Chapter 5 – The Day It Ended Part I
"Hey, wake up sleepyhead." Fiona crossed Blake's room and tore open the curtains. The morning sunlight streamed in, causing the eleven year old to stir. Blake sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"C'mon, breakfast is ready. Shade and Luna are coming back from a guard mission today. Don't you want to go back to the compound?" Eyes adjusting to the light, Blake frowned and shrugged.
"Whatever's convenient, I guess," she replied. It had been two months since Adam's departure, and Blake had started to avoid going to the headquarters. Adam's presence had brought loudness and excitement; he had something to do. Now, it was quiet – too quiet. Blake half expected him to burst into the library and demand that she read another story to him.
Instinctively, Blake reached out for her amber ribbon and tied it in her hair.
Fiona poked her head in.
"Why don't we visit at noon? You could take a couple books from the library; I'm sure no one would care."
"Okay," Blake replied and began to dress. Reaching into the dresser, Blake pulled out black pants, a grey t-shirt, and a black coat. Taking a glance in the mirror, she noted that her hair was starting to get a bit too long; it hung past her ribcage in thick black waves, making a bit harder to handle.
"Fiona, can you cut my hair like Mom's?" Luna's hair hung slightly above her chin in a bob that framed her face.
"Ask your parents!" Fiona called back, "That length is too short. Enjoy your long hair while you still can." Blake moved to sit at the dining table. The cat Faunus placed her head on her hands and looked up at Fiona.
"How short should it be?" Blake continued the small talk while watching Fiona move about the kitchen.
"About shoulder length, I guess. How's your training going?" Blake sighed.
"It's slowed down after Adam left. I've just been copying your, Mom's, and Dad's fighting moves." Fiona shrugged.
"Sorry, kiddo. You know most of the hand to hand stuff, and Luna and Shade want to wait until you're an official member first before teaching you about any weapon beyond a switchblade."
"Yeah…" Blake replied dully, "I guess…" Even when training her with a switchblade, Blake's parents never let her keep it, always taking it back once they finished a training session.
"Hey…You've done a great job with your Aura and Semblance," Fiona reassured her, "You've been able to summon them instantly, and they're starting to have substance. I'm sure, once you've had official training, you could make them move and fight for you."
Blake brightened at the prospect; that would be vital for successful combat. Fiona presented her with a plate of eggs and toast.
"I'm going to change out of my pajamas," she called from her room, "Give me a shout if there's anyone at the door."
Blake chewed her breakfast slowly, mentally counting the number of rings on the wooden table.
"Here," Fiona stepped out, wearing dark blue jeans that clung to her legs, a white tank top, and a forest green cardigan. Tying her russet hair in a low ponytail, Fiona cleared away the empty plates and cups.
"It's been a while since I've last dressed out," she commented while tying on a pair of boots, "C'mon, Blake, I don't want to leave you alone in the house, so we're going on patrol." Blake's eyes widened in surprise.
"Really?"
"Yeah," Fiona shrugged, "You're old enough to know not to get in the way, and you should get some experience on how Grimm move and fight." Fiona reached in a closet and pulled out a rifle, a pistol, a few throwing knives, and a cleaver sword.
Noticing Blake's surprise at the number of weapons, Fiona smiled and shrugged.
"Grimm are tricky, you can never be too careful," Fiona handed Blake one of the knives, "For self-defense. You know where to aim, right?" Blake nodded and pointed at her chest and throat.
"Here," Fiona tossed Blake a grey backpack, "I'm going to be carrying most of the weapons, so you carry the field kit." She pulled out a belt and began strapping the knives and pistol holster onto the worn, black leather. Fiona preached over and placed a long throwing knife in a side pocket.
Blake shrugged on the backpack and was surprised to find that it was much heavier than she expected.
"What's in this thing?" Blake asked. Fiona smiled.
