The light cascade of snow sprinkled down around the village, a village that was tarnished by the screams of residents and stained by trails of blood and dying residents. Flames crackled in the distance as a young girl pulled herself across the powdered landscape, blood dripping down her face from something striking her in the head at the start of the massacre. Dizzy, half-blind, and more afraid than she had ever been, she continued pulling herself along until she could do so no more. At the end of her road, a towering, wispy figure of black tar looked down at her, its eyes as crimson as the fluids tainting the streets of her quiet home. As it stared, its eyes turned to a deep blue, and sapphire fluids began leaking from every orifice of the monster, steaming as it struck and melted the snow around its feet. It took a step, then another, rattling the earth below the girl as she closed her eyes to avoid the disgusting sight that scarred her so.
"Stay away. Please, leave me alone." she cried, feeling her entire body shivering. "Leave me alone!" came her voice, now screaming, and she leapt towards the imposing figure, her body now older, stronger, and covered in black markings.
Her sharpened, animalistic claws dug into the body and she screamed as she tore at the oily flesh of the beast. Despite her ruthless flurry of attacks, the beast grabbed her body and began shaking her off, ripping her claws out of it while doing so. There was a hazy voice that came with it, a man's but she could not hear it well enough to make it out, not over her pounding heart, and not over her own howls of fear and fury.
"Gah! Dammit, kid, cut it out!" the voice shouted, and she felt a powerful thud as she was thrown.
Petal's eyes blinked and when she opened them, she was in a dimly lit room, the sun barely peeking past the curtains she had drawn the previous night. She then noticed that she was lying on the ground with shredded blue sheets tangled around her. Her claws were digging into the wooden floor she sat on, leaving deep gashes in the stained surface. In front of Petal was a sight that made her tear up, or would if she hadn't been crying already. She felt the wet trails running down her cheeks, and struggled to pull her hand free from the ground to wipe them off of her face. With her eyes free of the glistening tears, she focused better on a man that was wrapping a piece of the tattered sheet around his hand and tying it tightly, though she could see the stains of blood already seeping through it.
"Shit, kid, you really did a number on me." he said. "What the hell was that?"
"C-Cole?" she gasped, plucking her other set of claws from the wooden gash plank they had buried themselves into. She rose to her feet and slowly walked over to him, pondering if she was still dreaming or not. "You're back?" she asked.
"Yeah, of course I am. I—"
She interrupted him by lunging and wrapping her arms around him. She put all of her strength into squeezing him as tightly as possible, as if meaning to never let him go again.
"Come on, Petal, I was gone for a day. Did you really miss me that badly?"
"I thought something happened to you. You didn't have your weapon, and you never came back." she said, softly.
After a brief sigh, he reciprocated the embrace and ran his hand through her short, black and gold hair. "Petal, you should have more faith in me. I just got tied up with something." He pushed her back slightly, keeping his hands on her shoulders as he looked into her glistening eyes. "I was never in any danger, okay? I told you that if I ever felt like my back was against the wall, I would run. I won't ever leave you alone, Petal, I gave you my word. If I was in any real trouble, I would've came right back here, okay?"
She slowly nodded and rushed to hug him again. "I know. I'm sorry, I'm too old to be acting like this, I know that."
"You're never too old to care for somebody. Come on, kid, let's get some breakfast. We have some things to talk about." said Cole, separating and walking to the door.
Soon, they were sitting at one of the tables on the lower floor, eating breakfast and sipping from glasses of tea, which was one of the inn's specialties. Petal, despite having Cole back, was still shaken up, from the dream more than anything. Before leaving the room, she saw the damage she caused in her sleep. Her pillow was torn to pieces, her mattress was full of lashes so that the stuffing inside was spread across the floor, and the sheets she had been using were nothing but tattered rags at this point. She figured it was a good thing she didn't sleep with her rings on or the whole building might have been blown apart or burned to the ground. While lifting her fork to take another bite of egg, she stopped short and lowered it back towards her plate.
"Not hungry this morning?" asked Cole. "That certainly isn't like you. Normally, it's a challenge to get you to stop eating." he added, before laughing cheerfully. His expression quickly changed as he saw the dreadful look on Petal's youthful face. "What's up, kid?" he asked her.
"I've never done that before."
"Good thing too, I wouldn't have been able to afford it." said Cole, taking another bite of his food.
"I'm being serious, Cole, it scared me. I've had nightmares, but that was different, and I never reacted like that, not once."
