Yang groaned as she flexed her sore arms. Her entire body was sore, and half of the reason why was thanks to herself. In her anger, she had overexerted herself, and it was a miracle her muscles did not do more damage on itself. Being as injured as she was, her temper rampage did not help her body in the slightest.

At least Weiss is safe, although for how long the entire group can remain safe is unknown. As far as she was concerned, what waited for them at the end of the flight was a bunch of pissed off and angry Faunus.

Blake was moving again, albeit sluggishly. She had moved herself closer to Yang, as did Weiss. Team RWBY, gathered around an unconscious leader. What a mess they must have appeared to be.

Ruby's injuries have mostly closed, and some colour had returned to her face. Aura was truly a gift from Monty above, for without it, Yang was sure they would have all perished. Either from direct combat, or their wounds. So long as one person was given enough time, they will recover.

Ren and Nora were beside each other, their hands locked together as Nora kept vigilance over a sleeping Ren. How he could sleep, was beyond Yang, but she has heard stories from JNPR on how he could sleep through anything apart from Jaune tickling his nose with a feather. Yang stifled a giggle at the thought, for the look of disappointment on Ren's face must have been priceless.

The cold wind howled into the shot up carriage, and Yang felt Ruby shiver a little in her lap.

'Ruby?' Yang shook her sister gently, 'Ruby are you awake?'

No response. She shook her harder, 'Wake up, Ruby. We need you.'

'I doubt that would work, Yang,' Weiss whispered, 'we're going to have to fight without her help.'

Yang nodded grimly. 'I wonder where we are heading to?'

'Does it matter?' sighed Weiss, as she rubbed her drooping eyelids, 'But if what Ruby and I saw wasn't an illusion, we should be heading in the direction of a nearby village.'

'This far out beyond the city walls?'

Weiss nodded, 'I know what I saw.'

'Under the control of the enemy, no doubt.' Nora commented.

'Probably,' said Weiss with a shrug, 'any ideas on getting out of this sticky situation?'

Despite herself, Yang laughed. Sticky situation did not even cover it. They were fucked, beyond any doubt. If they landed, it would just be a matter of taking as many of the bastards out as they can. At best, they would die in a fight to the bitter end. At worst, they get captured and the White Fang would be able to do anything they wanted to them.

Yang knew the risks of being a Huntress. But she had always imagined a glorious last stand against the demonic hordes of Grimm if she did not make it to retirement. But not like this, and not this soon.

'Yang.' Came a slurred voice, weak and devoid of any strength. She barely heard it over the roar the Bullheads.

Blake tried to raise her hands, her movements were sluggish.

'Blake?' Yang asked, unsure of what she is doing, 'What is the matter?' She tried to speak, to squeeze a sentence, but all she could manage was one.

'Danger.'

Ren's eyes snapped open, and Weiss was already reaching for her weapon, but it was too late.

Out of thin air, reality twisted and split. The space on the other end of the compartment shimmered, and figures surged into existence- a dozen armed Faunus in the uniform of the White Fang. They aimed their rifles with confidence, for at this range, it was hard to miss.

The Hunters in training froze, and slowly raised their hands. There was no cover, no room to resist. One of them pressed a barrel into Nora's face as he reached over to take her weapon. Nora snarled, but made no move. With a casual toss, Magnhild flew out into the air, and disappeared into the red forest.

Yang slowly but reluctantly took off Ember Celia, and it met a similar fate. Ruby's scythe, Crescent Rose, was wrestled off her magnetic clamp, before being dumped unceremoniously off.

'Your weapon.' The masked man demanded, prodding Ren with the barrel of his rifle, 'Slowly!'

Ren nodded, and slowly handed over Stormflower. The Faunus titled his head in confusion at the singular weapon of simple design, but tossed it out anyway. Myrtenaster and Gambol Shroud were next, but Weiss received an extra kick to the stomach too.

'Watch the Schnee,' a voice echoed out across the carriage. A tall figure strode out of the rift towards them, a woman with two large chain-toothed axes accompanying him. His face was bloody, though Aura had healed his cuts and bruises. His red hair was still caked in dried layers of blood. His, Yang's and Ren's.

