A/N: Hello, to all of you who like this story, and to the one review, thank you. This is my personal favorite story of mine (I'm a sucker for Medieval fantasy stories, and Sci-Fi stories to a lesser extent)
RWBY is owned by Roosterteeth and the late Monty Oum
RWBY the RPG
Chapter 7
Night Watch
Ruby Rose sat before the fire as she cleaned Crescent Rose's blade. The magically imbued scythe didn't have to be cleaned or sharpened like a regular blade, ideally, but that didn't mean she had to let it be coated in old blood and gore. It was her mother's, after all.
As she cleaned the blade she watched her new companion as he slept and contemplated his existence.
Oscar Pine. Sorcerer. Already a troublemaker and not a day over sixteen. What a wonder.
She sighed as she put away her cleaning rag and oil before turning to look out over the dark forest beyond. It wasn't her forest. It wasn't her home.
And it never would be.
That would forever be Patch Island. In the Kingdom of Vale.
But that was a long way from here. Longer than she had initially thought, too. She grumbled to herself at that.
Stupid continents. Stupid planet. Why'd it have to be so big, huh?
Stupid, unknown sister. Hiding out here somewhere.
She felt tears prick at the edges of her silver eyes at that. She dashed them away quickly in anger, not wanting even that bit of vulnerability right now. She had been out here so long. Years. And, still, she had not found her.
She sighed again as she placed her hands and chin on her knees and pouted. Where are you?
After a moment of intense pouting that didn't magically manifest her unknown, older sister she sighed again and turned back to the fire, blinking as it suddenly blinded her darkvision, and looked at her companion again.
He seemed to be sleeping okay. Now, anyway. And his wounds were healing as well. No infection yet.
She had done the best she could with simple poultices and clean wrappings, but she was no healer, and he was yet too weak to have his soul unlocked. And, certainly not by her. Though, she dearly wished she could.
He snorted, snuffling in his sleep as he dreamed. She smiled at that then frowned sadly. Sixteen was far too young to have to go through what he had. It was too much for any age, but that was what Sects like Swan's did everywhere.
And, they were indeed doing it everywhere. She had been hunted by members of the Sacred Order almost from the moment she had set foot on Anima. No matter that she had done nothing to deserve such a thing. No matter that just because she was a werewolf, that didn't make her evil.
She leaned back against the log where she sat while she looked up at the night's sky as she thought. The stars and the Shattered Moon were beautiful tonight. As they were every night. She sighed again, deeply.
How could she rectify this travesty? It was, after all, only the latest in a series of travesties as the Order had doubled down on finding what they considered abominations and malcontents, like her, like Oscar.
Her eye twitched. Then there was the other thing. Grimm had invaded Suisen. Grimm led by goblins. Grimm controlled by goblins.
Grimm could not be controlled. Not by people. Not for long at any rate. It was an unwritten rule of the Cosmos.
So, what had caused it?
Couldn't be magic. Goblins as a race were ill prepared for the type of magic that could do so.
She took a deep pull from her canteen-it was only water, but she occasionally liked to acted like it was something stronger, like with her uncle-and thought about it some more.
Could be an artifact that the local tribe or clan had found. That seemed more likely than a tribe's Shaman suddenly knowing how to control Grimm, even such weak ones as Beowolves. But, if so, she would have to search for the nest and clear it out.
Which meant taking Oscar with her.
She grimaced at that. That, was something she wasn't quite comfortable with doing.
She twitched as one of the log in the fire pit snapped and a pop of sparks flew up. She turned to look out into the woods again as she heard distant noises from beyond the treeline.
She listened for a moment, focusing her hearing on the sounds to see if they were anything unnatural, for the woods, that is. But no. It was merely the sounds of animals moving about at night.
And there was that, too.
She turned back to the fire, poking at it with a spare stick to build up the flames. The nights were cold already, and would only be getting colder.
They'd have to find shelter soon.
But the longer they stayed anywhere, especially, in any township or village, the more likely they'd encounter more patrols of knights, or, possibly, other agents like Axle. Time was not on their side.
So, what to do about it?
After a moment's thought, she turned and opened her knapsack, rummaging around for a bit before finding what she was looking for. She looked over at Oscar to make certain that he was still asleep before pulling out what looked like a simple, blank scroll with flowery strips at its borders.
But appearances could be deceiving, as she turned back towards the forest and began to write on the parchment with a fine, black metal rod about the length of a quill. Words appeared on the parchment as she did so.
/ /
Warden. This is Pilgrim. She wrote. I found the magic user. Just like you said. It's a boy. Sixteen. He's a Sorcerer.
