A fine and dandy awoo to all of you! I said you'd be getting Werewolf Fridays AND Werewolf Sundays until this baby ends, and I'm a dragon of my word. This is the last battle scene of the fic (thank goodness). Enjoy!
Night fell, and the werewolves arrived in Vale.
They came not as a well-organized pack ready to attack their enemies, however, but as a panicked mass of crazed beasts running away from an even greater threat. Even as the remaining scraps of Vale's Huntsmen readied their weapons, the werewolves jumped over them, only stopping when their legs were shot or a sword got a lucky hit in their guts, which spilled out on the ground, steaming in the frigid air.
Mere seconds later, the Grimm attacked.
They had fed for days on the rising negative emotions of the starving werewolves. Tonight, the anger and sadness and hopelessness had hit a fever pitch, driving the Grimm into a frenzy. They had eagerly followed the retreating pack toward yet another source of betrayal and misery. Now, they were ready for a feast of werewolves, humans, and Faunus alike. Nothing would survive!
Hawk Winchester shouted with dismay. Jacques Schnee was already retreating to the back of the blockade. James Ironwood prepared his old crossbow, glaring defiantly at the incoming flood of darkness. Behind them, the other Huntsmen trembled. Mothers cradled their children, crouching down, sobbing prayers to God and the Maidens, begging for a miracle.
The werewolves yelped and whined and tried to escape the confines of the town as Cinder barked useless commands, urging them to attack the humans while they were weak, to keep leading the Grimm on. This is a hidden blessing! she told herself, her golden eyes wide and manic. The Grimm are on our side!
That was when Pyrrha's howl ripped through the thick night air. From the southern forest where they had been driven less than an hour ago, the pack, the exiled Huntsmen, the Huntsmen of Obsidian, and the rest of Vale burst forth.
Ruby led several of the smaller wolves toward the buildings, where they climbed to the rooftops and leaped at the swooping Nevermores, using maneuvers they had perfected during the fights in Obsidian. Weiss ripped an Ursa's head from its body while, nearby, Winter drew her old saber and neatly severed the neck of a charging Beowolf. She allowed herself a self-satisfied smirk as she and her sister began to tear through the horde together.
Jaune swung his sword at a Boarbatusk, barely dodging the claws of one of Cinder's wolves in the process. He lost sight of Pyrrha almost immediately. His stomach twisted, but he forced himself to focus. The werewolf came at him again from the side, and he blocked with a metal-plated arm. "I don't want to fight you!" he shouted.
The werewolf, clearly stunned, stopped mid-step, tilted its head, then abruptly turned and started tearing into a Grimm that had started stampeding toward the two.
Taiyang was desperately trying to keep both of his daughters in sight, but it quickly became impossible when Ruby took to the rooftops. So, he settled for staying close to Yang and Neo, cutting a path through the Grimm while trying to spot Emerald or Mercury in the mass of bodies.
Pyrrha weaved and tore through the battle, eyes narrowed, searching for the gold and scarlet form of Cinder. She leaped over Huntsmen, dodged werewolves, and ripped through Grimm, only stopping when someone in immediate danger was in her path. In those instances, she would either kill the offending Grimm or run right between a battling werewolf and Huntsman, driving them apart before rushing onward. She saw several trampled humans, bleeding Faunus, and werewolves who were dissolving into a pool of redness and Dust. She shut her eyes against the sights. She couldn't waste time thinking of them now. They were beyond her help. She had only one goal in mind.
It was near the center of the battle that Pyrrha saw her. Cinder was tearing into the belly of a dead human, throwing her head back as she swallowed the dripping intestines whole. When Pyrrha approached, the crazed alpha regarded her with unfocused eyes.
She doesn't even recognize me anymore! Pyrrha realized, her stomach roiling as she looked at the human meat on Cinder's teeth. Eating human flesh had to have been the last straw. Her sanity was wholly gone now. She was truly a savage, Grimm-like monster.
Pyrrha stood up fully, roaring a challenge. There would be no alpha stare battles this time. This would only end with one alpha victorious, and one dead.
Cinder parted her jaws, spraying blood as she bellowed her answering challenge and rushed toward her old rival, biting down on Pyrrha's arm. She sank her teeth through fur, skin, and muscle, drinking the blood even as she shook her head, trying to tear the limb away.
Pyrrha screamed, fastening her jaws on Cinder's shoulder. She gripped as tightly as she could, feeling the scrape of bone, but still Cinder didn't let go of her arm.
