As Night Falls on Brier
The once warm sunlight ebbs as a frigid wind swirls around the main street. Dark figures inch towards the main street chasing the fading light.
"Finish your business. Night comes and with it the Grimm will be upon us." The tavern owner shouts as he lights the torches outside his front door.
"Lock all your doors! Barricade your windows! Everyone get into your homes!" A man with a lantern frantically runs through the streets as people scurry back into their homes. "The sun is setting hurry into your HOMES!" Multiple shop owners light their torches outside to keep the streets semi-lite as the townspeople hurry into their homes.
"Are we going to be safe tonight, mommy?" A mother looks down at her child, whose small hand tugs on her skirt.
"Dear little one…I will not let anything happen to you." The woman crouches down and hugs her daughter tight, picking her up running back to their home. Once they reach their home the older woman carefully places her daughter right next to her.
"I can help…" the young girl mumbles as her mother fumbles with the small lock on their door.
"Shhhh… we need to get inside now…." The mother finally gets the lock off and hurriedly ushers her daughter into the small shack. "Hurry now child! The Grimm are out and about." Quietly she lights a single candle by the dusty window staring briefly outside to see a large shadow race from one edge of the window into the woods just outside the house. Quickly she takes the candle from the window sill and places it in the center of the room.
"Mother, can we light the fire, it's so cold." The small girl whispers as she places a few logs onto the small stove.
"Not tonight, come here." Her mother grabs a blanket, wrapping it tightly around the small girl.
" AAAAWWWWWOOOOOooooOOOOOooooo" A long howl echoes causing the mother to grab hold of her child as the door vibrates.
"Erin promises me that if whatever happens, that you will run as fast as you can." The older woman that squeezes her daughter tight, Erin looks up at her mother and wipes the tear from her eye.
"The King has sent someone here to kill all the Grimm and save the village. I saw some people in the forest earlier today when I was gathering berries." Erin whimpers as the howling grows closer and closer to the thin walls. "I think one of them was Pyrrha Nikos of Mistral the defender of the people…"
The howling dies down as something scraps across wooden walls just below the windows towards the back door. Erin's mother holds her tight as the back door begins to violently shake, then just as suddenly as it began all is quiet. "Are they gone?" Erin whispers, the candle flickers as both Erin and her mother's labored breathing seems to be the only thing keeping the deafening silence at bay. Even the crickets and usual nightingales are quiet as the Grimm circle the home.
"Shhhhhh hush girl." The older woman squeezes her eyes tight holding her hand over her daughter's eyes as the sound of the door being torn off the hinges.
"I love you."
The next Afternoon
"We finally made it!" Yang groans as Weiss and Pyrrha's horses stop just behind her.
Nora and Ren chuckle as they throw their long burned out torches, their charred remains tossed away. "Ruby where do you think everyone is?" Ren turns to the young leader.
"It's already mid-day and there is no one out…" Ruby walks up to the tavern and sees that all the windows are boarded up. "Lord Ozpin didn't mention that the village was abandoned." Ruby tries to peek into the small edges around the worn shutters.
Weiss jumps off her horse and walks up until she is next to Yang. "Brier village isn't abandoned…it is a barter town. Many of our merchants stop here before entering into Staub."
Pyrrha follows Weiss and jumps off her horse, taking the reins from Weiss' hands to tie the horses off to the post in front of the tavern. "Hello?" The redhead knocks on the tavern door without a response. "Where is everyone?" Pyrrha turns to the rest of the group.
"HELLO!?" Nora shouts, not even the wind whistles through the village road, "Where has everyone gone?"
"Barter village… huh…sure is bustling…" Yang twists her torso as she turns to the Princess, who has a confused look on her face. "Are you okay there Princess?"
"Of course, I am fine… but why is this supposedly important barter village so empty." Weiss wonders out loud walking up to the tavern beside Ruby. The young leader drops her eyes as Weiss stands beside her.
"RRRRrrrrrreakkkkk" A shutter slowly pushes open on the far side of the tavern.
"Hey, there!" Nora pops up in front of the opened shutter. Her presence is so instant that even her fellow knights are amazed.
"Eeeeeeeeppp!" A small girl cries quickly shutting the shutter instantly.
"Good going Nora you scared away the one person that could have told us what is going on here." Yang chuckles at the confused woman. Nora stands completely flabbergasted, Ren and Pyrrha laugh watching Nora as she was turned slowly towards Weiss.
Weiss chuckles as she knocks on the door once more. "Hello, are you still in there. We just want to talk."
