Chapter 5: An Unexpected Offer
It's been three years since Ruby ran away from the place she used to call home. In that time, she felt the grip of death more times than most hunters do in their careers. She survived by learning, willpower, and occasionally just sheer luck. She had always been inquisitive and resourceful, and that's what kept her alive for all those years. A new and growing trait she had developed was the ability to disconnect herself from the acts she had committed to survive.
Just a couple of years ago, Ruby would've cried at the thought of killing another living being. But she had learned that to care is to grow weak. She couldn't care if she wanted to survive, so she learned to hunt, to be an effective, ruthless hunter of the woods. She learned how to make weapons out of stone and stick, to make rope out of grass and subsequently to tie knots, and most importantly, how to kill. She learned how to make fire from only rocks and the occasional flint she would find by searching the river bed of the closest water supply to the stops she made on her travels. She learned how to skin the animals and clean their skins, so she could make use of them in the form of clothes or blankets or travel bags. She learned how to cook basic meals using the local plant life and game. She learned how to safely boil water so she could drink. She learned everything she would need to know to live off the land, at least in a world other than Remnant.
To survive in Remnant meant to learn to kill without feeling, to stalk your prey without leaving a single trace of your hunt. Ruby would use her hunts to learn stealth. She eventually learned of the so called "sixth sense" that all living beings have; The ability to feel intent around oneself, even if there are no physical signs of another living being. She found that she could use her aura to hide her intent, subsequently nullifying the sixth sense of her prey. She honed this skill by hunting, and even going so far as tracking entire groups of more vicious and tenacious animals, such as wolves and bears. One such occasion lead to a lapse in judgement, which was almost paid with her life. After that encounter, she decided she needed to learn how to fight, oh and also first-aid.
Ruby would observe the more aggressive animals to grasp different fighting and self-defense styles, to find the most efficient and effective ways to fight. She would make weapons to make up for the lack of animals parts designed to inflict damage. She found that the most effective weapon for her were two twin daggers shaped like arrows. It allowed her great maneuverability, along with being able to attack and defend at the same time, swiping with one dagger, while bringing up her guard with the other. She would practice with the blades for hours on end, discovering new techniques. She would then go on the hunt, only sparing enough time after her hunting sessions to cook with the remaining daylight.
Ruby would repeat this series of events every day for three years, only wavering from it when she sensed another person in her current position. This is when her newfound fighting skills would be put to the test. Sure, if was useful to be able to fight with the more aggressive game, but if she wanted to, she could easily take out her game with her makeshift bow and arrow. But people were capable of more complex feats than animals. People are capable of complex thought and analysis, and using those abilities to their full potential. It was in these moments she would test not only her ability to fight, but also her ability to kill another person. She didn't have the luxury to allow other people into her territory. So when someone new entered the vicinity of her senses, It was either her life or theirs.
It was one such day that Ruby found herself resting, with her back to a tree. Unbeknownst to her, a large, red-eyed raven chose to spend her day scouting a potential future member of her tribe. Raven Branwen had been following Ruby's journeys since the unknowing silver-eyed warrior had ran away from her home. She'd seen Ruby's progress, and was amazed at how intuitive and resourceful the girl was. The girl had used the little previous knowledge she had to start, and her growth only stemmed from there. Raven observed that the girl had naturally great analytical and combat skills, but what the leader of the Branwen tribe was most impressed with was girl's ability to disconnect her emotions from a fight. Not only three years ago, Raven was observing a girl whose hands shook when she killed a woodland creature. Now that same girl was a hardened survivor.
The strong live and the weak die. She'll be perfect for the tribe. Despite all your faults Qrow, I must thank your for leaving this one for me, Raven thought. She had made her decision. She was sure that her niece would make a great addition to the tribe, and now that she thought about it maybe even her heir, but she would cross that road when she came to it. For now she had to recruit, but as much as she wanted it to be so, she wasn't sure if Ruby would accept. She was Summer and Qrow's child, after all. As much as she had loved Summer like a sister, and Qrow was well... her brother, their ideals had always conflictted with hers. So, Raven Hesitated.
At that same moment, Ruby jolted to full awareness. Damnit, did she sense my hesitation? I don't know whether to be impressed or mad, Raven thought. But, it didn't seem like that was the case, for Ruby had gotten up and started running. Raven, although relieved that she had not been noticed, decided to fly after the girl. The girl's natural speed was another trait Raven was impressed with. Even without her semblance, the girl could keep up with most veteran hunters. So even in her avian form, Raven had to push herself to keep up, but when Ruby suddenly stopped in an open clearing, she decided to perch on a tree on the edge of the clearing. After a few seconds, Raven spotted the owner of Ruby's attention.
It was a man of lean build. He had brown hair that went slightly past his ears. Raven scoffed at his seemingly perfect, pale skin. Clearly this man is not used to the wilderness, she thought. On his torso, he wore a brown leather jacket over a plain green shirt. He wore simple brown, cloth pants and black combat boots. For weapons, he had duel six round revolver pistols in holsters on his hips, along with a sheath on his back that held a longsword of about three and a half feet. By Raven's estimate, the man was five feet and ten inches, more than a foot taller than Ruby, who stood at four feet and nine inches.
Raven had confidence in her niece, so she sat, or perched, back to watch the fight.
Ruby was about twenty yards from her opponent, before pulling out her bow, cocking an arrow from her quiver, and firing it with deadly precision at the man, all in less than a second. Before her arrow could reach him, the man drew his sword and sliced it out of the air. After slicing his sword down and bringing it back up, the man was taken off guard when he saw the girl right in front of him. He was taken aback even more by the fact that he saw no signs of a semblance, so that meant it was just pure speed. The man turned his sword down to parry a dagger coming his way, and drew one of his twin pistols to shoot her in the face, but was surprised that instead of seeing the rippling of her aura, he saw another dagger come up to block the bullet.
