A rewrite of an earlier story. Basically because I thought of something better since Season 3 started. This is a AU where Costia lives and bear in mind that it's Costia-centric/Grounder-Centric.

Also, I will fix the logical failices when it comes to the Grounders. I can't see them coming to that point in culture and language in just under ninety-seven years. Two centuries yes, but not ninety-seven. Things like that take time.

While this will be based on the TV series and use several elements from the series (like Mount Weather and Grounders being separate groups, A.L.I.E. and the City of Light, etc.) I will also incorporate elements from the trilogy.

Conversations in Trigedasleng are indicated in italics.

Today the sun shines brightly over Trigeda, where the trees are lush during the spring and summer; where the ground is blanketed in brown, orange, and yellow leaves during the fall; and where the evergreen trees and ground are blanketed in snow during the winter. Today the sky is a azure blue and the breeze is cool and crisp.

It's a beauty that only we can enjoy. We don't have to worry about roasting in this environment unlike our adversaries, the Mountain Men, who have been held up in Mount Weather for two centuries. They don't come out but in the few times they do, they come out in gas masks and biohazard gear looking for their next victim.

It's not long before the first leaf will descend to the ground and when the first few leaves fall and harvest will start.

"You think we might come across that two-headed deer, Costia?" my brother Nigel asks me once were halfway down the hunting path from Brighton Village.

"Maybe," I say. Animals with two heads were a rarity. It is not often one would find animals that have been mutated due to the toxins still present in the air after two centuries. The deer with two-heads was the rarest among them. So much so that hunters from the village would tell stories about encountering it.

"If we find one, are you going to shoot it with your arrow?" he asks.

"If it doesn't run away," I assure him with a smile.

"Why did you decide to hunt today?" Nigel asks me, scratching his head. "I heard you begging father to be the one whose turn is to hunt this time."

I heave a sigh. I have been so good, not letting my emotions dictate my mood whenever she came into the village; which happened rarely as her affairs were usually done in Polis or TonDC. If she wasn't selected to train for the Conclave, we still could have been together.

Lexa and I were both born in the same village. Both of us were born with the Nightblood, though Lexa was selected to train for the Conclave while I was one of those not selected but expected to get married when I turn twenty years old (I reach my twentieth year in the fifth day on the third month next year) to pass down the Nightblood. During our visits to Polis, I and the other children would hang out with the Nightbloods when they weren't training with their mentors or taking lessons from either Titus, Keeper of the Flame, or the late Commander Huron. Lexa and I hit it off and slowly our friendship became something more. The relationship continued even after she won the final round of the Conclave, much to Titus's disapproval since love was considered a weakness to the Commander's power.

Lexa thought she could make it work. Being the Commander and having me as her lover. One afternoon five years ago changed that, when two Azgeda warriors crossed the boundary between Trigeda and Azgeda and I ran into them while trying to catch a wildcat.

I thought for sure that they were going to capture me and do what else and that I was outnumbered when something spooked them; Reapers they were.

My assailants ran at the first sight of them and I took the advantage to escape, not turning back and luckily they never pursued me.

Everyone knows that the Ice Nation torture their prisoners before beheading them while alive. It happened to my sister, Salem. She was captured by the Ice Nation during battle and a day later they sent her head as a message, like they always did then.

Upon hearing of this encounter, Lexa wanted to execute my attackers but Titus insisted that such an action would impair her efforts to invite Azgeda into the Coalition and that having those warriors executed was more of a personal thing then impartial.

"It would be safer for the both of you if you ended the relationship," Titus said to her. "The Ice Queen will only exploit it to her advantage."

So she took his advice and ended the relationship, though she said in a shaking voice, "I hope we could remain friends, Costia."

I wish that she severed our emotional ties as well as our romantic ties, as being around her only reminds me of what we could have had. But I accepted the friendship offer as I wanted her in my life in some form if we're no longer lovers.

Now, my emotional strife is to the point where I begged my father, the Trikru General, that I hunt today so I could avoid seeing her. Take a day off from patrolling the village fence. While the General is one rank below the Commander, that person does not have the restrictions that the Commander has. A General is allowed to have a family. A Commander is prohibited from such, hence the phrase, "To be a Commander is to be alone."

He understood and assigned someone else to my shift. Lexa will be gone by nightfall and I'll be able to think straight. The meeting between her and father won't take long.

"Costia, look!" Nigel whispers, pointing ahead of me. I look ahead and just beyond the trees, I see a two-headed deer grazing in the clearing. Aha. Wait until I come back to the village with that marvelous creature.

"Good eyes, brother," I say before removing an arrow from my quiver. I squint my right eye as I pull the arrow and bow string back; the feathered end touching my lips.

As I lock in on the target, I curve my lips into a smile and I feel my pulse in my chest and fingers. Someone is going to have a lucky catch today. I can see it now, everyone's awed glances as they see me and Nigel tow in the deer through the village gates.

