Luci's Journey pt2

Did anyone truly sleep well after Beacon's fall? Perhaps after some time, the wounds began to scar over, and their eyes can shut to rest their weary mind. The nightmares of a Grimm infested school, with gunfire from your allies, and your enemies slowly fading as you begin to recover. Luci wasn't sure she was on that path. Not that her experience was any more tragic than anyone else's, in fact, she had been quite fortunate. Her team was still alive, her parents weren't in Vale when the attack came, and she managed to make it out alive. But she remembered the flash, and the chaos that followed suit. But, they were all still alive and well, but she felt her performance, and mindset during that dreadful day was pathetic. Even in the dark, among a new apartment, with a bed that wasn't getting drenched in the rain, she had a awful night sleep. Not because of the situation, that didn't help, but what dreams came to her were ones she hated to revisit. <b>It was a school yard a young girl with pink hair and ears laid back. She was panting, running down the halls. 'After her! She went this way! We gotta catch the rabbit!' She never liked this game. The kids seemed to fail in an understand that her ears are attached to her head. She had tried her best to keep them hidden, but since the hat was removed, its been torment. The simple colors of the hallway stretched and warped to a seemingly endless expanse. Laughter filled the halls, with sneers and stares wisping from the windows of the classroom. She ran and ran as hard as she could, tears falling from her face, her hand reaching for the door she would never reach. It was only until her entire movement was halted by the massive swing of claws, flinging her through the wall, and against a tree. She slumped, sobbing as she lifted her head to see the form of black death moving towards her, the white skull-plate held rows and rows of teeth, exaggerated and endless. She managed to stand and press herself against the tree, but there was no escape. Her only salvation came from the form of another small girl, roaring as she came falling down from the tree lines. Metal fists smashed against the skull-plate, but why fight the end? Luci's eyes widened, quivering as she saw her best friend ripped in half. She put up a strong fight, but the voices surrounded her as the void consumed the remains. 'There is no hope. You're useless. People will die for you. Will you die for them?' Just as the maw came crashing towards her,</b> she woke up. She let out a scream, muffled only by the thunder as she sprang up. She was covered in a cold sweat, her ears perked up and on full alert. She shakily got out of the old bed, the patter of rainfall still pounding against the window, the sun's light lessened by the grey clouds. She walked about the old apartment, a howling wind entered through a broken window, but other than her pack, and the weapons that sat beside them, there was nothing. She stood by the door frame of the bedroom leading into the living room, her hand lifting to touch the wood as she scanned the area. "N-not again." She mumbled to herself as she slowly slumped to her knees, and leaned her face against her arm. A wince came from her, she'd need to change the bandage, but her teeth grit in an attempt to repress another bad night. Another dream she would tell no-one. She knew she wasn't as strong as her peers, but she was determined. She had her heart in the right place, but years of doubt stuck with her like barnacles stuck to a ship. She had great friends, a good life, and all the love she needed, but, she was always afraid for being different. Always afraid she was never strong enough to stand up for herself. A rabbit in a cage. She wouldn't give up any of the people in her life for the world, but, could she protect them, they way they protect her? The next hour or so was spent sitting next to the window, staring at the park just across the way. A can of pasta was cooking over a rekindled flame, and she kept her eyes out for anything strange. She remembered last night, of the strange caravan, and the woman with them. Well, one could guess the caravan wasn't weird, but the security detail made it seem more like a small platoon than a simple transportation method. But, it wasn't their situation that made her think. It was her words. 