"Let me see your orders." Quinn growled, frowning up at the Scout Colonel. "I've got friends in high places!"

Jerome crossed his arms over his chest as he glared down at her, a deep frown settling on his face. "You've been stripped of your weapons and shackled to a tree, do I really need to bind your mouth too? Cause I will if you don't shove it." He glared down at Quinn, defiance gleaming in her brilliant golden eyes. He sighed, tiredly. "Tell me why I should?" Jerome's frown darkened as he turned back and started pacing in the opposite direction. "For all I know you're in league with the Blade's Shadow. Why should I believe you? I don't know you."

"Dammit, I told you, I'm not a threat!" Quinn pleaded, tugging against the shackles that bound her to the tree. "I served with Prince Jarvan before he returned to the city! He can vouch for me! All you have to do is-..."

"The only person who can prove that is Prince Jarvan, right?" Jerome turned on her, frustration starting to build in his voice. "Very well. I leave you with a choice: you either die here as an enemy sympathizer or shut the hell up and I leave you here. When we're done, we'll come back and drag you back to the stockades after we capture this bastard. Then maybe the prince can confirm your identity."

"I keep trying to tell you!" Quinn got a leg under herself at an awkward angle and tried to stand but the guard posted next to her planted a hand on her shoulder and firmly pressed her back to the ground. Quinn bit at the hand on her shoulder, the man reeling back as she nipped his finger. He snarled in surprise and anger and raised a hand up to strike her.

"Enough!" Jerome snapped at the soldier, freezing the scout with a scowl on his face. He sulked away to lean against a tree, drawing a knife and a sharpening stone from his cloak. There were several moments of silence before the scouts started for weapons, only to stop after a brief moment.

A soldier dropped from a tree, his breathing heavy as he drew himself up from his knees. He saluted with a fist across his chest before glancing down at Quinn. "A message from the palace, sir." Jerome posted his fists on his hips expectantly, but the messenger looked down at Quinn, frowning slightly.

Jerome glanced at her and then sighed. "Go ahead, she won't be telling anyone."

"Very well, sir." The scout said hesitantly, his gaze lingering on the sullen Quinn for several moments before turning back to the Colonel. "Military Police are on their way to take custody of the young woman. In addition, Captain Crownguard is deploying his forces to our position before making for the north, as per the king's orders. In addition, the Captain wishes to interview the woman before the MPs take custody of her."

Jerome sighed, shaking his head but relented and shrugged. "It looks like we have no choice at this point. The dauntless Vanguard is involved. This matter is out of my hands."

"You're making a mistake by holding me here." Quinn said, frowning. "I can capture that bastard, Lambert! Just let me go!"

"Quit your fussing, girl." Jerome said, shaking his head again. "As I said: my hands are tied. And let me make a suggestion: knowing the assassin's name? That doesn't exactly help your case. It only hurts it. So shut your yap."

"Damnit." Quinn snarled, forcing herself to take a deep breath to calm down.

"Sir, there is one more thing." The messenger looked hesitant, but he continued before Jerome could voice his complaints. "An officer from the Royal Guard is accompanying the Military Police. I don't know why, though. I was told to pass on the information."

"Is it one of Jarvan's men?" Quinn said expectantly. "If you talk with Shyvana or the prince's Sergeant Major…"

"You, girl, remain silent." Jerome's frown darkened, his voice testy as he sighed heavily. "What interest does the Royal Guard have with us? This is out of their jurisdiction now." He kneeled down in front of Quinn, looking deep into her eyes, as if he was searching her expression for conviction. "Just who are you that could cause this much interest?"

"I told you before: I am—was—a tracker hired by Prince Jarvan to track the dragon quarry he was perusing just before he returned to Demacia." Quinn sighed tiredly, shaking her head. "My mother and father own a small farm to the east of here! I'm a Demacian, just like you."

"You're just a farmer's daughter at best." The messenger sneered. "You've probably never even seen the spires of Demacia."

