THE FOLLOWING NIGHT, JUNE HAD COME BACK TO THE CAMP WITH EVERY INTENTION TO ONLY TALK TO CHANCELLOR JAHA ABOUT BELLAMY BUT HAD FOUND OUT THAT THE GROUNDER THEY HAD IMPRISONED ESCAPED. Truthfully, June had only joined in the fear up until she remembered the guns brought back to camp with them. At least now, they had real weapons to defend themselves with if he came back with his friends. The last thing June wanted was a war, but it could be unavoidable. They didn't know anything about the grounders or how to even start with talk of peace.
Wells was still lingering in the back of June's mind. She knew she only hallucinated him from the nuts, but he had still felt so real. It was like he somehow knew she couldn't move on from his death and still blamed herself. Despite the guilt flowing, June blinked a few times, focusing on the screen Raven had set up. It was Unity Day in The Ark, a day they celebrated when the twelve stations came together. They discuss peace, forgetting the violence when a thirteenth station was blown out of the sky for refusing to comply to prove a point to the rest.
"My friends," Chancellor Jaha announced. "This is a historic Unity Day. Every year, we mark the moment our ancestors of the twelve stations joined to form the Ark, but this is the last time we do so while aboard her." He gripped the edges of his platform, pausing. "Next year, on the ground." The people in The Ark clapped afterward. June couldn't help but smile, imaging their excitement to fulfill the dream.
"Right," Miller scoffed from the other side of June. "After we did all the work!" A few delinquents watching nodded in agreement. "Someone shut him up."
"You shut up, Miller," Raven countered, tilting her head to peer past June and to him. "No one's forcing you to watch."
"Well, at least their chance worked," June mumbled, putting emphasis on the word. They did sacrifice one-hundred delinquents for a possibility that Earth was survivable, and they happened to be lucky it was. As a silence fell over them again, June tuned out Jaha's voice about Unity Day. They all had known what happened, but the dark side of the event was always covered with talk without the conflict they endured.
June was snapped out of the daze when she heard loud shouts a short distance behind her. She was startled until she recognized it as only Jasper, and he was excited. "Whoo! Yeah!" He cheered, appearing from in between two trees with his goggles covering his eyes and with a large can. "Monty strikes again! Call this batch Unity Juice!" A cheer erupted through the crowd, rushing towards him.
Grinning to herself, June pulled the canteen strap off her shoulder and unscrewed the top. She joined in with her friends circling Jasper, waiting her turn up until he poured the strong-smelling moonshine into the canteen. They didn't have long until the rest of The Ark came down, and stopped the delinquents from their freedom streak.
The Chancellor's final words in his speech echoed through the crowd. June wasn't sure if he couldn't figure out the delinquents were having too much fun or wanted to pretend they were well-behaved due to him wiping their records clean. "To our sons and daughters on Earth listening to this message, we will see you soon," he promised. "The first Exodus ship will launch in under sixty hours, carrying you the reinforcements that you need, so stay strong. Help is on the way."
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The homemade moonshine Monty made was stronger compared to anything June ever had, including the whiskey shared in a trapped ancient vehicle. She only spared herself a few sips before screwing her canteen shut again. She still felt as if she'd have to be on guard, in case the grounders chose tonight to attack. That'd be the worst luck, June thought, for them to see a bunch of delinquents partying and completely unaware. She didn't have a gun on her, as there was a minimal supply of bullets, as Raven was working on the ones they had found.
Somehow, the second June thought of Raven, Bellamy was passing her on the log she was sitting on. He tugged on the arm of her jacket as he walked by, muttering out; "June, Raven's tent." It wasn't a suggestion, it was a demand. June cocked an eyebrow, ready to demand what he meant, but Bellamy was already heading straight for the tent. She rolled her eyes, rising and rushing through the crowd to follow.
Bellamy was pulling open the flaps of the tent as June appeared from behind him, squeezing inside once he entered. "Jasper," Bellamy greeted the goggled boy standing beside Raven, giving her a hand. "You're coming with us." He shoved a gun in his hand.
"I am?" Jasper questioned in confusion.
"You handled yourself well in the cave with the grounder," Bellamy told him.
Jasper rubbed the back of his head. "I mean," he stammered. "I, uh, hit him in the head."
June eyed the gun before looking towards Bellamy. "Hey, what about me?" Bellamy hid his smile before sliding the strap of his gun off his shoulder and passing to her. June's face lit up at the weight of the firearm in her hands, balancing it as he had shown her in the bunker. "Okay, now where are we going?"
Before answering, Bellamy reached past Raven, aiming for another gun but Raven stopped him quickly. "If you're planning on shooting anything, you better think twice. I haven't checked those yet," she warned him.
