Chapter 20, The Battle of the Tertawa HighLands Part I
14 Years Ago.
The Realm of Tertawa.
The Atarian fleet hovered over the Tertawa HighLands, a high mountain pass covered by a thick blanket of snow. The Realm itself trapped within an eternal winter. For it was one of the few outer realms that was closet to the border of the Kingdom of Atla s. From the open hanger of the Gladius, two cargo transports emerged as they flew down into the mountain pass. Along with a escort of Atrarian fighters.
One of the pilots of the lead Cargo transports pressed the COMM button over the control panel.
"Transport 1 to Tertawa Fortress," The Pilot said.
"Do you read?"
"We read you, Transport 1." General Marada responded.
"We are Currently enroot to your position. Requesting permission to Land."
"Permission granted," The General proclaimed.
"Proceed to landing pads One and Two."
"Copy that!" the Pilot said before pressing the COMM Button.
The transports and fighter escorts flew ahead through the mountain pass. It wasn't long before arriving at the fortress, which stood along the base of one of the mountains. Slowly the transports made their decent into the courtyard below as the Fighters escorting them returned to the Fleet. Passing above the high stone walls, the Cargo transport's side engines turned as the landing gears opened from underneath the ships. They then set down over the landing pads below, where Kayla and Johnathan stood waiting along with some Atrarian Soldiers.
Kayla turned back to the the Atarian troopers behind them.
"Alright, lets go," she proclaimed to them.
"General Meranda wants these supply's unloaded asap."
She and Johnathan then turned and came up to the doorway along the side of the ship. The Doorway rose up to reveal the inside of the Cargo hold, which was filled with supplies and ammo crates. The two prodigies climbed up into the cargo hold. Along with a few of the Atarian troopers. Where they proceeded to unload some of the Cargo.
Kayla came up up to one of the crates.
"Help me with this." she said, coming up behind the crate.
Johnathan came up on the other side. They then narrowed down, grabbing it from it from each corner before lifting it up.
"Damn, this is heavy," Johnathan said.
"Where are we taking it."
"All ammo and Weapons go to the Armory," Kayla reminded him.
"Food and medical supplies are to be stored in the Storage house."
They the carried the crate to the open doorway. It was there that they handed it down to the two soldiers, who took the crate and carried it to the other supplies.
"Kayla! Johnathan!"
The two prodigies turned and saw Qrow along with Jayden.
"Professor Branwen?" Kayla asked, stepping down out of the cargo hold.
"What is it?"
"General Maranda wants us at the command Centre," Qrow proclaimed to them.
"We have a situation!"
The two Prodigies glanced to one another.
General Maranda and Ravan were standing before the main screen within the command centre. It was right at that moment that heard the doors behind them open. They then glanced back, where they saw Qrow and his three prodigies walking up to them.
"We're here," Qrow proclaimed.
"What's the problem?"
Raven turned to her brother.
"They're here!" She said.
Qrow frowned, glancing to the General.
"What?" He said, squinting his eyes.
"We received a distress call from one of our patrols in the valley," General Maranda, turning back to the main monitor.
She reached out her hand and pressed it against the screen. It was then a small blue square came up over the monitor, playing the transmission they had received from the patrol.
"Recon 5 to Tertawa Fortress, we are under attack by mutable Grimm Contacts!"
The sound of explosions and blaster firing could be heard in the background. Followed by the screams of the other troopers.
"Taking Heavy casualties! We need reinforcements Now! I repeat we need-AHH!"
The sound of static followed. And then silence. Kayla gazed up in awe at the monitor.
"Oh my God." she said, covering his hands over her mouth in awe.
Qrow stared up at the monitor with the same expression of shock. The notion that the Grimm were this close to Ataria's Border was a concern to say the least. He glanced back down at the General.
"I thought Ironwood said the Grimm were weeks away from our border." he said.
General Maranda shook her head.
"Regardless, we need to move on this immediately," She proclaimed to them.
"I'm sending a squad to their location. Qrow, I want you and your prodigies to go with them."
"Should we not send word to Lukas and the Alliance?" Raven asked.
"If the Grimm are this close, we will need support."
"I agree," Maranda insisted to her.
"But we can't afford to wait for assistance from the Alliance. We have to find the Grimm before they discover our base."
