The wilds of Vacuo was more sand and rock than any other wilds in Remnant. The vast desert was home to Grimm and bandits alike, both waiting for the moment to attack any unsuspecting travelers. It was why hunters find good business in the city. They usually find themselves taking escort missions, scouting missions, recons, and the typical Grimm hunting mission.

However, the bandits had found themselves trying to traverse the wilds with more care than before as there were rumors of strange Grimm surfacing, being more monstrous than before.

Blake and Yang intend to find if these rumors even has a hint of truth in them. Also, the lien is an added bonus.

The last sightings had been close to an abandoned SDC mine, having been closed as it was drained of any dust. It was almost easy; check the mines for any traces of 'monstrous' Grimm, report it to the Hunters' Board, and come back again with a huge reinforcements against the Grimm. It was a complete no-contact mission - get in, look around, then get the fuck off.

Still, Yang was not a fan of the sand and grit flying towards her face. She was completely covered up in a thick cloak and a pair of reflective goggles protected her eyes. Blake cannot say she was a fan herself, donning a similar ensemble as her partner. Even her cat ears were completely covered up.

The sun and wind were beating down on them, the sweat gathering underneath their clothes and sand getting into bits and places they shouldn't be.

All in all, Yang really hates Vacuo; the heat, the lawlessness and the ugly mugs of bandits.

It was just their luck that they got attacked.

"Okay, either you give me your dusts and lein nicely, or I beat the crap out of you and take it anyway."

Yang had a bandit in her hand, a metal arm armed and cocked.

The bandit choked on his words, his knees were shaking at the presence of the blonde huntress. Blake was almost impressed, if she didn't see this display as often as she did - her partner was a strange magnet for trouble, a thug or two always find themselves getting beaten down by a busty blonde. The bandit's own partner was tied up in Blake's Gambol Shroud.

Really, either the pair were in desperate need of lien or that they were dumb enough to attack a pair of huntresses. Blake decided it must be a blend of the two.

"P-Pu-Please! We're s-sorry!" the bandit stuttered, struggling against the tight grip Yang had on him.

"Oh, you're sorry?" Yang asked, tone completely threatening. Blake could imagine the blonde at the end of her ropes, her eyes red beneath her goggles. One would think the blonde would revel in a place like Vacuo, but it was the exact opposite. Her hair getting tangled with sand might had added to her irritation. "You didn't seem sorry when you tried attacking us, huh?!"

The bandit cowered, a string of pleas and apologies coming from his mouth. Blake glowered at her own captured bandit, earning a violent flinch from him.

"What do you think, Blakey? Think they're sorry enough?" Yang turned towards her partner. Blake could practically imagine the predatory grin underneath the cloth mask on her face.

Blake hummed in thought, letting the pair of bandits to stew in trepidation. One of the multiple things the huntresses agree on was the slight enjoyment they get in making their enemies squirm. Had Blake been a faunus with a tail, it would've been twitching and waving in amusement - a predator before its captured prey.

"I dunno Yang," Blake started, pulling Gambol Shroud. The bandit squealed in fear. "Maybe we should strip them down, leave them for the grimm."

Yang barked a laugh, harsh and sharp. She shook the bandit in her hand. "Ye hear that? The lady wants everything!"

"N-no please! Have mercy!" the bandit begged, "Just take our lien!"

Blake and Yang exchanged glances - it was the years of fleeting looks and exchanged gazes that they understood each other the way they did, despite the cover on their faces.

"Well this sucks," Yang complained, counting the lien they took from the bandits. Blake glanced around idly, silently agreeing with her partner. They took shade underneath an outcropping of a large rock. They decided to just take the bandits' lien before scaring the pair off with threats - they were empty, but the bandits didn't need to know that.

"It is Vacuo," Blake stated dryly. While she tried not to look down on the kingdom, she did think that Vacuo did got the short end of the stick, so to speak. Team RWBY had taken countless missions in Vacuo; Blake could probably say that they had taken the most missions on this kingdom.

