FoxOnPie
Into the Dojyaaniverse
- Location
- Napkin store
I think a couple of days.
Lets Get To It! Rwby Ideas/discussion Thread
- Thread starter GeneralScrage
- Start date
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- rwby ideas thread
SolipsistSerpent
Endlessly Devouring
By the way, does anyone know if "anime hair" is a canonical thing in RWBY?
I'm inclined to think they are. While I could easily see Neptune and Neo dying theirs, I really doubt Emerald was taking the time to stain her hair green while she was living on the streets.
I'm inclined to think they are. While I could easily see Neptune and Neo dying theirs, I really doubt Emerald was taking the time to stain her hair green while she was living on the streets.
Hell if I know, I just check the RWBY section every couple days to see if any of the things I like updated.
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The real question is Ruby's hair. Does it naturally grow out black and then fade to red?
SolipsistSerpent
Endlessly Devouring
A lot of people think she dyes it and it's naturally dark, but I haven't seen any conclusive evidence either way.
SolipsistSerpent
Endlessly Devouring
Well, we mostly see Hunters (in training) and these are people who all take the time to design personal individual sigils for themselves and work them into most of their outfits. I could easily see hair dye being extremely popular with them, given the culture's emphasis on individuality and color, if it weren't for Emerald challenging that explanation.
Maybe odd hair is a common side effect of Dust and/or Aura exposure.
Maybe, it could be an interesting bit of culture/world building, though I until we see anything saying otherwise I'll be leaning towards it just being natural.
Edit: Though now I have this mental image of Adam organising raids just to get more hair dye and wearing a helmet when his roots start showing.
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SolipsistSerpent
Endlessly Devouring
Adam: Silence! (I think I convinced everyone they're horns)You mean his roots aren't showing (in streaks) here?
Apologies for the double post but despite the long hiatus, I have finally started update The Knights Errant once again.
Rajvik_wolfboy
Wolf amongst the stars.
- Location
- Florida
hey @Zam got another attempt at that "Grey Trailer" for you to check out
Trailer: Grey
"Kill her," the words still echoed in Summer's head as she ran, a team of what had once probably been huntresses chasing her through the woods as she made her way for the bullhead that would get her back to Vale. She had been chasing Raven, a former team mate and stumbled upon something else. She had been so intent on her former team mate that she had stumbled into the other group completely by accident and been taken by surprise by them. Raven, bless her, had snuck in and freed her, but couldn't return her weapon and in trying to retrieve it, Summer had been spotted. Because of that, she was now pounding through the underbrush hoping she could make it to her hidden ride before her pursuers could catch her.
That didn't look to be in the cards however as the group of four men and three women entered the clearing not ten feet behind her. The clearing itself wasn't very large, maybe thirty feet by twenty and she was caught halfway across it when what had to be a Beowolf charged through from the other side. The beast stopped for a moment as it reached the clearing looking at both her and the group behind her, and it only took a moment for Summer to realize that this was not your usual Beowolf, in fact it was more like a human who had a wolf head and massive upper body beneath the obvious chain mail armor that it wore. The snarl that it gave left no doubt of its animalistic nature however and Summer threw herself to one side as the creature charged once more. It wasn't apparently going for her however but the people behind her she noted as it shoulder checked the one woman throwing her back into the brush the way she had come. Its next move was to grab two of the men by the collars of their shirts before slamming them together with a meaty "thunk".
"James don't you damn well run away from me while I'm talking to you, you hairy flea bitten ass," a woman's voice yelled from the same direction that the creature had come from. A moment later a dusky skinned red head shoved her way through the underbrush and into the clearing before stopping and setting herself with her hands on her hips. "Miss you might as well pick yourself up, and come over here, we are not going to get a damn word out of that man until he finishes venting his frustration by bashing a few heads. The woman said as she picked the twigs from her clothes and hair.
The two of them stood there and watched as the creature ducked and dodged the swings, blows and shots of his opponents while one by one knocking them unconscious. Finally he finished, Summer watching as the wolf-man creature spiked one of the men into the other before kicking both of them between the legs with enough force to send the pair flying through the trees back the way they had come. As the creature turned away from what had been carnage it made a motion like it was sheathing a sword at its side after which the monstrous visage seemed to fade from existence showing a rather plain looking man in a strange shirt and pants. "Sorry about that," he said wiping his hands as if he had just handled something rather nasty. "I heard the crashing of the brush this way and just had to investigate."
The redhead smirked slightly before snorting, "Uh huh, and the fact that running off like that temporarily got you out of an ass chewing for trying to leave me behind AGAIN had nothing to do with it." The redhead then got right up in the man's face and started ranting at him about repeatedly trying to leave her behind while he stoically defended himself by either remaining quiet or making small comments about how things were done to keep her safe. Finally, Summer couldn't take it anymore and just broke down laughing at the pair, this of course pulled the two of them up short.
Once she was done laughing she looked at the pair, "Um, thanks for the help," she said suppressing her mirth.
"No problem," the man said, "happy to help in fact. Now, could you maybe tell us where we are, we seem to drop rather randomly at times." He fell off into a mumble
"Not at all," Summer answered as she started to lead the pair away from the clearing, "We are about halfway between Mountain Glen and Beacon in the kingdom of Vale."
Upon hearing this, the man pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment before properly shouldering the pack he carried. "I've forgotten my manners it seems," he said seeming to mentally berate himself. "I'm James Bostwick, though people call me Wolf, and this is my fiancé Kirche Zerbst, may I ask who you are?"
She chuckled a bit at that, "Yeah combat seems to do that to people," Summer answered, "I'm Summer Rose, do you need a lift anywhere?"
[/Spoiler
"Kill her," the words still echoed in Summer's head as she ran, a team of what had once probably been huntresses chasing her through the woods as she made her way for the bullhead that would get her back to Vale. She had been chasing Raven, a former team mate and stumbled upon something else. She had been so intent on her former team mate that she had stumbled into the other group completely by accident and been taken by surprise by them. Raven, bless her, had snuck in and freed her, but couldn't return her weapon and in trying to retrieve it, Summer had been spotted. Because of that, she was now pounding through the underbrush hoping she could make it to her hidden ride before her pursuers could catch her.
That didn't look to be in the cards however as the group of four men and three women entered the clearing not ten feet behind her. The clearing itself wasn't very large, maybe thirty feet by twenty and she was caught halfway across it when what had to be a Beowolf charged through from the other side. The beast stopped for a moment as it reached the clearing looking at both her and the group behind her, and it only took a moment for Summer to realize that this was not your usual Beowolf, in fact it was more like a human who had a wolf head and massive upper body beneath the obvious chain mail armor that it wore. The snarl that it gave left no doubt of its animalistic nature however and Summer threw herself to one side as the creature charged once more. It wasn't apparently going for her however but the people behind her she noted as it shoulder checked the one woman throwing her back into the brush the way she had come. Its next move was to grab two of the men by the collars of their shirts before slamming them together with a meaty "thunk".
"James don't you damn well run away from me while I'm talking to you, you hairy flea bitten ass," a woman's voice yelled from the same direction that the creature had come from. A moment later a dusky skinned red head shoved her way through the underbrush and into the clearing before stopping and setting herself with her hands on her hips. "Miss you might as well pick yourself up, and come over here, we are not going to get a damn word out of that man until he finishes venting his frustration by bashing a few heads. The woman said as she picked the twigs from her clothes and hair.
The two of them stood there and watched as the creature ducked and dodged the swings, blows and shots of his opponents while one by one knocking them unconscious. Finally he finished, Summer watching as the wolf-man creature spiked one of the men into the other before kicking both of them between the legs with enough force to send the pair flying through the trees back the way they had come. As the creature turned away from what had been carnage it made a motion like it was sheathing a sword at its side after which the monstrous visage seemed to fade from existence showing a rather plain looking man in a strange shirt and pants. "Sorry about that," he said wiping his hands as if he had just handled something rather nasty. "I heard the crashing of the brush this way and just had to investigate."
The redhead smirked slightly before snorting, "Uh huh, and the fact that running off like that temporarily got you out of an ass chewing for trying to leave me behind AGAIN had nothing to do with it." The redhead then got right up in the man's face and started ranting at him about repeatedly trying to leave her behind while he stoically defended himself by either remaining quiet or making small comments about how things were done to keep her safe. Finally, Summer couldn't take it anymore and just broke down laughing at the pair, this of course pulled the two of them up short.
Once she was done laughing she looked at the pair, "Um, thanks for the help," she said suppressing her mirth.
"No problem," the man said, "happy to help in fact. Now, could you maybe tell us where we are, we seem to drop rather randomly at times." He fell off into a mumble
"Not at all," Summer answered as she started to lead the pair away from the clearing, "We are about halfway between Mountain Glen and Beacon in the kingdom of Vale."
Upon hearing this, the man pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment before properly shouldering the pack he carried. "I've forgotten my manners it seems," he said seeming to mentally berate himself. "I'm James Bostwick, though people call me Wolf, and this is my fiancé Kirche Zerbst, may I ask who you are?"
She chuckled a bit at that, "Yeah combat seems to do that to people," Summer answered, "I'm Summer Rose, do you need a lift anywhere?"
[/Spoiler
On a technical level the writing seems quite solid, I couldn't spot and grammatical, spelling or formatting errors. As to the overall story though, I'm a little unsure, Summer's a huntress, people who can be so casually cast aside by the wolf person being a huge threat to her feels odd tom and a lot of the exposition via dialogue felt ind of unnatural. Sorry.
Rajvik_wolfboy
Wolf amongst the stars.
- Location
- Florida
Well said, heh, sorry I generally dislike leaving negative critique, but yeah I wanted to be helpful. Dialogue is crazy hard I sympathise, good luck with your continued efforts.
Apologies for the double post but, the next chapter of Raucous Ruins has been posted, where the team finally get a proper sit down with their contractor, are welcomed by some clan elders and they start getting an idea of the scale their new mission entails.
SolipsistSerpent
Endlessly Devouring
Arthur Hansen
Author of no Authority.
- Location
- Utah, behind the Zion Curtain.
Would you guys be interested in previewing/reviewing a little bit of Iron Man/RWBY (Armored Adventures teen Tony) that I wrote?
I'm not a huge crossover/teen Iron Man person, though if you posted it, I would try to offer some useful comments regardless.
Arslan's olive eyes shone with energy as the girl sprinted about a loosely defined grass path surrounded by tents, dodging her way around adults and whatever obstacle someone might have left in her path. The dim light of the sun was only just now peaking over the horizon, shining light on her yellow and black, gi, clad form. The air was still cold and crisp, the biting chill of the northern cold permeating the air and letting the young girl see her breath with each exhale.
"Faster, faster," Arslan said quietly.
Lions tail flicking impatiently Arslan spun around, feet digging into the grassy earth as she did so. In a blur she ran behind the small gaggle of younger children drowsily marching behind her and clasped the slowest child's shoulders.
The horned brunette looked up at her and wiped his eyes, "Still... tired," he yawned.
Shaking her head Arslan ushered him forward and said, "Breakfast will wake you up, Corban, and- hey, back in line," she snapped. Gently tugging Corban along with her Arslan reached out and clasped the hand of a younger girl. Dark hair and slit pupils stared back at her and Emera stuck out her forked tongue in protest.
"You know the rules, nor breaking from the group or we don't get breakfast," Arslan said firmly, eyes trailing over the rest of her escorts as she counted off the younger children.
"Who put you in charge," Emera hissed unhappily.
"Our elders, someone has to look after you when everyone's hunting," Arslan said, arching an eyebrow at the smaller girl and flicking the red circlet that hung around her neck, marking her as an honour pupil, an item not currently possessed by any of her younger kin.
"I know that!" Emera huffed.
"Then don't ask silly questions, now hold Corban's hand and keep pace," Arslan instructed, linking the two grumbling kids together and guiding them all towards the a rowdy sounding tent in the middle of camp. It was a dull white, standing easily a head over even their tallest adult and several times wider than the small tent homes surrounding it, matched only by the group tent Arslan and her the other children shared. A plume of smoke wafted from a hole in the centre of the roof and the smell of hot stew urged the children on faster than Arslan herself ever could.
As they approached the open flap of the tents entrance, the sounds of chatter hit their ears. Adults, in brown and grey outfits made of hardy leather and thick cloth strode from the tent. Weapons in hand and cheerful grins on their faces, a few elder siblings or parents stopping to greet their younger children, Arslan herself even got an affectionate clap on the shoulder from a woman with lion ears and blonde hair. .
"In you come little ones, before breakfast gets cold!" shouted a dry, withered voice.
With that, and much to Arslan's chagrin, the horde of children scrambled into the tent and rushed towards the bubbling dark cauldron watched over by a white cloaked elder.
"Remember to eat quickly, if we start our chores early we can get to training with Master Deyas sooner," Arslan instructed as she waited for her serving. The groan that met her ears was far from encouraging; the wink and extra spoonful of meat the white haired elder gave her was though.
"Thanks," Arslan whispered, grinning cheekily as she bowed before taking her seat with the other children, her mind already a whirl with plans for the day.
_______________________________
Arslan glanced at the sky from her perch upon a stone jutting from the earth. 'The sun's just reached its peak and almost everyone's at Masters,' She thought. Focused eyes darting in every directions around her as she spun about trying to spot her straggler.
In the distance she could see the the faint white of the northern lands her people had so recently left as Winter drove their quarry towards warmer climates. The additional ease of spying Grim against the snow was near useless when suffering blizzards or starvation after all.
All around the girl were large rocks and grasslands that rose up and down in great dips and ridges. Beyond the fact it had proven a fun place to play and practise leaping, plenty of edible mushrooms and herbs grew in the shadow of the larger stones, as did the occasional Dust crystal. The woven pack on her back spoke true to that sentiment. Mushrooms and useful herbs in one slot and a small collection of faintly humming and jagged Dust she'd dug up from the ground some ways away.
"Corban, Emera" she called, careful not to let her voice carry too far over the planes lest some idle Grim that bypassed their patrols overhear her. It wouldn't be drawn to her worry of course, she was too calm for that, definitely, her heart wasn't starting to beat faster. Her long nails weren't digging into her palm hard enough to draw blood, because Corben and Emera were gone after she'd looked away for just one mo-
"Arslan!" Corban and Emera wailed in the distance.
Arslan's entire body flared with tension and she shot off from her perch, the stone cracking under her feet as she jumped. Blurring like a bullet Arslan leaped across boulders and tiny hills, eyes darting every which way in search of her younger sibling.
'There!' She thought, a grin spreading across her face as she spied Emera sitting at Corban's side in a small grassy ditch. Corban was on his backside clutching his hand and- he was crying.
Repressing a growl, Arslan shot down to his side and hushed the smaller child as she placed an arm around his shoulder and gently clasped Emera's raised hand in her own. "Its OK Corban, I'm here, show me what happened," Arslan instructed, eyes already trained on the small boys hands.
"We just wanted the Dust!" Emera said, clinging to Arslan's calloused hand.
"I- I burnt my hand," Corban whimpered. His breaths were short and puffy as he tried to stop crying and held up his hand. The boys tiny fingers were bright red, marked by layers of peeled back skin and a faint trickle of blood.
"I can't get him to stop crying," Emera said hurriedly, "I wanna be calm, I'm calm, I-"
"Quiet," Arslan said, not snapped, but her words were cold and firm. "No Grim will get passed our elders and if they did I'd kill them for you," Arslan said. "I'm sorry I wasn't here," she added, almost muttering. Clutching Corban's wrist she gave it a light squeeze, hoping to numb the pain and then turned to look Corban in the eye. His pale face as bright and puffy with tears but he met her stare as best he could.
"Corban, I know this will be hard but breath with me," Arslan instructed. She sucked in a quick breath in time with Corban's, but then exhaled it slower than he did. "Just breath, we can heal this, but you have to be strong and focus, OK little brother?"
Corban sucked in a breath and nodded, "OK," He whimpered.
"Brave boy, Emera," Arslan said, glancing at the girl, "breath with us and hold Corban's hand.
Thankfully this time Emera didn't question her instruction and clasped Corban's un-injured hands that he'd dug into the grass.
"Now, just take in a breath, then let it out," Arlsan breathed in through her nose, the cold winter air chilling her senses. She breathed out quietly and said, "It doesn't need to be deep yet, just try and control it, your body, is your own to master," she quoted.
After nearly a minute of breathing Corban's blush had faded somewhat and while the boy was still whimpering he held back his tears.
"Good boy, " Arslan said, leaning down and delivering a gentle peck to his head. "Now I just need you to focus for a moment longer," Arslan started, using her eyes to motion to his chest. "Think about your heart, the blood in your veins, the light in your soul," She instructed. "Breath in," she said again, "and breath out," Arslan continued, letting her own Aura flow around her.
Within a moment Emera's liquid blue Aura's flickered before her and was quickly followed by Corban's red tinted Aura. The boy sucked in a breath and almost sounded like he was about to gag as his hand crinkled for a moment before the wound was overtaken by fresh peachy skin.
"I, healed it," he whispered, as if to himself.
Emera let out a whoop and Arslan rustled Corban's hair, "You did, good work, you were both very good and very brave," Arslan said. Rising to her feet Arslan clasped Corban's hand and pulled the smaller boy to his feet only to watch him wobble and stagger. Her hands shout out and quickly grasped his sides and she said, "Healing can tire you out the first time, I got you."
In one quick motion Arslan pulled off her backpack and swiftly lifted Corban onto her shoulders. She was pleased to hear the boy marvel at his new position int he world as he cheered, "Thanks Arslan!"
"Its fine, now we'll get the Dust then report to Master Deyas for training, I'll tell him your tired though," Arslan added at Corban's tensing.
"But the Dust," he started as Arslan slowly walked towards the overhanging boulder and the smooth red crystal jutting out of the ground beneath it, Emera only a step behind her.
"Is Dust, its a rock Corban, you just need to be careful with it," Arslan said, gently placing her pack next to the glimmering red crystal before her.
Corban clutched her tightly but Arslan stayed calm and simply tapped the tip of the crystal and was pleased to hear it let out a deep ringing thrum. "Its fine," Arslan said again as she kneaded her fingers into the dirt at the crystal heads side and slowly dug it out, revealing a crystal that was only as long as her hand but as thick as her fist.
"That's big," Emera said from her side.
"Yes, and heavy," Arslan nodded, "you put too much pressure on the tip and triggered a bit of it, but it can't hurt you now," Arslan said, gently tapping Corban's leg.
"Ye-yeah," Corban murmured.
Fears calmed Arslan slipped her hands underneath the crystal and slowlyslipped it into the next wicker compartment 'slot' of her pack and sealed it shut. Rising to her feet Arslan offered her hand to Emera who took it and giggled as she was scooped into her elders arms as Arslan said, said, "We need to hurry to masters so I'll carry everything, you two just hang on."
"Lets go!" Corban cheered, waving his stubby arms forward.
"Yeah, faster, faster!" Emera shouted.
Snorting Arslan made sure all of their packs were fastened tightly and began her trek back to their masters tent, knees raised high in the air as she ran to better warm herself up for class.
'This will be great,' Arslan thought to herself, grinning as she jogged back to camp.
_______________________________________________________________________
A sharp crack struck Arslan's ears as Master Deya's fist struck her head sending the girl face first into the ground with a thud.
Growling under her breath Arslan slammed her palms into the ground and- a kick was curving towards her-. Arslan flung herself backwards, only losing a few strands of hair to her teachers attack. Falling into a backwards roll she skidded across the ground and rose to her feet, panting, but fists up in a tight guard position.
Master Deyas looked barely worse for ware and watched her through half closed, wrinkled-ridden eyes. The deeply tanned elder's orange and brown robe fluttered slightly, while the dual necklaces marking his status as a former pupil and now a master were wholly silent, as he returned to an easy stance and began stroking his ornate grey beard.
"A noble effort children, but it seems you've done all the exercise you can for the day," he said, a chuckle accompanying his raspy. He held his arms out wide and said, "I believe then, that it is time to begin our writing and arithmetic."
Several groans and cries of "No!" filled the air from the children surrounding the sparring duo, most of whom were still trying to catch their breaths.
Arslan felt her tail snap like a whip as she deepened her stance and said, "I am not exhausted yet, master Deyas."
"Oh?" he answered coyly. "Well then, let us make a deal, everyone rests until we finish sparring. And," he added, raising a single finger, "if you land a single strike upon me we'll take some time from classes to play or spar again before days end."
Arslan let out a tiny sigh of relief as the beating of her blood quieted but did not slow, 'We aren't done yet, we aren't done yet,' she thought happily, while inside her Arslan felt her Aura flare in excitement. All around the girl the other children, who weren't too tired, began cheering and calling out attacks. Sending Master Deyas, still standing as calm as could be, a grin Arslan dug her feet into the ground and launched herself forward.
'Straight line didn't work, duck and weave,' She thought to herself.
Ducking low and stretching out her body Arslan bounded towards Master Deyas in sharp zigzagging movements. Jumping as she approached his right side she lashed out with a right hook.
Only for Master Deyas to lean back, and left, just out of reach of Arslan's strike.
Momentum carrying her forward Arslan pulled back and lashed out with a kick to the elders jaw.
