I don't care.
Maybe... Maybe I was just being sentimental? Or silly? Or... I don't know...
Going to see Yang couldn't be a good idea but... Maybe I could apologize? Maybe she'd forgive me?
No... No, that was silly. I didn't deserve forgiveness. Members of the White Fang- my old group- had stormed into Beacon and slaughtered dozens. Hundreds. They'd unleashed hordes of Grimm upon the school- upon our friends. Adam had... dismembered Yang, just to get to me…
I didn't deserve forgiveness. Not now. Not ever.
But... I could at least warn her about Adam. To keep her eye out. Never mind that I was pretty confident he'd never be able to harm Ruby- bad match-up considering her speed and Semblance. Never mind I was confident her father had more than enough experience to handle himself- one didn't become a teacher at Signal without some impressive feats of their own. Never mind that I didn't have a single credible source saying that Adam had stayed in Vale. I'd chased down dozens of old connections to ensure that much and they had all been positive that he'd left along with Cinder and the rest of her group.
But... there was a chance- however small- that Adam could be a danger to the Xiao Long-Rose family. They deserved to at least be told to be on the lookout.
Travel to Patch was... difficult. Not many boats came from or went to the small island. It was a small, sleepy town- about three dozen or so residences, from what Yang had told me. Beautiful cliff sides, pristine beaches, dark forests, cold winters and thick snowfall for most of the year. A stark contrast from where I'd grown up. Yang had promised to take me there one day when we had the time. She'd wanted me to meet her father. A lump formed in my throat at the memory.
"One boat to Patch, please." It took everything I had to keep my voice steady as I spoke. I was just... too emotional. I was too lost in thought about seeing Yang and Ruby again. Even the thought of them yelling at me- furious with me- was easier than just… not knowing how they felt.
The woman working the booth was somewhat shiny from the sunscreen she used for her pale skin. Her dark eyes looked up from her papers and met my gaze for just a moment before glaring at my ears. I'd... lost my black ribbon after the Fall, and I couldn't bring myself to wear the yellow one Yang had gotten me, which meant that my ears were visible. I'd gotten so used to wearing the ribbon that I'd almost forgotten what it was like to have to deal with the rampant, casual racism that came from regular, everyday sorts of people… Almost.
"Cats are bad luck for sailors," the woman said, glaring at me as if I'd done something wrong just by asking her to do her job. Usually I'd walk away from someone like this. There was never any way to change their mind, and pushing further only let them revel in the power they held over you. But I was desperate. I needed to get to Patch. I needed to see Yang.
"I can pay. Please!" I begged, fishing the Lien from my pocket to offer her as payment. Sora had told me about a friend in Patch that he visited frequently. He'd explained that renting a boat round-trip usually costs about a hundred Lien. The island was on the way to some of the best fishing territory in Vale's waters, and only six miles off the coast through some of the most Grimm-culled waters on Remnant. One hundred Lien was a bargain. I'd brought eight hundred. Just in case.
"Get out of here before I call the cops," the woman snarled. She'd triggered the alarm before she'd even finished her sentence- I was lucky enough to have the ears to hear most silent alarms.
"Thanks for the help," I mumbled, rolling my eyes as I stepped away from the booth. Fine. The booth was just the official way to get to Patch. There were others. They were just… usually less safe. Using the booth meant that one's departure and arrival was tracked both ways. Someone couldn't simply pick up a traveler, take their money and belongings and dump them in the ocean. I trusted my own combat skills. Worst case scenario, I'd end up stranded on Patch until someone offered to bring me back to the mainland.
I walked down the harbor, eyeing the few boats that were still moored at this time in the afternoon. There weren't many- most of the boats belonging to career fishermen were already out on the water. All of those boats that remained were filled with people who seemed caught up in their own work. I asked every group that seemed open, and got a similar response.
Cats, boats, and bad luck.
Of course.
It took everything in me not to get angry. I just needed a ride. Why was everything so difficult? Why couldn't this just be simple? Why-
"Cenote... I think we're cooked."
"Yeah... you're probably right."
