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Chapter 48: The Wraith
A few more days of academic drudgery, given bitter flavour by the ongoing restrictions imposed upon all students of Breaktide had passed and now the mid-week slump of Thursday, where light was not yet visible at the end of the tunnel had arrived. With a much needed lunch period concluded and the penultimate lesson of the day ending at that moment swathes of the campus's many corridors, stairwells and bridges between its' many towers, specifically those closest to the lecture halls and areas where more practical classed were taught were beginning to fill with teeming masses of adolescent life as students set out for the final class of the day to present an obstacle to relaxation.
Which was precisely how Team MARZ came to be entering another of Breaktide Academies' towers through a bridge several stories above the ground.
"What the hell kind of design is this though?" Astra grumbled with a wide-armed gesture at their surroundings as though they were contemplating them for the first time "Seriously, do the bridges need to be rickety?...This campus is less than ten years old!"
"It's supposed to be like Beacon Academy, based on an old Vale castle" Regalia countered without hesitation as the four teens meandered deeper into the campus at a comfortable pace with not fear of tardiness, the answer coming from the knowledge she had absorbed from the myriad display cases and exhibitions throughout the academy and being followed by a shrug as she added "Besides, it's not like they're any harder to get across than the bridges on the Aiktishaf"
"Yeah but they could have put the classes all in one place though" Astra griped, being capable of at least enough diplomacy to not give an immediate response to the comparison with the ancient, ramshackle and largely indescribable mass of trailing and roving metal that was the repurposed dune crawler belonging to Clan Aiktishaf.
"That's Atlas design….And common sense" Athena-Jade noted from her place behind her team-leader and beside Zirconia who listened with notably more interest now that the Bear Faunus was the one speaking "Hunters are valuable, don't put all your student Hunters into once place that can be easily taken out with a well placed cannon….Besides, walking and climbing stairs won't kill you"
Whatever bitingly sarcastic and likely somewhat juvenile response Astra was preparing to deliver found itself forestalled by a familiar voice calling out to Team MARZ from behind.
"Hey!" the four of them turned to see Team WULF approaching from behind, having evidently lingered a little longer in the previous lecture with the exclamation being delivered by Diabla in her usual gruff and barking voice, the distinct biting tone those who spent several years within the Atlas military being blended with the equally unique broadness produced by the Mantle Freeholds and the most industrial quarters of Atlas. Despite this loud and clear attempt to get the attention of Team MARZ Diabla seemed to falter under their gazes in an uncommon display of uncertainty and awkwardness the moment she received it, a scowl those who knew her were all too familiar with being paired with a sudden desire to look anywhere but at Athena-Jade who was now staring at her former would-be nemesis questioningly until Ursinia, towering form gently shouldering her way to the front of the group came to the brawlers' aid.
"Don't mind her none, just thought we'd walk to class together is all" the Scorpion Faunus's country drawl set briefly tensed nerves and muscles at ease and a moment later Teams MARZ and WULF were slowly moving in the direction of their final lesson once again.
Only for Wolfram to gently place a hand on Astra's shoulder, revealing to the Deer Faunus in a spark of understanding that this had been their boyfriends' intention all along.
"Wolfie you could have just text me in class to say hang back for a minute" Wolfram took a moment to consider that idea and Astra couldn't help but smile as they saw they exact moment he mentally kicked himself for the unnecessary theatrics.
"Yeah that would've worked too" he shrugged before leaning against the wall and studying the retreating backs of their friends "How've you been….I've been worried about you, it felt like we were on bad terms?"
"I've been….Better" Astra managed after a brief pause to consider their options "I spoke with my parents and with Fluffy and….I don't know if things are back to how they were, or if they can be but my family don't hate me for being an ass-hole; that's gotta count for something right?"
"Yeah, definitely" Wolfram smiled warmly and found himself relax a small amount at the news.
"Hopefully you'll be able to come over and visit over the summer, meet my parents in person" Astra's own hopeful tone wavered as they studied Wolfram with sea-green eyes and added "That's y'know….If we're still on good terms?"
"I've been worried about you" Wolfram sighed, not liking the twisting of his own words against him but deciding that it was now time to commit to his course of action "You've changed….You're changing and I'm trying to be honest without ruining things, I'm worried about what you're turning into"
"I was trying to be more….to be better" Astra's words were slow, plucked from the very depths of their self-doubts and insecurities and delivered with a hushed uncertainty that prompted Wolfram to peel himself away from the wall and gently cup their cheeks, forcing their eyes to meet his steel grey.
"You were always amazing….You're Astra Mars who used themselves as a living wrecking ball to take out the Cankerlotl during initiation" Wolfram smiled fondly "Why would you wanna be anyone else?"
"You should talk about feelings more often, you're getting good at it" Astra murmured as they leaned close and accepted a hug which Wolfram pulled them into.
"So now what?" the taller teen asked apprehensively "I don't really know what I'm doing here babe?"
"Me neither" Astra admitted weakly "But I know I don't want to ruin everything, I don't wanna lose people….But I still need to be better, I don't know if I can be happy with myself until I am. Maybe there's a better way to do things than how I have been….I hope so, I just don't have answers right now"
"Okay" Wolfram sighed, forcing his tone to be neutral as he was forced to confront the simple yet overwhelming fact that Astra was likely never going be dissuaded from their path or the reckless, self-destructive steps they were taking without anything short of an ultimatum of the kind which Wolfram neither had the heart to deliver or the stomach to hear the Deer Faunus's response to. Pulling away from them, sensing something was amiss but tackling it with the bullishness that Wolfram recognised from his own early days as a leader Astra simply nodded in the direction of their departed team-mates.
"Come on, we've gotta go"
"Yeah….yeah we have" Wolfram muttered.
Swarf Russet, Racoon Faunus and senior member of Clan Aiktishaf, serving as a helms-woman for the roving homestead and sitting upon its' Council of leaders, was a chiselled slab of powerful muscle which age whom injury and weathering had only refined and given an appearance that could be described as striking or distinguished. Standing at an even six feet tall even with her back bowed somewhat by age and the same old wounds which left her words with a faintly pained and wheezing edge and boasting incredibly powerful and defined muscles which rippled beneath her golden brown skin with each movement, pulling taut a collection of scars including one which ran from above her right, pale grey eye to the left corner of her mouth and a mass of scar tissue where her left arm had been amputated at the shoulder. Swarf's clothing was simple and practical, a collection of colours which blended with both the barren wastes her people traversed and her own practical bun of greyed hair and the grey-brown fur of her racoon tail, though this attire was ornamented with everything from hand made and symbolic jewellery to trinkets marketed to tourists of settlements she was particularly fond of and other more random and esoteric things to boot, all completed by a bandolier slung across her torso filled with knives and tools at its' front and a quiver filled with javelins at its' back.
As impressive as her appearance was naturally the weathered nomad was even more so from her current, mounted position from whence she exuded a palpable air of purpose and of being someone on a mission.
The Outriders of the Aiktishaf, a collection of brazen and courageous warriors and younger members of Clan Aiktishaf looking to purge the last of their adolescent adrenaline and foolhardiness led by a veteran scout and negotiator of equal standing to Swarf herself amongst their people, all of whom favoured custom built jetbikes much like the one used by Swarf's beloved but absent daughter had returned from their latest foray ahead of the crawlers' path with strange news.