"I remember asking Luna the same thing when I first put that thing on. It's basically the essentials and then some. C'mon, I'll tell you the basics of Grimm patrol while we're heading to the spot." Fiona and Blake moved to the front door and began tying on their boots.
Opening the door, Blake breathed in the late spring air. It was a clear, sunny day with a light breeze; summer would come soon. She noticed that the Belladonna flowers were just beginning to bloom in the front yard flowerbed.
Cat ears twitching in anticipation, Blake followed Fiona out the front yard and down the dirt road.
"Okay, have Luna and Shade taught you basic wilderness survival strategies?" Fiona asked.
"Yeah, I know most of it, except for weapons maintenance and how to fight off Grimm," Blake looked up at Fiona hopefully, "Will I learn how to hunt them today?" Fiona chucked and shook her head.
"Nah, that's a job for the Hunters and Huntresses. White Fang doesn't bother with those creatures unless they're a threat to fellow Faunus or an obstacle in a mission."
They reached the edge of the forest. The trees shook ominously in the wind, casting dark shadows over the narrow, twisting path that lead away from the Faunus village and out into the unknown. Blake hadn't been allowed near the area; she usually played in the woods, which were patrolled daily, near the White Fang headquarters. She remembered that, as a child, Blake's parents warned her to never enter the forest. They told her stories of monsters that lurked in the shadows and preyed on the unlucky souls who ventured in.
"If you have to go in, stay on the path" Shade had told her, "You have to stick to the path. Otherwise, you could get lost."
"Fiona," Blake tried to hide the nervousness in her voice, "Are we going to stick to the path?" Fiona looked a little sheepish, but she shook her head.
"No, we'll follow the path for a while, but we'll be going off…" She patted Blake's shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry. I've done this since I've started being a member. I know how to protect us. Just stay with me."
Looking up at the ominous darkness nervously, Blake's hand clenched around the hilt of the knife, and she stepped into the forest.
The two Faunus were silent as they walked down the dirt path. Blake's ears listened for any noises.
"Y'know," Fiona began, "Blake, Luna and Shade were going to ask you this, but I guess my curiosity got the best of me. If you could do anything besides joining White Fang, what would you do?"
Blake frowned at the odd question, and her gaze flicked to Fiona's face. It was expressionless, but she could sense tenseness in her voice. It took her a moment to think about her answer.
"I've never considered anything else."
"Still," Fiona urged, "What if? Everyone has a backup." Blake felt distinctly uncomfortable. Why were Fiona and her parents concerned? Did they doubt her loyalty to White Fang? Were they worried that she might desert?
"I…I guess I would do any task to help the Faunus cause." Fiona's lips quirked up in a small smile.
"You remind me of when I was your age. I admire your tenacity. If you were only a little bit older, you'd already be a full-fledged member." Blake felt at ease at her compliment and relaxed a bit.
There was a slight rustle, and they snapped to attention. A nearby bush's branches rustle, and, with horror, Blake saw a dark body lined with armor as white as bone and orange eyes. Without any hesitation, Fiona raised the rifle and pulled the trigger.
There was a terrible shriek and a splattering sound. The black shape slumped forward, and, to Blake's shock, the body began to sizzle. Foul vapors rose from the corpse, which began to disappear.
"That was a Grimm," Fiona stated solemnly, "They're the hunters of Remnant. Tell me, Blake, how much do you know about the Grimm?"
"They attack humans and their creations," Blake answered, remembering a passage from a book she once read, "but they don't bother with other animals."
"Yeah you're right. Their main target is humans, but they will also go after Faunus," Fiona contemplated to herself, "I wonder what makes us then. We're half-human and half-animal. I wonder…" Fiona sighed and gripped the sword.
"You, know, Grimm don't actually need to eat to survive."
"Huh? Then why do they attack us?" Blake asked. Fiona's eyes clouded with an unknown emotion.
