Monday, 6/10/2149
Flashback to the day after Unity Day
"Yesterday, I met with the leader of a village near here whose land we are on named Anya, she is also a general of the commander, the grounders are seeing us as invaders and are on the verge of war, I have convinced Anya to allow me and three people of my chose to meet with the commander of the coalition, a unity of the 12 clans, to discuss a peace treaty, she has also instructed one of her warriors to stay with me until the meeting in 5 days' time" I paused to allow everyone to take in my words, "this is Lincoln kom Trikru, does anyone have any questions"
"Will we have to leave our camp?" someone from the crowd shouted out.
"It might be a possibility, it is going to be one of the things I discuss with the commander."
"What will we get out of a peace treaty?" someone from the crowd shouted out.
"wells has drafted up a list of what we can offer and what we are in need of, it will be negotiated between the commander and I, one of the main things I hope to get out of the peace treaty is experience, what I mean by this, is many of you being apprentices to their people, learning how to hunt properly, woodwork, metal work, skills we can't properly learn on our own"
"Who are you three chosen people?" someone from the crowd shouted out.
"I have not decided yet, but Wells will be one of them; the skills he gained from being the chancellor's son will help my negotiations."
"Why does he have to stay here?" someone from the crowd shouted out.
I let Lincoln answer this one, "Anya has instructed me to protect Orella and help with anything this camp needs help with, whether it be hunting, skinning animals or simply just a guard."
"We all have work to do., If you have any more questions, see me during lunch or dinner until then let's get to work."
The last four days have run like normal, or as normal as we can be with Lincoln walking around camp helping out.
"I think this should change to say this instead" Wells shows me what he means, and I agree, in the middle of his next sentence, Miller interrupts.
"Your guests are here," I thank Miller, and he goes back to his spot on the wall. I follow behind, stopping between the open gates.
I am taken aback not only by the absence of war paint on Anya's face but also by the unexpected presence of another figure, "Hei Onya." We exchange greetings in the silent language of warriors, our eyes lock in a silent standoff, before turning my attention to the mysterious guest who has joined us.
"I was not expecting you, wormara Indra" She raises an eyebrow at me but greets me as a warrior.
"Onya told me of your return, and I had to see you for myself. Heda is expecting us" I nod, but tell her I must introduce her to my people.
"Everyone, this is General Anya, and this is one of the commanders, General Indra. They will be escorting me and my chosen three to the commander's camp at Anya's village. Wells, Octavia, and Raven gather with their packed things behind me.
"This is Wells Jaha, my ambassador" Wells clumsily grabs Indra's forearm as he saw me do earlier. Indra looks amused.
With an aura of secrecy surrounding us, the four of us astride the horse, Raven in front of Onya, Octavia in front of Lincoln, Wells in front of me and Indra riding solo, embark on our journey to Onya's village.
The air crackles with anticipation as the twelve of us make our way, each step bringing us closer to the heart of intrigue. Heda's tent looms before us, a majestic display of her authority and unmatched leadership.
As we dismount, Octavia, Wells and Raven stand in awe, united under Indra's direction as she guides us towards the entrance of Heda's tent. Gostus, Heda's vigilant guard, whose gaze lingers on each of us but fixates on me, evokes memories from a distant past life.
"Heda is expecting you," he says, stepping aside to allow Onya and Indra to pass, but I sense his eyes narrow as he blocks my path.
"Lay a single finger on Heda, and I will make sure you suffer consequences worse than death." I meet his gaze, unflinching.
"No need to threaten me, Gostus. I am loyal to Heda," I assure him, my voice steady. For a moment, he hesitates, taken aback by my response, and in that instant, I leave him surprised and frozen at the door as I make my way inside. With me inside, Indra, onya, Octavia, and Lincoln get on one knee, Raven and Wells follow them, and I walk to the front of them, "I am glad to see you are Heda in this life as well, leksa" She tells us to rise, and we do.
"Two of the past commanders have had a lot to say about you, Orella."
"I tend to leave my mark on leaders, former Heda Conway was a great friend of mine and we had hoped the flame would pass on to you when his fight was over, I remember it did in our last life and I hope it did in this life as well, that being said, I pledge my allegiance to you Heda leksa and the allegiance of my people," Lexa's gives me a small smile.
"My ambassador, Wells Jaha, has written up a peace treaty," Wells hands me the paper, and I hand it to Lexa.
We all stand silent as Lexa reads through, and as she finishes, she invites us all to sit with her at her war table.
"Many of your points are acceptable, but are you willing to move your camp?" she questions, and I nod.
"We offer improved communication, a radio for each clan and one in polis, lessons in areas your healers lack knowledge in, improved farming methods, and exchange for lessons my people need to survive as a clan."
