Year of Valor: Aftermath (RWBY RP)

An irritated sigh disturbed the somewhat tranquil nature of the swamp as Ember lumbered through the wilderness. "Why in the hell did people decide to live in a swamp of all places?" Ember grumbled to himself, idly batting a stray vine out of the way. "Was it the lovely view? The homely smell? Or maybe it was-" So involved with his ranting Ember failed to notice the roots of a nearby tree poking up through the marsh that made up the pathway through the swamp. Tripping over the root, Ember fell face first into a murky brown puddle. Suddenly a low growl rumbled from Ember as he slowly raised himself back to his feet.

Shakily clenching his fist, Ember continued his journey through the swamp with a look of unadulterated rage on his facial features, glowing orange eyes glaring from beneath his shaded glasses. "This better work out or else." He growled to himself as a small village appeared in the distance.

Entering the village, Ember, who was now cooled down from his moment of anger, glanced carefully at anyone who passed him by. 'A village full of the worst type of people in Remnant and here I am walking through without a care' An amused smirk graced his features, 'Master would be proud'. Suddenly the smirk turned into a frown at the thought of his master, 'Where the hell is he anyway? The hut was abandoned and for weeks from the look of it, and there's no one else a hermit could go in this shithole'.

Sighing as he entered a small Inn, Ember walked up to the counter and gave, what he thought, to be a charming smile to the young teen working the counter. In actuality though, Ember, with his current thought process being what it is, gave a shaky grimace mixed with him baring his teeth causing the teen to back up. "Excuse me, don't suppose you have a roo-" Ember was interrupted as a pair of keys were thrust in his face. Blinking in confusion Ember slowly took to offered keys and gave a small nod of gratitude before making his way up the creaky staircase.

After stripping off his armour, Ember ungracefully flopped onto the brick-like mattress and grunted. "Would it kill them to try and make the place seem welcoming?" The male grumbled to himself as he reached for the sunglasses covering his eyes. Hesitantly removing them, Ember blinked as the lighting grew brighter revealing the dark rings around his eyes, causing the strange colour of them to stand out more. Gradually closing his eyes as sleep began to take over him, Ember's last thoughts were overtaking as the sounds of distant howling made itself known from the recesses of his dreams.

 

A drop of rain landed on Yun's nose, waking her up. Stretching carefully, she looked at her surroundings. All was clear and well, but the damage had still been done. She left home in hopes of bringing back Beacon, being a lone wanderer. Some part within her, she wondered about her teammates.

Rose...Luta...Ember... she never thought that she would worry about or miss them until they became a team.

She hopped from the branch she had been sleeping on and landed gracefully on the ground with her two feet. She reached for one of her fans strapped to her waist, as it became a habit for her ever since she left the comforting arms of home. Her supplies were depleting, and as much as she didn't want to trouble anyone, she found the need to rely on people more. Yun began her long trek that had started a week ago and when will it end? She did not know.

 

Paluna had been traveling for months. After seeing the ruin that Beacon was in, she knew she had to go somewhere. At first, she was just running to get away from beacon and the grimm. After about 3 or 4 days she decided to go back to Atlas to meet her parents. She didn't realize how long that journey would take by foot though. She had passed through villages, met some kind people, and even helped a couple civilians from grimm attacks.

Today was finally the day she arrived in Atlas. everything looked so cozy and familiar compared to her home in Beacon. She wanted to reunite with her parents and maybe stay with them for a while. Hopefully no one would get killed today...

 

A groan escaped from Ember as he slowly opened his eyes, wincing as the sunlight hit him for the first time that day. Blinking a few times to clear his groggy vision, he quirked an eyebrow in curiosity as he saw an obviously shaken teenager standing in front of him with a hand reached out. Suddenly Ember's eyes narrowed in annoyance as his orange eyes seemed to glow menacingly,

"Why are you in my room?" He growled out, causing the teen to step back in fear and stammer in response, "Speak clearly!" Ember barked as he stood to his full height, towering over the other teen.