Present day
Pyrrha pushed open the doors to the Courtyard of the Academy. It was there she saw Qrow, sitting over one of the benches before the tree of Kasadar. He held up his flask, taking a drink. He then glanced up at the Kasadar's tree, peering up at the red leaves above. The leaves that coursed with the blood of the Faunas whom the Wizard had poisoned with the spell he had cast upon them.
Much like Kasadar himself, Qrow was riddled with the guilt of killing his former students. To be forced to commit such an act and be haunted by their mistakes. By those who were forced to pay for them.
Pyrrha walked over to Qrow.
"Qrow?" she asked.
Qrow glanced back at Akara's prodigy. He sighed, narrowing his head.
"Listen, Kid," he said.
"After today, this is where we part ways."
Pyrrha peered up at Qrow, frowning.
"What do you mean?" she asked, curiously.
"I can't be the one to teach you," Qrow insisted to her.
"Not with what's at stake. I'll only be putting you in danger and that's the last thing we all need."
Pyrrha narrowed her eyes.
"Because of your semblance." she said.
Qrow bowed his head, uttering a sigh of contempt. He knew she would find out about his semblance sooner or later. Of that he was sure. After today, he'd hoped she would understand why it was that he couldn't be the one to teach her.
"Some of us are just unfortunete, kid," he insisted, glancing up at the leaves above.
"Me especially."
Pyrrha glanced to Qrow for a moments time. Though not with the expression that Qrow might have expected he to have. Rather the girl smiled, shaking her head.
"Nope." she said.
Qrow squinted her eyes, glancing back at the prodigy, curiously.
"Huh?" he asked.
Pyrrha came up over the bench and sat next to him.
"I don't think your unfortunete." Pyrrha proclaimed to him.
"Is that so?" Qrow said.
"What makes you so sure?"
"Because you were chosen by Akara, too." Pyrrha insisted to him.
Qrow cocked his head to Pyrrha, squinting his eyes to the young prodigy. While it was never said that Akara chose him to be the one to teach her, it was Queen Maria who had sent him to retrieve the prodigy. And it was Rueban who had insisted that he be the one to train in in the basics of combat. While it all fell on him to prepare her for what was to come, it was never said to be the will of Akara.
"What makes you think that she chose me?" he asked, curiously.
"Mother told me that everything that happens is what's destined," Pyrrha insisted to Qrow.
"That whatever path you take is what was meant to be. Whether or not we think that we think that we're worthy."
Qrow smirked.
"Did she now?" he said.
Pyrrha nodded her head to him. He then glanced to the side. Once again, Amara's influence seemed to have rubbed off on her daughter. Even after knowing his semblance, Pyrrha continued to see the best in him. Even when he didn't believe it himself.
Qrow narrowed his eyes. He then shock his head, standing up from the bench as he sauntered up to the tree, gazing up at the red leaves above.
"I wish I could believe that, kid," Qrow proclaimed to her.
"I wish that I could see in myself what you see in me. But it's not that simple."
"Why not?" she asked.
Qrow shook his head.
"It just isn't, kid." he insisted to her.
"Not all of us can be destine for great things like you. After what I've done, why would Akara chose me when there are others out more worthy then I am?"
Pyrrha stood up off the bench as she came up to Qrow. She narrowed her eyes.
"Maybe, because she can see there's more to you then just your semblance." Pyrrha insisted to her.
"That your really someone who's worthy of being my teacher."
Qrow narrowed his eyes, pondering what she was saying.
"You believe that?" he asked.
Pyrrha nodded her head to him. She the reached up her hand and took hold of his hand. Qrow glanced down at her.
"I do." she insisted, smiling.
Seeing her young green eyes, so filled with the innocence of a child, gazing up at him with that of hope. A hope that he himself had lost long ago. That he had seen before in the eyes of one of his former prodigy.
14 years ago
There had been a long silence since they had departed from the fortress. Qrow was sitting at the front of the gunship along with Kayla, Johnathan and Jayden. With several Atarian Soldiers sitting across from them. Qrow peered out the window of the Atarian Gunship next to him, gazing down over the snow covered forest below.
"Commander," The Pilot called from the cockpit.
"We're nearing the sight of the transmission."
Qrow cocked his head, glancing into the front of the Gunship. Hesitantly, he nodded his head.
