Hi everyone, quick note: I ran into some issues with formatting this chapter, that I couldn't over come with the FF document editor as per my normal process. Please let me know if anything reads funny or seems off. Thanks!

Quinn sat at the edge of the scout camp, frowning as she watched as the scouts mobilized. They bustled to and fro, going about their business as they packed their gear. Quinn glanced down at the bedroll she had been given by one of Jerome's subordinates, the woman named Helena. Inside it contained food, a blanket, a change of clothes and a few other items that she would find useful. She had already changed into the clean, dry clothes she had been provided with and eaten a warm meal provided by the scouts. She had attempted to dry her belongings, but they had frozen solid already. Quinn had tucked them away in a box with some of the scouts encampment material, but she didn't know when or if she'd get them back. She sighed, there wasn't really anything important though; Quinn's belongs were all either at her home to the northeast or tucked away on her person.

For now, we wait for dark. Quinn paused, looking around again as the camp began to clear as scouts departed for their respective duties, each making their way from the confines of the camp. She looked to the sky; the snow had stopped. With the Demacian dragnet in place, there won't be anywhere for him to escape but to the east. Without the snow to cover his tracks, I can track him whenever I want. We'll depart under cover of darkness. If we move swiftly, we should be able to catch him before the sun rises.

Quinn sighed as she pulled out her journal and turned to a fresh page; she had a little time to burn before the sun set over the horizon and Jerome had indicated he would wake her as soon as the scouts were departing. However, Quinn didn't want to fall asleep just yet. Her mind was still far too busy, and until she cleared her mind of some of these thoughts, she would go mad. She drew her quill pen from the spine of the journal, sweeping her hand along the brilliant blue plumage to straighten the feather that had come from Valor, a gift that he had given her on her birthday a few years back. She smiled at the quill pen as she looked skyward. The sun was starting to clear the clouds above, but it had yet to burn through the cold and the cloud cover. Above, Valor sat perched on a branch, his head tucked into his wing as he slept, catching a few hours of sleep while he could; flying in the snow wore him out.

Quinn smiled to herself. You deserve the rest, friend. Rest well, while you can. She turned to her journal and forced herself to put pen to paper, scrawling out what details she had so she wouldn't forget them. She took a deep breath and began to write.

[I spoke with Prince Jarvan IV and Garen, Captain of the Dauntless Vanguard. Garen does not believe me-the dispatch will stand. I fear the Dauntless Vanguard will find nothing. The Prince has urged me to follow my instincts. Val and I leave tonight.[

Quinn paused, her eyes turning to back towards the camp and the tree she had been shackled too, frowning as she drug up memories of her last interactions with Jarvan, and her most recent interactions with the Crownguard Captain. She sighed, shaking her head, her pen had already started to wander, filling in the lines of the Captain's hardened gaze and distrustful mug. She smiled to herself as she scrawled out a few notes about the captain.

[Garen: Stubborn.]

She paused, and crossed the word out, recalling his lieutenant, Tunis, and the man's harsh words. She started again next to the word she had crossed out.

[By the book. Righteous intent. Has earned the utter devotion of his men. Val doesn't trust him.]

Quinn hesitated on the last line; Valor rarely trusted anyone. However, he had trusted Jarvan the first time they met, though it had taken him longer to get comfortable around the rest of his men. Quinn's pen had started to wander again, cutting a second imposing silhouette from the page before starting to fill in the details. She paused, looking down at the work her pen had done. Jarvan. She frowned to herself internally, trying to tell herself that it was a useless cause, but every time she did, her mind came back to him. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, remembering the many hours they had spent together, fighting, struggling, surviving through the wastes north of the Institute of War. As a young girl she had heard many a story of the prince, playing him up to be just that: the prince. Quinn's pen hovered over the paper next to his portrait. She frowned. He looked angry in her depiction. She raised her pen to scratch the picture out, but she stopped, instead scrawling out a brief note as a thin smile slid onto her face.

[He isn't what I expected…]

She didn't know what else to say about the Prince of Demacia. He was an odd fellow in both manner, attitude and conviction. He was driven by his past, not haunted, like most men who had demons stuffed away in their closets. An odd choice in women, too. Quinn smiled to herself, sighing at the fact that she had managed to drag Shyvana up, again. I don't dislike Shyvana… but I don't like her either.

