Next Update: Tuesday July 24th
Chapter 24
(Location: The Island of Menagerie.)
The birds always began their racket before sunrise.
It wasn't anything unusual, leaving one of her many lovers to sleep in was part of Blake's routine. It felt different though, dragging herself from her bedding and seeing Ruby and Neon using the end of the huge bed as their sleeping space. On a small cot on the far side of the room, Yang curled herself tightly in the sheets meaning she had wandered off at some point in the night.
It was indicative of another nightmare. Even now, Yang was restless.
Blake could have cursed her own mental exhaustion right then and there. If she would have been more attentive, she would have known that Yang had been unable to sleep well. She hated when the blonde went sneaking around at night, knowing she only strayed when she was deeply troubled.
She wasn't exactly a fan of leaving her mate to wake alone, but Blake's work was never done. Thankfully, Ruby and Neon both tended to sleep like rocks too, so climbing over them wasn't as difficult as one might thought it would be. Once she righted herself and got dressed, she turned to take proper stock of the situation once more, further finding reasons to hate herself.
She carefully moved Ruby to her pillow, before moving Neon to Yang's unused one, tucking the both of them in properly.
Then, she crossed the room to Yang.
With great care, her fingers wandered to Yang's tear stained cheek. It was moist to the touch, the salty droplets still fresh. Brushing back the wild mane of blond hair that stuck up in every direction, Blake sighed softly. A kiss on the forehead had to be enough. The twinge of guilt turned to annoyance, and then anger, before she managed to collect the irrational fragments of her mind.
Of course she would be upset about leaving her mate during the delicate time. At least, that's what she told herself as she continued to brush the messy blonde mane out of her lover's eyes.
With great effort, she made her final preparations and left the three slumbering women to catch up on some apparently needed rest.
Setting out on early morning patrol made the rest of the guard respect Blake in a way that very few could hope for. Even the captains of the guard, and the hunters of Menagerie, turned to pay attention when Blake walked the known paths. She could have slept in. Could have ordered others to walk the paths for her. Instead, she, just like her parents, walked the paths herself. Weaving in and out of the dense forests, culling the Grimm that got too close. Monitoring the ones that moved around in the distance, eyeing their location for extermination later that day.
Blake had been scouting and hunting on her own ever since she had been deemed skilled enough to do so. She wasn't about to change that routine now.
Leaping into the trees, she ventured further, going deeper into the island's wilds. She used that time to stew in the conversations from the night before. What was she to do with two temperamental people? If she were honest with herself, she knew Yang and Ruby had very reasonable, yet difficult, requests. Ruby's desires were more easily dealt with. All Blake had to do was wait patiently and not interfere on the subject of Ruby's mission team.
Blake didn't like relinquishing that sort of control, but Ruby had personally asked that of her…and only that of her. Displeased, Blake decided she would bite her tongue about the matter. If Ruby wanted more time, then she would simply have to afford the huntress that level of respect.
Yang's problems were the ones that truly troubled Blake.
They were more complicated. The ramifications were longer lasting. With each step Blake urged the path to drift by faster. Her footfalls carrying her with more speed than she usually would have liked. She would have reprimanded any trainee. She would have outright beaten a careless trainee to a pulp. Pure negligence, she would have called it. If a person of lesser skill did the same thing, it would unquestionably put the village in danger.
As a rule, such careless actions were a disrespect for the Grimm lurking in the shadows. Huntresses were slain by the creatures for lesser reasons. She mentally berated herself, but it did no good. She still felt the urgent need to rush.
She sped through the woods with the intent to finish her patrol more quickly. Blake knew it was unforgiveable. With every step, a fraction of guilt stabbed Blake's mind more than once. Strangely enough, it didn't slow her down. It made her go faster, the jog turned to a run. The normally five hour patrol route took less than three, and sunlight was starting to break amongst the clouds once she finished.
She was covered in sweat, her lungs aching for air, but it was complete. Now that the bright light in the sky lit her way back home, the inexperienced members of the village guard would take her place. They would do the routes once more, and she had to count on them to keep the village safe. For once, they would be picking up her slack in the wake of her hurried mistakes.
It was a good thing, too, because she had other places to be.
She returned home quickly. Washing and dressing into something more comfortable before sitting in one of her gathering areas. Yang, awoken and freshly showered, was all too happy to see Blake reclining around in the household. The rare sight not only welcomed, but one Yang wanted to encourage. She flopped onto Blake with glee. Cuddling into the woman with not a strip of clothing covering her form.
"Yang, you're naked…" Blake said, but it was only a gentle reprimand.
"I know, isn't it awesome?"
"It would be, if it were not this very moment." Blake said, hoping to appease the playful gesture and end it quickly.
"Why, what's going on right now?"
"Your stray human male is supposed to be joining me. Having my mate laying across my lap like this, is hardly the first impression I want to give." Blake already knew her reprimand came too late. "Although, it appears that it's unavoidable now, since he's already here."
