Author's Note: Hey sorry this is a little late. Easter ended up being busier than expected. Hope you guys all enjoyed the long weekend/break :)

For once in his life Rumble could honestly say he was kinda, maybe, a little bit looking forward to being at school. Not because anything had changed since yesterday. He was still going to have to deal with antagonistic peers who sneered at him in the hallways and whispered about him behind his back. He was still going to have to deal with the disapproving looks his teachers sent him down their noses as they told him what a waste of potential he was and that his attitude was going to stop him from doing something great. He was still going to have to sit through classes so boring and easy it was almost enough to drive him to tears (not that he was the sort to cry).

However, today he would find out how Tristana had gone with the recruitment trial. Tristana: his first friend. One of the handful of yordles he could say he cared about. The one who'd dreamed of becoming a Megling since they were little and would finally find out if she'd made it in. Seeing her on the verge of achieving her dream made him incredibly happy, for there was no one better he could think of to reach their goal.

Still, he would be lying if he said it didn't sadden a part of him. Because deep down, it was also a reminder that their time together was coming to an end. Rumble would be the first to admit that he held no fondness for school, but as it came closer and closer to graduation a surprisingly large part of him couldn't help but wish they could go back to their younger years together.

Yes, he and Ziggs would be going to college together. And it wasn't like they'd be moving to another city. Plus, Teemo had proven that they could continue to stay in contact just fine (well, at least until he'd disappeared). But, he realised with some sadness, it just wouldn't be the same.

As per usual, the blue teen arrived to school just minutes before classes started. Only to blink in surprise at who he saw – or more aptly, who he didn't see.

"Hey Rumble," Ziggs greeted him with a tense smile as his eyes continued to scan the crowd of students. "You didn't happen to see Trist on your way here did you?"

"She isn't here yet?"

Worry immediately churned to life as Ziggs shook his head. Tristana was never late to class.

The expression etched on his friend's face told him he felt the same way as he nervously started rambling. "Do you think she didn't get in to the Meglings and didn't come in because she'd devastated? No. There's no way she didn't get in. She's way too good. She not the sort to sulk either, not even over something like that. Maybe she had a fight with her ma about it and now she's grounded! Nah, her mother's not that bad. And she'd still force her to go to school regardless. But what if she got injured! I know it was only training but-"

Rumble sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as Ziggs paced before him. On his next pass, the shorter yordle reached out and caught the back of his shirt.

"Stop it," he groused, "you're making me nervous. Look. I'm sure she's fine. Trist can take care of herself better than either of us. I'm sure she's…" he trailed off at the sight of the familiar blue figure rapidly heading towards them, "running right for us."

Ziggs beamed, worry falling away from him as he immediately began to wave the girl down. However, the unease didn't leave Rumble. Something about their friend's posture kept him on guard. Something wasn't right.

She reached them within seconds, cutting their instant questions off with one sentence. "They've found Teemo."

The two boys exchanged a single shocked glance, before all three took off towards the hospital.

Nina swiftly made her way to the front desk. The admin had called her for help but she'd been too distracted to ask why. As her heart continued to flutter and her stomach twisted she couldn't help but hope that whatever it was would require focus. She could use the distraction to get a hold of her nerves.

She heard the commotion before she saw it, rounding the corner to see the three overly-energetic yordlings hounding the frazzled secretary. She shot the peach yordle a pleading look over their heads, begging her to do something.

Nina sighed. "You three should know better than to treat someone like that," she reprimanded the familiar teens, causing them to freeze. Then, as one, they turned and ambushed her.

"Nina! Is he okay?!"

"What happened? How bad is it? You can tell us Mrs Swiftfoot!"

"Why can't we see him? He's our friend! But they won't let us in!"

"Calm down!" The nurse had to raise her voice; not out of anger (the concern mirrored in them for her son made it impossible to be mad) but simply to be heard over the racket they were making. They quietened at her words, but their expressions stayed determined. With a sigh, she asked gently, "Shouldn't you be in school?"

