Umbra
"It's too hot for a walk. Can we just go back, porfaaaa?"
The young man looked to his friends, all three of them women: a brunette, a redhead, and a blonde.
"Maybe you shouldn't wear so much dark clothing there, Noche?" The brunette looked over her shoulder at the complaining man.
"She's got a point, mi amigo." The blonde one agreed.
An exasperated sigh. "Ehh, it's part of my look. I can't wear white. That's not Noche!"
"Noche's also not akin to dying of heatstroke, is he?" A monotone voice broke through, coming from the girl leading the group through the forest, her hair done up in twin buns. She was a red panda faunus, the tail that swung to and fro a shade of red similar to her hair.
The tall man wiped sweat from his brow. "Y'know, Umbra, I could use a little less lip, por favor."
The short-haired girl narrowed her eyes. "I mean, I kinda expect it from her. Only a little bit, though."
"Cállate, Ivory."
"Yeah, Ivory, cállate," The brunette used her best imitation of their friend as she flicked the few teal strands of hair out of her eyesight.
"You, too, Teala!"
"I just thought we could enjoy some nature," Umbra said, stretching her arms out as her golden eyes looked towards the sun shining through the branches.
"I quite enjoy air-conditioning, thank you."
"The breeze is lovely today," Teala exhaled, ignoring Noche.
"Agreed!" Ivory exclaimed.
"I'm surrounded by brujas who just want me dead."
"Fresh air keeps you alive, Noche," Umbra retorted, not bothering to look over her shoulder. She could already guess the face he's making.
"I don't believe you."
"Doesn't make it any less true!" Ivory smiled at him.
His hazel eyes looked away at the trees they passed
"Supongo, I can enjoy it...for now."
Ivory clasped her hands together in an effort to emphasize her excitement. Her smile always seemed to win over Noche.
A brief smile flashed across Umbra's face. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Teala walking alongside her.
Teala was peering at the two behind them before her eyes flitted towards Umbra. "Are you okay? Not too hot?"
Umbra looked to her friend. Teala forwent her usual cropped coat, leaving herself in a white buttoned shirt, the small tie she always wears dangling loose around her neck.
Checking her own clothes out, Umbra didn't think it was too bad for hot weather. A full-body skin suit that ran from her neck to her feet, covered in a mix of mostly black and striped golden colors. Over that, she wore a black hooded vest, black shorts, and running shoes.
At a glance the short, red scarf would seem overdressed the weather. However, the worn, threadbare fabric could no longer keep in any warmth. Now it was merely for having the right look.
"I feel fine," she mumbled, looking back to Teala, "Thanks."
The brunette smirked, reaching over to pat her on the shoulder. "No problem‒"
Teala immediately picked her head up, frowning.
"Mm...Teala?"
Her friend held up a finger. "Do you hear that?"
The group stopped, Ivory and Noche just as confused as Umbra.
Turning to the forest ahead of them Teala pointed to a writhing mass of dark creatures. As they advanced through the dimmed light it appeared as though they were making the forest itself darker.
"Grimm."
At the name, everyone kicked into gear, retrieving their weapons. Noche's gauntlets were already at the ready, Ivory's axe was racked, and Teala's lever-action rifle was fully loaded.
Umbra reached behind herself, where holsters hung from her lower waist, unsheathing a pair of slightly oversized tonfas. On the ends closer to the handles were the heads of roaring creatures; one a tiger, the other a dragon.
"Haven said the forests were safe today! Why are there Grimm?" Ivory shouted, looking to her team.
Noche shrugged. "I don't know, maybe they missed something. It doesn't matter. We're huntsmen, let's just deal with it."
"Got it!" Ivory smiled, unslinging her weapon and charging at them. As she neared a Beowolf, she jumped, swung into its neck, and pulled the trigger of her weapon to blast the Grimm behind it, using the recoil as further force behind her slice as it cleaved clean through the Beowolf's neck.
With that, the rest of the team followed suit, slicing and shooting their way through the Grimm.
Umbra twirled the tonfas in her hands, the trademark sound of rushing wind audible as she dashed in with closing both sticks between a Beowolf's skull, crushing it to pieces.
As the creature disintegrated, Umbra jerked her arms back. Though they may look like ordinary tonfas, the weapons she held were much more than that. Every time she swung, air would collect inside the tonfas before being pressurized and contained, waiting for her to use it.
As the next Beowolf came charging in, Umbra jabbed the close end of her tiger into its abdomen, then threw an uppercut with her dragon.
What was peculiar was that these hits didn't push the creature away as they normally would. Instead, the creature was pulled in by them through the power of Umbra's semblance, allowing her to keep the beast there so she could deal more damage without moving.
Delivering several more jabs, eventually she hooked the end of one tonfa behind its head, pulled it into a knee strike. Falling to the ground, the beast had no time to react as she stomped its face in.
She was about to move on to the next one when a shrill scream pierced the air, followed by a shout.
"Ivory!"
Turning towards the source of the noise, Umbra's eyes widened.
What?
She saw Ivory standing there, bow-legged, looking down at the large gash cut through her clothing, staining her white fur coat red.