"You-Uh-Well you kinda'... Kind of forgot to pay last night" The teen eventually got out. In response to this Ember clenched his fist,

"You mean to say... That you came into my room, while I was asleep might I add, about payment?" Ember spoke through clenched teeth, after a hesitant nod from the teen Ember sighed as he reached for some spare lien and gave it to the boy, "Is that enough? Good now leave." Ember commanded as the boy fled like a bat out of hell, slamming the door behind him. Reaching for his armor, Ember grumbled about nuisances as he carefully placed the mountain of steel back over his body. Gripping SusiHammas, Ember hummed in consideration, "Think you're due for an upgrade, girl." Ember murmured consideringly before frowning, "Although don't think I've enough Lien left for that."

Releasing another sigh, Ember sheathed the weapon at his side before leaving his room and the inn. Stepping onto the dusty streets, Ember glanced around before placing his shades back onto his face, smirking as he felt them back where they belonged. Walking across the street Ember eyed an old building that had patrons streaming through the doors, and in a place like this, it could only mean one thing.

"A tavern huh?" Ember murmured before pushing through the doors catching a few of the patron's attention for a small amount of time before they went back to focusing on their drink. Walking up to the bar Ember signaled the middle-aged man on the other side. As he came over Ember observed the man, tall and lean with a flighty look to him, not someone who fought often and preferred to avoid conflict if possible. 'Perfect' Ember thought as the man gave him a wary look.

"A bit young to be drinking don't ya' think?" The man spoke out in a slightly gruff voice, whether it was an act or not Ember wasn't certain, nor did he care.

"Good thing I don't plan on drinking then, I'm looking for information." At this, the man narrowed his eyes and began to respond, but Ember cut him off. "Don't try to pretend, I know you know what I want, it's impossible for you not too." Of course, Ember was bluffing but the man didn't need to know this. "Now tell me, have you seen an old wolf fanus pass through recently?" Hearing the negative response from the man, Ember growled in annoyance, "Of course you didn't, old man wouldn't have let himself be seen if he came through. How about this, what happened to the hut up through the swamp?" Suddenly the man appeared frightened and began to back away, or he would have if he hadn't been grabbed by Ember.

Pulling him close, Ember snarled, "Tell me what you know, now!" He commanded, suddenly the man began to spill the beans.

"It was a Grimm! A huge one, it just came from nowhere at began attacking everything! We barely kept it away from the village!"

Narrowing his eyes, Ember questioned the man for the direction the Grimm left in and after getting hesitant directions Ember shoved the man away and sprinted out of the tavern. Running through the village Ember growled in irritation, "God Damn it old man, what the hell have you got yourself in now?"

 

When Paluna was on the front step of her home, she hesitated. Would her parents be happy, mad, sad to see her back? She had so much to tell and show them. She knocked on the door.

After a few seconds her mother opened the door. She immediately hugged Paluna. Her mother sat her down on the couch and Paluna told her everything about Beacon.

"So would you mind if I stayed here for a bit..? I didn't really know where else to go..."

"Why of course...You're always welcome here! Maybe we can get you into Atlas academy, but lets worry about that later. you go get some rest."

It was pretty late into the night. Paluna went into her old room and decided to get some sleep.

 

Releasing a grunt of pain, Ember gripped the skull of the Beowolf that had latched its jaws onto his arm before ripping it off and throwing the creature away where it slinked back into the shadows with a snarl. Breathing harshly Ember glared at the pack of Grimm that had surrounded him, by his feet lay his shattered glasses showing his orange eyes to the world fully. With a roar one of the Beowolves charged at Ember, its jaws snapping at him as he met the charge with SusiHammas, the blade's new scratches reflecting the light of the sun into the creature's eyes as it clashed with its claws. With the claws hooked around SusiHammas's blade, Ember used his weapon to throw the Grimm away.

