I kinda felt I skimped out on descriptions and I feel that's a weak point so I tried including that more in this chapter.
The hallways of Salem's fortress were foreboding. The walls were black marble, the floor black stone, accentuated by its violet rugs. Tall, bone white candles burned in indents on the walls, barely lighting the hallway. Large, plush, violet tapestries were hung on the walls; words from a language Emerald didn't recognize decorating the tapestries.
Emerald played with her hands as she followed Cinder, glancing out the large glass window that they passed. The shattered moon looked back at her, bathing her in a white light. The outside of the fortress was a wasteland; a rocky terrain of crimson stone and blood red skies. Large Dust crystals were jutting out of the ground, growing over and consuming the stone buildings dotting the landscape. Large pools of a tar like goo dotted the ground, Grimm gathering around them to drink.
Emerald swallowed, lowering her hand's to her sides as they approached the large oak door. Two large Grimm stood on either side of the door. They were tall, their heads at level with the top of the door. Their heads were completely smooth and bone white, no facial features outside of tbe black lines crisscrossing over their 'face'. Their skin was ink black, most of their body being covered in bone armor. They held large black spears in their hands, purple Dust crystals making up the spear heads. Mercury had given them the affectionate nickname of Domehead.
Emerald heard them clicking, lowering their heads and staring at her with their eyeless faces as Cinder threw open the wooden door and entered the room. Large purple Dust crystals were growing from the floor, tall candles flickering on top of them, their wax running down the crystals. Moonlight filtered into the room from the large windows taking up the room. A table carved from purple Dust sat in the center of the room, white petrified wood chairs were situated next to the table. A chandelier of petrified wood hung above the table, the ends glowing purple.
Cinder went to her seat at the end of the table, and Emerald stood behind her, resting her hands behind her back. She glanced over at the other members of the table.
A woman with tan skin and short black hair streaked with gray sat across from Cinder. She wore a gray and yellow suit, and was reading something on her scroll. Next to her was an old woman in a black robe, her gray hair stringy and thin. Her pale skeletal fingers were wrapped around a pendant of Salem' Eye. Her eyes were closed as she rocked back and forth in her seat, mouthing a prayer. Next to her sat a giant of a woman. She was sleeping, her arms crossed. Emerald could see a multitude of scars on her arms, barely hidden by her green jacket. Her skin was olive, and her hair short and black.
Emerald glanced over at the people on their side of the table. A woman with pale skin and long dark braided hair sat at the end of the table. She wore a white outfit, her shirt open, scars crisscrossing over her chest. She was twitching in her seat as she messily tore into a chicken leg, grease running down her hands and chin. Emerald saw her look over at her and looked away; that one scared her the most. She looked over at the person next to Cinder, noting as he started into his flask; Qrow Branwen.
The woman across from Cinder pocketed her scroll, lifting a hand up to her ear. She closed her eyes for a moment before speaking.
"Do you hear that?" she asked. None of the others answered her. She opened her eyes and smirked at Cinder. "It's the sound of silence. I have half a mind to go and thank the child that bested you." Emerald heard a belch and looked over at the end of the table. The woman was gnawing on the chicken bone, licking the grease off of it. She tossed the chicken bone aside and turned in her seat to look at Cinder. She smiled, her yellow eyes cold.
"What you need to do, my sweet Cinder, is go out and find her and bring her here. Use those precious Maiden powers of yours to make her suffer and when she's begging for the torment to end, you pluck out her eye." The woman made a 'popping' sound as she motioned at her eye. "Make the little brat scream and thrash against her chains as you squish it in front of her, and may haps let the tentacle Grimm have a go at her before you return to pluck out her other eye, and leave her to rot, you being the last thing she sees before the Grimm make a feast of her entrails." The woman smiled at Cinder sweetly, and Emerald noted Qrow tighten his grip on his flask before taking a long swig from it.
Cinder scowled at the woman as she smiled at her. Cinder opened her mouth to speak, and a raspy gasp came out. The woman across from Cinder snorted, shaking her head.
"How pathetic," she said.
The door swung open, and everyone sprang from their chairs, standing up straight. Emerald swallowed as She passed by.
