Chapter 22, Battle of the Tertawa Highlands part III
14 years ago
Qrow and Kayla continued trudging through the thick snow which covered the forest floor. By now the sounds of blaster fire had longed faded into the distance they had put between themselves and the ensuing battle. There was now only cold hollowing winds of the Realm's eternal winter, as well as the snow crunching beneath their feet. But by now, they should have heard the sound of a gunship passing overhead.
Qrow glanced up at the narrow opening between the trees, staring at the sky concealed by thick grey clouds. But even still, there was no sign of any Atarian transport that might have responded to their distress call. Not that it would do them any good. They wouldn't be able to spot them from the cover of the woods. Not to mention, the storm that was on the horizon.
They had to make it to the clearing.
Qrow narrowed his head, peered ahead through the woods. It was there that he saw the clearing ahead, covered by a thick blanket of snow. As well as a wide river that had been covered entirely with a thick sheet of ice.
"There it is!" Qrow proclaimed.
"Come on!"
Qrow pulled Kayla along through the cold barren woods. They then emerged into the clearing, where they came over the banks of the frozen river. Once more, Qrow gazed up toward the mountain pass in the distance. But even still, there was no sign of any Atarian Gunship.
"Keep you eyes open," Qrow said.
"As soon as they arrive, we'll need to use of the flares to get their attention."
But upon hearing the silence that followed, Qrow glanced to Kayla.
"Kayla?" He asked.
Once again, Kayla remain silent to her master. She continue to face the opposite direction, her arms wrapped around herself. She narrowed her head, breathing so heavily. The sides of her face burning from the tears that emerged from her tightly shut eyes. Her body was trembling. Both from the cold touch of the harsh winds and the trauma she felt seeing her teammates slain by the dark mage.
"Kayla!" Qrow said.
He came up to his prodigy, placing her hand atop his shoulder. He then turned her around to face him, placing his hands atop her arms.
"Kayla, get a hold of yourself," He said.
"This is no time to Panic!"
Kayla gazed up at Qrow, tears continued to seep from his eyes.
"Johnathan..." she sobbed.
"... Jaydan... they're gone... They're gone!"
"I know, I know," Qrow insisted to her.
"But there's nothing we can do about it now. We have to get back to base!"
Kayla stared up in shock at what her master had said. She shook her head, not wanting to believe any of it.
"No," she exclaimed to him.
"No, we can't leave! We have to go back for them!"
Qrow shook his head to her.
"Kayla, your not thinking clearly," He said.
"There's no going back! We can't fight them, not by ourselves!"
Kayla once more broke down in tears. She glanced away, gripping her forearms tightly. Qrow sighed, narrowing his head. It wasn't like he didn't feel the same way as she did. Seeing his two students killed by that dark Mage, it brought him much anger and desire to get back at the one who did it. But revenge would not help Johnathan and Jaydan. They needed to get back to Raven and the others, warn the rest of the Resistance that the Grimm were here.
"I'm sorry, Kayla." he said.
Kayla simple turned her head away from him.
Qrow then turned, glancing back in the direction of the woods. There was no sign of the mage or the hordes of Grimm that had ambushed them. But he was far from convinced that they were safe. Of that much he was certain. They wouldn't be safe until they were back at the mountain fortress.
"No sign of the Grimm," he said.
"But they won't be far behind."
Kayla turned her head, gazing off into the woods. Whatever sadness she might have felt was then replaced with anger. A desire to return to the sight of the Grimm and cut every last one of them to pieces. As well as he mage who had taken the lives of her teammates.
"Let them come," She proclaimed, reaching down to her two daggers.
"I'll cut down every last one of those bastards!"
"Kayla," Qrow said, placing his hand over her shoulder.
"Calm down. We need to keep a look out for extraction or to find a way back to the fortress."
Kayla then narrowed her head, knowing Qrow was right. They stood no change against the Dark Mage and the Grimm. Though as tempting as it was, she couldn't allow these feelings to get in the way.