I am just about to free the arrow when I hear a twig snap a few yards away. The deer looks at the source before running away. Blast! I had it too.

"Well, that went well," says Nigel, massaging his temples with his fingers.

I open my mouth to speak when I hear voices. Loud as if they don't think anyone is watching or hearing them.

Quickly, we hide in the nearest thicket of bushes, hiding ourselves from view completely.

"What was that?" asks a girl.

"Probably just an animal," answers a second girl. "It can't be other people because only the hundred of us are here."

What?

"We saw a deer back there," says a boy, his voice containing innocent curiosity. "If we saw animal life, it could very well mean that there are other survivors."

"Whoever survived the bombs most likely died off a few years after," answers the second girl. "Either from lack of supplies or the radiation."

"Besides, it was a sudden event," says another boy. "The odds of finding another group of survivors are slim to none."

We thought the same thing. That we, aside from the Mountain Men, were the only ones that were. We thought that for over a century until a space pod descended from the sky fifteen years ago. We knew that there were people in space when the bombs fell but we thought they all (with the outstanding exception of Bekka Pramheda) died off after a few years.

Imagine our surprise.

I peek from the bushes, just far enough to get a glimpse. There are five of them. Two girls and three boys. They look to be around fifteen to eighteen years of age. Their clothes look somewhat worn but in better condition then what Nigel and I are wearing. They are all wearing identical metal bracelets that look too new to be salvaged from.

Definitely Sky People.

The blonde girl looks at the boy with dark brown, shoulder-length hair, says something inaudible before the group disappears from view. A youthful boy with goggles over his head curiously looks at the direction of our hiding place before catching up with his friends.

"Should we follow them?" Nigel whispers.

I look at him with my mouth open.

"Are you out of your mind?" I demand. "From the sound of it, they have just arrived here and we don't know what they are capable of."

"It's not hard to see what they are up to," he says.

I sigh. He's right but there are risks involved.

"Alright, but only for ten minutes," I say. We leave our hiding place and quietly, we approach the group of trees that they disappeared into and it's not long before I see them.

They are looking around their surroundings but how they are acting, it's not like they are just looking around just to take a view of the trees and wildlife. They are looking for something. I wonder what it is they are looking for.

Nigel notices too.

"Should we help them?" he asks. "Whatever they are looking for must be important."

I think about it. They look pretty harmless, like they are just out here looking for something but they could be like us: soldiers trained since two and knowing various ways to kill people. It's not a risk one should take.

"No, we must not take the risk," I whisper.

We continue following them until I hear the sound of the river. Hopefully, they don't make the mistake of dipping into the river and attract the giant winter snake. Hopefully at least three of them make the smart choice of not taking a dip in there.

At this point we can't continue any longer. Unless we risk discovery. We both turn back to the village, making sure that we take the invisible path.

Brighton Village is fortified by a stone wall that took ten men and ten years to build, according to the village log. At the sight of Nigel and me, both the guards unlock the wooden gate and pull it open.

As we enter, I smell the aroma of soup, meat, smoke, and burning wood, indicating lunch time. Everything appears normal though people seem tense and are packed together in groups and whispering. It's like they are discussing something that they saw not too long ago.

"Costia! Nigel!" calls out Bristol as she runs from the eating area. She sees that we are not carrying anything and asks, "Why are you empty handed? Usually when Costia hunts, she carries a large haul."

"We were distracted," I answer as I make my way to the food stall occupied by Dickens. "We saw some strangers who startled the deer I was after and decided to investigate until they reached the river."

Bristol frowns. "Strangers? Half of us saw a ship fall from the sky about an hour ago."

I look to the house where my father, my siblings, and I are residents. With Gustus and Wight, Lexa's bodyguards, accompanying William and Lorie at the doors. "Do they know?"

"The ship fell from the sky right when they were entering the house," says Bristol. "So, they know."

I approach the stand and ask Dickens, "What is on the menu today?"

"Hazelnut soup," he answers, lading a portion into a metal bowl and sticking a spoon into the contents. "Careful not to burn yourself. It's a new batch that just got done simmering."

"Thanks," I say, approaching the canteen with my bowl. Hazelnut soup is a fall specialty of the Woods Clan; complete with hazelnuts, turkey giblets, rice, and black beans. You never want to have more than your share and it goes for anything we eat.

Chatter fills the room and from a distance I could hear Cole playing his fife from a distance.

"Yeah, I saw it," I hear Beaufort say.

"I hate to imagine how many people that was in that thing," I hear Gustav say.

"There are about a hundred of them," I answer, as I sit my bowl down and sit next to him. "According to one of them that Nigel and I encountered from a distance."

"Wait, you and your brother saw some from a distance?" Gustav asks as I take a bite of my soup.

I swallow. "Yes, five out of the purported hundred," I answer. "We followed them for some time before coming back. They are probably looking for something."

"If I was there, I would have been happy to help," says Beaufort, taking out his dagger before sticking it into the table. People around his radius chuckle.

