A/N: Aaaaaaaand we're back. I've got another batch of chapters, courtesy of some wonderful creators who took the time to pour some of their creative spirit into the world of REMCOM.
First up is an author who has contributed to TFTA previously, and this chapter is a continuation of the story of Team ONYX. Or... at least half of it.
Enjoy.
Title: Karakurt
Author: Raven
Nacht fell on his knees, his head dizzy as black smoke danced in the hazy desert air around him. Fighting against vertigo, the Huntsman tried to rise to his feet but stumbled and plunged face-first into the red sand.
"This should've been the last. You alright there, Nacht?" asked a female voice from behind.
"You know I'm not, Ydel," the young man answered, struggling to stand up. "Care to help?"
With a weak chuckle, the Huntress grabbed her friend by the shoulders and pulled him up, holding him until he gathered a footing.
"Thanks. How are you holding up?"
"Not much better, to be honest. Still, we can't stop here, can we now?"
Smirking, Nacht took a deep breath and resumed walking in the previous direction.
"Are you sure we're still on the right way?" he asked after some time.
"I may be not familiar with this desert, but I know how to stay on course. We're on the same path as when we set out."
"Great. All that's left is to not die before we reach the town."
Both Huntsmen laughed at the joke, although both knew the possibility was real.
Their initial idea to join XCOM seemed simple - until the two understood they had no idea where to search for them, the ADVENT's government takeover seemingly making the organization unwilling to operate openly. With that plan no longer viable, the Huntsmen settled on traveling to other small towns scattered across the desert and trying to find information there. Still, the problem of actually getting there remained, made much more serious by the fact they had no time to gather supplies. To make things even worse, they both had little to no sleep - Ydel seemed to be scared of the desert night, which kept Nacht on edge as well, even when it was her turn to stand guard.
A sudden sound caused the bat Faunus to stop dead in his tracks. Raising his hand to shield his eyes from the sun, he peered into the distance, barely discerning humanoid shapes near the horizon.
"I'm not hallucinating, right, Ydel? There are people there!" he shouted.
"Don't think two people would get the same hallucination," agreed the Huntress. "Come on, we can still catch up to them!"
"Halt!" shouted the white-cloaked man from his camel as the two Huntsmen, breathing heavily, approached his group. "Who are you?"
"Under this blue sky, we greet you, fellow stranger!" answered Ydel before Nacht could react. The man shot a curious look at her.
"You are not from here," he said, not a question, but a constatation of fact.
"We aren't. But the principles of the free people are the same everywhere, are they not?"
The nomad exchanged a glance with the other two, all dressed in the same cloaks but wearing scarfs of a different color, and looked over Ydel once again. Finally, he nodded.
"May the sun shine upon your path, fellow stranger. You look like you could use some help. We shall pass near an oasis soon, you may join us if you wish."
Nacht and Ydel bowed in gratitude and climbed the free camels the nomad leader gestured them to, spending the road in long-awaited sleep.
When they arrived at the oasis, Nacht pinched his arm, still refusing to believe their luck. Although he would never fully admit it to himself, he knew they would have hardly survived another day or two of the road, had they not met the nomads. But now, between the few hours of sleep and a few handfuls of cold water in the face, Nacht felt more refreshed than he ever did in the last week. Refreshed enough, indeed, to hear the steps and the clanking of weapons behind him, even with all of the nomads' caution and grace. With the flick of a switch, Donnerlanze's mechanisms whirred to life, shifting the weapon into its spear form while the Huntsman turned around with lightning speed, bringing the spear's blade to his assailant's neck... And felt the cold metal of the nomad's sickle at his throat.
"If you value the laws of hospitality and your life, you will drop your weapon and allow us to check your neck. We are not going to just turn our backs to foreigners that came from the depths of the desert."
Nacht shot a questioning glance at Ydel and saw her nod. Reluctantly, the Huntsman put his spear on the ground and pulled off his hood. The nomad leader put his hand on the Faunus' neck, slowly lowering it to his shoulder blades, then slid it back up and put it away, seemingly satisfied with the results of his search. One of the nomads repeated the procedure with Ydel.
"What was that about?" Nacht asked, bemused.
"Evil hides beneath the desert sands, stranger, and one does not talk about it lest one wishes to invite it upon themselves. I apologize for the rough treatment, but you must believe me it was necessary. Now," the nomad extended his hand to the Huntsman, "I believe introductions are in order. My name is Sabah. What is yours and how did you find yourselves in such a situation?"
