Volume CRBN!

by Dancesnapple

Four individuals. Four different people of different walks of life resulting in an adventure. Hopefully, a bond that can last. Team CRBN (carbon). Features: OC Main character, main team has two OCs alongside a lovable crime duo, and some family drama on all sides. Features a 'soundtrack' element for the fic. ENJOY! Story begins on third listed chapter. Very slow start.

8. 6 Wilted Rose

Chapter Six: The Wilted Rose

This was always the most difficult part of the job. Cleaning up when things went wrong. Her hands were numb, dirt crusted onto her combat skirt. The woman breathes heavily, crouching to a sitting position. Before her sits a disturbed bed of earth. Six and a half feet long and two feet wide.

Ugh! How do people without their aura do hard labor for so long?

Summer breaths a sigh to center herself. Her gaze trails to the side, finding the boy, Carmine. He sat off to the side. She'd placed her cloak around him, as a form of comfort. However, an hour of digging and the boy still just stared at the revolver in his lap.

… A six year old holding a gun would scare her more if it was loaded.

The two were just outside of the outpost, Carmine on a steel chair, hugging himself under the cloak blanket. Her gaze returned to the covered hole in front of her.

It's done. Now, to get the kid willing to move. She rises, a sympathetic smile coming on as she approaches the boy. She kneels before him, putting one hand on his shoulder. "... I know words can't express how you feel right now, but I also know words are a start. Is there anything you'd like to say?"

No response. The boy couldn't look up.

Maybe a different tact. "It's not easy to lose family. Even worse when it's this quickly..." She eyes him, waiting for a response of some kind. Seeing none, she continues. "I lost my family all at once, too."

The boy sniffs, head tilting up just enough to look away. Not accepting, but still a good sign.

"It's different from your situation, I can't lie. Mostly because I didn't lose them in the same sense, but I lost them all the same. 24 hours was all it took to separate me from everyone important to me. The worst part was that it was by choice."

This got the boy to glance at her. It tears at her when their eyes meet.

"It was a trying time. I had cousins, a father, an uncle, sibling... I lost it all, and I will always want parts of that back." She looks away, the curve of her lips crippling and moving down. "Even to get one chance to talk to my own father just one more time."

Just the hint of a frown. His mouth opens, but closes with an audible pop.

She looks back at him, hearing the mouth close. Her own eyes raw, glistening. "You don't need to regret anything right now. Please, if you have something to say, I want you to say it for him."

He gulps, eyes meeting the woman's. His mouth opens again, and closes before his nods muted. Summer smiles at the boy, hands coming down to the boy's. He's still shaking, so she takes one hand from the revolver, softly tugging.

She leads him from the seat to the dirt bed. She kneels beside him, rubbing circles on his back in support. The two stare at the dirt bed for a moment.

"... I'm-." The boy's voice was so tiny, only barely above a breath. "I'm sorry, Dad." He wheezes a breath out. "I-I don't know what I'm gonna do. I can't do this without you."

A moment passes of heavy breathing, the boy keeping from crying like before. He exhales, continuing. "And m-mom. I don't know what to do." He begins wiping at his eyes with an arm. "But I'll try... I'll try to make you both proud. I-I promise!"

He sniffs as he looks back at the woman. Summer smiles back, patting his back. "You ready? We can stay longer if you'd like?" The boy nods lightly. She smiles wider and nods. "Let's get you to town and a proper bed."

. . .

Two feet land heavy on a branch. Summer steps along the thick wood like a walkway. Hoisted on her back sits Carmine, clinging to the woman. Her hood remains on him, dangling behind its owner as a result. She would giggle if it was appropriate.

She piggybacks him, her weapon hooked to her back as a seat for him. And behind him was a small pack hidden under the white and red hood. She'd scavenged a few items from the outpost, as well as put Heulin' Noon inside. No sense leaving that in there.

She hobbles down the wooden line before leaping to the next. Her grip tightens on the boy's legs, feeling his grip around her neck loosen. "We're almost there. Don't fall asleep yet."

The boy's face is buried in her back. "Nu nigh." The boy's muffled voice concerns her, though his grip tightens.

"Gonna have to translate for me, Buddy! Use your words." She says with a smile. Though, she restrains her volume. Her eyes scan the ground below.

He groans, turning his head just enough to speak clearly. Though, his tone slightly whines. "T-too high."

That gets a genuine giggle. "Oh? I'm sorry! You should have told me." He ducks his head back into her back, embarrassed. "It'll be okay. Just a little further."

Embarrassment was good. Embarrassment meant he was processing what was around him, his surroundings. Still... She glances below, not surprised to find a few red flashes sparking along the ground far below.

She can make out a tusk. "Just a bit more. Trust me. I got you. Just don't look down."

"Ehhhh..." He whines a touch, clinging closer. However... when you say that, it almost begs one to do exactly that. His eye peeks open. He can't make them out, but he does see one thing. Red eyes. His heart rate quickens, limbs clinging for safety and breathing stopping.

"Don't worry about them."

Her voice startles him, shaking his focus from them. Summer turns her head around to meet his eyes over her shoulder. "They're attracted to negative emotions. Fearing them is what makes them scary." Her lips curl up, eyes closing with her smile. "That's why Huntsmen and Huntresses exist."

She continues once he nods. Though she wished she was as confident as her smile. She can make the grimm not so scary, but...

Her eyes trail down as she passes tree after tree. The eyes are all over the place. Not looking the right way to find them, but searching. They truly do track negative emotion. Unfortunately, they aren't the heaviest thing on the boy's mind.

On second thought, that could be a good thing. She takes a second, feigning looking over her options of branches in her path. Instead of actually doing that, she feels out the boy's movements, tenseness. From how he's moving, he's still looking around.

Good. Let the grimm serve as a distraction. A distraction she can help with...She moves through the branches, minutes passing into hours.

Despite the jostling of the jumps, and the odd blur of red in a far off shadow, the boy's eyes weigh heavier each second. It's only so long before each blink lasts several seconds, his head turned to rest his cheek on Summer's shoulder.

His eyes slide closed, a deep breath stuttering out in a whimper. The red blurs in the dark don't stop, even once his vision closes off. Only instead of flashes, it's drops of liquid.

Summer flinches at the whine. She can only let out a resigned sigh.

. . .

"M-Mom? What's going on?"

"Do NOT come out-" A loud shrieking scream.

Frantic breaths. "No... No!"

"You shouldn't watch this." The calm response punctuated with a hard hit.

"I used this hand." The lax voice echoes into a laugh.

"CARMINE!"

"DADDY!" Shots ring, clash of weapons sound. "NO!"

"Remember kid... I used this hand."

. . .

Tiny limbs jolt, kicking and swiping before the boy lurches up. Hyperventilating, Carmine quakes, feeling around with his limbs. Too much contact. He's being grabbed!

He kicks away, gasping. A blanket. It was just a blanket. The fuzzy material drapes off the mattress. Flinching back, Carmine wraps his arms around himself. Glancing around, he's in a sparsely decorated room. A dresser, bedside table, and bed. He peeks over his shoulder, seeing a pillow.

Hands feel around his arms. No restraints... but where is he? What happened? Did... they arrive? Was everything that happened a dream? "D-...Dad?" A stuttered breath comes.

His eyes focus, looking at the room in detail. A lamp on the table. Grabbing the lamp, he tugs the plug hard enough to rip it from the wall. Its fairly small, the light bulb alone making a decent portion of its size.

Hopping from the bed, the boy stumbles towards the door. Gently, the door is tugged open. He walks out onto a hard wood hallway. The walls have some paintings and pictures. A rather plain wooden house. He finds the living room, decorated with a fireplace, a single table, and furniture.

Footsteps catch his attention. A loud wood on wood tap jolts the boy around. From a kitchen area, a scraggly man with a worn dust red shirt, tan pants, and good lord that brown beard is passing his chest. The man pauses as he sees the child with wife scared eyes. "Oh! You're awake."

Carmine takes two rapid steps back, breathing quickly. The lamp in his hands raises, like a makeshift weapon.

"Oh, my lamp! Uh... trust me, rubbing it won't give you wishes." The man takes a step, Carmine eyes drawing to a wooden left peg leg. "Now, just calm down, boy, and your-"

"AAAH!" Carmine screams at the approach, throwing the lamp full strength.

The man narrow dodges the lamp as it shatters off the walls. "Whoa! Let's just settle-" Too late, as Carmine sprints out the door.

From the door, onto a wooden porch. He doesn't stop, resulting in the boy tripping down the wooden steps onto the dirt path in front. He groans and wheezes a breath, getting up with a slight whimper of pain.

The door of the house opens, the man exiting and shouting out. "Are you o-"

Carmine grabs a handful of dirt, chucking it back at the man. The clump of dirt hits and splashes the man's face, making him cough in a puff of dirt around him.

The boy looks around once, seeing grass lawns, dirt paths, and a dirt road cutting through a quaint village. The road leads in and out from two entrances of a wooden fence around the town. A few people glance his way from other houses.

More people. More kidnappers! He yelps and runs out to the dirt road... and into a burst of white and red rose petals. He hits a surface, recoiling back from the hit with a wince.

Two gentle but firm hands land on his shoulders, holding him steady. He opens his eyes wide, seeing Summer knelt before him. She smiles slightly, but keeps him at arms distance. "You're awake." She says softly. "Are you okay?"

A moment passes, Carmine getting his breathing under control. "What-..."

"We're at Oja Terrace. You needed to rest, and Joseph there is the village's mayor."

His head snaps around, finding the bearded man sputtering in a coughing fit after inhaling the dirt cloud. "Ckaa! Kaaha! Ow, dirt in my eyes..." The man glances up with twitching eyes and dirt coating his beard.

Carmine's expression turns to confusion. So, not kidnappers... Just people. His eyes widen as he looks back at Summer in horror. She gives a sympathetic smile, a swear drop coming off nervous. "Yeah..."

. . .

