Eclipse - Act 2 - Of Blood and Truth

Chapter 33 - Lake Matsu

Ruby

It was nothing like the Summit's Claim, she felt like she was in danger with every second that passed by. So far, the Claim was the safest place she had known, even safer than Beacon Academy felt. Perhaps that was due to the two Battles of Beacon that occurred? Ruby lost her best friend and she was stabbed there, so it was understandable why she could not feel totally safe there all the time.

But this place? Everything felt like it was a trap, there were people keeping their eyes on them, but they also knew that they would be slaughtered if Lavinia gave the order. Ruby glanced at Eryka, and she was tense. She massaged her wrists constantly, Constantine Damascus laid on her lap. She held on of her extendable arrows in her fingers, spinning it round constantly whilst Dulcis sat next to her, his eyes stared around the area. Paladins marched past and the soldiers were armed to the teeth, using armour from Atlas and modified to suit their needs.

They were intimidating to say the very least, and the statement that they could take on the Black Gallows was most certainly not an understatement. Ruby stood up and she walked towards Eryka, moving past the Tribe that were all together, nervously talking to each other. Shay was sat with his grunts, and he was on edge as well – which made Ruby very nervous. He never struck her as the kind of person to think strategically in situations like these. Ruby approached Eryka and she sat down next to Neptune's sister. "Are you okay, Eryka?" She asked her curiously, and Eryka glanced at her.

"I... well... this place just brings back memories." Eryka sighed.

"Why? Was this where you and Neptune were raised?" Ruby asked, shocked at the idea that this was where they could have been raised.

"Oh no, no... Mom... Lavinia... she never took us here. We were never anywhere near the actual Cartel itself, she and our father wanted to keep the family separate. Well our dad did, Lavinia was always more passionate about leading the Cartel than raising a family. But no... our home was in Mistral. But I've been here a couple times." Eryka explained to her and Ruby looked at Eryka as she spoke. She sighed, pushing her hands against her face, sighing into her palms.

"I'm sorry..." Ruby apologised.

"Don't be, I knew this place was not gonna be fun the moment I knew we were coming here. I guess I didn't prepare myself for how many memories it would bring back." She sighed as she rubbed her scarred knuckles. Ruby noticed them, then Eryka pulled her gloves back on, hiding her self-consciousness from her friend. Ruby did not comment, she was not stupid she could put two and two together.

The Criminal Pit Fighting that Eryka took part in had brought her some pretty terrible scars that had haunted her even now. Her hands were not thick, they were still slender and gentle looking... but the scars changed a lot of that. Ruby then looked at her bow, gently stroking Dulcis' head. He softly chirped next to Ruby. "I never asked... did you make that bow?" She asked her.

"Yeah. But it wasn't something I always knew; it was something that Li taught me." Eryka explained as she held Constantine Damascus to her. Ruby held the huge Bow in her hands, she was surprised by the weight of it, but she also knew it was a shotgun as well as a Bow. She slid her fingers across the impressive craftsmanship of the Bow. She looked back at Eryka as she held the weapon. "You really are a dork for weapons, aren't ya?" Eryka chuckled.

"Oh yeah... I never was great at socialising with people. But weapons? That was always my thing." Ruby admitted as she turned Constantine Damascus over so she could admire the many markings that were engrained into the metal.

"I must admit... if you told me when I first came to Beacon four years ago that I would have a girlfriend and become a Huntress? Well I doubt I would have believed you." She admitted, and Ruby smiled.