HELLO, PRINCESS.

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CARRY YOUR THRONE (book one).
°• CHAPTER TWO •°

" WHO NEEDS MEN ANYWAY? "

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THERE'S A SKIP IN ASPEN'S STEP AS SHE FOLLOWS FINN. Her eyes are taking in every little detail surrounding her. Everything is just so colorful and so unlike the dull gray swirling in The Ark. She had touched the bark on the trees, brushed her fingers along the shivering leaves, tilted her head back to let the warm sun kiss her skin. Aspen had never thought things she dreamed about her entire life could feel so good. But the newfound freedom was so far the most amazing feeling. She wasn't in The Ark's Sky Box anymore, waiting for her slim chance at a review. She was on Earth, surrounded by people like her.

Distracted by a beautiful purple flower with a sunny yellow fitted inside, Aspen didn't notice Finn passing her until she recognized the footsteps - years of practice of being a thief. Steps were easy to notice. "Hey, wait up!" She called after him, wrapping her fingers around the stem to pluck it out of the ground, letting it dangle in her hand as she bound to keep up. Finn was coming to a stop at a tall slope, where Aspen could see the familiar bossy blonde was standing tall, focused on something in her hand.

"Why so serious, Princess?" Finn asked jokingly, both him and Aspen appearing on either of her sides. She didn't look up to greet them, frowning at what Aspen could now see was a detailed map and attempting to block them out. She wondered where she found it for a moment, maybe in the dropship. Was The Ark actually decent enough to waste some supplies for teenage delinquents they thought were being sent to their deaths? "It's not like we died in a fiery explosion."

"Try telling that to the two guys who tried to follow you out of their seats," she spits back without missing a beat.

Finn turned his head, possibly insulted, while Aspen instead grinned. She loved knowing she was getting on the Princess's last nerve. "Aw, Princess," she teased, using her thumb to brush aside a wisp of her blonde hair that had been freed from her braid. "You have a name, or should I just keep calling you Princess?" Aspen questioned curiously, admiring the way her pale skin flushed a bright pink when the flower Aspen picked was tucked behind her ear.

"It's Clarke, so quit it." The girl, Clarke, bowed her head to peer closer at the map as if she was trying to hide the blush Aspen caused.

"You don't like being called Princess," Finn guessed. He smiled. "Do you, Princess?"

Suddenly, Clarke's head snapped to him. "Do you see that peak over there?" She demanded. Aspen raised a brow, taking a look at the view that wasn't Clarke. It was definitely breathtaking. Clouds circled around mountains covered in tall trees that looked like grass from their distance, in the midst of it, the tallest mountain was pointing to the sky. "Mount Weather," Clarke declared when she noticed them catching on. "There's a radiation-soaked forest between us and our next meal."

The excitement died down inside Aspen. Her jaw slowly dropped, silently cursing the space station orbiting in the sky for being so god damn stupid. Satisfied with their stunned expressions, Clarke gazed back to the mountain, angered. "They dropped us on the wrong damn mountain," she stated.

"Oh, screw The damn Ark," Aspen hissed. She kicked at the dry leaves with her boot in frustration before spinning on her heel and retreating to the dropship. She wasn't sure if Finn followed her trail, losing herself in the crowd of teenagers who had started to calm down after the exciting outburst they all shared. Aspen planned a revolution in The Ark for this reason, that they're that careless and cruel. Her thirst for discovering an adventure in what Clarke described as a radiation-soaked forest felt less exciting at the fact they may die down here.

Clarke had ended up laying the map out flat on the dropship, her eyebrows pinched together and her cupid bow lips pressed together, deep in thought. Aspen wondered for a moment how easy it would be to get on her nerves by interrupting her, a sharp grin curling as she bounded over to Clarke's side. "Fancy seeing you here again. Hope I'm not bothering you, Princess," she greeted, using a sickly sweet tone. She can see the flower is still laced in her light hair.

