It's been two days since the bath incident and Jaune had healed fully and he had eaten more, according to him, he probably ate more meals in the span of two days than he had in his entire life, but then again, who could blame him, all he had to eat back in Fødselsjord was rotten food.
The two had returned to the Hotel and they walked in through the lobby of the main building, where the owner, an old woman, saw the two walk-in
"I see that You both have finally found something new to wear," The owner said
Currently, Natasha and Jaune had just finished shopping and returned to their hotel, where the owner greeted them and of course, commented on their new clothing.
Currently, Natasha now wore a Sleeveless Turtleneck Crop top, but strapped to her shoulders were dark green fur shoulder pads, she also wore a pair of black gloves with dark green-colored metal armor plates over her fingers, she also wore a pair of dark green Cargo pants with black knee pads and she wore a new pair of black boots with dark green fur around the heel cuff.
Jaune also wore new clothing, he wore a white short-sleeved shirt and over that was a black longsleeved hoodie that was left unzipped, and he also wore a pair of dark blue Jeans, wrapped around it was his red tattered sash, and over that, was the belt that strapped around him to hold Crocea Mors and its sheath/shield, and he wore a pair of dark brown boots.
"Yes, it was most kind of you to tell us where we could find some new clothing" Natasha told him.
"It's not a problem, It's the least I could do for you two" Replied the owner "Will you two be leaving today?"
Natasha nodded, "Yes, it's time we got back on the road and get home"
"Well then I wish you Luck, and be careful, the Branwen Tribe are known to roam these parts and as of late, they've been picking fights with other tribes" Replied the owner
This caught the attention of the two, at first they thought maybe he was only talking about Natasha's tribe, but maybe not. Still, they thanked him for the warning and headed to their rooms to get whatever they had packed and start making it to the Branwen Camp.
"You sure you wanna come with me all the way?" Jaune asked "If Raven sees you she might kill you, or Vernal might," Jaune said
"I already freed you and killed some of my tribesmen, I'm going with you Jaune," She said
"And after that? what will you do when you get me to Raven's camp?" Jaune asked
Natasha looked at him sighed, "I was thinking about joining up with Raven until the wars over" She said
Jaune was a bit shocked by what she had said, "Are you sure Natasha? if you fight alongside us-"
"I know what will happen Jaune" she cut him off "I'm ready"
Jaune was going to protest again, but he saw the stern look in her eyes and he said nothing, his silencing being his agreement to her actions.
They finished packing and headed out of the hotel and gave the owner his key back before leaving the hotel grounds and getting back on the road. Thankfully, Jaune had told her that it would only be a day trip to get to Raven's camp and that was just a blessing really.
Eventually, the day turned into night, and the two kept walking. Taking the occasional short break along the way in order to not tire themselves out. However, still walking for so long began to hurt their feet, and Natasha really disliked the feeling the bottoms of her feet felt, almost like she was walking barefoot on a broken paved road.
"How far?" Natasha asked
"Not long, we'll be there in about 30 minutes away," Jaune said
As they walked, they could hear something moving around, at first it was just a small rush of leaves that quickly disappeared in the distance, and most likely some animal, however, after that, Jaune could no doubt hear the quick movement of people and the shifting of tree branches and bushes.
Jaune turned to Natasha to give him a look that told him that she had indeed noticed the movement. She pulled out her Axe and Jaune unsheathed Crocea Mors and activated his shield, the two ready for a confrontation, but Jaune hoped that wouldn't happen.
"If your out there, show yourself, we don't want to fight, I'm Jaune Arc, the new guy who joined the tribe a week ago"
"Jaune?" Came a voice
Jaune turned to see that a few people were coming out of the shadows of the trees and there standing in front of them was Hawks and Vernal
"Hawk! Vernal!" Jaune shouted with glee
Hawks and Jaune approached each other and hugged and quickly breaking it and looking at the other, both with a smile on their faces.
"I thought I never see ya again kid" Hawks said with a smile
"So did I, but I'm here," Jaune said
Vernal then approached Jaune, "I just have one question for you Jaune," Vernal asked and she then moved past Jaune and pointed at Natasha with a glare "What is she doing here?"
Jaune looked at her and saw that she had lowered her Axe but she kept a tight grip on it. Jaune moved in between the two and looked at Vernal, "She saved me Vernal, she helped me escape" Jaune said "Look, we need to talk about Raven and about the War"
Hawks and Vernal looked confused when he said that
"War?" Hawks asked
"yes, My father said he wanted to meet up with Raven in order to get her to join him so he could rage a war against the King, but if she refused he would rage war against her, remember?" Natasha asked, "He said she didn't show up so he declared war"
"that's where your wrong, your father was the one who never showed up to the meeting," Vernal said "I and Raven along with Shay went to meet up with him under a banner of truce but he never showed up"
Natasha was shocked to hear this, "But... why would he..?" She muttered
"Let' not worry about that right now, we need to get to Raven and let her know what's about to take place," Jaune said
Hawks nodded, "Jaune's right, we need to tell Raven what that bastard Tyrannen is up to," He said "And I'm sure she wants to talk to his daughter as well"
Natasha just looked at him with a bit of a glare but she looked away and holstered her Axe behind her. Jaune sighed in relief and was glad that there was no fighting, at least not yet, but he walked alongside Vernal and Hawks, as did Natasha and the four and the rest of the Branwen scouts headed back to camp.
As they did, Hawks looked over to Jaune, "You ok?" he asked
Jaune looked over to him with a confused expression, "What?"