"Some say that they're Remnant's way or ridding the world of man," Fiona ducked her head, so her bangs covered her eyes. There was an uneasy silence before Fiona lifted her head once more.
"Blake, I'm going to tell you some important information. You must never forget this, okay?"
Blake nodded.
"Have I ever told you why I joined White Fang?"
"You saw Faunus being treated badly back in your hometown. You wanted to help…" Blake trailed off as Fiona shrugged.
"Yeah, but there's another reason. Have you heard of Grimm attacks?"
"No."
"Grimm attack villages. They kind of gang up and attack as a group. Villages sometimes survive, but the chances are pretty slim without a kingdom's interference."
Fiona swallowed and looked out into the forest.
"Villages sometimes are able to fight them off, but the Grimm always come back," she continued, "they're attracted to negative emotions. Blake, when fighting Grimm, don't ever be afraid. The Grimm will sense that, and they will hunt you."
"Fiona, did the Grimm do something to your own village?" Blake's voice was quiet and hesitant, knowing the answer.
"Yeah," Fiona sounded like she was fighting back tears, "I was only an infant, so I don't remember. But, they got my family, my parents, my brothers, and my sister. I guess they were full, or I was under so much rubble that they couldn't shift through. Still…" Blake saw Fiona trying to suppress a shiver, "No one knows how long I was under the rubble when some Hunters were able to hear my cries."
"What happened after?" This was the first time Blake had ever heard Fiona mention anything about her past.
"I was deposited at an orphanage, and I stayed there until I ran away to join White Fang," Fiona frowned to herself, "The caretaker didn't like Faunus, so I had to manage the Faunus children by myself."
Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Fiona smiled sadly at Blake.
"That's my story. Not very pleasant, is it? Well, that's all behind me now. I shouldn't dwell on the past, or what could have been." Fiona cocked her gun. "We better move on, or we'll attract Grimm."
Fiona and Blake treaded through the forest for about another hour. Other than the first shooting, they hadn't encountered any Grimm. Eventually, the two Faunus reached the end of the path. In front of them was a weathered stone wall which looked like it was originally part of a quarry.
"Well," Fiona dusted off her clothes, "That's the end of the road. Time to turn back."
"What's beyond the wall, Fiona?" Blake inquired, "Are there more Grimm beyond there?" Fiona shrugged.
"No one knows. You'd need a grappling hook to get over; going around it takes too long. Anyways, we have alternate routes to go west, even though they take longer than usual."
Suddenly, Blake heard a faint noise, but it was beginning to grow louder.
"Fiona? Do you-"
"Yeah, I don't think it's a Grimm." The air around them began to pick up, and the faint buzz turned into a loud whirring sound. Wordlessly, Fiona grabbed Blake's arm and led her to the nearby bushes. Taking shelter, they looked out from the branches at the sky. Nervously, Fiona clicked the safety off her rifle.
A large shadow passed by overhead. Squinting, Blake thought that it was a large bird but soon realized that it was an air carrier. However, it looked nothing like the ones that belonged to White Fang.
The carrier passed as quickly as it came, and the forest was soon quiet again.
Stepping out from the bushes, Fiona looked at the treetops suspiciously.
"Fiona, was that plane one of ours?" Blake asked, "That model doesn't look like the ones we use."
"Not sure…" Fiona replied absentmindedly, "I heard the other divisions got equipment upgrades, but new carriers are a bit beyond the budget." She glanced at her watch.
"I guess your parents would be arriving back right now. Huh," she scratched her head, "I guess the plane's just dropping them off. No one else knows the headquarters' location."
Blake looked at the horizon suspiciously.
"Did you see the emblem on the plane?" Blake asked.
"Can't say I did…"Fiona muttered, "I saw something painted on it, but it was moving so fast that I couldn't get a clear view."
"Should we be getting back?" Fiona glanced at her watch.
