Unscheduled updates, ho! Life is settling back down so writing might become a bit more frequent.
Blake had trained a lot in her life. First with the White Fang, then with Beacon. Most of her life had been spent fighting and she'd grown into a decent Huntress as a result. For all her prowess, however, she didn't know the first thing about teaching someone else.
Thank goodness Ghira was there to guide everyone; Blake took a more reactive role, taking instructions and following her father's example. Two weeks was a pitifully short time to train anyone for anything – the notion of getting someone "combat ready" in such a brief span was absurd, but it was all they had.
She would be ready for Haven, as would her father. With exception of a few of their people it was questionable if anyone else should bother coming. Ghira was betting on a potentially peaceful resolution; Blake wasn't going to hold her breath. Not when dealing with someone like Adam.
Being home had been peaceful – if only a false peace, and in between training periods Blake reconnected with her parents. She shared memories of Beacon with them and found herself reminiscing, hoping to return to the school some-day even if she wouldn't likely continue her training.
Neither Ghira nor Kali pressed about recent events. Blake tried to bring them up a few times and never could quite bring herself to discuss them. Would they never ask if she didn't bring them up? She'd already brought up the worst of it – she'd killed people, and Ghira had brushed that admission aside like she'd shared some petty secret.
Training and preparing for the journey to Mistral had enabled Blake to keep her mind off everything that had happened recently. Once they were aboard the ships and making way to Mistral, however, nothing besides the lull of waves could distract her.
No less than a dozen times did she try to convince her father to send people home. It was futile and he turned her down every time, but Blake still had to try. Foolhardy and suicidal as it was to be going alone at least it was her own life she was risking, not someone else's.
And as Ghira argued every time this was no longer solely her problem; Adam was a risk to all Faunus-kind and Human-kind both. These people were fighting for their futures, and sending them home took that ability out of their hands. They knew what they were getting into and still came anyway.
Their ships made landfall at the small town of Hibaku. Blake wouldn't have noticed the town from a distance if not for the lighthouse which sat upon its eastern shore; the town itself was largely concealed by thick groves of trees blocking the view from sea.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Blake nodded in agreement. The tree groves lined the road from the docks and extended well beyond, likely surrounding the entirety of the town. Kali smiled and approached a tree, running her fingers along one of the long, slender leaves.
"I don't think Ghira and I have left Menagerie for a few years now, it's so nice seeing something different for a change."
"It's just a tree, mom. Nothing that special." Her shoulders shrugged feeling Ghira's hand atop her head, and she smiled back at her father.
"Let your mother enjoy herself, honey. There's nothing wrong with taking in the sights. I might join her, but…"
Blake nodded and looked further down the road; guards from the town were coming to see why a crowd of Faunus had suddenly appeared on their shores. Ghira went ahead to speak to them, and Blake joined her mother beneath one of the trees. Standing here, side by side and in the shade of the trees, Blake felt a strong sense of déjà vu.
"They're… Nice." Trees were just trees to her, but her mother had always loved nature. She could point out any plant on Menagerie and give its name, plus many uses or reasons to avoid it. To Blake it was simple greenery, but Kali had turned it into a hobby.
Kali smiled and cupped a flower gently in her hands, leaning down to waft its scent in. "You should try it, Blake. Flowers always helped me to relax." Her daughter gave her a look that made her laugh. "What harm can come of it? Give it a try."
She knelt in the grass and leaned into the flower, closing her eyes to smell it. Feeling petals and pistil pressing into her nose she frowned and leaned back, looking at her mother annoyed. "Very funny, mom." Kali was straining not to laugh, and after gesturing to her daughter's nose, Blake reached up and wiped pollen from the tip of it.
"You need to relax, Blake. I know a lot has happened, but if you keep everything bottled up it's only going to hurt you."
"I know…" Like she needed reminding of that. Fresh in her mind was her first encounter with the White Fang as a student of Beacon – and all the stress that followed. She had been an absolute wreck, unapproachable by her teammates, until she eventually broke down and revealed all.
Kali moved closer and put an arm around Blake, to which she gladly accepted and leaned against her mother. How much she'd missed such a simple show of affection…
"You know you can talk to us whenever you want to, too. We're always there for you."
Blake nodded, closing her eyes and laying her head against Kali's shoulder. "I know mom… Thank you."
Was it awkward for everyone else to be waiting for them? Blake didn't care, she needed this hug. Mother and daughter sat together in a gentle embrace until Ghira returned, and his demeanor was encouraging.
"They've agreed to let us stay the evening. I know time is important, but I think everyone here could use just one day to get their bearings after sailing." He directed the group into the town, following the small detachment of guards inside.
There would be no complaints from Blake; she was in no rush to leave her mother's comforting embrace. The rest of their group gathered and went into town along with Ghira, leaving the two women where they sat.
