The sun rose in the sky as a new morning settled in the hidden world. Echoing throughout the woods, we could hear the nice chirping of the birds as sun beams peeked through the leaves of the high trees. A nice and cool breeze caressed the air as a golden light lightened everything, covering the area with a mystifying.
The arrival of morning was the promise of a new day…
In the cave beneath the roots of the oak tree, Salem woke up with a groan and, as she stretched her limbs to get rid of the sleepiness in them, the pale woman's mind went back to the previous night : from their meeting the gray creatures, their mesmerizing dance, the arrival of the dark horses, the short confrontation, Summer calming the leader, her petting its snout to them leaving the area.
Salem and Summer had passed almost an entire day in this strange new world and so far, they had seen many strange creatures… but she would be lying to herself if she said it wasn't an interesting experience. She was so focused on finding a way to get out of here that she was no longer focused on her revenge… but it wasn't a bad thing.
In her mind, it was good to pass a day without scheming about how to summon the gods or taking down her former paramour. Beside, ever since she first discovered this world, Salem started to feel like a normal person again : she was no longer creating or surrounded by Grimm, she was not using her magic as often as before, and she was starting to feel emotions again.
Before, she would feel nothing but emptiness, coldness and revenge… but since she fell here… it changed. Now she felt accepted, useful,… appreciated.
And it was all thanks to someone who, not long ago, was her enemy.
Summer Rose, leader of Team STRQ and follower of her former husband, Ozpin, Headmaster of Beacon Academy.
The Huntress had showed her that, deep inside her, there was still a remnant of the woman she once was before the Gods cursed her… and she will forever be thankful of her for that. Honestly, she didn't have words to express how happy her former enemy make her.
Speaking of Summer…
Turning her head to look at her companion, Salem found herself blinking in shock when she saw that, instead of the sleeping form of Summer, there was nothing but an empty space.
"Where is she ?!" the Queen of Grimm thought to herself with stupor, concern and worry mixed together as she looked around with wide eyes.
She was about to call her out when she heard something in the air : voices and laughs.
Blinking, the pale woman frowned as she carefully listened to the voice
"Awwwww you are such a cutie, aren't you ?~"
It was Summer's voice and she was cooing over something apparently… Was it one of those gray creatures with large blue eyes they saw the day before ? Or was it something else ?
Curious, Salem slowly rose from her place before carefully stepping out of the cave they both slept in last night. Outside, the clearing was no longer plunged in the darkness and was, instead, showing itself in all its beauty thanks to the sunlight. The delicious scent of morning filled the air as a cool breeze caressed Salem's face, causing her to sigh in contentment.
But then, she heard Summer's voice again, giggling. "Stoooop you are tickling meeeeeee !"
Curious, the Queen of Grimm turned her head toward the sound… before blinking in slight surprise at what she saw : there was her companion, Summer Rose and she was currently on her knees with something in her arms.
The Huntress no longer looked exhausted and her wounds seemed to be inexistent… well, almost. There were scars now and by the look of it, the pine sap did marvel on them. Seeing that her companion was good, the Queen of Grimm's red eyes landed on the tiny creature in her arms.
Salem's eyes widened when she studied the creature in question : it looked like a large mole with a long snout (which strangely looked similar to that of a platypus) and a coat of black, fluffy fur. However, while it looked as strange as the many other creatures they had encountered so far, she couldn't help… but finding it somewhat cute… especially as it seemed to purr at the petting it was receiving from her companion who couldn't stop cooing adorably.
"Are you having fun, Summer ?" the Queen of Grimm asked her with a tiny smirk of amusement on her face.
Hearing her, the Huntress turned her head to look at her with wide eyes and a bit of red on her cheeks. In her arms, the little creature's eyes were now locked on the newcomer, as if studying her.
"Good morning, Salem ! How long have you been there ?!" Summer asked her companion with slight embarrassment.
"Long enough to see you cooing over that thing..." Salem answered with a chuckle while shooting a glance at the creature in her companion's arms at the last part of her sentence.
"Can you blame me ?! It is so cute !" Summer cooed as she picked up the tiny creature to show it to her companion, her silver eyes sparkling under the light.
Dangling in the air, the tiny creature was looking back and forth between the two women, still calm and composed despite its current position. The Queen of Grimm briefly glanced at the creature for a moment before looking back at Summer to answer
"Yes, it is cute but still, it is not the time to pet some unknown animal… We still need to find a way out of this place..."
Summer pouted at those words, but she knew Salem was right and, with great reluctance, she gently putted the black creature down. The tiny creature looked up at her with what could be described as a curious expression mixed with some sadness.
