Author's Notes: Hey people, Vex here with another installation of Qrossing Field!

So I can safely say that with this chapter I've clearly identified exactly what area I dislike as a writer: environments. Having to write a detailed description of a particular location like I had to in this chapter is excruciating to me. I know that in PATI I talked about disliking fight scenes, but after this one I'm looking at it like it's the sexiest thing known to mankind!

It also helps enormously to have a specific character to focus on for an extended period of time, as opposed to bouncing between them and trying to capture every reaction etc... yeah, you guys are easily gonna tell which part of this chapter I'm whining about. But still, thanks to that I know for sure how I want to write the next chapter and I am SUPER excited for it. For one it should be shorter, and secondly it will be of a higher quality.

If you haven't seen it already, go check out Creation of Colour, a piece I wrote as a tribute to Monty. I'd really appreciate it.

I hope you enjoy this chapter!

- Vex out!

Qrossing Field - Mission Seven: Ruination

''You know, there is a reason that's a no-fly zone, right?''

''Sure do, but I don't care. We need to get to the archipelago as soon as possible. Or do you want to be the one to explain to Executive Cassius why we didn't catch up to them in time?''

''Well… alright.''

With the roll of the ship their course was corrected to a southerly direction, and Flay was finally able to leave the cockpit. It was the same no matter where he went, people would always question his orders despite his outranking them. Perhaps it was due to his young age, or maybe his shortness was to blame. Regardless, he was sick of it. He had worked far too hard to be looked down on anymore.

But even so, as he asked if the message he'd ordered to be sent had been, he could feel the disdain from the soldier at having to follow some kid's orders.

The closest he had to an ally on the airship racing through the sky wore a perpetual glare of hatred for the world and everything in it. Pale yellow eyes gleamed from the darkness of his hood, a cracked section of his chalk white mask visible hanging at his jaw.

''If we're lucky then Vergil will already be on the move cutting off all exits from the south.''

''If we're lucky we'll find those runaways stop this damned search.''

''Yeah, or that.'' Flay sighed and closed his eyes, deciding it was better to wait out the journey in his thoughts.

It had been different at the academy. Everyone fought tooth and nail to be the best, to rise above their peers to attain the title of Agent. But even then, there was the sense of camaraderie between those with shared experiences and backgrounds. At the beginning everyone had equal opportunity; all they had to do was be the first to reach it.

The real world was not like that. Here the world was ruled by selfish desire; the only thing to strive for was improving one's own station. Thinking along those lines, it wasn't hard to see why they hated him so much. He would get no words of reassurance, no praise, no approval. All he could to was fight, and survive.

There were, however, a few exceptions to that social norm – a few who stood out above the rank and file drones with their primitive lives. Cassius and Vergil: the Titan and the Philosopher. As Executives, they were just below the Commandant, but it was they who really led the operation. One day, there would come a time where one of them would ascend even higher, he was sure of it.

And he would be right there, stubbornly pushing forward, regardless of what path they chose.

''Agent, you might want to come take a look at this.''

Flay blinked. Looking out the window he spotted that their surroundings had moved from the watery basin of the lake to a bumpy horizon that stretched for miles, meeting the thick roof of grey that blocked out the sky. The few soldiers he had brought with him had lost their ambivalence, their eyes drawn to the outside.

He jumped up and passed back into the cockpit, cocking an eyebrow at the pilot.

''There's something out there. Above the clouds.'' A single bead of sweat trickled down his brow, dilated pupils twitching back and forth as he scanned the outside.

Flay let his eyes slide shut once more. Slowed his breathing. Focused. He let his mind reach out beyond the steel shell of the airship, tendrils twirling through the air, feeling out for anything. They slid up, reaching for the clouds and burrowing deep through the floating moisture like worms writhing in the dirt. They broke through to the world above, blessed by the warmth of the sun, unobscured by what happened in the world below.

And there it was: a worm larger than any other.

''Open the hatch. I'm heading up.''

''That's crazy.'' Even what should have been a statement of concern for him was just another insult for them to throw.

