MW: Well, here's the next chapter! This chapter is actually a "side-chapter", or a chapter which is meant to be ambiguous but connect the dots between the pre-timeskip and the post-timeskip. It features various flashbacks from Talon and Hunter. EnJoY! Also, just as notice, I will be doing two more of these side chapters-one for Astra and one to introduce Team Immortal-to fill in blanks during the time skip. James will be featured in his own side chapter soon enough and thank you all for helping!
Since To Survive in the Wild is a follow-up story, I will be introducing some OCs submitted in the side chapters as well since they are also important to the story, no matter how minor, and important to character developments. You may be thinking, "But we've only touched on a few characters and they haven't changed Talon all that much." Actually, they have and will. Talon is commended for withstanding this much pain and anger directed towards him or that he directs towards others, but in the end, it all shapes him into the man he is by the end of the story.
Hint: The reason behind the title will be heavily alluded to a number of times throughout the story, especially during scenes of great sentiment, so keep track of that.
Chapter 5 - Side Chapter: Memories
"Just tell me what happened and I won't have to resort to any...violent methods."
Hunter stared at the blonde young man in front of him, his eyes glazed. He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it immediately. He was tied to a chair, hands bound behind his back. His legs and his torso were unbound. The chair was made of some cold material, something that kept Hunter awake. Assuming it was metal, he looked around. He was in a classroom. The walls were painted a deep violet with streaks of lavender glazing the darker shade. There were lightning bolts layered over the purple in an extravagant fashion.
Hunter had read about the Ravenwood schools of magic and the captivating appearance of the room, but he'd never expected to be seated in the Divination classroom. It was a dream, pulled from his mind by an invisible force and placed into the current situation.
James glared at him, eyes sparkling dangerously. "What do you know? What connection do you have to that other kid? What happened to the ship? What were you running from?"
"Fu..." Hunter began, the words dying on his lips. He couldn't feel his face. He felt as if he were drugged heavily, but there wasn't really anything substantial he would've been able to do.
James sighed and shook his head in annoyance, his fingertips brushing against Hunter's wrist. Electricity sparked across the surface of his nails and arced towards Hunter's forearm, sinking into the flesh, causing the younger boy's eyes to widen and his body to stiffen.
"Tell me everything you know," James repeated, sitting down across from Hunter, arms folded across his chest. "Why were you running? Where were you going? What are you? Who are you? Tell me, dammit!" He exploded, slamming his fist into the table in utter exasperation. The table was old and wizened; a relic of the past, and thus, oak splintered and cracked beneath James' clenched fist, and he inhaled deeply.
Hunter stared blankly. "Why do you care? After all, we mean nothing to you. We did nothing to you. What does it matter? Where's my brother?"
"For all I care, your brother is going to rot. What did you do?" James snorted incredulously. "You and your 'brother' burnt down a civilian ship headed towards Ravenwood and then you attempted to sneak inside without any recognition of any kind. You kill innocents and you expect to be let into Ravenwood at the clap of a hand?" The air began to smell burnt and Hunter wrinkled his face.
"What are you talking about? We were never on a civilian ship. That was a pirate ship! For the love of...just let me see my brother!" Hunter yelled in response.
James sent another electric jolt through the boy, who gritted his teeth and glared. "Don't lie to me! The witness gave us accurate descriptions of you and your brother. He said you were on a civilian ship. We saw the smoke, even from here. We know what you were trying to do!"
"The wit...what witness!?" Hunter asked, his voice rising in pitch. "There was no one else on there besides me, Talon and Rah-oh..." He murmured finally, his mind set on what had taken place.
Raht had betrayed them. He had betrayed them all.
Hunter's eyes narrowed as he stared blankly at the floor. The silence caused his face to contort into an expression of anger, and he began to yell. "Fuck! Shit! Goddammit! I'll kill you, Raht! I'll kill you!" He flailed and writhed within his restraints, adrenaline building up within his body. He leaned forwards, pushed back against the floor and threw himself backwards, hoping to crush the chair so he could escape.