The voices only caught my ear because I was downwind. I could've been on the marina for days had it not been for that little miracle. I followed the voices to the next boat over to see who'd been talking. It was a small family- three total- arguing on their 40 foot boat. I could smell the fish from my spot on the harbor, salty and delicious, but I tore my attention from the fish to see the people arguing.
I could see a man who was obviously the father- sea blue hair with specks of gray already peppering his head and beard. He had broad shoulders and exuded the kind of briney demeanor I'd come to learn all seamen seemed to adopt after a couple decades on the waves. His daughter was maybe a year older than me, kept her curly pink hair in a long, flowing ponytail, and had a body that was obviously attuned to combat. Finally, there was a younger son- the one that had declared they were cooked- probably about Ruby's age. He was sporting deep navy blue hair, but my heart skipped a beat as I noticed the impressive horns sprouting from his head… Bull horns…
"Cenote, come on. I've got this! I can keep us safe! Please!" The daughter seemed just as desperate as I felt. She was holding onto a giant, rusted looking spear, squeezing it so tightly I was surprised it hadn't already snapped in her hands.
"It's not your fault, Pearl. It's mine. I should've-"
"Cenote! This isn't fair! You have to trust me! I can-"
"Guys." The son gently nudged his sister, quickly shushing her as I took a few steps closer towards their boat.
"We don't want any trouble," Cenote said, quickly standing between me and his children. Clearly this harbor wasn't as safe as I thought it might be. He seemed to swell as he defended his family. It reminded me so much of watching my own father...
"Seems trouble found you guys. What's wrong," I asked, moving my hands to show they were empty. I still had Gambol Shroud visible on my hip, but there was a certain difference between the weapon of an average thug and those of a Hunter that even a civilian could distinguish.
"Our boat's shielding took a beating earlier today and we can't afford a fix." The boy... was a boy. His eyes instantly went to my chest before quickly meeting my gaze as he answered my question. It couldn't have been much of a secret- I could see the damage on the shielding clear as day- but the family probably would've been happier about keeping their business their own.
"Shut your big mouth, jack-off," his sister hissed, gently smacking her brother on the shoulder.
"She's a Huntress! Maybe she can help," he responded, rubbing his shoulder.
"We can't afford to pay a Huntress," their father said quickly, waving me off with an apologetic look on his face.
I could piece together their situation pretty easily. Going out in a boat without proper defenses was suicide. Most boats used Dust infused shielding to intimidate Grimm into keeping their distance. The saying went that if there was enough Dust to use to shield a boat, there'd certainly be enough to use as ammo to put most Grimm down. So the monsters were kept at bay… mostly. Some of the stronger creatures of Grimm tested their luck from time to time. That's when times called for a skilled combatant. I could tell that was the daughter's job- it at least explained the spear. Enlisting the services of Hunters was a lucrative move- one that most fishermen couldn't afford. Unfortunately, with their damaged shielding, this family was in no position to head out to sea without signaling every Grimm in the area and risking their lives. Luckily, I wasn't the average Huntress.
I took a few steps forward, eyeing the damage to their shielding. I could see deep gouges where fangs had pierced through, as well as some crushing damage. I wasn't familiar with all of the Grimm in Vale, but I'd heard my mother tell tales of the sorts of Grimm that lurked in the deep. I'd take a gamble that this was the work of a Sea Feilong.
"I need a ride to Patch. I'd be willing to pay," I explained, taking a step into their boat as I spoke. "Four hundred Lien? Eight hundred roundtrip?"
"Cenote, that'd cover the down payment for new shielding," the daughter whispered hopefully.
"A roundtrip to Patch? I'd feel bad charging her eighty Lien, let alone eight hundred. Plus, we wouldn't be able to take her until after the shielding is installed. It'd take at least a week for-"
"I wouldn't mind paying upfront," I offered, taking my eyes off the family for just a moment as one of the fish struggled in its net. It reminded me so much of the days my mother would take me out of our little kayak and cast a net or two out in the water, hungrily waiting for dinner to swim into our trap.