Nearby, an Ursa started toward them, only to be chased away by Emerald. One red eye was fixed on the alpha battle, and tears streamed down her green-furred face. She didn't know what to do! Her beloved leader was clearly beyond saving, but the thought of Cinder dying was too much to bear, even then. In the end, she decided to remain, keeping all Grimm and Huntsmen away from the fight. This was a battle between leaders. No one else could interfere.
Fox was standing in one spot, using his beta powers to sense Grimm before striking. The scents and sounds were too overwhelming to do anything else. Coco, Yatsuhashi, and Velvet flanked him, blocking werewolves and killing Boarbatusks. A few of Cinder's wolves openly gaped at the four, then ran away.
A mace came down, and a yelp was abruptly cut off as Corsac fell to the ground at Cardin Winchester's feet, his head bashed in. His body twitched once, then was still.
Fennec let out a roar, his dark eyes shining with tears as he abandoned the Creep he was fighting, and bounded toward the sneering human. The mace whooshed over his head as he darted to the side, swiping at Cardin's leg. He noticed a Nevermore flying close, likely attracted by his feelings of grief. In a moment of cunning, he waited for the Grimm to dive before jumping to the side, feeling dark satisfaction as he heard the rip of talons and a heavy metal weapon dropping to the ground with a thud.
Ilia joined Blake and Sun as they fought their way to where Pyrrha and Cinder were mercilessly ripping into each other. Noticing Emerald, they quickly joined her in fending off any outside attacks. Blake chanced a look at the fighting leaders and shuddered. Their fur was slick and dark red with blood, making them nearly identical at first glance.
Ren had to yank Nora out of the path of a rampaging werewolf, who quickly turned and bared its teeth. "We don't wish to-" The werewolf slashed at the two, eyes wild. Ren rolled to the side. "Please, you don't have to-" Again, the werewolf attacked. Again, Ren barely dodged in time. "Just listen!" The werewolf opened its jaws.
A hammer came down on its head, killing it before it could charge again. Nora stood over it, tears spilling down her dirt-streaked face. She and Ren only had a moment to lock eyes before more Grimm and werewolves came.
Taiyang let out a shout as a horde of Creeps rushed him. Yang yelped as she was driven to one side, and Neo barely jumped away to escape being trampled. Taiyang swung his sword desperately, his boots sinking into the ground under the onslaught.
Then, a gray form leaped right into the fray, picking up a Creep, crushing it between two powerful paws, then tossing it aside. Spinning around, Mercury cut at two more with his sharp claws.
Taiyang redoubled his efforts, fighting to get to Yang and Neo, silently thanking the Maidens…until a pair of Creep jaws closed on Mercury's back and another struck at the werewolf's weak hind legs, which gave out immediately.
"NO!" Taiyang's cry was drowned out by Mercury's last, defiant roar before he was brought down and trampled by the rest of the stampede, which left bloody clawprints on the ground in their wake. Letting out a frantic bellow that matched any werewolf, Taiyang threw himself into the horde.
Pyrrha and Cinder were locked together in a tangle of limbs, claws, and fangs. They gripped each other tightly, digging their claws into flesh, ripping and tearing wherever their jaws could find purchase, not moving apart for so much as a breath. Pyrrha was faintly aware of the ring of werewolves that was gathering around them. Wolves from both packs, recognizing the sacred nature of the battle, were protecting their leaders from any outside influence, so that this feud could finally be decided.
I won't lose! Pyrrha thought desperately, biting down on the side of Cinder's head. Not now!
Cinder let out a scream as Pyrrha's bottom fangs pierced her left eye, and she kicked out with one hind foot, managing by pure luck to strike the healing injury from Hawk's arrow. Pyrrha yelped as she suddenly went down, clamping her jaws together and ripping off Cinder's ear in the process. Her own ears rang with Cinder's cry of pain as the larger wolf fell upon her prone form, digging her claws into her chest.
The wolves in the ring were all shaking as they listened to their leaders' cries, knowing that they couldn't do anything but wait. Emerald was sobbing as she roared at an incoming Huntsman. When he didn't give up the charge, she lifted him up and threw him to the side, not caring where he landed.
Jaune found James Ironwood in a fierce scuffle with a starved werewolf, and ran over just as the beast fell to the ground. "Sir, wait!" he cried desperately. To his shock, James paused. "Let him go!" he begged. "The Grimm are our only enemies!"
James hesitated, his sword ready to plunge downward, the tip just touching the werewolf's throat. He stared down at his opponent, unable to forget the story he had heard and the sentience of Pyrrha. In that moment, as he met the beast's gaze, he felt a sudden calmness flooding through him. The werewolf's eyes narrowed, then widened, and James Ironwood backed away.
