─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

THE DRIVE WENT ON, THE ROVER ONLY COMING TO A STOP WHEN THEY REACHED SECTOR EIGHT, ICE NATION TERRITORY. Riley peered past Bellamy and out through the bars of the window, seeing they were deeper in the woods. She's, clearly, never been this far from Arkadia yet, but she didn't want any sympathy looks if she announced that she was internally panicking. So when the group piled out of the rover, Riley stepped out after Monty without a word. She held the gun tighter in her hands, carefully as to not let it go off. Bellamy pushed her to take lessons with him and the other guards, for future cases like this.

"These woods must be the border," Bellamy announced, closing the door after him.

Riley took a quick sweep, her gaze moving from the trees to the ground. She was met with nothing but leaves and grass, confusing her. "Where's all the ice, then?" She questioned. "Isn't this Ice Nation?"

"Way further North," Octavia answered as they walked in front of the rover. "Azgeda stretches out for one-thousand miles."

Passing by them both, Monty clutched the beeping tracker in his hand with wide eyes. Riley let him, knowing that this was his family that could be alive, and he was worried. "Good thing we only have to go two-hundred meters."

Grabbing Monty's shoulder, Bellamy pulled him back before he could race to far ahead. "Slow down," he told him before turning his head to look at the others. "Remember rules of engagement are non-lethal force. Tight formation on my command." He looked to the other side, where Raven had stepped out of the driver's side and limped slightly to them. "Raven, you stay in the rover," he ordered.

At Bellamy's command, Raven snorted. "Yeah, right."

"They're coming," Monty interrupted, on edge. Riley looked over his shoulder to see the red dot blinking, getting closer to their location. "One-hundred twenty meters.. One-hundred ten.." Riley had suddenly heard a type of footsteps in the distance, and Bellamy pushed Monty back as he went to step forward before raising his gun. "They're our people," Monty said, watching Bellamy on guard. "What are you - "

"We hope they're our people," Bellamy corrected, his voice hushed. Realizing he was right, they got into position. Octavia unsheathed her sword, Raven stepped aside and squatted on the ground with her leg stretched out and gun pointed forward, while Riley paired with Miller in standing behind the leaning branches with their own guns cocked. "On my command."

All of a sudden, the footsteps Riley had heard turned into horse hooves. Three, in fact, all with grounders on them, but she didn't recognize them. So far, she's met Octavia's boyfriend Lincoln who had joined them after Mount Weather, but what he wore was much different than these. "Ice Nation?" Bellamy asked, his voice hushed as they came more into view. The question struck fear in them all, especially Riley, who froze. If Monty's tracker was telling them their people were close, why were these warriors here?

"Yes," Octavia whispered back. "White war paint," she noted before telling them to stay calm. She stepped forward bravely, her hands raised in defense as the warriors came to a halt.

"Chon don yu?!" One shouted, seemingly angry. (Who are you?!) It was a simple term that Riley understood, after being taught some.

Calmly, Octavia replied in their language. "Skaikru. Ste lufa osir kru au. (Skaikru. Looking for our people.)

The three looked at one another before one spoke. "Ste lufa Wanheda au," he said before climbing off his horse. (Looking for Wanheda.)

"They think we're looking for Wanheda," Octavia whispered to the ones behind her. Riley didn't know much of anything in Trigedasleng, but the word Wanheda didn't sound so friendly.

Thinking the same as Riley, Bellamy furrowed his brows on confusion. "Who's that?" He asked.

"I don't know," Octavia answered.

Looking up, something caught Monty's eyes. "The light. That's the beacon," he spoke. Confused at his words, Riley's eyes flickered to each one to try and see what he meant by what was setting off the tracker. Finally, she saw it. An object blinking red hung loosely on rope across the neck of the man who climbed off his horse.

Suddenly, Jasper made the stupid choice to wander forward, crossing over to them. "Hey! Get back here," Bellamy demanded as Monty protested, both falling deaf to Jasper's ears. The two remaining on their horses pulled their bow and arrows out, on guard, and pointing them straight at Jasper.

