The bruise on the side of her face had long faded, leaving only a thin white scar where Adam's blade grazed her cheek. She should've felt more upset by it, but she thought it was an appropriate mark to represent her family's sins.

She spent the next few days either inside or staying close by Violet's side as they picked more herbs and vegetables from the forest. Every time she stepped out of the house, even within the borders of the village, Weiss could never quite shake the feeling of eyes on her back-and it wasn't because of the villagers.

She'd sometimes catch him out of the corner of her eyes, he stood out from the green foliage like a red rose. Yet, when she turned around to confront him, he was never there. He never made another move to attack but he also did little to conceal his presence in the shadows.

Weiss wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or fearful at the tense peace.

When she wasn't helping Violet with outdoor work, she spent most of her time watching the villagers from the window.

She hadn't noticed it when she first arrived, but many of the adults were crippled, mutilated, and scarred in some way. It was rare to find a grown villager with all their limbs still working and their face free of marks.

'We did this to them.' The thought didn't get any easier to digest.

She wondered when they'd all been marked by her family. Had they been kids? Parents?

Had he been scared when it happened? How old was he when they branded him? Was there anything she could've done to help him?

Would he accept it if she apologized to him now? Would it be enough to bring back the boy she knew?

'I need to stop associating him to his past self. They're not the same.' Weiss would always chide herself whenever she found her thoughts lingering on him for too long, but she always found herself back to that lonely cave.

The memories felt like ice now.

"You're going to attract the Grimm if you keep sulking like that." Violet would often say whenever she found her gazing out the window.

"I'm sorry." Her response was always the same before she took her sulking to her bedroom.

Weiss tried to distract herself with chores and repetitive tasks as much as she could, but it was impossible to ignore the guilt eating away at her.

'He was right.' The thought haunted her in every waking moment.

'If he's right about my family, what else is he right about?' Weiss wasn't sure she was ready to find out.

It was during one stormy afternoon that her quiet routine came to a screeching halt. The thunderstorm forced Ash to stay at home, making the usually quiet house more lively than usual. Weiss found her foul mood lightening with the man's enthusiasm.

He was in the middle of showing her an old card game when they first heard the screams.

"I'll be right back," Ash said to them before grabbing his sword and heading out.

Weiss and Violet exchanged worried looks before hurrying towards the window. She felt her heart quicken when she spotted the pack of wolf-like Grimm tearing through the village.

It was eerily reminiscent of the attack on Beacon, but this time it was a bunch of civilians facing the monsters, not trained students.

"I need to help." She hurried into her room without waiting for Violet to respond.

Weiss emerged seconds later with her rapier in hand and a selection of Dust locked and loaded.

"I'll be fine." She assured Violet even before she could speak up. "I trained to be a Huntress. This is what I was prepared to do."

"Fine. But don't get yourself killed out there."

Weiss nodded and charged outside. Most of the men were confronting the Grimm directly while the women fighters focused on evacuating and shielding the remaining members of their community.

Weiss hurried to Ash's side and helped offload the pack of Grimm overwhelming his group with an icy swing of her blade-freezing the monsters in place for the other fighters to safely finish them off.

"Your shoulder alright, kiddo?" Ash grunted as he blocked a wild Grimm from lunging at his face.

"I'll be fine." She said curtly. In truth, her shoulder was still a bit sore and her back still ached, but it was much easier to manoeuvre now.

"I'll take the left side and you take the right!"

They fought together back to back. Sometimes she'd catch the surprised faces of the Faunus fighting alongside them, but the threat of being mauled by the Grimm distracted them all from the tension between her and the rest of the villagers.

"Oi! The Alphas here!" Some cried out.

Weiss turned around and saw a colossal Wolf Grimm. It towered over the wooden houses, leaving harsh indents into the ground with every step it took.

"Shit! We need to concentrate our forces on that thing!" Ash commanded. "Get your guns out and start firing, swordsmen, keep the smaller Grimms off our backs!"

Bullets pelted the giant Grimm mercilessly, but the monster simply shrugged off their attacks like they were just small bug bites. Several fighters cursed and ceased firing as the Grimm began advancing further into the village, snarling.

Now was the perfect time for her to utilize her strongest Summon.

Weiss focused all her energy on summoning her Knight. She breathed a sigh of relief when a white glyph formed beneath the Grimm's belly, allowing her Knight's blade to pass through and into the giant's chest.

The Grimm howled in pain, its voice making the ground beneath them shutter. Bullets and arrows flew into the beast once more, but this time it seemed they were finally causing the monster distress.

As if sensing its near demise the monster began charging right at them with reckless abandon.

"Fall back!" Someone cried.

