The classroom was empty. Ruby Rose sat in her chair as she twirled her pencil, trying her best to imitate the epic twirl she had seen Jaune do with his pen. It had been so mesmerizing she had to do it. The way the pencil spun and twirled over his nimble fingers when he was not even looking! She could a spin a gigantic scythe around, so why not a pencil?

But so far, her most recent attempt had seen her pencil flung to the other side of the room.

'Drats!' She groaned, and slammed her head on the table.

She did not even know why she is still in Professor Port's class. What was the point of this detention if the Professor is not going to show up at all?

The door clicked open.

Finally.

Ruby lifted her head up, 'Professor Port? I-'

She stopped. Sky Lark laughed as he took a place behind Ruby.

'Sorry to disappoint, Rose,' He smiled, 'but I need to add a few extra pounds to even look like Port.'

Ruby stuck out her tongue at him, but said nothing. Why was he here? Team CDRL never turns up to detentions. Or class for most of the time.

Whatever, it doesn't concern me. Ruby thought, as she took out another pencil and started spinning it once again. She had a little bit more luck this time, and actually managed to get it to spin over her index finger once, before letting it fly up into the air. She squealed in surprise as the pencil spun over her head.

'What did you do?' Sky asked as he opened his notebook. He caught the pencil, and examined it, 'Let me guess, got caught drawing an unflattering picture of the professor?'

'What do you want, Sky?' Ruby groaned, 'It is bad enough I'm stuck here while the rest of my team goes to town.'

'Just making friendly conversation, Rose. I never really got to know you.'

'What does Sky Lark from the infamous team CDRL want to know about me?' Ruby said, 'Something to use against me like Cardin did to Jaune?'

Sky tilted his head in acknowledgement, 'I admit, we are assholes. But we are honest about it.'

'That's not something to be proud of, Sky.'

'I know. But regardless, no hostility today. After all, once you die you realize how petty these things are,' he started sketching with her pencil, drawing with expert hands, a cross and a circle, 'You know we do feel bad about most things. We have our own reasons and insecurities, but it was inexcusable, I admit.'

Ruby frowned. 'Wait, what?'

'I said, our actions were inexcusa-'

'No no no, before that.'

Sky widened his eyes in surprise. 'Oh? You haven't realized?'

His next words sent chills down Ruby's spine.

'I'm dead.'

Ruby laughed, unsure if she should, 'Very funny, Sky. I didn't know CDRL had a sense of humour.'

He shrugged, and continued drawing. He divided the lines in the lower half of the cross in three, and drew another line below. 'You would be surprised. Dove's humour is an odd kind, but Russel doesn't seem to appreciate it.'

'Wouldn't know,' Ruby sighed, 'we tend to avoid you guys after the incident with Jaune.'

'He was weak and didn't stand up for himself. But he stood up for others. That is a quality we can admire.'

'I'll never understand you guys.' She groaned, 'Not standing up for yourself? How is that an excuse for acting like you guys did?'

'It doesn't,' Sky simply remarked, as he split the horizontal lines in more sections, 'but perhaps you never will understand us.'

'Not like I plan to.'

'Even if we wanted to, there is only Russel and Cardin left.'

'What do you mean? Where's Dove?'

'Dead.'

Ruby shivered, and gripped her fist tightly, 'Stop that. It's not nice, even if he is your own team mate.'

'He has accepted his fate, Ruby. His only regret is he won't be able to help more.'

She narrowed her eyes, 'What do you mean, accepted his fate?'

'He is at peace, if that is what you meant,' Sky started drawing a curved line starting from the edge of the circle. It didn't' take long for Ruby to realize it was a face, 'we still worry about Cardin and Russel. They had a close call. Too close in my opinion. Who would have thought Jaune saved them all?'

'What ARE you babbling about, Sky?'

Sky smiled as he drew a pair of eyes in his note pad, 'You were out cold. White Fang did a number on you, I imagine. Wonder if Blake is going to be alright, ex White Fang and all.'

Ruby shot up from her chair, 'How did you know?'

'Know what?' Sky asked, confused. He stopped drawing.

'About the White Fang! About Blake! Abou-'

He held up a hand, 'Calm down, Rose. There is nothing I can do.'

'But-!'

He gestured to his throat, and made a slitting motion, 'I'm dead, remember?'

'Sky, I'm serious!'