''Sure is. Just keep going at full speed. Don't slow down for a second.''

Flay turned away without waiting for a response, hoping that the pilot would have the common sense to follow orders for once. He rushed to the back of the airship and hurried up the rungs of the ladder, passing through the open hatch. Upon gaining a firm footing on top the airship, he reached out again, feeling for any danger – a hooked fin sliced through the murky canopy above, tearing towards them.

Flay threw his hands up, as though he were going to stop the oncoming freight train with his bare hands. It powered towards him at full speed, intent on eradicating the fly that had wandered into its territory. The air trembled as it was sliced in two before discovering its resolve and standing firm. The fin turned, rotating until it sailed harmlessly overhead.

Or so it seemed, until Flay felt his flesh split with minor slices all over his body. His arms took the worst of it, pulled to his face to guard his eyes. The bandages that had been wrapped tight around his forarms were shredded to ribbons of white dyed red. As the gust subsided he let his arms drop, the cuts that decorated his body sealing quickly.

'Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all…' But the decision had been made, and now it was time to own it. Flay ripped what was left of his bandages aside, and prepared for the next attack. In the distance the fin was making its turn, preparing for its next strike.

The airship suddenly jerked, causing Flay to lose his footing. He gripped to the metal roof for dear life as he rose up into the cloud line. The normally untouchable moisture coated his body; breathing became difficult as oxygen was replaced with liquid. They finally broke through to the thin air above and evened out, surfing on white fluff. Flay felt himself be yanked up by a rough arm that locked around his wrist and practically threw him to his feet.

''What the hell are they doing down there?''

''No human is going to sit back and let their lives be protected by a kid.'' The side hatch of the airship opened followed quickly by the rattle of gunfire at the colossus passing by. The glower of yellow eyes were locked on the creature swimming through the air, great black fins rippling as it coiled its long snaking body. Its maw of a jaw broke open and unleashed a ear-piercing screech, outraged at the humans that had the tenacity to dare invade its domain.

''Crazy…'' Flay narrowed his eyes at his cloaked accomplice. ''What will you do?''

''I'm not about to go down in this with you people.'' He cracked his knuckles in turn, counting down to the beginning of the fight in earnest.

Flay shook his head. Foolish pride of foolish people.

The party made their way slowly, the hills they had traversed before regressing into the ground, their route now running through along the steep sides of valleys, all leading towards the ocean. Perhaps once upon a time these had been mighty rivers, flowing along their courses to join as one in the great body of water that awaited them in the archipelago. If he thought hard, Octavius could almost see it: white foaming between the stony boundaries, the raging rapids roaring up at the sky above.

Roaring would be preferable to the silence at least.

Ever since the ceasefire was called a cold and awkward silence hung over the group. The twins kept to the front, paving the way several paces ahead of the rest of the group at all times. Any time they did engage anyone other than each other, they would always make sure to not notice Carmine's existence, as though doing so would spell calamity for all.

He was actually impressed at Qrow's restraint. Had it not been for the fact they had something more important to focus on, Octavius was sure he'd be tearing into the other team leader at every chance he could get. It wasn't even fit to be called a rivalry, given the fact that Carmine didn't want to fight Qrow. He was just hopeless - had been ever since the moment they had met in the Emerald Forest during initiation - and that was enough to incur the young Black Reaper's wrath.

The ghost of a wind from which they were sheltered acted as their guide along the path, decorated with scatterings of brittle bushes. They were miles from the nearest settlements, which suited their needs fine. The fewer people they encountered, the greater their chances of success.

Eventually they reached a crossroads. To the right the path continued, hugging the wall into the distance. To the left there was an old stone bridge, broken in the middle and cracks spreading out across the tiled floor. Moss grew thick on two columns standing vigil, guardians laid out to rest for eternity at their posts, their only company be sparse wildlife in the area.

Reiner immediately dismissed the latter path. ''We keep moving.''

As they continued, Octavius took a glance back over his shoulder to see one of their number not moving. Her blue eyes were glazed over, as though in a dream, fixed onto the path that lay beyond the broken bridge. Her eyes fluttered and she jumped slightly, as though someone had splashed cold water on her.

