There might be problems in their roads
I don't own L5R or Rwby: they go to their rightful owners
The old Sotora highway, 30 miles north of Beacon
Ever since the two had come to terms, the journey north became more tolerable for both. Though Cao and Ruby were still tense, it wasn't frigid. They at least could breathe easy. The day they were currently traveling on helped facilitate this mood. The sun was shining, a cool breeze blowing, and no clouds in the sky made it easy to be in better spirits.
"What a good day." Ruby said with a happy sigh
"Yes it is. It's a good day for travel. Not too hot or cold. Perfect for long treks without stressing the horses" Cao replied in agreement
"I wonder how the weather is for my family?" Ruby pondered to herself
"Likely just as nice. I fail to see how it wouldn't." Cao replied, knowing she didn't expect an answer
Though travel went on nicely, Cao kept aware and focused. The Sotora highway hadn't been used actively for centuries and had fallen into disrepair and became unsupervised. When roads didn't have regular patrols by samurai or ashigaru, it opened the doors for monsters, bandits, and whatever else the region had to throw at them. He also knew a wagon such as his stuffed to the brim with goodies would be an extremely tempting target.
"Are you okay?" Ruby asked after looking at him briefly
"Merely keeping my eyes peeled. This isn't my first trip and I know these underused roads are dangerous." Cao said
"How dangerous are we talking?" Ruby asked, a hint of fear and trepidation in her voice
"Did you seriously think heading out into the world would be a safe endeavor?" Cao asked back
"Kind of…" Ruby said, but couldn't bring herself to continue
"Of for the love of." Cao said under his breath
"Can you answer my question? You have a bad habit of avoiding my questions." Ruby said to him, Cao rolling his eyes a bit but complying
"The threats on the roads can range from bandits to potentially running into monsters." Cao replied with a sigh
"Monsters?" Ruby asked in fear
"City slickers I tell you. You guys don't have to worry about a thing do you?" Cao said to her sarcastically
However, the conversation was cut off as an arrow nearly smacked Cao in the head, but due to the wind it bites into the wagons wooden beam. Instantly Cao turned to face the assailant and realized they were under an ambush. At this he uses his free arm pushes Ruby back into the wagon as he then jumps up to face them.
"Hey! What gives!?" Ruby yells loudly
"We are getting attacked by bandits. Shut up and keep your head low!" Cao shot back as he drew his sword
Cao looked around and in total there were six bandits. They looked disheveled and poorly kept. Likely peasants trying to survive by stealing from unsuspecting merchants or travelers. Normally he could have some level of sympathy for their plight, but not today. His mission was too important and the risk of a single percentage of the gaijin pepper getting into their hands was too much. He would fight them, and to the death if necessary.
"You motherfuckers want a fight!? You got one!" Cao yelled and jumped from the wagon and slashing at one bandit as he fell
This sudden move allowed him to get the jump on them and slice the arm off he nearest one. With a swift motion he then brought his katana around and cut the same bandits head off. This caused the other two that were near him to bolt. They were there to steal things, not fight to the death. A bandit does not last long fighting to the death.
He then heard a scream from Ruby and then rushed to the other side of the wagon. The bandits spilt their forces to try and throw Cao off. However, Cao had dealt with these tactics before and rushed around. He then charged into the fray immediately, swinging hard into the group. Though they tried to block, Cao's superior skill cut one down with supreme efficiency. The others decided to bolt at that, ending the groups threat.
"You asshole you could have hurt me!" Ruby yelled as she got up from the back
"What I did was a hell of a lot less than what they would do to you. Trust me, if they got a hold of you, your life would not be very fun." Cao said as he hopped back on the wagon
"You could at least have been gentler." Ruby said with a pout
"Speed and gentle do not mix in my experience. Let's get moving before something gets attracted here and causes more trouble." Cao said as he whipped the reins to get the horses moving
"What could come after us?" Ruby asked
"Considering 2 dead bodies, likely something that likes meat." Cao said as they moved away
Unfortunately for the two Cao's prediction proved correct. Heavy stomps carried a fully grown Tarbosaurus out of the tree line. It sniffed the air then looked down, cocking its head side to side to compensate for lack of binocular vison. It then picked one of the bodies up and swallowed it whole. Then it swiftly walked over and did the same to the other. After the light snack, the seven-ton theropod sniffed the air, and turned its spear like head north. Now it was on the trail of the wagon, and it's stomach growled in fierce hunger. The hunt was on.