'As am I, Ruby. I was killed in a White Fang ambush. I saw Blake fall as she was struck from behind. I moved in to help her, but alas, I was no match. The fucker bit me, rendered me helpless and skinned me alive. It was the most painful experience I have had to go through, and for one, I was glad when death came.'

'I…' Ruby started. She wanted to scream at him, tell him to stop. But she knew he was telling the truth. Imagines, started forming in her mind. She remembered the grizzly remains of Sky Lark on the train. How she had stood there transfixed by his body as his blood lapped at her boots. She remembered Weiss pulling her away, and how Cardin swore to avenge his dead friend.

She remembered, getting shot at. She remembered losing a finger, and taking bullets to her body. She remembered as she lay on the ground, bleeding to death before darkness overcame her.

'So…does that mean that I'm… ?' She felt a tear slide down her face. She choked on her next words, but forced them out anyway, 'dead?'

'Nah,' Sky waved, 'but you are about to be if you don't do something soon.'

'Wh-what do you mean?'

'Right now, if you do not do something, your sister will end up here with you. The Ice princess can handle herself. You are falling in a wrecked train carriage towed by an out of control Bullhead. Fun.' He refocused his attention on his drawing, which was taking the shape of Ruby's own face. She never knew he was so good at drawing.

Ruby snapped her attention back to the subject matter, 'What about Blake? Where is she?'

He shrugged, 'Her fate is not in your hands, unfortunately.'

'What do I do, then?' she asked.

Sky started drawing a hood, and added a pair of headphones over his drawing. He shrugged at her question. 'Waking up would be a good start. Sure you have got beaten up quite bad but your Aura is strong.'

'How do I do that?'

Sky gestured to the door he walked in from, 'Go through the door, and you'll be in the land of the living once again. But there is no hurry. Time is meaningless here.'

'How do you know all of this, Sky?'

'I just do. It kinda just happens, you know?'

'Sky….' Ruby warned.

'I'm not shitting you, Ruby.' He sighed as he shaded in the shadows. The portrait was wonderful. It showed Ruby with a bright smile on her face as she clasped her headphones on her head.

'You know, Rose. I've always wanted to draw you and the girls. Weiss, Yang, Blake. You guys were the prettiest people around,' He laughed bitterly 'Too bad I'm dead, though.'

'I'm sorry, Sky.' She sighed, as she collapsed back into her seat, 'If we all had just stuck together and-'

'Nah,' Sky said, with a wave, 'It wasn't your fault. As Cardin said to us after the Ursa attacked, 'Shit happens.''

He returned Ruby her pencil, which she accepted uncertainly. It was surreal, to be talking to a dead man, but nonetheless she was thankful to this…spirit of Sky. She needed to know one more thing before she walks through the door.

'Tell me, Sky, if you please.'

'Yea?'

'Who has died while I was out?'

Sky sighed, 'Dove and I are both dead. I think Nora will join us soon. I do not look forward to having my legs broken in the afterlife.'

'Nora?' Ruby gasped, 'how?'

'Probably by gravity.' Sky shrugged, 'you're gonna have to deal with Ren. We never had any good blood between us, but, shit. We all know the way he looks at her. Take care of the survivors will ya?'

Ruby nodded, 'I will.'

She stood up, and made her way to the door. She was ready for whatever life has is stall for her. She was going to save everyone, she was determined to not let anyone else fall. Team CRDL had lost enough, and JNPR will also be hit hard. She refused to let more of them fall.

'One more thing, Rose,' There was a tearing sound, and Ruby looked back. Sky folded held out the pencil sketch he did of her, 'take this, as a lucky charm, I suppose.'

'I…' Ruby was unsure, but she took the drawing anyway, 'Thanks, Sky. You're not bad, after all.'

'We were all born good, Ruby. But as I see it, you are the best of all.'

She put the folded sheet of paper in her pocket, and marched to the heavy wooden door. Ruby Rose took a deep breath, and put her hands on the door handle. A push, and she would be back.

Perhaps this is the last time she would ever see Sky again.

'Sky?'

'Hmm?'

'Thank you. I really mean it.'

'Yea yea,' he laughed, 'get out of here already.'

….

Blake had no idea what happened. One minute, they were falling. She distinctly remembered the feeling of disbelief and hopelessness as she plunged, spiraling towards her death in a shower of fire and glass.

