Yang continued to glare at Weiss while Blake's eyes kept going back and forth between them. They were interrupted by several people running up to them.
"You made the dragon fly off!" Cried one
"You saved my daughter!" Cried another
"How could we repay you?" Asked another.
Weiss smiled "Well-"
"Your thanks are enough!" Yang called out interrupting Weiss "We go to speak with your council"
The villagers continued to shout praise as they walked away.
"I could of gotten stuff I need!" Said Weiss angrily "why'd you say that!"
"Because" growled Yang as she gave a two fingered salute to a cheering family hanging out a window "People offer you anything when you save them, but some people can barely make it by on the daily"
Weiss wanted to protest until she realised that Yang was correct as she watched a person walk by with a torn shirt on, through the tears she saw the man's ribs exposed heavily against his skin, beside him a small boy walked but he looked better fed then the man as he held the boy's hand and the boy pointed to them excitedly.
Weiss scowled at her own ignorance, if there was something she hated it was appearing stupid or being ignorant. She looked at Yang's back and realised how ignorant she had really been, Yang wasn't just a halfling that her father had taught her were lower then humans. She was a veteran adventurer that had more experience then most humans, she was empathetic and didn't want to take advantage of innocents, she just wanted to protect them from what they couldn't protect themselves from.
"I'm sorry" she said finally. Yang turned to her with a raised eyebrow "for insulting you, I was just angry at, well, a lot of stuff and it all sort of came together and then there you were standing there insulting me and I just-"
"Weiss… I'm not gonna say it's fine. But I accept your apology" sighed Yang
"Right" nodded Weiss
They continued on in silence as they approached the town hall where the council were standing outside to greet them.
"Brave adventurers!" They cried "you have saved us!"
"Not yet we haven't" said Yang
"But we watched as it flew off!" Cried one of the councilman.
"Nah, he's just slithered back to his lair. Probably decided we were too much of a hassle" said Yang "when Ruby returns we'll head out and continue this fight"
"Very well" Said One of the councilman before turning a stern stare to Weiss "We will be reporting you to the highest authorities" he warned
Weiss paled as she realised what that would mean, her father would find where she was and send out someone to get her. She would be forced to marry some perverted old man and be forced to bear children for him and-
"Actually, that won't be necessary" said Yang and Weiss looked at her in shock "just a mess up in communications" she said patting Weiss on the back
The councilmen looked at them skeptically.
"I could go for some mead" said Yang suddenly and she looked at Blake "Mead?"
Blake nodded looking at Yang confused.
"We'll be in the tavern!" Said Yang as she turned and walked off, Blake and Weiss quickly following.
"Thank you" She said quietly
"Ah, don't mention it" waved off Yang "my sister seems to think your worth something, so it would do no good to see you in a jail cell"
"Right"
"Now come on, let us drink for our up coming battle!" Said Yang
"Mead? Before you fight?" Asked Weiss doubtfully
"Mead causes a lot of fight" shrugged Yang "it doesn't matter if you have some to warm up"
Weiss looked at her in disbelief and opened her mouth to say something when suddenly Ruby flopped down into the ground in front of them.
Yang quickly ran over and picked her up, dusting her off "You good?" Asked Yang
"Yeah… ooh… gods… that's…. an exercise" She panted as her wings fell limp behind her.
"I thought Fairies were supposed to be good at flying" Said Blake
"I'm a shit fairy" said Ruby laughing slightly and Yang chuckled with her while Blake and Weiss looked confused.
"You see where it went?" Asked Yang as she let go of her sister
"Yeah, went a few miles south west to a mountain, there's a cave near the base of the mountain, impossible to miss aa the dragon has burned out all the vegetation within a quarter of a mile around it, should take a few hours riding to reach"
"So me and you should ride out?" Asked Yang grinning
"Yes, but we should take you two" Said Ruby pointing at Blake and Weiss "as long as your fine with it"
"Of course I'm coming with you!" Said Weiss "I'm going to slay that dragon and become an adventurer"
"I was think more that you'd be great support for us" Said Ruby
"I can fight!" Said Weiss
"I'm not saying you can't" Said Ruby irritated "but this is a dragon, not a goblin or a wild wolf. Let me and Yang, the trained fighters who have experience, deal with this"
Weiss opened her mouth to argue, then when she found nothing she could argue against closed it and huffed but nodded.
Ruby turned to Blake "You Okay coming along. It's always useful to have an extra sword on hand"
"I don't know…" Said Blake rubbing her arm as her ears flattened
There was a sniffle and Blake looked up to see Ruby looking at her with wide eyes and a pouty lip.
"Are you trying to… puppy dog look me?"
"Ruby that only works in the books and comedy plays" said Yang rolling her eyes "You don't have to come but if you don't it'll mean staying here" Said Yang crossing her arms.
"I'll come" Said Blake, not liking the idea of staying still with possible white fang about and not wanting to be on her own again.
"Alright then" Said Ruby smiling "let's go slay a dragon"
~§~
They rode down a dirt path, Yang and Blake on one horse and Ruby on another, between them was a beautiful white horse with Weiss sat on its back.
They rode through a sparse forest as the light trickled in between the trees.
