Sorry this one took a bit! Out of a job suddenly so been a bit busy. Life goes on though and I'll find something else soon enough.
Enjoy!
"I hate spiders!"
Weiss' curses reverberated off the caves around them and the stone turned her shouts back on her. It was humiliating to hear so much panic in her own voice but there was little she could do about it, not when staring down a veritable army of Arachne.
Yang slinging Weiss over her shoulder meant all Weiss could see was what was behind them. With the cave starved for illumination there wasn't much that could be seen besides the countless red eyes staring unblinkingly ahead. The terrifying, ceaseless scrape of chitin-covered limbs against the floors didn't help settle her racing heart either.
Through her phobia Weiss retained enough sanity - if only a sliver, to try and cast a spell. Her 'fire' rune shattered when Yang ducked between a low alcove, concentration shattering along with the rune itself.
Why don't we just kill them?! Her mind screamed when her voice faltered, a wispy, weak shout the only sound she could make. Stop running and burn them you oaf! Collapse the tunnel again!
And seal off their only route of escape?
Maybe the last of her sanity really had fled her.
Between their own thunderous footsteps, the scuttling of the Grimm and their labored breaths the caverns were rife with noises, far more than the isolated reaches were used to. A lizard scurried up the wall to avoid being trampled, a second wasn't as lucky and disappeared under a rolling wave of black. From on high the rock split and light shone through, thin daggers of brilliance cutting through the suffocating dark.
There's light! We're near the surface! Weiss' heart leapt and for once not because of terror. We're almost out!
The manic, desperate grin she wore widened when Blake called from ahead. There was light at the end of the tunnel. After navigating through complete and utter darkness, following a path that twisted and turned as a snake, writhing aimlessly through tall grass, they had found an escape.
With no charm to hold Weiss clasped her hands together instead and began thanking every god she could imagine. The air, chilled and stale, began to take on the fresher, crisper quality that outdoor air held. In the far distance she could hear birdsong, smell the familiar and reassuring scents of a damp forest. As the cavern's tunnels opened up and more light flooded in Weiss could begin to make out the ungodly Grimm chasing them, every slender, reaching limb, their grotesque boney faces and gods were there a lot of them!
They were free though! Yang broke into the clearing last and like someone lighting a fire the world suddenly burst with color. Weiss' vision blurred slightly as they broke the threshold, pupils struggling to adjust, and the cold clamminess that clung to her was replaced by the subdued summer heat. They'd escaped! The Grimm still gave chase, but they could reach the surface, try and lose the horde in the thick forests.
"Shit."
"What?!" Weiss asked, almost begged, desperation leaking into her voice. "What now?!"
"How are we going to get up there?" Ruby cried out.
Tearing her eyes from the oncoming horde Weiss looked skyward and her heart sank back to the bottom of her stomach. There was indeed an escape from all this, the source of their salvation. The only issue was said escape hovered at least twenty feet out of reach in the form of a crevice in the ground. Green leaves swayed in an unfelt breeze and vines hung down, as if nature halfheartedly offered them rope to help carry them to safety.
Weiss' feet hit the floor and her legs nearly buckled beneath her. Thankfully Yang caught her elbow and held her up, though she could have done without being spun around.
In what Weiss could only describe as a writhing, scuttling black mass the Arachne flooded into the larger cavern, spreading out as their number swelled and took advantage of the more spacious place. Weiss didn't need help backing away from the oncoming danger and quickly their backs pressed against the far wall, cold, uncaring stone blocking any hope of escape.
"We have to fight!" Blake shouted, voice distant despite being mere feet away. When had war drums began to play? Weiss could hardly hear the scratching of the Grimm anymore, or even Yang's strained cursing to her right.
"On it!" Ruby slung her scythe from her back and gripped it in two hands, sweeping one leg out and crouching, poised to dart into the fray.
"Wait, you can't!" Yang's scream sounded oddly desperate, pleading even. "Ruby, wait!"
"To hells with this!" Weiss pulled her arm free and stepped towards the Grimm. Her hands reached out, fingertips tingling as magic sparked to life. With the grace of a conductor she wove her fingers through the air, conjuring a pair of runes. Red angular shapes not unlike a crude campfire - two strokes bent like brackets on the outside, one longer than the other with a stout stroke in the middle, formed at her will.
Even as Yang howled in protest two pillars of flame erupted from the magical marks. In an instant Arache were turned to ash as twin vortexes sliced through, culling their numbers and opening narrow breaks in their surging ranks. What few didn't die immediately lay belly up, screeching and twitching as they writhed in pain. Their callous kin stormed over them and more raced in to replace them, burying their fallen brethren beneath their single-minded march.
The air cracked and Ruby darted across the opening in a blur, a streak of red and silver slicing through a sea of black. Grimm flew into the air, limbs separated along with heads, and a viscous cloud of black mist rose into the air, some finding escape through the crevice while the rest pooled against the ceiling.
Somewhere in the fray Blake managed to get behind the enemy, and with grace that would make a dancer of the royal courts envious she turned on her feet, spinning and throwing her kusarigama around. The motions seemed random, yet Grimm fell rapidly, their soft bodies little more than wet paper against the sharp, wicked curved blade. Where weapons failed black spikes of pure shadow erupted, the mouth of the tunnel turned to a predator's gullet as teeth clamped down, sundering Grimm and crushing dozens in an instant.
