Uncertain Answer, Uncertain Road

The warm sand on Nickel's feet was a welcomed change to the cold soil that had often been beneath him. New as it was to him, he took extreme joy in it, even if Adam had lost interest in the warm sand five minutes ago. It wasn't lost on Nickel, just not at the forefront of his mind. The new sights, sounds, and smells were taking over.

The salty ocean wasn't new to him, but it held a different smell that the other had lacked. Perhaps it was the fruits and exotic herbs that were found almost exclusively on the island. The fine wines that were distilled here mixed with the scent of freshly caught fish tinted with a warm air that blew in from the west.

It was hard to tell.

No sooner had they made it to the island did people start making requests to head back home, wherever home was for them. Some wanted to travel to Atlas and Argus while others wished to head for smaller villages in Anima or Sanus. Ghira promised that after a few days of rest, the people wishing to leave could leave and would be escorted to wherever they wished to go.

In one week they'd start heading out. That was the deadline.

Nickel already promised to help and would be working with Adam, Sienna, Ghira, and a few other members to get people back to Anima. This was the largest group wanting to return home and while they weren't as scattered, the part they wanted to return to wasn't welcoming to Faunus much.

Under orders to relax, Nickel explored what little of the island there was. What wasn't blocked off was crowded and busy with activity from merchants selling their fresh catch of the day and other wares to buyers looking for a great deal.

Adam was his handler, spending most of the time showing him good shops to spend his hard earned money at and peaceful spots that were nestled just on the edge of the walls.

Relaxing as it was, Nickel was left with a curious thought on the status of the island and its occupance. There was little room and the further back they went along the island, the more desert-like it became, changing from a lush and tropical forest to that of a arid desert with no moisture to speak of just beyond the mountains. Whatever lived out there would have to get supplies from the main town.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" Adam called out from his spot in the shade.

Nickel ignored him for a moment longer, breathing in the new scents that were over the land. He could almost make out the smell of fresh stew somewhere behind the wall and further up the street. A woman was preparing the meal with two others. It was hard to be sure if there was a third person there for the meal. Too many scents were mixed.

When Adam snapped his sword into its sheath, Nickel turned and flashed a smile. "Yes. I suppose I am." He looked out across the clear blue ocean, a hand above his eyes to shadow them from the sun, and saw only blue for as far as his eyes could see. "No other landmasses close by?"

Adam pulled a long stick of grass from the ground, putting it in his mouth. "Not really. There is one, but it's no better. More desert and too small. Smaller than this place, actually. Our Capital is about the same size as that island, believe it or not." He spoke around the grass piece. "Why? Wanna try to get a raid together and get more land? Ghira won't have it."

"Why not?"

"Too many failed operations, I hear. Not saying it can't be done, but holding them then becomes the problem. Grimm around here won't come this far in."

"Won't or haven't found a need to?"

Adam conceded to that. Where the Grimm and land were concerned, Grimm didn't much care. They just went and destroyed whatever they could and moved on. This island had a delicate ecosystem they didn't seem to wanna disrupt. Or so it seemed. They could just be waiting for a good chance to strike. But with people in good spirits and enough guards, they never really bothered them.

Nickel dusted his pants off as he made his way to Adam. The redhead was still thinking about his statement when he noticed him heading for the wall. "Ready to head back?"

"Well, I'm sure my clothes are done now."

Adam snickered. "You don't like that we're putting you in new clothes, do you?"

No. No he did not. But, his current outfit was all he had and it was starting to smell. Plus, it wasn't set for this climate. He had already removed his jacket and pelts and was down to just his fishnet shirt and pants. No shoes either.

"The only saving grace was that you understood what I would and wouldn't wear."

Adam snorted.

Nickel wanted to continue wearing hunter-esq clothing which consisted of pelts, boots, and dark pants, long sleeved shirts, vests, and nothing else. There was no style there. Adam wore what he wore because to him it was a sign of power and grace. It made the enemy think of him as a prestigious warrior in his mind. Someone who came out wearing clothing like this and no armor in sight spoke power to him. It brought a level of fear that just killing the closest person to your enemy couldn't.

The redhead got his way, if only by a little with the outfit they had custom made for Nickel. And that was pushing it.

