One of the one-shots I said I would be working on.

Wrote this as part of an art trade and it was fun, and challenging, to write characters I'm entirely not familiar /
Hope it's enjoyable!

Another steady breath left my chest, not a single muscle moving save for my twitching finger against the trigger of my repeating crossbow. I glared down the length of my weapon into the cold hazel eyes it was aimed between. In my periphery, the glinting iron of the assassin's wrist mounted blade was merely an inch from the flesh of my own neck. He also showed no sign of movement, such was the stalemate we found ourselves a part of within this forest's clearing.

Frankly, I was lucky. A scout versus an assassin? The outcome is theoretically a no brainer. In a vacuum anyway.

It was Valor's sharp eyes keeping watch high above that spied the man, and his warning that allowed me to react in time. He was perched, observant and distressed, on a nearby tree branch, warded off by my own command, not knowing what this assassin could be capable of doing if Valor approached.

"Got my back as always, Val." I murmured just loud enough for my winged companion to hear, my gratitude marred somewhat by the stand-off I was now in as a result. I received a single, uncertain coo in return.

"You're seriously talking to the bird?" The assassin's gaze flicked from me to Valor briefly, a moment of confusion flashing in his eyes, the only features that were visible over his raised scarf. "He can't under-"

With a roll of my eyes, I tightened my grip on my crossbow. "Oh, shut u-"

We both jolted when a harsh Freljordian rose out angrily from the dense woodland around us that made up this length of the Demacian border. It came from behind me, a fair distance away but closer than the first series of outcries I had heard.

"Let me pass."

"If you'd have started with that instead of trying to kill me, I may have obliged." My gaze hardened at his demand and my brow furrowed upon my recognition of his accent. Noxian. Actions first, as always.

"I was making distance and you were in the way. That's all."

"Distance from the Freljordians?" I assumed. "You're the reason a damn war-band is hunting me?"

His brow furrowed into a deep scowl, as if I struck a nerve, and his arm twitched. I reacted accordingly and was very close to pulling the trigger when his blade lowered. He took a few quick steps back, being careful not to trip back on his own - …are those blades..? - cloak as he did so, then raised his arms in a show of relent. Cautiously, I lowered my aim in response.

"I never make mistakes." His statement sounded like a reaffirmation to himself on top of an excuse to me. "My inf-"

Another roar rang out from the woods, several following it from various locations. They were spreading out to search for us: the intruders.

Tch. Intruders. This is still Demacian territory. Damn barbarians.

A shrill from Valor took my focus, but I still didn't look away from the Noxian. I knew my partner's intentions and nodded.

"Take to the skies!" As soon as I gave the command, Valor launched from his branch with a powerful beat of his wings and set to air above, and I returned full focus ahead. "They're closing in and your little attempt wasted both our times. I'm getting out of here. I suggest you do the same."

After what looked like a second of consideration, he shuffled his bladed wrist into the cover of his cloak and took a wide berth around me to head the opposite direction I was facing. He didn't show his back to me, as I did him, until he was sure I wasn't a threat, then turned to go deeper into the forest.

I watched him go, looked up to the skies, then back down to his retreating form… and sighed. "…Wrong way."

His forward foot planted into the downy snow that littered the woodland floor, a tension in his figure that seeped of irritation. He spun, the hazel scowl he directed at me just visible below the hem of his hood.

"…What?"

"You're walking right towards them."

"…And you know that, how?" He contested.

"Well firstly, I just have a good sense of hearing. Secondly," I simply pointed upwards, directing his attention to the Azurite Eagle circling anticlockwise just north-east of our position, "that means they're concentrated in that direction and coming our way."

He remained in his spot for a few more moments, looking up at Valor with skepticism, then ruffled his cloak and paced back towards me. "Fine. I'll go this way then."

This time my guard was lowered as he shuffled past me. Despite his presence and the looming threat of the approaching war-band, I couldn't stop the corner of my mouth quirking in amusement.

"Do you know where you're going?"

This time his walking ended in a forceful stomp, flecks of snow scattering under the force of his boot meeting the ground. I only heard a sigh of resentment. "Does it matter?"

"Which way is north?"

