CHAPTER 14:

The Patrol

The morning sun had arisen, and the small house on the edge of the woods was shadowed by the galloping of horses and the clashing of metal armor plates against the wind. Talon had again stayed in Quinn's room, while Quinn had stayed in Caleb's, Quinn's Father had begun to respect the boy and allowed him to stay. Yet as the small village began to awaken from an inanimate sleep, shouts were heard in the distance. Curiosity and fear hung in the air.

Hours before the sun had just peaked above the horizon, two figures were walking together to the now quiet town square unaware of the approaching galloping of horses. One wore a brown tunic with long sleeves that had been sewed delicately with blue thread and green scarf. His thick wavy brunette hair slightly ruffled from the morning breeze, and facial features were relaxed with eyebrows raised naturally as if smiling in the peaceful morning. Orange eyes radiated a calamity rarely felt from the assassin himself. In his right arm were two wooden buckets. He turned to look at Quinn, craning his neck slowly down as he was a head taller than her. The girl smiled cheeks healthy and tinged with a soft pink, she turned to look at Talon. Almond brown eyes glimmered with glee of their first walk together to the sleeping city square. Suddenly both of them turned to the caw heard in the air. A large sky blue falcon flew above them, twirling in place and beating his wings in defiance as if to say, 'look at me!'

Quinn laughed and raised her right arm as she invited Valor over to rest with her, "O' come here your greatness!" The large blue falcon shuffled his large talons on her arm and bobbed his head against her cheek almost as if he were asking for another compliment. Quinn rolled her eyes and snickered, "well, I know no other bird that can do amazing tricks like you!" Suddenly the three took a left across the dirt pathway. Small houses and stores sat quietly as the steps of two people were heard and the occasional laughter and cackle of a mischievous falcon. Talon looked around surveying the landscape. No inns were found, and the 'buildings' were at least one or two stories high. I held a rustic tone to it, like a small town from a story book one would read as a child. Talon's lips slowly raised itself into a soft smile. A cozy little town. Something as different from the slums of Noxus, yet as precious as a jewel in muddied waters. It wasn't touched by the Demacian influences at all. If it was, it seemed like many years ago that it had been touched by any. He wondered if this is what a yordle town would look like, he scoffed to himself. They were a little people who supported themselves, he respected the little creatures. From the corner of his eye, he saw Quinn glance at a two story building. He turned his head away from his surroundings, he raised his eyebrows in question at her.

Quinn looked around and grabbed his hand a walked across the building. Soft hands were gripped in rough wide ones, Talon gave a soft squeeze to the delicate pudgy gingers he was gently grasping. Suddenly Quinn paused and turned back, looking left and right in a similar fashion to Valor, who rather than look left and right once, kept mocking the girl before she tapped his beak giggling. Quinn tip toed towards Talon.

"That's the building of the Melton girls..." The girl continued to whisper, "They always made fun of me and bullied me from since I was a little girl, to today... But you know- they are the tax collectors children..." Her eyes grew blurry, as she shook her head. "Their family was light ties with some Demacian figures. The Melton's said to me and Caleb when we were younger that we could go to the young-youth elite Demacian Squad. We would be trained... early, but they wanted us to give gifts... They said we needed to give money to them to speak to them. So we tried to give a few of what we have, money saved so we could talk to the recruiters, but they lied!" Quinn clenched her hands tightly and hissed while turning her head away from Eldgar. "They said we weren't interested in getting recruited and that we just wanted to be farmers and they told my family... And Mom actually believed those snakes."

Talon stood rigid, eyebrows frowning. Wheels churned and clicked in his head.

Gifts? They wanted bribes... They lied to her. I thought that in Noxus people did that, but this is even worse than Noxus because it's 'Demacia.' So much for honor. I bet those people didn't even have ties. They just wanted to con a young child out of their money.

"Whose money did you use?"

Quinn sighed and patted the large Falcon on the head as it cooed softly, "Caleb deliberately stated that we would use his money." A small smile graced the girl's rosy lips. "Caleb was such a kind brother. He told me to save the money for myself to enjoy and that his money was for the both of us..."

Talon smiled before quickly huffing, his frowning growing deeper "who actually got in?"

Quinn shrugged, "Well one of the balcksmith's older sons, Jaelrin. The two daughters liked him, and not to mention, his family always crafted nice things for their family. So it was an easily sealed deal from the start."

Talon's lips scrunched up in disgust as if he had eaten a sour grape. The land of Demacia sure has its perks... A second voice in his head snapped, Demacia is trash. Anger flared in his chest. And these are the people she wants to serve and possibly give her life up for? She can't do that. Something else would be better. A question left his mouth before he could stop it.

"Why do you want to even serve the Demacia when their people are horrible? Seems like a waste to me. I don't understand why you-"

Talon mentally slapped himself.