Enjoying the gentle sound of leaves rustling in the wind, sooner or later they would need to get moving as well. Time wasn't stopping, no matter how much Blake might want it to, and there was still more to be done.
"I should go see if dad needs help with anything." Reluctant, Blake started to rise to her feet and was pulled back down for a kiss on her cheek. She smiled, looking to her mother happily.
Kali smiled back and let out a happy laugh. "I haven't held you like that since you were a baby. Though I suppose you're still our little kitten, no matter how big you get!"
"Mom!" Blake whined, pulling away while having her cheek pinched. She returned a smile and rose to her feet, feeling immeasurably more relaxed than before. Compared to the towns she'd visited, this one was as placid as they came. And despite being closer than ever to her confrontation with Adam, she felt ready.
"Come on, let's not keep your father waiting."
The town was small, its buildings resembling those found in Palio. Treated planks meshed with stone and cement, creating beautiful yet simplistic homes. Aside from its proximity to a small port it was likely this town rarely had visitors; seeing many residents outside of their homes to greet their group showed as much. Or maybe it was their being Faunus which drove the curiosity.
The villagers were friendly, and Blake was certain that had nothing to do with most of them brandishing weapons. Where adults were polite and wary, the children were simply enamored. If they had ever seen Faunus before then it had been sparingly; every child in the town it seemed rushed out to greet them. The unfortunate few who had tails found them being tugged on, and others were hounded incessantly about their various features.
"Miss! Miss! Are those ears real?"
Blake glanced down and smiled awkwardly at the young girl questioning her. "Um… Yes, they are?" An answer as much as a question, did the girl really need to ask that?
She was wary at the child's squeal, and color flushed from her face at the girl's request. "Can I touch them!?"
"… Sure?" This couldn't possibly go wrong. Blake, smiling uncertainly, lowered herself and tilted her head for the child. Expecting perhaps a gentle petting or scratch, she winced and pulled away when the girl forcibly pulled on her ear. "Ow!"
The child's mother was quick to run over and scoop up her daughter. Blake rubbed at her ear and smiled awkwardly.
"I'm so so sorry, miss! Kimiko, apologize!" The girl sniffled and began to tear up, cheeks swelling. Blake smiled and leaned forward again, pointing to one of her ears.
"Be gentle this time, okay? No pulling." The girl nodded and reached out in her mother's arms. Feeling the softness of Blake's ear brought a smile to her face immediately. The girl pet her for a moment before finally being whisked away by her mother, leaving Blake waving to them.
And dreading ever allowing that girl to touch her ears. When she turned around a small crowd of children had gathered, all intently staring up at her – her ears, to be exact. She'd get no help from the others as they were all recuperating from being examined by the children. Blake resigned herself to her fate and sat upon the stone road. She was lost awash a crowd of little, overactive bodies, hands prodding and poking at her ears. And, if she wasn't mistaken, one bold child even tried to check for a tail.
If anyone from Beacon could see her now they would probably accuse her of having a 'rough night out'. The children had not been gentle in their exploration, and only when the parents mercifully took them away could Blake try and fix herself.
"Ah, there you are Blake." She greeted her father with a faint 'hello', still fighting to get her clothes in order. She reached back and adjusted the coattails of her coat, wondering when one of the children managed to stuff it into her pants. Little demons.
Ghira smiled, amused by her daughter's state. "My brave Huntress had some trouble with children I see."
"You can't do anything to them, no matter how annoying they are." Blake gave Ghira an annoyed glare when he laughed, sticking her tongue out immaturely.
"I recall a certain young lady used to adore climbing all over me like a jungle gym. Not to mention try and hang from my beard." Blake flushed and Ghira laughed again.
"So… Do we have a way of getting to the city?"
Ghira nodded his head. "They mentioned another town, about a day's walk from here, and we'll be able to find airships there. Unfortunately for now we'll have to walk. It's little more than open road between us and Kumo, and I'm told that bandits are common in the area. With a group as large as ours I don't imagine we'll run into trouble, but we'd do well to keep our eyes open."
Bandits hardly registered on Blake's radar for threats; they were after someone far worse than your run-of-the-mill criminal. She nodded her head and looked at the few members who remained outside, socializing with the residents. They seemed remarkably at ease given their situation and what they would be walking into.
"If a leader begins to worry and show doubt, their people will too." Ghira smiled at Blake and placed a hand upon her head. "It's okay to feel anxious, that's normal. You need to remember now that people will be looking to us to lead them, and we need to reassure everyone that things will work."
She'd never considered herself a leader for even a moment. Someone else had always taken charge before, she'd simply followed. "You're anxious?" It felt like an absurd question to ask a man like her father.