"Yeah, in a minute, I'm going to scope the area. Stay here, and if you see anything, give me a call, alright? There's two radios in your backpack." Blake quickly fished them out of her bag and handed one to Fiona.
Nodding, Fiona waved and vanished amongst the trees.
Alone, Blake tried to quell the nervousness growing in the pit of her stomach. The forest was still. The wind stopped blowing, and the birds had stopped singing.
"Wait," Blake thought, "Why are there no birds?" She remembered a piece of advice Shade had once given her. If you're in a forest and the birds stop singing, something is causing them to leave.
Suddenly, the radio buzzed.
"Hey, Blake," Fiona's voice was muffled by static, "I'm coming back. Something's off. I would have encountered at least five Grimm by now. They've vanished."
"Fiona, the birds have stopped singing," Blake responded fearfully, "I don't have a good feeling. Let's leave."
"I'm coming," Blake could hear the rustle of leaves with every harried step that Fiona took, "Stay on the line. Do you know when they stopped?"
"No, I just noticed a few seconds ago."
"Shoot, I wasn't paying attention to the surroundings after that plane flew by. I should have noticed something."
Fiona burst out of the bushes, startling Blake. The two Faunus locked eyes, nodded at each other, and sprinted down the dirt path.
"Keep an eye out for anything," Fiona breathed as they ran, "We can't get ambushed. The village may be in danger."
Nodding, Blake tried her best to keep up with Fiona.
They hurtled down the path; the wind whistling in their ears. The trees became a green blur, and Blake soon saw the edge of the forest.
Then, the smell of smoke hit Blake's nose. Something was on fire.
"Fiona!"
"Yeah, I smell it too." Fiona paused and thought hard. "Blake, I need you to climb up that tree and get a good look."
Blake raced up the tree. Parting the leaves aside, what she saw make her heart drop.
Instead of where the village was supposed to be, Blake saw orange flames rising from charred buildings.
"Oh no…" she breathed and jumped down, "Fiona! The village is on fire!" Something flashed in Fiona's eyes.
"Blake," she said sharply, "Go back to the house."
"What?! But, Mom and Dad-"
"I'm going into the village to find them," Fiona continued, "I need you to grab the envelope from your father's nightstand and hide in the closet. Stay hidden." Fiona looked at the rising smoke.
"Here," she handed Blake the pistol from her holster, "Aim carefully before shooting. Grimm are making their way to the village, and they might have a go at our house." Fiona was about to turn and run, but Blake grabbed the back of her shirt.
"You'll come back, right?" Blake's eyes were wide with terror and glistening with unshed tears "You're just going in to find Mom and Dad. They'll be okay, right?" Fiona avoided eye contact.
"Blake," she said lowly, "I can't guarantee anything. Stay safe and take care of yourself, no matter what happens. Use good judgment and consider your options carefully." Without another word, Fiona turned and ran down the path towards the rising smoke.
Numbly, Blake blinked away her tears and ran back to her home. The orange flames lit up the sky with a bright orange.
Blake threw the front door open, locked and bolted it quickly, and hurtled towards her parents' bedroom. Sure enough, an envelope with the Belladonna symbol was sitting on the nightstand. Hastily, she shoved the envelope into her bag and made for the closet.
Slamming the door shut, Blake crawled to the back wall and curled up in the corner, under hanging coats. Hands shaking, she held the gun in her trembling grasp and pointed it at the closet door. If something tried to get in, she would shoot through the door and hopefully kill it.
Time passed slowly, yet Blake remained crouched against the wall. Her arms were sore, and the darkness made her feel drowsy. Without anything to do, Blake tried to find solace in her thoughts. She remembered the times before Adam had left. Were things that lighthearted and carefree? Yet, when he showed an interest in the combat division, why did she run from him? Blake sighed and closed her tired eyes. How long had Fiona been gone?
With a chill of fear, her mind began to assume the worst. Had Fiona been caught and killed by Grimm? And what of her parents? With good luck, they hadn't arrived yet when the fire started. On the other hand…Blake shuddered.
