The wind rushing past her felt wonderful. It’s cool embrace rushing through her long dark hair, grazing over her rough skin, kissing her tail’s scales behind her. To be flying through the air like this with little more than the whistling of nature and the gentle hum of Aegis’ dust powered thrusters beneath her put the Faunus at ease. It let her mind wander and move away from the thoughts of worry for her brother, wherever he was, and simply relax. To let all her fears go and almost trail behind her like they were trying to catch up to her. Not like she’d let them do that so easily.
Peri was on a routine fly-around, supposed to be looking to the ground beneath her and watching for any signs of the creatures of Grimm within the ruined and off-limits portion of Vale. But there was hardly ever anything that showed it’s face. Every time was the same, she’d soar over the ruins on her way towards Beacon and find nothing anywhere until she got to the remains of the once great academy. Only then would she ever see Grimm. Beowolves, Ursai, Creeps, Nevermores perched on the still standing parts of the dorms, a couple Griffons here and there, though they were rather rare to see. Hell, one time she even saw a Death Stalker crawling it’s way into what had once been the cafeteria, which it had now made it’s nest.
Of course there would always be that ghastly sight of the Wyvern coiled around the tower, petrified, stuck in place. At times she was curious how it even still hung on, seeing how massive it was and with it having become encased in stone, it made more sense to her that it should’ve fallen by now. They were getting close to a year since the fall, so it would’ve made sense that it would’ve by then. Yet it still held.
Peri couldn’t help but bring herself to slow down as she passed by the Academy ruins just so she could look at it. Every single time, no matter how much she had seen it before. Partly due to the spectacle of such a sight, but also because her mind would wander every single time. Imagining the day she’d come and see it’s arms crack to let the body fall and shatter to pieces. Imagining it suddenly beginning to move again, but being stuck within the stone casing even still resulting in it either being entirely grounded or breaking apart while in motion. it was always somewhat of an odd thrill to think of such things more than something that brought fear to her. She’d never really understand why.
Her arrival to the destroyed and Grimm infested buildings of Beacon Academy this night was another of those times. Focusing first to check the activity of the dark creatures below, eyeing the Nevermores hopping about and pecking at rubble right away. The grounded ones following next, scanning over countless black white and red beasts as they wandered around and occasionally snapped at one another. One of them, a Creep, even rolling itself up and smashing into a Beowolf that had roared at it for intruding in it’s space.
All of this was normal to see. Nothing too unusual or different, no hint of hostility towards the remnants of Vale in the safe-zone. None of them even noticed her. Still though, she had Meteo in hand just in case. Barrel extended, holding the double cylinders idly, finger settled aside of the trigger. Just in case, even though that ‘case’ never seemed to come. Though she supposed she should’ve been thankful of that to a degree. At least, she thought so until she heard the high-pitched squawking of a Nevermore, and it was close.
Turning her head forward, she only barely caught sight of a small dark pair of wings flapping rapidly her direction as the body shifted to put talons forward to attack. Reacting the fastest she could, she brought the barrels of her firearm up to smack at the small Grimm with it. Such causing the assaulting creature to go spiraling off to the side a moment before it would recover and swing ‘round, closer to the rooftop with the other Nevermore. Essentially recruiting it’s kin, the small flock then took flight her way once again.
Shifting her weight, Peri rushed quickly into the distance and even further from Vale past the ruins of the Academy. Looking back every few seconds ensuring the collection of Nevermore kept up with her and continued following. There were a few moments she’d have feathers shooting past her, some while her head was turned to them allowing her to maneuver as needed to avoid such any that would’ve hit her otherwise.
After traveling a minute or two with this aggravated flock, she banked hard to the right and held out her double-barrel toward the adjusting and approaching flock. Waiting a few seconds for them to get closer before she’d pull the trigger and fire off the first pair of shells. Watching as two of what looked to be one ten of the black birds recoil as they’re hit by the shower of pellets, plummeting with a smoke trail following them while the others spread out.
Finishing her circle-round, Peri’s head was on a swivel looking around herself to note the places of the other eight. Spotting one that had taken a tight turn to begin at her again, the Komodo didn’t even bother reloading for it. Instead turning over the break-action double-barrel in her hold to grip it tight around the barrels. Using such hold, she wound up with it almost like a baseball bat, and swung at the creature when it got close enough. Immediately sending it flying with a satisfying crack and screech, a trail following the body.
Correcting her hold on Meteo again, she let the barrels down to load it again, reaching for more normal shells in a pouch to fill the spaces left empty after removing the expended shells. Shifting them back into place, she readied herself for the next of the flock to try at her. Glancing around to see them mostly just circling her as she hovered in place atop Aegis for the time.
Two of them took a chance at her next, quick glances noting they were opposite sides of her. Adjusting her direction and angling, Peri waited with a plan until they got close enough. Heaving herself, the Huntress flipped herself and Aegis at the opportune moment. The flames of the jets on the face of Aegis catching the Nevermore that was ahead of her while she aimed to the one that had been behind mid flip and shot it down. Both plummeting lifeless and fading.
Half the flock down, Peri was feeling good as she corrected herself.
A sudden pair of talons caught her hair and began pulling this way and that, one of the creatures having flown to her while she was caught up in her maneuver. Wincing feeling it nearly pull some of her hair right out of her scalp at a time, the Komodo let out a war cry of sorts as an incorporeal flame surged up her form. Covered in dark scales and with her fingers now tipped with sharp, deadly claws, Peri quickly stowed Meteo before reaching back and grabbing the Nevermore directly.
