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raebaekaedae · 2 years ago

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Volume One, Episode Ten: “Wyndham”

Series: SCWR Rating: PG-13 (Minor Violence?, Subtle Themes, Death Mentioned) Summary: (3,228 words) “With the gang stuck up at Beacon, tensions are running a little high. Without an outlet, Robyn’s chaotic energy has her teammates at the ends of their ropes! There’s only one solution, but with more and more things ending up broken... it’ll be a miracle if he gets there in time.”

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Being stuck up at Beacon had its toll on everyone, but Robyn the most. Somehow, she'd managed to convince Professor Cray to accompany her to Forever Fall Forest just so that she could frolic in the fresh air for an hour or two. When they got back, Mr. Cray's pink hair was adorned with a flower crown featuring all the colors of the rainbow, cluing the rest of Robyn's team into his motivations.

She'd been spending most of her days bouncing from place-to-place trying to keep herself occupied. On the days that Haddy didn't have work, she'd drag him down to the library to play board games with Monroe and Ryder or to the training room to get in a workout after class. However, only five days into their punishment, she was literally bouncing off the walls using her semblance.

With teams from the other schools due to arrive any day now, Monroe authorized Ryder to take drastic measures. Robyn had already landed on Haddy's tail during one of her jaunts, broken the ceiling light, and knocked over an entire bookcase. The trio were huddled into Hadrian's bay window bed with Ryder's mattress as a forward shield and the husky's on top.

As another loud crash echoed through the dorm and something large bounced off their makeshift shelter, Monroe had to shout to be heard, "How much longer until our back-up gets here!?"

A strong gust of wind threatened to tear the mattresses out of Ryder's grip as he frantically replied, "'E land'd 'alf an 'our ago! 'E should b' 'ere!"

"We can't hold out much longer!" she exclaimed as a sharp breeze broke through their defenses and tore off her hat.

The crazed cackling of a madwoman rang out through the howling wind as they felt several pelting thuds into their fortress, "COME OUT AND FIGHT ME, COWARDS! NO ONE CAN TAKE ME DOWN! MWHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"I'm gonna make a break for the door!" Haddy said with feigned confidence.

Ryder grabbed his shoulder as he had started to turn, calling, "No! 'S too dang'rous!"

The husky smiled, putting his hand over Ryder's as he said, "If I make it, I'll find some way to send help. And if I don't... tell my story."

Monroe held up a salute with a tear in her eye as she replied, "Godspeed, soldier."

As his black hair was whipped around in his face, he returned the salute. Haddy scooted to the edge of the mattress and waited until the next barrage came to a halt. He ducked and rolled out of the shelter. The room was a disaster. Books were strewn around the floor. Allegheny was sticking out of Ryder's bed foundation, three broken boards shooting out of it. All of Monroe's clothes were crumpled and thrown around, some still floating in the whipping winds. Peri's corner of the room was untouched by the chaos, of course.

That was when he saw the madwoman herself. She was hovering in the air above her bed, arms laxly raised to her sides, conjuring the whirlwinds keeping her aloft. Her entire stuffed animal collection was twisting around her, giving off the illusion that they were holding her towards the sky. Her hair was even messier than normal as a wicked grin crossed her face.

"Hadrian Snow!" she cackled down at him, "You've made a fatal error by entering my domain!"

The husky stood tall, bringing a closed fist up in front of his chest stoically, "Your reign of terror is at an end, Wyndham! We've discovered your weakness!"

"Foolish mortal! I have no weakness!" she laughed maniacally, "Unlike you!"

With their witty banter at an end, Haddy took a sprinting bound towards the door as he activated his semblance. Robyn moved her arm in his direction, throwing a line of plush projectiles towards him. He nimbly dodged the moving barrage, sliding around and cartwheeling to safety. Just as his hand was about to reach the doorknob, he felt one of his legs being pulled out from under him.

Suddenly, he was dangling upside down in a tunnel of wind. No matter how much he struggled, he couldn't break free! Robyn hovered in front of Monroe's and Ryder's makeshift shelter. With a flick of her wrist, the mattresses went flying off in a gust of wind, leaving the pair underneath grabbing onto each other as they watched on helplessly.

"Now, you'll see what happens to those who oppose me!" The redhead cackled, raising her other arm.

