Chapter 32, Team Trial Part III
Emerging from the cover of the foliage, the four Tigrans, consisting of three males and a single female, approached the three. They then proceeded to circle Pyrrha, Blake and Auron from all around. As if they had cornered pre itself. Growling, they bared their sabers to the ones who had dared intrude into their territory. It was in response to them, that Pyrrha and Blake raised their weapons to the surrounding saber-tooth cats.
The three slowly stepped back, continuing to face the Tirgans. awaiting who would make the first daring move.
As it would seemed, Blake was just about to make a move. A gesture which did not go unnoticed by the Tigrans themselves, who then paused and growled at her. Pyrrha glanced back at Blake.
"Don't, you'll only provoke them more." She said.
"She' right, we need a plan." Auron insisted to them.
Blake glanced back to Auron and Pyrrha.
"What do we do?" she asked, curiously.
Auron turned, raising his blaster rifle to the Tigrans. He then glanced back at Pyrrha and Blake.
"Make no sudden movements," He said to them.
q"Try and look for an exit."
Pyrrha turned forward, holding Akouo before her with Milo currently in it's javelin form in her other hand. All the while, she tried to look for a way for them to escape. Only for her gaze to turn back to the four Tirgans, who growls shifted her attention to the danger they were in. It was right at that her gaze had met that of one of the Tirgans. Staring into the sharp green eyes of the beast, Pyrrha felt herself tense up, unable to look away for even a moment.
The Tigran gave a loud roar, causing her to have a sudden jolt of fear. But even still, Pyrrha continued to hold firmly against the four Tigrans. Unwilling to allow the fear she felt to deter her. She then shook her head, trying to remain focus on finding a way for them to escape. But anywhere she looked, the way had been blocked by the double saber beasts that surrounded them from all sides.
"We're not going anywhere with them circling us," She insisted to him.
"We need to find a way to distract them."
Auron turned forward as he examined the predicament they were in. He then nodded his head in agreement.
"Yeah, your right." He said.
"Any ideas?"'
Pyrrha turned forward, thinking for a moment of what to do. If in of them could distract the Tigrans, the other two would be able to make a break for it. But t would have to be someone that was quick and would be able to catch up with the others. Slowly an idea then came to her. One that made her gasp in realization caused her to glance over at Blake.
"Blake, do you think you could lead them away?" Pyrrha asked, curiously.
Blake glanced back at her and then turning forward. She pondered for a moment on whether or not she would be able to accomplish such a task. She then glanced over to the nearby tree. She would have to move quickly if she was lead them away. Though the Tigrans had already proven to be quite formidable for her and were able to keep up with her.. Especially after seeing that they were capable to taking to the trees much like her, it may prove hard to lose them.
But this may be their own chance at escaping.
"Blake?" Pyrrha asked, curiously.
Blake then nodded her head to her.
"Uh, Yeah, yeah, I think I can do it." She insisted to them.
Pyrrha smiled and nodded her head.
"Alright, as soon as their away, me and Auron will make a break for it," Pyrrha explained to them.
"Once we get clear, we'll give you covering fire."
"Okay, got it." she said with a nod of her head.
Pyrrha then turned forward.
"Alright, everyone one three..." She said.
Both Auron and Blake turned to face forward, readying themselves to move.
"...One..."
Blake squinted her eyes, peering up at the branch of the tree overhead. She narrowed down, making ready to jump.
"...Two..."
Gambol Shroud had then changed form into it's sickle form. Blake then heard one of the Tigrans utter a growling sound. Her eyes sifted to the side, where she met the gaze of one of the beasts. The Tigran pauses, as if it sensed she was about to make a move. The Tigran slowly narrowed down as she did, making ready to pounce as soon as she was to make a move.
"...Three!"
Hearing Pyrrha give the signal, Blake then leaped into the air. Just as it was, the Tigran attempted to pounce at her. Only for Pyrrha to turn and thew her shield at the beast, knocking it back before it could touch her. Blake threw Gambol shroud which then hooked over the branch of the tree. She then swung forward as the other Tigrans turned and followed after Blake, giving both Pyrrha and Auron the opening.
