Halo, it's time for the newest chapter. Enjoy the reading.
The situation was serious, Qrow was poisoned and his condition was getting worse and worse, he couldn't walk, so the RRNJL team fabricated a makeshift stretcher that Jaune and Lance could carry together. The whole day was spent in a forced march, they tried to find a village as soon as possible so that they could take him to a doctor but all day there wasn't a single inhabited settlement in their way.
The evening descended and they cut through a dead, ominous, burnt forest.
- Hold on, Uncle Qrow. – Ruby was very worried about her uncle, who looked increasingly pale, weak and began to hallucinate from the fever.
- Tai… - He coughed and turned his head. - Tai… she… she won't come back… with me… she won't be safe… you have to promise… promise me… Tai that you'll…
- It's getting worse. - Jaune stated.
- How far is it? - Ruby asked hopefully.
- It must be close! - Nora tried to be cheerful.
- Without the map, we don't know where we are going, - Ren less so. – but I feel that we are approaching something.
- I hope there will be a doctor. - Lance was also worried but suddenly, Ren, who was ahead, stopped in front of an intersection.
- What's that? - Ruby asked but Ren didn't answer, she just ran forward.
A rickety, worn road sign indicated the respective towns, the arrow pointing backwards indicated Higanbana, one of the two pointing right indicated Kuchinashi and the other Mistral. A left pointing to Kuroyuri but it was crossed out with an X.
- Look! – Nora completely brightened when she saw one of the arrows pointing to the right. - Mistral! We're on the right track! – As soon as she saw Ren's broken and angry face, she looked back at the crossed-out marker on the road sign pointing to the left. - Oh… - A terrible memory hit them both as they looked at the crossed out sign pointing to Kuroyuri.
- But it doesn't say how far. - Ruby joined in and she was joined by the two knights carrying the dying Qrow.
- Unfortunately, no. - Ren agreed. - And the road takes us through the mountains.
- Guys, - Jaune motioned for Lance to put Qrow down who was unconscious. – I'm not sure we'll all get there.
- We should do something. - Lance didn't know what to do either.
- And what if we made a detour to there? - Ruby pointed to the crossed-out Kuroyuri board. - Kuro... - She tried to read it but the names of the villages in Mistral were too difficult for her. - Kuroyuri. Maybe we can get help there.
- That village… - Ren was still struggling with the memories flooding back. - destroyed years ago.
- Then we can only go to the mountains! - Jaune suggested the only option.
- That would take too long. - Ren was sure Qrow wouldn't survive the long journey through the mountains.
- Was there a doctor and a pharmacy in the village? - Ruby remembered. - Maybe we can find medicine there.
- Yes, - Lance stood next to Ruby. – the Grimms aren't robbing the medicines.
- We won't find anything there! – Ren really didn't want to go towards Kuroyuri. - We just have to keep going! Everyone was shocked by Ren's callousness.
- Ren, - Jaune wanted to question his teammate. - why are you behaving... - But Nora intervened.
- We can split up.
- It's safer together. - Lance didn't like that idea.
- Ren and I will cut through the mountains while you, Ruby, and Jaune check out the village. - Nora continued.
- No, - Jaune disagreed. - Lance is right! We need to stay together for safety.
- But there's no time for safety! – Nora tried to make the team understand that they have to take risk now, because Qrow's life is at stake. – If we get to Mistral, we'll send help, if not, at least we can see the terrain and find another place to go. - It's unbelievable but now Nora was the brains of the team. Ren calmed and thought about what he heard but a coughing from Qrow helped him make up his mind.
- Well. – Jaune agreed, he and Ren hugged each other. - Take care of each other.
- Always. - Nora assured and hugged Jaune as well.
- There's no other option. - Lance and Jaune picked Qrow up again but before they left, they took one last look back at Nora and Ren, who they most likely wouldn't see again.
The team splits, Lance, Jaune and Ruby take Qrow to the ruins of Kuroyuri where they might find some medicine for Qrow while Nora and Ren try to get Mistral.
