Chapter 4: "Bones of Titans"

Writer's notes

My notes will be underlined as such

Character's thoughts will be Italicized as such

I do not own rights to anything here

"LIARS!" Renekton roared as he leaped at them with incredible speed , Kai'sa pushes Taliyah out of the path of his dash, the ascended warrior zooms in-between them and swings his body around, smacking Kai'sa with the backside of his arm sending her flying, and striking Taliyah with his tail sending her flying the other way but not nearly as far as Kai'sa. Renekton turns his vengeful gaze to Taliyah who was knocked down on her back right behind him. Using her stone weaving, she breaks up the ground beneath him causing him to sink into the dirt a little, buying her enough time to get on her feet. "You think rock tricks will save you, friend of Betrayer!" Renekton screams as he breaks his feet free from the ground with ease and charges to crush her. A blaze of Icathian rain hits the god-warrior distracting him for a moment with its brilliant violet flame. Kai'sa looks in awe as Renekton shakes off the attack like it was nothing, he then gives Kai'sa a glaring stare, "You will be next viodborne," he says as saliva drips from his jaws. He then refixes his gaze on Taliyah with bloodlust in his eyes, Taliyah doesn't hesitate and swiftly rips up a giant boulder from behind her and sends it flying into Him. The rock shatters on the god-warrior's face not being affected by it the slightest, "Nasus left me to root in a tomb of stone for centuries! Do you think a little rock will lock me back away!" Renekton raged as he beards down on Taliyah. "Aaaahhhgg!" Kai'sa yelled as she teleport dashed to Him, wrapping her legs around his neck and trying to stab him with her energy blades, she then fired her weapons with all the energy she could muster at incredible speed. The stream of violent fire flowing from Kai'sa's hands into Renekton's neck was almost blinding, but it still seemed to have no effect on the Ascended's flesh. "Get off of me insect!" Renekton said as he grabbed Kai'sa by her foot and pulled her off of his neck, to then slam her into the ground. Kai'sa braces for the pain of the impact as she knows being ragdolled into the ground by this god is probably gonna break something. "Aaaahhhgg, yep, something definitely broke" she says morning under the mask as she lays still feeling a burning pain in her chest and shoulder.

"LEAVE HER ALONE!" Taliyah says defiantly as she strains herself from trying to move something massive with her stone weaving. "Armies by the thousands have fallen by my blade! Do you really think any amount of stone throwing will save you girl!" Renekton says. Just as he finished talking, what Taliyah was moving became clear; all of a sudden, one of the colossal salt columns that was about 60 feet away to the side of Renekton, started to crack and creek, he turns and notices it but it's too late; the columns base shatters and the salt megastructure crashes down on top of the enraged Ascended. The impact of the mass of salt is so powerful it makes a small tsunami in the dirt that almost overtakes the injured Kai'sa who was trying to get up onto her feet. "We have to get the hell out of here now! That not gonna kill him!" Kai'sa yells as she limps over to Taliyah as she jogged back over to the rock-sled they were using. "Hold on!" Taliyah says as she pushes the two forward, ripping the earth up behind and making it push their rock they were riding to propel them even faster. "Are you ok?" Taliyah said, panting from adrenaline. "I'll be fine, just stop for a moment when we are in the clear so my shoulder can get set back, so it can heal." Kai'sa said, her voice sounding broken from pain around her lungs.

The badlands slowly began to fade away from them as they raced back into the dunes where Taliyah could surf faster. Kai'sa could have sworn she heard an enraged roar behind them from the god-warrior, but she couldn't be sure. Kai'sa tries to shut down her mind and breathe, anything to get the adrenaline out of her system that was making her breathe so fast; because right now, breathing hurts a lot. Taliyah continued to race across the desert, ignoring the heat of the day across the burning sands of the desert that the Ascended called home.

