Ren hasn't been himself ever since... He tries his best to hide it around others... Only Ira and I know how he feels... The woman as well. I continue to watch over the boy, not able to help his pain... Why does it feel like there's a bleeding wound inside my heart?

“When will you apologize to her?”

“Would you forgive me for pulling a lousy stunt like that?”

Ira shrugs his shoulders. “I'm not her and you won't know until you try. Be a man and own up to your mistake.”

“I hate it when you're right...” I mutter.

“Aren't I always?”

“When did you become so annoying?” I glare at him.

“I learn from the best.” Ira grins. “Go on. You drag this out any longer and you won't ever be able to say you're sorry.”

“Speaking from experience?” I mock him.

“Yes.” Ira counters my eye roll with a straight glare. I stare at him for a moment longer and get off my ass. I stand in front of Vona's tent. Frozen stiff. Coward. I inhale and hold my breath. I hear noise coming from inside the tent. I take a peek. Vona has a bunch of stuff laid out, trying to stuff all of it into a bag. I open the entrance more.

“Is this a bad time?”

She turns around to me, startled. “Wykren! No. It's fine. What is it?” She turns around again and continues on. I step inside and sit down behind her.

“I wanted to apologize to you for how I was last time we spoke... No, I mean, I wanted to ask for forgiveness for my actions towards you.” I bow my head. A flop makes me look up. Vona's curled up on her knees in front of me.

“I am the one in need to beg for your forgiveness...” She speaks in a trembling voice and body. Say what now? I stare at her silently, waiting...

“Your village... Because it's so far South... It wasn't properly looked after by the Military... The nearest post was too far away and with the Winter as it was... There were no reports because nobody was there to report... I am ashamed to know how irresponsible our Military is... I know this won't bring much comfort to you but due to the increased fighting... No, even before that... The post stationed to look after your village was removed long ago... Your village is the only one left in these parts...” Now it makes sense... That's why... I wonder why we never moved? Was it because of that reason why my parents chose to live there? Far away from it all? I shake my head. That doesn't matter now. I look at the shaking woman on the ground...

“I am soo sorry...” She cries quietly. I reach out.

“It's not your fault.” I tell her, lifting her face off the ground. “It's ok.” I smile.

“Then why are you crying?” She says. Huh? Am I now?

I shrug my shoulders. “I hurts, seeing you like this.” Vona straightens out and wipes her face. I quickly brush my eyes away too.

“What's with the mess?” I ask, trying to joke.

“I'm going to the front lines.”

“What?”

“I cannot allow any more tragedies like your villages’ to happen again. I'm going to fight.” Vona tells me with a grim expression and continues to pack.

“You can't. You're a healer. You don't know combat...”

A short sword lands in my hand. “Feel free to teach me.” Vona holds my gaze. I put the sword down and take her both hands into mine.

“No. Your hands are too precious to be tainted with the burden of blood.” I kiss her fingers. “I'll fight. So watch over me and heal me. I'll kill enough for the both of us, as long as I'll have you to put me back together...” I kiss her hands again.

“Alright...” Vona whispers... I look up at her.

“When are you leaving?”

“Tonight.”

“We'll go together.” I kiss her hands one more time and return to the others.

“How did it go?” Ira asks.

“Good. Pack up, we're leaving.” I grab my things and start stuffing them into the bags.

“I thought you said it went well?”

“Yes. That's why we're leaving. Tonight.”

“Wykren, what happened?” Ira grabs my hand.

“Vona's going to fight on the front lines. We are going with her.”

“We?” Ira stares at me.

“Yeah. You're coming with us.”

“Who decided that, exactly?” He mocks me.

“I did.” I hold his stare. Ira backs up a little. He sighs after a long moment of silence.

“Guess I have no choice, then, huh?” He starts packing too.

“Boy, I don't believe it's wise, considering your condition...” Era's gentle growl rings inside my mind.

“I never said I was a wise man.” I crawl over to her. “Please...” I press my forehead to hers.

