Soooo, hey y'all, I'm back after that long time. I honestly didn't expect this story to garner so much attention, it's my second most popular story, sitting at ~60 follows and ~40 favourites. But I'm back after finally planning a few arcs ahead. Also note that Ruby is wearing her Slayer Outfit and that the metal on her shoulder covers her whole arm now.
But yeah, please enjoy.
I'll give you a little hint about the chapter though, Cinder is… a little different!
Also this chapter may be a little awkward considering that I had changed POV (as in Third to First) halfway through and it may seem a little choppy at times.
I'm also going to be doing a new thing, chapter covers, please tell my how you like them or if you don't!
Side note:
Italics: Narration or the Past.
Chapter Cover: Ruby pinned to the wall by an arrow with Cinder approaching her, bow in hand and a look of curiosity.
When something shatters, the pieces are left for someone to pick up. When someone shatters, the pieces are left to pick themselves up, for some people think that 'other people have it worse' so you are not entitled to your own suffering.
Moral of the story? People value objects more than they do people… especially when someone sees a person as an object…
"...everyone is entitled to their own sorrow, for the heart has no metrics or form of measure… And all of it… irreplaceable."
Qrow was gone again for a who knows how long, it could be months or maybe just a day, all he said was "saving the world takes time, and keeping it secret takes longer," and then flew away.
Qrow, being a very successful huntsman, lived within one of the more expensive apartments in the residential district of Vale. Unlike Taiyang and Summer who had later decided to live in the secluded forests of Patch, Qrow had decided to live in the city and have more access to jobs and bounties. And so, I lived there as well.
It's not like I actually ever went into the house for anything other than food, hygiene, and sleep… especially sleep. Qrow, when not training me in the gym that he regularly rented out, was usually out 'saving the world' or just on a simple job that took around a week to a few months. And thus, I had a lot of free time.
I would usually just head to the local gym and spend the day there, doing the training regime that Qrow had made for me; which was actually just doing everything until you were to the point of passing out.
But today was my rest day, as I had deemed it. A time where I could spend my time doing whatever I please, and today, I chose to head out into Vale. I didn't know what it was about it, but the city fascinated me. Maybe it was the lack of ever visiting or an outside force, it didn't matter, all the mattered was that it struck me as something awesome and fun.
Qrow had said that Beacon was guarding something inside of itself and acted as a beacon of hopen for the the safe veil protecting it, and thus the name of the school and the city. But that was whatever, I was just interested in it and that was all that I knew. So, I made it my personal goal to investigate my growing fascination with the towering skyscrapers and small town gangs littering the place.
I was currently venturing around the shadier part of town, run down alleyways being my paths through the dirtied place. I didn't know what I was looking for here. Information? On the city most likely. Purpose? Being with, or without, Qrow had made my boredom spike. Maybe just some fun? Like previously stated, boredom was high these days.
The straight sword on the right of my waist clapped against my thigh, reminding me of its presence. Wilted Thorn, as I had named it because I was once holding a rose, which ended up pricking my skin and drawing blood, had wilted the next day after doing so. The blade had a fluorescent crimson colour, fading almost, while the five inch long guard and the leather handle were black.
I had decided to leave Crescent Rose behind today, which I would normally never do, but I thought that maybe a kid carrying around a HVSS, albeit folded up, was a little weird. But that still didn't deter from my level of fighting, be it a sword or a scythe, Qrow had taught me to master both. But I guess a kid wandering around alleyways was also kind of suspicious, a frown crossed my face at the adsense of my baby.
I had asked Qrow before what had made him suddenly change his mind about taking care of me. He just waved me off and told me that he was my father and he should've started to act like it, I knew it was at least a white lie so I just carried on with my days. Yes, I could remember a time when I had been petrified by a beast and a man wielding a scythe had saved me but I didn't remember much else.
But that was besides the point! I was here today to relax and forget all of my problems, not to think about them.
The sun was still sitting at its peak in the slightly cloudy sky, providing its heat to the citizens beneath. My boots thumped slightly against the stone alleys, numerous cardboard boxes were lined up against the wall, their inhabitants were nowhere to be seen.
