Legal Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY, Red vs. Blue, or any of the shows' characters. They are the rightful properties of Rooster Teeth.
Chapter Thirty-Seven:
"I should go to Atlas soon, pay everyone there a visit." Cinder remarked smugly as her golden eye landed knowingly on the listening Clover, who was still being pawed at by the surrounding Grimm, "I could see if I can't convince the other Inheritor to come and join us now as well."
Clover inwardly panicked as he processed her words, moving to face the two females as they conversed despite being unable to say anything in response himself. If they were going to go after Oscar though, then...!
"See to it that you do not fail." Salem was quick to say to her servant.
The dark-haired woman bowed, the anticipatory smirk on her face growing, "Of course, mistress." She replied with confidence.
Clover took a step towards the two women even though his legs still felt like jelly. He stumbled, only for the giant Nevermore to appear at his side, that same soothing melody coming from its thrumming body as he leaned against its feathers to help remain upright.
Just then, a Beowolf reached out with its clawed hand to grasp his arm tightly, pulling Clover away from the oddly soothing presence of the Nevermore. He stumbled on his feet and nearly fell backwards at the jerking motion as an Ursa came up behind the Beowolf with a territorial growl.
There was a pause in the discussion between Salem and Cinder then, the scarred female smirking as she turned her full attention to the display happening before them, "I'll have to leave in a moment. I don't want to miss the show." She stated, clearly enjoying the scene playing out.
The Ursa and Beowolf began circling one another then, and the giant Nevermore's wings wrapped around Clover's distorted form once again as if to shield him from the ensuing fight. It started to coo once more as Clover could only watch while the two Grimm seemed content to tear themselves to pieces. Clover couldn't fully comprehend what he was seeing, his mind going blank as the relaxing sounds once more emanated from the Nevermore. Had the two been fighting over him, or...?
"You did a fine job, shielding him." Salem informed the Nevermore as she approached, Grimm food floating above her hand, "The young ones do tend to get over eager."
Clover watched, enshrouded in the Nevermore's wings and talons, as the creature bent its head down to receive the food being offered to it by the goddess. It then lowered its head even further so that it was staring at him, prodding Clover forward slightly to take its turn close by the food.
"It appears as if you're the pack leader's favorite. It practically views you as its young." Salem told him with a rather satisfied tone to her voice as the Nevermore proceeded to share its food with a horrified Clover, who couldn't seem to stop himself from eating the proffered meal regardless of how full his stomach was already.
"Even as a Grimm, your luck still holds, Captain Ebi." Cinder said as she laughed mockingly, a cruel light in her eye, "I'll be sure to let Huntsman Branwen know."
With the last of the food gone, the Nevermore's wings wrapped tightly around Clover's body again, and he found he couldn't so much as move a muscle as the strange melody rose from the monstrous bird's chest once more despite the shame that quickly overtook him at Cinder's words.
"The problem is that we don't know exactly where the giant Grimm that Clover was absorbed into went afterwards." Robyn mulled over their current situation as she stood in front of Hargrove's massive desk in the Charon guild hall where they'd hoped to maybe find some kind of answer to their present dilemma.
Winter touched her chin, blue eyes narrowed in thought as she moved to join the blonde by the desk to look over the maps they'd found spread out there, "If only we could somehow pinpoint its location..." She said, trailing off in thought.
Qrow busied himself with trying not to pace around the room just then, knowing that showing off his agitation and frustration at the moment wouldn't help anything. And he was definitely frustrated. After all, they were currently at a standstill, loath as he was to admit it.
From where she was standing beside Ruby, Penny suddenly stiffened abruptly, her green eyes glowing. The brunette grabbed her arm gently, "Penny?" Ruby asked cautiously, unsure of what was happening.
"The barrier has been breached!" Penny exclaimed.
Carolina and Kimball both looked at one another from the opposite corner of the room where they'd been pouring over some notes, "But what does that mean?" Kimball asked with a frown as her redheaded friend clenched her hands into fists as if expecting a fight.
The redhead probably wasn't far off the mark either as Neopolitan ran into the room, changing with a shimmer into Cinder. Qrow tensed at the sight, knowing that Neo had been on guard duty with Donut and Doc around the holding cells before. He seemed to be on the same page as Robyn and Winter, as both females suddenly gave each other a look and then bolted from the room in that direction, the others hot on their heels.
