Ch 4: Shatter And Rebuild
They knew she was home. Rusty had confirmed as much when he got up that morning. He had said she was sick and was sleeping hard, though that was the best a child could really say on the subject. When there was no sign of her by lunch, Yuki got a bit concerned. After helping with lunch for the guys in the field, she brought it out. Crimson took his with excitement and Blaze thanked her but Carmine easily could see she was distracted when she handed his food over.
He followed her eyes over to Scarlet's window and leaned, nuzzling into her face, "she still in there?"
Her ears flicked but her face was firm and she didn't respond, still staring. When he ran a hand through her hair and spoke more softly, her eyes broke their gaze to look at him, "Yuki… please take care of her? Something must really be wrong if she isn't even coming out. Even when she's sick she asks mom for help right away."
The tiger purred for a moment, tucking her head under his chin before brushing past back inside. She already was worried about what he was saying. She deeply hoped it wasn't because someone made her cry again but since she couldn't hear a thing from the room all day she knew that couldn't quite be right. She tried knocking at first but was met with only silence. With a louder knock she called Scarlet's name but still not even a rustle. At this point, Yuki was incredibly concerned. She gently let herself in, opening the door slowly and peering around the room as she did, "Scarlet? Can I get you anything? Medicine or some sou…"
She gasped lightly. She couldn't see the extent of everything with how Scarlet was buried in a blanket but the blood in the fox's hair and some dried on her pillow made Yuki shocked right away. She moved over fast, relieved that Scarlet was clearly breathing even if slowly and weakly as she slept. And she was definitely asleep or unconscious in some way, making not even a twitch as Yuki came to her. She could see the tip of Scarlet's tail by the girl's face as well and knew it must be curled around her or tucked between her legs. While the former was fairly common, the latter almost never happened if at all but the angle led her to believe this time the latter was true about the fluffy appendage. Yuki was careful, slowly peeling the sheets back to get a better look at her.
Scarlet had clearly been through some ordeal far worse than usual teenage squabbles between alphas and bullies. Under the blanket, the tiger got the entire view. Scarlet's breathing was actually a bit ragged as it drew slowly into her lungs and back out, wrists tucked between the tail and her body, dark and raw from some sort of skin friction burn and tightness, face with a busted lip, bruising on the cheeks, scrapes and cuts from some sort of scuffle maybe, and her tail was tightly tucked up between heavily bruised thighs.
The bruising on the sides and backs were clearly hand prints of some kind in shape, her head was no longer bleeding but it was covered in blood in the back that had already dried. Her eyes had the streaked stains of tears long since passed on it and her legs were tucked up to herself as well. The blood staining her shorts heavily at her rear was hidden from view but the tiny spotting of blood on the front where the scratched inner sheath had been bleeding and tiny amounts soaked through. It was light enough for Yuki to just assume it had dripped there from Scarlet's face.
The fox's length was also exposed within the shorts because the skin inside was so irritated and the monkey had been rough with it so her body had pushed it from its sheath to soothe how irritating it was sliding against all the deep nail scratches inside but also it was redder and more raw than usual from the monkey being so rough against the sensitive skin, the two issues rubbing each other inside were too painful to continue to deal with and thus led to the unconscious body shoving the length out the sheath though it was hidden due to the cowered tucked tail.
Yuki let the blanket go, the fabric fluttering down lightly back over Scarlet who was still dead asleep. She didn't know right at first what she should do, the only thought she acted on and took off out of the room quickly. She slid to a stop in the kitchen first but Garnet had already left to make town rounds so she darted outside to where Carmine had already gone back to work. He had only gotten a chance to look up before she was grabbing at him, "Carmine! C…come on!"
He was trying to get her to slow down and tell him what was wrong as she dragged him inside but she was having none of that, trying to get him to the room. When she pulled him over, he froze in the door. He could smell the blood. He could see the state she was in. His body was quickly tensing as Yuki was shaking him lightly, "Carmine come on! Snap out of it I need your help. I can't pick her up like this to take care of her. Please!"
