Thanks

Chapter 3- Thanks

"Hey stranger," Mat said walking up next to Cora. She smiled looking up at him, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"Oh hey beautiful," she replied looking at up at him. She chuckled walking towards the drop ship with him. He looked down at her hand noticing the scab marks.

"What happened?" He asked grabbing her hand rubbing his thumb over the marks.

"I fought a monkey for a banana," she joked watching two kids walk by, they laughed and ran around playing some sort of capture whatever the hell is in his pocket. She laughed as the boy fell walking towards the drop ship. "God where is Clarke, I'm starving," Cora said looking up at him then seeing Wells walk by with a pile of clothes.

"What about that banana?" Mat asked looking at the darker boy as well seeing he was confronted by Atom.

"Oh it was great," she had a cheeky grin plastered across her face.

He chuckled looking around, "So was the little girl screaming 'Fuck You' this morning your doing?"

Another smile reappeared on her face, "Well of course, I mean I have to influence the young since I'm inspirational."

She giggled looking at him, he shook his head slightly, "don't let that go to you head."

"I think it already has," her response had an unclear tone to it. They continued to walk until they stopped at the front of the drop ship. Cora sighed seeing Atom and Wells fight, Atom was a good guy but man was he one of Bellamy's bitches. Cora looked at was as they continued to talk, he looked like he had a few cuts and scrapes and a hand with the marks of a wristband that was once there. Her tall shoulders slouched as she saw there was no wrist band, you coulda done better, she scolded herself.

"You okay?" Mat asked noticing her mood had shifted.

"Yeah, just annoyed with the amount of idiocy in the male species."

"Oh thanks."

She smiled at him then looked over to see Bellamy walking out of the drop ship shirtless, to then be followed by one of his many sluts. "Hmmp, I thought he'd go with the red head first," she spoke quietly so only Mat could hear, he chuckled silently removing his arm for her shoulder to cross his arms. Cora avoided getting into this fight only if it got physical. She went back to examining Bellamy, his shoulders stood tall as he was clearly showing of what he had plus his gun. His hair was no longer sleeked back but a big curly mess, she a feeling down her gut that made her wanna go over there and just play with his hair and make little braids. Something that just wouldn't have him be so attractive. Then she noticed the bruise, it was along his cheekbone it was a darker purple coated around a pinkish-red. "How is it I'm one of the most irresponsible people but one of the most mature?"

Mat scoffed looking at her, "Excuse me? You mature? Is that the start to a bad punch line? Oh wait you already punched Bellamy."

Cora looked at him and smiled slightly hitting his chest with her hand with little to no force, "Thanks asshat I'll make sure to remember that. Plus he took off Wells wristband, I was angry and it's honestly not the worst I've delivered."

Mat smiled looking at her just didn't respond. In the distance a girl cried out screaming, everyone's head shot up as Cora jogged over with the boys. She was greeted by Murphy holding a girl next to a fire her wristband still on. "Bellamy. Check it out. We want the Ark to think that the ground is killing us, right? Figure it'll look better if we suffer a little bit first."

"Murphy what the hell!" Cora said making her way down a hill to release the girl from his grip. She nodded a thanks holding her wrist as she ran away. Murphy rolled his eyes standing up as soon as he did Cora knocked him onto the ground with a blow to his face.

"Oh shit," Mat muttered looking at her turn around and walk away. She got a couple steps before being pushed into the mud, her face slammed into the ground as Murphy turned her around, she could hear Bellamy, Wells and Mat were getting in trying to pull him off her. She spat in his face as she struggled to get him of herself. He punched her once after she spat at him, there was a new bruise forming under the mud. She wrapped her leg around his and pushed it so she was on top of him, which caused the boys to step back slightly before she started to serve blow after blow to his face. Many hoots and hollers came from the crowd as she continued, many guys whistled while the girls said, "Give him what he deserves!"

