A Boy and His Fox Ch. 21
Author's note: Hard to believe that there'll only be 10 more chapters or so left in the series. You guys have been awesome throughout the entire thing. If I could keep this story going forever, believe me I would. But the truth of the matter is that the thing that makes a truly good story is that it has to end sometime. Don't worry, I intend to keep writing. I've had way too much fun writing this much so far and I'm not going to quit just because one legacy ends. I'll have to start a new one. I've got a few ideas cooking in the pot upstairs. Chances are as I get closer to closing I'll create a bunch of "First Chapters" I've been considering and compile them all into one story. Then I'll let you guys tell me which one you like best and want me to continue. Needless to say I'm going to finish Smoothest Criminal as well; still a coin toss on Sound & Fury. While I love Cres I feel like his character just doesn't fit quite well. Who knows, maybe I'll find a site and make something completely original. If that does happen I'll be sure to put the link in my profile for you guys . But, 10 chapters is still quite a bit, and since I'm alternating between stories when it comes to posting you guys still have about 3 more weeks worth of updates until only Smoothest Criminal is being updated. Again thank you all for your amazing support, I wouldn't be able to keep writing as much as I do without it. Please continue to tell me what you like, what you don't like so that I can mold my story to better suit your tastes. –Kiba Roberts
We said our farewells as Nasus guided us out of the pyramid. He even replenished our supplies for us and agreed to escort us to the edge of the desert. Lux gave Amumu a hug telling him that she promised she'd stop back by on her way home to Demacia, and with Ahri clutching to my arm the five of us headed off into the desert sun. My feet had begun to callous and blister with the heat of the sand and Ahri seemed to be experiencing the same as we both squeezed one another's hand harder and hard, attempting to endure the pain.
"I don't understand Kal…why is it that you are doing this thing?" Nasus asked. "Torturing yourself escapes me; you must have some reason for doing so."
I smiled softly at him wincing as I felt one of my blisters come open as I turned to him. "Long ago…before this place was a desert it was a beautiful land. The entire area was filled with lush forests and spawning metropolises. Human kind began to war over the paradise, each side using large wanton amounts of magic without even considering the consequences. Eventually the corruption of the magic on this land caused an apocalyptic cataclysm that nearly destroyed the planet. Gigantic hurricanes, huge earthquakes, electrical storms, floods; all of it plagued this land until one day the whole place became nothing more than sand. The ground was tainted. Nothing could grow. No water would fall from the skies anymore. All of human-kind then came together and formed our League of Legends so that the war and magic could be contained. I put myself through this trial…out of the respect of the souls who have fallen here and so that I can remember the reason I became a summoner in the first place: to ensure that no one should ever suffer like this again. Ahri does so because she wishes to show me that my burdens are not mine alone to bear anymore." I smiled softly as I watched her continue walking. "Something I am very grateful to know."
Nasus smiled at him and gently he reached into his pack retrieving a small clay jar. "When you reach the end of the desert place this on the bottom of your feet; it will work quickly to heal the blisters." Taking the small jar I bowed my head to him politely. It was hard to believe that after only two days we were almost at the end of the desert. We had moved quickly and along the way I had learned quite a bit about myself and about my feelings for Ahri. That was when we saw the flash of metal as Renekton leapt from the desert sands. I tried to draw my blade but as I did the sound of a gunshot filled my ears as the blade leapt from my hands sticking half way into the sands. Turning I saw Miss Fortune standing there with her pistols, a trail of gun smoke coming from the barrel. The five of us gathered into a circle ready to duke it out as another foe appeared, green flames backlighting his empty eye sockets.
"No!" Lucian cried. "No we killed you! I saw you die!" Thresh gave an evil laugh as he swung his scythe in circles.
"Oh poor little Lucy…you only wish I had died! Now you will suffer like all the rest!" He let out a cackle as he held up the green lantern. Lucian raised his guns angrily as a dagger flew from a nearby dune knocking one of the guns from his hand as well.
There standing on the hill was Katarina an evil smirk on her face. "My, my, my, look what we've found friends. It seems that the worthless baby summoner and his friends are stuck in the desert with no one to turn to for escape. Now is when your death is at hand!"
