A/N: Hello anyone who is still reading. I am sooo sorry for not updating in forever. This chapter isn't the best but I wanted to get something out to have you all know that I am not dead and I haven't forgotten this. So reading back over my notes I noticed a geography discrepancy. So, I am going to ignore it and fix it from now on. Anywho, thank you for your patience.
-LifeisBeautiful17- Yes Jay has a way to go. I really wanted to write him like this as a character that has to grow. Oriole actually held a similar view and I tried to hint that she didn't want to speak to Roux when she first met her. Granted, Oriole has little choice in who her company is so the learning curve was sharper. I love Shiloh's semblance too. Just because I think it would be so pretty to see all the colors. I feel a bit bad that the nobles were really just a blip in the story.
-Firealis- I am glad that people liked this chapter. I think I am overly critical of my own writing. I am really happy that no one is offended by Jay's views. I wanted to have a 'racist' character since the time period would allow for it.
-Artesys- Yes racist is the correct word for Jay. And even Oriole a bit. She had to get over it quickly though since Roux is on of the view people she can talk to. That is probably is an error. I should fix that.
-Hofund- That is a very cool comparison. I am not the best at history so it is awesome when someone shares tidbits like this.
Thank you for all your support.
The fire crackled invitingly though Roux couldn't enjoy it. Even Carmine seemed to be lost in thought. "What do you think Amari is telling her?" the Faunus asked.
"I am unsure. She doesn't appear to be pleased with the stunt the pulled earlier. Oriole needs to be cautious. Amari isn't a patient person and whatever she has planned doesn't need the princess to be… whole," Carmine responded, tossing twigs into the hungry fire.
Roux paled, "You don't think that she would … hurt Oriole do you? I mean she hasn't been physically violent with her." She didn't want to think about the girl being hurt. The other was her friend, of a sort.
Carmine shrugged, "I would. If I had to transport a person against their will, you have to break their will. How do you think Faunus servitude began. Nullah is full of broken faunus who serve their master." His cold tone caused her to shiver.
"Yeah the Mahneys were a bit cruel like that," Roux said absentmindedly. Her mind was traveling back in time, back to a time she partially missed.
"The Mahneys? You served them? They were one of the most wealthy families in Rift," Carmine said a bit of interest in his voice. "Before they started losing money and business. I didn't know they could afford to have Faunus servants." The man's eyes were calculating, probably the price on her head.
The Faunus girl was now regretting opening her mouth. She grudgingly continue talking, "Yea, I mean. I was only there for a little bit when I was little. They sold my siblings and I when things got bad."
"Sold?" Oriole's voice broke the conversation, it was scratchy as if she was shouting for a long time. Roux tried not to think about it, she knew that the princess wasn't talking much to them during the last day. "How could anyone do that? You were too young to be separated from your family."
"The world is cruel like that. People are unkind and hurt others for money. It is the way things are," Carmine replied. The man's eyes narrowed as his face took on a cruel look.
Oriole scoffed gingerly making her way between the two. Her face scrunched in pain as she sat down. "So you are looking for your siblings?" Roux nodded, blinking back tears that she thought she shed long ago. What use were they now. "You should have come to Dale. Faunus are free."
"Free from slavery, not discrimination or hate," Carmine added bitterness in his voice. "You are naive to believe that anywhere in this world can lead you to a happy ending. Her siblings are probably dead. Once we get to Nullah, you're probably dead as well."
Roux flinched at his cold assured voice. "Carmine, why are you like this? What happened to you?" Oriole asked, her tone a weird mixture of concern and contained anger.
"I wasn't born in the lap of luxury with the promise of a throne. I was born to be a weapon. I was raised to kill and to maim. I am sorry, Princess if that doesn't fit into the view from your ivory tower."
Oriole laughed, harsh and not with any humor. "Oh wow. Aren't you a big tough guy? I know people like you. They relish in their pain and don't see that they are the cause of it. All they see is doom and gloom because that's all they are." The mercenary was quick, pulling the girl off of her feet. The princess glared at him as her bare feet dangled in the air. The Faunus couldn't tear her eyes away from the orange-haired princess. A blotch of red was growing at her side. Her breathing was ragged and harsh.
"Carmine, Oriole. You both need to calm down," Roux shouted. "I didn't think I was around a pair of children." She tried to sound light-hearted at the second sentence. It seemed to have worked. Carmine lowered Oriole with a calming breath through his nose.
"I will be collecting more firewood," the man walked away from the girls. Roux turned to the other girl. She lifted her shirt to expose the laceration at her side that bled through the rough bandages wrapped around her waist.
"That looks bad," Roux pointed out. "I take it your visit to Amari wasn't good."
Oriole shrugged, "Oh we had a lovely chat. Sorry about losing my cool. I think I should have stayed quiet. Not really good at figuring out when the right time to keep my mouth shut it." She distractedly poked at the wound.
