Chapter 8
Summer would be the first person to say that conflict between friends was bad, and should be resolved quickly. However, as she sat on the back of Sadie's horse and listened to Miss Adler and their newly rescued gang member argue as they left the coast from a very obvious prison break, she began to realize that there was a time and place for everything. This was not either.
John Marston reminded Summer a lot of Arthur, though she doubted either man would appreciate the comparison. From the multiple stories she had managed to harass out of John to the things she'd read in Arthur's journal, the two hated that they were so similar. She'd flipped through Arthur's book to get a better idea of the area and what she was dealing with, and a lot of what Arthur said indicated a grudging respect for the scared man before her. And from everything John alluded to about Arthur, he felt the same for the older gunslinger. What John Marston did not have, however, was respect for Summer Rose.
"Why in the hell did you trust someone like this?" John demanded in his raspy voice. "We've been turned on by people left and right, and you bring someone with you just because said she knows Arthur!" Summer deigned to not feel offended even when he jabbed a finger in her direction. It was a discussion between Sadie and John, Summer didn't need to be involved. At least, that's the reason she wasn't smacking sense into him.
"She knew Arthur, John. The man's gone. He sent her to meet me after he passed." The revelation set Marston back in his saddle, and he blinked a few times as he processed the 'death' of Arthur Morgan. Summer wasn't lying to them so much as she let them assume without correcting their mistakes. Arthur deserved peace, much in the way that she hoped he was preserving her memory as well. What were the odds that he'd run into Qrow or Taiyang anyway?
"He's...he's dead? How?" John shook his head. "When we robbed the bank in Saint Denis, he was fine! Better than fine, actually; that was the maddest I've ever seen him." Sadie huffed as they continued trotting deeper into the woods near Annesburg, away from Copperhead Landing. Behind her, Summer kept a watchful eye out for any trouble. Someone had to, while they had this horseback debate.
"TB. All that coughing he'd been doing wasn't for show. Micah even started calling him Black Lung." She spit to the side at the mention of the hated man. "Summer said she sent him away for treatment, but we all know that's a one way trip." This time, the Huntress did pipe up.
"Hey, I did everything I could. He was feeling better the last time I saw him." Summer defended, though she knew it would fall on deaf ears. In America, medical advances weren't far enough to handle an affliction like Tuberculosis. Anyone diagnosed with the disease was handed a death sentence, and there was no convincing them otherwise without spilling all the beans. And at this point, telling the truth would make them think she was crazy, anyway.
"He was so defeated these past few weeks. I guess I was so caught up in our other problems that I never noticed." Sadie admitted guiltily. "He'd always seemed so bulletproof." John's ire at Summer cooled as he looked away, pulling his hat from the saddlebags of his horse and putting it on.
"I know what you mean. I guess it was just too much to imagine seeing Arthur go down. But then again, I thought that about Hosea and Sean too. Did we lose anyone else?" The path followed the river for a mile or two, and Summer vaguely knew of a small village up in the hills called Butcher's Creek. From what she had been able to find out, Dutch's gang was hiding out somewhere north of there. Which meant her ride was about to come to an end, since Dutch would as sooner shoot her than trust her. From Arthur's musings in his journal, Dutch was slow to trust normally. The paranoid frenzy he had worked himself into now guaranteed that he'd kill Sadie and John as well.
"Lenny. He got shot on the run across the rooftops. Died where he landed, the way Arthur tells...the way he told it." Sadie shook her head. She had really respected Arthur, from what Summer could tell. Sadie had yet to say a foul word about him, even jokingly. If Summer didn't know any better, she'd have said that Sadie was after Arthur. Oh well. That ship has sunk. She thought bitterly. Still, now was time for her to part ways with them. If she read the journal right, there was another friend of Arthur's north of Annesburg. A widow he had saved months prior from starvation. Surely Mrs. Balfour would be a safer companion than a crazed Dutch Van der Linde.
"Hang on a second." She called, and Miss Adler pulled the reins and slowed her steed. John mirrored the action shortly after, and they both turned to face her.
"Why, what's wrong?" John called back. His was tone was one of curiosity, but she could still see the mistrust in his eyes. Without answering first, Summer hopped down from Sadie's horse and gave him a soft pat on the rump for his troubles.
"I can't go with you to camp." She stated as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Given that she not only had helped Arthur in his time of need, but John as well, Sadie was less than enthused about committing a huge crime with Summer and then abandoning her in the wilderness.
"Why the hell not? You're as good as gold in my book, and Abigail would strangle John before he said a foul word about ya. Dutch will listen, we just gotta tell him what happened." John offered a quiet 'hey' at the mention of his woman, but Summer shook her head regardless.
"From everything I heard between you, Arthur, and the general public, Dutch Van der Linde isn't in the most understanding of moods these days. I mean, if John's word meant as much to him, wouldn't he have sent more than just you to get him out?" Sadie opened her mouth to reply, but nothing came out. "And on top of that, he's leery enough of strangers as it is. Throw Micah into the mix, and we'd all be gunned down before we made it into camp."
"Well what the hell are we supposed to tell Dutch? That Sadie broke me out of Sisika herself?" John demanded. "He's too smart to fall for that. And if Arthur told you half of it, then Dutch will want to talk to you anyway." To find out what you know. The second part went unsaid, but Summer had not escaped the wiles of Salem by being foolish.
"I appreciate that you guys want to return the favor, I really do. But I helped you out to pay Arthur back. The only thing left to do is to make sure you and your family escape safely. I'll contact you later, but for right now I need to disappear." Summer offered a bow in thanks, then turned and stepped off of the path. Sadie and John exchanged worried looks, at a loss for what to do.
"Where can we find you if we need you?" Sadie asked, and Summer turned and offered a kind smile in return.
