Kurama.
Written by Blazeraptor54
*Author's Open Letter*
Kurama is to be an Epic Length Story, or ELS for short. An ELS is a slow burn, slow build up story, where every character impacting the story gets a full run down. In terms of world building there is no other methodology that compares. Each locale, terrain, and stage where authors are allowed absolute broad strokes, and in these broad strokes a world is built from the ground up. I must warn you before you continue. This is not a tale of full of butterflies, rainbows, and cotton candy. Cruelty, much like beauty, is just part of reality. Some scenes in these stories will be designed to make you, the reader, extremely uncomfortable. We will touch on extremely sensitive subjects, mental health being chief among them. Please, if you continue this story, I ask that you take time to take breaks if something overtly affects you.
With, I begin the hardest part of a story…the selection of it is first word. A ritual so simple, yet impactful, and before I do, I would like to say thank you. These two years have given me time to refine my craft, and I enjoyed being welcomed back.
Until the next note, thank you all very much.
-Blazeraptor54.
Shattered moonlight drenched the growth of arid shrubs in baleful light. Inside the ground, diurnal life sleeps, while those of nocturnal persuasions go about their night. Frogs, Serval Cats, Thin-Toed Lizards, and even the chance wild dog, scurried about. A young man, working a nearby field, dug into the dry ground with his hoe. A bag of large nuts slung over his shoulder. His bronze brow dripped with some sweat from the labor. With each movement, earth split open, small root plants became unrooted. He beat the soil into a more fine, dusty, layer next to the shallow trench dug by the hoe. Placing a nut down into the trench, he used his black boots to skid the soil on top. He stopped, watching the steam from his mouth rise into the cool night. Scratching his dirty blonde beard, he dusted his denim jacket off, and turned his head to the sound of footsteps.
"My love it's late at night, please come to bed," said a woman of tan skin, her cerulean eyes shimmered in the night.
He sighs, shoulder his hoe, "Phacelia, you do know if I plant them now, we may have full growth by winter."
She chortled, and looked into eyes, "Ever the diligent worker, Joshua."
His green eyes lit up at his name, staring into his wife's. She approached him, wrapping her arms around his waist. He stood two heads taller than her, and her dark blue hair laid on his chest as she deepens the embrace. Both stood there, enjoying each other's warmth, their small plot of land surrounding them. She yawned, and stretched, breaking the embrace. She kissed him, pecking his lips fast, and teasingly. He groaned a little, giving a slightly frustrated sigh, and watched as she began walking back to their small adobe house.
"Bloom is wanting her daddy to read her a bedtime story," Phacelia states while turning her back to the house. "Same one as usual!"
Joshua smirks, and with warmth in his voice replied, "The one about Huntsmen?"
"Yep," She stated, "So you better get done soon!"
Joshua stood there, sighing as his wife entered the house. She knew how to motivate him, and Bloom, was his weak spot for anything. He looked at the tree nearest to him, a tree that was his namesake, and stretched. He began to work his land once more when he heard the scrunching of dirt. Rolling his eyes, Joshua turned around slowly.
"Phacelia, I love you sweetheart, but these nuts nee-Oh Gods…" Joshua shuddered, he came to face a large black creature.
Its long snout sniffed the air, red eyes blazed like fire, and his white belly fur shuddered in the gust of desert night. It stood there, twice as tall as Joshua, and it growled. He armed himself with his only weapon, the hoe he held, rearing back to use it no different than a club. The beast, a Beowolf, a creature of Grimm. He began breathing hard, but what set his nerves on end was hearing shrill screams from the house. He watched as Bloom, and Phacelia, ran out of the house. Two others were stalking them, a fourth, much larger Beowolf stood on top of the adobe house. It cracked the clay structure from its weight. Joshua, seeing his family in danger, screamed at the beasts.
"Hey, you monsters, get away from them!" He roars slamming the hoe forward.
The metal blade caught beast in the face, cutting it. Burning orange ichor leaked out, hissing at the touch of the ground. It growled, drawing its hand arm back before backhanding Joshua across his field. He slid to stop, just short of his daughter Bloom. Her green eyes, filling with tears, she tried to reach for her father. All three small Beowolves snapped, barking at her, as the taller one walked on hind legs over to them. Obviously, it was in charge, and its bony plates signified age. It pushed the other three out of the way, grabbed Joshua around the waist with its clawed hand. It lifted him, the man's legs feudally kicking against its forearm. Phacelia, held her daughter closer, shielding her eyes.
