notion • john murphy

38 - FAMILIARITY

"Your weapons will be on the boat." Luna explained to her.

Octavia nodded, fiddling with the book. "Well, so much for the great Luna, the saviour of those in need."

"Via." Sayah scolded with a frown.

Luna glanced between the two girls, brows furrowed in thought. "You don't want saving. You want someone to fight with you."

"Damn right—we're at war." Octavia replied back and Sayah pursed her lips, looking away. "Luna, you can't just ignore that. Lincoln would've wanted you to help us."

Sayah's head snapped back over to Octavia quickly, lips parted. She didn't actually just. . .

"By becoming Commander?" Luna questioned and suddenly Sayah was well aware of the fact that Luna was still holding her hand as she felt Luna's thumb tap once, twice.

"I don't think so. Lincoln knew our rules. We take people in who are done fighting. Done killing." Luna paused, eyes on Octavia. "Look at you. Fighting is all you know. Death is all you know." She shook her head. "Lincoln would have never brought that here."

Applause erupted throughout the room as the girl at the front finished her story, hands clasped together at her stomach, eyes glancing around thankfully at the audience around her. Sayah met Clarke's stern gaze.

"Sayah," Luna murmured.

Sayah let out a hum in response, finishing an conversation between her and Clarke that was simply spoken through eye contact. It consisted of Clarke urging Sayah to convince Luna to take that flame—Sayah had replied with nervous glances.

"Come with me?" Luna stood up, gaze locking onto Sayah's as she turned to face her.

"Uh," Sayah glanced to Octavia who gave her a shrug, then back to Luna. "Yeah, okay. Alright." She stood up, hand still in Luna's and followed her outside.

Sayah was instantly hit with the strong breeze. Her nose filled with the smell of the ocean and she grinned, turning to Luna, who was looking at her with a fond smile. "I'm sorry about Lincoln." Luna said quietly. Sayah watched as her hair blew in the wind behind her, as well as her long coat.

"At least he is safe now." Sayah nodded, lips together in a tight line.

"Safe from?"

"What the others need you for." Sayah told her honestly. "What we need you for." Luna let out a sigh and Sayah tilted her head. "Lu, please. You know if there was any other way, I would—"

A small smile tugged at Luna's lips. "Long time since you've called me that."

All seriousness left Sayah's body for a moment. "Yes, well it has been a while." She frowned. "I wish I was here under different circumstances, but we need you."

"Me?" She repeated like it was a joke.

"Yes, you." Sayah thumbed the shell in her pocket as she watched Luna tap her finger on her other arm. Once, twice. "Clarke tried to get me to convince you."

"Isn't that what you're doing now? Trying to convince me?"

"Technically, no. And yes. . ." Sayah turned to look at the sea, averting her eyes from Luna's intense gaze. "I'm not doing it because she told me to." The shell paused in her fingers.