The boy drops a dustpan full of broken glass into a trash bin. Shaking the pan clear, he places it by a broom in the man's living room. Joseph, his name is Joseph. He turns to the two adults sitting in the living room. "I- uh... I'm... sorry."

The man laughs it off. "Oh, no harm to it. I saw the condition this one brought you in this morning." He smiles through the thick facial hair. "Speaking of, I got Kyle up the road to offer some of his son's clothes for ya! They're on the bathroom counter after you've gotten a shower."

The boy brightened completely... having not have a proper bath in three-, no, four days now. He looks back and forth. "Uh..."

Joseph points down the hall. "Two doors after the guest room you slept in."

BOOM! Child is gone down the hall.

Summer chuckles. "Thank you for letting him rest here."

"Boy very obviously needed it. So did you! Couch wasn't too rough I hope."

She shakes her head lightly. "Not at all. I couldn't ask for any more from you."

"Anything for a Huntress. Though, I feel compelled to ask what your next plan is."

She sighs, removing three devices from her pocket. Three Scrolls. "All of them are fried. One of the kidnappers had an electric weapon. Jared must have gotten hit by it at some point since his and his wife's scrolls are both beyond repair."

"Yours too?"

She nervously chuckles, scratching her head. "The weapon went off and released an electric pulse... I was kinda right beside it..." She grimaces. "I need to let his... father know he's okay. I hate to ask, but you wouldn't happen to have a scroll, would you?"

"Mm mm. Personal device like that isn't a good commodity out here. He have a CCT panel at the railway for use, though."

She brightens with a wide smile. "Perfect! Thank you!"

. . .

She frowns with almost a scowl. "Disconnected. Darn you!" She lightly bops her head against the top of the panel.

The CCT panel in front or her was a screen, a keyboard, and a phone beside it. All with the Schnee Logo of approval with it. The screen read 'no connection'.

She moves to the reception desk near the stair way under the towering rail way. The sign 'Rata Railways!' reads. She looks at the worker on duty. "Hello, sir? Your CCT isn't connected. Is there an issue?"

"Connection went out some time yesterday evenin'." He points up, Summer following the point to look at the rail above them. "CCT out here idn't advanced. Needs a physical connection. The line runs along the rails between towns to save construction space."

Summer looks along the rail, seeing a parked train car above. Strange cause she'd swear she saw one when they arrived in the dead of night. "That train car has been here since morning? So, the trains aren't running either?"

"'Fraid not. Won't be running til we get word that it's safe."

She frowns. "How long does that take?"

"Few days to a couple weeks."

Her eyes bug out. "Weeks?! I have children to get back to!"

The man shrugs. "Tsk. That so? You're a terrible mother."

The woman shrieks in frustration. "EXCUSE ME?!"

. . .

A small holographic chess board sits on the coffee table. On one end, letters spell out 'Post Man Jo'. The other side has letters simply reading 'Player'. Joseph sits leaned back, left peg leg up and crossed over his right. He strokes his beard slowly with a smirk. "I see you've played before."

On the other side, Carmine sat, visibly uncomfortable, yet playing the other side of the game, the black pieces. He had gray-blue pants, a white shirt, and a dark blue jacket over it. "Y-yeah... My, uh... My dad taught me once." His gaze trails down, away from the game.

Joseph raises a brow at this. "He sounds like great guy."

"Yeah... he is." The boys voice nearly cracks, but quickly places the next piece. "Ah... um, check?"

Joseph glances over the board. "Hmm, I seem to be in for a spot of bother." He over performs, seeming more bothered than he should be. It pulls the boy's attention up. Confusion is on the boy now. "Hmm.. what to do? It would seem you could best me."

Carmine can't help a slight giggle, but confusion stays. "Um... do you give up, Mr Joseph?"

"Just Jo, please." Joseph mentions, amused. "Do I give?" He makes a dramatic showing of thought. "Hard to say. Hard to leg." He punctuates his odd saying with two knocks on his wooden leg.

The action makes the boy laugh. However, the man quickly slides a Bishop across the board, taking Carmine's Knight then held the man's King in check. Carmine sees this as his face falls. "You're mean."

Jo laughs. "No, I simply don't hold back against anyone who uses a default name." He gestures to the label 'player' by Carmine, making the boy pout.

The door opens, Summer walking in with half lidded eyes. In her arms is a food bag and a drink. She walks over to Carmine, giving him the bag and drink. He blinks at it, looking up at her before gingerly accepting. He raised his brow at the label of the cup of 'Choco Moo'.

She rattles off. "Large hot chocolate and a some breakfast biscuits with sausage. The trader post has some lunch items if you prefer that?"

Carmine just continues blinking at her for a moment, eyes wide before he mumbles out. "T-thank you."

She puts a smile back on for him. "Don't have to thank me. Especially with whats ahead of us..." She trails off.

"Problems?" Jo asks.

"No trains. No CCT. Something disconnected the lines last night, so if we're getting you to Vale..." She glances at Carmine. "Then it looks like we're walking." She blinks in realization, turning to Jo. "Wait, didn't Jared have a police car here? The dirt roads should still lead to Vale."

Jo gulps. "Uh, yes, well. Since we have trains both to Vale and to the farther cities and colonies, the Huntsman one of our traveling caravans take the car with them to the next town AWAY from Vale."

Both Summer and and Carmine drop their heads simultaneously at this. "so, shipping his vehicle back home since there was a ride anyway waiting... too bad. We could still use the train if we were going to Sanctuary, but..."

"Um... why are you taking me to Vale?" Carmine spoke up. His voice was quiet, nervous. "I... I want to go home."

Summer frowned, meeting his gaze. "I know you do, but... it's just not safe for you. I'm taking you to a man in Vale who will look after you." The boy's face falls, gaze trailing down. "I promise, everything will be okay. You can trust me."

"... okay."

"Thank you, Jo. I'll make it up to you sometime!" Summer states merrily to the man. He chuckles, nodding back. She looks back to the boy. "Eat up and we'll head out. We're not taking the dirt roads."

He tilts his head. "We're not?"

She smiles wide. "No-PE!" She pops the p in exclamation. She glances back to Jo. "Thank you, again."

He grunts as he holds up a finger. He rises from his seat and walks into the kitchen. He quickly returns with a package. "Instead of thanking me, how bout you do me a favor! The next town over towards is Hardleg Trading Post. MY trading post. Drop that off to the receptionist, and you'll get a payment. Reduced, since you're bot the usual delivery man."

Summer smiles and nods, taking the package. "You can count on me, and a little helper?" She ends with a question.

Carmine glances up, mouth full of biscuit. His eyes dart back and forth as he chews to swallow. "Uh, yeah."

She beams a smile his way. Keep him processing and responding. At least until they get through the grimm infested forests.

. . .

"I don't think I need to say it, but you should NEVER do this under most circumstances." Summer lectures, leading the way. "BUT, since the tracks aren't being used for a train, we can simply walk them."

The two of them march along the metal tracks. Each side of the track has a guard rail, though Carmine couldn't imagine they amounted to much. They're just so small. "Why? Seems pretty easy-" He flinches back as the woman jabs a dramatic finger in his direction.

"People who walk the track typically get distracted, being caught by an oncoming train from behind them with no reaction! Especially alone!" She states in authority.

Carmine's flinch came out of reaction to the movement. His breathing quickened, but he gets it under control quickly.

She sees her mistake, pausing and rubbing his neck nervously. "Ah, sorry... I'm used to having to be VERY stern with my little dragon of a daughter. Please, don't be alarmed. You're as safe as can be right now." She finishes with a confident showy smile, teeth twinkling.

The boy stares at her with wide eyes before smiling and gazing forward. After he looks away, Summer's confident expression washes off, shoulders slouching as she wipes her forehead of nervous sweat.

A few minutes pass, a mid day sun beating down. However, a great number of trees nearby grow taller than the aerial railway, providing a decent amount of shade during the walk. The march continues with Carmine's gaze trailing over the edge of the rail road. They were quite high from the ground, a sight that made his legs shake. However, Summer's supportive hand snatches him by the shoulder, keeping him along as they way. "Yeah, we're still high, Carmine. Be careful."

The boy steadied himself with a blushing pout, embarrassed."T-thank you." He looks away, making the woman giggle at him. A moment of staring off into the woods later, and Carmine looks back at her. "U-um, Miss-, I mean, Mrs. Summer?"

She kept herself from giggling once more at the kid's expense. She smiled wide, inviting him to speak. "Go on. By the way, My name is Summer Rose, but you can call me Summer, please."

The boy stutters out, looking away. "Okay. Su- Um... Yesterday, in the woods, was... I, well, those red colors in the dark. Were those grimm?"

Her smile dropped slightly. Well, better to have the conversation BEFORE any start trying to claw at him. "Yeah, they were."

"I've... never seen one before. A real one. What are they like when you k-kill them?"

He watches as she gazes up into the sky in thought. "Well, it's complicated. The things you notice can change drastically from one grimm to the next. But, the easiest way would be to pick an animal first."

He stops, the huntress stopping beside him as well. "..." He pulls a bag from his back, opening it. Summer raises a brow as he removes Heulin' Noon from the bag. He turns the revolver, showcasing the wolf emblem on its twin barrels. "A wolf. I pick a wolf."

She smiles as he puts the weapon away in the bag. "Well, that's an easy comparison then. I'm sure you've heard of a beowolf?"

"Yeah. Da-" His word chokes. He looks down for a moment. "He'd always mention them whenever he'd leave the city for patrols." Voice quiets, but she smiles in support.

She nods, snapping and pointing up, as if teaching a class, though mostly to get his attention. "Well, to answer, yes a beowolf shares many traits of a wold. The top half of its head will consist of a bone like mask with tribal marking. These markings would outline grimm eyes, which are always red."

"And the rest is just like a dog?" He tilts his head in thought.

"Not completely. It will have wolf features, but its body will be all black. They also act more like werewolves if you've seen those in horror stories. Thumbs and arms that work like humans, but have claws and fur like a wolf."

