Swift Strike

"Stop" the words fill her ears as she falls over from exhaustion. This was the worst punishment she thought she could ever endure. The exercise had no benefit for the camp, she looked like a fool, and she had wasted her time. This wouldn't have happened if you weren't so stubborn. She looks down at her collapsed body. Covered in dirt, sweat, and tears she was sure she was a wonderful sight for her fellow recruits. She closed her eyes wanting to rest when she felt a boot crush into her rib cage.

"Get up recruit, you aren't even close to done proving your obedience," the rough voice of McHenricks filled her with anger. She couldn't control the fire in her eyes when she glared at the man. She made sure he understood that she was getting up because she wished, not because he had asked it. The man seemed to not notice her glare as he handed her a bucket. "A well sits on the other side of this camp. You will carry this bucket to the well above your head. You will not spill a drop when you return it to this location. If I'm not satisfied by the amount of water you bring back I'll send you back for more. You'll be fed once you are able to complete this task. Begin."

He followed her as she walked towards the well. Every time her arms bent he yelled at her to straighten them. She followed the order without resisting. It was easier to be on the mans good side everyone seemed to understand this; Quinn seemed to just be learning this idea. Making it to the well she lowered the bucket to collect the water inside. While doing so she noticed the recruits stepping outside to begin morning drills. Things just got a lot more embarrassing…

She kept her eyes at her feet as she walked until her sergeant barked at her to keep her eyes forward. The recruits began to point and snicker at her as she walked through the camp, she wanted to run from them, but she knew that would only make this situation worse. A few recruits pointed at her and began to talk amongst each other. One of them seemed to gain enough courage to walk up to the pair. "Let me help you with that," a mischievous smile on the female recruits face as she reached for the bucket. Quinn was too slow to react and the contents of the bucket spilled out onto the ground.

Quinn looked at the spilled water, and back at the female. Her nails bit into her palms as she readied a strike. "Recruit! Pick up the bucket and return to the well," she looked back towards her sergeant. He motioned for her to pick up the bucket. Quinn looked back to find that the other recruit had run off. She kept a mental image of her, and ran through the details of her as she picked up the bucket. Brown hair full of mud, a crooked smile, a scar on her left cheek, too straight of a face, shallow cheekbones; I'll get you one day… Quinn made it back to the well and began to fill the bucket yet again. Her arms were killing her from the day and night before, but she pushed on.

"You will not fight that recruit," McHenricks says as they've made it halfway back to the dirt patch.

"What makes you think I'd ever do such a thing?" she says trying to keep the bitterness out of her voice. It fails as the sergeant mutters something inaudible under his breath.

"Demacians do not fight between each other. We have enough enemies to occupy ourselves to start petty fighting between each other." He smirks as he understands what'll sink with her, "No honor waits for those who fight their comrades, even if they despise those comrades. True honor is in the men who forgive the comrades who have wronged him."

"I thought you said we weren't in the volunteers for honor... "

"Every Demacian has their own reasons for joining these corps. I said the corps wouldn't award you honor as many look down on us as the weak shield of the army. We are looked at as cannon fodder for the real army. Some of the greatest knights during the reign of Jarvan came from the volunteers," he points ahead signalling for her to keep walking. She continues to walk forward as he continues, "Unfortunately these days Jarvan III shows little enjoyment for this corp. It's a good thing his son enjoys us, otherwise we would have been disbanded a long time ago," he clears his throat. "Sometimes you will have the greatest honor by not losing any. You'll go far if you can learn two things. Not to fight dirty, and always listen to the orders of your superior."

"How am I supposed to beat opponents of greater skill if I can't let the tides of battle turn on my side?" Quinn says stopping for a moment trying to catch her breath. She couldn't believe how exhausted she felt. That many hours of digging a hole will do that to you…

McHenricks scowls for a moment when she stops, but answers her question. "You can never think that you hold the lesser skill. Once you doubt yourself, or give up on the battlefield you'll lose. The great warriors of legend didn't necessarily have much strength or overall skill. What these men held was unwavering courage. Don't worry this courage will come once you've become blooded." He begins to walk again forcing Quinn to follow him.

"Blooded?" Quinn asks as she catches up.

"When you kill your first enemy you'll be able to tell if you'll have the courage to be able to do it again. It's hard to train a soldier to allow his mind to be blooded. It'll be your greatest test, and the one no one can prepare you for."

"Why are you taking so much time to train me solo?"

"I feel it is my duty to Demacia to help the soldiers that show promise, but need the extra push to make it. You just need to understand that I can only help you so far before you'll be forced to carry yourself. You have decided to give your life for our nation, the least I can do is get you prepared to make sure you take down as many Noxians as possible. Here we've made it back. Let me see what you have," he says taking the bucket away from Quinn.

