Tear them apart / Sever their trust / Plant seeds of doubt / Hope will be smothered
So just one quick thing: this is from my OC, Dove's, view. She's Qrow and Raven's mother. I try not to plug my fics across each other, but Chained in Servility provides the full context for everything discussed here.
Also another quick thank you to timetravellingshark on Tumblr for any of the Branwen tribe worldbuilding I used in this.
Dove sighed as she brought the knife down on the cutting board and glanced out the window. Snow turned to the pitch darkness to an inky grey from the feeble moonlight that made it through the clouds. She could almost hear Raven's warm, sweet voice as they sat at the table, wrapped in a blanket as they sang together. On nights like this, it was hard to not think about those bygone days before she'd outed Fallon.
It'd been close to seven years since she'd last seen her baby birds. Raven had promise to visit her with her Semblance, but she hadn't. The time frame the council had imposed on her children for attending Beacon was fast closing. If they didn't return by the end of the fall, they'd be considered outsiders. She wouldn't have been surprised if Qrow chose to leave almost immediately after what had happened; his heart had never fully belonged to the tribe.
But Raven…? Her daughter who had clung to her so tightly and not wanted to leave? Her daughter who had cried at the thought of leaving the people she loved with her whole heart? What had happened in that first year to make her feel okay with never returning?
The house felt so empty. Even after seven years, she still expected to see Qrow or Raven round the corner or hear Fallon's laughter. But it was only her, Fallon's mother, and Jia, Raven's former best friend. How could she have abandoned them like this…? Jia's presence helped, but it just wasn't the same as holding her precious children in her arms.
She sucked in a breath, though, when familiar tension rippled through the air. The knife clattered to the counter. She turned to the back fo the room as a familiar red and black portal formed. Less than a second later, a familiar weight shot into her arms. Raven's entire body shook as she sobbed, clinging hard enough that Dove's breath shallowed.
She said nothing as she guided her daughter over to the table, sitting on the cushions. She activated her Semblance, wrapping Raven in gentle calm to try to soothe her nerves. She felt her will crumble like dust as she gave into it. Her sobs dropped to heavy, shallow breaths in response to giving Dove permission to calm her. She just remained silent as she tried to calm her daughter.
"Mother, what's—" Dove looked up at Jia who stared and she saw the conflict ripple across her face. Regardless, the young woman limped over and sat down, rubbing Raven's head. She felt her daughter's sharp intake of breath before she sobbed anew. Even her Semblance had its limits and she hated it.
"Jia, dear, could you finish dinner for me? I'll have my hands full for a while." Jia nodded. Dove wrapped one arm around Raven's waist and guided her to her room, settling on her bed.
It didn't take Raven long to fully cry herself out and Dove sighed, threading her fingers through her hair. Just what had happened to drive her back to the tribe in such a state? She'd seemed so resolute to leave them, yet she'd literally come back crying to her mother…
Dove blinked when she sensed Raven shift and pull away. "My baby bird." Even in the darkness, she felt Raven freeze and slump against her. The young woman gave a small sound of resignation and Dove's heart sank. What had happened to her strong daughter that balked at danger? Now she just crumbled like dust with the slightest prod…
The door opened and a lamp lit the room. Corma stood there, a warm smile on her wrinkled face. She always had had a strange instinct for when to come in and lighten the mood. She sat the tray of food on the dresser and started the fire, warming the freezing room.
Dove offered Raven some food, but she shook her head. "I-I don't think I'll be able to eat for at least a few days…" Her voice shook and cracked as she pulled her knees to her chest. Dove just pulled her daughter into her lap, activating Raven's familiar, instinctive cling.
"At least drink some water, dear." Thankfully, Raven didn't argue with that and put away the entire glass. She leaned against Dove and closed her eyes, her breaths rapid and shallow.
Dove bit her lip before she steeled herself and looked at her daughter. "Raven, my baby bird, what happened?" She was loathe to ask but…
Raven flinched at the question and gave a world-weary sigh."Too much. Far, far too much… The short version is Salem overall. But for the more immediate… I just abandoned my lover and daughter and left them to my best friend."
The air in the room thickened and Dove's blood turned to ice at Salem's name. Had she forgotten the taboo of speaking the witch's name? Then again, it had been seven years and she was beyond shaken, so she let it slide. SHe just didn't want to invoke the witch's attention through mentioning her. Hopefully, they'd be safe from her wrath…
But for Raven to abandon her lover (that word didn't worry Dove at all) and daughter when family was so important…? Just what had happened…?
"I'm back for good, Mother. I know I cut it close but…"
"You can always rest your wings here, my precious fledgling." Dove gave Raven a small squeeze as she once again slipped into unconsciousness. She had a feeling Raven's return didn't bode well. A storm was coming their way and it wasn't one they could avoid forever…