I'd like to apologize for that extended absence. I won't go into detail, both because I don't want to bore ya'll, and frankly a lot of its quite personal.
I had a lot of family stuff come up, as well as personal stuff, and these past few weeks have been pretty emotionally and physically draining to say the least. I've had zero drive to write as a result which is infuriating when you have the entire plan right in front of you. But I digress.
Things still aren't great. They're better, but not great. That said I'm going to be trying to write again and post as regularly as possible because goodness knows my sanity needs it.
This blurb or whatever isn't to get pity from anyone, I'm just explaining why it's been a long time - by my standards, since my last upload.
Now, with the nitty gritty, mopey wopey out of the way, here's Yang!
Yang's back tensed as she heaved, putting all of her weight into her efforts. A tree three times her size and many more her weight balanced precariously over one shoulder. The Dimuran's jaw clenched, and with a grunt she stood from her squat, lifting the tree into the air. It was awkward going for the first few steps yet once she found a rhythm walking with her bulbous load wasn't too difficult.
Men gawked as she strode past them, grinning and waving with her free hand. Many of the same men had glowered at her earlier that morning, calling her names and giving her the cold shoulder treatment. Many now looked meek or awestruck. Not going to be mouthing off anymore, are ya? Yang mused, chuckling to herself. Carrying a tree was a pretty good deterrent for mouthy men.
A narrow stone bridge crossed the gap between Alabaster's outer walls and the mill proper. Workers moved to the very edge to make way for Yang, some ducking to avoid being knocked out cold. More still stepped off the road entirely to make space, and the few minding the door didn't need to be told twice to open them wide for her.
Taking a second to adjust the tree she grimaced as sap clung to her shoulder and neck, leaving her clothing sticky. Wood chips and strips of bark peeled away, revealing insects inside. A lesser woman might have panicked. Yang didn't. She was perfectly reasonable, holding a hand by the wood and burning the writhing creatures alive. Okay, maybe there was a slight panic as a maggot fell onto her shirt, but she managed not to freak out. Just… Flick it away and burn it for good measure.
Low-bearing wooden archways made her shift the log into an underarm position, leaving Yang teetering a bit as she carried it through. More workers slipped into side rooms or sat on the floor, dodging what few limbs had yet to be stripped away. Once through the hall she made it into the wide-open sawmill. Gears ground together, teeth gnashing furiously as the water wheel outside forced them along in perpetual motion. Saws with teeth sharp as any blade cut through logs with ease and littered the floor with wood chips.
The tree hit the floor with a heavy thunk. Bark fell away, and small limbs snapped, and Yang took a moment to brush herself down, plucking a few pine needles from her hair. The foreman, a stout, aged man with a mustache as bushy as her hair came forward. Beady brown eyes darted between her and the latest tree she'd brought in, pudgy, sausage-like fingers wringing together nervously.
"That's the last of them!" Yang grinned and slapped her hand onto the tree, immediately regretting it. Sap stuck to her fingers and she looked around, whistling as she pat the back of a passing worker. All clean!
Nodding, the foreman smiled weakly. "Yes… That's… The last of them," he repeated. "That was… Remarkably quick."
"Aw, it was nothing! I've handled way heavier things!" Yang popped her back and grunted, then followed with her shoulder and neck. "Need a hand with anything else? Setting them up? Moving some of the lumber?"
"Actually, erm… I was hoping to speak to you about that…" The foreman glanced back and Yang rose onto her toes, peering into a small side room. A group of men leaned out and watched the exchange from afar, their faces a mixture of contempt, nerves and disgust.
She had a pretty good idea where this was going already. Yang smiled nonetheless and placed her hands on her hips. "So, I'm guessing I'm not getting that Lien ya promised, eh?"
"No, no, you're still being paid! We wouldn't dream of not paying you!" the foreman assured her, waving his hands frantically. "I-In fact we even decided to give you a bonus for finishing so quickly!"
Okay so she was still getting paid. That was good. So why was the little guy sweating so bad? "'Kay…" Yang drawled, looking up and blowing bangs from her vision, growling and swiping them back with her hand. "What's the problem then, bossman?"
"The problem? Oh, well, um… S-See, there are a few people here that are… Um, how shall I put this… Not exactly receptive to your being here."
"Oh? And why's that?" The Dimuran smirked, leaning forward and cocking her head to the side. half breed, or an outsider?"
"A-All of the above, I'm afraid. You've been remarkably helpful but, well, many of my workers are growing agitated. You're… Making them look bad, I believe, and they're threatening to stop working until you're sent away."
Wait, seriously? That was actually a problem? Yang was doing these people's work for them and they wanted to complain? She had to laugh, and so she did, her voice filling the now silent mill. "Aw, did I hurt their little egos? Make them feel small?"
