Hours had passed, the sun had started to rise over the Emerald Forest, and four figures were still gathered on a solitary cliff.

A lone, unmanned camera drone floated nearby, silently watching as the four sat in a small circle. Two were cloaked, two were not. A red mask sat before one. Bandages wrapped tightly around the empty shoulder socket of the next, the torn flesh having been properly treated after a week of neglect. One's golden mane lightly brushed the ground, while another mentally explored her new cloak, marveling at its secrets.

The broadcast had ended hours ago. The Reaper and their Demons had stepped into the light for the first time. They had proven their existence. And they had declared war on their enemy.

But that war was still far from truly coming to pass. There were armies to mass, troops to train, and plans to make. Declaring war was step one. Fighting it was another matter entirely.

So they prepared. They meditated, and allowed their strength to grow. They allowed their auras to spill from their bodies freely, spreading out over the cliff and drifting down like a colorful waterfall. It was truly a sight to behold for those that could see it. Red flowed out in force, mixing with the violet and allowing the yellow and white to appear in flakes. But to the untrained eye, it was nothing more than four young women sitting in a tight circle, their eyes closed and their breathing controlled. Sadly, even most hunters would only see the gathering of women, and completely miss the flowing display of power that radiated from them. At most, they would see the gentle glow of their aura outlining them in the darkness.

But despite how empty the surroundings seemed, these 4 were far from alone. They were waiting for those that would come. The ones they trusted to stand beside them. The ones who would step in should they fall. And most importantly, the ones that would know the truth behind the war. They arrived in waves. First would be a pair, then two teams, followed by another pair. Once they all gathered, their fight could finally begin.

Thus the first Huntsman Council of War began.

Ruby sat silently, allowing her breathing to freely match the flow of the air around her. Her lone remaining hand rested on one knee, but she didn't let her lack of a second arm distract her. She was at peace with what had happened, and didn't regret her decision. Even knowing what would happen, she would do it again. After all, the experience had taught her something. Something entirely new to her. Something she thought she would never experience.

It's strange how a desire to live can seemingly come from nowhere.

Her thoughts were cut short by the sound of branches snapping underfoot. She had known they were coming. She could feel them approach, but she wasn't sure how. They came from upwind, moved through shadows, and wasted no movement. But she knew where they were, none the less.

Call it instincts.

The two stopped a dozen feet away and kneeled before the circle team RWBY had made. And they waited, in perfect silence. One by one, the others in the group noticed their guests, and turned their attention towards the newcomers. But despite having team RWBY's full attention, neither spoke. They waited, in silent companionship, their heads bowed and their breath drifting away as mist in the cool morning air.

"What are you two doing?" Ruby finally asked, ending the long silence. She failed to keep a note of humor out of her voice as a smile worked its way onto her lips.

"We brought the ones you trust. We were sure you would want them," one answered. She kept her blue eyes turned downward. Her black hair was gently brushing the ground as she kneeled, tracing a small trail through the dirt. Dark clothing was wrapped around her body, helping her blend into the shadows surrounding her. And atop her head rested two small, round ears, revealing her Faunus heritage.

"That's not quite what she means," Blake chuckled as she moved to the side, opening a space for the newcomers to join the circle.

"Forgive us for not being sure how to act. It's not every day the Alpha and Beta emerge to declare war upon our enemies," the second replied, though with a note of humor creeping into her voice. She too had hair hanging off her shoulders, not quite reaching the ground. A chest rested upon her hip, held in place by a skewed golden belt. Tight cloth wrapped her entire body, with shifts in color barely visible in the darkness. But once again, the most prominent feature of this newcomer was a pair of elongated ears, stretching from the top of her head.

"Heeding the call of the highest existence, we are here to serve," the first replied, completely serious. She clearly meant what she said, because when the circle began to laugh, she stiffened in shock.

"The highest existence?" Weiss laughed as she pulled her hood back.

"These two?" Yang chipped in, gesturing to her leader and her partner as she did.