All at once, the warriors made their quick retreat. Weiss followed the panicked crowd until she heard a distinct cry for help.

She paused and quickly looked back. It was hard to spot the source of the voice amid the chaos, but she found a man collapsed on the ground.

His leg was in a funny position as he struggled to pull himself away from the fast-approaching giant-a dead Grimm carcass was fading not too far from him. The front of his shirt was slightly torn, revealing that ugly SDC mark on his damaged skin.

'He's not going to make it!'

She summoned a line of glyphs right towards him. She heard Ash call her name but it was too late, with the help of her glyphs she was rocketing right towards the helpless man.

The massive Grimm raised its paw, black claws protruding out like blades, and swiped down.

Weiss held her breath as she threw herself in front of the man.

She didn't feel the hit at first. Time seemed to slow down as she was thrown onto the grass from the hit. She thought the Grimm had missed, but then the burning in her torso began to grow worse and worse until she was certain her body was on fire.

Weiss stared at the dark streak on the grass in a daze. She never even knew she could lose so much blood at once until now. The trembling ground beneath her head drew her attention back to the Grimm.

The Grimm was now heading towards her, licking its lips with a sinister grin. She couldn't bring herself to move or scream. It just felt like some bizarre dream.

'So this is what it's like to die.' She thought numbly.

It wasn't as scary as she'd imagined it to be despite the monster staring down at her. It was almost peaceful. The incessant ringing in her ear made it easier to ignore the panicked voices in the background.

The last thing she remembered was a streak of red flying towards the Grimm and cutting it cleanly in half.

The next few hours were a confusing conglomerate of hazy consciousness and disembodied voices.

Sometimes she'd hear the panicked voices of Violet and Ash hovering over her. She could never make out what they were saying, but from their tone, she could tell they were all scared.

Though she wanted to call out to them and assure them that she was okay, she could never fight off the darkness keeping her prisoner.

Other times she dreamt of walking through a merciless blizzard. The dreams left her chilled to the bone as she wandered in an endless plain of snow. Her only saving grace was the faint sound of a boy calling out to her amid the storm.

Every time she'd follow his call to the very same Dust Mine she used to frequent as a kid.

Every time she entered the cave she found it empty.

Weiss was awakened by the dull ache across her midsection. When she turned to shift into a more comfortable position she found the pain only grew worse.

She was back in the tiny guest room with a cloth on her forehead and a pile of blankets wrapping her into a warm, comfortable bundle. It took her a second to remember all that had happened beforehand.

She gingerly rested an arm around her stomach, she wasn't surprised to find herself coming into contact with bandages.

'Did the man survive?' Weiss couldn't help but wonder.

She wasn't exactly in the best shape to protect him after being thrown like a rag doll, and she didn't recall seeing anyone near him when she jumped in to intervene.

'I hope he's okay.'

She would never forgive herself if he still managed to get mauled by the Grimm while she survived the ordeal. It wouldn't be fair. Not after what he endured in the hands of her family.

Her thoughts were cut short when Violet entered the room with a soft gasp. She immediately embraced Weiss, muttering soft thanks to gods she'd never heard of.

"I thought you were going to die." Violet breathed. "Don't ever do that again, Weiss."

"Is that guy alright?" She asked her.

Violet looked as if Weiss had just insulted her. She shook her head and took the damp cloth off Weiss' forehead.

"You nearly die and the first thing you ask is about another person's well-being." Violet rambled. "To answer your question, yes. He's perfectly fine—well, aside from a broken leg."

Weiss breathed a sigh of relief.

A sharp knock at the front door made Violet's ears perk up in surprise.

"I'll be right back. If you dare take a step out of this bed, I'm going to tie you down until your wounds are completely healed." She growled.

Weiss nodded, she wouldn't put it past her to go through with her threat.

Violet hurried out of the room and answered the door. Even from the confines of the guest room, Weiss was still able to hear the heated conversation.

"We told you to kick that human out!" An unfamiliar voice snapped.

"She is my guest. I will allow her to stay for as long as she pleases." Violet snapped back.

"That husband of yours was the exception, Violet! We will not tolerate any more humans in this village—especially not a Schnee!"

"If I recall correctly, it was Weiss who saved your grandson's life."

"We've never experienced a Grimm attack like that until that cursed human came to our village! Either you dispose of the scumbag or we'll kick you and that filthy human of yours out!"

"I'd like to see you try."

"Whoa! Ladies, let's take it easy!" Ash's voice cut through the tension like a knife.

Weiss didn't pay much attention to the rest of the conversation, she'd already heard enough.

'It's my fault.' As a huntress, she should've known better than to spend so many hours of the day sulking. It was only a matter of time before it attracted the Grimm.

