Velvet watched as the two re-entered.
"Sorry about that. We usually don't take our helmets off. Just kinda took me by surprise."
Velvet nodded at this reasonable explanation.
"I'm kind of surprised as well. You look very young."
Carolina snorted.
"Says you."
"Excuse me?"
"Well, you're obviously young, I'd guess no more than twenty, but it's pretty clear that you can fight."
The Reds and Blues looked up in surprise. They had already taken their helmets off, and their shock was evident.
"Really?" asked Tucker. "I mean, not to sound rude, but you don't really seem like a soldier."
"Yeah, you're too nice!" said Caboose.
"Oh, she can fight. Two unconscious thugs in an alleyway testify to that."
"Well, to be honest, I'm not a soldier." Velvet clarified. "I'm a huntress."
"A huntress?" asked Wash. "What do you hunt?"
"Grimm."
Dr Grey questioned, "Are the Grimm the evil animals? The ones with glowing red eyes?"
"You mean the spiky doggies. They aren't nice."
The unanimous chorus of "Shut up Caboose" somewhat shocked Velvet, as most of her experience with the group had shown them to be nice people. After seeing the nonchalance on the faces of the Reds and Blues, and Caboose's lack of comprehension, she guessed that this "Caboose" must not be the smartest person. Which further intensified her curiosity about who they were.
"Yes. The, um, 'spiky doggies' are the Grimm"
"That's actually a nice name." said Wash. "Makes sense, fits them perfectly."
"So what exactly is a huntress?" asked Carolina. Maybe this was the second chance Santa had talked about. Maybe to repent and atone for their sins, they had to help others. God, that sounded horribly cliche.
"A huntress is a protector. We protect the common people and fight the Grimm."
"So a soldier."
"No. There's a difference. Soldiers follow the commands of the kingdom, and while hunters and huntresses sometimes work with them, they are separate. The hunters and huntresses fight for the people, not the country." Velvet's mother, who had come in after Carolina and Wash had re-entered the building.
The uncomfortable look on Carolina and Washington's face could be seen be everyone, and a few of the Reds and Blues winced. The Scarlatinas noticed, and were about to ask why Carolina and Wash looked uncomfortable, until Grif came to the rescue.
"Um, excuse me?"
"Yes, um, Grif, was it?" replied Mrs. Scarlatina, answering Grif's question with another question.
"Yeah, I'm kinda hungry, and I'd like food."
"Oh, sorry about that." Mrs. Scarlatina handed the plate of food, which contained a few dozen potato chips, some beef jerky, and a handful of cookies, over to Grif. Both Scarlatinas looked askance at the prodigious rate at which Grif was tearing through the food. The precision and effectiveness of the way he ate the jerky with minimal effort showed that, if eating could be a job, Grif was a professional. Within a minute, all the food was gone.
Turning back to the ex-freelancers, Velvet said, "Hunters and huntresses are different from soldiers, but which are you?"
Hesitation flooded the air, smothering all levity from the room. Looks were exchanged, secrets and thoughts jumping from person to person.
Mrs. Scarlatina realized it was a touchy subject, and was about to ask another question, until Carolina spoke up.
"We-we don't know."
Another pregnant pause, until Mrs. Scarlatina voiced her question.
"Where are you from?"
All eyes went to Carolina and Wash.
"We're-we're not from around here." said Carolina.
"What she's trying to say, is that we don't come from any kingdom." clarified Wash.
Velvet and her mother looked very surprised.
"Outside the cities? There's nothing out there."
Carolina and Wash exchanged a look, and asked, "Do any countries have satellites in orbit?"
"No. It was theorized, but no one could solve the problem of dust losing its power after leaving the atmosphere. Why? Does yours?"
To say that Velvet was a little scared and nervous was an understatement. Did these people have space capabilities? Their armor looked very high tech, and it wouldn't be too surprising.
"No. Our country's scientists said that no communications could ever reach yours, we were just so far apart that only satellites could bridge the gap."
Velvet was put at ease at this, but her mother became suspicious.
"How did your country know about ours? How did you get here?"
Wash said, "One-of-a-kind exploration airship. Fitted with the best of everything. Flew in one direction, told to report back when it found traces of other civilization."
Carolina added, "As to how we got here, we're from that vessel. We were eager to explore as well as provide security for the science team. The team got really excited once we sighted, what's this country?"
"Vale."
"Okay, our team got extremely excited at the sight of Vale, too excited I guess."
"What happened?"