"Of course," the bear Faunus replied, her serious tone faltering. "As the mate and kin of the Alpha, the two of you are the next in line to such a role." She paused before continuing, with a note of worry in her voice, "We can leave if we were too presumptuous in our actions. We meant no disrespect."

The laughing abruptly cut out. All eyes were on the women kneeling before the circle, the air suddenly thick with tension. But the moment was brief, as a voice cut out in the night.

"Don't be ridiculous, Bell," Ruby said, all traces of the previous humor gone from her voice. "You and Velvet will always be welcome among us. You perceived an alpha and her pack, without realizing that this pack has space for the both of you. We may not be your home, or even your true pack, but we will always welcome you."

At those words, the tension surrounding the circle faded away, with an easy air settling in around the group. After a brief moment, Velvet spoke up from her spot next to Bell. "Well said, Ruby. That is exactly what one would expect from the Alpha. As a beta myself, I can't help but be envious of Blake."

"There is nothing to envy, Velvet," Blake said. "As Ruby just said, you are just as much a member of this pack as I am. Possibly more so, given the history between you two." At the confused look she received from those around her, she quickly added, "Statera link. I saw the interrogation."

"Nothing could be further from the truth," Velvet replied, her voice gaining a certain chill as she spoke. She shifted her position so she could sit among the circle, staring directly at Blake. She didn't threaten, but her point was going to be clear. "The history Ruby and I share as Reaper and Inquisitor may be longer than your time together, but I wasn't born to join her. I am a beta, but I wasn't born the Beta. Nor was I born to be mate or kin. I am a rabbit. To stand among so many mystics as an equal is already quite an achievement. But I wasn't born to do so."

"Mystics?" Bell questioned from beside Velvet, finally rising from the kneeling position. She slowly moved to join the circle.

"I'm sure you can feel it," Velvet replied, looking at each of the women around her. "Both as Faunus and humans, they are not ordinary existences. Each of them possess a unique strength." Her eyes stopped scanning, focusing first on Yang. "There is the wrath of the dragon, whose great strength is only matched by the wrath they feel if those they love are harmed." Next she looked to Blake. "Then there is the panther, the only being known to contain the dragon's strength, becoming a demon itself when silently stalking its prey."

Weiss felt Velvet's gaze as it fell upon her. "Next is the mystic fox. A nine tailed beast whose wisdom is greater than the oldest ancient, and whose control over their own power can bring about the fall of a kingdom in a single night." And then the gaze fell to Ruby. "And finally, the dire wolf. In terms of strength, it is far from the strongest. In terms of speed, it is far from the quickest. In terms of knowledge, it is far from the smartest. But never did that hold it back. The ferocity that it fights with could render the strongest enemies powerless. The ruthlessness that it pursued its foes with drove even the fastest into a corner. The cunning of its hunting trapped even the smartest of prey. And what allowed it to do all this, was the complete and total trust it has in its pack. Never has any beast been more deserving of the title, Alpha."

"Well said, Velvet," Ruby mused, returning the group's attention back to her. "But you were wrong about one thing."

"And what would that be?"

"That you were not born to stand among us."

Velvet's eyes widened momentarily at Ruby's claim. But the reaction was brief, as her face settled back into a neutral expression. "I was not born the way I am today. I only stand with you because of what men did to my body. The dust that runs through my veins has nothing to do with my birth. I was made this way. It may not have been their goal, but I was made this way so I could stand with you."

"Velvet, it is true that you were made the way you are. But it is not true that that is the only reason you can stand with us. The rabbit is considered small by many, weak by nature. But they only see what they want to. They do not see the cleverness behind your eyes. The quickness of the rabbit does not end at the speed it moves. Nor does it determine the fight that it possesses. Your desire to live is what pulled you through those dark times. But now, it is your desire to protect others from your fate that drives you forward. Some legends say that the elixir of life is brewed by the rabbit. It is up to you, to decide what that life means."

"So you say," Velvet replied, a small smile working its way onto her lips. "Let's leave this for now. I can hear them coming, and I'm already going to have enough questions to answer."

Sure enough, as soon as Velvet said this, the calls of the others began to ring through the air.

