A/N: There is a brief mention of sexual assault (used as an accusation) in this chapter. Please be mindful if this is something that bothers you.


Chapter 9

The next weekend, the trio had gained permission to visit the forest. The forest lay a good hour's walk away, but after wearing Tarian down after ten minutes of "pleaseee!"... he agreed to let the three of them go, on the condition they be back at five, no later.

Tarian stopped Talon at the door while the twins rushed ahead. He quietly shut it, giving his foster son a very expectant look. "Talon, I want no problems out there. I'm trusting you to behave, okay? No trouble like we had at the market last week."

The 'trouble' had been when himself and the twins had run into Dulren, while Tarian was occupied at the stall. While Talon ignored being called various slurs, which Dulren clearly thought saying it in Demacian would mean Talon wouldn't understand still; it was getting spat on that made the Noxian snap.

He'd thrown the other boy to the floor while trying to get his thumbs pressed into his windpipe. Tarian and an enforcement officer had pulled them apart very swiftly. Only giving both kids a warning and making their respective parents leave the area.

"Yes, Tarian…" Came Talon's quiet agreement, brushing aside the cruel memory. Only then did his foster father step aside to let him catch up to Caleb and Quinn.

With a backpack filled with snacks and a giddiness about them, the trio began their journey, chattering excitedly about what they would play when they got to the forest. As they walked, the familiar sights of their home gradually gave way to the wilder, untamed overgrowth of the forest's edge, the air growing more fragrant with the scent of pine and earth.

Talon paused as they walked deeper, listening to the sounds of birds far above him and watching the many, many trees towering high. In the back of his mind, his thoughts drifted to that fateful night when a demon chased him…at least, what he thought was a demon.

"Hey, Caleb, Quinn?" he asked, his foster siblings looking up from collecting various sturdy sticks. "There's no…monsters…in this forest, right?"

Caleb burst out laughing at his question, only stopping when Quinn elbowed him in the ribs. "No, Talon. No monsters! Monsters don't exist!" She reassured.

"I ..I slept in this forest, when I was living homeless here. A …A monster– I saw one."

Quinn's expression softened as she moved closer to Talon. "Maybe it just seemed like a monster because you were scared. Sometimes our minds can play tricks on us, especially in the dark, mum says."

Caleb dropped the various sticks he'd gathered. The two were trying to build a shelter together against an old fallen tree. "What did this monster look like anyway?" He asked, and started to stab the sticks into the mud.

How could Talon forget it? Its terrifying features were burned into his mind, sometimes he still briefly saw it when he closed his eyes at night.

"It…It had big red, glowing eyes. With huge claws! It looked like a man! But…It was pitch black and it was covered in a foggy thing around it." Talon tried to explain.

Caleb raised a brow at this description. Quinn however snapped her fingers and smiled "Talon, what you saw was probably just a bear!"

Talon frowned. "I've seen bears. This wasn't a bear."

Quinn hesitated, then shrugged. "Well, whatever it was, it's not here now. Let's focus on building our shelter, okay? We'll make it monster proof too!"

The twins got to work, their shelter slowly taking shape as a sloped, leafy canopy. Talon mostly watched, he didn't want to comment that if it rained, this shelter wouldn't keep them dry. This was a game, so that did not matter. "Try it out, Talon!" Quinn beckoned, crawling out from the shelter with a big smile.

He reluctantly crawled inside. Despite not being fit to keep you dry, it was cozy and secretive. Talon sat on his haunches as Quinn and Caleb beamed at their creation. "Not bad huh! Did you make a shelter, Talon? When you were …All alone out here?"

Talon shook his head. Giving a small exhale. "I just found a comfy place by a tree. Mostly slept in people's barns and empty homes."

"Oh…Well, not anymore right!" Quinn smiled, holding onto his arm gently.

A twig snapping close by caught Talon's attention. His neck went in that direction instantly and his eyes narrowed. "Did you hear that?" He said in a low whisper.

