"I won't ask you again." The stranger said, walking towards Velvet with his blade drawn. She couldn't tell if the blade was red in origin or if it was covered in dried blood. Either way, its size and tip was intimidating to the young Velvet, still relatively new to the concept of mortal combat.
"Velvet. Velvet Scarlatina." With that, he lowered his blade and cocked his head at Velvet. It was as if he were trying to determine just how much of a threat she was to him. He stepped over to Velvet, the ground crunching underneath the black soles of his boots. Velvet felt the urge to flee, but she had the small notion that she would not be able to get very far before she was dispatched by the red blade of the man in the Grimm mask. When they were but mere inches from each other, he wrapped a pale hand around Velvet's throat. His other hand pulled a dagger from a hidden sheath that was concealed by his pants, which was brought close to Velvet's ear.
"Why are you here?" He asked through gritted teeth. Velvet felt herself tremble at the close proximity between the two of them and just how close she was, once more to death.
"I'm not a spy or anything. I want no trouble. I was only trying to pass through." Velvet hesitantly replied, not bothering to hide the fear within her voice.
"Forgive me if I don't believe you. How do I know you're not a spy?" The stranger asked, brandishing the knife closer to Velvet's cheek. Her hair stood on end as this man brought the knife closer to her skin. He sneered and leaned in closer, cocking his head once again.
"If I were a spy, you wouldn't have found me." Velvet said with a small chuckle, accidentally quoting Graymond.
"Don't count on it. Now I'm going to ask one more time. Who are you? Why are you here?"
"My name is Velvet Scarlatina. I am on the run from the law. I seek refuge from my pursuers." She spoke out of total impulse, and did not fully think through her response. The stranger released Velvet from her grip, causing her, breathless, to fall to the ground. Velvet caressed her own throat, looking up at the man who still held her at his mercy.
"Why did you come here? This is a force of revolution, not just some charity organization. If you do not believe in our cause or are willing to fight for it, then you have no place in our camps. Leave now. This is the only time I will tell you." He said with a snarl of his lips.
Velvet frantically tried to formulate some sort of plan that would secure her place at the camp. The only one that worked in her favor was one that made her sick to her stomach. She had never thought that the time would come when she was desperate enough to stoop as low as she was going to in order to stay safe.
Funny. Just a minute ago, I was wanting to die. Now, I'm back to fighting to stay alive. What a turnabout.
"I can help. I…can be a member of the White Fang. I can learn your ways and become a productive member. I can do whatever you want, if only you'll give me the opportunity to try."
The stranger grunted, and looked about, as if considering his options. Finally, he replaced his dagger in its sheath and held out a hand to Velvet. She took it, and was forcefully pulled back to her feet. The two looked at each other, until the stranger looked away with a grimace.
"I don't like this. If it were up to me, I would have you thrown out as food for the Ursa like you wanted in the first place. Luckily for you, it's not up to me. I'm going to take you to Supreme Leader Khan. Surely you've heard about her on the news. She will decide your fate with the White Fang. Now come, before I decide to take matters in my own hands."
In a fervor, Velvet began to follow the stranger in an unspecified direction. Whenever he would turn, she would as well. This occurred several times throughout their trek through the dense, wooded area. Occasionally, the stranger would look back at Velvet, doing what she assumed was ensuring she was not conspiring to attack him from behind or run away. Always satisfied that no such event was transpiring, Velvet looked on as he turned straightforward and continued on his way.
The two remained silent during this leg of the journey. The only sounds that Velvet was able to pick out was the tweeting of birds, the crackling of fire nearby, and indistinct voices that she could not accurately make out. She felt that this was likely a signal that they were both far away from their destination, and close at the same time. Before she was able to have any further thoughts in her mind, the stranger stopped and swiftly turned, pulling a long black ribbon from his pocket.
"Turn around." He said with an imperative tone.
Velvet, not wanting to agitate her captor, did as commanded. The stranger pulled the ribbon over her eyes and tightly pulled back. She could feel the bow being tied, as evidenced by the stinging along her temples.