Qrow then turned, gazing out across the frozen river bed. While they needed to wait for extraction, they were sitting ducks out in the open. They needed to find someplace where they would lay low and wait for extraction. Qrow turned back to the River, which was covered atop by a solid ice. On the other side, he noticed some of the foliage and snow along the other side they could use as cover.
"In the meantime, we should probably put some distance between us and them," He said.
"We can use the foliage across the river as cover until extraction arrives."
Kayla came up next to her mentor.
"Is it safe?" She asked, glancing up to him.
"Only one way to find out." Qrow said.
He came up along the banks. He glanced down and placed his foot atop the ice. It seemed solid enough for them to cross. So they would have to worry about falling into the freezing water below.
"Seems stable enough," He said, glancing back to Kayla.
"Come on, lets go."
Qrow then turned forward as he came up over the ice. He then turned back to Kayla, who stepped down onto the river's icy surface. She then glanced up to him, nodding her head. Qrow nodded back before turning forward. The two proceeded to make their way across the frozen river, dawdling over it's solid cold surface. Kayla followed closely behind Qrow, glancing down over the ice below.
"Don't look down," Qrow advised, glancing back at her
"Keep moving."
Kayla looked back up to Qrow. She then nodded her head to him before continuing along the surface the frozen river. It wasn't long before they came to the very centre of the river.
"We're almost there," he proclaimed.
"Just a few more."
Qrow glanced back, only to see that Kayla was no long behind him. He then turned his head, glancing back at Kayla who stood motionless over the ice. Below her feet, he notice the ice beginning to crack beneath her. Kayla glanced down to the ice below. She attempted to step forward, only then pause at the sound of another loud crack.
Qrow then paused
"Oh, no!" Qrow said, turning back to her.
Kayla glanced up to him with a look of awe and fright.
"Kayla, Don't move," Qrow advised his prodigy.
"Just stay there. I'll come to you."
Qrow glanced down to the ice below as he slowly crept toward her. Kayla continued to remain as still as she could. But even still, the sounds of the ice fracturing below her. Glancing down, she could see the cracks continuing to spread out over the ice around her. Noticing the spread, Qrow then stopped. There was no way the ice would be able to hold them both. He would need something to pull her to safety.
Qrow then glanced down to her two Daggers.
"Kayla, quick, use one of your daggers!" he insisted to her.
Kayla gasped as she glanced down to her right dagger. She then pulled it from it's sheave as it then activated into it's chain of blades. She then lashed it toward Qrow, who grabbed hold of the chain between the blades.
"Okay, hang on tight," He said.
"I'm going to pull you to me."
Kayla nodded her head.
"Okay." She said, taking hold of the handle tightly with both hands.
"Okay... One... Two..."
Qrow suddenly noticed a bright flash of light behind Kayla. Glancing behind his pupil, he notice a ball of fire coming up behind her. He then gasped.
"Three!" He exclaimed.
Reacting quickly, Qrow quickly pulled her forward, causing her to fall over the icy surface of the frozen river. Qrow then glanced back at the blazing ball of fire flew over her. But was too late to react as he was then struck by the fire ball, causing him to fall back over the ice.
"Professor Branwen!" Kayla gasped.
"Leaving so soon?"
Kayla glanced back to the other side of the river, where she saw Cinder standing on the other side with her swords in hand.
"And here I thought the Kingdom of Ataria was said to be noble and just," Cinder said with sly grin over her face.
"But all your Kingdoms are all the same. Throwing all your people to their deaths and all for a hopeless cause."
Kayla got back up, turning back to face the dark mage, glaring angrily. The sight of the one who had taken the lives of her two teammates and had hurt her mentor brought forth the anger and pain she had tried to suppress.
"You!" she exclaimed.
Kayla reached down and drew her other dagger, twirling them both in her hands before grabbing hold of them. The sight of which caused Cinder to smirk.
"How precious," she mocked.
"The young pupil wanting to avenge her master and friends."
"You'll pay for what you did to THEM!" Kayla exclaimed.
Once more, Cinder smirked to her.
"Then what are you waiting for?" Cinder asked.
