Destiny No More

Chapter 45

Pyrrha opened her eyes slowly, the dim morning light burning as she did so. It took her several long seconds to remember where she was, only managing to recall after noticing the familiar dorm room. She had made the mistake of trying to keep up with Qrow, again, and she was quickly regretting that fact.

Pulling the covers over her face, she tried to block out the light and go back to sleep, but it was a losing battle. She had always been an early riser, and trying to go back to sleep after waking up was a doomed effort. Not to mention the headache that she could feel pounding behind her eyes.

Sitting up with a groan, Pyrrha looked around the room. She had apparently made it all the way back to her own dorm, the room devoid of any decorations or furnishings aside from the single bed and a dresser to store her limited clothes in. She couldn't fully recall the last time she had stayed there, mostly having spent her time with team CFVY before leaving for her mission.

The mostly empty room felt cold, even if she knew that it was the same temperature as the rest of Beacon. Shivering, she climbed out of bed and stepped towards the bathroom. She hadn't bothered changing out of her clothes before crawling into bed, her inebriated brain clearly unable or uncaring. Walking up to the sink, she splashed some water in her face and looked at her reflection. She looked horrible, the bags under her eyes giving away her tiredness and the mess that was her hair would need time to be fixed properly.

Turning on the shower, she set it as warm as she could bear and slipped out of her dirty clothes. The steam helped to relax her muscles and, after a few deep breaths, cleared her mind. She could still feel the faint throbbing in her head, but she did her best to ignore it. Instead, she focused on the warm water running down her body and the memories of the day before.

She could remember her conversation with Qrow, about not giving up; an oddly hopeful message coming from someone who she had come to know as a pessimist, but she accepted it. She wanted to believe his words more than anything because she longed to see her friends again, and she knew that if she allowed herself to doubt she might lose the will to fight. That was something that couldn't be allowed.

Stepping out of the shower, she immediately missed the warmth, but set to the arduous task of getting dressed. Before long she was standing in front of her door, staring at the handle as she tried to compose herself. Hiding her emotions behind a mask had always been something she was good at, but her time in Beacon had steadily eroded that skill. Whether it was the difference in her body, or the fact she had become so relaxed while in the school, she couldn't say, but the result was all the same.

Those who knew her could read her, which meant she had to be careful. Her friends were already under enough stress as it was, and she didn't want to add to that, assuming that they even wished to speak with her in the first place. She'd yet to see them since revealing the truth, almost immediately leaving school grounds after talking with the Headmaster, so it was no surprise they hadn't spoken yet.

She still had to speak with the General. Pyrrha winced, remembering that he had asked her to see him after speaking with Ozpin. She hadn't done that, focusing on her own mental turmoil, and she hoped he wouldn't be disappointed. She planned to speak with him now, to find out whatever he needed, hopefully being able to last the night.

As her hand reached for the door handle she heard her stomach growl, and she finally noticed just how hungry she was. She couldn't recall eating since her meal with Team CFVY the day prior, and she very much doubted she had gotten any food while out with Qrow and Winter. The General would have to wait just a little bit longer; hopefully we would understand.