The Fox and the Guardian
Part I: War for Demacia
Chapter 1: Soup and Names
When my eyes opened, the pounding in my head instantly greeting me, I was confused to find a ceiling of rock above me.
I groaned and sat up, carefully rubbing my temple to ease the pain.
Andy, you're up!
Morning Kait… what happened?
I looked around, and tensed as my eyes landed on the form of the wolf eared woman.
She was sitting on a large boulder quite a distance from me, her golden eyes glowing in the shadows as she watched me.
The moon shone through the opening next to her, the pale light contrasting the bright fire in a dance of shadow and flickering light.
Her attire was still the same, and fortunately my armor was still on; obviously she didn't Rob me or try to kill me in my sleep. Thank the light.
But what confused me was the worn blanket draped over me and the soft fire crackling about halfway between us.
Well, uh, she kinda dragged you here. But I'm thinking she's actually nice! I mean, she could've just left you out in the forest.
It was a fair point.
But confusion still swept through me and I noticed a mattress, an oil lamp, and a small nightstand.
All in a cave…
Well. Not the weirdest thing I've seen.
Also… Andy, there's no Comms system. No transmat zone. No light. Not even darkness.
Wait what!
None of it and I-
"I…"
The woman's voice caught my ear and I glanced at her, Kaits voice stopping short.
No light was a problem, but I needed to address the more present issue.
Her knees were pulled up against her chest, arms wrapped around them and chin rested on top as she watched me.
Nine tails twitched lazily at her sides.
"What's your name?" She asked, her voice soft and sweet.
I blinked.
It… well, my memories we're still fresh, and I remembered the fight rather clearly. She was harsh and volatile, clearly capable of protecting herself.
But her voice…
It seemed guilty, or pleasing even.
I narrowed my eyes, what was she up to?
"Names Andres. Friends call me Andy."
She nodded gently, her bangs falling over her face softly. Golden eyes kept on my face.
"Unique." She replied.
"Yours?"
She hesitated, biting her lip as she contempl- "Ahri."
"Huh," I nodded, "nice name."
She hmphed, though amusement plagued her eyes.
I groaned, stretching my limbs as I made to stand, but my eye caught her tense, tails and arms tensing as if she even as expecting me to attack her.
In an instant she changed from a curious woman to a coiled up beast ready to strike.
I raised my hands slowly, palms open and facing her, "it's fine. Just standing."
A breath shuddered through her and she nodded softly.
I stood, my joints cracking as I did, and I felt the distinct lack of my hand canon. Or my blades.
I glanced at her but she kept her eyes on mine.
Where my weapons we're gathered.
She cringed as she noticed my gaze and opened her mouth, "wasn't sure if you weren't a hunter. Last person to attack me… well, she wanted my tails."
I frowned, "I don't want your tails."
"I know, I figured that out when I woke up. If you did you would've tried harder."
I tilted my head, both impressed and curious as to how the woman knew I was holding back in our little tussle.
"How'd you know?"
She smiled meekly, "I'm observant," then she sighed, "plus, the magic around you wasn't agitated. You don't want to fight but..."
I sighed and smiled kindly, "you kinda attacked me."
She blinked this time her eyes flashing with golden power before calming.
Golden eyes looked to the ground at my feet, "I'm sorry. It… I didn't… accident, I just..."
Something in her voice cracked, and I huffed, taking a step closer before speaking, "hey it's fine. Besides, no harm done right? I'm in one piece see!"
I flexed one arm and did my best impression of the smoulder look.
Her eyes landed on me, an eyebrow raising as she smirked lightly.
I grinned and continued, "plus, you got a nice cozy cave! Nothing better to wake up too!"
Her smile turned to a grin, her two fluffy ears perking up and her tails twisting happily as she replied, "I um… I don't have much food… but, I made that for you in case…"
She nodded her head once to somewhere behind me.
I turned, only now noticing the pot that had been set behind my resting place.
It hovered over hot coals, a few steel prongs and legs holding it up.
Tow bowls sat next to it.
