And, we're back with our human friends this chapter. It looks like this fic is already getting a bit of a following. I'm so glad that so many people are enjoying it. It's gonna be a longer one, so you have plenty to look forward to. Enjoy!

It was Yang who led the small group of Huntsmen into the woods a week after the attack. The party consisted of her, Weiss, Jaune, Ren, and Nora. All had their blades sharp and partially out of their sheaths. Today, they would be hunting werewolves.

The unauthorized hunt had been Jaune's suggestion. He had guessed correctly that such an excursion would help bring Yang and Weiss out of the depression they had fallen into. One more day of listening to Weiss's quiet whispers of "I never told her. I can't believe I never told her." would have driven any of them to tears, and Yang's quiet, dead-eyed expression desperately needed the excitement and vengeance that a hunt would bring.

It wouldn't bring Ruby and Blake back, but it would at least grant their souls some satisfaction.

Ren took the lead once they were out of the village. He had always been the second best tracker out of all of them. After Blake's death, he became the best overall.

They followed him for an hour before he slowed down, finally spotting something. He knelt in the grass, eying the slightly-damp ground. "Deer tracks," he muttered. "They go for a little while before suddenly turning. They started running, as if they were spooked by something."

"Werewolves or Grimm?" Jaune asked, glancing around apprehensively. While Huntsmen were trained to fight both Grimm and cursed beasts of the wild, it was generally an easier fight when facing ordinary beasts. Grimm could kill a band of Huntsmen in a heartbeat.

If a Beowolf Leader was involved, the survivors of a battle would likely become werewolves. Only a scratch from that specific monster was enough to transform any human or Faunus. The werewolves were a cursed blend between the civilized world and the godless realm of the Grimm. They were an unholy mix of the two, and everyone knew that they had to be killed just as surely as any other creature of the night.

A quick inspection of some brambles revealed tufts of fur. "Werewolves," Ren replied. "Though we should be on the lookout for any Grimm." With the lingering sadness they were all feeling, any Grimm in the area would likely be attracted to them.

"I packed several vials of Dust for each of us," Weiss spoke up, her hollow voice containing some of its former spirit. "Since the ground is wet, I thought it would be safe enough for Fire Dust." She quickly passed out the tiny vials, which were immediately tucked into their pockets. Dust gave Huntsmen an edge against Grimm. More importantly, the slightest amount was lethal to werewolves.

The group fell into formation with Ren and Yang taking point, Jaune and Weiss flanking on either side, and Nora keeping an eye behind them. As they walked, they keenly felt the absence of their friends. Blake was usually on point with Yang. Ren would flank with Jaune, and Ruby would keep an eye on the rear while Nora flanked alongside Weiss.

After a few more minutes, Ren noticed more fur. "They were heading North." He checked the ground. "Strange. The ones we tracked after the attack went more to the East."

If that was the case, these weren't the ones that had attacked the village. Not that that mattered. They'd have to die, anyway.

As that thought went through his head, Jaune felt a familiar pang as a memory from his childhood surfaced. He remembered that night when he had let a werewolf pup go free. He remembered the intelligence that had been in the creature's gaze and the way it had nodded its head in response to his demand that it not attack Vale. Had the beast kept its word, or had it been partially responsible for the deaths of Ruby, Blake, and countless others?

If it did kill them, he thought grimly. I won't make the same mistake twice.

Eventually, they reached a torn-up deer carcass. Ren wrinkled his nose. "This has been here a few hours. They're pretty far ahead."

"Should we turn back?" Jaune asked. "They usually run pretty fast after a hunt. We might not catch them, even if they're in their human forms now."

"That's probably best," Ren sighed. "We shouldn't wander too far from the village."

"Can we at least find some Grimm to kill?" Yang asked, clenching her hand over her sword's hilt. "I'd like to fight something today."

"We could try the clearing," Jaune suggested, suppressing a sigh of resignation. Truthfully, he would have preferred to go home. If they couldn't get revenge on the beasts that had killed Ruby and Blake, what was the point in looking for another fight? But, he could tell that the others, especially Yang, needed this.

"Good idea," Nora said. "There's usually a Boarbatusk or two there."

The group fell back into formation as they approached the clearing. They heard the Grimm before they saw them. To everyone's relief, there were no Beowolves, only a few Boarbatusks, which they made short work of. Yang personally gouged three with her blade and punched a few of them in the face with her special spiked gauntlets, stunning them so that the others could get some hits in.

