It's been awhile since I've had to have a fight to the death... with a person. I guess there is no avoiding it now and this is it for me. I live or die but he goes with me. No matter the outcome, I can be OK with it.I'm OK with it."Are you thinking about how you're gonna die Raven?" The man taunted as he pulled out a pair of short blades.
"I've been dreaming of killing you since I left that day. The look on your face has haunted me and filled me with joy. I can't wait to spill your blood again," Raven said stretching her arms.
It wasn't wise running out in shorts and shirt with no shoes but she could fight using her hands. Only her and Taiyang could really fight in hand to hand combat efficiently enough to survive and win. She cracked her fingers and took a fighting stance. She just needed to be careful and not get cut.
"You act like you can win with bare fists. Or have you learn something new while you away?"
"Come at me and see."
Marco charged at her with knives ready to cut her. Raven dropped down and with all the force she had kicked him into the chest breaking some of his ribs in the process including hurting her own foot. He let out an inhuman scream and collapsed onto the ground. Raven backed away from him slowly watching as he got back up.
Unlike him, Raven's aura wasn't in abundance like the others on her team. That was why she was always better killing from behind than facing her enemy. She shook out her ankle and it wasn't broken but it was slightly swollen from the impact. This wasn't going to be easy on her having to be careful with each hit.
Marco spat blood onto the ground, but Raven could see where his chest was fixing itself. The sound of bone snapping back into place made a horrible, sickening sound.
"You think you can win? I know all your weaknesses! You can't run through your stupid portals. You don't even have your swords!"
"That's fine. I can still kick your ass," she said with a murderous smile.
For now on I shouldn't run off on my own. This is what happens when I try to do things on my own...X
X
Qrow stopped in his tracks and waited.
"He's here," Qrow said with a terrified shiver.
"Do you guys need backup?" Glynda asked. Summer was still talking to her through the search together.
"No."
Taiyang gave his leader a look but she was inclined to agree with her teammate's decision.
"You guys are only first years. If we don't make it back after an hour... Call for help."
Summer hung up.
"What's the plan Qrow?" she asked slipping her scroll into her pocket.
"I would rather go alone."
"I can't allow that. You might be an asshole but I can't let you go alone," Taiyang said with a bright smile.
"It's not your fight."
"We all need to be alive. There's another fight coming soon," Summer said with a grim look on her face, "Your fight is my fight."
"You don't understand. He's a killer with no remorse."
"That's fine... Let's go!"
X
X
Raven slammed into a tree, her back cracked. Her head started to spin making her sick to her stomach. Marco came flying at her not giving her anytime to recover. The force broke the tree and Raven had thrown her arm up to break the impact but it was a bad mistake.
Raven's left arm snapped in three places; she grinded her teeth and punched him backwards a few inches but it wasn't enough. Marco slapped her across the face leaving a dark red handprint. Without meaning too, she snapped and her aura flared up to a high level repairing her arm. It wasn't replacing fast enough and she almost spent a good bit just on her arm.
"Don't ever slap me," she hissed murderously.
Marco flinched slightly but he stood his ground. Raven moved quickly enough, grabbing his wrist and crushed it sending him to his knees.
"I am my own person! I do what I need to do!"
"You'll never change Raven! You're just spineless- the things you want won't ever last! Everyone dies!"
"I know that," Raven whispered, "I want things the way they are now."
Marco stabbed her left arm but she never flinched as she lifted him into the air and threw him. She jerked the knife out of her arm and threw it into the bushes. She couldn't stop the bleeding now. She had exhausted her aura too fast.
He wasn't done yet- he had the ability to heal himself still compared to Raven. Her arm was bleeding faster than she had anticipated and her vision was starting to flicker with black dots.
"Raven!"
She heard her brother's voice and she looked to the side. Qrow, Summer and Taiyang cake running through the trees making her smile. Never thought they would come this far to find me. I have to finish this...
"Don't ever take your eyes off your opponent Raven Branwen!" Marco yelled, charging in at her.
It was like everything happened in slow motion. Qrow slid in front of her, directly taking the knife to his chest. Raven caught her brother in her arms and Summer screamed. Taiyang covered his ears and the area became engulfed in a bright light. The ground shook violently causing trees to fall over.
Thorny vines exploded from the ground and wrapped themselves around Marco's body. Luckily he activated his aura quickly saving himself but the thorns were scraping along his forcefield threatening to break through. He had no idea what to think as the light faded and he saw the grief stricken silver eyed girl standing there. He had never seen the power of one before...
"Summer calm down!" Taiyang yelled and tackled her to the ground.
Fireballs hit the ground around Marco and he jumped back. A small girl with pink and brown hair with eyes to match came flying the leaves with a murderous look in her eyes. He was outmatched by all the of them there and it was time to get out of there. He never imagined she had this many friends.
Raven laid Qrow onto the ground. She started to run but Glynda grabbed her arm.
"What are you doing?!" she screamed and the green eyed blonde flinched.
