Hello Snowbird shippers! It's Raine, and I have a new story for all of you!

I do hope you enjoy this story just as much as I had fun making it. The idea struck me as I was going through one of the old fanfics I used to read in my high school days. It's going to be inspired by that story, but of course, I'll be adding my own twists and using my own storyline for it.

The setting will be taking place just the same as the RWBY world that we all know and love, but things are going to be different from the events that happened in the volumes. Same concepts though so don't worry about straying from the facts of RWBY.

I really hope you all enjoy this. I was so psyched when the idea hit me and I just had to get my laptop and start writing it despite my incoming finals next month.

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN RWBY.

Shippings will come as the story goes, but the primary ship here is Snowbird.

And now, on with the story!

Qrow's POV

I knew that my job would be hard; dangerous even. It wasn't the kind of work anyone should take lightly, not when every minute that passed by could be the last. It required precision and accuracy, awareness of the world around you, and excellent defensive and offensive reflexes.

It was a tactical and dangerous profession.

But this...

This was far from what I was expecting.

I stared down at the Atlesian soldier sprawled all over the white marble floor, practically unconscious and looking more ragged than the last guy that was in his position just two nights ago. His uniform was tattered all over with a large rip forming down his right sleeve, showing off the blue and purple bruises that he was sure to have for at least a week or two. His hair was disheveled, messier than a bird's nest, while a few wounds covered his face, but nothing a quick aura boost couldn't fix.

I huffed under my breath, resisting the urge to run a frustrated hand down my face.

Why was it that every time she had to have practice duels, it always ended up like this?

He was the third guy this week, and it was only Thursday.

Crouching down to his level, I shook his shoulder a little vigorously, careful to avoid the injuries littered on his limbs. "Hey! You have to get up, pal. It's already morning. Don't you have some work to do?"

A groan slipped from his lips, his brows furrowing in pain but no words came from him as he fell back into his deep slumber shortly after. Was it that bad this time?

I shook my head in annoyance, controlling the need to pull at my hair in frustration. With a deadpanned expression, I shoved him from his position lightly. "Sir, you need to get moving, now," I called a little louder. Still, not even a stir comes from the worn-out man before me.

I bit back the load groan in my throat. This was getting me nowhere and I needed to get started on work soon. He'd eat up too much of my time if he kept this up, but I honestly couldn't blame him for being in this defeated state.

Slipping my arms under his, I moved him to sit up against the wall, letting the couch nearby support some of his weight so he wouldn't fall. He let out a low moan, his face wincing before muttering something insensible under his breath, remaining in a passed out heap.

He needed to wake up soon, or at the very least, be out of here soon. I couldn't be at a babysitter all day.

I scanned through the rest of his injuries as I stood, pondering over how he came to have them in the first place. It wasn't the first time someone was left this beaten up on the lobby floor, but the damage looked a lot worse compared to the ones in his position some days or weeks ago. No doubt that this guy didn't even stand a chance last night.

I headed over to the kitchen to grab my scroll, looking for the contact I've gotten used to calling over the last few months. With no time better than the present, it was time for plan B.

Quickly tapping on the number, a familiar ringing sounded from the line. At the back of my mind, I wondered if they were already getting used to me calling every few times a week. I let my finger tap quietly on the counter while waiting patiently for someone to pick up.

"Atlas infirmary services! How may I help you this morning?" A young woman spoke through the scroll.

I quickly cleared my throat. "Yeah, morning. I'd like to request for reinforcements of medical assistance for an Atlesian soldier," I told her calmly, hiding the tone of urgency that I wanted to use before once more running a hand through my hair in an attempt to get rid of the pitting frustration.

She paused for a moment, followed by the sound of fast typing on a keyboard. "How injured is the soldier?"

I didn't bother to hide my snicker, nearly chuckling in the process. "If you can count beaten to a pulp by a Special Operative, I'd say he's in pretty bad shape."

A low hum resounded thoughtfully. "Where is the soldier's location?"

"At Specialist Schnee's military home unit." I was convinced at this point that the infirmary was already aware of what happens whenever I called; that they were already prepared every other morning to send their assistance. I smirked to myself before peeking out into the living room, surprised to see that the soldier fell from his spot.

"I see..." she trailed before talking to someone who was probably nearby, her hand muffling the microphone. "Alright, I'll have immediate medical assistance brought to the area ASAP."

