…Near Oniyuri.

Nora stretched her arms basking in the morning Sun.

"Another day another adventure."

As Jaune continued to consult the map following behind Nora his train of thought was interrupted as Neo placed her scroll in front of him

"What's on the agenda for today?"

Jaune turned his attention towards Neo, eyebrow raised. His response was one of boredom mixed with a bit of hope as their encounters with the Grimm had been decreasing.

"Walking."

Neo responded again on her scroll. The slow down in pace enabled Ren to come along side Jaune who also read the response.

"Haven seems a lot further than I thought."

Ren allowed Jaune to focus on the map, preventing them from getting lost and answered Neo.

"Yea the journey has certainly been longer than planned but I don't think any of us could've turned down helping people especially that village that suffered from the Geist."

Nora turned around walking backwards her hands on her head.

"And if our luck holds then we can make up for lost time by keeping our current pace."

Before anyone could respond she spun back around seemingly determined to emphasise her point and skipped a few more feet ahead. As the group fell back into their formation Nora jumped atop a poll placing her hands above her eyes as makeshift binoculars.

"Hey guys some people might need our help."

The other 3 stopped following Nora's line of sight until they rested upon what looked like yet another damaged village. Jaune double checked the map confused at the village in front of them.

"That's strange it's not on the map, we shouldn't reach another village for a few days."

Forgetting about the map Jaune ran ahead forcing the rest to catch up.

"We should search for survivors."

Making their way into Oniyuri they all paused assessing their surroundings for either Grimm or people. Ren was the first to notice that the buildings instead of being damaged were seemingly half built, left to rot and decay.

"It almost seems like the town was abandoned."

Nora made her way towards Ren becoming distracted at a sign, swiping away the dust and debris she read it aloud as the rest gathered behind her.

"Oniyuri? Never heard of it."

Jaune put his hand behind his head running it through his hair.

"I haven't heard it either."

"I have."

Everyone turned to Ren surprised at his admission.

"think of it as Anima's Mountain Glenn had it never been completed. Sometime ago the richest members of Mistral didn't agree with how the kingdom was being run. Becoming increasingly frustrated with the council they decided to pool their resources and strike off building their own city."

Neo suddenly became distracted as the idea of so many rich people in a dense area created so many lost opportunities in her head for her and Roman to profit off. Realising her distraction, she nudged Jaune as she typed on her scroll.

"Neo asks what happened?"

Ren turned brushing off a piece of debris revealing the mark of a Grimm.

"What always happens."

"Grimm?"

"Not just anyone."

Ren's hands balled into fists to contain his anger as Neo tilted her head inquisitively at Jaune who asked for her.

"One?"

As Ren failed to answer an uncomfortable silence surrounded the group, not wanting to attract Grimm Jaune decided that it was best to leave taking a few steps towards the front gate he called back.

"Come on… this place gives me the creeps."

Neo followed as Nora looked over at Ren saddened by his shift in demeanour, she felt guilty believing she was partially to blame. As they neared the front gate Ren put his hand out causing the rest to stop. He closed his eyes focusing on his senses to decipher the cause, slowly the faint sounds of footsteps became increasingly louder while more worryingly he could just make put the sound of laughter meaning that it most certainly wasn't a Grimm.

Ren drew his weapons leading to the other 3 to ready theirs. Suddenly Tyrian burst from over a wall landing in front of team NJNR. As Tyrian unholstered his weapons Jaune and Ren tried to diffuse the situation.

"We're not looking for a fight.

"Who are you?"

Tyrian put away his weapons pointing at Ren and Nora.

"Who I am doesn't matter to you. or even-."

He became distracted looking at Neo and Jaune.

"Although you two do interest me. Tell me girl have we met before?"

Neo shook her head weary of the man's intentions and taking a step behind Jaune.

Tyrian's demeanour suddenly shifted as he sighed, placing his hand behind his head in annoyance he closed his eyes.

"the one who does matter to me isn't here, but I could have sworn I was right behind him. Tell me children have any of you seen a huntsman around here? Goes by the name of Qrow."