The boy audibly gulps, eyes wide. She laughs at this and continues. "Oh, trust me. They can be scary, but keep in mind that they are just the bottom of the barrel and not even that big a deal for a Huntsman or Huntress. Don't fear them, but understand the danger they pose nonetheless."

He nods weakly, eyes going straight ahead. The two march on, every so often commenting on some scenery.

. . .

The two stop, Summer blinking slowly while Carmine gapes at the sight.

The railway just ends, ripped to the side. Jagged, ripped metal ends sharp from the rip. Across a large distance, they see the other side of the railway. Ripped off in the same direction. "So... I guess we know why the signal cut out."

Summer judges the length, about fifty yards, give or take. Carmine could only stare with a gaped mouth. "What did this?"

"I told you beowolves were the bottom of the barrel." Carmine whips his head around, but Summer is walking past him. "Stay right here."

The Huntress walks towards the jagged metal sticking off to the left. She steps up the metal, almost like a sharp dangerous diving board, she thinks to herself. The ripped metal is thinner and thinner, until her added weight begins to dip the free hanging metal down.

At the end of the metal, she looks down. The trees are knocked wider, all flora stamped down below. She can make out a large print in the earth below. "Behemoths... really? This far? They used to only hang around Mountain Glenn."

She sighs before turning around. She marches on the thin metal, back over and reaches Carmine. She smiles, but he's already anxious. "What's wrong? Are we gonna be attacked?"

She shakes her head. "Behemoths. Massive elephant grimm. They're usually mobile and move in packs, and they have a LOT of power. However, they're also more intelligent. They won't instigate a fight with humans intentionally."

"What? But- but-" The boy merely points and waves his hands at the large gap in front of them. The gesture gets the Huntress to laugh.

"They likely didn't even notice the rails at first and high tailed it as soon as what was done was done. Trust me, don't fear them, but know their power. They won't attack us unless we make them mad first."

Carmine eyes her for a moment, then glances around. "O-okay."

"Now, come here." She waves him over with a confident smirk. "I'll get us across easily." The boy hesitates, stepping over to her after a moment. She kneels and places one arm over his shoulders. "Alright! On three... One!"

Petals burst around the two, a second burst appearing from nothing on the other side. From the second burst, Summer lands with Carmine clinging onto her with wife eyes. She smiles down at him. "Two three."

Carmine flinches away from her, stumbling and scowling. "That was mean!"

She giggles. "A parent's greatest trick. I know you weren't really paying attention to it before, but now that things are quiet, didn't want you overthinking it." And he was completely ignoring her, hands patting around his body. The boy patted each pocket on his person. The image kept her smiling. "Was it so bad?"

He pouts, arms crossed, and kicks at the metal ground under him. "Kinda cool."

Her gentle hands pat his head, getting a flinch out of him before he settles. She strolls past with a smirk. "Thank you! You'll likely see it a few times along the way." He follows after her, shifting his hair more straight with an embarrassed blush.

. . .

The two had kept a fair pace for hours on end, the bright sky darkening. Once the orange sky began to give way to purple and black, Summer stops, Carmine watching her, curious. "Alright, we'll camp here for the night." She smiles seeing the boy start glancing at the tracks under their feet skeptically. "Not ON the tracks, silly. That's just, like, completely uncomfortable and bad for your back. We're sleeping under it."

"But- I- what about the grimm?"

"We're not gonna be on the ground either." She slings her own bag down to the ground, opening it. She pulls out a tarp and two long strings of rope. A thought occurs to her, head tilting before she faces him. "I'm sorry, I should say first, this is going to be a tight fit." Quickly stepping to the edge, she's tapping her chin in thought. A few side steps before she slides off the side.

Carmine gasps, seeing her duck out so quickly. "Summer?!"

"I'm fine. Just- Gah!- give me a minute!" She calls from over the edge, a light chirp in her voice despite grunts of effort. Carmine stands in the darkening area, wringing the strap on his own bag nervously. His eyes dart to the side. Satisfied nothing is there, he unconsciously shuffles towards the edge of the track. A sudden flip back up, and Summer is back beside him, getting a yelp from the kid. She chuckles, embarrassed. "Sorry. All done!"

He tilts his gaze. "With what?"

"Probably easier to show you this way." She kneels beside him, opening her arms for him. An edge in the boy's eyes glares at her. Her eyes dart away, laughing off her own embarrassment. "Alright, this time, I'll wait til you're ready." His eyes narrow on the woman before he sighs, stepping up to hug her. She laughs at the embarrassment on his face. "Alright. We good?"

"Yeah..."

"Alright, tally ho!" She heaves him up in her arms, stepping off the edge. The boy latches on for dear life. The dark of night has crept in, the rails and trees all darkened shapes blurring in his vision. That is, until the burst of petals sounds around him.

The instant landing caught him off guard for a number of reasons. It had given, the surface swaying slightly. He was also laying flat against the woman, who landed on her back. The instant shift of how gravity felt was a touch disorienting.

As they sway, he notices that they are laying inside the gray tarp Summer had removed from her bag. One end of the tarp was tied by one rope to a couple metal beams. Said beams lined the underside of the rail tracks. The other end of the tarp held onto the beams a short distance away from the first tie. OH! The tarp was a hammock. He looked at the woman, raising a brow.

"Yeah, by ourselves, we can't exactly switch watch for the night. I need my sleep, same as you." She shifts her weight back and forth, swaying the hammock. "This way, we're not exposed above, we're hidden from eyes below, and we both get our sleep! Best idea my husband, Tai, ever had!" She thinks back, imagining one fun camping trips with her children, swaying and hanging from high tree tops for the sun rise.

Still swaying, Carmine shifts uncomfortable. "Are you sure it's safe?"

Her beaming smile seemed to calm him. "Trust me. If anything happens, I'm RIGHT here for ya." Of course, that calm seemed to disappear after her words process fully. She has a feeling of why, but... "What's wrong, Carmine?"

"..."

She grimaces, shuffling back and separating from the boy. They lay side by side in the hammock as her eyes lock on him. "I know a lot is still running through your head. If you keep it in there, your head'll burst." A slight smirk comes on. "No one can just bottle things up, so now's a good time to talk."

However, the boy sighs. His emotions seem to have been run dry for a while now. In his mind, the words of that orange haired teen ring...

"Now, I know you're trying to make me like you. You asked the smart question first."

"You didn't waste time asking 'why'. At this point, the why doesn't matter. You want to know what's going to happen, so you can prepare. That'll take you far in this crapsack called Remnant."

The boy sighs, eyes closing for a moment. "What's going to happen to me?"

Summer's eyes soften, a picture of empathy. Her emotions were clear as day. Nothing was held back. "You know about him, right? The man I'm bringing you to in Vale?" Carmine looks away, body rigid. Maybe he realizes or not, but the boy's answering shrug and nod pop his neck, showing the tension that built in him. "Professor Ozpin is one of the wisest and kindest men I've ever met. Though, don't get me wrong, he's strange." She stifles a chuckle with a smirk, though she quickly shifts gears. This needed to be serious.

She continues. "I'm not personally sure what he will do, but I know for a fact that he will give you the best outcome possible. He cares." The last word gets a reaction, two blue orbs staring at her, darker than normal. His mouth opened, but snapped shut immediately. She could only make out just a look... hollow? Like that was the wrong answer. He was closed off.

He exhales loudly before turning away from her. The lack of response was telling, and she was not one bit happy about it. She silently sighs, laying back. "If you have any problems, please wake me up. Goodnight, Carmine."

A whole minute passes in silence, save for the brush of some wind and rustling of far off leaves muffled. Although, the boy does mutter under his breath, sleep starting to take him. "Night, Miss Summer."

. . .

"Remember kid... I used this hand." The boy felt the stone cold hand pat his cheek. He flinched away, the contact hurt.

His hand went to his cheek, but it felt fine? No. It was wet. The boy's hand pulled from his face... now tinted red. The boy looked up, seeing his own face. Carmine's own face, with a crimson print in the shape of a hand adorning the side of his face. His eyes were impossibly wide, breath choppy.

His shock stilled him even as a darkened drop trickles down from the mark, and drips off his chin.

. . .

Carmine's eyes fly wide, a loud gasp for air. He jolts around, hands feeling around him and pushing for space. The boy curls in, wiping furiously at his cheek, shaking his cheek into the scratches. It was wet. It was still wet! The thought of the red liquid kept him swiping until a strong hand latches onto his wrist, prying it away from his face.

He shook wildly, shaking his hand and whimpering loudly. The voice behind him was startled, but grew firm. "No no. Stop. Stop! Carmine! You're okay! It's okay!" The woman twisted the boy around, wrapping her off hand around him and grappling him close. Violent shaking aside, there was nothing the boy could do to break the hold. It takes great control not to grip too tight. "Sh- It's okay, Carmine. You're okay." She repeats in a hushed tone.

Slowly the child tires himself out, settling into the woman's grip. Erratic breathing is the only sound besides the repeated calm words from Summer. The boy goes limp in his grip, settling fully. "M-Miss Summer?"

She sighs in relief, releasing a small huff of a laugh. "Yep!" Popping the 'p'. "I'm here." She releases his arms, pulling away and angling his face up. "Let me check you. Are you okay?" The boy flinches, eyes wide, as she brushes his cheek. His breath hastens, and she notices it's red with scratches. "Some scratches, but those just happened. You're physically fine."

What? The boy looks at her like she'd grown a second head, hands shaking while feeling around him. He felt... not wet. What's that 'm' word that sounded disgusting whenever his parents used it. Moist?

His hand lightly brushes his face, pulling away. Nothing. With a furrowed brow, the kid wondered until he felt a chill. Cold sweat. He didn't have blood on him. He was just in a cold sweat from his dream. He realization made him dip his head down, suddenly frustrated yet out of energy. "Hmm..."

"Are you okay?" She asks softly.

"Mhm."

A moment later, and Summer glances out of the hanging tarp. Still mostly dark, but the sky was visibly dark blue. Sunrise was coming.

