Quinn glanced around the dim room as she looked up from behind her arms, trying to blink the sleepiness from her eyes. The room was silent, the fire having burned down to a pile full of glowing embers. Rain water dripped outside as sunlight struggled to dry the world out. She yawned, smothering it with a hand. Forsythe was finally getting some sleep, and now Shyvana was gone. A number of possibilities passed through her mind as she thought about where the dragoness could have gone, but she let the thought go after a short while, turning her attention to the others who were lain out around the fire. She lay the back of her palm on Jarvan's forehead, checking for a fever and was relieved that he didn't have one. The prince was still sleeping soundly, so Quinn pulled the blanket up under his chin.
"Sleep well, prince." She said softly, hovering over him. She stared at him for a few moments, watching as his chest rose and fell, the sound of his rhythmic breathing calming to her. She hovered over him for a few moments, contemplating stealing his lips for a brief moment.
Isaacs coughed raggedly, startling the ranger and causing her to sit bolt upright, glancing about nervously. She looked to the older officer, expecting him to have an accusing glare or angry words for her, but when he coughed again, shuddering, Quinn breathed a sigh of relief. She took another look at Jarvan and closed her eyes, shaking the thoughts from her head. She turned to Isaacs, who had flushed cheeks. She placed the back of her hand on his forehead and grimaced.
"You're still burning up..." She said softly, shaking her head as the man coughed again. She slipped a hand under his head and picked up a shallow bowl, dipping it in a bucket of water. She held the bowl to his lips, letting the man drink a few small sips before he coughed again, splattering the remainder of the water in the bowl down his blanket. Quinn took a rag from a shallow basin and wrung it out, using the cloth to blot up the water. She emptied the basin and then poured a bit of water from a bucket, using the chilly liquid to wipe the man's brow. She dipped the rag again, letting the cool water soak into the rag. She wrung it out gently, placing the still damp cloth on Isaac's forehead. She pulled the blanket up further under his chin as the man breathed slowly.
"Sorry..." Quinn said under her breath, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "You're going to have to sweat it out for now."
She sighed again, looking around the room as the fire struggled to light back up on a small piece of wood. She slid to her knees and reached over Jarvan, grabbing the last little bits of firewood that had been gathered, tossing them onto the fire. She blew at the base of the embers, smiling as she was rewarded with flames dancing along the timber.
"I better go get some more wood..." She said, thinking aloud, looking to Forsythe. She would have woken him and asked him to watch Jarvan and Isaacs, but the man looked like he had passed out. He had helped her the entire night, stabilizing Isaacs and Jarvan, and then taken the first watch while she caught some shuteye. She wore an affectionate smile as she looked at Forsythe. He was decidedly rough around the edges, something his lack of a second eye had only added to. Despite the scruffy appearance, he was polite and he cared for his friends, as shown by his actions all through the night. Quinn pushed herself to her feet and reached up to stroke Valor's head. The bird ruffled its feather affectionately as Quinn scratched him lightly along the neck. He blinked his eyes open, the shimmering golden orbs looking back at Quinn as he and drew her cloak around her against the chill and the wind as she stepped from the room.
The sky shone an impeccable blue as Quinn strode along the frozen, muddy path, stepping around and over iced over puddles, trying not to slip as she moved towards the paddock. She paused, looking back over her shoulder at the shack that she had emerged from. They were on the very edge of the village, occupying a small house along the edge of the treeline, and while it had been burned out, the damage and dust on the building looked to predate the dragon's attack. Quinn stopped in the paddock and stroked the horses, each of them content to be eating the frost covered grass for the moment, their tails swaying in the wind that swept along the valley floor. Forsythe had scrounged some blankets from somewhere, tossing them over the horses, as the world had frozen the night before. Using the butt of her crossbow, Quinn shattered the sheet of ice that had formed over the horses' water, one braying its thanks as it strode up and lowered its head to drink. Quinn smiled, stroking the horse's mane as it drank. She tucked her crossbow away, pulling her arms inside her cloak and then pulling the cloak closer around her.