"Is- Is it the monster?" Caleb whispered back, suddenly not doubting Talon's account.

"No! I'll go check it out, it's probably just some animal…" Quinn muttered. Going to crawl out again. But Talon took hold of her leg to stop her.

"...That's not an animal…" He began.

Their shelter suddenly tore open, as force destroyed it in an instant. Cackles of cruel laughter followed, as Talon suspected, not an animal. There with his two cronies, stood Dulren. "What are you three losers doing?"

Quinn stood up in a fury, brushing leaf litter off of herself as she stormed up to Dulren. "You ruined our game! Why?!"

"Because it's lame like you! Caleb why do you hang out with your geeky sister and this savage? Come kick about with us on the fields!"

Caleb frowned softly. "Don't…Call my sister…"

"You're seriously enjoying playing baby games?" Dulren snickered.

"Well why don't you get lost and leave us 'babies' alone?" Quinn growled. "You big idiot!"

Dulren suddenly swiped and gripped Quinn's jaw. "Don't you speak to me like that, little girly!"

"Stop!" Caleb cried "Let her go!"

"Get your filthy hands off!" Quinn screamed.

"Let go!" Caleb urged again.

A fist swung, slamming into the bullies temple. Dulren crashed to the floor with a whine. Everyone turned in shock, seeing Talon standing there, glaring down at the other boy. "Touch her again …And I'll make you sorry."

Dulren looked up, stunned and clutching his temple where Talon's punch had landed. His cronies took a step back, their confidence wavering in the face of Talon's fierce glare.

"Talon..." Quinn whispered, Talon held up a hand to stop her as he continued to glare down his enemy.

Dulren scrambled to his feet, his face red with humiliation and anger. "You think you can get away with that, you Noxian trash?" he spat, but there was a quiver in his voice that hadn't been there before. "Kick his ass!" He screamed to his friends.

"Tal, run!" His foster siblings screamed in unison.

As the first boy came at him, Talon side stepped a swing with ease. Grabbing the arm, twisting it painfully then slamming his target into a tree, hearing the scream when a snap sounded. A kick hit his side, nothing more than a mild irritation. Talon retaliated with his elbow into whatever it could connect with, that being the attacker's mouth. That halted any further aggression, the boy with the broken arm ran off crying helplessly, the second spat blood whimpering he'd lost two of his teeth.

"Noxian filth! You'll be sorry!" Dulren shouted, seeing his remaining bloodied up friend taking off running. He swung for Talon, who took the hit hard in the jaw. Talon stumbled back, rubbing the area that now pulsed in hot pain. His eyes narrowed, his hand slid down his own body and found the hilt of what he was looking for.

When they'd been getting ready to go, Talon remembered what lurked in that forest. He knew the twins would be easy prey for that monster. Talon wouldn't allow it, slipping away as Quinn pleaded with their parents, hand rifling through the kitchen drawer. Nobody noticed a thing as the blade was safely tucked into the waistband of his jeans.

It was just one fast swipe, dragging the blade across the attacker's lips. That's all it took for the pathetic scream to sound and for Dulren to be sent off, hand clamping over his mouth that gushed blood. "Maniac!" He screamed at him through a drizzling of blood and saliva, along with some curses and threats in Demacian. Before he took off running.

Talon snorted after them in defiance. Unafraid, unphased at what was barely a threat to someone like him. When his adrenaline fades, Talon slowly turned back to his siblings. His expression softened at their fearful faces and he dropped the bloodied kitchen blade.

"He hurt – I …"

He'd messed up. He'd broken his promise to Tarian and now he'd be in big trouble. Quinn quietly led them out of the forest, knowing they had to go home now. Talon followed in shameful silence. Noticing how Caleb kept nervously glancing back towards him.

xxx

The three children sat at the top of the stairs, listening to the boiling tension downstairs. At the door, two of the parents of the boys Talon had hurt were arguing with Monarri and Tarian.