"Let go of me, you bastard, stay away from them!" Joshua screamed, thrashing in the beast's grip.
The Alpha Beowolf simply glared into his eyes, it then sneered showing its teeth. It reared back, readied itself to snap its jaws into the man's head. Joshua continued kicking, thrashing, even biting. It was all for naught as the beast began to launch its head forward. It was stopped, barely, by the silver sheen of a sword. Its silver blade slashed into the demon's neck, cutting all the way through, and beheading the beast. Silvery light followed the attack, moonlight cascading around it, as a woman landed next to the slain alpha. The beast falling to its knees, that orange ichor leaking out as it began to dissolve to black dust.
The other beasts quickly dodged backward, growling, fangs showing. The wielder of the silver blade, a woman with black and red hair, and shimmering silver eyes stood tall. Her thin longsword glowed under the shattered light. She held her sword downward, in her left hand, close to her thigh. Her white robe fluttered in the winds, the hood flopping about with every breeze. She reached hand out, helping Joshua up. Despite her delicate looking frame, Joshua noted the numerous rough patches on the woman's hands. She was used to hard labor, and judging by her attire, he knew why she had them.
"A-are you a Huntress?" He asks while regaining his composure and backing up to stand with his family.
She simply nodded, but gave a smile to the girl, "Indeed I am."
Phacelia noted that the Grimm, whilst baring their teeth and claws, were not pouncing. She looked at the woman, who had her right hand extended outward. She saw shimmering light around them. When a Beowolf attempted to come closer, the huntress simply turned her head toward it. She glared at it, red energy slowly forming around as pressure increased around her. Smirking, and adjusting her stance, the silvery blade found itself facing the three demons.
"Sir, you don't mind, may have your name?" She inquired, whilst being polite given the circumstance.
Joshua nods, looking at the demons, "My name is Joshua…Joshua Springwell."
"Mr. Springwell, please to meet you and the family," she replied with a calm voice, and then turned to the Beowolves. "Excuse me, but this'll just take tinny tiny moment."
Walking toward Beowolves, she watched them back off a little more. Mercy for demons, however, never existed in this world. In flash of silver glints, incredible speed, she slid behind where the demons now stood. They had ceased all movement, their bodies forming orange lines across them. They fell to pieces, blocks of black material turning to dust, orange ichor flowing onto the ground. The silver eyed woman twirled her blade about, causing silvery light to flow around her. She sheathed her sword after holding it upward finishing the display. The blade clicking into place in the scabbard. She turned back to the family, smiling brightly.
She turned to the family, smiling brightly, reminding everyone there of a warm summer day. Despite the bitter bite of Autumn winds in Vacuo. Her eyes met theirs, from the tree-like brown of Joshua, to the cerulean blues of Phacelia.
Joshua, Bloom, and Phacelia stood there with mouths agape. It elicited a chuckle from the huntress, she walked over to them. She noted the little girl practically had stars in her eyes, did she dream of being a Huntsmen one day as well? Coming within an arm's length of the family, she stopped, and extended her hand out to the matriarch.
"I'm Summer, by the way, Summer Rose."
About an hour later, Springwell family, and one Summer Rose were sitting in the kitchen of the house. She was sitting on a stone chair, made from polished stone. She noted that the adobe house seemed older than the family that lived here. She looked at Joshua and smiled.
"This is a beautiful home," She stated with a smile.
Joshua nodded, and replied, "It was passed down from my father."
"I kind of figured, seemed to have a feeling of being here for a while." She noted, looking at the family's various pictures.
"Listen, Ms. Rose…" She held her finger up, interrupting Joshua.
"I am technically Mrs. Xiao-Long, I'm married," Summer corrected Joshua kindly. "Besides, just call me Summer."
"Well…um…Summer," he corrected himself, and then spoke. "I am going to cut to the chase, I haven't the money to pay you for the service."
"Service?" She questioned, confused about the statement.
"In Vacuo Huntsmen usually charge a fee for saving people," Joshua pointed out. "I haven't nearly the coin to repay my debt to you."