A large bundle of stuffed animals the size of a Boarbatusk hovered next to her in its own whirlwind. Haddy's eyes went wide as Robyn smirked and moved her arm towards him, sending the plush pile hurtling towards him!

"Nooooo!" Ryder yelled as he extended an arm towards him. Monroe held him back and a single, dramatic tear ran down her cheek.

The husky squeezed his eyes shut just before the dorm room door flew open. He looked down just in time to see a blur of crimson rush to block the attack and shield him with its body. The stuffed orb was deflected from behind the figure's back by the large face of a broadsword with a pale yellow blade and block at the tip that matched the guard. Haddy's keen nose immediately smelled cream and sugar.

Everyone stilled as the figure stood up straight, his back still towards Robyn and her captives. He was built like a solid wall and nearly as tall as Ryder. From under the crimson hood, Haddy watched as the man smirked. In one swift movement, he unlatched the cape-like cloak, letting it fall from his shoulders with a flourish. A pair of dark tan wings spread from his back as his light blue, curly hair danced in the wind with charm.

He grinned, as the team stared in awe, before he half-turned his head to look back at Robyn, saying, "Did someone call for a Huntsman?"

"FYNCH!" The redhead squealed.

The winged Huntsman smiled a toothy grin as he turned around with wide arms towards his little sister. His sword hit the ground and stood up on its block, teetering slightly before it settled. Robyn immediately released all the whirlwinds, unintentionally dropping Haddy to the floor in a crumpled mess on his head. With a happy laugh, she summoned up her biggest gust yet and flung herself at Fynch. When he caught her in his arms, he hardly even moved.

He smiled sweetly, "Hey, Chickadee."

As the pair of siblings laughed, Monroe grabbed her hat and breathed, "Thank the Brothers..."

"What are you doing here!? I thought you were only coming in for the tournament!" Robyn asked, punching his shoulder as she sat in his arms.

He chuckled and motioned back at Ryder with his head as he answered, "Ryde sent me a text saying that you were being a menace! So I had to come to the rescue!"

"Ow..." Hadrian groaned, still upside on his shoulders.

"Oh my gosh!" The redhead exclaimed, climbing down out of her brother's grasp and rushing to his aid, "I'm so sorry, Haddy!"

As she helped him into a kneeling position, he rubbed his sore neck and couldn't help but stare at the prominent wings on Fynch's back. He turned to her and whispered, "You never told me that your brother was a faunus!"

She laughed as she helped him up. Fynch followed suit with a chuckle of his own, and an explanation, "Me and Pops are the only two faunus in the Wyndham flock." The feathered faunus extended a hand down to his husky counterpart and added, "Fynch Jr. It's a pleasure."

He took his hand and shook it, introducing himself, "Oh, uh, I'm Haddy. Hadrian Snow."

Fynch smiled, "I know. Robs talks about you a lot when she writes and texts."

A light blush danced across Hadrian's cheeks as his tail started to gently wag. He really was making friends. Robyn laughed as she jumped up, wrapping an arm around his shoulders as she hung there and noogied into his hair. By this point, Ryder and Monroe had joined them. Ryde and Fynch clinked their closed fists together before the winged Huntsman wrapped Cadie in a gentle hug.

He smiled somberly as he held her at arm's length by her shoulders, "I'm sorry about everything that happened with Peri, and that I couldn't make it to his funeral. He was an exceptional young man." The trio's gaze fell back to the perfectly made bed for a moment.

However, Fynch nodded before turning back to the group and pulling them all in close, joking, "Now what's this I hear about my little sister getting into fights off campus!"

Robyn scoffed and pushed him off, grinning, "Oh c'mon, you sound just like Momma and Pops..."

Fynch bit his lip as his eyes narrowed and he cocked his head to the side apologetically. He squeezed out, "Ah, so, about that..."

"BABYBIRD!"

Haddy watched as Robyn's face drained of its color and lost all emotion in an instant. Before he could even turn to look or ask who had called out, two more figures had entered the room and were lifting the redhead off the floor in a giant bear hug. Well, it was more accurate to say that one of the newcomers was lifting both of the others off the ground.

