Fun fact: Did you know the working title for The Girl Made of Marble, during the first drafts of the story, was 'Stones and Dolts'? It was silly and not befitting of the fic's tone, but I only came up with the final title the day I uploaded it.
2. Never Forget Me
As the sun rose, so did the huntress, driven by the need to avoid wasting precious hours of sunlight for the long hike ahead. It would take her the entire day to reach the next village, and she wanted to ensure a roof over her head for the night. A storm was brewing, and no amount of cloth could protect her from the raging winds it would bring. Hopefully, the rain wasn't going to start before she arrived at the destination.
There was no road where she trailed, only irregular woods that sprawled through countless acres. The countryside of the kingdom didn't benefit from the thick stone walls and highly-trained garrisons like cities did, so villages were few and distant from one another. There was no reason for man to tear down the forests, not when it was too busy fighting itself. So the countryfolk lived off of the land, in small and tight townships with little to no communication with the outside. Traveling merchants were the only ones who dared to roam between towns, although they usually employed a great number of guards at their service, and even then it wasn't unheard of for them to go missing. Between bandits, beasts and all manner of dangers, the unpaved routes were highly inadvisable for those without a death wish.
Ruby was not scared. She thrived amongst the trees, even if those weren't the same ones she had grown accustomed to. Nimble and with a great sense of orientation, one she had acquired during her countless hours of stalking game, she was ready to face, or rather evade, whatever lurked in waiting. In fact, it were the villages she dreaded, full of close minded people akin to the ones who had stigmatized her while growing up. She did not miss them in the slightest, nor the nights she had spent crying away her loneliness.
There was, however, one thing she did long for: home. It had been many nights since she'd left, accompanied by Blake, and there was nothing she desired more than being able to return, to live a simple and peaceful life once more, like they used to. Yet she feared there would be no home to return to. The lycan was away, their shared voyage leading them separate ways by accident, although she hoped they would reconvene soon. Her sister had done the unspeakable, and none of them was sure of her current location, neither that they desired to follow. And Penny...
The archer shook away the sorrowful memories, and tried to concentrate on her surroundings. Catching an unsuspecting prey would undoubtedly make her journey easier, as the food rations she kept in her satchel weren't as plenty as they used to. When she had the raven-haired girl by her side provisions were easier to come by. Between the two, wild animals had no chance. But now she was alone, and had to work for her meals. Luckily, her muscles were still very much in tune for the activity, kept sharp by the constant hunt.
Her silver eyes spotted a white hare in the distance, and a fat one indeed. There were probably not many predators around if the small rodent could grow to such a size. It was its unlucky day, as one hungry creature had just walked into his vicinity: Ruby.
Silently reaching for the bow on her back, she raised it forward to properly point towards the target. Her left hand pulled the string, while the right gripped at the center of the weapon, feeling the inscription under her fingers. 'From Penny'. After her previous one had been broken during the fight with the witch Weiss Schnee, the former-statue had made it her mission to procure a new version. The ginger blamed herself for the trouble that had befallen the household, so she had tried her best to patch things up. Ruby recalled trying to talk her out of it, but Penny was as firm as she was jovial and, truth be told, adorable. The dark-haired girl never found out how she had managed to acquire it, but it had been a delightful gift nonetheless.
"See? It even has my name on it, so you'll never forget me."
Now it was not only a memory of what she once had, but also a bitter reminder of what she had foolishly lost.
Deep inside her own mind, she didn't notice the hare casually slip away, none the wiser about how close it had been to becoming dinner. His good fortune would, however, not last, as the archer regained focus of the environment around. She almost released the arrow she had at the ready, but was able to note the absent prey just in time. She walked quietly through the thick bushes, trying to avoid making any sudden movements, and soon enough found it again. That time her thoughts didn't wander, and the small animal's head was pierced by a swift bolt, dying instantly. At least it was painless, it was the most humane act she could afford.
She retrieved the projectile, and cleaned it before inserting it back into the quiver. Next she waited for the hare to stop bleeding, so she could store it safely without the stench of blood following wherever she went. She ignored the rumbling in her stomach, not having the extra time to prepare it. It would serve as her nightly meal, and a fresh piece of that size was undoubtedly a victory.
Satisfied with herself, Ruby resumed the long march that laid before her. There was a stillness in the air, almost like somebody was watching, but she saw nothing that could've been the source for it. Many hours would still pass before she found the town, and she started whistling through the way, using a soft melody to dispel the darkness that loomed over her heart.
The village looked just like any other. Wooden houses with angular straw roofs lined around the dirt road. A well at the center, the commodity that reigned over their lives. Crop fields reaching far and wide around. It was almost distressingly similar to the one she had been born into. There was only one major detail distinguishing them.
It was deserted. She had assumed as much, as all life seemed to abandon the places left in her target's wake. It was better that way, as she would benefit from four walls and a ceiling without any further complications. The inhabitants wouldn't have been able to aid her hunt anyway, and communities only made it more likely for her position to reach the ears of the witch.
Just as she entered the town square, rain started pouring from the heavens, shyly at first but then with confident might. She glanced around the nearby houses, and opted by the central one, which also happened to be the largest and most ostentatious. It was the one most likely to still hold a bed inside, and her sore muscles would very much welcome a night spent atop a comfortable straw mattress.
The door creaked, annoyed to be disturbed, but opened without effort. Ruby stepped inside, feeling the dusty scent of the abandoned building. It appeared to be a dining hall, with long tables and benches stretching across the room, the size so big it could've probably housed the entire population of her hometown. Hunting trophies adorned the walls, preserved wild animal heads to display fighting prowess.
They must've lived pretty well, if they could afford something like this.
