Chapter 5 : A Blood Red Path
After two hours of walking and dodging the shady merchants that inhabit the lower levels of Mistral, Ruby and Death managed to make it to the outskirts of the kingdom. As it's reputation would lead many to believe, Mistral certainly wasn't shy of trade of any form. Legal or not. Despite this, as soon as one were to reached the bottom of either mountains, they would find themselves alone very fast.
And with the seemingly long road ahead of them, this gave Ruby plenty of time to pester her only other party member with questions. But even though she had been given permission, she was still wary to instigate a conversation. When she started her first year of beacon, she was too timid to talk to anyone that wasn't her sister. And while she managed to make friends in due time, they were high school kids. Death is one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. He only seemed to be second to the gods of creation and destruction by the sound of it. Needless to say, this was a bit of a step up from what her already shy self is used to.
"So, how are we getting to the spring maiden? I don't exactly know how far the campsite is, but I don't suppose we're going on foot." said the small scythe wielder.
"We aren't."
In a sudden flash of ethereal green, a horse appeared from beneath the ground to Death's side. It was the same one that he rode when they fought the Nuckelavee in mistral. Before she was only able to see it from afar, and when it was up close it wasn't there for long. As long as they were here she could look at it in much more detail.
Up to its saddle it was just shy of seven feet, putting it as the tallest being between it, Death, and Ruby herself. Which was very tall for an average horse, but that was at the bottom of the list of out of the ordinary things the steed had. Its hooves emulated flames the same shade of green from before, while the mane and tail were completely replaced by them. It's flesh was rotting away, turning it a sick pale white and allowing Ruby to peek into its ribcage if she looked closely. The armor that the steed was fitted with was almost as outlandish.
Starting from its lower back, thin bone like steel rows ran down its hide and came to a tip when it reached the tail. A large saddle was centered on its back, beneath it was a dark tattered purple cloth that went down its sides. The saddle had chains that wrapped around the horse's neck and connected to a hunk of metal with a skull design.
Death meddled with the chains before managing to move the saddle farther down the back of the horse undead horse.
"Here." Death said, extending a hand out to Ruby.
Looking at the reaper and back at the horse she knew what he was trying to do.
"I don't know if you can say the same, but I don't mix well with fire." She protested, to which the reaper sighed.
"Trust me." He said, his hand still extended.
Ruby looked at him, and it was clear from her facial expression that she still wasn't certain whether she should get on. As soon as Death noticed this he walked behind Ruby and gently pushed her closer to the phantom horse.
"Uh, you know, on second thought I think walking is a great idea." She stammered.
The pale rider got a firm grasp on Ruby's forearm and bought it up to his steed's mane. She tried to retract it but she knew it was futile. He brought her hand to the green flames, and to her pleasant surprise she was unharmed. In fact the flames actually felt comforting. She didn't know what to expect, in retrospect this was probably the best way it could have turned out.
The little rose was suddenly hoisted up and onto the saddle of the horse. She hadn't even processed that Death removed his hand until afterwards. Before Ruby could say anything the reaper mounted his pale steed, sitting in front of the huntress.
"Hold onto me, or the saddle. And don't try to talk for while. You'll bite your tongue off."
With that Death cracked the reigns, commanding the phantom horse to charge down the path. With such a little warning, Ruby wrapped her arms around the reaper, clinging for dear life. She knew her aura would protect her should she ever fall off and be trampled, but in the moment she felt anything but safe.
Yang had taken her on rides on her motorcycle bumblebee, but a horse is a completely different story. She's heard horses have much better acceleration than any vehicle, and finally being on one certainly proved so. At the rate the pale horse was picking up speed, it seemed like it might as well be as fast as one too. While bumblebee's engine gave off a constant hum and vibration from its engine, being mounted on a living thing that dwarfed her in size guaranteed Ruby she will never feel settled so long as it was picking up speed. She could see why Death told her to watch her tongue.
Ruby felt like she was in a rodeo with no sign of stopping, but to her relief, the pale mount slowed to a cruising speed. While it was still going too fast for comfort, the rose was happy that they won't be taking their entire journey at that pace.
The huntress loosened her grip on the horseman and looked back to Haven. To her surprise the kingdom's lowermost floors have already disappeared behind a thick layer of trees. Looking up she could see that Haven was still present, but they they have already traveled farther than she anticipated.
A few minutes passed and the duo found the scenery that encompassed them was made up entirely of trees, the path they followed, and the occasional glimpse of the night sky above. Without Dust, they'd surely be lost. The crow flew far in front of them, but did not go so high as to pierce the canopy of green leaves. His green glow made sure Death could see him at all times.
"Your horse, does he have a name?" She asked the kinslayer.
"Despair. As something that will forever be at my side, I thought the name would be fitting."
"Well, I can't say I disagree. Not that you're that bad of a guy." She stammered her last words.
"I'm sorry if I'm asking things that are too personal and all that, but you said that the other, err, horsemen are your siblings, who are they?"
"War and Strife, my brothers. And Fury, my only sister."
