The Fox and the Guardian
Part I: War for Demacia
Chapter 4: Loreston and Steak
The sweet smell of cooking meat filled my nose, the very scent causing my stomach to grumble with joy as it envisioned its future of blissful fulfillment.
And as my mouth watered and my stomach grumbled, I wondered how on earth that cooked rabbit smelled so good.
Ahri herself stared at the cooking rabbit with hardly concealed hunger, and the other two of our… Well not new party members so to speak, but our new companions, were simply silent as-
"I'm telling you foxy, dancing is the key to one's soul. More than eyes or heart! Dancing, is life itself." Rakan, the male half of our two new companions, grinned as he pulled the rabbit from the fire.
It was a kind gesture that he cook instead of me, and from the smell I knew it was the better choice. He obviously had a talent with food I didn't.
Still he was friendly and all smiles trying his best to ease the obvious tension between everyone.
Though his break the ice topic was apparently dancing.
Ahri simply rolled her eyes before replying to him, "it seems wasteful."
The man gawked, a fake gasp escaping him that his worse half rolling her own eyes at the man as he spoke, "your words skewer my soul! Hah, but if a dance is done wrong, you're correct that it is beyond wasteful!"
I raised an eyebrow, "and how exactly do you judge if it's wrong?"
His eyes gleamed as he twirled the cooked rabbit, the moody girl flicking her wrist and severing the small beast into fours, then handed each of us one as he continued, "it's a simple thing, you simply watch a pair. If they truly enjoy the moment, then you'll know, and then you'll know ifs it's wrong."
I shrugged and tore into the me even as Ahri voice another concern on what exactly counted as dancing.
Now I'm not some fancy ballet expert or whatever. But, even I knew what a typical dance was. Had the girl really never danced before?
Andy, she lives in a cave.
Okay and what about before? Maybe she had dances whenever she grew up.
Maybe she never learned?
She could also be bad.
A girl like her? Have you seen the way she moves in a fight? She'd be the star of the dance floor!
I blinked, sparing a glance at Ahru as she rolled her eyes again before replying to Rakan.
Whatever she said was lost on me, but Kait had a point. Maybe she really didn't know how to dance.
Still, I was content to let Rakan try and convince the fox girl that dancing truly was some mystical and magical thing.
"Why are you in Ionia?"
I blinked as moody girl stared me down with amber eyes boiling in fury.
Apparently she was done playing nice. Only took a couple of hours.
I noticed Ahri's and Rakan's voices instantly halt, the tails of the fox stilling and frizzing as Rakan shifted uncomfortably.
He probably knew this was coming, hence his attempts at making amends with us by being so friendly. If only his other half was the same.
"So?" Xayah growled, large ears twitching as a purple glow filled her hand.
She's already threatening you?!
I mean she almost slit my throat after I saved her life. It's probably a miracle it took this long.
I huffed and leaned back, careful to keep my meka on my lap, "I was just visiting."
"And what were you visiting?"
"He was visiting me." Ahri's voice pierced into our conversation, and amber eyes turned to her own.
Golden eyes met amber, and Xayah narrowed her gaze as the daggers in her hand grew slightly bigger.
"And why would a human care to visit a Vastayan?"
I shook my head, "okay well first-"
"And why do you need to know?" Ahri's voice drowned mine out, her tails swaying back and forth in a way that reminded me of a snake ready to strike.
"Because the shadows are spreading north, humans hunt us for sport, and suddenly a strange man with strange armor appears? I highly doubt it's just coincidence."
I crossed my arms, "it's literally coincidence. Nothing else, besides I didn't even know what a Vastayan was till like… Three days ago!"
Amber eyes focused on me, "and besides you're word, you have no way to prove that."
"He does," Ahri hissed, standing up as her tails twitching in aggravation.
"Oh and-"
"He didn't try to take my tails."
The gloomy woman froze and raised an eyebrow at the fox, though if I was honest, I was just as curious as to her statement.
Ahri, bless her soul, gulped and shifted uncomfortably under three gazes, her tails twisting in agitation.
"Someone told me they were valuable. That… They would make a lot of money on the market." her voice grew soft.
My eyes widened.
Was she serious? Had people tried to take her tails before?
