bookwrym321: I felt the same about those groups under one roof together. Ember won't make it to the camp just yet...but soon ;)

deathwing17: I always felt the series did sort of paint them more on the extreme side considering they don't flesh out the anti-faunus sentiment as much. My hope for this story is showing that humans and faunus are more similar than either side wants to admit.

silverhawk88: Thank you very much for such kind words :D It means a lot you've been enjoying it all this time and you are very welcome. I hope each chapter is more enjoyable than the last.

spencermalley935: Ms. Malachite felt very natural to me to slip into that scene considering information is why they went to Haven but dropped that plot as soon as Lionheart told them Cinder's info was faked. I will most certainly do my best, thank you! :D

william bragg 165: Happy New Year to you as well! That is true, the two had an uneasy alliance tending to Cinder but with her recovery, both have their own tactic to keep her safe...

ServantofElShaddai13: Thank you! Got one Camp meeting this chapter...another later on ;)

Amelia: Exactly, Cinder can be more the way she used to in his presence, but that personality instilled by Salem is hard to shed tied to her desire for power conflicting with the old. Oof, the Battle for Haven...by my estimates it is going to be HUGE XD I hope I survive the attempt lol

Gzilla54: I have to agree on most of the points. His arc just seemed so disjointed, season 1 painted him as a mentor she looked up to before he went off the deep end, then later it implied an abusive relationship. Then the issue with his scar I felt came in WAY too late to have any true impact. Considering he was shown mostly to want power, having him give that all away because Blake left him felt off-putting and simplifying his character. I get your critiques...and I hope my alterations will be fitting for his character.

Batomys2731: So many, I am amazed it got this far lol. Oh gosh...Chibi Ember walking off a cliff from Emerald's semblance Wiley Coyote style...I'm dead XD XD Thank you, I wanted that moment to go from "win" to "crap" real fast lol, I even wondered when the episode was on why a ship would be in such remote regions. Trying to avoid the authorities sure...but what were the odds they were there AND within crash landing distance of Raven herself? I hope you enjoy what comes next ;)

And with that...ONTO THE SHOW!

A small black bird fluttered through the window of the house where Lionheart had set up the Beacon travelers for their stay. Hopping down onto the floor, the crow disappeared to reveal the disheveled appearance of Ruby's uncle, collapsing into a chair in the living room beside Oscar.

"That you old man?"

"It is," Oscar's calm demeanor and voice made it obvious Ozpin was currently in control. "How faired your search?"

In answer to his question, Qrow pulled out his flask and downed a sizeable gulp. Even Ozpin in all his time knowing the man thought he looked particularly spent.

"Not one Oz, not ONE of my old contacts came through."

"What?" The former headmaster set his drink down with a clink. "Surely they must understand the seriousness of the…"

"I don't mean they turned me down Oz," he clarified with a huff of frustration. "I mean I couldn't FIND them. Friends, family, acquaintances, even their common hangouts, no one had seen any of them in months since the Fall of Beacon or longer."

"That bodes ill," Ozpin sighed with Oscar's voice. "I knew that many lost their lives defending Mistral from the Grimm, but for so many to have fallen?"

"I don't buy it," he slammed down his flask harder than he should have, cracking the glass table. "I knew these people; they were the best. Sure, Grimm can get lucky or overwhelm through sheer numbers, but ALL of them? Something stinks here Oz, the fact that Cinder girl came from here is more than a coincidence."

"Do the children know?"

"No, and I aim to keep it that way. At this rate we'll have to either wait for Leo to pull through for us, or head out undermanned. Where are the kids anyway?"

"They returned from their training and went straight to bed. They looked very tired; I pray they improve enough before we have to face her forces again. They have been honing their skills often enough."

Ozpin looked up thinking of the days since Oscar had found Qrow, he could not hold control for very long yet, but used every second to show the students the ropes and shore up weaknesses in their styles. When he couldn't hold on anymore or needed to speak with Qrow, he would let them go to enjoy some down time in the Upper Levels having more than earned it. Based on how exhausted they looked he guessed they continued training even then which raised his spirits.