"Blasted Liars! Deceivers they all are… probably sent by my cowardly brother to bury me in the ground again." Renekton says while catching his breath from smashing free from the salt column that buried him. He turns his head and notices a cloud of dust in the distance from a party of mercenaries riding crocodiles. The god-warrior walks over to his blade, reaches down and picks it up, then stabbing into the ground and leans slightly onto it striking a heroic pose. "Have you all come to also challenge me?" Renekton says casually to the bandits as they stop before him. "My Lord!" Their leader says as they all stop and bow before him. He says nothing in reply, he just stands still and accepts the admiration as if it was what he was owed. "What is your purpose in my desert, " he booms out, his voice sounding like a god. "We have come, chasing a demon in your name. She pretends to fight the Void but she is a commander of legends of Void constructs, people say she can't be defeated, but in your glorious name I set out to kill the beast! So that you may know my name and be pleased." Raz said proudly. "And the girl with this demon… who is she?" Renekton asked. "I don't know my lord, but right as I was about to behead the demon she stopped me, the two clearly are working together." Raz replied. "Hmmm, ha haha aaaahhaaha" Renekton laughs as the bandits look on confused at what he thought was funny. "Hear me my followers, I know who's master plan is at work, it is my brother's doing, Nasus the traitor has turned to the Void, and has sent this Weaver girl spy with the Void demon to bury the only threat to his plans!" Renekton says, almost like he's reasoning with himself. "Yes, they call me the villain, but it is Nasus that betrays everyone, all of Shurima he has betrayed, yes." Renekton says again. "You really think Nasus would do that, but, he, he's a legend?" Raz says mumbling in disbelief. "HE'S A LEGENDARY BACKSTABBING DOG!" Renekton screams as he dashes over and grabs Raz by his neck speaking into his face. "Yes… yes my lord." Raz studers from renekton lifting him by his neck. Renekton lets him go, then turns to the rest of the bandits. "Children of Shurima, follow me and let us strike down this demon, Nasus's weaver spy, and STRIKE NASUS HIMSELF FROM THE HISTORY BOOKS!" He rallies them as they all begin riding north into the desert.

Back in Vekuara the band of youngsters sits on the river bank, Jaffa and Tena have fishing poles casted into the water, while Sehla sat quietly as always, hiding under her hood. "And you sure he accepted our proposition Jaffa?" Tena asks. "Yes, Raz said it would be a great honor to kill the demon, and he would accept the gold when he brings us its head." Jaffa replies. "Well, I sure hope it will make you happy, Sehla." Tena says with a mild scoff in her tone. "How's my least favorite sister doing?" A woman says as she walks up behind the group. She wore a crimson top and garb wrapped around her waist, she had an eye patch on her left eye and her straight hair was tied in a messy bun. "Well, I'm your only sister Najah, so technically I'm also your favorite sister." Tena teased her older sibling. You put that money I gave you into something long-term like I told you?" Najah asks. "Um, yes and no. We still have it with us, but have promised it on a good investment," Tena replies. "Well that's comforting, remember sis. A new age has come, Vekuara… and all of Shurima will become as civilized as the streets of Piltover, the time for burglars as a profession will soon be over. Best get a foot in the new Shurima before it arrives." Najah says as she pats her younger sis on the head. "Says the burglar, to her safecracking sister that every time she needs help opening something calls on," Tena replied. "I steal from those who made their living off of plundering, think of it as leveling the playing field before the order comes to town, also… I don't want my little sis to grow up a vagabond like myself," Najah says. "OH I GOT ONE," Jaffa exclaims as he pulls in his fishing line. "Bravo Jaffa, the fish must be finally making it this far up stream," Najah says as he pulls up the line revealing a fish no bigger than his thumb. "Yea, that wouldn't feed a crow." Tena teases as he throws the fish back into the water.

