Chapter 14, Desperate Times, Desperate Betrayal
Pyrrha and Qrow leaped atop the steep arch of one of the houses near the square. The small thuds landing over the roof tiles were lost within the mechanical growls of the transport convoy. Qrow gestured his head to Pyrrha before the two began climbing to the above arch. As they came to peer from over the arch, they saw the convoy of Transports pulled into the Town square. From there, the accompanying Grimm Troopers disembarked inside. They established a perimeter around the square, dashing any hopes the Town's people had of just one night of peace and tranquility—most of all, the supposed Faunus that were no doubt hiding within any of these houses.
Down below, they saw one of the shop owners emerge from his store and approach the lead transport. The commanding officer disembarked from the passenger side of the Lead Transports, where he was approached by one of the troopers. He then turned to face the man who came up to him.
"Are you the one who reported the Faunus harboring?" He said.
The man glanced back at his family standing in the doorway. Much to his regret of what he was about to do, the only comforting notion he had was that it was for the good of his family and their struggling business. He only hoped the reward would be enough to suffice. He then turned back to the officer and nodded.
"Y-yes, the business across the street, sir. They are harboring several Faunus in their basement," The man insisted.
The Commander shifted his gaze back at the shop he was pointing at. The officer then glanced at his troops and gestured his right hand toward the shops. The troopers immediately made their way over to the shop as ordered.
"Alright, I told you where they are. Now, what about the reward you promised?" The shop owner asked.
The Officer raised his hand to him.
"Not to worry. If they are harboring them, there will be a considerable reward for your aid to the Empire," he proclaimed.
He then shifted his glance back at his troops.
"I want all these houses and shops searched!" He ordered them.
The Troopers complied with his orders and fanned out through the
From atop the roof, Qrow shook his head.
"This does not look good," He said.
Pyrrha peered below with a disapproving scowl at the shop owner. For some reward, he would betray their neighbors and endanger more faunus to that supposedly mad scientist.
"Atrocious. How could he do this?" She said, turning to Qrow.
"The people in this town are desperate, Red. They are willing to do anything if it means a way out," Qrow proclaimed.
"And that's just what Dr. Watts is counting on."
Pyrrha shifted her gaze back down at the Square below, where she saw the Grimm Troopers breaking into the houses and shops below. The screams of the startled townspeople broke the once peaceful Night, along with the sound of rummaging through their homes and the shop of the man who informed them of this false crime. The shop owner cocked his head to the commanding officer.
"I already told you where they are. We're not hiding any," the shopkeeper insisted.
"Then you should have nothing to worry about. But we rather not leave any stone unturned," The officer insisted.
"The Faunus, like the rats they are, like to hide in the smallest places."
The sound of screaming came from the shop accused of harboring the Faunus. Upon looking back, they saw the Grimm troopers dragging out the Faunus from its forced-open doorway. While some struggled within their seizing grip, others went willing under the threat of their blaster.
"Well, it appears you were right," The officer said.
He reached down into his side, pulling out a thin, grey square containing the assumed amount they owed them.
"Two Thousand Chronos, as promised. Thank you for your service," The officer said.
The business owner held the Square Drive, which contained his fee. It was the one hope he had to keep his shop going in these challenging times, only to be met with the stern glances of his neighbors whom he had betrayed to the Grimm.
"And as for you all, you shall pay for harboring the faunus. Have them transported to the detention center," The officer ordered.
Pyrrha could no longer stand by at this sight of injustice by the Grimm. She came perched over the arch above, much to the dismay of Qrow. He reached up his hand and grabbed hold of hers in the nick of time. Pulling her down back behind the cover of the arching rooftop.
"Red, wait, no," He whispered.
"Not yet."
Pyrrha squinted her eyes at him.
"What?" She said.
"We need them to lead us to the castle. This may be the only opportunity we have," Qrow insisted.
Pyrrha shook her head.
"You mean we're just going to let the Grimm take them," Pyrrha said in disbelief.
"Just for now. There will be another opportunity to help them," Qrow insisted.
"For now, we need to find a way onto one of those transports without them noticing."
Pyrrha narrowed her eyes, frowning. The idea of leaving the faunus to the Grimm, even briefly, was an inconceivable thought. Especially if it meant they led them to this supposed Mad Doctor using them as his test subjects. However, as Qrow had said, this may be their only chance of finding the castle.