Quinn started looking for firewood as she headed into the edge of the village, looking for planks that had been snapped or broken, anything she could salvage that wasn't coated in ice.
She had accrued a few pieces of wood, mostly planking from the side of houses or flooring when she found herself back in the center of town. She slowed to a halt at the edge of the town center, taking the time to look about, gaining an appreciation for the amount of raw destruction that she had missed from the night before. There was a great pile of rotting flesh and bone where the dragon sat, its body now rapidly breaking down. She shivered as she looked at it, the fear coursing through her veins as her body involuntarily reacted to the creature.
"It's dead... I made sure of that." Shyvana said from her perch on the steps.
"Oh!" Quinn said, nearly jumping out of her skin. "I didn't see you there." Quinn shook her head as she slowed her breathing, picking up the scattered wood she had dropped when Shyvana had spoken up. Quinn tucked the wood under her arm as she nimbly jumped around the ice and over puddles, moving towards where Shyvana sat upon a ruined stone wolf. Shyvana looked pensive, her chin resting upon her hands and her arms resting upon her knees. Quinn lay the wood down on the steps as she approached, clapping her hands together to remove the soot and mud on her gloves.
"I didn't mean to frighten you." Shyvana said, her eyes glued upon her boots, her voice thick with sentiment and confusion. Quinn raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest as wind swept through the village; it was more than enough to chill her to the bone.
"It's fine." Quinn said, shrugging and shaking her head dismissively. "...how... do you feel this morning?" Quinn asked hesitantly. The last time she had talked to Shyvana, she had reprimanded the dragon's careless first aid attempts and fussed at her about how she was doing more harm than good. Quinn wouldn't have been surprised if the Dragoness was sour about that, but Shyvana seemed to only exude a mix of regret and penance.
"Sore." Shyvana said, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth as she swept her braid over her shoulder. The deep red hair was long and fell down to nearly mid way do her thigh when standing, and swept over her shoulder, it dropped down to her waist. Shyvana tugged on the end of it thoughtfully, twirling the end of it about her fingers, twiddling with the length of cord that tied it off. "I didn't expect that much punishment going into the fight..." Shyvana said, shaking her head slowly, nibbling on a strand of hair that had escaped her braid. She gestured to the dragon's corpse. "This poor brute was harassed by both man and dragon kind." She paused, an ironic smile on her face.
"How can you be sure of that?" Quinn said, frowning as she looked over the corpse of the dragon. Shyvana's smile sunk to a grimace as she looked over at the tracker. Quinn raised her hands, putting her palms out in front of her in a placating gesture, bowing slightly and taking a half step back. "It's not that I doubt you... I'm just curious how you know." Shyvana's scowl lightened slightly as he gaze drift away from the girl.
"He's got arrows all along his shoulders." Shyvana said, gesturing to the more intact of the two shoulders, the one she hadn't ripped a chunk out of in a fit of rage. "And more than one spear is broken off in the cracks of his armor." Shyvana then pointed to his neck. "Those smaller scars are from swords and axes." Shyvana pointed to closer to the chest, just inside one of the dragon's wings. "Those deep scars though... those were made by other dragons. No other creature has that same talon pattern and strikes in such long strokes." Quinn shivered as her eyes followed the deep lines along his body till they disappeared around the side of his body.
"So he was an outcast?" Quinn asked quietly. Shyvana nodded somberly.
"Driven from place to place as human kind expanded... cast out by other dragons for one reason or another..." Shyvana shook her head, a look of disgust on her face. "Dragons call themselves the noblest race on Valoran... in reality they are simply a racist, haughty bunch of rubbish."
"You speak of them with such resentment..." Quinn said, a frown creasing her brow. "You're half dragon though, are you not?"
"I was raised an outcast, just like him." Shyvana nodded in the direction of the dragon's corpse. "Half-dragons are viewed as an abomination... something unnatural to be purged... by both humankind and dragonkind." Shyvana sighed, her shoulders falling as she shook her head. "My father and I were driven off by humans and hunted by dragons... peace was something that eluded us eternally."