"I'll be keeping an eye on you, don't worry. But come up to Willard's Rest if you want to talk. I'll be there for a few more days." With that, she stepped into the trees. The dogwoods around the path weren't particularly thick, and they only obscured her form for a moment each time. But as she walked deeper into the woods, Summer's white cloak vanished completely. She simply stepped behind a tree too small to hide her form and never stepped out again. The disappearance just further unsettled John, but he and Sadie had no choice but to continue on. The strange woman may have been queer and mysterious, but she had been right too. And Marston needed to have a word with Dutch.
The first thing Arthur did when he stepped out onto the pier of Kuo Kuana was loosen his collar and unbutton the top two buttons. The island was a temperate one, far more so than Guarma had been, but damn if he wasn't sweltering. His vest and hat helped keep him cool, but even that failed to put a dent in the heat. After he got used to it the weather wouldn't be so bad. But right now? I feel like a slab a meat on the grill. Arthur thought, wiping the sweat from his brow. The small schooner he had paid to bring him to the island was already offloading the supplies they were originally contracted to bring, and he'd paid them the last of the lien that Summer had loaned him.
And so, here he was in Menagerie, broke and hot and without his horse. But he was there, at least. Now, he had to find Sienna, find Famine, and maybe get a new weapon or two. As long as the White Fang could foot the bill, anyway. Considering he had gotten captured on their behalf, Arthur figured they owed him at least some hazard pay. He wouldn't demand it, but it didn't hurt to ask. He also had to handle the problem of how his weapons had been weaker than usual against the Grimm, and that was going to take some money.
"Well, one problem at a time." He muttered. Once he got clear of the dock, however, the heat and his poor financial situation paled in comparison to the true majesty that was Kuo Kuana. All around him, small but well built huts and cabins filled the tropical area. Faunus walked by calmly in light robes and short sleeves, though a few wore the more traditional (to him) shirts and pants. He saw some vests and hats here and there as well, but what really struck him was the variety of Faunus that surrounded him. Here, there, and everywhere; people with a staggering amount of different animal characteristics. Some were subtle, like the slitted pupils and scaled skin of a snake Faunus purchasing wares in the market, while others were far more dynamic. One man, and a large one at that, had what looked like elk antlers growing from his head. Just as strong as the animal he resembled, he carried a large rug on each each shoulder as if they weighed no more than bags of grain. Everywhere, Sienna's people talked and joked and laughed and thrived around him. And the palm trees, warm weather, and salty sea air gave the whole atmosphere a light hearted, carefree feeling to it.
Tahiti. He realized with a slow smile. This is what Tahiti would have been like. If the gang had ever made it like Dutch had promised, his family would be relaxing and living like the people before him.
A few of the Faunus gave him strange looks, seeing a human that willingly came to Kuo Kuana. He gave them all easy smiles and waves, sometimes verbally greeting them if they were close enough. There was a certain amount of distrust, and from what Sienna said about how humans treated Faunus in the Kingdoms he didn't blame them for it. But once he showed that he was no immediate threat, the uneasy distance they kept lessened. There were even children! Boys and girls with cat ears and dog tails and all kinds of other traits rushed about the market near the port, giggling and bumping into things as kids often did. Seeing them sent a strange pang into his chest; his own son had not been much older than six when he'd died, and there was little chance he'd ever be a father again. Still, seeing them run and play without a care in the world brought a smile to his face.
Still, he had to let Sienna know that he was there. Arthur tapped a message to her on his scroll, but she didn't reply immediately. Figuring he'd wait until she sent him instructions, Arthur wandered down a ways from the port and walked along the beach. Several more houses sat on stilts a good ways from the water's edge, but the sand was still soft and white where he stood. Around the homes, most of the driftwood and stray sticks he associated with coastal living had been gathered up. It made sense, in a way. Some people raked leaves, others picked up sticks. The heat aside, and it he was growing accustomed to it, Arthur was starting to really like it here.
They're stuck here thanks to the Kingdoms, but they've thrived and made a livin' that would make most city folk jealous. Arthur thought as he strayed further from the market. They still deserve their fair shake, but I don't think I'd mind living here in the slightest. Of course, I have the choice of it, and that's why Sienna's so fierce about equality. The Faunus of Menagerie had made it a paradise because it was their only home, and his friend was working to change that.
A little ways out, where the beach was a little less cultivated, a smaller pier stuck out of the forest. It was a lonely strip of wood, and clearly meant for swimming or fishing instead of commerce. Arthur opened his satchel and looked in, and realized he still had his collapsible fishing rod. If he was going to wait, why not see what was biting?
"I ain't fished the ocean in a long time, anyway." He rationalized to himself. Wondering what bait he should use as he went, Arthur never felt the yellow eyes that followed him from behind. He set out for the pier at a comfortable pace, his white alligator fowlers hushed by the pristine sand. The sun above him was shielded by his hat, and Arthur couldn't help but whistle a tune. It was one he'd heard from Pearson, back when the cook had talked about his Navy days.
"Come rest the bars, bullies, heave her away..." Arthur muttered along, tossing in a few lyrics as he whistled. When his boots finally met wood instead of the well traveled sand of the beach, he dug into his satchel and withdrew the fishing pole. He connected the pole's separate portions and ran the line through its appropriate loops, and by the time he reached the end of the pier he had a hook dangling in front of him. Arthur held the pole up and away from him, looking down into the clear blue water of the lagoon. Even out to forty or fifty feet, he could see the small reefs and rocks on the bottom. It was a beautiful sight, and he felt all the better for seeing it. For all the hell he had given Summer in her absence, he never would have seen such a wonderful place as this had she not asked him for help.