"So how do you fight a dragon?" Asked Blake.
"Well, you try to get it either on the ground or in an enclosed space. So it would be ideal to ambush it in its lair, especially if it might be sleeping, but that could be dangerous"
"How could it be more dangerous?" Asked Weiss
"Oh ,y'know. Fire breathing dragon, enclosed space. I'll let you do the math" said Yang smiling "But if we get it out into an open area we need to cut off its wings or tail, then when it's grounded cut off its head. Finish it quick" she grunted
"You make that sound very easy" said Weiss
"It won't be" said Ruby "it'll stay in the air and breath fire from above, and when it runs out of gas we'll need to reach it or make it land" she paused and looked in deep thought for a moment "Weiss, those runes you summoned, is that your aura?"
Aura was a natural magic that all sentient species possessed and could use, however not everyone could access there's as it was either unlocked naturally early on in life or through high stress situations.
"Yes, I can make someone speed up or slow down, I can hold someone in place and create platforms" said Weiss proudly
"That'll be useful…" said Ruby going back into deep thought
Weiss suddenly remembered something "How were you able to zoom around like you did?"
"Oh, that's my aura, I can go really fast" Said Ruby before she stopped her horse "see the mountain up ahead?" She asked and nodded in a direction.
They all looked through the tree canopies to see a small mountain looming ahead.
"We've got a few miles before we get to the exposed area" Said Ruby as they continued onward subdued.
Eventually they went off the path and after travelling through forest they stopped hidden in some brush on the edge of a massive scorched patch. The mountain base was up ahead and a cave entrance was exposed, for several meters surrounding the entrance was simply charred and blackened soil, a few burnt stumps all that was left of the trees and grass that once covered the area.
"Yup, that's a dragons lair Alright" Said Yang as she observed it "it's gonna be difficult to ambush it, it'll hear us and see us coming as soon as we step out there"
"I can do it" suddenly piped up Blake
They turned to look at her and she flushed "I'm pretty good at sneaking around" she said rubbing her arm again.
"Really?" Asked Ruby
"Yes" was the response right in her ear as Blake in front of her suddenly dissipated into air and reappeared right at her shoulder. They all jumped and Ruby fell to the floor after giving a surprised squeak.
"Impressive" Said Yang "Why didn't you use that when stealing that bread?"
Weiss stared in shock at Blake "I was hungry and tired, my aura was very weak and my brain wasn't working at top capacity" she said
"Okay, go see if it's sleeping. And be carful"
Blake gulped, nodded. And slipped off invisible as the three girls stared at the clone left behind.
"Blake? You uh… gonna go?"Asked Ruby
The clone simply stared ahead blankly.
"Ugh… Blake?"
~§~
Blake walked invisible through the charred wasteland, the blackened earth crunching under her feet and occasionally she would step on sections of glass. She continued on until she stopped right outside the caves entrance, deep inside she heard a rumbling that was too rhythmic for something awake to make.
"Mkuu, please do not let my story end here" she prayed before gulping and taking a step onto the rocky floor of the cave. When the mountain didn't explode into an eruption of fire and death she quickly sprinted inside and hide behind a rocky pillar, she leaned around it and stared at the cave wall and ceiling with her night vision before walking forward, coming upon a corner with a glow coming from around it.
She pressed herself to the wall and sucked in breath before peeking around it.
She had to cover up her squeak as she looked at the dragon curled up, its eyes closed and occasionally a puff of green gas would spill form its nose and fall to the floor. The reason for the illumination was due to the lantern secured round its neck by a golden chain.
Blake was about to turn and leave when suddenly there was a rustling and a creaking like old leather books and one of the dragons eyelids opened to reveal its red soulless eye.
"What's, This. Someone in my lair is there? Shall I eats them? Ohhh, Oh I do love the way you thinks" it hissed as it began to unfurl and stand.
Blake forgot all pretence of stealth and bolted for the entrance. She needed to tell the other quick, though they would probably tell what was coming by her running. But she needed to shout something to warn them. It had to be short and punchy, get right at the heart of the issue.
~§~
"Oh look! Here comes Blake" said Yang as she put a hand over her eyes to block out the sun.
"Why's she running?" Asked Weiss "is that a sign it's safe? That the dragon isn't home?"
"Is she shouting something?" Asked Ruby
They all leaned forward and strained their ears.
~§~
"DRAGON!" Screamed Blake as she ran
"FUCKING DRAGON!" She shrieked
~§~
"Flagon?" Said Weiss confused
"Clucking flagon?" Said Ruby confused
Yang titled her head "Isn't that the tavern in-"
Then from the caves entrance burst the dragon roaring in outrage as it bound forward.
"Fucking shit" cursed Yang as they all jumped up and burst from the trees.
Blake finally reached them "Dragon…" she panted.
"Thanks for the warning" said Yang dryly a she got ready. Ruby pulling out her crossbow while Weiss prepared Myrtenaster.
"You" hissed the dragon as it skidded to a halt "I should Of knowns you'd comes" It hissed
"Your reign of terror ends here!" Called up Weiss
The three girls looked at her incredulously.
