In the previous chapter we saw the apperance of summer rose with her explaining to them why she was in hiding. Along with that neo and jazmine...jeo? set sail. Though lets return to the deepwald belongs to Rooster Teeth and Monty Oum. I own the OC's, AU. Hope you enjoy
Chapter 18: The Miners
The group of three made their way toward the mayor office to see if graz knew where this percy was. While they did they just tried their best to avoid any of the patrolling crimosn talons. They sometimes come into town to patrol the streets for protection. But it was more like making sure no one thought of starting something with them. Their desitnation they arrived at was a large building that had brick and stone on it. It had a statue in front of is of a man in a mining supervisor uniform.
They past it but the plaque caught jaune attention"Lucas Dioscuri"founder of deepwald. It seems that the dioscuri were the founders of the mining town.
"Okay so whats the plan?"rogue asked
"The plan is for us to take it easy and hope those thugs aren't here. We ask the mayor if he knows where percy is"qrow replied
"Sounds like a plan to me"jaune replied as they walked inside.
They walked inside to a typical receptisonit area as a women sat behind the desk. She seemed to be a dingoe faunus judging by her ears. The faunus wore what you'd typically see a recpiosnit wears but she greeted them.
"Hello how can i help you tody?"the dingo faunus greeted
"Where wondeirng if my brother in law is in right now?"jaune asked
"Oh the mayor is meeting with some indivudals real quick please just be patient"the dingo faunus repctiosnist said as they decided to wait for graz to finish his meeting.
Though inside the mayors office behind a desk sitting in a chair was graz. The mayor was meeting with some indivudals who he didn't want to meet today. That being some soilders from the mine along with another person.
The person in question seemed in his mid twenties, with a athletic appearance. He had dark green hair sticking up as he had tan skin. With orange eyes with two tattoos on his neck, the crimson talon symbol. And an atlas military tattoo.
The man attire consited of jet black running pants with three lines on colored crimson red. He also wore a waistcoat jakcet with a hood colored black. Crimson red lined the interor of it along with the ends of waist having red lines of crimson red. He wore some black dress pants with a pair of black dress shoes with the soles being crimson red. But what was strange wa shis arms were banaged all over as he wore a pair of black fignerless gloves. On his hip was a machine pistol. Their was also a few pouches colored dark brown strapped to his waist.
"Now look here i don't know where percy is. I'm sorry hes been causing trouble i truly am but hes hiding somehwere"Graz replied
"That doens't matter we told you if you keep interferring with out business we'll torch your town"the man warned
Graz sighed hevily as he collapsed his hands"i know you said you portect us but…when will you release my people?"he asked begging for their release
The man scoffed as his banages moved slightly suggesting something was their"and we told you when were done with our business here got it. If i have to come back here i might slice up that little girl of yours"the man said grinning as graz sat in silence.
The mayor bowed his head"ok i'll be on the look out for percy and let you know where he is"graz replied as the man appeircated it as he left the office. Once he did he didn't pay any mind to the others and just walked out.
"Uh the mayor will see you now"the dingo faunus said
"Okay lets see if he can answer some of our questions"qrow said getting up to head to the mayor office. But jaune glanced at the man who was leaving for a second then slightly went wide eyed seeing his bandages unravel slightly. He saw slits on his arms with a silver glean but he quickly wrapped it knight realzied that might be trouble, once inside graz looked up smiling.
"Their you three are how did shopping go with my wife?"graz asked
"It went fine but who was that man?"jaune replied
"Another one of their many enforcers here his name is yohi. "Graz replied
"Great that another one of them we met including that maya women. But uh we have a question on where p–"rogue begun but graz stopped her putting a hand up.
They stopped sitting in silence as graz quickly pulled out a pad and paper wriitng on it as he spoke.
"I don't know what you want but just head back to the house. Though i'm sure your friends prosthetic is done right now. You should go pick it up later"graz said as he moved the notepad to them.
"They have the place bugged, if you wanna meet percy follow the candle"graz note said to their confusion but it might be a hint.
"Heh your right just wanted to make sure you were alright. We'll be heading out soon enough after their fixed up"qrow replied as he cracked his knuckles as he glanced to a nearby bookself. Their behind it looked to be a spider like bot which was hidden but he noticed the glean from it.
