Hey guys, here is the next update of this fanfiction. Hope you have been enjoying the read so far. Anyway, thanks for the reviews of the story and read on as this saga continue.

Chapter Four

Frozen North

Silas Fort

There was sunlight visible through the clouds when Ghira Belladonna woke up this morning. He was looking up toward the sky above him, knowing this was the telltale sign of the harsh part of Winter moving on. While it was still considered to be dangerous to be out there, however, the worst part of Winter was starting to move on and maybe it wouldn't be long before they decide to march toward the Gate. Ever since Blake told him of the Huntress's promise to him, Ghira didn't really know what to think. He wouldn't have expected the daughter of the White Bane to decide to help them at all. It wasn't like he had treated her any differently when Blake and her friends brought her to him.

He was more than ready to have the white-haired girl killed because it would be a way to unite the people of the Frozen North but that wasn't needed for the Grimm attack upon the Gorge had done what he couldn't do. Now they had found themselves here in Silas and while the place was not something that many will want to stay in, it served enough as a shelter for the Faunus hiding out against the chilling winds of winter, but these past few days, the winds had started to die up, the temperature of the area not becoming as chilling as it had been these past few weeks and Ghira was aware that there was a chance coming in the weather. Spring was going to return soon, and it would soon be time to move.

But would the Gate open for them as the Huntress had told them it would be?

Cain, the Taurus clan leader was notorious for his hate of the Huntsman and Huntresses. The plan he has convinced him to use was exactly the type of plan Ghira expected from the man and it was these underhanded tactics that gained notoriety for the Taurus clan which is why he was surprised when Cain had approached him about joining their clan in a Mating Alliance, some months previously.

Ghira didn't know what to think really about this new development. Blake had never been interested in finding a mate for herself. While knowing that he has a daughter, Cain wasn't the first one to propose such an alliance to him, even thought he was the one that was the most insistent to have his son mated with Blake. Adam Taurus had a good reputation in the Frozen North. A good hunter and well-liked by the people he worked with but Ghira didn't really know the young man at all so he hadn't really given Cain an answer thought he had noticed Adam befriending Blake and since Blake wasn't really putting the friendship off, Ghira hadn't done anything to discourage it.

"The winds have not been as cold as before,"

His mate, Kali, was already dressed in her own fur, her golden eyes looking at him as she approached toward where he stood. He smiled lightly at her, feeling the familiar flutters of emotions in his chest whenever he saw her. She had been a willful companion and a strong pillar for him to lean on whenever things get difficult for him to handle. She always had many good advices for him and always listened to him whenever he needed someone to talk to.

"Aye, it hasn't been like this for days now," he told her, "Winter is approaching its end."

Kali gives him a light kiss upon his cheek before setting off to work again. He glanced around, searching for a sight of his daughter but the familiar long black hair was nowhere to be seen.

"Blake left already?"

"It would seems she had done so," Kali answered him, "She is working with the Awasha mystics to set up a barrier around for those things that attacked us."

Ghira let out a small sigh. He still found it hard to believe that there was something about there that could control the Grimm. Ghira had fought against Grimm before and they were always a ferocious enemy to battle against. The Grimm fight with no regards for their own lives, if they even had any to begin with and such an enemy was always dangerous. However, the battle at the Gorge had left him with a bad feeling in the back of mind ever since it had emptied…a horrible feeling that he didn't want to give name yet but feeling that was in his gut had made itself known when lady Ashla revealed what had attacked the camp…

The monster that Blake had killed with that strange dust steel dagger.

"Something wrong?"

Ghira turned his attention toward his mate. Kali looked worried for him, her golden eyes searching as she observed him. He gave her a smile, showing the light fangs that he had.

"I was just thinking," he said.

"Ghira, what's on your mind?"

The man rubbed his hands together. Maybe it would be best if he could talk about this with his mate. The thoughts that had been running through his mind ever since he agreed with Cain's plan. He may have brought the clan together, but Ghira knew that it was only the fear that was keeping them together with that…Wraith things that she mentioned.

"Do you really think it's wise to trust the Hunt to be able to help us?" he asked her, "I understand Cain's hatred of them and many of us have lost children, brother and sisters to them. My own sister disappeared after a raid on the other side of the Gate and never returned…there is so much bad blood between both of our people and yet, Blake trusted that human girl to help us?"