"Carmine shouldn't have been as rough as he was," Roux replied, the princess lowered her clothes to cover up her wound. She shrugged her shoulders. The two became quiet; the silence becoming awkward.
"Do you miss them?" Oriole asked, cutting the tension. "Your siblings?" The Faunus girl shifted uncomfortably. "You could tell me. Who else am I going to tell?" Although joking, the words held an edge of frustration.
"Yes, I miss them. It's like-" Roux trailed off unsure how to continue.
"A part of you is missing. Like a limb," Oriole finished. Roux looked at the princess. Her blue eyes were filled with understanding. Of course she understood, she was missing her brother. Was this like what they felt; were they like Oriole waiting for someone to find them. She couldn't let her mind go down that path. She had to be strong to get her siblings back. Oriole yawned. "I should apologize to Carmine. I wasn't very understanding of him."
"Give him a little bit of time to cool off," Roux replied. "I am sure he will come around. I think he has a soft spot for you." She gave a playful wink.
"Ha. That's funny. I am sure he likes you," Oriole teased. "Besides Demetri and I are suuuper serious." The Faunus girl laughed; it was refreshing the way the princess turned a negative situation into an opportunity to laugh. In another time and place, she was sure they would be friends. But not here where they were a Faunus and princess. "I'm going to sleep. If you are up when Carmine comes back, tell him I am sorry." With that the girl limped to the tent to settle for the night.
Roux was left by the fire alone. She watched the dancing flames in boredom. Her sharp ears heard the footsteps before she saw him. "Hey, Carmine," she greeted as she turned. "Decide to chop the whole forest down?" she commented, pointing to the large pile of branches in his arms.
The young man frowned, putting the kindling on the ground. "Where's Oriole?" he asked.
"Asleep," Roux replied, pointing to the tent. "She wanted to apologize to you." Carmine nodded distractedly as he sat down. "You know she is right. You'll be a lot happier if you just smiled or looked on the bright side every now and then. Don't get me wrong that super serious angsty look probably makes some girls swoon, but you're making yourself miserable."
"So I should just lie to myself and say everything will have its storybook ending?" Carmine replied, his tone biting.
"No, just to keep your sanity see the positive in your situation," Roux replied.
"I can't promise anything," Carmine said.
"Not even for a bit of gold?" the Faunus asked, holding a piece of bronze in her hand.
The mercenary smirked, pushing the offered coin away. "I am going to check on Oriole. I think I may have reopened a wound." The two captors got to their feet to check in on the prisoner.
RWBY~RWBY~RWBY
Asher and Ivy led the group through the forest. Being off the beaten path, the undergrowth was thick. The older woman was a natural of following game paths. Led by a little bird, the woman was stepping expertly through the foliage. Stepping around and over vines and spiny plants. Asher knew where he was going so he wasn't having difficulty following the woman. Robin was right behind the long-haired teen, blending in to the green around him. He looked very serious like he would bite someone if they spoke to him. But no one was speaking. Harriet looking a little troubled as she mulled over what Jay and her spoke about walked quietly. Her boots stomping any plant with thorns. Shiloh, Jay, and Tanya walked behind the entire group while Salken looked rather excited to see what was going to happen.
The group's bird guide flittered into the branches of a tree at the edge of a large road. It sung a quick song before flying away. The teens and Ivy lined the ridge overlooking the road. They could hear the sound of horses and loud laughter. Trotting up the road, a pair of horses came into view.
The animals themselves were beautiful and the two men on them as well. Their armor gleamed and their hair was perfectly in place. Asher could recognize them immediately as nobles. They entire demeanor screamed money with a heaping helping of arrogance. Though that didn't annoy him. What made his blood boil was the man and woman tied to a rope being led by said nobles. "I will go first. You may back me up," Jay responded, his tone harsh and Asher knew that the pair of nobles were in for a verbal lashing.
The prince straightened his posture and brushed off the leaves that clung to him. With all the grace of his title, he strode down the embankment in front of the two horses. Asher could see the man and woman balk at the sight of the prince. Deciding that Jay needed back-up, he followed him down. "Claudius, Clive, Halt," the prince ordered.
The nobles pulled back on their reigns in front of Jay and the rest of the group. "My lord," they both greeted with a bow of their heads. The prince rose his blue-haired head.
"What are you doing with these two… people?" Jay asked, looking at the two captive parents. Asher could feel the anger rolling off Robin who held his head down. His hood made it impossible to see his face.
"They were trespassing on Bennet family property, sire," one answered as he pushed back his blonde hair. "They were hunting in our private forest," he continued.
"We were taking them to be tried," the brunette noble added. Jay looked over the two with a discerning eye. He then looked at the ragged parents.
"Is this true?" he asked them.
