded words.

"Hey," Wells eased her, remaining gentle. "I'm just trying to help."

Jasper groans became louder, and Clarke glanced at his injury knowingly. "Right. You want to help?" She asked him and June. "Hold him down." June was confused as to what she meant before she pressed her hands onto Jasper's legs. Wells went for his chest, keeping him steady, as Clarke picked up a knife.

The motion caught Monty off guard, whose hands froze in place at the sight of the knife's glimmer. "I'm not gonna like this, am I?" June became stiff, knowing the answer, that she wasn't going to like this either.

Clarke began slicing the blade into Jasper's skin, making him throw his head back and scream in agony. June winced, unable to watch as he was tortured to save his life. Her grip began to loosen, and Clarke warned her and Wells. "Hold him still. I need to cut away the infected flesh!" She ordered. June forced herself to tighten her grip again, pressing down on Jasper's legs to keep him from thrashing or kicking.

Suddenly, Octavia flew in, being drawn in from Jasper's screams. "Stop it!" She shouted, falling to her knees behind Clarke. "You're killing him!"

"She's trying to save his life," Finn explained shortly. Octavia froze, remaining quiet this time as she watched Clarke finish the procedure. Jasper slumped back, unconscious once more and panting heavily. June sighed in relief, releasing his limbs and leaning back.

The group was joined by Bellamy, who climbed up the ladder and steadied himself on their level of the dropship. "She can't," he declared, referring to Finn's earlier statement.

"Back off," Wells warned, rising to his feet and standing protectively in front of Jasper.

"We didn't drag him through miles of woods just to let him die," Clarke shot at him, refusing to turn and meet his cold eyes.

"Kid's a goner," Bellamy retorted. "If you can't see that, you're deluded. He's making people crazy."

Tightening her hands into fists, June's head whirled around, her blonde ponytail swinging behind her. "Jasper's life may be an inconvenience to you, but we aren't in The Ark anymore. If it was you in his place, dying, we'd do everything we could to help you too." She knew it was true, even if she didn't like Bellamy. She stood up, practically stomping forward with a dark glare. "Every life matters down here."

Seizing June up, Bellamy heaved a sigh. "So, then you're everyone's protector, then?" It came out rude, making June lift her chin and straightening her back to hold her ground firmly. Without a doubt. "Take a look at him," he demanded. "He's a lost cause." June shook her head in disbelief, knowing he wasn't listening clear enough to her earlier statement. If he was dying instead, she was sure he wouldn't want them to stick a knife in him and end his life just so people wouldn't be scared. Even if Jasper was a lost cause, and would die soon, they would at least could live with the knowledge that they did everything they could to help him.

Octavia considered what Bellamy was saying for a moment, looking at Jasper helplessly. Clarke noticed and convinced her otherwise, speaking softly. "Octavia, I've spent my whole life watching my mother heal people. If I say there's hope, there's hope," she said, determined.

"This isn't about hope, it's about guts," Bellamy spoke before his sister could. "You don't have the guts to make the hard choices. I do." June rolled her eyes, turning away, feeling revolted by how emotionless he was. "He's been like this for three days. If he's not better by tomorrow, I'll kill him myself." With the threat hanging in the air, Bellamy stalked towards the ladder, beginning to climb down it once more but not before demanding. "Octavia, let's go."

"I'm staying here," Octavia responded, declining with anger laced in her voice. Bellamy seemed upset, but he left anyway, leaving June glad that the negativity was gone with him. Now, they could worry about Jasper again. She wouldn't let him or anyone else convince her that he wasn't worth trying to save.

After a while, the small group that had been attending to Jasper decided they needed some fresh air. She knew she did, and it felt nice to have the fresh sun beat down on her, no matter how bafflingly hot it was. She was itching to get away from the camp, at least for a little while, and by the looks of it, June would soon be able to.

Watching from a distance, June could clearly see Clarke holding the substance that had been left on Jasper's chest and quietly conversing with Finn.

"Let me take a look," Wells requested as the pair approached, taking the substance from Clarke and studied it closely.

June slowly smiled, crouching on the other side of him. She didn't miss the way Clarke's jaw clenched and how her eyes narrowed towards him in aggravation, displeased at the assistance. "Hey, before you go and refuse his help, try to remember who aced botany in Earth Skills," she reminded her friend, knowing that both of them didn't do so well while Wells exceeded. Clarke didn't like it, but she knew June was right and Wells was her best shot as finding out what it was if they wanted to find more.

"The grounders used it as a poultice," Clarke began to explain, cooling down. "I'm thinking a tea might be even more effective if we can figure out what it is."

"I know what it is," Wells responded. "Seaweed. Look.." He held it out, and June peered closer to see what he was getting at. "No root structure."

Agreeing after taking a quick peek, Clarke nodded. "Right," she approved. "Well, then there must be a water source nearby."

"Like the one Octavia swam in?" June questioned as a suggestion, thinking of the mutated animal that had attacked the girl. It wouldn't be safe to go swimming in it and risk their lives to get the seaweed.

Wells shrugged, unsure. "It would have to have a slow current and lots of rocks. The water should probably be more red than green."