Salem was a tall women, her skin a deathly shade of white, and her tar black veins crisscrossing against her face and hands. A black gem rested on her forehead, her ivory white hair pulled back into a complex style, her pupils burning red, and her sclera ink black. Her midnight black dress obscured most of her body, a long dark train billowed from her shoulders; her emblem stitched in scarlet lace in the center. The room grew colder and darker as Salem went to her seat at the head of the table. She took her seat, and the members of her coven did the same. Emerald remained standing off to Cinder's side, trying to hide herself behind Cinder's chair. Her soul felt like ice whenever Salem would look at her.
"Doctor Watts," Salem said. The woman across from Cinder, Watts, looked over at Salem. Salem cocked an eyebrow at her. "Do you find such malignance necessary?" Watts bowed her head.
"My apologies, my Goddess. I am just not one who is accepting of failure."
"Young Cinder has accomplished her goal before any of you. She not only found the Fall Maiden, but was the first of you to become one. She destroyed Vale's tower, and has pitted the Four Kingdoms against each other." Salem smiled at Cinder, and Emerald felt a chill down her spine at the sight. "But most importantly of all, she killed Ozpin." Salem's smile fell, and she turned her gaze back to Watts. "So I must ask you, Doctor, what failure do you refer to?"
Watts fidgeted in her seat before answering.
"That girl with the Silver Eyes. Summer Rose's daughter." The old woman pointed a crooked finger at Qrow as the large woman opened her eyes.
"You told us that Summer was the last of those unholy beasts, Qrow!" The old woman said.
"And how was a novice Silver Eyed Warrior able to best one of us? Summer was experienced, and she still fell." The large woman said, her voice a rumble.
"Exactly. Even without your new found powers, you should have killed that child effortlessly." Watts added.
Salem held up her hand, and they all drew quiet.
"You all know the powers of the Silver Eyes and the effect it has on my kind. Cinder is no longer entirely human; a Scarab is growing inside of her. It is only logical that she would have a weakness to this child, no matter her skill level." Salem turned, and narrowed her eyes at Qrow. "As for you, Qrow. Do you have an answer for Mother Sable? You told all of us that Summer was the last of her kind." Salem leaned forward, the room growing darker. "You did not lie to us, did you?"
They all turned to stare at Qrow. His eyes were closed and he calmly closed the lid of his flask. He crossed his arms.
"When I joined you lot, I didn't exactly stay on good terms with my old team. I cut contact with them, and I only speak to my sister on occasion just because she's family. I had no idea Summer had a kid; she never really seemed interested in any of that stuff when we were together." Qrow opened his eyes, staring at Salem. "And don't forget that I was there when we killed Summer. I am loyal to you, and you alone, my Goddess."
Salem leaned back in her seat, eyeing Qrow for a moment before nodding.
"In that case, Qrow, I will pardon your failure." Qrow nodded back at her. Salem rested her hands on the table, looking at all of them.
"Cinder has ignited the flame that will allow us to change this world. But," Salem motioned with her hand at Cinder; at the black mask covering half of her face, and the scars running across the rest, at the long empty right sleeve. "Young Cinder will remain here, with me. Your rehabilitation is not yet complete." Cinder scowled, and looked away.
"Doctor Watts." Watts looked over at Salem. "You will be taking Cinder's place in meeting with-" Salem's eyes darted over to Qrow for a brief moment "our informant in Mistral." Watts nodded.
"Understood, ma'am," she said.
"Mother Sable. You have done well in spreading the Faith in Mistral. I believe it is time to spread the good word to Atlas." Sable bowed her head, her pendent clasped in her hands.
"Your will is my gospel, my Goddess." Sable said.
Qrow kept his eyes on the table as Salem looked at him.
"Qrow, you will return to your hunt for the Spring Maiden." Qrow grunted in acknowledgement.
"Hazel, Adam Taurus has informed me that he has thought of a way to get Sienna Khan and her faction under our control. I want you to meet up with him, and help oversee this."
The giant woman, Hazel, nodded her head.
"As you wish," she said.
The woman at the end of the table smiled, licking her lips as Salem turned to her.
"Tyrian, I want you to find this child of Summer." Tyrian's smile grew. "You're allowed to have as much fun as you want with her, just try to keep her body somewhat intact."
"Thank you, my Goddess," Tyrian said giddily.
