#arkai

Ren was, unsurprisingly, far ahead of the other three but staying in sight just in case of accidents or ambush.

Autumn stayed in third behind him and Jaune wasn’t sure exactly why. While she didn’t have aura, she was in peek physical shape and could lap him if she tried.

Nora was on rearguard this time. Staying close enough to Autumn that Jaune occasionally caught her breathy string of complaints. Like, “I’m wasted on cross country.” Or, “I’m a natural sprinter, very dangerous over short distances.” And one time, “being short sucks!”

Ren stops after a while to let the others catch up. A large city, built around a castle on a hill, has come into view. “Jaune, it has a moat. An actual moat.”

“Of all the crazy things we’ve seen here the MOAT is what gives you pause?” Jaune exclaims as he hears the last two catch up.

“You gotta admit it is like out of a storybook?” The blonde Huntsman doesn’t get to answer before Nora tackle-hugs Ren to the ground.

Autumn slaps Jaune on the shoulder with a huge smile. “Holmgard, the capital city. We are not too far from the monastery. The Royal Army with help resupply us and give us rooms for the night.”

“And a bath?”

“Yes, Nora, and a bath,” the Kai answered still smiling.

“Thank the Gods! We stink!” Nora exclaimed as she pulled her husband to his feet. “Ren, you and Autumn should go ahead a bit. She’s the local and you look less rough than Jaune-Jaune and me.”

“Good idea Nora,” Jaune said and the slimmer two started walking ahead.

“Fearless leader,” Nora said as soon as they were out of earshot, “we gotta talk.”

“Are you and Ren okay?” Nora smiles sweetly at his reply. “Yes, Jaune, we’re great. How are you doing?”

“Well I’m a little nervous about whatever you wanna talk about.”

“HA! I suppose that’s normal.” A sigh followed by what was a gently hug. From Nora, which meant he was super happy he had Aura. “Jaune, Jaune-Jaune, Fearless leader, Renny and I have decided that we are not going to watch you be a dunderhead again.”

“Again?”

“Autumn like-likes you. I’m only telling you this because you were oblivious before and we watched it hurt one of our friends.” A finger jabbed his chest, “You need to think, long and hard, during this short walk to that gorgeous castle as to how you may be feeling about her and LET HER KNOW!”

Jaune took his teammates advice. She knew from experience that Nora had a lot of emotional maturity that her exuberant personality hid from most others. He thought about Pyrrha’s death at Cinder’s hand. Penny’s by his. Autumn knew about both. Had, in fact, been pulled into the group hug as Team JN_R had mourned the latter by a camp fire only a short time ago. Could he be together-together with Autumn without ghosts interfering with the relationship? He could practically hear Pyrrha’s sigh at his doubts, and Penny’s genuine confusion that he might throw away a chance to be happy. But what about Remnant? Jaune wanted to go home, to help team RWBY with the fight against Salem. Was it fair to start something here and now, with someone as special as Autumn while planning to leave? He needed to have a difficult talk with the Kai.