Yang heard Blake's breathing hitch at the sight of the man.

'She's skilled with her Aura,' he said, 'one funny move from any of you, you die.'

'A-Adam….' Blake breathed, her eyes wide with terror.

Adam Taurus regarded Blake. 'Long time, Blake.' Adam sneered, 'How far you have fallen. Working with a Schnee? Shit, Blake, you give us a bad name.'

'You do that all by yourself,' Weiss snorted. A jackboot to her face silenced her, and Yang felt a surge of rage. But the cold steel of the barrel pressing against her head stopped her. Weiss did not make a sound, but she was bent over, nursing a bleeding nose.

'What happens now?' Yang growled.

'Nothing. I admit, you put up a fight. If I had more men of similar caliber, we would have won long ago,' Adam replied, 'but it ends here. You fought, you lost. End of story.'

…..

Russel looked back, his eyes widening in horror as the impending sense of doom consumed the group. He scratched at his scalp, running his hair through his stripe of hair. 'The itch, the damn itch! Shit I feel them crawling in the back of my head.'

Jaune felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He shivered, but it was not from the cold.

For all of Cardin's bravado, he was spooked. He felt it too. 'We have to pick up the pace, NOW!' He shouted, 'They are coming.'

Without further urging, they ran. Russel scurried ahead, but slowed down to run with the heavier Cardin. Jaune, thankful for the psychically demanding program of Beacon, ran alongside them. Had he been running before his arrival at Beacon, he would not have made it.

They ran, the mountainous terrain did little to aid them. As they ran, the terrain got more and more treacherous, and he soon realized they were running between the crevices of two hills. Out in the open against such numbers, they would be slaughtered. Here, the terrain would bottleneck the horde in. He certainly hoped there would be at least some remains of himself to bury.

He stopped.

'Jaune! What are you doing?' Cardin shouted back, slowing down, 'come on!'

'We are not outrunning them, Cardin,' Jaune said, as he unsheathed his sword. His shield deployed, and Jaune smiled weakly at Cardin.

'Here, their numbers won't mean shit. I can hold them off for a while.'

Cardin hesitated, 'What about you?'

'I-I'll hold them,' Jaune gulped, 'please Cardin, bring everyone back alive.'

'Like hell you are, idiot!' Cardin snarled as he stormed towards Jaune. For a moment Jaune was afraid he was going to punch him, 'Out of all the times you choose to grow a pair you always choose the most fucking inconvenient time.'

'I-'

'Shut the fuck up,' Cardin said, 'Russel, I'm staying. You go on ahead and-'

Russel laughed, 'Oh fuck you guys and your heroics. Like hell I'm letting you asswipes get all the credit.'

He twirled his twin blades, and the dust chambers cycled.

'You,' Russel indicated Jaune with his blades, 'can thank us later.'

'Do my assignments for the rest of my life and we'll be even.' Cardin grinned.

Despite himself, Jaune laughed. He would never have predicted that he would be standing shoulder to shoulder with his bullies. Something has developed between them. It used to be a mutual grudge, only held aside with respect. Now, it was different.

They stood together, the three boys against a horde of Grimm. It certainly looked like a small horde last time they were up in the air, but who is to say more did not join, attracted by the death and destruction. They did not say anything to each other, for there was nothing more to be said.

'Here they come.' Jaune whispered, and he assumed a stance Pyrrha had taught him through his many night practice sessions.

Something appeared. It looked like a wave at first glance, covering the area ahead like a tsunami, spilling over rocks and bottlenecking into the men.

But it was not liquid.

Red eyes, evil and lifeless, gazed out from behind white bone armor. Teeth, shockingly white on their black fur and scales, snapped as they drew closer. The came on like a tide, growling, chittering and yapping. The smell was distressing. It was dry, wet, stinking yet sweet at the same time. It was unnatural, and the wave of bloodlust and hate was almost nauseous.

Jaune spied several young Beowolves, Ursas and Chimeras. Taijitsus have made its appearance, along with several younger Deathstalkers. Among them were several other more variants, ranging from buglike to almost humanoid.

