Shadow Strike
Quinn sees the woman ahead of her, but she kneels by the horse instead of following. It didn't feel right for her to just leave the animal that had served her faithfully. She simply kneels by the horse running a gloved hand through its mane. Valor sits by Quinn a deep sorrow filling him. He caws softly toward Quinn, but she ignores it. Minutes pass before she leaves the horse, but before catching up to the woman something catches her eye.
An arrow that sticks from a tree suddenly shines as Quinn passes by it. She reaches out to the arrow, and tugs at it a few times before it pops loose from the tree. The copper arrowhead shines in the sunlight. Quinn nearly drops the arrowhead as she realizes its material. "How'd copper end up here?" Quinn mumbles as she examines the arrowhead even more. Finding nothing on the arrowhead she grasps it in her hand, and continues on her way to catch up with the woman.
Quinn's head hung low as she approached the woman. Valor walked instead of flew from the weight the two held. Quinn found her voice as she approached the woman, "These aren't simply bandits,". The mother tilted her head in curiosity. Quinn continued at the gesture, "The arrowheads that were shot at me and my party," Quinn says pulling one out of her pocket, "They were made from Copper,". The woman looks at her as if that makes no difference. Quinn throws up her arms as she finds it obvious, "Copper only originates from southern Shurima. It's worse than iron or steel for arrowheads. Why would simple bandits be using copper?"
The scarred woman has a blank expression on her face as she asks, "Why does this matter? They still stole my daughters. They're still going to pay for what they've done,".
"Them not being bandits may make our attempt at rescue that much more difficult. They could be trained soldiers that are preying on the weak. They could be mutated beasts that only legends speak of. They could be dim witted Noxians. What matters is that we need to take caution when we approach them," Quinn looks into the sky to see the sun getting prepared to set. "We need to follow these tracks quickly, and then devise a plan,". They both agree on this and continue to follow the horse tracks that run down the middle of the road.
The mother seems to follow the tracks with no issue, but Quinn shows difficulty. I wish I had spent more time paying attention to father's trapping lessons. Quinn finds herself speaking up as the tracks split into the woods, "Where'd you learn to track?"
The woman's eyes don't leave the trail as she replies, "When you become a widow with two daughters to take care of you have to look for certain occupations to bring in the bread. Many in my position probably would have sold themselves to a brothel or some other occupation, but I didn't want to set that example for my girls. I wouldn't be able to live with the guilt if one of them found themselves in that line of work due to me,".
"So what was the occupation?" Quinn asks finally noticing the sword and dagger that hung from the woman's hip.
"I hunted deserters from our many armies. Cravens, turn cloaks, kinslayers all of them meet my blade. That's how I earned these scars. I allow each one to mark me with their blade once before I end their life," the woman seems to slow her pace as her words turn harsher. The sun is letting out its last light as Quinn finds herself stopping. The scarred woman stops when Quinn's footsteps cease. "I must say you sure are brighter than most I've hunted. Most of your kind seem to nod their head as if in denial of their crimes. They even seem shocked when I lunge at them with the blade. Your wit is probably what allowed you to kill so many of your brethren,". Hate fills the woman as she stares straight at Quinn. She draws her dagger and tosses it at Quinn.
"I have no quarrel with you. We can both be on our ways. You back toward the camp, and me toward the bandits," Quinn says slowly backing up from the woman. She sees Valor land on a branch and stare directly at the woman. Quinn shakes her head when she sees what he wishes to do. He listens to her, and begins to rest on the branch.
"Why would I let you leave? I've been offered a bounty of one thousand gold pieces for your head. The scouts seem to want you very badly. Who'd you kill in their ranks? Who traveled with you? Did you plan to slice their throats during the night?" The woman begins to approach Quinn with her sword drawn. "Pick up the sword, or do you wish to die like you lived? A coward."
Quinn found herself picking up the dagger. The accusations enraged her. "I am no kinslayer, and I am not a coward." Sunlight barely broke through the dense trees.
