The Last Hunter
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Illithid behind the Curtain: The call to Adventure
🕑 Added 2024-04-09 16:08:08 +0000 UTCIt was strange, knowing that Ruby saw no distinction between any form I took and the Illithid one I was currently using. Right down to the way she squirmed before my eyes, her emotions and thoughts everywhere before I gently patted her hand and leaned slightly down to look at her in the face.
"Breath, child. Relax. Now... What can you share?"
Ruby did so, her thoughts calming down as she spoke quietly. "This morning. All of us were staying at dads place. Then I went to get everyone for breakfast, who remained and Blake and Yang were gone." Her eyes watered, as she closed them and sniffed.
"I didn't even get a letter... First Weiss is gone, then Blake vanishes and my sister-!"
I floated her into the air, gently pushing her up and down. Despite herself, Ruby finally giggled and wiped her face, letting out an expression meant to be sour.
"Aunty Em, I'm not five anymore. That doesn't work on me."
"Shall I stop then?" I asked idly, and she paused, conflicted without me needing my psionic powers to determine such before she slumped. ".... No. But I'm still hurt and both our teams are broken. What do I do?"
I thought carefully... Ruby, Ren, Jaune, Pyrrha, Nora were all safe and sound. Weiss was in Atlas, Yang and Blake were gone.
"It seems to me..." I said slowly, thoughtfully. "It seems to me, that you need to think on your priorities."
"Priorities?" Said Ruby, suddenly curious as she sensed a new lecture like we used to have and she paid attention, as I gently set her down onto a chair and floated back and forth myself in mimicry of pacing.
"Indeed. As it is, you have a number of choices. All of which, lead to uncertain futures. Your sister is missing-your teammate, likewise. Both paths' will take you upon the road to uncertain ends, and not even I will know the end to them."
At the least, I made it a bit easier. Lionheart was dead by now, and I felt a brief rush of self-satisfaction at that. No betrayal from him anytime soon, as far as I was concerned. Beyond that, Raven would be keeping her bandits in check and through them, I had a new weapon to raise against most conventional as well as use them as a rest point for my more hidden agents. Not that I could spare most of them, not with my city in such a state and the Faerun factions at large in Vale right now.
Despite coming to our aid, tensions were simmering as usual between such opposite forces and the last thing I wanted was another war, to draw the Grimm back to Vale. No one would win then, save for Salem. Putting my issues out of mind, I continued.
"I can at least tell you where each would be. Weiss Schnee currently is sequestered in Atlas, trapped by family bonds and a sibling she loves, sick and on life support. Yang on the other hand, travels via the old mountain paths, heading for Haven if she continues on this road."
"Can't you teleport me to her?" Asked Ruby and in return, I nodded. "I could. But I won't. Why do you think that is?"
Ruby to her credit, didn't cry foul or anything of the sort, instead thinking carefully before she asked. "... Is this a test?"
"If so, what would be the point of it?" I asked, curious as I floated around her, my tentacles flicking about aimlessly as Ruby thought harder.
".... I don't know." She finally confessed, frustrated and I nodded in approval. "Very good."
"How? I didn't say anything!" Ruby said, her frustration and stress showing as she cried out. "I don't know what you want, or who to go for or... If I'm even making the right choices at all."
"That, little rose." I said firmly as I began to morph, transforming back to my Esmerelda form-the better to take her hand and squeeze, as I smiled wryly.
"That, is wisdom as well. To know when you have no idea what to do, or how best to do it. Its a wisdom you cannot find here, but rather out there." I gestured to the window, to the world beyond and Ruby sniffed, slowly growing quiet before her eyes widened in understanding.
Almost quietly, she spoke aloud. "Magic isn't a shortcut-it pays, to go the extra mile."
I smiled proudly and Ruby thought before she looked at me.
"I'm going to talk to my friends. When we're ready to leave, will you help us?"
My answer was immediate.
"Of course, I will."
====
"This meeting will come to order!" Proclaimed Ruby aloud as she rapped a small work hammer on the table.
Nora let out a cheer, Icarus screeching out loyally in turn as Pyrrha smiled and Ren focused entirely on Ruby.
Jaune, looking a little dazed from his work helping the reconstruction just blinked as he spoke. "Ruby, you never even said what we're here for."
"We're getting back our teammates." Said Ruby, eyes narrowed as everyone focused more intensely before Nora cried out.
"So, what's the play?"
Ruby grinned and slammed down a map, unfolding as she spoke. "We split into two teams. One half follows Yang and Blake, the other half goes to break Weiss free from her family and find out the deal there! Once we've got both, we can contact Aunty Em and claim asylum! No one's got any extradition treaties with Quadling City yet, so it'll buy us time to deal with both their problems!"
They crowded around, contemplative before Pyrrha spoke up. "I could use my contacts in Haven. Technically, I'm a little famous so it should open some doors for us. But I could also use those same contacts in Atlas, get us close to the same circles that the Schnee operate."
"And closer to Weiss. Good one Pyrrha." Said Jaune, pleased as Pyrrha turned slightly away, obscuring her features to Icarus's eyeroll.
Ruby glanced to Ren and Nora, pausing at the somber look in both their eyes. They stared at the map, Ren's fingers tracing a path before he looked up and spoke firmly. "Nora and I have experience in this part of the world. We can act as guides, in addition there's... Something we need to do as well."
Ruby nodded slowly, frowning as she looked at the map, contemplative before Jaune spoke up.
"Do we have to split up?"
Everyone looked at Jaune, who flushed and spoke. "I'm just saying, Weiss trapped now? Bad as it is, we'll know where she is and that she'll be relatively safe. But the road to Haven is dangerous, not just with Grimm lately either. No telling how magic changed things in the aftermath of the White Fang's mass summoning and if we split, we'll be down some of our more powerful members. I say we all go the Haven route. Once we pick up Yang and Blake, we'll be a force to be reckoned with when we break out Weiss."
They stared at him, Jaune flushing as Pyrrha began to smile proudly. Nora laughed and clapped his shoulder.
"Good call, Jauney!"
"It does have merit with safety in numbers." Mused Ren aloud, as Icarus let out a happy screech.
Pyrrha nodded, much more at ease. "I'd feel safer, having my partner with me and us, all together."
Ruby grinned as she rose up. "Alright then guys! Pack up, get ready for a long journey!"
She looked from one face of determination to the other as she made a fist with her flesh hand.
"We got some siblings and friends to save!"
