"What do you mean she wasn't always mute?!" Yang asked. Mr. Hollow looked at the blonde with an expression that seemed to unnerve the huntresses present. It looked as if he was dreading the thought of telling them.
Yang felt a hand on her shoulder and saw Velvet with a stern expression on her face. The rabbit Faunus shook her head before looking at the Narehate. "You don't have to tell us right away if it makes you uncomfortable." She said.
"Maaa… Thank you Velvet.. let's just say, it's a story not for the faint hearted and leave it at that for now." Mr. Hollow said before gaining a steely demeanor. Velvet's ears drooped at this. It clearly wasn't something the Narehate wished to talk about. He gave her a smile of reassurance.
IN THE HUT
"where should I put her?" Ruby asked. "Over here." Nanachi said while Mitty and reg cleared a table off. Mitty narrowed her eyes now getting a good look at the ravenette-red headed huntress.
She looked exactly like the girl Saki described that he looked after for a week before raiders took her home to the surface. However, that was twelve years ago. She would at least be…
Mitty thought back to Saki's description of her and gasped. This teenager couldn't be who she thought she was, could she? She tapped her friend.
"Naa, what Mitty?" Nanachi asked. Mitty motioned towards ruby before 'speaking'. "She looks like that girl Saki saved twelve years ago." She signed. Her fellow Narehate scoffed.
"I doubt that little girl would want to come back here and deal with the horrors of the abyss." Nanachi said not knowing ruby had overheard their conversation.
"Wait, Mr. Hollow told you guys about me?" the huntress asked making both Narehates' eyes widen. "Naa, you're the little girl he told us about?!" Nanachi exclaimed.
"Everything ok in here?" Came Mr. Hollow's voice. Turning the two Narehates, robot, and huntress saw Mr. Hollow, Yang, and Velvet entering the hut.
Yeah, we're fine. You told them about me Mr. Hollow?" Ruby asked. The Narehate in question nodded. "yes, while Nanachi was disinterested, Mitty was actually smitten with your story and dream. She'd hoped to actually meet you."
Ruby was flattered that the silent Narehate actually liked her(not romantically), and her dream to become a huntress. "after sharing it, she decided that she wants to either become the Abyss' first Narehate cave raider or Remnant's first Narehate huntress. While I support her dream, I still discourage her from attempting to do so."
The three huntresses scowled. They knew why. They and the others had seen and felt the hate for Narehates in the cave raiders' eyes and voices at the guild.
Mr. Hollow glanced at Mitty, who'd now joined Nanachi and Reg to treat the poisoned Riko. "However, I think the latter could be possible." He said confusing them. "How so Mr. Hollow?" Velvet asked.
"With all of your help." The Narehate said. "You want us to leave the Abyss with her in tow. What about…" Yang began to say. "Mitty is very good at persuading Nanachi as you saw earlier." Mr. Hollow said before he and the four huntresses in training looked at the each other and laughed.
FEW HOURS LATER
"Wow, look at this spring!" Ruby exclaimed. "Naa, I figured you girls and guys could use a wash up after your trip here, and as an apology for me being a grouch." Nanachi said. "Thanks." Ruby said before seeing Yatsu and Mr. Hollow turn around.
"Don't mind us. We're giving you privacy" Mr. hollow said. "Are you sure? I doubt…" Coco asked. Velvet, blushing heavily, covered her team leader's mouth before she could say anything else.
"Ms. Adel, with all due respect, please don't embarrass your teammate." Mr. Hollow said shaking his head in disapproval whilst still facing away from the girls. He then departed.
Velvet sighed and began to undress. "I don't know why you continue to do that." The rabbit Faunus complained. "Do what?" Coco asked. "Embarrass me!" Velvet yelled. Yang let out a hearty chuckle as she lowered herself into the spring.
"Coco's not embarrassing you Vel." She said gaining the Brunette's attention. "She's playing matchmaker." This made the rabbit Faunus turn beet red as she entered the spring.
"We're two completely different species Yang!" Velvet said angrily. "So?" yang said, humor in her voice. "That didn't stop my sister from getting together with Blake." Velvet furrowed her eyebrows angrily as she sunk deeper into the spring.
