Lily, Serenity's Embrace

Been a long time since I've written anything creative. If you like it give it an upvote and comment. I might do more.

#Background

I've always been happy with my life, however short it may be. Sure, there are lots of things I won’t get to do, but how many people can look back on their life and remember nothing but joy?

This place - the Blessed Isles… I couldn’t ask for a better home. The first thing I can remember is my mother carrying me through the forest paths. I couldn’t have been more than a few years old, but I still remember the way the leaves rustled and floated by in the cool sea breeze. We sat and listened to the waves lap against the cliffs, watching the sun dance on the water. I remember thinking how this is all I’ll ever need in the world.

Now that I lay on my deathbed I can still hear the waves topple against the shore. It’s getting harder to breathe and my illness took my sight some time ago, but even now I can feel the sea breeze enter my lungs. My mother is sitting beside my bed, sobbing. Her clasp is so tight that it hurts, but the more it hurts the more I know she loves me. I think the only thing I regret about my fate is that I’ll be leaving my mother alone. I can feel her tears dripping onto my arm. They’re warm - comforting.

Everything was fading. I could still feel the breeze and my mother’s hand in mine, but it all felt so distant. One thing seemed very clear though: there was someone else here. Whoever it was looked down at me from behind, nimbly balanced on my headboard. In a young, soft voice she spoke. “Are you ready?”

I smiled and answered. “Yes, I think I am.” My mouth didn’t move but she still heard me. From elsewhere in the room I could hear an animal’s submissive growl, as if denied its dinner.

“Good.” She took my hand and I felt my soul leave my body. In that very moment I felt neither alive nor dead. I was something else entirely, and the world around me felt different too. The darkness gave way to sunshine and I removed the bandages around my eyes. “Take one last look.”

Everything was pristine. It had been so long since I’d actually seen the world I thought of so fondly. My head whipped around, taking in all the vivid beauty. Everything was frozen in time. Not still, but eternal and untouched. Aside from us there wasn’t another soul around. It made me think back to that first memory with my mother. “May I show you something before we go?”

I turned back to my companions. It hadn’t occurred to me who I was with until now, but I recognized them at once. I’m not sure how - I’d never met or even heard of them before, yet they seemed so familiar. Before me stood Kindred, cocking their heads in surprise. Wolf shrugged and Lamb chuckled behind her mask. “Sure, why not?”

I tugged at Lamb’s hand and brought her to my favorite spot on the isles. Stepping forward I gazed out over the cliffs. The dewy grass tickled my feet and I turned toward Kindred. “Amazing, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it certainly is”. Lamb and Wolf both looked out at the ocean for a brief but wondrous moment. “Come, it’s time to-”. Kindred went silent and spun around to look inland before locking eyes. They sensed something I had not, perhaps from the world I left behind.

Lamb turned back toward me. “These lands have become a place for neither the dead nor the living. Stay, and one day we will return to finish your journey.”

Wolf began to dart back and forth excitedly, fangs on display. “Come Lamb, my feast awaits!”

And with that they vanished.

---

“Why here? Anywhere but here!” I clung to a plank as I washed upon the rocks. Like so many before me I made the mistake of crewing a ship on a path past the Shadow Isles. Like so many before me my life was now forfeit. I wished it was forfeit sooner.

The ocean waters were freezing, and so too was the air. I climbed off the plank onto land. I wish I hadn’t. The instant my feet hit the ground I felt a chill. Yes, I was cold, but this was something else entirely. Terror shot through my very bones. My every muscle tensed and my hands clenched shut tight enough for my fingers to pierce the skin of my palms. It was everything I could do just to take a step. Another. Another until the beach was out of sight. I didn’t know where I was. I didn’t know where I was going. I just wanted to be away from the spot I stood in. Surely anywhere else must be better than here, yet every step brought me more regret.