James yelled something incoherent, but Hunter could no longer hear. His ears were filled with the rush of blood as the chair hit the ground and shattered begrudgingly. Hunter's hands were still bound, but his legs were free. He dashed towards the door as armed guards burst through.
Hunter gritted his teeth and imagined himself frying them with electricity. He closed his eyes for a split second, his brow furrowed in concentration.
A bolt of raw, untamed lightning arced from Hunter's body towards the first oncoming guard and struck him square in the nose, eliciting a series of agonizing, bloodcurdling screams from the man as he clawed at his flesh as is began to burn. The other guards turned to their comrade before remembering that Hunter was the threat.
Hunter darted around them, hands still bound, running towards anywhere he could find safety. Instead of looking ahead of him, he looked behind to catch a glimpse of his pursuers and failed to the the humanoid frog before him. Hunter knew there were other races besides humans, but he had never seen a frog, nonetheless one in a purple suit.
The young boy crashed into the frog, who seemed to stand stock still as Hunter bumped into him, hitting him powerfully before stumbling back, dazed by the effect.
"What do we have here?" Halston Balestrom's high-pitched voice struck through the evening silence.
Hunter's eyes widened, narrowed and he muttered something incoherent. He was afraid. Shaking. But his desire for freedom overwhelmed his fear.
Balestrom caught on. "So you're the fugitive we captured today? With that other boy, yes?"
Hunter said nothing.
"Well, no matter! It seems you have potential. I wonder about the other boy. I doubt the city will be willing to let him go now they you've caused this ruckus. How do you know Divination?"
"Self-taught..." The boy grumbled.
Balestrom clapped his hands together delightfully. "How wonderful! Well, how would you like the idea of becoming my student?"
Hunter's eyes widened. "You...you don't want to capture me? You don't want answers? You think I'm innocent?" He asked, incredulous. The yells of the now recovering guard were behind him. He wasn't too far from the classroom, but enough to give his pursuers an exercise.
The frog scoffed. "Innocent, good heavens, no. I merely want to turn your potential into power. After all, even the worst of people can be turned into the greatest of heroes."
"What about my brother?" Hunter suddenly asked, eyes narrowing. "What will you do to him?"
Balestrom paused for a time, tapping his chin thoughtfully. Hunter stared blankly, ignoring the footsteps of the now recovered guards. Balestrom held out hand to the boy, his eyes sparkling delightfully.
"Don't you want the power to save him?"
Where did this road lead?
"What are you?" Talon's voice rang out through the cell, and the sleeping Astra twitched, but did not awaken.
Have you not heard of me? Valdus likes to tell stories.
"No, I've heard of you, it's just that-"
Just what, child?
"...If you really were Thalomir, wouldn't you be trying to kill me? My father...dad...always told me that you destroy everything in your path. That you're destructive and unrestrained."
Destructive? Quite. Unrestrained? Quite. In a horrendous state of mind? Hardly. No, child. I am you.
"What does that mean? I'm me. I don't want you. I don't need you. Tell me..!" Talon's voice rose and Astra rolled over in annoyance.
Enough. You will know when you are ready.
"Stop with all this prophetical stuff, damn you! I'm ready now! I want to know now!" He yelled and Astra's eyes snapped open, but she didn't react. Instead, her heterochromic eyes fell on Talon, and she watched him with interest.
Thalomir didn't respond and Talon was left to wallow in his own anger. Failing to notice Astra, he curled into a ball and leaned against the wall of the cell, muttering her name and closing his eyes tightly.
"Astra..." He murmured repeatedly, then, "I miss you."
I miss you. I miss you. I miss you. I miss you.
Astra. Astra. I miss you. Astra. Astra. Astra.
The words hit her hard, and although she seemingly had no ideas what he was talking about, her head began to throb painfully, soft, agonising groans escaping her lips. Her head began splitting open as a memory attempted to resurface, and as she began to scream, the pain worsened and the memory broke through and made its way to her mind, the mind which had been tormented, clogged with false thoughts, like dreams, a false reality which had never existed, thoughts that were her own, yet weren't.
The memory broke.
As it pushed its way to the front of her thoughts, it cracked. Fragments slipped through Astra's mind, and she tried to scream as the fragmented memories flashed past her eyes as if she was really there, but no sound escaped and she felt hollow and empty.
