Yeah hi, it's me and I'm actually not dead haha. I haven't been around for... actual years now.
Urgh bad me. But anyway I fancied finishing this chapter. For anyone following me to finish my Soul Eater story. I don't know. I'd like to say yes but just got back into writing and wanted to write this. So...I did.
Hope you enjoy the newest chapter.
The walk out of the forest was in silence.
Katarina felt the soldier behind her as she walked along, her steps light against the rocky road underfoot. Flicks of soil and dirt clung to her boots which made her frown. But for now she ignored it as she pressed on with her target. They hadn't spoken a word to each other since the forest, the assassin sighed out to herself. This was becoming tiresome, she knew another long day was ahead of her, and what she had not mentioned to Riven was how tired she felt, her muscles were sore and her joints were stiff. She ached to twist her body to try and stretch her uncomfortable flesh and tissue, a day of riding and sleeping outside was not something she often had to do. Preferring the comfort of an inn, or at least a decent outside shelter. Last night was just... a dismal affair. Her head was heavy and her eyes felt sore. She did not sleep well.
But to show weakness was not acceptable in Noxus, to show any pain or whine like a child was beneath all Noxian's, and especially her. So she played it off as if she was perfectly fine, whether Riven knew that she was not exactly in peak condition or simply didn't bother thinking about her was a thought that flitted across her mind before it was quickly banished. Riven was a fellow Noxian as well as a woman of honour. She would not address any weakness if Katarina showed it, if she still knew her friend at all she guessed Riven would pretend she couldn't see any such weakness and silently help. Just like the redhead had seen her do countless times with the men at her side, both men and women who served with her and under her. Strength as a whole, improve the whole unit and together they were strong. A belief Katarina saw but didn't wholly understand.
She listened to the soft footfalls of the woman behind her as they walked, but neither of them said a word, it was starting to grow awkward. Katarina raised a hand under the travelling cloak she now wore and glided her fingers over the pommel of a knife, the cool metal that her skin drifted over calmed her, clearing her mind. Focusing her thoughts. She glanced backward to her companion, Riven was just chewing the last remnants of her jerky, the material from her cloak pulled down just low enough, she hadn't spotted Katarina Du Couteau looking back at her however, as her gaze was apparently off into the distance. Her head angled off to the left, her eyes scanning the horizon. The assassin swerved her gaze around to see what Riven was looking at. The mountains, the great landmasses reaching high up into the sky, majestic forms towering over everything else, almost seeming to be pulled up into the sky...
However Katarina quickly grew bored of looking, these mountains that were so far away seemed soft and pleasant, quiet and reserved, a peaceful view. Her thoughts drifted back a very different horizon she had often gazed at. The great, wide, sharp landscape of their shared home. Noxus. A powerful structure that jutted out from the wilderness. A cityscape moulded by human hands, to conquer and rule the wilds. It was the Noxus right and the Noxian way. A powerful stronghold where anyone could rise to power if they could show they had the strength... and the will to keep it. The labyrinth of a city had been expanded many times to make room for the ever expanding populace, every village and tribe that was conquered by the army of Noxus was not beaten and destroyed, nay, they were granted the honour of joining the city itself. The streets were filled with many different variants of the people that were once counted as enemies. The very doctrine that was labelled as savage and vicious they now flock to and embrace.
That was just the outskirts, the very centre of the city, the great palace of the citadel itself, where the generals of the army were housed and held council. Katarina lived there herself, able to live in all the decadence she could ever wish for. Katarina scowled at the thought, that lifestyle was not for her. The comfortable halls of her 'home' was not really what she considered a home. A base maybe, a place to train, yes. A home? No. She almost laughed to herself as there was a certain...serpent who most certainly enjoyed the pampered lifestyle and court manipulations of her home. A certain someone she preferred not to keep company with, not just because of her little...accident a little while ago.
Katarina decided to pull her mind away from her inner memories and thoughts, instead focusing on the present she was dealing with right now.
"Do you remember it?" She suddenly spoke, her voice sounding different in her ears as she broke the serene dreamlike state they had so far been walking in.
"Hmm...?" The swordswoman mumbled out to her, perhaps not quite hearing or understanding her question. She supposed she did ask something out of the blue. Katarina slowed her steps so as to walk next to the exile rather than ahead of her as she was used to.
"Do you remember what it was like not to have to wonder endlessly?" She probed Riven. Feeling her voice sharp as she pressed for an answer.
"What?" Riven spoke up, her voice sounded honestly curious with what the assassin was wanting from her. Katarina's features hardened as she had to explain herself. Riven's head glanced her way as she was busy pulling her cloak back up to hide her face. The redhead sighed as she had to stop herself from becoming irritated with the swordswoman.
