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RWBY belongs to Rooster Teeth, Salt and Sanctuary belongs to SKA studios.
Chapter 32: The Sea
Spectre glared out at the sea. It had been two days since they had struck their bargain with the Untouched Inquisitor. In that time, nothing had really occurred. They had a few run-ins with the Grimm. A particularly nasty Ursa gave them a few problems, but nothing major. It hadn't taken long to realize that walking wouldn't get them to Aurum fast enough. Fortunately, being a native to the continent, Ruby knew of small port towns along the coast that they could possibly barter a boat ride from. Weiss was put in charge of actually convincing a captain to take them.
Spectre would have preferred an airship, or land travel. But the skies were too dangerous with the many Kraekan Wyrms patrolling them. Land travel was just too slow. By sea seemed the most optimal path, but there was still the fact that many Kraekans were primarily sea creatures.
"Spectre!" Ruby's voice called.
Spectre turned to the small reaper. Weiss was following behind her, and another older gentleman was following her. The older gentleman was rather large, he wore a long dark blue overcoat, a white undershirt, jeans, and a pair of sturdy rubber boots. A wooden pipe hung from his mouth, and a small black eye patch covered his right eye. Spectre noted a series of scars around the edges of the patch. He chuckled to himself as he noticed a small skull and crossbones on his eyepatch. He absently noted the man's white beard.
"This yer third friend, lassie?" The sailor asked, a notable accent accompanying his words.
"Yep." Ruby said with a smile.
"What's yer name, lad?" The sailor queried.
"Spectre Lamina." Spectre answered.
"Spectre? Odd name, but I've heard stranger." The sailor stated. "You can call me Scar. Captain Scar Bones."
"Scar Bones?" Spectre question.
"Ma wanted a girl, was gonna name her Scarlet. I'm no woman, so Da suggested Scar." the captain replied.
"Fair enough." Spectre stated.
"The little lass says you need someone to get you to the continent's southern tip." The captain said, while pointing at Weiss.
"Just the northern coast of that area." Spectre said.
"Really? That makes me job easier." The captain smiled. "We'll be ready to leave in bout two hours."
The captain departed. Spectre turned to Weiss.
"Where'd you dig that guy up?" He questioned.
"He was the only one crazy and willing enough to ferry us south." Weiss answered.
"Crazy?" Spectre inquired.
"Yep. Apparently large storms have kept most of the ships landlocked for the past couple weeks. The only ship even attempting to navigate these waters is a vessel bound for Menagerie. They leave in two days." Weiss answered.
"And our ship with Captain Bones." Spectre noted.
"Yep." Ruby said.
"Let's go get some food. We have two hours and I'm hungry." Weiss said after a moment of silence.
Spectre and Ruby readily agreed. The trio made their way towards a small market Ruby had seen on their way to the docks. Tents were set up with willing people ready to provide food and feed the refugees. The food wasn't the best, but it was better than nothing. It was little more than bread and soup. Spectre, Weiss and Ruby each got some and sat down. Spectre kept glancing around at the people serving food.
"Something wrong?" Weiss asked as she took a bite from her roll.
"Sort of. I'm still not used to seeing such kindness from strangers." Spectre replied.
"Tristin?" Ruby asked.
"Tristin." The Tristinian confirmed.
The girls nodded and returned to their food.
"Ruby?" They heard a familiar questioning voice. "Weiss? Spectre?"
Spectre put down his bread and turned to the voice. Staring at them, rather incredulous that she had found them, was their cat faunus friend, Blake Belladonna. She smiled and made her way to where they were sitting.
"Blake?" Ruby questioned excitedly. "What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for a ship to take me to Menagerie." Blake deadpanned. "This is one of three port towns close to Vale that actually has service to the island."
"Oh." Ruby replied. "Then why are you still here?"
"Storms, Ruby." Spectre said. "Weiss mentioned them earlier."
"Right." Ruby stated.
"What about you guys?" Blake asked.
"We need to reach the southern coast of the continent in less than a month. Skies are too dangerous; land is too slow." Spectre said.
"Why so fast?" Blake queried.