"Try not to let it get to you. We all get scared, and not every nightmare ends the same. Sometimes we react to it worse than we have before, and besides, I heard about your adventure yesterday. Grimm that bleed and have blue eyes instead of red, that's a scary thought, for several reasons. I don't blame you for being afraid."
"How did you hear about that?" she asked him, looking up from her food for the first time since sitting down.
"The headmaster of the academy, of course. I talked to her this morning. These Grimm are part of the reason I wanted to talk to you as soon as you got up. These things don't make sense. Grimm are attracted by negative emotions like grief and sadness, but yesterday was quite the opposite. Plus, the sudden change in attributes, attitude, and features, it doesn't bode well. I think they might be connected with what I was asked to look into, but I can't be sure yet. So, I decided to stay here and investigate."
"You did? You're staying here?" she questioned, stunned by the announcement.
"Yep. There's a job that needs doing and I'm willing and able to take it up. The headmaster also mentioned your acceptance into the academy, you know, the one that suddenly came up and sprung on me out of nowhere."
"I wanted to talk to you but you never came back and I kind of made my decision a little hasty, and—"
"I agreed." he said, cutting her rambling short. "I gave her all of the permissions necessary and you are able to move into the dorms this afternoon. I thought that this would be a good way to keep you safe while also letting you act out this little dream you've been having. You wanted to live a more normal life, well, here ya go."
"So, you want me to sit at the school while you take care of whatever is going on here?" she asked him, angrily.
"You wanted that, remember? You're the one that went up there while I was gone, and accepted the offer. Now I'm simply giving you my permission, not like you needed it, but still, it makes me feel better about it Besides, Petal, I'll be here in the city still so if I need you at all, I can come get you. Sound fair enough to you?"
"I suppose so." Petal mumbled.
"Good, because I'm going to help you get packed and situated at the dorm. Plus, I want to meet this teammate of yours."
"Absolutely not, Cole, you aren't saying a word to her." she snapped, her voice coming back to life as her face turned bright red.
He gave a quiet chuckle before sipping from his tea. "Afraid I'll embarrass you in front of your friend?"
"No, I just don't want you talking to her."
"Pity, I heard she was a nice girl." Cole stated, shrugging his shoulders.
They finished their food and packed up what few belongings Petal carried around, like her clothes and some extra parts and crystals for her rings. Afterwards, they traveled to the weaponsmith to pick up Cole's bow, which he was more than eager to have back. The smith handed him what appeared to be a small, rectangular box, all white and black, and made of a shiny, reflective metal. It wasn't large, and when Cole grabbed the handle, he held it out in front of him. Suddenly, the box began unfolding around him and the mechanical whirls of parts moving accompanied the motions. The limbs unfolded and then extended into their regular size, and the metal wire unspooled while the arms stretched out, tightening once both limbs reached their stopping point.
"There ya go, guy, flawless, just as I promised." said Toa, the smithy.
"It does work splendidly, I give you that. See, kid, what did I say? I think I've been a bit behind the times lately. Carrying clunky, oversized weapons seems useless nowadays when they can all be collapsible, right?"
"If you say so, Cole. I can't believe you spent that much Lien on a small amount of convenience." Petal said, shaking her head slightly.
"Man, talk about a buzzkill, huh?" said Cole, looking at the smith.
The two shared a laugh while Petal rolled her eyes. The two of them then continued towards the academy, stopping at a few stores along the way. By the time they arrived, it was around noon, and the campus was alive with wandering students, all in uniform. It was an odd thing for Petal, even after two days of visiting the premises. For both days, while it had been busy, it was for different reasons. Today, they were all going to their classes or spending time with their teams. This, despite what she had always thought about loneliness before, truly did make her feel alone. It brought back the word that both Chalk and Rose had called her.
"Stray." she muttered, quietly under her breath. "I think I'm starting to see what that feels like." she thought.
As they approached the grand hall, the doors opened and out stepped Professor May, wearing her usual set of attire, and a wide smile on her aged face.
"Ah, Cole and Petal, it's good to see you. Come this way, I'll show you to the dormitories." she said, gesturing for the pair to follow.
"I do already know the way, Professor." said Petal.
"I'm sure you do, dear, but it is my job to welcome new students. Plus, you don't have a key. Rose is currently in her classes so the door will be locked. Every student is given what we call a Scroll, and this little electronic device acts as a means of communication, a pass to get into your dorm, and, a longer list of things that I frankly don't have the breath to state. I'm sure you'll figure it all out in time, and if not, Rose would be delighted to help you."