"Our home. Do you remember it?" She prodded at her, forcing her to think of her old memories, trying to nudge her out of her silence and her quiet state. Looking for cracks and weaknesses in the mental walls Riven had raised in her mind. The exile stared back out toward the horizon, yet her eyes were not focusing on the peaceful distant mountains. She pulled her gaze away, as if the view was no longer calming... instead replaced by a shot of anger as her lips narrowed and the edge of her mouth angled downwards ever so slightly. Her eyes lost their distant look as they instead grew sharp and fierce. Good. The assassin had to force down a grin as she appeared to touch a weak spot in her defences.
"I remember it..." Riven spoke, her words had lost their lightness, replaced by jagged breaths and edged words, forced from her lips as if they were poison. The air had turned tense, the light from the morning sun was no longer welcoming and warming, a cold aura hung in the air around the pair of them. Something a normal person would have avoided at all costs, yet Katarina wanted this, she wanted a reaction, was looking to prod at the silent figure and make her fall back into the way she used to be. To forsake this disgusting act and bring back Riven, the soldier of Noxus. Not the silent weak exile.
Katarina wanted an answer, a statement, anything out of the once great swordswoman. Yet that was all she said, Katarina noted the slight tension in the stance, the fingers tighten their grip, her eyes caught the details of the once calm figure walking in the dawning sun.
"And...?" The fiery red head tried once more to draw out an answer, the assassin bore a small smile as she could almost see the cracks in those mental walls of Riven's. Katarina knew there was no door to the inner sanctum of the exile... so she would make one. Her eyes narrowed as she examined the woman who still didn't turn toward her. Yet to her slight aggravation Riven simply let out a sigh, her muscles relaxed as if she had simply let whatever was bothering her pass her by. As if washing dirt from her skin, she let it simply fall from her. Riven allowed the memory to pass her thoughts until they were no more. Katarina cursed to herself as she watched Riven appear to patch over the cracks in her mental armour as if they didn't even exist. No... they did exist, Katarina saw them, they were there. Noxus was still... important to her. In what way and in what meaning she could not say. She couldn't even glean such a simple piece of information from her.
"Nothing..." Riven spoke in an even tone, almost monotone. No reaction. At that Katarina lost her smile.
"Tch..." Katarina spat out under her breath, now it was her turn to tighten her fist. The way Riven so calmly seemed to let go, to just pass the memory by. There was a certain strength in that action, yet to Katarina... it was frustrating. She wanted to yell out to her, to scream and shout at her that she is simply running away. Being a coward. But Katarina being Katarina, she never lost her cool. She bit back the words and plastered her smile back on her face, the mask once again across her features, once more hating to wear such a mask around her once friend. The red head slowed her steps as she thought on what to do, the swordswoman began to step on ahead. Without a word, Riven walked on, alone in her world and her thoughts. Katarina couldn't help but think how long she had done this, she now felt like an outsider, an intruder into Riven's realm, looking inward but no longer part of her life. Now with Riven no longer able to see her Katarina let her eyes drop to the floor, she didn't even know where they were going.
"Are you ok?" A voice spoke. Katarina blinked and swerved her gaze back up. Ahead of her was her travelling companion, turned back to her, she had ceased her walking. For barely a second Katarina's face had registered surprise at the question.
"Hmph... of course I am. What kind of question is that?" Katarina automatically responded. Her usual reaction, the usual Noxian response, there is no weakness. There is only strength. To her she was a single entity and she was never weak.
An unknown emotion passed over Riven's eyes as she shrugged and turned once more to the road. A shot of something akin to anger passed through Katarina, but not anger toward the swordswoman, toward herself. Had she shown the slightest bit of weakness toward Riven? Had she seen any of her true emotions? Her true thoughts? As if her body sought to betray her, to relax around Riven and tell her all of her inner worries. What a stupid course of action. Her heart was far too involved in all of this, she knew it, but after all it was her heart and not her head that was keeping her here. Her head was cold and sharp, something she knew and relied on, locking her heart away. However, Riven had power over her heart, she always had, an actual friend she could trust, could rely on, to simply talk to. Her head had told her countless times that this was a ridiculous course of action, she was cradling a weakness, keeping such a relationship would only destroy her. Yet she didn't care, her heart yearned for this weakness.
Almost as if she hadn't quite realised it until now. That was true... Riven had so much power over her... Katarina gritted her teeth. What was she doing? She had finally lost this weakness, no one and nothing could touch her, harm her. She was free to do what she wanted. She was a singular entity and always would be.
Katarina raised a hand, her fingers traced over the grip to her knife. Her face hardened and her eyes narrowed, a dark threat lay within. Slowly and silently she unsheathed her weapon. Lowering it to her side, her breathing even as she quickened her pace to catch up to the unsuspecting swordswoman. She would end her duty right now, end this useless waste of time and cut off her only weakness. She would slice into the fool before her, the fool who wasn't watching her back. It would be so easy. To wipe this frail existence off the face of the planet.
