They needed to chop wood for the bonfire and hunt dinner to feed their friends and their new allies, but as far as Bellamy was concerned, all that could wait—because his little sister was telling him about her girlfriend.

“She’s from Walden, maybe you knew her. I didn’t, but it seems like we’ve known each other, like, forever…” Octavia blushed to almost the color of her hair ribbon. “She’s just ridiculously funny. I mean, even with everything that was going on, she could always find something to make me laugh…”

Bellamy couldn’t stop grinning, and it wasn’t just because of Octavia’s enthusiasm. It was the simple fact that she was here, standing in front of him, safe and sound and acting like the only thing that happened this past week was meeting Anna.

Everything that Octavia had faced over her lifetime would have broken a weaker person. But Bellamy’s sister was as resilient as steel. As ever, his pride for her verged on awe. He shook his head slightly, listening to her go on.

“And she’s got a serious knack for invention! Her brain is incredible, I’m telling you. She was training to work on the plumbing systems back on the ship, but she’s helping Luke make torches right now and I was thinking if those two get to talking, back at camp, she could make a real contribution to… What?”

Octavia put her hands on her hips. She’d finally noticed Bellamy’s amused expression—but was reading it completely wrong.

Bellamy laughed, arms wide. “I’m sold! Your girlfriend is clearly brilliant and wonderful and you are even more clearly crazy about her.”

Octavia bit her lip, looking at her feet. “I don’t know if she’s my girlfriend exactly.”

Bellamy raised an eyebrow. “Still want to play the field?”

Her smile crept upward. “No, I just haven’t asked her.”

“So ask her now,” he said, nudging her shoulder. “Seriously, go do it. Right this second. Nothing’s guaranteed down here, O. We have to seize the chances we’ve got.”

She drew a giddy breath. “I really think you’re going to like her.”

Bellamy had never seen Octavia look more nervous. He pulled her into a hug and said, “Of course I’ll like her.”

Octavia peered up at him, eyes glittering; then she darted off across the small sandy inlet to find Anna. As Bellamy watched her go, his eyes drifted over the makeshift campsite and landed on Clarke.

She was kneeling beside the bonfire, tending to one of the escapees who’d been injured by falling debris. She looked so determined, so capable, so caring, that Bellamy’s breath caught in his chest.

And right then, he knew beyond certainty that the only future worth living was one with her in it.

Wells came in from the forest, hauling branches for the fire. Bellamy shook himself out of his reverie and strode over to him. “Could you use any help?”

Wells wiped his forehead, heaving a breath. “I think we’re good on wood for now, but we’ll need to prepare one of Bellamy’s kills for dinner. Or… all of his kills,” he said, glancing around at the crowd.

Bellamy shrugged, smiling. “Don’t worry. We’ll figure it out as we go.”

“It’s worked out so far, hasn’t it?” Wells said, attempting an exhausted smile.

“Hell, yeah,” Bellamy said, clapping a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “You managed to rally all those recruits and saved… how many people? Forty?”

“Fifty-four,” Wells said quietly. He scratched his cheek. “I took a quick tally.”

Bellamy nodded. “That’s a whole lot of people who got out, thanks to you.”

“Thanks to both of us,” Wells said, patting Bellamy on the back. His face turned grave, and pain flickered in his eyes.

“What happened?” Bellamy asked. “What’s wrong?”

“Graham didn’t make it,” Wells said.

“They… they killed him?” Bellamy said hoarsely. There’d been a point where he’d wanted to kill Graham himself, but that felt like a lifetime ago. Graham had worked hard to become a helpful member of their new community, and the thought of his lifeless body somewhere still in that godforsaken fortress sent a surprisingly sharp stab of pain through his chest.

Wells took a deep breath. “He… he sacrificed himself to save the rest of us. He died doing something far more heroic and brave than anything I could’ve done.”

They both fell silent for a long moment as they turned and looked over the scattered crowd. Some were clustered around the fire, soaking up the heat. Others were hard at work preparing for the road and the journey ahead of them. A few milled around the forest, looking shocked that they were able to walk around freely.

“I wonder where they’re all going to go,” Wells said.

Bellamy shrugged. “My guess would be… wherever you go.”

Wells’s eyes clouded, more thoughtful than worried. “That would be all right, wouldn’t it? If they came back with us?”

“The more the merrier, as far as I’m concerned,” Bellamy said. “But I think it’s your call to make.”

Wells shook his head. “You’re the Councilor, not me. You should be the one to decide.”

It’d mean more mouths to feed, bodies to shelter. But what the hell? This planet was big enough for all of them. He’d just have to make sure some of them actually knew how to hunt.

Clarke was standing by the fire now, dusting off her hands. He strode over to her.

“How are they doing?” he asked Clarke, gesturing to the patients.

“Okay, I think. Anxious to get going. I think we’ll all feel better once we’ve put more distance between us and…” She nodded nervously to the southeast.

Bellamy’s shoulders tensed. Following the river had already taken them several miles away from the Protectors’ fortress, but he agreed. The sooner they could get back to their own camp, the better.

“We have torches!” Octavia shouted, running in from the forest with the famous Anna trailing behind her, grinning, their arms full of mossy branches wrapped in wet cloth.

“Okay, so I do realize it’s still light out,” Anna said drily, blinking up at the cloudy morning sky. “But I thought these would be helpful once we make camp for the night, since not everyone is going to be able to sleep around that.” She motioned to the bonfire, sending nearly all the torches tumbling out of her arms. Bellamy stooped to help her gather them back up. “Gah! Coordination. Not my strong suit.”

Bellamy laughed. He liked her already.

Octavia went very red and then blurted, “So, Bellamy. I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Anna.”

Bellamy grinned and shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, Anna. I’m glad you’re coming with us.”

Octavia took Anna’s hand and intertwined their fingers. “I can’t wait to bring you home.”

The word home resounded like a chime in Bellamy’s chest. Despite the journey ahead of them, he somehow felt as though he was already there. Home was wherever your family was. And for the first time in a week, they were all back together. His sister was safe and happy. His brother was alive and acting more like himself than he had in a month. And Clarke…

Bellamy smiled slowly over at her, realizing he’d included her as a family member.

Then his heart started to beat, louder and louder, more and more certain.

This is what family means. The people you fight for. The people you can’t live without. Bellamy peered out over the road ahead with dawning exhilaration.

There’s something I have to do.