The sound of heavy steps rumbling towards the door, "Who dares knock at this hour?!" a voice calls from behind the door. A man with a dark maroon beard opens the door, "A group of lasses, young ones at that, what in the world could you want in this godforsaken village." The man grunts disgustingly as Ren comes closer, "Oh sorry lad didn't see you there."
The man steps outside of the tavern and shuts the door behind him. "A word of friendly advice for you lasses," the man grooms his beard downward, "Leave this town before it gets dark." His face grows dark his chin dropping, "This village has become the Grimm's hunting ground and the bandits come after the attacks to rob those left alive." The sun hits the man's hair to reveal a few strands of grey interwoven with his dark hair.
Weiss steps forward, "We know. We have come from Staub to-"
"HAHAHAHAHa King James sent a group of girls?" The burly man throws his hands on his knees barely able to contain himself. "After all the 'knights' he has sent with Lords and Dukes he has finally sent a group of girls."
"King James didn't send us." Weiss looks down realizing that her Father knew of the village's blight and did next to nothing to help them. The man stops his laughter and notices that Weiss carries a sapphire ring.
"No, you're right the King would never send his Crown Heir here. Who in their infinite wisdom would send a group of children to kill Grimm and bandits hmmm?" The man tilts his head; the door hits the back of his boots.
"Karl? Can I go home now?" A small girl peeks out from the door behind the man.
"ERIN get back inside?! Do you want to end up like your mother! That poor woman...taken by the Grimm?" Karl growls at the small girl causing her to tremble as her eyes water at the mention of her mother
"There is no reason to yell at her." Pyrrha rests her hands on her knees as she extends her hand to the girl.
"What do you mean her mother was taken?" Nora asks Karl, causing the man to take a step forward just enough for the girl to rush out. The small girl runs into Pyrrha's arms "there, there…it will be ok little one." Pyrrha soothes the small girl who bursts into tears.
Weiss' head snaps towards the man, "Why is she so frightened?" Ruby looks to Yang whose eyes soften as she glances at the small girl that Pyrrha is now carrying in her arms.
Karl takes a deep breath spitting out a dark wad out of his mouth. "I told her to stay here the night but no... I wasn't going to charge a fee to stay but she took Erin home and last night the Grimm they…" He looks down a barely used dirt road. "Erin's home is at the end of this road. If you want to really know what happened you should go there." Karl grunts before placing his hand on the door. "Don't expect anyone here to house you tonight or any night for that matter."
"Do you not have any empty rooms for the night?" Ren steps forward, looking coldly into Karl's eyes.
"Not for you lot. This town has had enough broken promises and thieves dressed in Royal clothing." He huffs at Weiss, as Ruby and the rest of the guard simply awe struck at the man's brazen comment.
"This is the Princess of Staub you will not talk to her in such a manner, OLD MAN!" Ruby tightens her hands into fists as she gets between the Innkeeper and Weiss, why is he being so rude?
"Look here girl, I don't care who you say she is! No one will offer you a room to board in." Karl growls at Ruby. Weiss and Ruby begin to argue with the older man, as the rest of the group circle around Pyrrha and the young girl. Ren and Yang offer the young girl a waterskin to which she happily takes a few sips before handing it back.
Pyrrha continues to soothe the young girl into a lull, Nora watches the little girl shiver in the warrior's arms. "Let's go!" Nora says quietly as she gently strokes the young girl's hair.
"What?" Yang asks, turning around barely hearing Nora at first.
"Let's go!" Nora said louder, "Let's go to her house…if no one here will help us, then we will do it on our own." Nora's eyes narrow as she looks down the trail. "We will help this village."
Yang smirks at Nora's suggestion. "Yeah, let's go but should we be taking her…" Yang points at the young girl. Pyrrha holds the girl a bit tighter, "we can't leave her, not with him." The redhead responds.
"DO whatever you lasses like!" Karl yells at Ruby and the Princess, "Just don't expect any help from anyone! Erin!" Karl shouts causing the small girl to whimper in Pyrrha's arms. "If you don't come back inside, I'm sorry to say your death will not be in my hands." The Tavern door slams shut without another moment wasted.
Weiss inhales sharply and slams her fists into the dusty, battered door. "YOU COWARD! WE WILL FREE THIS TOWN OF THE GRIMM AND THE BANDITS YOU WAIT AND SEEE!" After shouting the Princess calmly runs her hands over her outfit and her hair before turning around, "Okay which way is her home?"
Ruby walks up to the visibly shaken child. "We won't let anything happen to you, little one." The leader smiles as the small girl nods before trying to tuck back into Pyrrha.
"We should take the horses, no telling where they will end up if we do not have them with us." Ren sadly sighs taking the reins off the tavern post.