With the fox pulled back to attention, he slipped with her to the bed and she pulled the blanket away, hearing him growl. A soft hand rested on his before she was gently trying to wake Scarlet up as Carmine was looking her over for the best place to lift her safely. Yuki's hands brushed hair from her face and gently held it, "Scarlet… sweetie wake up… Scarlet come on, open your eyes for me…"
Finally, after minutes of growing worry from no response, Scarlet groaned lightly, whimpering as she curled tighter and twitched in pain. Her eyes blinked unevenly and opened a bit, pupils rolling to glance at Yuki. The tiger was leaning close to kiss her head, noticing Scarlet flinch at such a gesture and not missing the unusual nature of it. As Carmine tried to tuck arms under her, Scarlet yelped and tried to scoot from him unsuccessfully. He had hardly even touched her, his brows furrowed in confusion as he pulled away. Yuki glanced at him before her attention went back to Scarlet's face, moving her hair away again, voice extremely tender, "Scarlet… it's ok. We just need to get you cleaned up and I need to look you over. Can you please let Carmine move you?"
Barely opened lids showed eyes turning to the large fox before Scarlet buried into her body and tail, closing her eyes again or trying to. Yuki wouldn't let her go back to sleep, too worried about what might happen. When Carmine tucked her in his arms this time, she didn't move or resist at all. No noise except a whimper of obvious pain could be heard. He held her close against him, her face falling into his chest heavily, and walked her with Yuki in toe to the bathroom.
She was getting warm water ran as she set his sister down and gently tried to help her with her clothing until she bit him so hard he was instantly bleeding, hand yanking away with a yelp, "Hey!"
Scarlet was tucked tighter into herself, growling weakly. The woman's head turned fast, moving to wave Carmine away, "I can do that. You are not actually helping. I think I can get her in from here but I'll call you back in if I can't."
He held his bleeding fingers to his lips and grunted but stepped out of the bathroom to wait in the hall. When he was gone, Yuki knelt down, "Scarlet… I need to get you cleaned up ok? Can you let me help you?"
She whimpered, holding herself and looking away. As Scarlet's senses were catching back up to being awake, the pain in her head was so intense she felt like throwing up. Her body hurt and burned and she was struggling to get her vision to clear and focus on anything. Yuki was patient but internally she was struggling between anger and worry for Scarlet. She had never really seen anyone hurt this badly that she knew so personally and she was just desperately hoping Scarlet was going to be alright and it just looked worse than it was. When the fox seemed to sway some and grow pale, Yuki poked her head out the door, "Carmine, get me something she can use. I think she might vomit. She looks green."
He just nodded and headed off, returning not long after with a bucket their mother often would use with theme when they were too ill to make it to a toilet or outside. It was handed off to Yuki, who also grabbed his hand, looking over the bite, "You don't need stitches. Get some ice on it and you'll be fine, love."
With the bucket in hand, Yuki returned to Scarlet just in time as the young fox hunched forward in a sway of her body that looked like she might collapse, expelling anything left in her empty stomach into the bucket suddenly and violently, her body jerking. The tiger got a cool rag and draped it across the back of Scarlet's neck, rubbing gently on her back as Scarlet convulsed into a bit of dry heaving until her stomach calmed. She was whimpering heavily now, shaking all over as pain increased from all the movement, a hand moving to press into the tile floor to brace herself from dropping over.
When she wasn't spasming any more, Yuki got her out of her shirt and bra. There weren't as many injuries here which gave Yuki some hope. She had already begun thinking the worst and praying to the Brothers she was wrong. But when she tried to help Scarlet out of her shorts, the fox nearly snapped into her as well, a desperate growl leaving Scarlet's throat almost like a cry, "H…hey. Scarlet it's just me ok? If you want, I can hold you steady and you can do it yourself but I really need to get you in that bath."
Slowly, Scarlet shook her head. She wasn't fully sure what the status of anything beneath was but she was still struggling in the fear and shame of her own body and didn't want to be exposed. The gentle sigh from Yuki made the fox glance over but the tiger was gentle, "Alright but you are getting in the bath."