Landing over one of the branches, Blake turned back and saw two of the Tigrans, who leaped up and began to climb the tree. Seeing them following after her, she then turned forward and quickly jumped up to the branches above.
Auron turned to Pyrrha.
"Now, Move!" He said.
Retracting her shield with her semblance, Pyrrha quickly followed after Auron. Only then paused as she came faced with one of the Tigrans, who came between them. Pyrrha came to a stopped, faced with the Beast which bared it's sabers to her. The Tigran then attempted to pounce at her. Only to have Pyrrha narrow down and roll out of the way of the Beast.
She then turned back to the Tigran, who landed over the ground and came Pyrrha quickly raised her shield in the nick of time, just as the Tigran attempted to slash it's claws at her. The claws of the Beast clashed against her shield with a loud metallic shrieking sound. Not given the Tigran anytime to react, Pyrrha then spun around and slashed The Tigran with Milo, which had transformed into it's sword form.
The Tigran was pushed back from the several blows that it had been dealt, falling over it's side. Pyrrha then stood up as she quickly rushed after Auron. As they came to the edge of the tree line, they then turned back to Blake, who continued to leap from one branch to another, leading the Tigrans along through the tree tops. Perched high atop a branch, she then heard the sound of one of the Tirgan's roar from behind. Glancing back, she saw the Tirganess leap from the branch of one of trees behind her.
The Tigraness landed over the trunk of the tree, it's claws shredding the bark before then coming to a stop. She then proceeded to climb up the tree towards her. Only to come to a sudden stop as a blue plasma bolt struck the short distance between them. Followed by several more shots. Blake then glanced up at Pyrrha and Auron, who were firing at the Tigrans.
Pyrrha glanced up from her riffle.
"Blake, Now!" Pyrrha called to her.
Blake then turned as she readied herself to jump. From below the branch, despite the firing, the Tigraness continued to climb up the tree. It was getting closer. Raising it's paw, the Tigraness prepared to slash her with her claws. Acting quickly, she then leaped off the branch. Only to then have the claws of the beast slashed through her boots, leaving claw marks embedded in her leg. Wincing at the sudden pain she felt, Blake landed over the ground in a roll as she came over her side.
"Blake!" Pyrrha exclaimed as she ran to her aid.
She narrowed down to Blake, who leaned up over the ground.
"I'm alright," Blake insisted to her.
"I'm alright."
Blake glanced up at her. Only to then winced at the pain that had been inflicted upon her. Looking down at her leg, the two saw the claw marks embedded over her leg, threaded through her boot. While not deep, it was enough to draw blood and it was clear that it was painful for her to move. As Evident when Blake tried to pick herself up, only then tumble to the ground as she cried out in pain.
Pyrrha shook her head.
"No, your not," Pyrrha insisted before glancing back to Auron who rushed up to them.
"We have to get her out of here!"
The three then heard the Tirgans roaring from overhead. Glancing up, they saw the four sabered beast leap down from the tree as they crept toward her.
"No argument here," Auron proclaimed, raising his blaster rifle as he fired.
"Grab her and lets go!"
Pyrrha glanced back down at Blake.
"Hold on to me." Pyrrha said, draping Blake's arm over her shoulder.
She then stood up, pulling Blake up onto her feet who winced from the excruciating pain of her leg. Pyrrha then proceeded to carry Blake into the woods as Auron continued to provide them cover. Slowly backing away as he fired his blaster rifle before he turned and follow after them.
Rueban and Qrow continued to observe the events that were unfolding. Seeing Pyrrha and her friends be chased into the woods by the Tigrans, Qrow watched with a look of worry to Qrow. Covering his chin with his hand, he uttered a faint groan in contempt. All the while, he continued to spur the Prodigy on, pleading that the Gods would grant her and her friends success.
"Come on, Kid, you got this." He encouraged her.
Keith and Hanko continued to make their way through the woods. When suddenly they head the sound of blaster fire and the roars of a Tigran from off in the distance. Kieth then slid to a stop, turning to gaze curiously in the direction from which the sound had came.
