I'm not usually one to have music with my stories, but I'd recommend going over to youtube and playing a track called 'Gehn's theme' from the game 'Riven' in the background after Yang's POV ends and another's begins.

CHAPTER 4

Hang on guys, we're almost there! Yang Xiao Long thought. Once again, a blast from Ember Celica launched her forward into another low-leaping arc down the empty street. It was the same tactic she'd used after being launched into the Emerald Forest during her initiation at Beacon.

Yang was aware of Weiss following close behind. Her teammate propelling herself down the street with a series of white glyphs, her sword in hand. But Yang's purple eyes were fixed ahead on the black smoke that coiled up in the moonlight one of the dockyards that lined Vale's shore.

It'd been almost an hour since she, Ruby and Weiss had run into anyone who'd seen Blake or the monkey-Faunus she'd been hanging out with. The three of them had been walking along a city street that paralleled the ocean shore when they'd heard the distant explosion. Before either of them could say anything, Ruby had taken one look at the growing tower of smoke. Then she was racing away out of Yang's sight. Despite their best, they couldn't match Ruby's speed Semblance and lagged behind.

Now, over the rushing wind in her ears, Yang could make out the sounds of gunfire. She thought she could hear Crescent Rose firing. But nothing that sounded like Blake's Gambol Shroud. And she couldn't see anything with the warehouses blocking her view of the docks.

Another pull of the trigger propelled Yang ever closer to her target. If Blake was there, if something had happened to her...or if Ruby got hurt before Yang could get there...

Yang didn't let herself continue that thought. Her friend would be okay. Her sister would be okay. This wouldn't be like Ruby in the woods- she wouldn't let it be. She pushed herself that little bit harder. Both feet slammed against the street as Yang fired the weapons built into her gauntlets one more time. Pushing herself off the ground with another pair of Aura-augmented shotgun blasts.

She landed almost on top of the entrance to the dockyard. Yang ran forward, leaving Weiss to hurry after her.

They arrived at a scene of chaos. Gunfire filled the air as a large group of Faunus wearing the uniform of the White Fang retreated deeper into the dockyard, fending off a battered Blake and a blond monkey Faunus.

But none of that mattered to Yang. Not as much as the sight her sister, with Crescent Rose in hand, darting forward with a high-pitched cry towards a tall, armored Faunus in a trail of red rose petals. Leaving a battered Blake and a blond monkey-Faunus behind her.

In an instant, the tall Faunus smacked her sister aside with a blow from the massive chainsaw he held. Her Aura might have saved her, but Ruby was sent flying backwards, tumbling and skidding. Before she jabbed Crescent Rose into the ground to stop herself. The blade caught, tearing open a deep trench into the asphalt.

Yang's gaze snapped away from where Ruby was picking herself up to the man who'd knocked her sister back. Yang took a step forward, her first clenching within Ember Celica.

Then she stopped. Something about the wall of boxes the tall Faunus and his allies were heading towards drew her attention. There was a familiar logo in white on the sides of the shipping containers. Her mind flashed to the explosion she'd heard and the pillar of smoke that'd led them here. Everything clicked together. They were in the middle of enough Dust to flatten everything for miles. That cold, sobering realization turned the embers of Yang's anger to ash.

It was then that she heard the roar of jet engines. She glanced to her right to see a Bullhead pulling itself into the air, a hatch on it's nose sliding open to reveal a mini-gun.

Before Yang could shout any sort of warning, the weapon chattered to life. But Ruby, Blake and the blond Faunus had noticed the Bullhead taking flight as well. The trio were already scattering as gunfire chewed up the asphalt where they'd been standing. Meanwhile, the Bullhead had started to swing sideways towards the center of the dockyard.

"Weiss stay here. Get ready to help Ruby and Blake!" Yang had to yell to be heard over the sound of gunfire.

She heard Weiss shout something back- it might have been "What are you going to-?"

But by then, the blonde was already moving, her mind whirling as she tried to work out a plan. Yang knew she'd have to careful about this. She had no idea how tough the containers were or what protection they had to keep Dust they held from exploding. And the Aura-flames her Semblance created, as well as the Aura-enhanced rounds she could fire from Ember Celia, might easily set off the Dust the containers held. As would the Bullhead if it lost control and crashed into the shipping containers.