Afterward, they walked back. The usual exhilaration that came after a battle was muted, and the excited banter that normally would have followed such a fight was entirely absent. They focused on their formation and keeping an eye out for more monsters, some of them hoping that more would appear.

As they reached the border of town, they met a patrol of Huntsmen led by Yatsuhashi. Though their excursion had technically been forbidden, he only nodded once at them before leading his group out.

Jaune watched them go. "The Elders should be letting him focus on rebuilding his and Velvet's house," he muttered, shaking his head. "Actually, they should be doing it for him. It's their stupid anti-Faunus talk that caused Cardin and the others to burn those houses."

Yang huffed. "Since when have the Elders given a damn about the Faunus? If Ruby hadn't been killed along with Blake, they probably would've brushed over the whole thing or used it as an excuse to preach some anti-Faunus propaganda."

Weiss averted her eyes. Her own father was in the Council of Elders, and was one of the most outspoken against the Faunus population.

Noticing her friend's expression, Yang quickly softened. "Sorry, Weiss. I know you're taking this hard." She didn't voice the other thought in her mind: that Blake and Ruby might have stood a chance if the Faunus district of Vale had been given more protection.

Weiss nodded in acknowledgement, her eyes still on the town. "I think…I'm going to visit my sister."

"Do you want one of us to come with you?" Jaune asked.

"No. I'm fine. Thank you all for taking me on the hunt. It helped. Somewhat." Weiss nodded at the group before walking toward town.

Jaune watched her go, frowning slightly. His frown deepened when Yang said goodbye and made a beeline for the nearest pub. He looked at Ren and Nora, who both shrugged wordlessly. Jaune sighed. "I wish we could do more to help them."

"People find comfort where they can," Ren rationalized. "Yang takes comfort in doing things that keep her from thinking about her feelings, while Weiss takes comfort in her sister and the Church."

"You can't pray and drink your life away, though!" Nora protested before pausing thoughtfully. "Wait…You probably can, huh?"

"I say we let them do whatever works for now," Jaune said. "Let's see if they get better on their own. If it gets to be too obsessive, or life-threatening in Yang's case, we'll try talking to them. For now, as long as they can hunt, there's no real issue."

"Still, one of us should accompany Yang to make sure she gets home safely," Ren pointed out. "Strong as she is, I'd feel better if she had company while intoxicated."

"I'll take care of her," Nora immediately said. "I think I have the best chance of carrying her home if she gets drunk enough. You guys should head home."

Jaune and Ren looked at each other and nodded. "Be careful, Nora," Ren warned. "And don't walk home alone. I'll come over to Yang's house if you're still not home after dark. Wait for me there."

"Okay, 'Dad.' Anything else?" Nora drawled sarcastically. "Come on, Ren. I'd be more worried about you walking home alone at night." She tapped her friend playfully on the nose before walking off in the direction of the pub.

When she opened the door, she was immediately aware of the loud, boisterous talking coming from the bar. At the center of it all was Yang, who seemed to be in a drinking contest with the burly man next to her. She was already halfway through what looked like her third tankard of mead.

Nora groaned and rolled her eyes. This is gonna be a long night…and it's only the afternoon.

…..

The Temple of the Four Maidens was always open, no matter what time it was. That was the way of things. No matter when people needed guidance, they could always find it. There was always a priestess awake and ready to receive visitors.

Winter Schnee was one such priestess. She was tending the candles on the Spring shrine, which was more in use than the others due to the season, pausing as she saw her sister come in through the doors. "I thought I'd be seeing you today," she said calmly, carefully placing another yellow candle near the urn of Earth Dust that sat beneath an oil painting depicting the Spring Maiden holding her arms out over a field of flowers.

"Hello, Winter." Weiss paused at the end of the aisle to curtsy to the five shrines (four for the Maidens, and one for the God who had given them their powers) before approaching her sister.

"How are you?" Winter asked, straightening a candle holder.

"I am well, thank you," Weiss replied, bowing her head formally, before a thwack to her head caused her to stumble.

Winter withdrew her hand, looking down impassively. "No, you're not. Don't lie to me."

Weiss rubbed her head irritably, noting that Winter hadn't hit her as hard as she usually did. "I…went on an unscheduled hunt with my friends today."

