A/N: Wasn't expecting to get to this piece for another month at the earliest, but it wanted to be written, so here it is.

This chapter is set across early Volume 5, but before episode 7 (meaning this precedes Chiaroscuro).

Thicker than Water

All manner of craft crashed or washed up on the shores of Anima throughout the year. Trade was a constant, and goods needed transport, no matter how dangerous the routes might be. No trade, and smaller communities and outposts would die off.

They also made for convenient targets, grab-bags for supplies. Unfortunately, the danger wasn't only just form opportunistic bandits, and the crew had been desperate enough to dump the cargo in order to knock out a Queen Lancer that made an appearance.

The bandits had still moved in to secure the crash site in hopes of salvaging some materials from the Bullhead's wreckage. The pilot had been killed in the crash, but the passenger was quite a surprise, and a statistical anomaly that almost convinced Raven of Fate.

The Branwen chieftain looked down at the unconscious Schnee heiress. Normally, she didn't care too much for snooty rich folk, save for their value as hostages and bait, but in this case, she was inclined to be considerate.

Her brother had been in Atlas for a spell a couple decades ago and had, once plied with alcohol, divulged a rather scandalous fling with Willow Schnee. A simple matter of sums, and Raven guessed that the girl born around nine months later was his. His luck was truly atrocious in that regard, so she had little doubt that the girl was his.

And now, the little princess had fallen right into her lap. Lucky for her and the tribe.

Eh, if she was Qrow's daughter, she could be nice. Ish.

Okay, she would be civil.

"Once we get back to camp, have her placed in my tent."

Rather than leave her in a cage and exposed to the elements, Raven was going to afford her niece the hospitality of a valuable hostage, disarmed and secured, but not free to move around under guard.

Once the girl came to, Raven fixed her with a stare.

The girl sat up, blinking in the torchlight as she took in her surroundings, her eyes settling on Raven. In the short seconds upon registering her, her posture stiffened and her hand edged to her hip.

"Looking for this?" Vernal asked, waving the rapier for the girl to see. Some of the defiance bled from her shoulders upon seeing her weapon out of reach.

"If you're cooperative, you might get it back," Raven added. "It's a shame we're meeting under these circumstances, Weiss."

The girl narrowed her eyes, swinging her legs underneath her as she rose to standing, keenly aware of the eyes tracking her every movement. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised you know who I am. Though you haven't earned the privilege of being so familiar without proper introductions."

Raven rolled her eyes. "Very well. Raven Branwen, chieftain of this cozy, little hamlet."

"Charmed," the girl replied with a smile, politeness coating disdain like poison. "Weiss Schnee."

"Now that we've had introductions, why don't you have a seat?" She gestured to the chair across the table from her. Pouring a cup of tea for the two of them, then taking a sip from her own, sitting across from the heiress. "I must say, it's a shame we're meeting under these circumstances, Weiss. You see, it's not every day I get to see any family not associated with the tribe. You, least of all."

The girl shot her a look. "What are you talking about?"

The chieftain paused for a beat. "They never-?" Raven closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Of course he didn't." Me and my big mouth.

Studying the girl's features more closely, Raven still couldn't pick any standout traits inherited from Qrow. Probably why no one had ever thought to question the girl's paternity all these years.

"Since no one else in the family knows or can be bothered to inform you themselves, least of all your own parents, I suppose it falls to me to do the responsible thing. Typical." Breathing sharply through her nose, Raven crossed her arms and reclined into her seat. "I'm your aunt. Your father happens to be my brother."

"Who?"

"Oh, you've met. Tall, dark hair, perpetually drunk, picked a fight with your sister."

The girl blinked owlishly, then, "Ruby and Yang's uncle?" she said with a small measure of disgust.

"Yeah, that's the one."

"That is the most ridiculous thing I've heard."

"I'm sure you've entertained the idea of not having to share blood with a man like Jacques, even if only as a fantasy."

"You're really certain about this. And awfully presumptuous to guess what I might want."

"It mostly comes down to a matter of timing. My brother had been on a long string of missions in Atlas. Suddenly, he packs up and runs home. Nine months later, you come along. Rather than announce the pregnancy, as had happened with your sister and brother, your mother secludes herself in one of the family properties in the countryside."

"That alone does not constitute as proof."

Raven waved airily. "I really don't know all the details. It took quite a bit of alcohol to get my brother to even speak a word of it to another soul. And I don't usually pry into my brother's affairs, especially his sexual escapades."

The girl flushed red, angrily. "I cannot believe I am even having this conversation!" she snapped. "You're insinuating my mother had an affair with some drunk ruffian because she wanted to get back at my father?"

"Is it really all that surprising? I listen to the news, and I've dealt with his Chain Gangs. Trust me, it's quite the rare occurrence for someone to praise me abducting them. If that's how he behaves in public, I can only imagine what he's like behind closed doors. And that's without my brother's own experiences with the man. Or yours."

Weiss was apparently unconvinced.

"Fine. You're welcome to deny it, or better yet, ask any of the other parties involved. Conveniently, that brings us to the next order of business. You could stay with us. Not sure if our amenities would be your liking. Or we can ransom you back to your mother."