"Did you hear that?" Keith asked.
Hanako cocked her head, listening to what transpired in the distance. The sound of Blaster fire had certainly gotten the attention of the young samurai, recognizing it to be the the Blaster that was most commonly used by Lothadarian Special forces. Which could only mean that it was Auron. And from the sound of it, he was in danger.
Hanako's eyes went wide with shock.
"Auron!" she exclaimed.
"He's in danger. We must GO!"
Kieth nodded his head.
"Right, let's go!" he said, rushing ahead into the woods.
Pyrrha continued to carry Blake through the woods, moving as fast as she could. All the while, she and Auron continued to provide cover for them, firing back at the pursuing Tigrans. It was by then that more Tigrans began to appear and were surrounding them all all sides. Though had kept their distance due as Pyrrha and Auron firing at them as they ran.
Turning back, Pyrrha held up Milo, which was currently in it's rifle form. She then fired back at the four Tigrans, who slid to a stop at the shot and leaped out of the way of the others. Auron came up to them, turning back to fire back at them as well.
"They just keep coming." Auron said.
"We can't keeping going like this!"
"Do these things ever give up?" Blake asked.
Pyrrha cocked her head, gazing forward toward the Tirgans, who now crept slowly toward them. She squinted her eyes, Despite the constant firing she and Auron continued to lay down and all they had inflicted upon them. Usually after knowing that there was no chance, the Tigran would ultimately yield and move on. Having to enter their territory, the Tigrans seemed untiring. As if they were all but determined to drive them out.
"Somethings not right." Pyrrha insisted, glancing to him.
There was a sudden rustling in the foliage behind them, causing Blake's ears to twitch. She glanced back and saw more Tigrans coming up behind them.
"Uh, guys." She said.
Pyrrha and Auron glanced back to see the Tigrans behind them. The saber-beast surrounded them at all side, circling around the three as they slowly closed in on them.
"Get Back!" Auron exclaimed.
Pyrrha, Blake and Auron slowly stepped back before finding themselves back to back with each other as the Tigrans slowly closed in on them.
"What do we do now?" Blake said, glancing back at them.
Pyrrha and Auron glanced to one other, neither of them knowing what to do. They were surrounded by all sides by what seemed like an entire pride of Tigrans. The gun firing seemed to no long faze them. And with Blake's leg slowing them down, they were now at the mercy of the saber cats.
One of the Tigrans then paused, looking as if it was going to pounce. When suddenly the beast was then struck from the side by an a silver bolt in the shape of an arrow, causing it to fly back against a tree. Glancing up toe the canopy above, the three saw Hanako perched over a branch above with her weapon, which was currently in it's Bow form, firing several arrows at the Tigrans.
"Hanako!" Auron said in relief.
"Coming Through!"
Glancing down into the forest, they saw Keith charging toward them with his hammer in hand. He then leaped into the air, raising his hammer into the air as it charged with a bright orange energy. As he landed over the ground, he then slammed the hammer down, creating a pulse of energy that sent the tigrans flying back into the foliage. He then stood up, glancing back at Auron, Pyrrha and Blake.
"This way, lets go!" he exclaimed.
Auron turned back to Pyrrha and Blake. Grabbing Blake's other arm, she then placed it over his shoulder.
"Come on, we're getting out of here!" he said.
Pyrrha nodded her head, pulling Blake along as they made their way further into the woods. Hanako leaped down from the branch above, the bow she held changed back into a katana. Landing in front of one of the tigrans, she slashed her Katana at the beast several times. The Beast was sent flying back, landing motionless over the ground. The other Tigrans of which continued to pursue them.
Hanako then turned and ran after the others. Both Auron and Keith providing her cover with their blasters against the pursuing Tigrans. Once she had caught up with them, the two ceased firing as they turned and ran after them. All the while, the Tigrans continued to pursue the five of them. Glancing back, Pyrrha could see that the sabered beasts continuing to chase after them. Like before, they were gaining on them despite running as fast as they could.
Once more, Pyrrha glanced questionably to the Tigrans, who seemed even more agitated then before. All but adding to her suspicions that something was not right. Why did they continue to pursue them? Was it because they were in their territory?
