United We Stand

[Bellamy Blake]

Tag: Echo

whatever

THE HELL WE WANT

Things were moving along, going according to plan. The Mountain Men's attentions were on the army at the front door, which was presented their window of opportunity to get the formerly caged Grounders and his people to safety through the mines. He had the few with him now, telling them to follow close as Bellamy remained armed with his gun. As long as they were looking at the front, they wouldn't notice the fact that the others were sneaking out. This plan could have easily failed. There were so many contingencies, so many minor details and if one thing was off . . . then the entire plan would crumble.

But that didn't seem to be happening right now, and Bellamy was going to do everything in his power to ensure that he got the Arkers as well as the Grounders out of here. The doors had been opened and the battle was taking place. In the meantime, Bellamy made his way back to the harvesting facility where he had told Echo to wait for him to return. On the way there he was very briefly pausing at the rooms in his passing, and while peeking in one particular room . . . he caught sight of something that made him pause their movements as he hurried inside to grab it, tucking it between his belt before he quickly proceeded to their destination, ensuring the others were close behind. He opened the door, stepping in first as Jasper remained at the end to make sure everyone got in. He needed Echo and the other Grounders to see him first so that they knew the people entering were no threat.

He immediately caught sight of the woman, hurriedly approaching her as the other Grounders were assembling. "Ready?" He asked her, glad he could make good on not only the first promise of coming back to her, but also the second of how he would return -- how she should wait for him to return. Now that his people were here, they could move onto phase 2 of the plan. He didn't have a weapon to offer her . . . until he had seen the one in Dante's office. He pulled out the sword that he had gotten for her and passed it to her. The Grounders didn't use guns; they used these kinds of weapons and while it may not be the blade she was used to, it would have to suffice. "We're going to get everyone out through the mines. There will be some Grounders there to help us." Because who knows how long they had been caged and how many times each of them had been harvested.

[Echo]

The Sky Person had come back. He had opened the cages that held them, and was going to lead her people to freedom. The Sky Person. Whom she had always seen as her enemy. As the unintelligent fool. She had seen them all that way. Annoyances who thought they lorded over everything, and had no concepts of honor. . . . . and he'd come back.

It was cold, but her heart beat too fast for her to notice. "We fight when the Sky Person says we fight!" She told the others in their own language. "In this we trust them. This one we will follow!" The crowd seemed to agree, and they stayed quite but their bodies said they were try to try and fight. Yet many were weak, and in this fight many lives could be lost--but they were warriors! They would rather die int he fight then in the cage.

Shortly after, he returned. Walking toward her with urgency. As promised, she had made sure nothing happen to his people, both from the mountain men and her own people who might still be seeing the Sky People as enemies. He asked if they were ready, while handing her a weapon. It was lighter then she was used too, but it would do well! Echo had picked up the small blade that Lovejoy had tried to use on Bellamy, but not she passed it off to another in favor of the larger weapon. "There are many weak, but you will find us ready."

Her people were helping in the mines. "Reapers fill the mines." She warned him, "They will not be easy kills." Reapers were once of her people, and not were walking bodies that hunted without mercy. And her people were the ones waiting for them there. It was a dead place, filled only with the dead.

[Bellamy Blake]

Tag: Echo

whatever

THE HELL WE WANT

Bellamy noticed that the others were quiet and ready. Echo seemed to have a natural authority and command over them which worked out perfectly. It made sense too, as they were more likely to trust one of their own rather than him. Whatever it took to make this plan successful. "Good," he answered simply when she said that they were weak, but able to fight. The adrenaline would hopefully start pumping through them -- if it wasn't already. At the mention of Reapers in the mines and not being easy kills, Bellamy recalled one important thing he had to tell her.

"Do not kill them," he instructed. "Our people found a way to save the Reapers and transform them back to who they were before." Lincoln had been proof of that and sharing this knowledge and helping the Grounders do this, was the start of their alliance. "If you can avoid it, don't kill them. Just knock them out and we'll take them with us to be treated." Surely whoever was in the mines was handling the Reapers. It was all part of the ultimate plan even if it wasn't Bellamy's part in it. Bellamy's eyes looked over the army of uncaged Grounders before he turned back to his own people to glance at them . . . then settling his gaze on Echo. "Let's go," he said with a nod, as he began to head toward the exit that would get them the hell out of here.

[Echo]

Do not kill them? Echo watched him as he spoke, for once grateful he spoke too much. At first her face was one of anger as she was ready to fight, however has he spoke her face feel into surprise, and perhaps even a bit of confused awe. The Sky People could undo what the mountain had done? He told her to move, and began toward the door but it took her a few moments to begin moving as well. Not kill them. Save them. Save everyone!

