The Hounds of War

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's Note: Here we go. Title says it all.

"Talking"

Thoughts

Nothing was said in the convoy. Nobody knew what to say. Mt. Weather was destroyed. Friends, family, and comrades, were wiped off the face of the Earth. A loss this big hadn't been felt since the surviving stations learned of the disastrous reentry of most of the Ark. Still, the heaviest silence came from their leader. Drake Knight had not said a word since he and Charlotte had returned. It was on Charlotte's orders that they packed up and drove off and it was she who informed them what had happened. Perhaps what was scarier than the silence was the question what would happen next?

***Arkadia***

Drake watched silently as they arrived. The long drive was filled with passing trees. Charlotte held onto his hand much to his appreciation. Over the last couple of months Charlotte had looked up to Anya, as a teacher, as a friend, and most importantly…as a mother figure. Besides Clarke, Raven and himself, she was probably taking her loss the hardest. Now as they passed the large gate he still didn't know what to do. People were crying and hugging each other in the street and some were lashing out violently only to be snuffed out by the local guards. It was chaos. For the first time in a long time Drake remembered how small he really was. The truck came to a stop and Charlotte opened the door and held it open for him. Numbly he climbed out and was immediately set upon by Raven and Clarke. Their voices overlapped and seemed to mimic the chaos around them and for the dying embers in his stomach fanned into flames.

"ENOUGH!" Drake shouted out and somehow his voice carried over the waves of chaos and to his surprise many of inhabitants stopped what they were doing and looked at their young leader. "Calm down! Do your jobs! Anyone not necessary to emergency services go home! Anyone causing crime, trouble, or fucking mischief will be sentenced to hard labor. This is not the time to fall apart. Get. To. Work!" He ordered and with that slowly order began to be restored.

"Drake." Clarke called out hesitantly.

"I'm glad you're okay. Both of you." Drake said as he grabbed the two into a hug and held them closely.

"We are too." Raven said in a wavering voice. "Drake-there was so much blood." She whimpered as tears welled up in her eyes.

"Where is she?" Drake asked solemnly.

"Clarke! We need you over here!" Abby's tired voice called out and Clarke looked hesitantly at the triage.

"Go and help. We'll find time later." Drake half ordered and Clarke nodded before she leaned forward and kissed his lips before running off.

"I'll take you too her." Raven whispered and Drake nodded as she led him into the corridors of Alpha Station with Charlotte trailing behind.

***The Morgue***

The morgue was actually a renovated cooling chamber for the super computers. When they broke down the Arkers had cannibalized every bit of scrap they could and left the cooling chamber for the rare body that was to be preserved so that loved ones could say goodbye. In this room Drake and Raven held each other and watched as Charlotte laid a small wooden symbol of the Skaikru onto Anya's body. She didn't say a word and only nodded as she turned and walked out of the room.

"Raven…I'd like a moment alone." Drake said softly and Raven nodded in understanding.

Drake listened carefully as he heard the doors closed behind his paramour. Without realizing it he had already walked closer to the table where Anya's body laid. Her armor and rough clothing had been stripped away and her face and body had been cleaned and covered by a white sheet to protect her modesty. It seemed strange to see her lay so still. Her eyes didn't move from beneath her eye lids. Her chest didn't move in time with her breathing. He waited for her to open her eyes only to realize they'd never open again. With a gentleness he only exhibited around his lovers he lifted her into his arms and buried his face in her hair as he began cry with great sobs that shook his body. He didn't know how long he held onto her but when the tears stopped he laid her gently down onto the table again and began brushing her hair out of her face.

"I made a mess of you." Drake whispered to himself. "But can you blame me?" He asked as he sniffled and rested a hand against her cheek.

Drake's eyes wandered down from her face until it rested on the small baby bump slightly visible under the white sheet. A memory fell like a hammer as fresh tears came to his eyes. Immediately he closed his eyes but it was already there.

"What do you want to name your son?" Anya's asked as she slowly ran her hands through his hair.

"We might have a daughter you know." Drake chuckled as he rested his head over her stomach.

"No. It is a boy. I can tell." Anya stated confidently. "How about we call him…Asher? In honor of our first battle against each other." She said thoughtfully.

"That seems a little morbid." Drake admitted to her only to earn a scoff.

"Fine. What will you call him?" Anya said with a wry smile.

"How about Talion?" Drake asked hesitantly.

"Interesting." Anya mused. "Tal-ion. It is a strong name. A good name." She said happily.

"It is." Drake whispered softly.

"Hey, stay with me." Anya prodded him and although Drake nodded she knew he was somewhere far away. "What if it is a girl?" She asked softly.