"This is unacceptable!" one woman shouted. "Your 'foster case' broke my child's arm and pulled a knife on another boy! He should be arrested for assault!"

"I understand you're upset," Monarri replied, her tone steady. "He will be dealt with for carrying and using a weapon. But your son and his friends attacked Talon and my other children first. Talon was defending them. My daughter confirmed his story and said one of the boys tried to hurt her-!"

"Defending them? He's a savage, just like all Noxians! He doesn't belong here! How long until he's bigger than you, bigger than Tarian?" the woman snapped. "He'll kill the both of you then have his way with your daughter!-"

"That is enough!" Monarri shouted.

Talon flinched, he'd never heard her shout so loudly. The spoken words, he didn't understand the meaning behind them, but felt cut deeply by that reaction alone.

Quinn squeezed his hand reassuringly. "Don't listen to her, Talon," she whispered. "She's a stupid old goat! I know you'll never hurt mum or dad, or whatever that last thing means."

He'd told Tarian he'd not cause trouble, yet here he was, listening to the aftermath of his actions. Tarian stood beside Monarri, watching in bemusement as she was screamed at by the strangers.

"Mark my words, Ranger. You will regret the day you let that monster into your home! You've brought misery to Uwendale!" After a snarled threat about reporting this to the school too, the enraged parents left. Monarri shut the door with a silent click and sighed deeply. Her husband came to her side and rubbed her shoulders comfortingly. She glanced up the stairs, her weary gaze meeting Talon's, and he felt himself freeze.

"Talon, come here please…" She asked.

He knew better than to stall this out, standing up and reluctantly leaving Quinn and Caleb sides. The two looked on after him with sad faces as he approached his foster parents.

Monarri knelt down to his level, her expression gentle but serious. "Talon, I need you to understand that there are consequences to such brutal, physical violence. I believe you, when you say you were trying to protect Quinn and Caleb, but sneaking blades like that to hurt somebody!..." She sighed deeply, seeing Talon didn't even seem upset at having his actions retold to him. "Talon, are you not ashamed?"

"I…Don't know," Talon said slowly.

She blinked, Tarian frowned. "You don't know?"

"He hurt Quinn," Talon continued. "It made me mad."

There was a time he was passive towards this kind of thing. That time wasn't even so long ago. Watching from the insides of a dumpster, Talon once observed two teenage girls violently kicking and beating another youth to near death. He knew this child, even slept in the same safe areas as them once. But he didn't intervene, it wasn't his business either and that child should've fought harder or been smarter to escape.

Seeing that thug of a child grab Quinn, who he'd only known for four months…Triggered something different. Akin to rage. More rage he'd ever felt, even towards his hunters. He wished he'd done worse in truth. But did not verbalize it.

"Monarri…This is serious. He shattered a kid's arm…Stabbed another, or tried too" Tarian interjected. "They're pressing charges no doubt."

"Talon is a child himself, who is not going to adjust so quickly. Those boys have tormented him from day one… We have to weather this…We can't just give up. Talon…To your room for tonight, please."

Talon slumped away without a word. He'd gotten into trouble defending their children, yet if he'd not intervened, what would have stopped that thug from hurting Quinn? Talon's grip around his pillow tightened, and he felt his eyes prick with hot tears. Just when he thought he was finding a family, he learned his true status. Something to be tolerated, to endure until brighter times. Until they could pawn him off…

He reached into his school bag, where a second kitchen knife lay, hidden under crumpled papers and books, he reached for it. Fingers brushing the blade. Taking it out, he flipped it over and over, catching the hilt expertly everytime. Murmuring to himself he had done what was right, that bastard should've been gutted. In Noxus it would've been so.