I heard him scoff and look to the sky, only to instantly falter upon remembering that it was overcast. His neck twisted round to allow him to glare at me as he hesitantly raised a hand towar-

"That's south-east." I corrected before he even finished pointing in that direction, and I watched him growl in frustration. A cry sounded overhead and I replied with a disguised whistle, then shot the assassin a critical look. "They only teach survival basics in Noxus?"

He did nothing but hold his glare. If looks could kill…

"Okay…" He straightened his posture and curled his arms together across his chest defiantly. "What would you suggest?"

I took a moment to ponder to myself. It would be quite simple for me to leave him to his own fate and navigate my way out of this mess. I'm not a humble person; I know I'm the best at what I do. The numerous successful missions and the countless bodies of enemy scouts speak for that alone. But something just didn't sit right with me about leaving someone to the hands of Freljordian marauders. Depending on which tribe it was, there was a high chance it wouldn't be pleasant, or quick. Another series of shouts from the forest broke me from my deliberations. They were nearly on us.

I let out a heavy sigh. Was I really about to help a Noxian?

…Apparently so.

"Alright, I'm feeling generous." I paused to hold out my left arm just in time for Valor to land on my leather wrist guard. "We'll guide you out of this mess."

The proposition was as out of left field for him hearing it as it had been for me deciding it. A dubious expression quickly grew on his shadowed features. On my arm, Valor let out an unsure warble at my suggestion.

"A Demacian offering help to a Noxian. You're either foolish or confident." He remarked. "What makes you so sure I won't stab you in the back?"

"Well, if you want to be tracked down by barbarians and brutally killed, feel free." I shot him a wry smile and patted my crossbow. Range advantage equals leverage. "Besides, you're in front."

Another dismal sigh left the assassin's chest and he turned his head back to face forwards. "So, which way?"

I didn't answer immediately, instead giving Valor a reassuring wink and ushering him back into the air with a thrust of my arm. He flew high enough to be able to see a majority of the thicket we were in and, after a moment, adjusted his course westwards. The path of least resistance.

"Alright, follow him as best you can." I instructed my new reluctant companion, sidling up to him and nudging him to move. "And we'd better walk fast."

"Don't have to tell me twice." He set off back into the dense mass of oak and evergreens at a light jog, looking between Valor overhead and the snowy mulch underfoot. I was grateful for the snow. Nature's own dampener. "This big bird of yours' is reliable?"

"That 'big bird' is called Valor." I corrected sternly as I easily matched his pace. "And yes. He's the best partner a scout could ask for."

The assassin ahead of me huffed a laugh. "'Valor'. How Demacian."

"I presume it's not a word a Noxian is familiar with?" I shot back sharply. "Along with honourable, or friendly?" Even with him running ahead of me I could sense his eyes rolling at my retort. "I suppose your name's far better?" It took a good few seconds of us silently running before I realised he was purposely keeping quiet. A teasing lilt leaked into my voice. "Or isn't it?"

I swear I heard him grumbling under his breath before he finally spoke up. "…Talon."

"Talon?" I scoffed and pointed up to my partner in the sky. "What? Like his feet?"

"…Yes. Look, I gave it to myself as a child."

"Oh, no. No need for excuses." I curled an eyebrow in amusement. "It's very cool. Edgy."

"Don't mock m-"

A series of cries and screeches from Valor sounded loudly and I quickly cut Talon off with a firm yank of his cloak's scruff. A sharp shrill, followed by a long note that stuttered three times. I reacted on instinct, pulling him to the side and stuffing us both behind the wide trunk base of an aged oak. A noise of protest left him, but thank The Veiled Lady that it only took a finger over my lips for him to receive the hint to quieten down.

That, and maybe the gruff voice of a Freljordian warrior speaking up barely a dozen more metres ahead. Several heavy, arrhythmic trudges through the carpet of detritus told me there were more than just one, but that was something Valor had already communicated.

We both crouched behind the old oak, currently hidden from the view of all three marauders that had looped around to search for either Talon or myself. Our chests were still, neither of us daring to even breathe for the risk of them somehow hearing us. As they stepped closer, muttering amongst themselves in a northern dialect I had no hope of understanding, we carefully shuffled around the trunk to remain out of sight.

They eventually passed our position and I allowed myself to breathe easier until I spied a familiar glint of iron. My hand shot out reflexively to halt Talon from producing his blade from within his cloak, gripping his bicep tightly. He glared at me and stubbornly tried to wrench his wrist free of my grip, but I held fast, mouthing 'No' at him repeatedly until he eventually relented with an exasperated scoff.