It was like anger was seeping out of Raven's body and stinging her.
"I'll kill you!" Raven bellowed, "Beware Marco! I'll find you!"
X
X
Luckily, Qrow was going to be fine. The knife missed his heart but damaged his sternum. He would be in the hospital for a week as they would try and repair it. Raven sat beside his bed hanging her head in shame. She had shooed away her best friend and boyfriend because she needed time alone to think.
She kept replaying it in her head... He jumped in front of her. He was willing to sacrifice himself for her. Upon that Summer went ballistic... What a wonderful year this is turning out to be. He just did the same thing that he got mad at Summer for.
"Raven...?"
"Hm?"
"Are you crying?" Qrow whispered and she shook her head. She looked at him with a blank expression.
"Where's everyone else?"
"Probably at the dorm room. I didn't want them here."
"Wow. That's harsh- even for you."
"Why would you be so stupid? I spent most of my life making sure you were OK and you did that."
"That's exactly why I did it."
She punched his arm harder than she should have but he didn't flinch.
"I should've pulled my own weight but I never did. I let you do everything and now... I'm strong enough. I can fight by your side but I can't do that if you die. We are in this together until the end... Right?"
A single tear dropped down from her red eye. Qrow sat up and wiped it away with a smile.
"You haven't got to see what I can do! Just promise me next time... You take me with you. Whether you want your friends there or not- I have to be there. Marco hurt me too. He took everything away from us."
Raven held up her pinky with a teary smile on her face. Qrow chuckled and locked pinkies with her.
"I promise. I will admit he made a crack at my son and I went overboard. I didn't keep a cool mind."
"I figured so. He's a dick head."
Qrow reached over and grabbed his sister's arm pulling her into a side hug. She gave him a disgusted face but smiled quickly after. It wasn't too often she was up for the touchy feely thing but he was hurt and she wasn't going to say anything. He let go after two minutes and returned to his resting position.
X
X
"You think they're OK?" Summer asked.
"Yea. She's just super personal about stuff."
"But you're her boyfriend. Don't you care a little bit?"
Taiyang smiled, "She'll come around when she's ready."
"I guess you're more patient than I am."
"Well she's not a passionate person and I can't force her to be anything but herself. Would you force Raven to do anything like that?"
Summer shook her head.
"Shes been through a lot and I respect her. I only force her out of her comfort zone when she needs it. I know she trust me, I helped her deliver her baby after all."
"That's true."
They sat in silence for a few minutes.
"Can I say something?" Taiyang asked, "It might upset you but I feel like it needs to be said."
Summer cocked an eyebrow at him but she gave him a quick nod.
"I know you care about Roman a lot but if the chance came I think you should give Qrow another chance."
Her eyes widened.
"I know, I know... Raven would beat me up if she knew I said that. It's just... He means well but he's just dumb. I think he'll understand now. I'm just saying... For right now."
Summer didn't say anything.
X
X
Roman plucked the keys from Brunneis' hand and headed out the door. He had started a part time job the day after him and Summer made up. His friend had insisted he didn't need too but he wanted to try to be better for Summer's sake. But he had anxious that day lately and he couldn't explain why.
Brunneis told him that he was probably worried that some criminal would notice him and beat his ass in the middle of the grocery store which Roman replied with a middle finger. He parked into the parking lot and pulled out his scroll to message his silver eyed girlfriend. He couldn't shake the uneasy feeling he had. The scroll rang for almost a minute before she picked up.
"Hello!"
Summer was always so cheerful it made his heart skip a beat.
"Hey, is everything OK?" he asked.
"We had a run in with the Branwen tribe but other than that everything is fine. Raven had some scratches and Qrow had a damaged sternum but all is fine."
Roman sighed. The Branwens were no joke. Roman himself was small potatoes compared to them and the twins. He knew they could kill him if they wanted too. He shuddered. He wondered why Qrow never tried to confront him unless Summer threatened him.
"Are you OK? Roman?"
"Yeah, I was worried about you. I just had a weird feeling. Maybe it's I miss you."
"Awww! I miss you too! Maybe in a few days we can get together. I'm free this weekend Saturday night. We have training in the morning."
"Alright... Well I have to go. I'll message you later OK?"
"OK! I love you Roman."
He smiled, "I love you too Summer."
Damn... She is so wonderful, he thought as they hung up.
That weird feeling didn't go away though.
X
X
Brunneis heard a weird knock on the door. He put the paper down and looked at Jinex. Jinex had started towards the door until Brunneis cleared his throat.
"Go ahead and go out the back door."
"Sir?" the old man asked.
"I have a lady friend and she's quite loud. Go ahead and take the car. Go grocery shopping at Roman's store."
"Yes sir."
Jinex left like he was told. Brunneis heard the knock again, "Just a minute."
He got on his scroll and messed around with his bank account. Once he was done he broke his scroll and slipped it under the chair cushion. He got up and pulled off his jacket and threw it onto the floor. He sighed as he reached for the door knob.
This is it for me.