A/n- Reviews
Jose Blas- You'll have to wait and see for that, I'm afraid. Though I will say that Corvus will definitely have an influence on Adam.
Midnightwolf64- I'm glad you think my story is interesting. Hope you stick around for the long run.
Chapter 17- The Weak Die…
Corvus was a little nervous today, as it was time for his first raid. He was always nervous about new things, as he never really liked leaving his comfort zone, but this was different. This was BIG. His first true raid, a chance to prove himself to his mother and tribe. He wasn't too concerned about getting hurt or dying, as he knew quite well that he was already better than most of the tribe and likely wouldn't have trouble with the guards of this village. No, he was simply fussing over the smaller things, a bad habit he had picked up over the years.
He was a little uneasy about attacking villages. Yeah, survival of the fittest and all that, but the idea of raiding a village and leaving them defenseless to Grimm attacks didn't sit well with him.
Fortunately for him, he has no such concerns about this particular village, as they had been under the protection of the Karnika tribe. They had sold them food and supplies, but also sent their unwanted people and even unwanted children to be used as fodder for the slavers as a form of tribute. Raven had decided to wipe this cancerous polyp of a village from the face of Remnant in order to stop their undesirable practices and also deprive the Karnika tribe of a safe haven when the Branwens eventually go after their main camp.
Corvus was waiting with Adam for his mother to finish her last-minute scouting and open a portal to get the tribe to the village. He could see that Adam was practically itching to get on with the raid, as the moment the word slaver was brought up he was immediately laser-focused on the upcoming battle. While Corvus tried to temper his friend's excitement, it was futile. Adam's wounds were too deep and too fresh for him to put his hatred for these people aside.
"Ensure you two are prepared." Bruno said from behind them.
"We are. We've got everything we need." Corvus replied.
"I wasn't talking about your gear. I meant mentally."
"We're fine, Bruno." Adam said somewhat sharply, as he knew the older Faunus was mainly speaking about him.
"Make sure you are. We don't need you getting reckless, Adam. Calm yourself. And Corvus, be at ease. You're stronger that the weaklings in the village. You have no need to worry."
Corvus gave an appreciative nod to Bruno while Adam simply turned away dismissively. The older boy tried to calm down, but couldn't let go of his excitement for this raid. Excitement that Bruno has likely mistaken for bloodlust, and rightfully so.
Not too long after, one of Raven's portals opened in the tribe and a scout stepped through and gathered the attention of the raiding party, the portal closing behind her.
"Okay, listen up! The boss is gonna sneak into the village and let us through inside the walls. Raven's group will be dealing with the guards and the Karnika members inside." She said, looking to the larger group that Adam and Corvus were a part of. "Bruno's group will focus on freeing any prisoners and looting the storerooms. Make sure you're ready, cos we have less than a minute until Raven lets us through!" The woman shouted loud enough for the whole party to hear. Everyone made their last minute checks, with Adam and Corvus giving a look over their respective weapons.
The portal opened and the raiding party funneled through. As Corvus stepped out he found himself dead center in the middle of the village. The townsfolk cowered and ran as the bandits begin their assault, with a few of them standing up to the tribe with small, basic weapons that would make you the laughing stock of a huntsman academy.
He focused on his target, which was a man in his forties holding a pocket knife. He didn't know what the man was hoping to accomplish but he had to commend his bravery. Or perhaps it was foolishness. Corvus didn't care either way as he swiped at the man with his nodachi, aiming to disarm him, but did so literally as the swipe cut his knife hand clean off. Corvus was startled for a moment as he expected the man to have aura, but he shook off his unease and pointed his Nodachi at the man's throat.
"You are beaten. Run while you can." he said to the man, who's now clutching his stump in fear and panic. The man quickly ran away and Corvus briefly surveyed the battlefield. He saw his fellow Branwens fighting the villagers, as well as a few more experienced members, including Bruno and Adam fighting the Karnika tribe members. His mother was nowhere to be seen, for some reason, but he shook it off as her antics. That or she probably went to find someone of importance in the village.
Seeing that those fighting the villagers were doing fine, he went to assist those fighting the rival tribe. He assisted in defeating several members before he made his way to Adam, who was fighting off three at once. Corvus didn't know if he was being reckless or if he was just that good, but went to help regardless. He delivered a heavy downward strike to a Karnika member who had their back to him. The slaver's aura dropped, with him dropping to the floor shortly after. He turned his eye to one of the remaining members, while Adam focused on the other. The battle wasn't too difficult, as the slavers weren't that powerful Individually. They relied on numbers and overwhelming enemies, but they didn't have the people to do that here, so their resistance crumbled.
