That night was the first time I had truly cried in years.

I was panicking more than I should have. I knew that I needed to keep a level head. Valor would show up soon, he had only been gone for just over a day... and yet he was rarely gone for more than a few hours. I shouldn't have felt so alone, but I did. I felt aas though I had been abandoned a second time.

In the distance, I heard an owl hoot. Back in at home, in the village I come from, we used to say that an owl's hoot is an omen of death. I push that thought to the back of my mind. The last thing I want to be thinking about is death... or my home. I knew Valor was fine, I had no doubts and no reason to think otherwise.

The funny thing about humans is that we sulk and mourn for years. We find that the death of a loved one can ruin us for a lifetime. We would do our best to protect someone from the inevitable hands of the underworld, fighting to the last breath for just an extra minute with our loved ones, and yet we have no problem with causing death. Killing seems to be a natural and humane thing for us - I have killed ever since I could so that I may stay alive. Equally, I have cried over death ever since I could remember. I guess it's not the passing of a soul that upsets us, but the identity of the soul in passing.

I had trouble sleeping that night, as I would have expected, but somehow I imagined that once I would wake up Valor would be next to me again. That he wouldn't have disappeared in the first place.

Humans are indeed strange. When things don't go their way, they seem to fall into an imaginary world of hope.

The sun rose that morning the same way it does all days, and yet Valor was nowhere to be seen. There were many birds singing amidst the trees, and it seemed sort of odd to me that life could go on.

And after his passing I could not believe that the sun still shone and the moon still rose.

I packed my things away once more and stood staring into the trees around me. It took me a while to figure out where I was, which way was north and which south, but most of all it took me a while to think of what to do next.

I shouted for Valor yet again and heard no response. It was worth a try. I couldn't stand around and do nothing, eventually the moss would grow on me, so I ventured forth towards the mountains. I dreaded ever reaching them, of course, for once at their feet I would not be able to bring myself to hike up them.

When it was time to eat, I managed to hunt a small deer that was too inexperienced to recognise danger. I started a fire and ate, storing some leftovers for later. I could not leave until I left some on the ground around me too. I thought that if maybe Valor would pass this spot, he would have what to eat for definite, although I knew he was a skilled hunter too.

After what seemed like an eternity, a bright blue feather caught my eye almost instantly. I recognied it immediately as it lay forgotten on the ground. Valor had been through here and maybe had stopped to rest in that very spot. I called out for him again, more hopeful this time, but was disappointed when he didn't answer.

I took the feather with me, as if I needed confirmation that what I was seeing was true. I carried on, knowing that I must be on the right track. Valor surely had headed further north into the mountains, but why? Why would he leave without me? I knew he had wanted to go into the mountains for a long time... at one point he said that we would even be safer there, which i dismissed of course, since rapid winds and blizzards are not the definition of safe.

And yet here I was, heading right into the heart of it all.

It took several days, but after following feathers that had been left behind I reached the mountains and was traipsing in between them. I had found a valley that seemed to split the mountain range in two which pleased me as I didn't have to hike up steep slopes with a sleeping bag and tent on my back. However, feeling trapped in between two mountains was risky, and I dared not call out for Valor anymore, in case I caused an avalnche.

I regretted not taking more to eat and drink with me before setting off down this path, but there was no point in going back. By now, I couldn't see neither the start, nor the end of the valley that I was crossing.

And out of all the risks that I thought of while walking through the mountains - blizzards, winds, predators - never once had an ambush crossed my mind.

The air was getting thicker with snow by the time that night was falling, and I wondered how my small tent would fare in the strong winds. It was a pain to set up, but my using a few rocks I got it to stay relativley in place. I was no able to fall alseep however, as the cold chilled my bones.

And I heard footsteps.

At first I had confused them with the sound of the winds, until they had gotten closer and I could make out the rhythmic movement of boots on compacted snow. I stood still, though I knew that I would not go unnoticed, as I didn't know what to do. I picked up my crossbow and readied myself. What a shame that the first time I see a human in years it would have to be a confrontation.

The footsteps were louder now, and more clear. Then they stopped. I held my breath.

Suddenly, the tent was yanked free from the ground and blew freely into the wind. I jumped to my feet and aimed my crossbow, ready to fire.

Standing before me was a stranged covered in furs and a metal chestplate. A horned helmet hid their face in the dark.

"Who the fuck are you?" It was a woman's voice - cold and hostile.

"I've no business with you." I said, backing away slowly, still ready to fire if she were to lunge at me. With every step I took backwards, she seemed to inch a little bit forwards.

"I asked you a question."

"Quinn."

"Is that supposed to mean something?

"No. I said I have nothing to do with you."

She stopped. "Why have you come here? Who else is with you?"

"I'm looking for someone and I'm alone."

She seemed to consider this. "It'd be no use to kill you. You'd just kill yourself soon enough."

I stayed silent.

"Who you looking for?" she asked.

I hesitated. "Valor... he's an eagle."

"Do I look stupid to you?" her voice was loudening again.

"N-no! I'm truly looking for him... he's my... friend."

She stood still for a moment, and it had occurred to me that she may have been frozen in place.

"You fucking piece of shit." She suddenly lunged towards me and grabbed my arm, taking hold of my crossbow. I fired a shot, but it flew straight up into the sky. She spun me round locked my arms behind my back, taking my weapon and arrows. "You think you're funny, eh? D'you take me for an idiot?"

She pushed my arms up my back, making my shoulders ache tremendously. "P-please! I'm not lying to you!"

She relaxed her grip only slightly. "Do you work for Ashe? Lissandra? Who?"

I shook my head. "I don't know who those people are. I've never even been here before."

The stranger seemed to consider this for a second, then let go of my arms. I sighed and turned to face her again.

"No wonder." She said. "I've never seem someone stupid enough to camp out in a fucking tent awaiting a blizzard."

I gulped. "I have no choice."

"I bet. If you really are looking for a bird, I don't know how it could have come this way."

"What do you mean?"

"Are you serious? Look around you. Would you think it could fly in these winds? There've been numerous blizzards recently, the winds are wilder than usual, and I don't believe it came here on foot."

I knew she wasn't lying. "But he must have passed through here... I know it."

The stranger paused before answering. "You seem like a madwoman to me."

And I didn't doubt that one bit. "And so did you to me."

She handed me my crossbow and arrows back. "Sorry about your other things though." The tent and the sleeping bag had disappeared in the distance, blown away into the snow. It would take me far too long to find them again.

"Well they weren't much use here anyway I guess."

I got ready to resume my search for Valor, since I knew I wouldn't get any sleep that night. I nodded to the stranger and set off once more, walking blindly into the snow.

"D'you need somewhere to rest?" I heard her shout behind me.

I considered the offer. "Why are you suddenly helping me?"

She didn't reply.

I chuckled and carried on. Journeys were better passed in the company of non-humans. Or none at all in this case.