- They'll be fine, guys. - Ruby went ahead but looked back at the two knights who were worried that Qrow would die prematurely.
- You can't know that. - Jaune wasn't that confident.
- But you can hope. - At least Lance tried.
It was impossible for Mike to get back to his old life, the bubble he grew up in was already too small for him, his mother wouldn't let him do anything. She took and didn't give him What the Heck, the picture of the LLMM team and the necklace he had received from Lynda. She locked away everything that was taboo for him in the closet.
He went to the cupboard but didn't dare to open it, because then his mother would be very angry.
- Mike! – As he thought, his mother's angry screams hit his ears. - How many times have I told you that this closet is off-limits to you?
- But mom...
- Not a word! Everything that can spoil you is locked up here and I'll get rid of them as soon as possible! And you, young man, go to your room! - For the first time in his life, Mike was so angry with his mother that he almost hit her.
- My friends didn't spoil me... - He whispered to himself but his mother barely heard anything from him.
- How do you say?! – She turned back from the cupboard, which he wanted to put a padlock on. Mike clenched his fists but was trembling, he had never dared to speak to his mother like this before.
- I… - Before he could answer, the doorbell rang.
- Go to your room. – His mother ordered him and started to open the door.
But Mike didn't move. He looked towards the stairs that led up to his room, then his eyes wandered over to the closet where his mother kept all of the memorabilia he had acquired from Beacon but as soon as he heard his mother's angry voice, he curiously turned towards the front door.
- We don't buy anything, we don't vote for any party and we already have a religion! – Mike remembered, his mother always greeted uninvited visitors like this.
- Excuse me, ma'am, - It was an older man, in an elegant suit, with blond, gray hair combed back, a stern look, but his blue eyes reminded her of someone. - I'm just looking for Mike Birmingham. Supposedly, that's his address.
- My son isn't in such a state of health to receive visitors! – His mother was about to slam the door on him but he stopped her.
- Please, - He tried to hold the door open, but she was still trying to close it. - I just want to ask him a few questions and then I'll leave!
- I said no! - Mike's mother pushed harder and harder on the door. - My son is very sick and I don't want you to keep harassing him with all kinds of crazy things!
- Ma'am, you didn't answer my letters and don't pick up Scroll either! – The man still didn't stop and did everything to keep the door open. - I'm looking for my son and your son is the only one who can help!
- If you don't get out of here, I'll call the police!
- I'm here! – Mike interrupted the scene, and his mother looked back at him angrily.
- Mike, I told you to go to your room! - Mike didn't pay attention to his mother, he just looked at the man he recognized.
- You're Lance's father, Chad Monroe? - The man was still struggling with the door. - Mom, let him in! - The woman finally stopped and let him come in.
- Thank you. - Chad was grateful that Mike stopped his mom.
- 5 minutes! – The woman warned him. - Then leave. I measure!
- I will be fast. – Chad promised before turning to Mike. - Mr. Birmigh, I've been trying to reach you for weeks now.
- What?! – Mike was completely shocked, he had no idea that Lance's father was looking for him.
- I've already called you a hundred times and sent you a dozen letters saying that I want to talk to you but I haven't received an answer to any of them. – Mike looked at his mother, clearly, she took all the letters and calls.
- My mother didn't deliver the messages. What do you want to talk about?
- Any idea where my son might have gone, Lance? He was your teammate and I hope you could tell something.
- Well... - Mike still remembered that Lance swore to Ruby that he would help her to the end. - He headed for Mistral but I don't know exactly where he is.
- Did he go alone? - Chad's stern face softened and worry took over.
- No, with some of our fellow students. - Chad was getting more and more worried about something.
- All right, - Mike's mother just lost her patience. - time for questions is over! - She started ushering Chad out the door.
- Mr. Birmingh, if you think of anything else, feel free to contact me! - That was the last word before Mike's mother slammed the door.