"I'm Nacht, and my friend's name is Ydel. We've had... something of a disagreement with our comrades and the authorities," answered Nacht, carefully choosing his words. Sabah raised his brow but remained silent.
"We were traveling to one of the nearby towns. Would your path, by any chance, lay through any of them?" asked Ydel, making use of the moment of quiet.
"This would not be the case, I am afraid. We are currently staying in a temporary camp a day away from here and are not planning on moving away yet. Still, if you wish so, we invite you to stay there for a while - you still look like you could use a proper rest."
"We are in your debt, Sabah," bowed Ydel, and Nacht repeated her gesture.
The sun was already setting when the nomad camp appeared in sight. It was rather small and simple - fitting for a temporary measure that could be abandoned at a moment's notice - a few tents hiding in the shadows of the palm trees and a makeshift camel pen. The group dismounted, tying the camels to the pole in the pen's center, and set about preparing the campfire. Soon the fire was ready, coffeepot set upon it as the night swallowed everything around the camp. The Huntsmen and the nomads sat in a circle, passing the cup around and listening to the stories told by Fidiyan, the youngest of the free people. The grey-haired man was evidently good at his craft, managing to invest even the other nomads in his tales, despite them undoubtedly having spent many nights like this.
"So, a couple of weeks ago we have met another nomad tribe, and you would not believe the story they told us!" he said, after another of his stories ended.
"We were there with you, Fidiyan", interrupted Aashala, the third nomad.
"They were not, and they deserve to hear this. So," Fidiyan turned back to the to Huntsmen, "they have told us of this group called XCOM..."
The storyteller made a dramatic pause, and despite himself, Nacht couldn't help but lean forward impatiently. Satisfied with the effect, Fidiyan continued:
"They said it was an army of master Huntsmen, carried by the wings of searing desert winds around the world. They said that every one of them would lay down his life for a single innocent. They said even greater things of their leader, though... The all-seeing eye, possessing the strength of ten and the cunning of twenty. Indeed, it would be hard to believe that such a person could exist..."
"That is because he does not, Fidiyan!" Aashala shouted, irritated.
"This does seem a bit exaggerated," agreed Ydel.
"Mayhaps it is, but as the saying goes, there is no smoke without fire. No lesser man would have been able to earn such loyalty they spoke of. They said his name is... The Great Commanding One..."
Near-silence engulfed the camp, everyone either quietly chuckling or groaning inwardly. After a few minutes, Ydel spoke:
"Sorry for changing the topic, and I know I'm repeating myself, but you saved our life back there. Is there any way we can repay that debt?" she asked.
"Do not mention it, Huntress. Cursed is the one who only helps his fellow men because he expects a reward," answered Sabah before wincing silently from Aashala shoving his elbow in his side with an angry look.
"Still, if you insist on doing something in return," continued the nomad leader after recovering his composure, "there is something we can use help with. You see, some days before we met you a powerful Grimm attacked our tribe. It caught everyone by surprise and managed to wound most of our warriors, even killing Aashala's brother before retreating to its lair. It was decided that we would stay behind to avenge him while the rest of the tribe continues on their way."
"So you want us to help you defeat this Grimm?" Nacht asked, leaning forward.
"We would be thankful if you decide to join us on this hunt," Sabah nodded.
"Then this is what we'll do. What is our mark?"
"A Rakshasa."
After this, the conversation died quickly and the Huntsmen went to sleep in Sabah's tent while the nomad stayed on guard. The two fell asleep almost instantly, curling up on a thick carpet serving as a floor.
Judging by the color of the sky, it was still early morning when Nacht was woken up by a rustling sound.
"Trouble sleeping?"
Ydel nodded in response.
"Since we're awake now, I've been wondering - can you tell me anything about that "evil" Sabah mentioned back at the oasis?"
The Huntress' face twisted in worry.
"It's... An evil spirit, a Grimm traveling under the sand. It... It makes people... not themselves," Ydel's voice was anxious. "M-my people believe that it can sense when it's being talked about, so we don't... It may be silly, just another superstition, but..."
"It's alright, I believe you," Nacht interrupted. "If that's how it is, you don't have to talk about it."
The Huntress exhaled and gave her friend a thankful smile. For some time, the two sat in silence, looking at the brightening sky through the tent's entrance.
"Think we made the right decision, Nacht?"
"You mean not joining ADVENT?"