"That's not fair to you. What's stopping us from taking your money and not bringing you to Patch? Or even leaving you on the island," their father explained, arms crossed over his wide chest as he explained his fears. Somehow I could tell he was trying to parent me as well. As if he thought I was a young woman making a mistake of a deal. He wasn't entirely wrong, but for some odd reason I knew I could trust these folk.
"Dad, come on," the son begged, trying to get his father to see reason. To take the easy way out. Looking into the older man's stone gray eyes, I could see pride as deep as any ocean. He couldn't allow himself to take advantage of me, or take a handout. He made me miss my own father. I wondered what he was doing now.
"Is that mackerel," I asked, turning my gaze back to the flopping fish in the net.
"Yeah. On a good day we catch enough mackerel to use as tuna bait the following day," the boy explained, earning another slap from his sister.
"I haven't eaten breakfast yet, and I'm honestly pretty hungry." I'd watched my mother work around my father's pride so often. She always found some way to make charity seem like payment for services rendered. Something about masculine pride just couldn't allow them to take a handout. I kind of admired it, in a way. But I admired how easily my mother talked around my father's defenses to accommodate him just as much.
"How about I pay you one hundred Lien up-front for the round-trip to Patch. And I pay you seven hundred for this bag of mackerel and your services to help me bring it to a restaurant in Vale that I'd sell it to."
"That bag is only twenty pounds, it's-"
"Cenote! Enough! She's trying to help us! Take the help," the daughter insisted, grabbing her father and shaking him in desperation. I was almost worried he'd argue, but I could see his eyes soften as he noticed the tears in his daughter's eyes. She was desperate. And what father could bear to see his child so desperate?
"I… I'm sorry. Times have just been hard, I- I guess I'm… not very used to being offered help," he explained, gently patting his daughter on the shoulder to let her know he was okay.
"I understand. I apologize for putting you and your family in an awkward position. I just… need to feel helpful," I explained, hoping that my own honesty would make this situation less stressful for the man.
"What's your name," he asked, taking a couple of steps forward and offering his hand. It was large, rough, and calloused, clearly the product of decades at sea. Scars criss-crossed his brown skin, adding even more texture to an already seasoned life.
"Blake. Blake Belladonna," I answered, taking his hand.
"Nice to meet you, Blake. I'm Cenote. This is my daughter, Pearl, and my son, Cousteau."
"Cenote, if you want to get the Valiant into the shop today you gotta go now," Pearl said roughly. Taking my eyes off Cenote I realized she was loading a wagon full of what catch they'd made for the day.
"Yeah," Cousteu said quickly. "I can go with Blake-"
"I will go with Blake and help her deliver her fish," Pearl interrupted, tossing a mackerel at her brother that caught him square in the jaw. "You will sell the rest of today's catch at the market."
"Aw, come on-"
"Not gonna let you ruin this, Rizzlord," Pearl responded, waving her brother over to help with the rest of the bags. "Come finish loading the wagon so Cenote can get the rig to the shop."
Cousteau hadn't taken his eyes off me for a moment, but after catching my gaze again he quickly picked up the fish his sister had thrown and ran to help her out, leaving me with their father.
"... thank you… Blake. I… You don't have to-"
"I've been up and down this harbor since noon looking for someone who'll take me to and from Patch. You're the first people to agree. So thank you."
"I… Sorry about that. I-"
"It's not your fault. From what I heard, cats are bad luck at sea," I said with a shrug. Before he could respond I handed him all the Lien I had on me. Hopefully this family could do something good with all this money.
"I really do appreciate this, Blake. I-"
"The shop closes in an hour! Takes twenty minutes to get there!" Pearl and her brother were already off the boat. Pearl had the net bag tied in a sort of backpack for her to wear while she held tight onto the rusted spear in her hands. She was clearly anxious to get moving.
"Thank you," Cenote sighed, moving to unmoor the boat to get it moving. I nodded and stepped off the boat, moving to join his children at the dock.
"Remember, that's twelve Lien per pound or twenty a head. Don't let anyone short-sell you-"
"I've got, Pearl. I know how to sell," Cousteau sighed, rolling his eyes at his sister as he adjusted the fish in the wagon.
