Ruby smiled happily as she, her team, and the three members of team CFVY followed Mr. Hollow through the dense forest. She couldn't help but notice her old friend sneak glances at Velvet.
She giggled catching Blake's attention. "What's so funny Ruby?" she asked her leader. "I think Mr. Hollow has a crush on Velvet." Ruby said as Blake frowned "But he isn't a faunas."
"Neither am I, but that didn't stop us from falling for each other." The scarlet reaper said taking the cat faunas' hand in hers before kissing Blake.
"Maaa, what do we have here? you have a girlfriend Lil' Rose?" came Mr. Hollow's voice making them both jump. "Ah! Mr. Hollow! Please don't do that. And how'd you hear us?" Blake asked the Narehate, who'd slowed just enough so he could ask a question.
"These ears aren't just for show ya know," Mr. Hollow said pointing at his ears. "And I'm sure Velvet could say the same." Ruby gained a mischievous grin. "Do you like her?" she asked.
"Like who?" Mr. Hollow asked. "Velvet." Blake said in a sing song tone. Despite having a neutral face, Ruby could tell her old friend was panicking. "Maaa, I have no idea what you're talking about."
Blake chuckle "yes, you…" she began only to be cut off by a large explosion. "The hell!" Yang screamed before the eight bolted towards the origin.
As they got to a clearing, they spotted a massive white furred creature that seemed to have a red head. "What is that?" Coco asked
"Orb Piercer." Ruby and Mr. Hollow said at the same time before looking at each other. Ruby turned to her friends. "As long as we don't draw its attention and sneak by it, we'll be ok." She said as Mr. Hollow eyed the creature unfortunately he spotted something that wasn't good. 'Oh boy.' He thought before turning to both teams
"Hey Lil' Red," he said catching the girl's attention. "You said you were looking for a female red whistle cave raider and her robot tag-a-long right?" at her nod, he grimaced.
"Well I've got good news and bad news." The Narehate said. "the good news is that we caught up to them." Velvet raised an eyebrow at Mr. Hollow's hesitation. "And the bad news." The Narehate grimaced again.
"They're in the orb piercer's line of sight." Mr. Hollow said. "We got to save them!" Blake said preparing to leap down only for Mr. Hollow to stop her. "They're probably already dead."
"Mr. Hollow," Velvet began making the Narehate go ramrod still. He looked at her. "As huntresses and huntsmen, its our duty to defend the weak and defenseless. Remember when you saved Ruby?" the rabbit faunas asked. The Narehate nodded.
"You acted just like a huntsman in that situation. Now, despite the risk of them already being dead, we need to confirm if they are." Velvet said. "So please, let us do this." Ruby frowned. "No velvet, Mr. Hollow's right. We…" the scarlet reaper began to say until she saw Mr. Hollow place his bag on the ground and rest his musket on it.
Coco chuckled silently. "Vel's got him whipped." She whispered to yang. "They're two different species Coco." Yang said. "So what? That didn't stop your sister and Blake from getting together." The fashionista retorted.
Yang frowned "That's because Faunas are basically humans with animal traits. And no, I don't have anything against him. He protected Ruby twelve years ago."
"And… Bang." Mr. Hollow said before pulling the trigger, his musket belching fire. Blood shot out the back of the Orb Piercer's head. It fell limp and slipped off the edge.
"Damn!" Yang said with an impressed whistle. "Using iron sights from this distance too." Ruby took out some binoculars from the bag Mr. Hollow had used for his rifle and looked down. "Oh no. the girl's not moving. We need to get down there NOW!"
A FEW MINUTES LATER
Ruby and Mr. Hollow got there first having parkoured down the cliff face quickly while the others were still repelling. "Is she ok?" Ruby asked.
The cyborg jumped and turned to face the huntress and Narehate. "It's ok. We won't hurt you." Ruby said. Mr. hollow nearly snorted. "déjà vu." It was almost like a repeat of twelve years ago.
"Please, she needs help." The cyborg said as the rest of team RWBY and the three members of team CFVY made it safely down.
"Unfortunately, I'm no healer." Mr. Hollow said. "So, I would suggest we'd amputate before the poison spreads, but since we're in…" the Narehate would've continued had another that looked exactly like him leapt up to their level.
"Naa, what're you doing in my area Saki?" it asked in a feminine voice. "Hello Nanachi, just enjoying the view." Mr. Hollow said sarcastically as Ruby picked the girl up. "She got poisoned by an orb piercer not too long ago." The huntress said
'Nanachi' narrowed her eyes. "I figured that gunshot was you." She said turning to Mr. Hollow. "take her with you. Amputate it. No skin off my back." Mr. Hollow frowned. "She isn't with him, Nanachi." He said making his female counterpart freeze.
"Besides, what'll you tell Mitty? She knows what my musket sounds like AND knows when you lie." Nanachi looked at her counterpart. "Please, you and Mitty are the only healers I know."
"Naa, fine. Mitty will be happy be to see you." The female Narehate said
(A/N: for this story I will be identifying Nanachi as a she despite the author confirming the character being gender neutral)
"She's a bundle of fun isn't she?" Yang whispered sarcastically to Ruby. The scarlet reaper nodded in agreement.
"wow." Was the collective thoughts of the humans and faunas seeing Nanachi's home. "It's just like yours Saki." Velvet said. "Not quite, I more or less am Nanachi and Mitty's first and only line of defense." Yang raised an eyebrow.
"So, technically, you kill raiders to protect them, like you protected ruby from that beowolf-like monster?" she asked before deadpanning at Mr. Hollow's shrug.
"Mitty I'm Back. And I brought Mr. Hollow." Nanachi said with fake enthusiasm. "wow, she really doesn't like you. Something happen between you two?" Weiss asked whispering. "Maaa, no she just doesn't like me because Mitty does."
"Who's Mitty?" Blake asked. The sound of hurried footsteps gave the faunas her answer as another Narehate, this one seeming to be a hybrid between a human body and their Narehate guide's, appeared in the doorway.
She had red pants and hair whilst having reddish pink fur, along with a wolf's tail and ears. She wore a pair of goggles on her head.
"Hey Mitts, how've you been?" Mr. hollow said. Mitty grinned and hugged him. "I wish this visit was under better circumstances Mitty." The older Narehate said catching her attention. Mr. hollow glanced at Ruby, whom approached the two with the young cave raider in her arms.
"she got stung by an Orb Piercer's quill ten minutes ago." The scarlet reaper said. Mitty covered her mouth and silently gasped. Glancing up, she motioned for the girl to follow her.
"Oh, by the way Mitty. Nanachi was being her grumpy self again in regards of helping." Mr. Hollow said making the seemingly mute Narehate glare at her friend.
Mitty pointed at Nanachi then at their hut with a no-nonsense look. Nanachi sweat dropped. She hated the fact that whenever her grumpiness was brought up, Mitty would always side with Saki.
After the trio, along with the cyborg, entered the hut yang spoke up. "Mitty's got Nanachi whipped doesn't she?" she asked Mr. Hollow. "Yeah she does, and yes she's mute." The Narehate said. "I see." Yatsu said. "However, she wasn't always." Mr. Hollow said catching the group's attention.
END A/N: Chapter 4 done. I'm sure you're shocked to see Mitty having a blessed form while Nanachi isn't a cursed Narehate. I decided to make her mute as an after effect. How she gained a blessed form will be revealed later in the abyss arc.
Onto the Poll, I've decided to cancel it and post the AU regardless. I will do a double header postage once I'm done with the second chapter. Be on the look out for The Huntress from the Abyss.