Quinn keeps her composure, but she feels the desire to fall over and stay down for centuries. She had never experienced this much exhaustion. It felt as if the world itself was putting its weight on her shoulders. It took all she had, but she continued to stand as he examined the bucket. "You've brought enough back. Head back to the barracks and rest. Your training will continue later today."

A hand shakes her leg. She looks to see Albert standing next to her bunk, "McHenricks wants to speak with you," she lets out a grumble as he says, "It's urgent."

She pulls herself out of the bunk and dresses herself. Valor watches and lets out a cry when she's finished. "I'm not going to forget about you," she says opening her knapsack and putting him in it. He pops his head out and lets out a long shout filled with glee. "Yes I missed you as well." Her footsteps lead her outside into the rain. The sun sits slightly above the trees. McHenricks turns when he hears the sound of her shoes hitting the mud.

"Walk with me I have something else for you to do." He wears a raincoat, to protect him from the onslaught of water. He seemed to keep his head down as if he were trying to keep his moustache from getting wet. She follows in a long sleeve the corp had provided her with. At least this rain is pleasant.

She looks down to see Valor hiding in her knapsack. Valor doesn't seem to hold the same thought. She chuckles a little as she notices him glare at her from the bag. "You're the one that wanted to come along," she says teasing the bird. His glare seems to grow fiercer from the words. She can't suppress the laugh. McHenricks seems to ignore the exchange.

McHenricks turns as they make it to one of the many clearings in the camp. "You're the only one in my division yet to receive their recruits coat. You'll earn it today or you'll return home. I have no place for you if you haven't learned yet." Quinn nods as she waits in anticipation for her assignment. The rain eases her as she waits for him to continue. "You'll be asked to do many things while out in the field. You may not agree with what you are told, but you still will need to follow it. It's your duty as a soldier to listen and follow, not interpret and decide."

Quinn nods her head. She wished that she would have made her life easier by not getting on the mans bad side in the beginning. I could be getting myself prepared for the visit by the prince in two days time… His voice continues, "These orders can range from something simple such as guarding a wall, all the way to something extremely difficult such as putting a comrade out of their misery. You'll be expected to do all of these without hesitation. Your fellow trainees have proven they can, and now you must as well." He motions for her to follow yet again.

She follows without hesitation. I need that jacket, it's all I've ever wanted. She notices something limp lying in the middle of the field as the pair approach it. Quinn notices it twitch, and swears she could hear a cry. She stops herself when it connects what 'it' is. She shakes her head making herself not take another step. Anything but this… anything but this… His voice commands, "Follow me, you've almost made it. You can do this." It may not be so bad, it may not be what I think it is… She allows her feet to carry her further.

The injured bird twitches as it lay on the ground. The rain keeps it pinned to the ground as it looks at the approaching pair. Panic fills its eyes as it understands what they are here to do. A cry breaks from the bird's beak. "All things must be shown mercy in their times of need," he notices the restraint in her eyes, "You'll do this not to gain your recruit coat, but to show yourself you have what it takes to be a soldier." He hands her a dagger, and she hands him Valor.

"He doesn't need to see this…" McHenricks nods as he takes the knapsack. I've tried to save everyone I've come across. Sometimes the best way to save them is to allow the gods to handle them… She grips the dagger. It bites into her hand as she looks down at the bird. "I'm sorry, but this is for the best," she whispers as she crouches next to the bird. Rain mixes with tears as she puts the dagger against his cranium. She pushes down quickly and the dagger cleanly goes through the skull. Quinn and the bird tense at the same moment and then both fall flat. Valor stares at the blood, his eyes share her sorrow.

She stands in the field with the other recruits. Their indigo jackets all proudly worn. The sergeant goes over how tomorrow would go for them due to the arrival of the prince. Quinn can only think of what the jacket has become to her now. It feels like a coat of death, over a coat of celebration. She can't shake the tense of the bird from her mind. A recruit elbows her and she looks at him, he eyes the sergeant. "I'll ask again recruit, is everything okay? You don't have to have the honor of meeting the prince."

"I'm fine, Sir. I won't let my mind wander again sir." McHenricks continues with his speech, but the rest of the day her mind can't escape the thought of the bird.

The parade ground is filled with recruits as they wait for the arrival of their prince. Valor sits on her shoulder. She had found the jacket thick enough for him to sit on without damaging the coat or her. The eagle cawed in anticipation. "We're all excited Valor. Listen you can hear their approach." Trumpets fill the ears of the recruits. Today would be a day they would not soon forget.

Authors Note: Just one more chapter after this one, and you guys will get your action. Just need to set up a few more things before I set the story off. Bare with me :D