"Velvet! Where'd you go?! It's too late for this cryptic shit!" A tired female voice called.

"I did not spend all day cleaning up after team RWBY and locking up criminals just to crawl through the woods," an equally tired, but much deeper male voice replied.

"Neither did I, Yats, but Velvet insisted. Besides, who else was gonna do it? No one else knew where they were going. Velvet still needs to tell us how she knew."

"Instincts," a third voice said simply, sounding gruff from a lack of use.

"I know what she said, Fox. But that's not much of an answer. Instincts don't send you after an unscheduled transport only to see an explosion as that living fireball touched down. Nor does it give you clear orders from the Reaper themselves."

"What's this about the Reaper?" Yet another male voice interrupted, this one lighter than the other two.

"Arc? JNPR? What are you guys doing out here?"

"Probably the same as you!" A female voice replied, it's energetic tone suggesting a smile.

"I highly doubt you're out here looking for Velvet."

"Velvet's out here? We were looking for that girl that started joining the lessons. She just showed up at our door, muttered something about the Reaper and literally dragged Pyrrha away." Another male voice chimed in, his gentle tone drifting through the air.

"I didn't quite understand why she picked me out, but I was still dressed, so I followed anyways." One more voice added in, her tone polite as she addressed the upperclassmen. "But when we were in the middle of the woods, she suddenly let go and went on ahead. I waited for my team, but I don't know where she's gone now."

"There's a clearing up ahead, then a cliff. If they aren't there, I have nowhere else to look," the first female voice concluded, allowing the newly formed group to fall into silence as they emerged from the tree line.

The sight of the six women sitting in a circle stopped them short of approaching. They clearly recognized the girls, but something was different about them. The air seemed to simmer with energy around them, warming the cool morning air.

"Alpha, my pack has arrived," Velvet said without turning about.

"As has the sister pack," Bell added, bowing her head slightly as she did.

"That they have," Ruby replied, rising from her sitting position. "I'm sorry for dragging you out so late at night," she called to the new arrivals, her ears twitching at the sound of twigs snapping underfoot.

"It's understandable," Jaune replied from beside his team. "It was a long day from what we can tell."

"Arc, you don't know the half of it," Coco muttered as she approached the small circle. "You weren't dragged off by an unusually energetic brunette to spend your day cleaning up after those four." She paused as she glanced at Ruby's gruesomely apparent injury. "How ya doin', Red?"

"I've had better days," Ruby shrugged, an action that seemed awkward with only one shoulder. "But it is what it is."

"Maybe next time you won't run off on your own to play vigilante."

Coco's comment brought a smile to Ruby's lips as she nodded in agreement. "As good a lesson as any. But now I'm the curious one. What gave me away?"

"Oh, I knew day one at that lesson. Your cloak has a rather unique stitching pattern. It wasn't something that would escape my eyes. But I held my tongue. These two figured it out when you disappeared, only to reappear with the kidnapped Winter Schnee. But apparently, the three of us were kept in the dark by someone else as well."

Velvet's ears drooped noticeably at the comment, sagging along with her shoulders. "I never wanted to lie to you," she whispered without turning about. "But I thought it would be too dangerous for you to know. It's not like you knowing what I do would have made my life any easier."

Coco sighed and stopped beside her teammate, kneeling down next to her. "But you don't regret it, do you?"

Velvet didn't say anything for a bit as she seemed to ponder the question. Then, slowly, her head began to shake as she whispered "No. It's what made the person I am today, and it protected those closest to me." Glancing over her shoulder, she added, "I only regret having to lie to you about it."

Smiling lightly, Coco pulled off her beret and sat next to Velvet. "Then you did the right thing. Let's just make sure that, in the future, the right thing involves your team."

Without saying a word, the remainder of Velvet's team took up spots around her, taking their seat among the circle. The slim figure of Fox slid in next to Blake, blending into the darkness that seemed to envelope the air around her. Yatsuhashi slipped in next to Yang, his hulking figure forcing him to sit slightly outside the circle, casting long shadows from the light that Yang seemed to naturally produce.