The foreman didn't answer, looking away and shrinking again under so many watchful gazes. Oh, Yang was acutely aware of how many disdainful looks she was getting. They could stare all they wanted - it wasn't like these people could actually do anything to her.
"Fine, fine. I'll just take my pay and beat it, then." Yang grinned and held her hand out expectantly. "I wouldn't wanna hurt anyone else's feelings after all!"
"Ah… Thank you for your understanding, m-miss. It's nothing personal, just business."
Riiiiight, business. Good excuse for misogyny and racism. Yang plucked the Lien pouch straight from the foreman's belt and tousled what little hair remained on his round head. It would be so easy for her to get angry or break something but then she'd only be justifying these people's hatred of her. She'd be the better person, even if she really, really didn't want to.
No one said a word to her on her way out. Not that it was weird: no one spoke to her on the way in either. Oh, but there were plenty of stares, and she was sure if she looked back she'd catch a few crude gestures too.
Sunlight blinded her as she stepped out of the murky mill, shielding her eyes as she twirled her earnings. She could tell from the weight alone it wasn't much, probably less than the average worker got. Still, anything was more than having zero. A few incoming workers passed her on the way up the hill into town and she grinned at them, returning their glares with a winning smile. Or maybe it was a losing one considering they were still glaring. Whatever.
Her reception in the town square wasn't much better. Alabaster was busiest early in the mornings and most of the town congregated in the square. More people naturally meant more unpleasant stares.
Yang smiled warmly at a woman behind the counter. Her small shop held most of Alabaster's produce, which was just about all she could afford with her measly pay. What she'd love would be a perfectly seared steak, a few potatoes stewed in broth and maybe a nice loaf of bread on the side. What she could afford was two apples and a small bushel of berries. Not even strawberries, icky blackberries. Her sister loved strawberries and Yang, after years, had managed to not completely hate them either.
"Fourteen Lien," the owner said curtly, her palm outstretched.
Yang raised an eyebrow and glanced back at the small signs. "Pretty sure it was ten when I counted…"
"Prices went up. Fourteen lien," the woman repeated.
Setting her jaw and smiling through tight lips Yang dug through her pouch and tossed the Lien onto the counter. The woman glared, because that seemed to be the only expression anyone in this town knew how to make. Yang kept on smiling all the way to the door, making sure to slam it closed on her way out. Was that a hinge that broke? Oops.
Three days. She'd chased away the White Fang, managed to keep the town's storehouse mostly intact and theft free, and even taken up a part-time job at the mill. That had been three days ago and people's opinion of her hadn't seemed to change much: if anything, it had gotten worse.
She was used to getting stares. Despite her race men of all walks of life often liked to let their eyes linger a bit longer than they should. Some women too, though those were usually stares born of jealousy, not longing.
No one in Alabaster eyed her like a piece of meat, like some prize to be won. If anyone did view her as meat, then it was diseased and rancid. Men turned their eyes way and noses up in her presence. Women pulled their children away and even the youth, tainted by their upbringings, made a wide berth any time she passed them by.
Devin and his family were the only ones to give her any modicum of hospitality since arriving in Alabaster. Trina greeted Yang with a warm smile as she arrived back at the small house. Cassie, energetic as always, bound over to meet Yang at the gate. "You're back!" the four-year old exclaimed, bouncing on her feet and smiling wide.
"Sure am! And lookee what I gotcha!" Yang held out the blackberries and snickered when Cassie's eyes grew wide. "Go on, it's all yours! It's a reward for being such a cutie!"
Not needing to be told twice the toddler accepted her gift with all the grace a four-year-old could muster. Squealing, she clutched the container to her chest and skipped in circles around Yang.
"Cassie, what do you say when someone gives you a gift?"
"Thank yooooou!"
Yang laughed, reaching down and tussling the little girl's hair. "Don't mention it! Just don't eat 'em too fast, 'kay? Don't wanna choke!"
The toddler already had a handful of berries hovering by her mouth when Yang warned her. Gray eyes shined with excitement and she flashed a smile, giggling as she picked at her snack one by one. Letting the little girl sit in the grass Yang laughed when their husky, Luna, tried to steal some of the blackened treats.
"You didn't have to get her something, you know," Trina said.
"I know, but I saw 'em and thought she might like something! Besides it didn't cost that much!"
"Well, we appreciate it. Trying to get her to eat fruits sometimes is a nightmare," Trina smiled, dusting her dirtied hands off on her gray skirt. "It feels like we have this garden for nothing sometimes."
Yang peeked around the other woman, eyeing the assortment of vegetables longingly. Her stomach growled and red tinted her scales, drawing a sheepish grin out of the Dimuran. "Well uh… Ya know, I don't really mind veggies myself…"
"We're making a stew for lunch, if you're hungry. Which judging by the fact you're drooling…" Yang checked herself and wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. Trina laughed and smiled apologetically. "You're invited, naturally. Devin just went down to the markets to get some meat, he should be back soon."