We go around. I continued to mouth at him. Even as the Freljordians disappeared into the dense woodland I didn't dare speak. We stood, slowly and quietly, and hastily continued, unanimously agreeing that further progress was best made silently.

Valor led us in a gradual curve to the south, occasionally guiding us in small weaves to avoid two further search parties, one of a similar size and another, larger group. In the most recent and final encounter with another trio of marauders, we were forced to engage. One of them heard the blades that lined the ends of Talon's cloak clinking together after he stumbled over a hidden tree root.

I mean, really? Isn't he meant to be an assassin? What good does loud clinkey metal do when you're trying to be sneaky? He quickly made up for his fumble, taking his falling momentum to launch himself into a lunge at the nearest warrior within a split second, embedding his wrist-blade into his neck. Before they even hit the ground he had thrown three 3-pointed stars towards the next man, impacting him deep in his gut, chest and neck with three sickening thuds. With wires I hadn't even had time to notice were linked to the weapons, he yanked them back and brought the body with them, leaping over the crumpling form to pierce the final Freljordian's windpipe before he could alert any other marauders nearby.

In hindsight, I was impressed, for sure. It definitely drove home who the victor would be if we had ended our meeting a different way, that was for sure. But at that instant, I was too perplexed. When I questioned him about it all he did was grumble and mutter something nearly incoherent i canabout it looking cool and a disgruntled 'You're welcome'.

…I swore he pouted too… Hahh.

After that mishap, progress was slow with our need for stealth and the first instance of nightfall came with the skies darkening after only an hour or so into our trek. A chilling evening breeze had also set in, but thankfully the thick forest around us shielded most of it. We simply closed our respective cloaks tighter around ourselves and pushed on.

By a point at which we hadn't come across any of the encroaching Freljordians for at least around a quarter of an hour, so I allowed myself to focus on more than just Valor's flight. I veered from the path, only slightly, to begin rapping on the trunks of specific trees in the forest, ones with white-spotted bark. It was a certain pitch sounding from the action that I listened out for, which I soon heard on my third tree.

After sending a quick whistle signal for Valor to hold his position, I scaled the tree with ease so that I could be in reach of, and snap off, two of the younger branches. Dropping back down, I continued on at a slower pace and tossed one to Talon. "Here. If you're starting to feel tired."

He snatched it from the air with ease and just looked at it, bemused. "You're giving me a stick?"

"Chew it." I instructed him, wagging my own. "The sap under the bark of new branches offers a lot of energy. It'll keep you alert. Plus, it doesn't taste all that bad." I watched him take a tentative bite with his molars, then grimace. "It's still not great, though."

He grunted with discontent but carried on with his chewing regardless. "So this is like coffee?"

I pulled a curious expression at the unfamiliar word as I took to my own twig. "Coffee?"

"It's a bean farmed in some of the southern territories. People like to grind it down and brew it into a rather bitter yet satisfying drink." Talon paused to force down a second cringe following another firm chew. "Burgh… It's popular in the capital."

"I see." I mused to myself, then saw him snigger in the corner of my vision.

"If you Demacians actually explored beyond your walls you might actually find some things yourselves." He seemed to sneer, then retook his place in front of me.

Ugh. I didn't bother giving him the satisfaction of a reaction to his provocation and followed behind him with a distasteful expression. Even when trying to help a Noxian they can't help but goad you. Insufferable.

"…Apologies." Talon suddenly spoke up again, making sure his voice was low. "That was a poor attempt at humour."

…He was trying to joke?

I blinked, glad his back was turned so he didn't see my look of genuine surprise. It quickly scrunched into an admonishing frown.

"…Yes. It was." I confirmed bluntly. "What was with that look?"

"I was just smil-"

"Yeah you just kind of came across as an ass."

"Ah."

I rolled my eyes for what felt like at least a fourth time, but found myself less bothered by Talon's comment. At least he wasn't intentionally being a prick. And in fairness, he was listening and taking my advice without much opposition. Maybe not as insufferable as I'd first thought.

"What other little tricks do you know about out here?"

For a second time within the past ten seconds, he threw me off. Was he now actively seeking to learn or just making conversation? I stepped up to walk shoulder to shoulder with him, feeling fairly certain he wasn't going to try anything underhanded.

