𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿 [ʀᴡʙʏ x ᴍᴀʟᴇ ᴏᴄ]

Chapter 22

Klaus: When should we tell them?

Weiss chuckled softly, her eyes mischievous. "Let them figure it out themselves. They're not as oblivious as they think."

She squeezed my hand, teasing a little, "Besides, it'll be more fun watching their reactions when they finally catch on."

I raised an eyebrow, a grin creeping onto my face. "You're evil, you know that?"

She leaned in closer, whispering with a playful glint in my eye, "Only when it's for good fun." We both shared a quiet laugh, the weight of the moment lighter now

As I stood up to tend to the fire, I noticed that Ruby was nowhere to be found. The camp was quieter than usual. Her absence felt odd, especially since she usually couldn't stay still for long. I scanned the area, wondering where she had gone off to.

Klaus: Ruby? Hey, where's Ruby?

Weiss: What?

Zwei comes running into the room, barking. The commotion that Zwei made woke up the rest of the team and our professor.

Yang: Zwei?

Blake: What's going on?

Oobleck: Grab your weapons! Your leader may be in trouble.

We picked up our gear and followed Zwei out of the building. We ran behind the dog until it stopped infront of the hole. Ruby must have fallen in there.
Crescent rose was lying besides the hole

Yang: Ruby's scythe!

Blake: Oh no.

Weiss: Do you think she fell?

Oobleck: (Looks up) Fell?

Weiss: Down there.
Oobleck: (Looks down at the hole) Oh my. Of course! Of course, OF COURSE, OF COURSE!

Blake: What is it?

Oobleck: How could I be so stupid?!

Yang: Dr. Oobleck, what's wrong?

Oobleck: Mountain Glenn! Yes, an expansion of Vale that was inevitably destroyed by creatures of Grimm! Previously home to thousands of people! Working people commuting to the city, the main city! Developed a subway system to the inner city! Grimm attacks increased! Population in danger, now desperately searching for shelter! City evacuates into the metro tunnels and what do they find? The southeast quadrant of Vale is known for wild forests and deep caves!

Klaus: Listen Doc, can you spare us the history lesson for another time. We have to find Ruby.

Oobleck: My dear, we're not just looking for an underground crime network, we're looking for an UNDERGROUND crime network! And History is important for this

Blake: They've been working in caves?

Oobleck: No, no, Mountain Glenn was Vale's first serious attempt at expansion. It worked for a short period of time, thanks to an aggressive perimeter defense, and unique transportation; the city developed an elaborate subway system to carry citizens safely from the new territory into the main Kingdom! Sadly, without the many natural barriers Vale had to protect its borders, Mountain Glenn was doomed from the start! As the end drew near, the citizens of the territory made one last attempt at survival: They took up shelter beneath the city! In massive caves that they had cleared out for the subway. And they had cut themselves off from the surface!

Yang: An underground village?

Oobleck: In a matter of speaking, yes. A safe haven. Until... an explosion opened the mouth of another cavern, filled with subterranean Grimm. After that, the Kingdom officially sealed off the tunnels, creating the world's largest tomb. If Ruby is down there, (Oobleck deploys Antiquity's Roast) we must find her...