As many as the Arachne were, they hardly posed much of a threat. Against their weapons only their protected faces stood any chance and enough of their bodies, exposed and defenseless, provided plenty of alternative for attack. Weiss managed to score one or two killing blows with her rapier when a few scuttled close enough but her spells meant most never made it halfway through the cavern.
Spellcraft. A Magi's innate ability to manipulate the magical energies of Remnant. It was what made their kind stand out from common mankind, why they were both revered and hated, and the reason the Church had been established.
Conveniently, the selfsame ability was also what allowed four, er… Three young women to turn a veritable army of Grimm into smoldering mist in mere moments.
Had anyone seen them beforehand running from the Grimm when they had so easily been struck down, they would have thought the group foolhardy for fleeing. Outward appearances were the furthest thing from her mind as Weiss marveled at the now empty tunnel before them, the dark passage now empty and devoid of unsightly beasts. Blake stood near the entrance, weapon in hand, shoulders rising and falling with heavy breaths while Ruby lingered not far away and ready to attack.
"We… We did it…" Weiss could almost laugh, and if she had it surely would have been hysterical. Her lips curled back, and she weakly raised her rapier in cheer before slumping back against the stone wall. Her hair clung to the nape of her neck and face, clothing damp with terror-borne sweat. Even as her hands buzzed, and fingertips burned with residual magic she felt giddy.
No more Grimm. No more damnable spiders! Now all they needed to do was find a way to reach the crevice. Raven's task was done, they could be gone from this forsaken place at long last.
Weiss' lightheaded elation was cut short when Yang collapsed beside her, knees striking the floor while she doubled forward. The Dimuran let out a groan that echoed in the now silent chamber, shoulders drawn up and face pinched in plain agony.
"Yang!" Ruby raced over and dropped her weapon with a resounding clatter. "Yang are you okay?! What happened?"
"Yang!" The blonde pushed Ruby's hands away and shook her head, collapsing onto her rear and curling in on herself. Weiss knelt down and exchanged a worried look with her partner. "Were you injured? Talk to us!"
Yang did try but only a strained groan came in reply. Her body shuddered and she hissed through clenched teeth. Seeing the strain on her face, sweat dripping, Weiss wondered if she was suffering from spellcast sickness. That couldn't be it; Yang hadn't released a single spell in that entire encounter, Weiss was certain. Every flame was her own and the ice was most certainly not of Yang's doing.
So why did Yang look so sickly?
"What's happening?" Blake called from the chamber's lone entrance. "Is she okay?"
"I don't know! She just collapsed!" Weiss reached out and drew her hand back sharply feeling heat radiating off the blonde.
Ruby whimpered plaintively and leaned forward, face contorted in discomfort as she hugged Yang, then turning to hurt when she was roughly pushed back. "Yang…?"
"Don't touch me!" Yang screamed, almost viciously so. Taken aback by the reproach Ruby scooted back a bit and stared at her sister in a mixture of awe and terror. Weiss kept her eyes on the blonde, gritting her teeth to hold back her indignation.
Ruby was just trying to help! Her own sister scolded and shouted at for offering a helping hand. If not for Yang's clear discomfort Weiss might have snapped back in defense of her partner. Instead she looked at the other woman with sympathy, and with her previous terror now forgotten she instead clasped her rapier to her hip, fastening the leather strap around the guard before looking at Ruby.
"Grab one of her arms, I'll take the other, we need to go." Ruby nodded and moved to Yang's right while Weiss knelt by her left. "Blake? Can we rely on you to take point? Your magic will be best suited for traveling through the tunnel again."
"You can rely on me," the Meera answered with a nod.
Good. Whatever sudden ailment had overcome Yang had her all but indisposed, straining like an overstuffed satchel ready to burst at the seams and desperately holding itself together. Whatever plagued the blonde would have to wait until they were out of the caves and free to address her in peace. With the threat of more of the nest still fresh in her mind Weiss didn't dare linger.
Taking Yang's arm went about as well as Weiss expected, with Yang pushing both her and Ruby off, shaking her head in defiance.
"D-Don't. Leave me a-a-alone…"
"Yang…" Part pity, part exasperation Weiss sighed. "We can't stay here. If there are more Grimm, then let Raven deal with them. You need help."
"Please, Yang?" Ruby implored, silver eyes begging as she held out both hands. "You're hurt! Raven has a healer! She can help you!"
Watching Yang shake her head frayed the few nerves Weiss had managed to recollect. With as much gentleness as she could muster but with no patience, she grabbed Yang's arm and stood. "Please, before those things return! Ruby, take her legs, I'll carry her under her arms."
"N-No… Stop…"
Hesitating for a moment Ruby nodded, moving before Yang and grabbing her legs. Heat continued to pour off the Dimuran and the air around her wavered, distorting as the temperature rose. Fresh sweat pooled on Weiss' brow and she debated using an ice spell to quench Yang's temperature, or if nothing else spare herself being burned to a crisp.
She and Ruby had only just managed to get to their feet with Yang between them when Weiss noticed the air in the cavern had darkened, a visible, thin veil clouding the enclosed space, as if someone had set a fine black cloth over her eyes.
