A/N: A big thank you to benweise1225 for being my new follower (& favoriter too)!
The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
Chapter 7: Something/Some thing (Alt. Spirits of Remembrance)
…
It was well into the evening when Tara and Ruby arrived to the homely shack. When Tara first saw it, the first thing that came to mind was…sad. Something about the building puts her off, as if it was missing something crucial.
Red and black spots danced in front of her eyes, and she blinked furiously, shaking her head to clear it away. Unless she was imagining things, something white stood out at the corner of her eye. The cape fluttered lightly with phantom breeze, with it, white petals surrounding the house with a soft sigh.
"Rose…" she muttered once she recognized the soft petals that now fluttered her skin.
"Where?"
Ruby's voice made the phantom disappeared, together with the white rose petals – and Tara raised her eyebrows.
A spirit?
"Nothing…" The Huntress managed to sound casual in reflex as she looked down at her young charge. A skill she picked up in Sanctum Academy – to shield herself from others.
Sounding disinterested or casual tend to make one avoid Tara, or feel safe with just her voice. The Huntress then looked at the housing that she will live for the next 6 months.
The shack was obviously well-maintained, clear window glasses – showing the different colored drape curtains behind it. Near the front door, a few feet away, was a weapon shelf. Red, grey and yellow colored weapons – they were in compact forms much to Tara's burning curiosity. To its right, was the rental car.
The Huntress helped the little charge down first, and slipped off the horse herself once she deemed Ruby is safe. The black stallion snorted, but followed the light tugging.
"Good horse," Tara patted its neck once more before releasing the reins. "You did well."
Bless the red riding hood, Ruby came to her with a bucket of fresh water for the horse. She raised it up a bit hesitantly to the tired stallion as it approached. The stallion snorted a bit happily before rehydrating itself.
For a while, Tara merely watched the two interact with each other, that was until she heard a soft bark. She shifted her gaze to a ball of fluff, its slobbering saliva all over her right boot, and it even had the nerve to look cheeky. The animal and the Huntress stared at each other, unblinking.
"…Corgi?" asked the Huntress, feeling a little foolish.
The miniature size of its tail wagged rapidly. "Wuff!"
"Yes?"
"Wuff!"
The adorable ball of monochrome color panted more, before tilting its head and then leaned against her left leg for support. Its lush, soft looking fur was begging to be touched. Tara slid a hand down her face – she must resist!
The sound of shoed hooves beating the ground, crushing the dry leaves and cracking branches reached her ears as she tilted her head to the direction. The damn Corgi didn't even budge, but looked up as best as it could with its current position – easily climbing the ratings of cuteness.
And came the puppy eye.
It was that moment Tara knew she have to pat the dog. With a resentful sigh, she bent down and scratched behind its ears. The damn Corgi seemed to laugh at her weak defenses though Tara, herself, knew it was just a trick of her mind.
"I see you met Zwei," snarked a familiar voice. She didn't bother looking up. She had long known he was here the moment the hoof beats came closer – and to a stop. Not only that, the black pants came to the edge of her vision when her contact approached.
Still scratching Zwei's ears, Tara remarked rather sardonically. "It's just a ball of fluff."
A laugh. "Ball of fluff? Kid, the very same ball of fluff is a trained Huntsmen dog."
Tara shrugged nonchalantly. "Must be nice to have company."
"Where's your team?"
A sudden shift of subject made her hand stiffed. Slowly, she stood up and tilted her head upwards to face taller Huntsman. Her tri-color eyes bore into his curious rusted reds.
"No idea." She tried to shove the Huntsman away, but Qrow grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back.
Screw you!
Tara retaliated with a sweep of his legs.
His reflexes saved him from falling face-first.
Qrow jumped backwards, surprise in his eyes, but they became narrowed just as quickly. He cracked his neck – twice. Tara widened her feet a little, her body slightly tensed – trying to stay ahead of her opponent.
Crack!
It was her only warning.
Qrow at first threw punches – right, jab, cross, straight. They were predictable – easily blocked, but still hit hard. Her red palms can attest to his power.
