[Paralyse]
The engines were oddly silent as Pyrrha and Dime made their way to Vale proper, the Emerald Forest directly behind them on the other side of Beacon.
The forest they were currently in was a thinner one with plenty of room for the truck to maneuver through the trees and over small rolling hills.
The tracks sure helped a ton, she didn't think flimsy wheels would have worked at all, some of the terrain was pretty serious if you didn't drive carefully.
Well... For a new driver like Pyrrha anyway. She hasn't even got expirence in a car never mind something like this. The controls were elevator buttons! It felt more like a Bullhead simulator game, with her controlling throttle rather than steering a car.
The reason they were doing this and not having Dime directly control it like the Exo-Suit was simple, a waste of Aura, and the fact Dime couldn't stop looking around in awe at the world. "It is simply so beautiful, all different kinds of life! With uniquely adapted bodies!" Pyrrha was too busy concentrating to add much more than a "yeah, sure is."
"Wonder if I can fit my consciousness inside an insect sized body?" That was enough to get Pyrrha to give her an odd look "I doubt it" Dime seems to agree against her own comment "I agree, it does seem unlikely."
Well, defiantly not a boring trip, thats for sure.
They spent a lot of time talking and generally catching up on what the world was like before Pyrrha got put in the Vault, Dime being in isolation and development long before that ever happened meaning nothing Pyrrha talked about was old news.
Pyrrha actually stopped to wonder why the Grimm seemed to be so scarce today, maybe she killed all the Grimm back in Beacon? But they were pretty far way from the killzone by now...
Her questions got answers surprisingly quickly.
A patch of particularly thick grass and shrubs was busy being ridden over when half a Beowulf latches onto the trucks tracks.
The reason she calls it half a Beowulf is that it didn't seem to have its lower body, and then only a single arm to boot.
Its mouth and arm were dead set on chewing up the tracks.
Pyrrha kept the repairable track over the Grimm as Dime gets out and makes a spear to kill it from outside its claw range, using minimal Aura to get the job done.
"I don't like that, we should probably invest in some kind of defense" Pyrrha notes, Dime doesn't seem to be paying attention.
Following her gaze Pyrrha sees the topic of interest, Vale itself in all its former glory.
The walls had very obvious holes big enough to let a Goliath through without a problem. There was actually skyscrapers still standing, Pyrrha was openly surprised at that, but supposed they are built to withstand stuff like earthquakes and typhoons after all.
But that... That wasn't all.
There was something a little weird about them, there was a red line across the cityscape starting from a unified level and up to even the tallest building.
It looked like someone painted a fitness band onto the cities head, she didn't know what to think of it at there was no doubt, that it was made after the fall... Wait... Was that it? A new beacon of hope? A sign that there is survivors? She dared not hope.
Then the truck lurches as the Grimms ribcage and armour finally give out to the decay process, spuring Pyrrha into action, sending the vehicle to Vale as fast as possible.
Passing within the city walls Pyrrha perks up, looking around there wasn't much left, but there was something coming their way.
Focusing on the movement its clrearly human armour of various kinds in a large group, Pyrrhas semblance telling her in advance thanks to it being out of sight.
"Other people are coming" Pyrrha whispers to Dime, even when she probably didn't have to do so, they were still around the blocks corner.
Dime looks worried "should I hide? I know I am not the most natural sight" honestly, Pyrrha was taken back, but on second thought maybe that was a valid concern.
They weren't up for a fight and the group was large and unpredictable, it would be a shame if there just happened to be a xenophobic leader.
"Do it" Pyrrha relents to the caution.
Nodding Dime leans back, the seat melting and letting herself sink away into to nothingness. Well, Pyrrha could still feel her connected to the bottom of the truck but to the group hopefully it would be like so.
Then the group rounds the corner and her concerns are raised higher, clearly some odd kind of bandit group.
This wasn't good at all... The odds were too far in their favour with Pyrrha at about half Aura and the bandits all no doubt having some kind of semblance and full Aura each. There was about thirty of them.
They would no doubt try steal something like this truck and all the supplies on the back in a heartbeat, it was life or death out here.
"Oh no" was the first thing out her mouth with "No no no" as a very close second. Her speech was the last thing on her mind, control was slipping away once again with overwhelming forces laughing at her.
The bandits wouldn't even stop at the supplies, killing them on the off chance Pyrrha and Dime follow them or have allies... Or even worse, something like slavery.
No.
Never. She was done with this shit. Time to take control of her life once again, where was that invincible warrior? She needed to reforge her like the metal she once had perfect control over.
Getting out and grabbing the spear from earlier Pyrrha was almost mad enough not to feel the fear. almost.
Maybe she couldn't fight them directly, but there was a metal skyscraper on both sides, maybe, just maybe, she has enough Aura to take out a vital support beam or pillar.