"Blake, what are you doing…?"
"This isn't me," Blake said, raising her weapon as she looked about warily. "What is this…?"
It looked like a Grimm's essence, the familiar mist that erupted from a slain beast's corpse. The Arachne were long since dead however and no more had revealed themselves. Where did it come from then? Between her and Ruby, Yang groaned, body twitching and muscles tensing in their grasp. Ruby squeaked in shock and Weiss' jaw dropped a second later noticing it too.
Smoke poured off Yang. Black smoke.
"Y-Yang…?" Ruby stammered.
"L-Leave…"
Weiss gawked at the woman in her arms before scoffing. "Don't be absurd, we're not -"
Yang growled and twisted her body, pulling both her arms and legs in with starling strength. Ruby yelped as she lost her grip and Weiss nearly fell forward, hands grasping uselessly to try and keep Yang from falling. The Dimuran landed with a grunt and rolled over, rising to her hands and knees. Smoke continued to pour from her body and her muscles bulged beneath her skin, veins pulsing.
"Guys, we have a problem!"
Obviously! Was Blake only just now seeing Yang? Ruby knelt by her sister and desperately tried to comfort her, eyes darting over her crumpled sibling and hands grasping uselessly, uncertain. Weiss had found something else to fixate on, something much more pressing.
A large pool of black had formed in the middle of the chamber, the black yet somehow bright liquid as docile and calm as a pond's surface. Knowing full well what horrors lurked within however Weiss stared with apprehension, drawing her rapier again and preparing a rune, a mark of frost - a single vertical stroke with two smaller ones cutting through like spokes of a wheel.
Before her the air was warm, uncomfortably so, and around them the rest turned stale with an unmistakable chill following. The Grimm pool began to bubble and distort, and Blake cursed loudly, raising a hand and forming a shell of shadow over it. For several agonizing seconds nothing happened, the sounds of bubbling muffled.
Then a shrill, bone-rattling shriek erupted. Cracks formed in the shadow and the sound grew louder, loud enough that Blake cried out and dropped to her knees in pain, hands clutched over her ears. Weiss fell too and clamped her free hand over one ear, vision swimming as she stared at Yang. The Dimuran looked up and the red eyes that stared back were burning with an anger Weiss couldn't understand, anger which terrified her as much as the oncoming Grimm.
Yang's mouth moved but Weiss couldn't make out the sounds. She could read lips though, at least well enough to recognize the single word uttered.
"Run."
The pool's surface broke and a pair of long, jagged limbs lashed out. Bladed legs dug into the cavern's floor and narrow, plate crusted limbs rose up, followed by several others. Eight limbs in all spread across the pool and pulled. Heavy black goo fell away and landed back in the pool with a splash as it poured off the rising Grimm, its black body somehow darker than the void it had crawled out from. An arachnid body towered over them and Weiss felt her previous horror return, then turn into sheer panic.
Atop the spider's body a woman's - or something close enough to it sprouted from where its head should be. Distressingly humanoid save for the six eyes set in a boney mask, and with a pair of sharp-toothed mandibles set upon an otherwise eerily Muran face, the Grimm stood several times their height, spreading its arms, spider and humanoid both, tilting its head as long, liquid hair fell down its back.
Then it screamed. A woman's cry mixed with that of a beast, rattling and wailing, the very cave itself seemed to shake. Even Ruby and her weaker Muran ears doubled over and seemed to be in terrible pain from the shout. Blake laid on the floor, curled up and burying her head in her arms. Weiss dropped her rapier in favor of covering her ears, desperately crying to close out any sound.
The Grimm ceased its cries and slowly took inventory of its newfound surroundings. Red eyes roamed over Blake, mandibles clicking curiously, then stared at Ruby before settling its gaze on Weiss. Her stomach turned and Weiss forced her trembling hand to grab her rapier, fingers as flexible as stone as they wrapped around its grip.
Her legs wouldn't respond. The air around them was heavy as a quilt, suffocating as though their heads had been pushed under water. Her right hand raised to weave a rune then fell in her lap, useless and unwilling. Her eyes stared back at the misshapen face of the Grimm and to her shock the beast smiled, flashing a row of pointed, jagged yellow teeth.
Yang unleashed a howl of her own and the Grimm reared up, raising its legs and slamming down where Weiss and Yang laid. Ruby grunted as she scooped up sister and partner both, her unguided, desperate flight sending all three of them tumbling across the cavern floor. Weiss' ribs ached as she struck rock and she clutched her side when she rose, breath shallow.
"W-We have to k-k-kill it!" Ruby cried. "Weiss! Blake!" She looked back after a second's hesitation. "We have to keep Yang safe!"
Weiss nodded stiffly and used her rapier as a crutch, pushing herself to her feet. Her arm pushed up against gravity and her weapon swayed but remained ready, lips parted as she desperately tried to fill her lungs with desperate gasps of air. Blake rose to her feet too, blood trickling out of one ear and black hair slick and red at the base.
"Keep it away from Yang!" Weiss called, her own voice strange in her ringing ears. "Bring it down!"
The Grimm screeched again and reared up, tossing its head before storming out of the pool, kicking up thick globs as it stormed towards them. Weiss readied a rune, Ruby crouched, and the cavern went up in a brilliant flash of blue.