Next thing she knew, she was on the ground, Adam hugging her tightly as if she was the only thing that mattered in the world. As much as she missed the sensation, there were more pressing matters.

Like the fate of her team.

She broke free from her former partner's embrace and scrambled up. She was in a village of a sort. Although it lacked the infrastructure of a proper city, it had the defenses formidable enough to let it exist in the middle of Grimm territory.

A crowd had gathered, and not all of them were wearing masks. Wherever she looked, she only saw frightened faces of Faunuses and Grimm masks. Some of them did not seem like White Fang members, just villagers, noncombatants. But her team was nowhere to be seen.

'Yang! Weiss! Ruby!' She called out, frantically scanning the crowd,' where are you?'

'They are not here, Blake.' Adam said coldly as he brushed off grime and dirt from his shirt.

'What?' Blake turned and stared at him in disbelief, 'But we are here aren't we?'

Adam shook his head. There was not a single hint if remorse from him. In fact, Blake seemed to detect a little smile from the edges of his lips. She realized he had his weapon drawn. It was not Wilt and Blush, but something uglier and more brutal. A chain toothed sword. 'Kell's semblance could only take so many. I had to choose.'

He took a step forwards towards Blake, and she involuntarily stepped back. She realized she had reached for her nonexistent weapon. Adam realized this, and his face fell. There was no trace of anger, just regret and sadness.

'Don't…' Blake warned.

'Quite frankly, between the choice between my men and a bunch of humans, the choice is obvious.'

'I know when you are lying, Adam.' Now she remembered why she had left the Adam. He was strong and caring, yes. He has ideals and the right mindset, no doubt. But his complete lack of regard for others, was terrifying.

He shook his head sadly, 'Don't do this, Blake.'

'Once again, you fail to understand.'

'I do not want to hurt you, dammit,' Adam snarled, 'but I will. I will cut you down like any other human.'

On the carriage she has felt his warmth. She was not too proud to admit she missed him. It was also sad that they genuinely cared for each other. But Blake has changed. Adam was still the same person she ran away from.

There was no way she would be allowed to run again. She was not going to leave this place alive.

As much as Adam cared for her, he was a man willing to sacrifice for the greater good. She had admired that quality in him during her time in the White Fang. She still did. In fact he had influenced her in more ways than one.

But that also meant she was willing to do the same.

Blake trembled. The day she fled, she had made Adam her enemy. The day she fled, she knew there would be a reckoning between them. As Adam advanced, she drew back. Without a weapon to defend herself, her best bet was to run. However, between Adam and the rest of the White Fang, she stood little chance.

She was already calculating her escape options. If the White Fang was like anything she remembered, they would not risk firing into Faunus. Blake hated herself for what she is about to do, but she was left with little choice.

Blake turned tail, and ran. She left a shadow behind, which was promptly bisected by Adam who was screaming in rage and despair.

'So be it, Blake! You cannot run forever!' She heard him shriek as she wove in-between the gathered crowd. The villagers backed off, parting empty space wherever she ran, but they were still close enough to cover her movements.
She was fast, but the crowd slowed her considerably.

Suddenly, a White Fang grunt appeared in front of her. A White Fang grunt yelped, as surprised as Blake was. He scrambled to draw his pistol. He aimed, straight into her face, and pulled the trigger.

…..

The world was spinning and falling. Yang was sure she had blacked out for a few seconds when a flying box hit her in the head, but regardless, their fate is sealed. The falling carriage had them stuck to the carriage's roof as it spiraled downwards. Blake had vanished along with all the White Fang, leaving Weiss, Yang and Ruby alone to their deaths. If they made it out, Weiss had her glyphs, so she might be able to save one of them without ending up like a splatter on the ground. Her grip tightened on her half-sister.

She had to get her to Weiss, who was close to the ragged exit. She could see the red forest getting closer and closer through the windows. They did not have much time.

Her mind was surprisingly clear, given her situation. She could not let Ruby die, even if that meant her own life. Weiss screamed at her, but Yang could not hear her over the rushing wind.

One hand wrapped closely around the limp form of Ruby, she began to climb. Yang fought tooth and nail against the forces of physics, her muscles ached as she slowly but surely pulled herself to Weiss. Her hair whipped and flew in the wind, covering her eyes and getting in her face, but she ignored it.

Yang felt a Ruby stir in her hold, and she instinctively held her closer.

