I shrank closer to the log as Yasuo approached. Although I knew he wasn't dangerous, I didn't really want anything to do with him either. My social skills were not great per se, and big scary swordsmen just isn't something you see everyday. All I wanted was for Ahri to come back so we can continue on.
When Yasuo neared me, he stopped and glanced towards my log. Then, he started walking again in my direction. With a look of horror, I remembered that I had left me and Ahri's backpack on top of the log. I felt like slapping myself.
Yasuo stood right in front of my log, and glanced curiously at my bags. His face, though it perhaps long ago once held a smile, was firm and hard. A scar ran horizontally along his nose, and I wondered how he had received it. Yasuo sweeped the surrounding area with his sharp eyes.
"Is there anyone here!" He yelled. Aside from the chirping of birds and the occasional snapping of twigs, only silence replied.
Yasuo shrugged, and walked back towards the path. Just as he was about to step onto the Chirmwood bridge, a flash of blue zigzagged through the forest, and stopped across from him. In the blink of an eye, Yasuo had turned and drawn his sword.
The blue energy faded as the flash decelerated, revealing a familiar humanoid figure with nine tails. As the blue energy faded completely, Ahri was revealed, her Orb of Deception floating above her left hand.
"Yasuo! It's been too long. " Ahri greeted, lowering her hand while willing her orb to disappear. "How have you been?"
"Ah. It's you, Ahri." Yasuo nodded, lowering and sheathing his sword. "I've been well, or as well as I could be when on the run. What about you?"
"I too have been well. Thanks!" Ahri grinned. "Oh, and I've found myself a companion. Did you see him? I told him to stay here. He must have hid when he saw you. He's a bit shy."
"Ah!" Yasuo nodded. "That must be why there are two bags. I-"
"I'm here!" I sputtered, climbing out from behind the log. "Hi Ahri."
"There you are." Ahri smiled, and pulled me closer to her. With one hand she brushed off the dirt on my robes and straightened my hair. "Wentao, this is Yasuo. Yasuo, this is Wentao."
"Hi Yasuo." I said, glancing at him quickly before turning to another direction.
"Hello Wentao." Yasuo nodded, before staring slightly warily at Ahri. "Ahri, don't you think he's a bit young?"
"Oh, it's not like that." Ahri giggled. "Wentao, mind you, is my friend."
Suddenly, Ahri's expression turned grave, and I remembered the reason she had left in the first place.
"Darling, " Ahri said as she turned to me. "If you don't mind, would it be alright if you leave for a short moment? Yasuo and I need to talk. It would be better if you don't hear it."
Somewhat taken aback and slightly offended, I frowned. Ahri must have noticed.
"It's alright sweety. Don't take it too personally." Ahri told me gently. "It's just that things are slightly grimmer than I had anticipated, and I would rather you not worry too much about it."
I nodded, before walking away towards the trees. After Ahri made sure I was out of ear shot, she continued her conversation with Yasuo. Choosing a slightly more comfortable looking stump, I sat down, and sighed. Although I knew Ahri must have known the information she had would not sit well with me from reading my memories and emotions, I still didn't particularly like getting left out. It reminded me too much of the traumas from back home. Then, I realized how grim things must have been if Ahri had readily sent me away while knowing it would make me upset.
Suddenly, the breeze picked up in my direction. Snippets of Ahri and Yasuo's exchange hung in the wind, allowing me to eavesdrop into some of their conversation.
"So where are you wandering off to now exactly?" I heard Ahri ask.
"Well, to the village of Weh'le." Yasuo replied. "It's the Spirit Blossom festival currently. I have to pay my respects to my brother."
"The Spirit Blossom? Oh dear. I haven't heard. But the last festival must have been ages ago! The buds have bloomed again?"
"Of course, Ahri. Though Ionia is still suffering, the Spirit Blossom has still returned. Simply put, I wouldn't miss it for almost anything. That said, they're only going to be holding it in Weh'le and a few other selected places this year. The other villages can't uphold a formal celebration because of Noxians. Weh'le is one of the only villages protected enough."
"Shame. The last few festivals I've been going to smaller villages so I can better hide myself. I hate how I have to take lives to preserve mine."
"It's not your fault, you can't help it."
"If only I could. But Yasuo, do you know what's happened?"
"No? I was meditating this morning. I can feel Ionia cry out, though I can't be too sure of what's happened. What is it, Ahri? You look nervous."
"The Noxians. They are bombing us, with some type of chemical weapon I've never even seen before in 800 years. The frontlines are a mess of green, a sea of death. It's like the stories they tell about the Rune Wars."
Silence. Either Yasuo was talking in hushed tones, or the wind had died down. A moment later, I was able to catch onto their conversation again.
"Weh'le is protected by strong Ionian spiritual magic. The Noxians have no chance there." Yasuo told Ahri.
"I know. I plan on taking Wentao with me. He'll be safe there. Will you come with us?"
"I better not. I get the impression he doesn't like me."
"Who? Wentao? Oh don't be silly." Ahri laughed, her hearty spirit breaking through the grave conversation. "He's just slightly jealous. Don't worry about it. He'll warm up to you eventually. He's a sweetie."