"No kidding? I musta just missed him then."
Trina tossed a few carrots and radishes into her wicker basket, slinging it over her arm. "Well, I'm sure he'll be quite glad to see you're done with work. How was the mill today?"
"Uh, about that…" Yang grinned and rubbed the back of her neck. "They sorta… Fired me, I think. Though not 'cuz I did anything wrong!" she added quickly. Glancing back at the nearby Cassie she lowered her voice, cupping a hand at her mouth and leaning forward. "It's because the guys there got sticks up their butts and can't stand the fact I was doing a better job."
"And let me guess, your being half-Dimuran had something to do with it too?" Yang nodded. It hadn't been said outright but the looks on the workers' faces said it all. The only reason for foreman probably hadn't made any disparaging remark to her face was he worried about being launched through the roof of the mill. "Those men are so unreasonable."
"Ah, whatever. Just a part-time job, ya know? Didn't expect to stay here long anyways!"
In fact, Yang hadn't anticipated spending more than a single evening in Alabaster. The White Fang had seen to that though and forced her hand. Would they come back? Probably, and that knowledge, like an executioner's axe hovering over the throat of the town, created enough guilt to prompt Yang to stay.
She couldn't stay in Alabaster indefinitely. She knew that, the White Fang knew that, and sooner or later she'd have to leave. What would become of the town then? Would the organization even wait for her to leave? Yang turned to watch Cassie giggle and wrestle with Luna, the small husky wagging its tail, slapping against its own hind quarters with a dull thump.
As far as Magi were concerned she was powerful, far more than someone her age had any right to be. But she was still only one person. What could she hope to accomplish against a dozen enemy Magi? Two dozen? She had no idea what the White Fang might throw at her, what lengths they might go to to punish her and Alabaster for their defiance. A defiance that came from Devin and a handful of other optimistic - or perhaps suicidal residents.
Luna barked in excitement and bound towards the gate. Devin had returned from the markets and for a moment Yang grinned, keen to cook whatever meats he'd purchased. Not only was the man empty handed, however, but his clothing was dirtied. He walked past his bounding pet silently and Yang noticed his blackened, swollen eye. A bit of dry, crusted blood clung to his upper lip and his hair was matted.
"Devin!" Trina rushed to his side and grabbed his arm as he teetered. Yang took the stool the housewife had been using to garden and set it nearby, helping the other woman ease Devin onto the seat. "What happened to you?!"
Devin rubbed at his good eye and winced, his hand brushing against the bruised bridge of his nose. "Some of our neighbors aren't happy with how things went…" One look at Yang said the rest. News couldn't have taken long to spread, not in a town as small as Alabaster. By now everyone knew what she'd done, how they - or more accurately, how Yang had denied the White Fang and sent them packing.
And brought down the organization's ire upon everyone's heads.
"But they beat you? What good does that do?" Trina knelt before her husband and began to clean his face as best she could.
"They can't attack the White Fang, so they're going for the next best thing," Yang stated bluntly. She'd probably be the real target, but the residents were privy to what she was; unless they tried to kill her in her sleep, a very real possibility, a normal person had no hope of beating a Magi in a fight. Even a town full of them.
Cassie had long since stopped her play and toddled over to the gathering. One look at her father's bruised, bloodied face brought tears to her eyes and the toddler whined, reaching for Devin with short arms. "Papa!" she wailed, burying her face in his shoulder once lifted.
Blood boiling, Yang looked down the road, past the knotted oaks hanging over the dirt road, through bushes and homes towards the center of town. She could go down there and find the men who did this. Beating them up would be child's play. Hell, killing them wouldn't even make her break a sweat.
"Don't," Devin warned. He met Yang's eyes and shook his head. "They weren't wrong to be angry. I… We were wrong to do what we did. We saved a wagon of supplies, sure, but now the White Fang is going to be furious. Alabaster will be attacked because of what we did."
"And so they thought to attack you? How does that make things right?" pleaded Trina.
"It doesn't." Yang watched as the small family drew into itself, both parents turning to comfort a fitful Cassie. Luna whimpered and buried her snout in Devin's side, then nudged at the crying toddler.
"We have to leave…"
Devin's declaration was barely heard over Cassie's wails. Trina stared at her husband, aghast. "What…?"
"They told me we have to leave, or things will just get worse for us." Devin's face crumpled in equal parts anger and pain. He eased Luna back from his chest and Yang wondered if he might have sustained more injuries than were visible. "They warned it would get worse. Said we can either turn ourselves in to the White Fang and pay reparations, or they'll kill us themselves and hope it's enough."
"That's insanity! They won't do that over one wagon!"