Quinn sighed, shaking her head as she moved to the opposite page, turning back to the information at hand. She started to scribble out a copy of the map she had tucked into the earlier pages, but her attempts at a map soon turned artistic, and Quinn had to stop herself when she started adding little mountains and trees to the map, a small Valor soaring above the map, up and out of the page. She smiled as she ran her fingers over the page, along the thin feathers of the picture.

Quinn tucked the book back into her cloak and tucked her chin into the edge of the cloak, closing her eyes. She let her breathing slow as she dozed off, pulling the cloak tighter around her shoulders at the base of the tree.

Quinn sprinted along the massive tree branch, ducking below a low lying limb. Quinn watched as Valor hit an updraft, suddenly getting ripped higher into the air, tucking his wings as he rolled and banked so not to get too far ahead of his partner. Quinn smiled up at the Demacian eagle before jumping into the air, grabbing the hem of her cloak. The massive gust of air caught Quinn's cloak and she glided for a brief moment. She ducked one shoulder and he started to turn before she released the hem of her cloak. She landed on the branch and skidded along the icy branch, the soft leather of boots letting her follow the branch towards the trunk where it split.

Quinn kicked off the branch, tucking her knees into her chest as she leaped through crook in the trunk before she dropped onto another branch beyond the trunk. Quinn wobbled for a moment as she skidded along. She leaped at the end of the branch, extending her hands as she dropped over the edge of a brief but sharp drop as rocks rose up from the ground. Quinn hung in the air for several moments as she fell, her arms held away from her body as she closed her eyes.

It's just like when we were kids, Caleb. Quinn opened her eyes as trees started to rise up towards her. She extended her arm and caught a branch, her body immediately swung up, but her grip loosened and she slid away. Quinn tucked her knees into her chest as she spun, sticking another arm out as she caught a second branch. She twisted about and arced up through the air, looking for a route through the mess of trees and branches. Quinn extended an arm out to the side and caught the branch of another tree, spinning her about again as she caught a second branch as she stopped the spin. She caught the last branch that was directly in front of her with both hands as she flipped about, twirling through the air, up towards another tree trunk. She grabbed the trunk and braced the inside of her boots against the rough bark, slowing her descent. She slid onto a massive limb, grinding to a halt.

Quinn's heartbeat thundered in her ears, her breathing heavy and sharp. There was a massive smile on her face as she looked through the forest around her. Sharp spires of rock and massively old trees rose up in every direction, stretching as far as the eye could see till the colors had faded to an impenetrable field of grey, lost amid the skyline. Quinn slowed her breathing, looking up, picking Valor out among the sky as he circled, picking his way through the trees, one of his golden eyes glued to Quinn at all times. Her smile broadened as she watched the eagle wind through the branches and sharp rock formations. It's been so long since we were out in the open like this. It feels good to have the wind at my back and the freedom to run and jump as I please. Caleb and I owned these woods. This was our territory.

Quinn's eyes settled on a distant rock formation and her heart beat faster.

I… I recognize this place…

Quinn's feet carried her faster as she moved towards the rocks, skating over rock and limb as she descended down into small valley. It was surrounded by rocks and a wall of trees, almost completely sealed off to those who didn't know how to get in.

Quinn slid over on long branch before diving forward. The rope is still there! Quinn grabbed the old rope, sliding much faster than she expected. The rope began to heat up in her hands, but Quinn held on; the heat felt good on her chilled palms. Quinn dropped the last few feet and hit the ground harder than she expected, dropping to her knees. She looked around the small clearing; it was deathly still.

It's quiet… Painfully so.

Quinn stood up, looking around. The snow had dressed everything in white, but it was exactly the same as the last time she had come here. Valor landed heavily on her shoulder, rubbing his head against the crown on her hood. Quinn looked up at the bird and closed her eyes, reaching up to stroke his neck gently.

"Thanks, Val." Quinn murmured to herself more than the bird. "I suppose you recognize this place too, huh?"

Valor hooted softly. He dropped from her shoulder and swooped forward to a rock. He hopped about, squawking louder several times before snapping his beak at Quinn.

The tracker looked over at him, stepping forward, over the babbling brook that burbled beneath her feet. It dropped down from a spring high above amid the rocks, pouring into the gully before winding away into the forest. She pulled herself up onto the rock and crossed her legs, looking about. So little had changed in the last few years. There was a pang of grief pulling at her heart strings, but there was nothing she could do to stop it. Quinn struggled to control it for several seconds before she forced herself to pull out her journal. She turned to the pages she had drawn earlier and pulled out her pen. She made a brief note about Golden Crossing and then crossed it out again before looking down at her hand…. it was quivering.

