Jäger Chapter Twenty-Two: Lost
MorgothII: Sorry for both the delay and the extremely short chapter, but things have been getting…complicated in my life. I'll be graduating in about six weeks or so, one of my senior projects is due Thursday, and on Friday I am taking my driver's test. Wish me luck! Anyways, the next two chapters should be longer, however. One last thing, poll results are in. I will be continuing this story all the way through volume three, though I might separate it after that, as I would have a special surprise possibility, which I will discuss at a later date. Enjoy!
A loud bang fills the silent streets of the ruins of the settlement once known as Mountain Glenn. A split-second later, the center of the white mask covering the face of the Beowolf targeted by the Jäger explodes into a bloody pulp as the tungsten-cored round pierces the thick, bone-like structure with contemptible ease. Also known by a very few by his real name, Jake Torchwick, the seventeen-year-old fighter deftly operates the unique falling block action of his self-designed and built single-shot rifle. The instant Jake has finished doing so and has the iron sights that are mounted just above the muzzle lined up on a second member of the attacking pack of wolf-like Grimm, he fires again. This time, the bullet strikes the area where the heart would be. The shadowy demon continues to move forward a few yards before its paws stumble. The slain Grimm falls onto its side as its body moves a few more feet along the crumbling pavement, its body already starting to evaporate into smoke.
Beside him, a second loud gunshot goes off as a high-velocity, dust-powered sniper bullet slams into a third member of the demonic pack. This time, the shooter was none other than Jake's girlfriend and fellow Beacon Academy team leader, Ruby Rose. A tiny, sly grin appears beneath the fearsome mask he wears. "You're aim is off," Jake gently teases the silver-eyed scythe-wielding teen girl. With a loud whirl of mechanical gears, Ruby's weapon, Crescent Rose, shifts from sniper mode to its longer scythe mode as she readies herself to activate her distinctive speed semblance.
"You're just jealous of my baby," She returns with an equally-playful taunt. Before her boyfriend can deliver his own counter-tease, the red-and-black haired girl pulls the trigger to her gun, launching herself forward into the somewhat reduced pack of Beowolves. Jake shrugs and swiftly shoulders his own-beloved rifle, watching as the four girls of Team RWBY swiftly decimate the creatures of Grimm.
Once that is done, Doctor Oobleck begins to assign the girls to various tasks, also talking to them on a one-on-one business about why they wanted to become Huntresses. Jake, of course, was able to explore the remnants of the desolate ruins of Mountain Glenn.
The sun slowly descends to its evening rest, and soon the shattered remains of the moon takes over. A slightly frustrated Jake is about to call it quits for the night when he pauses. In the darkness of the streets, Jake activates his stealth semblance, virtually masking the very presence of the Jäger from all others. A few tense seconds pass by before Jake once more sees movement up ahead. His eyes narrow at the white uniforms and Grimm-like masks.
The Jäger sees a member of the White Fang, who is soon joined by several others as they move farther down the street and out of Jake's sights. 'Better report this to the others,' the leader of the secretive group known as the Order of the Shrikes of the Mournful Dawn decides as he slowly begins to move back to where Doctor Oobleck had briefly informed him about the location of tonight's campsite.
He stops when he hears Ruby's pet corgi, Zwei, let out a series of barks. With a slight scowl, Jake races towards the sound, wishing to stop whatever it was that was the source behind his barking before their presence is revealed.
"JAKE!"
A familiar voice shouts, almost causing the mentioned teen to shout in exasperation. "Oh, sure, let's just let every-fucking-body know that we are here!" Jake decides to instead say as a way of venting. He looks at the speaker, Yang, and sees the buxom blonde sister of Ruby racing towards him, with everyone else behind her.
Everyone that is, except for Ruby Rose.
"Where's Ruby?" Jake says, despising the fact about having to ask so obvious a question. He joins the rest of his group as they continue to follow the pet corgi. The lilac-eyed girl quickly answers.
"We don't know. Last time I saw her was when she was back at the camp with us but she must have left with Zwei for some reason. Zwei came back and so he must be leading us to…oh no," Yang never finishes her sentence, as everyone skids to a halt upon seeing the object said corgi is standing beside. Ruby's weapon, folded up in its carrying mode, and in front of the weapon, a giant, gaping hole in the road.
"Oh, fuck! There's White Fang here. I saw the bastards just a few minutes ago. Shit, we got to get down there!" Jake says, un-slinging his rifle before handing it over to a startled Yang, who quickly (and a slight bit awkwardly) slings the Jäger's beloved firearm over her own shoulder.
"Mister Jake, what on Remnant do you think you are doing? Now is not the time to be charging in there, and why are you giving Miss Xiao Long your rifle?" Oobleck demands/asks.
"Ruby is down there, without backup or even Crescent Rose, with god knows how many White Fang terrorists and possibly other criminals. At best, she has been captured. At worst….well, you get the idea. You all can take your time to plan, but I am going down there. This is no longer a scouting-type mission. It's a rescue mission. I'm going down there, rescuing Ruby, and then I will try to stop whatever the hell the White Fang is planning."
Before the remaining members of Team RWBY or their green-haired Huntsman professor can intervene, Jake leaps off of the edge of the road as he draws both his katana, Sōryū, as well as his sword bayonet. Then the blue-armored fighter disappears from view as he rapidly descends after his girlfriend. Not one to leave her younger sister to the chance of being harmed, Yang looks at Oobleck.
"Well, I couldn't put it any better myself. Ladies, let's move out!"
And done! Sorry for the rather shitty quality of this chapter, but I just wanted to get this over with. The next chapter, and the one following it, should be much, much better! As always, thanks for reading, feel free to leave a review, thought, comment, or OC submission down below, and until next time! Next chapter: Underground Part One