AN: This took longer than I thought it would. But through the power of determination and listening to Hero, I got to doing it.
Bloody good song, that. Especially like Flynt's work with the lyric video.
Also note that this is a supporting story to my prime story, 'Gaze of the Serpent.' You can read that story without this one, and technically could read this as a stand-alone RWBY story, but you will probably be very confused, especially about Alicia's origins. So without further ado, you've been warned, hope you like it, and I'll see you in the post chapter AN. Auf wiedersehen!
-Lambda38
Chapter 1: Alone
I throw myself to the side, desperately trying to avoid the reaching claws of the Beowolf hunting me. I land with a harsh thud and scramble to my feet, scratching at the ground as I heave gasps, my legs feeling like lead as I try to run again.
As a large serpent, I'd felt confident in fighting many of these monsters, but now, in a small and helpless human form, I can't help but feel terror filling my heart at the sight of the black beast roaring behind me. I fumble with my pack again, trying to reach inside with quivering fingers as the sounds of the beast come closer behind me. I glance over my shoulder to see it primed to lunge at me, and my seeking hand finally grasps the stock of the rifle in my pack. I tear it out as the creature lunges, fangs and claws gleaming under the cold moonlight, pointing the weapon and frantically pulling the trigger, flinching at the loud crack of the gun firing as the Beowolf reaches me, growling as the bullet slams into its gut.
It growls and slams a massive limb into my stomach, the force of the blow sending me off of my feet. I cry out in fear as I slam into a tree, my head knocking back and causing me to cry out as my vision swims. I try to force through it and see the Beowolf about to lunge in for a bite. In a panic, I hold up the gun between us, frantically trying to pull the trigger. The weapon in my pale hand jumps nine times as the beast descends towards me, before clicks resound in the air, a moment before a massive wall of fur and bone slams down onto me. I shriek in panic, trying to push it off with my weak legs, only to see the beast dissolving atop me.
A few moments later, I can see the broken moon through the treetops, and I can't help the relieved sobs which rip past my lips. I let the gun slip through my numb fingers, turning onto my side and curling into a ball.
It takes me several minutes to convince myself to drag myself onto my feet. I lean down slowly and grab the gun on the floor, sighing as I remove the magazine and swing my pack in front of me to look for another one.
I really need to learn how to use this thing, I think despondently, looking over my meager supply of bullets, before pushing a fresh clip into place. I can only count on the gun for so long before I'm helpless.
I replace the gun and my pack, taking the compass out of its side pocket again, and looking over the device while ignoring the loud gurgling my stomach emits. After a few more moments of staring haplessly at it, I shake my head, feeling the ache inside it vanishing and refocus, setting off in the general direction of west, hoping I'll eventually run into something other than more bloody Grimm or wildlife.
I take a deep breath as I close the device and begin to trudge further through the woods. After another hour or so of travel, I feel no small amount of relief to find myself on a rather well worn path.
"Paths usually lead somewhere," I murmur, my tongue flicking out, tasting the scent in the air, before I drag it back in and clench my teeth, ignoring the tastes trying to reach the roof of my mouth, setting off down the path. "Just gotta get there."
I walk until the night turns to day, finding only a sign at a split in the path, indicating the closest town to be further back the way I came, much to my dismay. I decide the press on to one of the other settlements, figuring I might as well, seeing how I've already walked this far.
To be honest, I don't recall when the ground got so close to my face. I can't remember what happened, only that darkness followed.
—
Does anyone truly know when they wake up? Of course they do, they're just usually able to keep their eyes closed against the light. It's a lot harder to stay asleep when you have the overhead sun boring into your retinas. I shudder in my elongated form, and feel the slow contraction of my body as I turn into my smaller human form.
As I find myself on two feet again, I stumble, before looking at my hands and flexing my fingers as I take another deep breath.
"Just got to find civilization, then I have to try and find a way to get to Patch. Do that and I can figure out what to do next," I mumble to myself, interrupted at the end by another loud gurgling in my abdomen. "Maybe get some food from the locals first."
I continue down the path, glancing around to make sure I'm as alone as I think I am, shivering as I rub my arms. Seeing nobody, I continue on my way with a repressed yawn.
—
A while later, I see a town come into view, looking like a small and cozy affair from what I can tell, the architecture reminding me somewhat of Kuroyuri.
I stop as I take a moment to steady my breathing, trying not to look like I hiked for hours on end. It takes me longer than I'd care to admit to collect myself enough to press onwards.
As I approach the town, a sense of unease settles in my stomach, which I push aside to feel some semblance of relief at finally reaching civilization again. I walk through the gate, glancing at the man on the wall who sneers at me before looking back up to the road behind me. I look around for a few moments as I walk along the central street, seeing a few shops nearby.
After a few seconds, I see a shop selling some food which appears to be more Asian in nature than I'm used to, not that my stomach cares, roaring its displeasure to me. I set off to the store, passing by a few people with mumbled excuses and pushing through the door.