Vacuo was the worst off the lot. The crime within the capital itself was an all time high and the only semblance of law was Shade Academy and its huntsmen.

So it was no surprise that Ruby had jumped on taking missions in the kingdom, with the added support of her team of course.

"It's like they can't find anything better to do," Yang grumbled, stuffing the lien cards on her pack. "I mean, they're practically living with Grimm!"

Blake chuckled, arms crossed over her abdomen with her back resting against the surprisingly cool rock. "I'm sure we scared them off from trying to attack anyone for a while."

"They better! Or I swear I'll skin them!"

"Ruby wouldn't like that."

Yang huffed, mirroring her partner's position. "Man, I wish we went with them," the blonde said instead, metal fingers playing with the hem of her cloak.

Blake hummed in agreement, head tilting to rest against her partner's solid shoulder. "Yeah, they're probably rolling around satin sheets too."

"Ugh," Yang groaned in disgust, shifting underneath Blake's head. "You'd think dating for three years they'd be out of the honeymoon phase."

"I think it's romantic, you know," Blake said with what Yang could hear was a grin. "And last I heard the honeymoon is after the marriage, not before it."

The disgusted sound Yang made was absolutely hilarious.

"All this sand is getting in your head," the blonde patted the cloak covering Blake's head. "I bet they got in your Bellabooty too."

"Har har," Blake deadpanned, brushing the blonde's hand away. "We should probably get going."

"Oh no kitty. You're not going away that ea-"

"Wait," Blake interrupted, raising her hand. Yang stared at her partner. "Do you hear that?"

"I don't hear anything," Yang said carefully, wondering if she set herself up for a joke - Blake was sneaky like that.

But it wasn't as Blake opened her pack to pull out her scroll, the screen flashing with a call.

"It's Ruby," she muttered, answering the call. Yang said "What?" at the same time Blake said "Ruby?"

"-lake?"

"Ruby!" Blake repeated, hearing cracks and static through the line.

"I- Wei… -one… we-"

"Ruby?" Blake said one more time before the line went dead with an abrupt crack. She turned towards her partner.

"Blake?"

"We lost the signal," she told Yang who sounded a little confused and worried.

"What was that about?"

Blake shrugged, "It was mostly static. We should try calling her back after we get back to the city."

Yang nodded, "Yeah… Ruby's probably giving us a heads up, maybe they're done with whatever Weiss needed to do?" the blonde guessed, her tone turning into a question - no doubt looking for confirmation to ease her worries.

"Yeah, probably," Blake agreed.

Though there was something in Ruby's tone that Blake couldn't quite shake the worry she felt herself

×RWBY×

Ruby had taken her weapon and Myrtenaster. She tried calling Blake again but the call wouldn't connect. She cursed the timing, no doubt her teammate and sister were out on a mission. Then again she wondered how the pair could help her with them being kingdoms apart.

Where would Weiss be? Ruby wondered despairingly, her grip on her scroll turning white. She tried to remember where Weiss would meet her uncle. It was a classy sounding restaurant, and she could remember the name having a 'crown' in it.

Ruby headed towards the hotel's reception, a small plan forming in her mind.

"Excuse me," Ruby called. The receptionist immediately turned towards her with a pleasant smile. Ruby couldn't quite make herself smile, the churning within her guts preventing her. "Is there a restaurant here with a crown in its name?"

The receptionist made a thoughtful face, "I'm not quite sure… Oh wait, do you mean the Silver Crown?"

"Yes," Ruby nodded, feeling her blood thudding behind her ears. "Where is it?"

"You could probably take a cab for it, it's a little far from here," the receptionist replied, she was pulling out a scroll as she added, "Should I call you a cab, Miss?"

Ruby thought for a moment; while her semblance would be faster than a car, she had no idea where the freaking restaurant was even if she got the place's address. "Yes please," she said instead with resignation.

