"This is a turning point for our cause," Ghira spoke to a gathering of White Fang rebels. "If we can take this coastal settlement, we cut off the White Fang's main entry point. Without it, their remaining posts will be weakened considerably."
The crowd was a formation of statues, diligent under their masks. Everyone was suited in black stealth wear, even Sun and Blake who stood to the side.
"So, this is it huh? I can't believe it's already time."
"Just focus Sun. This is important."
"Oh, I know all I need to do. Never leave your side."
Blake sighed and looked forward.
"Tonight, we take back our continent!" Ghira held up a fist with a roar. The rebels reciprocated with a chant, then everyone mobilized.
The route to Cautio Beach consisted of several canyon paths all emerging at the coast. They planned to raid the paths and attack the post from all sides. Rebels stalked along the high ledges, silent. Maintaining concealment was essential. If any team was detected on their path, the enemy could prepare to defend. A mission like this would fail without absolute trust and faith in all teams. Ghira and Blake held that trust.
The rebels had a brief but very personal recruitment procedure. First, facing the gate. Watch guards would inquire you, and if you expressed interest in joining you'd have to stand there for twelve hours. The shift from am to pm or vice verse represented the shift in loyalty. Those that made it proved their diligence and were let in.
Next, a background check, just to see what the recruit was offering and if they had a special history. The first task was usually night watch, so recruits would eye down other potential recruits and the cycle of mutual respect went on. Tempus Lamula, a faunus with cheetah features, insisted on staying by the gate for two days; enough time for someone else to be recruited and then put on watch to see him still standing there, and that's what happened.
Heleah Solaris watched this unfold in awe, confused but inspired by the display of will. When she let Tempus in she asked why he did it. He said, "I was resetting myself. I spent all that time accepting my actions and re-evaluating my goals. We're going to change the White Fang, and we're going to stand on equal footing with the rest of the world."
Heleah stayed close to him from then on. She learned that Tempus' semblance allows him to experience time slower and that he made those two days feel like two weeks.
The air breathed thick. No lights present, only glimpses of the moon casting faint shadows. The shadows moved.
Tempus and Heleah led two other rebels along a winding ledge. Heleah's dog ears sprung up. She signalled the group to stop. Tempus peered around the corner with sharp orange eyes: two guards stood watch. Tempus saw one begin to shift his eyes towards them and moved back just in time.
He pointed up and the other rebels climbed over and positioned themselves. Heleah and Tempus came forward. The guards turned to engage, but blades reached their backs before they could draw. The rebel group inspected each other and moved onward without a word.
Blake threw Gambol Shroud around a White Fang guards' neck and pulled. The other guard noticed but Sun knocked him down.
"I don't think we even need anyone else, we got th—"
A third guard dropped from above, blade inbound for Blake.
Sun charged forward, but couldn't match the fall speed. "No!"
The blade cut clean through Blake, clean though nothing. The apparition faded and the real Blake struck from the shadows. Sun, a mix of emotions, tripped with all his momentum and slid off the cliff.
"Sun!" Blake hooked her blade down and jumped over holding the ribbon.