She dusted off her cape at the entrance, not wet enough to be a nuissance, before starting to roam the building. Behind the hall was a chamber that connected with the second floor through some stairs. The steps bent and cringed under her feet, signaling poor woodwork that was near shambles from lack of use. The upper area was dimly lit only by the feeble rays of the setting sun. The rooms contrasted with the hall for their austerity, simple furniture and no decorations, although the latter was the divergent one. Only the pouring rain could be heard, raging outside.
Suddenly, there was a noise, and her entire body came to a halt. It appeared to have originated inside the farthest compartment, a mere wall between it and the huntress.
She trailed one leg after the other carefully, trying to remain concealed from whatever had made the sound. Pushing the entrance open, she saw the back of a man going through the many trinkets and jewelry on top of a table. He had a pair of white pants with a matching jacket, the taint of dirt only slightly affecting the outfit, and his orange hair hid beneath a black hat. Behind him was a regular bedroom, with a large bed and a dresser, despite being quite sizable.
As soon as Ruby stepped in the room, the floorboards loudly betrayed her position, and the man turned around.
"Oh! Well, this is awkward..."
From the front, he looked clearly exotic. Under the jacket he had a dark shirt with a grey handkerchief tied around the neck, and his hair fell above one of his green eyes. The clothing was strange and unfitting for the countryside, almost implicating he was someone of wealth, but the dirt made it apparent that was not the case. The hat was quite odd, black with pointy ends and a red band, only further complementing the look.
A disgraced nobleman, maybe? The archer had heard stories of the distant capital, where kings and aristocrats lived. She had never paid much mind to it, mere tales of lands she had never dreamed to visit. Unless, of course, they involved a brave and valiant knight, or better yet, knightess, overcoming the trials of impending darkness. She always had a soft spot for fairy tales, full of romance and excitement. Now that she was on her own adventure, things didn't seemed as glamorous as promised. A lot more mud and hunger, and a lot less praise and glory. And the romance part hadn't gone so well either.
Before the intruder could make a move, Ruby lunged forward, releasing the knife from her leg. His reaction was too slow, and soon he was pressed against the wall, an arm bound and a blade to the throat. It was drastic, but no one was supposed to be there and she couldn't take any risks.
"Who are you? Why are you here?"
The corner of her eye caught a glimpse of movement, but both arms busy left her helpless to stop it. To her astonishment, the man didn't attack. Instead, he used his free hand to lift the hat from his head.
"Roman Torchwick, at your service."
Her grip on the knife faltered slightly from bewilderment, and it took her a moment to talk again. Why was the redheaded man so relaxed?
"You didn't answer the second question."
"I was going north when I passed by this place and noticed it was deserted. Figured I could have a look and see if there were any valuables, since, you know, they won't need be needing them anymore." A smirk never left his lips as he spoke. He didn't appear bothered in the slightest by the threat to his life. He was either convinced the huntress didn't have the nerve to do it, or was used to it. Ruby didn't know which option she found the more distressing.
"You just... stumbled upon this village?"
"That's what I said. Why would I be lying?"
So many reasons. She decided to believe him for the time being, since it would've been more troublesome to restrain him all night until the storm ended. Besides, she would keep an eye out, avoiding giving him openings that could end in bloodshed.
Releasing his arm, she let her hand slide across his torso and legs, which caused him to flinch noisily.
"Jeez, woman, I know I'm irresistible and all, but buy me a few drinks first, will'ya?"
"Be still or I'll actually stab you. I'm just checking you for weapons." Satisfied with the results, Ruby backed off, allowing him to breathe out.
"So, Red, I've shown you mine, how about you show me yours?"
"Excuse me?" Putting the dagger back in his throat crossed her mind for more than a full second.
"Your name. What did you think I was talking about, katanas?"
"Oh... It's Ruby. Ruby Rose."
"Ruby Rose and you dress in red... A bit of a theme going on there, don't you?" She shot him an annoyed look to discourage continuing. "Okay, okay, I'll shut up. Tough crowd."
"You mentioned you were going north?"
"Yeah, I'm meeting an associate a little ways up. Why, you going that way too?"
"Actually, yes."
"Then why don't you tag along? I wouldn't mind the added protection. Besides, it's the least you could do after fondling me."
She hummed in uncertainty, thrown off by the over-eagerness of the proposal. After all, they had just met, and it was a tad strange how quick he was to trust. Luckily, he understood the reaction almost immediately.
"Well, you have plenty of time to decide. Neither of us is going anywhere in this weather, we're gonna be stuck here for a while."
Together, they gathered some firewood from useless furniture, and got a fire in the fireplace downstairs, the only stone structure inside, so that the building wouldn't go down in flames. Ruby reluctantly prepared the hare for both of them, unhappy about having to share the catch with a dubious stranger. As they ate, it slowly became more and more clear that the Torchwick was, in fact, good company. She wasn't going to let her guard down, but he at least provided entertainment, despite his evidently rotten morals.
"Oh, let me tell about the time I robbed a viscount's widow!"
As the hours flew by, the red-hooded archer found herself laying on the comfortable bed. She had heard the many stories the con-man had to tell, and laughed more than she recalled doing for months. It was clear he had no shame about his questionable misdeeds, but that only made it all the funnier.
When it had gotten late, he had insisted she take the main bedroom. There was a key, so she could sleep peacefully without fear of being betrayed while vulnerable. As she absentmindedly stared at the ceiling, hearing the furious raindrops outside, she decided she would travel with Roman for the time being. If they were going the same way, there was no reason not to.
Before submitting to the land of dreams, there was still something Ruby needed to do. She retrieved the amber-colored crystal from her pocket and brought it to her lips. She then placed it down on the floor, and faced it with a sad smile.
"Hey, Penny. I know it's been a while..."