Chapter 10

The Yiaya camp was bathing in the sunset's gentle rays by the time Robin and Vance arrived. Rick had already returned from the day's hunting expedition and was currently talking to a fellow hunter that Robin had seen around before.

"...by then we would have to relocate once more." Robin caught the end of his teacher's sentence.

The other man gave out a tired sigh. " It's been just half a year since we came here. I can't believe we're this unlucky."

Their conversation was stopped short as the two children made their way towards them. Rick wrapped up the conversation and the two said their goodbyes. Robin let Vance and his father have their usual talk while he looked curiously at the departing hunter.

It looked like some things were happening around the tribe. Judging by the talk of moving, the resources around here were getting scarce. It wasn't unusual for them to migrate since all the tribes in the desert were nomads, but they usually stood in place for at least a year.

While Robin contemplated these things, the father-son duo had finished their talk and Vance had run off somewhere, probably to bother Hilda.

Robin turned to Rick and directly asked him. "What were you talking about with the other hunters? Something about moving?"

Rick glanced at Robin but waved his hand nonchalantly when he heard his question. "Eh, it's nothing special. From time to time it happens that the spot we settle at lacks resources. The hunter team is a bit miffed at how little game we've been getting these past weeks."

Well, it certainly made sense to Robin that things like that happened occasionally. It was not a question about overhunting and bringing the animal population to extinction. The desert creatures in Vacuo had a high rate of reproduction, at least those that the Yiaya specialized in hunting. This was the topic of a few past lessons with Rick.

"Don't bother yourself with these things, you're still a kid. Anyway, let me get something to drink and we'll start the next lesson."

Rick went inside the tent and came out with some wine while Robin waited patiently. "Alright, sit down. It's time we talk about something every hunter has to watch out for when going out there. The Grimm."

Robin's interest was piqued. Not that Rick's lessons were boring, far from it, Robin found them fascinatingly useful. But the Grimm had that appeal of real danger that a sand zebra could never instill.

Robin had learned a lot about the Grimm from Rick's and Petunia's casual remarks about them when talking about different topics. Everything was presented as if rage-fueled, murdering beasts were a normal part of life, like the rain or the trees.

Robin was fascinated by how people just casually accepted that their life was under constant threat. Or maybe it was different somewhere else like the big cities.

Robin gave an internal shrug and sat on the sand, something that he had gotten very used to in the weeks he had been here. Something like grass seemed like a distant dream right now.

"First things first, about the Grimm. They want to kill you. I know it's common knowledge, but there's a difference between knowing that and being face to face with something that wants to take your life." Rick said with a no-nonsense attitude.

Robin marveled at how strange this scene would seem in his previous life. A grown adult telling a small kid about how things wanted to eviscerate him without a shred of irony. Here though? Wilful ignorance was the luxury of those who had a death wish.

Again, maybe it was different in the big cities, but here? Petunia and the rest of the adults made sure that every child knew his life could be snuffed out the moment he could understand the concept.

"I want you to understand this with your mind, heart, and soul. Those things care about nothing else. They can't be scared away, they can't be reasoned with, they can't be intimidated. Cut off all four legs of a Beowolf, it will try biting you. Kill its entire pack and it will still try to rend you apart."

Robin felt like he was going through some coming-of-age ceremony. Hell, maybe it actually was one. Rick spent that entire lesson describing how much the Grimm wanted to kill him and everything he holds dear.

He spoke about literally nothing else, except the Grimm's innate desire to murder humans and Faunus. He didn't even allow Robin to ask questions, he just kept emphasizing the same point. Each time he came up with even more brutal and colorful descriptions of what the creatures of darkness wished to do to him.

If Robin had been a normal child, this would have led to quite a bit of trauma and maybe a few mental scars. If nothing else, then at least the part of "bathing in his blood and skipping rope with his guts" would have done a great job at conjuring up nightmares for days to come.

"Did I make myself clear?" asked Rick after an entire hour of wailing on him with gruesome images.

"Crystal…" croaked out Robin. Thankfully his previous life experience was enough to prevent any serious blow to his mind. Still, he definitely internalized what Rick had been trying to convey to him.

"Good, I don't want you doing any stupid things."

Robin tilted his head confusedly. "What do you mean?"

Rick gave him a look and kept silent for a few seconds before answering. "I guess you didn't notice it. One of the kids that lost his parents in the same Grimm attack as you wanted to take revenge."

Robin instantly knew where this conversation was going. He kept silent and let Rick continue. "He stole a spear from one of the hunters and went looking for them. We noticed quickly and a few people went after him…"

Rick's pause hinted that things did not have a happy ending.

"We found him. Or at least, half of him. A flock of nevermore were picking pieces of flesh out of his exposed ribcage."

Robin winced. He had no illusions on his own capability not to end up the same. The trained adults avoided Grimm like the plague, a child with a spear stood no chance. Rick was probably worried he would try to do the same thing since his parents were also killed by the Grimm.

"He wasn't the only case either. Every few years some stupid kid winds up getting himself killed. Either through a prank, trying to prove their courage, impressing some other kid, a bet, etc." Rick downed the rest of his wine and stood up.

"Think about what I told you, we're done for today." he said and left, leaving Robin to sit on the sand alone.

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