Moving to his side she reached out to grab his arm, not in anger but to halt him. Then she looked back at her people and spoke in a voice full of command. She told them not to kill the reapers, to defend and make them sleep only! That the Sky People would undo the madness! Then she told them to ready themselves for the journey, for the fight, for the feel of the sun, and what she hoped would lead to showing the mountain they were not afraid of them! That blood would have blood! They would unit and defend and defeat!

Her people's body language changed from eager to anticipation. They came alive, even weak as they were, and ready to run and fight! Turning to the Sky Person, she let him go. "To freedom or death, Bellamy of the Sky People, we will follow you!"

[Bellamy Blake]

Tag: Echo

whatever

THE HELL WE WANT

Bellamy glanced at her arm as she seemed intent to stop him. And he did stop, realizing that she was communicating his words to the Grounders -- or assuming that was what she was saying as he did not understand the language. He got the gist of it though. He could see the way the crowd shifted, and this was something he could relate to. Commanding a crowd, inspiring them, moving them . . . it seemed that he and Echo had far more in common than he had initially realized. But then, that was also most probably why he'd felt such a strong connection with her. He gave a bit of a nod, locking eyes with her as she said that they would follow him.

The words meant a lot more than one may assume. They were ready to take his head. He was not their Commander, or Queen, or even a second to them . . . but they were ready to follow him. Thanks to Echo. He gave a small nod, determined to protect these Grounders just like he was his own people. With that, he turned back toward the door, giving another motion for Jasper to open it.

Bellamy was the first at the threshhold, aiming his gun out in front of him to make sure it was clear. The other Grounders stood there, Indra . . . Octavia. He made eye contact with her, and she hurriedly rushed over to give him a brief hug, knowing their reunion could not linger for there were far more pressing things. He took a step back into the door way, standing to the side as he starting motioning for the people to get out. "Indra and the others are there," he assured Echo. It would help for the Grounders to see their own people right away, and for the Arkers to see a familiar face in him.

[Echo]

Echo followed him out, braced to fight anything that came their way--only to see a tree nation warrior (or so she assumed based on her dress) run to Bellamy and embrace him. How long had she been in that cage?! They were getting a long very well being when she went in things were uneasy between them. Echo stared at them for a moment, until Bellamy redirected her gaze to something familiar. Someone she knew. 'It has been too long,' She told the respected warrior of the tree nation in their own language. Seeing their undress, some of the people waiting gave over their coats to her people. Echo didn't take one, as she wanted to make sure that her people were taken care of first. She would find a fire.

After a moment of switching clothing she knew they needed to move. So she switched to his language to speak to him, the woman he held, and Indra. "You should lead us away from this place," Meaning Indra and the warrior, "We will bring up rear and make sure no attacks come from behind." Her and Bellamy would, for if attacked, they both had reason to kill the men attacking. They could not remain here forever. The sooner the shadow of the mountain was no longer casted over her, the better.

[Bellamy Blake]

Tag: Echo

whatever

THE HELL WE WANT

Bellamy looked at Echo as she said that Indra should lead them out and that her and Bellamy would stay at the end. Part of him wanted to assure Echo that it was fine and she should go with the rest. She had been bled -- who knows how many times -- not to mention the poor conditions she was forced to endure in a cage. But on the other hand, he wasn't one to coddle anybody. If she was able to fight, then he wasn't going to reject that offer. Besides, he needed to remain behind anyway and it would be better to have two people.

When Octavia looked at him, he returned the gaze. He could see the concern in her eyes. "Go. Lead them out of here. We'll be right behind you," he assured her. Octavia gave him a nod, and one more quick hug before she ran ahead to the front of the group. Bellamy turned back toward the door, peeking inside to make sure everyone got out before he proceeded to shut the door. "The army is mainly at the front door, keeping the Mountain Men's focus on them whle our people get out from here," he explaned to her, giving more details of the plan. It wasn't just a one sided attempt. It had taken planning, and there was a complex strategy to it.

[Echo]

Echo watched the couple embrace again, before the girl hurried along. She wasn't sure what she felt--she knew it wasn't jealousy over a man she had just met--but it was something. He had someone waiting for him, and it was a reminder that she lead a very solo life. Perhaps it was just jealousy over him having someone to fight for him and she had no one. After the hell that she had just lived through she wanted someone to touch and to touch her.

"Your woman looks like one of my people, but sounds like one of your people." She wondered how long she had been in that cage for things to change this much. For clansmen and Sky People to not only make a united force but begin crossing lines she had never thought would be cross.

