RWBY is property of Roosterteeth! I only own my characters.
CHAPTER 10
"... Never... thought... I'd miss... Valiance's... chattering..." Ignis panted as his boots continued to sink deep into the hot sand with every step he took. After he'd landed... wherever he was... he'd begun searching for something, anything, that might help him survive the harsh environment. The irony that the Bloodline of Flame might die from heat had dawned on him some time ago, and had refused to leave his mind.
The ex-Lord stumbled as his foot twisted oddly in the shifting desert terrain, sending him face-first into the sand. He pushed himself into a sitting position and spat out a mouthful of the gritty substance.
"... Damn it..." He thought aloud, taking a moment to wipe the sweat from his forehead. His progress had been excruciatingly slow, as the sandy landscape constantly seemed to try to pull him under the vast rolling dunes. Ignis began to remove the heavy plating of his armor, tossing the pieces into the small supply pack he had been carrying. He was somewhat annoyed that it had been filled with ammunition and not rations. Now with less weight pushing down on his feet as he dragged the supply pack behind him, the ex-Lord found that he did not sink as far into the sand.
As he once again began to move, his thoughts drifted to the precarious situation his separation from Alyia had left both Bloodlines in. The fact he was stuck in a desert with nothing but a pack of ammunition was the obvious problem, but Alyia being alone with limited ability to fend off the hordes of dark creatures didn't exactly strike the Lord as being much better, even if she had plenty of food and water.
The unfamiliar world's sun continued its upward climb into the sky, eventually seeming to erase any shadows it touched. Ignis continued his slow trek through the desert, the supply bag leaving a shallow trail behind him. He was sapped of both water and energy, and soon found himself unable to continue. He fell flat into the sand and lay there with the sun baking the land around him. Ignis struggled to stay awake, but the mixture of dehydration and exhaustion could no longer be held at bay, and his vision faded to black.
"Daddy?" Lex asked her father as their vehicle bounced over a protruding tree root. "Do you think Auntie Alyia and Uncle Ryan are alright?"
"I'm sure they're fine, Lex." Jerloh rustled her hair from his seat next to her. "Don't worry about them, they can handle themselves."
"I know... but, I can't stop worrying."
"It's only natural to be concerned about family." the Terror Inheritor hugged his daughter. "I think I'd actually be more worried if you weren't afraid for their safety."
"Mm." Lex made a small sound of affirmation. She leaned into Jerloh's side.
"It's not just Ryan and Alyia you're worried about, is it?" he asked kindly. "Are you thinking about the others back home too?" He felt her head make a nodding motion. "I'm sure they'll be fine too."
"But... what if they die?" Lex huddled closer to her father. "What if you and Auntie Alyia aren't there to save them?"
"Lex," Jerloh smiled, "your Aunts and Uncles have rescued me from just as many jams as I've gotten them out of. It'll take more than us missing for a while to get them killed."
"... I hope so..." Both the girl and her father looked up as the vehicle slowed slightly so Marcia could speak to them. The EDC General turned from her view of vivid red trees and looked at Jerloh's daughter.
"Lex... Remember what I told you about Alex and Dimitri?"
"... Yeah? That they were the best?"
"Right." Marcia nodded. "Just remember that the rest of our weird family is just as strong as they were, if not better. You don't need to worry about them."
"... Okay..." Lex nodded, though she looked a little confused as to what Marcia's point was.
The trio's ride continued surrounded by seemingly infinite trees. The leaves had slowly shifted from deep green to a flaming red, as if Autumn has come early and permanently to this particular section of forest. Lex slowly drifted off into a peaceful sleep on Jerloh's lap, breathing softly as her father kept her from rolling off the seat every time the LCV encountered a bump along the ground.
"... Marcie..." Jerloh began hesitantly, making sure Lex was sound asleep. "Be honest, you're worried about the others too, aren't you?"
"Of course I am." she replied quietly.
"Come on!" Alyia yelled frustratedly at a large Nevermore as it attempted to pluck her from the tall tree she had taken refuge in. "Screw off, you damn bird!" The Grimm only crowed loudly as it turned to make another pass at her. "Fine. I'll waste a shot on you."
Alyia pulled out one of her two pistols, the other already completely drained of its charge, and checked its energy supply.
"Forty-eight percent... should be good for another eighty shots total then." She flipped the handgun around her pointer finger once before flipping off the safety and leveling it at the giant raven circling her. A large burning hole appeared in the Grimm's right wing as the handgun's superheated plasma projectile seared through the air. The creature gave a loud cry of pain as it plummeted into the trees below. Leaves and twigs were sent flying as it crashed through the forest canopy, and the Nevermore came to a hard stop on the ground.