Blake rolled her eyes, she couldn't even fathom the sort of man Yang might bring home. She hadn't inquired too deeply on the subject. First impressions were meant to be made without the influence of others. Blake firmly believe that was the best way to act without assumptions, good or bad, to cloud her judgement.
As he was brought in and invited to sit down, she found herself fixated. He was certainly nothing like Yang at all. Schooling her expression, she spoke smoothly. "You can close your mouth now, unless you're trying to catch flies…"
The young man closed his mouth tightly, his teeth clicking. The sight in front of him had completely derailed his train of thought. He had heard the rumors, but to see them as fact astounded him. The island was warm enough without the household itself feeling several degrees warmer. His garbs felt far too tight and restricting for the island weather, and that spoke nothing of the fact that he was, indeed, a red blooded male.
"My apologies." He coughed into his hand, looking away from the Faunus woman and the blonde. The latter of whom was far too happy to inhabit her lap. "That was indiscrete of me."
A boisterous laugh did nothing to ease his embarrassment in the slightest, either. It was from Yang. "Dunno if you've noticed, buddy, but around here, nothing's discrete about what we do."
"Hush." The Faunus woman commanded, laying a firm hand on the backside of the naked blonde. "You're the reason he's gawking in the first place. Put a robe on, Yang, for heaven's sake."
"Are you kidding? It's hotter than a crotch and twice as balmy around here, give me a break."
"Yang…"
"Nope! Not moving, I'm comfy."
Golden eyes narrowed. This time the slap to Yang's ass was harder, causing the blonde to wince as the Faunus left a sizeable red mark. "Show our guest some respect, please."
"Aright, alright, I'm going. Don't go getting the claws involved." Yang sighed under her breath, hoisting herself up from her all too comfortable position sprawled across the Faunus woman's lap. Her beauty was a sight to behold, the splendor itself causing the man to question his very luck. If this was a blessing or a burden, he couldn't begin to tell.
"You'll have to forgive her." Blake said, drawing his attention back to her.
The man swallowed hard, nodding. "Yes, of course."
"Yang's a natural furnace you see, and she likes to pretend this household is hers to strut around as she pleases. Naturally, she likes to tease people in any way she can. I suspect that seeing you fluster so easily only made her day better." The Faunus explained, one leg firmly crossing over the other. "So, Lie Ren, was it?"
"It is." He nodded, his eyes nearly rolling out of his skull when he noticed a few other women padding across the hall, rather scantily dressed at that. "Is this rampant nakedness normal?"
"In my household, yes." Blake smirked. "Gawk all you like, if they're parading around that way in the common areas, that's their own fault. They know we have an unaccustomed guest, and this home is large enough that they could easily avoid this room if they choose to."
"I see. I will attempt to maintain at least some level of decorum, difficult as that may be." He dragged his gaze back to the woman in front of him. He had to handle the conversation with care. "So then, you are the chieftain's daughter, Blake Belladonna."
"I am." She nodded in kind, studying him. Her gaze lingered on his form, her lips curved only slightly in contentment. "You're not from around here, are you?"
"No…I…was that ever a question?"
"Not in this village, no. Humans are prohibited in most areas. However, nomads and wanderers have been known to take in wayward humans from time to time, if they're young. You might have been raised in a fellow village, for all that I know."
"I was an orphan, yes, but I was not raised on this island." He swallowed and look down at his hands, his demeanor changing instantly. "My companion and I travelled here from the mainland."
"The islanders can take some getting used to. We often get human visitors, but very few ever stay, and never within the village walls. Fewer still travel to the outskirts. I doubt my home can be found without a guide." Blake replied humorously. "Yang said you were staying in the hunter's pub."
"It seemed to be the only place that would allow me to stay."
"True."
"Though humans seem to live here as well." He said.
"Also true, but, not just any passerby." Blake replied. "I take it that you have a license to hunt Grimm?"
"Yes, of course."
Blake tilted her head to the side, ears flattening thoughtfully. "Why did you come to a Faunus island?"
"My companion and I needed training, different forms of it. She found her tutor, but I've yet to find mine. They say the chieftain is one of the best. I've tried to ask for his tutelage, but, gaining an audience with him has proven difficult."
The woman smiled in a feral way, her eyes glittering coyly. "You've come to train?" She repeated. "A human, training in the ways of a Faunus huntsmen?"
Ren nodded again. "I would like to learn."
"I see, well, you've come to the right island, but I fear you may have been misinformed." Blake replied slowly. "Faunus do hunt differently from humans, but, our Grimm here are different too. Larger, faster, much more deadly. The perils here are much more diverse, our tactics more varied than you could imagine. They have to be, we don't have a choice in the matter."
"Yet, you do slay them using those skills." Ren told her. "As a huntsman, I need to know all I can. Grimm on the mainland are becoming more aggressive. Swarming around the outlying villages, and along the walls of our cities. There's been a lull recently, however."
"A lull?" Blake asked slowly. "In what way?"