Just as Pyrrha was about to act there was a voice... One of the people in the bandit group calls out in a very familiar tone, it felt like she was hearing it for the first time in centuries.
"Hello! State your business in Vale and please put down the weapon!" That was no bandit! That was Jaune!
She was utterly blindsided. Completely shut down, so many emotions were quickly spawning and spiraling in her head right now, it was too much.
"J-Jaune!?" She screams at the group down the road, not even caring if it wasn't him and she was just wasting valuable time.
Her hope dies when a response didn't come. Her heart aching when the closest figure that was in a brilliant set of armour draws their weapon, others following with the aggresive action.
She... no! She knows that voice! It was Jaune! What was happening?
"Please! Jaune! I-" she cuts off and falls to her knees, emotions overflowing into tears as the spear clatters away. This was the last straw. She was done, first the fall of beacon, then the Grimm twice in a row and now this? Pyrrha just wanted it all to stop hurting so much.
The group was busy, the armoured character throwing hand motions and whispering orders to his comrades. They took their time to move onto Pyrrhas position, surrounding the area before the leader in armour steps forward into arms reach of her.
"How many sisters do I have?" Pyrrhas head shoots up at once, the voice clearly an older Jaune, but still her Arc teammate!
She almost forgets the question before he speaks again in a roar of raw anger and pain "how many sisters do I have! Tell me!" The sword comes to rest under her chin, the same sword that Pyrrha trained up to shape. Yellow Death.
"Seven! Seven Arc sisters! Coral! Sapphire! Jade! Lavender! Sable! Amber! Saphron!" It took all the breath out of her lungs and she nearly cuts herself on the blade as she slumps in defeat to gasp for air.
There was a long pause where nobody moved.
"Pyr?" The sound of a man in disbelief rings with the tone of Jaunes voice and it makes an instincts in Pyrrha stir up.
"Y-yes! Its me! Pyrrha!" Jaunes sword falters, the point wobbling unsteadily and failing to stay upright.
"So, you aren't just a semblance induced illusion to get my guard down?" Obviously he wouldn't have actually said that if he believes in it "no! I'm not!" Reaching past his blade and taking his hand in hers, blade dropping to the floor with a loud clang, she holds it with all her strength "I'm real."
It was too much for Jaune, it was his turn to drop to the knees, cupping her hands with his own two large ones, fingerless gloves allowing Jaune to feel her warm and very alive skin.
Jaune was watching as his fingers didn't phase through her hand and treated it like fragile glass.
"H-how?" The hurt in his voice making it crack, sending Pyrrha into action, flying into his arms and openly crying now.
The chest armour having streaks of tears flowing down the front, Jaune can only wrap her up in his arms, returning the desperate hug.
The crying that followed had nothing beautiful or cinematic about it like in the movies, it was broken and filled with despair, making the spectators deeply uncomfortable.
They didn't talk or move on for a long time, Jaune and Pyrrha spent so long just holding each other and crying every time a particular memory of the past five years was brought back to the front of their minds.
Eventually the shock wares off and adrenaline runs its course, Jaune having realised his group oversaw the operation on their own, letting the Rovers that didn't want to stay in Vale go.
It was just them in a random road with a truck.
"I missed you so much" Jaune whispers to her, his mouth being just above her ear "I-" Pyrrha doesn't go further than the one word, She had so many things to say and no idea in what order to say them in, so she just hugged harder in the confusion.
Jaune gets the message "I know, I wish I found you sooner" Pyrrha musters her words "I thought I was all alone in the world" Jaune starts to stroke her hair gently, reminding him of the times with his sisters that Jaune has lost as well.
Jaune can picture it in his minds eye too, a desolate
beacon with Pyrrha standing all by herself in the ruins.
The image was so sad, he didn't think there was a sadder sight.
A voice calls out, not his nor Pyrrhas and he is on his feet immediately, bringing Pyrrha up and around to shield her with his body. Nothing would be taking her again.
Not even weird robot girls staring at him with wonder in their eyes, repeating what they said "excuse me, but you seem to know Pyrrha! What a delight! May I ask how?"
He was too out of it to respond fast enough, Pyrrha escapes his grip and stands between them.
"Jaune! this is Dime, she saved me from Beacon" turning she addresses the original query "this is Jaune, he was my partner before Beacon fell." Jaune didn't trust easily nowadays but anyone willing to help Pyrrha when he couldn't was off to a good start.
They both nod, Jaune extending his hand to take Dimes in a shake "you have my eternal gratitude, please make yourself comfortable in Vale, don't be afraid to ask anything of me."
"Really?" Dime sounded interested "I mean it, nothing you ask is more than Pyrrha." Jaune didn't even hesitate, it made Pyrrha look away in embarrassment.
Aside from her initial reaction Pyrrha understands completely, she would have given up anything just to have Jaune by her side during those days. Anything at all.