"Give me some bullets that work," Bellamy urged her.
"What do you need them for?" Raven countered before she did.
There was a blunt anger behind Bellamy's tone that June sensed as he brutally told Raven the truth. "Your boyfriend's being an idiot." June whistled lowly under her breath, sensing the tension radiating off Raven at the mention of Finn.
Cooling off, Raven grabbed a box of bullets and shoved it into Bellamy's chest. "I'm coming with you," she declared, not leaving room for any argument.
"We should get Clarke," Jasper piped into the conversation as a suggestion.
Bellamy not responding had been enough for Raven to catch on. "Clarke's with Finn, isn't she?" She asked pointedly. Bellamy loosely shrugged uncomfortably before ducking out of the tent.
June watched as Raven sighed, grabbing an extra gun, finding herself uncomfortable, like she was caught in between the trouble. "So, um... Bellamy!" She exclaimed, rushing out of the tent after him to get away. "Where are we going with guns?"
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The explanation didn't take as long as June thought. Once Bellamy was done, she was glad that she didn't join in drinking as much as the rest. Finn had set up a meeting with the grounders to discuss the possibility of peace between them with Clarke speaking for them. While he made one of the agreements no weapons, Clarke pulled Bellamy aside and asked that he back them up with weapons which is why June found herself traveling through the woods all night with a gun clasped in her hands.
The meeting was held on a fading bridge that somehow was still together, yet wrapped with twine to cover the cracks. It was quiet, except for the cracks of branches as the four stepped over a slope to get as close for any protection they may need. June lifted her head, squinting to see past the railing.
A surprised gasp made way out of June's mouth at the sight. She recognized Clarke and Finn clearly but a certain grounder rushing across the bridge had left her astonished. He was built well, his clothing covering the bruises and cuts Bellamy left on him only days ago. "What's he doing here?" June whispered to the others.
"No, what's Octavia doing here?" Jasper spoke like it was a correction. Another scan told June he was right, and Octavia was truly there, running forward and throwing her arms over the grounder. More shocked, June watched as he returned the embrace, almost lifting her smaller frame off the ground. "Oh," Jasper mumbled in disappointment.
"I guess we know how he got away," Raven pointed out with an amused grin. June couldn't help but snort, knowing she was right. Leave it to Octavia Blake's stubbornness and taste for rebellion to set an imprisoned grounder that she liked free. June watched as Clarke took a few cautious steps back, almost like she had been starting to change her mind. Finn stopped her though, and June watched as Raven's face morphed into one of jealousy from the way he grabbed onto her hand.
Bellamy, who had been focused on the grounder, put his finger on the trigger but June had kept her eye on everyone else but the grounder. She could hear an unfamiliar sound of footsteps, but her eyes grew wide at the sight of a newfound animal. "Wait!" June exclaimed, pushing slightly on Bellamy's chest before he could shoot. "Look." She pointed forward to the end of the bridge and he followed her gaze.
Although June was on alert, she couldn't help but beam. Horses were an animal in pictured books in The Ark, and to see them in person was amazing. A single gentle jab of an elbow to her chest from Bellamy had her back to be on guard, trying to wipe away the excitement and set herself back into focus. A few grounders were riding the horses, seeming to be circling in protection around a certain one, who June could only assume had authority.
Finn's face was shown to be annoyed as the grounders approached them. June couldn't hear him, but she saw him back down when the grounder spoke to him. Clarke then took the lead by striding forward, but June had known her for so long. Clarke was attempting to seem as brave as possible by standing straight with her chin held up, but she was frightened and intimated by the grounders.
June turned her head, watching as a woman appeared from in between grounders. She slid off her horse, walking forward with much more boldness. June wasn't in Clarke's position, but even she was threatened by her. The grounder was a tall, well-built woman with a cold glare and both dark paint circling her eyes and braids running through her hair. As they met in the middle, the pair began talking.
While June couldn't hear either of them, she could only watch as their facial expressions would change with each words being passed. They would flicker from a calmness to shock, to even anger while discussing a peace treaty. Raven took a quick glance through the scope before informing the others; "Grounder Princess looks pissed."
Bellamy tilted his head, not taking his eyes off Clarke as he responded. "Our princess has that effect."
June grinned back, proud in the moment of Clarke. She turned her head at a new motion from Jasper seriously studying the trees like they were what was important. "Jasper," she whispered to the intense male. "Eyes on our friends, yeah?"
"No, June, look," Jasper retorted, hushed. Even though she was confused, June complied, lifting her gun to peer through the scope and observe the trees. All she could see was leaves shifting from the wind. June wasn't sure if he was either being the only one able to see something or was only seeing things.