"Such as?" I asked back, glancing at him. Huh, he was the same height as me. I am tall for a woman, and I guess he was short for a man.

He shrugged and placed a hand to his chin, spending a moment to ponder. "How did you know which way was north without the sun?"

Huh. It looked like he actually did want to learn. Commendable.

"Two ways." I pointed up to Valor, barely able to see him, the leaves overhead being much more dense currently. "Valor's an Azurite Eagle, a migratory species. Ergo, he always knows the direction of north, instinctually. The other way…" Pausing my words while I tried to scan our surroundings - it was getting dark fast - I changed course slightly to approach a outcropped boulder in the dirt. On one side of it, mostly facing the way we had come from, was a thick layer of green. "Moss has a habit of growing on north-facing surfaces; less direct sunlight. There were a few rocks like this back were we ran into each other."

"I see." Talon looked like he was truly processing the newly acquired knowledge.

Another cry, a low one this time, from Valor above us earned my attention and I saw him dip back down through the canopy not all that far ahead.

"Val's found a good spot to rest. Come on." I nudged Talon from what seemed to be consolidation and led the way.

Only a minute or so further on, we found Valor perched on a set of overgrown roots of a giant, half-felled oak tree. The trunk of the oak itself was dented and splintered, half collapsed to the snowy earth, and the roots arched out of the earth before digging back in.

I shuddered to think which of the more ruthless woodland fauna that wandered the Frejlordian borders had the power to cause such damage to such an old resident of the forest. On the other hand, however, I was pleased to see a good opportunity for shelter. I approached the tree roots, as well as my partner sat atop them, and reached out to lovingly stroking his chest with the back of my hand.

"Great find, Little Brother." I praised him with a small smile, closing my eyes as he dipped his head to nuzzle my own forehead, then neck, affectionately, albeit awkwardly due to his size.

"…What?"

I reopened my eyes and turned to Talon after hearing his sharp question, only to see him staring at Valor apprehensively. My gaze swapped between them to see my partner appraising the Noxian assassin with narrowed, suspicious, eyes.

"Hey, hey. He's been good so far. Let him be." I settled a hand on Valor's breast reassuringly, then nodded for Talon to come closer. "Let's try and rest while we have some distance."

Talon made his way over, giving Valor a wide berth. Even after he took a seat beneath the arched roots, he didn't look away.

"He's not gonna peck you, you know…" I admonished with a scoff, and casually stroked Valor's glossy beak. "He's civilised."

"Right…"

Instead of challenging me, Talon began to inspect the roots over his head. My brow raised curiously upon seeing him take back to his feet and shuffle his cloak off of his shoulders. For a second he fumbled with the piece of clothing, then draped it over the roots, just large enough to reach across. Curiosity became approval when he took the several bladed ends of his cloak and stabbed them into various places along the roots, effectively holding the makeshift cover in place.

"It's obviously snowed recently. I thought this would give us some shelter should it snow again." He explained when he saw me watching.

Huh. He actually impressed me a little. Those dumb blades would actually be useful, too.

Now that his hood was absent and face covering lowered, I was actually able to get a good look at his face while he finished anchoring his cloak. Strong jawline, thin lips; his hair: dark, unexpectedly long and held back out of his face, only a few strands now falling loose.

…Not bad…

A short, sharp squawk in my ear - it was almost chastising - snapped my attention back to Valor, who regarded me in a way I could only describe as disapproval.

"What?" Retorting lightheartedly, I swung my own cloak off in a similar manner and moved to lay it over the damp earth below the roots.

I promptly sat and grasped the satchel that was tied around my waist, slinging it around to my front and taking a careful scoop of some of it's contents, specifically a bunch of orange-capped mushrooms. These I had gathered over the past few days, further south of the border.

I offered my hand up to Talon who had just sat across from me, slouched against a tangle of roots. I watched, amused, as he regarded them in my outstretched palm dubiously.

"…I have some dried meats. I'll pass." He declined bluntly.

"Assuming you packed the basic necessities, you'll have none left for the way home." I lectured patronisingly, raising my hand just that bit further to emphasise the offered food. "Be smart."

With a show of complete reluctance, Talon eventually took his own seat on the cloak-covered ground. He tentatively took a single, small piece of the fungi and inspected it.