"Hey, jackass, do me a favor and shove your head back up your ass where it belongs." Quinn sneered. "I can smell the stench from here."

Jerome snorted. "You've got some fight in you, I like that." He sighed again, sitting down. "It's unfortunate, but as I said: With no word on the prince and the Dauntless Vanguard involved, my hand has already been forced. There's nothing I can do."

Quinn sighed, her shoulders sinking. "I know, I'm just… frustrated."

The ground began to thunder underfoot as a company of horses pounded past. The rolling thunder slowed to a halt somewhere behind Quinn and there was a noticeable shift in the mood of the Scouting Company run by Colonel Jerome as the rattle of armor and the thud of boots interrupted the heavy stamping of angered, impatient horses.

"This hardly seems regular, Captain." The first voice was officious and stiff as it faded into earshot, and Quinn could hear the discomfort in the voice. "Why is a sergeant major attached to the Prince's staff here with us right now?"

"I don't know, Tunis." The second voice sounded annoyed, but there was no anger in it. "I'm just following orders right now."

"I am acting in the prince's stead, under the king's orders and in Lady Shyvana's confidence." There was annoyance in the third voice, as if it were tired of being accosted. There was a scuffle as the sound of armor on armor silenced the crunch of boot in the snow. Quinn tried to look around the tree, but she couldn't twist around enough to see who was speaking.

"Lady Shyvana?" Anger had taken hold of the first man's voice. "She's a damned dragon, man! She'd as soon devour us as she would help us! Get a hold of yourself and think for a moment! If you listen to her, you'll likely only hurt Demacia and her people."

"Tunis, control yourself." The second voice growled. "But he has a point. I want to know why exactly you're operating under her orders."

"Captain, first of all, you may be a Captain in the Royal Guard, but you do not command me. As such, your lieutenant has no business berating me, much less assaulting me." The third voice was far more controlled than the previous two, though there was a decidedly cold menacing in his words. "Secondly, I report only to the Prince or the King himself. Unless you have orders that countermand mine, I would suggest you release me so I may carry mine out."

"Sergeant Major Perrywinkle, you're making a mistake, I'm telling you." The first voice was angry, but there was another clank of metal and the steps in the snow resumed.

Perrywinkle! Quinn felt a smile grow on her face. Jarvan's Sergeant Major? Perhaps he's come to release me!

"Hail, Colonel." The third voice was just to the side of Quinn now. She turned and a smile broke over her face as Jarvan's Sergeant Major stepped into view and saluted proudly as he pulled his helmet from his head. He tucked it under one arm and then looked down to Quinn. He nodded once, and Quinn felt a smug smile slide onto her face as she sat back.

"Sergeant Major." The colonel responded stiffly. "I take it you have orders of your own to pass on?"

"Yes, colonel." The sergeant major, jerked his head at Quinn. "You're to release this young woman into my custody. The orders come straight from the king himself."

"Sergeant Major, you don't have the authority to release her." Garen said stiffly, frowning, waving at the sergeant major. "The MPs already have orders to take her into custody. No matter who you derive your authority from, you can't override their orders."

"It's not my authority with which I release her." Sergeant Major Perrywinkle said firmly, looking at the Crownguard Captain. Few men could manage to be as imposing as the broad Demacian Captain, but what the older man lacked in physical prowess and imposing stature, he more than made for with quiet menace. The sergeant major, his arm still in a sling and bandages around his forehead was able to stare directly at Garen without so much as a wince in his expression. "She has her orders from the prince himself." There was anger in the sergeant majors voice. "I've met and worked with this young woman before, and I'm asking you to release her before I have to go above your head again, Captain."

"Protocol states she is to be apprehended, detained, and investigated before she can be released." Garen reached out to poke the disobedient sergeant major in the chest to drive his point home, but Perrywinkle merely furrowed his brow and the captain took half a step back, his finger still hovering in the air between them. "Unless you can put papers in my hand that supersede that protocol, I'm taking her into custody, with or without your permission, sergeant."