"Cora, relax." She resisted as much as Murphy did as they tried to pull her off, Mat tried to get her to stop. Bellamy on the other the other hand almost didn't want her to, she was making an empowering statement but then he remembered the fact the Murphy was under her grip so he ended up tiring to pull her off. Murphy's face was covered in mud, a small amount of sweat and blood. Her scabs on her knuckles reopened as she was finally still kicking and struggling to attack him. Bellamy stuck out his hand helping Murphy up as he wiped his nose. Cora held a glare in her eyes staring at the boy, she stopped fighting and jerked her shoulder to get out of Mat's grip. She started to walk towards Murphy and Bellamy as everyone remained silent. The boys tensed seeing her get closer.

"Feeling pathetic yet? I kicked your ass after you pinned me down, I'd be careful Murphy, because I can do whatever the hell I want is that not what you said Blake? We can do that am I wrong did I miss a meeting that said we suddenly couldn't? Or was that a bad idea giving us the freedom to do whatever the hell we want?"

"Cora, maybe we should sit down talk about your emotions, your anger issues, don't worry we'll help you," Murphy smirked standing behind Bellamy. Groans could be heard as everyone knew what he said was gonna piss her off.

"You're right," she paused as everyone looked at her, "we should." Her eyes changed as her lips curved to a smirk, she kicked her leg up hitting him in the area where no guy would like to be kicked. "I feel better already." Murphy dropped to his knees wincing, Bellamy looked down and smiled slightly before seeing how proud she was.

"Cora!" Clarke shouted as she walked down the hill looking at Murphy on the ground, his face bloody, then at her seeing a bruise form on her cheek.

"Octavia, are you alright?" Bellamy asked pushing past the two blondes to grab his little sister helping her out of the brush and down the small hill.

"Yeah," she responded with a small amount of pain in her voice.

"Where's the food?" Bellamy asked supporting his sister.

"We didn't make it to Mount weather." Finn responded as he sat down his breathing heavy.

"What the hell happened out there?" Cora chimed in wiping mud off her face onto her shirt.

"We were attacked," Clarke responded.

"Attacked? By what?" Wells eyes filled with a small amount of worry.

"Not what. Who. It turns out when the last man form the ground died on the Ark he wasn't the last Grounder." Finn responded exchanging glances with everyone.

"It's true. Everything we though we knew about the ground is wrong. There are people here, survivors. The good news is, that means we can survive. Radiation won't kill us," Clarke said the tone of a speech in her voice.

"Yeah the bad news is the grounders will," Finn said his voice soft.

"Where's the kid with the goggles?" Wells asked looking among the four.

"Jasper was hit, they took him." Clarke paused looking as if she'd seen a monster. She then glanced at Wells wrist noticing something missing. "Where's your wristband?"

"Ask him," Wells said looking at Bellamy then Murphy.

"How many?" Clarke asked rage filling her voice.

"Twenty-four and counting," Murphy responded that same smug looked on his face. Cora started towards him when Mat held her back. "That's right honey go cry to your boyfriend." Cora glared at him before Mat let her go with the same amount of anger in his eyes. She smirked walking towards him before punching him in the face sending stumbling backwards.

"You idiots. Life support on the Ark is failing. That's why they brought us down here. They need to know the ground is survivable again, and we need their help against whoever is out there. If you take off your wristbands, you're not just killing them. You're killing us!" Clarke said a speech empowering her voice.

Bellamy rolled his eyes taking his stand, "We're stronger than you think. Don't listen to her. She'd one of the privileged. If they come down, she'll have it good. How many of you can say the same?" Bellamy paused as everyone shifted to his side. "We can take care of ourselves. That wristband on your arm? It makes you a prisoner. We are not prisoners anymore! They say they'll forgive your crimes. I say you're not criminals! You're fighters, survivors! The grounders should worry about us." He received cheers from crowd, Clarke sighed as Cora walked over as did Monty.

"What do we do now?" Monty asked following her.

"Now we go after Jasper," she said walking off with a rage to her walk.

Cora looked at Monty, "No worries, we'll get him back."

He nodded, "Hey did you do all that to Murphy, and the bruise on Bellamy's cheek?"

"They pissed me off, and acted like it wasn't the biggest deal in the world. So I showed them they weren't in charge per-say," she responded looking back at everyone.

"Good, time someone shows them, I'm glad it was you too."