She paused and set the pen down. After a moment, a ghostly green phantom of a bird rose from the parchment and stood before her. It shook itself, ruffling transparent feathers, before taking off silently into the woods.
Within seconds it vanished entirely.
She waited patiently, and kept watch on the surrounding woods. Then looked down at the faintest of greenish glows.
The parchment now read: Excellent work, Pilgrim. Was there any trouble?
Before she could write her reply the parchment glowed again, this time in yellow.
It read: Yeah! I've heard talk of the Order cracking down out there in the boonies where the Mistrali Emperor and his Shoguns has no authority to rein them in. Don't want you getting in over your head, Pilgrim.
I know how you can be. And, while it galls me, too. You can't just up and help everyone that you think needs it.
Ruby winced at that. While Fire meant well. They didn't know the half of it. She rubbed at her side where the scar was as she remember her first real experience dealing with the "Real" world. And him.
She swallowed at that before picking up the pen to write. I know. Don't worry so much, Fire. And, yes, there was trouble, Warden. The Order discovered the sorcerer before I could arrive. They burned down the village, and slaughtered any witnesses.
Warden: Oh, dear. I was afraid of something like that happening. Especially after Weary Curmudgeon sent the notice.
Fire: Those monsters! I swear I'll kill them all one day!
As she was reading their responses, and especially feeling the same as Fire right now, a third glow appeared. One that was a bright shade of silvery white, like the light that came from her eyes.
It read: Do not blame the Order for what a few malcontents have done. I have it on good Authority that the likes of the Inquisitor are looking to crack down on such… overzealous actions.
Fire: Overzealous?! Knight, they slaughtered an entire village because one boy! That's not overzealous, that's monstrous. It's Evil. Whatever it used to be, the Order is very different now. It goes after anything and anyone that goes against its Code. People like me, people like the Faunus or the other beast races? They're killed. Just for being different.
The same for magic users of all types. Worse even. Those they don't kill. They torture and enslave for their own use.
What good can someone like the Inquisitor do, anyway? Their part of the problem, always hounding decent people like Pilgrim.
With a purple glow another message appeared then. It read simply: Fire's right, Knight. It's why Menagerie has since closed it's borders to any Kingdom that allows the Order into their Territory. It's why only Atlas and Vacuo are allowed in, now.
And all the Scum that that brings with it.
With a pale blue glow another member of the group responded: While I'm loathe to agree with anything Shadow or Fire says. Especially with those beasts on their island.
In this case, they are correct, though, my Knight. We of Atlas outright refuse to let the Order, or any other such, crusading, group enter our Territory.
Though, that has more to due with those who rule here than anything as upright as morals.
Ruby grimaced at that. She didn't know anything about the dark and forlorn Kingdom to the North, but she also didn't want to add fuel to the fire, but Fire was right. As was Shadow, she thought.
Finally, after a moment of letting the others bicker amongst themselves as they slowly wore Knight down on his stance, with Warden and even the rarely heard from Spartan getting involved as they tried, somewhat, to defend his from Fire, Shadow and Ice, she wrote.
There's more. While I was there, at the village. I saw goblins and Grimm attacking it alongside the knights.
Shadow: That's not all that uncommon, Pilgrim. Both are quite the scavengers. If a village is being attacked by goblins. Grimm, are sure to arrive before long.
Not like this. She wrote. The Grimm weren't just there from all the Negativity, or being unleashed by the goblins after being corralled, like before. They were actively being guided. Controlled.
After a moment of stillness, Warden wrote: Are you certain? That is a rather serious matter, if so, Pilgrim.
She shook her head before writing: No. But I'm going to check it out and see before I guide the boy to safety. The nest shouldn't be far. I can certainly track goblins easily enough.
Warden: And, what of the child? You can't just let him wander off alone. The Order or someone will be sure to find him, and exploit him. Or, worse.
Remember, my friend, that sorcerers are rare even among magic-users. They can be deadly if left untrained, and more so if guided by the wrong hands.
Knight: Like what happened at Dustborn.
Ruby paused at that, then wrote: I know. That's why I taking him with me.
There was another pause before Warden ultimately wrote: Very well. Report back when you discover the Truth. We leave the rest to your discretion.
Ruby smiled at that and nodded to herself before pocketing the magical Sending Scroll. She turned to Oscar and looked at him for a moment before nodding to herself. She'd let him sleep a bit more.
Then they would go hunting.
A/N: Sorry for so short of a chapter, guys. I wanted to give you more, but that's not what the story wanted. Next chapter should hopefully be longer, whenever I get around to write it. If you don't know what I'm talking about, go read the A/N at the top of The Beast ch4.
Alright see you all later. Take care!
Essiter out!