It would explain why she was so scared of us at first. Poor thing…
No shit…
"Plus…" my eyes refocused on her and her head shot up, but my heart froze as I noticed the glow in her eyes, "I would know if he meant harm. You for instance, the spirits, the forest, is uneasy around you. Your hands are soaked in blood, and the forest knows you fight for yourself and not it."
Xayah instantly tensed and I felt my hand Canon materialize on my thigh.
"Okay this is getting out of hand," Rakan interrupted with raised hands, his own eyes locked onto Xayah as his honey soaked words continue on, "we didn't mean to assume anything. It's just… Its not often humans are friendly towards our kind."
"I know," Ahri eyes narrowed, "but this one has been nothing but kind."
"This one has a name." I grumbled, but my voice went unheard as Xayah stood and her hand opened, daggers disappearing as she did.
The woman huffed and crossed her arms, "humans are traitors creatures." Her eyes locked onto me. "Give him enough time and he'll betray you, just like all the rest."
I glared at her, "yes because I'm so bad. Just the worst right? Even though you're the one who drew a blade at the human who literally saved your life. Who drew a blade on a fellow Vastayan for nothing more than traveling with me. Yeah I'm really the bad guy aren't I?"
"Don't patronize me," the woman huffed, "humans kill without care, and take what they want. Just look at Zed and his acolytes. They're killing the land just because they can."
"And I'm this Zed?" I gestured to myself and stood up, "am I the one trying to kill the forests? Or you?"
"You could be." She narrowed her gaze.
"Unbelievable." I laughed, throwing up my hands, "you really think I'm some sort of villain don't you?"
There was no reply, though Ahri stood taller and her tails started to glow as she glared at Xayah. Rakan simply sighed and was looking at his other half with what looked like reserved criticism.
"Let's go Rakan." Xayah huffed and spun on her heel, turning away from us as her feathered cloak fluttered.
"Babe," he huffed.
I wanted to nod in good riddance but held my desires in check. No need to be an asshole.
"Lets go. We have a trail to follow." And with that, the woman walked away from us and into the darkened woods, clawed feet as silent as the wind.
Rakan huffed, his eyes never looking back to us as he started after her, "it was nice meeting you two. Just…" he stopped for a moment and ran a hair through his golden hair.
He looked back at us, "forgive her please. She's hasn't had it easy with humans. And this shadow cult hasn't made her opinion any better."
With that, a golden glow wrapped around him and dancer feet carried him into the woods after his gloomy half.
And alas, Ahri and I were alone once more.
The silence was uncomfortable, but not at the same time. It was uncomfortable in the sense that an air of sheer annoyance and frustration surrounded us, but it wasn't uncomfortable because it was aimed at the two figures that had departed into the trees.
Well specifically the one. But semantics.
"At least they gave us food."
"She's wrong right?"
I blinked and turned to the fox.
Her amber eyes were focused on me, and darkness shrouding her face as she shifted awkwardly.
I sighed and nodded, "of course. I told you I'm a Guardian remember?"
"And what's a Guardians job?" She tilted her head, tails swaying under the moonlight.
I 'hmphed' and leaned back, looking to the sky as I did so.
"To protect people from the darkness."
She nodded, "the spirits like you, but they didn't like her."
I shrugged, "well, she wasn't the nicest but Rakan said she had a bad past. It happens."
She stayed silent and from the corner of my eye I saw her follow my lead and look up to the moon.
It gave her a strange glow, and the leaves swayed towards her. The grass fluttered next to her and I doubted she noticed how the moonlight framed her and the air itself seemed to been drawn towards her.
A beautiful sight, yet also wild and untamed.
Strange… Andy, I can feel your light being… pulled? Yeah, pulled towards her. Weird.
I didn't reply and simply nodded, careful to keep my sense aware in case she tried to… well, whatever it was she did before.
But nothing strange invaded my senses and the moment ended as she spun on her heel and- "We should rest. The towns not far but we don't want to try and travel at night. Easy to get lost."
"Its not that bad. We could-"
The look she shot me over her shoulder has me shutting up and raising my hands.
She very much did not want to travel at night.
"All right relax, we'll stay here. I'll keep first watch and you can get some rest yeah?"
She turns away from me, "I'll be back. I need to think."