"...our shoes and our clothes boys are all in the pawn, to be bought again Randy Dandy, oh..." Arthur hummed the tune along as he dug into his nearly bottomless satchel, this time pulling a tightly wound bundle from the its depths. The gunslinger placed his fishing pole on the pier and leaned it up against the railing, holding onto the hook and nothing else. He carefully undid the cloth, and was quick to catch the large cricket that came crawling out. Hurriedly placing it on the hook, Arthur's hands quickly resecured the cloth and tied it up snugly once more. The biggest fish in the sea wasn't worth a whole slew of the little critters unleashed inside of his bag. Once he was sure his bait wouldn't escape, he stowed it once more and picked the pole back up. Casting a glance backward to make sure no one had snuck up on him and was about to catch a fishing hook to the ear, Arthur drew back and cast, sending the doomed cricket out into the wide blue yonder. The hook and bobber landed with a satisfying bloop, and Arthur slowly sat down at the pier's edge. With his feet dangling, the outlaw from America sat contentedly and waited for a bite.
A few minutes passed as the waves rolled in, gently raising and sinking the bobber as he carefully watched. Normally he wouldn't have the patience for fishing, truth be told, but recent months had made him appreciate the small things in life. That, and a no longer terminal disease, anyway. Arthur continued to hum and watch his bait, and was almost surprised when he heard footsteps behind him. Keeping his eye on the water just in case a fish bit while he wasn't looking, he turned his head to see who else was coming.
Had he been a fool, he'd have first mistaken her to be Sienna. However, the woman slowly making her way toward him was far more pale than his tiger striped friend. A black pair of cat ears sat on her head, and one of them was pierced with two gold rings. Dark, chin length hair framed her face in an organized mess if that made sense, and some worry lines sat between her eyes and nose. She wore a more ornate dress than Sienna's, though it maintained the black and white color scheme. The woman also had elbow length gloves that covered her forearms, and her right side was covered by a sleeve. Her left shoulder was bare, and a small purple ribbon was wrapped around her elbow. A brass orchid ornament hung from a small belt that wrapped around her waist, tied at the back and keeping her outer dress together.
"Good morning." She greeted cordially, and Arthur tipped his hat to her in return.
"Ma'am. Come to see if the fish were biting?" He shuffled over a little in case she wanted to sit, but the woman remained standing. Instead, she leaned against the railing on the side.
"Actually, I was sent out here to collect someone. A man named Arthur that wears a cowboy hat and a white vest was supposed to be arriving this morning." She winked conspiratorially at him. "You wouldn't know where I could find someone like that, would you?" Arthur chuckled and gripped his rod, feeling the faint vibrations on the line. Some of the fish were nibbling.
"I'm sure he's somewhere around here. Any particular reason why you're looking for him? I just sat down, is all." He held up his fishing pole in emphasis, and the woman waved him off.
"Sienna Khan requested that you be brought to her 'as soon as possible', though I am curious why she said so many unflattering things as well." The woman snickered when Arthur could only groan in exasperation. "I dread to know what you've done to deserve that."
"Let's just say we had a difference of opinion that wasn't immediately settled." Arthur grumbled. "She's real passionate about protecting her people. I just made a decision for her that she didn't like." Arthur looked up at the woman, and she covered her mouth in embarrassment.
"I'm sorry, I never introduced myself. I'm Kali. Kali Belladonna." She bowed politely, and Arthur inclined his head. He checked the bobber again, but it didn't look like the fish were biting. Either that, or they'd picked his bait off the hook when he wasn't watching.
"Arthur Morgan, ma'am. It's a pleasure." He paused. "Say, you wouldn't be married to Ghira, would you? Sienna had a lot of good things to say about him." He didn't mention how she'd agonized over replacing him, seeing as how that would be impolite as well as a breach of Sienna's trust. Kali waved off his praise with a polite smile.
"My husband is a dedicated man, but that opinion may be a little outdated. From what I overheard, they've been arguing since late last night." She gave him an appraising look. "Until a few minutes ago, I thought he was the most frustrating man on the planet for her. As it turns out, you seem to hold that lofty title." Yeah, that sounded about right. She'd been mad as a wet hen when he'd sent her off, and the three scroll calls afterward hadn't been enough to sate her anger. It was part of why he'd been eager to go fishing, to avoid an angry tiger.
"If I had to, I'd make the choice again. But she's got every right to be mad, I suppose." Arthur knew better than to argue with an angry woman, even if it was by proxy. He stood up and sighed, slowly reeling his line back in. True to his suspicion, the cricket had been dismembered by the fish with brutal efficiency, leaving only a gleaming steel hook on the end of the line. Arthur shook his head at his luck and took the pole apart, rolling up the line on his reel and placing all of the components back into his bag. When he was finished, he turned back to Kali.
"Well, might as well go and see what she wants. God knows she doesn't need the extra worry." Or the anger, if she really was as upset with him as she let on. Together, he and Kali walked back down the pier, though he made a promise to himself to come back and fish when he had more time. As long as Sienna let him keep his arms, at any rate.
Walking back through the market with Kali at his side was a different experience from his first pass. Where they had eyed him with mild suspicion or ignored him completely, Kali received greetings and smiles from all around. She patted arms and asked quick, polite questions about home projects or recovering family members, all the while maintaining a decent pace to pass through the market. In her presence, Arthur got a few more smiles and nods, but the wife of Ghira Belladonna was just as loved as the man himself, it seemed. No one made any untoward comments or actions, and Arthur was almost able to relax as they passed through the crowds. Ease did not come quickly, however.
"You're quite the popular woman, Missus Belladonna." Arthur complimented as they broke free of the market. The well trodden path climbed a gentle hill toward the center of the island, and Arthur could see the tops of distant trees over the crest. As they came to the top, however, the true view of Kuo Kuana took his breath away.