Qrow reached out his hand and placed it over her shoulder. She then glanced at him and was met with his reassuring gaze as if promising her they would help them when the time came. Pyrrha narrowed her eyes, uttering a sigh of contempt. She glanced up at him, nodding her head.
"Okay," she said with an accompanying feeling of regret.
Qrow smiled, nodding. They turned back to peer over the arching rooftop, where they saw the troopers beginning to load the Faunus into the back of the transports. It wouldn't be long before they would depart for the castle. They needed to somehow stow away on one of those transports without being seen by any of those noticing them. This task would be tricky because of the number of troops in the square below.
Qrow cocked his head toward the last transport, which appeared the least guarded, with only three troopers that were monitoring the area. However, their right flank was left entirely open. A perfect opportunity for them to board through the side entrance of one of those transports without being noticed.
"There," Qrow said, gesturing his head to the transport.
Pyrrha glanced over at the transport.
"We can board that transport through its side entrance. We can hide inside until we reach the castle," Qrow insisted to her.
"Once we're close enough, we'll stop the convoy and free the Faunus inside."
Pyrrha found the plan quite sound, ridding her guilt with the relief of hope. Not for herself but for the Faunus they had taken prisoner. Not only would they find this castle where Dr. Watts was commencing his experiments, but they would also free the Faunus before they would become experiments for the made doctor.
She turned back to her, nodding her head.
"That sounds like a great plan. Let's go," she said.
Pyrrha and Qrow crept stealthily along the cover of the arching rooftop. They leaped over the narrow gap between the houses and landed over the roof of the following house. Upon coming to the last transport, they came to peer from over the arching rooftop, where they saw not much had changed in the short time. The three guarding troopers remained unsuspecting to them.
"Alright, now's our chance. Come on, let's move," Qrow said.
The two climbed up the arching rooftop, sliding over the other side before jumping behind some crates below. They came up to peer over the crates, only to find that the Troopers hadn't heard them. Several feet from them stood the last Transports with the side doorway in view.
"Hurry, let's get aboard," Pyrrha said.
The two quickly leaped over the crates to reach the Transports side entrance. Just as Qrow was about to open the doorway, the sound of some animals caused them to stop dead in their tracks. They paused, looking back up at the houses themselves. It sounded like a mountain wolf's howl but... somehow different.
"Did you hear that? What was that?" Pyrrha asked.
Qrow squinted his eyes, shaking his head.
"I don't know. But it doesn't sound good," Qrow insisted.
They heard it again, this time much louder than before—a clear indication that whatever it was was getting closer. They then listened to the shop owner cry out from the other side of the transport.
"It's the Beast! He's coming!" He called out.
The Shop owner quickly ran back toward his shop with his family, his door shutting and locked tight behind them. The commanding officer turned back to his troopers.
"Take positions! Finish loading them now!" he ordered them.
The Grimm Troopers ran into the square, their blasters at the ready. The others continued to laud the prisoners quickly in the back of the transport. The three guarding the last transport sauntered back with their blasters raised high. One of the troopers came from behind the transport corner, where they found both Pyrrha and Qrow attempting to board from the vehicle side.
The trooper turned back to them, raising their blaster to them.
"Hold it right there," The trooper said, turning his blaster to them.
Qrow turned to the trooper, raising his arms in the air.
"Hey, this doesn't look like our house," Qrow said, glancing back at Pyrrha.
There suddenly came another strange howling sound overhead. The trooper turned and glanced in the direction from which it came before...
"Incoming!"
Pyrrha and Qrow looked up and saw several large wooden crates hurling down into the square on the other side of the transport. A large crate came crashing down from above, causing the other troopers to jump out of the way. Seeing the trooper was distracted, Qrow made his move. Reaching back, he grabbed the handle of his sword and swung it at the trooper, slicing their blaster in two before kicking the trooper back.
Another came up behind Pyrrha and attempted to blast her, but Pyrrha turned back and flung her shield at the trooper, which sent him sparkling back and striking the transport behind them.
In the opening, the commanding officer noticed the sound of struggle on the other side of the transports. He turned back, squinting his eyes in suspicion.
"What's happening back there?" The officer said.
There was a sudden wooshing from behind as something suddenly pounced atop one of the troopers, dragging them away into the shadows. The others quickly opened fire at the strange creature, only for it to disappear into the shadows as soon as it appeared.
