Another Talon

Bird that Carries You Over a Disproportionately Small Gap by Toby Fox

The Coming of the Martians by Jeff Wayne

Don’t Give Up by Toby Fox

Forever Autumn by The Moody Blues

CNR by Weird Al

Double Trouble by 2 B. A. Master

Romance Novel by NSP

The Spirit of Man by Jeff Wayne

Through Heaven’s Eyes from The prince of Egypt

Hold Me by Delta Heavy

TAGGED BY: @theawakenedlegends

Ly stopped in her movement as he lept up to her. She didn’t turn her head towards him, nor did she answer immediately. The bold personality of the Noxian warriors used to scare her when she was a child, but as she grew older and learned to fight them her fear turned more into an irritation. How come all people of one nation could act so entitled all the time?

He was close. Not close enough for any normal person to feel uncomfortable, but much too close for her taste. She could almost feel the rush of his blood through her strings and the urge to just tighten the net around his fragile flesh grew so much… before dying down again as she took a deep breath.

“He was here, he landed on Ionia. I can’t say if on his own will or not. I was supposed to bring him to the far west, but a day before I was supposed to take care of my task I received a message telling me that my services were no longer needed.” She didn’t know why she told him everything she knew right away. Maybe because his presence started to irritate her more and more. But maybe it was because the story of a missing general was the most interesting thing she had heard in months.

“I don’t know who told you about me, but I have never even seen your General, nor have I harmed him.” She finally turned her head towards him now, showing him a friendly smile. “Is he special to you? You seem rather eager to find him. And on your own too.”

He listened intently, taking everything she said with a grain of salty. She was a lead, true, but she was also an Ionian, who held grudges for good reason, and an enemy magic user. She could still be trying to lead him into a trap.

But her word was also all he had right now to find The General. He’d followed many questionable leads already to find Marcus, and Talon was willing to do it again. He’d remain wary and vigilant, but he’d listen. He glanced to the west. She hadn’t taken Marcus there. Had someone else been ordered to?

Talon looked back. “General Marcus was my commander. And a political opponent of Swain.” Then he arched an eyebrow. “You think I’d trust the Noxian government? Swain’s dogs?" Swain probably had a hand in what happened to Marcus in the first place.

His words only confirmed what she had suspected since this stranger had first touched her net without even knowing: he was a Noxian. The same kind she had met during the nine years of war, the same kind that she was used to kill, the same kind that took her mother from her. She tilted her head and her smile grew slightly.

“I understand” she replied and swung her legs on the other side of the rail. “Come in. You might not want to discuss such matters out in the open. Many Ionians are still quite… sensitive when it comes to Noxians, you see.” For a moment, she hesitated, trying to find any bitter feelings within her own heart for the loud, brutal nation of Noxus. For the people who made her into what she was now. When she only found emptiness, she grinned to herself.

“Can I offer you a cup of tea? Your journey must have been long.”

His eyes narrowed. Talon did like this. She didn’t want to talk out in the open, and while he couldn’t blame her, this meant one of two things. Either she was one of those Ionians who had issues with Noxus still and was trying to lure him into a trap, or she had news he wouldn’t take well. Possibly the death of Du Couteau. Talon didn’t want to believe that was a possibility, but it was getting harder to rule out.

Whatever the case, he wasn’t going inside. Nor was he taking any food or drink from her just yet.

A relaxed sigh from her side before she picked up her work again. Still not looking up, seemingly not acknowledging his existence if it wasn’t for her words that were clearly directed at him. After all there was just the two of them here. She held up the frame and examined her work for a moment until she finally answered.

“Butterflies are precious creatures. They come in so many colors, shapes, sizes, and yet they all flutter around in search for sweet nectar. They are so fragile, and so unaware of their own fragility. Spiders, on the other hand, are very patient creatures. They craft their nets with dedication, then they hide and wait in the dark, hours, days, sometimes months. Insects are a lot like people, you know? The question is whether we are more like butterflies or like spiders. After all, one eats the other.” And for a second, a net of silvery shimmering strings could be seen, surrounding her like a web, before disappearing again.

She chuckled to herself and finally turned her head to look at the stranger with a friendly, yet somehow uneasy smile. “Then why are you here, if you don’t mind me asking?” Slowly she put her work aside and folded her hands together, hiding them under the long sleeves of her dress, patiently waiting for an answer.

So she was comparing them to humans, was she? To victims and assassins-or perhaps to soldiers-respectively. What an Ionian way to think and speak. What a useless analogy. And a disgusting one-the thought of someone being eaten was something even noxians didn’t enjoy, Talon in particular feeling uneasy at that.

He watched as the net flashed. Magic, no doubt. He hated magic. It never worked for him, but it always seemed to work against him. Something Talon could never have a safety against, a way to escape. It would always be a weakness of his he couldn’t fix.