"You must come with me to see the Warmother."
Donna emphasized it to Li Ke again: just knowing about the tens of thousands of food items made Donna's head spin. The only thing she knew now was that she had to bring these two people to her Warmother so that her Warmother could decide and handle this matter.
No. Even the usually calm and decisive Warmother would be shocked to hear this news, her Kog'Maw.
After all, those utterly useless prisoners could be exchanged for enough food to keep Avarosa and Winter's Claw alive through the winter—who would believe that?!
"Then, what about us?" John asked quietly before Li Ke could speak.
The Frostguard Tribe is active; he just traded food for the protection of Winter's Claw, and now Winter's Claw is trying to run away?
"Let's go our separate ways," said one of the Winter's Claw warriors behind Donna.
He looked much older than Donna, with a goat-shaped beard and wearing a simple animal-patterned coat.
Behind the man were two short, black hammers. He looked at Li Ke and said in a deep voice, "Donna will take you to meet our Warmother. The Warmother will decide whether to release the Noxus slaves, while our group will escort the caravan to the town."
After thinking for a moment, Li Ke looked at Jinx.
He needed to know Jinx's thoughts. All Jinx had seen along the way was frost, snow, and trees. At first glance, the scenery of Freljord was magnificent and beautiful, but after looking at it for a while, the white expanse seemed empty.
After all, Jinx hadn't yet seen the culture of Freljord, and Li Ke also wanted to see how the towns of Freljord functioned, how they were established among the tribes of Freljord, and how they survived and took root there.
"What fun things are there in your tribe?" Jinx asked Donna.
Donna was taken aback at first, then quickly said to Jinx, "Isn't it fun? Fishing on the frozen lake, raising cubs, warrior duels, hunting mountain beasts—doesn't that count as fun?"
"Can I ride on that beautiful white wolf?" Jinx asked again.
"Of course, you are honored guests of the Winter's Claw," Donna nodded and said earnestly.
Her attitude towards Jinx has changed significantly. If she was indifferent and Jinx towards Jinx before, now she is very accommodating and even has a hint of flattery towards Jinx.
"Then, Li Ke, shall we go? Isn't the person you're looking for also in their tribe?" Jinx happily agreed upon hearing this.
Jinx has ridden many things, and even secretly carried Li Ke on a dangerous rocket, but Jinx has never ridden an animal yet!
Jinx felt a pang of envy when she thought about the handsome, snow-white wolf that had appeared when the Winter's Claw rushed out earlier.
It would be even better if I could bring one back to Zaun!
After listening, Li Ke first said a few words to John, thanking John for his help along the way. Then, he looked at Donna, who looked nervous, and Li Ke Donna somewhat amusing.
The more nervous Donna became, the more it indicated that Winter's Claw was not in a good position, but this was also evident from Donna's current physical condition.
She is younger than Jinx, but right now her hair is dry and yellow, her cheeks are thin, her ribs protrude, and her limbs are long and thin.
Li Ke smiled gently and said, "Alright, we'll go with you to see Sejuani. Please lead the way."
Donna was overjoyed to hear this, and she wasn't surprised at all when Li Ke mentioned Sejuani's name.
In Freljord, you might not know about the Frostguard or the Frostguard, because Freljord is a backward and impoverished place. The harsh environment makes it difficult for people to interact, and news spreads very slowly, relying on traveling merchants and bards—the most primitive form of oral tradition.
Knowledge and experience are passed down from generation to generation through ancient songs sung by previous generations, so not everyone knows about the Frostguard.
But now, everyone in Freljord knows Sejuani, because the Winter's Claw are the largest tribe in the far north besides Avarosa. After all, Sejuani's conqueror's deeds have spread the Winter's Claw's fame throughout the Freljord.
"Pack your things, Bone, give up your moose for these two guests, I'm leaving now!" Donna commanded.
A warrior gave up his mount without any complaint about Donna's command, and led the huge moose to Li Ke and Jinx.
Li Ke first picked up Jinx and carried her onto the moose, then climbed on top of her himself, sitting behind Jinx and reaching out to protect Jinx, who was wrapped up like a bear.
Little Jin tugged restlessly at the reins, its excited eyes darting around furtively.
Donna mounted Vana, patted the head of the boar beneath her, and shouted, "After you've escorted the caravan, hurry back!"
"Yes!"
The soldiers responded in unison.
