The sound of hands clapping and fireworks crackled in the distance, a backdrop to the gentle singing in the air. "Happy birthday to you," a soft voice crooned. "Happy birthday to you…" The voice sang on.
"How old are you?" It continued.
"Four!" the little girl exclaimed, her voice bursting with excitement as she threw her hands into the air. Her mother, a woman with long black hair, smiled softly.
"Happy birthday to you," the mother sang once more.. She reached down, gently lifting her daughter into the air as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with shades of pink and gold.
The small girl giggled, stretching her arms up high, reveling in the sensation of being lifted, before being set gently back on the ground.
Raven bent down to pick up one of the boxes that lay on the ground, handing it to her daughter, Yang. Yang's eyes widened, her face lighting up with a big grin as she eagerly tore into the wrapping. Inside, she found an orange scarf. Her excitement grew as she grabbed it, swinging it above her head like a whip, imagining herself in the midst of a fierce battle.
Raven chuckled softly, reaching out to stop her daughter's wild motions. She took the scarf from Yang's hands and wrapped it gently around her neck, adjusting it to fit just right. Yang's small fingers touched the fabric, a look of curiosity filling her eyes.
"Dad said you wouldn't be able to get me a gift," she paused, her eyes searching Raven's face before she continued, her excitement bubbling up again. "How did you get me this?"
Raven's eyes widened momentarily. But then she chuckled, looking away as she composed herself. "Does it matter how I got it? What matters is that it's for you," she replied. She suddenly pulled Yang into an embrace, playfully nuzzling her daughter's neck, eliciting a burst of joyful laughter from the little girl.
As she pulled back, Yang took a step back before charging forward, landing a light punch on Raven's leg. "You really love fighting, huh?" Raven remarked with a smile, stepping back as she threw playful punches in Yang's direction, purposely missing to give her daughter a chance to dodge.
Raven finally stopped, holding out her hands for Yang to hit. Yang adopted a boxing stance and began punching Raven's open palms. The sound of her little fists hitting Raven's hands echoed in the quiet evening.
After a few more punches, Yang paused to catch her breath, before plopping down on the ground with a playful grin. She looked up, her eyes locking with Raven's.
Raven squatted down to meet her daughter's gaze, the sound of birds chirping softly in the background. The two of them remained in silence, their eyes searching for something more.
Suddenly, Yang tilted her head, a shadow of sadness clouding her bright eyes. "I overheard you and Dad," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper as her gaze drifted to the ground. "Are you going to be leaving?"
Raven's eyes widened in surprise, and she shifted uncomfortably.
"Yeah, I am," Raven admitted, her voice soft and tinged with regret. Yang looked up, her eyes brimming with sorrow. "But that doesn't mean we won't see each other. You'll visit the tribe every now and then," Raven added. She reached out, ruffling Yang's hair.
'I just hope you don't forget me when I'm gone,' Raven thought, standing up with a forced smile. She raised her fist, determined to keep the mood light. "Now stand, young huntress! Let's see how well Tai trained you!"
Yang's face lit up with a bright smile as she balled up her fists and got back into a fighting stance. Raven rushed toward her, throwing soft punches. Yang blocked each one with ease before shoving Raven away causing Raven to exaggerate her stumble.
As Raven regained her footing, her eyes widened in shock as she felt the first drops of rain on her skin. The weather had shifted suddenly and the air was growing thick and ominous. Raven's expression darkened, but before she could react, Yang called out as she pointed into the distance. "Mommy, who is that?"
Raven's gaze followed Yang's finger. "A huntsman," she whispered, her eyes hardening as her demeanor shifted. "Yang, I need you to go home. Now!"
The alert sirens of the tribe wailed in the distance, a loud horn cutting through the air. In the blink of an eye, Raven awoke, her harsh, red eyes piercing through the dark forest. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she scanned her surroundings, the remnants of the memory clinging to her consciousness.
The sounds of the night enveloped her as she reached for a dust crystal, tossing it onto a pile of sticks. The campfire sparked to life, the flames casting a warm glow over her weary face. Just as she began to relax, a noise rustled from a nearby bush. Raven's instincts kicked in immediately, her hand flying to her sword as she turned around.
As a bunny popped out from the bushes, Raven momentarily dropped her guard, her muscles relaxing as she recognized the creature. She closed her eyes, letting out a sigh of relief, and shook her head. Easing back onto the ground, she tried to slip back into sleep, her mind still haunted by the remnants of the past.
When morning broke, Raven kicked the smoldering fire, ensuring it was fully extinguished. She then picked up her katana, which had been resting against a nearby tree, and sheathed it. Without a second glance, she set off through the forest, her footsteps crunching over rock and gravel, the chirping of birds accompanying her on the bright, clear day.
As she continued her journey, a distant sound caught her attention. Raven's senses heightened, and she moved cautiously toward the source, slipping behind a tree and peeking out from the side. Her sharp eyes honed in on a piece of cloth, its fabric coated in sand.