Each of them, despite the fact that they had been split into small scouting parties ranging out over several miles had returned wearing harrowed and shamefaced expressions owing to the fact that each of them had heard the sound of a lost child calling out for help and none of them, despite the decades of experience which some of their number could boast had managed to locate the source of the noise.
Only when each of them heard the same story from their comrades did it become apparent that something strange was afoot.
A meeting of the Council of elders and Overseers of the Clan had been called and Swarf, feeling at once an immense kinship with her daughter and understanding Regalia's pull to the life of a Hunter and at the same time in the mind of her much younger self when had been counted amongst her peoples' scouts and vanguard, had grown tired of the back and forth of debate. They were explorers and wanderers were they not? And something was strange to be sure, yet the current situation could not be allowed to stand; if there was a lost child wandering the wastes for any reason the matter would have to be resolved, there were rival clans, bandits and all manner of other rogues prowling the open expanse of Menagerie's untapped lands yet only the foulest among them would do otherwise and Clan Aiktishaf did not count itself among that detestable few. There were practical matters to consider, namely the clans' own needs which were slowly reaching a point which would necessitate venturing towards another settlement to trade and the additional cost any actions would require along with the matter only spoken of in hushed tones, that of the strange, hauntingly intelligent Grimm which scouts of many of the clans had encountered; their numbers thinned by each encounter.
Eventually Swarf, from her lofty position of influence and freedom to act without recourse had simply declared that she would investigate the matter herself.
Now, with the blazing sun far passed its' zenith and steadily sinking back toward the horizon the scarred Faunus continued to roam out in a wide and arcing path which bisected many of the routes taken by the pathfinders before her. She had travelled alone, her logic being that a single rider might coax out whatever truth a party of scouts had sent into hiding though far away in the distance behind her, where even her own keen eyes could identify little more than a large and indistinct mass the Aiktishaf waited, the crews manning its' largest artillery pieces cycling up their guns to intervene if trickery was sensed.
Unlike the outriders Swarf did not ride a jetbike, instead her mount was one of the many old automatons used by the clan for various purposes; robots from even before the Great War and the birth of the Kingdom of Atlas which had been rebuilt so many times that little of their original forms remained; with this particular contraption being a bipedal and sloped forward thing whose powerful, piston driven limbs and sensor array fitted to a prehensile limb gave it the appearance of a large and long-necked flightless bird. The machine was often used as a beast of burden to haul goods or recovered scrap and other findings, a sled full of children or the elderly or even recover bikes when it was not running in front of the Aiktishaf with a small zoo of other, equally odd machines yet at that moment it provided an adequate steed for Swarf as she was capable of controlling it without the use of her remaining hand.
Letting out a command in ancient tongue few on Remnant still spoke and dropping a largely ornamental reign from her grasp Swarf Russet brought the robotic steed to a halt and peered intently through the dust and haze as faint gust disturbed it, rustling what sparse thorn-bushes and scrubby weeds persevered and grew in such a place and carrying with a faint, yet clearly distinguishable sound.
A child calling for help.
"Mum? Dad? Anybody!….Where are you?" Regalia's eyes were alert, wasting no time on trivialities such as widening in shock, instead she flung herself to the ground with a single, thudding and graceless motion before taking several steps away from her mount so that she could strain her ears as much as her other senses without the sound of whirring internal systems overshadowing anything of importance, she scented the air with deep, focused breaths yet found nothing to indicate where the voice, which seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere in the same instance had originated.
And the Swarf saw the absurdity of the situation and realised that she had been taken for a fool, or more dangerously for prey before the voice sounded out again.
"Mum? Dad? Anybody!….Where are you?" the precise same delivery of each word confirmed in Swarf's mind that she had wandered blindly into a trap, even more so when she heard the faint growling and unsettling wet squelching note beneath each syllable, as though the sounds were being forced out of something never intended to make them.
"A thousand curses on it all!" Swarf spat, hand flying to her bandolier in an effort to draw a signal flair that would see her position heavily shelled and allow her a hasty retreat whilst at the same time sending Outriders rushing forth to meet her and regroup for a counter charge, should whatever stalked her be brave enough to follow. The flare went unused however as Swarf was halted by movement around her. Whatever the thing was it was large, larger than herself by any measure and impossibly fast; its' movements rendering it little more than a blur of obsidian motion accompanied by a whoosh of howling and shrieking air that filled her senses and a faint, oddly feline chittering at variance with every such animal Swarf could think of. More important than all of this however were the dust clouds it left its' wake, the dark blur vanished and reappeared a dozen or more times in a matter of scant seconds and in doing so it managed to completely obscure everything beyond immediate reach from Swarf's view with an immense wall of dust and grit.
Which in turn hid her from the view of her people.
"You must think me a novice, come show yourself and see how wrong you are!" Swarf's faint wheeze was replaced by a low and smoky tone filled with fury and determination as she reached over back to draw one of her javelins and twirl it like a staff; answer came an instant later in the form of another rush of shrieking air accompanied by the scream of tortured metal and explosion of sparks as something emerged from the dust cloud and struck the robotic steed she had abandoned with meteoric force with a blow that came from behind to tear the entire back and neck of the machine apart and decapitate it with cruel precision.
Turning around Swarf Russet saw her quarry perched upon the wreckage of her mount which it dwarfed, eyeing her with cold intelligence as it cocked its' head.
"Mum? Dad? Anybody!" hearing those words again Swarf decided that she was going to do everything in her power to make the beast suffer for such an abominable act, though how much power she had over a monster such as this remained to be seen.
Once classes had ended for the day the campus gym had, as expected begun to fill with young adults seeking to push their superhuman abilities to the limits or simply distract themselves from work, personal matters and boredom. Amongst their number were Athena-Jade Slate who had asked her partner to join her so that Zirconia could serve as her spotter, something which was largely unnecessary as the antics of the Bear Faunus gathered a larger crowd than even the usual high profile affair that her training became all of whom cheered Athena on whilst her Aura rippled faintly around her under the sheer strain of trying to dead-lift the weight of a reasonably sized car.
Whilst Zirconia's presence might not be strictly required Athena still wanted her partners' attention and had, for some time been rewarded with mismatched eyes staring in unashamed distraction at bulging biceps and the deep flush that reached down pale skin to colour Athena's chest.
Ultimately however the Grasshopper Faunus had found her attention drawn to her scroll before the immense display strength could be completed.
"Hey, pay attention when your spotting! Put the scroll down, this isn't thumb day!" the barking jeer came from an older student whose appearance Zirconia studied and took to mean that they were a final year student, though she did not know them personally and she turned her attention away from them towards her partner and shot Athena-Jade, whose opinion was of far more importance an apologetic glance.
"Sorry, I got a message from home" her voice was a quiet rasp as always yet her lips tugged into a faint smile as she gestured to the device in her hand where the message from Chairman Damascus Nero to which she was yet to reply could still be seen.
