Qrow.

Chapter 71 | Suicide Forest

Felix walked down the steps outside the manor just as Kettil was returning home. He stopped him halfway, informing him, "Master Knight has a new policy. No one enters the manor smelling like Earth or humans. You'll have to wash off first, but Croc said you can go in through the sewers and wash off in his shower."

"Fine." He groaned.

"Hey, could be worse." Felix responded. He extended his hand out, clearing his throat.

Kettil raised his eyebrow, "What?"

"Hand it over." He received a glare for the small creature. Felix narrowed his eyes, "Now." 

Hesitantly, he unclipped a steel container from his hip. Kettil didn't want to give up his newest find, but he knew he'd get punished if he gave too much attitude to Master's assistant. In a way, Felix was now an extension of Jasper. He took the item from Kettil, having to use a little force to do so.

"Thank you. The entrance to the sewers is down there, to the left." He spoke as he pointed in the proper direction, "Once you smell better, I have a reward for you from Master."

That made it a little better but he was still pretty pissed he had to give up such a great find. Granted, he knew his mission was to retrieve the item for Master. He should've have expected to get to keep it. Kettil stomped his way down the steps to go wash off.

"What is that?" BK asked, having been sat quietly on nearby rocks.

"Kiapolo's heart. His spiritual one, of course. It was buried deep within ruins on the Hawaiian islands. If it exists, though, Kettil can steal it. That's why he's here. He's the most skilled thief alive." Felix explained.

"Hm, that's why." He replied, "I've noticed that everyone here has a purpose. Jasper didn't just pick random people for his army."

He scoffed, "You don't live as long as him without mastering the art of war. Trust me, all his pieces have been picked carefully."

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A light fog bathed an overgrown forest. There wasn't a living being for miles. Yet, the feeling of souls filled every inch of soul. When Thursday closed his eyes, he could still hear their screams muffled beneath the roots of thousand year old threes. Earth, though lacking an entire supernatural existence, did have hot spots and black holes of dark energy. 

This place was among one of the worst. Nestled in Japan's rich history, many humans have met their end in this forest. That is why they call it the Suicide Forest, after all. It seemed like a fitting place for Sixteen to hide. According to Knox, death followed him even when he didn't ask for it to. If this is where people came to die anyways, at least he couldn't blame himself for leaving corpses in his path.

There weren't any humans for miles. Just in case there was, Thursday didn't want them to catch him. He kept his wings and horns concealed. As far as anyone else would be concerned, he was just a normal human. He walked across the thick, moss covered roots, listening for another sign of life. The only other bodies he could find were dead. Every so often he ran across a human that had hanged themselves, their flesh rotting away.

"It is sad," He spoke to seemingly no one, "That humans value life so little. Wouldn't you agree?" Thursday glanced over his shoulder to the purple shadow in the distance. 

He kept his distance. It'd been so long since he'd spoken to another being, he wasn't sure if he still had a voice. "Yes." He responded, "Please go."

"Why would you want to be alone? Do you dislike others so much that you would rather lay beside sickly dead humans every night? Down in the dirt, without anyone to share your misery with you?"