Flashback Follow the Aurora (Miria)

[Rengar]

Timestamp: Spring 48, 494 Petch it's cold brother, why'd we have to come this far north? There's nothing here but snow and pines and big petching animals. "I told you a hundred times, the Vantha are known for their craftsmanship, we can learn from them. Who knows, maybe they'll learn from us? What's the point of us wandering lands if we don't visit everywhere?" His brother had been complaining for the last several weeks, as usual for a long journey. He always became irritating and stir-crazy when they hadn't had a woman in a long while. He knew they had to be getting close to the city of the north, he'd seen several tree stumps. These were always the first markers of civilization when Rengar traveled. As he slumped through the snow, he quickly came upon a felled tree, broken it looked like, due to the weight of ice amongst it's branches. It wasn't too big, maybe a couple feet taller than himself. And Rengar smiled. Ugh. Really brother? Really? Rengar had learned over the years that the best way to enter a city is with a gift. He set down his pack, and released his coil of rope from it. He dug through the needled branches and found two stout branches. He snaked the end of the rope beneath the trunk, on the bottom side of the branches. Then with the long side of the rope he formed a small loop, and through the eye of that loop, he passed the short side of the rope. He passed the short end of the line beneath the long end, then back down into the small loop. He then pulled the long line taut, ready to haul it. He made sure to keep the rope tight as he moved to the top of the fallen tree, happy that he'd learned to tie a bowline from those Svefra all those years ago. He liked this knot for hauling trees for the knot didn't slip when he was pulling, and was incredibly easy to untie when he was finished. Pulling the rope over his shoulder, his pack slung over the other, he dug his booted feet deep into the snowy ground, and the tree began to slide. He'd forgotten how much heavier pines seemed against southern trees. Grunting, his knees churned, moving a bit by bit, warming his body, as he made his way toward where he suspected Avanthal to be. Two bells later, his back and buttocks sore from hauling, he finally saw the massive wall of Avanthal. He saw a couple of large bears and a few human guards resting atop of it, and a few more on the ground. As he neared, a man and a bear came out to greet him, "Hello traveler, I hope you didn't haul that tree from too far. Welcome to Avanthal, what brings you here?" "I came looking for work, I'm good with wood and the like, and I brought this tree as a gift. Is that okay?" "Of course, make your way into our fair city, and you should be able to find work in the Snowsong Hold. They are the best woodworkers around, and would certainly appreciate your gift. And your name is?" "Rengar, of Riverfall." Rengar nodded at the man and his bear, which was larger than any other bear he'd ever seen. He suspected it to be a Kelvic by the way it watched him and behaved. Rengar continued hauling the tree into the city proper, stopping near what seemed to be a market for animals. He stopped there to rest, sitting upon the tree, taking in the sights of this city, wondering where this Snowsong Hold was...

[Miria]

A younger vantha normally would not leave the safety of their hold without an adult's supervision and Miria was no different. Instead she played with her best friend Laforte and the other boys, whether the latter liked it or not. "Try to keep up!" Running from the hail of snowballs she dove into cover as the majority of the frozen snow came crashing in behind her. "Missed us!" Miria called out with a laugh. This was so much more fun then staying inside learning how to do arts and crafts. "You will have to do better then that if you wanna beat the Snowsongs in today's upcoming snowball royale!" Beside Miria Laforte tried to rally the fellow Skyglows into a frenzy which made the small girl giggle. Sometimes these boys took playing too seriously. "I'll go on ahead there bear butt." Receiving a grimace in return Miria merely stuck out her tongue before skipping towards Snowsong hold. Maybe the kids there weren't so uptight about the event? Hopefully not. Small steps into the snow leading all the way to downhill to Snowsong hold Miria descended down her elevated hold as quickly as an eight year old could possibly can. Behind her Frostfawn hold and the beast market was within sight as she slowly navigated her way to Snowsong hold. Though she was not good friends with many of the kids there she had hoped to get to know them a bit before bombarding them with snow and ice. Hopefully the kids there wouldn't be as serious about today's upcoming snowball fight. Surprisingly enough the children Snowsongs were actually some of the most bloodthirsty kids growing up! At least that was how it seemed with the boys. Perhaps they got it all out of their system early and THEN made them seem like the most hospitable people in Avanthal. However Miria was meeting a pack of them when they were at their worse. Without warning Miria felt a sudden bombardment of snow as she fell flat on her back from the impact. Barely able to recover from her rest the Snowsong pack pelted the small girl at point blank range as she then tried to crawl out of the harassment. Each small stride she made was answered with three snowballs aimed at closed range. How prepared were these kids. "Someone help! Mercy!" The Skyglow sobbed.

[Rengar]

