You're Inspiring

Chapter 2- You're Inspiring

Cora continued to play with the tent, occasionally Wells would help, or he'd go out a bit and look for Clarke. The emotions he had towards her weren't just friend based, he liked her. Cora looked at the two, they musta been good friends on the Ark from him to want to come all the way down here to see her. Bored of making her tent and that she needed a few more vines and twigs Cora stood up and walked around the area. She was compelled to the light caused by the fire, every step she took was light and quiet, compared to the shouting, whooping, and laughter. She could hear Well's voice as she tried to push through the crowd. "What the hell are you doing?" He asked sounding worried but also furious.

"We're liberating ourselves. What does it look like?" Cora knew that voice, much to well. Bellamy, what the hell are you doing? Cora thought finally pushing through everyone. Her eyes widened looking at the melting braclet's then she looked up seeing Murphy with that nasty smirk of his. Her eyes then narrowed looking at Bellamy.

"It looks like you're trying to get us all killed. The communication system is dead. These wristbands are all we got. Take them off, and the Ark will think we're dying, that it's not safe for them to follow." Wells spoke so powerfully, but all odds were against him and Cora knew that.

"That's the point, Chancellor. We can take care of ourselves, can't we?" Bellamy spoke stronger than Well. He stood up straighter, spoke louder with more confidence.

"Yeah!" The surrounding crowd cheered.

"You think-"

"Okay hah, this is great we're all discussing the needs of ourselves." Cora interrupted looking around. Both the boys tilted their head looking at her. "But lets be honest, these guys fighting isn't gonna help." Everyone seemed to quiet down for the girl who was speaking, "What we need to is work together. How many of you actually were able to run around the Ark?" She asked few people responded, "That's what I thought, but now, now we can do whatever we what! We can run free into the middle of nowhere and scream because it's our right because we are on the ground." People began to smile listening to the girl talk, "But, just because we can do that doesn't mean we should. I don't know about most of you but there is only reason my wristband is still on. There are people up there, correction there is one person up there I give a damn about. I take my wristband off and they'll think I'm dead. Same goes for you. I really don't like half the asshats up there some may be your very own parents but they are your parents. Don't you want them down here? Experience this with you? Miller you're parents are up there right?"

He nodded in response, she raised her voice empowering her speech, "I agree with Bellamy, whatever the hell we want, but don't be stupid about it. You take off your wristband and your dead. When the Ark comes to Earth after we've been here I can grantee if we all stand together we can keep doing whatever the hell we want with the additional help so we don't have to find our own food but only if these annoying things stay on." Everyone started to agree with her, people were getting out of line, Murphy glared at them as Bellamy carefully watched the girl.

"And what happens if they don't let us do what we want?" Bellamy asked testing her. He had a smirk plastered across his face his arms crossed across his chest standing up tall, shoulders back making him look bigger.

She turned and looked at him, "we're rebels, are we not? They sent us down here to die and we're still alive, they'll have to listen to us. We'll know the area, every secret in and out and they'll have to get help from us if they want to survive. So we can do whatever the hell we want while still wearing the wristbands. Does that sound like a problem to you?" She questioned as her face was close to his.

"Not at all, Scout." He responded when the sound of thunder rang through their ears.

"Rain! Real rain!" Some girl shouted as the group began to get drenched in water. Cora looked up smiling sticking her hands out feeling the water hit her hands. She laughed effortlessly spinning in the rain as it hit her face so softly. She could hear Bellamy and Wells talking some more but she didn't care. It was raining she along with a couple other campers started to dance around the fire as the heat of the flame kept it alive. Another set of boys who had no rhythm and had made some sort of drum set, as they tried to make music most didn't listen over the roaring sounds of thunder.

Cora continued to dance and cheer in the rain as did everyone else, she had bumped into many people trough the time and no one really seemed to care. That was until her and someone else had crashed into one another their bodies falling into the mud. She chuckled as she felt the goopy mud under her hands, then looked up to see a boy not much older than her if not the same age. He looked up from the mud and laughed as well looking at the blonde's lively blue eyes. He stood up the stuck and hand out to help her, she looked up at him before grabbing his hand. "Mat," his voice laced with a British accent. Cora took his hand getting up feeling her bottoms moist from the mud.

"Cora," she looked up at him her cheeks a light shade of pink.

"That was a pretty impressive speech back there seems like you really know how to please a crowd," he smiled looking at her.

