Author's Notes: Annnd we're back to our regularly scheduled angst! Nearing the end of this Volume, kids. I can't believe I've written this much already, it kinda blows my mind. However, I'm excited about the upcoming volumes; it's gonna be fun. Who know, maybe I'll have most of the second one done before the new season comes out. Anyways, thanks for all the love.
I Will Not Scatter
Chapter 37
Miles
The weekend of STRQ's second mission came quickly. Considering the weeks leading up to it were the best weeks Raven could ever remember having, it would stand to reason they'd go quickly. STRQ was finally tying OBSN on the leader-boards in tournament dueling, Raven had mastered a few moves she'd been struggling with, passed all her midterms and got to take regular power naps with her girlfriend. Things were good.
Even the return of Becca to team BBLK couldn't dampen her spirits. The surly, potentially illegitimate princess of Vale didn't so much as look their way as she took her seat next to Barty in the auditorium that morning. Raven eyed the brunette brazenly, before eventually choosing to ignore her for now.
The Beacon freshmen had gathered once again at a godless hour, hanging out of their chairs and slumping like the walking dead as they trudged to their seats. STRQ was impressively alert all things considered, and Raven couldn't be tired if she tried. Though many of the freshmen couldn't sense it, Raven and Qrow could; there was a familiar tension in the air, one that Raven recognized from years of combat and waiting for a raid to commence.
For whatever reason, despite her current optimism, Raven sensed that the pendulum of good and bad was swinging once more. The terse tones of the teachers walking the halls, the serious frowns on the brows of the few seniors that graced the school with their presence: something had happened.
Summer sat beside her, the team leader dossier in her lap as she perused its contents. Her silver eyes scanned the pages, a meditative frown settling on her face. Raven nudged her with her elbow, smiling when she glanced her way.
"What's up?" she asked, craning to look at the folder.
Summer didn't immediately answer, her ears folded back in thought.
"There's been more instances, like the one in Akershus," she said, looking her way. There was something strange in her eyes. Raven caught sight of one of the photos, and understanding followed.
It was a picture of the victims who had been saved, documented as part of the investigation. There wasn't anything graphic in the photo; just the skinny, bruised, shirtless bodies of victims of the underground. All of them had brands similar to Qrow's and her own.
"Hmm. So where were these incidents?" Raven asked, frowning. Summer's ears flicked as she studied her.
"Um. Mostly in the mountains and forests, about twenty to fifteen miles from Mountain Glenn," Summer said, turning back to the dossier. "And there's been a stark increase in Grimm manifestations near the city, which they think is a result of more baiting sites that they haven't located yet. In fact most of the upperclassmen have been down there, trying to help the local hunters clean up and find the other sites. But there's so much woodland and rough terrain…"
Raven nodded, focusing on the facts as she knew them and nothing else. Someone was paying traffickers to create baiting sites so they could collect Grimm, for seemingly scientific pursuits. It was likely some hunters had been assisting them, if the locals in Akershus were anything to go off of; but that was her own suspicions, not fact. That was it.
Why would anyone need that many Grimm to study? How would they contain them? Grimm were notoriously difficult to contain, let alone dissect or anything else. Their bodies evaporated; the black splatters they left behind had been declared 'nothing'. They left behind nothing biological or chemical.
Everything they knew about Grimm Biology, spawning and the like, was theoretical guesswork drawn from distant observation and comparing the Grimm to their animal relatives. It's why the subject fascinated her, because it was a complete mystery. How Grimm did anything that actually mattered was unknown. But one thing that nearly everyone could agree on, was that nothing good ever came from caging them.
"Someone with lots of money and too much time on their hands is playing with things they shouldn't," she deduced. "Is that where all the missions will be?"
"I think so. The Council has directed the hunters to make it a priority," Summer said.
Behind her, Qrow was peaking his head over the faunus's shoulder. He sighed in exasperation when he saw the photos.
"Why can't people not be fuckin dicks?" Qrow drawled.
"Or evil?" asked Taiyang. "If they could just stop being evil and dicks that would be great."
