Chapter 9

Some time has passed and now Alister's arm is completely healed, he and Cog packing Cog's bags. "before I forget, I'm curious Cog, do you have a semblance?" Alister asked while folding some of Cogs clothes and putting them in a bag. Cog nods "I do, mind if I show you?" Cog replied, Alister folds his arms then waits to see what Cog can do. Cog looks around for something he can use then he sees a can of antiperspirant on a nearby table, he summons a small arrow under it that points directly at Cog, the can then shoots towards Cog. Cog catches the can then he looks at Alister as he puts the can into his bag "I can summon arrows that move any object at high speeds. It even works on people. I don't like to fight but I can handle myself if the situation calls for it" Cog said then he blushes as he heard Alister clapping "That's a pretty useful power you got there" Alister said.

Alister hears his scroll tone go off Alister answers it "Hello?", "hello my friend, it's your old pal. Riyaz, don't worry your pay from your last job has already been put in. Unfortunately, I cannot help you return home, legally of course. However, I can still help you get the odd jobs here and there" Alister sighs as he rubs the bridge of his nose "Yeah, I suspected you wouldn't help. Sure, hit me up with any jobs that you get, and I'll see what I can do. Until then fuck off" Alister said then he hangs up.

Cog finished packing his bags "You really don't like that Riyaz guy don't you" Cog said as he puts the bag over his shoulders. "Yeah, there's something about his voice that just. I don't know it feels like whenever he tells me to do something I have to do it" Alister had a slight grimace on his face as he looks down. An hour later Cog is saying goodbye to Dr Cal while Alister is waiting outside then he gets another call this time it's Wrench, Alister answers the call "Hey Wrench, what's up?" Alister said with a smile on his face. While Alister was recovering Wrench called him every single night, Alister was fine with it.

He knew that Wrench was just worried about him after all it was her and Pa that raised him. Alister turns the camera on the scroll on then he shows his arm "All better, now I'm on my way home. It'll be a while though" he said as smiles gently "I know and when you get back. I'll cook up that soup Pa used to make. I know it's redundant saying this but try not to get into too much trouble!" Wrench said as she points at Alister with a stern tone and a slight frown. "Me? Get into trouble? Pfffft, no way" Alister said in a joking tone "I have no idea what you're talking about. You worry too much Wrench; Cog and I are gonna be fine" Alister chuckled softly. "Of course, I worry too much you dumbass. You're the only family I got left, but you're right. You can handle yourself in a tussle" Wrench smiles as she sighed "I just miss ya" Alister's eyes widen a bit as he felt guilty for making her worry all the time "I miss you too big sis"

Alister smiles then Cog comes outside. Wrench sees Cog on the camera "So this is Cog, eh?" Cog's attention turns to Alister's scroll "Oh y-you must be Wrench. Yeah I'm Cog it's n-nice to meet you ma'am" Cog said as he put on a nervous smile. Wrench gives Cog a stern look as she stared into his eyes "No need to call me "Ma'am". Now listen here, you take care of him okay. I'm not just talking about takin' care of his gear. Try to keep his dumb ass safe, alright?" Wrench said as she looks at Alister. "I'll d-do my best" Cog said as he also looks at Alister. Alister looks back at them "What?" Alister sighs then he shakes his head "It's not like I seek trouble out. Well most of the time anyway. We're about to head off, I'll talk to you later Wrench. See ya later" Alister waves then he hangs up and puts the scroll away in his pocket.

Dr Cal hands Alister his gauntlets then the two head off, Cog had a rather excited but also noticeably nervous look on his face as the two left Cog's home. Alister had the gauntlets attached to his hip and he puts his gasmask back on, a few hours have passed and the two are now in some dense looking forest. There are all kinds of trees, flowers and bushes that covered the area while Alister and Cog walked along a dust road, passing the time by telling each other stories as well as just making each other laugh by telling jokes. Alister enjoyed having some company on this trip, Cog looks at his own scroll "No signal" he said as he looks at Alister, Alister nods "Yeah, we won't get another signal until we come across another village or kingdom" Alister said as he kicks a rock across the ground.

"So where are we going exactly?" Cog asks, Alister shrugged "back to Mantle, but that's a long way away. As for the short term? Dunno, we'll stop at the next village we see and see what jobs they have. Gotta make some cash while we're out by taking on hunting jobs" Alister said as he looks up at the bright blue sky. Cog puts his hands in his pocket "Guess I could help you out with that. I'm not good at talking to people though. I'll leave that part to you".

Alister nods then he looks at Alister "Well, we could also end up making friends with folks or enemies. More than likely we'll come across some unsavoury folks. Ya know like bandits, White Fang and just so shitty people" Alister said then he looks at a more nervous Cog "Don't worry, I got your back though. Everything will turn out fine" Alister gently ruffles Cog's hair "We'll keep each other out of trouble. Sound good?". Cog nods then he smiles as his nervousness dies down "Sounds good to me".

As night fell the two set up camp and were sitting by a campfire that has some rabbits that they caught earlier cooking over the fire. "Alister, forgive me if I sound rude but. With that branding on your face I'm surprised that you didn't join the White Fang. But then as we were trading stories you said you hate them just as much as the people who hurt you, Why is that?" Cog asked as he watches the fire. Alister "Yeah, folks say "I'm surprised you haven't joined the White Fang" assuming that I hate humans when truth is. I don't see the point in hating every human, sure I hate the shit heads that did those awful things to me. But my old man was human, A lot of friends that I made back in Atlas academy are human. The White Fang used to stand for peace and equality. I get that humans started it but feeding the cycle of violence is getting us nowhere" Alister said as he takes off his mask then he clenches his fist.

"It makes me sick how they hurt and even worse, kill not only innocent humans but also their own kind that don't agree with the senseless violence" Alister looks at Cog "That's why I hate them so much" Alister said as he shakes his head. Cog looks down then he looks at the fire again, he stares at it then he looks at the ground "I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that" Cog felt bad for bringing such a subject up. Alister shrugged as he looks at Cog "Why say sorry? There's nothing to be sorry for. You just asked a question" Alister said as he took the cooked rabbits off the fire and hands one to Cog. Cog took it then he starts eating it, Alister smiles "I know this isn't restaurant style cooking, but it'll do" he said as he also starts eating his cooked rabbit.

Alister and Cog ate in a comfortable silence.

During the night Alister and Cog took turns of keeping watch in case something dangerous happened. Luckily for them nothing happened and the two continued walking the next morning. They continued sharing stories as they walked, they also discussed what could happen on their journey. Cog was excited about all the things he could learn on the way to Mantle whereas Alister was excited to try all kinds of food and meeting new people.

Meanwhile in a village further up a short, bulky young man with horse like ears and tail walks out of a building. He had a smirk on his face as he walks through the village then he stops dead in the middle of a road. He clicks his fingers then the building he was just in explodes. The villagers run away from the explosion the sounds of people screaming fill the air "Filthy humans" the young man uttered under his breath as he calmly walks away. The smoke rises into the air as everyone in the village starts to panic some people brush past the man then he sighs as he clicks his fingers as again and he people who accidently bumped into him also explode. The explosions also kill the people near those who have detonated. The horse faunas brushed off his suit then as a gust of wind blows he grins as his long black hair is blown back to reveal a White Fang tattoo on his right cheek.

Alister and Cog see the smoke in the distance through the dense forestry then they run off in the direction of the village. Alister knows that if people panic that'll attract the Grimm and they'll wipe out the people within the village. They have to get there as soon as possible so that they can save as many lives as they can before it's too late to save anyone.