"Oh, I'm just a housewife, Mr. Morgan." Kali dismissed graciously, unaware of her starstruck guest stopping behind her. "I just try to take care of our people, same as my husband." The people and their homes lay below them. Miles upon miles of tropical forest sprouted up, and in between the trees a city of stilted huts and houses rose up. Every house was well made, if a bit simple in places. There were none in need of repair, though a few were being repainted. A very large house – no, mansion was more accurate – sat in the center of the cultivated forest, half built and crawling with workers. Sienna had mentioned building materials to get Ghira to settle down, but Arthur had never thought she meant something on this scale.
"Wow." Arthur couldn't stop himself, and Kali's ears twitched when she heard it. The woman turned to find the gunslinger with cement in his boots, then saw what it was that captivated him so. This time she did allow a proud smile to sprout on her face.
"I know. Our people were given this island to keep us out of the way, but I think we've made it our own well enough. Some say it was Ghira that made Kuo Kuana great, but I know it was all of us working together that gave us a home to be proud of." Several more Faunus walked past, and Kali offered and received polite greetings as Arthur finally gathered his bearings. When he'd been cured of TB, Arthur had originally thought to return to America after his promise to Summer was fulfilled. But if she honored her own commitment and saved the Marstons... this could be home too. If they'd have him, anyway. His dreams of Tahiti had been dashed after the Saint Denis robbery went bad, but the ashes of those dreams glowed as he stood over Kuo Kuana.
"You got that right." He admitted, and finally found his legs again. He and Kali continued on their journey into the heart of Menagerie's capital, passing people of all traits, sizes, and age. More children ran around the palm trees and houses, laughing and playing as they did so. As they passed, Kali's eyes sharpened and focused on one child in particular. Or teenager, if Arthur were to judge.
"Blake!" She called with some authority, and a young girl with long black hair and a pair of black cat ears froze in mid step. She wore a white t-shirt and a dark gray scarf around her neck. A pair of cargo shorts and black tennis shoes gave her protection from the heat, though her legs were still dreadfully pale. She was definitely the Belladonnas' daughter. Kali marched over to the young girl with Arthur in tow, and the young girl's wide yellow eyes focused on him for all of a nanosecond.
"Yes, mom?" She asked timidly, watching as her friends abandoned her to her fate. Her mother marched up and placed her hands on her hips, the universal sign of maternal disappointment. The little girl's eyes darted this way and that for any sign of escape, but Arthur knew full well that she was caught. Apparently she did too.
"I thought I told you to help your father with the construction order today? If you're going to be of any help around here, you need to know how these things work." Kali scolded, and her daughter seemed to shrink into herself at the stern tone. Arthur found it somewhat funny, though with his limited knowledge of the woman, he didn't know if he wouldn't react the same.
"Dad said I could leave early!" The girl protested. "Miss Khan wanted to talk about White Fang stuff and he told me to go play with my friends." Friends that had now disappeared, she seemed to want to say. Kali shook her head and rolled her eyes at the argument, though she didn't seem to doubt it either. Yes, Blake was definitely a daddy's girl.
"That's Lady Khan, little missy. Run along for now, I suppose. But we'll be going over your homework before dinner tonight." The reminder caused the young girl to groan piteously, but she took off running with a halfhearted wave once more. Kali watched her until she turned a corner and vanished into the forest, before sighing and deflating a little. Arthur didn't know if he should give the woman space or pat her on the back.
"Teenagers and doting husbands." Kali muttered. "The Gods seem content to torment me with both. Do you have any children, Mr. Morgan?" Arthur shook his head with a sad smile, still amused at the display.
"No ma'am. I had a son once, but he passed away. Sickness." He didn't feel like covering that old wound, and bandits were technically a disease in certain circles. Kali's shoulders stiffened as she covered her mouth, but he waved off her apology before she could start. "It was a long time ago, don't worry. I've helped raised a few since then, but I don't have any for myself."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Mr. Morgan. I didn't mean to bring up any bad memories." Kali bowed her head slightly, and Arthur grimaced at her sudden turn in mood. Likely she was thinking of how bad she would feel if she lost her daughter, and felt that she had brought a painful memory onto him. She was only partly wrong, but Arthur had made peace with that a long time again.
"No harm done, Mrs. Belladonna. Like I said, it was a long time ago." Arthur looked back to where young Blake had disappeared to. "She your only daughter?"
"Oh goodness, yes. Ghira and I tried so hard just have Blake, and she's our little angel. Most of the time, anyway." Kali's grinning facade cracked at the small admission. "Although all this building has pulled her out of room. It's rare indeed that she isn't spending time with her nose in a book. I'm sure Adam and Illia have hands in that." Adam? The cold, human hating punk was responsible for getting the Belladonna's daughter to be social? Something wasn't right there.
"Well, as long as she's having fun, I guess." Arthur hedged, trying to keep the worry out of his voice at the mention of Adam. Their shared adventures aside, Arthur wasn't too keen on allowing such an angry and troubled teen around impressionable children. He had too much growing up to do himself.
The two continued in comfortable silence into the huge building under construction. Either Ghira was going to have an absolute palace in his honor, or he was going to live at work. Given how well his people spoke of him and the utilitarian way people seemed to live on Menagerie, Arthur was betting on the latter.
Wooden and stone frames surrounded them as they moved deeper into the worksite, though Kali was careful to make sure they took appropriate detours and avoided cordoned off areas. It made the trip longer, but soon they had reached the furnished parts of the compound, and found Sienna standing over a table next to quite possibly the biggest man Arthur had ever seen. Presumably Ghira Belladonna, the man's yellow eyes tracked him as he approached, though the intense scrutiny faded as the man greeted his wife. Coupled with Sienna's glower towards him from the table, Arthur very much felt like the rabbit that had wandered into the bear's den.