Heda Lexa hmm's at this, and we continue our discussion.
We continue our conversation for a little while longer before Heda pauses for lunch and commands her warriors to bring us a feast, enough to satisfy all our hunger.
The tantalizing aroma of roasted meat and fresh vegetables fills the air as we spread the feast before us. Heda Lexa had ordered a variety of dishes to be prepared, a sign of respect and hospitality towards us as her guests. There are platters of savoury grilled fish, tender venison steaks, and colourful salads adorned with wild berries and herbs. We gather around the makeshift table, a symbol of unity and peace between our two clans.
After lunch, the surrounding air seems to thicken as Lincoln hesitantly brought up my former alter ego, The Skai Champion. The name hangs in the air like a secret waiting to be unravelled. The tension between us crackles like electricity, hinting at a hidden world of intrigue and mystery lurking beneath the surface.
For generations, warriors have whispered of a legendary figure destined to descend from the sky, conquer, and reign over the mountain.
I believe it's crucial for this group, including Onya and Indra, to be aware of the past, Heda, I maintain. Lexa contemplates for a moment before subtly nodding, prompting Gustus to fetch Onya and Indra upon their arrival. I take a moment and then began to divulge.
"What I'm about to tell you all must not leave this room, understood?" I say in a hushed voice, casting a wary glance around the room. A collective nod ripple through the group, their eyes reflecting a mixture of anticipation and unease.
"Everyone in this room, except Wells Jaha, remembers their past life; however, Raven and Octavia do not remember a time from their past life because I was born on the ground in my past life." I pause, letting this information settle.
"I was Orella kom Trikru, the daughter of the chief of Abraham Village, from which Lincoln and Onya hail. In this life, it was not named this because my grandmother named it that, as it is a small village that most people thought it didn't need a name. When the Mountain attacked our village when I was fifteen winters old, many lives were taken, including my parents and Onya's; she was only 5 winters old. I took Onya in as my seken and raised her as my own. Shortly after, I met my houmon, my husband, we bonded that same year, and he passed away twenty-five winters later. Upon turning twenty-five, Onya succeeded me as the chief of Abraham Village and as Heda's general. What many people didn't know, only my close friend, fellow general, and the chief of Tondc, Indra, and the Heda were privy to my gift of foresight. I had a vision that the reigning Heda was gravely ill, so I retired and moved to Polis to be by his side until his passing. Four years into Lexa's reign as Heda, something fell from the sky, and that day I died at only 65 winters, only to be reborn on the ark amongst all of you." i pause "This is why Raven and Octavia do not remember me in their previous lives, while Heda, Lexa, Lincoln, Indra, and Onya recall our shared history and connections," I elaborate.
"Why did this happen?" Wells inquires.
"That is a story I am not yet permitted to tell, but I can tell you, our last life was not according to our written destiny; this life, however, is," I can tell many want to ask more questions, but they held their tongue.
"What does any of that have to do with The Skai Champion?" Raven asks, looking confused.
"in my past life, I had a vision about a girl leading people from the sky, she destroyed the mountain and ruled her people from both inside the mountain and the lands around it, she brought great peace to the coalition as the thirteen clan, I shared this vision with Heda Conway, who must have remembered it from his past life and spread its word among our people in this life"
"So, you had a vision of yourself in your past life," I nod.
"But I did not know this until we landed on Earth, and I had the same vision again, except this time it was through my own eyes and not seeing it as a visitor like the first vision."
As the room falls into a contemplative silence, I meet Wells' gaze, his eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and disbelief. "Is there a chance anyone on the Ark remembers their past life?" he inquires, breaking the quiet tension that lingers in the air.
I take a moment to collect my thoughts before responding, my voice measured and tinged with a hint of mystery. "The memories of our past lives are a rare gift, Wells. They surface when the time is right, when destiny calls upon us to remember who we once were. I have no way of knowing who might remember until I come into contact with them." He nods in understanding.
Raven's brow furrows in confusion, her eyes searching mine for answers. "But why now? Why reveal this secret to us?" she pressed, her voice laced with curiosity.
"Because the time has come for the past to intertwine with the present, for the threads of fate to weave together once more," I explain cryptically, each word carrying a weight of ancient knowledge.
Lexa's gaze softens, understanding flickering in her eyes as she speaks, her voice tinged with reverence. "The Skai Champion's legacy has been whispered through generations, a beacon of hope and unity. It is a tale that transcends time, connecting us all in ways we are only beginning to comprehend."
As the echoes of our history reverberated in the room, a sense of unity and purpose fills the space, binding us together in a web of interconnected destinies. And in that moment, the mysteries of the past and the promises of the future dance in harmony, guiding us towards a path of peace and understanding.