I would like to explain about something last chapter, to avoid confusion. The fire pillars were because she has sprinkled small bits of dust crystals and was then setting them off from a distance. It's like how she did with the arrows, and while not as powerful, it can be activated from a distance as well as quickly, just not instantaneous show by how Ira could dodge. Hope that clears up any confusion, and enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 10

"Ow… My head…" I say as I raise my body slightly, grabbing my head due to the pounding in my head.

"I must have hit it harder than I thought." I say, the last thing I remember was flying through the sky before falling unconscious, outside. Now, however, I am inside and not somewhere I recognise. "I can't say I appreciate the change in scenery."

"You don't have a choice, Kid." A man with a scratchy voice says as he walks around the corner. The bald, middle-aged man continues, "You're the one, who fell into our camp, you're lucky you weren't killed never mind how you feel about the scenery."

"Camp?" I say as I look around, noticing fur sheets covering me, it seems more like a…..Oh no

"That's what we call it. Ever heard of the Branwen Tribe?" He says, sounding proud to speak of the name.

'Shit. I completely forgot they were based in Anima.'

"Not that I remember, but then again; with this headache it's surprising I can remember my name." I say, acting as if it's the first I've heard of them.

"Well I suppose so." He says in a hearty laugh, "Well, I'm sure you'll have enough time to learn of us, considering you aren't dead or in the cage, the Boss must want you for something."

'Raven.' I can't meet her yet, she definitely won't take too kindly to me, considering what she had done, or maybe it's a will do right now, anyway considering her treatment of The Spring Maiden, I can't say my chances are very high.

"You wouldn't know what, would you?"

"No clue, but you'll know soon, the Boss told me to bring you to her when you wake up." He responds.

"I see…" I reply, seeing his gesture for me to get up and follow him, I comply.

While it is suspicious and I realise I should run away, Cinder will undoubtedly be searching for me, so I have to lay low for a while.

"Boss, I've brought him." The gruffy man says as he stands outside of a large tent.

"Good work, Soot." A woman behind the tent's entrance says, "Send him in."

"Well you heard the lady, go on." He says before stepping back.

Entering the tent, I see the woman who had replied to the gruffy man, identified as Soot.

'Vernal.'

"She will be with you in a moment. Sit down." She says, not moving from the entrance.

As I think to myself that I have been waiting forever, and getting slightly thirsty, I quickly roll to the side.

Seriously! I think to myself as the cushion I previously sat on is destroyed.

"I think guests usually prefer tea rather than being stabbed in the back." I say as Vernal looks at me.

"If you were killed with just that much, you would already be dead." She says as she readies her sword… disk things as she prepares to attack.

'She seemed a bit weaker than Cinder, still out of my league but I should be able to escape nonetheless. I'd rather try and hide from Cinder on my own if the alternativr is killed here.'

As she charges, "Vernal, enough!" a shout causes her to stop, just before I activate my semblance. "Leave us." The voice says, revealing the owner as she walks through the back of the tent.

"But…" Vernal goes to say something but is interrupted,

"Go." The black haired woman says as she removes a Grimm mask as Vernal leaves.

"Do you know why you are still alive?" She asks me.

"No." I reply simply. "If you think I have something you want, you are mistaken."

"I am not the one mistaken, for you are what I want."

"Me?" I ask, completely confused as to why. Seeing this, she replies,

"You're fight, with that woman, despite being so young, was quite impressive to last so long." She continues, "Compared to how you fought in the tournament, you have progressed quite well."

"Why would the leader of a bandit tribe be interested in a tournament between children, and if you had seen the fight, you already know my semblance; why not lock me up and ransom me?" I reply, having regained myself after realising she had witnessed the fight.

"I doubt a disowned child would get us much money from those who disowned you." She states coldly before continuing, "But for being such a young child, you handled yourself quite well. So how about you join us?"

"What?" I seem to be confused by every reply she gives, I don't even think I was like this even when speaking with Cinder.

"You have no home, no family, nowhere to go to. I could use someone of your talents."

'Let's be real, while I think I am skilled for my age, there isn't really anything she should need, it's obvious that Vernal is stronger than me so she shouldn't have any need for me. The only thing I have over her is possibly my age and my… semblance…. I see.'

"You wish to use my semblance."

"Yes, it would be very useful." She replies matter-of-factly.

"And why should I?"

"It would be in your best interest."

"…"

I wasn't naïve enough to not realise a threat, as I thought for a moment, she continues,

"This isn't a choice, but it doesn't have to be forceful; a mutually beneficial agreement. You are hidden from Cinder without being locked up, while you work for us."

"…" I didn't think she would say it so bluntly. She is acting a bit different than how she acted in the show, but considering that she needs me for, whatever it is, her attitude isn't too far-fetched; she needs me for something, whatever it is, and while she has the power to kill me, or threaten me, it would work better if I work on my own volition. IT's not like I have many options, "Very well." I reply.

