Throughout the day, everyone had begun to get progressively more intoxicated from the time the sun hit it's highest peak, and then onwards. Octavia had gone off when the sun had set and I supposed she was most likely with that grounder named Lincoln. 

I kept telling myself that I didn't need to worry about her, I knew she was more than capable of keeping herself safe but the thought of those people - people we barely knew and had already killed some of us... i couldn't help but feel myself worrying just a tiny bit. Drums were echoing in the trees all around us and the light from the fire illuminated everything around the middle of the camp. Various games had been set up along the wooden tables while people had begun to dance around the orange flames of the fire.

 Miller and I were dancing around the flames, he had grabbed my hand and twirled me under his arm. We both giggled, and some of my moonshine spilled out of my cup. I stumbled a bit and crashed into Miller, sending us both sprawling on to the ground.

 "Woah, nice ground-" I slurred and then looked towards Miller. "-almost tipped me over." i added with a sheepish grin which made the both of us start to giggle even harder. Miller offered his hand to me, but due to my intoxicated state - I almost fell back again, but steadied myself and took a chance to look around to see what everyone else had occupied themselves with. 

 Jasper and Monty were in the corner talking with one another with huge smiles on their faces, while Jasper held a cup in his right hand. They were both handing out the moonshine to the teenagers, while Bellamy stood off on the opposite side, with a pleasant smile on his face.

 I smiled over in his direction and drank the rest of the booze in my cup before tossing it over my shoulder. Bellamy's brown eyes caught onto my advancing frame and his smile grew even wider when I almost tripped on air. "Look at you standing over there being all broody." I called over to him with a drunken grin on my face.

 Bellamy offered me an amused smile while he bit into his red apple that he had been holding onto for some time. "Best Unity Day ever." 

 I watched him with pursed lips for a mere second before crossing my arms over my chest when he hadn't said anything else. "Are you done ignoring me?" I questioned him.

 Bellamy's eyebrow furrowed in my direction when his eyes landed on me, "I was never ignoring you." he answered and I raised an eyebrow in response.

 I pointed over towards him with my finger. "That's a bunch of bullshit, Blake. You were, you haven't talked to me since we got back from that depot."

"We're talking now." Bellamy noted.

 I rolled my eyes as I began to walk towards him, noting that he was watching me with a curious glint in his eye. I smiled and then put my arms over his shoulders, linking my fingers behind his neck. "What's got you being all guardy?" I questioned after I felt his shoulders tense under my touch, but he kept the smile on his face.

Bellamy furrowed his eyebrow again while he looked down at me, "Guardy?" he laughed.

"Guardy, you know.. guardy." I gave him a sheepish smile after hiccupping.

Bellamy stared down at me, "The grounders are out there. No doubt coming for us, right now. Someone has to be guardy, so you can have fun."

"Come have fun with me." I pouted, sticking out my bottom lip in a childish manner.

Bellamy studied me for a moment, "I think you've had enough to drink," He said quietly.

I gave him a sideways smirk, "More like, not enough." I ended the sentence with a giggle.

Bellamy shook his head, "You need to sleep."

I rolled my eyes at him, "Come find me when you wanna have some fun." I told him in a suggestive manner before leaning in to take a bite of his apple while looking up through my lashes. I watched as his mouth parted slightly and his brown eyes darkened. I smirked over at him as I wiped the juices from my mouth and then turned on my heel to make my way towards Jasper, whom was taking his turn of pouring the drinks for the teenagers. 

"Hey, Bartender. Another one?" I asked.

"Isn't this your sixth?" Monty grinned over at me.

I shrugged and grabbed the cup from Jasper's hand. "Might be, but who's really counting?" I walked around the table to clink my cup with Monty's before walking away. I walked over to where I saw Clarke playing a game where you had to bounce the washer into the cup. I walked up behind her.

"What's this! Princess having fun for once?" I mocked.

Clarke turned around and gave me a wide smile. "I'm allowed to have fun," She said indignantly.

I smirked at her and took the washer, flipping it up into the air and then catching it. "Prove it." I said before handing over to washer to her.

I stood on the opposite side of the table, and Clarke bounced the washer effortlessly into the cup. "I stand corrected, Princess." I smirked over at her and took a drink.

