She took a deep breath and waited.
In a moment the large mahogany doors would open, creaking with the screams of a thousand lost souls. The sound made her hair stand on end, but Leona was no stranger to the screams of death. She watched as they swung outward slowly to reveal the dimly lit corridor. The flames from the torches flickered gently, illuminating the walls with tiny orbs of orange and yellow light. Sighing, she began to walk toward the summoning platform. She prayed silently to the Solari for a good match while waiting for the platform to move. The straps on her shield felt tight; the hilt of her sword rested comfortably in her palm, battle ready. The white tile circle she stood upon began to shift and groan, and upward she went to Summoner's Rift.
Upon arrival, she was greeted by the warm sun reflecting brilliantly off of her shield and armor. Leona allowed her eyes to adjust to the illumination, and briefly glanced around to meet her team. In bottom lane she would be paired with the Outlaw known as Malcolm Graves. She did not mind him, he made jokes on the battlefield making her fight more enjoyable. When the duo hit bot lane, there would be no stopping them. Their mid laner known as Kayle the Judicator, unfurled her white feathered wings and adjusted her helmet slightly. The angel turned to Leona and cried out, "Our support has finally arrived!"
Malcolm Graves gave a gruff chuckle and muttered, "Don't you mean our dawn has arrived?"
Leona smiled. She purchased her Relic Shield from the storekeeper, grabbing a few health potions for sustain, and her warding trinket. The announcer gave a grand welcome as always, alerting the Champions that the turrets have been activated with minion spawning soon to follow. Leona walked out of base to see her jungler and top laner already composing battle plans. This came as no surprise to Leona since Pantheon was the Artisan of War, and a man she knew from childhood. The warrior was speaking to Xin Zhao, the Seneschal of Demacia. Both Champions had been hardened by many battles and were eager to indulge their knowledge with one another.
"I expect my lane to be tricky. I have faith in my abilities, but this hulking Noxian is bound to be a pain in my ass."
Xin Zhao nodded, "I can come top lane after I defeat the Ancient Red Golem. Then, we will crush the scum of Noxus."
Leona could only imagine the man beneath the gladiator helmet smiling at the thought of a successful gank. She could feel his gaze upon her, but quickly she strode past the Nexus turrets to her lane. Graves, as he told her to call him, was leaning nonchalantly against their final outer turret. His shotgun was propped on his shoulder, cigar smoldering to ash as always.
"Ready sweetheart? Lane'll be hard no doubt. Just do your best, sunshine."
Leona straightened her stance, "You are correct, it will be difficult. But do not let the Bilgewater seductress distract you, Graves."
Her remark made the outlaw lower his gaze and chuckle, "You're feisty this morning sweetheart. Just what I needed to brighten my day."
Leona knew that Miss Fortune the Bounty Hunter was not only that, but a hunter of hearts as well. Many men have succumbed to the allure of her charms only to be rejected. Or worse. But that did not trouble her much, Graves merely was looking forward to seeking revenge on the opposing mid laner: Twisted Fate. The moment a team fight was to ensue, he would surely focus the Card Master. The announcer alerted that the minions had spawned.
"Leashin' time, hurry so I can get the full wave." Graves commanded gruffly.
"You are the one who is always late to lane. Do not blame me." she retorted.
The duo assisted Xin Zhao in killing the Ancient Blue Golem. They assumed position in bot lane, and as she was told, were able to make it to lane for the full wave. Leona was worried; their opposing lane members were missing. The Fallen Angel known as Morgana would surely be lying in wait in one of the bushes. She knew the tactic all too well. The sound of Graves' shotgun and the gentle breeze was all that she heard. Leona walked to the first bush on red side, standing in max range to place her trinket ward in the next bush.
"Careful sunshine." Graves called out, killing minions. As Leona placed her ward, the duo was still out of sight.
"I don't know why you take so damn long to leash. You're so fucking slow!" came the whining cry of Miss Fortune.
Morgana followed behind her and calmly replied in a dark voice, "It's not my fault you stopped to flirt with Darius."
The redhead was stunned for a moment, "How the hell did I even get stuck with you? I bet you can't even land your skill shots either."
As Leona had predicted, Morgana walked into the first bush on blue side, looking for an opportunity to cast her Dark Binding. Luckily Graves knew his positioning and stayed behind minions, blocking her chances. The lane was very passive. Both of the attack damage carries continued to farm creeps. Miss Fortune hit level 3 and was starting to become impatient.
"Why don't you land a binding or something? I wanna see some action. This is so damn boring!" she yelled to Morgana.
The Fallen Angel sighed. She moved outward from the bush, clearly attempting to make a move. Leona's instincts kicked in immediately and stood in front of Graves to intercept any bindings made. The two supports watched each other with ferocity, waiting for the first move. Leona knew she should wait and be passive until they had help from their jungler. The dark angel wanted to oblige her lane partner's command of initiation, lingering on the edge of the bushes.
Miss Fortune moved closer to Graves, stepping to the side of her minion wave, "I thought you were supposed to be a part of the unstoppable bot lane. You're not even doing anything. I was expecting to have a hard time. Looks like you've gotten soft Gravesy dear."
At that moment Morgana casted her ability, missing Graves as he used Quickdraw to escape, landing the Dark Bind on a cannon minion. She threw her Tormented Soil underneath Graves to achieve some sort of damage.
"Your dark sludge doesn't do much. Land a bind, then we'll talk Morg." Graves taunted.
Miss Fortune laughed, "Well, I guess he think he's hot shit. You should know better than that, prison rat."
Leona knew that she was only trying to get him mad enough to engage. Graves took a long drag from his cigar, and continued to kill minions without any further banter. Perfect lane timing allowed the duo to hit level 6 before Miss Fortune and Morgana.
"Hey sunshine, listen. I have enough to grab a B.F. sword. This lane isn't doing anything if you wanna—,"
Leona heard footsteps from the direction of dragon pit. She held up her shield and gestured her sword slightly toward the river; Graves knew by the look on her face. The duo had been pushed up more than halfway in their lane, sure signs of a gank invitation. The Champions began to retreat when Leona heard a familiar voice. One she had long forgotten, buried in the dark, deep recesses of her mind.
"Well well well, what do we have here? Darling, it has been so long. You look positively glowing."
The voice came from Diana, Scorn of the Moon, and Leona's oldest enemy.