Quinn felt a sinking feeling in her stomach as she watched Shyvana. "Can I sit?" Quinn said, gesturing to the base of the statue that Shyvana was perched upon.
"Feel free." Shyvana said neutrally, taking Quinn by surprise. She had expected venom or anger, the desire to remain alone, but right now, Shyvana seemed too lost to really care.
"Thanks." Quinn said, sitting on the edge of the stone, her legs hanging off as she kicked them out, letting them bounce off the stone.
"I feel sorry for thinking that you were a spoiled, childish..." Her voice tapered off as she tried to find the right word without adding more insult to injury. She shook her head though, holding her hands close to her body. "I was too busy trying to feel sorry for myself to realize that there were others with much greater burdens around me." Quinn paused and looked up and over her shoulder at the dragoness, catching her gaze for a few seconds. Shyvana matched her gaze, her eyes gleaming even hidden beneath the shade of her long red hair. "I... I wanted to apologize for everything I said before... I was being selfish." Shyvana smiled and then laughed, deeply, the action taking Quinn completely by surprise. Quinn's face and heart felt.
I try to offer a heartfelt apology and Shyvana has the nerve to simply laugh it off...
"I..." Quinn struggled to find the nerves. "If you simply wanted to laugh, you could have at least waited till I left!" Quinn struggled to her feet, dropping off the stone, but she stumbled and fell, landing roughly upon the stone. Shyvana dropped to her side, much more gracefully, and kneeled next to the tracker, offering her a hand, still wearing a smile.
"Please, I didn't mean to laugh." Shyvana said, looking down at the confused tracker. Quinn took her proffered hand and the dragoness helped her to her feet. "I was going to apologize for all of my own rudeness and thank you for your valiant efforts last night, but you beat me to it." Shyvana shook her head, unable to rid herself of the smile that made her eyes sparkle. "I simply found it funny that you and I were thinking the same thing... please, pardon my laughter." She shook her head as Quinn looked dumbfounded, a smile starting to peek through her expression as the dragoness helped her back to the ledge of the statue, beneath the stone wolf's chest. Shyvana hopped up next to her, leaning slightly back and letting her leg kick out.
"I... uh..." Quinn stammered, surprised by Shyvana, still trying to figure out the dragoness. Shyvana closed her eyes and let her chin fall to her chest as she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Quinn could have sworn that she saw a few wisps of smoke escape her nostrils.
"I don't know what I would have done if I'd lost Jarvan..." Shyvana shook her head slowly, opening her eyes to stare at the ground. "Is it true that you want to be a doctor?" Quinn blinked in surprise.
"How did you know?" She said, astonished.
"I didn't mean to pry, but Forsythe shared that with me this morning." Shyvana said, shrugging. "He also told me about your brother... I'm sorry about that." Quinn frowned, shaking her head.
"That was a long time ago." Quinn said softly. She paused, a thoughtful expression on her face. "For the longest time I thought that if I had done something, anything, that I would have been able to save my brother, Caleb. He died in my arms... something no one should have to experience." She paused, biting her lip. "I thought that if I became a doctor, I would be able to prevent that from happening to anyone else. I didn't want to let anyone die..."
"And you don't want to anymore?" Shyvana said, looking over at the young tracker. She was hunched over, twiddling her thumbs in her lap. "Surely that's still a noble goal to strive for..."
"It is... and at times I still consider it." Quinn said, frowning, "But that was all before I met Valor." A happy smile appeared on the tracker's face as she mentioned the Demacian Eagle. "Now... I'm not really sure what I want to do." Quinn sat back, as if she had released a burden from her shoulders. She leaned back on her hands and crossed her legs, letting them sway before her. "I had been taking odd jobs here and there in and around Demacia, trying to save up some money. I'm too young to join the military, and I don't have money to go to school, so I'm working what jobs I can get as a ranger and tracker."
"I'm sure Jarvan could get you a position in the Demacian Military." Shyvana offered, a smile on her face, trying to offer the tracker some comfort. "You've helped us more than enough, and I'm sure that both Forsythe and Isaacs would vouch for you."
"I know... and I would really appreciate that... but..." Quinn hesitated.