I gritted my teeth glaring at her. "You forget! We've got five to your four, you're still outnumbered Katarina!"
She smirked, a cold stare in her deep green eyes that gave me pause. "I beg to differ, summoner…you must have already forgotten about your dear friend Warwick…" I looked in the distance and saw the traitorous wolf out on the horizon. His summoner stood behind him a sphere of influence glowing in his hands. Warwick let out a howl that chilled my blood but reaching down and wrapping my hand around the hilt of my sword I prepared to defend myself.
Katarina smiled. "Now, now summoner. Put down your pigsticker. We have no intention of fighting you…that's up to our newest friend. We stand here merely to ensure you don't escape. You're not leaving until she kills you…or you kill her." Off in the distance I could hear a soft humming and turning that way my hairs rose on the back of my neck. Skipping happily an empty gaze in her eyes was a small ten year old girl holding a teddy bear in her right hand.
"No…you didn't!" I growled angrily wheeling on Katarina. "How could you?! If you've got a problem with me then fine but for Gods' sakes she is just a child! Is there no distance you'll go to try to make me suffer for sharing a different ideology from you?" Katarina laughed.
"Ever so arrogant! This has nothing to do with you Kal, this has to do with me, my summoner, and the fox girl over there. You were just stupid enough to get in the way, as usual. But I tell you what…surrender the fox girl to me and I'll release the ten year old to you. Safe and sound." Flames lit in my eyes as I began to tremble with rage and fury.
"Not gonna happen!"
"Your loss. Annie!" The little girl smiled softly as she approached and I held my sword defensively as she came closer.
"Hello there mister…do you want to play with me and my teddy bear?" I said absolutely nothing as I watched her, nervous as to how I could bring myself to fight a small child. "Tibbers and I love playing with new friends, don't we tibbers?" She giggled softly before tossing her bear towards me. Midair the thing turned into a giant flaming grizzly that let out a terrible roar knocking me to the ground.
"Kal!" Ahri cried and as the bear lifted its giant paw a shield of light surrounded me blocking its strike as Lux smiled at me.
"Get up Kal! This fight isn't over yet! Don't take her for granted. Pummel her first, then we can decide what to do with her." I nodded and raised my sword quickly ready to duke it out. I let out a deep breath over the blade as icy crystals formed on its surface a frozen wind surrounding it as I lashed out at the bear cutting frosty swathes through its flaming hide. Suddenly Annie raised her hand wrapped in a tiny plastic bead bracelet and from it huge jets of flame filled the air around me canceling out my frost magic. This young girl was powerful, even more so than me. So that's why Magnus had kidnapped her, he wanted her power to himself!
Just as she began to charge up an even larger fire ball Ahri stepped in front of me. "Wait!" She cried. "I'll go! Just don't hurt him! I'll go with you peacefully, but you have to swear to me that you'll let the others go unharmed!"
"Ahri no! I won't let you leave with them!" She turned towards me and slapped me hard across the face.
"Kal! Now is not the time for you to be the arrogant hero. Now is the time to think. They can take me away but that doesn't change the fact that you can still come and rescue me. I love you Kal…and if you don't let me go now they will kill all of us. So please…just stay quiet…and let me go." I looked at her rubbing my cheek.
"Ahri…I don't know what will happen to you…I don't want to lose you." I gently walked to her and gave her a hug kissing her cheek. "I love you so much Ahri…" I nuzzled her cheek which she reciprocated.
"Ugh…can we just get on with this?" Katarina groaned and Ahri turned from me before nodding and walking towards them. It was then that a large blue circle began to form beneath them. A teleportation spell ready to take them away. Including Annie. They weren't going to go back on our deal not a chance. I rushed forward towards the little girl and tackled her to the ground as the rest of them teleported. She began to struggle her eyes glowing a fierce green as she got ready to cast another spell. Taking my hand I pressed it to her forehead and closing my eyes I silenced her, removing her ability to use magic temporarily. Something else came out with the silence…her eyes became normal again and she stopped resisting as her mouth opened a small green sphere floating outward. I grabbed it before it could float away and looking at it I realized that it was a miniature sphere of influence! So that's how Magnus was doing that. But how did he get it? Only the council could make a sphere of influence. Squeezing the thing tightly I managed to shatter it into powder and placed that powder in a vial. I needed to take this to someone, someone who could help me analyze it and track its origin. Lucky for me I knew the perfect person to see.