An angry look is brought to Clarke's features that Aspen finds more adorable than threatening on her. "This is our new camp, you're going to see me everywhere here," she retorted in exasperation that only makes Aspen pleased with herself that she managed to push Clarke's buttons. The blonde sighed, shooting her ice-cold gaze back to the map. "I'm trying to mark our distance so we don't get lost."

Aspen mulled over whether she should give Clarke a break before her hand slipped into her pocket, retrieving the small box of oil crayons. "Here," she offered, pulling out the black one and holding it in her direction. Clarke eyed the colored wax, unsure as if it was a bomb about to explode. Aspen rolled her eyes. "I'm trying to be nice," she said, stretching out the last word.

There's less hesitation as Clarke accepted it, twirling the shaped dark oil between her thumb and pointer finger. "Thanks," she mumbled like the word pained her to say, dropping her head to focus on the map again.

With Aspen a master of hiding and stealing, she feels a prickle crawl up her back, the feeling underneath her jacket when she sensed someone coming up behind her. When she turned her head to look over her shoulder, her raven black hair flying over, the crawling feeling turned into her chest twisting with darkness. Wells Jaha, the son of the Chancellor, is staring back at Aspen and Clarke. He's taller than both the girls, his dark skin already slightly beading with sweat. "We got problems," he reported. Aspen bit her tongue. "The communications system is dead. I went to the roof - a dozen panels are missing. Heat fried the wires," he explained.

"So, I guess the only connection we have to our families are these," Aspen declared, holding up her arm to show off her wristband, making sure to spit out the word families in hopes to offend him. It must have, as Wells visibly flinched and took a step back.

Aspen knew she was slightly luckier than most. Victoria and Axel Alonso were very much alive, unlike most of the delinquent's parents who have been floated or died. However, the small family still had their struggles like not being able to afford normal necessities such as food, water, or medicine that higher up classes in The Ark would receive. They didn't even really be granted many times to bathe, no matter how much they worked, thus having Axel teach his daughter techniques on how to steal for them. No matter how harsh he was, Aspen supposed she was grateful. After all, they may not have survived if she didn't.

"Well, all that matters right now is getting to Mount Weather," Clarke replied flatly. Aspen's eyes flickered between the two, sensing the tension - bad blood, she guessed? "See? Look. This is us." Clarke pointed to one spot on the map. "And this..." She drew a black line with the supply Aspen gave her, stopping at another point. "Is where we need to get to if we want to survive," she finished.

Impressed, Wells tilted his head. "Where'd you learn to do that?" He questioned curiously. Clarke said nothing, much less meet his eyes, causing Wells to straighten with realization. "Your father."

"Interesting!" Aspen exclaimed, marveling at the skill used and also hoping to raise their moods after the dampen mention of whatever happened to Clarke's father. "My father taught me how to have the fastest hands on The whole Ark." She flashed an eager smile, doing a quick jazz hands that made Clarke roll her eyes and Wells make an amused smile.

A voice piped in from behind them. "Ah, cool, a map." Aspen turned away to see a younger boy with dorky looks that are cute in a way - even though he's not her type - with googles resting on his head covered in messy black curls. His eyes are full of excitement, looking from Clarke to Aspen who recognized him from her Earth Skills classes weeks prior but never caught his name, though remembering he was sweet and funny. "They got a bar in this town? I'll buy you two ladies a beer," he offered.

"Oh, he's so sweet," Aspen cooed under her breath, leaning into Clarke's side so only she could hear her. "Should I tell him I prefer to be the knight saving the Princess?" She whispered, hoping that Clarke would get her preference for girls over boys. Clarke faintly cracked a smile, which was enough for Aspen.

However, Wells is less welcoming. He shoved the boy back with a bent arm, narrowing his dark eyes in his direction warningly. "You mind?" He demanded harshly, causing the one wearing goggles to stumble back, muttering a short protest.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Another one pitched in. A group of boys stroll forward, being led by a face Aspen narrowed her eyes at, able to recognize this one. "Hands off of him. He's with us." John Murphy is carrying a long stick that Aspen would love to beat him with the second she sees him. He had always been on her nerves in their station, having had close quarters. They grew up knowing one another. Murphy had blue eyes that held constant anger in them with mousy hair and a sharp, crooked nose.