"Oh yeah psh, I wasn't totally winging it," she giggled looking up at him

"Oh I knew you were but hey you are inspiring," he complemented her biting his lower lip slightly.

"Thanks," she smiled looking at the boy. She'd seen him a couple times on the Ark but didn't know why he was arrested.She glanced the ground about to ask him why he was arrested when she had been bumped into once more, losing any traction she loss balance and had fallen forward into Mat's arms. He caught her easily wrapping his arms around her waist. They both silently chuckled looking at one another, "Maybe we should get out of the danger zone." She suggested looking at him as his arms were still around her.

"Sounds like a good idea to me," he replied removing his arms as they started to walk away scurrying into the drop ship. Few people were on the first floor so they climbed up to the second to find no one, so they sat in a corner on some seats they were strapped to earlier. "Here I have an idea," he said sitting her down. "Ten questions, I'll ask you one you have to answer and vis-versa until we get to ten. Sound good?" He looked at her smiling, curiosity filling his eyes.

"Sure why not, seem's like there's nothing else to do," she laughed slightly. Her seat squished occasionally as her clothes were soaked.

"Alright. Um how'd you know how to well fight like that ?" He looked at her gripping the edges of his shirt and twisting them to remove some water.

"Um there was this guard on the Ark who worked a deal out with the council to give me one class lesson, so I picked Agriculture, ya know bows and arrows and stuff," she paused when he saw trying not tot laugh, "What's so funny?"

"You're on the Ark and you chose to take Earth skills?"

"Yes you asshat, and now I have Earth Skills, on the ground. Paid off did it not?"

"Yes yes okay, but the fighting?"

"Right, anyways he also told me I should stay in shape so he gave me lessons on how to fight. So now I can fight and survive on the ground."

"Was this guard the reason you want the Ark to come to Earth?"

"No, one question at a time," she giggled.

"No you asked why was I laughing," he struggled to keep his face serious looking at her.

She scoffed out a laugh, "Fine, yeah Alex is the reason I want the Ark to come to Earth."

"Cool, alright now you can ask me something."

"Oh thank you," she responded her voice laced in sarcasm. "Why were you arrested, if it something you don't mind me asking."

"Oh this is a great story, my friends and I we were drinking and the guards happened to catch us this time. We normally didn't get caught, but they well they arrested us and now, well now we are on the ground."

"God hearing about someone getting wasted makes me want to, I need geek who can make some moonshine," she sighed looking at him

"I'll find someone for you," he looked down at her smiling very small dimples showing.

"Oh yes, you're my favorite." She looked back at him beginning to examine his face. His golden brown hair looked soft to the touch as it had very small curls that waved upward. His hazel-baby blue eyes were perfect for gazing into, and Cora did. She mentally examined every single one of his features in a matter of seconds.

"Alright throughout the first day what guys have you found the most attractive, top five how 'bout?"

"Well you're obviously number one," she paused as they both had a small laugh."Uh second would probably be Bellamy-"

"Bellamy? You got the hots for Bellamy?" He looked a her in disbelief.

"I didn't say that!" She whinnied punching his shoulder lightly, "You asked who I thought was attractive and I was answering that does not mean I like him, sir."

Mat was clenching his stomach in laughter looking at how defensive she got, "You're so cute when you get defensive, your nose gets bright red and you get these frowny lines above your forehead." He said tracing the lines, she looked at him and trying to keep her poopy face before she failed smiling.

"I really don't know how to take that, if it should be a complement or offense. But the word cute was involved so I'll take it as a compliment."

"Alright but you're next three."

"Um three Miller, four that one kid I don't know his name brown hair big heavy leather jacket-"

"Dallas?"

"Yeah! And five.. Finn?"

"You question it?"

""Well, I uh- shut up." He looked at her face reddening and pressed his lips together holding back yet another laugh. "Will you stop laughing at me?" She questioned hitting his arm playfully. He only shook his head then fell off his seat as he clenched onto his stomach. Cora stuck her lip out looking at him trying not to laugh her self. In all attempts it didn't work for she was soon in tears of her laughter.

She'd fallen out of her seat to where she was now resting her head on his stomach her eyes closed in laughter. Cora hadn't laughed this hard in a long time. The pain in her stomach pleased her as she rested on the boy she became friends with rather quickly.

The second level began to fill as people called it a night, and at some point the game was ended as the two just sat there trying to control their laughter. People were soon fast asleep from the moment they walked into the drop ship.