Stupid. Talon bit his tongue, the way how I said it came out really mean. It was almost as if he were shouting and scolding her for something she didn't know much about. That moment he regretted ever meeting Kat, he regretted meeting her harsh attitude. He opened his mouth to apologize but was interrupted. Quinn's brown eyes were wide with shock. "What do you mean? Don't you know? I told you everything yesterday... I don't care about if people are mean or bad to me- I mean I do, of course I do- but I'm doing this for Caleb and myself. We need this. Not anyone, not my grudge, but myself." Quinn shook her head at him and stormed off to the well in the center of circular town square. "I thought you knew better, I thought you actually understood me. I thought we were friends. I thought you understood!" Valor's beady eyes pierced into his soul and he cawed at him angrily before flying after the running girl with beating wings. Talon rushed after the girl.

"I'm sorry! It's just," he waved his arms in confusion, "I didn't mean it like that! I'm just saying that if this is how Demacia is like- in a small village. Then imagine when you are in the military! It will be worse! I don't want to you to be hurt or sad from not achieving your dreams. You have so much potential in doing something else! Like a doctor, or artist! You could paint in peace and still be renowned, no bloodshed!"

Quinn paused. And stood still and Eldgar skidded to a halt, panting. She wordlessly took the buckets from his arm and begun to pick up water from the well. Her eyes were shooting daggers at him as she glanced at him and looked back at the bucket. He hissed as she begun to pull the bucket up from the well "I wanted you to come with me, to see my home. We could have got water from a river, but I wanted to take you to all the places where we and Caleb went. I told you what I was afraid of, about Caleb and my dreams-do you know how painful it is to lose someone you loved so so much? And this is how you-." She paused and begun to tremble. What was she saying? She slowly looked at the eyes of Eldgar. Orange eyes pleading. Guilt dug itself into her stomach.

"I'm sorry." Quinn sighed, "I can't believe I let my temper like that, it's just I thought you wanted me to follow my dreams- I already know you don't like me going to the Demacian military- my Dad doesn't like it either, but..." She looked at him in the eye and held his hand in hers. "You are the only who I ever did open up to. If you don't let me follow my dream I will already be hurt from not following what I want." Quinn smiled, warmth radiated from her cheeks, "I'm so glad to have met you, you are so kind, and I know you want the best for me... But I can't do that. I can't run away from what Caleb and I wanted. I have to do this. No matter what. I can change Demacia maybe. A small pebble when dropped in the water makes ripples right? No matter how big or small." A single tear trickled down her left eye. "I'm sorry I'm such a cry-baby. I cry over every little thing. I'm weak. I just can't do anything right. Not since Caleb- he was the only thing that made me think I could do something. I don't want you to stop me from doing something that I need to do to save myself. Maybe I can't even get into the military. I can't believe I got upset at you especially after the day you came back... What kind of person am I?" The girl laughed before hiding her face under hands wet with well water. "You must hate me."

Talon smiled and huffed with laughter. A heavy weight from his chest was lifted as another one was dropped again. Her 'outburst' was nothing compared to Katarina, but he couldn't help feel sorrowful about letting her side with his enemy. He raised a hand and wiped a stray tear. Orange eyes looked into almond brown with mixed feelings. He felt a small string between him and her would be placed in a cold winter if she were to go. He was breaking her spirit from his own hatred against the Demacians. But he couldn't help but feel right, it was a losing game to enter the Demacian military. She could get some benefits, but not much besides discrimination and corruption. Though it won't be half as bad as Noxus. Yet an image passed through his mind. An older Quinn, a renowned painter with a broken spirit, thinking about the dreams of her and a dear loved on who she wished was with her, and a friend who seemed to always disappear for a time who told her to follow his wishes and not her own. He shivered.

"I could never hate you." He felt a tingle in his fingers as he said that phrase. The words lisped off like honey and inside, he felt a gentle warmth radiating.

A small voice in the back of his mind whispered quietly I think I love her..?

He blinked his eyes twice, pushing the warmth away before continuing his sentence. "I just want you to be going a safe and more... direct? Errr, Conventional path." He gently tapped her cheek with a single finger. "You have an amazing talent for art, I don't want you to forget about when you go off on the field... Because when you do, you forget things that were once lovely." He patted her head fondly, "it's my fault for talking rudely in the first place anyway." Both of them laughed, even though they felt at a loss at each other's opinion. Quinn opened her mouth to reply before a thundering of metal hooves pounded against the dirt. Valor shrieked hopping on Quinn's arm in stress. Talon quickly pushed her behind him, arm place in front of her. Quinn couldn't help but blush. Quinn looked up and saw a soldier in clad silver armor and helmet. The rims of the each gauntlet was embezzled with gold. She looked in awe with a wide mouth. A proud pronounced chin from the captain looked towards the direction of the slowly rising sun of the burning pinkish-orange blue sky. Blue capes flailed in the wind the silk shimmering in the orange hues of light. Citizens began to open their windows and doors. The soldiers looked around and nodded at their leader.

