Sorry for how long the STRQ chapter ended up being, and for going off schedule for so long (I was working out some stuff for my own series I want to do, and also being busy IRL). But we're back to RWBY's story now.
Oscar grunted, dragging the hoe through the dirt. His clothes stuck to him, damp with sweat.
"Oscar,-"
"Will you please shut up already?" Oscar said. He grunted, backing up, the hoe carving through the soil.
"I wanted to offer you a deal." Oscar paused, wiping the sweat from his brow before resuming his hoeing.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yes. Perhaps you could think of it as a contract." The voice paused for a moment. "If you do as I ask, and go to Mistral City, I will be quiet." Oscar laughed, shaking his head.
"Why would I do that? I don't have any money. I only know how to work on a farm."
"I know a man in Mistral who can give us a job."
An image flashed through Oscar's mind; a scruffy man with red eyes and dressed in gray and black clothes, a scythe resting on his back. A Hunter.
"He should be found in any of the local bars or taverns. Simply ask him for a cane, and he will take care of you." Oscar frowned.
"Why should I trust you?"
"You can't. It will be ultimately your choice. But I wanted to give you that option. Leave this farm and make something out of your life, and I will leave you alone. Or stay here, and listen to me whispering in your head for the rest of your life."
Oscar frowned, looking at the parted soil, at the hoe in his hand. He sighed, hanging his head.
The rain poured down, pounding against the metal roof. Hazel inhaled, savoring the scent of wet grass, and dirt. She opened her eyes, looking aside at the sound of someone running.
A young boy had his hands over his head, dashing toward the train station. He slid to a halt, breathing hard as he reached station. He shivered, lowering his arms, wrapping them around his body as he went to the kiosk. He pressed at the screen before fishing out a white lien card, and pressed it against the screen. He groaned in annoyance, a red light flashing on the screen.
Hazel stood up, the Boy looking at her, his eyes widening.
"Here," she said. She banged a fist against the top of the machine, hearing it beep. The boy looked back at the screen, a small smile forming as a ticket printed out. "Don't let such a small thing hold you back," she said. The Boy nodded.
Hazel leaned against the building, watching the rain, her arms crossed. The Boy took the spot next to her, looking at the ground, kicking at nothing.
"W-where are you going?" he asked.
"Kuchinashi," Hazel said. She looked down at the Boy. "You?" The Boy looked up at her before looking back down at the ground.
"M-Mistral City." Hazel nodded, looking back at the curtain of rain. "I've always lived in the farmlands surrounding the City, so I could walk, but with all the Grimm and the Raiders, I didn't want to risk it." He said.
"Wise choice," she said.
They stood in silence, lighting flashing on the horizon, thunder rumbling as the rain continued to pour. The Boy perked up at the sound of a train approaching, glancing at his ticket as it came to a halt, steam wafting up. He looked at her, giving a sheepish grin.
"That's my train," he said. Hazel nodded as the doors opened people began to exit the train.
"Good luck in your endeavors," she said.
"Y-yeah, you too." He said. He shifted his backpack before hurrying to the train, not looking back as he climbed aboard.
Ruby slowed to a stop, looking at the ruins before her. Dark brown stains covered the stone roads, weeds growing up through the cracks. The buildings were in shambles; some covered in moss, some burned out, others torn apart, claw marks littering them. Glass, burnt toys, and bits of cloth littered the streets. She looked at the shattered wall surrounding the village, and then up at the archway at the entrance. Weather worn banners fluttered in the breeze, the archway's center broken, a dusty wooden sign written in Old Mistralian hung by a rusted chain, squeaking as it swung with the breeze.
She looked back as she heard Pyrrha sigh. Ruby looked back at the village, adjusting her grip on the stretcher before continuing forward.
The breeze died down, the air growing stagnate. Ruby looked at each of the buildings, at their shattered remains as they walked.
"Do any of these look like a pharmacy to you?" Ruby asked.
"I can't tell," Pyrrha said.
