Quinn is asleep , dreaming soundly . Reliving the days lost in the past . A time of mourning , a time of despair .

Caleb is dead , her dear brother is resting beneath a gravestone at the town's cemetery . The monster responsible for his death is still unaccounted for , lurking in the shadows , stalking her from under the bed , inside the closet . Her parents are devastated , their faces are red and swollen , they sleep next to her , crying in their sleep . The toddler sobs too , wishing , begging for her brother's return .

She prayed to the king first , then to Justice , it didn't take long for her to turn to the Noxian gods of revenge , the ones that her country despised and mocked . No one answered , she runs her hand across her brother's desk . His old painting book , his wooden soldiers , the strange coin he was so proud of . She swallows , she kneels , the tears escaping her eyes again . Her mother finds her in the morning still sobbing , clenching her brother's pillow on her chest .

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No one believes her , no one will even stand to hear her story , they just pat her on the head and walk away . Caleb died on a landslide , he drowned , he fell , a terrible accident they say . There is no beast hiding among the trees , no ruby eyed monster praying on the townsfolk . Her father is distant , he starts drinking , he is fighting with mommy a lot . It isn't long before he leaves them . Mommy cries .

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She is visiting the forest again , her eyes scanning the trees for any sign of the monster . The silence is eerie , sunlight is slipping through the branches . Everything is still , everything is silent . She is expecting to feel the beast's fangs on her neck any moment now . She doesn't . She spots a majestic bird instead perched on a log , its hard gaze inspecting her .

It is beautiful , an avian king fierce and proud , it steals her breath away . Quinn smiles , she steps closer only to notice Caleb's whistle on its beak , her eyes lighten , she approaches it slowly .

" Caleb ? "

The avian looks at her , it spreads its wings and ruffles its feathers ready to fight . Of course it is not Caleb , but the thought is pleasant and comforting . She takes another step , the bird screeches , the whistle falls on the ground . She kneels slowly and flexes her hand , leaning ever so lightly trying to grab the whistle .

It is but an old piece of metal with a hole on it , bought by their father from a street merchant . A trivial thing really , a get well gift from when Caleb was sick . Her father had put it in a small box filled with cheap candy and set it on his bed next to his pillow . Quinn could still recall her brother's excited cheers upon finding it .

A trivial thing indeed , nothing for Quinn to risk getting her eyes gouged out for . But it belonged to Caleb , it is an important treasure for her , filled with loving memories and laughter . The bird attacks , it pecks her hand with its beak .

The toddler screams in pain , her finger starts bleeding , she glances at the whistle resting between the bird's talons . She tries again and again the bird keeps pecking her .

" Give it back "

She can hear the tears in her voice , she tries to hold them back . She bites her lip and tries again , the bird pecks her . She sobs .

" Please , give it back "

Another attempt , another failure . She is crying now , her whole body is shaking , she reaches for her brother's treasure with her bloody fingers , the bird screeches , Quinn presses on .

"Please "

She looks into the birds eyes, her wet amber orbs reflected on its fierce silver ones .

"Please , it is important ."

She tries again , the bird let's her take her prize this time , she clenches the now bloody item on her chest still shaking . She remembers her brother's smile , his sparkling eyes . The way the sun fell on his hair , his wrinkled clothes stained with mud from when he was chasing frogs . Oh that crooked smile . She eyes the bird that is observing her curiously , its head tilted to the side .

"Thank you "

It seems to nod ,maybe it is just her, she closes her eyes reminiscing of the last time they played together .

They would be knights, protecting a castle made of branches and rocks . Quinn would guard the entrance and Caleb would search for enemies . He would blow his whistle if an enemy approached and they would fight him together , stop him from harming the king and protect the country .

He never got the chance to blow the whistle , the castle was stomped as the adults dragged her away from the corpse , the rug at the top is now torn and dirty . Someone had cleaned the blood .

"I will whistle and we will meet in the castle "

Quinn can't take it anymore , she raises the bloody toy to her mouth , her trembling lips touch the dirty surface and she blows and blows and blows until she is out of breath but nobody is coming .

She collapses on the log and covers her eyes , her hands hiding her wet face . She sobs her heart out . The bird jumps on the ground and rubs its head on her hand until she calms down .

"Caleb! "

She wakes up drenched in sweat , tears rolling down her cheeks . Valor lands on her bed and she hugs him . She is taking deep breaths , her face pressed on his feathers . Her eyes land on the figure standing in the shadows . She strokes Valor's head as she locks eyes with the monster . It doesn't take long for Vayne to avert her gaze , a cup of warm milk resting on her arm intended for Quinn . She doesn't dare approach her .