Hello there! Welcome back for another chapter of 'The Darkling Thrush'!

Before we get started, I'd like to thank everyone who left a review on the last chapter. Thank you Baoh joestar, Ussop, noone297 and jin0uga. As always I'd like to thank you for your tremendous support in this story.

Also, Baoh, I laughed a lot at more at your comment than I probably should have. I just imagined Cardin running around voiced by Chris Tucker and Russel talking in Chinese for the first half of Rush Hour just to purposely screw with everyone.

This was by far the most I've written in one sitting and so far the most action heavy of any chapter. I've been working on my fight scenes over the years and I hope to nail them down before we reach the Vytal Festival. Because, well, that's self explanatory really.

Well that's enough yapping for now, on with the show!


XXIV

Who Dares Wins: Part 4


Gunshots rang loudly throughout the Oakwood forest. The White Fang members halted their work, startled by how close it sounded. They gathered their weapons and stowed away the Grimm before setting out to follow the noises that had suddenly ceased. A silent hush fell across the land, everyone waiting for the next shots to kick off.

"Okay, we can't ever let anyone know what we did." Cardin said firmly as both he and Russel sat around the unconscious body of the Inn Keeper. "If word got out back at Beacon that the first person we beat up was a woman, everyone would start thinking we're a bunch of sexists."

"Everyone already thinks we're a bunch of sexists." Russel scoffed as he inspected the handgun they'd wrestled away from the Inn Keeper. He held it up against one of his daggers and spotted similar sigils on both weapons, thus confirming the Inn Keeper's allegiance to the White Fang. "We're also apparently racists. This incident doesn't help either case. So fuck it, whatever."

"They'll be coming." Cardin said as Russel handed him the handgun. "Sure you don't need it?" He asked his partner as he accepted the weapon.

"You'll need it more than me." Russel said before standing up. He extended his hand to Cardin, who gratefully accepted the assist back onto his feet.

"I serve as a distraction, get their attention and then you sneak in and gut the Grimm in their cages." Cardin said as they began to head out. "Whatever it is they want with the Grimm, we can't allow the White Fang to get away with them."

"Agreed." Russel nodded.

Understanding their parts in their half-baked plan, the two huntsman set off in different directions. Cardin ran as fast as he could, his mace in one hand and the Inn Keeper's hand gun in the other. The Winchester boy sped off like a bullet thorough the lights of White Fang search parties.

"There!" One of the white robed fanatics shouted as he caught sight of Cardin.

As they'd planned, the White Fang members set off after Cardin, leaving their operation relatively unprotected. That left Russel with the menial task of sneaking past the one or two sentries they'd left guarding the caged Grimm.

The young Thrush could hear gunfire out in the distance. A part of him worried of Cardin's wellbeing, but he pushed those thoughts aside, recalling with semblance of increased strength and durability. The Winchester boy was a walking tank, an armed and dangerous tank to boot.

Russel crawled into one of the truck containers and drew his daggers. The next part was tricky, after all, the Grimm would surely be startled by his presence and alert the sentries outside. So Russel got to work and approached the nearest caged creature, a Beowulf of all things. It growled quietly as it stared at Russel as he approached. Russel knelt beside the cage in order to taunt the beast into coming closer. It let out a loud growl and lunged at the bars. Russel then thrust his daggers through the bars, causing the Beowulf to impale itself on them.

He withdrew his daggers and set to work on the next captured Grimm. Beyond the container, he could hear the two sentries wondering aloud at what the commotion was. They'd be right on top of him soon. So Russel decided to speed run it and set to cutting the locks on all the cages off.

Back in the forest, Cardin busied himself with leading the White Fang members as far away from their work site as possible. He needed to buy Russel enough time to accomplish his task and thankfully the White Fang weren't exactly in the chance taking mood, they'd practically sent their entire force after him.

Cardin just kept running, their shouts for him to stop falling on deaf ears. But then the gunfire started, causing Cardin to switch his running in a straight line tactic to more of a zig zag through the trees sort of effort. The White Fang were armed with rifles, Atlas tech that had been stolen on one of their raids.