"When do I get mine?" Petal questioned.
"Probably tomorrow, when we have your uniforms ready. After classes are over, Rose will take your measurements and send them my way. I will have your clothes prepared for you by tomorrow morning."
"That quickly?" asked Petal.
"My dear, we have countless amounts of spare uniforms. I'm sure we have some in your size, at least enough to get you started. If needed, we'll wait for some to get made, but I think we have some that will fit, and do not fret, they've never been worn. We simply like to be prepared in case a situation arises that calls for it." explained the headmaster.
"Preparation is always good." Cole said, quietly, his eyes darting around cautiously as they walked through the halls of the academy.
"I'm glad you agree, sir."
"It's about the only thing I agree with you all on." he stated, still avoiding the headmaster's eyes.
"I'm sure you have your reasons for your doubts and opinions, which everyone is entitled to. I won't delve too deeply." said May.
"I appreciate it." Cole muttered.
He seemed somewhat flustered and that in itself brought a smile to Petal's face. It wasn't often that she got to see Cole out of his element, but everytime it happened, it reminded her how human he really was. Most of the time, he was a strong warrior, a sturdy shoulder to lean on if needed, but these moments let that armor fade away and she saw the man underneath the stalwart, unbreakable guardian that protected her all of these years. Once they arrived at the dorm, May pressed a white object to a sensor beside the entrance, creating a faint beep. She pushed the doors open and welcomed them inside.
"Alright, Petal, this will be your new home starting today. As I said, you will receive your schedule, uniforms, and Scroll by tomorrow afternoon. If you can't start any classes tomorrow, it's guaranteed to be the next day. Get yourself settled in, and if you have any questions, you know where my office is. As for you, sir, you can stay and assist her."
May bowed her head and left the room, closing the door behind her. Only having one bag of possessions, it didn't take Petal long to get herself situated, especially since she didn't want to pick a room that might be Rose's. She instead decided to throw her bag on the couch and wait for her new teammate to return from her classes. Cole took a seat next to her and draped his arm over the back of the sofa. After a heavy breath, he looked to the ground and smiled.
"Well, Petal, I guess this is where we part ways. It won't be for long, and I won't be far, but this is your first step to living your own life."
She didn't know how to respond so she remained quiet, tapping her fingers against the arm of the couch she sat beside.
"I know you're not my real daughter, but I love you like one." he said, causing her eyes to widen as they looked over at the man. "I never had the opportunity to have a kid of my own, don't know if I ever even wanted one, but I'm happy I got to experience what it was like. We didn't meet under happy circumstances, and I know I will never replace your real father, but I hope I was good enough for you. I hope that the time we spent together wasn't horrible, and that I did right by you whenever possible."
"Cole, I don't know what to say to that. I mean, of course you did. I could never imagine you doing better. Given the choice to stay in that village or to go with you, I would pick you a thousand times over. I can't even fathom what my life would've been like if you didn't let me come with you. Actually, I guess I can. I would probably be dead if not for you. This life I'm living, you gave me it, and I could never be more thankful." Petal said, sliding closer to him.
"To think, I turned you down over and over. I'm happy you were a persistent little brat, you know that?"
"Me too." agreed Petal.
"I'm proud of you, Petal, and I can't wait to see what else you will accomplish. But, that's enough of the sappy goodbyes, I think." he said, standing up and stretching. "I have some work to do, and you have school to prepare for."
Petal rose quickly and latched her arms around his waist. "Thank you, Cole, for everything. Make sure you visit from time to time, okay?"
"Of course, kid." he said, running a hand through her hair. "Try to have a good time, and don't cause too much trouble. I'm still responsible for you, and if I get called on by the headmaster for some stupid prank or fight I will not be happy."
They broke apart and he headed for the door. After pulling them open, he looked back and she saw tears welling up in his eyes. He flashed a thin smirk, gave a two fingered salute, and left the room behind him. The doors closed and Petal was alone, in complete solitude, and had the whole dorm to herself until Rose returned.
"Bye, Cole." she muttered, plopping herself back down by her bag on the sofa.
A few hours later, she was being shaken awake by something. Unknowing of when she fell asleep, she wearily rubbed her eyes as she sat up. Rose was standing in front of her, smiling like usual, and holding up some measuring tape.
"I hate to wake you up so abruptly, Petal, but I need to get your numbers. Time to get undressed."
"Undressed?" she asked, wearily, still shaking off the sleep that had taken her.
"Just to your underwear. I need to get your sizes for the uniforms." Rose said.
