In the distance, there were four hunched alpha beowolves that towered over the team. Even from several feet away, they looked like solid brick walls.
"There's the alphas," Ruby cocked her sniper rifle as her team stood, alert. "Freezerburn!"
From her yell, the four alphas creeped over and rushed them on all-fours.
Instantly, Weiss thrust her rapier into the ground. Ice spewed across the ground and directly at the alphas. During this, Yang erupted into flames and ignited the ground. A dense fog shrouded the area, allowing the team to attack from above safely.
As expected, the fog seized the alphas, freezing them in their tracks. That allowed each member to topple on top of their own alpha, engaging in battle.
Before Yang could land a sucker punch, an alpha snarled and pivoted around. It successfully blocked her arm, only for her to parry with her gauntlets and lose her balance.
"Guess they're mad that their buddies are dead!"
A vicious growl.
"That's a yes."
Successfully, Yang was able to throw the alpha off her and gain some distance. By now, her teammates had spread out. Thankfully, this alpha was locked onto her and lunged again.
In rapid succession, Yang slugged the alpha directly in the face. Her punches were so powerful that the grimm's mask dented in. When she was about to thrust her signature right hook, the alpha grabbed her arm and flung her back. With a yelp, Yang backflipped and landed on her feet.
She stole a glance behind her to make sure her team was unscathed. It looked like Blake was doing fine, fending an alpha off. She had to parry a few times due to the grimm's sheer speed. However, she lost her balance when it swiped her katana particularly hard.
The beast winded up for a kick.
I can't dodge in time- Blake thought as she braced herself.
She almost took the punt full-force, but she was veered out of the way by a dazzling glyph. The claws on its toes grazed her flowing hair.
Nice eye, Weiss. You're a lifesaver.
Using that as her chance, Blake pounced back and crouched in front of her opponent, preparing to launch her plan. She had to end this. She needed to help her teammates.
I'll make this quick.
Rather than charge the snarling beast, Blake propelled her clones forward to distract it. She seemed to retreat, bolting behind a large boulder. With a grunt of effort, she slammed it forward. Footprints embedded in the snow from the sheer momentum she had to exert.
Finally, it began to roll. Once it picked up speed, there was no stopping it.
Simultaneously, the clones impaled each foot into the beast and trapped it. This earned an ear-piercing shriek. At last, the boulder smashed into its midsection as several bones cracked. When it toppled over, the clones vanished along with the katanas.
To make sure it was down, Blake rushed over to the edge of the hole. With her night vision, she was able to see that it was dissipating in the depths below.
There was a yelp. Sounded like Ruby. She was on the ground, holding her stomach in pain.
Faster than lightning, Blake was there to aid her leader before she could be sliced and diced. She shot out her katana, using the ribbon as a weapon. It wrapped around the alpha's legs and it tripped over with a frustrated growl.
"Thanks, Blake!" Ruby shouted, already on her feet and behind a tree.
With an efficient swing from her scythe, the thick tree plummeted directly on top of the alpha. Bones cracked and there was a howl of misery. Only a paw sprouted up from the cloud of snow.
Two down, Blake thought as she watched the paw twitch.
In unison, the pair whirled around to help their partners. Before moving, Ruby aimed her sniper rifle. A beowolf was rushing Weiss from behind. With one shot, it forcefully kneeled when the foot had been blown off.
From the screech and gunshot, Weiss whirled around in a dance and sliced the alpha in the chest rapidly. All it could do was shriek and feebly try to grab her rapier. Before it could, Weiss froze it solid and sprang away.
Ruby and Blake flew by and cut the statue in half to make sure it was dead.
Weiss prioritized Yang rather than finishing it off. Yang was dodging several swipes. Their movements had noticeably slowed.
"Yang!" Weiss called and threw a crystal to her.
That prompted Yang to parry and roll to the side. She was able to catch the dark dust crystal. When the alpha charged her, all Yang did was launch it at the target. It exploded into a menacing cloud upon impact.
The alpha was forced to the ground. It tried to pry itself up, but the gravity dust was too strong. With ease, Blake leaped on top of it and stabbed it directly where the heart should be. All the grimm could do was collapse under her.
Four down, Blake thought, wiping her forehead of sweat.
"Whew," Ruby breathed a sigh of relief. "Good job, team. I think that's all of them."
"Alright!" Yang cheered, dusting herself off. "Shall we go back now? I'm starvin'."
Weiss crossed her arms like she was unimpressed. "Eat your snacks. We didn't come out here empty-handed."
"I'm not gonna eat crap when I can eat a great lunch!" Yang retorted.
Since Weiss was fatigued, she only scowled. She needed to save her energy, not waste it in a pointless argument.