Ruby watched this occur with a somber smile. If only velvet knew. Suddenly, a realization came across her mind; Mr. hollow had lived alone for the past twelve years.
"I should've stayed." She said catching everyone off guard. "What do you mean by that?" Velvet asked. "Prior to reuniting with my uncle, Mr. Hollow and I had a talk. I was hoping that he'd come with me, but he wouldn't. you all saw why." Ruby said. Yang's eyes briefly turned red.
'if I ever see that ass of a raider again, I'll beat him senseless." She thought. Ruby sighed. "Knowing that if I left he be alone, I offered to stay with him."
Velvet's expression softened as ruby continued. "He said that my place was on the surface. Only now, do I regret following his instructions instead of him back to his hut." Ruby said running a hand through her hair.
"Naa, you do realize that would've put a target on his back right?" the six girls turned to see Nanachi and Mitty carrying three towels each. "Saki asked us to bring you girls some towels." Nanachi said for Mitty as she signed.
"Thanks." Weiss said before glancing at ruby. "Hey, can we ask you something?" Nanachi and Mitty looked at her.
"What?" Nanachi asked. "After you met Mr. Hollow, how often did he visit you two or vice versa?" Yang asked. "Roughly three times a week, why?" Mitty signed whilst Nanachi spoke for her. Ruby sighed in relief before Blake place a hand on her shoulder.
"Ruby was worried that he'd shut himself away after she left." The Faunus said causing the two female Narehates to glance at each other, with Mitty having a worried expression.
LATER AFTER YATSU'S TURN IN THE SPRING
Mr. Hollow sighed as he sunk into the spring. It'd been some time since he'd been able to soak. That didn't mean that he didn't bathe. He had a spring of his own, but it wasn't as large.
"So, separation anxiety?" Saki opened his eyes hearing Nanachi's voice. Turning slightly, he saw her perched on a tree with Mitty sitting on a branch. The male Narehate huffed. "Ruby told Nanachi and I about her departure from the abyss." Nanachi said for Mitty.
Saki grit his teeth. "Maaa, I did want her to stay… but I realized that the abyss was no place for a child and that it'd been selfish of me to keep her here. She would've been safer with her parents and sibling." The two female Narehate glanced at each other
"f you wanted me to stay, then why didn't you take me up on my offer twelve years ago?" came a voice. The three turned to see Ruby and Blake. the prior had a towel for Saki whilst her girlfriend averted her eyes.
"I didn't know how the surface people would react Lil' Rose." Mr. Hollow said as Ruby hung the towel before sitting cross-legged near the edge of the spring making Blake uneasy.
"Maa, are you gonna stand there Kitty or are you going join us?" Mr. Hollow asked. "I'm good." Blake said blushing.
"Honey, his fur covers his entire body including that." Ruby said barely containing her amusement. "Fine, but I'm still not looking while I approach." The Faunus said. Ruby and Mr. Hollow shared a glance before laughing.
Blake's ears flattened against her skull in embarrassment as she sat opposite of ruby on Mr. Hollow's right. "So, tell me Ruby. How'd you and Blake get together." The Narehate asked as Nanachi motioned to Mitty that they should give the three some privacy
AN HOUR OF IDLE CHATTER LATER
The Faunus cursed her slow reaction time as Mr. Hollow exited the spring. Ruby, while used to his sudden movements, had no time to react when Mr. Hollow shook himself like a dog and retrieved his towel.
"Mr. Hollow!" Ruby groaned as both her and Blake's clothes were slightly damp. Saki gave a sheepish smile whilst sweat dropping at the cat Faunus' glare. "Sorry." He said before yawning.
"Come on, the others are probably already asleep. We should get some shut-eye as well." Mr. hollow said. The human-Faunus couple nodded in agreement. In the morning, Yang and the others would find the three curled up together.
A/N: Chapter 5 finished. As stated this story's AU will be updated not too longer after this, so stay tuned. Next chapter will have cooking hijinks and the team meets Riko. As always read and review. That being said peace.
Next up: Remnant's Death Korps
POST A/N: Whenever I update this story I also update huntress from the abyss. They're a two for one deal.