Child of Omens: Ruination Part 2

Chapter 7: Surrounded By Fate

The shattered moon of Remnant hangs overhead as Team HRVN and Ruby sit around a campfire. Qrow went out earlier to visit Raven's grave, leaving Hawk to keep watch over the others. Hawk knew that Qrow needed space and time to process that Raven was truly gone. As the group sat around the campfire, they all constantly shifted their eyes towards Hawk in a worrying manner. They are still processing what he had turned into; even Pyrrha, who had seen it before, still couldn't fathom what it was. Hawk noticed how they watched him; he wished he could tell them, but he also knew they'd never understand, and they would ask him questions he didn't have answers to, but he also remembered what Dante told him. Sometimes he had to tell the truth, or they'd never trust him, and right now, he needed people he could trust.

Hawk: "Go ahead."

Nora: "Huh?"

Ruby: " Go ahead and do what?"

Hawk: "You have questions. Ask them." The others were silent for a moment before Ruby spoke up.

Ruby: "What was that thing? The thing you turned into."

Hawk: Taking a deep breath. "To answer that, I have to explain my semblance, my REAL semblance. My semblance allows me to manipulate and control "demonic energy" that is within my own body. I don't know how it got there, and I don't know what it is entirely, but all I know is that it can prove powerful if you can control it. It can manifest in several ways, either based on willpower, emotion, or intense training. I've found that emotion leads to more potent energy but less control. Energy focused through willpower is more precise and easier to manipulate. But power through extreme training is a mix, precise, potent power but highly volatile. The first time you saw it was the precise version, I had complete control over it, and it manifested through lightning. Now it is a mix of the two prior, the power I have now is extremely potent, but if I lose control...well, you don't want that to happen."

Ren: "That explains the red and black lightning, but what about that...creature?"

Hawk: "That "creature" was me. Allowing my demonic energy to flare up and engulf my body can transform me into that form. The Dark-Armor form I had originally followed the same principle."

Nora: "Did you always have that form and just chose not to use it?"

Hawk: "No, I only recently obtained this new form through means...I am not comfortable at this time to talk about." Remembering what he did to Dante.

Pyrrha: "Well, don't feel forced to do anything you don't want to, okay?" The others nod in agreement.

Hawk: "Thank you, all of you. I'm just going through a very difficult thing at the moment. But give me some time, and I'll be back to my normal self." They all turn as Qrow returns back to the campsite.

Qrow: Taking a seat next to Hawk. "Hey, I just want to say...I'm sorry for everything I did. I want you to know if you need someone to talk to or just be with, I'm here." Staring at the small canteen in his hands. "You know, a while ago, I made a little wager with Raven, where if she died before my alcoholism gets me, then I'd quit drinking. It was more of a joke on my part but looking back on it now. I think...I think this is what she'd want me to do. So-" Tossing the empty canteen into the fire. "-I'm holding my end of the deal so that I can make sure that I'll always be there for my family even if she can't be anymore." Placing a re-affirming hand on Hawk's shoulder.

The Next Day

The group heads through the forest, and luckily Hawk leads them through a series of shortcuts that'll keep them away from danger and cut their journey short, saving them a lot of time. By the early afternoon, they reach the city of Haven's gates. The group decides to split up as they need to find a place to rest and get Pyrrha new armor and equipment. Team HVRN walks through the city as Hawk does his best to try and hide his face. Even if the Branwen clan is destroyed, he still has a high bounty on him.