"I don't get how they're all asleep, I feel like I could run twenty miles," Cora whispered leaning on Mat's shoulder.

"Have you ever ran twenty miles?" Mat whispered into her hair near her ear his warm breath sent chills down her spine.

"No, I've been locked up my whole life. Remember?" She whispered back not looking at him, instead looking at all the sleeping delinquents. most of them used their jackets as pillows and others laid on top of someone else.

"Right, although it's not like I have either," he continued to whisper into her ear, the chills still ran down her spin. She looked at a girl, she had soft chocolate brown hair that was put in a frech braid down to her mid back. She laid softly on a males chest. He had Black hair that curved up, his skin was a bit darker then herself. They slept peacefully her head resting on the gray torn up shirt their hands clasped together fingers intertwined.

"Well maybe we should go running," she responded, her head leaning back a bit as she slouched getting comfy, Mat wrapped his arm around her shoulder as Cora felt herself daze off his warmth consuming her.

"Gettin' tired?" He asked feeling tired himself. She mumbled a soft no, but he knew otherwise. Her mind began to wander as she drifted into sleep she reprocessed the day all of what happened. She was on the ground, and she liked it.

-

"Cora, you have to keep your thumb out and more towards the front of your fist, otherwise you'll be punching with one knuckle," Alex told as he placed her thumb in the correct spot under her fingers.

"Alright, alright I got it," she said placing her thumb correctly both fists raising them. Alex raised the pads watching her body's movements, 'She could be a guard member.' He thought as she punched the pads on after the other moving around the room. She was light on her bare feet hoping around left, right, left, bend down; repeat. Alex moved along with her his boots bouncing off the floor as she moved, surprising Alex she lifted up her foot kicking him on the side.

He groaned in a small amount of pain grabbing his side, "Where'd you learn how to do that?" he asked taking off the pads.

"Well they guards set up a movie day and we watched this movie, Lockout with this sassy guy named Snow, I don't know I picked up on a few of the moves and wanted to try them out."

"Wait back up, they let you watch Lockout, a movie about prisoners escaping?"

"And then all dying, the point is, is that I watched a movie and picked up on the moves."

"So what your a badass now?"

"I've always been a badass," she smiled looking at him as she took a sip of water.

"Alright, open match no gloves just you and me," Alex responded giving her a challenge, her reply was simply tossing her the tape. He chuckled looking at her as he wrapped up his knuckles and hands.

"Come on old timer, bring it," she teased as he threw a punch she avoided it bending down and to the opposite side. He bounced around as she took her arm and flung it towards his gut, he blocked it to greet her wit ha blow to her side.

"Can't take the pain?" He asked as she bit her lip holding back the sounds of pain.

"Of course I can, I'm a badass." She responded throwing a punch to his side he dodged it when she lifted back to kicking him on the side and punching him across the face, he stepped back a bit touching the corner of his lip. He saw the blood of a small cut and looked at her with a smile, she smiled back before he advanced kicking her out from under her feet. She laid on her back looking up at him, "Okay you win."

Cora opened her eyes taking in a small amount of air through her mouth. She looked around seeing everyone asleep. She looked over her shoulder seeing Mat asleep. She rubbed her eyes before slowly getting up trying to not wake the boy. Getting up successfully she carefully stepped over many other people making her way to the ladder. She made her way down the ladder quietly seeing the masses of people with few foot placing spots. She got to the bottom taking one step at a time moving slowly and peacefully out of the drop ship. Cora ran her fingers through her partly damp, muddy and curly hair, she continued to walk around seeing no one awake. She walked to the spot where she was setting up her tent, her hands rubbed her eyes once more as she walked to the area. Cora rubbed her eyes again blinking a couple times, she looked at the item before herself the tent that was nothing was not built, up and able to live in. She walked inside it to find a note, keep out or I'll hang you by your feet, she smiled looking at the note. She walked back out of the tent and walked around using the moon light to guide her. There were few fires still lit, she smiled looking down seeing more people sleeping. She sat on the log the sound of fire cracking soothed her, she inhaled through her nose the smell of camp fire causing a smile to appear.

Her peaceful moment was interrupted when she heard small shouting. Cora groaned getting up to investigate, sure it coulda been two kids getting it on but she thought otherwise, she knew otherwise. She walked towards the direction of shouting before she began to jog, she was stopped abruptly as she ran into Bellamy. "Bellamy," Cora looked at him her eyes slightly narrowed. "What in the hell are you doing?" She questioned looking at him.