"Of course I am. A lot can change depending on the outcome, and there are a lot of lives at risk – my daughter's and wife's among them. But I'm confident that whatever might happen, we'll succeed. I won't let anyone lose their life, and we'll save as many of our brothers and sisters on the other side as we can, too."
"You still want to save them?"
"Don't you?" Blake didn't know how to respond to that. Being a member of the White Fang didn't make anyone irredeemable – Save Adam, perhaps. He was so far gone there wasn't any helping that.
Honestly, she hadn't considered "saving" anyone. Siding with Adam meant you were just as bad as him, and she'd planned on dealing with whoever might get in her way. The voice of reason before her reminded her that she too at one point had been in their position. Wouldn't it be fair to give others the chance?
/+/+/+/+/+/
"Do you really think that will work?" Blake trusted her father to come up with a strategy for Haven – but was this the best approach?
"Our group is large enough that we may be able to convince them to lay down their arms without a fight. If we can surround Adam and his allies on both sides, it would discourage them from fighting back. And depending on how many men he's brought with him we might have the numbers advantage."
Sure, if it wasn't for the fact Adam would cut through their people like paper. The only person among them to have any hope of fighting Adam would be her father, and Blake had no desire to make him take that risk.
A better strategy eluded her, however, and if Ghira's plan did work then it would save a lot of grief. Adam would fight regardless, but dealing with him became easier without having to worry about others getting involved.
Blake glanced back at their allies; how many might die if they didn't try resolving this peacefully? She didn't want to return to Menagerie and explain to someone's parent why their child wasn't coming home, or why a child might suddenly find themselves in the care of a relative.
"We'll do everything we can to save as many people as possible." Blake still hated the idea of making this a fight for anyone but herself, but at this point that was inevitable.
"If Sienna truly intends to stay out of this, then we can't afford to make too many enemies. Killing those who follow Adam will make their loved ones take up arms. But if we only make them surrender, perhaps serve a light sentence, there would be no real reason. We need to consider how to prevent any future problems as well."
"Today's enemy is tomorrow's ally. I'd expect no less wisdom from the former High Leader."
Blake's skin crawled and her head snapped towards Fennec. When in the world did he approach them?
Ghira didn't appear the least bit unsettled. "Ah, Fennec, good. So what information might you have for us on Adam's movements?"
Corsac strode up on the other side of Blake, and she became acutely aware of being between the two brothers. Creeps.
"Our allies to the north confirm he has been through the area, though he appears to be several days ahead of us," Corsac explained. From his sleeve he removed a scroll, handing it over to Ghira to inspect. "Finding a signal was difficult thanks to brother Adam's… Grim attack, but we managed to reach out."
"And estimates put his following at twenty members, matching our own. Though there was no mention of any Humans, which is troubling." Fennec addressed Blake with a careful frown. "Did you not say he might be working with them?"
"For all I know they were working with Sienna, but she said otherwise." Truth be told Blake still didn't have a clue why Emerald and Mercury had been in Palio, or what they were trying to accomplish in Nihoa. It was senseless violence and nothing else.
The brothers exchanged a glance before smiling at Blake. "High Leader Khan would not associate herself with Humans."
Corsac seconded his brother's opinion. "Whatever desperation has driven Adam to that point, we will not throw aside our pride like that. Those Humans are foe to all, and ally to none but themselves. We strive for equality, and we shall do so without handouts from Humans. We handle matters our own way."
A way which only served to further deepen the divide. Arguing on philosophies wouldn't get them anywhere and Blake didn't have the patience for it right now. Accepting the scroll from her father, she looked over the local map, roughly estimating where they might be.
Kumo didn't appear far away on the map, but then maps were terrible judges of distance. Before them lay nothing but flat land, broken up occasionally by marshes and patches of trees. Fortunate for them that Mistral's southern edge wasn't nearly as warm as Menagerie; being out in the open and exposed to the sun as they were could easily lead to heat stroke.
Corsac took the scroll back and slid it into his sleeve once more. Blake met the man's gaze and frowned, annoyed by the smile he gave.
"That makes the chances of their surrender less likely. But… If we manage to catch them unawares, or somehow trick them into thinking we've more fighters than them – "
"Then they would surrender readily and without much fight. It's a gamble," acknowledged Fennec, "But it could work."
Ghira nodded and stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Maybe once we're closer and able to properly gauge their strength we can alter the plan. For now, we'll stick to what we have."
Blake could only assume that Adam would have something up his sleeve. More troops waiting elsewhere, or perhaps he'd simply issue an attack, regardless of their perceived strength. The whole "ending the conflict peacefully" plan relied on his reluctance to fight his own people. If Nihoa was any indication – if he was responsible for that, then Blake wasn't confident of their chances.
Intermittent breaks aside, the group traveled almost nonstop for the day. Their good fortune looked to be wearing thin with dark clouds gathering overhead, the distant rumbling of thunder echoing across the open lands. It looked to be a rather nasty storm, and no one wished to be caught out in it.