The woman sighs. "Well, sunrise will be soon. I guess we might as well get a move on." She glances at him, seeing him scooting from her with his arms crossed. "If you think you're up to it. We move at your pace."

"S-sorry... I'm ready." Carmine mutters, barely audible.

A moment later, and Summer leaps up and over the rail way in a burst of petals. She lands, Carmine in her arms. "Alright, you stay right here, and I'll get the tarp and rope." Her hand lightly pats onto his shoulder, a gentle squeeze. She releases before diving back over the edge, the boy standing alone atop the rails.

He glances around, nothing sticking out. Granted, it was still fairly dark. After wasting so much energy on his nightmare, the sudden loss of some sleep started to hit him. Wiping at his eyes, he suppresses a yawn.

A rustle catches his attention, turning towards the darkness. In the shadows of the branches, a form moves. Yet, it disappears. The boy backed up, eyes locked on the area, but nothing came to light.

Rustling sounds in the branches off to the right. He turns towards the sound, barely catching something. A trick of the light? He could swear he saw a flash of red in the shadows... "M-Miss Summer?" He calls out, voice with a slight shake.

The response comes, just not from who he wishes. A large form leaps from the shadows, hitting the metal rails in a harsh landing. The boy yelps out, falling onto his back.

Carmine looks up, eyes wide with fear. It's red eyes, white mask, huge teeth, black fur... A canine like being- Oh jeez.

The large beast snarls as it lunges at the downed child. "AH!" He screams out, eyes clamping shut, arms up in a feeble defense.

A metal through flesh slash sounds, Summer slashing through from behind the monster. She slides forward, in front of Carmine. Twirling, she slashes twice more. The Beowolf in front of her falls apart, cut in half at the hip, left arm lopped off the side, and head off its body.

Summer back steps by Carmine, spinning and removing her white cloak. She swiftly sweeps it over Carmine. "Stay right here!"

As she spins back around, three more Beowolves land on the rails. They charge full speed at the woman. Twirling around, she slashes the first in half in the blink of an eye. Stepping around the slaughtered Grimm, her weapon shifts to gun mode. Three quick shots through the next Grimm's shoulder, knee, and skull.

The last lunges, but misses as Summer flips back. Her weapon shifts back to naginata mode. The beast charges, but the woman thrusts forward in a one armed riposte, stabbing the monster in the center neck. Grabbing the weapon firmly, she pushes forward.

The beast wrenches off balance, pushed to the edge of the rails. She twists the blade, ripping out the beast's jugular. It falls back, off the rails and to the forest floor.

She slide steps back, standing by the covered boy. A quick scanning look around the area. Nothing. No presence around them anymore. Just a small number of four Beowolves. She sighs in content, weapon folding down and holstering on the small of her back.

"It's all clear. Everything's okay, Carmine." The white cowl is gently pulled off, revealing the boy looking around with wide terrified eyes. He quickly zeroes in on the already decomposing creatures before him.

Blinking a few times, he gets to his feet, staring on. "Wow..." His eyes slowly shift up to the woman. The woman snickering into a smile at the brightest look she'd seen from him so far.

"I know, right?" She gives a toothy grin, putting her cloak back on. Checking around them, it's already brighter. "Morning's in full swing now, I guess. You ready to go?" Carmine simply stared at her, only a tiny glance towards the dead Grimm. He nods enthusiastically.

. . .

Ah, from dawn til dusk it seems. The map showed Summer the walk would take about two full days, though they were late leaving to begin with. They'd like get to the next town tomorrow. Although, as the day drug on, she noticed a great deal more clouds than the previous nights.

The day rapidly darkened far earlier than she would have liked. "A storm is coming in." Summer glances down at Carmine. "Let's try to cover as much ground as possible in the next hour before we turn in."

Carmine kept up along with her, looking around and rubbing his stomach. They'd brought along rations for the trip, so food wasn't an issue. Just another blessed assist from old Jo. Although, the two would run low if they had to stop traveling. Depending on the type of storm that was coming, they couldn't afford to wait it out if it came.

Summer stops, glancing at Carmine. She crouches and bobs her head. "I'll piggyback you and try to book it."

"Okay!"

The quick responses through the day were heartening for Summer. He'd been taking too much time to respond most of the time, but since waking up and the Grimm disaster in the morning, he'd been a great deal more open to her. He'd ask questions about any wildlife they could see from the tracks.

He hops onto her back, the Huntress standing up with a small smirk. "Alright, we're going full speed run. So, hope you're ready for some excitement."

Without warning, the woman broke into a sprint. Carmine releases a loud gasp, sucking in a deep breath. Summer smirks while speeding around a railway turn to a straight away. Instantly, she bursts in a storm of rose petals, appearing a great distance down the rails.

Carmine watched with wide eyes, seeing trees blur around them. The Huntress was FAR faster than a person had reason to be. The wind whipped at his face. Pooft! His vision filled with white/red petals before his view changing, further down the rails.

The rails begin to rise, a mountain coming into view. He'd seen a few through some of the breaks in the branches. They had figured they were traveling through many mountains, but the tree cover of the railways made it difficult to know what was around them at a distance.

The railway followed around the side of the mountain to a cliff face, a long exposed section of rail moving from one cliff face to another mountain on the other side. Rather than trail around the next mountain, the rails moved into the mountain, a train tunnel.

At this point, the sprint had gone for minutes on end. The area was darker and darker, sun starting to get blocked out by the dark clouds. A faint sound of thunder rumbles in the air, muffling after Summer sprints through the tunnel.

Inside the mountain, the ceiling is lined with lights, though the complete lack of surroundings gives a claustrophobic feel. The dark tunnel with lights goes for a while, tilting downward with a few turns. The dark run lasted for minutes, the sounds of the outdoors completely gone. The only sounds were that of footsteps, petals exploding out with warps, and now fairly harsh breathing.

Another rumble of thunder sounds now, still muffled. However, after another minute of running, the two hear the harsh slosh of rain fall. They finally come to the end of the tunnel, and the outdoors is no less dark than the tunnel itself.

Summer halts, breathing heavily, mere inches from the dripping water from the tunnel entrance ceiling. She lowers a shell shocked Carmine, who wobbles upon standing on his own feet. The two watch the dropping watch, the only light being the inner lights of the tunnel. Carmine lightly shivers, the air cooling from the rain.

"Well... guess that's as far as we're going." Summer lowers to a sitting position, Carmine sitting next to her a moment later. "Actually a pretty good thing for this tunnel."

Carmine frowns, tilting his head at her. "But can't Grimm get on the track?"

She smiles, looking up to the top of the entrance. A small box hangs from the entrance, a few sensors around it and a blinking green light. She points. "Still has power. A lot of tunnels have sensors for aura. When a train comes through, it shuts the sensor down. When a person walks through, the sensor detects their aura and nothing happens. But if a Grimm passes through, without aura, the sensors will trigger an alarm."

Carmine simply stared at it. "Um, so... it senses?"

Summer chuckles. "Grimm don't have aura like we do, so short story is: we can sleep here tonight and be safe." A brush of wind whips outside the tunnel, several droplets blowing in. The gust funneled inside, Carmine and Summer shivering back. Her smile fell slightly. "Let's go a bit back before hitting it."

A short walk inside did wonders. The air was no longer wet like the outside, but the wind still breezed through. Thankfully, sleeping here frees the tarp for use. The Huntress sets the tarp up as padding, a makeshift sleeping bag, large enough for the two.

"Here, you can use this too." She offers, holding out her cloak.

The boy shrinks back, looking at her, uncertain. Her kind smile remains until a ghost of a smirk appears on his face. She puts the cloak over where he wraps himself up in the tarp, acting as a second blanket.

Summer backs to her own sleeping space within the tarp. "Goodnight, Carmine. I'm right here if you need anything."

The boy settles into his spot, turning away at the last second. Facing away, he mutters. "Thank you. Goodnight Miss Summer."

Despite the gestures exchanged, Summer lies awake for a while after, simply watching over the boy. She focuses on him, a troubled brow. She listened intently, hearing the rhythm of his breathing. Minutes passed, her eyes drooping.

However, just a moment later, a rustle of the sheets. Eyes open once more, watching the child. Very quiet, but noticeable. His breathing disturbs, shaking. Not asleep for half an hour, and he seems to be trapped in a nightmare.

Summer frowns, scooting a few inches into arms reach. This child is essentially a stranger, but she wonders if she can help somehow. Her thoughts shift to two other young faces in her life.

Her hand reaches out, gently resting into the boy's hair. She could feel a shudder, followed by slight rumbles with breathing. Her fingers gently touch the scalp, lightly scratching at his head.

She lays there a moment, continuing the action, soothing the kid with the gentle tingling contact. Summer lays with half lidded eyes and a sullen frown, but continues the action until the boy settles completely.

With that job done, sleep time was needed. Hopefully, the boy would sleep a little more soundly.

. . .

Oh, how wrong she was. Her eyes had snapped open, seeing the boy once again thrash about in his sleep. Just as the day before, She'd been forced to reach around him and hold him in place. Granted, he managed to recognize her well before calming down.

The two were still while he got his breathing under control. Once over, he simply said, "I'm s-sorry." and moved on. She let it pass, quickly gathering their things.

The two once again find themselves at the tunnel exit. Lightning sparks in the sky, light pouring in a flash, before the loud crack of the storm roared. Carmine flinched at the crack of the storm, unconsciously shuffling towards the woman beside him.

Barely, noticing, Summer stood in thought. She'd only brought enough food for a three two day journey. Sure, they'd survive if they took the day for cover, but then they'd go hungry in that time. Scratch that, HE'd go hungry, and she couldn't allow that.

Besides, time was a factor. She needed to get him to Ozpin, and likewise get HER butt back home. Gosh, Tai must be having a fit, and her eldest definitely takes after her father. Oh, poor little red must be a mess, too. Safe or no, they must be concerned.

She looks between them, wondering about their few supplies. "Okay, so... we're gonna be walking in the rain."