Cinder twirled the sword in her right hand as she came up in a stance. The two faced each other for the longest time, awaiting for who would make the first daring move. Kayla stared back at the dark Mage, her eyes filled by the gripped the handles of her dagger tightly in her hands. Driven by the rage she felt, Qrow's most prominent pupil had lost herself to her desire of taking vengeance upon Cinder.
And thus, she was the first to make a move.
Kayla lunged forward toward the Dark Mage. Cinder grinned. She then lunged forward toward the young pupil. At the moment the two were to coliid, the two leaped into air, raising their weapons high before slashing them at each other. There was a loud clanging sound as Cinder's swords and Kayla's bladed daggers collided with one another's. They then landed down over ice covered river behind one another. Kayla turned back to cinder as she lashed at Cinder with her dagger, now in it's chain bladed whip. Cinder leaned back from the chained dagger before swiping one of her swords as she created a wave of fire which swept toward Kayla.
Kayla quickly leaped out of the way of the wave of fire, rolling over the icy surface of the river. She came up over her feet, where she turned back to Cinder. The Dark mage once more rushed at the young prodigy. Kayla got back up quickly as Cinder slashed her two swords at the young prodigy, who deflected them with her daggers. As their blades constantly collided with each others, Kayla was forced back by Cinder who continued to slash at her.
Kayla dagger collided with Cinder's sword once more as she attempted to push back. But even with all her strength, she stood no match against Cinder's magic.
"You have skill, I'll give you that," Cinder said.
"But you have much to learn."
The dark Mage grinned as a stream of flames appeared from both her eyes. The two then broke off from one another. Kayla attempted tow swipe her dagger at Cinder, only to swipe her swords and knock her dagger from her hand. Her dagger landed over the surface of the frozen river as it slid away. Kayla glanced back to Cinder just as she was to swing her other sword. Kayla quickly crouched down, avoiding the sorceress's fiery blades. She the rolled out of the way of Cinder as she quickly ran toward her dagger. Quickly she grabbed it off the icy ground before turning back to face Cinder, who leaped into the air as she raised her two swords over head. Kayla quickly leaped back from the Dark Mage as she slashed her two swords down over where she had stood.
She then stood up before she once more charged at Kayla.
Qrow groaned, shaking his head. He then leaned up the icy surface, holding his hand over his head. He then glanced up where he saw Kayla fighting the Dark Mage. His young prodigy was pushed back by Cinder, who slashed her flaming swords at her.
"Kayla!" Qrow said.
Grabbing the harbinger which laid next to him, Qrow then sprung forward to the aid of his student.
Kayla whipped his chained blades at the Cinder. The dark sorceress leaped from side to side, dodging each attempt made by Qrow's young prodigy. As Kayla once one more throw her chained dagger at Cinder, which wrapped around her one of her swords. Though her attempt to pull it from Cinder's hands proved futile as the Grip of the dark Sorceress proved stronger then the strength she could muster.
Cinder then glanced to the side, where she saw Qrow charging toward her. The blade of Cinder's swords suddenly began to glow a bright fiery red. As the fire magic of the Dark Mage then began to coursing through her swords. The chain wrapped around the sword's blade suddenly turned a bright orange. Qrow the leaped up in the air as he tried to strike down the dark mage. But with one forceful pull back of her sword, Cinder shattered the chain of Kayla's dagger.
Kayla was pulled forward, falling over the frozen surface of the river, one of her dagger laying broken before her. Cinder Then leaped back right at the moment Qrow thrusted the large blade of the Harbinger down upon her. Qrow sword cleaved down into the ice. Though not enough to draw the ice cold water that ran below. He then pulled his sword from the ice, turning to the Dark Mage he tried to slash it at Cinder, who blocked it with one of her swords.
She then pushed him back with her fire magic, causing her to slide back over the ice.
"So, the master comes to the aid of his student," Cinder said, grinning.
"And even after he allowed for his other two to die."
Qrow glared to the Dark Mag, gripping the handle of his large sword.