Cardin's armor was tough and his semblance was tougher. The bullets would bounce of the young man, feeling like a light tap or a simple flick. But the Winchester boy would eventually have to stand his ground, there was no conceivable way that he could run all night. His aura meter had indicated he was half full last time he checked, that was after he and his team had taken care of the pack of Creeps.

Growing tired and getting closer to town, Cardin realized that final stand of his would be happening sooner than he expected. He needed to buy Russel time sure, but the last thing he wanted was to put civilians in harm's way. Maybe if they were close enough to town, the gunfire would catch everyone's attention and Port and the rest of his team would come running to investigate. Hopefully Cardin would still be around for them to help.

Pushing those grim thoughts aside, Cardin pressed on, avoiding another hail of bullets that streaked around him. Dead ahead, Cardin decided upon spotting an old rundown Cabin in the woods, that would be his final stand, his Cape Groad.

"He's heading for the cabin!" One of the White Fang members shouted.

Cardin made it to the cabin, bullets striking everything around him and bouncing off his back. He took up a position behind the cabin's only standing roof and aimed the Inn Keeper's handgun out the window at the crazed zealots that chased him.

He'd never used a gun before, Cardin realized as he felt the weight of the weapon in his palm. He'd always been more of a melee type of guy. That was his strength as a large hulking figure, he'd intimidate his opponent with his size and bash them into the pavement with his equally hulking mace. Cardin let out a warning shot, as a means to halt the White Fang's advance. The kickback from the handgun was unexpected, however. The gun slammed itself against Cardin's face, causing him to grunt in pain. If this was an indicator of how things were going to go, then he was surely doomed.

But the Winchester boy's resolve was not crushed. He steadied the gun in his hand and took aim as the hail of bullets tore through what was left of the old cabin. This was the life of a Huntsman, they looked death in the face every day and laughed at impossible odds. What were a handful of crazed masked types to a pack of ravenous Grimm? That Ursa back in Forever Fall forest scared him more than these jokers.

There positions were sloppy, the White Fang were completely unaware of their surroundings. And that was why Cardin would come out on top, that's why Winchesters always came out on top. He stuck his feet to the ground and braced himself for the kickback of the gun and opened fire once more. Out of the barrel shot out a blink and you'll miss it bullet that struck the side of a tree that one of the White Fang was using for cover. The splinters that ripped out of the tree bathed the zealot, causing him to jump back and run for more suitable cover.

They could sweep the land with a hail of bullets, but Cardin would stand firm. He could take whatever they could dish out. They could try organizing but even then there would be no other result. So he took his time with aiming, which was something those whom he fought could benefit from learning. He let out another shot, his efforts had rewarded him by striking and damaging one of the White Fang's weapons. Cardin just smirked to himself, his dire situation didn't seem all too bleak after all.

Back with Russel, the green haired boy had just done something beyond stupid. He let the Grimm out of their cages. There weren't too many of them, less than ten, no doubt the last Grimm the old school had locked up. The carnivorous creatures were mainly Beowulfs and Creeps, there was a Boarbatusk in the bunch, but beside that not a single apex predator amongst them.

The creatures had been caged up for so long, sat alone in darkness and on the brink of starvation, Russel knew they wouldn't only attack him. The two White Fang members left behind didn't know what to do at the sight of the Grimm bum rushing them. But that worked out in Russel's favor. He just needed the Grimm dead, the White Fang could serve as a distraction or aid in his endeavors, he didn't really care.

One of the White Fang members regained his senses and started shooting into the mob of Grimm. The Beowulfs were his main priority as they posed the real danger. They had a farther reach than any of the others, therefore taking them out was a priority. With that handled, Russel took to the task of curb stomping the Boarbatusk as it attempted to escape. Getting it while it was still disoriented was key, after all he'd seen firsthand what those things could do back at Beacon when Weiss fought one.

Stunned by Russel's initial attack, the Boarbatusk was helpless to the young man's next actions. He flipped it over onto its back, exposing its less armored belly and stabbed downward with a dagger. The Grimm let out a pain wail. Still not dead, Russel took to repeatedly stabbing the thing until its cries ceased and its body dissolved. A messy kill if there ever was one, but Russel didn't care, he had other Grimm to attend to.

Russel disembarked from the container and found the White Fang members about to be overrun. The duo had done a good enough job of thinning the herd, all that remained were a couple of Creeps and a Beowulf. But one of them was unconscious and the other masked faunus was cradling his brother in arms in vein attempts to hold back the Grimm.