"Mr. Morgan, I presume." Ghira's deep voice carried easily over the distance cacophony of tools and working Faunus outside. Its impact almost made Arthur pause, but thankfully Ghira was not the first person Arthur had ever dealt with to have a powerful presence.
"Mr. Belladonna. It's a nice little island you've got here. I was sampling the fish when your wife found me." He gestured toward Kali, and she nodded in agreement. Ghira let his eyes fall on his wife for a moment, then turned back to Arthur with a polite smile.
"From what Sienna has told me, you were quite helpful in delivering our supplies and keeping our people safe. The White Fang owe you a debt." He bowed his head respectfully, and Arthur had the temerity to look sheepish.
"Ah, well...it's what anyone worth a damn would do. Sienna's the one who needs the credit. She came up with the plans, and she's the reason everyone made it out okay. I just threw lead and punches." If he thought Sienna would be pleased that he was deflecting praise onto her, he was sorely mistaken. Her eyes seemed to glow with irritation, and her lips curled into a frown as she looked up at Ghira.
"See what I mean? He treats compliments like the plague. Between that and his self-sacrificing behavior," Arthur felt his spine tingle as her voice dipped into a deep growl, "I don't know how I didn't throw him overboard the moment we left Vacuo." Ghira's stern visage cracked as he let out a booming laugh, and Arthur finally felt comfortable enough to step past the door. Kali's eyes roamed between the gunslinger than now stood next to Sienna and the tiger herself, noting in particular the way Sienna's nails dug into the wooden table before them in Arthur's proximity.
"It wasn't that bad. Besides, me and Qrow handled it without even hurting each other. Of course, his sister was another story, but..." He was about to go into the rest of the story, were it not for the murderous stare affixed on him by the tigress next to him. She was the only one in the room with any inkling about his true origins, and somehow discussing how he had fought Raven Branwen, the head of the Branwen tribe of bandits, did not do him any favors with her.
"I've heard of Qrow Branwen. It's strange that one of Vale's most prominent Huntsmen seemed to have quite the grudge with you. Do you know why he was so angry?" Ghira asked curiously, though he didn't sound accusing. Arthur realized he'd have to be careful here, and a quick glance Sienna's way told him she'd be no help. Faunus were good at detecting lies, and he didn't need to go ruining his image in front of the most influential Faunus on the planet.
"It was a misunderstanding on his part." Arthur relented. "His old team leader, Summer Rose, helped me out of a bad spot before she disappeared, and she gave me her scroll. I never really messed with the things before then, so I accidentally activated the tracking on a scroll that was supposed to belong to a dead woman. I'm sure you'd be just as angry if your wife died and suddenly someone on another continent had her scroll." Ghira shifted to look down at his wife, as if to reassure himself that she was in fact not dead and standing right next to him. The woman patted her husband's shoulder affectionately, and Arthur could see the emotions flash across the big man's face briefly before he controlled himself once more.
"Yes, I can see why he was so upset with you. I trust you were able to explain yourself to him?" Ghira crossed his massive arms. "I don't believe you've done anything wrong, but the White Fang can't afford to harbor a fugitive, even an innocent one, at such a critical time in our development." Sienna bristled at that, but thankfully Arthur had the right answer to that one.
"After we were both captured, I managed to escape and I brought him with me. I saved his life and explained myself, and he doesn't seem to hate me anymore. I don't think we have to worry about that. And if push comes to shove, I can live out in the wild for a while, anyway." Arthur shrugged. "Besides, I don't think he's the type to let personal grudges like that go public. Man's got an ego."
Ghira rubbed his chin in thought, and Arthur was worried that his defense wasn't enough to convince the large man. Fortunately though, Kali spoke up on his behalf.
"Let it go, dear. If the Huntsman truly did have a grudge against Mr. Morgan, I doubt this would have been the first time we heard of it. Adam, Tukson, and Sienna all vouch for his honesty as well." Ghira stared down at his wife, but her unflinching gaze caused him to relent. Beside Arthur, Sienna crossed her arms in silent support as well.
"I apologize for doubting you. It seems that even I am not above prejudice when it comes to humans." Ghira bowed his head once more. "Forgive me for thinking less of you." Alright, there was a backhanded compliment if he'd ever received one. Still, Ghira seemed genuine, and it would probably hurt Sienna's cause if he snubbed the guy. Judging by his size, Arthur's health would likely be in danger as well.
"No worries. No harm done. Sienna and Tukson both have told me the things your people have been through. Honestly, I'm amazed you've been as nice as you have." Ghira was the representative of – even by Arthur's standards – a thoroughly abused and exploited people. Even were he not ignorant of Arthur's true background, Ghira had every right to be suspicious of him. Thankfully though, the White Fang's leader was as fair as he was intimidating.
"That is gracious of you. I can see why Sienna is so fond of you. You truly appear to care for our cause." Ghira ignored Sienna's indignant 'what?', and stepped around the table to offer his hand to Arthur. The gunslinger looked down at the massive appendage for a moment, then rolled his shoulders and grasped the hand with his own. Ghira's palm dwarfed his own easily, and the man's strength was evident in his handshake. It felt like he'd shoved his hand into the gears of a crane.
"Like I said, it's what anyone worth a damn would do. Besides, Sienna promised to help me with my own goal once the White Fang were in a good spot. I've got a very important package to deliver to Ozpin in Vale." He patted his satchel, though the Relic itself was stowed in Famine's saddlebags. Speaking of which, he needed to check on the horse when he had a chance. "It was the last request of Summer Rose."
"I see. Far be it from me to stop a man from carrying out such a task. I'll make sure to arrange-" Ghira was cut off as Kali reached up and placed a hand on his shoulder. She beckoned him to lean down, and began whispering into his ear. Ghira listened intently, and the only indicator of what she spoke of was the way Ghira's eyes cut between Arthur and Sienna. Beside him, Sienna's own ears were perked, though her confused expression said she didn't pick up everything. When Kali released her husband, the man cleared his throat.
