Last Huntress - Chapter 12

-Convalescence-

The room was shaking.

Or at the least, it was to Ruby. Her vision swam as she darted her gaze from one hazy outline to another, the figures all whispering to her. Their words fell upon her as if she was underwater, reaching her ears yet making no sense as the world twisted and heaved with each panting breath. She ignored the sudden stab of agony that came as she pushed herself up from the couch, that striking measure of pain that swept over the torn flesh of her back and within her stomach. She knew what had happened, or rather, was aware of her memories of the fighting in the Pit.

The skin of her back had been ripped open by the frantic claws of a wolf, while the area of her neck that met her shoulder suffered the numerous punctures of a bite. Three jagged lines ached down her right cheek, where a Beowolf had clawed at her. It was hard to pinpoint the pain in her stomach, as that came from several different organs that had nearly been rent to shreds, continually subjecting her to the feeling of someone forcing a knife into her and twisting it about.

At all times was she aware of these grievous wounds, but far worse was the pain lay within her own thoughts. It had been days since her last drop of liquor, and what had been the nightmares that haunted her in the years after Beacon had become hallucinations of her waking mind. Spectres that tormented her, demanding her death by her own hand in penance.

Physical pain generated by her movements was what kept them unfocused, unable to hear them as she frantically tore at the fabric of the couch in an effort to look around the room she had been placed in. Ruby's sense of time had suffered from the detox, and any semblance of where she was had been fleeting. She thought she had seen Blake in one of her rare instances of lucidity, or heard her voice from time to time. But she could not trust such things, her own eyes and ears betraying her as they were.

A view of the city tilted this way and that as she stared out what could have been a large window, but the light that scorched through the glass also seared through her eyes. Hissing as she moved her sight past the source of her newfound and aching blindness, she settled her gaze on a hazy outline that lay just outside the circle of hallucinatory figures that whispered her name over and over. It was a table? Perhaps a cart.

It didn't matter, but the long necked bottles atop it did. The dark amber of the liquid within the containers called out to her, promising a relief from the apparitions that tortured her worse than the torn flesh of her body.

Her elbow shuddered as barely functioning legs slid off the edge of the couch, her entire arm screaming out as it supported the rest of her battered body for the entirety of a second. Collapsing under her weight, the support crumbled and she was sent to the ground. Though the fall was cushioned some by a large rug, the hard wooden floor beneath the adornment sent a new wave of pain to reverberate through her limbs.

But Ruby did not scream. She fought that impulse and bare her teeth to let out a whining growl instead. Her destination swam before her eyes as fingers clawed through the threads of the rug and pulled her useless weight behind them, and the edges of her vision became seeped in tendrils of black.

Only now did the pain of the corporeal overwhelm the voices of her tormentors, drowning them out completely as her jaw clenched and she bit back the agony that tried to force her to relent. The stabbing sensation that had attacked her stomach had now creeped up inside her chest, and she felt the beat of her own heart as it struggled to supply her with what little strength she still held. Her breath came in short, ragged gasps as her lungs failed to accommodate her.

She didn't know how far she had made it from the couch when unconsciousness finally reared its ugly head and began to overtake her, and even the pain dulled enough for a voice to worm its way into her thoughts, speaking her name as the others had before. As the rest of her awareness faded away, the last sensation before everything went black was warm hands closing about her shoulders.

When Ruby awoke again, it was dark. Gone was the blinding light of the day that had burned through the large window of the room. In fact, as her eyelids fought to stay open, the window itself was gone. The couch had changed as well, grown in size and somehow a thousand times more comfortable, like laying on a cloud. More telling was that the constant whispers of the ghosts that had haunted her were now silent, but her head and neck ached far too much to look around and confirm that she was now free. In fact, the pain that throbbed through every inch of her body had not subsided, even if she had regained some modicum of lucidity.

Her fingers curled into a downy blanket that they had been placed over, and she felt the warmth and softness present there. It was a bed she now resided in, no longer the couch. Judging by the fact the quality sheets also grazed over much of her skin, she had been dressed down to nothing but her underwear at some point. Although modesty was hardly something to care for when the person had saved her, that thought in particular intrigued her as to just who had been taking care of her, a silent question that was answered almost as soon as it had entered her mind.