"Zoey." Drake said strongly as he looked up into Anya's eyes.

"Zoey it is then." Anya said with a sad smile.

"I have to go." Drake said with regret.

"Go. Lexa will be annoyed if you do not show up on time." Anya said as he moved away.

"I love you Anya." Drake whispered as he kissed her forehead.

"And I you." She said with a genuine smile.

Drake opened his eyes and breathed in deeply as the wisps of memory fell away from his mind. With a shaking hand he reached out and touched the small bump as fresh tears rose in his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry you never got to the chance for air to fill your lungs. Never got to feel the sun on your skin. Or experienced the grass between your toes." Drake took a shuddering gasp as he struggled to find the words. "But you had love." He whispered. "I love you. Your mother loves you. You are my son. Talion Knight. Son of Anya of Trikru. Your fight is over. For both of you." He said with finality as he grabbed the edge of the sheet and pulled it over Anya's face.

***Polis***

Marcus sighed privately in his apartment. After the destruction of Mt. Weather the capital had gotten chaotic. Lexa had ordered the capture of Queen Nia of the Ice Nation. Marcus had thanked her for her swiftness in calling for justice. Of course he had been in regular contact with Arkadia via a radio that was set up in his quarters. Along with the radio came Kyle Wick. Raven herself had recommended him as an assistant and radio technician. To Marcus the young man was invaluable. But the reason Marcus sighed was because of the recent news he had gotten from Raven. The official count had come in. Eighty three people had died during Mt. Weather's destruction. Granted most were Mountain Men but they had become part of Skaikru when they were still alive. They counted. They mattered. Suddenly there was a rapt on his door and Kyle appeared.

"Ambassador Kane, the Twelve Clan heads have arrived." Kyle informed him.

"Thank you Kyle. Please man the radio and let me know if anything comes from Drake's Crossing or Arkadia." Marcus ordered and Kyle nodded in understanding as he took Marcus's place and placed a hand on the pistol nearby.

With the destruction of Mt. Weather Drake had ordered Marcus and Kyle to never let the radio out of their sight and to shoot anyone that enters their room unsolicited. If it seemed that the radio was to be taken it was too be destroyed. Both had no desire to let Drake down.

Marcus swiftly walked to Lexa's throne room and quickly with the rest of the Ambassadors found his seat after saying a polite greeting and bowing to Lexa. After all had shown their fealty the meeting began as Lexa cleared her throat.

"Ambassadors of the Coalition, today we honor our covenant. The clan that stands against one of us, stands against us all." Lexa said in English.

"Bring her in." Titus order in Trigedasleng and quickly the doors opened as two guards brought forth the prisoner.

All one needed to do was look at her face to see she was Azgeda. The way she carried herself though separated her from the common rabble. She walked as the Queen she was and in spite of the chains on her wrist she seemed like a force to rival that of Lexa herself. All watched her approach and grew wary of the older woman. Even the guards that were many sizes her own gently lowered her to her knees before stepping back a respectable distance. Only Lexa and Marcus seemed impassive to her presence. Lexa because she was Heda and Marcus because he was ignorant to the dangers of the woman in front of him.

"Queen Nia of Azgeda has confessed to the destruction of Mt. Weather resulting in the death of eighty three members of Skaikru." Titus listed off before turning toward Marcus. "Ambassador Kane, what say you?" He asked respectfully.

"Skaikru demands justice." Marcus said without hesitation as he stared into the wild eyes of Nia.

"Azgeda does not answer to this foreigner." Queen Nia spat out in Trigedasleng.

"I am the ambassador for Skaikru, the Thirteenth Clan of the Coalition." Marcus stated in Trigedasleng much to the Queen's well-hidden surprise.

"Your sentence for the crimes you have committed is death." Titus proclaimed. "Do you have anything to say in your defense?" He asked.

"I need no defense." Queen Nia said as she focused on Lexa who sat in a relaxed position on her throne. "Today is judgement day. I call for a vote of no confidence." She said confidently leaving the room to mumble to itself.

"Take this Queen to her fate." Titus dismissed her but as the guards moved to take hold of the prisoner an ambassador stood up.

"Not so fast." An older ambassador pushed himself to his feet. "Commander no more." He said in agreement with Queen Nia and after him a few more Ambassadors stood up and proclaimed as such and with each one the smirk on Queen Nia's face grew.

"Take them away too!" Titus shouted in anger and more guards made to arrest the nay sayers.

"Wait!" Lexa ordered.

"Lexa, please, execute these traitors." Titus urged her but Lexa shook her head.

"Let her make her move." Lexa said with a raised hand.