"I don't know, Valkyrie," Talon hissed through gritted teeth the next day. "It just...it just makes me so...so happy that's she's back." He stole a glance behind him, where Astra sat at her own table, poking at the substance on her plate with a fork. She made a disgusted face, and Talon couldn't help but chuckle, his eyes welling up with tears.
It had been almost a month since Talon had first arrived at the prison, a month since he had talked to Valkyrie; a month since she had helped him return to his emotions, bringing out his kindness and temporarily subduing his hate even in a hellhole like prison.
Valkyrie stared at Talon, watched as he observed Astra, his eyes almost dreamy, and bit her tongue. It wasn't as if she liked him, right? She'd only met him. She'd only taken pity on him...right? But Valkyrie couldn't deny the feeling of warmth she felt burn bright in her chest when he grinned at her, the eyes that made her heart flutter, and the kindness he somehow still had that made her want to kiss him.
But she held back.
She knew he loved Astra. She knew that Astra didn't remember him, even after a month. She knew that Astra would probably never love him if he kept going on this way, and it just made her head ache as she realised that Talon was a hopeless romantic.
"Valkyrie," Talon's voice sliced rudely through her thoughts, and she turned to give him a glare, but her frown melted halfway through the movement, as he was staring at her with those damned eyes. They flashed red almost all the time, and they seemed to inspire lust, hate, violence and even love almost simultaneously. Valkyrie hated it. He gave a grin as if he knew what she was thinking. "Can we do this everyday?" He asked, referring to the eating. He leaned closer and his voice lowered so that he was whispering to her over the clamor of plates being cleaned. "Will you eat with me everyday? I like sitting here with you, and it's probably the highlight of my day."
Valkyrie blushed, but then frowned. "Yes. No. I mean, no. I don't know," she confessed. Talon looked dejected, but she pressed forwards anyways. "I wanted to eat here with you. I don't know what I felt, maybe it was pity. I felt something, know that. But now I don't know what I feel. All you talk about is her, all the time, every single day we eat together, and it makes me bite my tongue to keep from saying something stupid, but I've had it. She doesn't remember you. I get that you love her, but you can't keep reassuring yourself that she loves you as well by always faking smiles and talking about her as if she's an angel."
"But-" Talon began, but Valkyrie wasn't done.
"Talon, you have to stop. You have to get over her. She doesn't love you and I don't know if she ever will. I-" She stopped abruptly as Talon hung his head and slammed his fist on the table.
"Stop." He hissed through gritted teeth, his body trembling with something akin to anger. "Don't talk about her any more."
Valkyrie reached towards him, but stopped halfway. The guard's voice calling the prisoners to return was faint in her ears. Talon stood up, not bothering to look at her, and began to move away.
Within a split second, Valkyrie had grabbed his arm firmly, refusing to let go. He whirled around, a glare already placed upon his face, but was not expecting the lips that pushed against his own in a swift, but affectionate kiss. He was not expecting the soft hands that cupped his face, wasn't expecting her to pull him closer; he wasn't even expecting himself to linger that close after a kiss so quick. She briefly pressed her forehead against his, her voice but a whisper, white hair hanging over her vibrant blue eyes.
"If you still don't get it," she murmured. "I'm telling you that I like you."
Talon was silent as he began to back away towards the guard who herded everyone out of the door. "Will you be here tomorrow?"
Valkyrie nodded. "Make a decision, Talon."
"What?" He asked. But by then, she had turned away and Talon was pushed by the flow of inmates out the door, and a guard grabbed his arm and led him to his cell, as the routine had been for past months.
A decision?
What was Valkyrie talking about? Talon was in prison; there were no decisions to be made. Prison wasn't death, but it was close enough. Years of being cooped up in a dank metal box, only leaving to glance at the afternoon rays of sunshine and to fill your stomach with some sort of flavourless food that looked more akin to a pile of insects. But decisions? The only decision Talon made in prison was his choice to survive.
