Chapter Seven: Awakening
(after the search)
A distant shout – familiar, masculine, angry – stirs Yang from her slumber.
A distorted red colour is all she can see at first, and her eyes feel surprisingly warm. After a brief moment of confusion, she realizes her eyes are still closed, and opens them – and then squeezes them tight immediately after staring straight into a blinding ray of sunlight shining in through the window.
Judging by the amount of light in the room, she's definitely slept in. A sudden frenzy of frustration and concern (Is Ruby awake? Has she eaten yet?) has her bolting upright and twisting manically towards Ruby's bed. The motion aggravates her limbs unexpectedly, but Yang ignores the pain as she looks across the gap between beds.
Sure enough, Ruby is still sleeping soundly, bundled up snugly…
…in her red hood.
And then she remembers last night's journey.
As if annoyed at Yang's refusal to acknowledge it, her body seems to flare up all over with stiff, stinging pain and soreness. She cringes, involuntarily clenching her teeth and arching her back as she eases into a more comfortable position. Lying upright, she registers the sting of numerous cuts and bruises all over her limbs, and a few on her face and torso. Her breaths are shallow and strained as she remembers how each wound found its place.
She remains that way for a few minutes in the sunlight, letting it warm her and calm her breathing, until she hears another shout – familiar, masculine… desperate? – from downstairs.
A murmur reaches her ears from across the room, and she turns more gingerly to find Ruby stirring groggily. Yang freezes, afraid that she might not have time to change into something that might conceal her injuries before her sister notices, but also worried she might miss the opportunity to investigate the disturbance.
After a squeaky yawn and multiple limb stretches, Ruby rolls back into a comfortable ball of red fabric and remains still and silent.
Yang releases a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding, and carefully removes herself from the covers of her own bed. She is surprised to find she's been changed into her loosest-fitting pyjamas – a matching white cotton shirt and pants speckled with simple flower petals in pastel yellows, oranges, and purples. She also notes that her worst cuts have been bandaged somewhat haphazardly. Thankfully, as it turns out, most of the damage is already hidden by her pyjamas.
She pads over to the doorway, which is open unusually wide, and then down the hall to the stairs, which she manages quietly but not without a slight limp. She slides her feet down one step at a time, until she can almost make out part of the living room. Some furniture is slightly askew but otherwise, everything seems normal, and oddly calm-
"You know what I think, Tai?" a sandpapery voice intones – from the kitchen? – with equal parts somberness and impatience.
Uncle Qrow? Yang does her best to root herself to the step and meld into the wall.
Qrow was there. He saved them. He took them home…
"I don't care what you think," Tai's familiar, quintessentially Dad voice shoots back, but what at first sounds like spite dwindles into a palpable sense of defeat.
"That's the problem; you don't seem to care about anything anymore! You left your kids alone in a house in the woods in the middle of the night – not for the first time, by the look of it – and look what almost happened!" Qrow flies through his words with unusual ferocity.
"You don't-"
"I don't what, Tai? You think I don't understand? You think this doesn't affect me, too? You think this doesn't matter to me?" A pause and a ragged breath precede a shift in tone to something that Yang can't quite place. "This is my family, too, Tai. Like it or not, we are family. You know I can't stay, but don't think for a second that if I could…" Another ragged breath, and then softer, and higher. "If I could…"
A sigh, and then a quiet pop, and then the sound of liquid sloshing around, and Yang knows – he's drinking from that silver flask of his again.
In the relative silence that follows, she realizes her heart is racing. Moisture has gathered in the corner of her eyes, and her stomach is even more sore than it was when she woke up. Something about what she just heard has her holding back tears.
Why can't he stay? Why does he have to leave, too?
Before she can process it any further, Qrow loudly clears his throat and continues, but softer this time. Yang has to take another few steps down to make out the words.
"Tai, I think you need to go back to Signal."
Silence, then a note of surprise. "What?"
"I think you need to get back into a routine. A healthy routine. No more of…" – the sound of liquid swirling in the bottom of a bottle – "…this. I know, I know, but seriously. Besides, ol' Dougie always seems to need all the help he can get at that school."