The walk through town was crowded with people during the lunch rush hour. Nickel thought he spied Yuma getting a weapon from a smith. A few people gave them praise, as they were survivors from the villages that Adam had rescued them from, along with Nickel for the one group he had helped rescue. Most didn't know their names, just calling them by the moniker given to them by the people they helped.

Adam didn't like his all that much, but wasn't going to voice anything about it. A name was a name to him.

Nickel stopped in front of a small hut, his tail dropped down in a rare sign of annoyance. Adam thought nothing of it and shoved the flap to the shop open, revealing Kali talking to the shop owner as they exchanged stories about their day.

"Kali," Adam greeted, thankful that the mask hid his confused expression, "what's the wife of the Chieftain doing down here?"

Kali turned slowly, unamused by his humor and then gestured to a large bundle of blankets that had been neatly folded and wrapped for transportation. "If you must know, commoner," she joked, "I'm here getting blankets for the return trip for another group."

"I guess that makes sense."

Kali grabbed her bundle, offering a smile to the both of them. "Ghira has a meeting today and wants you both there. It's concerning the departure time. It might have been moved up. Word is a storm is on the way and it would push back the departure time by another two weeks if it's as strong as it's being led to believe."

"We'll be there." Adam told her. Kali nodded and departed, leaving the duo with the owner as the young deer Faunus went into the back to get their order. "I really don't see the issue with another two weeks before departure."

"They wanna get home as quickly as possible. Start new lives and forget the horrors they witness."

Adam wondered if that was what Nickel was doing now. Trying to quickly change to a new life before facing the reality of his past life. His only hope was that he could be there for him when he needed him and help him stay on the right path, no matter what path that may be.

The owner walked out a few minutes later carrying two large bags. Nickel happily took them and gave her what little money he had earned from his one job with the White Fang. The owner eyed it and pushed it back to him.

"No, hun. The way I see it, you deserve it more. Being out there in the harsh world with those Humans." She shook her head. "Money talks over there. You can pay me back by coming back. I'll charge you next time when you're on your feet."

Grumbling, Nickel took his money back and walked out with Adam. The duo moved quickly to Adam's small home. Small was putting it rather lightly. It was a single room house with a small kitchen and single bathroom. The only thing Adam had to his name were two futons and few dishes, and a single dresser that housed his clothing.

"Get changed and we'll head over to Ghira's for the meeting."

The woman had done a good job in crafting his clothing. She had kept his pelt-like clothing as best she could, putting furs along the pauldrons and tops of his boots, though that had been hidden by the shin guards he wore over his boots. Metal vambraces covered his forearm and part of his black leather gloves. Though it was currently too hot to wear, he was given a small chest piece and black mesh shirt to wear underneath it. The finishing touch came in the form of two leather belts, one that helped keep his gun holstered to his thigh and the other that held his pouches.

His knives, which were still being replaced, would once again take up residence on his vambrace and boots while his wakizashis would be on the small of his back. Tukson had been very happy to return the weapon to him, even apologizing for the delay.

They had a quick snack before leaving and heading up to the mansion that was Ghira's home. It was the first time either of them had been to the place, though Adam had often sat and looked at it in his free time, wondering how many rooms the place had. It was a home built for the Chieftain, though in the beginning he had denied wanting such a place, feeling it would disconnect him from those he worked with and built the White Fang for. He took it when he needed more office space and from there it had been added on to for other people that were rescued, serving as a small Inn for those without a home.

Nickel knocked on the door and waited patiently. "Imposing," Adam finally said.

"What?"

"The house. Mansion. Whatever you wanna call it. It's imposing."

Nickel looked around, taking Adam's words for a more literal sense than a figurative one. "Not to me, it doesn't. It looks like this place was built first and then the city came after. If anything, the city is imposing."

Adam was about to make a correction when the door was opened by a small girl, probably eight years old with short black hair and a pair of cat ears pinned excitingly. She blinked a few times and then her ears dropped. They were not what she had been waiting for.

"We're here to speak with Ghira," Adam told her.

The small girl gestured to a large room behind them and the duo entered as the girl squealed and ran out the door to greet someone. Probably a friend.

Ghira was waiting at the table, speaking with Saber as the Faunus was pointed to a map rather heatedly about something. They spoke in a hushed tone, so neither Adam nor Nickel overheard what was said. Saber took note of them, calmed down and gave them false smiles.