"I see." Winter walked over to the pews and knelt down, pulling a box out from under one of the seats. She withdrew two white candles from it and handed them to Weiss. "I assume you'll want to light these."

"Yes, thank you." Weiss nodded as she accepted the candles. "Anyway, we went out to try and find the werewolves."

"Did you?" Winter led Weiss back to the Spring altar and picked up a gold candle, holding it out.

"No." Weiss used the gold candle to light one of the white ones before placing it in an empty glass holder. Traditionally, candles lit for the dead were placed on the Winter altar, but Ruby had always reminded Weiss of the Spring Maiden the most. She knelt in front of the candle and closed her eyes, whispering a prayer for her beloved friend's soul.

Images flooded through her mind. She saw Ruby on their first day of Huntsman training, hiding behind Yang but also seeming eager to talk to the other students. She remembered bumping into Ruby and the Dust explosion that had occurred when some of her canisters had fallen. She remembered hating the girl, yet somehow ending up as her sparring partner more often than not.

Over time, the younger girl's kind nature had chipped away at Weiss's initial dislike and subsequently opened her up to new friendships, even that of Blake (something that Mister Schnee had vocally disapproved of).

Looking back, Weiss wondered why had been the only one to develop feelings for Ruby. There hadn't been a kinder, happier, more gentle-hearted girl in all of Vale.

Weiss blinked, realizing that she had started crying. She wiped the tears from her face before standing up. Winter was standing a few feet away, watching calmly. Her sister then led her to the Winter shrine, where she lit her other candle for Blake, who had always reminded her of the quiet, solitary Winter Maiden.

Just the day before the attack, Weiss had been at Blake's house. She had been scolding the Faunus girl for lending one of her lewd books to Ruby.

"Where do you even get this filth?" she had asked.

Blake had tried to act indignant, but the twitching of her cat ears made it obvious that she found her friend's outburst more amusing than anything. She cheekily offered to let Weiss borrow one of the books if she was so interested. Weiss had huffed, but hadn't directly said no.

When some of the houses in the Faunus district were burned a few nights ago, Blake's had been one of the first to go. The books were probably all ashes by now.

After saying her second prayer, Weiss stood and faced her sister, who only then started talking again.

"If you didn't find werewolves, did you find anything else?"

"We found and killed some Boarbatusks." Weiss shrugged. "It…didn't make me feel any different."

Winter nodded. "I wouldn't expect it to. You were looking for justice and found only a temporary distraction, and a poor one at that." She beckoned toward one of the pews before sitting down. When Weiss sat next to her, she placed a hand on her shoulder. "I take it things are not well at home."

Weiss's face darkened. "Father is at the head of the people saying that the Faunus are the ones attracting the werewolf attacks. He acts like he sympathizes with my loss while saying what a shame it is that Ruby had to associate with such dangerous people." A small sob rose in her throat. "He plays the part of a kind Elder while blaming Blake for everything. And what has he done about Cardin and his cronies burning the Faunus homes? Nothing!"

Weiss looked Winter directly in the eye. "He says he's working in the interest of the God-fearing people of this town. But, weren't God and the Maidens supposed to be loving and good? Is this really what they would want?"

Winter folded her hands and looked up at the five pictures overlooking the shrines. At the center was the picture of the nameless God, whose bearded face smiled benevolently down at them. "You know the story of the Maidens and how their kindness moved God to give them their powers, of course. That story, though told differently by different people, remains the same. However, there are many doctrines concerning the Church that were written by people. Flawed, confused, biased people. People like Father have feelings of prejudice that they wish to validate through the Church. Being an Elder, he is able to make some claims, and those who agree with him will readily believe him."

She turned to Weiss. "You recall that fight I had with him last year when he tried to get me to adjust the sermons to something he preferred, right?"

Weiss nodded, grimacing at the memory. "So, you don't think Blake was to blame?"

"I think that the beasts that attacked us were to blame," Winter said flatly. "No one else."

Weiss felt a small smile come to her face. "Can you convince the people in the town of that?"

Winter shook her head. "I give the sermons as they are written, Weiss. I don't adjust things to fit with Father's perspective, nor will I adjust them to fit with mine or yours. People will believe what they will. I can only preach the love of God and the Maidens and hope that the people of this town will hear the message."