Alyia stared down at the creature from her perch in the tree, and was surprised when the Grimm stared right back. Despite the Nevermore's solid red eyes, its body language betrayed something else. Fear. A trait Alyia had seen a lot of when fighting alongside her brother. What puzzled her, however, was the almost pleading gaze the creature was giving her. The giant bird managed to stand and hop towards Alyia's tree, shaking the ground with each step. It crowed at her pitifully.
Suddenly, its message became clear to Alyia as more pairs of red eyes became visible within the darkness of the forest. A massive pack of Beowolves emerged, circling the injured Nevermore and surrounding it. A tongue darted out of one of the larger pack member's mouths and licked its chops hungrily. The pack rushed at the helpless larger creature and pounced on it. The Nevermore thrashed and cawed as the smaller Grimm tore it its flesh. Suddenly, the raven Grimm's head was split wide open by another one of Alyia's projectiles. The Beowolves stared at the Human in the tree momentarily, before returning to feeding on the slowly dissipating corpse of the Nevermore. Alyia returned her weapon to its holster. She watched the giant bird quickly disappear into the ravenous maws of the smaller creatures.
A small pang of regret entered Alyia's heart as she leaped onto the nearest adjoining tree, not wanting to risk traversing the ground with the pack about. She had always hated seeing suffering, regardless of whether it was friend or foe. No one should be left to die like that, not even an unknown creature that had been trying to eat her.
Now this is just pathetic. The voice in Chaos' head whispered to him as he dodged through a section of the town hall and hid behind a desk.
"Shut-" he silenced himself as a nearby door creaked open.
"Please don't run! I just want to talk!" the mystery girl called from out of sight. Upon receiving no response, she continued to try and coax the ex-Lord from his hiding place. "I didn't think there were others like me! Please, I just want to talk to you a little bit!" Her voice was pleading.
Do it. Kill her while she is distracted.
"If you didn't notice before, our attacks don't seem to harm her. It'd be a better option to just warp out of here." Chaos whispered.
And leave a witness of our actions here? Idiot, if you want to kill the Humans that did this to us, you will need the element of surprise.
"I can handle Greene and a handful of children."
Really? Then how did you wind up in this situation to begin with? Chaos only growled in response. I thought so. Do as I say. End her, then we can be on our way.
"Found you!" Chaos' head shot up as the girl leaned over to peer behind the desk where he was hidden. "Here, let me help you up." Her smile was calm, but her voice betrayed some sort of excitement. She grabbed Chaos' arm before he could flinch away and guided him out from under the desk.
Immediately, Chaos broke away from her gentle grasp and put some distance between them. He made a slashing motion with his arm, attempting to summon one of his shadowy blades for another attack. But nothing happened.
"What!?" the Bloodline cried, staring dumbly at his palm. He suddenly became aware of a feeling of warmth spreading from where the girl had touched him. "What did you do!?"
"I'm sorry! Did I hurt you?" She waved her hands frantically. "I don't know how to control it!"
KILL HER! KILL HER!
"Screw this, I'm out." Chaos muttered. "See ya." He concentrated on making a random jump. A second passed. Then two. Then five. The Bloodline opened his eyes, finding himself still firmly standing in the exact same place as the mystery girl continued to apologize incessantly. She seemed to notice Chaos' befuddled expression as he tried to use his ability to teleport.
"Um... What are you doing?" She asked.
"Trying to get away from you." He replied honestly. "I've got things to do, people to kill."
"Please don't leave me!" the girl cried suddenly, leaping towards him. Her arms wrapped around the young Bloodline's chest. Chaos could feel more of that warm sensation spreading from where the girl's body came into contact with his armor. Her sapphire eyes met his red, pleading desperately. "I've been alone so long!" Chaos attempted to push the girl off him, to no avail. He suddenly regretted relying on his ability so much in the past and neglecting to build up any sort of muscle mass.
Well, it just keeps getting worse. You can't even escape a lone girl. How to expect to defeat anyone like that?
"I can usually kill them!" Chaos said, his eye twitching in annoyance.
"Who are you talking to?" the girl asked.
"None of your business." Chaos snarled as he managed to extricate himself from the strange girl's embrace. "Look, whatever you think I am, I'm not. Usually, I'd gut you and hear you cry out for mercy, but seeing as that can't seem to happen, I'm just going to go, okay? Okay." Upon finding that he could still not teleport, the Bloodline turned on his heel and strode away as fast as his legs could carry him. He was keenly aware of the pattering of the girl's feet as she followed him. "GO AWAY!"
"No! You're the first person who's even talked to me in months!" She yelled, catching up to the ex-Lord with ease due to her more athletic build. "And on the plus side... you can't seem to hurt me."