Yet just as Katarina caught up to the silent swordswoman a pain shot through her heart, Katarina grunted, she had to fulfil this mission, to end it all and be done with it. She should... she had to. Riven knew her, knew her inner thoughts, her weaknesses. Despicable. She shouldn't stand for it, no assassin should stand for it, her father would never stand for it, Noxus would never stand for it... Yet once more Katarina felt a sharp stab of emotional pain rip through her heart, as if it was crying out to her to stop. Not to harm her friend...
Her muscles lost their strength, her face lost the look of cold unfeeling murder. She gasped silently just behind the unknowing exile, her knife hand dropped to her side, her fingers nearly let go of the blade. Katarina trembled, she couldn't do it! Yet something inside her was elated, this may be a weakness... but it was her weakness. She could never get rid of it... of her. Katarina was selfish, she didn't claim by any lofty standard to be anything other, she knew what she wanted and she wanted to keep what she liked. And Riven... was hers. The assassin quickly placed her knife away, Riven was hers... she was Katarina's to keep. Her weakness, her only weakness. Katarina knew her heart was fully controlling her, her emotions running wild, yet she vowed to herself that she would get Riven back, get the exile back to the Riven that lay in her memories.
Ahead of her Riven walked ever onwards, unknowing of the struggle that had just ended behind her, with the high sun just behind them they walked onwards. Katarina once more stepped off and followed her silent friend. Even if Riven no longer considered her a friend, she would always be hers.
Movement... movement quickly followed by pain. What was that? A groan sounded out as the dull ache of pain flushed over her senses. The pain was intense, yet felt duller, as if she had the wound happen awhile ago. A wave of sickness bubbled in her gut but she ignored it, she did not feel weakness, did not feel weak. She did not allow her body to be weak. Never. She opened her eyes... or... one eye. Now a wave of panic coursed through her, was she... was she blind?! No, no, calm down... she needed to calm down. She could still see with one eye. But now that she had shocked herself awake she now knew where the wave of pain came from, it was centred around her other eye. The one she now thought may have been blinded, she could not open it, plus it hurt like hell. As if someone had gouged out her eye, leaving a hollow bleeding crevice. The vision through her good eye was blurry, watery and she struggled to focus. She gritted her teeth as if she was forcing her body to work, ordering it to comply. Low light filled her senses, she managed to make out blurred shapes as her vision slowly began to focus.
"Are you ok?" A voice spoke, she moved her head to her side, whoever had spoke was on her blinded side, so she was forced to compensate. The shape of a woman was before her, she still could not make out the face but the general shape was there. A female face in what looked like bulky clothes... no... it was armour, with bright white hair. She stared at that bright hair, pure white like the snow. A Freljordian? She blinked with her good eye. The pain on the side of her face was excruciating but she made no move to voice it or concern whoever it was with her. She masked it behind her facade. "Can you hear me?" The voice spoke again, now she was able to see the blurred woman more clearly, this was no Freljordian, her white hair was a contrast to her lightly tanned skin and earthy brown eyes, but the armour was clear... Noxian.
Something inside her relaxed slightly, this was a Noxian, but even so, her guard didn't drop. It never did.
The strange woman saw that she was looking right at her, the wounded woman's good eye examining her as she sat there next to the bed. Memories started to come back to her now, she had fulfilled her mission, the one she had been tasked with, the one she should have done from the start. The target she nearly let go in favour of, in her opinion, a higher value target. For her error she had been wounded, badly. She moaned as she raised a hand to her face, feeling the source of the pain. Her fingers met with a bandage wrapped over her face and eye.
"Easy now..." The stranger once again spoke, her voice was soft yet not quite comforting, as if this was not quite her role. The white haired woman raised up and plucked the hand away from the bandage, placing it down on the bed. "You had lost quite a bit of blood before we found you. I bandaged you up, I don't who you are but I know an assassin of Noxus when I see one." The wounded woman finally realised she was lying on a cot, blankets over her to keep her warm, there was a chill in the air which bit into her bare skin. Eying her surroundings she found she was in a tent, where exactly that was she couldn't say. But the material of the entrance flapped about viciously in the wind. She smiled up darkly at her rescuer.
"You assume much Noxian." She tested her. At this the swordswoman only smiled back and leant back on her chair.
"Perhaps..." She responded and folded her arms in front of her chest. "I'm no doctor but that wound looked bad, it might scar." Her smile dropped as she explained. The patient's own smile vanished from her face to be replaced by a grim determination.
"Good... something to remind me of my mistake..." She expected the woman to ask her of what she meant. But instead the white haired woman simply rose up from her seat, her armour clinking heavily as she moved.
"You should rest, I'll be back later." With that the Noxian woman moved away. Out of the tent and into the fierce winds of the outside world.
Katarina examined her memories, that was the very first time she had laid eyes on Riven. A small time soldier, a nobody, just another foot soldier, cannon fodder. She recalled with a warm smile how she had thought of her as stupid, Riven, a Noxian helping her with her wounds. She should have been left to die. She was weak in her actions and had paid the price, she didn't deserve help, didn't deserve to be alive. However she wasn't going to refuse the help. Riven had been right of course, she was a Noxian assassin, and to Riven, a Noxian aids their own. A view that made perfect sense to her, just perhaps not to all Noxians.