But what was Valkyrie talking about? And that kiss...he unconsciously moved his fingers to touch his lips as if he would have a sudden revelation or idea of what she had meant by anything she had told him in those minutes, really.
It was all so confusing.
He crawled into his cell. Desperate, confused and frankly out of options, he closed his eyes, a vain attempt to achieve serenity through peace. He gave up and consulted Thalomir. "What do you think?" He inquired, and the being inside him awoke immediately.
Is it not obvious?
"What do you mean? Nothing's obvious with women."
You truly do not realize how she feels?
"No."
Thalomir scoffed, his next words mumbled lowly.
Are you really my descendant?
Talon shrugged to himself. "How do you expect me to know? It isn't like I know you're the real deal. My dad told me Thalomir was dead, and has been for a long time."
That is true, yes.
"Then why do I hear your voice? Why do you make me so miserable? Why is it that you promise me power yet present me with none?"
Because you haven't proved yourself. Well, at least, not as of late.
"Prove myself? What do you-"
You proved yourself when you mauled Lucas so eagerly. You proved yourself when you showed your brother compassion and when you refused to leave without him. You proved yourself when you resisted the harsh system of a prison for wizards. But now, you are nothing. Your potential wanes and your moods change every second you yield to the system. You have refused my offers, failed to accept me as your ascendant and now you consult me for what? Advice on women? You are pathetic.
"Shut up!" Talon roared in retaliation. "It's not like you can do any better for yourself. You tried to kill your own son, and you turned against your friends! I'm only thirteen, it isn't like I know how to deal with all this! Just a short while ago I was at home with my brother and my abusive stepfather, out stealing some stuff in an act of defiance like I usually do! Then the thought of killing him suddenly comes over me-"
I gave you that thought, boy. I willed it. You wanted it, I merely gave you the push you needed.
"-Then you come talking to me about killing him and I go ahead and do it because of you and then his body just vanishes and the next thing I know, me and Hunter are on the run and then we're captured by a band of pirates just because we wanted some food! Then somehow we befriend them along with a short kid who tells us that we can escape and a month later, we get out but the ship is ablaze and we have to run to Ravenwood, and then Hunter almost drowns and then I get him out and we start heading there and then guards found us and then here I am, with no clue where my brother is, my 'long lost' semi-girlfriend with no memory of who I am, and some girl who just kissed me. Pathetic? Yeah, I'd guess so. But to me, this has been hell. And now I'm stuck in here for something I never did. Do I want power? Do I want power to get away from all of this?" Talon scoffed before continuing. "What a stupid question. Of course I want power; if you have it, give it to me."
Why?
"Why?" Talon asked again, incredulous. "I want it because I want to survive. I want redemption. Vengeance. So fuck you, and fuck your knowledge and your power. If you won't give it to me, then I'll get it on my own."
Talon could feel Thalomir's grin in the back of his mind. The boy scowled in response. "You don't control me..." He mumbled quietly.
Very well, boy. Seek out Dworgyn. Once you find him, speak to me. He will give you what you so desire.
"Doe-who?"
Dworgyn. Enough of this prattle. Speak to me when you find him.
"Wait-" But Thalomir had retreated into Talon's subconscious, reluctant to emerge in case Talon wanted advice on women. Talon sighed and shook his head again. "This is all too confusing..."
"Why are are you leaving me?" Talon inquired, his voice low and hushed. It was at night, and she's come to visit him in his cell. Astra had been moved after her last attempt to strangle him to death, so he was alone. The bars were spread enough so she could fit her head and part of her shoulders through. The cell only shrunk when prisoners attempted escape anyways.
Tears built up in Valkyrie's eyes, and she gave a sad smile. "I have to go, Talon. I need this. I need power."
"Why?" Talon asked, gripping the bars angrily. "Why are you going?"
"I have to. And besides, you have Astra."
"But she doesn't remember me! Even if I do love her, I can't force anything on her! And I can't deny that I-me and you! Valkyrie, don't go..!" He pleaded, but to no avail.
Valkyrie began to cry, and the tears burst from her eyes, a maddening wave of sadness overwhelming her. She tried her best to smile, but she couldn't. "I...I need you to stay strong," she choked out through soft sobs.
