{Summer Rose} The Silver-Eyed Huntress
I
Summer remembered when her mother explained to her about the meaning of her silver eyes. The power that came along with them, why the Grimm were always attracted to her. She had felt both terrified and excited. Summer loved the stories of hunters and huntresses, and she wanted to be one. Even, once her mother was gone, taken away to whatever lay beyond this life. Summer survived her loses and found her way into Beacon.
II
The forest settled into that quiet after a clash, where all one could hear was the thudding of their own heart. Summer glanced up, her hood sliding back to reveal the grinning boy before her. Her silver eyes met his crimson ones.
"Hey, Red," He greeted running a hand through his thick mop of black hair.
"Summer," she corrected with a smile as sweet and shy as a child.
"Qrow," the boy said twirling his scythe and it transformed into a massive sword, "partners then huh." Summer nodded as more Grimm began to circle them. White rose petals floated through the air around the pair. "Ready," he asked
Summer twirled her blades. "Ready."
III
It was quiet in the room for once. Summer lay on her bed looking up at the ceiling. Something flickered inside her as it did every once in a while. A whisper of danger in her ears about something from a another place. A knock came on the door.
"If you live in the room, you don't need to knock." Summer said a smile spreading across her face.
"Didn't want to walk in on anyone," Qrow said with a teasing smile. "What are you doing?" Summer sat up.
"Thinking."
"What does Summer Rose think about in her quiet moments ?" he asked taking a seat down on her bed.
"How to improve my cookie recipes," Summer said. Qrow laughed. "Hey, cookies are serious business with me." she added with a giggle.
"I have no doubt in that, Red," he said grinning. Summer's smile faded a touch.
"Qrow, have you ever thought about why you choice to be a hunter?" Summer's partner fell quiet thinking.
"I suppose, it's because of my parents," he said. "Raven and me lost them when we still pretty little but I remember them." He twisted the rings on his finger. "They were huntsmen and I want to carry on the torch I suppose," Qrow turned to her, "It's also something I'm good." Summer nodded.
"What about you ?" he asked.
"I just want to help others," Summer admitted. "I've seen the Grimm take a lot away from others and I know that I have the powers to stop it." She could feel the pulse of powers just under her skin. A piecing light that banished away the shadows. "I suppose it's as simple as that." Qrow grinned.
"That makes too much sense," he said, "Summer, you are by far the most selfless person I've ever known." Summer smiled bashfully. "It's just what we're suppose to be too, the huntsmen guarding the people against the dark forces of the Grimm." he added.
"It sounds so righteous when you put it like that," Summer said.
"I know, right." Qrow stretched out his arms, "We've gotten quite interoceptive." Summer nodded.
"Sorry, the last mission just got me thinking," she said.
"Well it was our first as a team," Qrow said. "But if you ask me, I was glad to have you as my leader." Summer felt her face go a little hot.
"Well I was happy to have such a good partner." Qrow grinned.
"World's best partner." Summer gave him a little shove.
"More like the most egotistical one," she said. Qrow laughed falling back on her bed.
"I can't help how great I am," he said.
"I bet," she replied.
IV
"Summer, I know nothing about weddings," Raven exclaimed as she paced around her room. A dress hung in her closet.
"Yes, because you've never been married," Summer told her smiling from her place on the edge of the bed. "Of course you don't know what it's like." Raven huffed.
"What if it all goes wrong," she demanded. Summer shook her head.
"Raven, we've been through this," she said. "You and Tai love one another." Raven nodded a lovely smile on her lips as she thought of her lumberjack.
"Then whatever happens at the wedding isn't important outside of you and him getting married."
"I know that," she said. "I just don't want to make a mistake."
"Do you honestly think Tai will care," she said. Raven sank onto the bed.
"Of course not," she moaned. "He'd smile that wonderfully stupid grin and say how he loves me." Summer giggled.
'Raven, you're panicking for no reason." Raven looked over her friend.
"I know that too," she replied drily. "But honestly, all I need at the wedding is Tai and you and Qrow."
"Then, do that if you want," Summer told her. "I can call the boys and they'll be here in a heartbeat." Raven sighed looking up at the ceiling.
"How do you manage to make everything sound so simple," she asked of Summer.
"I just see things simply," Summer said. Raven laughed.
"There is nothing simple about you, Summer Rose," she told her. Summer grinned thinking about her friends and their happiness.
V
The moon had risen high into the starry sky as Summer carried baby Ruby down the hall of her house. Ruby was wrapped up lovely in a red blanket. she slept quietly as Summer gently rocked her.