"It's Sergeant Major." Perrywinkle growled with very real menace, digging into his cloak and producing a piece of folded paper. He extended it to the Captain, his face impossibly hard. "Your papers, captain. You are to release this woman, by orders of the king." Garen shriveled his nose up as he grabbed the papers from the Sergeant Major grasp and opened it. His eyes danced across the paper before he grimaced and sneered. "The seal is official, captain, you can compare it with the orders that Colonel Jerome has in his possession if you so wish."

"This can't be real." Tunis snarled, throwing his hands into the air. Two MPs had arrived on horses, manacles and riot control pikes in hand as they eyed the young woman shackled to the tree. "Welp, pack it up boys, looks like you're not needed. Sorry you had to come all the way out here just to get blue ba-..."

"Keep it up, Lieutenant." Colonel Jerome growled. "Those MPs will end up escorting you home."

"Try it, old man." Tunis snarled. "We in the Dauntless Vanguard don't know fear. We are not like you scouts who prefer to creep about in the shadows and deal in words and dishonorable death. Your words are useless against me."

"Tunis, now you threaten to tread on my honor with your words." Garen growled, shaking his head. The dark haired lieutenant shot him an angry glare but stood back and glower."Fine, do as you wish with here, Sergeant Major."

"Please, Colonel, remove her shackles." The Sergeant Major said sternly, a hint of exhaustion sneaking into his voice. Jerome nodded, gesturing one of his men forward. The scout looked hesitant but complied stepping forward and kneeling to remove the shackles from her wrists.

Finally free of her bindings, Quinn massaged her wrists as she got to her feet. "Finally." She muttered, shaking her head. She turned to the Sergeant Major and smiled. "Thank you, Sergeant Major. I appreciate the save."

"Thank Prince Jarvan." The sergeant Major growled, shaking his head. "It was the last order he gave me before Shyvana returned him to the Palace for medical treatment." Captain Crownguard grimaced at the mention of the dragoness, flipping his hair aside dismissively.

"Is he well?" Quinn said, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her mouth as she watched the Demacia Captain get overruled. Jarvan really thought of everything, didn't he? Quinn's smile grew. I'm not sure what I expected… but it definitely wasn't this.

"I don't know, to be honest." The sergeant major said, wincing as he adjusted his sling and straightened his cloak where he had produced the papers he had given to Captain Crownguard. "He had lost a lot of blood, and while it was doubtful that the medics would have been able to save him, they managed to stabilize him just long enough for Shyvana to rush him to the hospital."

"Thank the gods." Quinn muttered with a deep breath.

"Gods? Not even." The sergeant major grumbled as he shook his head. "Thank Shyvana, next chance you get. Without her, the prince would most definitely be dead."

"Call it what you want." Quinn shrugged. "For her arrival to have been that perfectly timed…"

"That's just damn good people." The sergeant major said as he exhaled sharply. "I took a bolt in the shoulder, and Delancey carried the news to Shyvana and the king in time. That's what happens when officers care about their people and soldiers respect their officers."

Quinn nodded and smiled. "And the others? I heard someone died…"

"The blacksmith, Steelsword." The sergeant major said, nodding solemnly. "He was dead before he hit the ground. Forsythe and Delancey are both badly wounded, but they should both live without serious permanent damage. As to be expected, the Prince was the worst off of all of us."

Quinn laughed lightly and nodded. "Sounds like Jarvan."

"So you really are a friend of the Princes…" Jerome said softly, the disbelief coloring his voice as he crossed his arms and smirked. "My apologies. I've always prefered to tread on the side of caution. I'm sure you understand."

"I tried to tell you but noooo..." Quinn smiled, removing the edge from the teasing tone in her voice. "However, I do understand, Colonel. Can I see the orders now?"