It couldn't hurt to take a peek, could it? Just a glance outside the window to see. Finger on the trigger, Blake stood and, as quietly as she could, opened the closet door.
The room was undisturbed; it was exactly as she left it. Blake crept to the front window and peered outside. Smoke made the landscape hazy, but she could make out the outline of the village. Squinting, Blake held back a gasp of horror. Black shapes were moving around the area – Grimm. Suddenly, Blake noticed a white shape in her front yard.
Bai Lycannis lay collapsed near her front door, and blood was flowing from his chest.
Without any hesitation, Blake threw open the front door and rushed out to aid him.
"Mr. Lycannis," Blake gasped, "Wake up." The smoke stung her eyes and made her cough. The White Fang leader remained unresponsive. Blake gripped his shoulders and began to drag him back into the house. He was quite heavy. She was just over the threshold, when she saw two red pinpricks.
Instantly, she came to the horrid realization that it was a Grimm, and it had noticed her.
"N-no…" she breathed and heaved Mr. Lycannis over the threshold. Slamming the door, Blake's eyes darted for anything she could use to defend the home. The door behind her shuddered; the Grimm was trying to get in.
Blake clicked the safety off the gun and peered out. The Grimm, fortunately, was midsized and lacked any bone armor that she had seen in books.
"Just one bullet," she murmured, "Just one shot to the head." The gun shook, but she managed to aim and fire. There was a shriek and a spurt of blood, and the Grimm fell to its side.
However, it was not dead. The Grimm let out a low moaning cry and tried to get up. Against her will, Blake felt sympathy tug at her heartstrings. The Grimm, no matter how sinister, was a living being. By killing it, she would be taking a life. Blake could either shoot or simply leave it wounded but alive. The Grimm seemed to sense her hesitation and let out a pitiful cry.
"The Grimm is playing you, kid," a voice spoke. Blake turned to see the White Fang leader trying to sit up against the wall.
"Grimm are bright," he continued, "They adapt instantly and learn how to play their pursuers. You should kill it before it finds a way into the house." Blake looked back at the Grimm; its red eyes simply stared at her.
Swallowing, Blake lifted the gun and aimed.
"They…they don't feel pain, do they?" she asked softly. Bai sighed.
"No one knows, but it's either us or the Grimm. That is the cruelty of the world." Blake closed her eyes and fired, and a piercing shriek cut through the air. Opening her eyes, Blake looked at the scene in front of her.
Part of the Grimm's skull had shattered, and its blood was pouring out. Yet, the most hauntingly of all, the Grimm's lifeless red eyes were fixed on Blake, staring into her soul.
"Here, can you hand me some gauze to dress my wound?" he asked. Blake silently brought out the first aid kid and pulled out the gauze. Looking closer, however, Blake saw that the wound would need far more medical attention than just gauze.
The White Fang leader's left arm was littered with deep bite marks. Moreover, there was a large gash stretching across his chest, just barely missing his heart. Fortunately, it appeared to be relatively shadow and had stopped bleeding.
"I think my foot has also been broken," Lycannis commented casually, "After all, I did fall from a great height."
"You fell? What happened?" Blake asked as she began to disinfect the bites. Lycannis sighed.
"I got word of the Grimm attack and raced to get here. My guard however…" he frowned and looked pensive, "My guard disappeared while I was running. I didn't notice that they were gone until I encountered an Ursa. I managed to get away, but I fell down the slope."
"Are they still lost?" Blake asked worriedly, "Do they have radios with them?" Lycannis shook his head.
"I don't think getting lost was the reason." The tone of his voice made her worries grow and fester.
"Were you able to see the emblem on the plane?" she asked. He snapped to attention.
"What plane?" he asked sharply, "I have not been told this."