"I'd really like to, believe me." Chaos replied. "If I could I'd put you right alongside all those bodies downstairs." He really hoped that being threatening would get her to leave. To his dismay, she continued to tag along at his side. The voice in his head continued to chant that he should kill her. "What the hell did you do to my ability, anyway?" He sighed in defeat, seeing as he was not going to escape this girl until his power returned.
"I- I don't know... Nothing like that's ever happened before..." She answered earnestly. Her honesty only made Chaos grit his teeth in further frustration. If she didn't know what she did in the first place, there was little chance of her removing it. The girl's mood seemed to brighten even further, despite the other participant in their conversation wearing a rather sour expression. "So... my name's Melody. What's yours?"
"I'm not giving you my name." Chaos narrowed his eyes at her. "What are you?"
"I'm not saying anything else until you answer my question." Melody replied stubbornly.
"... Chaos..." the ex-Lord muttered, "they call me 'Chaos'."
"That's a funny name." the silver-haired girl giggled. "Okay, to answer your question... that's another 'I don't know'. Sorry. I just... got these weird powers one day. They changed my hair color too." Chaos made an annoyed sound in response. "Alright, another question from me... What about you? How'd you get your powers? I mean, you've got two semblances, right?"
"First," Chaos held up a finger. "that was three questions, not one. Second, I was born with my abilities. Though, yes, I have two."
IDIOT! WHY ARE YOU REVEALING SO MUCH!? Chaos suddenly stopped walking, causing Melody to come to a halt as well and look back at him questioningly. Why was he telling this girl so much? Something about her had loosened his tongue, made him actually converse with her. What the hell was happening to him?
"You okay, Chaos?" Melody asked worriedly.
"Yes. I'm fine." He said, shaking his head. "No more questions, though."
"I'll owe you like three for later, then." Melody nodded. Chaos sighed. It looked like he was stuck with a traveling companion, at least for a little while.
Alyia continued her trek through the woods, now walking along the ground. She scanned the forest around her, keeping a careful eye out for any more of the masked creatures. Her ears picked up a series of distant sounds. She listened intently as the sounds increased in number and frequency. It was a tone she was all too familiar with. Gunfire. And that meant people were nearby.
Alyia doubted that the Order would enter into open combat unless it was against herself or one of the others that had been spit out onto this world. She sprinted towards the noise, the staccato of bullets whizzing through the air with their associated bangs growing ever closer. Alyia came to a small hill, able to hear indiscernible yelling from the other side. She quickly ascended the sloping incline, quickly spotting the source of the noise.
At the base of the hill lay a small walled town. People stood atop the wall as it was besieged by a horde of the masked creatures, firing indiscriminately down into the ocean of pitch-black forms. The Guardian pulled her handgun from its holster and checked its charge once more.
Weiss watched the screen displaying the emergency report worriedly. A frontier town near Atlas had come under attack by Grimm, and the local populace was having difficulties holding them off. A reporter spoke to the cameras, relaying what was happening. Weiss gripped the arm of her chair. Beside her, Charles, Anise, and Winter wore equally concerned faces. Each of them wished that they could reach the town in time, but as the reporter readied his farewells to his family, they knew that they would never reach the town in time. It would take a miracle to-
Charles was the first to sit straighter and lean forwards towards the screen, not believing his eyes. As the Grimm poured over the wall of the town, their numbers began to thin as flashing projectiles rained into their ranks. The town guardsmen took the opportunity to guide more civilians to safety. Their savior ran into view of the camera. A woman in white armor. A Guardian.
"Girls..." Charles said. "I think we need to make a trip."
Barnes' Log: A Message to Ozpin
"I think I've let this slide long enough, Ozpin. This information deal needs to be a two-way street. Out of all the people I've dealt with, you have to be the most tight-lipped. I'm not sure how it benefits anyone that you keep so many secrets. The rest of the staff may trust you implicitly, but I've seen how many lives secrets can cost."
"These students may not be my soldiers, but they've come to be my responsibility just as much as yours. What ever you're trying to hide, whether its from all of Remnant or just me... it has to stop. Give me a time and a location so we can discuss this in person. None of this cloak and dagger bullshit. Barnes out."
A/N: Things are a-happening around Remnant. Possible delays ahead still, I got sick. What a lovely holiday gift.
Reviews, Follows, and Favorites are always appreciated! Let me know what you think! Got a question for me? Go ahead and leave one in a review, or if you don't want to share the answer, send me a PM. I will answer as quickly as I am able.
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Welcometodalolz: Glad you think so. I thought the pacing was a bit off near the end of the chapter, though in hindsight, it's not too bad. Just not perfect.