She was supported to her feet as she stumbled over to the tub, Yuki helping get her in it even though her shorts were still on, getting her seated as best as she could into the water. Scarlet wasn't willing to sit on her rump, not willing to put any weight on it as the pressure and ache was intense enough to send another wave of nausea through her. As Yuki began to try to get everything clean, pouring water through Scarlet's hair with a cup, she bit her lip, "what on earth happened Scarlet? Can you please tell me?"
She was met only with silence. Scarlet was in her head, swimming in her own shame and embarrassment, confused on how to even perceive her body's betrayal and the abuse, forget explaining it. Yuki didn't pressure her, trying her best to take anything she could see into account to try to piece anything together as well as not miss anything that might need care. Clearly, between the injury and the behavior, Scarlet had a pretty serious concussion. Now that the wound area was washed up, the tiger could see someone had cracked her skull and the skin.
She got Carmine to get her the medical kit and took to closing up the wound and treating the area. She did the same with any other cuts and bruises, using a family made salve on the bruising that was proven to heal such things. At this point, the blood on the shorts was easy to see. Yuki didn't want to risk the young fox's current compliance with the medical care so she said nothing but her heart was sinking in a swirl of anger and pain for the young fox.
Yuki excused herself to grab Scarlet some clean clothes. While gone, Scarlet tucked her legs into her arms weakly, wincing at the pain it caused, and leaned into the wall of the bath, staring at the red tinged water around her. She could feel the irritated itching pain of her raw genital area and the inner skin in her sheath. She could feel the intense pains in her rear from the hostile treatment it had received. Her face buried in her knees and she whimpered, angry at her body for responding to Harmony's sexual assault on her length and skin, the feeling of gross hands burning still across her skin making her feel sick and detesting her own body for even experiencing any reactions to everything.
She was trying her best to grasp the concept that physical reaction and actual desire were different. It wasn't really like it was a topic anyone had ever explained to her. It left her with confusion also swimming through her own self hatred of what happened. She couldn't even tell Yuki. She was worried about what the tiger would think of sure deplorable behavior even if it really wasn't her fault some people hurt her. She was convinced Yuki would judge her for having a physical response as much as she was judging herself.
Eyes closed to try to control another roll of nausea as she finally rested into the seated position fully, muscles shaking from avoiding it so long. Yuki was already returning with a tank top and clean underwear and sleep shorts, things that would be very comfortable so she could get Scarlet back to bed. She had Carmine on the task of changing the bedding for clean fabric. The two had noticed the spotting of blood within the blankets as well and Yuki was becoming more and more certain she knew more of what might have happened though to avoid worrying or setting off Carmine yet she said nothing.
She was able to get Scarlet from the tub with some effort, getting the fox dry and helping with the top. Scarlet wanted her to leave for the rest but Yuki was not sure it was a good idea so they compromised and the tiger turned to face away. With a grip on the wall, Scarlet slipped from the shorts and swim bottoms. Her body shook and she whimpered in the pain as she pulled the garments down past irritated torn and raw skin. She did her best with the rag to clean the rest of herself though touching the abused area of her ass was too much and left her shaking intensely, unable to do much more than get old blood off before struggling into the underwear and shorts.
Once she was dressed, Yuki helped Scarlet back to bed, getting Carmine's help to get the girl tucked in safely and getting some ice for Scarlet's head. As the fox passed back out, Yuki stroked some hair behind her ear and left the room. As the door closed she turned to Carmine, anger and deep sorrow mixed together as they boiled up to the surface, "Someone hurt her so badly Carmine… it's… I don't know who did it this time but… it's bad. It's not just the bruises and the injury on her head… there was blood… elsewhere."
He seemed a bit confused but as she explained what she'd seen he was bristling with rage. The island had always been safe enough to not have to fear such outlandish things to a teen on their walk home. It had been such a calm place to grow up with all the White Fang long gone. He didn't even know where to begin to look for the people responsible. Yuki seemed to have an idea though as she took his hand and nuzzled it, trying to get both of them to relax. She kissed his injured fingers and growled. There was nothing they could do this time to set anyone straight.
