Clarke didn't return with the others from Mount Weather. This meant that you were put in her place as the leader of the Sky People, you were the one that went to the Grounder meetings, although Kane did join you more often than not. It was never clear how you ended up with the position, especially as you were only—what the Grounders called—Clarke's second. You also had terrible balance and coordination a good ninety-nine percent of the time. In that time, you had grown close to the Grounders Commander. Lexa was always patient with you, even when the others weren't so much. It was obvious that Lexa missed Clarke, that much was clear to everyone, but she would always dismiss the accusations, claiming that she needed to be alone for a while. Sometimes you could have sworn you heard crying.

     Lexa had informed you in the morning that she was going to teach you a few things about survival on the ground, things that being on the Earth hadn't already taught you. She had called for you early in the morning, sending you a warm smile as she watched you trip up, before steadying yourself, walking over to her. Lexa didn't tell you where she was taking you, which should have worried you considering she could lead you to your own death, but it didn't because you could easily trip and fall, probably breaking your neck in the process, saving her the trouble.

     Being on a horse was an unfamiliar experience. You weren't sure how you would have described it, but it definitely wasn't something you could compare to anything else. Every time it shook its head or picked up the pace you could feel your heart race as your eyes darted back to Lexa, every time you did she would look down with a smile, her shoulders shaking slightly before she looked back up and told you to relax. That was easy for her to say considering she had always been around horses. You, on the other hand, had been brought up with machine hums and bright artificial lights, nothing remotely similar.

     "We stop here," Lexa informed you.

     You looked around. You couldn't see anything but trees. "Here?"

     "We walk from here."

     "Makes sense," you mumbled, if she wanted to kill you then it would be better for her to hide the body if you had to get there by foot.

     She patted your leg. "Give me your hand." She held her hand out to you as you turned to look at her, she had already got off her own horse and was standing beside you.

     You took hold of her hand, struggling to get off from the horse. When your feet touched the ground, they buckled underneath you. "Oh, crap." Lexa caught you before you had completely fallen to the ground. "Thanks," you told her after she helped you stand up straighter.

     "Follow me." She began to walk towards the denser trees.

     "This is how I die."

     The branches were cutting into your skin, snagging at your clothes. The roots on the ground made it harder for you to walk as you tripped and fell forward. Your hands were held out in front of you, making sure your face didn't connect with the ground. A groan left your lips as you pushed your body back up. When you looked up, Lexa had walked back to see what was taking you so long. She pressed her lips together, hiding a smile as she held her hand out to you again.

     "Do I have to carry you?"

     After you took her hand she helped you up. "I'm sure I'd find a way to fall."

     "I'm sure you would as well."

     You nodded at her, she dropped your hand and continued to walk. A small huff left your lips as you shook your head, brushing the dirt from your hands onto your trousers. Without looking up, you walked into a branch. The leaves smacked your face. You took your knife out and cut the branch, deciding to just cut your way through instead of getting cut yourself.

     "Fighting back?" Lexa asked from up ahead.

     "It's a 'kill or be killed' world out here."

     "The trees aren't attacking you?"

     "Trust me, they are," you commented, putting your knife back into the loop of your belt.

     "I wouldn't do that so quickly if I was you."

     "Why?"

     Lexa didn't answer. She pulled back a larger chunk of the foliage and showed you a small lake area. "Don't worry, there's nothing inside of it." You walked closer, underneath Lexa's arm and towards the water.

     "Good, because I'd rather not be used as a chew toy like Octavia was."

     "I'm teaching you to swim."

     You paused, stopping a few feet in front of the edge. "What?"

     "Swim."

     "Yeah, I know what swimming is."

     "But you've never done it."

     "Does swimming in zero G's count?"

     "I don't know what that means." She shook her head.

     "Space humour."

     Lexa hummed. She began to take off a few of her layers, meaning that you were meant to be doing the same. You had to look away with a blush, taking off a few of your own layers before you heard a splash in the water. When you looked over to Lexa, she was gone.

     "Lexa?" You called, spinning around. "Crap," you muttered. "Lexa!"

     "In here." You quickly looked towards the water. Lexa was completely soaked; her war paint was fading due to the water. A sigh left your lips as you rested your hands on your knees, looking at her.

     "I thought something bad had happened."

     "I can take care of myself," she told you.

     You gulped. "But I can't."

     Lexa smiled at you. "That's why I'm going to teach you. Get in."

     She swam closer to the edge, watching you, and you stuck your legs in. "It's cold."

     "Your enemies won't care. Whatever is trying to kill you won't care."

     "Let me guess, you don't care either?"

     "That's right."

     As you lowered your body into the water, you gritted your teeth together. You managed to touch the bottom of the lake, most of your torso was submerged but you could still stand. Lexa stood next to you, waiting for you to do something that would end up with you tripping over somehow, you didn't blame her. Sometimes you wondered how people assumed you were Clarke's second when it could have easily been anyone else from the camp. Whatever they saw in you, you couldn't see it.