Yang liked to think not, and she wanted to tell Trina that Devin was wrong, but clearly the townsfolk believed it. Nothing was worse than an entire town of frantic, agitated people. "What's going to happen to Alabaster…" Devin muttered, haggardly hanging his head. "If this keeps up, if everyone panics, the Grimm…"
"Grimm will be the least of Alabaster's problem." Damn it, this was her fault! Yang growled and swung her fist at a tree, splintering wood and cracking the trunk. Cassie whimpered, and she immediately dropped her arm to her side. "Hey, it's… It's gonna be okay, alright? No one's going to hurt your daddy anymore."
"Where will we go? You can't honestly mean to send us to those people…"
"Of course I don't!" Devin shouted, then cringed when his daughter whimpered in his arm. "I'd never do that," he added softly, kissing Cassie's forehead and rubbing her back. "We… I know some people. They live in a town near Mount Glenn, only a few days from here. We could go there, maybe move in."
Trina paled, and for good reason. Yang didn't like the idea any more than Devin's wife, but given the alternatives it really might be the only option. At least no angry mob had come back with Devin; Yang wouldn't have been able to resist knocking a few heads for what they'd done, had someone been stupid enough to show up. As things stood only a tree had suffered for it.
"When do you have to leave…?"
"Today. They want us gone by tonight at the absolute latest," Devin answered.
Not a whole lot of time to decide. That was probably the point. Yang growled again and ran a hand through her hair, mentally kicking herself. She'd been so eager to muck up anything of the White Fang's that she hadn't stopped to consider what might happen. Now a family was paying for her mistake. Hell, the entire town was probably screwed whether Devin left or not.
If they don't want him though then screw this place. These three are the best the town has to offer. Without them here this place sucks. "I'll take you guys there. There's probably going to be Grimm out, not to mention bandits, or even White Fang." Yang managed a ghost of a smile and pounded a fist on her chest. "You can count on me!"
"I've put you through enough trouble as it is. We can't ask you to do that for us," Devin said, shaking his head.
"Then how are you gonna get there in one piece? There's lots of stuff out there that'll try and kill you, ya know." Yang wasn't trying to scare these people, she was just being honest. Remnant was dangerous on its best days and downright lethal most others. Without a Magi, or even a few guards, most travelers were in danger just leaving settlements.
"She's right, Devin. We need her help if we're leaving," Trina added. She smiled at Yang and nodded. "We'd appreciate your protection, Yang. Thank you."
They shouldn't be thanking her. This was all her fault. Without her compliance Devin wouldn't be able to defy the White Fang. Hell, she'd lied about who she was - her name, the fact she was a Hunter, and even what she was up to. Yet none of that seemed to matter to these people. Devin hadn't even told anyone she was rogue, letting his family and the town believe she was a Hunter all along.
Yang felt a lump form in her throat and she cleared it stubbornly, forcing a wide grin as she gave a thumbs up. "Don't mention it! It was getting kinda stuffy around here anyways, and it'll be nice to have some company for a change!"
"Come on, let's get you cleaned up." With Yang's help they got Devin to his feet. Hearing the man wince and listening to his strained breathing all but confirmed some bruised - if not broken ribs. Nothing Yang could help with, frowning as she lifted Devin's arm over her shoulders, leaning forward a bit to match his height. She didn't have an ounce of healing magic.
Another life she'd ruined, all because she couldn't just keep to herself. Yang smiled when she caught Cassie staring at her, heartstrings snapping when the young girl, despite her tears, managed to smile back.
She'd make damn sure these three got to wherever they were heading. She owed them that much.
/+/+/+/+/
Gratitude was a hard thing to come by.
Sure, Yang knew her actions had probably - definitely made things in Alabaster more complicated. The arrangement with the White Fang hadn't been perfect but at least it had been clear: give us what we want and you're left to do your own thing. Then she'd gone and picked a fight, threatened to scorch the supplies they'd come for, and pissed off a whole lotta people in the process.
Did she regret it? Partly. Devin's plea to put those jerks in their place had prompted her to act. Logic, which as usual was just a bit too slow to catch up with her, told her she shouldn't have intervened.
Grumbling as she felt a rock in her boot Yang reached down and undid her straps, removing it and shaking the offender free. The wagon continued on ahead of her and after strapping her boot back on she raced after it, easily falling in line beside the vehicle.
The air was thick and unpleasant, and it wasn't just the heat or fatigue making it so.
Now, Devin and his family might be without a place to call home. He knew someone by Mount Glenn but that was hardly a hospitable swathe of land. Settled by a bunch of miners, conscripts and folks with nowhere else to go the settlements around there were hardly what Yang might call 'home'. Yet unless the family with her wanted to become nomads it would have to do.
Despite the clear animosity shown by the residents Yang still couldn't help but worry about Alabaster's fate. The White Fang had wanted them turned over or dead and neither had happened. The organization would come back and take supplies, probably more than they'd originally demanded, and maybe a few heads along with it. Yang had tried to point out the idiocy of sending away the lone Magi in town, but the residents would hear none of it. Honestly, it's like the people in town were welcoming their own demise.