While that seemed like a reasonable assumption to explain their behavior, there was something else which told her there was more to it. But what?
The five then emerged into a clearing from the woods. Suddenly, they then froze upon turning forward to be faced with a rocky cliff, with more Tigrans laying atop the cliffs above. Upon sight of the strangers wandering in from the forest, the Tigrans stood up, growling wearingly.
"Awe, give me a break." Auron sighed, shaking his head.
Upon the sight of more Tirgans, the five made an attempt to turn back. Only to be met with the Tigrans who were pursuing them having to have caught up to them. An attempt to flee in the two remain directions were dashed as the five found themselves surrounded by the sabretooth beasts.
"We're trapped!" Hanako exclaimed, holding her Katana at the ready.
The five were then brought to attention at the sound of a loud roar from above. Glancing up to the cliff above, they saw a Tigran standing over the very edge, gazing down at them. Though this one was much different from the others. It was much larger with a black mane which ran down the top of it's back. It's sabers much larger compared to that of the others.
"You got to be kidding me." Keith said in awe.
"No way!" Auron said.
"What is that thing?" Blake asked, glancing to Pyrrha.
Pyrrha remained silent. She instead stared up with a look of awe, realizing that they were faced with an alpha Tigran.
The alpha Tigran let out a great roar before leaping down from the ledge, landing before the five students who stepped back with their weapons at the ready. It then paced wearing back and force, growling to them.
"Nobody move." Auron advised them.
The many stories told by knights of their encounters with Tigrans had said that they were a formidable opponent. Even more so when it was new students of Lothadare Academy. Though those who had encountered an alpha and lived to tell the tale were few and far between. The only one that she knew that had ever faced an Alpha Titan was Akara herself. But even the Alpha titan itself proved to be formidable against her. For it was that the strength of an Alpha Tigran outweighed that of a regular Tigran's.
And now they were faced with one.
Even with their combined strength, they stood no chance against the alpha. Let alone against an entire pride of them.
"There's too many of them!" Hanako claimed to them.
"Uh, Auron, what's the plan here?" Keith said, glancing back to him, curiously.
Auron was silent for a moment, staring around at the Pride of Tigrans that surrounded them from all around.
"I... I don't know." he said, shaking his head.
"Anyone have an idea. Pyrrha...?"
Pyrrha hardly noticed that Auron had said anything. Rather she continued to stare inquisitively to the Tigrans, unable to shake the feeling that something was off. The Tigrans seemed rather protective of this area. As evident by most of them gathered before the cliffs, staring back at them wearingly. It was almost as if they were protecting something.
"Somethings not right." She insisted to them.
"Really, what was your first clue?" Keith asked, sarcastically.
"No, I mean, there's something not right," Pyrrha insisted to them, gesturing her head to the cliff.
"Look, they seem protective of those cliffs."
Everyone glanced over to the cliffs, noticing that most of the Tigrans were indeed acting protective of that general area. Though Unlike Pyrrha, none of them saw it as out of the ordinary as she claimed it to be. The notion that they were just protective of their territory seemed like a reasonable explanation for their behavior.
"Yeah, so?" Keith asked, curiously.
Pyrrha squinted her eyes, continuing to stare back at the Tigrans who stood between them and the cliffs. She thought back to what Akara had told her long ago. That somethings nothing is what you presume. That sometimes, ones enemy may fight for the same reasons as you. Seeing just how protective the Tigrans were of their territory, the fear and desperation within the eyes of the beasts themselves, there was more to this then what they were seeing.
Suddenly, the answer to her suspicions came in the form of two cubs peering from behind one of the females. Pyrrha widened her eyes in realization. She then turned to Auron and the others.
"Stop!" she exclaimed to them.
Auron glanced back at her.
"What?" He asked, curiously.
"Lower you weapons!" Pyrrha proclaimed to them.
"You can't be serious." Keith said, glancing back at glanced up to her, squinting her eyes to Blake in disbelief.
"Please, trust me," Pyrrha insisted to them.
