I do not own RWBY or the characters

Ruby groaned it felt like there was a fire in her blood. Silver eyes were shut tightly in pain as her whole body began to heat up. She could faintly hear voices but couldn't make out the words being said. Something touched her shoulder and a scream tore from her throat. It felt like there were hot blades pressed against her skin. Silver eyes flashed open glowing slightly before everything faded to black.

Qrow stared in shock at his daughters still form. He was being held back from touching her by the wolf fanus who'd created a glowing shield around her.

"You can't touch her," the fanus warned before twisting his wrist the glowing shield faded as a platform of gold appeared under the girl. Lifting his hand slowly he explained, "that was Viper, or at least that's what he's called by the higher ups in the white fang, he's an assassin. His poison is fast acting and designed to inflict pain not kill. Every time a person is touched while it's in their system is absolute agony."

"Just who are you," Qrow snapped he was already worried an anxious and now he couldn't even hold his daughter while she was in pain. Green eyes narrowed as the man thought about what to say.

"That doesn't matter now where were you two going," he said avoiding the question. He knew who this man was. His teacher had told him stories about her brother. When the red eyed male stuffed his hands into his pockets. The fanus decided to change tactics saying, "do you want her somewhere safe or not."

"We're looking for Blake Belladonna," Qrow said relenting in favor of Ruby's safety. He would hold off being suspicious of the man until they were safe. Jaw dropping the fanus almost lost his focus and dropped the girl.

"Belladonna as in the leader of the island," he asked just to clarify and when the man shrugged he sighed. Standing outside the door of the largest house on the island, with an annoying red eyed man standing beside him and a girl floating behind them, he vaguely wished his teacher was here to deal with this instead.

When Blake heard the doorbell ring she was expecting anything other than what was standing on the other side. Her eyes went right past Qrow and the man next to him to Ruby. The girl was pale and shivering a thin layer of sweat on her face.

"What happened," she asked softly the words coming out as less than a whisper. The wolf looked away unable to look at the horror filled golden eyes. Qrow wanted to growl and rant. To shout about how this was all Blake's fault because if she hadn't run away then Ruby would never have come to this island and gotten hurt, but he couldn't because like it or not his daughter cared about the cat fanus. He didn't like it at all, the second Blake ran leaving them all behind he'd began to hate her. He'd seen the pain it'd caused Ruby although the girl had hidden it with gentle smiles.

"She was poisoned," Qrow said simply trying to keep the anger from his voice. Blake's eyes widened at the same moment Sun walked into the room. The monkey fanus couldn't believe his ears. His tail dropped the tea cup it was holding causing them to jump at the sound of wood hitting the floor.

"what do you mean poisoned," he asked passing Blake to stand in front of Qrow, meeting the man's eyes without fear he continued questioning, "how did this happen and where were you anyway? She's your responsibility aren't you supposed to protect her?"

Snarling in rage Qrow lunged forward his hand wrapping around the boy's throat and pushed him against the outside wall of the house. Red eyes were narrowed in anger as the sound of running feet reached their ears. Blake spun around holding her hands out to keep her parents from coming closer. She didn't want Qrow to see them as a threat. Sun dug his nails into the older man's hand but Qrow didn't seem to notice.

"You don't know anything boy," he said voice harsh and cold. Tightening his grip on the boy's neck he fully planned on just watching the life fade from the boy's eyes. How dare this boy even think of accusing him of allowing this to happen?

He saw a flash of silver and released the boy stepping back as a silver hairpin dug into the wall. Ruby had pushed herself up on the platform her eyes narrowed into a pain filled glare. The wolf fanus stared at her in shock, there was no way she should be moving right now. Hair hanging around her shoulders she looked unimpressive and weak, yet he could tell she was anything other than that. Strength worth of his teacher shined in her eyes.

"Don't hurt my friends," she ordered her voice never wavering even as her shoulders shook. Sun stared at her his eyes wide as she swung her legs over the side of the platform and dropped to the ground. Pain flared in her legs but she ignored it forcing herself to stand tall. She wasn't weak and she refused to allow anyone to see her vulnerable that she didn't trust. Walking over to her kitten she smiled.

Blake stared at her leader as her emotions rampaged out of control. Without thinking the girl threw her arms around Ruby in a hug. Pushing down the wince and scream that almost made it to the outside world Ruby hugged her back even though her body burned. For her team, she would suffer any pain, and for Blake, she would take on twice as much pain as she felt right now.

"It's good to see you again kitten," she whispered wrapping her arms around the other girl. She had felt so lonely after the fall of Beacon. So abandoned when she'd woken up alone without her team. Now she felt safe for the first time since leaving the others in Atlas, she felt whole. Her whole body might feel like it was on fire, but at least the ache in her heart was finally gone. Slumping forward she nuzzled her face into Blake's neck as her body began to feel heavy. Her eyelids dropped down. She felt so sleepy.

Blake fell to her knees as Ruby's legs stopped supporting her weight. Pulling back she caught the younger girl as she started to collapse. Arms wrapping around the girl's shoulder she held her close staring shock at her leader's pale face.

"She's strong," the wolf fanus stated causing Blake's eyes to snap up. Smirking the man continued, "not many can do what she just did, in fact, the only person I've ever seen do something like that is my teacher."

"Who exactly are you," Sun asked pushing himself up and walking over to stand beside Blake. Setting his hand on the girl's shoulder he offered his support silently. There was nothing he could say to make this better.

"Dakota Amas," he said nodding to the three kids in front of him. Waving his hand the golden platform behind him vanished as he finished, "when that girl wakes up tell her she has my respect, from one student of Raven Branwen to another."

Dakota smirked he found this girl to be worthy of his name, and he could sense Raven's aura surrounding her coiled like a protective snake now that the girl's own aura was gone. It almost made sense that Raven would train someone like this child. A girl who could impress even him. He waited until Blake nodded to leave. His teacher was going to love hearing about this.