The woman happily called her one, unaware of the huntress's foul mood. Ruby was twitching in place, eyes on her scroll as she repeatedly tried to call Weiss's number.

She could feel the dark churning within her grow every time Weiss's voice mail answered. She tried activating the Hunter's Beacon - a locating system installed to every hunters' scroll - but would receive an error message. She nearly threw her scroll across the room out of frustration.

She was practically huffing like an angry boarbatusk, her whole form stiff and tense.

She flinched when she heard someone clearing their throat.

"Miss, your ride is here," the receptionist piped. Ruby said a distracted thanks in passing before rushing out of the hotel. She quickly entered the cab, shutting the door loudly behind her. The driver gave her a dark look which she ignored.

"Silver Crown," Ruby stated, buckling up, "And fast."

The driver shook his head, before driving off as fast as it was legally possible within the city.

Ruby couldn't stop shifting in her seat, her knee jumping with impatience. She couldn't stop checking her scroll every now and then, hoping against all odds that nothing happened to Weiss. She had already sent multiple messages, and every unanswered message sent her heart beating faster with fear.

Ruby doubted that Weiss would still be in the restaurant, but hopefully she could get some answers from the wait staff.

They arrived at the restaurant in just under twenty minutes, a feat the driver himself was impressed of but not Ruby. He practically demanded more lien and out of anger, Ruby threw the rest of her lien towards the man - her wallet now completely empty.

A host immediately greeted her when she entered.

"Welcome to the Silver Crown! Do you have a reservation, miss…?"

"No," Ruby shook her head, silver eyes studying the well-furnished area. The host practically made a disgusted face, nose raising in an arrogant manner that Ruby can feel her hackles raising.

"I'm sorry miss but you have to ask for res-"

"Look," Ruby interrupted, nearly tempted on shaking the pompous man. "I'm not here to eat, and if you'll notice, I'm not exactly a patron." Ruby motioned towards Myrtenaster clipped at her belt. The man's eyes widened in fear and realization. While Ruby was not one to threaten people, she felt that she needed to make her point across.

"U-umm, a huntress? Ye-yes, what do you need, Miss?" the host stuttered, eyes glued on the weapon. His fearful tone attracted some of the staffs attention, the manager even glancing over.

"My partner was here last night, her name is Weiss Schnee," Ruby explained, lips pinched with frustration. "She hadn't answered my calls and the last thing I know was she was supposed to be here last night."

"Y-yes," the host glanced towards the manager, his face screaming help. He then pulled out his waiting list, looking through last night's schedule. "Umm, there was a reservation to one Schwarz Schnee."

Ruby honed in on the name - the illusive uncle that Weiss had to meet. So it was true, her uncle did met with Weiss last night, but… "Did Weiss came here?"

At that, the manager finally walked over. He stood slightly in front of the host, who immediately cowered behind him. "Yes, Miss Schnee was here last night," he answered, voice smooth. "But I'm afraid we don't know where she might've went next."

"Please, I need to know where she is," Ruby begged. She could feel a familiar stinging in her eyes, her vision getting a little blurry at the edges. The manager shifted, betraying his unsaid words. Ruby latched on it, stepping closer to the man. "She's my partner! Did something happened to her?"

Flashes of red eyes against black burned within her mind. A face pale and devoid of life. The haunting sound of a laugh sent cold shivers down her spine.

No! I can't let that happen again!

Not again!

The manager's face twitched and turned, eyes glancing around for a moment before looking back at Ruby with defeat. "Miss Schnee… had an incident last night. Her uncle needed to bring her to a hospital," he said, a pinched look on his face.

An incident?!

"What happened?" Ruby demanded, her stomach twisting and turning.

The manager shook his head, "I am not quite sure, but Miss Schnee appeared to have fainted last night."

Ruby felt awful chills crawling up the back of her neck. For a huntress to faint… and Weiss no less. She couldn't think any reason why, and only horrible thoughts keep jumping at her.