"Relax," Wells responded, more calm compared to his outburst from before. "We're just trying to figure out where we are." He holds his hands up, that Aspen didn't think was an action that would make a difference. She knew for a fact that just about every delinquent here would have the same views she shared towards Wells just because he was the son of the Chancellor that locked them up and floated their loved ones.

From a few yards away, the brother to the girl under the floor called out. "We're on the ground. That not good enough for you?"

"We need to find Mount Weather," Wells tried to convince them in a peaceful way. "You heard my father's message. That has to be our first priority." Aspen internally cringed at the mention of Chancellor Jaha. He had to have known using him as a defense wasn't the best idea.

"Screw your father," Octavia spat coldly, her lower lip curling in disgust at Wells's presence. "What, you think you're in charge here? You and your little..." Her green landed on Clarke. "Princess?"

Aspen is lightly nudged aside as Clarke folded the map, putting it out of view. "Do you think we care who's in charge?" She asked. "We need to get to Mount Weather. Not because the Chancellor said so, but because the longer we wait, the hungrier we'll get and the harder this'll be," she pointed out rightfully. "How long do you think we'll last without those supplies? We're looking at a twenty-mile trek, okay? So if we want to get there before dark, we need to leave." She paused gravely. "Now."

"I got a better idea," Bellamy shot back, the venom in his tone matching his sisters. "You two go, find it for us," he referred to Clarke and Wells with a motion. "Let the privileged do the hard work for a change." Many on his side shouted in agreement. Aspen nodded, tilting her head back with her sharp jaw clenched. She's seen many of the people on her side of the station go without proper meals or food at all. Why should they go on a suicide mission?

Then another feeling hit her, one of adrenaline. Aspen could feel it spike through her veins and travel down to her fingertips, leaving a tingle in its trail. She was always one to risk everything and anything to prove herself. A trek through the woods soaking with radiation had sounded like the best offer Aspen has heard all day and she couldn't wait to get started. Not because of The Ark or the fact they needed to retrieve supplies but just that she wanted an adventure.

"You're not listening - we all need to go!" Wells tried again.

Suddenly, Murphy, who must have dropped his precious stick, launched forward and gave Wells a hard shove. "Look at this everybody!" He boasted as Wells struggled to regain his footing. A cocky smirk appeared. "The Chancellor of Earth."

"Think that's funny?" Wells asks him, unaffected by the words.

To prove his strength and that he was better than Wells, Murphy whipped around, kicking his leg out and swiping it across Wells's. He made a noise of pain that's louder than the snap his ankle makes, crumbling to the ground. "Wells," Clarke gasped, moving to aid him but Aspen shot her arm out in front of her to stop her from interfering. She knew Murphy all too well and he'd spare no one who got in his way. Maybe that's why they butt heads so much, being a lot alike.

A few started cheering Murphy on as Wells rolled in the soil. Pleased, he glared down at the injured one. "No, but that was," he taunted cruelly. Much to his surprise, as well as Aspen's, Wells started to stand. He was clearly struggling to do so but refused to give Murphy the satisfaction that he wouldn't fight back. "Alright," Murphy muttered, raising his fists. Wells kept flinching when he mocked him by throwing fake hits. "Come on, come on."

"Alright," Aspen announced loudly, reaching the line. She didn't like Wells as much as anyone else but seeing someone get a rise out of making fun of someone is a bit sickening. Besides, she dislikes Murphy more. "Quit it, Murphy. You already damaged the poor kid."

Murphy's eyes don't pull away from the unfair fight he's causing, although he does snarl. "Back off, Alonso."

Before Aspen can fire anything back, Murphy is at last stopped when a body throws itself off the dropship's roof and landed with a thud between them. The audience he drew in quieted. "She's right, you know. Kid's got one leg," he remarked to Murphy, who looked stunned at being interrupted. "How about you wait until it's a fair fight?" If Aspen knew Murphy like she thought she did, she was positive for a moment he'd try and fight Finn too. Instead, he backed off, wearing a scowl and gesturing for his friend to follow as he stormed away.

