The forest was silent, not a chirp or rustle of the brush to be heard.
Then the ground shook, leaves shaking free from the trees around us.
Weapons were readied as loud crashes came from straight ahead, the source barreling through all that greenery and bark without falter. A pair of pincers were the first to topple the trees straight ahead, followed by the rest of the creature's shell protected form.
Dire circumstances notwithstanding, Beowolves had eventually become the weak canon fodder the show depicted them as to me. Not much they could do to me when I could crush and snap their bones without moving a step.
The three around me scattered, splitting the giant scorpion like creature's attention before it could choose anyone as a target.
Its tail bent, that golden stinger at its tip winding around for a swing at all of us.
I raised my hand, pulling in the opposite direction of the swing. The invisible force slowed and knocked it off course, the others able to close in and attack at its hard shell, one hanging back to gun at its many exposed eyes.
Despite them not having aura, I couldn't quite treat the bigger Grimm the same as beowolves.
Other hand raised, I pulled downwards, slamming pressure down onto the attacking deathstalker. It slowed its movement, but it still flared about, snapping and swinging at the other three who were able to stay one step ahead with my help.
The sheer power packed into the towering forms of deathstalkers and other large Grimm allowed them to fight against my telekinesis without the need for the natural resistance granted by something like an aura shield.
As one of the Spiders leaped over a snap of the deathstalker's pincers, I curled a hand into a fist, focusing on the spot they were aiming for. The outer shell cracked right as their weapon came down, their blade cutting through the normally thick armor and rending flesh, a splatter of blood drawn free.
That raw power just meant I had to go about things a little differently. Glynda's semblance might be simple but damn if it wasn't versatile.
I did the same for the others, constantly cracking at the things armor while slowing its wide sweeping flails. It wasn't long until the combined assault brought it down, the thing not even managing a final screech before collapsing.
The scattered pieces of its broken shell. The dark blood marking some of the Spiders and grass. The darkness that made up its main body. Even the golden stinger I'd been careful to keep in check. All began to evaporate and dissipate into fleeting darkness. If it weren't for the fallen trees and areas torn up by its attacks there wouldn't be any sign it was ever here.
It always reminded me of Attack on Titan.
A whistle came from behind.
"Nice work out here." Melanie said, emerging from the cave we've all been guarding alongside Miltia. The bag she'd taken in with her was gone, replaced by one nearly identical but with different bits of wear and tear my Sharingan instantly picked up on. She wasn't as bothered by its weight either so there wasn't much in there. "Having someone like you around makes these annoying ass runs easier."
I offered a silent nod, then, like the ones I'd been helping fight, fell in line behind the two as we began to make our way back to the city.
But, as usual, the walk was far from silent.
"You really don't plan on asking what we got you out here doing with us, do you?" Melanie asked, looking over her shoulder, at me.
"I don't get paid to ask questions."
"The old lady is going to love having someone like you around." Melanie said dryly. "Well, I'm trying to make conversation here, so listen up." The twins slowed their pace, nodding for the others to take the lead as they settled beside me. "A lot of the work we do is in the city, but we've got plenty of business beyond it too. Having supply points set up helps keep things moving smoothly." Melanie explained, finishing with a huff. "Dear old mom thinks we waste too much time doing nothing in the city so were in charge of handling the one's closet to it."
All just confirmations of things I'd already put together. "This doesn't seem like something you should be telling me."
Melanie's thin brow rose. "Why? Planning on doing something stupid?"
"Who knows?" I said, shrugging.
The past week, each day involving jobs all similar to this one where I accompanied members of Spider beyond the walls and helped fight off Grimm, was clearly the start of a vetting process. The twins often led those jobs, Melanie bluntly probing for information about me throughout all of them.
Honestly, they didn't need to worry about me.
I had bigger concerns than whatever a group like Spider was up to. There really wasn't much incentive for a group of organized criminals concerned with making a profit to ever work for Salem and her people. Kingdoms being destroyed and humanity slowly wiped out wasn't exactly conducive for business. Could they sell me out for lien without being clued in on that kingdom destroying bit? Sure, but that was just another way for me to get exactly what I wanted.
Whether I tracked them down or Salem's people confronted me first, it'd end with them dead.
This work was convenient though. A steady income of lien, low risk, plenty of opportunity to gather info on my own while waiting on word from Lil Miss Malachite, and a developing reputation.
There was no reason not to go along with whatever shady stuff they were up to.
Especially since it helped keep a certain someone nearby.