Two glowing orbs of golden color appeared above her, and even in her unfocused state could she make out the features of the woman peering down at her. Tresses of untidy dark hair framed a narrow face, and lips were pressed into a thin, concerned line. Feline ears poked through that hair on the top of her head, one of them missing a sizable chunk out of its side. Years had created new worry lines, a small scar here and there, but recognition flooded through her senses from the first sight of the other Faunus.

"You with me this time?" Ruby's mouth opened, not to respond but to exclaim the name of the other woman, but nothing came out but a hoarse cough. The face above her disappeared, only to reappear a moment later as her head was gently lifted from the pillow it had rested on. "Here. Drink." The edge of a glass was pressed to her lips, and she took in a deep drink of the water contained within, clearing out the dryness that had closed about her throat.

After a long moment where she took in another draught of the much needed liquid, she was let back down, and it took a few more seconds before the other Faunus reappeared this time. "Better?"

"Blake." The singular word caused an eyebrow to raise on the face above Ruby, only to furrow a moment later when she wrapped her fingers around the slim wrist of the cat Faunus in a weak grip. Amber eyes darted to her hand, then flicked immediately back to her own gaze. "Thank you." She felt her grip loosen and her hand fall back to the bed, as heavy eyelids finally won out against her effort to keep them open. Ruby drifted back into a dreamless sleep.

"That'll be five lien."

Yang swiped the currency from the bar as the customer took the bottle she had slid across the counter, folding the paper note and handing it off to Velvet, who placed it in the till before pushing it closed. The rabbit-girl stared at her long enough that she felt the need to flash a smile, obviously failing at putting her friend's mind at ease from the way the Faunus' brow furrowed. Not that Velvet needed to guess what weighed on her thoughts.

It had been days since she had seen Blake. Everyone had heard the news though, that there had been an attack on the 'Jack o' Hearts', that the infamous Ruby Rose had been sprung from right under the nose of Roman Torchwick himself. But the word on the street, the rumors that were dragged through the door of her bar by the drunken lowlife of Vale, had stated clearly that her sister had not escaped unscathed. The story varied wildly depending on who was telling it, but the best was that she had been mauled by a wolf before running, while the worst whispered of Grimm that had disemboweled her younger sibling. Some tales even said the White Fang had attacked the club and killed dozens of the gangsters.

Velvet had told her not to put much stock in such things, that hearing word of Ruby down the grapevine was no way to receive reliable news. So she had put on a brave face, and continued to tend bar every night for the better part of a week. She ignored the whispers from her clientele, the looks from the regulars she usually went a round or two against down in the ring. She tried not to think of the question that burned in the back of every corner of her mind.

If Ruby were okay, why hadn't she or Blake contacted her?

To make matters worse, she was now a target of Torchwick's suspicions. Every night, two of the Gentlemen, distinguished by their fine suits and red-tinted glasses, took a table in the middle of the common room. They never ordered anything, never spoke anyone but each other. She had half a mind to throw them out, but knew that doing so would invite only further invasion of her life. Velvet had brought up something about their presence though, that the fact the gangsters were watching her meant that Torchwick did not know where her little sister was.

Yang had not mentioned to her friend that that also meant that the notorious gangster was still out for blood, so that even if Ruby walked through that door right now, they would still be set upon by the vicious hounds of an old enemy.

So lost in thought, Yang had to be alerted to two new arrivals by an elbow from Velvet, causing her to glance at the rabbit-girl before following her friend's gaze to the newcomers. As iconic as the red glasses, the white jackets with red accents announced her most recent headache as members of the White Fang.

The two members of the Gentlemen had not missed the intrusion at all, rising from the chairs with fists clenched as the tallest of the Fang, a man with short ram horns protruding from his forehead and blood red eyes spoke up. "Bar's closed. Clear out, all of you."

All civilian customers of Ember Heights needed no second warning, gathering up their belongings and leaving without so much as a word of disagreement. No one wanted to deal with a gang war, and Yang was hard pressed to find a reason to blame them. The only one who even looked back was one of her waitresses, whom she nodded to, not willing to risk anyone else. A glance at Velvet told her she would have no luck getting the Faunus to leave, something she was going to be glad for if this came to blows.

The horned man spoke up after the six of them were alone, looking to the members of the other gang, before sliding his gaze over to Yang. "We've come for the Rose girl, and Belladonna. Adam has business with both of them."

"Well they are obviously not here." It was Velvet who spit back a reply, the rabbit-girl glaring angrily at the gangsters while she gestured at the two Gentlemen. "Why do you think we haven't tossed these two morons out on their asses?"