The front of the wave was upon them. An Ursa leapt up to strike.

'Bring it.' Jaune snarled.

…..

Between the wind and their high up altitude, Weiss was freezing cold. The White Fang had ordered her to strip to her naked in an act of spite. Of course, she protested, but that had earned Yang and knife through her hand. Swallowing her pride and enduring the humiliating whistles, Weiss has grudgingly done as they said.

Now she sat on the carriage floor, curled up and shivering, barely ignoring the gleeful stares of the White Fang.

A male Faunus crouched in front of Weiss, leering at her like a predator, 'You cold, Schnee?'

Weiss did not answer him, and simply glared at the snarling mask he wore.

'Maybe we can get you colder, then I'll gladly warm you up,' He ran a finger across the skin of her arm, and laughed, 'you look like you could use some exercise.'

She shivered, and violently shrugged his touch off. Weiss wanted to puke, to scream, to fight these monsters that stood in front of her. But they were clever. They knew the teams cared for each other, and that they would gladly put themselves in harm's way to save the other. Weiss was lucky all Yang got was a stab.

The others had searched the others for concealed weapons, and one of them- who Adam called 'Kaa' had his hands all over Nora. His grubby hands had gone everywhere, and he was smiling the entire time.

Ren looked like he was about to forgo any reason and attack the man, but a hiss from Nora stopped him.

'Pig.' Nora spat when he was done. Without hesitation, she was docked in the face and onto the floor.

'Hey, do not…' Ren growled. His eyes flashed dangerously.

'Careful.' Kaa warned, his fangs shining in the dull light. The implication was clear. One move and they would have a few extra holes to breathe out of.

'How are you still alive?' Nora snarled as she slowly stood back up. Her cheeks were bruised and her nose, bleeding.

The snake Faunus shrugged, 'I have my ways, girl.'

All Blake could do was bare her teeth in disgust and defiance. The look she shot at the apparent leader, Adam, was different. Tears streaked down her face, and there was a look of hurt in them. The look of disbelief and what Weiss thought was betrayal.

Adam avoided her gaze. He ignored her, as he seemed to be receiving reports in an earpiece.

'Affirmative.' He said into the earpiece, before turning his attention to Blake. He moved in front of her, and set down his weapon as he knelt. He took out a small clear bottle from his pockets, and unscrewed it.

'It's been a long time, Blake.' He said, his voice soft and warm. It was almost as if he knew her…

Weiss froze. Wait. Blake had mentioned Adam before during Mountain Glenn. Could this be her former partner? Her former mentor?

'Kaa got you good, but it seemed that you put a better fight than most,' He nodded approvingly, 'Kaa's a valuable member, he could teach you a thing or two about poisons.'

He held her face, and opened her mouth. Blake struggled, and Adam immediately let go, 'Don't worry. This is a cure, against Kaa's bite. He made this himself.'

Adam drew closer once more, and this time Blake did not resist.

The effect was almost immediate. She gagged and coughed, and Adam had to hold her down as she began to flail about. Weiss looked up in horror, and for a moment she believed Blake had been poisoned- dealt the final blow by her very own mentor. But eventually she stopped coughing, and gently pushed Adam off.

'Adam…' Blake began, her voice rough, although she did not know if it was from the antidote or Blake's own emotions.

'Shit, Blake. What happened to you?'

Blake opened her mouth, but she choked on her words, and gasped for air. The tears began anew.

'Life happened,' She looked into his eyes through the mask, 'Adam please, let my friends go.'

Adam looked away, 'Maybe, Blake. That all depends on a few things.'

'Name it!' she almost screamed.

'Not before you calm down.' Adam said sternly, putting up a finger, 'I do not want you making a decision in your current emotional state.'

The eyes of every single person were on the two. It was almost surreal, the leader of an enemy group talking to the opposition, like a brother would a sister.