'I should hopefully have some key assets for my ongoing plans and developments moving through Port Alistair in the next few days if all goes according to plan' the message read 'The person delivering them is someone you know, it's unlikely though not impossible that you'll see one another….The matter may require Hunters, likely those trusted by Councilwoman Adel so I apologise if I inadvertently hinder your education'.
To anyone who knew of Nero's various investments it would seem that work to repair Hammerfall Observation Outpost was making progress.
"No problem, I got this" Athena grunted out through clenched teeth before letting out a primal roar of pure exertion and unrestrained force as she redoubled her efforts and, to the cheers of her peers managed to haul comfortably over a ton off of the ground and support it before finally dropping the weights with a booming thud as she doubled over, hands on her knees and sucked in several lungfuls of air in ragged gasps until Zirconia frantically passed her partner her water bottle.
"Great, now move out of the way and let someone else use the weights!" the same taunting older voice from before demanded with good natured laughter "You did great but some of us have only got a couple months of having this place for free left!"
"Ugh, you suck" Athena managed to pant out heavily before Zirconia, with an odd sense of protectiveness at her partner being so openly complemented by the unknown older student draped one of the Bear Faunus's massive and muscle-bound arms over her shoulders and led Athena towards a bench where she could sit down and more easily catch her breath, enjoying the feeling of that muscular arm reflexively coiling into something approximating a hug for only a brief moment until the two of them caught sight of Diabla Fuego in her own workout clothes, gym bag slung over one shoulder as she strode toward them with a look of single minded purpose about her.
"Hey rich- Hey Slate!" that she corrected herself, stopping short of barking out her usual sneering and derisive nickname for Athena seemed odd, yet it was not enough for the snowy haired girl to keep from letting out a disgruntled huff.
"Oh what the heck is it now?" she whispered, loud enough for Zirconia alone to hear and grin faintly at before answering more loudly "What is it? Don't ask me to spar, the answer's no-"
"I wanted to talk" Diabla interjected with a firmness that quickly evaporated from her demeanour as the scowling and abrasive brashness she had made her custom failed her and was replaced by the same strange hesitance that had overcome her during her aborted attempt at conversation earlier that afternoon.
"Okay" Athena said the word slowly and uncertainly, having truthfully no idea at all what Diabla could want from her at that moment and finding what little oxygen remained in her body directed to areas other than her brain, rendering her incapable of any complex reasoning as her mind was filled with a dull buzz. Beside her Zirconia shifted in silent warning, the reserved and roguish girls' demeanour being at least somewhat understandable in this instance.
"Look….I was in a rough place when I first came here, you know that but it doesn't excuse the way I treated you. I took my problems out of you when I didn't know you, I'm still having counselling sessions and I'm trying to work on my problems but explanations aren't the same thing as an apology" Diabla spoke the words in a way that suggested they had been rehearsed several times, as though she did not trust herself to deviate from the script she had drilled into herself
"I kept telling myself I'd apologise later, some other time when it would matter more….words aren't worth much on their own right, you've gotta act? But let's be realistic, we're stuck on campus until the end of the year and it's not like our last missions are going to be together so I'm probably not gonna get a chance to make a scene out of this….I just wanted to say I'm sorry"
To say Athena-Jade was utterly flabbergasted was an understatement.
"Okay" she repeated almost numbly, still fumbling for words even as they began to leave her mouth "I mean, thanks I guess….I just don't really know what you want from me-"
"I don't want anything Rich Kid" the snarled comment came reflexively and Diabla visibly cringed at her own habitual defensive venom, though the biting comment went at least some way towards focusing Athena's mind and the Bear Faunus glared up at her with sapphire blue eyes which had lost the euphoric but dizzy look that her dead-lifting had left her with.
"Okay let's be entirely honest with each other shall we?" she breathed out slowly, hoping it wouldn't come to a confrontation but preparing herself all the same "We're not friends, we're never going to be friends. You're right you were terrible to me when I did nothing to deserve it, you almost killed me Diabla; so I'm glad you're working on your issues and finding ways to work on things I'm happy for you, I really am and for what it's worth I think you've got a right to be angry at the things that happened in your life….That being said I still don't think I'll ever be comfortable enough around you to just hang out; I can be civil with you when we're with Astra and Wolfram but that's honestly as far as it can go"
"That's fair, it's better than I was expecting" Diabla answered gruffly, nodding slowly as she processed the reply and gently brushing the scar running along her right cheekbone with a thumb out of habit until Zirconia, shifting ever so slightly in front of her partner held out a hand for Athena to take so that she might pull herself to her feet.
"Unless there's anything else?" the usually taciturn Faunus asked with a low, warning edge which left Diabla, despite her steadfast refusal to involve herself in the nonsense of college relationships and social life at large, wondering just how long the two partners would keep this current game of romantic cat and mouse going.
"Nothing else" she answered, standing aside so that Athena and Zirconia could leave. From there Diabla set her gym bag down and took several moments to refocus herself before she could properly begin her own workout and as she processed her thoughts she could not help but feel, despite the conversation going as well as it could fairly be expected to and the fact that she had said what she had intended to without being driven to anger, as though she had made a fool of herself somehow.
All in all she would still much rather have given her apology in the midst of some dramatic battle where the heightened emotions could be forgotten afterwards; it would have at least been a distraction from the awkwardness.
The terrifying speed and feline nature of the monster which Swarf Russet had inadvertently allowed herself to be lured into the open by, along with many of its' other proclivities could all be explained now that the thing was visible and could be identified as a Cheetah Grimm of the kind known colloquially as a Wraith.
Its' overall form was, as was expected that of a large and predatory cat measuring several meters in both height and length with a build that could be described as menacingly sinuous, said sinew forming overlong limbs with wiry cords of muscle lined with swept back bone spikes which jutted through midnight black flesh. In additional to the expected skeletal ribs of a Creature of Grimm the back of the Wraith was covered in a thick carapace of off-white bone adorned with a cheetahs' spots in a colour best compared to the shimmering bronze-black of bruised or burned metal whilst from this mass of armour protruded a pair of almost vestigial limbs; angular yet sleek wedges of bone given range of movement by ebony tendons holding them fast which appeared as rudimentary wings until seen from behind, the appendages were hollow and served as vents through which to discharge the internal combustion which generated the Grimms' monstrous speed and fling up the dust clouds and dense fog with which it cloaked itself like some obscene living jet engine. The tail of the Wraith was a long segmented whip of the same spotted bone and its' feline, oddly rounded face was a bone mask bearing serrated blade-like canine fangs, with black streaks running from beneath cunning and predatory blood-red eyes whilst its' whiskered nose twitched with constant, seeking movement.
The Wraiths were rare things, often consigned to rumour and legend but had earned their name for their gift of attracting unwitting would be rescuers with its' mimicked cries before delivering a killing blow; vanishing with their kills and leaving nothing but fog in their wake like some fantastical ghoul.
Yet despite being caught by a monster whose attacks were the stuff of legend Swarf Russet remained unbowed.