Her claws breaking into the Grimm’s body, it squawked and let go of her hair trying to get away, but it was too late for the thing. She brought it around in front of herself, leaning her head away as it stretched it’s own in attempt to snap at her with it’s beak. Immediately after, capturing it’s head with her free hand, digging into it’s neck with the Semblance made claws, and tearing the beast in two. Tossing the separate halves aside before turning her attention to the remains of the flock.
Just four more... or, at least that’s what it should’ve been, right? Sudden confusion plagued her mind as she spun in place atop Aegis, looking for the rest of the little bastards that had decided to pick a fight with her. Snarling some, a couple flicks of her forked tongue from between sharp, beastly teeth, and after a good half minute, no sight of anything. Such making her brows furrow as her Semblance dropped with the same incorporeal flame occurring again.
The Faunus never knew Nevermore to just turn tail and fly off from their ‘prey’, yet that’s exactly what seemed to happen. She was unsure whether or not she should relax or be worried. At least, there was uncertainty until she heard a sound, she thought she did anyway as a thorough look around at her surroundings showed nothing that could’ve made any noise.
She could’ve sworn she heard something just now, something distant, though she was unable to tell the direction entirely. Part of Peri wanted to say it was to her right, dark clouds filling the distant skies in such direction that she could see the occasional flash of light from. Clearly a storm, but thankfully it was going to take a while to get any closer if it was even coming her way. By the time it was going to be on the remnants of Beacon she’d be long gone and safely back at Empress Inn with a good meal on a plate in front of her for her to enjoy with Myria.
Again she’d hear it, the same sound, this time just the slightest bit louder. A short burst of noise is all it was, nothing more. At least from what she could tell that’s all it was. The noise leaving her ears just as quick as it reached them. The fact she couldn’t tell what it was annoyed her a little, earning a swift swing of her tail and the thinning of her eyes as they scanned the horizon for something. Anything really. Still, however, nothing could be seen as the source.
Suddenly, for a brief second she could’ve sworn everything grew darker, but it came and went so fast. Then it happened again, first drawing her attention below her to look for a shadow. One on herself, on Aegis, the forest below. Nothing caught her eye, nothing out of the ordinary at least. Again, a flash of darkness, this time she caught it though. The uncertain shady shape moving quickly ahead of her, watching it carefully and following it’s path. Gently shifting her weight to begin turning atop her Greatshield to keep on it more easily.
The shape went wide, circling left around her further by the second before it would pass again. Quickly turning, Peri lifted her attention skyward this time, Light of the setting sun momentarily blinding her, though thankfully only for an instant before blinking to recover, yet despite that she couldn’t find it again. Not right when she opened her eyes at least. Having to resort to quickly scanning the afternoon skies again to find it once more.
What made it a little easier to try and locate was a sudden blur of black shooting past her from her right and continuing ahead of her till it disappeared in the trees below. Swiftly turning herself, her red eyes finally caught the source of the sounds and the shadows. Though she wasn’t sure whether she should’ve been relieved she found it or worried.
Another Nevermore. A massive nevermore.
Large, dark, it’s wings wide from the center of it’s body. With the distance between them it looked small, likely not too much bigger than the crow-sized Nevermore that lined the ruined rooftops of Beacon. Remembering back to how big the blurred object that shot past her earlier was, however, figuring it was one of the beast’s feathers, it was too big for that.
Something within the Komodo began screaming at her to turn to Vale and take off as fast as she could. To get back to the Inn, her teammates, her friends, right that instant. Yet if such a thing was as big as she thought it was judging by the feather it sent flying at her? She had to do something, try and fight it on her own, lure it away and lose it somehow before heading back, anything. Quickly conflicted as to what she should do. Lost in the clashing thoughts in her mind and her heart’s rising pace.
She had to think of something, decide on a course of action before it attacked her again, she had to... to... BREATHE. Without realizing it she had began hyperventilating and her body was absolutely trembling. Her ears filled with the pounding of her racing heart and the rush of her blood until it was abruptly replaced with ringing. High-pitch, painful, unnerving ringing. Then screams, a cry of her name, a cry of her brother’s, shredding metal, an explosion. She felt cold, cold and wet, her shivering hand raising to her face, Peri wipes across her forehead with the back of her hand to bring it before her eyes.
Sweat.
She never sweat from anything unless it was some extreme level of training, exercise or a wild, fun romp. But this was not that, no, not by a long shot. It took the Komodo a long moment to realize amid her mess of a mind, but eventually it practically slapped her across the face. Peri, the rock of Team Empress, the older twin acting almost as a mother figure in many ways, was scared. Horrified. Practically petrified even.
The ringing was rudely broken with a loud, intruding shriek, tearing her attention aside to the view of the massive, pitch black creature crowned with pure white mask and red markings, hurtling her way. It was diving at her, and it was closing in fast.
Panic setting in immediately, a shift of a foot shut Aegis’ jets off and sent the Huntress plummeting to the forest below. Twenty whole feet below. Her fear filled eyes plastered to the monstrous thing could tell it was making that same kind of distance much faster than she was. Even with such a sight assaulting her, she was able to pull her eyes off of it even if only for a second to glance down to the tree tops closing in. Sixteen feet. Back to the Grimm, it was adjusting it’s course to direct itself for her. It’s bright, blood-thirsty eyes clearly visible, almost like they were locked onto her own. It’s beak opening as it got closer by the second.
She wasn’t going to make it like this, with a glance down, twelve feet. She had one choice, but her hands were shaking so much she worried it’d not be possible to execute it without dropping something. It was do or die, however, and she had no other option. Quickly dropping low atop Aegis, her free hand reached to her hip, immediately searching by feel of markings for the right ammunition. Her main hand holding tight onto Meteo as she popped the barrels down to reload.
