Lightning Only Strikes Once - Clexa

Chapter 36: Going Fishing

Three days after the failed assassination, Lexa and Clarke wait outside. All the gonas do, and all the Skaikru. All of them just staring at the sky. Some pretend to spar, but they glance upwards so often they are ineffective and the pretence of disinterest fails. The tents have been dismantled, packs lie near their owners, and the whole gonakru waits with bated breath.

None wish to miss the sight of the space station falling, as Bellamy, Monty and Jasper assured them over the radio will happen today. Within the hour, in fact. More citizens going blind from lack of oxygen has prompted the Ark to take this loop in their orbit to fall instead of the next, whatever that means.

Lexa blinks, and then there it is. The people surrounding her gasp. Lexa can't count the falling stars, not as quickly as they plummet, but she can tell their direction. Most burn lines in the sky slightly to the north of their camp, but two split off in other directions , spiralling away from the bulk of it – one to the south and one to the east.

"We should go towards where most fell," Clarke says reluctantly.

"The odds are good that one will be your station, Clarke," Lexa reassures her. "Even if not, your mother is tough. We will reach the stations to the south and east before she allows any to be harmed."

Clarke swallows. "I hope so," she says.

Indra turns to the gonas around and yells, "We go north, this instant!" There is a flurry of movement as gonas sheath their weapons and find their packs, getting ready to go .

Lexa looks at Zion. "Send your fastest ahead as scouts immediately, they will move quicker over the snow than Trikru gonas can. Have them return the second they find any Skaikru. Unless the station is more than five hours' walk away, in which case have them go to the surrounding villages and tell them that the Commander has ordered them to care for these people. Have them bring blankets, food and firewood. No Skaikru is to be harmed. Make that clear to them. Send scouts south and west as well. We must find them all."

"Sha, Heda," Zion says, obedient as always.

Then they march. Lexa can feel Clarke's tension, her fear, rising off her like smoke. She wishes she could comfort her but does not know how to.

The first scout to return with news tells them of a burning wreck. They go to it anyway. At first sight Lexa knows it is useless – the station hit an incline and ploughed through the earth into a cliff face. Sharp little explosions are going off inside, and the fire is too fierce to go near. There are no noises, not even screams. No life could have survived inside that thing.

"Arrow Station," Raven says faintly, her face colourless.

"You're sure?" Clarke says, voice agonised.

"I've repaired the place from the outside, Clarke, I know all the stations by sight," Raven snaps. "Yes, I'm sure. Arrow Station." She lets out a noise that is half a scornful laugh and half a sob, and Finn reaches out to embrace her. This time, she lets him.

Lexa reaches out and brushes her hand lightly against Clarke's arm, and Clarke lets out a little sigh like it helps. It's all the comfort Lexa can offer right now, in front of everyone. Clarke meets her eyes gratefully and just stares at her like the sight is all the comfort she needs.

Lexa notices Raven looking at them from her position entwined with Finn, something strange in the girl's eyes.

"Sorry," Clarke tells Raven, "I didn't mean to overreact. I'm just worried about Alpha. But we'll find it. And we'll find Mecha too, I'm sure of it."

Raven frowns. "I hope so," she says quietly. "It's not much, but it's home."

Zion comes with news of another one located, two hours from their current location, and reports that it is much more intact. "Do you wish us to stay?" Lexa asks Clarke quietly.