Everybody tensed up as Jaune readied his shield.

"What do you want with Ruby's uncle?"

Tyrian burst out into laughter causing the group to look between each other unsure of how to react.

"That's just sublime, none of you have the slighted clue, do you? oh how much fun I'm going to have telling Ruby about this."

"What do you mean tell Ruby? Do you know where she is?"

Tyrian again burst out laughing

"if you want me to tell you, you're going to have to make me!"

Jaune frustrated with the mans taunting charged at him shield and sword ready, however before reaching him Tyrian seemingly disappeared and reappeared behind Jaune who was caught off guard by the mans remarkable speed. Ren was the first to react strafing Jaune's shield and Tyrian with bullets which were easily blocked by his aura, Neo attempted strike him from behind, but a quick round house kick forced her to use her semblance leaping backwards as the illusion was shattered by his foot. Kicking Jaune to the side the man ran at Nora as he remarked.

"Guess I could do with a warm up."

Unexpectedly Nora was shot from behind Tyrian who traced the lightning projectile to a cane in Neo's hand, confused he put his hand to his head turning to Neo in laughter, who only stared at him with a knowing smirk.

"Somebody needs to work on their aim."

Distracted Tyrian failed to notice Nora standing up as electricity flickered throughout her body. Using the donated energy Nora energised her semblance darting behind the man and launching him with the help of her hammer into a nearby building. As all 4 gathered round the whole in the building a coat flew out covering Nora, the distraction worked as the other 3 failed to notice Tyrian leaping atop Jaune and landing on the roof. Looking down he smiled with wide eyes and a laugh.

"Shocking!"

Jaune was the first to answer.

"If you know anything about Ruby tell us now."

Tyrian laughed at the weak threat.

"That Rose has thorns that's for sure even Cinder would be wary of what she has created."

Overcome with emotion Jaune shouted.

"CINDER! Is she behind all of this?"

Tyrian smiled at the ludicrous idea of Cinder being in charge turning to Jaune.

"Only in her wildest dreams."

Any chance for a response was ended as Tyrian again utilised his speed to seemingly appear in front of Neo she spun her umbrella expanding to deflect his attacks however she was caught of guard by his scorpion tail, its sudden appearance distracted her as he flipped into her launching her away. Ren was quick to warn the others as he approached Tyrian to enable Neo to recover.

"careful he's a Faunus."

Ren struggled to match both the Tyrian's attacks by his weapons and tail becoming dangerously close to being overwhelmed. Jaune left Neo to Nora and ran to Ren's aid however his attempt was cut short as Tyrian planted his boot firmly on Jaune's shield launching him back. The shimmer of Ren's aura signalled to everyone that it was on the brink earning a laugh from Tyrian who quickly spun around sweeping Ren of his feet slamming him onto the ground. Launching his stinger at Ren the sound of steel filled the air followed by a sudden clink as Qrow appeared in front of Ren blocking the attack with his scythe, Qrow looked down at Ren and scoffed.

"kids."

Team NJNR and Tyrian were surprised at Qrow revealing his presence his appearance forced Tyrian to jump back and re-evaluate the situation as Qrow turned to face him his attention was drawn to Jaune who spoke to him.

"Listen I don't know why or how you're here, but he knows where Ruby is."

"QROW BRANWEN! Finally, I've been looking everywhere for you. My grace has decreed it and therefore you shall die."

The mans strange choice of words caused a raised eyebrow to appear on Qrow as Nora spoke.

"He's weird."

Qrow readied his weapon taking a step forward ensuring Ren and the others were out of range of his aura.

"look pal if you know anything about my niece it would end better for everyone if you told me now."

Tyrian laughed at Qrow's admission.

"That little thing is your niece how splendid I'll have another thing to tease her with after you die, for you see my assignment is to kill you and one would do well not to disappoint the queen."

"Queen?"

Jaune interceded confused about whoever they were referring to. Tyrian was quick to intercede becoming increasingly bored at the lack of fighting.

"Enough talking for now."