"Hes right if those two got it done then we should maybe check the town out"rogue replied
"Great ide we'll get going see you later"jaune said as they bidded the mayor goodbye. Graz just sieltnly prayed those bugs didn't pick up him telling those three to follow the trail to percy hideout. Because he's starting to lose his edge on confritng those mercs, sooner or later they might attack the town. But unknown to them the bug that was planted their also was the recpisonist with her scroll in hand.
She started to text an unknown number with a look of worry and regret.
"They left the mayors office"her text read as it took a bit for soemoen to respond.
"Good we'll contact you later on what you need to do. "The text read as she texted back.
"I understand but when will you let me see my son again?"her text read with worry
"We will return your son to you unharmed which has been qutie the moitvator right now. But you need to keep tabs on their group for today. If not you'll find your son in a den of grimm"the text threatened
The women went wide eyed as she texted with worrie"no! I'll keep tabs on them he's all i have left!"her text read almost begging.
"Good, we will inform you of our plan later just be prepared or else things will not turn out well for you or your son. No mistkaes"the text read
She wnated to text back but stopped as she understood. She hugged herself not knwoing what to even do but then she remebered soemthing. Shes has keys to the mayor house if he left paperork their and their staying with him it sems. They were more likly going to ask her to either kill or kidnap someone.
So she just needed to wait until they contacted her again.
Outside of the mayors office the group walked for a bit as they got far enough away. Along with making sure they weren't followed by anyone. Rogue looked around seeing no talon soilders were close.
"Okay were in the clear"rogue said
"Good, seems we got a clue on where we need to go to find this mysterious ally of ours"qrow replied
"Your right but..i noticed something from yohi as they left"jaune said as they looked at him confused but wondered what he saw.
What did you see?"qrow asked as jaune thought like he sounded crazy if he said he saw the mans arm torn up, with blades inside his arm.
"This is going to sound crazy but when his bandages came undone i saw blades in his arm"jaune said making them look strangely at him. Though qrow cupped his chin pacing around for a bit.
"Thats weird, maybe its a prosthetic or something"rogue questioned
"Maybe it could be…could be a faunus even we need to regroup with everyone else"qroe ordered as they noded as they decide to head to the thantos infirmary to meet their. Rogue contacted ruby and her group on her scroll to meet them their. They said they'll meet them their as they made their way to their desitnation.
Outside of the city right now was yohi as he was walking with his hands behind his backs. He left in an anger mood as he kept messing with his banges since they kept bothering him. Though as he walked since the mayor office was close to the exit out of town was their. His scroll began to ring and his anger was replace with curiosity as he looked at the caller. The screen listed a number saying"sigma" he knew it was selket.
"Yes. can i help you?"he asked
"I think you know those visitors in town because they;ve intrigued me"selket said behind the scroll.
"I just saw a few of them one was qrow branwhen. Want me to slice him up?"yohi asked into the scroll. This made her growl on the other end.
"No! Later your going to meet the receptionist. Late tonight i'll explain to you our plan be ready to gather some bait to lay a trap. And my new plaything"selket said as
yohi nodded as he hung up. They continued their way to their base of operarations. But yothi banages came undone slightly to reveal his forearms were slightly torn open like they were slits. It revealed a pair of sharp pincer like blades underneath his skin.
About thirty minutes later the two groups were converging with each other in the middle of town. They disucsssed their finding from today and some it was quite shocking. How they found out another possible grimm knight being a serial killer and collegue of arthur watts. They explained what they encountered at the mayors office.
"So your saying he had slits in his arm. That could suggest a faunus its a rare trait, but you also noticed a military tattoo"ruby asked as their were more news.
"Hmm maybe that maya women is a grimm knight. Judging by her mask"Ren suggested
"That could be a possibilite but what grimm could they be extaclty?"nora questioned wondering what their dealing with.
This made ruby cup her chin for a moment for how they described maya along with these two new possible grimm knight. But maya wore a chameleon mask meaning it might make her a reptile like grimm. But for yohi he could be ex military.
"I don't know but we should do research on them later. But maybe we should follow those clues to find percy"ruby replied
"I agree, but their also getting mercury leg we might need to split up again"rogue replied as jaune stepped foward.