"We're waiting on Sienna and then this meeting can commence." Ghira informed them.

Adam sat down on his knees, just as Saber was doing. Nickel, unfamiliar with such a way of sitting, sat cross legged before noting Adam's strange way of sitting. The redhead arched a brow behind his mask but said nothing. Different styles of living.

"Sorry I'm late!" Sienna marched in with the little girl clinging to her arm. "Your daughter tackled me at the door."

"Blake," Ghira reached over, ready to pry his daughter from his second-in-command, "this is an important meeting."

"Another rally?" There was hope in her voice, leaping from Sienna's side to her fathers' in an instant.

"Not this time. Relocation effort. We're returning some of the Faunus back home. But only those who want to leave."

"Can I come?!"

Ghira felt prideful that his daughter wanted to help, but after Kali's little adventure in Anima, he was hesitant to take any family member with him. "Not this time. Perhaps on the next one. I need someone to hold down the fort."

Childishly, Blake turned to Sienna with wide, puffy, begging eyes. "Why can't I come, Sienna?"

Sienna looked to Ghira for support. She was her friend only because of her close connection to Kali. She was more of the cool older sister that Blake lacked. No siblings to play with or female companions made her look for them. She found them in Sienna and would often turn to her when father put his foot down.

"I can't see this going as badly as the rescue operation, Ghira."

Hope returned to Blake's eyes as Sienna's words.

"No. The last one was too dangerous. I refuse to put my little girl in harms' way. We'll be traveling all over Anima again. And this time, the Grimm are more active with increased bandit activity. I'd rather not see my daughter harmed during this relocation effort."

Nickel looked at the map, his hand going to his gun and caressing the smooth harmer. It was dated, but not terribly so. "You might not have to worry about bandits, sir." Nickel walked around to Saber and motioned to a valley. "I know this area. There aren't bandit camps for miles. The mountains are too steep for any shelters to be made there. The only safe place to camp, is on the road. No place to hide. And these two villages aren't here anymore, but they do still offer shelter."

"I'd rather not include my daughter, thank you very much." Ghira gave Blake a hard look. "Find your mother. I'm sure she's preparing another rally. Perhaps she could use some help." Begrudgingly, Blake stormed off, unhappy and in tears. Ghira shut his eyes, knowing that this would come back to bite him later. "Thank you for your input," he let it hang there as he looked the Gunslinger over, searching for his name, "Gunslinger?"

"Nickel Lancaster."

"Not a fan of the name?"

Nickel stood up straight, his hand on his piece and a sideways glance. "I don't mind it." He took his spot beside Adam and continued to look at the map as the meeting commenced.

"A storm is on its way. We will be leaving first, since the storms' projected path will be in our direct path." He motioned to the valley and the long road leading to Argus. "Argus is currently under siege from several large Grimm, but should have them cleared in time for us to arrive there with the people wanting to return to Anima. Normally, we'd simply drop them off at the harbor, but we can't do that right now. Too many aquatic Grimm have been seen near that area."

"And Argus can't do anything about it?" Sienna questioned.

"Not at the moment. They diverted a lot of resources into killing the unknown Grimm and relocation efforts for other villages. We'll dock at Mistral and attempt to take the train to Argus, but given how Mistral can be…"

"Prepare for a long hike." Adam grumbled to himself. Sienna snorted and Saber was left shaking his head. Nickel was the only one not seeing a problem, something that Adam pointed out. "You like the wilderness, so I guess you'll be at home, huh?"

"Yes. Rather not die on a Metal Death Trap, thank you very much."

"It's called a train."

"Yeah. Metal Death Trap. Or do you prefer High Speed Coffin?"

Sienna cleared her throat and flashed a fake smile towards the two. "So good of you to finally focus again. Let's try to keep opinions of Atlas Tech to a minimum during these meetings, shall we?" Nickel lowered his head while Adam rolled his eyes, thankful for his mask. "Don't roll your eyes, Adam." Or not.

Once order was regained, Ghira took over. "Because of this time shift, I can't go. I'll be taking another team on the correct departure time." His eyes slowly turned to Sienna as he said, "You'll be leading this team, Sienna. While I doubt you'll encounter any problems you can't face, I do ask that you try to keep the loss of life to a minimum."

