[h2][center][color=a0410d]Russ[/color] [color=gray]The Wronged Man[/color] [color=Crimson]Lan[/color] and [color=39b54a]Umuthi[/color][/center][/h2]

Russ woke up the following morning feeling more rested than she’d ever felt before. There was no ache in her bones, no soreness in her muscles, and no crick in her neck from a rock-pillow or earthy mattress. It would have been without a doubt the best morning she’d ever had, had the thing that awoke her not been the message-beeping of her scroll.
 
To be fair, that in and of itself wasn’t bad. Reading the damn thing took her awhile, but that too wasn’t the issue, it was [i]what[/i] she read that unnerved her. Some of the words she flat-out didn’t recognize, but she gathered that there was someone presently waiting to meet with her, and that was enough to turn the good feelings she had sour.
 
Whoever this was, whoever was claiming that they knew her, they were lying, simple as that.
 
She hopped down from the bunk of her bed, light and quiet, given the early status of the morning. That said, as she snatched her blades up and made her way out, she didn’t check to see if her departure had awoken anyone else. Wasn’t that she didn’t care, but whoever this mystery motherfucker was, Russ wasn’t too keen on being the butt of their story.
 
As Russ left the room, a lemur tailed faunus emerged from one of the closets, label gun in hand [i][color=crimson]“I wonder where she’s headed.”[/color][/i] she pondered a moment before setting the labeller on a table, picking up her folded weapon from a shelf and following behind

It was a notable journey finding her way out and back to the school’s entrance, but at length she arrived, and to no grand reveal. There were two people present, one a familiar looking teacher and the other, sure enough, she didn’t recognize in the slightest. However, he glared at her like she was some age-old enemy of his, his scarred face turned cold and ugly in disgust. 

There was a sharp comment on her tongue, but before she could even begin to tilt the conversation, he stormed forward. 

[color=gray]”[b]You[/b], you’re the little thief,”[/color] he growled, and only when he was standing before her did she realize how mountainous he was, and how...not, she was. 

[color=a0410d]”Hey now, I--”[/color]

She didn’t get to finish whatever excuse she had lined up, something reflexive, almost involuntary in response to an accusation like that. The man grabbed her by the collar and hauled her close.

Nearby, hidden behind a statue, a red haired girl’s hand instinctively went for her weapon, holding back a moment to observe the situation

[color=gray]”Do you have any idea what you’ve caused? Do you? Justice would be done to see you [i]hanged[/i], do you understand me?”[/color]

A loud cough from the teacher standing by drew his attention from her for a moment [color=39b54a]“I would appreciate you not manhandling the students of this Academy, sir.”[/color] the effeminate huntsman requested politely, taking a step forward.

The man let her go, albeit roughly, and Russ stumbled back. Every instinct screamed at her to make a break for it, but something told her more definitively that she wasn’t going to escape. 

[color=gray]”Student? Her?”[/color] he hissed, and turned again to Russ. [color=gray]”Little liar, too, are you?”[/color]

Russ looked to the teacher, whoever they were, in the hopes that they might be able to do [i]something[/i].

[color=39b54a]“Regardless of her past transgressions Miss Russet completed initiation, as such she is fully qualified as a student of this Academy.”[/color] the green eyed teacher stared down the man, resting a hand on his belt  [color=39b54a]“If you take issue with that you may discuss it with the headmaster, however I doubt your having assaulted of one of his students will reflect well in whatever complaint is lodged.” [/color]Umuthi stepped forward further [color=39b54a]“Now, please let us settle the matter you came here to discuss.”[/color]

[color=gray]”Reflect well?”[/color] the man said, and met Umuthi’s gaze with his own. [color=gray]”How about the death of twelve people? Would that reflect well on your school? Twelve, elderly, men, women and children.”[/color] he again looked to Russ, a finger jabbed at her chest. [color=gray]”Did you ever think of that? Did you ever even consider the consequences of what you did?”[/color]

[color=a0410d]”I don’t fucking know who you are, guy!”[/color] Russ shouted, a bit surprised at herself for getting worked up so easily. But what choice did she have? The guy was blaming her for what? Murder? Ridiculous, she’d never so much as sucker-punched someone. 

But the man didn’t seem to care, in fact, her ignorance only seemed to fuel his anger. He took hold of The Daughter’s handle before she could react and flung it from its sheathe, onto the ground. The inscription was far easier to make out in the open daylight. Russ felt her throat close up.

[color=gray]”I was their protector.”[/color] 

Whatever Russ tried to say came out as mumbles, and she didn’t stop him from yanking what was left of The Son from her as well. He stared at the blades, dented and misshapen from their time beneath the rubble, and for a moment his anger flickered to reveal a crippling sorrow. And then, just as quickly, he was stone again.

