"Come on, Nichole, you can do it!"
"Ha!" Nichole swung down her sword and the man sidestepped it.
"Don't leave yourself open, child!" her opponent held his blade up to her neck.
Nichole felt the blade digging into her neck a little. If he forced it down further, she would've gotten her head cut off.
"That's enough, Yule!" someone else called.
A woman rushed to Nichole's side and cleaned up the small cut from her neck. The alcohol stung a little but it was temporary.
Yule walked off to the side while eyeing Nichole with malice. She looked away but still felt the waves of anger.
"You're too soft on her, Hollie!" Yule barked. "She wouldn't become an exceptional huntress!"
"Don't say that!"
Yule stomped over, each step making him angrier than the last. "Just yesterday, some of the villagers saw more Grimm by the river! Not to mention that the temperature's dropping and we have to worry about that!"
"Yule, just calm down." Hollie tried to reach out to her husband but he moved away.
"No! It's..it's..." he couldn't say the words but Nichole knew what he wanted to say.
Yule glanced at his student and sighed. "I'm sorry, Nichole."
Nichole dropped her head a little. "It's okay, I'm sorry too. Father."
The coldness in the last statement made Yule shiver.
"Come on, Nichole. Let's get you washed up for dinner." Hollie smiled softly, redirecting the child to their house.
As she was walking away, the child glanced back at her father who had a hand over his eyes. It was hard to tell whether he was stressed out or sad, but she chose the former.
Why? Why can't I make my dad proud?
"Why..." Nichole muttered, gripping her sword tightly.
An older Nichole jolted out of her chair. She nearly stumbled over if it wasn't for her weapon propping her up. She rubbed her eyes and felt something wet on her cheek.
That's weird, was I crying? Nichole thought, drying her face with her hand. If so, it must've been from that dream.
She looked around the room, noticing that her teammates were still asleep. She counted them but there was one missing.
"Wait, where's-"
"Good morning, Nichole!"
"Ah!"
Nichole gripped the hilt of her sword tightly as Lilac tried to loom over her. "Jeez, kid! You can't be sneaking up on people all the time!" she growled.
"I'm sorry but I can't help it!" Lilac grinned. "It's so fun!"
You won't be saying that when you get seriously injured or killed because of that.
"Anywho, what's the plan for today?" the purple huntress asked with stars in her eyes.
"Uh?" Nichole rubbed her head, trying to recount yesterday's events. All she remembered was that they were walking around some desolate village, finding the Grimm nest. But they were supposed to find something else that would lead them there. What was it?
"Ugh, can you two keep it down? People are trying to sleep here." Crystal said groggily.
"No can do. We have a mission to complete." Nichole informed. "Same goes for everyone else. It's time to get up!"
The three other huntsmen groaned and slowly got up from the spare cots they found yesterday night.
Lilac ran over and pulled open the curtains, only to be hit by the bright sunlight from outside. Surprisingly, she didn't squint her eyes and allowed the sun's rays to be consumed by them.
"Don't stare into the sun for too long." Arian warned. "You might go blind."
"I'll take that wager!" Lilac shot back, her eyes still looking at the sun.
Letting out an annoyed sigh, Crystal walked over and pulled her from the window to prevent her from damaging her eyes any further.
Nichole eyed the group, assuming that they're wide awake. She did a few stretches, popping a couple of joints. She felt a twinge of embarrassment, knowing that stiff joints are a sign that she's getting older. Time is an inevitable consequence, after all.
"Ready to go?" she asked.
"Yes." the four huntsmen said in unison.
"Alright, let's get this over with."
The group walked out of the building and headed off into the torn village. While walking, Nichole was still trying to figure out what they were supposed to be looking for. It started with an "E."
"So, where are we going again?" Jack quizzed.
"I think we were looking for the Ember building, I believe." Arian answered.
Oh, that was it. How could she forget something so easy?
"That's correct, and that would lead us to the Grimm nest." Nichole continued.
"Seems simple enough." Crystal mumbled. "If the buildings weren't destroyed."
