Chapter 12: Sacrifices

For the first time since her father's demise, Shyvana panicked. She had no idea what to do, or what forces of evil she was dealing with.

So she followed her instincts, and did the first thing that came into her mind. The half-dragon turned her panic into rage, allowing herself to be engulfed by her own flames. Her eyes glowed red-hot as her fists shot forward, a large spire of flames spewing forth.

It struck the bank of the river, and even if Shyvana did not hit the intended target, the loud blast was enough to wake the forest up. Even those who slept like a log.

The blast was so loud it made her ears ring, but Shyvana swore she heard a shriek somewhere, as though its concentration was disturbed.

Fortunately, the five men had stopped walking towards the river. As if a curse lifted from their possessed bodies, they all toppled to the floor harmlessly, oblivious to the danger they had walked into.

Shyvana walked up to Jarvan hurriedly, her dragon senses were triggered to the extent that she could see her surroundings without a strain. She grabbed the prince's shoulders and started shaking violently, urging him to wake up.

"Hey, wake up," Jarvan only mumbled in his sleep and tried to swat her away. Frustrated, Shyvana pulled her fist back and punched him right in the cheek.

The effect was instantaneous. Jarvan's eyes shot open, and they were full of anger. "Hey, what the fuck –"

"We have to go," Shyvana said quickly, walking over and kicked August in the side. The soldier jumped to his feet immediately, his crazed eyes full of bloodlust and fear. "Whatever you see and hear in that dream, it's a trap. This place isn't safe, we have to –"

"Who do you think you are?" Jarvan snarled at her. His fists were clenched tightly, and they were shaking. Shyvana looked at him with shock, suddenly not knowing who this man was.

"Jarvan –"

"Noxus' pet," he spat. "Aye, that's what you are," he reached into his back and unsheathed a dagger. Jarvan's eyes were full of greed and pride and madness. And he could possibly hurt her very, very badly.

"Sister…" behind her, Alfie wailed. She chanced a look behind and saw the poor lad curled into a ball, his fingers clutching something that she couldn't make out. He sounded pained, and hopeless. "I'll find you a cure. There will be no pain. No more. I promise,"

"You cheated!" Lance roared viciously, flailing his arms at nothing in particular. "I saw that card! I was going to win! You liar… Charlatan…. You fucking cunt!"

"Eyes on me, Noxian!" she turned back quickly, glancing nervously at Jarvan. "Or are you just a craven, looking for an escape?"

"Jarvan," she raised her arms in surrender. "Someone's messing with your mind. Wake up, this isn't you,"

"You are the one messing with my mind," he hissed. "Once I kill you, each and every one of you, I'll reclaim my right. I am the prince! The prince of Demacia!" with that, Jarvan charged forward, with the dagger raised.

Shyvana quickly sidestepped, grabbing his arms to restrain him. Jarvan slammed his shoulder into her chest, knocking her to the ground. She wheezed painfully, and locked arms with the prince, the dagger just a few inches away from her eye.

Why are you fighting it? A voice echoed in her mind. It was sweet and comforting, imploring her to follow its wishes. How easy would it be to give in? You will suffer no more, child. Your pain ends here. Why struggle?

"You aren't the boss of me," she growled, and rolled to the side just as the dagger plunged into the soft soil. Acting on her instincts, Shyvana slammed her gauntlet to the side of Jarvan's head. The blow threw him backwards, and Shyvana thought she saw his eyes roll back into his head.

Shyvana panted heavily, her hands trembling. The prince groaned in pain, finally coming to his senses.

After what seemed like an eternity, he opened his eyes. She sighed in relief when his eyes weren't full of rage or clouded by madness. He stared at her with a bewildered look. "Shyvana? Wait, where am I?"

She opened her mouth to answer when suddenly a pair of meaty arms swung over her neck, having her at chokehold. She grunted and coughed, her hands clawing at the arms and her gauntlets gorging deep marks into the flesh. Yet, her assailant seemed unfazed.

"August!" Jarvan rushed to his feet, his head wound forgotten. Shyvana hissed and gagged, trying hard to breathe. But the arms around her neck were too tight. "Let her go, August!"

"Let go of this bitch?" August tugged his arms harder, and Shyvana continued to struggle. Her lips were turning pale, and anytime she could be strangled to death. "She killed my daughter! You ask me to let go of her?!"