Ice erupted from a geyser, turning from a single shard beneath the Grimm to a pillar. Large as the creature was it proved nimble enough to dart aside and avoid Weiss' trap, lowering its body and darting towards Yang. Ruby's scythe scored glancing blows against its armored legs and failed to penetrate anything. Only Blake's shadows managed to halt its progress, shadowy tendrils wrapping around its limbs.
Face red in exertion Blake pulled at the air and her spells responded in kind, more shadow lashing out and holding it in place. "It's… Strong…!"
"I've got it!" Ruby burst from a crouch into the air, jettisoning towards the Grimm, scythe drawn back. Aiming to sever the Grimm from its torso she swung her weapon only to yelp as a black, thick fluid struck her, throwing her back and trapping her against the ground.
"Ruby!" Weiss shouted, giving the Grimm a passing look before rushing to her partner's side. The mucus or whatever it was had an unusual, pungent odor not unlike meat left in the heat. When Weiss grasped at it the material gave way only for it to reform seconds later. Writhe as she might Ruby couldn't break herself free.
"Keep your arms against your sides!" Ruby nodded and closed her eyes, turning her face away as a gentle blue light emenated from Weiss' palm. The black sinewy material flash-froze, tendrils of swirling darkness encased in a misting shell of ice.
Using the grip of her sword to strike the ice Weiss smiled as the surface splintered, breaking away at the casing that trapped Ruby. Two more strikes and chunks fell enough that the brunette could push her way free, dragging herself out on her hands and immediately retrieving her scythe.
Behind them Yang remained hunched over, strange smoke rising from her trembling form while Blake made a desperate effort to keep the Grimm occupied, harrying it with physical blows and spells alike.
They needed to kill it, obviously, but how still eluded them. Spells did little besides score superficial wounds and their weapons failed to pierce the Grimm's armor. Weiss looked down at Ruby's cage and gasped.
"Ruby, I have a plan! I'll need your help though."
The Grimm hissed and its limbs lashed out at Blake, driving the Meera back yard by yard. Though spider like in appearance the creature struck like a viper, moving at speeds nearly invisible to the naked eye. Weiss couldn't hope to navigate such an assault without falling, not with her speed.
She wouldn't have to either.
Ruby nodded and clutched her scythe determinedly, panting as perspiration trickled down her face. "Got it! You just tell me when and I'll do it!"
Her friend went off in a flash and drew the Grimm back from a weary Blake. Although she had no knowledge of their plan Blake took Ruby's lead and continued to occupy the Grimm as she had been.
Swirling around the Grimm as a pair of mosquitoes bothering a horse Ruby and Blake never stopped moving. With her magic in full effect Ruby was impossible to hit; her strikes, however ineffectual, proved irritating enough that the Grimm lashed out blindly time and time again. Where Blake lacked for Ruby's speed she made up in nimbleness, flipping and at one point even landing on an outstretched limb, hooking her weapon around another and swinging beneath the beast itself.
The Grimm staggered. Overextending itself with an attack three of its legs rose into the air and it hissed fitfully, toppling over and landing with a meaty thud. Eight legs writhed and lashed out threateningly as its humanoid torso twisted and turned, head snapping, teeth clicking as it followed its attackers. Rolling side to side it released another spurt of black webbing, Weiss realized, narrowly missing Blake and caking the ceiling instead.
With a great effort the Grimm rolled and stood, the plated tips of its legs burying into stone to brace itself. Ruby and Blake darted away to either side of the blackened beast, the creature's head swiveling before it set is baleful eyes on Weiss.
The air around her dropped several degrees, breath releasing in puffs as her body's temperature rebelled against her own magic. Frost licked at her skin affectionately before swirling away in the air, flakes dancing listlessly. Three runes hovered around her, each imbued with far more magic than she'd typically use. They would be potent if released in a spell, Weiss knew, but she withheld her magic and instead ushered her companions to her side. When Weiss reached for Ruby's scythe her partner held the blade out knowingly, nodding her head for Blake to do the same.
Weiss reached out with trembling fingers and placed a rune on each, blades flashing a pale blue before ice covered the weapons.
"Freeze its legs…" Weiss' voice was strained and dry, raspy as though traveling through a desert. The wintery air around her grew colder still. "I'll go for the kill. Ready?"
"Ready," they said in unison.
The Grimm screeched and bore down on them, hardly content to be idle as they prepared. Weiss dove aside as Ruby and Blake rushed to its flanks, shadowy tendrils lashing out like whips to stir the beast and pull its focus away. It worked and with a furious hiss the Grimm whirled around and skittered away.
"Yang?" The blonde didn't respond besides groan, either in acknowledgement or sheer discomfort. With no means to help Weiss bit her cheek and turned her attention back to the fight on hand. "Just wait a little longer, we're almost finished!"
Forced to wait for an opening she watched, awestruck, as Blake and Ruby continued their frantic attacks. Their stamina put hers to shame, though she felt her use of magic was partly to blame; Ruby had been using her speed magic incessantly since the fight began and seemed fine. The humbling irritation forced Weiss to ignore the dull throbbing behind her eyes and the chill that ran through her veins. Her chest burned for air and she gave her lungs scraps instead of a full meal, breathing in short gasps. Her legs strained, muscles burning as she readied to rush in at a moment's notice.