"Something. Engines cut out, and we crashed. There were no other survivors."
Velvet and her mother were shocked. These teens were the lone survivors of a shipwreck!
"Where did your ship crash?"
"Somewhere in the forest. We wandered around, and found ourselves in an abandoned city. It was almost dark, and Simmons over there saw a tower with a green light in it. After being attacked by some Grimm, we made our over here. The rest is history."
Now it was clear that they had either seriously good training or impossible luck. Even full-fledged huntsmen were reluctant to travel the forests at night, and Mountain Glen was a dead-zone.
"Our ship was severely damaged to the point of never being able to fly again. So, we're stuck here." Carolina finished.
Velvet and her mother were thrown for a loop again. Velvet couldn't imagine being stranded from her home forever, and Velvet's mother was shocked at the nonchalance at ease at which Carolina spoke.
She voiced her opinions, saying, "You seem to be taking this remarkably well."
She did not expect the teal armored male, Tucker was his name, to answer.
"It's not like this hasn't happened before. Trust me, if crashing and burning was a job, we'd be professionals."
That sentence got a round of grim chuckles and laughs. After it died down, Wash asked, "So, these hunters and huntresses. They protect the people?"
"Yeah."
"But they're given free reign and the ability to do what they want?"
"Yes."
Once again, their was a grimace from the group.
"What's to stop them from going rogue?" asked Carolina.
Velvet wondered where this question came from.
"Nothing."
"So these people are taught deadly combat skills, and nothing or no one stops them from turning on their charges?"
"No. Why do you ask?"
Not a good question to ask apparently. Wash and Carolina looked extremely uncomfortable, while the Reds and Blues looked at the floor, or anywhere other than the two.
"So, how do people become hunters or huntresses?" Carolina suddenly spoke. Both Scarlatinas knew that she was avoiding the question and trying to move on, but they were not the kind of people to pry into other people's lives. So they ignored it and responded.
"First, there are combat schools that people need to go to, then there are colleges for huntsman training. Like the school I'm attending."
Wash asked, "Do you have to attend the combat schools? Could someone enter huntsman academy if they had enough skill?"
"Yeah. I know there have been exceptions to the rules. Why, do you guys want to become huntsmen?"
"Yes."
"I could recommend you to Headmaster Ozpin. If you want to attend Beacon, of course."
"We just want to protect people. Any school, if it lets us achieve our goal, we'll go to it."
"Alright, tomorrow I'll talk to the headmaster. I don't think you guys will have any trouble getting in."
"Thank you Velvet." Carolina turned to the Reds and Blues. "Get rest. Keep your armor on, Wash and I will keep watch."
Mrs. Scarlatina jumped in, "Oh, our house is quite safe."
"I'm ninety-nine percent sure that nothing will happen. I just always expect that one percent to happen tonight." Carolina clarified, as she meant no insult.
"It's just the way we are." said Wash, "We mean no disrespect this way. Besides, it's not like Carolina or I can sleep anyway."
Dr. Grey was furious. "You two will sleep at least three hours. If you don't, I will sedate you and make you sleep!"
The freelancers' meek replies of "Yes ma'am" brought a chorus of chuckles from the group that immediately died down after Dr. Grey trained her best "I'm an insane genius who likes to cut people open" look on them.
Velvet crawled under her bed covers, reflecting upon the way the day had gone. She wasn't sure what to make of the Reds and Blues, especially their leaders. They seemed smart and capable, and looked like they were good people, but they were hiding something. In the end, she just decided it wasn't her business and tried to go to sleep.
Meanwhile, the Reds and Blues were sleeping. They had gotten used to sleeping in their armor, and were currently lying on the living room floor of the Scarlatinas. Carolina looked over the sleeping forms of her family, and saw each of them at peace. Tucker was mumbling about women, Caboose was talking to Freckles in his sleep, Sarge was reaching for his shotgun and Simmons was reaching for Grif's throat. Donut was curled up and Doc was sleeping normally. Dr. Grey was asleep, but had an alarm set to wake her up to relieve Carolina and Wash of their guard duty. Seeing them all asleep and peaceful made her happy, and she leaned her head on Wash's shoulder. At first, Wash was surprised, but then realized what the gesture was. It was not Carolina attempting to start a romantic relationship with him, rather it was a friend seeking comfort from another friend. So he leaned back, and they stayed that way for quite some time.
No, I'm not shipping Wash and Carolina. At least, not yet. I'm still not sure if I should have Carolina get into another relationship, as I kind of want her to be hung up on York.