Golden Thorns: Chapter Six
"Okay, you got me, how did you know?" Coran asked. They had run for another ten minutes before breaking the treeline and finding themselves surrounded by stone pedestals. Mounted on each was a gold or black chess piece.
"I have my ways, mon ami. Now which piece should we choose?"
"Does it matter?" Ozpin wasn't the only cryptic one then.
"I think it will, do you not?"
"It's possible, I guess."
He reached over to the nearest pedestal and picked up a black castle.
"You should be a little more ambitious Coran" she said and threw him the gold king. He caught it effortlessly.
"Really?" he said raising an eyebrow.
"We are the first ones here are we not? Why should we settle for less?"
Coran looked around. Indeed none of the other pedestals were empty. "Fine, gold king it is."
Running footsteps, a pair of people jogged out of the tree line. It was the girl with the stripy hair, and Devlyn of all people.
"Hey Coran," he said as he slowed to a halt next to him, "this is Johanna, Johanna Umbra"
"S'up" she said
"Oh y'know, nothing much, running, hiding." Coran answered
"Oh, the usual then,"
Marie turned towards them. "May I suggest that we get under cover before that nevermore returns?"
"Wait, a nevermore? Why are we not continuing to run?" asked Devlyn, a hint of panic in his voice.
"Well I've got a relic, so… I have no reason to stay." Coran turned and started walking north out of the clearing.
"We." Marie said sternly.
"Huh… sure."
Marie rolled her eyes at Coran and started after him. "Get yourselves a statue, and come with us. I feel like it would be for the best."
"Yeah," replied Devlyn. He ran over and grabbed the second gold king. "Right." They ran to the tree line after Coran.
"Wait." He said quickly, "Stay quiet, stay still and stay low. Someone's coming."
At this point two girls broke into the clearing. One had striking blonde hair. The other dark hair and a black bow. She moved cautiously, seeming very alert. She had a history, that one. Coran wasn't sure what gave him that impression but she definitely kept secrets. He watched and listened as the blonde one deliberated over whether or not to take the "cute little pony" or not. Did she even know how to play chess? The dark girl looked over to where they were, someone had stepped on a twig. Idiots. Who knew whether they were a threat or not. He knew teams were a bad idea. Coran turned and was about to move off when he heard wings and a scream.
Suddenly the clearing was a hive of activity. At least three people fell out of the sky, including Weiss. Then two people rode in on Ursa and another girl ran in, fleeing a Deathstalker of all things.
"What the Hell is going on," whispered Johanna.
"We have to help them," Devlyn said
"Wait. I want to watch this," Coran held him back, "don't you dare give away our position when there are such dangerous Grimm around."
"But they might need help," Devlyn protested
"They'll be fine. Look." The eight of them were already moving off. Running towards the end of the woods in the direction of the cliff. The great beasts, Deathstalker and Nevermore, chasing after.
"Now we can go."