The REDS of war

Volume Four Chapter Six

An air horn sounds loudly. Cindy watches an offramp being lowered on the ship bearing herself, Canary Yell, Blake Belladonna and Sun Wukong to allow passengers to disembark. The town has many small buildings and homes set among dunes and palm trees. The town bell that has been ringing is shown in its belfry.

The four make their way from the deck to the offramp. Blake proceeds without pause while Sun stops to look at the town. Canary meanwhile places a hand on Cindy's shoulder, she lowers her hood reveal a torn cat ear and one visibly but lowered to blend in with her black hair.

"Huh." Sun mutters watching everyone around him.

Several Faunus in summer wear meander casually at the dock, some waiting for friends or family among the new arrivals. The dock is also a commercial area, with mobile kiosks selling food and other wares. It is a relaxed atmosphere on a sunny day.

Sun is looking around while he and Blake disembark and walk through the market area together. Cindy turns to Canary who shakes his head.

"We'lol find your folks after we get Blake to hers. Trust me I'm already scared to meet you parents again." Canary shivers at the thought which earns him a slight elbow from Cindy. The two rejoin with Sun & Blake soon after.

Sun turns still watching and walking with the group. "I've never seen so many Faunus in one place!"

Blake hums. "This is the one place everyone can feel safe, no matter who or what they are."

"Wow, sure is, uh, crowded, huh?" Sun says.

Blake nods. "Yes. Yes, it is."

Sun dodges a Faunus carrying a box. "Is it always so... cramped?"

Canary sighs. "Well, when you try and take an entire species and put them on an island that's two-thirds desert, yeah, it tends to be cramped."

"What! You guys have that much more space? Why waste it? A little desert never hurt anyone!"

Canary scoffs. "It's not like the desert in Vacuo, Sun. The wildlife here is more dangerous than most other regions."

"So, they give us a terrible island, in the corner of Remnant, to try and shut us up?" Sun asks for clarification.

"That's a pretty good summary, yeah."

"Huh. Jerks."

Blake turns back. "We try to make the best of things."

The group pause in their walk to look at the view of the town the road affords. The road they are on goes downhill and to the side, bordered by palm trees and homes that have either canvas or wood roofs. The vista of palm trees spreads out to the edge of mountainous dunes in the distance. Right in the middle of all this is a large house with an open courtyard that the road appears to lead directly to. The house is at least three stories and is the only building in the whole area with a sophisticated roof.

Canary turns to Blake. "We'll, looks like they added that library after all." Cindy nudges Canary and points to a house near the large mansion. She looks up to him pleadingly but he sighs. "Fine, but you need to be at the Belladonna's tomorrow." Canary says quietly as Cindy begins walking away. Canary turns to Blake. "We'll see you tomorrow, I've got to go meet with Cindy's parents... again." He chuckles slightly before turning and walking after Cindy.

Sun not hearing them stares at the city. "Whoa..."

"This, is Kuo Kuana." Blake says turning to Sun.

"It's... beautiful. I take it all back. This place looks great! Why would anyone ever want to leave?"