"Don't just stand there; go after it!" The Officer ordered his troops.
The troopers quickly rushed after the creature, switching on the lights on their blasters. Upon beaming the light into the alleyway, they found the body of the trooper it had taken; their body was mauled beyond the possibility of survival. One of the troopers glanced at the sound of the beast's growls. There, they saw the beast leap over them and began swiping at them with its beastly claws, sending them flying like rag dolls.
Qrow lunged at another trooper, slashing at him with his giant sword. He then heard one of the Grimm troopers over near the transport. He and Pyrrha turned back and saw they were trying to hurry the other Faunus into the back of the transport.
"So much for our plan. Looks like we're going to have to rescue them after all," Qrow proclaimed.
"Red?"
Pyrrha smiled, nodding her head to him.
"Right," she said.
Pyrrha rushed to the transport, where they loaded the Faunus into the back. Their former plan for freeing the faunus and finding the castle had long passed its moment or relevance. She lunged at one of the troopers, who turned to face her. Before he could react, Pyrrha struck the trooper with the flat golden surface of her shield and sent them flying back.
Pyrrha slid to a stop, blocking several plasma bolts with her shield as Milo changed its form to its javelin form. She then tossed at the trooper, which struck him in the chest. She then pulled Milo back with her semblance as she rolled over the ground to the remaining Grimm, where she swiped at them with her spear.
She cut down the two Grimm with her powerful slashes, causing them to topple. Pyrrha stood up and rushed over to the Faunus they had taken prisoner.
"Don't worry, I'm a friend," Pyrrha reassured them.
Pyrrha cut their binding with Milo, currently in its short sword form. Once freed from their restraints, they gestured to Pyrrha with a simple nod of gratitude. One, she returned with a simple smile.
"Hold it right there!"
Pyrrha looked to be met by the commanding officer and three accompanied troopers, holding them at blaster point.
"You aren't going anywhere. Now lay down your weapons," The officer ordered her.
Then, they heard the sound of the Beast's frightening growls from within the square. Pyrrha turned to see the troopers backing away, firing at what she could only assume was the supposed Beast on the attack. The Beast suddenly pounced at them, shrouded in the dark of the Night.
The Beast uttered an ear-curdling roar as it swiped its large paws at them. Its large claws cleaved through the Grimm's armor, followed by their cries of pain. Then he proceeded to grab the other trooper and proceeded to bite down over his shoulder as their blaster continued to fire. After discarding the body, the officer and trooper turned their blasters toward it and opened fire.
The Beast growled in anger, feeling the tricks of purple bolts against its body. It then lunged at them, swiping one trooper and sending him crashing against the transport's windshield. The two other troopers slashed with his claws, and the last left the officer himself, who attempted to fire his pistol blaster at him. Only for the beast to seize their hand in its excruciating grip, lifting him from his feet.
Pyrrha and the Faunus were left to watch in startling horror. Pyrrha came before them, and the Beast, holding her weapons at the ready. Though the Beast paid them little mine, staring ravenously at the officer now at his mercy. He growled as the Grimm officer felt the bone of his hands crushing within their grip.
"You filthy animal!" The Officer exclaimed.
The Beast roared at the officer, revealing its sharp, bearing fangs to his horrified sight. They then turned and tossed the officer into the air, where they crashed into several crates. The Beast then turned to face Pyrrha, who stood defensively before the innocent Faunus bystanders, who yielded in fear behind her. Her shield was held firm before her, and Milo, in its short sword form, waited for the beast to make its first move.
She glanced back at the Faunus behind.
"Stay behind me," she said.
The beast's looming shadow cast upon the Prodigy as it came to stand before her. Pyrrha turned back to face the beast and found it was standing only a foot before her. It stared down at her with its beating red eyes, giving a low, snarling growl. Pyrrha continued to stand firm in the face of the beast.
Yet it did not attack.
Pyrrha raised her glance from behind her. The Beast did not appear to be hostile. Instead, she caught a glimpse of what appeared to squint its glowing red eyes. Almost as if it seemed to be curious. But why?
However, the moment of thought was interrupted when the blaster bolts suddenly struck the beast from behind. The beast growled, turning back to see the two troopers firing at him. The Beast lunged back and pounced on the two troopers, dragging them both into the darkness of the alleyway. Their screams and struggles were quickly silenced by the sound of the beasts's claws cleaving through their flesh.