Katarina caught up to Riven's pace now and walked beside her, along the dusty road that was laid out before them. Nothing was said between them. They walked onwards, Katarina examined further along the road, it travelled off into the distance as far as the eye could see. The speed was slow enough so that she could keep up but Katarina was definitely not looking forward to doing this all day.
"Where are we going?" Katarina spoke up. This time not looking for an angle or an edge, just a simple question. She heard a rustle as Riven's head turned to her just for a second.
"Don't know..." She answered. Now Katarina turned her own gaze up to the slightly taller swordswoman.
"Do you even know where we are?" She quipped back at her, unable to hide the slight bite in her voice. Riven this time didn't look at her.
"Nope." She once more answered flatly, as if she really didn't care at all. The assassin's brow lowered as she turned back to the road. Infuriating...
Katarina in fact knew where they were, the village that Riven had fled from was in the opposite direction, a small settlement that was just outside the border of Demacia. One of the many settlements that had been brought into the conflict, such as Kalamanda for example. This one was hardly worth noting but they certainly remember Noxus marching on them, wishing to bring them into Noxus territory, some would say they should feel honoured, Katarina herself couldn't have cared less. But to those people, Noxus was a hated enemy, it was years ago of course this happened but to the village it was probably something burned into their memories, a vivid memory of slaughter, a testament of strength. But to Noxus... it was Tuesday. A battle pushing into Demacian territory. There were many such villages and many such battles, Riven probably didn't know most of them or like most Noxians of the time, paid little heed to the small time battles.
Riven never told her that she had fled that village, that the village had chased her out simply on the misguided belief that she was a Noxian soldier. An image that would terrify the small number of inhabitants All they know of Noxus was the army that nearly razed their village to the ground. Katarina had learned this titbit of information from the people who went about their daily lives in that small pathetic excuse for a settlement. How they had chased off a lone scout of Noxus, a possible forward force that even now was bringing a contingent from Demacia to investigate the matter. Phh... of all the stupid paranoid ideas.
That just meant that Riven would not be heading back that way any time soon. Good. That suited Katarina just fine. What didn't suit her however, was the way they were going now.
They were heading west now, further away from Noxian territory and heading closer to Demacian allied towns. If they were not welcome in that village Katarina was certain they would not be welcome in anything further up. She needed a way to turn this mule around, stubborn as she was.
However for now she simply walked with her, her new silent companion on her trip to nowhere.
Riven tried several times to just let her mind wander, let her feet take her to where she needed to go and allow her mind to almost sleep. Yet with this new presence at her side that seemed impossible, although at least the poking questions appeared to have abated for now. All morning she asked her inane questions that Riven didn't really want to answer. She allowed herself the barest of replies, just for her once friend at least. Her own personal assassin masquerading as her new shadow.
The only sound that could be heard was the trudging of feet as they carried on down the dusty road, Riven didn't care where they were going, as long as it was somewhere. And away from whatever was behind her. That was the limit of how much she cared. She didn't think of long term, she couldn't afford to, for now she just needed to get away, if she could find a place to settle down... then that would be perfect. For now however, she simply carried on. Every time she had tried to settle down in a quiet village or town that had nothing to do with either side someone had found her, a dignitary wanting her for some cause or side that she didn't care about. So for now she just... had to be on the move.
Mind you... she was on the move when this one had found her. Riven inwardly laughed, maybe she was just bad at hiding.
The hours passed by as the sun rolled ever onwards overhead, the day passing as her legs simply walked onwards, her marching rate familiar and almost calming, she was calmest when she was moving. She wasn't entirely sure if her assassin felt the same though, surely all this walking was something new to Katarina. She was tempted to ask how she was doing but felt that it might come out as a jab so stayed silent instead.
Suddenly up ahead Riven saw a shape in the distance, another figure on this lonely road. It was too large to be a man...she narrowed her eyes to try and pick out the shape... a cart! She could just about see a horse and cart, the shapes blurry but there. The slow gait of the powerful beast, a stocky sort, muscles pulling the heavy vehicle behind it. The shape of a man atop a wooden cart as he bounded and bounced along the road. Riven felt herself tense up, but tried to force herself to keep calm, she was just another traveller on this road, it's exactly why she had so often used the roads, trying to hide in plain sight. Just another wanderer of the fields. Although it was rare that she saw anyone on the roads, yet every time she saw someone she couldn't stop herself from tensing.
The cart came closer now, she could hear the hooves of the great beast and the squeaky wheels of the little cart, the shake of the horse's mane as it plodded along. Riven tried to look away and ignore the cart, she let her eyes wander instead to the upcoming turns in the road. A junction, three other possible routes to take. She and Katarina slowed to a stop before the turns in the road, just the same time as the horse and cart up ahead did. The thud of the last hoof hitting the floor and kicking up a waft of dust into the midday air. The slight breeze picking up the dirt and letting it fly into the gloriously blue clear sky.