"Huh…" Blake mumbled as she stared at a fallen tree. "That's strange."
Ruby tilted her head like a curious puppy. "What's up?"
"Didn't this tree crush that beowolf?" Blake asked, confused.
Blake's eyes narrowed in wary. They take longer to dissipate than that...
Ruby shrugged, looking at the other fallen trees. "You sure it wasn't a different tree?"
Blake scratched her head in thought as she inspected the trunk. "It's the only one with a clean-cut-"
Yang gasped from a sudden movement in the corner of her vision. "Ruby!"
The wounded, limping alpha towered over Ruby. Somehow, it didn't make a single sound. Reflexively, Ruby's hand grabbed her scythe. But she couldn't yank it out in time-
Before the beast could tear her to shreds, she was forcefully pushed out of the way and tumbled roughly.
She hastily glanced up to find Weiss smiling like she had no regrets. Azure pools widened as the claws tore open her skin like she was paper.
"Agh!"
A weak gasp escaped her lungs as her eyes slid shut. She crumpled to the ground, silent.
"Weiss?! Weiss?!"
Ruby couldn't focus on the alpha, all she could think about was Weiss… Weiss...
Yang and Blake finished it off before it could move so much as a millimeter.
Hastily, the three knelt next to their fallen teammate. They didn't want to touch her quite yet until they properly noted the extent of her injuries.
"Shit," Yang cursed as she noticed red leaking into the snow, tainting it.
Ruby choked back a sob. "W-why'd you go and do that?!"
Unable to reply, Weiss' chest rose and fell frantically like she couldn't breathe. She looked helpless like an injured fawn.
Blake's cat ears drooped as she watched blood pool beneath. Reckless, reckless… she's so reckless! You're still so reckless!
Her normally pale pallor was fading whiter than the snow. Cruel crimson slowly seeped into her white jacket, staining it forever.
With a frown, Yang examined the gashes. "It looks like her side and right arm got the brunt of it."
Cautiously, Blake scooped her into her arms, careful not to graze the jagged gashes. She didn't want her lying on the cold, unforgiving snow.
Ruby took a deep breath, processing the situation, and removed her cape. "We need to staunch the bleeding."
Blake held her close as tears spilled down her cheeks. She'd never seen her so helpless… Blake held her as tight as she dared. Right now, she felt like glass. Like anything could break her.
To lift her spirits, Yang placed a hand on Blake's shoulder. "You gotta prop her up a bit, okay? We need to take off her jacket so we can stop the bleeding."
Due to all the layers she was wearing, it was difficult to wrap the wounds.
Gently, Blake lifted her ever-so-slightly as she lay in her arms. From the movement, a sharp gasp fled from her lips and her head lolled to the side.
"Ooooh, sorry Weiss!" Ruby exclaimed, feeling guilty.
"I'm fine..." Weiss rasped feebly. "Stop fussing."
Her eyes remained closed like opening them was too difficult. Her voice was strained and feeble.
Ruby gingerly soothed through her white bangs. "I can't help it."
Blake sadly smiled down at her. "I'm glad you're awake. You need to stay with us. Do you think you can do that?"
Rather than reply, Weiss feebly nodded into her arms.
Good, she's at least conscious, Blake thought. Please, hang in there...
Tenderly, Yang used meticulous hands to slide down her fluffy jacket. Before it could be pulled off, Weiss looked away, at the powdery trees in the distance.
"Wait," Blake interjected, noting her discomfort. "I'll do it."
If Weiss doesn't want to be found out as a faunus, I have to do this.
"Blake…" Weiss mumbled, her hand reached the air.
When she batted the air, Blake held her hand there. "What is it? I'm right here."
Struggling, hazy blue eyes were revealed. They were glazed over, causing a pang in Blake's heart.
"It's okay…" Weiss murmured her permission.
Blake stared down at her in shock, tears rolling down her face. After Weiss murmured that, her eyes fell shut. The call of darkness dragged her under as she lost all strength at once. From the sight, Blake sniffled and held her tightly, hoping to be a grounding presence.
She doesn't mind them knowing she's a faunus, Blake realized. I'm so sorry this is how they'll find out. I know you wanted to tell them on your own terms. Please, please be okay.
With permission, they cautiously removed the jacket. Delicately, Yang rolled up her sleeve to tend to her wounds. What she saw confused her. There were black stripes mixed with crimson as the blood dripped down her arm.
Confused as to why her sister briefly paused, Ruby gazed down.
"Are those stripes?"
Lyrics from This Game: "I know it's not a mistake that we rise up to fight and challenge fate. We'll dominate even if we lose this turn. We will bet everything and in the end our victory is assured."
Stay dandy,
~Toto