Then, he suddenly dashed forward, half-twisting his body and tried to elbow her. She growled and dropped to one knee, and jabbed his exposed side. His face contorted, but his hands grabbed the offending wrist, and twisted it – restricting her movement.
The Huntress countered by jabbing – but he faced front just in time, for her fingers to hit his damn hard abs.
Intense heat and pain flooded her system – from the fingers.
The Huntsman turned her twisted hand over her – and Tara punched his gut, hard, ignoring the fractured fingers, and somersaulted, striking three kicks – all connected to his body – before her movements became very restricted.
Qrow was forced to release her, for his jaw has been struck. He groaned, and jumped backwards.
They glared at each other for a while – Tara rubbing her released sore wrist, the dull throbbing of her fingers made her blood roar – Qrow, rubbing circles on his jabbed side.
"Good in unarmed combat. How unexpected," The Huntsman remarked. "Your weapons didn't even restrict your movements that much. They do not have compact form."
The rest were in distinct mutters. "…21 inch? 23? Should be around that length…obviously a katana."
Tara looked at him warily, and sent a sliver of Aura to her fractured bones. She experimentally clenched them – no pain, no cramps. It was only right there they noticed they had three audiences – all wide-eyed, and jaw dropped. Right in front of Ruby was a shaking Corgi, Zwei.
Its ears were flatten – and Tara felt guilty, but stood where she was, careful to wear the 「blank」 mask. The trio's eyes went from Qrow to Tara, and back to Qrow again – Taiyang was one of annoyance – Yang had placed her hands on her hips, tapping the ground with her right foot – while the youngest among them, Ruby Rose, completely enraptured by the fight, silver eyes twinkling brightly.
"OHMYGODTHAT'SSOCOOL!" fangirled Ruby.
Tara cringed at the pitch, and physically shrank under Taiyang's questioning look. "Girls, go inside. We, adults, need to have a serious talk."
"C'mon Rubes," Yang shook the younger girl with a soft, motherly smile – somehow, fitting to the teen's face. "Let the adults do the talking, and we, children, do the playing."
Ruby pouted and kicked a pebble. "But…but…"
Yang sighed. "I will let you modify Ember Celica."
"Sold! You would like it!" Ruby beamed at the prospect, and walked beside the taller girl, with a little skip in her steps as they head to the house – Tara filed the information. Ruby obviously took her interest in modifications and weapons designs by…
Qrow – Tara stared at the Huntsman.
Something just doesn't add up.
…
…
Taiyang looked at Tara Twilight, certainly having second thoughts about having this, crazy Huntress in his humble home. A kettle was set to boil on a stove, all three cups, placed in a safe distance away from the boiling kettle – a portion of strong coffee powder was poured into them. The TV set was off, the kitchen is pristine clean except for some dirty dishes that were hastily cleared away with telltale tomato sauce on them.
By the counter were Qrow and Tara, with a chair apart between them.
For once, Qrow was quiet, drinking the alcohol substance in his canteen, only giving the hooded Huntress an inquiring look when she propped an elbow on the counter, placing her head on it.
The silence was strained – one Taiyang felt it will take a lot more than sharp weapons to cut.
"How old are you?" asked Taiyang carefully – earning a harsh look from Tara, her mouth set into a thin line. She didn't bother to hide her hostility towards the host – for taking her weapons away from her side.
"Twenty-one this year."
Qrow was about to remark about her age, and Taiyang cut him off with a question. "Birthday?"
"Somewhere in Winter."
"Who taught you?"
"Logan."
"Last name?"
Tara sighed unhappily. "Rose. Like the flower."
Just a coincidence. Summer is the only child.
Taiyang decided to shift the angle of his questions. It was painfully obvious to both of the men – her mentor is a sensitive topic, and none of them wanted to stroke the smoldering embers of her wrath.
They have Yang for that.
"Don't you have parents?"
Silence was his answer.
"Friends?"
Tara cracked her index finger with her thumb. Dimly, Taiyang noticed she is left-handed like Ruby. There was a sense of sorrow on her posture this time, again with burden.