"Where did he take her?" Ruby asked, or she heard herself ask. She felt like she was floating, up and away. Watching everything like she was an outsider. Shouldn't she be feeling something? Why was everything so far?

"We don't know where exactly but we could direct you to some of the closest hospitals."

Ruby nodded numbly, watching as the manager sent the directions to her scroll. She nodded in thanks before walking out of the restaurant.

Where was Weiss?

I can't let it happen again.

Is she okay?

She can't be hurt again.

Fuck, why did Ruby let her leave last night?

Not again.

Not again.

"Miss, are you alright?" Ruby looked up, concerned green eyes watched her from beneath thick-rimmed glasses. The red haired huntress glanced around, seeing polished white floors and white walls. The smell of antiseptics and cleaning materials filled the air.

"Miss?" the woman repeated.

Ruby blinked, seeing the information board on front of the desk. She glanced around once more, reading 'Corinthians General Hospital'. To think that Weiss is here was an uneasy thought - hope and despair warring within her.

"Was there a Weiss Schnee admitted here last night?" Ruby asked, feeling herself returning. Sweat gathered in her palms, her heart beating a little too fast inside her chest.

"Are you family or a guest?"

"I'm family," said Ruby, feeling quite restless again.

The woman hummed, checking her list of admittance. "Oh," she started. "I'm afraid there's no Weiss Schnee here."

Ruby felt her heart drop, the churning within her turning into a great wave. "C-could you check again?"

The woman shook her head, looking apologetic. "I'm sorry, but there's no Weiss Schnee."

Ruby couldn't quite make herself to thank the woman and instead dropped to one of the chairs placed around the lobby. Ruby stared unseeingly on the floor, arms weak and head hanging.

She hadn't noticed the tears falling.

×RWBY×

"All these messages… I think she cares quite deeply for our beautiful heiress!"

"Hmph."

"I'd like to let her stew for a few days, you know? Build up the tension."

"We've waited long enough. Any longer and she would involve the hunters."

"That's no fun."

"Indeed. You know what to do, Mirage."

"Of course! No need to remind me!"

"Call her."

"As you wish!"

×RWBY×

Ruby checked every hospital in Corin and Weiss wasn't admitted to any of them.

Her heart felt heavy inside her chest, every beat was a painful reminder of Weiss's disappearance.

She failed Weiss. She failed to protect her.

"Stupid. So stupid."

Can't even protect my own partner.

Ruby went back to their hotel room to see if Weiss had returned, but was only met with an untouched room.

She tried using the Hunter's Beacon once more but the same error message appeared over and over again.

She tried racking her brain, thinking where Weiss could've went. The thought of Weiss being hurt sent cold spikes to her heart. She could feel the frustration nipping at her heels.

A promise to devour her whole and leave nothing but despair in its wake.

The thought of her failure sent her reeling in anger and shame. With a frustrated groan, she dropped back on the bed.

Weiss might had lost her scroll. Why else she wouldn't answer? But that did not explain why she hadn't returned, and why she had fainted in the first place. Did her uncle take her? Was she still unconscious that she couldn't answer? But why couldn't Weiss's uncle check her scroll and reply to Ruby's messages? She only hoped that if she waited in the room a little longer, her partner would return.

She didn't know how long she'd been staring at the ceiling, eyes stinging and cheeks wet with tears. She must be quite a sight.

Pathetic.

She couldn't stop thinking; where was Weiss? How was Weiss?

Please, let her be fine.

She felt like she'd been idle for a long while, but a familiar chiming had her springing to her feet. Her scroll was flashing with a call, the most important name upon its screen. Her heart was beating so fast, hope blossomed within her.

She called back.

"Weiss!"

A giggle reached her ears, her brows furrowing at the unfamiliar yet feminine voice. "Wha-"

"Oh dear, I'm might be quite a disappointment."

Ruby's heart thudded loudly in her ears, eyes blurry. "Who is this?" she asked slowly, a small lump at the back of her throat.

"Oh, oh! Is this Ruby Rose?"