The Grimm drove its spear-like leg at Ruby and her scythe deflected, curved blade scraping up along its bony plating like a blade on a whetstone. The air took on a strange sparkling before ice began to spread along the carapace, quickly covering the thick bone and skin and encasing the limb in ice.
Blake spun her weapon around herself, chain wrapping around her body, ducking beneath a swinging leg and striking another. Ice burst from the point of impact and a heavy, cumbersome block formed on the limb, weighing it down.
Releasing a furious howl and staggering awkwardly the Grimm twisted and turned, legs freezing one after another as Ruby and Blake struck. Hobbled, the spider-woman fell again, limbs twitching at its body but unable to find purchase, slipping and heavy. In a desperate effort to keep itself safe its chest swelled and it spewed the odorous webbing again and again, globs of dark hitting the floor, walls and ceiling, sticking and failing to trap anything.
Weiss' arm shook as she carved another rune, wincing as a sharp pain built behind her right eye. Releasing a hiss through clenched teeth she unleashed her spell and rock began to rise up in staggered, misshapen steps. Willing her legs to carry her she ran forward, leaping onto the first. The Grimm took notice and its body swelled before spewing more webbing. Blake's shadows erupted from beneath Weiss, a pillar blocking the projectile while Weiss herself darted around it, leaping higher still. Another shot and this time Ruby dove through, cleaving it in two with her scythe. The halves of the sticky mass struck the ground with a wet splat.
Close enough that her nostrils burned from the noxious scent of the Grimm Weiss crouched and jumped higher, skipping another platform entirely and drawing back her arm. The Grimm screeched and her other eye closed, ears ringing painfully, feeling her very bones rattle at the sound.
Her rapier drove forward, and she felt it meet resistance before continuing in its path. She heard flesh tear and the Grimm screeched again. Using its own body for support Weiss dug her heels into the beast and pushed her weapon deeper yet, twisting and releasing her rune. A sound of shattering like a rioter hurling stone through a window erupted, ice spreading at an alarming rate from the Grimm's torso.
Weiss forced her eyes open to watch, to witness the beast's dying moments. It writhed, locked in place by their combined efforts, body beginning to be blanketed in a thick sheet of ice. Its head tossed and arms clawed desperately at the ice, howling, fighting against its demise. In a final effort to exact revenge it reached out for Weiss, long-nailed fingers threatening to close around her throat. Its hand stopped inches short as ice shot down its arm and froze the outstretched limb in place.
With ice now underfoot Weiss pulled her weapon free, briefly freefalling as wind rushed around her. With a grunt both on her part and Ruby's she landed in her partner's arms, rapier falling from her hand as her entire body was wracked with a painful tremor. Ruby wavered on her own legs and fell back, chest heaving with strained breaths.
Above them the ice began to crack and for a terrifying moment Weiss feared the Grimm was breaking free. All concerns vanished when its arm snapped off, frozen through and breaking into pieces as it struck the cave floor. Ruby's desperate scramble with Blake's aid kept them from being crushed beneath the Grimm whose body splintered and crumbled, a statue no longer able to bear its own weight. Pieces shattered and those that remained quickly turned into mist, leaving strangely shaped, hollow shards of ice in their wake.
If Weiss had the oxygen to spare she'd have laughed at their triumph, or cheered. Even a simple 'woop' was beyond her and instead she raised her arm halfway before her limb heavily dropped across her lap.
"It's… It is dead, right…?" Blake panted behind them, posture slouched and weapon dangling from her hands.
It had better be. Weiss stared at the ice a moment longer than necessary as if it would spring to life. It didn't, and when her unease left with the last of the mist she exhaled, lungs drinking in air she so desperately needed. Not that it did much to assuage the drumming in her head or the fire that burned in her veins despite wielding so much ice moments before.
Ruby giggled, the sound marred by being on the verge of tears. Thinking the trembling was her own Weiss looked up at her partner and pat her cheek, smiling for her sake as well as her own. "We're safe… You're safe…"
Through teary eyes Ruby nodded, flashing a toothy smile. "R-Right…"
Now that the Grimm had gone - and better yet no Arachne appeared they at long last had a moment to just breathe. The air in the cave was pleasantly cool and calm, the sound of birds just beyond the crevice a wonderfully welcome thing. Ignoring the walk back they still would have to make Weiss savored their brief victory, closing her eyes and grabbing Ruby's arm for support as she was set down to sit herself.
"Um… Guys…?"
Following Blake's skyward gaze Weiss stared dumbfounded at the Grimm's essence, the black mist that generally disappeared upon their defeat. Instead it lingered, twisting formlessly in the air high above their heads. Then, as though the cloud had some kind of sentience, the mist moved across the ceiling, blotting out the sunlight before moving along, moving against the air itself as it drifted downwards, coalescing and twisting.
Yang groaned and fell forward as the mist gathered around her, thickening, blocking out their view of the Dimuran entirely. On weak legs Ruby cried out and stood, fighting to hurry to her sister's side. Weiss reached to stop her partner and gasped when the air around Yang sparked, crackling like a cannon's wick set alight. As if the analogy wasn't apt enough Weiss curled in on herself when the cannon seemed to fire off, a loud, teeth rattling explosion rocked the chamber. Black mist pushed out by the explosion swirled but was kept at bay by brilliant red and orange flames. Fire pulsed from Yang, flames swirling, rising high enough that they reached the roof and spread along it.
