Just a wee notice this time around! For the week of the 4th I'm taking my mother to a lake house for her 60th birthday. As a result I'll likely not have any access to the internet, and certainly no access to my drafts, meaning there's very likely no new chapter coming until the FOLLOWING week. Apologies if this upsets anyone whatsoever but family comes first!
Without further ado...
"I am not eating that."
"Why not? It's good."
Weiss grimaced, leaning away from the sizzling meat. "It's a rodent. It's likely diseased or, at the very least, filthy."
Undeterred by her paranoia Blake plucked one of the skewers from the fire. Fat and grease dripped from the seared squirrel as she turned it over, shrugging before taking a sizable chunk between her teeth and tearing. "Tastes fine to me."
"That… That…" Audibly gagging as she watched Blake chow down Weiss turned away, covering her mouth and shutting her eyes. When the sundering of ratty flesh ended she looked back, wrinkling her nose as Blake licked her fingers clean. "How can you eat that…?"
"With my mouth, mostly." Smirking at Weiss' irritation the Meera shrugged, going for a second helping. "You've never done this, have you? Had to live off the land?"
"I tend to come prepared for missions, which means supplies. To answer your question, no, I haven't. I'd much prefer preserved fruits or salted meats to…" Weiss stuck her tongue out and gestured to their meal. "That…"
"Enjoy berries and grass then, princess."
She'd enjoy it a sight better than the stringy mess Blake was sating herself with. Grabbing a wide, waxy leaf doubling as a bowl she turned a dark purple berry between her fingertips and eyed it hesitantly. Blake had eaten one earlier to assure her they were edible, but she still had her reservations, unsure if it was safe to devour then en masse. Her rumbling stomach bade her to get over her hesitation and she began to snack on the tart berries, mouth filling with a flavor she could only liken to sour grapes. While not the most appealing of meals she'd prefer it still to Blake's game.
Waxing moonlight offered what little illumination it could, and although it amounted to little more than a faint glow Weiss was grateful for it. Her vision extended only as far as their fire allowed, and a little further still thanks to the pale streaks raining down from the heavens above. Black, indecipherable shapes loomed just beyond light's reach, twisting and rising, looming overhead, a crowd of daunting, threatening figures. Logically she knew them to be trees. A childish, whimsical part of her imagined them as White Fang, or rogue Magi, or even simple bandits, gathering around and waiting for sleep to claim them before striking.
She hadn't realized how dearly she missed the comforts of a tent until they laid out in their sleeping rolls minutes later. The fire continued to burn away, set in the ground and surrounded by stones to hold back adventurous embers. The light and warmth was of little comfort and Weiss drew her blanket just a little higher while cursing herself for her infantile fears.
Ruby and herself had camped countless times, as had she and her other friends. Was it Blake's presence that made this instance different? Or was it something else that frayed her nerves?
Across the firepit she glanced at Blake, still vertical and sat up in her roll, prodding at the flames and feeding it on occasion. Though the Meera's hair was black as the encroaching shadows around them it seemed to glow in the fire's light, amber eyes twinkling, two gemstones like those in a priceless brooch. The color of them was unusual, as were the ears upon the other woman's head, swiveling at the faintest of sounds.
"What are you staring at?"
Heat crept up her cheeks and Weiss sat herself up, clearing her throat and choosing to stare into the fire instead. "I'm just thinking."
"About…?"
Surprised that Blake bothered to even ask she turned back to the Meera. "About plenty. Where Ruby might have gone, why she felt compelled to flee in the first place…" Weiss leaned forward, gesturing vaguely in Blake's direction. "Why you've had a sudden change of heart."
Embers crackled, and twigs snapped as fire broke them apart. Cinders rose up and an imperceptible cloud of smoke billowed into the dim sky, becoming invisible as black met black.
"Something important must have happened for her to leave," Blake answered after a moment of silently prodding the flames.
"And your defection from the Fang…?"
Blake didn't answer, choosing instead to feed the fire and the hissing flames speak for her; if the flames spoke it was in a tongue Weiss couldn't recognize. Frustrated by her companion's lack of transparency she ran her hand over the short, crisp grass beneath her, hands brushing along rough blades that tickled her palm.
"Why did you choose to become a Hunter?"
Nonplussed by the deflection Weiss frowned. Blake watched her silently, expectantly, forgoing the fire now in favor of watching her raptly. Releasing a frustrated sigh Weiss ran her fingers back through silky hair. "Simple: There is nothing else for me to be," she answered, listlessly staring up at the fragmented moon.
"Is that because you're a Schnee…?"
At first, she wanted to say yes. Except for her father and brother, two rare non-Magi among a family of them, everyone in the Schnee lineage had been a Hunter or Magi. Her grandfather had been famous the world over, his father had been pivotal in the Great Remnant War, and his father's father had been an important factor in deciding the Magi's War. Whether war heroes or accomplished Hunters her family had a history of accolades and storied feats. Disowned as she was then she still felt compelled to try and live up to their lofty examples.
Compelled, but not obligated. "It is because it is what I am best at," Weiss answered, sparing Blake a lengthy explanation. When the Meera nodded, seeming satisfied, she inclined her head towards her counterpart. "Isn't that a little rude, asking me a question and ignoring my own?"
"I never said you had to answer," Blake deflected coolly.
Technically correct though no less annoying. Balling her hands into fists and setting them in her lap Weiss flicked her head, blowing a stray bang from her vision before studying Blake carefully. "Fair is fair, however. Why did you decide to join the Church? Or better yet, how did you avoid execution?"
"I charmed them into sparing me."
"Hilarious, truly," Weiss grumbled with a roll of her eyes. "If you don't intend to answer then just say so and I'll leave it be."
Not that she wanted to. There was no telling what Blake's motivations were, whether she could be genuinely relied upon or not. If she could sleep without fearing a knife in her breast the moment she awoke. The ravenette laid down on her back and Weiss sighed, following her example and rubbing tiredly at her face. The moon, already pallid and sparse, slipped behind a veil of clouds which robbed their clearing of its meager light. Only the fire shone now and it's fading flames barely allowed Weiss to see past her own feet.