Clarke laughed and handed me over the washer. I took it and bounced it into the cup and Clarke too, took a drink.

"Looks like we're even," Clarke challenged.

"You know what, princess?" I looked up after Clarke handed me another washer. She looked up at me, "I didn't like you at first, but we might get along." I smiled over at her and then threw the washer into the cup.

Several rounds into the game, Clarke was trying to balance the washer on her nose, and drop it into the cup. I cheered her on with a smile while the others gathered up around us to watch with various states of amusement. Clarke flicked her head forwards to drop it into the cup but before it could fall into the cup a hand appeared out of nowhere and caught it.

"Fuck you, Finn," I yelled at Finn with a glare.

He returned me with a sharp look that made me shut up. He then turned to Clarke, "Let's take a walk." He looked back over at me, "You too, Dakota."

I rolled my eyes, "First you ruin my parade, and then you want to take a friendly walk?"

"Did something happen?" Clarke questioned.

"I need you to come with me. I can't tell you why," Finn responded, looking over the teenager's who were looking at us. Finn gestured for us to walk away from the party. Clarke and I followed Finn.

I grabbed Finn's arm, "Tell us why."

Finn paused, "I set up a meeting with the grounders." He explained.

My mouth gaped open, and Clarke literally had to shut it back closed. "Finn, are you trying to get us all killed? Last time I remember going into grounder territory, they weren't very welcoming." I sneered, slapping him on the back of the head.

"A meeting? I don't understand. With who? How?" Clarke questioned.

"I was just with the grounder we had in the dropship. His name is Li-"

"Lincoln, yeah I know." I put a hand on my hip while Finn gave me a surprised expression.

"Wait, what?" He looked over at me.

"I'm best friends with Octavia. I know everything."

Finn shook his head, getting frustrated, "That's not important right now. If we want to live in peace-"

Clarke cut him off, "Finn we can't live in peace when they have done nothing but kill us."

"Can you think of another way to stop the bloodshed?"

"Yeah, with the guns that the guard bring down." Clarke answered back.

Finn looked at her, "Do you really want a war?" Clarke glanced over at me, "Because at this rate, that's what's coming. Look, I know it's a long shot but this is our world now. I think we can do better than the first time around." At the look of skepticism on Clarke's face he added, "I trust him."

I sighed out, a ran my hand against my face. "I don't," I stated. "But if we go, we should have back-up."

"Your right, we should get Bellamy." Clarke agreed with me.

"No way," Finn stopped her, "We're not bringing guns. Those weren't the terms and if we're going to do this, we have to give this a fair shot."

"I'm sorry, but going to meet the grounders completely unarmed? Finn, are you stupid?" I raised an eyebrow. "This is basically a death wish."

"Okay," Clarke replied to Finn, 'We'll get our packs, and then meet you at the gate." Clarke turned to walk back towards the dropship. I raised my arms in the air. "Are you kidding me, Clarke? Have you ever stopped and consider that this could be a trap to kill us?" I followed behind Clarke.

Clarke stopped suddenly, almost making me stumble into her back. "I have! That's why you're going to be standing next to me, to protect me."

I raised an eyebrow, "I'm sorry, what? Am I your bodyguard now?" I snapped.

"Dakota, I've seen you train with the others. You can stop them if they try to kill us. You and Bellamy."

"Bellamy?"

Clarke gave me a hard look, "I trust Finn, I really do. I don't trust the grounders though. We're bringing guns."

       Clarke, Finn, and I have been walking through the forest. I had adapted to walking through the trees and the rough terrain didn't bother me much anymore, even in my drunken state which was quickly beginning to sober up. But what was starting to bother me, was that Finn was practically leading us all to our painful deaths. 

"I'd love for you to be right about this, I really would, but did you ever stop and consider that this could be a trap and that we could all die in horrific ways," I called out to Finn.

"Yep, but since it's Unity Day, I decided to have hope instead," Finn turned around and started walking backwards.

"Hope is overrated," I mutter under my breath.

Finn smiled over at me, "C'mon, Bambi. A little hope never hurt nobody,"

"It will now." I replied back, letting a snort come out of my nose when Finn tripped on a branch almost falling over backwards. I shook my head and looked in-front of me but all I could see was trees. "Seriously Finn, you're putting a lot of faith in a guy who stuck a knife in you." I turned my gaze towards the man.