"Citizens of Demacia! Have you seen a stranger enter through the woods through here?" The voice boomed and caterwauled across the still quiet village. The villagers shook their heads however were staring at the man besides Quinn. Quinn froze. Curiosity was ebbing its way into her head, she wondered what the soldiers wanted to know. Eldgar however stood still and relaxed, looking at the captain with a lightly 'puzzled' face- yet still, something seemed rigid about him. It was as if he wanted her to stay quiet. The soldier glanced down at the boy in the green scarf, he noticed how the boy had an arm in front of the younger girl. He smiled.

"I mean no harm young children." Talon mechanically moved his arm away from Quinn, hiding his face in embarrassment. Quinn couldn't help but bite her lip and stepping aside awkward laughing. Valor however expanded his wings and cawed at the captain. The captain laughed, before starring at the bird intently "that's a pretty bird you got there, is it yours?"

Quinn gawked at the captain before pulling her composure and stood with a straight back and angled feet. "Yes sir, it is my falcon." The Captain looked at the bird closely as he got off his white horse. Dust parted as he landed on the dirt ground. "Mind telling us where you found this falcon?" Quinn opened her mouth to reply enthusiastically however Talon cut her off.

"The bird found her. We don't know where it originates. Injured. Flew to her with its strength and she healed it. It's been with her ever since, and..." he looked the Captain in the eye. "Only answers to her." The Captain hummed to himself with slightly narrowed eyes before returning back to his jubilant prose. "Hmm, say, young girl, would you like to donate your bird to the Demacian government or military?" He extended his hand toward her. "It will be a great service to Demacia." Quinn stared at the man. She didn't want to give Valor away. Valor however didn't let Quinn decide and flung itself at the Demacian soldier. Shrieks pierced the air.

"Get it off!" "Hurry! Idiots!" The villagers reeled back in surprise. Quinn jumped to drag the falcon feebly and murmured apologies underneath her breath as she felt the glare of the patrol bore into her. Talon only huffed. Two large scratches were found on the man's face. Suddenly, a large blond woman with a chubby face and blue eyes came running out of the crowd.

"Oh, oh my gosh! General Creneaux!" Quinn looked to the side and rolled her eyes stepping away. The large lady bowed before the captain now referred to as General. "General Creneaux. Hi! It's so nice to see you! Isn't this girl so lovely?" The lady looked at Quinn with a large smile, however the eyes glared the opposite. Two other girls came behind her, one with a chubby complexion and a stubby nose, and another that looked gentle and quiet. Talon narrowed his eyes on both girls. He wasn't stupid, he knew people that carried dangerous auras. He recalled the words of his sister when he sat down like a wilted flower next to her listening to her pretend classes, 'demure, and quiet, and with something going on behind their eyes are the ones to watch out for. They thrive on using others for their benefit.' Cassiopeia smiled back at talon with pointy teeth. 'Remember Talon, I know it because I know how to play and jest with that game... Except I don't fall to that low of a level.' Talon grunted and his vision returned back to the large lady, who he presumed was the mother of the two girls. "Such a peevish girl, this is the child I was talking about, the one and her brother that wanted to join the army but actually didn't want to? Remember I told you that she just wanted to be a like all of the others? Get married, meet their dream boy and not go to war? Well that is her. She may told you she wanted to go the military, but that's just a fake. She's lazy and I honestly think that she doesn't want to have a part in making Demacia. She lacks the determination and diligence." Quinn looked at the lady in shock and disbelief. Her cheeks grew red from a mixture of utter disbelief, embarrassment, and anger. Talon's arm reached for a dagger in his belt and clenched the blade. Trembling, he struggled to not let his arm move in swift motion towards the vile woman before him. He felt a kindling fire grow as it burned inside him.

"You fat pig!"

The crowd gasped, Quinn shrieked, "Eldgar!" The lady slowly turned to him, her passive aggressive smile showing her white teeth. "And who are you? I thought that those not in the military or in contempt outing must respect those who are. Also, I will be needing to know about someone taxes soon..." The lady paused, her friendly voice immediately inserted, "For the sake of Demacia." Talon silently began to grind his teeth. If only you knew. You'd be begging for your life right now. The lady turned away from him as she thought to herself of her own 'win.' "That bird, the girl has, is a gift from the village to you, specifically commissioned from the Melton's." Talon and Quinn's head shot back to her.

"What?" Talon growled underneath his breath.

The woman gave a friendly smile to Quinn and she reached to hold the girl's hand in hers. "Oh Quinn, don't you?"