"I asked if you were ok, though I'm sure you're not, after all... I've heard what Tyrannen could do to those who go against him," Hawks said "They Broke you... didn't they"
Jaune looked at him and Hawks looked back, Neither said words to each other and while Hawks could see the pain in Jaune's eyes, there was something else...
"They didn't" Jaune replied
Hawks smiled a little at the boy's words, showing him that it took a lot more to break the Young man "Your a tough kid" Hawks said
Jaune huffed in agreement, "I miss anything while I was away?" Jaune asked
"Not much, Though I should mention that when you got captured, Raven was thinking of a plan on how to get you away from Tyrannen, meanwhile our little Vernal over there got worried sick about you, even if she won't admit it," Hawks said with a chuckle
"Why?" Jaune asked "No offense but She and I only knew each other for a day"
"You're a Branwen now Jaune, and Pure-Blooded Branwen's, well they have a strong sense of Family... well most of them do," Hawks said "But Vernal, she cares for anyone who joins the tribe, which includes you, not to mention Raven put you in her care, and when you got captured, it probably felt like a blow to her pride"
Jaune then glanced over to Vernal who was just waking behind Natasha, no doubt burning a hole in the back of Natasha's head with her constant staring. Jaune smiled and a little bit as they kept walking, now not too far from the camp.
.
.
.
Finally, they had all arrived back In Ravens camp and the other scouts went about their business, while Hawks, Vernal, Jaune, and Natasha walked directly to Raven's camp, and just as they came into View, Shay and Sofia. Sofia was one of the other people in Raven's council when he first came here. She was the woman who had black hair and had dark violet eyes, she wore a light grey shirt underneath a long-sleeved black jacket, a pair of tight dark grey jeans, and a pair of black and white shoes.
Shay looked at them and then noticed Natasha as did Sofia
"Who is she Hawks?" Sofia asked
"She's here to speak with Raven Shay, it's important" Hawks replied
"Whoa, hold on, what's going on Hawks?" Shay asked, "Why is it important that this chick see Raven?"
"You'll find out soon, this concerns everyone on the council," Hawks told them
Shay huffed and let them pass, and He and Sofia followed them into the tent. Inside Raven was sitting at her table drinking tea and a book in her hand, she looked up at them and saw Jaune with them, She got up and looked at him with wide eyes.
"Your alive?" She asked
"Yep, sorry to disappoint," Jaune said with a small smile
Raven's shock just turned into a smirk, "Well, it's good to see you again Jaune, but Now I have to ask, who is she?" Raven asked, pointing at Natasha
Natasha stepped forth and looked at Raven, "I am Natasha Helveteshund of the Helveteshund tribe and I come to you Jarl Raven Branwen to tell you that War is coming"
"Wait, Jarl?" Jaune asked
"I forgot, your still somewhat misinformed about what's going on," Sofia said "You see when the Bandit tribes were beginning here in Anima, the 1st Bandit king gave some seats of Power to those who he deemed worthy, anyone who ran those seats of power either through bloodshed or birthright would be a Jarl of the territory since Raven runs this Territory, she is known to others as Jarl Branwen, though she doesn't like to be called that," Sofia said
Raven looked at Natasha with a blank expression, "War you say? What War do you speak of?" Raven asks
"My father, Jarl Tyrannen, is planning to conquer all the bandit tribes and become the new king," Natasha said "He plans on killing you first"
Raven looked at her before a questioned look graced her face, "Now why would you come to me and betray your father? Betray your tribe?"
Natasha looked at Reven with a stone face and a steeled heart, hoping to not show fear of the woman, "Because he disrespected my Vow that I had made to Vernal" She said
Raven still looked at her with a questioned look on her face, "How can I trust you? How do I know you did not set Jaune free to gain my trust only to kill me or jeopardize us so that your father can kill us?" Raven asked
Natasha breathed in and exhaled as she looked at the woman, breathing slowly in order to calm her nerves, "There's a camp just 4 miles to the east of here, my father has at least 30 men there for a surprise attack that will happen sometime in the coming days" Natasha told Raven
Raven looked at her and then she turned away from Natasha and looked to Sofia, "Get some stealthy men and head over there to see if she is telling the truth if she is, report back to me, do not fight them," Raven said
"Right Raven," Sofia said as she left the tent
Raven then turned back to Natasha, "For now, Shay will take you to one of the cells well you'll be kept for the night" Raven said "if you lie to me, I'll kill you in the morning and send your head back to your father, but if you are telling the truth... then you are free to stay here and fight with us until the war is over, but there are things I wish to speak with you about, Natasha"
Natasha nodded and Shay and Hawks walked over to her but she allowed herself to be led to one of the cages. Raven then dismissed Jaune and Vernal and they walked out of the tent and as soon as they were outside they stopped and Jaune looked at Vernal with a grin
"I heard you missed me," Jaune said with a teasing grin
Vernal then gave him a glare, "Who told you that?" Vernal asked
"Hawks," Jaune said, "said you were worried about me a little" Jaune said
Vernal kept glaring at him and then turned to leave, "Your not dead, that all that matters to me Jaune" Vernal said, and she began to walk away
"Vernal" Jaune called
Vernal then turned around and looked at him
Jaune smiled at her, "It's good to see you again" he told her
Vernal smiled back at him, "Yeah, good to have you back Jaune" She said as she continued to walk away.
Jaune breathed in and looked around and still found his tent was still there, he walked to it and entered. Everything was pretty much the same inside, and with that, he took his clothes and was stripped down to his boxer briefs and his white shirt before heading to bed.