They didn't have enough time to find the building but that shouldn't be a problem now. They have a lot of hours to kill before the evening dawns on them.
The only question is...where should they start? The group could run directly into the forest and go from there but there's a strong possibility they could get lost. Then, they'll have another problem to deal with.
Before Nichole could get her thoughts together, a familiar roar erupted from the forest. The other members looked a little spooked.
"Was that..."
"You don't think..."
The red huntress analyzed the wooden area and sighed. Looks like they're taking the second option, much to her...discomfort? Was that the word? Well, whatever it is, they're going into the woods.
Nichole starts to approach the forest but the others don't budge. She turned around to face their frightened expressions. "What's wrong? Are y'all coming or not?" she asked.
Arian shivered and stepped forward. "Coming."
The others glanced at each other for a minute before following Nichole.
Stepping into the area made the red huntress a little "nostalgic." Like the time when she fought that reindeer Grim in Mistral's forest. Even with the alcohol in her system, she still won that battle. Though, that wouldn't be the first time the huntress fought someone while under the influence. If you count the countless bar fights she's been involved in, which resulted in her being kicked out of six bars all across Remnant. Speaking of which, she would kill for a beer right now.
Another roar reverberated through the woods, earning a yelp from Lilac. Speak of the devil...or Grimm.
"Let's go!" Nichole dashed deeper into the woods, her sights, or ears, on the source of the sound.
Her footsteps halted abruptly as a Grimm creature stomped into her path. It resembled a bear of some kind, probably a grizzly.
"There you are, fugly!" she mocked, as the dark beast growled.
"Holy fuck!" Crystal shouted, her shaky hands reaching for her chainsaw.
The huntress glanced back at her teammates, unsheathing Solstice's Edge. "Everyone, move!" she ordered.
The huntsmen jumped back as the Grimm swung its paw. At a good enough distance, Arian pulled out his revolvers and fired a few dust rounds at the creature, which did some damage.
While the Grimm was being pelted with dust infused bullets, Lilac circled around it, slashing at its exposed abdomen. Harnessing purple electricity in her hand, she unleashed an electric wave towards the creature.
The Grimm let out an anguished scream before running deeper into the woods.
"It...ran away?" Jack asked, completely bamboozled from what just happened.
Nichole ran after the bear, not before screaming at her teammates to, "Follow it!"
The Grimm is probably going to its nest which is perfect. If there aren't any other Grimm waiting there...
She spoke too soon, however, a bird-like Grimm swooped in and tried to capture the red huntress with its talons.
"What the? Where the hell did that come from?!" Crystal exclaimed, trying to get a perfect aim at the newfound Grimm.
"I don't know, but don't waste your aura on them!" Nichole told the group. "I think the nest is close by!"
The reptilian faunus scoffed and formed a small crystal in her hand. As the bird Grimm neared, she threw it in its eye, causing it to change its directory and fly into a pine tree.
"Nice one, Crystal!" Lilac cheered.
The huntsmen continued to follow the bear Grimm until yet another Grimm appeared, running side by side with them.
"On your left!" Nichole cried, rolled to the side as the Grimm crossed their path. She tumbled in the snow for a moment before using the tip of her blade to stop herself.
This is going to be tougher than she thought. If they keep running, more and more Grimm will come out and attack them. But if they stay and fight every single one, their aura will drain, meaning that they won't be able to use their semblances and would get injured.
"I got it!" Jack shouted, running towards the Grimm with his axe in tow.
"Wait!" Nichole cried, but her plea went on deaf ears as the green hunter took on the dark creature.
He slammed his axe on its head a couple of times until the skull crown was broken, exposing its flesh. Jack reached into his pocket and dropped a few seeds in the wound and hopped off the Grimm before slashing at its mouth.
Within minutes, a couple of beanstalks sprouted out of the wound, the vines wrapped around the Grimm's legs, holding it in place.