Quinn shook her head and forced herself to start writing.

[No city born Demacian could ever find this place. An army couldn't pass here, perfect for an assassin slipping away.]

She drew a line from her note to the area she had pointed out to Colonel Jerome before along the edges of the marsh. Quinn looked over at Valor; he was hopping about hooting to himself over and over as he looked over the rocks; he obviously recognized the place. A sad smile played over Quinn's face as she ran a finger over the drawing of Valor.

[It's been a while since were this far from the city. Val feels at home.]

Quinn took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and let her memories take her back.

This was our favorite hiding spot. We came to play here hundreds of times as children.

Caleb and I...

…

During the off seasons, when the crops didn't need tending, Quinn and Caleb descended into the forest to enjoy themselves in their fantasies. They had dreamed of greatness, knights, both of them. When Demacian troops had come through the village where Quinn's mother and father were selling their vegetables, Quinn and Caleb had both been ecstatic. They loved seeing the Demacian Knights in all their glory, their shining armor and the gleaming gold and blue standards flapping in the wind. It was just as they had dreamed; some day they knew that they would both become knights.

The memory was still painfully sharp in her mind.

The young knight was short compared to his compatriots, and he wore the collar tabs of a corporal. He had greasy hair and mousy eyes that were dark and beady, and his skin was almost pasty, as if he spent too much time inside. Despite this, he was by far the least imposing of the knights, and when Quinn and Caleb had finally worked up the courage to approach him to ask about his sword, they were looking forward to an answer. The two children had a running bet about how long the sword would be, but neither had ever seen one up close. Now, they had that chance to find out.

"Excuse me, sir." Quinn tugged on his sleeve, stepping back and putting on a broad smile, doing her best impression of the eyes of the does and fawns she had seen in the forest. The soldier turned, looking over their heads before frowning and looking down at the two children who stood smiling expectantly up at him.

"Yes, what is it?" He said testily, posting one hand on his hip. Quinn and Caleb's eyes were drawn to the sword hanging on his belt, their smiles growing. "Well, what do you want?"

Quinn shook her head, freezing up in her tracks as she looked up at the man who glared down at her. "Uh… uh…"

Caleb stepped forward and put a hand on Quinn's shoulder, stepping in front of her. "Excuse me, sir. Can we see your sword?"

"Why would you little brats want to see my sword?" The man seemed impatient, and while Quinn tried to sink back, Caleb cleared his throat and offered the man a smile, a gap showing in his teeth. His golden eyes sparkled, his black hair gleaming brilliantly in the morning sun despite his face smudged with dirt.

"See, we want to be knights when we get older, sir!" Caleb said bravely, doing his best to keep his voice steady. "We just wanted to know how long the blade was, that's all!"

"Dirty, snot nosed brats." The man sneered, shaking his head. "Commoners like you will never find themselves among the social elite. We knights of Demacia are the best of the best. The elite. Both social, maritally and intellectually. Go back to tending your potatoes, I have no time to deal with your nonsense." He spun on his heel and marched away, disappearing into the crowd of soldiers.

"W-what?" Quinn's voice had been small and pained, as if she had been punched in the gut. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked up at the knight in disbelief. "But… I thought that…"

Caleb looked over at his sister and put on that infallibly crooked smile, grabbing her hands in his. "Come on, Quinn, don't let that stick in the mud get to you, alright?" He pulled out a handkerchief out of his pocket and held it out to her. "Here, blow your nose."

Quinn nodded once and then accepted the handkerchief and blew her nose. "Thanks, Caleb."

"It's fine. No problem at all!" Caleb announced, smiling. He glanced around and then his smile grew. "Wait here." Quinn frowned as Caleb turned and looked over the column of Demacian troops. One man was walking along the troops, his eyes on the Demacian Knights as he moved. Caleb ran up and stopped directly in front of him, posting his fists upon his hips in a manner similar to the younger, mousey soldier they had talked to before. The brown haired sergeant started when he looked down at the young man. He frowned, his emerald green eyes shining as he looked down at the child. His smile blossomed as he kneeled, sweeping his weapon aside as he dropped down to Caleb's level.

"And what what can I do for you, young man?" The man asked. Caleb looked at his collar; sergeant's rank tabs showed brilliantly in the morning sun.