"I know. I trust you. We can't let Cenote down, alright," she said, gently ruffling her brother's hair. She quickly stopped speaking as I got closer and chased her brother off to the market. As I got closer to her, I finally managed to make out her Faunus trait- a set of gills on her neck that were just barely covered by her clothing. It was then that I thought about Cenote. I hadn't noticed a single trait on him. Interesting.
"Thanks for helping. We don't have much so we can't really pay you back-"
"I bought this fish, a ride, and your help transporting it. There's nothing to pay me back for," I reminded her.
"... right. Well… thanks." I could tell Pearl was trying to keep things professional between us, but her desire for small talk won out after just a few minutes into our hour-long trek to Sorrel's parent's restaurant.
"You don't look old enough to be a Huntress."
"School's out these days, if you hadn't noticed," I reminded her, nodding east towards the towering cliff sides that were visible even from Vale's industrial district.
"Right… sorry… I um… Never mind," she mumbled, trailing off as she lost the nerve to ask her question.
"What's on your mind," I asked, seeing how her hands trembled as she clung tightly to her spear. There were emotions there I could see, but honestly felt like I was intruding on by even noticing.
"I… I need to be able to protect my brother and Cenote. I… I'm not as good with this thing as mom was and I… I messed up today. I just… saw what was attacking us and I think I just… froze. It's my fault we took so much damage. I need to be better. I… I need…" She trailed off again, only turning to meet my gaze after another dozen or so steps.
"You need training?"
"Yeah… but you've got a sword so I-"
"I'm proficient with lots of weapons. I've never used a spear before, but it's not exactly the most complicated weapon," I explained, watching her reaction as I spoke. It wasn't an insult- spears were astronomically simple weapons. Even more so than swords were. The difference in their usage was mastery. Someone who was proficient with a spear was always a danger on the battlefield.
"You might want to save up for a new-"
"No. No, I…" Pearl looked away, clearly upset at the subject.
"Can I ask? There's a story here and we've got another fifty minutes to get to the restaurant." I wasn't being unnecessarily intrusive. If Pearl refused to get a new weapon, I needed to know why.
"I… My mom… she gave me some beginner training on how to use a spear. This was the training spear she gave me- hers could transform into a harpoon gun. You should've seen it," she sighed, seemingly lost in a memory. It took a few moments before she wiped some tears from her pink eyes and continued her story. "She used to protect us. But… One day, a few years ago, we were attacked by a Sea Feilong… Her Semblance let her walk on water. She led it away from the Valiant but… I couldn't help her when she was so far away. And she never made it back." Pearl's voice wavered as she finished speaking, and I gave her some time to breathe before responding.
"You blame yourself?" I could tell as much from the way she'd told the story.
"Of course I do. Who else could I blame," she said casually. All these years and blaming herself was still the easiest way to justify her losing her mother.
"Does your family blame you," I asked, already knowing the answer.
"... no. Cousteau was too young to really remember what happened and… Cenote… She told him to protect us. Those were her last words before he gunned the Valiant back to shore. He's been doing it ever since," she explained, looking away from me in a mixture of shame and frustration.
"I'm guessing he's not your father," I asked, curious about the way she spoke about him, and his lack of Faunus traits.
"He's our step-father. Never knew our real dad. Don't care to know him now," she said gruffly.
Another few minutes ticked by while I thought about what Pearl had told me. It wasn't my place to stick my nose in family affairs, but there was a way I could help. I could make a difference.
And maybe Yang might forgive me?
"I'll train you."
"Huh?"
"I'll train you. I have a week until the shielding is repaired anyway. We can start today," I explained, holding my hand out to examine her spear. She seemed reluctant to hand it over, but did so after a few moments.
"I can't pay you-"
"Looks like Cenote's rubbing off on you," I said with a smirk, knowing exactly how the older woman might react to a small jab like that.
"I… Fine. But you better get used to fish dinners," she huffed, arms crossed over her chest.
"I could think of worse ways to be paid for training someone."
