A breath of relief left my parched throat as the bindings were removed from my wrists. I faltered as my arms were free, almost falling to the floor. The woman affronts me grabbed my forearm steadying me

"Stand strong Gona."

I did as told and straightened up, ready for what was going to happen next. The woman turned and walked out of the tent urging me to follow as she walked out. The sun burned my eyes as it touched them for the first time in countless days. All grounders in the radius turned and stared, mouths agape as a member or skaikru walked out with their commander. Gustus stormed over to us rage devouring his features.

"Commander may I speak with you."

This rushed out his lips with such anger a shudder ran through my spine. She replied with a nod before walking slightly away. They spoke in hushed whispers ensuring I couldn't hear their brief conversation. My body ached as I stood there, the effects of days without food or water catching up. My skin pulsing from the previously constant fists pounding into it. Black spots dotted across my vision before my view turned black.

----

I sat up quickly with a gasp, my head pounding and body aching. My neck cracked as I looked around the room. Candles lighted the darkroom, casting a gloom behind the torn curtains surrounding the bed. The animal skins covering my body slipped to the ground as my bare feet touched the cold floor. As I stood my legs quaked almost tumbling to the floor, but I held my composer and walked out into the unknown. The soft curtain scratched my hand as I brushed it to the side, a room filled with wooden furniture appeared before my eyes. Confusion washed across my features as the unfamiliar room stood before me. A piece of earth-toned art caught my attention as it crossed my view. I found my feet taking me to it before I could think. I let my fingers dance across the painting before a voice disrupted my moment.

"I see you're awake Gona."

My head snapped to the side as the words boomed from the commander. There she sat on a wooden chair, war paint washed off and out of her armor. She stood from her seat and walked over to me.

"Today you will fight."

A wave of terror shuttered through my body as this left her lips.

"I'm sorry but with all due respect, I can't fight."

My words shook as they left my mouth.

"You will fight, or you will die, we have no room for cowards here."

She walked over to the left side of the room where a sword mount sat on the wall. In one precise movement, the sword was lifted from its sheath. In long strides she returned to me, sitting on plush couch tucked away in the corner of the room. Her gaze never tore from mine as she outstretched her hand to me, offering me the blade. With a shaking hand, I reached out and grabbed the sword. My hand dipped from the weight of the blade but I quickly recovered, moving my hand around to get a feel for the blade. The commander reached to the side and grabbed her own blade, as she returned in front of me she stood herself in a protective stance, ready to fight. The sword shot out in front of her, slicing through my arm. With a wince and strangled yelp of pain, I swung my sword. The commander quickly disarmed me and hovered her blade at my throat. With her eyebrows raised and her body tense, she drew her sword away. Bending down and picking up mine from the floor. Her eyes bore into mine before she began to talk.

"You're no coward."

She paused.

"So why did you run from your people?"

My tongue was dry and my heart hammered in my chest. The fear and adrenaline from the brief battle before leaving my stunned and unable to speak. The room was dead silent, the wind could be heard outside. Screaming and banging on the building we inhabited.

"If you're not going to speak then you can leave, go back to skaikru."

Her boots clicked on the ground as she walked away echoing through the darkroom. Before she could leave I ran out and gripped her arm. She didn't flinch she didn't say a word, she stared at me with that same bored expression.

"I cannot go back. I did not run I left. My closest friend was killed and half of the group didn't bat an eye. I will leave and never return, just don't force me to go back to my people."The room again lost all noise. Her eyes scanned over me as if she was judging me. The commander replied in a strong voice jolting me from my trance.

"Then you will learn to fight and you will become one of us. You will hold your own and learn our language. Polis will be your home and you will never return to skaikru. If you do, we will throw you out to the mountain men and you will die."

Octavia flashed through my mind before I agreed. Thinking of the kiss we shared in the tent. I pushed the thoughts away before I responded. She held her hand out as I raised my gaze to her eyes. I grasped on tight, moving my hand up and down. I was signing away my past. The few I did care for were left behind; Octavia, Clarke, Jasper. Would Wells be proud of my decision, or would he call me a coward? Leaving, instead of confronting my problems and standing up for myself. The time it was to forget my past, to move on and, to have a new beginning.