When Nunu and his mother were still traveling together, an elkyr named Kona pulled the cart they called home. Kona was like a goat with curved horns except she was as big as their cart and with a thick brown fur matching almost the same fluffiness as Willump's.

Whenever something irritated Kona, like Nunu repeatedly using the elkyr's neck as a slide, the elkyr would puff air up her bangs. Nunu didn't expect to find a girl puffing the same way.

"Look," Cara said, "Why can't you just take us past the mountain borders and then continue with your adventure?"

Nunu rolled his eyes. "I told you, we jumped into a portal and it spit us out where the wyverns were."

"Can't you find it again?"

"Why should I? It's my first time in Demacia and you want me to go back to Freljord the moment I arrive?"

"I saved you from the wyverns! You owe me!"

"Naa, we were doing fine."

The girl chewed on her lower lip and Nunu thought again that she resembled a mini elkyr.

"Please." Her hands clenched around the hem of her green cloak. "It would mean a lot."

"No, I want to see Demacia."

"Fareed." Cara turned around. "Say something."

Leaning against a wall was the man who had waved to the Freljordians. His dark hair was pulled into a knot dangling behind and his skin was tanned by the sun. An amused smile danced across his lips.

"No, no," he said, "I believe that this is too complex of a discussion for us to jump into, don't you agree, Braum?"

Next to Fareed was the Iceborn with folded arms over a shield, wearing the same amused expression.

"I agree," Braum said, "but don't worry little lady. Braum believes that you can do it!"

"You're supposed to be on my side, Braum!" Nunu said.

"Braum is on everyone's side."

"Well, Willump is on my side, right, Willump? Willump?"

The yeti hadn't replied. Instead, soft sounds of munching and gulping echoed deeper in the cave.

"Oh." Fareed straightened up. "Your pet eats—"

"Willump's not a pet," Nunu interrupted. "He's a friend."

"A fuzzy friend," Braum chimed in.

"Sorry," Fareed said. "Your friend likes to eat wyverns?"

Nunu shrugged. "I think he's just happy to try something new for once."

"Are there snacks in there?" The Iceborn strolled deeper into the cave but quickly returned, his mustache slack and his eyes staring into the distance. "Let's uhm, let's fuzzy friend eat in peace."

"We found the corpse while on our way to the hinterlands," Fareed said easily, "If the wyverns picked up the scent of one of their dead, they might get real crazy so I cut it up the corpse and brought all the parts to the cave here to hide from the wind." He waved his axe. "I was going to look for a place to bury the parts when I noticed you guys."

"Difficult to bury a body in the mountains," Braum said, "especially wyvern-sized."

"But I don't have to do it anymore thanks to your friend over there." the man said, his face beaming. "You know, Cara. I think they're trustworthy. Why don't we take them to our secret base?"

"Fareed!" Cara's shrill voice bounced around the cavern walls.

Nunu perked up. "You have a secret base?"

"No!" The girl's glare was like icicles. "No, we do not have a secret base. Fareed and I are simply on our way to Uwendale to participate in the Slayer's festival."

"Cara, they're from Freljord. I don't think they know about Uwendale or the festival."

"Is Uwendale the name of a village?" Braum asked.

The girl nodded.

"So where are you from?" Nunu squinted his eyes with suspicion. "You're obviously not from Freljord, so why are you up here in the mountains?"

Cara puffed again, ruffling her bangs.

Fareed chuckled. "He got us there."

"Only because of your loose mouth!" The girl tried to kick the taller man on the shin but Fareed moved away and Cara struck against stone. She squatted low, rubbing her toes. "Shiza will be even angrier now!"

"Sorry, it just slipped."

Nunu liked Fareed. The Demacian looked frailer than the average Freljordian and only reached up to Braum's shoulder, but there was an easy confidence oozing out of him. His long-hilted axe was also interesting. Every now and then, rays of morning sun would hit the blade and sparkle with gold and green. It looked like a weapon fit for a hero.

"Does your weapon have a name?" Nunu asked.

A wide smile spread across the man's face. "You like it?"