"Did you seriously… just say that?" Asked Yang in amusement
"It sounded more heroic in my head" admitted Weiss as the dragon burst into laughter.
"I shall kill you now" it said grinning as green smoke poured out between its teeth.
They all jumped away through various methods as the dragon spouted flame at them, Weiss flinging herself backwards on her runes while Blake left her clone to face the heat and ran to the side. Ruby used her semblance and dashed away shooting bolts into the armour of the dragon while Yang simply raised her magic shield to defend herself.
The dragon growled in annoyance at not doing damage and gave a flap of its mighty wings kicking up dust and dirt as it slowly rose into the air before flying off.
"Where are you going coward?" Cried Weiss as she watched.
"Weiss, do me a favour and stop talking like your in some sort of play or book" groaned Yang as the dragon slowly swung round at the peak of its arc into the sky and went into a sharp dive straight for them.
They scattered again as the dragon strafed the area with almost liquid-like flames as they flowed and spread before the gas was burnt up and they went away in puffs of smoke.
The dragon gave a roar of pleasure as it swung back up into the air and came down for another strafe.
"We just have to keep this up till it runs out of gas!" Cried Ruby
"How long will that take?" Asked Weiss panting
"Not long, a few more strafes and he'll be puffing and huffing out air" Said Yang as she rolled out the way as flames again tried to lick at her armoured body.
The dragon strafed them twice more but on its third one halfway through the flames stopped coming out and it gave out deep rumbling coughs as wisps of smoke were all that emerged, it growled before flying up and circling them as it likely tried to think of what to do next.
Ruby brought up her crossbow and closed her right eye as she used her left to aim the crossbow at the dragon. She fired up a bolt and it sailed past the dragon, she reloaded and fired again and it bounced off the dragons armour.
She scowled and readied another shot, she wanted to either hit the dragons eyes or wings but as I'm sure you can imagine it is hard to hit the eyes of a flying dragon even if these ones made such great targets with the way they glowed red. She fired another shot and grinned in satisfaction as it penetrated the membrane of the dragons wing and stuck there.
The dragon gave a cry and looked around in confusion at what happened as another bolt joined the first and imbedded in its wing membrane. It looked towards its prey and saw the red one with one of those infernal throwing contraptions, then it grinned maliciously as an idea came into its mind and it dived.
Straight at Ruby.
Ruby had been too busy getting another bolt ready to notice as the dragon headed straight for her but Yang was as she ran to her sister. As the dragons claws started to dig into the earth Yang reached her sister.
Yang shoved Ruby out the way and braced as the dragons head rammed into her. From there positions Ruby, Weiss and Blake watched as a huge gouge was given into the ground and the dragon hovered in the air, it's head still down as it tried to pull it from the earth
"YANG!" Shouted Blake
"Don't worry" Said Ruby dusting herself off as she stared at the still hovering dragon "her aura lets her take damage, and she can dish it back out twice as hard" Said Ruby
Suddenly two gauntlets gripped the dragons horns and wrenched them sideways and into the ground the dragon screeching as its body was dragged into the dirt. Yang held its head to the earth as her hair glowed bright and the surrounding area somehow grew hotter while her eyes had changed from their usual lilac to crimson red.
Then Yang lifted its head up and slammed it into the floor. The dragon whimpered but stayed still as she lifted her fist and ran forward towards its back. With a roar she launched forward and grabbed onto the part of the dragons body that connected the dragons right wing to its body and placed her other hand on the dragons back to steady herself.
She rubbed it's back slightly and sighed.
"Sorry" she whispered as she used her arm and her muscles bulged as she pulled and with the aid of her aura she ripped the wing from the dragons body in a showers of bone, scales and blood.
The dragon screamed and bucked, throwing Yang into a nearby rock, cracking it as she hit it. The dragon stumbled around and screeched and whimpered as it shook its head to clear its vision of the stars and white flashes from the pain.
"It's grounded!" Cried Ruby as she pulled out her scythe
"What now?" Asked Weiss getting ready to launch forward
"Weiss! Lock it's limbs in place" shouted Ruby as she ran forward, the other two joining her.
"Right" said Weiss nodding as she stopped and adopted a fencing position a she channeled her aura through Myrtenaster.
"Blake! Distract it!" Shouted Ruby as she ran forward
Blake nodded and began cloning herself rapidly and the dragon smashed them just as fast as she made them. Then as it went for another swat it found its limbs locked in place.
"NO!" It roared as Ruby landed on its back and put her scythe to its neck, she pulled it away then swung powerfully. The blade hit the scales and dug in a few centimetres and Ruby growled in annoyance.
The dragon began bucking and shaking and Ruby couldn't hold on any longer and she flew off its back as Weiss's runes shattered and the dragon lost all interest in Blake.
Ruby tumbled through the air before hitting the ground and rolling. She felt a hand grab the back of her tunic and stop her roll before lifting her up to her feet. She looked up and smiled at Yang who grinned back as she wiped some blood from her nose.
"BLAKE, WHEN I SHOUT ROPE, GIVE ME YOUR ROPE!" Shouted Ruby and Blake nodded as she prepared to throw the rope attached to her sword.
"I need you to throw me that way!" She Said pointing at the dragons tail.
