RWBY: Team CRML
Chapter 26
A few months later
Marek
In a small clearing in the forest, Marek and Ruby were sparring. Tripping Ruby onto her back, she fell into the snow, the white substance cushioning her fall a bit. Marek chuckled as he held his hand out to her. Ruby took his hand and he helped her to her feet. "Thanks." she said as she brushed off the snow that clung to her clothes.
"You're getting better at hand-to-hand." Marek told her.
"I don't feel like it." Ruby said as she brushed off her leggings.
"You are."
"You two coming or what?" Nora shouted at them. "Let's gooooo!"
Ruby had asked the remaining members of team JNPR, Jaune, Ren and Nora, to come with her and Marek to Haven academy. Pyrrha...was no longer with them. Cinder had killed her on top of Beacon tower.
"We'll be right there!" Marek shouted back before turning to Ruby. "You sure about this?" he asked her. "I can do this alone."
"If what you said is true, that the people who destroyed Beacon are planning on taking down all Huntsmen academies, we need to do something about it." Ruby replied. "So, you're stuck with us."
Marek smiled. "Thanks, Ruby."
Chrome
Leaning against the railing of the ship, Chrome stared out at the ocean, watching the waves. "Anyone ever tell you just how serious you look when you're lost in thought?" Nicci asked as she joined him at the railing. "Whatchya thinkin' about?"
"Yang." Chrome replied. "I never got to see her before we left. I never got to..." Chrome trailed off as he ran a hand through his hair. "I never got to talk to Weiss either. There were so many things I wasn't able to do."
"You also didn't know where any of them went off to." Nicci told him. "There was no way for you to know where they went."
Chrome was silent for a few more seconds. "I can only hope Yang sees it that way."
Liam
Ducking and jumping back from Vernal's weapons, Liam raised his sword, still holding it in a reverse grip.
Dodging Vernal's weapon as she threw it at him, Liam rushed her. Hearing her weapon slice through the air on its return, he slid across the ground as it flew over him. Reaching Vernal, Liam pulled the trigger on his weapon as he slashed, slicing her torso in a diagonal cut. Spinning around, he kicked Vernal onto her back before rushing over to her, flipping his weapon in his hand so he was holding it in a normal grip. Pointing the tip less than an inch away from her neck, Liam smirked. "Yield."
Vernal chuckled as she pushed the blade away from her throat. "Nice one." Liam sheathed his weapon on his back before extending his hand out to her. Accepting the help up, Vernal placed a hand on his shoulder. "You're much better with your sword skills." Vernal told him. "In just a few short months, you're able to best me. I'm impressed."
"I still have a ways to go." Liam said. "I'm not in-" another pain shot through his left shoulder. Wincing as he held it, Vernal placed a hand on his arm.
"It's still bothering you?" Vernal asked.
"It always will." Liam replied as he rubbed his shoulder. "I am getting a bit used to it, though."
"What about your nightmares?" Vernal asked. "Are they getting any better?"
Liam looked away from her. As he remembered his previous nightmare, where he was back on top of Beacon tower, his hand began to shake.
Noticing this, Vernal clasped her hands around his to help him calm down. "C'mon. Let's get back."
"Yeah..."
Heading back to camp, the two of them walked inside. Some of the bandits greeted them while others kept to themselves.
Heading over to Raven's tent, they both entered to see Raven sitting at the table. "Raven." Liam greeted his aunt.
"You're back already?" Raven asked as she got to her feet, walking over to Liam.
"We've been training for three hours." Liam told her.
"Huh. Guess I wasn't paying attention to the time." Raven said.
"Get some rest, Liam." Vernal told him. "We'll train some more in the morning."
He just nodded his head in reply.
Going over to his bed roll, Liam placed his weapon on the ground before hanging up his cloak. Laying down, Liam closed his eyes to get some rest.
Hour later
Tossing and turning, Liam was having another nightmare.
Standing in a vale of darkness, Liam looked around. "Hello?" he called out but his voice was barely a whisper. Looking around more, his eyes landed on two figures walking towards him. Cinder and Mist.
The two of them slowly approached him. As Liam tried to fight, he was suddenly thrown into a wall by an invisible force. Chains wrapped around his body as Mist and Cinder got closer.
Leaning forward, Cinder pulled her arm back, a massive sword forming from glass. Just as she brought it down, Liam looked away.
Bolting upright, Liam was breathing heavily and he was sweating. Rubbing his face, he looked around the tent. Seeing he hadn't disturbed Raven, who was asleep on the other side of the tent, Liam laid back down and closed his eyes.
End of chapter 26
