Gray Fringes Ch. 17: Paradise
Richard cut through a small path through the forest trying to find his way back to Vale. He had only briefly seen the tail end of the police force as they were retreating after completing their objective. He couldn't grab their attention and had to now navigate through the pitch black wilderness with several broken ribs and a large wound in his shoulder bleeding like crazy. He made his way through the darkness without a problem due to his near perfect vision at night but couldn't figure out which way Vale was. He looked up and managed to see a bright star shining through a patch of clouds.
"Okay that way is north and I know that vale should be somewhere south of here so south it is." Richard mumbled to himself as he turned around and managed to make his way south. He walked along silently for a few miles before having to sit and rest for a while. He sat down on a nearby tree stump and began to collect his breath and figure out what his next move would be. He coughed suddenly hawking up a mess of blood and realized that if he didn't find something resembling civilization soon he would be in big trouble. He stood up briefly before immediately falling back on the stump in pain and lying on his back wincing. He looked up at the sky in front of him silently. The clouds had parted and all that was left was a brilliant display of stars and planets arrayed before him.
"This wouldn't be a bad place to lay down for a moment and rest for a moment." He thought deliriously
"I did the best I could I guess and gave my friends as good a chance as any to stay alive. I hope their ok and that they don't take this loss too badly especially Blake but Adam might do the right thing and help them." Richard thought absentmindedly, a small tear dripping down his cheek, as he felt the wood he was lying on and wondering how a stump could be this flat before flickering slowly into unconsciousness.
It was the smell of a stew cooking that woke Richard as he jumped up in alarm before falling back down from the pain in his ribcage.
"Hey buddy take it easy there. We don't want you breaking any more ribs." Rang an unfamiliar voice next to him.
He looked over to see a huge burly middle aged man with jet black long hair and an equally long beard of the same color looking at him carefully.
"I don't understand what's going on and where am I? How long have I been unconscious and How do I get to Vale from here?" Richard asked frantically.
"Easy man just take it easy before you have a heart attack. I'll explain as much as I can while you eat some of this stew I made. Judging by how much blood you lost you need every bit of nourishment you can get." The man said reassuringly as he handed Richard a large bowl of the boiled potato and cabbage stew.
Richard took it and began to immediately tear into it finishing the bowl in less than a minute.
"I figured you'd be hungry but I didn't expect you to be that hungry." The man laughed as he took the bowl to fill a second portion.
"Thank you and I guess I'll start of slowly by just asking you where I am." Richard said as he caught his breath.
"The names Robert Depaunt and this here is my humble abode away from the bustling city. I was a soldier for the king in the Faunus Wars years ago and couldn't quite adjust to life again after that time so I got away and moved out here away from it all. Haven't really known anyone that is until I heard a commotion last night and found you half dead lying in a pool of your own blood on the log I use to cut firewood with. You're lucky though a few more hours and I don't know if I could have done anything to help you. Now I'd like to know just how you managed to find yourself in that situation."
"My names Richard and I-" Richard started before being interrupted
"Don't you have a family name friend because you don't seem to look like an orphan?"
"I do but that name only brings out the terror and fear I've been fighting most of my life. I'd rather have no one know that name."
"You can't hide from your name lad and I won't think any different of you for it."
"Fine but I warned you. My name is Richard Lionheart." Richard said weakly as he looked to the floorboards next to him.
"Ah I see and how exactly did you get those wounds." Robert asked nervously.
"My brother did this after my friends and I attacked a White Fang compound with the police that night."
"Your friends?"
"I ran away from that life years ago but right now I am in Beacon Academy training with my team you see two of them were captured and we went in there and got them back."
"A hunter and a warrior. You sir are full of surprises you know that now eat up before it goes cold." The man laughed heartily before handing Richard another bowl.
"Listen Robert I can't thank you enough for all of this but I need to get back to Vale to find my friends and make sure they're ok. Is there any way to get to Vale from here."
"I have an old horse and cart I use to head to the nearest village but right now you are in no condition to head anywhere. You have several broken ribs and have lost a good amount of blood." Robert said stubbornly.
"Is there any way I can get a hold of my friends then, a telephone maybe instant message?" Richard asked next.
"Not here at least but I'm sure the village will have something. They're the kindest folk I've ever met and would be sure to help you. I'll get ready to head over there after this lunch."
"Thank you and sorry for being a little frantic I just want them to know I'm safe. I kind of stayed back to make sure they escaped before fighting my brother."
"I understand now let's get some fresh bandages on before you get an infection."