"Nonetheless, I wish to travel alone. The Ionians are still searching for the one who supposingly slew an elder. I do not wish to draw redundant attention to myself."
"Well, if you insist. I'll be seeing you in Weh'le then. Take care Yas!"
With that, Ahri waved towards Yasuo, and started walking towards my direction. Yasuo turned and crossed the bridge. Hastily, I rearranged myself to look as if I was utterly uninterested in their conversation, and pulled up my best poker face as I knew Ahri was incredibly good at reading emotions. I knew Ahri could easily find out that I had eavesdropped, and I didn't want that as part of me felt extremely guilty for not listening to her.
"Alright little one." Ahri told me, before gently easing me and studying my face. If she found anything, she didn't let on. "I've decided to take us to the village of Weh'le. It's a nice place inland where we'll be safer from the Noxians. Coincidentally, the Spirit Blossom festival is taking place there this year. It'll be fun!"
"What is the Spirit Blossom festival?" I wondered, suddenly intrigued. I had heard Yasuo and Ahri mentioning it but didn't know what it meant. "It sounds nice."
"Awww. You do love a good celebration don't you." Ahri laughed, before taking out some of our food and preparing the nearby area for lunch. "Here, Wentao. Have some salad. I'll explain it to you while we eat."
I sat down on a red blanket that Ahri had laid on the grass, and watched as Ahri took out a variety of foods from our bags. There were different types of meats, celery, broccoli, salads, and a few other strange yet inviting looking vegetables I didn't recognize.
"My gods!" I said as I took a bite from the refreshing salad. "It's so fresh!"
"Well of course little fox." Ahri laughed, as she nibbled on some carrots. "I only picked them from the forest this morning while you were still asleep after all. Ionia is a land of magic. We protect the land, and the land protects us. That includes providing us with fresh foods."
We ate a few more bites, before I decided to ask Ahri about the Spirit Blossom Festival.
"Well, the Spirit Blossom Festival is a time to embrace your spiritual side." Ahri explained. "Once you pass on, your spirit travels to the spiritual realm. There, you'll be guided by the Spirit of Salvation to your rightful afterlife."
She sipped from her waterskin before continuing, her eyes sparkling in the morning light. A few of her tails wrapped around me, and I rested on them while Ahri continued her story.
"The Spirit Blossom Festival is an ancient and celebrated time in Ionia, when the door to the spirit world is opened, the dead return to their loved ones, and spirits of all manner turn their eyes towards the living. It's a time for celebration! The festival starts when the spirit blossoms bloom, and usually lasts around a full week. But ever since the war, the spirit blossom has remained dormant for years. I didn't even realize they've bloomed till now! You'll understand when you see it."
I nodded, and yawned. Ahri brushed my hair out of my face, and smiled down warmly at me. One of her braids hung near my reach, and I played with her hair.
The warm afternoon breeze gently blew by, and Ahri's hair danced in the wind. We stayed in that position for around 10 minutes before Ahri gently gave me a nudge and I sat up. Ahri stood up, and together, we packed our things.
"Alright darling." She sang. "Time to go!"
She adjusted the straps on her bags, and patted down her robes so that the dirt and twigs scattered away. I did the same thing, and was surprised at how well the shiny exterior of my robes discarded the dirt and grim.
Ahri helped me into my backpack, and together we crossed the Chirmwood bridge. The intersection across the bridge split into five separate paths, and Ahri led the way through the one in the middle. On a beautiful day, in gentle winds, we tread our way across Ionia.
After nearly an hour of walking, my feet began to grow sore.
"When will we get there?" I wondered out loud.
"Hehe." Ahri giggled, before putting a hand on my back. "Is the little fox tired?"
Too tired to protest, I nodded.
Ahri held her hands in front of me, signaling me to stop. She took a deep breath, and put her hands to the ground. A sudden swooping sensation passed through me, and I hastily rebalanced myself. A sudden noise came from a bush on my left, the snapping of twigs. I whirled around, and held my breath. Two majestic lion creatures, each slightly larger than Ahri, had revealed themselves from the trees. They had snow-white fur, and pinkish red streaks that ran through their coats. Ahri looked into their eyes, and the lions unflinchingly held her gaze.
"What are they?" I wondered as I beheld this majestic sight.
"They're winged guardians of Ionia." Ahri grinned, the streaks of color on her own face carving just as majestically. "These two are quite young. They'll grow more fur and sprout wings when they're older. However, they have agreed to carry us to Weh'le!"
"But, how did you summon them?" I inquired.
"Oh I didn't summon them." Ahri laughed, and brushed her hair in the wind. "I told Ionia we needed transportation and the land has decided to help us. It is a magical place after all.
Ahri instructed me on how to climb onto the guardian, as I had no experience with riding animals. I swung my legs onto the back of the beast, and held on to the sides of his neck. After helping me onto the guardian, she turned and climbed onto her own.
"Alright Wentao." She smiled at me. "Hang on tight!"
I nodded. Ahri lowered her head and whispered a few words into the ears of her beast. The guardians lowered their heads, and sprinted into the Ionian wilds.