"That's it, we're writing them a memo," Raven said stoically. "Dear assholes of the world: Stop it. Just, fucking knock it off. We get it."
"Fucking stop it bro. Signed, literally everyone," said Tai. "Hey, maybe they're pissed because they didn't get any first place medals as children?"
"I know that's why I'm pissed at least half the time," Raven said. "Where are my medals? I was the best at everything, and everyone else needs to be reminded of that."
"Bullshit," said Qrow immediately. "I was."
"Did you steal all of my medals?"
"Well, I AM the better pickpocket."
"Psssh. Ha! I laugh, but only once. Because your jokes are shit."
Summer was looking frustrated with all three of them by this point, causing Raven to pause.
"Are you ok?"
"Can you guys not be so blasé about horrible stuff for like, five seconds?" Summer sighed.
Raven and Qrow glanced at one another while Taiyang scratched the back of his head sheepishly. They were just joking like normal. Before any of them could protest, however, Professor Ozpin materialized on stage with a stack of assignments. Raven squinted.
"Good morning, students," he said coolly, analyzing the folders in his hand. "Team leaders, please approach the podium when I call your teams."
Raven sat up in anticipation.
"OBSN."
There went Ophelia.
"BBLK."
Barty whizzed down the aisle. Perhaps Raven was imagining it, but was Becca actually smiling at him?
"STRQ."
Summer strode purposefully down to the stage, took the folder from Ozpin calmly who said something to her, and returned; STRQ gathered around her to see who they would be shadowing. Raven flinched, and sighed.
"Woah," said Tai. "Well, this will be uncomfortable. Why can't we just get someone like Arc?"
"Ehhh. It could be worse. I mean, maybe we'll get to see him fight? That'll be cool, right?" shrugged Qrow. Raven shot her brother a look of betrayal but he simply shrugged at her again.
"It'll be…awkward," Summer's ears folded. "But, we'll just have to be professional and try to learn as much as we can."
Raven glared at the portfolio and the clinical piece of paper with Professor Ozpin's name on it. The rest of it detailed where they would be going and why. There was no way this wasn't some intentional scheme of his. Perhaps he wanted to study them in action himself, searching for little weaknesses; or an excuse to finally expel her. She frowned, determined to not give him a reason or let him get under her skin.
They had already prepared what little they would be taking with them, and had their weapons on hand. Professor Ozpin gave a brief farewell speech to the students, bidding them to be careful and to watch after one another. Then he walked out.
STRQ wasn't sure whether he wanted to meet them at the airfield or to follow him, so Summer decided they would simply meet him there. The other girl was being more authoritative than normal, and Raven wasn't sure what to make of it. It reminded her of the little glimpses Raven had seen during the Jotun fight, after the Skogtroll had raked her back.
Professor Ozpin did eventually meet them at the airstrip, wearing his typical attire. He had brought a canvas bag, which he carried casually over his shoulder. That looked to be the only preparation he'd made for an overnight journey into Grimm territory. He smiled at STRQ pleasantly, as if they had chanced upon one another during a stroll through the garden and were discussing the local news.
"Well then. Let's get going, shall we?"
They trailed cautiously after the headmaster, Raven feeling particularly ill at ease as she climbed into the transport. Summer and Qrow sat on either side of her as they took up on the metal bench across from Ozpin. The professor was still smiling at them benignly. Raven did her best to neither sneer nor grimace in any way, remaining stone cold neutral as she regarded him.
"I assume by your silence that none of you have any questions regarding our mission," he said, the barest hint of humor in his voice and eyes.
Summer took the lure first.
"We're looking for baiting sites," said Summer, threading her fingers together. "And trying to discover who is responsible."
"Yes, Ms. Rose, in part. However, we are doing something a bit more…specific," Ozpin said, his back looking uncomfortably straight. "We are going to one of the sources of the problem: the people responsible for providing said 'bait' to begin with."
STRQ's eyes widened collectively. Raven opened her mouth before shutting it.
"Yes, Ms. Branwen?" hummed Ozpin. He still looked gently amused; it infuriated her, but she was determined not to give him the reaction he was looking for.
