Chapter Text
She didn’t know what to do…what to think…how to think of anything besides her sister’s death. With the sand scratching across her skin and the Vacuo sun beating harshly down upon her, Winter fought each and every grimm that dared to come near her people. All she could do was fight. The minute she stopped her mind was bombarded with the memory of her little sister falling, of her disappearing. Weiss was gone…and it was all her fault. If she’d been faster maybe she could’ve saved her. If she hadn’t let Cinder distract her from getting them safely across then maybe. But maybes wouldn’t bring her sister back. Coughing up pieces of blown around sand, she floated to the front lines and cleared away the remaining grimm with one blast of her maiden powers. Powers she only got because her best friend was also dead. It was swiftly cruel the world could be. The sandstorm was cutting visibility and there was no way that the current huntsmen would last very much longer considering their aura depletion. She needed to think of something, right now getting these people to safety was her first priority. Spinning around to whoever remained she gathered her voice.
“Gather all the citizens in a compact vicinity, I need them to be close together in order to shield them,” she ordered the huntsmen. Hesitating for a second, she saw that hatred and despise flash over their features before they complied. Soon enough the remaining folks of Atlas and Mantle were huddled together shielding each other from the storm. Right where she needed them if this were to work. She desperately hoped that it would. Picturing the waves of air in her mind, Winter reached out her arms, letting her hands guide the raging winds to somewhere new. Surrounding everyone like a shield, the air carved a path and kept others from being attacked. “When I move you move, understood?”
“Yes ma’am,” a small group of remaining atlas military personnel saluted and waited for her to proceed. Others looked on in fear and disdain, some nodded in understanding. She began the move. It was like trying to move water which only came back to press on harder. The winds were rough, controlling, and never ending. She had no idea where she was going, but she was not about to stop. Little by little, she just needed to make it out of the storm - that was step one. It was becoming increasingly quieter, the citizens braced themselves for attacks or the weather even though they were being shielding from it all. The tension in their stances and paranoia reminded her of James. Winter shook the thought away, it’s not the time for that. It seemed like hours had passed, but suddenly the pressure of the storm eased and the sand began to disappear. Cautiously, she lowered her own winds and was greeted with the clear blue skies above. On the horizon there was the faint shadow of buildings, they were almost to Vacuo. Letting out a sigh of relief, Winter pointed her saber forward as she lowered herself to the ground.
“We’re almost there, keep your eyes forward everyone.” They began the trek to the nearby city.
~
It wasn’t at all what she had been expecting. Of course, Vacuo used to be quite the wealthy kingdom, but after the great war its people had embraced somewhat of a survival of the fittest mentality. And Winter knew that Schnees especially would not be welcomed with open arms. As the large group of Atlas folk walked through the streets, they garnered looks of confusion. They were dressed for snow and ice in a place where neither really existed. It was hot and dry, sweat trickled down her back inside of her shirt as they marched on. She knew some would recognize her, but she’d hoped it wouldn’t happen so soon.
“Where do you think you’re goin’?” A tall, scruffy looking man with silver hair and amber eyes approached her with two others behind him. “What’s a Schnee doing here of all places?” Brushing his nose, he looked down at her with a wicked smile and chuckled.
“I’m sure you heard of the recent disaster that dawned upon Atlas. I am here to bring refugees to Shade Academy. So, if you would please let us by, it would be much appreciated,” she tried to explain calmly. Keeping her face void of emotion, Winter waited as she watched the man scan the group behind her.
“They’re welcome of course, but you are a different story.” She held in her impatience. Her family hadn’t treated Vacuo well, so this was to be expected, but it was the last thing she needed right now.
“I’m escorting them to the academy, therefore I am necessary. Whether or not I am personally welcomed is of no concern to me when it comes to completing my duty.” The man’s face scrunched uncomfortably and his teeth began to show in a snarl. His companions stiffened in annoyance and the surrounding crowd watched as the three began to shift atop the sands. “I will ask again, please let us by.”