“If you wish...”

“Thank you...” I stand up again. “I'll go see what I can grab from the Providers.”

“I'll finish up here.” Ira says.

“Is it just me or do their side seem bigger today?” I ask someone.

“Yeah, it's not just you. Their forces have been steadily increasing every few weeks or so.” Ira answers, as usual. Something does not feel right with that.

“No kidding...” Vona? I look back at her. She sighs heavily.

“I didn't want to believe it...”

“What is it?” Ira pressures her.

“The Balli made up an excuse that it was the Noxians who used the cover of Winter to invade Ballista, bringing the fight closer to them. Since our, so called "advantage" has now melted, they are using it as an excuse to "take revenge".”

“You're kidding."

“I wish I was.” She sighs again.

"That was months ago! Who in the world would believe that?”

“Can't be helped. That's what happens when your lifespan is battle short...” Ira answers. “They needed a reason to reel in more fighters and they have one now...”

“A made up reason.” I mumble.

“Doesn't matter.”

“Apparently so.” I agree with my friend.

“Heads up.” Vona warns us. Here we go again...

I can't bear to watch Ren as he is now... The three of them have been fighting the front lines for weeks now... My heart aches with each wound Ren gets... Maybe it's for the best that Hyra isn't here to witness this... I keep watch over him as they try to rest... It's the least I can do...

“Hey, Gorgeous, can't sleep?” I feel the boy pet me.

“I'm fine. No need to worry.”

“Liar.” He smiles. “Is the wind keeping you awake? It's that lousy time of the year again...”

“No.”

“Something on your mind?” He pets me again.

“Perhaps...”

“What is it?” Ren sits up.

“I do not believe it is a good idea for you to continue fighting.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Do not play games with me, Boy.”

Ren giggles. “Sorry...”

“You're a mess and a wreck. You're growing weaker by the day. Last time you ate was over a day and a half ago.”

“I know...” He admits.

“Then why?” I ask. Ren does not answer me. “Wasn't your dream to travel and see more of the world?”

He lowers his head. “How can I possibly be enjoying myself with all of this unjust madness happening? How can I possibly bring children into this broken world!? How...” Ren's guilt is eating him up right in front of my eyes...

“It's not your responsibility to make this right by giving your life away...”

“It is now...”

“Ren...”

“I'll end the senseless fighting NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES!!” Ren flares up. I sigh...

“If that is your wish, then so be it. I shall assist you with it.” I sit up. The boy stares at me and breaks down again, hiding in my fur... I curl up around him once more... How long will you last, this way...

“Ren! The woman!” Era's roar echoes inside my mind. I look around. Vona is fighting a Balli warrior.

“How the hell did that happen!” I yell at Ira.

“One slipped past! Go! I'll cover you!”

“We're too far! I won't make it in time!”

“Then fly!”

“How!” I kick off another block of ice and throw my axe into the soldier. “You go!”

“I can't! We're in an open field! THERE ARE NO SHADOWS HERE!!” He yells back. The sky is grey too. With little to no light... Damn it! "Even if there were any - I'm at my limit! I pass out in there I'll never come back up!"

"Useless!" I answer and instantly regret it blocking a series of slashes from another fighter.

"Watch it!" Ira glares at me... I'll have to apologize to him later... But right now... I keep watch on Vona. She's feisty. She holds her own against the brute. Our training is paying off. For now. I hate to admit it but Ira was right to insist on it. I'm too naive... Wait. Where there's a body, there's always a shadow! He doesn't need to see it, just feel it! Hope it works... I grab hold of the enemy's blade and run my sword straight through the body. Rest in peace.

"IRA! PULL!" I call out, running over to Vona. The Balli strikes her down. He kneels down and starts ripping her robe open. OH HELL NO! The man stops for a second. He looks down. Something's getting in his way. He struggles as he sinks into the shadow. I rush over to Vona. The shadow with the Balli shrinks and the fighter gets stuck half way above the ground. I grab a broken arrow and jam it right into the man's throat.

