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JesterHat: why thank you! I don't really plan anything, but before I go to sleep, I kind of "dream" up scenarios for the next chapter. Is that weird?

Kage Sunaipa: welp basically XD

RIGHTPAIRING: lol XD

Da troll king: *blushes* oh, I'm not that great. Thank you!

DrPeanuts: hehe ^^

Lux Du Couteau: ._. well that's a bit grotesque isn't it.

SuperHeoSonic: XD

ThatGuest224: thank you!

Guest: I might do more special chapters on certain holidays, but I'm not into those ships ._. I'm really sorry.

Trilia-Hellscream: YAAAASSSSSS

Chapter 24

Elise gently prodded Kha'zix, hoping he would wake up. The Void creature stirred, blearily blinking at the Spider Queen. "What is it you wish, Elise?" he mumbled. Elise rolled her eyes. "You won't even look at me properly," she complained. "How lazy have you gotten since you started traveling with me?"

"I have adapted to this lifestyle," Kha'zix shrugged. "Being around so many life forms doing things for me has...changed me."

"Well," Elise huffed. "I woke you up so I could talk to you." "About what?" The Void Reaver crouched on his hind legs, cocking his head curiously at her. Elise pointed at her stomach. "This."

Kha'zix did not react. He simply said, "It is offspring. Different species will live, others will die. It is how reproduction works."

Elise bopped him on the head. "I know that, idiot! It's just-how are we going to..." she searched for the right word. "Nurture the child? If it lives?" Kha'zix stared. "If?" he asked slowly, rubbing his head where she had hit him. Elise nodded cautiously. Kha'zix clicked his claws. "No offspring of mine will die in the womb," he said. "It is a weakling and undeserving if it does die."

Elise glared at him. "Maybe you'll feel differently after the 'offspring' is born. Akali said she/he will be born within a week, considering I am part spider and you, voidborne." The Spider Queen's stomach was swelling already-which she absolutely hated. She was less mobile and had to rest herself constantly. "I'm useless right now," she muttered.

Kha'zix pressed his face into the crook of her neck. "You won't be for long," he tried to reassure her. Elise sighed again. She'd been doing that a lot lately. Not saying anything, she began to play with cobwebs, stretching out silky white strings and forming them into random shapes. "Akali and Shen should be back soon," she finally said, breaking the silence. "They went in search of food."

"They are accompanying us?" Kha'zix asked. Elise replied, "Until the baby is here." "So many humans around," Kha'zix mumbled irritatedly. Elise rubbed her cheek on his head. "They'll be gone soon," she said. "And when we get out of here, we can be even more alone, if you wish."

"Well," Riven said awkwardly, "It seems you guys found Garen. With...another...ah, person."

Katarina glared at her. "Oh, I'm 'another person' now, huh?" Garen's hand gripped her arm tighter. "Do we need to settle this privately?" he hissed through his teeth. Katarina stared at him, green against blue. "No," she growled.

"Stay," Garen said sternly. He then let go of her and walked back to the bush where everyone else was cowering. "You don't have to be scared," he said, slightly confused. Talon annoyedly stalked out. "Easy for you to say," he retorted, "She wouldn't hurt you."

Katarina turned around slowly. "Excuse me," she said sweetly to her adopted brother, "Did you say something? Care to repeat it?" Her voice was sickly sweet, rotten honey dripping down a candy cane.

Talon shook his head. "Nothing at all, sister," he smirked. Katarina's eyes slimmed into slits as she hissed, spitting at him. Garen pinched the bridge of his nose. "You had to do that," he grumbled. He trudged over to Katarina, making sure she was locked in his arms so she couldn't charge at Talon. "Seems like you've got it all covered," Talon called. Garen glared at him. "I'm on the verge of letting her go," he threatened. Katarina smirked. She mouthed, "Three...two...one!"

Garen released the assassin, and she darted forward, two blades outward and deadly. Talon leapt back, narrowly dodging the redhead's left blade. "Katarina, stop!" "Who's stopping me?" Katarina asked, licking her lips. Her eyes widened as she twisted sideways, dodging a golden arrow. "Alright, you idiots, STOP!" Quinn lowered her crossbow. Hands on her hips, she shook her head. "Talon, don't deliberately try to aggravate your sister!"

Talon sighed. "Whatever. You didn't have to interrupt, Quinn." "Oh, because I want this Rift to become a mass war?" Quinn asked sarcastically. "Honestly, you're so much work."

"Little Bird, I'm very high maintenance," Talon joked. Quinn blushed at the nickname. "W-whatever," she muttered. Garen had managed to calm Katarina down, holding her as far away from her adopted brother as she could. "Why're you this mad?" he asked, muffled by her hair. Katarina twisted around to look at him. "No reason," she muttered. "Okay, we found Riven and her boyfriend, can we go now?"

Shyvana stepped out of the bush. "What's the hurry?" she asked acidly. "There's literally nowhere to go."

