RWBY Through Worlds

161: Ring Out

Watts thought he'd be dead in seconds--

But then something happened, even as the Seer was reeling him in the rest of the way.

There was a loud growl and snarl.

Tyrian stopped laughing and looked oddly at the bushes. He was still outside Mistral, somewhere in the mountains, where no one should have seen him.

Instead a huge cougar sprang out of the trees and jumped at the Seer like it was a big mouse.

The Seer's tentacles were too busy trying to tie Watts up to stop it.

"What in--?" Salem sounded almost like a normal woman for a second and the cougar yanked the Seer out of the air and into the ground then used its claws to tear its glone head and the Seer broke open and disolved...

Watts was staring in astonishment.

Tyrian was baffled.

"What in the hell?" he said.

The cougar turned to him and growled.

Tyrian twitched his tail--but then it was still not quite as operational as before and he doubted his chances against a huge cat and Watts at the same time, who was adjusting his metal rings like he planned to do something.

Tyrian decided to run instead.

Watts expected the cougar to attack him next-- they were some of the only wild animals known to eat humans.

But instead it ran after Tyrian and he didn't hear anything, so he assumed Tyrian had gone away.

Watts was shaking like a leaf. That had made no sense. Animals didn't usually attack grimm, especially not if humans were around. Unless they were trained, but a wild animal wouldn't have, especially one that wasn't shaped like a predator...what just happened?

He pulled out his scroll and texted the group that he needed to get picked up.

* * *

Salem, on her end, stared at the blank globe where the image had been and then she flung it into the wall, shattering it herself.

"How dare you?!" She yelled at nothing.

Then she looked at the sky.

"After all this time, is this your answer?!" She shouted at it. "Tricks and displays, you haven't changed one bit! But I have." [Have you really though?]

She was almost too angry to even bother still throwing a fit.

Ozpin's return always infuriated her because it was proof that the gods' power went on no matter what she did.

But Ozpin had never been able to counter her powers of grimm directly like this.

This was different.

She picked up the book. The woman was going to taunt her? She was going to make her regret it, everything up till now was child's play! She wanted more? She could get more!

She found the place in the Psalms.

[Prepare for the most passive aggressive slam ever. Shine is a savage.]

" Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits. They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression. Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. They say, "How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?" This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments. If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds." [Psalm 73, told you it would be passive aggressive.]