"Sorry, cutie…" she whispered to it before looking back at her companion.
"We can go now..."
Salem nodded before she and her companion took one last look at the place they slept in for the previous night before entering the forest again.
"Summer ? There is something I must ask you..." the Queen of Grimm said after a few seconds of awkward silence.
"Sure ! What is it ?"
"Do you really see me as a friend ?"
Summer blinked at those words before shyly looking at the women beside her.
"Well… Since we are no longer enemies and since we have shared intimal things in the caves, I think it make senses to be friends… right ?" was Salem's answer.
The Queen of Grimm didn't know why but, despite how naive the explanation was, she couldn't help but smiling at the other woman.
"I suppose it is..." she said back with a chuckle and a tiny nod.
For the next few minutes, there was nothing but silence between them.
"What direction should we take ?" Summer asked her companion to break the silence AND focus on an important topic.
"I think we should go- You got to be kidding me ?!" Salem began to answer before her eyes landed on something, causing her to groan loudly in slight annoyance.
Blinking in shock as the words, Summer turned her head to see what had caused Salem to react like this… only to gasp in happiness when she saw a family black creature a few feet away from them. The tiny creature must have followed them from the clearing !
"You followed us !" Summer cried out in joy as she opened her arms wide in a welcoming manner.
The tiny creature released a tiny squeak-like cry before jumping into her arms, causing the Huntress to coo down at it. Salem, her, was looking at the creature with a blank expression on her face before sighing deeply.
"It must have bonded with you… it will follow us everywhere from now on..." the Queen of Grimm commented with slight annoyance… and delight.
A part of her (the human part) was also delighted to have the cute little creature with them.
"I don't mind as all !" Summer cried back with a bright smile while the tiny black creature squeaked in what sounded like agreement.
"Summer… How will your family and the rest of Remnant react to it ? The scientists will try to take it to study it ! They might even try to dissect it !" Salem added in a somber tone.
The Huntress gasped in horror as her eyes widened in alarm. Her hold on the black creature tightened a bit but, thankfully, it wasn't enough to harm it.
"They wouldn't do that, would they ?" Summer asked her in a tiny voice, barely louder than a whisper.
"They would… Trust me, the second they will get a hint of it, they will do everything in their power to take it from you..." The Queen of Grimm explained in a gentle tone.
The tiny creature, seeing the woman holding it looking distressed, started to nuzzle her cheeks as if trying to cheer her up. Summer blinked in surprise at the sudden gesture but then smiled warmly at the tiny being in her arms before petting its pelt, earning herself a little rumble similar to a purr from it.
"I'm sorry, little one… but we can't keep you..." Summer whispered to it in a sad tone.
Salem looked on with slight sadness as she sympathized with Summer… but deep down, she knew she was right : this little one would not live long if it came with them to the Surface. Being an unknown creature, every scientists on Remnant would try to get their hands on it, either to study it or for less than good reasons.
Shaking her head to regain her senses, the Queen of Grimm watched in silence as, once again, Summer gently putted down the tiny creature before going back on her feet.
"Go on, shoo !" The Huntress said while using her hands to gesture to it to leave.
However, it only stood there, watching them both, not trying to move a single muscle.
"Come on ! I already told you we cannot take you with us, so go back to your family !" Summer said in a slight annoyed tone as she tried to chase it away.
Once again, the tiny mole-platypus hybrid didn't move from its spot. Either it was really stubborn, or it was simply stupid !
"We should go and leave it here… We can't stay here any longer..." Salem said to her companion after a few moments of silence.
Summer looked at her for a moment before nodding in acceptance. Shooting one last look at the tiny creature on the ground, the Huntress and the Queen of Grimm turned around to leave. They barely made a few steps that the same tiny creature ran pass them to stand before them, its eyes looking up at them.
"What the-" Salem began to say in surprise, her red eyes locked on the tiny being at her feet.
"Are you trying to tell us something ?" Summer asked the tiny creature with a frown.
The mole-platypus hybrid squeaked before nodding its head (?). The two women blinked in surprise at this before glancing at one another.
"Perhaps, it want to help us ?" the Huntress inquired to her companion in a soft tone.
"I don't thin-" Salem began to say before looking back at the creature as it started to move toward them again.
It tapped on Summer's shoes before taking a couple of steps forward, looking at them with an insistent look in its eyes. The two women only stared at it with confusion, wondering what it was doing and, after it performed the same move 2 more times, they understood.
"It wants us to follow it !" Summer cried out in realization and the tiny creature squeaked in agreement.