Even as Yang charged forward the Bullhead was sweeping out a stream of bullets and tracers. The aircraft was trying to force her teammates and the monkey-Faunus back towards the entrance of the dockyard. She could see it was doing a good job of keeping them preoccupied.

It was then that the Bullhead noticed her. Immediately, it switched targets. A messy hail of bullets began shredding the ground around Yang, while others smacked against her Aura. The combined hits staggered her for an instant. The blonde Student-Huntress could feel her Semblance start to roar to life. Sending energy coursing through her body and a fiery glow began to spread through her hair.

Not wasting a second more, Yang fired Ember Celica at the ground one, twice; her weapons sending her hurtling into the air. Draining her Semblance and the growing red tinge in her purple eyes. She caught a brief snatch of surprised faces and cries of 'Yang?!' from Blake and her sister as she shot overhead. But she had little chance to think of them right now.

The Bullhead was still trying to hit her, but it couldn't bring it's gun up fast enough. Cocking her arm back, Yang brought her fist into a vicious right hook that ripped the chain-gun clear off its mount. Pushing off against the bottom of the aircraft, Yang twisted into a backwards flip that sent her down towards the ground. Where her team had continued their fight against the White Fang.

Aiming Ember Celia downwards and firing to slow her fall, Yang angled herself towards the White Fang. They'd used the distraction created by the gunfire to get closer to their remaining three Bullheads. Though to her surprise, they hadn't gotten as far as she'd thought they would've.

That thought was on the edge of her mind however. Before it could make any progress, a large black glyph blossomed beneath the Faunus's feet, holding them in place. Though not all them were trapped; they were too spread out for that. Yang glimpsed some of those who hadn't been caught turning back to try and help. While others continued running towards the Bullheads. Then she was too low to see over the wall of containers.

Over the sound of the Bullhead she's damaged retreating, Yang could hear her sister shout something, but wasn't sure what at first. Until she saw Ruby, Blake and the blond Faunus starting to move from where the Bullhead had scattered them. They were already starting forwards in a ragged charge by the time Yang hit the ground. Off to the side, Weiss was still hanging back, Myrtenaster held in one hand and pointed at the enemy. A faint glow issued from the rapier's chamber as she used the gravity Dust within to augment the glyph holding the White Fang.

Yang's hair fluttered behind her as she rushed to catch up with the others. She'd practiced together with her team enough to know how Weiss's glyphs worked. Weiss would have to drop the one she had when they got to the Fang. Otherwise, they'd all be stuck together. Which also meant they had to reach the White Fang at the same time to ensure Weiss didn't drop her glyph early.

Running alongside her teammates, Yang felt the thrill of the fight itself, the nightclub music beat of adrenaline rush for the first time since she'd arrived here. Drawing closer, Yang could clearly see the dread on the Faunus's masked faces, with some struggling even harder against the slowly spinning Schnee crest beneath their feet. The big Faunus wasn't one of them. He stood on the edge of the crowd, the engine of his chainsaw purring as he stood ready for them.

The sight brought a wide grin to her face. A chance of payback against someone who hurt the people she'd cared for and a challenging fight? Oh, she was going to enjoy this.

With a burst of Aura, Yang leapt up into the air, her fist drawing back as she dove into the midst of the White Fang. She could see him trying to bring the heavy chainsaw up, but it was slow, too slow.

Her grin widened. This will be so easy. Her arm rocketed forward, ready to send him stumbling backwards. Ready to carve a space for herself among crowd with Ember Celica.

Yang's fist met his face and the Faunus shattered like glass.

What the-?!

"GAH!" Yang cried, stumbling, spinning. Wary and confused as she tried to figure out what'd just happened.

Around her, she could hear and see her stunned teammates reacting likewise. Until the scream of Bullhead engines drew Yang's eyes upwards. Only to leave her staring dumbly, her arms going slack at the three aircraft soaring away over the bay with Dust containers pulled tightly beneath them.

"Oh come on!" the monkey Faunus shouted, his voice shrill with exasperation.