- Mom, - Mike was terribly upset but he simply didn't dare to confront his mother completely. – what did he mean by texting me?
- Quiet! - She didn't answer. - I told you I didn't want anything to spoil you but Beacon was a very bad influence on you! - Mike just kept his head down, listening to his mother's yelling in horror but gathered the courage to ask another question.
- What's in the closet? – His mother seemed to be shocked by the question but she immediately shook when she saw her son walking towards her and trying to open it.
- Enough, Mike! - She caught his arm. - Go to your room immediately and don't come out of there until evening!
Mike started to get fed up with the way his mother treats him, locking him in his room, forbidding any interaction with the outside world and not giving his best friend's father messages that he is looking for her.
Before he went to Beacon, he felt that this was normal and that his mother just wanted to protect him but now he realized that she really wanted to possess and shut him off from the world but he didn't understand why.
One thing he knew for sure was that he would find answers in the closet.
Menagerie was crowded even in the evening, the many faunus residents were either doing their daily chores or talking but there were also couples in love who were sitting on the same benches and kissing. The market was also full but that didn't stop Sun, Lynda and Monty from enjoying themselves.
- ...and that's how we saved the ship and its passengers! - Sun couldn't stop talking all day and kept talking about the adventures they had.
- That's the most amazing thing I've ever heard. – Monty couldn't help but be amazed by Sun's stories and the monkey faunus enjoyed becoming a fan. - When I grow up, I'll be a Hunter too!
- You'll have to wait for that, kid. – Lynda just patted her little brother's head, who just grumpily pushed his sister's hand aside.
- Stop it! Not so much!
- Hey, - Sun thought of another story. – did I tell you how we dealt with a bunch of Atlas Paladins when Beacon fell?
- Really?! - Monty's eyes lit up again but Sun, instead of getting into the story, was shocked, took out his Scroll and took a picture. – What's that?
- One of the men of the White Fang! - Sun shouted.
- Where?! - Lynda drew her blades, scaring some onlookers.
- There! - Sun also took out his battle staff.
- So? - Monty didn't understand why they were so upset. – They're the law enforcement officers.
- What?! - Sun could hardly believe what he heard. - Those lunatics caused the downfall of Beacon!
- But didn't the two brothers say that that faction broke away from them? - Lynda asked as she retracted her blades.
- Blake's mother told me, - Sun remembered. - that the White Fang people here don't wear masks, - He showed the picture he made with his Scroll. – but this one did wear it. – Lynda looked at the picture and was shocked to see that it was a female White Fang soldier wearing the well-known Grimm mask.
- Holy cr*p! We need to warn Blake and her family!
- We're thinking the same!
- Hey, - Unfortunately, Monty couldn't look at the picture. - I want to see it too!
- Later! - Sun put the Scroll away. - We need to hurry! - He was already running back to the Belladonna mansion.
- I am going with you! - Lynda followed. - Monty, you go home!
- But... - Monty wasn't happy to be left out of the adventure again.
- It's safer there! - His sister didn't take rejection.
Like crazy, Lynda and Sun ran down the slope to reach the mansion as quickly as possible. Lynda was the faster one, so she kept knocking on the metal one after the other and by the time Sun was done, they started banging on the door.
It didn't take long for Blake's mother to open the door but she was quite startled by the pounding so wildly.
- Seriously, what... - She couldn't even finish when two young people interrupted each other and tried to warn her.
- Is Blake here?!
- The White Fang…
- Masked…
- You must prepare…
- To warn…
- Blake!
- Oh my God, - Khali barely understood anything they said but it was clear that it was urgent. – children, how about you sit down, calm down, drink some tea and collect your thoughts.
- No time, Mrs. B! - Sun tried to urge her.
- We have to warn Blake! - Lynda joined.
- Blake is upstairs in her father's study, - Khali informed them. – but would you please wait a bit?
- What…
- Blake and her father haven't spoken to each other in a very long time and now this is a very important father-daughter moment between the two of them.