"Yes. I still believe in what I saw in that woman's eyes, of course, but I can't help but worry about Xenios."
"If anyone can manage to stay true to themselves in such circumstances, it would be him. He's a good lad, you and I both know this."
"That's the problem. He won't be able to ignore what's happening in front of him forever. Just what will he choose then?..."
"The sun has risen, and so shall we! Wake up, my friends!" came a shout from outside the tent, prompting the Huntsmen to come out and join the nomads around the campfire.
The jackal's teeth snapped shut on a spot where Nacht had just been standing. Seeing the glint of metal in the corner of his eye, the Huntsman leaped to the next enemy, trusting Ydel to finish this one off. There were plenty of targets around, the dog-like Grimm traveling in packs almost large enough to overwhelm the five warriors. The blade slashed at the pack leader's belly, which exploded in foul smoke as Nacht slid from under it. Another Grimm turned to face him before getting its feet pulled from under him by Sabah's sickles, leaving it unable to escape the killing strike to its mask. The Huntsman had to admit, the five of them made for a surprisingly good team despite meeting each other only a few days before. Nacht aimed Donnerlanze and the closest jackal, distracting it from prone Aashala for long enough for his katars to pierce the monster's neck. The bat Faunus spun around in search of his next target, only to find none.
"Guess that's all for now."
"It would seem to be the case," Sabah nodded. "Onwards, then!"
In the past week, the five were searching around the nomad camp trying to find the Rakshasa's lair. Until today, the endeavor was fruitless, though Nacht always appreciated some combat training. Now, they were standing before the edge of a wide canyon, the jagged rocks protruding from the sand only to drop almost twenty human heights down. The bottom of the canyon was shrouded in darkness even though it was just a little past noon, but the claw marks and the bone shards around it served as a pretty good indicator of what was to be found inside. Aashala's face darkened as he saw a patch of a yellow-green cloth impaled on a stone spike below.
"It's from his scarf. The beast is down there, there can be no doubt about this," he exclaimed, barely able to suppress hatred in his voice.
"I understand how you feel, my friend, but it is better we return later, specifically prepared for the battle and not tired from fighting the lesser beasts," Saabh replied.
"Should we not at least descend here and find where exactly the Rakshasa lies so that we waste less time when we come back to kill it?" the redhead argued, not willing to concede.
Before either of nomads could respond, Nacht interrupted them and volunteered, confident in his Semblance being able to ensure his safety down in the chasm. Still, he felt nervous as he climbed down the canyon's walls. Stone spikes rose from its jagged bottom as if teeth from a giant maw and cracks ran abundant in the rock, preserving darkness despite the sun having just passed its zenith. His head started to spin, sinister shapes shifting in the shade. Suddenly, a bony arm shot from one of the wider cracks, grabbing the Huntsman's torso and dragging him inside. Air knocked out from his lungs by the monster's strength, Nacht barely managed to shout for help as he disappeared in the darkness. Acting on instinct, the Faunus called upon his Semblance and fell into the shadows.
Darkness. Nothing but darkness around him, blocking all senses, suffocating him. In that instant, Nacht remembered why he never hid inside bigger shadows ever since he discovered his Semblance. Panic began to gnaw at him, making him relive the nightmare. A lonely kid cornered by a pack of stray dogs suddenly disappearing into the shadows cast by the buildings around him - only to realize he couldn't come back. Back then he also found out himself inside this darkness, too vast to comprehend, encroaching at him from all sides. The young boy waited inside this darkness, robbed even of his ability to cry, until the noon chased the shadows away and he emerged from them. But even the brightest of days would not shine its light into this caveā¦
But Nacht wasn't this boy either. The Huntsman calmed himself down, regretting he didn't have an arm to slap himself into his face, and concentrated. He could still hear, even if all that came through the darkness was distorted echoes of the monster thrashing around. He was nowhere - but also everywhere the shadow reached. Channeling his resolve into one action, Nacht willed his body to form from the ceiling and fell onto the Rakshasa.
As the blade, its might multiplied by the fall, pierced the monster's skull, it dawned on him that this decision might not have been among his greatest. With a deafening roar, the Grimm shook its whole body, trying to force the Huntsman from its head. Focused on resisting its efforts to do so, Nacht rather heard than saw the beast's tail coming at him from a wide arc - too late for him to react. The strike once more forced the air out of his lungs, but it seemed that this time luck smiled at him - as a soft crackling alerted Nacht of his Aura depleting, he was suddenly blinded by sunlight, the monster's attack throwing him out of the cave.
