First encounter
The night comes at last and a roar full of loneliness and sadness can be heard. The culprit of that sound is still perched upon that white tower. Her wings encasing her body protectively, sitting with her knees up.
They have fled. The first humans that she encounters have fled because they were scared, at least the pink jewel was. The little person seemed so delighted by her light, she knew she had sensed it. The Gargoyle wasn’t sure how, just mages could sense magic, tap on it like a second river of veins. But the little person didn’t have the arcanes touch, at least it didn’t seem like that when she had looked at her soul. So little but so bright and hopeful.
Jewel's soul was so beautiful too, full of colors like a double rainbow, she loved those forms of the light. And her eyes were so captivating, at that time she was glad she was made out of stone, she could be lost in those pools of sweet wine forever and never get tired of the taste that it left in the back of her mind. But her colors were a chaos too exciting and at the same time troubling in the corners of the canvas.
Her magic was aching, her talons had snapped by accident a good chunk of rock from her perch. Her mind had pinned down the mission of protection on these two individuals. But she was not gonna go after them, the curse of loneliness was fine to her. Imposing her desires or needs on someone was not proof of Demacias honor. And at the same time she was begging to her creator, to the lady of Justice, even the veiled lady, that they would decide to come back.
If they did she wouldn't even move in the nights if it creeped Jewel out. She would stay in her perch without doing anything like another ornament. She would be content by being able to listen to their lives and protect their home from any danger.
Maybe she could go after them, maybe if she explained herself they wouldn't be afraid. Maybe it was because she had not introduced herself! Of course that must be it. When you meet someone new you're supposed to talk to them, not just peek around, that was rude even. Although… her job was exactly about doing that. But she hadn't said it, maybe it was that. She had to find them and apologize for the bad first impression. She had to show the true gentleness of Demacia, she was rusty, so rusty her golden intersections were dark and stained to show that. But she could do better.
The Gargoyle stands from her sad pillar and gives a look to the canopy of the forest ahead.
They parted at noon, she could recall perfectly their souls leaving, Jewels one was so heavy but determined.
So probably now at night time taking into account that the guardian wanted to take her puppy as far as possible. They could have easily found themselves at the river by now, and more up ahead a village could be found.
She extended her wings and climbed up off the tower, perching on the very end of the roof. She couldn't fly really, all she could do was glide for some long periods of time, longer if the wind was good at the time, but today was not the case. Huffing she prepared for the takeoff, shaking off a little, her armor rattling and her mane getting more knots probably. Then she took the dive, her golden wings peeking up the momentum letting her sour over the trees.
Giving some flaps to peak up speed if they made themselves into the village she would not be able to approach.
“Please please be still by the river”
[.......................]
Night has settled when they have found the river, upon seeing it they have decided to clean, slipping off their clothes and scrubbing away with that clear water their musk of dirt of a war long gone and a storm that had left their outfits almost impossible to wear anymore. Jinx was sure that if they followed this river up its curse they would find some civilization, that would do to maybe find some new clothes for the road.
Isha had just her underwear on and was grunting as Jinx rubbed her fingers (the metal one has been left with their clothes at the rocks nearby) behind her ears, moving her arms around like making a tantrum.
“Stop wiggling around so much, kid! You're so filthy that the corpses will wake up and cover their noses!”
Isha makes a whine and puts her hands out pushing out of Jinxes hold like a really mad kitten.
“Isha! O come on you weren't like this when I dyed your hair in the mornings. Is just water!”
The kid stops her assault and lets herself be clean off, her arms slung off in the water and a pout in her lips.
“Come on Ish, the river is not your cup of juice?”
When her fingers start cleaning the locks of brown some blue falls into the waters. And Jinx looks like Isha's golden gaze doesn't leave the paint fusing itself with the waves of the river.
“Oh kid don't worry yeah? We will find more paint, I will find a way of doing it, okay?”
Isha slumps against her chest nodding, moving her legs doing some splashes. Jinx smiles softly at her and cups some water purring it down in her head making her laugh. Then Isha turns and cups Jinx's cheeks, lowers her head and pours some water on her scruffy scalpe giggling.
“Argg Kidd careful is going to get into my eyes”
Isha splashes her face and Jinx scofs.
“Is that what I'm sensing? Revelion against your sweet partner in crime?”
Isha pulls out her tongue and keeps washing Jinx's hair roughly and scratching her scalp.
Jinxs ends up splashing her with the water and making her cough. They look at each other for a moment and oh is on. They start a water fight, splashing, pushing and pulling at each other between laughs. When the water becomes too cold for Isha they step out and put on their clothes again.
“Okey little bun, now that we are partly clean we can continue our travels”
[People ahead?]
“That's what I think at least, we could sneak out into an inn”
Isha moves her head to one side not understanding the word.
“Ow well an inn is like an hotel and a bar mixed together and that smells more like animals that to chems, at least that's what i've read about”
Isha makes an oh sound and nods hugging Doozy to her chest. And they start moving, Jinx can’t shake that odd feeling since they left the tower. That she had passed out a great opportunity like her father would say. But for her right now the most important thing was Isha and her. And a golden white stone thingy looking at them? not thanks she had too much of those things. So she stays looking up ahead gripping Stomper and Ishas shoulder prepared.
