─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

RESIDUE FROM THE CRASH MADE CRUNCHING NOISES UNDER JUNE'S BOOTS, LEAVING HER TO CRINGE. She didn't want to see any fried bones, but they were unavoidable, under all the rubble, people she may or may not have once known. Their bodies would be too charred from recognition, so instead of trying to dwell on the deceased, she breathed in the smoke and stepped around the pieces carefully. June and her friends were here to find out how the ship crashed, as there was no answers coming from The Ark.

While June came up behind Raven and Finn, who were scanning the area closely, June listened in. "... You want to help her?" The mechanic asked, slight bitterness in her tone, referring to Clarke, she assumed. "Find me the black box, hard drives, anything that will explain why this ship crashed."

"Can I ask why it matters?" June spoke up, nudging aside a metal slate with the toe of her boot to pass through. "I mean, clearly the whole population in The Ark didn't come down. There has to be more of our people up there."

"That's the point," Raven responded. "It's better to have answers than nothing at all, which, at the moment, is all we have."

Noticing the pair chatting instead of staying on guard or searching for answers still, Bellamy called out in warning. "Stay sharp. Grounder retaliation for what happened on the bridge is coming," he alerted the group. "Just a matter of when."

Finn scoffed. "Can you blame them?"

"No," Bellamy countered. "I blame you."

"And I blame you both." June stepped in between the distance of them. "We could have sat down and talked about peacemaking and weapons, but instead you - " She pointed at Bellamy. "Led us guns blazing." She pointed to Finn. "And you, decided not to tell us."

As if June was the problem for being right, Finn shot her a short glare. "Maybe if you at least didn't bring guns - "

Stopping Finn with a raised voice, Raven interrupted them. "If we didn't bring guns, we all would've been killed."

"Why they're coming doesn't matter anymore," Bellamy proclaimed, ending the blame argument. "It's our job to be ready when they do. We're on our own now." June let out a short sigh, feeling a stressing weight press on her shoulders. He was right. They could spend time blaming one another, or stay cautious with guns when the grounders do fight back.

Suddenly, June's head picked up when hearing a shout, set into a state of alarm. "Clarke, stop!" Raven was bolting forward, heading for the girl she hollered too. June stumbled forward, getting a closer look.

Clarke had been studying what looked like a box with a leak in it, the liquid a pink and having a heavy smell as she pressed her hand to her nose. "Rocket fuel?" She guessed.

"Hydrazine," Raven confirmed, crouching to get a closer look. "Highly unstable in its nonsolid form. If this stuff meets fire, we're all pink mist." She picked up a stone, letting the fuel drench it before shouting; "Fire in the hole!" June watched, wide-eyed, as she let it hurl through the air. When it landed, an explosion of fire blew into the air a safe distance away from them. "We need to clear the area," Raven continued once the fire started to fade into a gray smoke.

Nodding in acknowledgment, Bellamy gave his command. "Okay, then." He turned to shout to the gunners. "We move in formation! No straggling, weapons hot! We got to get back before dark."

June wished for a moment she had a gun being held at her side as they carefully left the crash site. Staying there with corpses gave her enough chills, but walking through the woods unknowing if a grounder or a full army of them was watching had her feeling like all eyes were on her. A walk in the woods she once thought would be calm and peaceful, but now, June was only relieved when she saw the gate of the dropship.

That emotion changed quickly when June was passed the opening with Clarke and Bellamy. The first thing to greet her was a shocking detail. "Murphy's back!"

For a moment, June had to rack her head to actually remember who Murphy was and what happened. The second she remembered, her jaw dropped, wanting to know what kind of nerve he had to come back after a clear banishment.

Bellamy wasn't as surprised, more filled with a fierce anger that June could see burn in his dark eyes and features. "Where is he?!" He demanded. People are pointing them in the direction of the dropship, where he's the first to head. June and Clarke are on his heels, tearing aside the hanging cloth and entering the opening of the dropship. As expected, Murphy is there, but not like June had imagined him to be.