Nunu nodded. "Do all weapons in Demacia look like that?"

"Some do, but they're rare. I don't even think this is from Demacia." Fareed took a closer look at his weapon, his face faintly reflecting against the blade. "Think I found this in Shurima."

"What's Shurima?"

"A land of sand and sweltering sun, you could say it's the opposite of Freljord."

Nunu thought back to the creation stories. His mother had told him about Ornn wrestling with the earth to shape the dents and bruises of Freljord. Ornn would later on usher the water from the sea to his fiery home, creating so much steam that the sea level would dip several inches. The steam in turn would rise to the sky, cool to gray clouds and burst with snow, covering Freljord with a white blanket for a hundred years. When Nunu tried to imagine a deity grinding a land to fine dust his mind came up blank. "How was it created?"

"Shurima?" Fareed rubbed his jaw. "I'm not sure. I'm not much of a story-teller. It's usually — ouch!"

This time, Cara's kick struck true against Fareed's shin.

"Sorry," Fareed said sheepishly, "I guess Cara's the leader here."

Nunu groaned. No wonder he didn't like the girl. She was a leader.

"So who are you?" Nunu asked. "We already told you that we're from Freljord, but we don't know anything about you two except your names."

"And that's all you'll get unless you promise to help us," Cara said.

"Tell us first and then we'll decide."

"No, you'll have to promise first. I don't trust you."

The boy scowled. "That's stupid. What if you try and trick me?"

"How about this, little leader," Braum's rumbling voice grabbed the children's attention. "We Freljordians are mighty warriors. Is there anything we can defeat to gain your trust?"

The girl seemed taken aback by Braum's reply, but she quickly gathered herself. "Do you know crimson raptors?"

"I know raptors," Nunu said quickly. "We have them in Freljord too."

Cara nodded. "Fareed and I were supposed to hunt some and take them back, but I don't have any energy left after saving you from the wyverns."

Nunu opened his mouth to retort but Iceborn was quicker.

"Which we're very grateful for," Braum said and gave a theatrical bow. "Thank you."

"Well…" Cara straightened her back and brushed part of her hair to the side. "If you can help Fareed and kill a couple and carry them back, we might invite you to our secret base."

"Sounds like a fun mission, no?" Braum asked, nudging Nunu.

Deeper in the cave, the munching stopped and a belch rumbled the stones.

Descending down the mountains was a slow venture. The cliff walls were too steep in their area so they had to first stroll eastwards, over craggy rocks and rubbles in what felt like an up and down motion. The valley of Demacia stretched below them to their right, rustling leafy green and yellow grains as if waving to them. Nunu had only seen such colors in the southern parts of Freljord, where some of the villagers grazed their cattles and planted crops during the warmer seasons, and even then it was only done in small patches.

Demacia seemed to have no lack of land for plants and animals to live in. Moss and flowers adorned the stones. The breezes were gentler, only nudging at his snowcap instead of trying to pull it off his head. It was warm enough that Nunu had to take off his fur-cloak, something he'd never done when he was out in the open air of Freljord. He had tied the cloak on one of Willump's branching horns, letting it flutter like a bright orange flag as they marched on.

Cara was in the front. She stumbled over loose gravel and struggled with every climb. She looked a few years older than Nunu, but the way she struggled made Nunu think of her as a newborn foal. He doubted that she had any adventure experience. If it wasn't for Braum next to the girl, helping her up boulders and acting as her walking stick, she would've surely broken an ankle or two. Nunu couldn't believe she was the same girl who had been riding a wyvern back then. He was also curious how she did it but he didn't want to ask.

Walking last was Fareed. The man moved as if it was a dance, tipping on his toes, turning into a jump or sliding across stony surfaces. His face was lost on thoughts, barely paying attention to the ground under him. But he didn't fall or stumble, he was sure-footed, axe resting on his shoulder. The thing that stood out the most was how silent he moved. Part of it must be the wrappings around his arms and ankles, hindering his clothes from flapping against the wind, but even his leisurely steps barely gave off any sounds.