The voice grated against Ruby's frayed nerves, her aura gathering around her tensed form. Ruby didn't notice but dark red petals started forming around her. "Yes," she hissed, "Who is this? Where is Weiss?!"

"So demanding," the voice giggled, "I think you're not in the position to demand things from me, little Reaper."

The words meant little and yet everything to Ruby. "What did you do to her?!" she shouted, her grip on her scroll tightening with a small crack. Cold sweat gathered beneath her dark locks, plastering them uncomfortably to her forehead.

Is Weiss…? No… No!

"You'll learn soon enough, Reaper. If you wish to meet the heiress again, then you will do as I say." The change in the woman's tone was abrupt - from clear amusement to a cold tone that sent chills down the huntress's spine. Ruby gritted her teeth, her hand digging crescents into her palm.

"What. Do you. Want," Ruby gritted out, eyes narrowing into slits. The worry she felt earlier turned into seething anger - to know that someone has Weiss, that someone took her boiled her blood.

The woman clicked her tongue, as if at the presence of a disobedient child. "So disrespectful. No matter, you will learn to hold your tongue."

"Enough! Where is Weiss or I swear I'll-"

"You'll what? Kill me?"

Ruby choked on her words. Kill? Can she kill to save Weiss? The words blurred her thoughts, her hands turning clammy as sweat gathered on her back.

What are you willing to do…

"I-!"

...to save someone you love?

The woman laughed once more - her voice burrowed under Ruby's skin, like an itch that she very much wanted to remove. "I'll give you six hours, Ruby Rose. Go to this location and I might show you Miss Schnee. If not, well, who knows what will happen?"

"You bitch-!"

The line went dead with a click.

A second later, a message popped up in Ruby's scroll from Weiss's number. There was a set of coordinates and a warning;

"You are not to report anything to anyone. You are not to bring anyone. You can try but there is no telling if you would see Miss Schnee again if you do."

But it was the last line that sent ice down her guts;

"We would know, Ruby Rose."

Ruby stared blankly on her scroll, face devoid of any emotion. The only hint of her turmoil was the swirling rose petals surrounding her, gathering and spreading around the room. Should she try and test if what that woman - whoever that woman was - said was true? Should she try and see if the woman would actually know if she try to tell anyone else?

And risk Weiss's life?

No. I can't.

But she has to try. They couldn't possibly know. It must be a tactic to scare her - make everything seem hopeless.

Six hours, I can't waste time…

Ruby checked the coordinates; it was located somewhere north-west of the city, towards Mountain Glenn. If travelled by foot, six hours would not be enough. But I have my semblance, she thought with disdain. Did they expect Ruby to use her semblance? Do they know about Ruby's semblance? What were they planning? Ruby was a little unnerved at the thought - it added to the anger seething underneath her skin. It would not do to lose control again with Weiss's life on the line.

A bullhead could cut her travel time by a lot, and there was one place where she could get a bullhead; but for the Huntsmen branch to issue her a bullhead, she'd need a legitimate reason. And a rescue mission is enough, Ruby thought.

That's right. She'll save Weiss. Ruby refused to fail again.

Ruby packed her dust rounds, getting some of her specialized gravity rounds and some of her anti-materiel ammo. She decided to leave their clothes behind, feeling quite confident to return with Weiss later. She'd need Myrtenaster though, she said to herself, clipping the rapier to her belt once more.

When she got out of the hotel, the sky was orange with streaks of purple and red. It'd be quite hard later on if she had to fight Weiss's kidnappers in the dark - especially if they were faunus. She thought of the White Fang but immediately shook the idea out of her head. As Ruby trotted off towards the Huntsmen Headquarters, she started thinking of possible scenarios in saving her lover. Determination lined her face, grip tight on her scroll.

Just wait for me Weiss.

×RWBY×

When Ruby arrived at Corin's Huntsmen Headquarters, it was dark and less busy as she thought it would be. Seeing as Corin wasn't facing any Grimm attacks, she expected the lack of hustle and bustle of a typical Headquarters. It was still operational at night like any other Headquarters.

