Octavia decided to stay behind with Lincoln, while Jason and Finn made their way back toward the drop ship under the glow of torches.
Jason trailed a step behind with his steps careful and silent. When they reached the clearing, Finn immediately pulled Clarke from where she was to where Jason was waiting and she looked at both of them before Finn finally broke the silence.
"I set up a meeting with the grounders," Finn said, trying to sound confident but coming off more nervous than he realized.
Jason, leaning against a metal stand glanced at her with an unreadable expression. "A meeting?" Clarke's voice cut through before he could say anything, eyes darting around to make sure no one else overheard. "With who? How?"
"We were just with the grounder that we had in the Dropship. His name is Lincoln," Finn explained quickly, flicking his gaze toward Jason as if looking for backup.
Clarke blinked, shocked. "Wait what, he spoke to you two?"
Jason let out a quiet sigh, rubbing his temple. "That's not important right now. What's important is that there's a development."
Finn opened his mouth. "If we wanna live in peace—"
Jason scoffed. Loudly. Finn turned to him, irritated. "What?"
Jason looked at him flatly. "You do realize, as I've said before, we not only invaded their territory without permission but we also don't understand how they think. From the little we've seen of the grounders, they don't exactly strike me as the let's-hold-hands-and-sing-Kumbaya type, no offense. You need to wake up, Finn. This isn't peace talks, this is survival and it will be based on whatever they want because they would hold all the advantage over us."
Finn's jaw tightened. "You're wrong. We've been killing each other for nothing. If we just—"
"—Try to reason with the people who hung who threw a spear at me when we first got here without warning?" Jason cut in amused. "Yeah, real diplomatic plan."
Before Finn could fire back, Clarke stepped in, voice rising.
"Finn, we can't live in peace with people who've done nothing but kill us."
Finn turned on her, eyes pleading. "Well can either of you think of a better way to stop the bloodshed?"
"Yeah," Clarke shot back. "With the guns the guard bring down."
Jason blinked, a little surprised at her bluntness. 'Didn't think she'd say that out loud,' he thought, a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. 'Guess the princess has claws after all.' Still, the strategist in him knew even that wouldn't be enough.
He exhaled. "Be that as it may, Clarke's right about one thing and that war's coming. But that's not something we can afford right now." He spoke up to both of them, "They have home turf, numbers, and experience. Even with guns, we're a bunch of kids playing soldier. What I've been teaching isn't enough to counter a century of actual combat."
Clarke frowned. "We know how to fight too, Jason."
Jason shook his head. "You're learning, Clarke. There's a difference."
Finn stepped closer, nodding slightly. "Jason's right. At this rate, that's what's coming. Look, I know it's a long shot, but this is our world now. Maybe we can do better than the first time around. I trust Lincoln."
Jason gave a low chuckle. "I wouldn't say I trust him one hundred percent," he muttered, glancing at Finn, "but I trust that he wants peace. And I trust he'll do anything to help Octavia."
"Well, I don't trust him at all," Clarke added. "But if we go… we bring backup."
Finn immediately shook his head. "No way. No guns. Those weren't the terms. If we're gonna do this, we have to give it a fair shot."
Jason blinked, then stared at Finn as though he'd just announced he was joining a clown circus. "You realize that's probably the dumbest thing you've said all week, right? What guarantee do we have that they'll honor this? For all we know, they'll show up with arrows and turn us into a pincushion. I'm not letting my people die because of your idealism."
"It's not up to you," Finn fired back with a raised voice.
Jason laughed a deep and amused laugh that drew glances from nearby camp members. "Oh, but it kinda is." He leaned forward slightly. "See, unlike Clarke or Bellamy and no offense, Clarke," Clarke just nodded, "—I'm willing to do whatever it takes to protect my people. And if that means stepping on a few dreams to keep everyone alive, so be it."
The authority in his tone left a small silence. Then Jason turned and started to walk off, hands shoved in his pockets.
Finn watched him go, frustration bubbling. "He doesn't understand," he muttered.
Clarke sighed. "No, Finn. He's right. He's done more for us than anyone, and he's kept people alive while the rest of us argued. He's practically our leader."
Finn frowned but said nothing. "Maybe," he said finally, "but this needs a better approach. I trust you, Clarke. I need you to come."
Clarke nodded, conflicted. "Okay. I'll get my pack and meet you guys at the gate."
As she turned, she spotted Jason and Bellamy standing by the firelight. Both were watching her, Bellamy chewing on a piece of bark like it was gum.
"You know," Bellamy started when she approached, "when Jason told me your boyfriend set up a meeting with the grounders, my first thought was, what the hell is he smoking? I thought we tossed all the nuts."
Jason chuckled. "You're not wrong."
Clarke sighed. "What do we do? We have to live with these people eventually."
Bellamy raised a brow. "You seem to forget the impaling-on-a-spike thing. That doesn't exactly scream, 'let's be friends.'"
Jason grinned. "Eh, maybe it's just their version of a welcome mat."
Bellamy gave him a look. "That doesn't make any sense."
Jason shrugged. "Neither does meeting with people who tried to kill us, but here we are."
Clarke tried to stay serious. "Bellamy, I know it's risky, but if there's even a chance we can avoid more deaths, I need to try."
Bellamy rubbed his face. "You're out of your damn mind, princess. They'd probably gut you and string you up as a warning."
Jason nodded in mock agreement. "He's right, you know."
Clarke crossed her arms. "Yeah. That's why I came to you both."
Both men exchanged a look. Bellamy sighed. "You're serious."
Clarke nodded. "At this point, most of the camp already sees you two as our leaders. I want both of you there and Jason especially. You've seen how they operate."
Jason studied her expression for a moment, then looked to Bellamy, who gave a reluctant nod. "I was planning on it even if you didn't ask," Jason said finally.
Clarke smiled faintly. "Good. And besides, should this go south, you've proven you're strong enough to help us escape."
Jason arched a brow. "Wow. Look at that, Bellamy, she just called me a human shield."
Bellamy scoffed. "That's the princess for you and I wonder what the space walker would think."
Clarke ignored them. "Bellamy I need you ready and close. Finn doesn't need to know."
Jason and Bellamy exchanged a knowing look as Clarke walked off, Jason watched her go, a proud smile tugging at his lips. "Aww, she's growing some bite."
Bellamy snorted. "Princess with teeth… now that's something."
Jason laughed softly as Bellamy left him alone to get ready and get people to follow but the sound faded quickly when a sharp, stabbing pain suddenly shot through his skull. His vision blurred with flashes of images erupting in his mind:
A bridge.
Horsemen.
A woman—'Anya.'
Arrows whistling through trees.
Then it was gone. He stumbled, clutching his head. The air felt colder now.
"Ugh… what the fuck…" he muttered, massaging his temples.
And then it hit him with an instinctive realization, his eyes widened as he breathed out, "Shit… Anya is planning to ambush us."
Jason straightened, scanning the treeline, with his heart pounding due to the sudden shock. Then he turned toward where Bellamy had gone, muttering under his breath.
"Shit."
Patreon.com/Fredozy