They sat quietly eating for a while until Richard finally spoke up
"Not a bad place you've got here Robert. It seems like a pretty peaceful life. The only thing I could imagine being a problem are the Grimm."
"We don't get many Grimm around this part of the forest and even when we do I still remember how to use a sword and shield like a soldier. Other than that though it is a nice life and one I thought I'd never get."
"It must be nice being to wake up in the morning without worrying about anyone except yourself."
"It does get a little lonely though and I do miss the action sometimes but on the whole I'd rather be here. Anyway I better get on over to the village and see what I can do about getting you back to your home."
Richard nodded as the burly soldier stood up and left the house to go to the village. He slowly started to sit up astonished that the pain had started to decrease so quickly. Hopefully he would be out of here and back to Beacon. He felt kind of sad to leave though because this place felt like a shield from the hardships he had gone through and a place where he actually felt a little peace. He pushed the thought out of his mind however when he remembered that he had to be there for his team and for the rest of Vale. He hoped Ruby and Weiss were ok and that Blake and Yang had made it out of there safely.
"Well there's no harm in enjoying some peace while I have it I guess." Richard thought smiling as he laid back down quickly falling asleep.
When he woke up he saw three men standing over him. One was Robert standing to the left, then there was a small balding middle aged man wearing some faded glasses and the third man was a fairly large muscular blonde man wearing a worn pair of jeans and a faded t shirt. He wasn't a very threatening person but he did have an air of silent confidence that hung around him like dense fog on a warm summer morning.
"Hello you must be this Richard fellow we've heard so much about. My name's Jeremy and this here is the town doctor Emmanuel."
"Doctor is really just a title. I'm more of a scientist."
"Nice to meet you but why exactly do we need a doctor here; I'm starting to feel much better with some rest."
"I'm partially here to make sure your healthy and partially here to observe you. I've only heard stories of how well lion Fauna are able to recover from injury and I want to see it now that I have the opportunity." The doctor replied eyeing Richard from head to toe
"This is absolutely incredible. You told me that he arrived here with four fractured ribs and a large knife wound in the shoulder but now the wound is nothing but a scar and the ribs seem to be healing themselves at an astonishing rate. I must have a sample at once. Would you be kind enough to donate a small amount of blood and skin cells?" The doctor asked excitedly.
"Easy doc, stop freaking the kid out. If you want a sample there's still plenty of blood on my log outside."
"No no that won't do it has to be fresh now Richard it'll be just a few seconds. You don't need one measly cup of blood right."
"Judging by old Robert's backyard he'll need all the blood he can get now stop Doc." Jeremy suddenly ordered.
"Listen the only thing I care about right now is getting in contact with my friends. Can you guys help me with that or not." Richard asked clearly aggravated.
"We have this communicator I carry around but I need a number to call first." Jeremy replied.
"I know who to call don't worry so can I see it for a few minutes."
He took the phone and entered a number before waiting a few rings before the familiar monotone voice of his headmaster.
"Hello you've reached Beacon academy. What can I do for you?"
"It's me Ozpin I managed to get out of that compound but I'm stuck in this little village outside Vale."
"It seems you've beaten the odds once again Richard. When can we expect you back?"
"Two three days at the most probably. I'm sorry for worrying you guys too much."
"I don't think I'm the one that would like to hear that apology the most. Your team arrived back at beacon yesterday but Weiss and Ruby are still in a hospital downtown."
"That's good to hear. Give them my regards next time you see them and tell them I'll be there soon enough."
"Good to hear now I'll see you when you get back." Ozpin said as he ended the call.
He gave the phone back to Jeremy before asking the doctor how long until he would be able to walk around and get out of here.
"I'd say at this rate you should be walking by tonight and able to get back to your friends by tomorrow at the earliest. How are you doing for walking right now?"
"I tried a few hours ago but couldn't walk for long but I can try now."
He slowly got up and to the astonishment of everyone in the room he walked across both rooms without feeling any pain in his ribcage."
"Simply Fascinating." The scientist said in awe. "If I could just have one week to study this phenomenon I'd die a happy man."
"I wish I could give that to you doc but I have more important things to deal with now, maybe one day I'll come back for good."
"If he can walk then I don't see the point in keeping him here any longer. It's been a pleasure Richard and should we let your school know your arriving early." Jeremy said as he reached a hand to shake Richard's
"Nah I'll surprise them. Thank you for everything here. Hopefully one day I can repay the favor." Richard replied firmly shaking the man's hand.
"Now let's go. I've got a small airship we can use to get to Vale."