"Heda punished me for my incompetence and ever since I've been trying to regain my honour, "added Anya before she said,"There is still a sour relationship between me and Heda despite our history. I haven't even seen her in years."
Clarke was surprised to learn that the supposed visionary that was the leader of the Coalition could be so harsh and uncaring to her own mentor. It contradicted heavily with the almost godlike image Lincoln had painted of the Commander.
"I'm sorry,"said Clarke lately and despite the heaviness of the situation Clarke felt her own curiosity rise,"What did you lose?"
Anya had moved towards Finn and began to unshackle his cuffs. Clarke allowed the woman to do so and just as she had uncuffed his feet the woman said,"You misunderstand. It wasn't an object I lost."
Clarke felt her curiosity rise until Anya finally finished her statement, "It was her trust."
Clarke felt some sadness at Anya's words and Clarke was sure the woman didn't know just how vulnerable she appeared at the moment. Clarke could tell that Anya had deeply cherished her relationship with her student and whatever she had done to lose that relationship still haunted Anya to this day.
"This will be different, Anya,"said Clarke with as much confidence as she could muster,"If you are able to allow us to help you then the Commander would surely accept you. I'd be willing to help with what however I can. I know your healers aren't as good as me according to Tris."
Anya looked up at that and she seemed angry, but Clarke said, "Don't blame her. She's still young and she was intrigued by what I can do."
The anger left Anya and Clarke could see that the woman needed some more convincing,"I also took out 10 of your warriors without getting scratched. "
Clarke paused as she let her words hang in the air and she wondered if she would be able to even go through with what she had to say, but if it would assure her people's continued survival then she knew she didn't really have a choice.
"I'll be the Commander's to command. To heal the smallest of cuts or to...kill those that oppose her. I'll be the shield that protects her and the sword that attacks for her,"said Clarke with as much steel as she could muster.
It seemed like it had worked as all signs of doubt left Anya's face. There was a pregnant pause before Anya said,"Do you love your people that much? You're willing to give up your free will just so your people can have peace. "
It wasn't only that though. Clarke knew she owed it to those who had died under care without ever getting a shot at the peaceful life that was so close to their grasp.
Nathan, Mason, Atom, Wells and Roma. Their blood on Clarke's hands and she would do whatever she could to make sure that no more of her people had to go through that under her watch.
Even if it came at the price of her own happiness.
"Your people are lucky to have you,"said Anya before holding out her hand to Clarke. Clarke recognised the gesture for what it was and she gripped Anya's forearm as the woman did the same to her.
"I'll plead your case to the Commander,"said Anya before she added,"However I can't negotiate on her behalf. You will have to hammer out the details between yourselves, but what I can do is call of my warriors for now. You have nothing to fear, Klark kom Skaikru. "
Clarke nodded and she was about to respond when the door the room was slammed open.
"Onya,"said Tris frantically and she said some words in Trigedasleng that Clarke didn't get at all before she looked at Clarke,"There are strange lights in the sky."
Clarke felt a pit form in her stomach at the news and she made her way outside to look at what Tris mentioned. It was with a sinking heart that Clarke registered the sight of Jasper's signal beam rising high up into the sky.
Clarke turned back to Anya and said,"I thought we had an agreement. Why are my people sending out a distress signal. "
Tris and Anya had been speaking frantically back and forth in their language and only stopped once Clarke had spoken to Anya.
Anya barked out an order at Tris who nodded and left without another word as she ran to the village.
Anya began to go over all the weapons she had on her and Clarke felt her patience grow thin until she heard a horn from the village. The horn had a chilling timbre and echoed far and wide across the
"Anya,"said Clarke firmly as she finally drew the attention of the woman,"What is going on?"
"There have been sightings of Ripas from here and they appear to all be going towards your camp. There might already be some there now?"said Anya as she walked out the building.
Clarke followed after her and said,"What about the antidote for Fin ? Also, what are these ' ripas' you're talking about. You mentioned them before I thought you were the one assigned to fight us. Why are my people under attack from them now?"
Anya had remained silent much to Clarke's chagrin as she entered into a wooden building that Clarke realised was an armory of sorts. Anya grabbed a sword off it's rack before she said,"Take a dagger— the blade must not exceed your elbow if held against it."
Clarke was still upset, but she followed the woman's direction as she grabbed a dagger of the specified length. The blade shone in the moonlight and she grabbed a sheath before strapping it to her side in a fashion identical to Anya.
"We need to go to your camp. The Ripas have already overrun the camp with the traitors to your people in it. There have probably reached your people some time ago. Luckily, we are not far at all from your people."
Clarke was happy to hear that the village wasn't far from the dropship and she turned to Anya who had pulled out a small container and was now applying black paint around her eyes.
"You still haven't answered my questions, "said Clarke impatiently.
"The boy will be fine. The poison is not harmful. It will just cause him pain for a few hours," said Anya as she walked out the building.
Clarke brushed aside the slight anger she felt at having been duped by Anya into exposing her intentions and said,"What about the Ripas?"
It was the haunted look in Anya's eyes that scared Clarke.
"The Reapers,"said Anya tersely, "They are monsters. You hesitated to kill my warriors before. Do not hesitate with these demons. The only way to deal with Ripas is to kill them. If you do not kill them, they will keep coming until they get what they want."
Clarke felt her throat go dry at the prospect of having to go against such hellish opponents. Despite her earlier words of willing to essentially be at the beck and call of the Commander, she did not expect that she would have to kill so soon.
Clarke couldn't even bring herself to kill Diana despite every atom of her being telling her to and now she had to fight against who knows how many of these supposed monsters. However, Clarke one that if Anya's words were to be believed then she didn't have much of a choice.
Anya stepped in front of her and said,"It shall only be the two of us who will go. The amount of Ripas is said to be over 100. My warriors will stay here to defend the surrounding villages. "
Clarke swallowed at that bit of news, but she knew that Anya coming was a lot more than she could ask for. Clarke nodded at the woman's words and said,"How are we getting there? I don't know the way back."
Anya ignored Clarke's words and grabbed onto her shoulder,"Like this."
Anya focused on the image of the camp she had scouted what felt like an eternity ago and the two women disappeared in a cloud of black smoke.