Exploring

"Let me give you a hug."~ Amumu the Sad Mummy

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Life was great.

Daisy and Annie were closer than ever despite the squabble over Tibbers. Leanna had mediated that fight in a way that left both children happy at the outcome. Watching her calm down the two children was amazing to say the least.

Gregori had been completely taken by her that moment on. And it seemed she saw him the same way too. 

It might was been difficult for the average man to ask a woman the question. But Gregori was an extremely forward man. He knew what he wanted and he wouldn't skirt around the topic as he had done with Amoline in the past. He leapt at the opportunity like a poro to snacks.

Gregori wasn't left disappointed when Leanna accepted. The two kids were happy with the decision as well, even though the only thing this did was put a title on their budding relationship.

Both his Firefly and Flower both were up and about today. Their excitement palpable. After figuring out a proper routine to ensure his family's survival for the upcoming winter, he had made the decision to take his family on a little hiking trip. A fun travel beyond the walls of their home and a little journey around the outer regions of the warded forest they called home.

Leanna opted to stay behind, saying she had had enough travelling for a lifetime and would prefer to have a hearty meal prepared for their return. Though she had left a curious word of warning, threatening to put his head on a pike if her daughters fell to any harm. Whether it was a jest or a threat he could not understand. Amoline had done the same and he had always given the same response.

Raising a closed fist to his chest with his body completely taut, he swore to return both children home without an injury. Scrapes on their knees and hands notwithstanding.

Leanna raised her eyebrows in return and squinted at him expressionless. Amoline had done the same. The two women had more in common than he had thought. 

A pull on his hand broke him out of his funny little thoughts.

"Daddy lets go!" Daisy kept tugging at his hand urgently.

Annie called from outside their home, "Now daddy. We have to go now!"

"Firefly come inside. We have to do inventory before we leave." 

Annie trudged in. Stomping a little with her cute little boots.

"How many more times do we check daddy? We did it yesterday!"

"That was yesterday. This is today. Even if it is mostly safe to roam around here, there is a chance we can end up in danger. We are in the lands between Noxus and Freljord. The people as well as the creatures of this land thrive on violence." Turning to look toward both children as he spoke.

To add to the growing fear in the children, he continued. "There is evil in these lands and they eat children for breakfast." 

Daisy gave a little gasp while Annie held Tibbers tighter.

"Which is why we keep inventory. It is to make sure that we are prepared for anything that might come our way." He finished sagely.

His two daughters nodded while putting down their small backpacks. Backpacks Leanna made for them.

"First! Water pouches."

A quick shuffle through the bag followed by nodding.

"Next both your companions."

Annie raised Tibbers while Daisy raised her stuffed Bellswayer toy. Another one of Leanna's creations and it kept the two kids from fighting with each other.

"Rations?"

Both of them pulled out fruits and dried meat and smiled.

"Yes!"

"Finally.. are you both properly dressed?"

More nodding.

The two were covered head to toe by fur. Winter had come and with it came the chill. With how close they were to the Freljord and the mountains surrounding them, winters were extremely chilly and without the runes in the house keeping most of the cold outside they would be at the mercy of the elements. Still leaving children unprotected even inside the house was dangerous.

"Are you ready? Then lets go!"

The kids sped out of the house with shouts of joy. Gregori walked after them and checked if he had prepared everything required whilst simultaneously keeping an eye on them. He wore his heavy fur cloak, pulled his sack around his shoulders making sure everything was there and finally placed a hand on his axe to make sure it was present.

Wielding his axe with his left hand was fine even if his right hand was the dominant one. His training had made wielding weapons with his left hand just as easy as wielding them with his right. Having his right hand hold the sack would make the average bandit believe that he was left handed. Any advantage in a fight would mean the difference between life and death. 

Fighting with an axe was not his preferred form of combat but it would have to do. Lugging around his personal weapon wasn't the smartest thing to do in an enclosed space like this little forest. A smaller weapon offered a greater range of mobility.

His Flower and Firefly hopped across the creek while he walked over the little bridge.

He had another reason to take this little journey. It would just be around the forest doing nothing to dangerous. Specifically within the regions where he hadn't checked the rune stability yet. The wards wouldn't fail completely with a rune or two having failed but it still was a hole in the security.

The journey was just a security check under the guise of a fun outing. But it fulfills both purposes.

"Look at the nest on the tree there. Do you see the little feathers there?" He pointed to a nearby tree.

"Nest?"

"I told you this before Annie. Nest is a home for birds."

"Which bird lives there? Can we say hello?"

He told Daisy, patting her head. "No Daisy you shouldn't disturb it when its sleeping."

You can see the feathers?" Two nods. "What color are they?"

"Green!" 

"White!" 

"Yes. Its both green and white. That means its a Hooked Grouse1."

"Daddy? Didn't you say Grouse walked on ground? Then why is their house in a tree?" Asked Annie.

"They build their homes in a tree because it is safer. And even though they like walking on the ground, they can fly long distances."

"Okay."

Gregori tilted his head at the absolutely mind boggling response. Just an okay? Where did the excitement go?

Annie's face looked bored and a look at Daisy showed the same.

How did they lose interest that fast?

"Do you want to see it closer?"

Their faces brightened up instantly. 

