12.

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Reaper follows Ruby and JNPR down the road with Qrow walking by next to him. The group have a pretty uneventful walk until they reach a signpost at a fork in the road.

Nora: Ugh, how much further?

Pyrrha pulls out the map and looks for where they are. She looks at the signpost to get a better idea on location.

Pyrrha: Well, we're near a town call Kuroyuri. If we take this road to the right through the mountains.... We may arrive at Mistral in a couple days or so.

Jaune: That's saying if no more psychopaths come to try and kill us.

Nora: Right!

Reaper crosses his arms while Qrow chuckles.

Qrow: That's the spirit.

Reaper points at the sign saying Kuroyuri. Ren notices the Grimm pointing at the sign and crosses his arms.

Ren: That way goes around the mountains and would only add days to our trip. Not to mention that Kuroyuri has been destroyed for years. No point in heading that way.

Reaper looks at the ground on the path and notices a large hoof mark. Ren sees it too and Reaper detects fear immediately rise in Ren, who quickly calms himself using what might be his Semblance.

Ren: Definitely no point.

Reaper nods and takes point for the group as they take the mountain path to Mistral. As they move into the mountain pass, the wind picks up and it becomes chilly. At the back of the group, Jaune notices Ruby shiver a little before he does as well.

Ruby: Maybe taking that detour might've been the more comfortable idea.

Jaune: Maybe so but, brrr! Ren really didn't want to go the other way.

Ruby: Do you have any idea why?

Jaune looks to the forest below them towards the destroyed village of Kuroyuri.

Jaune: Yeah....

Ren and Nora got a bit ahead of Reaper, wanting to scout ahead. As Ren walks along a rock wall, he sighs as Nora walks up to him.

Ren: We never get the easy path, do we?

Nora puts her hands behind her head.

Nora: Easy's no fun anyway.

She drops her hands and turns to him.

Nora: You OK?

Ren nods at her.

Ren: Mmm. And you?

Nora: I've got you here, don't I?

Ren looks at her as if he does not know what to make of her response.

Nora: Come on. There's more than one way up a mountain.

Ren watches her walk forward before smiling. Thunder rumbles and Ren loses the smile, turning to look up at the sky.

Nora: Hey! There's wind blowing out of this cave!

Ren raises an eyebrow and walks over to her.

Nora: Think it might lead to a shortcut to Mistral?

She smirks at him, causing him to smirk as well.

Ren: We can only hope. But I suppose there's only one way to find ou—ah!

He cuts off as a large piece of fabric abruptly blows out from the cave and covers his face. Nora giggles, covering her mouth with her hands, as Ren frees himself.

Ren: Yes, yes. Very funny.

He looks down at the marked fabric in his hands and goes pale. Nora lowers her hands and steps closer to him.

Nora: Hey, what's wrong?

Ren: This is the symbol for Shion Village.

Nora: Shion? But that's... that's the village where we found the Huntsman. It's weeks away from here!

Ren drops the fabric and runs into the cave.

Nora: Ren! Wait!

Ren stops once he is far enough into the cave to have a good look at what's there. Nora catches up to him and becomes alarmed at what she sees.

Nora: Oh my gosh...

In the spacious area, weapons are scattered all over the cave. Swords, axes and staffs are all either propped up or on the ground. Ren moves in and picks up an arrow that looks familiar. He studies it while Nora approaches just behind him. As she looks he also sees what's on the ground... a hoofprint. It is pointed toward the opening on the end of the cave they came from. Ren and Nora's eyes widen and the look back to the entrance.

Ren: No...

As Reaper and the rest of the group walk to try and catch up to Ren and Nora, Pyrrha looks ahead as she hears hoofbeats. 

Pyrrha: What's...that?

Reaper and Qrow walk next to her as they hear the sounds get closer. They all draw their weapons as a massive Grimm that has an Imp and horse combined together comes around a corner.

(Found art by arvalis on DeviantArt. Man, why'd you make the Nuckelavee scarier than it already was?!)

Ruby: T-that's a little creepy!

The next thing they hear is an inhuman shriek.

(Ugh, I got goosebumps hearing that)

End Part!

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