RWBY: The Final Maiden Chapter 35: Aneglus Village, a rwby fanfic

Saying that the others were somewhat annoyed with Ruby and Oscar's little walk about may have been putting it lightly. It was not the type of anger or annoyance that was displayed through loud voices but one portrayed by quiet disapproval which often felt much worse. None were angry at the pair for having gone to Doilier in the dead of night but, rather, that they had chosen to do so without the rest. But, before they'd even broken camp for the morning, it had simply become water under the bridge. However, before they began traveling for the day, Yang had gone to confront her sister, not to scold or reprimand her, but to check on her.

When Ruby had explained the reason behind her midnight expedition she had said it was to check if the Huntress of Doilier really had silver eyes. She had mentioned nothing about looking for Summer Rose.

"You were right." Ruby instantly said when she saw Yang approaching her as she was putting away her sleeping bag. "Mum would never hide in Vacuo for all these years. She would have come back to us."

Yang felt no satisfaction at being right, nor the urge to tell her younger sister that she had told her so. She could never blame her sister for hoping that, maybe, their mother was alive somewhere. Since Beacon, they had learnt that many a thing that they had thought could only exist in fairy tales- witches, magic, reincarnation- were a part of their reality. Even Yang had, at one time or other, wondered, in this world of madness, was it possible that maybe, somewhere, their mother was alive?

So no, Yang did not want to tell Ruby she'd told her so, but rather, she pulled her little sister into a hug, allowing the youth to nestle her face in her chest and to hide from the rest the tears she could no longer hold back. This was the only way the pair knew how to handle their loss, and that was together.

Soon Doilier and Petra Euryale became nothing more than markers on the map to disappear as the Wastelands had. The transition was initially slow, so slow they had barely noticed. But, the sand slowly became darker, the particles less course. Amongst the rocks and cacti, small shrubs had begun to appear, lining the well trodden road. Soon after that, the shrubs had begun to increase in number and, to their surprise, the first solitary tree appeared, like a sentinel silently observing who traveled alongs it roads. Soon, one three became two and, before they could understand how, a forest had exploded around them.

"We've made to Joshura Forest." Neptune explained, as he carefully navigated through the now shadowed roads. The top of the truck scraped unpleasantly against a number of low hanging branches, showering the windscreen in a flurry of crimson coloured leaves. "We are about two days away from the port."

"At last." Yawned Jaune, stretching where he sat in the passenger seat. Although he was thankful that their journey across Vacuo had been relatively tame, outside their little detour to Knowhere. However he was certain he'd left a butt sized dent in his seat. He then shook out his map, they hadn't had to use it much, Sun and Neptune knew the official route like the back of their hands, but, the fact it had survived the whole trip, he was insistent on using it.

"Petaha Harbour?" Jaune asked, seeing where the line that indicated the route they had been following ended by the coast.

Neptune nodded his head. "But we'll be stopping in the town before for the night. Aneglus Village, it's a safe haven for Huntsmen. Headmaster Theodore set up a barracks there, so we can spend the night without trouble.``

"Oh please don't say that!" Jaune begged, "you may have just jinxed us!"

Neptune couldn't help laughing at his friend's paranoia.

Using the word 'village' to describe Aneglus was being generous. It may have been a village once, but the cluster of buildings they drove past carried with them more dust and spiders than actual people. With the growth of Petaha Harbour just a few days' travel away, most of the residents had chosen to move to it, leaving behind only those too old or too stubborn to leave. The erection of the Huntsmen Barracks had happened before this, when Aneglus had had much more life in it. It was created to be a rest stop for Huntsmen and Huntresses as they carried out their work across the Wastelands. In that respect, Aneglus still was doing its job.

When finally Neptune had parked, his multiple passengers staggered out and savoured the freshness of the air and the surprising coolness the surrounding canopy provided. A small number of shops surrounded the barracks, providing a range of wares - from food to ammunition- anything a decent Huntsman would need, really. Residential homes were nestled between these shops, many with barred doors and shadowed windows.

