Chapter Eleven – Red Stains the Snowy One
"... and that's our story. Now you know what's really going on." Weiss said, crossing her legs on the couch in Qrow's living room.
Yang, Blake and Qrow all stared at Weiss as if she had a few screws knocked loose. "That's quite the tall tale." Qrow commented.
"It's real Uncle Qrow." Ruby said, entwining her fingers together in her lap.
"I didn't say you were lying. Your friend here proves it all." He said, jerking a thumb towards Sapphire who was inspecting a photo on the wall to his right.
"Excuse me," Sapphire piped up at the mention of herself, "... but who are these people?"
Sighing, Qrow stood and walked over to the picture. "That is the best Agricultural Mechanics team to graduate from that crappy old school we went to. It was a long time ago." He pointed to the girl furthest left, "... that's Summer. Ruby's mother. Ruby's father is right there beside her, and the girl on his right is my sister, Raven." He said, dragging his finger from left to right, "... and that handsome devil on her right is me. Obviously." He said, dropping his hands to his side and walking back to his chair.
"I see. Would they be of any help to us here?" Sapphire asked.
"Well, I haven't heard from my sister in a few years but Tai's land is south of here a few miles. Him and his wife, Summ-"
"WHAT!?"
Ruby was on him in an instant, faces mere inches apart. "You said... him and his WIFE. Not just him. My mother is... is my mother..." She trailed off, eyeing him coldly.
"What is wrong with you, of course they're both alive. Why are you freaking out?" Qrow asked.
"Sapphire, did you not show them ALL of Ruby's past?" Weiss whispered to the blue-clad girl.
"No, just what recently happened. Why? Did I forget something?"
"Well... Ruby's mother... she isn't exactly..."
"Uncle you have to take me to see them. Now." Ruby demanded, hauling Qrow out of his chair by the arm.
"Whoa, calm down I can walk on my own!" He yelled as he hurried to keep up with Ruby. The rest of the girls hurried outside to follow them. Qrow, Ruby, Weiss and Sapphire got into the truck and Yang and Blake got into the bed of the truck and the vehicle stuttered to life and scattered rocks from the gravel driveway as it shot forward.
As the truck barreled down the road, Ruby seemed to be vibrating with excitement. "Let me get this straight," Qrow said, "... your mother in your world isn't around anymore?" Ruby shook her head. "I see. Well don't go doing anything drastic, remember she just lost a daughter and seeing a child come back to life could be too shocking this soon." He said.
"Well, at least Yang isn't gone in this world." Ruby said. The truck slowed down as Qrow eyed a black mass ahead of them roaming around the side of the road. "Dumb dog probably. Can't really see it from here. Don't want it jumping out in front of the truck."
Ruby, however, could see it clearly, but before she could warn Qrow in time, the truck sped up to pass by the animal and a long arm darted out and sharp claws tore straight down the side of the truck, flattening both right tires. The truck rocked back and forth before spinning out and flipping over and throwing Yang and Blake out of the back before rolling a few times and coming to a rest upside down.
The black figure moved out into the open more and stood to its full height. The old alpha beowolf stalked towards the overturned truck sniffing at the air. The driver door busted open and Qrow crawled out, blood running down from a cut on his forehead. He stood and looked over to the beowolf that was staring at the truck as if it were about to get a meal. Stepping out in front of the truck, Qrow picked up a little red rectangle on the ground. Keeping his eyes on the beowolf, he fiddled with the object before finding the release and it expanded into a full size scythe. Crescent Rose's blade gleamed in the sunlight.
The alpha tilted it's head and took a charging stance, emotionless eyes set on the man with the scythe in front of it. Qrow took an odd stance holding the scythe out in front of him like it were some large baseball bat. The beowolf dashed forward, claws out and aimed for Qrow's neck. Qrow stepped forward and then sidestepped to the left, bringing the scythe around horizontally like someone would if they were batting. The blade flicked forward and the man and beowulf stood back to back. A sickening noise followed and the top half of the beowolf fell away from the bottom, cut at the waist. Qrow sighed, relieved.
Shattering came from behind him as Weiss kicked out her window and crawled out of the overturned vehicle. Eyeing Qrow with a look of confusion, she stood and drew her rapier, wandering off to make sure that the rest of the pack hadn't come through to this world with their alpha. Qrow crouched beside the passenger door thinking of how to open it when Yang walked out onto the road with an unconscious Blake in her arms. Qrow glanced at her before turning back and swiping the scythe at where the lock would be engaged. Much to his surprise, it sliced right through the metal and the door shuddered slightly. Popping it open, he unfastened the knocked out red-clad girl and laid her down right in the grass to the side of the truck.
"We're safe. If there had been any other Grimm near us you guys would have drawn them through fear." Weiss said, quickly walking over to inspect Ruby.
"Uh, but I'm not afraid." Yang said, and Qrow nodded his agreement.
"Well, then we're just lucky. If those two wake up they may panic. That could cause problems." Weiss said, nodding down at Ruby as she checked over her.
"Anything wrong with her?" Qrow asked.
"She's bleeding quite badly from a stomach wound, but it isn't something we could treat right here, we have nothing for supplies. Pulling out this glass would cause her more pain and worsen the situation if it were done incorrectly." Weiss said.