Willump was wheezing when they finally reached a hillside mild enough to descend. Water streamed down a river, melted from the snow up the mountain tops. The group started zig-zagging down the hill, trudging next to the flowing water. Far away, Nunu could see the river coiling towards a valley with a settlement which he suspected was the village Uwendale the Demacians had mentioned.

"How are you doing, big guy?" Fareed who was behind had caught up to Nunu and Willump. The yeti had his tongue out and moved painstakingly slow.

Nunu nudged the yeti to drink some water by the river. He waved to Braum and Cara to continue, signaling that he and Willump would catch up after a quick break.

Fareed sat down next to them, splashing water on his face.

Willump dunked his whole head under the water, the motion almost throwing Nunu into the river if he hadn't jumped off.

"Will your friend be okay?" Fareed asked. "It can get even warmer the lower we go."

"I'll think up something," Nunu said. He glanced at the Demacian's weapon again. "Are you a hero?"

Fareed looked up, his narrow face softening into a smile. "Do I look like one?"

"I'm not sure," Nunu confessed. "Heroes in Freljord are usually bigger but it might be different here in Demacia."

"Oh, there are some big ones here in Demacia too. Many from the Dauntless Vanguards are huge." Fareed tilted his head. "But size doesn't determine a hero. The Wings of Demacia is a woman and she's quite a hero around here."

"Braum over there is known as The Shield of Freljord," Nunu said.

"And what are you known as?"

"Nunu of the Notai and Willump the Yeti."

"That's it?" Fareed raised an eyebrow. "No, shield, or sword, or wings, or anything? Just your name?"

Nunu hesitated. Now that he thought about it, why hadn't he made an awesome title for himself yet? The name of a hero was oftentimes not spoken, instead the titles were used, hinting at their powers and achievements. Braum was called the Shield of Freljord because of his magical shield. The mythological Ornn was known as The Fire Below the Mountain for his blacksmithing skills and ability to spit fire. Even Lissandra, the leader of the Frost Guard's had a title people called her by, the Ice Witch, and Nunu was sure that she had a cold glare behind her helmet which could freeze people.

"Come on now," Fareed said. "If you were free to choose, what would you want to be known for?"

Nunu's tongue didn't move. He had no idea.

The yeti's head burst out from the water, sighing with relief.

"What about you?" Nunu asked. "What would you want to be known for?"

"Many things," Fareed said. "I would like to be famous for rescuing princesses, slaying dragons, and saving kingdoms but those achievements have been told in so many tales. If anything, I would want to be known for something no one else has ever done."

"Like what?"

Fareed unwrapped the bindings around his legs, rolled up his pants and soaked his feet in the river. "I wondered for a while how to become a god."

"Really?" The Notai's brow furrowed. "Why?"

The man shrugged. "Why not? Imagine becoming a god and having the power to level mountains and change the weather. You also have the bonus of people constantly praising you."

Nunu thought about the demi-gods of Freljord; of the three siblings Ornn, Anivia the Cryophoenix and the Volibear. He imagined himself taking one of their places and his stomach churned. He didn't want to breathe fire, or have wings made of icicles, or become a bear being pierced a thousand times. He was happy being himself. "That doesn't sound fun at all."

"Maybe. Then again, a friend of mine revealed that there are already stories of people ascending to godhood."

"There are?" Nunu leaned closer. He'd never heard any stories like that before. "Can you tell me one?"

Fareed brushed off the request with a handwave. "I'm not the story-teller in our group. I would get things wrong."

The yeti grunted.

"I agree with Willump," Nunu said, "it doesn't seem like there are any unique achievements left for you."

"Well, don't be so quick about that." A lazy smile crept out of Fareed. "Do you know of any stories where a hero kills an evil god?"

The boy thought long and hard while the Demacian wiped his feet and wrapped the ends of his pants and put on his shoes again. Nunu was still thinking when he climbed onto Willump's head and began to march down the hills. No matter how many times he went through all of his mother's stories, he couldn't recall any stories like that. He wasn't sure why a god would be evil in the first place but he kept it for himself.

