Chapter four

Hey guys, I'm still alive. Waiver, if you will.

Waiver: RWBY belongs to Monty Oum.

Disclaimer: I still say this is bullcrap.

Cardin was running. That's all he could remember doing, running. The scenic buildings of Vale pass him, the street lights occasionally lighting his path but he didn't notice. All he did was run. That's all he ever did. Tears fell from his eyes, his vision blurred. One question ran through his head. A simple question that he just couldn't find an answer to. One that mocked him almost tortured him.

Why?

Why is he running? He is a huntsman, a student in the best fighting academy in Revenant. He is a Winchester! Yet here he is running like he's a kid again! Why? Why did he run back then? Why is he running now?

Why did she save him?

Cardin stopped running. He just stood there, his fists clenched. Why was he running?

The gunshot interrupted him before he could answer.

-0-

"AGH!"

The armored teen clutched his chest again. A cold sweat he was now all too familiar with clung to his skin yet again.

"Cardin!"

He jolted at the voice, forgetting that he was not alone in the cave. Velvet ran over to him with what he could have sworn was worry. He shook that thought away. She wouldn't worry about him . . . would she? He jolted again as the Faunus put her hand on his shoulder. His first instinct was to shrug it off but he just sat there, too distracted by his thoughts to notice.

"The nightmares are getting worse aren't they?"

He didn't answer. He just looked off at nothing, not meeting her eyes.

"Do you want to talk about?"

That shocked him from his stupor. He realized the position he was in, her hand still on his shoulder. With a scowl he shrugged it off.

"No," he deadpanned. "Just let me sleep." With that he rolled over, being mindful of his leg, and fell back to sleep.

Velvet visibly deflated. Even after all she did for him, things weren't going to change where they? On that depressing thought she went back to her corner of the cave and fell asleep.

-0-

"Mom?"

"Cardin, run."

"W-what?! I can't leave you here I-"

"Cardin, run NOW!"

He didn't argue again. He just ran. He could hear his mother say something behind him.

"You'll always be my little cardinal."

*BANG*

-0-

"MOM!"

For what seemed like the hundredth time, Cardin clutched his chest. This was getting old fast.

"Cardin!"

Yep, definitely getting old. He didn't bat an eye when Velvet kneeled beside him.

"Cardin, these nightmares are getting worse. That's the third one you had tonight!"

"I'm fine," he growled.

"No, you're not!" she practically yelled at him.

Neither said anything after her outburst. They just sat there in the dead of the night. When the silence was broken it was Velvet who spoke.

"Tell me about her."

"What?"

"Your mother, tell me about her."

He didn't answer. For a full minute he was silent. The longer he went without talking the redder Velvet's face became. She pulled her ears over her eyes as if to shut the world out.

"She was kind."

The rabbit girl looked up in surprise. She wanted him to answer but now that he was she couldn't think of what to do. So she didn't, she just listened.

"Whenever Dad got mad and took it out on me she was always there. She would keep him off me. Whenever I got hurt, she would always be there to make me feel better. When I needed advice or just someone to talk to, she was always there. She was always there."

He flinched when he felt her hand on his cheek. She rubbed her thumb across it, just under his eye. Cardin reached up with his hand and felt something wet on his other cheek. He was crying.

"What happened to her?"

He didn't answer. He just sat there and let the silence be his response. Velvet nodded in understanding and went back to her corner. Before either of them could fall asleep, they heard a tapping sound. Like metal on metal. Their eyes widened.

"Oh sh-"

He was cut off when the entire cliff shook. He looked over at Velvet who looked just as scared as he felt.

"Get out before the cliff comes down on us!" he yelled out at her. She nodded and ran to him. Thanks to his aura and Velvets medicine, his leg was a lot better but he's still had trouble walking without help. She grabbed his arm and brought it over her shoulder allowing him to lean into the smaller girl as they left the cave. The moment they were ten feet from it, the entrance was engulfed in fire and heat. The resounding shockwave sent the both of them flying. Before they could stand, they clutched their heads as a roar cut through the forest. Their ears rang when it stopped. Slowly they both looked up. Clinging to the cliff face was a dragon. A black dragon with a white mask with red markings.

"Oh shit."

"RUN!"

He didn't argue as they both bolted as fast as they could. Neither bothered to look back to see if the Grimm was chasing them, they just ran. Cardin's leg felt like it was on fire from overuse. Eventually he couldn't keep it up and he finally fell to his knees. Velvet stopped and ran to his side. The larger teen breathed heavily as he tried to slow his thumping heart.

"I-I can't keep running."

The Faunus looked around for a moment before seeing a small alcove in one of the trees. Grabbing his arm, she dragged him into the opening where they both collapsed exhausted.

"What *huff* was that?" she said, her breathing finally slowing. Cardin just shook his head and rested it against the ground. Velvet followed suit and soon they were both in the comforting embrace of sleep.

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