"But…"
"Seriously, Tai. You can't keep going like this; they need you. If you can't pull yourself together for your own sake, do it for theirs. That's part of being a Hunstman. You know that."
Yang hears the shuffling of a chair as someone stands up, slowly.
"I know, Qrow," Taiyang murmurs, so soft that Yang finds herself stepping almost down to the living room floor to hear. "I… Yeah. I'll think about it."
Qrow's voice seems to amplify as it comes alive with that familiar cynical spark once more. "Good. You know, Oz would always say-"
"Don't."
An uncharacteristic venom drips off of Tai's interjection. Yang almost stumbles backwards, as if instinctually backing away from a caged animal. Several seconds of thick silence go by.
"Fine." Another chair slides around and into Yang's field of vision into the kitchen as Qrow presumably stands as well. "Well, I think I can afford to crash for a few days. I'll take the couch, if you don't mind." If there was to be any playfulness to Qrow's words it is overshadowed by his own, more familiar brand of venom.
The sight of Qrow's tattered Hunstman outfit enters Yang's vision as he turns to leave the kitchen. Panicked, she quickly tries to appear as if she had just woken up – which is difficult considering her heart rate and jumbled thoughts. Channeling her sister's usual morning grogginess, she manages to force a deep yawn. She steps off the last step, just as Qrow enters the living room, immediately sighting her frazzled yellow mane in the intrusive sunlight.
"Well, well, well. It's about time you woke up, Sunshine."
"Yang?" Concern smothers whatever venom had been lingering in the air, and Taiyang shoves his way past Qrow and drops to his knees to embrace her with gusto. She is about to cringe when he seems to realize his mistake, relaxing his grip significantly. He pulls back to look at her, and she is sure she's in for a stern lecture about jeopardizing Ruby's safety, or going out after dark, or not communicating her intentions, or-
"Yang, sweetie, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he blurts out as fresh tears spill from his eyes. The precipitation draws Yang's attention, not to the dazzling blue of his irises, but the angry redness of his sockets. "I shouldn't have left, I should have… I should have…" He trails off into whimpering sobs as he loses the words to express his regret. Yang feels her own tears break free from their previous restraints and reaches around her father's neck, clinging to him out of heartbreak… and terror.
The raw emotion on display was frightening her – her own father shouldn't have to feel this upset, and yet here he was. He had briefly lashed out at Qrow in uncharacteristic fury, and now was on the floor in front of her, practically shattered beyond words. She doesn't want to see him this way, and grips tighter in hopes that she can hold on to whatever familiar part of him is left. She starts shaking as her own anguish catches up with her, and an increasingly familiar thought materializes in the midst of it all.
I did this. This is my fault.
Taiyang gasps briefly as Yang throws all her energy into her miniature bear hug. He hugs her tighter in return, and only after once more registering Qrow's presence in her peripherals does she dare to let go, suddenly feeling very self-conscious. He's watching them both intently, with a sad smile on his face. Upon meeting her eyes, he looks away briefly to take one last swig from his flask. Then he looks back at her with a raised eyebrow and the ghost of a grin pulling at the corner of his thin, dry lips.
"It's a good thing you left as clear a trail as you did. The extra weight in your wagon made it easy enough to follow your path through the fallen leaves," he explains matter-of-factly, though Yang is taken aback.
A trail? She had made no effort to leave a trail; if anything, at the time she had wanted to be left alone to complete her task, and was probably more afraid, at least at first, of getting caught in the act than… than what almost happened. But apparently in her recklessness she had not counted on the wagon marking their journey down the road – or did it?
Qrow winks at her in the few seconds it takes her to process his statement, and then it dawns on her. Trail or not, intentional or otherwise, Uncle Qrow is throwing her a lifeline.
Taiyang has pulled back once more, still sniffling slightly, and assists her in wiping away her tears, but she is stuck staring at her uncle with a mix of appreciation, shock, and horror. Deep down she can't help but feel entirely undeserving of this lifeline – it was too much like praise, praise for something she knew was absurd and reckless and thoroughly dangerous, and not just for her.
