The Kybuck Clan Volume IV (RWBY X Star Wars)

Chapter Fifteen - Two Fronts

After mortally wounding Katooni, Mordred made his way to where Team RNJR was. They had just survived an encounter with Tyrian Callows with the aid of Qrow Branwen. As Team RNJR and Qrow set up camp, Mordred approached them.

Mordred: Thank Oum I found you!

Ruby: Mordred? What are you doing here?

Mordred: Did...did Katooni accompany you?

Nora: She did! She stayed behind at a village after sensing something! Where is she? She missed all kinds of fun!

At that point, Mordred wore a somber expression on his face. Everyone soon became concerned. 

Ren: What happened? Did you find Katooni?

Mordred: I...I hate to tell you this, but I'm afraid Katooni was killed by Grimm. 

Upon hearing this, an uneasy silence fell on the camp. Shock had taken hold. Ruby was taken aback by this. 

Ruby: K...killed? There's...there's no way!

Jaune: How do you know?!

As Jaune asked this, Mordred unhooked Katooni's Lightsaber from his belt and presented it to the group. They all knew that Katooni treated her Lightsaber with great care and that she would never leave it under any circumstances. Ruby dropped to her knees as tears began flooding her eyes.

Ruby: No....it....it can't be....

Mordred: I'm sorry I had to be the one to tell you this. I tried everything I could. By the time I reached to her, it was already too late. Her weapon was all I could salvage. 

Team RNJR all mourned for Katooni's apparent loss in different ways. Ruby was in a state of intense grief as she considered Katooni to be a close friend. Ren and Nora were silent in their grief and shock. Jaune punched a tree in frustration. 

Jaune: Why her?! Why do we always lose people?!

Mordred then knelt before a crying Ruby and offered a somber yet comforting smile. 

Ruby: I...I shouldn't have left her! I...I couldn't save Pyrrha. I couldn't save Katooni! I...I can't save anyone....

Mordred: You mustn't blame yourself for what happened to Katooni. 

On the surface, Mordred seemed like a grieving friend mourning the loss of Katooni. But on the inside, Mordred was enjoying every second of it. Seeing all this pain and grief for an act that he had committed brought great pleasure to him. 

Nora: What now? 

Mordred: Whatever mission you have, allow me to accompany you. 

Jaune: You really want to join up with us?

Mordred: I cared deeply for Katooni. She was a good friend and a worthy Huntress. I want to honor her by completing this mission. This is the least I can do to honor her memory. 

In that moment, Ruby was plagued by doubts. Before Mordred could comfort her, Qrow stepped in. 

Qrow: Cinder will answer for what she's done. That I can promise you. 

Mordred took note of Qrow's words. Mordred wasn't expecting to see Qrow in the group. He wondered how he got involved, despite his presence not being of great concern to Mordred. 

Qrow: What exactly happened, de Sable?

Mordred: I was on my way back to Vale to help with the restoration. I helped secure some workers to aid in restoring Beacon Academy. On the way there, I heard screaming. Next thing you know, I find Katooni....dead from her wounds. I gave her a proper funeral. 

Qrow took note of Mordred's words. He saw no obvious indications that he was lying. In that moment, Mordred had fooled Team RNJR and Qrow into letting him join them on their mission to find Cinder. Meanwhile in Oniyuri, Katooni slowly regained consciousness. She slowly got up and began walking. She only took a few steps as she collapsed to the ground. Katooni began to feel her strength slowly leave her. It seemed as if she was going to die. But she soon remembered something Petro said back at Beacon. 

Petro(Past): I'd follow you to hell and back. I'm pretty sure our Clan would've fallen apart if it wasn't for you guiding us the right path. Though I did help in that, but who's keeping track?

As those words rang through her head, Katooni found the strength to keep going. She laid on her back and placed her hand on her wound. Katooni closed her eyes and began to call upon the Force

Katooni: Must relax... reach out with my mind... reach inside... through the pain... to touch the Force! Knit bones... mend flesh... renew!

As she focused on the Force, Katooni began to slowly heal her wounds. While she was able to heal most of her wounds, she was still greatly weakened. The effects of healing her wounds with the Force had greatly strained her body. But now she had the strength to get up. As she took a few steps, she could still feel the lingering pain from her wounds, but it no longer crippled her.

Katooni: I...I need to stop Mordred before he hurts Ruby and the others...

Katooni took a moment to collect her thoughts. She knew that she would not be able to fight off Mordred in her current condition. Despite this, Katooni would not allow that to stop her in her efforts to find Mordred as well as Team RNJR and expose Mordred's true loyalties. Katooni had survived her mortal wounds. Through the power of the Force, Katooni had healed wounds that would've killed most. However, Katooni was weakened as well as unarmed. Katooni needed to play this carefully if she was to survive this encounter and save her friends. With time against her side, Katooni used the Force to sustain her as she rushed after Mordred.