Suddenly she felt wierdly tired, having gone through the entire spectrum of emotions in so little time made her just want to rest.
Preferably in the same room as Jaune, just like in Beacon, her subconscious could pretend everything was back to normal as she drifts off quietly. "Jaune" he looks over to Pyrrha quickly and gives her a caring "yes?"
"Is there somewhere I can rest? And uh..." The hesitation was evident on her face, so Jaune runs a thumb over the dry tear streaks, probably not helping to clear her thoughts but can't stop himself.
"Yes, let me bring you both to the hideout, you can use my bed until we get you your own, I am sure a spare mattress can be found for Dime." Dime cuts in "Actually I would still like to explore a bit, I have never seen a human settlement in my life."
Juane frowns but nods "I can find you a partner to help, Vale law dictates that anyone outside the protection of our inner walls needs an escort. Dime tilts her head to the side before righting it and replying "I see this as a win, would I be able to talk to them?" Jaune nods quickly "of course, they won't bite."
Dime was about to ask another question when Pyrrha interjects "he means they will be friendly" Dime closes her mouth and smiles, Pyrrha smiles back with a spark of amusement in those emerald eyes.
"Let's get you two sorted out" as Jaune says that and turns around to make his way to the hideout he is stopped by two hands catching both armour pieces on his forearms.
Dime and Pyrrha both looked expectantly at him "let's use the truck" Pyrrha offers and makes Jaunes face go from concerned to interested.
"That makes sense yeah, sorry, still a little out of it" his apology falls on deaf ears as Pyrrha tugs at his vembrace to get him moving. In the right direction this time.
There was a small problem.
Once Pyrrha knew the hideout was underground she didn't want anything to do with it at all. In fact, she almost looked betrayed, like Jaune lulled her into a false sense of security and it hurt him in turn.
"Okay, no worries, there's a top floor where you have a nice view of the horizon and cityscape!" Jaune tried to convince her not to go sleep outside.
Pyrrha was more hesitant than anything "and the only way in is with the tunnels? I don't know Jaune..." He was scrambling for a solution.
Wait, he may have something that could work "how about if you did it so fast you couldn't see it?" Pyrrha stops and thinks for a moment "maybe, but how?"
"Ruby has a nifty semblance" he sounded smug, almost gloating for Ruby in her absence.
"Jaune... Why didn't you tell me sooner!? Who else is here!? Nora? Ren?" He brings up his hand, wanting to scratch at his hair but stops, his helmet was still on.
His eyes dart to the side visible through the open visor "we were kinda in a moment" Pyrrha was getting ready to snap at his response, but just coughs into her fist after hearing it to cover up the near outburst "right."
Jaunes face morphs into something completely different right in front of her eyes, it was so sudden that it honestly left her wondering.
He turns around and hollers down the table hatch "Get me Ruby! Tell her its urgent and a friend is waiting!" There was an echo of the order, the message being passed down the tunnels in the direction Pyrrha assumes Ruby is.
It didn't take long at all, in just a minute there was the sound of activity coming back their way, someone even cursed loudly followed by a crash.
Ruby spawned from the hole a moment later in a burst of Rose petals with a huge smile, her slightly older face still looking deceptively young and vibrant.
"Pyrrha?" It sounded like Ruby simultaneously saw a ghost and got caught with a hand in a cookie jar. "Hello again!" The small wave was all she could muster right now, Ruby seems to get over herself and moves in for the kill.
Wrapping her arms around Pyrrha and sending a storm of unintelligible babble that sounded vaguely like "I missed you" and "I'm so sorry" mixed with countless even smaller bursts of words.
All in true speedy Ruby fashion.
Jaune places a hand on Rubys shoulder grabbing her attention with the motion "we should let her rest, theres always tomorrow, I also have a mission for you."
Ruby nods once, twice then speaks "what do you need? Did the Rovers try something? Need me to deal with it?" Pyrrha didn't like how Ruby sounded right now, it was a far cry from the innocent cinnamon roll she remembers from beacon.
Thinking back to earlier, Jaune had that edge to him as well, a dangerous will to do what it takes. At any cost.
Was she going to turn into that as well? Is this the regular in whatever situation they are in right now? Pyrrha needed to get up to speed as soon as possible.
They finished talking when she was lost in thought, Ruby turns back to her and addresses the problem directly "you don't mind if I use my semblance to get you and Jaune in the penthouse?"
Ruby made it sound like taking the normal way was easier, but Pyrrha couldn't look at those dark tunnels and not get little sensations on her legs. Itches.
"Y-yes" Ruby looked even less convinced so Pyrrha tried again "yes, please."
Ruby seemed to be satisfied with that "it feels a little weird the first time so hold onto your gut."
Pyrrha doesn't get to say anything as her feet start to flake and shed layers, the process speeding up and following up her legs to consume her entire form. There was a moment of nothingness, nothing at all. No black vision, no disorientation. Just pure thoughts in a void being a mess like normal.