Ruby had seen ghost towns before. Aneglus, if it weren't for the barracks, was most surely heading on that same path in a few more years. However, Ruby and the rest didn't particularly mind as long as the drink was not drugged and the people didn't try to kidnap them. If those conditions were met, all would be fine with Aneglus Village.

"That's so peculiar!" Exclaimed Weiss, walking up to the edge of the forest near which they had parked. A thick wall of threes surrounded them, filtering the light through its array of red, green and golden coloured leaves. "The leaves are turning red and falling?"

"I noticed it when we were driving." Admitted Jaune, walking up behind the former heiress, his feet almost sinking to his ankles in the leaves that coated the undisturbed floor. "It should be almost summer by now. The leaves should be turning green, not turning red at this time."

"You're right!" Exclaimed Nora from behind the pair, pulling back her hood completely to better look up at the strangely coloured canopy overhead.

"It's because of the heat." Oscar explained, the youth having joined Nora to inform their friends that they'd need to register their Huntsmen licenses to be able to stay at the barracks. "It gets so hot that the trees have adapted to drop their leaves in summer rather than in winter."

"Look at cute farm boy Oz showing off his know how!" Laughed Nora, nudging the boy, who was now taller than her, playfully with her elbow. Oscar blushed in response, it wasn't very often the botanical knowledge he'd learnt from his aunt was of any interest.

"Valerian!?" An unfamiliar voice called through the air, rickety and old. For the most part, the small group assumed it had nothing to do with them, not until Nora felt a trembling hand land on her shoulder.

"Valerian?" The man called again as Nora turned to look at him in surprise. Lines of age crossed his weathered face, his skin permanently darkened by the merciless Vacuan sun. A long silver beard grew down to his chest and he leaned heavily on a misshaped walking stick. His dark eyes widened when he realised Nora was not the woman he thought she was.

"Please excuse me!" He exclaimed, his old voice shaking almost as aggressively as his hand as he released Nora's shoulder. "I mistook you for someone else but you are far too young to be her!"

"No harm done." Nora laughed, fully turning towards the old man, her friends doing the same beside her.

The man continued to shake his head, a bewildered look still in his eyes as he studied Nora's face.

"It's so peculiar… you look so much alike…" He uttered in disbelief. "By any chance, you aren't related to Valerian Carrie, are you?"

"I wouldn't know." Nora admitted sheepishly, running a gloved hand through her short hair. "I don't remember much from when I was a kid."

How many times had she had to say this since coming to Vacuo? Maybe she should invest in a sign and hang it alongside Magnhild on her back?

"Oh, I-I'm sorry…" The man apologised again, his voice faltering. Maybe time and age had finally slowed his mind to the point he that was seeing things where there were none?

However, where Nora showed no recogninsition to the name, Ozpin did.

Of course they'd know of Valerian here . Ozpin mused in Oscar's mind. This was her hometown.

However, before Oscar could ask him what he meant, Jaune voiced the question to the old man instead.

"Oh, she was a child who lived alone in the forest outside of town many, many years ago." The man explained, his eyes twinkling slightly as he fondly spoke of the girl.

"Alone?" Weiss questioned, unsure if maybe the man was mistaken.

"Much misfortune befell her family during her stay here." He explained. "It was one of the reasons why the villagers preferred she stayed in the forest rather than move into the actual town. Superstitious lot." He muttered under his breath, remembering the fowl rumours that had been spread about the girl.

"But what about wild animals and Grimm?" Jaune enquired, how could anyone leave a child to fend for herself based on superstition?

"It's not impossible." Nora felt the urge to defend the unknown girl. "Ren and I did so for years."

"Grimm were never a particular problem for Valerian." The man explained. "At some point or other she'd managed to tame one, kept away the pesky animals and villagers." The man let out a low chuckle as he remembered a time she'd come to town, the Beowulf on her heels, to trade for a few things she couldn't acquire on her own. Never had he seen the residents of Aneglus look so terrified of a child.

