Chapter three, comin' atcha! Cinder is training with her first weapon, when things take a downward spiral.
Cinder grunted as she threw off another beowolf. The ground under her feet shook and she leapt to the side. Not a moment too soon, either, as a creep sprang from the floor. A growl behind her indicated another threat and Cinder lifted her bow just in time to stop an Ursa's jaw from closing on her.
Ever since she was younger, her mother had been teaching her how to fight. Teaching was a generous word since it was mostly pitting her against the Grimm with the express order for them not to kill her. She used the Ursa as punching bags, the beowolves were her sparring partners, and the creeps and nevermores helped her learn how to dodge and block. Over time, the Grimm she fought grew, and with them, her fighting ability.
After a while, her mother brought home materials for her to use to make her own weapon. Salem actually had her Grimm bring it back, but she wasn't going to ruin the illusion that she ever left the Grimmlands. Cinder had chosen the bow and arrow as her weapon of choice, a good one considering her lack of a brawler's build. She wouldn't do very well in close combat with leaner Grimm like the beowolves if she chose weapons that were too close combat. She had a graceful body and a precise eye, so hitting her target was easy to learn. Now, she just went through the motions to hone her instincts.
Salem sipped her drink idly as she watched her daughter fight her opponents. Beside her, more Grimm waited on the sidelines. Should the Grimm currently fighting Cinder perish, the reserves would step in to take their place. It was to improve the Little Spark's stamina as well as her endurance. She was making large strides already, but her movements were still somewhat sloppy. That wouldn't do if she wanted to go out into the rest of the world.
Sweat rolled down Cinder's back as she flipped over an Ursa. Even with her aura unlocked, the blows from the Grimm still stung. All of them were doing their best to keep her from using her weapon. However, tight spaces were natural to fighting. She needed to learn how to use her weapon no matter the conditions.
Sliding under the incoming claws of a nevermore, Cinder shot its underside, keeping her bow close to her. Hopping out of the crouch, she shot a few bolts at the Ursa's back, staggering it slightly. Another nevermore swooped closer and she used the sharp edge of her bow to spear its head.
From behind her, Cinder heard a growl. It was too close to dodge and too fast to block. Amber eyes widened in shock as their owner went down under the weight of the attacking beowolf. All of the Grimm in the area perked up as the scent of fear filled the room. Salem sat up straighter, ready to see how Cinder tackled this obstacle.
The beowolf's teeth bore closer to Cinder's neck. Her bow had been knocked too far to reach. Hand-to-hand it was.
The next few minutes, the two wrestled with one another. Cinder used both hands to keep the beowolf's muzzle off her while kicking the Grimm's stomach. The beowolf kept all four paws firmly planted on the ground to keep its leverage. Everyone else waited, wondering who would win the struggle.
The beowolf growled in frustration and pulled back. Cinder saw her chance and spun around, reaching for her bow. The beowolf bore down on her excitedly. Cinder slammed her free hand into its throat and the Grimm yelped in shock and pain. Cinder had just managed to grasp her bow, her focus concentrated on getting her weapon back. With her grip loosened on the Grimm, it lunged forward, sinking its teeth into her shoulder.
Cinder wasn't entirely certain what happened next. The pain blurred her memory. Salem, on the other hand, watched with rapt attention as the beowolf's teeth dug into Cinder's arm. Cinder's reflexes kicked in and her knee slammed into the beowolf's chest, knocking it back. Unfortunately, the Grimm didn't let go, so when it reeled back, it took her limb with it.
Blood spilled in every direction, Cinder gritting her teeth against the pain. Salem blinked at her daughter in shock. Most other humans would have cowered back. Instead, her Little Spark ran right at the Grimm, weapon clutched tightly in her remaining hand.
Time seemed to slow for Salem as she watched Cinder swing her bow. The beowolf's paw swung out and the two collided. Cinder's bow snapped and the beowolf's claws swiped the left side of her face, taking a chunk with them. Almost as if on autopilot, Cinder's hand rose and slammed into the beowolf's chest. A beat passed before glass spikes erupted from the Grimm's body.
Salem stood as her creature disintegrated. Cinder swayed on her feet and Salem snapped at a creep. It hurried forward and caught the human's falling body. Its mistress knelt down, examining the downed girl. Cinder was still conscious, but just barely. Still, it was good for her to be awake for what was coming next.
"I need you to stay awake for me," Salem cooed, lifting the injured girl into her arms. "It's the only way to fix you." Cinder nodded, her breath stuttering as she focused on her mother's face. She couldn't remember what happened, but she must have won. If she hadn't, she'd be dead, right? There was no way that beowolf would have let her live.
Salem strode to the nearest puddle upon exiting the fortress. Gently laying Cinder beside it, she dipped the ripped arm into the liquid. Cinder watched in awe as the black goo started forming around her injury.
While it did, Salem scooped the liquid into her hand and applied it to Cinder's mutilated face. She'd experimented with this method of healing, but this was the first time she was using it on a human she actually cared about. Hopefully it worked. It was the first time she was regrowing something as big as an arm or complex as an eye.
Slowly, Cinder's pain receded and she blinked her remaining eye up at her mother. "What happened?" she croaked.
"Don't move," Salem ordered. "it's not finished." She paused for a moment. "You unlocked your semblance. And you'll need new weapons."
Cinder looked at her regrowing arm. "My semblance… finally…"
"Promise me something," Salem whispered seriously.
"Anything, Mother," the healing girl responded immediately.
"Don't turn your back on an enemy," Salem told her. "Eliminate all of them before turning away. Don't stop looking at them unless they're incapacitated or dead. Do you understand?"
"I understand," Cinder murmured. "I promise, Mother."
Salem smiled. "Good. Once your new arm and eye are finished, we can practice with them."
"Can't wait," her little human laughed.
This one was a little hard to figure out, but I hope you all liked it! I don't know what that black goop is, I just figured I'd use it.
Remember, sneak peeks and update info can be found on my tumblr, gothalbinoangel-fanfiction. And I still have commissions open for anyone who's interested!