Still, if she had to cross it . . . .

He had touched her hand when he promised her he would return, and the touch of kindness after so long of hate, poking, and bruises had meant so much to her. For days she had thought of him, began to hope and despair he would never return . . . until he did. For days he had been the closest thing she had to hope, and apart of her would forever cling to him--emotionally--for giving her hope when she had given up the fight. He had given it back to her.

It was his hands she looked at now. Strong hands that could kill or comfort. She wanted them all over her. She wanted to find her human connection, her touch of comfort and her reminder that she was alive within those hands. But she would not, for he already had a woman. So in stead she began to move alone with him, and keeping her eyes out for reapers.

[Bellamy Blake]

Tag: Echo

whatever

THE HELL WE WANT

Bellamy eventually tore his gaze away from Octavia. The relief of seeing she was alright quickly replaced with the fear of her safety. He knew she could take care of herself, but he had spent over 15 years protecting her. That responsibility wasn't ever going to vanish. She looked like a Grounder now. He'd missed her full transformation to one, but at least it showed how strong she was -- something he'd always known about her. Strong and seemingly fearless. He was so damn proud of her. He quickly turned his attentions to the door that they had emerged from, ready to give the others a continued head start should they meet any unexpected enemies -- or even the reapers. Hopefully Jackson had gotten most of them but one could never be too sure.

Echo's words pulled him out of his thoughts. His woman. Octavia. Who looked like one of the Grounders but sounded like an Arker. It was because of Lincoln that she had embraced the culture but also . . . it was understandable for her to reject a culture who's laws dictated that she be floated for existing. "She's been intrigued by your culture shortly after we landed here," he began to explain, a small smile on his lips as he felt pride toward her. His gun remained armed and ready, but things were going well, so why not make a little conversation. "And now, it seems Indra has helped her embrace it." Indra and Lincoln both. Two seemingly strong warriors. He didn't completely trust Indra, but he knew Lincoln was good for Octavia . . . or well, as good as anyone would be, for Bellamy didn't think anyone would be good enough for his little sister. "She's strong. A good warrior," he further explained, wanting Echo to know that for . . . whatever reason.

[Echo]

So his woman was one of his people, but joining the Tree Nation. Echo looked away from him while trying to decide how long she had been locked away. It had not felt like a life time . . . and yet it had, and so much had changed. Apart of her felt like the world should be on fire to match the hell that was in her head, but it seemed united and growing stronger--complete at odds with how she felt.

She could also see how a warrior would be drawn to another warrior. Strong to strong. It was how her people were as well. "I never thought to see our clans united as such, much less the clans and the Sky People." She said her voice almost disinterested from the thoughts. As if the weight of all that had changed was a lot on her. To know the world one way, and then for it to be another. When she spoke again her voice was more steady but it took effort, "When the clans return, will you stay with your woman in the Tree Nation or will you return to your people?" Because she wanted to know how to find him if she wished.

[Bellamy Blake]

Tag: Echo

whatever

THE HELL WE WANT

Bellamy had to agree with that. After Jasper was speared, he didn't think they would ever see eye to eye. Even when they had tried with Anya -- which Bellamy hadn't thought would be successful -- the war still happened. "Guess it took a common enemy to unite us." And now that that enemy was practically defeated . . . he had no idea where it left them. Would the alliance stand? Would it break and the two sides continue on the battle? Either way, each group would need time to recover from what the Mountain Men did to them, so Bellamy would be prepared for either outcome. She then asked him if he would stay with his woman in the Tree Nation, or if he would return to his people. That was when he realized that it was twice she had referred to Octavia as his woman.

Did she mean . . . well, that was . . . definitely not the case nor nature of his relationship with Octavia. He imagined that many of the Woods Clan knew that she was with Lincoln. Though Echo's question definitely made Bellamy wonder . . . if she would live with them from now on. It wasn't a question he wanted to think of right now, knowing it would hurt to say goodbye to her, even if she was near. "I'll stay with my people," he told her. He couldn't leave them, nor did he want to.

Besides, Octavia had earned her place among the others. And yet, Bellamy still didn't trust them completely. "She's not my woman," he clarified. He doubted he could ever refer to any woman as his own. It sounded too . . . possessive. "She's my sister." The words sounded so foreign for him to say, not having revealed this for so many years. People knew, and he imagined Echo would find out soon enough. Besides, something within him wanted her to know that he had a sister. But more importantly . . . that something within him wanted her to know that he was not romantically committed to any other woman.