Laughter erupted from the covered wagon and Yang peered back over her shoulder. Cassie squealed, and her tiny feet slapped against the floor as she ran in the enclosed space, possibly trying to avoid her mother. Luna barked, and Yang could hear her tail slapping furiously against boards.
"The weather's holding up. We're lucky in that regard." Devin smiled, his face wan and tired. Bruises didn't help him and if Yang was honest he looked like shit.
"Sure are. Though dunno how long it's gonna last." Gesturing over her shoulder with her thumb she nodded at the cluster of gray hanging over Alabaster. At least where she was pretty sure Alabaster was. A few hours removed made it a hesitant guess at best.
"At least we have the wagon for cover, though…" Devin paused and nursed the bruise under his eye. "Not sure if we can all fit, not with the junk we brought with us."
"I can sleep outside, ya know. Wouldn't be the first time."
"Oh, no, that wasn't what I was suggesting at all!" Devin hurriedly answered. "I'm sure if we moved some things around we could make space."
"And sleep on top of each other?" Yang flashed a playful grin and shook her head. "Nah. Somehow I think Trina would kill me for that. Seriously Dev, don't sweat it. I can find a place to sleep no problem!"
She could find something, sure, but getting to sleep was another matter. Traveling constantly, coupled with being unable to safely rest in towns, left Yang often without a bed to sleep in. Or even a roof over her head. She'd become rather adept at tying herself to tree branches or crafting a leanto. Her muscles would ache, and she'd sleep like crap nine times out of ten but she'd sleep all the same.
Devin didn't appear happy and made it known with a deep frown that agitated his injured face. "Ah… Well, at least let me see if we have a canvas you can use. It'll keep out rain better than some branches."
"Sure, sounds swell," Yang agreed.
Her canteen jostled on her hip, the empty container echoing as it bounced. Yang fingered it thoughtfully as she looked around for a water source, then smiled when Devin offered his own. "Thanks." A few tiny sips, hardly enough to quench her thirst. Until they found water that wasn't standing or stagnant they'd have to ration what they had.
"You're positive you don't want to ride with us? I could move over…"
"Nah, I'd rather walk," Yang answered. She handed back the canteen and licked her dry lips. "'Sides, the horse they gave us isn't exactly, uh… Good." It was probably at one point a stallion, now fit for little more than menial labor. Its hair had grown a touch too long and there was a visible scar on the horse's shoulder. A mark left by a Grimm.
Riding would be nice, and gods knew her feet would appreciate it. A few days of leisure - by her standards, let the blisters heal a little. Then hours of walking at a brisk pace undid most of that. Hopefully whatever town we get to has healers. Is that abusing power, askin' them to heal a few blisters?
"By the way… I'm sorry about all this." Yang tilted her head and stared at Devin questioningly.
"All what?" she asked.
"Getting you involved. They were all right, it was dumb what we did. Ain't no way it would've ever worked out, I realize that now."
Yang shrugged. "A dying animal still fights back. Just cuz your back is to the wall doesn't mean you can't do something. I'd say the whole town ought to be apologizing to you and your friends." Some friends though. Devin had mentioned others in town shared his sentiments yet not one had come forward in his defense. "They gave up. They're all cowards." And bigots, and weak, and selfish, not to mention outright stupid. Yang bit her tongue: no sense in beating that dead horse any more.
"Maybe, but 'least they're cowards with homes and walls to keep them safe."
Without anything meaningful to say back Yang shrugged again, looking ahead down the road. Safe until the White Fang or someone else showed up looking for an easy score. Though as far as places to raid were concerned Alabaster didn't make a whole lot of sense. It was secluded, not exactly the wealthiest, and had just enough to get by. Unless you needed some lumber Yang was hard pressed to see why anyone would bother going so far out of their way.
In a growing list of things that didn't make much sense this was close to the top. There had to be more of a reason than a few supplies, Yang just didn't see it.
The air crackled and roared behind them, the sky bellowing at the world below. Yang caught flashes, streaks of light across the sky. Rain was probably coming down in buckets over Alabaster right now and at the pace they were moving it wouldn't be long until the summer storm overtook them too.
"We should find somewhere to stop soon," the half-Dimuran noted. "Maybe find a cluster of trees, shield us from most of the rain."
Devin agreed, and they found a place among the forest to settle in and brace themselves. The wagon wouldn't provide much cover. Yang insisted the family keep the canvas for themselves to cover the opening, keep themselves dry.
Yang wouldn't be sleeping. She suspected she'd be too busy for it.
/+/+/+/+/
Lightning cracked overhead, loud as a whip, casting the forest below in an eerie purple light. Thunder shook the ground and made Yang's ears ring painfully. If she were something else - Meera, Ydran, or even Kanin, her ears would probably be bleeding from that blast.