The other back window shattered then, and a bloody Sapphire drug herself out of the truck across the broken glass, emotionless eyes looking at nothing in particular.
"Why couldn't you just unlock and open the door?" Qrow asked, rushing to help her.
"You'd be surprised at how complicated a button lock and door handle look when your disoriented." Weiss said, standing. "Which way to Taiyang's?" She asked.
"Down the road, should be able to see it." Qrow said, pointing off down the road.
"Lets go then." Weiss said, lifting Ruby bridal style, red flowing down the front of her jacket. Qrow lifted Sapphire and Yang continued carrying Blake over her shoulder.
As they followed the road they saw a small farmhouse off in the trees and turned down that road, watching out for any stray Grimm that could still be around. Getting closer, they noticed movement off near a parked ATV and as Qrow was about to call out, a dark red-headed girl poked her head up over the ATV and looked at them.
Qrow sighed, relaxing. "Come out, Rowena." He said.
"Rowena?" Weiss asked as the young girl who identically matched Ruby's looks stepped out from behind the little vehicle. "Oh my Dust, she is so tiny. She looks just like Ruby." Weiss said in awe.
"Probably because she's Ruby's younger sister." Qrow said.
The little girl eyed Ruby's motionless figure before turning and running towards the house, darting quickly inside. "I'm going to assume she's getting Tai or Summer." Qrow said. He was answered by a lighthearted laugh and the front door busted open to reveal a muscular blonde man who had just caught sight of the group in front of him, and he looked completely shocked and confused.
"Qrow? What's going on here?" He asked, hurrying down to take the bloodied girl out of Qrow's arms.
"Tai, just get Summer to help her." Qrow replied.
"I can't, she went out to check fields, hasn't gotten back yet." He said.
"Those things could still be out there! I'll be back. I'm going to go get her." Qrow said, rushing off towards the nearby fields with the folded Crescent Rose.
"What things?" Tai said, turning to Yang who shrugged. Sighing, Taiyang led them into the house where he set Sapphire's limp form down on a reclining chair.
Hearing a noise behind him, Tai turned to see the white haired heiress laying the little red figure down on a nearby couch. Tai approached the two slowly, and Weiss noticed. She backed away from Ruby and let Tai decide what he was going to do.
Taiyang looked between Weiss and Ruby, pale as if seeing ghosts. Which for him was almost true. Weiss gave a small smile, lifting her hand to wave slightly, but before she could react the man had her crushed in a monstrous bear hug. "I don't care if your real or not. This is something I wish I could've done before I lost them." He said, a big smile spread across his face.
"Mmmph, ah!" Weiss groaned, gasping for air, "Stop... 'M real..." She managed to say. Taiyang released her and held her out at arm's length.
"We're not from here, but we're still the same people." Weiss gasped out, steadying herself on the couch's armrest.
"Funny," He commented, looking her over, "... almost looks like your wearing the wedding dress Weiss picked out a while back, only with less... red." He said.
"W-wedding dress? This is a specialized, fitted combat skirt!" Weiss said, annoyed.
"Yeah, but the dress was obviously longer it just looked exactly like what you have on." He said.
"Who would I even have been getting married to?" Weiss asked.
"My little Ruby, of course." He said, observing Weiss immediate blush. "You know maybe we can continue the marriage. At least I'd get to see my little flower grown up."
Weiss looked up at him, eyes hopeful that he was serious. "Ask Ruby when she comes around, and your welcome to anything in the house. Our home is your home." He said, giving one last smile to the heiress before walking to Yang and Blake on the other side of the room.
Qrow was running quickly and silently through the fields, having spotted a small beowolf that seemed to not notice him as it looked to be busy tracking something. After following it for some time he found that it had in fact been going to Summer, who had her back turned to them as she was swiping an old wooden scythe through tall weeds, effortlessly cutting them down faster than any machine.
The little beowolf had grouped up with several other of the same size and they all eyed the girl. Qrow readied the red scythe in his hands and edged forward. The beowolves jump into the cleared area behind Sumner, frightening her as she spun around with the scythe in both hands. Qrow sprinted forward and stood between her and the pack, startling Summer even further. She stuttered something that was indecipherable, and the beowolves lunged for Qrow. A flash of the red weapon cut down the front two before they could react, but a third one had been right behind them and Qrow couldn't bring the scythe back around in time to block the attack. The wooden scythe blade whirled around into Qrow's field of view and stabbed harshly into the side of the beowolf, knocking it off course. Summer, recovered, stood pale and ready to help if she could.
Qrow angled Crescent Rose, ready to cut through the remaining five beowolves, Summer tense behind him. As the beowolves all rushed forward Qrow made quick work of the three in front, and sighed in relief as the last two fell to Summer's scythe. Grabbing Summer by the arm, they made their way off in the direction of the house.
A/N
The story is going to focus a little more on Ruby and Weiss' situation first before moving on, but that doesn't mean the others aren't gonna get book time either. Hope you enjoyed the chapter and as always thank you for taking the time to read it and there may or may not be a rewritten first chapter to better introduce the story seeing as people are getting distracted by the first chapter and never making it past that, even though it was clearly labeled as an intro just to get people's thoughts. See ya next chapter!