Nor would they need to be. It was faint in the horizon but they had spotted the makings of a town in the distance. It was impossible to tell how large it might be, or if it could even accommodate everyone, but it was worth checking.
An observation made by Corsac had them double-guessing their decision. "That town isn't on the map."
"Are you certain? Let me see…" Fennec scrolled over the map, frowning and showing the display to Ghira. It was as his brother said: nowhere in the area was a town. Yet they could all clearly see one, and there was no chance every single person was having the same hallucination.
"Perhaps its recent and the map hasn't been updated?" Towns likely came and went outside of the major cities, this could be a new development. Ghira handed the scroll back and stopped, raising a hand to signal for everyone to do the same. "The town ahead isn't known to us. Myself and Blake will inspect it first, and we'll send word whether its somewhere we might rest."
Kali hurried to the front of the group, grabbing Ghira's arm. "Is it safe to send just you two ahead?" Inside the town she'd been at ease, but since leaving she'd begun to worry. A foreign land, hunting down an enemy, there was no telling what could happen.
Ghira pulled his wife into a hug, giving her a reassuring smile. "We won't enter the town unless we're certain it's safe, and we'll not be long. Not everyone is going to take kindly to a group our size showing up at their doorstep, it makes sense to send a smaller one then."
"Don't worry, Mrs. Belladonna, Corsac and I will be ready to assist if they need it." Fennec bowed to Ghira
"Appreciated, but I would feel much more at ease knowing you two were here with my wife." Blake wasn't sure she was comfortable with leaving these two alone with her mother. Just because they were some of Sienna's men hardly meant they had her trust.
"They can help whoever needs help," Kali said with finality. Her stern gaze to Ghira settled that argument; for all his size he knew better than to argue with his wife. Satisfied, Kali turned to Blake and hugged her close. "Be careful, Blake. You two had better call for us if anything happens."
If anything happened they'd likely be too busy to be calling for help. "We will." Released from her mother's embrace, Blake nodded to her father and followed close at his heels. The town grew larger as the distance shortened and she was struck by how quiet it had become. It was a walled town, she realized, though its walls didn't appear terribly high.
Or reliable. They had been perhaps a quarter-mile from the town when Ghira stopped her. She'd seen it too – the walls were broken in several places, with large pieces of wood and stone scattered among the ground. Drawing nearer, Blake saw the gate to the town had been torn from its hinges, deep gouges in the material.
She had taken off despite Ghira's shouting to remain where they were. The pattern on the doors weren't made by a blade, she'd recognize those claw marks anywhere. Drawing Gambol Shroud, Blake stopped just outside the walls and pressed flush against the gate, ears pivoting as she listened for any noises beyond.
Utter silence greeted her. Ghira caught up and paused a moment before walking through the gate, easing the tarnished door open enough for his large frame to slide through. Blake slipped in behind him swiftly and raised her weapon, anticipating Grimm.
What they got instead was an empty town. Utterly devoid of people and Grimm alike, it was every bit a ghost town as one might expect. How long had it been like this…? The buildings were dilapidated, gardens overgrown and unkempt. Perhaps this was why the town wasn't on the map… It had been abandoned ages ago.
"Be careful… Don't go too far, and call me if you find anything."
Blake nodded once and went about checking the buildings. They were all abandoned entirely, dust covering the furniture and cobwebs clinging to every surface. Several of the homes had been broken into, shattered glass and splintered wood lay on the ground, undisturbed for who knew how long.
The sole good fortune of their discovery was not a body was found; that good fortune also had terrible implications. Had the Grimm ransacked this town and eaten everyone within its walls? It was a safe assumption and a dire reminder that life outside of the cities was fraught with peril.
Taking a seat on the steps of one of the homes, Blake set her weapon down and curled in on herself. No bodies might have been found, but this place reminded her of Nihoa in so many ways. She could almost see this place in its prime, its once lush gardens beautiful, its streets filled with happy villagers.
There were no corpses but she could still feel it, the weight of death in the air. How many had lived here and lost their lives? Why hadn't anyone helped? The town they had come from was far, yes, but not insurmountably so; traveling here to help fend off Grimm wouldn't have been impossible.
That was assuming anyone could even call for help. The map had shown just how empty this area was, the few towns which did exist were miles apart. There was a very real chance these people had been attacked in the dead of night and, with no one else nearby, had simply been overrun.
Had any gotten away? The children… Had they been saved? She knew the answer but almost refused to accept it, swallowing down the bile that threatened to rise. Every person who had lived here had lost their life to the Grimm. She hadn't realized she was shaking until Ghira laid a hand on her shoulder, staring up at him. Whatever her expression might have been compelled her father to throw his arms around her, enveloping her in a hug.
