Another day, another chapter. First up, review response time. Guest; I wanted to make Ruby's 'hatred' for Qrow believable. When you find out that someone has been lying to you for nearly your entire life over a pretty big thing, you obviously hate them at first. But eventually… And as for the new third party, you'll find out who they are in the coming chapters and no, Ebonhorn did not turn traitor in the sense that he's switched sides, but he's no longer on Ozpin's side. Now, on with the show!
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Chapter 11- Into The Wild
The Sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon when Ruby woke up, turning the morning blue sky a shade of pink. She looked at her surroundings, hoping that the events of last night were nothing but a dream, but when she saw the blackened skeletal frame of the barn and the rotting corpses of the Twilight Grimm, she realised that with a heavy heart, it was all real. Oscar's life had literally been burned to the ground, and Ebonhorn had abandoned them to their fates. She believed that Ebonhorn probably did not mean to leave them both to chance, but he was so angered by Ozpin lying to him for all these years. It made her anger at Uncle Qrow look minimal in comparison.
She soon sat up before rising to make way to the house, slowly walking past the cadaver of the Twilight Grimm. She at first found it strange that it had not fully disintegrated as all Grimm do when they die, but then she recalled that the Twilight Grimm weren't real Grimm. They were a hybrid race, a combination of Grimm and Dragon. And all that was left now was the Dragon, already a murder of crows piled high on top of the carcass and stripping giblets of flesh free from the body.
As she approached the house, she spotted Oscar knelt before a mound of disturbed soil, his arms and clothing covered in soil and blood, none of which were his own. A spade was embedded in the ground next to him and in his hands he held a wooden cross. Carefully he placed the cross at the head of the mound, forcing it into the ground with a swift thrust. When he was confident that the cross would not fall, he let his arms drop either side of his body and began to stand up, picking up the spade as he did. He turned around to carry on with whatever business he could when he spotted Ruby, and he froze in his tracks.
"Hey." was all he said as he looked at Ruby, large bags under his eyes.
"Hey." Ruby softly replied, a hand subconsciously moving to her wounded stomach. "Oscar. I just want you to know that I'm so-"
"Don't say it." Oscar interrupted, though he didn't sound bitter or angry. Only tired. "It's not your fault what happened. You didn't know they would come."
"I should have done though." Ruby retorted, her gaze drifting towards the fresh grave. "If I had just left a day earlier, or we'd just not stopped here-"
"Then your Uncle would have died on the road." Oscar once again interrupted. "Besides, you not being here doesn't mean they would have ignored the farm. At least this way she died for something."
Ruby opened her mouth to continue arguing, but thought better of it. Oscar let out a relieved sigh before he continued on with his march, only to stop as the burnt out frame of the barn came into view.
"What will you do now?" Ruby asked, tilting her head to look at Oscar. At first the farm boy did not reply, before turning to face Ruby with a small frown.
"Honestly, I don't know." Oscar admitted, turning back to look at the house. "I doubt I'd be able to live here again after last night. And I can't look after myself either."
"What about Ozpin?" Ruby questioned, knowing immediately that she was beginning to tread on thin ice, especially after last nights revelation.
"I...I haven't heard a word from him since last night. Complete radio silence which I guess I'm kinda glad for..." Oscar chuckled slightly at the last part before turning towards Ruby. "What about your Dragon friend?"
"I don't think he'll be helping us for a while, considering what he just learnt about Ozpin." Ruby replied, turning towards the direction Ebonhorn had flown after the confrontation last night.
"And your other friends?"
Ruby turned her attention towards the forest, which now seemed more imposing than ever. She was seriously worried about them now. They'd been gone for far too long for her liking, and horrifying thoughts flooded her mind as to what could have happened to them. She needed to know what happened to them.
"I'm going in to find them." Ruby finally replied, already marching before Oscar could say anything to stop her.
"Ruby, wait!" Oscar finally managed to say, quickly running up to Ruby's side when he realised she wouldn't stop. "I'm coming too."
That made Ruby freeze in her tracks, a shocked look on her face as she turned to face Oscar, who held the spade in his hands more like a weapon then a gardening tool.
"Oscar, I can't let you come with me." Ruby stated, though it did nothing to make him waver. "It will be dangerous, you could die in there. We could both die."