In the western part of Freljord, after passing the massive mountain range, you can see the boundless North Sea. In winter, the North Sea is covered with a thin layer of ice, and occasionally the sunlight falls on the surface of the sea, reflecting a beautiful light.
The tall woman approached the sea, bent down and took off her gloves, revealing a long, slender hand covered with tiny wounds that touched the ice.
She had beautiful white hair and wore a black bodysuit that accentuated her stunning figure. Beneath her firm, rounded curves were taut muscles that squeezed through the clothes, revealing clearly defined six-pack abs. After squatting in front of the ice for a long while, she let out a long sigh.
"How is the situation?"
A voice sounded behind her.
Sejuani turned around and saw a man who was shirtless, broad-skinned, and with wildly growing hair, resembling a savage.
"Udyr, the situation is worse than we thought," Sejuani said in a low voice, pursing her thin lips.
She stood up, put her gloves back on, her white hair fluttering in the icy sea wind, a few strands falling across her face. Sejuani gently brushed them away, saying worriedly, "The weather is getting worse and worse. It's not even the dead of winter yet, and the sea is already covered with ice. When the dead of winter arrives, all the ships will be unable to move, and we'll only be able to fish using the most primitive methods."
Udyr nodded, and after a moment of silence, he said, "Otherwise, let me go hunting?"
"No." Sejuani shook her head. She looked north and saw a huge island on the other side of the sea, towering into the clouds and surrounded by lightning and dark clouds.
That place is the territory of the Ursine.
"We have an agreement with the Ursine that we cannot hunt prey near the coast." Sejuani took a deep breath and narrowed her eyes. "Now is not the time to become enemies with the Ursine."
Udyr fell silent again.
In recent years, with the appearance of the Frostguard, the actions of the Ursine, and Avarosa's consolidation of tribes large and small, the predicament faced by Winter's Claw has become increasingly severe.
The Winter's Claw are a nomadic clan, Sejuani strictly forbids her people from farming, because she believes that doing so is forgetting the traditions of Freljord. She believes that only animality and honor can bring rebirth, and that being confined to one place like livestock, like Avarosa, and living a farming life around them is something Sejuani strongly abhors.
Things were better before. Every winter, when Sejuani couldn't survive, she would lead her people to fight and scavenge for food. But after Avarosa of Ashe took over the weaker tribes, Sejuani had fewer and fewer tribes to fight in the surrounding area.
The Ursine have enormous appetites, Winter's Claw would have to pay a huge price to gain Ursine power and help, which is not what Sejuani wants.
As for the Frostguard, they are even more formidable; that group is mysterious and powerful, and every time they appear, they bring a catastrophe to Freljord.
Thinking of this, Sejuani couldn't help but say softly, "Udyr, do you really think my decision was the right one?"
The current predicament and difficulties facing Winter's Claw have indeed made Sejuani feel a little tired, and she can only show it in front of Udyr.
Udyr was not an ordinary member of her tribe, but her sworn father. Although he was not her biological father, Sejuani had long regarded Udyr as her true father.
Udyr broke his silence this time and said with certainty, "Of course, Sejuani, there is no better Warmother than you."
He continued loudly, "You are a more outstanding Warmother than Kalkia. I am truly happy that you have grown into what you are today. Thinking back to those days, you were just a thin, skin-and-bones little girl. But look at you now, you have taken control of a vast tribe, your people number in the tens of thousands, you carry countless hopes on your shoulders, and you lead them to survive."
"Don't put too much pressure on yourself, child. Everything will be alright, I promise." Udyr walked to Sejuani's side, hesitated for a moment, and then raised his hand to gently pat Sejuani's back.
Sejuani smiled, a touch of gentleness softening her usually stern face. Gazing at the Ursine territory, she nodded and said, "Yes, Udyr, you're right. Everything will be alright."
"We won't be left with no way out."
She bent down, raised her left arm, and then slammed her fist into the ice. The ice in front of Sejuani shattered and split open, the force creating spiderweb-like patterns that spread and grew to a length of a hundred meters.
She then turned around, walked past Udyr, and headed towards the tribe's territory.
Udyr's gaze followed Sejuani's every move.
The once incredibly thin little girl has now caught up to her in height, with a tall figure and broad shoulders. Sejuani has truly become an outstanding and powerful Warmother.
Udyr's gaze became somewhat vacant, and a cacophony of sounds echoed in his mind—the voices of all spirits.
Seeing this, Udyr reached for his waistband, where a wooden splinter, about the thickness of two fingers of an average person, was stuck. After removing Udyr, Udyr pricked his fingertip, and the pain gradually brought him back to his senses from the sounds, allowing him to find himself again.