The two shook their head to answer negatively. "No. We were looking for fruit to sell at the market. We were not hunting," the man answered, his tone gruff. The rope attached to his wrist was tugged tight, causing him to stumble.
"Clive, that is unnecessary," Jay scolded the blonde man.
"He didn't address his highness properly," Clive responded, bowing his head.
Jay looked at the four people in front of him. He walked past the horses to stand by the two captured peasants. Asher couldn't hear the conversation and he doubted that the nobles could too. They seemed to try to discretely leaned toward the prince and the pair. "Clive, Claudius. Release them. I, Prince Jay of Dale, have pardoned them."
"But your highness, these people are thieves stealing from the noble family of Bennet," Claudius argued.
"Do I have to repeat my orders? My associates and I have been traveling in these woods and the only evidence of hunting has been by your hands," the prince replied curtly. The two nobles frowned but dismounted to release both prisoners.
"Thank you, Your Highness," they both said giving him a bow and a curtesy.
"There is no need for thanks. Your children are waiting for you," Jay responded. The two were quick to take their leave disappearing into the forest once again. The prince turned back to the pair of nobles. "You may return back to Dale and inform the king that I will be purchasing the Bennet family's forest and any other noble family's forest. As a natural resource of our kingdom, it should be available to all of our citizens."
The two nobles looked at each other, looking as though they had tasted something bitter. Thoroughly cowed, the two didn't speak back to their ruler. Instead they bowed their heads and walked past the group of rescuers. Asher found it fairly amusing as did Robin who lifted up his head to watch them past.
Clive made eye-contact with the hooded Faunus and stopped. Claudius stopped as well seeing his companion halting. The blonde haired noble sneered. "Ha, Is this who you make your company, Your Highness? A thief and basta-"
"Enough," Jay interrupted, cutting off the insult. Robin himself tightened his hands into fists. Ivy placed a hand on his arm. It wasn't enough to stop the other if he chose to attack but it was enough to calm him. "I will not stand for you to insult any of them. These people are some of the most noble I have met. They are assisting my mission to bring back my sister. Whatever they were before does not matter to me. Leave us in peace." The prince's words urged the pair to continue, but not without giving Robin one last sneer.
The group watched as the two galloped out of sight. "I am sorry that you had to see that. We should probably return to the village." They all were quiet as they turned around and walked back to the village.
"Woah, you went all prince mode on them," Asher said breaking the tension. The effect was almost immediate like everyone releasing a breath they were holding.
"Of course, I did. It is the only way to deal with their kind," Jay responded with a frown.
"They aren't going to retaliate against us are they?" Tanya asked looking over her shoulder.
"Clive and Claudius wouldn't. They are the biggest cowards I know," Jay responded. "They will probably go to complain to their father who would then complain to my father." Jay shrugged unconcerned. Small talk formed between the group as they walked back to the village.
As the group entered the village, the two children that tasked them with finding their parents ran up to them. "Hello, little ones," Ivy greeted, her motherly tone eased the pair.
"Mom and Dad told us you can stay with us for the night," the little boy said excitedly. The little girl nodded excitedly.
"Thank you so much," Ivy said, ruffling his hair.
"Alright, I didn't want to sleep outside tonight," Asher said, pumping his fist. The other teens gave similar exclamations. The two children ran ahead. The team of adventurers followed the siblings. The town folk watched the precession, whispering behind their hands.
Jay fell behind till he walked beside Robin. "May I ask now how you and the Bennet family know each other?" the prince asked.
"My mother's name is Isabel," Robin answered, waiting for the recognition. The prince's face showed surprise.
"I heard that she was disowned before I was born…" he paused. "I understand."
"My conception wasn't approved by my extended family," Robin clarified.
"When I take the throne, you are more than welcome to take your place as the head of the Bennet family," Jay offered, "You are the type of person who I prefer as my council."
"Thank you for the offer, but my place is with my people in the forest," Robin replied, distractedly. "Those people are not my family. They made that perfectly clear."
Jay nodded, understandably. "If I may be open with you, I understand completely. Have you seen my entire family?" Robin replied that he had, thinking back to the family portrait that was shown around the city. "Did you notice that Oriole is the only one with orange hair?" Robin nodded, it was an obvious difference between the girl and the rest of the royal family. "My father's valet had orange hair. My father made it very difficult for us as we grew up. I brought this up to tell you I understand. I don't blame you for hating them. I don't particularly care for my father."
"How does Oriole take it?" Robin asked.
"I don't think she even notices. She still loves him, she calls him "dad". I can't bring myself to do that," Jay said with a smile. The two young men stopped their conversation as they saw the children stop. In front of an inn.
"Here you go, Mom and Dad got two rooms for you. Mom is also cooking her world famous stew," the little boy said excitedly.
The teens thanked the children and prepared for bed.