"Is that all you've got?" Ember shouted in a challenge, one that was accepted by the horde. As one they charged at the lone huntsman who grinned viciously, switching SusiHammas into its shotgun form which he proceeded to fire into the crowd. As a few dropped from the onslaught the rest quickly leaped onto Ember's position who grimaced as another latched itself onto his shoulder. Gripping its neck Ember flipped it off his back with a shout, "Get off!" Slamming the beast into the ground Ember grinned as his orange eyes seemed to pulse, reflecting the emergence of his semblance. With a roar of exertion, a pulse of aura ripped out from Ember launching the Beowolves that surrounded him back to the treelines. Panting in exhaustion, Ember watched the horde warily as they circled him in the darkness. "What are they-" Before he could finish, he froze as he heard a monstrous roar from inside the swamp that he had been attacked.

'Old Man, you're going to have to wait. I'm going to be busy for a while' Ember thought morosely as he returned SusiHammas back to its blade form and prepared for another battle. Suddenly, Ember's eyes widened as he took a step back in fear as a monstrosity of a Grimm crept out of the shadows. Twice as a large as a normal Beowolf and even more armored, Ember tensed as orange eyes met crimson before glancing down to his arm where the armor appeared mangled, 'Oh this is going to suck'

With a roar, beast and man charged at each other and steel met bone.

 

The forest trail felt eerily peaceful for a road less traveled. Yun wasn't sure what to make of it, but she was damn well sure she couldn't afford to let down her guard, not after what happened.

Six months felt like a blink of an eye, the fall of Beacon felt too surreal, but the deaths of two of her brothers and some important members in her family drove the fact home that the disastrous events had indeed left a mark.

Hearing the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind, she quickened her pace, in hopes of avoiding any oncoming danger. However, her hopes were immediately dashed when she heard, and felt something slice against the side of her right shoulder. Wincing, she looked forth and found a feather-like projection of a spear. Next, she turned around and looked up, only to be face to face with a Nevermore coming her way!

"Oh for the love of---" She cursed as she threw one of her fans back as she made a dash. She wasn't sure how long she could hold out in a run, as she looked for an opening to gain height.The Nevermore's screech was heard loud and clear across the woodlands as it kept its pursuit.

(I really don't know how far to progress with this. So I hope this is okay.,)

 

"I was right, this does suck" Ember shouted as his back slammed into a tree, embedding himself into the wood as splinters shot outwards from the impact. Wincing as he pulled himself out of the trunk, the red-haired huntsman glared forward at the hulking beast that prowled in front of him. "I've barely been able to touch it, and it's only an alpha!" Growling to himself as he stumbled back onto his feet, Ember gripped the hilt of SusiHammas tightly before charging forward, the Alpha meeting him with its own charge and roar.

Slamming the side of his blade into the Grimm's head it was driven off-course from the impact. Despite this the creature was still able to land a strike on Ember, pushing him back where he dropped to one knee in exhaustion. "Damn it, I don't think I can win.." Ember trailed off as his vision grew blurry and the sounds of howling made themselves known from his mind. 'Crap, not again' Ember thought as he regained his focus in time to meet a swipe from the Alpha with his weapon. Unprepared for the sudden impact though, Ember tumbled onto his back with the Alpha hovering over his down body. Pulling his legs back, Ember launched a kick into the snout of the Grimm, stunning it enough for him to quickly grab SusiHammas and fire a few rounds into it. Staring dizzily at the creature as it collapsed, Ember sighed in relief.

Shakily returning to his feet, Ember tensed as he heard a growl behind him and after turning, he cursed. The battle with the Alpha made him forget about the horde, a horde he had no hope in defeating as he was now. 'That leaves one option then' He thought, narrowing his eyes he took a step back. In response, the horde stepped forward. Suddenly Ember launched backwards, turning in mid-air, he began to sprint the moment he landed on the ground. Almost tripping a few times Ember was quickly able to climb a tree with the help of SusiHammas. Lying in the tree with a few Beowolves prowling around him in search, Ember began to drift back into slumber.