I smiled and looked back at her, "thank you but-"
Take it! Girls obviously trying to say sorry you meanie!
You're a child.
But you love me!
Her ears lowered just an inch.
Debatable.
"-but I'm starving!" I grinned.
Calmly I made my way over, and snagged a bowl before looking into the pot and seeing not only a simple metal ladle with a wooden handle, but a few pieces of what looked like chicken and lettuce.
Simple broth for a simple wolf lady.
I took the ladle and served myself some, glancing back to see the woman now off her boulder and watching me with genuine curiosity.
Though she was still a good twenty feet from me.
I grabbed the second bowl and filled it anyway, careful to carry mine in the crook of my arm.
I held out the second bowl after filling it, careful to extend my arm to it's full length as I offered it out to her.
The woman watched me carefully, tails twitching in either excitement or nervousness.
I wasn't sure.
Still, I hoped she took it.
It was a peace offering so to speak. She didn't seem evil, definitely not a pawn of the darkness, and hell if I'm being honest… well the fight was her fault mainly but she seemed to genuinely be trying to make up for it!
Sue me. I'm not an asshole, and she wasn't actively trying to kill me so screw it!
Might as well make a friend in… uh.
Kait, where are we?
Honestly, I don't know. No Comms, not sat pictures. Nothing. I couldn't even tell you what time it is without seeing where the sun or moon is. All my functions are out of whack.
So… what you're saying… is we're fucked?
Maybe? Kinda scary though… it's just us…
Hey I got you. I've never let you down before!
My attention was drawn to the woman as she stepped forward, eyes glued to mine, tails swaying slowly.
In a sense… she reminded me of a kid. A shy kid, who's only knowledge of strangers was based off few experiences and observation from a distance.
On the other hand, she painted me as a wary survivor who'd seen and been through too much.
The truth was probably somewhere in the middle.
She continued towards me, Kait filling my mind with apprehension the closer she got.
Sometimes the link between a Guardian and their ghost was annoying. Too much shared feelings.
The black haired woman snagged the bowl from my hand, quick to take a few steps away from me, watching for any sudden moves.
When none came, and I simply sat down and began my meal, the woman finally relaxed.
She took a seat a dozen or so feet from me, careful to keep an eye on me as she ate.
Paranoid much.
We attacked her. She probably has trust issues too, look at the poor thing.
But she's fine!
No wonder you're single.
What the hell does that have to do with it anything?!
The silence as we ate was… uncomfortable to say the least.
I'm used to eating with Guardians, grand warriors who are loud and boisterous. Annoying to an extent with all their tales of glory. Or downright depressing in the case of those like Eris Morn.
But nothing like this… an awkward meal between you and the person you literally just fought.
It was something though. More than any other enemy had done for me.
If you could even call her an enemy.
The broth was a welcome boon to my predicament, chicken dissolving in my mouth and the broth itself warming me as it traveled downward.
It was satisfying, little spice or seasoning, but simple and warm.
A good meal, especially considering we were in a cave.
And… well, from the looks of it… this girl probably lived here.
"So," I asked, clearing my throat as her eyes narrowed cautiously, "if it's not a touchy subject, what exactly did you do to me?"
She went wide eyed, tails freezing, and for a moment I feared she might tell us to leave.
But she calmed suddenly and closed her eyes.
Her voice was soft once more as she answered, "I can… sense the essence of those around me. Yours is… intoxicating."
Did she just call you hot?
Not sure?
"I…-" she gulped, "I'm sorry. I just… I just acted, I didn't mean to hurt you."
I chuckled, an action that she quickly noticed and once more narrowed her gaze at me.
"Hey it's fine. Been in enough fights myself, so hey don't worry about it. You didn't kill me so no worries. Plus you gave me soup." I raised the empty to bowl with a grin.
Her lips twitched with a smile, before she shook her head, "thank you."
I shrugged, "don't worry about it."
She nodded.
I've scanned the atmosphere but I… it's different from earths. No light, no darkness either. Completely void of any of it. Like… Andy we're on another world.
Great, figured as much… but… how did we end up here?