As Corvus finished fighting his opponent and knocked him out, he turned to Adam, seeing him looming over the body of his own opponent, katana in hand. He was about to end the man's existence.
"Adam." Corvus said warningly.
Adam looked up to Corvus and after a moment of contemplation, sheathed is blade in its scabbard. Remembering that it's better to keep them alive for information, he knocked the slaver out with a kick to the jaw.
They surveyed the area once more and saw that the Karnika village is practically beaten, only a few zealous Karnikas remaining. Once they were defeated, Bruno's group secured the village and supervised the supplies which were being gathered in the center of the village.
"Where's mom?" Corvus asked Bruno. "We can't take these back if she's not here."
"She'll be here, boy. She has her own errand to run." Bruno replied casually, as if this was a common thing. Corvus wouldn't be surprised at that, as his mother had a tendency to wander off. He brushed off any concern for her, as he knew she'd be fine, and went to help with the supplies.
Once they were done, one of his mother's portals appeared next to him, as if on cue. She stepped out and looked to him briefly before addressing the raiding party.
"Good work everyone, this raid was a success. Begin taking the supplies back to camp." She said as she approached the supplies, inspecting them for a moment before opening a portal home. The tribe begins taking the loot through Raven's portal, as the woman in question approached Corvus and Adam, with Bruno not too far away.
"So, how did they do?" She asked Bruno as she inspected the boys for any wear and tear.
"They did well. They could be better, but their training has served them well."
"Well done boys. I'm sure you'll grow into fine warriors."
Before she could say anything else, someone ran through the portal.
"Raven! They're at the camp, Karnika!" The Branwen member said.
Raven cursed and addressed the remaining raiders.
"Stay here. You three, with me." She said to Bruno, Adam and Corvus as they all ran through her portal. When they arrived in the camp they saw that the gates had been blown up, likely by fire dust. Karnika members were inside the camp, attacking the defending members. This force was much more numerous than the one at the village as they had brought slave fighters, which are poor souls equipped with some kind of dust collar and a shoddy weapon, expected to fight or die.
The four of them joined the defending force and managed to turn the tide of the skirmish. It was tougher than the fight in the village, but this time they had Raven by their side, and she scared the Karnika tribe no quarter. The slaves, however, were spared. They would be set free, or even join the Branwen tribe. Notably, once they saw how one sided the battle was, a few of the slaves turned on their masters. One in particular that Corvus noted between his fights was a girl a little older than him with a shaven head and piercing blue eyes, not too dissimilar from Adam's. She fought ruthlessly, and Corvus couldn't help but admire her brutality.
Once the fight was over, the tribe sought to secure the camp and round up any surviving Karnika members. The remaining supplies from the village had been brought through and a few people were freeing the slaves from their collars. Corvus approached his mother as she finished speaking to a few other members.
"Mom, do you think they knew we'd be gone?"
"I don't think so, Corvus. They'd have backed up the village otherwise. They probably just wanted payback for killing their people."
Corvus nodded. That made more sense. Before he could ask another question, Bruno approached with that same girl he saw earlier. She was freed of her collar, but was still dressed in rags.
"Raven. This one knows the location of Karnika's main camp."
Raven looked at the girl for a moment analysing her. She looked stronger than the other slaves, and more hardened. She could see it in her eyes. Her weapons were a pair of old chakrams, likely found discarded by someone else. She also noted the electric scars around her neck, likely from the collars using electric dust in them, to keep the wearers in check.
"What is your name, girl?" Raven asks bluntly, but with a hint of respect.
"Vernal." The former slave replies. "I can take you to their base, but I want something out of it."
Raven chuckles. "Making demands of me? How bold. I'll allow it, what do you want, Vernal?"
"I want to join the Branwen tribe."
A/n
I've returned! And Vernal is here!
Sorry for the wait again, but hopefully this chapter makes up for that.
As you may realise, I've changed Vernal's backstory a little, with her name simply being the one she's known as rather than an alias she picks when she becomes Raven's decoy for the maiden powers. There is a reason for this, but I won't say yet.
Also if you think you've figured out Corvus' allusion yet, please comment it. There have been a few hints, but I won't say where. I will say however, than he shares one significant trait with his allusion.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed. As usual, feel free to review whether you have a comment, criticism of a question. I always answer.
See you next time!