Days of Shin, the loyal wolf cub, continued on and Akali saw no end to this friendship, but it only takes one mistake to ruin it. That mistake begins in the City of Progress, Piltover, where Akali was asked to meet up with some champions to discuss strategy for upcoming battles. The meeting was at a small restaurant located on the busiest street in the city. Just as Akali and Shin walk in, a waiter immediately faces Akali telling her that pets are prohibited in their establishment. After a short argument, Akali regretfully agreed and went outside to tell Shin not to go anywhere. Hearing her command, Shin whined at first, but then barked to assure her and Akali went back inside telling him she won't take long.
Shin was by the steps of the restaurant sitting idly by, occasionally yawning despite waiting only a few minutes. What Shin wasn't aware of was the animal control patrolling the area hunting down strays and not wearing anything to identify himself, Shin was soon looking up at a large figure in a jumpsuit with a restraint pole at hand. Watching the loop slowing going around his neck, at the last second, Shin backed away before the rope could take hold of him. He quickly dashes off, but didn't get far as a net wrapped itself around him. Another man in a jumpsuit was holding a gun and told the other to retrieve Shin, on top of that, he started bragging about how his record for catching the most strays in the city is unmatched.
From the net to a small metal cage on a cart loaded with other animals, Shin began to howl, but the crowds completely drained out the noise. He then tried chewing on the metal bars, but that only angered the catchers to point where one of them took a taser baton and shocked the poor Shin, knocking him out.
"Is that alright, boss?" The driver of the cart asked.
"Of course it is, these cages are expensive and one half dead mutt isn't hurtin' anybody."The animal control mvp smugly says, before taking a seat next to his partner.
The cart started moving further and further away from where Akali was and she had no idea all that just happened. The men in control of the cart were also unaware of something. Shin, still out cold, began changing. All his fur turned white except for some red markings on his face, a black tipped tail and a Hannya mask appeared on his back. It was not long after that when all memories belonging to Shin disappeared as a new Shen awoke confused yet calm. Looking around the city from his small cage, Shen took in the sights including some free food when the cart would occasionally stop and children would spot Shen, giving him jerky or fruit. Some children would even ask the animal control guys if they could have him, but they would just ignore them after asking the kids for an unreasonable amount of gold. The pair could have gotten away with a sweet deal with wealthier people but they never paid mind to the actual animal the children were referring to.
Coming from the opposite direction was the Nine-Tailed Fox, Ahri, who was bar hopping and raising her popularity. The occasional group of men captivated by her beauty always on her tail was starting to bore her, making her want to change locations for a different source of fun.
"The attention is great, but never knew how easy the men of Piltover were." Ahri says to herself as she walked down the street, observing the many items for sale in the shops' windows.
Ahri stopped at a window displaying an assortment of sweets, thinking of getting some.
"I guess I can use one of the them for something." Ahri says, looking at the guys peeking from around a corner.
"Sheeesh, they're just like dogs with no man...ners?" Ahri drew out her sentence when she took notice of the reflection in the window. An animal out of place on a cart full of feral animals. The cart stopped right behind her when the men driving the cart found another stray and went after it. Turning around, Ahri looked at the sleeping white ball of fur with utmost fascination. Taking a closer look, she slid a hand in his cage and began scratching his head with her index finger. Shen slowly opened his big blue eyes that were almost glowing to see who it was.
"You don't look wild...well except for that mask on your back." Ahri tells the fox cub, now scratching his chin. This got Ahri thinking about what she said about men and dogs. So, she decided to break the cage open, but animal control came back with another feral dog.
"Hey! What do you think you're doin' messy with my catch!?" The main man yells blocking Ahri's path to Shen, finally taking notice of the exotic looking animal.
"Calm down, mister. I was just comforting that cute little guy you heartlessly caged. Speaking of which, I want him." Ahri tells the man in charge.
He took an inappropriate glance over Ahri's body before saying,"Then I want something in return... hee hee if you know what I mean."