"They must shoulder a burden they should not have for many years. These events force our hand and requires their help. But I fear for your niece most of all."

The middle-aged huntsman's hand clenched tightly; he'd seen what Oz was talking about back at Patch but didn't want to admit it.

"She's afraid," he slouched deeper into the sofa. "Growing up she threw everything she had into training and improvement, it's the entire reason I thought it was okay for Tai to send her to Beacon early. But ever since she shot Maggie's kid…"

"She fears her powers," Ozpin finished. "The young woman I met the first day at Beacon would have been asking every question she had seeking improvement. Yet, she has not asked even one since my arrival."

"She got a bit better after our run-in at Kuroyui, she is up for fighting again but that's about it."

"Nothing will be the same as it once was, that is ever the way of things. We have time for the moment, that may be enough for her to come to terms with what happened. She has that luxury for the moment, however eventually her strength will be needed as her mother's was."

Qrow looked as if he wanted to say something but decided at the last minute. Without a word he took another swig before standing to his wobbly feet.

"Rubes is a strong kiddo, she'll pull through you'll see," he assured Ozpin. Despite his words, the old mentor knew the half-defeated tired tone in his voice.

"We can only hope. Thank you Oscar, back to you."

The young man's aura flared, signaling the transition of consciousness as Ozpin receded to regain his strength. Like night and day his posture became laxer, eyes squinted in exhaustion before shooting open. Oscar Pine shook his head uncertain if he would ever get used to that.

"What do we do now?"

Now, he replied from within the boy's mind. We get back to our lessons, you do not have the experience of the students so I must catch you up before you can spar with them. Now, from the beginning…

Branwen Camp…

The bandits stood around them weapons drawn. The masses knew the identity of the woman who had entered the camp and as a result were torn between their instinct to fight and restraint for their leader. Yang and Roland had reached the gates with the bound shady man having provided directions. The two proceeded to the camp alone leaving Pyrrha back at the refueling station, at least that is what it appeared to their captive.

Knowing their leader would want to speak with them, the bandits had opened their gates covering the pair from all angles with weapons. Tensions rose high as Yang and Roland walked carefully towards the tent at the far end of the compound, dozens of habitants peeking their head out of scattered homes or reaching for weapons hoping they tried something.

Have they ever gone near the city or villages other than to fight? Roland thought as he eyed their ramshackle huts and disheveled conditions. From what Yang had told him, their tribe had shunned society, choosing to live by their own ways and laws. One of those happened to be survival of the fittest.

"Let me do the talking," Yang had warned him before entering. "I have no idea how this will go."

Approaching the leader's tent, the pair stopped at the prompting of the guards, allowing them no closer. An uneasy silence settled over the area only broken by the occasional gust of wind. So much time passed that the huntsmen worried they might be using it to plan some sort of attack. Roland internally breathed a sigh of relief as the tent flap finally opened. Roland recognized the red armor and white Grimm mask instantly. It was the same woman who had slain the mutant Beowulf back in Forever Fall during their conflict with Dr. Merlot. As expected, she wore a blade at her hip staring at the two coldly.

"Hi…mom," Yang started though her use of the term felt forced.

After several seconds, she removed the helmet slowly, revealing her features. She and Yang were nigh identical save for the dark hair and red eyes, her mother's face hardly wearing the years and obscuring the passage of time. As her pale face became visible, a smile spread across it that almost seemed warm as if she were glad to see her.

"Yang. So, after all this time you finally decided to come visit me. I see my initial judgement of your…choice may not have been so bad," she eyed Roland with condescending eyes.

"You KNOW I looked for you," Yang's emotions bubbled to the surface despite their purpose there. "For years I searched for you!"