The young Thrush rushed up behind the Beowulf just as it was about to land the final blow. He leapt up and ran one of his blades through the beast from behind. The Beowulf let out a loud howl while Russel ran his other dagger through it. The Beowulf fell over and Russel removed his blades from its body. He turned to find the creeps attempting to eat one of the still conscious White Fang member.

The masked faunus let out several shouts and cries for help while the Creeps sank their teeth into his arms and legs. To end the god awful screaming, Russel threw his daggers at the Creeps, each one pierced through their bodies, killing them instantly. The White Fang member who'd almost been eaten found his arms and legs completely thrashed by the ordeal. He couldn't lift a finger to harm Russel even if he wanted to.

"Sup." Russel greeted the White Fang. "Couldn't help but notice you guys were trying to transport Grimm. Now I don't know every law word for word, but that just sounds very much illegal."

"Drop dead Human!" The crippled faunus shouted defiantly.

Russel laughed mockingly in response. "Way I see it, I'm the only option you have for receiving help. Either you tell me just what the hell you guys were planning on doing with those things or you can kiss that airship ride to a hospital goodbye."

Part of Russel didn't honestly expect that the wounded faunus would to take him up on his offer. But his response was still brow raising. The wounded man just laughed in a similar mocking tone as Russel had just moments ago.

"You aren't my only option." He said knowingly.

Russel followed the man's eyes, turning around to see just what he was talking about. And then he froze in place, as if he'd seen a ghost. Walking out from behind the truck was a familiar tall, bald man.

"I would have gladly waited a lifetime for this bout." The Iron Nail said as he addressed the stunned Russel. "This operation was too important to be sacrificed for some personal vendetta, but it seems fate has had other plans for the likes of you and I; Russel."

"I didn't know we were on a first name basis." Russel muttered, quickly snapping out of his stunned state. He quickly spun around and recovered his daggers out of the still dissolving Creep bodies and held them ready.

"Since our last meeting, I've taken the time to study up on the man responsible for the deaths of three of my brothers and sisters." The Iron Nail sneered as he began to circle around Russel. In doing so, the above average man removed a hammer from his coat. "You have quite the reputation in this town."

"Last I checked Oakwood residents never took to outsiders too well." Russel said as he followed The Iron Nail's movements closely. "That beauty mark of yours would've definitely scared off the ladies."

"There's the famous wit." The Iron Nail laughed. He reached up with his free hand and lightly tap the scar on the side of his head with two fingers and laughed once more. The scar was a result of their last meeting, when Russel had left the man to the mercy of the Ursa. "I would have you know I bested the beast, one of our first shipments out of Oakwood. But there is a measure of truth to your words. No one would take too kindly to us. But of course that wasn't how I received my intelligence. We had many sources, mainly firsthand accounts."

"Firsthand accounts?" Russel questioned, not liking the sound of The Iron Nail's words.

"You were not the first individual to stumble onto our operations, Russel." The Iron Nail smirked. "Do the names Ruddy and Burgundy ring a bell?"

Back with Cardin, the CRDL Team leader was doing his best to keep the White Fang at bay. If anyone in town had heard the commotion, then they'd be running to investigate by now. Scratch that, whatever help he'd received should've been there by now. That lowered the morale a bit.

Ammunition was running low. They'd only pulled two spare magazines off the Inn Keeper. Their struggle with the woman had left the handgun's already in use magazine depleted, which left Cardin to use the spares. He was now down to half of the last magazine if he was counting his bullets correctly.

The wall he hid behind was practically in pieces. All of the White Fang members were still standing and it didn't seem like they were running out of ammunition themselves anytime soon. That left Cardin in a rather bad spot.

The last thing Cardin needed was more bad news, such as the cabin's rotted out wooden floor giving way. Following a loud creek, Cardin fell through the floor with a loud yelp. The White Fang just kept shooting, Cardin's cries falling deaf over the gunfire. The Winchester boy hadn't fallen far, thankfully the cellar of the cabin had some padding to break his fall.

