Hello everyone and welcome back to HellFall!
This chapter picks up right where the last one left off, so if you need a refresher then head back other there. Otherwise, enjoy!
The room fell silent for quite some time.
"So, what exactly is the plan?" Ruby asked.
"Good question." Thunder replied, "Gazini, what do you think?"
I sighed, "We find Rain and Cinder"
"How?" Carden asked.
"Well," I started, "I don't know, Thunder? Do you have access to anything that can sense aura?"
"Yes" He replied.
"There you go." I said, "We just hook up one of those puppies, then we'll find them in no time. If they're using their semblances to fuel this firestorm, then they will have a hell of a concentrated aura, and be using a lot of it. It'll be easy"
"To find them, yes. But what about after that?" Pyrrha asked, "We'll have to fight them, won't we?"
"I assumed we all had that figured out" I replied.
"Well, how are we going to go about that?" She asked.
"I don't know," I replied, "we'll hit 'em until they die"
"Gazini, you're not taking this seriously" Thunder said.
"I'm doing my best" I replied.
"We can't send everyone in at once," Lie Ren said, "It'd be too chaotic, and with all the Heishi around there'd be no one outside protecting people"
I nodded, "So what are you suggesting here Ren?" I asked.
"I'm suggesting we break off into three groups. One to fight Cinder, one for Rain, and the third for the Heishi" He replied, speaking so quickly one would've figured he'd thought this plan through at least a little.
"Okay," I said, "For the first two you mentioned we'll need the best we have. Maybe two or three in each of those teams. Thunder, any idea who's the best here?"
He paused to think, "Well," he started, "I haven't seen you all fight, but from what I know, you, Pyrrha, Roy, Barnabas, and…Nicole?"
"That sounds about right to me" I said.
"So," Thunder started before I could continue, "Roy, Nicole, and Barnabas, you three go together to Cinder. Sound good?"
All three nodded.
"Gazini and Pyrrha, you two go together against Rain. Alright?"
"Okay" Pyrrha said, throwing a slight smile my way.
I was none too happy about the pairing, but I didn't argue. It was a good pairing for a fight as important as this one.
"Good," Thunder said, "The rest of you, get out there and kill some Heishi. Get the citizens to the safe houses. You other five, wait here. Once we locate Rain and Cinder we'll inform and drop you all off. Good?"
He received a handful of nods, grunts in acknowledgement, and lots of stares.
He clapped his hands together, "Good. Meeting adjourned"
Everyone who hadn't been singled out stood and went to the elevator.
I approached Thunder, "Did you call my parents?" I asked.
"Yes," he replied, "They're on their way"
"Great" I groaned.
"What's so bad about them anyway?" He asked, "I hear they're fantastic"
"They are," I replied, "I just don't want to deal with them right now"
"Oh," he said, "That's a shame. Is Pyrrha gonna be too much trouble then?"
"No," I replied, "It was a good call. It's probably our best chance, anyway"
"Oh, one more thing," he leaned in towards my ear, "Team STEW, you remember them? Well, the prison broke down when the firestorm hit, so they're out and about"
"Any idea where they are?" I asked.
"Not a clue." He replied, "They probably don't even have scrolls yet. I'm sure you'll run into them along the way"
"Great. Thanks" I said.
"No problem"
"Gazini?" Pyrrha asked from behind me.
I turned as Thunder walked away, "Oh, hello again. It's been a while"
"It sure has." She said, "Too bad we had to meet again like this"
"Yeah, it's a little frustrating"
"So mother and father are coming?" She asked after a brief pause.
"Apparently they're on their way." I replied, "I don't know if they'll be here on time though"
She forced a smile, "Right." She said, "Plus if they have their team with them…"
"It'll be a while" I finished, knowing precisely who she was talking about.
"Exactly"
There was a brief moment of pause.
"We'll have to catch up after this, eh?" She said.
"Yes, definitely" I replied. At that exact moment I looked ahead in time, hoping to see the conversation and skip her portion of it. But I found something else. Apparently that conversation would be farther away than I would have thought.
"You there?" She asked.
"What?" I asked, "Oh yeah, just saw something. One second" I turned and called out to Thunder. He turned, but didn't say anything. "I know where Cinder and Rain are. I just saw it"
He quickly strode towards me, "That's good to hear. Where are they?"
"Cinder is on top of the library, Rain is inside, on the third floor"
He nodded, "Good to hear that thing still works. Did you see anything else?"
After a brief hesitation I shook my head, "No, nothing" I replied. I had seen more, but I'd also seen what would happen if I said anything.
"Okay," he replied hesitantly, "I'll get you guys out right away. Are you feeling alright?"
I nodded, "I could go for some proper clothes, preferably ones from my own closet"
"Get to it then. You know where your room is" He said.
"Will do" I replied, turning to leave. I was going to my room.
"Gazini!" Someone called.
I turned with a heavy sigh. It was Azure.
"I'm so, so sorry, Gazini." She said, "I don't know what came over me, I-"
"Don't sweat it." I said, "I'm fine now. And your team isn't around anymore; I can't imagine what your head's doing with that information"
She nodded, "Thank you," she said, then reached out to shake my hand, "I guess this could be goodbye"
"It very well could be." I replied, a slight smile curving one side of my lips. I reached out and shook her hand. "But let's hope not. Good luck"
"Good luck to you, too" She said.
I pat her head, "You're a good kid. Don't die"
"I'll do my best" She replied, smiling a little.
I sniffed in a large breath, "Alright" I said simply, then turned and left to get proper clothing on.
In my room I pulled out my suitcase and some clothing. It was basically the same thing that I usually wore: heavy brown coat, yellow button-up, blue jeans. I found Arkynshihn in its sheath, along with all the arrows in the quiver resting on my bed. Instead of strapping it to my belt I sat down next to it, thinking, running through each scenario in my mind. Finding the best option.
There was simply no way it could work.
So there you have it. Stuff's continuing to go down, or at least it's heating up.
Also, RWBY volume 4, fingers crossed it doesn't suck, or if you ask me it isn't like volume 3. But we'll see. We have about another week to wait. Gotta say, regardless of the past I'm kind of looking forward to it. I've moved on from all the changes and I'm hoping it doesn't let me down again.
Anyways, as usual, favorite, follow, review, tell your friends, tell your enemies, or don't if you don't want to, and I'll see you all in the next chapter!