Meanwhile inside a small cave nearby
The 4 bandits returned with empty hands and failure on their minds. Failure was always bad as it meant they didn't get new resources, but this wasn't the first they had had in a while. The last 3 attempts had failed, and their reserves were getting dangerously low. That wasn't the worst of it however.
"And what are you lot doing back empty handed?" A man's voice asked, and entered to reveal a tall, very muscular man
"Sorry boss, but we ran into a samurai on the wagon…" One bandit said, but the leader cut him off
"A samurai!? Now your having me on!" The bandit said
"Its true boss! He cut down two of us easily without trying. We couldn't do shit to him!" The second member said
"You lot really are worthless aren't you!? You're not done yet. Were going out and we are not stopping till we get that wagon!" the leader said as he began to grab weapons and armor
The bandits nodded in fear, but they knew this wouldn't end well. They were starving, tired, and lacked the skill to beat a samurai. However, they also knew that their leader would brutally hurt them if they didn't follow his orders. Several of them had the scars to show what happened when you crossed the boss. Literally they were in between a rock and a hard place. At this point they just hoped they survived with something intact
Later that day, 5 miles north of last location
Ruby and Cao were tense after that last encounter, and both kept their eyes peeled for anything. Cao knew that bandits were the least of what could attack them, but he didn't want any more delays today. He also knew bandits could overwhelm him with sheer numbers, and if Ruby had to fight them off it would not end well.
"Do you think we lost them?" Ruby asked
"Most likely. Bandits tend to wait in the same spot. I doubt they would want to try and track us down." Cao replied simply
"Why would they do that? Wouldn't they get caught?" Ruby asked
"Bandits can easily melt into the wilderness. Its hard to comb the entire woods to flush them out. Didn't anyone tell you about the dangers of the roads before you decided to leave?" Cao asked
"No. People just expected me to say in Beacon my whole life…" Ruby said, looking down in shame
"Don't feel bad. That's a normal expectation for peasants. It's like samurai fulfilling their families duties. Society expects, and it expects for us to fulfill those expectations. Otherwise it gets very cross and decides to punish you." Cao said bluntly
"I'm glad I left. I am so sick of it. I want to know who I am and what I want to do with my life." Ruby said
"I agree. Being a Ronin isn't much easier. No one trusts you because you don't have a master, whether its your fault or not." Cao replied
"That's unfair." Ruby said curtly
"I again agree. I was born a Ronin. Likely my parents were the ones that caused that to be the case. I don't know why, but all I know is as a result I am a Ronin. All I can hope is make the best out of it." Cao answered, avoiding any details about his current mission
"I hope you can turn it around. Even you don't deserve that." Ruby said as she looked away from him
"I don't know whether to take that as a complement or an insult." Cao answered with confusion
"Take it however you like." Ruby replied curtly, and Cao decided to drop the subject
The two continued on until a rustling in the brush was heard up ahead. Confusion quickly turned to horror as a massive 40-foot-long monitor lizard charged out full boar towards them. Quick thinking made Cao lash the reins hard and they surged forward just in time to avoid the monstrous lizard. He then realized why the lizard attacked them. The bandits were back and drove the beast to them.
"Son of a bitch. Ruby take the reins." Cao said as he held his hand out
"I don't know how to drive horses…" Ruby said, but was cut off
"Just keep them going and don't stop. I'll catch up after I deal with them." Cao said bluntly
"What if you can't stop them?" Ruby asked
"Then I'll give you a window to escape. Go now." Cao said, handing her the reins as he faces down the five bandits
Cao jumped off the wagon to face the five before him. Before he could move, the giant monitor lizard then turned around to flank him. He then looked back and forth between the two. He needed to decide fast. Despite his skills as a samurai, he could not fight both at the same time. He then feigned a lunge at the lizard, causing it the flinch, then charge hard towards him. After that Cao rolled out of the way. The bandit leader does the same, but his men aren't as lucky and get knocked around by the behemoth reptile.
