Rwby: Child of Grimm: Volume 4

Chapter 8: Unexpected Visitors

Gwenn sits by herself, nervously drinking the tea prepared by Mrs Belladonna while Sun argues with Mr Belladonna near the entrance and Blake attempts to break up the argument.

[Kali] "so, how are you enjoying your tea dear?"
[Gwenn] "I um, it's quite delicious Mrs Belladonna."
[Kali] "please, call me Kali. Mrs Belladonna just makes me feel old."
[Gwenn] "I-is that so? My apologies..."
[Kali] "is something the mat- oh, they're back"

Ghira and Sun both sit down in a huff while Blake sighs and takes a seat as well.

[Ghira] "so, Why are you here young lady? You don't look like a Faunus."

Gwenn takes a nervous gulp of her tea that resounds through the room.

[Gwenn] "actually...I'm looking for someone. My brother."
[Ghira] "A Faunus?"
[Gwenn] "yes."
[Kali] "then that would make you-"
[Gwenn] "yes, I'm also a Faunus. My family ran into slavers when I was young and were forced to..."
[Sun] "to what?"
[Blake] "Sun!"
[Gwenn] "my mother cut off my tail."

The room falls into silence with the group all silently gasping at the sudden information.

[Gwenn] "ah! don't get me wrong, I understand her reasons for doing it. After they did that, since they didn't have time to do the same for my brother, they simply gave me to him and told him to run. As we were running, I only woke for a moment but I saw my mother and father smiling with tears in their eyes as they were dragged away."
[Blake] "that's so-"

A knock at the door interrupts the conversation.

[Ghira] "what now?"

Ghira and Blake both head to the door and open it cautiously.

[Ghira] "hm? Who are you?"
[???] "I'm here for Gwenn. I have information that she would want."

Hearing this from the other room, Gwenn rushes around the corner to see the informant.

[Gwenn] "R-rouge?"
[Rouge] "weren't expecting me?"

The red haired fox Faunus stands in the doorway with a nasty smile on her face. Ghira, having been unsure of whether to let her in or not, not wanting to judge on looks alone he decides to stand at the door in front of her, allowing her entry but not to the inner workings of the house.

[Gwenn] "w-what are you doing here?"
[Rouge] "you should be thankful. I've come to show you the way to your brother."
[Gwenn] "wha-you-why would you do that?"
[Rouge] "only out of the goodness of my heart."

Gwenn, Blake and Ghira stare at her in disbelief.

[Rouge] "ouch. Fine, I want answers only you can give me and you want info only I can give you. Temporary alliance, yeah?"
[Gwenn] "I..."
[Blake] "you're not actually thinking about going along with this are you?"
[Rouge] "what she wants to do is none of your concern, little miss runaway."

As Rouge insults his daughter, Ghira almost instinctively goes to slam the door in the impolite girls face.

[Gwenn] "I'll go."
[Rouge] "oh?"
[Blake] "what?!"
[Sun] "what's going on out here?"

Sun shows up behind Gwenn, cutting through the icy atmosphere as he holds a tea cup with his tail.

[Rouge] "Circus monkey?"
[Sun] "endangered species?"

Having just met, everyone can already feel the animosity between the two, masked by smiles.

[Kali] "oh? It appears we have a new visitor. Would you like some tea?"

Kali's question catches the fox Faunus off guard for a moment, immediately dispelling the tension once again. Rouge gives the mother of one a fake warm smile in return.

[Rouge] "no thanks. We really should be going if we want to make it in time."
[Gwenn] "in time for what?"
[Rouge] "your brothers execution~"
[Gwenn] "What?!"

The white haired girl rushes to Rouge and grabs her by the collar with a frantic expression.

[Rouge] "don't worry. It's not for another week. Though, if we don't leave now we might not be able to make it anyway."
[Gwenn] "then what in remnant are we waiting for?!"

As Gwenn goes to exit the house, Blake places her hand on the girls shoulder, holding her back.

[Blake] "are you sure you want to trust this girl?"
[Gwenn] "I don't have a choice. Thank you for the hospitality, all of you... I'll be sure to return the favour if I ever see you again."

After leaving the house and waving farewell to the Belladonna family and Sun, Gwenn turns to Rouge.

[Gwenn] "so, was this all just an excuse to get me alone so you could kill me?"
[Rouge] "ouch. Again. No faith."
[Gwenn] "you already tried to kill me once remember?"
[Rouge] "I remember that day very clearly. And don't worry, where we're going, we'll both likely be dead before we reach your brother."
[Gwenn] "what? Where exactly are you taking me?"

Rouge nonchalantly points further inland.

[Gwenn] "you're kidding."
[Rouge] "you want to save your brother don't you?"
[Gwenn] "haaa~ fine. Let's just go."
[Rouge] "Good choice snowflake!"
[Gwenn] "...Don't call me that."
[Rouge] "we'll see."

Meanwhile in the city of Vale, Glynda is busy at work, repairing damaged buildings and fending off Grimm with the help of a selection of huntsmen when a black haired boy with a black cloth covering one of his eyes and black hair with a white streak at the front walks up behind them. His tattered black tail coat flutters slightly in the breeze. His long black pants and black boots match the tail coats slightly tattered appearance, but what catches the eyes of many of the hunters the most, is his single yellow eye, the large bo staff strapped to his back and the sharp, white, bone protrusions coming from his left shoulder. Two of the hunters point their weapons at the boy, a man with a rifle and a woman with a large sickle.

[Tazem] "that looks dangerous. You sure you should be playing around with something like that?"
[Woman] "wha-?!"

The woman aims her swing at the foul mouthed boy but an unseen force seems to hold her arm at bay.

[Glynda] "that's enough."
[Tazem] "ah, you must be Glynda?"
[Glynda] "I take it that you were looking for me then?"
[Tazem] "kind of. See, I'm actually looking for a couple of kids called Ryu and Sol, or their team."
[Glynda] "oh? And why would you be looking for them?"
[Tazem] "Honestly? We have a shared enemy."
[Glynda] "go on?"
[Tazem] "well to begin with, the guy who killed my brother would be my main target."
[Glynda] "what? I'm not following."
[Tazem] "hmm, how do I explain it...?"
[Glynda] "first of all, tell me who you are."
[Tazem] "ah, right, introductions are a thing."

Tazem face palms before bowing before Glynda.

[Tazem] "Tazem. Formerly known as an ancient Gheist, also formerly known as Mirror of team DMNG from Mistral."

Tazems' self introduction bewilders the three huntsmen, that is until the two from before once again hold their weapons to Tazems face.

[Tazem] "mind telling the wonder twins to lower their toys before they get hurt?"
[Man] "like you're in any position to-!"
[Glynda] "lower your weapons."
[Woman] "what? But-"
[Glynda] "that's enough. If what you're saying is true, then I have no reason to hide anything from you."

The two lower their weapons as Tazem smiles appreciatively.

[Tazem] "thank you."
[Glynda] "unfortunately, I only know the location of Weiss Schnee for sure."
[Tazem] "that's fine."
[Glynda] "very well. You will find her at her current home at the schnee dust company's main headquarters in Atlas."
[Tazem] "thank you for the information."

Tazem turns to leave as the male huntsman regains his confidence.

[Man] "and don't come back-!"

The man goes wide-eyed as a scythes blade travels past his face with astonishing speed, piercing through the head of a Beowulf that had crept up on them during the conversation. Tazem smiles at the male huntsman as he turns and begins to walk away once again.

[Tazem] "All the way to Atlas huh? Maybe I'll catch a train."