"They keep well and are high in energy. Don't go picking them though. There are plenty similar that could kill a Greathorned Stag after a single bite of them. Never mind you and your untrained eye." I advised, issuing my third survival tip of the evening.

"And this isn't some trick to actually poison me?.." He muttered, still completely unenthusiastic about the foodstuff in his hand.

"Oh, please. I'm not a Noxian." I retorted, a feeling of satisfaction forming at the half-hearted glare it earned.

"…Very funny." Talon shook his head and brought an orange cap to his mouth and nibbled at it, and a smirk creeped onto my face as he grimaced for a second time. "Urgh! It tastes awfu-!" It was then he clocked my amused expression. "What?"

Not answering instantly, I stuck my hand back into my satchel and produced a handful of dried meat and waggled it at him. "I have enough to last me a week. I just wanted you to eat that."

"…Less funny." He grumbled but caught the beef that I tossed his way regardless. He wasted no time in snapping a piece off and savouring the salty protein. "Bothersome woman."

"Hey, it's a good thing to know in a pinch!" I justified while throwing up pieces of Glade Salmon jerky I packed especially for Valor. His favourite, which he deftly caught in his beak. "Kind of like this one that you caused." I added.

Talon stifled mid-bite and lowered his hand, glaring at it. "I told you. I don't make mistakes."

"Oh, right. Glad to see everything is going to plan then." I said blankly.

"What I'd started to say earlier was that I was given bad information." He growled, pride obviously damaged. "The barbarians chasing us have held multiple raids of the remaining Noxian outposts to the north-east. I was tasked with taking out their leader in hopes of causing some disorder, but wasn't told they had a seer. They knew I was coming."

I kept quiet whilst he explained himself. It seemed as though he needed to hear that it wasn't his fault himself rather than try to make me understand. That, and maybe the fact that we knew of those raids and were hoping that the Freljordians would do the work for us wouldn't be a fact he'd be best pleased to hear…

"So the chieftain is pissed?" I queried.

"Oh, no. He's dead." Talon huffed a single, proud chuckle that waned fast. "It was just less quiet than I'd planned. Hence…"

He gestured around vaguely, obviously referring to our situation.

"Right…" Completely his fault.

"And why are you here..?" He asked, trailing off questioningly, and I realised the only name that hadn't been given yet was my own.

"Quinn. Valor and I are scouts." I flashed the eagle-faced buckle adorning my left shoulder. "We've been trailing this section of the border. As for why I'm stuck with you? Wrong place, wrong time."

"I see."

We fell into silence while we both ate. I spent the time determining our current position from the map of the Demacian outskirts that was basically imprinted into my mind at this point, plotting our best route back to the Demacian outpost I should have arrived back at by now, if not for the marauders. 'Our' being Valor and I. I wholly expected Talon to make himself scarce the moment we left these woods, not that I would knowingly bring him to such a place should he for some reason not split off. He was a Noxian - an enemy - after all.

Though, I mused, he was certainly an outlier from other Noxians I've had the displeasure of experiencing run-ins with. He was pig-headed, but accepted when another held a higher degree of expertise in a matter, even though I'm an enemy. Willingly learning new skills to improve himself in ways Noxus didn't seem to offer.

By the sounds of it, the isolation that came with his profession allowed him some freedom from the stereotypes that his people held and, in a way, it seemed familiar to myself. A loner ranger-knight from the sticks who, while sharing the beliefs of my fellow capital-born knights, holds them slightly more loose. Sometimes you have to diverge and adapt.

A cry from Valor pulled me from my thoughts, along with various verbal outcries. There was an irritation in the sounds he made and, as I zoned back in, I could see why. From his spot under the roots, Talon had produced a small bundle of tinder, assumedly from the pouch at his waist, along with a flint and steel and had begun attempts to start a fire. Valor had landed beside him and seemingly blown out his first set of sparks with a beat of his broad wings, and was now trying to peck the fire-starters out of Talon's grasp. An action highly unappreciated, Talon flailing to avoid my partner's beak while simultaneously trying to shove the big bird away.

"Why are you trying to start a fire!?" I quickly spoke up, shocked into urgency by his idiocy. Half-crawling over, I assisted Valor in snatching the tools away.

"Well I'd like to not freeze!" He snapped back, edging away from Valor and huddling himself back up against the roots once more.