"Spectre had the brilliant idea to make a deal with a Darkborn." Weiss snarked. "He gave us one month."
Blake looked from Weiss to Spectre.
"It was that or risk your lives, Weiss." Spectre replied.
"She's still not happy about it." Ruby interjected before the two could start going at it.
"I see." Blake said.
"Hey, you want to join us?" Ruby asked.
"No. I really should get home." Blake said, looking towards the ocean.
"Be careful. I've no idea when Azredak will begin his attacks on the next kingdoms or Menagerie." Spectre said.
"I will." Blake answered.
"We should go." Weiss said. "Captain Bones would probably leave whether we're with him or not."
"Bye Blake." Ruby waved as the three left.
The three and Captain Bones were soon on their way. The ship disembarked, much to the chagrin of some of the dock workers and other captains in the town. The weather was fine a couple hours into the journey. Ruby was sitting on a barrel as she watched the captain and his crew. One of the men was standing at the helm when the captain came up to her.
"You k lass?" The captain inquired.
"I'm fine." Ruby said. "A bit bored. Everything's going rather slow."
"Slow?" The captain inquired, rather incredulous. "Lass, we're really pushing it here at 30 knots per hour."
"Sorry." Ruby apologized. "I meant nothing against you… uh… basically, my semblance allows me to move really fast."
"Ah, a speedster." The captain responded. "That makes sense. We mus be moving at a snail's pace compared to what you can reach."
"Yeah." Ruby agreed.
"Yer a lot more pleasant than your compatriots." The captain stated.
"Really?" Ruby asked.
"Aye" The captain replied. "Your corpse companion has had his gun out and looks ready to put a few holes in me ship."
The two heard the sound of someone vomiting. Ruby turned and saw Weiss pull herself up. She gagged and vomited over the side of the ship. She wobbled her way back below deck.
"And the princess has no sea legs." The captain said.
"CAPTAIN!" the Helmsman called.
"WHAT!?" The captain yelled back.
"SOMETHING BIG's APPROACHING FROM THE PORT BOW!" The Helmsman responded.
"HOW BIG?" Scar Bones yelled back.
"TOO BIG!" The Helmsman replied.
"Great. Well, lass, hope you're up for a little excitement." The captain said. "TO BATTLESTATIONS!"
Spectre rushed over to the captain.
"What is it?" Spectre questioned.
"Sea Grimm." The captain said as a massive Grimm rose from the water.
Spectre was mildly surprised and greatly relieved that it wasn't a Kraekan. That being said, he wouldn't discount Azredak's possible meddling with the beast. The head was vaguely serpentine, the lower jaw did split in half though. Spines ran along its back. White scales covered its entire body. An odd part of the beast were the three antenna-like appendages growing from the monster's head. At the end of them was a strange spherical formation of scales.
The monster roared at the crew and dove under the water.
"I've never seen a Grimm like that before!" Ruby exclaimed.
"I'd doubt if ye had. The sea be home to many a strange beastie." Captain Bones replied.
"I hate the sea." Spectre growled as the Grimm resurfaced on the starboard side of the shift.
"HARD TO PORT!" The captain bellowed.
Spectre growled at the monster and began firing his culverin at it. He might as well have been throwing rocks for all the good the Mosaic Culverin was actually doing to the monster. Ruby didn't appear to be faring much better. Spectre growled and switched to tainted shot.
"Give it up lad, yer little pea shooter ain't doing a thing!" The captain yelled.
Spectre scowled as he fired another shot. The Saltborn smirked in triumph as a green aura enveloped the monster.
"Maybe not physically." Spectre smirked.
"You got a plan?" Ruby said as she ran up to him. "My bullets aren't getting through."
"We just got to outlast. The poison on my tainted shots take down most anything." Spectre responded.
The monster roared. Spectre, Ruby and Captain Bones looked towards the serpent. The spherical growths on the antenna like appendages appeared to begin glowing. Electricity began arcing between the three growths. The monster glared at Spectre and discharged the energy.
"Oh, sweet mercy." The captain groaned as a bolt of lightning flew towards them.