"I'll go get the leg and meet you guys back at the house"jaune opted to get the prosthetics but this made rogue worrie a little. That bonnie possible family could be their if she isn't using a fake name. Part of her still wants the girl dead for what she did, but her friends who aren't here anymore might hate her for it.
"Okay that'll work heres the plan me, uncle and nora will look for any signs of this percy. Ren go back to the house to check on mercury and poppy family. While jaune you go to the infirmary to pcik up the leg. We have six hours until its nighttime"ruby ordered as they all understood their assignemnts splitting up yet again.
Ruby and her group started to walk around town for any signs of this so called candle stick. If it'll lead them to percy and his resistant group it might be a trail to their main bae of operations. But they had no luck after searching for an hour.
Their was also the fact some crimson talon soilders were starting to patrol the streets in armored trucks. The trucks in question where heavily armored it seems with heavy cailber turrets mounted on them. They dodged them luckiyl they didn't suspect them yet it seems.
But after searching a bit more they stopped near the forest entrance that lead out of town. Ruby kept pacing annoyed right now they couldn't find it.
"Ughh where the heck is it?! Who gives such a crpytic hint to find someone inhiding"ruby questioned since they wanted to ask the towns people but they just avoided them.
"I know what you mean, what does he mean by follow the candlestick?"nora uestioned
Qrow shrugged his shoulder"don't know i may have been around long but that doesn't make sense"he replied
Rogue kept tapping her chin"its obviosuly a trail of something i'm guessing, but how did they do it?"rogue asked
They kept thinking for a bit as ruby kept pacing around for a bit. She stopped infront of a bench sitting down as she stared at the map of the town. It showed the mayor office, the statue near the said house. Along with several minor stores that were pointed out on the map. But it looked pretty old, with old landmarks on it as well. But one stood out to her which was a picture of a rock shaped like a cnadle stick.
Then it hit her the clue to their base, its not a trail its a landmark. The silver eyed girl looked closer at the map tracing her figner to where they are. As she did she relized that it was just an hour away from them.
"Guys i know where it is"ruby said as the others looked at her confused.
"Wait you do how did you find it?"nora questioned walking over looking at the map.
Rogue narrowed her gaze relziing what she meant"oh i get it they didn't leave a trail, they left a monument to their base"rogue replied surprised she didn't guess it was that. Qrow was a little impressed she figured that out he could have done it, but she got her mothers wits it seems making him smile.
"Good job kiddio ok we head to the woods to see where these guys are. Then ask them for help"qrow stated as they nodded in agreement at that. The group made sure they were prepared to tackle any grimm along the way.
They began making their way through the woods luckiyl only running into a few minor snags. Probably because of qrow bad luck but they encoutnered some grimm along the way. They dealt with them easily and swiftly but just hoped to find percy.
The group had a small formation made to defend themselves, they had ruby in the back with her sniper out. While nora had her hammer out in the middle making sure nothing attack them. Qrow and rogue took point as they followed the path.
"We should be arriving their soon were lucky their aren't many grimm out here"ruby said as she scanned the trees.
"Yep though we sure we aint being followed?"rogue said recalling how hassen and his men tailed their group.
The dusty qrow glanced around as he made sure they weren't followed. But his eyes caught some bushes rustling as he whsitled to them. They looked as he motioined to the bush as they nodded.
"Ok be careful it might be a scout"ruby whipered as they slwoly walked for a bit to give them a flase snese of hope. But soon enough something shot from the bushes as it grabbed nora hammer as it began to tug on it. Their was a piece of sticky like webbing pulling on the hammer.
"What the heck? Let go of my hammer you jerk!"nora shotued in rgae digging her feet in place as she began to pull back. The other riased their weapons at the ready for their new foe and soon enough nora pulled it foward.
A black blur went flying in the air still holding nora hammer as it pulled it away from her grip. Though rogue face just lost color to see the blur land on a tree. Because it was a spider grimm.
"Oh no spider grimm everyone watch out their threads can make you see things. Along with draining your aura"ruby advised as the spider grimm hissed before lunging toward them. Qrow qucikly rushed foward as he slashed the grimm killing it with ease. These grimm are easy kills but their will be a swarm close by.