She was just as tall as Ryder with just as much muscle, but none of his definition. She looked to be maybe in her late forties or early fifties. Her baby blue hair matched Fynch's in color and fluff, but reached almost halfway down her back. She wore a gray-plaid bandanna over her head, pulling back her bangs, with a large pair of glasses pushed up on her nose. Her charcoal overalls were dusted with dirt and stains. Her eyes were a pale red.

The other man looked just as strong, but he was significantly more stout. His dark scarlet hair was graying and his beautiful mustache was touched with silver. The lines on his face revealed his age. He was wearing a loose-fitting, red plaid button-up with the sleeves rolled up past his burly elbows and a black shirt underneath. His dark blue jeans were also caked with debris and patched up with various types of fabric. A pair of dark wings were happily flapping from his back as he hugged onto Robyn.

Monroe and Ryder exchanged a look before the redhead managed to squeeze one arm out of the hug and start to pat around for release as she said, "Momma! Please! You're gonna strangle me!"

Hesitantly, the older woman let go, allowing Robyn to jump down and take a deep breath. She looked at the pair as she took a half step back and said, "Wh-What are you guys doing here?"

"Oh!" the woman replied with a chirp as she took a few steps forward, placing her hands on Robyn's cheeks and squeezing, "When we heard that Junior was coming to see you, we just had to come along as well!"

The messy-haired girl pushed her mother off as she shot a dirty look back at her brother. Fynch rubbed the back of his neck as he stated, "I didn't know that they'd snuck into the truck until I was already in Vale..."

Before she could object, Robyn's father was already up at her side, smoothing out her dress as he said, "Robyn, dear, what happened to your skirt? And your room?"

As she was pulling back from her dad's caring hands, her mother was taking a look around. Appalled, she added, "I can't believe that you can live in a room like this!"

Robyn sighed, rubbing her forehead before replying, "Mom, please. We were just playing a game and it got a little out of hand."

"Babybird, you're twenty years old," her father stated, putting his hands on his hips as his feathers ruffled, "don't you think you're a little old to be playing games. You're supposed to be studying here."

"Not old enough to get away from 'Babybird' apparently..." she muttered under her breath.

While this was all going on, Fynch had moved in front of the rest of SCWR and was trying to shield them from view with his wings gently outstretched. However, that didn't stop his mother, who was practically beaming when her eyes ran across Monroe and Ryder. She pushed through her son's feeble, and unnoticed, attempts to spare the pair.

"Cascade! Ryder! How have you two been?" she asked, pulling them in for a hug.

The armadillo let out a grunt of recognition as the pirate sputtered, "Hello, Mrs. Wyndham, it's good to see you again."

She dropped the pair as she examined them. Monroe barely had any time to catch her breath before she was being assaulted, "Cadie, dear, have you been getting enough rest, you look absolutely haggard..."

Poor Ryder was next as she pinched his cheek and sweetly added, "You're looking as handsome as ever, honey. How are you and our little Babybird getting along?"

With the implication behind the statement burning in the air, Ryder's face exploded with blush as he opened his mouth to respond. However, Robyn shouted from over her father's fretting, "Mom! I've told you ten thousand times! He's just a friend! Leave the poor guy alone!"

"Of course, dear," Mrs. Wyndham smiled.

The redhead grumbled as her parents started to settle down. It didn't last as long as she would have liked, because her father's keen eye was drawn away from her friends and back to his son... whom Haddy was still somewhat hiding behind. The older bird smiled widely as he moved past Fynch and looked the husky up and down.

"And who might you be, son?" Mr. Wyndham asked.

Hadrian looked to Robyn, who just sighed deeply. He swallowed hard before answering, "I'm, um, Hadrian Snow, sir. Robyn's new teammate. From Solitas. Sir."

There was a long, tense silence as Mr. Wyndham's chipper smile disappeared and he started to glare Haddy down. He had extended his hand for the older faunus to shake, but was left with nothing. He felt as if he was being interviewed for his placement at Atlas Academy all over again.

"Who wants to eat?" Robyn exclaimed suddenly, clapping her hands together with a forced smile.

Her mother squealed, "Oh, that's a wonderful idea, sweetie! Our treat. We can go down to Vale and--"

Monroe started to correct her, "-- Actually ma'am, we're not allowed to--"

"--go down to Vale right now," Robyn cut in, slapping a hand over the blonde's mouth to stop her from talking, "Y'know, because of the festival. We're supposed to stay up here and greet the teams that are arriving!"