"You know a way out of here ?" Salem found herself asking the tiny creature with slight awe and curiosity, despite her shock.
The tiny beast shook its head, saying 'no'. The two women slumped their shoulders in disappointment at this answer.
"Then, you know someone who can ?" Summer asked him with a titled head, and a voice filled with hope.
This time, it was a nod, meaning 'yes' and at this instant, Summer and Salem looked overjoyed as they looked at one another with happiness.
"Then, lead the way, little one !" Summer said to the tiny creature with excitement at the prospect of soon being able to see her daughters and husband again.
The mole-platypus hybrid squealed again before starting to walk again... heading west this time. After a moment of silence, Salem and Summer slowly followed it, even if the former was still a little shocked by how intelligent the tiny being was.
It understood human-language, that much was obvious, and Salem wondered if this little one was someone's pet. It would explain how he knew their language or why he was so docile around them. A wild animal would normally never trust humans that easily.
Actually, now that she thought about it, the dark skeletal horses from the previous night had been also quite amicable and docile to them.
Was it possible that some of the creatures in this new world were sentient ?
In such a new place where so far, they encountered nothing but unknown creatures, everything was possible.
Shaking her head to regain her senses, Salem shot a glance at her companion who looked excited and determined. It was easy to understand why : the Huntress missed her family… and here was an opportunity to be reunite with them again.
A pang of envy and sorrow was felt in her heart as memories of the past passed through her mind : memories of her beloved daughters laughing and playing around her filled her entire soul and Salem had to use all her willpower not to shed tears at the bitter-sweet memories.
Once again, the Queen of Grimm tried to brush those thoughts aside to look around, while still walking side by side with her huntress companion : the trees were standing tall while the leaves were lightened by the morning light. The morning breeze was blowing through her hair and it was like a gentle and smooth caress.
"I can't wait to see my babies again !" Summer's voice caught her attention and Salem turned her head to stare at her companion with a smile.
"I can see that…" the Queen of Grimm replied with a chuckle before sighing deeply.
"Something the matter ?" the Huntress asked her with slight concern.
"I don't know how long it will take before we get out of here but you and I both know that, once we are back to the Surface, we will once again be enemies..." Salem answered softly after a moment of silence.
"Why should we ?" Summer asked her with a frown of confusion.
"Summer… Once we will back up there, I know you will return to Ozpin as one of his Huntresses… as for me, I will just return among the Grimm..." the pale woman with red eyes explained calmly to her companion but with her tone filled with slight deception.
"It doesn't matter ! I might be a Huntress and you, the Queen of Grimm, but it shouldn't stop us for being friends anymore !" Summer retorted in determination, her silver eyes narrowed.
"I would agree with you… but do you really think Ozpin would allow such a friendship ?" Salem, once again, calmly asked her companion.
Summer opened her mouth to retort but soon, she closed it while her shoulders slumped in defeat. It was true… Ozpin would never accept their friendship : Salem was the enemy and the Headmaster of Beacon would see it as a great betrayal of her part !
The silver eyed Huntress shivered a bit at what punishment the old man would give her for it. However, the fear turned into a fierce determination as she looked back at her companion who looked stunned by the change of expression.
"I don't care what Ozpin will think of it ! You are my friend ! And no matter what, I will never stop seeing you as such ! If it mean hiding it from my boss, then I will !" Summer hissed with a silver fire in her eyes.
Salem looked at her companion with wide eyes for a moment, unable to look away from the woman beside her. Her heart was filled with warmth and happiness and she couldn't help, but smiling at the Huntress.
"Thank you…" she whispered softy before doing something she hadn't done in centuries: she hugged Summer.
The Huntress blinked in surprise and shock at the sudden action but soon, smiled as she returned it wholeheartedly. The two of them staid like this for some time, until a squeak caught their attention. Turning their heads, they saw their guide looking at them expectantly.
"We are coming !" Summer cried out to the creature before looking back at Salem with a smirk
"We better get going or someone will become grumpy !"
"We should… friend..." Salem said with a smile and a nod.
At the words, Summer's expression brightened and she gave her former enemy a hug before the two of them resumed what they were doing… aka following the mole-platypus hybrid. As they walked, many questions passed through their minds :
-Where are they going ?
-Who will they meet ?
-Who can help them ?
-How can they return to the Surface ?
So many questions and yet, no answers… at least for now.
However, they quickly brushed those thoughts aside : no matter what will happen now, they both knew they would handle it… because they had each others. From this day on, it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between two people who were once enemies.
(To be continued…)