"What the hell is he doing?!" Riley whisper-shouted to Miller, who shook his head in disbelief. She knew how bad Jasper hurt after Maya's death, but this was borderline suicidal.

"Jasper!" Octavia hissed, grabbing the back of his bulletproof vest and trying to pull him back, but he shoved her off, assuring her that he 'had this', whatever that had meant.

The three warriors looked more threatened, and Bellamy took notice of it. "Tell them we observe the commander's truth, do it now!" He exclaimed to Octavia.

"Osir gouba ogonzaun kom Heda in!" Octavia stated, trying to remain calm and not alert them any farther. (We observe the commander's truce!)

Jasper bravely grabbed the beacon and ripped it off the rope before glaring at the one who held it. "This belongs to us," he declared, turning away. Before he could make it back to the others, the Ice Nation warrior grabbed the back of his bulletproof vest and yanked him back. Riley tensed, her mouth dropping into a gape as a knife was pulled out and put to Jasper's neck. She straightened her gun, her finger resting on the trigger.

"Weron Wanheda kamp raun?!" The one holding Jasper captive shouted, demanding. (Where's Wanheda?!)

"Breik em au!" Bellamy shouted back, his voice strained. (Let him go!)

"Osir nou get in chon daunde bilaik!" Octavia added. (We don't know who that is!) "Beja, oso na sis choda au nami!" (Please, we can help each other.)

They seemed to listen to whatever Octavia was saying, but Riley watched in horror as Jasper began to laugh. It was beyond her that he was genuinely laughing with a blade pressed tightly to his throat, somehow finding a situation like this funny. "Yo vout in dison ste leyos?" The warrior growled (You think this is funny?) before striking the knife slowly across Jasper's throat.

The second blood appeared from the wound, Bellamy took a shot. The bullet struck him in the head, killing him. Riley gritted her teeth, telling herself to focus and shoot, pressing the trigger but narrowly missing the Ice Nation warrior on the right, only skidding past his shoulder. Miller took the shot instead before he could shoot his arrow, shooting him in the head and making him fall of his horse. "Hold your fire!" Bellamy shouted.

When the only remaining Ice Nation warrior pulled out a large knife, ready to strike Jasper, Octavia called for him to get down. Jasper ducked as she spun around, her sword flying from her hands skillfully, and hitting the man in the chest. He fell to the ground at the same time the rover's radio went off, and Bellamy went to answer it as Octavia went for her sword.

Riley sighed, handing Miller her gun. "Put it in the rover, I'll help him," she said. She rushed over to Jasper that was mumbling he had him. "What the hell were you thinking?!" She snapped as Monty approached them, looking at his best friend in worry. He didn't answer, so Riley gently peeled his hand away from the wound. Her hands immediately were covered in blood, never a good sign. She inhaled sharply and firmly pressed her palms against his wound once more tightly. "We need to get him to medical," Riley said urgently as they stood, not removing her hand from his face. "Get me something to cover it!"

Reaching in the rover, Octavia grabbed a long thin strip of cloth and handed it to her. Riley wrapped it around his throat, removing her hands and firmly tying it. Blood was already beginning to soak through it, but this was the best nursing Riley could do without any medical supplies.

Bellamy finished his urgent talk on the radio, and turned around to bark orders. "Take him home!" He had sounded angry and Riley heard Jasper mumble, thanking Bellamy for his concern. "Miller, get one of their horses. Raven said you can't ride, you're on the back. Riley, ride with Octavia. Monty, you're with me. Let's go," he commanded.

"Jasper, keep your hand here firmly," Riley instructed, directing his hand to the wound. She didn't know where Bellamy was planning to go with Monty, but didn't question it as it seemed too urgent. Her useful medical skills were more important than her useless shooting skills. "Don't let go."

Riley had yet to sit on one of the horses, but this was a better time for her first than ever. Octavia gave her a hand, helping her on the back of Helios and letting her hold on tight. With a sinking feeling, Riley was ready to go to the place she still wasn't able to call home.