I stood up slowly and helped Annie to her feet. She looked around herself and seeing her teddy bear on the ground ran to pick it up clutching it to her chest. Slowly she walked back to us and looked up at me. "Mister?" She asked softly. I knelt down next to her and gently ruffled her hair.
"Yes Annie?"
"Thank you…for not letting them takes me again." She walked closer to me and wrapped her arms around my neck giving me a hug. I smiled softly and wrapped my arms around her too giving her a hug before picking her up and putting her on my shoulders.
"C'mon little one. Let's get you home." She smiled at me and held on to my head as we continued through the sand. Thoughts ran rampant through my head. What would happen if he put one of those things in Ahri… what if he managed to make it permanent? What could I do if we had to fight? I couldn't hurt Ahri…I just couldn't. Chances are she'd kill me and I'd be powerless to stop her. But on the other hand…I couldn't let Ahri just live like that. She deserved to be free, even if it meant dying. My own thoughts conflicted with one another and as they swirled about in my head I was suddenly aware of Lux walking beside me.
"Kal…" She said softly.
"Yes Lux?"
"I…I want to help you find Ahri." She said softly as she held on to my arm. "I know you didn't hear us talking…but she's my sworn sister. I can't just let Magnus take her like this." I smiled at Lux and gently kissed the top of her head.
"Thank you Lux. I'd be glad to have you with me. We'll need a lot more than the two of us though, we'll have to find others who are willing to give us a hand. The most obvious one is Jinx. She's waiting for us in Piltover right now. I think Tristana and Teemo decided to go back to Bandle Town, so they're both no-go's." I looked to Lucian frowning softly. He hadn't spoken to me since I mentioned his wife's death. I knew it was over the line, and I didn't know how best to apologize.
"What about you Lucian…would you come with us?" Lucian looked over his shoulder at me, giving me a gaze that was colder than ice.
"Sorry Kal not interested."
"But Lucian…we need you. We've made an excellent team before."
"And how well did that work out for Ahri?" He asked an angry glare on his face. "I just want to go home and rest. I'm tired of going out and about with you. You've always put us in the worst kind of danger and I'm sick of it Kal. I won't help you."
Lux glared at him. "Lucian, you're a real son of a bitch you know that?" She walked over to him. "I get it Kal hurt your feelings, but are you really willing to sacrifice Ahri because of it?" Lucian whirled on her.
"Look here Princess, I don't care how high up the noble tree your family is. As far as I'm concerned Ahri is Kal's problem and his alone. If not for the fact that you're here, I probably wouldn't have even come along in the first place. I'm sorry about Ahri, I really am; but face it Lux if Kal had been a bit less risky and had planned this out a bit more she wouldn't have been taken in the first place."
I stepped up to Lucian. "Lucian. I'm sorry for what I said. And please, right now I would do anything if it meant getting Ahri back. Whatever you want from me Lucian you have it. I swear. Just please…help me get back Ahri." He looked at me with a frown.
"Sorry just doesn't cut it Kal." He sighed softly before continuing. "But…I haven't forgotten that you saved my life back in those mines. And I know…that if you had been there when my wife died, you'd have done everything in your power to save her. I'll help you Kal on one condition. When we find that undead bastard Thresh, he's mine. You can take on all four of the others if you like, but you leave him to me understand?" I nodded.
"It's a deal Lucian."
We began to reach the edge of the desert as the sun began to set coloring the whole sky pink. Annie had her arms crossed on my head and was sleeping on Tibbers a soft trail of snores coming from her. Having finally come to a point where grass was once again growing I groaned sitting on a rock nearby and looking at my feet. They were covered in blood and pus, the burning sensation fading incredibly slowly from them. I watched as Lux sat beside me and opened the small clay jar that Nasus had given us. She slowly rubbed the ointment on the bottom of my feet and I winced in pain. It felt as if someone had mixed lemon juice with rubbing alcohol and were now rubbing it into my wounds. Sure enough though, once the pain had gone away my feet felt excellent.
