Here's chapter 104, everyone.
Raven walked over to Willow, and as the white haired woman lowered her scroll, she looked down in shame. "I hate to ask, but what was that just now? You don't tend to yell at your own kids."
"I shouldn't have yelled, but Winter is right to be angry with me." Willow said, wishing she could've told Weiss and Winter everything back at Beacon, but her vow to Lazuria held her back, even then.
"Whatever it was, try to relax. Negative emotions will attract Grimm to us, and we've been lucky to not run into any so far." Raven reminded, and Willow nodded, but the black haired huntress suddenly felt Willow taking her hand.
Willow sniffled a bit, her emotions still a little out of control, but she was trying to keep herself calm. "If that's the case, I'm not afraid to ask for help…"
Raven rolled her eyes, but she knew Willow meant what she said, so she kept her hand in hers as she escorted the white haired woman out of the forest. "Just breathe."
"Okay…" Willow was steadying her breaths, but she couldn't keep Weiss out of her mind, or at least the conversation she would soon have to have with her daughter. "Raven, I'm sorry for ruining this night…"
"I don't really see anything ruined. Besides, it's not like I was expecting anything out of this day." Raven said in her own way.
Willow looked a little disappointed with that response. "Not even when you planned on bringing me to that spot of yours?"
For a few moments, Raven was silent, but then she thought about what she really did want out of bringing Willow there. "I don't know… Maybe I did, but… All in all, I just felt it was time to explain exactly why I was hesitant on accepting your deal."
"I see." Willow squeezed her hand. "Honestly, I'm still happy for what you did. I don't like the idea of cheating on my husband, even if he's a prick, but you've been very supportive, and… I want to get to know the Raven that doesn't hide herself from people."
"There isn't another me to find. What you see is what you get, so-."
Willow slapped her arm, making Raven recoil a bit as the white haired woman huffed. "Will you quit acting like that? You're an adult, damn it. Look at me and say that I'm wrong about what we feel for each other."
Raven let out a light blush and looked into Willow's blue eyes. "I-I never said I was denying it, idiot… I just don't think you'll really be as happy as you think you'll be."
"With you? If that's so, don't just tell me how happy I can be or not. You're the person I want to get to know better, and if you'd give me the chance, maybe we can make it work… But if you just push me away, then maybe I was wrong…" Willow said sadly, letting Raven's hand go, but the black haired huntress grabbed her arm and pulled her in for another kiss, and Willow blushed as she simply embraced her in return, kissing her back.
After several seconds, Raven pulled away and Willow was sighing. "You're the one who keeps making me have to do that… You weren't wrong, but I like to make sure that you're serious about this."
"Why wouldn't I be?" Willow asked, and Raven crossed her arms.
"Tai is the person you should take example of. The man is nothing but the best Father, and a good husband… Even if he does act like an idiot sometimes, and Summer can easily vouch for that too, yet somehow I couldn't get it to last." Raven explained. "There's no guarantee that things will go well."
Willow scoffed. "You think you're the only person with a marriage that didn't last as long as they hoped? Need I remind you, or shall I literally bring you to the man himself?"
Raven rolled her eyes. "Not the point I was making, smart ass."
"Says the smart ass." Willow countered, and the two women stay quiet for several moments.
The black haired huntress sighed. "If this is something you're serious about, then… I suppose we can try… Just get to dealing with that jackass."
"Hmph. Like you need to tell me twice." Willow said, but she realized what she was going to have to do. "Shall we go? Or do you wish to stay out in the cold still?"
"That depends on you. You're the one who's lived in Atlas all your life, so being used to this weather shouldn't be an issue." Raven simply responded.
Willow gave her a deadpanned look. "You see, this is why you're a smartass."
"That would be my brother. I just speak the truth is all." Raven actually teased, walking past Willow, who was surprised that the huntress was actually the teasing type. "Get a move on."
"W-What? I… Ugh, you are impossible." Willow followed, but she did let out a smile when she realized that Raven was willing to give them a chance. Not a moment later though, the white haired woman's heart skipped a beat, since she remembered that she'd have to speak with Weiss about her heritage, and that itself made her wrap her arms around herself.
Winter was sitting on one of the beds in the cabin, while Olivia was still looking over at her. "I apologize… If you didn't end up having to look for me, you probably wouldn't have heard about this."
"There's no reason to apologize to me. I'd rather know about it… I recently learned that my sister is adopted, and here I am learning she is what you call, a Hidden." Winter rubbed her forehead.
"If it makes you feel better, if she hasn't known about it this long, then she may not need to worry about being one." Olivia tried looking to the bright side of the situation.
"What do you mean?" Winter asked as she looked over.
Olivia gripped her bedsheets. "The Relentless. They only target our kind, so if she's lived her life believing she was born a human, then that means The Relentless will think of her as such too."
"How so? This group, they target your kind, yet if they saw my sister, would they not just assume she's one of you?" Winter questioned, while the fear of The Relentless going after her little sister filled her mind.
"I only know enough about them from others who have encountered them," Olivia frowned a bit. "They observe us until they know one hundred percent that we are Hidden. The biggest tell is using our semblances while we're in our natural born forms."
Winter's eyes widened. "So… If my sister used her glyphs while she was a wolf-."