As he got back up and started to think about his terrible predicament, it suddenly dawned on Cardin how odd it sounded that there was padding inside of a condemned cabin. So he turned back around to see what he'd landed on and jumped back in horror at the sight of two dead bodies. They were a boy and a girl around Cardin's age by the looks of things. They didn't seem to be there long, hadn't been dead no more than a month.

Cardin had to hold back the urge to vomit. He couldn't afford to worry about that, not while the White Fang weren't letting up with their onslaught. But still, Cardin couldn't look away from the bodies. He looked them over a bit in order to identify a cause of death. There were several laceration around there arms, as if they'd been bound by rope, poor bastards were interrogated before they died. And the cause of death appeared to be blunt force to the cranium, almost like they were hit with a hammer.

What a terrible way to go, Cardin thought to himself.

"They came wandering into the woods one day. I had no idea if they knew anything about our operation here." The Iron Nail said honestly. "But we couldn't let them leave. They'd seen too much. And so, out of curiosity, I asked them about you, they appeared to be as young as you, maybe they knew you, maybe they didn't."

"They eloped."

"So I hear. But I beg to differ." The Iron Nail scoffed. "We hid the bodies in that old rundown cabin back in the forest. I also hear no one goes there."

"You killed them? All for what? Just to know shit about me?" Russel exclaimed in disgust.

"All they did was tell me things I already knew. It was just an exercise, a gamble, I didn't expect them to know you." The Iron Nail shrugged. "If it makes you feel any better, I was going to kill them regardless."

"Oh you sick bastard." Russel sneered.

"I could say the same about you." The large faunus chuckled darkly. "After all, what kind of man kills his mother?"

Russel lunged forward, striking at The Iron Nail with one of his daggers. But the faunus was faster and blocked the attack with his hammer. He reeled back his fist and activated his semblance, coating his body in metal and threw a punch at Russel. He sent the young Thrush flying through the sky, gasping as the air left his body.

The huntsman crashed through trees like a cannonball, completely cutting them in two. He eventually came to a stop, rolling onto the ground. Russel staggered back onto his feet as The Iron Nail calmly walked through the makeshift path through the forest.

"I've dreamed about this day for a while now." The Iron Nail said smugly as he drew closer. "But I must say, I mildly disappointed."

Russel let out a sharp yell as he once more attempted to strike The Iron Nail. "There's the fire!" The faunus shouted as he moved to block the young Thrush's attacks. He moved in to halt one of Russel's strikes with his hammer as he'd done once before, only for Russel to stop mid swipe and spin back around for a reveres strike. Once again, The Iron Nail moved to intercept Russel's blow, this ultimately left his side unguarded allowing for Russel to stop mid swing once again and thrust his left dagger against the man's ribs.

But The Iron Nail's metal coating left him otherwise unaffected as Russel's dagger just bounced off. The tall faunus just laughed at Russel's failed attempts to land a killing blow and raised his hammer and struck Russel across the face. Russel rolled with the hit and pushed on despite the pain. He spun around, a tad bit disoriented but kept on.

Russel's attacks were seemingly having no effect on The Iron Nail, with his semblance in full effect, this left the man impervious to most physical attacks. This left Russel in an otherwise risky situation. So the boy decided to turn and run after feigning another attack. The best he could do was psych out the larger man and keep him guessing.

The young Thrush didn't get too far, after all he'd just been thrown through several trees. Not to mention The Iron Nail was well rested and not burdened by other activities throughout the day. So The Iron Nail caught up to Russel and forced him to fight once more lest he be struck from behind.

"All this time you've had my weapons and you haven't even mastered them!" The Iron Nail taunted as struck Russel with his hammer yet again. This time Russel raised his daggers like an 'x' and blocked the strike, but the force behind the weapon sent Russel flying backwards. He rolled onto his back and eventually rolled onto his feet, allowing him to kick off back up and standing ready for the next attack.

But Russel was beginning to doubt if he could even withstand another attack. The Iron Nail wasn't some Ursa who could be intimidated, nor was he a Huntsman he could play mind games with, he wasn't a Creep that could be bullied or an exhausted Boarbatusk that could be caught off guard. The Iron Nail was a well-rested fighter with years of experience and up until now the man had been toying with him. And Russel was sincerely doubting he would ever best the man.