Her fist connected with the jaw of a Creep and bone shattered. Driving her hand through its lower jaw she tugged the limb free, grabbing the fizzling corpse and using it to bludgeon another. Lightning and thunder worked wonders to cover the scuffle outside the wagon. Devin and his family were huddled inside with little more than canvas and an irate husky to protect them. It was enough: the Grimm were far more interested in Yang.
Mud kicked up as Yang danced across the open road. Holes filled with murky water and splashed whenever she or a Grimm moved through it. Visibility was low, the only real visual she had on the beasts were the telltale glow of their eyes. A glow her own eyes matched.
Gritting her teeth and sneering she caught a Beowolf's arm and twisted her body, tearing the limb at the joint and breaking it. Hanging uselessly at its side the creature howled in rage and raised its good claw, staggering as Yang bat it aside casually. Silencing a snarl with a hard-right hook she grinned as the Beowolf reeled, kicking its knee and snapping the limb inward harshly.
Stomping through the mud she chased it with concussive blows, punch after punch rocking its body. Black mist poured from its figure before it even hit the ground and her final punch, aimed at its head, blew it apart like it was little more than glass.
The remaining Grimm took exception to that. A chorus of howls filled the night air around her, dozens of red, baleful eyes piercing through the darkness. Lightning cracked and revealed Creeps and Beowolves around her, some emerging from the treeline while others rushed down the muddied road. Yang dug her feet in and lowered herself, grinning as a Creep lunged for her shoulder. She fed it her bracer instead and pulled it close as teeth clamped harmlessly around metal. Cocking back her free hand she let it fly, delivering enough force to make a trebuchet green with envy. The Creep's head collapsed, and its jaw went slack in an instant.
Another flash of lightning revealed a dozen black silhouettes converging on her. Like a stop-motion movie their movements seemed janky, unnatural. Without magic to help her she braced for the first few and began to dodge and strike swiftly. The ground was wet and made movement difficult, for her and her enemy both. Luckily, she had a little experience in mud wrestling - not that kind, she noted with a smirk. Grimm?
Yang sneered as a Creep lost its footing and ended up on its back, stubby legs flailing helplessly. Rolling side to side it tried to turn over and snarled as Yang's heel crashed down onto its chest, collapsing under an axe kick. Another was bat out of the air like a fly, pummeled to oblivion in a flurry of blows.
The rain was cold. Clothing clung to her frame, scales glistened and skin, littered with goosebumps, was slick to the touch. Yang tossed her head and flung hair from her face before ducking under a Beowolf's claws, bobbing and weaving through its furious onslaught. One claw caught her bracer and she swore she saw it smile, right up until she buried its snout in the back of its head. Using the fading corpse as a weapon she hauled it around and slammed it into a Creep, throwing it and the corpse into a nearby tree.
Shadows raced around her as Grimm vied for an angle of attack. They were dumb creatures driven purely by instinct, Yang knew, but even they were smart enough to recognize piling onto one another wouldn't make attacking her any easier. At least Yang thought they were smart enough.
Two Creeps collided midair as she rolled beneath them. A Beowolf's claw sundered the mushy ground, scoring five deep scars in the road. Another snapped furiously at the air as saliva hit Yang's face and mixed with rainwater. She spun on her back foot and kicked the side of the beast's head, then jumped and drove a knee into the top of its skull, driving it down into the mud and burying it.
Magic would make it so easy to kill these Grimm. Magic would also create more problems than it would solve. Yang growled in frustration and darted between two Grimm, tackling a Creep approaching Devin's wagon. Using its tail she heaved and pulled the small monster off its feet, lifting and slamming it overhead into another. A Beowolf's claws glanced off her shoulder and a sharp stinging pain erupted. Warmth pooled beneath her sodden clothes, yet when she moved the arm she was pleased to find it wasn't a serious wound.
The Grimm's red eyes narrowed, flashing as it howled furiously at Yang. Her eyes mirrored it, lilac fully red beneath soaked golden locks. Yang growled and backhanded the creature, leaping into its attack and leaning her head away to avoid its jaw. Her arms grabbed hold of its neck and she squeezed, twisting her body and pushing against its chest with her feet. A loud snap ended its fitful resistance and she dropped just in time to avoid another Beowolf's claws.
A blur in the darkness, Yang was a ceaseless eruption of violence. Grimm continued to appear, and she didn't know why. She didn't care. Her chest heaved as her lungs struggled to maintain her insane pace, adrenaline spiking. Every blow she landed was powerful enough to break bone. Each punch left her hand numb, every kick made her leg tense and muscles twitch painfully. She kept fighting, pushing back against the near invisible foe surrounding her.
The Grimm hated humanity, right? That was fine, Yang did too. Deflecting a Creep's tail she grabbed hold and pulled it in, grabbing its upper jaw and tearing it open. She hated the Grimm more.