Salem leaned back in her chair, smiling.
"See to it that Haven's fall is as smooth's as Beacon's. You are dismissed."
They stood from their chairs, and Emerald kept close to Cinder as they left the room, not looking at the others or at the Domeheads as she left.
His eyes fluttered open, and he yawned as he sat up. He scratched at his back as he stumbled to his feet, going to his dresser and getting dressed. He opened the door to his room, and took a deep breath as he looked at the barn he slept in. He smiled and descended the stairs; the barn was dark but he didn't need to see to know where he was going.
He went to the barn door, and with a grunt, tossed it open. He shielded his eyes as dawn's light washed over him, illuminating the dark barn.
His aunt's farm was small, but they had never gone hungry. Being so close to Mistral City probably helped. He stretched his arms, there was a lot to do; fall was fast approaching and the crops needing tending.
He went to the well pump, and set a bucket next to it. He started to pump the water, his throat parched and his face dirty. Water sloshed from the rim of bucket as he finished pumping. He took his gloves off and cupped his hands in the cool water, splashing it against his face. He shook his head, shivering as the icy water ran down his neck. He peered into the bucket, cupping his hands.
He frowned, and blinked. Was he going crazy or did his reflection look different, just for a split second? He peered closer at the water.
"Hello, Oscar!" an old voice said. Oscar screamed and leapt back, knocking the water over.
The smithy was hot and stuff as Nora played a game on her scroll. She could hear the blacksmith grunting in the back of the smithy. She wrinkled her nose as she lost, again, and pocketed her scroll with a groan of annoyance.
Ruby was inspecting the various weapons for sale, smiling happily. Ren was reading on his scroll next to her. Nora hesitated before looking over at Pyrrha.
Pyrrha was leaning against the wall, her eyes glued to the floor. Her lime green eyes looked so cold and unfriendly now, dark bags underneath her eyes, and that long scar covering most of her face. Nora's heart fell as she looked at Pyrrha's hair, at how much it looked like Jaune's. Her armor was nicked and cracked in several places; her clothes ripped, her arms and legs littered in fresh scars. Her red sash was wrapped around her neck like a scarf, the ends of it tattered and ripped. Pyrrha looked up at the sound of footsteps and Nora looked over at the counter.
The blacksmith opened the door, and strode in, setting the weapon down on the counter with a smile.
"That was some fine metal you brought in, almost a shame to melt that shield and circlet down. Used only white steel, just like you asked." Pyrrha went over to the counter, picking up the weapon. It was white and gold, and Nora cocked her head to the side as she looked at it. Pyrrha pressed something and the weapon extended, taking the form of a large double headed spear. She heard Ruby gasp in excitement at the sight. Pyrrha inspected the weapon as the blacksmith spoke. "Your little friend over there is quiet the genius designing that entire thing. I even managed to include that second form that she had doodled." Pyrrha reached up, running a finger up the spear blade. She didn't even flinch as the blade cut through her glove, blood trickling down her finger.
Pyrrha pulled her finger back, watching the blood soaking into her glove. She nodded as she collapsed the weapon. She looked back at the blacksmith as he looked at her in shock.
"How much do you want?" she asked. The blacksmith shook his head.
"You four are going after that Geist that's been haunting our cemetery. That's enough payment for me." The blacksmith forced a smile as Pyrrha holstered the spear. "Though I have to ask, all great Hunters give their weapons a name. What are you gonna name that one?" Pyrrha thought for a moment before answering.
"Échthra," Pyrrha said. The blacksmith nodded as Pyrrha went to the exit, grabbing her backpack off the ground as she threw the door open. Ruby waved and shouted a 'thanks!' as she followed after Pyrrha. She heard Ren sigh as he took the spot behind her as they left the smithy.
Pyrrha leaned against a tree, her arms crossed while Ren and Nora talked about something or another. She peaked around the tree, and gaze out at the graveyard. It was situated on a hill, a multitude of thin, rectangular grave markers covering near every inch of the hill. She grasped her spear as she felt a rumble, and heard Ren and Nora grow quiet. She heard a crack of thunder, and a red and black blur as Ruby zipped through the graves, firing her sniper rifle at the Geist as it chased her.