"And now you've found me. You were patient, determined and strong enough to make your dream a reality as all who live here have done. Well done Yang. You and your man can stay here for the night, I can even have the cooks whip something up…"

"That's not why we're here," Yang's interruption sent a wave of murmurs through the crowd. Clearly it was not common for anyone to speak up to Raven, the bandit leader's eyes narrowed as Roland tensed.

Here we go…

"What was that?"

"We didn't come here to join your family business," Yang crossed her arms, the slight trembling fading as the words flowed from her. "I need to help my sister; Ruby is in Mistral somewhere with Qrow and needs my help. We just need YOU to take us to her."

"Family," Raven sighed loudly. "Only coming around when you need something."

"Better than not at all!" Even Yang turned at the shout, Roland's calm having broken at that line. Look, Mrs. Xiao Long…" he missed the twitch of her eye in annoyance at the name choice. "I don't know why you chose what you did, I can't even imagine what yours and Yang's situation was like beyond what I have seen and heard…"

"No, you can't," Raven interrupted. "I saw your family at Beacon, a nice cozy little picture of normalcy wasn't it? You grew up in your safe little bubble, rare Grimm attacks and a nice roof over your head. Why should I help you, my wayward daughter and some boy that caught her eye?"

"If you consider my mom and dad normal, that just proves my point," he fired back. "That being said, your daughter needs help. You can't choose your family, but that doesn't just null your relationship no matter how much you try to run." Raven's fingers tightened around her hilt. "The fact of the matter is your ability is our best chance to find Ruby and the others!"

Raven glanced to Yang who crossed her arms, silently confirming she had imparted the secret of her semblance to him.

"Dad told me," she explained. Raven's semblance had the power to open portals to those whom she had formed a connection with. Whoever else she had made a bond with was anyone's guess, but she knew full well her mother had one for her, one for her dad…and one with Qrow. "He's always been there for Ruby and swore to look out for her before leaving. I trust him, so make a portal to him and we'll be on our way."

"You are so focused," Raven remarked with more than a hint of pride. "But did you ever think that the path you are on isn't the right one? Perhaps you are already where you are meant to be? You two could have a good life here, don't follow Qrow down his doomed path with that fool Ozpin."

"I don't care what's doomed or not," Yang rebuked. "I will NOT abandon my little sister!"

"And I am certain where I stand," Roland took a step forward so he was beside Yang. The gesture was not missed by Raven. "You saved our lives, and I will always be grateful, but we won't abandon them no matter how big this gets."

"If that is how you feel," Raven turned with a sigh donning her mask. "Then we have nothing else to discuss…seize them both."

The ring of bandits formerly having kept a safe distance began to close. Roland cocked Ember Celica and readied his shield, rotating to cover Yang's back as she still faced down her mother.

"Didn't you hear me?" Yang's eyes flared crimson. "I said take us to Ruby or else…"

"Or else you'll have your skillful friend jump in?" Raven smirked back confidently. "We spotted her miles away, if she tries to move in, we have a dozen marksmen trained on her." For emphasis, she motioned towards gunners on the walls that hadn't joined the others in gawking at the intruders. Each one was looking through a scope clearly at a mutual target. "This is over." Yang's resolve did not waver.

"I…SAID…"

Raven spun at her daughter's advance, drawing the sword at her hip at last. It was a hilt only, the blade generated from the roulette of dust sheaths. The tribe leader's first choice had been fire, the weapon glimmering red in the evening sunlight.

Yang froze, eyes widening at the image far too similar to that of the man whom had claimed her arm. The Grimm mask, crimson blade, even the black and red intermixed within her armor warped before her eyes until a pair of black horns seem to sprout from her head. For the first time Roland saw her take a step back, hand shaking uncontrollably.

"Yang?" Roland turned around, feeling her back up into him. "Yang what's wrong?"

"Get them!" A woman covered in tattoos and short brown hair called out, waving a silver rapier in their direction. Even in his confusion over Yang's sudden shift and their situation unfolding, Roland recognized the weapon. "Myrtenaster? Where did you get that?!"