Blake slowed down her breathing, but her she hiccuped between her sobs. Weiss had never seen Blake so distraught before. It must be one thing having your friends in a tight spot, but to have a former partner be behind it…

'We had some good times together, Blake. You were the best and damn brightest I had the honor of being partnered with.' Adam began, 'But look at you now, you naïve girl. Working with humans to become a Huntress. A Schnee, no less.'

'Adam, you would not understand.' Blake whispered. Her fists were clutched and shaking.

'No?' Adam shrugged, 'Perhaps. I still never understood why…' He did not finish the sentence.

'Why I left?' Blake offered.

Adam nodded, 'Perhaps I never will.'

'Not if you keep thinking the way you do, Adam.'

Adam looked as if he's been slapped, but shook his head sadly. 'Our cause is righteous, and our reasons, just. Why?'

'Why don't you ask the Faunus you have killed? 'Blake laughed bitterly, 'I know you will kill me, Adam. I know the fate of…traitors.'

'No Blake, dear Monty, no.' He took hold of her hand, 'I don't want to see you end up in a ditch somewhere out in this forest, no!'

'But you would gladly do that to my team, my friends.'

'As I said before, that depends all on you, right now.' He reassured her.

Blake looked up, her eyes were still red, but she was not sobbing anymore. 'It's not fair, Adam. A lot of them are good people, even Weiss!'

'The Schnee?' Adam scoffed, 'Please, don't tell me you have fallen for their lies.'

'It's true! Look what you have done to the others! Sky was literally skinned alive. We won't have a body to show to Dove's family. I don't know if Jaune, Cardin or Russel are alive or not. Ren's lost half his sight forever and Ruby, dear Ruby. I don't know if she will wake up!'

Adam was silent for a moment, before speaking, 'It's a battlefield, Blake. We do what we must. You think I like sending these youngsters to their deaths? Your team did quite a number on the recruits.'

'I…' Blake began, but his words were true. She closed her mouth.

Weiss sighed, no doubt the White Fang had suffered casualties more horrendous than what they had. To say anything to was imply the lives of humans are more important than those of a Faunus.

'I'm not here to argue with you, Blake. But I'm offering you and your remaining comrades back, unhurt and unharmed. I give you my word.'

'B-but?'

'If you go with them, Blake. I would be forced to hunt you down. I do not want that.' He gestured around the group of White Fang, 'We could always use a capable operative. We are family, Blake. You will always have a place here.'

'But…how can you trust me anymore, Adam?' Blake murmured, 'I ran away, and I have blood on my hands. How can you ever trust me again?'

Adam reached up, and took off his mask. No one could see his face, save for Blake. In that moment, Weiss was sure a full conversation had taken place. It was eerily similar to how Ren communicated with Nora when he was too tired to speak.

'I trust you, Blake.' He said, before putting his mask back on, 'Although the others would need a little proof.'

As he stood up, he gave her hand a little tug, urging her to do the same, 'Two things, both relatively simple.'

He gestured into the carriage, at the various boxes, 'One: Where the package is.'

'It…' Blake looked around the carriage, into the faces of her friends. Weiss caught her eyes, and could see she was hesitant. No one spoke up to help her. This was all up to Blake now. The mission, or her friends. Weiss did not trust the man. She was absolutely sure he would order their deaths as soon as they got what they needed. But his display with Blake had her thinking otherwise. Those two did have history, and they were obviously very close.

'It's not here. It fell off when we were in midair.'

Adam cursed silently, and Weiss felt her insides freeze. Blake you fool! Here it comes. The death blow.

'Thank you, Blake,' Adam said, 'our mission was just to get the damn thing. I hope it is worth the lives we have lost today.'

'I cannot tell you anything,' Blake said truthfully, 'not because I don't want to, but because I do not know.'

'Fair enough,' He nodded, 'and now for the second part.'

'Please, you have to promise me.' Blake began.

'I promise, but this must be a little hard for you.' Adam turned to a White Fang grunt and gestured for something. The man slid a vicious looking dagger out of his hip, and handed it to Adam.

'Gut the Schnee bitch, would you? A life in exchange for the rest.'

'Make it last,' Kaa laughed from the sidelines.