Ruby then turned to team JNPR, giving a weak smile to her friends. "Hey guys, thanks for coming."

"Of course," Jaune shrugged, "Considering what you've been through, we can sacrifice one night."

Before Ruby could speak again, she was met with a crushing hug, filled with the raw emotions of one Nora Valkyrie. "I was afraid you weren't coming back," the ginger girl muttered into her friend's shoulder.

Slowly, Ruby wrapped her remaining arm around her friend. "It was a long job," she conceded. "Don't worry though, I don't plan on leaving you guys just yet."

"That's good to hear," Lie Ren added, locking eyes with Ruby as he gently pulled Nora away from her. "We would like to keep the friends that we have."

While Ren led Nora to the circle, Pyrrha made her way to Ruby, closely followed by Jaune. Very carefully, she placed a hand on Ruby's injured shoulder, ensuring that she didn't stray too close to the wound. Green eyes met with silver as Pyrrha smiled softly, a plethora of emotions swirling in her eyes. Ruby nodded, understanding the feelings the talented warrior was experiencing, and returned the smile..

Jaune didn't speak as he walked up beside Pyrrha, placing a hand on his partner's shoulder. With a simple smile and a nod to Ruby, he pulled Pyrrha away and joined the circle with the rest of his team, gathering with team CFVY and watching Ruby expectantly.

Ruby, however, wasn't done greeting guests. She continued to stare into the apparently empty forest, waiting on the final arrivals.

With great care, two more figures emerged from the forest, eliciting shocked expressions from both team JNPR and CFVY. Weiss, Yang, and Bell made no clear reaction, but with the exception of Ruby, only Blake seemed to have been waiting for these two.

"Professor. Commander," Ruby greeted the pair as Glynda Goodwitch and Ozpin made their way into the clearing. "I have been expecting you."

"As one would expect from you, Ms. Rose," Ozpin replied as he stopped and rested both hands atop his cane. "The events of the past few days have been rather traumatic. Perhaps we should move this along to allow you and your team a chance to recover?"

"As good a plan as any," Ruby replied, turning away from her teachers and joining the circle. "The inner circle has arrived, so there is nothing to hold us back."

"Excellent," Glynda replied, approaching the group and placing her hands behind her back. "This goes without saying, but everything that is to occur here is extremely confidential. If the general public were to realize what is to happen here, the Hunter Association may not be able to weather the political storm that is sure to follow."

A round of silent nods greeted her, to which she returned her own. Satisfied, she stepped aside and allowed Ozpin to approach the group.

"What happened in the night, and what is to come, is without precedent. War was openly declared, but no battle will be fought just yet. It is not a fight between nations, but a power struggle between factions. Recently, the Red Fang, the terrorist group hiding in the shadow of the White Fang, has emerged in an attempt to take control of the Schnee Corporation. Clearly, by the mere presence of Ms. Schnee and her sister among us, they have failed. But that will not stop them. Ms. Rose has already confirmed that the Red Fang has reduced the Atlesian military council to nothing more than puppets and the Mistralian council is comprised of White Fang leaders. At this point, we can assume the White Fang is completely under the control of the Red Fang, and will be acting on their orders. We expect attacks to grow more violent, bring about more death, and become much more organized. As such, it is our duty as huntsmen and huntresses to do everything in our power to stop this."

"When the White Fang and Red Fang acted almost completely separately, I could handle it alone," Ruby added. "But now, with the Red Fang claiming the resources of the White Fang, this will no longer be the case."

"This is a possibility that both Ms. Rose and I have discussed, and as such, we have a plan to proceed. I am ashamed to do this, but I'm afraid I must ask for your help. Our association has experienced a decline in the past decade, as more and more Hunters choose to work as freelance mercenaries or join kingdom militaries over joining the Hunter Association. As such, we don't have the strength as we are to battle an entire criminal organization on top of the encroaching Grimm. We are barely treading water, and another wave might be enough to put us under."