It took effort for Yuki to get him back to work. Scarlet was more comfortable in her sleep now with her body clean, salves and stitches and ice to help with everything else. Nightmares were plaguing her and waking her up in rotations, shaking and panting. At one point she woke up sweating with a shout that drew Yuki back to her room. She was able to get the tiger to relax by calming herself down and insisting it was fine though when Yuki brought fresh ice she had asked for anything to help her raw skin and other scratches, calming to want to do it herself.
Once she had these things, she bit her lip, wincing as she worked her finger into the sheath while everything was currently in the way exposed and got the soothing ointment on the scratches inside, the numbing agent in the family made salve helping instantly. After also getting the irritated raw skin of her length soothed, she was happy it all tucked back away and wasn't hurting anymore for now. It made it so much easier to maneuver her body into a more comfortable position as well as get her mind to relax more. Snuggled down into her sheets, she shifted the ice on her head to the throbbing wound and sighed, eyes closed.
Again, she felt even more sure she didn't care anymore about feelings and love and things that clearly she was never going to have. She was still certain now more than ever that she was only ever going to be wanted by people as an object for their desires and pleasures. If that was going to be how things were, she was at least going to be in control of what was happening to her next time. She settled down into her pillow as her head spun, finding solace and some strength in her decision, her scroll pulled over to dig for the exam information for Beacon.
—-
Time didn't get any more out of Scarlet about what happened. She healed and got back to her life without another word about any of it. Yuki and Crimson had long since stopped pressing her for answers when it became clear they would never get them. Scarlet never saw that shark around ever again and Harmony seemed to have moved off the island fast after everything happened according to the people in town. None of that bothered Scarlet. In fact she was happy they were all gone.
She had changed when she healed. With her alpha now in full swing and her mind made up, her shyness almost seemed to have died away with her injuries and had left behind only her other traits. She was confident and curious of people, in her own way allowing her to learn one's true nature more easily to avoid danger. She had started working on herself to gain the experience needed and started to get the other teens off her back by rising to their taunts. If they were going to point at her like a sexual creature then she was going to be one. Forget love, it was for the weak in her mind. You couldn't be devastated by it if you didn't believe in it anymore. She also found by embracing her physical beauty and what it could offer, she had a new sense of appreciation for herself and with nothing to say that bothered her anymore, the others all lost interest in trying to make her miserable. She even found that by simply being in control of her own body even when that was all someone wanted, things went from torment to pleasure. Instead of being a victim for their taunts and being used, she was at least rising to such challenges and finding no one bothered to say anything when they were also enjoying themselves.
Carmine hated it and how it made the family look for her to now be well known sleeping around with the girls her age. Her triplet brothers and Crimson seemed to just want to ignore it and not have a thing to do with it. The three of them were also no longer able to push her around and she often settled things fast with them, her alpha strong and refusing to have any of their nonsense as it protected her. Her parents didn't say anything but they did get more annoying about protection and being careful though it didn't take long for them to learn Scarlet wasn't fertile or at least not currently and wouldn't be outside of heats once they came so her father just nosed out of it. Her mother switched to being as frustrating as she was with the boys, always hounding about being smart with their sex escapades and cursing under her breath about the wild canine esk faunus and their wiles. Rusty and Scarlet's relationship didn't change, if anything getting stronger as the fox embraced her more dominant fluent lifestyle and nature, constantly keeping an eye out for him.
When the years turned and she was accepted into Beacon, she was no longer the little shy girl with the frown when someone made her blush. Now, she was the one that walked in a room and made people turn red or swoon. She had trained her beast not to cower either and that had taken her far. Even when faced with someone stronger, backing her alpha with her unrelenting confidence she had curated seemed to make stronger faunus sway or second guess, backing away from a fight. Her semblance had unlocked shortly after she had healed from the old trauma the first time someone crossed her while she was still working on her own strength, allowing her to turn invisible for periods of time.
This combined with everything she was now had turned her into someone she was satisfied with. Someone who couldn't be hurt by someone ever again. She would never be a victim again. She would be the hunter she was born to be. It was everything that led to her team partner's interest in her but that didn't matter. All that mattered to Scarlet was that she was finally at peace and no one could hurt her like that ever again.