Part 1

-Introductions-

Before anyone could get organized, fires had already broken out across the encampment. Screams rang out as panic had already set in. And, with panic, came the Grimm. Their makeshift huts had already caught flame as smoke filled the air. "Sienna is dead! Sienna is dead!" One activist cried out, carrying the White Fang flag as the desperately tried to restore a sense of unity. "The coup will now end us! Long live the Faunus!" Before the man could continue another member, a woman with rabbit ears quickly punched him out, sending both of them falling to the ground as she swiftly reached for her weapon. "Shut it, we're done! Without Kahn-" in a flash, she was suddenly cut of as a large bird-shaped shadow passed over her, causing her to quickly dash away in fear.

Blasts of fire exploded around the camp, tearing apart wooden structures with their intense force, sending shrapnel flying in the sky as vicious howls and snarls pierced the air, dark-bodied quadriplegic figures darting by from the tree line as the light from their glowing red eyes trailed behind them. "Underdogs incoming!" a female voice cried out as a small group of injured fighters eventually managed to gather together in a circle, their guns at the ready as multiple members shook in terror only for one of the person-sized canine Grimm to almost immediately launch a ball of fire at the group that broke their formation, sending masked Faunus flying away from the blast in multiple directions.

Trembling in terror in the chaos, a young girl, no older than 16, could be seen curled in a ball behind one of the tents, the stripes on the dark skin of her cheeks covered by her arms as she stressfully grasped at her short black hair and cat-like ears. Each explosive sound and scream making her flinch on response until, finally, tears began to stream down her face, staining her standardized White Fang uniform. Why was this happening? Why was this happening now? To her? To everyone?! All meaning escaped her as she was forced to simply accept the news that had set this event into motion, her mouth forcing itself into a snarling scowl of gritted fangs as her fear shaped itself into something more desperate. Those things… the Grimm… if only they didn't exist! If only… if only they were just gone! If only they would all just disappear!

Before she could finish gathering her thoughts, the girl glanced up as terror re-filled her yellow eyes. Right in front of her, one of the Underdogs approached, casually turning the corner as its nose sniffed the air before the beast's red eyes locked onto her. Without hesitation, the creature let loose a low growl before opening its mouth and launching a blast of flames straight at the girl! Instinctively, the Faunus raised her arms to protect herself, but, right as the heat of the flames began to burn her limbs, something strange happened…. Without warning, her arms were forced back down? It was as if she lost all control of her body as she witnessed the orb of fire move away from her before moving completely back inside the Underdog, the Grimm giving an inversed sound before moving back away out of sight. Confused, the girl stared on for a fleeting second before realizing the effect had ended, but before she could find any answers the Grimm once again walked into view, sniffing the ground before turning its head to growl at her once more! Only, this time, the Underdog's attack was interrupted as a mustached man wearing an overcoat leaped forward and smashed a bronze cane into the monster, sending it reeling back before the Grimm turned away and dashed off in surprise.

"Quite the bother, these things are." The mustached man quickly stated with a gasping breath. "I've never been much of a fighter, but ranged types are always a bother no matter the case." Without hesitation, the man turned to the girl. "You must be Sanghris, correct? Charmed. I go by Watts, Arthur Watts, to be precise. I'm here to save you. Any questions?"

For a moment, no words could escape her before Sanghris finally found the strength to speak. "That was… that was you, wasn't it? You- you reversed time! But- How?!"

"That would be my Semblance, dear, I call it 'Second Encore'," Watts began to explain. "It's fairly simple for limited temporal manipulation, think of it like adjusting a pocket watch. Everything in the area moves back as long as I turn the gear, but I can only turn so far back. Then, once I let go, things move from where they once were…. At least, they start to move from where they once were. What happens from there is simply a matter of choice and physics." Before he could get further carried away, he put his cane away in the left pocket of his coat before looking back over at the clearly confused Faunus.

"B-but… I've heard of Semblances, but that's…. That seems insane!" She simply uttered, almost uncertainly. "Wait, but… hang on… if they're sent back and you're sent back with them, then how does… or… are you sent back? Or… I don't…. Is the whole world just… but I remember it happening, so…?"

A slight chuckle escaped Watts at the perplexed ramblings. "That's a good place to be, remember that feeling. Well… maybe not specifically THAT one, but something close to it. Have you realized something, Sanghris?" The man crouched over slightly, putting his arm over his right knee to emphasize his point. "The Grimm are drawn to negative emotions. Fear, panic, hatred, despair… if you can learn to avoid them then this journey's going to become much, much, easier. Understood?"

Slowly, the girl nodded her head before she slowly stood up. "My friends call me Sandy, but- Wait a minute!" She shouted, shooting completely to her feet. "You're a huntsman! You've got to save the people here, then!" Sanghris's hands balled into fists as desperation began to once-again set in. "You need to save Azura!"

"I've no time for such things." Watts quickly replied at the demand. "I've come here for one thing and one thing only, Sanghris, and that's to save you." Before she could answer him, the huntsman had already extended his hand to her. "Now come on. I know you don't have an aura, do you? Even with my Second Encore, there's only so much I can do if we get surrounded…. Unless you want to die, of course."

As she began to speak, the Faunus cut herself off. Then she began again only to once more stop as she could only glare at the man. She wanted to deny his offer. She wanted to convince him to save the others or to find Azura. She wanted to shout and make a scene until he was forced to give in. But… he was right…. Getting angry or trying to test him would only draw more Grimm and without an aura she would just end up nearly being blasted apart again. And yet, still, despite the risk, she had to do something! "No!" The woman shouted in defiance. "Not until the people here are safe!"

The mustached man leered at the girl with a steel-like resolve before his clear hatred began to melt away into a detached, hardened, calm. "You're lucky I'm a charitable person, 'Sandy' was it?" He coldly began, making the young Faunus wince slightly at how forcibly he enunciated her nickname. "Very well…." The doctor continued, drawing his cane again and straightening his posture. "I'll take them out at my own pace. Any survivors will have to deal with the first aid for the wounded and I refuse to stick around and risk being followed. We leave as soon as I think the threat is gone and we don't try to find out whose fine or why and we leave no clues for Adam to find our location with. Those are my terms… do we have a deal?"

After blinking a few times in confusion, the White Fang member awkwardly stuttered "A- and also you leave a note saying I'm alive!" It was a miracle he was even bothering to hear herself out at all, she was certain he was going to just leave her behind! But if he was willing to change his mind and go this far, then there must be a reason. "It doesn't have to say where I'm going, I just don't want Azura to worry… you know…?"

"Fine!" Watts scowled, clearly not enjoying the prospect. It was annoying, but this was the only way for his long-term plans to work. "Now hurry up, it's only a matter of time until the assassins arrive. I'll explain things once you're at the lab."

A few hours later, any survivors exploring the wreckage of the campsite would find a most curious note at the scene:

"Dear White Fang,

The tiger girl is fine, I've taken her somewhere safe.

Dear Adam,

Words cannot express how much you've screwed up. Your shortsightedness shall be your downfall and I defy you to explain your haphazard scheme to the boss. Do not worry, though, you shall be dead next we meet. I look forward to that day, as I should since traitors deserve only the most cruel of fates and you would be simply amazed at the terrible things I have access to purely for the sake of making sure you go out as miserably as possible. But you already knew that when you chose to turn against us, did you not? Just take this as a reminder of the endless despair you shall endure in your final instant of unrelenting perpetual agony.

Best wishes and cheer to all,

Your brilliant ally;

~ Arthur Watts"