It had been months since Beacon fell. Months since she had seen an arrow pierce Pyrrhas heart and her friend dissolve to nothing. Months since everything had fallen apart.

Ruby sighed, huddling closer to the fire for warmth. The rest of her team were sleeping. Taking what little rest they could before moving on.

Not her team of course. Team RWBY didn't exist anymore. No, Weiss, Blake and Yang were gone. The heiress into her father's clutches, the Faunus into the shadows and her sister into despair.

No, she had a new team now. Team RNJR as Nora had joked one evening. The remains of two broken teams desperately trying to move forward. Forward to Haven in hopes of finding any trace of the people who had caused them such anguish.

Perhaps it was a fool's journey but it was something. They had all lost so much. The thought of doing nothing was not something any of them could live with. Above all else, they were still Hunters and Huntresses. They had just graduated a littler earlier than planned.

Above her head a crow cawed. Glancing up, Ruby could see the Crow sitting on a tree branch staring down at her. Behind it the moon could be seen. It sat past its apex, full and clear in the night sky. A white light in the sea of darkness.

Ruby blinked as she realised what the moon meant. A glance at her scroll confirmed it. Quarter to three. It was past midnight. She was sixteen.

"Happy birthday Ruby," she whispered to herself.

The crow cawed once more.

It felt childish to think about. Especially after all that happened. What was the point in a birthday when there was nothing worth celebrating? But still Ruby couldn't help but smile.

She wouldn't tell the others. They would just feel obligated or guilty. With nothing else to offer, they would try and offer her their rations or try to do her duties as a substitute. That's just the type of people her friends were.

But Ruby didn't need their kindness and she wouldn't weaken her team over something so trivial.

Life on the road wasn't easy and they all had their parts to play. They had to share the burden equally and smartly. No, Ruby wouldn't increase their load even for a day.

"You were supposed to wake me half an hour ago."

Ruby smiled, turning round to face Ren.

"Was I?" she said innocently. "Must have lost track of time."

"I'm sure," Ren said. "How's it been?"

"Quiet, like you said it would be."

Ren sat down next to her and pulled out his own weapons as he prepared to take over the watch.

"We're out of the Grimm's hunting path. According to the maps anyway."

"Can't be too careful."

"Agreed," he said. "You should get some rest Ruby. We can't have a tired leader can we?"

The young huntress nodded wordlessly. Sheathing Crescent Rose, she headed towards the two tents and entered. Quietly, so she didn't wake Jaune, Ruby changed out of her clothes and into her nightwear.

Always have clothes for sleeping in. Blake had told her that once. It might seem colder at first, but it kept you warmer in the long run.

She remembered that particular piece of advice every night. Those words reminded her that wherever the Faunus was, Blake could take care of herself. It brought Ruby some small measure of hope.

As she laid down next to her team mate, Ruby felt Jaune stir slightly. For a second, she worried that she had woken him, but then he quickly fell back asleep.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Ruby couldn't help but smile. When they had first set out, Ruby and Nora had shared a tent while Jaune and Ren had the other. But it had become quickly apparent that Nora and Ren slept easier in each other's arms.

Ruby could still remember when the two had denied their feeling for each other. We're not together together. Just together. It seemed so long ago.

One night Jaune and Ruby had found them asleep entwined within each other's arms. After what happened with Pyrrha, the two friends had finally faced the truth. Life was too short not to be with the ones you loved.

So now Ruby shared her tent with Jaune. It wasn't a big deal. Modesty had long since vanished and they slept in different sleeping bags after all. They were just two friends who shared a tent.

Yang would have been merciless if she had been here though. Ruby could just imagine her fake threatening Jaune and holding back laughter as he squirmed. She would be going out of her way to embarrass Ruby, making jokes about anything and everything.

Or at least the old Yang would have. The new Yang, the one who had lost more than anyone that night, she wouldn't say anything. Ruby swallowed back tears as she remembered the image of her sister sitting in bed, her eyes blank.

After she had started making plans to leave, Ruby had nearly asked her sister to come with them. Every day she had visited her sisters room to tell Yang. But every time she opened her mouth, Ruby would look into her sister's lifeless eyes and the words would die.

Pushing thoughts of her sister from her mind, Ruby closed her eyes. Her silver eyes... Once again she felt a pit open up in her stomach. Silver eyed warrior, that's what she was. That's what Uncle Qrow had said. A warrior who could freeze Grimm with a look.

But despite that power, Ruby felt helpless. She hadn't stopped Cinder. She hadn't been fast enough to save Pyrrha. Beacon was gone and her team had fallen apart and a stupid legend didn't change that.

