Disclaimer: This story has been previously published as The Hunters of the Maidens on RWBY Amino. The cover art was done by I3blacksun, who has given me permission to post it here and can be found on RWBY Amino. I do not own anything borrowed from RWBY, such as the Winter Maiden or the concept of semblances. If I did, this wouldn't be 'fanfiction' but a real sideplot.
Hunters of the Maidens: Closing In
The girl awoke to someone banging on the door. The sun had not yet risen, and only blackness greeted her tired eyes. She closed them, clinging to the starlit fireflies of her dreams. The room was waiting, cold and damp, to embrace her. If she removed the warm covers that had allowed her to sleep so peacefully, she would be forced to return to reality.
"It's time to get up, sweetheart," Gin's voice forced its way in from the hallway. The girl begrudgingly rolled out of bed and kicked the door once in response. She got herself ready and quickly left the inn. She was happy to be leaving.
As she started out into the down pour, she saw the three men waiting for her at the edge of the woods.
"Nice of you to join us," Gin retorted as the girl approached.
"It is unusual for you to oversleep," Album commented as they began to walk.
"It's unusual for me to sleep in a bed," the girl answered caustically, pulling her collar up to block the rain.
She fell into step beside Gin as they walked, letting Album and Vio trudge ahead. "You okay kid?" Gin asked when they were out of earshot, "I heard Vio got serious with you last night." The girl knew what Gin meant by 'serious'. The tall, scraggly man had known her since she was a child. The two of them had come up with many code words to talk about Vio behind his back.
"I'm fine," she told him, glaring at the back of Vio's head. "We must be getting close."
They continued in silence for most of the day. Gin seemed to be deep in thought, absently scratching the streak of silver dividing his thick, black hair. His matching silver eyes stared far off into the distance, and the girl wondered if he was thinking about his previous encounter with the Winter Maiden. She didn't know the details, but she had overheard once that a maiden killed his wife.
The girl glanced over at the short man. He did not have the hunter training of Vio, or the education of Album, or even the abilities of herself. Gin was a man of pure wrath, and just a sliver of silver love. Perhaps that was why the girl found her spirits lifting.
Eventually, the rain turned to snow and what little light there was faded. Vio stopped and camp was made. The girl found it hard to fall asleep that night. No fireflies came to meet her in her dreams.
A/N: If anyone was wondering about the rest of the characters' inspirations, Vio was inspired by Vlad the Impaler and Gin was inspired by Sweeney Todd. I would really appreciate some reviews on what I'm doing right and wrong, this is my first attempt at a fanfic after all. So please leave a review-it could even be a question.
Best, RC