She was just trying to help, trying to do the right thing, and this was her reward? Being set upon by a horde? Forced to fight all on her own, the sole defense between Devin and his family and a bloody, violent end.
It would be so easy to run away, to slip into the woods and live to fight another day. Yang sneered as a Beowolf's claw struck her head, ears ringing as her red eyes shook in her skull, vision darkening before refocusing on the offender. Grabbing its claw when it tried again she twisted the limb and broke it, pulling the beast in and punching its chest until she was positive she'd collapsed its chest cavity.
Why was she even bothering? Wherever she took Devin, Trina and Cassie, they wouldn't accept her. Whatever town she ended up in would shun her and send her away. No one was going to help a rogue, after all. No one would help a half breed, a girl caught between two worlds.
Yang screamed furiously as she kicked a Creep's leg, sweeping it off its feet. Another landed on her back and she staggered, reaching over her shoulder and grabbing one of its teeth, snapping it and driving it into the eye of the first before flipping her passenger off.
This wasn't her life. She was supposed to be a Hunter like her mother, fighting to make the world a better place. What good was facing down a horde on a road to nowhere in the middle of a thunderstorm going to do? Were Devin's and his family's lives really worth all this?
It was Ozpin's fault she was here. The Church's fault. Yang grit her teeth, canines digging into her lip and drawing blood as she wailed on an unfortunate Creep. It was Alabaster's fault for casting her out. Lyne's fault for allowing those wanted posters to be put up. The mercenaries for chasing her, Devin for enlisting her help, then being of no use when things took a turn; Devin had been a bystander in the storehouse, and now he was again.
Life would be so much easier if they all would just go away.
Yang's foot caught a rut in the road and she fell forward, barely catching herself from hitting the ground. A Beowolf's foot slammed into her side and sent her sprawling, sputtering as her mouth filled with muddied water. Grime mixed with her wounds and she hissed in equal parts fury and hatred. Hatred for the world, for the Grimm, for people.
"I'll kill you all!"
Adrenaline kept her fighting. Righteous anger added strength to her blows and helped her ignore her own injuries. For every hit she sustained she returned them tenfold, reducing every Grimm stupid enough to attack her a smoldering mess.
Yang wasn't sure how long she had been fighting for. Every time a Grimm died another took its place. They weren't innumerable, there had to be a limit, she knew that. Why were there so many? Why were they after her? What did she do to deserve this? You know exactly why they're after you. Her mind laughed as she roared, slamming her hands together over a Beowolf's skull, shattering it. They all want you dead. Humans, Grimm, the world itself.
She could no longer hear thunder. What she'd thought was thunder turned out to be the hammering of her heart - frantic, desperate to supply her body with much needed oxygen. The world seemed darker despite the rain letting up. The moonlight that illuminated the road and revealed the few remaining numbers of Grimm somehow seemed off, unnatural. Everything shimmered like heat waves rising from a cobble road on a hot afternoon. Colors were faded, sounds muddled, and the air itself felt sharp, crisp, unpleasantly so. The world was wrong.
It was red. The entire world was red.
Yang hated it.
Her legs were like blocks of iron as she trudged through the mud, feet sinking with every step only to be pulled free with a sloppy suctioning noise. She hardly glanced at the Creep that she kicked away, sneered at the one that clamped onto her leg only to have its throat stomped on. Before long only a single Grimm remained. The Beowolf, rather than attack, stepped back and snarled, lowering its lumbering frame and dropping its paws on the ground.
For a moment Yang wondered if she saw fear across its features. The Grimm snarled and slammed its paws before racing towards her. Of course not. Grimm were too stupid to recognize their own deaths.
Fangs sank into her arm as Yang fed it her left, ignoring the searing pain as she let the beast bite down. "Gotcha." She swung her right, staggering along with the Beowolf before stomping her foot down and bracing. She swung again, and again, striking until the creature's jaw went slack and it released her grip. Barely standing she reached out and grabbed the sides of its head, snorting when a claw weakly bat against her side.
"You couldn't kill me, could ya…?" Yang stared into its red eyes and frowned. It didn't know what she was saying, how could it? Grimm, like everything else on Remnant, were fucking idiots.
Yang spun and pulled, snapping the Grimm's neck over her shoulder. As its body faded away she stared at the sky, watching clouds part. The stars were red. The moon was red. The sky, the trees, even the road itself were all painted a sickly bloody red.
Grief at remembering something lost mingled with rage at being denied any happiness. Yang screamed into the void of the night, doubling over. She screamed until she felt hoarse and her lungs gave out leaving her breathlessly gasping for air. Her body trembled as adrenaline began to leave her and fatigue set in. She didn't want to stop. She wanted more Grimm. More fighting. More things to hate.