And then she hears stomps on the ground, fast ones that shook the earth beneath them, and they were getting closer.
Her eyes start shining and she pushes Isha out of the way at the last second, a huge beast passes them, colliding with one of the trunks denting it with the force of his body and the tree falls. The creature turns its head around after that looking at the figures on the floor. A giant boar-like creature is looking at them with dark eyes. It is adorned with large tusks and sharp fangs. Their outer shell seems to be protected by a thick layer of rocky-like skin, Jinx couldn't see a part that wasn't covered by it. Stomper wouldnt do shit in that thick head, less would do Doozy.
She grunts when this stupid pig moves its stub hard paws against the dirt intending to go for them again. At least it was slow. They could do something with slow. Jinx sends Isha on her way to a rock to tell her to stay behind till she tells her otherwise, Isha hesitating nod once looking at Jinx's pink gaze. She will help, just when the hare made her a signal.
The pig charge against the colorful person with a rabid scream. Jinx acted fast once it was in front of her she jumped and took leverage of its tusk, kicks hard with both legs staying on it, making the pig change its course and stamping its head into another tree, Jinx rolls afar looking at the beast ruffling its giant head and when she smirk reading her weapon to hit it hard. Its ear moved, taking sight of the much smaller human that had gone out of hiding to look how the fight was going.
Jinx screams at her to scatter to move, even as she runs disappearing out of sight, not again, not again, please not again. She could make it to Isha but she couldn't do more than shield her with her own body at the looming figure over them ... .Jinx closes her eyes tightly waiting for the impact.
But nothing happens. When she opens her eyes again a circle of light is enveloping the floor around the boar and encasing him in a cage of light and colors. And then a figure lands by its side. Long wings extended, a figure that can look over the beast shoulder without problem. Jinx looks at marble blue moving eyes staring her down and she knows it's the Gargoyle from the tower. She can feel Isha in her arms parting Doozy in two. Then the silence is broken by the beast again, the gargoyle growls and grabs the beast by the tusks, when the circle disappears it starts moving again and the Gargoyle takes a good hold of it in Her claws? wrestles with it and then sends it to the ground, its belly much softer than the rest of it is up to all of them to see. The gargoyle is pinning it down, her talons ripping apart its stomach and some blueish blood like substance is pulling out of the wounds but even if the gargoyle is trying to stroke it down with a bite the beast keeps moving its head biting at the neck of the gargoyle, its fangs doing nothing to the stone but keeping her out of striking it down.
Jinx looks at the scene and holds Isha close, they have to go now, let these two rip each other and flee. But Isha makes a sound and moves in her hold. Jinx stares down at her golden eyes and she can see the same look she saw when she was pointing a gun to Vis face. A surge to protect this white and golden figure that had fireworks in her insides, just like Jinx, those eyes spoke of a loneliness too deep, like Jinx had felt before her little girl entered her life.
So she let Isha go and jumped into the gargoyle's back, climbed over and took hold of the fangs on her neck stomping hard on the thing with a cry and shimmering eyes, the tooth broke in splinters sending the pig's head back. And the gargoyle bit into its chest hard, the same blood pulling out.
To end it all the child went under the Gargoyles body with a grunt and stabbed the pig right under the biting maw of stone.
The screaming pig went silent after some seconds. The three of them panting with low breaths. Jinx sprawled on the Gargoyles' back and Isha under it lay on the bloodied body of the boar. None of them does anything for some time until Isha squishes herself out of the sandwich of fur and stone and Jinx jumps from her spot to cradle her cheeks checking for injuries.
Then the Gargoyle lets go of the beast and stands to her full height, Jinx looks at her with a look of thanks but not trusting at all. The gargoyle recoils her wings into a cape, maybe to look not so towering and frightening over them. And then she lowers herself ending in a bow posture with one knee to the floor and sporting a tusky smile full of blue blood.
“Howdy there, I'm sorry for the fright but it looked like you and your daughter were in quite the predicament, also you are mighty strong my lady both of you”
Of all the things that could have gone out of the Gargoyles mouth that was not what Jinx had expected at all. Nor was the soft bubbly voice laze with some huskyness due to the size of her being her tone. When Jinx doesnt answer her the Gargoyle moves her tail around and scratches her mane with those claws.
“And for the…sighting but it had been so long since I had owners that I couldn't control my excitement, I'm deeply sorry my lady Jewel. I hope we can start in better terms after this, If you still chose to go, that would be fine, but known that I had not any ill thought about you lasses”
And that does it for Jinx.
“Excuse me? Owners?”
“Yeah, you stayed at my fortress”
“Oookay look, big girl that is not happening okay? We are not your owners or anything, thanks for the save but you can go back to your fairytale tower, we are fine on our own”
Jinx can see out of the corner of her eye the tail going limp. Is she sad?
“Oh….I…I understand completely my lady, I would not take your time any longer”
The blonde stands onto her two legs and easily she's four heads taller than Jinx. The big girl nickname was really accurate.