     "Are you okay?"

     "What? Yeah, why?"

     "Your expression tells another story."

     "You said there was nothing in this water, right?"

     Lexa nodded. "Yes."

     "Then what's touching my leg?"

     "That's called a weed."

     "Oh."

     She shook her head with a playful smile, placing her hands on your waist, stopping you from edging towards the side of the lake to get out. Lexa began to describe something to you, but you had no idea what she was talking about until she began to show you. Apparently, she was going to show you how to breast stroke first, before doing anything else. You weren't sure why. When she told you to try and kick your feet up you shook your head.

     "Why?"

     "I'd rather not drown."

     "I'll be holding onto you."

     After a brief pause, you nodded. "Okay," you breathed out.

     Lexa moved her arms underneath you when you managed to kick your legs up, she told you to try and copy what she had done, making sure to keep a close watch on you, just in case you decided to sink to the bottom of the water. Slowly, only occasionally panicking, you moved your arms out in front of you, sometimes forgetting to move your legs as you were focused on moving your arms. Lexa would have to repeat 'kick' over and over when you didn't.

     You began to move away from her, moving your arms and legs slowly as you swam forwards. "You know, I think I've got this," you told her as you continued to move away from where she was, a smile spread across your face as you kept reminding yourself to kick silently in your mind.

     Lexa was watching you with a smile, she was about to reply when a rustling sound distracted her.  "What was that?" She moved to the side of the water, pulling herself out as she picked up her sword, aiming it to the tree line. A small mutated rabbit jumped out from one of the bushes, she let out a sigh, placing the sword down by her clothes. Lexa turned back to you, her eyes widened as she noticed you were now too far out to stay afloat, your feet couldn't touch the ground.

     As Lexa dove in, quickly swimming over to you, just as your arms grew tired, as did your legs. Slowly, your body submerged underwater, you sucked in a deep breath, panicking, not knowing what to do. Her arms gripped around you tightly, yanking you back up to the surface where you coughed, breathing in as much air as you could, just in case you were to go under again. Lexa began to pull you towards the edge of the water, pushing you up on the side, letting you lay on your back before she got out as well. Your legs still hanging in the water.

     "I think we can call it a day," Lexa spoke more to herself than to you and she laid next to you.

     "I think so too."

     "Are you okay?"

     "Traumatised." You didn't turn your head to look at her. Instead, you stared at the trees that loomed over the two of you.

     Lexa turned to her side, propping herself up on her arm. "But you're okay?"

     "Thanks to you." You forced a small smile out as you glanced over at her. "Thanks. For you know, not letting me die."

     "Why would I let you die?"

     "It's just a thought I've had for a while. One day you'll get sick of seeing me instead of seeing Clarke and you'll just snap." You shrugged. "I wouldn't blame you."

     "I would." She moved some wet hair from your face.

     "Why?"

     "Because I care about you."

     "Again, why?"

     "Have you not noticed?"

     "All I notice is the ground getting closer to my face when I fall over."

     Lexa smiled. "I like you."

     "I think I'd be dead if you didn't," you replied.

     "That's not what I meant."

     "Oh." Your eyebrows furrowed. "Oh!" You turned your head to look at her. "But what about Clarke?"

     She shook her head. "I barely knew her."

     "You barely know me."

     "You're still here. I got to know you more. Why do you think I always invite you to the meetings?"

     "I was taking Clarke's place—"

     "No." She shook her head. "I invited you because I wanted to spend more time with you, I wanted to understand your views and ideas. You were one of the Sky People trapped in Mount Weather, after all. I thought maybe you would have been angry and vengeful, maybe commented on hunting parties, but you didn't. You're different."

     "Why would I be angry? Or vengeful?"

     "They hurt you."

     "So, did my people. But I'm not going around killings those who hurt me. I pity them."

     "Why?"

     "Life isn't about getting revenge on those who hurt you."

     Her voice got lower, "Then what is it about?"

     "Living like it's the last day that you have. Making the most of everything earth has to offer."

     "So, taking risks?"

     "I guess, in some ways." You nodded.

     Lexa nodded her head, blowing out a deep breath. "But you're sure you're okay?"

     A smile made its way to your lips. "You don't have to keep worrying."

     "This is coming from someone who picked up a stick the other day and thought there was a bug on it so they threw it as far as they could, which wasn't very far, by the way, and hit one of my guards in the head."

     "They were in the way." You shrugged.

     She shook her head with a smile, bringing her face closer to yours. "What am I going to do with you?"

     "Roll your eyes every time I do something?"

     "No, not quite." Her smile widened as she laid her head next to yours, holding your hand with hers, laying in silence.