"Understood." He said with a nod of his head.
It was the sound of heavy breathing which then caught the professor's attention. Qrow glanced to Jayden, who was sitting next to him. And was met with a look of panic within the eyes of his prodigy. Gripping his weapon currently in blaster form tightly in his hands. All the while, he felt himself shuddering at what was to come. It was the first time he would ever see actual combat and not from the training simulations he was so used to. But even with all the time he spent training in the simulation, the reality he was about to enter into an actual battle brought him much dread.
He suddenly felt a hand over his shoulder.
"Hey." Qrow said.
He glanced up at Qrow.
"Take it easy," he said.
"You can do this. This is what you've been training for."
Jayden took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He then nodded his head.
"Right," he said.
"Right... I can do this."
Qrow turned to Kayla and Johnathan, who were sitting across from them. He could only imagine they both shared the same feeling of dread as he did. For second years to be thrown into a war was massive leap. He himself knew what that was like. But this was not the time to allow their fears to get in the way. Any knight with the slightest of hesitation in the heat of battle was a knight bent for death.
"That goes for you two as well," he said.
"This is what you've been preparing for. Just remember everything I taught you and follow my lead."
Kayla and Johnathan nodded their heads to him.
"You got it, teach." Johnathan said.
"We'll follow your lead, professor Branwen."
Qrow smiled and nodded his head to them.
"Commander!" The pilot called from the cockpit
Qrow glanced toward the cockpit. He then stood up from his seat and came up to the front of the ship.
"What is it?" Qriow asked, curiously.
He then peered ahead through the windshield, where he saw a cloud of smoke rising from the forest ahead.
The five Gunships came up over a nearby clearing. It was there a crashed gunship laid over the ground, along with the bodies of the squad members. Slowly the ships made their decent, landing along the outskirts of the clearing. The side doors then opened as the troops poured out of the ship.
"Go, Go, Go!"
"Establish a permeator!"
Qrow leaped down out of the gunship's side, swinging the Harbinger over his shoulders. Kayla, Johnathan and Jayden leaped down behind him. They then turned and glanced forward at the wreckage of the Atarian gunship. Qrow squinted his eyes, having a sudden feeling of suspicion about this place. His years of combat had heightened his senses. He could see this was a perfect setup for a trap.
He glanced back at his three prodigies.
"Stay sharp." He advised them.
Slowly Qrow approached the wreckage. Planting his sword into ground, he kneeled down, examining the wreckage. The ship appeared as though he had theorized being shot down by the Grimm. The rotter over the mangled wing protruding from the wreckage looked to have been struck by that of a proton missile. It must have been the cause of the ship to crash.
He turned back to the bodies of Atarian soldier's laying around the clearing. Most of which had blaster indents over their armor, which gave a clear indication that a fire fight had taken place. But at the same time, he couldn't help but feel there was more at play here.
Kayla came up next to Qrow, glancing around at the bodies of solders laying over the ground.
"Something doesn't feel right." she said, glancing down a Qrow.
Qrow nodded his head in agreement. Like her, he felt that something was off about this whole thing. Despite how it may look, there was more at play here then what they were seeing. He the stood up and walked around the wreckage. On the other side they saw two more bodies laying on the other side of the gunship. Qrow paused for a moment, along with Kayla. From their first glance over the armor of the solider, already see large burning gash marks over their chests and back.
"Oh, god." she said.
Qrow came up to the bodies, examining the gashes in their armor. He immediately recognized them as being from being from that of a sword. But these markings were much bigger then that of those that the Grimm wields. This was done by a knight. But at the same time, the burns of the markings suggested that of fire magic that only a Mage or a sorceress could cast.
Kayla came up behind him
"What is it?" Kayla asked, curiously.
Qrow shook his head.
"I'm not sure," He said as he stood up.
"This looks like the work of a knight, but... these burns are from Fire magic."
Kayla glanced to her teacher, curiously.
"How is that possible?" Kayla asked.
Qrow stood up and he continued to glanced down over the bodies. In all his years of studying combat, there had been only few example of that of magic casting being combined with the combat of knights. While it was that each knight possesses their own semblance, for one to have full use of magic has always been a rare occurrence. Though if they were truly dealing with a knight with such an ability, then their situation was more dire then he had thought.