"Fewer Grimm have been sighted along usual migratory routes than usual. Some of our barricades have been ignored for other locations. They've been acting strangely, but due to their lack of numbers, we're taking it as a good sign." Ren tried to explain as he folded his hands in his lap. "This is as good a time as any for us to re-think the way we slay these beasts, and I've decided I should revisit my training while the numbers remain low."
"That sounds like a problem for the hunters and huntresses on the mainland, and the academies who train them." Blake said then. "It doesn't sound like a concern for Menagerie."
"Before their numbers began to thin, our training wasn't cutting it." Ren said pointedly before edging his tone into something calmer, more thoughtful. "The academies can only teach so much. The textbook explanations aren't working as effectively as they used to anymore. Grimm are evolving, becoming smarter as they age. Your ways are different, but that perhaps makes them useful to my cause. The Grimm on the mainland have not adapted to your way of fighting."
"It's obvious to me why you haven't gained my father's attention, then." Blake laughed.
"Perhaps you could clarify." Ren replied.
"I could." Blake said, her own kimono far too loose around her body. She adjusted it accordingly. "However, I could simply choose to turn you away. Right now, I'm leaning heavily upon doing just that."
"Some of those villages contain Faunus." Ren said, using the last bit of truth he had to earn her favor. "Some of them have no other means of survival. They need hunters like myself, ones that are willing to protect them. They'll die without help, I'm sure you can understand the gravity of that."
"I can." She then stretched at length, as if pondering the request. The silk sliding off of her toned thigh in a manner that left no question that there was absolutely nothing underneath it. She placed it back the way it was. "Alright, let me put it to you this way. The tribesmen don't take just anyone under their wing, most certainly not a human. Most islanders around here find outsiders offensive. Especially those who will one day leave the island, never to return. That you are human besides, well, need I even explain that?"
"I knew I had to try." Ren replied evenly, his head bowed in the candle lit sitting room. Furnished with objects low to the ground, pillows, and silks coverings many corners. He knew this room was likely one of lust and sin. He did his best not to think of the more carnal nature spoken of the girl in front of him. The rumors had to be simply that, shouldn't they? He tossed the matter aside. He couldn't give up, not yet. "Your father, Ghira, they say his skill as a huntsman is unmatched, or so the stories go."
"That depends entirely on the tactics that are used." Blake corrected. "My father may be the best in our ways of fighting…but that does not mean his way is the only way, or that there aren't more skilled huntsmen out there. The rumors are merely that, rumors. That's not to say his methods aren't effective, however."
"He has a reputation…like it or not, it spreads far and wide."
"Among Faunus."
"Among humans too." Ren said.
"Faunus value power in their leader." Blake returned unflinchingly. "Our name spreads far because it must. However his teachings do not end with him. It should come as no surprise that as his only heir, my skills have been honed to his standard." She snapped her fingers, another cat Faunus coming out from the shadows. She paused to refill the woman's cup before hiding away again. Blake sipped from it, long and slow. "I may be young, but I do battle with the best of them."
"That was also rumored." Ren agreed. "It's why I've sought you out. I thought perhaps if I earned your approval, it might be enough to be noticed by the village elders. The blonde woman, Yang, she's the one that told me you might be able to help. It was a chance, and I took it."
"Absolutely not." Blake replied, sighing as she watched his eyes darken under the weight of her refusal. There was something else about him, about the way his aura sizzled. His semblance ghosted his form briefly. "If you wish to learn the ways of the Grimm, hunting them as we do in Menagerie, you do not need the approval of the elders. If all you seek are new methods, my teachings will suffice."
Hope renewed in his gaze, he gripped his white pants, bowing deeply to her. "There is one thing, though. I don't have anything to pay you with." His voice was sad, bitterly telling the truths of his nature, but Blake had already known that. "I was hoping I could pay my way in services, manual labor of some kind. I thought my license as it was would be enough to offer some value."
"We don't care for credentials here, so that is of no consequence either way. Come with me…" Blake replied, standing from her seated position, gesturing for Ren to do the same. She took him down a few passageways and into her personal study. Ushering him inside, she closed the door. "I'm sure you've heard the rumors by now. If you've come to me, it's obvious that you have. The islanders around here say I keep humans as pets, but, that's hardly the case. Humans do have a use to me though, your mere existence proves beneficial for the island at large…"
Without giving him a moment to process, she forcefully yanked down a rolled up map hanging on the wall. "The island is larger than it appears, however most of it remains uninhabitable. Furthermore, our trade and commerce remains uneasy with the kingdoms beyond the waters. At best, we can be our own self-sustaining community. At worst, we hardly get by. That's where you humans come in."
"To be merchants?"
Blake nodded once more, carefully placing the map away. "Humans trade more plentifully with other humans. Food supplies, rare materials, ore, medicine…dust…those are things our island must procure from trade. Furthermore, the waters are dangerous. More and more ships sink every year thanks to aggressive Grimm. Human ships receive help when they send distress calls, Faunus ships are not often so lucky. In short, if you do as I say, Lie Ren, and serve this island well, I shall train you myself."