"Your head would make a fine trinket! Many people would trade all of their riches to keep it and claim they bested you, but I'd keep it myself if only you didn't fade away!" the ageing Racoon Faunus challenged as she hurled another of her extensive supply of javelins into where she suspected the Grimm to be heading at that moment. The Wraith was of course a highly mobile beast when forced to fight head on and thus far Swarf had been able to force only a single shrieking yelp of pain from its as she flung one projectile after the next into the screaming whirlwind that the cheetah Grimm created in an obvious attempt to confuse her; the deafening wail that lashed at her clothes and assaulted her senses making all but impossible to pinpoint where her target was at any given moment whilst also having the effect of cutting her off from aid, Swarf knew that the gunner of the Aiktishaf would not fire until they knew her precise location and the javelins she hurled were snatched from the air before they could breach the whirlwind and serve as any kind of marker.
Her only hope of aid lay with the Outriders, though Swarf noted grimly that should they come racing toward her it was almost certain that many of the younger and more recklessly eager among them would trade their own lives for hers unknowingly. Soon a new sound, a high whistling reached Swarf's ears and the one-armed elder of her people reacted with swift decision as she understood the note to be a precursor to a direct attack; drawing a javelin she thrust the tip of the weapon into the hard ground and leapt up so that she balanced on the thin, blunt tip of the shafts' opposite end before throwing herself into a backflip an instant later.
At the exact moment the Wraith struck.
As she hung in the air inverted Swarf watched the Wraith emerge from the cloud of its' own dust and fog, its' body large enough that even whilst it stood on all fours she, considered a giant of a woman could stand beneath it and never touch its' belly; it swiped with its' right fore-paw which was the size of her entire torso and tipped with claws like tools she had seen in the farming settlements, reducing the javelin Swarf had perched on to a fine sawdust however the Faunus herself reached to the bandolier across her torso and quickly unsheathed one of the many knives secured there, a large hunting knife the length of her forearm which she hurled downwards with devastating speed and accuracy.
"HELP ME SOMEBODY!" the Wraith shrieked in a cruel and unintelligent parody of human speech as the blade struck its' bony skull, tearing a chunk from its' right ear before being deflected away. In truth the monster could not speak as such, it did little more than repeat the cries of a previous victim in order to draw in more and the fact that the feline horror spoke with such a childlike voice filled Swarf with a white hot fury and a revulsion that left bile rising in her throat.
Yet the Wraith was equally enraged and determined to add Swarf's voice to its' repertoire of mimicked kills.
In a blast of searing air and grit flung out in all directions the Grimm whirled around and Swarf, still falling though she had tried to aim her descent towards the small of her foes' back so that she might sever its' spine found herself powerless to prevent herself from being ensnared by the lashing and segmented tail as it wrapped itself around her ankle, the speed of the Wraith leaving Swarf's iron grey Aura rippling around her to prevent her leg from being shattered as she was dragged off course and slammed into the cracked earth with a jarring thud.
"Damn you-" her hateful curse was cut off prematurely, her efforts to draw one of her remaining javelins cut short by a lance of pain as her remaining arm was pinned under the claw-laden paw of the Wraith. Swarf's Aura rippled again yet held for that moment, though that fact provided little comfort as the Cheetah Grimm crouched low to the ground and brought its' face close to hers; the truly feline display of worrying its' prey and the sensation of acrid, reeking breath washing over halting the Racoon Faunus in her attempts to free herself and instead she locked eyes with the monster, pale grey meeting glowing blood red as she wheezed out her next words with fearless resolve.
"Get on with it then….My people are not warriors by nature but I know my daughter will avenge me"
That the Wraith understood the words was extremely unlikely however it grew tired of its' stalking of a downed victim all the same and reared its' skull back on a slender, wiry neck whilst its' jaws were opened wide to reveal the extent of its' array of fangs.
And then a disc made of three, rapidly rotating blades like those of an oddly swept forward machete tore a deep, ragged gash into the monster's throat.
"Muh...Heh-heh…." the Grimm attempted to speak, or at least mimic speech once more and found itself unable as its' vocal chords had been all but eviscerated by the vicious attack. Regalia could only watch in open shock as the Wraith was sent staggering back hacking and spitting like the wounded cat it was whilst at the same time the weapon which had struck it arced back towards the now slowly subsiding wall of dust and fog.
Just as something erupted through it.
"GET CLEAR!" a deep, rumbling voice bellowed and a burly man whose clothing left a good portion of his scaly and scarred chest on display tore into the barrier that had kept aid at bay with the use of a Semblance which manifested itself as an explosion of jagged crimson spikes which sundered all that stood against them. Snatching the weapon they had used to send the Grimm scurrying out of the air the muscular Komodo Dragon Faunus rushed close and plucked Swarf from the ground and thrust her lost javelin, trapped beneath the Grimm's paw back into her hand.
Reminding Swarf that she was no mere damsel.
"I SAY OLD CHAP IT'S POSITIVELY CAPITAL TO BE ABOUT OUR BUSINESS AGAIN!" a new voice declared with an aloof and commanding, yet decidedly chipper tone as a second man; perhaps a decade or so older than Swarf herself and clad in the attire of one who hunted far lesser game than his current quarry emerged from the opening made by his partner, this man clutched a high calibre rifle and his purple eyes glowed with a faint light that suggested he was about to use a Semblance of his own.
The Wraith rushed, screaming at the newcomer only for a single gunshot to be transformed into an entire barrage which tore the ground apart and pockmarked the monsters' chitinous carapace whilst ripping more chunks of ebony from it; prompting the Cheetah Grimm to let out a final shriek of agonised discontent before letting a fresh burst of smoke and dust erupt from its' atrophied bone appendages and rushing back into its' partially faded cover to stalk and circle its' newly revitalised prey.
"Come now my dear, wouldn't want to be caught lying down on the job on a day like this! Truly a rare sight this beast, jolly good show indeed!" the older of the two men called to Swarf whilst his younger companion unsheathed a truly monstrous blade and the Racoon Faunus, seeing that she had been rescued chose to graciously accept the lack of decorum this outsider used when speaking to her.
For their part Grapeshot and Carmesi were simply glad things were proceeding so smoothly.
With classes ended for the day Wolfram Ironside had chosen not join Diabla in the gym, at least not for the moment and they had likewise elected not to accompany Ursinia and Laser to one of the common areas of the campus to unwind as much as the current situation allowed with their peers; the Vaccuan scavenger had heard some talk of a card game between older students whose permissibility within the academy was suspect at best and being the opportunist that he was had naturally chosen to take advantage of anybody still unaware enough to gamble against him; leaving the towering Scorpion Faunus to ensure that her team-mate played by at least some approximation of the rules and did not carry an entire spare deck of cards in each sleeve, or was at least not caught openly cheating by someone capable of doing serious harm.
Instead the young man had, in a decision that would likely be noted as uncharacteristic or a sign of softness by his former peers from the rural village of Stalwart, wandered through the campus alone and largely aimless doing little more than thinking to himself and slowly sagging under the weight of thoughts which grew steadily more troubled as the sun set outside.
Wolfram, despite his determined efforts to do so could not shake his worries about the way his conversation with Astra had gone earlier that afternoon even though he could not place the exact words or moment that had shaken him; ostensibly the brief talk had gone as well as it could be expected to given its' inconvenient timing and the way circumstances had forced it to be cut short, Astra seemed to be happier and in a better place mentally and emotionally, their course of action seemed determined yet more measured and reasoned than their previous recklessness.