'That cloth… It's from someone in Vacuo,' she thought, her gaze darting around to ensure no one was nearby. Once satisfied that the area was clear, she crept closer to the makeshift camp.
Crouching down, Raven grabbed the cloth, examining it closely. Her brow furrowed as she realized, 'This person is... female.' No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than her instincts screamed at her to move. In a split second, she dodged a crescent-shaped blade that embedded itself deeply into the tree bark behind her.
Suddenly, a tan-skinned girl with long brown hair burst from the bushes, another blade poised for attack. She swung at Raven, but Raven caught her hand, pushing it aside and countering with a punch. The young teenager dodged, and counterattacked with a swift kick followed by a punch that staggered Raven momentarily.
Raven gritted her teeth, irritation flashing in her eyes as she balled up her fist. With a powerful punch, she struck the girl's guard, sending her skidding back a few inches. The girl shook her wrist, her blade unleashing a torrent of fire that engulfed Raven's clothing.
Raven's eyes widened in shock as her garments caught fire, her expression quickly morphing into one of fury. "Little bitch!" Raven spat out as she charged through the flames.
The girl swung her blade, but Raven's katana met it with a powerful clash, knocking the weapon from the girl's grip and causing her to stumble. Seizing the moment, Raven delivered a fierce kick to the girl's jaw, sending her flying into a nearby tree. The impact was so forceful that the girl's body left an imprint on the bark. Before the girl could even begin to slide down, Raven dashed forward, pressing the tip of her katana against the girl's throat.
As Raven pinned the girl to the tree, she took a moment to scrutinize her appearance. 'She's just a teenager,' Raven thought, a flicker of confusion crossing her mind. 'What's a kid like her doing here?'
But before Raven could ponder further, the weapon she had knocked away earlier suddenly swung back around. Sensing the incoming danger, Raven instinctively backflipped, avoiding the attack from behind. The Vacuo girl caught her blade, her expression darkening with hatred.
"You're just another huntress," the girl hissed. "Trying to take the bounty on my head!" she screamed, her body tensing as she dashed toward Raven with a fury that belied her youth. "I'LL KILL YOU ALL THE SAME!"
Their blades collided once more, but this time, the sheer force of the girl's attack made Raven stumble to a knee. As the teenager swung her weapon downward, aiming for Raven's head, Raven leaped over the strike, countering with a flurry of three rapid attacks. But each of her strikes was met with a block from the girl's weapons.
The battle raged on, the two exchanging blows with increasing intensity. The girl launched an attack, but Raven dodged, then countered with a strike of her own, only for the girl to evade it just as swiftly. With her free hand, the girl delivered a punch to Raven's jaw. Raven tried to retaliate, but the girl struck again, snapping Raven's head back.
Growing increasingly annoyed, Raven swung her katana, the force causing the rogue teenager to stumble. Another powerful swing disarmed the girl, sending her weapon clattering to the ground. Raven followed up with an uppercut to the girl's chin, lifting her off the ground.
But the young woman was quick to recover. She flipped through the air, using the momentum from the uppercut to land on her hands. In one fluid motion, she grabbed her weapon, landing in a crouched, ready position. She then dashed directly at Raven, forcing her to block with her katana. The girl put all her body weight into the clash, pushing Raven back as her feet dug into the earth, trying to stop herself from sliding further.
Suddenly, the girl burst into rapid, short dashes around Raven, moving so quickly that she seemed to leave afterimages in her wake. Raven's eyes darted back and forth, trying to anticipate the pattern of the girl's movements. She counted slowly, focusing on the rhythm. "One, two, three, four, five!" Raven shouted, spinning around to strike where she predicted the girl would be.
But her katana sliced through nothing but air. Raven's eyes widened in shock as she realized she had miscalculated.
Out of nowhere, the girl appeared in front of Raven, delivering a powerful elbow strike to Raven's nose. The impact was immediately followed by a gust of wind from the girl's weapon, propelling Raven backward through the air.
The girl used the momentum to her advantage, spinning in midair with a 360-degree turn and switching the Dust in her weapon. A fireball erupted from the blade, hurtling toward Raven and setting the forest ablaze. The girl smirked, confident that she had struck her target.
But her smirk quickly faded when she saw a blade slice through the flames, narrowly missing her face. Realizing Raven had evaded her attack, the girl grew furious. She activated the wind Dust once more, flying toward Raven with blazing speed. But as she zoomed over the burning forest, Raven suddenly leaped from the bushes below, grabbing the girl's leg in midair and slamming her toward the ground with all her might.
The girl crashed into the earth, leaving a deep imprint in the dirt. As she looked up, dazed, she threw her weapon to the side, anticipating Raven's descent. But as Raven dove toward her, the girl's weapon whipped back around, striking Raven in the chest and cutting through her armor. The force of the blow knocked Raven back, but she managed to flip off the blade, landing on her feet with grace.