"But what?" Shyvana said, letting a bit of confusion creep onto her face as she looked over at the tracker. "That would help you achieve your goal, yes?"
"It would definitely push it in the right direction, but I... I want to do it on my own." Quinn said, looking up at the sky. "I want to be able to show Caleb that I have what it takes to achieve my goals on my own." She reached out towards the sky, placing her hand over the sun and then making a fist, as if she were trying to grab it. She pulled her arm in and looked at her palm, a nervous smile on her face. "I'll join the military... but I want it to be on my terms. Eventually I might become a doctor... but for now I think my place is with Valor at my side." Shyvana nodded knowingly, a warm smile upon her face. "What about you?"
"Me?" Shyvana blushed, pointing at herself.
"Yes, you." Quinn said, a grin beginning to form on her face. "I know next to nothing about you..." She shrugged, looking over at the dragoness. "...you know, besides the little bits I've picked up here and there... oh, that and the fact that you can turn into a fire-breathing dragon and all."
"There isn't much to tell, honestly." Shyvana said shrugging. "More has happened in my life since I met Jarvan than the entirety of my life before that. After my father died... I haven't had any direction in my life but to follow Jarvan. I knew nothing of the world but the cruelty of humans and dragons, but now... I'm starting to learn that there is more than that." Shyvana wore a sad smile. "All I want right now is for my father to rest easy in his grave... and that means vengeance..." Shyvana clenched her fists, obviously fighting back tears as she looked up at Quinn with sad eyes. "I wish I could let that go... you've seen firsthand the cost of a dragon's anger, but I can't forgive Kampf..." Shyvana had to stop herself and take a deep breath. "I'm envious of you."
"Of me?" Quinn was surprised. Shyvana nodded.
"All I can do is destroy... all my flames do is burn..." Shyvana shook her head. "You're able to help people … of that, I am jealous." Quinn's mouth hung open. She would have never imagined that Shyvana would be jealous of her. Quinn diverted her eyes, trying to hide surprise that was painted all over her face. Quinn had long been jealous of the Dragoness and to hear that the opposite was true as well... Quinn shuddered, realizing that these were thoughts she shouldn't be enjoying.
"I'd be lying if I wasn't lying when I said I was jealous as well." Quinn said, sighing wistfully. "You've got such amazing friends and Prince Jarvan, not to mention all of that power!" Quinn smiled, looking up at the sun, wondering what it would be like to be able to control fire like Shyvana or the sun. "It be so fun to have that power." Quinn looked over at Shyvana with a smile on her face, but the Dragoness didn't share her cheer. Shyvana stared at the ground, a tight lipped expression on her face.
"It's been more of a curse than a boon..." Shyvana said, shaking her head from side to side. "But I'll use it to serve Demacia... and Jarvan as soon as I complete my last task..."
"What are you going to do?" Quinn said warily, frowning as Shyvana gripped her knees, breathing a bit heavier than she should have.
"I'm going after Kampf." Shyvana said firmly, looking out over the village. "He killed my father, he tried to take Jarvan from me as well. Now he has to answer for this... He needs to die before his reign of terror grows any more."
"Surely you're kidding." Quinn said, smiling, hoping that Shyvana was doing just that, joking. However, the look upon the Dragoness's face said otherwise. "You're crazy... we can't take on another dragon... Jarvan's injured, Isaacs lost a leg..." Shyvana shook her head.
"I don't want to get anyone else involved." Shyvana said shaking her head. "I'm not going to ask anyone to come with me and I wouldn't let them come with me anyways, even if I have to break something to make sure it happens." Shyvana let her shoulders sink as she sighed. "Sorry... I didn't mean to drop this on you." Quinn looked hesitant, but she didn't know what to say. She had only just tried to open up and reach out to the dragoness, and now she was being shut out again. Shyvana had turned away from Quinn and she was wiping her cheek. Quinn saw her wipe her hand on her cloak, trying desperately to hide her grief.
