Die

Summer looked up at Raven as the black-haired woman clicked off the light in Yang’s room. Her heart sank as she got the full blast of guilt and despair from her. Raven looked down and away, a hand on her sword. Summer sent a wave of confusion and concern at her. Team STRQ had been falling apart since she’d inherited the Spring Maiden’s abilities at random, but she didn’t understand. Why was her best friend leaving? She had a daughter to raise and care for! Raven leaned against the wall, obviously unable to meet her eyes. “Summer… I don’t want Yang involved in this war. Ozpin’s a fool to think he can stand up to salem. This world will fall and we will all be destroyed. Despite that…” She looked back at Yang’s door before dropping her gaze and shoulders. Summer reached out and took one of Raven’s hands, trying to make sense of her emotional cocktail. Anger, fear, cowardice, guilt, regret… Raven’s emotions were volatile, but they’d never been this conflicted before. What exactly was going through her head? She felt the storm calm, going out like a flame in the wind as a singular emotion replaced it: desperation . She wasn’t sure if she’d ever felt Raven’s mood like this before. Summer blinked as she put the pieces together. Alarm flooded her being and Raven staggered to the left a little, a hand on her head. She smiled sheepishly as she flipped her hood up.She always hated whenever she overloaded Raven like this, but that was neither here nor there at the moment. “Please try to keep Yang out of this war if possible. Summer, I really doubt Ozpin’s presence will be enough to keep you safe forever, but it should hopefully deter Salem long enough to let Yang grow up and get away from the city of Vale and strike out on her own. Never tell her about her cowardly mother.” Raven put a hand on her sword, but Summer gripped it with both of hers. She sent a desperate plea tinged with pure despair. Raven braced herself against the wall, hand once again on her head as the episode passed. A think silence settled over the two women and Summer felt Raven’s conflict. After a few moments, Raven gave a small nod. “...Knowing how Ozpin is, I wouldn’t be surprised if you died on a mission for him. I don’t want to be involved in this damn war any longer, but it’d be better than letting the Maiden’s powers fall into Salem’s hands. I guess we’ll all die eventually but if it means a better hope for Yang…” Summer looked down at the ground, guilt flooding every pore on her head. She didn’t want this to be her goodbye with her best friend but… Raven put a hand on her head and Summer looked up. “You’ll be a fantastic mother, Summer. Much better than I ever would. Thank you.” Summer nodded and sent a rush of gratitude toward Raven. Her friend offered her a bleary smile before swinging her sword and opening a portal. She stepped through and the silence settled around Summer until Yang’s cry pierced it. She flipped her hood down and walked into the room, taking her new daughter into her arms.