Master Deya's hand shot out and he lazily pushed her blow aside with the back of his hand and slammed his palm into her back.
Arslan was sent hurtling away from the man. Tumbling through the air she slammed her hands into the ground and flipped over to once again face him. Sucking in a breath she charged again.
'Stay low, sweep at his legs, then when he's not expecting it jump at him,' She told herself.
As she shot towards him though Master Deyas lashed out with his own sweeping kick forcing Arslan to jump. She barely brought her arms up into a cross-guard before he struck her again flinging her backwards.
Digging her feet into the ground and feeling the dirt fly up around her as she skidded to a halt Arslan shook her hands to dismiss the sting of Master Deyas's attack.
Master Deyas made a lazy sweeping motion and fell into a wide and easy stance, one leg and arm outstretched towards her and his other half pulled back for balance and grounding. "Tell me Arslan, under what star were you born?" he asked, eyes not dimming or losing focus for a moment.
Sucking in a breath Arslan let her chest swell until the tightness almost hurt before letting it go. Arms raised up to guard again she stared up at her teacher suspiciously.
Master Deyas chuckled, "Come now, there's no need to be so silent, I merely lose track of things in my old age."
Arslan readied herself for a retreat, her weight on her forward right leg and her arms in a tight guard over her stomach. Finally she answered, "You said never to let your opponent decides the terms of engagement."
"Ah indeed I did, but with the prize on offer it seems I already control the terms, so..." Master Deyas trailed off in clear amusement.
Even with the fact it was perhaps a trap Arslan cut the man off before he could speak further and said, "I am named for-" she bent her knee minutely, muscles tense and throbbing, "Leo the lion!" Arslan lunged forward, a sharp strike aimed at her teachers knee.
In an instant Master Deyas pulled himself back and in one flowing motion slid around her.
Throwing her head forward Arslan struck the ground and them slammed her palms into the earth, flinging herself back at her teacher with a sharp kick.
Only to be intercepted by his palm as Master Deyas redirected her kick and with a light push sent her bouncing along the ground again.
Spitting up grass and dirt Arslan fell into a low crouch and watcher her teacher warily as the man chuckled to himself. "Ah yes, the mighty lions of the Vacuo planes, king of beasts and hunters, or so they say," he chucked. He sent her one of those searching grins that told Arslan he was seeking an answer from her.
For a moment Arslan found her mind going over all the little fact she knew about lions before she dismissed the thoughts and rushed Master Deyas again. She stopped short though, skidding along the grass and flipped over his sweeping kick and then kicked off the ground to deliver a punch to his exposed side. Only for her hand to be caught and redirect passed him. However this time he did not hurl her away and Arslan was able to recover and throw out a kick. The students and masters bodies becoming a blur and Arslan's furious assault was blocked and redirected by the grinning elder.
As they continued their duel Master Deyas spoke, his words fast, but his manner as casual as ever. "Tell me Arslan, what makes you think the lion is the greatest hunter on Remnant?" He asked, the Grim naturally being excluded from such considerations.
Driving a hard kick into Master Deya's arm Arslan felt her bones rattle and she threw herself backwards, flipping across the ground and returning to guard several feet away from her teacher panting. "Lions are, strong and and fast, they hunt in packs, something no other hunters save people do," she said. The answer did not feel right, Master Deyas had not met her with strength or speed but- "they're smart?" she ventured.
"Ah, there it is," Master Deyas said, chuckling as he waggled a finger at her and Arslan rushed him again, their bodies becoming a blur of blocked blows and redirect attacks. As they fought Master Deyas continued his lecture. "Lions are not the strongest, that is the elephant or the rhino. They are not the swiftest, for that is the Cheetah. Nor even do their number make them so great for the buffalo herd outnumber them-"
Arslan took a backhand to the head and used the momentum to flip herself up. Her hand stretched out like a dagger she cut into the earth and then dragged her hand up, hurling a handful of dirt into her teachers eyes.
In the last moment she saw a smirk edge on to his face as he bent back to avoid the spray of dirt and Arslan finished her flip and kicked off from the ground. Lashing out with both fists she slammed her palms into her teachers stomach with a resounding smack.
"Good hit," Master Deyas said, before his fist collided with her nose.
Arslan felt the crack before it rang out in her ears, tail going ridged she was flung backwards again, rolling across the earth and through her younger siblings. Lashing out with her nail she dug her fingers into the ground and dragged herself to a stop before rising to her feet again, chest heaving and the coppery taste of blood on her lips.
"You aren't going to heal yourself?" Master Deyas asked quizzically.
"Its not crippling, and its a good reminder not to focus on one goal to much," Arslan said, it was true, and something she'd done before with gashes and little fractures, but she wasn't about to tell Master Deyas her other motive for refusing to heal. 'He'd never let me hear the end of it,' she thought.
"Well said, but unnecessary, you landed your strike and we can continue your lesson once our other subjects are covered," Master Deyas said. The elder ignored the groans ringing out from his younger students who began to gather their study materials from the mans's tent.
Bowing Arslan said, "I'll get out my book then?" thinking of the battered second hand book she'd gotten from one of the elder siblings that would soon go to one of her younger siblings once she was taken for her first hunt.
Master Deyas waved his hands and said, "Heal your injuries first."
"I'm fine si-" Arslan started,
Master Deyas shook his head and marched towards her, calling over his shoulder, "Turn to your book marked page and begin reading aloud to yourselves."
Standing tall and looking up at her teacher as the elder planted his hands firmly on her shoulders Arslan tensed as she felt Master Deyas squeezing tighter and tighter and-. Something broke, her Aura flared like a fire, sparking to life only to crumble to nothing just as Master Deyas pulled his hands away.
"Arslan I have warned you about pushing past your limits," Master Deyas said with a weary sigh.
"My apologies master, I... overestimated my Aura," Arslan said, practically stammered.
"What you did was try to push past exhaustion, whether it be out of pride or a desire for more is irrelevant, its not smart my student," Master Deyas said.
"I... apologise Master," Arslan said, this time quietly as she offered a quick bow to her teacher.
Smothering a sigh Master Deyas continued. "Its not a good trait in a hunter to rely only on their own strength... maybe if there was another near your age or..." Master Deyas seemed to bite his cheek as he thought on his next words. "Arslan, whether it be in the band or a lions pack. Amongst the hunters or the the clans guardian, a job I very much want to foist on you one day, you must understand your limits," he said ruffling her dirt-ridden hair. "There are times when you must fight no matter the cost or the odds against you but these times are rare. If your strength, even as the villages protector is insufficient there will always be others at your side... no one is an island Arslan."
'I.. think I understand, Master Deyas," Arslan said, gulping down the tension she felt in her core.
"Good, good, now go and apply some ointment then get out your text books, I've no interest in the others berating me for sending you home limping again," Master Deyas said. Chuckling as he marched away and leaving Arslan with a clear bottle of ointment resting in her grazed hands.
Sucking in a breath she tipped it over and placed a few droplets on her grazed and dirt-riddled hands and hissed, "Ow, ow."
She always hate this part of the lesson.
__________________________________________________
After a long day of training and a big meal, filled with no small amount of ribbing thanks to her efforts against Master Deyas, Arslan had been looking forward to a good un-interrupted nights rest.
Only to be awoken by the sound of terrified gasps as some of her younger kin shot up. Rising into a tight crouch Arslan cast her gaze across the children's tent. Even in the near pitch black she could make out her siblings forms, most of whom had a large extra set of ears that were twitching. Straining her own ears Arslan could only make out the sounds of hustle and bustle throughout the camp.
'Too early, what's happened?' She wondered. Holding up a finger in front of her mouth Arslan 'shh-ed' the bleary eyed children and slipped towards the tent flap.
Sticking her head out and into the crisp air Arslan glanced at the sky and saw the shattered moon was just now beginning to make its descent. "Hey, hey what's going on?" she asked, as a pony tailed man with a swaying lizards tail marched by, pulling his thick cloak up over his head.
"Hm?" he startled before looking down at her, "Oh Arslan, should have guessed some of you would have heard. The Watcher said they saw a Bullhead crash some ways into the forest, it was flashing distress signals, figure we're gonna have a meeting on what to do." He shivered, "Why can't crap like this ever happen in the summer?" At another elders call the man turned back to Arslan and said, "Just keep an eye on the others and let us handle the rest."
Watching her senior leave Arslan ducked back into the tent only to be greeted by a small sea of curious wide eyed stares.
"What's happening?" One asked.
"Are we being attacked?" Asked another.
"Can I have some rations?" asked a third.
Before they could drown her out with a hundred questions Arslan clapped her hands and rose to her full height. "There's no attack," she said quickly. "The watchers just saw a ship crash, the elders are going to talk about what to do. It was far away though so there won't be any Grim coming to us. And no midnight snacks, if anyone needs to use the bathroom I'll guard you, but otherwise you all need to go back to sleep."
Her charges met that statement with mixed enthusiasm. Some of the younger siblings simply flopping back onto their mats and pulling the blankets up. Others however groaned or began chattering about why a Bullhead would be so far out. Arslan would admit she was curious too, but she had to do her job.
It was only after half an hour of shushing, chiding, two escorts to the nearby toilets and a song that she'd managed to finally lull everyone to sleep, or at least silence.
Leaning herself up against the tents central load bearing pole Arslan let out a quiet sigh. She could feel the energy running deep within, bursting from the fire in her core and pressing against her skin with a desperate need to be used. 'My Aura's back, so at least I don't need to sleep,' she thought.
Crossing her legs and taking in a deep breath. 'In and out, in and out,' she reminded herself. Master Deyas had seen her restlessness recently and had said he thought she might soon manifest a Semblance. A fact which had filled Arslan with no small amount of pride and excitement. But until her mind and soul were 'balanced' and 'focused' as he put it, she would simply be suffering a restlessness as her Aura tried to settle into this new stage of maturation.
Just as she was getting into the flow of her meditation, calming her pulsating Aura into a gentle ripple as the air filled her lungs, Arslan was interrupted by Master Deyas peeking inside the tent and waving for her to follow him.
Sliding to her feet Arslan tip toed her way around her kin and stepped out into the brisk, early morning air. 'Still another hour before everyone else was meant to be up, let alone us,' She thought. Turning her attention to Master Deyas Arslan stood at attention and said, "Yes Master Deyas?"
"I thought you'd want to know what was happening," he said, moving from the loosely defined 'path' around the tent to avoid one of the hunting teams jogging past them. "Before you ask, we are sending some of our warriors to help, three squads. There will likely be salvage metals if nothing else," he shrugged.
Arslan's lips thinned, she understood the use of metals but still, the idea of taking from a crashed lip left her mouth tasting sour.
It must have shown on her face because Master Deyas hummed and said, "Yes, yes, its quite rude," he said, waving his hands. "But we must accept they might be dead, if so letting their supplies go to waste would be an insult. Regardless the trip is expected to take a few hours, both to inspect the crash and look for survivors and the like. We're also sending out extra patrols in case the crash lured Grim. The rest of the of the band will be staying here, but there's not many of us."
"Will you be joining the warriors master?" Arslan asked, she then gasped, "Will I!?"
"No, no," Master Deyas said, lazily patting her on the head. "You might be strong but this mission requires experiences. And I, well, I'm meant to be our best fighter, it might sound strange but its best I guard the home stead, as frustrating as it can feel at times."
"Like the lions," Arslan asked, arching an eyebrow at her teacher.
"Well, a little bit," "Master Deyas said, shrugging and sending her a wane smile. "You'll continue looking after the little ones, honestly, I don't expect we'll get much work done come the morning with all the excitement," he said, folding his arms up in his thick flowing robes. "Care to join me in some katas, we can keep watch and get something worthwhile done."
Clasping her hands and bowing Arslan said, "It would be a pleasure Master Deyas."
______________________________________________________________________
Arslan's right arm was outstretched, her palm flat and to its side. Her motions were smooth as she dragged her open palm through the air, feet following her as they glided across the earth. Just as she began to push her left fist forward a high pitched crack shot through the air. All eyes in the camp, including some of the half awake children watching their teacher and elder practise, turned to the sky.
A streak of red hurtled into the sky, a thin trail of smoke following after it before the firework burst with a loud pop, leaving only a dancing mass of red lights in the air for a few meagre instances.
'But that means-' Arslan thought, she turned to her younger kin and pointed to the tent, "Back inside, now, we can't get in the way."
"But-" Corban started.
"Arslan is right, if the scouts fired that off it means the Grim are coming," Master Deyas said. "Arslan manage things here while I go and see our warriors off and patrol the settlement." Just as he turned, and with his hands hidden by Arslan's frame, he passed her a dense Burn Dust Crystal.
Arslan looked down at the dark red crystal, she felt its cool, smooth surface on her skin and for a moment it felt heavier than anything she'd ever imagined.
Master Deyas gave her a nod and then vanished in a blur. Not waiting a moment Arslan pocketed the Burn Dust and held her arms out wide, "Back inside, now, Master Deyas will return shortly and so will everyone else. We won't help anyone by worrying, inside, inside," she said, gently guiding her younger kin through the tent flaps.
In her dark pants pocket the Burn Dust silently hummed, the raw power of a fiery explosions contained within a crystal resonated with her Aura, begging to be used, to be fuelled even further by her soul.
'A last resort, I would never have to use it, never,' Arslan told herself again and again as she strained to keep her high voice steady in the wake of her young siblings worried stares.
It had been nearly half an hour by Arslan's guess when things went from bad to worse. Master Deyas had just checked in, assured everyone the warriors, their parents and siblings, were expected back soon when a noise rang through the camp. It was a deafening crunching, crackling noise, the sound of something solid being slowly torn to pieces. It was a tree being broken, almost certainly by an intruder. The thud it made as it fell nearly shook the camp and Master Deyas had vanished towards the sound.
What followed was a moment of deafening silence before a new, more foreign and terrible sounds filled the air. It was a painfully sharp noise that left the children with sensitive ears whimpering as they'r ears shot down in an effort to drown out the noise. Like a growl but sharper and un-breaking with a powerful vibration that seemed to ripple across their senses.
Metal clanged and the sounds of two men shouting and grunting in exertion rang out. Quickly followed by a tremendous crash as something exploded into the earth outside. The force of the blast blew back the tent and Arslan fell into a combat stance as her younger siblings gathered behind her, clustered together in fear.
"Stay back children!" Master Deyas barked, his robes rippling as he stood firm against his towering opponent with two craters either side of him.
The intruder was a giant, bald, and pale, with square features and bulging arms. He wore a simple black body suit and had some strange metal bracers on his arms with points at the end that crackled with electricity.
"You crashed the ship didn't you?" Master Deyas accused. "Why would you try and lure so many of us away from camp, we have no money for you to plunder!"
The intruder shrugged and in a deep rough voice said, "We don't want your possessions, its the children we want."
A gasp ran out behind Arslan and she could feel her chest tightening in fear, her hands suddenly felt sweaty and her lips dry.
"The SDC needs miners and pay a good net fee for labourers, wild adults are too tough but kids can be tamed easy enough and you have a lot," he said, giving an almost lazy glance towards them. "How about a deal? You seem smart enough, you dodged by opening attacks after all, I throw you a bit of Lien and you let us take the kids. You'd be able to make your way into the kingdoms with the money and I wouldn't have to waste the energy killing you." He sucked in a breath and clenched his fists as he said more firmly, "And I will kill you, you're not strong enough to win here."
Master Deyas snorted, "Believe what you like filth, but know you'll find no purchase here and if you think this will be easy..." Master Deyas chuckled, it was smokey and low, almost contemptuous.
Arslan watched as the man's arms flash through the air and crashed together and Master Deyas's Aura flared a bright orange. Rippling around him like liquid fire his Aura grew and thrashed as it slowly tore itself from him and created tow shining outlines that after a moment solidified into perfect duplicates of their maker.
"Heh, clever, compensating for weakness with numbers and versatility," the intruder said appreciatively.
Master Deyas didn't deign to respond. Exploding into action the triplicates lunged at the intruder, hands and feet a wild blur. A flying kick and a series of jabs were weathered and redirected, but the moment the intruders stomach was unguarded the central Master Deyas short forward. Palms clasped together he slammed his hands into the man's gut that rang out like an explosion and causing him to let out a violent heave. He was sent skidding back along the ground, tearing up the grass and earth as he slid.
As the trio charged at the intruder, the man dragged his arms backwards and into a tight guard. Below her feet Arslan felt the ground shaking and-
"Master, below!" Arslan shouted.
Master Deyas flipped backwards as two spiralling red orbs exploded from the ground beneath his feet, tearing through the space he'd just stood in. The remaining duo's attacks were blocked but they retreated back before the intruders fists could catch them.
The spinning red orbs continued to fly and buzz in the air, growling like hungry beasts as they hurtled towards Master Deyas again.
For a moment he glanced back at them and Arslan wondered if she was meant to lead the others away.
'But where? The forests could have Grim everywhere!' She thought.
Hands whipping out Master Deyas deflected the spinning blades around him in a grand motion sending them careening off course. But they caught themselves quickly and dived after him yet again as the remaining two copies steadily pushed back the intruder.
Behind her Arslan could feel her siblings quaking and a sudden tremor ran through them. Twisting her neck Arslan's eyes were forced wider as a blue blur shot towards them. Without thought she leapt at it with a roar of fury just as the blurred figured dashed into the clearing. His grabbing hands snapped away from Emera as he sped backwards and Arslan sailed past him.
'Too fast!' She thought. Tail lashing furiously she landed and readied to charge only for one of the Master Deyas copies to charge at the man in a great bound.
A powerful shot exploded across the air like a whip crack. Arslan could barely followed what happened next save a grey blur shot forth from the woods at Master Deyas. The old warrior though leaned in on himself and let his arm take the blast. Letting it crash against his Aura Master Deyas threw his arm out and the bullet slammed into the blue body suited man who'd attacked them. It launched him into the woods with an explosion that kicked up dirt into the air and shattered the trees.
Master Deyas though did not dodge the second bullets as the flaming shell tore through his form and scattered the clone to nothing as it burned through the air and exploded somewhere behind them.
The next few moments Arslan could only watch in mounting terror as the brawny invader broke through Master Deyas's defence and started crushing the copy in a bear hug.
The true Master Deyas lashed out quickly and brutally, shattering the spinning steel weapons. Only for a barrage of powerful sniper shots to rain down upon him. Each bullet was redirected and cut in two by the masters hands but the Dust filled the air, freezing his robes and burning the ground all around him.
The bulky intruder rushed at Master Deyas with a terrifying speed, driving his arm into Master Deyas's side and Arslan saw the signs of her teachers Aura writhing in a last, desperate bid to survive. Only to crumble and fade as the man was sent bouncing across the ground, the sound of bones snapping embedding themselves in her ears.
Arms wide Arslan stepped back on shaky feet, the Burn Dust felt like it was flaming against her, making her skin sizzle. Wiping a speck of blood from his face the bulky intruder turned towards a long coated brunette brandishing two massive snipe rifles.
"You're meant to be covering us," he growled.
"Got impatient," he shrugged. "Besides, with speedy down we need to move fast, those Grim we lured won't keep them busy forever."
Arslan let them talk, some part of herself wanted to say it was strategic, that she was just waiting for the others to come bursting in to drive them away. But the sweat dripping down her body and the shaky, twisting of her insides said otherwise. Even looking at the gasping battered form of her teacher didn't make her angry, it just made her every move and thought more frantic and desperate.
"Cooper, with all the bullets you wasted we'll be lucky to make up our equipment losses," The bulky one muttered.
"Ease off Bane, you broke your spinning tops too ya know," Cooper said, chuckling as he turned towards them with a sickly grin. "Well good news beasties! You're going to have a real roof over your heads soon and all sorts of shiny rocks to keep you entertained," he laughed. "If your lucky maybe the guards will think you're pretty and take you back home with a leash!"
Before Arslan's mind could spiral further into numbed terror she sucked in a gasp as someone's hands pressed against her back. In a desperate weeping cry Corban pleaded, "Arslan , stop them!"
The Burn Dust ion her pocket hummed, momentarily drowning out everything else. It would be quick, painless, an escape, better than death to the Grim or slavery. It was her duty, her responsibility, but, they were... 'My siblings, I can't, I- I'm meant to protect them, I'm meant to look after them,' she thought.
The men were approaching, their Aura's reeked of blood and pride. Behind her the fear was palpable and, 'They're arrogant, careless, stupid,' Arslan stepped forward.
The ground broke beneath her strides as she shot towards them. 'Cocky, ugly, stupid bastards,' She thought.
Cooper swung the butt of his gun at her feet like a club, a cheerful, "You first kitten?" escaping his lips, accompanying his attack.
Arslan's throat burned, her eyes stung, her blood thundered in her ears. The ground vanished and she was sent spinning into the air, one hand arm across her chest, her other hands snatching the Dust from her pocket. Cooper thrust his gun forwards and Arslan took the blow. Every last drop of Aura she could drag thrashing and writhing from the depths of her soul she pumped into the Dust. Her hand burnt and as she felt the air slap against her back Arslan threw the crystal with a final thought, 'Stupid fucking slavers!'