"Can we see your sword, Sergeant?" Caleb asked definately. It caught the soldier by surprise, but he grinned and reached to his belt. He pulled it from its sheath and held it in both hands for the young boy to see. "Woah…" Caleb murmured.

"I have a son just a little older than you, young man." The sergeant said with a smile. "I know that look." Caleb gave him a massive grin. "It's pretty big, isn't it? Would you like to try holding it?"

"Sure! Hey Quinn, come look at this!" He turned and looked over his shoulder and froze, looking around. "Quinn? Hey Quinn, where'd you go?"

"Missing someone, young man?" The sergeant said, looking over his head. Caleb frowned but turned back to the Sergeant, smiling.

"Sorry mister, just looking for my sister." Caleb shook his head. "I can't hold it, I'm not big enough for a wepaon that size. But I just have one more question, sir. How long is your sword?"

The sergeant smiled and held the blade up next to Caleb. It was easily as tall as the child could reach. "It's much taller than you, little one. Now go find your sister, alright? Let her know how long it is, for me, alright?"

Caleb saluted proudly, grinning ear from ear. "Yes sir, sergeant… sergeant…" Caleb frowned.

"Sergeant Isaacs." The sergeant grinned as he scruffed up Caleb's hair. "Now go!"

Caleb nodded, taking off towards his parents stall. His mother was waiting for him and pointed towards the woods and the path that Quinn and Caleb had taken hundreds of times before.

The weather had been warm, and it had rained the night before. Mist had settled through the forest, and dew had dropped along everything. Quinn and Caleb knew the forest like their own backyard. They knew each and every route inside and out; it was a matter of instinct for them now from every time they had descended into the forest on one of their adventures.

Quinn had found her way into the gulley with little trouble, despite the heavy heart and the tears that had clouded her eyes. The gulley was their safe haven, both Caleb and Quinn had sought refuge there many times before. However, this time wasn't the like the others.

This time…

This time was going to change everything.

…

Quinn paused as she sat atop the rock, looking around the snow draped forest. It was deathly quiet. She took a few minutes and breathed deeply, letting her heart beat slow, clearing her mind of the pain she felt in her heart. She pulled out her journal and forced herself to concentrate on the pages within. She pulled out her quill pen and whetted the tip with her tongue as she brushed her fingers over a few of the pages. A tear dropped from her cheek, one Quinn hadn't even realized was there.

Sorry, Caleb, I know you wouldn't want me to be pouting over this place, but the memories still hurt.

Quinn took a deep breath as she circled the tear a few times, the blue ink washing into a faded circle. She let it dry for a moment before turning the page. She looked about and then let her pen wander for a few moments, forming the base of a face. It wasn't long till the clear picture of her brother came to shape on her pages. She paused, smiling as she ran her fingers through the drying ink, giving his face a bit more definition with the makeshift, smudged shadows. She turned the corner of his mouth up, giving him the crooked smile he had always worn, his messy hair turned up along the center from one of the many times he had run his hand through it. It had been many years, but his face, it was just like yesterday.

Quinn took a deep breath and started writing.

[We're here again, Caleb. The place I lost you. Everything is so quiet. It's as though this part of the woods died the day you did. I suppose I couldn't help but pass this way. When we were young and they told us we'd never be more than commoners, it didn't matter so long as we were together. We knew we could be more than what we were born to, and we had no fear. When I lost you, I learned to be afraid, and I forgot what it meant to dream of honor.

But I've remembered now, brother. Demacia is counting on Val and I to bring an assassin to justice. We may not make it, but I cannot turn back.

I'm doing this for you, Caleb.

Val's getting impatient. He's already scouting ahead. There's so much fire in his heart, he reminds me of you every day.]

Quinn took a deep breath as she closed her eyes, closed her journal and kissed it before she tucked it into her jacket. She pulled herself off the rocks and forced herself to take a deep breath.

No time to grieve now. We have our duty.

"Come on, Val." Quinn said softly. "Let's go. We have a job to do."

Valor screeched as he took to the air and a smile spread over Quinn's face as he rolled and looped about happily.

At least someone is happy to be here.

Valor screeched angrily.

What is it Val? Quinn watched as the eagle swooped about one of the taller stone formations in the area, a massive stone plinth that was wider than it was tall. Valor circled over the top of the stone, and he lighted upon the single massive pine tree that was perched at the top of the stone plateau. Huh, what'd you find up there?