Carmine looked uneasy at that. "Um... M-mom always yelled at me about rain giving people the cold." His stutter at mentioning his mother was accompanied by a voice crack.

The crack made her frown, though she quickly covered it. At least he's talking about them. "Well, don't worry about that." She picks up her folded cloak. He sits still as she puts the cloak on him, even pulling the hood over his head. "Alright, I need you to pull up the sides until it isn't dragging on the ground."

Doing as instructed, he holds it up so she can pin the end of the cloak up until his small feet poke from the bottom fully. She grins. "There we go. You're good!"

Her flashed smile and admittedly twinkling teeth only gets a few blinks from the cloaked little boy, only eyes visible under the hood. The woman suddenly stops and squeals excited. "You look like a Yawa from those Star Battle movies! So cute!"

The visible eyes narrow, a light, non threatening growl sounding. "hmm..." She giggles when she sees that, even obscured, his cheeks blush. Boy is embarrassed. However, he huffs and stares at the rain. "But, what about you?" He looks up, inquisitive for a child.

And Summer froze. Huh, guess that would make sense. Crap, he's expecting an answer. He's putting faith in her! Can't disappoint! She's a Huntress for god's sake!

She scoffs, waving her hand with a forced smile. "Oh, come on. I'm an accomplished Huntress! My aura is trained to keep me in peak condition, no matter the environment!"

Carmine blinks at her twice more before smiling and nodding. Just as he looks away, the woman breathes in relief. Alright... time to walk in rain for approximately six hours. Yaaaaaaaaaaaay.

. . .

Frick. Frick. Frick. Frick. The thoughts repeated in the shivering Huntress's head.

The wet pats and smacks of shoe soles on metal were accompanied by a torrent of rain. However, it was made twice as bad with the rain collecting on the overhanging branches, down the leaves, as heavier droplets larger than normal.

Combine that with annoying winds, and you get one wet and disgruntled Summer. Her mind trails to a move combination with her old team that accidentally launched her into the water. Instead of the Dancing Birds, the movement was renamed Wet Rose. Gosh, she could kill Tai for that name... Where was she?

"Oh right!" she answers out loud.

She and Carmine step into a spot under heavy branch coverage. Enough of the dripping water trailed around them and not ON them, so it allowed a short breather. After whipping her soaked hair around, she looks back down at the boy. Despite the cloak, his legs were soaked. Even a water resistant cloak couldn't help that.

Still, it only took a few more minutes before they could see it. Lights! A station! YES! "Come on, there it is!" She encourages Carmine, urging him along as they jog the rest of the way.

The two come to a stop, an overhanging sheet roof over the docking area of the railway. She gets Carmine up onto the platform, then climbs up herself. They quickly find stairs, bringing them down to their destination.

They reach the bottom of the stairs, exiting under an arch with the sign of Rata Railways. This is significantly smaller than Oja Terrace... One multi doored building, two homes, and a single large trader building. The building is labeled with 'Hard Leg Trading Post! Can you make it without us? Hard to say. Hard to Leg!"

"That's so dumb." Carmine states with some heavy breaths.

"Oh, I think it's welcoming!" Summer states as they walk into the post. A quick glance at a clock shows 4 pm. Damn, behind schedule. "Hello? Is anyone here?"

Quickly, a scrawny younger man comes out from behind a register, seeing the two enter the store. Jo wasn't kidding. The place had a lot to offer. Summer quickly opens up Carmine's sack, removing the package Jo had given them. She pats the boy's head, whispering to him. "Be good and still."

She walks off and begins speaking with the receptionist, delivering the package and asking questions. Carmine shrugs and looks around them. The selection was no different than the grocery story in Sanctuary. Yet, why did everything have weird names?

Seriously. A pair of chopsticks are labeled 'death sticks'. Who wants to buy some death sticks? It's ridiculous. Then a chicken mix flavored with Asiago. However, the label for the product is 'Kung Pow Kitten'.

He can vaguely remember his father, Jared, wrenching a man by the ear for saying something similar to that... But even worse was that so many of them were puns... and not even good ones. He stops upon seeing even a movie shelf. A fricken movie shelf!

The boy scans through the titles, stopping at a few. 'Flora and Faunus'? A documentary about different Faunus traits. He vaguely remembers his mother, Senaya, stealing the television from Jared and watching it. Focused far too much on carnivorous types of Faunus subspecies, and heavily favored fringe adaptations that made Faunus more unrelateable for people.

He almost reaches for It until Summer's voice bursts out. "What do you mean the trains are out here? How?!"

The scrawny man, looking more closely to be a Faunus bases on the hamster whiskers and facial features, sputters. "Well, all the trains were recalled to the emergency station! It's just a day's travel from here by the main road, a day and a half if you walk the rail way like you did!"

"But- but- but- why couldn't you call them and send a train for us? It's something really important for Hunter business!"

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, but not only would the station tell us 'no' if we could, the storm knocked out our CCT communications last night."

Summer's eyes bulged out, twitching in frustration. "Then how long til THAT get's fixed?"

The man shrugs. "Average response times are about four days-"

"WHAT?! HOW?!" She glares down for a moment. Don't shoot the messenger. Don't shoot the messenger! She looks at the person's name tag. "Just- ugh! Kale, is it? Explain please."

He sighs. "Blame Atlessian Frontier response times. Since the trains are down, they're holding off communication repairs until travel repairs can be finished." The woman sulks, shoulders drooping. "Um, there's a room available in the motel house."

"Yeah..." Her head drops. "Yeah... just- Do you happen to have a contact number for the Frontier repairmen?"

"Ma'am?"

"I want to yell at them when I can finally call someone."

"Oh, well..." He looks away, pulling out a pamphlet. "Here ya go." They sit there a moment, the scrawny man looking away and fishing into his pocket. Summer raises a brow as he places a packet of salt on the pamphlet. "You can throw this at them too."

She just stares at it. "... I'm sorry?"

"C-cause you're salty."

"..." A short brain fry before the woman busts out into a laugh, leaning over the counter, one hand on her ribs. "Tha-" She chokes a laugh. "That's so terrible!" She wipes a tear from her eye. "Okay, we'll take a room, and I'll be back to get food."

A mere minute later, Summer and Carmine march out of the trader shop, rushing to the multi door building. They burst into the small room. Only a single room with a double bed then a bathroom. Getting in, Summer shivers, still dripping wet.

Carmine, meanwhile, takes the woman's cloak off himself. Free of the white and red fabric, he sits on the bed, looking to the woman.

Summer stands up, sighing. "alright, go get yourself a shower while I prepare dinner." She's already sifting through her remaining money, muttering to herself about their inventory.

"No." He states plainly. Summer whips around to look at him, drops of water flying around from the movement.

"Carmine, this isn't up for debate. We'll have to sit here overnight and continue tomorrow. A shower will do you wonders."

"You're more wet!" The boy states back, getting some heat in his voice. The Huntress tilts back from that, though her shoulder shake and shiver.

She laughs it off. "I'm fine! Remember? Super powers and aura training! You're more important."

The boy stares at her arms, then glares at her. "Mom said not to take what can help others more than you. I can wait!"

Summer gives a dry chuckle, tilting her head absent minded. "Yes, well, that's not the case here. It's my job to take care of you, so that takes priority."

The boy frowns and glares. "And dad says it's everyone's job to be nice!"

The two hold a staring contest, the woman lightly shivering, yet amused by the boy. She breaks, giggling into a short fit. "Alright!" Her hands raise in surrender. "You win, you win. Will you be okay?"

Carmine glances around him, the room mostly barren. He shrugs. "I'll be bored..."

That gets a chuckle from the woman. She leans in and scratches gently at his hair, much like the night before. Carmine flinches, but settles easily. "Look at you! So responsible! I'll try to rush it." Carmine's eyes bug out despite his pouted closed lips, looking away and crossing his arms. The woman lets out an open laugh, disappearing into the bathroom.

And oh is that shower refreshing. Half an hour later, and the woman is sitting in fresh shirt and pants. The boy had just gone into the shower for himself. Summer spent her time hanging up clothes to dry. Grabbing her cloak and putting it on, she's satisfied that it's red interior side is still mostly dry. "Ah, cloaks are cool!"

Hearing the shower shut off, she waits just another minute for the boy to exit the bathroom. "Feeling better?" The boy simply shrugs. "Good. I want you to lock this door while I get some grub, alright?"

"Um..." He shrugs, dressed in the same clothes as before. "Could... I come and pick out something to do?"

Summer faces him, thinking a moment. She feels her pockets for a second... Well, it'll make getting home a bit of a pain, but she supposes she could ask Ozpin to set up a ride. She smiles. "Sure, but on a budget, okay?"

. . .

The two re-entered the room. Despite the frustrations of this mission at this point, she did her best to smile. Although, even Carmine could tell that it was at least partially forced. Maybe he was overthinking, but he couldn't help falling into the mental spiral...

He let people know about his semblance. He wad the target of criminals. He was the reason for both his parents-

He quickly shuffles to the bathroom without a word, hiding his eyes from sight. Inside, the boy quickly wipes his eyes into his sleeve. Sniffling and blowing his nose, he shudders with a breath... only it hurt more. He hated how his eyes stung. Hated the tightness in his chest. Hated being through the woods. Hated that man he's never even met!

"Carmine, are you okay?" Summer's voice calls from outside the door. The mental image of the grown woman shivering came to mind.

He hates being a burden. He hates hurting people. Hates that him being here is hurting someone. Hates sleeping. Hates seeing that smirk in his dreams.

"Carmine! Please answer! Are you okay!"

The voice cut through, the boy gasping deep and loud. He takes a second, getting himself together. Getting some tissue on the counter and wiping away.

Just a moment later, the door opens, showing a wide eyed and confused Summer. Carmine looks up at her, face tight, but composed. She'd almost say he was normal if not the harsh red around his blue eyes. "I-I'm sorry."

Summer frowns down, but nods. Can't force. Forcing anything out will close him off more. She shifts the energy with a smile. "Don't be, ya goof. We got two TV dinners to demolish." She jabs a thumb back to the main room. Carmine raises a brow, a ghost of a smile.