One of them shouted, "Move!"
But it was too late, the crystal flared and as Arslan soared backwards she felt the force of the blast slam against her, sending ripples through her Aura and pain across her skin. Before she could even blink several smaller explosions rang out from within the flash. Arslan could just barely make out the outline of a man screaming in pain before the smoke and flames completely overtook him.
Instinct took over and Arslan fell into a roll and slammed her feet against a tree. It shattered under the pressure but Arslan was able to jump just as it began falling to the ground. She landed in a crouch before her siblings, all of them having fallen over from the blast. A deep growl, almost a bellow or a roar slip from her mouth as she saw the smoke was parted with a mighty slash.
Out from the charred crater stepped the intruders. Bane's clothes were crisp but the man lowered his guard with an angry grumble, his bright blue eyes meeting Arslan's own. Besides him though, Cooper was a burnt out ruin. His clothes were in ashen tatters, his weapons malformed and half melted, his entire face burnt and peeling.
"You... Feral freak!" He shrieked.
Arslan dashed forward, keeping low as she swiped at the man's legs. Cooper stumbled back but before she could leap at him Bane swung out with a meaty fist that sent Arslan crashing into the ground.
Slamming her palms into the dirt and feeling the grit between her finger Arslan lashed out with a kick at the approaching foe. Her attack struck and she felt the force of her blow resound across his Aura but it didn't break! Just as she tried to push off Cooper the man smashed his fists into her back.
Arslan gagged, a shriek half escaping her lips that died as his hands clenched around her tail, sharp electric shocks of pain ran up her spine as he yanked her into the air. Her stomach felt like it was trying to force its way out of her as Arslan was dragged into the air. Only to be slammed back down again with a violent crash against the ground, the earth exploding beneath her, dirt filling her eyes. As he dragged her back up Arslan, through teary eyes lashed out, hands and feet smacking against him, her long nails dragging across his ruined skin as she tried to shout.
Her attack failed though and Arslan was slammed back into the ground with another strangled cry of pain as vomit and acid burst from her mouth. Again and again he dragged her into the air before slamming her into the ground or smashed her jaw of his knees. Arslan's world became a blur, broken only by flashes of pain that somehow blinded her.
Something broke as he swung down again and Arslan's Aura, for just one moment vanished. She tried to scream as she felt the tear, heard the sound of flesh ripping and blood spurting, but she had no air in her lungs. Sailing through empty space Arslan crashed against the ground and rolled, each thud sending nightmarish shocks of pain through her body.
"Arslan!" Someone screamed.
'The kids, they're here, protect them, fight, defend, have to fight,' disjointed words filled her mind, some were in her voice, so many others her elders and teacher. Arslan sucked in a wet, sick breath, her chest heaved and burned as she dragged herself up and let out a roar of defiance.
"I'm going to make those roars of yours into screams before I'm done you little shit," Cooper bellowed.
Zeroing in on the sound, and even more the scent of charred skin Arslan ran, hands slamming against the ground she launched herself at the man. He struck back with a cracking punch across her cheek. Arslan took the blow and flipped herself over, smashed into the ground before him and body slammed herself into the man's chest sending him hurtling back.
Panting she spat up a gob of blood and watched dizzily as Cooper's blurry figure flipped himself over and shot towards her. The exchange was brief and brutal, her attacks glancing off his taller frame as she rolled with his first few strikes, avoiding the worst of it before his speed overwhelmed her. Cooper slammed his fists into her head and Arslan crashed into the ground with a thud. Before she could even move his boot slammed against her skull and buried her face in the dirt.
"Beg you stupid little bitch and then- Fuck off Bane!" Cooper shouted.
"We don't have time for this, she'd be too hard to control so just kill her!" Bane barked.
Arslan could her screaming as someone's foot steps moved closer to the huddled mass away from her.
'No, no!' Neck popping from the strain Arslam pushed herself out from under Cooper and punched his knees. Even when shrieking in pain he managed to backhand her across the ground.
Ragged breath slip form her bloody lips as Arslan tried to stand but fell to her hands and knees, her insides coiled and screamed like they were swelling up making each breath agony.
'He's moving, Bane, going to take them, chain them, they're too strong, master, elders, why, I need, I-'
She's fighting so hard, bleeding all over, bones aching, vision blurring -stronger, she needs to be stronger, bigger, faster, tougher, she needs-.
Arslan roars, its weak at first, flecks of blood flying out as she digs her hands into the ground - another breath-. Its louder this time, deeper and rougher so much it hurts. Her bodies swelling, skin stretching, it feels like her muscles are bursting out of her. Her blood runs furiously and everything becomes red, scents flood her mind, blood, fear, rage and joy.
She roars again, the mighty cry of the greatest hunter booming out from within her chest. She charges, the ground crumbles beneath her heavy clawed feet.
He's too stunned to act until she's already upon him, fangs clenched around his throat and the sounds of flesh tearing in her ears as he tries to scream.
___________________________________________________
Arslan awoke to utter darkness her eyelids weighing heavily on her body, her senses were numb, her body tight and rigid with tension. She tried to breath in but found her chest bound. Eyes snapping open Arslan shot up only to let out a gagging cough. Her eyes trailed over her surrounding, the mat, the small tents flaps and travelling pack-
"You're still injured," Master Deyas said roughly, "Lie down, they're all alive, shaken, but alive."
Arslan turned, her entire body following her as she failed to repress a hiss of pain while she looked into the back corner of the tent and found Master Deyas silently smoking a pipe, his wounds healed.
A relieved but rough, why did her throat hurt so much, laugh slipped from her lips and Arslan slumped back with a pained whimper against the mattress, a few stray tears in her eyes. "What, kuh," she tried to cough only to wince again, "What happened?" She finally got out. Her voice was low, lower than it had even been and so rough it hurt.
"You forgot?" Master Deyas asked, his words were odd, not cold, but not humoured, stilted by an alien... suspicion?
"I, I rememb-" Arslan gasped, ignoring the pain as the sensations of the battle ran over her. A giants body in place of her tiny one, meaty paws and thick muscles, fire on her hair and blood, blood all over her. "I- I killed them..." she gasped, the coppery taste and scent flooding her senses.
"You protected our people, by killing them and calling forth your Semblance" Master Deyas said.
Arslan gulped, even if the tight roughness in her throat made it sting. Slowly Arslan tried to roll over and felt it, distinct from the bruises, the cracked bones and muscles stretched so thin she could barely move, it was an absence. It was a stinging pain on her lower back and then, nothing, she tried to twitch her tail, to feel the familiar brush against her skin or the gentle flexing of muscle. But her tail bone merely tried to twitch helplessly, seeking something that wasn't there leaving her shuddering.
"It seems you didn't have the Aura left to grow it back, if you could have at all, and now with the wound sealed over..." Master Deyas shrugged as he slid up next to her and said, "Its gone I'm afraid."
"Its... Its OK, I'll just need to learn to balance again," Arslan said, sucking in tight breaths and sniffing as she tried to hold back tears. "Where," she asked, hiccuping, "Where's everyone, why am I here, the others, are they worried?"
Why wasn't she in the healers tent? Or the children's tent? Where were her siblings the other elders... her family?
Master Deyas took a long drawn out puff of his pipe, the acrid stench of pepper-weed filling the tiny tent. Finally he rested a hand on her tangled locks and said, "It was decided it would be best if you stayed with me, for a time," he added lamely. "You'll need to re-learn how to balance as you said and master that Semblance of yours, that will take time and-"
Arslan's shaking hands clutched his robed leg, "Why isn't anyone else here?" she rasped.
Master Deyas looked down at her, his wrinkled face sunken and somehow so frail, as if he could crumble at any moment. Finally he said, "They're scared, the children more than anyone, you protected them it is true but..." he trailed off.
"But I, I stopped the kidnappers!" Arslan wheezed, before collapsing back down as blood spittle flew from her mouth and her chest swelled, her nails sharpened and-
"Calm yourself," Master Deyas snapped.
Arslan felt her body shrink back down with a pained sigh of relief.
'What?" she asked, seeing the tears in her hands bandages, like claws had burst from her fingers.
"I meant what I said about learning to control your Semblance," Master Deyas heaved. "Arslan you didn't merely gain strength when you needed it, you transformed, seemingly in mind and body. Golden fur overtook your skin as your muscles swelled and bulged. Your head was consumed by the of a snarling beasts and the way you fought, the way you killed them... The way you looked," Master Deyas trailed off, not even looking her in the eyes but refusing to to turn away from her entirely.
"You were like a Grimm," he said with a cold finality. "We know its not true, but Semblances reflect the user and," he sighed. "We need to make sure you can control it," his words grew more and more hurried. "You've been sleeping for days and your body keeps trying to change whenever you have a nightmare. It won't be forever, just give them time, practise your skills and soon everything will return to-"
Arslan ignored the aching cracks of her bones and the flaring of her muscles as she pushed herself up, wobbling as an absent tail tried to help her find balance.
"Arslan you need rest," Master Deyas started.
"I need," Arslan said, her voice tight and shaking, "I need to walk... to practise and... I need to learn to walk again and I need, I need to do... something!" she finally pleaded.
Master Deyas met her stare for only a moment before tossign his pipe aside with a careless motion and rising to his feet. "Very well, we'll start with the basic kata and move up until you collapse. Your training with me now will be harder than ever before and consume all your days until there is nothing left I can teach you."
"What then?" Arslan asked, her tone weak even if her voice was o unbearably rough.
"Then we will see, how things are amongst the band, and how you've changed and..." Master Deyas froze for a moment as he looked down at her and said, "Arslan, have I ever told you about Sanctum?"
_________________________________________________________
With times passage seasons came and went by again a. The band moved on as they had always done and as the cold winter winter winds once again descended upon the north it was rather fitting, Arslan felt, that they would be once again making camp so close to where that fateful battle took place.
The broken moon hung high in the sky and Arslan knelt in the wide communal tent. The only light provided was by the dying embers of that nights cooking fire. Before her were arrayed her elders and seniors, hunters, caretakers and family. Between herself and them was Master Deyas, he too was kneeling, his hands hidden away in his long sleeved robe.
"It is always tragic, when a member of our band leaves us," Master Deyas said. His voice was rough and dusty, he seemed to have aged more in a year than she'd seen him age in five. "However I also believe that were should count ourselves blessed," he continued. "For it is not death that takes one of our children from us, but instead a desire for knowledge, to see new lands, meet new people and learn new skills. I am proud to sponsor Arslan Altan-"
That new last name still felt odd to her ears.
"in her decision to seek out an education as a Huntress at Sanctum in the Kingdom of Mistral," Master Deyas finished.
Bowing low Arslan pressed her forehead to the cool grass and said, "I swear I shall use all I have been taught wisely. I will always comport myself to best represent the band and not shame you with my actions. Should I become a Huntress I will send money and resources."
"We do not need charity child," the elder caretaker cut in, the aged woman's words were not harsh or warm but merely a statement of fact.
Not raising her head Arslan continued, voice not wavering as she said, "I will always be ready to offer my services to the band and should you one day," Arslan bit the inside of her cheek, "desire my presence, then I will return."
For a time silence lingered, then, there was a quiet shuffling and Arslan heard objects being placed on the floor.
Finally Master Deyas said, "Rise Arslan Altan."
Slowly Arslan straightened her back, her eyes remained low and her face impassive as she looked across the tent.
She could see Master Deyas had moved, at some point having silently risen to his feet. The elders and her seniors kept their gazes forward, without the slightest hint of disunity amongst them. How could there be though? After all, once a decision was reached the band must abide, lest the division invite the Grimm.
Finally Master Deyas spoke, "It is with both sadness and pride that I announce to you Arslan Altan, are now seen as an adult amongst us. If it is your desire, you are hereby permitted by we elders, seniors and family to seek your fortune in the world without the company of your band. But," he said, holding a wrinkled hand high, "before you go we have something to offer you."
The sound of beads crackling against one another struck her ears and Arslan's eyes shot wide as Master Deyas approached her. In his hands he held a thick red necklace that would reach down near her stomach, a duplicate of his and the others warriors.
"This necklace now marks you as not an honoured pupil but an honoured warrior," he said. Master Deyas was slow and measured as he draped it over her mane of blonde hair an. Arslan nodded in thanks as she felt the weight material rest against her neck, almost lost in her thick yellow jacket.
There was a wet tightness in her throat, her eyes almost stung, she wanted to speak, to thank him for everything, especially after the past year, but now was not the time for such childish displays. Biting back her words and trying to push back her rapidly beating heart Arslan said, "Thank you Master, it has been an honour."
As Master Deyas stepped back Arslan found herself approached by the elder caretaker. The brown robed woman offered her a small bow that Arslan returned from her kneeling position. She then watched as the elder caretaker slowly drew a small, shining silver dagger from her sleeves. Cradling it in the flat of her hands she offered it to Arslan, "This is a gift from your elders, do not stain it lest the reason is just."
Arslan raised her hands and in one delicate motion took the tiny blade into her hands. Sliding it into her sleeve Arslan clasped her hands and said, "I thank you elders, I will use it with all the care and wisdom I posses." She just hoped that was enough.
"And finally," a younger, wispier and both familiar and yet strangely foreign voice spoke, "we the seniors and family offer you this." Standing before her was a woman with pale hair tied in a lose ponytail and a thick second set of ears on her head. Her well muscled form was hidden below layers of thick clothing, leaving only her tanned face, much like Arslan's own, exposed as she looked down at her with wet eyes.
She held a small, tightly packed, brown knapsack in her gloved hands. "Contained within are gifts from us, medical supplies, food and lien. You," she froze for a moment and sucked in a breath before speaking again, her voice high, and so very distinct from Arslan's now rough voice. "You will need to ration it carefully and spend your money carefully, it will not carry you far, child." With that she bent forward and dropped the knapsack before her and placed a kiss upon Arslan's forehead, "Stay safe," she whispered. Then she spun around and returned to her seat as though nothing had happened.
Sucking in a deep breath Arslan bowed again and spoke, even as her insides coiled and her throat seemed to freeze up with tension. "I thank you all, for all that has been given me since I was born into this world, I won't forget your kindness."
"You shall be remembered here as well, Arslan Altan, and welcome should you not stray from our path," the elder caretaker said. "Just remember this one piece of advice when you enter the kingdoms. Don't, kill anyone."
Arslan nodded and in one smooth motion rose to her feet and slipped her knapsack onto her back. Clasping her hands she offered her elders one last bow and slipped from the tent. Unconsciously her eyes were drawn to the children's tent she'd once spent her nights in and Arslan found her feet stalling. It wouldn't hurt if she j- 'No,' Arslan thought, shaking her head and trying to repress the shudder running through her that had nothing to do with the cold.
Breathing in the cold night air Arslan let the chill settle in her chest before breathing it back out as a thick mist. The Burn Dust bound to her hummed quietly as it felt her Aura ripple before she returned it to a docile state.
Arslan took a step forward, away from the camp and its people.
This wasn't her home anymore.
.
.
.
As the rising sun illuminated the swamp Arslan marched through she re-positioned the nearly empty knapsack slung over her back as as she strode deeper into the southern wilds towards the Kingdom og Mistral.
When Arslan left she did not weep. She'd long since outgrown her small band, she was too much for them, she always had been.
___________________________________________
Notes:
So I hope anyone who read this piece enjoyed it, and if you have any thoughts be they questions, critique or comments please feel free to offer them and I'll endeavour to offer a worthwhile reply, probably followed by a like I'd like to thank Redd984 on SB for inspiring this story and what is now my primary head canon for Arslan's past in response to a post I sent them and for betaing the story.
The title came from Arslan's last name. one of the translation of which is apparently 'red dawn' and due to me using that name as one ascribed to those who choose to leave the band it felt kind of fitting. Plus I wasn't so sure about stuff like 'lions fury/pride or 'roar/birth of the lion'. Now as to the response Arslan's Semblance got, it basically comes down to someone's Semblance making them resemble a Grimm not being something most people take well, especially if its first use involves bloodily dismantling people right in front of them even if said people did kind of deserve it. That bad 'omen/impression' never really went away and so here we are.
As to how it works, I write it as being a power boost Semblance, basically making her stronger, faster and more durable while giving her the Aura equivalent of an adrenaline rush, but with a risk. Arslan can, if she uses her Semblance, hit well above her weight class, for about a minute to three if she's lucky, at which point her body will be dragged back to normal and shell gave literally no Aura to fight with. Transforming also costs a chunk of Aura and going back puts a strain on her body, meaning she can't just shift for a few moments them go back to normal and not suffer a bigger cost than she'd get by just staying transformed. This makes it a useful Semblance, if she has some sort of escape set up or just one opponent, otherwise its a liability which could leave her helpless once she's worn it out, meaning its not great for say, a horde of Grimm unless she's all out of other options.
Red Dawn
Arslan's olive eyes shone with energy as the girl sprinted about a loosely defined grass path surrounded by tents, dodging her way around adults and whatever obstacle someone might have left in her path. The dim light of the sun was only just now peaking over the horizon, shining light on her yellow and black, gi, clad form. The air was still cold and crisp, the biting chill of the northern cold permeating the air and letting the young girl see her breath with each exhale.
"Faster, faster," Arslan said quietly.
Lions tail flicking impatiently Arslan spun around, feet digging into the grassy earth as she did so. In a blur she ran behind the small gaggle of younger children drowsily marching behind her and clasped the slowest child's shoulders.
The horned brunette looked up at her and wiped his eyes, "Still... tired," he yawned.
Shaking her head Arslan ushered him forward and said, "Breakfast will wake you up, Corban, and- hey, back in line," she snapped. Gently tugging Corban along with her Arslan reached out and clasped the hand of a younger girl. Dark hair and slit pupils stared back at her and Emera stuck out her forked tongue in protest.
"You know the rules, nor breaking from the group or we don't get breakfast," Arslan said firmly, eyes trailing over the rest of her escorts as she counted off the younger children.
"Who put you in charge," Emera hissed unhappily.
"Our elders, someone has to look after you when everyone's hunting," Arslan said, arching an eyebrow at the smaller girl and flicking the red circlet that hung around her neck, marking her as an honour pupil, an item not currently possessed by any of her younger kin.
"I know that!" Emera huffed.
"Then don't ask silly questions, now hold Corban's hand and keep pace," Arslan instructed, linking the two grumbling kids together and guiding them all towards the a rowdy sounding tent in the middle of camp. It was a dull white, standing easily a head over even their tallest adult and several times wider than the small tent homes surrounding it, matched only by the group tent Arslan and her the other children shared. A plume of smoke wafted from a hole in the centre of the roof and the smell of hot stew urged the children on faster than Arslan herself ever could.
As they approached the open flap of the tents entrance, the sounds of chatter hit their ears. Adults, in brown and grey outfits made of hardy leather and thick cloth strode from the tent. Weapons in hand and cheerful grins on their faces, a few elder siblings or parents stopping to greet their younger children, Arslan herself even got an affectionate clap on the shoulder from a woman with lion ears and blonde hair. .
"In you come little ones, before breakfast gets cold!" shouted a dry, withered voice.
With that, and much to Arslan's chagrin, the horde of children scrambled into the tent and rushed towards the bubbling dark cauldron watched over by a white cloaked elder.
"Remember to eat quickly, if we start our chores early we can get to training with Master Deyas sooner," Arslan instructed as she waited for her serving. The groan that met her ears was far from encouraging; the wink and extra spoonful of meat the white haired elder gave her was though.
"Thanks," Arslan whispered, grinning cheekily as she bowed before taking her seat with the other children, her mind already a whirl with plans for the day.
_______________________________
Arslan glanced at the sky from her perch upon a stone jutting from the earth. 'The sun's just reached its peak and almost everyone's at Masters,' She thought. Focused eyes darting in every directions around her as she spun about trying to spot her straggler.
In the distance she could see the the faint white of the northern lands her people had so recently left as Winter drove their quarry towards warmer climates. The additional ease of spying Grim against the snow was near useless when suffering blizzards or starvation after all.
All around the girl were large rocks and grasslands that rose up and down in great dips and ridges. Beyond the fact it had proven a fun place to play and practise leaping, plenty of edible mushrooms and herbs grew in the shadow of the larger stones, as did the occasional Dust crystal. The woven pack on her back spoke true to that sentiment. Mushrooms and useful herbs in one slot and a small collection of faintly humming and jagged Dust she'd dug up from the ground some ways away.
"Corban, Emera" she called, careful not to let her voice carry too far over the planes lest some idle Grim that bypassed their patrols overhear her. It wouldn't be drawn to her worry of course, she was too calm for that, definitely, her heart wasn't starting to beat faster. Her long nails weren't digging into her palm hard enough to draw blood, because Corben and Emera were gone after she'd looked away for just one mo-
"Arslan!" Corban and Emera wailed in the distance.
Arslan's entire body flared with tension and she shot off from her perch, the stone cracking under her feet as she jumped. Blurring like a bullet Arslan leaped across boulders and tiny hills, eyes darting every which way in search of her younger sibling.
'There!' She thought, a grin spreading across her face as she spied Emera sitting at Corban's side in a small grassy ditch. Corban was on his backside clutching his hand and- he was crying.