"That is where you come in, if you choose to walk this path with us." Glynda cut in, looking at the two teams that arrived just before them. "Team JNPR, team CFVY, the two of you are perhaps the most influential teams of your classes. Many other students look up to you, especially after your most recent displays in combat training. Team RWBY may be the most recognized, but their current strength, as well as their most recent display in the cafeteria, makes many uncomfortable to approach them. As such, it will be your jobs to promote the Hunter Association to your fellow students. Sadly, this is a war, and as in any war, numbers are key. The more talented people we have, rather than losing them to the militaries of corrupted nations, the better chance we have of winning."

"Your job, however, will not end there," Ozpin continued. "From this day forward, both team JNPR and team CFVY are given the rights of full-fledged hunter teams, in all but title. You will continue as students for the time being, for the reasons Glynda just gave, but on occasions, you will receive missions directly from me. You will become the faces of the Hunter Association. When you thwart a theft by the White Fang, the media will praise you. When you stop a Grimm horde from destroying a village, the people will honor you. A few of you are already used to such pedestals, and I'm sorry for placing you there again, but you are the heroes we will need. Because when the people aren't looking, you will be hunting the White Fang in their bases. When they sleep, you will be hunting the Red Fang from the shadows. And when the people awaken in the morning, you will do all you can to ensure the world they return to didn't disappear in the night. For most, I would fear for your safety, but given your unique abilities and the lessons given to you by the Reaper over the past few months, I believe that you are the most likely to come home safe. If you choose to accept, we will do all we can to assist you. If you decline, we will think no less of you."

No one spoke as the words sank in. From this day forward, they could be Hunters. They could become the heroes they had dreamed of. The force of good that they always hoped they would be. But at the same time, they would be thrown into a world that few had ever seen. The realm of the Reaper. A dark, dangerous future. As the leaders of their teams, Jaune and Coco felt this danger more than the others. Their decision here could lead to the loss of one of their friend's life. In the same moment, the two looked at each other, locked eyes, and nodded.

"We would be honored to accept," they said in unison. They had arrived at the same conclusion. Such a decision is dangerous. Any one of them could die in those shadows, and no one would be any the wiser.. But if they backed down now, it would most certainly mean the death of team RWBY. As Glynda said, numbers could make the difference in any war.

Ozpin nodded once before speaking again. "Very well. As senior hunters, Glynda and I will do all in our power to assure your victory and safe return home." Satisfied with the conclusion, Ozpin turned to Ruby, who had returned to her team's side.

"It is now, as Commander of the Hunters, that I make this announcement. With the recent attacks upon our association, we have lost two headmasters and four generals. While the headmasters have already been replaced, the generals will take some time. As such, the Hunter Association is currently experiencing a power vacuum. Ms. Rose, we cannot confirm, as things are now, that someone within the association will not foolishly make a move on you, hoping to gain fame for catching the Reaper. So on this day, for the safety of you and those around you, I am disbanding team RWBY."

The declaration rung out over the cliff face, echoing in the night air. Team JNPR and CVFY both stiffened at what was said, preparing to argue violently against the decision. That is, until they noticed the calm looks on the faces of their companions. Weiss, Yang, Blake and Ruby hadn't even flinched at what was said, knowing that even if that was his goal, Ozpin could never hope to separate the team as it was now.

"On this day, the team formerly referred to as RWBY will change designation within our organization. All four members will be transferred to a new division of the Hunter Association, and to be referred to from this point on as the Stalker Division. As founding members of the Stalker Division, each member will be given the title of Demon, a rank that, from this day forward, stands equal with that of generals. The only exception will be that of Ms. Rose, whose official title will match that of her alias, and whose rank will be second only to my own. It will be her division to run, recruiting from the academies as she sees fit. The sole goal of this division, as of this moment, is to combat the Fangs, and to keep the people safe from the criminals that would see them harmed. All necessary resources will be provided for you. I only ask that you continue to attend Beacon as students, not to become huntresses, but to become the leaders of the next generation."

