The distress flare filled the night with a bright green light. Ionian soldiers swarmed in the marsh, encircling the handful of remaining Noxian soldiers. This fight seemed to be the last for Fury Company in the Ionian Invasion. Riven threw the flare gun at a screaming face, sword brandished. Only a minute had passed since the ambush began, and her troops were decimated. She needed a way to save them. Maybe- her eyes darted around the battlefield. She ignored the soldiers assaulting through the mud and the dead, most of them wearing the green and purple uniform of Noxus- stained with blood. There!

Riven found the man who seemed to be the leader at the edge of his forces. As the light dimmed, she charged forward.

"Hold the line!" she yelled back at her soldiers.

"For Noxus!" they cried in unison with her, fighting back the first Ionians. As long as she could kill the commander, the company just had to hold out until confusion set in. The massive runesword in her hand cleaved through the first man who challenged her.

"It's Riven!" the alarm spread in the army. The ambushers started to gather around her. But she knew she could win. The strong will persevere. Her sword started to glow with the energy charged in it.

Then the Zaunite bombs began to fall.

Riven's consciousness returned to chaotic voices. She snapped awake, her senses trying to find the danger about her while she jumped to her feet. She instantly regretted the decision as a wave of sickness washed over her. All the champions from the match sat at a fountain. In the base, minions by the hundreds ran amok, smashing everything they could reach. The cacophony of battle filled the air, the brightly shining nexus spawning new minions every second.

"What happened?" she asked, trying to understand her environment. Some of the creatures tried to overwhelm them, but the fountain's defense system burned through most of them. The few who had time to reach them had to stop and hack at a green barrier held up by the champions with magical aptitude: Ahri, Twisted Fate, Thresh and Elise.

"She's awake." Ahri looked back at her before turning to the barrier surrounding them. "You should tell us. We're as clueless as you. Maybe more."

Riven felt a tug on her hand. Still confused, she looked down at the kneeling Sona holding her with one hand and the etwahl with the other. She tugged again, harder.

"She'd been healing you since Rengar brought you back." Sivir told her.

"How long?"

"About fifteen minutes. Lie down so she can finish."

The girl let herself be laid down. Instantly, Sona's music surrounded her. The weakness receded.

Rengar paced around the barrier, apparently restless in the closed space.

"Something happened, Noxian. It reeked of magic. What did you do with that blade?"

"Ah-" Riven tried to sit up, but Sivir's hand pushed her back on the stone. "Nothing. The Summoner took control of me."

"But what caused the explosion?" insisted Caitlyn.

"It was quite potent." Ahri said, ears twitching in annoyance. "My souls almost escaped!"

"Haha- you should use cages, Ahri. They are far more effective than that measly orb." a quiet laugh escaped Thresh's throat, but the discussion quieted down as they waited for Riven's answer.

"I can't say. All I can promise that it won't happen again."

That wasn't the answer they expected. Sivir's hand grabbed cloth, and yanked Riven up, face to face.

"Listen, girl. I kill only for gold or if my hide is at stake. Nothing else is worth the trouble. The Summoners should arrive in a few minutes, so we're safe. But I might just make an exception for you."

"Try it." the Noxian was unfazed by the threat. She didn't survive alone this long by being harmless, and she had enough of people trying to force their way.

"You b-" Sivir's hand gripped a dagger at her belt, while Riven reached for her sword.

A rifle's barrel came between them.

"Here we have two champions who will stop fighting right now until we're out of the Rift. If you have energy to burn, get out and kill those creeps."

The two girls looked at each other with seething anger, but Caitlyn's hard voice stopped tensions from reaching the boiling point along with the subtle calming tone appearing in Sona's music.

"You're the law, Caitlyn." Sivir let go of Riven, backing off to the barrier's edge. "For now."

With a sigh, the sheriff turned to the girl on the ground.

"I don't want any trouble from you, either."

"You won't get any." promised Riven.

"Splendid. Keep yourself away from Sivir. She hates secrets since one almost killed her in Shurima."

A portal came to life in front of their barrier. Robed Summoners came through, speeding toward the malfunctioning Nexus.

"Now that would come in handy." whistled Ahri as rows of creeps turned to sparks at hand signs from the Summoners. The champions finally let go of the barrier as the Institute took control of the situation.

"Our apologies, champions." High Summoner Malkan, arriving by the portal, gave a bow to the players gathered around him. "The Nexus' malfunction made long-range teleportation impossible. We had to open several gates to get the technical staff here. We can leave any time you desire."

"Not a moment too soon." said Sivir, being the first to make use of the exit.

Riven climbed to her feet, prepared for the dizziness. When it didn't follow, she looked surprised at Sona, the only champion still in the Rift.

"Thank you." she nodded to the musician, who gave her a thumbs-up before hovering through the door.

"After you, Riven." Malkan gestured toward the portal, an offer the girl accepted instantly.

She arrived at what looked like a lounge. It apparently had no doors or windows, but a light permeating from nowhere specific filled the place. The champions already made themselves comfortable in the couches filling most of the floor.

"If you would sit down, we could begin the debriefing."

"Personally, I would love to hear something about what happened during the match." Sivir was still stuck on the topic.

"I've already told you that's not your business, bandit. It was out of my control, but it won't happen again."

"I was asking the boss, deserter."

Riven's blood boiled at the accusation, and a dangerous glint appeared in her eyes.

Caitlyn just scratched her neck at the sight. They were out of the Rift and of Piltover, therefore out of her control.

"I've never deserted Noxus."

"That's plausible coming from someone going AWOL until now after her soldiers got massacred. Maybe you sold them off? I could understand that."

Malkan's hand grabbing Riven's shoulder made her stop before she started cutting Sivir into ribbons.

"I have no right to tell you the strengths of the other champions, Sivir. Fouron, Riven's Summoner, is at fault. After reviewing their conversation during the game, the Institute of War declares that Fouron's insensitivity to his champion is unbecoming of the League. The Summoner is suspended from taking part in further matches. The current match is considered to be a tie, and will be replayed with the same champion roster in the future, if you accept it."

"Substitute me." said Riven. Malkan looked at her, as if waiting for further explanation, but he got none.

"Request noted." finally he nodded, and the bracelets of the champions started to hum. They were being teleported.

"Interesting. A champion not rolling over when the Institute whistles. That's new!" Thresh laughed as he faded to darkness.

"We will meet again, Noxian, even if you don't return. You are one prey worthy of hunting." what was intended as a friendly pat on the shoulder propelled Riven a few steps forward. She looked back at the lion, confused.

'Was that supposed to be a compliment or a death threat?'

"Why did you bring my sword back, Rengar? You could have left it on the Rift or you could have taken it."

"I have no interest in trophies I didn't earn. If I take it, it will be in a fight, not by theft."

The world turned upside down as she was teleported away.

Riven appeared back at her camp as she left it. She noted that the booby traps she set up around the camp were undisturbed. The forest she was journeying through wasn't well-known, but being careless was a luxury she couldn't afford.

She started packing. As she expected, the Institute of War wasn't the place where she could settle. The restlessness urged her forward. After Sona's ministrations, she felt she could go on for days.

Then she stopped. She looked at the thin cords strung between low branches. One of them was torn.

Riven knew a few minutes ago it was unharmed. Her senses were probing to find anything or anyone around her, but the biggest animal she could sense was a squirrel.

'Must have been me.'

A/N: Longer chapters will follow from now on with longer pauses between them. I guess I'm finished with setting the universe and the relations, so finally Riven will interact with others~