"Jasper, what is it?" Bellamy questioned from where he was looking as well.
"This is bad," Jasper was mumbled under his breath. He looked more scared now, even breathing heavily.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Raven demanded, growing worried.
Jasper turned his head, finally looking away from the woods to them and stating; "There's grounders in the trees." June was lost, looking through her scope but unable to catch sight of any. They had to be camouflaged too well. "They're gonna shoot!" Jasper warned them before darting forward.
"Sh - Jasper, wait!" June called as Jasper started shouting wildly.
"Clarke, run!" His scream echoed to the others they were watching before shooting. "Run!"
As gunshots popped off, June shook her head, wincing. All he had to do was wait, she thought, lifting her gun and cocking it correctly towards the grounders. At the sound of their guns popping off, the grounders retaliated with arrows that flew through the air. June gritted her teeth, squeezing the trigger and aiming for the grounders in the trees.
It wasn't clear whether or not June had actually hit a grounder, but she felt Raven grip the back of her jacket and pulled her back. "Go, go!" She shouted to the others over the noise of weapons firing and people shouting. June stumbled back, still pressing the trigger until she was out of view in between trees.
Everything June had thought would have gone well had went wrong in a matter of seconds. She bolted away with the others, running up the slope and far away from the bridge. As they ran through the trees, they were joined by Octavia, Clarke, and then Finn. June tried not to linger a stare onto them for too long, more worried if they'd make it back to camp alive and with their limbs.
Fortunately, they did. June ran until her legs ached, her blonde hair flying behind her and she could feel both her lungs and heart pumping at the same time. She was gasping for air as they arrived at the gate, clutching her chest like she hasn't breathed in years. The others were panting as well, finding the time to glare at one another like everyone had a part in what had happened.
"You got anything to say?" Bellamy shot out, breaking the heavy silence that had been there since they first ran.
"Yeah, I told you no guns!" Finn exclaimed angrily, but he was looking at Clarke.
"I told you we couldn't trust the grounders," Clarke declared stubbornly. "I was right."
"You don't know that!" June cut in. Even if she was on the side holding the guns, they couldn't be sure what the grounder's intentions were. "We just had to give them a chance! We have to start from somewhere."
Speaking hurtfully, Raven looked to Finn sadly. "Why didn't you tell me what you were up to?"
Tiredly, Finn rolled his eyes like Raven was only an inconvenience for him. "I tried, but you were too busy making bullets for your guns."
"You're lucky she brought that!" Bellamy said loudly. "They came there to kill you, Finn."
"Jasper fired the first shot!" Finn stated in defense.
From where she was narrowing her eyes at Jasper, Octavia talked with a calm anger. "You ruined everything." She suddenly pushed her pay past them, storming through the gate and into the camp.
Shocked, Jasper's jaw dropped. "I saved you!" He called after her before scoffing and leaving as well. "You're welcome."
"Well, if we weren't at war already, we sure as hell are now," Finn announced. June had to agree, fully knowing that this was where they were now. They attacked the grounders first, during a peace treaty of all times. Finn looked towards Clarke again, speaking with the same hurtful tone that Raven had. "You didn't have to trust the Grounders. You just had to trust me." He shook his head when she didn't respond, choosing to follow after the other two. Raven hesitated before running after him, murmuring words June couldn't and didn't want to hear.
A heavy sigh came from Bellamy. "Like I said," he started. "Best Unity Day ever."
June drew in a deep breath. Her memories of Unity Day were usually great, spent with Wells and Clarke, ignoring her father, and celebrating the day that The Ark came to be. This was the first bad Unity Day she had locked in her memory, despite on Earth, the one place that June had dreamed of for so long.
Suddenly, the peaceful moment of heavy breathing was broken by an explosion sounding in the sky. Lost, June's head tilted back, seeing a bright spot in the sky, hurtling straight for Earth. Her jaw dropped, knowing it could only mean one thing.
"The Exodus ship?" Bellamy noticed before commenting; "Your mom's early."
Clarke smiled at first, a happiness that radiated to June, as she grinned at the thought of her people coming down. It was ruined within a minute, Clarke's smile dropping as she slowly realized something. "Wait..." She mumbled before taking notes. "Too fast. No parachute?" She shook her head, making the smile on June drop. "Something's wrong."
"What could be - " June was cut off as the bright dot flung towards Earth for the final time, landing with the loudest boom she's ever heard. She gasped, watching as a gray cloud poured above it. It crashed. She shook her head in disbelief, suddenly feeling sick. "Clarke, Clarke.." She whispered, watching her broken best friend fall to her knees with tears in her eyes, believing her people, and her mother, to be dead.