As Ruby entered, she immediately noticed the emptiness of the lobby, with only a group of hunters arguing by the large map of Corin at a wall across from the entrance. Their voices seem to bounce off the grey walls. At the middle of the room, a huge statue of the King of Vale stood - no doubt a memorial after the Great War. Along the right wall were plaques of Hunters' names and a series of dates, a memorial for those who gave their lives for humanity. A row of cubicles ran along the northwest side of the lobby, a single dispatcher occupying one. Ruby bee-lined towards him.

He blinked at her sudden presence, looking quite asleep on his feet. "Can I help you, miss?"

"I need a bullhead," Ruby stated. She thought of bringing a team of hunters but she didn't want them to be subjected to a potentially dangerous mission.

The man made a face, mouth opening for an argument.

"My partner was kidnapped," Ruby said immediately, watching the dispatcher's reaction.

"Right," he drawled the word, looking back to his scroll disinterestedly. Ruby growled, half-tempted to shake the man from his seat. "Look lady, we hunters are busy. We got no time to play hero. If it's a kidnapping, report it to the police."

"I'm a huntress," Ruby gritted, "So is my partner."

"Then I need identification."

"Ruby Rose."

"Right, Ruby Rose…" the man looked towards his computer, typing the first letters of Ruby's name before stopping. "Wait, Ruby Rose?" he looked back at Ruby with wide eyes, sweat gathering at his temples. "The Ruby Rose?"

Ruby's face turned sour. "Yes, that's me. Hero in the Grimm Wars, also known as the Grimm-Reaper. Now, can you get me a bullhead?"

"Y-yes, of course!" the man stuttered, looking in-awe at the huntress. He immediately went back to his computer, checking the availability of bullheads. A series of expressions went through his face before settling in apologetic. "I-I'm sorry but all the bullheads are scheduled out."

"What?"

Just her luck. How the hell a city not facing any wild grimms had the Headquarters' bullheads scheduled out?

"I s-said that the-"

"I heard what you said," Ruby interrupted. She hated being rude but her frazzled nerves were affecting her mood. She can't find it in herself to act with her usual cheer. She rubbed her face, then ran her hand through her hair. "Where the fuck am I getting a bullhead?"

"Y-you can try the docks. I'm sure someone is willing to help a huntress," the man said helpfully, "Especially you Miss Rose!"

Ruby glanced at the dispatcher, face blank. While Ruby became quite famous after the Grimm Wars, her reputation only circulated within the huntsman community as she hadn't want her fame to spread among the common folk - being Weiss Schnee's lover had been stressful enough. Also, Ruby refused to use her reputation to garner favors from people. She was a huntress because she wanted to help people, not the other way around!

"Then I want to report-" Ruby's scroll chimed, stopping her mid-sentence. Goosebumps raised on her arms as she stared at Weiss's name on the screen. Her heart skipped a beat as she opened the message.

"Really, Reaper? Are you testing me?"

Ruby swallowed the lump in her throat. There was an attached image.

It was a picture of a familiar translucent shawl. She didn't want to think what that dark brown patch was.

"Miss Rose?"

With shaking hands, Ruby placed her scroll back in her pocket. She looked around the lobby, finding nothing out of place. She stared at the group of hunters, but they were still absorbed in their heated discussion.

"Miss Rose, is everything all right?" the dispatcher repeated.

Really, Reaper?

Ruby licked her dry lips, her heart hammering within her chest.

Are you testing me?

"I-it's nothing," Ruby gritted out, feeling a familiar stinging at the corner of her eyes. She stared at the man, eyes like molten steel. "I wasn't here. Nothing happened."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Nothing happened!" Ruby roared, tears gathering in her eyes. "You won't tell anyone. You're not reporting anything, do you understand?"