I nodded to myself before walking back out into the living room, staring blankly at the man who laid stretched out on the floor. I set the scroll between my ear and shoulder to lift him by his shoulders, pushing him further in the corner to keep him from toppling over again. "Thank you. That will be all."

The woman responded a more lively hum, speaking faintly to someone in the room as the call ended. I let out a quick sigh before keeping my scroll in my pocket and heading back into the kitchen. Figuring that I should probably help make the infirmary's lives a little easier, I grabbed a fresh towel and a small bowl with some cold water before heading back out.

Drenching the towel with water, I formed a ball just above the guy's head, squeezing it hard to let the cold fluid fall all over his insentient form. This trick worked many times before, so I hoped it would be enough to wake him.

It splattered all over his face, flowing down quickly to his neck and soaking his inner shirt. In a matter of seconds, he sprung wide awake, jerking away from the wall and yelping at the contact. He grasped at his wet neck, pulling the cloth of his wet shirt away from his skin.

I cocked my head to the side inscrutably, already used to seeing guys like him react the same way. This was honestly getting old.

"W-Where am I?!" He exclaimed, whipping his head back and forth the lobby as he surveyed the area frantically. It seemed he immediately regretted it by the way he stopped abruptly, grimacing in pain and letting out a hushed whine.

I rested a fist on my hip, cocking an eyebrow at him. "You're in the Schnee military home, pal. Been here the whole night by the looks of it." I tossed the towel back into the bowl before offering him a hand. Taking it, he swayed unstably before successfully pulling himself up, his face draining of color from the sudden motion.

He murmured something before shutting his eyes and clutching one side of his head, attempting to recall the events from the night before. "Oh right, I had a practice duel with Specialist Schnee last night." I gestured him to the couch, guiding him to sit slowly before handing him the bowl to clean up. "Thanks."

I couldn't help but silently judge him, crossing my arms over my chest and giving him an underwhelmed look. "Well, from the looks of things, it seems more like she beat the crap out of you than a fair duel. Doesn't seem like much of a fight on your part." I gestured to the cuts and bruises decorating his skin, not bothering to hide my snarky tone.

He shook his head wildly. "It was so quick! I hardly even had the chance to attack." His hand stretched out over his head to emphasize his point, eyes wide like a deer caught in headlights as if he was having a flashback. "All I can remember was a sole strike to my head before blacking out."

I shrugged nonchalantly, moving my gaze to look out the window in thought before shoving a hand in my pocket. "It's Ms. Schnee. She's a tough one."

Winter Schnee, Special Operative in the Atlesian Military, and personal right hand of the well-known General James Ironwood. Her intelligence and skills in combat and strategy were popular among the huntsman schools in the kingdom, graduating Atlas Academy with high honors and receiving a personal invitation to join the military from the general himself. Based on the rumors, it was partly because he had been watching over her since she was a child, like the rest of her siblings.

She was also the eldest daughter of one of the wealthiest families in Remnant, the richest one in Atlas. Her family founded the Schnee Dust Company, with her being the original heiress to inherit the business. Her title was eventually passed down to her younger sister once she had decided to affiliate herself with the military. Gossip then had said it was because of her wanting to cut all ties to her name, especially when word had gotten about the company's atrocious methods in dust mining.

With a status like hers, news spread fast all over the continent. It was clear that she didn't take great pride in her name once her father had become the head. I wouldn't blame her for not wanting to have anything to do with her family, being in a similar situation myself.

The man shuffled in his seat. "I'm sorry, who are you again?" He asked, squeezing the towel and slowly wiping it across his cheek.

"The name's Qrow," I introduced, glancing at him as I jerked a thumb to myself. "I'm an employee here for the Schnee military home."

His eyes looked up to me with a tinge of curiosity. "Employee?"

I nodded. "I'm the head guard here, and part of my job is to make sure all guests are tended to and making sure that this place is safe for everyone in it." A chime sounded from my pocket, finding a message displayed on the screen of my scroll; specifically, one from a familiar infirmary nurse.

'The ambulance is nearing Ms. Schnee's residence. Have the soldier ready for tending and departure.'

I let out a quick chuckle before keeping my scroll, motioning for the soldier to move closer to the edge of the couch. "It's time to go, pal. We're getting you some real help." He sweatdropped momentarily before slinging his left arm over my soldier when I crouched near him. With an arm at his back, I let him lean on me for support as he hobbled to the door.

