"Two meals a day for people working as hard as ours, we won't make any friends." Bellamy commented as he and Clarke made their way into the storage room.
Since learning about their solution to Praimfaya, everything they have done was to prepare them for a future. But it seemed like every chance was working against them.
"Well, of it's one thing our people understand, it's rationing. Besides, once we close those doors, it'll be one meal a day for the next 5 years." Clarke offered a silver lining but it was shot down by Raven.
"Try one meal every other day. Hunting parties are coming back with less and less." For the first time since landing they were on the brink of starvation. Nia and Alex had always been able to help provide food for them all but now they were left to their own devices. "Thanks to your friend Niylah, we're preserving more meat than ever, but it's still not enough. Without a way to make water, growing our own protein like we did on the Ark is not an option. Remember that when we're starving." She said pointedly to Bellamy.
"I won't be starving because I won't be inside." Bellamy responded back. It was true he had thought long and hard about this decision and felt the only option for him was to be on the outside. They had been preparing for the survival of their own people with no regard about the hundreds of others that would be left to die. People like Nia and the girls. It would be a long shot for them to even be considered among their people and if they stayed outside, he would too.
"Yes, you will." Clarke stated as she was the one who would be listing people when it came down to it. She wasn't going to let him die in the brutal way when she had a say in it.
"Does that mean you made the list?" Raven asked she thought the blonde had prolonged for too long.
"No. What about drinking water?" Clarke asked hoping for another topic they might face.
"Clarke, don't change the subject. We need to know who's gonna be on the inside of these doors when the radiation comes." Raven retorted. They needed to know that they wouldn't face much problem with those not chosen and to make sure that they had a future with the ones that are.
"We don't need to know now." Clarke responded back not wanting to discuss one of the difficult topics she faced. Luckily for her their attention was called elsewhere as the probabilities of what they faced worsened.
Back in the capital, things were brewing against them as well. Skaikru's responsibility was to keep Roan from being overthrown, but that was proven difficult as allies were working against them.
During the night, a shadow had crept behind enemy lines and had stolen the one thing that kept the clans from attacking Azgeda. After returning to Polis, Nia's priority was to help Gaia in retrieving the Flame and the two had kept it a secret, until Tate had followed Nia without her knowledge. So under the hood of night, the trio had worked into getting in and out without being spotted and once their had their mission was complete to separate so not to get caught. Not to mention the switching of the Flame among them to keep it safe.
But as morning rose the knowledge of the Flame disappearing had out Azgeda in a tight space. This led Roan to seek help from the now ruthless killer Skaikru had to offer.
Gaia entered the temple first as she was directed while the others were making sure their involvement was traced. But she wasn't alone for long.
"So, you're the new Flamekeeper." Octavia announced her presence as she figured out who would steal the Flame.
"This is a sacred space. Leave before you get hurt." Gaia responded confident in her abilities to ovetake the one in front of her.
"Give me the Flame." Octavia wasted not time in getting to what she had come for.
"It does not belong to you or your red-blooded king." Gaia stood her ground as she was willing to do what she must to protect the Flame at all costs.
"I can't let you leave with it." Octavia stated not willing to let the alliance they were holding crumble.
"You don't have a choice." Gaia responded.
Octavia was first to attack but Gaia was quick to defend. Even without a weapon she disarmed Octavia before pushing her back. "Good technique. I know it well." Gaia hinted but Octavia didn't pick up the meaning.
Octavia proved her strength as she was able to get Gaia on her back and grabbed her sword. Just as she was about to bring the sword down, another came and pushed her sword up and out of the way. Nia sent her elbow into Octavia's abdomen and was able to wedge herself between the two.
"I can't let you do that." She stated not bothered by the fact that her close friend was standing before her. She had an obligation to protect the Flame and no one would get in her way.
Octavia stood there for a moment contemplating on her next move. None of them had heard Nia and Tate enter until the moment She intercepted. She couldn't fight Nia but the others were counting on them to keep the alliance. If she had to them she would fight Nia but before one could make a move Indra spoke up.
"Stop. Put down the sword, Octavia." Indra stepped out into view. She would not let this escalate further.
"She had the Flame." Octavia informed hoping that it might get those two on her side of things.
"She's my daughter." Indra explained their standing point giving Octavia the reason to back off. She was not expecting that information to come out.
"I'll talk to Roan. If we give back the Flame, I can convince him to show mercy." Octavia opted a solution that might please everyone.
