Yang sat quietly in a circle of folding chairs, the room filled with a stillness that seemed too heavy to break. Around her were ten other students, each lost in their own thoughts. Some shifted uncomfortably in their seats, others stared blankly ahead, lost in memories they would rather forget. This was their group—a place for those affected by the Battle of Beacon, for those scarred by its impact in ways that didn't always show.
She glanced across the circle at Pyrrha Nikos, who was sitting with her hands folded tightly in her lap, her gaze distant. Pyrrha had been coming to these sessions as long as Yang had, but she'd never spoken about her experience during the battle. Yang had wondered what haunted Pyrrha, what had brought her here, but Pyrrha kept those things locked away, a quiet sadness in her eyes.
The door opened, and Yang turned to see Velvet Scarlatina entering, hesitating slightly as she scanned the room before finding an empty seat. The rabbit Faunus kept her head low, brushing a strand of hair behind one of her long ears as she moved quietly to join the circle. Yang's mind drifted back to a conversation she'd had with Coco, Velvet's teammate, just a few days earlier. Coco had mentioned that Velvet hardly spoke anymore and had been distant since the attack on Beacon. Yang could see the weight Velvet carried; it was there in her averted eyes and in the way her smile never quite reached her eyes.
Professor Ozpin, seated at the front, offered Velvet a gentle nod. "Thank you for joining us, Velvet," he said, his voice warm yet steady. "And thank you all for being here again today."
Yang looked at him with a faint sense of gratitude. Ozpin had been leading these sessions since they'd started two months ago, and his presence brought a sense of stability. Twice a day, she'd come here and spoken about the little things—how she was handling her day, how she managed her grief. Sometimes she felt like she'd made progress, and other days it felt like she was only scratching the surface of something far deeper.
"Velvet," Ozpin continued, "would you mind introducing yourself to the group?"
Velvet's eyes widened slightly, but she swallowed, then nodded. She rose from her seat, her movements careful, and gave a small, hesitant smile. "Hi, I'm Velvet," she began, her voice soft but steady. "I…I was here at Beacon during the battle. And, well…I'm here to…try to work through some things." Her voice trembled slightly, and Yang could see the guilt in her eyes, something heavy that Velvet wasn't ready to voice.
Ozpin offered her a comforting smile. "Thank you, Velvet. Take your time. We're all here to support one another."
Velvet sat back down, glancing around the circle before dropping her gaze to her lap. Ozpin looked to Yang next, his expression inviting. "Yang, would you mind starting us off today?"
Yang blinked in surprise. Usually, she spoke last, giving herself time to prepare. But she only gave a small nod, accepting without protest. She took a deep breath, letting her fingers play absently over the edge of her chair, and began to speak.
"Um, well…my day was pretty normal, I guess," she started, her voice casual. "Went to classes, did some training with my team. We, uh…may have started another food fight in the cafeteria." She chuckled, glancing down at the stains on her uniform, a lighthearted touch to what was otherwise a heavy session. "Sorry if anyone got caught in the crossfire."
A few people around the circle laughed quietly, the tension in the room easing a little. Even Ozpin allowed himself a small smile.
Yang hesitated, glancing at Ozpin, and then continued more seriously. "But…there's something else I wanted to talk about."
She took a deep breath, steadying herself, her fingers curling tightly around the chair's armrest. "Last night, I had another nightmare," she began. "I couldn't shake it, so I went down to the monument…you know, to leave something for my uncle."
Her voice wavered slightly, but she pressed on. "That night, when Beacon was attacked…I was with Qrow. We went looking for Ruby. She'd run off, and we went after her. When we finally reached the tower…" She paused, drawing in a shaky breath as the memory filled her mind. "We were ambushed by Cinder. She was there, waiting, and we didn't stand a chance. Qrow…he saved me. He threw himself in front of her attack. But I…I wasn't quick enough, and a part of that attack still hit me. My arm…his life. They were both taken that night."
Yang's gaze dropped to her metal arm, and she flexed her fingers unconsciously, the cool metal a reminder of what she'd lost. "I'm still here, but he's gone. And I can't shake that feeling, that question of why. Why am I still here, and he's not?"
Her voice trailed off, and the room fell silent as her words lingered in the air, filled with a pain that was both fresh and raw. She closed her eyes, gathering herself, and took a deep breath. "I know I put on this front, acting like I'm fine, like I'm the same person I was before. But…they know. My team knows. And I'm just trying to be better, day by day, to let myself heal."
Ozpin gave her an encouraging nod. "Thank you, Yang. Your strength is clear to everyone here. I know your uncle would be proud of you."
Yang managed a small smile, feeling a touch lighter, even if only for the moment. Ozpin then turned to Pyrrha. "Pyrrha, would you like to share anything with us today?"
Pyrrha glanced up, her expression closed off. She gave a small shake of her head and mumbled, "Pass." She folded her hands tightly in her lap, looking down, her face unreadable.
After the session, most students filed out quietly, some lost in thought, others exchanging a few words as they left. Yang noticed Velvet still sitting in her chair, her head bowed, lost in her own sadness.
Yang approached her, leaning down slightly. "Hey, Velvet. Are you…doing okay?"
Velvet looked up slowly, her brown eyes filled with a sadness that made Yang's heart ache. She shook her head slightly. "Not really. Talking about what happened…really hurts."
Yang knelt down beside her, giving her a soft, understanding smile. "That's why we're here. It's not easy, and it won't be for a while. But we come here to help each other. To share what we can, when we're ready. Someday, you won't need these sessions anymore. But for now, it's okay to lean on us."
Velvet's lips curved in a small, sad smile. "Thanks, Yang." Her voice was soft, grateful.
Yang nodded and stood, glancing across the room just in time to see Pyrrha slipping out of the door, her head down, her shoulders tight with tension. Yang watched her leave, feeling a surge of worry. She didn't know what had happened to Pyrrha during the Battle of Beacon, but she knew that same haunted look all too well.
As she turned back to Velvet, Yang made a quiet promise to herself. She would talk to Pyrrha. Whatever pain Pyrrha was hiding, Yang was determined to help her find a way through it.