Spectre tried to dodge out of the way but was unsuccessful. A loud splash was heard, and the bolt slammed into Spectre and the side of the ship. The Saltborn was launched over the port side, into the waiting maw of the monster.
"Spectre!" Ruby shouted as she ran to the port side.
"He's lost. The beast got him, lass. Mourn quickly, we don't have much time." The captain said.
The Sea Grimm rose again and roared. Ruby watched as it drew closer. It appeared to be in pain. She also noted that it lacked the distinct swirling white of the Salt being taken.
"He's not dead." Ruby yelled. "Though he soon will be!"
The Grimm roared again. Ruby shifted her scythe into its gun form and took aim.
"If he's not dead, he soon will be. And didn't we already establish that bullets won't do anything against that monster?" The Captain yelled.
"Every Grimm has a weak spot." Ruby replied calmly, as she took aim. "It's just a matter of finding it."
"I was wrong, you're all crazy." The captain muttered.
He jolted at the crack of Ruby's gun. The bullet flew straight and true. Ruby smiled in triumph as the monster screamed in pain. A spurt of black blood flew from the beast's eye. It thrashed in the water. Part of its body began glowing bright orange.
"EVERYONE BRACE!" The captain yelled.
The crew braced. Ruby ducked under one of the ship's railings. She peeked over to see what would happen. A brilliant fireball erupted from the beast's throat, nearly separating its head from the rest of its body. The light went out in its eyes as the seas around them were stained black from the beast's blood. It slowly began to dissolve as the Grimm usually did.
"It's dead." Ruby stated.
The captain stood up and looked at the sinking, dissolving corpse.
"Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle. Twas a fine shot, lass." Captain Scar said.
"I didn't kill it." Ruby replied. "Spectre did."
"The beast ate him though." Scar responded.
"Didn't kill him." Ruby said as she looked through her scope.
She eventually spotted a small figure swimming towards the ship.
"There he is." Ruby said, gesturing for the captain to look.
He looked through her scope. He too saw Spectre swimming towards the ship.
"MAN OVERBOARD!" he yelled.
The crew began a rapid rescue of the sea bound Saltborn. In fifteen minutes, the pale form of Spectre was hauled aboard.
"This is the last time I travel by sea." Spectre said, as he gathered himself.
"How'd you survive that, laddie?" Scar asked.
"My… semblance… makes me ridiculously hard to kill." Spectre said through rushed breaths. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need a nap."
Spectre fell forward onto the deck. Unconscious.
"Take him below decks. Wake him and the princess when we make landfall." Captain Scar commanded. "You are a strange trio."
"Yep." Ruby responded with a smile.
…/…
"These two are going to drive me crazy." Kaira said as she tried to ignore the relentless prattling of Nora.
"Indeed." Ronin muttered.
The newly dubbed team KRRN had made it five minutes from Vale before Nora began talking to them Kaira, Ronin and Ren about everything. Most of her words revolved around food. Kaira was tempted to keep count of how many times she complained of her hunger.
A hunger they had briefly satisfied with a pack of Grimm. A pack of Grimm the hyperactive Darkborn tore into. Kaira did get a chuckle from her lamenting the fact that Grimm flesh dissolves after death. Not the most filling of meals.
Ren however was silent. Annoyingly so. How he dealt with Nora's useless drivel was a mystery that Kaira desperately wanted to know the answer to. The group were brought to a halt when Ren raised a hand. Even Nora stopped talking.
"We're not alone." He spoke.
Kaira glanced at Ronin before looking at the trees surrounding them. Eventually they heard a voice. Kaira groaned as she recognized the voice, and the distinct rattling of chains that accompanied it.
"That is interesting. You think they'd tell?" A calm, yet oddly raspy voice. "Yes, that's what I think too."
Four blades flew from the forest. They were far faster than any of them would have expected. Ronin raised his sword and blocked the blade. The blades that targeted Ren, Nora and Kaira were successful in their objective. Blades circled around them and wrapped the three up in chains.
Nora grinned and discharged a surge of electricity through the chain. A yelp of pain was heard, but the chains didn't release her. To her surprise, the electricity surged down the other three chains into Kaira, Ren and Ronin's sword.