Eye’s wandering down, from the closing beast, seven feet. Grabbing two shells, she brought her hand to feed them into her gun, managing the first with ease before fumbling a second with the other. Cursing beneath her breath as she caught the shell proper, trying again as her eyes lifted to the Nevermore. Peri could practically see down it’s throat with how close it was getting. Not even looking away, she felt the round fit into the empty space, immediately latching the barrel into place before switching it to her offhand and aiming the sawed-off shotgun the beast’s direction.
One sharp inhale later, her finger tightens on the trigger and the weapon fires sending her hand backward and up with a small explosion by the end of the barrels. A mere second later, as she saw the end of the gaping beak grow close enough she could practically reach out to touch it -or more likely get her hand bit off- a larger explosion went off within the maw of the creature. Immediately making it reel, twisting it’s body to lift it’s head away from her, but in doing so crashing body-first against the woman atop her great-shield as it’s wings beat hard to slow itself and keep from crashing to the trees below.
The force of such an impact Knocked the Komodo atop her multipurpose tool way off course from the forest beneath, instead sending her across and into the tree tops. Breaking the tips of the first few trees the face of her shield entirely, yet as she got lower down each impact would begin simply just cracking the trunks and sending her bouncing from one to the other. Empty hand having taken to grip tight at the edge of the shield with white knuckles to just try and keep herself on beyond the straps around her feet. Even going as far as to cue up her Semblance. A brief wave of incorporeal flame rushing up her body hardening and protecting her skin with tough dark grey scales just in time to keep herself from being injured as she hits a long, thick branch that was in her messy path.
From bouncing between the trees like a pinball of all things immediately into a sideways spin with a sharper downward angle. Reversing as her shield hit’s another branch, then finally coming to a horizontal stop with her back slamming against a thick trunk. A loud, pained groan bursting forth from her throat and body going limp as her consciousness threatened to leave her.
The only direction left being down, down she went. Smacking into branch after branch of all different sizes, being flipped, twisted, and spun with each. Loosing hold on her firearm entirely at a point only catching the slightest hazy glimpse of it flying off between trees before she had a face full of bark. At last slamming down against the forest floor on her side, legs and feet twisted still tangled with her great-shield and keeping them up as it stood embedded in the dirt on it’s side.
Everything ached, her legs, her tail, her shoulder, her ribs, her face. She could swear her nose was broken, feeling something warm and wet running down her upper lip to her cheek and down the side of her head. Her hip stung with the odd angle it was stuck in at the moment, and it was going to hurt even more if she was to attempt to move much at all. If she’d even get the chance too, her head felt light, her eye lids heavy, it was so tempting to just close her eyes to try and let all the pain go away. Though that wasn’t going to happen, not when the cry of that dreaded Nevermore assaulted her eardrums and shook her awake.
Straining to turn her head what little bit she could to look skyward as the dark form of the beast soared past over the forest top. The same fear struck the Komodo as before, and with such a sight being followed by the sounds of countless beasts growling, snarling, and screeching from within the forest around her, fight or flight kicked in. Adrenaline flooding her system, Peri would utilize her tail to press at a button just behind a foot on Aegis. The pressure allowing for an emergency release of the straps around her feet to let them fall free from it, though such would earn a scream of pain from her.
Forcing herself up on sore, aching arms, a glance down to her higher leg reveals it sat propped on not only the leg beneath, but a branch embedded an inch or two at least into her calf. Standing and walking both immediately out of the question. Cursing under her breath, the Huntress took a deep breath before letting out a loud, long groan as she worked onto her stomach. Groaning again, harsher this time than the last, realizing there was surely either a cracked or broken rib. A momentary pause to recover, breathe in again, then setting herself to turn and head for her great-shield. Raising a hand to push at it, then grabbing the edge to pull, working on dislodging her main weapon from the earth beneath it and get it onto it’s face.
It took almost a minute with how weakened she felt, during which every few seconds another cry of a Grimm beast went off from beyond the immediate trees. Each time sounding louder, closer, and after every few being followed by the sound of the mass avian monster above, then it’s shadow rushing by. Yet she managed it, one more good push and Aegis tilted, falling with a dull thud on it’s front in the dirt and grass. Now to crawl over and on top of it, another long and painful minute of grunting to do so, and her being subject to more of those ghastly noises the whole while. At a point even pausing to glance around, spotting some glimpses of dark creatures between trees.
Once she had gotten atop Aegis in full, she adjusted to let her hand beneath to a simple control panel of sorts. Three buttons and a switch. Pressing the first button on the outside, following it with forcing the switch to it’s opposite side, then pressing the button closer to the middle of the great-shield. Finally, with a press to the larger button between the other two, the large device began to hum. Slowly correcting itself flat and beginning to raise into the air at a careful pace. Her eyes sluggishly scanned her surroundings as she raised from the ground, spotting a Beowolf peering around one of the farther trees from herself. It’s lips peeled back, teeth presented, snarling as it looked across the small opening for her.
Locking eyes with each-other, the Faunus and the Grimm snarled at one another. Peri more because she had no means of fighting back at this time, she was simply needing to flee, to get away and head back to safety. The canine monster, exiting from behind the tree, began her way, entering into a full run part way and leaping for her. For an instant, the Huntress’ heart sank, she was sure that she was too close to the ground to be safe from a pouncing Beowolf. It’s sharp, readied claws both looking uncomfortably close until suddenly they disappeared beneath Aegis’ edge. A sigh of unbelievable relief escaping her as she continued upward.
Twenty feet, twenty-two, twenty-five, twenty-seven, thirty. The great-shield came to a stop, hovering in place without issue with a purple glow beneath of the gravity dust that was in use. With the trees going another twenty feet above at least and how dense this area of the forest was, she’d be safe from the giant of a Nevermore. At least she hoped she would be as she heard it cry out again, not seeing it’s shadow, but instead hearing the beating of it’s wings. Down below she could hear the Beowolf being joined by more of it’s kind, she could even hear the deep growling of some Ursai. For at least a few minutes she’d be fine.