A towering body built of dirt and graves lumbered after her, swinging its giant arms, dust and stones being thrown into the air as it smashed gravestones. A white bone like face sat in the center of the body, orange eyes glowing.
Pyrrha dashed forward, hopping over a fallen tree and running up the hill, Échthra popping out. She smiled as she ran; time to feel alive again. She heard Ren and Nora running behind her. She heard a whistling as several pink grenades shot past her, slamming into the back of the Geist. A ghostly groan came from the Geist as the explosions rocked its body. It turned toward them, Ruby sprinting away, weaving in and out of the gravestones.
Ren dashed past her, firing at the Geist's face with his submachine guns. The Geist raised one of its arms, groaning as the bullets tore into the stone. The Geist turned to them, and swung its giant arm down. Ren leapt onto the arm as it came crashing down, dirt and stones flying into the air. He ran up the arm as it lifted it back up, firing at the Geist's face before jumping at it face with a yell. Spark flew from his blade as he embedded it in the stone, dangling from it and firing at its face. The Geist howled in pain and swung its arm. Ren smirked and back flipped off, the giant stone fist slamming into the face a second later.
The Geist came crashing to the ground and Pyrrha lunged towards its body with a yell, swinging her spear down. The Geist groaned, and Pyrrha grasped her spear as she felt the Geist get to its feet. She gnashed her teeth together as she dangled in the air. She hoisted herself up, standing on her spear before leaping up, grabbing a hold of the stone, and reaching out to her spear with her semblance. Her spear zipped into her hand and she began to climb toward its face. She saw the orange eyes look down at her and she smirked at it.
"Pyrrha!" Her head snapped back as she looked over at Ruby, her eyes shooting wide as its fist came crashing into her. She screamed, feeling her leg break as it slammed against the stone. She lost her grip on the Geist and screamed as she fell, hitting the ground, the wind getting knocked out of her. She groaned in pain, and gnashed her teeth together as she looked at the bone sticking out of her leg. She felt the ground rumble as the Geist lumbered over to her team mates. She bit the staff of her spear, and howled as she snapped the bone back into place, blood drenching her armor and leggings. Her aura kicked on, and she ground her teeth against the metal as her leg was painfully healed. Her aura flickered as it went off once more and Pyrrha got to her feet, running back to the fight.
The Geist slammed its fist into the ground, Ren, Nora, and Ruby leaping out of the way. Ruby's hands were a blur as she switched out the magazine in her rifle. Ruby took aim and fired at the Geist's arm, ice encasing it and freezing it into place.
Nora ran to the arm, and swung her hammer, the ice shattering and the arm going flying. The Geist howled in pain, before a large clawed arm sprang from its stone body.
Pyrrha hurled her spear at the arm, smiling as it cut through it, black blood gushing out as its arm came crashing down. She caught her spear as she brought it back to her side. The Geist turned, staring at her. She charged forward with a yell, her team mates charging its back.
She hurled her spear at its face, enjoying its scream of pain at it hit the Geist's mouth, blood gushing down its body and staining the graves. Ren fired at the Geist's exposed arm, blood dripping down as his bullets ripped its arm apart. Ruby screamed as she swung her scythe, a grating screech as Crescent Rose carved through the rock, its remaining arm crumbling to the ground. Nora laughed as she swung her hammer, breaking the stone leg at its knee.
The Geist fell to the ground, blood oozing from its wounds. The stone body shook, her spear falling from place as the Geist's true form rose up from the stone carcass; a skeletal ghost. Pyrrha yanked her spear to her side as the Geist started to flee, and yelled as she hurled her spear. The Geist spun around, shrieking as her spear pierced its face, its body falling to the ground as its head went flying.
Pyrrha smirked, as she heard Nora let out a cheer, and Ren a sigh of relief. She pulled her spear back to her side, inspecting the nicks in the spear tip and the blood coating it. She nodded in satisfaction and holstered her weapon while Ruby went to inspect the ghostly corpse. Ruby poked at the corpse with her scythe for a moment before holstering her scythe and looking back at them. She threw a hand up as she smiled.
"Great job, team!"
Ruby knocked on the door to the church, and stepped back, resting her hands behind her back. The church door was gray wood, one half of the church built from black stone, the other half from white stone. The door opened and the priest who had hired them poked his head out, smiling. His robes were gray, his belt white, and his double cross black.
