𝟐.𝟏𝟑

── 「SURRENDER ISNOT IN MY NATURE」 ──

     By mid-day, everyone in camp was training, although not as a team: the Grounders were doing their sparring thing together while the guard trained with guns on their own. Sam and I were watching the Grounders fight, trying to learn something out of it.

-    "Impressive." –Kane spoke moving next to us.

-    "I don't think there's a strong enough word in English to express how amazing this is, but impressive may be just close enough." –Sam agreed following with her eyes their every move.

-    "What doesn't kill them, makes them stronger."

I remained silent after Kane's remark, only one idea in my head: getting stronger. Whatever I have to do. I had promised Lincoln I wouldn't let this truce fail and I was ready to fight for it, and knowing Sam was all in with me made things a little easier. I looked at her and gave her my sword as Indra asked who was next.

-    "Sure?" –Sam simply asked as if she could read my mind.

-    "I want to do this."

-    "I got your back if they try anything." –she reassured me, taking my sword.

-    "I am." –I moved next to Indra- "We're supposed to train together."

-    "Only warriors train here."

-    "I saved your life." –I argued in disbelief.

-    "And now I'm saving yours."

Indra ended and moved away from me as I caught Sam's eyes and she came to me.

-    "What she say?"

-    "Only warriors train here." –I repeated Indra's words.

-    "We might need to show her we are as much of a warrior as they are."

-    "You might be right."

-    "Why don't we practice with guns until we figure it out? It's been a while since I've used one."

-    "Bell taught you well, I'm sure you remember." –I smiled but then I realized what I'd said- "Sorry."

-    "Don't be. If anyone can survive that hell, it's our guys." –she smiled at me- "Besides, we are here to train, O."

She moved towards where two guards were training with guns while Kane looked over them. Kane, unaware of our training, thought Sam wouldn't be of any help with a gun. She approached him while I sat to sharpen my sword.

-    "Have you ever shoot a fire weapon before?" –Kane asked her as she approached him.

-    "A couple of times maybe."

Sam took the rifle from one of the guards as another kept trying to hit the target but kept on failing. Grounders were now looking at us with funny faces as Sam positioned herself beside him.

-    "Sir, we got an audience." –a guard warned Kane.

-    "I love a good audience, don't you?"

-    "Hold your fire."

Kane ordered and the guard stopped shooting while Sam turned around, eyebrows raised in annoyance at Kane. He moved after her and took her rifle, decided to show the Grounders how it was done.

-    "Allow me." –he said pushing her out of the way- "Keep a solid stance. Observe."

He then proceeded to shoot the targets without failing one. As he was about to turn around to face the Grounders, Sam took the other guard's rifle and shoot right after Kane finished, not missing a target either. Bellamy would be proud. I smiled to myself as Kane looked at her, incredulous.

-    "It's possible that I'm a fast learner." –she handed him the rifle- "It's also possible you're all underestimating us."

Sam turned around to leave, the Grounders moving to let her pass. One of them was the one who had got into a fight with Murphy; he was observing Sam with a look I wasn't sure how to depict, it was like a mixture of fear, respect, and eagerness.

-    "Would you like to try?" –Kane asked the Grounders, offering them the rifles- "I could teach you. Your enemy has guns and so should you." -the Grounder nearest to him looked like he was going to take the weapon but Indra's voice stopped him, probably scolding them all-    "It's alright, I offered."

-    "We don't need your weapons." –Indra faced him before turning around- "Back to training. All of you."

The Grounders left as Sam looked at me in total confusion.

-    "Guns could keep them alive." –Kane said- "It's like they're afraid of them."

-    "They are." –I spoke- "Legend has it if a Grounder picks up a gun, even to shoot another Grounder, Mount Weather will wipe out their entire village. Can't have your blood supply defending themselves, right?"

-    "Well, this may prove a little harder than we anticipated." –Sam commented, facing the Grounders fighting- "We may need to train like they do before they train like us."

-    "If we don't arm them we can't win." –Kane argued.

-    "Like hell we can't."

I raised my voice putting my sword back in its place and moving away from Kane as I made a sign for Sam to follow me.

-    "They won't trust us unless we trust them first, Kane."

Sam added before leaving with me towards our room.

-    "We need to do something." –I placed my sword on my bed as soon as I stepped inside- "We can't let the truce fail just because the Grounders won't take our guns."