“Hey! Wake up! WAKE UP! VONAAA!” I crash to my knees and shake her. She opens her eyes with a gasp for air.

“There you are... It's ok now.” I hold her to me. “Are you hurt? Bleeding? Anything?”

“No.”

“Good, if you can move then get going. Something tells me a storm is about to hit.” I nod up into the blackened clouds. A rushing water sound reaches us. The downpour is coming in strong.

“Right on time.” I hold Vona to me.

“Fall back! Fall back!” The order is given. Ira returns to us.

“About time.” He hisses. “You ok?” That stunt cost him... I see it in his strained face...

“Fine. Thank you.” Vona nods.

“Good. Let's get the hell outta here.” Vona and I and support Ira by the shoulders. Era shows herself from the trees, further away. I wave to her to stay put. We slowly return back to the camp. I leave Vona in the care of another Cleanser. Ira, Era and I drag ourselves back to our tent. The two of us drop dead to the ground, with Era curled up by our feet.

“Everything hurts...” I groan...

“Tell me about it...” Ira agrees. I chuckle. Painfully.

“Say.”

“What?”

“How did you...?” He doesn't finish. I open my eyes.

“I had faith."

"In what?" Ira stares at me, displeased.

"In your skills, knowledge and intelligence.” I answer calmly. "Above all - in our trust for each other."

“You gambled on her life! If I had hesitated, not caught on or failed, Devona would be dead right now!”

“But she's not. It worked. Everything's fine.”

“I hate that part of you.” Ira sits up. “The forever optimistic idiot. Just cause everything went well doesn't make it right.”

“I know.”

“Then why did you do it!” Ira punches the ground. I sit up too, slowly, painfully.

“Because. I had faith in you. I remembered how you were teaching Era Mana Control and Detection. A shadow does not have a physical form, yet you are able to grab hold of it and use it. You said that you don't necessarily need to see the shadow, as long you can see exactly where it is inside your mind. A body is a solid object. Even in the faint light, there's always a shadow...”

“He could have been an Assassin too. Not all of us use puny daggers..."

"I know. I was worried that might be the case. I knew that if that were true - he would use the shadow to go after you..."

"Because between me and her - I'm expendable ." Ira mocks me.

"No. All I wanted was to get the man away from Vona. If he had dived in as soon as he saw the shadow open, I would have turned back to help you finish him off real quick and then would have gone to her. Instead he struggled to get out. That bought me time to close the distance and take care of it." I answer. "I want to apologize for calling you useless back there. You may be a lot of things but that's not one of them." Ira doesn't answer me for a good few minutes. He doesn't even look at me, nor try to punch me.

“Moron. That's what you are. I'll go stand watch once the rain ends.” He turns away from me and sleeps.

“I know... Thank you.” I smile at his back and turn away to sleep myself...

I stare at the tent. Ira's on watch duty. Era's sleeping outside, despite the heavy rain earlier... And I'm left alone to my lonesome, wide awake. I sigh. What am I doing, exactly? They didn't wish for this... I'm disrespecting their wishes... But... I throw my arm over my eyes. I'm thorn... Lost and confused... I can't even remember my reason for living... Or fighting... A light breeze brushes against my skin. I take a peek.

“Vona!” I sit up. “What is it?” She looks terrible.

“I'm scared.” Vona curls up next to me. “Today was the first time I was so close to death... I...”

I wait a moment and another. I stroke her back as she weeps quietly.

“I wish I could tell you it gets easier...” I whisper. “I'm sorry...”

“I'm scared...” She says again...

“Go back. Leave here. You've done enough...” I tell her. Her body trembles under my arm.

“No.” She cries. “That's not it.” Vona clutches onto me. “I'm scared of losing you.” She presses herself against my side. Huh?

“Vona?”

