"I'm going to check on the Grounder. Do you want to come?" Clarke offered with a can of water and a cloth hanging on her arm.
"Yeah, but Bellamy's goons…" I said.
"I'll handle Miller. You saved Finn's life, so it's the least I can do," she replied.
"Thanks."
I followed Clarke up the ladder and as promised she got Miller to stand aside. She passed me the water and rag and I brought it over to Lincoln. I took a drink from the can before I offered it to him, and he drank a little. I wiped his chin then poured some of the water onto the cloth and started cleaning off the blood.
"I'm so sorry," I sighed quietly. "You saved my life and look at the thanks you get. I never wanted any of this to happen to you."
As I moved down his arm, his fingers lightly closed around my hand and in a quiet shaky voice, he said, "Thank you."
I gave him a faint smile, but then glanced behind me. It was dangerous if anyone knew that he could speak English, so I had to pretend that I had not heard anything. I wiped away most of the blood, but that just revealed all of the heavy bruising that had been done to his body.
"I'll come back when I can," I whispered then walked back towards Clarke.
Unfortunately, Bellamy happened to be coming up the ladder, so we did not get to sneak out. He was furious that I was up there, but Clarke took the brunt of his wrath and sent me down. Since I had barely gotten any sleep last night after saving Finn then sitting with Clarke, I headed for my tent and laid down.
I woke up a few hours later, but I was not motivated to actually leave my tent. On my way down the ladder before, I heard Bellamy say that I was not to be allowed near Lincoln and Clarke was forced to agree. I did not blame her since I knew that without his help, she would quickly lose control of the camp, but she, at least, got him to agree to not kill Lincoln as a concession.
Instead, I spent the rest of the day working on my Stone Knife spell. I could now form them without touching the dirt with my hands, but my feet needed to firmly on the ground and I could only form and launch one at a time. Although the spell was still not close to being what Diego could cast in the story, it was enough progress that I wanted to try another spell. Stone Cover was a versatile spell that was the root for many more complex spells that I would want to learn in the future. By coating something in stone that I could control, I would have a weakened form of telekinesis over the object. Eventually, I would be able to create Stone Armor, Stone Shield, and Stone Wall, but all of those would take a lot of practice to actually be useful.
During the night, I slipped into the dropship and tried to peek in on Lincoln, but Bellamy had left one of his goons to watch him. I found a dark corner of the second floor and decided to wait for an opportunity when he was left alone. I spent my time manipulating the pieces of one of my stone knives to coat a small piece of scrap metal. It was a slow-going process, but I knew it was only a matter of time before I learned it.
Several people came and went from the third floor, Bellamy included, but Lincoln had yet to be left alone. Eventually, I left to get some water and rations and the camp was already up and working. Lots of people were working on making packets of berries, nuts, and smoked meat, but it was actually a relief to me. Everyone was starting to truly settle into their new lives down on the surface and getting serious about our survival. I was not doing a lot to contribute these days, but my close affiliation with Bellamy and Clarke meant that no one was going to complain.
As I walked back to the dropship, so was Clarke and I asked, "How you doing?"
"Fine," she said dismissively.
"Mmhmm," I mused as I took a bite of jerky.
She wanted to apologize, but I just smiled and shook my head. She was going through a lot, and the Finn love triangle only added to her stress. I understood that and a little shortness was not about to bother me. We walked in together while Bellamy was on his way out.
"You're still here?" he asked.
"I'm not leaving until you let me up there to see him," I replied, seeing the prompt appear.
"Get comfortable."
I rolled my eyes and made my way over to one of the chairs then sat down.
"I let him live. Isn't that enough?" he asked.
"He saved my life and yours," I replied.
"I know you see it that way, but—"
"That's the way it is," I insisted, cutting him off.
"He's still dangerous."
"Only because of what you did."
"Whatever twisted connection you think you have with that animal, forget it. You don't get to see him. End of conversation," Bellamy ordered.
"Why do you even care if I ruined your life? You should want me to go up there. Maybe you'll get lucky, and he'll kill me, problem solved."
"Octavia…" Clarke chided softly.
"It's fine, Clarke. You know I didn't mean that, O."
Following the instructions on the prompt, I did not look at him and only focused on the ladder. He sighed and started for the door, but Clarke stopped him.
"Bellamy—" she started.
"The answer is still no. I'm not talking to Jaha," he snapped.
"Hey, relax. That's not why I'm here," she replied.
"What, then?"
"The Ark found some old records that show a supply depot not too far from here."
"What kind of supplies?"
"The kind that might give us a chance to live through winter. I'm gonna go check it out. I could use backup."
"Why are you asking me?"
"Well, because right now, I don't feel like being around anyone I actually like," she replied.
It took him a moment, but he agreed, "I'll get my stuff, meet you in ten."
I took another bite of food and waited for him to leave before I slipped back upstairs to my dark corner. I spent my time practicing, but it did not take long before someone called up to Miller for him to make a call with Roma's parents. Miller climbed down and I gave it about thirty seconds before I snuck up to the third floor.
