Toward Tokogol

"This is but a battle. I've already won the war."~ Lissandra, The Ice Witch

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"You are not after my land?" Kled asked while raising his gun.

Gregori nodded. "We came for safe passage and once we pass through the edge of the forest... we will be out of your hair."

"Fur." Kled corrected.

"Yes.... we will be out of your fur." Gregori fixed.

Kled turned to Skaarl for some further correspondence before turning to face him. "Leave and never come back!"

Gregori nodded and ushered the children away, making sure to not look back even once.

After walking a certain distance, Annie, unable to hold in her curiosity asked, "What was that?"

Gregori shook his head, "Not what. Who." He reminded.

"Who was that?" Annie repeated.

Giving the group a glance, he noticed all of them looking at him with curious expressions. And so, he answered, "The is Kled and his steed Skaarl."

"And?" Annie prodded, annoyed at the fact that her father was stalling.

Gregori snorted at the annoyance. "He is a Yordle. And he is very old. Very very old. You are almost seven Annie. Kled? He is almost a thousand."

"So he is an old man?" Briar asked.

Gregori nodded, "I don't know too much about Yordles but yeah Kled is very old. He was one of the earliest Noxian soldiers. Nowadays he just roams around his mountain."

"Is he always that grumpy?" Faye asked.

Shrugging, Gregori answered, "I don't know." Ducking the oncoming shrubbery, he continued, "In his old age he is probably experiencing memory loss and is also suffering from dementia."

"What's that?" Daani asked.

Gregori raised a finger to his forehead, "Memory issues. When you get old you get forgetful and you cannot think properly."

"Why not just fight him?" Rell asked.

Gregori turned to her, "He is a Yordle. They are all magical and you will do well to remember that you cannot underestimate a Yordle regardless of how they look or seem."

"That's why he was talking to the lizard!" Sydell pointed out bringing the topic back to Kled's demented nature.

"Drakalops." Gregori corrected.

"THAT'S a Drakalops?" Rell exclaimed, "Aren't they similar to dragons? That doesn't look....." She let her words fade.

Gregori chuckled, "They aren't what you expected them to be huh?"

Rell nodded.

"Well you'll see more and more creatures from now on." He stated while grinning, "I wonder what you lot will do when you see and Avalance beast."

"What is that?" Daani asked.

"My pets." Gregori answered, definitely noticing Annie's eyes widen.

"YOU GOT PETS!" She screamed.

Gregori nodded in reply, "Yeah... well it was supposed to be one for each daughter but now that there are more.... I suppose you will have to share. Their names are Oompa and Loompa."

The mention of the names got a heartfelt laughter out of the kids.

"Are they cuddly?" Annie asked.

"Yes." 

Annie jumped in excitement, "Oh can I hug it to sleep in my bed?"

"I would allow you to but....."

"But what?" Annie pouted.

"Avalance beasts will not fit on your bed." Gregori proclaimed, waiting to see the reactions.

"They are big?"

"Each one is as tall as me and they are larger than Rell's horse."

"Waaaaa!" Annie exclaimed with stars in her eyes.

He spotted the same stars in the rest of the children's eyes. 

"You can ride them or just cuddle with them... that's up to you." Gregori said. "But they are widely recognized as war beasts. People are afraid of them but you don't need to."

The bright stars in their eyes faded a little with fear but they still looked excited. Annie and Briar did not care for that tidbit of information however.... they just wanted to play with and ride a large creature.

With those words, the continued on their journey. Following the same river Gregori had followed all the way to Drugne, this time leading them toward Tokogol.

"Daddy!" Annie yelled as she pointed to a tree. "Daddy look!"

Gregori looked up at where she was pointing. "What is it Annie?"

"Grouse!" Annie said as she pointed to the bird.

"You remember!" Gregori said excitedly, proud at the fact that she remembered a creature she hadn't seen for over a year.

Annie nodded her head with pride.

"Grouse?" Briar's confused voice echoed.

Gregori pointed at the tree. The eyes of the kids followed. They spotted the creature. Its green and white feathers stood out among the tree's branches. "That is a Hooked Grouse. It is a bird that walks on the ground."

"It doesn't fly?" Asked Faye.

"It does." Gregori answered, "It just likes walking a lot more. They have nests up in the trees because it is safer."

"That's just a duck no?" Sydell interrupted.

Gregori looked to him, "They look like ducks but there are different. Grouse can glow in the dark. The hooked grouse is called so because its tail is shaped like a hook. That is about all I know."

Briar seemed fascinated.