"What do you mean real help?" Once outside, I settled and shifted his weight to the nearby pillar decorating the exterior of the main entrance.

"An ambulance is coming for you, and don't worry, it's the military's infirmary that will get you all better," I told him flatly, untangling his limb from my shoulder and setting him down steadily.

Right on cue, a military ambulance drove through the gates, circling the roundabout before stopping just before where we were. The back doors immediately swung open, revealing two large men in white medical uniforms carrying a large stretcher. I quickly stepped to the side to give them space, walking to the ambulance as they moved the soldier.

A smirk made its way on my lips when a familiar young woman stepped down from the vehicle, her black hair held back into a tight centered bun. Her demeanor was commanding but was also playful and relaxed, glancing at the injured man before raising a brow to me, her green eyes flashing with a teasing smugness.

"Another one, huh?" She laughed lightly.

I shrugged before laughing along with her. "I'm getting used to it, but I've got to admit, it's getting tiring. I don't know how you keep up with this, Lex," I joked, wiping the back of my hand against my forehead to feign fatigue.

She scoffed, surveying the soldier being slowly lifted on the stretcher before nudging her head in his direction. "That's the 9th one in the last month. What's going on with her?"

I tilted my head to the side, shrugging a shoulder. "I wouldn't know."

Her eyes rolled subtly, enough for only myself to notice. I flashed her a look before glancing to the large window on the second floor, the movement of curtains catching my attention before I turned back to Lex. "Hope you're keeping her in check, though."

"You know we don't really talk," I told her in a matter-of-fact tone, crossing my arms and deviating my eyes from hers.

Over the two years that I've worked for Winter Schnee, there was hardly ever a time that we held a full-blown conversation. I could say that we were on professional terms, only ever speaking when necessary like things about work or manor reports. After my first year, I was able to sneak in a few commentaries and goading here and there. She surprisingly took my teasings and satirizing well, even it did seem to fuel her temper.

We weren't on the level of getting to know each other that you could call us friends, but we weren't strangers either. Unfortunately, that was as far as it could get. A closed-off, militant woman was what she was, despite a few probings and lighthearted moments. She was never one to get close to people, other than her sister at least.

And I was sure she intended to keep it that way.

"Well, maybe you should try," Lex suggested, taking a glimpse at the window above us.

I noticed one of the men secure the last strap of the stretcher around the soldier, lifting him up cautiously before heading back to the back entrance of the ambulance. The man waved his hand in gratitude, sending a small smile and muttering a quick 'thank you' before disappearing through the doors.

"Well, that's my cue." The dark-haired woman gestured, smoothening her attire before turning away.

"Thanks again for the quick pick up," I called out, offering her a two-finger salute.

She turned and made a quick face, laughing. "No need to thank me, you know."

"Yeah, but I do keep calling on your services. I'm starting to think they're getting annoyed with me," I quipped in amusement.

Lex chuckled and shook her head, raising her hands to brush me off. "Oh please! If anything, you're keeping the nurses in the call room entertained. Only the Gods know how many of them are actually into you by now," she giggled, winking as she gestured to me.

I laughed behind closed lips, raising a brow smugly. "Well, they can't go wrong with that."

"And anyway, it isn't your fault," she reminded, stepping away from the doors and walking back to me, grabbing my shoulders to pull me down to her height. "If anyone is to blame, it would be that special operative of yours," she whispered snarkily, a smirk appearing as she pushed me back up and walked back to the vehicle.

"Like I said," I called back, shoving both of my hands into my pockets. "Not much I can do about that."

She sent one last look over her shoulder. "Can't keep nursing every single one of those she brings in though," she remarks sarcastically, chuckling before stepping into the ambulance and closing the doors.

As I watched them drive away, I let out a light snicker, reflecting over her words for a moment. Despite how convincing she could be at times, I was doubtful that this was something I couldn't do. At least, I thought so. I clicked my tongue before turning to head back inside.

It was time to get back to work.

Winter's POV

My fingers moved the dark blue curtains of my room, hiding my figure as I peeked out the window. Below was a clear view of my head guard, Qrow, watching an ambulance leave the premises as he stood by the main entrance, head turned away from my view, which made it hard to decipher the expression he held.

He turned away as the vehicle exited the gates, his pace oddly slow. I could make out the smirk etched on his lips, narrowing my eyes when I noticed an unusual glint in his own, but it had disappeared just as he stopped in his step.

What was he doing?

