Blake, as it turned out, did not return to Beacon by the end of the weekend.
Amber and Link were readying for another spar under Glynda's watch when the maiden spotted Ruby from the corner of her eye.
"Miss Rose?" Glynda asked, surprised to see the first-year student. "Do you need something? Lessons are over for the day, but I can spare some time if you wish."
"Actually, Professor Goodwitch, I need to talk with Amber," Rubbing her hands together, Ruby sent a pointed look at Amber. "It's about what we talked about, uh, before the weekend?"
Amber made a sound of understanding. "Give us a minute, Glynda." Amber accompanied Ruby away from the ring, leaving the professor alone with a furrowed brow. Link followed along, neither commenting on it. "Alright, what's up Ruby?"
"Blake's still missing," Ruby confessed worriedly. "She missed classes and we're going to look for her."
"I did say I'd help you," Amber hummed. She hadn't assisted any classes with Team RWBY that day, so it was no wonder why she hadn't noticed Blake's absence. Based on what Ozpin had told her, Blake had gone to Vale, and was likely still present in the city. "Alright, Link and I will help your team search for your missing member."
"Yes! Thank you!" Ruby clapped.
"Just don't mention it to Goodwitch," Amber winced. "I'm not supposed to leave Beacon. I'll have to make something up."
"Why can't you leave Beacon? You came with us to Forever Fall…"
"That was an approved exception," Amber explained. She jabbed a thumb at Link, standing neutrally without comment. "Besides, what's the point of having a bodyguard if I can't leave the safehouse, right?"
Ruby's face scrunched up. "Bodyguard?"
"Assistant," Amber winked. Ruby nodded but didn't understand. That was fine, she wouldn't know anything about the Maidens or why Amber was under threat.
"What about you?" Amber asked Link. "You okay with skipping sparring for a trip to Vale?"
Link shrugged then nodded.
"Okay," Amber thought. "Anyone asks, I'm helping you guys study in your dorm." She grinned at Ruby. "Meet you at the Bullheads."
Ruby beamed at her, speeding off and out of the combat hall. Amber returned to Glynda relaying her made-up excuse for ditching training for the day. The Professor bought it, glad that Amber was taking her role as a teacher to heart and helping the students. To be fair, she was helping Team RWBY, just not with studying.
"Think we're okay, lying to Glynda like that?" Amber asked Link idly, making their way to the Bullheads. "I mean, we're doing a good thing here, right? Helping Team RWBY stick together."
Link nodded, letting her vent her concerns.
Amber huffed. "You're right, you're right. Long as we come back with Blake safe and sound, Ozpin can't be too mad at us. It's just one little trip to the city. We'll be fine."
Link nodded then paused. Amber stopped, raising a brow in question. "Please don't run away," Link requested.
"I won't if you won't," Amber grinned, brushing him off. "Come on, they might leave without us."
Team RWBY was waiting as expected. Yang tapping her foot impatiently while Weiss sulked with her arms crossed.
"Finally! Let's get going, Teach!" Yang said, spotting Amber. She didn't bother conversing, spinning on her heels and rushing into a waiting Bullhead. Weiss didn't spare her some much as a glance, following after her teammate.
Ruby gave her a sheepish shrug and nervous smile. "They're really thankful that you're helping us, Amber," she insisted. Somehow, Amber doubted that.
Amber shared a look with Link, then sighed and followed the teens onboard.
Amber and Link looked out the window as Beacon fell away, Team RWBY sans the B discussing behind. Weiss argued, still unhappy with Blake's dishonesty. Apparently, also with Amber's.
"You knew!" Weiss accused, pointing her finger rudely at Amber's face. "You knew Blake was a member of the White Fang!"
"Former member," Amber corrected the terminology. She didn't think Weiss would like it if she said that she hadn't known either. The rest of the staff did, and that made her guilty by association. "Yeah, we all knew."
"And you grouped us together! Without telling us our teammate was a terrorist!" Weiss said. "Sorry, former terrorist."
Amber didn't believe Weiss was sorry at all. "It was Ozpin's decision to respect Blake's privacy."
"What about respecting our safety?"
"Weiss!" Ruby said, jumping in. "Blake wouldn't hurt us!"