The man looked like he didn't, but his fear of the sudden rage from the red huntress had him swallowing his reply. "Y-yes, nothing. Of course," he said instead. His eyes darted around Ruby's face, unable to look at the woman in the eyes.

Ruby bit the inside of her cheek, helplessness growing within her once more. She backed away from the counter, skin crawling at the thought of Weiss's kidnappers watching her every move.

That woman wasn't lying. She probably knew everything from the start. Hell, she even let Ruby enter the Headquarters only to squash her hope at the last minute. Was that woman the reason why every bullhead wasn't available?

Just who are these people? Ruby thought, her mind going back to Weiss's uncle. Was he even her real uncle?

Ruby noticed the sudden silence within the room. She looked at the group of hunters and saw them staring back at her. A sudden feeling of paranoia wreaked havoc within her, her skin crawling as they observed her.

Are they part of that woman's group? Had they been watching me?

Ruby didn't want to know, walking quickly out of the building. The cold night air felt more stifling than refreshing. She could imagine unseen eyes watching her every move. She didn't know if she was allowed to rent a bullhead to fly her over the planned location. They probably expected her to travel the whole night - to die in the forest, killed by the Grimm.

They could be lying, yet they could be telling the truth.

They definitely have Weiss in custody though.

Fuck, Ruby wasted time thinking the woman had been lying.

"Hey," a gruff voice called. Ruby turned her head, seeing a tall man wearing a leather vest, jeans and boots. The huntress eyed him warily, looking ready to bolt at any hint of hostility. "I heard you need a bullhead, miss huntress. I dunno whatsit for but I'm willing to lend my bullhead for a few."

Ruby studied his form; he stood quite lax, hands in pockets and face impassive.

"Why?" asked Ruby, sizing up the man.

The man looked quite surprised at her question, fumbling for a moment. "I lend my bullhead to hunters from time to time, you can ask them boys back in there."

He looked genuine enough. Ruby placed her hand over her scroll, dreading another message as she stood next to this man offering help. "What do you get from this?"

"Other than getting rid of them grimms, I guess I get to help in someway," he answered, looking quite thoughtful. "I can't get into the huntsman program, see. I'm shit in aura manipulation and anything else a hunter do. So the next best thing I can do is to drop off you hunters where you need to go."

Ruby looked around, seeing nothing watching them closely. This man could help her; exhausting her aura before she even reached the enemy's camp could spell disaster for her and Weiss; and the Grimm would be drawn to her current set of emotions. Sucking in a deep breath, she took the man's arm and pulled him to the side of the Hunter's Headquarters.

"Woah, where are you taking me, missy?"

Ruby ignored him and checked around her surrounding once more. Feeling a little secured at the moment, she gave the man a hard look.

"I need a ride here," Ruby pulled out her scroll with the map in display. The shown area was a a few miles away from Mountain Glenn, and quite far off from Corin. The man whistled, sending Ruby an incredulous stare.

"Are you crazy? Hunting at night and that deep in the forest? You're askin' for a death wish!" he exclaimed, eyes wide.

"Believe me, I've been in worse places," she muttered, a far off look on her face. She shook her head. "Will you help me?"

The man hummed, his hand rubbing his stubbled chin. "Well, it's crazy an' dangerous… Alright! I'll help you!"

Ruby felt her shoulders drop in relief.

"But!" the man suddenly added, "I can only get you halfway there, and the rest is all you."

Ruby calculated her travel time and her aura. She should be fine if she lay low and away from any Grimm; she should still be up for a fight against Weiss's kidnappers.

"Alright," Ruby conceded, she'd take what she can get right now.

"Well then, we're off! I'm Bistre by the way."

"Ruby."

The man, Bistre gave her a grin then he gestured for the red huntress to follow. "My bullhead is by the docks, we can take a cab."

"Wait, my semblance is faster," Ruby took the man's arm, preparing herself.

"Huh?" Bistre was barely able to look at the huntress before everything turned into a blur of colors and rose petals. "Holy shit, girl!"

