Madi

I helped the Commander out of the hole and watched as she held a hand over her eyes from the bright sun. She gazed at the sandy Polis and took a short moment to take in her surroundings before ordering things.

"Heda," I called out. I was trying to get her attention but her guard stopped me. "She's busy right now," he said. Our heads turned to a few people exclaiming about the fresh air and they could see the skies again.

"It's really urgent," I told him. "Who do you think you are to demand her attention after taking her reputable name?" he snapped. "Thank you for making a deal with those prisoners but you're done, let the adults handle it. We don't know how much information you've given them."

"She's just a child," another came to say. "You shouldn't be talking to her like that." "I can handle it," I replied. I turned to leave when the nicer one came after me.

"Sorry about Pike," he apologized. "I'm Bellamy." From the bright sun, I squinted, and saw his face, indicating that I should tell him my name but it was hard after not talking to anyone.

"It's nice to meet you, Bell-amy. Bellamy," I said. "What did you want?" he asked. "I just want to talk with the Commander," I said. "Yeah, I can get you in," he replied.

He motioned his head to follow and we went to a standing building where guards stood post. One of them knew him and they chatted until the door was opened. We entered to see the former King of Azgeda and three wormanas standing beside her in a chair.

"What," she said. "What are we going to do about the Eligius crew? They're prisoners of some sort," Bellamy said. "I know that. They're from the old world," she replied.

"They want Shallow Valley," I spoke up. "They decided to let you out because I failed to realize they were taking my home." "It's green?" Skairipa asked and I nodded, making the Commander stand.

"Louwoda Kliron Kru hadn't been affected by Praimfaya?" she questioned and I affirmably nodded. "Leave us." The meeting ending and they left, leaving me alone with her and she approached me.

"Who are you?" "I am Madi from the Shallow Valley clan." She lowered her head, accepting my answer. "Fake name, I understand," she said.

She started to pace around the room, keeping her eyes on me and my heart started beating quickly. I didn't want anyone to find out but she was smarter than just a kill freak.

"How does one survive Praimfaya?" she questioned. "I think I got lucky," I said. "We were in a chapel and I must've prayed too hard to the Spirits of the Commanders.

"I had to live on my own for six years, wondering when would be the next time I'd see someone. Those people fell from the sky like you and I was terrified but also excited that I could speak with them. I'm sorry if I said too much." "You're fine. I've been in a confinement as well."

"S-so what now?" I asked as she came into my view. She drew her knife, making me gulp, and slit her palm. Getting a dap of her blood, she drew a streak on my forehead.

"Yu laik Madi kom Wonkru," she told me. My eyes enlarged, that had finally joined the clan. She lent out her hand so I could shake and I ignored it by giving her a hug. I felt her touch my back and I quickly pulled away.

The clan had already come out and Diyoza came to us. "We heard you have a doctor and engineer," she said. "We can make peace by sharing some of our people."

"I'm going with them," someone said. "They need a doctor and you guys have Jackson and Clarke." "I'll come with," a man with a lot of hair stated. A few more decided to join their group and the Commander decided to let them go.

When they boarded the ship, Diyoza called back, "We have the garden and it's heavily guarded! Anyone who tries to enter will be killed!"

The Commander drew her sword to throw but a prisoner came to shoot her with the power source they had sued on me and I shouted after her. A guard jumped in front of her and took the fire to be blown into pieces.

"You are the enemy of Wonkru," she said loudly. When they had flown away in the ship, she announced, "We're at war!"

Luisa

I had made commands to my war chiefs and guards to start gathering a battalion and grab weapons. Monty had told me we had rations for three days and it would be enough if we moved fast to Shallow Valley.

I knew why my father wanted to go with Abby, he was still distraught to be in my presence. He could've died but with those prisoners, he'd sure be dead. They had gone with Raven, Murphy, and Emori, leaving some other valuable people behind.

I was sure that Diyoza was just as smart as me and by the line on her throat, she could kill. It was interesting how she wanted to help us and take my people just to leave us behind and show acts of war.