"Are you saying that because of my aggressive stance, or because my team killed a few bandits during their raid on the campsite?" She crossed her arms.

"Both, but I do see your point. I only ask that you keep the loss of life as low as possible. You'll be moving civilians. Fighting won't be a wise option. And," he raised his hand before she could open her mouth, "I understand that we can't choose where and how we fight. But we can try to end things peacefully before it turns bad. That's all I ask."

Sienna pursed her lips tightly, working the plan in her head as she tried to think of which routes to take to avoid Bandits. "Understood. When do we leave?"

"In a few hours. I'm sorry to drop this on you so suddenly. I know some of you haven't fully recovered, but I'm trusting you all with this. Please, get those people safely to Argus. Not for me, but for them."

Adam nodded. "Of course, sir." He bowed his head deeply before standing up and gesturing to Nickel. The two departed and found Blake at the door, her red eyes puffy and still wet. "Blake, right?" Adam asked, kneeling down to her level. She nodded. "Thank you for wanting to come, but maybe next time we'll take you with us. Get stronger. Maybe then you'll be allowed to come with us."

"I am strong!"

Adam felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up at Nickel as the Gunslinger's eyes softened. "You are strong. Never let anyone tell you otherwise." He withdrew his gun, flipped it over and handed it to her. "Hold this and tell me the weight of a life."

Confused but willing, Blake took the weapon and was surprised by its weight. Her tiny hands could barely hold the gun in one and when she tried to steady the thing, she wobbled and lowered it.

"This thing has killed a few people. It weighs a lot, doesn't it?" Blake gave it back, nodding in awe at it. "Each life this takes, it weighs a little more."

She sniffed back her remaining tears and gained an aura of realization. "Does it ever get easier?"

Nickel holstered the weapon, his eyes glazing over with memories of the slain, the homes that burned to the ground, the lives that he lost, and Darkness that stood at their door. Adam saw those horrors in his eyes. Blake saw only strength.

Nickel squirmed uncomfortably as he tried to think of a way to answer Blake's question.

"To put it simply, kid...well...it can't be put simply at all."

Her ears drooped.

"Pulling a trigger gets easier and easier the more you do it. I mean, why do we practice shooting at targets? It's to improve our marksmanship. When the time comes to shoot a live target, whether an animal for food, or an enemy for defense, we tend to overthink the act. We begin to worry about injuring or killing the target, what the consequences of that shot will be, and whether the shot was actually justified. These thoughts can interfere with the accuracy of our shots. We practice marksmanship to be able to quiet those thoughts and allow our reflexes to take over, for our own protection and the protection of the others around us."

"So, that was the easy part of the answer; the part about the physical act of shooting another. The second part of the answer isn't so easy to explain."

"When the time comes to shoot a real target, like a deer or an enemy, our brain can do less thinking, and our body can react without conscious thought. While the act of pulling the trigger becomes inherent, morals and your conscience tend to get in the way. Eventually, you learn to tune them out and act without their guiding voices to keep you on the path."

Her voice was near a whisper when she spoke. "And what's the right path? How do you know if you're on the right path?"

Nickel shrugged, standing to his full height as he withdrew his gun and looked at it with a critical eye. "You don't. It's something you have to find and travel down yourself. Only you know the path."

"But what if I go down the wrong path?"

Nickel thought of Leon and the final battle he'd fought in. "Pray that you have someone to help you stay on your path." He holstered his weapon and walked out the door, his eyes hard as steel.

Blake watched him leave, her eyes lingering on his retreating form until Adam stepped past her. While she received no solid answer, in her mind she found an answer and a path. If her father wouldn't let her leave to do good, she'd do it on her own.

With strength of mind and body, she looked back to her mother and departed, heading after them to do what needed to be done for her people.

(-)

Adam jogged up beside Nickel as the Gunslinger made his way to the dock. It was easy to know which one they were taking. Only one had a bunch of Faunus putting their belongings onboard and getting set for a three to five day trip at sea.

Since he only had the clothes on his back, his gun, ammo, and twin wakizashi to his name, he was ready to go.