Once again a Schnee caused the Faunus community pain.

'I'm just like Father.' She curled her fingers into the sheets beneath her.

The house fell back into silence once Ash and Violet managed to drive the angry villagers away.

"Hey, how are you holding up, kiddo?" Ash popped into the room with a cheeky grin.

"I need to leave." She said weakly. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause everyone so much trouble—"

"It's foolish to blame a single child for the Grimm attack." Violet piped in heatedly. "They are also to blame for the bitterness these past few weeks."

'They wouldn't feel bitter if I wasn't here.' She thought.

"Stay. You need the time to recover." Violet said.

"I still can't stay for long anyway. There's somewhere urgent I need to be." Weiss protested.

"You can do that after your wounds are healed."

"But—"

"I'd listen to her if I were you, kiddo." Ash cut her off, gently ruffling her hair. "You're no good out there if you leave in this state."

He had her there.

"Okay." Weiss finally caved. "Thank you for the hospitality. I owe you two everything."

"I think risking your life to save one of us is more than enough to get even." Violet consoled, replacing the wet cloth on her forehead.

'It's not enough.'

"As heroic as that was, never try that again. I'm too young to deal with high blood pressure." Ash told her sternly.

"I couldn't just let him die."

"There's a fine line between heroism and stupidity, kiddo. If your friend hadn't stepped in to save you, I don't think you'd still be with us."

"My friend?" Weiss repeated, confused.

"It was Adam." Violet's answer made her heart stop for just a moment. If it weren't for the seriousness on Violet's face, she would've never believed her. "He destroyed the Grimm before it could lay a paw on you."

"That's quite some friend you got there! Wish he could've stayed for dinner at least!" Ash added cheerfully, oblivious to the weight of Violet's words.

Weiss spent most of the following week bedridden. Violet stayed home with her despite her protests. Sometimes she'd spend her day in Weiss' room, either working on her crocheting or sharing old Faunus folktales.

At night, Ash would carry her out to the living room, blanket and all, for dinner and to listen to the dramatic retelling of his outdoor chores. As silly as his tales were, they never failed to bring a smile to her face.

On the rare occasion that she was completely alone in her room, she spent most of that time remembering her past with Adam. The memories, while sometimes bringing a smile to her face, left her feeling mournful.

Now that she understood their circumstances more, Weiss appreciated the miracle that was their secretive friendship. They shouldn't have ever met. Shouldn't have exchanged a single word to each other until they'd at least grown into their hatred for each other's heritage.

Yet, against all odds, their younger selves managed to make it work. Maybe it was all because of naivety—maybe with the innocence of childhood now behind them it was impossible to regain what was lost.

But maybe it was also the reason he saved her life.

'Why did you do it?'

Weiss' head felt more muddled than it ever had. She wasn't sure what to think of Adam anymore. It was so much easier to dismiss him as a heartless terrorist when she was still ignorant of her family's crime.

But he isn't just a heartless criminal. He's a victim to her family. A terrorist. The reason she was even breathing right now.

'Why the hell did you do it?'

She felt utterly drained. All she wanted was to stay in bed and lose herself in dreamless sleep, but she still had a mission to complete. No matter how hard she tried to escape the cold clutches of reality, she was still needed elsewhere.

Weiss decided to leave once she was well enough to stand on her two feet and swing her sword without much pain.

To her surprise, Violet didn't object when she announced it over dinner.

"I knew you wouldn't stay forever," Violet said when she voiced her surprise. "And with everything that's happened, I'm confident you will be safe out there."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that…" Weiss protested weakly.

Adam would still be out for her, Weiss was sure of that. Saving her once didn't prove anything.

"Have faith, Weiss. It isn't too late for him, at least that's what I think."

She had serious doubts about Violet's optimism, but she forced herself to smile and nod.

"If you two are done talking cryptically." Ash piped in. "I can lend you one of my maps for your journey. I know the surrounding area like the back of my hand, so just tell me where you need to go!"

"That would be fantastic, thank you."

"But for now, I believe it's time for me to recount my harrowing journey trying to gather some firewood!"

Violet's ear twitched with annoyance while Weiss burst out laughing.

'I'm going to miss this.' She thought in the middle of Ash's dramatic retelling, squished between the couple on a soft couch in front of a warm, crackling hearth.

She tried to commit every detail of the tiny wooden home to memory. From the smell of freshly roasted boar to the cobwebs hiding in the highest corners of the roof. It wasn't anything close to the pristine mansions she was used to growing up, but it felt like home.

After dinner, she relayed her plans to Ash about visiting Haven Academy. He in turn gave her an old map and drew a red line for her to follow.