The werewolf jumped to his feet, staring at James and Jaune, his mouth slightly open, before suddenly lunging forward, pushing James to the side just as a Nevermore's talons closed where the human's head had been.
Ozpin and Glynda were fighting back to back with Flynt and Neon. "You know, Glynda, this may be the most exciting battle I've been in yet!" Ozpin panted.
"Exciting is not how I would describe this!" Glynda snapped, cutting down a particularly large Beowolf.
"Neither would I. Just trying to lighten the mood!"
Behind Ozpin, Flynt let out a whuff of laughter.
"This fine werewolf seems to appreciate the gesture!"
Ruby crashed to the ground, clinging to a dying Nevermore. She groaned, shaking her head before looking around for signs of a white pelt. To her joy, she spotted Weiss nearby, fighting a trio of Ursai with Winter, and started to run over.
A sharp jab to her shoulder, however, caused her to spin around. She yanked away from her attacker, yelping as the blade was withdrawn. Her heart went cold. Jacques Schnee was standing before her, his steel-like eyes wide and bloodshot. He swung again, and Ruby jumped away, not wanting to hurt Weiss's father, regardless of how horrible he was.
Weiss's ears shot up at Ruby's cry, and she cracked the nearest Ursa's neck before turning to see her fiancé dodging blow after blow from her father. She ran over, headbutting Jacques from the side, her single good eye blazing a challenge.
Jacques spun around, then froze as he saw his daughter facing him, standing at her full height, fully transformed in the light of the full moon. His hand shook.
Weiss's heart thudded. Was he hesitating? Slowly, she took a step forward, extending a hand, whining softly in the back of her throat.
Jacques walked closer, his legs trembling, his face unreadable.
Just as father and daughter came within a yard of each other, Ruby realized what was about to happen and barked a warning. Too late. Jacques lunged. Weiss leaped to the side, but the sword still found its mark. It pierced her right side, and went clean through.
Hot, sharp pain bubbled within Weiss. She opened her mouth, coughing up a gushing stream of blood.
Jacques pulled his sword back, and raised it to strike a final blow. Ruby started to charge. Then, Jacques froze. His eyes widened just as a red circle appeared on his shirt around the protruding end of a saber.
Winter peered coldly at Jacques over his shoulder, her frosty eyes wet with tears. "Maidens, forgive me," she murmured as she twisted the saber once, then let her father's body drop. She hurried to Weiss's side while Ruby stood close by, defending her fiancé and soon to be sister-in-law with the ferocity of a dozen alphas.
Pyrrha's scarred back was pressed into the bloodstained ground as Cinder snapped wildly at her throat. She struggled desperately, knowing that if her enemy got a good hold, it would all be over. She kicked out once, freeing one arm from a momentarily weakened grip, and grabbed Cinder's face, digging her claws further into the savage alpha's bleeding eye socket.
Cinder's agonized shriek was more like a Nevermore's than a wolf's. She thrashed, her hind claws leaving deep gashes in Pyrrha's stomach and thighs.
Pyrrha gritted her teeth as she pushed with her paw, digging her claws deeper and deeper into Cinder's skull. Blood splattered on her face. Her flesh was in ribbons. Everything was a haze of pain, punctuated with sharp bursts of bone-deep agony.
She squeezed. She felt and heard the crack of bone as she broke Cinder's skull. Cinder jerked, then started convulsing on top of Pyrrha, who took the opportunity to sink her fangs into the gold-furred throat, and twist her head sharply. Cinder stiffened, then went limp, a dead weight pressing down on Pyrrha's exhausted form.
Pyrrha grunted, trying to push Cinder off of her. The weight was moved, and she saw Emerald pulling her beloved leader to the side, eyes shining. Pyrrha wanted to comfort her, but there wasn't any time. She had a pack to command.
Standing up, her legs shaking and bleeding, Pyrrha threw back her head and howled. Her voice echoed from the houses, through the trees, and in the ears of every living soul on the battlefield. She barked an order in a clear, ringing voice. She told the wolves that they were now hers, and that they were to attack the Grimm only. They could defend themselves if they were attacked by Huntsmen, but they were to focus on killing only the Grimm.
There was a shift in the battle then, as werewolves suddenly sprang away from their human and Faunus opponents and latched onto the nearest Grimm. The Huntsmen paused, uncertain. In the end, only a few, such as Hawk, kept trying to go after the werewolves, and these people were quickly disabled and tossed to the side.
The Grimm sensed the tide turning and started to retreat. Several cringed away from Pyrrha's alpha stare before obeying her command to attack their fellows. Ruby and Weiss did the same thing, Ruby holding her future mate up as they mentally forced a dozen Grimm back.