He likes Summer.

. . .

The two sit cross legged, across from each other on the bed. She smiles at the cheap gravy covered meat and side potato meal. "Alright... Now that we have some hours to burn, let's learn just a bit about each other."

Carmine raises a brow, eyes still red ridged. "What do you mean?"

Summer waves her arms out, one holding her plastic fork. "Introduce ourselves! Get to know one another. Just, tell whatever we want about us." She gestures back and forth with the fork, rather flippant.

He swallows. "How? What do I say?"

Summer taps the fork on her lips in thought. "Things you like. Things you hate." Her eyes brighten as she waves the fork in a twirl. "Dreams for the future... that sort of thing." She takes a big bite, chewing and swallowing when she sees him hesitate. "Here, I'll start!"

She coughs and straights, as if formal, which looks ridiculous when she's sitting cross legged. "Hi there! My name is Summer Rose. I'm just shy of 27 years old. I'm a Huntress of Beacon Academy and former leader of Beacon's prestigious team STRQ!" She grins wide, leaning ever slightly. "I like gardening, scavenger hunts, puzzles, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate-"

As she lists off different chocolates, Carmine inches back, eyes trailing to the two drinks om the stand. That's why they're both chocolate milk...

oh, god. She's still going. "-olate ice cream, chocolate cookies, quintuple chocolate chip, chocolate cheese whiz which is REALLY hard to come by-" She stops, noticing the wide as saucer eyes of the little boy. She nervously sweats as she scratches her head. "but... more than what I like, I love even more things." She gets more composure at that.

"I love my two daughters, Ruby and Yang. I love my husband. I love my brother and sister, flighty birds as they are. They just never got along with each other. I love the people around me, and I love helping whoever I can." She made a point to smile brightly at the boy. "And I love being a Huntress, and mother."

She pauses, sighing with a far off look. Still with a smile. "I followed my dreams, and I made them come true. To become someone who supports others. Though it's silly, I still dream to bring anyone and everyone together. To make a happy ending."

Carmine's mind shifted dark. Thoughts of the three Faunus that took him. "... even... those who don't deserve it? You want a happy ending for them, too?"

She understood fully who he meant. Hell, she killed a man fighting for this kid, but she'd long ago made peace with those situations occurring. She nods. "Everyone. If someone you hate is happy, don't let that make you unhappy. Peace will never happen that way."

His gaze narrows, looking down from her. Confusion etched into his face.

"Is there something you'd like to say about that? You're free to speak your mind." She offers softly.

He shakes his head immediately, staring away, and pushing his mostly finished meal away. "My name is Carmine Uhlric. Um, I'm 6 and a half years old..." He halts as he finally meets her gaze. She smiles, though wincing inside at the slight hostility in his own eyes.

"I... I... was adopted." His gaze falls, hands gripping into his knees. "My parents are gone, and the only person who knows anything about me is some guy who didn't want me." He couldn't see Summer's distinct frown, continuing. "I hate this. I hate being here. I hate everything and want my mom and dad back!" His voice was shouting by this point, breathing speeding up. "It's all my fault."

Summer sighs, scooting over to the boy and gently placing one hand each on Carmine's balled wrists. "It's a funny thing about fault." She pulls gently, but no go. She lightly squeezes the hands on the fists. "Fault can cause so much damage when it's misplaced."

He glares up at her, tears threatening to fall. She smiles sadly and continues. "When fault is misplaced on others, it can lead to mistakes that hurt those around you. But it can be dealt with, by opening up your eyes and looking at the real picture."

She shakes her head. "But fault misplaced on yourself if a whole other beast. It's less reality, and more interpretation at that point. The person has already taken on unnecessary pain, all on themselves, and feel justified in their own misery." Slowly, she pulls his fists off his knees, gently prying the fingers out and holding the boy's hands. "Please don't fall in that trap. It's hard to come out of it."

Maybe it was the way she said it. Maybe her words were picked perfectly, though she highly doubted it. The tension in his body gives, the boy leaning forward and allowing her to hold him. "... I'm sorry."

He doesn't expect the light flick to the side of his head. The woman snickers. "Don't apologize for something so silly. You're perfectly fine."

He rests a moment, settling his nerves, but the next words just come out. "I don't want to go to him."

"Carmine... I know why you might feel that way, but... he IS your father. Give him a chance to make things right with you." She smiles down at him. "I promise he cares."

"I-I'm scared..."

She frowns for a second, looking up in thought. Man, was she really going to- oh, like it's a question at this point. "Tell you what." She gives a small smirk. "Give Ozpin a chance. Just a chance. And, if after a while you still don't like it... how would you feel about coming to the island of Patch?"

THAT gets his attention, snapping his gaze up to her. For the first time, she sees just that teenie tiny spark. Hope. He just blinks at her, and for each blink, she can tell he's opened up fully for her. "I... I don't want to be a prob-"

"EH! She nasally states like a game show buzzer, smiling wide. "No unnecessary shaming. Answer Yay or Nay!"

He just stares at her, still frowning. "If... if it's okay."

She smirks. "But on one condition." He raises a brow at her. "You gotta finish introducing yourself. Can't make such an offer to some stranger." She one hand cups her mouth, whispering conspiratorially. "You could be a thief for all I know."

He giggles at that. "Um, I like superheroes... I like chicken ramen, any kind of meat actually. I love video games, and gym is my favorite class. I love animals." He brightens. "And my dream is to become a Huntsman... like my dad." He looks down, but this time shyly. "Like you too."

The woman squeals like a school girl. "Oh, you're just precious!"

He laughs. "although..." He glances at the cups of chocolate milk. "I don't really like chocolate."

Frozen. The woman's smile turned to a firm line as she blinks twice. "Ha, what?"

"Vanilla is so much better, especially Atlas Vanilla cake and ice cream." He answers with an honest smile.

She simply blinks at him, processing. Slowly, her hands come up and ruffle his hair with a giddy laugh. "Oh, those are gonna be fightin' words with Ruby, young man."

The two burst in laughter, quickly grabbing the rest of their food and settling for the entertainment Carmine picked out. A movie, Jurassic Reserve. His favorite movie of all time, and an exciting one for Summer as well.

. . .

The nightmares came yet again, but it just... settled. Carmine awoke the next morning with admittedly much more sleep. While he remembered some of it, he just... didn't recall it as much. His heart rate was high, beating against his chest.

But... it was fuzzy, like something kept pushing it away whenever it started. He calm himself, getting up for the day. He still moved slow, but somehow he felt... not good but better than before.

. . .

Some food, trail rations, and two hours later, and Carmine stood with Summer at the edge of the outpost. The ground was soaked. The sky was gray, though the rain had long stopped. With the shift in weather came heavy dense fog misting over the area.

The highway just outside the outpost wasn't really dirt, thankfully, but gravel. At least that made walking easier without stepping through mud holes every two feet. The red haired boy raises a brow at the woman. "Why are we walking the road now?"

Summer sighs, walking up beside him with a map. She looks over her shoulder, upward towards the sky. The fog wasn't THAT high from the ground, so she could see the high point of the nearest mountain. "Well, according to Kale, the rail way loops around the mountains in such a way that it's much longer than walking the road. It does so to avoid a canyon area where Grimm like to visit."

At Carmine's widened eyes, she chuckles. "Don't worry. Not only did they recently hire Hunters to clear the place out, one of the members who did so happens to be considered my brother." She starts walking small steps until the boy matches her pace. "It's mostly a precaution for when Grimm first start returning to the area."

"Okay..." Carmine says, looking around just to be extra safe, despite having JUST walked out of the trading post area. "So, what's Vale like?"

At the question, Summer lit up. "Oh, it's WONDERFUL! Ever seen the movies of inner cities? It's quite literally that, but the architecture is gorgeous! But even all that pales in comparison to Beacon Academy itself." She spoke rapidly, excitement taking her over. "Did YOU know that Beacon's spires were made by-" As the woman babbled on incessantly towards an enraptured child.

. . .

Hours passed, the two walking on the road. Summer rationalized that they could hitch hike, but given that the rail way wasn't functioning, it's likely traditional traffic was shut down. One would assume the fog would lift, but no, and both woman and child were quite tired of the wall of white around them.

"I spy with my little eye..." Carmine pouted with the walk.

Summer chuckles, teasing. "Oh, no. If you get smart with me, I'll have to embarrass you." She glances around, seeing some of the fog clear up. Not much, but she can make out more of the mossy trees and rocky hillsides on either side of the now concrete road.

Which should have been good news. So, why did she feel a touch of a chill. Her eyes scan the area, finding nothing new asides from a road sign. 'Emergency Station: 18 Miles.' Sure, she could sprint that in minutes, but she'd been letting the boy set the pace.

A quick glance at Carmine, and she could see him wary. "You alright?"

He flinched at the question, found out. "Feels... weird. I'm cold, but felt fine a second ago."

"Good. Keeps you on your toes." She smirks at him, eyes scanning about. "A good sense of when something might happen." As if on cue, she stops the boy with her hand, eyes dead forward. The road had begun to steepen, going downhill. "Stay close and watch your step."

Finally, the fog seemed to float by, at least temporarily. A gap in the fog clouds let them see a good distance away, into a canyon. The road dips into the canyon, shifting to concrete from gravel. Much of the inner canyon was filled with the misty clouds as well, though she could make out the canyon splitting out in several directions about a mile out.

"I see." She mutters. Drawing the map back out, she kneels down to Carmine, showing him. "Map says its a straight shot for the road, so..." She points forward, towards one of the splits in the canyon, one directly straight from them. "That's our exit from the canyon."

Looking at the other splits in the canyon, she nods. "And roving bands of grimm wander through from multiple other directions, which makes this a decent place to mob together to form grimm packs. Stay close."

The two begin walking downward, getting back into the fog. The valley within the canyon is fairly well grown, with only a few rocky faces in view. Granted, it wasn't quite tropical, but still considerable. However, both of the two stop upon noticing the pavement. A wide black skid mark scraped along the concrete before ending.

