Ch 10 The White Fang Roars
The Hunt
Among Winter's many concerns after she returned to her quarters was the White Fang defector. The day was still young as the soldiers and Hunters mopped the Grimm up after their victory at Beacon. Winter still couldn't believe one of her officers had turned his back on them. She was livid. As the commander sifted through the data pads on her desk, she noticed the report on the soldiers sitting in the brig.
Winter sighed, and her anger went with it. "Alright, I can't condone his actions, but I can understand his motive. Being publicly shunned by my comrades would certainly vex me. He bled next to some of those bystanders." The commander leaned back in her chair with sadness in her eyes. "He had a bright life ahead of him. Worse yet, the event was just the final straw. Despite being officers, they were all shunned, it was discussed in hushed voices the entire trip. What does the whole ordeal say about me? I let my personal bias blind me to a person's suffering. Now we are down an officer, a competent one at that." The frustrated commander heaved a cathartic sigh before diving into another pad. "If I have time to pity myself, then I am not busy enough." She muttered.
About the time Beacon was being reclaimed, Adam sat in his tent within Forever Fall wearing a frown on his face. He reached for the prosthetics on his now scarred head. Despite having replacements created by the doctor, the White Fang commander still felt insecure about them. A rustle outside his tent startled him. "Sir! Scouts reported in on the battle for Beacon." Adam leaned forward on his bed with anticipation. "Well, out with it!"
The messenger nodded with hesitation. "Beacon was reclaimed...with minimal casualties." Adam scowled. "And the factory, were we able to raid it?" The messenger took a step backward before answering. "N-No, sir. Apparently Beacon stationed Hunters and soldiers there. The force we dispatched was insufficient." The timid individual quickly added to his remark when he saw the building rage on Adam's face. "But I was told the Hunter team was killed along with a healthy amount of the Atlesian soldiers." Adam was exasperated. He was beginning to feel that his battle in Vale was hopeless.
"WHAT OF IT? He roared while jumping to his feet. "The weapons were not seized, and Beacon is no longer in turmoil! If our plan fails we are done in Vale. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" Before the shocked member could respond, Adam waved him out of the tent. In his seething rage the White Fang commander looked to his prisoners in malice.
Mercury and Emerald looked the part of prisoners. Their clothes had long since been blemished and were ripped nearly to shreds. Their bodies were covered in dirt as they were rarely permitted to leave the confining cage, even to bathe. Their spartan diet left them in a constant state of fatigue. Their empty eyes watched Adam fume. Neither flinched in the slightest as he rummaged through the chest under the table. Mercury leaned in to whisper to Emerald in hoarse voice. "How many lashings this time?" Emerald shrugged her shoulders apathetically. "Don't know, don't care. The more I think about it, the worse it feels."
Adam stepped out of his tent with sweat dripping down his face. He was short of breath, but had calmed down enough to think and walk at the same time. The morning sun felt great while he traveled through the forest. "The ambush and sneak attack are as prepared as they could possibly be. If they fail we are done in Vale. The White Fang has no other option, lost too many battles. We will, no, must succeed. I will not return to Sienna empty handed." Adam balled his fists. Even now the failures haunted him. "I will redeem the Fang!"
The commander returned to his tent, and was confused when he saw the Atlesian uniform. A crowd of White Fang soldiers had gathered around the Atlesian. A figure stood next to him. He called to Adam. "Sir, we found another lost brother. This one has valuable information on Atlesian strategies." Adam's eyes widened in joy as he rushed over. "Information like that will go a long way. Help us overcome the Humans!" The officer was beginning to regret this decision, but was already one foot deep.
Within the hour the defector sat in his own tent. He had left Beacon in a fury, but knew the moment he saw the look in Emerald and Mercury's face that he did not have the stomach to serve Adam. "That brutality…it really is just a circle...I fucked up." The man hung his head in disappointment. He was surrounded by more Faunus than he had ever been. Yet, the man felt more isolated than his time in the human dominated military.
Adam felt anxious in the silence of his tent while the sun continued to rise. There was no doubt in his mind that the White Fang in Vale would loose if these two plans fell through. The defector's insight into Atlesian tactics was helpful, but lacked the potency Adam had hoped it would. "Do or die. If we wait much longer we will suffer a slow death as Vale is torn apart by the Grimm."
Adam instinctively reached for his chokuto when he heard the rapidly approaching footsteps from outside his tent. A sweaty Kinara spoke so quickly he hardly understood her message. "Adam! The Grimm ambushed our patrols just outside the forest. The creatures seem to be waiting at the perimeter. My guess would be that they have a primitive means to assess strength." Adam clenched the handle of his sword. His voice was surprisingly calm, bearing a hint of blind faith. "We have run out of time then. Dispatch a messenger to Beacon with our offer to ransom these two." Kinara nodded before carrying out her orders.
Adam broke into a cold sweat after she left. He could only imagine what else the Grimm would do as the fighting intensified. "Attacking patrols? That sounds too organized for Grimm. And lying in wait to begin with? That is not a good sign for any of the Grimm's enemies." Laughter cut through his thoughts. He was genuinely surprised by the source as he turned.
"Judgment day is coming Adam." Mercury said through a broken voice. The man shrunk when Adam stood. "Is that so? What would you expendable worms know of the Grimm?" Emerald rolled her eyes as she glanced at the two men before speaking. "We know that the Grimm are capable of more than people think. You haven't seen the spawning grounds. Grimm can form just about anywhere in the world. The creatures are birthed by concentrations of the sentiments that attract them. However, there is also a place where they spawn in droves regardless of the sentiment." Adam took a step back in surprise. "She will see to your destruction." Mercury added through a grin. Adam shuddered as he left his tent.
"Bah. What do those children know? Triumph is best case scenario, but if Chainsaw looses, to the Schnees I can still spin it. Kinara is the only one I would hate to loose." Adam looked up to the open blue sky. "At any rate, it has begun."
The Screen
While the sun rest high in the sky, the White Fang messenger was escorted into a conference room aboard an Atlesian ship. The whole vessel was under heavy security. Winter also increased patrols throughout Beacon, just in case. There was a distinct lack of guards within the room, given the capabilities of everyone else present with the messenger. Winter, Glynda, Qrow, Roman, and Blake eyed the member suspiciously from their scattered positions inside the room.
"Pardon the security, but we are in a state of war with the Grimm." Winter began flatly. She gazed at the white and black uniform with unblinking eyes. "No no, the measures are reasonable given the circumstances. Hopefully I can...assuage the distrust of the White Fang. Adam wishes to make amends for our part in Cinder's plans. That was beneficial for no one, not even her, given the results." A quick glance around the room made the man shiver instinctively. "Those icy eyes are not convinced in the slightest." He thought.
Blake was even more skeptical, given her intimate knowledge of the White Fang, and Adam. "What is Adam playing at? The White Fang in Vale has faced loss after loss. The...fool doesn't see that he is running this chapter into the ground. Not that sacrificing a few lives is beneath him." Her frantic attempts to piece the puzzle together were interrupted by the confident Faunus. "We were responsible for some of this mess, but I assure you Blake, Adam means well." He had watched the former member closely, knowing she would be his saving grace or the executioner.