Repressing a growl, Arslan shot down to his side and hushed the smaller child as she placed an arm around his shoulder and gently clasped Emera's raised hand in her own. "Its OK Corban, I'm here, show me what happened," Arslan instructed, eyes already trained on the small boys hands.
"We just wanted the Dust!" Emera said, clinging to Arslan's calloused hand.
"I- I burnt my hand," Corban whimpered. His breaths were short and puffy as he tried to stop crying and held up his hand. The boys tiny fingers were bright red, marked by layers of peeled back skin and a faint trickle of blood.
"I can't get him to stop crying," Emera said hurriedly, "I wanna be calm, I'm calm, I-"
"Quiet," Arslan said, not snapped, but her words were cold and firm. "No Grim will get passed our elders and if they did I'd kill them for you," Arslan said. "I'm sorry I wasn't here," she added, almost muttering. Clutching Corban's wrist she gave it a light squeeze, hoping to numb the pain and then turned to look Corban in the eye. His pale face as bright and puffy with tears but he met her stare as best he could.
"Corban, I know this will be hard but breath with me," Arslan instructed. She sucked in a quick breath in time with Corban's, but then exhaled it slower than he did. "Just breath, we can heal this, but you have to be strong and focus, OK little brother?"
Corban sucked in a breath and nodded, "OK," He whimpered.
"Brave boy, Emera," Arslan said, glancing at the girl, "breath with us and hold Corban's hand.
Thankfully this time Emera didn't question her instruction and clasped Corban's un-injured hands that he'd dug into the grass.
"Now, just take in a breath, then let it out," Arlsan breathed in through her nose, the cold winter air chilling her senses. She breathed out quietly and said, "It doesn't need to be deep yet, just try and control it, your body, is your own to master," she quoted.
After nearly a minute of breathing Corban's blush had faded somewhat and while the boy was still whimpering he held back his tears.
"Good boy, " Arslan said, leaning down and delivering a gentle peck to his head. "Now I just need you to focus for a moment longer," Arslan started, using her eyes to motion to his chest. "Think about your heart, the blood in your veins, the light in your soul," She instructed. "Breath in," she said again, "and breath out," Arslan continued, letting her own Aura flow around her.
Within a moment Emera's liquid blue Aura's flickered before her and was quickly followed by Corban's red tinted Aura. The boy sucked in a breath and almost sounded like he was about to gag as his hand crinkled for a moment before the wound was overtaken by fresh peachy skin.
"I, healed it," he whispered, as if to himself.
Emera let out a whoop and Arslan rustled Corban's hair, "You did, good work, you were both very good and very brave," Arslan said. Rising to her feet Arslan clasped Corban's hand and pulled the smaller boy to his feet only to watch him wobble and stagger. Her hands shout out and quickly grasped his sides and she said, "Healing can tire you out the first time, I got you."
In one quick motion Arslan pulled off her backpack and swiftly lifted Corban onto her shoulders. She was pleased to hear the boy marvel at his new position int he world as he cheered, "Thanks Arslan!"
"Its fine, now we'll get the Dust then report to Master Deyas for training, I'll tell him your tired though," Arslan added at Corban's tensing.
"But the Dust," he started as Arslan slowly walked towards the overhanging boulder and the smooth red crystal jutting out of the ground beneath it, Emera only a step behind her.
"Is Dust, its a rock Corban, you just need to be careful with it," Arslan said, gently placing her pack next to the glimmering red crystal before her.
Corban clutched her tightly but Arslan stayed calm and simply tapped the tip of the crystal and was pleased to hear it let out a deep ringing thrum. "Its fine," Arslan said again as she kneaded her fingers into the dirt at the crystal heads side and slowly dug it out, revealing a crystal that was only as long as her hand but as thick as her fist.
"That's big," Emera said from her side.
"Yes, and heavy," Arslan nodded, "you put too much pressure on the tip and triggered a bit of it, but it can't hurt you now," Arslan said, gently tapping Corban's leg.
"Ye-yeah," Corban murmured.
Fears calmed Arslan slipped her hands underneath the crystal and slowlyslipped it into the next wicker compartment 'slot' of her pack and sealed it shut. Rising to her feet Arslan offered her hand to Emera who took it and giggled as she was scooped into her elders arms as Arslan said, said, "We need to hurry to masters so I'll carry everything, you two just hang on."
"Lets go!" Corban cheered, waving his stubby arms forward.
"Yeah, faster, faster!" Emera shouted.
Snorting Arslan made sure all of their packs were fastened tightly and began her trek back to their masters tent, knees raised high in the air as she ran to better warm herself up for class.
'This will be great,' Arslan thought to herself, grinning as she jogged back to camp.
_______________________________________________________________________
A sharp crack struck Arslan's ears as Master Deya's fist struck her head sending the girl face first into the ground with a thud.
Growling under her breath Arslan slammed her palms into the ground and- a kick was curving towards her-. Arslan flung herself backwards, only losing a few strands of hair to her teachers attack. Falling into a backwards roll she skidded across the ground and rose to her feet, panting, but fists up in a tight guard position.
Master Deyas looked barely worse for ware and watched her through half closed, wrinkled-ridden eyes. The deeply tanned elder's orange and brown robe fluttered slightly, while the dual necklaces marking his status as a former pupil and now a master were wholly silent, as he returned to an easy stance and began stroking his ornate grey beard.
"A noble effort children, but it seems you've done all the exercise you can for the day," he said, a chuckle accompanying his raspy. He held his arms out wide and said, "I believe then, that it is time to begin our writing and arithmetic."
Several groans and cries of "No!" filled the air from the children surrounding the sparring duo, most of whom were still trying to catch their breaths.
Arslan felt her tail snap like a whip as she deepened her stance and said, "I am not exhausted yet, master Deyas."
"Oh?" he answered coyly. "Well then, let us make a deal, everyone rests until we finish sparring. And," he added, raising a single finger, "if you land a single strike upon me we'll take some time from classes to play or spar again before days end."
Arslan let out a tiny sigh of relief as the beating of her blood quieted but did not slow, 'We aren't done yet, we aren't done yet,' she thought happily, while inside her Arslan felt her Aura flare in excitement. All around the girl the other children, who weren't too tired, began cheering and calling out attacks. Sending Master Deyas, still standing as calm as could be, a grin Arslan dug her feet into the ground and launched herself forward.
'Straight line didn't work, duck and weave,' She thought to herself.
Ducking low and stretching out her body Arslan bounded towards Master Deyas in sharp zigzagging movements. Jumping as she approached his right side she lashed out with a right hook.
Only for Master Deyas to lean back, and left, just out of reach of Arslan's strike.
Momentum carrying her forward Arslan pulled back and lashed out with a kick to the elders jaw.
Master Deya's hand shot out and he lazily pushed her blow aside with the back of his hand and slammed his palm into her back.
Arslan was sent hurtling away from the man. Tumbling through the air she slammed her hands into the ground and flipped over to once again face him. Sucking in a breath she charged again.
'Stay low, sweep at his legs, then when he's not expecting it jump at him,' She told herself.
As she shot towards him though Master Deyas lashed out with his own sweeping kick forcing Arslan to jump. She barely brought her arms up into a cross-guard before he struck her again flinging her backwards.
Digging her feet into the ground and feeling the dirt fly up around her as she skidded to a halt Arslan shook her hands to dismiss the sting of Master Deyas's attack.
Master Deyas made a lazy sweeping motion and fell into a wide and easy stance, one leg and arm outstretched towards her and his other half pulled back for balance and grounding. "Tell me Arslan, under what star were you born?" he asked, eyes not dimming or losing focus for a moment.
Sucking in a breath Arslan let her chest swell until the tightness almost hurt before letting it go. Arms raised up to guard again she stared up at her teacher suspiciously.
Master Deyas chuckled, "Come now, there's no need to be so silent, I merely lose track of things in my old age."
Arslan readied herself for a retreat, her weight on her forward right leg and her arms in a tight guard over her stomach. Finally she answered, "You said never to let your opponent decides the terms of engagement."
"Ah indeed I did, but with the prize on offer it seems I already control the terms, so..." Master Deyas trailed off in clear amusement.
Even with the fact it was perhaps a trap Arslan cut the man off before he could speak further and said, "I am named for-" she bent her knee minutely, muscles tense and throbbing, "Leo the lion!" Arslan lunged forward, a sharp strike aimed at her teachers knee.
In an instant Master Deyas pulled himself back and in one flowing motion slid around her.
Throwing her head forward Arslan struck the ground and them slammed her palms into the earth, flinging herself back at her teacher with a sharp kick.
Only to be intercepted by his palm as Master Deyas redirected her kick and with a light push sent her bouncing along the ground again.
Spitting up grass and dirt Arslan fell into a low crouch and watcher her teacher warily as the man chuckled to himself. "Ah yes, the mighty lions of the Vacuo planes, king of beasts and hunters, or so they say," he chucked. He sent her one of those searching grins that told Arslan he was seeking an answer from her.
For a moment Arslan found her mind going over all the little fact she knew about lions before she dismissed the thoughts and rushed Master Deyas again. She stopped short though, skidding along the grass and flipped over his sweeping kick and then kicked off the ground to deliver a punch to his exposed side. Only for her hand to be caught and redirect passed him. However this time he did not hurl her away and Arslan was able to recover and throw out a kick. The students and masters bodies becoming a blur and Arslan's furious assault was blocked and redirected by the grinning elder.
As they continued their duel Master Deyas spoke, his words fast, but his manner as casual as ever. "Tell me Arslan, what makes you think the lion is the greatest hunter on Remnant?" He asked, the Grim naturally being excluded from such considerations.
Driving a hard kick into Master Deya's arm Arslan felt her bones rattle and she threw herself backwards, flipping across the ground and returning to guard several feet away from her teacher panting. "Lions are, strong and and fast, they hunt in packs, something no other hunters save people do," she said. The answer did not feel right, Master Deyas had not met her with strength or speed but- "they're smart?" she ventured.
"Ah, there it is," Master Deyas said, chuckling as he waggled a finger at her and Arslan rushed him again, their bodies becoming a blur of blocked blows and redirect attacks. As they fought Master Deyas continued his lecture. "Lions are not the strongest, that is the elephant or the rhino. They are not the swiftest, for that is the Cheetah. Nor even do their number make them so great for the buffalo herd outnumber them-"
Arslan took a backhand to the head and used the momentum to flip herself up. Her hand stretched out like a dagger she cut into the earth and then dragged her hand up, hurling a handful of dirt into her teachers eyes.
In the last moment she saw a smirk edge on to his face as he bent back to avoid the spray of dirt and Arslan finished her flip and kicked off from the ground. Lashing out with both fists she slammed her palms into her teachers stomach with a resounding smack.
"Good hit," Master Deyas said, before his fist collided with her nose.
Arslan felt the crack before it rang out in her ears, tail going ridged she was flung backwards again, rolling across the earth and through her younger siblings. Lashing out with her nail she dug her fingers into the ground and dragged herself to a stop before rising to her feet again, chest heaving and the coppery taste of blood on her lips.
"You aren't going to heal yourself?" Master Deyas asked quizzically.
"Its not crippling, and its a good reminder not to focus on one goal to much," Arslan said, it was true, and something she'd done before with gashes and little fractures, but she wasn't about to tell Master Deyas her other motive for refusing to heal. 'He'd never let me hear the end of it,' she thought.
"Well said, but unnecessary, you landed your strike and we can continue your lesson once our other subjects are covered," Master Deyas said. The elder ignored the groans ringing out from his younger students who began to gather their study materials from the mans's tent.
Bowing Arslan said, "I'll get out my book then?" thinking of the battered second hand book she'd gotten from one of the elder siblings that would soon go to one of her younger siblings once she was taken for her first hunt.
Master Deyas waved his hands and said, "Heal your injuries first."
"I'm fine si-" Arslan started,
Master Deyas shook his head and marched towards her, calling over his shoulder, "Turn to your book marked page and begin reading aloud to yourselves."
Standing tall and looking up at her teacher as the elder planted his hands firmly on her shoulders Arslan tensed as she felt Master Deyas squeezing tighter and tighter and-. Something broke, her Aura flared like a fire, sparking to life only to crumble to nothing just as Master Deyas pulled his hands away.
"Arslan I have warned you about pushing past your limits," Master Deyas said with a weary sigh.
"My apologies master, I... overestimated my Aura," Arslan said, practically stammered.
"What you did was try to push past exhaustion, whether it be out of pride or a desire for more is irrelevant, its not smart my student," Master Deyas said.
"I... apologise Master," Arslan said, this time quietly as she offered a quick bow to her teacher.
Smothering a sigh Master Deyas continued. "Its not a good trait in a hunter to rely only on their own strength... maybe if there was another near your age or..." Master Deyas seemed to bite his cheek as he thought on his next words. "Arslan, whether it be in the band or a lions pack. Amongst the hunters or the the clans guardian, a job I very much want to foist on you one day, you must understand your limits," he said ruffling her dirt-ridden hair. "There are times when you must fight no matter the cost or the odds against you but these times are rare. If your strength, even as the villages protector is insufficient there will always be others at your side... no one is an island Arslan."
'I.. think I understand, Master Deyas," Arslan said, gulping down the tension she felt in her core.
"Good, good, now go and apply some ointment then get out your text books, I've no interest in the others berating me for sending you home limping again," Master Deyas said. Chuckling as he marched away and leaving Arslan with a clear bottle of ointment resting in her grazed hands.
Sucking in a breath she tipped it over and placed a few droplets on her grazed and dirt-riddled hands and hissed, "Ow, ow."
She always hate this part of the lesson.
__________________________________________________
After a long day of training and a big meal, filled with no small amount of ribbing thanks to her efforts against Master Deyas, Arslan had been looking forward to a good un-interrupted nights rest.
Only to be awoken by the sound of terrified gasps as some of her younger kin shot up. Rising into a tight crouch Arslan cast her gaze across the children's tent. Even in the near pitch black she could make out her siblings forms, most of whom had a large extra set of ears that were twitching. Straining her own ears Arslan could only make out the sounds of hustle and bustle throughout the camp.
'Too early, what's happened?' She wondered. Holding up a finger in front of her mouth Arslan 'shh-ed' the bleary eyed children and slipped towards the tent flap.
Sticking her head out and into the crisp air Arslan glanced at the sky and saw the shattered moon was just now beginning to make its descent. "Hey, hey what's going on?" she asked, as a pony tailed man with a swaying lizards tail marched by, pulling his thick cloak up over his head.
"Hm?" he startled before looking down at her, "Oh Arslan, should have guessed some of you would have heard. The Watcher said they saw a Bullhead crash some ways into the forest, it was flashing distress signals, figure we're gonna have a meeting on what to do." He shivered, "Why can't crap like this ever happen in the summer?" At another elders call the man turned back to Arslan and said, "Just keep an eye on the others and let us handle the rest."
Watching her senior leave Arslan ducked back into the tent only to be greeted by a small sea of curious wide eyed stares.
"What's happening?" One asked.
"Are we being attacked?" Asked another.
"Can I have some rations?" asked a third.
Before they could drown her out with a hundred questions Arslan clapped her hands and rose to her full height. "There's no attack," she said quickly. "The watchers just saw a ship crash, the elders are going to talk about what to do. It was far away though so there won't be any Grim coming to us. And no midnight snacks, if anyone needs to use the bathroom I'll guard you, but otherwise you all need to go back to sleep."
Her charges met that statement with mixed enthusiasm. Some of the younger siblings simply flopping back onto their mats and pulling the blankets up. Others however groaned or began chattering about why a Bullhead would be so far out. Arslan would admit she was curious too, but she had to do her job.
It was only after half an hour of shushing, chiding, two escorts to the nearby toilets and a song that she'd managed to finally lull everyone to sleep, or at least silence.
Leaning herself up against the tents central load bearing pole Arslan let out a quiet sigh. She could feel the energy running deep within, bursting from the fire in her core and pressing against her skin with a desperate need to be used. 'My Aura's back, so at least I don't need to sleep,' she thought.
Crossing her legs and taking in a deep breath. 'In and out, in and out,' she reminded herself. Master Deyas had seen her restlessness recently and had said he thought she might soon manifest a Semblance. A fact which had filled Arslan with no small amount of pride and excitement. But until her mind and soul were 'balanced' and 'focused' as he put it, she would simply be suffering a restlessness as her Aura tried to settle into this new stage of maturation.
Just as she was getting into the flow of her meditation, calming her pulsating Aura into a gentle ripple as the air filled her lungs, Arslan was interrupted by Master Deyas peeking inside the tent and waving for her to follow him.
Sliding to her feet Arslan tip toed her way around her kin and stepped out into the brisk, early morning air. 'Still another hour before everyone else was meant to be up, let alone us,' She thought. Turning her attention to Master Deyas Arslan stood at attention and said, "Yes Master Deyas?"
"I thought you'd want to know what was happening," he said, moving from the loosely defined 'path' around the tent to avoid one of the hunting teams jogging past them. "Before you ask, we are sending some of our warriors to help, three squads. There will likely be salvage metals if nothing else," he shrugged.
Arslan's lips thinned, she understood the use of metals but still, the idea of taking from a crashed lip left her mouth tasting sour.
It must have shown on her face because Master Deyas hummed and said, "Yes, yes, its quite rude," he said, waving his hands. "But we must accept they might be dead, if so letting their supplies go to waste would be an insult. Regardless the trip is expected to take a few hours, both to inspect the crash and look for survivors and the like. We're also sending out extra patrols in case the crash lured Grim. The rest of the of the band will be staying here, but there's not many of us."
"Will you be joining the warriors master?" Arslan asked, she then gasped, "Will I!?"
"No, no," Master Deyas said, lazily patting her on the head. "You might be strong but this mission requires experiences. And I, well, I'm meant to be our best fighter, it might sound strange but its best I guard the home stead, as frustrating as it can feel at times."
"Like the lions," Arslan asked, arching an eyebrow at her teacher.
"Well, a little bit," "Master Deyas said, shrugging and sending her a wane smile. "You'll continue looking after the little ones, honestly, I don't expect we'll get much work done come the morning with all the excitement," he said, folding his arms up in his thick flowing robes. "Care to join me in some katas, we can keep watch and get something worthwhile done."
Clasping her hands and bowing Arslan said, "It would be a pleasure Master Deyas."
______________________________________________________________________
Arslan's right arm was outstretched, her palm flat and to its side. Her motions were smooth as she dragged her open palm through the air, feet following her as they glided across the earth. Just as she began to push her left fist forward a high pitched crack shot through the air. All eyes in the camp, including some of the half awake children watching their teacher and elder practise, turned to the sky.
A streak of red hurtled into the sky, a thin trail of smoke following after it before the firework burst with a loud pop, leaving only a dancing mass of red lights in the air for a few meagre instances.
'But that means-' Arslan thought, she turned to her younger kin and pointed to the tent, "Back inside, now, we can't get in the way."
"But-" Corban started.
"Arslan is right, if the scouts fired that off it means the Grim are coming," Master Deyas said. "Arslan manage things here while I go and see our warriors off and patrol the settlement." Just as he turned, and with his hands hidden by Arslan's frame, he passed her a dense Burn Dust Crystal.
Arslan looked down at the dark red crystal, she felt its cool, smooth surface on her skin and for a moment it felt heavier than anything she'd ever imagined.
Master Deyas gave her a nod and then vanished in a blur. Not waiting a moment Arslan pocketed the Burn Dust and held her arms out wide, "Back inside, now, Master Deyas will return shortly and so will everyone else. We won't help anyone by worrying, inside, inside," she said, gently guiding her younger kin through the tent flaps.
In her dark pants pocket the Burn Dust silently hummed, the raw power of a fiery explosions contained within a crystal resonated with her Aura, begging to be used, to be fuelled even further by her soul.
'A last resort, I would never have to use it, never,' Arslan told herself again and again as she strained to keep her high voice steady in the wake of her young siblings worried stares.
It had been nearly half an hour by Arslan's guess when things went from bad to worse. Master Deyas had just checked in, assured everyone the warriors, their parents and siblings, were expected back soon when a noise rang through the camp. It was a deafening crunching, crackling noise, the sound of something solid being slowly torn to pieces. It was a tree being broken, almost certainly by an intruder. The thud it made as it fell nearly shook the camp and Master Deyas had vanished towards the sound.
What followed was a moment of deafening silence before a new, more foreign and terrible sounds filled the air. It was a painfully sharp noise that left the children with sensitive ears whimpering as they'r ears shot down in an effort to drown out the noise. Like a growl but sharper and un-breaking with a powerful vibration that seemed to ripple across their senses.
Metal clanged and the sounds of two men shouting and grunting in exertion rang out. Quickly followed by a tremendous crash as something exploded into the earth outside. The force of the blast blew back the tent and Arslan fell into a combat stance as her younger siblings gathered behind her, clustered together in fear.
"Stay back children!" Master Deyas barked, his robes rippling as he stood firm against his towering opponent with two craters either side of him.
The intruder was a giant, bald, and pale, with square features and bulging arms. He wore a simple black body suit and had some strange metal bracers on his arms with points at the end that crackled with electricity.