With a heave, the shield bearer hurled his aegis towards the woman who parried it with a quick counter. Even so, the bulwark angled using the gravity dust within, ping ponging off a half dozen men before slamming into a nearby tarp for the return trip to its owner. The impact of the shield caused the barely standing tent to collapse, exposing a further patch of the camp previously obscured.

Kneeling with a look of absolute confusion on her face was the pale-scarred complexion of Weiss Schnee. The former heiress was scuffed, her dress covered in dirt and torn from past battles, she had what looked like a tiny knight in her cupped hands.

"Yang? Roland?"

"Weiss?" Roland called out, the name causing Yang's shakes to slowly subside as she turned towards her teammate.

"W-weiss?" She stuttered, the image of Adam fading at the prospect of seeing one of her friends again. The shakes slowed, a fist clench ceasing them as determination surged through her. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I guess subtly is out," she muttered to herself before laying the miniature summoned knight upon the ground. With a downward stab from its tiny blade, the being created from her semblance expanded growing so large it knocked the cage bars and all into the air and freeing Weiss. The bandits between her and the others scattered as the knight bounded towards them, clearing a path for her to stand by their side.

"What are you doing with my mom?" Yang asked as the three stood back to back with the knight angling its sword threateningly at the collected enemies.

"Your MOM kidnapped me?"

"You kidnapped her?" Yang snapped back, the shock over her resemblance to Adam lost in her fury at seeing Weiss hurt.

"Move in!" The tattooed woman repeated, prompting her superior numbers to receive a surge of confidence. Bullets rained down on the group pelting the knight harmlessly. Those that got around met with Roland's shield finding no opening.

Roland planted his feet, his shield thrumming with electricity as he prepared for the first wave.

Pyrrha is out there but if they have her covered, she can't get here too fast. We'll need to hold them off at least until…

A green burst of energy blasted the front of the advancing bandits on multiple sides, halting their advance. From directly above, a new shape entered the camp as similar beams laid down suppressing fire against the assorted band dropping numerous enemies.

"Penny?" Weiss called out with a smile on her face and restrained smile. "You're alive! How did you find me?"

Penny Polendina hovered overhead covered in burn and scorch marks. She was missing a single arm, yet the smile never faded once she saw the others.

"I tracked my missing appendage," she answered cheerily, targeting reticules visible in her eyes locking on to as many targets as her remaining turrets could. "As soon as I found shelter for Cam to recuperate, I came to rescue you."

The robotic girl glanced over to Roland and Yang with an overly enthusiastic wave they awkwardly reciprocated. Focusing on a nearby structure, Penny activated a recall feature. Surprising the nearest foes, a hole exploded in the wall of a hut as a dismembered fist rocketed back towards its owner. Penny caught her wayward arm, resolving to reattach it once she had the time and equipment.

Weiss sighed in relief hearing that Cameron had survived the blast, the worry of what befell them heavy on her mind since awakening in the cage. The guards manning the walls tilted their weapons up to the new target. Forgetting the original orders, a hail of bullets littered the guard posts with holes and sending the troops scrambling. From a nearby perch, Pyrrha fired again and again laying down covering fire until the bandits had lost their elevated position advantage.

"We can clear a way out," Roland looked towards the gate. "Weiss'…thing can open it, once out we run for…"

The tribe charged again; swords raised against the children. A few feet before they would have clashed, a massive lightning bolt crashed down between them, another half dozen doing the same on all sides and preventing their approach as storm clouds rolled in. The scattered bandits clearly looked nervous as they glanced towards Raven's tent, Yang's mother doing the same.

"What are you doing?" She half-growled towards the flap.

"No violence," a soft voice from within commanded. "I told you as much, if you won't help them then let them go."

"They came in here…"

"And they will leave, now."

"Fine," Raven sighed in defeat before turning to the crowd. "A protracted fight would draw the Grimm anyway. You both got your one time from me," she glared daggers at Roland and Yang. If you want to join your REAL family, then you are welcome to stay. But if you plan to follow Qrow and that Ozpin, then you have no place here. He isn't what you think."