'I'm gonna get you out of here, Rubes,' Yang breathed, 'I promise.'

Inch by inch, Yang crawled, fighting against the forces that pushed her down. It was a painfully slow process, and she knew she only had seconds before they hit the ground. Weiss did not look like she was about to abandon them anytime soon. Say what you want about Weiss, she's fiercely protective and loyal. She would rather go down with the rest of her team rather than leave them.

'Come on, Yang!' Weiss screamed, her hair whipping around in the air as she reached for them, 'Come on!'

She was just centimeters away now. All she had to do was let Weiss get a hold on Ruby.

Just a little bit more…

'Yang, you have done enough.'

The voice was so clear, so serene, Yang at first thought she was hearing things. But, as Ruby wrapped her hands around Yang's body, she knew it was real.

She looked down into those silver eyes, brimming with determination, and knew at once Ruby was going to get them out safely. Her eyes darted around the area, collecting bits of information and processing it as quickly as he bright mind could allow. What thought process going through her brain, Yang could only guess.

Forget the fact they were falling from the skies with an explosive Bullhead attacked. Forget the fact that they were unarmed and were technically in the middle of nowhere.

Yang felt her sister's body shake, vibrating as she charged her semblance.

Next thing she knew, she was flying. As she looked down, she saw the surprised face of Weiss staring up at them. Quickly, Weiss cast a glyph below herself, propelling her towards the pair.

Ruby had sped up and forwards, against the forces of gravity, with Yang in tow. The carriage and Bullhead fell away, and a sudden heat wave forced Yang to close her eyes and shield herself.

An expanding fireball rushed upwards, and Yang choked on the sudden thick smog.

'Get ready!' Ruby shouted.

Yang did not have the chance to reply, before she was let go. The brief moment of fright and panic was short lived, as she slammed painfully into a thick branch of a tree. Birds flew off into the skies, squawking their displeasure.

Slightly dazed, Yang barely got hold of the branch to stop herself from sliding off. It took her a few moments to get a proper hold as she scrambled to get a foothold.

It was a long way down, but it beats getting blown up by a crashing Bullhead.

'You alright, Yang?'

Yang tore her eyes from the ground, and looked to the source. She could never be happier to see Ruby wide awake and wearing her trademark smile.

While they were not out of the mess yet, seeing Ruby alive and kicking was definitely a lift on her spirits.

'Could be worse,' Yang couldn't keep the grin from her face, 'thanks.'

'Weiss?' Ruby called out, 'Weeeeiiiissss?'

'Down here, you dolt!' A voice rang from below, 'You had us worried there!'

'Sorry!'

Though Yang couldn't see Weiss, she could hear similar relief in her voice.

'Blake,' Ruby drew another breath, 'Blaaaaaaake?'

Ruby beamed, but her face fell immediately, 'Where is Blake?'

Yang grimaced, and shook her head, 'They took her, the White Fang.'

'Where?' Ruby demanded.

Yang could only guess. But if the direction of the Bullheads were any clue, they were heading in one direction. She looked off into the distance, and spotted a village they were supposedly going to. As if on cue, distant gunshots echoed through the air, like rolling thunder as it snapped and cracked. Muffled screams followed, along with more automatic fire.

'Then our next objective is clear.' Ruby whispered, her eyes set on the village afar.

….

'Fuck!' Jaune roared, as Cardin lifted him off the ground with one hand, 'Me!'

'I would rather not,' Cardin growled. He was covered head to toe in Grimm blood, as was Russel. Jaune was pretty sure he looked the same, 'Are you hurt?'

'I'm still alive, Cardin,' Jaune replied, 'I was pretty sure Grimm had me.'

'As did I.' Cardin admitted, 'I really thought I was going to die.'

'What in Monty's holy name did you just do?' Russel asked, wiping his blades off his trousers. Upon realizing the blood stained upon his pants were making his blade dirtier, he sheathed it without another thought.

'I don't know. One second I felt teeth on my throat, and next, it was gone.'

'That's one hell of a semblance you have there, Arc.' Cardin remarked, he gestured to the forest, 'Hell, look at what you did.'

Forever Fall was covered in black. Steaming, stinking and rotting piles of bone and meat of dead Grimm. It was at that exact moment, Jaune registered the smell. It hit him worse than the Grimm wave, and he was instantly on the ground, retching up bile.