Then he heard Sejuani's voice.
Donning her helmet, Sejuani crossed one arm, waved it, and her cold, arrogant voice echoed through the far north.
"Heading south--"
"How much longer until we reach your territory? We've been walking for two days already!"
On the vast tundra, a giant moose and a huge wild boar are galloping across the frozen ground.
Donna squinted, focusing intently on the direction she was searching. She didn't actually need to do this, as Vana could discern directions, but Donna remained vigilant nonetheless.
In Freljord, a single careless mistake could lead to annihilation, so Donna dared not be careless.
Hearing Jinx's question, she answered loudly, "Soon! We've already passed three small outposts. It seems the Warmother has set up camp in Snow Foothills Ice Abyss." She continued, "If we pass Howling Gorge before dark, we should reach the tribe tonight."
Donna was very excited to bring such great news back to the tribe.
Amidst the moose's thick fur, Jinx, lying in front of Li Ke, was poking at the long, fluffy hair behind the moose's ears with her frostbitten fingertips. The long, fluffy hair behind the moose's ears was braided by Jinx.
Upon hearing this, Jinx abruptly raised her head, nearly bumping into Li Ke's chin.
Li Ke clicked his tongue in exasperation, just as he heard Xiao Jin exclaim, "Howling Gorge? What kind of place is that? Is it a giant frozen the Rift? Hey, Li Ke, that place sounds way more exciting than our Zaun's sewage pipes! I want to go see it!"
Jinx squirmed restlessly in Li Ke, her little nose red from the cold, but her Big Eyes were full of excitement.
She went on to say, "I've set off fireworks in many places: the sewers of Zaun, the buildings of Piltover, the harbor of Bilgewater, the forests of Ionia. But I've never actually set off fireworks in the snowy the Rift, whoosh—bang!"
Xiao Jin has really tried everything to have fun these past two days.
Otherwise, what should we do?
On this boundless tundra, nothing but white, and after a while, Jinx, with her temperament, had already begun to get impatient.
"We can't go to that place," Donna said quickly upon hearing Jinx's voice.
She narrowed her eyes, her voice tinged with trepidation, and said, "Howling Gorge is the territory of the Frostguard. Although those bastards rarely show up, they've been out lately, and there might be some of their people in Howling Gorge."
"What's the connection between Howling Gorge and Howling Abyss?" Li Ke asked.
Donna was taken aback, not expecting Li Ke to ask such a question. She thought for a moment and then said, "Go down through Howling Gorge, and you'll come across a long river. Follow the river to its end, and you'll reach Frostguard Citadel. The Howling Abyss is built there."
"But that place is absolutely forbidden. No one has ever come out alive after going there," Donna said firmly.
Li Ke nodded, hugged the restless Jinx tighter, and looked toward Howling Gorge, which Donna had mentioned.
From the moment he set foot on this land, Li Ke knew one thing: Lissandra had definitely noticed him.
That woman, who has kept herself hidden and lived behind the scenes for nine thousand years, is one of the top ten strongest beings in Runeterra.
Indeed, in Li Ke's understanding and conjecture, Lissandra's strength is enough to rank among the top ten in Runeterra.
It's worth noting that Lissandra fought Volibear before obtaining the power of the Void. Although she was completely defeated by Volibear, Lissandra was facing Volibear at his peak. Volibear is a fighter who will fight to the bitter end, and Lissandra survived, only having one eye blinded by Volibear.
Not to mention that over the past thousands of years, Lissandra has not only grown in power but has also gained new power.
Just how strong Volibear?
To put it simply, Nilah can slaughter some weak Demigod; she is incredibly powerful, even feared by Nagakabouros. Yet, this very Nilah went to find the bear, only to be severely injured and nearly killed by the bear, whose strength was greatly diminished by the corruption of the Void. If Morgana hadn't saved her, Nilah would have truly messed up.
Therefore.
How could Lissandra not know she had come to Freljord?
"Hang in there a little longer, you two. You've had a tough journey, but we'll be at the tribe soon."
"Once we arrive at the tribe, I will have someone prepare hot meat soup for you to drink."
Seeing Li Ke silently bowing his head, while Jinx puffed out her cheeks, Donna didn't know what the two were thinking. But such a journey was tiring and arduous even for her, a warrior of the Winter's Claw, let alone for the outsiders.
So Donna smiled and said to them.