Tyrian pounced at Qrow forcing him to deflect the brunt of his attack with his scythe enabling him to take advantage of his stinger. Qrow however was quick to recover and ducked underneath grabbing onto the back of Tyrian's head and slamming it onto his knee. Tyrian flipped backwards and growled in annoyance opting this time for a more direct assault he ran swinging his bracers around him slamming them directly into Qrow's scythe with such a force that it caused a shockwave around the two fighters. Jaune rallied the rest of his team readying them to help. Qrow noticed this shouted at them.

"Stay back and don't come closer!"

Neo became annoyed at being treated like a child and jumped up onto a nearby building swinging with the assistance of Roman's cane she readied herself popping out the canes iron sights and waited for an opportunity to help.

It became clear to Qrow that he was slowly gaining an advantage over Tyrian thankful that he didn't have to fully extend his scythe. Swinging his scythe behind his back he bought it down on top of Tyrian who had to cross his arms to block the attack ensuring the blades met the scythe, at risk of being pinned Tyrian extended little barrels from the centre of the blades that fired rounds in quick bursts towards a nearby pillar causing it to collapse towards Qrow and himself forcing Qrow to retreat and off of him. Taking advantage of the distraction he wrapped his stinger around Qrow's arm sliding it downwards to his hand forcing him to release Harbinger flinging it into a nearby wall.

Tyrian's laugh at how easy it seemed to disarm Qrow was cut short as an explosion hit his back causing him to stumble forward into the waiting fist of Qrow, Neo gave a smug look towards Qrow. Unfamiliar with unarmed combat he failed to answer the sudden onslaught of hooks and jabs from Qrow who answered with an uppercut to Tyrian's chin launching him back and against a wall. As Tyrian recovered from the hands-on treatment while Qrow walked nonchalantly towards Harbinger retrieving his weapon with ease.

Enraged at the prospect of being beaten by a bunch of students and Qrow, Tyrian became enraged launching himself at Qrow who easily replied jumping of the wall which previously held his scythe landing behind Tyrian he launched him onto the crack left by Harbinger causing him to break through the wall but Tyrian was able to wrap his stinger again around Qrow's arm dragging him as well into the collapsing building. Neo re-joined the other 3 as they all gathered around the hole created staring worryingly into it.

Suddenly from the side of the building Qrow's scythe flew out embedding itself into the ground followed swiftly by Qrow who landed atop his weapon using it as a landing pad, soon after Tyrian emerged as well as both showed the textbook shimmers of failing auras. Jaune felt confident after Neo's success at helping that he stepped forward to assist Qrow but was instantly stopped by Ren who placed his arm in front of him, Nora however as she placed her arm on Neo's shoulder to stop her as well caused her form to shatter breaking the illusion this revealed that Neo had snuck behind Tyrian ready to fire another explosive from Roman's cane she failed to notice the falling debris behind her forcing Qrow to jump over Tyrian and deflect it.

"What did I say!"

Qrow's distraction enabled Tyrian to sneak his stinger through Qrow's defences slicing him along the abdomen drawing a scream of pain from Qrow. Shocked at her actions causing Qrow to get hurt Neo jumped into the air pulling her sword from out of her umbrella she slammed it through Tyrian's tail and into the ground twisting the blade sideways and cutting off his tail. Overcome by pain Tyrian collapsed screaming.

"YOU BITCH!"

As Tyrian took a step forward to attack Neo he was blocked by the other 3 members of NJNR, realising the hopeless situation in front of him he convinced himself that retreat was the best option hoping that the poison from his stinger would finish the job. As Tyrian turned to flee NJNR's attempts to give chase were prematurely ended as Qrow collapsed onto one knee placing his hand over the wound. Seeking to end any concerns they may have he spoke.

"Don't worry he just grazed me I'll be fine."

Unconvinced, Jaune decided to focus let it slide.

"How did you even get here? What the hell is going on?

Nora added to the list of questions.

"Who the hell was that guy and why was he after you?"

Neo nodded in support of her team as Qrow attempted to catch his breath in an attempt to answer them.

"…Well that was a mess."