Before he could brace for the inevitable impact with the canyon wall, Nacht felt something coil around his leg and pull him up. An arrow shot through the air in front of his eyes, exploding fruitlessly on the three-eyed bone mask as Fidiyan's bizarre weapon carried him to relative safety. The second the Huntsman could stand up, Sabah commanded the group to retreat - an order that even Aashala seemed eager to follow. When the initial shock subsided and the five stopped to catch their breath, they were surprised by the empty desert behind them, carrying no hint of pursuit. Sabah was the first one to fully come to his senses.
"Is everyone in one piece?"
Waiting until everybody answered in some manner, he continued.
"It is dusk already. I do not think trying to return no would be wise - we will attract Grimm from a wider territory and would be less protected against them than if we set camp until morning. Fidiyan, prepare the campfire. Nacht, watch the direction of the cave. Aashala, Ydel - the rest of the perimeter is on you. I shall see if there is anything around that I could set up a defense with. Now go!"
Nacht peered into the darkness, holding a dried scorpion tail in his hands - the only thing from his old shrine had left - as he whispered the words of his family's prayer. Then, quiet footsteps alerted him to a presence behind him.
"Why did you run away from the cave?" Aashala asked, anger clear in his voice.
"There was no chance of me defeating it and you know it."
"You did not even try to fight it!"
Nacht took a deep breath, reminding himself how important the matter was to the nomad.
"Ydel did, and her arrows achieved nothing. Besides, wasn't it your own leader who ordered the retreat in the end?" he answered, trying to keep his voice calm.
"Oh, so this is about orders now?" Aashala made a show of noticing the scorpion tail and nodded at it. "I know of only one ancestor spirit whose worship includes such trinkets. I suppose a position like this is the only thing one can expect from Valean scum..."
"You will take those words back!" Nacht shouted as his hand found Donnerlanze's hilt. Another deep breath. "Even if Lawrence Scorpionbane was not born in Vacuo, he earned this honor for his heroic deeds in the Great War!"
"Only a foreigner would disregard the importance and strength of the ties of blood!"
"Was it this strength that served you so well in saving your brother?!"
A feral grin bloomed on Aashala's face. Oh, he'll wipe that smirk from his face, this bastard's just asking for that!
"What is going on here?!" came Sabah's shout.
Even if he's here, he is distracted by trying to figure out the situation and won't be able to interfere until it's too late. Two strikes and they both will pay for their mockery, as they should. Just pull out the blade, and you'll once again destroy the fragile camaraderieā¦
Nacht felt a narrow hand grab and squeeze his own. Deep breath. Maybe a couple more.
"I got caught in the heat of the moment and took noble Aashala's comment for an insult at my ancestors," he said, choosing his words carefully. "I apologize for the inconvenience my outburst caused".
Even without turning back Nacht knew there was a relieved smile on Ydel's face. It seems it was her turn to be the collected one.
"It returned!" Fidiyan's voice cut into his thoughts, followed by a scream, and not a second later the night sky itself seemed to shudder with a monstrous shriek.
Here, illuminated by the flickering fire, the Rakshasa truly was a sight to behold. Vaguely humanoid but standing on all four limbs, bony armor protecting its black body and a long messy mane covering its head and neck - the Grimm looked like a terrifying cross between a man and a lion. The beast charged into the camp, forcing the four of them to scatter.
Nacht rolled away from a tail strike, shooting at the monster as he stood up. Rakshasa crouched as if preparing to jump, but then a volley of arrows hit its head, forcing him to turn to Ydel and Sabah. As it began to charge at them, the Huntress and the nomad ran into opposite directions, forcing the Grimm to settle just for the latter, but while it slowly changed its course, Nacht slammed into its side, his jump enhanced by Donnerlanze's recoil, sending the monster falling on the sand.
This bold maneuver almost cost him his life as the Rakshasa rolled to its feet, almost crushing the Huntsman under its weight. Another volley distracted the Grimm, and Aashala used the opportunity to slice at its leg. The monster roared and jumped high into the sky, its black skin almost undistinguishable against the moonless dark. The first one to spot it was Ydel, who barely had enough time to scream as the beast fell upon her, draining her Aura in one move and leaving her unconscious. The other three froze on their places, waiting for the monster to attack one of them so that they could use the opportunity to retaliate.