"I'm doing this because I want to." Blake's voice was soft, and Weiss had to strain her ears to hear her. A few seconds of silence passed between them and she thought the Meera might leave it at that, and Weiss lifted her head to cast an expectant gaze across the pit. Perhaps sensing her restlessness Blake chuckled to herself and continued. "I don't want to be a Hunter. I don't even want to be in the White Fang…"
"Then why…?" Weiss prodded.
"Because what else is there? I have no family to return to, nowhere else to call home. Not anymore." Blake rolled onto her side and plucked at the blades of grass, sighing and flicking them away. "I was just going through the paces, I guess. Doing whatever was asked of me, even if I didn't agree with it."
"The killings?" Weiss asked, fully upright now and watching for a reaction. When Blake nodded she felt her lips tighten, an indignant anger. "That's absurd! At best then you're content to be someone's tool. Do you have any idea how poor of a light that puts you in?"
Sitting up herself Blake frowned, then lifted her shoulders in a shrug. "When you don't have anything else you take what you can get. Even if it means doing things you don't like…" She wrinkled her nose and closed her eyes, frame shaking as she exhaled slowly. "Or being with people you hate. You… Delude yourself into thinking it's worth it. That it's normal…"
"Some of those nobles did deserve to die and I'm not going to apologize for them," she continued, meeting Weiss' shocked expression with a calm stare. "If you knew what they do behind closed doors… Sex-trafficking, rape, slave trading, warmongering. People like that… Remnant is better without them."
"You mean to tell me you're a vigilante then, is that it?"
"I'm a blade that needs someone to point me at the enemy, nothing more."
Weiss scoffed at the answer. "A mindless killing machine, then."
"Hardly. But killing is what I'm most suited for." Blake smiled wryly and tilted her head. "It's 'what I am best at'." Reaching into the fire pit and pulling a log free the dying flames hissed, furious at being deprived of its food source. Lingering embers crackled and fought to keep alive, sizzling out and joining the mounds of ash and soot at the bottom. "It's… How did you phrase it…? My 'calling'? Or what was it… Your 'truth'?"
Weiss furrowed her brow, eyes searching before she shook her head. "I never said such a thing…?"
"No, you didn't…" Blake smiled knowingly and laid down once more with a chuckle. "Page 72 in your journal did. You really need to lighten up on Ruby, by the way."
It took Weiss a moment to connect the dots and the moment she did a shrill, angry shout, pointing indignantly at Blake across the fire. "You had no right! Those are private thoughts I record in there!"
"Thoughts you leave out in the open."
"It was in my bag!" Weiss settled down briefly before getting to her feet. "You… You went through my bag, didn't you?!" Storming over to her satchel she tore it open and rifled through its contents. The journal was there, the leather strap binding it shut in place as always. Fingers trembling, she opened it and skimmed through the pages before clutching the book possessively to her chest. "Don't you have any respect for my privacy?"
Blake sighed and lifted herself into a sit, crossing her legs and draping her arms over her knees. "Sure, but I needed to know who I was working with."
"And it didn't occur to you to simply ask me?!"
"I didn't think you'd answer," the Meera replied, shrugging.
The nerve! Stuffing her journal beneath her sleeping roll Weiss planted her hands on her hips, looming over her companion and glaring from across the flames. "How am I supposed to trust you if you're going through my personal belongings? I already don't trust you to begin with," she pointed at Blake accusingly. "For all I know you could try stabbing me in my sleep!"
"Is that what you think of me…? That I'm a cold-blooded killer?"
"Of course not," Weiss said sarcastically. "You're a vigilante who only kills the wicked, right? You're the hero in all this."
Blake rose to her feet and Weiss thanked the fact her weapon was left by the wayside. Still though, night time, a shadow user, not to mention her lack of martial skills without a weapon… Weiss took a slight step back and hid it by beginning to pace about.
"I never claimed to be a hero…"
"Oh, right, you're just misguided then."
Blake sighed, folding her arms as she watched Weiss pace back and forth. "All of this over me taking a peek at your journal?"
Weiss stopped and threw her hands up in defeat. "Hardly! When we met you had blown wide the gates of a town and were moments away from slaughtering innocents! From what I know about you've killed people before, and you were part of an organization that has committed crimes, and for what?"
"Equality," came Blake's reply. Weiss snorted and the Meera narrowed her eyes. "What?"
"Equality! Equality she says!" Weiss scoffed. "I've argued plenty for people to be treated better, stood up for people, and I did all of that without assassinating someone! This may come as a revelation to you, but you can fight for equality without becoming a murderer!
"I made mistakes. If I had known -"
"Mistakes? You murdered people, Blake! Whether they were reprehensible or not it doesn't change the fact that you killed people in cold blood! And why exactly did you do that? Do you have some manic hatred of nobility?" At least that she could understand, although Weiss had never been pushed to the point where she'd kill someone.
A twig snapped loudly in the flames, a puff of black smoke twisting and disappearing into the cloudy night. Weiss watched Blake's face for any kind of remorse, any indication she regretted her actions. Would regret absolve her of crimes? Hardly, but at least it would show the Meera had a conscience, something she'd yet to prove existed.
The ravenette pulled at her scarf, running fabric between her fingers before staring across at Weiss. "I was trying to make the Church pay for what they had done, and the best way I knew how was by killing people who supported it financially."
"And killing Hunters, and anyone else who sympathized with the Church I imagine," Weiss added dubiously.
"Only nobles, and only those who I was told were awful. I'm not excusing what I did, and truth be told I'd do it again if I had to. Those men and women were horrible people and Remnant is better for their passing."
"You don't get to decide that, Blake! I hate most of the nobility in the city. They're infuriating on the best of days, they've tried on numerous occasions to ruin me, and their incompetence in anything outside of their little bubbles is befuddling. But I don't kill them for it, nor should they die for that! We have systems in place!"
"And what happens when those systems are broken? Or when they're skewed?" Blake pressed, her voice coming in a growl as she stalked towards Weiss, kicking aside ash and burned wood. Weiss backed away and kept her eyes on Blake's, wondering if she could conjure a rune before Blake tried anything. "What's going to happen when you meet someone so horrible, so cruel and unaccountable that it makes you sick just thinking about them? Are you going to wait for some aloof lord or bishop to take action, or are you going to do something about it?"