They continued in silence, anxiety nipping at Ruby as they passed each empty building. She looked away as she passed a building, a skeleton looking back at her from its porch.
"Ren really didn't want to come here," she said. Pyrrha said nothing. Ruby glanced back at her. Pyrrha kept her gaze on the buildings. "Do you have any ideas why?" she asked. Pyrrha shook her head.
She hummed as she walked, the bread basket slung over her arm. A content smile formed as she looked at the canals, at where her son was crouched.
"Are you trying to fish, Lie?" An asked. Lie looked up, shaking his head. He pointed at something in the water canal.
"I found a lotus, mother!" he said. He got to his feet, running up to her, clasping his hands together as he looked up at her. "Can we take it home with us? Please?" he asked. An shook her head.
"The lotus has to stay where it is, Lie. We can't disturb it."
Lie pouted, kicking at the ground. An reached into her bread basket, pulling a lien card from it. She bent down, holding the money out.
"Your father will be returning soon, why don't you go get him something to celebrate his return?" Lie took the money from her hand, looking at it before nodding at her. She smiled at him. "Run along now," she said.
Lie nodded, clutching the card to his chest as he ran toward the market.
Lie fidgeted as he stood in line, standing on his tippy toes to peak around the man in front of him. A variety of weaponry hung on the stall. The man in front of him left, a dagger in hand, running his thumb over the blade. Lie smiled as he stepped up to the counter.
"What can I get with this?" he asked. The Blacksmith looked at the card before chuckling. He grabbed a wooden knife, and hammer holding them out.
"Something like this," he said. Lie pouted, turning and leaving the stall.
He wandered around, looking at the various booths. Father always liked to drink that juice Mother wouldn't let him taste. What was it called again? Sock? Sack? Sa..Sake!
He looked around, spotting the stall filled with bottles. He ran up to it, placing the lien card on the counter.
"Sake, please!" he said. The merchant cocked an eyebrow before shaking his head, handing the lien card back to him. Lie frowned, leaving the stall.
He felt his stomach grumble as he wandered the marketplace. He sniffed, his mouth watering at the scent of freshly baked cake and bread. He stopped, looking into the window of the bakery he was in front of. He pressed against the glass, admiring the multitude of cakes, breads, and deserts on display.
"Give that back!"
Lie stepped away from the window, peeking around the building. A trio of boys were crowded around a girl. She was thin, her clothes coated in dirt and grime, her orange hair oily and unwashed. Her feet were black, coated in dirt. One of the boys had a half-eaten, mold encrusted loaf of bread in his hand.
"Where'd you get this bread, huh?" The Boy asked.
"I bet she stole it!" One of the other boys laughed.
"It's all moldy, she probably got it from the trash!"
The Girl frowned, kicking the boy in the shin, grabbing the bread as it fell from his hands. The Boy yelled, grabbing his shin. The Girl tried to run, grunting as the other two boys shoved her to the ground, the bread falling to the side. The Boy stopped rubbing his shin, snarling as he went up to the girl, kicking her.
Lie flinched as the Girl cried out, scrambling away, grabbing the bread.
"Where'd you even come from? What, are you abandoned? Like some kind of dog?" The Boy laughed. The Girl growled, clutching the bread. She looked away from the boys, catching his gaze.
The Boys frowned, looking from her to him. Lie yelped, turning to run, grunting as he ran into someone, falling to the ground. He looked up, the figure before him blocking out the sun.
"F-father?"
His father's face was stern as he looked from him to the Boys. He frowned.
"What is going on here?" he demanded.
The Girl bolted, tripping and falling before getting back to her feet, running off with her bread. The Boys looked at each other before running off, fear in their eyes.
Lie watched them run before looking back at his father. He hung his head low, shame filling him.
"I-I'm sorry, father." he said. His father was quiet for a moment before sighing. Lie looked up as his father got to his knees, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"The worst action to take, is no action, my son," he said. "Go to your mother. I will be home shortly."