Any Grimm not under werewolf control were quick to retreat. Those that were still caught in the alphas' thrall were dispatched by nearby werewolves and Huntsmen.
A hush settled over Vale then. Then, the cries started. Memories from Obsidian surfaced as people began scrambling over the battlefield, searching for loved ones. Sometimes they found them and let out sobs of joy. Too many times, finding a friend or family member caused a wail of the purest grief.
Emerald crouched over Cinder, hot tears rolling down her muzzle. Taiyang found her and touched her shoulder, murmuring news into her ear that caused her to let out a mournful howl. Cinder. Mercury. The only two people I ever cared about… What even was the point of all this?! Her shoulders shook, and she allowed her human ally to embrace her.
Fennec stood vigil over his brother, his ears erect, his eyes shining with pain. He growled when he noticed a human approaching him, a human that resembled the one who had murdered Corsac.
The human raised his sword, only to receive a sudden blow to the head from Qrow, who shook his head pityingly. "Stubborn no matter what, huh Hawk?" He put a foot on Hawk's back, not looking forward to when the fool woke up.
Pyrrha groaned as she felt her head spin. She was losing too much blood. Two werewolves, she couldn't tell which two, caught her and gently laid her on a somewhat-clear patch of earth.
The other werewolves milled around their new leader, unsure of what to do. Thankfully, Ruby was quick to take charge, barking at all of them to collect their injured and to not harm any humans or Faunus.
Meanwhile, Ozpin was shouting orders, accompanied by Glynda and James. "Distribute what healing supplies you can! Help the wounded first. Do not hinder the werewolves!" People were shocked, but they were so tired from the battle, it was all they could do to focus on one thing at a time, and helping the wounded was certainly the most important thing they could be doing.
Jaune pushed through the amassed werewolves until he reached the protective ring that surrounded Pyrrha. He unbuttoned his satchel and set to work bandaging the worst of her wounds. He winced at the deep gashes on her thighs and belly. "We did it," he murmured, his voice shaking with tiredness and relief. "You were incredible!" He didn't care that blood was getting in his wounds. He had already kissed her, after all. He would be a werewolf by the next full moon.
He heard footsteps behind him, and looked up to see his father watching him. "Be careful, son," Johann warned. "Once the initial shock goes away, there will be some backlash. We all need to be ready."
Jaune nodded, though he couldn't help but let out a long sigh. Can't this just be over? He felt a furry paw on his arm, and smiled. "Still trying to comfort me when you're bleeding out, huh?" he murmured, gently touching her hand before returning to her wounds.
Pyrrha managed a smile, even as black spots floated in her vision. She had done it! She had defeated Cinder! Even so, she felt a sick sensation in her stomach. There was no joy to be felt in the face of the former leader's death. She could hear Emerald sobbing, and felt a pang in her chest, wishing that there could have been some other way.
Regardless, the battle was over. Soon, there would be much to talk about and negotiate. Soon, there would be the backlash Johann was correctly warning them of.
Soon, it would be time to fight their final and most important battle yet: a battle of words, hopes, and prayers, a battle that would probably last for several years before it truly ended.
A battle for reconciliation.
I know a bunch of you will hate me for the body count here, but come on. It's a battle. People die. I kept my promise to never kill Pyrrha in any of my fanfics (unless I'm depicting her dying naturally of old age, as seen in "Goddess of Victory," or have decided to be a masochist and revisit the end of Volume 3 in my canon-verse fics).
Fun fact: Way back when I was first starting this fic, I knew I'd kill Jacques off in this battle, but I was planning on making him more sympathetic. You see, this was before we officially met him in Volume 4, and even after Volume 4, I was thinking of giving him a moment of redemption and having him get killed by a Grimm while lowering his sword when facing Weiss. I love redeemed characters and there was a small part of me that hoped that he's someone who does care about his children and is just super shitty at showing it, focuses too much on status, and could actually be a decent human being if something significant happened to jar him to reality…
Then Volume 5 came, and we learned that he drove his wife to alcoholism by telling her flat-out that he didn't love her and married her for her family name. And that he did this ON HIS DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY after MISSING HER PARTY BECAUSE HE DOESN'T GIVE TWO SHITS ABOUT ANYONE AND-
Ahem… So, yeah. I axed him off with no redemption, because he is a horrible piece of crap.
Six more chapters after this, guys. And one of those chapters may or may not be completely taken up by spicy Arkos action…
If you like what you see and want to show extra support in exchange for rewards, please check out my P/atreon, which is Solora Goldsun.
Peace out!