Raven glared at the girl as the stranger retrieved her weapon and casually walked toward the second one still lodged in the tree. Despite the pain in her chest, Raven couldn't help but smile. 'She's not a bad fighter for her age,' Raven thought. 'Kids from Vacuo usually have a survival of the fittest mentality.'
Patting the dust off her clothing, Raven stood tall. The battle was far from over, and both warriors knew it. Raven could see the fire in the girl's eyes—a determination that matched her own.
'I have to get in close. That should be easy,' Raven thought. But as the teenager rushed in, she placed both of her weapons together, unleashing a barrage of fire and wind projectiles. Raven's eyes widened in surprise.
Raven darted around the clearing, her speed barely keeping her ahead of the projectiles that relentlessly pursued her. She felt the searing heat as one struck her, her aura flickering and waning. Desperate, she leaped into the air, spinning in a 360-degree arc. Her blade slashed through the oncoming projectiles, dissipating them in a burst of energy. As she descended, she aimed a powerful slash at her, striking the girl's shoulder. The impact caused the rogue's arm to fall limp, and the wind dust that fueled her weapon inadvertently launched both of them into the air.
As she spiraled out of control, she used her other hand, desperately firing flame projectiles, trying to land a hit on Raven. But Raven dodged, kicking the weapon from her grip.
Despite the loss of feeling in her arm and her descent towards the ground, she continued to fight, launching a flurry of attacks. But each strike was either blocked or dodged by Raven, who retaliated with precision. Raven's kicks and punches landed with brutal efficiency, dazing the younger fighter. Frustrated, she threw a wild punch, but Raven sidestepped, grabbing her fist and hurling her toward a nearby tree.
As Raven fell, she stabbed her blade into the tree trunk, trying to slow her descent. But the momentum was too great. With a sharp twist, she pushed off the tree, her left arm transforming into the wing of a bird. The powerful flap of the wing finally brought her to a stop.
Raven glanced over just in time to see the young girl crash into the tree, her aura shattering upon impact. The girl's eyes fluttered between consciousness and unconsciousness as she fell, plummeting deeper into the dark forest below. In that moment, Raven's gaze caught the resemblance to her daughter. Yang's voice echoed in her mind—"MOM!"—and Raven's eyes widened in fear and regret.
Without a second thought, Raven leaped from the tree, diving after the falling girl. She reached her just before they hit the ground, pulling her close to her chest. Her wing wrapped around her protectively, softening the impact as they crashed to the forest floor.
For a brief moment, Raven held the girl close, her heart racing with unfamiliar emotions. But as the initial shock faded and her memories returned, the softness in her eyes hardened once more. She quickly shoved her away, her expression cold and distant as she watched the girl tumble across the grass.
Raven walked over to the fallen girl, standing over her with cold, calculating eyes, her arms crossed over her chest. The girl glanced up, her expression a mixture of disdain and sadness, before lowering her gaze to the ground. "Just make it fast," she whispered.
Raven's response came with a hint of annoyance. "I'm not here for your bounty," she said, sliding her sword back into its scabbard.
"Then why did you attack me?" the girl asked.
Raven's patience snapped. She pointed a finger at the girl. "You attacked me! Where are your manners? Did your parents ever teach you any?"
The girl's response was quiet, almost lost in the wind. "I don't have any."
Raven's eyes widened, looking down at the girl. "Then go home," Raven muttered, her voice softer now.
"I don't have one either..." the girl quickly replied.
Raven sighed, turning away and walking in the opposite direction. "Hey, you can't just leave me!" the girl called out. Raven kept walking but eventually stopped, her shoulders slumping as she let out a long breath.
"Yes, I can," she said nonchalantly, not even turning to face the girl. "I'm not here to babysit some brat."
The silence that followed was heavy, filled with memories Raven had tried to bury. The girl's resemblance to her own daughter gnawed at her. With a deep sigh, Raven finally looked up at the sky, as if searching for answers in the clouds.
"Ya know what... fine," Raven conceded. "I hope you're fine with walking. Now keep up, okay?"
The girl's expression shifted from sadness to something more. She scrambled to her feet, quickening her pace to match Raven's. "Y-Yes, ma'am."
As they walked side by side, Raven glanced down at the girl. "Hey, what's your name?"
The girl looked up, her voice soft but clear. "April Waterfalls."
Raven couldn't help but smile at the name, though it faded quickly. "You'll need a new name if you're living on the run," she advised, reaching out to touch April's hair. "And you'll need to change your hair too."
April looked shocked, clutching her long locks protectively. "But—"
"You can't live on the run if people can recognize you," Raven explained, her tone firm. But deep down, she knew the truth. It wasn't just about keeping April safe. The resemblance to her daughter was too much to bear, a reminder of the life she had left behind. Raven would rather run from those feelings than confront them, even if it meant pushing this girl toward a new, unfamiliar identity.