"Isn't that going a bit outside our lane?" she asked flatly. "That would be witchfinger territory, correct?"
Ozpin's mouth twitched upwards. Raven wanted to punch him.
"Not necessarily. Witchfingers, you see, are only called in once a definite problem falling within a hunter community has been established. Rarely do they ever do their own investigating or legwork, but inherit it from dozens of police officers and the hunters who discovered the issue to begin with," Ozpin said, as if describing an interesting spoonful of oatmeal. "And if it is not an issue dealing with corrupt or rogue hunters, as it very often is not, they won't be involved at all."
His dry tone could not hide his contempt.
"Witchfingers capture or kill, once directed to do so. Huntsmen and huntresses, however, hunt."
"So we do all the detective work and they get all the glory?" rasped Qrow.
Ozpin's humorous facade faded as his eyes and face took on a somber mien.
"There is nothing glorious about killing people, Qrow. No matter how evil," Ozpin said softly.
Raven managed to not scoff at the man, though her lip pulled irritably. To her surprise, Summer nodded along, as if in agreement. Taiyang also seemed to believe Ozpin had a point, judging from the look he gave Qrow.
"I'm not saying that," Qrow persisted, eyes narrow. "Killing sucks-"
Raven felt a chill run through her.
"-but when it comes to scum like this, I gotta say I'm not gonna feel very guilty about it at the end of the day. We're hunting traffickers, right? Slave traders? Are you really standing up for those fucking people?"
Ozpin observed her twin carefully as the bullhead shook from turbulence.
"Certainly not. I find it interesting, however, that you perceive me to be simply because of my stance on killing," Ozpin replied calmly.
When he spoke in that tone, he reminded Raven of a horse handler trying to sooth a distressed animal.
Qrow leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. Raven wanted to pull him back towards her, and away from the man trying steal his loyalty.
"Whatever. It's a free world, believe what you want."
"This seems to be a fairly sensitive subject for you," stated Ozpin.
She experienced a momentary flare of panic, covering it up as she studied her Dust chambers. Qrow brushed his hair back uncomfortably as Summer squirmed next to her.
"Yea well, maybe it is," Qrow grumbled.
Raven span her cartridges, keeping her face blank.
Don't give this man more ammunition, Qrow. He is not your friend.
"May I ask why?"
Don't. Don't fucking do it.
Qrow was tense. Taiyang was sending him worried looks over Summer's shoulder, whose face was naturally supportive and empathetic. Raven refused to look at Ozpin.
Finally, Qrow came to a decision, and with a grimace pulled the collar of his shirt back to reveal the brand nestled grimly under his collar bone. Raven exhaled in frustration. Nothing good would come of this.
"Why do you fucking think?" Qrow growled.
For several long moments, Ozpin didn't say anything, the only sound being from the muffled roar of the engine. Raven resisted beating her skull against the bulkhead, settling for glaring holes through the floor.
Then Ozpin did something that Raven couldn't fully process at once, not without severely fracturing her understanding of the way things were supposed to be. The headmaster pulled his collar down, too; and there rested a brand, gnarly and red on his pale breast. The teenagers beheld the mark with stunned faces, unsure of what to make of it or the man across from them.
"I would be an immense hypocrite if I said this topic wasn't a sensitive one for myself, as well," Ozpin smiled sadly.
Raven didn't know anything at all apparently. Instead of floundering desperately, she went back to spinning her cartridges, trying to ignore the revelation. It didn't mean much. Just because he shared that with them did not make him their friend. It was a ploy to earn their trust, and she refused to fall for it.
"So…wait," started Taiyang, shaking his head in confusion. "You guys were slaves?! Like, all of you?!"
Qrow sighed, rubbing his brow in irritation.
"Great deductive skills there, pal," Qrow said sarcastically.
"Oh," Tai said, deflating. "Oh, dude, I'm sorry. That's…that's fucked, Qrow."
"It was a long time ago," Qrow waved his hand, despite clearly being upset. "And it. It didn't last long."