I'm not sure. I can't remember hardly anything from our last mission. But it was on Venus.
Five bucks says it cause of the Vex. Damn robots.
The woman sighed and stood abruptly, something having caught her attention as she walked towards the front of the cave where one could barely make out her silhouette.
I raised an eyebrow and I saw her wrap her arms around herself.
There was… a glow about her.
This girl's got some obvious issues.
True… kinda feel bad not helping her at least. After all she did kinda take us in. Even if it was out of guilt.
Then talk to her you dolt.
I huffed and stood, leaving my bowl next to my spot and started towards her.
Her tails flicked to the side, an ear turning towards me as she tensed.
"So, where exactly are we?" I asked, careful not to reveal my exact dilemma as well as stopping at least ten feet away from her.
She relaxed when I did stop and replied, "Ionia."
"Ionia? Huh." I muttered. Well, at least this place had a name.
"Where are you from?" She asked, turning to face me with obvious curiosity.
"Earth."
She raised an eyebrow, "boring name…"
I chuckled, "you're not wrong."
She looked at me with a tilted head, the edges of her ears folding down.
I waited for her to speak, but instead she just watched me.
A strange sensation, one of unease came over me. I felt vulnerable without my helmet.
I can materialize it for you if you want.
It's fine.
I shifted on one foot, my eyes glancing over to my weapons still laying near the boulder far to my right.
When I looked back at her she was staring at me with eyes twinkling I'm both curiosity and fear, "i've never seen armor like yours before. Or weapons like that."
"Ah," I nodded, "well, they were… custom made."
She simply blink so I replied in turn, "I've never seen a wolf girl before."
"Fox and im a Vastayan, not a fox girl," she muttered with slight disdain.
What's a Vastayan?
You're literally the super computer here… if anyone would know it would be you Kait!
I raised my hands, "sorry, I'm not all that familiar with this country."
She shook her head, "it's okay and.." then smiled sadly, "I am sorry for attacking you… I'm… an-and for being a bad host… I-Im..."
Her words died out, pain lacing her eyes as she looked away and back out to the moonlight and the trees beyond.
I huffed and smirked, taking a few steps to stand next to her as I crossed my arms and looked to the stars.
The view was breathtaking from her cave.
It was angled on the foot of a mountain, above the treeline, and just high enough to see the flickering lights of what must've been a town in the distance.
But the view; stars high in the sky, purple and blue swirls of the Galaxy above us like a painting, dark clouds hanging in the distance from the storm earlier. A large moon in the sky and a forest of dark but obviously plentiful trees.
The air was fresher here, cool and damp with a calmness to it.
Still, her apparent guilt tinted the mood, so I replied with a honest smile, "don't worry about that fight.. Honestly. I don't hold grudges okay?"
She nodded somberly and I continued, "plus you're a great host! Last person's house I went too they tried to blow me up with a lot of explosives.."
Her eyes went wide.
Are… do you mean that mission with the Cabal on Mars?
Well yeah! We were literally on their ship and they tried to blow us up. I figured it counts right?
The thought does! Look at you being all sweet.
What are you my mother?
"How did-"
I shook my head, "long story short, I blew up their house and well… we're definitely not friends after that. Haha, but hey, you gave me soup and a warm place to sleep," I nodded back to the cave.
"That counts as a great host to me, especially since we just met lady Ahri." I grinned with the use of her, trying my best to make light of the situation.
She rolled her eyes before flinching at her own reaction.
Instantly her tense mood returned and she looked back to the moon.
Damn. Girls really got trust issues.
She lives in a cave Andy. That should've been your first hint.
Fair point.
Then her voice picked up once more, "so why are you in Ionia?"
I blinked, "what?"
She shifted again, the moonlight from the caves entrance bathing her in the ethereal glow, golden eyes glimmering. "You're not Ionian. Most foreigners don't come here for no reason."
A hint of accusation filled her voice.
Man this girl was hard to read. First she's friendly, then she's feisty and untrusting.
What next? She's gonna try and eat my soul? Ha.