"We wanted to know if he was okay," Tristana spoke up. "We haven't been told anything! Is he alright?"

Nina placed a hand on her shoulder when she looked to start ranting again. "I don't know," she admitted. "Physically, he's stable now. But we won't know the extent of the damage until he wakes up."

"Can we stay with him?" Ziggs asked, sending the nurse a hopeful smile.

The pale yordle felt her heart constrict as she shook her head. "He's in quarantine at the moment. Even I'm not allowed in. There's nothing we can do right now but wait and hope."

"Then we'll wait here." The other two nodded resolutely at Rumble's statement causing Nina to sigh again.

"You can't stay here the whole time. You need to go to school."

"But-" she cut them off with a gentle hand and a steady voice. "Look, I know you're worried. But the truth is, we don't know when he'll wake up. It could be days – weeks even. You can't spend that entire time here. It's not good for you. So please, go to school."

Three downcast heads nodded to her, causing her to relent a little. "Tell you what," she promised. "As soon as he wakes up, I'll let you know. Then you can drop everything to see him. Deal?"

That perked them up. "Thanks Nina!"

The other's started off, however Rumble paused and turned back to her. Hesitation was written on his face before he asked softly. "Um, are you doing alright…with everything?"

She gave him a small but genuine smile. "Better than before. Now go."

Miles gazed down at the still form of his son with an unreadable expression.

The unconscious yordle seemed even paler than normal up against the bright, white sheets as well as unusually fragile with all the surrounding equipment. A drip ran up his right arm to combat the malnourishment and blood loss he'd suffered while away; opposing the neatly bandaged left one. The wrapped wound had been severe but thankfully it had not been inflected. Unlike the one on his leg. Between that and the blood loss it was a wonder he'd made it back at all. But now, with the right support, he was expected to pull through fine. Physically at least. That however, was not Mile's biggest concern.

It was the unknown factors that worried him. His mental well-being for one. Three months away after a traumatic event was very likely to cause some level of mental instability in a yordle. How much would vary greatly depending on how long he'd been alone and what had gone down. But until he woke up the extent of the damage could not be known.

There were also some conflicting factors concerning the scout. The wound on his son's leg, though inflamed, could not hide the uneven consistency and long puncture marks of a bite wound. However, the one on his arm was smooth. The skin and fur had been sheered cleanly from the muscle in a hasty but definitely weaponised cut.

Then there was the missing yordles themselves; a group that had consisted of one veteran scout and three regular scouts leading six recruits as well as the ten yordle squad led but another veteran commander. Yes, the Kumungu was dangerous. But to the point that a group of that size and calibre would be taken down to a single recruit? No, something out of the ordinary had taken them out, of that he was certain. Which meant that right now, they couldn't rule anything out. Not even when it concerned his son. Especially when it concerned his son.

Miles turned to the doctor. "Keep him in quarantine. I'll be contacting a field medic to take care of him until he wakes up. When he does, contact me immediately."

The doctor looked at him in surprise, "You really think it's that bad?"

Miles turned back to the boy, a hand finally coming down to stroke his hair. In the back of his mind a long-buried memory pushed itself forward but he dismissed it. "I don't know," he said softly. "But we can't risk anymore lives."

To say that the rest of the school day had been the most unbearably long day in their lives would be an understatement. Every class the trio of friends had been distracted and restless; sticking close to each other and responding sluggishly to peers and teachers alike. Mr Dean had raised an eyebrow when they had arrived late and Tristana didn't even try to contest the detention they were given. Miss Springhall had watched in surprise all through lunch as Rumble didn't get into a single fight. But it was when Ziggs almost blew up the science labs (again) as he automatically poured chemicals together with unseeing eyes, that Mrs Grunbean decided to send the three teens home early.

As afternoon turned into evening and evening into night without the anxious nerves relenting, Rumble finally found himself fed up. Without much further thought, he got up and headed out, letting his feet wander him unthinkingly until he came to the park near his and Ziggs' workshop.

Though fairly far from home, the steel-blue yordle often found himself here; something about the dark, peaceful foliage always calmed him down.