"Well uh," sure he answered her question, but he was a bit more brief than she would have liked.
"Can you tell me a little bit more about them?"
"Which one?"
"Any of them, I guess."
Of course Death had his views on his siblings, most of them negative. But that much is in their nature. Nevertheless he looked after all of them, whether it be as their leader or their brother.
"While Strife and I don't see eye to eye, neither of us come from a foolish place. Though he doesn't seek to be leader of the four himself, he has openly voiced his distaste towards my actions. He believes me to be cruel and unforgiving when commanding. He jests himself to be a philosopher of sorts. Always trying to bring peace amongst those who are willing to change as he does. He is always respectful. At least to those who aren't at the end of his guns."
"War is naive in a sense. He is more than a capable warrior, and has seen the atrocities of the name he has been given. But even so he believes that honor can exist in this realm where loyalties can change with a breeze. As short tempered as he is, he is noble. Something that is rare in any realm. He's the most... tolerable, between the others.
"Fury, is standoffish to say the least. I say War is naive, but Fury is the one that knows so little of what her boundless bloodlust and anger means. No respect. No remorse. No reason. I made her a flask that would give her life where she would lose it. While War must find room for his morals, and Strife has the least potent with power, Fury is the weakest of us all. Should she ever fall, I don't think she can get back up. Next time we meet, I don't think she intends to see me leave unscathed."
"Wait, you mean she wants to fight you?"
"She wants to take my place as the leader of the four. And in the time we've been apart, she'll be more than willing to duel me for the right. She has such a hatred for me she would have gone for my head long ago if we weren't siblings. And the few times she had, she lost."
Ruby let that sink in. Fury sounds so much like a twisted Yang. Like if Yang's sisterly love was replaced with that of her rage. Strong, gung-ho, and willing to fight anyone that gets in her way or ticks her off. Ruby looks at Yang as her best friend, but Fury seems to look at Death as her worst enemy.
"Do you and Fury… hate each other?" She asked hesitantly.
"She might hate me, but I don't hate her. She carries the most spite out of all of us. I call her weak to make her stronger. I want to see her grow. But she has learned nothing from what I've done. She thinks of herself as the most capable of us all. She sees me as too forgiving and not willing to make the tough decisions. With me as leader, she naturally wants to see me lose to her."
"But didn't you say Strife thinks you're too cruel?"
"Yes."
"So how does Fury think you're the polar opposite?"
"Strife is a warrior before anything else and won't shy away from battle. He just wants there to be no need for conflict in the first place. Fury simply wants to be seen as the toughest person in the room. They have fought over more arbitrary things than being leader countless of times. It'd make sense they look at me differently."
"Oh…"
"You guys don't sound like you get along."
"In most ways we don't. But we look out for each other. That comes before all else."
Ruby listened to what Death had to say about his small family. He hasn't been with holding any insight she's asked of him. As old as time or not this had to be personal for him, yet he was answering without hesitation.
"I know we agreed I can ask you anything, but why are you so open about all of this?" the huntress asked the reaper.
"..." He didn't answer, letting the question sit before he picked it up.
"Trust for one reason. Unlike other races, humans are left in the dark about the rest of the realms. If we're going to be working with one another you should know what you're getting into. Humans don't live too long, and I trust you and your friends will carry my secrets to the grave."
"So you're not worried about telling me all of this?"
"Worried, no. But you should feel lucky. Everyone else that knows this much is either dead or shouldl be soon."
"Thanks. I think. And don't worry your secret's safe with me."
Caw!
Dust demanded the rider's attention, bringing it to the road ahead. They were coming to a crossroads, parting into three other directions. Despair slowed to a halt as they approached a post standing in the center of all four paths, Dust sitting atop it. The sign pointing down the path to the left labeled 'Galath', straight ahead was 'Kuroyuri', though its engravings were crossed out, and to the right was 'Reksis'.
"What are you waiting for?" Death called out to the crow.
With another caw it flashed green hastily flew from the post. He continued down the path to the left. If Kuroyuri was anything to go off of, Galath was probably the name of the town up ahead.
"Are we going to be spending the night at the next stop? I'm getting pretty tired, but I know we're trying to save time and all." Ruby asked.
"Depends on when we get there. If we do we'll be leaving by sunrise at the latest. Settling down when it's already dawn would be pointless. If we arrive within the hour, we will. But I may not accompany you if there are locals."
"Why not?"
"I don't need to sleep, so we'd only be drawing attention if I was seen with you. Or at all for that matter. You can find a place to rest, and you'll find me in the morning."
"Ok. How will I do that?"
"Dust will guide you."
"Gotcha."
The duo strode down the winding path in a somewhat mutual silence. It didn't take long for them to hear the sounds of civilization up ahead of them. Ruby dismissed the sounds and put them in the back of her head, like white noise. She was thinking about how she'll find a place to sleep. A motel no doubt but she didn't know how she'd find one other than asking the locals, but she felt she'd be a bother.