"It's fine." Quinn said, sighing. She understood how Shyvana felt; she was afraid of what it would do to her friends if she continued on, and now she wanted to leave them behind so she could save herself the trouble of having them get hurt even further. "But you know as well as I do that Jarvan's not going to like this." Quinn sighed, shaking her head, wondering just what she was doing. Quinn leaned back, looking at the sky, wondering just how she had come to consoling Shyvana.
Not two days ago, I would have just as easily ripped her guts out if given the chance... Quinn closed her eyes and took a deep breath, putting the thought out of her mind.
"Jarvan's injured." Shyvana said, trying to sound angry. Quinn had seen it through the Dragoness' act though. She watched as Shyvana's gaze drilled into the stone between her feet, as a wave of emotion seemed to rock her. Quinn could see the pang of grief strike Shyvana right in the heart, just as she realized just how much it would hurt both her and Jarvan if she decided to leave without him. "And I can't drag him into this. This is my fight with Kampf, and I don't want him to get hurt."
"I think he'd be more offended you're even considering leaving." Quinn said with a whimsical grin. "I'm just saying... talk to him. He'd rather die than abandon you on your crusade."
"That's what I'm afraid of..." Shyvana said, under her breath.
"What was that?" Quinn said, looking over, trying to wear a reassuring smile. Shyvana shook her head, still tugging on her braid.
"Nothing." Shyvana said, looking at the ground contemplatively. "Thanks..." Shyvana said, sighing, looking up at the young tracker. "...and I mean that truly. Thank you."
"It's fine." Quinn said shrugging. "We haven't really ever seen eye to eye... but I'm glad I could help." Shyvana gave her a fleeting smile as the tracker hopped off the ledge and set about her fire wood. "I should get back, I need to check on Isaacs and Jarvan." Shyvana nodded, but didn't move, letting her boots click off the stone as she kicked her legs back and forth, looking up at the sky for the first time since Quinn had joined her.
Quinn picked up her firewood and turned, headed back towards the shack.
Jarvan opened his eyes and looked around.
Well... my stomach hurts like hell... so I'm not dead... death wasn't painful.
He sat up and groaned as the blanket fell off his chest. The chill of the wind arced up and down his spine, his entire body shivering. He blinked a few times as bright sunshine filtered through the cracks in the windows. The dusty window panes and boards kept most of the sunlight out, but some managed to filter through, landing right on his face. His body protested as he raised his arm to block the sunshine, turning towards the fire that burned in the center of the room.
He looked around and grinned when he saw that Forsythe was asleep against the wall, his knees to his chest and his head tossed back as he drooled on himself, completely out. He saw that Isaacs had been lain out next to him, the older man sleeping heavily as well. Jarvan frowned as he looked at the lower part of his left leg, the blanket lying flat on the ground.
"Isaacs..." Jarvan groaned, looking at the stump of a leg that the man was left with, gone from just above the knee and down. Jarvan shook his head and looked back around. There were boot tracks in and out of the room. Shyvana and Quinn were missing, and the lack of Shyvana's presence left him with a sick feeling in his stomach.
Steps from the side started to lift Jarvan's spirits and he twisted about.
"Shy-...hurk." He groaned as he straightened his torso out. He breathed slowly as the pain subsided, though it still ached in his stomach.
"Oh... you're awake." She avoided Jarvan's gaze as she dropped the armful of wood next to the fire. She dropped a few pieces onto it, shifting the fire about as it started to crackle, the flames growing higher from the embers that had been left before. The sound of the fire crackling and the wind gusting outside filled the room. Quinn tended the fire, letting the end of the piece of wood she was using to poke the fire with burn a bit before she finally looked up at Jarvan. "How are you feeling?" Quinn asked, breaking the silence.
"Better." Jarvan said, his hand unconsciously moving to his stomach and rubbing the bandages. "You did this?" Jarvan said, looking down at the expertly tied bandages. Quinn nodded silently. "Thanks." Jarvan grunted, staring into the fire as the tongues of flame began to burn brighter. Quinn moved silently past him, leaning over Isaacs and pressing the back of her hand to his forehead.
"Good." She said, sighing. "His fever is starting to pass."
"About his leg..." Jarvan said, still staring into the fire.