Weiss felt bark dig into her back and her foot slipped against a root, reaching out and grabbing a low branch to catch herself. Blake slammed a hand beside her head and trapped her against the trunk, amber eyes locked on blue.
"I'll… I'll deal with them without killing them." Refusing to be cowed into submission Weiss pushed off the tree and forced Blake to step back. Her tongue was cotton in her mouth, heart threatening to burst from her ribs, pounding to the point of aching. "I'm not a murderer, Blake. I'm not like you. And just because you've decided to change sides on a whim doesn't make you a better person!"
"I'm doing what's right for me, I'm not going to apologize for it!" Blake shouted back, raising her voice so it carried over Weiss' and echoed in the empty clearing.
Weiss turned up her nose in disgust. "You're selfish. You don't deserve to call yourself a Hunter. Ozpin made a mistake giving you a second chance."
The second Blake bared her canines Weiss considered rushing for her weapon. Her hands shot up when Blake lunged, and she barely kept the Meera's hands from her throat. The same root caught her foot, Weiss caught Blake's forearm, and with a startled yelp the pair fell to the ground. Gasping for air as it rushed from her lungs Weiss winced, nails digging into Blake's shoulder while a hand grabbed her hair and pulled.
"Stop acting like you're so high and mighty! This is why I can't stand you Schnees!"
Weiss caught her knee in Blake's stomach, loosening the woman's grip enough to push her off. Though she was smaller in size her sudden pounce managed to pin Blake beneath her, delivering satisfying blows to Blake's chest and shoulders. "You're a remorseless killer! You're a monster!"
"You don't even know me!"
"I know enough!" Weiss grit her teeth and strained as Blake's heel dug into her chin, pushing her back. Clinging to the woman's shirt she gasped as a fist drove the air from her lungs, winding her for the second time in as many minutes. Kicked off and rolling away Weiss lifted a hand and wove a rune only to have it shattered as Blake lunged at her again.
In a mess of limbs and muddled voices they rolled about, scoring superficial blows, words harsher than any attack they could manage. Weiss had another rune shatter and Blake nearly conjured shadow, losing her focus as Weiss clawed at her neck and face in a desperate bid for self-preservation.
Weiss' head struck the ground and she hissed in pain, kicking out blindly and hearing Blake curse and drop to her side. She swung her arm out and felt her knuckles strike Blake's jaw, rolling away after being kicked in the side. Panting, sore, and trembling she crawled a short distance before standing, looking around for her weapon. Blake had risen and was doing the same, spotting hers as Weiss found her own. The two women shared a glance, neither making a move. If Blake assumed as Weiss did then whoever turned their back first would find themselves set upon by spells.
No weapons, no spells. The lone saving grace was Blake was evidently as lousy at unarmed combat as Weiss herself. She's taller, stronger too… Her cheek throbbed from an earlier blow and Weiss worried her left eye might be swollen shut by morning. If the maniac staring her down her didn't kill her before then.
Her heart stopped for a second when a loud crowing laughter sounded from the trees. Weiss looked out into the darkness and strained her eyes to pick out the source of the sound. Hearing Blake mutter beneath her breath she inclined her head, frowning when another fit of laughter started.
In the pitch of the forest a blob, barely visible, flitted from tree to tree. A Grimm? Weiss had nearly readied a spell before the shadowy entity flew from the trees and into the clearing. A bold raven landed in between them, flapping its wings loudly and chortling, head snapping side to side.
"A raven…?" Weiss tilted her head and stared as the bird hopped about. Out at night? Since when were they nocturnal…?
The lone bird began to laugh again and the trees around them came alive. Leaves rustled, thunderous in the dead of night, and soon the sound was joined by the distinct tone of dozens of wings beating at once. Shooting out of the dark like arrows let loose by a bow more ravens flew into the clearing, circling around and raising their voices in a taunting chorus. The solitary raven took flight and joined its kin above, the unusual unkindness forming a blurry silhouette, their forms seeming to melt into one.
Then they left. Besides herself and baffled by the display Weiss watched as the ravens took off into the night, black frames little more than silhouettes against the overcast sky before disappearing entirely. She wasn't sure how long she spent staring after them, aware of the fact she was still staring only as the song of crickets drew her out of her daze.
Looking away from the empty night sky she was surprised to find the Meera watching her, neither advancing nor retreating towards her weapon. She'd had every chance to do so with that distraction, so why…
"Weiss? I'm… I'm sorry."
Okay, that time she had to have misheard. Weiss gawked at her companion and checked her ears for debris before frowning. "Excuse me? Did you just apologize…?"
"Unless 'I'm sorry' means something else to you, yes."
"And what, pray tell, are you apologizing for?" Her body ached but she wasn't quite through with the confrontation, not as adrenaline still coursed through her veins. "For the murders, trying to kill me, or attacking Holbrook? Or any other crime I'm unaware of?"
"I told you I'm not apologizing for those," Blake said. "But as for the rest… Yeah. If it's any consolation I didn't exactly want to attack Holbrook. That was Adam's idea." She smiled bitterly and chuckled. "Well, his and Yuma's, I think."
Not recognizing the second name Weiss brushed it aside for now, folding her arms only to drop them with a wince as her chest tightened. Wonderful, there'd be a bruise there later for certain.
"And… I guess I'm sorry for looking through your diary?"
"It's a journal!" Weiss snapped, cheeks pink. "I'm not so infantile as to keep a diary!"
Blake chuckled and nodded. "Right, right. To be fair though I needed to look through it. You haven't exactly been the most forthcoming."
"And you have?"
"And I wanted to know more about you. To see if everything I'd heard was true or not," Blake continued, ignoring Weiss' barb. "I hear plenty about how horrible the Schnees are, how they're holier-than-thou and believe Murans are the purest race, the only one that matters. I'm used to getting looks and having insults hurled at me but the things your family has done…"
"My family are bigots, but we are not killers, we don't assassinate people of other races on a whim," Weiss interjected.