"You have succeeded? That Geist is dead?" Ruby nodded, and smiled.
"Yep!" The priest rubbed his thumb against his cross, smiling.
"Thank the Brothers. That thing had been terrorizing this town for months. The mayor was starting to get worried we would have to abandon this town and find a new home."
"Well, why not just move to Mistral? Isn't it safer in the cities anyway?" The priest chuckled.
"It's not quite that simple, my child. Mistral City is no doubt still dealing with a large influx of Valian refugees; a whole town's worth of poor villagers would only add to that chaos." The priest went over to the lily bush next to the church, cradling a flower in his hand. "On top of that, Anima is a large continent, there would be no safe way for all of us to leave. Many of us would die on the trip there, be it from Grimm, Raiders, or the Demon that stalks the wilderness near Mistral City."
Ruby heard Ren inhale sharply and glanced back at him. Nora was biting her lip, grasping Ren's hand, running her thumb over his hand. He had a faraway look in his eyes, his hand trembling. A pink glow surrounded him for a moment, and he exhaled, and closed his eyes, his trembling stopping. Ruby cocked an eyebrow at them before looking back at the priest.
The priest reached into his robe, and pulled out a heavy pouch. He handed it to Ruby, and she opened it up, whistling at the stacks upon stack of Lien cards.
"I do wish I could pay you more, you have no idea how much it means to this village to see that dreaded beast killed."
"That amount is more than sufficient," Ren said. Ruby pulled her backpack off and squished the bag of money into her pack.
"Are you children sure you do not wish to stay here? You have done this town a great service, and we could use a group of Hunter's like you."
"No." Pyrrha's voice was cold, and Ruby looked back at her as she slung her pack back on. Pyrrha crossed her arms. "We have a mission, and we need to get to Mistral City. No matter the cost." The priest rubbed his chin.
"I see. Then I pray to the Brothers that you will accomplish you goal."
"The next village has an airship, doesn't it?" Ren asked. The priest shook his head.
"We haven't been in contact with Shion village for quite some time. Our scroll signals were rather weak out here, even before the fall of Vale's CCT. I cannot say for certainty whether Shion still has their airship, or if it is still functional."
"Only one way to find out!" Nora said cheerily. Ruby smiled and waved at the priest as her team mates left. They walked through the village, sidestepping people as they went about their chores.
"Alright Team RNPR let's head out!" Ruby threw a fist into the air as they walked. "We have our food?" she asked.
"We do," Ren said.
"Map?" Ren nodded, holding up a thick piece of parchment. "Water?"
"Yes, ma'am!" Nora said.
"Ammo?" Pyrrha nodded. Nora swung her arms in a carefree manner as they exited the village, the long dirt road ahead of them.
"Thank you Schnee Dust Company! Where would we be without you?" Nora said.
Ruby's gaze fell, and she sighed. Weiss' scar covered arms flashed through her mind, the tears running down her face, how shaky her voice had been. Ruby's shoulder's sagged, her pack a heavy weight.
weiss… i hope you're safe
She could hear the blizzard gusting against her window as she laid in bed. Her body felt sticky and gross, her hair slick and oily. She couldn't remember the last time she had bathed. Her head was pounding, her throat dry. Her stomach growled, and her eyes darted over to the uneaten breakfast on her nightstand. She had last eaten… two days ago?
She heard Mirror tapping against the mirror in her room, her voice sing song like as she called to her. She tightened her grip on the snake plush she was cuddling, pressing it against her chest. Her wrists ached; she hoped Klein wouldn't notice the blood stains in her pajama sleeves. There was a knocking at her door and she turned in her bed, looking at the door.
"Yes?" Her voice was quiet, and hoarse. The door creaked open and a short, balding man in a blue and black suit entered her room.
"Lady Schnee, your father would like to speak to you." Weiss sighed, pulling her plush closer to her.
"Okay. I'll be out in a minute." Klein nodded his head, and left the room. The door clicked shut as he closed it behind him. Weiss closed her eyes and sighed again.
And that's it! V4 in Scars is gonna be rather long as I'm adding 9 original chapters to it (3 for Yang, 2 for Weiss, 1 for Ruby, 1 for Blake, 1 for Winter, and 1 for Summer).