The attack came in the form of a sweeping tail strike, throwing all of them away. The beast then charged, its thundering steps almost completely drowned by the sizzling of the Aura of three men depleting. As Nacht prepared to meet the Grimm with his spear, a chain tangled itself around its hind legs, forcing it to fall. The Huntsman and the remaining nomads didn't waste time in using the opening, slashing and slicing at its mask and body.
The beast roared and tried to pull its legs apart. The chain bit into them, sharpened edges of its links cutting into the black skin and meat, before finally breaking and sending bits of metal flying everywhere. The Grimm turned around and jumped on Fidiyan, but its injuries prevented it from succeeding and it landed a few meters away from the young nomad.
Seeing the Grimm begin to raise its tail for a strike, Nacht screamed to divert its attention and ran towards it. His diversion worked, but the tail struck him before he could reach the monster, leaving a wound on his body. Luckily, Sabah and Aashala started running at the same time, the beast too distracted to retaliate against them as well. The sickles and the katars slashed through the smoking flesh, chopping Rakshasa's legs off completely, and it let out a shriek so loud that Nacht saw the world briefly darken in his eyes.
The monster flailed its remaining limbs and tail in agony, its mad attacks unable to connect with its assailants but rendering him untouchable in melee. Gathering the last of his strength, Nacht aimed his weapon and pulled the trigger, sending it flying towards the Grimm. Donnerlanze cut through the thick mane and surprisingly thin neck with ease, and as the beast turned towards him and prepared to make its last charge on its front limbs, Sabah thrust his sickles into its mask, shattering it. With a final pained roar, the Rakshasa perished, the black body turning to smoke and scattering away.
The very moment the group reached their camp, Aashala led Sabah into his tent, claiming he needed to discuss something important. A few minutes later they emerged, still arguing.
"And I am telling you we can not trust them!" Aashala shouted. As his gaze met Nacht's, he grinned and continued, "This one even tried to set that Rakshasa on me as we fought! Surely you could not have missed it, Sabah?"
Rage filled the Faunus' mind.
"This is ridiculous! I'd never betray a comrade, and I've never done anything like you speak of!"
"Oh? Just like your Lawrence never betrayed the Vacuan?"
"Filthy lies! Take. This. Back!" he shouted, drawing Donnerlanze.
"Those are? Then make me," taunted Aashala in response.
"Stop, surely it will be better if we all calm down and..." before he finished speaking, Fidiyan was interrupted by Aashala suddenly turning around and driving one of his blades into the young man's stomach.
Sabah recoiled in shock as Nacht roared and charged at the katar-wielding nomad, aiming his weapon at Aashala's throat. The nomad jumped to the side, leaving the katar in Fidiyan's body, and laughed at the bat Faunus. Nacht locked eyes with him, breathing heavily, then began running towards him. When only a few steps remained between them, the Huntsman fell into the shadows and emerged behind his enemy, thrusting his sword into his back. With impossible flexibility and a faint cracking sound, the nomad turned his torso around and tried to stab Nacht in the heart, but only slightly wounding his side instead. The Huntsman jumped away, his weapon still inside Aashala, while the nomad glared at him, the shadows making his eyes look almost pitch black.
As the Faunus considered his options, an arrow whistled through the air and pierced Aashala's neck. The nomad fell as if a puppet with its strings cut.
Clutching at his wound, Nacht approached the rapidly withering body along with Ydel and Sabah. Suddenly, the Huntress kneeled and tore away the piece of Aashala's cloak covering his neck with her arrow. Before the three sets of eyes was a disgusting creature, a mix of a spider and a crab, bleeding smoke from its dotted back.
"Karakurt. The Black Crawler. There was nothing of him to save," the Huntress finally spoke after what seemed like an eternity of silence.
"Doesn't make it any easier"
"It never does," agreed Sabah. "What now?"
"I doubt any of us desire each other's company after that," Nacht replied. "So after we treat Fidiyan, I'd be thankful if you would tell us where we could find the tribe that told you about this XCOM group. Then we'll leave."
"This would probably be the best," nodded the nomad leader as he walked to Fidiyan and began examining the wound. "No free man would travel the desert arbitrarily, so I can provide a reliable enough guess as to where they will be. But that would be later, and now we have much more pressing concerns."
Nacht kneeled on the sand next to Sabah as Ydel ran to get the medical supplies from Sabah's tent. The mockingly bright sun stood in its zenith, as ignorant to the scene under its light as it always is.