"On second thought, we could use someone with your experience here. At least until the construction projects are finished. The White Fang are restless, and we've had so few favorable encounters with humans. I'd be willing to compensate you for it." Ghira swept his hand over the table, palm upwards. "Think of it as a public relations job." He looked up at Arthur expectantly, and he could feel Sienna's eyes on him as well. He turned to face her, and saw she had her calm, neutral mask on. She wouldn't ask him to make either decision in front of Ghira. Not when he was a potential rival for the head of the White Fang. This was a decision he would need to make on his own; new to this world, ignorant of its politics outside of what Sienna and Tukson and Adam told him. And it was also against what he promised Summer, in a roundabout way. But still, the prospects were enticing. The warm climate, the happy people, working together to help them moving forward...
It was decision that didn't take long to make.
"I've spent half my life on the run from one thing or another. I've lost friends, family, and never even been able to stop and mourn them. The Faunus here have been kinder to me than even the best of the church." Arthur looked around at the half finished room. "Take all the time you need. I could use a break for once." He held out a hand. Just as he had with Tukson, with Sienna, he now extended an offer of allegiance with Ghira. And just as the others had before him, Ghira took it without hesitation.
"Welcome to Menagerie." Ghira said with a smile, one echoed by his wife. Arthur grinned as well, though he was more than glad when Ghira released his hand. He had shaken hands with a lot of men, but damn was Ghira strong! Sienna nodded in acceptance of the deal, though he knew he'd get her true opinion of it later. And depending on how her mood was, a few sharp things as well. They still hadn't had it out over him staying behind.
"Glad to be here." Arthur suddenly remembered something, though. He was out of money. "Not to start raining on the parade, but I'm a little...broke. Is there a place I can stay until I get back on my feet?" He winced at how he'd immediately soured the mood, but thankfully Ghira laughed loudly enough to stop any tension from forming.
"Don't worry, my friend. If I hadn't planned for that, I would not have made the offer." Clearing his throat, Ghira addressed his second in command. "Lady Khan, do you have any suggestions as to where Mr. Morgan might rest his head?" Somehow, the pleased look on Kali's face was just on the other side of smug. Sienna, however, was finally broken from her calm demeanor. Now, she looked poleaxed.
"Ah, that would be...um." She was reaching, but obviously couldn't grasp any alternative to what she just knew Ghira was suggesting. "I...suppose I have a spare room, if no one else can be bothered." Arthur tried very hard not to take pleasure from the embarrassed way she held herself. Still, it was his responsibility to bail her out of this awkward situation.
"She doesn't have to do that. I've got enough supplies on my horse to get by, especially in this weather. I'll find a nice little private spot near the beach and we'll all be happy." Arthur was curious where Famine had gotten off to. The horse was, by all appearances at least, just a horse. His ability to get into trouble when Arthur wasn't watching was still unparalleled. At the unintended suggestion that he'd rather sleep on the beach than inconvenience her, Sienna finally bristled in his direction for once.
"And what if a squall comes in from the ocean and blows your little tent away? Or if the Grimm attack while you sleep? That would be completely unacceptable." She turned on him with all the indignation of a woman whose husband he'd beaten to death. Her teeth flashed in the morning sun that came in from the windows. "I did not waste all this time saving you from your own ignorance to watch you died to a rogue wave!" Ghira and Kali stepped back a bit, content to watch the two come to an arrangement. Arthur knew better than to incite an already angry woman, particularly one with past grievances, but he'd rolled over and shown his belly enough.
"That's mighty kind of ya, but I can fend for myself. I fought off curious bears and angry wolves while you were learning how to swing that fancy chain of yours." He barked back, not aggressively but firm enough to tell her he wasn't backing down. He expected grudging compliance, or maybe even a bruised ego he'd have to apologize to later. He got neither.
"It wasn't a request, Mister Morgan. Either report to my home tonight with your belongings, or I'll bury you under the jail for insubordination!" Oh, really now? Some color crept onto Arthur's face as he faced her fully, standing just a few inches taller than Sienna despite her Faunus appendages.
"I don't remember signing anything that said I worked for you, Lady Khan." Arthur lifted his chin in a clear sign of victory, arms crossed. "I was never subordinate to start with."
"Spoken contracts are binding in their own right, Mr. Morgan. Especially in front of witnesses! Need I remind you that you agreed to compensation upon completion of the construction?!" Sienna snarled back, ears flat in clear aggression.
"Well how's about I forfeit those rewards and go on my merry way? I'm sure the Grimm won't last long enough to care about a man and his horse." Sienna's yellow eyes narrowed as she drew in breath for another barrage of barely polite threats.
Ghira and Kali sat back and watched the two friends bicker, totally oblivious to the married witnesses as the argument grew more and more heated. Sienna and Arthur had now abandoned all senses of decorum and were now in each other's faces, spittle flying and faces burning as they traded barbs and promises of retribution.
"It's almost cute, you know? They haven't even got a clue." Kali commented, and Ghira grumbled in response.
"She clearly cares about him. Nothing romantic, if all this bluster is to be judged, but she would have backed down long ago if he were just another human." Ghira sighed heavily. "Still, there is work to be done, and this is unbecoming of both of them." Kali pouted at losing a good source of gossip, but Ghira's clapping hands stopped the screaming match before it became physical. Sienna's teeth were bared, so her claws weren't far away. The two turned and focused once more on the White Fang leader and his wife, reminded that there were indeed other people in the room.