[color=gray]”I will not forget what you’ve done, and what [i]you[/i]”[/color] he snapped at the teacher. [color=gray]”Have chosen to harbor in your walls. There’s no blood on her hands, but make no mistake, you house a murderer.”[/color]

[color=39b54a]“Any true huntsman will give their life if it means saving just one innocent,”[/color] the druid reminded him [color=39b54a]“That twelve died and yet you live is blood on your hands.”[/color] Umuthi glanced over to Russ, [color=39b54a]“Miss Russet, please return the swords you stole from this man.”[/color] the faunus instructed.

The man looked on the verge of lashing out, and he might have, even if the action would have been useless, even suicidal. But Russ intervened in a quiet way, offering the Daughter out as a barring between Umuthi and himself. 

He took a deep breath, and in it she saw the scars were further than just his face, trailing down to his neck where they became gashes and horrible lacerations. She pried her eyes down, and pulled her hand away after he’d snatched the blade from it.

[color=gray]”This school will not protect you forever,”[/color] he said at last, but his angered had waned. He sounded resigned, the sorrow had crept back. [color=gray]”You’d never answer for this on your own, but mark my words, justice will be done.”[/color]

And with that, the man seemed finished. He gave Umuthi an expectant look, and headed for the airship bay to be taken away. 

When he was gone, Russ’s eyes remained affixed to the ground. Sure, some part of her was scared for the man’s threat, but she felt her hands shaking and knew it was for another reason entirely. 

[color=a0410d]”C-can I go…?”[/color] she mumbled at last to Umuthi.

[color=39b54a]“You will be needing a new weapon, Rori. I’ll have you placed in one of Professor Waldgrun’s remedial courses, he’ll ensure you have the tools you require.”[/color] the teacher turned to face her [color=39b54a]“While he acted out of line, he’s not wrong, actions have consequences, regardless of the intention behind them. You are dismissed.”[/color]

Any other time it might have unnerved her for a stranger to have used her first name, but Russ merely gave a respectful nod and slunk off. Once she was back inside, out of sight, her slow pace turned to a jog, and she sped away, back towards the dorm. 

[color=crimson]“Are you okay, Russ?”[/color] Lan asked, appearing alongside Russ as she passed the statue the faunus girl had chosen to use for cover.

Russ very nearly had a heart attack, shouting only long enough to echo before slapping her hands over her mouth. Lan? Wasn’t she in the dorm? Or...was she? Dammit, she hadn’t gotten a good enough look before she left, perhaps she was thinking of Tsuki, or...whatshisnuts, the newbie. Er, newer newbie. 

[color=a0410d]”Holy shit, Lan, give a girl a warning next time,”[/color] she snapped, only slightly embarrassed that she’d been caught off guard in the first place.

[color=crimson]“I was counting shelves in the closets and saw you leave the room, looked a bit freaked out so I followed,”[/color]  the redhead replied, wearing a look of concern, [color=crimson]“Didn’t mean to scare you.”[/color]

[color=a0410d]”Counting shelves, wh--”[/color] Russ pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a calmer breath. Ugh, she couldn’t get angry at the girl, especially not with the look on her face. Teammates, Russ, this is what [i]teammates[/i] are like, people who are supposed to care. [color=a0410d]”Scare me?”[/color] she said at last, a little smile taking over. [color=a0410d]”Please, I wasn’t [i]scared[/i].”[/color]

[color=crimson]“Are you sure? because I would definitely call that scared. Or maybe it was just extremely startled?”[/color] Lan joked, allowing the concern to melt off of her face [color=crimson]“I’m hungry, are you hungry?”[/color] the girl trailed off, stomach rumbling.

Russ was glad to see Lan’s mood lighten, and even more glad to have the subject changed. She glanced down to the other girl’s stomach at its growling, and restrained a laugh, nodding to her. 

[color=a0410d]”I’m always hungry. Mind leading the way? Still not sure I know exactly where the cafeteria is.”[/color]

Lan thought a moment, trying to remember the path they took the previous night to reach the dorm [color=crimson]“I think it’s…”[/color] she said, cupping her chin in one hand [color=crimson]“this way, ish.”[/color] the red haired faunus finished, starting back in the general direction of the dorm.

As Lan headed off, Russ watched after her for a moment, letting her tension ebb away, at least for a bit. She smiled, then a moment later heard her own stomach growl. 

[color=a0410d]”’-ish’ sounds good enough to me,”[/color] she said, and followed along.