Rebuilding Ruin

Disclaimer: I don't own the 100 or its characters

Spoilers: All episodes of Season 1 and 2

It had been months that she had survived in the forest, with just the knife at her ankle and the gun she'd carried from Mount Weather. However, no matter her time she was only human who had been raised in space and didn't know the reality of winter. Stories and video images didn't do justice to the cold that descended into the forest in a matter of days. Trees were lined with leaves one moment and the next were bare before snow began to gather on the ground and empty branches.

Clarke was unprepared for the winter and no matter how much the happy faces of her people reminded her of her actions and that she deserved death she knew she had to return. The snow soaked through her boots and socks with every step she took, the cold and wind beat against the jacket that Lexa had given her. With each step she felt pain and a deep part of her accepted it as punishment for the hundreds she had killed since arriving on the ground. She deserved much worse than to freeze to death, the idea of being floated seemed like a worthy punishment for her crimes, slow asphyxiation and being denied air would only be a fraction of the suffering she had caused but there was no equal to what she had done.

The sun began to set as she neared a meadow, covered in an untouched layer of snow and beautiful. Clarke allowed herself to pause and gaze at the doe and fawn that stood in the clearing sniffing for long-lost grass. It was peaceful, the wild away from any type of civilization. Peaceful and without guilt until nightmares invaded sleep.

Peace, however, was not meant to last as Clark watched the doe drop to the ground followed by the fawn. Knives were embedded in the animals' sides, Clarke leaned against her tree out of sight and crouched down to watch the hunters. She knew she had long before left Trikru territory, the few people she had seen hunting in past weeks no longer wore what she knew as Trikru clothing.

Several horses entered the meadow and two warriors walked past them to the deer. They removed the knives and tied ropes to their feet before tying the other end to the horses. Standing slowly while removing her knife from her boot, Clarke backed up only to feel a knife at her back. Turning fast she cut her captor with the blade only to be thrown into the tree and an ax placed to her throat.

"Ai laik Klark kom Skaikru en ai gaf gouthru klir." She spoke quickly and watched her captor gain realization in his eyes. "Please, I am just trying to get back to my people after taking a journey to seek forgiveness for my crimes."

"Skaikru are no allies of Azkru."

Clarke allowed herself to translate the word by the sound alone. "Ice Nation?"

"You know of us?" The man huffed before taking her knife and put it in his belt. He took her arm and pulled her from the tree, pushing her into the clearing. "Who spoke of us? What lies have you been told?"

Part of her wanted to reveal her source but the realization that if she spoke of being allies with Trikru then she most likely wouldn't live to see the next sunrise. "Rumors only."

"Rumors spoke by who?" He turned her and grabbed her throat. "Trikru? Boat People?"

Clarke met his eyes and stayed silent, finding herself being pushed into the snow as the man raised his ax over her head. Just as she felt as if she'd meet her end, Clarke was surprised by a yell in her direction. A woman approached wearing a grey fur cloak, probably made from a wolf. She held out her hand and Clarke looked between her captor and the woman.

"Come Klark kom Skaikru, you are among friends." The woman gave a soft smile and Clarke took her hand. "Do not mind Rocco, he presumes threats at every corner and in every person not of our people."

Wiping off her coat, Clarke looked at the woman. "So you know who I am but who are you?"

"I am a friend of Bellamy's and he will be glad with the knowledge you are safe." She started walking and Clarke quickly followed. "I am Echo, I was among those in the mountain that he assisted in rescuing."

"That was Heda Lexa actually who rescued you…"

"While she did secure our release, she did not rescue us." Echo grabbed a fur from a horse and quickly placed it around Clarke's freezing body. "She abandoned you and your people, her actions made you take lives both guilty and innocent. Azkru and Trikru have long been enemies and upon her abandonment of your people, Azkru and Skaikru have become allies."

Clarke nodded, "do you plan on attacking Trikru?"

"If there is a war then it would not be unwarranted and your people would be kept safe from attack. We would not require you to fight unless to defend yourself from attack." Echo put a hand on her shoulder. "You are among friends, come and I will escort you to your people. We were headed to the camp to deliver meat for the winter."

The ride was silent and Clarke allowed herself to look at all the warriors around her. Echo rode beside her, head held high and seemed to be in charge of the group. It continued to grow darker but the group didn't stop as Clarke was used to with Lexa's people. Echo seemed to be content in silence before she looked over to meet Clarke's eyes.

"Are you the Azkru Kwin or are you one of her generals?"

The woman smiled, "I am her sister, why do you ask?"

"You just command them like you're the queen."

"If I was queen, you would have known it immediately." Echo looked down before looking up, "what do you know of my sister?"

Clarke shook her head, "just that she is the only queen among the twelve clans, the rest are led by Lexa or other Heda."

"My sister leads our people as our father did before her and his mother before him. One day my sister's daughter will lead after her. Our leaders are chosen by blood not by unseen spirits and gods. Others believe what they wish, things that do not exist and turn their heads from truth."

"Shouldn't people have the right to believe in what they wish?" Clarke tightened her grip on her reins. "A person's right to believe in gods or spirits is their right as a living being. At least that was what I was taught."

Echo chuckled, "Bellamy stated the same when we argued on the subject. He stated that you would be more open than most Skaikru but I did not believe him. Once again he proves I am wrong in a matter."

Silence permeated the group before Clarke spoke softly. "How are my people?"

"They thrive and will last the winter."

It was midday the next day when Clarke felt the wind blow and she looked up at the trees to see movement. Shaking her head she looked ahead when suddenly an arrow embedded itself in Rocco's shoulder followed by one in Echo's horse. The horse fell and Echo stood, removing her ax as Clarke climbed off her horse. Trikru emerged from the trees and aimed weapons at the four ice warriors.

"Em pleni!" Clarke yelled and put her arms out to stop the fight between the two groups. The Trikru warriors paused. "Ai laik Klark kom Skaikru!" All lowered their weapons and lowered their heads. "They ride with me, escorting me back to Camp Jaha."

One of the Trikru stepped forward, "Skai Prisa, with your permission we request to escort you and the Azkru to your camp…"

"Enough!" Rocco threw his ax and it lodged in the chest of one of the Trikru warriors.

"No!" Clarke turned and looked at Rocco as a knife lodged itself in his chest. "STOP!"

She turned only to groan when a knife found itself in her leg. Her legs collapsed under her as one of the Trikru warriors placed himself in front of her as if to shield her. The last thing she remembered was Echo yelling orders to her men to kill the Trikru warriors. Gripping her protector's arm he turned to her.

"Skai Prisa?"

"Take prisoners, don't kill." The command was a mere whimper but she saw his nod as she was swallowed by darkness.

A/N: I couldn't get this idea out of my head that they wouldn't have introduced Echo without her being important. Could Bellamy's friendship with Echo and Clarke's alliance with Lexa split the loyalties and present war or could peace finally be achieved? Also Lexa commanded her warriors to listen to Clarke, so it stands to reason that the command possibly was never retracted after so they are required to listen to her still.

Next...Loyalties are tested as threats emerge from all three people.

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