RWBY: The Last Stand
W.T. Roberts
4
The airship floated gingerly to the heli-pad, allowing its single passenger to depart. A slight breeze caught Cinder's hair; she smiled with fulfilment as she gazed up at the tower of Atlas. "All things being equal, I consider this journey a success." she wondered to herself. The dockmaster, an Atlesian Marine who couldn't cut it in the field, intoned, "Please state your business." Cinder halted at the dockmaster's desk, saying, "My business is only personal. Visiting relatives." The dockmaster waved her on through, more intent on the reserves of alcohol he smuggled in. Cinder pranced on past, smiling cruelly.
Haken's Companions, as the huntsman's army dubbed themselves, were now swelling at the ranks. What once was a mere dozen, was now nearly a thousand settlers, cutthroats, and raiders. And after crossing the border into charted territory, some old compatriots of Haken's, including Team CFVY, took up arms with him. But now was not the time to march; now was the time to rest and revitalize. Haken and a handful of other professionals kept watch, while the bulk of the army slept.
Haken tore a piece of charred meat off his knife, chewing without relish. As of tonight, he wasn't hungry, just uneasy. Coco noticed him carving more runes into the stock his Tarkatan musket; she decided to give him some company. "You know that there's no saving her." she said plainly as she sat. Haken was silent for a moment, then said, "I believe there is still hope for her." "Haken, Cinder killed Ozpin! She killed Pyrrha, and now you just want to forgive and forget?" "Cinder will answer to the crimes she has committed, but, as of now, all I care about is bringing her home." Haken said calmly. Coco fumed for a moment, them paused to gather her thoughts and composure. "What if she doesn't want to come home?" "Then all I have done to protect her has been for nothing."
At daybreak, the Companions doused their fires, dressed their wounds, and prepared to march on Atlas. The few skilled huntsman, and then those that could be spared, were drafted as a scouting party, to clear the way of Grimm. Among those were Team CFVY, and Haken sorely missed Coco's company. A warrior, an adolescent, clambered up to his leader, and posed a question. "Haken carry feelings for girl with big gun?" "Only a few." Haken breathed, mostly to himself. The youth sauntered off, pleased that his commander had taken time to notice him. Haken could only shake his head in fascination; had he ever been that young?
The door to the hideout was pulverized so hard it flew off its hinges. Enter Cinder, beyond rage. "I thought I told you to take care of the girl!" Emerald stammered, obviously shaken. "We didn't know that she had arrived here yet." Mercury leaped up to defend Emerald's honor, yet he was silenced by the mere sight of Cinder's fury. The maiden clapped her eyes shut, regaining some resemblance of calm. "We don't have time for slip-ups." Cinder hissed. "Prepare the gate for arrivals, then." Dr. Watts suggested, with an edge to his tone.