And with that, she sauntered into the trees like the others, glowing tails fading away moments later as the forest swallowed her.
I blinked.
Okay, so I'm confused. What just happened, Kait? Is this a girl thing or an I'm an idiot and just have no ideas what's going on.
Both. Definitely both.
Rude…
The morning came with bright light and the chirping of birds. It was a sound that brought a smile to my face since not a day ago had I seen this very forest dead and decayed with almost no life whatsoever.
A yawn escaped me as I stood, my arms reaching to the sky as I stretched and my muscles reawakened.
My eyes were drawn to the still form of Ahri, the woman leaned back against a tree with her tails protectively curled around her. Her eyes were shut and her breathing was easy- most likely she fell asleep during her watch.
Knowing she was fine I looked back to the trees around us, carefully watching them to see if maybe our friends from the night before had returned. Of course no one popped out of the trees in some poor idea of a surprise reunion, so I was left to cleaning up the fire pit from last night.
The work was easy, and it only took a few minutes of digging up some dirt and smothering what few members remained to finish the job which left me in a strange predicament.
Ahri was still asleep.
I sat back down, cautiously eyeing her.
I figured waking her was probably the best bet, as we still had ground to cover till we hit the town, but she seemed so at peace I didn't want to disturb her. Plus, waking someone up who doesn't want to be woken up yet was always a gamble.
Especially when they had magical fire powers.
Joy.
Maybe toss a twig at her?
On what planet did would that ever be a good idea, kait?
I'm just giving you ideas!
I rolled my eyes and ignored the bond and my Ghosts continued 'suggestions', instead focusing on what i should do. It was strange after all. I'd been on missions before were I had to stay the night in old abandoned buildings or even the lush jungle of venus, but even with a team it was always business.
This however…
Well it wasn't business, though I'm not entirely sure what exactly we're doing. I mean yeah we're going to the town but… oh hell. I don't even know what to do when I get there! Not like I can ask around for the nearest Guardian!
Dang it.
Movement caught my attention and lazily I glanced over to see Ahri tails twitching violently. Her face was scrunched up, mouth ajar and sweat beginning to run down her forehead.
My heart broke at the sight.
I'd seen it before, in older guardians when they had nightmares of the horrors that awaited them in the darkness. PTSD of a sense. Whatever she had been through obviously haunted her. Maybe it had to do with the whole 'tails' situation. I doubt she'd give them up willing, so more than likely it wasn't a happy story when someone tried to take them.
With a harsh jerk of her head her eyes shot open and her tails frizzled outwards in obvious shock.
Amber eyes glowed and they locked onto me for a moment.
Something akin to unease shot through me as she looked at me.
I'd seen that look too.
The look of a predator.
But it was gone a moment later and the glow in her eyes faded, the girl shaking her head and standing with enough obvious anxiety that even Cayde would've prescribed her meds.
"We should get moving." Her eyes never met mine and once more she looked out to the forest.
I stared at her, raising an eyebrow as I stood, "good morning to you too."
Her ears twisted, the tips flattening partially as she sent a glance my way, "the town is only a few hours out. We should get going, maybe we can find a proper meal there."
"Only a few hours? Huh, well that's good, kinda tired of rabbit." I grinned, shooting her an amused smirk.
Whether or not she noticed she didn't show and only shrugged, instead walking past me again and towards the woods, this time south, perpendicular to where the dark temple had once stood.
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.
She's not a morning person.
No, non-morning people are just grumpy when they wake up cause they don't have coffee. She's more like… anti waking up and talking to people person. Or just anti talking. Damn that angry girl, just making things worse.
Well at least she hasn't tried to kill you again!
I did the mental equivalent of a sigh. Always a bright side, thanks Kait.
That's the spirit!
I quickly ensured our makeshift camp was dutifully torn down, by which i mean the fire was truly out and that was really it since I also had slept against a tree, and followed after Ahri once more.
Once again chirping birds filled the air and the hum of insects and rustling leaves followed me as I walked after Ahri.
It was heartening and I smiled as the simple beauty of the forest grew on me. If I was honest, I could see why Ahri loved her forest so much. It was a quaint place indeed.
Yet that didn't help the silence between us.
The crunch of my boots and the soft click of her own heels was all the conversation that was shared between us.