Then reality is back, snapping into place with red clouding around the trio standing in a large room with windows on three sides, the only wall behind them with a large bed tucked up to it.
There wasn't much other than that, staying low profile it seemed, a desk of drawers and a crate at the foot of the bed being the only other furniture. There was also a giant sun bleached rug spanning the rest of the giant room to try compensate for the emptiness.
There was an awkward moment as Ruby rocked on her feet a few times while Pyrrha got aquatinted with the new space.
Wondering off to the closest window Pyrrha brings up her hand to touch the glass, it was cold to the touch as the sun was making its retreat and the night was coming in to bite.
The view was amazing, if not very surreal and eery, the city was a ghost town, but if you looked very closely there was a flicker every now and them when a lamp passed a window or a flashlight switches on to find something.
That reminds her, turning back to see Jaune and Ruby whispering to each other she calls out when they notice she was done staring out into the oddly beautiful view.
"Is there a lamp of some kind? I... won't be able to sleep otherwise" Pyrrha hates herself for sounding so weak to old friends like these but just really wants to sleep.
Jaune and Ruby do one more look between them before Ruby dashes around the room, letting down cloth curtains that Pyrrha missed in her first sweep of the rooms contents.
Ruby came to a strop in front of the crate, unclasping the metal levers and bringing out a solar lamp, presumably already charged.
"This will last the night, don't forget to put it by a window tomorrow morning."
Looking back at the bed and then the other two members in the room Pyrrha is put between a social situation and a soft place.
Ruby seems to do the same before giving a small salute to Pyrrha "don't do anything I wouldn't" and then she's gone, normally walked away and down the stairs.
Did Ruby just imply something? No... It can't be...
Jaune coughs into a clenched fist "ignore her, she's just in shock that one of our beacon friends is back from the dead, she didn't mean to snipe at your past feelings."
Oh my, was it getting warmer? Pyrrha could have sworn tonight was rather cold not so long ago.
"I- uh, you knew?" Wait but if he knew and didn't do anything about it...
"Not exactly, let's just say I have had a lot of time to dissect and analyse the times we spent together" he shuffled awkwardly, not sure what one would do or say after that.
Pyrrha was simply too tired to find out what all this means, did she still have feelings for someone who has grown a lot without her? Or did he even think of her more than a partner and team mate?
But there was something she knew for sure.
"Could you... Sleep with me?" His eyebrows rise at that so Pyrrha quickly interjects "in a purely platonic way! I just don't feel safe at night is all." It was a testament to how weird this situation was that, that was the sentence she used to try calm him -and herself- down.
Jaune relaxed at that "oh, yeah sure, the bed is huge, we have more than enough personal space for something like that" Pyrrhas heart was all over the place, she wanted to explain how she didn't want space but wasn't sure what was fueling that desire... Was it her old crush? Or her weakness to the dark and feeling of loneliness? She didn't know what to do or how he feels yet!
He took the initiative, unclasping his armour straps and taking off extra layers like the fingerless gloves and leather vest.
Pyrrha, still in some of his old beacon clothes just fondled the edges of her sleeve... She wonders if he noticed or recognized his clothes? If he did he sure wasn't asking Ruby for replacements...
If she kept thinking like this she was going to burn up, so she quickly takes to the covers to hide away from these embarrassing thoughts. Traitorous hormones, wasn't she supposed to be older now or something?
Jaune walks around to the far side and slips under too.
They both were on the very edge looking at the windows on either side of the room, back to back with more than an arms length between them.
Eventually after a long silence Pyrrha peeks over her shoulder at Jaune.
Pyrrha didn't know what came over her, but she didn't want to just be in the same room and happen to use the same bed, she wanted to be held close. Platonically! As a team mate that was unstable!
Shuffling so Pyrrha was on her other side, now facing Jaunes distant back, she starts to muster her words.
"Jaune..." The whisper was enough to get him to turn over as well "can you... hold me?" Pyrrha wasn't sure if it was something in her voice or something her facial expression had, but they both knew Jaune couldn't deny her this.
Nodding in silence he starts to shuffle up, Pyrrha did too, meeting him in the middle.
There was an odd moment where they tried to get comfortable but it didn't seem like a very long term position for sleeping.
They were awfully close, his beautiful eyes gazing into her emerald ones, with such intensity and care. It almost looked like love to Pyrrha but she didn't trust her own biased heart. It was too intense like this, no way would she find sleep.
Her voice was such a low whisper it almost croaked "I just want to turn around" pulling away, his arms release immediately but her warning making sure he didn't think he did something wrong.
Coming back in, it was all well and good until her back pressed up against his chest.
His arms fold, natural instinct finding it easy to get a comfortable hold on Pyrrha in this position.