So why did the fact that Wolfram did not know where Astra was at that moment worry him.
"Fuck it all" he muttered, the muffled huff hidden beneath a sigh echoing from empty corridor walls and as he spoke Wolfram came to a halt, running his hands through his tied back blue-grey hair before producing his scroll and squinting as the light cast by its' screen shone uncomfortably brightly in the twilight and gloom of being in the wrong side of the campus as the sun set; seeing that the canteen was still serving dinner he decided it would be a good idea to eat something before he made any decisions and that it would also be a wise choice to get dinner for his team-mates whilst he was there as Ursinia could be trusted to take care of herself however Diabla would often work with such single-minded focus that she forgot to eat and Laser, malnourished and impoverished as he was simply did not register hunger with the same urgency as most people any more, especially when the distraction of easily swindled lien was present.
With that in mind the Leader of Team WULF set off again with a more concrete direction in mind, only to be hated once again as he rounded the nearest corner and nearly walked into a familiar figure.
"Will you watch where you're going?" he grumbled, notably with far less force and belligerence than he might once have used as though his time at the academy had mellowed him; before he could continue onwards however his mind brought him to a dead stop as it caught up with the information his eyes presented to him and he realised that it was Regalia Russet he had bumped into and that the Racoon Faunus was standing stock still with the unfocused and faintly glowing gaze that indicated the use of her Semblance, a gaze usually hidden behind her heavy goggles.
"Hey, you okay?" he asked as Regalia came back to her senses, concern seeping into his voice as he noted that it was odd to see Astra's partner using her Semblance without someone providing cover for her and also, Wolfram realised with a slight cock of the head just how rarely he actually interacted with Astra's partner when the Deer Faunus was not present themselves.
"Heh, sorry didn't see you there….Obviously" Regalia mumbled, wringing her hands in a way that Wolfram initially thought was in response to her remembering the first time they encountered one another though it quickly became clear that something deeper troubled her.
"You okay?" he asked, willing to relax his usual rules on interfering with peoples' private affairs in this instance.
"Yeah I was….Well I guess I was looking for you but I didn't really know I was looking for you if that makes sense?" Regalia gestured feebly before adding "Y'know my Semblance, it points me in the direction of what's gonna help but not what or who or why so I….Heh, I don't really have any-"
"What do you need my help with?" Wolfram cut through the nervous awkwardness with a sharp inhalation, sensing that there could only be one answer to that question.
"Astra"
"What have they done?" Wolfram asked, bracing themselves for a blow that never came.
"Nothing, they're training at the moment….I'm just worried about them"
"Aren't we all" Wolfram answered with a bitterness that surprised even himself.
"Look….I don't want this to be a big showdown between us, this isn't the movies; even if it'd be simpler if they were, all we'd need is a boom-box and an open window" Regalia cut off her chatter before it could gain momentum and refocused herself "But Astra listens to you….more than they listen to anybody else anyway, we all know that they're going to keep rushing in to danger and acting without thinking-"
"I tried talking to them earlier today" Wolfram noted.
"But then you'll encourage them again later on!" Regalia's hands flew to her mouth as the accusation escaped her and her eyes widened in fright as she realised that she might have started a fight.
"I encourage them?" Wolfram spoke slowly, processing the idea and slowly allowing his features to fall into an ashen and aghast expression as he realised that there was an undeniable truth to it and that it fit with his own previous assertions that Astra was trying to emulate an attitude that Wolfram himself had strived to grow away from; the blunt and brazen delivery of the fact jarring his mind so that things he had wished not to see were now in clear focus.
"Fuck" his voice cracked with the brittle whisper "I really am just good for ruining stuff-"
"Huh?"
"Living weapon Semblance….Of course I ruin the best person I know" Wolfram's was bitter and utterly crushed as unwanted and detestable ideas of what would come next came rushing into his mind with inescapable urgency.
"So now what?" Regalia asked, shuffling uncomfortably as she unwittingly repeated Wolfram's own earlier question to Astra.
"I don't know….I love Astra I really do, they've made me a better friend and leader, a better Hunter and a better person….But I'm just making them worse even when I try and help, I don't-" Wolfram's jaw closed with an audible click and even as he wiped stinging eyes and stiffened a trembling lip, all the while being utterly disgusted at the display of weakness in front of Regalia who, for all of their early differences he was forced to concede was at least a good and honest friend to Astra, his eyes hardened and took on a distant and fearful look.
"Wolfram?" Regalia asked cautiously, worried that she might've caused something far beyond her simple and noble intentions.
"I know exactly what I need to do" Wolfram spoke in a dull and deadened monotone which cracked beneath the weight of his next words "I just don't know if I can do it"
Astra, unaware of the discussion being held about them elsewhere on the campus was, as Regalia had stated in the midst of a training session.
The Deer Faunus had intended to use the session to clear and focus their mind as much as to hone their technique, this particular session having little at all to do with the ongoing goal of discovering their Semblance which Astra was forced to admit that they remained at a loss in regards to. Therefore, in search of the solitude they need they would need they had avoided the gym where Athena and Zirconia had headed entirely, instead making their way first to the academies' outdoor training area whose bleachers were one of their regular haunts; only to find that the coliseum like structure had already been claimed by a group of third years using a setting dubbed 'Paintball mode' for several rounds of spirited but light-hearted training more comparable to a game. Declining the offer to join in as one of the participants sustained a painfully swollen ankle in a fall Astra had departed, their focus easily mistaken for sullenness or a bad attitude as the Deer Faunus sought out a new place to train.
Finding it in the form of a quiet and largely ignored corner of the grounds.
A shed close to the rearmost wall of the grounds, where the shadow of the perimeter and the sun steadily sinking out of view cast the area in an orange twilight; in its' position behind the various courts and outdoor seating areas as well as Counsellor Daichi's flowerbeds which reached from the front of the campus to its' rear the shed, sizeable and made of simple and unadorned stone had the appearance of being something used by maintenance staff although Astra had a strong suspicion that this was in fact where Yatsuhashi Daichi stored his gardening tools and seeds and as such the leader of Team MARZ was especially careful to not actually strike the small window he was using as a target for the strikes they were practising in an impressive display of control.
After all it would not do to be expelled over a broken window of all things.
They launched themselves into a leaping kick which saw their right leg come scything through the air in the conclusion a five hundred and forty degree arc to strike the skull of an imagined foe, landing on the same foot the Deer Faunus then threw their left leg out in a high back-kick intended to drive their heel into the nose and teeth of their opponent, the force of the blow rattling the glass pane of the sheds' window despite never touching it before; followed by a wild but unstoppable right elbow which was then drawn back to generate enough momentum for a leaping left knee strike which allowed Astra to land back in the stance that they favoured.
Their mind continued to simmer and bubble with conundrums as they resolutely persisted in trying to silence it.
Had their parents really forgiven their behaviour as easily as it seemed? Astra knew Felix would hold no lasting grudges and freely give opportunities to do better; leaving the matter of their future relationship in Astra's control. The question flashed across their mind as they delivered a left jab right cross into thin air, expertly maintaining their guard as they did so and following with a leg sweep and spinning back-fist.