Jarvan put a warm hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, Shyv," he said. "She'll calm down. You should calm down too."

Quinn brightened. "I have a great idea," she said. "Why don't we settle down for the night, and separate-the boys from the girls. We can calm down and be more friendly with each other."

She dragged on the last few words. Riven and Katarina hesitated, looking at each other. Quinn bribed, "C'mon, please?" Riven sighed, giving in. "Only because you were so nice to me," she relented.

Quinn smiled. "Great! Now you idiots-" she pointed at the men. "Go over there, and we'll stay here." Garen protested, "But-"

"Now." Quinn said quietly, sounding more menacing than the first time. Talon grabbed Garen's arm and began dragging him to the other side of the clearing. "Clearly, you haven't met Quinn's angry side," the assassin growled. The other men followed suit, hurrying to the other side. "Now!" Quinn sighed, sitting down. "That's better." She gestured for the others to sit. "This is the Rift," she said. "We're all champions. Just sit down and talk."

Riven, Shyvana, and Katarina cautiously sat down beside the ranger, in a circle. Shyvana looked up. "It's getting dark," she said. She took a breath and breathed a spark of fire onto a ditch in the middle of the women, lighting a fire. "I'm going to go set a fire up for the men." Moments later, both groups were huddling around a fire.

"Quinn," Riven asked, "Now what?" Quinn shrugged. "Talk."

"About what?" Shyvana asked, taking off her helmet and shaking out her flaming red hair. Quinn rolled her eyes. "Anything. Don't you guys ever socialize with other girls or friends?"

An awkward silence passed over the group. "Oh, right," Quinn said awkwardly. "I'm dealing with an assassin, half dragon, and a former Noxian. Never mind." Shyvana let out a laugh. "We don't really have much to say, other than those men sometimes are idiots." She stared wistfully at Jarvan, then looked away. Katarina laughed. "Yeah, I can't believe that prince idiot hasn't 'poured his heart out to you' and that sappy shit."

Shyvana sighed. "Anyway, when did you become interested in Demacia's Captain of the Dauntless Vanguard?" she asked quirkily. Katarina flushed. "N-none of your business!"

"Oh, it is," Shyvana said. "Any Demacian is my business." Katarina eyed the dragoness. "Well, if you must know, it was in Shurima. That's all you're getting from me."

Riven smirked. "Shurima, huh, Kat?" "Don't call me that!"

"Oh, I'll call you what I want," Riven retorted. Quinn raised her hand. "Calm down, you two."

Riven turned to Quinn. "Well, how's Talon?"

Quinn flushed. "He's fine, I guess. He really likes touching right here," she said, touching the middle of her back. "It's a thing he does."

Riven wiggled her eyebrows. "Heh." "It doesn't mean anything!" Quinn yelped. Katarina snorted. "He's really into you, that's what it means. It's almost disgusting, the way he looks at you."

Katarina's eyes gleamed. "Oh, I have an idea!"

Shyvana turned to her. "What is that idea?"

"Oh, I want-no I dare you to go over and pull your darling prince aside and confess to him."

Shyvana turned bright red. "No. I am not participating in such childish game."

Katarina looked at her nails. "Are you scared?"

Shyvana clenched her fists. "Fine. But I'm going to do it behind the trees." She stood up and rolled her shoulders, trying to relax. Taking a deep breath, she made her way to the other side of the clearing. Leaning down next to Jarvan's ear, she whispered, "Do you have...a minute?"

Jarvan nodded quickly. "Of course," he said. He stood up, and Shyvana pulled him to the trees, hearing some chuckles from the men behind her. When they reached behind the trees, Jarvan asked, "Shyvana, what is it?"

Her face was flaming red. Suddenly, she pushed herself onto his chest in a hug, hiding her face. Surprised for a few moments, Jarvan slowly hugged her back. "Is there something wrong?"

"Jarvan...do you care for me?" Shyvana asked, voice muffled. Jarvan tilted his head. "O-of course I do, Shyv."

"But...as more than a friend?" She buried her face deeper into his chest. The prince stroked her hair, realizing it was very soft and he really liked it. He hesitated. "Y-yes."

Shyvana finally found the strength to look at his face. "You do?"

Jarvan smiled at her. "Yes."

She smiled, and stood on the tips of her toes, planting a warm kiss on his rough lips. "We should get back now," she whispered, pulling herself from his embrace. "I'll see you tomorrow."

The two walked back, fingers curling loosely around each other until they had to part.

"Ooh, I can't believe you actually did it," Katarina looked at the dreamy dragoness with newfound respect. "Now I'm basically looking at the new Queen of Demacia," she joked. Shyvana shook her head. "There must be an arranged marriage," she said sadly. "I'm not fit for a prince."

"Tch," Quinn rolled her eyes. "If I know Jarvan, he's definitely marrying you."

"Well," Riven stretched, "It's getting late. We should go to sleep."

The women all lay down, more at peace with each other than they had ever been.