"It's not just their territory they are protecting."
She then turned her head and gestured over to the mother and her cubs.
"They need to see that we're not a threat." Pyrrha insisted to them.
Auron shook his head in disbelief.
"You can't be serious." He said.
"Yeah, no way!" Keith said, shaking his head.
"There is no way your gonna convince me to drop my hammer in front of these things."
Sensing the hostility from the five of them, the Alpha Tigran growled, stepping forward. Causing Pyrrha, Auron and the others to turn to face the Tigrans. Auron, Keith and Hanako continued to hold their weapons in hand and at the ready for what was to come. That was all except for Pyrrha, who turned back to the Alpha. Though it was not out of fear. But with determination.
She would not escalate things any further. Nor would she prove the Tigran's fears to be true and be a threat to them and their young. She needed to show them. Not just the Tigrans but her teammates as well. The same way that Akara had when she had faced an Alpha Tigran long ago.
Lowering Blake's arm from her shoulder, Pyrrha then handed her Milo, which transformed into it's javelin form. Blake glanced to her, curiously, taking hold of Milo. Pyrrha then turned forward and slowly approached the alpha male.
"Pyrrha?" She said.
Auron turned back and saw Pyrrha approach the alpha Tigran.
"Pyrrha, what are doing?" He said.
Pyrrha paused for a moment as she glanced back at them.
"Trust me." She said.
With that, she turned forward as she came face to face with the Alpha Tigran, who growled to the one who approached in such a matter. Pyrrha paused for a moment. Only to then take a breath, setting aside her fear as she continued to approach the Alpha. All the while, Auron and Blake watched in awe and worry, their weapons in hand for what they would assume would happen next. For someone to approach an Alpha Tigran in such a way was bold. But also foolish.
The only one to ever attempt such a thing was Akara herself. But not even she came out from the encounter without her fair share of scares. What did Pyrrha expect to do differently?
Pyrrha continued to approach before stopping several feet from where the beast stood. She then paused their for a moment, glancing back toward the mother and cubs. An action which did not go unseen by the alpha, who growled wearingly. Pyrrha turned back to him. It was clear that the Tigraness was his mate and the cubs were his.
"I understand now, you are just protecting your family," She insisted to the Alpha.
"You were all just trying to protect your families."
The Alpha gave a low growl to the prodigy.
"Please, I don't wish to harm any of you any further," Pyrrha insisted to the alpha.
"We both fight for the same thing. But we are not your enemies."
The Tigran exclaimed a loud roar to Pyrrha, silencing her. It became clear that the Alpha was not so convinced by the words of the Prodigy. She narrowed her eyes. How was she supposed to convince him so?
Suddenly, she heard a whisper in her ear of the answer she sought from her long passed mentor.
"Bow." Akara whispered.
Pyrrha lifted her gaze in realization. He demanded her full submission. Just as Akara had done long ago when she had faced The alpha Tigran long ago. To show that she respected the rule of the Alpha itself. Only then would she have a chance to convince the Alpha that she spoke true.
Pyrrha got down over one knee, where she bowed her head to the alpha Tigran. Both Auron and Blake glanced to each other curiously. Blake then turned back to Pyrrha, squinting her eyes to her.
"Please hear my plead, master of this forest," she begged of the Alpha.
"I did not wish to bring harm to your pack. I was only protecting my friends. Just as you all were protecting yours."
Blake squinted her eyes to Pyrrha upon hearing her refer to her as friend.
"I only ask only that you trust me and let me and my friends pass through your territory."
Seeing Pyrrha offer him her full obedience, the Alpha Tigran then stepped forward to Pyrrha. He gazed down over her, leaning his head forward. He then uttered a deep growl to her. The alpha Tigran leaned his head forward to her, pressing his muzzle against her forehead as he sniffed her. All the while, Pyrrha remained still and showed no fear of being faced with the alpha Tigran. Nor of what decision the Alpha would make in regards to her request. She would instead see it through no matter what.