"Want to get a closer look?" He asked.

She nodded.

"ME!" Annie yelled.

"Annie you have already seen it close haven't you?" Gregori replied. 

"Again!"

"Okay after they all get a chance okay?" Gregori coaxed.

Annie's face fell before nodding. But then her head shot up, "You can lift two!"

"Not anymore Annie." Gregori brought his hand to his brow, "I'm weak right now and you are a big girl and I cannot carry two big girls can I?"

She shook her head in sadness but seemed happy to be considered a big girl.

Gregori placed all of his belongings down before grabbing Briar and placing her on his shoulders. "Now you get a closer look." He told her, "Do not disturb it. If it is in its nest that means it is sleeping."

Briar leaned forward and silently observed the creature.

After a minute, Gregori gently placed Briar down and picked up the next in line, Daani. When he placed him on his shoulder, Daani's tail wrapped around his body to steady himself, it also took a lot off his shoulders.

Daani did his observation and then he did the same to both Faye and Sydell.

Both, despite being able to fly as well as climb the tree the bird was on, took the opportunity that was offered to them and got on his shoulders.

And their observation went by without a hitch.

After placing Sydell down, Gregori looked toward Rell and presented her with the same offer..... only to be met with vehement denial.

She did not want to be lifted onto anyone's shoulders, she said.

Though Gregori could see the want in her eyes.

One day, he thought. One day she would completely open up. But until that day? All he could do was wait and provide more opportunities like this. It had to be her that takes the first step. Forcing her to do something would only disrupt any chance of her opening up.

Though he could see her behavior to the kids improving everyday. Often, she used to air them when they initiated conversations. Now, she replies. Not great replies but replies nonetheless.

After asking one more time, just to see. He was met with denial again.

Turning toward Annie, he did not bother asking and just picked her up and put her on his shoulders and brought her up close to the bird.

As she was observing for the second time.... she chose to do the same thing as last time. Reaching for the bird in order to pet it.

Just like before, it woke up and squawked.

Just like before, she fell backward grabbing at his hair.

This time, Gregori managed to correct himself and grabbed at Annie's clothes to prevent her from falling.

As he righted himself, he heard the laughter. The kids around them were laughing with joy he hadn't seen till date. Even Rell was quietly chuckling to herself.

But Briar wasn't.

She was in thought again.

Before suddenly yelling, "I remember!"

All eyes turned to her.

"What's a Titan?" She asked Gregori.

"Hmm?" Gregori asked confusedly but a bit of fear crept into his heart.

"I heard Caalyx say it before the fight against that big monster." Briar said with her hands folded and her head slowly nodding.

Gregori stilled in shock, "You..." He started, "You heard that?"

"Yeah!" She nodded giddily.

"Caalyx was talking in my mind Briar." Gregori spoke slowly, "Can you hear thoughts?"

Briar shook her head rapidly, "No. Only Caalyx. I heard him call you multiple times before he yelled."

Gregori frowned as he fell into thought, "The blood magic allows you to pick up his words...." He muttered. "That is interesting."

"Lets carry on now shall we!" He said with mock excitement.

Daani, Faye, Annie and Briar nodded as he started walking.

"You didn't answer the question."

"Hmm?" He turned around.

Rell and Sydell stood in the same spot, before Rell spoke, "You did not answer her question."

Gregori sighed. He had almost gotten away with it.

"I will tell you later." He said.

Rell shook her head, "If you won't tell it now... then I won't follow you."

"Me too." Sydell spoke. "No lies." He enunciated.

"Also what was the soldier act with the Yordle? Were you a soldier?"

Gregori took a deep breath. "Fine." He waved them forward, "Walk. I'll explain."

They looked at him in apprehension before following.

With Annie still on his shoulders, he spoke, "I am not Noxian." That got a few surprised looks at him. "I was born in Demacia to a big noble family." That got a few 'woahs' and 'wows'. "But if you are born with magic in Demacia..... people don't like you." The kids listened in silence. "My parents got rid of me. Sent me away with prisoners." Gregori sighed in reminiscence. "I escaped. Lived. And then I traveled the continent before coming to Noxus. In Noxus I became Gregori Hastur. Before that I was called by my birth name." 

Realization shone in the eyes of the children.

"Titan. That was my name. A long.... long time ago." Gregori answered. "Does that answer your question?" She said while looking at the two kids.

They nodded.

"Though I suspect Caalyx only used that name because I did not respond earlier."

Gregori led them across the river now, "Now.... about my days as a soldier...."