'Quiet!' Adam snarled, his attitude changing in a blink of an eye. He turned back to Blake, 'It does not matter how you do it. A clean kill will see your other friends safe and unharmed.'

Blake, with shaking hands, took hold of the blade.

…..

Leaping, crashing, slithering, the Grimm tide smashed into the Hunters in training, tearing, biting and clawing. In that moment, any doubt of the Grimm being the sworn enemy of man was completely erased.

Hate, sadness, rage, jealousy, these emotions radiated off these creatures, so nauseous Jaune had puked as he slammed his sword into the leaping Ursa's mouth.

Russel was screaming, and so was Cardin, lost in their battle rage against these horrific mockeries of nature.

How did these Grimm come to be, anyway? Will they ever find out? What does it matter anyway, they are death. They are my death. Jaune thought.

Jaune stood his ground. Though he cannot hope to match the scale of destruction by his more skilled comrades, but he learned he had a ton more Aura than anyone to spare. His sword tore through the howling visage of a Beowolf, spraying him in a mist of acidic blood that hissed and ate through his uniform. His shield bashed away a gibbering beast, and he turned to hack another creature apart. A scything limb catches Jaune in the leg, but before he could retaliate, the creature vanished in an explosion of its own flesh. Cardin did not even pause before he directed his fury against the oncoming horde.

Cardin smashed aside hordes of Grimm with a single blow form his mace. His strength and recklessness was reminiscent of Nora albeit on a more controlled scale. Months ago he was cowed by a single Ursa Major, now he was crushing bone and splitting open skulls in a defiant last stand. Blades ripped into them, but their wounds were immediately healed by Aura, or simply deflected. Whenever he struck, Grimm ceased to exist. Detonated by the sheer force of the blows. He sent an Ursa Minor flying through the horde, and Jaune swore the ground split open in the fury of the attack, throwing aside Grimm as it tore into the tide. But the space was immediately filled up, and Jaune could never be sure.

Russel's a fury of elements and blades, dancing about amongst the Grimm, burning, freezing, cutting and slashing. Fangs were turned aside, and throats were split open. Blood sprayed, steaming and hissing as his blades bit through unarmored joints and soft tissue. He was like water, slipping past each attack with like a ghost. He slid under a Boartusk, spilling its entrails to the ground before leaping up into the face of King Taijitsu. His daggers tore downwards, twin fangs that matched the snake Grimm's own. The ground shook as the snake fell lifeless to the ground, crushing many others under it.

Jaune estimated they would last a minute more, maybe less.

For each one they slayed, ten more took their place. Jaune was shocked at the speed at which Grimm could gather. It was no more than a few dozen at first sight. But now, hundreds had gathered.

The Grimm were funneled down the terrain, into the meat grinder that were the three men. Their weapons rips and shreds. Bodies were bisected and exploded. Bodies-already evaporating in an accelerated rate of decomposition- were piling up, and the Grimm had to climb over their fallen to get to their target. Driven by a madness that no sane creature would understand.

Jaune heard a murmur, a raspy alien voice scratching at the back of his mind.

Killkillkillkillkillkillkill…

It was unending, not even the Wall Breach incident had been this bad. Perhaps not as many Grimm, but they were just three men. However Jaune was already sure he had killed five the amount he had since he set foot into Beacon.

The endless legion of monsters showed no sign of abating. Jaune was bleeding from wounds he did not remember receiving. His arm ached, and his throat was sore. He realized he had been screaming alongside Cardin and Russel. A Grimm with too many bladed arms, landed on Jaune, clawing and hacking. He tried to push it off, but more weighed down upon him. He heard Russel scream his name.

He fell. Their abominable claws tear into his body. Their teeth sank into his flesh.

Too many. Way too many.

This is the end. Pyrrha, I'm sorry, I-

Blinded by blood, Jaune tried to shake them off, to bring at take at least one more abomination with him. He tried to-

His world went white.

…..

Lie Ren looked back in the direction of the train sharply. The other Faunus sensed it too.

'What the hell was that?' he muttered.

The carriage started to shake, throwing some off their feet and into the ground.

