Reaper's War

Chapter 9: Never Truly Alone

A/N: Heeeey guuuuys! I am so so so so sorry about not updating this sooner. This chapter was absolute pain in the arse to write. I just didn't know what to do with Ruby. Thankfully, my best friend Pookie helped me out. So thanks duuude!

Anyways, without further ado, chapter 9! Enjooooy!

The Port of Arden. A medium sized settlement in the North East of Solitas and a few months of non-stop walking. The journey to this town was an arduous one with many cold, icy days and even colder nights where it was almost impossible to get a fire going.

Ruby vaguely recalled reading about it in an old history book back at Beacon. Something about a boring assignment requiring knowledge of the different settlements, big or small, around Remnant. She could hardly remember it was that boring but she now thanked the brother Gods for the knowledge she gained from that tedious task.
'Back when things were easier and simpler.' She thought, idly.

One piece of knowledge she took away from it though was this Port of Arden. It was possibly one of the farthest settlements from the rest of Remnant that was feasible for the young Reaper to travel to on foot. The biggest advantage of the town was the fact that it was decently separated from other forms of civilisation where she could keep to herself and not hurt anyone, especially her team.

She sighed at that, the errant thought of her dream dredging up emotions and feelings she didn't want to feel.
Noticing she'd stopped walking and began to shiver, the young faunus reached into the pouch on her belt, retrieving a map of Solitas she'd acquired from her father's cabin.

Unfolding the page and briefly looking over it, she sighed again before glancing up at her surroundings, trying to figure out exactly where she was.
The wolf faunus spotted several things that were conveniently labelled on the map. It certainly made it easier to navigate the frozen forests and icy tundra.

Folding it back up and placing it in her belt pouch, she was just about to continue on when a shaking bush caught her attention.
Cautiously, Ruby made her way over to it, grabbing Infernal Rose from her back and readying it for whatever may be there. She slowly stepped around the bushes and came face to face with a tiny, shivering ball of pitch black fur.
She quickly glanced around, ensuring there was nothing else hiding and bidding it's time to attack.
Finding nothing out of the ordinary, the young Reaper turned her attention back to the small ball of fur. She bent down and picked up a stick with her free hand and poked the tiny creature lightly.

It let out an almighty Yelp and tried to scurry further into the bushes, to no avail. Ruby immediately dropped the stick and quickly put away her weapon, crouching down and warily reached out.

The small creature let out several pathetic whimpers and whines when the wolf faunus gently picked it up.
"Well, aren't you adorable." Ruby said to the small creature, gazing into its glowing red eyes.

The little fuzz ball looked to be some sort of Grimm with its black fur, crimson eyes and patterned, armoured mask. The only things different from other Grimm was its size and the fact that it's markings were black instead of red.

Carefully checking the unusual creature for any injuries, she felt a small, warm tongue lick her hand.
"Why? Why do that? Aren't you scared I'll hurt you?" She questioned the dog-looking Grimm, not expecting an answer. To her surprise, it responded with a noise much like a puppy and licked her hand again.
"Take that as a no." She sighed and stood, tucking the puppy-like Grimm her arm in her black cloak.

Another glance around and she groaned, now only noticing the encroaching darkness of night. The young faunus needed to find shelter before the sun completely set.
The further North she travelled, the less time the sun stayed up. Currently it had only been daylight for around seven hours, meaning Ruby was at least a day or two away from the Port of Arden.