As if those words were a key, Yang suddenly found her body would move again. She focused the crackle-hum power of her Aura into her fists. Her arms snapped up, punch after punch throwing Aura-enhanced round at the quickly receding Bullheads. Around her, she was aware of the heavy clicks of weapons shifting as Blake and Ruby started firing at the Bullheads as well. Yang hoped they'd be able to get some good hits in. She didn't have a much accuracy with Ember Celia at this distance.

But they seemed to amount to little. With most of their energy burnt out by the time they reached the target, the few fiery hits she managed did little more than leave scorches on the aircraft's hulls. And even while Yang watched, the three Bullheads vanished into thin air without a trace. Taking with them the sound of their engines, leaving only the mocking gentle slush and hiss of the sea.

Yang clenched her teeth, any trace of joy or celebration she might have felt lost in the bitter taste of frustration. The fact that the White Fang had managed to make off with so much Dust could not be a good thing. But the worse part for Yang was how little she'd been able to stop them. All because of where they'd been fighting.

That she might be so handicapped by something as simple as the environment chilled Yang. Sure, there'd been occasions where she'd had to hold back in a fight. But those had always been friendly sparring or practice. What's more, she knew she couldn't rule out something like this happening again. All this passed through the blonde's mind in a flash. Before she latched onto a train of thought that took her in a completely different direction.

Wiping away the sweat that had accumulated on her forehead, Yang glanced over at her sister. The normally energetic leader of Team RWBY was relaxing a white-knuckled grip on her scythe's staff. Then with a flourish, she reverted Crescent Rose into it's more compact carrying mode in her left hand, before returning the weapon to its resting place at the back of her waist.

"Are you okay?" Yang asked, her eyes searching Ruby for any signs of serious injury. To her relief, outside of the few light cuts and scrapes that littered her clothes and skin, she seemed okay.

Ruby glanced over, meeting her sister's questioning gaze. Beneath the sweat, dirt, and ash, dejected silver eyes stared back up at Yang. "Don't worry, I'm fine."

Yang nodded, feeling her heart ache. Closing the distance between them, she placed an arm around Ruby's shoulders and gave her sister a gentle, reassuring squeeze. A breeze picked up the downtrodden young team leader's cape, billowing it out.

Yet, she couldn't ignore what Ruby had done. Not for the first time, her sister had split up the team to run off on her own. Maybe if they'd stuck together and been able to work as a team, they would have enough firepower to overwhelm the White Fang before they could escape.

For a moment, she considered speaking to Ruby about it. But it wasn't the time to bring that up. Ruby was already in the dumps, and she didn't want to undermine her little sister's position as the team leader in front of everyone. Besides, Yang couldn't be completely sure if Ruby running off had even helped Blake out, or if it'd just make it easier for the White Fang to escape.

The thought made Yang pause. Actually, where was Blake? Guilt stung her. She'd been so focused on her sister, that she hadn't stopped to see how her own partner was doing. Shifting her gaze from Ruby, a fresh surge of guilt hit Yang as she got her first good look at her partner.

Even in the dim light of the moon and the burning Dust, Blake looked like a battered mess. Her clothes with were splotched with dirt and streaks of blood. And it seemed like every part of her body that Yang could see had some sort of cut, scratch or bruise.

Yang took a step forward, wanting nothing more than to engulf her in a hug. It took everything she had to force herself to stop, not wanting to cause Blake any further pain.

"Blake, you're hurt!" Ruby yelped.

"I'll be alright—it's just some cuts," Blake assured her, her voice even. But with a hint of weariness that betrayed her exhaustion.

Several things flashed through Yang's brain and were forgotten as something on top of Blake's head moved. She stared, seeing for the first time that her friend wasn't wearing her usual ribbon atop her head.

It was only as the exposed Faunus ears flattened, almost as if they were trying to hide themselves, that Yang broke her stare. And saw the uncertain expression on Blake's face as her dark-haired partner stared back at her. A little off to the side, Yang could see the monkey-faunus, who looked just as battered as Blake looking concerned. Heat coiled in Yang's stomach, but she couldn't figure out if it was sadness or shame. Nor did she try to.

In two long steps, she crossed the distance between them. Yang felt her friend freeze at her sudden, enthusiastic hug. A second later, she felt Ruby join them as well, gently wrapping her arms around both of them.