Winter spoke next, commenting on the unconvincing statement. "We have more intel than you think." The messenger's eyes flashed open in terror. "The White Fang was confirmed as the aggressor at the munitions factory. Despite the cloaks and shrouds the offenders wore, a few bodies were cross referenced." The man shrank back in defeat. His recovery was remarkable, given the state of affairs. "Alright then, let's not sugar coat this. In short, Adam captured Emerald and Mercury when Cinder tried to take revenge for his retreat from her plan." Everyone in the room leaned forward with bated breath. Their interest had been piqued. "Go on." Winter called with mild curiosity in her voice.
For the first time since his arrival at Beacon, the man felt truly hopeful. "Adam is willing to trade the prisoners, at a location of his choosing, in exchange for a non-aggression truce. The Grimm have harassed us just as they have you, and Adam wishes to save as many lives as possible. Faunus and Human." Blake rolled her eyes at the request and immediately looked to Winter. The commander nodded. "Why are those two worth anything to us?"
Glynda felt her body tense the moment the offer was extended. She had lost a good friend, many students and colleagues the first night of the chaos. The headmistress was not about to let the opportunity to learn intimate knowledge about Cinder pass her by." Before anyone else could speak she coughed to draw Winter's attention. "If you will excuse us for just a moment." The commander said with narrowed eyes before humoring Glynda.
Outside the room, Glynda offered her opinion on the matter. "Winter, we shouldn't write this off." The Atlesian was no stranger to negotiations and the auxiliary use of seemingly unbeneficial terms. However she could not find the value in this, for Beacon at any rate. She sighed before trying to reason with the visibly shaken headmistress. "Glynda, you know this is a trap, right?" The elderly woman pushed the bridge of her glasses up in annoyance. "Of course I do! That is beside the point. Cinder was poised to destroy Beacon, and undermine the Atlesian army, on top of what she succeeded in doing. Anything we could learn about her and how she pulled the whole masterpiece off would be immensely helpful."
Winter tapped her chin as she opened and closed her mouth a few times. "That...is a fair point. But are you willing to risk the trap Adam is undoubtedly laying down? And do you know for sure that Emerald and Mercury will just answer all of your questions?"
Glynda frowned. She couldn't be sure about either of those issues. "Alright Winter, you have me. I don't know what Adam has planned, or how much those two will tell us. But, I do know that if we can ride out whatever he has in store for us it will cripple what is left of his power in Vale. His influence all across Remnant would come crashing down as well. As for Emerald and Mercury, if what Blake says about Adam's spite and malice is true, the pair is miserable. Cinder's lackeys don't have to be my friend to selectively educate us on matters. Even a half truth is better than no truth, is it not? We have enough on our plate. I say even it flops, the White Fang will no longer trouble us. That peace of mind will be worth its weight when open war is declared on the Grimm throughout Vale."
Winter was still hesitant to accept such precarious terms, but, like Glynda, knew that something had to be done about the White Fang. Better to deal with them now, then be expecting a stab in the back in the future. "I say the four of us put the matter to a vote, Glynda. Blake will be the tie breaker." Glynda nodded. "That is reasonable, Roman and Qrow are likely whispering to each other while Blake watches the messenger anyway. Why were they here again?"
Winter laughed before replying. "Qrow, because he would have just spied on us anyway. Roman, because of his experience with underhanded deals and shrewd intuition." The two women entered the room. Without a cue, Roman and Qrow approached them. "A vote?" Qrow inquired with knowing eyes. "Indeed." Winter said. Roman shook his head before speaking in defeat. "For the record, no one likes this idea, right?" Glynda chuckled. "No, not a one." Qrow scratched the back of his head. "Well, there's no need for a vote then. It's unanimous unless I'm mistaken." "Right you are Qrow." Winter stated as she stepped forward to address the White Fang messenger.
Blake looked on with curiosity as the details were discussed. "We agree to Adam's terms provided we can make a few requests." Winter said with a straight face. The messenger smiled. "Such as?" "That I be allowed to bring two Hunters and a handful of soldiers given the chaotic state of Vale." "Is that all?" The messenger laughed.
"Those are my conditions, yes." The man wiped the grin off of his face as he removed a map from his vest. "The handover will occur here, tomorrow at noon." He pointed to the commercial city that Chainsaw had selected. "Very good, give Adam my thanks for his offer." "I'll do that..." He said absently, placing the map back in his pocket. Once he was escorted back to his shuttle, Winter pulled Blake aside. "I would like you and Weiss to accompany me to the meeting."
Blake was shocked to be requested for the mission. "Me? Wouldn't you rather take Qrow, o-or, anyone else?" Winter shook her head. "I know you have an investment in the matter, it wouldn't be right to exclude you. As for Weiss, she will keep me in check. Make your preparations while you can." Blake smiled. "Thank you… I appreciate the consideration. I know business of this sort is hard for you, it was for Weiss at first too. I applaud your commitment to do what is right for everyone. That officer may have defected, but believe me, your decision meant the world to the rest of them...to us. If I see Weiss first, I will let her know." Blake bowed before leaving Winter with her thoughts.
The White Fang messenger idled in open airspace with relief. "That was close." He was sure Winter would say no. With a smile, he informed Adam that the plan was in motion. "Beacon won't know what hit them."
Adam called an emergency meeting in the meantime. The remaining force at his disposal in Vale was much smaller than it had been a week ago. If circumstances were different more could be summoned from elsewhere. "Fellow brothers and sisters! The moment is nearly upon us. The next few days will determine the success of the White Fang in Vale. If we loose this, the Humans will hunt the survivors down like the dogs they presume us to be." Murmurs could be heard throughout the crowd. "We are fighting for our rightful place in this world. If we succeed, our comrades across Remnant will shower us with praise as more abused Faunus take up the cause. Conquer Beacon and save the White Fang, save the Faunus!"
Chainsaw looked out the hotel window at the falling rain. All of the preparations on his end were made. The alley was secured, drills had been run, and ample soldiers lay in wait in case they were needed. Redemption was so close that the lieutenant could taste it. "Perhaps after this is all over I will visit my family in Menagerie. I haven't seen them since they relocated from Mantle. Hopefully their lives are everything we hoped. He reached for the tooth once more.
As the sun began to sink Winter was making adjustments to her patrols. She was planning for the worst. A knock came at her door. "Enter." She called while reviewing the current strategies. "Ma'am, I heard you requested my presence tomorrow." Weiss blurted. Winter looked up with a laugh. "Why so formal?" Weiss eyed the ground. "I-I know this will be dangerous, that you are taking a risk by bringing Blake and myself along instead of more qualified Hunters. I...want to make sure you aren't let down." In truth, Weiss was ecstatic that she would be able to fight alongside Winter. The fledgling Hunter wanted to put the right foot forward, in hopes that similar situations would arise in the future.
Winter placed the data pad she had been looking at on the desk. "Weiss, I'm not leaving anytime soon." She called softly. The relief was visible on her sibling's face. "W-well just the same, My summoning is always improving. I will be ready when you call." Winter tried not to laugh as Weiss thumped her forehead while trying to salute before leaving the room with a hand over her head.
Back in Team RWBY's dorm, Blake was making sure everything was in order for the following day. She was suddenly struck by the urge to read. Since Cinder's attack, it was one of the many joys that had been sacrificed for the sake of survival. Blake smiled when she realized that once more her nose could be buried in a book. The connoisseur knew exactly which one to grab. She happily opened Ninjas of Love once more. There, with the book on her pillow Blake felt her troubles melt away.