"I don't know what happened, I'm sorry." Quinn said, shaking her head. She lowered herself to the ground slowly, hugging her legs to her chest and hiding her face behind her knees. "I did what I could to make sure he survived... but I couldn't save the leg." Jarvan was quiet but nodded, pausing as he watched the fire. He sighed.
"Thank you for this." Jarvan said quietly.
"Oh, I really don't mind..." Quinn said shaking her head. "I like helping people..." She wore a small smile as she sighed, looking at Jarvan over her knees. He looked haggard and tired, his stubble thicker than she had ever seen it, and there were bags under his eyes. His skin was pale and gaunt.
"Not just for that..." Jarvan said heavily, his breathing almost strained. "For sticking with us through all this..." He closed his eyes and shook his head. "Shyvana and I have nearly gotten all of you killed... we've..." He hesitated for a moment. "Nearly gotten ourselves killed... I don't think I'm paying you enough for all of this." Quinn chuckled softly, taking the prince by surprise as a small smile spread onto her face.
"I don't blame you for any of it." Quinn said, leaning her chin on her knees. "I'd be lying if I said I hadn't enjoyed my time with you and the others." She cast a wary glance at Jarvan who smiled at her. She blushed and looked away. She cast a glance back at him to see if he was still looking at her, but he has now tugging on the blanket around him.
"Have you..." Jarvan paused again, seeming hesitant. Quinn watched him with a smile on her face. "...Seen Shyvana?" The smile fell but Quinn nodded.
"She's in town right now... I ran into her while I was searching for firewood." Quinn gestured over the shoulder towards the door. Quinn stared at the ground for a few seconds, a conflicted look on her face.
"...Whats wrong?" Jarvan said, his voice lowering as he looked over that the tracker, one eyebrow raised. "Did you two get into a fight again?" Quinn shook her head.
"Quite the opposite, actually." Quinn said, smiling at Jarvan. "We talked for a little while and it was pleasant... considering the setting." Jarvan lay back, a surprised look on his face, but that slowly turned into a smile.
"So why the strange look?" Jarvan said, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm worried about something Shyvana told me." Quinn said, a frown creasing her brow. "She's going after Kampf." Jarvan sat back and sighed, his expression neutral, but Quinn could see him thinking deeply.
"I was afraid of that." Jarvan said, shaking his head.
"What are you going to do?" Quinn asked after a few quiet moments, a frown on her face. Jarvan rolled over, grunting as he strained against the pain. He closed his eyes as he turned onto his stomach and pushed himself up, grimacing as he did. "Hey now..." Quinn said, uneasily, dropping her fire stick and moving towards Jarvan with a worried expression. "You're daft if you think you're going anywhere in your condition." Jarvan grunted, ignoring her as he pushed himself onto his feet, wobbling and swaying from side to side as he took several uneasy steps.
"Just give me a second..." Jarvan said, waving the ranger off, his breathing heavy and strained. "I'm fine." His voice wavered and his eye twitched; the pain was immense.
"Jarvan, you really should stay down and get some more rest..." Quinn said, standing next to him. She could try to catch him if he fell, but she suspected that he would just crush her if she tried.
"The only thing I'm tired of is laying on my ass..." Jarvan growled, as if his anger was going to scare the pain away. He paused, holding his hands away from his body and held a breath, a victorious grin on his face. "See! I'm fine." He started to take a single step and his entire body teetered, his leg shaking as he started to tumble over. Quinn caught him before he could get too far over or gain any momentum, pushing the prince back up into a standing position. He grunted his reluctant thanks, breathing slowly as he let the pain ebb. "I've lain around more than enough time..." Jarvan shook his head, holding onto the wall. "I need to do something before I fuse with the blanket."
"Don't be a fool..." Quinn said, huffing angrily at the rock-headed prince. "You're going to open your wounds back up." Quinn posted her fists on her hips, but Jarvan refused to be taken down by his own injuries. He took a step, this time much slower, more gingerly as he tried to stretch out the muscles that had tightened in his body after the beating he had sustained the day before.