Yang looked confused but nodded and picked her up in her hand before spinning and throwing her through the air.
"Rope!" She Cried to Blake and Blake through he rope up to her. She grabbed it and used her momentum and aura to boost herself forward and around toward the dragons neck, Blake getting the idea and digging herself into the ground to act as an anchor point.
"WEISS!" Shouted Ruby and she felt Runes appear under her and shoot her forward faster.
She became a red blur and the dragon barely let out a noise before its head flew off its body and landed several meters away skidding to a stop.
Ruby dug her scythe into the ground and forced herself to a stop too as the dragons body collapsed.
"That was great Ruby!" Said Yang as she ran over and picked her sister up in a tight embrace.
"That was Awesome" confirmed Blake as she walked over
"Thanks… guys" panted Ruby from both exhaustion and recovering from Yangs bone breaking hugs.
"Is your life usually this exciting?" Asked Blake smiling
"Sometimes" nodded Ruby as she looked around "Where's Weiss?"
They looked around in worry and saw her near the recently beheaded neck of the dragon, she kneeled down and they saw she was in front of the blue glowing lantern that was humming with energy and slowly lighting on and off.
She reached forward with her left hand.
"WEISS DON-"
Her finger touched its surface.
~§~
Two red eyes opened somewhere far away and as black as the void.
I'm free, Ozpin…
Glittering white teeth like knives appeared in a malicious grin.
And nothing can stop me…
~§~
Ozpin stared out the high palace window.
The view from up there was spectacular and wasn't even taken away from in this stormy day as rain pelted the window and the overcast clouds hung overhead the city. Below people ran through the streets to conduct their business quickly so they could get out of the rain faster.
But for a few seconds what drew everyone's and Ozpin's attention was was a bright beam of white light in the distance that shot up into the sky and disappeared past the clouds.
Ozpin stared at the spot a while after it had disappeared and frowned. Then the door to the room burst open and Qrow was there with a quirked eyebrow.
"Y'see That?" He Asked in his gravely tone
"Yes… I believe preparation is finally over" remarked Ozpin
"But are we ready?" Asked Qrow
Ozpin remained silent for several seconds. "Go and shadow the unfortunate souls who have been dragged into this" Said Ozpin
Qrow nodded and chose not to point out that Ozpin never answered his question.
~§~
Weiss was catapulted back and Yang caught her as suddenly a bright white light shot out from the lantern and up into the sky like a beacon, the white shooting Up into the sky and past the dark clouds that were forming. A low whine filling the air and a roar of rushing air almost deafening the girls present.
The dragons body was slowly compacted down and contorted as it was absorbed into the white light. Around them plant leaves shivered like they were caught in a strong wind and trees leaned toward the light while small stones and dirt were sucked up into the beam.
Then just as abruptly as it started it stopped and it was as if nothing had happened, some dirt fell to the floor and the trees creaked as they we back to their previous positions but no other noise disturbed the clearing.
Yang opened her eyes and saw that Weiss was sitting up and looking round in shock.
"What *cough* was that?" Asked Blake as she stumbled forward.
"Is everyone alright?" Asked Ruby as she ran up to them.
"I feel fine" Said Weiss in disbelief as she felt herself
"Then count yourself lucky" grunted Yang "who knows what that could of done to you"
They looked to where the Lantern had been and saw a small crater had formed with the lantern standing up straight in it and the dragons body gone, but it's head still several meters away, it's tongue lolling out its still open mouth and it's eyes no longer the soulless red they had been but now back to their original gold slits.
"My father has a dragon's skull mounted above the door to the throne room" Said Weiss as she stared at the head.
"Then he's a barbaric git" said Yang as she walked over to the head and ran her gauntlet down its snout. "Poor thing" she then closed its eye lids and put its tongue back in its mouth, not caring for the saliva that stuck to her gauntlets, she closed its mouth and set the head so it was upright then stood back up.
She placed a gauntlet on the dragons snout and runes lit up on it then the dragons head burst into flames, ash floating into the sky.
"May you fly eternal, glittering and gold, through the skies of Rakash" she said solemnly as the head finally burnt up and the flames died.
When Ruby saw the other two girls confused looks she quietly explained "That's the way that Dragons would dispose of their dead, Rakash is the dragons afterlife"
"But wait! How are we going to prove we killed the dragon" Asked Weiss
"I think this ought to do" Said Ruby as she walked over and nudged the lantern with her foot.
"But what if it reacts violently again?" Asked Blake flinching when Ruby touched it
"Well…" Said Yang before suddenly grabbing it by the handle.
She opened her eyes and saw that she was still alive and she picked up the lantern. "Just don't touch it with your bare hands" she said
"Right"
They all looked around a the desolate black landscape.
"What now?"
~§~
Krelf was a simple dwarf, he enjoyed mining and drinking and at the moment he was enjoying one of his favourite past times and could really go for the other.
He hit his pickaxe into the rock again.
"I'm telling you" Said another dwarf mining the wall of the cave a few meters away "this don't feel right"
"Rock is rock" grunted back another dwarf
"It's not the rock, it's a feeling" Said the same dwarf again
"Of what? Bad omens?" Asked another one teasingly.