His loathing was interrupted when he heard Quinn's footsteps, shoving the blade under his pillow quickly to conceal it. Talon had come to recognize everyone's steps from above him. Caleb was rather rushed, always like he was hurrying to and fro. Tarian was heavy, the floorboards creaked under his mass, and Quinn was always trying to be quiet but doing a poor job at it. Now Monarri was the one he'd struggle to detect; she was silent, and Talon hated it.

"Hey, Talon…" Quinn whispered, climbing up the loft stairs. "You okay…?"

"What do you think?" he replied. Stupid question.

"Okay, don't be snippy. You did pull a knife…"

"Shut up!"

"Mum is going to protect you anyway, Talon… Make sure that old goat doesn't get you kicked out of school or our home! Mum is a ranger, she'll probably pull a favor to keep you safe…"

"Wouldn't be the worst thing…" Talon mumbled into his mattress. Despite his apparent progress, sitting down with Monarri or Tarian every night to practice writing and reading, his teacher always had a comment. It just got to a point Talon stopped even responding with a 'Yes, Mrs.'

Quinn plonked herself down beside him, Talon didn't react. Fine with her in his personal space.

"In future, we'll just walk away. But don't take knives from mum's kitchen again. I know you're just thinking you're being a good brother-"

"I am not a good brother…" Talon mumbled into the fabric. "That woman thinks I'll kill you."

"She can shove it!" Quinn sneered. "She doesn't know you, or what you had to deal with growing up. She's just a spoiled, snobby goat. My mum and dad don't even like her, don't worry." She got his entire head into a tight hug. It wasn't very comfortable, but Talon let himself relax, his shoulders slumping a little as she rocked him slightly.

"You're a good brother, Talon. You protect us, and you care. That's what matters."

The two stayed up a while longer, talking quietly. It must've been two in the morning before Quinn realized she should probably get herself back to bed. With a final squeeze of Talon's wrist, she quietly took herself down the stairs of his attic. Her last words to him being tomorrow was a new day.

xxx

Talon didn't go to school that next morning, seeing Quinn and Caleb off as he stayed in the home's doorway. Monarri saw it best he stayed home while things settled, instead giving him a few home-school type lessons. He quietly scribbled some answers to given questions, a book open close by on Demacian history. It was a hard read, often seeing Noxians equated to monsters. After he didn't touch the paper for a good fifteen minutes, Monarri sighed and told him to take a break and they'd get back to it.

He stood up, stretching his legs. The ticking clocks about the house seemed louder without the chatter of his foster siblings. Wandering to the window, Talon gazed out at the fields beyond, watching Tarian working hard, tempering some hot metal, slamming a hammer into it over and over.

"What is he doing?" Talon asked, fixated on the man's actions.

Monarri joined him at the window, her eyes following Talon's gaze. "Tarian's working on a new project. He's a blacksmith; he makes mostly tools. Right now, he's making some weapons, commissioned by the local garrison."

Talon nodded slowly, still watching. It was fascinating, even from such a distance. He felt her hand gently pat his head. "Why don't you go see if he wants a hand?" she suggested with a smile. Eager to get away from reading about Noxians being decimated, Talon obliged. He got his new shoes off the rack and stepped outside. The clang of metal against metal grew louder as he approached Tarian, who looked up and gave him a small nod.

"How's your lesson going, boy?" Tarian asked as he continued forging the metal against the anvil.

"Hard," was Talon's response. "Can I help you here?"

Tarian paused, hesitant to respond, examining Talon for a moment before giving a small nod. "Sure, if Monarri said it's okay. There's always work to be done. Come over here and I'll show you what to do." He handed Talon a pair of heavy gloves and motioned for him to come closer to the anvil. "First things first, safety. Always wear these, and be aware of your surroundings. Got it?"

"Yes, sir." Came Talon's quick response as he fit the slightly too big gloves on his small hands.