"What'cha readin' Blake?" Blake slammed the book shut and hid it under her pillow before sitting up. "N-nothing important, just an old children's book I keep for sentimental value." The cheerful blonde of her team was unconvinced. "Soooo, if that's what you were reading, why do you look so...embarrassed?" Blake stuttered as Yang sat on her bed. "I-I...well...you see..." Yang laughed as Blake became even more flustered. "You wanna know what I think? I think… it was a book you don't want anyone to know you read. Like...a steamy romance novel."
Blake's jaw dropped. "N-no that isn't what this-" Her voice was lost in the kiss. Yang reached for the book while trapping Blake between her arms. "Ninjas of Love, huh?" Blake became so distressed that she had not noticed Yang's expression. "Yang are you, crying?" Blake gently placed a hand on her cheek, startling her. "I'll...be fine."
Yang wiped away her tears. "The moment I heard you were going with Winter, I remembered the dream. It felt so...real." Blake grunted as Yang hugged her tightly. She recalled the warning Yang had given her once she woke up in the infirmary. "I won't be alone. Weiss, Winter, and some of her finest soldiers will be there. Don't worry about me." Blake tried to lighten the mood by giving Yang something else to think about. "You should worry about keeping Ruby out of trouble. We wouldn't be much of a team without a leader." Yang tried to laugh as she let Blake go, grabbing her hand instead. "Only if you promise to keep Weiss out of trouble, sometimes her mouth outruns her brain." Blake snickered as she pulled Yang close. "I Promise."
The Feint
Three Bullheads soared through the pale sky to take Emerald and Mercury into custody. Winter, Weiss, and Blake stood in the body of the forewardmost shuttle. Weiss looked out the window at the high sun and sighed. "Why does everything happen at noon?" Blake shrugged. "Convenience, I suppose." Winter grinned while staring out the window at the rapid approaching landing zone. "The city is likely crawling with White Fang soldiers waiting to strike. Until we are back on these shuttles, no one is safe."
As per the plan, Adam stood with his arms crossed at the far end of the alley with Emerald and Mercury in cuffs. He nonchalantly spoke aloud. "I look forward to cleaning my tent. The scent of Human was beginning to nauseate me." Were it not for the abuse he had suffered, Mercury would have tempted fate with a snide remark. "And I cannot wait for you to fail miserably." He thought in consolation to himself. Adam looked to the high-rise buildings surrounding the alley. "Chainsaw better not let me down." He said through gritted teeth, knowing the White Fang was all in.
Chainsaw crouched around the corner of a nearby structure. His crew brandished their bows, and rifles in anticipation of the deed from above. The lieutenant thumbed the tooth necklace for good luck. Off in the distance he could discern the slowly advancing figures. His jaw dropped when he counted them. "There are more of them than we expected. I don't like this."
Winter had instructed the soldiers to watch for attacks from above them the moment she saw the towering buildings that lined the streets. Blake was also on alert while the loose formation continued into the city. Her cat ears twitched beneath the bow at the slightest sound.
Minutes after the shuttles landed, the two parties met in the shady alley. Winter couldn't resist prodding Adam. "I see the rest of the White Fang are lying in wait." Weiss thought she heard the bitterness resurfacing. Winter knowingly placed a hand on Weisses shoulder. "My concern was that obvious, was it?" The young Schnee muttered with a frown. "At any rate, let us be done with this business." Winter called, trying to hide her unease. Adam bowed. "As you wish, Human. I have one request, though."
Winter crossed her arms. "And that is?" Blake immediately felt the mood shift as a familiar scent filled the air. "Where is he?" She thought, searching for the hidden lieutenant. "Say hello to Ozpin for me." Adam said with a malignant smile as he ran his hand down the middle of his hair. "Take cover!" A soldier shouted before being skewered with an arrow. Winter called out to the detainees in frustration. "Unless you want to spend your stay at Beacon scrubbing toilets with toothbrushes, make yourselves useful!"
Mercury was angry enough to throw a few kicks at Adam. In his exhausted state however, he tripped over his own feet and struck the ground. "On second thought, just...don't get shot." Winter groaned before charging Adam with her brandished rapier. Weiss nervously watched the scene descend into a brawl. She wasn't sure where to start. Blake had busied herself dispatching the foot-soldiers the moment they appeared. The Atlesian soldiers were fighting a surprisingly neutral battle. Both sides were taking casualties, but with the three Hunters, the situation was looking bright for Vale.
Weiss thrust Myrtenaster into the ground and prepared to summon the White Knight when the sound of a chainsaw distracted her. She looked up in enough time to parry the downswing. "SCHNEE!" The White Fang lieutenant roared. He stepped back, and quickly lunged forward for a second strike.
Weiss tensed as she remembered their last encounter. "You won't win this time either!" She shouted. Weiss searched for her companions before the duel gained steam. Winter was busy battling Adam, and Blake was assisting the soldiers. "Both Blake and Winter are involved in their own battles. This will be between the two of us." With a single heave, Weiss shed her fear and met Chainsaw head on. The result was a parry of their weapons which elicited grunts as each tried to overpower the other. "The Schnee family will pay for the mistreatment of the Faunus." Chainsaw uttered in a striking guttural voice.
The young Schnee ignored his threat while disrupting the White Fang lieutenant's balance. Weiss took advantage of the opening and finished her summoning ritual. Before Chainsaw could regain control of the situation, he was dodging the familiar great sword. Once more, the wispy Knight fought on her behalf. Chainsaw was on the defensive when Weiss intervened through the use of her glyphs. The White Fang member curiously glanced around at the white glyphs appearing all around him. Not until the first one changed from white to black did he suspect anything. In a chaotic sequence every single floating glyph exploded. He rolled sideways just in time to avoid being struck by a burst of ice shards. "That was low..." Her opponent scowled before severing the Knight's feet in a power cleave.
As the Knight dispersed, the two once again stood mere feet apart. "I will redeem myself for the humiliating defeat aboard the train. Your head will be kept as a trophy to show the downtrodden Faunus that there is hope for a better life." Weiss felt a chill run up her spine as the malicious intent became tangible. The Atlesian braced herself. "Remember your training..." She eyed the troubled Faunus with half open eyes as he advanced.
The moment before he was within weapon range, she created a glyph beneath her feet. No sooner had Weiss stopped ascending did she dive downward behind Chainsaw. With surprising speed her rapier nearly pierced his shoulder. On the rebound after the glancing blow, Chainsaw spun around with his chainsaw. Weiss cleared the teeth with ease, or so she thought. She glanced down with a gasp when the warmth flowed down her body. She was injured, but was lucky. The rotating teeth had cleanly split her thigh open by the narrowest of margins.
A deep laugh followed as Chainsaw doubled his efforts. The injured Huntress sidestepped a wide swing and thrust Myrtenaster into his right shoulder. Without wasting a second she retracted her weapon and spun around his counterattack. Now positioned behind the vulnerable combatant, she gashed him from lower back to left shoulder blade. A violent groan of pain comforted her as blood began to pool at her own feet, staining her white and blue clothes and heels.
The pair remained frozen in place as they caught their breath. Without warning the man spun around to face her and began swinging his weapon in a frantic string of uncoordinated motions. The lieutenant had one last wish as his vision began to blur. The Schnees must pay for their cruelty.