Quinn looked about from her perch atop one of the trees, gauging her different routes through the maze of rocks and trees. A smile spread over her face as she took off in a sprint along the limb, leaping into the air as she grabbed the hem of her cloak in both hands. Quinn used the billowing garment to slow her descent as she landed and skidded along a tree branch, following the length before kicking off the limb and bouncing off the trunk as she sprinted along another branch that was just lower than the one she had come in on. She leaped off the branch, dropping onto a rocky outcropping. She dropped to her knees, skidding forward in the snow before she spun and sprinted forward along the rocky outcropping. She picked her way over the stumps and sharp juts of rock to the top of the rise before she leaped forward. There was a gap that she just barely cleared, but the ledge she was aiming for was far slicker than she had expected. She skidded along the slope, the snow, ice and mud giving way under her. Quinn dropped back onto her thigh and stuck the other leg forward, holding her arms away from herself to balance as she skated down towards the bottom. She kicked her foot out as she neared the bottom, launching herself up through the air. Quinn struck the far rocky wall hard, expelling the air from her lungs, but she held on to the stone despite the ache in the entire front of her body. She took a few brief moments to catch her breath before she started climbing up the slope. It took her several moments, but she reached the top and dragged herself onto the rocky plateau.

Okay, now I'm pushing it. Quinn collapsed onto her back at the top and caught her breath as an amused smile played over her face, her breathing ragged and steamy as she stared up into the pure grey sky. She waited several long moments before she rolled to the side. Her hand sunk down and Quinn felt her heart jump out of her chest as she opened her eyes and looked into a massive hole that looked as if it had appeared from nowhere.

"That… that was too close." Quinn muttered as she rolled the opposite way, getting to her feet. "What a hole…" She took a deep breath as she forced herself to calm down her racing heart. She kicked a rock off the edge of the plateau into the hole; there was the sound of a few echoing strikes as the rock bounced around the sinkhole as it descended out of earshot. She didn't hear it hit the bottom. Quinn frowned, looking around for a larger rock. There was a decent sized stone as big as her fist that she hefted once and then chucked into the sinkhole. There was a dull thud that came from not too far below. Quinn waited for the echo, but the sound didn't come. Thud? What?

Quinn crept towards the edge of the sinkhole, leaning out towards the edge, looking into the hole. A camp? Quinn froze, electricity running through her body. "This must be the Noxian encampment…" She looked around the edge of the sinkhole; a massive sill had been formed, dug out of the walls of the sinkhole to allow men to move around the edge. Quinn spied what looked like bunks, and there was a dark splotch on the largest section of the sill that she couldn't identify at first glance. "This must have been Lambert's camp…" Quinn murmured to herself, frowning slightly. "But if he's not here, that means we either passed him or he's already come and gone."

Valor hooted softly down at her, fluttering his wings slightly as he hopped along the branch he had perched on. He glided down from his perch to stand beside Quinn, looking into the hole. He hooted again, flapping his wings.

"I know the trail went cold, Val." Quinn muttered as she kneeled down, picking up another small rock and tossing it down the hole. It bounced a few times, the clatter echoing up from below. "It's really deep. But I don't see any where near enough bunks for all the men who attacked Jarvan."

Valor hooted again, striking her gently with the tip of his wing.

"What?" Quinn blinked a few times, looking over at the bird. "No, Valor, I don't know how to get into the hole. And to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure that I wanna go down there."

Valor squawked loudly this time, striking her harder with his wing.

"Don't tell me to go look for it, birdbrain!" Quinn growled back at the bird, giving him a cross gaze. "I'm already up here. I've got some rope. It might be difficult, but I can get down there from here." She leaned forward, gazing into the depths below. "Why don't you make yourself useful and go see if you can find an entrance?"

Valor hooted angrily once before hopping twice, diving off the edge and climbing back to his perch in the tree above.

"You already did?" Quinn blinked twice before shaking her head. Show off. "Make yourself useful, keep an eye out while I take a look around."

Valor screeched twice before shaking his head and spreading his wings as he jumped away and soared into the sky above.

"I know!" Quinn shouted after the eagle as he climbed into the sky above, starting to circle above. "Stupid bird." Quinn muttered as she pulled the length of rope from her pack and set about tying a knot around the massive tree trunk. "I already know that I need to check whether Lambert has come and gone. I'm not that stupid."