Riven's eyes darted between the routes ahead of her, deciding which one would be best. Not that it really mattered, any would do really. Just as she was about to turn to the left, to follow the road with the mountains way in the distance... a voice spoke out in greeting.
"Good afternoon!" The gruff voice sounded out in the quiet of the afternoon. "Don't see many travellers out nowadays." He continued on with his conversation. The man was getting on a bit, possibly the wrong side of sixty with his grey hair and full beard, but his voice sounded cheerful even with the roughness around the edges. Riven turned to him, eying him suspiciously, she didn't want to talk with anyone, certainly not another traveller on the road. She attempted to blank him entirely and continue her journey.
"Good afternoon!" A response, a female voice responded. It was light and airy, not a hint of the danger that Riven knew lurked beneath. Riven's head twisted toward her companion in actual surprise. Katarina was wearing a similar travelling cloak to her, hiding all of those daggers beneath, her hair hung loose over her scar and there was a sweet and innocent looking smile on her face. That woman... looked nothing like Katarina. Riven couldn't help but let her jaw drop in slight shock of the change in body language, she held herself inward, her stance changed to one of nervous energy, she waved energetically back at the old man.
"Oh kind sir! We lost our horses a while back... they ran off..." She sniffed as she said so, actually... sniffed. Riven was taken aback... what was this? "It was my fault..." She looked down guiltily at her confession. Her fingers intertwining as if she honestly felt bad. Riven consciously shut her jaw and stared up at the old man. His face showed full of pity for Katarina... oh god. Riven wanted to smack her forehead and sigh. He was actually buying this... although then again... why wouldn't he? She was an actor in a play, and Katarina knew her part well... just how many masks did she have? How many layers existed within her, Riven actually started to doubt whether she even knew her friend at all.
"Oh that is just terrible..." The old man spoke kindly to her, he smiled warmly at the pair of them in their 'obvious' distress. Riven ducked her head lower and whispered to her friend.
"Kat... what are you doing?" But Katarina didn't react... had she not heard her?
"I'm heading to Grecklefell with my goods." He motioned with his head toward the opposite route Riven had chosen. "If you two ladies would like, you could hitch a lift with me. I would hate to think of two such lovely ladies lost out here in the wild." He offered, his voice proud and strong. As if he was indeed rescuing fair maidens from the dangers of the wilderness. Riven once again wanted to groan, this was not what she wanted, quite the opposite of wanting to be alone. Can't Katarina see that? At his words the assassin turned her head up, her face beaming a full sickly sweet smile toward the kindly old man.
"Really? Wow! Thank you so, so much!" She shouted out to the gentlemen. Riven rolled her eyes, he had no idea just who or what he had invited to share his cart with. With this Katarina finally turned toward Riven, her poisoned sweetness melted away for a second as Riven saw a mocking grin form. The swordswoman shivered and felt goose bumps rise up along the back of her neck at that look. Riven knew that wasn't aimed at her, but at how easily she was manipulating this situation. Riven was glad at least she wasn't this gullible... Katarina had never done this to her... or so she hoped. She inwardly laughed at that, after all, how could she tell?
"C'mon sis!" Katarina's voice rose in pitch once more, playing her performance for her audience. Wait... what?!
"Wha-?" Was all Riven could say before her arm was gripped and she was dragged forward, her body jerking from the sudden movement. She was half pulled half dragged across the dusty road and over to the empty side of the cart.
The man watched them move across, his head following them as they darted forward. He took a hand off the reins and patted the empty space on his cart, inviting them up, his hand making a light tapping sound as if calling a pet. Riven was not impressed by the patronizing action, even if it wasn't deliberate. But Katarina of course ignored it and instead climbed aboard the cart, the wood tipping ever so slightly at the new weight. The assassin's fingers never left the grip of Riven's cloak covered arm however as she had to rush to quickly step on with her lest she actually be pulled into the vehicle, her movements were awkward as Kararina half pulled her onto the seat with her. She plopped herself down on the seat next to her 'sister', once they were both on the old man flicked his reins and the steed tussled it's powerful body and once again started to move, it's legs took the cart to the left and down the chosen route. The opposite way that Riven had chosen, but she guessed that didn't really matter, as long as she was travelling.
The squeak of the wheels and the plodding heavy hoofs of the horse a new sound to their travels, a sound that was almost relaxing yet Riven felt a tad uncomfortable not walking. It was all she had done for so long.
"So..." The man started with a drawl. No... please no small talk. Riven hoped in her head. But of course it would happen... "Where are you two ladies off to?" Riven glanced over to the gentleman but thankfully she didn't have to partake, as Katarina leaned over, blocking Riven out of the conversation and answered him.