The girl's eyebrows furrowed in concentration before she answered, "I put a great deal of effort to get away from that place. Someone died to get me this far. Besides, I'm not sure if Jacques would bother to take me back, and my mother probably can't. And I'd rather than inopportune my sister like that."

"Direct and decisive." Raven smirked, then smiled. "You'll fit rather well here. Now, I'm sure you a change of clothes and a bath. Anything else can wait until after that."

[RWBY]

Raven was under no illusions that Weiss intended to stay with them. She was on the same team as Yang, and had deigned to descend from her ivory towers and leave her country in order to become a Huntress. She probably had some stupid moral code that would have her choke at the thought of killing anyone else. The girl was accompanied by one tribesman at all times, with plenty more watching her movements.

The girl might not have seen a hard day's labor in her life, but she was fairly fit from training, and her time at Beacon made sure she was capable of basic tasks. However, Weiss' stay with the Branwens would prove rather short-lived.

A commotion past the edge of the camp, drawing Raven's attention from Weiss as she cut through some potatoes with some of the younger members of the tribe.

"What is going on out there?" Raven demanded.

"Someone broke through the perimeter," a sentry answered. "Knocked out a bunch of our scouts. She seems rather insistent to see you."

Snatching up her helmet, Raven went out to greet the intruder, leaving Vernal to watch the heiress.

To her surprise, it was her daughter. Also to her surprise, Yang had come to see her specifically. Unsurprisingly, and perhaps somewhat disappointingly, she had only come to use her to find Qrow, and thus Summer's brat.

On one hand, she was impressed Yang had the determination to find her, and the audacity to walk straight into a bandit camp and demand something of Raven, without offering anything in return. On the other, she was stupidly idealistic and blundering straight into a trap.

Eyeing the rest of the tribe, she could see the exchange was beginning to rile them all up.

"Keep it together," she snapped out. "All of you. I'd rather we not have us swarmed by Grimm." After a bit of resistance, the tribe dispersed to their tasks and chores. "Yang. In my tent. Now. We need to talk."

Damned maternal instincts. If Yang was going to insist on rushing to Qrow's side – into Ozpin's web of deception – she should at least be informed.

Sweeping back into the tent, the heiress was still glaring daggers at Vernal, then at Raven when she walked back into the tent, only to break the stalemate when the blonde followed her in.

"Yang?"

"Weiss?!"

"What are you doing here?"

"That's my line. I thought you were in Atlas."

"I was…then I ran away, my transport got attacked by Grimm and crashed, and then your mom picked me up and was planning on ransoming me back. She's apparently convinced your uncle is my father."

Yang choked on perfectly good air. "Wait, what!?"

Raven rolled her eyes. "This brat is Qrow's daughter. We already when through this. Ask your cousin or uncle later. That can wait until later." She tented her fingers on her lap. "You wanted to find your sister, Yang? If you're intent on that course, you need to know the truth…"

[RWBY]

A lot had been thrown at Weiss Schnee these last few months. Ever since the Fall of Beacon, she had felt disconnected, unable to settle in any form or fashion. Fleeing her home and the stifling presence of Jacques hadn't had a chance to improve anything before her ride had crashed, and being kidnapped by bandits hadn't made things even easier, especially when one of them insinuated everything she had grown up in was a lie.

But now, things were…well, maybe not looking up, not yet. But it felt like things were moving forward, whatever that meant for her.

After Raven's demonstration, she had given back Myrtenaster and what little Weiss' belongings that had survived the crash.

While waiting, Yang side-eyed her. "So…cousin?"

"I don't want to talk about it," Weiss replied. "Not right now. Not until I can get some answers."

Raven strode out of her tent, hand resting on her sword. "I can't guarantee Qrow won't clam up if you ask, so if you're concerned you're wasting a trip, this is your last chance to turn back out."

"All I care about is finding my sister," Yang answered.

"Hm. Suit yourself. Weiss?"

Weiss glanced at Yang, then stared down Raven. "You said Qrow would have answers, and Yang's my teammate. Even without that, I left home to be with my team. I've made my decision."

Raven inclined her head, then slashed the air, forming a portal. "If you side with Qrow, I may not be as kind the next time we meet."

"You weren't all that kind this time," Yang retorted.

Mounting up on Yang's motorcycle, they gave one last look at Raven as she opened the portal. Even if Raven was full of it, one way or another, Weiss' answers would be at the other end of the portal.

A/N: I'm not sure how well Raven came across here, especially as I might have taken a few liberties in her presentation. I was trying to strike a balance between caring for all of her family, estranged as they are, but at the same time ready to exploit them for all they're worth if it proves a more viable alternative. Yeah, she could have ransomed/sold Weiss off (and probably would have if she stepped out of line), but another skilled warrior to the tribe would be good, too. The tribe can always rob more people.

And no, Weiss wasn't actually planning on joining up with the Branwen tribe in earnest, but she figured she had a better shot at giving them the slip eventually than she would at getting out of Atlas again.

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Let me know with a review of PM. Constructive criticism is always appreciated.