"So how'd the mission go?" Tena asks, looking up to her older sister. "Hhmp…pretty boy beat me to the prize again," Najah replies. "Who, Akshan? Hehe you should just ask him out next time you see him," Tena said while chuckling. "What! That's preposterous, I would never," Najah snapped back. "Oh come on sis, your face turns red every time you mention him, you pretend it's anger, but i think you're just jealous of him," Tena said. "You're crazy what would I be jealous of him about," Najah replied. "Uuuhh, are you serious, he's basically everything you wanna be only successful at it, you're whole "I'm Najah the noble thief bla bla bla" stuff. He's basically you with a grappling hook, abs, and charisma," Tena continues to tease. "Alright that's enough, you forget who's the older sis," Najah snaps back, being annoyed by Tena. "Soo… how's things going Sehla?" Najah asks the hooded girl. She doesn't reply but continues to sit in silence. "Right… good talk as usual, What about you Jaffa?" Najah asks him. "Oh um, I got a real job, making Dormun rigging now. Shift starts at sunset, since the workshop is on the outside of town, it's unwise to work during the day." Jaffa replied. "Oh that's wonderful news," Najah said. "I'm still available for my "job" if you need me sis," Tena teased again, referring to her safe cracking pets she kept with her. "That's not a job… sigh, okay well I'll check in with you all later," Najah says as she waves. "Oh hey sis, I may or may not have heard that a certain pretty boy has a long-term hotel room he is renting at Blarb's inn. But you wouldn't care because you don't like him." Tena finishes off with a really teasey tone. "Shut up…" Najah whispers back as she walks away blushing.

Sweat runs down from Taliyah's face as she continues to race across the dunes in the heat of the day. "Okay Taliyah, we should stop for a water break, and I guess my shoulder" Kai'sa's says with her voice trailing off, knowing she wasn't looking forward to the pain that would bring. Taliyah decides to listen and slows down the rock, leading it down into a low spot in the dunes that was just low enough to have a little shade. Taliyah grabbed the water skin and started chugging it, Kai'sa looks on concerned, hoping a drink will be left over for her. Taliyah notices her looking at the water skin and stops drinking just in time to save Kai'sa a few drinks, "oh sorry, but don't worry, will be at a place with more water by tonight," Taliyah says as she hands Kai'sa the water skin. While Kai'sa starts drinking the water, Taliyah walks over next to Kai'sa and starts examining her shoulder, "Are you ready?" Taliyah asks, while she gestures with her hands that she needs to set her shoulder. "Oh shit, um, yeah ready as all ever be." Kai'sa replies as she stops drinking and braces. Taliyah wraps her one arm around the backside of Kai'sa's shoulder, then places her palm on the front side just in front of the injury. "POP" The bone snapped back into place as she jammed her hand forward, setting her shoulder straight. Kai'sa doesn't make a sound at first, just the expression on her face of someone holding back a cry of pain, but instead of a cry it comes out as a wimpy groan of pain. "Ppfft, ppfft, tha, thank you, let's go." She mutters in a low tone as she forces the words out. "You welcome, it will get better soon," Taliyah says softly, trying to make her feel better.

Sliding on top of the dunes the two continued across the desert, Kai'sa stands on Taliyah's side with her shoulder pods extended to offer shade for them both. Kai'sa looks over the great desert, it's strange how vast everything is up here on the surface world, she spent so much time having her vision be a secondary sense in the darkness of the Void, Up here everything is so vast that the sight of it consumes all her senses, it feels strange, uncomfortable, she was used to being able to paint a mental picture of her entire surroundings, but here, her mind was lost, it was just too vast to fit in her head. "How far can you feel the ground, Taliy?" Kai'sa asked. "Um, not that far in soft dunes like this, maybe 50 feet, but on solid ground, I don't know, a long way, guess a few miles," Taliyah says. "Well that's not very comforting for out here," Kai'sa replies. "Oh don't worry, nothing travels half as fast as me across the sands, not even an angry god-warrior," Taliyah says proudly. "Fair enough," Kai'sa replies. Kai'sa leans over onto Taliyah's shoulder to close her eyes for a bit, still too uncomfortable to actually sit or lay down on the rock as they traveled, "just trying to rest a bit as I heal" she says softly as she leans over. "That's fine, we'll be riding for a while so we can put plenty of distance between us and them." Taliyah replied.