No words were spoken as each member of the former team RWBY nodded, having expected as much. Nodding in return, Ozpin turned and made his way out of the clearing, allowing Glynda to step forward and conclude the meeting. "It is with great honor that I greet the graduating class of… of the Reaper. It is my hope that peace will follow you, and that even in your darkest times, you have a light at the end of the tunnel. But along every step of the road you now travel, those with you now shall provide a warmth that no other can. May the comfort of a comrade always be with you. So, team JNPR, team CFVY, Reaper and her Demons, welcome to the Hunter Association."

The small collection of teams sat upon the cliff long after the professors left them behind, discussing the future, and all that it may hold. They remained seated in a circle, slightly intermingled as Team JNPR dispersed itself within the group. Despite outward appearances, most of them were nervous. No matter how strong they were, it didn't change the fact that they were students, warriors in training. In their school, the prospect of war wasn't something that was confronted. With a few key exceptions, it seemed that everyone at Beacon chose to ignore the growing possibility of war in favor of hunting the beasts of Grimm. And it was showing now.

"So what are we supposed to do?" Jaune asked, cutting off all conversation that was proceeding it. "Ruby, you and your team may be geared up for war, but that's not why we came to this school. We will stand beside you, and we will support you, but honestly, we don't know what that means. We know things need to change, and we know you are the catalyst, but beyond that…"

When Jaune trailed off, Coco spoke up from her spot in the center of her team. "What is it that you will have us do? From what you and professor Ozpin have said, you appear to have a fair number of plans for us. But what are these plans? What do you expect from us, Red?"

"It's exactly as the commander said," Ruby replied, not moving from her sitting position. "You will become the faces for the Hunter Association. You are the warriors that children will look up too. You will be the ones they see standing between them and the Red Fang once this war truly begins. For now, both sides lurk in the shadows, but for the first time, the people are seeing our outlines. And because of this, they need someone in the light that will stand between them and the beasts."

"But that is only part of it, isn't it?" Coco pushed. "We saw that base. The outside was like a war zone. And yet, the people there survived, despite the fact I felt no aura coming from them. Inside the base, however, is something I wish I could forget. Endless concrete corridors, branching off in who knows how many directions, splattered in the blood of countless victims. The path that you walk is so dark, I don't know how you haven't lost your way. Yet your team follows you without question. What you four share is something that I could never hope to match, even within my own team."

"I understand what she means," Jaune added. "Ozpin, for whatever reason, showed me the reports. The reports of everything you've done as the Reaper since joining the Hunters, Ruby. And how you haven't lost your grasp on the world, I don't know."

"What are you two saying?" Weiss asked, her level voice carrying no threat, only curiosity.

Coco took a deep breath before locking her eyes on Ruby's. "What I'm saying, and what I'm sure Arc will agree with, is that I won't kill for you. I won't be a gun for you to point at the enemy. I will stand as a shield for the people, but if you expect me, or my team, to walk your path, I won't have any part of it." Both Fox and Yatsuhashi nodded in agreement from their spots in the circle.

Jaune didn't respond at first, but after running his eyes over his team, he too nodded. "Ruby, you are our friend, and quite possibly the one who will become a hero of a generation, but what the history books will teach and what really happens are quite different. My team will stand guard for you, but we won't simply be your tools. We won't bloody our hands simply because you ask us too."

"How DARE you," A voice cut in. Bell was sitting cross legged near team RWBY, her hands clenched into fists so tightly her nails were nearly drawing blood. "The Alpha has done her best to teach you what she knows, to ensure you can survive the war that is coming, and you repay her by assuming…"

"Bell." Ruby's voice cut the young bear Faunus off mid-sentence, her voice surprisingly stern. "It's fine, their fears aren't unfounded."

"But..."

"Relax," Ruby told Bell, her own voice softening. She then turned to look at team CFVY and JNPR. "I understand exactly how you feel. It was something that I too was struggling with as a leader. This isn't the path I wanted to lead my team down. But before I could figure out how to deal with this, they followed me. And while I will welcome their companionship, this is not the life I wished for them. If it is at all possible, I would prefer to prevent your teams from reaching the same crossroads." Ruby took a deep breath after that, as if preparing to reveal some bad news. "That is why you won't be fighting the Red Fang."