"Pfft," she blew raspberries and replied, "Don't worry about cost sir, I simply did my civic duty."
"Really, we do owe you one for saving us." Phacelia told Summer as she started a pot on the brick stove.
Summer's mouth watered a little, "Well…I haven't eaten in a day…"
"Then it's settled, we'll room you and feed you!" Joshua announced, standing up from his chair with a smile.
He looked at his daughter, "Bloom, can you set up the guest cot sweetheart?"
She smiled brightly, running into her bedroom, and then Joshua turned to Summer.
"Hope you do not mind sharing a bedroom with our little girl. She is an absolute fanatic when it comes to you Huntsmen." He said to her, while hearing his daughter clamoring the guest cot in her room.
Summer stifled a laugh, watching as Phacelia placed a cup down next to her. The cerulean eyed woman walked over to her husband, sitting next to him. She draped her arm over him, watching the huntress sip her tea. Summer hummed, enjoying the minty fresh taste, and subtle use of chamomile. It warmed her heart, and soul, watching steam rise from the cup.
"Do mind sleeping in our daughter's room?" Phacelia inquired.
Summer stopped drinking her tea, sitting it down, she spoke softly. "I have two daughters, one is eight, and the other six."
The matriarch of the Springwell family eyes widened, "You have two daughters?!"
"Well, technically yes, but one of them came from my husband's previous relationship. Do not even get me started on that assortment of problems." Summer nervously answered while rubbing the back of her head.
"Well," Joshua watched as his wife got up to stir the pot, "What is their names?"
"Yang Xiao-Long, and Ruby Rose." Summer answered with a smile, "I miss my little ones."
He nods, and then leans back in his chair, "Why aren't you using your husband's surname for your one of your kids?"
"Well, Rose is a family name, and I'd like it stay in the family in some form or another." Summer admitted sheepishly and shrank a little. "I'm sorry if that's weird."
"Girl," Phacelia interrupted as she came carrying a bowl, "You are our savior here. You cannot be weird even if you tried."
"Well, glad to be setting the bar high," Summer laughed as she finished off her drink.
Bloom came back into the kitchen, and smiled, "Your bed is ready, Summer!"
Summer smiled at her, she reminded her of her daughter Ruby, "How old are you, Bloom?"
Bloom smiled, "Six, and a half!"
Summer held her hand out, beckoning for Bloom to take it, "I hope if I come back to Vacuo, you can meet my daughters…you have rough hands."
"Yes mam," Bloom stated as she smiled brightly, "I work the field with my dad sometimes."
Joshua smiled proudly, "And with lucky I'll be putting you into Shade Academy in five years."
"You're wanting to be a Huntsmen, truly?" Summer asked Bloom, smiling at the girl's fire.
The girl answered with a fiery, and ecstatic, "Yes mam!"
"She's got a carved wooden sword out back," her mother pointed out.
"Mom," Bloom whined as she crossed her arms, "I was going to tell her!"
Summer chuckled, "Easy there, Bloom."
Bloom sighed, "Mom, and Dad made me the sword last year."
'Aww," Summer cooed, "That's adorable, have you named it yet?"
"W-why would I name a weapon?" Bloom asked as she rubbed the back of her head.
The silver eyed woman smiled brightly, "It's a Huntsmen Tradition to name your weapon!"
The young girl's eyes widened, "Really, oh man…I feel like a dummy!"
"Aw don't feel that way sweetie," Summer replied and patted the girl's head.
Bloom pouted as she looked at Summer's sword, "What's your sword's name?"
"Lunar Moon," Summer answered, walking over to her blade. "Do you mind if I unsheathe it here?"
Joshua looked at his wife, who nodded, and he nodded to Summer. Summer smiled, unsheathing Lunar Moon, its silver blade reflecting light across the room. Bloom stood in aw of it, and smiles as the huntress held up in a pose. The family marveled at the shimmering blade, and Joshua chuckled.
"It reminds me of Excalibur," He stated, admiring the beauty of the blade.
Summer laughed, sheathing her sword, "You know the supposed legendary sword Ozma was actually a great sword…at least that's what I remember my father telling me."
"Really," Joshua pursed his lips in thought, "Now that you mentioned it, I think you're right."
"Well, I'm going to finish my bowl, dear could you wash our dishes?" Phacelia asked her husband.