He roared in frustration as Weiss continued to evade his attacks. "Now if I can just weather the frenzy…." She thought with labored breaths as her injury continued to burn. The blood loss was beginning to hinder her finesse. Fortunately for Weiss, Chainsaw was also burning out. In Weisses inhibited movement, she tripped and fell as Chainsaw continued to blindly swing his weapon.
No matter how hard she tried, Weiss was unable to stand. "End of the line Schnee, your death will ease the suffering of countless Faunus." His zeal was overbearing. As Chainsaw raised his weapon for the kill, Weisses peripheral vision caught the shadow. When the chainsaw was mere inches from her face Weiss closed her eyes in resignation. Her eyes shot open as the metallic scent filled her nose. A rapier protruded from Chainsaw's chest, just above his heart. The man dropped his weapon with a thud as he began gasping. The pair silently watched the blood spurt onto Weiss from his chest. He collapsed shortly thereafter and began convulsing while his teeth chattered.
Weiss looked up to see Winter cleaning her blade on her uniform. "Where is Adam?" Weiss asked in shame from the ground. She looked around, worried for Winter's safety. "Don't worry, he is nursing a wound over there. We are about to see if he can match the lieutenant's zeal." The older sister pointed before sheathing her sword. The battle continued around the siblings, though the intensity had diminished. The conflict was loosing steam as bodies continued to drop, in addition to two prominent White Fang figures being incapacitated. Blake joined the two Atlesians after gunning a White Fang soldier down. The former White Fang member gazed at Weisses leg with concern. "Don't move." Blake quickly tore fabric from her garments to tie a tourniquet.
Adam managed to stand after he had regained some of his strength. He was incredibly disappointed by what he saw. "PATHETIC!" He shouted at the remaining White Fang members. "WHERE IS YOUR HEART?" The man limped toward Chainsaw with rage in his eyes. "And you, lieutenant. How did you loose to the student, again? WORTHLESS" Adam spat before attempting to kick Chainsaw. However, Adam in his injured state missed and fell on his face. "Fitting." Blake said under her breath.
Despite the admonition Chainsaw reached for Adam with fear in his eyes. "Adam…please, help." His voice was hoarse and the color had already drained from his skin. Adam looked on in disgust as Chainsaw coughed blood onto the ground. "You expect me to assist you after that performance?" The callous man scoffed before turning his back as he hobbled off. The remnants of the Fang quickly followed. Chainsaw thrust a hand after him in vain. "A-Adam!"
Blake and Weiss lowered their heads in sympathy. Winter looked on with conflicted eyes. She could feel the building urge to comment. Blake kneeled beside the deserted, dying man. He silently wept in-between his gasps. "He left, didn't he?" Blake said nothing as she reached for his hand. "You...were right...all along, Blake. We should have listened. Adam's rage is contagious, and his spite is overbearing. Were I not indebted to the White Fang, I would have followed suit." The rasping man smiled as a pained expression settled on his face. "Better...late than never..."
Winter succumbed, as the comment seemed to fit the moment in her tinted perspective. "That's one more down." She immediately regretted it as everyone, excluding the troubled Blake turned to look at her in disbelief. "What is wrong with you?" Weiss screamed. Winter looked at the ground as the shame set in. Blake calmly voiced her disappointment. "I would have thought this would resonate with you of all people, given your loyalty to Atlas and to the general."
Mercury and Emerald had been re-cuffed as Chainsaw bled out. The pair had nothing better to do than watch the anti-climactic resolution. "Damn commander. I see the rumors that circulated through the White Fang camp were true. You are an... the, Ice Queen." Blake closed Chainsaw's eyes before standing. "Let it go. She didn't mean it like that. Or so I hope. It doesn't matter now." The dead White Fang were cremated in a funeral pyre before the host departed with their own wounded and deceased. Winter kept her distance from Blake and Weiss for the entirety of the return trip. "Why did I say that?" She asked while wrestling with her conscience. "I thought I had put those feelings behind me."
Weiss wanted to give Blake some time alone, knowing her complicated history with the White Fang, Adam, and opinion on the manipulation of Faunus misgivings. However, there was a single question she needed to have answered. Weiss stepped closer to Blake, and tentatively wrapped an arm around her. "Too soon." She thought.
Blake's voice startled Weiss as she returned the loose embrace. "I never told anyone at Beacon why most of the White Fang are so stalwart toward the cause. In many cases, the White Fang lifted its members up from poverty, or other horrible conditions. Through a sense of obligation, gratitude, or wholesome commitment, members place their needs beneath those of the Fang." Weiss could only imagine the guilt those individuals struggled with as they discovered the brutality that Adam, among other extremists, was capable of dispensing. "I am, sorry to hear that. The lieutenant was a skilled fighter. He must have been backed into a corner. I heard anger, but I sensed pain."
Blake nodded. "Him in particular. I never figured out the whole story, but he had his family relocated. He worked in a dust mine in Mantle until his friend was killed when one of the crystal feed lines ruptured. He decided then to join the White Fang on the condition that they relocate his family to Menagerie. He was not the brightest, but I'll be damned if his loyalty wasn't an inspiration in rough times. With his capabilities he could have lived a good life, a clean life, were the circumstances different. Instead, his ailing parents are going to receive a letter that their son was mercilessly cut down by Humans. Adam would not hesitate to dishonor his earnest death to incite hatred."
Both Weiss and Winter shed a tear as the story skewed their perception of their privileged childhood. The family name would have allowed them to thrive virtually anywhere either could have wished to be in life. With or without Jacqueses blessing. Blake went silent as she thumbed the blood crusted mask she held in her lap for the remainder of the trip. With hazy eyes she spoke to it under her breath. "I promise, your family will know of your devotion and good intentions. Despite what Adam might tell them."
The remainder of the flight was silent, as everyone recovered after the fierce battle. While trying to make peace with her slip, Winter received a message from Qrow that nearly caused her to drop her scroll. "It was as we expected, Winter. The ransom was a distraction. The White Fang ambushed the academy, I will discuss the details with you after your return. Hopefully you were able to recover Emerald and Mercury."
The Pounce
Adam's offer was one of the few matters that Winter and Glynda could completely agree upon. As Winter, Weiss, Blake and the Atlesian soldiers departed Glynda became anxious. The headmistress toured the academy to still her troubled mind. "There is no way the extremist would actually consent to a peaceable intermission."
The uneasy woman had requested increased patrols and sentries in her paranoia while Winter was away. Glynda had worked up a sweat in her fear induced inspection of the premises. She stopped to wipe the perspiration from her face on her sleeve. "Careful Glynda, don't cause yourself undue stress. Worry about what you can control, not what you can't."
Glynda grabbed her chest as her hastened breathing began to trouble her. She leaned against a nearby streetlamp as her legs began to shake. "Seriously Glynda. Old people such as ourselves don't have the luxury of attaching stress to 'what if'. The cold truth is that they will return or they won't. The White Fang will attack or they won't. Plan, and act. That is the best you can do, for yourself, and the people that depend on you."