Reaching to her waist behind her, opening a padded pouch, she retrieved her scroll with a wince at her arms positioning. Bringing it around beneath her head, opening it, Peri started a direct call on speaker. Listening to it ring over and again for a couple seconds until it was answered with a feminine voice calling out.
“Hello? Peri? What’s up?”
It took the woman a moment to breathe before she could manage to speak to respond, but her loud, heaving breaths were clear to the other person.
“Ros, g-giant Nevermore... ngh... St-Stuck on Aegis right now, injured-hah... need a tow, b-but it’s l-looking for me a-ah-and... storm’s coming....”
“Shit... Alright, hold on, going to send a drone to get you and some combat drones to distract that Nevermore. Not that you can do much else right now, but hang in there.”
Her advice earned a bit of a chuckle from the Komodo who ended the call, closed her scroll, and secured it in the original pouch again. “You can say that again...” Sighing out these words as she laid her head down onto the metal of her great-shield. Groaning gently as she twists to lay flat again, moving the same hand to caress so very carefully along her ribs.
Knowing some sort of help was on it’s way, her mind and body betrayed her and once again Peri felt consciousness fading. She needed to rest, her body was screaming for her to among all the stinging pain. Against her wishes, the incorporeal wave of fire rushed over her body again, reverting the Komodo’s body to it’s normal state. Whining a little feeling such, and lifting her hand before her view she watched the Persian red of her Aura flickering weakly across her fingers.
“Fuck...” Hardly even able to hear her own voice or the next squawk of the Nevermore above as things were beginning to fade and grow dark. The last thing registering with her ache-ridden mind being the countless noises of Grimm swarming beneath her. Darkness taking her just a mere second later.
“Peri!” A woman’s voice calls the Komodo, she can feel a hand on her thigh squeezing almost painfully tight. “Peri! Hold on tight! Hold on to your brother! You’ll be fine! We’ll be fine!” A hand, tightly holding onto her own, painfully so. A familiar hand. She could hear something that made her heart ache and urged tears to well up, but she couldn’t feel any. Her brother, his voice was screaming, it was horrified. Peri had to do something to comfort him, to calm him down, to keep him safe. She tried to call his name, but nothing came out. Tried to call for the woman that spoke to her before, and nothing came out. To call for a third person, one she wasn’t aware of whether or not they were even present. Still nothing left her lips. Again, attempting to call for Roy. Roy! R-
Peri’s body lurched forward.
“ROY!”
Pain surged through the woman’s body, radiating from her head, her abdomen, and her right leg. Wincing first, groaning second, then falling backward. Though she didn’t hit metal like part of her was expecting, no, what caught her was soft. Comfortable even. A pillow? Even while still reeling from the pain, her eye opened, blinking a couple times to clear her sight and take a glance at her surroundings. Before she even could, the first thing she noticed was a constant, repeating, beep to her left.
Her attention turned toward the sound first and foremost, finding her sight filled with a digital screen lit up with lines rising and falling, numbers fluctuating, and a white frame. Just above that she notes a bag hanging from a hook, transparent with an equally clear liquid inside it. A tube beneath the bag having the fluid dripping down into it. Following it, the hollow cord ended inside her arm. Already her location was clear to her troubled mind.
That cleared up, she did what she could to try and pace her breathing. To take slow, long, deep breaths to ease the pain what little she could. She was safe now, down a weapon, but safe, especially from that-Peri’s body shook like a leaf in a storm thinking back to the Nevermore that she encountered. Her ears being assaulted by the monitor’s noise going faster and faster as her heart began to race with fear.
It got so bad that a sudden hand shifting atop her good leg nearly got her jumping from the hospital bed. Lifting her head with a groan, she was welcomed with the sight of her teammate, team leader, and friend, bald head and all, slumped over the bedside and sleeping. The blanket a little damp from the natural fluid her scaled skin produced to keep from drying out early.
Comforted by Myria’s presence, beyond the short and intense increase of pain, the Komodo felt ease replacing the burst of fear that had filled her remembering such nightmarish sight. Combining such a sensation right alongside whatever drug was being drip-fed to her and her over all lack of Aura that still felt oh so clear? Sleep was able to easily take her again, though whether or not it would be a sound slumber without disturbance was yet to be known.
With Empress Inn closed and the doors locked, a hooded figure makes it’s way away from the building. Away from the established Safe Zone that kept the people of Vale alive. Initially a walking pace, but once close to the nearby border they set to a sprint. Jumping the fence barrier, they landed on the opposite side and disappear into the nearby tree line.
Coming out the other side, slit pupils looked over the display within the hood at what lay outside the protective clothing. Head turning some to look to two nearby destroyed buildings, rubble long settled by now. Straightening again to look down the desolate, broken road decorated by destroyed vehicles, articles of clothing ripped or torn. Even a single set of skeletal remains beneath a mass of brick a ways down.
Their hands move to slip beneath a subtle extra layer of fabric along their legs. Feeling for something within which they would quickly find and take hold of before pulling the objects from their confines. Two Kukri, an extremely faint purple glow by the base of the blade on both, and an odd loop at the bottom of their pommels.
After a quick tap of an extended index finger over the purple glow, the left hand would let go of it’s blade, yet it wouldn’t fall to the ground. No, instead it stayed where it was, set stationary in the air. They’d repeat this with their now free hand for the blade in their right before finally having both hands fully available to continue their prep. Grabbing the end of the left pommel, they’d pull it off from the weapon revealing a carbon fiber cord connecting it. This they would guide under their left forearm to fit beneath another subtle extra layer of fabric. Two seconds later pulling their hand free, yet the cord staying. Repeating this process with the weapon on their right afterward.
