8 months later

Madi. That was the girls name. She was kind, stubborn, and fierce- fire in her veins and innocence still in her eyes.

She remained me of myself, long ago, before blood and loss hardened me. These past months hadn't been easy. Not because of surviving with her. Not even because of teaching her to trust me. The hardest part was the flame.

When you take the flame, you're supposed to have a flamekeeper to guide you- to teach you how to let the commanders in, but not let them control you. I didn't have that luxury. Every night the dreams came. The voices. The pain.

At first, it was bearable. Then it became suffocating. I stopped sleeping. Stopped eating. The dark commander clawed at me in every shadow, whispering for me to give in. Without anyone to stop him, I did the only thing I could- I took out the flame. Placed it in its container. Kept it safe.

There was no one left to lead anyway. No war to fight. Why suffer under it when there was no point? But deep down, I knew one day it would be called for again. Maybe by then, I'd have a flamekeeper to help me.

"Diana?" Madi asked one night by the fire, her small voice breaking through the silence.

"Yes, Madi?" I ask

"My mom died in praimfaya. I didn't have anyone else. And now... it's just us. You take care of me. Are you my mom now?" She asks

Her words hit me like an arrow. I looked at her, holding back tears.
"I'm only your mother if you want me to be. Anyone would be proud to call you their daughter" I answer

Her face lit up with a smile.
"Good. Because I want you to." she said

I smiled back, my heart breaking and healing all at once.
"Well.... I guess it's settled then." I say

"I guess it is, mom" she giggled, crawling into my arms, hugging me like I was the only thing holding her world together.

And maybe I was.

6 years later

I stood on the rocks, throwing my spear into the water, pulling out fish for dinner. When I walked back, the sound of the rover's engine reached me, Madi hoped out, grinning.

"Hey, wash up- it's supper time" I called

"Look! The berries are ripe." She said, running over to me.

I laughed.
"That's nice. Come on, I caught, you cook" I say

"Mom, you promised. Last season there wasn't enough. But this year, they're everywhere. I'll cook for a week and clean up" she begs

"Two weeks" I bargained

She groaned, then smirked.
"Deal. Come on, I'll drive" she said

"Fine, fine. I could use a hair refresh anyway" I laugh

That night we sat by the fire, her head in my lap as I braided her hair. She flipped through my sketches, asking about faces she'd never met.

"How could they not think she could win?"  Madi asked, pointing at Octavia.

"English this week" I reminded her with a laugh.

"I'm just saying, Skairpias a beast. Of course she'd win the conclave." She says

"I knew she would from the beginning" I say

Madi studied the drawing of Octavia.
"Don't worry. She'll get them out of that bunker. I know she will." Madi said

"I don't doubt it" I smiled faintly

She turned to Bellamy's page.
"I'm sorry they had to leave without you" she says

I brushed her hair gently, smiling.
"Well, I'm not. Because if I was with them, I never would've met you." I say

That made her smile, eyes softening. She curled into me tighter.

"What about them? Do you think they'll come back too?" She asked me.

We both looked up at the stars.
"I hope so" I whisper

"All of them" I muttered when I spotted strangers through my scope. Armed. Dangerous.

Madi's eyes widened.
"Who are they? Why are you so scared?" She asks

"I won't let anything happen to you. Do you understand?" I tell her

"Maybe they're friendly." She suggests

"Maybe. But until I figure this out, you stay hidden." I say

"No mom-" she starts

"This is not up for discussion, Madi. The scouts never found you there. Neither will they. Promise me, you'll stay in the hidden." I said

She hesitated, then nodded.
"I promise" she said

"Good." I handed her a small knife and gun.
"Don't shoot unless you have no choice" I say

"I'll make sure it's my only choice" she nods

I kissed her forehead.
"I love you" I whisper

"I love you too" she repeated.

I watched her slip into the hidden hole before I turned back towards the strangers.

I tracked them from a distance. Armed to the teeth. Military precision. Whoever they were, they weren't survivors like us.

Then I heard it- Madi's scream.

"Madi" I sprinted, heart hammering.

A man has her pinned, gun aimed at her leg. I didn't hesitate- my knife sank into his arm. He dropped. Another rushed to me, and I fought him off, fury fueling every strike.

"Mom, watch out!" Madi's voice cut through, followed by a defending crack of a gunshot.

I spun. Madi stood, shaking, the gun smoked in her hands.

I rushed to her, grabbing her face gently.
"Hey it's okay. It's okay" I whisper, I pulled the gun from her trembling hands. Turning to the man still breathing on the ground.

"Wait. He tired to help me. I think he might be a good guy" Madi stopped me

My jaw clenched. My hands shook. But I couldn't risk it.
"Until I say otherwise....there are no good guys" I said

And I pulled the trigger.