Weiss let out a sigh, nodding her head slowly. "I understand. Thank you, Winter."

Winter leaned close and touched a kiss to her sister's forehead. "Just continue honoring your friends. Do your duties as a Huntress. And, unless you plan on following in my footsteps, don't spend your whole life in this building. The Maidens can only carry you so far. Eventually, you'll need to overcome your grief on your own."

"Thank you," Weiss repeated, kissing Winter's cheek. "I think I'd like to pray for a while."

"Okay. If you don't want to see Father, you're welcome to spend the night." Winter stood up. "I'll be tending to the altars in the meantime."

Weiss watched Winter return to her duties before clasping her hands together and bowing her head. She repeated the prayers she had said for Ruby and Blake, adding a few for the displaced Faunus in Vale, and even one that her father and the other Elders would eventually see reason. It gave her something to focus on that wasn't the sinking, aching sensation that filled her in the same way Dust filled the four ceremonial urns.

…..

Nora struggled to keep Yang upright as the two walked toward the house of Taiyang. The blonde, despite her high alcohol tolerance, had managed to drink enough so that she was lurching and hiccupping with every step she took.

"And then -hic- y'know what I said? -hic-" Yang slurred, grinning goofily down at Nora.

"What did you say?" Nora asked patiently, steering her friend away from an alley.

"I said -hic- 'Aren't ya a little old' -hic- 'to have a name like Junior?'" Yang giggled. "Aw, that was a fun night."

"Sure, Yang." Nora let out a sigh of relief when Taiyang's house came into view. "Okay, Yang. We're home."

"Aw. Already?" Yang pouted. "I didn't even get to the part where I grabbed his -hic-!"

"Tell me about it tomorrow," Nora said as she shoved the door open with her shoulder. "Taiyang?" she called. "I brought Yang home!"

Ruby and Yang's father was sitting at the dining table with a lantern nearby, sipping what smelled like coffee. His face grew slack with relief when he saw Yang. "Thank goodness. I wondered if she'd gone to the pub, but I didn't want to leave in case she came home and couldn't get the door open." He stood up and walked over, easily picking his daughter up. "Thank you, Nora."

"Always happy to help," Nora chirped, rolling her shoulder back now that she didn't have her friend's weight on it. "Um, how are you holding up?"

Taiyang smiled sadly. "I'm doing as well as one can. Don't worry about me, though. Just keep being a friend to Yang. See if you can steer her away from the pub." He shook his head. "One family member drinking himself to death is enough."

Nora thought about Ruby and Yang's uncle Qrow, who she had seen at a different pub during the walk home. He had looked even more drunk than usual. "I'll try to help, sir."

At that moment, there was a tap on the door before Ren poked his head in. "Hi, Nora. Good evening, Mister Xiao Long."

"Good evening, Ren," Taiyang replied. "Why don't you two head home? I'll take care of getting Yang to bed, okay?"

After the two left, he looked down at Yang. Her eyes were half-lidded and she was humming some unfamiliar tune. Carefully, Taiyang approached the pallet that Yang used to share with Ruby, placing her down gently. He drew the covers over her and sat down on the edge of the bed, petting her messy golden hair.

Yang's eyes fluttered open at the familiar touch and she smiled. "Hey, Dad."

Taiyang smiled. "Hi, honey. Rough night?"

"Nah. I -hic- beat three guys at drinking mead. Drank 'em under the -hic- table!"

"Qrow would be proud," Taiyang muttered.

"Hey, Dad?"

"Yeah, honey?" Taiyang looked down at his daughter, feeling a pang in his heart when he saw that her grin was gone, replaced with a sad, vulnerable look.

"I feel like shit." Yang's voice was heavy and her eyes were wide, as if pleading for her father to give her a solution.

He couldn't offer one. All he could do was choke back a few tears and whisper: "Me too, baby girl. Me too."

One fun thing about AUs like this is figuring out how society and religion would work in these different settings. Having a church that worshiped the Maidens as well as seeing the old man as a God-like figure seemed to fit in with the world I'm building here. Winter being a priestess came as a surprise as I was writing, but it's something I can see her doing. In my mind, she trained as a Huntress before joining the Church, so she's basically a holy knight.

I'm still open for commissions. There's one open slot left. Message me quickly if you're interested!

Peace out.