"A person?!"
There's no way. It hasn't been long, and I'm already seeing things.
This cave was supposed to be a rumor only a selected few knew about, according to her uncle. Even fewer people know how to enter. Maybe this stranger got wind about a different entry point. As Yang approached the still form, she got more confused. What the hell was a small girl like her doing in here? She knelt next to the blindingly white form.
"Anybody home?"
It's not like she expected a response. Worried, the blonde held onto her bony shoulders and turned her over.
She almost recoiled from the icicle.
"That outfit's not helping…"
The girl adorned a light blue, casual Summer dress and platform tennis shoes that looked brown but were supposed to be white. To warm her up, Yang yanked out her yellow jacket from her bag. She wrapped the small girl in it like a cocoon and coaxed her into her lap, which took hardly any effort. The white hair was like powder on mountain tops, but crimson streaks tainted the side of her head. Someone like this existed in Remnant?
Woah. She's pretty, Yang thought with a tight frown. Looks about my age. It doesn't seem like she intended to come here, but then how…?
Briefly, the blonde glanced around to find the culprit. No small rocks were around. This girl wasn't a faunus, so she couldn't see in the pitch-black, and she didn't have a flashlight. The only logical explanation was that she couldn't see in the dark, tripped, and fell, but then how the hell did she make it all the way here in the first place?
Only a crazy person would come in here without a flashlight.
This girl didn't look crazy, but perhaps her bias could be tested. Only pity remained. Gently, she soothed her fingers over the damp red in her hair to find a bump. It was the size of a golf ball and made her cringe. The cut in her scalp was jagged, long, and shallow.
Head wounds tend to bleed more.
She put two fingers up to her pulse on her neck. It was faint, but present. After Yang checked her over, she noticed a lone rapier off to the side. It rested where the owner previously laid. She gasped from the discovery and glided one hand under her knees with the other on her back.
She must be a fencer.
"Tough girl, huh?" Yang braced herself to stand and unintentionally shot up, shocked by how little this stranger weighed. "I'll get you home. Ah, the hospital first…"
With great balance, Yang bent to pick up the rapier and slid it under her belt. The critical mission to find the rumored money could wait. There's no way Yang would prioritize cash over a person's health. Ruby wouldn't be happy about that. With her mind made up, Yang followed the original trail back. She lightly sang and hummed, hoping to coax her to wake. A few minutes passed, and at last, a groan lingered. The tiny noise made Yang stop in her tracks and look down at her. When her face flinched, Yang quickly tilted the flashlight to the side to spare her from the harsh light.
"Hello~?" Yang sang in a sweet voice to avoid spooking her. "Good morning, ah, except it's night."
Pools of blue were finally unveiled. A tiny haze clouded them, which left Yang worried and almost mesmerized. Abruptly, the girl in her arms flailed like a fish out of water. She had surprising strength for her size as Yang struggled to maintain her grip.
"Let me down!"
Her fiery command echoed in the vast cave. The melodic voice stunned Yang into silence, and she carefully put her down. Heat trailed her words, but Yang knew it came from confusion more than anything. When the stranger backed away, Yang was prepared to explain.
That could have gone worse.
"It's okay, my name's Yang. I found you here. How's your head?"
"Couldn't be better," the stranger replied in a sarcastic tone and gazed around, squinting from the blinding light. "Where are we?"
There was an air of eternal confusion floating around her, so Yang decided to hold off on the jokes. For now.
"We're in a cave," the blonde answered. "What's your name? I'm Yang."
"You already said that," the girl crossed her arms with a frown.
"You seem fine," Yang said with a bright smile. "I hope you don't have a concussion."
Let's try a different approach.
"You can tell me your name, you know," Yang encouraged and winked. "I won't bite unless you ask."
"My name's Weiss."
She ignored my flirting attempt!
It looked like the stranger debated what to say, if she should expand on the topic. Like she might have given her a fake name, or scold her in some way. Maybe both. Or maybe she forgot it after the fall. Yang would trust whatever she said. It's not like she had a way to confirm her identity, anyway.
"It's Weiss to meet you," Yang said without missing a beat.
Nailed it.
The pun earned another scowl. Was she already irritated with her? This so-called Weiss was tough to crack. If there was one thing Yang was good at, it was breaking the ice. That's what she thought, at least.
"So, Weiss," Yang started after clearing her throat. "Do you remember how you got here?"
Icy eyes appeared to recall a crucial detail. Weiss patted her clothes to see if they were soaked from the supposed water., but she was startled to feel dry. The jacket around her felt like a hug. It matched blonde locks, but it wasn't her own.
"I fell through a pond…" Weiss said and shed the jacket. She gazed up at the ceiling and frowned. It was more barren than a desert. "It was here."
"Uh…" Yang paused and checked her over again. "You hit your head."
Weiss tossed the jacket back over to the original owner. "I'm not making it up."
With a satisfied smirk, Weiss picked up the lilac herb and carefully placed it in a zipped bag. The damp water under her feet made a pattered sound as she trekked forward in the marsh. While she was stressed due to the nature of being here, it was peaceful as the breeze was a constant companion.
I'll search overnight if I have to.
She had a mission. Find enough herbs and return home to Atlas, where the herbalist could make the life-saving remedy. Time was of the essence. Carefully, she looped the drawstring around her back. Weiss heaved a sigh as the sun beat down on her. Beads of sweat rolled down her forehead. She has one hour left of daylight. She bit her bottom lip in anxiety. This wouldn't do. She needed more time. While her phone could provide light, it wasn't as advantageous with the sun as her guide.
Not even the insects are out.
After searching for another hour in the silence with no luck, she sat on some dry grass and adjusted the rapier under her sash. She was getting frustrated and drank exactly one sip of water, since she didn't know how much longer she'd be out here. The hike back was another three hours at least. To collect herself, she calmly watched the dim sky. Her eyes wandered to the water, which reflected the warm orange and purple hues. A calm breeze kissed her cheeks and she sighed of relief since it was refreshing.
A hint of purple glistened underneath the clear water. From a distance, it looked like a petal. Hopeful, Weiss stood. Her sister told her the rare herbs bloomed in damp areas, but not underwater. Perhaps it could be possible. The water was deeper here as she moved forward, eyeing the purple petal. She gasped, bending down to grasp it.
This is the last one!
An abrupt force violently shoved her into the water. She ended up face planting on the herb, ripping it in tiny pieces. The lilac drifted below her, rocking back and forth underwater. All her hopes dashed in a heartbeat.
No-!
Despite being a good swimmer, she sank like a stone. She reluctantly opened her eyes, shocked to find them not hurting or vision blurry. It was clear like glass as her adrenaline spiked. The realization hit her - she was still sinking. Calmly, Weiss tried to swim up to the surface. Her limbs moved in the right ways, but nothing worked. She held a hand over her nose and mouth, glancing around. The bottom of the pond whirled like a cloud. Oddly, smooth stones were in the center.
… Am I hallucinating?
Gradually, she sank closer to the stone pattern. She decided to go with it - not like she had a choice - and swam down, moving along faster. Her lungs burned with every movement. When her hands almost reached the stones, air pricked her skin.
How can this be-
When both her hands hung out of the water, she was sucked out like a vacuum. Fast and abrupt. She shot out the water and careened at the ground. She screamed during the fall and hit the stones with a loud thud. The impact was more than enough to knock her out.
Stay dandy,
~Toto