By the time they reached the holding cells, it was to a dead Malcolm Hargrove in his cell, his body impaled by glass. Doc was gripping onto Donut's arm and pulling the injured young man away from the carnage, "She...she came out of nowhere!" The purple-wearing brunette exclaimed.
"Are you all right?" Kimball asked, the dark-skinned woman having hurried over to both of her friends, brown eyes scanning them for signs of serious injury.
"We're just dandy!" Donut tried saying assuredly, wincing as he gripped his bleeding arm.
Doc, however, frowned, "His aura..." He trailed off, obviously worried for Donut's current state.
"Well, that's what you get when you're in my way." Cinder Fall's voice came out in a taunt just then, the woman emerging from the shadows nearby. Her golden eye narrowed in annoyance, "I would've been able to say hello to the General King as well if you hadn't interfered."
"Well excuse me for thinking you could learn some manners!" Donut huffed indignantly as Ruby and Carolina both stepped in front of him, Doc, and Kimball to buy the duo time to escape.
Cinder's eye took in the assembled people in the hall, landing on Qrow after a moment. She smirked, "Captain Ebi sends his regards." She informed him, "Though I doubt he'll be too torn up over what happened to his father."
"Where is he?!" The black-haired Huntsman grit out, his hand heading towards Harbinger.
Cinder's smirk only widened as she tilted her head in a considering manner, "Now why would I tell you that?" She said, clearly amused by the entire conversation.
Just as Cinder finished speaking, the sound of an explosion from farther away in the city reached their ears. Penny's eyes glowed once more as Winter twirled her head in that direction, "Something's broken through the outer wall!"
"It appears to be a large assortment of Grimm." Penny stated not a moment later.
Cinder tilted her head to the side as if listening for something, her expression becoming triumphant not a moment later, "And it appears we've found what we were looking for." She stated, bowing to the group mockingly before disappearing into the shadows once more.
"Wait!" Carolina exclaimed, giving chase though the mysterious woman was somehow already gone even with the redhead's increased speed.
Footsteps came rushing over from behind the group then as Sarge and Yang barreled into view. They'd been on guard duty on the outer wall along with Blake, Lopez, and...
"Oscar was just snatched up by some Grimm!" A nearly out-of-breath Yang exclaimed.
A collective gasp came at this bit of news and Qrow stumbled slightly, feeling as if the world had just tilted under him. He barely registered Sarge guffawing not a moment later, giving them all a thumbs up, "But I managed to put a tracker on the bastard that snatched him up!" He informed the group proudly, "With any luck, they'll lead us straight back to their hideout."
Ruby let out a relieved sigh, her silver eyes narrowing determinedly not a moment later, "We're going to bring Oscar and Clover home." She said pointedly, with no room for argument.
The Nevermore set Clover down and began gently touching his head with the tip of its beak before slipping away momentarily to acquire more of the viscous liquid that counted as food for the Grimm. Clover watched as it bent forward as if to feed him itself, suddenly feeling ravenous again, as if his hunger now was never truly sated. He began to eat, drifting off into a dreamless sleep just a few moments later after he was finished thanks to that familiar trilling in his ears.
When he opened his eyes again sometime later, although it didn't seem as if time really had any meaning anymore, it was to the sight of Salem looming over him along with the Nevermore patiently waiting behind her. The white-haired woman smiled thinly and extended her hand, "My trinket is needed at my side." She said in what Clover recognized as an obvious command his body wouldn't be able to ignore.
Clover moved to get up into a standing position quickly as Salem gave him a thoughtful look, her eyes drifting toward the sight of brackish liquid dripping from the corner of his mouth, "It appears as if being the pack leader's favorite makes for a very well-fed Grimm." She mocked.
Clover couldn't respond even if had wanted to. He could only watch as Salem waved her hand, a chain of miasma suddenly wrapping around his neck while her pale hand held onto the other end, "We have to complete the look, after all." She informed him, "Since we're meeting my other half's Inheritor."
Author's Notes: I apologize for how short this chapter is, but the last few will definitely be longer to help wrap things up since we're approaching the homestretch now! :D Thank you so much for reading! Friendly comments are always appreciated. :)