Kali looked at him, allowing him to continue.

"Ever since she came back, they were those rumors going on about her," Ghira continued, "While I fully trust my daughter and she has always been strong, I just found myself growing worried about her."

Kali approached him, placing a hand upon his own.

"Our daughter is a warrior," she said, "She understand what is at stake for our people. She would have never made a decision without thinking about what could happen to us."

It was true. Blake loved him and her people. If she didn't, she wouldn't have returned at all, but she had returned to them after a few weeks since she left with the Huntsman. Ghira had found himself worried about her when Blake had gone off with the Huntress. He had this strange fear within his chest that Blake wouldn't come back…just like when his sister left, all those years ago.

"It is probably nothing but I was afraid that she was never going to come back," Ghira told her.

Kali give him a light smile.

"Oh Ghira," she chuckled, "Blake is nothing like your sister. From what I remember of her, she was always fascinated by the land Beyond the Gate…cared not much for the tradition here."

Ghira chuckled.

"Too much of a dreamer my dad would always say," he said.

Those were simpler time, Ghira remembered. Time before the war and before she was killed probably dead somewhere. He never found her body but only hoped that if she was dead, that she died among people who knew her, not from humans who abused Faunus.

"I should probably find Blake and talk to her," he said shaking his head, "I need to know exactly where she got that knife."

Kali patted his hand lightly, "Don't be too hard on her."

He stared down at her, "I'm not."

She gave him a look that seems to look right through him.

"I know these rumors about her bothered you Ghira," Kali told him.

Ghira let out a small sigh, "I would be lying if I said they didn't. However, I need to speak with Blake before deciding. She hadn't betrayed my trust yet."

Kali seems to light up at his answers. She approached toward him and the gently kissed him upon the lips. He found himself returning it for a few more seconds before the duo stepped away from another. She was looking at him with as much love within those golden eyes of hers as she did when they first mated together.

"And this is why I'm glad I am mated to someone like you Ghira Belladonna," she told him.

Ghira gave her a light grin, "I would have won you over even if you weren't glad about it."

Kali snorted, her Faunus ears flickering at her amusement.

"You wish Belladonna."

He let out a hearty laugh before leaving her. He had to speak to Blake about the knife, and how she had gotten it. Such a weapon was not something that someone would run into in this place and the weapons they had weren't even all that up to par with that the Huntsman have. It was one of the reasons as to why they avoided the Hunt most of the time since the War in the North. While using Semblance give you an edge in battle, they lost the war even with that edge so they had to be cautious and not be as irradical as before.

He walked through the hallway aiming for where the Awasha had set up their tents. He instantly noticed them with their long robes upon their bodies and the strange glow of that was growing around them. He didn't come here often but he couldn't deny the way that the Awasha used Aura was a fascinating sight since he had never used Aura in such a manner before. Only used it to fuel how much power he could give in his Semblance. As he was walking through the many tents that were in the courtyard of the old Fort, Ghira caught sight of Lady Ashla who was holding a staff in her hand.

"Lady Ashla," he called out.

The Fox Faunus turned her attention having heard his call. Her blue eyes went wide at the sight of him being there, but she stayed still waiting for him to catch up.

"Ghira Belladonna," she greeted with a light nod of her head, her fox ears flickering in her surprise, "Such a rare sight to see you here."

"Lady Ashla," he greeted her with a small nod, "Have you seen my daughter around here? Since she was helping your people with security details these past few days, I assume that she would be here since she wasn't back home."

Lady Ashla seems to think for a few moments.

"She was here an hour ago," she answered him, "But she left with Sun and one of our mystics. They should be back soon if you don't mind waiting for them here."

"I don't mind," Ghira told him.

Lady Ashla raised her hand forward, "Walk with me."

He made to follow her and the two of them made their way through the camp side by side. Lady Ashla stayed silent for a few more moments, observing the people that were around them and Ghira had his gaze around them as well. They were many strange designs upon the tents probably offering to the Old Gods that the Awasha still worshipped.

"Why did you allow Cain to send his party?" Lady Ashla asked drawing his gaze down toward her, "You know his heart is as black as his mind. He would sooner ignite war then work toward peace with the Hunt."