Jerome glanced over at the sergeant major and shrugged. "No further issues on my end, girl." He passed the parchment across to her.

"I have a name you know." Quinn said, eyeing him as she unfolded the paper. "It's Quinn."

"Very well, Quinn." The colonel said, giving her a ragged grin. "What are you going to do now?"

Quinn was silent as he eyes jumped over the dispatch from the king.

Wanted for crimes against Demacian Justice: Talon, the Blade's Shadow. Top Priority. Four men are dead, victims of Noxian treachery. Attempted strike against the king himself! You duty: track and execute the guilty. Target headed toward Golden Crossing. All units within region called to defend board immeadiately. In the King's name: His Majesty, King Jarvan III.

Quinn looked up from the paper, frowning, her brow furrowing as she played read the message a second time, ensuring she had read all of this correctly.

"Something the matter, Quinn?" Jerome said, raising an eyebrow.

"This message, that's what." Quinn said shaking her head. "The man I was tracking was named Lambert. It wasn't Talon who perpetrated this attack, he works alone of with Katarina Du Couteau exclusively. This wasn't his style, this many men is far too sloppy for his tastes. Besides, Talon wouldn't attack the King; that would only raise the alarm and make it harder to escape. He's smarter than that." She shriveled up her nose. "When did he have time to make an attempt on the king's life? I've been tracking him since his fight with Jarvan."

Captain Crownguard's brow darkened as she used the Prince's name with such familiarity. "Prince Jarvan is the King's only son. An attack on the Prince is the same as directly attacking the King himself. It is a matter of honor and posterity at this point."

"That seems might presumptuous…" Quinn muttered, shaking her head as she read the letter a third time. "And why Golden Crossing? That's directly north of here. Lambert is headed south east…"

"Golden Crossing is the only deep water ford to cross the bordering Serpentine River for hundreds of miles." Garen said, crossing his arms over his chest. "If Talon wishes to escape to the wilds of the Freljord, that's his quickest route. With the tribes still disputing the land, he'll be free to go if he reaches the border. Half my company rides there at once to secure the crossing now."

"It's a waste of time." Quinn shook her head as she folded up the dispatch and tucked it inside her journal, stuffing the entire thing back inside her coat.

"What was that?" Garen growled, his tone menacing. "Dare you repeat yourself, commoner?"

"You're wasting your time if you head to Golden Crossing!" Quinn spat back vehemently. "The Freljord is as hostile to intruders as it is easy to get lost in. It offers no refuge to those looking to escape Demacia's borders, and you're a fool if you think that this Noxian, whoever he is, is trying to escape through the Freljord. He won't try to cross the marshes of Kaladoun either, this is the only time of year they're more treacherous than normal. The ice is weakening with the warming temperatures and the snow masks all the horrors that are normally contained in the marshes."

"So what do you suggest we do?" Tunis sneered. "Surely you know better than us…"

"Enough, Tunis!" Garen snarled, glaring at the lieutenant. "Another outburst, and I will drag you back to the stockades myself, alright?" Garrier was defiant for a moment but he grunted and stormed away to tend to their horses. "Please, Miss Quinn, pardon my lieutenant's rudeness. This is highly irregular."

"Scouting in the wild is rarely regular, captain." Jerome chuckled silently, an amused smile following the lieutenant as he left.

Quinn pulled a map from her cloak; the heavy parchment was damp, but the map was intact and readable. Quinn spread it out on a crate after swiping the snow aside with her arm, holding it open as she scanned the area, her finger tracking across the locations that bordered Demacia. Her finger finally landed on the small village of Kalamanda.