[Echo]

Yes, a common enemy. One to unit the clans and the Sky People into action. Echo wondered how long the unity would last, but in this moment she knew she could not be able to tell. She would have to see how the others were together before she could back a judgment on the strength of the alliance. She would have wondered over it more, but it was his next words that she rather think about.

Echo looked at him, not when he talked about returning to his people, but when he said that the woman was not his--but his sister. She felt a twist of the muscles in her belly as the thoughts returned. She would not have moved in on another warrior's man, but she was a sister, not a lover. Echo had no issues with that. "Then you should be proud. From what I hear of Indra she is one of the best in the Tree Nation, and it honors her that Indra made her a second. She could ask for no better teacher . . . . . at least from the Tree Nation." The last words would lighter then her other ones, as she attempted to make a joke for the first time she the Mountain had taken her. Her meaning was clear--that she thought her people stronger.

And because she could not help herself. "Do you have a woman with your people?" She asked, "Or a man?" Because she knew some that rather the comfort of their own.

[Bellamy Blake]

Tag: Echo

whatever

THE HELL WE WANT

Bellamy did indeed feel proud. Octavia had proved to show herself as the strong individual that he knew she was. He'd told Lincoln that he had made her strong, and Lincoln spoke of how she'd always been so. It was a different kind of strength and confidence that Lincoln had given her -- and that the Grounders like Indra had given her. He was proud of her. He may not totally trust Indra, but he trusted his sister . . . and he trusted Lincoln with her. As much as he could. He gave a slight smile as her words of having no better teacher, within the Tree Nation.

"I can already see how much she's learned from them," he thought aloud. "She deserves to be honored." And accepted, after a lifetime of rejection . . . a lifetime of hiding because she existed. Her next question brought his gaze to her, an intrigue within him over her motivations for asking that. Did he have a woman or man. Truth be told, Bellamy had never been in a romantic relationship before. While he didn't exactly engage in converstions about his partners . . . he wanted to repsond to Echo's inquiry with the truth.

Because, well, perhaps he was hoping this was going to lead somewhere. A place that Bellamy most certainly was feeling more drawn toward. "No," he answered simply. There was no reason to elaborate, no need to give a detailed answer as to why he wasn't with anyone. "You?" He asked, casually returning the question. He realized how little he knew about her and her family or clan even. But at the moment, it seemed previous potential relationships was a topic of top priority.

[Echo]

He had no woman. Echo felt her lips twitch in a almost smile. "No. I do not even know which of my people are still alive." Much less who she would find waiting for her, and who had assumed her dead. She was trying not to think about that. It was too much for her head and she didn't like thinking about the hard things. At least the hard things in her head.

There was something hard she didn't mind thinking about. She looked back behind them for a moment, making sure nothing was stalking them from behind before looking back at him, and even moving closer while they walked. "Tonight, Bellamy of the Sky People, we will not sleep alone." It was both a statement, and a offer, for she would not force it on him. She was bold enough to just assume he wanted her--because who wouldn't?--and besides, they had bonded back in the cages, and she wanted to explore that more. They were so close to freedom that she could free it! And she wanted to feel it with him too.

[Bellamy Blake]

Tag: Echo

whatever

THE HELL WE WANT

She said that she didn't have someone . . . and that she wasn't sure which of her people were still alive. He could understand that, but he was more focused on her answer to not being committed to another. As if he wasn't already getting ideas, her next words revealed that they seemed to be on the same page. He wasn't stupid or oblivious to the meaning of her words. She wasn't talking about we as in the Grounders and Arkers. She was speaking specifically about them. About not sleeping alone. About . . . being together. Suddenly the thought of rest, or anything else was far from his mind. He wanted something far more fulfilling. They would mourn the ones they lost, but celebrate the defeat of the Mountain Men. His eyes moved over to her, slowly looking over her figure that he was taking more and more notice of. Inlcuding her unclad state.

"Can't say that sleep is foremost on my mind for tonight," he told her, not being entirely subtle in what he meant by that. Hopefully, she would understand. As they were nearing the exit of the cave, Bellamy undid the vest he wore atop the uniform he had taken from Lovejoy. He draped it over her, whether she needed or wanted it or not. It was all he had to offer for the time being and wasn't going to make a big deal about it. They had managed to travel through the mines without the threat of Reapers or Mountain Men. "Our people are expecting us," he told her. For right now, they would be needed. He leaned toward her for a moment, his lips going to her ear. "But I may hold you to your words," he said in a light tease. The had won this war. Their people were safe. Why not find comfort in another. Why not focus on the success rather than solely mourn the falling. With those words, he drew his head back and waited for her to step out of the opening of the cave before he would follow.