-    "I'll repeat what I said to Kane: if we don't trust them, they won't trust us."

-    "Any ideas?"

-    "Oh, a couple." –she smiled sitting down on her bed- "All of them painful."

-    "I'm in."

-    "And I am the one who has a dangerous love for death, right?"  -she chuckled.

-    "We have to do this, you know they won't."

-    "Honestly? I'm a little tired of doing the Chancellor's jobs. I didn't sign up for this."

-    "With Clarke back with the Commander and Bellamy in Mount Weather with Lincoln, you are the next in line to follow."

-    "I'm no leader, but I'll tell you what we have to do: train with them. I don't care if Indra says: 'only warriors train here' again. We are warriors." –Sam stood up confidently.

-    "Yeah!" –I agreed- "If anyone here can get into a fight with them, that's us. We've trained with Lincoln, we know something."

-    "Yeah, they'll kill us in no time, but someone has to take the initiative." –Sam smiled- "And that spirit may help us." –she snapped her fingers before pointing at me.

-    "Always so willing to get hurt." –I shook my head as I smiled.

-    "No. Always willing to do what's right."

-    "I like that point of view better."

-    "Well, you're welcome, then."

-    "Let's go eat and then we'll fight."

-    "That's such a good motto, I dig it."

After the whole day passed, rain arrived at nighttime. Apparently, there was not enough food for all of us now, so someone needed to go hunting. Sam and I were moving towards the main door when Indra started to speak to the Grounders in Tringeslagen. I figured now would be as good of a time as it'd get; I moved towards Indra as she came to the door.

-    "Time for one more?"

-    "Step aside, sky girl." –Indra threatened me.

-    "Care to make it two?" –Sam moved beside me.

-    "Move. We're hungry."

-    "Make us." –I argued, Indra eyeing both of us up and down as Sam crossed her arms over her chest

-    "Fio, Quint. Give these girls what they want."

I looked at Sam as the two Grounders approached us, Quint being the one who got into a fight with Murphy. Great.

-    "So much for giving it time, huh?"–Sam chuckled while whispering to me, taking her knives- "Together."

-    "Together." –I agreed, taking my sword.

Quint went to face Sam and I knew this was not going to end well, but I knew Sam wasn't backing down so I faced Fio, ready to fight.

     Obviously, Indra would choose Quint to fight us, and obviously, he'd come after me. I knew I didn't stand a chance of winning this for, even if I had trained with Lincoln, Quint was bigger and angrier than him and I had a couple of injuries from the day before, but I also knew backing down was never an option. I rolled my eyes as soon as Quint stood in front of me, taking out two knives, just like me. Oh, how I wish I had my bow.

-    "This will hurt." –he spoke getting into position.

-    "Trust me, I know, but someone has to get that stupid smile off your face. Might as well try."

-    "You wanna talk or fight, sky girl?"

-    "My name's Samantha."

I moved as fast as I could towards him, knowing well that I had to hit him first if I wanted to stand a chance. I knew he saw me coming, so I raised my right arm as if that were the one I was going to use and he moved to his right to avoid my knife. I remembered practicing this with Lincoln. When I was almost next to him, I changed positions, and moved my left hand towards his side, managing to cut through his skin. He grunted as he felt the knife and quickly pushed his left knife towards my right arm, cutting me as I failed to move back fast enough. I stumbled back as he looked at my knife stuck on his right side, leaving it there. I knew I fucked up for he had still both his knives and I only had one. Had it been anyone else, they'd be doubled in pain because of my cut, but not Quint. Why would he?

We were moving in circles, waiting for the other to act first. I heard Octavia scream but I knew I couldn't lose my focus or Quint would easily get me. He finally stopped moving around and started to walk towards me with both knifes facing me. He stroke with his right hand first and the blade of his knife cut my right cheek. I saw the chance and I bit him, making him drop the knife but he reacted and kicked my stomach with his knee. I fell to the floor.

-    "Biting? Really?" –he asked me with half a smile on his face as he shook his hand.

-    "We never said this was a fair fight, did we?"

I spat blood and saw Octavia a couple of meters away from me, raising from the ground. I stood too, only to be met with the floor again as Quint kicked me in the ribs. I laid on my back as the pain spread through my body and I felt some wetness over my stomach. Those stitches didn't last long.