This was more than Pyrrha bargained for, she would almost say more than she needed but couldn't bring herself to put distance between them. It simply felt too comfortable, but most importantly, safe in his huge arms and broad chest.
Whispering again, Pyrrha was feeling her consciousness slip away slowly "thank you" Jaunes response was too soft for her tired and half shut off mind to understand, but the low and deep vibration on her back only helped the soothing sleep that followed.
Nora woke to a knock on her door. That was odd, Ren usually let's her sleep as long as she wanted to...
Getting up in a hurry and calling out she beelines for clothes better suited to combat than her pajamas "Coming!"
Opening the door still struggling with a vest she stops, there was no Ren but lowering her vision to spot Amber standing there was not what she expected at all. "Uh" was all she could say to this.
Amber looked spooked "Sorry! I just wanted to know where the bathroom is!" Nora relaxes to that false alarm.
"Nah, I don't mind! I sleep too much anyway!" It felt good to be getting into that cheer again, it wasn't just for Noras team mates back in beacon, it was partially for her own mood too. So when she lost them it was kind of a double hit.
Ren knew better, there was no real need to use it around him so her motivation slacks off, but Amber? She was the height of cute and small, Nora couldn't do anything but want to protect and care for this cute blonde bundle of adorableness.
Okay, Amber wasn't too young, but Nora was having fun.
"That door down there" she points down the hallway, directing Amber to her desired room. "Thank you Miss" and just like that she was off to do her business.
Turning, Nora decided to plunder herself some food.
It didn't take too long for Amber to find the kitchen, the sounds of Nora in a kitchen was a legendary afair worthy of praise. It took actual skill to make that level of noise.
It was a small miracle that Ren was still asleep, but it left Nora alone to speak with Amber so she was thankful.
"So forgive us, but my name is Nora Valkyrie, and mister sleepy head is Lie Ren" as the words fall out her mouth Ambers face morphs into disbelief "what?"
Nora smiles "I said my-" and was cut off by Amber standing up from her place at the table "do you know Jaune!? Jaune Arc!" Nora hadn't heard that name spoken in a long time, but she knew it for sure.
"Yeah, he was our team mate five years ago... How do you know him?" Amber was bug eyed right now "I'm his little sister! Amber Arc! Where is he?"
Nora flinched at that. How was she supposed to deal with this?
"We last saw him in Vale, he went to see a friend in the hospital... that was the last time we spoke before being separated. That was also five years ago" the bluntness was harsh, but Nora Didn't know how else to say it.
"So..." Amber sounds as lost as Nora felt, there wasn't anything for them to do with this revalantion other than just increasing the determination to reach Vale.
The stall was broken by Ren walking in "your meals ready Nora" it was said with him nodding towards the pot above a small cooking fire.
Ren wonders if the spider Grimm are smart enough to know what chimney smoke means.
Nora was instantly back to cooking, trusting her skill to burn it somehow if she looked away for any longer.
The food in question being Tasty Wheat™ for Amber and herself.
"So what was with the awkward atmosphere?" Ren was no doubt talking about when he walked in. Amber was actually the one to pipe up.
"We all know Jaune! He is my big brother!" Rens deep frown spoke more than his next words "is that so?" It wasn't really a question but Amber answered anyway "yeah! Has he ever told you about us? He has seven sisters!" Ren nods "yeah he did..." Ren catches himself before he could ask where the rest of these sisters are, not daring to open that can of worms just yet.
Mood killed, he gets to business "let's eat and pack quickly, all this talk of family makes me want to leave for Vale right now."
After breakfast the three of them startred to pack as much as possible into the little truck they had found in a barn, but it got a little intense when the forest sounded out with activity, those spider Grimm screeching above the other assortments of black beasts to make a cacophony.
Ren had a sneaky suspicion that they didn't use those comparatively tiny mouths to do so, it must be some kind of psychic scream. But who really knew with Grimm? What little humanity knew about them was dashed out the window the moment this damn apocalypse started.
It used to be simple, Grimm don't have organs but instead run on some kind of magic core placed in strategic locations, but these new Grimm have things like brain abdomens? It was playing dirty, a normal animal wouldn't dare have a brain that large without having to worry about food every waking second, the new Grimm seem to be abusing that fact.
But in the end, they couldn't do anything about it now, the best they can do is get out of this hellhole as soon as possible.
Nora pokes her head around the barn door "Ren you think we need this?" She was holding up some kind of kitchen equipment "No, field rations and dried meat is all we have anyway, leave it."
She nods and is about to turn when Ren calls out again "rather use that space for more water, even if we are near a mountain range and have rivers to refill tanks, we don't know if we will be separated from them by some kind of obstacle.
Left unsaid was if that obstacle was a natural or Grimm one. Amber was watching them from inside the truck, passengers seat side and her face worried as is, even without the mention of more Grimm.
Something about that face made Ren think Amber knew anyway.