"I'm just glad you're okay." Yang said and felt Blake relax, then return her embrace around her shoulders.

"T-Thanks to you." Blake mumbled into Yang's shoulder. Yet the sincere appreciation and relief in her tone was clear. Yang felt a lump form in the back of her throat and she swallowed thickly.

For a moment the three of them remained in each other's embrace. Then they parted, stepping back, their friendship a little stronger because of their words and actions.

Then Yang saw Blake's smile fade from her face as the partner's eyes settled on something past Yang's shoulder. Yang followed Blake's gaze and saw Weiss was drawing close to them, Myrtenaster at her hip. Despite her steady steps, the heiress's face and body was stiff, her expression one of a person who was conflicted, yet also determined.

Besides her, Ruby had also followed Blake's gaze and stepped forward to approach Weiss. "Weiss, it's-" the heiress's name slipped from her sister, worry creeping into the edges. Only to cut off, her silver eyes flashing up at Yang, who'd tugged her sleeve. Yang shook her head no. Even if some part of her wanted to say something, Yang knew that Blake and Weiss needed a chance to talk this out between themselves.

Yang watched as Blake walked forward, until she stood alone. Her partner and the heiress stared at one another. Blake started to say something but hesitated. Weiss looked equally uncertain about what to do. Then, without warning, the Ice Queen fixed the other girl with a glare and Blake flinched in surprise.

'Oh no Weiss, please don't...'

"What were you thinking!" Weiss snapped, "Running away like that!? With that rapscallion!?" she gestured to the monkey faunus. "Do you have any idea how worried I -" She stopped herself and glanced away for an instant, "...we were about you? Do you how know hard it's been to cover for you?"

Yang let out a breath she didn't even know she had been holding. Blake blinked in surprise, then glanced over to her with a questioning look. The blonde nodded.

"I-" Blake began in a tight voice, "thank you, but...I'm surprised you didn't repor-..." she trailed off.

"I thought about it," Weiss admitted in a quiet, clear tone, "But it was suggested that I hear your side of things first...I suppose maybe they were right. We were both feeling very...high-strung. I know I said things that I regret and I'm sorry," the heiress admitted, she looked up at Blake, "Maybe in the heat of the moment you did too? Maybe even said something that wasn't true?"

"I did and I am sorry." Blake looked down at the ground, "I want to explain wh-" The approaching sound of sirens cut her off.

"I guess we have more immediate things to worry about." Yang could hear the relief coloring Weiss's tone.

"Weiss-"

"We need time to sort this all out, but right now," The heiress said, stepping in close, "we need to figure out what we're going to tell the authorities."

"...You're right," Blake admitted, "Another time?"

"Another time." The heiress assured.

"Are they okay?" Ruby asked quietly, glancing away from their distant teammates to Yang.

"They will be little sis, it's just gonna take time."

As Blake fished her bow out from a pocket and tied it around the ears atop her head, Yang became aware of a growing dull ache throughout her body. Pain danced at the edge of her senses. With the adrenaline fading her muscles, overworked from the long run here and the fight, were were finally beginning to protest. Still, Yang wasn't too concerned. This wasn't the first time she'd pushed herself a little harder then she should've. Her Aura should have her healed by morning- at worse she'd be a little sore.

Though as the wailing sirens grew closer, Yang took a moment to glance around at the battle-worn docks and warehouses. Wondering exactly how they were going to explain all this to the police.

-RWBY-

A dozen yards away on a dark rooftop several stories above the battle-scarred ground, Shaidar Gorthule rose up to his feet from the low crouch he'd spent the past few minutes in. Besides him, he was aware of Paula Ravenwood doing the same with her customary predatory grace. They could afford to now that the battle was over.

As the pair stood, Shaidar dispelled the energy shield that had protected them in favor of a soundproof barrier, like the one he'd created in the alleyway that morning. At the same time, he enlarged the illusion he'd created around them.

Having arrived just before Yang and Weiss did, Shaidar hadn't doubted for a moment that his shield would protect himself and Paula from any stray shots or debris kicked up by the battle below. Instead, his concern had been more focused on avoiding being noticed. Which was what would happen if anyone would happen to see a piece of shrapnel bouncing off of what was appeared to be thin air and decided to investigate.

