Chapter 2:

"I think it's time we decide if we want to renew our allegiance to The Coalition." Clarke Griffin pinched the bridge of her nose after muttering the words just loud enough for her Advisors to hear. She was sitting at a long wooden table, surrounded by the five men and women she trusted the most in her sector. This year was rough when it came to their membership. Fifteen of their best warriors had been commandeered by The Commander's army, as well as some of their more promising livestock and medicinal herbs. It was as if they were in an old mob movie, paying their dues for protection. A lot of the long-term residents were angry with the development.

Every year, it seemed like The Commander wanted a little more of them. It was difficult trying to convince Nomads and people seeking asylum from other governments that this was their best possible option. It was their instinct to rebel, fight back. Hell, it was her own natural instinct but, she wasn't in the position where she could so carelessly risk everything she's built against thirteen other large, powerful clans. Lexa would take it as a personal offense if Clarke and her people backed out of The Coalition, even if they did it peacefully.

Also, Clarke owed Lexa for all of her help. It was their odd friendship that helped Clarke's colony grow to it's impressive size over the last two decades. Lexa did, for all intents and purposes, keep death away from their doors. They'd only had three major threats since they joined The Coalition nearly seventeen years ago.

Still, Clarke didn't want to send either of her children off to become ruthless, bloodthirsty warriors anytime soon and that was a given if they stayed in The Coalition.

One of her opinionated Advisors, Samuel, cleared his throat and said, "We're vulnerable if we're not part of The Coalition. We've grown considerably over the last few years, but we don't have the defenses to go against the other thirteen clans or the other groups fifty miles of us." Her advisors started to whisper at the mention of their neighbors. They weren't part of The Coalition, but their existence was evident. Her village housed some of their Rebels and Nomads.

"Wanheda, our children are being taken from us without notice." A woman named Corra spoke up, eyes wide with worry. Everyone knows that her daughter was recently "recruited" by The Coalition and taken to Polis to train. It was sudden. There was barely time to say goodbye and her daughter hasn't been back since.

"Our children, " Jefferson, the unruly one of her court, snarled, "are soft. In my youth, I was trained for hours each day to be a warrior. We are weak. It's why we won't ever be independent of organizations such as The Coalition."

Her best friend, Church, rolled his eyes before he fixed Theo with a glare. "Our children are growing up in a time of peace for the first time in decades. There's time to establish education and skills other than variations of murder."

The Advisor that was usually silent on most matters cleared his throat, "We're weak because we're part of The Coalition. We're dependent on it now." Swan continued, giving Theo a look of annoyance when he saw the man smile. "Doesn't mean it's not a good thing. We're not starving to death. We're trading goods with other clans. We're able to travel when we please." He looked at Corra sympathetically, "Your daughter will return a warrior. She will be able to defend our home. We need warriors."

Clarke valued Swan's opinion the most, even if she would never admit that to Church. He was reasonable. "Let's vote. Those who think we should resign?" Only Corra and Theo raised their hand. "It's settled, we stay in The Coalition for another year." She sighed when she saw Corra tear up, "Let's talk about The Summit."

A few weeks ago, one of the Riders from Polis showed up at her gates with a formal invitation to The Summit. It was the first one in many years according to Theo, who was in his sixties at least. The Summits were often called when a truce needed to be created between two opposing clans. He was upset that Lexa had used to the term so freely, creating an event for all clans to gather at once to talk about politics, alliances, and culture. Her invitation phrased it as if it were a celebration, which Clarke wasn't too excited for.

Quite honestly, she'd rather go to war than go to a celebration in Polis that all fourteen clans would attend. It meant she would have to see members of Skikru that she'd only thought about vaguely in the last decade. She didn't want to know who had died, or who had children, or anything about them. She would rather imagine what their lives turned out to be in this time of peace. She pictured Octavia and Lincoln, happy with a few children. She pictured her mother and Marcus Kane as an old married couple. She hoped Miller and Monty were finally together. Those are the things she's pictured from them in life. She doesn't want to know the truth, she would rather picture them happy.

But, she knows that Earth is a constant struggle. Even if things seemed to be running smoothly in her own clan, they still had issues. There were diseases and injuries she couldn't cure. Sometimes a woman would die in labor, or even worse, a child would be born without a pulse. Just last winter, they lost seven people because of the dropping temperatures. People still died due to complications she couldn't control in her environment.

Although, even with life on Earth being so rough, she did have to admit she was lucky. Clarke had two beautiful, healthy children. Nadia and Augustus made her life worth living. If it hadn't been for them, she would have never pushed for structure within the pop-up village she'd stumbled upon so many years ago. Every day, she fought to be a better mother; a protector, a provider, a nurturer.

There were times when she felt like she'd failed them, though.

Her fear that she'd somehow messed up after all her efforts showed when Augustus let the anger control him, and he got into violent fights with other members of the clan. It was also in the way he hated his father; a man Clarke had long forgiven. She thought that maybe if she'd stayed in Arkadia, he wouldn't be so angry with the world. But, she knew that was ultimately not true. He would feel worse if they'd stayed.

It killed her that he reminded her so much of Bellamy. He'd never even met the man, but he walked like him. He carried himself the way Bellamy did when he was the Rebel King. Sometimes, he had his father's arrogance and other time's he was just a charming and manipulative.

Nadia is a different story completely. Clarke often thinks that her daughter has created an image of Bellamy the man could never possibly live up to. Nadia wanted a father so badly that she lashed out at Clarke for leaving her life behind so "selfishly" as a preteen. Those years were truly awful for their relationship. Nadia hasn't forgiven Clarke and most likely never will, but they've recovered.

Her daughter is a strong young woman. In a lot of ways, she reminds Clarke of both sides of Octavia. Nadia was a positive person that liked to see the beauty in the world. Every new thing she found was like Octavia discovering butterfly fields. But, she was also a warrior by heart. It was alarming, but admirable.

There are moments when Clarke feels like there isn't an ounce of her in the twins. There are also moments when she thinks that's a good thing.

It was the thoughts of her children that brought her back to the conversation at hand, "Polis is about a four day walk from here. We'll need to leave the day after tomorrow. Of course, it's strictly voluntary, but anyone that wants to come can join the trip. I've decided to leave Swan in charge in my absence." Everyone nodded, seemingly in agreement with her decision. "Anyone that acts out will be punished. I need that to get around. I won't have anyone making an ass of themselves in Polis."

There's a loud, insistent knocking on the door of their Political Room. "Wanheda, we have an injury." Someone called, obviously a little nervous to be interrupting one of their meetings. Clarke sighed, knowing it had to be serious if they asked for her specifically. She'd trained a few people enough to get them by when she was not around.

"If anyone has suspicions about certain people attending The Summit, please let me know." Clarke says coolly, "Meeting dismissed."