"No problem my love," Joshua answered as he got up, grabbing her empty bowl. "Summer, are you finished?"
"Actually," she blushed while rubbing the back of her head, "I was wondering if I could get seconds."
Summer retreated into Bloom's room, yawning as she had downed a third bowl of the stew. She removed her shoes, looking at her socks, sweat stained. Grimacing, she peeled them off her feet, and let out joyful sigh of feeling cool air on them. Taking off her robe, she pulled a picture out. A blonde, lilac eyed little girl stood next to an equally blonde and lilac eyed man. She had her arms cross, giving the photo some attitude. She looked down at the man's legs, seeing her spitting image standing there. A girl with black and red hair, silver eyes, and the only feature she inherited from her dad, a round face. She was wearing a plated red dress, while the blonde girl was wearing jeans, a button up t-shirt, and an attitude that would surely land her in trouble one day.
"Yang, Ruby, Tai...I miss you all," Summer traced her fingers over the photograph. "It's three weeks already, as soon as I'm done with this mission…either way…I'm coming back to you for good."
She bent down, kissing the man in photograph, putting it back in her robe's hidden pocket. She straightened up, snickering a little. She turned to Bloom, who was fast asleep, at least she pretended to be. Summer hummed, and Bloom immediately opened her eyes.
"How'd you know?" Bloom asked, bewildered.
"A mother knows dear, a mother knows," Summer replied briskly, "What makes you want to become a Huntsmen?"
'Because I want to do what you did, I wanna help people!" Bloom excitedly answers.
Summer smiled, and then looked at the girl's wooden sword, "I think I can give you a lesson."
"R-really, that's awesome!" Bloom stated, running over to her sword.
Summer effortlessly grabbed the wooden glorified club, Bloom being confused at what she meant by lesson, had swung it. Instead of being mad, Summer was chuckling a little, while the little girl looked downtrodden slightly, scared she had done a terrible thing.
"Well, at least you know to swing it," Summer pointed out.
She then looked the girl in the eye, "What were the two things I said back at the table, about Huntsmen Traditions."
"I think it was…um…Naming your weapon. I don't think you said any second thing at the table…" The girl pointed out.
Summer looked at her, and then rubbed the back of her head, nervously chuckling. "I guess I didn't, didn't I?"
She sighed, and then looked at the wooden sword. "I said that naming a weapon is a Huntsmen tradition, but another tradition is actually making your own."
"Okay," Bloom acknowledged with thoughtful look, "I can do that one day!"
"But a third tradition is to make something from your soul. You may think swords, maces, and daggers are cool. Even Huntsmen use guns, bows, crossbows, but at the end of the day the weapon you make is you given form. My sword, for example Lunar Moon, is infused with my aura." Summer held her hand out, making the sword glow a bright silver. "I gave a piece of myself to the weapon, so that when I fight, I'm not just wielding a blade…I'm wielding myself."
Bloom looked confused, "So, does that mean I could beat up Grimm barehanded if I wanted to?"
Summer chortled a laugh, "It's not impossible, I knew a Huntswoman in training that specialized in hand to hand."
"She kicked your butt?" Bloom inquired.
"Heck yes, she did me dirty, and she even did professional wrestling moves on me. Like an elbow drop, suplex. I do not think ever in my life I had eaten so much dirt." Summer admitted sheepishly, and then looked down.
"What's wrong?" Bloom questioned, noticing Summer's downtrodden expression.
"Kid, sometimes us Huntsmen do not come back. Let's discount what we talked about earlier, and I am going to be frankly honest with you. Most of us don't get see old age," Summer thought of her wrestling friend, "My friend's name was Gretchen…she died a Huntsmen's death right before we graduated."
"A Huntsmen's death?" Echoed Bloom.
Summer bit her lip, and then spoke, "It is the third radiation…the least talked about tradition. In face of an overwhelming enemy, without an escape, a Huntsmen…or Huntswomen doesn't back down. They simply charge forward, letting faith carry them."
"Oh…Gretchen…didn't make it one day, didn't she?" Bloom asked.
"I could say that she died heroically," Summer pointed out, "Taking ten Ursa Majors at once."
'Ursa…Majors?" Bloom questioned.
"Giant, demonic bears, their native to Vale." Summer explained, "So, you don't have to worry about them here."
