Weiss held her head high as they rode into the clans encampment, Ren was riding beside her, fussily looking over her wounds.
"Ren enough." Weiss said sternly as she looked about the camp, noting the large number of barbarians stepping out from their tents, many were stark naked, while others only wore the bare minimum of clothing, loincloths or pelts wrapped around their shoulders, the only ones who were fully clothed were a few warriors, who were watching the approaching Atlesians warily.
"Princess, we need to treat your wounds." Ren muttered quietly.
"I will not show weakness here." Weiss hissed back, waving Ren off once more as Jaune rode up beside her.
"Hopefully their leader will allow you some time to gather yourself," Jaune said quietly, "you're in no shape to be sitting through negotiations."
"You're one to talk." Weiss retorted.
"I'm getting better every second." Jaune muttered back as they reached the end of the camp, where Vernal disappeared into a large tent, the other warriors slowly melted ino the crowd.
After a few moments, the flaps of the tent opened and Raven walked out, wearing a simple tunic and pants, her Odachi sheathed at her side.
"Well, well, well, Princess Schnee, what a pleasant surprise." she said, her eyes lazily moving on to Jaune, "and Sir Arc, I thought I killed you."
"It didn't take." jaune muttered, casually putting his hand on the pommel of his sword.
"Sir Arc," Weiss said, not taking her eyes off of Raven, "we are here for peace, not for war."
"Yes Milady." Jaune grumbled, not taking his hand off his sword.
"My right hand speaks highly of your prowess in Battle, Princess," Raven said, completely ignoring the small tangent the conversation had taken, "from how she speaks you are able to hold your own well, which surprises me, when you commanded your guard to not kill me in your castle."
"Things change." Weiss said stiffly, "when one fights for their life, one tends to re-evaluates their principles."
"Indeed." Raven agreed, slowly walking forward, "we will speak of peace, but first, see to your wounds, quench your thirst and hunger, and we will discuss this at greater length at dawn."
"Thank you," Weiss said, giving a slight bow.
"Gidgit." Raven called, making a small boy run out of the crowd, "see to it that they are given a tent big enough for their needs."
"Yes Chieftain." he said dutifully, running back out, within minutes two more tents had been set up on the outskirts of the tribes main camp, Ren and Blake dismounted and went into the tents, both to make sure no surprises were waiting for them as well as setting up bed rolls and other necessities.
Jaune Dismounted and staggered slightly, his breathing labored.
"Sir Arc?" Weiss started worriedly.
"I'm fine," he rasped, slowly straightening out and walking over to her, "do you need help.
Weiss closed her eyes, "I can get down on my own." she said, slowly starting to dismount, she let out a slight gasp as the movement jostled her wounds and she almost fell but Jaune was quick to dart forward and steady her.
'I got you,' he said quietly, not leaving her side until she was securely on the ground, "lets get you out of that armor and have Ren look you over."
"I...think that's a good idea…" Weiss croaked out, her face contorted with pain, together the two hobbled into one of the tents and did not argue when Ren began to direct them, making them take off their armor and and show the wounds, none of Jaune's older wounds had opened, but they looked red and raw, and Jaune winced when Ren ran his hand over them.
"You're lucky they held." Ren muttered quietly, "and that booster I gave you hasn't affected you as badly as it was supposed to…"
"Arc luck." Jaune muttered as Weiss finally got the last of her armor off. Ren quickly moved to her.
"Gash on your stomach, cut over your left eye...it's amazing you haven't keeled over."
"Will I be alright to attend the peace talks?" Weiss asked.
"So long as you don't strain yourself, and no wearing your armor."
Weiss sighed, "very well." she conceded, staying still as Ren began to treat her wounds.
Jaune stood beside the tent flap, looking away as Ren pulled Weiss's shirt up to treat her stomach wound.
"How chivalrous of you." Blake said quietly, walking over to him, "how are you feeling?"
"Tired." Jaune muttered, "but alive." he looked her over, "i'm surprised you know how to fight…"
"I was a warrior before I was a slave.' Blake said softly, "not unlike you."
Jaune nodded slightly, "you seemed to have a vendetta against that Bull faunus."
Blake sighed, "he was once my commanding officer...and my lover…until…" she shook her head, "why am I telling you this?" she muttered.
"Because we don't have anything else to talk about."
Blake just chuckled, "I guess you're right." she looked over to Weiss, "She's decent."
Jaune looked over, and quickly looked away when it dawned on him that not only was Weiss not decent, but she had been stripped over her top so Ren could wrap her wound. "You're evil." he growled, making Blake laugh quietly.
"Don't act like you didn't enjoy it." she teased.
"I didn't." he lied as he forced the image of a topless Weiss out of his mind.
"Sure you didn't…' Blake said in amusement.
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Vernal sighed in contentment as Raven collapsed on top of her, both glistening with sweat.
"You are very eager today, Vernal." Raven purred quietly, rolling off the younger woman and reaching for a tunic.
"The battle...envigorated me.' Vernal said as she sat up, watching her chieftain dress, "I never understood why you choose to wear those rags."
"A habit I picked up,' she said dismissively, "be thankful I am not like the women of the kingdoms, wearing so much that I can't even dream of walking normally."
"Yes, I will be very thankful." she said with a chuckle, falling back amongst the pelts littering the floor, "what is your plan for these Atlesians? Will we truly be seeking peace?"
Raven walked over and sat down beside her, "peace with the Atlesians would mean a place to stay during the harsh winters, possibly food that we don't have to hunt, with the deer becoming scarce we need another source of food."
