Chapter III
Death was but common sight for the people of the Winter's Claw.
What they lacked in food they made up in the pile of motionless bodies scattered at the edges of the clan. Sejuani never flinched at the endless amount of carcasses that lay bare before her. At least not anymore. She wasn't afraid, for the deaths of her brethren fueled an untamed avalanche within her. Despite her young age, was among the most determined warriors in the Winter's Claw. Whatever opportunities for battle that the clan offered she eagerly took. It came as no surprise when Sejuani had decided to aid in an expedition that might aid in accumulating a significantly large amount of food after raiding a few villages. To her that seemed like a perfect solution, she would no longer have to stoop as low as to take food from that Avarosan princess and would once again prove her worth to the Winter's Claw.
All of that might have been true but the day she set foot in her house just to find Raditya's corpse she shriveled in response. The booming sounds of chagrin filled sobs ricocheted across the frozen wall as Bethari uncontrollably shook Raditya's rotting body. For a split second she stood there in horror, until a piercing shriek made its way out of Sejuani's throat. Her nails digging against her own palms, she was yielding to the bitter grief that overcame her and no soul could ever put a stop to the tempest that raged on inside Sejuani's heart. Stains of red adorned the floor as she gulped heavily, hovering over Bethari and what remained of Raditya. Her fingers softly stroke imaginary lines across his frozen cheek. One clear look at him and she knew it.
She knew what had caused his death.
Starvation.
Through sniffled whimpers Bethari attempted to explain what had happened to her older sister.
"Ever since you stopped getting us food…." Her voiced cracked into a sob at the thought of it "he... he had been giving me his portion of the little food we had left"
Bethari broke down into tears again when it became clear that Sejuani would not provide any answers.
"Why did you have to leave for an entire month?" Bethari screamed as she shook violently in rage.
"WE NEEDED YOU HERE! BUT YOU CHOSE CONQUEST OVER US!"
Her sharp yells cleaved their way to Sejuani's soul. And yet Sejuani maintained her position idly standing as if in a trans, the whole world had stopped around her, all sounds were muffle and in vivid flashes of pain reality punched its fists against her face. Bethari madly threw her fists against Sejuani in a seemingly infinite frenzy, over and over again. Until Sejuani's strong arms finally wrapped themselves around her little sister, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"His battle is over."
That day Sejuani had finally felt what it meant to see those she truly cherished disappear one by one. She understood what it meant when the bravest of warriors said that the Freljord was merciless.
"I will not leave you behind Bethari. I will grow stronger and make the Freljord tremble at the sound of the Winter's Claw."
In between the chaos that engulfed Sejuani's mind she knew she had to decide on whether she should return to the Avarosan princess for food or wait in hopes a more successful raiding opportunity shows itself. She sighed as she looked at the snow beaten paysage that engrossed this nation, she wouldn't die to hunger no matter what it meant she had to do.
The following day the merchant who had grown accustomed to carrying Sejuani to the city was surprised to see her show her face. It had been a while since she had last left to steal from the Avarosans. She had not seen Ashe since she revealed her true identity and what Sejuani perceived as petty hopes for saving a nation she knew nothing about. The caravan came to a halt as the grand palace of Avarosia materialized in the background of the crowded capital. Sejuani debarked and repeated the routine she had executed countless times before until she arrived to the courtyard.
She was thrown off guard when she saw Ashe gripping a large bow that emanated a blinding blue glow. A bow made of ice that she held elegantly as she threw arrow after arrow at training targets. Pulling a dagger out of her pocket she silently approached the storage.
Sejuani's eye darted to her right as an arrow rapidly bashed its way against the storage door.
"We could fight if you wanted but you're at an obvious disadvantage, let go of the knife"
Sejuani groaned, she knew she couldn't fight not from a distance especially if Ashe knew how to handle her weapon.
"I won't hurt you... at least not yet. I'm just here for the food."
"Or did the Avarosian Queen change her mind already?"
Ashe chuckled as she made her way to the storage and opened the door.
"There."
Sejuani unloaded her pouch and filled it with a reasonable amount of food hesitating a bit. No one had ever given her food freely. Nothing came easily, she had to earn everything she had. The entire concept of receiving anything without paying a price was foreign to her.
"What do you want from me?"
"Nothing, I have nothing to gain from you."
Locking eyes with Ashe Sejuani asked "Then why are you helping me?"
"Because I want to."
Unaware of why that might've elicited such an odd reaction from her, a soft tint of rose materialized on Sejuani's cheeks as she shifted her gaze to the food she now held. Ashe however kept staring at Sejuani, gradually making her uneasy as she made her way out of the storage room.
"Will you pass by tomorrow?" asked Ashe.
Sejuani nodded and quickened her pace in hopes she wouldn't have missed the caravan, the exchange of words she had with the princess had left her anxious and almost terrified.