"That wasn't very nice." The green cloaked Untouched Inquisitor stated as he floated through the trees. "And you would make a terrible second lamb."
"Inquisitor." Kaira growled.
"Architect." The Inquisitor responded, releasing the three from the chains. "Consorting with the enemy now? Or do we have new friends?"
"New allies." Kaira said.
"Ooh, can I eat him?" Nora asked.
"No, my dear, you cannot." The Inquisitor said. "I'm sure Azredak would lament the loss of his high priest, and of one of his better informants."
"What are you doing, Inquisitor?" Ronin queried as he sheathed his sword.
"Wandering around, routing another party of intruders from my land, you know, the usual." The Inquisitor replied.
"Another party?" Ren questioned.
"Oh yes. A certain wayward knight, a dethroned king, and a bright soul were spotted on the northern borders of my land." The Inquisitor said.
"Your land?" Kaira questioned.
"Yes. My land. The land upon which we will raise a new dome for Lord Azredak." The Inquisitor answered.
"Ok. You said they were north?" Kaira asked.
"Yes." The Inquisitor answered.
"Anything else you have for us?" Ronin asked.
"Depends, you got anything on offer for me? Trade should be fair after all." The Inquisitor said.
"How about a Second Lamb? You haven't found one yet, have you?" Kaira asked.
"No, I have. She's being a little resistant… and absent." The Inquisitor said.
"What if we found her for you?" Nora interjected.
"That would be most grand. You do that for me, I tell you what I know. Deal?" The Inquisitor questioned.
"Deal." Kaira said, shaking his hand.
"Excellent. Your target is Raven Branwen. Assuming she's still alive as I believe her to be." The Inquisitor said.
"And your information?" Kaira asked.
"You didn't hear this from me, but our resident Saltborn, an annoying princess, and a tiny reaper are heading south. Also, an interesting dark goddess was seen quite far to the west" The Inquisitor answered.
The Inquisitor turned and left with nary a goodbye.
"How does he know so much?" Nora asked.
"The First Lamb." Ronin replied. "I presume he's using them as his eyes and ears."
"Indeed." Kaira said.
"How do we tell Lord Azredak of Spectre's whereabouts?" Nora asked.
"We don't." Kaira said.
"Lord Azredak won't like that." Nora replied.
"Azredak will have to wait. Besides, we don't have a quick way to reach him, now do we?" Kaira asked.
"No, we don't. Our mission is more important anyway. Lord Azredak wants the Lightborn. We need to move." Ren said as he grabbed Nora's arm and began pulling her deeper into the forest.
"I think that's the most he's said this entire journey." Ronin muttered.
"Yep. Do you think they'd know why Spectre was heading south?" Kaira asked.
"No. I doubt it." Ronin said. "Only reason I can think of is to keep us from finding the Lightborn."
"Maybe." Kaira replied.
ERROR-DATA_CORRUPTION-BEGIN_FILE_RECOVERY…/…
Data Log BOS032
Information – And I'm mostly back. Things have been pretty hectic these past couple weeks. Surprisingly, my roller coaster of a time has nothing to do with politics. I've been having financial and registration troubles with school. I was hoping to graduate this semester, but it looks like I'll be three credits short. Anyway, I fly back to the east coast next Saturday. I'll try to have a chapter out, but it isn't likely. After that, hopefully we'll be back to our regular upload schedule. Sorry for leaving you guys in the dark last week. Like I said, life got in the way. On another note, though, I do have some interesting ideas for new stories I'd like to write after this one. Maybe I'll start writing one concurrently, I don't know. That all being said, here's to a new year, that is hopefully not 2020 part 2.
Happy New Year and thanks for reading.
Information - Please leave constructive criticism. Updates to the archives take it into account, and it is greatly appreciated.
Input command - express_gratitude - Thank you to all who read this, your feedback and views are much appreciated. Feel free to leave ideas and recommendations for the future. Input command-tip_hat...Command accepted; hat tipped. Input command-Close
Goodbye viewer; Fare thee well.
End Log S.T.K.