There was an angry squawk that echoed down from above as Quinn winced, casting an annoyed glare back over her shoulder. "Dumb bird." Quinn continued her muttering, but this time she remained quiet enough that Valor couldn't hear the grumbling.

Quinn paused above the sinkhole, perched on the rocky outcropping as she hung onto the pine tree's roots as it clung to the edge of the windswept cliff. Down below, there was definite signs that a number of people had been living in the camp below. There were bunks carved into the side of the cliff, dug out by someone to create a ring in the walls of the sinkhole. There was a single larger outcropping along the edge of the encampment cliff, the remains of seats and a campfire that had seen long hours of use in the middle of the circle. What looked like a makeshift kitchen had been also carved into the side of the cliff, and a single dark doorway ran upwards from across Quinn's perch. She leaned over the edge, already down on all fours as she peered into the depths. There was only darkness below, hundreds upon hundreds of feet below, the faintest glimmer of silver could be seen.

At least there is a bottom… Quinn frowned as she glanced around before she grabbed a sap covered branch. She dug a flint and tinder from her bag, taking it from within the rations that Colonel Jerome had supplied her with. She used her knife to strike the machined flint, lighting the end of the branch on fire. Despite the fact that the branch was still green, the sap flared up nicely. Quinn waved the branch about to make sure it wouldn't go out, and satisfied with her work, she tossed the limb over the edge and watched as it tumbled to the bottom of the sinkhole. It fell, and fell and fell before it finally bounced and disappeared someone down at the bottom. How deep is this damnable hole? Quinn swallowed, hard, shivering as she looked up at Valor as he swooped about above.

"Val, if anyone approaches, you let me know, alright?" Quinn waited till the eagle screeched back down at her.

Quinn took a deep breath as she tied a rope off to the tree trunk and gave it a mighty heave. The rope hummed for a brief moment, but it didn't budge an inch. Satisfied with her knot, Quinn tossed the rope over the edge of the cliff and then carefully slithered down the cliff into the sinkhole. She descended down the rope slowly, pausing as she hung above the dark depths below. She shivered, her mind suddenly tracking back to the memory of just how long it had taken the branch to fall to the bottom. Quinn closed her eyes for a moment and shook her head, clearing her mind. She opened her eyes, looking for the outcropping with the fire ring, and oriented herself to face that as best she could. Quinn began to swing, undulating her legs back and forth till she was arching back and forth over the sinkhole. Quinn waiting till she had enough height on one of the back swings and then put all of her energy into the last swing, letting go at the pinnacle of the next swing. She hung in the air for several long seconds before she hit the ground, hard, and rolled. Quinn had automatically tucked her legs into her chest as she rolled, but she had overestimated her jump and slammed into the wall.

Quinn groaned as she pulled herself to her feet, mumbling and rubbing the back of her neck as she looked around. Valor swooped down and perched upon one of the pine tree's roots above, screeching as his eyes scanned the inside of the camp for his companion.

"I'm alright, Val." Quinn called up as she waved at the bird. "Just a rough fall. Keep an eye out, alright?" Valor screeched and spread his wings and took to the sky again, swooping away.

Quinn began around the overhang, looking about the makeshift encampment. The ground was well worn by boot tracks, most of the different paths leading back and forth between the various bunks, the kitchen area and then the door that had been carved out of the wall. Quinn stopped in front of the door, it arced up through the ground, under a major shelf of rock. She couldn't see where the path went, it dipped for a moment before it rose back up towards the ground, and what Quinn could only assume was a hidden doorway that opened into the canyon's below.

Quinn paused at the entrance into the camp and kneeled, looking at the dirt. She ran her hands over the surface briefly, frowning as she pulled her hood back and ran a hand through her hair, shaking the sweat from her glove. She frowned, her eyes scanning the ground around her. "Lots of foot prints, all leading out." She rose to her feet and backed away, scanning the ground in a further radius. "There are no further tracks leading into the camp either. Looks like last time anyone was here, they were all leaving for their first, and final, stand against Jarvan and his men." Quinn paused, looking around, counting the number of bunks. "...Sixteen, seventeen, eighteen."

"There were easily twice that many in total, with both groups." Quinn mused, frowning. "But I suppose that explains why they came in two groups. Two patrols, each cycling in and out of their duties, swapping back and forth. One watches Shyvana and the Prince and patrols the area surrounding the camp while the other eats, gathers supplies, and rests. Surprisingly solid plan." Quinn looked about and then shrugged. "I'm finished here."