The hail of bullets outside the rundown cabin had completely stopped. Cardin pulled himself out of the hole he'd fallen down in order to assess the situation. Thankfully there was a big enough piece of wall to hide behind. So Cardin peaked around a corner and found that the White Fang members were talking amongst themselves. They were whispering, Cardin had to really try to hear them. By the sounds of things they were running low on ammo too, how unfortunate.

So that put Cardin on equal footing with them all; that was good news. If there was any bad news it was the fact he hadn't received any help from any of the townsfolk nor had Russel returned to lend a hand. Now that didn't bode well for either of them. It was a simple job for Russel, run in and gut the Grimm. His partner's absence meant he'd run into as much trouble as he was in now.

If help wasn't going to arrive, then that meant Cardin was going to have to go on the offensive. He could last any longer even if he tried. His saving grace was the White Fang's lack of strong leadership. He'd be dead right now if they were following a tactician of some sort. No doubt about it, Cardin got stuck with the grunts of all people. An operation this size needed someone to head it, someone smart. Now that didn't bode well for Russel.

So Cardin raised his handgun. He emptied out the magazine and counted the remaining rounds. Five left overall, Cardin returned the magazine into the gun and readied himself as he was about to try something stupid. He leapt out of cover and began to charge at the White Fang. Now that must've startled them. The entire time they had grown comfortable in shooting at a stationary target, but now Cardin was on the offensive and he'd caught them with their pants down.

So he shot at them, not really aiming for anyone specific, rather their weapons. He'd never held a gun before in his life, but he had to say, he was a quick learner. With pinpoint accuracy he landed all five shots, damaging five more weapons. That still left two however. So Cardin flung the handgun at one of the two White Fang members, striking him in the throat, causing him to drop his gun and grab his neck. The other guy wasn't much of a problem for Cardin, he'd done the math in his head.

Cardin raised his mace and kicked off the child locks. He slammed the end onto the ground, causing the magma crystal to burst the ground in a straight line. The ground beneath the last gun wielding White Fang member erupted, sending him flying. With their weapons disabled, Cardin fully turned to face them.

Tired, exhausted from physical exertion, Cardin could've just blacked out then and there. But he endured, he endured intent on living to see tomorrow. He shouldered his mace and smirked proudly. "Well come on. I don't have all night."

And before and of the White Fang could take the initiative to fight Cardin, they all got on their knees and put their hands behind their heads. Cardin just raised a brow in confusion. "Ahem." A familiar voice caught Cardin's attention. The Winchester boy spun around and to his joy, he found Professor Port, along with Dove, Sky and many townsfolk armed with pitchforks and torches standing behind him. "Sorry to interrupt such a rousing brawl, Mr. Winchester, but we thought you could use a hand."

Cardin smiled dumbly, thankful for their presence. He reached out to hug Port, but only found himself in freefall and would've hit the ground if not for Dove and Sky's interference. The two boys caught their leader and threw the larger boy's arms over their shoulders.

"White Fang have been robbing Oakwood Academy of the Grimm they'd use for training." Cardin said, giving a nod over to the eight White Fang who were on their knees.

"Where's Russel?" Sky asked, noting the absence of their team's fourth member.

"We divided in order to conquer. I left him to the task of eliminating the captured Grimm. If anything happened to us we couldn't allow them to take the Grimm. God knows what they'd do with them." Cardin answered. "But I think something happened to him, he should've been here helping me by now."

"Oh jeez." One of the townsfolk exclaimed as they investigated the old cabin.

"That's Ruddy and Burgundy!" One shouted in horror.

"I thought they eloped…dear god." Another said somberly. The four huntsmen just exchange glances. They unanimously decided to go looking for Russel, lest he end up like one of those kids in the cellar. The town's folk then rounded up the White Fang and marched them off while others set off with the huntsmen.

Russel's body was flung out of the forest and followed closely behind by The Iron Nail. He bounced and landed in the local cemetery. He struggled to get back up, he'd taken more punishment than he thought he could. His face was puffy and bruised, he'd landed on a rather pointy piece of bar earlier and whatever aura he still had was diverted to patching that up. Or at the very least halting the blood flow.

The Iron Nail just laughed mockingly as he approached Russel once more. The young Thrush leapt up intent on stabbing the man, but his semblance had prevented Russel from doing any real damage. The faunus just laughed at Russel's attempts to harm him and backhanded the younger man, sending him flying through the cemetery.