"Woah." June couldn't help the surprised word coming out of her mouth at the sight. Murphy was slumped against the dropship wall, trembling with either fear or pain. He was covered from head to toe in both wet and dry blood, his short torn to show gashes. Murphy's right eye was swollen to a purple, and he's letting out strangled breaths each intake of air pained him. June felt guilty for second before it was gone, just as fast.

"Everyone but Connor and Derek out," Bellamy ordered. The crowd hesitates, a silence falling over them. "Now!" Finally, it empties, delinquents mumbling to one another in hushed whispers.

Both Connor and Derek stood on each side of Murphy, almost like he would strike despite the state he was in. "He claims he was with the grounders," Derek informed them, speaking up. June tilted her head, observing him closer with her eyes. It didn't seem like an unreasonable explanation for his condition.

"We caught him trying to sneak back into camp," Connor added.

Murphy finally talked, mumbling weakly, blood dripping from his lips. "I wasn't sneaking." He swallowed, defending himself. "I was running from the grounders."

"Anyone see grounders?" Bellamy asked the two guards, unconvinced. They shook their heads. "Well, in that case - " He lifted his gun, pointing the barrel straight at Murphy.

Finally snapping, June watched as Murphy violently flinched. She jumped forward, pushing Bellamy's gun down much to his dismay. "Stop!" She exclaimed. June didn't like Murphy as much as anyone else here, but this had to be wrong. "Take a look at him. Where else would he have gone? Do you think he was dumb enough to do that to himself?"

"He was dumb enough to come back," Bellamy retorted. "We were clear about what would happen."

"At least hear him out!" June pleaded.

Stepping in between them, Finn cut in, backing up until he was in front of Murphy as a shield. "If he was with the grounders, then he knows things that can help us," he said pointedly.

Incredulous, Bellamy glared at them both. "Help us?" He repeated. "We hanged him, we banished him, and now we're gonna kill him. Get the hell out of my way."

"No." Clarke sounded more firm than any of them, pushing past Finn to crouch in front of Murphy. "They're right." June couldn't stop the smile twitching at the corner of her mouth, proud of her friend momentarily.

"Like hell they are," Bellamy fumed. "Clarke, think about Charlotte."

Tensing, Clarke picked up Murphy's hand and studied the tip of his fingers. "I am thinking about her, but what happened to Charlotte was as much our fault as his," she stated. Her forehead creased before she lifted his hand into their direction. "He's not lying. His fingernails were torn off. They tortured him."

June eyebrows pinched together for a moment. She pulled herself together quickly, pulling her canteen strap off her shoulder and unscrewing the tap. Finn chided to Bellamy knowingly while she pulled a folded cloth from Bellamy's bag. "You and the grounders should compare notes."

"The grounders know we're at war," Bellamy shot back. June wanted to roll her eyes, but fought the urge, kneeling on the other side of Clarke while pouring water over the cloth. She gently grabbed Murphy's hand, seeing Clarke was right. His fingernails were missing, only leaving blood crusted skin that she softly wiped over, making him flinch. "What did you tell them about us?" Bellamy continued in a sharp tone to Murphy.

It's quiet before Murphy answers. The hand June is holding starts shaking more like Murphy is terrified as the word falls wetly. "Everything." June's nursing action froze as she felt a cold chill run up her spine. Murphy was tortured and told the enemy everything about them, leaving them almost defenseless. June was terrified, but she couldn't help but feel bad, not able to understand what he had been through.

Clarke sighed before standing, leaving June to face Bellamy. "Once he's better, we find out what he knows, and then he's out of here, okay?" She told him before heading for the exit.

"What if he refuses to leave?" Bellamy questioned, an anger edge in his tone. "What do we do with him then?"

June picked her head up at the rightful question of what they were going to do with Murphy now that he was back. Clarke stopped at the opening, looking over her shoulder, a stone-cold stare washing over her features as she responded. "Then we kill him."