"Ship won't leave for another two hours," Adam told him. Nickel nodded mutely. Adam knew he was thinking about his words to Blake. Poor girl never got the answer she wanted. Child innocence was a blessing and curse. They wanted the answer then and there with no work needed. "You did the right thing."

Nickel stopped to admire the ship. Large enough to hold the fifteen families they were taking to Argus, the thing was fitted with at least some weaponry. Hopefully it was strong enough to deter any would-be attackers from taking a shot at them; be them Grimm or Pirates.

He ran his hand along the hard wood and chipped paint where a name had once been written, while his thoughts returned to the answer he couldn't give to her. Truth of the matter was, he had no answer. Not one he could truly give. There was no answer. Not a path one could knowingly walk or the true weight of a life.

The path he walked was his own. He feared no one could or should walk beside him for the path he walked was Sorrows' Road, a path left for those who lost all they had. A road crafted by hardship and blood. Your only friend, the iron at your side. Your lover, death.

All that talk and he was no better. Adam was his Light, but his wavering faith made him question not only Adam, but himself. How could he stay true to his teachings when his teacher had betrayed them? How could he stay true to someone who didn't know what the promise meant? How could he relay these problems if the only thing that ran through his mind was questions that could never be answered. The innocence of a child was still ripe in his mind, despite the damage it was sustaining from the choices he now made.

"Maybe," he answered, dropping his hand to his side as he moved for the ramp. "I don't have anything to take with me. Might as well get to know the families we'll be taking to Argus. Let them know that they're under the protection of the Gunslinger and the Swordsman."

Adam laughed. "I'm sure they already know." He took a deep breath and looked back to his home, a spot in the distance, but he knew where it was. "I need to grab my pack. I followed you down here and I kind of need to get my things for this. No telling how long this trip will last."

Nickel nodded and boarded the ship and started speaking with the first family as they ran up to the edge of the ship, their excited child leaning over to look down into the clear water below.

He intended to when he caught a familiar scent that he turned around to track. It got to the lowest level of the ship and looked at a mass of crates. Rolling his eyes, he walked through the neatly laid stacks until he came to one that was slightly ajar. Inside he could hear the soft whisper of hushed breathing.

"This'll spoil." He snapped the crate closed and waited. A moment later the lid slowly opened, tiny hands pushing it open and a pair of amber eyes peered through the darkness, wide in shock. "You're ruining some of the supplies," he told her.

The lid was thrown open, Blake standing tall in a crate of fresh herbs for cooking. He wanted the lid closed now, but was holding his ground as Blake stood tall with a piece of basil sticking to her elbow, not a weapon in sight on her person.

"You have a weapon?" She shook her head and suddenly shrank in size. Nickel looked up and to the right, almost like he was looking in the direction of some powerful figure. Blake suddenly shrank when he turned back to her. "You're parents don't know, do they?" She shook her head. "And what makes you think I should let you come?"

"Because you said I was strong."

"Strength doesn't just mean physical might, you know? Sometimes, real strength is about biting the bullet and doing something you don't wanna do."

"I thought it was about doing what was right?"

"Strength means too many things." Whatever serious tone he had taken prior that made her timid was gone to her, and she smiled, accepting that realist answer anyone could give her. "If you don't have a weapon, I see no reason to let you come. You'd just be another mouth to feed, body to look after, and without a family to put you with, you become another family's problem that they don't wanna deal with."

"I can take care of myself!"

"I believe you. But think about what your family must be filling if you leave. What about them? What if this entire operation goes south and we don't come back? They'll wonder what happened to you."

Her head tilted, clear that she had never thought of that. Eight year olds seldom did. "But I wanna help." She jumped out of the crate, standing to her full height, which was to his hips, and gave him the meanest face she could muster.

Nickel knew what she would do if he sent her away or dragged her back to Kali and Ghira. And since she had clearly escaped the reach of her parents, if only for a little bit, without their knowledge, then she'd simply do this again and try to find a better hiding spot.

"You can help me get to know the people on this ship." He knelt down to her eye level, a mischievous glint in his eye. "If your parents show up, you have to go back with them. But for the time being, you can help me meet people. I'm not the best at social interactions."

"What does that mean?"

Blinking, he laughed nervously and started heading for the top. "I'm not good at talking to people."

She laughed and followed after him to help in his important job. It wasn't much, but she was happy to just be needed.