Russel crashed through several tombstones along the way before coming to a halt. He dropped a dagger and used his free hand to clutch his wound as he crawled up a familiar hill in and attempt to get away from The Iron Nail. Even if he were to meet his demise tonight, he was going to make the bald bastard work for it.

So The Iron Nail just followed Russel up the hill. He eventually caught up with the young Thrush and grabbed a hold of his leg and yanked him off the ground. Russel flailed aimlessly, too tired from the pain and blood loss. He aimed low and bashed the handle of his dagger against what he hoped was The Iron Nail's dick.

The Iron Nail heaved but did not release his hold over Russel. The young Thrush couldn't help but laugh, of all his attempts to harm the guy why didn't he just start off with kick the dude in the balls? It would've saved him a lot of trouble. So he was just a man in a metal suit, interesting.

The Iron Nail then flung Russel at the gravestone on the hill, knocking it over. Russel remained unmoving, his remaining dagger had since fallen out of his grasp and rolled down hill. The Iron nail just stalked forward until he towered over Russel.

"Hm." The Iron Nail muttered in an amused tone. Russel followed the White Fang lieutenant's gaze which led to the tombstone he'd thrown him through. It was his Father's grave marker. "Your Father's, no Russel?" The Iron Nail chuckled in a taunting manner.

Russel scowled upward at The Iron Nail. He tried to move but found it almost impossible. He felt bruised all over and he'd just gotten his aura to fix up that wound of his. He was almost completely spent.

"I spoke with the Old Man, he filled me in on all the noteworthy bits about you. Like your relationship with your Father." The Iron nail muttered. "Your father descended into alcoholism after you killed your mother. He subjected you to various forms of abuse. I somewhat pity you."

"But it is because of your upbringing why I despise you even more." The Iron Nail declared as he rose his hammer into the night sky. "You recall the other three who were with me on that day don't you? Their names were Gregory, Maulla and Troia."

"Does it look like I give a fuck?" Russel managed to sneer.

"No, no and I don't expect you to. How could you ever understand what it's like to lose those you love. You were brought up in hate. The Old Man also spoke of how you'd fight back, how your verbal disagreements would turn physical. You hated your father. And despite the favor we did you, you came after us and killed them." The Iron Nail simply shook his head in disgust.

"They had dreams you know? The three of them. When the revolution was over and done with, Gregory wanted to open a bakery. Maulla wanted to be a teacher. And Troia just wanted to a better life for his family. And then in an instant, you took that all away from them!" The Iron Nail shouted venomously, releasing all manner of pent up rage against Russel. "As I've been told, you're Father called you a killer for a majority of your life. How right he was."

"I didn't take nothing from them." Russel muttered as he managed to raise an arm to wipe the blood off his face with his arm warmer. "You all walked into the cave seeking an easy kill. You turned your backs for a second and then comes along the big bad Ursa who's got no problems hacking your pals to bits."

"You didn't even kill my dad. He died of a heart attack." Russel slurred as his arm fell against his Father's tombstone.

"You acted not to avenge your Father, of course you didn't. You don't know what it is to love, boy. There's no fire that burns bright in your heart, you're just something that walks the world that deserves to be put out." The Iron Nail shook his head in disgust. "Know that with your death, my fallen brothers and sisters will know peace."

Without another word, The Iron Nail raised his hammer over his body and brought it down, intending to finish Russel once and for all. But Russel couldn't help but smirk as The Iron Nail unknowingly walked right into his defeat.

"Soup Can." Russel muttered under his breath before quickly reaching over and grabbing his father's tombstone with both hands. And with all his might he and smashed it against The Iron Nail's face as he leaned in for the final blow. The Iron Nail fell over onto his side beside Russel. The White Fang lieutenant's semblance deactivated before he even hit the ground.

Russel struggled back onto his feet and stood looking down at The Iron Nail. His actions against the White Fang lieutenant had the unfortunate effect of knocking one of his eyes out of his head. The evidence of such action being on the lawn beside the unconscious man.

"Soup Cans." Russel muttered to himself. "We played with soup cans when we were kids. Metal shells with all manner of sensitives inside. You reminded me of one." He said before turning to walk down the hill.