“I don't want you to die! I... I can't imagine a life without you in it!” She cries into my shirt. I hug her and hold her to me... I'm thorn... It makes me happy, having her with me here... Yet at the same time I wish she was far away from all of this...

“I'm afraid to lose you too...” I whisper... Her silent cries pick up a little...

“Give it back... Give my heart back to me...” Vona cries out a little. I smile.

“How about I give you mine instead?”

“Mh.” She says and I pull her closer to me...

I watch over the Noxian Trio from, what Ren keeps calling - a safe distance. Because of that the woman almost died once before... How frustrating. All I ever do is watch... But if I wasn't, I wouldn't have noticed the change in Ren. He's been spending more of his nights with the woman. His eyes seem to have livened up again. His smile has been slowly returning to his lips too. He stopped lashing out... He calls it love... Whatever that means... I never truly understood the meaning of it... I know Hyra loved Ren and Wolken. As did Wolken... As does Ren... I know that this is the kind of love that family feels for each other. A parent for a child. A child for their parent. A family is born when a man and a woman love each other. It's a different kind of love... So far Ren hasn't discarded me. I was certain that he would as soon as he found himself a girl... He told me once before he loved me too... I never really thought much of it before... Does that mean that I am part of his family?

“Wykren! Behind you!” Vona screams out. I turn around and get sent flying a few feet by a block of dirt. Great. A caster. I land on my ass. Something breaks somewhere inside my body. I try to get up again and notice a large shadow hovering over me. I look up. Oh no. A giant block of dirt is aimed right at me. I try to run and fall down face first into the bloody mud. My knee gave out. I can't get up. I try to crawl but the wet ground is getting in my way. No way this ends this way!

“WYKREEEEEEEN!!!!!” I hear the scream and close my eyes...

“The hell you're doing! Move!” Ira emerges next to me.

“Why am I alive?” I ask him as he drags me away.

“Her.” He nods into the direction I went flying from a few minutes ago.

“Era! NO! GET OUT OF HERE!!!”

“BOY, I AM SICK AND TIRED OF THE SIDELINES! IF ME BEING HERE CAN HELP END THIS FATSER THAN SO BE IT!” She stomps on a skull and crushes it, spilling the blood. Era roars and dives into the fray. Vona runs over to us.

“Where?”

“The knee. I think.” Ira holds me up while Vona tries to heal me.

“I can't fix it. I need a Ravo.”

“Great. Here. You take him.” Ira hands me over to Vona and jumps a few shadows to help a fighter out.

“ERA! RETURN TO ME NOW!” I call for her. To my surprise she appears out of thin air right next to me.

“Take him away.” Vona helps me up. “Now!” She yells. I grab her hand.

“You too.” I glare at her. “IRA!” I shout out.

“What! I'm busy!” He answers me.

“Hop on!” I pull Vona up. Ira grabs a few spare weapons off the ground and throws us them, before climbing on Era too.

“Bear with me, please. Charge! We're ending this!” I call out and Era takes off as if slicing through air while the three of us slice through the bodies...

“Why don't you have someone look at it for you?”

“Cause I have some dignity left.” Ira groans.

“Right, cause pissing razors screams dignity.” I roll my eyes.

“Get off my case.”

“Gladly! As soon as you go see someone. It doesn't even need to be a girl. There are male healers too. I doubt you risk getting raped in your condition.” A dagger sticks into the side of my throat. Well, almost, anyways.

“Leave. Me. Alone.” Ira hisses.

“No. As someone who has pissed himself plenty already, for obvious reasons.” I gesture to the battlefield. “I sympathize with your condition. There's no reason for you to deal with that pain on top of it all.”

“I said no. “Ira growls.

“Stubborn idiot.”

“Says the biggest one here.” He counters my comment.

“Ugh!” I get up. “Watch him.” I ask Era.

“Sure.” She answers. I walk around our camp all pissed. I notice Vona talking to another Cleanser. She notices me too and waves. I wait. She comes over to me.

“Something the matter?”