I held in the urge to jerk away from the glass when his head slowly craned up, unfazed crimson eyes staring right into my azure ones despite the obscured view he had of me. I instinctively bit the inside of my lip as my grip on the curtains tightened, my impassive face unwavering.

It was as though he knew that I was watching him. What was startling was how he remained insouciant in his stance, hands tucked away as he kept his gaze on my own, unaffected by the cloth that should have concealed my curious form.

Almost like a bird watching something curiously.

Still, I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing my astonishment, neither the ability to read me so early in the morning when the day had yet to begin. However, it was a peculiar thought that perhaps, this had become a routine of his.

Unlike previous instances, this was the only time I'd stayed longer to observe the happenings after one of those nights. Most mornings, it was a quick display of the ambulance' arrival, the soldier being brought inside, and the gates opening for their departure before I proceeded to prepare for the day.

Today was the first that I'd watched everything unfold before me. It was also the first time that I had ever met his eyes the way we did now. Had he always stopped to stare at my window when this happened?

Before I could to study him further, he pulled away, eyes covered by the dark hair that hung on his face he headed inside. I sighed, sparing one last glance at where he stood before closing the curtains and reminding myself to get ready. I'd see him again later, just no longer with the rare look he had.

It was a tad bit unnerving to some extent. At the back of my mind, I was almost certain that he was quizzical; wondering what the reason was behind my sending him beaten up soldiers every other night.

Surely, to anyone, it was rather farfetched; even more so when it was a Special Operative such as myself that was mainly responsible for the mangled conditions of the bruised and broken soldiers.

I should have been tame. After all, these were fresh recruits that were practically maimed on unlucky evenings. However, as new cadets, they had the bearing of becoming the 'soon-to-be' faces of the Atlas military. We didn't simply construct them to be disciplined; we trained them with vigor. It was almost mandatory that they were the best. That meant the necessity of being courageous to stand up on their own feet, fearless in times of danger, and to be strategic with every approach done.

It was the reason why I took it upon myself to train them. Personally.

Or at the very least, that was what I had been telling myself over the past several months.

As an officer of my rank, it was imperative that I continued to train myself, to be in top shape with the absolute best performance. Mistakes were unacceptable.

With everything that was going on, both with what I knew and what I didn't, there was too much at stake to let one small slip pass me by. There were too many things that could lead to moments of vulnerability, instances that could be detrimental at any given time. Uncertainty had become a foe; mystery along with it. There was no room for error nor any forms of distractions.

Not when the unknown had yet to be determined.

The need to remain focused was dire; to attain the capability of standing my ground at all costs. These last few months have been showing me just how inexperienced I truly was, and how there were numerous things that I had yet to learn.

And this...

New and uncanny manifestations...

I shook my head, letting out a deep breath as I pushed the unsettling thoughts away. Whatever these were, I would not remain stagnant. I would never allow them to become a hindrance, despite just how apprehensive it had already made me.

It was the reason why I've entailed such tight precautions.

Walking into my bathroom and ridding myself of my nightgown, I stepped into the warm shower, letting it drench my pale skin. The steam had already begun fogging up the glass wall as well as the mirror near the sink. Trickles of temperate water streamed down my back and I could feel myself fall into a relaxed trance at its touch. I inhaled slowly, hoping to ease the mental tension I felt.

It had never been my intention to purposely injure all of those soldiers, or in a practical sense, not as much as I had. It had always been difficult to alleviate myself of the 'what ifs' that raced through my head more times in a day than I appreciated. Yet now, I was starting to believe that my accidental hostility was simply from the new challenge I have come to face; how I couldn't let myself fall behind as a result. Perhaps it was worry that drove me towards my aggressive side in battle.

My insecurity was prominent, I knew that as much. Agitation and ambivalence had coursed through my veins the moment I first saw it happen. It was terrifying more than I cared to admit, which was why I had enforced it in myself to use whatever means I had to remain proficient. It was something foreign, but I understood that it was a responsibility I had to bear.

With one last rinse, I turned the shower off before squeezing my long white hair, ridding it of any excess water. I reached for the soft, blue towel hanging nearby, gently wiping myself dry as I stepped onto the white rug laid on the tiled floor.

It was time to seize another day.

Grabbing the clean uniform in my closet, I effortlessly followed my usual routine, mindful of keeping my coat and blouse free of any wrinkles. As I slipped into my boots, I couldn't cease a thought from crossing my mind.