"See? Nothing to worry about." Jarvan took several shaky steps forward and turned about to give Quinn a look that a small child would give its mother when scolded for something they had broken. It was a sense of shame and accomplishment, defiance and pride, all rolled into one arrogant expression. Quinn sighed, shaking her head as she swept her hair over her shoulder. "You did more than enough for me... now it's all down to my endurance."
"You're mad." Quinn said dismissively. "Fine, but don't come crawling back to me when you hurt yourself again." Quinn turned away and moved towards Isaacs, checking to see if his fever had dropped any, doing what she could to avert her mind from fussing about the prince.
Jarvan set about the difficult task of pulling his boots on while managing to bend his torso as little as possible. He grimaced as stared the boots down, readying his mind and body for the task at hand. He managed to slip one foot into a boot, lift it into the air and then pull it on with his hand, levering himself about against the wall awkwardly. Jarvan was determined however, his stubborn nature showing through as he struggled with his boots.
It was a long and arduous battle, complete with a myriad of grunts and cursing, but Jarvan was eventually victorious over his mighty foe, the boot. Jarvan turned towards the other boot with a grimace, staring this new opponent down with trepidation. The second boot was a bit easier to get onto his foot. He found that if he used his toes to grasp the boot her could lift it to his hand without much fuss. It was simple enough from there, sliding his foot inside and then wiggling it in, bracing against the wall. He grinned imperiously as he tapped the toe of the armored boot on the ground, seating it, finally getting both boots on properly. Quinn clapped as she watched the spectacle, giggling softly. Jarvan blushed and turned away as he hid his embarrassment with a renewed search for his things.
He pulled a tunic on, and then a cloak, slipping his belt around his waist. He carried his water bottle, a knife, his now picked over medical kit, and a bare essentials survival kit. He left his backpack, and considered leaving his lance as well, but decided it better to carry the long weapon; he could use it as a walking stick if nothing else. He felt bare without his armor, but he also didn't feel the need to wear the battered armor. He had been chewed up by one of the most fearsome dragons he had ever faced and spit back out again with only a few extra scars in his side. Be it stupidity or bravery, Jarvan took a deep breath as he looked at the door, the world around him swimming.
Jarvan gave Quinn a glance and nodded his thanks to her. Isaacs shifted under his blankets and Quinn's careful touch, and Forsythe still slumbered against the far wall, his sword cradled in his lap. Jarvan took one last look around the room and then set off at a slow pace to find Shyvana.
Jarvan slogged slowly through the ice and mud, his injuries and the treacherous pathways slowing him down to barely more than a crawl. Jarvan used the lance to keep himself steady, holding onto the lance with both hands as he struggled along. The world around him looked pristine and draped in a blanket of ice, as if it had been untouched for years, not only a matter of hours. The rain had softened the harsh edges of the broken timber and the ash now getting carried away by the frozen winds. The village was awash in a coat of gray and blacks, as if all of the color had been drained away. Had it not been for the blue sky above his head, and the beautiful hills, dressed in fleeting autumn colors, Jarvan would have had to wonder if he was lost in a black and white painting. The ground was frozen hard though, covered in a layer of ash and ice.
Jarvan was winded by the time he emerged into the center of town. Stone was littered about like a child's toys around its toy box, the ash, timber and remnants of humans sprinkled about in between. The stench had been cut by the wind; it was just an accent now, rather than an oppressive smell hanging about the village. Jarvan paused, still leaning heavily upon his lance as he looked out over a sea of stagnant water, stained black with the dragon's blood leaking from the corpse. It was oily and liquid, though it looked poisonous to Jarvan. Bones and hunks of rapidly expiring flesh showed through the mud and ice. The decaying material emitted oily fumes that gave the illusion that it was nothing more than a mirage. Jarvan turned away, the wounds in his stomach tingling as if his body was remembering the pain of the dragon's teeth. His stomach fluttered as he tried not to think about it, struggling against the fear and the bile that was biting at the back of his throat. He stopped to catch his breath, his stomach aching as he looked about the open area, even the old market stands now a bland gray. Holes had been burnt in them in places, the once colorful fabric that decorated them now tattered and pale.