Qrow then stood up and turned back to Kayla.
"We need to report this in, now!" He proclaimed to her.
From the cover of the foliage, the Grimm emerged from their hiding place. Slowly they began to converged over the clearing.
Qrow and Kayla came around the wreckage of the gunship. Kayla came up in front of Qrow as she turned to him, curiously.
"Professor Branwen, I don't understand." She said.
"We have to get back to the fortress, Now!" Qrow insisted to her.
Qrow turned back to Johnathan and Jaydan, who were looking over the wreckage.
"Jaydan, Johnathan," Qrow called to them.
"Grab what you can, we're lifting off."
Johnathan glanced back at Qrow and Kayla, curiously.
"What going on?" He asked, curiously.
"There's no time to explain," Qrow proclaimed to them.
"We need to return to the fortress before..."
There was a sudden blasting sound from the nearby forest. Along with the sound of a rocket's thrust that was grew louder with each passing second. One of the gunships suddenly erupted in a massive explosion, causing several of the nearby Atarian soldiers flying through the air. Qrow and his three prodigies quickly hunkered down. They then glanced back at the now burning wreckage of one of the gunships.
"Oh, no." Qrow said.
"Contacts!"
Suddenly, a purple plasma bolt suddenly flew past them, causing Qrow and his prodigies narrow down. Qrow then turned and saw Grimm emerging from forest as they began firing upon them.
"Get to cover!" Qrow exclaimed to his students.
Kayla, Johnathan and Jayden quickly made their way around the wreckage of the gunship. Qrow then stood up as he charged forward toward the advancing Grimm. He then raised his sword, pointing it forward. The blade then folded to reveal the shotgun barrel as he then opened fire upon the advancing Grimm. The Grimm at the head of the others was pushed back as he was struck in the chest by Qrow's shot. But even as it laid motionless over the snow, the other Grimm continued to push forward as they fired back at them.
Most of the Atarian soldiers came forward as they began to return fire. Several of the advancing Grimm were cut down by the firing. But even still, the others continued forward, raising their blasters as they fired back at them.
As the battle raged on, Kayla, Johnathan and Jayden hid behind the wreckage of the gunship with their weapons in hand. Hunkering down at the several plasma bolts struck the wreckage and flew overhead and at the massive explosions nearby. Johnathan slowly peered around the corner of the gunship, where he saw Qrow and the rest of the squad continuing to firing back at the Grimm.
"Professor Branwen!" He exclaimed.
Johnathan stood up as he attempted to go to Qrow's aid. Only for her to be grabbed by Kayla and pulled back behind cover.
"Johnathan, No," She exclaimed to him.
"He told us to stay put!"
"We can't just sit here and do nothing," Johnathan said, pulling his arm free from her grip.
"They need our Help!"
Before she could do anything, Johnathan leaped atop the wreckage, drawing his weapon which transformed into a crossbow. He then fired a shot toward the advancing Grimm, striking one of the dark troopers down with a arrow of light blue energy. He then charged forward, much to the dismay of Kayla.
"Johnathan!" she exclaimed.
Several purple plasma bolts struck the wreckage, causing Kayla quickly ducked down behind cover. then glanced ahead at Qrow as he and the squad trying to hold off the Grimm. She was unable to just stand by while their mentor was in need of their help. Regardless if he asked for it or not. He had told them that they had been preparing for this all their life. They had to help them.
The Grimm paused as they raised their blaster and opened fire upon the Atarians. Several of the white and gold armored troopers were struck by the purple plasma bolts of their blasters, causing them to topple to the snow covered ground. The others were beginning to saunter back from the advancing Grimm as they continued to fire back. All the while, more and more Grimm continued to emerge from the forest as they began to encircle them from all sides.
Qrow continued to fire back at the Grimm. Though unlike his fellow Atarians, he continued to hold his ground against the advancing Grimm troops. Slashing the Harbinger that was now in it's sword form, cutting one of the Grimm in half. He then leaped forwards swiping and slashing his large sword at three other Grimm troopers behind him. He then slid to a stop as the Harbinger then changed to it's shotgun form. He then raised his large sword and blasted a dark soldier as it attempted to blast him.
Though even with all his efforts, more Grimm continued to emerge from the forest. Peering ahead at the emerging Grimm, he uttered an groaned.