I looked at Quint and I saw him laughing. My blood started to boil and the rage I felt took control of my body. I rose and ran up to him; he easily picked me up and crushed me back to the ground. I took my knife and threw it at him, hitting him on the thigh, but that only made him angrier. He pulled my knife from his skin, clearly not a deep wound because he looked just fine, threw it to the floor, and started to approach me with his only knife. He pinned me to the ground and placed the knife on my neck, feeling the blade cutting my skin but not enough to kill me, just as a reminder of who was on top.

-    "You lose, sky girl."

He let go of me and moved back. As if this was over yet.

-    "You already tired, Quint kom Trikru?"

I mocked standing back up, breathing heavily, placing my hand on my neck, a solitary drop of blood on my finger. I knew he could have slashed my throat if he wanted, he could've done much more harm too. I knew I was done, but I refused to give in. Quint looked over at Indra, waiting for an order.

-    "If she wants more, give it to her."

Quint nodded and turned to face me; no knives this time. He closed the space between us with his fits up and I mimicked him. He threw a punch with his right but I managed to avoid it, lowering down and punching him in the stomach, making him take a step back.

-    "Good."

He praised before moving back to me and moving his right hand again, I moved to repeat my last movement but this time, he caught my hand with his left hand and twisted my arm, making me scream in pain. He shoved me to the ground, lending with my face, getting covered in the mud from the rain.

-    "Ready to give up?" –he asked me, lowering in front of me.

-    "Never."

I took a handful of mud and scrubbed it on his face, giving me time to get back up and away from him as I massaged my arm. He was quick to get the mud from his face and I didn't like the smile he had on it. This time, I ran up to him and pushed him with all the force I had left, making us both fall to the ground. I pinned him to the ground and started punching him repeatedly with each fist. He was quick to move and pin my arms to the ground so I couldn't move. I tried to resist but he was too big and strong, there was nothing I could do. It angered me, how helpless I was, how much power he had over me. I wanted to scream, my eyes burning with tears of rage. He didn't move for a moment, which only made me angrier.

-    "What are you waiting for, huh?" -I spat, screaming annoyed- "End this!"

He moved his right hand towards my neck and started to tighten the grip. Breathing was already hard and I was too tired to even open my eyes.

-    "Indra, stop this." -I barely heard Kane speaking- "He's going to kill her."

- "Stop this!" -a familiar voice shouted.

After a couple of seconds, the grip around my neck disappeared; I started to breathe more easily but I stood still on the ground, feeling as if I had fallen down a cliff. I felt hands on my face and I slowly opened my eyes. Octavia was looking at me covered in blood and in pain.

-    "You know this was training and not an actual fight, right?" –she whispered, lying next to me.

-    "Yeah, I didn't want to kill him." –I chuckled but quickly started coughing so I moved to the side to spit all the blood I had in my mouth- "But apparently he didn't get the memo."

Kane and Murphy showed up next to us, the former helping Octavia up as Murphy lowered next to me.

-    "What were you both trying to prove?" –Kane asked us as we moved inside the ship.

-    "What doesn't kill you..."

-    "...makes you stronger." –I ended for Octavia.

We were taken to Medbay to get all checked up and taken care of. I didn't question it for I was all beaten up and lying on a bed didn't seem like that much of a bad idea. Octavia and I were both equally beaten up, but some of the stitches Abby had put on my cuts at the village had broken due to all the movement and hits I had taken. After Kane left, Murphy kept on pacing the room agitated.

- "Could you stop doing that?" -Octavia told him, finally.

-    "Are you insane?" –he asked moving to the side of the bed opposite to the woman taking care of my wounds.

-    "I wanna say no." -I answered with a smile plastered on my face.

-    "Sam..."

-    "Listen, I'm fine; just a little bruised."

-    "Sam, you are lying on a bed at the medical center, again. Beaten up, bleeding, and bruised. And, no offense, but Octavia isn't looking much better."

-    "Way to make friends Murphy." –Octavia spoke.

-    "Well, someone had to do it." –I continued- "And it didn't go that bad."

-    "Oh, really? How's that?" -he raised his eyebrow at me- "I come out of the ship and I see Octavia lying on the ground covered in dirt and a Grounder strangling you. So, explain to me how that is 'not that bad'." -he air-quoted my words.

