Dark, Bloodied characters in Remnant

Chapter 14

Hey guys, here's an update.

I think im gonna save part two of pontiff for another time, theres something i wanna do here.

"Where do we go, Jaune?" Ruby asked her local cartographer for directions, looking spry and lovable like she always was.

"It says...it says that we have to cut through some abandoned ruins." The recovered youngster tilted the map sideways over and again, before coming to the conclusions that the quickest way to the next town was the remains of an old town.

"Does the map say what the name of the town is?" There was another with them, similarly aged and dressed mostly in green. He asked this specific question, for the rumor that the upcoming location was once a place of only death, and that only a madman would seek passage through here. All three of them inspected the map closely, looking for the same answer.

And all three of them groaned inquisitively when they found that the little broken down house on the map held no name to it. It was merely a house that had undergone the passage of time, shown through the walls that fell, and the roof that tilted precariously close to the same fate.

"Uhm. Guys!?" The final addition to their traveling band, yet another of close, if not the same age. She was at the peak of a tree, and was the only one properly looking ahead. Her three compatriots turned their attention to her.

"Are we meant to go through that HUGE forest!?" Even at tree height, all she could see was the stretch of dark green leaves, eventually meeting with the sky.

The three on ground level finally took the time to look away from the map, and finally noticed the expanse of the forest that stood in the distance.

"This forest is abandoned by men and Grimm alike. Under normal circumstances, we would go around it, but we're in a bit of a hurry, right?" The body of green waved a hand to further express his opinion.

Naturally, their main goal was to reach a specific sanctuary, but it would do them no harm to get a bit of a headstart by cutting through these ancient woods. So it is that the three apart from the green one resolved on passing through the great obstacle ahead, as opposed to traversing the area around it. The teen on the top of the tree leaped off, landing as if she had only dropped an inch before reaching the dirt ground.

"So, why was it abandoned, Ren?" The team's leader could only question it's reason.

"Supernatural activities, from what I've heard."

"You mean ghosts!?" From behind the three, their tree-friend filled with giggles, the contagious kind.

"People always felt like they were being watched whenever they set a single foot into the forest. Most of the time, they disappeared without a trace as to where they've gone, it's certainly a mysterious place, and everyone can always just go around, it's not that far. But it's best to arrive at Haven as quick as we can." Ren still eyed the woods ahead, already feeling observed, just from a birds that perched nearby. It really was imperative that they reach the Kingdom as quick as possible.

"Whatever's got people like that, I'm sure we can handle it! We're hunters! Onwards!" Suddenly, she took charge, leading the other three straight into the oversized forest, where no Grimm dares to nest.

"AHAHAHA!" She was followed closely by someone with an identical disposition, despite the age gap between them.

Through the overgrown woods they traveled, past a place where undead once congregated. Under the sky of leaves, around the infinitely deep hole of pure darkness, until they found theirselves at a clearing with only one detail, other than the slight waterfall to the side.

"Wow...This looks like a huge trap." The four of them already had their personal effects at the ready, scanning the area an unnecessarily high amount of times.

Everyone was looking at the one detail that gave character to this otherwise bland land-scape. A ginormous grave-looking thing, suspiciously free of the moss that coated every other man-made structure. An impossibly huge sword stuck into the grass in front, from the size, it could easily have been used by giants. The landmark was surrounded by an incredible amount of swords in a similar placement; thrust into the ground.

They were in amazement, Ruby and Nora inched closer towards it, stepping around the rusted weapons found between them and the grave. Upon closer inspection, the giant weapon looked ancient as the forest itself. Across the length of the blade, metal was chipped and broken off in some places, the joint between it and the hilt was lined with detail.

Ruby's own amazement of weapons forced her hand, and it hovered closely to the relic, where Nora eyeballed the weapon itself.

Over with Jaune and Ren, there was a little more caution in the air.

'We could get ambushed at any moment, be careful, me!'

The two behind the girls steadily observed the clearing.

The waterfall was small in size, but it's water flowed quickly. A narrow stream of the clear liquid formed of it, stretching away into the forest. The clearing was well-hidden by a ring of dark trees as the night settled in. A large animal climbed onto the landmark at the center.

...

...

!

"Ruby, Nora! Get away from there!" He shouted from the entrance towards the girls, who turned back around to discern the problem. Meanwhile, the other boy only remained in silence as he could only believe this to be a legend of some sort.

But a shadow took ground below their feet, and they looked upwards. Just so did the millions who came before them.

"Huh?" The two girls followed his eyes, and found the face of an ancient guardian.