Suddenly more ambassadors stood up and announced no faith in Lexa. In the end only two tribes stayed with Lexa. Skaikru and Trikru.

"Commander, what is this?" Marcus asked as he looked at the room now filled with enemies.

"This is a coup." Lexa stated calmly.

"This is the law. Her law!" Queen Nia announced as she got to her feet. "A unanimous vote of the Ambassadors or death are all that can remove the Commander from power." She announced.

"It isn't unanimous." Marcus said firmly.

"We don't recognize the legitimacy of Skaikru." Queen Nia said angrily.

"We do!" Titus said angrily as he walked down the steps and stood before the Queen. "Skaikru took the brand a day before." He pointed at Marcus who rolled up his sleeve and revealed a healing burn shaped in the symbol of the coalition.

"We are the Thirteenth Clan." Marcus reiterated through gritted teeth.

"This vote of no confidence fails." Titus snarled out. "All these traitors will face the same fate as the Queen." He shouted out leaving the Ambassadors to look around them worriedly with only Queen Nia still grinning.

"She won't kill us. She knows our armies would march on her to avenge our deaths." Queen Nia said smugly. "None of us here wants war." She said as she spun slowly around the room.

"We both know what you want, Nia." Lexa said as she collected herself and strutted down the steps like a feline predator. "If you want it so badly, issue the challenge and let's get on with it." Lexa growled out.

"Very well, you are challenged." Queen Nia said softly.

"And I accept your challenge." Lexa said swiftly.

"So be it. Warrior against warrior. To the death." Titus announced with shock evident in his voice. "Nia of Azgeda, who do you choose to be your champion?" He asked and Queen Nia turned to the side.

"My son, Roan. Prince of Azgeda." Queen Nia announced proudly.

Marcus looked over toward the scared man. The man, who was formerly unknown to him although he had seen him roaming the halls from time to time, was strongly built. Ritualistic scars had been carved into his face and Marcus wondered if all Azgeda had them. Still, he reminded himself that Roan always seemed to have at least four guards around him at all times. He was dangerous.

"Heda, who will fight for you?" Titus whispered although he already knew the answer as Lexa turned away and walked back up the small steps to her throne and sat down.

"Skaikru will fight!" Marcus shouted as he stood up before Lexa could answer. "We will prove that we belong and that we are loyal to Heda as you all once were." He said accusingly and some of the Ambassadors had the decency to look away.

"And who will fight?" Queen Nia scoffed as the Ambassador, former Chief of Security, Marcus Kane grinned.

"I will."

***Arkadia***

Drake sat silently at his desk as he reviewed the video playing on the small screen in front of him. Since he took the Mountain he had Raven and a team rig the security feeds to his own personal computer. Almost mechanically he clicked the replay button and watched the events that led up to Mt. Weather destruction.

"Drake." Charlotte whispered and caught his attention.

"Let him in." Drake said as his eyes went back to the monitor.

Charlotte nodded and walked over toward the door before opening the door to expose Charles Pike. Quickly the man walked into the room without care and slammed his hands onto the desk.

"What is a Grounder Army doing in our Territory?!" Pike demanded.

"It is a protection force from Polis." Drake answered simply.

"God damn it Drake! There's a hostile force at our doorstep and you're locked in here from the rest of us! People are scared! What are you going to do!?" The older man demanded.

"I am going to sit here and watch this video again." Drake said as he clicked the replay button again earning a frustrated sigh from Pike.

"That's not good enough!" Pike yelled as he swiped Drake's desk sending most of the contents flying across the room.

"Stop." Drake ordered and Pike turned to see Charlotte with a knife in her hand.

"What? Are you going to sic your attack dog on me? Make threats like Clarke did?" Pike questioned.

"No. Please have a seat." Drake said calmly and with a deep breath Charles calmed himself as he sat down. "I'd like to thank you for what you did in Mt. Weather. You protected our people without care for yourself and you've apprehended Anya's killer. Make no mistake that means a lot to me." He admitted as he clasped his hands together in front of him.

"What is this?" Charles asked as his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"I'm ready to hand you a leadership position." Drake said as he pulled open a drawer and tossed a piece of metal on the table.

"You've finally decided to hand over leadership to me then?" Charles asked with a smirk.

"No. Take a look at the medal. I'm making you the leader of the task force being sent into Azgeda Territory." Drake answered as he looked up at a stunned look on Pike. "You are to go there and destroy every supply depot, poison every well, burn every field, and destroy any soft target you can find." Drake spat out and for the first time Pike felt some semblance of fear beat in his chest as he looked at the young man.

"What?" Pike asked in near disbelief.

