Author's Note:

Alrighty, here's the long awaited Chapter 5 of RWBY Ink. I'm so sorry that it took so long, and it's so short, but things just sort of piled up I guess. Welp, I hope you enjoy, and please leave a review. Seriously, anything at all. I haven't gotten a review since Chapter 2. Welp, without any further ado, enjoy!

Chapter 5

Why Bother?

"So… where are you from?" asked Regulus, attempting to make small talk. The pair had walked silently for the most part, only meeting a stray ursa or two.

"I'm from Mistral. My dad runs a forge," Ember replied. She looked straight ahead, idly trailing her claws against the bark of trees, leaving behind blackened claw marks. "You?"

"I'm from uh… Patch." Regulus winced internally. Of all the things to talk about. He glanced over his shoulder, half expecting the mysterious bearded man to pop out of the undergrowth. He was acutely aware of the feeling of eyes on his back. "My sister and I write for a living."

"Your parents…" Ember cut herself off, covering her mouth with her hands in regret. She turned to Regulus. "I didn't mean to-"

"It's fine," Regulus interrupted waving her off, "They died in a grimm attack when I was little. I barely remember them." Regulus wondered if they were actually real. His memories of his parents were hazy and indistinct at best. Something Regulus had attributed to the natural degradation of memories. But... The encounter had casted so many doubts upon him.

A cacophony growls and barks snapped Regulus back into reality with a jolt. They were surrounded by grimm… again. I really need to chill. Regulus dropped his pistol swords to the ground, deciding they didn't match Ember's fighting style. Instead, he clipped on a pair of gold and silver, bladed greaves to his boots.

"Ready?" Regulus asked, turning around to face in the opposite direction of his partner.

"Where did you get those?" Ember looked adopted a short stance, nearly but not quite, bouncing on her toes.

"I-" Regulus' answer was cut short by a particularly brave, or stupid beowulf that decided to attack first. Leaning back, Regulus barely dodged the beowulf's initial swipe, and pivoted his front foot, sending a powerful, recoil enhanced, spin heel kick straight to the beowulf's head.

Ember dashed forwards, grabbing the wrist of another beowulf, and plunging a clawed hand deep into it's glowing red eye. The beowulf screamed in pain, but it wasn't dead. Raising it's free paw, it tried to claw the huntress in training. Then, it's head exploded in a burst of flames and scorched flesh. Unfazed by the close call, she paused momentarily to shake off bits of the dead grimm before plunging back into the fray.

Regulus audibly gulped, unconsciously touched his left eye. It was a good thing Ember had stopped in time. Dropping into a lower stance, Regulus bent his leg, chambering it and with it, a fresh cartridge, waiting for an ursa to rear up and expose it's unarmored underbelly. Extending his leg, he fired a slug straight into it's stomach, knocking it back into the horde. Regulus reloaded his weapons, readying himself for the onslaught of grimm headed his way.

Behind him, Regulus heard a high pitched whirring. What was that? He turned his head to see what the source of the noise was, only to see a thin beam of red fly past his head, inches from his face, causing him to flinch backwards. The mass of grimm Regulus was facing were instantly vaporized by a massive explosion. Ember stood with one hand outstretched in a finger gun. Her index claw glowed red, giving off a thin trail of smoke, a satisfied smirk plastered across her face.

Regulus raised a finger to speak. "That was the second time you've nearly killed me… in the span of an hour," he said as a matter of factly. However, in reality, he was practically shaking in his boots.

The smirk instantly vanished from Ember's face, as it was replaced with a look of pure regret. "I-I'm sorry. My dad always yells at me for acting without thinking." She hung her head in shame.

Regulus took a deep breath. "It's fine," he said, patting her on the back.

She still looked downcast, as she looked to the floor. "But I nearly-"

"Like I said, it's fine," Regulus interjected with a smile. "You can't change the past, so why bother?" That seemed to cheer Ember up, as her posture improved.

She stretched her arms to the sky. "Thanks," she said over her shoulder as she walked forwards. "I'll make it up to you someh-"

Ember was suddenly cut off as she disappeared, seemingly falling into the earth. "Ember!" Regulus shouted, running forwards. He was greeted by the sight of a steep drop.

"I'm fine," said Ember from the bottom of the drop, as she gave Regulus a thumbs up.

Regulus jumped off, letting his aura absorb the impact. He landed in front of a dilapidated stone structure. A ring of pedestals formed a ring inside the structure, the smooth wood a stark contrast to the rough, weather-worn stone. "Well, it looks like we've found the shrine."