Quinn made out a faint smile on the woman before the woods lost all light. The woman began to taunt her, "Have you ever fought in the dark kinslayer? They say the best bladedancers show themselves when they lose sight. I prefer to hunt my prey in the dark. It makes the final blow that much sweeter. You can feel the life drained from the coward, and returned to those long dead,". Quinn found herself turning rapidly to try and pin down where the woman was. Her voice seemed to be coming from every direction she turned toward.
"We can still lay down our weapons, and act as if this never happened," Quinn croaked out fear gripping her throat. She grips onto the dagger with both hands. Being completely unfamiliar with the weapon she slashed into the air getting a feel for it. Being satisfied she grabbed it with both hands again and held it out in front of her. She could only see the blur of movement in the pitch black.
The rough voice of the woman filled the air yet again, "Are you afraid of the dark? You look ready to wet yourself. It's okay you'll wet yourself when my blade strikes true. May as well get it over with early,". With the end of her sentence Quinn fell over from a hit to the back of the head. She fell first into the leaves and branches that littered the forest floor. The woman's laugh taunted her as she stood back up. "You're as blind as a bat without the light aren't you?".
Quinn finds herself closing her eyes, and completely eliminating her sight. She felt it obscuring her state of mind. She instead put all of her attention on her ears. She heard the soft crunch of leaves behind her, but didn't turn. She waited to hear the woman launch at her again. When Quinn heard the crack from the launch Quinn turned threw out an uppercut with her left arm. The blow connected with the woman's jaw, and Quinn heard a soft thud followed by a groan as the woman landed on the ground. Her dagger landed in the woman's arm, but Quinn was quickly thrown off before she could finish the woman.
"Looks like I have myself a scar now. Thanks for participating in my games. I'll make sure it's quick now," the woman's voice seemed light as she finished the sentence. Does she think I've gained honor by striking her? Quinn tried to listen for more sounds of movement, but heard none until the slash of a blade. The blade grazed her left arm, but left a long trail of blood. Quinn found herself dodging every blow the woman threw at her, but was unable to counterattack. Quinn felt many cuts lining her body as the dagger sat limp in her hands. "I was willing to make this quick, but you've decided to make this painful on yourself,". Quinn felt her end close as she heard another slash. A memory flew at Quinn.
She sat across from her father a practice sword sitting in her lap. "Today you learn the art of the parry and riposte. You'll find yourself against foes that will be quicker, stronger, and even smarter than yourself. You'll be forced to rely solely on your own skill with the sword to outmaneuver your opponent. I'll show you. Swing at me," her father says sitting up his sword lazily sitting in his hand. He closes his eyes as she stands, and keeps them closed as she begins to circle him.
She swings at his sword arm from behind. When it looks as if the sword is about to connect his sword appears in an instant blocking her attack, and sending her off balance. He pushes her on the ground and puts the sword to her throat. "If done correctly it'll make any fight fall into your favor. It'll make even the best foes fall to a simple farmer,".
The memory fades and Quinn finds her dagger meet with the other's sword. Instead of relieving pressure between the swords Quinn puts weight upwards, and sends the woman off balance. Quinn rests the dagger against the other's throat. "Yield, I do not wish for more bloodshed,". Quinn feels the other woman stand up into her blade. She can feel the hunter's eyes lock with hers as the light slowly drains from them. Quinn lets go of her dagger, and the woman falls backward onto the cold ground. Her hands began to shake in anger, "Why'd you do that! I gave you the option of life and you took death! Now another innocent rests at my feet!"
She feels her feet fall out from under her due to exhaustion. Light begins to fill the woods, and Quinn's eyes fall on the body. The woman lies on deaths door, and Quinn decides to tell her the truth. "You fought honorably, but you fought under the flag of the true turn cloaks. Demacia has lost a true fighter this day," Quinn stops as she sees the woman's breath stop. Her eyes stare eternally into the night sky.
Authors Note: Just something quick I wrote today for you guys. Feeling a bit under the weather, so I don't know when the next chapter will be up :/. Hopefully soon.