"Is that not enough for you?" Drake asked with a raised eyebrow. "Fine. Kill all the parents. Kill the children. Kill or steal their livestock and anything you think might have worth to us. I want anyone who surrenders spared so that they may spread the word. Let them talk of our cruelty. Let them speak of our vengeance. Let them fear us. That is the mission I give to you Charles Pike. You will be our tool. Sharp and twisted. You and half of our fighting force will show the world that the Thirteenth Clan is not one to back down from anything. Charlotte will be your right hand. She will let you know how far is far enough and push you if you haven't gone far enough." Drake said coldly as a vicious snarl made his face something fierce and terrifying.

"I-this?" Charles asked as he realized what Drake was saying.

"This is what you wanted. A war. And now that a war is here are you telling me you lack the fortitude?" Drake asked as his eyes pierced Pike's soul.

"No." Charles said firmly.

"Good. Charlotte will brief you. Remember. If I don't hear anything from Charlotte periodically I will assume you killed her and brand the whole of the fighting force a traitor and kill any that come back." Drake threatened causing Pike to swallow nervously.

"She'll be safe." Charles promised.

"Make sure she is. Otherwise it's on the heads of your precious Farm Station." Drake promised and after seeing Pike's disbelieving look Drake chuckled. "Accidents happen every day Charles. Make sure none of them happen to Charlotte." He said in a tone that left no room for argument.

"Yes. Sir." Pike bit out.

"Good. Charlotte, show Pike where to go." Drake dismissed the two of them and the pair walked out of the room and the doors closed behind him.

Without a word Drake pressed the reply button and watched once more. Everyone thought they knew the real Drake Knight but there was more too him than just what he showed. Perhaps now they would see something that truly terrified them. There was a reason he survived so long on the ground. Perhaps now was the time to show his fangs.

***The outskirts of Arkadia***

Pike looked at the piece of metal that was forged into a vicious snarling maw. Drake had been right in Charles wanting a war. The people he had lost had been devastating and he wouldn't lie that part of this assignment seemed like the justice he had been looking for. He looked up to see Charlotte moving with the grace and speed he didn't possess despite the harsh lessons he had learned in Azgeda territory. He knew she was purposefully slowing herself down for him and part of him was annoyed at that.

"How far do we have left?" Charles asked and Charlotte stopped and looked at him with that dead stare of hers.

With a snap of her fingers a hundred bodies appeared from the environment. Appearing behind rocks or scaling down trees. Some seemed to pop up from the ground itself. Charles saw no one from Farm Station which was somewhat worrying.

"These are the Shadow Marshalls. The best that The 100, Factory Station, and Alpha Station have trained." Charlotte explained. "They are under my command and will act as our scout force and soften targets before we make our move." She said with confidence as Pike counted twenty heads.

"Where are the ones I'll command?" Charles asked and Charlotte nodded for him to follow as they walked past the tree line and saw two trucks and fifty soldiers. "They are yours." She said as she walked away.

"Alright…I can work with this." Charles said as he looked at the men and women arrayed before him.

***Polis***

Marcus walked with Titus. Since the proclamation that Marcus would fight as Lexa's Champion Titus had done all he could to induct Marcus into the ways of dueling in the Coalition. As they rounded the building for the second time they finally marched their way back toward the throne room where Lexa was instructing seven children. As their lesson came to an end Titus stepped forward and gathered the children and marched them out of the room.

"Aden, Stay." Lexa commanded and the teenager obeyed without question. "Marcus, this is Aden. He is the most promising of my novitiates. If you should fall and I am killed today he will likely succeed me." She admitted.

"Glad to see you have faith in me." Marcus grinned as Lexa grinned slightly.

"Tell him what will happen to Skaikru when you become Heda Aden." Lexa commanded.

"If, I become Heda I pledge my loyalty to the thirteenth clan." Aden said seriously as he gazed at Marcus.

"Thank you. Now, go join the others." Lexa commanded and Aden bowed respectfully before he walked out of the room.

"Well it's always nice to have a backup plan." Marcus said as the two watched the doors close behind the teenager. "I don't plan on dying today." He stated as Lexa walked back up the steps to her throne.

"That is admirable Ambassador Kane." Lexa admitted as she turned to look at the older man.

"You think I'll lose." Marcus stated as Lexa smiled sadly.

"Yes." Lexa admitted. "Roan is one of the strongest warriors of Azgeda. He will not be someone that can be taken down easily." She informed him.

"We will see." Marcus said as he turned and exited the room.

"I suppose we will." Lexa said as she looked out over the balcony and wondered if this was the last time she'd see it.