"Valkyrie..." Talon whispered softly. He reached up and stroked her cheek. "Please don't go."
This only resulted in more tears and more forced smiles. "Talon, you need to...stay strong. I have to go...I have to!" She cried in anguish, finally giving up and burying her face in her hands.
Talon pried her hands from her face, and she looked up at him, white hair hanging over her eyes in a sloppy manner. She was still beautiful, even when she cried. He brushed his lips against her forehead. "If you have to go, then at least tell me the truth."
Valkyrie stared for a moment before she surged forwards, her lips colliding with his, her own passion consuming her. She didn't care whether he didn't respond, she just needed it right now. But what really surprised her was when he returned the kiss. He kissed back, cupping her face in his hands, pulling her as close as possible through the bars. The tears slid down his own face. He couldn't help the sadness as it pulled him in.
The kiss lasted more than three minutes, if that was even possible, and both were breathless when they finally pulled away. Valkyrie closed her eyes, leaning her head against Talon's forehead. "I love you," she whispered.
"I love you, too." Talon returned. "Stay, Valkyrie."
"I can't, Talon...I can't." Her voice was sad, but a pleading note lingered.
"Are you too embarrassed to ask for another kiss?"
"Maybe," she returned with a slight grin despite the urge to bawl. Her thoughts were tangled, but the only few words that kept her kneeling before Talon's cell forced tears from her eyes.
Dontleavehimdontdoityouneedhimandheneedsyoupleasedonthurthimkisshimagainjustdontlethimbegdontlethimcrypleaseplease.
Talon brushed his lips against hers teasingly. "When you come back, you'll get one." He stated, embracing her as best he could through the bars.
"I will?" She asked with a smile. Her eyes sparkled, if faintly.
Talon nodded. "Go, Valkyrie. But come back to me. Come back to me when all this is over. Can you?"
She nodded. "I promise."
Talon learned never to make promises that you weren't sure you could keep.
Hunter sat on the edge of the balcony, staring out into the open. He was silent, and the only sound that accompanied the silence was the patter of the rain against the soft earth. For every drop that hit Hunter, a spark of electricity bounced from his figure. In the past three years he'd trained with Halston Balestrom, he'd gained power. Power capable of rivalling most of the other apprentices; capable of rivalling most master wizard candidates.
But it wasn't enough.
He didn't have enough power yet.
It was never enough, no matter what he did. Hunter was never able to obtain what he had strived for. He sighed, his eyes wandering to the lake again, as the rain rippled across the water. Remembering his earlier conversation with his brother during his weekly jail visit, Hunter's face became a scowl.
"Power, huh?" Talon had asked, his voice dreamy, his eyes wandering.
"Yeah," Hunter murmured. "I need it. I need to get it. But how?"
Talon shrugged. "Look for it, Hunter. Don't expect it to be given to you. If you don't get it, then go out and steal it. Bargain for it. Fight for it. If power is so important to you, then go out and find it. This is your mission. Your purpose."
Purpose, huh..? As if. Purposes weren't real. There was no such thing. You either did or you didn't. But Hunter was determined. He was going to get power, one way or another.
Even if it killed him.
Hunter sighed, feeling the tears well up in his eyes. Was his journey fruitless? Would he really be able to save Talon? Or at least start anew once this was all over? He ran a finger through his dark brown hair, then drew his hand away. An idea sprang to his mind. Maybe he was doing it wrong. Maybe he was doing everything wrong.
Eager to find out, he scrambled to his feet and pointed at the nearest tile on the brick road, compressing his power into the tip of his index finger, focusing his mana to release a minute wild bolt. The tiny bolt of electricity shot forth from his finger, striking the tile and shattering it along with fifteen others near it. No...it appeared that he'd been practicing, and he was following the professor's teachingsā¦
He ran his fingers through his hair again. Maybe he needed a physical change? To boost his self-esteem? Professor Balestrom had always mentioned that a boost in confidence increased depth of one's mana pool.
Hunter didn't really like his brown hair. It didn't...fit.
Maybe a red would do?