"Make no mistake. If you try to run, or try to overpower me, I will not hesitate to kill you. Are we clear?" The stranger violently whispered in Velvet's ear, sending chills down her spine.
Velvet grunted in the affirmative and nodded. The stranger nodded as well, and nudged for Velvet to move forward. She did as silently commanded, moving forward blinded. Her heightened senses only went so far, her navigation being owed in no small part to the red-haired man's not-so-gentle hands leading her. All that her senses could offer her was the sound of crackling fire nearby and the distinct scent of the wood that was being burned. She heard a cacophony of drunken voices (that's what they struck her as, anyways) that gave her a strong hint of where the stranger was taking her. Despite this, Velvet elected to remain silent, trying her damnedest to not give away any knowledge that she may have gained.
Several more seconds of listening transpired before Velvet's shoulders were violently gripped, bringing her advance to a swift halt. She felt the urge to move her head, but quickly deduced that there was no use. Even with her hearing, there was no earthly way for her to gain her bearings via vision. As much as she hated to admit it, Velvet would have to wait for the ribbon to be moved away from her eyes. A single set of footsteps came within touching distance of the pair, causing Velvet's mind to go blank as she focused on any information that may be said.
Of course, that's assuming they ever do and just don't kill me right away. She thought just beforehand.
"High Leader, I found this—"The stranger began to speak, but was silenced by what Velvet perceived to be a slap from the other person who had just come onto the scene.
"How dare you speak to me before first being addressed?" It was a female, someone who sounded to be 10 years Velvet's senior.
An awkward silence followed, the only sound filling Velvet's ears being the scraping noise that the original stranger stroked his likely-stinging cheek.
"Forgive me, High Leader Khan." He said with chagrin and a hint of annoyance, like a small child annoyed by his chastising mother.
"You're forgiven. Now, what news have you, Brother Adam? Who is this…guest that you have brought to us?" Supreme Leader Khan inquired.
Velvet heard the clothes of Adam rustle, and the lower elevation of his voice afterwards indicated to Velvet that he was kneeling before the Supreme Leader.
"Supreme Leader, I found this Faunus traveling along our borders. She wishes to join our ranks."
"Then explain to me, Brother Adam, why she looks like a prisoner? From the way you make it seem, she should be a revered guest!"
"Forgive—"Adam began, but he was peacefully silenced by the Supreme Leader.
"Apologies will not make our guest any more comfortable. Take that blind off of her. So we can greet her properly."
Without a word, bright light momentarily blinded Velvet as her sensitive eyes became accustomed to the near campfire. She met her eyes with a dark woman with cat ears and black markings on her bare arms. She possessed a cerulean dress with dark-purple fringes that went down to the midway point of her thighs. Her legs and arms were littered with thin scars, evidence of the various battles that she had been involved in over the course of her career in the White Fang.
"Welcome! What, pray tell, is your name, brave warrior?" The voice that she spoke in aggravated Velvet. It was far too sweet, and made Velvet stand on guard for an impending ambush.
"Velvet Scarlatina." Velvet said apprehensively. She did her damnedest to not squint her eyes at the Supreme Leader Khan. The last thing that she wanted her to do was antagonize her 'host' in any way and run her welcome short.
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ms. Scarlatina. As I'm sure you already know, I am Sienna Khan, High Leader of the White Fang. This is one of my lieutenants, Adam Taurus. He will be the one who will oversee your initiation into the group."
"But High Leader—"
"Do not question my decisions, Brother Adam. I have given you your position, and I can still take it away."
Adam was almost instantly complacent, rising to his feet once more.
"Yes, High Leader."
High Leader Khan looked over at her subordinate, scowled, and then turned a warm face back to Velvet.
"Now, where was I? Oh, yes. Brother Adam will oversee your assimilation into the Order, ensuring that you are capable to do what is necessary for Faunus-kind. Before that, however…"
Khan's voice trailed as she withdrew a dagger from a sheath that she revealed as soon as she lifted a side of her dress in order to expose her thigh. The sight of the clean silver blade sent a chill down Velvet's spine. Velvet felt the urge to take flight in what she took as a direct threat against her life.