"Hadn't I allowed it," Ghira responded, "He would have gone and done it behind my back. I understand his reputation all too well Lady Ashla. Having allowed it, I can observe him work and keep in line rather than if I refused and he gone behind my back. I would be blind to what to look for when dealing with him."

Lady Ashla glanced at him, her blue eyes piercing.

"Yet, it is the same man who want his son to mate with your daughter."

Ghira let out a soft growl.

"Whatever Cain is seeking, he won't find it with me," he said, "Blake make her own mind on what she desires. Unless she comes to me about the situation, all Cain will gain is time to wait."

Lady Ashla let out a small hum.

"Besides," he continued, "I'd rather have us a united front with the Grimm and those Wraith you spoke of. Mistrust will only cause discords and all that we would have next is infighting, weakening us more before the Grimm can even reach us."

He stayed silent for a few moments.

"What can you tell me of these Wraiths?" he asked, "Other than what you said at the meeting, I would claim that I am not well versed on the subject of what they are truly."

Lady Ashla stayed give a small nod, "Let us speak over some food Belladonna, I have yet to eat."

He followed her into a tent where they were some of her clan members working upon some food. Lady Ashla took her seat upon something and Ghira sat on something else. When he was given food, he accepted as he was a guest in her tent. The young Faunus ate her food and drunk for some time before she started to speak.

"Most of what I know are stories passed down through the ages, rumors and songs," Lady Ashla started, "The Dark Ages have changed this land terribly and all trace of what laid before have been swallowed by the Grimm. However, the story of the Wraith varies from one tale to the next. Some believe that they are people who had fallen, dead soldiers twisted by something so evil and dark that they can't find rest in their long slumbers…"

Her blue eyes frowned lightly.

"That evil forces them to walk where they shouldn't and exist where they shouldn't," she continued, "Other tales said that they are Grimm personified into the bodies of their victims to draw more fear and terror into the heart of man. No could tell what truly created them nor where they came from…but one thing is certain is that they first appeared during the Dark Ages."

Ghira was thoughtful. Truthfully, he was uneasy that something like that existed to this day and age was frightening and that Blake, his only daughter encountered one and managed to kill one. If something that dangerous existed and was out there, then waiting for Winter's end doesn't look like it was going to be in the plans.

"Nothing we have can…stop them somehow?"

"My Mystics have placed some protective traps around the forest and the surrounding area," Lady Ashla answered, "Other than dust steel weaponry, nothing can kill a Wraith…unlike the common Grimm that you have been fighting against so far. Your daughter was very lucky to have that knife on her otherwise, she would have perished along with the hunting team."

Mentioning the knife caused Ghira to look up toward the woman across him. He was still curious about where exactly that knife came from. He was sure that Blake didn't have it when she first left back before she left the camp, so she might have gotten it during the time she was away…with that human Huntress.

"Did Blake…tell you where she had gotten that knife?" he asked.

Lady Ashla looked at him, her eyes sharp.

"I believe it would be best if you hear it from your daughter rather than me," she told him, "However, all I can say that you should be grateful she had such a weapon."

Blake told you who give it to her and you're not going to tell me.

Ghira nodded.

"I understand," he said, "That is a discussion I need to have with Blake since I was planning to talk with her about something."

Lady Ashla nodded to him. The two of them turned their attention toward the outside of the tent as new voices started to speak out and Ghira recognized his daughter's voice as she was speaking with someone and the man stood up from where he was seating. Lady Ashla has stood up as well as wordlessly, the two of them walked out of the tent. Blake was right across him along with Sun Wukong, and another Faunus dressed in the similar robes of the Awasha clansmen.

"Ver," Lady Ashla called out, drawing the trio's attention, "Was the patrol eventful?"

"Unless you count seeing a couple of direwolves eventful," the Faunus, Ver, answered.

"Yeah, scared the crap out of us," Sun said, "I didn't even think they could get that big."

Ghira frowned lightly.

"Direwolves this far south?" he asked.

"They could be running from the Grimm like we are," Blake told him.

It makes senses, Ghira realized. The Grimm could make any animal nervous given their natures. He looked at Blake noticing that the girl was giving him a curious look probably wondering why he was here.