"Azgeda knows no mercy. Give me the Flame, Gaia." Indra told the girl hoping she might listen.
"It's around her neck." Octavia stated not knowing the truth.
"That's nothing, a totem she's worn since she joined the faith. You are interfering in matters that you do not understand." Indra informed wanting this matter to stay among them.
"Wrong. I'm a Flamekeeper. I'm honoring my faith, a faith you once believed in." Gaia spoke up against them.
"Don't you question my devotion." Indra retorted.
"A devoted followed would die before giving the Flame to an unworthy King, an Azgeda King. You orevert out faith. Heda would be ashamed." Gaia hit a site spot among them. Despite them losing Lexa, no one seemed to comment about it as was still fresh among Nia.
"I'm doing what's best for Trikru. You would understand that if you had stayed and done your duty." Indra explained her standpoint but it was one that was not agreed among them.
"I was called." Gaia cried out not believing that it was still held against her.
"My daughter was not meant to wonder the Earth looking for nightbloods. My daughter was meant to lead armies. My daughter was meant to lead our people." Indra spoke as they were gathered around to hear their conversation. Nia couldn't help but agree. If Gaia hadn't had left them then she might be the one in her shoes. Between them both they were both meant to lead and fight.
"Looks like you found your daughter now." Gaia responded back noting at how Octavia and Indra had formed a bond. Her statement rendered Indra speechless.
"Roan sent me here to kill you. If I don't come back with the Flame, he will send others." Octavia commented knowing the time they held was running out. But something didn't add up to Nia.
"Wait, how would the looters know we were here?" Nia wondered aloud as the temple had been a secure place among the looters.
Each person glanced around trying to figure out the possibility as well. Indra had taken the tunnel, Nia, Gaia and Tate had been sure to look over their shoulders as they made their way there, that only left one person. Octavia sighed as she realized that she was not very observant when coming there. Her only thinking was to get the Flame. Now they needed a plan to keep the Flame from the looters.
Indra, Gaia and Octavia waiting for the doors to be opened while Tate and Nia were hidden. There didn't want to take the tunnel in fear of exposing it's placement. Not all clans seemed to know about the tunnel and that worked to others advantage. The two stayed quiet as they watched the scene unfold. Both had their handle on their weapons in case their presence was known and they would need to take action.
Luckily for them all, the looters had taken their bait without question. Once they were all gone, the two hidden came out from their hiding spaces. Nia held out the chip to Gaia once they were standing together.
"Thank you." Gaia said once it was secure among her.
Nia nodded as her decision had been made. She would fight against those who dared to oppose them from the Flame. Those who had no right to take it from them. They would not keep her from protecting her sister's spirit even if it meant fighting against Skaikru, so be it. She would do what she must.
Arkadia was no longer the same, nor would it ever be especially with it being limited to 100 of them surviving. For the first time the difficulties of surviving on Earth was showing. It had become obvious to everyone that Nia and Alec's help was more beneficial to them all but now they were left to themselves.
Bellamy rested on a couch as it was his chance to rest. They had spent the day out looking for another bunker only for them to come up empty handed. When finding that door a sliver of hope came as he thought he might've helped save the girls that mattered most to him. Now they were back and subjected to stock up as much as they could.
Clarke watched him sleep and thought of all that he had done for their people and what it costed him. She wanted to be able to add Nia and the girls to the list but it just didn't seem fair. Despite him not wanting to be on the list she added his name anyway. That only left one spot one that she dreaded adding.
"If I'm on that list, you're on that list." Bellamy spoke up from his spot on the couch.
"Bellamy, I can't." Clarke wasn't able to save herself not when others would suffer. It was a decision like Mount Weather.
"Write it down. Write it down or I will." Bellamy told her but she didn't move causing him to be the one to take the initative.
He knew that she would had him regardless of his request but it didn't matter to him, not anymore. It didn't matter if his name was on the list or not, he would not be entering the ship not if it meant leaving them. If she wanted to believe that he would be safe then so be it. It wouldn't matter the minute it came down to it. By the time they realize his absence it would be too late.
"So what now?" Clarke asked as they he finalized their future.
"Now we put it away and hope we never have to use it." Bellamy comforted but despite their hopes the reality of it all suggested otherwise.
" You still have hope?" Clarke was shocked at his statement.
"We're still breathing?" Bellamy offered but it wasn't what he was hold hope for. He was holding hope that there would be a solution to save all his girls.