"...Right."
Letting out a frustrated huff Weiss ran her hands over her face, wiping away blades of grass and clumps of dirt. A twig plucked from her hair was flicked into the corpse of the fire and she smoothed out her tunic, tidying her appearance as much as she could before focusing on Blake again. The Meera had gone silent and refused to meet her eyes now. She still was furious with the woman, but she couldn't ignore that, in some small way, she was making an effort to apologize. That was a lot more than she'd gotten so far.
"You asked why I want to be a Hunter? It's because while my family may not be murderers they are hardly saints. Some of us are better than others, mind you. My sister is about as open-minded as anyone," Weiss explained, smiling wistfully. "I want to prove that I'm better than my name, than what the Schnee name has become. Even if I'm no longer officially part of it."
Blake tilted her head and studied Weiss before frowning. "What do you mean…?"
"I'm a bastard child, born of my mother's infidelity. As soon as I was old enough to walk my father just… Cast me aside." Weiss waved her hand and closed her eyes, a bitter smile on her lips. "See? If you had simply asked I'd have been forthcoming about all of this. I'm hardly a closed book." She opened her eyes and laughed. "Unlike my journal, which you clearly had no issue in prying into."
"I did say sorry about that," Blake retorted, itching one of her ears. "And for what it's worth I'm sorry about your family."
Weiss could only shrug, neither wanting nor deserving Blake's pity. "I've moved on. Archbishop Ironwood became my guardian and I came here to Vale, made wonderful friends, and achieved my dream of becoming a Hunter. Life is difficult, sure, but my family life is hardly the reason for it anymore. I am curious though…" she trailed off for a moment before hesitantly approaching Blake, stopping when amber eyes locked onto her. "What about your family? Where are they?"
Blake's somber smile was an answer enough and Weiss lowered her head. "I'm sorry," she muttered. "That's… It must be difficult to lose them. I won't pry any further."
"No, it's fine. And I guess this is a good a way as any to answer your question." Blake padded over to her sleeping roll and dropped onto it with a grunt, nursing her ribs and smiling at Weiss. "You hit a lot harder than I'd expect you to, princess."
Weiss laughed lightly, making her way over to her own roll. "It's amazing the strength you can find when you're fighting for your life."
"Don't be so dramatic, I wasn't going to kill you," Blake shot back with a roll of her eyes. "Hurt you, sure, but not kill you."
"Oh? I'm sorry, I must have missed when you said that before you tried to throttle me."
Blake cringed, then relaxed seeing Weiss' teasing smile. Returning it with one of her own she began to comb through her thick black hair with her fingers, grumbling as her digits caught into numerous knots. "To be fair… You absolutely tried to weave a fire rune once or twice. That's not exactly going to bind me."
"You recognized the rune…? I'm impressed."
"Well, it's not hard when you use maybe five or six all the time."
Weiss flushed and coughed into her fist. "Y-You mentioned an explanation. Well? Mind enlightening me?"
Blake nodded, laying back and folding her hands beneath her head. For a lingering moment she stared skyward and said nothing. Content that an answer was coming Weiss didn't push, laying back herself and shifting uncomfortably atop her journal. There wasn't enough padding in the roll to make the ground comfortably let alone a bulky book. Rolling over and freeing it she stuck it beneath her pillow instead, laying back and stretching out her now aching limbs.
"My parents were killed when I was young, when the White Fang still fought with words instead of swords and spell. They were killed for wanting to stick to those ways, ways which I've shirked for a long time now, honestly." Blake laughed at herself, the sound bitter and biting. "The short of it is I was told that the Church was responsible for their deaths. They'd already done a lot to hurt us - Non-Murans that is, so it didn't come as much of a shock."
"So… You sought revenge for their deaths?" Weiss asked quietly.
"Mhm. And since attacking the capital was out of the question I did whatever I could to strike back. Once the idea of trying to cut off their funding came about I was more than keen to do it, and they were only too happy to give me a target. I spent a couple of years just blindly taking orders like that, thinking every noble I killed was making the world better, and in some sick way, making my parents proud."
Weiss opened her mouth to point out what an asinine thought that was but kept it to herself. Blake seemed to know she was wrong, had been wrong. Sure, she still refused to apologize for what were blatantly murders but… She was at least acknowledging it, somewhat. Still didn't make Weiss any less uneasy about sharing such proximity while they slept.
"Then Holbrook happened. Even before that I was disillusioned, I guess. A lot of my friends were too. The White Fang… It's changed. The killings were the start of it, and by the time I really started to notice or question things we were setting out to raze a town that didn't deserve it."
"Multiple towns as I recall," Weiss pointed out. "I fail to see how such large-scale destruction is meant to bring about equality."
"That's because it's not. The organization still pushes for it, sure, but they're looking for excuses to cause damage now too. Like I said, the organization changed. Adam changed." Blake's voice sounded pained and she chuckled hollowly. "At Holbrook, Ruby tried to show me kindness even when I fought to kill her, and then she vouched for me when I was taken to the capital. It reminded me that not every Muran is bad, that there are plenty of good people out there."
"Just as not every Meera, Canis, or whatever isn't some extremist," Weiss mused.
"Right. Ozpin showed me a kindness too, though I can't say his was completely for my own sake." Rather than elaborate she shook her head. "And while I was in the capital," Blake went on, pulling her scarf down and nursing a cut on her chin. "I saw my uncle, Tukson. He told me what had really happened with my parents, that the Church, while hardly innocent, wasn't to blame for their deaths."
Interest piqued Weiss pushed herself up and stared across at Blake intently. "Who was?"
"Adam. Well, him and Sienna. My parents didn't want to start killing off people, and they tried convincing those in power to avoid it. They almost succeeded too…" Blake closed her eyes and exhaled shakily. "But… Then the Church appeared, and Hunters killed my parents, wiped out a camp for good measure, and that was all the commanders and needed to put their plan through. Rather than be the catalyst for peace my parents became catalysts for war."