The citizens of Corin watched as a red blur passed them in the streets, along with a man's scream.

×RWBY×

"Let's not do that again. Like ever. Fuck."

Ruby studied Bistre's bullhead, looking a little old and worn. She wondered how fast it could go; she can't afford to waste any more time.

"Let's go," she commanded, walking towards the bullhead. Bistre was leaning against the metal exterior, panting and looking worse for wear.

"Shit lady, you're crazy."

Ruby glared at him, feeling quite jittery. The woman could be watching them right now; and Ruby rather not have another mode of transportation be taken from her.

"Let's go," Ruby repeated.

"Alright, alright," Bistre conceded, activating the hatch. He stepped away to the side as the metal entrance lowered, allowing the pair to enter the aircraft. Bistre immediately headed towards the cockpit, with Ruby following close behind him.

Bistre strapped himself in, motioning for Ruby to take the co-pilot's seat. He went through the motions of powering up the craft.

"Okay, I got your coordinates but I'm dropping you off here," Bistre explained. The aircraft's front glass was displaying a map similar to what Ruby showed him, with Bistre pointing out her drop point.

"Right," Ruby agreed distractedly as checked her scroll, dreading a message from the woman.

"Texting the missus?" Bistre asked, activating the controls and taking off of the docks. Ruby was silent for a moment, looking at her screen that displayed a picture of her and Weiss. Bistre glanced between her and her scroll, before darting back forwards. "Trouble in paradise?"

I wish, Ruby thought with despair, feeling quite drained. "Something like that," she said instead. She kept her eyes glued on her scroll, waiting for that dreadful moment of another message - another consequence. She felt Bistre observing her, but she was a little stressed out to tell him off.

The ride was mostly silent, broken only by the sounds of Bistre's voice as he recounted his experience of sending hunters off in the forest. Ruby listened halfheartedly, nodding here and there. Bistre stopped when he noticed that the huntress wasn't interested in his stories, and instead focused on the flight.

Ruby stared at her scroll, the dread dying off the farther they were from Corin. She hadn't received another message; was the first one a fluke? Where they really observing her? She felt a small moment of relief from her rather stressful day. There was at least one thing going her way.

The sky was now dark with only the shattered moon as a source of light. The bullhead started slowing down, no doubt they were getting closer to her drop point. Bistre directed the bullhead to hover, a hundred feet above the ground. He glanced over the forest, dark and quite menacing - filled by different kind of grimm.

"Well, this our stop," he stated, looking back at Ruby.

Ruby stood from her seat, heart hammering in her chest. She looked at Bistre and gave him a nod.

"Thank you," she said, genuinely thankful of the man.

"It's no trouble," Bistre replied, shooting her a crooked grin. Ruby entered the passenger area and stood by the hatch. "Happy huntin'!"

As the hatch opened, Ruby gave Bistre one last nod. She took a deep breath-

I'm coming, Weiss. Just wait a little longer.

-before plunging into the darkness. As she fell, she activated her semblance and disappeared into the night.

Bistre narrowed his eyes at her trail of roses. Then he activated the HUD next to him, a silhouette of woman appearing at the grainy screen. "Well, she's all yours," he said, activating the bullhead's thrusters once more and directed its fly path back to Corin.

"Thank you, Mister Bistre. Your payment will be directed to your account," the woman replied, voice sounding quite pleased.

"Oh no. Thank you, Miss Mirage."

×RWBY×

"Schwarz."

"Yes?"

"She's heading your way."

"Good. I expect your work, Mirage."

"Oh, don't worry. I'm sending her a little incentive. You'll love it."

"..."

"Our little Reaper just needs a little push…"

an: Hey peeps! Sorry about the wordy chapter, I'm probably editing this later. But for now, it is what it is. Honestly, I just want to jump in into the action! Next chap: Ruby vs kidnappers(?)

For the guy who reviewed, thank you for your support! For the faves and the follows and the views, thank you also!

You can also see this fic at ao3! Cheers!