1. the mountain men

                                    

                                          

1. the mountain men
          rumors have spread about the sky people for months now. yet lexa doesn't think it's necessary for me to join the party. i disagree.  they have already killed hundreds of our people and now they're trying to get into mount weather. even though lexa doesn't want me involved i came to a closer village to be there if needed. i'm waiting for lexa to arrive at my tent because this is something we need to discuss.
"azgona. the commander is here for you"
i nod my head telling them to bring her in
"aspen what's going on"
"you tell me. you're just letting these intruders run you around"
"they are not running me around-"
"then why aren't they dead?"
i slam a throwing knife down on the table and we just look at each other 
"they think they can get us into mount weather and get our people back"
"and their people?"
"yes theirs too"
"so then there's more of them and more people with guns to kill us"
"we need them to get in there"
"no we don't.. i will get our people out"
"how are you going to do that?"
"just give me some time"
"we attack tonight"
i look at her i don't know what i'm going to do
"i'll have a plan before then"
"you always do"
"and you always let your feeling get in your way"
"that's not what's happening here"
"are you sure? because if you would've sent a army when they first landed we would not be here right now."
"and then we wouldn't be getting our people out of the mountain"
"you don't even know if you're getting them out yet. i'll be the one to get them out like i'm the one that does everything behind the scenes and yet you're the commander" 
"you don't have the blood"
"i have better. now go"
i wave her off and she walks out. 
          what am i going to do. lexa has it easy she has all the commanders in her head leading her.  i just have myself and yet i'm usually doing everything. so i start to think, what would the mountain men want.  what can we give them. there has to be something special about the sky people. to be able to survive that long up there, there must be something about their blood. why else would they want them. if i could just get the rest of the sky people to the mountain i could offer a trade. i need to talk to their president. i grab my mountain man device that i can communicate to them with
"mount weather come in. i repeat mount weather come in."
i found this thing right off the side of the mountain, its like even the forest knew of my blood because it didn't send the fog. i've spoken to the people in the mountain briefly over small battles
"aspen dear"
"i need to talk to your father."
"i'm afraid you just get me today"
"what do you want to get my people free. what do you need"
"i need the sky people."
"we can work that out"
"if you just get your army to leave and stay out of our territory we will have no issues and i will set all of your people free"
"i will be at the front door myself to send them away if that means my people walk out freely"
"you have my word"
"and you have mine. and if you break yours you won't like the outcome"
i walk away from the device not realizing how long i had been thinking of a plan. i won't have much time to get there 
*anything in brackets is in grounder language*
"(azgona where are you going)"
"(to war)"
"(let us come with you)"
"(this isn't a warrior village there is no need, i need you all to stay safe here. i will be back)"
they bow to me and i continue my walk to my horse to try and make it before lexa ruins my deal. 
          i make it right in time as the sun goes down. i tie my horse somewhere safe before the grounders see me. 
"i'm here"
i use the device to talk to whoever is on the other end
"good now our deal can begin"
"i want to see my people first"
"weapons down first, i have a man down there to show that we are serious about this deal"
just then i see him
"emerson"
he reaches his hand out but i don't shake it
"take me to get my people"
i slip the mountain machine behind my long flowing piece of clothing so no one can see 
"azgona"
is all you hear around as we walk through the grounder crowd 
"(weapons down)"
just like that they all go down with my demand and we continue our walk to the front to lexa. she's standing with some blonde sky girl. these people are going to finally see the true face behind our people.
"what is this?"
lexa ask me concerned 
"(this is me saving our people. we're done here)"
"we are saving our people-"
she tries to argue
"i already have!"
and then the doors open and our people come out
"lexa who is she, why are they releasing everyone"
that blonde girl from before ask
"this is azgona kom azgeda the greatest warrior and highest royalty of Azgeda-"
"of all of the clans"
i interpret lexa
"and i've made a deal, that does not concern you or your people"
"you can't just come in and ruin our plan"
she snapped at me 
"oh but i can. (sound the retreat signal)"
the horn blares and everyone turns around and leaves
"lexa"
"i can't do anything clarke. what's done is done"
"what do you mean you can't do anything? you're the commander. i thought you control everyone and everything?"
"you know nothing of our culture and unlike lexa i don't care who you are, i will kill you. so please question me one more time."
i step closer to her as she's speechless 
"(we stay off of their land and they cause us no harm. that's the treaty. break it and you're on your own.)"
i turn around saying and start my walk to my horse
"i'm sorry clarke"
i hear lexa say before she joins me 
"(you're becoming weak)"
"we can't all be heartless like you"
"you all can't do what i do either"
a/n: i hope y'all like this book! i'm loving writing it!!