It'd felt like an eternity for her.
"We were, um, rescued."
She'd saved herself.
The man looked up at her, blood bubbling around his mouth, guts hanging out and held a hand out, pleading-
Raven span her Dust chamber once more, eying her weapon clinically. The hairs on her arms and neck were raising. Her heart rate was increasing, along with her adrenaline. Her wrists were itching.
She focused on her breathing, tapping into her aura to help regulate it and attempt to enter a meditative state. She needed to distance herself immediately, to go away inside. They were about to potentially see combat, and now was not the time for this. Raven wasn't certain if Ozpin was intentionally trying to upset her before a battle or not, but if it was intentional then he was an even more twisted fuck than she'd thought. She wished the Morrigan was there.
"-ven?"
She blinked, slowly. Everything had taken on a distance, as if she was looking at herself and her teammates through thick glass or a body of water. Summer's nose was twitching as she glanced sideways at her.
"Yes?" Raven asked tersely. She wasn't sure who had spoken.
Summer's ears flicked.
"Are you feeling alright?" asked Ozpin.
Raven raised her eyebrows coldly; she wasn't going to play his fucking games. He had absolutely no right.
"I feel fine, Professor," she said flatly. "Just thinking about the mission."
He nodded, still smiling gently. Raven hadn't hated someone so vehemently in a very long time. The bullhead shook again as their pilot tried to take them above the cloud cover. Qrow was looking guiltily at her, but she tuned him out as she focused on spinning her Dust chamber once more. She tuned them all out.
After a flight that was technically short but felt like hours, the transport arrived at its destination. It was a few clicks from a cave system that had once been a smugglers underground decades ago. Professor Ozpin finally briefed them on their purpose for visiting it. They were searching for recent signs of human or faunus use, attempting to locate the traffickers hideout.
Ozpin claimed that Arc and her people had gotten enough tip offs to deduce that this would be the most likely place slavers would store victims before hustling them off to their buyers. The caves were largely uncharted, connecting to more systems that spread out under the land and all the way to Mountain Glenn. One could hide a city's population in them, and no one would ever find them. Why Ozpin wanted to go there himself with team STRQ, instead of letting Arc and her crew handle it, Raven had no idea.
STRQ scanned the area as the roar of the departing transport scared some birds from their hiding places. If the cave system did house traffickers and their victims, then it was likely Grimm would have been drawn to the area; according to the brief provided in Arc's bold handwriting, Ursa, Deathstalkers and a variety known as Unseelie had been nesting more heavily than natural in the vicinity.
Summer took charge of the situation immediately, spurred perhaps by the groups existing tension and a desire to get a handle on it. Ozpin gave no hype speech, no last minute reminder of his ultimate authority. He seemed content to sip from his thermos as he studied his scroll.
"Ok, Professor," started Summer, satisfied that the area was secure. Her posture was bristling with energy as she faced him squarely. "We're going to proceed to the entrance marked on our maps."
"By all means," he smiled, leaning on his cane. "Lead the way."
Raven fell in beside Taiyang, who was studying the forest calmly. Qrow had point to better utilize his Semblance against anything planning a sneak attack, while Summer was following behind them to watch their backs. Ozpin trailed behind Tai and herself; Raven ignored him.
The weather in the foothills was cooler than in Vale, but the taste of spring seemed fresher, more urgent than in the city. The sky was overcast, a light mist coloring the forest floor to create a gentle haze. Spruce trees clustered thickly along their path, finally blocking out most of the sky and creating a permanent twilight for anything on the forest floor.
The scent of damp loam and some form of sweet grass hung cloyingly in the air; there was a hidden muskiness beneath it, which Raven couldn't name. Behind them, Summer would freeze momentarily, hook swords held before her like tensing claws. Then she would follow, weaving as she trailed the wind and the scents it carried.
The terrain began to slope downwards after a few miles, and they found themselves on the edge of a gully that opened like a green, mossy maw. The group paused, uneasy. There was a humming and tittering coming from below, like power lines and the whispering of children. Raven rested her hand on her hilt, squinting at the murky landscape. Even over the gully, the old branches and green growth left the landscape heavily shadowed. Vines crawled like green Centurions down the crumbling rock and soil into the ravine. Somewhere below, a stream was gurgling.