A risk that was made all the greater thanks the Fanus's better-then-human night vision. That was why they'd been crouched low on the roof- to make themselves as small of a target as they could, while still being able to to get a good view of what was happening. Like all Techno-mages, Shaidar could choose to see in the dark thanks to his cybernetics that further augmented his already inhuman eyes.

Of course, they could have used his sensors to remotely view the fight at a greater distances. There were certainly Techno-mages in the Order who would have. But there was something to be said for seeing a battle in person.

Peering over the edge of the roof, Shaidar and Paula looked on as several police officers left their squad cars and approached the five teenagers. And from an official-looking gray car, strode a stern-looking blonde woman in business-attire, as well as a purple and black cape of a strange design. She moved with speed the self-assurance of someone who did not have time for delays.

As he'd done since the battle ended, Shaidar continued to use his Techno-mage cybernetics to filter out background noises and enhanced others so he could easily hear what was being said between the people below. He fed the result through a hologram in the palm of his hand so Paula could hear it as well.

The conversation that followed mostly focused on police procedures and the various individuals agreeing to come to the police station to tell what had happened. Outside of learning some more names and a few tidbits about how the police operated in Vale, it didn't tell Shaidar anything he couldn't have found out otherwise.

Which couldn't be said for the earlier conversation between the five teenagers that had been interrupted by the arrival of the police. Any thoughts or concerns about the broken Linking Device had been swept aside for the moment at this new development.

Back when he'd arrived at the dockyard, Shaidar Gorthule had though back to his encounter with the three teenagers and wondered if Blake's friends were unaware that she was a Faunus. Or if they had known but simply had decided not to say for one of any number of reasons. As his scanners had easily picked up that she was a Faunus when she and Sun had walked by himself and Paula even earlier in the day. At the time, all this had been a momentary curiosity on his part. Now, it could mean something more.

It was only after the teenagers had departed with their professor- Glynda Goodwitch, if he'd heard right- that he shut down the hologram and the transmission. He turned his inhuman eyes, dark green irises flecked with orange, cat-like slits for pupils and a black sclera, to Paula. Her hand still hadn't left her holstered energy pistol.

He broke the silence the pair of them had held for what might seem like a medium-sized eternity.

"Well, that was unexpected. Still, I've found this whole experience to be rather enlightening." Shaidar Gorthule said, his voice almost conversational. After all, it was always better to know of a potential enemy's existence before they knew of yours. And what he'd seen here had revealed much to him.

He recalled the words of an ancient Terran military treatise, the Art of War. 'Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril. When you are ignorant of the enemy, but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal. If you are ignorant of the enemy and yourself, you will succumb in every battle.'

That understanding was part of what had driven him when he'd first started learning about this world. To discover as much knowledge as he could of its strengths and weakness before taking any serious action- both for Paula's sake and for his own. Besides, it was common sense to seek out understanding instead of committing blindly. At least so long as circumstances allowed for it.

A breath of air off the harbor carried a tang of salt, replacing the smell of burned metal and Dust from the battle below.

"That's one way of putting it. So much for Faunus extremists not being a problem. Assuming that this is the same White Fang you mentioned earlier and that we've been hearing about from the news." Paula's voice carried the same undertone of quite concern that'd been in his own.

Shaidar thought of the Faunus they'd seen retreating. The blatant symbolism behind the White Fang's Grimm-masks and secretive outfits hadn't escaped him. Be it the first time he'd seen them or here. Stuck halfway between a street-gang and army, the White Fang were forced to lean on intimidation to make up for it.

That such conflict had happened was unsurprising under the circumstances. But then, adversity and chaos were the natural order of things. Facts that the Shadows had long known.

Because of this, the Shadows and those who served them had embraced a philosophy of evolution through chaos for since ancient times. And so sought to help encourage competition and turmoil to ward off stagnation. Societies and species had to adapt or weather the storm of conflict as best they could. Those who did not would perish, leaving room for those who survived to rise up stronger and better than before. It was a struggle he'd experienced for himself on a personal level.