We both watched him shuffle away blankly, and I pocketed the tools myself for the time being with a tired sigh. My partner squawked, his tone causing a chuckle to bubble from my throat.

"What..?" Talon asked grumpily after seeing my amusement.

"He thinks you whine a lot. Like a child." I explained, indicating to Valor.

"Wha…?" Talon seemed bewildered. "It's a bird! You don't know what it's saying! Don't anthropomorphise it!"

I shared a glance with Valor, who cooed, then looked back to our temporary companion with a smirk on my face. "He is impressed you know such a big word!"

My grin grew upon spotting Talon's brow twitch, but I decided to leave my antagonising there now that I was certain no fires were being lit. As if sharing my thoughts, Valor took off in search of a high, and safe, vantage point.

Night had most certainly fallen at this point, and taking a quick rest now meant we'd be able to continue and complete our escape as soon as possible. I slouched onto the centre of my spread cloak and beckoned Talon over with an incline of my neck.

"If we huddle up we should be able to share enough body heat to keep up suitably warm." I explained simply, but Talon seemed to stifle and hesitate. "…Well?"

His eyes shifted and avoided mine. "I'll manage as I am."

"Ah, no. I thought you didn't want to freeze? Which you will, by the way, if you don't do as I say." I chastised, no clue as to why he was suddenly not obliging with my advice.

"…But you're a woman."

"…Yes." I replied bluntly, as if it's the most apparent detail about me. It is the most apparent detail about me. "How sweet of you to notice." …Was he- "Are you blushing?"

The scowl - standard at this point - he sent my way had it's severity marred by the redness tinting his features, barely visible under the clouded night sky. I didn't know whether to laugh or despair.

"You are… an attractive woman."

"…Pffffffthh!"

Laugh. I laughed. Or would have had I not clamped a hand over my mouth before making my own contributions towards signalling our location. Such a phrase delivered so awkwardly and out of the blue completely caught me off guard, and I could only wheeze quietly for a handful of seconds. In turn, Talon's scowl only worsened and his complexion only deepened.

"Incorrigible..."

"W-Well, I'll be resting now." I stated once my breath had steadied.

I laid down onto my side, allowing myself to relax completely. I had plenty enough faith in Valor to keep watch and call out any potential dangers.

Much like the man I now had my back to, I just realised. It hadn't even occurred to me that I'd done so until then. How long had we been trekking and sneaking through this forest together? Six hours, I'd say. Tops. And I subconsciously felt such confidence in my safety that I'd show my back to an assassin that tried to kill me those six hours ago? Logically, it would be understandable for him to take me down now, or even tie me to our shelter and use me as a distraction to safely escape alone. I'd already passed on plenty of know-how for him to manage alone as it is.

A shiver ran through me, cutting off my train of thought. It was becoming seriously chilly. Even with my cloak as a layer against the snowy turf, my scout leathers were hardly enough to protect me from the early winter night and cold air.

As if on cue, the ruffling of fallen leaves signalled him moving following a gravely sigh of reluctance. Contrary to the scenarios I had humoured, however, Talon instead moved like I had advised. The cold night air on my back was quickly replaced by the warmth of his body as he settled against me, halting any further shivering that was to come.

"…Satisfied..?"

Or not. I struggled to suppress the single shiver that ran the length of my body as the hot air of his words brushed my ear, hushed in respect of our close proximity, as goosebumps formed across my tingling skin. Raising a hand to my mouth to clear my throat awkwardly, I suddenly became hyper-aware of his figure against me. I could feel the lean muscles of his torso - just barely - through his leather cuirass. He felt strong. Broad, too.

I mean, he's a trained assassin of course he's strong, Quinn, why would that be at all surprising and why are you suddenly getting all-

Why was my face feeling warm?

"Fine. Yes." I forced an answer out to interrupt my own spiralling thoughts. "Get some rest."

I stiffly adjusted an arm beneath my head to act as a pseudo pillow in hopes of an ounce of comfort on the lumpy turf. It maybe offered a pound, but I'd make do. At least that was the only main problem.

If Talon had replied, I didn't hear it, dozing off faster than I had done in a long while. He really was warm.

"Can you please stop staring at me? It's unnerving."