"What about the wolves?" Bloom asked.
"Ah, yes, Beowolves. They are pretty much everywhere, and anywhere. The only place they are not common is, ironically, here." Summer then laughed a little and wondered aloud, "What are the odds of not only Beowolves being where they normally aren't but an Alpha leading them?"
"Alpha?" Bloom began to ask, but then remembered the giant wolf with bony plating, "Like a leader?"
"Yep, they're much tougher." Summer stated, and then looked at the Shattered Moon outside the girl's small window opening.
"You should get some sleep," the silver eyed woman said to the little girl, "Your father might need you to help him in the morning."
Bloom yawned, "You're right…but can we do something before we sleep?"
"I guess, name it," Summer replied, accepting one smaller task.
"Can we name my sword?"
Yawning as the morning sun came up, Joshua looked at his wife, smiling. He got up from his bed, walking toward the kitchen. He got some water from the sink, he noticed that it was slightly murky. The pump must have been acting up again, those damn demons from last night he figured. He stretched, grabbing his trusty hoe. However, as he passed the table, he noticed the wooden sword he made his daughter laying there. He looked at it, smiling, on it the sword had a craved name in.
Heartbreaker.
He sighed, noting that there were tracks leading from his daughter's room out to the front. Exiting the front door, he looked at the arid shrubland in front of him. An Emu running by, standing there, he looked toward the mountains that divided Vacuo from Vale. Summer Rose was not from Vacuo, he figured she was Valian. However, her tracks did not go that way, they led away from it. If she were heading west, like he figured, she would be crossing into the town of Shrill Winds.
At least he hoped, because Shrill Winds was the only town from this little patch of oasis to Vacuo City. Which would lead her into The Great Desert. He smiled though, figuring the huntress would be okay. He chided himself inside though, he wishes he could afford a gun at least to protect his family. He looked toward where his daughter's room was, the door closed. Knowing that whatever they stayed up talking about, it may have already enforced his daughter path to being a Huntsmen more than ever.
Joshua looked at his fields, gripping his hoe with determination, marching to start on his plowing. If these trees grew well, they would provide Shea Nuts, and his wife came from a long family that knew how to make these into many things. While Shrill Winds was a trade depot, it lacked any homegrown product other than hardy food stock. Smiling, he raised his hoe into air, and then brought it down upon the land. With one stroke, push, and pull, he will put his daughter through Shade Academy.
Because a true parent always honors their promise to their child.
Summer was many things, beautiful, skilled, highly trained, and probably best Huntress in her generation. However, unlike her teammate for this mission, she elected to walk. Call it a hero complex, call it lacking common sense, but she didn't regret it. If she chose to travel any other way, that girl's family would've been dead…along with her. Although, right now, the cons of the choice were weighing heavy on her. She had a small blister forming on her foot, lovely, and the heat was beginning to be unbearable the closer she got to The Great Desert. Shrill Winds was just another mile's journey.
She saw the tiny town, mainly their towers, as sand flew around her. Her silver eyes locked onto a figure standing there. He was wearing a light grey coat, black hair, pale skin. He had a small bit of stubble on his face, and his black pants fit tight enough they weren't fluttering in the wind. Her battle skirt meanwhile fluttered, sounding like a flag waving in the window. He waved her down, walking over to meet her.
"About time, Short-Stack," The man stated as he made it over to her.
She rolled her eyes, "Not all of us can transform, Qrow."
"Meh, semantics," Qrow waved off.
"Semantics my buttocks," Summer pouted while crossing her arms, "Any scroll service around here?"
"Spotty at best, not enough for video calls." Qrow told her as he escorted her to the town.
She sighed, "Go figure, so do we have any transport over The Great Desert."
Qrow rubbed the back of his head, the young man looked at the town, "Yes and no."
"I'm guessing a cargo transporter," Summer guessed.
"Not an airborne one, it's a Land Ship Tanker," the raven-haired man pointed at the two story, tall machine.