After blocking the bullet, Ruby went to slash with the same dagger, but was paried again by the man's pistol. She saw his sword about to come down on her, and redirected her paried slash to block the man's strike, while slashing at the man's stomach and saw his brown aura ripple, accompanied by a grunt of pain. She followed with a stab that was interrupted by the man striking it downward with his sword, then shot towards her abdomen. She dodged by spinning to her left, and hooked her dagger behind his knee. Before he was swept off his feet, he fired his pistol at her neck. She managed to dodge a major shot, but the bullet still scraped her leg, taking off a little of her aura.
The man back flipped to his feet, and got to his feet just in time to see a blur of red, black, and white. He recieved Ruby's knee to his stomach and stumbled back, bringing out both his pistols to duel wield and fired multiple shots at Ruby without hitting her once. Once the magazines ran out, he reholstered his guns and drew his sword. When he was about to charge, he found an arrow flying straight toward him. He was able to block the arrow just in time, but it still scraped him on the cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. Instinctively, he closed his eyes. That would prove to be a fatal mistake, since when he opened his eyes, Ruby was right in front of him, poised to cut his throat. He tilted his head back to dodge, but failed to notice the dagger aimed at his stomach. Even with his aura, the close proximity combined with the force behind the blade, Ruby was able to push the dagger into him, not stopping until his skin touched the hilt.
After withdrawing the dagger, Ruby stepped to the side as the man lurched forward, coughing up blood, and sent him to the ground with an aura enhanced round house kick to the back of his head. With the man face down, and bleeding out, Ruby had won the fight, but would not chance him being saved. So, she knelt down to where he was laying, took her dagger, and stabbed him through the back of the throat.
Raven was impressed. Ruby had taken down a foe who was older and seemed to have professional training, and held the size advantage. She didn't even look winded from the fight. Raven watched as Ruby searched through the man's belonging's but found nothing of interest apparently. Ruby then went back to her area, from before she was interrupted by the man.
After sitting, back to the tree, Ruby went through her bag until she found some clean skin she had skinned off a bear. She took her dagger and cut off a strip, and proceeded to wrap it around the cut on her leg.
After watching Ruby tie off the strip of skin on her leg, Raven decided it was as good as time as ever, so she retreated back into the forest in her avian form, and reemerged as human.
"Hello," Raven started. She was met with a red and monochrome blur or petals. She had the awareness to unsheath and raise her katana, easily blocking the strike from Ruby. Startling someone who just got done with a battle, probably not her smartest idea.
"Who are you? I should've have sensed you." Ruby asked cautiously, after backing away from the woman who had just come out of no where. Ruby sensed that this woman was strong. She couldn't run or she would be tracked down again, but if she fought, she would surely lose. Ruby would need all her aura just to make it out alive against this woman. It's not that the last fight was hard, but she had used her semblance, which had taken out some of her aura. Her best option was to play it passively, and see what this stranger would do.
"Calm down, I only want to talk." Raven said truthfully. That seemed to placate Ruby a little, but she was still on guard. Good, Raven thought. She knows not to let her guard down around someone with unknown intentions. "Now, what's your name girl?" She asked, already knowing the answer, but everything right now was a test.
Ruby, seeing as the woman was stronger than her, had no choice but to abide. "Ruby," She said in a neutral tone. Good again, Raven thought.
"Good, Ruby. My name is Raven Branwen-," Raven noticed how Ruby tensed at "Branwen", "and I have come to make you an offer."
"What is the offer?" Ruby asked coldly. Honestly, as soon as the woman now named Raven, who she knew as her aunt, said the name "Branwen", her blood started to warm.
Raven saw the barely contained malice on her niece's face. She smirked. "My offer to you is to join the Branwen Tribe." She said.
"Tribe?" Ruby asked skeptically, not ever hearing of the Brawnwen's being a tribe.
"Yes, it's a tribe, more specifically a bandit tribe." Raven answered proudly.
"And why are you making me this offer? It can't just be because we're blood. Only the strong thrive." Ruby asked again.
I'm liking her more and more, Raven thought. "You're right. It's not just because you're my niece, but that you are strong. My tribe only accepts the strong." Raven said with conviction.
"What authority do you have to make this offer to me?" She asked smirking.
To Raven, that question was unexpected, yet… smart. "I am the leader of the Branwen Tribe."
"One last question; how will this benefit me?" Ruby asked.
Raven, expecting this question, had already prepared an answer. "One, everyone in the tribe works for everybody else in the tribe, so we have strength in numbers. And believe me, it is only strength, because as you said before, the strong live and the weak die. Second, you won't have to use sticks and stones as weapons anymore. You'll have your share of anything you find. Third, since you are a true Branwen of Branwen blood, you are automaticcaly a candidate to be my heir, so I will see to your training personally."
At first, hearing the name "Branwen" had thrown her off, but the more she thought about it, that was a petty reason not to, and also this deal would greatly benefit her. "Deal. I don't really care about the strength in numbers or heir thing, but since you'll be training me, I accept. You seem pretty strong, so I'll get stronger." Ruby answered.
"Well then, welcome to the Branwen Tribe, Ruby Rose Branwen." Raven answered, satisfied.
AN: Yo, Zacatac back with the fifth installment of the series! I have to thank you for the massive support! We've already got nineteen followers and twenty-nine followers! I know that may not seem like a lot, but I never thought more than just a few people might view and enjoy my story, so thank you so much. Aside from that, I really want your input on the fight scene. What I could've done better, what I did good, what I did bad, etc. Thanks again to everybody reading this, and Zacatac out.