━━━━━━━━

The last thing June had touched before the wires in the radio was Murphy's hands. She had been insistent on trying to clean Murphy up a bit, make sure he wasn't too badly hurt, but Bellamy had been more vocal on thinking he hadn't deserved it and personally escorting her out. June found herself more relaxed in Raven's tent, the pair examining their radio. The Ark hadn't responded to them since the ship's crash; there had to be something wrong whether it was with their radio or them.

"Here." June hadn't been an expert on wires, but her knowledge was more explored when the mechanic landed. "Do you think it'd work now?"

"With your help?" Raven asked, teasing, as she connected her device and clipped it shut. June smiled, hiding it behind her hand with her heart swelling as she watched Raven turned a knob before speaking into the receiver. "Ark Station, this is Raven Reyes. Please come in." June leaned forward, listening closer and wanting to remain hopeful but there was nothing. Only a static was coming from the speaker, bringing her smile to a deep frown.

"It can't be the radio," June stated, shoulders slumping forward in defeat. "Not after you worked on it."

Raven nodded before she smiled. "Thanks for the compliment."

Mouth opening, June was prepared to respond equally amused, but she stopped when the flap of the tent swung open. She turned her head to see her best friend, Clarke, with her blue eyes flickering towards the pair in slightly confusion. "Oh. Sorry," she shortly apologized. June felt like she could cut the tension in the area with a knife. "I didn't know anyone else was in here."

"You okay?" Raven asked her, eyeing her in concern. Clarke nodded, stepping further inside the tent. "Still nothing from The Ark," she changed the topic to her an June's earlier discussion. "It's like they shut it down from their side."

"Or," June started. "Something is blocking the signal. Anything could be in space, right?"

Clarke glanced at Raven curiously. "But you don't think so?"

Hesitating, Raven drew in a deep breath. "I got a bad feeling."

June knew the most likely outcome of what was wrong. Maybe The Ark did shut down, and they really were on their own now. She hated the thought, even hated the way it had her blood running cold, thinking of not only them but her people in The Ark left after the crash. Clarke seemed as fearful by the same thought, but she masked it with a clean slate on her expression. "There's a lot of that going around," she murmured before turning to leave.

"Clarke, wait," Raven spoke up, having Clarke come to a halt. "I'm sorry about your mom." June could feel her heart sink, thinking of Abby Griffin who was as kind and strong as her daughter. She watched Clarke's head lower, her entire structure breaking at the mention of her mother before she slowly circled around.

"Oh my god." The words tumbled out of June before she could stop them, her back straightening in surprise at the view. There were two red streaks of blood running down both of Clarke's eyes, where tears should have been. "Clarke, the tears... Your eyes..." She stammered, unable to form words.

Lost, Clarke brought her hand up, gingerly touching the wetness on her cheek. Blood stained the tip of her finger and she studied it for a second before gazing back to June. "June..." She whispered, an ache in her voice like she was suddenly sick but concerned at the same time. "Your nose..."

"My nose?" June repeated. She looked at Raven who was now staring wide-eyed at them both. She brushed the back of her hand over her nostrils, sniffling, feeling the metallic blood shoot up while rubbing onto her skin. She looked down, seeing the smeared red liquid. "Oh," she breathed out, figuring this was just her luck. "Fantastic."

Suddenly, a commotion outside caught all the girl's attention. "Clarke!" Connor was shouting painfully before a series of coughs followed. June hadn't realized the sickness washing over her was effective quickly, as when she tried to run out of the tent, it turned into a stumble that brought on coughs as equally loud as Connor's. They scratched at her throat roughly, but June only continued it in her fist.

The delinquents looked scared as they watched both Connor and Derek retch blood. June was horrified, and she gasped, but she followed Clarke in racing to their aid. Clarke set her hand on Connor's back, and he looked up, frightened. "It won't stop."

"Clarke, what's happening?" Raven asked fearfully.

Derek hunched over, spewing more dark blood. June, worried, rubbed a circle into his back while he clutched his stomach. "Breathe," she whispered soothingly. June's stomach was twisting, from both nausea and terror, but she waited until he was able to catch his breath.