Some incessant talking was following me and I couldn't seem to shove it out of my brain. I glanced to my side to see the girl, Madi, had pursued me, claiming she could fight. She said she killed a few of the prisoners and how she was captured for questioning.

She soon stated that it was crazy to take the dangerous path to the valley. During her time alone, she had trekked beyond the forest and Sangedakru was right outside with terrible weather further out.

"I can do crazy," I finally told her. "You fight and you know the new world, you're on my team. Go make yourself useful and trace a map." "Well, I already made one but it's in my home," she explained. "But I'll make another one."

"Fine the blonde doctor, she can supply you with drawing utensils," I stated. She nodded, running off and I was approached by the noblest two.

"Are you really trying to march on Shallow Valley?" Bellamy asked. "You heard what Diyoza said, and their technology?" "Heda, you can't possibly-" "I can," I cut off Lincoln. "You have no right to speak to me but for a memorable state, I allow you."

"You sound like a dictator-" "Call me a dictator one more time," I threatened Bellamy with a scowl. He clenched his jaw and I went over to a station and grabbed an assault rifle. Echo handed me a sharpened sword and in the distance, I could see the nightbloods gearing up.

"You're not going anywhere," I stated when I approached. "Take off the weapons and go back with Gaia." "What about the girl, Madi?" Ethan asked. "Is she expendable?" "She's useful," I said and they went back into the bunker.

"When are we going?" Madi came to ask, handing me the map. I opened it to gaze at her image of the entire land and the shorter path we were going to take. "We're leaving now," I said. "You'll be on my side."

I stared at her smile and I waved my hand for us to start moving. I was in the front with a cloak over my head and we started to move.

Madi was quiet as we trekked. I glanced at her and she reminded me of Charlotte who killed Wells. But she was better; young, strong, had a smile and could kill. She was the better version of me. Maybe when if I was young, we could pass as sisters with different eyes.

"Tell me about your family," I said. She gazed at me and her lips parted to smile and she started on her full story. She would pause in some parts before continuing but she was happy to express her childhood.

"Your ambassador should've taken all the children first," I said. "Is he here?" she asked. I shook my head and replied, "He was an enemy of Wonkru."

Her eyes dropped then looked back at me, "What about your family?" "Family?" I asked and she brightly nodded. I looked back to see Octavia, Echo, and my love, Roan. "Yes, I have one," I responded. "If you didn't know, Bekka Praimheda is my mother. It's hard to explain but she is. Another man is my father but the man who raised me- we aren't together. Then there are the nightbloods."

"Kane, right?" she questioned. "Yes." "Maybe you two should talk and let everything out and hope for forgiveness." "I don't think he'd forgive me," I replied. "Oh, you don't know that," she denied. "He's your father. Kom folau, oyu na gyon op" (from the ashes you will rise).

I listened to her words too long and stared at the back of her for the same amount of time. She had gotten ahead of me and was basically playing around in the sand and it made me hard to imagine her killing someone.

"We camp here tonight!" I announced. I halted for them to start and my tent was getting built. I watched as Madi went after Bellamy to eat dinner.

Madi

"You hungry?" Bellamy asked. The blonde, Clarke, came and sat around our fire. "No, I'm not hungry," I answered.

"You seem to be fitting in," Clarke hummed, bitting her ration. "Now that you're the tracker, you're high ranking." "Well you could too if you talked to her, she's smart. Just be nice," I said.

"We know she's smart," Bellamy said. "But talking to her is hard and being nice to her is difficult if she's going to return it with hatred." I huffed, shaking my head that they couldn't go my route.

"She treats you differently because you're a child," Clarke told me. "I can't believe she has morals. Honestly, she's only looking after you because you're an orphan just like Ethan and a few other nightbloods."

"She might want to make you a novitiate," Bellamy said. I stared at him blankly, knowing I couldn't have them find out. I stood and backed away, and went to the large tent.

"Leik ai chich op kom heda" (I want to speak with the Commander). "Heda bida riden " (she's sleeping) Echo answered. Octavia didn't care as she gazed at Lincoln and I kicked her in the abdomen and rushed in with Echo behind me.