Her parents exchanged a glance as a single bead of sweat rolled down the messy-haired girl's face. Eventually, her mother smiled, "That makes sense! We'll go down and pick up some food and bring it back here for you."

With that, Rob grabbed her parents and started pushing them towards the door, explaining, "Okay, you go do that. We're gonna clean up this mess before you get back so we can eat in here. 'Kay? Love you, bye!"

She slammed the door shut just as the pair made it through the entrance. Robyn grabbed the sides of her face as she fell onto her butt and let out a long, loud groan. Haddy didn't move as he looked over to Monroe and Ryder. The blonde was shaking her head while the scaled faunus rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

After a moment, Fynch sighed and stepped forward, "Y'know, Chickadee, if you keep lying to them, the hurt is gonna be a whole lot worse when they finally find out..."

Robyn scoffed as she crossed her own arms and pouted, "If I wanted a lecture, I woulda just gone with them."

As the winged Huntsman kneeled down in front of his sister, Haddy leaned over and whispered to Monroe, "So... what's up with Rob and her parents?"

She pinched the bridge of her nose as the siblings half-argued in the background. She explained, "Robyn wasn't raised like the rest of us. She has a big family with a happy set of married parents and a relatively uneventful childhood. By all rights, she wasn't supposed to be a Huntress. She was supposed to be a humble farmer out in the middle of nowhere..."

"When Fynch decid'd ta become a Huntsm'n," Ryder continued, leaning against the foot of his bed, "She want'd ta follow 'n 'is footsteps."

"Her parents had other ideas though..." the blonde added, "They didn't want their 'dainty little girl' to get hurt doing the job. Since she's enrolled, they've come up here to try to talk her out of attending more times than I can count. We almost lost her when we lost... They've always been very..."

"Overbearing," Robyn chipped in from the door.

She sighed, pulling herself up as she dusted her skirt off. With a deep breath, the redhead told her story, "We grew up on a little homestead a few hours outside of Vale. All of us had chores from the day we could walk, but with nowhere to go other than the farm... we didn't mind. We have this old, abandoned windmill just inside our property line...

"One day when we were really young, me and my younger brothers-- Osprey and Heryn-- were messing around inside when a storm came in. It was terrifying. When it was fully overhead, lightning struck the mill and collapsed the roof in on us. We weren't seriously hurt, but ever since then... Momma and Pops have been severely over-protective."

Fynch put a hand on her shoulder as she finished. She looked... sad. An emotion that Haddy had never seen on her before. It was clear that Robyn thought very highly of what her parents thought of her, and that it was weighing on her that they didn't support her entirely. He felt for her... more than he ever had before. He knew the pain all too well.

His mom didn't want him to attend Beacon Academy, but for an entirely different reason. She had never supported him becoming a Huntsman, mostly because his dad had run off on the job when he and Leo were babies. That clearly wasn't the case with the Wyndhams given Fynch's status within the monster hunting world. She must feel horrible; always hiding behind a cheerful smile and perky attitude... even if she felt like she didn't belong.

The husky took a couple small steps forward before he sincerely said, "Hey, Rob? You know that you're one of the best Huntresses I've ever met, right?"

She was quiet for a minute before she smiled, "Thanks, Haddy. I'm not worried about them forcing me to leave or disowning me or anything like that... but it's still nice to hear."

Before Hadrian could do anything more than return her smile with one of his own, Fynch had already scooped him up in a large hug. Monroe, Ryder, and Robyn all laughed as the husky scrambled around for some semblance of control and Fynch buried his fist into Haddy's hair.

"I knew I liked you, Snowball!" The finch faunus cackled as Hadrian fought for control.

After a few moments, Fynch released him and his messy hair. His headband was resting over his blinded eye as his black locks went in every which way. His hair looked like Robyn's. The laughing, chuckling, and giggling faded out as Ryder walked over and pulled his hammer from his broken bed boards.

While Haddy smoothed out his hair, the scaled faunus smirked, "We ought'a clean th's up 'fore they get back, 'r we'll n'v'r 'ear tha end'a 't from Momma Wyndham."

There was a collective groan from everyone, but all together they worked to straighten up the dorm.

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