Summer came up beside her, sniffing again. Her eyes kept flashing blue-green in the silvery half light. Professor Ozpin was studying the scene, a knowing look in his amber eyes.
"Do you guys hear that?" asked Taiyang. The martial-artist had his hands by his side, appearing to relax even as he subconsciously widened his stance.
"It sounds like little children," Summer said. Her face was disturbed. "I can't smell any, though, there aren't any people down there. Only…"
"If you listen closely, you'll hear them try to mimic your voices," said Ozpin, leaning on his cane. "They're actually quite good."
"…quite good," whispered something a few meters below, hidden in the greenery of the ravine. "Quite good."
"Oh. Oh, no thank you," said Taiyang, eyes widening. Raven agreed wholeheartedly. "What in the fresh kind of fuck is that?"
"Unseelie," smiled Ozpin grimly. "A rather rare category of Grimm, though extremely notorious in the bedtime tales of the world. They are humanoid, but small, preferring to hunt children to grown adults. They can mimic your voices to confuse, deceive and frighten you. And they love the dark, of course."
"They're going to be infesting this stupid cave aren't they?" asked Taiyang, staring suspiciously down into the gully. A tittering echoed up at him in response. Tai flipped the tittering off.
"Most likely. At least so far where any lookouts for the traffickers haven't cleared them out."
Summer glared into the shadowed ravine.
"If we go down there as is, they'll swarm us," she said. "But if I use Dust grenades to try to clear them out, we may alert the traffickers to our presence."
"That is correct, Ms. Rose," agreed Ozpin. "So. What will you do?"
"Screw subtlety," rasped Qrow. "Let's toss a few grenades down."
"…grenades!" hissed the Unseelie below.
"Yea! See, he agrees with me."
"But then the traffickers may try to hide the evidence of their cargo," said Summer. "That's apparently a tactic, and one I'm not going to risk. So we'll go with plan C."
"Which is?" asked Qrow, peering nonchalantly at the shaking bushes.
"Portals," grinned Summer. "We're going around them."
Taiyang cracked his knuckles and smiled brightly. Raven kept her hand on her hilt, crimson eyes scanning the bushes intently as her companions talked; every so often, a leaf would pull back and she could see a small, bone-white face peek out at her. She could have sworn it was grinning at her, giggling, before it darted back into cover. She felt clammy.
"Wait…"
Her teammates paused, Taiyang holding a few focal points in hand.
"Yes, Ms. Branwen?"
Raven opened her mouth after a few seconds.
"Those things…can they understand what we're saying?"
The rest of STRQ looked at her like she was crazy, something she really didn't appreciate; but she stood her ground regardless. Ozpin watched the Unseelie caper below as well.
"Well, I suppose that is an interesting question," he conceded. "Can Grimm comprehend human language, particularly if they can mimic it already?"
That hadn't exactly been her point. She hadn't called the Unseelie Grimm for a reason.
"So far, there hasn't been a recorded precedent for such," continued Ozpin. "But there are cases of Grimm exhibiting a higher level of intellect than average, though for no reason that has been discovered."
There was a heavy silence that followed, and Raven felt guilty because she knew it was her fault. She glanced askance at her partner. Raven could feel a distance stretching out between herself and her teammates, or perhaps noticed one that was always there which she allowed herself to forget; their perspectives were completely out of sync, their lives made of different fabric. If they were observing these things through one set of glasses, and she another, then who could say which side had the right of it?
However, that face below had seared itself across her mind's eye. It brought up a memory of something, or a dream of a dream; and with a certainty with which was surely instinctive, Raven knew that the slavers and their victims were all already dead.
"Use the Dust grenades," Raven insisted after a moment.
Her teammates glanced at one another, then Summer. Summer studied her, ears flicking uncertainly. The Unseelie snickered below.
"No. We'll stick with portals."
The miles grew.