"And what is THAT supposed to mean?" Yang fired back.

"You'll only know that if you join us, otherwise you will leave." She glanced down, noticing the slight tremors still in Yang's hand, almost opening her mouth to comment before taking note of her troops all watching what she'd do. In the end she turned in silence, disappearing into her tent.

"Yang," Roland laid a soft hand on her shoulder, letting his hand brush her curls which had helped calm her anxiety before. "I'm sorry, but we need to go. I don't know what that was but if it aims at us, we are done. We'll find another way."

Yang resisted his hand, pulling hard yet he held on strong unwilling to let her rush into an unwinnable fight. With slow careful steps they made their way to the entrance of the camp. The bandits kept to their word, opening the gate and sealing it behind them as the children departed.

"Despite the circumstances, it is magnificent to see you all again!" Penny hugged Roland with a back breaking embrace once they were out of sight of the walls. "I took Cam to a structure some distance away, however with your vehicles we will reach it in due time! Ms. Xiao Long, we can…"

Penny stopped talking as she watched Yang and Weiss embrace, throwing their arms around one another in a desperate hug. A hint of tears could be seen in their eyes as the two found one another again, Roland slinked away to find Pyrrha hoping they had enough room on their bikes for everybody.

"I missed you so much," Weiss whispered to Yang, tightening her arms just enough to show her need for it.

"You too," Yang replied. "If I hadn't heard your voice when I did…"

Mom, when did you start looking so much like a monster?

Back at the camp…

"I thought you were a little more open to our tactics since what happened at Beacon," Raven muttered to the voice inside the neighboring tent. She had brewed a cup of tea, a second sitting across from her for an expected visitor who would not come. The tattooed woman, her pupil known as Vernal, stood guard at the entrance ever diligent.

"I have my limits," they replied. "I'll never understand your thinking. What you just callously threw away, I would do everything in my power to have again…"

Mistral House…

"Okay, I got enough food from the kitchen," Olivia whispered to Ruby within the small connected dojo. The teams had used it to train in their spare time, Ren and Nora being the last only recently having walked off to relax hand-in hand. "We can make it to this house and back in just a few days."

"Ooh Uncle Qrow won't be happy about this," Ruby worried thinking how he would react when they did not return after the first day or two. "And the Professor…I mean Oscar…"

"They'd never let us go," Olivia tried to reassure. "They'll forgive us when we come back with information on Cinder, trust me."

"What do you think we'll find?"

"I can't see the future, helpful though that would be," they both chuckled awkwardly. "Once we get there, I can get a good look. Maybe it's an old hideout during her time here or…" Approaching footsteps alerted the two that they would not long be alone. "So just add a few dashes of nutmeg and you'll get the flavor just right!" She added to throw off suspicion as the newcomer rounded the corner.

"Oscar, hi," Ruby waved as the young farmhand spotted the two huntresses, already feeling intimidated by the women he knew were much more skilled than he. "I was looking to train a little but if you two are using the room…"

"I was just leaving," Olivia assured him, welcoming the newcomer to their band to come closer. "Ruby, I'll get back to you later." She waved off to Oscar, causing him to blush with an awkward return to the gesture. Drawing Ozpin's cane from his back pocket, he extended the unique weapon to its full length and took a stance.

"You've really been practicing huh?" Ruby took note of his pose looking more professional than it had been when he first showed up. He was a bit more sure-footed even without Ozpin being in control. The kid was still a novice, but he was getting better. Ruby faced him down with Crescent Rose drawn.

Oscar breathed deep, his aura crackling weakly to life, he'd only just learned to reinforce it recently. With a yell he lunged, thrusting his weapon out forward towards Ruby who took a step back to hook her scythe into the ground. With his strike coming up short, the red huntress used her weapon as an anchor to swing around and catch him in the side. Oscar brought the cane around to soften her blow but not by much. He went flying backwards, awkwardly rolling to a stop into a recovery position…only to lose his balance and tumble backwards into the wall.