It's why she hadn't told the others. Sure she had some sort of power but she couldn't control it. Despite what her dad had said, Ruby knew that Cinder was still out there. The dragon was frozen for now, but the young witch still lived.

Her thoughts moved to her final team mate and partner, Weiss. Ruby had tried to contact the young heiress but all her letters had been met with silence. Ruby hoped that it was her father's doing, not that Weiss had given up like everyone else.

It was hard to say. Ruby liked to think the best of everyone but after everything that had happened, it was getting harder. She could only imagine what Weiss would be dealing with.

Memories of music ran through her head. Cold mirrors and stone hearts. A song of solitude and sorrow. Weiss had only sung it for her once. After days of begging and pleading, the heiress had finally relented on the condition Ruby told no one else.

It had been beautiful but sad. When Weiss had finished, Ruby couldn't applaud her friend and partner like she deserved. She could only cry. That was life that Weiss had used to lead and the prison she had now been returned to.

For the third time that night, the crow cawed.

Ruby smiled. She was pretty sure the crow had been following them. Maybe she was just being paranoid but she could have sworn that she saw it every couple of days. Probably just following them to pick at any food they left behind but any signs of life were nice to see. Stupid really, it was just a bird after all. But still it gave her some small comfort.

And these days, small comforts were all they had.

He dreamed of her. Just like every night. Vibrant red hair and brilliant green eyes. She smiled at him, standing at the edge of a forest she was almost indistinguishable from the autumn leaves.

He ran towards her, calling her name but she just smiled sadly him. He reached out to grab her hand and then the wind would blow.

His partner scattered into the leaves, leaving him alone with just the barest trace of words left to him.

"Do you believe in destiny?"

Jaune awoke with a start. For a few seconds, he lay panting in the tent. Beside him, he felt a figure stir and he caught a flash of red.

"Pyrrha?"

But it was just Ruby. She was still asleep, her light snores filling the tent. Just like it did every day, it struck Jaune just how young she really looked. Barely more than a kid.

Sure she was a kid who could slaughter Grimm with a scythe that was bigger than her, but a kid none the less. Ruby shouldn't be involved in this, let alone be leading their team.

Who was he kidding? Ruby was the only one who could lead them. They would be lost without her. Jaune couldn't protect his own partner, how could he be trusted with a team?

Deciding to let her rest a little longer, Jaune quickly dressed and exited the tent. Ren sat by the fire, already beginning the task of making breakfast. Somethings never changed. He glanced up at him as he approached.

"Morning," Ren said simply.

"Hey," he said not really knowing what else to say. "Is Nora awake yet?"

"Yeah she went to wash in the river before we head out."

His stomach dropped.

"Alone?"

"Yeah."

"Maybe I should make sure she's okay..."

"Jaune," Ren said. "It's Nora. She can handle herself."

You would have said the same of Pyrrha, he thought bitterly. She was the strongest person he had known. She could take care of herself. She could beat anything. She could survive anything. She was the Invincible Girl. And now she was gone.

Still he sighed and reluctantly sat down.

"Yeah," he muttered. "You're probably right."

The two sat in silence until Ren had continued cooking. Jaune thought about helping. Maybe he was a mediocre Huntsman but there were some things he could do. After all, Jaune had grown up with seven sisters and a father who was often away on missions. There were always chores to be done and even he could learn to chop vegetables.

Too late though as Ren had just stood up, putting the lid on the pot and leaving it to simmer.

"We have some time before they'll be ready to head out," he said. "We can train a little if you want."

Jaune nodded, grateful for the distraction. Maybe they weren't at school anymore, but that didn't mean they could stop learning. Her Uncle had once told Ruby that every day in the field was worth a hundred in the classroom. They were facing very dangerous enemies and even if they could find them, Jaune was not good enough to help anyone. Unless he got better, he would only be a burden.

It had been Ren who had approached him about it. Apparently he had felt the same as Jaune. Tired of being knocked to the side. Tired of being rescued and tired of not being good enough. Jaune didn't quite understand why Ren felt that way. His friend had always been very skilled. He had actually graduated combat school after all, he didn't have to fake his way in.

But Jaune wouldn't say no to combat partner and between the three of them, Ren was the best fit. Nora was too wild and her attacks made it too difficult for Jaune to actually learn anything. Ruby was just too fast for him to keep up with and although she was their leader now, she hadn't been a part of their team.

Ren was controlled and is duel dagger and pistols meant that Jaune could actually work on parrying and footwork instead of just dodging wildly. Plus, his friend was far more patient than the energetic girls which was helpful considering their skill gap. They both wanted to improve so this was a perfect solution.