'Monty above!' he gasped for air between coughs and hurls, 'Did they always smell this bad?'

'Yea,' Cardin grinned, 'now get up. Don't make me hold your hair back.'

That earned the leader of CDRL a prompt middle finger. Russel laughed, and patted Jaune on the back.

'Thanks, man. We owe you big time.'

'Shut up,' Jaune groaned, 'not so loud.'

A distant explosion shut the boys up. A fireball was expanding through the air in a huge puff of black and thick smoke. The only thing that was heading in that direction were the Bullheads.

And the rest of the team.

'Oh dear Monty, no…' Jaune whispered, 'No. NO. NO!'

The feeling of nausea and sickness evaporated as he realized what that explosion could mean.

Team RWBY, Ren, Nora. All of them. They would be dead. Burnt to crisp in the fiery inferno expanding into the skies above. What was he supposed to tell Pyhrra? Dear Lord above, no!

He scrambled to his feet, and without thinking, ran to the flaming wreck in the distance.

'Nora! Ren! Ruby!' He screamed their names, his already hoarse voice crackling even more, 'Blake! Weiss! Yang!'

'Jaune! No!' He heard Cardin call from behind, but he did not care. He HAD to get to the wreck. There might be survivors! Those girls are tough, and Ren would never leave Nora alone! Jaune knew he was lying to himself at this point. If the fire didn't kill them, gravity did.

But he had faith, and he hoped faith is going to cut it.

He was tackled from behind, and Jaune fell on the ground, cracking his head on the dirt.

'Get off me!' Jaune roared, as he struggled against the grip.

'Calm yourself, Jaune!' It was Russel. He had always been fast. But Jaune was stronger than him physically.

'I must get to them!' and with a shove, Russel was thrown off. But before he could get up, Cardin was upon him. A fist smashed against Jaune's face, dazing him with the sheer power of the blow. It might have been a pulled punch, but it was powerful nonetheless.

'Pull yourself together, Arc! They are not coming back!' Cardin shouted at his prone form. 'You shame them by acting like this!'

There was no hostility in Cardin's actions, but Jaune felt burning anger nonetheless.

'Fuck off, Cardin! You couldn't care less that your team is-'

He was dragged from the ground and held close to Cardin's face. His eyes were red, glistening with tears unshed but dangerously wild. 'How dare you.'

Cardin drew a fist back, 'How fucking DARE YOU.'

Jaune was sent flying back into the ground. Groggily, he got up and spat blood from his mouth. He knew he deserved it. Cardin's punch had set him straight and snapped him out of his thoughts.

'Cardin, stop!' Russel shouted, putting himself between Jaune and Cardin, but he was shoved aside violently. Cardin did not seem on relenting, 'My team were the ONLY friends I have had. They were the only people that treated me as an equal!'

Next thing Jaune knew, he was pushed against a tree, 'Only around them I do not have to put up this disgusting façade to keep up an image.'

'The Winchesters believe in obedience through strength. We are a dog eat dog bunch, but my team has shown me loyalty and friendship only earned through the constant hardship and mutual respect.' He was literally screaming in Jaune's ear at this point, 'THEY WERE THE ONLY PEOPLE TO SAY SHIT TO MY FACE.'

He pulled back, and Jaune gasped for air, 'These few months my actions to make myself better in everyone's eyes were met with scorn and threats of being disowned by my own family. Treating those weaker than you like equals? Who would have thought?'

A strike to the stomach drove the air out of Jaune, 'But you! You have made friends that will last you a lifetime with nothing more than weakness and deception.'

'You assume I do not know loss? You accuse me of being uncaring and you DARE suggest the deaths of two of my closest do not affect me one bit?'

Another impact, but this time when Jaune's vision returned, Cardin had his head pressed against his. Blood leaked and trailed down their foreheads.

Silence.

'I'm jealous, Arc.' His voice was almost a whisper. 'You have a lot of friends and allies. You have your family and the acceptance of most of your peers. I only have my team. '

He let go of Jaune, and collapsed beside him, 'I so sorry, Arc. You have lost half your team. I feel your loss too. But we can mourn later. Right now we need to make sure their sacrifices are not in vain.'

…

The pistol barked, and a bullet smashed into Blake's arm. In his panic, the man had jerked the trigger, throwing off his aim. Though deflected by Aura, the force spun her around and slowed her considerably.