He could hear people shouting his name. Russel looked ahead and could see lights and people following the devastation left behind by his and The Iron Nails fight. Russel attempted to shout out, but he just couldn't. He was too busy falling face first into the ground.


The next time Russel opened his eyes, he was afraid of what he'd see. The young Thrush awoke in the local clinic, he looked around to a nearby window, only to find it was morning. He blinked, unsure how to process everything. So he just kept staring put the window, afraid to move. It felt like he'd been thrown through solid stone, which he actually had.

Outside he could hear a rustling, a familiar jet engine whistle. Out the window he could see a number of airships begin to land in the town square. But they weren't the usual airship, not like the ones that had dropped them off the other day, but they were military grade dropships. Altesian military dropships.

So Russel then forced himself up off the cot he'd been laying in. He noticed his state of dress, or rather the fact he wasn't wearing much. But thankfully whoever had brought him to the clinic had also dropped off his duffel bag. So Russel stiffly changed into a fresh pair of clothes, which was just a copy of his usual garb. He threw on his boots and then he set off to hobble his way outside in order to find out just what the heck was going on.

Russel made his way out the clinic and onto the streets of Oakwood. In town square he could see his team meeting with a dark haired man dressed in a white suit who was flanked by Atlas troops. By the looks of that brass bar pinned to his suit, the man held a high position in their strange authoritarian government.

"Good work halting this operation." General Ironwood of the Atlesain military said in a grateful tone. "We have news of more White Fang activity up in Mt. Glenn. We'll be heading out shortly."

"Yes, I'd very much like to get in on the butt kicking. After all, I missed last night's activities." Port twirled his moustache.

Seeing his team busy discussing things in broad daylight, Russel decided now was the best time if ever there was one to slip away. One look over to the number of Atlesian troops marching White Fang members into their many ships was enough to inform Russel that they'd succeeded last night before he'd lost consciousness.

But there was a disturbing lack of a certain bald headed and currently one eyed White Fang lieutenant amongst the bunch. Sure the state he'd left him in was nothing he could just walk off, then again maybe it was. Russel had left the man for dead once before and he'd come back from that.

So the bruised and battered Russel made his way up the road to a familiar homestead, one just as familiar as his own home. The Iron Nail had said some things last night, about first-hand accounts, even before he'd gotten a hold of Ruddy and Burgundy, he'd been talking to someone else, an Old Man.

Russel rang the doorbell and waited patiently for and answer. The door opened and there stood Marlowe looking a tad somber. But the man's expression turned to one of concern after noticing Russel's injuries. "My god Russel, what happened?" He questioned.

"Save it Marlowe." Russel said neutrally. "I know everything. Invite me in."

Marlowe just stared at Russel. His expression morphed to one Russel had been familiar with his entire life, but it was new to Marlowe. The old man looked at Russel with contempt and stood aside, opening the door the whole way and allowing Russel to enter. Once the young Thrush had entered, Marlowe made sure he wasn't followed by checking the surrounding area. Satisfied with his search, Marlowe turned back to his home and closed to door behind him. There was much to be discussed.


I was going to originally the chapter with Russel falling unconscious, but I just had to leave it at a cliffhanger. I know you guys love those.

But oh yeah, the Ruddy and Burgundy thing...oh boy. They weren't always supposed to be dead. In my original plot outline for this Arc I had planned for Russel to run into them in Oakwood, that they would've been grateful for everything Russel did for them during the dance. But when I started planning the later chapters of the arc, I couldn't reconcile that idea with what kind of person Russel will be at the end of this arc. So Ruddy and Burgundy, two prominent figures of his past were killed off.

I enjoyed writing the Cardin stuff. I envision him to be a very capable fighter and soldier. He's definitely the most militaristic of all the characters. And this is the first taste of Cardin using guns.

Also, while writing this I forgot Port was involved with the Breach in Volume 2, so that whole discussion between him and Ironwood sets this entire arc very much before the Volume 2 finale. Chronologically its only been a day since they left Beacon.

Well, I don't have too much else to say. I might be able to update in the next two days. I'm not really too sure. But I'll try my best. This next chapter shouldn't be too long. 'Til next time dear reader! Later days!