Lie watched his father leave before glancing back at where the Girl had been.
I should have done something.
Pyrrha walked through the ruined streets, her hands empty. Ruby was hunched next to Qrow, propping him up against a dead tree in the villages center. Ruby looked up as she got closer.
"Anything?" Ruby asked. Pyrrha shook her head.
Ruby scrambled to her feet, Pyrrha grabbing her spear as a roar cut through the air. Pyrrha gripped the cold metal, scanning the village.
"It sounded far off," Ruby said. Pyrrha grunted, not loosening the grip on her weapon.
"It won't be for long." She said. She heard Ruby's footsteps, her boots crunching against the broken glass.
"Pyrrha…I'm so sorry." Pyrrha looked back at her. Ruby stood behind her, her gaze on the floor. "I-I've messed up. This is my fault. I dragged all of you-" she motioned toward her uncle "into this. I'm going to get all of you killed and it's my fault because I'm such a screw up."
"Ru-"
"I should have known better at Yami. I shouldn't have asked you three to come with me to begin with. I should have come by myself. I couldn't lead my own team, what made me think I could take us all the way to Mistral."
"Rub-" Tears dripped down Ruby's cheeks.
"If the Grimm don't get all of you it's going to be that Tyrian or whoever else Salem sends after me."
"Ruby!" Pyrrha shouted. Ruby looked up at her. Pyrrha saw a yellow moth fly behind Ruby's shoulders. Pyrrha tightened her jaw, her expression stern.
"Do you know what I think of you, Ruby?" Pyrrha asked. Ruby shook her head. "I think that you are astounding." Pyrrha chuckled darkly. "We both lost people that we loved during the Fall." Pyrrha's lip twitched as The Corpse materialized behind Ruby, it's blue eyes unblinking. "And do you know what happened to you after seeing your girlfriend murdered? Your school destroyed? You friends and family gone?"
"You kept going. You saw the threat that Cinder and her allies posed and you're going to go fight them. To protect others. Like any good Hunter should." Pyrrha blinked, The Corpse appearing alongside Ruby. Pyrrha swallowed. "You let the person who murdered the love of your life follow you. You are capable of so much, Ruby." Pyrrha gripped her spear, her Échthra. "I wish I could be more like that." Pyrrha chuckled again. "I have nothing left, Ruby. I'm a murderer. I lost the only man to ever truly love me. My family never cared about me."
"You didn't force me into following you to Mistral. I would have found a way to fight Cinder somehow, because I have nothing left in my life than killing her." Pyrrha looked into Ruby's eyes. "And I don't know what I will do after that. What else do I have to live for?"
Ruby said nothing, her lip quivering as she embraced Pyrrha, nuzzling her chest. Pyrrha returned the hug, a chill going down her spine as she felt another set of arms wrap around her
Lie's eyes shot open, an animalistic scream cutting through the air. His mother burst through his door, fear painting her face.
"Lie, get up, we need to go."
He sat up, rubbing at his eyes.
"Mother? What's happening?"
His mother rushed over, grabbing his hand, dragging him from bed, dragging him out of his room, rushing down the hall.
"We need to leave. Right now."
They reached their living room, their front door swinging open. Father staggered in, his bow in hand.
"Li!"
"An, Lie, we have to hurry, come on." Another hellish scream ripped through the air, Lie clutched his mother's hand, whimpering at the sound. "I saw the Demon. We need a Hunter." His father looked out the door, grimacing at the sound of screams and roars. He looked back at them. "Hurry!"
Lie screamed, splinters flying over him as their wall broke apart. Lie scrambled back, his eyes growing wide; a King Taijitu glared at him from the ruble, its face caked in gore, its tongue flicking out. It hissed before lunging.
"Lie!" his mother screamed.
He opened his eyes, his father filling his vision. Blood covered his face, he was gasping for air. Lie craned his head; his father was carrying him, he was sprinting, running through the streets.
"F-father? Where's…where's mother?"