"Please take me with you," Nunu begged.

They had reached the ground level and Willump was once again soaking his head in the river. The hinterlands had some strange trees with white barks and the grass reached almost up to Nunu's ankles. It was warmer down here too and Nunu had thrown off his thick gloves and snowcap.

"Please," Nunu begged again, hanging onto the corner of Braum's shield. "I want to see the crimson raptors."

The Iceborn gently pulled the boy off the shield. "Sorry, Nunu, but without Willump I don't think your tiny legs can keep up with us."

"Besides," Fareed said, "are you going to leave your friend behind and have all the fun for yourself?"

Nunu deflated. "No, I'm not."

"It's a great chance to get to know Cara better," Fareed suggested, nodding towards the girl sitting next to Willump by the river.

"I don't want to know her better," Nunu said. "If you leave me with her, we might start fighting."

"Ah, but fight and friends go hand in hand," Braum said with a chuckle. "Much like cheese and bread."

The two men hurried away, leaving a sullen boy, a silent girl, and a yeti exhausted by heat.

Nunu walked back to the river with fumbling steps. His eyes met with Cara's for a moment and he busied himself with plucking strands of grass from the ground.

Gurgling river water filled the silence. In the distance, birds chirped.

As time went past, Nunu found it harder to strike up a conversation. The girl didn't seem interested to talk either, dangling her bare feet in the water and glancing occasionally towards where Braum and Fareed had left.

Willump emerged from the river, splashing water everywhere. The yeti crawled up to the ground and rolled onto his back.

The yeti's fur wasn't suited for Demacia's weather. His tall horns might also tangle with tree branches.

"What animals live in the forests?" Nunu asked.

Cara glanced at him. "Deers, rabbits, raptors, tuskvores, wolves," she counted. "The wildlife in Uwendale is really big. Even badgerbears can be found to the east of here. There's a herd of sheep close to the town."

"What colors do they have?"

Cara's crinkled her nose. "What, all of them?"

"Yeah."

The girl puffed and Nunu was once again reminded of Kona the elkyr.

"I don't know," she said, "it varies from season to season. Brown, I guess?"

"Just brown? That's boring."

A scowl flashed over Cara's face before she focused on the river again.

"I don't know about Uwendale," she said slowly, "but where I come from, during autumn harvest, the leaves on the trees turn from green to fiery orange, then match the same vibrant yellow as the wheat fields. That's why it was called Goldweald."

Fiery orange. Vibrant yellow like gold. That sounded fun enough to work with.

Nunu began to brush Willump's fur while imagining the leaves with the different shades of fire. With each of his brushes, the yeti's fur shrunk and changed from its snow-white color to the orange of autumn leaves.

Cara let out a gasp but Nunu didn't pay any attention to it. He was too busy shaping Willump. Instead of claws, the yeti should have fingers to make it easier to pick up flowers and push away shrubberies. Instead of tall reindeer horns getting stuck everywhere, it should be antlers, not tall but wide, and looking like wooden branches that could blend in with the trees. It would be fun if it was like a helmet, easy for Willump to take off if it's too warm. The yeti's eyes became round and wide like a rabbit, but the vibrant yellow against the black pupils was a bit too much. Nunu still wanted some reminder of the yeti's previous form, so he changed the yellow irises to ice blue and sprinkled the fiery fur with some white. He stepped back and looked at his work. "What do you think, Willump?"

The yeti blinked. He clenched his four hands and stared at all his fingers. He scratched his face and let out a quizzical grunt.

"Why do you want a beard?" Nunu asked. "You didn't have one before."

The yeti snorted.

"That's fair. Alright then."

A soft beard flowed out from Willump's jaw. The yeti braided his new beard with his nimbler hands and wrapped a cord around it, then grinned widely, revealing rows of sharp teeth.

"How did you do that?" Cara rushed to Willump. She touched Willump's short-haired fur and poked at the braided beard. "Is this magic?"

"Maybe," Nunu said. "It just happens, like when I want snowballs." As he finished speaking, a pile of snowballs lay next to him.