"We were off to Grecklefell too! I'm so happy you found us!" She exclaimed in a tone that was just far too happy and hyper, it made Riven cringe in her seat. The older male laughed and slapped his thigh with a hand.
"Darn lucky I say, somebody is watching out for you for sure." The assassin giggled next to her and nodded her head.
"I hope so. We need a bit of luck don't we sis?" She turned her head toward Riven now, but Riven didn't know what to say at all in this scenario... so she just nodded her head.
"Your sister's a quiet one ain't she?" He spoke up, directing his question at Katarina. The red head turned back to the male at her other side.
"Oh don't worry she is always like this. You really need to speak up more y'know." She made a playful jab at her ribs... or at least it looked playful, Riven actually took a real jab in the ribs. A slight pain flared in her side but it was nothing that would bother her.
"Oh... err... yes, thank you for the lift." She managed to get out, feeling awkward. Not wanting to be a part in this charade of Katarina's. This 'game' was not her forte, she was a soldier... not an assassin. Tricks and ploys were not second nature to her, but the ways of honour and battles were. This deceit was not in her comfort zone.
"You have a lovely voice, just like your sister. You really should speak up more." He complimented her. Riven almost choked right there. She couldn't really answer that as she actually felt a slight blush form, she wasn't used to compliments, she wasn't used to being in uncomfortable situations like this, and most of all she wasn't ever expecting to be compared to Katarina! Riven didn't speak again and she simply turned her head to look at the scenery instead.
"I'm sorry I haven't even introduced myself!" The older male spoke up now, his voice light and so polite. But Riven didn't look back, she simply stared out at the landscape, her hands rested on her blade that she had laid on her thighs. Her weapon that was never far away, the weight of the burden she always carried with her. She could never let it go, as if the worries and hopes of her mind were given form. She clutched it to her like a precious memory. "The name's Barry. A simple farmer round these parts." Riven didn't react to his words, didn't look round at him. "And you are?" He asked of the pair. At that Riven suddenly felt an arm snake around hers and hold her, The soldier felt like pulling away from the touch... but she was sure that would look suspicious... so she inwardly sighed and simply allowed Katarina to cling to her. Mentally taking note of all this to ask of her later on. She was being taken along on this game of the assassin's, she knew it but until something happened that would directly contravene what she wanted to do... she guessed she would just go along with it. For now...
"I'm Jade and this is Ruby." Katarina responded quickly and coolly, right off the bat. No hesitation. When had she come up with that? Knowing the assassin she had probably come up with them before they even got on the cart... she was always two steps ahead of everything in her games. Riven tensed but quickly forced herself to relax.
"Lovely names to go with two lovely women." He spoke out, his voice drooling with obvious flirtation. Perverted old man. However Riven still didn't look back around, she tried to lose herself in the scenery. She wanted to block out this conversation, this back and forth and simply watch the wilderness. This was when she appreciated it the most, to simply look out at nature, to see the strength and the beauty in it. The untapped energy and the predator-prey relationship of the wild. She felt a sort of kinship there, the weak did not live in the wild, the sick and injured were killed off, the weak were killed off. Something she respected. There were no brutal politics, no backhanded manipulations. Simple and pure.
She must have finally lulled off into a daydream, finally able to block out the chattering of her companions as she was suddenly being shook. As if being shaken awake from slumber. The arm that was in the grip of Katarina was shaken quickly but lightly.
"Ruby... you were miles away then." She heard the voice of Katarina jolt her out of her thoughts, she looked back at her to see that sickly sweet smile still plastered on her face.
"Hmm...?" Riven mumbled out in answer.
"Barry here was asking about the broken blade." She continued, her eyes were sharp in almost a warning...
"Just wondering about it is all, guessing you are taking it to be repaired." His voice sounded duller, not quite as airy and light as his tone was with Katarina. Riven didn't know what to say... she didn't want to say anything at all. For a few uncomfortable seconds the cart was silent, only the squeaking of the wheels and the stamping of the horse filled the silence. Finally Riven licked her dry lips... knowing she had to say something... but what? She didn't want to say anything that would put Katarina's little play in peril.
"It's...very important."
That was all she said, nothing more. There was a drawn out pause... as if he was waiting for more from her. But realising that was all he was going to get he broke the fragile silence.
"Looks important all right. The way you hold it close, family heirloom?" He carried on the conversation, unaware of the sore issue so close to Riven's heart. She stared down to it now, as if she was actually seeing her weapon for the first time. Looking closely at the blade she had carried with her all this time. Her eyes focused onto the runes engraved into the weapon, every notch and knick, every crack and edge of the broken weapon. Her spare hand lightly tracing over the cool metal, feeling the uneven and rough surface where once it had been smooth. Memories flooded back to her, of her receiving the weapon, training with it... practising with it... every swing, every block, every time she lifted it. The weight, the familiar feeling. She remembered it all.