The was a moment of silence after that, before nearly every member of teams JNPR and CFVY spoke up at the same time.

"Then why are we here?"

"You think you can stop us?"

"You can't do this alone!"

"Ruby, you can't mean…"

"And how will you stop us?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"What?"

All of theses exclamations came at the same time, with only one voice not joining the fray. Velvet remained silent, not taking her eyes off Ruby. Her face told a story of emotions, but all of them delivered a clear message. She agreed.

Ruby raised a hand, silencing everyone around her in a moment. "Before we attract every Grimm to the area, let me explain." Looking first at Jaune, then Coco, Ruby gathered her thoughts, then spoke in an even tone. "The Red Fang are beasts that have surrendered their humanity. In exchange for this, they have strength unimagined. That is why they survived Yang's initial airdrop despite their apparent lack of an aura. If you are to fight them, it will be a battle to the death. They won't stop until you are dead at their feet, or until the last breath escapes them. The only reason they were knocked out by Yang was because they were caught off guard. In a stand up fight, that will never be the option. My team has already accepted that danger, and the results, but I won't force that decision upon yours. I'll send you against the White Fang where I can, in order to ensure that there is no need for you to kill in order to survive."

"But what about the Red Fang that are hidden among the White Fang? Wouldn't they have agents in the groups, in order to assure their goals are met?"

"That is true," Ruby conceded, a shadow crossing her face. "In that case…"

"I will do it."

Velvet's voice was so sudden, those around her jumped, and even Ruby appeared surprised for a moment. The shock quickly passed, but all eyes were now on the usually timid rabbit Faunus.

"That dark path, it's something I've walked for quite some time. In fact, I've already lost my way once. If it wasn't for Ruby, I wouldn't be here today."

"Vel…" Coco started, but was stopped when Velvet looked at her leader.

"Coco, you don't need to worry about this. Just know that I am able to detect the Red Fang for what they are, and I will take care of it. I won't lose my way again. But I'll do everything I can to light the path, so it won't be near as dark for those behind me."

"Velvet, you do know that that means, don't you?" Ruby asked from her spot in the circle.

"I do, Ruby, but it won't happen again. I've nearly broken through that wall. Once I do, I can join you on the front line. But until then, and even after, let me stay with my team, and team JNPR. I'll be their guide, keeping the darkness at bay with all my strength. I'm far enough along that 'that' shouldn't be a problem.

"If you say so," Ruby conceded. "In that case, I will send all of you together on those missions. That way, you can hold each other up should something go wrong, and Velvet can ensure your safety from any Red Fang personnel."

A small round of muttering followed this announcement, but there was no arguments against her. But all eyes were now on Velvet, several pondering just what 'that' was.

As the sun rose, the meeting adjourned, JNPR and CVFY had eventually left team RWBY alone on the cliff with Bell. All five meditated, allowing the wind to flow around them, stimulating their senses as their awareness expanded far beyond the standard human consciousness. Yang and Weiss both reveled in the sensations of enhanced hearing and smell, experiencing nature in ways that were originally reserved solely for Faunus. Ever so slowly, Ruby and Blake could feel their partners working their way towards Statera. They still had quite a distance to travel, but the two Faunus could tell that the rate they grew far exceeded either of their expectations.

Bell sat with her back to the group, looking out at the sun as it began to peek over the trees in the distance. She allowed her senses to gradually retract from the world around her, and chose instead to watch as the sun began to warm the world below. It would have been a perfectly innocent decision, if fear hadn't been radiating from her, throwing off the mediation of the other four girls.

Calmly, Ruby rose from her sitting position, silently moving to sit before Bell, her legs hanging over the edge. With a subtle nod of her head, Ruby beckoned Bell to join her. With nervous, shaking legs, Bell moved closer to Ruby, stopping short of the actual ledge and sitting just behind Ruby.

"What's the matter, Bell?" Ruby asked, not turning about to look at the bear Faunus.

"Heights," Bell said simply, scooting farther from the edge as she did.

"Really?" Ruby replied, genuinely surprised. "I never would have guessed."