"Good, Vernal will lead you to somewhere to sleep. I look forward to you cooperation." She says as I leave.

###

"Why are you letting him walk freely? There is a chance he could run. Or even attack us?" Vernal shouts, as Raven calmly sips on her tea.

"He won't." She replies calmly.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because he is smart. If he ran, he knows we could find him, and if we didn't Cinder would."

"That woman? But why would she be after him?" Vernal replies, remembering the woman who had fought the boy.

"I'm not sure, but she will kill him if she does."

"Then shouldn't we just hand him over? We shouldn't have anything to do with Cinder."

"If she comes here looking for him, we will. However we will keep him until then because he would be useful. If you wish to watch him, then you can. However be careful, if I hadn't stepped in earlier he would have escaped."

"…Escaped?...I understand, I'll watch him."

###

"It's been an hour, no sign of the shipment?" I say through a scroll, the first one I got. Ironically, I never had one when I was growing up, or when I was at Sanctum but I got one now, from being in a bandit tribe.

"They'll be in radio distance soon, they were delayed." Vernal responds before ending the call. She has let up a little on the surveillance, enough for me to do missions alone at least.

Looking down at the warehouse, there isn't a whole lot, maybe a maximum of 10 people; 5 guards and 5 warehouse staff. It isn't many, but considering this is an Atlas base and the continent is Anima, they are most likely keeping a low profile.

A few minutes later of watching the guards, ensuring I know their routes, a large air ship comes into view. Looking towards the direction it came from, I notice another, smaller ship that isn't like any I have seen before; it has x-shaped nacelles with ribbons fluttering behind them. It seems like I should remember it, but I couldn't place it. It's possible I had seen it as a child since it's clearly Atlas military, well everything here is Atlas.

'I should be wary of it.' I think to myself, if I remember it, the passengers might remember me, not that they should recognise me considering I am wearing stealth suit, since my normal clothes would definitely give me away, and I am covering my face in a Grimm mask, to put the blame on the White Fang if I'm seen. Good idea, considering how they have recently been attacking places such as this.

I will need to change my plans; it's clearly faster than the airship I was hoping to use to transport the dust. 'I didn't think I'd need this, good thing I brought it, thinks might get…complicated.' I think to myself as I look at the weapon I was referencing.

It's somewhat similar to the rusty blade from before, I got used to handling it and it worked well so why not? My new weapon, like a mix between rapier and a sabre, it took a while for them to get that just right, or else I would have had it last year. The single edged blade is still straight with a slight curve at the top to create a point like my old weapon, even having the red crack-like line that runs through a slightly thin black blade, but the greyish handguard has changed slightly. After all, a weapon from RWBY must be something other than just a sword and it had become painfully obvious I needed a ranged attack. The handguard acts like a sheath when activated, moving up the blade and wrapping around it. However even in this form, it isn't useless like a normal sheathed weapon. There is a trigger on the handle which extends when sheathed and pulling it fires a dust infused shotgun round, however it only has 5 shots, but it's not like they will be used much, after all I also carry a handful of throwing knives located in a small pouch on my left thigh. I carry twelve, and when I use my semblance to enhance their speed, they aren't at all inferior to bullets.

The name of my majestic sword: Revenant.

Considering how I was born after dying, and it was modelled after a destroyed sword, I think it is a good choice.

As I stop gawking at my weapon, the crew have begun loading up the dust shipment, securing it to the bottom of the airship; signalling my time to begin. They are picking up a container filled with dust; I should have half an hour at most to do my job. Plenty of time for what my plan was originally, but now it depends if I can sabotage the flight systems of that odd ship. As I make my way over to the ship, I notice a man coming out of it. Wondering at what he was doing, considering he looked important, I follow behind him discreetly, before he goes into an office and begins talking in a hurried manner, unlucky for me, I can't make out what he is saying entirely, only bits and pieces.

"….here….possible…tip…."

Nothing useful.

As he makes his way out, he enters back into the ship, with me slipping in behind him. However just as I am about to knock him out, I am blown back, crashing through the still open door.

Looking up at the assailant who attacked me, and currently pointing a sword at my face,

"Identify yourself." She says.

'Winter?'

A/N notes

To be honest, I wasn't so sure how to do this chapter. I knew the gist, but I couldn't think of a proper way to write it, hopefully it doesn't turn out too bad.

Also I probably won't be uploading a chapter tomorrow, I have some stuff to do tomorrow and won't have the time. But we are close to ending the Before Beacon Arc, since I don't want to explain everything he does before then for certain reasons, so it should be within the next 2-3 chapters maximum.

Also what do you think of his weapon? I knew I wanted the throwing knives thing, but I came up with the sheath idea and thought I would be a good fit.

Anyway, thanks for reading.