A far cry from yesterday, or even the cave.
That angry girl had definitely done a number on Ahri, whatever memories she had brought up were definitely ones the Fox was obviously trying to forget.
Speaking of-
"Watch out." A quick step forward and I grabbed her arm once more, pulling her back from a rather nasty looking branch directly at eye level.
She jumped in my grip, tails even going so far as to spread out completely in surprise, before she looked up with surprise at the branch.
Yeah definitely not a good sign.
She looked back at me and gave me a simple nod before pulling her from my grip and ducking under the branch and continuing on her way.
I sighed.
Man this was going to be a long few hours.
She hated this. All of it.
The damn vastayan bird who dared make her seem like a fool. Her lover that was far too kind for such a vicious woman. And of course the so called protector traveling with her.
The damned forest had been dying and dead, and now it was alive, and then that little monster from the day before with its bile and acid.
She hated it.
Everytime she left her cave, her woods, something bad happened.
She was drugged for her tails. She almost had her memories of everything she held dear taken. She and the painter had gone to that damn-
No.
Her teeth clenched together.
She would not think of then.
But… what had happened then? What had she done?
It was on the tip of her mind, and she tried so desperately to reach the memory, and fear only plagued her heart as she tried. But she couldn't and so she never knew why she feared the memory.
"Watch out…" the voice was softer than before, reserved and more frustrated.
Of course she ignored its owner, only taking the words and processing them long enough to effectively jump over a large pile of rocks that would've tripped her.
The Guardian behind her followed her lead of course and she continued on without looking back.
That girl… Xayah had been so confident in his betrayal. So confident that he would harm her.
Would he?
He was capable, she knew that. Their fight had all but ensured he was deadly in his own right.
But he wasn't the shopkeeper. He had done nothing but be polite and kind to her, which she of course returned in kind.
The thought left her uneasy either way.
A lingering feeling that kept her senses sharp, and her eyes flickering all around.
After all, the woman had a point. Humans, weren't the most trustworthy of creatures. Just like Vastayans. And she wouldn't put it past the woman's hatred to try something.
But as they walked with branches crunching under their feet or swaying over their heads and birds singing and flying through the blue sky and beaming light of the forest canopy, nothing happened.
They simply kept going without intervention, and Ahri wondered if maybe, just maybe she was worried for nothing.
Minutes turned to hours as they walked, and and Ahri found herself relaxing the closer they got towards their town.
The trees thinged, smoke from chimneys and firepits rose on the horizon, and a road appeared in their sights, clearing through trees and creating a perfectly linear pathway to their destination with pebbles and dirt.
Wheel tracks were carved into the road, and patches of weed grew throughout it all the while a sign made of oak wood stood at the nearest turn of the road pointing southwards towards the smoke.
"Loreston." The Guardian quipped, "nice name."
She smiled softly and gave a curt nod his way before following the edge of the road south.
It was a welcoming sight for her, one that told her people were near and she wasn't alone.
Though she hadn't been alone for a few days now. That was new. She'd never gone into the town with anyone else before. Not even with the painter.
"So considering I'm kinda new to Ionia and all… how far north are we?"
She glanced back at the Guardian, his eyes not on her, but on the sky and the trees, a warrior trying to find his bearings. But considering his lack of success he wasn't the most seasoned explorer at the very least. Warrior yes. Explorer, obviously not so much.
She bit her lip and replied softly, "a few days ride on horseback going north, and you'd hit the ocean. Thats how far north we are."
He whistled and her ears flattened in annoyance before he continued, "so, like, is this the only town here up north? Or are there more?"
She raised and eyebrow at him and he returned a sheepish smile, "sorry I've never been here and If i'm honest I probably would've ended up just getting lost in the forest if I hadn't met you."
Amusement threatened to paint a small smile on her face, but she crushed it down and instead turned back towards the town with the reply, "there are a few northern towns, but the biggest two is below the Kinkuo monastery. The town there has hundreds of people, maybe even a thousand."
A thousand people… she wondered what seeing that many all at once would be like. Maybe too much if she were honest. The plague of essence and magic… it hurt her head just thinking about the amount the air would be filled with.
"A thousand. Wow." The lack of true excitement in the Guardians voice was obvious but she ignored it. Some people just couldn't grasp such a vast number.