Rengar heard the sounds of children at play, screams, shouts, and laughter ringing through the air. He looked up from his set, and saw what appeared to be a very mismatched battle, with the weapons being balls of snow. His eyes watched the children's hands, scoop up snow, compact it into a ball, then throw it. Those on the winning side had a very strong pack mind going on. They all attack as one, even against a single target. Keeping his sharp eyes on them, he scooped up some of white powder in his dark violet hands. He then crushed it, putting a slight rotation into his hands, so as to round it off. When he felt it was compact enough, he tossed it up in the air, and caught it, satisfied when it didn't crumble between his fingers. Looking over at the battle, he now saw the entire pack assaulting a child from point blank range. Now that was just dirty. Rengar smiled, feeling a little evening of the odds was in order. He noticed that one of the attackers seemed to be at the rear of the group, and yet, the way all of the others kept tilting their ears to him, and kept looking over at him, he quickly determined him to be the leader. While unable to hide his purple self amongst the snowy backdrop, the group was so enthralled in their assault, they didn't see him approach. They also didn't see him enter a stance with his left foot forward and his weight supported on his back, right foot. His arm cocked back, his hips shifted his body weight, and his arm shot forward. The snowball flew just as the leader turned to look at him. In an explosion of white, the snowball burst in his face, knocking him flat on his back. But Rengar didn't stop there. While the other children turned to see what happened to their leader, he scooped up the fallen child, and quickly carried her back behind his tree. He gently set the child down, now realizing it to be a daughter. A giant, friendly, though slightly devious smile on his face, "How about we turn the tide? We have a fort now. Fight little one, fight!" Rengar quickly set about to producing as many snowballs as possible. His snowballs were quite large to fit his hand, his muscles making them extremely compact. "You throw, I'll plan the strategy. Are you ready?"

[Miria]

Miria wasn't really sure what was going on. One moment she was on the cold Avanthal ground a proud warrior huntress of a massive raid. Now all of a sudden Miria was starting at some GIANT man. Even hunched over he seemed to tower over the small vantha child. Miria opened her mouth to speak but only small grumblings of protest came out. Those Snowsongs were vicious! "I can barely understand what's going on mister. Where did you come from?" The young Skyglow was about to go into another round of repressed sobs before clenching her small fists in anger.

No! Not in front of this stranger! Never show the Skyglow have weakness. Words drifting from her childhood friend gave Miria the resolve she needed but... I can't do this alone."They hit me really hard mister." Sniffling two tears went down her face before brazenly being wiped away by the vantha girl. "I got hit so hard you look purple to me!" Without warning Miria reached over and poked the strange man before putting the finger in her mouth still puzzled. "Yea. You taste like purple mister."

Then a sudden realization finally came from to the Skyglow child. A slight pause in the action. The Snowsong leader flying hundreds of feet before hitting the ground, a waggle of eyebrows and finally getting whisked away to safety. "You were the one who." Blushing slightly Miria hopped up and down excited at the new predicament. "You can do it! We can take on those cowardly Snowsongs. Show them who is boss around Avanthal!" The appearance of the Akalak did not deter the innocent look of the Vantha child. Grabbing his arm Miria even tugged at the strange man to come close before making a plan.

"Alright! I'm ready! My throwing arm is the greatest among the Skyglow group! You direct me and we'll win this fight." Putting on her fiercest expression the Skyglow child looked as if something was crumpling her face. Perhaps not the most intimidating war face ever seen but Miria had the fire in her eyes. "Then you can carry me to Whitevine hold so we can turn you back to a normal color mister. Let's go! Laforte and the others will be here to back us up any minute now."

[Rengar]

The little girl didn't seem to be frightened of him, which was good, as she asked where he came from. He decided to have a little bit of fun with the tiny native. When he'd been contemplating coming to Avanthal, he'd heard that the people were called Vantha, or children of the Aurora. He'd asked what an aurora was, and it was apparently colored lights in the sky. "I come from the aurora little girl, to help you in battle, for one day, you will be a great leader and warrior." The little girl held in tears, bringing a smile to Rengar's face, for it wasn't just the children in Riverfall that were tough. It made him proud to know that possibly the next generation of peoples, in all areas, would be stronger than his. The little girl tasted him, causing him to chuckle, and Garren piped up, Maybe they hit that girl in the head a little too hard. The little girl pulled him close, to begin plotting some takeover as ruler of Avanthal. "Well my dear, that boss is you, I'm merely a dream maker, here for you." Rengar popped his head over the barricade, and saw that the leader was up, and the group was slowly, cautiously heading their way, snowballs a plenty at the ready. He popped back down, "We shocked them, now we need to scare them. And I think I have just the plan. But we have to move quickly. You take a bunch of the ammo, and hide in the tree. I will take some with me, and lead them away. When they are past you, I will attack first, then you pick them off from behind. Can you do this?"

[Miria]

"No way! Your from the bright lights up there?" Miria gave an excited squeal flailing uncontrollably before seizing up and falling into the snow beneath her. Laying still in the snow for a few tics for an uncomfortable length Miria finally vented most of her excitement at the news. "I always knew I would be able to boss people around. Now when they see me telling you what to do all the adults will do what I say!"

A deadpan stare showed little guile in young Miria as she nodded at the severity of the situation. "We must triumph! For Skyglows everywhere we shall stop the Snowsong advance!" Trying to carry as many snowballs as she can hold Miria clumsily moved away from their barricade and hid in the trees. "Which tree? You didn't say which one!." Miria piped up in a small, frantic voice. "Oh no they are coming! I need to hide..." Miria said almost to herself. Though the Skyglow could barely hide behind the small brush beside the tree Miria covered her eyes while she waited for Rengar to lead them into their trap. If one believed that they were camouflaged in the light foliage it would happen right?

When it was her time to attack Miria sprung forth with her stockpile of snowballs flinging snow at the large group. "You have not witness my final form! Know that I am the great leader warrior princess Miria!" Throwing both of her snowballs simultaneously Miria immediately stumbled back as a hail of snowballs answered in return. Trying to hide behind the tree the Skyglow carelessly tossed the snowballs any which way. Over the shoulder, overhead with two hands even getting a decent shot shot at their leader. Running out of snowballs Miria's spirit did not deter as she grabbed what little amount of snow she could hold in her hands and charged straight at the nearest boy.