- Now there is no… - Lynda just shook her head but Sun put a hand on her shoulder to calm her down.
- All right. We'll wait until they're done and then we'll tell her.
- Thank you. – Khali bowed and led the two young people up.
As soon as he showed which was the study room, he left them but Sun and Lynda sneaked over to listen but they couldn't hear much, even with their faunus hearing, because the soundproofing was very strong.
Sun went ahead and put his ear to the wall but he still couldn't understand clearly what they were talking about, so he leaned even closer and put his ear directly against the door. Although he heard more like this, he still didn't understand much, so he tried to push his head even closer but unfortunately, the door he was leaning on with his full body weight gave way and fell, and Sun hit the ground with a loud thud.
- Are you okay? - Lynda asked.
- Sun?! – Blake, who had just been disturbed in an intimate moment with her father, stood up angrily and looked at the two newcomers. - Lynda?!
- Oops! – Sun immediately jumped up and started backing away awkwardly. - This isn't the bathroom! We're going! We didn't want to disturb this pleasant family moment!
- I really don't like you. – Blake's father stared at Sun with suppressed anger but instead of taking care of the distractions himself, his daughter immediately jumped up to drag the two unwanted intruders out and immediately slapped Sun.
- No respect for privacy and - She slapped him once more. – not even for personal space!
- We are sorry! Ouch! - Sun hurt his face. - I'm sorry!
- We came to warn you! - Lynda got straight to the point. - This can't wait!
- About what?! - She glared at Lynda now. - What's so f*cking important, - Then back to Sun. – why did you come here late at night and disturb me in the middle of an important conversation?!
- It's about the White Fang! – Lynda spoke, and Blake just stared at them angrier.
- Stop!
- But...
- I told you! - Her voice was angry and tired at the same time. - Both of you, I didn't come here to fight the White Fang! I don't want to fight anyone! I just came here to rest! So that I can gather my thoughts and see my family! - Then Sun broke the awkward silence.
- Your mother said White Fang members don't wear masks in Menagerie! But today we saw one on the market who did!
- He's right! – Lynda stood next to him while Sun took out his Scroll.
- Sun, Lynda!
- We just want to help! - Sun started to search for the picture but Blake grabbed the Scroll and threw it away.
- I don't want your help!
Sun and Lynda just growled in anger but a painful yelp from the trees where Blake had thrown Sun's Scroll interrupted the argument. All three looked in the direction of the sound and felt that someone was watching them. Even though it was dark, as faunus they could see clearly and started scanning the trees.
- There! – Lynda shouted as she spotted a Grimm masked figure who rubbed her head and Sun's Scroll was in her hand.
Blake also spotted another, who immediately caught her running away.
- F*ckin' ninjas?! - Sun is completely freaked out.
- Spies! - Blake stated.
- But why... - While Sun was wondering, Lynda and Blake didn't waste any time, they grabbed a gun and ran after the two spies. - Wait!
- What happened?! - Khali came upstairs worried.
- The White Fang is evil, I totally called it and now I'm bringing the girls back! - Sun quickly explained and followed the girls.
Lynda and Blake were well ahead, jumping from tree to tree to catch the two spies but they were both very fast and able to keep their distance.
- Gotcha! – Sun rather made a detour and cut in front of the two intruders and aimed at one of them but she jumped aside in time and dodged his attack. Lynda and Blake just pulled past him. - Hey, wait!
- Don't let them escape! - Blake said back.
- And don't left behind! - So did Lynda.
The spies got out of the trees and jumped onto the roof of one of the buildings and continued running. Lynda and Blake followed them, jumping from building to building as the chase continued, the moonlight illuminating the way and neither party were tiring.
One of the fugitives stopped, as did the other. The shorter one took out her weapon, though it wasn't easy to tell if he was holding a whip or a sword, more like a combination of the two and the other had two crescent moon-shaped double-bladed, one-handed swords and pointed them at their pursuers.