Little red tried to think of another way, but her thoughts were interrupted as Despair suddenly charged forward. Jumping on the saddle slightly, Ruby looked at Death's back and saw that he was leaning forwards to streamline the incoming wind.
"Hey, what's the hurry?" She asked, confused as to what's happening.
"Something's not right."
The horseman raced forwards through the forest, showing no signs of slowing. Light crept from behind the threes until they turned a corner to see Galath up in flames.
The Grimm found their way to the small town just as they had Kuroyuri. The two rode to the entrance, the drop gate that had been protecting the locals was busted down. They rode into the town limits and saw nearly everyone in a state of panic. There were huntsmen present, and although they were doing their jobs well, they were outnumbered marginally. They would be snuffed out before the sun rises.
"Rose! Arm yourself!" Death nearly shouted to Ruby.
Despair suddenly vanished in a mass of green fire, forcing both riders to the ground. Ruby's footing wasn't able to catch her the same way Death's did. The reaper immediately reached for his scythes before taking off after the Grimm.
Ruby quickly grabbed Crescent Rose and threw her backpack next to a bush to get it out of harm's way. She was about to take off after a boarbatusk but saw a nevermore descending onto a man fleeing with his child in arms.
She changed Crescent Rose into a sniper and pelted the bird Grimm with as many rounds as she had to. She didn't need to go for the killing blow, just get it away from the citizens.
It crashed into a rooftop but didn't cause it to collapse. It recovered and flew towards the teen in mindless retaliation. Once it reached her, Ruby clipped one of its wings before it slammed into a wall behind her, killing it.
She saw Death was making quick work of most of the Grimm in the immediate vicinity, never taking a moment to rest from the slaughter.
"Rose, get the bystanders out of the way!" He yelled from across the campus.
She looked around and saw a kid staring at an alpha beowolf running towards him, frozen in fear. Ruby used her semblance to tackle the the kid out of the way, careful of not hurting him as she did so. She dealt a single swipe to the alpha's chest, sending it reeling back but not killing it.
She took the grace period to shoot a hole in the foundation of the closest house, making a hiding place for the kid to crawl under. As he crawled inside, the alpha dealt a slash to Ruby's back, causing her to fall to the ground.
She looked back up to see Death leap from around the corner onto the beowolf's back, followed up by decapitating it with one of his scythes. The sight brought back memories of Qrow from when Ruby was younger.
But she didn't have time to reminisce as she and the horseman both sprung to their next targets. Death to a gathering of boarbatusks and Ruby to a young couple getting surrounded.
Ruby shot behind her, propelling herself forwards. She landed on a beowolf, forcing it to the ground before she shot it in the head. She dismembered another's arm followed by its torso. She slammed the butt end of her scythe into one's throat. She hasn't used it much but she figured its sharp point would have its uses.
"Over here!" A huntsmen called out as he beckoned civilians into what looked like a semi-fortified pub.
"Get a move on. We've got everything handled out here." Little red told the two. The nodded before promptly sprinting to the makeshift safe haven.
The young huntress turned around, not about to let another town fall to ruin. Death was taking care of the beowolfs with ease, but didn't acknowledge the boarbatusk charging at him from behind.
Ruby intercepted it with her semblance and sent it stifling to the side. While she was still a few feet off the ground, she shot at it until it fell to its side, unable to get up. She rushed over and slammed her scythe into its soft belly.
She looked back to see that the executioner had already taken care of the rest of the Grimm. Leaving Galath in a state of tranquility, with the exception of the burning buildings. Ruby walked up to him, resting her scythe on her shoulder like an umbrella.
"Huh, guess we didn't have to-"
An alpha beringel had busted through the stone wall from which the duo entered. It bellowed a large roar as it stared down the huntsmen who weren't guarding the shelter.
"I had to start, didn't I?" Ruby rolled her eyes at herself.
The beringel swiped its arm at two huntsmen, sending them flying into walls, and slammed a fist onto another, leaving him in a crater.
With nothing else left to hit, it directed its attention to Death and Ruby. It brought both of its fists up and tried to bring them down onto the two. Ruby dashed to the side, and Death closer the the gorilla's chest.
As he exited the dodge Death kick-flipped into the air and engaged combat close to its face. Ruby embedded her scythe into the Grimm's hand, pinning it there.
It wailed as it could do little to attack or defend itself. It opened its mouth wide and tried to eat Death, but he kept its mouth pried open and slammed one of his scythes into the beringel's eyes.
It forced its hand out of crescent rose, leaving it torn but free. It slapped itself in the face, grabbing Death in it. It tossed the reaper away, but not before he could grab his scythe from its eye.
The beringel brought both of its fists up and began slamming them on the ground repeatedly. Ruby tried to dash out of the way but was caught underneath the blows. Slowly a crater was forming around her body as she was getting pummeled.
"No!" Death yelled.
He sprinted over as fast as he could, his body emanating a dark purple smoke.
A/N:
Sorry for not posting, been busy, not dead etc. You know the drill.
Anyways, give me some feedback and let me know what you guys want to see more of.