"It's a rare day a bandit like me gets to fight a samurai." He said as he brandished two axes
"I assume you're the leader." Cao said after he entered a fighting stance
"Yes, I am, the last opponent you'll ever face!" He roared
"Then come and get me if you think you can take me." Cao replied simply
This was more than enough to cause the hothead to charge, Cao side stepped to allow him to rush by. Cao turned to face him to block the blow of his axes, causing the Ronin to be pushed back. Meanwhile the massive monitor lizard began to attack the other bandits, who couldn't put up much of a fight against it. They tried to run away but they would not outrun the massive animal. This allowed it to kill and begin ripping apart the bandits.
"So much for your plan with the lizard." Cao said as he dodges an axe strike
"Served it's purpose!" the bandit leader yelled as he swung with the other axe in a back-hand stroke
"You realize the wagon's already gone and your men are dying!" Cao shot back as he deflected the strike
"If they can't fight it off then that's their own damn problem! I'll kill you then take that fucking wagon myself!" The leader roared, and managed to slash Cao's chest
Cao staggered back as blood began to trickle out of the wound. He had to finish this quickly or odds are he would kill him. To make matters worse the monitor lizard turned to face him, baring its teeth before charging. Cao barely was able to dodge out of the way as it thundered past, and then barely dodged the overhead strike of the bandits axes. Just when all hope seemed lost, everyone heard the heavy sound of footfalls. The monitor lizard turned and hissed in the direction of the noise.
The Tarbosaurus that was attracted from Cao's initial encounter had caught up. After surveying the scene, it roared and charged the monitor lizard. It went for the lizards neck, but it was able to dodge just in time. After that the giant reptile jumped its front legs up and sunk its thick claws and jaws into the dinosaurs neck. Roaring in pain the theropod swung its massive front-end back and forth trying to shake it off.
This clash of giant reptiles gave Cao an opportunity as the Bandit leader was knocked off balance by a swipe of the lizards tail as it clung on. He ran and rolled over the tail on the return swing before overhead slashing at the Bandit. He blocked the first strike with both of his axes. Cao then quickly raised his left foot and stomped hard into the bandits stomach, causing him to recoil in pain. In that moment of distraction Cao then raised his katana and thrusted the tip through his right eye and into his brain.
For a moment the Bandit leader laid there still, before his head slumping a bit as blood flowed out. Cao had no time to celebrate his victory. He ducked quickly under another tail swipe and then immediately rushed away from the fight. The two titans continued to clash in the distance as Cao ran away. It took him 20 minutes of non-stop running before finally catching up with Ruby and the wagon.
"Oh, gods your bleeding!" Ruby yelled as she jumped off the wagon
"I'm fine…" Cao said as he panted
"No, you're not. Sit down and I'll patch it up." Ruby said as she ruffled through some things
"I've taken worse wounds Ruby. Let's get going before the giant reptiles begin following us…" Cao said through a panting fit
"What about the bandits?" Ruby asked after finally grabbing some bandages
"Their dead. Admittingly that lizard they rushed at us did most of the work. For that it has my thanks." Cao panted as Ruby patched up his large wound
"You just sit and rest. I can drive." Ruby said as she helped him up
"I thought you said you didn't know how?" Cao asked with a raised eyebrow as he got on the bench
"You learn quick when your life is in danger." Ruby said as she took the reins
Cao sat there and smirked. He then sat back and relaxed as the horse's moved them away from that scene of carnage. However, despite surviving relatively unharmed all things considered, he knew that this was only the beginning of what they would have to deal with.
Alright a bit more action than normal, but I hope from now on I can have a bit more action and put the two groups into sticky situations. Plus, more monster fights in my opinion is never a bad thing. I hope everyone is having a blast because I am coming up with these ideas and writing them. Next time Azura and Yang try to make up for lost time in, "Ghost town shortcut."