As she fails to alter her perpetual frown, Qrow's mischievous glance fades away and he moves to settle on the sofa. She does not follow him with her eyes, instead staring straight ahead into the kitchen where she had just heard her only living (or at least involved) older relatives shouting at each other.
"He's right, Yang. You led him right to you," offers Tai, still somewhat shakily.
No I didn't.
Noticing her unfazed stare, he continues: "I know you wanted answers. I haven't been upfront with you enough, or around enough to… to be there for you. I don't blame you for looking elsewhere for answers…"
But you should.
"…and I think it was brave of you to take it upon yourself. Stupid, but brave…"
Stupid.
"…and I want you to know that I don't blame you for taking Ruby with you…"
But you should!
"…even though I wish you hadn't. I wish you hadn't gone in the first place. But… but you did, and I know that you did because… because of me."
Yang has nothing to say to this. Her mind is blank now, and cannot even begin to think up a response that can convey her disappointment in herself and her heartbreak for causing her father this much pain. She still feels some anger towards him, but it takes a back seat to her newer distress.
"I'm sorry, Yang. I'm going to do better. For you. For Ruby." Tai pauses briefly, tilting his head down in Qrow's direction ever so slightly. "For our whole family."
She wants to deflect his apology, to make him realize just how incorrect he is in his assignment of blame. She wants him to justify her own self-loathing with his own anger, but she knows he won't. It would frustrate her even more if she weren't already emotionally spent.
So she says the only thing she can say: "I'm sorry too, Daddy."
So, so sorry.
Whether by coincidence of circumstance or some strange luck, Qrow's visit marks a significant turning point for the Xiao Long-Rose household dynamic.
Ruby never mentions anything about her unexpected journey into the forest, merely recalling a distant but potent nightmare that she hadn't been able to wake up from until it had all but faded away. The revelation that her "favouritest" Uncle Qrow is here to visit completely obliterates whatever lingering unease she feels, and her excitement helps clear the air following that emotional morning.
Yang encounters no further shouting matches and never once overhears any other "grown up" conversations between Taiyang and Qrow during this time. While she occasionally wonders if her eavesdropping hadn't gone unnoticed, it never comes up and eventually she lets go of her concern.
What is hard to miss, however, is her father's dogged determination that rose from the ashes of his earlier meltdown. It is startling at first, because the very next day Yang awakes to a gentle hand on her shoulder and a familiar voice offering a greeting that seems like a distant memory.
"Good morning, my sunny little dragon. Breakfast is ready!"
It was an old favourite of Summer's, and over time, Taiyang had adopted it as well – at least until she was gone.
But here it is again. It saddens her at first, but the significance in hearing it again immediately covers the sadness with newfound joy.
Breakfast is similarly uplifting, and so filling that they end up with leftovers – which Ruby vehemently declares she will be eating for lunch (and later, dinner).
When Taiyang kindly requests to have some time to take care of some decidedly important business, Qrow takes the brunt of the duty of entertaining the siblings – and it is in these many hours in the mornings and afternoons that things really start to feel normal again.
One particularly warm afternoon, Ruby and Yang are frolicking and flailing amidst the falling leaves – the final wave to break free from the trees surrounding the house. Qrow does his best to keep piling them up, but frequently ends up spouting an annoyed "Hey!" as they run and jump through his handiwork, before grumbling his way through the process one more time (albeit with an inevitable smile on his face).
At some point, Ruby spots one of their distant neighbours strolling down the road with a cartful of pumpkins in tow, and in a flash she is wrapped tightly around Qrow's legs, staring up at him pleadingly. She doesn't say anything but something dawns on him as he looks at her questioningly.
"Ah, that's right. Halloween is almost here, isn't it?" He observes, somewhat absently.
Halloween…
Yang freezes, halfway between the latest pile of leaves and her constricted uncle. A hint of horror seeps into her gut as she realizes.
I almost forgot… is it really so soon?
There hadn't been a lot of active attentiveness to time and date in the last month or so, and in the process they had almost missed one of the most important days of the year (according a certain someone, anyhow).
Ruby responds with a strained whimper, as if to say: "Yes, annnd…?"
"What? You want a pumpkin or something?" Qrow asks with a teasing smile.