Rejecting June's proposition, Finn responded with the memory of what the body of water looked like. "Then that area wouldn't be it." He picked his head up, eyeing Clarke, and the two exchanged a knowing look. "I know just the place."

On board, Clarke practically jumped to her feet and prepared herself. "All right. Finn, June, let's go." She began to march away, expecting them both to follow her.

While Finn had, June stayed put, crossing her arms over her chest in annoyance. "Are you forgetting someone?" She called out, motioning to Wells.

"No," Clarke responded loudly over her shoulder without stopping.

"Hey," Wells spoke up, defending himself. "I know what this stuff looks like. Do you?" At the point, Clarke suddenly stopped in place. June watched her backside as she huffed, coming to the realization that Wells was right, and this was something she had to suck up if she wanted Jasper to live.

━━━━━━━━

Whatever place that Clarke and Finn knew of, June hoped it was close. It was nice to be out of the dropship and out in the woods again, but the threat of the grounders still loomed over them, and Jasper wouldn't survive too long without the seaweed to cover his wound again. She tried to push the images of him dying out of her head, focusing on the mission. June trudged along through the woods, her feet stepping over twigs and crunching dead leaves.

"You know," Wells said, breaking the silence as he stumbled to be closer to Clarke. "You should, uh, really rethink this whole hating me thing." June smiled to herself, ducking her head to mask it. "It's not just the grounders. We're surrounded by criminals. We need each other. We're gonna be friends again." June cherished the idea, she thought, as she grasped onto a tree trunk to pull herself up a slope. Her, Wells and Clarke were a trinity, even if the two used to be closer than she was to them. She missed those times.

By no surprise, in June's opinion, Clarke had only backlashed in response. "You got my dad killed. Not possible."

Clearly affected by her harsh words, Wells cleared his throat and only reminded her of one thing. "This is Earth, Clarke. Anything's possible."

After that, the tension was in the air once more. That is, until Finn took another step and there was a loud clanging sound. June did try to think of Jasper, but she was too curious, backing up as he squatted to brush the dirt off to see some type of odd see-through glass. "What is it?" She asked, watching as he grabbed a handle and pulled it. It looked like some type of door, and when leaning closer, she could see black seats rested on their side. "Weird."

"It's an automobile," Wells answered in astonishment. June let out a soft whistle, equally amazed. The Ark only had books about these type of things, what useful belongings the Earth had before the tragedy.

"Come on, guys!" Clarke urged them impatiently. "The thing's been here a hundred years. It can wait, Jasper can't." Defeated, and knowing she was right, June turned on her heel and followed after her, hearing Finn shut the door with a loud thud.

The four continued, just as quiet, but June knew she could have cut the tension with a knife if she tried. Every now and then, she'd eye Wells and Clarke, hoping that there would be something she'd say that could make them talk. There was something more, and June knew, without reason that he'd never do something like that, not without a reason. Once they had actual time, that wasn't spent on saving someone's life, she'd push him further to open up.

Eventually, June could see the open water in her view. She picked up her pace, now walking on a sea of rocks to get closer faster. "So, what does this seaweed look like?" Clarke questioned once they were at the line of water.

"Like that," Wells responded, pointing to the heap of a red substance floating. It was close, but not close enough for them to reach without safely wallowing in and out. "Hey, that thing that bit Octavia, how big was it?"

"Big," Finn said. He slung his bag off his shoulder, undoing the straps. "We could rig this into some kind of a net, find something to lower it into the water.." He trailed off, suggesting.

June instead watched as Clarke bravely treaded through the water, that had gone up to her hips with splashes. "Huh. Finn," she spoke up, catching the boy's attention and nodding towards the one in the water, who was just grasping the seaweed.

His eyes widened a bit when seeing Clarke in the water, but he let out a soft snort of amusement. "Or we could just do that."

Dragging the red seaweed back to shore, Clarke began bundling it in her hands until it was in a ball and easy to pack away. "Here," June offered, sliding her empty pack off her shoulders and holding it open. "I'll carry it back."

As Clarke began shoving the bunch into June's pack, there was a loud squawking in the distance, far but too close. June turned looked up, seeing a pack of birds, heading straight for them. She exclaimed a cuss word under her breath, ducking down and shielding her head with her arm to avoid injury as they flew over them. Once June was sure they passed, she took a glimpse up, thinking that was the end of it. It was weird, sure, she thought. But there were still endless secrets they had yet to discover on Earth.

"Let's get out of here," Wells decided, almost breathless from the attack. Clarke nodded, finishing stuffing the seaweed in June's open bag. She quickly shut the flap over it, slinging it on her shoulders, and ready to get out of there.

Before any of them could move, there was suddenly another surprise, this time a loud horn blowing and echoing through the air. June felt her heart skip a beat at the wound, looking wildly back and forth to find the source. "Grounders?" Clarke uneasily suggested.

"It could be a war cry," Wells added.

"Or a warning," Finn joined in.

All of a sudden, there was a gust of wind that left a whipping sound in the air. This time, June could see why. There was a yellow cloud, almost like a fog, swirling around. Her eyes widened, as it blew through the trees, drifting straight towards them. "I think it's a warning!" She guessed in a shout.

"Run," Clarke demanded, pushing Wells shoulder. "Run!"