Ch5: Homecoming
Song recommendation: The Prodigy – Invaders Must Die
Trekking along woodlands sounds like a peaceful experience, but the trail was long, and the roots were thick; at least he was close to home. The leaves were green, the sun was out, and all was quiet. Quiet like this wasn't normal in his 100-acre wood. The boy scanned his surroundings, eyes darting to-and-fro until his gaze fell on crimson eyes from a dark nestle of bushes. From the shadows, an Ursa sauntered out of the bush in a slow gait, threatening growls reverberating through its throat. The boy backed away in a matching slow pace, dropping his bag on the ground.
"It had to be an Ursa, huh?"
There was nothing but woods around him. No road to run to, no civilization to call for help around this neck. Fight or flight remained his only options; and even with his fear filled heart, he knew the only way around was through. He raised his fist and extended the knives from his bracers, unprepared, but ready to fight.
"Alright pooh bear, come get your honey!"
As the Ursa raised itself on two legs, it stopped mid-roar as the sound of something hit it's back. It fell to the floor with a loud thud, the fall startling the boy to fall on his ass. Standing behind the slain bear was a wolf Faunus, covered in blood, holding a bow of swords. He had dull, grey eyes that looked down at the boy, black hair hung wildly around his head and face. A wry smile spread across his lips.
"Sup bitch."
"Fenrir?"
The wolf extended his hand to his friend.
"Kept you waiting huh?"
"You sonova bitch, where the hell have you been?" The taller of the two said as he was pulled to his feet.
"Ran into a Grimm situation. Seems like they've been getting meaner. Found some that scared off a few local hunters from town. Guess they got a whiff of me and found their way on the property. That one tried to gut me while I was skinning a deer. Ran 'til it lost wind of me and tried to track it. Guess it got to you first. Sorry Theo."
"Nah, I think you beat him too it." Theodore said, brushing himself off and grabbing his bag.
"I'll say. Come on, I actually want a shower after today." Fenrir said, starting to the house.
He looked at his friend. Long gone, and now returned, smiling with emerald eyes. Glad to have a friend again.
"Good, cause you reek my dude!" He said in jest, though the statement was still true.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Take it up with HR. So, what's happening in the world of Remnant?"
"Well, you said the Grimm have been getting more aggressive lately, right? About 2 weeks back, the White Fang bombed through some old metro tunnels under the city and the Grimm came out of the ground and attacked. The Huntsmen fought them back, but the whole kingdom is freaked out. And with the Vytal festival coming up, well, shits on edge."
"Damn. Didn't know things got that bad. Your gramps alright?"
"Yeah, he's fine. He even flew to the house in an airship to see how I was doing."
"If only he owned an airship." Fenrir scoffed.
The boys continued their walk until they arrived at the home of Theodore's grandfather. A two-story home, red bricked with a set of double garage doors and a balcony on the second story, the building sat next to a small lake that reflected the suns light. They went in through an open garage door. Though the room was a slight mess of various blades and metals stacked and stood against tables, it was neatly organized, as various tools hung on the walls. Electronic devices sat next to various blueprints and drawings. Theodore had constructed a small forge in the left corner of the garage. A small furnace was situated against the wall with a large anvil a few feet away.
"I see you got some new gear. How long were you working on that?" The wolf boy asked, pointing to his companion's gauntlets.
"Since you ran off with those swords. Which, by the way, you didn't even know how they worked."
"Hey, I got a little excited. Can you blame a guy after getting a pair of these?"
Fenrir unclasped the bow, holding two swords that were black as night. Several jagged blades of different sizes composed the weapon, held together through a series of cable wires and small locking mechanisms between the blades. Four of the blades created a sharp shell casing for a section of three blades of different lengths, in order from longest at the hilt to shortest at the tip. The hilt of each sword had a wheel like device that the cables were attached to; the cam and idler cam of a compound bow, rested in a circular guard to avoid the wheels spinning on the hands.
"Excited huh? Well, you know those collapse right? Since I guess you figured it out over the summer." Theodore said taking a sword from the shorter boy's grip.
"They collapse?"
"Into knives, daggers. And longer swords, which you would have known if you stuck around long enough for me to explain. You say you were excited, but it was more like you were in a hurry." The tall, muscular boy sat in a rolling chair, looking over the weapon.
"Why don't you go take that shower. I'm gonna give you a tune up."
"Sounds fine by me." Fenrir put his twin sword on the table and unstrapped the quiver slung to his back before taking off his hoodie and pants and throwing them in the furnace.
"Dude, The fuck! I could have washed those!"
"Wouldn't be worth the bother. Those things were condemned." Theo sighed as he watched him exit the room to the upstairs bathroom.
"What am I gonna do with you?" He asked no one as he grabbed a screwdriver and began working on his previous work. After a few adjustments and a good polishing, the ebony swords collapsed into a large dagger. Flicking a small clasp on the hilt extended it to the short sword it had rested in for months, another flick and the blade reached its full size. The blade curved like a katana, all held and pulled into place by wire. He clasped the pommels together and the tips split into smaller halves as cables shot out and hooked into one another. Theodore tested the draw, pulling against the string. The wheels spinning to ease tension. Releasing the string, the bow made a near silent wisp and the young blacksmith smiled with satisfaction.