"Are you okay?" She asked, holding out a hand.

"I think so?" He gripped her and pulled, staggering to his shaky feet. "You're so fast."

"Well," she let out a giggle. "That is sort of my thing." Ruby enjoyed her spars with Oscar, he was so new and open to all her advice no matter how small. It was the first time since Beacon that she had actually enjoyed fighting.

"It's been…pretty crazy," he started trying to make small talk if only to end the silence. "A few weeks ago, all I had to worry about was tending the fields."

"And last year I just had to worry about good grades," Ruby empathized. "None of us were ready for something like this."

"Then how do you do it?" Oscar's voice was filled with restrained anxiety from weeks pent up without someone to talk to. Since meeting the team, he had gotten along with all of them to an extent but Ruby most of all, her cheerful personality so disarming and exactly what he needed. "

"I didn't think I could at first," her smile faded somewhat as she took a seat with Oscar doing the same. "I…lost a good friend at Beacon and it was all my fault. I didn't want to ever hurt anyone ever again!"

Oscar had heard about the fall of Beacon and it terrified him. The idea that someone like Ruby had been at ground zero made his heart fall into his gut.

"Horatio?" He asked sheepishly.

"How…how did you?"

"I heard Ozpin talk about him with your uncle," he admitted. "He considers it his failure, not yours."

"It was my fault," she insisted. "I didn't want to do anything like that ever again, not even fire Crescent Rose with a real bullet but that was just me running. If I did that, then everyone else; Jaune, Nora, Ren, Uncle Qrow, they'd have to face it alone." The image of a far-off grave ran through her mind. "I won't be a burden! At least you have the professor in your head to tell you what to do. Can he hear us right now?"

"I don't think so, sometimes he just, I dunno, rests? He is still there but far enough back I can barely feel it. It's pretty intimidating ya know?"

"What is?"

"Having someone so…grand in my head. I can't even be sure of what's my dream and what is his." The 14-year old thought back to the previous nights, a far-off figure with long blonde hair looking away he reached out for until losing sight of her. He'd never seen the woman before and had to assume it was a past acquaintance of Ozpin's.

"Don't worry," her smile could cure any doubts in his head to be replaced with a fluttering in his chest. "You were someone before he came around right? He can help but you are your own person."

"Th-thanks Ruby," he stuttered out with eyes locked on hers. "You really think so?"

"Of course," the way she tilted her head to the side as she spoke was too much.

"Okay, but only if you don't let what happened at Beacon change who you are!" The words between Qrow and Ozpin caused him to blurt it out despite how ridiculous it sounded.

"I'll be okay," she replied with a slight hesitation. "I am sure Nora will have fun with your training while we are gone."

"Gone?" He swallowed loud, imagining how the hyperactive Valkyrie would be training him without the others besides Ren to reign her in. "Where are you going?"

"J-just some more outdoorsy training," she lied slightly. "We'll be back soon, I promise. If…you wouldn't mention it to the professor until after we are gone…"

"O-of course!" He promised. "Not a word until after.

"Thanks," Ruby got to her feet, pressing down on her combat skirt to remove the wrinkles. "Now, we have a few hours before bed. Would you care for a few more rounds? Your stance can use some work."

Eyes wide with worry, Oscar accepted her challenge and before long the two were sparring again with similar results to the first. It didn't matter too greatly as he took the opportunity to learn all he could from her eager to prove her assertions true. The pair were so intent on their training that they didn't notice that a small mechanical device placed beneath the seat upon which they had sat. Unbeknownst to the group, similar objects were hidden throughout the house, this particular one picking up their full conversation. An aging lion-faunus on the other end having heard every word.

"Oz…pin?"

Menagerie…

"Yuma?" Blake asked Esmerelda as their blades clashed. With another day of near-fruitless luck recruiting for the defense of Haven, the young faunus was looking to get in some practice and blow off some steam. "I never met him."

