Thread: Maelstrom (RustyRedhead and darjeeling)

Ashe swallowed the silence like a bitter pill as Katarina made for the tree line without so much as a nod or a shake of her head. She gripped the pouch around her waist, muffling a short mutter before following the assassin. Though the archer did not find it hard to keep pace with Katarina, the woman's impatience was wearing on Ashe's own - and for what? They needed to find Tryndamere as soon as they could, she had even said it herself. Yet when Katarina lead the way forward with no intention of stopping, the back of her mind whispered dark thoughts to which she could only answer by forcing them back. It was of no concern, she told herself as she ducked under another branch, keeping a watchful blue gaze on the flash of red hair before her. Even Katarina's earlier agreement, albeit not at all sincere, had confused the archer. Ashe was used to constant retaliation from the assassin and that trait, in small part, both attracted and frustrated her to no end. Attracted? Respectful, Ashe corrected herself before it was too late but the thought had settled like oil on water. She was thankful when Katarina finally stopped, the mountain face looming above them like a stony giant. Near the base she could make out an inky mouth, no doubt a cave that had seen much use in housing stragglers and travelers to and from Rakelstake. Ashe was cautious though. Caves meant limited movement and truth be told, she did not like enclosed spaces being so far away from fresh air unnerved her but she would much rather Katarina not find out. So she nodded her consent despite the shadow of a scowl drifting across her brow. I am doing this because I love... my people. She caught the words on the tip of her tongue and swallowed that much as she had done with the Noxian's refusal to respond. It is for the good of my city and if they are to place so much faith in me, it would be in poor form to disappoint. Ashe eyed Katarina as she approached, leaning slightly back as she grew closer. Her mistake was in letting her guard down. Despite the tips of her ears being flushed red from the other's slap, Ashe was not so surprised to let out so much as a squeak of a response and if the Queen was made of smaller stuff, she would have no doubt slapped Katarina for her dirty mouth. Instead, she drew herself up even though she stood a few spaces shorter than the assassin and looked her squarely in the eye. If you cannot even rein in your perverted thoughts, at least have the courage to redirect them towards yourself. She would not go so far as to insult the Noxian, but Ashe had a few choice names running laps about her head though she kept them at bay from the finish line. However, she could not help but add You may enjoy prancing about men in such a fashion but a leader will not stoop down to such trivial matters. As if that was her final word said on that matter, she directed her eyes away from Katarina's emerald greens and briskly moved forward towards the mouth of the cave to place her pack down. With her shoulders and back free from the extra weight, Ashe sighed as she stretched her arms out into the howling wind. Soft shards of ice buffeted her skin but she barely seemed to feel it. Her bones did ache from the cold and Ashe knew that while she could most likely live through the night in this weather, Katarina may not even with the warmth of shelter. Then again, she wasn't feeling particularly kind towards the woman for all her unsavory swagger. Ashe would have commanded her to make her own fire too if the Queen was not so nervous that the assassin might bathe the cavern with smoke and fire. Another sigh escaped her in a puff of foggy white. Bathed in a moonlit glow peeking from behind pregnant clouds, it struck an eerie tune with Ashe's hair, striking off it like a cymbal but it was not long before she retreated to explore the back of the cave. It would be unfortunate to stumble across a bear and her cubs, all the while offering Katarina the coldest shoulder imaginable.