"Wait! She tamed a Grimm!?" Nora exclaimed, giving an impressed whistle.

"I didn't even think such a thing was possible." Admitted Weiss, folding her arms, only half believing what the man claimed. It was possible time had exaggerated his tales or he simply wanted to impress some young travellers with his stories.

"It kept her home safe all the while she was here, and for a number years after she left too, until a few Huntsman decided it was too much of a risk to keep it around." The man shrugged. "They were worried that it would someday turn feral on the village."

Now Jaune was really intrigued. Unlike Weiss who only partially believed the man, Jaune was eating up his every word. "What happened to her?"

The man opened his mouth to answer but, to his surprise, it was the youngest of the group that answered in his stead.

"She was taken in by the Headmaster of Shade of the time." Oscar explained, Ozpin's memories of the girl and who she'd grown to become, playing before his eyes. "Ozpin." He quickly added with a shrug for his friends' benefits. "She seems to be one of the reasons why we are heading to Shade."

Valerian Carrie, the child of the forest that had become the Summer Maiden.

"Oh? You know her?" The old man excitedly turned to Oscar.

"A friend of the headmaster mentioned her to me." Oscar vaguely answered, no need to complicate the old man's life with details. "She graduated as a Huntress."

"Good." The old man nodded his head proudly. He had always liked Valerian. After the villagers prevented her from reentering the village to trade due to the Grimm, he'd often gone to her home to trade with her the items she'd require. He had been both happy and saddened by her departure but he knew that Aneglus Village had never been for her. "She was a fierce girl, I had no doubt that she would."

He looked at Nora once more as if wondering how this girl could look so much like Valerian. He then looked tiredly away, still shaking his head.

"Anyway, I will not take up more of your time, travellers, but I thank you for entertaining this old man's curiosity."

"Anytime!" Nora called as he began to waddle away, waving as she did so. However, she lowered her hand when she noticed her friends were all looking at her. "What? Do I have something on my face?"

"Nora, aren't you the least bit curious?" Weiss asked her in slight disbelief at how chill she was acting.

"Didn't those slave dealers say you were from Vacuo?" Jaune excitedly added. "You could actually be related to this Valerian person!"

It can't possibly be… Ozpin murmured, almost making Oscar jump.

Do you know something about this? Oscar asked, this would be the second time Ozpin had intentionally kept information from him. Oscar had hoped he'd learnt his lesson after what had happened with Ruby and the rest back in Mistral. However, Oscar quickly realised this was different from when he's asked about Summer Rose. Ozpin was not keeping something from him. Ozpin did not know the answer

No. The voice eventually answered. She can't possibly be her.

But the doubt was still there in his voice, making Oscar wonder what he could be thinking.

"We could check the house out?" Oscar suggested, thinking, based on Ozpin's reaction, it may be worth investigating.

"Why would we do that?" Nora questioned. "He made it sound like it's been abandoned for years.

"Maybe we'll find something there? Or it could jog some memories?" Oscar insisted.

"I'll find nothing there that can help me now." She finally answered, knowing what her friends were trying to do. She was thankful to them, however it had been many years since she'd wondered about her biological family. The same family that, if her memories were to be believed, had left her behind to the Grimm. She'd grown past her need to find them and, more pressing matters occupied her thoughts and time now.

"Jaune!" Neptune's voice sliced through their conversation, ending it with ease as all turned to look at the Huntsman. He was standing outside the door of the barracks, Pluto impatiently standing beside him, his arms crossed over his chest. "They need to register your licenses into the system!"

"C'mon." Nora insisted, pushing the conversation to the back of her mind and walking towards where the rest of their group was huddled. "I think we are all looking forward to sleeping in actual beds tonight."

Although there were still several hours until nightfall, the small group had agreed to take advantage of the safety Aneglus provided to properly clean up and stock up on provisions. A small handful of Huntsmen and Huntresses were also taking residence at the barracks. Most seemed friendly enough with Sun and Neptune, albeit they were wary of the rest. They had not been kidding when they said Vacuo did not look kindly on outsiders.