Isha moves a step closer to the golden creature before Jinx can stop her and hugs her leg. The mane of blonde locks stands on end and so does her tail before marble blue comes back to pink jewel.
“Is the little person alright?”
“She…is just thanking you I guess”
“Oh I see, then it was my pleasure little person, you have a really formidable soul, that stab was a warrior's one! I could tell”
And then her claw hand pats Isha's head in an awkward motion and Jinx can't help but stiff a laugh and when the Gargoyle practically beams at her she adverts her gaze with some pink in her cheeks out of annoyance.
“Well Isha say goodbye to shiny over here, we have to keep going”
Isha hugs on the fireworks leg tighter for a moment before going back to Jinx taking hold of her hand.
“Well then, I suppose this is farewell….I hope you have a good journey ahead”
“Yeah thanks Blondie we will be on our way to adventure now, good luck on your way back”
The gargoyle looks up at the sky and frowns.
“I'm afraid i will have to stay here tonight”
Both girls frown at that.
“Why?”
“The sunrise is about to happen, and I will go back to my petrice imprisonment so it is better for me to stay put, I wouldn't like being turn to stone while gliding.”
“Oh”
The thought of leaving alone their savior without being able to defend herself was making its way to Jinx's sense of guilt. She didn't know about Demacia but some thug could pass around the statue and decide to try and break it just for funsies right? Did the being inside cease to exist if they broke its head or something?
Isha pulled at her hand and she was sure she wanted to say that they should stay.
Sighing she turned her gaze to the big girl that had stopped looking at the skies.
“Okey Blondie, we will stay with you tonight. Our legs are too sour for walking and tomorrow's day for no shithead to mess around with your stone body, as a payment for saving us. And then our paths will part. Got it?”
Isha squeals of excitement and the Gargoyle flaps her wings out of their cape form.
“That is really generous on your part lady jewel, I´m thankful”
“And stop it with that knightlish talk., Im Jinx stands for Jinx. And the kiddo is Isha”
“A real pleasure lady Jinx”
“Okey your not gonna drop the lady part it seems”
The gargoyle moves her head to the side confused and sitting in the floor against a tree trunk her head almost hitting one of the branches.
“Okey Isha, lets look for some twigs to make a fire”
“Oh that won´t be necessary”
“What?”
And then her armor starts to glow lightly in a yellow light alongside her claws and she smiles at the humans looking in awe at the display.
“My light magic is quite warm”
Isha looks up at Jinx smiling, pulling her hand towards the figure of white. And with a sight dont ask Jinx how but she is sitting in between some big ass creature with Isha cuddling up against its chest and clutching her hand still. The girl, upon finding warmth and comfort, went to sleep quite fast.
“She is quite the fast sleeper”
“She is, not even your roar could wake her up”
“You heard it?”
“Who wouldn't, it shook the fucking walls big girl”
“I apologize I was just wanting to take the sleep away”
“Wait, that was a yawn?”
“Yes”
Jinx looks up at the face of the gargoyle that is sporting some deeper light in her cheeks. A blush? Was she embarrassed? This day kept turning weirder and weirder. And Jinx can't help but laugh and after a moment the creature goes with her, with the most awful laugh in the world but at the same time full of enjoyment.
When they come down from the high Jinx isn't aware that she is closer to the Gargoyle, not about the arms cradling her and Isha.
“You’ve been too much time alone blondie”
“Yeah….I have, I can't remember the last time my home was own”
“Was that why you wanted us to stay? You felt lonely”
“Mostly so I’m afraid, i'm sorry you had to bear with the selfishness of a stranger”
“Ey don’t worry I…understand what feeling alone feels like”
A calm silence is kept between them for a while before the blunette breaks it again.
“So what was that big ass pig?”
“It was a crag beast. They are often sighted in the countryside where they frequently attack Demacian settlements.”
“Ow so you were like natural enemies”
The awful but cute laugh comes out again of the Gargoyle.
“Yes I suppose your right lady Jinx”
“Do you have a name Shiny?”
“A name?”
“Yeah you know i'm always telling my kid that cool stuff needs a name, what's yours?”
“I…dont remember”
“Oh come on someone with fucking light as their weapon have to have a name”
Jinx can feel the arms of the creature closing around them a little more and the tail at her legs wags a little, a grim and a groan comes out of her tusked lips.
“You okey blondie?”
“Lux”
“Excuse me?”
“My name is Lux”
“Of Course it is…It suits you”
“Thank you”
Jinx smiles at Lux and she returns it and when she feels drowsiness on her eyes and she sees Ishas resting face, it occurs to her how tired she really is.
“Rest lady Jinx, I will keep the warmth of your daughter and yourself”
“She is not my….doesn't matter, good night Lux”
“Good night”
And just like that she went into one of the most calm dreams she had ever have the honor to have. The gargoyle craddles the two humans protectly and bathes in their calming breaths and snoring smiling looking up at the stars.
"Thank you Lady of the veil. I will swear to you now that I will protect them, as long as they will have me, even if its a short time"