Other memories flushed back, as if someone had opened the floodgate of her inner thoughts, each one before her eyes and passed before she could even recognise what it was. But... it was too much... she had not wanted to remember this. As if he was aggravating a wound in her chest that simply refused to heal, a wound that felt infected and festered... a wound that affected her every movement, her every thought, every single day of her life. The memories turned dark, a deep gaping hole that drained away any and all visage of happier times and of her old life. Replaced instead by the smell of battle, clawing it's away across her vision as the howling screams and the explosions of falling bombs erupted and threatened to overtake her senses. The stink and taste in the air of the soldiers under her command melting away. Like a mixture of meat cooking and rot, the putrid stink hit her far worse than any physical blow could ever do.
Their skin flowing like water... their eyes turned to her in pain, in agony, in fear, in blame. As if the battle was happening right now, she was there one again. Standing right there, her eyes wide as she was overcome by the helplessness and fear. Her own shaking hands as they grasped her useless sword. The sickly green mist as the acidic vapours wafted into the air, a poisonous fog that threatened to grip her, to pull her into the nightmare she saw before her. To destroy her body just as they were destroying her mind...
Riven felt her breathing increase as she thought of this, unbeknown to her, her gaze was locked onto her weapon as her chest rose and fell in deep shuddering breaths, her eyes widened as she pulled the sword closer to her.
She had retreated inwards, she didn't hear anymore of the words from the old man. She... needed to stop... needed to stop thinking about it. It...hurt. She couldn't deal with these thoughts anymore...
Katarina shook the arm of her companion to answer and keep up her part in this play. It was something the assassin knew how to do, manipulate others and twist a situation to her advantage by playing with the expectations of others. She often had no need to do such a thing, she simply enjoyed it.
However Riven wasn't playing her part... what was wrong with her? This didn't seem like simple stupidity. Katarina knew she was no assassin, she was a soldier and not one to enjoy these games, perhaps that was why Katarina was having so much fun. Poking the soldier to act outside her comfort zone, just to see how she would react. Yet... something wasn't right. Perhaps speaking of her sword was not the best idea. She watched Riven's eyes glaze over as she stared at her weapon she gripped so tightly, as if she could never let it go. Betting her knuckles were whitening under her travelling cloak. Her eyes darted this way and that, as if she was in another world entirely. The assassin of Noxus wished she could see inside her head, to see exactly what she saw. Maybe it was the very reason why she did not return, what had happened to 'her' Riven. Right now she was not whole... right now... she looked broken. A mirror image of the sword in her lap.
"Everything all right there lass?" Barry spoke up. The annoying flirtatious old man she was sharing a cart with. If only this fool was not here, she could have tried to work with Riven's little break down and try to glean any information out of her. But right now... she had to cover for her. Kat always thought ahead and unfortunately if they were to head to the next village in peace they could not afford to draw attention to themselves. Katarina shifted on her seat and pulled Riven into a hug, she tried to act in character yet this was not part of the rehearsed play.
"It's ok sis. Everything is ok." She whispered to Riven. Hoping that whatever state of mind she is in she will snap out of it... and quickly. "I'm really sorry! But I can't talk right now..." She spoke to Barry over her shoulder, the worry lacing her voice perhaps not totally created. She heard the old man shift in his seat and give his horse a little encouragement to move on with his reins. He became silent after that. Katarina didn't care what he thought anyway, stupid old man. Whether he was giving them space or if he was now uncomfortable... she really did not care at all.
With her attention turned back to the exile she held in her arms, she rubbed Riven's arm in what she hoped was a comforting way. Perhaps some sort of latent mothering instinct... Wow she almost snorted at that thought... she gently swayed the swordswoman in her arms and held her close to her chest. Trying to ignore the apparent shakings of the exile and the smell of sweat as it now wafted from her body. What in the world was happening?
Riven felt vomit rise into her mouth as she willed her legs to move... to help...or run... something! She couldn't stay here! The smell was burning her lungs, her sinuses flaring up in agony as if pushing her to run away. A great boom near rocked her senses as another explosion of liquid plummeted to the earth, this one too close to her. Frightened screams filled the air between the deafening din of the acid impacting the ground, a woman ran into Riven's field of vision as she struggled to get away from the most recent acidic attack. The swordswoman's eyes snapped to the figure as her legs gave out beneath her and she fell to the floor. Wait. No they didn't give out... they were liquefying. Bile filled Riven's mouth as the smell hit her this close, the woman in horror filled panic clawed at the earth to try to get away. Her legs and clothes below her belt ran across the ground, she wore the robes of an Ionian. Yet Riven didn't recognise her as an enemy. There were no enemies here no longer, just victims. The woman was screaming. Yet it hardly registered to the Noxian, she continued pulling and digging into the earth to get away, no other thought was present in her eyes. The utter panic and instinct to live the only thing that mattered. Now the woman snapped her gaze up to Riven, their eyes connected.