Roan had finished talking to her and they looked at me, causing me to get nervous. "Sorry, heda, she's quick," Echo said as Octavia came in. "And she's persistent," he said. "I'll give her that."

"I would like to speak with you," I said. She raised her eyebrows that moved the piece between her eyebrows and her war paint. I glanced at everyone around and I figured I had to speak in front of them too.

"I heard that you only treat me differently is because I'm a child," I said. "Which I'm not, and you would want me to be part of your conclave." "That's because you are a child," she responded. "If you want regular treatment, you have to ask."

"That's not smart," Octavia muttered. "I don't think I'm a child so I don't want to be treated like one," I said confidently. "Alright," she agreed. "It's going to make a warrior out of you. The same way we went through."

I nodded, about to leave when she added, "If you were implying that I should initiate you into my class, I won't accept you. You're not being stolen from your homes anymore because I choose you, not you choose me."

I slightly nodded when I heard a critter squeak and I saw it on the ground. No one seemed to care but my eyes enlarged and when I dove for it, it jumped from the pound and onto the Commander. She tried to smack it off but it went under her skin, causing her to scream.

"What was that!" Octavia yelled. "Somebody's dead," Clarke came in to say. I rushed to the Commander and used the orange trail to tie around her arm. "We can't let it get anywhere fatal," I said. I grabbed the knife that was in her pocket and found the creature to cut out of her skin.

Clarke came and bandaged her as the Commander questioned me and the land. "We're in the Dead Zone of parasitic worms and glass sandstorms," I said. "If I got the patterns correct, the thick clouds could mean one is coming." "Is there a way around it?" Roan asked and I shook my head.

"You're in no shape to fight," Clarke said. "I'm ambidextrous," the Commander stated. "Just turn around and we can plan and take the longer route," Bellamy said when I didn't know he was present. "We don't have time to leave," I said. "The storm comes fast and wipes out everything in its way."

"So we leave everything here and stay tight like a bunker," Octavia said. "We can protect you." "In the eye of a storm?" I inquired. When the Commander nodded, the war chiefs went out to make orders.

"What other secrets lie beyond this world?" the Commander asked. "That's it," I said. "Are you sure?" Her eyebrows raised and her head tilted, making me gulp. "Chill out," Bellamy said. "No. it's fine," I hesitantly said. "Everything in the valley is what you remember."

"Let's go," Echo poked her head in to say. We went outside and I was put with the Commander and her group. Clarke had to stay in the center with her and a tarp was placed over our section.

Indra made the first call and we started moving away from the camp and we braced for impact against the blizzarding sand and the shards of glass. She shouted again for us to move and we did. My cloth over my face came off and I had to break an arm to fix it so I wouldn't inhale the thick air. My arm had been scraped by a shard and I quickly hid it behind someone's back.

My breathing had faltered as we continued through the typhoon and I was told to keep strong. When the dark gray had turned into light yellow, we were given the call to separate and I collapsed, wheezing for fresh air.

My vision was hazy from the lack of oxygen and my chest was compressing on my lungs. I removed my mask to breathe and I gazed at the bright blue sky. I arose, shielding my eyes from the sun. I looked around, waiting for the next instruction and I found the Commander getting her bandages changed.

As I approached her, Octavia told her that Indra, Echo, and a few others were sick. Her head lowered, knowing the next order. "We will not fight the enemy today but in the future," she said. "We're going back to the bunker."

When I was spotted, Clarke walked away and I stood in front of her. "Heda, there's one more thing I need to tell you," I began. I took a deep breath, knowing what could be coming for me and that I needed her trust. "I'm-" "A natblida," she cut me off. My eyebrows raised in confusion.

"I figured it out last night. Like me who was a nightblood in Skaikru, you're a nightblood who survived the radiation from Praimfaya," she explained. "And your bleeding hand proves it." I looked at my hand to see the gash and she handed me a cloth to cover it.

"You will join my conclave since you were never taken before," she stated. "But I thought-" "I didn't know," she said. "Or are you an enemy?" "No, heda," I shook my head.