"Thanks Lux. I really appreciate it." I kept my voice hushed as I slid on my boots, not wanting to wake Annie. I stood back up and smiled at Nasus. "Thank you Nasus, we wouldn't have made it through the desert if it hadn't been for your help. I wish there was some way I could repay you." Nasus smiled at me and placed a massive hand on my shoulder.
"There is something you can do. Take care of that little girl; make sure that she ends up safe and unharmed. It must be hard for her, to have such greatness thrust upon her at such a young age. She will need someone like you to help guide her down the right path." I looked down at my feet.
"But…how can I do that. I can't even find the right path." Nasus sighed softly.
"Sometimes my friend, the right path can't be found until you've become lost. You will find it, and yourself, once again. I am sure of it. For now, it is best you get her back to her parents. I am sure they are worried sick about her."
"Thank you Nasus, again." He nodded and bowing to all of us he turned back disappearing into the wind blown desert. I turned to the others with a soft smile. "Well guys, we've made it through the hard part, we've even managed to find the girl. Let's bring her home and see the smile on her parents' faces." Lux and Lucian nodded in agreement and so we were off, heading towards the place where Annie was supposed to call home.
We weren't far off from the other end of the Voodoo Lands and up ahead we could see a large wooden gate with a giant snake carved around it as if protecting what was kept inside. This must have been the headquarters of the Gray Order, meaning Annie's parents were inside here. The night had risen on our journey there and the gates appeared shut. Pushing on it the doors opened slowly to reveal a nightmarish scene. Corpses littered the ground. Examining them closer it was clear what had happened. Kat had come here…worse she had slain everyone here. We walked through the silent town, blood flowing freely in the roads as we headed deeper towards the large house where Annie lived with her parents. Annie stirred softly and immediately I covered her eyes to prevent her from seeing the gruesome scene.
"Hey! What are you doing? Let me see, let me see!" She yelled as she attempted to pull my hand away. Finally she managed to wrench free of my grasp and seeing her village in this state she fell silent, unable to speak.
"Annie…" I said softly. Annie looked at her house and took off banging on the door loudly before stepping back and ramming into it hard, the door opened under her force and what she saw was a sight that no child should have to see. Her parents lay on their floor, blood slowly pouring from their mouths; their eyes open with blank horror. Annie fell to her knees, covering her face with her hands. Soft muffled sobs could be heard as her shoulders heaved. Now she was truly alone.
This was worse than Noxus, this was a complete and total nightmare. Even after getting what they wanted I couldn't believe that they were so cruel as to come back and take this from her too. I walked over and knelt beside her. I gently took my cloak and wrapped it around her swaddling her in the large and soft fabric. "Annie…I'm so sorry. I promise you…when we find Magnus…I will make him pay triple what you have had to pay for his avarice." She turned towards me and threw herself in my lap crying loudly as I stroked her hair trying to comfort her. Lucian and Lux gently went over to the bodies.
"I suppose…we should get to work burying them." Lux said softly.
Lucian knelt down beside them gently making a cross over his chest. "Gone is the life of two innocent souls, taken before their time. Death is a mercy, and now they have been spared the pain and suffering of life. Their spirits now laid to rest, their bodies shall return to ashes and dust from which they were born. May peace await you on the other side. Amen." He gently ran his hand over their face closing their eyes so that they could be put to rest.
Annie looked up at me, her eyes still filled with tears. "Kal…" she said softly. "Please…take me with you…I don't want to be here alone…" I nodded softly to her hugging her close.
"Annie, you're more than welcome to come with us. I promise I'll do my best to take care of you." Looking at Annie, it was as if I were looking at Nicole. "Annie…I know it may be soon to ask…but what do you want to do with the bodies? We could bury them if you like…or we could burn them…which would you prefer?" Annie sobbed some more before she took a deep breath and wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
"Let's put them on an altar and burn them…they'd have wanted it like that…I think." I nodded and so we set to work, collecting all of the bodies in the village and placing them respectfully on a gigantic altar. Using cloth sheets we found inside of the houses we wrapped them all and we stood, waiting for someone to say a few words.
Lucian began. "Though we had never met any of these people…I can tell by the way they cared for one another that they were good and decent beings. When Noxus began to become corrupt, it was they who were the first to stand up and refuse to be pushed down. Their lives were not meant to be taken this way, and those who have committed this act will face the wrath and judgment of the Gods and by our hand they will be sent to them."