"They're… They're all dead…"
Ghira didn't respond immediately. "We don't know that for certain. They could have escaped." They both knew the truth of the matter. Without a Huntsman around, fending off a Grimm attack was incredibly difficult. And judging the damage to the walls it had been several of the beasts, far more than what a ragtag militia could hope to handle.
Irrational though it may be, Blake felt guilty. She was no less responsible for this than what happened in Nihoa and yet felt like she'd somehow caused it. She was a Huntress, she was supposed to protect people from Grimm attacks like this. From people like the White Fang. There was no way Blake could have averted either disaster, but she still blamed herself.
"We can honor them tonight, but nothing more. This happened long before we ever arrived." Ghira eased Blake to her feet, holding her by the shoulders. He cast his gaze to the sky and frowned at the impeding storm clouds. "I don't like it, but we need to take refuge in the town for tonight. I'll go get the others, rest, sweetheart."
She barely replied when Ghira hurried off. Her eyes slowly skimmed over the nearby buildings, her mind trying to fill in what once was. She'd seen this before countless times – she had even been partly responsible for raids in the past, but this felt different. Again, Nihoa came to mind and she shuddered, nails digging hard into her skin.
When the rest of the group entered the town's walls, Kali was at her side in a heartbeat. Meek assurances did little to assuage her mother's concern. Ghira was busy directing efforts to find safe buildings to settle in, leaving mother and daughter alone for the time being.
"We need to talk about what happened."
Blake shook her head quickly. "No." She felt cool hands upon her cheeks and looked up at her mother, stifling a whimper. The look on Kali's face left her torn, wanting to speak but fearing what it might bring.
"Blake, please. It's eating you up inside, and it's only going to get worse unless we talk about it." Tearfully imploring, Kali pulled Blake into a hug. Blake's arms tentatively wrapped about her mother and she hid her face into Kali's shoulder. A simple nod of her head and she carefully got to her feet, unable to bring herself to meet her mother's gaze.
"Tell me what happened, please. Everything." They had taken themselves from the group and gone behind one of the homes, finding privacy between two overgrown bamboo shoots.
Blake didn't know where to begin. She fumbled with her words for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts even as she spoke. "It… The White Fang, they were going to raid a ship. Kill the passengers, make a statement." It was the easier of the two stories to recount. Sebastian and Norn had been terrible people, and the boys they had roped in, while perhaps innocent, were still complicit in the plan.
That made retelling it no less pleasant. "I needed to know what they were going to do, so I joined them. Normally when you raid someone there's a reason, usually supplies. Rarely did a raid ever happen just for killing someone. It seemed weirder still that they accepted me so easily… Though their leader knew who I was, turns out. I think he planned on killing me too out there."
Blake held up a hand to stave off her mother. Taking a deep breath, she continued. "We sailed out on a small ship and boarded the merchant's vessel. We attacked them, and I played the part, trying to wait for a chance to turn on them and stop it. They had a Huntsman on board, he ended up intervening. I took that chance and started to fight against the White Fang."
Thinking back on it, Sebastian had been incredibly strong. Only by using Dust barrels to blow him away did they beat him. Who had he been working for? Was it Sienna's order, or Adam's? She supposed it mattered little now, they were dead and their attack foiled.
"Was that the only one?" Blake shook her head. Some guilt surrounded the events on the ship but it paled in comparison to Nihoa. She didn't want to talk about this and yet she did. She needed to talk about this.
"I came across a town that had been attacked, and… It was completely ruined. Even worse than this town is." Did the details matter? Did her mother need to know about Greyson? "The town was burned to the ground, and all of its residents were dead. Everyone, it didn't look like a single person got out of there alive. The looks on some of their faces, the smells…"
Her face was pale and she closed her eyes, cursing as the images flashed through her mind. The empty, hollow and frightful looks of children staring back at her, mothers clinging to them in desperation. Kali again tried to embrace her and this time she allowed it, her breathing becoming unsteady. It took several minutes, but Blake managed to calm herself enough to continue.
"I looked around for survivors but couldn't find any. It didn't look like Grimm had done it either." Blake shook her head, taking a moment to rub at her face. "The White Fang were there, and they attacked me. I was in a daze at that point, but… I remember one shot at me, and I killed them. They were only the first…"
"I attacked all of them, and ended up killing them all too. I was injured though, and at some point, I collapsed. I woke up later in Palio."
Kali looked deeply troubled but kept it together, nodding slowly. "The injury on your shoulder…?"
"Mhm." Blake went quiet when someone walked by, not wanting anyone else to be listening in on the conversation; telling her mother was hard enough, she didn't need a crowd. "Greyson was the one who did it… The Huntsman from the ship. But he didn't do it."