Soon enough several more started to emerge from the bushes as they had to deal with them qucikly. Ruby qucikly changed her sniper back to her scthye as she tiwlred it around slciing through several spider grimm. One jumped at her but she quickly used her semblance to get up high. Then she pressed a button acitvating the scythe as it slightly extended in a hot red hue.
The red cloaked girl lunged downward as she pulled her sctyhe back. Grimm slowly started to covnerge on her but she quickly shot her weapon making her go spinning in a small firery circle. It incinerated the grimm as they let out a death screech.
Nora jumped up as she raised maghild brining it down on a swam of spiders killing them.
Nora smiled"ha i got the gross bugs!"she excalimed but didn't relzie that a thred was on her back. She tuned toward qrow as he was fighting grimm as he blasted some away. Then he stomped on one hard as it became mush as it disppeared into black smoke.
But from nora point of view she saw a beowolf in his place.
"We got a beowolf!"nora relayed as ruby and qrow turned to her but saw ntohing. But to qrow surrpsied nora smacked him hard in the gut sending him flying into a tree. He landed hard gasping for air as he quickly reocvered.
"Dammit kid whats your problem?!"qrow shouted
"What are you doing your attcking uncle"ruby added
Rogue stood their confused but was frozen still in place freaking out. A few small spider were crawling toward her as she made eye contact with it. After a few seconds it blinked as she screamed.
Then brought out ember slipping her on as she sprayed a stream of fire at the small bugs. The grimm fliped over as their limb scurled inwards telling them they died. But the blonde jsut started to spew fire from the gaunlent killing all the spider grimm.
"Ahhh get away! Ew! Ew! "Rogue screeched high pitch as she had an immense fear of spiders. Whenever she sees one, she needed to burn them at all cost. Ruby looked at her as fire went past her as it almost shinged her.
"Rogue! Watch out where you shoot"ruby ordered but rogue kept shooting streams of fire at the spiders
With qrow he blocked another strike from nora large hammer sending him back a bit. He was trying to see where the spider grimm that has the thred is. But she was making it hard since she kept attacking him.
"Kid your fighting me!"qrow shotued to get her attention but it didn't work
"It talked! Oh man its just like that dream i had one time"nora excalimed as she did have a weird dream of a beowolf talking one time.
The huntsman groaned in annoyance as he relzied rogue was freaking out as she kept shaking. He quickly figured out the girl had anarchnophibia is seems. Which just made thing so much better.
A spider lunged at qrow biting him almost but it was blasted away. Not by anyone but from the woods, soon enough several gunshot could be heard. Their targets the grimm as it killed the spiders around them. The grimm took this moment to retreat since they lost so many as they retreted into the woods. As they did ruby saw the spider with a thread on nora as she took aim with her sniper quickly killing it.
After a few moments rogue started to calm down relax with a sigh.
"Ohh thank remannt those things are gone, so many eyes and legs"rogue said shivering at the thought of one tocuhing her.
Nora snapped out of her trance as she looked to see herself almsot bringing her hammer down on qrow head.
"Oh uh sorry i thought you were a beowolf"nora quickly apoligzed as she held qrow help quickly dusting him off.
Qrow sighed as he held hut gut for a kid she can hit pretty hard"your alright though next time save that for the bad guys"qrow replied
From the wood several people started to emerge with their weapons drawn on them. All of them wore some casual clothes while most of them wore what seemed to be mining gear. They had improvised armor on them and some of their weapons seems handmade from scrap. Though front and center of the group was its leader percy. The group put their hands up to tell them they mean no harm
The mining supervisotr smiled"so what brings you four out in these part of the woods?"percy questioned
"Oh you know just visiting this old mining town, thought we come by and check out the candlestick"qrow simply replied as percy smirked at that.
"Really? You sure you aint with those freaks at our mine?"a female miner asked
Ruby shook her head"no we aren't, you see were huntresses and huntsman. We stopped in your town to make repairs and recovery from a fight. Our friend sister let us stay at her house–"ruby begun before the man stopped her.
"Oh so you know jaune right?"percy asked as the four were surprised he knew the knight themed huntsman.
"Wait you know jaune?"rogue asked as percy nodded
"Heck yeah last time he came he was just a kid, haven't seen him a while. "Percy replied as he snapped his finger before his resitant fighter slowly started to go back into the woods without a trace. They lowered their hands as they took that as a sign.