With this finished, the suited being would grab their blades again, tapping at that same glow before their hands would drop an inch with the blades in tow, no longer fixed in place. Bouncing the two a little bit as they themselves did atop their toes in this moment.
“Okay, Myria, you’ve got this. Breathe, stay calm, play it safe, take on small things first.” She spoke aloud to Herself.
A moment later, she set to a sprint down the ruined street. Jumping her way up some of the rubble to get herself atop whatever roofing still stood over the streets for better view of her surroundings. One glance ‘round herself later, no Grimm in sight at the moment. She kept going, across the roof and leaping to another to continue through the ruins.
One minute, no Grimm.
Two, nothing.
Three, she was beginning to question why she was even out here.
Four, A fox sniffing about down one street, some raccoons, a flick of something dark-
Seeing the oddity, Myria would skid to a stop on the current roof top. Tapping by the blade, her right hand would free itself of the weapon in it’s hold to rise and open her hood. The display within quickly going dark as the two sides split and she pulled it back to uncover her head. Now looking directly with her own slit pupil eyes at the spot she had seen the movement occur.
For a good few seconds she saw nothing, no movement, nothing out of the ordinary, just one of the raccoons skittering about. That was until she saw a dark form again. Long, rounded, moving along the ground between two destroyed pillars that once stood before what she assumed was a restaurant. Given it’s size and shape, Taijitu. Thinking it over, she considered that it had been following her for a bit now. Watching and waiting to be able to strike when the time was right.
Yet she could not see it again after the tail disappeared behind the second pillar. Rubble from the overhang it once supported blocking her sight of the beast. At the very least she had an idea of where it was going, and kept her vision moving to her right in attempt to catch sight of it again. No luck, where she expected to see it again was vacant of anything more than dust, pebbles, and a torn, dirty stuffed animal.
Immediately her eyes set to scanning her surroundings, looking for some kind of hint to it’s location as she raised her blades to a readied pose. Though unexpected to her, she would hear the subtle sound of whipping air behind her a moment later. Swiveling on her right foot she turned face-to-face with the large head of the serpent Grimm, a King Taijitu given it’s size. It wouldn’t be alone forever.
Myria would find that her thinking cost her, and quickly. Before she could even register the swift movement from the corner of her sight, she felt a hard impact against her side. A hit from the beast’s tail sending her tumbling across the roof and off it’s edge to the ground below with a hard thud. Her right arm having been beneath her upon impact with the street making her shout in pain.
Quickly rolling to her back, Myria could feel something wrong beneath her suit. Heaving breaths being taken as she tried to recover from the fall and the disorientation it caused. Eye’s shut tight and whole body shaking as she writhed about on the ground, only hearing as the large Serpent’s head slid to the ground.
Letting the weapon in her left hand go, the hand reaches across her front to grab at the injured shoulder, though it freezes before it could. Clenching to a fist before opening again with shaking fingers. She knew she had to touch it to find out exactly what was wrong, but the thought of doing so made her worry about making whatever it was worse. Though in her situation she could tell that waiting to do anything was going to make the situation worse.
Case and point, she could hear the hissing of the Taijitu growing closer and closer. It’s heavy, long body slipping down the side of the building second by second until the heavy thump of it’s tail falling at last. Cursing beneath her breath knowing the Grimm creature was approaching. She had to do something, anything, but she couldn’t think, she couldn’t move, and her heart was racing.
From the sounds of it, the Serpent was rearing it’s head and barring it’s fangs. A loud, screeching hiss emitting from it momentarily growing more distant. Suddenly growing closer afterward, almost like an unbearable ringing in her ears. Yet one that fell silent just an instant later.
If not for the fact her lungs were starting to hurt, she would’ve thought herself dead by now. When had she started to hold her breath? That didn’t matter right now, she was alive, and she could get herself together. First slowly opening an eye to try and take in her situation, which would immediately make herself aware of a green glow surrounding her, and the end of the creature’s fangs about a half-foot above her face. Kept from reaching her by the source of the glow.
It took her another second to look around to find out what was going on exactly. The ethereal head of her Semblance made King Cobra companion as surrounding her as a protective layer. Myria didn’t even remember calling it’s aid, must have done it subconsciously. Either way it saved her, and she needed to take this chance to recover and take action.
Though as the Faunus went to grab at her shoulder again, she’d flinch the instant the lightest touch made contact. Sucking in a breath from the sharp instance of pain that surged through her. Just from knowing how her suit was along her form, the fact she felt it jutting out some and it hurt as bad as it did to touch her arm, it was clear to her that her scales were damaged. How badly they were would be unknown to her for some time though, no time to get out of her suit and check now.
Moving her hand away she’d roll the injured shoulder slowly and gently as she finally blinked her eyes open. Wincing from the discomfort as she did so, but what else did she expect? What she didn’t expect was the sight of the Taijitu’s fang’s pulling away and it’s head rising up to look down on her. The tongue of it flicking out momentarily.
Seeing how high it was going and far back it was rearing, she was sure the creature was readying to strike again. It was likely that she’d be fine given the still present protective head of her ethereal serpent. Still, it wouldn’t last too long depending on how strong of an attack the Taijitu deals or how many times it does attack. She couldn’t just relax.
Grabbing hold of her Kukri again, Myria took a second to take in a good breath trying to calm herself and ready to act. Watching on, she’d see the Grimm lunge down, unhinging it’s jaw and biting down around the head of her Semblance made companion. Instinct making her flinch even though she knew she was safe for the moment since the friendly Cobra head still held it’s form.