"You crashed the ship didn't you?" Master Deyas accused. "Why would you try and lure so many of us away from camp, we have no money for you to plunder!"
The intruder shrugged and in a deep rough voice said, "We don't want your possessions, its the children we want."
A gasp ran out behind Arslan and she could feel her chest tightening in fear, her hands suddenly felt sweaty and her lips dry.
"The SDC needs miners and pay a good net fee for labourers, wild adults are too tough but kids can be tamed easy enough and you have a lot," he said, giving an almost lazy glance towards them. "How about a deal? You seem smart enough, you dodged by opening attacks after all, I throw you a bit of Lien and you let us take the kids. You'd be able to make your way into the kingdoms with the money and I wouldn't have to waste the energy killing you." He sucked in a breath and clenched his fists as he said more firmly, "And I will kill you, you're not strong enough to win here."
Master Deyas snorted, "Believe what you like filth, but know you'll find no purchase here and if you think this will be easy..." Master Deyas chuckled, it was smokey and low, almost contemptuous.
Arslan watched as the man's arms flash through the air and crashed together and Master Deyas's Aura flared a bright orange. Rippling around him like liquid fire his Aura grew and thrashed as it slowly tore itself from him and created tow shining outlines that after a moment solidified into perfect duplicates of their maker.
"Heh, clever, compensating for weakness with numbers and versatility," the intruder said appreciatively.
Master Deyas didn't deign to respond. Exploding into action the triplicates lunged at the intruder, hands and feet a wild blur. A flying kick and a series of jabs were weathered and redirected, but the moment the intruders stomach was unguarded the central Master Deyas short forward. Palms clasped together he slammed his hands into the man's gut that rang out like an explosion and causing him to let out a violent heave. He was sent skidding back along the ground, tearing up the grass and earth as he slid.
As the trio charged at the intruder, the man dragged his arms backwards and into a tight guard. Below her feet Arslan felt the ground shaking and-
"Master, below!" Arslan shouted.
Master Deyas flipped backwards as two spiralling red orbs exploded from the ground beneath his feet, tearing through the space he'd just stood in. The remaining duo's attacks were blocked but they retreated back before the intruders fists could catch them.
The spinning red orbs continued to fly and buzz in the air, growling like hungry beasts as they hurtled towards Master Deyas again.
For a moment he glanced back at them and Arslan wondered if she was meant to lead the others away.
'But where? The forests could have Grim everywhere!' She thought.
Hands whipping out Master Deyas deflected the spinning blades around him in a grand motion sending them careening off course. But they caught themselves quickly and dived after him yet again as the remaining two copies steadily pushed back the intruder.
Behind her Arslan could feel her siblings quaking and a sudden tremor ran through them. Twisting her neck Arslan's eyes were forced wider as a blue blur shot towards them. Without thought she leapt at it with a roar of fury just as the blurred figured dashed into the clearing. His grabbing hands snapped away from Emera as he sped backwards and Arslan sailed past him.
'Too fast!' She thought. Tail lashing furiously she landed and readied to charge only for one of the Master Deyas copies to charge at the man in a great bound.
A powerful shot exploded across the air like a whip crack. Arslan could barely followed what happened next save a grey blur shot forth from the woods at Master Deyas. The old warrior though leaned in on himself and let his arm take the blast. Letting it crash against his Aura Master Deyas threw his arm out and the bullet slammed into the blue body suited man who'd attacked them. It launched him into the woods with an explosion that kicked up dirt into the air and shattered the trees.
Master Deyas though did not dodge the second bullets as the flaming shell tore through his form and scattered the clone to nothing as it burned through the air and exploded somewhere behind them.
The next few moments Arslan could only watch in mounting terror as the brawny invader broke through Master Deyas's defence and started crushing the copy in a bear hug.
The true Master Deyas lashed out quickly and brutally, shattering the spinning steel weapons. Only for a barrage of powerful sniper shots to rain down upon him. Each bullet was redirected and cut in two by the masters hands but the Dust filled the air, freezing his robes and burning the ground all around him.
The bulky intruder rushed at Master Deyas with a terrifying speed, driving his arm into Master Deyas's side and Arslan saw the signs of her teachers Aura writhing in a last, desperate bid to survive. Only to crumble and fade as the man was sent bouncing across the ground, the sound of bones snapping embedding themselves in her ears.
Arms wide Arslan stepped back on shaky feet, the Burn Dust felt like it was flaming against her, making her skin sizzle. Wiping a speck of blood from his face the bulky intruder turned towards a long coated brunette brandishing two massive snipe rifles.
"You're meant to be covering us," he growled.
"Got impatient," he shrugged. "Besides, with speedy down we need to move fast, those Grim we lured won't keep them busy forever."
Arslan let them talk, some part of herself wanted to say it was strategic, that she was just waiting for the others to come bursting in to drive them away. But the sweat dripping down her body and the shaky, twisting of her insides said otherwise. Even looking at the gasping battered form of her teacher didn't make her angry, it just made her every move and thought more frantic and desperate.
"Cooper, with all the bullets you wasted we'll be lucky to make up our equipment losses," The bulky one muttered.
"Ease off Bane, you broke your spinning tops too ya know," Cooper said, chuckling as he turned towards them with a sickly grin. "Well good news beasties! You're going to have a real roof over your heads soon and all sorts of shiny rocks to keep you entertained," he laughed. "If your lucky maybe the guards will think you're pretty and take you back home with a leash!"
Before Arslan's mind could spiral further into numbed terror she sucked in a gasp as someone's hands pressed against her back. In a desperate weeping cry Corban pleaded, "Arslan , stop them!"
The Burn Dust ion her pocket hummed, momentarily drowning out everything else. It would be quick, painless, an escape, better than death to the Grim or slavery. It was her duty, her responsibility, but, they were... 'My siblings, I can't, I- I'm meant to protect them, I'm meant to look after them,' she thought.
The men were approaching, their Aura's reeked of blood and pride. Behind her the fear was palpable and, 'They're arrogant, careless, stupid,' Arslan stepped forward.
The ground broke beneath her strides as she shot towards them. 'Cocky, ugly, stupid bastards,' She thought.
Cooper swung the butt of his gun at her feet like a club, a cheerful, "You first kitten?" escaping his lips, accompanying his attack.
Arslan's throat burned, her eyes stung, her blood thundered in her ears. The ground vanished and she was sent spinning into the air, one hand arm across her chest, her other hands snatching the Dust from her pocket. Cooper thrust his gun forwards and Arslan took the blow. Every last drop of Aura she could drag thrashing and writhing from the depths of her soul she pumped into the Dust. Her hand burnt and as she felt the air slap against her back Arslan threw the crystal with a final thought, 'Stupid fucking slavers!'
One of them shouted, "Move!"
But it was too late, the crystal flared and as Arslan soared backwards she felt the force of the blast slam against her, sending ripples through her Aura and pain across her skin. Before she could even blink several smaller explosions rang out from within the flash. Arslan could just barely make out the outline of a man screaming in pain before the smoke and flames completely overtook him.
Instinct took over and Arslan fell into a roll and slammed her feet against a tree. It shattered under the pressure but Arslan was able to jump just as it began falling to the ground. She landed in a crouch before her siblings, all of them having fallen over from the blast. A deep growl, almost a bellow or a roar slip from her mouth as she saw the smoke was parted with a mighty slash.
Out from the charred crater stepped the intruders. Bane's clothes were crisp but the man lowered his guard with an angry grumble, his bright blue eyes meeting Arslan's own. Besides him though, Cooper was a burnt out ruin. His clothes were in ashen tatters, his weapons malformed and half melted, his entire face burnt and peeling.
"You... Feral freak!" He shrieked.
Arslan dashed forward, keeping low as she swiped at the man's legs. Cooper stumbled back but before she could leap at him Bane swung out with a meaty fist that sent Arslan crashing into the ground.
Slamming her palms into the dirt and feeling the grit between her finger Arslan lashed out with a kick at the approaching foe. Her attack struck and she felt the force of her blow resound across his Aura but it didn't break! Just as she tried to push off Cooper the man smashed his fists into her back.
Arslan gagged, a shriek half escaping her lips that died as his hands clenched around her tail, sharp electric shocks of pain ran up her spine as he yanked her into the air. Her stomach felt like it was trying to force its way out of her as Arslan was dragged into the air. Only to be slammed back down again with a violent crash against the ground, the earth exploding beneath her, dirt filling her eyes. As he dragged her back up Arslan, through teary eyes lashed out, hands and feet smacking against him, her long nails dragging across his ruined skin as she tried to shout.
Her attack failed though and Arslan was slammed back into the ground with another strangled cry of pain as vomit and acid burst from her mouth. Again and again he dragged her into the air before slamming her into the ground or smashed her jaw of his knees. Arslan's world became a blur, broken only by flashes of pain that somehow blinded her.
Something broke as he swung down again and Arslan's Aura, for just one moment vanished. She tried to scream as she felt the tear, heard the sound of flesh ripping and blood spurting, but she had no air in her lungs. Sailing through empty space Arslan crashed against the ground and rolled, each thud sending nightmarish shocks of pain through her body.
"Arslan!" Someone screamed.
'The kids, they're here, protect them, fight, defend, have to fight,' disjointed words filled her mind, some were in her voice, so many others her elders and teacher. Arslan sucked in a wet, sick breath, her chest heaved and burned as she dragged herself up and let out a roar of defiance.
"I'm going to make those roars of yours into screams before I'm done you little shit," Cooper bellowed.
Zeroing in on the sound, and even more the scent of charred skin Arslan ran, hands slamming against the ground she launched herself at the man. He struck back with a cracking punch across her cheek. Arslan took the blow and flipped herself over, smashed into the ground before him and body slammed herself into the man's chest sending him hurtling back.
Panting she spat up a gob of blood and watched dizzily as Cooper's blurry figure flipped himself over and shot towards her. The exchange was brief and brutal, her attacks glancing off his taller frame as she rolled with his first few strikes, avoiding the worst of it before his speed overwhelmed her. Cooper slammed his fists into her head and Arslan crashed into the ground with a thud. Before she could even move his boot slammed against her skull and buried her face in the dirt.
"Beg you stupid little bitch and then- Fuck off Bane!" Cooper shouted.
"We don't have time for this, she'd be too hard to control so just kill her!" Bane barked.
Arslan could her screaming as someone's foot steps moved closer to the huddled mass away from her.
'No, no!' Neck popping from the strain Arslam pushed herself out from under Cooper and punched his knees. Even when shrieking in pain he managed to backhand her across the ground.
Ragged breath slip form her bloody lips as Arslan tried to stand but fell to her hands and knees, her insides coiled and screamed like they were swelling up making each breath agony.
'He's moving, Bane, going to take them, chain them, they're too strong, master, elders, why, I need, I-'
She's fighting so hard, bleeding all over, bones aching, vision blurring -stronger, she needs to be stronger, bigger, faster, tougher, she needs-.
Arslan roars, its weak at first, flecks of blood flying out as she digs her hands into the ground - another breath-. Its louder this time, deeper and rougher so much it hurts. Her bodies swelling, skin stretching, it feels like her muscles are bursting out of her. Her blood runs furiously and everything becomes red, scents flood her mind, blood, fear, rage and joy.
She roars again, the mighty cry of the greatest hunter booming out from within her chest. She charges, the ground crumbles beneath her heavy clawed feet.
He's too stunned to act until she's already upon him, fangs clenched around his throat and the sounds of flesh tearing in her ears as he tries to scream.
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Arslan awoke to utter darkness her eyelids weighing heavily on her body, her senses were numb, her body tight and rigid with tension. She tried to breath in but found her chest bound. Eyes snapping open Arslan shot up only to let out a gagging cough. Her eyes trailed over her surrounding, the mat, the small tents flaps and travelling pack-
"You're still injured," Master Deyas said roughly, "Lie down, they're all alive, shaken, but alive."
Arslan turned, her entire body following her as she failed to repress a hiss of pain while she looked into the back corner of the tent and found Master Deyas silently smoking a pipe, his wounds healed.
A relieved but rough, why did her throat hurt so much, laugh slipped from her lips and Arslan slumped back with a pained whimper against the mattress, a few stray tears in her eyes. "What, kuh," she tried to cough only to wince again, "What happened?" She finally got out. Her voice was low, lower than it had even been and so rough it hurt.
"You forgot?" Master Deyas asked, his words were odd, not cold, but not humoured, stilted by an alien... suspicion?
"I, I rememb-" Arslan gasped, ignoring the pain as the sensations of the battle ran over her. A giants body in place of her tiny one, meaty paws and thick muscles, fire on her hair and blood, blood all over her. "I- I killed them..." she gasped, the coppery taste and scent flooding her senses.
"You protected our people, by killing them and calling forth your Semblance" Master Deyas said.
Arslan gulped, even if the tight roughness in her throat made it sting. Slowly Arslan tried to roll over and felt it, distinct from the bruises, the cracked bones and muscles stretched so thin she could barely move, it was an absence. It was a stinging pain on her lower back and then, nothing, she tried to twitch her tail, to feel the familiar brush against her skin or the gentle flexing of muscle. But her tail bone merely tried to twitch helplessly, seeking something that wasn't there leaving her shuddering.
"It seems you didn't have the Aura left to grow it back, if you could have at all, and now with the wound sealed over..." Master Deyas shrugged as he slid up next to her and said, "Its gone I'm afraid."
"Its... Its OK, I'll just need to learn to balance again," Arslan said, sucking in tight breaths and sniffing as she tried to hold back tears. "Where," she asked, hiccuping, "Where's everyone, why am I here, the others, are they worried?"
Why wasn't she in the healers tent? Or the children's tent? Where were her siblings the other elders... her family?
Master Deyas took a long drawn out puff of his pipe, the acrid stench of pepper-weed filling the tiny tent. Finally he rested a hand on her tangled locks and said, "It was decided it would be best if you stayed with me, for a time," he added lamely. "You'll need to re-learn how to balance as you said and master that Semblance of yours, that will take time and-"
Arslan's shaking hands clutched his robed leg, "Why isn't anyone else here?" she rasped.
Master Deyas looked down at her, his wrinkled face sunken and somehow so frail, as if he could crumble at any moment. Finally he said, "They're scared, the children more than anyone, you protected them it is true but..." he trailed off.
"But I, I stopped the kidnappers!" Arslan wheezed, before collapsing back down as blood spittle flew from her mouth and her chest swelled, her nails sharpened and-
"Calm yourself," Master Deyas snapped.
Arslan felt her body shrink back down with a pained sigh of relief.
'What?" she asked, seeing the tears in her hands bandages, like claws had burst from her fingers.
"I meant what I said about learning to control your Semblance," Master Deyas heaved. "Arslan you didn't merely gain strength when you needed it, you transformed, seemingly in mind and body. Golden fur overtook your skin as your muscles swelled and bulged. Your head was consumed by the of a snarling beasts and the way you fought, the way you killed them... The way you looked," Master Deyas trailed off, not even looking her in the eyes but refusing to to turn away from her entirely.
"You were like a Grimm," he said with a cold finality. "We know its not true, but Semblances reflect the user and," he sighed. "We need to make sure you can control it," his words grew more and more hurried. "You've been sleeping for days and your body keeps trying to change whenever you have a nightmare. It won't be forever, just give them time, practise your skills and soon everything will return to-"
Arslan ignored the aching cracks of her bones and the flaring of her muscles as she pushed herself up, wobbling as an absent tail tried to help her find balance.
"Arslan you need rest," Master Deyas started.
"I need," Arslan said, her voice tight and shaking, "I need to walk... to practise and... I need to learn to walk again and I need, I need to do... something!" she finally pleaded.
Master Deyas met her stare for only a moment before tossign his pipe aside with a careless motion and rising to his feet. "Very well, we'll start with the basic kata and move up until you collapse. Your training with me now will be harder than ever before and consume all your days until there is nothing left I can teach you."
"What then?" Arslan asked, her tone weak even if her voice was o unbearably rough.
"Then we will see, how things are amongst the band, and how you've changed and..." Master Deyas froze for a moment as he looked down at her and said, "Arslan, have I ever told you about Sanctum?"
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With times passage seasons came and went by again a. The band moved on as they had always done and as the cold winter winter winds once again descended upon the north it was rather fitting, Arslan felt, that they would be once again making camp so close to where that fateful battle took place.
The broken moon hung high in the sky and Arslan knelt in the wide communal tent. The only light provided was by the dying embers of that nights cooking fire. Before her were arrayed her elders and seniors, hunters, caretakers and family. Between herself and them was Master Deyas, he too was kneeling, his hands hidden away in his long sleeved robe.
"It is always tragic, when a member of our band leaves us," Master Deyas said. His voice was rough and dusty, he seemed to have aged more in a year than she'd seen him age in five. "However I also believe that were should count ourselves blessed," he continued. "For it is not death that takes one of our children from us, but instead a desire for knowledge, to see new lands, meet new people and learn new skills. I am proud to sponsor Arslan Altan-"
That new last name still felt odd to her ears.
"in her decision to seek out an education as a Huntress at Sanctum in the Kingdom of Mistral," Master Deyas finished.
Bowing low Arslan pressed her forehead to the cool grass and said, "I swear I shall use all I have been taught wisely. I will always comport myself to best represent the band and not shame you with my actions. Should I become a Huntress I will send money and resources."
"We do not need charity child," the elder caretaker cut in, the aged woman's words were not harsh or warm but merely a statement of fact.
Not raising her head Arslan continued, voice not wavering as she said, "I will always be ready to offer my services to the band and should you one day," Arslan bit the inside of her cheek, "desire my presence, then I will return."
For a time silence lingered, then, there was a quiet shuffling and Arslan heard objects being placed on the floor.
Finally Master Deyas said, "Rise Arslan Altan."
Slowly Arslan straightened her back, her eyes remained low and her face impassive as she looked across the tent.
She could see Master Deyas had moved, at some point having silently risen to his feet. The elders and her seniors kept their gazes forward, without the slightest hint of disunity amongst them. How could there be though? After all, once a decision was reached the band must abide, lest the division invite the Grimm.
Finally Master Deyas spoke, "It is with both sadness and pride that I announce to you Arslan Altan, are now seen as an adult amongst us. If it is your desire, you are hereby permitted by we elders, seniors and family to seek your fortune in the world without the company of your band. But," he said, holding a wrinkled hand high, "before you go we have something to offer you."
The sound of beads crackling against one another struck her ears and Arslan's eyes shot wide as Master Deyas approached her. In his hands he held a thick red necklace that would reach down near her stomach, a duplicate of his and the others warriors.
"This necklace now marks you as not an honoured pupil but an honoured warrior," he said. Master Deyas was slow and measured as he draped it over her mane of blonde hair an. Arslan nodded in thanks as she felt the weight material rest against her neck, almost lost in her thick yellow jacket.
There was a wet tightness in her throat, her eyes almost stung, she wanted to speak, to thank him for everything, especially after the past year, but now was not the time for such childish displays. Biting back her words and trying to push back her rapidly beating heart Arslan said, "Thank you Master, it has been an honour."
As Master Deyas stepped back Arslan found herself approached by the elder caretaker. The brown robed woman offered her a small bow that Arslan returned from her kneeling position. She then watched as the elder caretaker slowly drew a small, shining silver dagger from her sleeves. Cradling it in the flat of her hands she offered it to Arslan, "This is a gift from your elders, do not stain it lest the reason is just."
Arslan raised her hands and in one delicate motion took the tiny blade into her hands. Sliding it into her sleeve Arslan clasped her hands and said, "I thank you elders, I will use it with all the care and wisdom I posses." She just hoped that was enough.
"And finally," a younger, wispier and both familiar and yet strangely foreign voice spoke, "we the seniors and family offer you this." Standing before her was a woman with pale hair tied in a lose ponytail and a thick second set of ears on her head. Her well muscled form was hidden below layers of thick clothing, leaving only her tanned face, much like Arslan's own, exposed as she looked down at her with wet eyes.
She held a small, tightly packed, brown knapsack in her gloved hands. "Contained within are gifts from us, medical supplies, food and lien. You," she froze for a moment and sucked in a breath before speaking again, her voice high, and so very distinct from Arslan's now rough voice. "You will need to ration it carefully and spend your money carefully, it will not carry you far, child." With that she bent forward and dropped the knapsack before her and placed a kiss upon Arslan's forehead, "Stay safe," she whispered. Then she spun around and returned to her seat as though nothing had happened.
Sucking in a deep breath Arslan bowed again and spoke, even as her insides coiled and her throat seemed to freeze up with tension. "I thank you all, for all that has been given me since I was born into this world, I won't forget your kindness."
"You shall be remembered here as well, Arslan Altan, and welcome should you not stray from our path," the elder caretaker said. "Just remember this one piece of advice when you enter the kingdoms. Don't, kill anyone."
Arslan nodded and in one smooth motion rose to her feet and slipped her knapsack onto her back. Clasping her hands she offered her elders one last bow and slipped from the tent. Unconsciously her eyes were drawn to the children's tent she'd once spent her nights in and Arslan found her feet stalling. It wouldn't hurt if she j- 'No,' Arslan thought, shaking her head and trying to repress the shudder running through her that had nothing to do with the cold.