-    "Well, I hit him a couple of times, I'm actually quite proud. So, don't come and ruin my mood."

-    "I'm just worried you are going to get yourself killed." -he sighed.

-    "I'll survive, it's just a couple more scars and bruises. The usual day on Earth, you know?" -Murphy smiled at my words and sat down on the bed next to me since the woman had finished with my wounds, moving his arm over my pillows so I took the chance to rest my head against his chest-    "I'm quite glad you are here, though."

-    "Yeah?"

-    "I wanted to check on you and see what Jaha wanted with you."

-    "Oh. He wants to know where we buried his son."

-    "I see."

-    "He wants me to show him. We were actually leaving when I overheard a conversation about you two."

-    "I don't know what Jaha's real intentions are, so be careful, M."

-    "I always am."

-    "Yeah, sure. Just stay alive, alright?" -I looked up at him- "I wanna see you again."

-    "I'll try." –Murphy chuckled standing from the bed and moving towards the door- "And you both try not to get killed next time you train with those brutes."

-    "Next time you'll come with us." –Octavia smiled.

-    "I'll much rather not."

     Once Murphy left, Sam and I remained in silence for a little while, trying not to think of the pain in my body for I knew that would only make it worse.

-    "Well, that was a good fight." –Sam finally spoke looking at the ceiling.

-    "Yeah, let's agree not to talk about it to Lincoln or Bellamy."

-    "I have a couple of scars and bruises that will prove hard to hide until they heal." -she laughed.

-    "So, you're planning on showing him..." –I turned to face her, raising my eyebrows at her.

-    "I was talking about my face, you idiot!" –she sat up, grunting for she had taken a good kick on the ribs- "Ugh!"

-    "I see." –I laughed as she rolled her eyes at me- "Murphy is being really nice lately."

-    "I told y'all you just needed to trust him a little. He's trying."

-    "We'll see."

The doors opened again and Indra walked in. The only woman left there beside us, left as soon as she saw her.

-    "What do you want?

-    "You fought like a child today. All aggression, no thought, no defense. Always leaving yourself exposed, revealing your next move before each strike."

-    "Okay, I know. We got our ass kicked."

-    "Although we both got our ass kicked, I'm getting the feeling this is a one-on-one conversation with you, O." –Sam rose up- "If you give me a second, I'll leave you both to it, Indra."

-    "Does she know about your offer?" –Indra questioned Sam.

-    "Of course, she's my sister. First to know, why?"

-    "You may stay, Samantha." –Indra spoke, powerful- "You might get something out of this."

-    "Yes, Indra." –Sam nodded respectfully and sat back down.

-    "Well, I got my ass kicked, then. –I sighed- "That should make you happy."

-    "It does." –Indra sat on the other bed beside me- "Because you did not give up. Strength of spirit like that is rare, it must be guided."

Guided? What does she mean?

-    "Do you know what a warrior's second is?"

-    "An apprentice."

-    "I can make you a great warrior, Octavia of the Sky People, if you're willing to do what it takes to become my second."

-    "What's in it for you?"

-    "First lesson: never question me."

-    "Okay." –I replied as she moved away- "I'm in."

-    "Good."

-    "But what about Sam?"

-    "What about me?" –Sam asked, confused by my words.

-    "If I become her second, where does that leave your offer?"

-    "I'll gladly back down from that if it means you'll be training with Indra."

-    "You can't do that."

-    "You don't need me to tell you Indra's offer is a major once-in-a-lifetime-type of opportunity that'll help you with your fighting and defense techniques. If only one of us can train with them, that will be you." –she ended, no room for discussion this time.

-    "Both offers are still on the table. One doesn't cancel the other." -Indra faced me- "Octavia, you'll be learning directly from me, becoming my second." –I nodded as she turned to Sam- "Samantha, if she chooses to take the Commander's offer, would be training directly from our best warriors. She wouldn't be training as someone's second and therefore would not get to become a war chief like me."

I faced Sam again who gave me a small smile and nodded at Indra before lying back down.

-    "Thank you, Indra."

-    "We'll start tomorrow."

Indra's tone was powerful, solemn, giving us a last glance before exiting the room. Sam and I remained quiet for a second. I couldn't help a small smile from showing on my lips, the cut I had on my upper one itched but I was too happy to care.