"August," Jarvan lowered his voice to a whisper. "It wasn't her. Whatever Alice did–"

"Don't say her name!" his hold tightened, and Shyvana gurgled painfully.

"Whatever she did, the justice was done. She was hanged, remember? At the square of Justice Gate. She's dead. You watched her die," Jarvan's cool stare was fixed on August's. "The one you're holding, she's a friend. The past is the past, don't dwell in it,"

Shyvana still struggled feebly, but she was surprised when August sniffled. Slowly, the chokehold around her weakened, and Shyvana used her remaining strength to push herself away from August. She stumbled to the floor in front of the prince, her throat wheezing and making raspy noises as she took in a lungful of air.

August sobbed, tears streaming down his face uncontrollably as he sank to his knees.

"What the fuck happened?" Jarvan rubbed his sore temple, already swollen and pulsing in pain. Shyvana was still breathing hard, her breaths shaky and her voice hoarse as a sandpaper.

"We have to…" she coughed. "We have to go. Grab your men, we have to leave. Now,"

"Why run when you can take what is yours?"

Alfie's wailing stopped. Lance stopped yelling. August rose to his feet, his tears gone and his eyes seething with anger.

Jarvan's eyes were distant, looking past her. Shyvana stared at the river. A huge lump of shadow rose from the waters beneath the river. And its song was the soft tingling notes of a songstress – melodic and mesmerizing, seductive and enticing.

"Your bruised soul seeks fulfilment. I mean to end its hunger. Come, come to me,"

The men started walking towards the river. This time they were awake, yet they had no control over their feet. Jarvan looked back at her regrettably, and Shyvana knew that it had something to do with the voice of the beast they were listening to. It was like a delicious poison, urging them to walk into their own deaths.

Once again, Shyvana wondered how was she not affected. Do humans listen to their desires so easily?

"Jarvan -"

"I'm sorry," the prince sounded sincere and hurt. "I just can't resist it. The offer is too good to refuse,"

"Everyone! Cover your ears!"

She whirled back to see who it was, and fortunately she clamped her hands over her ears. Half a second later, a loud, booming clank resonated in the forest, shaking leaves and weeds, drowning out the sound of the beast from the river. Even with her ears covered, her ears rang with a buzzing sound, and she was met with the sight of Kyvan holding August's mace over his steel tower shield.

"Put this on," Kyvan walked over, and pushed something tiny into her palm. They were two soft studs made out of wax. He headed over to Jarvan and his men, temporarily deaf by the loud noise earlier, and he quickly stuffed the studs into their ears. "Ear wax," he yelled, unable to hear his own voice as his ears were covered. "Whatever it is, its voice is its power. Just don't listen to it,"

She placed one in her ear. "You were affected earlier. How did you escape?"

Lance was still groaning like a drunkard even after Kyvan gave him his swords. "What?" he removed a stud, and Shyvana repeated her question again.

"Everyone has his demons," he threw the mace to August, and he caught it in his hand deftly, already out of his trance, though their ears were still deaf and ringing. "I just managed to overcome mine in time. Though I was caught off guard at first," Kyvan placed his stud back in place again. "Lead the way, half-dragon, but avoid the river,"

Jarvan and the men followed close behind Shyvana, each time glancing behind their back warily. The wax managed to block out any sources of noise, yet they could feel some eerie presence creeping upon them. The half-dragon weaved and trudged through bushes and around streams, relying on her dragon senses.

Where are you going, half-dragon? Coming for the buffet?

Shyvana gasped. She whirled around and thought she saw a figure moving away. Her senses dimmed, and her heart thundered with the growing fear and paranoia within her.

If it could project thoughts into their minds, they would be doomed.

She was so caught up with her thoughts that she did not realize how damp the hem of her cloak had become, or how she could feel splashes underneath her boots. She stopped and frowned, lifting a boot and brought it upon the ground again.

Splash! It was subtle, yet noticeable.

Water? All around us?

A tiny ember flickered to life at the tip of her finger, and when she glanced around her, it was full of water. It wasn't possible, she had avoided the rivers. How could she still lead them right into a stream without knowing it?

Unless she had led them into a swamp, and she had sprung the trap.

She removed her ear wax without a second thought. "Head back!" she shouted, but it was too late.

On the ground between her and the prince, it split like a cliff within seconds. The first thing she saw was a large abyss, filled with rows of teeth and a long, pink tongue. It burst out of the ground and snapped its jaw shut, grunting when it missed its prey.