She smiled looking down then back up, "Thanks Monty." She said patting his shoulder pressing her lips together before walking off. She walked towards the same place her and Charlotte were throwing rocks yesterday. She sat on the log placing her elbows onto her knees rubbing her temple with her thumbs.The sounds of leaves crunching behind her caused her to jolt up, she looked over her shoulder seeing a small figure with braids, "Hey Charlotte." Cora smiled watching the girl sit down.

"Hey Cora."

"Whatcha need?"

"Nothing, I just wanted say what you did to Murphy was pretty cool, I mean he could easily be a thousand pounds heavier and yet you still got him off yourself. How'd you do it?" She asked a smile taking up her face.

"Thanks," she exhaled a laugh looking at the girl, "It was something someone taught me on the Ark." She scanned the area seeing Mat walk by, he turned and looked at the two before walking over.

"Cora, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, believe me that's not the worst I've had to deal with," She paused looking at Charlotte. "Hey Charlotte rain check on the lesson okay?"

"Okay," she said staying in her seat.

"And Charlotte," he head popped up as she looked at Cora getting up to leave, "You can sleep in my tent with me, go move whatever stuff you have in there." Charlotte smiled nodding getting up to leave.

"Aw, I thought I was gonna get that invitation," Mat chuckled walking with her over to Clarke, Bellamy, Octavia Murphy and Wells.

They'd caught the last bit of the conversation between siblings, "No, no. No way. Not again." Bellamy spoke with such seriousness as he didn't want his baby sister going along with them. Before they fully got into hearing distance Mat pulled to the side, "As much as I would love to join this adventure I'll stay back make sure no one does anything that could get them an ass whoopin'. I'll see you later." He said looking at her before quickly planting a kiss on her cheek. She stood there a moment dazed from what he had just done. Her cheeks had turned a shade of pink she'd never seen but she could feel the heat rise from her cheeks. She wanted to stay behind but knew she needed to go on this trip staying in that camp any longer would drive her insane.

She walked over to the rest of the groups conversation hearing Wells, "Clarke, what are you doing?"

"I hear you have a gun," she said pausing as he flashed the weapon held by his pants. "Good, follow me." She said turning to walk.

"And why would I do that?" He asked Cora walked up stopping next to Bellamy glancing at Clarke then Bellamy.

"Because you look like a scared little bitch, no one wants to follow the person who can't grow a pair, unless well they already got kicked off." She smirked looking over she shoulder at Murphy before continuing to walk.

"Murphy, come with me. Atom?" He paused snapping Atom's attention, "My sister doesn't leave this camp. Is that clear?"

Atom nodded as Octavia chimed in, "I don't need a babysitter."

"Anybody touches her, they answer to me," Bellamy paused before looking at Murphy, "Lets go." With that the two boys left.

In the distance Cora could hear Octavia, "I'm gonna make your life a living hell." Cora exhaled a chuckle through her nose before walking a bit faster. She'd passed Wells and Clarke looking around giving her time to stop but also not get left behind. She inhaled the smell of fresh air that wasn't plaugaed by oils or burnt wood, just nature. The colors of the flowers made her wish she had a camera, and a way to talk to the Ark. she wanted to send Alex a picture or two, let him know that everyone was alive, except for the two boys who died when they first hit the ground.

She ran her hands across the leaves before stopping allowing everyone to catch up. She head easy paced footsteps followed by footsteps that were a bit quicker, "Hey, hold up. What's the rush? You don't survive a spear through the heart." Bellamy said taking out his gun waving it around.

"Put the gun away," Wells said, then he was pushed back slightly by Murphy.

"Well, why don't you do something about it, huh?"

Cora rolled her eyes, "Children."

"Jasper screamed when they moved him. If the spear struck his heart, he'd have died instantly. It doesn't mean we have time to waste." Clarke said looking at him in the eye. Cora stood next to Clarke avoiding even being near Murphy, the sight of him made her want to laugh at how pathetic he was but also wanted to pretty much kill him.

As Clarke went to step back Bellamy grabbed her wrist yanking her back, "As soon as you take this wristband off, we can go."

"Hey- Bellamy step off before I kick your ass like I did Murphy." Cora said glaring at him. Clarke pulled out of his grip as Bellamy shot a glare at Cora, "The only way the Ark is going to think she's dead is if she's dead. Got it? You already 'killed' Wells don't think that wristband is coming off her." She snapped back staring him down, Clarke smiled slightly seeing that Cora took a stand, she wasn't scared but knowing her story what happened to her Clarke didn't mind Cora being the badass.