"Yeah, Weiss, you're technically the only one she'd have beef with," Yang observed. "You know, 'cause of the SDC and faunus thing."
"Is she even a faunus?" Ruby asked. "She doesn't have any animal traits."
"She has to be," Weiss insisted. "Only violent faunus thugs join the White Fang."
"She is," Link said, startling everyone with his sudden input. Even Amber was a little surprised. Everyone stared at him, waiting for him to elaborate.
"Well?" Weiss asked impatiently.
"Ah," Link blinked, understanding that he was expected to continue. He smiled, raising his hands to his blond hair. He arched his hand, fingers together, mimicking. "Cat ears."
"Blake doesn't have—"
"Under the bow," Amber realized. Perhaps she should have noticed it earlier. In her defense, she only saw her in classes. Blake lived with the other girls, and they had never noticed either, which was far more inexcusable.
"Blake does love tuna," Ruby admitted embarrassedly, kicking the ground softly.
"How'd you know?" Weiss rounded on Link. "And why didn't you say anything!?"
"The bow twitches," Link explained. He shrugged. "I assumed everyone already knew."
"Why would we—" Weiss cut herself off, huffing in frustration. She looked off to the cockpit. "Can this thing go any faster? The sooner we find Blake, the sooner I can give her a piece of my mind!"
"Chill, Weiss-queen, be cool," Yang grinned. "We'll find her soon enough."
"You were as eager as I was back on the platform!"
"Yeah, that's because we were waiting on teach here, and I thought we might miss the Bullhead." Yang jerked a thumb at Amber. "Now, we're underway and we've got a full Huntress with us. Findin' Blake will be cake."
"Ugh, you're insufferable."
Amber blinked. It was weird to be taken seriously by her peers. By kids, but she'd take it. "Thank you for the vote confidence, Yang," she laughed.
Yang's grin widened, baring shiny white teeth. "You're cool, teach. Not stuffy like Goodwitch, or boring like Port and Oobleck." She gestured to Link. "Plus, you always have good eye candy."
"Yang!" Ruby shouted, red-faced and mortified.
Link made no indication he heard her.
"What? He's pretty."
"You still shouldn't say that," Ruby cried. She spun to Link. "I'm sorry about her, she's always like this."
"I do not mind," Link demurred. "I am told I look appealing in a dress."
Everyone stared, slack-jawed and shocked into stunned silence. Yang was the first to break, doubling over as she devolved into laughing fits. Ruby spluttered; her brain shut down as she tried to make sense of Link's stony expression.
Amber patted the girl's shoulder in solidarity, her own face one of quiet surprise. "Roll with it, Ruby. Just roll with it."
"A-anyway," Weiss blushed, trying and failing to maintain eye contact with the stoic knight. She gave up, focusing on Amber instead. "I think we're all a little curious about your assistant."
Amber winced. She'd avoided talking about Link to those not in the know, since it inevitably would require her to lie about his circumstances. "Link and I go way back." A couple months at most. "He's a Huntsman from outside the kingdoms." A knight, according to him. Same role, different title. "And he's here to help me unlock my semblance!"
Link stared at her, bemused by her obvious deception. She elbowed him quickly, shooting him a warning glare. Luckily, the students took it in stride.
"Ah, you haven't discovered your semblance?" Weiss asked. "That must be… difficult."
Amber shrugged, shifting uncomfortably. "I make do. Besides, I'm not without… talents of my own." That part, at least, was true.
Unlike everyone else she knew, Amber had no semblance, at least not one she'd discovered. While Team RWBY had obviously discovered theirs at a young age, she'd endured years at Beacon without. Saying Link was here to help her with the deficiency wasn't true, but it had a grain of truth.
"I'm sure you do," Weiss agreed sympathetically. "Professor Ozpin wouldn't have you teaching students if you weren't qualified."
Amber pursed her lips, refusing to comment.
"Forget about that," Yang interrupted. "I want to talk more about He-Elf here!"
Yang pestered Link with more questions, some of which he even answered to the blonde's frustration. The knight followed Amber's lead, pretending to be assisting Amber with her semblance. Wait, that was what she and Ozpin told him too. It was tough keeping track of who knew and how much they knew.
"Bullhead's landing," Amber called, interrupting the impromptu interrogation. "Let's go find your missing teammate."
