The Howling Wood, a dense forest at the north end of Vale's continent. Featuring a heavy population of grimm and frequent snow storms carried over the sea from Atlas, it wasn't very surprising the nearby villages occasionally requested aid. In fact, it was probably more surprising that those villages were still standing, but perhaps that was simply a testament to how stubborn people could be. It was unusual, however, that they were taking students instead of graduated hunters. One would think this was simply because the job they had was simple, and they wouldn't have to offer too significant a bounty.

That assumption would quickly be dashed when it became clear the target was a Lauftef.

While most of the names for grimm types had been taken from old tales or poetry, these were named after a person. A hunter, in fact, whose semblance allowed him to mimic the voices of people he met. An extraordinary ability, one that could be used for any number of things.

Lauftef used it to bait people into the woods, where he would kill and eat them.

It took two hours after his crimes were initially discovered for him to be caught and executed. The very next day, an unknown grimm was spotted in the woods. Some claimed Lauftef was innocent, that it had been the grimm, but those voices quieted when it made its first kill. It didn't eat, but it would try. The closest it could get was to tear its victims to pieces, leaving behind a pile of chewed flesh and cracked bones. The grimm couldn't have been what had eaten those people, though it acted like it was. In fact, it was one of the very few grimm that interacted with corpses, and the only one that attempted to consume them. Too much to be a coincidence, the locals named it after the previous man eating monster.

Normally students would not be sent anywhere near a Lauftef, but with a high mortality rate there wasn't always enough licensed hunters to take every job. Blake found herself staring down at the information on her scroll, sitting in the headmasters office. Ruby was doing the same, no doubt feeling even more pressure as the leader.

"We understand if you would like to take a different assignment." Ozpin said, breaking them out of thought. "This will be the most dangerous creature you have faced so far. I will not ask you to take such a risk if you are not absolutely certain about it."

Blake wanted to say no, to say that the risk was just too high, but as most third year teams were either off campus or recovering from their own missions they were one of the few pairs available that the headmaster could have any confidence in sending. If they didn't take it, Beacon would have to keep offering it until someone did, and they could have much worse odds. Not only that, but the payment...

An average job for a student would bring in somewhere between four hundred and ten thousand lien. Third years could sometimes get upwards of thirty, but it was uncommon.

This offered eighty-seven thousand.

Split two ways, it would still be the most money she ever had. Looking to her side, Ruby seemed equally conflicted. If they had their full team it would be an easy decision, but being split up was a major disadvantage.

"I can go alone." Ruby said, voice firm.

Blake felt her heart clench. "What?"

Her girlfriend looked guilty, but resigned. "It's a big risk, but they need the help. You- I want you to be safe."

"And so you want to get yourself killed? No. We go together, or not at all."

"...You sure?"

"Yes."

Ruby swallowed the lump in her throat before turning to Ozpin. "Okay." She said. "We'll take it."

Their headmaster nodded once, then leaned back in his chair. "The airship leaves in two hours. Aside from packing thoroughly, I recommend you speak with your team. While I have utmost confidence in your abilities, you never know when it will be the last time."

The two got out of their chairs silently, and started to march for the door.

Glynda stopped them. "You two..." Her voice was softer than usual. "...Dress warm, and come back."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

If the decision was hard, watching the reactions of their team was nigh impossible.

Protests were immediate and loud. Even know, as they stood at the outside docks, their feelings on the matter were crystal clear. Yang had a deep frown on her face, and her fists were clenched. Weiss was clearly trying not to show her emotions, but her eye kept twitching and she had barely said a word. They weren't angry, they were terrified. Hunters didn't tend to live to old age, especially not the self destructive ones.

Well, Blake was self destructive. Ruby was self sacrificial.

"We'll be alright." Ruby stated. "You know we will."

"No." Weiss followed. "I'm afraid we don't, and I believe we'd rather have you alive."

A sigh. "They need our help."

"Then at least take us with you!" Yang interrupted, her voice having gained a slight shake.

"You two still have your own issues to work out, and Lauftef need stealth to hunt. Blake and I are the only stealthy ones on the team."

Yang huffed. "Fine. Just...don't die, okay?"

A flash of guilt of Ruby's face, but she returned to a neutral expression. Her mouth opened, but nothing came out. She snapped it shut and boarded their ship, not offering a goodbye.

"If anyone could make this work, it's Ruby." Blake offered. "We'll be okay."

"Yeah, I know, just...keep an eye on her."

"Yang." Weiss scolded. "I'm sure Blake is already worried about her beau without you adding to it."

"...Sorry."

"It's fine." The faunas said. "Don't destroy the dorm while we're out."

With that, Blake walked on to the airship to reunite with her leader. Ruby was seated, her backpack on the floor by her feet. Silver eyes flicked over to Blake as she sat down.

"That's the last thing that Yang said to mom. Didn't want her to leave, and she was young...asking her not to die was the only thing she could do."

"Ruby..."

"Sorry." Her girlfriends eyes lacked their usual shine. "I knew she wouldn't take it well, but I hoped it would go a bit smoother."

It's okay. We're in this together."

Seeing a smile on Ruby's face took more stress from Blake's shoulders than she cared to admit.

"Oh, I wanted to show you something..." Her girlfriend said, trailing off she she dug into her backpack. "...Aha, check this out!"

It was her cloak. Or, what was left of it. The tattered end had been trimmed off, and it was now only long enough to just pass her shoulders.

"Now I have a hood I can clip to whatever I'm wearing, and I don't have to carry the whole thing around. Neat, huh?"

"Very. And...you seem to have taken it very well."

Ruby shifted a bit. "Well, I geuss...so much has changed in, what, a few days? Maybe it's time for a change. That's what mom would want, I think."

"I'm sure she's proud." Blake said. "And I wish I could have met her."

"...You could. I mean, I visit her grave every year. M-maybe it's too early, but if you wanted to..."

"I'd like that."

Resting her head on the faunas' shoulder, Ruby let out a sigh. "Thank you, Blake."

"For what?"

"You make me really happy. I know it's been, like, no time at all, but I didn't know if I'd ever get to feel this way."

Blake's heart had picked up a habit of horrible pain whenever Ruby felt any sadness, and she could feel the dull ache growing in her chest.

"Ruby." She started, feeling desperate to give comfort. "Anyone would be lucky to have you. I'm lucky to have you."

"You're gonna make me blush."

"Good."

The reaper giggled, and Blake felt the pressure back off.

"Seriously, Blake..." Ruby said. "In case something happens, thank you for giving me the chance to be so happy."

Blake felt her eyes water. Just what was this girl doing to her?

"Ruby, we''re going to be fine. We''ll come back, and we'll be going on dates, and you don't get to think we wont."

A sheepish look from her leader. "Sorry, I- no, you're right." Ruby tilted her head up to press a kiss to her girlfriends chin.

They fell silent, and Blake knew this was someone she couldn't lose.