The instant she saw the Grimm serpent begin to move away once more, she took the opportunity to push from her feet and rush out from beneath it. Just a second before the beast would go to strike again, this time landing with the green aura that made the King Cobra head bursting outward from it’s snapping jaw.
“Ten percent gone.” A quick whispered note to herself at the loss of available Aura due to the protective Serpent head. “On top of whatever’s gone from that fall.” One more roll of her stinging shoulder and a furrow of her brow with the increase of the pained sensation it caused. “I can’t waste the rest.”
Immediately the Faunus set her slit pupils to scanning along the form of the Grimm creature as it recovered from essentially slamming it’s head against the road. The tail caught her off guard last time, she couldn’t let that happen again. Quickly finding the beast’s end and beginning to shift her sight between the two points of it’s long form. One second staring right at it’s illuminated red eyes, the next to the tapered tail.
For what nearly felt like five minutes, while only really a half minute, it was just the two exchanging glances. Her keeping watch on as much of the Taijitu’s form as it began to move. Both inching closer and beginning to circle around the Huntress, which got her a little worried with the increasing distance between the two ends of the beast. Even finding herself swallowing down a lump of nerves that made itself present in her throat because of the movement.
It wasn’t something she liked to do, but there was no other option. With the end of her index finger and thumb on both hands, she grabbed at the sides of her hood to pull it up, over, and close it around her head. The two sides snapping shut and a millisecond later the screens on the inside lighting up with view of the Grimm ahead of her.
Though with a quick tap delivered to the back of her suit’s neck, the corners of the screen would have added angles show themselves. Top left and top right, her direct left and right sides. Bottom left and bottom right, behind her, both left and right half. A glance to the top right corner making her aware of the tail of the creature on her right by now as she kept her front matching the head. Seeing it begin to move separate from the rest of the body, likely to strike.
Ready for it this time, Myria focused to use her Semblance again. This time summoning a Cobra equal in size to the King Taijitu which surged forth from her body before biting down on the swinging tail. Carrying it as it rushed to slam it against the side of the damaged building behind the beast it belonged to. The action causing the wall to cave and the roof to fall on both enemy and ally.
Seeing the Grimm’s head turn as it let out a pained screech, she rushed at it. Jumping and tossing her left blade, it embedded into the unprotected jaw of the beast just beneath it’s bone mask. Using it’s position, she swung under the lifted head to the opposite side where she’d stab her other in. The serpent reacting to both attacks in rapid succession, first by snapping her way as she went under, then with the head flinching back at the second stab.
Letting loose a screech feeling the first of the blades leave it’s body as Myria pressed to have it’s cord retract, the Taijitu reared it’s head to swing to the building. Before it could though, a hiss would get it’s attention from the ethereal King Cobra as it’s head burst from the same wall to bite at that of it’s enemy. In the process enveloping it’s hanging owner, allowing her to retrieve her other blade from the Grimm’s body.
This just before thrusting both back in for some stability as the two massive snakes would begin flailing this way and that together. Through her Semblance made creature Myria could see where it’s fangs broke through the skeletal mask of the beast. A feeling of confidence rising upon seeing the cracks that formed due to the sheer pressure being applied. At least before feeling the two large creatures heave one way before moving back the other. “Shit!”
The King Taijitu reared it’s head once more, intent to attempt another slam to the building, only this time it would succeed. With the strength being put into such motion, the Grimm sent itself and it’s assailants crashing through the building entirely to the opposite side. In the process causing what still stood of the crumbling structure to finally give and collapse, earning a screech from the monster as most of it’s body suffered the collapsing wood and stone.
So too did the ethereal Cobra which protected the Faunus.
Before she could reorient herself properly, the woman could feel herself impact with the floor. Again. Thankfully this time was only about two feet between herself and the ground as she fell, so no injuries would be sustained at least. Still it alarmed her, and made it clear she was alone against the Taijitu again. Her Semblance made ally having essentially popped under the building’s collapse.
Looking above herself she’d see the Grimm beast attempting to snap at her again and again, though the collapsed structure kept it from getting closer. No complaints from her at all.
Quickly rolling backward and up to her feet, she’d utilize the momentum to swing her arms behind her and toss the Kukri. After a second of letting them fly, slowly beginning to circle from the force of the throw, she’d grab at the carbon fiber cords and pull. Such sudden change in direction causing the two weapons to swing wide back to their proper sides before being guided to slice into the body of the snapping Grimm, just behind it’s head.
It’s pained screech would confirm to her that she injured the beast again, but with what she saw next she couldn’t let herself get cocky. The eyes of the serpent would close, the head falling limp, but the body not decaying or evaporating. It’s other half would be joining the fight, yet she couldn’t see any sign of it yet in any of her five camera angles. Following a few second of silence, however, she did hear it’s hissing ever so faintly.
From what she could tell, it was on the opposite side of the destroyed building, which gave her time to press at buttons on the hands of her suit, making the carbon cords begin to retract and force the Kukri from the black head of the King Taijitu. Taking a moment now to breathe and note to herself “Fourty-ish percent gone now probably given everything that’s happened, scroll.”
The voice command brought up a momentary overlay of her scroll’s screen displaying an image of herself, her name beside it, and a bar beneath. The white fill of it just under half emptied. Nodding to herself of the confirmation before the display blinked away.
Such clearing her screen to display the dark head beginning to stir again, twisting beneath the rubble. A little higher than that, over the destroyed remains of the building, she could see the brighter head finally starting to rise over top to look down on her with an angered hiss and flick of it’s tongue. While being aware of this outcome, seeing the head of the Grimm’s second half still got to the Huntress. Making her swallow once more and curse beneath her breath.
“Here we go.”