"There's too many of them," he said
"We need to go, Now!"
He turned back to the Ataraian troopers.
"Get to the ship!" He exclaimed to them.
The Atarain soldiers turned and made their way to the remaining gunships. All while others continued to lay down covering fire for them. Just as Qrow turned back to the Grimm, a large looming shadow came over him. He then turned forward and gazed up at the form which now stood before him.
"Ah, great." He said.
Standing before him, was a Grimm Slasher. A tall, black slender form which stood hunched over, with two large blades on each arm, large white spikes over it's back.
"Long it's been since I stain my blades with the blood of an knight." The Slasher growled in it's deep pitch voice.
Qrow grinned, swinging his large sword behind him. He then held his massive sword to the Grimm.
"Come and take it." He proclaimed.
The slasher then raised it's large blade into the air in attempt to impale Qrow. Only to have leap to the side as the slasher's large bladed arm plunged into the ground. He then slid to a stop before he lunged forward. He then swiped his large sword, only to blocked by the slashers left bladed air as it forced him back. The slasher then turned and came forward as it swiped his blades at him. Only for Qrow to block them with his sword, forced back by it's every attempt.
Raising it's bladed arm in the air, it then swiped it down at Qrow. Qrow raised it's sword, blocking it's large black steel blade. The slashed pressed it's long blade down over the Atarian Knight, causing Qrow the narrow down as he tried to push back the Grimm's long blade. It was then the Grimm raised it's other arm in an attempt to swipe at Qrow.
"Your blood shall be mine!" The Slasher Grimm proclaimed.
Before he could swipe his bladed arm down at Qrow, a long bladed chain wrapped around his, holding him back. The slasher glanced back, where it saw Kayla holding him back with one of her daggers. It was then that Qrow pushed the Grimm back before she leaped up and slashed the Grimm's right arm, severing it from it's body. He then swung his massive blade around and cleaved through it's blacken body severing the creature in two.
Qrow then glanced up at Kayla, who's sword retracted and formed it's blade.
"Thanks, Kid." He said, nodding his head.
Kayla smiled and nodded to him. Only for their moment to be cut short at the purple Plasma bolts that flew passed them. Qrow turned back to Kayla.
"Get to the Gunship, Go!" Qrow exclaimed to her.
Kayla then turned and ran toward the gunships as Qrow followed after, firing back at the Grimm. two of the remaining gunships now loaded with the surviving squad members lifted off. Johnathan and Jaydan came up to the remaining gunship. They then turned back to Qrow and Kayla.
"Kayla, professor Branwen Hurry!" Jayden called to them.
The Grimm loaded a rocket over the mouth of the Launcher. He then held it up over his shoulder, aiming for the last Gunship. He then pulled the trigger, firing the rocket toward the unsuspecting Atarian aircraft.
Hearing the sound of the launching missile, Qrow glanced back at the incoming projectile. He then turned back to Johnathan and Jayden.
"LOOK OUT!" he called to them.
Seeing the incoming rocket, Johnathan and Jaydan quickly turned and ran from the gunship. The troops inside quickly leaped out of the open side. Though a few of then were too late before the missile struck the gunship, causing it to erupted in a fiery explosion. Both Johnathan and Jayden were thrown forward by the explosion, landing over the snow covered ground. They leaned up out of the snow, glancing back at what was their only hope of escape, now a wreckage of flames and metal.
Qrow and Kayla came up to them.
"Are you guys alright?" Kayla asked, curiously.
"Yeah, yeah we're fine." Johnathan insisted with a nod of his head.
The two got back up quickly glancing back at the advancing Grimm, firing at them. Qrow then turned and glanced to the forest ahead.
"Get to woods!" He said, pointing ahead.
"Move!"
Qrow and his three prodigies then turned and ran ahead toward the woods.
The Grimm continued to fire upon the four Atarian Knights running toward the woods. Along with the few remaining troopers who had survived the explosion. Upon disappear into the woods, the Grimm then lowered their blasters. They then glanced back at the cloaked figure, who them emerged from behind them.
"They've retreated into the woods." One of the Grimm claimed to them.
Raising their hands, they lifted the cloak from their head. Brushing her long flowing black hair, Cinder gazed ahead with a nefarious Grin.
"They have no where to run." she said.