It was the other member of the Fang, a shorter male with two shaggy dog ears flopping over his hair, who turned to face Velvet. "Watch your tone, girl. We could just as easily take you instead."

Yang's fists were clenched so tight that her knuckles were beginning to turn white as she pounded one of her hands down on the bar, drawing all gazes to her. "I'd like to see you try!"

Seeking to seize the distraction she had caused, one of the Gentlemen drew a long pistol from beneath his suit jacket, lining up the sights with the nearest White Fang before a fireball slammed into his chest. The man was thrown back over a table, a steady stream of smoke rising from his corpse as all the remaining occupants of the common room turned to look towards the opened door.

"Now now, boys.." The flame-wreathed tips of an outstretched hand slowly cooled to wisps of smoke, the glowing strips of Dust-infused clothing dying away shortly as the woman with flowing black hair took a step into the bar, her amber eyes burning dangerously as she studied the other three gangsters. "Surely there's no reason for this to get messy?"

The woman's voice seemed dipped in honey, while the order came across as far from sweetness as could be. But the gangsters seemed to get the message, hurrying along to the nearest doors without so much as a glance towards Yang or her friend, nor the fallen member of the Gentlemen. Watching them go, the woman kept her eyes on the door until it was closed, before flitting her gaze over to the two behind the bar. "Ms. Xiao Long, Ms. Scarlatina." Her lips broke into a genuine smile as she strode over to the bar. "It has been far too long."

Yang let out a slow breath as she watched the gangsters depart, hardly any thought given to the smoking body in her bar as she turned her attention the the newcomer with a small smile. "Professor Fall, you couldn't have had better timing."

"So it seems.." The gorgeous woman glanced over her shoulder before settling down on a bar stool, returning her gaze to the two of them as she spoke up. "I'm sure it's quite obvious why I'm here."

"Ruby." Velvet's small voice interjected, the rabbit-girl finally tearing her eyes from the smoldering corpse on the floor to look at their old teacher.

"Precisely. Though from the presence of those four, I'm starting to think you don't have any more information on her whereabouts?"

Yang cocked her head to the side, raising an eyebrow as she watched Cinder carefully. "You're looking for her too, Professor?"

"Please Yang, call me Cinder." The older woman flashed a winning smile before nodding. "Of course I am. People may be willing to bury Huntsmen and the Academies in the past, but I'm not. Our bond still means something, even if the world does not want it to. Unfortunately.. I got news of her capture far too late to be of much help. I was hoping to amend that now."

It was so strange to Yang for them to be here, speaking to their old Professor as if they had remained close friends for the last four years. Cinder had always been her favorite teacher, due to being the combat instructor, but the passion with which the older woman spoke was something that had been lacking since Beacon. She couldn't even remember feeling so emboldened to speak like that.

"I haven't heard from her, sorry.." Yang leaned down on her elbows, pressing her forehead into two balled up fists. "I don't even know if she is alive." A comforting hand came to rest on her shoulder, small and gentle as it rubbed against her shirt. She did not need to look to know it was Velvet.

But then a warm palm touched upon her forearm, coaxing her gently from her melancholy and bringing her eyes back up to regard Cinder's intense and burning gaze. Yang had always marvelled at how those irises seemed to be composed of literal fire at times, and it seemed the loss of their vocations had done little to dim that light. "I'm certain she will make it back to you. Ms. Rose always was the most tenacious of my students, after all." That soft touch trailed down her arm until it took her hand, squeezing to show support. "And I will continue my search."

Just like that, the raven-haired beauty was up from the stool and striding towards the door, clad in a dress that sheared off at the midpoint of her thighs to show a generous amount of leg. Cinder paused near the door to exit Ember Heights, and turned back to look at them. "I meant what I said, you two. Our bond as Huntresses still remains. If you ever wish to talk with me, you have my number, I'm sure."

Then she was gone, as quickly as she came. Leaving only the smell of exotic perfume and burnt flesh upon the air as Yang slowly turned to face Velvet, who was wearing the same conflicted expression she was. "Did that seem..?"

"Odd? Yes." Velvet confirmed that she thought the same with a nod, her brown rabbit ears twitching every few seconds in agitation. "But all of us are different now, and if she can find Ruby.."