The night was clear and soon he found himself lying on one of the grassy hills just staring at the stars as his mind churned with heavy thoughts.

Prominent amoungst them was Teemo: his condition and the mystery surrounding what had happened creating waves of new worry. Sure, the relief caused by his find was immense. The gnawing unknown that had plagued them now gone with the knowledge that he was alive. But that dread had been replaced with new, equally valid fears. Was he alright? What had happened? Where were the others? How bad was the damage? When would he wake up? Would he even wake up at all? And if he did would he ever be the same again?

A movement to his left caused him to instinctively glance over. Almost immediately he sat up in surprise at the sight of the blue girl leisurely striding towards him. She gave him a small smile as she sat down next to him. "Couldn't sleep either?"

He shook his head and the two of them lapsed into silence just staring at the giant expanse of space above.

Watching the quiet girl from the corner of his eye, Rumble finally spoke up, "I'm surprised your mother let you out this late."

"She doesn't know I'm here," was the almost inaudible reply. "Kind of hard to keep track of someone once you've kicked them out of the house."

He turned towards her startled but Tristana didn't meet his eyes. She continued to stare at the sky but her eyes were much further away as she continued, "I've been living with Artemis since the Megling exam – which I passed by the way. In case you were wondering."

She blinked rapidly, trying to hold back tears.

Immediately, the shorter boy pulled her into a hug. Surrounded by the warmth and unconditional care of her friend she could no longer hold back. A sob racked through her before the damn broke and she wept uncontrollably into his shoulder.

Rumble felt his heart constrict at the sight. Tristana was one of the brightest, kindest and most confident yordles he'd ever met. Always caring for those around her. Always driving forward regardless of whatever tried to stop her. Always sticking by them even when it would have made her life easier just to leave them be. Without this amazing girl, Rumble never would have made friends with Ziggs and Teemo. Without her stepping in for him all those years ago, he didn't know what would have happened to him. And for that, he owed her more than she would ever know.

Which was why it hurt him so much to see her so broken and so lost. Rumble would do anything to see her happy.

"It's so stupid," she choked out. "But I expected to be happier to get in. Instead I got into a fight with my mother and got kicked out. Then Teemo turned up after being missing for three months only he's unconscious and injured and I'm so worried about him. And it's just… not what I expected."

Rumble didn't know what to say. He'd never been that great with words. Sure, he could cut someone to ribbons with them, but when it came to comforting others, he became a fumbling mess. He didn't know what to say to make her feel better, so instead he just hugged her tighter.

Eventually her cries subsided, though tears still trailed down her face. "You know," she said quietly, "sometimes I'm really jealous of you."

He pulled back in surprise. "You're jealous of me?" his voice was thick with incredibility.

Tristana nodded, her hands absently pulling out strands of grass. "Of your family. They love you so much. Always encouraging you no matter what you choose to do. I wish mine were more like that."

He stared at her, watching the way the moonlight caught the tears in her eyes and how she pushed her hair out of her face as he tried to take in her words. Then, he turned away with a sigh.

"You have nothing to be jealous of," he said softly. "You're an amazing, talented and caring person Trist. Everyone knows that. Me, Ziggs, Artemis, your pa. We all know you'll do amazing things in the Meglings. And one day, your ma will see that too. Plus, you know you'll always be welcome at mine – or Ziggs' place of you want to risk it."

The blue girl gave a short laugh at that before a frown tugged it down again, "What about Teemo?"

Worry rushed back up and seized his insides before he pushed it back down, "Teemo's a fighter just like the rest of us. He'll pull through. I know it."

A smile finally lit up the girl's face as she slung an arm around his shoulders. "Thanks Rumble. You're a great friend."

A cold ache settled in his chest but he pulled up a smile regardless. "Not as good as you are."

Ahh! I love these characters so much :D. I had a lot of fun writing this chapter. And Teemo's officially made it back *evil grin*. Who's excited for the upcoming chapters? I know I am.

Hope you enjoyed!

Candlestic