"It's none of your concern," he said looking at her his eyes showing no regret for what he'd just done.

"Bullshit it's none of my concern, I have a feeling you were taking off someones wristband, someone important I wonder who that could be? Oh right Wells," she looked into his eyes with a great amount of anger.

"It's already done, just go back to sleeping with your boyfriend," Bellamy snapped back glaring at her.

"Boyfriend? His name is Mat and I'm pretty sure I'd know if I had a boyfriend considering no one is in my head but my fucking self."

Bellamy scoffed, "Whatever."

"You know Blake, I spent time with your sister. You are nothing like the hero she described." Cora spat back at the boy, "Whatever you did on the Ark I'm gonna find out, cause at this rate," she paused for a moment glaring dead into his eyes, " You will get us all killed."

Cora turned to leave but Bellamy had grabbed her upper arm, she had had enough of his crap for one day. She turned to looked at him and in a swift easy movement she had punched him in the faced sending him to step back a bit. "If not for everyone at camp, then stop taking them off for Octavia." With those words she had left walking back to camp, the first large tree she came upon she had began to use it like a punching bag.

Left, right, left, left kick. Left, right, left, right kick. She continued this for a wile she felt her knuckles open up a wound a small amount of red blood dripped down the back of her hand. The routine that would normally be done with a punching bag was interrupted by the sound of a young girl shouting out screaming and crying in her sleep.

Cora jogged over to the girl and recognized that sleeping face. She sat next to her on the drop ship, Cora kneeled next to the girl grabbing her shoulders shaking her slightly to wake her up. Her eyes flashed opened as sweat ran down her forehead. Her short air was in many small braids, her brown beading eyes looking at the blonde.

"Bad dream?" Cora asked looked at her as she rested her bottom on the ground crossing her legs. The little girl didn't respond, "I'm Cora."

"Charlotte," her voice was small quiet the fear of her nightmare still in her eyes.

"That's a pretty name, something tells me your dad gave it to you," Cora said running her fingers through the wet grass.

She nodded in reply, "How'd you know?" She asked sitting up straighter looking at the Cora, she had noticed the blood on her hands then saw the wound on her knuckles.

"Because when a father gives their child a name they want it to be a name that stands out and be powerful, meanwhile a mother will give her daughter a name that stands out but is also very gentle. Your name, is well pardon my French, badass." Charlotte smiled looking at Cora, the little girl found inspiration in the way she talked, hoe she didn't mind to speak her mind. "Come on, I want to show you something," Cora said standing up, she stuck out a hand to help Charlotte up. The girl took her hand standing up wiping away any tears left from the nightmare.

Cora held the girls small had as she walked around camp stepping over the sleeping teens. They walked over to a small area where the trees were clear and you could see out into the distance. There were numbers of trees and green everywhere. "Being on the ground gives us a new start, so whatever scares you I want you to grab a rock and whisper it your fears," she paused grabbing to stones, handing one to Charlotte she questioned Cora before backing down seeing her eyebrows move in a do it kind of motion.

Cora whispered her fear as did Charlotte, "Now what?" She asked holding the rock tightly.

"Now I wouldn't encourage this on the Ark but we're on the ground and according to Bellamy the Big Boob whatever the hell we want, so stand on the log," she spoke standing up getting on the log, "throw the rock as hard as you can," she threw the rock hearing it hit a few trees, "then shout.." She paused seeing the girl look up at her, "Fuck You!" She shouted reviving groans from sleeping teens. "As loud as you want," Cora looked at the girl who had a grin plastered across her face.

She jumped up slightly onto the log as Cora got off, Charlotte pulled her arm back then threw it she waited till she head the clicks like Cora did then shouted as well, "Fuck You."

"Louder," Cora encouraged smiling at the girl.

"Fuck you!" She had responses form other campers groaning for her to shut up. Cora chuckled looking at the girl.

"Feel better?" Charlotte responded with nod and grin. "Good."

Charlotte hopped down and looked at Cora for a moment before wrapping her arms around Cora, "Thank you." She spoke softly.

Cora thought about pushing her away -her dislike for hugs- but instead she got down on her knees and hugged her back. "You're welcome."

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Hey so this Mat guy what's your take on him? Ya think him Cora are gonna be "boyfriend, girlfriend?" At least accroding to Bellamy.

Cora and Charlotte [sniffles] so cute!

Let me know what think of this chapter. Thanks!