The Dimuran rose to her feet and opened her mouth, black smoke and flame leaking between cracked, dry lips. Weiss felt herself go numb as red eyes, eyes of a Grimm, glared at them through smoke and flame, somehow burning brighter than any magic spell. Black veins stretched from the corners of Yang's eyes, racing down her neck and across any exposed skin.
"Yang!" Ruby cried, pushing herself up after being knocked down by the explosion. Ruby screamed as a burst of flame narrowly engulfed her, kicking her legs and batting at her cape as Blake laid on top of her, hair and back singed for her efforts.
Weiss' concern for her partner was overshadowed by her terror. Yang stood tall and swayed in place, neck cracking as she examined them, no signs of recognition on her face. Her right arm lifted, and Weiss couldn't make sense of what she saw; a gauntlet of black with deadly white claws and random bone protrusions jutting out, a Grimm arm reached for them in place of Yang's. It slammed onto the ground and Yang fell with it, crouched like a feral beast, snarling as more flame erupted from her body.
There was no rhyme or reason to the flames. They rebelled against their caster, doubling in and washing harmlessly over Yang. The walls were pelted with errant bursts and Weiss pressed herself to the floor to avoid a fireball.
Yang's magic was out of control. It was as if a campfire had been left unattended and now consumed the forest beyond the cave, engulfing everything in its path. An uncontrollable inferno with a mind all its own.
A wildfire.
/+/+/+/+/+/
They had been thrust into an oven.
Too close to Yang and the air became unbearable, hot enough that it threatened to cook them inside and out. That didn't stop Ruby from trying to reach her sister however, and she might have if Blake hadn't restrained her.
Over Yang's pained howling Ruby cried out, fighting against the Meera as tears on her cheeks evaporated in an instant. "We have to help her! She's suffering!"
"What are we going to do?!" Blake grunted and pulled Ruby further back. "We have to run!"
"We can't just leave her like this!"
Weiss tried again to stand only for her knees to give out and collapse. Her lungs, starved for oxygen, strained, a sharp piercing pain in her breast as though a dagger had been buried between her ribs. Her heart struggled to get blood flowing, muscles burning even without Yang's hellacious heat lapping at her.
They couldn't leave Yang. They couldn't help her either. What do we do then? Do we hope she tires herself out? Can we talk her down? What's even happening?!
Doubled over and screaming Yang's body twitched, shoulders rolling and back arching up. Her head tossed back and her eyes flickered briefly before she tossed her head side to side, grabbing it while her deformed arm slammed into the ground. Mist around her head began to take shape, long, curved horns sprouting from her forehead. Flame leaked from her mouth and she howled again, fury mixed with agony.
She's… She was at Holbrook! The beast that had chased Adam away, that had nearly killed Blake. Weiss watched as Yang's face lifted, eyes darting around in alarm, black, pulsing veins on her neck stark against her fair skin. She hadn't transformed nearly as much as back then but there could be no mistaking it. How? What… What is this?! People don't turn into Grimm!
"Weiss, we have to leave!"
Was it some kind of magic? Transformation magic existed, shapeshifting too, but this was something different. Something unnatural.
"Weiss!"
Again, relying on her rapier for support Weiss tried to stand, managing only to rise to a knee before losing her balance again. Her arms were firm as wet reeds, her vision blurred as though staring through a cracked glass. Air crackled around them, hissing and snapping as heat radiated from Yang, spilling forth like a fiery storm.
"We have… Have to help…" Seeking Ruby's cooperation she smiled, forcing confidence she didn't feel even as her own thoughts betrayed her. It was suicide to stay. What could they do? "Can we… Can you restrain her, Blake?"
The Meera cursed and shook her head. "I'm at my limit! Any more and I'm risking sickness, besides…" A fresh burst of flame erupted from Yang, rising up in a pillar and washing across the ceiling, burning away hanging roots and turning stone black. "I doubt my shadows could survive that."
Ice wouldn't work either, and any earth would likely shatter, not that Weiss could manage more spells. Did they wait for Yang to burn out then?
Yang's screams came to an abrupt end and her head snapped towards them, wild blood red eyes seeming to stare through them. Her lips parted and thick black wisps poured out, lifting herself into a standing position, hunched forward by the weight of her arm.
A roar more bestial than human shook their very souls and Yang slammed her hand down before rushing towards them. Blake shouted a warning and pushed Ruby aside, readying a spell. Weiss struggled to do the same only for her rune to falter halfway, crumbling uselessly at her fingertips. Yang roared again and dragged her clawed hand behind her, tearing up stone and gouging the earth.
Then she jumped.
Weiss craned her neck to follow the Dimuran and covered her face as heat and flame showered down over them. Behind them a Grimm not unlike the last reared up to strike only for Yang to barrel into its chest. With fire propelling her forward the blonde's smaller body was like a great boulder launched from a catapult, colliding with enough force to lift the Grimm off its feet and throw it back.