She wasn't sure when the rain had stopped or when the rear of the wagon was uncovered. Yang barely heard the patter of feet slapping against the muddy ground, or Devin's voice calling out, not to her, but to Cassie. The blonde turned her head lazily and saw the toddler several feet to her right, trembling and staring with wide eyes. Eyes of silver. She saw a girl in a red cloak, with silver eyes, no older than four.
Summer isn't coming home, Ruby. Yang took a step closer to Cassie, swaying unsteadily with each one. Raven's gone, too. Dad won't say anything and Qrow left. It's just you and me.
Her hand reached out for the girl only to grasp at air when Cassie stepped away. "Ruby…" she rasped, frowning and reaching out again.
"P-Please… S-Stop…"
Stop what? Yang staggered forward and paused when she felt warmth trickle down her arm. Confused she glanced at her shoulder, brushing her hand over it and rubbing the red mud between her fingers. Oh, right.
A final residual crack of thunder made Yang wince, squeezing her eyes shut. Her entire body was on fire. Limbs ached, her heart strained to keep her moving, and fresh wounds stung, mud and dirt ground into gashes. Devin raced into the road flanked by Luna, and Trina stumbled out of the wagon with a container in her arms.
"Yang! Oh gods, you're… Hold on, you'll be okay!"
What was he so panicked about? Yang staggered forward and paused as her foot sank into a puddle. Looking down she saw her reflection. Haggard and barely lucid, lilac and red eyes watched her, unblinking. Mud clung to her body, saturating it in some places. Blood ran from a score of wounds, the source of which she couldn't say for some of them. Her hair was darker than usual, matted and just as filthy as the rest of her.
"Ruby…?"
Gray eyes stared back at her in terror. Cassie took a step away and whined as Devin lifted her into his arms, holding her protectively. Trina hesitated for a moment until he nodded, approaching Yang and gasping in fright as the Dimuran collapsed.
Despite being drenched by rainwater the ground remained hard. Yang groaned as she hit the dirt, coughing and blindly fumbling for a handhold to get herself up. Trina helped, and Devin did too after setting down his daughter. Sat in the middle of the road Yang struggled to focus her senses. Everything was faded. The world was blurry.
"Hang on, Yang." Devin's voice was desperate as he knelt beside her. "We have salve, just stay awake." She wasn't dying. She was pretty sure she wasn't dying: she didn't exactly have a lot of experience with it.
The couple worked as quickly as two untrained medics could. Yang felt hands awkwardly fumble with her clothes, winced when a cool solution was poured into her wounds, rinsing away dirt and grime, cleansing them. Even if she wanted to lash out and push them away she hadn't the strength left to do so; sitting upright took every ounce of energy remaining.
Bandages were wound where they could be. Yang grumbled in protest as she was helped to her feet, teetering and leaning heavily on the couple as they moved towards the wagon. A small blur in the corner of her vision darted away and she turned, expecting an attack. Cassie froze and looked up at her uneasily, keeping her distance.
"It's okay, sweetheart. Yang's just tired from fighting," Devin explained. "She's just going to rest now, okay?"
Yang's arms shook as she tried to haul herself into the wagon. Trina climbed in to pull while Devin pushed her from behind, muttering a string of apologies that fell on deaf ears. She didn't care. What was he sorry for? Everyone else seemed to be just fine with using her or sending her away. Why should these people be any different?
Staring up at Trina's worried face she felt something soft beneath her. A cloth was used to wipe her face clean and Yang coughed weakly, exhaustion pulling her under. Cold metal prodded at her lips and she opened her mouth and greedily drank, relaxing as cold water filled her. She didn't want to rest yet couldn't fend off the sleep that threatened her. Grimm she could battle, but this enervation? It was a greater foe than the beasts the had slain.
The world went dark and remained dark for a long time. When Yang opened her eyes again her body still felt heavy, the clear pain from earlier now a dull, incessant throbbing. Lifting her head she glanced around the cramped space and saw Trina fast asleep beside her, sat against the side with Cassie protectively held in her lap. Beyond the canvas covering she heard the wagon wheels squeak, and their horse snort haughtily. Devin coughed, then spit and muttered something about catching a cold.
What a nice, insignificant problem to have. Yang tried to sit and her body refused, rejecting her whims and electing instead to remain in place. Sleep clung to her like a cloak and her eyelids began to pull themselves shut, demanding she rest longer. Who was she to say no?
Yang fell asleep listening to Cassie's steady breathing and wondered if Ruby was sleeping soundly too.
Bit of a faster chapter this time around with a little less dawdling in each scene. Still teasing out proper pacing!
Poor Yang seems to fight in every single chapter she gets. Hopefully she gets a break soon! Our girl needs some rest and relaxation!
As always thank you to whoever is reading along and I sincerely hope you're enjoying the ride so far. And if you're so inclined feedback - positive, negative, constructive, is ALWAYS appreciated.
Until next time!