"Didn't you see the storm clouds on the surface?" Asked the complaining dwarf again
"Yeah? What of them?" Asked Krelf deciding to get in on the conversation.
"There an omen!" said the dwarf pausing in his work and turning.
"Of what?" Asked Krelf also pausing despite being close to a breakthrough into another cave, he could tell by the way the rock sounded when he hit it.
The bad omen dwarf looked sheepish "Oh, y'know… bad things ahead"
"Like what?" Asked a dwarf to the side
"Rain" Said Krelf and the other dwarfs burst into laughter
"I'm telling you guys" said the complaining dwarf as he shook his head and got back to work.
"Sure" grunted back Krelf as he went back to mining.
They continued mining in almost silence, the exception being the quiet noise of other dwarfs further back in the mine singing a hearty song of gold and beer.
Krelf gave one more mighty swing and jumped back as the whole wall crumbled. All the other dwarfs stopped to look into the dark hole that had appeared.
"Perfect" Said one "that saves us a lot of work"
"It sure does"
Then the sound of a stone skitting across the ground sounded from within the dark cave. The dwarfs looked at it in silence and took steps back when two glowing red eyes appeared surrounded by red runes of some unknown language.
The creature growled as it stepped into the light, it looked similar to the skeletons of ancient creatures they often dug up, hunched over in a bean shape but with two powerful legs underneath it. The creature was black with bone white plates adorning it's back, spikes sticking up from it and it's lips parted to reveal rows of small glittery white teeth.
Before anyone could give a cry for warriors the creature charged forward and jumped on one dwarf and began to tear him apart as more of the creatures ran out from the cave and killed Krelf and all his mining companions.
As the creatures finally killed everyone in the tunnel the one with spikes growled and gestured with its head down the tunnel from where the singing was coming from, its mouth open in a bloodied grin. When the creatures were done there would be no more singing.
~§~
The village burned as Alexia ran through the streets. She ducked into an alley and strained her ears, but cried at the uselessness of it all as all she heard was the roar of fire and the cracking of wood.
She peeked round the corner and saw nothing there.
She sucked in a breath and ran, she just needed to make it to the alley.
CLOP
Her eyes widened in terror.
CLOP
She paused in fear and began to shake as the sound of hooves echoed around them.
Then the sound stopped, she felt a breath ruffle her hair and she turned and came face to face with the skeleton mask of a black horse. It looked at her with its red eyes and snorted again, blowing hot air onto her face.
She took a few steps back and began to run away hopelessly when something shot forward and she stopped.
She looked down numbly at the claws through her chest and gasped, coughing up blood. She was lifted into the air and turned to face a face, a white bone mask with two curved horns and red eyes. A mouth opened and revealed a glowing red abyss behind black bars that stopped the mouth from opening fully.
Black began to cover her vision as the creature grinned, at least, it looked like it did. Alexia wasn't really sure in her dying state. Then she was flung into a wall and she snapped like a twig, collapsing to the ground dead.
~§~
They had been riding for several days along the road back to Vale. Yang, being the only one with thick gauntlets took the burden of carrying the lantern except she remembered how the dragon was corrupted by it and kept it tied to her saddle rather then holding it, it was pretty useful at night casting a blue glow over their camp.
It was night and they were camped off the side of the road and Ruby was keeping watch while doing her usual pastime of looking at the stars. The night had been uneventful and slow with the occasional summer breeze blowing by. A crow landed in a nearby branch and she watched it for a while, it seemed to stare back at her too before suddenly snapping its head to the side and narrowing its eyes as a twig snapped in the forest
She snapped her head to the forest as well and put a hand on her scythe. She narrowed her eyes as she scanned the tree line. She snapped her head around in another direction, then another.
She grabbed her compacted scythe and slowly shook Yang awake.
"Wha-what's wrong?" Asked Yang as she opened her eyes and sat up slightly
"Something in the forest" was all Ruby said as she kept her eyes on the trees. She moved over and shook Weiss and Blake up telling them the same thing and soon the four girls were standing in a circle looking into the forest.
"Are you sure there's something there?" Asked Weiss irritated at being woken up at such an outrageous time.
"No, she's right" Said Blake as one of her ears twitched "there's something out there"
They continued looking out until suddenly there was the sound of something running towards them. They looked around not seeing it and Ruby looked the wrong way as a Wolf burst from the undergrowth.
"RUBY!" Cried Weiss as she quickly appeared behind the girl and impaled the wolf of her sword. Now that it was still they all got a look at its black body and white bone armour on its face and on other parts of its body, what stood out most were its two red soulless eyes exactly like the dragon.
Before their eyes they watch it evaporate and flow away on a gust of wind.
"What was that?" Asked Weiss
"I've never seen anything like it" said Blake
"I would just say it was a wolf" said Yang "if I hadn't just watched it evaporate into nothing"
"Are there more?" Asked Ruby as she looked into the underbrush.
As if in some sort of cue, many more glowing red eyes lit up around them and more of the wolves crept into the clearing growling. Looking around them revealed them being completely surrounded.
"You take the ones on the left I'll take the ones on the right?" Said Yang trying to lighten the darkening mood.
