RUBY POV:
Third night out on patrol, still nothing unusual to report. Not that I'm complaining really, just means the camp is safe for one more night, it just sucks to be freezing and bored. I blow air into my hands trying in vain to keep them warm while periodically looking through the scope of crescent rose to survey the frozen wasteland for threats. Why did we have to flee right as winter was about to hit?
I hear rustling in the bushes behind me and as I am about to turn and aim for the bushes I hear the voice of my sister speak up.
"Woah woah sis, stand down." she says letting out a slight chuckle as she walks out of the bushes with her hands up both of which hold a steaming mug.
"Don't sneak up on me like that, I could've shot you." I say puffing out my cheeks in annoyance.
"Yeah not with a reaction time like that." she says mockingly before sitting down next to me and handing me a mug. "I just thought you could use some company."
"Yeah..thanks." I say taking the mug to see it's filled with coffee. I start practically pouring it down my throat wanting desperately to warm up. I feel the hot liquid slowly start to warm my body and give me a jolt of energy. "Thanks a ton."
"Don't mention it sis." she says stifling a laugh.
"So how is everyone at camp, I know there was a bit of drama before I took off." I ask returning to looking through my scope.
"Welllll nothing really got resolved, Qrow wants to try and link up with our other branch up north so we can talk to Ozpin and Dad wants to focus on finding somewhere more permanent to hide out until everything calms down and it warms up." she says sounding annoyed.
"I know where Dad is coming from, he just wants to protect everyone" I say pulling away from my scope. "but I agree with Qrow, Vale military has to be looking for us so we don't really have time to slink around looking for a place to hideout and we still have a long winter ahead of us, I think our best bet is to hook up with the others and talk to Ozpin."
"Yeah I get it trust me, simply running and hiding until opportunity hits isn't gonna work, at least not for long." she says "I love dad but I wish he'd get that through his head."
"Yeah...what about everyone else, what do they think?" I ask.
"Well Ren and Nora seem to side with Qrow for the most part while Mom is sort of siding with Dad but it seems like she could flip over to Qrow's side at any time." she responds looking up at the sky.
"That's good at least, hopefully dad will see reason and we can get moving by tomm-" I say before Yang jumps up surprising me.
"It looks like we might not have until tomorrow." she says pointing into the distance. I look where she is pointing and see a pillar of smoke rising out of the trees. I look through my scope in the direction of the smoke and through the trees I can barely make out what looks like a small encampment of Vale soldiers. They have tracking dogs and are fairly well armed.
"We gotta go back to camp and warn them now, we need to get moving or we are done." I say grabbing my stuff and turning to walk back towards camp, Yang only slightly behind me.
SUMMER'S POV:
"Qrow I understand but I just don't think we are ready to make that kind of journey, the northern branch is nearly three hundred kilometers from here and that was when we last heard from them, for all we know they could've been chased off and are even further away." I say trying to be diplomatic.
"We have to be ready Summer, we don't have a choice, the kingdom has got to have troops on our heels by now and we are better off moving than trying to find some place to hideout nearby and just hoping nothing happens." Qrow says clearly annoyed with Tai and I.
"Qrow I know that the kingdom is a real threat but we three have twenty four good men and women that are looking to us to ensure their safety, some of which are my own children, I am just trying to make sure we don't lose anybody." Tai says standing up and looking Qrow in the eye. "I'm sorry but I don't think a nearly three hundred kilometer trip through the freezing cold in the state we are in is exactly a good way to ensure that!"
Qrow stands up and stares Tai in the eye as well, looking very angry. It almost feels like they were about to throw fists before the flap to the tent suddenly bursts open, Ruby and Yang enter the tent looking pretty upset.
"Girls...why are you back already?" Tai asks looking confused and worried.
"We have to leave now." Ruby says looking to Qrow. "Yang and I saw a Vale Military camp not to far east of us, it's only a matter of time until we are found out."
"How many were there Ruby?" Qrow asks walking over to Ruby.
"I'm not sure but it looks like at least fifty or more, they are also armed to the teeth and have tracking dogs." she says.
"Damn.." Qrow says before looking over at me and Tai. "Guys look, with them this close the choice we have to make should be clear even to you we need to get as far away from here as possible."
I want exactly what Tai wants, I want to keep our people safe but...at this point I don't think we have much of a choice to make. I walk over and put my hand on his shoulder.