"Give me some!" the beast snarled in fury, its tongue lashing out to capture the half-dragon. Shyvana hopped away just in time, and waved her hands frantically at the prince. "Spread out! Hide!" she roared, hopefully they caught what she was saying.

The men understood, turned into different directions and began sprinting away. Shyvana lit herself on fire, distracting the glutton. And when the forest was brightened up slightly by her flames, she took in the appearance of the entity before her, or perhaps she should say, a demon.

There wasn't much that could be seen, except that it had a large, bloating belly and a massive mouth that could possible swallow a few cows at once. Its body was green, and water dripped all over him. Its clothes were tattered and yellowed and torn everywhere, as though it had spat out the outfit of its prey after swallowing the victim. Its eyes were raged, and filled with traces of gluttony.

"Hungry," it snarled. "A dragon? You will prove quite magnificent upon my dinner plate,"

"Don't bother, my tainted blood will give you an indigestion," she taunted and shot a fire ball forward.

The demon unhinged its jaw and dashed forward, swallowing the flames entirely. Shyvana had to dodge before it ate her. And when it closed its jaws, it only belched, a plume of smoke drifting out of its mouth.

"You can enter others' dreams and lure them into your territory," she extinguished her flames, hiding in the dark. "Not even a powerful mage can do that. What are you, a demon?"

It laughed, the sound demonic and wicked. "I was called many names, child. But does it matter? The river forgets the names of the drowned. I merely feed on other people's pains and woes. I fill in their foibles where they cannot, and give them temporary satisfaction,"

"And you eat them,"

"That's the way of the world, child," the demon walked closer. "I strike a bargain too good to refuse, and they accept. I give them what they want, then I devour everything. The strong feed on the weak, half-dragon, you know that,"

"Right," Shyvana toyed with a ball of flames in her palm, growing larger and larger. "But sometimes the weak fight back," she slammed her fist into the ground, the ball of fire exploding upon the surface of water and spraying droplets everywhere. Mist and wisps of smoke shrouded the air, and the forest quickly dimmed again.

"That trick again?" the demon chided. "None of your toys and tricks can hide your cravings, half-dragon!"

She ignored him. Turning on her heel, she ran deep into the swamp, not even dare to look back.

He did not know how far he ran, or how long he had been running. The moment he saw the silhouette of a massively hollowed dead trunk covered with moss and fungi, Jarvan slid into it. He was panting so heavily that he thought he might hyperventilate.

The prince leaned against the damp trunk, his legs curled up due to the small space inside. He placed his lance beside him, closing his eyes for a brief moment and thought about his next course of action.

But most of all, he was worried about her.

She had done it again, willing to give herself up to make sure they could escape. And this time he listened to her, running as fast as he could without hesitation. Whatever that giant catfish demon was, the prince had a feeling it was worse than what they had faced in the desert. At least with Rek'Sai, they could fight her with brute force, relying on their strength and power.

What he faced earlier was an entity capable of twisting your thoughts, waking your deepest fears and desires, whispering sweet nothings into your ears, making sure that you take the bait. That alone scared him, and he didn't have to think to understand that he was no match for this monster.

The dream he had earlier… He heard a sweet, cooing voice, tempting him with gifts and promises. He easily fell for it. His past was his greatest weakness, and that demon used that against him.

Jarvan shuddered just thinking about it. And now he felt guilty of leaving Shyvana alone to outsmart the beast.

She'll make it, he assured himself. I know she will.

Then he thought about his men, and hoped that they found somewhere safe to hide. What August did earlier, unsettled him. He never knew if August had truly got over the death of his daughter, but he knew that his hatred for the murderer will always be burning. So did his hatred for Noxian spies.

Jarvan reached into his ear and loosened the ear wax, feeling his ear pop as sounds started rushing in. Wearing the ear wax for such a long period of time can be quite uncomfortable, and he heard for footsteps of his men, hoping they were close.

When he heard the familiar melody again, he quickly stuffed it back in, blocking all the sounds.

Shit, Jarvan pressed his back hard against the trunk and held his breath. The slight tremor of the ground hinted that he was near, and Jarvan was afraid that if he breathed or make a slight movement, the monster may hear him.

He could hear nothing, he was blind as well as deaf. And he could only depend on the quakes the monster made whenever it lumbered around.

He felt one, two and three thumps. Then nothing.