Nora cried out and had Rens weapons out in an instant "I call shotgun!"
Ren would have face palmed if not for his hands being full.
"Nora, you do realise that the person not driving has to have Amber on their lap right? And I am not planning on stopping for the night." Nora seemed to consider it.
"Oh Ren, you can't get out of driving that easily, it takes more than that to scare me." Ren wanted to protest that wasn't what he tried to do but ignores it in favour of putting his knife back were it belongs.
Turning around Ren was about to go back for the last few bags when he notices movement on the walls. Down along the furthest wall there was Grimm, a Nevermore perched on the edge with spider brains crawling over in large numbers.
Looks like they need to move up the schedule just a bit.
Giving a small hand gesture pre-planned to alert Nora of Grimm he ducks back into the barn and turns on his semblance.
Only to notice Nora on her knees clutching her head already and Amber hanging out the car window seemingly unconscious.
Shit.
He felt psychic tremors in the air, no doubt aimed at the defenseless Nora and Amber.
Rushing over while he extends his semblance Ren covers them both with the very useful but costly stealth.
They squirm, still recovering while the sounds of Grimm are gaining on the barn, being directed by the negative emotions just before Ren masked them. he was too late.
They needed to move Now.
Ignoring Nora on the floor for a quick moment he reaches into the truck to gently move Amber into the drivers seat then turns back around for Nora, leaving the door open for when his hands are full.
Nora was coming around but wasn't in any shape to do much, so he picks her up and moves her himself.
Closing the passenger door and quickly making his way around the back of the truck to inspect if all the straps are still done, the small glance didn't take much time at all.
Opening the drivers door almost sends Amber tumbling out but Rens alert mind catches her easily.
Placing her in Noras lap Ren closes the door behind himself, immediately starts turning the keys in a rush, seeing a Grimm pass through the rearview mirror in a black blur only makes Ren go faster.
The engine noise seems to attract the attention of some spider Grimm, but even they don't instantly make the connection that there could be a human inside.
Making a quick call Ren doesn't even try reversing past the Grimm. Instead, he makes a desperate attempt to ram the back wall in front of them. The flimsy barn planks were rot ridden and had holes everywhere already, the truck crunches through with nothing but a quick and intense jerk.
The barn itself would have been fine, if not for the fact the spider Grimm tried to blast the now highly suspicious human truck, knowing from yesterday that there was some kind of invisible human.
The falling wall debris blocked the explosive attack, the damaged support beams in the blast radius being knocked down under the intense external force.
The truck was also somewhat inside the radius but got off cheap because of the wheels allowing them to ride out the weak shockwave relatively peacefully.
Ren turns the truck towards the walls gate and sees the barn collapse in on itself through the mirror. Hopefully that kills it, the brain was exposed for sharp planks after all.
But something strange happens.
The collapsing barn explodes, but not with another blast of psychic energy. every crack and hole spews the brain juice.
The barn continues to sag for a second before the web dries, halting the collapse in its tracks.
Ren didn't want any of that stuff on his ride so he steps on the gas to get out of this place. He almost forgets about the gate but after that quick stop Ren was free to follow the dirt road.
That spider was smart, he knew the blast wasn't big enough to push away all the debris so instead used his goo, Ren has a suspicion that the web can be sprayed away from the brain in all directions thanks to a more controlled and localised psychic blast.
Its that or some kind of grenade organ hidden somewhere... less likely in Rens humble opinion.
Nora groans, snapping Ren out of his thoughts and making Amber stir into wakefulness.
"We escaped in one piece" Ren countered a question before Nora could even open her eyes and ask. Ambers eyes flutter again and she slumps back down, her inguries worse than Nora and too weak to fight when she already knew it was safe for now.
Groaning again, Nora just reaches out with her hand in his general direction. Knowing how much pain those things can be Ren sympathizes and hands over a water bottle for her headache.
When Nora came around it wasn't in such a great mood "Fu- hell... Ren! you didn't tell me it was that painful! Amber actually lost consciousness!" Ren shifted in his seat, understandably uncomfortable with an angry Nora.
"I didn't seem to be as effected as you two, no idea what that would entail, but I didn't feel the need to black out, it was just crippling." Nora only calms down slightly, still angry but realizing the worst of it is over and there was little need to argue about it.
It was much later when she spoke again "maybe its a mental thing? You are probably the most calm and collected? Maybe that factors into a mental defense?" Ren scoffs "that sounds like something Jaune and Ruby would argue about for their comics" he glances over to her for a second "I just doubt it, but honestly I have no better explanation myself, my semblance only helps once it activates, so its not that."
The talking must of been enough to wake Amber since she grumbles as her hands reach up to the sky in a stretch.
Grumbles turn into words soon after "Are we there yet?" Seems like old habits die hard.
"No, we still have a ways to go, expect tonight and following day to be filled with driving." Nora and Amber both groan in tandem at that.