"You're sounding more and more like Bellamy," He responded.

"I'm just trying to keep us alive," I reply back.

Finn turned around, and started leading us further to wherever this Grounder meeting was. Clarke looked at me briefly before following, taking out a pack of nuts and dropping them on the ground for Bellamy to follow.

We made it to the meeting site just before dawn like Finn promised, when we ran through the underbrush, my eyes set upon an old, rusted bridge that was connecting the two sides of the ravine. Then my eyes gazed upon a certain dark-haired women.

 I quickly pushed past Finn, my total attention was now drawn to Octavia who was standing in the middle of the bridge with a worried expression on her face. I grabbed hold of her shoulder, making her turn around to bring her into a tight hug. "What are you doing out here?" I questioned her. 

 Octavia was quick to wrap her arms around my torso and breathe into my neck before pushing us slightly away from each other, but keeping hold on my elbows.  "I wasn't going to let this happen without me."

Clarke's voice rang out from behind us, "So that's how you set this up. You helped him escape, didn't you?"

"I trust him, Clarke." Octavia looked at Clarke, sternly.

"There's a lot of that going around," Clarke looked up at Finn.

Rustling was heard coming from the bushes on the other side of the bridge. Everyone stiffened, expect me. I kept a straight face as the Grounder that had captured Octavia ran out from the trees and began to cross the bridge. I watched as Octavia ran over to Lincoln and jumped into his arms.

I watched as he looked over, and his gaze met mine, I narrowed my eyes at him. I looked over at Clarke who's hand was in Finn's and I glared sideways at Finn, knowing he was with Raven.

Octavia looked back at me, and smiled. I saw just how happy she was, and my cold stare turned into a smile, and Lincoln's face relaxed slightly.

All of us stood straighter as a continued beating began coming towards us, followed by a high-pitched sound.

"Oh my god, horses." Clarke exclaimed, a smile on her face.

I couldn't help but stare at the marvelous creatures in awe. My eyes glanced up at the Grounder's, and I observed them, noticing their weapons.

"Hey! We said no weapons," Finn complained, dragging Clarke up with him.

Clarke looked back at me, and I nodded at her, following beside her.

"I was told there wouldn't be," Lincoln answered darkly, and I was surprised of how annoyed he sounded.

I went to walk forward with Clarke but Lincoln reached out, shaking his head slightly. "She goes alone."

I looked over at him, "You expect me to let my friend walk up there, alone?" I shot back, looking over towards the Grounders.

"I'll be fine," Clarke tried to sound brave, but her voice wavered.

I looked over at Clarke, and she gave me a reassuring squeeze on my shoulder. "It's time to do better,"

I managed to let out a small smile of encouragement.

Clarke started towards the Grounder Princess who had gotten off her horse. I watched as Clarke warily made it to the center while the Princess strode forward with confidence. My jaw tightened, and I watched as her gaze flickered over towards me, but as quick as It was, it was back on Clarke.

I watched as the Grounder and Clarke started speaking towards each other, Clarke awkwardly stuck out her hand and let it hang there, as the Grounder didn't shake it.

"Lincoln, this is Dakota." Octavia gestured to the grounder, who glanced over but didn't say anything.

When I didn't say anything, Octavia jabbed me hard in the ribs, and my head shot towards Octavia with a glare. Octavia gave me a look and I sighed.

"Thanks for saving my friend," I said, not bothering to look over at him.

"You're welcome," came his deep, but slow reply.

"But if I find out that you've hurt her. I will rip your throat out," I turned my head to give him a hard glare. "Understood?"

He met my gaze, and I swear I saw the corner of his mouth slip up slightly, but then he turned his attention back towards the Grounder and Clarke.

"You knew we were here when you sent an armed raiding party to capture one of us and torture him." I heard the Grounder's voice, and my eyes darken, remembering what had happened to Jasper.

I took a step forward, and Lincoln noticed, "Don't-" He warned, his hand coming to grab my jacket.

I snatched it away and began walking towards them. "And you," I raised my voice, but also my hands to show I had no weapons with me, when the archer raised it's bow at me. I looked at the Grounder. "Speared one of us, tied him to a tree as live bait and left him to die the second you had the chance," I sneered.

