CH. 15

The first thing Jurano did when they arrived back at Beacon was go to the headmaster. He had promised Kathleen and Abaddon that they would be back with another pelican, and he was sure that Ozpin's permission was needed first. Although, the headmaster was quite busy at the moment.

"Professor Ozpin is currently unavailable at this time. He is having a personal meeting, but I will make sure to send another Pelican with a full huntsman on board," said Goodwitch.

"Hopefully his teammates are alright," she thought.

"Can't we help professor?" Jurano pleaded.

Goodwitch shook her head. "No. It's best if you and your friends stay here. We don't want any more students in harm's way. Now go on to your dorm."

"Alright then." Somewhat satisfied, Jurano left Beacon tower and made his way to MNCE's dorm room. He knocked on the door and as soon as it opened, Emma appeared right in front him. Jurano recoiled a bit in surprise.

"What she say?" Emma's hair was partially braided, making it look very unruly. Coupled with her currently wide eyes, Jurano could've made the mistake of thinking that she had lost her mind.

"Good news is Goodwitch is going to send a pelican early tomorrow morning with a full huntsman aboard. Although, we can't tag along. Goodwitch says to stay here so no more students will be endangered," Jurano explained. "We just have to hope for the best."

Emma frowned and returned to her place on Neo's bed, where the tiny girl continued to braid the rest of her hair. Jurano just leaned against the wall, pulled out his scroll and a pair of earphones, and began listening to music.

"Yeah, hope that they can actually survive till tomorrow," Emerald added from her place on her bed.

"Em, please," Mercury pleaded as he laid back on her lap.

"What, didn't you see the size of that horde?" Emerald said. "We were way outnumbered and outmatched. You'd have to be a full on huntsman to take on something like that or else its suicide. And even if those two managed to get away, they'd have to find somewhere to stay in that infested forest. That's why its likely they won't survive."

"Will you stop?" Neo asked without looking away from her braiding.

Emerald sighed. "Fine, whatever."

"Its nothing to really be concerned about anyway. Kathleen's a strong girl, and Abaddon's a force to be reckoned with. I'm sure they'll be fine," Cinder said. She had been reading from the book she bought at the bookstore. She had wanted some piece and quiet, but couldn't help but add something to the conversation.

"By the way, what do you think that was? When he destroyed that concrete wall?" Mercury asked. "There was some kind of shadow stuff coursing through the cracks."

Emma shook her head. "Jurano, Kathleen, and I have known him since we were little kids, but we never knew he had power like that. It makes me wonder what else we don't know about him?"

"Maybe Cinder knows," Emerald said accusingly.

"Hmm. I do, but Abaddon will tell you everything when he gets back," Cinder replied.

Emerald was about to say something when there was a knock at the door. Jurano took off his headphones and opened the door to see Velvet standing there with a bandaged right arm.

"Velvet, I was just about to call you!" Jurano hugged her, then his eyes fell on her injury. "What happened to your arm?" He took her arm into his hands, careful not hurt her even further.

Velvet smiled. "Jurano, I'm fine. Just a minor break. My aura should heal it soon enough, but you should come with me. Ruby's team arrived about the same time we did, but something's happened."

XXXXXXX

"I think that's enough firewood for now." Abaddon put down the wood he had gathered for the makeshift campfire. After taking care of the Grimm horde, he and Kathleen found a safe place to camp. It was a small forested outlet sticking out of a cliff face. The height would keep them away from most Grimm if more ever came. Although, the height did allow the autumn wind to go through, making the air rather cold. Kathleen kept the fire stable, but the wind still sent a chill up her spine.

"Dammit, I should've brought a coat or something," she thought as she shivered.

Abaddon noticed this and took off his hoody. He came up behind Kathleen and put it on her. She noticed how much bigger in size Abaddon was, but the extra space helped to keep her warm. Abaddon sat on the ground next to her.

"Thanks," she said. "What about you?"

"I'll be fine. The light keeps me warm." Just as he said that, a faint white aura briefly surrounded his body. "Look Kat, I can't tell you everything until the entire group is present. They deserve to know too. For now, I'll answer a few of your questions…ok?"

"Alright," Kathleen sat up straight and looked at him. "What is a Longinus fragment?"