Ruby appears taken aback at first, but then registers the additional opportunity and nods vigorously. "Mhmm…?" she affirms, but still with a hint of: "Go ooon…?"
"Hm, what else could possibly be so important to this little pipsque- hey!" His exaggerated obliviousness is interrupted by his legs being squeezed together even tighter, so that he begins to lose his balance. After a few seconds of arm flailing, he topples over backwards into the remnants of an earlier pile, narrowly missing a discarded rake. Ruby remains wrapped around his legs, flailing her own but otherwise sustaining no injury.
The resulting laughter from all parties is followed by Yang's own attempt at sounding coy: "Could it be… that it's your birthday, Ruby?"
She beams at her wide-eyed baby sister as the latter nods her head almost inhumanly fast, seemingly vibrating at their uncle's feet.
Qrow pushes himself up onto his elbows and smiles warmly. "Then I guess I should stick around a few more days. It's not every day you get to have the whole family around and in costume for your birthday."
After a lengthy squeal of excitement, Ruby finally decides to communicate in words again. "Mean it, mean it?!"
"Sure, kid. I mean, it'd be hard to leave with you like this," he responds, looking playfully at her. It takes a moment for her to connect the dots, but with a soft "oh," she sheepishly lets go of his ankles and rises to her own feet.
"But you're leaving again?"
As soon as the words leave Yang's mouth she regrets it. Though thoroughly delighted by this whole interaction, she could no longer ignore the question in the back of her mind. Still, she silently chastises herself for stealing attention from Ruby's excitement.
Qrow leans further up, resting one arm on a knee, but looks off into the distance. "As much as I would love to stay and clean up your mess all day…" he says, gesturing to the half dozen scattered piles of leaves surrounding them (although a part of Yang wonders if that's all he means), "…I have to head out on another mission, and soon. A huntsman's work is never done, after all." He returns his gaze to the sisters, sharing a slim smile with them both.
Ruby's eyes widen once more with awe, a look that Yang recognizes from the only instances in which she has ever had Ruby's full and undivided attention – story time. "Hunsmin! Hunsmin! I wanna be a hunsmin for Halloweeeeen!"
Qrow chuckles, which is at once a grating and relaxing sound. "A huntsman, huh? I don't see why not. Though I suppose in your case, some would call you a huntress."
"Yeah, a huntress!" the younger sibling bounces up and down with glee before suddenly switching into bad-guy-fighting mode, and she starts running circles around them doing her best impersonations of various ranged weapons.
As usual, Ruby's infectious delight has smothered Yang's disappointment, but looking back at Qrow, the older sibling's brightening mood dims once again. His eyes are locked on Ruby with a curious mixture of sadness and… admiration?
"A huntress from a family of huntsmen. Just like your mother…" From his gaze, and the way his voice trails away, Yang can't quite tell what he means by that, or if he even means for her to hear it.
Just like Summer…
She turns away to watch Ruby excitedly "dodging" her way through what little remains of Qrow's raking efforts. She slips a few times but determinedly rises with her characteristic speed to face each new "bad guy" head on.
A huntress…
The uneasy feeling she had been harboring in her gut subsides a bit, and she has a moment of clarity. Her frown lessens, and she feels a hint of that same determination that had led her out into the woods just a few nights ago.
Just like my mother.
Hello again!
I'm delighted to be able to share this much with you all this soon; there is a second part of sorts coming, but seeing as I was not able to complete it for my Halloween deadline, I rushed to get this much to a state of relative completeness. It hasn't been as thoroughly reviewed as some other chapters so please forgive any little oddities (but please inform me so I can fix it)!
Things are happening a lot quicker than I anticipated in V5, and so far that's been a pretty good thing! The ongoing hype is helping fuel my writing, so expect an update roughly every 2-3 weeks on average for the next few months. The theoretical part two to this chapter (thought differently titled due to enough difference in mood/content) should be out sooner though, so stay tuned!
Thanks for your kind words thus far. Please continue to let me know your thoughts; I try to choose my words and focal points and so on very carefully, so again, if something feels off to you I would be happy to hear about it!
Happy Halloween (and Happy Birthday, Ruby)!
-kms