"And I never met Ilia until the press conference," the huntress of Team HERO admitted as the two exchanged stories of their relationship to those within the White Fang.

"That's no surprise," Blake parried her sword, catching the counterattack with a high kick off her heel. "She grew up in Mantle, I only met her after she joined the White Fang."

Esmerelda summoned a half-dozen more copies, sweeping through the air only for Blake to bound atop the nearest, using it to spring high into the air. A second shot forth to intercept her, passing harmlessly through a clone raining sparks as the lightning dust dispersed. The huntress of HERO barely used the remaining replicas as a shield to block Blake's counter from out of nowhere.

That explains the remark of her parents dying in a mine.

Esmerelda held the military efficiency of Atlas to a high standard but during her time in training after Beacon's fall she had seen Mantle from a distance. Where Atlas was a shining light in the sky of pristine metal and wonder, Mantle looked akin to the slums of Mistral. Smoke constantly rose from the factories and buildings, the people from afar looked so hardy...but stern.

"I can't believe how much hate she has," Blake continued as their back and forths continued. "If only…"

"You could talk to her?" Esmerelda finished as their blades met. "That seems to be going around."

"The time for talk is LONG past." The pair paused their training regimen at the newcomer's arrival. Sienna Khan was leaning lazily on the balcony outside watching their exchange. Once her presence was noticed, she slid off with an almost unnatural grace and approached. "Not that talking ever did much as your father can attest to. Your 'friends' will only understand violence at this point."

"Ezzy, can we have a minute?"

"I…okay," Esmerelda acquiesced, reaching for a nearby towel to wipe away the sweat. "I'll be in the kitchen, maybe whip something up." Only once she had disappeared upstairs, giving Sienna a glare of disapproval first, did the two feline-faunus turn to one another.

"Never thought I'd see you again Blake," the former High Leader admitted. "With how efficient yours and Adam's efforts were, I was certain you'd be running the Fang together. I was as shocked as Adam when you and Tukson took off."

"I saw where Adam was going," Blake retorted with a scowl. "You may not have, but I did."

"So instead of warning me, warning your people…you ran to the humans."

"Even if I had told you everything and you removed him, killed him…whatever, it wouldn't have helped."

"It feels like it would have, would have saved your friends some grief from what I heard about Beacon."

"For the short term, maybe." Blake stepped out onto the balcony; the same Ilia had ambushed her on the other night Sun was wounded. "But someone else would just have appeared eventually."

"And what is THAT supposed to mean?"

"I was there as a little girl," Blake began. "The peaceful protests, signs and words were our weapons. Then were the armed demonstrations, we destroyed their property, but no one got hurt. Then came the dust raids…"

"Your father's techniques weren't achieving results," Sienna hissed at Blake's point. "When he stepped down, I took the steps we needed! The steps that…"

"That gave birth to Adam Taurus." The booming voice of Ghira Belladonna interrupted the pair. The former High Leader walked with powerful strides into the room, approaching his former partner to tower over her. "What the humans did to him drove that man to the White Fang but being praised for murder…that is what set him on his path and showed him what rewards in YOUR White Fang."

"Ghira, so good of you to join us." She rounded on the man without a care for the size difference. "I'm surprised you have time to visit with the droves of volunteers showing up for your mission of mercy."

The two stared each other down, each fully aware they had still a woefully small number for any type of excursion to Haven much less to repel a full attack. The two had not seen each other in years and the forced alliance did nothing to ease tensions.

"Messages from more of your followers gathering," he muttered while presenting a note recently delivered. "They are NOT welcome in this house.

"With the cooking your wife has been sharing, you'll have to fight them off," she answered coyly. "Seems like I'll be the one delivering the most personnel to this venture."

"I've seen both sides," Blake continued before Sienna could leave to review the missive. "The peaceful and the violent. Both escalate in their own way; dad was working towards the first while you went for the latter. With how things were going, someone like Adam coming about was inevitable. I never wanted to see him again."