Some four hours passed and it was now sunset, the crimson light made the dunes look like an ocean of blood, Kai'sa was trying to stay awake, the suit healing her bones drained her energy, but it had made her pain go away pretty fast. Taliyah sees something giant off in the distance, "there it is, the market of Marrowmark," Taliyah said as she looked at a massive ribcage of an ancient titan and saw the flickering lights of a marketplace built in the bones of the titan. "What is that?" Kai'sa asks, referring to the ancient remains. "No one knows, been dead so long no one remembers," Taliyah replies. "Do you wanna go get me a disguise before passing through?" Kai'sa asks. "No no that won't be necessary here," she replies. "Why is it not needed here?" Kai'sa asks. "Marrowmark is where scavengers and wanders from all over the southern desert come to sell whatever they find, it has a reputation for attracting many, peculiar folks, I doubt anyone will even notice you here haha." Taliyah said chipperly. "Peculiar; what a clever way of saying weird hhmp." Kai'sa teased kinda sadistically. "I meant no disrespect, you're not weird Kai'sa," Taliyah says. "It's okay, I'm not touchy, and I don't fit into the normal person category so I take no concern of someone calling me strange. I wear a living Void creature, if that's not weird I don't know what is." Kai'sa replies, chuckling. "We'll camp here tonight, Marrowmark is not the kind of place you want to sleep at." Taliyah said. "Oh okay, I'm fine with that, I'm pretty exhausted myself.

Kai'sa ignores the grumble in her stomach from the lack of eating anything since the tiny breakfast this morning, well we can get plenty of food tomorrow, she thought to herself. She has had to go hungry before for much longer time spans than this, plus she's sure Taliyah was hungry as well, but if she thinks it's best to stay out of this town at night then I'll listen, towns aren't my area of expertise, Kai'sa thinks to herself again. "Here you go, " Taliyah said, interrupting her thoughts. She pointed to a bowl shaped hole she made in the sand that was just deep enough to lay down in and be out of the desert wind. "But, where are you sleeping?" Kai'sa asked as she only saw one prepared spot in the sand. "Oh I'll sleep right next to you don't worry, you were cold last night, this way we can share the blanket, since you can't make a fire here," Taliyah said. "Um, I…" Kai'sa stammers not finishing whatever she is trying to say. "Come on Kai! I won't bite," Taliyah said, Kai'sa replies with a half smirk, finding it funny that anyone would ever think she would bite. Letting out a sigh Kai'sa relents and agrees to get in the makeshift bed, doing a good job of hiding the maelstrom of panic that was in her head. Taliyah is already comfortable laying on her back, Kai'sa tries to lay down with her back facing Taliyah but that quickly proves to be a bad idea as she hears Taliyah complain about getting hit in the face by one of Kai'sa's shoulder pods, "Um, excuse me, that ain't gonna work, you need to face the other way," Taliyah said annoyed by the pod in her face. Kai'sa turns over and faces Taliyah but rests her face into her arms so she can't see her face. Taliyah notices Kai'sa uncomfortableness as she hides her face. Is she upset, embarrassed, or just shy? Taliyah thinks to herself before deciding to turn and face away from Kai'sa so she can get comfortable. "Goodnight Kaisa," Taliyah says sweetly. "Goodnight Taliy" she replies, her voice still tense but starting to relax.

Back in Vekaura, Najah walks down the street near the market district of town. The hour is about 10:00 pm, and there was a mild chill in the air that moonlight night. She was walking to the local blacksmith to pick up a short sword of her's that was damaged and in need of repair, when she noticed some commotion across the street in a pub. The pub was right next door to the Inn her sister mentioned to her and Najah's heart sank when she saw the cavalier standing on the table inside the pub with a shot glass in his hand. "Nasus dammit! I knew he was a jerk!" Najah says to herself, assuming Akshan is drunk, and is set on making a ruckus in the pub. Najah mustered up the courage and marched over to the pub door, ready to breakup whatever foolishness the rogue was up to in there. "And there I was, standing before the salton, and he says to me, maybe the goat was the wise one here" Akshan says while standing on the Table, everyone starts breaking out laughing at the story he was telling, some even start clapping and cheering. Najah stands still clueless at what everyone was laughing at, only thing she knew, everyone loved whatever the rogue was doing, and she was a step behind him as usual. Najah walks over to the bar to speak to the bartender, "is everything okay?" She asks, gesturing to the rogue. "Are you kidding? Business has never been better!" The bartender says. "Well it looks like I'm out of stories for today fellas, don't worry, Akshan will have new stories in no time." Akshan said to the crowd as he got down from the table. "Let me guess, you will be the hero in those stories as well." Najah raised her voice in a teasing tone. "Hmm, probably, can't seem to shake the hero bug, just always on me, oh but don't worry, it only infects certain individuals and I think you are safe." Akshan teased back, the crowd letting out a chuckle at his roast.