The girl's eyes widened. "Is magic normal in Freljord?"

"Not every person knows it, but there's a few here and there who know a bit of magic. Shamans mostly."

"People in Freljord aren't scared of magic?"

Nunu tilted his head in confusion. "Why would we?"

A range of emotions seemed to flash over Cara's face. She grimaced, squeezed the hem of her cloak, scrunched her nose. Then her eyes began to water.

"Uhm…" Nunu asked slowly. "Are you crying?"

"No, I'm not!" The girl turned her back and pulled up her hood.

The boy looked at Willump for help but the yeti was busy admiring his new face in the water's reflection. A squirrel had jumped up on top of the new helmet and skittered across the antlers formed like tree branches stretching to the sides.

Willump perked up. The yeti's face was alert, ears wiggling and nostrils flaring.

Before Nunu had the chance to ask, Willump hugged him with a pair of hands. The yeti then hurried to grab Cara with another pair of hands and shoved the gloves, shoes and headwear scattered on the ground inside his cheeks, before rushing behind some of the bigger trees and bushes.

Nunu wanted to ask but Willump had the boy's mouth clamped shut. Same with Cara.

The trio hid in the vegetation, breathing in grass and earth and waited.

The bird chirps had disappeared.

There was a thump, and another. Something was coming closer. The sound of footsteps crushing grass and something next to it, a walking stick perhaps but it sounded heavier.

A figure cast a shadow over the bushes and trees the trio hid behind, kneeling in front of the river. Someone who was as big as Braum, maybe even bigger.

Nunu wanted to get a better look. He wriggled free from Willump's grasp. A smaller hand grabbed him on the wrist. He found Cara looking at him, pale and frightened. She shook her head.

He shook off Cara's hand, crawled closer to the end of the shrubbery and lifted slowly up one of the branches to get a better look.

A giant of a man leaned over the river, one hand holding a metal staff, the other hand dipped in the water and filling a canteen. He was shrouded in purple robes and his face hidden underneath a hood and a mask of some sort. The man seemed to notice something and peered into the river, reaching with his staff.

Nunu almost let out a gasp when the stranger fished out an orange fur-cloak from the water. It must have fallen in when Willump's horns transformed.

The man looked upstreams, towards the mountain path. Six glowing eyes peeked out from the hood, turning towards Nunu's direction.

The boy ducked, holding his breath.

Footsteps crunched closer.

Behind him, Willump bared his teeth and tensed up for a charge.

Suddenly, the squirrel on top of Willump's horns jumped out of their hiding place and rushed towards the stranger with a screech.

The screech was cut by a whip-like sound, followed by a soft crunch.

Nunu, Willump, and Cara waited.

There was a strange sound, as if something was scraped from the ground.

Footsteps again, together with the thumping of the metal staff, turning around and leaving. It took minutes before Willump grunted that it was safe.

The first thing Cara did was whack Nunu on the shoulder. "That was so, so, so stupid!"

"We got out fine, didn't we?" Nunu replied, stepping out from his hiding spot. The stranger was nowhere to be seen. "Saved by a scared squirrel."

"No, I saved us," Cara said, dusting grass and dirt off her clothes. "I told the squirrel to attack the stranger."

Nunu narrowed his eyes. "How?"

"I don't know, it's like how you make your snowballs and change the appearance of Willump. It's just something I can do. It's my magic."

"You can control animals?" Nunu then remembered their first encounter. "Was that how you rode that green wyvern and told the other wyverns to back off?"

"Y-Yeah?"

Nunu could barely believe it. He'd never heard of someone who could do that. "That's amazing!"

The end of Cara's lips perked up in a shy smile.

"Who was that anyway?" Nunu asked. "He looked really scary and he must've smelled dangerous too or else Willump wouldn't have acted like he did."

"A mercenary," Cara said. The smile had disappeared, replaced with a bitter frown. "Probably hunting for magic users."

"Why?" Nunu asked.

"I don't know." The girl shrugged. "Magic is just treated differently here in Demacia."