"A plane flew by a few hours ago," Blake explained, "It didn't look like the ones we usually use, so Fiona and I thought it belonged to the other division. They would be taking the last mission back here." Bai Lycannis shook his head in disbelief.
"No…The last mission came back late last night," he growled, "This is sabotage!"
"What?" Blake asked in shock, "Who would want to do that? Do you think it was the human government?"
"No," he gnashed his teeth together, "This location is top secret. Someone within White Fang is a traitor!" Blake gasped.
"Fiona!" she cried, "Fiona ran to the village! She'll be targeted!"
"Your caretakers were involved with me," Lycannis mumbled, "I did this…"
"What do you mean?"
"I can't tell you," he apologized, "It is top secret and knowing will put you in danger."
"What? Mr. Lycannis, please, I know I'm still a child," Blake pleaded, "But the people I love and care about are in danger. Please, sir, tell me what is going on! Why would you suspect traitors, and why would my parents be targeted if they are only following your orders?!"
"Child, White Fang is not the united organization you know. There is much discord in its shadows."
"Then tell me!" Blake argued, "If you're not going to then how can we do anything about the attack?! How can we end it or help the injured if we don't know who to put our trust in?!" Lycannis observed her silently.
"You're quite mature for a child," he commented slowly, "I recall Shade had mentioned that you were studying to be a diplomat for White Fang. We shall compromise. I will tell you some of the details, but you are still too young to know the full extent of White Fang's situation."
"Fine," Blake relented, "What do we do after?" Lycannis glanced out the window.
"Let me rest a moment; I'm not much use in this injured state. But," he reached into the first aid kit and pulled out a syringe of morphine and a bottle of energy supplement, "I will be more mobile once this painkiller takes effect. Then, we must make our way to the village. They need as much help as they can get." After saying this, he uncapped the needle and plunged it into his thigh. Grimacing, Blake looked away.
"Young one," Mr. Lycannis began, "All sentient beings are corrupted by power. The only ones who can lead well are the ones who have no desire for it." Blake frowned at his cryptic words.
"As you know, White Fang is controlled by one leader."
"You, right?" The wolf Faunus nodded.
"Yes, I hold main control of White Fang, However," his eyes darkened, "The three division leaders also have control of various factions within White Fang. Before, everything went smoothly, until…" He sighed and furrowed his eyebrows. "I made a mistake. One of the leaders retired, so I decided to promote a young member instead of an older, more experienced, leader. The new leader had different ideals on the nature of White Fang's activities."
"Why didn't you demote him?"
"I wanted to, but he was charismatic. He soon gained many new followers. If I demoted him, there would be widespread backlash, and the whole organization of White Fang would crumble. I… I decided to try to keep the peace instead of outing the root of the problem. Well," he sighed dejectedly, "I was too passive and look where that's landed me."
"There has to be a way to solve this," Blake said desperately, "Mr. Lycannis, has the morphine taken effect?"
The wolf Faunus turned is leg and tried to stand.
"Mostly," he grunted, "Now's probably the best time to start towards the village." He took a few steps, hobbled, regained his balance, and stood upright again. Without any explanation, he reached into the closet and slung on another field backpack.
"Yes," Mr. Lycannis muttered, "I can trust you to keep this information secret. Could you please hand me that gun and sword, Miss Belladonna?" Heart pounding with adrenaline, Blake handed him the weapons.
"We better take more ammo," Mr. Lycannis mused, and he grabbed two extra guns and another pack of ammunition.
"Keep behind me," he ordered, "Watch our backs, and use your Semblance to escape if things go bad, alright?" Reluctantly, she nodded, slipped on her backpack, and reloaded the pistol.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"I am," Blake replied confidently, and they stepped out the front door.
I didn't expect to get so many favorites and response in the previous chapter! Anyways, this all takes place in the course of a day, and I decided to split the chapter in two. Otherwise, it'd be too long and too much happening at once. I hope you guys like this one!
Love,
raining-indigo