"They would know she's Hidden." Olivia bluntly answered. "I would recommend that you at least warn her not to use her semblance while she's a… Wolf, you said?" Winter nodded, and Olivia let out a small smile. "I've met a few wolves in my life. I can only guess she's grown used to fighting as one?"
"S-She has… But you're correct. I need to warn her." Winter took a breath and tried to call her sister a moment later, but after a few rings, the call went to voicemail, so she sighed. "She must be asleep… It's late."
"Don't worry." Olivia assured. "If she's just sleeping, then you have nothing to be afraid of. She'll wake up in the morning and you can warn her then."
"I don't even know if I can… She'll have questions, and I already agreed to let our Mother tell her." Winter explained, and Olivia felt bad for the predicament she was in.
Olivia moved a bit to have her feet planted on the ground while still sitting on the bed. "I can't give you all the answers, but I can see how much you care about your sister. If she loves you as much as you love her, she'll trust in your word… Family is important after all…" Olivia lowered her head.
Winter took note of that. "You mentioned something about someone you loved being separated from you."
"Yes, my husband… We were attacked by The Relentless with a group he works with. Luckily I wasn't marked, but a rockslide seperated us and he told me to run… I don't know where he is at this point, or if he's even alive…" Olivia said, tearing up a bit.
"I'm sorry." Winter offered her condolences, and Olivia wiped her face as the Atlas Specialist sighed. "There is something you should know." Olivia looked up at her. "I was tasked to investigate the odd sightings of large animals. Now that we found what it was… It is my job to bring you back to Atlas for questioning."
Olivia's eyes widened, and she tensed up. "I-I can't leave this kingdom… My husband is out there. Please, you have to understand." She began begging.
"If I could let you go, I would, but I can't go against orders." Winter said, wishing she could let the woman go, but she was loyal to her duties.
"Please, at least let me have a few days to search for my husband! I beg of you… Please…" Olivia fell to the ground on her knees as she bowed, pleading the Atlas Specialist to honor her wish.
Winter took a deep breath and knew that Ironwood was going to be upset with her. "Three days, but that's all I can offer. Who I work for is not someone to make wait, so for the time being, I will offer assistance in finding your husband, but if we cannot in the three days, then I can do nothing more for you."
Olivia lifted her head up, tears falling down her eyes as she let out a thankful and somber smile. "Thank you… Thank you so much…"
"Do not thank me. Just listen to what I say, and if you try to run, know that I won't be able to ignore you. My duties as an Atlas Specialist come first." Winter stated.
"Atlas… Right, you did mention that would be where we'd go… That's so far away…" Olivia commented, thinking about the flight there. "Wait, who exactly gave you the information on the sightings?"
"That's classified." Winter bluntly answered, and the woman was a little nervous at that point.
"It… It could've been them." Olivia remarked as she got up and sat on the bed again.
Winter raised an eyebrow. "Are you speaking of The Relentless? I highly doubt it, as you said, they target your kind to kill. I am not tasked in hunting down animals, better yet ones that can become human."
"I don't know. I just have a bad feeling… Do you really need to take me there? Can't I answer everything here?" Olivia tried to bargain.
"Sadly that isn't up to me. I was given an order, and I'm already taking a big risk in not taking you there immediately." Winter explained, and Olivia hung her head in defeat.
As she sighed, she slowly nodded. "Okay… Thank you for at least giving me this chance to find my husband."
"Mhmm." Winter responded and got up, folding her arms behind her back. "Do you require any medical attention?" The question caught Olivia off-guard as she moved her arms around, and while she was a little bruised here and there, she had no real need of medical attention, so she shook her head. "Very well. The only exit is that door," Winter pointed to it. "And if you want to prove to me that you're not a danger to anyone, you will sit there and not use your animal form."
"I have no reason to risk you forcing me to Atlas without having the chance to find my husband. His life matters more to me than anything in the world… I need to know if he's alive." Olivia stated, and Winter nodded in response.
"Then we understand each other. I'll inform my team of our… Delay in returning back to Atlas. And in that time, I'll have scouts looking for your husband. When I return, I need a description of how he looks as a human." Winter said to the woman, who lowered her head and nodded to her. "Just try to remain calm. We'll do our best to find him." The door to the cabin slid open when Winter pressed a button on the console next to it, and as she walked through, it closed behind her, so she sighed to herself.
"Ma'am?" The pilot called out as Winter walked over. "It seems that several of the others out in the field are almost here. Do you wish for me to begin getting ready for the return trip to Atlas?"
"No, we have more possible sightings here in Mistral to deal with. It's best that we continue scouting till we are certain that who we brought is the only one involved in these sightings." Winter ordered.
The pilot was a little surprised by that, but he wasn't about to go against one of her orders. "Yes, Ma'am."
Winter walked over and sat on one of the airship's seats, as she closed her eyes and pictured Weiss.
"I need to tell her… I can't let those people find her."
Winter is at least able to help Olivia out with finding her husband, but not much more than that due to her position as a Specialist.
To JJ- Winter and Willow obviously have their differences in the knowledge of Weiss and what she is, but they also know when to relax and talk. As for the fight, well you'll see what happens soon enough. I won't delay that any further.
I hoped you all enjoyed chapter 104. Remember, reviews are welcomed, but not required. See you all in chapter 105.