"This is serious!" Hissed Weiss
"Alright, our priority is to protect the horses" Said Ruby as she gripped her scythe tightly.
The others nodded as the wolves closed in.
Then as one the wolves surged forward howling and growling.
Yang punched one that had no facial armour square in the face and another slashed her arm, scraping the metal of the armour and she smashed her arm into it knocking it back but she had to block another one that jumped at her.
Weiss slashed at one of the creatures then jumped back as another pounced into its place and she slashed at that as well before summoning a rune and bouncing off it towards the horses and impaled her sword into a wolves skull upon landing. As she pulled the sword out however she didn't react in time as one of the wolves caught her on her unprotected shoulder and gave her a slice, she cried out before lashing back with Myrtenaster cutting the beast down.
Ruby launched forward and gave an arc with her scythe slicing three of the wolves in half before another three ran at her and using her semblance she launched into a whirlwind and moving in a semi circle killing several of the wolves before stopping and shaking her head to stop the world spinning and went back to slicing wolves in half.
Blake popped a clone in her place and used the rope on gambol to launch into the air and onto the back of one of the the closest wolves, slicing its neck before jumping to the next.
This continued for several minutes as the pack kept coming, but soon the wolves began to slow down in their assault.
Then two of the trees were wrenched apart and into the clearing strode a massive wolf, it was so big it stood on its hind legs and was covered in bone armour with spikes coming off its back, its whole back was covered in white armour hand on its arms and legs.
It roared a challenge at them and all the other wolves stopped charging to watch.
"These things seem more intelligent then a regular wild wolf. Maybe their a breed of Direwolf?" Said Ruby
"Maybe, but if so, why are they so far within the Vale border?" Asked Yang as she flexed her wrist "I'll take care of this"
"If your sure" Said Ruby grimly
Yang walked up and the alpha wolf focused in on her before roaring another challenge which she answered with a roar right back. They stood ready to pounce for a few seconds and then the wolf charged forward and brought both its clawed paws down upon her, Yang brought her arms up and her magic shield formed and the wolf impacted that. Ruby chewed her lips when she noticed both Yang's arms straining and shaking and her feet slowly sinking into the ground.
Then Ruby gasped when the wolf's paws began to slowly pass through the shield and it gripped its claws on her left arm and before she could react it threw her into a tree trunk. She got up quickly and jumped to the side to avoid a slash and she punched the wolf in its armoured side. She then frowned as she saw the bone crack only slightly and nothing else, no fire or burning. Just a small crack in the wolf's armour.
It snarled and swung round with its claws outstretched and Yang scooted back avoiding each swing. She then caught one of the claws- her feet gouging some dirt out the ground in a small trench- and twisted until she head the snap of bone.
The creature cried out in pain and launched forward, head butting her down to the floor before it descended upon her slashing and clawing, seemingly not caring about its broken arm. She used her armoured arms to protect her face and found herself wishing she had her helmet on. She looked around, wincing at each blow and spotted nearby the lantern still standing upright and undisturbed at the battle raging around it.
She waited till the Beast gave a pause in its assault and leaned down growling right in her face before she quickly reached, felt her hand close around the lanterns handle and she swung it straight into the beasts face.
It gave a yelp of surprise as it was thrown off her and rolled on the ground a few meters before getting back up. Yang also got up and grunted in pain and exhaustion. They stared each other down before the beast roared again and leapt at her. Yang saw her chance and with a mighty roar ran forwards towards the leaping creature and right as it was about to land on her she swung an uppercut straight into its unprotected underbelly.
The creature cried out and gurgled on its own blood as Yangs fist penetrated the skin and dug into its body up to the wrist. However it tried pathetically to claw at her arm and so she opened her fist that was inside the wolf and after feeling around felt it touch something, hopefully an organ and she closed her fist around it squeezing.
There was a squelch and the beast gave a long gurgle before slumping and evaporating. The other wolves all whimpered and looked around confused before running off into the woods whimpering and whining.
"Fuck those guys" grunted Yang as she fell to her knees. Ruby and the others rushed over and looked her over "I'm fine, just a few bruises but a fixed pride" she said grinning encouragingly, then when she looked over Weiss she frowned at her wound.
"It's nothing" Weiss tried to pass off but Ruby was already sitting her down near the fire and looking through her bag.
Yang leaned into it "it doesn't look deep so you might not get infected" she said
"It doesn't smell infected" Said Blake
Weiss looked at her in surprise and confusion "You can smell something like that?"
"Yeah, typically infected wounds smell less coppery and more earthy" Said Blake "but it's not a fool proof system"
"Alright, I'm not the best at this sort of thing" Said Ruby as she sat back down next to Weiss and brought out a green paste and a cloth with a roll of bandages. "This is going to sting"
"How bad is- Argh fucking gods of the shithole!" Cursed Weiss saying the first words to come into her head as Ruby applied the salve
"That much" said Ruby as she spread it over the wound before going to the bandages.