Once again, Oscar did not move, not even the slightest.
"You're dead set on this, aren't you?" Ruby asked, to which Oscar nodded, gripping the spade tighter. Eventually, Ruby let out a sigh, lowering her head slightly. "Fine, you can come."
Before Oscar could so much as react, Ruby continued her march, Oscar moving quickly behind her in an attempt to stay as close as possible to the red hooded Huntress. As soon as the pair entered the shadows of the trees, it was as if the forest began to open up, as if inviting them to dare its maze of trees and thorns.
They tried to stay to the path as best as possible, but every now and then a tree would intercept the dirt trail, as if trying to knock them off course. They did their best to stay as close to the path as possible, but eventually they lost their way, entering a jungle like maze. They didn't know how long they had been travelling, all sense of time losing its value the deeper they made it into the forest. And that was when it began to change.
When they had first entered, it looked vibrant, exotic and most importantly alive. But now the forest was beginning to change. Bark was turning pitch black, what little greenery grew was blood red, and the plant and animal life was becoming almost nightmarish to look at. It was as if the very forest was dying around them. And the more decrepit the forest looked, the more tired they became. It was as if the very air they breathed was thick and foul, causing them to become nauseas. Every so often Ruby thought she could see herself walking right next to her, and when she looked down at her feet they were going backwards, despite the fact they were very much walking forwards. At least that's what she thought.
And that was when they heard the cackling. Both froze on the spot as they tried to discern the source, Ruby noticing the cackle sounded almost like an animal.
"Please tell me you hear that..." Ruby whispered, turning to face Oscar for any visual confirmation.
"Unfortunately, yes." Oscar replied, to which he began to slowly move forward. Ruby followed closely when Oscar descended onto all fours, shuffling slowly through the dirt, ignoring the insects that clung onto his skin and clothing. Ruby followed suite until Oscar froze at the bank of a small slope shrouded by thorns and brambles. And that's when they saw them.
The creatures were ugly to look at for sure. They stood upright like Humans, but they had the features of a Hyena. Straps of leather and bone made up their armour, some of it animal hide and bone and others not. They all carried a large assortment of crude weapons from swords and axes to spears and scythes. There seemed to be many of them, maybe about forty but most likely many more. All of them seemed to be focused on one area, predominately clambering on top of one another to get at whatever was in the centre. Ruby didn't know what they were surrounding, but every so often she saw one lift their head, revealing a bloodied muzzle.
"What are those things?" Ruby asked, turning towards Oscar for any visible confirmation on what they were.
"Gnolls." Oscar replied, gulping quietly as he watched the feeding frenzy from afar. "They've been around for as long as I can remember. They used to ambush some of the caravans that travelled along the roads, but with the Twilight's Hammer and Bandits blocking the roads now I guess they've turned more inwards."
"Are...are they friendly?" Ruby asked, though she was confident she already knew the answer.
Rather than reply, Oscar merely pointed to one of the makeshift tents that were scattered around the area. It was made from the hides of different creatures, ranging many different colours, all stitched together with sinew. It didn't take Ruby long to spot what was once a Human face being one of the many patches.
"We should probably go." Ruby stated, earning a quick nod from Oscar in response.
As the two began to make their way around the camp, the Gnolls began to disperse, heading to their tents to either sleep or gnaw on bones. And as the Gnolls dispersed, they finally had a look at what they had been eating. On the ground in a bloody ditch was the bloodied skeleton of a horse, picked clean of any flesh. At first neither of them would have given the skeleton a second glance, until Oscar noticed the saddle that had been discarded carelessly nearby.
"Oh no..." Oscar murmured, causing Ruby to stop and turn to face him. "That's Blanchy's saddle...I'd recognise it anywhere."
"Wait...you don't think that these things-"
Before Ruby could ask further, there was a sudden commotion as the Gnolls began to pick themselves up off the floor. Without warning a small pack of Gnolls burst forth from the tree line, making their way towards the centre of the camp. There were several snarls and whines exchanged as the largest of the Gnoll pack, one carrying what appeared to be a savage looking machete, strode confidently forward, the other Gnolls milling around him as if he were the pack leader.
"Me starving..." one of the new comer Gnolls panted, his broken words made slightly more intimidating by the guttural growl that accompanied them.
