"Could use a drink right about now," thought Qrow.
Drip, drip, drip entered his ears. Focusing his aura on his eyes, he found the source of dripping water.
"Thanks for the trick, Tai," thought Qrow staring at the metal tube, "That's why you're ahead of Raven."
Water dripped from the metal tube. A nice solid metal tube. Leaning towards the tube caused pain to shoot through his wrists. Far enough for his tongue to catch water drips. Just get closer for his teeth to clamp on it. Closer. There. Now pull. Pull harder.
Six pulls later, the tube was free. Water soaked through his pants legs around his knees. Turning his attention to his right hand, he leaned towards his hand while pulling his hand towards the tube between his teeth. Pushing the tube closer to his fingers with his tongue, his index and middle finger gripped the tube. Just find that lock to pick. Wait. That's a bolt slipped through the clamps. There's no lock to pick.
Sighing, Qrow gripped his fingers over his thumb. This was going to hurt. Gritting his teeth, he applied pressure which popped his thumb out of joint which sent pain through his body. Slipping his hand free removed some skin. Yet, his right hand was free.
Studying the bolt securing his left hand, he grunted. It was screwed in. Twisting the bolt counterclockwise, he freed his left hand without pain.
Turning, he planted his butt on the wet stone. Studying his ankles, a bolt was screwed which he unscrewed.
Pressing his back against the wall he got the tube from, his feet pushed. Applying more pressure, the wall gave. He slid against the pile of bricks. More bricks landed on top of him.
"Lousy brickmenship," muttered Qrow getting to his feet
Converting his glazier into metal shears, Tai punctured through the metal. Cutting away a section, he discovered dirt behind. Now the glazier became a spade, he dug a wide hole. The dirt came to his shins. Crawling into freshly dug hole, he tunneled. With slow controlled breaths to preserve air, he tunneled until he found stone.
Crawling backwards into his coffin, his knees rested on the mound of dirt.
"Looks like I'll have to kick away the stone," he thought looking up, "Why me?" noticing a seam running along the wooden ceiling.
Remove the top, he'll climb out. Rubbing dirt over his moist hands, his feet and hands pressed against the wooden surface. He climbed towards the top.
Reaching the top, he shoved the makeshift shear into the wood. Tearing away the wood, he punctured through the metal causing water to pour into the enclosure. Bending the metal, he took a couple breaths then swam upwards.
A current made the ascent harder. Still swimming upwards, he finally broke through. Above the water surface, he somehow was in a sewer tunnel.
Catching the bars of a grate, he pushed it opened. Crawling into a musty stone jail cell, he caught his breath. Standing up, he found the celldoor unlocked. Pushing it open, it was time to search for his teammates.
"Another door," mumbled Qrow.
Ever since he escaped his chained entombment, he found nothing, but doors.
Opening this door proved to be heart wrenching. He found a motionless Summer with a pendulum blade slammed into her stomach.
"Summer!" escaped from his lips as he ran to her side.
Dropping to his knees beside her, "I'm sorry," holding her hand, "Should've been a better man. Would've loved to marry you. Have as many kids as you want. I…"
"That's sweet, Qrow," brought his attention onto Summer's silver eyes staring at him, "Qrow?"
"Yes, Summer?"
"Can you hurry and free me. I need to pee badly."
"She needs to pee," he chuckled.
Gripping the pendulum base, Qrow lifted with his knees. Stepping backwards, he slowly lowered the blade avoiding cutting Summer. Making sure the blade rested on the stone floor, he studied the strap securing Summer. Unable to unfasten or unbuckle her, he used the blade to slice her free.
Freed. Summer unwrapped her yoyo from the pendulum. She showed him the gash across the yoyo base. The base of her yoyo prevented the blade from cutting her open.
"First," said Qrow, "we need to find the exit."
"You find the exit," replied Summer, "I need to find the bathroom."
The screams from the big tent at the bottom of the hill filled the night. Their childish curiosity got the better of them as they snuck out of the tent on the top of the hill. They were post to stay in for tonight. It belonged to their tribe leader.
Noticing her twin brother was gone, "Qrow," whispered Raven, "Qrow?"
Quick tug threw her onto the ground knocking the wind from her lungs.
Pinning her against the ground, "Little late to be out, little girl," said the drunken bandit.
Alcohol from his breath assaulted her nose.
Groping her chest, "Little underdeveloped," pinning her arms over her head, "just means my little friend," moving his free hand to his belt buckle, "will feel big entering your batcave."
A rope wrapped around the bandit's throat. His fingers clawed at the rope around his neck. Pulling his dagger, Raven's freed hands shoved it into his throat. His blood sprayed onto Raven's face. He fell dead beside her. Staring up at the night sky, Qrow entered her field of vision.
Helping her to her feet, "Let's go, sis," he said leading her back to the Akame's tent.
