Chapter 3
The First Steps
What an interesting pair, the cat thought to herself.
The feline huntress was perched in a tall tree above a commonly used trail by travelers seeking safe passage through the dangerous Kumungu Jungle.
She knew them, the pink haired woman was Vi and the small blonde boy was Ezreal, both from Piltover, but why were they here?
Nonetheless, they had invaded her territory and she was not fond of intruders who made so much noise, they had to be dealt with.
*Meanwhile*
"Why are you so annoying!?" Vi shouted in frustration.
This prodigy had question after question, there seemed to be no end in sight!
"I'm sure you've heard the murmurs though Vi, everyone's wondering, why can't you just clear the air?" He pressed on.
She was on the verge of knocking his clocks out and continuing on alone, she was thinking wandering around alone and lost in a dangerous jungle would be better then this.
"You and Caitlyn, Vi, we all just want to know if you're, ya know, a couple?"
She had enough.
With a quick movement she spun on her heel, and with a sharp right hook aimed at the young man's jaw.
It would have connected, and most likely knocked him unconscious, but he was ready for that reaction and Arcane Shifted back a few passes, harmlessly out of reach.
With a glare promising a very unpleasant beating Vi made a step to continue her pursuit of the annoying explorer, but was stopped short.
A large spear thud loudly into the ground just between them.
"You call this civilized?"
Just to their side stood a woman. She was strongly built with a dark complexion, that, her dark hair, and her fur clothing spoke volumes.
"Ah, Nidalee, just in time," Ezreal calmly spoke.
Vi recognized her as well, they had fought side by side and against each other many times on the Fields of Justice, and seeing the confused look on the huntresses' face she knew this meeting this way wasn't her idea.
Both women glared at Ezreal, realizing he'd planned something and used them both to reach his goal.
With a strong gulp the young man finally spoke up, "I apologize for making you frustrated Vi, but I had to lure our friend here out so we could talk to her, and I did not believe she'd appear to us unless we raised a commotion."
The Enforcer stared at him with a blank expression, "So, you made me angry on purpose?"
"Precisely!"
"That doesn't mean I'm not still angry with you, Ezreal"
His smirk quickly disappeared as a large hextech fist crunched into his face.
*Later*
"No I will not help you find him!" Nidalee said with as much finality as she could muster.
They were at Nidalee's home, a tree fort of sorts high in the bows of the Kumungu Jungle. Having enjoyed the two Piltover citizen's display earlier on the road she decided to invite them up and listen to what they came to say.
But she obviously was not expecting this.
"Why not?" Vi asked her, "We need to find Rengar to help us with a very big problem back in Piltover!"
"That cur only ever helps himself, to anything and everything he desires! Even if we did find him I guarantee you he will refuse anyway!" The huntress responded.
Vi could sense something more, an underlying dislike, even hatred, towards the Pridestalker coming from Nidalee, "What do you have against Rengar that you wouldn't even help us find him?" She dared to ask.
"He. Kills. Everything!" She roared back. "He sees a beautiful and majestic beast in the wilds and deems it "DESERVING" and then hunts it down and takes its head back to his den!"
The Enforcer understood then, the Pridestalker didn't only kill champions on the Fields of Justice, he hunted creatures of the Jungle in real life as well, creatures whom Nidalee must have taken as friends of a sort.
She was about to leave, knowing there was no point in pressuring the hurt huntress, but her thoughts spiraled back to Piltover, and Jinx.
She had to find Rengar, everyone depended on her!
"Listen Nidalee, I know you don't want to see Rengar, for good reason" she added when she noted the glare coming her way, "but what if I told you my plan could possibly result in the elimination of the Pridestalker as well?"
Nidalee's expressions softened then, "continue" she urged the Enforcer.
Just then they heard a groan from across the dwelling.
"Where am I?" Ezreal asked, and winced when he put his hand to his swollen face.
*Later*
They were obviously heading his way, he'd known for a while, he even knew exactly who it was.
Was the huntress coming to challenge him with an unlikely duo behind her to help?
The thought was enticing, the challenge he relished placed for him on his doorstep, but he knew better. The Institute of War clearly stated to kill another champion outside of the Fields of Justice would result in immediate dismissal and a swift execution.
If they could find you afterwards of course.
So why had they come?
The agile beast, tired of waiting, and not willing to reveal the location of his den, set off.
*Meanwhile*
"Wait, so are you a couple or not?"
She couldn't believe it, in retaliation to the punch Ezreal managed to convince Nidalee it was a great idea to find out whether Caitlyn was her lover or not.
But this time Vi really did need her guide, there was no more punching it out to solve her woes.
"It's all the buzz Vi, we the people have a right to know!" The prodigy continued, with an added bit of flare knowing he was safe this time.
The only thing the Enforcer could do was daydream of ways to retaliate in her own way once they returned to Piltover.
However her thoughts were abruptly stopped when the two Piltover citizen's noted the huntress.
Nidalee had stopped dead in her tracks; she appeared to be too terrified to continue forward.
"What is it?" They both asked, more then a little worried, for the huntress didn't scare easily.
"How did he know? There's no way!" She thought out loud.
Nidalee had told the two that they'd take a route the Pridestalker would not know of or be able to sense so they'd be able to catch him on their own terms.
Apparently she was wrong.
Vi then heard that same low growl, and she knew they had not remained undetected.
"The scent of prey."
Out of the brush ahead of them he stepped, Rengar, the Pridestalker of the Kumungu Jungle.
"Who's head shall I take?"