Land Ship Tankers, LSTs, were a unique transport vehicle for Vacuoian commercial, and warfare transport. LSTs were always two stories tall, varying in length, but as Summer gazed at it, she had a good guess. The literal land ship was one hundred yards long, and probably half that in width. This one was slightly changed by the looks of it. Three gauss turrets were put a near a rotating platform up the top, giving it a three-hundred sixty degree firing capability. Gauss turrets chambered fifty caliber rounds and were connected to a power source to make round punch much harder than typical gas operated firearm. The LST also had a swivel mortar on the front deck, Summer surmised that it was for bigger Grimm since it shot sixty-millimeter rounds from the tube. Unlike the all-around firing area of the rotating platform, this mortar had a cone of possible one hundred ten degrees.
As she got closer to the LST, she noted a crew of mostly men, which was typical. However, the captain that stepped down the gangway smirked. She was stunning, burnt orange skin, and hard scales running down her arm. She had purple lipstick on, and her equally purple eyes locked onto them. Her uniform was that of a pair of tan cargo shorts, and black T-shirt. She wore black, steel toed boots, and had rifle slung over her back. Her green hair flowed down to her shoulders in curls, a scar running the length of left cheek. She was incredibly lean, and she seemed all to please to see Qrow sweating.
"Summer, meet Amethyst, our charting captain." Qrow introduced her.
Amethyst extended her hand out, giving poor Summer a vice grip handshake, "Hello there."
Summer waved her hand when the captain let go of it, replying, "Hi to you too…ouch."
"Qrow," Amethyst looked him over, "You know when we depart?"
"Yeah, in a couple of hours, why?" Qrow nervously asked.
She smirked, "We need to discuss your payment, but besides that you all are aware you'll be sleeping in our group quarters."
Summer sighed, kind of figuring as much, "Well aware of it."
"Good," the captain passed by Qrow, smacking him on his buttocks, "Come with me."
Summer eyed Qrow, "Really…"
"What can I say, I'm a good negotiator," Qrow replied before walking away.
She rolled her eyes, and watching as the gangway lifted up, revealing a rose looking over the desert. She turned around, and nearly ran into one of ship's crew. The woman sighed, feeling something stirring in her heart. She thought of her children in Patch, an Island near Vale's shores. She just sighed, looking around the town, her stomach grumbled again. Summer didn't think twice and went to the nearest food stall.
A hungry huntress was a less effective huntress. She sat the counter, watching as young chef was making noodles. She looked at him, smiling. He handed her a very small menu, and she placed her order easily. Vegetable ramen, no fuss no muss, and watched as he began cooking it for her. It reminded of her husband, Taiyang, who was thousands of miles away. She sighed, lowering her head down. Thinking of her family back home.
She had a feeling, however, that Vacuo City was going to present something to her that would shake the foundation of her world. Watching as the noodles were put in front of her, she broke chopsticks, and began to slur them up.
A child woke up, his blue eyes shined in the darkness. His crimson red hair was dirty, he got up from a cardboard box layout, his fox ears twitching at the noises of the city around him. His black tunic, and tan sweatpants covered in dirty. He looked himself in the mirror, brushing back shoulder length, unkempt hair. He reached down, taking a stolen scroll out of his pocket, along with headphones. His round face had small patches of dirt on his slightly sun kissed skin, and he had a skinny frame from not exactly eating three square meals a day. He pulled up the song playlist on the scroll, the guy he had stolen it from had been a big time rock fan. He picked a song he been listening to lately. It began to boot up.
Puddle of Sludge, Blurry, played in the headphones. He walked toward the edge of a building, overlooking Vacuo City. The hellhole of his life, and watched as police vehicles ran down the streets, obviously looking for him. He smirked though, welcoming the challenge, and then stepped off the roof. He fell down two flights, rolling as he landed to disperse the energy.
He ran hard, and fast, his torn shoes flopping in the muck. He slid down an embankment, using a fishhook, and string to grab onto an apple from nearby stand. He yanked it as he ran, hearing the shouting of the stall owner. He pulled the hook out, sticking it into his sleep, and bit into the apple. He jumped over a cart in front of him, sliding under another as he ran full force. He narrowly dodged a LEO grabbing at him, kicking the man in the buttocks
His bright foxlike smile never leaving his face.
Chapter One End…
Wow, so yeah, this is the very first chapter of Kurama. Chapter two will be coming soon, expect some more action, and such. Let me know what you think, and as always stay warm everyone. As Jon Snow said in Game of Thrones, Winter is Coming. Also, I may put a poll up soon, and it'll be one of more unique polls. Just putting that out there.