Setting to a sprint, Myria leaped a foot from the recovering dark head of the Grimm. Tossing a Kukri down at a crack in the creature’s bone mask to lodge it in before she’d land atop the pommel to push it further down. Earning a screech from the injured half of the creature, and catching the aggression of the other. A lift of her head showing her the brighter head rising and rearing itself back as she stepped back off her weapon. Keeping watch on the moving creature as she lowered herself to grab at the handle of her blade to tug at it.
No luck, the blade was stuck. She couldn’t tell whether or not it was just because of it’s positioning or if it went farther in than she expected, but either way without two hands she knew she wouldn’t be getting it out. But with her right shoulder in the condition it is, that wouldn’t be possible. Especially not in such short time that she had,watching as the light half of the Taijitu began to lunge down to her over the rubble covering it’s counterpart.
Panicking, she quickly detached the carbon fiber cord from the weapon’s pommel and rolled forward of the bone mask onto the shadowy body of the Taijitu beneath her. She could feel and hear the white head crash against it’s ally, both hissing from the chain reaction of recoil sending the brighter back up and the darker smacking against the ground once more.
Steadying herself from the motions of the serpent, right as she saw the white head begin moving away she took a lunge for it. Readying her remaining Kukri to force it forward into the underside of the creature’s head with both hands to secure herself as well as she could for it’s reaction. Sure enough, the head flung itself up and began flailing with a pained cry emitting from it’s open maw.
Her shoulder stung like hell holding onto her weapon like this. The Grimm attempting to throw her off, and she could’ve sworn she was on the verge of going flying a couple times. It was the grip her suit provided her that kept her holding on more than anything, For that she couldn’t thank Emma’s father figure more for the improvements he provided for their team. She had to act if things were going to improve at all.
Once more she focused her mind to call upon her ethereal ally which would fall head first from her dangling form with open maw. It’s fangs quickly sinking into the body of the dark half of the King Taijitu as the rest of it’s Aura-made body piled down atop of it and spilled out to the sides. All before it’d adjust for the rest of it’s form to circle wide around the damaged side of the enemy on the ground.
It’s glowing form caught the attention of the head the Huntress hung from, making it look down with a hiss. Though it’s position gave Myria an opportunity with the angle allowing her to remove one hand while still holding on with ease. Thus, letting go with her right to hang from left alone, she reached around to a pocket of her suit along her back for another item. Her stiletto. It took a split second before she found the pommel, immediately after getting a grip around the handle and drawing it.
Right as she did, the beast began to move again, this time to find it’s way over the rubble and to the street below. Such process meaning that, given she held on too much longer, she was going to be dragged along the street or even crushed. Quickly she brought the smaller of her weaponry around and stabbed it into the neck of the white Taijitu. Having filled the chamber within with fire dust earlier, she pressed at the injector on he end of the pommel and a second later watched as the view of fire bursting from around the thin blade on her screens.
Taking such sight and the abrupt jerk upward from the creature as a cue, she kicked at the neck. The force of it freeing her Kukri and stiletto both and setting her free from the Grimm beast. Unfortunately that also meant falling yet again. Thankfully with how much the Serpent had moved it meant a short fall, one which earned little more than a groan from the impact over all. No injuries sustained from it, though probably going to be sore after everything was over.
Looking up to the brighter half of the Taijitu, she watched it become engulfed by the flames spreading from it’s neck. A shift of her view allowing her to see the darker half being held down by her Semblance made partner in this fight. The see-through serpent biting repeatedly into the Grimm in it’s jaws, each one earning a weakening hiss which gave some confidence to the Faunus that she can finish this.
Taking the moment of opportunity from the two heads of the King Taijitu either recoiling or being assaulted already, Myria got back to her feet with a forward lurch. Using her newfound momentum she rushed to the weakened head beneath her ally, jumping atop of it before letting the Kukri she still held drop and stowing her stiletto. Both hands now taking to the handle of the still embedded weapon and using all her available strength to pull at it, pushing herself up with her feet atop the skull mask of the Serpent. Managing to free the blade from it’s spot after doing this for a few seconds resulting in both having her full arsenal back and apparently dealing in the one half of the Taijitu as the head beneath her fell to the ground.
“One down.” Reconnecting the Kukri to it’s brace on her arm, she’d tap at the inside of the Aura Serpent’s mouth with her other after. The creature releasing it’s kill and raising it’s head to look to the burning remnant of the Taijitu with a loud his. “One to go.” A simple nod of her head being all it took for her ethereal Cobra to surge at the remaining head as she took care of another matter.
Keeping watch of her Semblance biting into the throat of the flaming beast, she retrieved her stiletto again. Setting it to the same hand which held her recovered weapon, she flipped the pommel up like a small hatch with her other. Reaching in to remove a pale, depleted crystal of Dust from within the handle and dropping it to the side. Searching a small hip pouch of her suit, she pulled a new crystal from it. Light blue. Quickly fitting it inside the vacant space and closing it again.
Looking to the form of her companion beside her, she’d see it’s body beginning to move further forward. Quickly she’d take her Stiletto between her teeth and grab her second blade once more. Hopping onto the moving body of the ethereal Cobra she began running toward it’s head and her target. Adjusting herself here and there to compensate for the moving surface as needed to keep atop it and going at her full speed. Doing so the best she could till suddenly the serpent would raise high over the ground then curl back down to slam it’s burning prey to the stone beneath.
The sudden and exaggerated action taken by her partner sent her into the air, initially causing panic for a second before a realization occurred. This was exactly what she needed. Tossing both her weapons down and forward to the body of the white Taijitu, the blades sinking in would allow her to press at the buttons of her glove again to pull her down to them, down to the flaming Grimm. She was glad her suit was at the very least resistant to such element, but still she’d need to be quick. Using the new positioning she now had to take the stiletto from her mouth and stab it into the creature beneath.