"Hey," I said as I closed the hatch behind me then walked over to Lincoln. "We don't have a lot of time. I brought you some water. Here." I held the canteen up to his lips and helped him drink. "Sorry I haven't seen you since everything happened. My brother has been keeping me away. He's a total dick, which you probably already figured out."
Lincoln gave a weak chuckle, but it was a good sign.
"You do understand me. I knew it," I said, still following the prompt. "Well, at least, let me get you cleaned up quick."
I reached over and dipped a cloth in the water then turned back to Lincoln. His shirt had been taken off, so I could see all of the tattoos and chiseled muscles that he had. While my tastes in partners had leaned more towards women than men in my past life, I could not deny that his tanned body was very attractive.
"This is all my fault because I freaked out so bad when you locked me up in that cave… You'd totally understand why if you knew how I grew up."
"My name is Lincoln," he said.
"Lincoln… I'm Octavia," I replied. When he said nothing more, I asked, "Well, is that it? Is that all you're gonna say?"
"It's not safe for us to talk."
"If we shouldn't talk, then why did you tell me your name?"
"I want you to remember me after I'm dead."
"You're not gonna die. Don't say that."
"Octavia… This only ends one way."
"Just talk to them. Tell them you're not the enemy."
"But I am," he replied.
Unfortunately, the hatch behind me opened and my time with Lincoln was over. This might have just been a cute television romance, but even I could feel myself swept up in the momentum with him.
Miller stormed up the last rungs of the ladder and snapped, "Octavia, get the hell out now!"
"Bellamy is not even here," I sighed, moving away from Lincoln.
"Get out, or he gets the beating I've been aching to give him."
"Okay, okay, I get it. I'm gone," I replied and headed for the ladder.
Part of me wanted to just knock him out with my fancy powers, but unless I was going to take on the whole camp, it would do either of us no good. I left the dropship, but with my hands covered in blood and grime, I headed for the wash tent. When I walked in, Raven was already there, cleaning something slowly.
"I'd hate to see the other guy," she said with a light chuckle.
"You can. He's tied up on the third floor," I replied as I washed my hands.
"I'm sorry. Clarke told me how you got the antidote… thanks. Finn's all that I've ever had," she said softly.
"Well, you're part of the motley crew now. Your family just got a lot bigger, but we are on the dysfunctional side, I'm afraid," I said with smile.
She smiled back, but it was strained. The poor girl also had her own can of worms that she needed to sort out with Finn, but that was something that only she could do.
"Well, if you need anything, or another drinking companion, hit me up," I offered as I dried my hands.
"I will," she promised.
I gave her a nod then left her behind in the tent. Practicing Stone Cover for hours on end had left my mind feeling foggy, so I decided to do some actual work today and help make the ration packs with Monty and Jasper. Unlike my healing ability, manipulating the elements used significantly less of my stamina, but it did require much more mental focus.
The duo was definitely the comic relief of the camp with their constant antics. For every three nuts that they shelled, they ate or tossed one into other's mouths then clapped their own hands when they succeeded. They tried to draw me into their game as well, but with the warning from my prompt, I politely refused every time. It did not take long before I understood the reason for the warning.
Monty and Jasper were the first to start hallucinating and they slipped off back to their tent, but they would not be the last. As soon as they were gone, a prompt appeared which made me chuckle and realize what episode I must have been in. I needed to switch out the ration packs, so that everyone in camp would start eating them. The best part was that afterwards, I was supposed to deliver some to Lincoln's guard. I knew that Octavia had basically drugged him, but I was surprised to learn that Octavia was also responsible for the entire camp.
It was surprisingly easy to pass out the rations to people and encourage them to eat. Although I was abusing my reputation with this, I made peace with it by saying that Lincoln would do a lot more for the group than a lost night of ration preparations. We needed him alive and his help... and I was not against living out Lincoln-Octavia relationship if he was as kind as he appeared on the show, but only if I must.
I was heading back to the drop ship, after spiking everyone else's food, when Jasper stopped me. "Octavia! I think I'm going crazy, or the Grounders are here, or I'm going crazy, or --" he ranted.
"Okay, just slow down. Just tell me what you saw," I said, following the helpful prompt.
Jasper was completely gone at this point as he looked over towards an empty section of camp, whispering, "Him!"
"Jasper, there's no one there," I said reassuringly since I knew that he was just tripping.
"He's right there!" he insisted, grabbing me by the shoulders. "We have to run. We have to run! Why isn't anyone doing any--"
"Stop it. Shut up. You are on something."
"I love you, and I just want you to know this. We're all gonna die soon, okay? I love you," he said then ate a few more of the nuts.
"You're totally bombed," I chuckled, taking them away from him. Following the prompt, I leaned over and picked up a stick. "Here, buddy. Take this," I said as I pushed the stick into his hands.
"It's a stick," he replied.
"Nooo... This is an anti-grounder stick. So as long as you hold this and you sit right here, Grounders won't be able to see you. See?"
"Yeah. Makes sense," he agreed while sitting down. "I'll just stay right here."