She reached out to her. An Ionian reaching out to the Noxian, the irony lost in this situation. Riven's eyes watered as she stared at the Ionian woman reaching out to her. Was that the burning vapour in her eyes? Or the vision she saw before her? Suddenly a biting pain ripped through her left arm, Riven opened her mouth to scream even as vomit drooled out of her mouth, not realising she had been holding it in her jaws. The pain broke her out of her trance as she shot her look down to her left arm, a few drops of the liquid acid had spilled onto her armour and had eaten away at the metal, now finally touching her flesh instead. Panic and pain filled her senses as she frantically struggled with shaking hands to unclip the gauntlet from her left arm and pull away the now useless Noxian metal. Luckily the poison seemed to only be on the green steel and not actually on her flesh. Simply dropping the gauntlet to the floor had stopped the worst of the pain, however blood now trailed down her forearm. Her skin had simply dribbled away in small patches, the muscle underneath on view to the world. As if she had been flayed alive. Her nerve endings were on fire as the blood welled up from the wound and flowed down her arm, dripping from her fingers to the grass below.
Vomit now decorated her chin and tears flowed freely from her eyes, she held her arm close to her as the pain threatened to shatter what remained of her sanity, Riven looked back up from her wound. The woman lay still before her, she didn't know if she was alive or dead... yet considering most of her organs now ran across the earth, dying the grass in sickening colours as it ran toward her feet... Riven knew she no longer there.
Riven's control of her limbs were taken from her, panic and fear were the only things that filled her mind, like prey being hunted by her own death. A predator that was getting closer to her and she had nowhere to run. Yet this was no predator, this was nothing that could be fought against. However the fight or flight instinct finally overpowered her, there was no fight here... so she turned to run. Riven darted to the side, to start sprinting away from the worst of mind shattering bangs behind her. Yet she barely managed to get a few steps before she spotted a hunched figure she recognised. A soldier from her own unit, someone she had talked to that very morning. They spotted each other, the pain evident on his face... the plea for help obvious in his eyes... Riven couldn't take anymore, not again, she couldn't watch it... yet this choice was taken away from her as his whole body began to dissolve. His blood curdling screams she could make out over the ear-splitting noises of everything else. The acid and liquid of his body dribbled to the floor... ran over the once life filled grass... reaching toward her... closer. the sickening crunch as bones fell to the floor and broke, brittle as they were. The face she saw from this morning flashed in her vision. No... no...no...NO!
With a howl from a pained animal Riven broke off once more, no longer stopping...nothing would stop her now. Adrenaline fuelled her muscles even we blood dripped to the floor from her arm, her hand still gripping her blade in a death grip. Her knuckles locked so tight they hurt yet she could not de-attach even she had wanted to. Rivan ran, she ran from the horror before her and behind her, she ran from the attack and her allies and even enemies. Not that those terms mattered anymore. She barely registered herself running...instead her mind was teetering on the edge of falling into something darker...
Suddenly Riven jerked in her arms... Katarina was a bit taken aback by what was happening. What on earth was wrong with her? Her brows lowered darkly, confused and wanting to understand this odd behaviour. Riven shot up and away from her, their eyes connected. The assassin saw something akin to madness in her eyes. The redhead's eyes widened as their gazes locked.
The swordswoman bore a void in her eyes, even as Riven's eyes welled up, about to burst over and fall down her cheeks. Katarina's eyes narrowed, seeking understanding. She was about to ask what was wrong directly to the soldier. Yet before she could Riven suddenly violently pushed her away and pulled herself out of the grip of Katarina. Disentangling herself even as she pushed the assassin into the driver of the carriage. Katarina could barely stop herself from wholly careening into Barry, a curse on her lips as she shot her hands out to steady herself. Barry shouted something aloud but the redhead ignored whatever it was he said, he was not important. The soldier before her was... the very same soldier who had now turned and leapt out of the cart and began to sprint across the field before her.
"Fuck!" Katarina swore as she struggled to push herself up and out of the cart, shooting to her feet and dropping out of the wooden vehicle onto the dusty road, likewise starting off at a sprint to chase down the swordswoman. Katarina knew she had the speed to catch up. But... she didn't think she could keep going the distance Riven could run for. Many factors shot through her mind. Riven was slower yet had far more stamina... yet she was fuelled by... Katarina didn't want to think madness...but something darker than normal. But she was also thinner and most likely not at her peak...
Katarina shook her head as she already noticed the swordswoman gaining speed and distance ahead of her. Even with her pack and sword held in her grip! The assassin swore again as she shrugged off her own pack and threw it to the side, dropping the extra weight to chase down her target...
"Riven!" Katarina screamed out to the sprinting Noxian soldier. Her voice sounding ragged and tired already at this speed. Her muscles draining fast as she pushed ever onwards.
And there we go, I hope you enjoyed this newest chapter and will like this story enough to read on.
I really enjoy writing Riven and Kat, they are fun characters to write about.
Hopefully see you next time. Thx.