Die

Pain ripped through Raven’s body and she grabbed her knee, barely holding back a scream. Fire flared through her other one and she doubled over, hand across her mouth. Oh gods, this was it, wasn’t it? She had shared in Summer’s pains before, but it had never been like this. She wouldn’t have—     Her left hand flew to her right elbow and she tumbled off her cot, curled into a tight ball. Shards of bone tore into muscle as her left elbow shattered as well. Her stomach heaved but she forced it back, trying to ignore her mind as she struggled to roll to her knees. It screamed about her broken joins, but she knew it was just an illusion. Fear flooded the roots of her hair, desperation tugging at her lungs as she coughed. Oh gods, Summer was drowning internally.     Raven staggered to her feet, nerves screaming over the shattered bones, but she braced herself. Shaking hands fumbled her sword from its sheath and she managed to open the portal, stumbling through. About a dozen men turned to face her and she heard a soft gasp from the ground. Her legs threatened to give out from under her and she heard a laugh.     “Seems like we’ll be able to kill two birds with one stone here. Hard to believe you’re the great Raven Branwen with how badly you’re—” She didn’t let the woman finish and drove her sword through her abdomen, slicing her cleanly in two. The halves fell to the ground with a thud. The other lackeys all paused and shifted as Raven turned her glare on them.     Even with as weak as she was, she made short work of them. Her life in the Branwen tribe had hardened her to even the worst pains, so she could fight under even the worst conditions. Of course, the sensation of blood slowly filling her lungs had made it more difficult than it should have been, but she still managed.     She could only collapse next to Summer afterward, continuing to shake. Her eyes blurred over when she saw her best friend’s mangled body. Even though she’d felt the pain, it hadn’t prepared her to actually see her twisted limbs at unnatural angles. Summer’s breaths came in short, ragged gasps and Raven coughed, entire body wracking as she struggled to take in air herself. Summer’s silver eyes focused despite the pain she was in. Her left hand twitched and Raven gently rested one palm against Summer’s cheek. “MeMe, I…” The tears spilled down her face and she rested their foreheads together. They coughed in tandem and Raven sat there for a few moments before pulling away. Her tears fell onto Summer’s face, breaths growing ever shorter. She removed her hands from her cheeks and placed them over Summer’s heart. Despite everything, she felt an eerie calm sweep over her. Summer offered a weak smile and nodded. Even in all of this, she was trying to make it as easy on her as possible. Raven was used to killing but her best friend ? It just… Taking advantage of the calm, she summoned her aura to her hands. “...Thank you for loving Yang.” Her voice was barely audible even to herself, but Summer nodded. Both women closed their eyes as the same time. With one sharp burst of aura, for the first time in around a decade, Raven felt nothing but her own despair and the pain receded. She felt Summer’s head loll to the side and she doubled over, her cries echoing in the cold, spring night. How long she cried, she wasn’t sure. Minutes or hours, there was no telling. All she knew was that she felt empty and hollow despite feeling the Spring Maiden’s powers flow through her body. When she finally opened her eyes, Summer’s smile greeted her. Even in death, she smiled. She’d been the light and heart of Team STRQ and now… She was dead. This was all Ozpin’s fault. Fury tried to bubble in her chest, but the abyss in her heart absorbed the heat. Raven forced herself to her feet and shouldered Summer’s rifle, then picked up her cooling body. She started to walk aimlessly. She didn’t know where she was going; all she knew was that she couldn’t leave her there among Salem’s men. After all she’d done, after all she’d sacrificed… She deserved so much better . Morning broke and her shaking legs screamed at her. She glanced around and blinked, eyes one again bleary as a pink-petaled tree blocked out the rising sun. It shimmered in the pale sunlight and she sat Summer down. This was the perfect place. To live short but brightly was the warrior’s way. Nothing could be more perfect for her gentle best friend than the beautiful cherry blossoms. She’d have to plant some rose bushes when she got the chance.