'Go home. Come back when you got experience.' How was she supposed to get experience if she sat behind and did nothing? How was she supposed to get stronger, if she let people walk over her, and put themselves in the line of fire. She was lucky, but in a way, she wished she could have one moment to be strong for someone else. The bandage was re-dressed, and the pasta was consumed, sitting there now as the rain began to die down, and she sat with her weapons on her lap, listening to her surroundings and staring still, an eagle to prey. That's when she saw the trees rustle, and a small pack of Beowolves exited the treeline, followed by the larger variant, the Alpha. Her eyes narrow, ears turning to face the beasts, and slowly set her weapons on the windowsill as she stood up and leaned in. Not that it  helped much. But, she saw them scouring, perhaps for signs of who had destroyed their comrades. She was more worried about them sniffing out the caravan, if they were still there. But regardless, that's what her target was. It was huge compared to the smaller Beowolves, she had fought a few before, but never alone. She always had Team CLDN to count on, to carry her. But no more. She was going to kill it, and come back with her shoulders high. And hopefully in one piece. She just needed a plan. Nodding to herself, she picked up her things, and headed for the roof; she just needed to thin the herd. The Beowolves were moving about the streets, sniffing and investigating the area that Luci had fought the last batch, with the Alpha overseeing the operation. Huntsmen in the area would prove problematic for them, and their territory was in jeopardy. It let out a snarl, the pack widening its search at the guttural command. One of the Grimm began to approach a spot to sniff, but between the white noise of rain, there was a sharp whistiling. It looked, but, only to find itself pinned into the ground by a long pipe. The rest of them looked up, to see Luci standing on the edge, spinning another pipe above her, held by the centripetal force and the whip wrapped around it. The Alpha stood on its hind legs, and let out a roar, to which the rest followed suit, but another was quelled as she spun and released the pipe at alarming speeds into the head of another Grimm. That's when they began to run forward, but Luci had noticed a surplus of pipes on the roof, and began this plan of action. She twisted, bringing Handicapper to wrap around another pipe, and pull it up into the air, shorter rotations to launch her makeshift projectiles in quicker succession. Of course, this wasn't a fool-proof plan, for as some of them, including the Alpha, got close enough to start scaling the building, she had to abandon that plan. Stepping back from the ledge, she looked up as one of the Beowolves leap up and over the ledge. It was the first to be met with a sharp crack to the head, followed by another to its chest to send it falling back down, taking a few with it. But she couldn't fight them all on the roof. Turning to run the other direction, she stopped just shy of the other ledge, and the downward slope of an adjacent building leaning against it, having collapsed long ago. She squinted, the flash of lightning bringing her from her thoughts to see more Wolves climbing up, and she took her chance. She was good with chance. Leaping across the gap and onto the side of the building. The sound of monsters followed right behind her, and some even came to try and crawl along the side to attempt and cut her off. She bit her lip as she ran, but she wasn't going out without a fight. Handicapper was revved, and the lightning from the hilt crackled out and drenched the weapon with electric energy. She needed to keep the distance, the more they had a chance to swarm her, the better this rabbit would become dinner. She kept up her sprint, twisting and launching the tip of the electrified whip into any Beowolf stupid enough to get close, which usually was followed by a quick succession of lashes, and a swat off the side. It almost sounded like some were trying to crash through the walls of the buildings to get to her. She must of kicked the hornet's nest. But, that's when she felt it, a low rumble that caused her to stumble. Whatever support was holding the building up, was beginning to crack, perhaps due to the destructive path the Grimm were leaving. Regardless, the weight of the building started to shift down to collapse to the ground, and she needed to move. Fast. So forgoing any offense, she simply sprinted, ducking and leaping over any Grimm that stood in her way. The Alpha roared behind her, but she gave it no bother, simply jumping up into the air, as the building crashed into the ground with a deafening boom, dust and debris flying into the air, and sending Luci flying towards the ground. She landed in a roll, skidding across the ground a few feet, before stopping herself and covering her face. The sounds of Grimm grew quiet. Was she that lucky? The whole pack managed to get crushed in the collapse? She moved her hand to her mouth to listen, at first, only the sound of falling concrete and settling debris surrounded