“I don’t know, boys! Whadya think?” The leader smirked. “Why don’t you beg for it, Schnee?” Chuckling to themselves, murmurs rose within both the Atlas and Vacuo crowds. This had quickly become a question of pride, one which Winter had no intention of losing. However, given the situation, and the amount of people who were reliant on her getting them safely to Shade…
“Look I don’t know why you think you're special bud, but if you don’t move I will kick your asses myself,” an unfamiliar voice appeared beside her. Glancing to her right, Winter’s attention was captured by vibrant red eyes and an irate frown which graced her companion’s face. The intensity in her glance kept Winter from looking away. The woman looked familiar, but she couldn’t figure out where she’d seen her before. The guys in front stiffened even more, but the woman beside her stood her ground. “I don’t wanna fight you, that’s not why we’re here.” The whispers in the crowd grew larger as a few merchants began to step in. She looked opposite of Winter in every way, which in this case was helping them greatly.
“Just stop this already Farran. We don’t like the Atlas elite either, but they’ve had it rough as is.” A couple of merchants addressed the silver haired man, placing a hand on his shoulder gently. From the looks of it, his companions were already being swept into the crowd and backed away. He now stood alone, glancing at the ground with furrowed brows.
“Fine.” Shrugging off the merchant’s touch, Farran marched away with heavy steps and a pissy attitude. Winter felt her shoulder relax and the tension in her body release soon enough. Turning to the right, she could finally see the woman head on — she was beautiful. Not the Atlas type of beauty, ridged and refined, but instead passionate and strong. Clearing her throat in an attempt to clear her mind, she addressed her finally.
“Thank you,” Winter smiled gently at her, watching closely as the woman turned to her, the bright sun illuminating her skin and brightening her mint locks. “I-um…I don’t know your name, but thank you.”
“Emerald,” The woman said as she made her way back to the group. “We needed to get through, so I just took a different approach, nothing special.” Winter watched Emerald walk away, trailing her eyes down her form. Her attention was eventually captured when she felt a tug on her side. Looking down, she saw a small boy pointing forward with a dirtied bear clutched in his arm. A warmth rose in her chest as she crouched down to meet him.
“We’ll get going soon, I promise.” Patting his head, the boy nodded shyly into his toy and reached back for his mother’s arm. She couldn’t help but think about her own mother, looking up to search for her. Finally finding her within the group, she observed her only briefly before turning back to the task at hand, the ache of her heart remained. Announcing full voiced, they continued on “Alright everyone, let’s continue to move! We’ll arrive at Shade soon.”
There was nothing more than heat beating down upon them as they plowed through the streets of Vacuo to reach the academy. It was the hottest she’d ever been, and frankly it was the hottest she ever hoped to be. She was not built for this type of weather, and as she observed the Atlesian and Mantle people shed layers she quickly realized neither were they. Gathering whatever small bit of energy she had left, she conjured a cloud above them, shielding them from the aggressive suns of the desert. The winter maiden flames burst from her eyes as they continued on, the cloud joining them on their journey. It would be difficult if people began passing out from heat stroke or worse dehydration. She needed to get them there quickly.
Winter’s curiosity eventually got the better of her as she glanced back at Emerald. She seemed to be chatting with Oscar, the boy who the kids insisted on rescuing. Guilt panged at her heart as she watched them, the occasional smile appearing on the kids face as faint giggles could be heard. Was Emerald always a part of their party? Winter couldn’t remember, her mind hadn’t been focusing on anything lately besides her sister’s loss. This was the first time she was able to tear her mind away from it. Of all things, Emerald had gotten her to smile and forget her pains for no reason at all. Shaking her head, Winter turned her attention back forward. She wouldn’t, couldn’t forget what happened in that gateway realm. No, she wouldn't forgive herself - she didn’t deserve that.