Then silence.
Pyrrha came from between the transports, glancing across at Qrow, who emerged from behind the last transport. He then turned to her.
"Red, stay there. Don't move," Qrow said.
He then turned forward and made his way over to the hallway. Pyrrha glanced back at the faunus, as well as the shop owners who were accused of the false crime of helping them. She gestured for them to stay put with her hand before turning to join Qrow. She came up next to him as he peered into the alley with his sword in hand.
"Do you see anything?" She asked.
Qrow shook his head. It was too dark, and they could hardly see anything. Not the beast or the Grimm it had dragged into shadows.
"No, it's too dark," Qrow said.
There was a sudden thud over the roof above. They gazed up at the house off to their right, where they saw something disappear over the rooftop.
"Shit," he cursed.
Pyrrha and Qrow quickly ran into the square. They turned back to see what they assumed was the beast prowling atop the rooftops above. Pyrrha stared up at the fleeing beast curiously. When suddenly, she heard Akara's voice.
"Follow them."
Pyrrha paused for a moment.
"Akara?" She said.
"You must go after them. Heed my words, my Prodigy."
Pyrrha glanced ponderously to the side. She remembered what Akara had told her regarding her first trial: Looking past one's appearance is the only way to see what truly lies inside. Her thoughts then turned back to when she was face to face with this strange creature. Despite her defensive gesture, it did not appear hostile toward her and the other Faunus and instead appeared curious. It seemed to only go after the Grimm.
It was almost as if it was not some mindless beast who sought to attack all it encountered. Instead, the Beast possessed certain motives, which proved they possessed considerable intelligence. If so, just what were its supposed motives?
Pyrrha suddenly lunged toward the building and leaped up to the high rooftop. Qrow reached out his hand to her.
"Red, wait!" Qrow called out to her.
Pyrrha came perched over the roof above. She scanned over the high Rooftops of the town, where she noticed the Beast leaping ahead from one to another. It seemed to be making its way over to the woods overhead. Pyrrha quickly raced after it, jumping from one rooftop to another. Qrow came up over the roof, where he saw Pyrrha leaping over the rooftops ahead.
"Red, where are you going?!" Qrow called to her.
But Pyrrha did not listen and continued ahead after the Beast, much to the dismay of Qrow, who shook his head.
"Damn it," he said before following after her.
It was not long before they had reached the edge of time. The beast leaped from the rooftop's edge into the thick woods below. Pyrrha leaped onto the roof before perching herself over the arching top. There, she saw the Beast making its way through the dense woods.
"Red,"
Qrow landed over the edge of the roof behind her. He then came up next to her, turning back to see the quaking trees of the forest.
"We have to go after it." Pyrrha insisted.
Qrow grabbed her by her arm before she could go after it.
"Wow, hold your horses, Red. What do you think you're doing?" Qrow asked.
"Are you seriously chasing after that thing?"
Pyrrha nodded her head.
"Akara said we have to follow it. It's part of my trial," Pyrrha insisted.
"Are you sure?" Qrow asked.
Pyrrha once more nodded to him, much to Qrow's disbelief.
"Oh, she can't be serious," he said.
"Come on, we can't lose it!" Pyrrha insisted.
Pyrrha leaped forward, landing below the ground before racing into the forest. Qrow rolled his eyes with an irritated groan before leaping down from the roof and chasing after her.
Pyrrha could hear the faint sound of the Beast's thudding steps and the crunching of the forest foliage as it moved. The young prodigy continued to go through the wood, following the sounds and path of broken branches it had left in its wake. However, they quickly grew fainter and fainter with every passing second until all that could be heard was the silence of the Night itself.
Pyrrha slowed to a stop, squinting her eyes as she scanned the woods. She listened for any sound from the beast, whether a growl, footsteps or rustling foliage. Yet nothing could be heard other than the silence of the Night. Nothing more.
Qrow came up behind her.
"Where did it go?" Qrow asked.
Pyrrha shook her head.
"I don't know," she said.
They suddenly heard a loud sound from up ahead. The two glanced at one another, both suspecting it to be their beast. Pyrrha raced ahead toward where the sound had come. Not long before she emerged in a small clearing, where stood a large old house.