However they still welcomed Ruby and the rest, offering them bed and food irrespective of their origin and their tensions seemed to ease slightly once they checked their licenses. They were somewhat questionable of Oscar who, of course, had no such thing. But, a little sweet talking from Qrow settled that issue without problem.

"They'll be serving dinner soon." Ruby eagerly observed, swinging her legs excitedly as she peered over the edge of her bed at Weiss who had taken the bunk under hers. The rooms seemed to generally sleep eight individuals at once so the girls had been bunked togethers and the boy together. Although the accommodation was somewhat tight, they didn't particularly mind, it almost felt like they were back in Beacon.

As if overhearing her, there was a knock on their door accompanied by Neptune's booming voice. "You guys hungry!?"

"You bet!" Yang cheered, opening the door, although her smile faltered slightly when she was greeted by Sun on the other end, Neptune and the rest behind him.

"What about Jaune and Ren?" Ruby asked, looking over the taller man from atop her bunk for the remaining Beacon Huntsmen.

"They said something about checking out the woods?" Oscar informed her. "Not sure if they were looking for syrup? But I may be wrong."

"They shouldn't stay out in the woods after dark." Velvet warned, concerned, "It isn't safe outside the village boundary."

"I'll go find them then." Offered Nora lightly, kicking her feet over the edge of her bed and landing with a little thump on the stone floor. "They're my teammates after all, I can't let them get lost in the woods."

"I'll come with you." Offered Weiss, but Nora waved her off with a smile.

"I'm not particularly hungry so you guys start on dinner. I'll be back with the guys in no time." And, with that comment, she slid past her friends who were hoarded at their door and began to walk back towards the reception.

"Did Nora just say she's not hungry?" Yang looked back at her teammates, as if to confirm that they had heard her too.

"Is she okay?" Blake wondered, also concerned. "That's a little strange, even for Nora."

"I'm more worried about Ren." Neptune looked at Sun. "Those two haven't spoken since that night right?

"What if they get at it again and she brings down an avalanche?" Piped in Pluto, not sounding particularly worried about the notion but rather annoyed at the idea.

"Have a little more faith in her." Disapprovingly countered Weiss, not liking his tone. "She's just got some stuff on her mind, is all."

"Oh no she doesn't!" Blurted out Qrow, looking down the corridor but Nora had already vanished outside. "If another one of you decides to go on some unsanctioned side quest under my watch I swear I'm switching our for Glynda once we get to Shade." Qrow's outburst would have been funny if they weren't so concerned about their friend's wellbeing. Most of the group would follow after her a few moments later however Nora would be nowhere to be seen.

Nora idly looked around the empty town, there weren't many places they could go but, if they had gone into the woods, maybe it had been presumptuous of her to believe she could find them alone. Just to make sure, she pulled out her Scroll from her pocket but, as she had suspected, like in the other minor towns in Vacuo, there was no signal.

I'll have to do this the old fashioned way . She thought, already walking towards a barely visible path that led from the rear of the barracks and into the woods.

"Jaune! Ren!" Nora called, as her feet led her along the path, each step she made filling the air with the rustling of leaves. Overhead, a number of branches bounced out of their place when their previous occupants, most likely some form of bird or other, scurried away, frightened by the Huntress's unfamiliar calls.

Nora strained her eyes to look past the towering tree trunks, trying to make out the familiar humanoid forms of her friends but saw none. She highly doubted Ren nor Jaune would have strayed from the path, the issue was the sheer size of the woods. It was far too large for her to search alone, especially before it got dark.

Nora had almost turned back, wondering if maybe her teammates had taken some other route and were already settled back at the barracks when she unexpectedly walked in a clearing, a gap in the canopy above revealed the dusk coloured sky above and illuminated her discovery. The remnants of a small cottage took up the majority of the area, its outer frame blackened by a layer of sooth. Its windows were bare of glass, the rooms behind them no longer in existence, most likely the result of the same fire that had coated the building in sooth. The area that made up the front yard had long overgrown. Weeds peeped through the fallen leaves alongside crudely erected fences, their wood long rotted away by the changing weather.

