A/N: Hi everyone. Shocked to see another chapter so soon. So am I.
-Firealis- I honestly love writing Carmine, Oriole, and Roux. There is something about their chemistry that I just enjoy. Thank you for your review
Artesys- Yeah, Jay does have room to grow. When first plotting this story, he was going to be the main character as well as the group of rescuers. My intention was really just to focus on the small group. But you guys submitted so many great OCs that I had to change my plan a bit. Anyways back on topic, I really don't care for SYOCs where the author's character/s are overpowered or seemingly perfect so I really wanted to make sure that Jay wasn't either. Oriole fits there too. So as a message to everyone, if you feel as though either of my characters are too powerful or without flaw, please tell me and I will fix it.
- LifeisBeautiful17- I am glad that I did Roux okay. I find it hard to figure out when backstories should be revealed. Especially with characters that don't want to reveal it.
-ElectricalZats- I really wonder how that is all going to go down when Robin is revealed to be a Faunus. (just kidding as the author I do know and honestly can't wait for the big reveal). I am glad that you like that I am switching up the characters and who they interact with. In my first, SYOC I paired people off too quickly and it really affected the story. That is why I am trying not to stick with certain character pairs. Eh, as best as I can. As far as the other City-States, I only really planned to expand on Nullah and one other one (I think this is a bit spoilery). And yes this story will just encompass Jay and the others rescuing Oriole. Sorry to disappoint, but this story was a request given to me, so I had no intention for it to be very long and I will be totally out of ideas. However, if anyone wanted to do a continuation, they are free to do so unless the creators of the characters have any objections.
-All my readers- Thank you for putting up with me. I am not the best writer so I am so glad that you take the time to read my story.
Ivy was the first to wake. The older woman looked over the three other girls still sleeping on the cots the family brought out for the travelers. The burgundy- haired girl muttered in her sleep. Her face twisting into one of distress. The older woman couldn't make out the words she was saying, but the girl was starting to squirm. Ivy got up out of bed to tip-toe to the other girl. The older woman pulled a chair beside her and sat down. "Shiloh, Shiloh. Wake up, honey," the woman gently put her hand on her arm.
The blind girl's eyes opened to look in her direction. She wiped tears from her eyes. "I am sorry if I woke you, Ivy," Shiloh responded.
Ivy gave her a kind smile. "You did nothing of the sort. I was already awake. Would you like to talk about your dream?"
"Thank you for offer. I will consider doing so," Shiloh responded. "I am unsure if I want to share that part of my life quite yet."
Ivy gave the younger huntress a sad smile. "Of course, dear. I will be ready whenever you are ready to do so." Tanya shifted on her bed, but remained asleep. Harriet was still soundly asleep. "I am going to go downstairs and see if our hosts have a stove that we can cook breakfast on."
"I will come with you and leave Tanya to sleep," Shiloh offered. As Ivy backed away from the girl, she got up off her bed. Ivy gave one more glance at the sleeping girl. Her head scarf was a bit skewed and Ivy carefully set it back into black without touching her head. Shiloh waited at the door for the older woman. Ivy walked through the door and Shiloh shut it silently behind them. The pair walked by the boy's door that was completely silent. They must be still asleep.
"Do you know how to cook, Shiloh?" Ivy asked as the two started down the stairs of the quaint inn. She watched the younger girl, making sure she didn't fall on the steps.
"No," she said with a sad grin. "My parents didn't think it was necessary. We had people for that." Her face grew sad, but Ivy wouldn't push the other to continue speaking.
"I will teach you then. I heard that other senses become sharper with the loss of one. Your sense of taste and smell are probably more enhanced than my own."
Shiloh smiled more guinenly. Ivy wasn't underestimating her. In fact, she might be overestimating her. "What is your plan for breakfast?" the blind girl asked.
"I am thinking omelettes and potatoes. We need the energy for the road," Ivy replied. "I can cut the vegetables if you are not comfortable doing so. Could you crack the eggs?"
"I would love to," Shiloh replied, grateful that the other trusted her with the fragile things.
RWBY~RWBY~RWBY
Jay sat up to find that Robin was already awake and maintaining his weapon. "You're awake," Robin noted, looking up from his crossbow.
"Did you sleep?" Jay asked, "I know you didn't like seeing the Bennets. I don't blame you. If they banished you and your mother."
Robin put down his weapon, "I put that behind me. I am a little bitter, yes. But I wouldn't have met my step-father and wouldn't have my little sister."
Jay chuckled, "Yea, I don't know who I would be without Oriole."
"I am sure our sisters would be friends," Robin said with a grin, "Though I fear anyone who could cross their paths."
Jay smiled as well, "When this is done, you should bring her to the castle. I am sure Oriole will need a friend after her ordeal."