Abaddon sighed and took a crystal out of his pocket. It was like a dust crystal, but much larger, and instead of the regular colors that dust usually takes, this one was both black and white. It was as if the elements inside were continuously mixing and swirling together. "This is a Longinus fragment. Turns out these things have been on Remnant since humanity discovered dust, at least that's what researchers say. Each fragment carries both light and darkness within. No one has been able to use these fragments safely, without going insane, deforming, and/or dying that is."

"That power you've been using, is it from the fragments?" Kathleen asked.

"Yes," he answered. "Of all those who have tried to gain power from them, I'm the only one who has been able to harness both the darkness and the light, which is also dubbed twilight. It is a strong power indeed, helps me to kill large amounts of Grimm easily and overwhelm my opponents. Although, it takes a large amount of my aura to use it so I try to conserve it. Here, I'll show you what happens when I absorb one."

Abaddon held his arm out and closed his eyes, with the Longinus fragment in hand. The crystal began to glow faintly, rising a few inches above his hand. In response, Abaddon's aura glowed, his crimson red mixed with shadow and light. The crystal then floated towards Abaddon's chest, glowing brighter until it phased into his body and disappeared. His aura continued to glow for a few seconds, then went back to normal.

"Wow," she said.

"Anymore questions?" he asked.

"Yeah. Are Cinder and Neo really from Marrowshin like we are?" Kathleen asked.

"No," Abaddon answered reluctantly. Talking about Neo was fine with him, but he hoped that he wouldn't have to explain the relationship he had with Cinder. It brought both good and bad memories. "Neo is from Mistral, where she lived with her foster father. Cinder is from Atlas, where her family lives. Cinder joined me when I went on a mission with the Atlesian military, and Neo tagged along after we saved her father from a corrupt huntsman that he ripped off in a bargain."

"Oh, ok. Also, one more thing. What is the real reason you left Marrowshin?" She was hoping to get a real answer this time. In the past, he would make up excuses about it being an adventure or that his grandfather told him to, but she and the others knew that was a lie.

"I left because I wanted revenge…on the White Fang…for what they did to our town," Abaddon said.

"And you couldn't tell us about this? We could've gone as a team ya'know," Kathleen said.

Abaddon shook his head. "I couldn't take the risk. I wanted to go alone so no one I cared about would get hurt."

"Bullshit! You had Cinder and Neo with you for those three years! You went off with two random people besides your closest friends, us! Was it better to have them with you than us?!" she screamed. Kathleen was fuming with anger. What Abaddon was telling her was like another way of saying that he couldn't trust them with such a mission. It was frustrating, and hurtful.

Anger began to well up in Abaddon's chest as well. His eyes turned black and he couldn't help but to yell back at his partner. "I know that, but you guys were more important to me! I realized later on that I couldn't do it alone, so I let them stay with me! I didn't call or mail or anything because I didn't want any of you coming to my aid and getting harmed, or worse, killed! I wouldn't be able to live with myself if any of that happened! My parents didn't even know until I came back, only grandpa knew the whole time! I know I was being selfish, but it was my decision! My burden!"

"Uuugghhh!" Without hesitation, Kathleen flew towards Abaddon in a quick gust of wind. Abaddon braced himself, ready for impact.

SMACK!

Abaddon's cheek went bright red. Then, she hugged him.

Frankly, he was surprised. Of all things he thought Kathleen would've done; a punch, a kick, or a near fatal wind blast. Of all those things, she gave him a slap and a hug. Abaddon hugged her back since he didn't know what else to do.

"You should've at least told us from the beginning. We were all worried about you, whether you would come back or not, whether you were alive or not. But now we're an official team, so you don't have to hide things to protect us ok."

The boy paused for minute before speaking. "Okay." He gave a loud sigh of relief, seeing as the situation went better than expected. "Well, at least you didn't bash my face in."

Kathleen gave him a soft punch to stomach. "Shut up, I'm still mad at you."

Abaddon smiled. "Hehe, how about you get some sleep while I keep watch. Even though we killed those Grimm, there still might be more in the area."

"Alright," Kathleen let go of Abaddon and lay down near the fire. She took one last look at Abaddon before falling asleep.

"Phew," he thought. "If I'm honest with myself, it feels like I just lifted a huge weight off my shoulders."