***Arkadia***

The memorial was being taken place in the cargo bay. It was a morose affair as all sat quietly in their own individual grief. All who could attend did and Drake stood sullenly in front of them. The memorial behind him was small and a mess but it was the best they could do with the small amount of time they had.

"We gather here to commemorate the loss of soldiers, civilians, loved ones, friends and family. Each and every one of them irreplaceable. Their loss will be felt by us for as long as we live." Drake opened as he looked up at the crowd. "Everyone take a look around you. In times like these the people around you are family. Lean on them. Take care of each other. And take heart that our people will be avenged." He announced grimly as he lifted a small notebook with a list of names.

"Who will speak for Iris?" Drake announced and a disheveled young man sitting next to Miller stood up and walked to where Drake once stood and began to speak.

The list was long and many more names would be spoken for before the day was done.

***Polis***

The ring was constructed. The crowd was drawn and two contestants stood side by side in the arena. Marcus felt the bones in his ears rattle against each other from the roar of the crowd. Before them sat the twelve representatives and Lexa in the middle with Titus behind her. With a nod Titus stepped forward and held his arms out to silence the crowd.

"In single combat, there is but one rule, someone must die today!" Titus announced in Trigedasleng as Marcus turned to face the fierce Azgeda Prince. "You may begin!" Titus shouted earning a roar from the crowd.

A sword bearer stepped forward and Roan took the sword from him before facing his opponent who rejected the sword before taking a metal baton from his assistant Kyle which earned a scoff from Roan.

"You think you will kill me with that?" Roan asked as he raised his sword.

"Kill? No. Beat? Yes." Marcus said confidently as he stood in a relaxed stance as Roan snarled.

The fight began as they both reached the middle of the arena. Roan was a blur of movement as he lashed out with his sword. To many in the crowd's surprise Marcus was moving with expert precision and keeping up with Roan's thrust and slashes. To all who knew Marcus, namely Kyle, this was no surprise. Marcus Kane had become the Chief of security not simply due to his political savvy but also because of his martial prowess.

The best and brightest had been sent into space and along with them the best the security sector could provide. Mercenaries, spies, and surprisingly quite a few assassins, in case a crew decided to go against the wishes of its parent corporation, were sent as well. And make no mistake, each station was sent up by corporations despite what governments claimed. So when the Earth was bathed in atomic fire and the twelve stations became the Ark, the security teams were the best of the best in their fields. Their experiences and martial prowess would be taught to their descendants. Marcus Kane was one such descendant and it showed as he seized an opening and sent the tip of the baton into Roan's Adam's apple. The blow forced the Azgeda prince stumbling backward as he coughed but still managed to keep his sword up.

"You're lucky I haven't even turned this on." Marcus said as he eyed the recovering man. "You're good but it's stunted by your aggression. I don't blame you. You were taught to channel it into your moves. To breathe it in and let it guide you. Me on the other hand, I was trained to control it. To focus." He said as he finally switched the baton on.

"You're good Skaikru. But I will not lose." Roan said determined.

"You've already loss." Marcus said as Roan roared and charged at him.

Without flare Marcus smacked the electrified baton against the sharpened piece of metal and suddenly Roan stiffened as the current ran through the sword and flowed into him. After a few seconds Marcus turned the stun baton off and sighed as Roan, much to his credit, tried to get up.

"Good fight." Marcus said as he smashed the baton across Roan's face knocking him out. "I guess I win." He said as he looked up at the stunned faces of the Ambassadors and the crowd.

***Arkadia***

Night had fallen and Drake sat alone in his office as he listened to the white noise coming through the radio.

"We are ready." Charlotte whispered.

Drake took a deep breath and with a nod he pressed a button on the radio.

"Unleash the hounds of war." Drake ordered.

"Confirmed." Charlotte acknowledge and the sound of gunfire echoed through the room before he turned the radio off.

Silence reigned once more as Drake looked at the monitor in front of him, on it was a sonogram.

Well that's the next chapter. I honestly wondered why the security guards were more straw men than anything. I would imagine corporations or governments wouldn't just let scientist up there without some added guarantees. I mean if you spent billions of dollars on putting people in space wouldn't you like to know your investments were protected. Not only that but they would pass down their training to their children as much as they could? Sure, not everything would translate but the security teams would have descendants that could put up more of a fight than what they show on tv. Also I always imagined Marcus would be more skilled in fighting even before they came to the ground. Probably the only reason Marcus lost so badly to Drake was because he wasn't putting his all into it as he still thought of Drake as a child at the time. If Marcus went full out, with his training and experience I'd imagine he'd give Drake a run for his money. Still, I just hope you all understand where I was coming from. Please leave a comment or review on the chapter. I want to make sure I'm doing something right. Thank you all.