Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Impact
Terror laces through her, jerking Lexa awake in bed. Breathing rapidly, it takes much too long for Lexa to confirm that she is, in fact, safe in her room in Polis. Another wave of terror washes through her. Understanding comes immediately.
Her soulbond.
Concentrating on the connection for the first time in over a year, Lexa breathes deeply before submersing herself in her soulmates emotions.
A second later another wave of terror nearly breaks her concentration. Gritting her teeth, Lexa forces herself to look beyond the terror in an attempt at learning just what is happening to her soulmate. Slowly, other emotions can be picked out from amongst the terror.
Desperation, disbelief, shock, sorrow.
Clearly the isolation Lexa's soulmate had been in for the last year or so was ending in an unexpected manner. Still, this information was not as helpful as Lexa had been hoping. Pushing aside her own concern, Lexa dives as deep into the connection as she could.
For a moment the inconceivable happens. Having never met her soulmate in person, Lexa should only sense extremely intense emotions across the bond connecting them.
Yet, as Lexa sat there on her bed with her entire focus on her soulbond, she sees:
Words muffled as though shouted through a wall; images coming in and out of focus as if a blow to the head had knocked her silly; a woman talking, flanked by others.
Love, hate, and despair fill Lexa's mate at the sight of the woman. The new rush of emotions jostle Lexa's focus. The last thing Lexa gathers before returning to her end of the bond is four words that shocked her to the core.
"-sending you to Earth."
Lexa is dressed and out the door in moments. Hollering orders for her generals to be fetched she rushes straight to the throne room. Her generals find her on the balcony. Their confusion is palpable as they wait for her orders.
"Prep the scouts to depart at a moment's notice. They are to depart as soon as we receive the sign."
"What sign Heda?"
"You'll know."
Lexa suppresses her humor at their increased confusion. Thankfully none press her for more answers. It is only due to her habit of reading books from the old world that she can guess how exactly her soulmate and those with her will be sent to Earth.
Earth.
The knowledge that this whole time her second mate had been in space sent a shiver down her spine. No wonder Costia had been unable to find any sign of their third before-.
Shaking her head Lexa forces herself to think of something else.
Her mate's people are strangers. They cannot be from the Mountain due to being in space. But the words Lexa heard had been in Gonasleng. Her people will not easily accept them do to speaking the Mountain's language, let alone whatever other grievances will come up.
Lexa should not so easily accept them either.
They may yet prove to be allies of the Mountain. Or to be a separate threat all together.
Lexa could not let the prospect of a mate blind her from her duties as Heda. She's already lost one of her soulmates. If it is discovered by her enemies that her second mate is among these... Skaikru, there will be trouble.
If it was discovered she had a second mate to begin with there would be trouble.
A shout from below breaks Lexa from her thoughts.
Focusing her attention outward, the streak of light at the edge of the horizon is easy to spot. It is a small streak of light. From what Lexa read from the NASA - the size of the streak is not enough to determine the size of the ship sent. Or anything else about the ship and those on board.
A fresh wave of terror races to Lexa from across the bond. Her soulmate has awoken, confirming their presence on the falling ship.
Shouts and exclamations reach her ears as the citizens of Polis notice the supposed falling star. Not once does Lexa look away from the sky. Only when the trail disappears from her view does Lexa relax her posture.
A call of Heda brings her attention back to the generals who had remained with her.
"Send the scouts towards the Trikru lands. Observation and perimeter only. No contact. I want to know everything there is to know before any contact is made. I shall be at Tondici."
For a beat no one moves. A snarl escapes Lexa's throat. Instantly the generals scramble to obey. Stalking from the room Lexa ignores Titus's gaze. She doesn't need to hear his advice to know what he would say.
To be Heda is to be alone.
Lexa has only been in Tondc for a few hours when the first reports arrive.
Humans, loud and unobservant. They appear to all be young and unskilled. Even worse, the scouts had witnessed what appeared to be a power struggle before a group of five left the main group.
The scouts had been too far away to hear any words at the time, but the group is heading towards the Mountain.
Lexa fights back a growl.
No clear leader and they are splitting up. Towards the mountain. Making a split-second decision Lexa begins barking orders.
"Follow any other groups that separate but do not be seen. Get scouts close enough to hear. I will pursue the initial group."
Anya and Gustus both tense. A sharp glare causes Anya to nod before turning sharply on her heel and leaving to obey.
"Heda..."
"You may accompany Gostos, but I am going."
"Very well Heda."
Lexa keeps her focus on him another moment, eyes squinting as she evaluates Gustus's sincerity. After a moment she sighs.
Other than invading - crashing - on Trikru land, the new comers have done no wrong.
Unless speaking the Mountain's language counts.
To many, it does.
When it is clear Lexa has no more to say in explanation Gustus sighs and turns to leave. He had reached the tent flap before a thought occurred to Lexa.
"Gostos." He pauses. "Notify me immediately if anyone shows signs of reacting to a soulbond with Skaikru."
"Sha Heda."
By the time Lexa's small party meets up with the original pair trailing the group of five Skaikru it is clear the newcomers know nothing of stealth. Even stopping as far as they do to keep the horses out of hearing, Lexa can faintly hear the groups conversation.
The muttered branwada from Gustus is not welcomed, although Lexa completely agrees when the skaiga jumps into the water.
Watching the other Skaikru, Lexa files away their interactions: how one male seems to hover around the blond female; how the other two males seem to stick together; how-
A scream jars the air around them.
Automatically Lexa is crouching with her hand on her sword as terror lances down her soulbond.
Could it be?
Movement out of the corner of her eye reveals one of the scouts breaking rank to rush towards the now panicking Skaikru. Swiftly Lexa cuts in front of him. For a second, it looks as though he intends to brush past her before he controls himself.
"Heda."
The warrior's face is pinched with lines of suppressed pain. His eyes pleads with Lexa to let him pass.
Another scream behind them causes the warrior to flinch.
The corner of Lexa's lip turn up. Softly she issues her order, aware of Gustus and the other scouts not so subtly watching them.
"No contact is to be made. Not yet." Confusion slips into his expression as his jaw clenches in frustration. Lexa growls. "Understood?"
"Sha, Heda."
Satisfied, Lexa spins on her heel and motioning for the group to move closer. By the time they had repositioned it is clear the incident is over. Further up the shore the three males gawk as the blond female finishes treating the other female's leg wound.
Interesting.
Taking a deep breath Lexa focuses inward. Concentrating on her soulbond she seeks the echoes of her mate's emotions. Determination laced with panic reaches her.
Opening her eyes, a faint smile flashes across Lexa's face as she watches the blond help the other stand.