The beast barely landed when Yang was upon it once more. Ignoring the bladed limbs cutting into her Yang threw herself in again, blood spattering across the ground as she slashed through the Grimm's chest. As black steam poured from both their wounds, she caught another limb in her claw and twisted, snarling and tearing the blade clean off.
Using its own limb against it Yang buried the blade in the Grimm's torso, howling as another gouged her shoulder. Shaking furiously, she planted her palm against its chest and unleashed a point blank blast, white hot flame engulfing the Grimm in the blink of an eye.
It was enough to make Weiss almost feel bad for the beast. The blast ended and half of the creature remained, legs sheared clean, body teetering awkwardly before crashing down. The humanoid top writhed and lashed out in anger, swinging aimlessly and trying to grab hold of Yang. She caught one of its arms and dragged it down to her level, lip curled back as she sneered. Her lips parted and flame licked the Grimm's face, chest rumbling with laughter.
"Got… You…"
Screeches were silenced as Yang's claw grabbed the Grimm's head, large enough to engulf it whole. Pulling the beast down she placed her hand on its chest and snarled, body shimmering as fire swirled around her arm, gathering at her hand before condensing into a small burning orb.
The sound was unearthly, a high-pitched whistling unfit for flame and more akin to a foreman's bell signaling the end of a day. Yang pulled her hand back and the orb crackled, turning from soft cherry red to brilliant orange, then blue as lapis.
In an instant the orb expanded and fired through the Grimm's chest, expanding exponentially. Blue fire swallowed the Grimm whole and struck the cave wall with enough force to burrow into stone, sending smoldering rubble flying across the chamber. Weiss drew back and shielded herself, hearing Ruby cry out beside her. The light that overwhelmed them dimmed and she looked up to see Blake stood before them, trembling while she strained to maintain a wall.
Then just as Blake's wall began to fail the sound of fire discharging ceased. As shadow fell it gave way to the Grimm, or what remained of it, small black shapes quickly burning away under blue flame. The floor and wall both sported deep scars from the blast, and presiding over the carnage, hunched over and panting, was Yang.
A creature that had given the three of them so much trouble dead in an instant. Weiss couldn't believe it. How was Yang that powerful? How was anyone that powerful? Obviously stronger Magi existed. Ozpin was immensely powerful no doubt, and even the likes of their instructors were no pushovers either.
They had seniority though. Years of training and experience. Weiss expected them to be astounding. Yang… Yang was her age.
And a monster.
Whatever little elation at the Grimm's defeat fled the moment Yang turned on them. Hunched over her head swiveled around, eyes wide and pupils oddly small. Slack jawed she stared at them for an agonizingly long moment before turning, staggering towards them.
"Ruby… My… Ruby…"
Even as she seemed on the verge of panicking Ruby rose to her feet, reaching out towards Yang. "I'm here, Yang! It's okay, you're o-okay!"
Yang's body shuddered and she stopped, groaning as her arm twitched, fingers snapping. She gripped her head and went silent again. "You… Alone…" Her face was a mixture of anger and utter dejection when she lifted her head again. "Left me… Alone… Why?"
"Everyone said you were dead! I thought… I thought you were! But I didn't give up hope!" Ruby smiled desperately and began to approach. Weiss reached out to stop her partner only for her fingers to slide uselessly from Ruby's cape. "When I saw you at Holbrook, I knew… I knew you were alone!"
That Yang didn't answer made it more unsettling. Weiss watched as fresh flame began to form, dancing across Yang's body in small patches. Her scales reflected the light and her red eyes glowed with a terrifying brilliance.
Her claw slammed into the ground before Ruby and Yang screamed, slamming her claw again and again. Like a fire fed overmuch she began to surge, black mist from the fallen Grimm gathering around her and mixing with her flames, turning them a sickly green.
"You… Left… Me…" Yang's voice warbled, and she inclined her head towards Ruby, staring blankly. Her jaw went slack before her lips pressed into a thin line, then curled back to reveal pointed teeth, blood leaking from her split lips. "You left me alone!"
Weiss grabbed her rapier and struggled to stand. Ruby cried out and lifted her arms to shield herself. Yang, roaring and uncoiling, lashing out like a cornered beast, lunged for Ruby, claws glittering in her fire, sharp as the finest blade. She hurtled towards Ruby and closed the short distance between them in a flash.
A gust of wind slammed into Yang and threw her to the side, across the chamber and tumbling helplessly. The moment she landed another burst slammed into her from above and pressed her into the ground, starving her flames and pinning her in place.
Ruby, pale as the dead, sank to her knees and watched her sister be buffeted repeatedly. "Wh… What…?"
"You children are idiots."
Yang had barely gotten to her feet when another gust slammed into her, pushing her back into the wall and pinning her up against it. The last of her flame snuffed she was released and collapsed, gasping desperately as her body sparked, fire trying to restore itself. A figure landed in the chamber, green sword pulsing, the thin, curved blade emitting a faint humming sound.
Raven glanced back at them with a look of disappointment and Weiss felt indignant at the expression given. What was she looking at them like that for? What had she expected of them? How were they supposed to know something like this would happen? More frustratingly still was the knowledge Raven had just saved Ruby. Again. Once more indebted to the foul bandit.