''Isabella… are you okay?''

Without warning, she burst into a sprint over the first half of the bridge. Before Octavius could react she leapt, throwing herself over the chasm between the two sides, landing on the other side with a roll. Just as she was about to get to her feet she was frozen by a face pressed up against hers.

''Going somewhere?'' Summer asked, swiftly putting a halt to Isabella's runaway attempt.

Escape from Summer's semblance was next to impossible, and so all the blonde could do was wait as the rest of the party bridged the gap and gathered in a circle.

''Why did you do that?'' Reiner asked.

''We have to go this way.''

''Why?''

''There's… I felt something. There's something up ahead and I have to go there.''

Both Reiner and Qrow frowned at this vague answer, displeased. Cold and tired, they weren't in the mood to be pulled about on a wild goose chase because of a shiver. Qrow nodded to his sister and she disappeared in an instant. They waited for a few minutes before she returned. ''What did you find?'' Qrow asked.

''A temple.''

It was hidden in a great pit that dug into the landscape, sheltered by the rock canopy which acted like an umbrella, casting the entire entrance into shadow. A thick pillar lay broken at the foot of the steps from which they descended. ''Be careful, there might be Grimm.''

''Don't worry, darkness can't survive here,'' Isabella replied, her cryptic statement making no sense until they entered. There was no sunlight inside, nor were there torches to proved a source of like - yet somehow there was not a single shadow to be seen in the bowels of the ancient structure. They could see through the halls as clearly as if they were looking through a polished window. A long corridor of smooth stone, chiseled patterns leading the way, continued until they stepped out into the main hall.

Stray vines unraveled through cracks in the ceiling and encroached upon the rows of circular pillars that supported the cavernous hall - something more fitting to be in a castle than a hole in the ground. The lack of anything in the majority of the huge room presented an eerie peacefulness as their footsteps echoed up the aisle, Isabella in the lead. She scaled the few rows of steps at the end and stood before what could only have been a throne of some kind, though unoccupied for who knows how long.

''There is nothing here,'' Liesel said, her voice reverberating off the walls. The rest of the group were inclined to agree, until a dull rumble came from the chair. The ground beneath slid backwards, revealing a set of stairs that went below.

''Hey, look at that...''

A mural spread out on the wall behind the ominous light. It stretched from wall to wall, and right to the crease in the ceiling. It was divided in five, in each of the four corners being dominated by four black images. In the top left a scaly dragon, its wings spread wide and jaw open in a silent roar. In the top left was a being more monstrous, a long body with many thick legs coming off it like a millipede, curving up into a humanoid torso that seemed to have its arms torn off, replaced with great arching claws.

The bottom corners displayed images less intimidating. The bottom left corner depicted something coming out of water, a huge domed back bulged through the water's surface. Finally, in the bottom right, was a human, the black paint with which it was painted seeming to be carved into the wall, never to be erased.

Around each of the images were more images, continuously flowing in a single narrative.

''What is this?''

''It's Remnant,'' Isabella said. She reached out, pointing her finger at each creature in turn. ''The Draknite,'' she named the dragon. ''Gigant,'' she said, pointing at the clawed being. ''And Levina,'' she finished on the water creature.

''Grimm?''

''Only some of the most devastating to ever exist. Out of all of them, only one has ever been slain. It took an entire kingdom to do it, and even then...'' she trailed off, not being able to finish the apparent cost of killing one of these beings. The cost of fighting Grimm was always a thing that Hunters had to remain aware of - even the bravest of warriors remember the consequences of failure in a fight. Only those who truly understood this could bear the title of Huntsman or Huntress.

''What's this one then?'' asked Carmine, breaking the silence. ''It looks like a human.''

''That's right. It represents the dark heart of mankind... the evil in our souls, what drives us to commit atrocities.'' She placed her hand on the final image, brushing it gently with the back of her hand. ''Sometimes I think it's more terrifying than all the Grimm in the world...''