Breathing in the cold night air Arslan let the chill settle in her chest before breathing it back out as a thick mist. The Burn Dust bound to her hummed quietly as it felt her Aura ripple before she returned it to a docile state.
Arslan took a step forward, away from the camp and its people.
This wasn't her home anymore.
.
.
.
As the rising sun illuminated the swamp Arslan marched through she re-positioned the nearly empty knapsack slung over her back as as she strode deeper into the southern wilds towards the Kingdom og Mistral.
When Arslan left she did not weep. She'd long since outgrown her small band, she was too much for them, she always had been.
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Notes:
So I hope anyone who read this piece enjoyed it, and if you have any thoughts be they questions, critique or comments please feel free to offer them and I'll endeavour to offer a worthwhile reply, probably followed by a like
I'd like to thank Redd984 on SB for inspiring this story and what is now my primary head canon for Arslan's past in response to a post I sent them and for betaing the story. The title came from Arslan's last name. one of the translation of which is apparently 'red dawn' and due to me using that name as one ascribed to those who choose to leave the band it felt kind of fitting. Plus I wasn't so sure about stuff like 'lions fury/pride or 'roar/birth of the lion'. Now as to the response Arslan's Semblance got, it basically comes down to someone's Semblance making them resemble a Grimm not being something most people take well, especially if its first use involves bloodily dismantling people right in front of them even if said people did kind of deserve it. That bad 'omen/impression' never really went away and so here we are.
As to how it works, I write it as being a power boost Semblance, basically making her stronger, faster and more durable while giving her the Aura equivalent of an adrenaline rush, but with a risk. Arslan can, if she uses her Semblance, hit well above her weight class, for about a minute to three if she's lucky, at which point her body will be dragged back to normal and shell gave literally no Aura to fight with. Transforming also costs a chunk of Aura and going back puts a strain on her body, meaning she can't just shift for a few moments them go back to normal and not suffer a bigger cost than she'd get by just staying transformed. This makes it a useful Semblance, if she has some sort of escape set up or just one opponent, otherwise its a liability which could leave her helpless once she's worn it out, meaning its not great for say, a horde of Grimm unless she's all out of other options.
Arthur Hansen
Author of no Authority.
- Location
- Utah, behind the Zion Curtain.
I, RWBY
Blinding white flashed from the Makluon artifact, filling Iron Man's vision. Tony Stark, the boy in the armor, clenched his eyes shut as it felt like his stomach fell as if it were lead. Opening his eyes, he realized that was the wrong thought.Because he was literally falling to his death to the forest below him. "Thrusters to full!" he ordered his computer as the he fell like a very large brick, spinning through the air. The thrusters kicked in at the wrong moment, sending him flying down at an angle and smashing through three trees before impacting the ground.
"Ouch."
With a whine of his servos, he sat up. "Okay. Time to access GPS and find out where I'm at so I can find the Mandarin and whip his butt."
His HUD shifted focus and then brought up a red circle with an error.
"What do you mean, no GPS signal?" he complained to his armor as he stood up. "Guess I'll have to find out the old fashioned way. Flying high up and then-"
BZZT.
"Annnnnnd I've got a broken thruster. Just great," Tony complained to himself. "Guess I'm walking. With the sun over there just above the horizon and rising, that makes that East-ish."
"Yang! Yang!" Ruby Rose yelled out as her thoughts wound round and round frantically. She broke out of the underbrush and nearly collided with the white-haired Weiss Schnee and a brightly armored figure that shot from the side to stop them from running into each other. Both girls looked over at the face plate and the blue eyes beneath it.
"Whoa, you guys alright?"
Both girls back peddled from the armored figured.
"Uh, yeah. But who are you? I don't remember seeing you at the top of the cliff," Ruby asked.
"Yes, who are you?" Weiss had her revolver rapier held in a casual, loose grip that pointed toward the ground in front of her.
"Most people call me Iron Man," the man-machine said in a deep, electronically distorted voice said. The faceplate broke apart and folded away. "But you can call me Tony." He looked about their age.
"That's armor? Very garish with all that red and gold," Weiss said. "I am Weiss Schnee and this dolt is Ruby Rose."
Ruby pouted, but didn't argue the point. "But aren't we partners now?"
"No," Weiss said, turning on her right heel and walking away. Only sixty feet away, she came across Jaune Arc.
"Hi!" he said as suavely as he could while hanging from his hoodie that was pinned to a tree by a spear.
Weiss turned around again, walking right back to Ruby.
"This in no way means that I like you," she said as she grabbed Ruby's arm as she walked by.
"Um, guys?" Tony asked. "Don't you need to get him down?"
Weiss stopped as she let Ruby go. "If he was competent, he should be able to get down on his own. Up there, he won't be killed by the first Grimm to wander by. If he's quiet."
"Those Grimm are the shadow monster things, right? I've run into a few of them while walking towards the only radio signal I could pick up. Some place name Vale off that way." Tony pointed towards the cliffs. He directed his armor to pull the spear out with a tractor beam. "Odd. This spear has been polarized already."
Jaune landed with an oomph, holding a hand to his abused tailbone. "Ow!"
"That's Phyrra's spear. I hope she does not need it right now," Weiss said as she tapped a finger to her chin. "So, Tony? Are you from Atlas? That armor looks like something cobbled together from our defense robots," Weiss asked.
"No, I'm not from Atlas. Or Vale. I'm not even sure I've ever heard of those before. This place... it's odd. No satellite GPS, few radio signals and monsters everywhere. It's definitely nothing like Earth," he replied.
"The Kingdom of Earth? Uhm, the only kingdom I remember called that was hundreds of years ago, before it fell to the Grimm," Ruby said, thinking hard.
"That was the Kingdom of Erta. Not Earth," Weiss corrected.
"Earth isn't a kingdom. It's a planet. Also known as Terra or Sol III. The third planet in the solar system." And Tony braced himself for what they were going to say.
"But this is Remnant. Though I've never heard anyone called it the planet Remnant," the girl with black-cherry-red hair noted.
"And that's what I was afraid of. Somehow that Makluan artifact sent me to another world or possibly a different dimension-"
"Do you seriously expect us to believe such a wild tale?" Weiss said, cutting him off. "At least make your lie believable. I bet you are just another obstacle in our way for the entrance exam. Come on, Ruby. We have to get the artifact."
"Um, I don't feel right about leaving Jaune here alone. Or leaving the guy in the really cool armor! Does it transform?" Ruby squealed happily.
"Yes?" Tony wondered how had she guess that.
Weiss stopped, thinking and considering. "Well, let's see it."
Tony raised an eyebrow at that. "Really? Fine, I guess." A mental command to his armor sent it unfolding and sliding plates off his body. In moments, he was in his signature red T-shirt, jeans and tennis shoes, armor now folded up as a backpack. "It's just to allow me to have my armor with me incognito, so to say. Probably a good idea, as it's low on energy. I need to get it recharged."
"Your lightning Dust is nearly depleted? I'm sure you can buy some in Vale." Weiss looked quite unimpressed with the 'transformation'.
"Dust? Maybe I misheard that?" He thought he had figured out how to translate their language using the armor and his Extremis by tapping into their phones and radio signals. He stuck his finger in his ear, even though it did nothing to help his situation.
"Yeah, Dust! The power of nature in crystalline form! Everything runs on Dust," Ruby explained, a wide grin on her face as Jaune snickered in the background.
"Well, everything but my armor, I guess. I somehow think I'm going to have problems finding a megawatt generator," Tony said as he redeployed his armor, but left his head uncovered.
They all turned as they heard something approach at a rapid pace. Everyone but Jaune tensed and readied for a fight. He belatedly started to crouch just as the auburn-haired girl Pyrrha vaulted over a large bush.
"Ah! I expected to find Jaune, not you two and- Who's the boy in armor, Weiss?" the dueling champion asked.
"He goes by 'Iron Man' or Tony Stark," Weiss said, using her fingers to 'quote' his superhero name.
"Is he part of the initiation?" she asked.
"Nope!" Ruby said cheerfully. "Looks like you found your partner, Jaune!"
The blond perked up at that.
"Can't we-?" Weiss asked.
"No take backs!"
The platinum blonde almost wilted at that. "Fine."
"Looks like we are partners, partner," Pyrrha said to Jaune. She gave him a wide, genuine smile.
"Yeah!" he said in a bashful tone.
"We should continue on." Weiss gave the boy in the hoodie and armor a suspicious look. "And we should probably stay together for safety." Unsaid was that it was more for Jaune's safety.
"Do you mind if I tag along? Though I think you should get your weapons ready. Five nonhuman creatures are headed this way from that direction," Tony said, pointing towards the large bushes to their left. He tossed Pyrrha her spear.
The pack of Beowolves leaped out, trying to surprise the hunters and hero, only to be met by bullets, spells and repulsor beams. The last beowulf dodged left, then right, then a final right and leaped at Jaune only to be cleaved in half by Ruby's scythe.
"Hyaaaaa!" she said as she finished her move, legs bent. The end of her handle smacked Jaune's shoulder with a hard whap.
"Ow," he cried as he dropped his sword. He had barely pulled it out before the fight was over.
"Sorry, Jaune. Crescent Rose takes up a lot of space," Ruby said.
"Didn't your aura block that?" Pyrrha asked in concern.
"Uh, Aura?" Tony and Jaune asked in unison.
Weiss and Ruby shared a concerned look while keeping an eye Jaune.
"Yes, you dolts. The manifestation of our souls that helps protect hunters," Weiss snapped out, very irritated.
"Souls? Really?" Tony had one eyebrow arched so high it disappeared under his hair.
"Could it be you haven't had you Aura unlocked?" Pyrrha asked.
"Uh. Well, about that-" Jaune stuttered, sure he had been found out.
"Oh! He didn't have anyone that could unlock it for him in his family! Probably felt ashamed to ask a teacher to do it, too!" Ruby blurted out. She had seen that with a student at Signal, where they had not told anyone they were still Aura-locked and got hurt badly.
The blonde decided to roll with it. "Uh, how did you know?" he asked. It wasn't hard to act ashamed, at least.
"Don't worry, Jaune." Pyrrha smiled as she walked up. She put her hand on his chest. "For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all. Infinite and distant and unbound by death. I release your soul. And by my shoulder protect thee."
A glow surrounded them as Tony and the other two girls watched.
"It looks like you have a lot of Aura," the dueling champion noted with a small smile.
"Unknown energy source detected. Unable to analyze," a female's voice said from Tony's armor.
"What was that?" Weiss demanded, looking at him in suspicion.
"Just my armor's A.I. failing to figure out the energy of that Aura thing." Tony scratched his head. "So you say that protects you? I wonder if I should see if you can activate my Aura? I mean, I'm down to 20 % charge here and no sign of a power outlet," he said, joking and smiling at the last bit.
"Power outlet? Of Dust? No, you said you didn't know what Dust was," Weiss said, correcting herself.
"Just good old fashioned electricity. Something a little less than a lightning bolt." He gave her a grin. At least his heart did not depend on the armor at times.
"Oh? Is that all. Do I need to zap some lightning into a plug or something?" the platinum blond asked.
Tony blinked. "Uh, no." His helmet snapped back into place. "Zap away, princess."
Ruby stepped away over to where Jaune and Pyrrha stood.
"Hmph. I'm not a princess." Myrtenaster's revolver chamber rotated to socket yellow Dust in the aura chamber. With a surge of her aura, she unleashed a small bolt of lightning.
"Nice! Up to 40% charge. Can you do that another four times?" Iron Man asked.
Weiss blink-blinked at that. "I could, but that would leave me without any lightning Dust for personal defense."
"One more time then? I'm sure I'll be fine at 50 % charge," he replied.
Another lightning bolt and Weiss studied the armored figure. "Hmph."
Pyrrha turned to Tony as he retracted his helmet. "I can't activate your Aura for a bit, I'm afraid. I'm a bit drained."
"No problem! I'll do it!" Ruby cried out, pumping a fist in a victory pose. She closed her eyes for a second to remember the phrase.
"Don't be silly. You need a great deal of control and power-" Weiss said, only to be interrupted as Ruby put her hand on Tony's chest.
Tony listened carefully as the redhead chanted the same mantra as he felt something warm suffuse his body. "Whoa!"
"Hmm. I'm surprised. How old are you?" Weiss asked.
"Fifteen. Why?" Ruby with a hint of suspicion.
"Because I barely learned how to do this year. And I'm considered a bit of a prodigy," Pyrrha admitted as she set her hands on her hips.
"So now what?" Tony asked in curiousity.
"We need to go to the north side of the forest, retrieve our artifacts and make it back to the cliff," Weiss said, nodding her head sharply.
"North is that way," the armored alien said, pointing off in a direction.
"Wow, sounds like you have a lot of sensors in there," Jaune said, wishing he had armor like that.
"I do. I'm tracking about thirty-five of those Grimm things, about a dozen other people giving off radio signals and hundreds of drones and cameras."
The other four kids stared at him, then Weiss narrowed her eyes. "Ozpin did say they would be monitoring us," she said a bit angrily.
"Oh no! They wouldn't disqualify us for this, would they?" Ruby said, horrified at the idea of being kicked out. Would Signal take her back in?
Jaune looked even more worried.
"Of course not. I mean, this just shows how we would deal with a lone hunter we would run into in the wilderness. Allying together shows that we are social and intelligent," Weiss replied in a ruthless, cold manner.
"So let's go." Iron Man started tromping through the woods.
"Why not?" Jaune asked. "The artifacts could be in there." He pointed to a cave in a small cliffside.
"Because it's a natural cave that has a really, really big life form about seventy feet in," Iron Man said.
"What!?" Ruby and Weiss both shouted, readying their weapons.
"And I think it heard you, because here it comes," Iron Man said, sighing.
The trained hunters all hopped back twenty feet as Iron Man readied his repulsors. So the Death Stalker smashing through the too small opening only surprised Jaune who scrambled back in a panic.
"Repulsors; full power," Tony ordered his armor. With a shriek of particles, two beams of light shot from his hands. The Deathstalker's heavy torso armor took the hit, ablating part of the damage and leaving small, shallow craters. "You have got to be kidding."
"Move!" Pyrrha shouted as she and Ruby fired their weapons in gun forms.
The Deathstalker lunged forward as Iron Man tried to launch into the sky, only for his system to buzz and not activate his boot jets. Massive pincers, larger than a man, snagged him and tried to crush the hated human.
"Whoa!" Tony said as warnings lit up his HUD. "Full power to shields... NOW!"
A repulsor shield snapped into spherical existence, pushing the claws apart.
Weiss formed a glyph in front of her, attracting the armored form to her. Jaune narrowed his eyes. "Shoot the cliff above the Grimm," he yelled out as he held his shield out and stepped up to interpose his own body between Ruby and Pyrrha and the giant scorpion monster.
"Right! Switching to fire Dust," Ruby called out, discarding the current magazine and then slapping in one of her two spare mags in its place.
"That isn't going to work," Weiss said even as she started to shoot blasts of lightning from a yellow glyph she created.
"Unibeam to full power!" Iron Man called out, blasting out with the full power of his major repulsor weapon. All of the attacks hit home on the cliff above the Deathstalker as it started to move up to snap Jaune in half.
With a massive crash, the Grimm found itself buried beneath tens of tons of rock.
"I wouldn't have believed that any creature could do that. Then I remembered the Hulk. Now I'm wondering if that will hold it?" Iron Man said.
The young heiress snorted at that. "Well, I think we concluded the 'destroy anything in our path'," Weiss said after a long moment. "Let's get out of here in case it digs itself out."
"Say, could you give me another lightning blast? My unibeam uses up a lot of power."
Half an hour later, they followed the sound of explosions and the happy squeal of a girl to find two other pairs of hunters in training.
"YANG!" Ruby cried out, disappearing in a blur of rose petals and tackling her sister.
"Hey sis!" the older sister said, hugging back.
The Asian looking young man narrowed his eyes at the strange robot, but turned when he realized that redheaded hammer wielder had grabbed a golden Rook.
"I'm queen of the castle! I'm queen of the castle!"
"Nora!" he yelled out.
"Coming, Ren!" she called back, trotting over to him with a giggle. She caught the chess piece as she left.
Blake looked at the pedestals. "I think that is everyone from the initiation. We're the last."
"Right!" Ruby ran over and grabbed a gold Knight. "Let's head back to the cliff. Tony, guide us away from any big concentrations of Grimm. Keep your eyes peeled while we move and stay with your partners."
Tony raised an eyebrow. That was remarkably assertive. "Well, you heard her, Armor. Scan for hostiles."
Half an hour later their luck ran out as six Ursa appeared.
"Smash right through them!" Ruby called out, charging the one in the middle.
Jaune charged in at Pyrrha's side, but started to backpedal as he barely intercepted a swipe with his shield. "Whoa!" he cried out.
"Jaune, look out-" Pyrrha called out, releasing a sigh of relief as a bubble of energy appeared around him that blocked another claw swipe.
Iron Man turned away from helping the least combat effective person here to see two Ursa running at him.
"Tony!" Weiss shouted.
"I've got this," he replied confidently as he waved her off from charging across the battlefield. "Target missiles and fire!"
Mini-missiles popped up from hidden panels in the armor's shoulders. With a scream of thrusters, they shot out at high speed towards two of the Ursa, blowing them up with great force.
"I WANT ONE!" Nora shouted. "How do I get an armor like that?" She ran up and swung her hammer with her whole body, smashing it's jaw so hard teeth went flying.
"Sorry, it's my own personal creation and not for sale."
"Ah," she said as she set her hammer on her shoulder.
"Keep moving, people!" Ruby called out. "We still need to get up the cliff while not being attacked."
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the bottom of the sheer cliff.
"Well, I guess no time like the present to see if I can repurpose my hand repulsors as a main flight system." Tony listened to his armor as it set up the calculations and then shot him up into the air at half his normal acceleration. He cut it off at just the right moment, arcing over the edge of the cliff and not far from Headmaster Ozpin and Professor Goodwitch. "Yo." He waved.
Turning back to the edge and the teams below, he called out, "Let me shoot a cable that you guys can hold onto for a quick trip."
Pfft-wizzzzzz went the cable. Ruby set her weapon to sniper rifle and scanned the area, Pyrrha joining her.
"Jaune, you go first," Ruby said over her shoulder.
"Right," he replied.
Yang just readied her gauntlets. "Making my own way up." With impressive jumping power and bursts of flame from her shotgun gauntlets, she led the way for Blake and Weiss up the steep cliff. Nora and Ren were only a moment behind. Then Pyrrha and Ruby followed up using their own weapons or leaping ability.
"Young man, why were you intruding on the initiation?" Ozpin asked, wanting to get it from him directly.
"Got blasted by an alien artifact and found myself in the forest of an alternate dimension. Then I ran into a few of your students and it kind of snowballed from there. Although I'm wondering why this place is called Remnant." Iron Man tapped a section at the center of his armor and it all retracted back to into its 'backpack' form.
"You speak our language very well," Ozpin noted.
"I hacked some data feeds and had my A.I. cobble up a translation matrix that I can access with my technopath abilities." Tony quirked a grin at Ozpin's small slip in expression. "I'm known to be very technologically savvy on my world."
"Do you have any way to prove this?" the headmaster asked.
"I've got some of my world's data in my armor, of course. And once it's repaired, I might be able to show off some of its abilities which I don't think you guys can do. I mean, it doesn't run off of Dust or anything like that. Just need electricity to charge it up."
"That may work. So what are you going to do?" the headmaster asked as all the students watched.
"Well, try to figure out a way back to my world. Which will require more than my armor." Tony frowned at that.
"Well, you are of age to fit in at Beacon. And it's possible we may be able to work together for the benefit of all," Ozpin said as he leaned on his cane.
"Headmaster?" Glynda asked.
"It will be fine. But for now, we need to assign teams. Everyone, head back to Beacon and clean up."
"-Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna and Yang Xiao Long will form RWBY; led by Ruby Rose." Headmaster Ozpin looked around. "Congratulations all. School starts tomorrow at eight A.M."
The students milled around or headed to supper as their wants dictated. Glynda caught up to him as he went to the security elevator to the armory a few levels down.
"I'm not sure why you let him into the workshop," Goodwitch said, looking slightly upset. Well, slightly more upset.
"He requested tools to allow him to repair his armor, which he thought would be a short affair."
The elevator stopped and opened, just in time to see the red and gold armored figure zipping about the large workshop room at high speeds. He spun around and fired this bootjets to slow down, then landed with a soft thud. Tony' helmet retracted.
"Headmaster! Professor! It was a quicker repair than I thought. So my armor is at near peak status. So what sort of tests did you want me to try to 'prove' that I'm not from Remnant?"
Goodwitch frowned. "Hmm. A flight to Atlas and back? Or Mistral?"
"That shouldn't be too tough. I've got your beacon system set up so that I know where I'm at these days. Nothing harder than that?" Tony asked.
"Well, you could fly up into space. The would prove that your Iron Man armor is not based on Dust technology," Ozpin said, half in jest.
"Sure! That sounds more fun and I can get some better scans of the broken moon!" Tony looked quite excited at that idea.