Summer's brow furrows. With all the rain and surely other travel, these marks would have disappeared with time. Heck, general road crews should check this far out from Vale after the Hunters check back in.

That meant they were recent, no more than a week old. Or with that storm... maybe only a day or so ago. Summer crouches and runs her hand over the marks. "Wide wheels... Not quite transport truck sized, but easily larger than normal." She mutters to herself.

Looking off the road, a sign shows. 'Speed Up To 70 MPH for Grimm Hazard!'

"Hmm..."

The two continued on, an eerie silence, save for themselves. Just footsteps. Step. Step. Step. Then a halt. Summer's hand grabs the boy by the shoulder, steadying him.

It took a moment for him to see. A gasp shudders in as he sees the shape in the fog. A box like shape... a wheel in the air. An overturned vehicle! More skid marks trail and stutter along the ground moving towards it, along with slice like cuts into the ground. "They wrecked in the rain? We have to he-"

Summer holds him in place, eyes darting about. "No. Skid marks result from burning rubber on pavement. Cars slide in rain. This happened BEFORE the storm."

With a quick reach, she draws Ivor Hallow, extending into its gun mode. She steps in front of the boy, taking slow paces. Carmine sticks by her until reaching the back of the vehicle. A large truck, definitely civilian, on its side.

Summer places Carmine by the twin back doors. She nimbly hops onto the vehicle 'top'. Walking onto the doors, she notices all the glass windows shattered. The door latch was wet, but slightly scraped. Using her foot, she pulls that latch and kicks the door open, aiming inside with her rifle.

She wishes she didn't. A soaked decrepit body sits in the seat. The gut was gashed out and open... Grimm. But, why would they not eat him? The other seat is stained with blood, including the hood and windshield of the car. Unless-

She hops off the car, pulling Carmine away. "Stay back!" She whisper yells. Quickly pulling the back door down and open, she sees some travel wares. Basic necessities, clothes. Nothing spectacular. No defense.

"Grimm?" Carmine asks, a shake in his voice.

"Definitely. But why would they not..." She trails off, eyes checking around them. "We gotta keep moving."

The two begin walking quickly past the vehicle. Carmine looks with wide eyes. "But, I thought you said-"

"I made an error, just move." Summer grumbles. Why would Grimm spare a person? Those wounds weren't kill shots. That person bled to death, trapped inside. Grimm don't stop half way.

Her eyes widen, realization hitting her. "It was a trap."

"What?!" The frightful shout is accompanied by snarls... from all sides. Carmine looks around as dark shapes run in from all sides. Just as he makes out red glows in each mass, Summer's cloak drops over his head.

"Down!" He hears her voice shout. Carmine holds his arms up in defense, covered by the cloak.

Four shots, two thuds with wet slaps on the concrete. A loud snarl, cut to a whine with the sound of a blade cutting. Three more slashes as another wet impact sounds before a hard crack.

"HYA!" A fleshy hit and slash. A mechanical locking sound next. A barrage of bullet fire, cutting off with the sound of small whooshes in the air. Her semblance? Did she-

"Over here!" From a short distance, gun shots quieter, but whipping air as shots go near and into their fleshy and bony targets.

From one gunshot far away, the next is super loud, accompanied by another strange flap noise. From right beside her, she yells. "Carmine, I'm moving you!"

Two arms wrap him through the cloak as he feels the transport through her semblance. He lands on concrete again. The arms release before more shots sound. A click of ammo running out sounds.

One throaty snarl sounds as Summer's footsteps move away. "Ha!" Three snips and a slash, the snarl turning to a whine before a final thud.

The boy's vision shifts from the red of the cloak as Summer pulls it off. The woman is dirty, but appears uninjured. Breathing heavily, she snickers. "Hey there! You okay?"

Carmine blinks at her, mouth dropping just open, then he looks past her. . . at two dozen black bodies. More, even. Several more Beowolves, along with bear like monsters too, Ursa? Although, his breath hitches at a large white snake with its head split like a banana!

His mouth hangs open, eyes wide at the carnage of black, red, and white all over. "Wh-wh-wh-wha?"

Looking just a touch smug, Summer holds her weapon on her shoulders. "Beowolves, a Beringel, some Boarbatusks, Ursai, and a King Taijitu. Twenty eight in total." She flaps her cloak, some red and black coming off it, before putting it back on. Her smile drops. "But we need to move."

She starts walking, Carmine standing in shock just a moment before taking off after her. "You killed them all?"

She sighs, shaking her head. "No, there's at least one more out there." She frowns holding her hand out for the boy. He grabs on as she quickens her pace. "That truck was a trap. They left someone there, hoping to use them to draw in more prey that would try to help."

Carmine's eyes widened, looking around. "They're that smart?"

"No, and that's the problem." Summer states, eyes looking over the area. "Grimm shouldn't be here yet. Natural mobs turning into packs takes weeks to months in a place like this. This is far too soon for this many Grimm to be anywhere near here."

The two continued in a jog, eyes peeled in all directions. "What is it then?" His voice cracks, fear cracking in. Summer stops, holding the boy back. Her eyes narrow, glaring into the mist in front of them. "Summer?"

In front of them was a shape... not much larger than a human. Judging the distance, about thirteen feet tall. Built and huma-...noid. "Oh damn it." She mutters. Just as she feared... a unique type.

Carmine steps behind her, seeing the shape. "What is that?"

"Ancient Grimm." Summer states plainly, eyes glaring with a slight glow of her silver eyes. "Intelligent for living so much, immensely dangerous, and can either travel alone or manipulate Grimm hordes." She brandishes her weapon. "Absolutely stay behind me."

The silhouette of the being lit with line-like wisps around it for a flash. He steps forward, an object dragging on the ground beside it.

Stepping forth, it was definitely human shaped. Rippling muscle with its large rib cage sticking just outside the skin like armor. White bones coat the shoulders like shoulder pads. Short stub spikes stick from it's spinal vertebra. Its Grimm mask has violet cracks and four horns. Its left arm is stubby, only reaching the end of its ribs, while it's other arm reaches the knees.

The hand also merges into a bone like club, like a cross between a spine and sword. The edge of the weapon rattles as sparks of electricity zap into the ground.

Carmine's eyes remain wide. "Um... you can take that, can't you?"

Summer tilts her head, confusion setting in. Her thoughts speak aloud. "I thought they only appeared in Vacuo..."

"Summer?!" The voice began to panic.

"Hmm? Oh, of course I can take it." Summer states, both embarrassed and nervous. "I've just... never seen one of these in person."

A low hollow breath slowly echoes out from the monster, steam blowing out it's bone mask. The spine sword rattles as electric sparks fire out. The electricity sparks out and streams through the mist around it in a light display.

Both Summer and Carmine simply stare at it with saucer eyes. They share a look, then back to it. They begin walking backwards away from it. "Bright side, I hear these things send all Grimm that it travels with ahead to soften the enemy, so it's likely alone now."

"But what IS it?"

She swallows, centering herself. "I think it's a Ne-"

The beast surges forward, cracking the concrete with each step. The distance closes, cutting off the Huntress's sentence. Summer twists, off hand pushing on Carmine's chest, shoving the child off to the side.

The Grimm's torso spins, its sword arm swing around with the spin. Summer gets a guard up just as the bone weapon hits, sparks flying. The woman is launched back, hitting and scraping along the pavement through into the thick fog.

With Summer, she hits the concrete and rolls to her feet, skidding to a halt. "Nnngh..." She groans, glaring up. "A Nelo... I see how it is." Sliding to a defensive stance, her eyes now more white than silver.

Before her, the wall of fog completely covers the Grimm until a wisp of lightning highlights it in the fog. The lightning wisps into the air, the electricity lighting the fog above her.

She ducks back just as the bone weapon bashes the ground. A pulse of electricity surges along the ground, Summer back flipping as it passes below her. Shifting her weapon, she fires three shots. The Nelo raises its weapon, blocking each dust shell. It stomps forward, roaring.

A mighty swing down, Summer dodges right, to the beast's left. Running around its gimped side, Summer sprints in a circle around the creature. It turns left, attempting to swing after her with its right handed weapon.

Too fast, she slashes at its heel, bringing the creature to its knees. A squeal of pain before its torso twists right, swinging the weapon right where Summer runs to.

The silver eyed woman gasps, a burst of petals blowing out around her and the weapon. The bone weapon swipes through the petals, tip angled down and digging into the concrete to a stop. Summer now stands ON the weapon's end.

In two strides, she runs the length if the weapon and arm, spearing her blade into the Grimm's neck. It shrieks, a cry like a banshee, as electricity sparks up its back spikes, into the head, and into Summer. The Huntress is jolted off at speed, landing on the ground.

It gets to its feet, swinging down at her, but she rolls to her feet in a dodge. She kicks back, switching to gun mode. She opens fire.

The first spray of shots hit, one bullet breaking off a chunk of the exposed rib cage. The Nelo growls, its short, stub arm suddenly extending out. Just off the road, the end of a tree trunk peaks through the fog.

The extending arm reaches 40 feet, gripping the trunk and pulling an entire log in. The short arm withdraws into the beast, the log becoming its forearm. It uses the wooden appendage to block the next spray if shots.

Summer raises a brow. "Didn't read about them doing THAT." Suddenly, it charges, the log up to block. It closes the distance, Summer's eyes wide. "Crap." She dodges the first swing of the bone, then leaps over the log swinging as well.

. . .

Carmine stood frozen, breathing heavily. His vision limited by the fog, all he could see were flashes of blue electricity in the mist, sometimes highlighting a silhouette of the minster. He heard the gunshots, felt the ground shake with impacts.

This was a Huntress in a proper battle with Grimm.

He violently shakes his head, kneeling down and pulling his pack out. Opening it, he searches through the belongings. "Come on! Something, plea-" He halts.

Slowly, he reaches in and pulls back. With both of his small hands, he holds up Heulin Noon. The revolver reflects the little light in the fog, but the boy focused on the sigil. A red crest of a howling wolf.