It felt like forever before the prince allowed himself a sigh of relief. His heart still hammered hard against his chest, threatening to burst free from its cage with anxiety. His grip on his lance tightened and loosened, trying to ease his trembling.

A huge force crashed into the trunk he was in, and Jarvan could not understand what happened until he realized that half of the trunk had been demolished completely, splinters and sharp pieces of wood raining down his side. With instincts taking over, the prince scrambled frantically to his feet, one hand wielding his lance and another hand holding against the trunk, trying to balance himself.

Before he could get out of the trunk though, it was suddenly lifted into the air, sending the prince crashing around in the remains of the hollowed trunk. His hands grasped desperately for purchase, and when his fingers felt the end of the trunk, he dragged himself forward and threw himself out into the surrounding.

Jarvan crashed into the muddy waters, just as the trunk was hauled towards a large boulder and smashed into bits. The prince did not look back, hastily rushing to his feet and sprinted forward, not caring if he got lost in the swamp.

He ran as fast as his feet could carry him, and could feel the air above his hair whisper when a huge tongue lashed out at him. He weaved through trees and boulders, and finally came to a stop behind a large tree, panting heavily.

This time he took out one of the ear wax, hoping to hear the demon's thunderous footsteps. This time there was no siren's song, only the deep thud of distant footsteps.

That was close, too close, the prince grimaced in thought. No such luck next time.

He chanced a peek from the side of the boulder when suddenly a hand grabbed his shoulder firmly. The prince whirled, with his lance ready, almost impaling whoever it was until Kyvan blocked it with his tower shield.

"My prince," Kyvan whispered, grabbing Jarvan's wrist before he could attack again. "It's me, Kyvan. We have to go,"

"Go? Go where?" there was no stars or moon that night to guide their path, and they had no idea which direction to run to.

"Anywhere but here," Kyvan looked back frantically. "I have scouted this area, as quick as I could. Further down from here is a dense forest, where the swamp ends and approaches the highland,"

"What of the others?"

"I've told August and Lance, they knew where Alfie was hidden. And Alfie will be near the end of the swamp, as our support in case the beast follows us. They have a plan, Lance is good with explosives,"

"What about Shyvana?"

Kyvan scoffed. "The half-beast? What about her?"

"We can't leave her behind, Kyvan, she can't face that thing alone,"

"She just did, and I don't know what happened," Kyvan licked his lips nervously. "She could be dead, eaten by the beast. Or she could be hiding. Isn't that what she's good at?"

"We can't leave her," Jarvan insisted. "We promised her to help her complete her quest,"

Kyvan's brows furrowed, and his expression changed into anger and irritation. "You promised her, Prince Jarvan. We made no such promises. And she led us right into the demon's lair. What has she done to deserve your respect?"

Jarvan wanted to shout at him that she had nearly died in the desert just to make sure they had got out alive. Before Kyvan interrupted hastily.

"This isn't your war, Prince Jarvan," Kyvan emphasized his title. "Your war is in Kalamanda, alongside your father. Your home is in Demacia, not somewhere out in the wilderness, nor with the half-dragon,"

The prince could not think of a proper response. What he said, stung him.

"I volunteered for this journey because I swore an oath. August and I were part of the Elite Guard, but we carry that oath to our graves. We promised to bring you home, back to Demacia, and we will do that no matter the sacrifices. We will kill one of our own, or leave the half-dragon to die if it means to get you home,"

Jarvan was dumbstruck by what he said. But he was determined. He will not leave her behind to fend for herself. No one had to die, and Jarvan was sure of that.

"I swore an oath too," Jarvan said carefully, staring Kyvan in the eyes. "I swore to her that I will show her, not all humans are selfish and bloodthirsty. I want her to trust me. I can't just leave her behind. You asked what the half-dragon did to deserve my respect. She offered to die in the desert just so we could go back to Demacia, is that not enough?"

Kyvan did not answer. He ground his teeth with silent fury, his jaw set and his eyes burning with anger.

"Go, Kyvan. Leave a trail. I will make it out alive, I promise,"

He did not say another word. Kyvan hefted his shield over his back, and began his way out of the swamp. And Jarvan couldn't help but feel rejected – his men had never turn their backs on him, not even once.

She was reminded of how she and her father had played hide-and-seek when she was only three. She would hide behind boulders and inside the bushes, giggling uncontrollably whenever her father came looking for her. He would always pretend not to hear her, then burst through her hiding place and lift her high into the air, before settling her down on his broad shoulders.