The headmistress choked a laugh. "I can picture you sipping coffee to that profound statement. Judging by the nagging concern you radiate, I can only imagine how many lifetimes that advice went unheeded." Ozpin withdrew. Glynda staggered to her feet with a sigh of relief. "Maybe the years are catching up to me. Perhaps he is right. There are plenty of capable individuals around me. Surely...I can...slow down, and let them handle the grunt work." At first, Glynda was sure Ozpin was trying to prod her into agreement. The thought of taking a step back felt too appealing to be her desire. Or so she thought.
Glynda, as it would seem was not the only person too tense to relax in the deserved peace. Port, Oobleck, and Qrow sat at a table in Beacon's cafeteria. "How long do you figure until we hear an alarm?" Port whispered while watching the nearby foot traffic come and go. Qrow shrugged as he grabbed his cup of tea. He grimaced as he took a sip. Oobleck couldn't contain his laughter. "Why did you pick tea if you dislike the way it tastes?" Qrow's expression showed less pain as he continued to drink. "Because…Blake said it helped her remain calm when she had too much to think about and not enough time to plan for any of it. She also said the taste would grow on me."
Port's hearty laugh lifted the mood, as it usually did. "An excellent idea. Is it proving to be true?" Qrow continued to sip the burnt umber colored liquid. "It certainly...smells better than what I used to drink. It doesn't burn on the way down either, though I find the taste to be...astringent." Port and Oobleck exchanged glances. It was not often that Qrow appeared to relax, some questioned if he knew how. Port chuckled as he stood. "I'll be right back." Qrow emptied his cup while gazing out at the serenity of the campus grounds. He turned to Oobleck with half lidded eyes. "Is this what everyone else sees on a clear day?" A sigh escaped as he watched a bird fly in loops on the other side of the windows with a smile.
Oobleck sipped his coffee before answering with a grin. "More often then not." Qrow frowned as his mind was pulled to the possibility of a White Fang attack. "Here you are Qrow. The chef told me that this is particularly aromatic and soothing blend of green tea." Qrow looked at him in confusion. "But it's brown." Port humorously thumped the table. "Blake has some work to do."
Port and Oobleck were shocked when Qrow chuckled. "So it would seem." He said, no longer making faces as he sipped the steaming liquid with a deep sigh.
While life hummed on, Kinara and her small but handpicked force snuck into Beacon. She eyed their surroundings cautiously until everyone was in position. She was nervous. The margin for error was extremely small, Adam made sure that was clear. The task-force commander whispered instructions fearful of being heard. "Take these explosives, and tag every ship you can reach. Don't take any risks you can avoid, we are few, they are many, and our position in Vale is waning. We need every body we can hold on to. Every squad takes a mech, just in case the detection level is high. When you are out of bombs, flee. Return to Adam in Forever Fall, and hope that the ransom went in our favor." Her subordinates nodded before quietly dispersing.
Kinara steeled her mind before departing the meeting zone alone. Mere minutes later a few teams had successfully emptied their packs. While their comrades finished their business, the quickest members tried to escape Beacon. Kinara stopped to survey the area during her solo act. "There are fewer grounded ships than we had hoped. Even if every team used 100% of their explosives the impact would be negligible." She closed her eyes in panic when the alarm sounded. "This is not good at all." Kinara began tossing her personal supply as covertly as she could before the limelight could be cast upon her.
A bomb planting had been witnessed in secret. The alarm was sounded by the observing Knight Commander. It notified the countermeasure teams that Winter and Glynda had organized for just an occurrence. Whether or not they would nullify the devices was unknown. The standing order was to alert Beacon, then eliminate the White Fang presence. No sooner had the alarm been sounded did the commander lunge at the now startled team. Given the nature of the preemptive strike, the entire team was quickly dispatched. With one exception.
The Knight Commander looked on with confusion as the Knight stood there, motionless. The White Fang mech brandished a sword and shield. "Useful information." The commander said before leaping at the target, glaive in-hand. One victorious swing later the information was distributed.
Kinara watched with horror as teams began rendering the carefully placed devices inert. She scowled as swarms of people began fleeing the presumed ships. "A half dozen targets at most and the Humans are already responding." She sighed before tossing her empty bag at the ground. If Kinara didn't act quickly the entire effort would be for nothing.
With the detonator in her hand she closed her eyes. "Goodbye Adam, remember our sacrifice." A single tear ran down her face in the moment of hesitation. Without warning, every bird took to the skies. Then the bombs went off. Kinara savored the bittersweet victory. At the time of detonation only three ships were in danger. The first ship exploded in a plume of smoke. The second and third merely groaned as the reinforced hulls buckled. "How disappointing." Kinara frowned while discarding the trigger.
The task-commander leapt to her side just in time. A massive flurry of bricks nearly battered her to death. There stood Glynda, overcome with emotion. An evil grin spread across Kinara's face. "The headmistress will make an excellent trophy." The commander removed dust from her coat. With a grunt, she channeled her semblatic lightning into the crystals. The crystals shimmered as Kinara used arcs of lightning to hurl them at Glynda.
Quick on the draw, Glynda drew debris from the immediate vicinity and pelted the oncoming humming crystals while jumping back to safety. Kinara laughed wildly as she focused her energy on the airborne objects. The bolts rushed to them like lightning to metal. From there Kinara directed the strengthened blasts toward Glynda. Her attack simply disintegrated everything in its path. The now depleted crystals fell to the ground and scattered to the wind.
Despite Glynda's best efforts she could not escape the surging energy. It matched her movements, and was drawing closer. In a fit of resignation Glynda utilized the debris to propel her toward Kinara. The joy faded from the lieutenant's eyes as the realization dawned on her. Glynda was mere inches from the person directly responsible for the deaths she had just witnessed and showed no sign of slowing down. Kinara shuddered as her opponent narrated her fate. "It would seem you need to maintain contact for the attack to function. I may not be able to escape the circuit, but I can complete it."
Qrow, Port, and Oobleck arrived just in time to witness the blinding conclusion. Glynda smiled for the last second she lived. "At least I didn't die alone." They shielded their eyes as the two were nearly charred beyond recognition. The immediate ring around them was burnt to a crisp. Residual parts of the cobbled road were even scattered by the wind. The three Huntsmen stood there as the stench of burnt flesh nearly caused them to vomit. Before they had a chance to react, they heard the curdling cries for help. The three split up as they followed the voices.
Within a few hours the remaining White Fang soldiers in Beacon were dead or captured. The Knights that could be salvaged were taken to R&D aboard The Reprieve to be scrubbed and reprogrammed. One of the Faunus officers that arrived with Winter to relieve Ironwood gazed at the destruction with open, teary eyes before falling to the ground. "Despicable. Curse you Adam. You have done the Faunus and Humans a disservice on this day."
Winter ordered their new prisoners to be escorted to the now grounded prison ship as Qrow approached. She could tell by the look on his face that something was terribly wrong. Dread hung on the stagnant air. "Winter...they got us. They got us good." He began through a wall of tears.
The Atlesian commander sat silently in her quarters with her head in her hands. With a shaky hand she reached for the report that had been compiled.
Ship 1: Destroyed. 100% Fatality Rate. Additional passengers: Neon, Flynt.
Ship 2: Damaged. 15% Fatality Rate. No additional losses.
Ship 3: Damaged 10% Fatality Rate. No additional losses.
Winter paused for a moment as she struggled to compose herself.
Scattered Explosions: Soldiers-Three dozen wounded, varying severity. Eight dead.
Non-Organic- one wounded (Penny).
Hunters-Two wounded, mild severity (Sage, Scarlet).