The girl Umbra saw as the kindest of their bunch fell to her knees, the light that filled her kind soul snuffing out as she descended, her axe dropping from her twitching fingers.
No...
"Ivory!" Noche shouted again, running over in a state of panic, only for the swipe of an unchecked Ursa claw to catch on his throat and rip it from his neck. He collapsed quickly, coughing up blood as he turned over onto his back to reach out to the beast like he was attempting to stop it from lifting its foot and dropping down on his head with a sickening crack.
Not this…
Teala, her mind a scramble from the chaos, looked to her two teammates' corpses, then to Umbra, her own yellow eyes widening as she opened her mouth to call out to her.
Her back suddenly arched, a shriek releasing instead of words. Glancing down, the ends of claws were pierced through her stomach. With shaking arms, she dropped her gun, letting it clatter to the floor as she extended a hand to her only living teammate.
Not again...
Her voice was weak, nearly a whisper. "U-Umbra...he-help, p-please."
The Grimm started...to laugh?
Devoid of joy, but full of dark amusement.
Teala was then thrown upward, her back slamming against a tree before descending back to the earth, crashing against the ground, her eyes now unmoving as blood leaked from her lips.
Why aren't I doing anything?!
Looking down, she realized that not only could she not move, but her weapons were gone, leaving her to stare at her small, empty hands. In fact, her clothing had changed. She was in a dress, like the ones she would wear when she was…
Turning her head back up, she saw that she wasn't in the forest near Haven anymore. She was in a place that she swore she could remember, yet so far from her memory.
"Umbra…"
Her eyes became transfixed on a woman, lying where she saw Teala, reaching a hand out to her.
The woman looked familiar; burnt red hair, golden eyes, and a tail similar to her own.
Her breath caught in her throat. Of course she looked familiar.
Who would forget what their older sister looked like?
"Umbra, please...help."
The little girl couldn't speak, couldn't shout for help. She was paralyzed in fear. Tears welled up in her eyes, sliding down her cheeks as the place she once called home was in ruins, and the people she once called family were torn apart in front of her.
Eventually, she felt the shock let her go, allowing the poor faunus to drop to her knees, and release a blood-curdling shriek towards the gods.
Asking for help, pleading for it.
After all, she couldn't help them.
She was nothing but a weak girl.
Intent on watching her family die.
Good.
For.
Nothing.
A sharp gasp as the girl shot up in her bed, covered in cold sweat.
Ivory! Noche!
She looked to her right, seeing, in the moonlight's illumination, a short woman, and a tall man, lying in their own beds nearby, peacefully slumbering.
Teala!
Looking to her left, she saw the taller woman asleep as well.
Turning back towards the far wall, a barely audible sigh emitted from Umbra. She closed her eyes and shook her head.
The sounds of shifting came from her left, as Teala's breathing changed.
"Umbra?"
Looking back at her teammate, Umbra's face showed nothing was wrong. "Yes?"
"You okay?"
The faunus nodded. "Yeah."
"You sure?"
Another nod. "Yeah…"
Umbra could feel Teala's yellow eyes on her, examining her. What felt like hours was only a few seconds as she sighed.
"Alright. Go back to bed. You still wanted to go on that hike, right?"
Her eyes widened briefly, but she was quick enough to control it so that Teala couldn't see. "Yes. Of course."
"Then get some sleep. We'll need our strength."
"Right," she said, watching as Teala turned over in her bed.
Umbra lied back down in hers, staring at the ceiling.
It will never happen...never.
And if it started to, she thought as she closed her eyes, I will never let it happen.
That Morning
"How about you wear something less...dark, Noche?"
The man frowned at the faunus. "But...but my-"
"Well we aren't trying to be stealthy here. Keep the gauntlets, just...take off your cloak at least."
Looking down at himself, he sighed and threw off the cloak, hanging it by the door. "Ay dios mío, fine."
"How are you going to function without us, Noc?" Ivory teased, resting her fists on her hips as she beamed at him.
Teala glanced to Umbra, who returned the look, flashing a brief smirk.
The brunette clapped her hands. "C'mon, guys. We are wasting light. It's a beautiful day, let's enjoy it! Before the busy day we all have tomorrow...sans Noche."
"Ay!"
"Just...let's go." Teala ordered, gesturing to the already opened door.
Walking out into the courtyard of Haven, Teala sidled up to Umbra, hands held behind her back, while Ivory and Noche bickered about something.
"Hey, Umbra. You sure you're okay?"
The faunus looked to her friend, tilting her head. "Why do you keep asking?"
"Something seems, I don't know...off about you. I mean, I know you don't talk much anyway, but you've never been this silent. Are you sick? Need Ivory to get some medicine?"
"I have some in my pouch!" The short woman shouted jovially from the back.
Umbra flashed another smile, and shook her head. "I appreciate the concern, but I'm fine. Nothing to worry about."
Teala stared at Umbra a minute longer, then sighed. "Alright. But if you want to talk, I'm always here for you."
Umbra really did appreciate her teammate. They've been together ever since meeting on their initiation. Sure, she was a bit closed off at first, but over time she found herself being more open to them.