"You see this piece here? We're shaping it into a blade. I need you to keep the metal steady while I hammer. Think you can handle that, lad?" When Talon nodded, the two got to work. Minutes passed by as they worked in peaceful, comforting silence. Only the sound of clashing metal among them. Tarian spoke after a while. "So, do you want to talk about what happened with them boys?"

Talon froze up, his eyes fixing on a point on the unfinished blade. "...I-..." He swallowed, expecting more harsh scolding. "I know I promised to behave, but I messed it up anyway." There was a sigh from above and Talon kept his eyes locked downwards. …"I got angry. When he hurt Quinn…I couldn't stop it. I didn't take the knife to hurt anybody…It was just to feel safe, I swear it."

Tarian nodded slowly. "Anger is a powerful emotion. It can make us do things we regret. But we need to learn to control it instead of letting it control us." He set the hammer down and turned fully to Talon. "You've got a lot of strength in you, and that's not a bad thing. But strength needs to be tempered with wisdom. Just like this blade, it needs to be shaped and honed, do you understand?"

"I think so…" Talon mumbled, finally meeting the older man's eyes. "...Can we make more blades now?"

His foster father gave a small smile. "Alright, just remember what I told you today. No more trouble, exercise that control."

"Yeah… I know I made you not like me again…" Talon mumbled.

The smile on Tarian's face faded, as he stopped his work. "Do you think that?" Talon's lack of response and aversion seemed to answer his question completely. "Talon, I know…I know we had a rough start. I wasn't onboard with fostering you, I won't lie. But…This is new and scary for me too, just as it is for you. I'm sorry, for any hurt caused. Truly." He gently put a gloved arm on Talon's shoulder.

Talon's eyes widened a bit. "Really?"

"Really," Tarian affirmed. "We all make mistakes, but it's how we move forward from them that counts. Now, let's get back to work, you're quite the little apprentice. Have you made weapons before?" He joked.

"I could repair my ones in Noxus- I mean…" He went to stop himself. Noxus talk was discouraged in the house, but this time Tarian raised a brow. "...I like this. Doing it properly with the metal."
"Oh yeah? You'll fit right in on my smithy I think, Talon. I'll make a blacksmith of you yet."

They resumed their work, the rhythmic clang of metal filling the air once more. Right until midday, at the arrival of Quinn and Caleb. Tarian dismissed Talon, letting him take off his gloves excitedly and go find his siblings. Eager to reunite and share his own day with them.

Tarian smiled after him, finally feeling he and their foster son had finally begun to bond.

It came as no shock to Talon when the letter came a few days later. Informing the household that Talon was not welcome back at the school due to a petition by the parents. Monarri sighed, Tarian shook his head, but Talon? He felt nothing. He'd been enjoying learning here, in the home. Away from kids who spat at him in the playground, away from being picked on by a teacher who clearly saw him as a problem she had to put up with. Instead, now he'd continue to be homeschooled by his foster parents.

Despite the change, the household settled into a comfortable rhythm. Talon felt himself thrive under this new learning environment and Tarian's added practical lessons in the smithy. He still wasn't allowed to be in the kitchen or smithy unsupervised. As they thought he'd take knives somewhere, but they'd not yet found the one he'd hidden in his room to his relief.

xxx

One afternoon, after a particularly intense lesson on Demacian history, Talon looked up from his book. "Monarri, why do the Demacians hate Noxians so much?"

"It's…It's a complicated history, Talon." Considering her words carefully. "Noxus has caused a lot of misery and destruction not to just Demacia, but many nations around it. It's a brutal empire, hellbent on assimilating everything around it."

"But why do those people hate me? What did I do? I didn't es-...assim…Whatever that means." Talon protested.

Monarri sighed, placing her hand on Talon's. "You didn't, Talon. Sometimes people judge others based on where they come from or what their leaders have done. It's not fair, and it's not right. But it happens."

He nodded quietly, returning to his quiet scribblings. This passage wanted him to write about some history of Demacia and its founding. Talon put his head down and began.