-    "Well," -Sam spoke- "that turned out for the best."

-    "What do you mean?"

-    "Oh, I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm not that good at taking orders."

-    "Hadn't noticed, really."

-    "I'm so stunned for you right now, O." -she turned on her bed to face me- "This is massive!"

-    "It is."

-    "Now no one's gonna want to mess with you."

-    "And this means the truce is still holding."

-    "Thanks to you. I'd like to have seen you destroy that guy." –she chuckled- "I'm sure he got harmed badly."

-    "Like I didn't even touch him."

-    "That makes me feel better because Quint wouldn't even flinch, and I'm pretty sure I stabbed him at some point." –she paused for a second- "Oh, God. Is my training going to be always like this? I may want to rent a bed here." –she burst out laughing.

-    "When are you talking with the Commander?"

-    "Next time I see her." –she paused long enough for us to hear her stomach growling- "I think it's time for dinner."

-    "You think they'll let us eat?"

-    "I'm sure Indra will have something for you."

-    "I'll share."

-    "I'm not fighting for food right now, so I'd appreciate it."

We laughed and we stood up slowly, all bruised up but content with how things were turning out. We went outside the ship and sat next to the fire; the Grounders had caught a couple of things and were cooking them on said fire. Indra cut a piece of meat and turned to face the guards and the Ark people on the other side of the fire.

-    "Eat." –she started- "Get strong. Only then will we win this war."

-    "Would you look at that." –Sam's voice was happy, both of us watching as Kane approached Indra.

-    "We did it." –I faced her- "Together."

-    "Together."

The Grounders started sharing the food with the people from the Ark as Sam and I watched the scene. Out of nowhere, Quint came towards us and stood in front of Sam.

-    "If you're going to fight me again, I'd only ask for you to wait until I can actually move the right side of my body." –Sam looked up at him while hugging her ribcage.

-    "You'll need to eat more if you are training with us." –Quint handed Sam a plate with meat- "You did well today."

He then moved away and I looked at Sam who had the biggest confused look on her face.

-    "Well, now that's something I was not expecting."

-    "It was probably the mud." –she shrugged her shoulders.

-    "Mud?"

-    "Oh, one of the times he threw me to the floor I landed with my face on the mud, hence all the bruises. He stood in front of me and said something like 'ready to give up?' so I took a handful of mud and placed it on his face."

I started laughing, imagining Quint's face when Sam rubbed the mud on it.

-    "I wish I could have seen his face." –I finally spoke- "You're truly a resourceful person."

-    "Well, I had to; I wasn't about to just lay there on my stomach while he looked all pleased with himself." –she handed me her plate to take a bite.

-    "He said you have to eat more."

-    "Well, my sister is not starving so take it. Eat."

I smiled, gently pushing Sam to the side as she chuckled, placing her plate in front of me as I grabbed a piece. Kane came to us as we ate our share, sitting next to Sam with the plate Indra had given him.

-    "You did this." –he spoke before taking a bite of his food.

-    "You're welcome." -I answered dryly- "Don't blow it."

-    "Hell yeah, cause I'm not repeating that."

Kane chuckled at Sam's words as Fio approached us with a plate with meat.

-    "The boar put up a better fight than you." -he handed me the plate and left.

-    "I see you're making friends." –Kane commented.

-    "Nah, he's just mad Octavia punched his nose."

-    "How'd you...?" –Kane asked her but she cut him.

-    "It's bruised and a little swollen, like my cheek."

-    "What do you want from us, Kane?" –I asked knowing well this wasn't a casual conversation.

-    "What do you think is gonna happen once we get our friends back?" –he questioned- "For now, we have a common goal, but one day this war will end."

-    "Just get to the point."

-    "We know so little about them... You've earned their respect."

-    "Hey, stop right there Jaha number two." –Sam cut him- "We don't work for you."

-    "You're asking us to be your spies?"

-    "I'm asking you to look out for your people."

-    "I am." –I stood up, ready to move with Indra.

-    "What do you think we've been doing since you sent us here?" -Sam scoffed, standing next to me- "Partying?" -she didn't let Kane say another word, walking away with me-    "I'm going to bed, O. If something happens or Kane tries anything, come for me."

-    "I will." -I squeezed her arm- "Goodnight."

Sam nodded and left towards the ship as I sat down with Indra, ready to begin my training.