''You'd compare us to them? To those monsters?'' The venomous voice crept through them with the unspoken warning of an immanent eruption. Qrow approached Isabella, a deep shadow across his face. ''I've trained every day of my life to fight those things, it's all I've ever wanted to do, so don't you dare try to say I'm anything like them.'' Standing beside each other he stood at only a few inches taller than she, but his bubbling rage made a Goliath out of him. It was amazing she could be seen stood next to him.

More amazing was the way she laid her hand on his chest, and he shrank to the size of a regular person. Her eyes locked into his, unshakable in their intent. It was as though she were gazing at a painting: she drank in the swirls of color and striking imagery of the piece named Qrow - attempting to wrap her mind around the thoughts and feelings of the artist that created the piece before her. Everyone waited with bated breath as she pressed her hand against him with more force, like she was trying to reach inside him and rummage around through the box of his heart in search of trinkets and other items to expand her understanding.

''I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you.'' She tilted her head back to the figure on the wall. '''Man' is all that final creature is known by. Perhaps nobody had ever seen the being itself, and so they chose this image for some purpose. I'm not sure, this mural was created over a millennium ago, so I suppose guessing is all we can do now.'' She looked back to Qrow. ''I'm sorry if my phrasing was inappropriate.

Qrow looked to the wall and let his gaze linger for a few moments, before looking back to the blonde in front of him. ''Alright, how about just saying that first next time.'' He stepped away, leaving Isabella's hand to hang in the air as i still trying to feel for something. ''Come on guys, we're not getting anywhere sitting around here listening to history lessons.''

At that Isabella's abnormally serious demeanor slipped and she smiled. ''You're right, I just have to - wait, stop right there!''

''What're you - gah!''

Qrow had threw himself back, crying out in pain and clutching his arm. A white aura clung to the afflicted area like a swarm of tiny white bugs gnawing his flesh.

The room became a flurry of movement as Team QROS rushed to their leader. Reiner tore into his pouches and vials, looking for something to treat the injury. Liezel's whip was drawn, combat instincts kicking in; her attention was focused on identifying the cause of the attack, but the room was empty discounting their party. Carmine fell flat on his rear, surprised by Qrow's yell.

''Step back!''

''What did you just do?'' Summer growled over her prone brother.

The blonde ignored the question, instead deigning to answer the other one on everyone's minds. ''Think of it a defense mechanism. Rather then allow itself to be stolen, the light attacks whatever it thinks it trying to steal it from its rightful owner. I never imagined it would be this violent though... are you alright?'' She asked as Qrow got to his feet.

''Yeah... yeah I think so. What the hell is that stuff?''

Again she ignored the question. ''It was calling me...'' she said, rising to her feet and stepping into the bright column in the centre of the room. Unlike Qrow, whose arm felt like it was engulfed in searing flames of white, the light washed over Isabella as if it were a misty shower. Her form began to glow, a pale aura enshrining her body. Within seconds the ceiling light began to dim, while she grew brighter. In a single moment it gleamed like a jewel, yet with all the dominance of an stalwart warrior who wore her impenetrable armour with the pride deserving of it.

''Whoa...''

Someone flicked the switch and the room was cast into shadow. Isabella returned to her normal state, as if the magical situation they had just witnessed never happened. The questions mentally piled up in the minds of all but two in the room - who were instead just amazed at what they had just witnessed. Nobody knowing quite where to start, and in the end the opportunity for interrogation was lost as Liezel made for the exit, returning her weapon to her side.

''Come along, we have lingered too long in this place.''

Reiner nodded, following close behind, gesturing to Isabella to follow.

Lest they get left behind, the room was vacated and they continued on their way through the ruins. As it turned out, upon deeper exploration of the corridors beyond the hall, there was another exit on the other side of the rock formation the temple had been built into. They left the ruins to be greeted by a sky of thick gray clouds - no wind or snow fortunately. If anything the only word to describe it would be peaceful. Their elevated position afforded a clear view of the snow capped trees surrounding them to the north and west. To the south there was a path that ran straight and true - by far in a better condition then their previous route. If anything, their detour may have actually turned into a shortcut given that they wouldn't be forced to follow the winding river.

