A/N: HAVING SERIOUS TECHNICAL ISSUES. If something doesn't look right, PM me. I've reached my limit, without resorting to destruction of personal property tonight, so I'll take a look at it again tomorrow, to make sure it looks right. Sorry guys.
It was a tedious trek up the city to the school. With her dark cloak pulled tight around her, the humidity stuck it's rim around her forehead and to the back of her calves. Weiss was still uncertain as to how she was going to meet up with Winter, but figured that showing up at the school might be a good place to start.
A flash of blue and red, pushed past her, loudly calling after a green haired man further up in the crowd. In the instant it took her to recognize Neptune, he had begun to disappear into the crowd. Laboriously, she followed, seemingly catching only a glimpse before he'd turn off into another alleyway.
Further and deeper they wound into the city, and the sound of the bustle of people was heavily muted as she rounded the final corner. A sound from behind her rang out, and all the hairs on the back of her neck stood on edge. With a gesture, her cape was flung back, Myrtenaster raised and poised, and a glyph locking her feet into place beneath her.
The ring of steel on steel rang out, and neither opponent budged, their eyes locked on their swords. A twist of her hilt, and the blade erupted in arching electricity. Her opponent, unprepared for the light and the sting of the spark, jolted back. Weiss raised her sword, shifting the tilt of her glyph. Gathering her strength, she exploded upward, preparing a downward swing. It was only then that she spared a glance at her reeling opponent.
"Sage?!" Instead of a swing, she turned head over heels, landing on her feet just on the other side of the green-haired man. She stood up straight, and turned on her heels.
The young man, still swatting away non-existent sparkles from his eyes, blinked at her.
"We-Weiss?"
From behind her, she was aggressively hugged for a moment, and then released just as quickly. Startled, she glanced over her shoulder to spot Neptune standing awkwardly behind her. Hand on hip and the other scratching the back of his head, a cheesy grin grew on his face.
"Hey, Weiss, what brings you to Mistral?"
Sighing, she pulled her dark cloak once more over her shoulders.
"I'm..." another sigh escaped her lips, and her shoulders fell slightly. "I'm here to see Winter." Her eyes flicked up to his. "My sister."
The blue-haired man's smile faltered, and something fell into place.
"You're not supposed to be here, are you? I mean, after your dad came... and now you're here..."
Sheepishly, she nodded. "That's why I need to get to Winter. She'll understand."
The smile returned to his face, this time more genuine. "Well, you're in luck, Princess! We'll help you with whatever you need."
The silver-haired woman smiled slightly at Neptune, but her words were soft.
"Please don't call me that."
Furrowed brows. "What?"
"Please don't call me 'Princess', okay?"
His smile reached his eyes. "You got it, Weiss."
Qrow scowled down at the steaming cup in his hands. Whatever it was, it wasn't alcoholic. The huntsman sniffed at it, catching some of the strong herbs, but none of the bite he was still craving. Well, he thought, at least I'll be able to keep my promise to Ruby.
Looking across the table to the kid in front of him, the older man couldn't help but be struck by how young the boy looked. Sun-kissed skin and dirty hands told the story of a manual laborer. A farmer, perhaps? But there were no lines around his eyes, no smile marks. Yet when he spoke- really spoke- there was age to his words.
The best place to speak of private things, when you couldn't truly be alone, was in a public place. Spoken in comfortable volume and in the midst of many people, no one paid you attention. So instead of the bar, where there were only waitstaff, they moved to a nearby popular cafe. The herbal concoction that the tired huntsman held to his nose had been a suggestion by Oscar.
Swallowing back a warm sip, Qrow was surprised by its nutty flavor. The heterocromic young man watched intently as he sipped at it, almost nervous for his approval. Raising the mug to eye it closer, the older man raised an eyebrow, a crooked small smile on his face.
"'S not bad."
Oscar nodded more to himself than to anyone. Placing back down the mug, the huntsman locked eyes with him.
"Alright, kid. So, you know everything that the old man knew?"
The young man shrugged. "Some. He usually tells me as I need to know."
"Maidens?"
A nod.
"Relics?"
A sobered expression followed by a nod.
"Salem?"
Slight furrow to the brow, followed by a nod.
"Silver eyes?"
The boy's face cleared.
"No, I don't think so."
Qrow's face twisted slightly. "That needs to change. Ruby accidentally came across her abilities while the old man was out."
A puzzled expression met the huntsman's own. He chuckled slightly.
"The old man will know what I'm talking about. I'd prefer if he'd tell you, only for safety's sake."
Oscar cocked his head to the side, as if listening to someone. A pause followed by a nod.
"He... he gave me some basics, just now. Says he'll tell me more later."
The huntsman nodded. "Fair enough." Sitting back in the chair, he rested his hands on the edge of the table.
"So- to get that old geezer in your head an update on the team: Ruby went full silver, Pyrrha's dead, the White Fang girl is back home, best I can tell, and the Schnee girl was snatched home by pops. All the rest of the kids have either scurried home or are here. Just got here myself, so I have yet to do any digging.
"Raven's back, and she's got somebody powerful on her side. The bandits are taking higher risk targets. Shion fell to them. Not sure who it is yet, but-"
"The Obsidian Warrior."
Qrow blinked. The young man shrunk, his shoulders raising to his ears. This didn't come from Ozpin.
"Kid, what do you know about this warrior? 'Cause that wasn't info from the old man."
"It's... it's just a story. Something my aunt used to talk about."
"What about it? What did she say?"
"It's only been in the last few years. There's this warrior- all black and shiny- that shows up right before the bandits do.
"It comes the day before, and then, according to the rumor, disappears into thin air. The next day, the bandits come, and it returns as their calvary."
Qrow's brows were furrowed, and his lips pulled down.
"According to what you've heard, is there a way to defeat it?"
Oscar shook his head.
"Not that I've heard. They say that if you cut off an arm, it grows back. They also say..." his lips twisted into a incredulous smirk. "That it's the trapped soul of a lost warrior."
One of the huntsman's brows shot up, but the frown remained firmly in place.
"The old man have anything to say about this?"
A pause from the boy.
"No, he's being oddly silent."
"Hmph. When he goes silent, I worry."
The older man sighed slumping sideways in his chair.
"Alright, here's my suggestion. The warrior can wait for the time being. We don't know what the old witch is planning to do next, but it would make sense for her to come to Haven. I'm not sure how I feel about Leo, so I'd prefer us keeping the old man's survival to ourselves. I know some people that can help with that.
"In the meantime, between me and the team I'm going to leave you in the hands of, we're going to have to give you some training."
The young man opened his mouth to protest, but the huntsman leaned forward on to the table, a finger raised to stop him.
"It's great and all that you know what he does, but you have to be able to do it as well."
He sighed and dropped his head.
"Listen, pipsqueak, this isn't going to be an easy gig. And you're stuck with it, whether you like it or not." He raised his eyes once more to Oscar. "Just make the best of it."
The young man smiled lightly, "I think I can do that."
A crooked smile pulled at his lips.
"Good kid."
He leaned back once more, this time pushing away from the table.
"Well, I need to go see Leo. But let's get you with the girls before I head that way."
"Girls?"
Qrow smirked.