Weiss tried to offer condolences and found her voice refusing to pass her lips. Averting her eyes and rubbing at the seam of her trousers she nodded in silent understanding. She may be a bastard, but she still could, in theory, travel to Atlas and see her family again. Barring that she had Ironwood, not to mention her friends, and Ozpin and the other instructors. Blake had… Her friends, and Weiss feared now their lives had likely become forfeit with her capture. Did Blake assume the worst as well?
"So, maybe it's for petty revenge. I don't care honestly. All I've ever been good at is being someone's dagger, and if the Church wants me to do the same thing? Well, stick to what you're good at, right?"
Weiss shook her head. "Hunters are more than just a weapon to be pointed at one's enemy, Blake. We protect people from Grimm. We help to maintain order, and we fight so that others don't have to. Perhaps… We're not always the most altruistic, and the Church has surely made missteps over the years," she conceded, smiling as she gestured to the mark on her neck. "But we are so much more than just a weapon. And… I suppose since you're a Hunter now, so are you."
"I'm out for selfish reasons. I just want to kill Adam and get my friends back. That's hardly a heroic attitude, and I doubt it's one befitting a Hunter."
"Adam will have to be stopped, and… If I'm painfully honest? I don't doubt nothing short of taking killing him will make him stop. I don't like the idea of it but I acknowledge it could be inevitable. And…" Weiss traced a random pattern on her bedroll. "Well, maybe once you face him again, if you do, maybe you'll manage to stop him without taking his life? Because that won't bring your parents back, Blake."
"I know that. I know it's completely selfish but… I can't stop but wanting it. Gods know he's done enough to deserve it."
There was more to that comment than just her parents Weiss suspected but she chose not to pursue it. A yawn rumbled free and she covered her mouth to stifle it, tears welling in her eyes. With a shake of her head she laid back down and drew the blanket over herself.
"You know…" Weiss paused for the words. "Ruby saw something in you that was worth saving. She's a dolt, and hyperactive, and loud…"
"Obnoxious, impatient, and has an insatiable sweet tooth," Blake recited, laughing as Weiss shushed her.
"Yes. She is, for all her… Quirks, a relatively decent judge of character. I… I'm not above admitting that I may have been wrong about you. Your history is hardly free of blemishes but… You are, in some small way, trying to make amends. If you continue to do so then I think I can be convinced to tolerate you."
Blake smiled, shaking her head as she rolled onto her side and tucked an arm under her head. "Wow, high praise from the princess."
"It's Weiss. You could start by getting my name right at least."
"Right, Princess Weiss."
Letting out a loud huff Weiss scoffed, though a smile crept to her lips as she closed her eyes. "You're insufferable…"
A faint laugh rumbled from Blake's chest and she shrugged. "What can I say…? It's what I'm best at."
/+/+/+/+/+/
When Weiss awoke the following morning, she wasn't sure what to make of things. In a hazy, distant dream she recalled she and Blake had, for the first time ever, been civil with one another. At least she had written it off as a dream at first, ill-content and too skeptical to believe otherwise. Yet as camp was broken down and she was reintroduced to a score of scrapes and a bruise beneath her eye, a black blotch on otherwise flawless marble skin, the memory suddenly became far more vivid.
Not that there was any sign of their newfound camaraderie. Blake hadn't said a word as she gathered her own belongings beyond a simple 'Good morning', which Weiss supposed in of itself was still an improvement.
With the light of a new day just beginning to rise into the pale blue sky, tufts of gray swaths spread throughout like a painter's errant brush, they moved on from their camp and back to the roads. Vale's highway covered much of the kingdom and was relatively well kept despite its expansive reach. That didn't mean that every stretch was impeccable, however, and certainly not every length of road was as traversed as others. They had left at dawn and Weiss estimated at least three hours had passed before they saw their first fellow traveler, a farmer on a wagon with bales of hay in tow. A cordial nod was all the human interaction they'd have for that morning.
Which was a welcome thing if Weiss was honest. Besides trying to make sense of Blake's fickle mood and swinging personality she'd recalled something else from the night before: the ravens. One bird was curious enough but an entire unkindness? A blow to the head may have made her imagine it but she'd sworn the birds had laughed at them too. When she prodded Blake for confirmation the Meera shrugged.
"I don't remember. All I know is they were obnoxiously loud."
Two mysteries to solve then. Blake was every bit as helpful in explaining her behavior last night and Weiss felt a twinge of anger recalling the invasion of her privacy. On a whim she swung her satchel around and checked it for her journal just to be certain, satisfied when her fingers grazed the familiar pages.
With Holbrook drawing ever closer with each step Weiss contemplated breaking into a run, then hastily dismissed the idea. Blake was possibly faster and, comparisons aside, her feet already ached and felt ready to detach at the ankle. Running was out of the question, she'd have to suffer their middling, casual pace a bit longer then. It wouldn't be such a bad thing if the trees didn't pull away from the road after a time, suddenly shy and wary of its companion, the road.
The timing couldn't have been worse either. With the sun now high overhead and the earlier clouds having dissipated there was nothing to mitigate the orb's furious glare. Even in her breathable, lightweight attire Weiss felt herself cooking slowly. Blake wasn't much better and visibly perspired, removing her scarf and using it to wipe her face occasionally. Why she thinks black clothing is a good idea… she mused, shaking her head, mystified.
Mount Glenn, which earlier in the day had been a faint speck, had finally begun to come into view. A towering blob of gray against a backdrop of blue Weiss pointed towards the peaks, recollecting how she and Ruby had saved the young Oscar from a group of bandits during their visit. Her companion was not impressed.
"And you let them live…?"
"Well we had intended on having someone arrest them," Weiss rebuked. "But we were a little busy protecting the town and its residents from extremists."
Unapologetic as ever Blake merely shrugged at Weiss' pointed remark. "If you'd killed them instead of trapping them then it wouldn't have been a problem. They're probably causing more trouble elsewhere now."
"You act as though I meant for that to happen."
"They can't cause problems if they're dead." Blake paused for a moment before smirking at Weiss. "Well, unless they're ghosts."
Scoffing and waving a hand Weiss shook her head. "Please spare me the childish ideas. There is no such thing as ghosts!" The Meera grinned and continued on, leaving Weiss to stare at her back and follow. "Ghosts… As if."