Quinn gingerly took her hands away from the woman, and eyed her from the corner of her eye "you just back-talked me? Why would I give my Falcon that I found to you or him?"

The General stood still in front of them. He was around the same height as Talon, except he was a half head shorter. It was a strange sight to behold. A local man taller than a soldier- who was now moving his face towards the general.

"That old witch is lying! The bird, falcon, found her! You are idiots to not recognize that this old lady is a freak. You just heard him ask her" he pointed at Quinn to his right, "if she wanted to donate her bird." Talon didn't stop there. "Also, why would you ask a kid to give you their pet? What kind of freak are you? You are so greedy- Isn't Demacia supposed to help the poor- not take from the poor? What kind of system is this? Not to mention," Talon spun around to the woman behind him and pointed an accusatory finger at her, "I don't care about your useless taxes, why should I pay for taxes when people like you pass it on to other useless pigs like yourself. What kind of kingdom is this? And who's in charge? What? King Jarvan? Oh wait- he's not here! He's on vacation!"

Quinn looked at Talon in horror, what did he mean Jarvan was on vacation? She had seen pictures and heard stories of the youngest Lightshield member of the Kingdom being valiant and rescuing the city of Demacia. The soldiers that visited the town when she was just a five year old girl had told her about Jarvan. He was to be king and was a truly honorable man with a hatred that could best the burning fire of Noxians. He had bled wounds and scored hundreds if not many victories against Noxian advances. A single word escaped from her lips in a hushed whisper.

"Vacation?"

Talon stood still seething. The captain's eyes grew wide and his lips curled back into a snarl. Chubby fingers suddenly dug itself into the rugged brown tunic Talon wore. The lady Melton screeched at Talon's face.

"Do you know what you have done?" Quinn stared, expression incredulous. Lady Melton knew something about the royal palace that we didn't? The large women brought her face up to Talon's and hissed venomously, "who are you?"

Suddenly murmurs of confusion, skepticism and panic rose through the crowd.

At the moment Talon knew that he had made a big mistake.

I thank you all for reading this, I hope you all liked this story, please fave, review and follow :) It really means a lot to me :) I've been going through some patches but I'm learning to lift my spirits up. Listening to some more Enya. Love it ;p

WILL QUINN PROTECT TALON? WHAT WILL SHE DOOOOO WHAT WILL TALON DOO? OOOH YOU MADE A BIG BOO BOO! Plus, tally's feelings are getting stronger ;p Look at him getting roughed up over his little Quinny. heehee

;p Hope you noticed how over protective he is in this chapter

Jokes aside:

I hope you liked this chapter. I'm trying to paint the truth about some societies, because in my opinion, the idea of both perfect cities is lovely for story, but unrealistic as Noxus has it perks of allowing a person use their determination to find their way as the cost of in some cases, ones humanity (which I made visible [hopefully] with Talon's change and reaction to seeing the hypocrisy of Demacia) in life. He wanted to like Demacia since it was everything he wished, yet- when he sees this from living in a place like Noxus feels a bit barren that no nice place exists.

The Melton's I hope are symbolic to not just a random antagonist that I inserted for plot tension- I hope it really triggered a sense of how many talents that do try to their hardest to succeed get shut down by large institutions. I just wanted to make the world seem more realistic and not perfect because as you see- Talon is from Noxus, Quinn is from Demacia. Realistically speaking if they are to be a couple or friends at least you are going to see how one bias (Talon's) will bore into the minuscule detail of Quinn's home. I wanted these views to clash and give depth to characters. Talon can say irresponsible things when he gets too caught in his emotions, remember he knows more about politics that Quinn and in fact does contracts to eliminate political enemies and etc in the Name of Noxus which makes him have a bias viewpoint that Noxus sucks, but isn't bad since Demacia- as good as it sounds like, does have leeches that really ruin it for others which can also mean, if such a clean shaven place can keep it so nice on the outside- whats it like on the inside?. But I wanted to give depth and allow Quinn to speak her mind and move onward. I know she seems whiny, but she's young, she's lost confidence in herself after she lost something so dear to her- it's natural that she needs to build up herself.

We know people that want us to be well but usually end up hurting our feelings right? I really wanted to convey real emotions that we feel today- which is why I [hopefully for you] made the character dialogue more passionate and flared than before. In this moment it's when the biases show up (QUINN AND TALON ARE STILL YOUNG) later, we will see how their views develop :p But I really wanted to make this emotionally ' feel-able' as in you can understand each others perspectives.

Also have you ever met people that wanted to take something from you so dearly? xD Well I put that as the general- it was crazy xD Tell me if you have experience something like that!

Wow, big summary oops. . But ahahah, Thank you all for everything, ;) it means a lot. ;p Stay tuned. I'm sorry for the large hiatus but I'm really busy, I hope you all have an amazing day, thanks for reading! :D I hope you enjoyed reading this :)