"I can see that you two have the discussion well in hand, but I brought you here to discuss more than just the terms of Mr. Morgan's extended employment." Ghira said with an air of amusement. The two looked away from each other and faced the table once more. "Construction continues at a gradual pace, but we need more guards along the walls until they have been properly reinforced. I've been told you are something of a marksman, Arthur. If I may call you that."
"If you're paying the bills for the next few weeks, you can call me anything. Long as it's civil." Arthur pointed his thumb towards the door. "As long as the terrain ain't too rough, I can cover a lot of ground on horseback. My rifle's effective at three hundred yards. Anything further than that, and I'll have to close the gap. How much wall are we talking here?"
A map came from within Ghira's vest and was laid out on the table, and his spat with Sienna was forgotten in favor of planning. The construction had adequate security so far, so Arthur didn't need to start right away. But the sooner he got out there, the sooner the rest of the guards could cover other areas more effectively and guarantee faster build times. Contrary to how Summer had represented it, Huntsman level fighters weren't as common as he had first believed. Arthur agreed to start his watch over the wall being built in the southern sector, the most dangerous direction and therefore the most vital defense, the next morning at eight. Until then, he was given leave to sort out his living situation and find suitable replacements for his weapons. According to Ghira, Kuo Kuana had a competent gunsmith that could replace Arthur's guns with something carrying a little more punch.
When he and Sienna left the meeting room fifteen minutes later, the smoldering glare she leveled at him told Arthur that she was still quite upset with him. On top of sending her away during the bandit raid, he now had to contend with the fact that he had argued with her in front of her superior. Not the best foot to start out on when there was a good possibility he'd be rooming at her place.
"This way. Try not to get lost." Her tone was clipped and frosty, and Arthur decided not to dig that hole any further by commenting. Sienna led the way back down the path from the new building, down into the valley of Kuo Kuana. When they reached the lowest point and the road began to arch back up toward the market, Sienna turned down a small, seldom trodden path that went under a thick stand of trees. There were a few houses that Arthur thought belonged to Sienna at first, but she passed them all and traveled deeper into the forest.
The boundary for Kuo Kuana's limits passed close by, meaning that Sienna lived at the edge of the city's inner district. When she brushed aside a few bushes and held them back for him, Arthur stepped into the clearing and whistled appreciatively.
Sienna's home was more than just a house. A bungalow was the closest term he could think of for the structure, being low rise and having a wrap around porch. The house had a porous foundation of stone from what Arthur could see, and multiple thick posts kept it off of the ground in case of flooding. The house was painted white along the walls with black accents, much like her attire. The roof was comprised of clay tiles, dark in color and aligned at an angle to provide drainage in the event of a downpour. Two windows were visible from the front door, which was of a sturdy wood if he was guessing right. As they drew closer, Arthur could hear snorting coming from the back of the house.
"He's been waiting for you since we got here." Some amusement crept into her voice, but she didn't turn to face him. "You'd better go calm him down before he breaks through my fence." Keen on doing just that, Arthur walked around the edge of the house to find a modest yard in the back. A four foot fence provided minimal separation from the surrounding forest, and was more of a polite suggestion than anything. Still, Famine nickered from inside the fence, his saddle absent and his coat freshly brushed from what Arthur could see. He didn't run up to the horse, since he clearly wasn't going anywhere, but Arthur would deny it to no one that his pace quickened a little bit. After relying on the animal for so long, being without him for the short walk from Raven's waterfall hideout to Shiroyama had been a stressful affair. He hadn't thought that Sienna would mistreat Famine, but his heart was eased a little regardless to find the horse playfully tossing his head.
"Hey there, boy. How you doin'?" Arthur asked with a grin, patting the horse on the neck and scratching underneath his cheek. Famine shook his head in response, apparently just as happy to see Arthur as the gunslinger was to see him. Grass shifted behind him as Sienna approached, and Arthur turned his head to look at her.
"I hope he wasn't a hassle for ya." Arthur stated. "You didn't have to bring him to your home." He would have been fine with picking him up from port or even the town's edge. Famine was a hardy horse; he could handle most problems himself.
"That would be poor reward for how well he took care of me on the way here." Sienna dismissed his thanks with a wave. "Sienna Khan always repays her debts, be they to man or beast."
"Sienna Khan also likes to refer to herself in the third person." Arthur teased, earning another huff from his host. When she stepped up beside him to pet Famine, he found himself pulled into another memory. The way that the looming shadows from the trees overhead dancing across her skin reminded him of another cat he'd encountered in the tropical forests near the Braithwaite Manor in Lemoyne. The tiger stripes of her Faunus heritage played hell on his eyes as she stepped into the shadows, unaware of his sudden focus.
Between the ears, the yellow predatory eyes, and her unique appearance, he was reminded of the 'Giaguaro' panther he'd hunted before the Saint Denis robbery. When she turned to face him, however, the memory faded.
"Thanks again for all of this." Arthur hid his appraisal of her with a tilt of his head, hiding his eyes from her under the brim of his hat. "You didn't have to go through the trouble." Her hand joined his as they stroked Famine gently, alternating between rubbing his neck and patting his side. It was a useful distraction, and the horse was loving the attention.
"I always take care of my friends, Arthur. You risked a lot to get us here in one piece. You may think that it was nothing, but I'm not some rich Schnee." A biting tone crept into her voice at the mention of the SDC's reigning family. "You could have died, Arthur."
There it was. If they were going to get along during his time on Menagerie, Arthur knew he had to nip this in the bud. Still, he had no illusions on why she was so angry with him. He'd as good as sacrificed himself for the good of people he hadn't even known for a full month, and there had been no guarantees on whether he would make it out. For all Sienna knew, Qrow had killed him within ten minutes of fighting him. Having someone chastise him for throwing himself into dangerous situations reminded him of simpler, more honest times. Back when Mary had come around...