Curiously, Nora walked towards the house. This must have been the cottage the old man had spoken of where that girl used to live. She scolded herself. What were the chances she'd stumble upon the one place she had no particular interest in visiting? She carefully peered around the clearing, maybe Jaune and Ren had stumbled upon this place as well?

She walked up to the rickety steps that led to the front porch of the building but quickly deduced it would be impossible to enter. Between fire and rot, the insides had long since crumbled away. The very wood below her feet creaked as if threatening to give way under her weight. She ran her hand across the coarse wood from which she assumed a door had once hung. Through her gloves she could feel the pores created by hungry wood worms however, she could also feel something else. Two columns of jagged lines had been etched into the wood, one under a letter 'T' another under what looked like the letter 'V'. Near each line a number had been written, most likely to indicate the growth of children as they aged. But at some point or other, such record keeping had stopped, before either one had reached their teenage years it seemed.

Nora turned away from the old markings and continued to inspect the front yard. Her eyes strayed to a small cluster of arrows that were protruding from the ground beside a collapsed well. Intrigued at the find, Nora jogged towards the arrows but cursed under her breath when she stabbed her foot on something hard that was hidden amongst the foliage, almost tripping as she did so. Unsure of the culprit, Nora slowly brushed away the dried leaves to reveal two misshaped rocks the size of watermelons. Orange and green lichen coated the stones but it had yet to fully obstruct the engraving upon their surfaces.

Nora's eyes widened as she read what was upon their surfaces, realising what these had one been. Grave markers, most likely for the only family Valerian Carrie ever knew while living here. The thought filled her with sadness. Nora cared little to learn if she truly had any form of relation with the mysterious girl but she could understand the loneliness she must have felt.

However her lamentation was cut short. Whispers carried on the wind warned her she was no longer alone. Not wishing to disrupt the grave any further, Nora carefully stood up, her hand already reaching for Magnhild that was strapped on her back. However she stopped when she recognised the figure that literally stumbled out of the bushes.

Jaune!" Ren hissed, his eyes wide in bewilderment as, out of Nora's line of vision Jaune gave him an encouraging smile and two thumbs up before running through the trees in the general direction of the town. Jaune had lured Ren out here to talk and now he had just abandoned him to confront to subject of their conversation, Nora Valkyrie,

"Ren?" Nora squinted her eyes against the shadows cast by the canopy above. But her eyes had not deceived her.

"I was out here with Jaune." Ren sheepishly admitted, tentatively stepping into the clearing, accepting that the two would have to talk at one point or other again. He'd just wished Jaune had not been so brash about it. Instantly, the air between the two seemed to thicken to the point it was almost suffocating. Although they each had wished to speak to the other, neither one had spoken to the other since that night at the auction.

"Yeah, I know I came to look for the two of you." Nora admitted rather diffidently. She had hoped Jaune would be around to act as a buffer for the awkwardness but their team leader was nowhere to be seen. "Where is Jaune?"

"He kinda went off without me just now." Ren admitted, his voice obviously careful as he spoke to the Huntress.

"Subtle." Nora tried to joke but it felt empty as she said it. She could barely look at him. How could he still look at her with such kindness? She'd had every right to be angry at him for what he had done but, the way he looked at her just made her feel all the more guilty. She looked away, unable to look in the eyes. She lifted her hood over her head, maybe the shadow it would cast could hide her face. She did not deserve his compassion

Ren took a number of quiet steps towards her, his movement barely making a sound as he walked through the dried foliage. Ren was ever a ninja, even in such an environment.

"So you chose to come here, alone?" He carefully enquired, unsure of what to say to her.

Nora's eyes fell to the small headstones she'd stumbled upon. Nothing more than two moss covered rocks, nestled in the vegetation, the crude engraving upon them barely visible.