"Eat then." the lead Gnoll growled back, his voice more intimidating due to its deeper pitch.
"Nothing to eat!" the Gnoll snarled back, followed by many more Gnolls snarling and cackling in agreement. "We had nothing but mouldy bones for three days!"
"Yes! Why we have no meat?!" a scrawny looking Gnoll added, his maw slavering as drool dripped down like a waterfall. It was then his eyes caught something at the back of the camp, something that made both Ruby and Oscar turn as well. "What about them? They're fresh!"
Ruby and Oscar continued to follow the Gnolls gaze until at last their eyes fell upon a small wooden cage, and inside shrouded by the darkness of the trees were four individuals.
"Oh my god..." Ruby murmured, turning to face Oscar with a look of panic in her eyes. "Do you think that's them?"
"Maybe...I don't know who else it could be..." Oscar replied, turning back towards the Gnoll pack.
"They are not for eating!" the lead Gnoll stated, some of the other larger Gnolls behind him stepping forward with weapons raised.
"I'm thinking this argument might boil over soon." Oscar stated watching as the tension between the Gnolls was quickly hitting its tipping point.
"Quick, whilst they're distracted." Ruby whispered, Oscar nodding as the two slowly began to make their way towards the unguarded cage. As they began to make their way, Ruby kept her ears open on the bickering of the Gnolls.
"What about legs?" a new voice asked, one more wet than the others. "They no need those. They look tasty..."
"Back scum!" the lead Gnoll barked, and the sound of something being pushed back roughly was heard, followed immediately by savage growling and snarling, as well as the clattering of weapons. "They go to Hogger! Alive and unspoilt!"
"Alive?!" the wet voice demanded. "Why alive?! Do they make good sport?!"
The statement was followed quickly by a taunting cackle, as well as many other animalistic noises.
"They have something, information! Hogger wants it for war!" the lead Gnoll rebuked, followed by many growls from both sides.
"What are they on about?" Ruby whispered, turning around to look at Oscar who merely shrugged.
"No idea, but I don't think we should stick around to-"
Oscar then let out a sudden yelp as the earth beneath his foot suddenly gave way, causing him to slip and fall directly into the Gnoll camp. Almost as soon as he began to get up he froze, the eyes of all the Gnolls trained directly at him.
"What about him?" one of the Gnolls asked, pointing his crude weapon at Oscar as he looked at the lead Gnoll.
Before any of them could answer, Ruby leapt down in front of Oscar, drawing Crescent Rose out as she did, her feet parted in a battle stance. The Gnolls began to cackle and howl in excitement at the sight of the two Humans, the lead Gnoll licking his lips as he thrust his machete at the pair in a commanding way.
"Looks like meat's back on menu boys!" the Gnoll growled, followed immediately by savage roaring as the Gnolls charged forward as one, descending upon the pair at a rapid pace.
"Stay behind me!" Ruby ordered as she shifted her weapon into its Sniper configuration, firing a blast from Crescent Rose, the round ploughing through a number of Gnolls, the Hyena like creatures slowing down considerably before picking up their pace again.
She fired round after round, dropping more of the Gnolls, but more simply came at her, and she was starting to run low on ammo. Shifting her weapon into its Scythe form, she threw it at the Gnolls at an angle, the weapon spinning clockwise in rapid fashion and severing the limbs at any Gnoll that came in range of its deadly blade. As it ploughed forward, Ruby dashed forward with her Semblance, grabbing the Scythe by the shaft and swinging it wide in a full arc, completely cutting a trio of the Gnolls in half. She then dashed around rapidly, cutting through the Gnolls or knocking them to the ground with her Scythe.
As Ruby began to run circles through the Gnolls, some had managed to break off from the main pack and now surrounded Oscar, who held only his spade to defend himself. One of them lunged forward and Oscar fell back with a yelp, the Gnoll letting out a humoured cackle at Oscars tumble. It then lunged forward, this time with its sword raised above its head to strike a blow, and in a swift moment of panic Oscar swung out with his spade, bashing the Gnoll in the jaw and sending it tumbling to the ground.
Two of the other Gnolls looked first at their downed comrade before looking at Oscar, snarls on their faces. The first lunged forward as the second moved behind. Thinking quickly, Oscar swung down on the first Gnolls head bringing it down with a clang, before turning towards the scuttling of feet and swung out at the second.