Adam grabbed Blake to stabilize her, and yelled into his ear piece, demanding to know what is happening.

Ren slid his remaining pistol out of his sleeves, undetected by the searching hands of the White Fang, and split open the throat of Kaa with a swift stroke. Kaa stumbled, gurgling in surprise as blood poured out of his throat. With an Aura imbued palm strike, Ren sent him flying out the window, and Kaa plunged to his doom in a trail of blood and glass. Ren then turned his aim to Adam and the White Fang, who were oblivious of the danger imminent to them. But there was suddenly no time to even squeeze the trigger.

The carriage shuddered further, and suddenly, everything went white.

Boiling energy, blinding and white hot seared through the carriage in a great concussive blow. Everyone was knocked off their feet, and a few White Fang were sent flying out of the carriage. The light bulbs overhead glowed and shattered as it was overloaded, showing everyone in glass and sparks.

'Kell! Evac! NOW!' Adam screamed into his earpiece.

There was a sudden detonation, and the carriage suddenly spun recklessly out of control. Ren looked out the window, and saw in horror as the Bullhead swirled uncontrollably, its engines on fire. It fell trailing smoke and fire, its magnetic clamps still attached. The carriage jerked violently, shaking its occupants like beads in a drum. With a tortured metallic screech, the carriage sheered itself in two under the stress of the falling aircraft. He watched in despair as the entirety of team RWBY fell, along with several other White Fang. He did not wait to see them hit the ground.

'Ren!'

He turned just in time to see Nora being thrown across the carriage, and out into the sucking wind. At the last second, her hands found hold at the shorn metal edges of the train. It dug into her fingers and she bled as she fought to haul herself up. His heart stopped, and without thinking, he jumped in her general direction.

He had to get to her. He slid down the carriage, avoiding any boxes that threatened to crush him. His eyes were fixed on Nora, and he almost screamed as she lost grip with one of her hands to avoid being hit by a falling box. He could see the desperation in her eyes, an expression he has never seen her make.

The carriage twirled and twisted as it tilted at a steep angle. Each remaining occupant fought to take hold of anything to prevent them from sliding down to their doom. Ren jumped, and let gravity do the rest.

Using the hooked blades of Stormflower, Ren stopped his descent by plunging it into the ground. His estimate had been spot on, and he was within arm's reach.

'Nora!' He shouted, as he offered his hand, 'Grab on!'

She did not need to be told twice. With a howl of pain, she grabbed onto his hand. She held on for dear life, her grip slippery with blood. Ren's grip was like iron, as he held onto her wrist. With a roar of effort, he tried to pull her up, but he was too tired to lift Nora away from the danger. Nora scrambled as she tried to get a good foothold on the carriage floor, but in the end, she just hung in the mid air, unable to do anything else. The wind spun the carriage around as the remaining Bullhead continued to fly.

For a moment, there was nothing but the wind and the roar of the Bullhead engines. Ren stared at Nora as she tried desperately to haul herself up, but her injured shoulder was preventing her from doing what she could normally do.

'Ren, I can't…'

'Just hang in there, Nora,' Ren hissed, ignoring the burning in his arms. His grip was getting weaker by the moment, but he will not drop Nora. He would rather go down with her, rather than let go, 'just hold on.'

'Ren,' Nora gasped, her eyes wide in horror, 'behind you.'

He did not need her to tell him. His Aura was already screaming at the approaching danger. But he could not do anything. He looked up, into the wary masks of those that remained. They were perched upon seats that were nailed into the ground, or in compartments that were a box within its own.

The White Fang, having recovered from the shock, was staring down upon the two from their position, contemplating what to do. Many had lost their rifles or swords, but there was no shortage of things to throw at the pair to dislodge them.

A woman, red haired and wielding two chain axes, looked down upon them. Despite the full mask, he could feel her smile. Malice dripped off her, as she readied one of her axes. Her ears twitched in anticipation and her tail swayed ever so slightly. A fox Faunus. Her mask was different from the others. An elite.

'Well, what do we have here?' She cooed, 'What do to, what to do?'