"Why can't you just stay away? I found Dworgyn already, and he said he'd teach me things. Said he'd give me the power I need to fix everything. I don't need you anymore, so why can't you just go and never come back?"
Are you that oblivious? I am Thalomir, boy. I am an overlord, a conqueror, a destroyer of species and galaxies. I am the spawn of a flawed existence and the god of your mind. I am your ancestor and now I reside within you, because I wished it so. I cannot leave no matter how much I desire it.
"I didn't understand any of that."
You will in due time, child. But until your fate has been decided, keep your mouth shut and do not ridicule me.
Talon scoffed but said nothing.
Silence lingered within the cell, and then Talon suddenly asked, "Does having you in my head make me like you?"
No, but in many ways, we are alike. We are both angry. Both sorrowful. Both afraid. Embrace me-accept me-and we can be rid of this suffering, though I will admit that it may take time.
Talon paused. "What'll happen to me if I embrace you?"
I am unsure.
"Do you think it'll hurt?"
You've been through worse, Talon.
"...You finally said my name," Talon answered nonchalantly.
So I did.
Talon smiled softly, inhaled deeply, and steeled himself. Embracing, huh? That sounded intriguing, but disturbing all the same. "How does this work?"
Imagine us merging. Welcome me as another part of you. I can ease you into it.
"I don't-" Talon began, but stopped abruptly as his mind began to burn painfully. He closed his eyes, but saw bright lights flashing before him, watched as he grew older and older and was welcomed into the light again...
He was seeing the future.
He saw himself kissing a girl-no, a woman-with red hair that eased into a dark brown, a woman clad in a dress of fine silk that was the color of the whiteness he found in the very depths of his mind. Her name was on the tip of his tongue, and he just forced it out as the memory changed.
"As-"
Then he watched, falling silent again as he slipped into a silent rage, his visage calm, his mind bellowing in anguish; watched as he so mirthlessly let the blades of the axe sink into a white-haired girl's stomach, watched as he mourned, poured over her lifeless form, his eyes alone mirroring what he had been forced to burden. Her name also lingered on the tip of his tongue but again, he couldn't force it out.
"Wait-" He tried again.
He watched as he spoke to the one they called Noxus and his siblings, ruffling the young boy's hair as he did so, his grin wide, the rage and hate and pain finally leaving him.
He watched as he cried, cried over everything he had done, everything he couldn't do and everything that was. He cried over the past, present and future; cried for his beloved and cried for his enemies.
Talon watched as he walked down a shadowed road. A road that was hidden by darkness, the negativity that consumed even the most cautious of people. A tunnel, so to speak. He was blanketed in shadow, in evil, in hatred, in anger; blanketed-covered-soothed by pain. He had been through more than he should've. His emotions were an absolute mess. Violence was his first and last resort. He could barely express his love through Astra without touching her. Talon was never the perfect brother that Hunter needed in his life. He figured had made Hunter bitter and resentful; envious of the other perfect families and angry because of their dysfunctional one. Talon was broken, and the path he walked was just as twisted as he.
But was there not always light at the end of a tunnel?
Can you see it, Israfel? Your future?
MW: Aaaand that's all for now. Hope you enjoyed, hope it makes sense, and expect more. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me! I want to thank BuBu Winter, The Dimenssionalist, Wolfheart zeFangirl, Fluffy Sakura-kun, Ammaraah01 and James Firecrafter among others for helping me with edits and planning. I would not have gotten this far if not for them. Thanks for the support, and pray for more! Be sure to look forward to more detailed combat, more detailed violence, more detailed romance and more sentiment!
THE FEELZ
TOO STRONK
Review Replies:
Hunter Lioncloud: Don't worry, dude! Hunter will have his red hair, he just starts off with brown. I wanted to make the change realistic.
James Firecrafter: Oh, yeah. Well, the only reason she was put in his cell was because the other cells were crowded already. This should provide some insight. You'll know more next chapter.
Ammaraah01: Gotta love the fluff scenes. And don't bother with the Morganthe thing, I'll find it on my own. If you do want to help, however, edits would work.
THANKS AGAIN, GUYS! LOVE YA'LL, SEE YOU IN THE NEXT CHAPTER!