Misc Casualties: Glynda Goodwitch(confirmed via witness).
Winter's vision blurred. She could feel her heart thumping, fury surged through her body as she hurled the pad at the wall. "ADDAAAMMMM!"
In the R&D lab, Nekuna frowned as she busied herself fabricating new legs for Penny. A quick glance behind her caused her to shudder. "To think that they were reprogrammed and used against us." The scientist muttered. "It is a rather troubling, thought isn't it?" The innocent voice called from one of the work tables. Nekuna jumped. "P-Penny! You nearly scared me to death.… How did you loose your legs?" Penny answered without wasting a second. "Well, I heard the devices arm, and tried to outpace the explosion. Unfortunately I was not fast enough. So I waited for my friends to find me." Nekuna was silent for a moment as she pictured Penny lying silently on the ground with her usual smile. Patiently waiting to be rescued. "A-Anyway, it is good to know you survived. Nice reflexes, trying to distance yourself from the explosion. My condolences it still caught you."
Beacon was a mess as Atlesian and Valian alike mourned their dead. The resulting shift in sentiment was sure to attract the Grimm, but in the moment, that was inconsequential. Anyone that could be saved was quickly taken to the nearest infirmary. In one of the many rooms, Sun and Neptune stood by the bedside of their injured team-mates.
Sun opened his mouth to speak. His words were hoarse and lacked their usual energy. "S-age, S-Scarlet, I...am so sorry. I shouldn't have asked you all to stay with me after we defeated the Grimm that night." Neptune placed a hand on Sun's shoulder. He brushed it aside.
Sage spoke up when he saw the troubled look on their leader's face. "It wasn't your choice, you know. We all chose to stay, whether you wanted us to go or stay. Snap out of it Sun! Beacon doesn't have the time for us to wallow. Stand up, dust yourself off, and move forward. Sage's words were of little comfort to the conflicted leader, despite knowing them to be the only real option they had. Sun made a promise to himself as he looked at each member of his team. "I will keep them safe. All of them."
Winter regained her composure with great difficulty after the spell. "I suppose I might as well send the full report to Ironwood. Since I am right here. A new headmaster will have to be selected in the meantime. She rubbed her throbbing temples. "I suppose it really falls down to three choices. Qrow, Port, or Oobleck. Qrow is too volatile and has too much baggage, plus he isn't keen on the type of work he would be buried in. Port and Oobleck… both are dependable, capable, and seasoned…. It would be a real toss up if not for Port's documented affinity for flair and over-eager demeanor. I suppose by process of elimination Oobleck will be my formal recommendation."
Winter glanced at her vibrating scroll with a cathartic laugh, taking her joy where she could find it. "Pick Oobleck." Was all it read. "Glad we are in agreement." Winter sighed. A second message came through. "Have Qrow bring Oobleck up to speed. You should stick around too, there are a few things you don't know either."
On one of the few grounded ships Port, Oobleck, and Qrow sat in silence. "Apparently I was chosen to be the next headmaster." Oobleck said quietly. "Yes, congratulations, Barty." Port said, lacking his typical enthusiasm. "I hope you are ready Headmaster, you Winter and I need to have a chat as soon as possible." Oobleck downed his coffee with a sigh. "Right...lead the way." Qrow gulped his tea down. "It doesn't taste half bad."
As quickly as Qrow knew how he explained everything from Salem, to the Maidens, to the lesser known matters at hand. Ozpin gave him direction when he stumbled through his words. "To think Miss Rose carries such power..." Oobleck muttered. Qrow looked from Oobleck to Winter. Neither seemed to be taking matters well. "Give them time Qrow, it is a lot to take in." "We might not have time if the casualties don't stop rolling in." Stress flowed through his body. "I am making the journey as quickly as I can. Do me a favor, don't die. We are running out of Guardians."
Spoils
Mercury and Emerald sat aboard the now airborne Atlesian prison ship as the sun began to sink that same day. The two were placed in separate cells across the hall from each other. "Here we are, again!" Mercury shouted from inside his cell. Emerald rolled her eyes while lying on her bed. "Must you always complain, Mercury? This arrangement is far better than the last one. Just be patient, Cinder will come for us."
Mercury kicked his door in anger with a resounding thud. "Are you serious Emerald? A shower, new clothes, and some food doesn't make this situation that much better. How much do we have to go through on Cinder's behalf? We were punished, captured, tortured, degraded and then discarded."
Emerald sighed loudly. "What do you care? I thought you just had a raging hard-on for Cinder and wanted to watch the world burn? If she doesn't come back for us, then you can just chase after a different skirt. As for wanting to watch the world burn, it sounds like Vale still might. So just sit back, rub one out, and shut up." Mercury was speechless. "Damn, Emerald what's eating you up?" He managed after some earnest self-reflection.
Emerald sat up and pretended to look Mercury in the eyes as she leaned against the wall. "I know we've been over this. I thought I found a purpose in life. I don't like every choice Cinder makes, but beggars can't be choosers. This life is still better than living on the street an orphan. Don't pretend like having someone to take care of the head-work didn't make your life easier."
Blake felt uneasy as she sat in Team RWBY's restored dormitory. Almost all of her time in it had been enjoyable, but thinking back on those treasured memories caused her pain. She kept jumping ahead to the night of disaster every time. Almost as though knowing what followed those joyous times soured the memories themselves.
She balled her fists in anger and shouted at the empty room. "Here we go again! My peace of mind and sense of security are threatened and my first thought is to run. Why? Why can't I just work through my problems? Someone can only start over so many times before even that looses appeal. Then what would I be? A jaded drifter in this world, most likely… No more! This is a good life, a great life. Not since I left my family have I been so well received, or felt so accepted. Not since my father led the White Fang have I felt such hope for the peaceful co-existence of Faunus and Humans."
Blake froze as her rapid string of thoughts lingered. She reached out and hugged the empty air. "Never….h-have I...felt true...love." The warmth enveloped her as imagination took over. She had become so lost in thought and desire that the sound of approaching footsteps escaped her. "Blake, why are you touching your face, and why is it red? Are you...okay?" The genuine concern was evident on Yang's face.
Blake blushed as she placed her hands in her lap. "I'll be alright. Adam's treachery and abandonment of a dying Faunus are on my mind is all. He will ruin the White Fang." Blake felt fingers intermingle with hers. Yang leaned in to coo. "Blaaaaake….you're thinking too hard. If what you tell us about him is true, Adam is a monster. You aren't. There's no way you could understand why the twisted man does what he does." Blake wrapped Yang in a hug with her other arm. Her lover followed suit.
Yang and Ruby had always been beacons for Blake. Lighthouses of positivity and enthusiasm she sometimes worried had been lost along the way. Thinking of Yang as a guiding light made her tingle. Blake nibbled Yang's ear as her tone softened. "Yaaaaaaang...have I ever mentioned that you are my favorite person?"
The blonde shuddered, but tried to play it off. Ruby and Weiss could be back at any moment. However, she didn't want Blake to stop. "I-I'm glad you feel that way." Yang moaned as Blake gently bit her neck. "It was unfortunate that the truce was a ruse. Peace between H-Human and Faunus is important to you. W-What matters is that you don't give up. An idea will strike when you least expect it!" Blake had slowly left a trail on her way down to Yang's breasts. Yang found it difficult to speak, and repeatedly moaned while trying to uplift Blake's mood after the mission.