'Nora, please. You have to get up.'

Nora struggled even more as redoubled her efforts. Ren roared as he tried his best to lift them both up, but he was never a strong man. He had relied on speed and precision, not endurance and strength. He was strong enough to hold his ground, but injured and fatigued, there a limit on what he can endure.

'Adam might have made the traitor a promise, but I am not Adam.' She continued. Her axes spun to life, its inbuilt engines roaring as it revved the thick blades. Ren had no doubt a single touch from that would have him eviscerated beyond recognition.

'Perhaps I could let both of you fall,' she continued, and Ren did his best to ignore her, 'or I could help speed up the process.'

She began to slide down, her descent controlled by retractable claws. The growl of the chain axe got louder as she approached, and Ren knew he was running out of time.

Stormflower was lodged securely in the tilted floor, and he could not angle it to engage the approaching threat. But out of desperation, he sent a volley up range, sending some Faunus screaming for cover.

The woman, however, was unfazed. If anything, she laughed.

'Ren…'

Nora looked at Ren. Ren met her eyes, and knew what she was thinking. They had been together for so long, conversations were had between looks. He did not need to hear her say it.

You have to let go.

'No.' Ren said flatly, 'I refuse to.'

She shook her head sadly, 'It's the only way.'

'No. Shut up,' Ren growled, his voice breaking, 'I would rather go with you.'

Nora, with her free hand, began to pry open Ren's grip, one finger at a time.

'Nora, stop.' He begged, 'STOP!'

Tears now clouded his vision, and he could not wipe it away. It fell freely from his face as he screamed and begged for Nora to stop. But he knew, deep down, Nora was right. With Nora, he was trapped here. He would die alongside the person he loved, and he would not care. But Nora obviously wanted him to live.

Currently, she was dead weight, and she knew it.

'Please, Nora,' He begged between choked sobs, 'for me? Please do not do this.'

'I'm sorry, Ren,' She whispered, 'I love y-'

She did not get to finish. A roaring chain blade came down, eviscerating the arm that belonged to Nora Valkyrie. She screamed as it chewed through her flesh with ease, grinding through bone and splattering gore all over Ren.

Nora fell away, her limp form spinning in the wind as she plunged into the ground. Ren could only watch, shocked and dumbfounded at what had transpired. He looked on, as Nora's lifeless body got smaller and smaller, and eventually disappeared completely from sight.

He still held the severed hand of Nora Valkyrie.

Ren's mind, went blank. His soul felt empty. The constant presence of Nora's mind had vanished. He suddenly felt alone, vulnerable. His mind flailed about, desperately clawing at the last wisps of Nora's presence. They had shared a deep bond, perhaps deeper than they would ever understand.

And now, she was gone.

A laugh snapped him out of his state, and he slowly turned his head towards the source. She said something, but Ren did not hear her.

The void he felt, disappeared, filling itself instantly with anger. Rage, red hot and infectious, coursed through his veins and his lips parted unconsciously in a silent snarl. He was shaking. Reason and logic vanished, only to be replaced by a thirst that can never be quenched.

His world went blood red.

He had failed Nora. But Nora will be avenged, and he will not stop until the bitch in front of him is nothing more than piles of meat on the ground.

Without thinking, he lunged, abandoning his beloved weapon. He screamed, a terrible roar of fury and anguish as he crashed into the surprised woman. She obviously did not expect such a reckless move that is tantamount to suicide.

The impact pushed them both off, and into the air.

They fell, and Ren pumped his fist mercilessly into the mask of the fox Faunus, screaming as he did so. The Faunus, snarling in rage, tried to bring her chain axe to bear, but Ren was too close for it to be used effectively.

Ren drew her in, in an embrace of death. He knew they were going to die, so he was fully intent to make her suffer.

She tried to push him off, punching and whacking at his face, but it was weak and did not serve more than an annoyance. Without hesitation, Ren bit down on her exposed shoulder. He gnashed and tore, his jaws an iron trap. He ignored the screams of agony, and with all his might, he tore off a chunk and spat it out. She offered Nora no mercy, so she deserved none in return.