Waking up, Raven blinked. Rubbing the back of her neck, she stretched her hands in front of her. Staring at the lines the thumb of her left hand drew, she added another line to her column of five. Five? Shouldn't that be seven or eight. Rubbing her temples with her palms, guess her sanity flew the coop. Adding a line to the column of four, she stared at the door over a hole at the center of this pit.
Getting up, she walked towards the door. Gripping the doorknob, it was locked. Looking behind the door, nothing just a door over a hole in the floor. Looking up, no robed figures to judge her.
Sitting beside her column of three. Three? Drawing a line, she counted one thousand one. It got to two thousand five when the line went under the wall. Her eyes returned to the hole at the center of the room. It grew. Then it grew again. Again.
Getting to her feet, she braced her back against the wall. Slowly breathing, her heartbeat steady. Fine. Walking towards the widening opening, she stared into the abyss.
"Let the Gods and Maidens," she thought closing her eyes, "sort it out," stepping forward.
That rush of no firm ground under ones feet got stopped by a Crack followed by a hard tug. Opening her eyes, she was inches from being skewed by metal spikes. Staring at her waist, she saw sections of metal connected by a cable. Turning, her gaze followed the cable to Tai's left hand. He was hanging upside.
Smiling, "You don't seem to be the type that gives up," he remarked.
"I was testing fate," she replied climbing towards him.
"Be careful. You might get answer."
Reaching his face, "Strange," she thought, "how his smile seemed to be a frown when he's upside down."
Gripping his left forearm, she let go of the whip. Grimacing at the shift of weight, he snapped his right arm causing the whip to turn into the bo staff. Raven's right hand directed the staff to Tai's left hand. Gripping the section of staff between Tai's hands, Raven allowed Tai to sit up. She gripped the edge of the opening.
"Tai," in time for Tai to move his legs before the blade to slice length along his shin. His left hand gripped the edge. Removing it before it got cleaved off caused his right hand to grip the edge. Now moving his right hand before it got cleaved through, both hands gripped the edge.
Wedging handle of his whip into a crack caused by the broadsword, Tai swung his legs upwards. Both feet slammed into the metal chest plate causing the suit of armor to stagger. Landing, he turned to watch the suit of armor get to its feet.
Dodging a wild off balance swing allowed Tai to grip behind its head. Ramming both of his knees into the helmet knocked it off revealing a familiar face.
"Molay," said Tai, "Why the elaborate deathtraps?"
Roar of rage answered Tai as he dodged Molay's broadsword. It left a slash on the wall.
"That sword must go," thought Tai.
Between Molay's swings, Tai studied the area. Several hanging lighting bowels caught his attention. Dodging Molay's swings, Tai moved towards a lighting bowel. Molay thrusted forward. Jumping up, Tai bounced off the wall. Planting his right foot against Molay's chest increased Molay's rage. Jumping off the broadsword like a springboard, Tai spin kicked a lighting bowel. Its contents rained onto Molay.
His hair smoked while his steel covered fingers clawed at his chest armor. Quick release on the chest armor surprised Tai. With his sword struck in the wall, Molay punched at Tai.
Dropping, Tai slid to Molay's right side. Slamming his shins behind Molay's knees, Tai's attempt to trip Molay allowed him to grab Tai by his neck.
Lifting Tai up, "Got anything smart to say" snared Molay, "son of a whore."
"You're just jealous," trying to break Molay's grip, "You're mother wasn't my father's type."
Something tackled Molay's legs. Moving his attention towards Raven gripping his legs allowed Tai to bring his legs up. Slamming both of his feet against Molay's chest caused him to staggered towards the pit. Molay's right foot found no ground. His entrance into the pit got interrupted by Tai catching the excess strap of Molay's belt.
"Care to explain the elaborate deathtraps?" asked Tai loosening his grip, "And where Qrow and Summer is?"
"Orphan born should be cleaved in half. The loveless drunk lost his mind to the fact he couldn't get a drink of water."
"Didn't answer the question," letting inches of the strap slip from his grip, "Why?"
"For protecting that whore."
"Now that's not how one," leaning closer towards Molay, "shows respect to a headmistress."
Loosening his grip, Tai let go then recaught the starp only for Molay's dagger to cut through the belt.
"Must respect a man who sticks to his belief."
Turning into Raven's opened arms, she hugged him.
"What color of underwear should I wear?" she asked staring at him.
"Why should my opinion matter?"
Smiling, "You look up my skirt more than anyone I know."
"Then wear black shorts."
"No more speaking," pressing her head against his chest, "Let me enjoy this."
"Qrow and Summer still need to be found," he whispered.
"They're capable of their own escape,"
Emptying her bladder inside a cell, Summer stepped out from the cell.
Staring at Qrow, "Why didn't this dungeon," said Summer, "have a better bathroom?".
"Bet those three know," said Qrow pointing towards Simo, Thomas, and Roquefort emerging from behind a door.
They ran. Qrow felt a breeze as a white blur chased after those three. Turning a corner, Qrow saw a smiling Summer and three dejected hunters tied up by Summer's yoyo string.
"I rounded them up," she said beaming.
Smirking, "That you did."