"We should keep our weapons on us as well, Ruby would you like to help me?" Pyrrha nods and motions to Yang "can you carry her for a moment, I'll help Ren with the horses and Ruby with the weapons." Erin erupts in a fit, as Pyrrha slowly hands her off to the blonde.
Yang tenderly takes the girl in her arms "Shhuuuusssshh it is ok little one." Erin looks up to see lilac eyes under a mountain of blond locks that frolic as the wind picks up.
"Are you a warrior?" The little girl asks in a hushed voice, "you're all very pretty." Erin blurts out causing everyone to stop.
Yang chuckles " yes I am a warrior, do you see that goof ball with the cloak on?" Yang points to Ruby who is following Weiss.
"Yes." Erin answers and tilts her head as Ruby grabs her scythe from one of the horses, "where are your weapons?" She looks back up at Yang.
"I always have mine with me, would you like to see?" Yang smiles, Erin nods and is left standing next to the massive tall woman, "Watch carefully." Yang walks up to a sturdy tree, she slowly exhales and lands a solid punch to the side of the tree the ground trembles and the leaves violently shake. "My weapons are these." The blonde throws her fist up with her gauntlets covering her knuckles. Erin's eyes light up, "WOAH that was amazing the ground shook and everything-" The tree collapses as Erin is speaking, the trunk splintered from the impact of the hit.
"That's enough showing off now Yang." Weiss mentions from atop her horse as Ruby and Pyrrha finish lashing the last few items to the Pyrrha's horse. "Erin was it?" Erin nods shyly. "Would you like to ride with me or Pyrrha?"
"Uhhh could I walk with her instead?" Erin points to Yang as she adjusts her gauntlets while she moves the fallen tree with Nora. Hearing Erin's requests Pyrrha hops on her horse while Ruby goes to scout the road ahead.
"Of course you may. If you get tired just let us know ok?" Weiss smiles as she clicks her tongue and her horse moves forward. Erin nods a giant smile lights up her face as she runs up to Yang.
"I am going to walk with you." The little girl says as she takes a tight hold of the blonde's calloused hand.
"Why walk when you can have the best view in the village…" Yang smiles, using the girl's tight grip to pick her clear off the ground and up onto her shoulders. Everyone begins the trek to the young girl's home, Yang occasionally stopping and pretends to be a bull about to charge Nora.
"How is the view up there?" Nora chuckles as she watches how happy Erin is up above the ground. "Oh Ruby!" Nora skips towards the young leader to discuss something that could not wait.
"It is amazing…" Erin quietly sniffles watching the world from this high up reminds the girl of when her father was still alive. Yang looks up trying to get a clear view of the girl but her golden mane fluttering in the wind makes it nearly impossible.
"Is everything …" Ren begins to reluctantly ask watching the tears stream down the girl's cheeks, "…is everything alright Erin?" Yang stops momentarily looking at Ren with worried eyes.
"Would you like for me to put you down, Erin?" Yang reaches her hand up towards the girl. Erin takes her hand and shakes her head. "Okay you can stay up there." Yang says softly and continues with Ren still walking right beside the pair.
"I uuckp…I…am sorry …I eee…." The young girl begins to sob, hiccupping every other word while she frantically struggles to dry the flood of tears streaming down her face.
Ren reaches up and pats the young girls back to give her a slight sense of comfort. "We will make this village safe for you Erin." Ren tenderly tells the girl who nods while using her palms to clear the damp trails from her chin and neck. Ruby raises her hands up to her mouth and turns to Pyrrha, who jumps off her horse handing the reins to Nora.
Pyrrha signals to Ren and Yang to keep Weiss back as the three go just over the hill. Yang and Ren hurry to rejoin the group. Weiss can hear a sharp inhale from both Ruby and Pyrrha, as she cautiously gets off her horse. Yang places Erin down beside her. "Wait here ok?"
"Mmmm" Erin nods, taking Weiss' hand without a second thought. "Is everything okay?" Erin turns to Ren who watches the rest of the squad carefully descend just over the slope of the hill.
Blood stains the ground just outside the tattered door, the frame splintered, deep grooves caused by claws being dragged on the outer walls. The soft ground around the small home is littered with the distinct indentations of Beowolf prints. Ruby walks slowly as she enters the destroyed home, stepping on broken glass and torn linens. Yang and Nora split up and track down the origin of the tracks that surround the home.
Pyrrha watches as the three from afar as they carefully examine the house. The redhead turns to see Weiss who has a worried look on her face looking right into her emerald eyes, then to Ren who is allowing Erin to re-braid his hair. "Princess can you come here a moment?" Pyrrha gently asks the Princess to move away from the pair.
