Oriole hated being dragged around and she gave the woman who pulled her with an annoyed look. Amari's men were running to and fro carrying picks and fire dust. She rose and eyebrow in curiosity. "What are you planning?" she asked the Amari. The shaved woman smiled, but urged her to look away. Oriole walked through the campsite, looking for Roux and Carmine. They were no where to be seen. Amari pulled her faster. The pair were far from Nullah and the ground became more steep. Amari stopped the two at the top of a small hill. The captor pointed ahead. Oriole gasped in awe at the giant Grimm in the distance. The elephant-like beast marched slowly.
"Nullah is surrounded by Grimm," Amari noted. With a grin, she whispered, "It would be a shame if something drew all of them here."
Oriole stared in disbelief. Her world felt like it stopped. Her heart was beating too loud. The shaved woman couldn't have suggested what she did. "That's crazy," the princess breathed backing away, shaking her head. She had to get away from the Grimm, from the mad woman. "If I activate my semblance, the Grimm will come." Her blue eyes watched the distant giant dark shapes of the Goliaths in the far distance. It wouldn't take much for the foul beast to be drawn to the misery in the city and her own heart. The woman twisted the princess's arm behind her back. Oriole yelped in pain as she was pushed to her knees. Her eyes filled with tears. "Why are you doing this?" she asked looking behind her. Her voice held no heat, just confusion and fear.
"Don't you see. The only way to defeat the Grimm is for all us to be united. Dale, Rift, Glen, Nullah, and Ravine. Sometimes the best way to unite people is tragedy," Amari answered. The war lord gave a crazed grin that made the younger woman balk.
"You're crazy! You are willing to take all these lives just for the chance to unite everyone," Oriole shouted. Amari slapped the girl. The princess blinked away the involuntary tears. She could feel herself start to shake. She couldn't do it, could she? She couldn't condemn the people of Nullah to death. Even if it meant that Amari would kill her.
"Do you know how the Nullahians treat Faunus? Your friend is nothing more than a beast in their eyes. You and your kingdom are traitors to our race. Do people who believe in that deserve peace? Destroying this city will change their world forever. These people would have to evolve to survive." Oriole turned away, looking down to the ground. Her face twisting in disgust. How could the woman think that was enough for her to have a hand in their deaths.
"Amari," Demetri's gruff voice called out. "The men you sent to hunt down the prince returned." Oriole straightened up at the sentence. The blue-eyed man held out a silken piece of cloth. She could recognize her own crude stitching. The two birds in flight in orange and blue thread clearly visible. It was a gift she gave Jay a year ago. Red blood spotted the cloth, making it more crimson than white. "This was all they could retrieve of him. He fell into the river." Oriole reached out to the bloodied handkerchief, the woman who held her captive allowed her. The man let her cradle it to her chest.
"You lie," she shouted, shaking her head. She didn't look up at them. " You're all liars. He's okay, he's okay." The man just gave her a smirk, a knowing smirk. It made her sick like she could vomit. The princess could feel her blood turn to ice. Tears were burning in her eyes.
"His last words were that he loved you and wished he could have saved you," Demetri added smugly. Oriole grabbed her head and her breathing became ragged. Jay couldn't be gone. He was always at her side. He was her protector and best friend. He was the one who kept her feet on the ground. The cold of sorrow faded into something hot. Something that made her blood boil, something that burned on her tongue. She stood to her feet, she wobbled only slightly. She activated her semblance, she could feel the powerful wave of power that pulsed from her chest, from deep in her heart. She drew the attention of everyone and everything as far as she could stretch it. She grit her teeth as her body warned her mind of the amount of aura she was using. She glared at the two who stood beside her. She hoped they regretted this; that when the grimm came they would tear them apart. She wasn't shocked at the dark thoughts. If anyone deserved that fate, these two did.
Her head was starting to spin, her vision darkening. Her limbs became limp and she swayed. Her body was giving out on her. "Excellent," Amari praised as the princess collapsed to her hands and knees.
RWBY~RWBY~RWBY
Roux washed the filthy shirt with a wrinkled nose. She hung it up beside the others. She grit her teeth, but this was what she signed up for. A strange sensation rolled over her, pulling her attention away from the wash. Her vision forced to the north. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. She got to her feet dropping the clothing she was washing. She ran toward whatever that pull was. She heard the feathers before she saw them. She jumped out of the way as they sunk into the ground. She glared at the Nevermore that tried to strike her. She pulled her sword in front of her. The bird-like grimm dove, its sharp beak shone threateningly. Roux swung the whip-like sword in a criss-crossed cold metal sliced through feathers and flesh, leaving only a smoldering pile behind her and she continued her trek. She wove through the trees as she heard the roars of grimm. She could hear the shouts of men as they clashed against the beasts.