A second following, the flames immediately surrounding her would die off and quickly be replaced by the freezing of the creature’s body. Just in time for the Semblance Cobra to lift the Taijitu and slam it down once more, snapping the frozen portion in two. A final strike to end things which would soon be followed by her companion bursting from the damage it had taken simply by being in contact with the flames for so long.
Quickly retrieving her stiletto she’d use it to chip at the ice ‘round the Kukri blades to break it and free them. Storing the smaller once more to pull the weapons free and get herself off the now motionless Grimm. Even if it meant falling on her ass by the burning, dissolving corpse. Something which let her relax and breathe, thankful for the fact that no others had come during the whole ordeal.
With adrenaline fading, everything was back. A stinging pain to her arm, a stiff sensation across her whole body, aching back and arm. Right then and there she was tempted to swear off fighting ever again. Save herself from experiencing any of this in the future. Though with that thought also came a sense of reason. Why would she have done this just to quit being a Huntress? The whole point to coming out here was to get back into the ‘groove’ of being a Huntress in the first place after having gotten so doubtful of herself. To that end, she felt accomplishment. Even if it was somewhat bitter due to the severe pain in her shoulder.
“Scroll.” The same display as before comes up on the screens within her hood, showing her Aura pool with the previously white bar now red. With how much she had used and how much it protected her from, Myria wasn’t surprised at all. If anything surprised her it was that she still seemed to have almost a whole quarter of her overall pool available. Though in the end she was honestly glad that it had lasted so long. Meant she got to go home now, assess the damage she had sustained.
The travel back to the in was going to be so much slower than it was getting out here though. No use just sitting where she was, the Faunus got herself to her feet with a slight stumble and groan. Storing her weaponry to free up her hands, she opened and pulled back her hood then began the sluggish trek back through the ruined and empty streets towards the Inn. Towards home. Both confidence and pain filling her through her walk back.
“A good, long shower sounds nice after I take a look at my arm...”
Sub Traits: Slit pupils, snake fang-like teeth instead of usual canines, and a thinner and longer tongue than usual
—–
Semblance: Serpent Guardian
Myria, at any given time as long as she has more than 2% her total available Aura, can summon an ethereal King Cobra that she is connected to in multiple ways.
he size varying depending on how much she decides to give to call it to being:
5%: one-foot-long, mostly just for surveillance purposes
10%: five-foot-long, more like a protective pet, usually summoned if she’s spending the night somewhere she’s not entirely familiar with/comfortable falling asleep without some sort of protection
15%: 10-foot-long, similar purpose as before but use in more dangerous locations and situations, can be more aggressive
20%: 25-foot-long Anaconda-like size, usually allowed to act on it’s own will to fight alongside Myria
25%: Similar in size to a King-Taijitu, the fastest and most aggressive of the different sizes Myria can summon, usually brought out when things are going horribly
If she summons one of these Ethereal snakes, and they’re able to return to her before they’re destroyed, Myria will regain the used aura.
Alternatively, if Myria doesn’t wish to out-right make a full Snake form then, at the cost of some of her Aura, she can use her semblance to make the head alone form for a few different uses:
Around her hands for some extra kick in unarmed combat
Around parts of her body or her entire self as a defensive element
—–
Weapon: Fangs and Venom
Fangs: Myria’s main weapon, two Kukri Knives of foot-long curved blades atop six inch handles with scale textured grips and snake-head pommels to fit her serpent theme.
Both Kukri can be attached via a highly durable clamp to braces she wears on her forearms by highly durable and stretchable carbon fiber cords that can reach up to a full hundred feet in length each.
A mechanism within the braces that is controlled by a thumb-pressed button on gloves that are attached to them will retract the blades, thus allowing them to be used as bladed whips or grappling hooks.
Where the blade of the Kukri meet their respective handles, a Gravity dust crystal is embedded within them, with use of her Semblance Myria is able to stimulate the crystals with her aura, making them lock the blade in place as a fixed point, unable to be moved from wherever they are.
Venom: A custom foot-long Stiletto dagger that Myria uses as a secondary weapon and a method of self-defense that she always keeps on her person.
Within the handle of Venom is a chamber that can be opened from the pommel end of the handle and be filled with a variety of things depending on the desired effect.
A small button found at the end of the handle just before the “blade” of the Stiletto opens a small set of paths for the handle’s filling to feed onto the blade for use.
This allows the Stiletto to be a method of injecting hostiles with tranquilizers, toxins, or the blade’s tip to be coated with some kind of element based on what dust was used to give her more of an advantage despite it’s size.
On the bottom of the handle, a ring with a carbon fiber cord with a ten foot length limit connecting it to the Stiletto is available for Myria to put around her finger to allow it to be thrown and retrieved, similar to her Kukri
-----
Armor: Cobra’s Scales
A single-piece suit made with grey primary coloration and green lining in King Cobra scale design, the head of which terminating at the neck to instead have a hood that can close around the face.
Portions of the suit are triple layered, splitting to encase a layer of light chain-mail around the torso and head as extra protection.
Thin, lightly bendable screens are on the inside of the hood connected to micro-cameras that are set across the outside to allow Myria to see what’s happening whenever she has it closed around her head.
The suit itself, whenever the hood is closed, is able to shift it’s colors to match her surroundings to provide some camouflage whenever needed.
Subtle pockets are located on the thighs and the back of the waist where Myria’s Kukri and Stilettos can be “sheathed” whenever she’s not using them.
Alongside this, there’s a small opening on the inside of the wrists of the suit where Myria can reach in to find the clamp that can be used to connect her Kukri to her arm-braces to allow for such to be possible.
