"That is not my sister" Bellamy muttered, his voice sharp as a blade as we walked out of Octavia's chamber.

I slowed, guilt pressing heavy in my chest.
"I'm sorry" I mumbled, though the words felt useless.

My eyes caught on Madi across from me, standing with Gaia, and everything else blurred. Bellamy was saying something- probably important- but I wasn't listening. My mind was already with my daughter.

"Diana?" He asked, noticing I wasn't listening. But I was already walking away.

"I'll only be a minute" I said, gone before he could argue.

"Madi" I said softly, approaching them.

"Hey, mom" she grinned, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
"Gaia was telling me about Wonkru combat tactics." She said

"According to Madi she's encountered our enemy. Perhaps she could train with our novitiates and tell them about it." Gaia said, almost proudly

Madi's eyes flickered to mine, hopeful.

I forced a smile.
"Thank you, but Madi's not Wonkru. She's shadow valley." My voice was calm but final.

"So that's how you survived. Is it true that praimfaya missed the entire valley?" Gaia asked

"Yes, but that's not how i survived. Diana used her blood and bone marrow to make me a nightblood. Like Clarke. I owe her my life" Madi answered

Gaias expression softened. I offered a small smile, then placed a gentle hand on Madi's shoulder.
"Gaia, if you'll excuse us" I said

Madi followed me quietly, no protest.

I took her back to our tent, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"I need to go talk with a few people. I'll be right back" I tell her

She nodded, though I saw the worry in her eyes.

The clang of swords echoed as I stepped into the training hall. Octavia and cooper were circling each other, sweat dripping down their faces.

"I told you not to go easy on me" Octavia snapped, pressing cooper back with a sharp strike.

"Maybe you should fight someone who's not afraid of you" I said from the doorway.

Her eyes flicked to mine, sharp and challenging.
"Cooper. Give her your sword" Octavia said

Cooper looked at me, smirked, and tossed the blade. I caught it without hesitation.

"Octavias one got one good arm. Still your funeral" cooper said

I smirked and tucked my left arm behind my back.
"Then ill even the playing field" I say

Her gaze met mine, her eyes filled with something too familiar.
"Sure you're up for this?" I ask, but she didn't answer.

She didn't waste time after that. She lunged, her strikes fast and aggressive- familiar, but harder now, honed by years of anger and blood. I blocked every blow, steel crashing, her strength pushing against mine.

"You fight exactly like you used to" she said between swings

"Didn't have anyone to spar with for six years. Can you blame me?" I countered, shoving her back.

Her blade came high- I blocked, pushed her off balance, then let her come at me again.

"Let's get something straight. If echo leaves, Bellamy and I are going with her." My voice cut sharp, even as I parried another blow.

That made her strike harder, faster, but still she couldn't break through.

"She is not your enemy. You don't even know her" I pressed, locking blades with her.

"I know what she's done. Gina at mount weather. Ilian in the conclave. Me on that damn cliff" she spat

She pushed, and for a heartbeat her strength almost cracked my defense. But I held.

"We all have things to answer for." I countered, forcing her back. Then with one clean motion, I struck her midsection with a hilt, swung low, and swept her feet out. She hit the ground hard, my sword at her throat before she could rise.

"We all have blood on our hands. Things that shouldn't be forgiven- but are, because we did them for our people. Our family. Echo is no different. She was an Azgeda spy.  Now she's with me. Me, Octavia. Your friend. The one trying damn hard to understand who you've become." I dropped the blade beside her with a clang.

"All I'm asking is that you do the same" I say

I turned toward the door, my words hanging heavy in the air.
"Remember who put you in charge. Even when the voices of the commanders screamed at me not to. I trusted you. But you're not the same Octavia I chose to lead" I said

And then I left her there, breathing hard on the ground.

The air outside was cooler, but my chest still burned. I hadn't realized how hard my hands were shaking until harper found me leaning against a wall.