Don't overreact. You could just be overthinking it. Let things transpire and see where things turn out.
"Hold out your hand, either one will do. With the palm up, please" Khan beckoned.
Velvet looked down at the blade with a heavy anxiety in her heart.
"What, if I may ask, is this for?"
Khan laughed, cocking her head back. She was like this for only a moment before she looked back at Velvet.
"Clever girl. Don't want to enter into a binding contract without knowing what you're getting yourself into. I like it. Well, if you must know, this is part of our initiation into the White Fang. A little rudimentary and admittedly primitive, but this is one tradition that we are satisfied with keeping around. That's all."
"What are the other conditions of joining?"
"I am glad that you asked. Firstly, you must take the oath before the council, swearing your allegiance to our cause. Secondly, after proper training, there is the matter of proving your allegiance."
"And how would I do that?"
The smile quickly faded from Supreme Leader Khan's expression, only to return in a false shell of its previous self. She chuckled in a condescending manner and briefly closed her eyes. She opened them once more a second later, meeting Velvet's gaze once more.
"I appreciate your gusto and your desire to leave no stone unturned, but it would behoove you to not take such a casual demeanor with me. I only let it slide because this is our first meeting. Do not expect me to be so generous twice. Everything will be made apparent to you when we see it fit to. Do I make myself clear?" She said in a stern tone, one that made it apparent to Velvet of how she demanded attention from her subordinates.
Velvet nodded in agreement. She knew it unwise to cross such a dangerous potential adversary. She knew that, were she to survive with these people, she would have to oblige them and play their game. In this mindset, she held out her hand as beckoned.
"Good girl. Early steps are the ones that serve as a foundation for the stairway that leads to a trusting relationship. You're on your way there, with loyalty like this." High Leader Khan briskly clutched Velvet's wrist in her hand and ran the sharp blade along the length of her palm.
Velvet winced and fought the urge to retract her hand. Khan noticed and leaned in close to Velvet's ear.
"Good. Your willpower is strong. That will help you when faced with strenuous tests on the field of battle. Revolution is not brought about by those who cower in the face of the oppressed. We seek only those who stare down the barrel of the enemy and laugh in light of their own death. I can already sense such power in you. In time, I sense that your power will come to rival that of Brother Adam…or perhaps even myself." Supreme Leader Khan stopped for a moment to stare at Velvet with wary eyes, as if she suddenly saw that her new recruit could pose a threat to herself.
She brushed off the moment of awkward silence with a chortle and proceeded to slice her own hand open, pushing it into Velvet's without a moment's hesitation. Velvet was shocked that she had blindly merged their blood together without warning. She looked down at their clasped hands, watching as the blood dripped down from between them to stain the earth beneath in a dark red. Supreme Leader Khan must have taken note of this as well, because she backed away and smiled. It was a fake smile, and that scared her more than any Taijitu could.
"Those who are bonded for life are unlikely to betray one another on the field of battle. Another step of trust is built with this." In an action that shocked Velvet, High Leader Khan lifted her palm up to Velvet's cheek and smeared blood over it. Velvet shuddered, but did not move away. She was beginning to see the beliefs and ideology of Supreme Leader Khan, and felt that, the sooner she went along with it, the better conditions would be for her in this place.
This line of thought was disrupted by High Leader Khan tightly gripping Velvet's wrist once more and running her palm down the cheek of the Supreme Leader.
"Where respect is demanded, it must also be reciprocated. So is the way of the White Fang. This will be your family, Velvet Scarlatina. And this will be the family that lays you to rest. Are you prepared for that?"
Velvet nodded with a solemn expression, what she expected Supreme Leader Khan expected from her. This was the main reason why Supreme Leader Khan's pursing of her lips and shake of the head surprised her so much.
"No. I need to hear you say it."
Velvet nodded once more.
"I will earn my place here. I will be a member."
High Leader Khan gripped Velvet's shoulders, then proceeded to hug her.
"I'm glad to hear it. Now we take you before the council so that they can become assured of your allegiance to the cause. And rest assured, they will be. Welcome to the Brotherhood, Ms. Scarlatina."