"The world has a funny way of keeping us from what we want most." Sienna hopped off the railing with a groan. "I'm too old for this and you're too young to understand. Loyalists are flocking to us already; I was hoping you'd be one of them." She ignored Ghira's scowl of disdain.

"I'm with my family," Blake stepped up alongside her father. "We are going to fix the White Fang, not put it back the way things were just to wait until this happens again."

"Why must you and Ghira be so stubborn?" Sienna sighed in obvious frustration. "With both of your backing, we could have brought in numbers the likes of which we've never seen!"

"You can thank my beloved wife for that nugget of advice," Blake could not help but enjoy the look of pent up frustration in her eyes as his words."

"Keep to your ways then, after our temporary alliance we can each return to our own tactics."

Without giving time to rebuke, she headed off at a fast walk towards the basement where Ghira had made lodgings not wanting to risk her and Tukson's presence being discovered. Despite her unwavering demeanor honed from years as the leader of many, she was more uncertain than ever at the words of a girl barely half her age who was making more sense than her years should allow.

Elsewhere…

"Bring in the cells who have fully purged dissenters," Adam Taurus ordered as he looked over the table of scattered documents and plans. "Any that suspect more of Sienna's ilk must still send at least half of our demands."

"Our troops are working as fast as possible High Leader," the muscled crocodile-faunus beside him assured. "We will have the numbers required by the full moon."

"Perfect, Haven will be totally undefended, our allies have assured it. Nevertheless, our numbers will ensure that the Mistral authorities won't be able to…"

"High Leader!" A bird-faunus cried out bursting through the front gates. "A recording has arrived from our agents in Menagerie!"

Presenting the video, a teal hologram shimmered into existence depicting his two most loyal agents Corsac and Fennec bowing low. Behind them, a bat faunus he didn't recognize knelt awaiting them to finish the message.

"High Leader Taurus," they started ever calm. "We are pleased to report that we have news of your enemy. Brother Yuma has confirmed the presence of not only the human responsible for the incarceration of his father but also the traitor Sienna Khan."

"Excellent," Adam muttered, his smile spreading. He hadn't summoned his followers from Menagerie and knew their numbers there would be high. "We can prepare to…"

"…and what's more," The recording continued unexpectedly. "They have taken up residence with your former protege's family, the Belladonnas." Adam instantly locked his masked eyes upon the recorder at those words. "And to round out our collection of traitors…she has recently come home. We await your orders as ever, High Leader."

"Send reinforcements!" He commanded even before the image had faded. "I want as many of our men as we can spare in Menagerie BEFORE we move!"

"But High Leader," the aide attempted to explain. "Menagerie is far from Mistral, with the time needed to get a force there they could not possibly make it back in time to assist in the assault on Haven even if they are victorious instantly."

"They WILL be victorious. We were over-prepared to begin with," he rationalized with a hand wave. "Anyone who hasn't reported in yet is to head to Menagerie instead along with a quarter of those who already have. I want the traitor Sienna Khan killed along with all who defend her, the Belladonna family EXCEPT for Blake. I want her brought to me alive…I have a promise to keep."

"A-as you command High Leader," he bowed politely with quickening pace to have the previously established orders changed. He knew better than to dispute them with the way Adam was currently fingering his mask just over the duel scars both given to him by humans.

"Soon," he whispered while remembering the wounds as if they had just happened. "All of my enemies will be dead, and she'll be here again. And on that day, she'll see how foolish she was to leave my side, how foolish she was to turn away at the cusp of faunus becoming the dominant species on this planet!"

Ruby and co. head towards the mysterious house with the promise of information on Cinder, obscuring the mission from their elders. Danger closes in on Blake as Yang and Roland withdraw to find another way to reach their friends. Paths intertwine next time, until then I hope everyone Reads and Reviews…but most of all Enjoys! :D