"We camp here for tonight."
Rojo shrugged his pack off, dropping it to the ground. Rye curled around his leg, looking expectantly up at his master. They had spent a very long day patrolling the edges of civilized Vale. They had encountered a lone Grimm or two, but nothing that they couldn't handle. All day had been a very long combat class, courtesy of Professor Sterling.
"So, is this what school is like?" Rye scratched an itch on his left ear as Professor Sterling moved out of range.
"What?" Rojo looked down.
"Your professor talked all day," Rye's voice rattled as he scratched. "Is that what he's like all the time?"
"Oh," Rojo grinned. "Yeah. Don't tell on me."
"Won't say a word...literally. Now I know why you entrust all your secrets to me," Rye complained. "I'm not your best friend, it's just that I won't blab your dark past to the world."
"Baby," Rojo rolled his eyes.
"I'm going to sleep with Cloud tonight, at least she considers me a best friend," Rojo shook his head dramatically. "You know I…"
Rye's words faded out and Rojo looked up to see Professor Sterling had returned from scouting out around their camp.
"I'll gather wood," Ghara volunteered.
"Don't go too far," Professor Sterling warned. "We are still in dangerous territory."
Ghara nodded, not saying anything else. Rojo noted he had seemed moody all week, every since that failed date. Well...moodier. Both he and Sakura hadn't said much about the attack, both alluding to the attacker's craziness but nothing else. Ghara had become increasingly more distant and slightly snappy. He stayed up late, writing things in a notebook. Not that Rojo was stalking him, he just liked to know about his teammates. It had been hard opening up to these people, especially those first few months. It seemed everyone except Rouge, was quiet, and she had her own version of quiet. It was as if they all had their own burdens that they wanted to keep to themselves. Almost two semesters later it was the same, but they had learned how to interact past the burdens. It made Rojo think he wasn't the only one with an ulterior motive, with something to gain besides becoming a Huntsman or Huntress.
"Blanc," Professor Sterling said. "Come help with preparing dinner.
Rojo nodded, getting up to help. Rye scratched the dirt before plopping down beside Cloud, who was sitting arranging her things around her bedroll.
It was strange, her semblance not working. Not that she wasn't used to the darkness, but flickering her semblance a few times to see how everyone was, to see color again, had become a habit. Cloud reached down and rubbed Rye's ears. Something was up with Ghara. For the last week his emotions had been all over the place. She had gotten pretty good at telling when people were lying, there were specific emotions that flickered after a lie was told. Not that she could tell all the time, she wasn't a mind reader, but Ghara's actions proved he was up to no good. To think he had probably dragged Sakura into this as well!
Rouge snuck after Ghara. He was definitely being an odd bunny this week and she wanted to know why. Yes, he had definitely changed when he was mooning over Sakura, but he had improved some after he had admitted on his crush on her. But ever since their date he had become dark and moody, the former something she hadn't seen before. True he hid a lot under that smooth guy facade, just like she hid the monster she was under the rebellious girl mask. But she hadn't seen him dark before, which, although she wouldn't admit it out loud, she worried about greatly.
Ghara cursed a root that had tripped him, gathering up the sticks he had dropped. He had gotten them just like the Professor had instructed so they could make a smouldering fire that would give out heat but not many flames and very little smoke. No reason to invite the Grimm to supper. He hated the fact that Geppetto, the bounty hunter, had disappeared without a trace. He was worried about Sakura being attacked by the crazy hunter. He was tired of running from his family. Weak, their voices whispered in the breeze stirring the branches overhead, worthless. Shaking himself he stood, brushing leaves off his pants. He probably needed to start heading back, this should be enough fuel for the fire. His faunas senses sparked and he turned sharply around. That had been a stick snapping. A Grimm? It must be concealing itself in the trees, he couldn't see the telling red glow of the creature's eyes. He should alert the others. Keeping his back to a tree, Ghara pulled out his scroll. Just as he was about to send a message, a branch snapped forward, knocking the scroll away. It's pale white light bounced, then disappeared into the leaves on on the forest floor. Ghara reached to draw his weapon, but a branch wrapped around his arms and pulled him up several inches off the forest floor. Ghara cursed, trying to free himself.
"Do you always drag your hunter around to the borders of Vale?" a familiar voice asked.
A lantern flared, pooling golden light in a small circle. It barely reached up to illuminate the smiling face of Geppetto. He folded empty hands together, watching Ghara expectantly. Ghara sighed deeply, pretending he wasn't scared, but really bored.
"School assignment," Ghara did his best to shrug.
"Oh yes, those can be quite trying," Geppetto mused.
"So aren't you going to kill me?" Ghara asked in a monotone.
"Haven't decided when," Geppetto spread his hands. "There's no doubt I will, but you do look like you would be fun to play with. Now may not be a good time since you are with friends."
"No," Ghara remarked flatly.
"You do however look quite helpless up there," Geppetto's smile grew, looking more like a grimace, the light from the lantern reflecting off his teeth. "Maybe I'll play with you for a little bit, just to prove I am something to fear.
Despite himself, Ghara flinched as a knife appeared in front of his nose, quivering just inches away from his face. He immediately regretted that when Geppetto laughed.
"Maybe you do already fear me," Geppetto commented. "Or maybe there's something you fear more than me? Pain? Death?"
Ghara didn't give Geppetto the joy of a second reaction. He steeled his features, hoping the others could hear the maniac's laughter.
"None of the above," Ghara sighed as the hunter kept listing off things.
"Weakness?" Geppetto suggested, eyes glittering.
At that moment, Rouge appeared, her spear held lightly in one hand, though she was poised to strike. A tactic of hers she had had from the beginning. Act like she wasn't ready, but in reality, she could gut you in the time it took to blink.
"Oh, a friend," Geppetto glanced at her. "Not the same girl as before. Pity. Have you told this one your secret yet?"
Ghara's eyes hardened and he struggled with the branches holding him captive. No, he couldn't let this slip to the whole school. He wasn't ready to be revealed, this would likely cost him his place in the academy. Rouge looked confused, glancing at him momentarily. Attack, he begged her silently.
"Go on, tell her Typhon," Geppetto smiled. "Tell the Dragomirov that you are part of the Yamato clan."
Rouge's eyes lit up with a dangerous fire, "What?"
A shorter chapter, but you guys deserve a little cliffhanger! Fast update! Soon we'll be face to face with that Aswang again O.O its an actual mythological creature, go look up a picture they are quite terrifying.