Only one had an actual name- Thorn Carrie, mostly likely referring to the 'T' she had seen engraved on the cottage's door frame. The other simply had three letters upon its surface- Mum. Nora half wondered if these markers had been erected by a child, a child too young to know their mother's real name.

"Like I said, I came out here looking for you." But Nora's excuses felt empty to her ears. Maybe something had guided her here? Maybe something had wanted her to find this house and these grave stones? But, if it had meant to jog her memories or mean something to her, all she felt was a sad indifference.

Nora sensed the man's presence as he stopped beside her. This was most likely the closest they had been since the incident.

"Jaune told you, huh?" She guessed.

"He may have let it slip." Ren admitted, it had actually been the reason for their talk, amongst other topics.

"Convenient." Nora sighed.

The pair stood in silence, the air so thick it could be cut with a knife. Nora half wondered to herself, if Ren had to use his Semblance, would he be able read the turmoil of emotions that ran through her body? That made her heart race but her legs itch to escape?

A gentle breeze, not one induced by the Maiden's power, washed over them. It brought with it the sound of rustling leaves as more were clutched from their drying branches to be carried to places beyond their natural reach.

Nora let out a shaky breath, this silence was slowly killing her. She had never wished for them to end up the way they had when she'd wished to figure out who she was. No anger or guilt could have been worth this discomfort.

"I'm-" She began, before her courage could desert her.

"Nora-" Ren said at the same time.

The sudden interruption from the other caused both to stop, waiting silently for the other to continue.

"Ren- " Nora tried again.

"I'm-" Ren said at the same time.

This time, although both refused to continue, the silence was filled with soft laughter, produced by both Ren and Nora. With that simple act alone, some of the tension between the pair whittled away.

"Ren, I'm-"

"Nora, please let me go first." Ren nearly begged, his tone insistent. "I-I'm still not good with the talking part but I think, this one time, I'd like to speak first."

Nora raised a quizzical eyebrow at the taller Huntsman, a look she was not sure he could see past her hood. However, Ren took her silence as a sign for him to continue.

"You were right." Ren began.

"W-what?" Nora carefully asked, unsure of what the Huntsman was referring to.

"Outside the auction… everything you accused me of. You were right." Ren elaborated.

"Ren…" Nora once again tried to interrupt, but she silenced herself, this time she'd let him speak.

"You were right." Ren repeated, talking over her and preventing her from stopping him. Every time he'd tried to tell her, something had gone wrong. He'd done or said something wrong. This time he'd make sure to say what he wished her to hear at long last.

"I should be apologising. When things got difficult back in Atlas, I said terrible things. I had been so angry at myself for not being as good as the Ace Ops, for what had happened at Robyn's rally, for losing the lamp. I thought, if I just focused on working harder, getting stronger, that we… no... I wouldn't fail. But, my biggest failure was as a teammate and as a partner."

Nora could feel his light pink eyes on her as he said this. Her heart raced at his soft words, as if it wished to escape her chest. Her whole body felt numb and yet she still tried to pull her hood further over her head. Was there no way he could not look at her like that? She wanted to feel mad at him but how could she when he looked at her with such kindness?

"Ren, I just wish…" But Nora's voice failed her, her anger deflating slightly. "I mean, why hadn't you said something sooner? We failed as a team… but we succeeded as a team as well."

"I was the one holding us back. Not Jaune, not you, me.'' Ren let out a tired sigh. "I think that may have been one of the few reasons why I couldn't bring myself to tell you about my Semblance."

Nora's shoulders slumped as she too let out a tired breath.

"Well you're wrong there." She quietly said. "All I do is make dumb jokes and smash things with a hammer. I can't even use the Winter Maiden's powers right…"

Nora clenched her fists at her own words. This had been the truth she'd come to accept about herself. Penny had bestowed her with this responsibility when she'd saved her life back in Atlas but that had been the android's gravest mistake. She had chosen the wrong person to succeed her.

