Irelia was weeping. It was understandable, she was the last Ionian now. Although Jax didn't belive Lee was dead, he knew that it was almost impossible to remain alive after a battle versus three of the best Ionia had to offer. And yet, he had defeated Sion and Singed all by himself, why not defeat Akali, Shen and Kenen?
As much as he wished it was true, he knew that Lee was not alive anymore. The blind monk sacrificed his life to save theirs, so he planned on saving themselves. He was moving as fast as he could, towards the Institute. What was left of the Institute, at least. Brand will be welcoming, he knew. The burning vengance was no longer the creature which enjoyed killing things.
He was going to ask him a few things. First of all, where were the summoners. That as one of the things which troubled Jax the most. How could have all of the summoners disappeared in a second? This was more than strange. But Brand knew something about it. He said that both he and Fiddlesticks were hired to get rid of them.
Second was the question of where could they find refugee. He had already tried to go to Ionia, but immediately after he reached it the attack was situated. Jax didn't think that would offer them to stay with him.
And at last he would ask where did those who run with Draven go. If he was able to go with them, to find them, he would not have to worry about anything. But he had to find them first, which was not going to be an easy task. For they were refugees. They had to hide, in order to survive. If they were to be revealed, Noxus would send their troops and kill them, even though they were champions.
But then he thought that if they don't eat soon, they wouldn't be able to survive, or at least get close enough to the Institute grounds. But they also had to drink. They were hardly able to say a word before starting to cough. So, he kept jogging, although it was painful to him of sorts.
After half an hour, he heard the silent rumble of a river. Increasing his speed, he reached it and sighed in relief. It was just a pond, but a pond with clear water. Jax walked to a tree and left Irelia on in, the gentlest he could. She was sleeping. He descended to the level of the water and started drinking. The cold liquid felt as a health potion in the Rift. Refreshing him, giving him strength. The only thing it didn't do was to close his wounds. But that was too much to want.
After a good one minute of drinking, he finally separated from the water and decided to prepare a camp fire for a potential meal. But just as he was going to leave the little pond, he suddenly realized that if Irelia woke up before he was back, she would be shocked with his disappearance. Thinking a little, he scribed with his axe's hilt a few words on the soft ground and left.
A soft smell reached her nostrils. It smelled like cooked rabbits, although without the usual flavors of Ionian herbs. She slowly opened her eyes and was greeted by a camp fire. Next to it stood Jax, who was preparing two toasted rabbits to eat. She crawled next to him and rested her head on his shoulder.
It was already dark and cold, but the fire and Jax' temperature warmed her, making her feel cozy. Jax offered her one of the rabbits. She smiled and bit the warm food. It was tasty, but she thought everything was going to be tasty at her level of hunger.
"Rabbit on a stick! Made by Jax, only for ten gold coins!" The armmaster joked. Irelia laughed softly, but then felt her throat burning. She was thirsty.
"There is a pond over there. You should drink some, because your throat must burn." He offered her. She nodded, but kept chewing the meat on the stick. He nodded and continued eating.
After they finished their meals and she drank water, Jax hugged Irelia and started looking at the sky.
"Irie, you know, why don't we go to the ruins of Demacia? No one would look for us there. I think that if we go to Demacia we could get some rest, and then probably start searching for the refugees Draven led out of the Institute." Jax offered. She sighed, yet nodded.
"But we are going to visit the Institute's remains first, right? You said Brand was there. He can offer us shelter, right?" She asked. Jax sighed.
"You don't know what is his house. It is only a hut, with a simple bed. Nothing more. We can go, to tell him hello, but what will we do after this? I mean, if we go to Demacia there won't be any shelter, because the Noxians probably burned the city to the ground." He explained. He thought about their situation. At first he was alone. Then, a whole nation took him in. The nation was exterminated, and only two were left with him. Now, only they remained.
"We have to sleep now. Come on, it won't hurt, will it?" He offered, a smirk beneath his mask. Irelia nodded and closed her eyes. She seemed to have no problem sleeping in his embrace.
The beast was on the hunt. While a lot of beasts hunted together, he was alone. He prefered being alone, because no one was in his way. So the beast was on his way, to hunt for his prey. Those who he was hunting were not far, he could tell. But their stench came over the mountains, and closing to the wastelands. It was going to be easier if he allowed them to reach the waste, because it was only fun if they ran.
A wicked smile curved the lips of the beast. His sharp teeth reflected some of the moon light, creating a spectral image of a wolf. The red eyes were much better than human, although they had once been such. Those days were wretched for the beast, for now he was free, feeling nor exhaustion nor hunger. Well, at least much weaker than when he was a man.
The beast sniffs the air, and an intoxicating stench fills his nostrils. The metallic aroma of blood is sprayed all around him. Looking around, he beholds a scene which would make a lot of human beings to wince. It just brings a smile to his lips. Three figures lay scattered on the clearing in the woods, the grass stained with the liquid which led him there. The beast kneels next to the closest body, and sees a man he did not expect to see. The blind monk was turned to the side, and he looked as if in a deep sleep. Although he was dead.
The other two forms were not so clear to recognize, but the beast was able to remember the stench of almost everyone. And everything. Those two were from the Knikou, counted as the best in their job. If they failed, he was called. The beast smirked. There was always a good feeling in a challenge. That meant the prey was strong enough. But he wondered, if two of those ninjas were slain by only one, why didn't all of the wanted stay and kill them all. At least they wouldn't have lost one member. The only solution was that they were injured and at the brink of collapse.
Because the beast knew both the survivors, he knew their weaknesses. And being injured was not one of them. But then he wondered where did the third ninja go, because if she wasn't dead, then why didn't she continue the hunt. He knew very well of her capabilities, and knew that she had the chance of capturing them. But aborting a possible mission was something strange. Did she sunder under the destruction of her allies? No. He didn't think so. Something had made her quit, and maybe even turn her back at those who put the quest on her squad.
Maybe she had betrayed them? Oh, nothing was sweeter than fighting other hunters. Killing her would make an excellent increase in his status... Why not. He smiled at his own thoughts and kept sniffing. Soon, he captured the stench of the third member of the squad. He was going to create a beautiful blood pile. Oh, not only a blood pile. Maybe even a gory puddle.
The hunter felt the chill in the air. For quite some time there was that chill. He couldn't say where it came from, but when he searched of answers, he saw only well hidden prints. Prints from hooves. There were two options. Either there was a rider following him all too well, or it was those celestial centaurs. He shivered at the thought of celestial beings, for it reminded him of a dead one...
The Blood Hunter shook his head and started walking in the direction of the third ninja. He was going to see to why she abandoned the quest.