Ren weakly smiles, his eye twitches as the girl roughly yanks and pulls on the man's long hair. "Your hair is so silky…and smooth." Erin giggles as she continues to use a stray twig as a makeshift comb.
"Tha-thank you." Ren grimaces as the young girl continues to giggle and takes out a ribbon from her pocket. Ren looks up at Pyrrha before she moves out of sight he mouths "Hurry, please."
"What happened here Pyrrha?" Weiss watches as Ruby slowly comes out of the ravaged shack. Yang and Nora emerge from the tree line, shaking their heads.
Pyrrha sighs, placing her hand on the Princess' shoulder, "when the Grimm attack …they destroy everything they touch."
"We have to find Erin's mother." Weiss replies looking over at the small child. Pyrrha purses her lips and nods knowing that they will have to tell Erin the bad news.
The young leader motions for the pair to join her. Yang and Nora meet with Ruby just in front of the destroyed front door. "What did you find?"
"A pack of Beowolves, they dragged a body deep into the woods…" Yang begins.
"We found a cave, a lot of foot traffic in and out." Nora notes, "But the drag marks do not go into the cave."
Ruby looks over at Erin, "we will stay here the night. She deserves to know what happened to her mother." Yang grips Ruby's shoulder "yeah she will."
"HEY!" Nora yells, "We need to get this house cleaned up. We will stay here tonight."
Erin stops playing the instant Nora finishes yelling. "Are you going to find my mother?" She turns to Ren.
"We are going to find her and make sure that your village is safe for you to live in." Weiss declares, patting her small head. Erin looks up silent tears fall from her face, nodding her head.
Pyrrha helps Ren and Erin get up. "Erin, do you want to show Weiss and I where you gather some herbs and fruits for dinner?"
"Mhmmmhm" The little girl excitedly nods and takes their hands dragging them away. Ren takes the opportunity to fix his hair and goes to meet with Ruby.
"We are staying here?" Ren mentions, as Yang and Nora are already working to re-secure the shack.
"Yeah once we get this place back to looking like someone is staying here. The Grimm will be swarming here again." Yang sighs, "they are like insects."
Ruby looks around. "Where is We- the Princess? Is Erin with her and Pyrrha?" Yang laughs while she reattaches the front door to the small shack.
"Yes they went to get some herbs." Ren reassures the slightly panicked leader.
"They are fine Rubes… Honestly we should work on getting this place mmmm more defendable?" The usually bold brawler adds in a much softer tone as the trio return with Erin's dress held up with a few handfuls of berries and wild herbs.
Ruby clicks her heels together, "Welcome back Princess." She turns to notice that Yang, Nora and Ren continue to fortify the small shack paying no attention to them. "Uhh the others are working on making the small home a bit sturdier."
"Looks good." Pyrrha steps forward, "Ruby may I borrow you for a moment?" The leader nods as Weiss and Erin head to the shack.
"Come on Princess I want to show you something." Erin drags the enthusiastic woman right into the small shack.
Yang and Nora stop as Erin darts right into the house without a care in the world, Weiss is close beside her.
"Ruby, we have to send Erin and the Princess to stay in the tavern." Pyrrha exhales, "we have to send them both now before it becomes night. Who knows what we will face as night falls.."
Silver eyes snap up to meet emerald, Ruby glances over at Yang. Even at this distance Yang can sense something is not right and goes to meet the pair.
"Yang, please take Nora and escort the Princess and Erin back to the tavern." Ruby makes her hands into fists as Pyrrha relays her plan to Yang.
"Wait what we just got them here…though…" Yang scratches the back of her neck seeing Erin laughing from the wide open front door.
"No…" Ruby mutters her fists close tight, "they will stay with us. They will stay here." The leader's voice grows louder and almost sounds angry.
"Rubes…what is going on." Yang bounces her head between the two.
"This is no time to…" Pyrrha turns to see Ruby staring right at the pair in the house.
"They will stay and that is an order. Unless the Princess herself tells me otherwise, she will remain here with all of us." Ruby commands to the shock of everyone. Pyrrha grits her teeth turning to see Princess Weiss mouthing out the words 'what is going on?'
"I…I of course you are the Captain after all Commander Rose." Pyrrha's voice drops as she lowers her head. "I will patrol the area and see you in a few hours." Pyrrha takes her shield, jogging just out of sight.
A/N Hello young travelers, I hope that everyone is safe, happy and healthy. I am so happy with the story so far and I can't wait for everyone to experience all that is to come and for the story to be finished (?). As always, feel free to like, favorite and follow the story. All the support means a lot to me as an amateur writer. Thanks as always for reading the newest addition and I will see you all in the next chapter \\(^,.,^)/