Coming to move closer, Raven was prepared to help them both, but Clarke held her hand up from her bent over position. "Raven, get away from us," she warned. "They're the ones who brought Murphy in."

"What?" June questioned slowly, her senses unable to pinch together what Clarke meant. Clarke nodded to the dropship, already directing Connor in the direction. Derek was still coughing violently, and despite becoming weak herself, June draped his arm over her shoulder and handled him into the dropship.

Upon walking in, June noticed Murphy on his side. He was on his side, both coughing and spewing blood in a puddle onto the ground. Clarke rushed to help him while June made sure Derek was rested against the wall before hurrying to follow. Clarke was helping him sit up, questioning him. "Murphy, hey, look at me." Murphy spit at the ground one last time before his eyes met hers. "I need you to tell me exactly how you escaped from the grounders. What happened?" She asked slowly.

June crouched on Murphy's other side, her knees hitting the floor. She nearly fell over but caught herself quickly, only wanting to hear Murphy's answer. "I don't know," he answered thickly. "I woke up, and they forgot to lock my cage. There was no one there, so I took off."

"They let you go." Clarke sounded exhausted, but when her eyes met June's, all she could see was defeat. June understood almost immediately why this was happening to them. She pressed her hand against her chest, fighting back the urge to get sick.

The sound of heavy, thudding footsteps echoed before Bellamy was bursting in, an alarmed look on his face. Clarke quickly held her hand up as he moved to get closer. "Bellamy, stay back," she cautioned.

"Did he do something to you?" Bellamy asked after examining their scene. Clarke shook her head. "What the hell is this?"

"Biological warfare," Clarke replied. "You were waiting for the Grounders to retaliate for the bridge? This is it." She grew weaker, struggling to hold herself up. "Murphy is the weapon."

"When hasn't he been?" June found herself unable to stop her sarcasm and amusement at how terrible this situation was, missing the short laughs she would normally receive.

Instead, Bellamy grew angry, his jaw clenching before he demanded some explanation from Murphy. "Is this your revenge, helping the Grounders kill us?"

Murphy timidly held his hand up. "I didn't know about this," he promised, shrinking back. "Okay, I swear."

"Stop lying!" Bellamy shouted roughly, moving closer. "When are they coming?"

"Enough," June warned, the single word enough to back Bellamy up like it was a reminder.

More softer than Bellamy, Clarke interrogated Murphy. "Murphy, think, all right? What can you tell us that's useful?" She questioned softly. "Did you hear anything?"

Shaking his head, Murphy responded slowly, speaking of a memory June could see hurt. "They are vicious, cruel..."

"You want to see vicious?" Bellamy demanded, stepping closer again.

"I said enough," June said again, this time stricter, only thinking of Bellamy's well-being.

Clarke held her hand up. "Don't," she agreed. "Whatever this thing is, it spreads through contact."

The cover of the dropship's opening was flung aside once more, and this time, June watched as Finn entered, equally as worried as Bellamy. "Clarke?" Was the only name out of his mouth.

"Finn," Clarke greeted, her face paling. "You shouldn't be in here. No one should."

"I heard you were sick," Finn stated, ignoring the comment. "Clarke, what is this?"

"Our funeral," June mumbled under her breath, only earning a short snort from Murphy. She couldn't help but feel like it was the truth from the way her head spun and her stomach continued to mix sickly.

"I don't know." Clarke's voice wavered. "Some kind of hemorrhagic fever. We just need to contain it before..." She trailed off, being interrupted by Derek retching and hunching over like he couldn't breathe. Clarke quickly rose, darting forward to help him when he fell to the ground.

Having to look away, June brought the sleeve of her jacket to her mouth and started coughing roughly onto it. She could feel the crimson blood come up her throat, covering the piece of clothing in red. June lowered her arm, watching as the coughs coming from Derek ceased before they were gone and his body grew still. Clarke moved to turn his head, pressing two fingers to his neck to check for a pulse. June's breath hitched in her throat.

"Is he..." Bellamy began, unable to finish.

Clarke looked up to the rest of them with a look of defeat that brought June's heart sinking in her chest. "He's dead."