Percy walked foward studying the group before nodding"yep your indeed that qrow guy i heard about. How many of your tribe did you bring to help our town?"percy question
"Uh this is it buddie i got maybe six huntsman and huntresses in training. But someone said you've been fighting against these mercs and grimm knight"qrow replied to percy disappointment that they broguth kids.
"So our help is a bunch of kids, just great eh whatever. "Percy replied not really liking this anymore.
"Hey were not just kids, our group helped save the capital of vale"nora said crossing her arm proudly.
"She right, and were all very qualfied to help your town. As a huntresses its our duty to help anyone in need and we want to stop them from subjecting your town"ruby stoicly said with a smile as percy thought for a moment before offering a hand.
Ruby took it shaking it"hmm alright but we'll talk tommorrow i don't fully trust you even if jaune with you. every since ash betrayed us we've been wary of huntsman"percy said as he started to walk off but this cought their attnetion what extactly did asher do.
"What extactly did asher do?"rogue questioned as percy stopped glancing at her.
"That bastard helped kill the person who owned the mines here. Then let those freaks salugther our protectors here, probably did it for cash"percy replied as he gripped his fist tight before walking off into the woods. The other looked at each other wondering exactly does the crimson talon offer to asher or hold. They decided to make their way back to mayor houses.
Early though jaune was walking through the streets for a bit deep in thought. That being where he was heading right now the thanatos clinic. He's curious if these two were family members of bonnies. If they are he needs to question them on what makes her tick and what she cares about.
Because right now he's lost very close friends because of her and that team. Scar manipulated someone he considered his best friend at beacon. Zane did seem weird at first but he treated him with so much generosity and always said something positive to him. But now hes gone, if what selket said is true if he could be alive. He just hopes that he isn't trying to kill them.
When she died part of his heart was gone because he truly loved her. But he'll make sure to get payback for her and their friends.
After a few more minutes he arrived at the shop as he stepped inside. He saw reed behind the counter counting the cash from today cells. But he looked up and greeted him with a smile.
"Ah hello young man how can i help you?"reed asked as jaune walked over to the counter.
"Oh i'm here to pick up a pair of prosthetic legs for my friend"jaune replied
Reed nodded"your with those three other kids that came into town?"reed asked walking to the back to grab the case as they made conversation.
"Yeah, were housed at my sister house poppy arc. I'm her younger brother"jaune replied as the movement of boxes and other items could be heard from the back.
"Really? Huh she told me she had a brother and six sister. Must have been alot of tea partys you had to attend young man"reed replied walking from the back with the case in hand. He set it on the counter as he leaned against it.
Jaune laughed a little"it was pretty chaotic around here…though whos that?"jaune aksed pointing to a nearby picture on the wall. Reed looked smiling a little but had a grave look on his face staring at the ground.
The picutre in question was younger him with a women holding a younger erin. That women who looks extactly like bonnie.
"That would be my wife mari, she past many years ago. A disease we weren't prepared for at the time despite me being a doctor"reed replied as he continued
"Some disease that attacks the immune system and other parts of the body. She was slowly dying every day until she became bedrriden. Erin barely knew what was happening to her mother and it worried me. She never got better as the days went on though one day before she died a women came by."reedd replied
"A women?"jaune asked
"Yes, though she was cloaked and her face was obserucred from my sigh. She said that had a way to save my wife from deaths door. But in my giref i turned down the offer. Instead of being anger with me in fact i think she was glad i refused as she left town"reed continued
"Then..the next day my dear mari never woke up and we buried her here"reed finished
"So its just been you two for a long time huh"jaune said
"Yes though i hope one day she finds a husband since she a fine women and makes the right decision. Though here you are young man have a great night"reed said as he handed jaune the case. He took it nodding as he began to elave.
"It was nice talking to you sir"jaune replied as he left but as he did he thought maybe after dealing with these mercs. He might visit again to get more info on her, and a thought crossed his mind it seems.
It seems jaune might be considering something terrible since he visited the thanatos clinic, hopefully he doesn't commit that sort of act. But we also saw ruby making contact with a group of miner willining to fight back against the talon. We also met yohi my own oc. Thanks for reading!