"Jarvan?"
Jarvan dragged his eyes away from the bleak images that surrounded him, his eyes settling upon the red hair of Shyvana as she hopped down off the ledge she was perched upon, picking her way around a puddle as she headed towards him. Jarvan took a step towards her, his legs struggling as he stumbled, starting to fall forward as Shyvana caught him.
"Jarvan!" She gasped, holding him up, trying to keep him out of the mud. "What are you doing out here?" She pulled Jarvan's arm over her shoulder and tried to support his weight, wrapping an arm around him. Jarvan winced as she tried to hold his weight up, slowly helping him towards the steps.
"Just... trying to walk it off..." Jarvan said in between grunts of pain and gasps for breath.
"You're mad..." Shyvana said in disbelief. "Forsythe said you'd need weeks..." She lifted Jarvan's arm over her head as she lowered him down to the steps, watching as his eyes watered. Jarvan chuckled, coughing into his hand as he wheezed.
"What did I tell you before?" Jarvan said, wiping at the corner of his mouth.
"You ARE mad..." Shyvana said, her head hanging as she ran a hand through her hair. Jarvan coughed again into his hand, groaning as he looked at his palm.
"This might take a bit longer than I though..." Jarvan said, looking at the crimson stain upon his palm.
"Jarvan!" Shyvana gasped, as he tried to hide it, shaking the blood from his hand. Shyvana lowered him to the steps, his eyes closing as he laid back, letting the pain ebb away.
"Ow..." Jarvan grunted, blood trickling from his mouth.
"Hey there, block head." Shyvana said softly, her voice getting caught in her throat as she wiped the blood away. She clambered over his body and sat down on her knees next to Jarvan on the steps, hovering over him as she pulled the cloak aside, revealing the bandages that wrapped his body. They were stained with pink blotches. "You're bleeding." Shyvana said, a frown creasing her brow. There had been two deep holes that had gone clean through his side, from which blood had soaked the ground, and a myriad of shallow wounds that had decorated his body in an arc across his chest. Quinn had done her best to stop the bleeding and help them heal faster, but it hadn't done but so much for him. Shyvana gently touched the bandages, and Jarvan winced, her finger coming away damp.
"How bad is it?" Jarvan asked weakly, a bit of blood dribbling down his chin. Shyvana tried not to look worried as Jarvan wiped the blood on his chin, and looked at his palm, groaning. He let his head fall back as he sighed heavily, wincing as his chest expanded and tugged at the holes in his chest. The pink spots darkened a bit.
"Oh... you know..." Shyvana said, unsure of how bad it actually was beneath the bandages. "It's nothing you've not faced before..." Jarvan chuckled, the gesture turning into a strained cough.
"The look upon your face says otherwise." Jarvan said with a weak grin. His eyes fluttered shut.
"Jarvan!" Shyvana gasped as she watched, a worried look upon her face. "Jarvan!" His eyes fluttered open and he pushed himself into a sitting position, his body still pale, Shyvana putting an arm under his back and helping him sit up gently. "Are you alright?" He nodded and shook his head.
"Sorry... I'm just in pain..." He grunted. Shyvana looked worried as she held onto his arm.
"That's what you get for being a bloody heroic fool last night." Shyvana said, poking him in the chest. He winced and exhaled sharply, causing Shyvana to jump a bit.
"Ouch!" Jarvan yipped, clamping his eyes shut.
"Sorry!" Shyvana gasped, clasping her free hand over her mouth, her other dropping into Jarvan's head. He gave her a reassuring squeeze of the hand as he looked at her, his teeth clenched together.
"Damn that hurt." He muttered, wiping the blood from his chin. He tried to sit up with a groan and a shiver. As he coughed and grunted, his body shuddering as she tried to sit up, he managed to grin sheepishly as Shyvana, as she sat back, breathing a sigh of relief. She scowled as Jarvan grinned tiredly, an apologetic look on his face.
"And what do we have here?" A deep growl caused his body to tense up, pain shooting through his body as he tried to jump to his feet. He exhaled sharply and shuddered, his body screaming at him to stay still.
Talon!