"That was actually meant in jest as a moment of humor. Can your armor really go into space?" Ozpin said, his eyes widening ever so slightly.
"Sure. Not as good as my specialty armor, but I've got more than enough power to hit low orbit without a booster module."
Glynda narrowed her eyes. "And you can transmit your beacon locator the entire time?"
"That shouldn't be hard," Tony replied as his armor sealed up around him.
Ozpin had his Scroll open and tapping on commands. "Set your beacon to 1.52 kilohertz."
"Got it," Tony replied as he applied his technopath abilities to his scroll and his armor to copy the signal. 1.48 kilohertz, hmm? Slightly different measurement system.
Two minutes later he tromped outside, surprising several of the upper year students.
"What's that? I mean, it looks like an Atlas robot, but all red and gold," a hulking fellow said.
"Moves too naturally," Coco countered.
Iron Man gave the pair a quick salute, then fired up his jets and his palm repulsors. "Thrusters to full."
With a massive woosh, Iron Man streaked higher and higher. After fifteen minutes, he achieved low orbit
"Iron Man to Beacon Academy, can you read me?" he called out.
"We read you, Iron Man." Ozpin pondered the odd callsign for a moment. "We are showing you at about one hundred and fifty miles up and about to cross the horizon."
"See you in about an hour then," Tony replied. He spun the armor around to face outward. He wanted to scan that moon.
It loomed closer than he thought. A quarter the distance and smaller. The broken fragments looked tidally locked to the moon, which itself had a revolution of once very two week. Which did not make a bit of sense. "Armor, scan for temporal energies."
"Scanning!"
Tony waited, watching the different icons on his HUD. He recorded the lands below as he flashed over them in the starry void. He saw few signs of a global civilization.
"Detecting unknown energy classified as 'Aura' within the debris of the shattered moon," his armor spoke up, distracting him from looking down on the near pristine world.
A glowing haze appeared on his screen. "Huh. Looks like it is an energy field around something. Can you put a 3D wireframe up."
"Processing."
The picture of a black dragon, hundreds of miles from nose to tail (or wingtip to wingtip) nearly froze Tony's blood cold.
"Identifying. Unknown energy has a 95 % match to subject Ruby Rose."
"That thing has an aura?" Tony shook his head as a counter hit zero. "Begin reentry. Iron Man to Beacon Academy, do you read me?" The hour had passed quite quickly, in Tony's mind.
"This is Beacon Academy, Iron Man. We read you," came Glynda's reply. "Are you on your return path?"
"Reentry, yes. We will lose the ability to communicate due to the plasma sheath that will be created upon entering Remnant's atmosphere," Tony explained. "Prepare for a lot of people to see me, as I'll light up a quarter of Remnant's sky while I do this."
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This was a rather impressive snippet over all and not just in length, I especially think you handled the cliche 'RWBY are in the forest and meet crossover character, thing well by placing it during the exam. Though could he actually fly into space given he'd be relying on Dust based lighting/electricity?
During the first few scenes the exposition felt a bit forced but it got smoother as time went on, and I liked that you didn't keep things on the canon rails, Weiss's behaviour felt especially solid and there was some neat little bits of world building. Some of the cast did feel a bit... thin I guess the word might be, perhaps accommodating, its hard to put my finger on it, though even with them, like Ozpin I thought the overall tone they had was fairly solid.
Though given he was watching initiation wouldn't he know Tony's deal? I think you balanced the settings fairly well over all, no one was overly blown away by missiles or lasers or robot suits because that's all pretty standard in Remnant, Tony's is just a bit more personalised/specialised.
I hope this was useful.
Rajvik_wolfboy
Wolf amongst the stars.
- Location
- Florida
More please @Arthur Hansen
Arthur Hansen
Author of no Authority.
- Location
- Utah, behind the Zion Curtain.
Pretty easily, yeah. Armored Adventures Mark II that he's wearing is pretty much that bad ass. His real problem is that his weapons aren't really lethal enough against the Grimm. (And Deathstalkers are really kind of that tough.)
I'll be more focusing on Tony and RWBY as the cast, though I tried to show that Jaunne had leadership potential there. Yang and Blake just haven't had much 'screen' time to interact with Tony.
Ozpin did watch the initiation, but there's only so much one set of eyes can see while keeping track of 16-20 students +1 interloper. It doesn't help that Tony kept himself off of camera until he tried to keep Ruby and Weiss from running into each other.
Oh, I'm looking at doing more.
Sorry I think I explained poorly, my question was regarding how Dust based energy supplied to him could continue working in space when Dust fails.
Good luck in that regards.
I feel like an active intruder appearing out of nowhere would warrant a bit more attention that that myself, but its your story, so good luck with it.
Arthur Hansen
Author of no Authority.
- Location
- Utah, behind the Zion Curtain.
The energy produced from Dust is just that, energy. Lightning and Fire function as normal after the crystal has activated. Tony isn't storing the Dust, he's storing the electricity produced by the gust. His battery/capacitor tech is probably centuries more advanced than Remnants, but that's because for 99.999% of everything they do, they just store Dust crystals or powder, which has obscene energy density. I would assume that their battery technology is only as good as modern day Earth's or worse.
Active helpful intruder that didn't hurt anyone and introduced a "safe" wild card situation? Nah, Ozpin would let it roll. He's pretty laissez–faire, all in all. I mean, if he did know that Jaune did not have an aura from his falsified records, he was perfectly content to throw him into a freefall from hundreds of feet in the air and into a forest filled with a death-monsters.
You have to consider that in Remnant, the possibility of sudden death is greatly increased. And that students dying on their first day of the advanced academy is a normal possibility.
So over in the rebuilding RWBY thread Barnaby posted this:
And I found myself compelled to play with the idea a little. No real plans to expand beyond this, but I liked it enough to share.
OoOoO
Cries of fear and pain echoed in Vale, where they weren't drowned out by the sirens, the gunfire, or the clash of bodies. But that was all in the distance; the riot had mostly passed over this street in one of Vale's many shopping districts. The shops were barred, the cars were allowed to sit quietly in their parking spaces, and whatever workers and shoppers had been here either locked themselves indoors or made a dash for home when the news came. Oh, there were certainly a few bodies scattered here and there, but with the relative lack of other damages it was easy to pretend they'd just decided to lie down for a nap.
The only fellow moving about in the street was a short man with lean muscles, a black and white uniform, and a steel mask. From the way he was creeping between cover—fairly competently too—he didn't enjoy playing pretend. The point quickly became moot though, as the sound of a distant boom while he scampered along the sidewalk convinced him to do a sudden backflip through a car windshield.
"White Fang," Ruby called it, ejecting the spent casing.
"Nice shot," Blake said. "I liked the acrobatics."
The two were perched up on a rooftop watching the street. Ruby, hood down, had Crescent Rose's shaft at full extension for sniping and the scythe folded up and propped against the roof edge to help stabilize her shots. Blake lounged nearby, watching the show. There was an unusual amount of laughter and screaming wafting up from the stairwell, somewhat like a boxer with stress management issues who broke into the squeaky chicken toy factory, but neither of them seemed concerned by the caterwauling.
" ...peaceful are crushed by the strong and the forsaken are devoured by the Grimm. Faunus are trampled underfoot in a land that should be theirs by right, and faunus and humans both are chained and ruled by huntsmen..."
"Hey, Ruby. Do you ever wonder what you're doing here?"
Ruby answered without looking away from the scope. "Like, right now? I think I'm sniping off invaders and waiting for our ride to show up. Iunno, I could be wrong though."
"No, I mean more generally. Like, the mission."
"What, away from all the main fighting? That's bugging me too! Yeah, Ozpin's message said we'd get more orders at the meeting point, but why's it all the way out in Forever Fall? All the fighting's in the city!" Ruby sat up quickly. "Ooh, that reminds me, keep an eye on your situation. HEY YANG! YOU OKAY DOWN THERE?"
"Just peachy, little sis!" Yang shouted up the stairwell, followed by a crack and a clear tenor wail. "But I'd be better if any of these guys could hurt me!"
Ruby nudged her head toward the stairs. "Hey if you're bored you could go down and shoot over her shoulders. Firing into melee's always fun."
"...say they will keep you safe from Grimm, but they control your life with a steel grip stronger than even the old regime overthrown in the Great War. Which of you would build..."
Blake mulled it over a moment, going back and forth between doing something productive and getting to watch Ruby's marksmanship, before shrugging. "I think she's got it. And I didn't mean This Particular mission, more like… the Mission. Goals. As a huntress, as an order of huntresses and huntsmen. What you're doing with your life. Do you ever think about that?"
"White Fang," Ruby called. CRACK. She giggled, scoping out the results of her handiwork. "Oh dust, look! It's like a duck doing ballet with one leg! Who says you have to go for headshots? Gyehehehe~"
Blake couldn't help but smile fondly at Ruby's childlike delight. "Let none doubt that Ruby Rose and Yang Xiao Long are sisters."
"What do you mean?"
"Don't worry about it."
"Okay!" And Ruby went back to her scope.
"...dare travel where they say no? Which of you, no matter how charitable and necessary your task for the life of our people, would do it without emptying your pockets to buy their protection?"
Blake pointed with Gambol Shroud. "Take the lunatic on the broadcast. She knows what she wants. If this riot is hers, she's out there making a difference. Don't you ever wish you had that?"
"I wasn't listening, what's she want?"
Blake and Ruby both looked over at Blake's scroll, fully opened and propped up. The broadcast showed a vaguely familiar woman with orange fiery eyes that literally smoldered as her stare fixed the camera. Her voice, smooth as wet blood, came from lips quirked upwards with a smug, confident satisfaction that guaranteed any member of RWBY to meet her would either deck her across the face or follow her into hell on wings of flame howling battle cries. You know, it could go either way.
"Which of you dare look a huntsman in the eye when you pass in the street? When did you last see one in the streets? Their oath is to defend you, but they sit above you as gods, wielding the fearsome power of demons."
In the distant city skyline, a firebomb exploded in an air taxi tower, quickly turning the building into a conflagration. "I'm not sure," Blake admitted. "I think she might be a pyro though."
Realization hit, and they swiveled their heads at the same time. "HEY YANG, do you know a pyro who runs a faunus gang?" Ruby shouted.
A grunt of effort as Yang hurled someone into the crowd, sending the whole group to the ground so she had time to chat. "I think I went clubbing with her once? Gray hair in a pixie cut, like eight eyebrow rings, fox tail, and a helluva left jab?"
They both looked back to the woman on the broadcast, with her ebon curls falling over one eye and tumbling down to her bare-shouldered dress of crimson and gold. "No it's not her!"
"Ooh, did you find me someone new to hit the city with?"
"Don't worry about it!"
"Kay!"
"I miss Weiss," Ruby declared in the same tone of voice when it was time for team tea-and-cookie parties because she's the boss of them and no one's going to argue or else it's 4 AM wakeups for a week. "It was more fun when Weiss was on the scroll."
"If you want to ask pyro lady to get off our frequency, go ahead."
"Hey, if pyro lady's broadcast is messing us up, Weiss is getting it too. She's probably using backup frequencies!"
Blake obligingly began cycling her scroll through signals.
"—brothers and sisters of the White—" "—Fang declare we will not be ruled—" –any longer. The Grimm will be turned back, but—" "—by Rose, I know you're hearing this! Respond already, damn you!"
Blake waved across the scroll to Weiss. "Ruby's busy now, but I can take a message."
"Blake! Finally! Are Ruby and Yang still with you?"
Blake glanced over at her team leader, who was muttering as she scanned the street with Crescent Rose. "Do you really need that new television, Mister Looter?" Ruby asked. "I don't think you do. I think you need a warning shot through that window you're about to smash." CRACK went Crescent Rose. "Yeah, that's what I thought. Run along home, citizen."
Blake turned back to Weiss's glower. "We're all here. Some of us more than others."
"I'm glad you managed that much at least. What in the world were the bunch of you doing this whole time?"
Ruby perked up. "Aw, you were worried about us~! That's adorable, Weiss!"
"What? No I wasn't!"
"Oh, you can admit it," Ruby said, scrambling up and leaving Crescent Rose so she could kneel by Blake and the scroll. "Everyone here loves you too!"
Weiss threw her eyes at the ceiling; they flew high enough that she only narrowly remembered to catch them as they came back down. "Ruby. You're the unholy combination of a sniper and a blender, Blake's a ninja except when she's several ninjas, and Yang lights herself on fire because normal brawls are too boring; in what scenario does a White Fang riot even remotely threaten any of you?"
Ruby's eyes widened in slowly-dawning shock as her breath got stuck somewhere in her throat. Blake chuckled. "Even better than worry, Ruby—she thinks you can take care of yourself."
Weiss froze. "Oh no."
"Weiss praised me!" Ruby squeaked. "I'm so happy!"
Weiss hid her face in her hands in shame. "Oh dust, what have I done? She'll never shut up now!"
Lacking any physical Weisses on hand for appropriate treatment, Ruby did the next best thing and squeezed a big hug around Blake's side while kicking her feet behind her in the air. "Weissey likes me! She really really likes me! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
"What?" Weiss asked, looking at someone off screen, before turning back. "Hold on, you two. I have something I need to take care of." Ruby had time to go back to her sniper's post giggling and humming like a schoolgirl in love before the explosion came, slightly muffled, through the scroll.
"What do you mean they have rockets? You think I don't REALIZE this? THERE'S A REASON I'M THROWING BARRIERS UP, and believe it or not it isn't so you can SIT AROUND HAVING AFTERNOON TEA! I can find another way out of here anytime I like, you know. Do you want to hold the White Fang off yourself? No? THEN FINISH PREPPING MY BULLHEAD SO I CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEM! NOW GET BACK TO WORK!"
"White Fang," Ruby said, voice still lilting with happiness. CRACK.
"Having trouble?" Blake asked.
"Just the technicians prepping out transport." Weiss shook her head in disgust at the scarcity of good help. "Ugh, civilians. It's like they've never been shot at before."
Ruby considered that. "You know I'm not like reeeeeeal sure, but I don't think most of my neighbors on Patch started using live ammo when they turned eight like Yang and me did."
"Yang and I," Weiss corrected automatically. "But then how did they prove themselves worthy of keeping their place in the household? I realize not everyone could afford a top-of-the-line golem like I had to obliterate for my trial, but that's hardly any excuse to slack off training."
"I don't think I had to do that? Wait wait wait, no, it was probably that time Uncle Qrow jumped me with his scythe at 3 AM and tried to cut my head off for like an hour until I lured him into a death stalker's burrow in the forest and caved it in with a dust charge."
Weiss grunted as her barriers caught a particularly loud barrage of rockets. "Father had Winter do that to me a few times," she agreed.
"My parents got eaten by Grimm and left me at the edge of the forest outside the walls when I was seven," Blake reminded them.
A moment passed while they thought of an appropriate analysis to this, til Weiss eventually took a stab. "I admire their dedication to your training."
"If it works, it works," Blake said with a philosophical shrug. "I think I turned out alright."
And Ruby found something else interesting in the street below. "Aw, lookit, there are two civvie girls down there and one of them has a hurt leg and the other one is helping her walk and it's so cute how they're sticking together and being not-useless in the middle of the gutted city! Don't worry my pets, your little sister Ruby's on overwatch to cover your advance!"
"Anyway," Weiss began explaining, "There are a few White Fang firing rockets at the hangar from beyond the academy moat. I don't have anything with the range to shake them loose and no one's really free to go murder them, so I'm going to throw barriers over the bullhead and rush them with dust shots. IF, that is, these dolts can prep it on a time scale that isn't geological. I'll be by to pick you up shortly after that."
"Good work, Weissey! Your team leader is pleased!" Ruby squinted into her scope. "Hey, White Fang go home! Get away from my darlings!" CRACK. "Serves you right. Heey, don't run away, darlings! I can protect you!"
"Wait, hang on," Weiss cut in. "Before that fire woman started broadcasting and cut us off, you said the three of you were pinned down under fire. You've taken, what, three shots this whole time? You're just sniping for your personal amusement, aren't you?"
"Th-that's because the White Fang are all inside on the ground floor now! Yang's holding them off! She's got a chokepoint, she's our only hope right now! We're seconds away from turning into a bloodbath!"
"I can hear her shouting, Ruby! She's having fun."
One of Yang's clearer shouts came up the stairwell. "Whoo, look at that rebound! Ceiling to floor to ceiling! Now that's what I call losing your head!"
Lest this plummet into one of their usual fights that filled up their apartment and dragged on for time spans measured in entire chapters of "Ninjas of Love" ruined by their screeching, Blake stepped in to play peacemaker. "To be fair, happy Yang and pushy crowds go hand in hand."
"Fine, whatever. They still can't stop you going over rooftops, can they? Get over here and take out these rocket troops for me!"
Ruby violently jerked into the air, before flopping back to the ground on her back and pointing Crescent Rose straight up. She began firing shot after shot into the sky. "OH GOD IT'S A GIANT NEVERMORE! CAW! WE'RE UNDER ATTACK! WE'RE DOOMED, DOOMED I SAY!"
The glowering heiress on the other side of the scroll was not impressed. "Ruby."
"CAW CAW! A WHOLE SWARM OF NEVERMORE! OH DUST, I'LL NEVER AGAIN KNOW THE SWEET EMBRACE OF MY DEAR PARTNER UNLESS SHE SAVES US! WOE ARE WE! CAW!"
"Ruby!"
Ruby, suddenly launching in a burst of petals, almost knocked Blake over in a bid to grab the scroll and shove her face through its camera. "You're breaking up, Weiss! Kerrcherkerr, the fire lady must be jamming us! ccccchhhhhhkkrrrrr! Only you can save us!"
"Ruby Rose, I looted a whole crate of chocolate chip cookies from a supermarket for our supplies, but I swear I'm leaving it behind for the useless technicians if you hang up on me. Don't you dare Ruby, don't you—"
Ruby snapped the scroll off.
"Your sacrifice will be remembered and honored," Blake said as she caught the scroll from Ruby's over-shoulder throw.
"Nnngaaar! Why didn't she mention the cookies BEFORE she asked us to move? I can't break form after committing like that! Damn it!" She snapped her hood back down and took up her sniper's position again, muttering angrily as she shot out a few windows before settling down.
Eventually she hissed with something like actual anger, as opposed to the usual cheer inspired by the chance to for live field target shooting. "Heey, that guy tried to rob me once! He's one of Roman's suits!"
Huh. Someone… tried to rob Ruby? Blake hadn't heard that story. "And you didn't kill him?"
"He ran away…."
"Well, what is he doing now?"
"I bet he's thinking about going looting. What a naughty boy." She contained herself long enough to squeeze the trigger and follow through before leaping up and perching on Crescent Rose's shaft, arms raised, as the shot's echo bounced around the empty street. "AVENGED!"
She plopped back down on the roof. "I get you were saying though. About wondering about your purpose and all? Like, I told you I wanted to be a huntress so I could be a hero from all those books I grew up on. But I haven't got to kill even one dragon yet! What's up with that!"
"Exactly. No one told you you'd be doing pest control on fledgling Grimm for four years. I wanted to make a difference, make things better for the faunus. Huntresses and huntsmen are heroes, people look up to them. When people look at me, I don't want them to see an alley cat, I want them to see someone who fights off the Grimm. I enrolled because I wanted to remind humans that this is our world too and to convince faunus we can get somewhere, no matter how impossible it seems. But no one told me Ozpin and the military higher ups, they just don't care. They don't care about the social issues or that huntsmen and huntresses could do something about it. No one told me that half our potential is wasted by design. It's just a lot of 'patrol for Grimm, terrify and kill our enemies, sit on your ass and train until we need you again.' None of them care, and that means it's impossible to get anything done. It's ironic. For mobile small unit tactical elite forces, we get used like blunt instruments a lot."
"Blunt instruments?" Ruby nodded to her gunscythe. "If you want finesse, you can have a turn on Crescent Rose. You wanna snipe some terrorists? That'll make you feel better!"
"Eh, maybe later. It's tempting, though."
The building suddenly decided to practice its jitterbug steps and went shaking to the sound of several explosions. From the whoops and screaming coming from downstairs, it was all Yang's fault. Ruby and Blake looked at each other and shared a long moment of horrified realization.
For once, it was Blake who was angry enough to start shouting first. "YANG! Did you just fire four compressed burn dust shells into a crowd who can't even hurt you? Those are practically grenades!"
"Um, maybe?" Yang called back. "There are a lot of them! And they keep getting up! Or they did. Now they're not."
"Could you not? Wait until we're off the roof, at least! You're going to knock the building down!"
"YEAH YANG IT'S NOT STURDY LIKE YOUR BIG DUMB BOOBS! HAVE SOME FINESSE WILL YOU!"
"Sorry guys, my bad! I'll play nice with the rest of them!"
Ruby and Blake relaxed again as the fight below went back to the usual white noise of Yang shouting while she knocked bodies around. Though judging from the way Yang would hit a White Fang and the White Fang would get a solid crack from flying into a wall instead of colliding with another of their fellows, there weren't nearly as many opponents standing. After the explosive shells, Yang would probably say their offense was going to pieces, but that was because Yang was terrible in every way that mattered.