"Leon was afraid of water," Bell shrugged, barely concealing a tremor in her voice. "You know, before…" she trailed off, not wanting to discuss the topic any further.

"I remember. I met him on a rainy day beneath a bridge. He was being harassed by homeless humans, but he refused to step out in the rain," Ruby reminisced. "I've never seen a group of men run faster than that day. Apparently, a wet wolf Faunus growling from the shadows wasn't something they had expected."

"I remember that story," Bell replied. "I never would have thought that my mentor would have been personally saved by the Reaper."

"It's a small world," Ruby conceded. "But we're off topic. You know I can smell your fear. Hell, I can feel it. And so can they," She nodded to her team, who continued to meditate. "I did tell you that you would always be welcome here."

"I know, but…" Bell trailed off, looking back out at the sun. "When I was Bear, I was so easily discarded. I can't help but feel like…"

"Bell, what are you afraid of?"

Bell hesitated, not sure how to ask her question, before bluntly blurting it out. "What is my role in all of this? What am I even needed for? I feel like I'm just a pity project tagging along. I don't know what I am to you. Especially now that I know about 'her."

At first Ruby looked up at the sky. "So you sensed it. I figured you would, all things considered." Ruby then calmly glanced over her shoulder, looking directly at Bell as she replied. "Your role here is whatever you want it to be. Everyone is here for their own reasons. I need all the help I can get, and I did promise to train you. The progress you have made is astounding, and I'm honestly surprised how quickly you grasped the concepts of Statera. But no matter what you choose, I will support you the best I can."

"But what future does that leave me? What am I fighting for? Once this war ends, you have your pack. You have something to come back to, a family to fight for. While mine would rather I be dead. Or they already think I am."

"Do you regret what happened?" Ruby asked, her voice giving away no emotion.

Bell pondered for a moment before shaking her head. "No, I don't. This is the best for me, and I know that. It's just difficult coming to terms with how it happened. I'm sent to exterminate a threat, only to fail and join forces with that threat myself. If only the others could see what I saw. If only they could hear what I hear. Or know what I now know."

"Then there you go," Ruby concluded. "Save your family. Give them the option that you almost didn't have."

"But how can I do that?" Bell argued. "You were raised to be a hunter, born to be a hero. I was born a street rat. I was taught to distrust everyone around me. And it almost made me into a monster. The four of you are different. Even the rabbit. But you are all exceptions. I'm not sure I can bring myself to trust the people of this school. When I was a child, many a time, it was a hunter than would cause the most harm to those around me. But even then, I know, without them, I will never be able to save those trapped in the same web you cut me from."

"Then I believe I know a solution to your problem," Ruby replied, looking back out as the sun cleared the tree line and began to trace its path across the sky. "We need to find people that you can trust. We need to find people that will be there for you when you need them to be. People who can help you along the way. We simply need to find your team."

See? Not dead! I know I was gone long enough to believe that though... Yeah, I can't even express how sorry I am about that. I determined, this summer, that my family is never conducive to my writing. Put a 40 hour a week job on top of that would sometimes go up to 60 hours with overtime, and writing time does not exist.

But I'm back at school now, and hopefully I will have more control over my schedule. I plan to start a writing schedule and keep it this time. I've told GhostPhoenix113 to bug the shit out of me if I don't keep it. But once again, I'm sorry this took so long, and I hope to never do that again.

On that note, stop leaving reviews asking if this is done, especially as a guest. If you want an update on progress, especially with how long this took me, send me a PM. I have no problem with that. But reviews like that bug the hell out of me. Not calling any one person out, just letting this be known. And for those of you that feared this was over, no, not quite yet. I am coming up on the ending I have planned, but we still have a bit to go. I will never abandon this, or any other project unfinished. I don't intend to take this long again, but shit happens. Just remember, every story deserves an ending, and I won't leave mine unfinished.

In any case, let me know what you though, follow, fave, review, PM, whatever gets you there. Thank you to those of you that waited for this, I'll be sure to make it up to you.

Biologists really struggle in math class. You always need to remind them that Division isn't the same as Multiplication.