I thought it about time I ate something, the smells coming from the other side of the building luring me into the plaza. I took a sharp left out of the sunny alleyway into an even sunnier place filled with different aromas and people. My grey eyes lit up at the sight, an aura of excitement practically rolling off of me as I hopped on my toes, which place to go first?
Well, there was a noodle shop right in front of me or there was exotic Mistralian food over on my left, dainty Atlesian food was to the right… I could probably only afford the noodle shop.
I trudged up to the shop, ordering a simple dish. A huge bowl slid right into my vision. I dropped a Lien card onto the table and waited for it to be returned to my hands. It slid across the table and I dove in.
It was a relatively uneventful meal, some people that passed by gave sceptical glances towards the sword on my waist but other than that only one other thing happened; a girl, looking around the age of 15, with glowing saffron eyes and ashy black hair, sat a few seats next to me. An aura of power radiated off of her and I leaned slightly away from the noirette. I knew I was looking for something to bide my time but I don't think this is what I was looking for.
I quickly finished my meal and hopped out of the seat, the red cloak on my shoulders billowed behind me and the scarf attached to it covered the bottom half of my face; a frown made its way onto my face and my previously shining, silver eyes dulled back to grey again. The metal armour covering my arm shifted as I set my hand on the handle of Wilted Thorn.
I kept my head low as I wove through the masses, lunch hour just arriving along with all of its people. I turned a corner, into an alleyway, and saw the saffron eyed girl following me with a smirk. She knew that I knew that she was following me, and she was playing with me.
I scoffed at the thought. I set my pace to a jog and started weaving through the twists and turns, that was until my instincts screamed at me and I hopped to the left, an arrow piercing my cloak and pinned me to the wall.
The girl was walking slowly, the glass heels on her feet clicking against the stone. Saffron eyes burned with an unidentifiable look. Hunger, maybe?
She reached me, the clicking stopping, and the look in her eyes morphed into something more recognisable, curiosity. "You know, not many people would have been able to dodge that."
I stayed silent, we didn't like to talk to strangers; but maybe, this'll be my opportunity, "..."
"And not many people decide to stay silent when I'm around, they're too afraid." A… sad look passed across her eyes, those alluring saffron orbs staring into a dull grey.
The sad look passed and tarnished gold became a burning colour again, "you interest me," she stuck her hand out, the left one, I'm starting to appreciate how much she observes, "let's be friends!"
My gloved left hand pushed forwards into hers, I think it would feel soft, "Scarlet, Scarlet… Branwen." I purposely said Qrow's last name along with my middle name, after all, I couldn't be giving my full real name just yet.
"Autumn, Autumn Spark… I think we can both agree to give false names?"
I nodded my head, it was only fair.
"So… I'm not used to having friends… Wanna come to my place?"
I just nodded my head again and we started on our way.
"So, you don't like to talk much?" Her eyes weren't burning anymore, they were warm.
I shook my head, agreeing with her.
"I can respect that, I have a friend that doesn't talk anymore." That tarnished gold look returned.
I bumped her shoulder and offered a smile, even if we were just becoming friends and haven't even told each other our real names, I'll still offer comfort. That's just in my nature.
"But it's alright though, she has a friend that really helps her out a lot, her name's Naverna Torchwick!" Saffron again. I'm starting to really like that colour, don't tell anyone that though.
I smiled at my success.
We arrived at the docks and made our way towards a warehouse, abandoned by the looks on the outside. "Well, this is where my friends and I live, I want you to meet them."
My smile got a little wider and my eyes lit up again, this is what I've been looking for, someone like Autumn.
And thus begins the journey of Scarlet Branwen, or Ruby Rose as some people might know her. But for now, she's leaving the Rose life behind, in favor of journeying with Autumn Spark.
And so that was this chapter, follows/favourites/reviews are greatly appreciated. Sorry again about how long this took to get out, I've been busy and writers block is annoying.
Up Next: Meeting the Gang