They were her team.
She would do anything to protect them.
"Well, if you want those tomatoes so bad, why don't you come with me tomorrow?"
"I'll think about it, Ivory."
An attempt at a growl came from the girl as their group had made it a good distance into the forest. Nothing bad had happened, so Umbra was less on edge than before.
Teala chuckled, glancing behind them at the two.
Umbra's breath caught in her throat, but she coughed it out.
"You okay, Umbra?"
She looked to her friend. "Yeah. And my tail is fine, don't worry about it."
Teala smirked. "You know me too well, I was just about to ask‒"
The woman stopped dead in her tracks.
"Teala?" Umbra felt her heart rate jump. What? No…
Umbra gazed ahead to see a gigantic Ursa, visible in the sunlight. She spoke before Teala could.
"Grimm."
Please...
At the name, everyone kicked into gear, retrieving their weapons. Noche's gauntlets were already at the ready, Ivory's axe was racked, and Teala's lever-action rifle was fully loaded.
I can't let it happen!
Umbra reached behind herself to the holsters that hung from her lower waist, unsheathing her tonfas, and twirling them a bit.
"Haven said the forests were safe today! Why is there a Grimm?" Ivory shouted, looking to her team.
Noche shrugged. "I don't know, maybe they missed something. It doesn't matter, let's just deal with it."
I won't let it happen!
Teala was first to speak strategy. "It's only an Ursa so we just need to group up on-"
"I have him!" Umbra was quick to interrupt as she charged towards the beast.
"Umbra, no!"
The faunus ignored her comrade's cry as she continued, running at the towering beast before her.
Umbra twirled the tonfas in her hands, the trademark sound of wind rushing audible as she slid under the Ursa's swinging claws, missing her hair by inches.
Completely sliding under the arc of the attack, she stopped on her knees and turned towards the Ursa, seeing it approaching her friends, all three of them ready to take it down.
No!
Setting off in a sprint, she jumped and brought the tonfa handles together, aiming downwards as a huge blast of collected air sending her upwards, clearing the distance between them. She arched her back, raised her arms up high to put her entire body into the action as she swung down upon the Ursa's head, the force of the momentum enough to send the beast to the ground.
Gritting her teeth, the faunus raised her tonfas once again to begin pounding down on the Ursa's head, the rest of her face unchanging from its stoic state as she kept up her assault.
Never again!
Never again!
Never again!
"Umbra!"
She felt arms wrap around her waist and pull her back against someone's chest. Her hands still brought the tonfas down on empty air.
"Umbra, enough!"
The words got to her as she saw that the Ursa had disintegrated, leaving in among rose petals.
She felt two other hands on her shoulders.
"You got her, amiga?"
"Yeah," Teala's voice was close to her ear, calming her, "I got her."
The hands upon her shoulders let go, and footsteps carried Ivory's and Noche's voice away from them a bit.
Umbra looked down at her lap. Her breath was heavy, and she felt a bit weak.
Never again…
Leaning back into the person holding her, she felt the arms squeeze her in an embrace.
"It's dead. You killed it," Teala spoke to her, before letting go and standing, "Though you shouldn't have just charged in there like that," she said, holding a hand out to Umbra and helping her up to give her a brief smile.
Umbra nodded. "Right. Sorry."
Teala smirked. "No need. I can get angry at those bastards too. Just make sure you're calm for tomorrow, okay?"
In the background, she heard Ivory talking with Noche. "We'll have to talk to Academy security about this. That could've killed someone."
"Luckily we were here, eh? Well...Umbra, mostly."
"Yeah," she said with a slight chuckle as she turned to Teala and Umbra, "Guess you two have some work to do tomorrow, huh?"
Teala scoffed. "It's a single Beowolf that's near the city, not the Academy. I believe it is you who will be the busy one. I saw that grocery list."
"Well, if someone decided to come, I wouldn't be that busy."
Noche frowned. "Are you talking about me?"
Ivory sighed, rolling her eyes.
Teala chuckled and looked over her shoulder to see Umbra standing by, staring at them.
The human smiled at the faunus, then gestured for her to come over.
They were a team, after all. And a team always sticks together.
Like family.
A/N:
Thank you for reading! Please leave comments with feedback as that is what keeps me growing as a writer! As stated, these are going to be short stories in the same vein as character trailers from RWBY. There will be eight, split into two separate works of four chapters each. These will be leading up to the main story. We aren't gonna have a definitive schedule release for these, but we will try to be consistent and at least release them on Tuesdays at 2:00 PM PST. We just want to make sure every short is at it's best before being released.
I would just like to thank a few people. Primarily North Venari for not only assisting in the creation of this series, but for drawing and sketching out the characters. Due to FFnet's not allowing me to post pictures here, you will be able to find them on her tumblr Northssketchbook or her twitter at NorthSketches. I would also like to thank my friends. Lunar and Sarge for being there with me and North to help us in the formation of these characters. Raine for taking the time to read over the story and provide editing assistance. Nakamatoo and Titan Wolf Dog for reading my stories and giving useful feedback. I couldn't have gotten as far as I have without any of these people.
Once again, thank you for reading!