Annie sniffled stepping up. "I know…that I'm just a kid…but everyone here took care of me. I didn't just have one mommy and daddy…I had a whole bunch. We were more than just neighbors, we were family. I hope that wherever they're going it's nice for them there." She walked over to where her parents lied and gently kissed the cloth they were wrapped in. "Good night Mommy…Good night Daddy…I hope you sleep well." With that she stepped back and holding out her hands set fire to the altar. We watched as the flames rose higher and higher before we began to walk back to Annie's house.
Hopefully the bad guys left clues behind when they raided the village, so we decided we would all search Annie's house to see what we could come up with to give us an indication of where we may find Magnus. We tore the place upside down, and had almost no luck. No footprints, no note, no taunting message scribbled in blood. We were at the end of our rope with no leads and no way to follow them. However, when we searched through Annie's parent's library we managed to find something that would be of help.
When I had first spoken to the council they mentioned that there was a way to identify if a champion and summoner were meant to be together. A pair of magical rings hidden somewhere in the world that when worn would either bind the champion and summoner permanently or make it so that neither could bind with anyone else ever again. According to one of Annie's family's books this was technically inaccurate. In actuality there were four rings in total. Two were silver and were meant to remove the ability to bond permanently. The other two were made of gold and when worn would permanently bond the summoner and champion. A plan began to formulate in my head. We may not be able to defeat Magnus on equal ground, but if there was one thing we could do it would be to drain him of his biggest asset: his control over the champions. If we were able to retrieve the rings and get one on to his finger we'd be able to remove his influence over every champion he had. The book described a path from the village heading east to a lost city known as Icathia, where inside of an ancient temple the four rings were said to be held. However, the place was guarded by fierce creatures, each one guarding one of the four rings.
"Well everyone…let's head to Icathia. Once we get the rings we'll take the powder I collected from Annie's influence orb to Piltover and find someone who can help us trace it back to Magnus. This place is very dangerous; legends say that the only two people who made it back were driven completely insane by the Void that supposedly resides in the lost city. If you don't want to come, I'll understand. In fact, I'll give you the powder so that you can make a head start to Piltover and get to work finding it. The choice is up to you three." I swallowed deeply holding out the vial of green powder and waiting for their response.
Lucian nodded. "I'd love to help you get to Icathia Kal, but I move faster than any of you three. Let me take the powder to Piltover. When I get there I'll prepare a teleport calling spell to get you guys out of there and to safety." I bowed in appreciation.
"Thank you Lucian." Annie smiled at me and came closer gently hugging my leg.
"I'm comin' too Kal! I don't wanna see your friend hurt. That meanie who took me did bad stuff to me and I don't want him to be able to do it to anyone else. Me and Tibbers will come and help you." I smiled at her and leaning down I picked her up in my arms hugging her tight. Turning to Lux she beamed at me and giggled.
"Do you really need my answer Kal? I mean come on. Someone's got to make sure that you don't get your butt kicked by these monsters. I'm going, and nothing you say can stop me." I smiled softly at my three friends. "Alright then everyone. The plan is set, you guys know what to do. God Speed Lucian, thank you again for your help. When you get to Piltover find a way to contact us. If you get the location of their base…please wait for us. I don't want you rushing in on your own and getting hurt." Lucian nodded in agreement and that was that. The three of us remaining headed east from the village following the map that led to Icathia, the lost city of wonders. Looking back at the village behind us I could see the smoke from the pyre still rising into the night sky to blanket the stars.
I knew it would be dangerous, but I desperately hoped that Ahri was safe and okay.
***Elsewhere***
I squirmed in Kat's grip when we had arrived at Magnus home. A hood had been slipped over my head so that I couldn't leak its location to Kal and the others and suddenly I was pushed forward bumping into someone. The hood was taken from my head and I found myself staring up into the shining violet eyes of Magnus himself. "Hello Ahri, I've missed you." He said softly wrapping his arms around me and hugging me close.
I blinked. This was not what I expected to happen. "How have you been my delicate little rose? I've been so anxious to see you lately." His hand caressed my cheek before gently running under my chin. I tried hard not to purr, I wasn't about to give him that satisfaction.