"There is so much I want to tell you," Summer said quietly. "About being a silver eyed, and all the power that comes along with that." The house was quiet, Taiyang and Yang were asleep on the couch in the living room. "There will be lots of dangers in the world, but you'll be prepared." Summer stopped at the window. "You won't be alone either, you will have Yang and all the friends that you'll make at school." She smiled at her little girl. "Tai and me will be there for you too," she promised. "And uncle Qrow and Aunt Raven." Summer would find Raven. She couldn't let her teammate keep fighting by their self. "Don't ever allow anyone discourage you from getting what you want." Summer told her. "And remember that I love you, Ruby." She placed a kiss on Ruby's forehead gently.
VI
"Mommy, mommy," Yang and Ruby called the moment Summer got back to the house.
"Hello sweethearts," she said kneeling down and wrapping the girls up in a hug. She kissed them on the top of their heads as they went into how the past few days had been.
"Sounds very exciting," Summer told them as she got her feet the girls in her arms.
"Daddy, tried making cookies," Yang told her. "But they weren't very good."
"In my defense, I tried." Taiyang said coming out of the kitchen. A broad smile on his lips. Summer kissed him as she let the girls down.
"An A for effort," she told him. Taiyang nodded as the girls went to play with Zwei.
"How was the hunt ?" he asked her. Summer rolled her tired shoulders.
"No worse than usual," she replied. "There were plenty of Beowulfs to keep me company." Taiyang frowned taking her hands, "I wish I could go on more hunts with you." Summer gave his hands a squeeze.
"Yang and Ruby need one parent to be safe and sound," she told him. "Plus you have a job at Signal now."He sighed.
"They need you, too," he told her softly. "I need you."
"I'm not going anywhere," Summer reassured him. "I promise." Taiyang smiled.
"Mommy!' Ruby called from the other room.
"Come on," she said smiling. They went off to see the girls.
VII
"We still have no idea what Raven encounter to make her run," Qrow said pinching the bridge of his nose. He curled up his fingers inches from his flask. Summer sighed walking over to his desk, they were gathered in Qrow's study.
"It must involve Salem," she said. "Somehow she must've threatened Raven."
"But why not stay and work with us and Oz?" Summer shook her head.
"I don't know." They had been trying to riddle out why Raven had left for years now. Even with everything they knew, they were no closer to an answer or to finding Raven herself. Qrow sank back into his chair.
"She was looking into our parent's murder," Qrow said for what felt like the millionth time. "They were guardians and now we have no idea of what Raven found."
"There has to be some lead we've missed," Summer said.
"How?" Qrow snapped. To Summer's credit she didn't flinch. "I'm sorry," he said. Qrow rubbed his eyes. "Yang's six," he said. "Six years and I'm afraid she's never going to know her mother."
"She will," Summer insisted. "We will find Raven and Yang will know her mother, we'll make sure of that." Qrow smiled sadly.
"How do you keep going?" he asked," You're raising Ruby and Yang. You kept Tai from going down a deep dark pit and you still hunt to protect everyone." Summer sighed, her shoulders sagging.
"I just need to be doing something," She said. "It's just what I do." Qrow got up.
"All these years and you haven't changed a bit."
"I like being consistent," Summer told him placing a hand on his arm. "Maybe we should take a break for a little while."
"Alright," he said.
VIII
"The huntsmen fought back the Grimm and saved the whole town," Summer said smiling. The girls had fallen off to sleep as she finished. Summer placed a kiss on Ruby and Yang's' cheeks.
"Sweet dreams, my wonderful little girls." Summer said. clicking off the lights. She walked towards the door, looking back to the girls. Ruby was still wearing her red sweater with a cape and hood like Summer's. Yang was twisted up in her covers already. She had Taiyang's golden hair, yet she looked so much like Raven. Summer walked down the hallway to her room, she felt a strangeness to sharing one with Taiyang sometimes. Instead she stayed in her room for most nights. Summer went to bed but her scroll began to buzz. She checked it and saw an alert for a hunt. She sighed and got her weapons out of her dresser.
"Summer ?" Tai called as she past the living room. "Another hunt?" Summer nodded.
"I promise to be back before morning," she told him. Taiyang smiled.
"I'll be here grading papers," he told her. Summer grinned kissing before heading out.
IX
Summer slammed her back against the nearest boulder. She breathed out into the chilly late fall air. Blood trickled down her face and arms. The Grimm were different, stronger, and they weren't alone. The edges of her cloak were dyed red. Summer wrapped her hands tightly around her weapons.
"We need to move," Raven said. Summer looked over at her friend. She had finally found her.
"Summer," Raven asked in disbelief. Summer held out her hand as the enemies circled in.
"We're going back home," she told Raven.
"Summer!" Raven shouted as an arrow missed Summer as she moved in a hurry. She cut into the oncoming Beowulf. Ruby. Yang. Taiyang. Qrow. She would get back to them. Someone slammed into her. Raven stabbed at them with her katana without hesitating. Summer pushed herself up. Blood stained the ground. Summer attacked the Grimm and knocked the human attacker back. Summer caught sight of woman in red and man.