I hesitate. “Yes. Ira needs medical attention.” I explain the situation to her. She puts her hand over her face.

“The moron!”

“That's what I said...”

“Where is he?” She asks.

“Behind the first biggest tree... Probably...” I point with my thumb over my shoulder. Vona doesn't even hesitate. She marches over to look for Ira. I follow her but keep my distance still. Era's alone. Called it. We walk around a few trees. Vona finds Ira first. I hide behind a tree and listen.

“What the hell woman!”

“Pants down, hands up and don't move.”

“The hell–“

“NOW!” She growls and I giggle. “Considering the size of your balls, I'd imagine you would have least that much brains to match them.” Vona says and my cover gets blown. I almost roll on the ground, laughing my ass off.

“Wykren, you bastard, you're dead!” Ira yells to me.

“Yeah yeah, heard that one before.” I keep chuckling.

“You may think of this as a minor inconvenience that you can deal with but the pain can easily distract you at a crucial moment when it hits. Honestly, do you even realize what you're doing? Putting everyone around you in danger just because you can't take a proper piss and are too full of yourself to ask for help.” Vona tells Ira off. I find it difficult to restrain myself... Ira mumbles something...

“There. All fixed. Now then. Tell me immediately when the pain comes back. Is that understood?” Vona tells Ira.

“The hell with you. I'm not risking another humiliation.” He mumbles.

“Oh relax, I don't need to touch it to make you feel better.” She waves him off.

“Then what the hell was that just now!” He flares up again.

“Punishment. For being a dumbass.” She answers and I roar again. “I only did it cause you asked.” She whispers, walking over to me.

“I know.” I kiss her on the forehead. “Thank you.”

“For the record, be glad it's only a minor infection. If it were anything more serious, I would have had you on all fours.” Vona tells Ira.

“Do I even want to know why?” He asks carefully.

“Guess you're not that well versed in male anatomy.” She grins mockingly to him, smiles softly at me and walks away. Ira comes over to me. Furious. I keep grinning.

“Some friend you are.” He hisses at me.

“Hey, that could have been solved easier if you hadn't been pissing around so much...” I crack up again. Ira tries to kill me with his glare alone. “I'm sorry, I'm sorry, really, I couldn't help it.” I keep laughing.

“To hell with you.”

“Oh please. We've known each other a few years now. Ish? I can tell when you don't mean it.” I catch up with my friend.

The Noxian Trio continues to fight the horrors of bloodshed. I fail to understand their reasons for it... The only thing I understand is that Ren has found his reason to live and fight again. It's evident in his moves as he fights... As long as it keeps him alive - I won't complain. Be it peace or a woman that he's fighting for... I'll protect him. I won't fail you again, Hyra...

“Didn't you say that your dream was to travel and to have a family later on?”

“I did. It is. But...”

“But what?”

“I'm conflicted. Now that I know that my parents were warriors too, I want to see my own children learning the ropes and on top of it all, I want to be the one to teach them... I want to tell them that they too come from a proud fighter blood... When I began my training within the Army I couldn't understand why holding my weapons felt so natural, same as breathing...” I gaze at the stars for a moment more and continue.

“When I found out why I felt proud and enraged at the same time... If only they didn't hide it from me... Perhaps I would have stayed behind and agreed to their boring routine life... Then again...” I pause...

“Then again what?” Vona whispers.

“I wouldn't have met you.” I look down at her, laying on my chest. She opens her eyes to me.

“I think I would enjoy teaching my children all kinds of things. I can just see it know how all of us charge into battle on Era.” I smile for a heartbeat. “Yet, at the same time, I don't want them to suffer... I now understand why my parents hid their past... It hurts but I can't blame them... But I don't wish to lie to my children either... I'm too conflicted about it all right now...”

“Take it a step at a time then. Figure it out as you go along...”

“Oh, well that's easy enough. I know exactly what I want now.” I grin.

“Oh? “Vona lifts her head up to me again.

“You.” I kiss her and roll over her again.