"I've marked a few smaller settlements along your path in case you need to restock on supplies or seek medical help." He indicated to the black stars on the map. "We have a high White Fang population in Mistral, so be sure to stay alert."

He finally drew a golden star on the map.

"This is the city you'll want to go to. The last time I was there, they had a shuttle train that ran straight to Mistral City. Of course, it's a bit pricey, but I think you can manage."

"Money isn't a problem." She took the map and rolled it up. "Thank you for taking me in for so long. I'll never forget what you've done for me."

"Don't mention it, it was a delight having you around. Just be careful out there, kiddo. We live in the less…safe parts of Mistral. Thieves and bandits rule the countryside."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"I'm going to miss you, Weiss!" Ash pulled her into a bone-crushing hug. "Don't jump in front of an angry Grimm again, for my sake."

"I'll miss you too." She laughed, hugging him back.

After helping Ash tidy up around the house one last time, she returned to her room and was surprised to find a fresh set of clothes waiting for her on the bed.

It was a long-sleeved white tunic that ended just above her knees, the lower half of the tunic split on one side to optimize movement. A new pair of black leggings and matching white shoes waited for her beside it.

"It's what's worn by the women fighters in our village," Violet explained from the doorway. "I haven't touched it since leaving the White Fang. You will find more use out of it than me."

"I-I can't take something like this—"

"Nonsense, your old dress is in tatters. I will not have you frolicking in the wild with rags." Violet smiled. "You can pay me back by changing the world for our children."

Weiss ran into Violet with a tight hug.

"I promise I will." She assured her. "Even if it kills me."

"No more dangerous heroism, remember?" Violet hugged her back. "Visit us once in a while. This village is much too quiet for my liking."

She didn't have to tell her twice. Weiss had every intention of returning once she was finished with her main mission.

The next morning showered the village with golden sunlight. After finishing her large meal, and receiving a small bento box along with a homemade first aid kit, both Violet and Ash walked out with her to see her off.

The few villagers that were out stared at her immediately, but not all the eyes scrutinizing her seemed as hostile as before. Some seemed genuinely curious about her while others looked uneasy. Their stares didn't make her feel any better, though.

As they walked past the sleepy cabins, she found herself drawn to the familiar man whom she saved the week before.

He was sitting in front of his porch, his broken leg wrapped tightly between two hand-crafted splints. She quickly turned her head away when he looked at her, his long bunny ears standing up straight in surprise.

"It's a beautiful day to travel!" Ash exclaimed as they neared the edge of the small community. "You sure have good timing, kiddo!"

"Remember to eat well during your long journey." Violet lectured gently. "You can't take down the Grimm on an empty stomach."

"Don't worry, I can take care of myself."

Violet didn't seem convinced but she didn't comment any further.

The three of them stopped right on the border of the village. Weiss felt tears burn her eyes as it was fully settling in that she was going to leave. She almost wished she could forget about her mission, her life, and live out the rest of her life in the privacy of the quiet community. It didn't matter that most of the community hated her, it was still better than being alone again.

"Come here, kiddo."

Both Ash and Violet sandwiched her into one of the warmest hugs she's ever experienced. She didn't bother trying to hide her tears, which prompted them to tighten their hold around her.

"You're going to be just fine out there," Violet whispered to her. "If your journey proves too much, our doors are always open."

"That's right. We'll always have a bed for you to sleep in." Ash ruffled her hair. "Take care, kiddo."

Their words left her feeling so warm, like the hearth she sat in front of every night for dinner. Weiss couldn't remember the last time her real parents showed her this much kindness.

"I'll be back one day." She promised. If this was what it meant to have a loving family, she'd come back no matter what.

"Umm…" The new voice broke their group hug.

She perked her head up and blushed when she saw that same rabbit Faunus standing awkwardly behind them.

"Clay! How's the leg doing, buddy?" Ash patted the smaller man on the back.

"Broken." Clay deadpanned with a nervous smile. "She's uh…leaving?"

"Weiss has other priorities she needs to attend to." Violet clarified. "We're unsure when she'll return."

Clay nodded stiffly and returned his attention to her. Neither of them made a move to speak to each other. Finally, Clay reluctantly held out his hand to her.

"Thank you, Miss Schnee. For saving my life."

"Anytime." She gently accepted his handshake. His hand trembled beneath her's, she immediately withdrew her hand and offered a polite smile. "Please, call my Weiss."

"Clay." He scratched his neck. "Have a safe journey."

"Thank you."

After one last final hug with Ash and Violet, Weiss set off into the wilderness.

'I'm fighting for them.' Was the prevalent thought fuelling her determination to arrive at Haven Academy.