"It could be worse" Ren was about to go on but two hands fly over to his mouth and clamp down.
"Whawf?" The muffled questioning is hushed loudly by Nora and a small glare from Amber "you were about to Jinx us so badly! It might already be too late! You've said too much!" Noras antics were now backed up by frantic nods from Amber. It was admittedly adorable.
Ren applies more focus on the road, hoping they wouldn't continue this unbeatable assault if he looked busy.
Thankfully that was probably the reason for his quick reaction as an Beowulf dashed across the road at the worst possible time, Ren managed to avoid any damage by swerving, but it cut out all hopes of getting out of the Beowulfs effective range after they stopped with no quick gettaway route.
There was a moment where everything just slowed down, preseption times ran high, Nora and himself glance at each other by the corner of their eyes and discissions were made instantly, there was no room for hesitation in this situation.
There is no such thing as a lone Beowulf.
True enough by the time both car doors swung open there was sounds of activity from the surrounding shrubs and bushes.
Ren reaches back in to the truck, grasping his combat weapon under the seat.
Knives were nice when on patrol, but in this kind of situation he needed to take out a Beowulf in a single hit, there was no time to waste on crippling blows, it all needed to be clean and efficient kills.
His sword was designed for piercing flesh but more importantly the protective bone armour or skull. Normal swords would go blunt quickly but Aura was nifty like that.
Nora stayed with what she knew. The Warhammer was devastatingly effective and there was no major changes for her style, the grenades obviously had no place in her new hammer but she filled all that space with extra mass allowing for even stronger blows.
Her new hammer had a spiked side as well, the back had four angles that ended in a pin point, for maximum penetration quality.
She didn't even need it now, having smashed a Beowulfs head with the flat end and shattered every piece of skull it had to offer, those shards continued on to become her blade, making a mess of the Beowulf's magic core.
It rag-dolled, dropping like a cut puppet.
They circled the car, taking on all that came at them.
"Amber! Get that gear in reverse and straiten it out for a quick exit!" Ren makes her jump into action and after a panicked fiddle the truck slowly maneuvers.
Thats about the same time a spider shows up and a very odd looking one at that.
Whereas the normal ones are generic black spiders but with a brain, this one had... Some kind of spiked tip on the apex joint of its legs. Along with having an extra pair of legs in what looked like a shield, being extra bulky and thick with bone, the added protection also had bone spikes like the leg joints.
It all started to make sense when the brain raised up and crakled with psychic energy, it looked like lightning but both Ren and Nora didn't trust her semblance to counteract the dark but paradoxically glowing power.
The leg spikes seem to attract the energy, having it jump and follow them to the next leg like invisible pylons. They all lead to the front legs, that were now dug into the dirt and colleasing the energy into a very deadly looking ball of black anger.
Ren screams over the sounds of the truck, the Beowulf fight and dark energy crackling "Nora! Throw it!" There was a split second of hesitation that Ren hopes doesn't cost them their lives, or Ambers.
There was a quick spin by Nora, becoming a swirl of death before quickly releasing the hammer. It flew true, the trajectory seen plain as day for a hunters reflexes.
The Grimm released all its built up power at once, it arcs over to them, zaping the ground occasionally on its path before colliding with the hammer mid flight.
The explosion that followed was truly awe inspiring. Noras hammer was seen to instantly melt and splash everywhere, and even after the explosion there was residue energy occasionally arcing out the ground in a purple haze.
Ren didn't want to know how his Aura would have faired against that. Never mind the fact he wasn't on full, Ren doubt's that would have actually changed anything at all.
Reacting quickly Ren whips out one of his knives, throwing it as well.
The armored legs come up to block them almost before he was even throwing, the only reason it almost passed the armour at all was the pure speed a hunter can throw a knife with.
The knife hit a spike at a shallow angle and ricochets like a bullet would. Grunting in frustration and rushing in after the knife Ren wanted to get as close as possible without having to waste Aura on a semblance.
There was a knock at his mental doors.
It wasn't what Ren would call a friendly knock, more like a bartering ram against his flimsy apartment complex door.
The analogy was lost to Ren as he was sent off his feet by a follow up blast, making short work of his unsteady footwork.
This wasn't working. He was too low on Aura to use his semblance for long.
There was that distinct feeling of someone or something in his head, making mash of his thoughts, there was almost a visible battle in his minds eye, an obviously Grimm shaped shodowy figure knocking down his neat thought structures.
Somewhere, there was a part of him still in control enough to understand what was happening, and it was all he needed. Those destroyed thoughts spiral around the figure blowing away the shadow and making it lose the illusive ethereal effect it had, leaving a mere angry beast in its place.
Gathering his thoughts once again they form up, becoming whole and making him come back down to reality, now hearing the fighting and chaos around his physical form.
Yet there was still a Grimm in his thoughts, threatening his newly constructed door.