Quinn shook her head as she turned and headed towards the edge. She rounded the sill, looking into the depths below, following the ledge till she was as close to the rope as possible. She swallowed hard, looking down into depths below before closing her eyes and swallowing hard. She took two massive steps backwards and then sprinted forward leaping through the air. She wrapped her hands around the rope and slid a short ways, her palms heating up till she stopped sliding. There was only a short length of rope below as she glanced down. She shivered as she shook her head and began her ascension. When Quinn dragged herself onto the surface of the of the plateau, she breathed a sigh of relief. "I don't like the thought of getting caught down in there." She shivered and took a deep breath, holding it and finally exhaling heavily. She drug herself to her feet and looked about.

There's nothing as high as the plateau for hundreds of miles. Quinn frowned, looking back into the hole. No better place to make camp. Quinn shivered as a gust of wind swept over her, sending chills up and down her spine. She sighed, shaking her head as she slid around the back of the tree and laid out her bed roll, folding it in half once before sitting down on top of it. She shook her blanket out and wrapped it around her shoulders, tucking her knees into her chest as she sunk back into a small depression of the trees roots. He would have to be miles away to get me within his sight line. I should be safe here. Valor dropped down next to her, bouncing along the ground for several hops before coming to a stop in front of Quinn. He cocked his head from side to side before finally hooting softly.

"Thanks, Val." Quinn said softly, struggling to smother a yawn. "You know what we have to do, right?" The eagle nodded his head once, blinking his golden eyes twice as they trained in on the tracker. "Good. I don't look forward to another fight, but I have no choice." A smile broke onto her face. "And this time, we have the advantage. So we'll do it. We'll definitely win this time." She reached out and stroked Valor's downy cheek. The eagle shivered once before he rubbed his head against her hand, hooting softly. "I know, I know." Quinn said, sinking back against the tree, sighing heavily. "I know I need some rest if I try to fight him. I'm going to take a nap in a moment." Valor hooted again. "I just need a take care of a few things first, alright?"

Valor hooted softly, his golden eyes trained on her for several long moments before he spread his wings and swooped upwards towards the tree above her. She heard him land in the limbs above, somewhere out of sight. Quinn took a deep breath as she pulled out her journal and opened to a blank page at the end of the small book. She carefully pulled a page free of the bindings, unfolding the sheet of paper as she pulled her quill pen out. Quinn took a deep breath and began writing in the cleanest scrawl she could manage in the adverse conditions.

[Honorable Prince Jarvan IV,

I've tracked the assassin to what I assume to be his camp. It's well-hidden among the trees and rocks and only really visible from above. I'm certain Garen's army would have marched past it.

When the sun sets, Val will strike from the dark. I don't know how well-equipped the target is, but if we catch him off guard, I'll be able to take him down before he sees me. But if I don't return, please tell my family to forgive me and that I wasn't alone. I have Valor at my side.

This man must be brought to justice.

In the King's name,

Quinn & Valor]

Quinn read over the message once and frowned.

It's impersonal, but if Jarvan is still incapacitated then it will likely end up with the king. She shivered but sighed. It will have to do. Hopefully it will get to Jarvan, or even Shyvana. Quinn paused, her hand poised over the letters she had scrawled across the paper. She hadn't even mentioned Lambert's name, much less the details of her plan. Jerome said it wouldn't help me, knowing Lambert's name. For now, he remains a nameless Noxian Assassin. Quinn took a deep breath and closed her eyes, flicking her journal closed and tucking it into her cloak, next to her heart. She whistled quietly and waited for the flutter of wings. The sound of feathers in the wind was soft and reassuring in her ears as the eagle swept down in front of her. Quinn folded the letter again and held it out to Valor, who simply glanced down at it once before looking back up the tracker with brilliant golden eyes.

Quinn sighed. "Don't give me that look. You know as well as I do that he's not going to move till nightfall." Valor cocked his head from side to side before looking down at the letter once more. "I'll wait till you get back to nap, alright? Take this to Jarvan or Shyvana if he's still out." The bird hooted snappily at her, his tone sharp about the dragoness. "I know, I know. But she's a friend now, yes? So be polite at the very least."

Valor snapped his beak at her once before grabbing the letter and hopping away, shaking his head slightly. He hopped to the edge of the plateau before diving over the edge and disappearing for several long moments before rising up in the distance

Fly swift, my friend, for tonight we hunt.