She sliced through a Beowulf as it crossed her path. Roux wasn't surprised that Grimm would attack. The Faunus's misery in Nullah was bound to bring the beasts. What she didn't know was what triggered the Grimm to attack all at once. The Faunus lowered her ears as the force that drew her attention disappeared, gone like it never existed. She continued her path, dodging the paws of an Ursa. She whipped her sword behind her, slicing the beast's legs. She wouldn't stop till she found the source. Her ears perked at the sound of panicked tones. They came from a male and female voice. Roux skidded to stop outside the clearing. She kept low to the ground to remain unseen.
She could recognize Oriole slumped in the center, blue eyes dull. Amari was striking at the Beowulfs that circled the trio while Demetri try to fend off a couple of Ursas. The Faunus could recognize the opportunity this presented. She took a couple of deep breaths. Roux pushed her legs as fast as she could. She spun around the Ursa and leapt over a Beowulf. She skidded in front of the princess. She didn't allow the girl anytime to recognize her as she was already pulling her away from her two captors.
Roux sliced the Grimm that dared to try and attack the two. Amari and Demetri were still struggling with the grimm that kept coming. The two girls disappeared into the thick trees. Oriole was falling behind, stumbling and nearly falling. Roux cursed under her breath. She lowered herself to the ground and pointed to her back. "Get on. We have to find a horse quickly," Roux waited for her to move.
The other girl looked far away, blue eye lost. "He's gone," she whispered.
"Who? Carmine? I knew you had a crush on him, but he will be fine," Roux said firmly. She hoped that the tense attempt at humor would spark some reaction. "We need to get out of here before we end up Grimm food." The princess laughed, it was a horrid sound that made Roux flinch. She shook her head. "Oriole. We have to go now." The girl didn't move. Roux growled, but forcibly pulled her onto her back. The princess was lighter than she expected.
The Faunus ran as fast as she could. All she needed was a horse. The two would be gone and safe. She could feel Oriole's arms wrap themselves around her neck. Firm enough not to fall, but weak. "You should have left me," she muttered. "There's nothing left for me."
"Pft. A whole kingdom isn't enough for you?" Roux teased. "Whatever they did to you is nothing. You still have a brother looking for you." Oriole took a sharp breath in, but didn't respond. Her hands clasped tighter. The Faunus couldn't waste time, trying to sort this out.
Roux reached the edges of the encampment. The horses tied to a fallen tree were neighing in fear. The Faunus let the princess slip down her back bonelessly. She sliced through the horses binds easily. They neighed and bucked. She grabbed the reigns of a buckskin mare before she escaped. It bayed helplessly as it watched its herd gallop away.
"Come on," she called to Oriole. The girl got to her feet slowly. "Quickly. Before the Grimm come." Roux could feel her patience running thin. Oriole mounted the horse clumsily, Roux did as well behind the girl. The Faunus clicked her tongue and kicked the mount's sides. The horse galloped away. Roux could hear the fights between men and grimm as the pair galloped away. The girl was shaking in her arms. Sobs raked her body. Roux couldn't say a word to her as they left Nullah behind.
RWBY~RWBY~RWBY
Jay held up his shield as Tanya behind him dispatched the grim. The two relaxed and watched the smoking bodies of their adversaries. Tanya was still looking at the trees as though they would sprout more Grimm. "What is happening? Why are there so many Grimm?" Jay wondered out loud.
Tanya shrugged, still on edge. "I don't know. Nullah normally is surrounded by Grimm, but the huntsmen make constant patrols to dispatch them," Tanya responded. She kept her vigilant stance.
"Jay, Tanya," Harriet's voice called out, startling the two. Jay rose his shield and Tanya tightened her hold on her sword.
"Harriet, We are here," Jay responded. The pair relaxed instantly, lowering their weapons. In a couple of moments, the underbrush crackled. The sound of leaves crunching beneath pairs of feet was clearly recognizable. A ragged Harriet and Robin burst into view. Robin picked a twig that got caught on his hood. Harriet ran her fingers through her hair trying to straighten it. "It is a relief to see you," the prince greeted with a small smile. He stepped forward to grasp Robin's forearm.
"Thank you for your concern," Robin replied, "We were worried about you as well. You are not the best fighter." He smiled indicating that he was teasing the prince.
Jay laughed, "I can't really argue with that. Have you seen the others?" Harriet's smile fell into a more sorrowful gaze as she shook her head. The prince grit his teeth as he weighed his options. He didn't want to leave the others, but the probability that Oriole was in Nullah left him with little options. Nullah and Dale were not on good terms and for the prince to enter unannounced into the city could spark those tensions.