"And you think the Atlesians would agree to that?" Vernal asked, leaning forward.
"If we word it right then we can have all that and more." Raven purred, running her hand along Vernals side and making her shudder.
"It does sound nice…" Vernal hummed, "but wouldn't we have to talk with the King? Why would he send his daughter if he would have to be the one okay with it."
"Because he doesn't trust us." Raven said, slowly leaning into the other woman, nipping at her earlobe, "and he's playing it safe, though i am surprised he sent his daughter…he probably thought the Valesian would protect her."
"The Valesian showed up at the last minute." Vernal said, "he wasn't apart of the original group."
"Hmm...why would he risk his heir?"
"Why do humans do anything?"
Raven hummed and stopped her ministrations, "a very good question...I think it is wise if we assign someone to watch over our guests...perhaps Astor."
"Astor would just as soon kill them then watch over them." Vernal muttered.
"Not while his position in the pack is so precarious, he's the reason so many of our brothers are dead right now...inform him of this tonight, tell him that should anything befall the princess during her stay here that he will be held responsible."
"Yes chieftain." Vernal said dutifully, then tackled her and straddled her waist, "now, how to pass the time until then?" she asked with a predatory smile.
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Jacques Schnee stood upon the ramparts with Captain Bale, watching as the castle guard and reserve Legionnaires walked through the gates of the keep, guarding several bedraggled Faunus and carrying injured and dead comrades on stretchers. Leading them was his master blacksmith Jora, "Jora!" he called sharply, "what has happened, where is my daughter!?"
Jora walked up to him and bowed, "your daughter is alive and safe, completing her mission with the barbarian tribe, as to what happened; her Century was attacked by White Fang, she managed to hold them off until we were able to reinforce her."
"She survived?" He asked in interest.
"Aye sir, held her own against the White Fang, some of the privates swear she was fighting Adam Taurus on her own.'
He nodded slightly, "round up the first Cohort, have them head towards the barbarians!"
"That may not be the best Idea." Matthias said, walking forward.
"And who are you?"
"Matthias, yer majesty.' he said, bowing slightly, but stayed standing.
"You are not a legionnaire, nor are you a castle guard." bale sniffed, "begone."
"Stay," Jacques commanded, looking at Matthias.
"But my lord, he's no one-"
"Did I ask for your opinion Captain Bale?" Jacques asked coldly.
"...no my lord."
"Then keep quiet, now, Matthias, why shouldn't we send a century to aid my daughter?"
"Because these Barbarians are war-like." Matthias grunted, "and many would see a cohort as a challenge to battle. It would destroy any fragile peace that princess Schnee has made with them."
Jacques nodded slowly, "then we will stay our hand, for now." he said, looking curiously at Matthias, "my daughter has spoken of you before, you were once apart of the legion yes?"
"Yes yer majesty."
'Hmm...come, we have a few things to discuss."
"Yes sir."
"Jora, make sure the ounded get taken care of, and make sure our defenses our sound, just in case my daughter fails."
"Yes sir." Jora muttered, slowly walking away.
Bale glared at Jora, then looked over to Marigold, who was looking very concerned, looks like our plans have been pushed back…
"Jora!" Higgs called, limping over along with the other ten survivors of the original Century, "we need our weapons resharpened and repaired."
"And why would you need that?"Jora asked gruffly.
"We're going back out there, and we're going to wait for Princess Schnee."
"Foolish boy, do you know what will happen if you go fully armed to the barbarians? They will think you mean to attack them!"
"We aren't going straight to them." Higgs said defensively, "we're going to stop in the field the battle took place and dig in, wait for her to return."
"I will be joining them" Lin said, riding over with Sun trailing behind.
"If she runs into trouble she might need us." Sun reasoned, leaning against his spear as his men walked over.
Jora scowled, "I can't argue with that...get to the forges and draw new weapons. Leave your current ones where I can fix them; understood?"
"Yes sir!
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Ruby stopped slightly as she reached the edge of Valesian territory her eyes narrowed as she scanned the field in front of her.
"What's up sis?" Yang asked as she walked up, leaning against a nearby destroyed wagon.
"I...I dont know…"she muttered, looking across the field that looked oddly barren, "this place...it feels...wrong…"
Yangooked about and sighed, "this is the battlefield where the fourth crusader force was decimated...its where Jaune…"
Ruby let her head fall, "they never did find his body…"
"That doesnt mean hes still alive, it took Cardin a week just to get back to our lines, and another week to return here to get our dead, who knows what kind of predators they have out here."
Ruby sighed, "you're right...where's Coco?"
"She and velvet are checking over our supplies before we start out again, it's a long way to Mantle Keep from here, with how harsh this area is, we might not survive if we run out of food."
Ruby nodded absentmindedly, "are Yatsu and Fox still out hunting?"
"Yeah, had them take Cardin with them, guys been mopey ever since we got past the border, he needs something to take his mind off things."
"I still don't think it was a good idea bringing him along."
"He's one of the best fighters we have, we'll need him if this is a trap."
Ruby sighed, "once they're back we need to start moving."
"If you say so sis…" the older woman hesitated, then walked over and gave her a side hug, "dont torture yourself about Jaunes death, you'll drive yourself crazy like that." With that, the blonde bombshells walked back towards camp, while Ruby continued to look out towards Atlas, her silver eyes seeming to glow in the weak setting sun.
"He's not dead, I know it."