Meanwhile, Fenrir turned the faucet. Clear, crystal water poured from the nozzle, steaming after a few seconds. He pooled the heating liquid into his hands and splashed his face, rubbing dirt and blood from his eyelids, then stepped in the tub before pulling the pin to start the shower. He pulled the curtain and let the hot stream rinse away his body. He usually didn't shower, preferring to bath in rivers and lakes, but he welcomed this. He scrubbed away at the rose red blood that was caked on his skin. He remembered the screams and ripping of flesh as the blood sprayed onto him. He had never seen Grimm kill that many people before. He squeezed soup onto a loofah and tried to wash away the memory from earlier. He succeeded at washing away the evidence, but the memories lingered like ghost in a haunted grove. He hoped that it would be a long time before he had to commit such deeds again, but he feared he would be called upon again soon. While Fenrir breathed in the humid air, a knock was heard from the door.
"Yo, Putting some fresh clothes out for you." Theodore stepped in and placed a stack of cloths on the toilet seat.
"Appreciate it man." Fenrir waited until he left then turned off the shower and dressed himself. It was his familiar garb of a grey hoodie and black cargo pants, various pockets sewn into the thighs. He tied a pair of black hiking boots to his feet then went downstairs back to the garage.
"You're clean for once. That's a rarity." Theodore grinned as he walked in.
"Eh. Give it a day or two and you'll be moping my muddy footprints off the hardwood."
"More like I'd make you mop the floor."
"You'd have the mop the floor with me first."
"That can be arranged." They glared at each other before bursting into chuckles.
"Your gears over there. Give it whirl. Tell me what you think." Theodore pointed to the quiver and swords on the table beside him. Fenrir strapped the quiver back on and swung the swords a few times, switching between dagger and blade forms.
"I'm thinking you put too much work into this."
"Oh buddy, you ain't seen nothing yet. I've got so many plans swimming in my head." Theo had already began drawing concepts for future projects, forgetting to take off his bracers.
"Yeah, well, don't drown yourself in a sea of ideas." Fenrir sat on an old couch and began thumbing through a magazine that was lying around. It didn't take him long to doze off. He dreamed he was flying through the forest. Black wings were seen through the peripherals of red eyes. His mind had entered a Nevermore eyeing the land around him. White masks and uniforms were spotted skulking between the trees, rifles rested in their hand. His eyes snapped open as he realized he was being called on again. This time, destiny called upon them both, to action.
"Theodore, we need to get out of here, now." Fenrir rose to his feet.
"What are you taking about? We just got home. I haven't even taken these off." He said gesturing with his wrists.
"Keep those on! There's no time to explain. We gotta move."
But as that last word was spoken, the garage doors were lifted, revealing a pack of White Fang soldiers led by a tall gorilla Faunus with Black hair slicked into a pompadour and a strong resemblance to Ron Perlman. The massive man had championship belts of numerous martial arts tournaments fastened along his left arm, creating a sleave of shielded gold. He wore a While jacket that was torn at the sleeves, showing off his large biceps and a black shirt and pants. The emblem of the terrorist organization printed on his back.
Standing beside the man was Adam Taurus. A hateful glare was hidden behind his mask. Fenrir wasn't about to let them do anything. Focusing the air around him, grey whips of willed wind burst forth from the garage, forcing foes out into the yard. The steel stashed around the open room flew out with them, knocking a few out and damaging few others. Adam used his scabbard rifle to shoot against the gust, sinking his sword into the ground with a mid-air twist to sustain his gravity. His subordinate dug his finger in the dirt as the wind died down.
"Get inside! Call port or pigs! I'll hold them off." Fenrir concentrated and pressured the air under his heels as he launched himself out the garage after their invaders. Though Fear and confusion painted his face, Theodore ran inside, pulling out his scroll, closing and locking the door behind him. He quickly dialed 911 as he took cover behind the wall to the living room.
"Vale county police. What is your emergency?"
"There are these guys attacking my house and they all have guns, and I don't know what the fuck is going on!"
"Sir what is your address?" As he began to say the address, he heard a crash from the front door, down the hall to his left. Footsteps thundered down as he repeated the address into the phone again and again quietly.
"We'll have squads down there ASAP." Theo hung up and quickly called his grandfather.
"Hello? Theo? Everything alright?" Before he could utter a word, the man from before walked into frame. He looked down at the young boy with mahogany brown eyes.
"Oh, there you are. Let's make this easy on both of us and we take a walk with no trouble, eh?"
"Why don't you take a hike?" Theo threatened the larger man, putting his scroll on speaker and slipping it in his pocket before popping his claws.
"Ha! And here I thought I wasn't gonna have any fun. Okay boy, let's play."
The man charged him with open arms. Theo gave quick jabs to his ribs as he bobbed behind him and shotgun blasted the back of his legs, bringing him to his knees. He ran towards the front door to escape.