"What?" Ren countered, turning his whole body to look at the Huntress. "That's not true! You put everything you have into what you do! You support everyone around you, you help without worrying how it might hurt? And that's what I love about… That's why I…"

Nora's eyes widened beneath the rim of her hood as, finally, Ren said the words he'd taken so long to realise, to voice the emotion that had so long nestled itself in his heart but had been too naive to name.

"I love you." He finally said, putting every ounce of truth into those three worlds, so that maybe, even across the space that divided them, Nora would hear them and know that was the truth. Not telling her about his Semblance… keeping it secret because he thought she wouldn't understand… Those had been childish excuses and he couldn't allow them to take away the only family he had left. He just wished she would believe him, trust him one more time that this was the truth- his truth. "And I'm sorry I ever kept this from you."

"How can you love me after all the cruel things I said to you?" She finally answered, her voice so low it was almost drowned out by the rustling leaves.

"I've got no right to accept your words after what I said to you." She continued, Ren's eyes widening as finally, even without his Semblance, he could see the guilt that had been eating away at her.

"I have always loved you, Lie Ren." She blatantly confessed, finally looking up at the man, her own eyes wide. "And that pretty head on your shoulders seems like it's doing alot better. But I still need to get mine sorted out… amongst other things.." And she extended her hand, surpringling even herself as a small, yet beautiful, flurry of snowflakes danced across the palm of her hand and caressed the tips of her fingers. "Before I can be the partner you need." And she clenched her fist, the magic vanishing as suddenly as it had appeared.

Nora almost looked away again as she said this but a strong hand grasped her own, the touch soft, allowing her to pull away if she wished. She did not and, instead, she finally looked into the eyes of the man she'd fallen in love with.

"And you will figure it out." Ren softly said, raising his other hand to her cheek. Nora leaned her face against his warm touch, feeling as his calloused thumb wiped away at the first tear that had escaped her. "And I will be here for you, like you were always there for me."

Like she had been there for him when he had lost his family.

Like how she had been there for him for him when he'd almost lost himself in his anger.

Like she had always been there for him.

And with those words still echoing in her mind, Ren took a step towards her, arching his back slightly as he gently pressed his lips against hers . Nora only hesitated for a moment, her mind and body unable to react to both Ren's words and actions. But, when finally her body seemed to comprehend what Ren had said and the meaning of his actions, Nora closed her eyes, moving towards Ren so her chest was pressed against his and she finally kissed him back.

So consumed in the moment, she did not notice that the wind had blown back her hood, allowing her short ginger hair to dance to its tune. All she could feel was Ren's heartbeat race alongside her own and the warmth. Not a raging inferno of passion, but a comforting warmth that spread from his touch. When they parted, Nora bit her lower lip, feeling her cheeks flush. This had not been the first time they had kissed. She could still remember every vivid detail of their first back at Robyn's rally, but, somehow, this had felt completely different.

"So, are we okay?" Ren carefully asked, also feeling flustered at what he had just instigated. It had used up the last of his courage.

Nora raised her hand to the cheek that was still cupped by his hand and she allowed her thumb to caress it.

"Not exactly." She admitted, with his words her guilt and frustration with the man had somewhat subsided but it would take time to completely vanish. However, with that kiss, at last the tension between the pair had been carried away with the wind, leaving behind the possibility of tomorrow.

"But we will be." She confidently added, turning to look again at the gravestones, her head tilting slightly to the side, resting it against his shoulder, his hand still holding hers.

"But if you keep something like that a secret ever again, I will break your legs." She hastily added.

"I would expect no less." He answered, with a low chuckle.

"I'm sorry to bring you all the way here." Kali said as she led Summer Rose through her home and away from the main entrance. "But I didn't know who else to call."

"How is she?" Summer asked, concern laced her voice as she was led through the unfamiliar house. It had been over a month since Valerian had vanished with Eleanora. To say that Bellamy was worried was an understatement. Professor Ozpin was also concerned about Valerian's abrupt departure, not simply due to the Summer Maiden having vanished in the wind, but for her wellbeing as well.