"I will consider it. Though I may need to warn her not to be too rough," Robin responded.
"Wow, you guys are lucky. All I have are older brothers. And all of them are jerks," Asher's voice interrupted the conversation. His long hair was in disarray as he sat up.
"I have no siblings," Salken added. Without his mask he looked a little sleepy.
"Even that is lucky. You don't have to worry about getting in trouble because they decide to fight with you. You also don't have to share with them," Asher replied.
"But you don't have a friend to stand beside you when no one else would," Robin added.
"You don't have someone to make you laugh," Jay answered. Salken looked between all the teens. He seemed to think over something.
"I regret that I wouldn't know for myself," Salken muttered. "I know. You all can be my siblings." The teen nodded his head proud of his decision.
"Alright, sure I will be sure to tease you like a good older brother," Asher said with a beaming smile. Robin rolled his eyes.
"Yes, I will like to experience everything that siblings do," Salken said excitedly.
"Great, First things first. This is mine now," Asher said as he grabbed Salken's book and running out of the room. Robin and Jay sighed as Salken jolted upright.
"Asher, give me my book back," Salken shouted as he nearly tripped over the bedding as he headed out of the room. Jay and Robin looked out of the room to see both teens chasing each other. The door beside them opened and Harriet and Tanya looked out of the doorframe.
"Why did Asher take Salken's book?" Harriet asked. The boys explained their earlier conversation. "That makes sense some of my neighbors said their siblings would pick on them."
"Asher," a mature voice called out. "Stop that at once." Ivy looked frustrated with a tray of plates in her hands. The long-haired teen looked a little sheepish at being corrected, but handed the yellow garbed teen his book back. "Thank you. Now everyone let's gather for breakfast." The woman walked into the girl's room. The boys followed meekly letting Shiloh slip silently into the room with her own tray.
The plates were handed out and the group ate with minimal chatter. Robin and Harriet took the empty plates to wash them. The rest of the group packed up their things. The family they helped gave them some dry fruit as thanks and the group was off.
RWBY~RWBY~RWBY
Oriole woke up. Her blue eyes could only see darkness. She looked to her right to see Roux sleeping soundly. Her Faunus ears twitched in her sleep. Oriole huffed as she sat up. She looked to her other side. Carmine was also sleeping, his dark brown eyes closed as well. The princess silently got to her feet. The camp was silent. The campfires are dying, barely glowing embers lighting the night. The princess stepped over Roux carefully. They were all sleeping. The princess crouched as she made her way away from the group. She activated her semblance.
She knew that the negative emotions she felt. The hurt, the hopelessness, the loneliness. They were bait for her trap. The howl of a beowulf was enough warning. She cut off her semblance as she climbed a tree. Nestled in the trees, she looked down at the gathering glowing eyes. Beowulfs gathered sniffing the ground around her hiding spot. The pack must have been an old one. Their boney plates were thick and nearly covered their entire body. The beasts tried to reach her stretching onto their hindlegs.
They lost interest quickly. Snouts in the air and their nose wiggled. With a howl they ran to the slowly waking camp. Screams filled the air as the Beowulfs leaped at men. Oriole quickly dropped down to the ground. Beowulfs and men cried out in pain. The chaos was a perfect cover. The princess ran away from the fighting. She laughed to herself. She should have done this nights ago. The howls were slowing now. They were becoming yips of pain. The shouts of men were changing as well. They were becoming triumphant.
Oriole ran faster; she had to get away before they found her. A woman's frustrated shout filled the air. "Amari," Oriole whispered, fear turning her veins to ice. The wind was picking up. It howled angrily. The princess dropped to the ground, crawling to hide behind a stump covered in grass. Her blue eyes searched for her captor.
"We apologize. She must have snuck off during the Grim attack," Carmine's calm voice said. Oriole pressed her body into the deep grass. She ignored the bugs that crawled over her hands. She couldn't see them. There was a terrible screech followed by loud popping sounds. Oriole gasped silently as a tree was ripped from its roots by an unnatural wind. This was followed by another. Amari was walking behind the trail of destruction, her eyes were glowing like a fire. Carmine followed behind along with Demetri and Roux. If the mercenary was surprised or impressed by this display, Oriole couldn't see from the distance.
"Maybe a grimm ate her?" Roux said as Amari ripped another tree from the ground. Its roots still clung to the dirt.
"You two have better hope that is not the case. I would have to end both of your lives," Amari threaten. Roux backed away from the woman. Carmine looked unimpressed with the threat. The war lord turned away from her group of followers. "Oriole, You have a minute to come back to me. Demetri."