"Names have meaning."

The voice of Jared sounds in his mind. The echoed thoughts of a few times he'd seen this gun in action.

"Our name derives from an old clan of hunters. Not Huntsman, mind you, but warriors who fought for the family. Our 'pack'. The name Uhrlic means simply... 'Power of the red wolf'."

The boy frowns at the piece, gaze locked on the sigil. A shake around the ground rocks his balance, knocking him to his knee.

"Now, we might be limited, fully integrated in modern society, but this? This weapon, and one day a weapon of your own creation, will represent that power. To protect. To hunt. That's the power behind this crest."

Carmine breathes in, steadily, before exhaling. Looking back in the bag, he sighs. Right... "Who needs dust? Not this guy."

His eyes dart over to Summer's one bag, on the ground near him. A quick rush to the bag. The boy's hands scour through the contents. "Yes!" He finds them! Dust shells! He stops. A quick look back and forth from the weapon to the bag. The weapon that might as well be the size of most of his arm to the bag containing the shells.

He quickly starts fiddling with the gun, jiggling the parts frantically. "Um... Ah!" The latch for the cylinder opens, the empty cylinder exposed. He immediately sets about trying to fit dust shells into the cylinder.

. . .

Summer ducks the bone sword, sliding under the Grimm's guard. She spears the weapon between the ribs. The Nelo jolts back in a shriek. It slams the log down as she dodges back.

She advances, quick jabs and slices at the Nelo's weapon arm. It parries a slash, returning a swing at her. The electric rattling bones sizzle through the air as Summer ducks the swing by inches.

She kicks forward, slashing through the beast's leg and dropping it to a knee. The torso twists around to face the Huntress. Bringing the log up, it runs the electric bone sword up it The sparks begin ripping through the log chaotically.

The gimp arm holding the log extends out, pushing the log at the woman like a missile. Summer leaps left, watching the log fire by. However...

Just as the log passes, electric sparks fly from all sides, bursting the log into sawdust. The sparks then ignite the sawdust and wood chips. Her eyes widen as the bursting cloud of wood turns to flame.

She disappears into petals as the explosions hits. On the other side of the Nelo, petals bursting into view along with a burst of flame. The flames push out with Summer, partially porting with her. She lands, stumbling to a kneeling position. Her aura flashes around her, low and breaking...

She attempts to stand, but her leg fails her, burns up to the thigh from the lower calf. She glares at the beast, both kneeling and staring. "I got this..."

She snaps her weapon to gun mode, opening fire. The shots hit the chest, right shoulder, and right weapon arm, disabling the limb entirely. However, the gun clicks... out of ammo."crap, the rest is in my bag..." She sighed with a smile. "Alright, rain check, big guy. I'll be ba-"

BOOM!

A double shot of fire dust bullets burst against the Nelo's back, lurching the hulking monster forward. A yelp sounds behind him. It shifts around, glancing back to find Carmine landing on his butt. His arms drop, the tip of his father's gun hitting the ground.

"Carmine, get back!" Summer jolts up with her yell, but winces in pain and drops back down.

Seeing the woman drop down in pain, Carmine's eyes wide. His teeth grit, aiming the gun back up at the beast. He fires a two burst, the first recoil jolting his second's aim. No control of his aim while sitting.

The first shot explodes on the Nelo's leg, the next hitting the concrete to its left harmlessly. Carmine takes aim again, firing once again. Hits the ground by its injured leg, getting a low groan from the beast. The second shot misses entirely again.

He pulls again, the click of the empty cylinder sounds as he pulls over and over. His eyes lose that small fight, widening in confusion and fright.

The Nelo forces itself around. Summer shouts out behind it. "Carmine, get away!"

Too late. The beast's short stub hand extends out. Clawed fingers point forward as the hand fires towards the boy. Carmine shudders a breath, backing on the ground with fear filled eyes. He cringes back, arms up in defense.

The sound of a whoosh, followed by a meaty smack... Carmine opens his eyes, confusion then horror as flower petals float around him.

Summer sits, knelt in front of the boy, facing the Nelo. The Grimm's claws sit, dug into her gut, her torso reddening. "Ngh!" She winces loudly as she stands. One hand grips the creatures extended arm.

Carmine shudders a breath. "S-Summer?"

The Huntress glares at the groaning monster ahead of her. Her eyes shine, a blinding white light bursting forth. The fog reflects the light, a shine burns Carmine's vision as he covers his eyes.

In a flash, the black body of the Grimm is overtaken. A white hue washes over and dissipates, the Nelo completely dissolving into the air around it. One second, there. Another second, gone as white specks in the wind.

Carmine opens his eyes, seeing the monster gone. His sore eyes open fully as he smiles. "Ha! Summer, you did-" He stops, eyes locking onto the woman, face tensing.

The woman leans forward, one hand steadying her naginata to hold herself up. Her injured leg shakes, her other hand covering her red gut. She grunts in pain, looking around and meeting Carmine's eyes. Despite the look, she gives a weak smile. "H-hey buddy. You okay?"

The boy sputters, getting to his feet. "Summer! Are you okay?!"

She chuckles weakly. "What? I'm fine.- ngh!" She grimaces. "But... we should get moving." She quickly turns, using the weapon as a walking stick.

"You're bleeding! You need to rest!"

She coughs into her shoulder, pulling away with a speck of blood on her mouth. "Yeah... yeah, but we won't get help out here. We need to move." She groans, taking a step. Then another. "Carmine, get the bags please."

Carmine watches her confused and scared. He gulps before nodding, running off to gather their things. The woman watches him go before her gaze drops. "Bad move... can't use the eyes too much. Bad move."

A minute of her hobbling along before Carmine catches up, two bags on his back. The two begin their trek, but he can't help but keep sending glances her way. Especially when she coughs, as more blood shows...

. . .

An hour passed. Slow walking, with the fog FINALLY lifting. The two march along, moving up hill. The entire time, one thought permeated in the boy's head.

That this is his fault.

It didn't make sense. Why wasn't she healing at all? His mom always said that a Huntsman or Huntress would heal so long as they have aura! Why isn't she healing?

Another coughing fit. Carmine's eyes began to trail down, worry etched in each feature. However, that's when he spots a red drop hitting the pavement. He sucks in a breath... "I-I'm sorry. This is my fault."

Summer groans in pain, looking back at the boy as she keeps walking. "What?" Her voice much weaker than just ten minutes ago. "D-Don't be crazy. What you did was brave." She tries to give a smile, but the dry red off the corner of her mouth takes all his focus.

"But I-"

"Carmine." Her tone held no room for argument. His mouth clicked shut as she gave him a stern stare. "You tried to help. It's-ngh!" Her eye twitches shut in pain. "It's okay. I should be able to make it to the station, and then I can get treated." She smiled, but another fresh line of red came over the dried specks.

Should... should... should... should...

"I can heal it!" The boy nearly shouted, almost frantic.

Summer pauses, confusion appearing on her, though its only competition for emotion on her is pain at the moment. She weakly chokes out. "What?"

"Don't use your semblance." Jared's voice echoes in his mind.

"I can fix you with my semblance!"

Summer let out a dry chuckle. "Carmine, you don't know what you're-"

"I can!" As if to prove it, his eyes clamp shut. Reaching into his bag, he withdraws Heulin Noon. As he gets to work, Summer sighs.

"Carmine, we can't waste time- Hey- ck!" She goes into a coughing fit. Carmine, stopping to glance at her with worried eyes, gulps. He pulls out the metal latch, pressing his hand into it hard. He winces in pain, but isn't concerned with being delicate. He runs his hand along the metal edge, pulling away hard.

He looks at his hand, seeing a cut on the center palm. His eyes clench shut, a green outline around him as his semblance activates. Summer's fit ends, her eyes widening as the boy's image seems to flicker. His hand sparks with a green aura, shaking violently, before he gasps for air.

He gathers himself and holds his hand up, devoid of any cut. "I fixed my dad before! I can help you!" Summer stares at the hand, confusion etched into her. Her head tilts, though her eyes have started going glossy. Carmine's panic begins to get to him. "It's what got me taken!"

Summer's brow scrunches, looking at the kid. "Just... like that?"

"Yes!" Carmine presses.

"You need experience with your semblance to learn."

A shake of the head to center himself. He has this power. He can help someone! He isn't useless! The two meet their gazes, one confused and weary, the other desperate and determined. Summer's eyes close, deep in thought.

"... Okay." Like that, the worry and fear on the boy's face melted away. They took a minute, moving off the road towards a batch of trees. Summer leans back against the trunk of a tree, lowering down to a sitting position.

She winces out in pain upon sitting down. Her eyes open, hollow. The boy's already setting stuff aside. "I swear, this will work." He beams a smile at her. Pure, and she can see it. A boy who just wants to help. One who feels like a burden.

"Carmine?" The boy gives her full attention. She smiles down at him. "You're a kind person. I hope you never change."

He blushes, chuckling and nodding. "Alright! I'm doing it." He kneels down next to her, taking a deep breath. Wincing as his small hands land on her stomach. One more breath. Just like with his dad. He concentrates, his power washing over the woman, a green flare of aura.

The green light shines into a flash as the boy yells excited. "Rewind!"

. . .

"A power not understood can only bring harm." The memory of Jared's voice sounds...

Three minutes later...

The dark shading within the trees. The eerie calm of the forest disturbed by a loud, hyperventilated breathing. Another green flash. "AH!" The boy screams, voice cracking and breaking.

"I CAN FIX THIS! I CAN FIX THIS! AH!" Another green flash lights the forest.

"WHY?! SUMMER! GIVE HER BACK!" Another flash.

"PLEASE!" The wheezing breathing never stops... for minutes of shouts and cries...

… So what does one get when a semblance that ages others is used on someone with a FATAL wound? … Oh.

Who knows if I did this idea any justice. Feel free to leave a review!

To be continued in Chapter Seven: Boy Blue. Man on the Moon.