As she was led through the beautifully decorated home, through one of the windows Summer saw a ginger haired child rolling through the lush grass that made up the small internal garden while another, black haired girl was quietly trying to read a book.

"She's been here almost a week and she's looking somewhat better." Began Kali, but she paused outside the guest bedroom Valerian was using, her voice hushed."But she can't keep going as she has, not with her condition and Eleanora in tow. She needs proper treatment, something we cannot give her here on Menagerie."

"And has she said anything to why she left Shade?" Summer gently asked. Like Kali, she too had received numerous calls from Bellamy begging that, if she heard anything from Valerian, to contact him. Her heart had broken at his words but Summer also knew sometimes appearances could be deceiving, especially concerning things that happened behind closed doors.

"She insists it has nothing to do with Bellamy." Kali explained, recalling her friend's words when she'd expressed the same concerns as Summer. "She says she just wanted to get away from Shade for a while."

"It may be the medications." Mused Summer, she was no doctor but she recalled the day Valerian had told her of her sickness. She remembered Bellamy silently standing in the background. She could never forget his face, the face of someone who refused to allow the Scourge to ruin another life. "From what she'd told me, for the past year they've been trying a whole concoction of drugs to help slow the symptoms but the side effects have never been pleasant…"

"Will she be okay?" Kali hastily asked. "She's been at least a month without any medications!"

"Val is strong and stubborn, I'm sure she can last even a while longer without them." Summer deduced. The woman wished she could tell her old friend that the fact Valerian was also in possession of the Summer Maiden's powers was also a factor that helped her get his far. Valerian had once confided in her that Bellamy believed that it was only due to the Maiden's powers that Amelia had lived for as long as she had. Usually, upon diagnosis, Scourge victims only had a year to live. Both Amelia and Valerian had beaten those odds.

Summer then sighed, shaking her head. "If she doesn't want to return home to Bellamy we have no right to force her. But it's also not right for you to have to care for her alone…"

"It's no bother at all!" Kali answered. "We've got room for the two of them. Ghira doesn't mind that she's here. Blake and Eleanora seem to get along. I know, if the roles had been reversed, she'd do the same for me."

"For any of us." Agreed Summer. That was the kind of person Valerian was- had always been. She may have been a little rough around the edges, especially in her youth, but she'd do anything to help those she cared about. "We'll speak with her, see what she thinks is best. But before coming here I already spoke with Tai. If she wants, we have a place for her and Eleanora on Patch as well."

"But won't it be a little cramped?" Kali admitted, recalling that the Huntress herself already had two young girls to look after.

"Both Ruby and Yang would be overjoyed to have someone else their age." Summer explained. "And Val can stay in Qrow's room, that old bird can sleep on the couch for a few nights."

"Does Qrow know this?" Kali asked, struggling to hold back her inappropriately timed laughter, unable to imagine Qrow agreeing to that in any way.

"Freeloaders don't get a say." Summer concluded, mercilessly, with a good nod of her head.

"Then let's talk to Val, see if she'd agree to this." Kali said, finally knocking on the guest bedroom door.

"I think she will, she's always said she wanted to visit Patch." Sadly answered Summer as a muffled voice from across the door told them to come in.

Valerian had always said she wanted to come to Patch and for their kids to meet.

Just as she'd always wanted to see Menagerie.

Just as she'd always wanted to take a trip around Remnant with Eleanora.

Val had not simply run away from home, she was crossing off things from a bucket list.

Notes:

Another chapter done! I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for reading and feel free to drop a comment. I'll see you all next week :DSaying that the others were somewhat annoyed with Ruby and Oscar's little walk about may have been putting it lightly. It was not the type of anger or annoyance that was displayed through loud voices but one portrayed by quiet disapproval which often felt much worse. None were angry at the pair for having gone to Doilier in the dead of night but, rather, that they had chosen to do so without the rest. But, before they'd even broken camp for the morning, it had simply become water under the bridge. However, before they began traveling for the day, Yang had gone to confront her sister, not to scold or reprimand her, but to check on her.