Frustrated, Blake shook her head and rubbed at her neck. "He did, but he was tricked. Someone made him see things, I don't know what, but he attacked them because of it. We tried to find them and went to the White Fang camp looking for the people responsible…"
"And then you ended up back in Kuo Kuana. Oh Blake…" Blake made no efforts to avoid the hug and she returned it, burying her face. A weight felt lifted from her shoulders, but discussing things made everything fresh in her mind again. Ghira came back at one point to speak to them but was ushered away – Blake needed time to collect herself.
Blake managed a weak smile while her mother dried her cheeks. "You couldn't have known what had happened, sweetie. You were attacked too, it was self-defense."
"That doesn't change the fact I killed innocent people…"
"It shouldn't stop you from trying to make things right, either." Kali took Blake's hands in her own and encouraged her with a gentle smile. "You're not the one who needs to be punished for what happened, it's Adam and those people he's working with. If you feel guilty then… Make sure those people get justice."
"And that doesn't mean trading life for life either." Kali was quick to make that clear and gently put a finger in Blake's face before kissing her forehead. "They need to answer for their crimes, and we'll make sure they do. But it's not up to us to decide what their fate is, the most we can do is make sure they're handed to someone who can."
That seemed too kind for their crimes. The death penalty was likely what they would get but it felt… Unsatisfying? After everything she'd been through, everything she'd had done to her, she wanted Adam to pay by her hand and hers alone.
"You're right, we shouldn't do anything."
Kali was satisfied with that. It was a lie and she wanted to make Adam pay, but if things turned out differently then so be it.
/+/+/+/+/+/
The roar of thunder was deafening. A downpour had begun hours ago and everyone sought refuge in the tattered ruins of the town. After trying for an hour sleep would not come to Blake, and so she gave up. Leaving the cover of the home, she slid on her cloak and pulled the hood up. Outside was a mess but perhaps fresh air would help her to relax.
Perched atop the wall, she drew her knees close and stared out into the emptiness before her. Somewhere out there was Adam and his people, still preparing for the attack.
Blake knew he hated humanity. Some of that hatred was justified – they had endured awful acts in their youth. But to attack not one, but two Academies? Didn't he realize what an insane idea that was?
It could be done, Beacon was proof enough of that, but why? Attacking or robbing the Schnee Dust Company made sense, they were some of the worst offenders. Mistral was known for its use of slave labor, both of Humans and Faunus alike. There were plenty of other targets besides the Academies; Adam was spiteful, but why was he harming their own kind in the process of fighting humanity?
What she needed to do was to stop trying to apply logic to the illogical. Whatever had pushed Adam to this point had sent him over the edge, past the point of redemption. Maybe he'd crossed that line long ago and she just hadn't noticed.
The why no longer mattered. Blake pushed herself to her feet and adjusted her cloak, walking along the wall's top. He'd done it and he needed to pay, just as Greyson would, and just like she might well herself. While she hadn't killed any innocents – the jury was out on if the White Fang were free of guilt, there was no telling what Haven might bring. And this was to not even speak of her past.
She jumped a gap in the wall and landed soundlessly on the other side. Feeling stone shift beneath her feet she took a quick step forward, glancing back and watching part of the wall collapse. Delicate and ready to break at the slightest touch; was she describing the wall or herself?
Her eyes followed the rubble down, wondering if there might be a point to mentioning this place to another village. They didn't even know its name or those of any of its residents. A ghost town in the truest sense, Blake thought it might be a show of spirit to reclaim something they had built up. Life was hard out here but the people were hardy, they had to be to live like this. Would anyone even want a place as broken as this, though?
The wall crumbled again, drowned out by a roar of thunder. Blake followed the pieces down and watched them bury themselves deep into the mud. Before long, this place would probably fall apart completely, any trace of its inhabitants disappearing with nature; a reminder of how fleeting life could be.
And how dangerous it could be. A flash of lightning illuminated the area, and Blake's eyes flickered to the fields surrounding the town. It was brief, but she caught sight of several dark silhouettes, hunched over and slowly approaching town.
Grimm. The negativity surrounding this town was still that powerful? Cursing aloud she jumped from the wall and ran back into town, bursting into her home with a resounding thud of the door. Her parents woke with a start and a frantic warning was all she could make out before running back to the walls.
Shouting that Grimm were nearby would only incite a panic. Panic would draw more, and they could well meet the same fate as the residents before them. She had to trust her father would know what to do and get herself outside the walls to cut off the beasts.
Blake understood how humans might have been overrun so easily. No light existed out here except for the moon overhead, and on a stormy night, that meager light was snuffed out. Even with her heightened sight it was difficult to make out the Grimm. How was it even in the darkness of night they stood out, darker still than the night itself?