"Lost contact." There was an underlying warning in her voice – and Qrow subtly shook his head, and pointed at his side.
"When was the last time you had a chat?"
Tara tapped the counter. "Too long. And I do not know where they are currently. Or even how they're doing…"
There was a pause as Taiyang wracked his brain for more questions. Preferably something mundane.
The kettle whistled.
Taiyang quickly off the stove and lifted the kettle, pouring its hot contents slowly in a small circle onto one of the coffee cups. He heard low mutterings from Qrow and a snort from Tara, before she muttered something back, highly likely a snarky comment.
"I know it is overdue, but," Taiyang placed a coffee cup in front of Tara. "Make yourself home."
Tara didn't touch it, instead stared at the liquid. The blonde then attended the remaining coffee cups with a slight smile. He had caught on to something good.
A small smile – from the normally stoic Tara. A good sign.
"Tai, what would she teach? She can't be my PA, for usual reasons," The still-not-drunk Qrow quoted the last word in the air. "And, the best part? She's too suspicious for anything!"
Taiyang could only give Qrow a hard look as he sat opposite the two. "As long as she's not wearing her hood all day in Signal. And socialize with students and staff, suspicions will be...good as gone."
They glanced at the aforementioned Huntress, and she shook her head adamantly and pulled the hood further down protectively.
"Second Yang or Ruby?" Taiyang asked, with amusement lacing his voice. Qrow raised an eyebrow at his friend.
"Ruby. Definitely Ruby – Tara is like a koala to her hood."
The Huntress ignored their teasing completely by drinking her coffee, and stared at the wonder liquid. "Heaven."
"Heavenly taste indeed." Qrow muttered. "Too bad, no side-jobs for this."
Taiyang ignored the jab. "Are you doing alright?" asked the blonde gently. Tara started laughing. Except the laugh sounded a mixture of sadness and anger – a dangerous combination.
"Alright? Alright?" she hissed the word. "What is the definition of it?"
Neither of the men answer. She had a valid point.
"Let's go with sane – and have a good brain inside your skull," quipped Qrow. "Along with empathy and sympathy," added Qrow as an afterthought.
Tara snorted into her coffee, before draining it completely. It was completely unladylike. Taiyang inwardly sighed.
Will Ruby end up like Tara?
Taiyang had a sneaking suspicion Ruby would be better, but in what way? The blonde mused. And his heart sank at the thought – that one day, they will grow wings and fly on their own.
Saving people, killing Grimms, and find a good man, and settle down.
"Bark!"
Taiyang stared at Zwei, its tongue out as it showed its belly. The blonde smiled and gave the belly a few taps with his exposed foot. He noted Tara had left her seat, and went outside to the cold wind, while sitting on the steps of the porch.
The Huntress stared at the fallen autumn leaves before picking one up and twirled it with her fingers – it made Taiyang wondered if there was anyone to be there for her, to comfort her at every step of the way.
Perhaps the autumn leaves held a precious memory, or a remembrance of someone important in her life. Unexpectedly, she stared at the empty space – seeing something only she could see. The wind blew softly towards her, making her hood billow.
The two men observed her, content with just their cup of coffees in hand, each of them, lost in their own train of thoughts.
"Hey Tai."
"Hm?" grunted the blonde man, his eyes never leaving the Huntress's side.
"…promise me you will protect…the girls whenever possible."
Taiyang smirked at his old friend and shook his head once.
Some things just never change.
Unknown to them, the spirit of Summer Rose stood in front of Tara Twilight, and the two women, courtesy each other – the former with a simple bow, and the latter with an arm crossed over her stomach, and head low.
The white petals circled the house – and one of them brushed Tara's cloak before swirling up to the sky.
…
A/N: Do read Chapter 6.5 to know more about Tara's life before Haven's Academy. There's a reason why Tara is able to see them, especially when they choose to show themselves. It will be explained in future chapters.
Thank you for reading! Read and Review! Do follow/favorite the story to keep track~
Total words: 2222
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