Cinder took another step, her boot sinking deep in the sand. Her muscles ached and wanted nothing more than to rest. She snarled, refusing to give in, and hauled her screaming limb for another step.
Behind him, someone fell. Gasping desiccated breaths, the Gerudo woman struggled, trying to get back to her feet. She failed.
Cursing, Cinder turned around and forced herself in front of the woman. "Get up," she commanded. "We must keep moving."
"I—I can't," the woman admitted through gritted teeth. She tried to rise once more but her limbs failed her yet again.
Cinder's lieutenant arrived beside her, the spear in the second-in-command's grip doubling as a walking stick. "Boora is spent," she declared to him, knowing what it meant. The woman on her knees, Boora, knew it too. Her eyes widened, and her fists clenched in the sand.
It was a death sentence. The sandstorm had separated Cinder and the others from the rest of the tribe. They were less than thirty. Without food, without water, and with little direction they were forced to wander. The tribe would not search for them, knowing full well that they were doomed. Their only chance was to make for the nearest oasis, hopefully meet up with the tribe there.
That Cinder had taken command of the group was only natural. The others were young, having neither killed nor stolen. Children, practically. Among the two or three adults, she was the only one blooded in battle against the Hylians. The rest were too elderly. Or pregnant like Boora.
Cinder grit her teeth. They had to leave her. Their bodies would fail one by one in the desert sun. If night fell, they would freeze. Death followed in their wake, and the longer they tarried, the closer it came to catching up.
"Mother!" a child cried pushing forward from the train. She threw herself at Boora, trying in vain to lift her to her feet. "Mother, please, stand up!"
"Hush, Nabooru," Boora said gently, resigning herself to her fate. "You must remain strong."
"No, no, come on Mother! Get up!" the girl shouted hoarsely, frantically heaving the pregnant woman.
"Enough!" Cinder shouted, silencing the girl. The whole train watched nervous but defeated. It was too late, in their minds.
Cinder chose to let her actions convey her decision. She knelt and gripped the woman by waist. She hoisted Boora to her feet, then snaked her hands around legs, pulling the woman onto her back. Weakened Cinder may be, but she was still the strongest amongst the Gerudo.
"If you do that, you will die all the faster," the lieutenant observed. "Mercy would be to end her here before the desert does her in. Neither of you will survive to the oasis."
"I said enough," Cinder growled. "We make for the cliffs."
The train gasped. The lieutenant's eyes widened. "The cliffs-? Even if we reach the edge of the valley, it is too late for them to shade us. There are no caves near to shelter us from the night chill. We will die."
"Half of us will die anyway," Cinder pointed out, nervous murmurs rising bhind her. Boora was quiet on her back, labored breaths warming her neck. "The oasis is too far for the old and young. We make for the cliffs."
"If this is to save this woman," the lieutenant shifted, raising her spear and pointing it at Cinder. "Then perhaps I should strike her down myself, to save you from this madness."
Nabooru grabbed at his leg, the young girl frightened by the threat of violence. Cinder pretended not to notice.
"I will kill you before your spear nears me," Cinder threatened. "With my teeth if I have to."
They stared at each other, eyes narrowed and air thick with tension. Eventually, the lieutenant sighed and butted the ground with her weapon. "I hope you know…" she shook her head. "No, I merely hope."
"Wisdom," Cinder mocked. She started forward, unafraid of the cowed woman. Boora whimpered with every step Cinder took.
"Thank you," she whispered into her back. Cinder focused on the trek ahead. The train, relieved that no blood had been shed, followed along.
The cliffs were not as far as the oasis, yet the lieutenant had been correct. In normal circumstances, they would be useless as shade. They lacked water or wood for harvest, so they would not prolong survival. Some regions are blessed by a narrow river or cave systems, but not in the region they were in. These cliffs were nothing but windswept rocks.
Finally, the cliffs loomed ahead. The sun had set enough that the blazing air had cooled to something comfortable, a herald to chill approaching. Cinder paid it no mind, focusing all her attention on the next step, listening to the heartbeats of the woman on her back. No words were shared within the refugees of the Gerudo.
They reached the cliffside. Setting Boora down near a rock, the woman stirred. She said nothing, looking weakly at Cinder. Nabooru and the lieutenant found them there.