Bouncing away from her brother's side, Octavia called out. "Hey, Spacewalker!" She stopped in front of him, batting flirty eyes. "Rescue me next."

Crossing her arms over her chest, Aspen whistled softly under her breath and not so subtly scanned Octavia up and down. She had a personality that didn't make her shy about what girls she found attractive, as Clarke possibly already found that out. "If he won't, I will," Aspen offered. She grinned in victory when Octavia's eyes flickered from Finn to her and shot her a subtle wink before her brother is tugging her away and whispering harshly, words Aspen can't hear.

Wells is being assisted by Clarke, his leg outstretched towards her while he pressed his back to the dropship wall so she can check his ankle gently when Finn approached, throwing an arm over Aspen's shoulder to bring her as well like he knew she wanted to tag along. She knew he did. "So, Mount Weather. When do we leave?"

"Right now," Clarke answered, standing after she released Wells's weak limb. It didn't look twisted, so Aspen thought maybe it was only sprained. "We'll be back tomorrow with food," she tells him.

Wells glanced at the group of three in confusion. "How are the three of you gonna carry enough food for a hundred?" He questioned.

Humming, Finn scanned the area for a second before drawing his arm back and moving to grab the boy with goggles and his Asian friend by the shoulders and guided them to Clarke. Aspen sees they're equally puzzled. "Five of us," Finn corrected. "Can we go now?"

"Sounds like a party!" Octavia clapped her hands together, skipping forward to join them. "Make it six."

"Hey, what the hell are you doing?" Bellamy demanded, rushing to protectively grab her jacket's sleeve.

Octavia yanked away. "Going for a walk," she replied simply.

While the only siblings on The Ark shared a short spat, Clarke's face darkened when she noticed something odd. She seized Finn's wrist, lifting it to show off his wristband. Aspen could see it had been scratched at, maybe with a piece of scrap metal. "Hey, were you trying to take this off?" She asked him in astonishment.

"Yeah," Finn responded with a snort like he found Clarke's disbelief funny. "So?"

"So, this wristband transmits your vital signs to The Ark. Take it off, and they'll think you're dead," Clarke stated.

"Should I care?" Finn checked lazily.

"Well, I don't know," Clarke began sharply. "Do you want the people you love to think you're dead? Do you want them to follow you down here in two months?" She interrogated. "Because they won't if they think we're dying."

She released Finn's wrist, letting it drop back to his side as a thoughtful look rose to his features. "Okay," he said more somberly. Aspen knew he was thinking about Raven. She sent a considerate look to her own wristband, her mind wandering to her parents, Jax, and Raven. She wanted to break the wristband off as much as he did, say a huge screw you to The Ark but the image of the ones she considered family looking heartbroken thinking she's dead replayed. Aspen couldn't do something so cruel to them, so she supposed the band would stay clasped on her wrist for now.

"Now let's go," Clarke ordered, hiking a bag onto her shoulder. Aspen wasn't surprised when Clarke immediately took lead, expecting the rest to follow her trail.

Octavia turned to her older brother, sticking her lower lip out in a pleading pout. Bellamy sighed and waved. "Go on." She grinned in victory, standing on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek before rushing to catch up where they were patiently waiting.

The plants in the woods that they break through are tall and green. Aspen brushed aside the large leaves, standing in between Clarke and Octavia as they dove in, leaving the dropship behind them. "Before you get any ideas, Finn is mine," Octavia warned Clarke.

"Before you get any ideas, I don't care," Clarke countered on edge.

Letting out a laugh, Aspen looped her arms over both the girl's shoulders and picked up the pace. "It's alright, ladies. Who needs men anyway?"

While Clarke rolled her eyes, Octavia barked a laugh too, lifting her arm to wrap around Aspen's hip as well in a signal of agreement. She couldn't wait to explore what the woods had in store for them.

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author's note:

no one:
hot girl: *breathes*
aspen: oH hellO ;)

a natural born flirt. we stan.

- koda

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3.2k.
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