Like the ebb and flow of the ocean trees came and went, occasionally providing patches of shade that Weiss savored as a delicacy. After nursing her waterskin all morning and with no means of refilling it she whined when, after shaking it, no water answered her call. Blake was without as well and they detoured briefly from their trek to find a stream to refill from. Once they'd quenched their thirst and taken a reprieve, much too fleeting for Weiss' liking, they were back on the road.
By noon the mountain had become a gargantuan, steadfast obstacle that, much to Weiss' chagrin, refused to move just to the left to block out the sun. With small settlements cropping up too there were fewer and fewer trees to provide shade, much of the land not claimed by nature tilled and settled instead.
Peeling her hair from the back of her neck and adjusting her hood Weiss called for Blake to stop. The Meera halted when she did and cast back a curious glance, tapping her foot and creating a small cloud of dust from the dry road.
"I think it's best if I go ahead of you. You didn't exactly make the best first impression with these people."
Blake shrugged and stepped aside, as unnecessary as it was, gesturing for Weiss to take point. She had to slow her pace to match Weiss' shorter gait and eventually gave up, opting to walk beside her rather than keep behind. With the land opening up and vaguely familiar landmarks - a wide open field to their left where the land vanished into valleys, and Mount Glenn to their right, Holbrook was swiftly approaching.
At least Weiss was certain it was, though something had struck her as odd. There were open fields around the town before, yes, but there had been thick forests and growth at the base of the mountain as well. Why then could she see the plain rockface? As Holbrook's walls came into view she stopped and stared, brow furrowed as she scanned the base of the mountain.
To one side the forest remained, thickets and trees creating an impenetrable, dense sea of green that concealed all manner of wildlife from would be predators in the mountain above. On their right and as they took the road leading to Holbrook's gates there was nothing. At first, she'd assumed the trees were gone due to restoration, and indeed the town's walls and gate were repaired, even better than they had been previously. As they crossed through the fields outside the town however Weiss couldn't see a single stump, or any underbrush. In fact, it was as if the entire stretch of forest had been wiped off the face of Remnant.
Even the fields, while repaired, seemed devoid of any plant life. Farmers toiled as they passed, and Weiss didn't miss the sour or outright contemptible looks they were given. They're not glaring at me, they'd have no reason to. Blake kept her eyes forward but surely, she realized it too by now. She's not welcome here. Perhaps I should have made her wait…?
Any such ideas were tarnished when an arrow landed at their feet. Weiss jumped back, and Blake cursed, a hand shooting for her weapon. "Wait!" Weiss snapped, holding out her hand before looking towards the walls. "Just wait…"
Six archers, with bows drawn and arrows ready, aimed at them with unwavering intent. Making a mental count Weiss frowned, lowering her hand as she studied the group. Many of Holbrook's guards, few as they were to begin with, had perished. From a distance it was impossible to make out faces but she was positive this was their entire contingency. Which was why when the gates opened and four more men in armor rode out she was at a loss.
The fact they were on horseback was the first sign that these men weren't the common cut of guard. Their chainmail was much too clean, plate mail, impeccably white with golden trim, was ornate and while sporting dents and scratches, far higher in quality than anyone in Holbrook would own. The green tabards that hung from their breast designated them as knights of Vale, and Weiss was certain she recognized them by their attire if not their faces.
"These are men from the capital…" she explained in a whisper, earning a silent nod from Blake. Why were they here? Why hadn't Ozpin mentioned a rendezvous with knights?
"Halt!" The foremost rider brought his horse to heel and remained mounted, staring down at them sternly. "Who are you, and what is your purpose here?"
Weiss lowered her hood and peeled back the collar of her tunic. "I am Weiss Schnee, Hunter of Vale," she explained as she brandished her Hunter's Mark. "And this…"
"Blake Belladonna, Hunter of Vale," Blake answered curtly. Her hand hovered by her weapon again and Weiss hissed at her, relaxing as Blake let her weapon rest, the knights removing their hands from their own.
Stern brown eyes set beneath a strong brow stared at Weiss, the man's tanned skin, taut as leather, sporting a number of scars, what little was visible anyways. "You're the Hunters we were promised then? Good, I was beginning to worry." He raised a hand and the archers lowered their weapons at last, raising an eyebrow when Blake and Weiss both audibly exhaled. "A precaution, I apologize if they frightened you."
"Not the warmest welcome I've received," Weiss admitted with a nervous smile. "But understandable." Weiss looked up at the man and frowned when realizing he was staring at Blake. The Meera didn't shrink either, returning his gaze and inclining her head questioningly. "Er… If you don't mind, sir, whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?"
The lead knight finally tore his eyes from Blake and nodded. "Of course, I forget myself. I am Sir Hazel Rainart, Master and Commander of Vale's Western Commandery. These…" Hazel gestured to the three knights at his back. "Are Sir Lucan, Sir Kay, and Sir Bedevere. They, along with the squires upon the walls, are men under my command."
Reassuring that these people weren't like to attack them then, though their presence raised plenty of other questions. Weiss glanced towards the walls again and watched as the archers began to mill about, seemingly forgetting her and Blake's presence already.
"Why are the royal family's knights in Holbrook?" No sense in dancing around the question. "With all due respect, Commander Rainart," Weiss continued. "I fail to see why you or your men are here. Has something happened…?"
It was obvious something had if these men had been ordered to the town. Had it something to do with the sudden deforestation? That seemed more like a lord's problem than that of royalty. Had the attacks on the towns really warranted this much attention? As if the Church sending Hunters wasn't action enough.
"Let us talk within the walls. It's rude of us to remain like this, and I should think you two are weary from your journey." Hazel arched a thick brow as he studied Weiss and Blake. "You traveled all this way from the capital without horses?" Both women nodded, and he shook his head. "I see. Lucan! See to it that there is space for these two in town. Tell Laurel of their arrival as well, he'll be glad to hear of it."
Sir Lucan nodded and spurred his horse into action, disappearing back through the gates in a gallop. "Now, if you two would please follow me, I'd be happy to explain everything once we're settled."