Were they right to cling to their position of leader despite their obvious struggles with many aspects of both leadership and their own growth as a Hunter? The notion of giving up on Team MARZ brought a scowl to Astra's face as they lashed out at nothingness with their left elbow, instinctively flung their arm down to block the counter any enemy would have given and then pivoted at the waist so they could better position their subsequent uppercut. They wanted to succeed, they wanted to be the leader that their friends could look up to and that their brother could be proud of yet every misstep and shortfall they suffered left the Deer Faunus wondering if perhaps Team MARZ might be better off under the command of Athena-Jade who would surely welcome the position she had initially coveted so dearly.
Would their Semblance be the key to all of their troubles? The question seemed almost laughable in its' wishful simplicity yet as Astra cloaked a step back beneath a whirling motion of their arms before delivering a punishing side-kick followed by a crescent kick from the left leg, roundhouse from the right and finally a spinning heel kick that would have halted anything in its' path they could not help but feel that unlocking the power that represented a manifestation of their very soul would undoubtedly allow them to find their way through their current mire of uncertainties toward their own ability; their were practical matters to consider as well, Astra's quick wit and skill had been largely satisfactory thus far but with the final mission of the year fast approaching they found themselves worrying that this might soon be insufficient, that Team MARZ might need their leader to save them in a way Astra could not.
Why didn't Wolfram, or anybody else appreciate how important this was? That question stung at something deep inside Astra and left them staggering with their arms flailing in a frantic attempt to regain their balance before a familiar, yet not entirely welcome voice demanded their attention and forced their thoughts to occupy the present.
"There might actually be some old scrapped training dummies in one of the other sheds" Professor of Grimm Studies Ruby Rose noted conversationally as she sidled into view wearing an expression that was oddly apprehensive. Astra matched that note of uncertainty and idly brushed the point where close cropped and peachy hair that had been cut almost to nothing gave way to the auburn and dyed fiery-red of their spiked Mohawk; it seemed almost anathema to ones' career as a Hunter to say so out loud yet Astra was honestly not as fond of legendary Huntress as they had expected to be, certainly not as enraptured by her presence as they had initially been after their latest training exercise; the latest instance of Professor Rose going out of her way, at least in Astra's mind to humiliate them by changing the rules or meaning of an exercise midway.
"Professor" they nodded curtly, keeping their voice even and remembering that this was after all both Felix and Athena-Jade's Aunt and that any rudeness would have severe consequences not confined to the academic "Can I help you with something?"
"It's more a matter of how I can help you" Ruby answered, striding close with a distinct lack of the stage presence she often conducted her lectures with "This might feel like a breach of usual privacy but well I suppose we're distantly related in a way….I understand you spoke with Felix last night"
"Damn it Fluffy" Astra hissed under their breath as they recalled what had been intended to be a private conversation between the pair following their talk with their mother, a discussion in which the Deer Faunus had voiced some of their misgivings and in truth Astra did not much care for having a lack of control about the narrative surrounding themselves after they had worked so hard to establish it. Worries were rapidly multiplied a hundredfold and then snuffed out as Ruby placed a hand on Astra's shoulder and prompted them to meet her cybernetically mismatched stare and the soft smile that accompanied it.
"He was worried about you….Older siblings do that, trust me" Ruby gave a fond snort before letting out a sigh "I feel that I owe you an apology-"
"Professor I-"
"Let me speak please" Ruby moved her hand from their shoulder and raised it to silence Astra "I will admit that I am still learning to be a teacher, that's a learning curve that will probably never finish and I still feel like a beginner despite being here since Breaktide opened. I can also admit that you haven't been the easiest student for me to teach….Thanks in no small part to a refusal to listen and an insistence on trying to do more than the more experienced Hunters around you which I frankly have no room to criticise; however it was never my intention to come across as mean or make you feel that you were being belittled. I've been trying to educate you, even when I was supposed to be punishing you and from what you told your brother it seems that I've failed….I'd like to apologise"
"Yeah….Apology accepted….That was uh, supposed to be a private conversation" Astra mumbled, eyes downcast and darting around to look anywhere but at the Professor who they were now uncertain how to approach; it seemed that receiving apologies was now as hard as giving them for the leader of Team MARZ though they were certain that admitting as much out loud would be the wrong thing to say.
"I understand that" Ruby nodded slowly "But Felix acted out of concern for you….I and the other Professors are also concerned about your well being, please don't believe that the restrictions Headmistress Adel placed on you were for her own amusement"
"Nothing amusing about it" the words were out of Astra's mouth before they could be halted though fortunately Ruby took some small amusement from it and simply laughed before adding.
"Asking for help is hard, it feels like admitting defeat….I understand that but we will always achieve more together Astra, that's why Hunters work in teams, so the next time you have an issue please reach out to a member of staff rather than letting it fester" Ruby paused for a moment before adding "And as for your ongoing efforts to uncover your Semblance….It is rare for someone to have come this far in their training without unlocking it, but not unheard of. My wife and I will be away from campus for a few days overseeing some repair work on Hammerfall Observation Outpost, it needs to be completed before the next initiation however when I return I will spare some time outside of class to work with you….If you would like that?"
"I….thank you, I would. I uh, I appreciate it" Astra found their jaw working silently for several moments in a state of dumbfounded shock as something seemed to ignite in them, a pale weak and guttering flame yet its' presence was undeniable, it was a rekindling of the fire that had been absent in them for some time.
It gave Astra the conviction they needed to try again at being the leader Team MARZ needed with everything they had.
One more time, for all the proverbial marbles.
The Wraith continued to shriek and scream from the midst of its' hurricane of dust and ephemeral fog, though the sound was now reduced to a series of hacking, whistling gasps owing to the ragged gash in the monsters' throat where the Komodo Dragon Faunus had wounded it and that simple fact, proof that the Wraith could be wounded and struck like any other monster gave Swarf Russet hope as she and the pair of Hunters who had come to her aid continued to hold the beast at bay, standing back to back to prevent its' rapid and unpredictable assaults from slipping behind them.
"THERE!" Carmesi Hueso bellowed, though this name was not known to the Racoon Faunus as a the two men who had arrived to aid her had not yet had a chance to properly introduce themselves. All eyes were directed immediately to the section of whirling and impassible howling wind of the Grimm's own making that he had indicated to and seeing movement within it Swarf tore a fresh knife free of her bandolier, a thin and double-edged dagger more resembling a needle that she might once have used to lever open a tricky lid after losing her arm which she hurled with all the force she could muster into what she sincerely hoped was the face of the Wraith. A distinctly feline spitting of wounded anger answered the attack before the whistling slash of air as the Cheetah Grimm came rushing at its' quarry, hurtling directly at the trio in a headlong charge before vanishing in a burst of blinding speed to zigzag through the air and appear at seemingly random intervals and locations before falling upon them for a killing blow which Carmesi answered with typical bluntness.