her, but, there was the sound of a growl, then the orange glow of Grimm eyes. The Alpha managed to live, and sprang out amidst the dust, and right at her. Luci barely had time to react, gripping High Roller, and unsheathing it to deflect, but the beast still managed to push her further away with a mighty force. She smacked against the ground once, but got back up with her blade ready. She had a hard time seeing, but she had to stay focused. She was in a very bad state. The Alpha alone could tear her to shred, but if she let fear cloud her mind, she'd be dead. So, she took a neutral stance, a deep breath, eyes close, and listening. She could hear the footsteps among the dust, circling her, waiting to strike. Then, a sudden shift, the winds hissing at the speed. She turned to face it, and bent down, letting the Alpha's claws graze across the edge of her blade with a shrill screech as it disappeared into the dust once more. She took her stance again, shifting her footing and waiting once more. It came again, and she was ready. Its claws came downwards, and she guarded to meet them, she couldn't hold back the sheer force, but she could slip away, twirling as the claws were directed to the ground, and brought her sword into its side. It stuck, and she let out a yell as the crank was revved, and the flames engulfed the blade, pushing to cleave through it. It let out a pained howl, leaping away from her, but this time, she would press. Amidst the dust, the sounds of her blades clashed with the razor sharp claws, streaks of flames and sparks lit up the lingering cloud. A cut here, a slice there, she had to endure the pain. She had to overpower her fear. She had to live. <b>'People are willing to die for you.</b> She leaped back, putting the sword in its carrier, the dust vial had emptied, and her aura was fading. The beast leaped at her again, she attempted to react, but its paw made contact with her side, causing her eyes to open in pain, and launch sideways from its blow into a layer of debris. Her aura all but faded, but she slowly began to push herself up. <b>'You will never amount to anything. A scared bunny then, a scared bunny now.</b> She heard it coming, but she stumbled to position herself. One eye shut from the blood which dripped from her head, panting heavily. She fumbled to remove the crystal from Handicapper, and slip it into the hilt of High Roller. She had more, but not enough time to dig them out. With the crystal secured, she readied herself. Leg forward, back arched, her single eye pointed in the direction of the approaching Alpha, merely a black blob in her blurry vision. She twisted the handle, her sword seeming to vibrate with power contained within the sheath. <b>'But, when it comes down to it, are you willing to do the same? To pay the price others would surely pay for your worthless life?</b> It got quiet to her, only the sound of her heartbeat, a desperate beast lunging at her. Time moved at fractions, the Alpha didn't see the fallen street light, and in its attempt to end her, tripped and stumbled towards her. The blade was released. <b>'Are you willing to die for them?'</b> She stood on the opposite side of the Alpha, panting softly as she slowly moved her blade back into its holster, and the Mighty Beowolf let out one last roar before erupting in a flash of lightning, and disappeared into nothing. The rain still continued, and the adrenaline began to subside, making her fall to her knees and catch herself. She gasped to air, coughing from the debris, but a hard gust seemed to be carrying a heavier storm. It started to move the contaminants in the air, but she needed to get to higher ground. Her body was battered, but through sheer will, she dragged herself into a building, and away from the chaos she left behind. <b>'Yes. I have thought about it.'</b> She let out a small cry, holding her side as she walked up the staircase to another building. She didn't know what kind, but she had to keep climbing. <b>'I'm weak. But I can get stronger. I'm scared. But I can overcome it.'</b> She slumped into a room, falling to the ground and hissing. She was tired. Looking around with one eye, covered in dust and blood, she dragged herself to what looked like a couch, and climbed up onto it. <b>'I can't silence you, but I can defy you. For Cal, for Nova, for Dawn, for everyone.'</b> She laid and stared up at the ceiling, her consciousness slowly fading in and out, she needed to rest. Her aura needed to recharge. Her eyes shut, her mind falling into a rest quickly, thoughts silencing themselves to put all of her efforts into getting back her strength. Finally her eye shut, and she breathed softly. <b>'They give me life. And I will protect them someday. I will make them proud.'</b>