And then they heard it. A single explosion from above.

''Look out!'' Qrow barked. The group scurried behind the cover of some rocks as the large mangled scrap of metal came crashing down where they just were. Seconds later a burning airship raced across the sky, billowing smoke in its wake. It crashed somewhere in the forest some way away. It was then the culprit of the wreckage made itself known with a screech: a serpentine Grimm of absolutely monstrous proportions flying through the air.

''It's a Wyvern...'' Octavious marvelled. ''I never thought I'd see one in the flesh...''

''I thought they lived in the upper atmosphere?'' Liezel asked.

''That's right. See those huge fins?'' he said, pointing out to creature's appendages. ''They're able to keep it gliding at a constant altitude even when sleeping. It's rare for it to ever come low enough for people to see it...''

The sky serpent glided over the area for a few moments, waiting to see if its prey would reappear. When it didn't, the beast angled up, and disappeared into the coverage of the clouds. Finally feeling that the danger had passed, the party removed themselves from cover. Summer stood at the edge of the path, gazing out to the smoke piling up in the distance.

''Well, at least we know what took down the ship,'' Qrow muttered, tapping the hunk of ripped apart metal with his boot.

''We should keep moving.'' Reiner's suggestion was all it took to set her off.

''No.''

''Summer-''

''No!'' She whipped around, eyes filled with incredulous outrage. ''There could be people over there who need our help.''

The air suddenly became heavy, hard to consume like trying to drink a thick mud. ''Have you taken a moment to consider that we might be the ones they came this far out for?''

''Even more reason we can't just leave them to die in the ass end of nowhere! Enemy or not, they're still people - human! I mean, that's what Hunters are supposed to protect, right?'' She looked around to the others for some show of support.

''Summer, try to calm down.'' Octavious said, trying to put a reassuring hand on her shoulder which she slapped away.

''Don't tell me to calm down when he's telling us to leave people for dead!''

''Well then, I will go with you.'' Isabella's show of support for Summer was surprising, considering just who it would be they would be helping. '''We can's just ignore those who-''

''Absolutely not!'' Liezel interjected. ''Our recent detour was one thing, but this is unacceptable.''

''Agreed. It would be a waste of time and an unnecessary risk that we cannot take.'' Reiner added, shutting down any input from Isabella. ''I'm not letting your ridiculous heroine complex jeopardize this mission, Summer!''

''Both of you: shut it!'' The bickering came to an abrupt stop with Qrow's command. He pulled his sister away from the group. He held her shoulders and refused to let his gaze waver for an instant. He could understand her fury, and felt his pulse rise in reciprocation of her feelings. ''I get how you feel, you know I do... but we've already said we'll help her. We can't risk it, I'm sorry.'' The moment he said that she wrestled away from him and walked away. ''Where are you going? Summer!''

''If you won't go, then I will. I'll catch up wi-'' She stopped herself before spitting out, ''no, you know what? I'll see you in Vale.''

''Damnit, Sis...'' He stared long and hard at his younger twin, whose eyes were still urging him. They beckoned him to do what they both knew they wanted to. But he wasn't one to break a promise he had made. Summer's temper was not something that could be calmed once flipped, and he knew that all too well. He also knew she was more than capable of taking care of herself... With a sigh, there was only one thing to say. ''Fine. Keep in contact though.''

Her gaze lingered on him and him alone. With a silent nod, Summer disappeared. There was a muted awkwardness in the wake of her departure - one that was not helped by Carmine's immediate contribution.

''I'll go with-''

''You shut up,'' Qrow snapped, causing Carmine to flinch. His eyes bore into the coward before being redirected to his own partner. ''We're having a serious talk when we're done with this crap, Reiner.''

The Schnee heir tilted his head forward. ''We can do whatever you want after we've completed our objective.''

Qrow just grunted and turned away, pulling up his hood. His cape waved behind him with each step towards the end of the mission.

Next time, Mission Eight: Summer and Flay