"Uh...Wha!?" The wheels turned in Nora and Ruby's brain, as they finally grasped that what they were looking at was the face of an aggravated giant wolf.

The face, as furry as it is, bared aggression towards the girls. A black snout just above a jaw lined with the same color. She snarled loudly and gained a frenzy-like widen of the amber eyes. The great animal recoiled downwards off the large tombstone, and took the handle of the lodged relic within her mouth. Running along the grass, she skid to a stop behind the humans, who had come together. They held their weapons much tighter now.

They tightened form and muttered to form a plan, while a cry directed to the moon filled the night with it's ring. They put aside their disbelief only moments ago, much of it arose when they discovered that it was not some giant Grimm beast, just a large wolf.

The humans kept together, a shield-man at point. She was already above him.

Her head turned, and the giant blade followed followed with her, although somehow it gained a bright blue hue. The momentum in the s***h pulled the wolf away from the four, who now splintered off on their own, leaving point-guard by himself.

Sif eyed the almost unflinching warrior, unfazed as his allies dispersed like wind. Her ears told her of the loud falling of feet against the grass, there was one to each of her sides. Their footsteps became louder and closer, then the large blade was brought around. The wolf of old spun on the spot, hitting both ambushers at once. The large blade knocked the lighter humans backwards.

She twirled again in the same motion, almost hitting the stray ninja-like boy. He slid along the grass while the blade whirled above his head. But before any kind of strike, the wolf swung her head up at an angle and flung herself backwards, undoing any effort of attack.

It was often easy to misunderstand the ability of this old wolf, a well designed and detailed sword was not meant to be used for animals, instead for valiant knights. For the four humans here, it was likely their first time observing such a spectacle outside of false re-telling of legends or pictures of fictional characters.

She might have fought better without the sword, instead only using her claws and fangs. It was only natural, she was given them, why not make use of it? But it wasn't simple power that would make her forgo this sentimental blade.

There were wonderful times in her young age, and this sword was present with the one who brought it.

She turned to the little girl with the great scythe, who had already recovered. The great wolf turned her head to heave the greatsword around in a large angle, and returned the s***h in the same angle.

It seems, that since the last undead came through Darkroot, humans have become at least a little bit more agile, evident in how the red-draped girl leaped backwards far more than what any human she was used to.

In her memory, only the race of gods could achieve such a thing.

The thumping of boots and a frantic yell attracted the wolf's eyes.

The size of the grey wolf forced a surge of anxiety unto the heart of the young old instinct struck through his soul with a blade of fear, and surged an old nightmare in his eyes. It was moreso the fact that the beasts he was used to never showed any sort of expression upon their faces.

And this one, likely the only remaining from her kind, or era perhaps, was the first of any kind of living beast for the fearful teenager to have to combat

Sif's wide eyes detailed only by a minute black dot was easily connected with the frenzy of blood that are craved by beasts who have given into the rabidness of a never-ending hunt.

The old wolf rushed the young human, who's eyes seemed to mirror her's out of fear.

As Sif proceeded, so did the young man's agitated heart.

Out of nowhere, she reared on her hind legs, and thrust the relic blade into the dirt of the soil.

Everything halted at that point, weapons were lowered, and the grass ruffled no more.

They stomped against the grass a little more when the great wolf treaded towards their member, the shielded hunter.

His three compatriots started to rush once more when Sif trampled him under her front paws, and pushed her nose into his personal space.

With a grumble that could be felt across the entire clearing, came short rushes of air, and the convulsing of her black nose. In all her waiting, and all her halting of undead, she lost the passing of time.

On his scent, Sif found the absence of the great curse.

It had the sharp stench of death, and it was easy for her to tell between who was afflicted, and who was spared.

Weather these humans had yet to be consumed by the Darksign, or even if it had disappeared, this was no place for humans.

Darkroot was no place for humans, a great corruption had spread around.

Her paw lightened, and she lifted herself up from the little figure that writhed on the ground. Slowed to a walking pace, she lifted the handle of the greatsword, and returned it to the front of the grave, for her to use against the next undead to come through.

She howled to the moon, and disappeared behind the giant tombstone.

Sif never ventured past Artorias' grave, and as such was not able to see that the Abyss had faded under the progression of existence. The flame, and the sacrifices to prolong it, have all but ended.

Thankfully, she may never have to lift that sword again.

And, with any hope, the old orange lines just in front of the door that inscribed 'tears' would never come true ever again

...

...

"Uh, what was that?"

A collective mind, wasn't it?

Heey

2017 is shaping up okay.

reeeally starting to think about a bloodborne chapter.

i still havent forgotten about reqs though!