"Hey" she said softly, stepping closer. Her eyes darted over me.
"You're bleeding" she says

I glanced down, noticing a thin cut along my arm I hadn't even felt.
"It's nothing" I muttered

Harper shook her head, pulling a cloth from her pocket. She dabbed at the cut with steady hands, her touch gentler than i expected.
"Diana, you can't just keep throwing yourself into everyone's fight" she says

I huffed a laugh, though it came out bitter.
"That's kind of my thing" I reply

She didn't smile.
"It doesn't have to be. Monty and I- we worry about you. You've been carrying everyone's weight since we landed, and I don't think you've stopped for a breath" she says

Her words made me pause. For a moment, I let myself lean back against the wall, let her press the cloth against my arm. My chest loosened, if only slightly.

"You're one of the strongest people I know. But strength doesn't mean you have to do this alone" she continued

I looked at her, searching for words, but none came. So I just gave her the smallest nod.

Harper squeezed my arm, then smiled softly.
"That's all I needed" she said, meaning my nod, my understanding.

And then she was gone, leaving me standing there, breathing a little easier for the first time all day.

I found echo packing her things, movements quick, sharp.

"We've been through this. You're not going with me." Echo said without turning

"Like hell I'm not. We survive together. All of us" I said

She spun, frustration in her eyes.
"Monty, harper, Clarke-They're all coming too?" She asks

"Yes" Bellamys voice came from behind me

"No" echo shook her head.

"Echo-" I started, but she cut me off.

"You are not dying for me. And neither are they. You've saved me too many times, Diana. And Bellamy- your sister needs you here. She's fighting an enemy she can't beat. And Diyoza knows it. Shes using it to pull Wonkru apart" she said

Octavia's voice sliced through the tension as she entered.
"So what would you do about it spy?" She asked

"The truth?" Echo didn't flinch.
"Surrender. Only a fool fights a war they can't win." She says

Octavia's lips curled into a cold smile.
"I've got a better idea. Spy for me. When that ship comes back tonight people will try to defect, and I can't let that happen." She offered

"Octavia, you know that's not what I meant" I warned

But echos voice was calm, calculating.
"No. But it's smart. If no one goes for the ship Diyoza will think Wonkru's is still unified. She'll lose faith in Kane." Echo says

Bellamy's jaw tightened.
"What happens to the people she turns in?" He asks

"Root out the traitors, bring me their names before they defect. And your banishment is lifted." Octavia didn't hesitate to answer

Her words just hung like poison in the air.

Later, I paced in Monty's tent, my boots dragging lines into the dirt.
"Would you stop pacing?" Monty snapped

"Can you do it or not?" My voice was sharper than I meant.

He threw his hands up.
"I have access to the mother ship form the laser-com but everything's encrypted so no. When we were up there i could have opened a back door from the inside, but we didnt know they had a damn camera." He says

"Hey, hey- Monty. Take it easy." Bellamy tried to steady him, but Monty's anger only grew.

"Look why are we even doing this? So your sister can go to war? What happened to us being the good guys?" He asks

"We are." Bellamy insisted

"Really? Letting her kill people for defecting. Correction, thinking about defecting." Monty fired back

I opened my mouth, but Bellamy beat me to it.
"Ravens a prisoner. Murphy has a shock collar around his neck and is alone in the woods with emori. This, this is how we get back to them. Come on, just try again" he said

Monty shook his head.
"I'm telling you, I can't do it from here." He says

The tent flap rustled. Echo stepped inside, her face pale.
"What happened?" I asked immediately

"No takers?" Bellamy asked

Her eyes met mine.
"Oh no. There were takers. I'm just not turning them in. Some bad things went on down there, Diana. No one will talk about it, not even the ones that want to defect. I can see it in their faces. I'm sorry, I know this means I'll be banished, but I can't do it." Echo says

I didn't hesitate. I nodded.
"Then we're defecting with them." I said

"Diana-" Monty began, startled.

"You said you can't do it from here, but we could do this if we had inside help, right?" I ask

He hesitated.
"I could put the back door code in the thumb drive." He says

Echos voice wavered.
"Diana, Octavia's not joking when she said defectors will be shot." She says

"Admittedly not a perfect plan. But it gives us a chance at staying together" Bellamy admits

"It's settled then. I'm going to check on Madi" I said, I forced the fire in my chest into something steady.

And walked out, leaving the weight of rebellion behind me.