With a grunt, the large man wrapped his thick arm around Roux's neck. A knife pressed itself against her pulse. The Faunus stilled, looking to Carmine. The mercenary didn't blink, looking through the trees. "Hey what's the big idea?"
Amari smirked, "The princess has taken a liking to the both of you. The stupid girl will come running out to save your skin."
Roux huffed a rough laugh, "You're kidding, right?" There wasn't any way that the other girl would give up this freedom for her sake.
"Oriole, you have ten seconds," Amari called out.
The princess clenched the grass in front of her. She wasn't going to give herself up. Why should she? What did the Faunus did for her? She did give her a brush. Roux was the only bit of light in this misery. Carmine was a bit too. She knew he could be better. The knife at Roux's throat pressed more. Blood streamed down her throat.
"Stop," Oriole called out, before her mind could tell her otherwise. She was up on her feet. Demetri dropped the Faunus, running to the princess. Oriole barely braced herself before Demetri tackled her to the ground. He tied her arms behind her back and her ankles together. Her joints groaned at the strain. The man hefted her over his shoulder like a hunted deer. Oriole slumped defeated. She looked toward her homeland and her eyes filled with tears.
Demetri rejoined the others. Carmine refused to look at the princess while Roux held her throat that started to stop bleeding. Amari looked pleased with herself. "Poor little princess. Your ideals won't help you here. Come let's return to camp, bury our dead, and we will be off." The war lord took the lead followed by Demetri. Roux followed after the pair and Carmine took the rear.
"Why did you do that?" Roux asked the princess, softly. The girl sighed, blinking back her tears.
"You have to find your siblings, too. If you died you can't do that," Oriole explained. Roux looked up at the dangling girl.
"Quiet," Demetri growled, jolting the girl on her perch. The group walked into the camp. Oriole looked over the destruction caused by the pack of Grimm. Tents were torn and she could see bodies of men laying on the ground. She should feel guilty; it was her semblance that caused the grim to come. It was her fault that they were all dead. She should feel terrible, but she couldn't find that guilt. She was sad that people died, but she couldn't feel the shame that she should have.
"Stay," Demetri muttered, dropping the girl unceremoniously. Roux was at her side to help her into a more comfortable sitting position. Demetri followed Amari as she gathered her troop.
"You should have left," Carmine noted, "You won't be able to escape again."
"Wow, nice to know my life is nothing to you," Roux replied. "You would have been next." Her ears pressed against her head in anger.
Carmine's eyes narrowed, "I am not weak enough to be taken hostage." Roux bristled at the comment, jumping to her feet. "Both of you are going to get yourselves killed."
"You're concerned?" Oriole asked, her normally teasing tone empty. Carmine didn't reply.
"Gather round, worms," Demetri called to the strangling men. The men gathered around, bandages were unraveling from wounds. "We are sending a group to rid ourselves of our followers."
"Bring the prince. You can kill the others," Amari clarified. Oriole should shout and scream, but she sat there silently. She watched a group of twelve men mount horses and gallop away. She could do nothing; nothing but hope that Jay would be alright.
RWBY~RWBY~RWBY
Shiloh tried not to think of what lied a head of them. It was difficult though hearing the Dalians speak of it. A river. A large one from the sounds of their conversation. She could hear Jay speak of a crossing that he saw on his maps. Robin argued that it would lead them to heavy grim territory. Ivy was saying that she would prefer to keep her wagon and horses and that the crossing was the best option. Harriet suggested a toll bridge that her parents talked about.
"You okay, Shiloh?" Asher asked the shorter girl. "You are looking a little pale. It's not a pretty color on you."
"I am quite well. Thank you for your concern," Shiloh answered calmly. There was just something about the teen that drove her up the wall.
"Well, how about I take a guess since you won't tell me," Asher replied. He paused and hummed, "Did breakfast not sit well with you?" Shiloh shook her head in a negative answer. He hummed again, looking at the group debating. "Is the whole river crossing bugging you?" Shiloh didn't answer, but Asher laughed, "that's it, isn't it? Well, I will tell them we should take the bridge then. You know because I am terrified of water."
"Why would you lie?" Shiloh asked.
Asher shrugged, "I don't like seeing pretty girls distressed. Besides it seems the safest bet. Wait here." The dark-haired teen jogged to the discussing group. Shiloh watched him talk with the four. Tanya walked beside the blind girl.
"Was he bothering you?" she asked, "If he is flirting too much, Jay and Ivy will correct him."
Shiloh shook her head, "No, I mean he was flirting, but he was helping as well." Tanya looked at her in disbelief, but didn't push the matter. Asher turned to face her and gave her a thumbs up. The blind girl sighed in relief; everything was going to be fine. The bridge would be stable and the group would be closer to Nullah.