I've been able to keep these unusual bouts at bay, thankfully remaining a secret that only I knew. It was honestly an arduous task to keep the occurrences to myself, but it alarming that with my line of work, they were more or less bound to reveal themselves. I was relieved that there had yet to be any drastic events. It was always better to stay primed, but I would presume that as of late, I was doing alright.

I smoothened out the creases on my uniform before reaching for the brush, putting my hair up in the usual neat and tight side bun that I'd gotten used to many years ago, always leaving a little fringe on the side and letting my bangs fall freely on my face. I did a onceover once finished, bright blue eyes staring back from my reflection.

Reaching for my sabre and scroll, I headed for the door, feeling for the small pack strapped to my back. With one quick sweep, I checked to see if I had forgotten anything.

The blue bed with white cotton sheets stood at the center of the room, the entrance to my walk-in closet and bathroom to its left. A white table with a computer rested against the wall where the large window I stood by earlier, dark blue shelves containing military books and documents hung on its walls. At the center laid a simple, white rug, along with a trunk and case that often kept my sword.

As I made my way out, a familiar noise sounded from my scroll, browsing over it and finding a message from the General.

'Report to the Command Room by 8 am.'

I blinked musingly, glancing over to the clock on my nightstand. '6:45 am'. I had time.

At the bottom of the stairs stood Qrow, back straight, and arms resting behind him as he surveyed the lobby. As per usual.

The click of my heels against the steps must have caught his attention, head whipping up as he watched my descent. Much to my chagrin, the peculiar look in his eye from earlier was nowhere to be found.

"Good morning, Ms. Schnee," he greeted, bowing his head slightly.

Once off the stairs, I greeted a quick "Good morning" before proceeding into the kitchen, hearing his footsteps follow behind me. "Anything to report?"

He shook his head as he went over a file in his scroll. "None as of this morning. The mansion was safe and secured throughout the night up to this morning with no unusual activity," he briefed, eyes locked on the screen he held.

I hummed in acknowledgment. "Have all housekeeping members reported in this morning?" I asked, eyeing the coffee maker and expectedly finding freshly brewed coffee inside its glass kettle.

"Yes, all of the housekeeping are present as of now." Just as he finished, one of the housekeepers had walked in and offered a kind smile. "Good morning, Ms. Schnee. I've prepared your coffee. Will you be taking it in your thermos to go or in a mug?"

"A mug will do, Carmine. I have some time this morning. Thank you." Carmine nodded before taking out a white mug with a light blue glyph on its side, pouring the in the dark liquid, and offering it to me, which I took gratefully. She smiled once more before gesturing to the glass jars of cream and sugar at my side.

"I've prepared your breakfast as well. Please enjoy, Ms. Schnee," she said kindly before patting my shoulder as she set down a plate full of freshly baked bread and butter.

Its scent was delightful that I was tempted to begin indulging in it. "Thank you, Carmine. You and the rest of the household may have your breakfast as well, I will be taking my leave soon," I told her with a nod, which she reciprocated before taking her leave.

I had almost forgotten that Qrow remained standing behind me, hand fumbling with the closed scroll, likely waiting to see if I had other questions or orders for the morning.

"What's the status of the newly recruited guards?" I decided to ask, taking a quick whiff of my coffee, watching the contents swirling in the mug.

"They have already taken position throughout the mansion and are currently on duty."

Good.

With a content sigh, I waved to him in dismissal. "Then that will be all."

Expecting him to walk away, I brought my lips down for a sip, letting my eyes flutter close at the bitter taste reaching my tongue. The sound of shuffling brought me out of my daze, finding that he had yet to move. He stood uneasily, scratching the back of his head in evident hesitation.

Setting my mug back down, I tilted my head to him questioningly, urging him to speak. "Ms. Schnee, I have things to attend to this afternoon that may reach until late tonight. I've asked one of the recruits to stand on guard for that time."

I swallowed my coffee hard, furrowing my brows slightly and running through his words to make sure I heard him correctly.

If I had, then it would seem that he would not be available to stand guard for the day until the evening.

Qrow Branwen.

Who was, a matter of fact, my best guard. It was the reason why he was the head after all.

I haven't had the chance to see his full capabilities, other than training sessions that occurred with the other guards around the mansion, but I have heard much praise for his abilities. From what I heard back home, he was taken into employment for the exemplary skills he apparently carried. For all I knew, he might have even been up to par with myself.