These isles choked out what life dared encroach upon it. It was hard to think. Every action I took was my body’s primal response to flee while my mind cowered. Occasionally I would recognize sounds through the fear. There was no wind, yet tree branches strained and snapped around me as if being torn at by an ocean gale. The waves behind me beat mercilessly on the cliffs like a war drum. The razor sharp rocks bit at my bare feet until I collapsed to one knee.

I couldn’t stay here. Nobody would come for me. I couldn’t possibly escape. What was there to do but die? Tears started to roll down my cheeks. That was as far as they got before freezing to my skin.

A wolf howled nearby. In a way it was comforting that there was something else here aside from me. I willed myself to stand and take a step to run, but it was hopeless. Before I could take a second I felt the wolf’s fangs sink into my arm and throw me against a tree trunk. Its spectral, frenzied eyes stared into my own as it began to charge. I closed my eyes as tight as possible awaiting my death.

It never came. At least not right then. I peeked an eye open and saw the wolf standing just feet in front of me, staring off into the trees. My gaze followed.

Surely my eyes were lying to me. A young girl? Here? She couldn’t be more than twelve or thirteen. She looked so peaceful, slowly skipping along and humming a children’s tune. It was such a calm sight - serene even. Everything was serene at that moment.

I looked back to the wolf. The craze in its eyes dwindled away. It no longer boasted its fangs and its tail wagged back and forth. It reminded my old hunting dog. The wolf stepped closer but I felt no reason to be afraid. I sat still and it nestled its nose under my ear. Its soft fur rubbed against my leg as it licked at my wounds. The blood trickled from where the wolf had bit me earlier. It felt warm.

I turned back to look at the girl who had stopped in front of a tree. Her head tilted back as she gawked at its height. I looked up at it myself. I’d never seen such a large tree before. It was amazing! Looking around I couldn’t help but notice how grand the landscape was. The rocks towered in majesty and I could hear the nearby river surge with awesome power. Why hadn’t I noticed this incredible landscape before?

I heard the humming begin again and the girl started skipping down the path once more. She stepped closer and warmth filled the air around me. I half expected to turn and see my friends gathered around a campfire, laughing and telling stories. Everything right then reminded me of home.

As the girl walked by the wolf rested its muzzle on my lap. She took no note of us. I don’t think she knew we were there. Rather to her I don’t think we were really there at all. I watched as she skipped away toward the cliffs, still humming her tune which I was now humming to myself. Finally she turned the corner and was out of sight.

She was gone. In her place was just the shroud of night. I winced as my bite wound grabbed my attention. It was throbbing and the chilling air stung my lacerated feet. I looked down at the wolf. I watched its eyes fill with manic bloodlust as it got to its feet. The beast snarled and circled me, getting ready to pounce once more. But it seemed the beast was as unlucky as me. Almost.

A bloodcurdling shriek filled the air and a massive creature repelled down the rocks behind the wolf. The wolf tried to run but the creature tossed it aside before turning to me. In my final moment I tried to remember that children’s tune, but all I could hear was the spider’s song.

 #Abilities Passive: Death’s Door - Once every 3 minutes when Lily dies she instead grants 20% of her missing health to herself and all nearby allied champions.

Q: Selfless in Death - Lily sacrifices 10% of her current health every second to grant target allied champion lifesteal and spellvamp. A portion of any healing granted to the target by Selfless in Death is also granted to Lily. Lasts until canceled.

W: Sea Breeze - Lily summons a strong breeze for 4 seconds at the target location, increasing all allied units’ movement speed in the direction of the breeze by and decreasing all enemy units’ movement speed in the direction opposite the breeze.

E: Wanderer - Target allied champion briefly gains a shield that absorbs an ability. Additionally the champion gains movement speed that decays to zero.

R: Serenity - Lily places a large zone on the ground at her feet for 3 seconds that negates all damage and crowd controlling abilities. Additionally, all allied and enemy units inside the zone are silenced and cannot attack. Lily can continue using abilities inside the zone.