"Who are you?" Qrow asked.
"And why are you trying to stop us?"
Cinder smirked.
"My name is Cinder," The dark Mage proclaimed.
"I am the apprentice of Empress Salem and a Knight of the House of Zouless."
Qrow squinted his eyes, curiously.
"Zouless?" he said.
The name was quite familiar to Qrow. A former Family from the Kingdome of Falandor, one of the first Kingdoms that fell to the Grimm Empire. Some of their greatest warriors were said to be from the House of Zouless. Though it was said that the whole family had been killed in a fire that burned their house to the ground.
Qrow shook his head.
"No way," He said.
"The House of Zouless never dealt in the Arts of Sorcery."
"No, they didn't," Cinder insisted.
"And that is why I am the only one that remains of them. So now I serve Empress Salem to bring a new era to the realms."
Kayla stood up over the Ice, still holding her broken dagger in her hand. She glanced up at the Dark Mage, glaring in anger.
"You..." She said, stepping forward.
Qrow glanced back at Kayla and was met with a expression of anger and contempt. It was at this moment that Qrow's fears had been realized. Kayla had given in to her rage. Desiring only the satisfaction of vengeance over the one who had killed her teammates.
"Kayla." He said.
"You're going to make you pay for what you done!" she exclaimed to the dark Mage.
"Kayla, No!" Qrow exclaimed, reaching out his hand to her
Though Qrow's pleads had gone ignored as Kayla lunged forward toward Cinder, much to the dismay of her mentor. But it could not be helped. His prodigy was now driven by her anger and contempt. She could not be reasoned with.
Kayla raised her daggers as she attempted to swing them upon Cinder. Salem's Apprentice showed little worry. Rather she reacted to her with a sly grin, holding up her sword that blazed with the flames of fire magic. Kayla raised her blades and slashed at Cinder. One more their blades met as Cinder blocked her severed dagger with her own sword. Cinder then forced her back as the two continued to clash their blades together.
It was at that moment that Qrow came forward toward them. Coming between the two who had forced each other back, he then turned and deflected Cinder's sword with his own. He then pushed her back as he leaped up into air, slipping mid-air as he swung down over her. Cinder slid b ack over the ice, swinging both her swords to the side.
Qrow glanced back to Kayla.
"Kayla, get out of here, Now!" Qrow exclaimed.
Kayla shook her head.
"I'm not going anywhere!" She proclaimed in a voice of rage.
"I'm not asking," Qrow proclaimed to hero.
"I'm telling you! Get out of-"
Qrow glanced back at Cinder, who flew at them with both her swords now blazing with fire. She raised one of her swords and swiped it at the two Atraian Knights. As Kayla quickly leaped out of the way, Qrow raised his sword, blocking the wave of fire that pushed him back over the ice. He then glanced back up at Cinder, who with another swipe of her sword, struck Qrow with her fire magic. Sending him flying through the air and landed hard over the ice, causing it to crack beneath him.
It was right at that moment Cinder heard an loud cry of anger from behind. Glancing back, she saw Kayla coming toward her. She then leaped into the air, raising her two daggers that then changed into the chain bladed form. Though just as she was to strike down the Empress apprentice, Cinder turned back and swiped her sword upon the chained whip, shattering the chains of her daggers.
Qrow leaned up off the ice as he gazed ahead, where he saw Kayla kneeling over the ground before Cinder. Her two daggers laying in pieces before her. It was then Cinder came up behind her, placing the blade of her sword over Kayla's throat.
"Kayla!" Qrow exclaimed as he got back up quickly.
Cinder pulled Kayla to her feet, pressing the blade of her sword which still burned with her magic. Kayla cried in agony.
"You foolish girl," Cinder said.
"Do you honestly think you stood a chance against me."
"Let her Go!" Qrow exclaimed.
Cinder glanced up at Qrow, giving a sly grin. Kayla opened her eyes, glancing forward to her mentor. She then frowned.
"I'm sorry, Qrow." She sobbed.