Her eyes narrowed down at me, and I sideways glanced at Clarke who's hand came to tug my jacket.

"These are all acts of war." She spat, and I chuckled.

"Looks like you need a brain check. You started the war, we came down here, unarmed. We acted like how everyone should act when one of our own gets hurt." Whether or not, the Grounder was considering my words, she didn't look like it. She blew my statement off, and turned to Clarke.

"Lincoln said there are more of you coming down, warriors."

"The guard? Yes. But also farmers, doctors and engineers. We can help each other, but not if we're at war." Clarke had a pleading expression on her face.

"Can you promise that these new arrivals won't attack us? That they'll respect the terms you and I agree on?"

My jaw tensed, knowing that the Grounder had us there. When the guard came down, we all knew we wouldn't be in control anymore.

"I promise I will do everything I can to convince them to honor the terms that we set."

"Why would I agree to an alliance that you people can break the moment they get here?"

"If you fire the first shot, those people coming down won't bother negotiating. Our technology.. they will wipe you out." Clarke warned gently.

"They wouldn't be the first to try." The grounder spoke almost amused, her body oozing confidence.

"Clarke! Dakota! Run!" Both Clarke and I look startled as Jasper appeared out of the trees, beginning to shoot upwards away from the bridge. I didn't take another second and grabbed Clarke. I watched in the corner of my eye as the Grounder princess took out a knife that meant to slash Clarke's throat, I grabbed her arm, and stopped the knife from hitting Clarke but before the knife hit me, the Grounder's hand was hit with a bullet. I didn't need to look to see how it was with that precision, I knew it was Bellamy.

"Clarke, get down!" Finn called after her.

I pushed Clarke out of the way, and an arrow grazed my shoulder as we both fell to the ground. I cried out in pain and Octavia tried to run towards us.

"Dakota!"

Finn dragged Clarke up, reaching for me as well as we all hurried away.

Lincoln moved Octavia at the last minute, taking an arrow in the chest for her. "Lincoln! You've been hit." Octavia cried.

"It's just a scratch." I watched as he pulled the arrow out, before gently shoving Octavia towards me. "Run, don't stop until you get behind your walls." Lincoln nodded at her and I nodded back, "Go, take her."

"Lincoln, No!" Octavia yelled, but I held her back.

"Go!" Lincoln ordered and Octavia gave in, letting me drag her back with me.

"It didn't work, but thank you for trying." I yelled back at him.

Lincoln nodded at me, "Make sure she's safe."

I nodded, and Octavia and I ran to cross the bridge.

Bellamy was waiting for us. "Keep running." I yelled out for the others, ignoring the stinging coming from my shoulder.

It was dark when we finally made it back to the safety of our walls, and our group stopped, all breathing heavily.

"Hey, you need to put something on that." Jasper came over to me, and I shrugged him off.

"Nice shot, Jasp." I smiled at him.

Finn looked up, glaring over at Bellamy.

"You got something to say?" Bellamy asked, getting fired up.

Finn exploded. "Yeah, I told you, no guns!"

I defended Bellamy, "We told you, we couldn't trust the Grounders. We were right!"

"Why didn't you tell me what you were up too?" Raven yelled next, sounding completely pissed, and I didn't blame her.

"I tried! You were too busy making bullets for your gun." Finn shot back.

"You're lucky she brought that! They came there to kill you, Finn." Bellamy reminded him.

"You don't know that! Jasper fired the first shot."

"You ruined everything." Octavia looked at Jasper who looked completely heartbroken as she spoke.

"I saved you!" He called out to her but she didn't turn back. "You're welcome." Jasper walked away from us angrily.

'Well if we weren't at war already, we sure as hell are now." Finn complained.

'Shut up, Finn." I snapped. "They had people hiding up in the trees, ready to shoot us. Bringing guns was a smart idea." I defended.

"We can't trust them, Finn." Clarke added.

"You didn't have to trust the grounders, you just had to trust me!" Finn walked away, shaking his head as Raven followed him.

"Like I said, best Unity Day ever." Bellamy commented dryly.

"Kota, you're bleeding." Clarke placed a hand against my shoulder gently, and I winced.

"I'll be fine."

"I'll patch her up," Bellamy looked over at Clarke, and I looked up at him, confused.