All five of the huntsmen rushed at the Grimm and attacked it, each one taking turns injuring it. Eventually, the Grimm collapsed, its body disintegrating into black ashes that scattered in the winter wind.
"Whoo! Alright!" Lilac cheered, pumping her fist in the air. "Two down and some more to—hey!"
The upbeat huntress trailed behind as the other four continued on. It didn't take too long for them to reach a cave. The outside of it was covered in a black and red liquid. It smelt like death, meaning that...
"There's the nest." Nichole mumbled.
"The nest...is in there?" Arian asked, pointing his revolver at the cave.
"Seems like it," The red huntress approached the 'nest' while gripping Solstice's Edge. "I'll go check, cover me."
Two sets of red eyes glowed in the dark cave as Nichole stepped forward. As soon as one of the eyes made a growl, she jolted. Obviously, there's Grimm hiding in the cave but they don't want to come out.
Nichole trades glances between her team and the nest. "We need to get them out so we can reach the nest." she said through gritted teeth. "Anyone have a smoke grenade or something?"
"I have something." Arian smirked, pulling a small bomb from his jacket pocket. He reeled his arm back and threw the bomb directly into the cave. Nothing happened. Not even the Grimm flinched.
"Uh, I think you forgot to pull out the pin." Crystal mocked.
"No I didn't." the soldier whipped out a small remote. With the press of a button, a noise erupted from the cave, quickly followed by a burst of explosive fire.
Then, as expected, the bear Grimm ran out along with another one. The team expected to be more in there but they're not complaining.
"What should we do?" Jack asked, holding up his weapon.
"We should avoid the Grimm and go right into the nest." Nichole answered. "They'll fall apart once we destroy it."
"Sounds like a plan to me." Crystal replied. "But some of us have to stay behind and hold the Grimm off."
"I'll stay behind." Lilac volunteered. She held up her hand, purple electricity surged from it. "I want another go with 'grizzly' here."
"I'll stay too." Jack added. "To help Lilac of course."
"Okay." Nichole nodded. "Anyone else?"
The faunus and soldier glanced at each other for a minute before Crystal sighed.
"I'll do it." she mumbled.
"Good." the red huntress nodded. "When they come in for an attack, Arian and I will slide in and destroy the nest. Sounds good?"
"Yes!" the huntsmen said in unison.
"Alright, let's do this!"
The team split up, with Lilac, Jack, and Crystal positioning themselves to intercept the approaching Grimm. Lilac's eyes sparkled as she summoned her electric powers, while Jack readied his axe. Crystal summoned a few ice rocks in her hand to hit the Grimm.
Nichole and Arian crept towards the cave entrance, keeping low to avoid detection. The sounds of battle erupted behind them as their teammates engaged the Grimm. The older huntress signaled to her partner, and they dashed forward, slipping past the distracted creatures and into the cave.
Once inside, they sensed a powerful, pulsating dark energy. It was enough to make Nichole feel a little nauseous.
Yeah, this is the nest alright.
She turned to Arian. "Let's go." he nodded in agreement.
Before stepping deeper into the darkness, the militant hunter lit a flare to make his vision better.
Nichole squinted her eyes. He couldn't choose another color other than red? But, it doesn't matter anymore.
As they advanced through the cave, a small Grimm hopped in their path. She hates to admit it, but the huntress thought that the dark creature was a little cute. It was short-lived, as Arian shot the creature, turning it into ashes.
The air grew thicker with each step that the two hunters made. Nichole raised her weapon, aiming for the heart of the dark mass. "Almost there, get ready." she growled. Arian stood ready to defend her from any attacks.
The two hunters soon approached what appears to be some sort of pulsating heart, seemingly more suited to a human body than a Grimm nest. The only difference was that this "heart" was pure black with blood-red veins. It was also pumping out smoke, probably causing the thick air that they sensed not too long ago.
"Ew." Arian mumbled. "Just looking at it makes me sick."
"Hah, couldn't agree more." Nichole said. "Let's hurry up and kill this thing."
The two sprinted toward the nest, weapons in hand, ready to kill.