"I suggest you head southeast towards Kalamanda." Quinn said, looking up at the Demacian Captain, doing her best to keep her tone even and her temper under control. "Short of running to the Demilitarized Zone at the Institute, that's definitely his best bet. He can move swiftly and still stay out of sight if he follows the east road, but remains within the forest. The trees and thick undergrowth will give him cover but not impede him any more than the regular snow." She traced her finger upwards to the twisting path that had been marked by a dotted line, picking its way through the Serpentine River delta between the Marshes of Kaladoun and the Howling Marsh to the north. "He could attempt to cross here, but I assume you've already assigned units to protect this path?" Garen opened his mouth and then shut it again, simply nodding. "It's much harder to follow this path safely due to the marshes. Deploy a few platoons of Scouts to monitor the outlying areas around the road and you should be able to completely cut him off to the north."

Jerome exhaled sharply, a smile playing over his lips, a twinkle in his eye. "I'm impressed, young lady, you seem well informed and far more capable than I originally guessed."

"You know it." Quinn said, grinning. "I grew up exploring and playing in these lands. I know the terrain well." She stood up and turned towards the perturbed Crownguard. "I suggest you move your troops along the east road and deploy checkpoints at even intervals with regular patrols at least five miles into the wilderness in either direction. With you and the Colonel's support we should be able to convince the king to rescind his dispatch and revise it. Lambert won't last more than another day if you ask me."

The captain was visibly nonplussed by Quinn's analysis. He grunted, shaking his head. "There are more than enough Noxain sympathizers with the Winter's Claw tribe of the Freljord to warrant his passage to the North. I'm sorry, but I can't rescind the king's orders. The dispatch stands, and I'm taking my troops north, girl. Colonel Jerome can do what he wants with his troops, but I have no men to spare from the Dauntless Vanguard." Garen spun and signaled his lieutenant, the dark skinned officer saluting promptly to Colonel Jerome before sneering at Quinn and falling in beside his captain. "Tunis, gather the men. We make for Golden Crossing at once."

"Yes, captain." The lieutenant took off at a run to rouse his men.

"Blasted fool." Quinn muttered under her breath. "Why won't you listen to reason?" Quinn grimaced after the captain, sighing, her shoulders sinking as she looked to Jerome. The older Colonel shrugged and offered her a consoling smile as he raised a hand over his head and circled it like a halo, whistling sharply. Several scouts appeared as if they had simply risen from the snow, drawing back hoods. Quinn looked around the group, her heart beat spiking with excitement as the scout officers closed around the group.

"Ignore him, young lady." Sergeant Major Perrywinkle said, shaking his head. "Garen has only broken orders once in his career: to save the prince. I imagine that when Jarvan left Demacia, Captain Crownguard blamed himself for bring dishonor to the prince." The sergeant major sighed and shook his head sadly. "He'll come around eventually."

"Thanks." Quinn said softly, watching as Garen disappeared in the distance.

"For now, I take my leave." The sergeant major said, saluting Quinn and then saluting the colonel. "I must return to my duties with the prince and Lady Shyvana at once."

"Of course, Sergeant Major." Colonel Jerome said, nodding. "Ride well, and travel swiftly."

"And you, Colonel." The sergeant major saluted again, heading away. He paused, turning back to face the tracker. "I don't know you well enough to speak for myself, but I think if Jarvan were here, he'd tell you to trust your instincts." Quinn nodded, absent mindedly. "Good luck, Quinn." He disappeared from the camp almost as swiftly as he had appeared, leaving Quinn speechless, her gaze following after him.

"For what it's worth, I think your analysis is spot on and damned brilliant." Jerome gestured to the map, tapping the spindly path that lead through the marshes. "While I can only spare so many men, I'll send a squad to our outpost there, and orders for the captain of the garrison to deploy his men along the road. There will be gaps, but it should stand up to this Lambert's attempts to evade our dragnet. At the very least, it'll dissuade him from the route."

"Thank you, sir." Quinn said, blushing slightly at his compliment.