Disregarding them not a moment later Raven sheathed her weapon and casually paced, blocking Yang's path to them as she shrugged off the top of her robe. "Vernal, tend to them. Make sure no other Grimm appear."
Weiss hadn't realized the other woman was even with them. Drawing back when Vernal reached for her she narrowed her eyes, gritting her teeth when she was grabbed anyways. "Relax, idiot, I'm here to help."
Hearing the loud rattle of plate, she watched as Hammond, Ezra and a handful of others rushed into the chamber. The captain barked something inaudible and several troops lingered at the entrance, weapons drawn. He and Ezra made to approach only to stop short seeing Yang. "Ma'am…?" the captain called.
"It's fine. Do your job, captain. I've got her."
Yang peeled herself from the wall and staggered forward, snarling and clawing at the ground. Fresh fire swirled around her and she drew back, chest swelling before she unleashed a swirling inferno from her mouth. Raven pivoted and drew one of her twin swords in the blink of an eye, redirecting the conflagration harmlessly skyward.
The red sword in her hand flashed and Raven deflected another spell, sending it spiraling into the far wall. Another she cleaved in two, sheathing the sword in favor of her green. Yang leaped at her and a gale caught her midair, launching her higher into the air. A swirling vortex formed at Raven's feet and she jettisoned after her, blocking another spell midair and grabbing Yang's warped arm. Twisting her body, she growled and pulled, overwhelming her daughter and throwing her back to earth. Yang struck the ground and bounced off, gasping breathlessly before settling.
Raven landed beside her and kicked aside Yang's claw when she reached out, then stamped down on Yang's wrist to pin the limb. Yang's mouth opened and Raven clamped a hand on it, closing her eyes as flame lapped at her palm, seeping between her fingers and struggling to find release.
The spell faltered and black smoke leaked out when Raven drew back her hand. "That's enough, Yang." She removed her foot and lifted her daughter by her tunic, holding Yang up as though she were a small child. The claw lashed out again and Raven caught it, grabbing one of the digits and pulling it back painfully.
"I said, that's enough."
Yang flailed awkwardly as she was suddenly released, then breathlessly groaned, red eyes fading and turning to unfocused lilac. Her hair which had floated in the heated air settled against her back and black veins which had spread across her body began to recede. Raven unburied her fist from her daughter's sternum and caught her as she fell, supporting Yang's weight on one arm. The blonde's claw began to smoke and black flesh peeled away, scraps falling to the ground and vanishing. Her regular arm remained, skin red, cracked and bleeding but still intact.
With Yang now limp in her arm Raven frowned, staring at her child before carefully laying her down. Only the gentle rising and falling of Yang's chest assured Weiss she hadn't been killed, though that did little to comfort her after watching Raven's brutality. Wiping the remains of a potion from her mouth she fought to stand once more and finally made her legs cooperate, forcing herself to remain upright even as the room spun.
"You…" Her tongue was thick in her mouth, words slurred. She could feel her mind growing foggy and the corners of her vision began to blacken. "What… Was that…?"
"That? That was exactly what I wanted to show you girls." Raven motioned Hammond over and the captain, a head and a half larger and twice as wide, obeyed like a dutiful dog, bounding to its master's side. "Be gentle, she may have suffered injuries. I want her and the others taken back to the keep for treatment."
Weiss rejected a soldiers' offer and scowled at Raven. "That?!" she spat. "She transformed! People don't turn into that! And the Grimm…" She shook her head both in frustration and to attempt to clear her head. "Why did so many appear? What happened?"
Raven smiled as she placed a hand on her hip, inciting more of Weiss' ire. "I told you I'd explain, didn't I? And I will," she added, holding up a hand before Weiss could argue. "For now… Focus on making it back to the keep. My healers can't help if you're dead."
Questions raged as Weiss struggled to formulate words, mouth failing to form a single sound. Adrenaline leaving her the aftermath of so much concentrated spellcasting began to take its toll.
Her head throbbed and she felt queasy, stomach heavy, unsettled as if rocked violently aboard a small craft. As her rapier clattered against the ground and Ruby called her name, she felt a pair of arms catch her, barely seeing brilliant red hair out of the corners of her eye. Raven motioned to her people in gestures unrecognizable before coming to her, leaning forward and cupping Weiss' chin to keep her head up.
"Don't give me that look. You've done well Schnee and you'll get what you want." Besides wanting a bed and for the world to stop spinning Weiss wasn't sure what she wanted anymore. "After that I'll tell you everything I know." The woman's voice was becoming muddled, the already subdued colors of the cave blending together incoherently. Exhaustion dragged her down like heavy weights.
"Soon you'll know the truth." Raven's voice was distant as though speaking from far away rather than mere feet apart. She barely caught Raven's amused expression as the woman walked past her, voice fading along with her consciousness. "... Then you can decide whose side you're on."
There, a chapter of pew pew and growls.
Yes, Yang is that powerful, and there's reasons for it. Just like there's a reason for Raven too. I just say this now cuz I can already imagine people mad that Yang made it look super easy. As for Raven there's meant to be a clear disparity between them - Weiss and co. as fresh Hunters, and veteran ones like her.
Defending things aside hopefully this turned out alright, pretty tired but wanted to get a chapter out. Hopefully the next one comes out sooner than 10 days this time.