It was at that moment that Blake staggered up to Pyrrha. Earning the curious gazes of Auron, Keith and Hanako as they watched her take her place next to Pyrrha. The alpha Tigran glanced up at Blake, who then paused nervously. She glanced down at Pyrrha, who lifted her gaze to her. She then smiled reassuring to her, nodding her head to her. Blake then turned forward and then as Pyrrha had done, came down over one knee. Gripping the handle of Milo tightly in her hands, she the bowed her head to the Alpha Tigran, who gave a low growl to her.
"Are they serious right now?" Keith asked, throwing a glance of disbelief to Auron.
Auron said nothing, continuing to stare forward at Pyrrha and Blake. Sharing the same look of disbelief of Keith. Though only for a brief moment before he squinted his eyes, curiosity, especially seeing the Alpha Tigran appear so dossal. Especially upon being shown obedience from both Pyrrha and now Blake.
Pyrrha had asked for them to trust her. And it looked like they would be right to do so.
Placing his blaster over his back, he slowly came up to Pyrrha and Blake. Much to the look of dismay of Keith, who stared to him with a look of awe.
"Auron, what are you doing?" he asked, curiously.
It was right at that moment that Hanako followed after, sheaving her Katana to her side. Keith mouth hung openly in awe.
"Hanako...?" he said.
Auron and Hanako came up next to Pyrrha and Blake, where they narrowed down and bowed before the Alpha Tigran. Keith paused for a moment, glancing from side to side, feeling as if he was the only one who hadn't gone crazy.
"Has everyone gone Crazy?!" He exclaimed to them.
Hanako glanced back at him.
"Keith, trust her!" she insisted to her.
"You can't be serious!" He said, shaking his head.
There was a sudden loud growling from the Alpha Tigran, having to sense the hostility from Keith. The rest of the pack also growled to him for showing hostility toward the alpha. Causing him to glance up at the Alpha, holding his hammer at the ready. Keith glanced around at the pack which surrounded him at all sides.
Auron glanced back at him.
"Keith!" he exclaimed to him.
Keith's eyes shifted down at the others and then back up at the Alpha Tigrans. As well as the rest of the pack sharing the same hostility to the one who showed such insolence to their alpha. He then turned forward to Pyrrha, Auron and the others. Knowing that he stood no chance against the Tigrans alone, he then uttered a groan of frustration, finally giving in to them.
"Alright, alright." He said, finally giving in.
Sheaving his hammer behind his back, he came up behind Pyrrha, Auron and the others and bowed before the Alpha Tigran. Pyrrha turned forward as she glanced up at the Alpha. Only to be met with the stern gaze of the Alpha Tigran, seeming unconvinced of their act of obedience. Uttering a low growl to the prodigy. But even still, Pyrrha continued to remain before the Alpha Tigran, continuing to remain hopeful that he would gran them passage.
A hope that was to be rewarded the moment to follow.
The Alphan Tigran gave a loud roar before he came to sit down before the prodigy. Pyrrha glanced up at the Alpha Tigran who gave low groan, followed by a chuffing sound. Seeming to have become dossal toward them. Auron and the others stood up behind her. They then glanced to Pyrrha, curiously.
"What's happening?" Blake asked.
"Did it work?" Auron asked, curiously.
Pyrrha didn't answer them, continuing to stare forward at the Alpha Tigran. Seeing a faint glimpse of understanding within the eyes of the Alpha. She then smiled. The alpha Tigran then looked off to the Tigrans to his left and bellowed to them. The Tigran heeded to the Alpha demands and each stepped to the side, as if they were granting them a way out.
Pyrrha turned back to the alpha Tigran, who turned back to her, chuffing. She then glanced back at Blake and the others.
"I think he's saying we can go." She said to them.
"Well, that's a relief." Auron said.
Pyrrha turned back to the Alpha Tigran, exchanging a nod of her head.
"Thank you." She said.
Pyrrha then stood up, turning back to help Blake back up onto her feet. The five of then then slowly made their way toward the opening the Tigrans had granted them. All the while, the pack continued to watch them as they took their leave, looking out for any attempt of hostility from the five. Earning the worrying gazed of Blake and Keith. But even still, the five showed no such action as they then disappeared into foliage of the woods.