XOXO
I tapped my fingers along the edge of my isolated table, occasionally exchanging a nod with the members of Spiders I've fought alongside but never paying them too much attention, my focus on the other side of the busy bar.
Cinder, back from her own work with some of the Spiders, was in the middle of an argument with those who kept a constant guard around Miss Malachite's private table. Eventually she was forced to give up on whatever she wanted, finding a lone table to sit at while scowling at anyone who came close.
The usual for her.
"You'd think she'd have a better attitude than the guy hiding his face all the time." Melanie said, pulling out the chair across from me and taking a seat.
"Here you go." Miltia said, smiling as she took a seat on the left and set down an envelope.
"Thanks." I said, pocketing the lien. Like everyone else, I didn't see much of Miss Malachite anymore, others handling things like payouts or dealing out work. The twins had made a habit out of handling mine and Cinder's, taking every attempt to bait out information from us. Vain curiosity or orders from their mother?
Didn't matter either way I supposed.
Rather than making a quick trip over to Cinder and returning, both of them were relaxing in their seats, Melanie signaling for a drink with a casual wave of her hand.
"Aren't you supposed to be paying her?" I questioned.
"Tsk." Melanie huffed, her sister frowning right along with her. "Don't feel like dealing with her right now. When she fixes that damn attitude, she won't have this problem."
I hummed, gaze jumping past her and refocusing on Cinder.
There was no room to justify anything she did in the show under Salem's thumb but that background of hers was a bit of a different story.
An orphan turned slave that had been literally kept in line with a shock collar. It was no surprise that she snapped and ended up killing the people responsible. The thing with her teacher was a bit of gray area but if reality matched the show, the man had handled the whole situation like a dumbass. Cinder might've killed him but drawing his weapons on an unstable child he knew was the victim of abuse? Training that child at all in the first place instead of freeing her and securing some real help for all that baggage?
I don't think there were any words for the sheer stupidity involved in all those half assed decisions.
Someone like that didn't deserve the title huntsman.
Now that I had time to separate that girl over there from what I expected, unlike everyone else, I couldn't hold her anti-social tendencies against her.
"I can handle it for you." I offered.
Melanie raised a brow. "Why? She more your type or something?" She asked. The two had tried flirting with me but after a bit of side stepping it, they got the message, easing up in that regard.
"Nothing like that." I said. "She's just a kid. No offense to you two but she must've been through some shit for this to be where she ended up."
"I really can't tell how old you are under that thing." Melanie said, staring more intently as if my mask would suddenly vanish. "Suit yourself. Don't complain if that bitch ruins your mood." After a moment she signaled for Miltia to hand over another envelop.
I grabbed it, getting up and making my way across the bar. Naturally, Cinder's scowl fell on me as I got closer, only letting up once I placed her payout on the table and slid it over.
She caught it, stared up at me, then looked down, opening up the package to count out the lien. Once she was satisfied, it was hidden away, narrowed eyes back on me. "Why are you the one giving this to me?"
"The twins didn't feel like dealing with you." I bluntly pointed out.
She grunted, glare flicking past me before returning just as quickly. "What do you want?"
"What do you mean?"
"You think I owe you or something don't you? What do you want?" She repeated, her eyes narrowing further. Very cynical, but again, not something that could be held against her. And not necessarily wrong.
"How about your name?" I suggested while stepping around the table and extending my hand. "You can call me Talon."
Granted, I didn't really expect it from her, she glared at my hand, her own already down near her weapons and prepared to draw. Even after realizing I wasn't trying anything, she stared at it as though it were the most offending thing in the world, before coming to a stand and walking past me.
"Cinder." She muttered, voice barely audible among the sea of conversation within the bar. I turned, watching her back as she left.
She wasn't completely against basic conversation with me, or, despite her attitude, she actually did feel that she owed me some degree of friendliness or at the very least common courtesy.
Screw it, I've seen enough.
It was time to stop playing watcher and steer her away from the worst of what she could become myself. A single friend being the thing that completely changed someone's fate was a cliché for a reason after all. Sometimes that was all it really took to change a person's life.
Summer wouldn't have needed half the time I took to decide that.
I held back a sigh.
No one could match up to her, least of all me.
XOXO
(A/N: That last line should make it abundantly clear if it hasn't been yet but Talon has his own problems that he's flat out ignoring to get things done. Tragic.
Anyways, before I start spoiling by talking, here's the link for those who want to read two weeks ahead:
patreon .com/ thirdratewriter
Got some business to take care of so I'm keeping this A/N short. Hope you all had a good weekend.)