I rolled my eyes, but sighed and replied, "not here for any real reason. Passing through mainly."
Wasn't untrue. But I don't think telling this girl I'm from another dimension is gonna slide. Like, who would believe me? Aside from another guardian obviously.
She hummed something before glancing at me, "the nearest town is only a days walk from here. You're free to stay the night if you want."
I chuckled with a curt nod. It was a nice gesture, but I'd rather sleep on my ship and see if-
Andy, when I said we're not on Earth… that also means we have another teensy problem…
Kait…
We have no ship or sparrow. And we only have the guns that were on you…
Do you ever have good news?
I still have my back pink and blue shell!
I hate you.
I pushed aside my connection with Kait and looked to the moon.
"That would great. Thank you."
She smiled softly and replied, "the least I can do… you're weapons though umm…"
I waved it off.
"Keep them if it makes you feel better. I'm not gonna attack you unless you attack me so we should be square. Right?" I raised an eyebrow at her.
She nodded to me, tails happily swaying behind her.
Huh. Easy to read if I just watch the tails.
With a mighty huff, tension seeping from my shoulders now that it was clear we weren't gonna kill each other, I sat down at the edge of the cave.
"So, tell me about Ionia. This is my first time after all."
She smiled.
Ahri watched as the strange human called Andres, bid her goodnight and returned to his spot in the cave.
Their discussions of Ionia had gone for a while, and though the stars were still high, she could hear the creatures in the forest beginning to stir.
Dawn was coming.
And yet her heart raged with emotion.
This… guardian. This man was an interesting fellow.
His essence was unlike any she'd ever crossed, and even though she had tried to drain him, he simply waved it off as a simple 'tussle'. The fool had no idea what she'd almost done to him.
Yet, she could vividly remember how his essence was simply… simply too powerful to devour. As if his soul and power we're too pure.
She never encountered that before.
It'd always been easy. Even with the shopkeeper who tried to take her tail.
Even paralyzed, a simple look had allowed her to control and steal the shopkeepers life essence.
The fact he was so resilient…
It felt comforting.
Finally, someone that she didn't have to fear about draining.
Someone who could survive her.
Her eyes widened a hair as she looked back at the moon, though her attention wasn't on the sky.
It was a simple realization.
She couldn't drain him. He was in no danger from her.
He was… safe. Which meant she had nothing to fear.
She didn't have to fear draining him. Unlike… unlike the painter.
Her mind ached as the memories struggled to make sense, the vision blurry.
Damn the gardens for stealing him from her.
She should've been stronger…
With a shake of her head she pushed the thoughts away.
It was a blessing he was so unnatural. His scent spoke of stranger lands, but nothing that he did spoke of unfavorable intentions.
Hmm.
Maybe tomorrow she could journey with him to show him to the town.
It was nice to have company for once.
It got lonely being the demon of the forests.
A/N So here's chapter 2. Not much action but a bit of interaction between Ahri and our Guardian.
In case you haven't read Ahris lore she's not the most… sociable person. She's done a lot of bad in her past, and well, I tried to portray how she has a lot of regret and guilt here. Hence her trying to help the Guardian after fighting him.
Yes the Guardian was holding back, but I'll tell you now he's a lot more powerful than Nate from the Darkest Knight. One reason being their are character in league far beyond anything in Overwatch, and also hes, if you can't tell, super nice and almost naive. Plus he's not as skilled, in case the fight with Ahri didn't show case that well enough. Where Nate is a pinpoint shot and swordsman prodigy, Andy here… is not. Hence his failure to even wound Ahri, though Ahri is no slouch of her own. We'll see more of that later.
Also, no Guardians are not immune to mental attacks. That's proven when Eris Morn is driven insane in canon by the voices in the darkness. And even then that wasn't true mental manipulation. At least as far as I know, forgive me if I'm wrong. But as I see it, a natural powerhouse like Ahri is gonna blow through any Guardians mental defences with her own power. She's a mastermind manipulator mind you. Though she's not evil.
Hope you enjoyed. God bless!
Next chapter will be next Saturday, the 26th.
-metal4k