"Can we talk Blake?" he asked her, "Alone, if we could."

Blake nodded at him.

"Of course," she said, "Sun, we'll continue later."

The young man simply gives her a nod as he followed his daughter away from the group, making their way toward a direction that was less filled with people, climbing up toward the top of the broken wall that stood around the entire fort. Ghira glanced around noticing the view of the distance that they had, and he had to admit that it wasn't bad sight.

"Almost no one come up here," Blake told him, "I spent most of my times here when I am not at camp."

He looked at his daughter, "Rumors getting to you?"

Blake shook her head.

"No, it's not that," she said, "I just…needed to be alone for a few hours."

Ghira chuckled looking out toward the Frozen North.

"Well, you can't deny the view that much is certain," he said.

"I doubt we came up here to discuss the scenery," Blake told him.

Ghira nodded.

"You're right," he said, "I have been meaning to talk to you ever since that meeting with the Taurus Clan. That knife you used to kill that creature, the Wraith as Lady Ashla calls it. I'm certain that you didn't have such a weapon when you left camp with the Huntress. Where did you get it?"

Blake looked at him and there was hesitancy upon her face as she looked at me.

"I'm sure you came up with your own conclusion as to where I have gotten it," she answered.

"I need to hear you say it Blake," I told her.

The girl let out a sigh.

"Weiss gave it to me," she admitted.

Ghira let out a small nod. He had an inkling that it came from the Huntress who had given it to her but having heard the confirmation didn't really change anything other than putting some old thoughts to rest in his mind. Ghira approached toward the girl as Blake continued to speak.

"It's not what you think dad," she told him, "Whatever those rumors may have said, Weiss and I are not like that. When I told her of the decision to come back to my people, she thought that I needed protection, so she gave me this knife…I doubt she truly knew what it really was either."

Ghira stared at her.

"But you formed a bond with her," he said, "You called her by her name rather than simply the Huntress. I'm guessing that something happened."

Blake gave him a look.

"Dad, why are you really asking me this?" she asked, "Is it because of the Taurus's clan offer?"

Ghira nodded, "When I met Cain all those months ago, he proposed to have you and his son mated to each other. I also heard that Adam proposed this to you before he left and yet, you refused him. I wanted to know why."

Blake narrowed her eyes.

"Adam asked me to mate out of fear and jealousy," she retorted to him, "And this is hardly the time and place to speak of that. We have the Grimm as well as those Wraiths Lady Ashla talk about. If we survive all of this that's coming for us then maybe you can ask me to look for a mate."

This was a sore spot for her, that much he could tell so he was probably not going to get anything else out of her. Blake had turned away from him by that point and was stubbornly focused upon the distance in front of him. Ghira let out a small sigh at that. He didn't want to make his daughter mad at him but it seems that's what he had done in the few moments they have been talking to each other.

"Look, Blake," Ghira spoke out coming to stand beside her, "I'm not trying to tell you how to live your life. I'm just a father looking out for his daughter's wellbeing. The Hunt has been our enemy for centuries, so it's alright for me to have some suspicions about everything concerning them."

Blake give him a glance.

"Weiss is not our enemy," she said.

Ghira thought about it. Weiss had fought side by side with them when they were under attack at the Gorge, a battle she didn't even need to get involved in but she did.

"Maybe," he admitted, "But she is only one Human. The rest might not be so easily swayed to our pleas."

Blake stayed silent for a moment, thinking about his words.

"However, if she was the one who give you that dagger," he told her, "then, I'm thankful for it since it saved your life. Weiss Schnee, wherever she is, protected you without even being aware of it."

Blake looked at him.

"I'm not against allying with the Hunt Blake," he told her, "It's just too much blood have been spilled for me to have full faith in whatever that Huntress has promised us. If by some miracle the Hunt opened it's that Gate for us, then they will have my trust as well as your Huntress friend."

She looked down.

"I…I understand dad."

Ghira nodded, glad that she does.

"I'm returning to camp," he said, "There is much to do and the winter winds have started to calm. It won't be long before we start to march for the Gate and the Frostbite Woods. We shall see if your friend can do as she had promised."

Just a little update as to what our favorite Cat is doing and a little insight in her father's mind.

Hope you have enjoyed the read.

Jacques0 out.

R&R