Moving towards the edge of camp so they didn't wake Ruby, both boys drew their weapons and metal clashed.

Humming cheerfully to herself, Nora Valkyrie hiked up the river. Darting from one rock to another, the sure footed Huntress never touched the water once. Falling in now would mean hiking the rest of the day on frozen clothes. They didn't exactly have the time to wait around and let it dry.

Pausing to look around, Nora decided she had gone far enough. Dropping her bag in the snow next to the frozen river, Nora pulled out her weapon. Carefully she unlocked the grenade clip from its home and with a slight flourish, she threw it at the ice.

It broke the surface with a crunch before the Dust inside ignited super-heating the water and leaving her with a perfect bath. Nora could just imagine Weiss shouting at her for such a hazardous use of dust. It made her smile as she fondly remembered the Heiress's tirades.

Stripping, Nora quickly entered the pool escaping the winter weather to her own 'do it yourself' Jacuzzi. The water was still steaming slightly but her Aura would protect her from any discomfort. The steam would also give her some degrees of privacy for what came next.

Convinced that she was completely alone and no one could see her, Nora let herself break down and began to cry.

Nora sobbed, letting the emotions that had built up while she kept on her brave face burst free. Every day she did this. Find a secluded spot and let everything out. It was getting harder and harder to make it through the day.

This wasn't what was supposed to happen. They were meant to be Hunters. That's what she and Ren had promised each other, that night in the orphanage. They would make their own family and never anyone ruin it.

And now Pyrrha was dead and Beacon was gone.

Their family and their home taken from them in one night. Now Jaune always had this look on this face and Ruby being was distant, no matter how much she denied it. So Nora had to remain strong. To pretend that she was still the same cheerful person whose best friend hadn't been murdered.

Ren helped. Finally, being able to be open with her feelings about her oldest friend had been freeing. She had been waiting for so long and to find out that Ren had returned her feelings had been wonderful. In a way, it was Pyrrhas last gift to her. If you love someone let them know.

So Nora continued trying to keep spirits high as she herself barely made it through the day. She would crawl into her tent and hold onto Ren until one of them had to take a watch. If she was lucky, she would fall asleep before he left. If not, her sleep would be restless and short.

The water had cooled down again. Nora wasn't really ready to get out but the others might send out a search party soon. She should probably get back to camp. Forcing herself to stop crying, Nora got out of the water and started to get ready to head back.

At the edge of the clearing where they had set camp, Nora paused. Taking a deep breath, she released her body and put on a smile. Then she skipped forward jumping up to where Ren and Jaune were training.

"Ren," she said loudly. "What's for breakfast?"

Just get through the day.

"Same as everyday Nora," Ren replied with a smile. "Dry rations and vegetables."

"Gross. Why don't you make pancakes anymore?"

"Well we don't have eggs. Or flour, or milk. Or syrup."

"Maybe you don't have syrup," she said closing the gap between. "I never leave home without it."

"I honestly don't know if I believe you or not," Jaune said.

As he spoke, he collapsed his shield before putting away his sword. Clearly, training was over for the day. Keeping up her smile, she stuck out her tongue at Jaune.

"And you will never know for sure for I am a master of deception," she said laughing manically.

"Keep it down a little," Jaune said. "Ruby's still sleeping."

Feeling a little guilty, Nora motioned zipping her lips causing the blonde to sigh good-naturedly.

"Do me a favour Nora," he said smiling. "Never change."

Too late.

"Don't worrying fearless leader," she said. "I'm not changing a thing."

Jaunes face smile faltered slightly and he turned away.

"I'm not your leader anymore."

No that not what she had meant. She hadn't thought about her words; they had just slipped out. She had to fix this.

"I didn't- "

But he didn't give her a chance.

"It's fine," he said shortly leaving Nora in silence.

"Jaune do you mind checking on the food."

Nora blinked, surprised that Ren had spoken. Jaune sighed. He must have realised he had upset her.

"Yeah sure, whatever."

"Are you alright," Ren asked.

"I'm fine. Better than fine I am great. I just had a lovely bath in a Grimm invested forest."

"Really?" he said. "Then why don't you smell like your shampoo?"

"You know me by scent. Kinda creep Ren. " She cocked her head to the side. "Or super cute, I can't decide."

"Nora-"

"I'm fine really," she said. "Don't worry."

For a second he didn't say anything, then suddenly he stepped forward and enveloped her in a hug. She loved the way his head would rest just on top of hers, and she could lean forward right into his chest. He smelled of flowers.

Maybe she was creepy-cute as well. They could be creepy cute together and that would be enough. It would have to be.