Still, it didn't dampen the man's sprites and he continued on, "well, either way, it'll be good to get my bearings. I honestly need to find a way home."
Curiosity poked inside her and she spared a single glance back at him, "to this earth you told me about?"
He nodded with a huge grin.
She rolled her eyes and turned back towards the road, carefully avoiding a particularly large rut in the ground.
"Yeah it's something else all right. Great place. Though the neighbors, not so much."
His next words simply traveled in one ear and out the other, a simple 'oh really?' or a 'uh huh' being a sufficient enough answer to keep the man entertained.
Truthfully, she didn't want to be rude.
But after yesterday's events she wasn't in the mood for words.
Alas it didn't keep the Guardian from asking hordes of questions, one particular one about who exactly the Kinkou were caught her attention. She may have been a recluse so to speak, but even she knew who they were. All Ionians did, though he wasn't Ionian.
"So the Kinkou are kinda like… a religious police force?"
She sighed, "yes."
"Gotcha and they helped repel the whole Noxus invasion too?"
Ah and then there was that. Whether or not he had been to Ionia didn't matter. Noxus was known for its warmongering policies and desire for conquest. Even a recluse like her had picked up on that. He had to have known about the war, after it wasn't a small deal when Noxus was driven back.
Strange.
She nodded once in reply, hoping it was enough to sate the man. Though as expected it wasn't and he continued-
"Cool. So I'm assuming that's the town?"
She blinked, looking up quickly to see the wooden gates of the town down the road before her, its doors wide open in greeting.
Her brow rose in surprise. She was too distracted to even realize they were basically at the towns doors? How did she even manage that?
Her heart rushed as she realized that all nine of her tails were still out. Quickly she forced them together, having eight twist and hug the ninth enough to appear as if she had a single tail.
She gulped heavily, hoping none from the town had seen all nine. She knew of the rumors of her. Of the demon of the forest and its tails. Making herself seem to have one was the best disguise, after all most rumors were vivid retellings of the woman who had a dozen tails and devoured the innocent.
That's not me…
She had heard of the demon, of how it devoured all equally.
I'm not a monster…
The children didn't believe it of course, too young to remember deaths from over a decade ago.
And the people had assumed the malevolent spirit had moved on. No one had died in that time, no one aside from noxus soldiers at least.
It's not me…
Yet some remembered. The tails and glowing eyes of a murderous seductress.
I'm not… that…
"You okay?"
Her eyes widened and she looked to her companion.
His smile was gentle and his eyes soft. Like the painters. Like… Like… what was his name? What was the painters name?
"Fine." She huffed, trying to edge a smile onto her face but only succeeding in creating a half hearted grin.
She shook her head and shoved the thoughts down, waving for the Guardian to follow her.
He did with a smile and she couldn't help but notice as his eyes scanned the gates and their walls; wooden things about ten feet tall and only thick enough to dissuade any bandits this far north.
Two men, each dressed in light mail stood in front of the opening, long wooden spears held in their right hands. One sighed as they approached, and older more seasoned man, and the other, a young boy no older than her, who's eyes immediately widened as they landed on her, his checks growing red.
He gulped as his eyes traveled over her, and she raised an eyebrow that had him quickly looking away.
The first man however simply spoke up, "and what business do you have in Loreston?"
"Trade." She replied, pulling her bag off her shoulder and tossing it to him in one fluid swing.
The man caught it easily before opening it and eyeing its contents, "you know the Armest about two days north has a bigger market than us right?"
She narrowed her gaze, "I'd rather not go there again."
The eyes of the Guardian burned into her back, his questions obvious, but she ignored him as the man shrugged and handed her back her bag.
"Suit yourself, markets towards the southern end of the town, you'll see the tents set up for a few southern traders." And with that he stepped aside allowing her and the Guardian to pass unheeded.
The Guardian said something of thanks, and she ignored the obvious attraction of the younger Gaurd as they passed through the gates.
Her feet carried her into the town, buildings of wood on either side as they entered and stone roads now under their feet. A couple dozen people were milling about, some walking and talking with obvious friends while others rushed through and into alleys and down the road to whatever it was they were doing.