They didn't have much time to settle into the peace. A small mob of people flooded from a sidestreet into their line of sight—or two small mobs, intermittently shoving and pushing at one another, shouting the whole time. It hadn't developed into full-throated head-stomping yet, but it couldn't be very far off. Blake sat up sharply; she didn't have a sniper's scope, but even at this distance she could spot the distinctive black-and-white uniform of the White Fang. "Ruby?"
"The're all faunus, half White Fang, half in street clothes. It looks like they're arguing, and pretty mad about it."
"Hmm. If the White Fang are deliberately this far from the action, they're looking for something specific. Which means the locals are probably a cell from the old days before the White Fang splintered and turned violent, and the White Fang hoped to recruit them. I used to get assigned to settle a lot of those arguments."
"…But you're not a talker?"
Blake tapped Gambol Shroud's hilt. "It's amazing how persuasive knocking people out second story windows can be."
Bodies went flying as a new contender sprinted from the sidestreet into the middle of both groups, flailing about with a strength that was clearly aura-boosted. "Oh. Um. Huh," Ruby said. "They might get their chance to work together then, for a few minutes anyway."
"Why? What's happening down there?"
"Cardin Winchester just found them. And he has shitty trigger discipline. Mace discipline. Whatever."
"Ugh, Winchester!" Blake snarled, glowering at the too-small-to-see-anything-but-still-clearly-a-jackass figure flinging faunus about left and right. "He's the perfect example of what I'm talking about. Ozpin finds Winchester's views deplorable. Deplorable, I say. But does Ozpin care enough to stop training him? Of course not. The military doesn't even bother with that little disclaimer. They don't see any difference between him and me as long as we both follow orders and he doesn't actually go far enough to get caught shoving faunus students in front of King Taijitus on a mission."
"Yeah, he does suck like that," Ruby absently agreed as she rooted around in her supplies.
"We're both just weapons to be pointed wherever they want us. From differences in acceptance rates at the academies, they might even prefer Winchester's type to faunus. How am I supposed to be an example for young faunus when all I'm really showing them is if they work very hard and become the deadliest ninja, they get to work with a fucker like Winchester who wants to throw us outside the walls with the Grimm?"
Ruby snapped a magazine of valuable energy dust rounds into Crescent Rose. "White Fang," she called. CRACK. "Oh nooo, I slipped. Oh no, I'm slipping again." CRACK CRACK CRACK. She double-checked the damage through the scope, and grinned in satisfaction.
"What did you—let me see!" Blake pounced fast enough that Ruby had to let out a few petals as she rolled aside to let Blake take a look through Crescent Rose. Slowly, a smile like she'd just found her way into the cream spread over Blake's face, and she reached down to squeeze Ruby's shoulder. "You're alright, Ruby. I think I'll keep you."
Ruby replied by throwing a hug around her middle. "Yay! Blakey really likes me!"
And I found myself compelled to play with the idea a little. No real plans to expand beyond this, but I liked it enough to share.
OoOoO
Cries of fear and pain echoed in Vale, where they weren't drowned out by the sirens, the gunfire, or the clash of bodies. But that was all in the distance; the riot had mostly passed over this street in one of Vale's many shopping districts. The shops were barred, the cars were allowed to sit quietly in their parking spaces, and whatever workers and shoppers had been here either locked themselves indoors or made a dash for home when the news came. Oh, there were certainly a few bodies scattered here and there, but with the relative lack of other damages it was easy to pretend they'd just decided to lie down for a nap.
The only fellow moving about in the street was a short man with lean muscles, a black and white uniform, and a steel mask. From the way he was creeping between cover—fairly competently too—he didn't enjoy playing pretend. The point quickly became moot though, as the sound of a distant boom while he scampered along the sidewalk convinced him to do a sudden backflip through a car windshield.
"White Fang," Ruby called it, ejecting the spent casing.
"Nice shot," Blake said. "I liked the acrobatics."
The two were perched up on a rooftop watching the street. Ruby, hood down, had Crescent Rose's shaft at full extension for sniping and the scythe folded up and propped against the roof edge to help stabilize her shots. Blake lounged nearby, watching the show. There was an unusual amount of laughter and screaming wafting up from the stairwell, somewhat like a boxer with stress management issues who broke into the squeaky chicken toy factory, but neither of them seemed concerned by the caterwauling.
" ...peaceful are crushed by the strong and the forsaken are devoured by the Grimm. Faunus are trampled underfoot in a land that should be theirs by right, and faunus and humans both are chained and ruled by huntsmen..."
"Hey, Ruby. Do you ever wonder what you're doing here?"
Ruby answered without looking away from the scope. "Like, right now? I think I'm sniping off invaders and waiting for our ride to show up. Iunno, I could be wrong though."
"No, I mean more generally. Like, the mission."
"What, away from all the main fighting? That's bugging me too! Yeah, Ozpin's message said we'd get more orders at the meeting point, but why's it all the way out in Forever Fall? All the fighting's in the city!" Ruby sat up quickly. "Ooh, that reminds me, keep an eye on your situation. HEY YANG! YOU OKAY DOWN THERE?"
"Just peachy, little sis!" Yang shouted up the stairwell, followed by a crack and a clear tenor wail. "But I'd be better if any of these guys could hurt me!"
Ruby nudged her head toward the stairs. "Hey if you're bored you could go down and shoot over her shoulders. Firing into melee's always fun."
"...say they will keep you safe from Grimm, but they control your life with a steel grip stronger than even the old regime overthrown in the Great War. Which of you would build..."
Blake mulled it over a moment, going back and forth between doing something productive and getting to watch Ruby's marksmanship, before shrugging. "I think she's got it. And I didn't mean This Particular mission, more like… the Mission. Goals. As a huntress, as an order of huntresses and huntsmen. What you're doing with your life. Do you ever think about that?"
"White Fang," Ruby called. CRACK. She giggled, scoping out the results of her handiwork. "Oh dust, look! It's like a duck doing ballet with one leg! Who says you have to go for headshots? Gyehehehe~"
Blake couldn't help but smile fondly at Ruby's childlike delight. "Let none doubt that Ruby Rose and Yang Xiao Long are sisters."
"What do you mean?"
"Don't worry about it."
"Okay!" And Ruby went back to her scope.
"...dare travel where they say no? Which of you, no matter how charitable and necessary your task for the life of our people, would do it without emptying your pockets to buy their protection?"
Blake pointed with Gambol Shroud. "Take the lunatic on the broadcast. She knows what she wants. If this riot is hers, she's out there making a difference. Don't you ever wish you had that?"
"I wasn't listening, what's she want?"
Blake and Ruby both looked over at Blake's scroll, fully opened and propped up. The broadcast showed a vaguely familiar woman with orange fiery eyes that literally smoldered as her stare fixed the camera. Her voice, smooth as wet blood, came from lips quirked upwards with a smug, confident satisfaction that guaranteed any member of RWBY to meet her would either deck her across the face or follow her into hell on wings of flame howling battle cries. You know, it could go either way.
"Which of you dare look a huntsman in the eye when you pass in the street? When did you last see one in the streets? Their oath is to defend you, but they sit above you as gods, wielding the fearsome power of demons."
In the distant city skyline, a firebomb exploded in an air taxi tower, quickly turning the building into a conflagration. "I'm not sure," Blake admitted. "I think she might be a pyro though."
Realization hit, and they swiveled their heads at the same time. "HEY YANG, do you know a pyro who runs a faunus gang?" Ruby shouted.
A grunt of effort as Yang hurled someone into the crowd, sending the whole group to the ground so she had time to chat. "I think I went clubbing with her once? Gray hair in a pixie cut, like eight eyebrow rings, fox tail, and a helluva left jab?"
They both looked back to the woman on the broadcast, with her ebon curls falling over one eye and tumbling down to her bare-shouldered dress of crimson and gold. "No it's not her!"
"Ooh, did you find me someone new to hit the city with?"
"Don't worry about it!"
"Kay!"
"I miss Weiss," Ruby declared in the same tone of voice when it was time for team tea-and-cookie parties because she's the boss of them and no one's going to argue or else it's 4 AM wakeups for a week. "It was more fun when Weiss was on the scroll."
"If you want to ask pyro lady to get off our frequency, go ahead."
"Hey, if pyro lady's broadcast is messing us up, Weiss is getting it too. She's probably using backup frequencies!"
Blake obligingly began cycling her scroll through signals.
"—brothers and sisters of the White—" "—Fang declare we will not be ruled—" –any longer. The Grimm will be turned back, but—" "—by Rose, I know you're hearing this! Respond already, damn you!"
Blake waved across the scroll to Weiss. "Ruby's busy now, but I can take a message."
"Blake! Finally! Are Ruby and Yang still with you?"
Blake glanced over at her team leader, who was muttering as she scanned the street with Crescent Rose. "Do you really need that new television, Mister Looter?" Ruby asked. "I don't think you do. I think you need a warning shot through that window you're about to smash." CRACK went Crescent Rose. "Yeah, that's what I thought. Run along home, citizen."
Blake turned back to Weiss's glower. "We're all here. Some of us more than others."
"I'm glad you managed that much at least. What in the world were the bunch of you doing this whole time?"
Ruby perked up. "Aw, you were worried about us~! That's adorable, Weiss!"
"What? No I wasn't!"
"Oh, you can admit it," Ruby said, scrambling up and leaving Crescent Rose so she could kneel by Blake and the scroll. "Everyone here loves you too!"
Weiss threw her eyes at the ceiling; they flew high enough that she only narrowly remembered to catch them as they came back down. "Ruby. You're the unholy combination of a sniper and a blender, Blake's a ninja except when she's several ninjas, and Yang lights herself on fire because normal brawls are too boring; in what scenario does a White Fang riot even remotely threaten any of you?"
Ruby's eyes widened in slowly-dawning shock as her breath got stuck somewhere in her throat. Blake chuckled. "Even better than worry, Ruby—she thinks you can take care of yourself."
Weiss froze. "Oh no."
"Weiss praised me!" Ruby squeaked. "I'm so happy!"
Weiss hid her face in her hands in shame. "Oh dust, what have I done? She'll never shut up now!"
Lacking any physical Weisses on hand for appropriate treatment, Ruby did the next best thing and squeezed a big hug around Blake's side while kicking her feet behind her in the air. "Weissey likes me! She really really likes me! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
"What?" Weiss asked, looking at someone off screen, before turning back. "Hold on, you two. I have something I need to take care of." Ruby had time to go back to her sniper's post giggling and humming like a schoolgirl in love before the explosion came, slightly muffled, through the scroll.
"What do you mean they have rockets? You think I don't REALIZE this? THERE'S A REASON I'M THROWING BARRIERS UP, and believe it or not it isn't so you can SIT AROUND HAVING AFTERNOON TEA! I can find another way out of here anytime I like, you know. Do you want to hold the White Fang off yourself? No? THEN FINISH PREPPING MY BULLHEAD SO I CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEM! NOW GET BACK TO WORK!"
"White Fang," Ruby said, voice still lilting with happiness. CRACK.
"Having trouble?" Blake asked.
"Just the technicians prepping out transport." Weiss shook her head in disgust at the scarcity of good help. "Ugh, civilians. It's like they've never been shot at before."
Ruby considered that. "You know I'm not like reeeeeeal sure, but I don't think most of my neighbors on Patch started using live ammo when they turned eight like Yang and me did."
"Yang and I," Weiss corrected automatically. "But then how did they prove themselves worthy of keeping their place in the household? I realize not everyone could afford a top-of-the-line golem like I had to obliterate for my trial, but that's hardly any excuse to slack off training."
"I don't think I had to do that? Wait wait wait, no, it was probably that time Uncle Qrow jumped me with his scythe at 3 AM and tried to cut my head off for like an hour until I lured him into a death stalker's burrow in the forest and caved it in with a dust charge."
Weiss grunted as her barriers caught a particularly loud barrage of rockets. "Father had Winter do that to me a few times," she agreed.
"My parents got eaten by Grimm and left me at the edge of the forest outside the walls when I was seven," Blake reminded them.
A moment passed while they thought of an appropriate analysis to this, til Weiss eventually took a stab. "I admire their dedication to your training."
"If it works, it works," Blake said with a philosophical shrug. "I think I turned out alright."
And Ruby found something else interesting in the street below. "Aw, lookit, there are two civvie girls down there and one of them has a hurt leg and the other one is helping her walk and it's so cute how they're sticking together and being not-useless in the middle of the gutted city! Don't worry my pets, your little sister Ruby's on overwatch to cover your advance!"
"Anyway," Weiss began explaining, "There are a few White Fang firing rockets at the hangar from beyond the academy moat. I don't have anything with the range to shake them loose and no one's really free to go murder them, so I'm going to throw barriers over the bullhead and rush them with dust shots. IF, that is, these dolts can prep it on a time scale that isn't geological. I'll be by to pick you up shortly after that."
"Good work, Weissey! Your team leader is pleased!" Ruby squinted into her scope. "Hey, White Fang go home! Get away from my darlings!" CRACK. "Serves you right. Heey, don't run away, darlings! I can protect you!"
"Wait, hang on," Weiss cut in. "Before that fire woman started broadcasting and cut us off, you said the three of you were pinned down under fire. You've taken, what, three shots this whole time? You're just sniping for your personal amusement, aren't you?"
"Th-that's because the White Fang are all inside on the ground floor now! Yang's holding them off! She's got a chokepoint, she's our only hope right now! We're seconds away from turning into a bloodbath!"
"I can hear her shouting, Ruby! She's having fun."
One of Yang's clearer shouts came up the stairwell. "Whoo, look at that rebound! Ceiling to floor to ceiling! Now that's what I call losing your head!"
Lest this plummet into one of their usual fights that filled up their apartment and dragged on for time spans measured in entire chapters of "Ninjas of Love" ruined by their screeching, Blake stepped in to play peacemaker. "To be fair, happy Yang and pushy crowds go hand in hand."
"Fine, whatever. They still can't stop you going over rooftops, can they? Get over here and take out these rocket troops for me!"
Ruby violently jerked into the air, before flopping back to the ground on her back and pointing Crescent Rose straight up. She began firing shot after shot into the sky. "OH GOD IT'S A GIANT NEVERMORE! CAW! WE'RE UNDER ATTACK! WE'RE DOOMED, DOOMED I SAY!"
The glowering heiress on the other side of the scroll was not impressed. "Ruby."
"CAW CAW! A WHOLE SWARM OF NEVERMORE! OH DUST, I'LL NEVER AGAIN KNOW THE SWEET EMBRACE OF MY DEAR PARTNER UNLESS SHE SAVES US! WOE ARE WE! CAW!"
"Ruby!"
Ruby, suddenly launching in a burst of petals, almost knocked Blake over in a bid to grab the scroll and shove her face through its camera. "You're breaking up, Weiss! Kerrcherkerr, the fire lady must be jamming us! ccccchhhhhhkkrrrrr! Only you can save us!"
"Ruby Rose, I looted a whole crate of chocolate chip cookies from a supermarket for our supplies, but I swear I'm leaving it behind for the useless technicians if you hang up on me. Don't you dare Ruby, don't you—"
Ruby snapped the scroll off.
"Your sacrifice will be remembered and honored," Blake said as she caught the scroll from Ruby's over-shoulder throw.
"Nnngaaar! Why didn't she mention the cookies BEFORE she asked us to move? I can't break form after committing like that! Damn it!" She snapped her hood back down and took up her sniper's position again, muttering angrily as she shot out a few windows before settling down.
Eventually she hissed with something like actual anger, as opposed to the usual cheer inspired by the chance to for live field target shooting. "Heey, that guy tried to rob me once! He's one of Roman's suits!"
Huh. Someone… tried to rob Ruby? Blake hadn't heard that story. "And you didn't kill him?"
"He ran away…."
"Well, what is he doing now?"
"I bet he's thinking about going looting. What a naughty boy." She contained herself long enough to squeeze the trigger and follow through before leaping up and perching on Crescent Rose's shaft, arms raised, as the shot's echo bounced around the empty street. "AVENGED!"
She plopped back down on the roof. "I get you were saying though. About wondering about your purpose and all? Like, I told you I wanted to be a huntress so I could be a hero from all those books I grew up on. But I haven't got to kill even one dragon yet! What's up with that!"
"Exactly. No one told you you'd be doing pest control on fledgling Grimm for four years. I wanted to make a difference, make things better for the faunus. Huntresses and huntsmen are heroes, people look up to them. When people look at me, I don't want them to see an alley cat, I want them to see someone who fights off the Grimm. I enrolled because I wanted to remind humans that this is our world too and to convince faunus we can get somewhere, no matter how impossible it seems. But no one told me Ozpin and the military higher ups, they just don't care. They don't care about the social issues or that huntsmen and huntresses could do something about it. No one told me that half our potential is wasted by design. It's just a lot of 'patrol for Grimm, terrify and kill our enemies, sit on your ass and train until we need you again.' None of them care, and that means it's impossible to get anything done. It's ironic. For mobile small unit tactical elite forces, we get used like blunt instruments a lot."
"Blunt instruments?" Ruby nodded to her gunscythe. "If you want finesse, you can have a turn on Crescent Rose. You wanna snipe some terrorists? That'll make you feel better!"
"Eh, maybe later. It's tempting, though."
The building suddenly decided to practice its jitterbug steps and went shaking to the sound of several explosions. From the whoops and screaming coming from downstairs, it was all Yang's fault. Ruby and Blake looked at each other and shared a long moment of horrified realization.
For once, it was Blake who was angry enough to start shouting first. "YANG! Did you just fire four compressed burn dust shells into a crowd who can't even hurt you? Those are practically grenades!"
"Um, maybe?" Yang called back. "There are a lot of them! And they keep getting up! Or they did. Now they're not."
"Could you not? Wait until we're off the roof, at least! You're going to knock the building down!"
"YEAH YANG IT'S NOT STURDY LIKE YOUR BIG DUMB BOOBS! HAVE SOME FINESSE WILL YOU!"
"Sorry guys, my bad! I'll play nice with the rest of them!"
Ruby and Blake relaxed again as the fight below went back to the usual white noise of Yang shouting while she knocked bodies around. Though judging from the way Yang would hit a White Fang and the White Fang would get a solid crack from flying into a wall instead of colliding with another of their fellows, there weren't nearly as many opponents standing. After the explosive shells, Yang would probably say their offense was going to pieces, but that was because Yang was terrible in every way that mattered.
They didn't have much time to settle into the peace. A small mob of people flooded from a sidestreet into their line of sight—or two small mobs, intermittently shoving and pushing at one another, shouting the whole time. It hadn't developed into full-throated head-stomping yet, but it couldn't be very far off. Blake sat up sharply; she didn't have a sniper's scope, but even at this distance she could spot the distinctive black-and-white uniform of the White Fang. "Ruby?"
"The're all faunus, half White Fang, half in street clothes. It looks like they're arguing, and pretty mad about it."
"Hmm. If the White Fang are deliberately this far from the action, they're looking for something specific. Which means the locals are probably a cell from the old days before the White Fang splintered and turned violent, and the White Fang hoped to recruit them. I used to get assigned to settle a lot of those arguments."
"…But you're not a talker?"
Blake tapped Gambol Shroud's hilt. "It's amazing how persuasive knocking people out second story windows can be."
Bodies went flying as a new contender sprinted from the sidestreet into the middle of both groups, flailing about with a strength that was clearly aura-boosted. "Oh. Um. Huh," Ruby said. "They might get their chance to work together then, for a few minutes anyway."
"Why? What's happening down there?"
"Cardin Winchester just found them. And he has shitty trigger discipline. Mace discipline. Whatever."
"Ugh, Winchester!" Blake snarled, glowering at the too-small-to-see-anything-but-still-clearly-a-jackass figure flinging faunus about left and right. "He's the perfect example of what I'm talking about. Ozpin finds Winchester's views deplorable. Deplorable, I say. But does Ozpin care enough to stop training him? Of course not. The military doesn't even bother with that little disclaimer. They don't see any difference between him and me as long as we both follow orders and he doesn't actually go far enough to get caught shoving faunus students in front of King Taijitus on a mission."
"Yeah, he does suck like that," Ruby absently agreed as she rooted around in her supplies.
"We're both just weapons to be pointed wherever they want us. From differences in acceptance rates at the academies, they might even prefer Winchester's type to faunus. How am I supposed to be an example for young faunus when all I'm really showing them is if they work very hard and become the deadliest ninja, they get to work with a fucker like Winchester who wants to throw us outside the walls with the Grimm?"
Ruby snapped a magazine of valuable energy dust rounds into Crescent Rose. "White Fang," she called. CRACK. "Oh nooo, I slipped. Oh no, I'm slipping again." CRACK CRACK CRACK. She double-checked the damage through the scope, and grinned in satisfaction.
"What did you—let me see!" Blake pounced fast enough that Ruby had to let out a few petals as she rolled aside to let Blake take a look through Crescent Rose. Slowly, a smile like she'd just found her way into the cream spread over Blake's face, and she reached down to squeeze Ruby's shoulder. "You're alright, Ruby. I think I'll keep you."
Ruby replied by throwing a hug around her middle. "Yay! Blakey really likes me!"