"I...I think I'm getting the hand of this..." Oscar murmured to himself as he looked at the now bloodied spade in his hand.
Yet as he swung at the sound of feet approaching, his face fell as he saw a Gnoll armed with an axe grab the spade by its shaft and hack at the wooden grip with its axe. Almost immediately he fell back, his grip on his spade going loose as the Gnoll tossed it to the side. As the Gnoll approached to deal a killing blow, Oscar held up his arm in a vain attempt to block the inevitable. That was when he felt the surge of power in his hand, and the sudden warm sensation travelling through his arm and into his palm. Without so much as a warning, an orb of fire shot out of his palm, blasting the Gnoll directly in the face, sending it flying several feet away with a sharp whine, its fur and skin irreparably burned.
"What the..." Oscar murmured, looking at his hand in confusion.
"Don't be alarmed, I did that!" Ozpin's voice suddenly said, causing Oscar to look up in shock at the sound of the ghostly Headmasters sudden return. "I'm lending you a sample of my power for a short time. Use it wisely."
Before Oscar could even ask or demand for more information, he was set upon by more Gnolls. Without even thinking he held out his hands and more orbs of fire shot out, burning the Gnolls upon contact. As Oscar continued to blast at the Gnolls, Ruby paused mid fight as she clutched her chest. Her stomach wound was beginning to reopen due to all this running and fighting, and the Gnolls numbers were still to large. As she surveyed the Gnoll horde, she spotted Oscar blasting at the Gnolls with fire, much to her confusion. Before she could question it, a snarl to her right caused her to spin around, only for the wind to get knocked out of her as she was struck in the stomach by a heavy iron chain.
She fell back with a cry of pain, Crescent Rose falling out of her hands as she attempted to stand, only for the Gnoll who had struck her to kick her back, sending her rolling towards the lead Gnoll, who held up his crude machete to her face. She heard Oscar call out for her, followed by a sudden grunt as he too was overcome by their numbers. She felt her hair being pulled back as the lead Gnoll held the machete up to her face, pressing the blade against her cheek and drawing blood.
"Squeal piggy..." the Gnoll taunted, licking its lips at the sight of the blood. "No one coming to save you..."
It was then that the twang of an arrow was heard followed by a soft thud. One of the Gnolls cried out in pain as it fell forward, a purple feathered arrow in his back. The Gnolls let out whines of panic as more and more Gnolls were slain by the arrows, coming from seemingly every direction. It was then that the chaos truly began. From the trees burst out great cats the size of cars, their coats different shades of grey and black with large sabre like fangs emerging from their mouths. The weirdest thing about them though was the purple armour they wore, as well as the armoured figures who rode the cats wielding sword and shield and bow and arrow.
It was complete chaos as the Gnolls tried in vain to fight off the ambush, but the numbers of the attackers were too great as many of the new individuals leapt off the cats and began to fight on foot. Using the distraction to her advantage, Ruby balled her hand into a fist and punched the lead Gnoll in the jaw, causing him to release his grip on her and stumble back, where he was lost immediately in the chaos. Grabbing Crescent Rose, she stumbled towards where Oscar had been, sighing in relief when she saw him stumble forward in a complete panic.
"Who are these people? Are they friendlies?" Ruby asked, only to receive a puzzled grunt in return.
It was then that they heard the low cat like growl behind them, turning to see one of the armoured cats snarling at the pair, its teeth and paws covered in blood. As the cat strode forward, a yelp caused it to stop as a Gnoll burst out from the chaos armed with an axe, which it swung down at the cat, which swerved out of the way of the swing in the nick of time. Its attention now focused on the Gnoll, Ruby and Oscar quickly made their way to the borders of the camp, ducking and swerving out of the way of dead Gnolls and pouncing cats.
"Quickly! Through here!" Oscar shouted, pulling on Ruby's wrist as they finally made it to the relative safety of the trees.
Then they ran, trying their best to put as much distance between them and the massacre behind them, unaware of their silent pursuer…
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And that's that. Liked it? Feel free to leave a review and constructive criticism is welcomed. Any questions? Either PM me personally or leave in your review. Next update will be August 12th.
Raging Archon out.