"That was not very princess like" Said Yang smiling
"I think that's a perfectly reasonable reaction" countered Weiss through gritted teeth
"How 'bout you Blake? Are you alright?" Asked Yang as she turned to her
"Yeah, I'm fi-" Blake was interrupted as Yang looked her over, occasionally lifting her arm or leg to look them over before nodding and giving her space.
"Yeah, your fine. Just a few bruises" said Yang patting her lightly on the shoulder
"Right" said Blake slightly stunned.
"I feel so confident in your abilities" Said Weiss dryly as she watched Ruby- who had her tongue sticking out her mouth- try several knots but stopping halfway through each one and choosing another one.
"aannnnnnnd done!" Said Ruby finishing and leaning back to admire her handy work.
"Well, it doesn't look like it'll fall off in the next few seconds" Said Weiss as she looked the bandage over.
"Which bit? The arm or the bandage?" Asked Yang grinning
"Ha Ha, hilarious, though not surprising since you had no education in English" said Weiss sarcastically
The clearing went silent in shock for a few seconds.
"That was supposed to be a joke" Said Weiss flushing red
"I know, I just wasn't expecting it" said Yang still in shock
"Well done Weiss, you stunned my sister" said Ruby patting Weiss on the back
"You need to work on your sarcastic voice" Said Blake "they sound the exact same"
"But hey!" Said Yang encouragingly "it's progress, we'll make an adventurer out of you yet" she said clapping her on the shoulder.
"Right" said Weiss not looking to thrilled at the idea as she rubbed her shoulder.
"So… I have too much adrenaline still pumping through me to got to sleep" Said Yang
"Same" Said Blake
"I feel tired" Said Weiss.
"That's probably the wound" Said Ruby standing up "the horses are awake as well… strange how the wolves didn't go for them" she seemed to think for a bit before snapping back "let's ride for a bit, get away from here before the wolves decide to have another go"
They all agreed and after extinguishing the fire and collecting the lantern they saddled up and began down the path once again under the cover of night. Weiss fell asleep after an hours riding and Ruby took a rope and secured it to Weiss's horse and holding it so the horse didn't stop or meander off into the forest.
Eventually Yang and Blake also fell asleep, Yang slumped on the horses neck and Blake slumped over her back and Ruby rolled her eyes before attaching a lead to their horse and leading the two horses down the path.
~§~
The sun had come up a few hours ago when Weiss groggily opened her eyes.
"Where are we?" She asked as she looked around her eyes almost closed.
"We're on the Vale plains, we'll be coming across the section of emerald forest we'll have to pass through to get to Vale in another hour" Said Ruby.
"Right, how long was I asleep for?" She asked as she rubbed her eyes and shook her head.
"About 5-ish hours give or take" Said Ruby giving a 50/50 sign with her hand
"Right.."Said Weiss as she looked over the mountains and the beautiful landscape as they walked next to a calm river, fish swimming beneath its surface. She looked up to see not a cloud in the sky and a lone crow flying overhead.
After a few minutes Yang also woke up which in turn woke up Blake who groaned in annoyance at being awoken.
"I need to get out of this armour" moaned Yang as she stretched her limbs "and I need to wash" she said as she scrunched up her nose
"How d'you think I feel" mumbled Blake
"I guess we can look out for a place to bathe and relax for a moment" Said Ruby
"Wait, you mean… as in bathe together?" Asked Weiss sounding apprehensive.
"Yes?" Said Ruby.
"As in, naked and bathing together" she said her face heating up.
"That's generally how you bathe" Said Yang smiling slightly "plus not everyone… actually no one, can really afford to bathe alone in the wild in case of an attack, and not everyone has the liberty of bathing alone, as you are likely used to" Said Yang grinning now.
"I just assumed…" Said Weiss sheepishly
"I bet all your servants shared one bath tub together" said Yang
"It could be worse Weiss" said Ruby comfortingly "at least we're all women"
Yang wretched "imagine if Cardin was with us"
"Urgh! No! That's a step too far Yang!" Said Ruby shaking her head to try and dispel… unpleasant images
Blake chose not to mention how in the Fang all the members, both male and female would share the same pond when they moved between camps.
"Whose Cardin?" Asked Weiss in a desperate attempt to distract herself.
"Just some other adventurer, thinks the world of himself. I beat him up before we left, that's why we had some extra coin" said Yang
"I kinda wish I'd watched that now" Said Ruby
"Oh you should of seen me! You should thank him Blake, he's the reason I offered you a meal with us. If he hadn't given me his money I'd of just thrown you into the jail!" Said Yang laughing
Blake chuckled with her, at this point she could tell when Yang was joking and knew that Yang was simply joking around. A small part of her really hoped she was at least.
"But don't actually thank him" Said Ruby "he's a terrible racist who sees women as objects/possessions, a killer combo when applied to you"
"Yeah, dude doesn't even fight women" said Yang
"Wait, you beat up someone who didn't even fight back?" Asked Weiss in disgust
"No, he challenged me to a duel because apparently I 'don't count'" Said Yang huffing slightly.
They travelled in a comfortable silence for a few minutes.
"So Weiss" piped up Yang "given you're the only one with an education here, you got any clue what those things were?"