Najah moves to put her hand on her sword aggravated at his mocking, but her hand just ends up on her hip making her look kinda stupid because she forgot to pick up her sword at the blacksmith. Akshan notices this and gives a little smirk to her , but decides not to tease anymore with words. "Well folks, I'm off to go adventure some more," Akshan says as he sets the drink glass down on the table and walks out the pub door. Najah pauses for a moment, her eye locked on Akshan as she mustered up the courage to walk out the pub door and catch up to him, "Screw it," she murmurs as she jogs to the door. "Hey you!" She yelled, trying to get Akshan's attention as she steps out the door, "Hey I'm talking to you!" She repeats herself as she caught up to him, "Oh hey there young aspiring adventurer, what do you need from Akshan?" He Replied jovially. "Alright, cut the crap, you're no older than me, also what the heck is with the reference yourself in the third person garbage?" Najah said as the two continued to walk down the street. "When you get to a certain level of fame such as myself, your name becomes a sort of; commodity. So I assume you want something from thee Akshan, not just from me," He said, clearly mildly inebriated. "Um, okay that makes no damn sense; you are literally the same person." Najah said with a confused look on her face.

Akshan stops and turns to the front door of a hotel, "was there something you wanted miss?" He said, turning back to look at her before he went into the hotel. Najah sighs before speaking out what she did want to say, "I know it was you that slayed the warlord of Vekaura last week in his palace; I know because I was there to do the same thing… only, you beat me to it." She said, with her tone growing somber. "Haha then you should thank me, it's nothing glorious killing a man, but we both know he had it coming," Akshan replied. "But what good will it do how you did it, you left all his riches! Now his family and political friends will inherit his stolen gold and it will corrupt this city's government all the same," Najah snapped back, a fierce look growing in her eye. "And you would have taken his riches?" Akshan questions. "Damn right I would have! People like him rule over people like us on riches they stole from people like us, I'd only be setting the score straight!" Najah exclaimed. "Hmmm, and you think stolen gold will set the score straight? No my dear, that will only make you just like them, building a life on that which was not yours. It's never right to build on stolen goods, because one day the real owner always comes back to claim it, even if they are dead." Akshan said, with his tone being serious despite him being tipsy. Najah didn't respond realizing that what he was saying was probably right, "Oh and next time you go to threaten someone, best do it with a weapon on you. Goodnight Najah," Aksan teases as he walks into the hotel shutting the door behind him. "Damn it, how did he know my name?" Najah mutters to herself as she walks away from the hotel.

Taliyah opens her eyes to the pale light blue light of the early dawn, a desert mouse sits on top of her bag sniffing around for anything to eat. "Hey there little guy," Taliyah whispers as the mouse jumps off the bag and continues sniffing around them for anything it can find. "Sorry little guy, I don't have anything," She whispers again to the vermin. The mouse makes its way around Taliyah's head, she rolls over so she can watch its search, Kai'sa still rests in deep sleep. Taliyah notices a date pit Kai'sa had in her hand, she must have chewed on it while they were traveling last night, "Oh is this what you smell," Taliyah says as she gently grabs the date pit from Kai'sa's sleeping hand and places it in front of the mouse. The mouse rushes over to the pit and begins gnawing on it to scrape off any morsels of date fruit left on the seed. Taliyah sits still and happily watches the cute thing enjoy its breakfast, when a low pitched rumble from Kai'sa's suit catches her attention; it sounded almost mechanical, the unnatural low vibration emanated from one of her shoulder pods and it started to glow as well. Taliyah looks at Kai'sa's face to see if she is doing something but she still appears to be asleep, "hmm, maybe her suit is snoring," Taliyah jokes to herself. BRRRRZZZUMP, the sound the suit makes as one of the pods sucks up the mouse. The suit purrs as you can hear the mouse being evaporated inside the shoulder pod, Taliyah lets out a shocked and heartbroken gasp and puts her hands over her mouth as she hears the poor thing being turned to dust inside.

