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Stupid. It had been so stupid of him. Why had he decided to go alone to speak with the grounders? What did he think he could accomplish? Peace. That was what he wanted; peace and to help out others and figure out how they farmed down here. Those new plants he’d found, he wanted to know about them. But the second he’d stepped foot near that village…

He was slowly moving, trying to get to the clearing. They’d chased him, beaten him, and left him near the edge of the tree line; close to arkadia, but not close enough. The group couldn’t see him from here, couldn’t know to rush out to help him. So close, but so far away at the same time. Pain shot through him as he gripped at the ground, slowly inching forward some more.

It was when he heard the sound of a horse approaching that he was sure he was dead and done for. They’d send someone to finally finish him off. Shuddering, he weakly coughed up blood, resting his head on the ground. There was no fight left in him at this point. If they’d come to finish the job, then he’d let them. He was so tired…

“Bryan?”

The voice caused him to lift his head, gritting his teeth at the pain that shot through him as he did so. His vision blurred and he tried to focus again, trying to breathe through the pain. Hearing someone dismounting the horse, he tried to focus on who’s voice that was. “…Octavia?” He finally managed out, breathless and unsure if it was loud enough for her to hear that he was still alive or not.