"I'll send a messenger back to the king and see if he'll amend his dispatch, but I'm not sure it's worth it. A Noxian is a Noxian as far as the army is concerned." Jerome paused, frowning slightly. "I might be able to convince someone to dispatch some troops to the east road as well, but I doubt we'll be able to move anywhere near enough troops to cover the road as well as you suggested." He frowned, tapping the last small village before the border and Kalamanda beyond. "I know the captain of the garrison in this village… a man by the name of Kurfrey or something like that. I'll see if he can deploy some of his men to the road and dispatch patrols in his area. Nero, take your squad north to the Marshes and reinforce the Company there." Jerome scribbled a few words out onto a small sheaf of paper. He pulled out a stick of wax and gestured to another officer. "Helena, if you please?"

The one woman among the officers nodded, stepping forward and bowing her head. A few words of a magic incantation were uttered and flame danced to life in her cupped palms. "Here, sir."

"Thank you." Jerome said, letting the wax melt for a brief second before pressing it onto the paper. He turned the stick over and pressing his officer's seal into the wax. He held it for a second as the wax cooled rapidly in the frigid air. He handed the orders off the masked officer named Nero. Jerome bent over his paper and scrawled another brief message out. He took his time with the third message, writing more in a longer form before sealing the two. "Helena, have one of your men take this to the garrison in Prath, and deploy from there. Take horses down the east road and make set up your base of operation there. Telvey, sent a courier with this message to the Palace and see that it gets to the king, and if the prince is able, see that he knows about it. He might be able to sway the king's mind. Go with Helena to Prath down the east road, but deploy your forces along the way and sweep north as best you can."

"Very well, colonel." The two officers saluted, turning away to issue their orders.

"Hold a second." Jerome said, stopping the officers in their tracks as he turned to Quinn. "I can see the cogs turning in your brain, girl. Speak your mind."

"That should work…" Quinn said, frowning.

"You have another idea?" Jerome said, crossing his arms.

"Since when did you listen to me?" Quinn said with a grin as she glanced up from the map.

"Since you were the only person making any damned sense." Jerome grunted. "I'm all ears right now, Quinn. Any other ideas?"

"Well…" Quinn paused, frowning, looking up towards the sky, orienting her map as best she could based off the vague tinges of color in the clouds, doing her best to guess where the sun was.

"Here, this might make it a little easier." Jerome said with a grin, handing over a compass he had produced from a pouch on his belt.

"Perfect." Quinn said, accepting the compass. She set it atop the map's rough compass rose, orienting the map in the right direction.

"I'm impressed, you weren't far off." Jerome remarked subtly, again, a thin grin playing over his lips. "Where'd you learn that?"

"It comes from years of experience mostly." Quinn said with a smirk. "Something Val taught me to look for, too." She looked up towards the sky, frowning slightly before turning back to the map. She produced a crude pencil and used the edge of the compass as a ruler to sketch out a rough path. "If this was Lambert's last heading…" Quinn frowned. "There's nothing out here but rock formations, pine trees and rolling hills."

"Till you reach the marshes, yes." Jerome said, nodding. He paused, his finger tapping the map near the edges of the swap, a frown playing over his face. "He could try to follow the edge of the marshes to the south…"

"That's probably his only choice." Quinn said nodding slowly. "He's managed to avoid capture this far, so he's obviously competent. If you're able to box off the trail through the marshes and deploy forces along the east road, he'll have no other choice." The tracker indulged herself in a broad smile. "The rocks that close up to the marshes there will give Val and I the perfect position to take him down. Worst comes to worst, we flush 'em out and you close the trap, colonel."

"Very good." The colonel mused, nodding his head. "I only have one question: who is this Val you speak of? I only know one man by that name, and he died several months back…"

"Wait… you knew Valin Isaacs?" Quinn said, surprise clear on her face. The colonel's smile spread slightly before falling into a sullen mask. "I did, yes. We were in the same class at the Academy. When I heard he had died…"

"He died saving the prince, locked in battle with the fiercest dragon north of Mogron Pass." Quinn said solemnly. There was relief in the Colonel's face, a soft smile playing over his lips.