"Brave little Scout," Bellamy said looking at Cora dead in the eyes with a smirk of annoyance.

"Hey! You call this a rescue party? We gotta split up, cover more ground. Clarke come with me," Finn said coming out of nowhere.

"Why don't we go for a walk Scout," Bellamy said grabbing Cora by the upper arm. "You two, try not to kill each other." With that he walked off with Cora as she pulled out of his grip. They walked a bit in silence before Bellamy spoke up, "Why are you helping the council? After what he did to you I mean the council let him get away with-."

"I'm not helping the council, I'm trying to save everyone else even if that means he comes down with them. Maybe once he's down here a grounder will get a hold of him," she walked a bit faster, "or I'll feed him to the giant snake."

"Cora," Bellamy said stopping her, "Take off your wristband, that way he'll die up there he won't even be able to get near you."

"Bellamy, you talk to me about this one more time and I'll feed you to the snake," she paused looking at him. "There's about twenty scars all over his body to remind him what he did, he won't forget, and neither will his wife." With that she walked faster avoiding any further conversation about her past. She stopped as she saw Clarke and Finn looking at something in the brush. Cora jogged to catch up next to Finn, she kneeled next to him seeing the blood. "Is it fresh?" Finn nodded in response she stood up and followed the small trail tuning out their conversation. Cora stood up going a bit into the brush being poked here and there by the leaves and thorns. In the distance a sound of a pained moan echoed the forest. Cora's head popped up as she began to jog towards the sound. Others followed until she stopped at the edge of the forest. She looked at the shirtless, pale, bloody and beaten boy. There was a lime green stone looking thing in his chest Cora stepped back slightly bumping into Bellamy not taking her eyes off the boy.

Her body's influence was broken as her head told her to get the boy, so she did so. She walked towards the tree not taking her eyes off the boy. Cora could feel the sturdiness under her feet when suddenly it wasn't there. Her body began to fall below the grounds surface as she felt a hand grasp hers. She looked up seeing Bellamy holding her wrist tightly with one hand. Her breathing was erratic as she couldn't feel anything under her feet. She didn't move her feet as she looked at Bellamy into his brown eyes. He looked like he might let her fall but at the same time he wouldn't let that happen. The sound of Wells, Finn and Clarke telling one another to get her up, as she was being pulled up she lifted one foot over the edge giving them a bit of help. She collapsed over Bellamy as they completely pulled her up. She looked at him as she was half on top of him. She moved quickly to get off him as this feeling in the pit of her gut, the same feeling to run her hands through his hair, was back.

"Thanks," she exhaled lying down on her back for a moment before sitting up. "We should get him down," her breathing was returning to normal as Bellamy stuck out a hand getting up before her. She grabbed it and he pulled her up.

"I'll climb up there and cut the vines," Finn said watching where he stepped.

"Yeah, yeah I'm with you," Wells said before Finn stopped him.

"No. Stay with Clarke.., and Cora. And watch him. You. Let's go." He said, Murphy began to follow.

"I feel the love Finn thanks," Cora said sarcastically standing in between Clarke and Bellamy. Bellamy looked at her as she still couldn't take her eyes off Jasper.

"There's a poultice on his wound." Clarke started examining the lime green stone.

"English, please," Cora said looking at the boys climb up.

"It's a form of medicine, patches up wounds." Clarke responded.

"Oh okay, wait why would they stitch him up just to hang him as live bait?" Cora asked now looking at Clarke and Wells since they seemed to be able to answer her questions.

"Maybe they're trying to catch dinner that's actually breathing," Bellamy said looking at the boy.

"Maybe they're trying to kill us," Finn said causing Cora's stomach to drop.

"That's not a thought I want in my head, no thank you," she said starting to walk around.

"Cora, where are you going?" Bellamy asked as he followed her making sure she wouldn't fall once more.

"Hurry up Murphy," Finn said as they worked to get him down.

"Be careful," Clarke chimed in in a very motherly voice. In the distance there was a low growl. It sounded like it was surrounding the place not just in one spot.