His father didn't seem to hear him. Screams rang out around them, alongside howls, screeches, and roars. Lie blinked, looking past his father's shoulder.
Flames engulfed the village, people screaming as they ran, smoke billowing through the air, choking it. Nevermore's soared through the air, Beowolves pouncing from the smoldering roofs and onto fleeing people, tearing them apart, their screams becoming bloodcurdling shrieks.
"What's going on?! Father, where's-"
His father screamed, a beowolf growling as it tackled them to the ground, Lie crying out as he hit the ground. He scrambled back, hyperventilating.
The wolf;s jaws clamped down on his father's stomach, his father's screams growing louder. The wolf yanked its head back, blood spurting. His father snatched his knife, yanking it free and stabbing it into the side of the wolf's head. The beowolf slumped to the ground, smoke drifting off it's body.
"Father!" Lie cried. He rushed to his father's side, tears welling at the sight of his blood soaked stomach. His father coughed, his face growing pale.
"Y-you have to run."
"No! Please!" He grabbed his father's chest, trying to lift him, his arms trembling. "Get up, father!"
A hellish shriek cut through the air; Lie looked back, his breath hitching. Something was moving through the smoke; glowing red eyes from the body of a horse, a faceless body twisting up from the horse's body. The Demon shrieked, swinging its arms, people screaming as bone like spears shot from its arms, stabbing into them.
His father grabbed his shoulder, forcing him to look back at him. His father's lip trembled as he spoke.
"You need to be brave now." He gasped in pain, clutching his side, blood running between his fingers. "Do you understand, Lie?"
"I can't! I can't leave you!" His father, grabbed his hand, shoving the handle of his knife into his palm. He closed his hand around it.
"You can be brave, Lie. You can take action." His father forced a smile, blood dribbling down his chin. "Your mother and I loved you, so much."
The ground shook, stones flying up as a giant hoof slammed into the ground next to them. Lie gaped, a horned, faceless creature stared down at them. His father shoved him, scrambling back, wrenching his bow free, knocking an arrow.
"Run!"
Lie started to run, hearing his father yell, his arrows whistling through the air. He heard his father scream, looking back.
His father was pinned to the ground, a long bone spear jutting from the Demon's arm. Several arrows were embedded in it's chest. His father screamed, the Demon hefting him into the air. The Demon's featureless face split open, drool dripping from its multitude of teeth covered mandibles. The Demon screamed, clamping it's mouth around his father's head.
Lie screamed, feeling himself get thrown to the ground. A Beowolf filled his vision, growling, blood caking it's muzzle. He tried to stab at it with the knife, the beo swatting it aside before slashing his chest open.
Pain flooded through him, his screams of agony ringing in his ears; he felt blood soaking through his torn clothes. Nevermore's soared through the air above him, blood raining down as they tore apart other villagers.
I-
He crawled toward the knife, kicking at the wolf as it tried to grab his legs.
Need to-
He grabbed a hold of the knife.
Act!
A pink glow surrounded his body, the slashes on his chest sealing. Confusion flashed through the beo's orange eyes, turning its head to and fro. It sniffed the air, growling, before turning and leaving.
Lie clutched the knife to his chest, feeling his terror and anxiety wash away. He backed away, bumping into a building, hearing someone cry out. He looked beneath the building; the Girl from before was cowering underneath. Tears cut through the grime caking her face. She yelped, the building shaking, a Nevermore shrieking.
He crawled underneath the building, holding the knife close as he went to her. The building shook again, the Nevermore's shrieks ear splittingly loud. The Girl embraced him, hiccupping, crying into his shoulder.
"I don't want to die," she hiccuped. He wrapped his arms around her, forcing his feelings, his calmness, into her.
A Nevermore's head peaked underneath the building, its beady orange eyes looking at them. It turned its head, looking in one direction before looking at the other. It shrieked, Lie biting his lip to hold back his cry as the sound hammered his ears. The Nevermore took off, its wings beating noisily against the air.