Now she was doing the same thing, except that she wasn't giggling at all, and whatever that found her wouldn't happily lift her into the air and place her on its lumpy shoulders.

She swallowed hard. Shyvana managed to dig a tiny cavern underneath a boulder that was large enough to hide her if she curled into a ball. She cloaked herself with a branch of leaves, hoping that the demon would not walk past her.

Luck was against her that day.

"This game bores me," it grunted. A loud groan of an uprooted tree answered his wrath. "I did not expect cowardice to be one of your traits, half-dragon. I find your attitude rather repulsive,"

Well, fuck you, Shyvana cursed in her mind.

"My banquet is still empty!" it roared. Then the sound of something hard crashing against a tree. "And I thought the humans would make an exquisite feast! I had enough of critters and mudfish! Where are you humans?"

She wondered if the prince and his men managed to get out of the swamp. Perhaps when dawn broke, this demon would have no choice but to leave. But it appeared that dawn was still a long time to go.

"Hey, fat-ass!"

Quickly the demon turned, and Shyvana's eyes widened in shock when she saw Jarvan facing the demon gallantly, both hands on his lance, as though he was ready for battle.

She couldn't decide if the prince was brave, or bravely stupid.

"I heard you're looking for me," the prince huffed proudly. "So here I am. Your meal. But you'll have to fight me to get it,"

The demon bellowed with fits of laughter. "Fight you? Why fight you when I can just hum my song, and let you walki right into my jaws? If you think pride is something I desire, it's not. Your foibles matter to me more than my pride,"

Jarvan smirked, his posture full of confidence. "You have seen my mind, my dreams. You know what I want,"

This time, the demon did not laugh. It studied the prince carefully, its beady eyes unblinking.

"I fight for glory. And if I die heroically in battle, singers and poets will sing about the brave prince who battled a demon, even though he knew he had no chance of winning," Jarvan raised his lance. "If I lose, I will be your food. If I win, my hunger is satisfied, and the deal is done. And I will pay the price then,"

The demon considered this carefully. "Fair deal, prince," Without a warning, it lashed out with its tongue, the impossibly elastic flesh whipping forward with quick speed and snapped the water as the prince rolled to the side.

With that, the prince charged fearlessly. The demon withdrew its tongue, ready to face the prince who was so eager to die.

"Shit!" Shyvana exclaimed, and burst forth from her hiding place. Her gauntlets burnt hot with flames, as she dashed towards the self-proclaimed River King. The demon must have anticipated her, for it turned swiftly, attempting to clasp her with its tongue.

The half-dragon ducked, the flailing tongue missing her just by an inch. She threw her gauntlet upwards with an uppercut. Her metal fist connected with the demon's jaw, and a sickening crunch could be heard. Yet, the demon let no cry of anguish, but responded by widening its jaw and tried to snap her neck off.

She swiftly ducked again, the demon's jaws snapping shut right above her head. Through the gap between the demon's fat thighs, she skidded forward, rushing to the prince.

"Shyvana," Jarvan started, lowering his lance. He did not cower at her seething glance. "Kyvan found a way, we have to –"

"What the fuck do you think you are doing?" she snapped. "Do you want to die?!"

Jarvan was taken aback by her response, before his face turned into rage. "I saved your sorry ass, you can thank me later,"

"I don't need saving!" Shyvana roared and blasted a fireball at a random tree, and it sparked into flames immediately, illuminating the dark swamp.

She watched as Jarvan's face morphed from anger to confusion, then to panic. When she looked behind her, she understood why.

The demon had unhinged its jaw, and was dashing towards them at quick speed. Shyvana raised her gauntlets in defense, and summoned her flames to surround her, even though she knew deep inside that there was no way they could defend themselves against such an attack. It would swallow them both, at once.

A bright, golden light engulfed her, and strange markings seared and engraved itself into the muddy riverbeds. When Shyvana looked behind her, Jarvan had raised his hand in concentration, channelling his energy into his shield.

The demon's jaw struck the shield with such force that it forced them to their knees. The shield dimmed, and shattered just as it withdrew.

Jarvan gasped and fell on his hands and knees. He clutched his chest and heaved painfully, his cough spluttering as red droplets stained the water beneath him.

Shyvana did not think twice and pulled on Jarvan's arms, hasting him to climb to his feet. The demon had unhinged its jaws again, aiming its huge abyssal mouth in their direction. Jarvan grunted with pain, his knees shaking violently as he tried to stand.