As soon as they saw who was chasing them, they stopped for a moment and instead of fighting, the shorter one cut a pipe with her whip-sword, causing a strong flow of hot steam but that didn't stop Blake from somersaulting under the pipe, nor Lynda to jump over it.
- Why were you spying on us?! - Blake demanded the answer.
- What do you want from Blake?! – Lynda joined in but the two White Fang members didn't answer, they just started to back away but Sun got behind them again and cut off the escape route.
- Give it up! - He warned them. - I don't like to hit girls, but... - He couldn't even finish because the whip-sword almost took off his head and he fell backwards.
Blake attacked but taller parried with one of her moon-shaped blades but Lynda charged to the side, which she parried with the other blade. Blake used his Semblance to get behind her and kick her in the back, knocking her off balance and Lynda was able to yank her to the ground.
The other took out her Scroll to call for reinforcements but Blake threw Gumbo Shroud, knocking the Scroll out of her hand and onto the ground. Blake attacked the girl with her bare hands, which she defended and kicked back, then she was about to go after the Scroll but Sun threw himself at her and held her down.
- Quickly, the Scroll! - Sun instructed the girls and looked back at the fallen White Fang soldier. - It looks like it's very important to her!
- Get off! - She decapitated him, which cracked her mask but she managed to get free and get her weapon back.
Blake and Lynda ran after the Scroll, as did the girl with the cracked mask but Lynda was kicked aside by the other girl and an amazing duel ensued between them with her tri-blades and her enemy's moon-shaped blades.
- I'll hold her up! – She yelled.
Blake and the shorter girl raced for the Scroll but the White Fang girl was caught by one of Sun's clones, then three others to make sure she stays on the ground. A yellow light shone around Sun and he stood still and concentrated with all his might that his clones would catch the girl long enough and signaled to Blake to hurry.
- Don't just hang around! Pick it up! - Blake was already running but Sun's aura ran out and he collapsed, causing his clones to disappear as well. The girl with the damaged mask screamed and pointed her weapon at Blake. - Blake, watch out!
Blake turned to the girl whose mask had just fallen to pieces. She was a girl with long brown hair and freckled, tan skinned with light blue eyes.
- Ilia. - Blake got to know her.
The other girl who was fighting Lynda pushed back and stood next to Ilia. Her mask was also damaged and falling off in three pieces, her skin was pale, she had short purple hair, brown wolf ears, darker blue eyes and a black crescent moon tattoo on her under left one.
- Luna?! - Lynda was completely shocked when she saw her adopted sister.
- Do you know each other?! – Sun could hardly believe his ears that Blake and Lynda knew these two fugitives but he thought he discovered something strange on the lower one, Ilia, she didn't have any animal body parts. - But he doesn't even look like a faun… - Sun's chatter completely enraged Ilia, her skin turning red and her hair yellow, making it clear that she was a chameleon faunus. She hit Sun with her whip-sword, electrocuting him and cutting his chest.
- Sun!
Lynda and Blake immediately wanted to rush to his aid but Ilia and Luna stood in her way.
- Give it back. – Ilia demanded but Blake clutched the Scroll and stared.
- No!
- Luna, - Lynda looked at her adopted sister in confusion. - why are you doing this? We are a family.
- I'm doing it just for you and Monty. - She answered. In the meantime, Ilia's skin turned green and her hair blue and full of regret, just like Luna.
- You shouldn't have come back. – Ilia said just that, took a few steps back and created a shroud of mist with her whip-sword, then she and Luna both disappeared.
- Sun! – The two girls immediately ran to the injured boy, who had lost consciousness.
- Sun! - Blake cried and knelt down next to him, then began to squeeze his wound to stop the bleeding.
- I'm calling an ambulance! – Lynda already took out her Scroll and dialed the ambulance.
- Hold on, Sun. - Blake looked at the unconscious faunus boy with complete concern and care. - Just hold on.
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