Given the choice between standing as they were or finally getting off her feet Weiss hardly needed prompting to follow. Passing into the threshold and through the gates she finally saw familiar faces among the guard, all of whom made no secret of their disdain for Blake. Oscar was among them, face obscured by an oversized helmet. He looked to Weiss for an explanation and she mouthed 'later', earning a nod of understanding. She'd be a bit busy for now, both trying to figure out what was going on and keeping the locals from trying to attack Blake.
Royal knights, a disappearing forest, and… Wait.
Where was Ruby?
/+/+/+/+/+/
Not in Holbrook as it turned out. In the barracks there was a distinct lack of excitable brunettes, no overeager young Hunter bounding up to her like a puppy, thrilled to see its master return home after a long journey away. It was distressing to say the least, and confusing, but Weiss would have to bide her time to ask after her partner. These men and the town itself were clearly embroiled in something, and Ozpin in a passing moment of forgetfulness, had apparently neglected to tell her or Blake they might be expected.
At least seeing a few familiar faces helped to settle her nerves somewhat. Oscar had come to join them but quickly had been ushered away by Laurel. Sirs Kay and Bedevere stood watch outside of the guard captain's quarters, a small space which had become distressingly cramped with only four people inside. She'd seen Riole at work on their way into the barracks and shared a wave with the bustling carpenter. No doubt the town's restoration had him working incessantly.
Weiss had thought Laurel to be a large man, though beside Hazel he looked insignificant, a full head shorter and half the man's size. The two spoke in a hushed conversation for a brief time and Weiss let herself glance about the space idly. A map had been laid out on Laurel's desk, flags and marks designating some unknown entities or locations. Several rolls of parchment littered what little open space remained, and a stack of crates stood beside the desk. The rest of the room was much as she remembered, and while she was glad to be free of the sun's harshness the two oil lanterns that illuminated the room were a poor substitute for sunlight.
Hazel cleared his throat and leaned forward, splaying his large gloved hands across the desk. "Before we discuss recent events I should like to address your concerns about your friend. I am sorry to say that we haven't had any other Hunters arrive, nor was I informed of anyone's approach besides your own." He raised a hand as Weiss was about to speak.
"However, I am full glad to tell you that a character matching your description was seen two towns over, in Lochs. That was three days ago, and while normally that might be cause for concern I think your friend is safe. Doubtless busy, but safe."
That was a relief to hear. Weiss placed a hand on her chest and settled against the back of her chair, closing her eyes with a smile. "Thank goodness… Though you mentioned she is busy?" Hazel nodded. "Might that have something to do with your news?"
"It does, or I think anyways." Hazel gestured to several points on his map. "We've seen a large increase in Grimm activity over recent days, culminating in larger battles than the area is used to seeing. It's why I've been dispatched to the region along with my men, many of whom are stationed in other towns nearby."
"These…" he pointed to points marked by flags. "Are the sites of the most intense skirmishes yet. While some towns only see perhaps a dozen Grimm I've received reports of nearly a hundred in these places."
"A hundred Grimm…?" Blake whispered, awestruck. "Why so many?"
"That's what we're trying to figure out. The attacks on our towns made for some increase in activity, sure." Laurel shook his head and rubbed at his shaved head before scowling. "But this is ridiculous. By now they should be dying off, instead the attacks are only getting worse. Bad enough that the royals thought to send in their knights."
"We are closer to begin with than any Hunters in the capital, and many of us are Magi," Hazel explained. "It was the natural course of action. And considering the quantity of Grimm appearing I'm beginning to wonder if I shouldn't summon more men."
Weiss stared at the map in disbelief as she tried to make sense of the information. Hundreds of Grimm? Even during the attack there had been two dozen at best, and that had been at the height of panic and fear from the villagers. What could generate so much negativity that such a massive number would appear? She couldn't fathom it and judging by the mystified expressions both men wore they weren't any closer to an answer either.
"Okay… So then, is our reason for being here to help curtail the Grimm?"
"Not exactly. As things stand my men can hold the settlements just fine, and I can summon more within a day or two if need be. And I doubt that two Hunters, as fledgling as you appear to be, will turn the tide of our battles." Hazel frowned. "No offense."
"None taken. I can't see either of us doing much against a force that size." Weiss leaned forward in her seat and glanced over the map. "What's our purpose, then?"
Laurel moved closer to the desk and reached across from Hazel, tapping a finger on one of the flags. "See this? The first big attack happened about three miles outside of Alabaster. And this…" he dragged his finger to the next flag. "Was just five miles from Galloway." He pointed out the others as well, each within startling distance of a settlement or city. Seven in all, the larger battles seemed to form a loose shape. Almost as if…
"It's almost circular…" Weiss observed with startling realization. "There's a pattern, like the rippling of a wave on a pond."
"Poetic," the Commander chuckled, and Blake snorted softly. "To phrase it as such, the stone as it were appears to have struck here." Hazel tapped a finger at a large, unmarked area circled in red. "It's only a guess and there very well could be nothing more to it than coincidence. Grimm don't coordinate or even think, so the likelihood of this being random and nothing more is high."
"Not high enough to completely disregard though?" Blake questioned.
"Aye. If someone is causing enough chaos to make so many Grimm spawn, then they need to be stopped. I don't know what someone could do to create attacks on such a scale," Hazel shook his head. "But if there is someone behind this we can't ignore it."
"I assume then you want us to investigate…?"
Hazel nodded to Weiss, standing tall and rubbing his trimmed jaw. "That's the right of it. While we can hold the towns, I can't afford to send men on a hunt in the forests, and few of us know the area well enough to try. I know you've been here before, Miss Schnee, and I understand that Miss Belladonna is… Familiar with the land."
Hazel stared again at Blake, and although it was fleeting she was certain she'd seen a look of disapproval from the knight. Blake took it in stride and looked back at the map when Hazel turned away, striding across the room to one of the sealed crates. With a single tug he ripped the lid off and hoisted the container up, setting it on the floor before Weiss and Blake.
"What is that…?" Weiss gasped.
"The remains of our forest," Laurel answered glumly.