The River King lurched forward, and Shyvana knew that they would never make it.

Out of nowhere, a large man with a tower shield burst through the bushes. His eyes were crazed and hungry for blood, and when he roared a battle cry, it frightened even the crows, sending them flocking through the night. He lifted the beastly shield with might, and bashed the shield right into the demon's side.

"I will show you what a real feast is," he lifted his shield again, and struck the stunned demon in its gut. It grunted piteously. "But you will be the main course served on the banquet table," he bashed again and again, until the demon fell silent. Still, he did not cease his battering. "You dare harm the prince –"

In the blink of an eye, half of Kyvan's belly and right leg were gone. Fresh blood dripped from the torn wound, and his intestines began spilling out of his gored stomach, a half-broken bone of his ribs protruding from beneath the wound.

Jarvan screamed in horror, and Shyvana could only watch, her expression akin to shock and terror.

Kyvan stared with a look of dread plastered upon his face, his shield still raised in midair. He suddenly collapsed on his injured side, his blood quickly staining and spreading in the muddy swamp, his lips turning pale and eyes wide with shock.

The River King rose, its huge teeth gleaming with hints of blood and flesh. "I don't mean to disappoint you," it hovered over Kyvan, who now seemed small like a harmless mouse cowering before a cat. "But I am always the predator, not the prey,"

Just before the demon ate him whole, the Demacian soldier shared a pleading glance with the half-dragon, and she understood.

Her muscles pumped with energy, and she quickly dragged the prince to his feet. He was still horrified by what he saw, but his legs worked just as she wanted, as though his mind sensed the danger and urged him to run away. Together, they ran towards the path where Kyvan had emerged.

Halfway through the swamp, Jarvan stopped. Shyvana turned back and was about to yell at him to keep moving, until she saw how shaken he looked.

"We… We have to help him," he blurted out, shaking his head vehemently as though he had lost his mind. "He could be alive. Maybe there's still some part of him left –"

"Jarvan," she said calmly, hoping not to spook the prince. "He can't have survived that. You saw it. He was…"

"No!" Jarvan yelled. She glanced around nervously, but the River King was not in sight. "We have to save him, he needs our help!"

He was about to turn back and walk away, before Shyvana grabbed his shoulders roughly and made sure he faced her. She grabbed both sides of his head, making sure that their eyes meet, and they were so close that she was breathing in the air he exhaled, and it made her lightheaded.

She never noticed how blue his eyes were. But right now, they were filled with anguish and grief and horror, his mind failing to grasp the truth of what he saw.

"Kyvan's dead," she said it true, hoping that the prince would understand. "And if you die as well, you can't avenge the fallen. You will never return to Demacia to carve their names into the pillars of history,"

She cheered internally when what she said seemed to have the desired effect on Jarvan, but she continued.

"You have to stay alive. We have to leave, Jarvan, and I can't do it without you. Lead the way, take us out of here. We will live. We will live to spite those who tried to kill us, that they are too weak to wipe us off this world. Can you understand?"

The prince closed his eyes and breathed shakily. He nodded his head slightly, and Shyvana released her hands. Quickly, he led the way, following the trail that Kyvan had managed to leave behind.

Behind them, trees fell into the water with a loud splash. And it only made them walk faster. The demon was near, and they had no time to lose.

"Where are the others?" Shyvana asked as they twisted and turned through the swamp.

"At the end of the swamp," the shakiness in his voice was gone, yet he still sounded cold and frightened. "They will come to our aid once we get out,"

"More!" it bellowed, this time sounding more bloodthirsty and monstrous. It crashed into rocks and trees savagely, knocking them down as it charged into their direction.

"They are there!" Jarvan fell into a full sprint, and Shyvana promptly followed. "Hurry!"

The River King was picking up speed, its jaws wide and dark and daunting. Ahead of them, they could see Alfie nocking an arrow, with its head alight with fire, while Lance and August stood behind him. Dry land, they were standing on dry land.

"Prince!" August barked. "Duck! Quickly!"

Jarvan reached behind and pulled Shyvana towards him, dropping towards the edge of the swamp where the land was dry. Just then, Alfie released the arrow, and it went sailing through the air, leaving a sparked trail.

The burning arrow flew into the demon's mouth. When Shyvana looked up from the ground, the demon's belly and mouth were glowing. Yet it was oblivious to it

Before it could reach the dry land, the River King exploded.