I stop in the entryway, looking for someone behind a counter or some obvious indication that they're a staff member amongst the number of people inside.
"We don't serve your kind here," a bored voice rings out from my right, surprising me. I look over to see a thin man with brown hair and eyes.
"Excuse me?" I ask in confusion, just hoping for food. "I have Lien, I just need some-!"
"Beat it," he interrupts with a small look of contempt. "We don't serve your kind around here." I can't help but feel the pit in my stomach deepening, desperation infecting my voice as I step towards him.
"Please, I haven't-!" I begin, before a large hand grabs my arm and pulls me backwards. I look over in shock and see a burly man towering over me, easily seven and a half feet tall, with numerous scars over his bare arms and face, wearing a black leather sleeveless jacket with dark pants, a massive axe hanging across his back.
"He said that we don't serve your kind," the man growls, making me shudder. "So leave." He shoves me towards the door, and I stumble my way out, trying not to bite my tongue as I scramble for balance.
I manage to gain it back only to receive another push on my back, sending me crashing through the doorway, falling onto my hands in the street.
"Move along. Animals aren't welcome in this town," the man informs me, before I hear the door shut behind me.
I groan as I stand, looking around to find all the people around ignoring me for the most part, with several chuckling openly at my situation. I take a deep breath and put my head down, trying to control myself as I stalk through the roads.
I need food, I think miserably as I glance at all the shops along the road, noticing the numerous signs forbidding Faunus from their premises. I don't think I can make it to the next town, either.
A few moments later, I stop as my world sways slightly. As I sway, I look off to my right to see a stall selling fruits and vegetables, and stop thinking for a moment as I gaze at their full surfaces, before a thought surfaces.
I do need to eat, I think, eyes locked onto a pile of apples as I approach the stall, ignoring the looks I'm garnering from the vendor. If I have to, I have to.
"Can I buy some fruit?" I ask the woman behind the stall, cringing at how pitiful my own voice sounds.
"Leave," she says, staring at me with open disdain. "We don't want your money, we don't care if you're starving, just leave us be." I stare at her for a moment, before my hand lances out and I grab one of the apples before me, turning and racing towards the exit of town closest to me. "Hey! Somebody stop that animal! She's stolen my fruit!"
I take deep breaths, trying to do what I can with what little energy I have as I see a few members of the town move to intercept me. I dodge one who tries to grab my left arm, swinging my pack from my back and tossing the apple inside of it before reseating it, looking around frantically as I move.
I glance behind myself to see several people charging it after me, most notably the man who'd thrown me out of the other store, his eyes locked onto me as he closes in with unstoppable intent. I shriek as I notice the axe which had been on his back is now wielded in one hand, the weapon made of some dark metal, with a massive blade which I want nowhere near me.
I look ahead of me in time to stumble to the side, barely avoiding a man who'd gone to tackle me.
"Leave me alone!" I cry out, gasping for breath already. "I just want a little food, and you have more than enough!" I continue running, trying to regain the speed I'd lost avoiding the man, and manage to reach the far gate before I feel something hook my legs, causing me to fall with a cry of despair.
I yank my leg from whatever had caught it and turn over, scrambling backwards from the towering form glaring down at me. I stare in terror as the man raises his axe, stepping with me and swinging it down, making me cross my arms over myself, closing my eyes as I await the inevitable. A few seconds later, I gulp and open my eyes, only to see silver.
What? I think, failing to comprehend the image before me.
"Yo," a feminine voice says, the sea of silver in front of me swaying to the side, revealing a face of a woman turning around, her dark skin contrasting the bright silver of her hair. I look into her golden eyes dumbly for a few moments, before I glance past her to see her hand casually gripping the blade of the axe which had been falling towards me.
I look back towards her, and she chuckles, before looking up at the man who towered over her even more than he does me.
"You really ought to think about calling it a day here," she warns him,while the man, to my surprise, is sweating heavily. "So here. Pay the bitch with this, and we'll be on our way. Deal?"
"D-deal," the man says, slowly pulling his axe back as the woman hands him a few Lien.
"Lovely!" She chirps, before turning to me and stepping forward, looping a hand under my arm before pulling me upwards and out, forcing me to stumble after her as we leave the town. "Now let's move on, my new intrepid companion!" I try to object, only to be silenced by a glance from the woman, feeling an unreasonable amount of dread in my stomach. "Much to be done, much to be done! Be sure to eat that apple, I did pay for it, and you wouldn't want to shirk my generosity, would you?"
Despite the cheery tone of the words, I can't help but shiver.
"W-who are you?" I ask, trembling as she draws me off towards the distance.
"Name's Silvia. Nice to meet ya, stranger," she replies easily.
AN: So it isn't a long introduction, but it is what it is. To be fair, I'm not grand on the whole racism thing. If people want to give a few pointers on that end, I wouldn't object to it. I'm just here trying to write a story and have a bit of fun. Either way, hope you enjoyed, review, all that jazz. Adios.
-Lambda38