Weiss almost had a mind to touch the contents, thinking better of it when a slab of wood hissed at her. Tendrils of murky purple liquid wove in and out of the piece of bark, twisting and churning like a serpent wrapping around its prey. Exposed to the air as it was a black mist began to seep out of the pieces of lumber, rising to the lip of the crate before swiftly dissipating. A shell of light flashed, and runes engraved in the crate flared before disappearing once more.
"I have a man studying the wood and attempting to discover how it spread." Hazel grabbed the lid and placed it back on, slamming it down with his palm and setting the crate back where it belonged. "It's miasma, that much is apparent, but we don't know how it came to be in the wood, nor exactly the nature of it. We also know that it rots whatever it touches from the inside out, sapping its life until it withers and dies."
"Not the most pleasant way to kill something," Laurel snorted in disgust. "We thought that those White Fang bastards had done this…"
"No one in the Fang has this powerful of miasma magic," Blake interjected. "Not unless they were keeping it hidden from me."
"Which is why we believe there's someone else responsible for it."
"And that same person could perhaps be behind the recent spike in Grimm activity," Weiss concluded. A coincidence again, sure, but one far too flagrant to be just that.
Well this was certainly an unpleasant development. Weiss had thought her business with Holbrook had concluded with Adam's 'defeat', and perhaps foolishly, not expected to return besides bringing Ruby home. She was seriously beginning to grow weary of being wrong.
"We have time for deciding the particulars tomorrow. You've had quite the journey here I imagine, and no doubt would like to rest. Please," Hazel gestured to the door behind them as it swung open. "We've arranged for one of the residents to put you two up for the time being. I believe you've met them," he said to Weiss. "Take the day to rest and recover. Tomorrow we'll discuss our plans moving forward."
Oh thank the gods they weren't being asked to start immediately. Weiss stood gingerly on her aching legs and bowed, swatting Blake's elbow to prompt her to follow suit. Bedevere and Kay saluted them on their way out in a manner Weiss didn't recognize, nodding her head politely. Outside the barracks themselves Sir Lucan offered to escort them to their temporary quarters.
"I know the way," Weiss smiled and waved as the man left them for the gates. Once they were alone she let her smile vanished along with the knight, frowning as she began retracing the familiar route. "This is strange…"
"What's that? The fact there are royal knights wandering around a no-name town, or the fact we hadn't seen any Grimm the entire way here?" Blake asked.
"Both. Hunters aren't centralized in the capital, we're spread over the whole kingdom. Sure, hundreds of Grimm is unusual," Weiss observed as they began to walk. "But just a dozen seasoned Hunters can handle that many easily. And if the Grimm as widespread as the commander would have us believe then why hadn't we encountered any?"
"Well, we weren't exactly beacons of negativity. Aside from our little scuffle anyways."
"Certainly not enough to attract a pack of Grimm," Weiss acknowledged. "Which again begs the question, where are they? And why bring in the knights and not Hunters?"
Not that the royal knights couldn't fight Grimm, it just wasn't their primary duty. The Church and, by extension, Hunters existed for the sole purpose of fending off the creatures of Grimm while the knights, while capable, typically acted more as an honor guard or as a primary defense against some of the larger bandit tribes or served as a vanguard in times of war.
Doubting Hazel would be forthcoming and assuming Laurel was just as clueless as they were Weiss didn't know where to look for answers. Nor did she expect to find any, not as they approached Riole and Lauren's home. With the former busy helping with rebuilding efforts and, as Weiss noticed on the way in, new projects the home was devoid of the usual cacophony that came with Riole's work. Gone were the noises of saws cutting into timber, hammers driving nails, and gone was the scent of lacquer and finishes used to seal Riole's many works.
"These people are wonderful, I promise," Weiss assured Blake, hand hovering over the door. Her partner nodded but kept her distance, standing in the middle of the walkway. Rolling her eyes at Blake's standoffish nature Weiss smiled and knocked once. From somewhere within the house she heard a child squeal, the pitter-patter of their small feet slapping against the floorboards. Riole and Lauren hadn't had a child, had they? Did they take one in?
Weiss took a step back hearing footsteps approach. She smiled and raised a hand in greeting when she expected Lauren to welcome them. When the door opened and a woman with brilliant blonde hair answered however she dropped her hand, doing a double take as she heard Blake groan behind her.
"Hey there!" The blonde Dimuran, undeterred by the looks of disbelief, grinned and waved to Weiss and Blake. Behind her the child came running up and squealed as she bolted into the woman's calf, wrapping her arms around it and laughing.
"I got yooooou!"
"Oh no, my leg!" Snickering and reaching down she plucked the child off her feet and balanced her in one arm easily, tossing her hair and extending her free hand towards Weiss. "Heh, sorry. Can I help you guys?"
That poster in Cardin's bag. The wanted poster. The features were a bit off, her expressions were clearly exaggerated, but there was no mistaking it.
"Uh… You okay?" the blonde asked, smiling as she cocked her head. "You look like you've seen a ghost! And I'm pretty sure I'm still alive!" She laughed then turned to the child. "Hey Cassie, pinch my cheek, will ya?"
Weiss watched as the child and the Dimuran, the criminal known as Yang Xiao Long, laughed and proceeded to tickle one another. Looking back Blake was just as dumbstruck and she shared a blank stare with her companion before turning back to the strange scene.
Ruby had better apologize to the heavens when Weiss finally found her.
I'd like to address something quickly if I may, and I hope this doesn't come across as instigating, because it's not meant to be!
Characterization might not be my strong suit but I try to make my characters believable, even if at times they come across as irrational or silly, because frankly sometimes people are just that. That said, Blake's behavior has been... Well it's garnered some feedback, both via reviews and DMs. The scene with her and Weiss wasn't a knee jerk reaction trying to remedy anything - it was slated to happen in another chapter, but I figured it fit well enough here.
So yeah, get THAT disclaimer out of the way.
And sorry for the cliffhanger as well! I could have added more, but the bit with Yang and the girls will just come at the start of the next chapter. It'll be fun ;)
For those of you who celebrate enjoy the 4th! For everyone else have a wonderful week!