"I'd have been a lot better had your goons not tried to kill me all this time. You've got a lot of nerve Magnus, I told you I never wanted to see you again!" I growled my claws extending. "I swear when Kal gets here he'll…"
"He'll what Ahri? Kill me? What is it that you see in him exactly? I treated you well enough didn't I? I took such great care of you. Remember those cold nights when you and I would wrap up in a blanket and simply stare into the fire? I'd hold you in my arms and you knew I'd keep you safe. You broke my heart Ahri, but it's okay…I forgive you. I still love you Ahri…you may not believe it but it's true. That's why I brought you here Ahri...I want to be your summoner again." I shook my head violently.
"I already have a summoner and he's treated me better than you ever have or ever will. I gave everything for you and then you turned around and betrayed me you bastard." He still continued to smile at me and he gently ran his hand through my hair. I groaned as he softly scratched me behind my ears causing a soft purr to escape from my throat before I stepped away from him.
"Please Ahri…give me a chance. You know I know how best to please you. More so than anyone else." Kat frowned in the corner of the room her arms crossed. Images flashed in my mind. Carnal images of the times I had spent with Magnus and the feelings he had invoked in me. Even I had to admit that he was my first love and that somewhere deep inside I still thought about him. But…Kal, I couldn't betray him. I wouldn't. Sensing my reservations Magnus stepped closer to me wrapping his arms around my waist. "Oh Ahri…don't waste your time thinking about that weakling. You know that I'm much more powerful than he is. I'm the one who's meant to be your summoner Ahri, you know that. Just relinquish your bond…I promise I'll give you everything you could ever dream of…" He gently leaned down pressing his lips against mine. I tried to pull away but my body merely began to kiss him back. I couldn't help it, something inside of me desperately craved his touch, wishing for things to be as they were before. I tried to resist tried to fight it but I could tell that I was quickly losing the battle. With one last burst of will power I pushed him away wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.
"I see…you still have some loyalty to him. You're a beautiful woman Ahri…you deserve so much better than someone like him. I mean has he been as loyal to you as you are to him?" He asked staring deep into my eyes. I stared right back before nodding my head slowly, though I knew it wasn't true.
"I tell you what Ahri…I'll prove to you that he truly doesn't care about you. I'll send my cohorts out to find him and tell him where you are. If he comes within the next week I'll give you up once and for all. But…if he doesn't show up…you must relinquish your bond with him and make a pact with me instead." I took a deep breath. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know if I even wanted Kal to find me anymore. The way that Magnus had kissed me made me so dizzy and I could barely formulate words to respond.
"Kal…he will come for me." I said softly. Magnus nodded.
"Very well, I shall send for him. For now though Ahri, your bedroom is upstairs and on the left. You must be tired from your journey, I suggest you get some rest." Rest sounded good, I was feeling rather sleepy all of the sudden. I walked up the stairs, my tails swishing sleepily behind me. I was out before I even hit the bed.
Magnus turned back to Katarina who frowned. "You know Summoner, if I didn't know better I'd say you preferred her over me." Magnus smiled softly at Katarina and headed towards her gently wrapping his arms around her kissing her deeply.
"Don't be silly kitten, you know that you're the most important person in my life, just as much as Ahri is. Just because Ahri is here doesn't mean that you'll be put out on the curb." Katarina purred softly nuzzling into his chest.
"Did you really mean what you said about sending us out to get him?" She asked softly.
"Oh I'm sending you all out all right. But when you find him, instead of telling him where to find Ahri, I want you to slit his throat. Make sure he can never come back to haunt us again understood?" Katarina grinned at her summoner before roughly kissing him as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Oh Summoner…it makes me so hot whenever you come up with one of these schemes. I can't wait to get back from killing that punk summoner so that you and I can have some real loving…who knows, maybe I'll be in a good enough mood to let your pet fox have a turn when I'm done." Magnus smiled.
"I look forward to it Kitten. You had better get to work tracking him down, for all we know that fool still has my orb of influence on him. So follow the signal, when you get there it should lead you straight to him."
"As you command Summoner…" she purred softly.
To be continued…