"Mother!" Nabooru cried rushing to embrace her mother. Cinder turned from the sight.
"We have reached the cliffs," the lieutenant said, too weak to raise her voice. "Will we die here, o glorious King?"
"How many did we lose?" Cinder asked ignoring the question.
"Three. All of them elders."
Cinder closed her eyes, clenching her fists. "It cannot be helped." She hardened her heart.
"I ask again. What now? Are we to shelter beneath the cliffs, and freeze to the rock face?"
"No, I intend to beg hospitality from the inhabitants of that cave over there," Cinder explained.
"Cave? What cave—" Her eyes followed Cinder's and locked on the narrow opening in the cliff wall. "That was not there before!" she hissed.
"No, it wasn't" Cinder laughed weakly.
"How did you-?"
"A feeling. Their cave can be wherever they wish it to be. And they would not like me to die." Cinder brushed past the frightened protests, forcing her exhausted body to obedience. The cave entrance was narrow and scraped at her body. Cinder did not have the mind to complain.
"I require your aid," Cinder asked the darkness, still pushing forward. The passage only grew narrower, tighter on her body as she moved forward. "Water, food, and shelter."
"The King of the Gerudo comes begging?" The darkness cackled. "How disappointing."
"I require your aid," Cinder repeated. The passageway became too narrow for anyone to continue. Cinder forced through anyway, tearing her skin and thin clothes. Blood leaked from cuts and scrapes.
"Will you kill yourself here, child?" tsked the darkness. "You break your poor mothers' hearts."
"I require aid!"
The passageway opened up to a large chamber. Cinder fell forward, landing on unfeeling knees. She glared upwards, into the darkness, refusing the unconsciousness that sought to claim her.
Bale violent light illuminated the air around her, two wizened crones floating in the air watching her struggles with childish amusement.
"Koume, Kotake," Cinder spat. "I require you."
They laughed, the screeching sound echoing off the stone walls carved by their sorcery. The din hurt her ears, hurt her pride, but she said nothing. They would only take further satisfaction.
The witch sisters smiled at her, a mockery of maternal love. Her world melted into sickening laughter.
"Welcome home, Ganondorf."
Cinder rocketed awake, her face and body covered in a slick sheen of sweat. Her mouth was dry, the taste of flaming sand lingering in her throat. She stumbled from the bed to the nearby sink. The safehouse they commandeered from Roman was empty save for her, so appearances didn't matter so much as the thirst of her body. She forced her head under the faucet and practically tore off the handle.
Cold water poured over her head, washing off her sweat. She drank deep, letting the liquid carry away the memories of the desert. The safehouse was blisteringly silent save for the water running, yet Cinder swore she could hear mocking cackles.
Hands shaking, she shut off the water. Looking up into the cracked mirror, Cinder inspected herself. Her face was as it ever was, beautifully unmarked with rich gold eyes framed by raven black locks. There were no cuts, no scrapes. Her skin was pale, not tanned olive.
The dream faded, and Cinder was glad to see it go. She had enough on her plate without having to fear restless sleep.
Cinders eyes slid over to the clock reflected in the mirror. Speaking of work, it was past time she checked in on Roman. The fool needed constant reminders of who was in charge of this little operation. Maiden powers or no, she would brook no dissent from a common thief, no matter how flamboyantly he presented himself.
Cinder picked up the burner scroll, dialing Roman's number directly. His face appeared on the screen.
"Speak of the devil, Cindy, I was just about to call you!"
"Roman," she growled. "Do not call me by that name."
"Lighten up, it's good news."
"What is it?"
"That girl you told me to keep an eye out for? One of my boys just called. She's in the city, just got off the Bullhead from Beacon."
Cinder's eyes widened, and a triumphant smirk rose on her face. Well, well, seems Amber decided to stretch her legs a little.
How kind of her.
Shorter chapter this week, didn't want to split up the next part, the climax of Volume 1.
Not going to lie, I've been kinda rushing to get through it, mostly because I dislike retreading canon. If I'm not going to change anything, then why bother, you know? Thankfully, Volume 2 will lead us away from the beaten path much more dramatically than what's been shown so far.
As always, thanks for reading, reviewing, favoriting, or following!
LeonTetra
Honorable Mentions
The Sin of Justice