"DOWN!" he boomed, taking charge by swinging his arms and blades out in a wide arc to force Swarf and the Major to duck and take cover before unleashing his Semblance; the Grimm came pouncing down upon him, claws and fangs bared and whip-tail thrashing only to be denied as Aura the colour of arterial spray rippled, coalesced and became jagged before erupting out in a dome of spikes which tore deep furrows in the flesh and bone of the monster; leaving it skittering away with its' dizzying unpredictability reduced to a frantic scampering as it limped and whined, licking at a fore-limb which had been impaled and now caused the monster considerable misery.
Yet the Wraith was not so easily bested.
"I say it's coming back around!" Grapeshot declared holding his weapon in its' rifle form and aiming at the face of the feline monster which already bore fractured and pockmarked bone where it had been riddled with bullets.
"Aim higher!" Carmesi demanded "Take it's wings!"
"A capital idea" Grapeshot answered, moustache twitching as he gave a confident smile and raised the weapon higher "Tally ho!" with that the Grimm and its' foes acted in devastating tandem; Carmesi crouched low to the ground and charged forth with Retribution, the larger of his two weapons trailing behind him as the Wraith came streaking at him at full speed, unhindered by its' wounded leg until Grapeshot aimed and fired, his Semblance transforming a single shot into a withering salvo.
Tearing the atrophied appendages with which the Wraith propelled itself free from its' body by shredding the conjoining tendons.
With a rattling, agonised howl the Wraith found itself robbed of its' momentum with such frightening rapidity that it seemed to collide with its' own body, its' hindquarters outpacing its' head by such a degree that the things bones cracked and shattered under the forces they were subjected to and its' mangled body was thrown almost entirely head over heel as it was was left balancing on its' undamaged front leg, which Carmesi drew close to and hacked away at the wrist with a single brutal swing of his broad hooked and serrated cleaver of a weapon. With its' support snatched from beneath it and the laws of physics still punishing it severely the Wraith was sent hurtling forwards and crashing to the ground at Swarf's feet with a dull impact which made the ground tremble however the nomad herself acted without fear or hesitation, gathering all of her strength to leap into the air, drawing one of her last remaining javelins and aiming its' point downwards as she fell.
Driving the weapon through the skull of the Grimm, out through its' jaw and into the ground below.
"Jolly good show my dear!" the older and more jovially animated of her two unknown allies cheered, the sound forcibly dragging Swarf away from the euphoria of simple survival as the fog and dust cloud and whirlwind of the Grimm's creation began to fade away, replaced instead by the acrid mist of the Wraith's dissipating form which would in a few moments serve as a midnight coloured signal flair against the golden skyline for the Outriders of the Aiktishaf to make all haste towards.
In the meantime she had matters of diplomacy to attend to, which would begin with ensuring that certain boundaries were not overstepped.
"I am Swarf Russet, Helms-Woman and Overseer of Clan Aiktishaf, member of my peoples' council granted license to act and speak with authority" pale grey eyes narrowed as she regarded the older mans' hunched but still powerful form "I am certainly not your or anybody else's girl or dear….Whoever you might be"
"Just so, I say no offence was intended at all" the man made a show of removing his hat with one hand as he transformed his weapon into a cane with the other and used it to balance himself as he stooped into a slight but still respectful bow, something Swarf would normally consider unnecessary but chose to entertain in this instance.
"None taken and I thank you for your aid" Swarf answered earnestly "Not many would come to the aid of the Clans, especially not so far from one of Menagerie's settlements….Are there developments in the wastes that I am unaware of?"
"Nothing untoward I assure you" Grapeshot, though this name was still unknown to Swarf as the two rogue Hunters had thus far kept the conversation away from the subject of their identities with some skill, answered with a slight harrumph before offering the lie which he and Carmesi had concocted together in accordance with the younger mans' scheme.
"This is not the first time we've crossed paths, though it is the first time we've had the pleasure of meeting you….There was an incident some months back where I believe a stampeding herd of lesser Grimm struck your peoples' vehicle; that was unfortunately of our doing, the herd was one which we were contracted to hunt" this much was entirely true and provided an easily checkable foundation for what followed "Being unable to assist you at the time did not sit right with my principles I'm afraid and when I saw….The Aiktishaf you call it yes? Sitting idle and a small whirlwind close by, well Carmesi and I couldn't help but try and make things right"
"The Major oversimplifies" Carmesi rumbled, shuffling in carefully feigned discomfort as he sheathed his blades and added "He neglects to mention that we were looking for aid ourselves….Our work on the island is complete and we were headed for Port Alistair when our vehicle was damaged by Grimm. We helped you but we also need help"
"I remember the incident you're talking about….fortunately no lives were lost" Swarf noted, gears turning within her mind as she contemplated just what that particular Grimm attack had cost people in terms of resources; she would not consign Hunters to wander the wasteland without aid, though it might certainly affect the warmth with which they were welcomed aboard the Aiktishaf.
"The Aiktishaf is once again in need of repairs and my daughter is within the walls of Port Alistair" she mused aloud "It would not be impossible for my people to provide you safe passage across the wasteland, though you understand that my people must be frugal and we would be using resources intended for our own; though the fact you fought by side will earn you a certain amount of friendship and leniency from my people" Swarf paused, the expectant silence punctuated with the sound of jetbike engines screaming as the Outriders drew near
"I assure you we are capable of paying our own way" Grapeshot gave an undignified snort, unable to keep a small note of irritation at being forced to haggle and barter with the natives from his voice which caused Carmesi to step forth and silence him before the plan could be ruined by the older mans' self-importance.
"We have our own water and rations, enough for the two of us and likely some to spare" the younger man assured Swarf "As my friend said once we are in Port Alistair we intend to make our way off of the island, home awaits; therefore any remaining assets we have here are yours to take….food, medicine, Dust, ammunition and if our vehicle can be salvaged you are welcome to it; an armed and armoured dune buggy we took from a gang of raiders we apprehended"
"All far more useful than the lien the Kingdoms try to pay us with" Swarf noted, tallying up the estimated value of what the two men were offering and finding that when combined with their aid against the Wraith they had more than repaid the damage they had truthfully not needed to admit to causing, their passage to Menagerie's Capital and in all likelihood left Clan Aiktishaf in their debt. Seeing the look of appreciation forming on the face of the grizzled Racoon Faunus Carmesi fought the urge to give a wide, fang-filled smile which might betray him as he delivered the final stroke.
"We also have a small, portable CCT uplink which with some modification could be installed onto your vehicle….You could contact settlements you intend to visit and negotiate ahead of time or speak with your daughter, she is in the Capital you said-"
"Clan Aiktishaf has ways of calling to its' own, but your kindness will be remembered young…." Swarf trailed off, gesturing in a way that made it clear that she wanted to know the names of the two men.
"Hueso" Carmesi said "And Grapeshot"
"Your terms are gratefully accepted and I extend the hospitality of the Aiktishaf to you….A CCT connection will be most useful and my daughter will enjoy hearing that I've fought alongside Hunters, she's a student of the academy"
"A delightful girl I'm sure" Grapeshot fought to keep a knowing smirk from his face at that though fortunately it went unseen by Swarf who paid more attention to Carmesi, sensing that the younger man had risen somehow to a position of authority between the two.