He was one of my precautions, not that I would mention it out loud. With these strange events happening, I've seen to it that I was to be guarded adeptly. Not a moment should come that I would be taken aback by imminent signs of danger or liabilities. Unchecked fear and incompetency could put anyone in peril, and that was not an idea I was willing to entertain.

It could be my increasing paranoia, which almost sounded pitiful to my ears, but I had led myself to believe that it would be fitting to guarantee my security, at least until I learned more about it.

His news worried me, but I felt a breath of relief that it was only for tonight. In the meantime, I tried to convince myself that I was more than capable of keeping myself safe.

"See to it that your recruits guard well then. You're dismissed," I remark sternly, my eyes deviating back to the drink on the counter. I was able to make out his shallow nod from the corner of my eye, before he turned on his heel and left, likely to resume his duty.

As I watched his back disappear from the hall, another thought crossed my mind.

Does he ever wonder why I, a Special Operative of the Atlesian Military, was always fearful of my safety?

Qrow's POV

Once Winter left for work, I headed back to my room to change out of my guard uniform and into my usual clothes. Words can't express how much I've missed the feeling of my cape hanging from my shoulders. The uniform sucked without one. Strapping harbinger to my back, I gave myself an approving nod before heading out, hoping to avoid anyone who might ask where I was headed off to.

Winter's military unit wasn't exactly a small place unlike what most soldiers would get. From what I heard, it was her dad's request. It was much smaller compared to the Schnee manor but still bigger than most military residences. Unlike her old home, her place was simple, walls coated white with blue accents. The only evidence of her family name was the lone snowflake configured on the gate.

I spotted a few of the recruits tightly glued to their spots, scattered from the sides of the gate to the area's outer edges. It seemed like they'd already been briefed, or warned, about the consequences of disappointing Winter.

A few guards had saluted me as I went, all staying silent and keeping their eyes trained forward even as they closed the steel bars. A few feet away stood several closely packed trees and a perfect spot that was hidden from plain sight. With a prompt survey and finding no one around, I briskly walked in, transforming into my corvid form, flying up to the sky and past the tree line.

It's been a long time since I've last given myself the chance to stretch my wings, to have the wind blow strongly against my small frame while it carried me higher into the air. I've almost forgotten how great it feels to fly.

The view of Atlas was far from the scenic sights of Vale and Mistral, landscapes that I've become familiar with over the years. Instead of the usual greenery and natural resources, the kingdom of advanced technology was filled with sights of sleek and high-rise buildings. There were hardly any sights of nature around, save for a few trees scattered along the streets.

Seeing the smallest bit of evergreen was astonishing considering the northern climate. Solitas was known for its icy tundras and intense snowstorms that anyone could presume the terrain would be a solid white.

When I first visited the continent, I had been worried that I'd freeze myself to death without a projected aura. Fortunately, the chills of Atlas' temperatures weren't much of a bother when in my crow form, what with the shifting my body mechanisms to adapt to the harsh environment.

Within minutes, the kingdom's tertiary school came into full view, surrounded by rings of hard light dust and airships of the military circling its domain. A small garden stood off the side, hidden away and often serving as a space of solace for the students.

As timing would have it, the area was clear of people since most were probably inside or simply tending to their classes. Passing by a decent patch of trees, I transformed back into my human form inconspicuously, casually brushing off the dust on my shoulder.

Atlas Academy was much more modern and grand compared to Beacon Academy. The fact that the school was well-elevated with gravity dust let everyone who visited know just how developed the kingdom was.

Walking through the extremely large doors alone was intimidating as it is. The halls were a mix of white and grey with polished tiles, large paintings of what looked like warriors and grimm hung from the walls. I nearly snickered at what I was sure was the administration's attempt to keep the historic atmosphere.

With a deep breath, I let my feet guide me through the halls, knowing that the path it would take was already second nature.

It wasn't every day that I'd get a message from them.

That could only mean that some things have been going on. Bad things, to be specific. For them to have to me visit after 2 years, I wasn't not counting on this to be a simple life update visit.

The sound of giggling pulled me out of my thoughts, giving a sideways glance at the students that stood a few feet away. It looked like I caught their attention, finding that some were either staring or glancing in my direction as they whispered. I bit back a chuckle when one of them swooned after flashing a smirk, casting them a coy glance before picking up the pace. I hardly blamed them for their reactions.