A few Vastayan were even among them; a woman with large eyes a tong tail, a man with large ears similar tothat woman Xayah and her lover.
A few children rushed in front of them, forcing her to stop lest she run over them, laughing as they chased on another.
Instinctively she grabbed a hand behind her, one that had reached for small opening in the sack she carried.
Amber eyes looked back and down.
A little girl, brown hair and dirt covered skin smiled up at her without her front teeth.
She sighed and released the little one, letting the girl run away to her friends who were waiting between an alley for her.
Their eyes locked onto her and she clocked an eyebrow.
They fled with shrieks.
She smiled and glanced back, "careful, they're sweet but some of the kids are pickpockets."
The Guardian nodded, "yeah I figured. Good catch by the way."
She shrugged, "it's how it is, I doubt they mean any real harm by it. They're just children."
Children. A strange concept. She wondered what it would be like to have one. It was… AnAn interesting thought. They seemed like a handful, though she had no real idea what a parent was supposed to be like.
Of course she had… memories of being one. But those weren't her memories. They were the memories of fathers. And mothers. And sons. And-
"Oh hey you ever been there?"
She blinked in mild shock, realizing she had once more spaced out and followed the pointed finger of her companion.
A building, two stories tall, with women and men walking around in fancy silk attire marched about to tables filled with hungry patrons.
She looked to the sign.
The Hungered Boar.
She'd never been.
And she showed that by shaking her head.
The Guardian then replied, "why don't we try it out? We got time to kill and I think we'd both rather have a meal that wasn't rabbit."
She raised an eyebrow, "do you have any coin?"
He blinked.
"Honestly, I'm dead broke…"
She rolled her eyes, "I don't have enough for a meal at a place like that. Let alone enough for two people."
With a quick shrug she pulled her bag off her shoulder and opened it for the Guardian to see inside.
"Ahh so uh, five golden coins. At least we're not entirely broke!"
"You're broke. I'm not." She pulled the bag back with a quick roll of her eyes.
"Fair point."
She shook her head and continued on down the road towards the market, boots clunking behind her as the Guardian found her.
"Well, I won't lie, but a meal does sound good. If you don't mind covering?" his head turned towards her as a couple passed by, the two steering clear of the oddly dressed duo, before she raised an eyebrow at him.
"I swear I'll pay you back, but like you said I'm broke. And hungry. I really don't want rabbit or squirrel."
For a moment she glared at him, studying his eyes and his sheepish smile.
He had been true to his word so far…
He wasn't the shopkeeper.
He'll betray you…
She grit her teeth, and looked away, eyes scanning the surrounding buildings. The first restaurant they passed was far down to their left, but if she squinted-
Yes! A simple tavern at the furthest end of the street opposite of them.
A few minutes walk, but nothing too crazy. They could even pass by the stall with fresh salted meats.
Maybe they had venison!
It had been a while since she'd had that.
With a sigh she nodded softly, "fine, but you owe me."
She nodded towards the end of the street and waved him after her as she started down the streets, careful to stick to edge of the road with the few carriages and the dozens of people walking about.
The markets were open all day. They be there later.
" So what do they serve at this place? Please tell me they have steak?"
She smiled.
It had been a while since she'd had a meal with someone.
A/N
This chapter was gonna be longer, but the ending here felt much better than the other one. So I decided to shorten it and make the next chapter larger and have a better flow.
More of Ahri's lore, at least kinda. Andy is still a clueless guardian. In case anyone's wondering the fox is about… 22-25 in lore, I think. Or physically she is, her actual age I think is over thirty but she ages slowly if memory serves correct. Plus her younger years don't really count as she was raised by wolves and was basically a feral animal for about a decade and a half.
Xayah and Rakan yay. I had wanted the two initially to team up with our duo, but considering Xayahs personality I realized how… Unlikely that was.
Next chapter we'll be introduced to two more characters from the game, two in particular who's lore I just learned about.
Don't worry, or favorite Vastayan couple isn't gone. Andy also wasn't the main focus of this entire chapter, we got more insight into Ahri.
Girl definitely has issues, even in lore.
The new Morde rework looks dope. It also will help this story!
Sorry this took so long.
Next I'll hopefully have the next chapter out! Summer break is dope for writing time.
God bless and review.
-Metal4k