Child of Nothing Ch. 4: Waiting and Plans
So nothing to address, but thank you for getting me over 20 favorites. Let's get going.
Derek tended to the fire a little bit more, and just sighed. It had been two days since his encounter with his team, and it hadn't left his mind. He didn't want to deny his care for Monica, far from it actually. But he had a task to focus on, and that task was something that trumped everything in his life at that moment. Even his friends, promises, and Monica.
It was unfortunate that they hadn't taken his warning. He knew that he had run a risk laying down the layer of flames to aid his escape, but some part of Derek had to function. While the Grimm in him would have happily torn them apart, Derek told himself to keep them alive. To rationalize it in his mind, he told himself that he was simply avoiding the law. But a little more truthfully, he couldn't stand to see them hurt. It was one of the few things that kept him from killing them initially, and now it was keeping them alive again. Where the hell was the Rat?
Beacon Academy: Ozpin's Office
He sat there patiently. He had called teams RWBY, JNPR, DRGN, and LOOS to attention, using the teams closest to Derek for this. He needed them to know his plan, so that they might be able to assist in executing it. The door finally opened up, and the 15 students walked into the room.
"Take a seat," he said instantly. He had laid out 15 chairs for them, knowing exactly what was going to happen.
"Why'd you call us here?" Olivia asked, even though she knew full and well what this would lead too.
"Derek Flame," Ozpin said slowly. "Or as we now know, Drake being the more appropriate term." All of them were dead silent, and they patiently waited on Ozpin to speak. "I'm calling off the search parties," he finally said. Immediately, LOOS, DRGN, Ruby, and Blake were at their feet.
"You want to do what?" Monica asked aggressively, the pressure in the air thickening at her anger.
"The search parties," Ozpin continued boredly. "But, that's because we're getting no where. Derek knows the forest better then anyone, even LOOS chose to spend time away from it. His scent is blending in with the rest of the Grimm, which is an issue. He's making sure to leave no tracks, whether that'd be by flying or wiping them away. I have no idea how, but he's staying hidden from us. Plus our resources are limited, and despite how many favors I want to call in I simply don't want to burn them just yet. So I have another plan." Now everyone was listening again.
"We setup snipers outside of the school," Ozpin said. "We have them stay on full alert, and they will be authorized to shoot at the sight of Derek."
"You're trying to kill him?" Blake growled.
"No. A single round won't punch through his armor or scales, much less both. But it will alert the rest of us to his presence. He has already displayed a reluctance to fight to kill, thus being the reason that Monica was able to repel him."
"Bullshit he's displayed reluctance," Yang growled. "He shot out flames at Monica, while Gwen and Nathan were unconscious."
"Plus we know it's Drake," Weiss added in. "I have yet to see Drake hesitate to do anything."
"But the flames were placed at his feet," Ozpin continued. "He risked more damage to that cloak he has then the rest of DRGN."
"I don't understand why we don't just let the hounds after him," Weiss said haughtily, unwilling to admit defeat.
"Listen here, heiress," Stephen added in, his claw raised clearly into the air. "I know you mean us by hounds, and don't think we haven't tried. He took his gems, burned his sheets, clothing, and he took the one picture that he saved. Plus he's hiding in a forest of Grimm, hiding a tree in a forest so to speak. We have no way to properly track him, unless we get him out in the-." Stephen stopped, and looked back at Ozpin. He grinned widely, and folded his arms.
"Olivia," Ozpin continued. "I also want you at the ready. Unfortunately, Lou, Orion, and Stephen don't have a way to fly so you're on your own for this one. I expect him to make a move soon. We have one chance at this." Olivia nodded, and flexed out her wings.
"I'm ready whenever he is," she said. Ozpin nodded, and smiled.
"One more thing," Weiss inserted, not at caring as to what he might have said. "Something's been troubling me ever since this has started. Why haven't we tried Derek's scroll?"
"Easy," Gwen said, having been the one in charge of it. "He melted the damn thing and tossed it somewhere else. If he has a scroll, we know nothing about it. Rat's been busy looking for it, but so far nothing."
"So is everything now clear to you, Ms. Schnee?" Monica spat. Weiss just shrugged, and Ozpin finally sighed.
"Good," he said happily. "Then let us all be ready. I expect Derek to try something very soon."
Hidden Cave: Emerald Forest
While Ozpin may have said that he expected him to move, Derek's only concern was hunkering down. The deer that he had killed was still in plentiful supplies, and he was eating whenever he needed it. He took a morning and night flight, attempting to avoid any and all search parties. It, unfortunately, left him with more time to think.
His defenses were currently well taken care of. Footprints disappeared facing the opposite direction of where his cave was, and then they only reappeared within the cave. He picked a roosting place nearby a known former {his fault} Taituo's nest, thus meaning that there was little chance of anything short of a blatant smell seeming off. Of course, he would be emitting odors that would be strongly Taituo. So Derek constantly rubbed himself in a strong smelling bush that was nearby {one that he offered no edibility} and covered his cave with the same bush. Nothing would seem too suspicious.
But of course, this was all physical. He had avoided making direct eye contact with anyone that he had known for a very long time. Then, he was forced to face his team. Drake did that, not Derek. But still, no matter what he told himself, it was hard not to be tempted to return. He just thought of his team.
He had Nathan, the arrogant, cocky, smart ass, wolf Faunus that had a wicked cold streak and was incredibly skilled with an axe. He had Gwen, who was a quiet, analytic, and intelligent girl that was the perfect compliment to Nathan's know-it-all attitude. He definitely cared deeply for both of them, but they held nothing to Monica.
The first person to really try to get to know him, and he had shut her out. It was all out of fear of course. Those that had gotten involved with him died. Except Ozpin, no one touched Ozpin. But then the fear subsided, and he let her in. He fought tooth and nail to keep her safe, and ultimately was rewarded with Monica's well being. But now, she was fighting for something he didn't want.
He heard something rusting outside, and he quickly extinguished his fire. He briefly tossed a small piece of soaked bark over the embers, and hid around the corner. He let his ears perk, and settled in.
"Are you sure we should be doing this?" A tentative voice asked.
"Hey, this was only a suggestion," a more serious one replied. "You're the leader here."
"But Ozpin said we shouldn't be doing this."
"Ozpin said he's canceling search parties. That doesn't mean we can't try one last place." He heard a slight rustling outside of his cave, and he quickly held his breath. He heard a pause, and he could tell {without even looking} that there were a pair of laser focus eyes staring into the cave. He held his sword a little tighter, and then felt the presence leave.
"He was definitely here," the serious voice started. "He might even still be there."
"So here's what we do," the voice, previously tentative now more asserting, started. "We'll tell Ozpin that we searched this area, and this place is marked off. He was never here." Derek almost sighed in relief, but maintained a little bit more of breath control. He could feel the presence of the two people leave, and then he let out all of his breath. Things had gone well, but now he had to face one thing. He knew those voices. Blake and Ruby had come searching for him, but what'd they say about Ozpin calling off the search parties? He was now very concerned about everything, but he had to focus on one thing.
He heard a brief ping on his scroll, forcing him to check.
I got an address for ya. Meeting will be arranged as soon as I can, but you're gonna have to there early. Needless to say they're not exactly trusting.
I understand. Find a spot, hide out, disguise myself. Any advice?
Already have a spot and artist ready for ya. Consider that a free bonus.
Thanks Rat.
But you'll have to get moving tomorrow. Clear?
Clear.
Derek put down his scroll, and stretched out. It was time to move out, but what was being planned for him?
End: Shorter chapter, but I can promise that the next chapter will have some length. Questions, comments, follows, favorites, and feedback is appreciated.