"Oh? I thought you knew everything?" Asked Weiss sarcastically
"One, still need to work on the voice but your definitely getting there and two, never said that I know everything but I know I know a lot more practical things then you, hence why I'm asking you the question meant for people who aren't cut out for fighting"
Weiss pouted but thought back on her lessons of biology and history to see if anything came up.
"Nope, I don't remember anything about such creatures" she said finally
"So basically you don't know" Said Yang both grinning slightly but frowning in irritation
"Yes, Alright, I don't know! Happy?" growled out Weiss
"Meh, no need to get tetchy about it" shrugged Yang.
"Coming from the girl that literally lights on fire when angry" said Blake
"Oh? Blake! What savage claws you have!" Cried Yang in mock hurt
Ruby rolled her eyes at her sisters antics.
~§~
Blake gasped when she spotted Vale, staring at central castles many towers and the green flags that blew through the wind.
Weiss simply smiled at a memory of her old home, back when it actually felt like a home.
"This is it, the city of Vale" said Ruby
"It's… beautiful" Said Blake as she continued to stare.
"Meh, I've seen bigger" Said Weiss dismissively.
"That'swhatshesaid" coughed Yang
"Pardon?"
"I mean, is Schnee castle bigger then Vale's?" Asked Yang quickly
"Well, Yes. It goes up high into the sky and below sits the rest of Atlas, sometimes it's faster to catch a ride in a air ship then to walk up the stairs"
"well that sounds like a waste of resources" said Ruby
"But it's okay, because they had the ability to do it and thousands of Faunus slaves" said Blake
"How did they build it if it's so high?" Asked Yang
"Massive whips" said Blake and they couldn't tell whether she was joking or not. "It's also a display of power to the world and those wishing to rise against the throne"
Weiss wished she could argue with the point but couldn't find anything to counter the truth with.
"So, This lamp" said Yang as she held it up "What's it's enchantment?"
"Well that raises the question of why you enchant a lantern" Said Ruby
"It doesn't like to be touched by bare skin" Said Weiss
"Which simply makes it all the more confusing" said Ruby
"Well, it won't be our problem when we hand it in. Mrs Oobleck will take it away and that's the last we'll hear of it"
"But still, it just seems to light up a large area and corrupt the user. How is that a useful enchantment?" Asked Weiss
"If you don't want someone taking your lamp" shrugged Yang.
They were closing in on the gates now and were soon right in front of them. A guard walked up and opened his mouth to speak when he faltered as he looked at something behind them.
They turned to see a man there with Black greying hair and red eyes.
"S-spy,aster Qrow! We did not see you approach"
"That's the point of a spy, now open the gates, these girls are with me" he said gesturing to the surprised girls.
"Of course" said the guard quickly rushing back and calling up commands. Eventually the doors opened but instead of the usual scene of a busy city with people walking about there were instead people standing on either side of the street looking on in curiosity while four large stone statues stood stone still- literally- on either side.
Though statues eyes did not glow blue nor did they move and these statues did, surrounding the girls in a diamond shape with Qrow next to the lead golem as they began to walk through the city with people, staring at them with curiosity, fear and… hope?
They walked down several streets and passed the adventurers guild, which Yang pointed out but Qrow simply kept walking along. Eventually walking up to the base of the castle, before them were two large, thick oak doors that upon approaching the lead Golem stepped aside and they rode up the steps and into the entrance hall of the castle as the doors swung shut and they were left alone in a marbled hall with Qrow.
"Get off the horses and gather your stuff, especially that lamp" he said "your horses will be taken to the palace stables"
"Look, we just found the lamp on a feral dragon that had been corrupted by it" Said Yang
"Your not in trouble. Well you are in trouble, but no the kind your thinking" he said as they began to walk through the castle, guards looking at them suspiciously as they walked by.
Eventually they came to a stop at another set of oak doors. "Just be honest and don't withhold any detail" Said Qrow as he knocked on the door.
The girls looked at each other concerned as a cry to 'enter!' came form within and they entered a dim room with a high table at one end in which sat several figures.
Ruby and Yang immediately recognized them as the council of Vale.
"Ruby Rose, Yang Xiao Long, Blake and Weiss Schnee" said Ozpin as he steepled his fingers and gestured to a small table in front of his raised one "do have a seat, we have much to discuss"
The doors slammed shut behind them.
~§~
Rakash is the dragons after life and is this huge sky plain with floating islands and stuff. And I'm afraid Rakash is just something that I made up but I will admit that the words Yang uses are somewhat similar to a certain apocalyptic movie *cough**cough* madmax fury road *cough**cough*
I feel like I've maybe changed some characters traits around, and I feel like I might be writing both Weiss and Blake wrong but I dunno.
Anyway we're the fight scenes good? I know there something I need to work on but it would be good to know if the fight scenes are good.
And before someone asks the inevitable question I have no idea if ships will happen in this or what they'll even be, just be glad that I'm a multi-shipper.
So I think I'm gonna work on the next chapter of bullheaded and leave you guys reading this on a bit of a cliff hangar for a week because I'm a sadistic little shit.
I don't write these chapters to reach a certain length cause I've feel that would probably decrease the quality of them so I write what needs to happen in the chapter and then I fill the gaps in between each event with stuff.
See ya!