"Raven," Summer yelled pushing her friend out of the way. Blood bloomed out from her chest.
"No!" Raven screamed.
X
Someone knocked heavily on Qrow's door. He hurried to the door, running a hand through his messy hair. He swung the door open, and for a moment he felt joy flood through his mind.
"Raven," he said smiling before he really saw what was before him.
"Qrow," she sobbed, "Summer, she's hurt." Raven stood in his doorway, disheveled and blooded. She was carrying Summer on her back. Qrow didn't say another word as they ran inside to the dinning room. He pushed everything off and Raven lay Summer down gently on it.
"We need a medic," Raven said her voice trembled.
"Here," Qrow said his own hands shook as he handed his twin a towel. Raven pressed it to the bloody wound on Summer abdomen.
"Qrow?" Summer asked faintly her silver eyes opened a sliver. He dashed back to the table his scroll gripped in his hand.
"Summer, I'm calling a medic they'll be here soon," he promised with tears in his eyes. Summer smiled at the twins.
"Tell the girls that I love them" she said her voice growing weaker. "Look after them."
"Summer, you're not going to die," Raven insisted tears streaming down her determined face. "Just hold on." Summer smiled, blood dripped down from her lips.
"Yang needs you Raven," she said bringing her bloodied hand to Raven's. "Promise me, you'll look after her."
"I promise," Raven sobbed. "But you have to be there with me, you need to be there." Qrow's clean hands covered the girls.
"Summer, medics are on the way," Qrow said forcing a smile as his voice broke with a cry. "So just hang on a little longer okay." Summer's eyes began to close.
"I love you both so much," she whispered. "Everyday since I met you all were the best of time."
"Summer," Qrow said. He could barely feel her aura anymore. It always shined so brightly.
"I have to go now," she said tears falling into her hair. "Yang, Ruby." Summer closed her eyes, a faint smile on her pale face as her heart went quiet.
"Summer," Qrow sobbed sinking to the floor. Raven broke down across from him. The Branwren twins cried together for their leader, for their friend.
Qrow felt cold as he sat on the back porch with Raven. He knew that he had poor luck but for one moment he had hoped that the world would allow him a moment. Just one moment of happiness that lasted. Summer and Raven both alive and with him. But now all he had the Summer lying on his table, cold and unmoving. He wanted to tell Raven how he missed her. But nothing seemed right in that moment. The medic would be on there way to collect Summer.
"I'm sorry," Raven finally broke the silence.
"For what," he said numbly. "You didn't do anything wrong."
Raven leaned back. "We both know that is a lie," she said, "All I've done for the past few years is make mistakes."
"We both have made a fair share of mistakes," Qrow said. "But you're not alone anymore." Raven closed her eyes and leaned forward.
"I can't stay," she mumbled. Qrow felt his insides twist up.
"You can' t leave again," he said turning to her. Raven stood up and walked a few paces away.
"Qrow, it isn't safe for me to be around you or Tai or the girls."
"It's not safe out there by yourself," Qrow said his voice growing louder. "Those monster killed Summer!" He didn't remember standing but he was now besides Raven.
"That's why I need to stop them," she growled."I have to keep everyone safe."
"Then let me help you," Qrow demanded. "You promised Summer to be there for Yang." Raven's crimson eyes blazed up like fire.
"Don't you dare throw promises in my face," she yelled. "I love Yang." her anger faltered for a instance. "But if I'm not willing to put her in danger." Qrow ran a hand through his hair.
"What the hell are we doing?" he asked. Raven's shoulders slumped.
"The same thing we always do when Summer wasn't around to scold us." Qrow sat back on the back porch.
"Bickering like kids," he muttered. "Raven, can you at least stay until morning?" Raven looked back. She looked so tired, dark circles under her eyes.
"Okay," she said quietly.
XI
The medics had come and gone, taking Summer along with them. Qrow had dug his nails into his arms as he watched her body go. It looked so fragile, Summer had always seemed so invincible in life. He wandered to his guest room to check on Raven, but good to her word. She had vanished once more as the sun rose. He stood alone in his house that felt far to quiet and small. He knew what he had to do. Someone, he needed to talk to. But, he felt the bone deep terror of having to tell him what had happened.
"Damn it," Qrow said as he forced himself out and off to Taiyang's house.
XII
A grave stood on a cliff edge just out of the forest on the island of Patch. Summer Rose written on it. Many people visited the grave. Qrow and Raven though never at the same time. Taiyang but it was rare, he found it too hard for him to , where she was more quiet than usual. Ruby to tell her mom all about the things that happened to her. Ruby was there more than anyone. If only to feel just a little close to her mother. Even if it was just for a moment.
This took a while to write but I hope you all enjoy the new chapter.