"It does make sense; stay right there," I replied, patting his back, and then headed for the dropship. I hurried over to the ladder and climbed up.
As I opened the hatch, Miller snapped, "Get out!"
"Relax," I replied, stopping at the top and pulling out the ration pack then tossed it to him. "I thought you might be hungry. A peace offering. I shouldn't have come up here alone earlier. It was stupid and dangerous, and... he's not worth it. I won't tell Bellamy if you won't."
I did not stay any longer and started climbing down, closing the hatch behind me. I headed back into camp to make sure that everyone was lost to the hallucinations and stole a discarded shirt and jacket to help disguise Lincoln when the time came. Eventually, Miller stumbled out of the dropship, so I slipped in and made my way up to Lincoln.
I dropped the clothes at Lincoln's feet and drew my stone knife. I cut one of ropes holding Lincoln's arms outstretched then knelt down and started untying his feet. "We need to go, now!"
Lincoln could not help but groan in pain as he moved his body after being held that way for so long. "Why are you doing this?"
"Just get dressed," I said, helping him put on the clothes.
"They'll know you helped me," he groaned as I lifted one of his arms.
"You said it... You stay here, you'll die. I'm not going to let that happen."
Shaking his head, Lincoln refused, "I'm not gonna put you in danger."
"My brother is one of our leaders and I'm friends with the other, nothing will happen to me. You need to do this now," I insisted.
"Okay... even in these clothes, I'll be seen," Lincoln argued.
"People are seeing plenty of things right now," I said, helping him to his feet. "Okay, let's go."
"What'd you do?"
"Passed out some of our winter rations a little early."
"Jobi nuts, the food you gave my guard... they go bad, they cause visions, but it wears off."
"Just try to get as far away as you can, okay, and try not to get yourself killed."
Lincoln placed a hand on the ladder, but then turned back to me, debating something in his head. He leaned forward, placing a hand on the side of my face, then kissed me. I enjoyed it for a moment, but knowing that he had to go, I placed a hand on his arms and lightly pushed him away. It was strange to see the love and passion that he had for me when we had only exchanged a handful of words, but I could feel similar feelings bubbling inside of me.
He made his way down the ladder and out of the dropship, but I knew that I should stagger my exit from his. I slipped out a few minutes and started pretending that I was also high like the rest of the camp. It seemed that Raven and Finn were the only ones that I had missed when passing out the ration packs which forced them to be on babysit duty for the entire camp.
Raven sighed when she found me playing with a few sticks, but she pulled me over to where she and Finn were disposing of the nuts in the fire. Since I was responding to her requests far easier than the others, she had me help them which allowed them to break away easier when someone needed help. The night carried on and people started coming down from the high, but there were still a few problem children.
"Tell me again," one of guys said to Raven.
"You are the most beautiful broom in a broom closet of brooms," she replied.
"Mmm..." he beamed and gave her a big hug.
Monty dropped down next to me, fully sober now. "Rough night?"
"Yeah... my head is killing me. You?" I asked, following the prompt.
"I'm pretty sure I ate a pinecone... because it told me to," he replied.
I chuckled and leaned my head on his shoulder. Although I had done little, it had still been a long evening with everyone so bombed. My bed was calling my name, but I wanted to wait until Bellamy and Clarke returned from the depot.
"He's gone! The Grounder is gone!" Miller shouted as he came out of the dropship.
A crowd quickly started forming at his statement and I could practically taste the fear.
"What if he brings other Grounders back?"
"He'll kill us all!"
"Or worse!"
"Let the Grounders come!" Bellamy shouted, cutting through the murmur of the crowd. "We've been afraid of them for far too long, and why? Because of their knives and spears. I don't know about you, but I'm tired of being afraid."
Clarke and Bellamy shared a look then revealed the sling of rifles that they were both carrying which impressed the crowd.
"These are weapons, okay, not toys, and we have to be prepared to give them up to the guard when the dropships come, but until then, they're gonna help keep us safe," Clarke said as the usual voice of reason.
"And there are plenty more where these came from. Tomorrow we start training, and if the Grounders come, we're gonna be ready to fight," Bellamy added.
There were more murmurs from the crowd, but I was unsure how I felt about the guns. Yes, they would help protect us and keep the camp safe, but how long would it take before someone had the bright idea to retaliate against the Grounders? I knew that there was a war between the Grounders and Skaikru, so I could not help but wonder if this was the foreshadowing.
I was one of the first to break away from the group and I headed for the wall instead of my bed. Sleep no longer seemed important as I could not help but be concerned about my future. Octavia became a warrior and even an assassin, but it was her period as Blodreina that truly put knots in my stomach. The idea that I might have to make some of those same decisions filled me with dread since I had no idea how to avoid it.
As I stared up at the night sky, Bellamy draped an orange blanket over my shoulders and said quietly, "I don't expect you to forgive me, but you'll have to find a way to live with me... because I'm not going anywhere."
"Bellamy... It's time," Clarke called.
Bellamy sighed and walked away then stopped. "That Grounder escaping, was that you?"
"I had nothing to do with it," I lied then added, "Thanks for the blanket."