"Huh?" Kai'sa says as she snaps awake, wondering what the commotion is all about. "Hey Taliyah, what's wrong, did something happen?" She asks as she sees Taliyah's sad face that almost looked like she was going to cry. Taliyah collects herself for a second, wiping her face and sniffling her nose clear, "I'm fine, it's nothing you need to worry about." She replies in a mildly short tone. Kai'sa sits still for a moment, a perplexed look on her face as she still had a cloudy mind from just waking up. "Umm, oookay, do we need to get moving? " Kai'sa asks as she clears her head. "Sigh, yeah we do." Taliyah replied as she brushed the incident out of her mind, knowing Kai'sa had no control over what happened. "I'm running low on money, I need to send a messenger to my people when we get to Marrowmark. Maybe even see if someone needs some help for a day so I can get a few extra coins." Taliyah said as she shook the sand off of her scarf. "Oh, okay. I suppose I could help. Never had a job really." Kai'sa said as she stretched out, her suit expanding in the morning sun. Taliyah sees her stretch, she notices the shoulder pods stretch out in the sunlight, making Kai'sa look like a dark winged creature for a moment, it's unnerving to her the eeriness of the sight, it never really dawned on her how much Kai'sa's suit was alive. There was also a strange beauty to Kai'sa that Taliyah couldn't pin down, she reminded her of a children's tale her mother once told her of. "I think fighting Void monsters 24/7 is a pretty good job resume," Taliyah responded while her mind still floated, thinking about the tale of the winged protector from the stars her mother told her about as a child.

"Resume?" Kai'sa replied not understanding the meaning of the word. "Oh, it's like, when people ask what your skills are, it's a list of anything people would want to hire you for," Taliyah replied. "Oh, well then maybe we should add fought a god to that list haha" Kai'sa jokes. "Maybe not, people may want to have nothing to do with us if we mention that," Taliyah replied. "Yea yeah I figured that," Kai'sa teased. "Okay rock pony, let's get moving" Kai'sa teases again as she hops onto the back of the stone waiting for Taliyah to get on and propel them forward. "Since when did you like rock-surfing more than me!" Taliyah says then laughing at the thought. "Eh it has grown on me hehe" Kai'sa chuckled. "Away we go woohoo!" Taliyah said as she launched them both along the sands. The bones of the titan that surrounded the town slowly got closer as they weaved up and down the dunes. The massiveness of the sight Kai'sa wondered at, the ribs must have been 300 feet tall and 50 feet wide, the houses and streets of the town could now be seen also, they all looked tiny in the presence of the colossal remains. "I wonder what could have killed something that large?" Kai'sa asked. "Unfortunately we will never know, that knowledge has been lost to time, but maybe it just died of old age," Taliyah replies as the two surf past the skull of the beast which the beginning of the town was just beyond. There was no gate at this town like there was at the city of Vekaura, no sentries either, just two main streets running along either side of the titans vertebrae and a cramming of as many shops you could fit on either side of the streets. Most of the shops looked very poor, most of the buildings were no more than large tents with some being nicer adobe houses, but even the adobe shops looked poor by the rest of shurima's standards; Still the place was alive and bustling with business. "This place doesn't seem so bad" Kai'sa said as the stone came to a stop at the edge of the town and the two got off of their rock-sled.


Hoped you all enjoyed, see you next chapter where I will have some good action and appearances. XD