Keeping her footing was difficult in the mud and silt of the fields. Blake let herself fall near a Beowulf, sliding through the muck and avoiding a sweeping claw. Throwing back Gambol Shroud and linking its chain about its throat, she pulled hard and propelled herself back, using her weapons sheathe to relieve it of its head.
Fighting Humans and Faunus was difficult. They could think, plan, deceive you. Grimm were intimidating, bloodthirsty and vicious… But simple. Compared to fighting people like Sebastian it was akin to hunting; the name Huntsman was fitting in that regard.
Against the pitch of black she was a streak of white. Killing beasts was easy, cathartic even. Dodging incoming blows, felling Grimm in a single strike, it was a battle high that Blake was ready to indulge in.
A blow glanced off the side of her sheathe and she drove Gambol Shroud up and through a Beowolf's skull, pulling the trigger and silencing its snarling for good. Ducking beneath the claws of another she pulled on the chain, freeing her weapon and spinning it behind herself, twirling several times and cutting the beast into ribbons.
The death rattle of a distant Grimm confused her until she saw a large figure stood over the beast. "Dad." There had been a lot of Grimm, more than she'd realized, and Blake had wondered why she wasn't being swarmed. Around her, she realized, were the members of their group. Some fought in pairs, others alone, but everyone was fighting to drive back the beasts.
"Stay near the walls, fall back if you're injured! Kali will tend to your wounds!"
Ghira was directing the battle, which meant she could focus on fighting. More Grimm had appeared but she felt at ease knowing everyone else was behind her. The town might be lost to them already, but the Grimm wouldn't be claiming any more victims. Not tonight.
Steadily, they drove back the Grimm. More appeared but their numbers were thinning faster than they could be replenished. The battle had gone on for several minutes and Blake felt exhausted, her clothes soaked through and muscles aching from strain. They were doing it though, the Grimm's numbers were a fraction of what they were, they were winning.
Ghira drove down a Beowulf into the mud, forcing its face deep into the earth. With a strong driving knee, he snapped down on its neck. "Don't let up! They're nearly finished, one last push, my brothers!"
Blake redirected a Grimm's momentum and jumped onto its back, firing several shots into its skull. It collapsed into the ground and she looked for the next. Lungs burned, her hair was matted and clung to her skull, she looked like a mess. But they were alive, and had suffered no casualties either. Somehow a group of people, a fraction of whom had any combat experience, had repelled a Grimm attack.
Her father was incredible. She'd always known this of course, but this was a reminder of what made him so awe inspiring, and such an incredible leader. Blake smiled, allowing herself a moment in the dwindling moments of the fight. Maybe they really were ready for this.
A flash of red crossed her vision, jettisoning towards Ghira. He released a pained roar and Blake found herself staring in confusion, uncertain of what to make of what she was seeing. Upon his back was Corsac, a dagger in his hand driven into her father's back. Fennec was right behind his brother, driving another dagger into his stomach. Ghira snarled and managed to shake the brothers free, his hands covering the wound at his gut as he stumbled and collapsed to his knees.
"Dad!" She knew it, she knew they couldn't be trusted! Damn them, damn Sienna! A visceral scream erupted from her aching chest and she charged the brothers, eyes burning with unbridled fury. She'd kill them, she'd tear them to pieces and send them back to Sienna in boxes!
Corsac intercepted her attack on Fennec, the brothers forcing her back together. Blake took another swing and growled when it was deflected, her blade harmlessly glancing off the dagger. Rather than retaliate, however, both men turned and began to run.
"No you don't!" Blake threw her father a passing glance; he'd live, Kali was already on her way and the Grimm looked to be routed. In a fit of anger, she chased after the brothers, ignoring the shouts of her parents to stay back.
She planned this! This is Sienna trying to get their family out of the way! To hell with Haven, to hell with letting these people try and redeem themselves. The White Fang was a cancer, a blight on everyone, and it needed to be snuffed out!
Blake fired off several rounds at the brothers but they continued to run, heading deeper into the marsh. "Get back here and fight me, dammit! I'm going to kill you!"
Trees began to sprout up, the ground growing more solid beneath her feet. Good, she could catch them this way. Blake took aim once more and fired at Corsac's back, satisfied hearing him shout in pain as it connected. Fennec spun about and aimed his dagger at her, and it took a second to register what was happening. She took cover behind a tree quickly and made herself small as a blast of fire slammed into the bark, sending splintered wood everywhere.
She stepped out from behind the tree and held her weapon ready; where had they gone? Slowly walking forward her ears were on pivot, eyes relentlessly searching. They had to still be here, no way had they slipped away so quickly.
A tree branch snapped, leaves rustled. Blake spun and fired into the top of a nearby tree, scowling when her shots only struck wood. She had to shake her head to get hair and water out of her vision, gritting her teeth and slowly turning.