XXXXXXX

Kathleen awoke to see the sun shining overhead. It was close to noon. She sat up, yawned, and stretched her limbs. The sleep wasn't very comfortable but having Abaddon's hoodie and being near the fire helped greatly. The fire had already gone out, but that was alright since it wasn't cold during the daylight hours. She looked around for Abaddon and found him lying on the other side of the dead fire, fast asleep.

"He probably fell asleep when the sun came up," she thought.

Kathleen walked to edge of the cliff outlet and sat down, her legs dangling over the edge. She had a beautiful view of the Emerald forest. Even though the area was dangerous due to the creatures of Grimm, she couldn't help but admit that when all was quiet and peaceful the forest still had its beauty.

"Sightseeing already?" Abaddon sat right next to her, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"Kinda," she replied. Then she remembered something. "Hey, shouldn't a bullhead be looking for us by now?" Kathleen took out her scroll and her earpiece. Originally, their earpieces gave off signals that could be seen by nearby scrolls when activated. The devices could also serve as radio transmitters that could be used to link to radio channels that were within range, and connected with one's scroll in order to send out a distress signal for transport vehicles to see. Kathleen connected the two, probing for any radio chatter. After a few minutes, the voice of a bullhead pilot could be heard.

"Come in, this is Beacon Bullhead number 5. Any stranded huntsmen in training out here please respond. I repeat, please respond."

"Found our rescue transport," Kathleen told Abaddon.

Abaddon yawned loudly. "That's great. Could you ask the pilot if he or she has any food? We don't have our packs with us and I'm starving."

"You wanna think about food at a time like this?" Then a growling noise filled the air. Kathleen lightly clutched her stomach. "Never mind what I asked."

"That's what happens when you leave your backpack in the bullhead," Abaddon said.

"What about yours?" she asked.

"One of the Grimm attacked me from behind and it was torn to shreds," he replied. "But I have a better excuse though."

Ignoring Abaddon, Kathleen went back to her scroll and pressed on the screen to connect to the radio channel of the nearby bullhead. "Beacon Bullhead, we need some assistance here please. Follow my distress signal and pick us up."

"Hear you loud and clear. We're actually a few minutes away from you. Just hold tight."

"Thanks." Kathleen then turned off her earpiece and tucked it away in her pocket. "They'll be here in a few minutes." She thought her partner would happily respond to that good news, but instead he was looking down at his hands. There were a large number of black wisps swirling around him, like a group of sharks swirling around their prey.

"Don't worry Kat, it's nothing." The wisps then quickly flew into his body, one by one. "Maybe those came from some shards that broke off the fragment."

To Kathleen, this was out of the ordinary. He said that he was the only person to actually control this power, but the question was how. If others suffered trying to use these Longinus fragments, what makes Abaddon so different?

"Hello down there!"

Both Abaddon and Kathleen looked up. A bullhead slowly glided down to hover right in front of the pair. The cargo door opened to reveal none other than Professor Port armed with his weapon, a blunderbuss with two axe blades attached to either side of the stock.

"Ms. Silenyaa! Mr. Rizer! It's good to see that you two are safe," said Port.

"Good to see that weapon finally off its perch," Abaddon joked.

"Hahaha, and a marvelous tool it is, but we must make haste back to the school. Get in," Port beckoned.

Kathleen and Abaddon quickly jumped into the bullhead. As the cargo doors closed, everyone took their seats and the bullhead took off towards Beacon.

"The good news is you two were the only students in need of rescue," Port said.

"You sure no one needed an extra hand, not even team CRDN?" Kathleen asked.

"Not at all, although I did hear that one of Mr. Winchester's teammates relieved himself when confronted by an Ursa Major. It was a mess that I'd rather not deal with," Port told her. Kathleen couldn't help but giggle at that.

"Wait," Abaddon interjected. "Sorry to dampen the mood, but what's the bad news?"

"What?" Kathleen asked, confused.

"Sometimes with good news comes bad news. Professor Port, has anything bad happened?" Abaddon asked. He had a gut feeling that something went awry with another team's assigned mission. He was hoping that feeling was wrong.

Port's eyebrows furrowed. "It seems that in an altercation with the creatures of Grimm, the leader of team RWBY was gravely injured. And we don't know if she'll pull through."