With all that said, too much chaos -anarchy- was as harmful as no conflict at all. Chaos in the Shadows' philosophy was a means to an end, not the end goal itself. Too much conflict would wear a civilization down to nothing. And a civilization that continuously fought and back-stabbed among itself would likewise collapse in short order.

"That they are. Obviously the local intelligence on them was inaccurate, if not outright wrong. Did you pick up anything from them?"

Soon after they'd arrived at the docks, Paula had suggested using her telepathy to 'listen in' on the surface thoughts being projected by the people below. Shaidar hadn't even considered it before she'd suggested it. Which hadn't stopped him from agreeing to it. He had no qualms about accepting a useful idea merely because it wasn't his own.

Neither Shaidar or Paula had been concerned about possible telepathic defenses. From what Paula had told him earlier that day, whatever defenses Aura might grant against telepathy, they hadn't stopped her from accidentally picking up on people's stray thoughts. Plus, doing this would be a passive use of her abilities. It wouldn't intrude into anyone's mind and set off any possible defenses there.

"A few things. Our friend with the black bowler hat is named Roman Torchwick. Seems he's human- and I got the impression they weren't happy about working with him. He treats them like he's famous or some sort of big shot. He thinks he is too. Loves the sound of his own voice. Does all that mean anything to you?"

Data scrolled across Shaidar's eyes as he searched the CCTS for information. His sensors had already told him that Roman was human, but he didn't bother pointing that out to Paula. "From what I can find, he's an impressive thief. No sign of him working with the Fang before now. Which isn't half as odd as them working with a human. Anything else?"

"From the Fang? Nothing besides a few scattered names from people who were checking to see if their buddies made it. Most of them were too busy to be broadcasting their thoughts about anything useful. I did get a few thing from Blake and the teacher."

"Go on."

"It might be nothing, but Glynda seems to think that Beacon's Headmaster has high hopes for Team RWBY." Here, Paula's voice turned thoughtful. "Which could just mean he sees them as promising students. Even with them holding back, I can see why too. Doubly so with Ruby. Recklessness aside, the kid has potential. More than I thought she did at first, given her personality."

Shaidar would have found it hard not to agree. Team RWBY had fought with a level of not just skill, but teamwork that he wouldn't have expected from teenagers, even first year students. They'd preformed moves together with barely a glance between them. Trust like that did not come easy.

Without it, even the best trained troops would hesitate; thinking through their actions rather than reacting according to their training. All the more impressive was that the Huntresses-In-Training managed to hold out when they couldn't use most of their abilities with the risk of setting off the Dust in the cargo containers.

Even before Paula had spoke, Shaidar knew he wasn't the only one to notice RWBY's leader. While one part of this mind had focused on the battle going on below them, another part had been keeping track of his companion's expression and actions.

"They are quite impressive." He agreed. "From what I've seen of students their age, I'd even go so far to say that they're prodigies. Speaking of which, you mentioned Blake?"

"Yes. I got the feeling that there's more going on here between her and the White Fang." Paula replied, "Her reaction, her emotions to everything that happened tonight was too personal. Even more so about this Roman Torchwick and the White Fang working together. That was a big shock for her. She was carrying around a lot of guilt too. Mind you, I'm not certain. But between her feelings and what I could pick up from Weiss, I think Blake might be ex-White Fang."

He was not surprised that Paula had managed to uncover so much just from listening to surface thoughts. If accidentally picking up on people's thoughts was like catching snatches of conversation in another room, then intentionally listening in, with her barriers down, was like pressing your ear against the door to that room.

For a long moment, Shaidar Gorthule stood there, the possibilities and potentials flipping through his mind at top speed as he gazed out on the wreckage of the battle and the police officers scurrying through it.

His mind, like those of many who served the ancient alien race known as the Shadows, had been augmented with neural cybernetic implants. Among them was a database that helped increase his tactical and strategic awareness on an almost instinctual level. They were much like his watered down version of the Shadow's genetic memory in that regard.

As with his primary set of neural implants, the combat database was not uncommon among those who worked for the Shadows. The Shadows had long used them to quickly ingrain the knowledge of the ways of war into the minds of new servants. Though even with their advanced technologies, there were limits on how many neural implants their servants could have, with two being the limit in his case.