The ground trembled, the Girl shifting, looking out from the building as the Demon passed by. Lie held his breath as it stopped in front of them. He heard a clicking from it for a moment before it continued on its way.
Lie exhaled, exhaustion replacing his calmness; the terror and dread returning.
"I'm scared," the girl whispered. He squeezed.
"I am too." He looked out from under the building; a wooden mallet lay in the street. He tried to break free of the hug, the Girl holding him tight. She shook her head. "Please don't leave me," she whispered. He hesitated before breaking the hug, quickly crawling out and snatching the mallet, crawling back. He held it out to her, his knife in the other hand. She gingerly took it from him, sniffling.
"We'll have to protect each other," he said. She nodded, wiping at her tears. "What's your name?" he asked. She looked at him.
"Nora," she said. He nodded, forcing a confident smile.
"I'm Ren Lie," Ren said.
The wind whipped around her, a gentle mist raining down. She rested her hands behind her head as she followed behind Ren. His back was stiff, his hands brushing against Storm Flower as he hiked.
"You okay?" she asked. Ren looked back at her.
"Fine. You?" She smiled at him.
"I've got you here." Ren's grim expression broke, a soft smile forming. His head jerked up as thunder boomed, the rain falling harder. Nora tucked her jacket around herself as she started to jog down the path, Ren keeping pace at her side.
She slowed to a walk before stopping at the opening of a large cave. She looked at Ren.
"Do you think this leads to the peak? Some kind of shortcut?" she asked. Ren shrugged, looking back as thunder boomed again.
"Only one way to find out." He said, stepping forward.
She followed him, a breeze blowing in the cave. It was dim, growing darker and darker the further in they went. Nora looked down as she stepped in a puddle, her eyes widening.
The puddle was red. She lifted her foot up, turning the boot, the bottom dripping crimson.
"R-Ren…"
She looked up at him; a pink glow flickered around his body, a large piece of cloth in his hands.
"This… this is a banner from Shion." Nora lowered her foot.
"Shion? But that's weeks away? Why would it… be…here…"
A trail of red puddles led deeper into the cave. She looked up at the walls; a multitude of banners hung from them. Ren frowned, the pink glow disappearing. He bolted, running deeper into the cave
"Ren! Wait!" Nora shouted, running after him.
The puddles grew larger, blood splashing onto her legs as she ran through them, the air growing fouler, darkness creeping until she was running in pitch black. She could hear something dripping, the sound of so many banners rustling to an unknown breeze.
She saw a bright pink light, illuminating the darkness. She slowed to a stop beside him, squinting into the darkness. She pulled her scroll from her pocket, flicking the flashlight on.
"Oh my god."
Her scroll's light cut through the inky blackness; skinned corpses hung from the walls, impaled onto the walls by a multitude of rusted, and damaged weapons. Banner's hung aside each of the corpses. She swallowed as she looked at them. Shion. Oniyuri. Kuroyuri.
Pools of blood covered the cave floor, large hoofprints leading between each of the pools. She ran her light over the prints; they led further into the cave, to a tunnel. She felt Ren grab her hand. She looked at him, he was staring at one of the bodies. She followed his trail of sight.
The body was almost a skeleton. It was pinned to the wall by arrows, one in each hand, its legs crossed, an arrow going through its knees.
Ren squeezed her hand, the pink glow around him growing brighter. Nora tugged on his hand, leading him away from the sight, following the trail of prints. The air grew colder, the breeze growing stronger, the air less retched. She flicked her scroll off as light began to filter in.
A large opening was at the end of cave, the wind gusting around them as they looked out. Rain poured down, lightning flashing through the sky, thunder booming. Trees in the surrounding forest swayed, she could hear branches snapping as something moved through them. Ren squeezed her hand again.
At the end of the forest, sat the ruins of Kuroyuri.
I was originally going to give Winter her own chapter and have it be up next, but I think it might work better if I just combine the idea I had for it with the next chapter, for pacing reasons.