"Oh. That's cute. You're just a ray of sunshine, aren't you?" The man rose and began walking to his new friend. The light from the smashed door was seen right in front of him, yet shadows of soldiers smothered the light, as they flooded in a line, guns aimed at his chest. Theo stopped in his tracks and raised his fist his wrist ready to fire.
"You're the host of the party and you're going to bail? Where's your manners, man?" The young boxer spun on heel to the old wrestler, throwing a right hook as the other threw a left. Another shotgun blast disarmed the opposing punch, while the boxer tossed an upper cut into the targeted chin, firing wrist rifles along the line. The wrestler pushed his younger foe with enough force to knock him into the coffee table behind them, glass and wood, laying broken and shattered beneath him.
"I would think a young man like yourself would know; manners maketh man."
"What is a man if not a miserable little pile of secrets." Theodore shot back up forcing his fist forward in a Dempsey roll of wrathful fists. The man blocked with his belted arm as much as he could but with one lucky strike in his back shoulder, his guard broke, a right strike met his face and each resulting fist jabbed with Jetstream speed. Blows bounced his face left and right. The young boxer had him against the ropes, but even with all his strength swung in one more clash, it stuck more like a dart thrown into the board. The mans face held the younger one's fist in place. As the man turned his face, he let out a hardy laugh. He grabbed the boy's arms in blistering speed.
"Boy, I'll make a man of you yet." He swung the young man around, knocking him into walls as he tossed him out the door with ease.
Outside, Adam Taurus blocked swift strikes from his Fenris foe with sheathed blade. The wolf switched sword sizes simultaneously between swings. Finding few marks in his assault. The bull swept his leg under him, to trip in the air. He fired his sword forward pushing the wolf away as he blocked with knifed hand. Fenrir spun and landed on winded skates, bending himself back, barely touching the ground.
Adam grabbed his sword in a dash and slashed at his enemy, the force creating a counter wind Fenrir had to dodge as he neared him. Landing to his open side, he slashed at Adam's arm, failing as he parried his swing back. The two stood against each other, about to clash again as Theodore was tossed in between them. Standing in panic, He fired at the bull, his bullets adding fuel to the fire as he glowed in vermillion, charging a killing blow. He swung his sword, and a red wave of energy rushed him. He blocked with his gauntlets; sheer luck ensuring his aura dropped right as the wave cut his arm, blooding gushing from the wound.
"Theodore!" Fenrir screamed as he rushed to his fallen friend. He had sunk to one knee, wincing in pain.
"I'm okay. I think I'm okay."
Adam smiled smugly as he slowly sheathed his blade. The man cracked his knuckles, walking to his side. An airship dropped down below to their left while another flew in over the lake to meet them at the right.
"Surrender now and you might live." Adam growled at the fallen fighters.
"See, it's the 'might' that makes me not want to cooperate." Fenrir scoffed back.
"Then die."
"Ultimatum! You leave."
"I don't think you understand the situation you're in. You're surrounded on all sides and one of you is bleeding out. You don't stand a chance."
"No, I think you'll just be gone with the wind. It's hurricane season you know."
"What are talking about?"
The sky grew grey as thunder sounded in the distance. A light breeze flew along their sides.
"What is this?"
Fenrir's eyes flashed blood red as the gust strengthened its intensity forcing the airships to crash into each other. Grinding into an explosion as thrusters carved into another. Men fly up in the sky and through the trees, loud thuds being heard as they slammed against trunks. Adam plunged his sword in the ground once again as his right-hand man flew backward into the forest. The anvil from the garage smashed against his head and he went away along with his men. Various debris flew at him as he sliced away at the objects. Fenrir rocketed against him with sparking swords. The action repeated in the air, until the wolf kicked him to a large tree trunk. The crash crushed his aura. Fenrir took that moment to clasp his bow together and aim an arrow at Adam. Grey eyes held it's target in sight, the silver tip of an arrow gleamed against the bone white mask.
"We aren't through here." Adam Snarled.
"Here? We're through here. You and I will settle this later." Fenrir lowered his bow and began walking away. Adam growled in his defeat and marched to pick up his fallen men. Victory was in a simple soul that day, though more primal in its nature. But in the coming future, will that soul remain to base instinct, or will it grow in complexity to be a man? At least it is true, that he who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of such a man.
Hello readers. I just wanted to say thank you for getting this far. I started this many years ago and by now I'm older. With the news of volume 9 coming out, I took an interest in the series again and caught up as well as I could. I've had this story sitting in my head for a bit and finally decided to finish what I started. Life has a way of messing up plans and putting fear and despair in your heart. Time will make demons, and it will fall on you to battle them. Throughout the years we all have faced hardship, but we push forward regardless of what lies ahead of us. Moving forward is what got me to be the man I am today, and I will keep moving forward against the winds of life. I hope you'll take this journey with me and find enjoyment in this story. I've gone this far in writing, despite years of not, so why not go further. I don't plan to respond to anything yet, but I will be reading your reviews. I look forward to this experience. Thank you again so much for reading. Keep moving forward, fellows!
Edited by The Coolest Roommate Ever, Caro.