Before Qrow could do anything, Cinder then slashed her burning sword across Kayla's throat. Qrow froze in place with a look of shock and awe. Kayla's dropped to her side as her body plummeted over the ice below.
"Kayla!" He exclaimed.
Qrow quickly rushed up to his prodigy. He came up over his knees, dropping the Harbinger next to him. He then took Kayla into his arm.
"No..." He said, shaking his head.
"No, please... Kayla...!"
Kayla glanced up to him, gawking desperately for the air that was denied to her. Reaching up her hand to him, staggering. Only for it to fall as her head laid back, uttering her last breath as her soul departed to the after life.
Cinder slowly backed away, glancing down at them so connivingly. It was right at that moment she heard the sound of an approaching gunship. Glancing up into the cloud-filled sky, she noticed several Atarian Gunships heading toward them.
"Looks like help has arrived," She said, glancing down at Qrow.
"Though it's a little late. Lucky for you, I've decided to let you live."
Qrow glared angrily, holding Kayla's body close to him.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" He cried, looking back up at her with tearful eyes.
Cinder only smirked.
"Like how you killed them?" she said.
As her two swords then dispersed, Cinder then turned and blasted off into the air. Qrow gazed up at Salem's Apprentice, tears seeping from his eyes. He then narrowed his head, clinging Kayla's body to him as he let out a cry that echoed through the mountains.
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Present day
Qrow stared ahead at the sun disappearing behind the city. By now the first stars had appeared in the night sky. The last essence of it's light had long faded, with the darkness of the night to take it's place. Qrow narrowed his head, glancing down at Pyrrha who was leaning against him, sleeping. She groaned, snugging her head against his side.
Qrow smirked.
He then turned to her, taking the girl into his arms. Qrow then he stood up and carried her back to the dorms.
Qrow carefully placed Pyrrha down over the bed, pulling the covers over her body. Qrow then stood for a moment, glancing down at her as she slept. He reached out his hand and padded her atop her head.
"Sweet dreams, Kid." he said
Standing back up, he then turned and an walked over to the open doorway. Just as he came out into the hallway, he then heard Pyrrha utter a faint moan. He paused for a moment, glancing back at her. He then sighed, narrowing his head. He thought back to what she had said to him earlier. About Akara being the one who chose him to train her prodigy. Even still, he found it hard to believe it himself.
Even after he had told her about his semblance, she continued to believe he was the one to teach her. She was the first to ever see passed his semblance. Much like how her father had long ago, even when he himself couldn't see it. The kid truly did take after her mother. But yet, if what she was saying was true, why would Akara chose him when there were others who were more worthy then he?
It was right at that moment, there was a pulse of blue light from down the narrow hallway. Qrow cocked his head, glancing down the hall. It was there he saw the lamp that was sitting over the table. It's bright blue light was pulsing from it's cylinder.
Qrow squinted his eyes, curiously.
"What the...?" He said, turning to face the lamp.
It was right at that moment that a small wisp of light appeared from the lamp. W Slowly it then glided into the hallway as it came up before the knight of Ataria. Qrow reached out his hand. Slowly as the small essence came up over the palm of his hand. Qrow glanced down curiously at the small light that then glistened.
"Akara?" he the asked.
Once more the small essence of light glistened within the palm of his hand. As if to say that it was she that was this essence he held in his hand. Qrow stared in disbelief.
"You got to be kidding me." he said.
It then the small light drifted off into the room where Pyrrha slept. Qrow glanced to the small light. Wisps were said to be the light to guide one on the path of their own destiny. Thus is seemed that Akara was trying to show him the path he must take.
Much to his surprise when he saw the whips come up over the Pyrrha. It then glistened once more over the girl, as if she was telling him that his path lied with the girl. Qrow glanced back up at the wisp.
"Are you certain I'm worthy?" Qrow asked, glancing up at the Wisp.
The wisp once more glistened to him before dispersing into the darkness. Qrow stared in awe. It was right at that moment he realized the truth behind Pyrrha's words. As Akara had chosen her to be the Knight of Opara, she had also chosen him to be the one to train her.