Ahri just gave the man an unamused face then shot small fox-fires at the locks of the many cages on his cart. In one motion, all of the feral animals inside started attacking the man and chased him off. Leaving behind one, Ahri opens Shen's cage then holds him in both arms then walked away. Holding him against her body, taking note on how he was fluffier than he actually appeared.
"You can be the perfect servant once I train you enough. What do you say?" Ahri asks looking down at Shen, who looks up and barks in agreement with her. Walking further along, Ahri encounters Akali who looked exhausted and in grief.
"Oh my, Akali, you look troubled."
"Trust me, Ahri, I am. Did you happen to see wolf cub with yellow eyes, blue fur...ehhh he's like an animal version of Shen?" Akali said clearly short of breath.
"No, I'm afraid, but I did find this guy! He was captured by one of those animal controls roaming the city." Ahri answers showing Akali a fox cub reminding her of Shen's Blood Moon attire, but that notion went over her head as she was focus on her Shin.
"Animal Control!? Thanks for the tip!" Akali says in panic, disappearing into the crowd.
"Poor Akali, but anyway let's head to your new home...Ruri. Hmmm yep, you definitely look like a Ruri, huh?" Ahri asked causing Ruri to nudge his head against her neck making her laugh.
Somewhere deep in Ruri's sub-conscience though, Shen, the original Eye of Twilight, awoke in a dark void. Looking around, Shen couldn't see anything in sight. Where was he, is he even alive? These questions popped in his head as he walked on with no sense of direction. Walking and walking, Shen suddenly catches a glimpse of a shoji door to his left. Shen calmly walks up to it and slides it open to find the living room he used to have during his younger years where training for his father's title was beyond him. A simple wooden table with a bowl of mandarins on top, tatami mats, old style drawers, and a crystal ornament hanging on the wall. Shen felt more tranquil than ever as he took a sit at the table as if knowing something would happen.
As expected of the Eye of Twilight, something did happen. His late mother and father came through another door taking a seat as well.
"Is this the after life after all?" Shen asked his parents in his usual emotionless tone.
"Of course not, you're just in a deep state of sleep." Shen's mother assures him, handing him a peeled mandarin."You're so big compared to your five-year-old-self, before you could barely hold that small fruit in your hand."
"Mother, father, what's going on? I was facing off with Zed moments ago, I can't waste time, I must..." Shen states, bolting up to his feet.
"Calm down Shen, and sit down with your family."Shen's father tells him.
"Serious and strong-willed as always. You never change, Shen." His mother says as she walks over to him, at a height barely reaching his shoulders, and hugs him."Don't ever change, Shen."
Shen hesitated but wrapped his arms around her too. "Are you really my parents?"
The Father answers while watching the crystal ornament on the wall."Yes, there are many ways to communicate with those who have past on. We came, because we felt you would be lonely standing in between worlds."
"I should be heavily injured if I'm in this state then." Shen said, sitting back down at the table.
"Well, your body right now isn't in a state for you to return to. Even with all your injuries healed."
"What do you mean, father?"
Shen's mother points at the ornament, displaying a perspective of some sort."Right now we are watching the world through your eyes."
Shen watches as the strange view from a clearly low vantage point confused him."My eyes?"
Whoever was controlling the body walked in front of a mirror revealing a small fox cub with white fur, a black-tipped tail and red markings on its face.
"What's the meaning of this?" Shen still calm asks, but inside outraged.
"You even have the Hannya mask from your Blood Moon armor on your back."The mother says, blushing at how adorable fox Shen, currently Ruri, was.
"To answer your question on how this happened, a stray bolt of magic hit you while you fell from the cliff during your battle with Zed. Because your consciousness was fading, the magic must have taken advantage of the vulnerable parts of your mind that you sealed away. Meaning your childhood." The father explained.
"Not everything is terrible about this, Shen. Look, you're already a loyal helping hand to Miss Ahri."The mother commented watching as Ruri nudges Ahri's sleeping face with his to wake her up.
"How long is this suppose to last?"Shen asked this time with a little anger.
"Your mother and I don't know, that's why we thought of using this reunion as a way to pass time, yes?"
Shen lets out a sigh and takes off his mask to eat the mandarin, knowing that the only solution is patience, but for how long?