Another shot, and a flash of pain as her right thigh was split open. The wound wasn't deep, and her Aura prevented further damage, but it was enough to make her stumble. Before he could fire another shot, Blake was upon him. She slid past him, and with practiced ease, she drove her fist to the back of his skull. The man stumbled, and fell to the ground unconscious.

The gunshots were deafeningly loud as it echoed through the skies. The crowd seemed to freeze, animal ears and eyes shot up and were transfixed at the scene unfolding in front of them. Time seemed to stop, as they processed what was happening.

Someone screamed.

The spell was broken, and the crowd descended into chaos. People ran screaming into each other, desperate to put as much distance as they could between themselves and the bleeding Faunus.

Blake snatched the fallen pistol up and pounced away, but nearly tripped over as the nerves in her legs screamed. She had to stick with the crowd, the White Fang won't possibly fire into a bunch o-

Automatic fire raked her position, and she felt a jolt another bullet impacted her back, slamming her face first to the ground. She had to get out, else she was dead. The crowd may protect her from a few bullets, but they were innocent. Blake could not let them get hurt.
Another impact, this time her Aura failed. She felt something graze the sides of her stomach. It wasn't deep, but it was painful. The pain then set in, but it was not her that screamed. She looked up, and into the blank eyes of an elderly deer Faunus. A boy was next to him, screaming incoherently as he shook the motionless man.

Ignoring her wounds, she leapt up and grabbed the boy, just in time to avoid more incoming shots that tore and smashed into the crowd indiscriminately. She could hear Adam screaming in the background, yelling for them to stop firing. But being poorly trained as they were, they didn't. Their blood was up.

The boy yelled and screamed as he struggled against her grip. He reached for the dead man as Blake drew further from the scene, dodging and weaving through crowds, leaving clones to throw off her attackers and ignoring the burning in her wounds.

Once far enough, Blake set the boy down, and continued to run, not looking behind.

She had to run or hide. She realized she was in the middle of a hornets nest, and so far she has done nothing other than shake and kick it around.

Blake stopped in an alley and hid herself behind the housing. She needed to catch her breath. The leg round was annoying her and slowing her down. It needed to be treated.

Gathering her will, she braced herself for the oncoming pain. This was going to hurt, a lot.

Grabbing her leg and getting a good look at the wound. It was an ugly hole in her slender legs, and although her Aura had it stopped a few centimeters in her flesh, the sheer impact had left the muscles purple and bruised.

Blake slowed down her breathing and closed her eyes. She felt her Aura, warm and pulsing in her chest, but weak. Redirecting her flow of energy, she felt that warmth move from her chest down to her right leg. Focusing hard, her Aura went to work.

It started with a mild itch, as she felt the bullet getting forced out, the itch flared into a full blown burning. She fought down a gasp, but briefly lost focus. The burning died down ever so slightly.

Had Blake the luxury of time, she would have slowly ebbed the bullet out. She was no masochist after all, but with the White Fang hunting for her, she could wait no further. Gritting her teeth, she groaned as her muscles hissed close. There was a small metallic plink as the lead round hit the ground.

No time to sort out the other wounds. She needed to move, and fast.

Her ears twitched, as she heard something that made her blood run cold.

The thrumming engines of the chain weapon.

If there is anyone that could track her down, it was Adam. He was coming for her, and she knew it. She needed to hide. Perhaps he would not notice her here?

For the first time in her life, she cursed the Faunus. They had abilities far beyond a human, including night vision, enhanced hearing and smelling. Blake was sure she stank of animal fear in this very moment. She was sweating as fear gripped her insides. She cannot face Adam alone, he had taught her and he will end her. She shivered at the thought, and her wounds stung as the sweat came in contact.

Wait. Her wounds.

My blood!

The engines roared, and her Aura flared. Out of sheer instinct, she ducked. The weapon tore through the brick wall, churning and snarling as dust and fragments flew everywhere. Blake, turned back, and unloaded the pistol through the wall. It only served to make Adam angrier. The wall exploded outwards, and Blake was forced out into the open.

Someone tackled her as soon as she stepped into view, dropping her to the ground. Blake fought and struggled, but her adversary was like a snake, coiling and wrapping his limbs around her, constricting her movements. Her arm was forced onto her back, locking her in place.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw more boots closing in on her. Soon, she was pinned to the ground, unable to move.