Blood trailed along in the wind, as the piece of flesh flew away. The Faunus gasped in shock and pain, totally unprepared for the fury and hatred that drove the screaming man.

He was wild, he was insane. He was a far cry from the quiet and stoic boy he was known for. Ren did not care. All he wanted to do was kill. He snapped at her again, this time her forearm got in the way. As he sank his blunt teeth into her arm, he held on, fighting against her struggles.

With an aura imbued palm strike, Ren shattered her elbow. Had she not been protected by Aura, the entire arm would have exploded.

'Kell! Help!' the Faunus screamed. He did not know who Kell was, nor did he care. Her suffering was all that mattered. His blood was up, and her screams only drove him further into his acts.

He tore away her mask, revealing a frightened young face, lined with pain and filled with tears. Under normal circumstances, he would offer help to anyone in this state. But this was anything but normal.

She swung her chainaxe, but Ren caught her fist mid swing. The teeth snarled inches away from his face, like a hungry animal snapping at its food. They tumbled and swirled as they struggled and fought. Ren twisted her hand so hard it snapped at an unnatural angle. Driven by rage, his strength had doubled.

Pulling her close, he clasped both his hands around on her head. She screamed obscenities at him while pounding and punching his face as they fell in a ballet of death.

An eye for an eye. Ren roared as he dug one of his thumbs into the girl's eye. It was slow, painful, and clumsy. Her attempts to throw him off were futile. Her voice was hoarse from the screaming and she wept tears of blood as his fingers dug in. He pressed his thumbs deeper, uncaring about the gelatinous substances streaming into his face at high speeds. He wanted her to hurt. He would have started on the other one, had he not realized they were close to the ground.

Within three seconds they would end up as a splatter on the ground. Without his weapons, and from such a height, it was hard to have a proper landing strategy.

It would not matter. Within moments he would be reunited with Nora. He was sure she would kick his ass all the way to hell and back for following her that quickly, but he would be happy.

Suddenly, it was dark. Ren's mind lurched at the sudden change of direction. Up suddenly became down, and down became up. One moment he was falling, the next he was being thrown up in the air. He landed on his back, the impact driving the air out of his lungs.

What the fuck happened?

He leapt up, taking a moment to get his bearings. Ren was no longer falling through the air in the middle of Forever Fall. He was in a dark and rundown room, the only light source being the dustlamp in the corner. He was possibly underground, but one thing was certain. No one has lived in this place for a while.

But he was not alone. Next to the dustlamp, knelt a young girl with green hair, her back to Ren. She was hovering over the unmoving form of the bitch that killed Nora. She seemed oblivious to his presence.

A portal. That must be how the White Fang managed to materialize in midair within the carriage. The girl tried to save her comrade, but she had unwittingly brought Ren straight to her.

Ren took a step towards her.

She yelped, immediately drawing a sword to point at Ren. Her eyes were wide with animal fear. Logical, considering what he did to her friend.

'C-Carmine…' the girl whimpered, 'what did you do to Carmine?' She backed away, stumbling and falling as she realized it was the man standing in front of her was the cause of the injuries.

Ren stood there, his one fuchsia eye glaring at the girl. She was young, probably the same age as Ruby.

He had seen team RWBY fall, ripped away in the wrong side of the carriage. He had seen Dove get annihilated, shot to bits by an enemy pilot. He had no idea about the fate of Jaune, Cardin or Russel, but his mind told him they would not have survived the inevitable Grimm onslaught. Then, he had seen Nora die, ripped away in front of him, denying him of his one and only queen forever.

Now, he was alone.

It did not matter if she was a child. She wore the colors of the White Fang.

She must die.

Slowly and deliberately, he bent down to pick up the fallen chainaxe.

It was heavy and unwieldy. Its engines still thrummed and its teeth still had chunks of Nora's flesh.

He was alone. And that means only he alone could avenge them.

No mercy. No respite. He let his rage consume him once again, and soon his mind was clouded by the thirst for vengeance.

The chainaxe roared, and the girl screamed.

AN: I really should stop killing all these people...