"I know. But more people were at risk than just me. If it had been just you and me, we could have taken all of them down together." He looked her in the eye as he said that, hoping she recognized the truth his gaze. "We had wounded and untrained folk in those trucks. Fighting someone like Raven Branwen in that situation is just asking for trouble."
"That doesn't make you expendable, Arthur! You don't have TB anymore." Sienna looked ready for another bout like they'd had in the meeting room, but she just sighed in defeat instead. "I still can't think of what should have been done, but I am not happy with your decision. None of my people are expendable, not even the hired ones." Arthur immediately felt bad at seeing her give up like that. He knew that he had made the right call, but it was the right bad decision. What she said about TB had the ring of truth to it, though. Looking back, he hadn't been too worried about the future with that two letter death sentence hanging over his head. The Wapiti tribe, the Downes family, every little scrap and fight lost its meaning when he felt like a dead man already. Like he had less to lose. Now that he had a second chance on life, he was still fighting like a dead man. Maybe she was right? He should have been more careful.
"It was a bad situation, Sienna. I know I'm not some throw away gun, but I had to make a call. It was either fight it out with Qrow and let someone get hurt, or cut y'all loose and take my chances. If he had anything to do with Summer, then I knew he wouldn't kill me outright. She ain't like that, and I was willing to bet she didn't associate with people that were. Turns out, I was right." Twice, if you technically count Raven. He'd found her picture on Summer's scroll as well, a group of Raven, Summer, her husband Tai, and Qrow all together in their younger days. Apparently they'd been in a gang of sorts years back, and now they were a fractured team.
"That was a gamble and you know it. Next time, make sure you tell me what you're doing before you throw yourself to the dogs. I was furious!" He couldn't help but chuckle as she fought to keep from working herself up all over again. Today had not been good for her blood pressure.
"If we can afford it, I'll make sure you know what I'm doing, Lady Khan." He disguised his laugh at her irritated look as a cough, then looked around the property, searching a for a reason to change topics. He didn't need her testing her claws on him, no matter how tough his hide was. "This is a nice home you have here, truly. I always dreamed of a place like this." Sienna took his distraction for what it was and nodded, looking around the homestead with a proud smirk.
"I barely spend any time here these days, but it's home. I didn't even know about this little place until Ghira convinced me to come here in the early days of the Fang. I always considered Menagerie a cage, an island zoo that the Kingdoms shoved us into so they could forget about us. I'm glad to say I was wrong in at least one respect." She gestured toward the secluded path they had taken to reach her home. "I found it on accident, collapsed and dilapidated. The previous owner had been killed by Grimm before Kuo Kuana had been secured. I worked out here to fix it up while we gathered people. Now, it's the one place I can go without having to put on a front."
"I imagine Mr. Khan must have helped out as well." Arthur said conversationally. Given how strong and beautiful Sienna was, he was amazed he hadn't met her husband sooner. If he was anything like Ghira, Arthur was heavily considering the beach idea. To his utter disbelief, Sienna laughed at his comment.
"Had he existed, I'm sure he would have been quite useful." Sienna put her hands on her hips and gave him a challenging glare. "What's the matter, did you think I couldn't do this myself?" Arthur held up his hands in defense, put on the back foot even though he could see her lips curling into a smirk.
"Just amazed that you ain't married, is all. Surely someone out there saw the might Sienna Khan and thought she was one hell of a woman." Maybe he was laying on a little thick, but if she was still harboring any lingering urges to squish him flat, that was a line he didn't want to cross.
"Now who's speaking in the third person?" She snorted. "No, there have been suitors. I just never found any of them worthy of my time. You must understand, the White Fang is my life. I couldn't afford any distractions, or everything that we worked for would be for nothing. It made settling down...problematic." She tried to hide it, but he could tell it wasn't exactly ideal for her. She was lecturing him about sacrificing himself for everyone else, when she was doing the same thing for the White Fang? Didn't she understand that it was nearly the same thing?
"You gotta take time for yourself, you know? There's Sienna Khan, leader of the White Fang and savior of the Faunus." Arthur waved his right hand and held it up, then did the same with his left. "And then there is Sienna Khan, regular person that loves, hates, and hurts like the rest of us lowly mortals. You can't be two people at once; it ain't healthy." Sienna brushed off his comment with a smirk, and reached up faster than he anticipated. His head was suddenly uncovered, and she twirled the white alligator skin hat around her finger.
"Since when did the gunslinger from America have a psychiatric degree?" She tossed the hat back at him before he could come after it. "If you were smart, you'd charge me for your time." This time, it was Arthur's turn to laugh.
"If my word was worth that much, I wouldn't need these." He patted his holsters. "I've been around a few times, though, and I know what it's like to watch someone burn out. I think you're too important to these people to tear yourself up like that." Sienna stepped away from the fence and back toward the front porch, causing him to follow. Famine pouted as much as a horse could from lack of attention.
"I can only be a leader for so long. As Ghira is hopefully going to discover, leader's change all the time." She said dismissively, but Arthur's cough made her turn around.
"I meant more than just a leader, you know. You've got friends here too." And after everything he'd been through already, he considered himself one of those friends. It made her smile, which was enough for what the conversation was worth.
"Quit buttering me up and get in here. I'll show you where you'll be sleeping."
A/N: Birthday wishes were appreciated, you guys are alright. I'm slowly building up to an equipment change and some friendly times between Arthur and the White Fang. Kali ships hard, too. That woman is a matchmaker. The next chapter will suffer a short time skip, and we'll also cover the changes happening in America. Summer's meddling and the Marstons believing that Arthur is dead will dramatically affect the Van der Linde gang, and we may see a schism appear earlier than usual. I'm sure Summer believes that she has the worse time, too. Considering an omake to break up some of the serious moments. Also, Happy Birthday, SangheliosSwordmaster.