"The Commander might want us to stand down," I point out. "Attacking people unprovoked is against the rules anyway."

Though there might be some, particularly the staunch and blood thirsty, that would be happy to break the rules with the new arrivals here. Especially those who have the mentality of "Get them first before they get us."

That mentality is associated with Azgeda, as they are known for slaughtering newcomers who enter their territory.

"Besides, there might be nothing about them that would warrant hostility," says Nigel. "They could be just looking for something."

"The tactic for young warriors is to appear harmless so that it would be easy to attack the enemy," I point out. "They could be employing that tactic for all we know."

"There you are," I hear Anya say. "Good thing I didn't have to send Caliban to retrieve you."

I look to see Anya, her lips pressed in a thin line. It's obvious that she is worried about this new development concerning the Sky People. "The Commander and your father request your presence, Costia."

I close my eyes and sigh. The last thing I want is to be in the presence of my former lover. I'm not afraid of her but I'm afraid my mind will go haywire around her. Luckily, father will be in the room and most likely Titus, as I wouldn't be too distracted by her presence.

I put down my spoon and follow her out of the village canteen towards the front doors of my home. We ascend the steps, nodding to the four guards stationed at the doors.

After Anya closes the doors, I tell her, "I saw five Sky People while out hunting with Nigel. There are ninety-five more of them, as I overheard."

"Before the meeting, we saw a ship descending from the sky," Anya replies, her lips still pressed tightly. "It is too large to be the space pod that came down fifteen years ago. Too large then the space pod that carried Bekka Pramheda one hundred and ninety-eight years ago."

I follow her down the corridor to the door leading into the main parlor.

"…We don't know their capabilities, Commander," I hear Titus say inside the room.

"Yes, we do not know, which is why I am going to make the order to suspend action until we can determine whether they are a threat or not," I hear Lexa say. "I will post exterior intel around the landing sight to monitor them from afar."

Anya opens the door and I walk into to see Lexa, Titus, and father sitting around a table in big chairs, all looking pensive and serious. I wish eye contact wasn't a requirement because just seeing those emerald eyes of hers makes it feel like I can't breathe.

"Good day, Costia," acknowledges Titus.

"Salutations, Titus," I say, trying not to scowl at him. He's the reason why Lexa decided to call the relationship off.

Lexa doesn't say anything at first. She glances at me for a few seconds before swallowing and saying, "I have a seat, Costia."

I sit in the empty chair next to father with Anya sitting next to me.

I put my hands on my lap and asked, "So, you summoned me, Commander."

"Before our meeting commenced, a ship descended from the sky," begins Lexa. "Anya's scouts determine that it's four hours away from here."

"Not far from here, then," says Titus. "You still should give Tristan the order to assemble his troops to prepare for battle."

"Silence, Titus," Lexa commands. She says, "Since their capabilities are unknown as of now, this is making matters difficult. It's been five years since the ceasefire between Ice Nation and the Coalition, and I don't want to lose warriors due to unnecessary bloodshed. So, I decided to let them make the first move."

"It's risky business, Commander," Titus says, his voice full of skepticism.

"Ice Nation made the first move, according to the legacy journals," father says. "I'm not assembling my troops until we have indication these invaders pose a threat. There is the possibility that they might not have experience with weapons."

"The exterior intel will give us developments about whether those people will be able to coexist with us peacefully or if they are a threat," says Lexa before looking at me. "But exterior intel wouldn't be enough. We need at least one person at the inside of their camp. And this is where Costia comes in."

It's like someone took my brain and shifted its contents before placing it back into my head. She wants me to infiltrate their camp?

"Forgive me, Commander, but I don't want you to risk putting Costia where the invaders are located," says Titus. "She's a nightblood and we can't risk it."

Lexa ignores him. "You will report their activities to Tristan once a week. It's the first time they have landed on this planet, so naturally, they would assume they would need native help."

"They think they are the only humans here," I point out.

"Then you will be the first human they will see," Lexa says. "Let them think that for today until tomorrow."

Until tomorrow? If that is the case it would be a miracle if they don't encounter any today or tonight.

"As for the Nightblood issue, Costia will take care of herself," says father, looking at me. "She would be able to escape danger if it proves risky for her to handle it."

I look at Lexa and search her face and eyes for any reaction to her request. Her expression is detached and expectant, though I could see it in her eyes that she knew she was making a sacrifice; as if she wanted me to refuse but also wanted me to accept the mission yet she couldn't decide which thought she could trust.

I sigh, side glancing the expectant looks on Anya and father before saying, "I accept your assignment, Commander."

"It's settled." She stands on her feet. "Gather supplies and leave with your horse and wagon at just before first light." She looks at father. "General, notify the residents of this message: as of now, they are to stand down and not attack until it can be proven that the new arrivals are a threat. Anyone who disobeys will be subjected to a kill order."

"What if some people don't get the message right away and act before hearing about the message?" Anya asks.

Lexa hesitates before saying, "Then they will be a message for anyone thinking of disobeying."