'Hello again, Blake.' Her assailant whispered.

'Kaa,' she hissed, 'how are you still alive? Could have sworn Ren killed you.'

Blake couldn't see it, but she could hear his smile, 'My semblance is a useful thing, don't you agree?'

'What are you?'

'I am like any other Faunus,' he replied, 'unlike you, I am proud to be one.'

Blake struggled, and was met with more weight pressing down upon her. She felt him turn to someone.

'Adam. Would you like to do the honors?'

Blake's heart sank. She could not put her emotions into words, so she kept her silence. There was too much to be said, yet his mind was dead set. Blake knew how strong his convictions were. She would have more luck talking to a wall.

'No, Kaa,' Adam sighed, 'but make it quick.'

Blake did not say anything, but she could tell Adam was waiting for her. He wanted her to renounce her ways, to say that she was wrong. He wanted her to give up and rejoin the White Fang. But when Blake refused to utter a single sound, he hesitated.

Something caught his attention, and he turned away, 'Kell?'

'Hold on, Kell. I'm coming.' He turned to the group, 'You people. Stay here and finish the job. I'm sending the others over to Kell.'

With that, he darted off.

Good. She did not want him to see her get killed.

The other Faunus that had gathered surrounded Blake. One of them stepped on her head and ground the soles of his boots on her hair.

'Well, it's your lucky day, traitor,' he said, 'we wanted to keep you alive, but Adam wants you dead, and fast.'

Kaa laughed, 'I don't think he cares, as long as we get the results.'

The boot was lifted from her head, but a thunderous kick to the face followed. Blake grunted as she felt it connect right under her eye, but it did not end there. More kicks followed, fueled by hate, striking her in the forehead, above the eye and right on her nose. Blake yelped at each strike, and was amazed that she was still conscious. By the time he stopped, her face was a swollen, bruised and bleeding mess. Her Aura was already kicking in, and within seconds, only slight bruises remained.

'Fuck.' she groaned groggily, her head still spinning from the impacts.

'We're not done, traitor.' Another said, a female. 'Phos, your knife.'

She bent down, and spat at Blake, 'Working with a Schnee. If you really don't want to be a Faunus, we might as well help you with that.'

Blake screamed out in surprise as she was grabbed by the ears. Surprise turned to horror as she felt the cold touch of steel upon them.

'No…' She begged, 'NO!'

The blade bit deep, and Blake twisted as struggled. She wept as she felt her left ear slowly being cut apart with minimal pressure applied. She felt her flesh split apart, torn and shredded on the jagged edges of a toothed blade. She could only squirm. Blood now ran down her face, blinding her. The other Faunuses cheers and whooped as it finally came off. Blake couldn't do anything. Pain and robbed her of her strength, and she was resigned to her fate.

No one was coming to save her, nor could she fight back or run.

She couldn't see anything due to the blood in her eyes, but she felt fingers upon her face. They were forcing her jaws open. She bit down instinctively.

'Open your mouth,' she heard Kaa hiss, 'open your damn mouth.'

Of course, Blake didn't. But she was unprepared for the knife between her shoulders.

Reactively, she screamed, and something was immediately stuffed her mouth. It was furry, and tasted of blood. She knew what it was. Blake tried to spit it out, but something had forced her head to the ground, trapping her jaw.

She gagged at the smell and taste of blood, warm, coppery and nauseating. They started working on her next ear. The teeth cut and sawed against her other ear, shredding it mercilessly off. They were doing it slowly, ever so slowly, as they wanted her feel it, to scream.

At this point, Blake just wanted to die. She wanted it to all end. But it was impossible. She couldn't bite off her own tongue with her jaw trapped and her own ear in her mouth. All she could do was wait for the cold blade to be used on her throat instead. How long were they going to keep carving her up, she didn't know.

All she could do, was lay there, and weep.

…..

'Help!' The girl yelled, presumably into an earpiece radio. Ren cared not. The chain weapon was large and unwieldy, lacking the usual speed and precision he was used to. His target was already bleeding, a nick from the gnashing teeth had seen her hand shoulder split open.

It was a brutal and ugly weapon. Whatever he touched, was demolished in a shower of sparks, wood and stone. It was heavy, and Ren's muscles ached form swinging it around, but rage fueled him enough to push him to limits that he didn't know existed.