"Stop messing with me and come out, you cowards!" she shouted furiously. Another sound and she fired into the darkness, clenching her weapon tight enough to turn her knuckles white. She was chasing ghosts out here, this was ridiculous. Where did they go!?
Blake's ears snapped to the sound of footsteps behind her and she whirled around, finger nearly coming down on the trigger. She stopped just short however, staring at the figure before her. A long mane of blond hair, lilac eyes staring back in cruel amusement. An arm notably missing.
How? When? Why was she here? Blake trembled but kept her weapon aimed high, eyes wide as the moon above. Yang slowly approached her and she shook her head, a pitiful whine escaping her throat.
"You… You can't be… You're not real…" It was stress, the lack of sleep, something was making her see things. Blake took a step back, then another, watching as Yang continued to come closer and closer. That smile she wore… What was it? Something between amused and furious, as if taking some sick, perverted joy in seeing her shake.
Blake shook her head and aimed at Yang's head, desperate and ready to attack. Her friend reached out and fearlessly eased aside her weapon; the Faunus couldn't bring herself to fire it. A finger rested upon her lips and Blake's heart leaped to her throat, Gambol Shroud slipping through her fingers, harmlessly clattering to the ground.
"I finally found you, running around in the woods of all things."
Her voice… The feeling of being touched. Blake's chest seized and she let out a pained groan, pushing Yang's hand away from her face. "You're not supposed to be here! It's not safe, you need to go back to Vale!" The hand sat upon her cheek and she stared at her partner, unable to move despite every fiber of her being demanding it.
Yang tilted her head to the side, smiling still. That same sickly-sweet smile she always wore. "Why would I go back when I'm looking for you, Blake?" The Faunus tried to speak again but found a hand gently covering her mouth, a finger lingering as it pulled away.
"Relax, it's okay. Everything is going to be just fine now, I'm here."
This made no sense. Yet like an addict to their drug Blake found herself incapable and unwilling to move away. Her hands shakily reached out to touch Yang, still in a state of disbelief that her partner was here. Her hands froze inches from Yang's face as another gripped her throat, choking off her supply of air. She was lifted off her feet and clawed desperately at the grip around her neck, kicking her feet.
"Y-Yang… What are you doing…?" Blake barely choked out her words, eyes searching her friend's face frantically for an answer. The air around her partner shimmered and distorted.
"Why, reclaiming what is mine, my love." A tall man, clad in black, face obscured by a mask. She'd know him anywhere for he haunted her thoughts every waking moment.
Blake weakly reached out towards Adam, hands vying to wring his neck. She grabbed hold but her strength escaped her, unable to even bring herself to take him down. Her weapon… Where was her weapon?
"We could have just tricked her some other way, you know. You're a sick bastard."
Mercury. He was twirling around Gambol Shroud like some toy, examining it and whistling lowly in appreciation. "Nice toy, Blake. Wonder what we could get for it on the markets?"
"Shut up, Human." Adam turned his focus back onto Blake who now hovered between consciousness and the void. She tried desperately to hold on, but it was clear to him that she was fading. He wouldn't kill her, not yet. There was so much more to be done first.
"We're going to have a lot of time to catch up, darling. But for now, you need to sleep, you look exhausted." Adam dropped Blake onto the ground and smiled when she crumpled into a heap. "Grab her and let's keep moving, Haven's still some ways away."
A mountain of a man stepped out from the trees, frowning in disapproval. He looked down at Blake's form and picked her up with ease, slinging her over his shoulder. "Her Majesty will not be happy to hear you're letting personal matters get in the way of our plans."
Adam laughed. "She won't care. Haven will fall. Humanity will have their punishment, and your Queen will have the prize she so desperately wants. I've already gotten mine." With a wild grin he waved his hand, several dozen lanterns turning on in succession. Almost fifty members of the White Fang stepped out of the darkness, armed to the teeth and vying for blood, every one of them.
"Assuming your friends did their jobs right, these children won't stand a chance. It'll be like sheep to the slaughter." Adam rested a hand on the grip of Wilt, walking around Hazel. He smiled, reaching out and lifting Blake's head by her hair, running a finger along her chin. "And I will have reclaimed what belongs to me. Don't worry yourself with what I do, or bother me with what your Queen wants. That is your problem, so handle it."
A small group of men made their way into the forest a short time later. Following the bullet wounds in the trees they approached the spot of the ambush, fanning out in search of Blake. There would be no trace of her – Adam and his group had left a long time since. The only indication the young Huntress had ever been there was Gambol Shroud, partially buried in the mud.
A lot went on in that chapter, hopefully not too much to fit into one entry!
Also beginning to wonder if not naming the towns is an issue or not; I've come up with names for each, but it seems superfluous. But maybe it would be better for world building? Indecision!
As an aside, always thought it was weird that Adam went to Haven with so few people. Fixed that issue right up!