After a few twists and turns, I arrived at a secluded hall with a sliding door at the end. It was clearly not a common destination for students nor common Atlesian guards considering their absence in the area, but anyone with sharp eyes could tell that the place was still heavily guarded.

Just as it should be.

I hovered my scroll over the terminal, a few beeps signaling that the system was reading my identity. After a moment, the beeping had stopped before the door clicked and slid open. The room was immensely dark, with only a pathway being illuminated by a soft glowing blue against a lighter blue pavement. The path was fairly long, but it was made that way to confuse anyone who didn't know where it led.

Another door stood at the end, this time with a green scanner on the side rather than a scroll reader. With a quick press of my hand, it had opened to reveal a round hall with several men and women in black suits pacing through different rooms; different departments.

I huffed before approaching the door at the far center, hand resting on the handle contemplatingly before pushing through. A sense of nostalgia washed through upon seeing the three figures inside, all surrounding the large, black table that sat in the middle of the room.

A stern-faced blonde woman in a white blouse and black skirt with a violet cape sat across and bickered with a tall black-haired man with a strong atmosphere, wearing an all-too-familiar white Atlesian military uniform, who stood firm as he tried to deviate his gaze to one of the many screens in the room. At the head of the table was a grey-haired man who wore a green scarf around his neck over a black polo, who had been pinching the bridge of his nose beneath his glasses.

It was a wistful sight, and I nearly laughed when all I heard was arguing as though nothing had changed.

Their expressions were easy to read without even considering my skills of being a spy for this very organization. All of them had a look that was utterly perplexed, tinged with troubling concern, and clearly preoccupied with whatever they were tapping away on their scrolls and tablets. I hadn't realized how my footsteps resonated in the room until they simultaneously turned their heads in my direction and stopped their heated conversation.

The man at the center gestured me over with a friendly wave. "Qrow," he spoke kindly, a smile gracing his lips. I couldn't keep the smile from appearing on my face, knowing that it had been far too long since I had last seen any of them.

"It's good to see you again, Oz," I told him sincerely as I walked closer.

Ozpin nodded in agreement as he stood from his seat, gesturing to the empty chair that sat on his side. "We hadn't been expecting you so soon," he commented honestly.

I shrugged indifferently, but truth be told, I had been keeping my thoughts at bay the moment I left. I attempted to brush off the weight in my chest. "Well, the ice queen left early today. I guess that's all thanks to Jimmy here-"

"James," Ironwood cut me off, shaking his head in annoyance but chuckling under his breath nonetheless. "And it's good to see you too, Qrow. I had tasks for her today and needed her at the base."

"And to make sure she wouldn't see me here. Yeah, yeah. We know." I waved my hand heedlessly, trying to pass off the joke.

Glynda rolled her eyes at my action, clearly still refusing to condone my antics. "Manners, Qrow!" She reprimanded, but the amused smirk tugging at the edge of her lips indicated she felt otherwise. I smirked before laughing behind closed lips. Not even 2 minutes in the room and I was already convinced that they really haven't changed over the two years I've been gone.

"Oh, I've learned plenty," I told her snidely, sarcasm dripping in my voice as I took my seat.

I heard Ozpin mumble something intelligibly before sitting back down, sighing as he leaned back against the headrest. "Well, now that greetings are in order, I believe it's time that we resume," he started, tapping away on his scroll before moving his gaze to me. "Qrow?" He asked lightly, attempting to ease the tension forming in the air.

Just like old times.

I sighed deeply before letting out a smirk, propping an elbow on the table. "First order of business already, huh?"

Ozpin could only laugh as he nodded, while James and Glynda eyed each other as they gave a knowing smile.

"Welcome back to The Seasons Elite!"

I hope you all enjoyed my first chapter!

If you're all wondering why Winter thinks like that, you'll have to read on later HAHA

PS. since Ozpin's inner circle didn't necessarily have a name, I thought of my own HAHA This isn't just their small group, but it's actually an organization. I'll dive into this later on. This won't change though even if they eventually reveal a name for it in the series. After all, it is the same world, the story is just different. Same concepts though!

PPS. Shout out to Nina Vale for pointing out some corrections with this chapter!

I'm thinking since I was writing this at like 3 am, I was probably too sleepy to notice HAHA so a big thank you!

I'll be posting the next chapter as soon as possible.

Don't forget to favorite, follow, and review! ;)

- Raine