That was all it took? They either see it up close or lose interest? That was fine by him. Dropping the sack on his shoulders, he picked each daughter of his and put them on his shoulders. Then he anchored himself to the tree with his hands and stood on his tiptoes.

"Don't disturb it too much."

"Un~" 

The two kids leaned over to look at the bird in its nest.

He craned his neck to look at the girls and saw Annie reach her hand into the nest. But before he could warn her-

SQUAAAAKKK

Suddenly two pairs of hands grabbed his face. 

"ARGhhhh." He exclaimed as they pulled his hair back. His body bent backwards as his hands left the tree. Shakily he took a few steps back and grabbed both screaming children and put them on the ground.

"What did I just tell you Annie?" Reprimanding his children wasn't great, it hurt to see that down trodden expressions on their faces but it was a necessity. They needed to be taught properly, no child of his behave badly. Simple things like this would go a long way in the future. Daisy listens to instructions properly but Annie.... she was a little uncontrollable. A smidge unhinged. No father would say that but his daughter's actions were not like any normal child. Sometimes she wouldn't show remorse for her actions. Its difficult to feel hurt for something when you believe it to objectively fine to do.

Her sense of danger is nonexistent and it was scary. That trait her mother also shared. He hoped he could change that part of her in the future.

"You told me to not disturb mister bird." Annie was tearing up as she spoke it.

Despite seeing her feel sad he knew that she felt sad for not listening to her father rather than feeling sad for actually disturbing the bird. Honestly, he didn't even care about the bird. Runeterra was inherently dangerous, its better to ignore something than get attacked or killed by it.

"Then why did you do it?"

"It looked cute... and soft..."

"But it was sleeping. What would happen if someone woke you up from sleep like that? You wouldn't like that right? Then why are you doing it?"

"Sowwy." Tears were rolling down her cheek now.

"Its fine. Don't do it again and please listen to me, this place can be dangerous and if you don't listen then you will get hurt. Okay?"

Nods from both children.

After bending down and wiping Annie's tears away.

"Onwards more adventure awaits!" Pointing his finger forward he announced. This immediately got a couple giggles from the kids.

"Aye aye captain!" Daisy had her hand up in a salute.

Leading them on he asked, "Where did you learn that?" Daisy didn't live anywhere near the sea, so where did she pick that phrase up?"

"I heard someone say it in the inn and I asked mummy about it." The two kids nonchalantly walked forwards.

But Gregori's mind was turbulent. 

Seamen in Delverhold?

The mountains?

The sea was quite far from here both from Noxus and the Freljord. It didn't seem probable. Maybe someone just picked the phrase and used it in jest or a sea man came to meet a friend. He couldn't put a finger on it but something felt wrong.

Shaking himself out of his thoughts he led the kids forward.

And onwards they went.

He took a few minutes at each time to inspect the runes along the way. Using that opportunity he taught the kids about the nearby flora. Other than birds and maybe tiny creatures nothing could get past the runes. So plants, birds and little insects were all they could be shown.

After a snack break, it was getting obvious to him that the two were losing interest. So he led them closer to the edge of the forest where the runes were ending. This particular edge was mostly safe. You could see some nomads occasionally and they would bring their animals and that could keep them entertained.

Soon enough he heard voices across the clearing and there they were. Nomads with their animals. These were a bigger group possessing both Elnuks and Elmarks. They probably venture close to Demacia and through the Freljord, considering their outfits and materials.

He led the two kids closer to them.

"Hello there!" Waving his left hand he called out.

A man among the nomads turned about and walked to him. The two girls immediately moved behind their father.

"Agh who's you?" He spoke roughly.

With a smile he spoke, "I'm just a hunter from Delverhold and I'm taking my two children on a little adventure. I just wanted to ask you if you could let them near your animals and also fill me in on the goings on around here. Nothing happens around Delverhold anyway."

Giving a look over the three of them the man said, "Follow me. No funny business. There's be wars everywhere and we are not afraid in fight."

"Alright. We won't do anything to harm you and your family."

The two kids were in awe of the Elnuks and Elmarks. Though not as big as the Elnuks, the Elmarks were strong creatures. They weren't really suitable to eating but better for carrying heavy loads. And their fur wasn't as thick. But what they did give was great milk. Elmark milk was sold at extremely marked up prices in both Delverhold and Noxus.

"What is your name hunter?" A voice spoke from behind him. Anther man came there being led by the first one. This one was older and looked authoritative.

" My name is Gregori and those two running around are my two daughters. Thank you for letting us encroach your home sir." He answered. 

"Why are you here?"

He was probably their leader. 

"Just taking my children on an adventure. They have been cooped up at home for a long time and all this fresh air would do them some good. They wanted to see your fine animals and so I led them to you."

"Just a father taking his children for a walk? This far out?" The man's eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"We aren't very far from our home sir. Right past the forest behind us. Would take an hour to cross and go back home."

"Very well then, Aalms here said that you wanted information?"

"Not information per se. Just wanted to know if anything dangerous was happening around here. You must understand my worries as a father of two girls. The Noxian soldiers are beasts and when they cross past they leave nothing behind. Which is why I ask for this."

Appealing to their humanity never fails. And it didn't fail here either. Pointing out how much one hated soldiers usually make nomads trust you more and considering how Noxus grab anything they want from nomads nearby it raised their trust in him quite fast. The man eased, lowering his shoulders, appearing like a man his age and spoke.