Reluctantly, Petal stood and shrugged off her large, leather coat. She continued until she was only wearing a pair of tight, black shorts, and a tight bra that caused her already flat chest to appear smaller. The scar on her right shoulder was visible but Rose made no comment about it, which Petal was thankful for. She yawned as Rose wrapped the tape around her waist and chest before measuring the rest of her, like her arms and legs.
"You're really small, you know that?" stated Rose, grinning as she ran the tape along the length of Petal's left leg.
"The pot calling the kettle black." retorted Petal, letting her body slouch slightly due to her exhaustion.
Rose stood up and clapped her hands. "Alright, all done. You can get dressed again."
Petal nodded and walked back to the sofa, where her clothes were resting, and the silver ring over her chest bounced with the movement, shining in the reflected light of the room.
"Does that one do anything special?" asked Rose, pointing at it.
"Not that I know of. It was handed down on my mother's side of the family for generations. I don't know where it came from but I doubt it's anything more than a family heirloom. It's probably not even worth much outside of sentimental worth." Petal answered, pulling one of her oversized shirts out of her bag. She let it drape over her body and fell onto the couch.
"Still, it's pretty." Rose stated.
"Uh-huh, sure is." Petal responded, while closing her eyes again.
She curled up on the sofa and her tail wrapped around her bare left leg.
"What's got you so tired?"
"Cole came back. It's been a bit of a strange day for me. Wake me up when it's tomorrow, will you?" replied Petal.
"Only if you sleep in your own room." said Rose, walking over and collecting the bag of items that Petal had brought. "Those three are the free ones. I suggest the back room on the left side, the back rooms are just a bit bigger, plus, it's right next to mine."
"If it's bigger, why didn't you take it?" asked Petal, pulling herself over the back of the couch and making for her door.
"I didn't want to move all of my stuff around. I was comfortable in my own space so it wasn't really worth it to me." she answered.
Inside the room was a dresser, a mirror beside it, two thin, nearly transparent screens that hung along the back wall, and underneath them was the bed, one large enough for two people. There was also a desk with a chair tucked in close to it, a storage chest, and a few hooks on the wall. Petal walked past Rose and approached a nightstand that was placed on the right side of the bed, just by the headrest, and reached for the band around her left wrist. She twisted it and the band unlocked, breaking in two. She placed the metal parts on the surface before repeating the actions with the one on her right. Next, she slid the ten rings off and placed them beside the bands in the order she removed them, starting at her left pinkie, and moving all the way to her right one. Rose pressed her finger against a tablet by the door and the screens lit up, showing a summer sky, clear and bright.
"Pretty cool, huh?" said Rose, moving inside and gently placing Petal's bag on the dresser.
"Only if it simulates night," said Petal, dropping onto the bed.
Rose giggled and moved back to the tablet. "Just so happens, it does." she said, tapping the screen again. The sunny, backlit panels changed to a dark, cloudy sky, and the sound of a soft rain filled the room. "I'll get your measurements to the headmaster, you should get some rest before tomorrow."
"Way ahead of you." said Petal, already drifting between sleep and consciousness.
It didn't take her long to succumb the rest of the way, and she didn't wake up until much later that night, close to midnight, she discovered from a nearby clock. Petal stretched, now feeling much more awake than she had previously, and slid out of bed. Upon opening the bedroom door, she saw a tray of food on the ground with a note placed on it. She picked up the paper, as well as a piece of bread, and began biting into the food while reading the words.
"Didn't want to wake you but I figured you would be hungry. Since I don't know how long you sleep usually, I grabbed some bread and a bottle of water, stuff that should be alright when you wake up. Trust me, the cafeteria food is much better than this, so don't let this stuff ruin your expectations"
She finished off that piece and grabbed another one while walking over to a large window on the back wall of the common room. She pulled over a small, square table, and climbed atop it, crossing her legs under her as she watched the clouds drift in the dark sky of blues and blacks. When the gray clouds passed, she saw the bright silver of the shattered moon that still remained there, always and forever. She admired the beauty in the sight, and for some reason, it filled her with awe every time she gazed upon it. It also brought back many memories of the countless nights she would do this same thing, just sit there and watch the moon as it gifted the world of Remnant with light and beauty.
"Life may change, people may change it, and our stories are always evolving, but you always stay the same." she said, looking up at the broken sphere. She gave a quiet squeak of a yawn and her sharpened canines glistened in the moon's light. After wiping her eyes on her sleeve, she remained still, watching the world continue its unending routine.