Now panting and feeling too warm for clothes, Yang tried once more. "Blaaaake, baby we c-can't d-do this here. Not now." Blake's eyes flickered when she heard her name. "Mmmm, you know just what to say." Yang's eyes widened, in both desire and fear for the rest of their team returning. "N-No Blake. They might come baaaaack…" Yang had to bite her lip as Blake cupped her breasts.
The nimble woman had worked her way onto Yang's lap and did not appear to be stopping any time soon. "B-Blake, w-what if y-you took the W-White Fang from Adam? To rebuild it in a sense…." Yang knew she was loosing the battle. She could feel Blake's heat on her lap, and it was about to drive her crazy. "If that doesn't stop her, I will have to surrender to her...and that….sexy, curvaceous body of hers… mmm…." Yang's self talk was about to fail when Blake let her down easy.
"That is a great idea Yang, I bet Winter would jump at the chance to reform the White Fang in Vale." Blake grinned as she caressed Yang's thigh, and whispered into her ear. "I'll be back soon babe." She sighed in relief as Blake stood. Yang had to suppress the wanting moan as Blake sensually swayed her hips the whole way. "Don't give up Blake, Ruby and Weiss are here, and can help too."
Blake smiled before leaving the room. "Not like you can, dear. Only you can satisfy some needs." Yang collapsed onto the bed as she tried to bottle her sexual tension.
Back in the infirmary, Sage and Scarlet were cleared and Team SSSN made their way to their dorm room. Sun stared out the open window trying to clear his thoughts. "You know can't be everywhere at once right?" The voice belonged to Neptune, the blue haired man on his team that always wore goggles. Sun sighed without taking his eyes off of the landscape. "Yeah, that doesn't mean I shouldn't try though." Neptune frowned and walked over to join the rest of their team. "True, but you won't be any use, run down."
Once the White Fang threat had been removed from Beacon, Weiss made straight for the training room. "I would have lost to that White Fang lieutenant if no one had been there to save me." She thought while standing in the dimly lit room. Weiss fought through a series of training exercises using the virtual projectors. A few hours later, covered in sweat, and bearing a few new scars the young Schnee began to calm down.
"There's nothing for it. Just dust yourself off Weiss." A voice called. The light poured in from the hallway and nearly blinded her. The figure was indistinguishable until Weisses eyes adjusted. "You did well Weiss. Their lieutenant was skilled and was fighting for survival while we were fighting for prisoners." Weiss looked at Winter with sadness in her eyes. "Just the same, will you help me train?"
Winter's voice was quiet. "Sorry Weiss, but I have some pressing matters to conclude first. You would be better off asking your friends to help you. From what I can gather they are the friends you always wanted when you were younger… However, if you are free tomorrow, I can make some time." Weiss smiled.
Moments after speaking with Weiss, Winter was back in her office staring at data pads. "The White Fang certainly didn't make our lives any easier. Although, by now, given the lack of open transportation into Vale their strength has waned. They shouldn't be troubling us any time soon. Still, being able to write them off for good would put my mind at ease after their stunt."
A knock came at the door. "C-come in!" Winter called, Her muzzy mind needed sleep. Blake entered the room with a sad look on her face. "Winter, I have a request to make." Winter's eyebrow raised. "Would you, allow me to organize a clean-up operation for the White Fang here in Vale?" Blake's voice lacked its uniform tone.
Winter dropped the data pad she had been reading. "One more time." Blake frowned. "The White Fang as a whole are not what they used to be. At least, not anywhere that is led by militants like Adam. Particularly, with the problems we have in Vale, an unknown enemy is a risk we can't afford to take. I don't want to imagine what the frenzy they caused did for the Grimm." She fell silent as the words caught in her throat. "I am asking you to let me, as a former White Fang members, and committed Faunus, resolve this."
The commander's face darkened as the implications flashed through her mind. "Blake...you don't have to fight that battle on your own. I was out of line earlier, and I can't apologize enough. There are Humans committed to bringing the two peoples together. All of the surviving first years here at Beacon, to start."
Blake nodded. "I appreciate the kind words. However, with this matter at least, I need to close it on my own." "Very well." Winter handed Blake a data pad of currently available soldiers. "Be careful." Blake smiled. "Thank you. I...want you to know that your internal struggle is most admirable as well. I find it encouraging, given my history."
Before Blake reached the door, Winter called after her. "Your sincere and honest nature is something we should all aspire to emulate." As Blake walked to the elevator she thumbed through the list. "I want this matter to be done and over with. The sooner we can rest easy, the better off everyone will be." The former White Fang member shed a tear as she battled with what she was about to do. Though far from its roots, it did empower Faunus. Blake would have to act quickly after she hobbled it.
The Toothless Fang
Adam arrived at the edge of Forever Fall with dusk not far behind him. One glance over his shoulder made him shiver. "That was a complete disaster." He muttered while running a hand through his matted hair. Adam was covered in sweat, and grunted as his fingers snagged his snarls. The trek to their base within Forever Fall went much faster, though Adam was exhausted by this time.
He plopped onto his bed with a sigh of annoyance. "If Kinara did as poorly as we did, the White Fang in Vale is fucked." The commander swung his feet onto the bed and laid down with a groan of relief. Not even the unidentified sound of footsteps gave him reason to move. A scout had managed to escape Beacon and return with the grim news. "Sir! Kinara's attack inflicted only minor damage. The vast majority, including Kinara, were killed in the act."
Adam was so disheartened, he merely sat up in response. "That so? Well...you should practice your groveling." The scout was confused. "S-Sir? Aren't you going to spring to action and curse humanity for the loss of the loyal White Fang subjects?"
"Yes..." The commander slowly stood, and fixed his attire. His lethargy was blatantly apparent as he strode out of the tent. The scene was calm, almost tranquil as Adam gazed around him. The sky was gray, and continued to loose color as the sun continued to set. The trees rustled gently in the almost non-existent wind. Excluding the soft breeze, not a sound could be heard. Adam had always thought the unabating sounds of nature had been the worst part of hiding out in the forest. However the lack of noise unsettled him. "Perfect weather for a storm." He spoke to the empty air.
The disappointed commander scratched his chin as his focus finally returned, though the intensity was still absent. "With both of my lieutenants dead, my army decimated, and Beacon still in prime shape our options are rather limited. I know exactly what I would do in their shoes. So, we have two choices. Flee or stand our ground. The outgoing traffic is heavily monitored by the alliance no doubt, so that won't be effective. But the depleted White Fang don't stand a chance against them in this state." Adam chuckled in resignation while grabbing a handful of petals from the ground. He smiled as the clean scent filled his nose.
"ADAM! What are we going to do?" The now at peace man casually turned to the anxious, wide eyed soldier. "Hm? Oh! The defector, right. Well, flee for the ports if you think you can bypass security. Steal a ship if you can find one and fly it. Or, stay here. Then you have two more choices, when the alliance arrives, surrender or fight to the death."
The defector looked at him with terrified eyes as the sweat flowed down his tense face. "That's it!?" Adam laughed in his face. "What else is there to do? We lost." He pointed to the sky, then waved in a circle around him. "This is the calm before a storm, can you feel it? If you are asking what I will do, the answer is simple. Conserve my strength, and stoke the internal fire. When they arrive I will forgo wasting breath on speaking, and take as many of them with me as possible. The cause is all I know. The only thing that's real to me." The defector was shaking with fear. "I don't want to live in prison!"