Yang considered it for a moment before giving a weary shrug of her shoulders as she looked over at the body of the gangster Cinder had killed. Seeing someone use Dust so effortlessly like a weapon had been a shock, given how rare the substance was these days in a form that could be used as such, but it seemed their old Professor hadn't lost a step. The more she thought about it, the more she couldn't think of a better person to be tracking down her little sister at this point.

Blake remained sitting near Ruby even after the young wolf had fallen back asleep, a bit stunned by the first words that the girl had directed at her in a sane state of mind. In truth, she had been fearing the conversation that awaited once the other Faunus regained consciousness. She had played it over and over in her mind. Why had she run from Beacon? What had she been doing all these years? She had tried to mock up the conversations in her head, to prepare with suitable answers to the questions she dreaded most. So far it had been an effort in futility due to the concern of if her old friend would ever wake up sane.

It had been four days since she had brought Ruby here, barely alive. A half dozen times had she spoke to the girl, only to be ignored as if she did not truly exist. All that had warranted a response from the drowsy and unfocused Faunus had been hallucinations that taunted the girl in a way that Blake could not protect her from. For hours on end, she had been useless to dispel the phantoms or provide any relief from the issues that tortured the wolf-girl.

How could she have been of use?

There were seven years to account for of what she had missed in the other girl's life. Even if she knew of what plagued Ruby so, there was no guarantee that she was in any shape to help. It was clear that the passage of time since they were teenagers had not been kind to either of them, and she was not keen on comparing which of them had suffered more. No. It was wrong to look at it from that perspective, that she was too damaged to be of any help to an old friend.

She had failed, back at Beacon. She had ran from all of her problems in the hopes that she would be spared further pain and derision. She had ran right into the arms of those she had sought to be free from. All out of fear. Blake reached down and took the wolf-girl's hand from where it lay on the bed, holding it gently between both of her own, and resolved that there would be no more running. That she would no longer hide behind the deadened exterior she had portrayed while working as Adam's puppet, a broken facade that had wedged her wounds wide open, never allowing her a moment to heal.

What Ruby needed was a friend, one that was not afraid to face the consequences of her decisions, one that would not shy away from whatever darkness now plagued the young Rose's soul. The whispered words when the other Faunus had awoke that first night she brought the wounded girl here had churned within Blake's mind, the only clue to the demons in her friend's mind, that she had killed 'them'.

No matter the severity of what Ruby had done, Blake would stand by her, help her work through it as she recovered from her wounds. She had to believe that she could still be of use, with what life she had in the White Fang now cast aside, she had to believe there was a way forward for one as lost as her. A chance at redemption for all that she had done.

Blake felt a tear slowly make its way down her cheek as she pressed her forehead against that pale hand she held.

Bzzzt.

Yang stirred in the depths of sleep, her eyes opening slowly as a bright light ignited the darkness of her room. Two large and furry ears were in her vision, twitching every few seconds as their owner fidgeted in her arms. Still, it seemed her awakening had not roused Velvet from slumber, as she glanced about to find the culprit of her early rising.

Bzzzt.

She found it on the second vibration traveling through the bed, the small object placed face up on her nightstand; Her scroll. It's screen was lit up with a notification, an odd occurrence on most days. But this week had been nothing if not odd, and that alone was enough to cause Yang to reach for the device, picking it up and returning to her original position to glance down at the rabbit-girl she held close with her other arm. Velvet had not stirred from the movement, the Faunus' chest still rising and falling at a regular pattern.

Yang let a smile twinge at the corners of her lips before flipping the scroll between her thumb and forefinger to turn it upright, and she swiped the pad of her thumb across the screen to unlock it. The screen loaded straight to the text message she had received a minute ago, from an unknown number. It was short, to the point, only a few words in length. It was also the best news she had received since she learned of Ruby's capture.

'She's safe. -B'

Author's Note: Who's the worst at updating stories? -points at self- This guy! No seriously, I'm sorry. I wish I could write and write and do multiple stories like some of my favorite authors out there, but I'm just not that person. I hope this chapter makes up for it, and contains less than unyielding and mercilessly crushing angst. I know I've been kind of hard on all of my lovely readers with this one. Also, Cinder. Thank you all for reading, for following, and for reviewing. You are all the greatest! Please let me know what you thought of this chapter with a review, or hell, what video game/book/movie is consuming your existence like the new Gears of War is consuming mine! 'Til next time! -Fox

Oh god and how about that Volume 4 premiere?! Loving it so far!