Turning back to Paula and meeting her golden gaze, he said, "I think we can both agree that there's something more going on here. Even with someone who's Semblance can hide Bullheads, this is a major change in scale and tactics for the Fang. We need to investigate what's happening. See if we need to involve ourselves- I don't see the point in borrowing trouble. Our situation isn't exactly all fish and chips to begin with."

"Sticking our heads in the sand won't help." Paula agreed. "Though I'm curious to hear why you think this isn't some act of desperation to get Dust to use or sell. Or maybe a feint to draw attention towards Vale? Even if Team RWBY hadn't shown up and there wasn't a fight, I'm sure someone would have noticed the crates missing in the morning. With how much the Fang hate the Schnees, they'd be a prime suspect."

"Those are possibilities." The Shadow-human hybrid agreed. "Although I find it difficult to imagine how the Fang would have allowed their situation to become this desperate. Then there's the matter of why they'd need so much Dust in a hurry. That they did this here instead of a more remote spot is also telling. The Fang need the Dust in Vale. If not, they're going to have a difficult time selling that much Dust or getting it out of the Kingdom undetected. Those VTOLs don't have much range and an illusion Semblance can only do so much."

He wondered if the upcoming Vytal Festival could be the White Fang's target. It was possible, but also an obvious target. Perhaps too much of one, Shaidar reflected. It could be that the Fang wanted their enemies to assume that they would attack Vytal Festival as an elaborate distraction to hide their true objective.

There was also the manner of attack to consider as well. An incident at the Vytal festival could serve as a statement against the Kingdoms and a way to further divide and radicalize the Faunus, driving more of them into the arms of the White Fang. But it would carry with it considerable risk of backfiring. Justifying the Kingdoms taking major action against the White Fang in a war the Faunus group could not win. All were things that any leader would have to consider.

"As for a feint," he continued, "our arrival already gave the Fang a more than adequate distraction. Having a raid occur on the same day risks drawing too much attention for too little gain. Consider that and their willingness to fight until the last moment. The Fang were worried about being able to acquire Dust before everything had calmed down from our arrival. So they're on a time table of some kind."

That the White Fang were willing to work with a human that they disliked could mean that their racism against humans had been overstated. Though Shaidar Gorthule found it more likely that their alliance came from Torchwick being able to give them something they wanted. Perhaps they were even a catspaw for someone even both; maybe any number of other reasons. There were too many unknowns and variables to be certain yet.

Still, it could open up the possibility of him and Paula allying themselves with the Faunus group. Though personally Shaidar was skeptical of the viability of such an arrangement. Also, he knew Paula wouldn't easily go along with it.

"Well, that makes sense," Paula acknowledged. "Speaking of which, I assume that we'll start by looking into Torchwick's background? Because if we are, we should try to look into the other names I picked up as well. They could be in a criminal database or watch list."

He nodded. "An excellent idea. As for Team RWBY," Shaidar Gorthule, Hand of the Shadows, personal servant of the Lords and Ladies of Chaos gave a faint smile, "if what you're saying about Blake is true, they might be worth keeping an eye on as well."

-RWBY-

Deep in the Forest Of Forever Fall, a woman in red and black stepped over a toppled tree trunk, thigh-length black boots moving in measured steps. Like the rest of of her clothing, her boots were well made, but had seen much wear.

As she moved, the woman played the beam of a small but powerful flashlight across the ground as she continued to survey the desolate clearing. An elaborate helmet obscured most of her head, except for her long black hair and the raven feathers twisted into it. The helmet itself was white with red accents and shaped like the fearsome head of a Grimm bird of prey. One gloved hand never strayed far from the sword sheathed in the heavy scabbard that hung at her left hip.

Hidden behind the helmet, Raven Branwen's crimson eyes were narrowed in frustration. Not for the first time, she bit back a curse. She was too late; despite having come here as quick as she could once news had reached her, the militia and specialists sent here to investigate from Vale had made a complete mess of things. Any signs of what had happened here this morning were next to impossible to find beneath their boot-prints and dirt they'd kicked up.