Adam shrugged his shoulders. "We lost that battle. Sorry. Maybe if you grovel enough, or can offer something tasteful you won't live out your days in jail or simply die in a matter of hours." Silence followed as Adam continued to occupy his mind. A single howl sent a chill up the officer's spine. "What was that?"
Adam's response was just as calm as the last. "Grimm. The reason they stayed so far away, was their ability to sense our confidence, or perhaps the lack of fear. Either way, we are easy prey now. I'd rather kill as many humans as possible before dying, but a death in any battle doesn't sound so bad." Despite Adam's apathetic demeanor, the flame still burned bright within. If he managed to survive, the man would be a true terror.
Adam closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. "Such peace, never have I known such a thing." He opened one eye as the sound of aircraft could be heard from the edge of Forever Fall.
The Rabid Fang
With nearly eighty soldiers behind her, Blake somberly marched into the White Fang camp. The downtrodden and terrified White Fang were easily outnumbered two to one, just in numbers. Blake tried to hold the tears back when the clearing came into view. A gasp escaped her mouth as she realized how similar it looked to the one she waited in on the eve of the raid on the dust train. "We...have come full circle, it would seem. I left him then, I might have to kill him this time." There would be no joy in this, for anyone. The best she could do was give each and every one a chance to surrender peacefully.
All she knew was that Adam could not be allowed to roam free. His hatred was infectious, and his ambitions were grand. Or so she thought when he was surrounded outside of his tent. The defeated commander was sitting with his legs crossed with a cup of tea in his hands. He stared blankly at the sky until he saw Blake. "Blake, how nice of you to make the trip yourself." Adam said while standing and tossing the half empty cup to the side.
"Adam, don't make this any harder than it has to be." Blake pleaded. Adam shook his head before speaking. "I will do exactly what I feel I must. As I have always done, love." His words bore a muted disgust. Blake shuddered at the pet name. "You won't win Adam. Many of the White Fang in this camp have surrendered or fled." As Blake spoke isolated gunfire could be heard. She cringed.
"It appears I am not the only one that doesn't like either of those options." Adam said flatly with open eyes as he grabbed the hilt of his sword in a clean motion. The soldiers accompanying Blake trained their weapons on Adam. She motioned for them to hold their fire. Blake stepped forward while reaching for her own weapon. "The White Fang was peaceful once Adam. You and Sienna have destroyed the peace we fought so hard for. Perhaps the White Fang is too far gone to save, but we will find our way again. Without you."
Adam found his anger bubbling to the surface as his former lover talked down to him. "YOUR WAY? What would the traitor know of the way?" Blake smiled in contempt. "I was a fool to have ever loved a beast." Adam gnashed his teeth. "We can't all be the idealistic beauty, Blake." The two charged at each other with incredible speed. Adam had an opening as he swung his sword downward. At the last second, an ice clone of Blake snared his weapon. Adam frantically searched for the unyielding beauty he had once cared for. The man yelled in pain as three rounds tore through his chest. There, in the shadow of the waxing night Blake stood in front of him, shrouded by the trees.
Adam smiled as blood gushed from his mouth. "You and I are-" A bullet between the eyes put an end to his cliched words before he could finish uttering them. Blake spoke to Adam's corpse as the soldiers continued with the round-up. "Beauty will thrive anywhere it is given a chance to do so." A single tear ran down her face as she left the man lying on his back.
Shortly thereafter, Blake returned to Beacon with close to a dozen prisoners. Among them was the camp's doctor. Given his skill-set, he would be placed under strict surveillance, and allowed to work in the infirmary. The moment Blake disembarked she was surprised by a hug from Velvet. The friendly voice was comforting, and lessened the sting of what she had just contributed to. "Blake! I'm glad you made it back safe."
The energetic eyes dulled, and Blake thought she about to be shamed. "You did what was right, Blake. The White Fang, at least under Adam, were bettering no one when all was said and done. You stood for the Faunus as they wish to be, not as the White Fang wanted them to appear. It is a burden that someday, thanks to selfless people like you, we won't have to bear. I can see it now." Velvet's buoyant aura returned and she hugged Blake once more. This time, Blake returned the hug.
"Thank you Velvet. I can't explain how much that means to me. Not many Faunus talk about the matter as it stands." Blake looked at the ground as the soldiers cleared the ship. A gentle hand pulled Blake's chin up and wiped the tears away. "Keep ya head up Blake...One day, just you wait."
As Blake walked to her team's dorm she began to feel her dour mood lift. Velvet's vote of confidence made a big difference. When she looked at Adam's lifeless body, Blake thought she could feel the guilt she had been carrying around dissipate. As though a wrong had been righted, and she could move on with her life. She knew who would be a significant part of it. Blake stood in front of the dorm door with a smile on her face. Her liveliness faded when she looked at the expression on Ruby and Weisses face, and absence of Yang.
The New Fang
Winter sat in her office early the next day with a scowl on her face. With a cup of coffee to dull the pain she read the report about the assault on the prison ship the previous night. "Both prisoners and Yang were taken hostage as the intruders left through a black and purple portal… That is most troubling. Not only that, but Team SSSN arrived in time to assist Yang. However, they were overpowered and Scarlet and Sage were killed." Winter sighed in frustration as she reached for the cup of coffee. "At this rate there won't be any Hunters left. There are five in recent memory that I can recall, not to mention the numerous others I wasn't acquainted with. And that is including the replacement headmistress!"
Blake sat on her bed thumbing Chainsaw's mask when an idea occurred to her. "I should mail this to his family, and explain what happened. They deserve the closure. Certainty is hard to come by right now, it would seem."
Blake was nearly overcome with sadness when she remembered that Yang had been captured, and two more of her friends had died. "I'm sorry Yang, we can't chase after you just yet...I kept good on my promise to keep Weiss out of trouble, if you hadn't heard the news it was actually her older sister that stepped out of line. I could see the regret on her face after the fact. It looks like you came through on your end, Ruby is safe. So here is my next promise. Ruby, myself and your other friends and family will bring you back home."
Minutes later, with Winter by her side Blake hailed every Atlesian ship and the academy itself. "Fellow Faunus and Humans, as many of you have heard, late last night the White Fang in Vale were dispersed. The decision was not easy, but the organization had become a twisted shadow of its former self. The purpose of the White Fang was to advance Faunus rights, and peacefully exist alongside Humanity. Sienna, Adam Taurus, and many others have elected to push violence and hatred. They believe that this will expedite the arduous journey. That might makes right. What it actually does is create a second, more dangerous race that we must run at the same time, and so, work harder than we were. I implore the Faunus to forsake the decadent White Fang completely, and return to its original values and spirit. And this time, it will not be comprised of just Faunus. Just as not every Faunus is willing to take up the cause, so too are there Humans that would. Together we shall bring the two peoples closer as the New Fang."
Blake and Winter made eye contact when Blake had finished. "I hope that someday there won't be a need for an advocate group." Blake tentatively reached for Winter's shoulder in thanks for her hopeful words. "As do I, Winter. In the meantime, every day is a chance to make history." Team RWBY had restored her waning faith that the two could in fact co-exist.