I awoke with a groan, heaving myself into a sitting position. Blinking sleep from my eyes, I allowed them to adjust to the red morning light that crept through the treetops. Judging from the fact that Valor hadn't woken me during the night, the Freljordians had either missed us or given up their search. Either result I was more than happy with.

The first thing I noticed was the pair of legs standing ahead of me. Groggily realising I was the only one still under the roots, followed them up to see Talon already wide awake and reequipping his silly cloak. He was doing so while frowning at my partner, who was perched on one of the battered tree's lowest branches, his eagle eyes still locked on our Noxian companion.

"I thought 'The Bird' couldn't understand us?" I mocked him with my first words of the day, earning Talon's attention as I took to my feet.

Either he didn't catch my jest or flat out ignored it, moving a hand from his cloak's clasp to point accusingly at Valor. "He won't stop watching me! It's-" A grunt of pain cut him off and he retracted and cradled his freshly pecked digit.

"Unsurprisingly, he's taken an affront to the man who tried to kill his big sis." I said, greatly amused. The quick, short squawk from Valor told me he found it equally as amusing.

Talon just rolled his eyes and looked up to the sky. "The shepherds in Noxus say be wary of a red sky in the morning. We should continue."

"No complaints here." I acquiesced while collecting my own cloak from the ground and wrapping it around me, eager as him to get out of here. I looked to Valor and nodded upwards. "Eyes high."

As Valor set to the sky with a few powerful beats of his wings, we once again followed his lead towards the edge of the forest. Compared to the evening prior, our travel was far more relaxed. Our pace was slower and our senses, while still keen, were more passive after an uninterrupted night.

We walked shoulder to shoulder as we progressed. More than once I had caught myself stealing glances to my right. His hood and mask were still down, offering a stark side profile of Talon's face. And more than once I had to stop my mind from pairing his - completely objective - pleasing features with the warm body that had laid behind me last night.

Seriously, Quinn, get a grip.

I feigned rubbing my warming face with the excuse of still being weary, and took several broad paces to take the lead. Our more laid-back progress was short-lived, it taking only a mere hour to reach the forest's edge. A heavy sense of relief filled me at the sight of open fields and hilltops; key locations that I could actually navigate by. I hadn't even realised how claustrophobic I had begun to feel surrounded by that maze of bark. A second or so behind me, Talon exited the forest with his own groan, clearly equally glad to be free of both the forest and our pursuers.

"So." I spoke up, turning while holding out my left arm for Valor to land on. "What now?"

Talon regarded me silently, carefully, for a few seconds, and Valor with a hint of scorn. "I suppose we go our separate ways?"

"I suppose." I repeated, lips twisting as I looked over my shoulder at the landscape then back to him. I pointed to a set of hills in the far distance. "There's the closest border. They're allies but they also won't know who you are."

"You're not actually arresting me." He hummed, face unreadable as he gazed in the direction I had pointed. "You're even showing me where to go?"

"I mean, I can if you want?" I quipped, patting my holstered fire-arm then placing my hands on my hips. "But considering everything from yesterday, I'm happy to leave it here this one time."

I assured myself that was the only reason.

"Another thing I guess I should thank you for, then." Talon stated, holding out a hand as he - oh god, he was smiling again.

"Please… get better at that." I muttered through grimacing lips, but took his hand.

"…Sorry."

I couldn't stop the chuckle that escaped as we clasped our hands tightly and shook once, sharing a look of honest respect.

"Will you be alright from here?" I asked, instantly wondering why it mattered.

"I should manage fine." Talon nodded, and successfully managed a more presentable, warm smile. "If I meet any snags, I've had some new lessons that might help."

"Be grateful, they don't normally come so cheap." I mirrored his expression with my own, pulling my hand away and watching him set off towards the paired hilltops.

After sending a single wave of farewell, I began to walk in the direction of the outpost, but found myself sparing a look back towards Talon's shrinking figure. At this point I thanked the red morning sunlight for masking the warmth that rose to my cheeks once again. It didn't seem like he had noticed before we split up.

I mulled to myself for a moment, running through the events since yesterday evening, mainly our exchange before we slept. A curious squawk brought me back to the present and I looked up to Valor, still perched on my arm. His eyes were questioning.

"…What do you think, Val? Am I attractive?"

I let out a yell of pain after Valor instantly pecked at my head following my question. He warbled - disappointed and disapproving - and launched from my arm and up into the air once more.

"What!?"