Still, there were things Raven could tell from signs of how the militia from Vale had behaved and what they'd taken from the site before they'd obviously left some time previously. All the signs she could see pointed to magic, powerful magic at that, to create a clearing several hundred feet across. Which was what really mattered to Raven. Had this been caused by Dust, she would have found some trace of it or fragments of bomb casing, and there was no way someone with so powerful a Semblance could have escaped her attention before now- or that of Ozpin and Salem. The power that had done this was equal to that of a Maiden.

To Raven, this almost had to be the doing of one of Salem or Ozpin's pawns. A third party was possible and not to be discounted, but there was only a small chance of that. Ozpin and Salem jealously guarded what power and knowledge they had.

If it was so easy to acquire such power outside serving in their cabals, Raven would have discovered it long ago. As for stealing it from either of them, that would be a foolish errand unless done carefully. Her misguided brother might have failed to protect the Fall Maiden, but Raven knew that to be a fluke.

That the Fall Maiden had been overcome so easily and had needed a guard at all revealed how weak Amber had been. Inexperience alone could not excuse what had happened. She'd been little more than a figurehead propped up by what Raven saw as a frightened old man who dared only to tell his servants riddles and half-truths. Raven only regretted it had taken herself so long to realize the extent of this.

The idea that Ozpin might have been the cause of this desolation almost drew a snort of laughter from Raven. For all his claimed knowledge and wisdom, he was far too careful and cautious to allow such actions. It was but one reason among many that Beacon would fall and he would fail. Followed soon by the Kingdoms and the fools who cowered within them. It was the natural order of things. People who were weak would die and those who were strong would live.

Reaching to her hip, Raven drew her curved crimson sword. The blade doubled to over twice it's length in an instant. There was a high pitched thrumming and the sword flashed downward through empty space. The blade left a red rent in its wake. It was as if the air itself was wounded.

Determination and focus enveloped her, hardened her mind to ice and her will to steel. If this was some new twist in Salem's scheme, she would uncover it and plan accordingly. And should it turn out to be the doing of someone else...she'd ether recruit them by any means necessary or deal with them. One way or another, it would be before Ozpin or Salem could so the same.

What sort of leader would she be if she wouldn't do whatever was necessary to ensure the survival of her people...and herself?

Author's notes:

To quote an alleged ancient Chinese curse 'Maybe you live in interesting times.' I hope I did a good job showing how things are beginning to diverge from the canon timeline.

And yes, one of the reasons we get to see Raven and Shaidar's point of views back to back in this chapter is to contrast the views and philosophies of the two Social Darwinist. I'm curious to hear what people thought of this and the two character's personalities. As I've tired my best to humanize them both. Of course, if you have anything else you'd like to say, I'd love to hear your thoughts on that as well.

Alucard45:
Blake's fighting style is indeed rather hard to pin down at times. Personally, I'd say the best description of it would be that it's very mobile and focused on not taking direct damage. As for my OC's, you'll be getting more of them interacting with the setting soon enough, as well as Team RWBY in the somewhat-near future. Though I am curious to know what about them do you think needs improvement at this point?

Armiture:
Thank you for your kind words! I do strive for hitting that balance in my writing; goodness knows we've all seen good stories let down by the writer wall-of-texting things or giving so little description that it can be hard to picture whats going on. Plus I enjoy painting pictures with my words.
Also, oops. Amazing, isn't it, how one misplaces letter can create a completely different word?
And again, thank you! It's always a pleasure to hear that people are enjoying one's hard work and storytelling.

Uknown1:
I'm glad you like my world-building and the fighting tactics I came up with here! I admit, I spent quite a bit of time planning out the fight and thinking of what sort of plans the White Fang would develop to allow them to fight back against Huntsmen and Huntresses. Something that, to me, just seemed like a logical thing they would do in-universe.
And nice catch! I was wondering if anyone would cotton onto how I had Blake and Ruby use different words to describe the White Fang. :)

Ace of Spies:
Thanks! And you won't be disappointed!

Fiersomeone:
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Paladin:
Thank you! One of my main goals with my OC's in particular is to make sure they feel like actual people instead of just a role or a set of motivations. Though I do wish I could have done a bit more with their scene; as it feels a little lacking to me.
Ha! I didn't even think of that comparison between Ruby and Tex when I was writing. Goodness, I miss when Red vs Blue was good.