"What the hell was that?" Murphy asked as everyone looked in separate directions.

"Grounders?" Finn asked sounding hopeful.

"No, that sounds like an animal," Cora said as Bellamy backed up slightly so he was closer to Cora, he kept her back to the tree and his back to her front. She stepped to the side slightly looking around. The growl was low deep and it continued. In a passage way, a big cat could be seen, it had dark sleek black hair. Cora found it pretty except for the fact that it was hunting them. "Bellamy t-that gun of yours I approve of it now.. like right now." Cora said watching the animal get into position to charge and it did so straight for them.

"Bellamy, gun!" Clarke's voice cracked as Cora looked down seeing Bellamy reaching to his gun only to find it not there. Four shots were fired and Cora had figured out Wells grabbed it, she didn't bother to look as she tried to keep with the animal. She stood behind Bellamy more because he placed himself there. The animal seemed to have gone away as the bushes stopped shaking but Cora's body was still tense. Bellamy and Cora scanned the area looking for any signs of the animal and so far there were none. That's when she heard it the sound of a roar followed by a gun shot. They stood side by side looking at the animal panting as they watched it take its last breath. Cora swallowed hard shaking slightly looking at the cat. Wells continued to pull the trigger the clicking sound repeating itself. Wells dropped the gun as Cora sat down next to the cat.

"Cora-"

"It's dead just hold on for a second." She interrupted Bellamy, she sat back on her calves looking at where the bullet hit the animal. "Hey we can still eat this, where the bullet's hit won't cause us to die of poisioning."

"How do you know that?" Murphy asked as he finshed off his task of cutting down Jasper.

"What do you think I did for nine years of my life? I read worked-out, ate, slept and well repeate."

"Well you're useful for something."

"Can it Murphy," Bellamy buzzed in causing a Murphy to roll his eyes.

-

They walked into camp to be greeted by cheering and whooping. Cora smiled seeing Mat she heard Clarke give medical instuctions and Bellamy shouting which received more hoots and hollers. "You look liek you had a busy day," Mat said wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

"Well getting attacked by a big balck cat and nearly falling to get stabbed to death, it wasn't that bad," She smirked when a look over worry washed over Mat's eyes as he looked at the girl.

"Are you okay?" He asked with a face that seemed like he was about to plie many others on to her plate.

"No worries, I'm fine," she said preventing any of those erupptions. "I just want some food. Man they better hurry up with the cooking 'cause I could probably eat that raw right now."

Mat chuckled looking at the teens overfilled with joy. "Cora!" someone said soming up from behind.

"Hey Charlotte, how ya doing?" She asked as she heard her stomach grumble.

"Good, that cat thing, did you kill it?"

"Nope, but it did almost take off my head," and Bellamy's, Cora thought not bothering to add that infromation in.

Charlotte eyes widened, "We're you scared?"

"Well lets see there was an animal about to eat me, yes I was but I kinda just told it to fuck off and poof all better."

Charlotte smiled knowing that what she just described was not how she reacted. The three walked over to a log before Cora left to the drop ship to see how Jasper was doing. As she was about to walk in Clarke and Finn were at the edge of the platform, "Hey how's he doing?"

"Well, he'll be okay I think."

"Oh that's.. not something I'd tell Monty or Octavia," Cora chuckled before drawing her gaze to where thwy were looking.

"They're taking off their wristbands for food? No way. I.. I won't do it." Clarke said an anger started to fill her voice.

"You don'e have to," Finn said walking up and grabbing one.

"Whoa, whoa. Wait, wait, wait. You think you play by different rules?" Murphy chimed in looking at him.

"I thought there were no rules," Finn said walking off, Clarke grabbed one and Cora grabbed three one for herself, Mat and Charlotte. They walked of as well leaving angered looks on Bellamy's and Murphy's face.

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Adskjoisifhujk... I reeaaally like this chapter, first off well Murphy gets his ass kicked, second, Murphy gets his balls kicked, and third Bellamy is so protective over Cora!

And what about Mat giving Cora a kiss on the cheek you a Mora[?] shipper or nah? I don't know it's pretty cuuute.

Let me know what ya think in the comments about this chapter and how the characters acted.[making revisions]