The girl was nimble and fast. She danced around him, avoiding his clumsy strikes, if only barely. When the opportunity presented itself, she had run, fleeing from the scene of combat.

'Run, little girl!' Ren roared before switching to his mother tongue 'Ni pao bu diao de!'

He turned his attention to the prone figure on the ground. Nora's killer. Fury, grief, outrage and all-consuming hatred. Ren never knew such things existed until that very moment.

Before he met Nora, he was lost. A violent kid that got in trouble one too many times. His parents had given up on him. No matter how much they beat and caned him, he was always rebellious and causing trouble. He was the silent kid that no one talked to, or messed with. He distinctly remember kicking a bully down the stairs in front of his cronies and biting off his nose.

While the others treated him with caution and outright dislike, Nora had greeted him with a smile and boop on the nose. He stopped fighting, for every time he did, Nora would be sad. He never knew he could care about someone so much. His urges for violence had slowly disappeared. The worst of him had been forgotten, deep within his mind along the years.

But as he looked at her moving form, it resurfaced, crawling and digging from the recesses of his mind.

She stirred, moaning and clutching the hole in her eye that matched his. Her own growling weapon froze her in place.

She did not even get a chance to scream before Ren lay into her. The axe screeched its bloodlust as it chewed through its former master's Aura with ease, and within half a second, the blades were eating and tearing into her flesh. Blood, brain and bone splattered over Ren as the body jerked and danced as the brain was destroyed. She was already dead, but Ren didn't stop.

He couldn't stop.

As if possessed by whatever foul energies that drove the Grimm, Ren hacked and smashed, into the body. Not once, perhaps a dozen times, perhaps two dozen, Ren didn't care. Each strike threw up a blossom of gore, whizzing bone fragments in every direction. He only stopped when the teeth of the weapon snarled and protested as it started digging into the floor.

The body was nonexistent, spread over the entire room like a mad child's tantrum. Ren himself was coated head to toe with the blood of his victim. Only the whites of his eye could be seen.

This was not war, this was murder. But Ren is content with that fact.

Dragging the chain axe across the floor, he exited the room. His gut told him the girl went to get help, most likely returning with the most capable fighters. As much as he wanted to tear open the White Fang, the odds were against him. He intended to win.

As he strode down the corridor, he checked each room for White Fang. Most were empty, save for one in the corner.

He frowned at the familiar face that sat cross legged in the room with his eyes closed. He seemed oblivious to the presence of Ren, and was in a trance of some sort. But that did not matter. Ren cared not where he had seen the man, nor did he care the fact he was asleep. His mind was already clouded by urges of violence when he spotted the mask of the White Fang that lay next to him.

The axe seemed to grow agitated at the prospect of even more murder. It hungered for a kill, for the taste of flesh and bone between its teeth. Ren knew these emotions were his, and not the weapon's.

The axe roared, and even then the man did not wake.

It was not until Ren left him clutching his own guts did the man wake. By then, Ren had watched him bleed out as he tried to stuff his guts back.

His anger was driven further as the man screamed in pain. He fought the urge to vomit upon hearing the pitiful cries of despair as he realized that no one was going to save him. So Ren did not put him out of his misery. He watched the man bleed to death, kicking and screaming, and he did not feel a pang of regret. He considered it an improvement over his previous actions.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor, and Ren smiled, his white teeth bared against the dark red that coated his skin. More enemies. More blood. More retribution.

He swung, and the axe demolished the thin old walls as if it was made out of paper and into a very surprised female. Screams were drowned out by the deafening snarl of the engines as it worked its razor sharp edges into its first victim. The others backed away, leveling their guns, their eyes opened wide in terror at the bloody incarnation of slaughter.

But Ren was already among them. Blood splattered along the corridor like paint whenever he struck. Anything that got in the way was demolished, be it Faunus or building. The men at the back ran for their lives, screaming in terror while those at the front slipped at fell from the thick blood running freely down the corridor. The smell, so sickly and sweet, only pushed Ren further over the line.

Those that fell died before they could get back up, entire bodies split open wide as the thick teeth gnashed and tore. Aura be damned, nothing short of a barrier would stop such a killing machine.

Ren left the scene, a river of blood, bone, flesh and entrails trailing behind him. The entire place was coated in blood, but Ren was not stopping. He was FAR from done.

They were still running, and they must be cut down.

AN: Well, he's lost it. Others seem to be doing fine, though, don't you agree?