"We can set up a fire to send smoke signals," Robin suggested at the prince's silence, it broke Jay's concentration. Jay nodded distractedly. He supposed that he could wait for a couple of hours. The four gathered fallen branches and leaves. Jay reached up to pull dead branches from the trees. He dropped his small bundle with the others, but looked over his shoulder where Nullah laid. The hooded Faunus created a spark with Tanya's sword and a rock. The spark ate at the dried leaves. Flames grew and ate at the logs. "We need green leaves. They smoke more than dried leaves," Robin explained to which Harriet held out the fistful of leaves that she already gathered. Robin gave her an impressed look and Harriet looked away with a red face. White puffs of smoke blocked the Faunus's view though.
The four sat around the fire and waited. Jay picked at the extra twigs anxiously. He snapped them in his hands and tossed them into the fire. He had to be patient even though they were so close. Nullah and Oriole were so close, but he couldn't abandon the others. Tanya placed her hand on his own. "We will find her. The people of Nullah hate violence against humans. She will be safe there," she said softly. Jay turned his hand over to hold her hand. There was a comfort in her presence and he slowed his breath.
Hours passed and there wasn't a response. "I am going to Nullah," He announced as the sun started to set. "You all may wait here until the others come, but I can't wait any longer." He stood turning away from the rest.
"I will follow you," Tanya replied as she stood up as well. She looked to the other pair.
Harriet looked to Robin for his response. "I will find the others and we can meet up outside Nullah's walls," Robin stated as he got to his feet.
"I will help you," Harriet added as she stepped closer to the hooded Faunus. The two young men gave the other a nod and split. Tanya looked back only once to the pair, but followed the prince toward her old home.
RWBY~RWBY~RWBY
Without Jay or Robin, Asher felt like it fell on him to guide the others. The dark-haired teen walked gingerly along the edge of the river. The rest of the group behind him were quiet. Shiloh looked past the river with a frown on her face. "There's a lot of Grimm," she noted, her faded eyes darted side to side. Asher looked in the direction she looked in. He had to narrow his eyes to see the barely visible dark shadows.
"We'll cross the river further on then," Asher noted optimistically, "Maybe Jay and the others will kill them and we can all just relax in a nice Nullah inn." Shiloh nodded and turned away from the Grimm. "Are you okay, Ivy?" he asked the woman who shook slightly. She closed her eyes tightly and nodded.
"Yes. I will be fine," she answered at length and she opened her eyes. She gave a weak smile and Salken looked up from his soaked book to shoot her a look of concern. Asher sighed, but continued his trek. He kept his eyes on the river to watch it slowly narrow and become more shallow.
"Hey, Asher. There's smoke," Salken called out, causing the teen to stop. Asher turned to see where the other pointed. Above the green tree tops, white plumes of smoke bloomed in the air.
"Good eye, Salken," Asher complimented, "We're crossing here. You can climb on my back, Shiloh." He gave her a playful wink. Shiloh nodded her thanks and climbed onto his back when he knelt down. Asher braced himself before getting to his feet. He checked her crossed arms and her legs that crossed in front of his stomach. Ivy gave Asher a smile before lowering herself into the water. The petite woman held her head up as the water reached her shoulders. Salken stalked forward, his eyes trained on the other woman. He held his books above his head to protect them from the water. Asher hoisted Shiloh higher on his back and she tightened her hold on him.
"I am going in now," Asher warned, looking up to where Shiloh's chin rested on his head. She shut her eyes accepting her fate. The young man stepped into the cold water. The water was less forceful than when they fell. It was simple to keep his feet under him as he stepped carefully. Salken was on the other side of the river. He had set down his books to pick up Ivy. She scrambled up the steep embankment. She placed a thankful hand on his arm before turning to the forest. Asher kept his steady pace, not willing to speed up and risk falling in with Shiloh.
As the pair reached the other side, he warned Shiloh and lifted her first to reach the shore. The burgundy-haired girl easily reached the ground. She turned bravely back to Asher and held out her hand. He took it and carefully pulled himself out of the water. Dripping, the four called out for their companions. Ivy stood closer to the group as she nervously looked around. She held her weapon close, her knuckles white. "The Grimm are not interested in us," Shiloh noted, looking far away.
"They must be attacking Nullah," Asher noted. "My father always said it was just a manner of time till they did." He scoffed, knowing how hypocritical that was, considering the pain in his own city-state. The group grew closer to the source of the smoke they saw.
"Who's there?" Robin called out before the group could see him.
"Asher, Shiloh, Salken, and Ivy," Asher answered back as the group stepped forward. He could hear people scrambling and crashing through the trees. Harriet and Robin appeared. Ivy was the first to step forward to give the pair a hug. The group sighed in relief to see the other. "Where's Jay and Tanya?" he asked.
Robin sighed, "They went on ahead to Nullah. We should join them swiftly. There are too many Grimm for them to be left alone."