"Tai honey..Qrow is right we only have one option left now." I say earning a look of relief from both Qrow and Ruby. Tai lets out a long sigh before putting his hand over mine.
"Yeah..yeah you're right, we need to get far away and in the process we may as well link up with the others." he says relenting on the matter.
"Good, glad we are finally in agreement." Qrow says.
"We need to alert everyone and let them know we are moving out immediately so they can get camp packed up." I say walking over to Ruby. "Ruby and I will scout ahead north and make sure the path is clear for the rest of camp."
"You sure?" Tai asks, worried about letting us go ahead alone.
"Yeah...sure we are tired but everyone is tired, someone needs to make sure the way is safe for our people, at least until we are out of the forest and a decent way away from those soldiers." I respond.
"Don't worry Dad, we'll radio in regularly and it shouldn't be to long before you guys catch up to us." Ruby says offering a tired smile.
"Alright...just be safe." Tai says walking over and kissing me before hugging Ruby and I. "We will catch up as soon as we can, I love you both."
"I love you too Dad" Ruby says as we both hug him back.
"I love you too." I say to him hugging tighter.
After we say our goodbyes, Ruby and I grab our bags and head off north. It'll probably be at least a day or so before the rest of the camp catches up to us, they still have to get packed up after all and a group that size will definitely move much slower than just two people. In the meantime we need to make sure they have a path as clear of Grimm or any other opposition as possible.
"How did it all come to this?" Ruby asks sounding very dejected.
"What do you mean?" I ask, looking at her with concern.
"There was a time when Huntsmen and Huntresses were held in high regard, sure it was long before I was born but...now everyone just sees us as traitors and terrorists." she says looking down at her feet as she walks. "All we want is to put a stop to this stupid war and have humanity focus on the real bad guys."
"Well the most recent King of Vale doesn't exactly see….eye to eye with Ozpin on how to approach the war, Ozpin wants to find a peaceful resolution to the war, the King won't settle for anything less than Vale dominance over all Remnant." I say looking straight ahead through the dark forest. "Now because we refuse to 'aid' him in his conquest we are labeled enemies of the royal family and are forced to flee our homes."
"It just feels so unfair, trying to save the world only to be treated like villains." she says.
"I know sweetie, but all we can do is continue to fight until the end." I respond putting my hand on her shoulder, prompting her to look at me. "We are doing the right thing and we won't stop until we either achieve peace or die trying."
"Yeah." she says as a small tired smile spreads across her face. "Thanks Mom, I guess I'm just exhausted."
"Believe me I get it." I say letting out a small giggle as we continue to walk.
We walk for awhile before I hear what sounds like the snap of a tree branch. I see Ruby about to turn around and look but I tap her hand and lightly shake my head. If there is someone following us we want to make them think we haven't noticed them yet, luckily Ruby seems to understand.
I signal Ruby with my eyes, letting her know that when give her the go ahead, she needs to run. I'll stay and deal with our stalker myself. She looks reluctant but slowly nods. After what must have been only a few minutes but felt much longer, I lightly tap Ruby on the shoulder and she runs as fast as she can. I quickly draw my weapon and block an incoming bullet that was headed straight for her.
"You better catch up soon!" I hear Ruby yell.
Before I can even respond I am forced to block another shot that was coming right for my head. I look in the direction the bullet came from and finally get a brief glimpse of our attacker. It was definitely a young woman with red hair but aside from that it was hard to make out.
"I really hope you're being paid well for this because you have no idea who you are messing with." I say getting into a battle ready stance. I wait for awhile but get no response. "I'm gonna give you one chance to back off before I am forced to make you."
"I'd like to see you try." I hear a soft voice from behind me say. I quickly turn see no one there. How can they possibly move that fast? Ruby can't even move that fast. Suddenly I feel a foot hit my side, sending me tumbling to the ground. Luckily it didn't break through my aura. "I'm fairly certain that 'making me back off' is gonna be quite a bit harder than you think."
I look up at the girl and the first thing I notice is her fiery red hair and deep blue eyes. On top of her head I see what appears to be Owl feathers, so she is a Faunus. I quickly get to my feet and return to my battle stance.
"You are just another job I need to complete, nothing personal." she says as she reveals her weapons, two crescent shaped arm blades.
"Well nothing personal but I have a family to protect." I say loading up a dust round. "So I'm not going to make this job easy for you."
We stand there for a few solid minutes staring each other down, the air was very tense as we stared daggers at one another. Finally in a flash she charges toward me and our blades clash.