But this was not just any door.
Looking back up Ren noticed the spider slowly closing in on his position but it looked as distracted as Ren felt.
Checking, he knew his semblance was off yet Ren also knew the Grimm was going full on attack mode with this psychic battle of his. Was Ren... Beating it? No. Not quite, his new defenses were failing, but it wasn't crumbling instantly like the first two times.
Staggering to his feet Ren catches the sound of Nora cry out his name but is locked into hand to hand with a Beowulf and can't do much more than call his name in the end.
The spider was only a few steps away.
He could go for it!
The moment Ren tried to move his mental fortifications started to slip and he stopped immediately to fight that battle for control once again, to reafrim the close slip up.
This bastard was sneaky, it was trying new angles, attacking through new memories and emotions to try get Ren to fumble. Ren calls apon his teachings, using his fathers wise voice to giude him through the calming techniques.
"Breath! let the Aura of life flow through you and your soul in perfect harmony!"
The shuddering breath that follows was a far cry from perfect harmony but it was also far better than his previous state of mind. Rens eyes snap open again, with the fire of his soul sparking and dancing within.
The step that followed only increased his minds strength.
The steps that follow the first escalate into a run soon after, and he is soon engaging the Grimm in hand to hand. Swiping and deflecting spiky armoured legs and small but very powerful jaws wanting to clamp down on his invasive arms.
Soon enough he was in a position where he opened up a moment for a quick kick to the Grimms face.
The mental battle he was busy with through the whole thing reflecting the growing advantages.
The moment Ren purged the last aspect of Grimm in his mindscape, was the moment he felt confident enough to apply more advanced aura techniques and got an Idea.
Uppercutting the spiders jaw and following the momentum through to the end, his knee finds the low and exposed neck area. The screech that sounded out was almost enough to get a moment of Rens time wasted with a flinch, but powering through the noise and tackling the arachnoid helped with his overall feral mood.
Now under most its defenses he was free to place a hand on a leg joint and explode with repressed Aura buildup.
After seeing how easy it popped away and exploded into bits of gore Ren doesn't waste any more Aura, going for a barehanded normal grip and a sharp tug with the full force of a hunters strength. The squelches of popping spider joints was nothing compared to the angry screeches in his ears.
Then the black electricity is back, starting to spark and arc to find missing leg spikes.
Not good.
He knew without a doubt it would explode in all directions like the web attack from earlier at the barn. Unless Ren wanted to become a glorified hunter puddle he needed to kill it right now.
Gliding down its belly that was held up by a mere three of its remaining limbs and Rens own back, both his hands come together wrist to wrist and palms flat.
Using the Aura attack technique with both hands like this was just overkill, but Ren needed to be sure, it was that or death.
The white coloured grey matter explodes in a shower of gore and residue black lightning around him. Leaving Ren to pant and collapses to his knees as his Aura shatters in a bright display, that attack was pricey.
Then the sounds of the truck make it passed his tired mind. Looking up just in time to see a door open and Nora reach out and grab him Ren was powerless to stop her, even if he didn't want to.
There was a moment of urgency as the driver had to maneuver around some corpses and get out of there, but after that and some time to calm down Ren and Nora realise they are currently both trying to sit in the only passengers seat.
Was Amber actually driving then?
"Lie Ren!" There were very few occasions that got Nora to use his full name "You've got brain bits all over you! Get off me! Ew! Ew! Ew!" It didn't help that he could in fact not go anywhere else.
The small sound of Amber breaks the flood of complaints Nora has to offer "Uh, guys? Can we please get someone else behind the wheel? I don't feel so safe right now" true enough they were hazardly racing down the dirt road with very poor skill.
"Yeah, Nora will gladly drive, I am way too tired to do anything right now." Amber looked like she wanted to argue that. So did Nora, both for different reasons.
Wait.
"Oh! don't worry. I am going to be sitting in the back, going to be very uncomfortable but Grimm brain is never going to be pleasant for someone to sit next to, so sacrifices will be made." Ambers shoulders relax slightly "thanks Mr. Ren."
Ouch! He didn't look that old did he?
Nevertheless they did the deed and Ren was left to fight the cold of a moving car out in the open.
He had a lot of time to think over what exactly happened earlier with that Grimm.
Merry Christmas! My present is the longest chapter so far! (even counting chapter 1 and the Prologue as a single thing)
On another note; there will be some romantic sub plots, but its not going to be my main focus. I also won't be spoiling any of it and can't say if this will be the start of something sweet, or if it gets a little more complicated than "Arkos goes Brr."
Also, I actually wrote most of this right after last chapter but the second half just couldn't write itself out well enough, sorry about that, was hoping to slap this out asap to maximize hype/feels but yeah... my attention was elsewhere *cough *Forged Alliance Forever™ *cough!
But anyway, have a great festive day and I hope you enjoyed!