"I see." Jerome said, nodding his head. "Thank you. So if not him, then who…"

"My gauntlet if you please?" Quinn said, looking over to the scout that had restrained and shackled her to the tree before. The soldier looked to Jerome who nodded. The soldier pulled the gauntlet from from the small pile of her gear and tossed it to the tracker. She plucked it from the air and strapped it to her forearm.

"A hawk?" One of the officer murmured curiously. Quinn pressed a finger to her lips and listened for a distant screech, her smile growing when the sound she craved echoed off in the distance.

"Valor!" Quinn shouted to the sky. "To me!"

Silence filled the air for several long second before an ear splitting screech cast the entire scout camp into silence. Each of the officer looked up to the sky, watching a brilliant blue and grey eagle descend down towards them. One ducked and rolled away, lifting a crossbow to the sky, but Jerome raised a fist, causing the officer to freeze for a second before lowering his weapon with a frown. Murmurs of awe were already circulating through the troops as Valor circled once, his golden eyes scanning the men and women of the scout company. He screeched again and then dove towards Quinn, tucking in his wings as he dived over Quinn's shoulder impossibly fast, pulling up at the last second, banking and then gliding into the last climb to light upon Quinn's gauntlet. Valor cast a quick glance around the group before screeching sharply and then nuzzling the tracker's cheek, a smile now glowing upon her cheeks.

"Welcome back Val." Quinn said, scratching the eagle's chest. The bird cooed and shivered happily, flourishing his feathers before turning back to the stunned company of scouts. "Colonel Jerome, meet my partner, Valor." The eagle shifted its body slightly on his perch on Quinn's gauntlet to face the Colonel before sweeping an arm across his chest and bowing his head to the colonel.

"A Demacian Eagle?" Jerome breathed softly, his eyes wide in disbelief. "I thought they were extinct… and here you managed to train it?"

Valor flared his feathers and screeched at the officer. Jerome sunk back in surprise. "I… apologies." Jerome bowed to the bird, a smile of his face. "I must say, today is a number of firsts for me."

"Don't push it, Val." Quinn said derisively, glaring at the bird. Val's steeling all the glory, again. Valor glanced away, his feathers still ruffled, inflated, just like the birds sense of self importance. "Valor just doesn't like me referring to—" He screeched again. "—or people saying I trained him. He's a very cocky—ow! Valor!" The eagle had nipped her hand, glaring at her. Jerome laughed heartily, a few other scouts chuckled as well, murmurs of surprise and amazement passing through the ranks.

"Very well." Jerome said, grinning. "The rest of you are dismissed, you have your orders. Silence instantly descended upon the company as the officers saluted and then stepped backwards, disappearing into the swirling snow.

Quinn blinked twice, looking around; they had disappeared almost instantly. Valor was slightly more observant, his gaze following them up into the air and through the lower lying branches of the trees. Quinn looked up and caught the tail of a cloak disappearing over the top of a branch. She smiled thinly, looking down at the ground for traces that the scouts had ever been there. Her smile faltered in frustration for a moment; there weren't even track left where they had been standing. Damn they're good.

"The rest of your gear is yours to take back." Jerome said, gesturing to where Quinn's gear sat in a pile. "Is there anything you need?"

Quinn dug through her bag, frowning slightly. "Rations, if you have any to spare. A cloak maybe, some crossbow bolts, and your compass if you don't mind?"

"Done." Jerome said, tossing the compass to her. "Bring that compass back to me and I'll make sure you have a position waiting for you as well, Quinn." A smile played over his lips. "Valor too." The bird squawked up at him, though Quinn glared at him and the bird made a show of a grand bow again. "Stay safe, both of you." He turned to his company and whistled sharply, circling his hand over his head three times. "We move in five!"

"Show off." Quinn muttered to Valor, though she wore a smile. I'm finally finding my place.

It feels good.