"Indeed, welcome aboard Mister Hueso" Swarf gestured towards the Aiktishaf and then to the approaching Outriders "And Mister Grapeshot, if you could tell one of the younger bikers where to find your vehicle we'll send a sled with you to retrieve it.
As the bikes approached and a fresh bustle of activity began Carmesi could no longer hide his smile though fortunately Swarf's broad back was turned; in truth he had no desire to cause harm to Clan Aiktishaf, they seemed a decent and honest people far removed from the bandits and raiders who stalked the roads between settlements but the fact remained that the monster his Benefactor needed, the sentient monster which had razed entire settlements could not be Hunted in the normal fashion.
It would have to be lured and fitting the CCT connection it seemed to crave onto a roving dune crawler would be the perfect bait for his snare.
Author's Notes:
So even when I don't end on a cliffhanger as such it still feels like a cliffhanger just because of how much tension is building as we head towards the finale.
I might have given the game away a little too much with that last line but at the same time I'm sure you could all figure out what Carmesi was intending.
Seven chapters of the First Year arc left to go but three of them are a battle and one of them is the wrap-up so you can see how close to the end we really are….But don't worry I already have plans for second year.
I also have some plans for other one-off stories in other fandoms, I just haven't really had chance to do anything with them because work and other stuff have been kicking my ass; hopefully that changes soon.
But anyway, let's summarise shall we?:
Thursdays are tricky little shits and I don't like them.
Mocking the design of the campus…..We're doing MARZ Chibi now?
Diabla looking awkward is just weird.
Well these talks between Astra and Wolfram are getting steadily more worrying and drain-circular aren't they?
….Even when they are kinda cute.
IT'S REGALIA'S MUM! I promised you that we'd see her in person again!
Did anyone really think that it was just gonna be as a simple as a lost kid?
Jetbikes are cool but the idea of Swarf just using one hand and her big meaty thighs to control a very Horizon: Zero Dawn style robot Ostrich is amazing.
Of course it's a Grimm and of course it can cut people off from back up.
NO! Robot Ostrich, you'll be missed.
….And yeah I made you wait to see the monster.
The AJ scene, Wolfram scene and Astra scene are all happening at the same time as the fight...Which is after the first scene.
AJ is having a lot of gym scenes lately….Eh, it's a Slate thing.
Hops you're allowed to stare at her chest when she genuinely wants you to stare at her chest….Or her arms.
"Seem that work to repair Hammerfall Observation Outpost was making progress"….Seem, not that the word asset is open ended.
Oh yay, more awkward Diabla.
And here we can see character growth….Which is also set up for one final moment of resolution in the little arc between AJ and Diabla.
Can't blame Athena-Jade for not really wanting to be friends with someone who turned her face into a meat patty.
Don't worry Diabla, you'll get your action packed moment when SPOILERS happen.
The Cheetah Grimm is what happens when you take all of the neurosis and min/max stats of an actual cheetah and then mix it with some mecha anime, some shounen anime and some horror vibes.
Okay the using her own javelin to double jump was cool in my head.
It can talk but it isn't intelligent.
Did y'all actually think I was gonna bring back a character just to kill her?….Who do you think I am, Rooster Teeth when they write Penny?
Have you ever been so happy to see the bad guys? 'cos Grapeshot and Carmesi are still absolutely great at being Hunters.
Laser and Ursinia continue to be great even when they're not on screen.
A pondering Wolfram is a very worried Wolfram….He leaves that deep thinking shit to more qualified folk.
Wolfram, for all his attitude really does care about people….And that's gonna come into play with his Semblance issues but not in a way you'd expect.
So, what was Regalia entering into the Look-See search engine that sent her in Wolfram's direction?
"But then you'll encourage them again later on!" I didn't want Regalia to sound like she's being mean or causing problems in this scene, but ultimately she's right….Astra and Wolfram enable each other and someone has to come out and say it.
I think we all know what Wolfram's gonna do and you're all gonna call me a bastard.
Jesus Christ Coco would actually kill Astra if they broke a window on Yatsu's gardening shed.
Google "540 Kick" and see what that move looks like, it's great.
Ironically Astra's parents being on better terms with them might actually work out to be a bad thing….
And there's those self doubts and insecurities again, mixed with that main character syndrome they picked up from Wolfram….Worrying about how they're going to have to save Team MARZ, as if anybody on Team MARZ is incapable of looking after themselves.
Yeah I can't imagine that not being the biggest fan of Ruby is a socially acceptable statement, it's like saying you think Dolly Parton is a prick.
So Ruby and Astra having an honest talk….Now this is pure fantasy because when as a teacher ever taken a step back and considered their own actions that much.
The most important part of this to consider however is that Ruby and Penny are very soon about to be elsewhere.
….And also that Astra has just enough conviction left for one more try, wonder what's gonna happen if things so South one more time?
Yes Swarf used a dagger to open tricky lids.
Yes the Wraith does the shounen fight thing where it moves faster than you can see and just appears….It's a Cheetah Grimm, of course it does.
I could have just had Carmesi kill it with his Semblance but where's the fun?
Any monster with super speed should get taken out with the equivalent of a cinematic car crash….And then a Javelin to skull.
Swarf Russet does not take shit or condescending pet names.
The incident Grapeshot and Carmesi allude to happened off screen but it was mentioned in Vol.01 when the two of them hadn't had their identities revealed yet.
Regalia was never gonna tell 'em to walk to Port Alistair but she is one of the heads of a clan that trades, taking extra people on when they're short on supplies is a choice that needs to be reasoned out.
A CCT uplink….Carmesi isn't going to use a settlement as bait, he's going to use Clan Aiktishaf as bait by strapping exactly what Gestalt-Prime is looking for onto their dune crawler and then letting them travel across the wasteland until they're seen.
"A delightful girl I'm sure" flashback to Grapeshot fighting Regalia and Eagle in Vol.02.
I didn't wan there to be sexual tension between Swarf and Carmesi when I wrote this scene but I felt like it bled through just a little...He is a handsome young man and she is a big beefy milf.
As ruthless as Carmesi is he doesn't enjoy what he's doing, it's just the most practical way forward.
Thank you to Lurkweed and MajorBrony95 for their reviews on the last chapter.
Naval?...You think just because it's a fin that it's gonna be naval?
Well Diabla is at least used to having a bed/bunk, she went from home straight to the Atlas Cadets where she was living on barracks and was at least allowed to stay there until she left for Menagerie...Laser grew up in the Overspill, which considering how much of it is made of wrecked airships might actually have had some beds; though they were probably a fought over resource
The only person in this story Astra's lack of a Semblance would put them on an even footing with is Laser, realistically they've been the underdog in every fight they've had since the goons in chapter one.
Astra is learning slowly but it looks like their arc isn't quite finished yet...We've got a finally to have after all.
AJ & Hops are probably a bit less oblivious than you'd think at this point, they suspect, or at least hope...It's just a matter of nerve now.
Gestalt Prime suffered true pain...the pain of being beaten by someone who talks too fucking much while they do it.
Oh yeah, the Benefactor is pissed and more importantly desperate...Notice that none of the villains actually like this plan, but they've justified it to themselves.
As always thank you to everyone that reads this, with a special thanks to those of you that follow, favourite and review.
