Oh wow, so I made a HUGE mistake last chapter. A big one. It's finally happened, people, not the mistake itself – I've made plenty in my time – but the first time I totally got one fic mixed with another.

Last chapter, I said that Raven killed Mercury and Emerald. She did… in Not this Time, Fate. But that was specifically because Jaune went and removed Yang's `one time save` against Neo, meaning Raven saved her against Mercury and Emerald, killing them when they tried to negate her `save` by attacking Yang from behind.

In Professor Arc, Mercury was killed by Weiss when she finally used her Semblance to partially summon her knight's sword and arm in front of him, impaling a surprised and exhausted Mercury, while Emerald was dealt with by Winter.

My bad on that – and I'll go back and change it soon. Just for reference and reminder, Raven did not kill them in Professor Arc. I just have two varying versions of the "final battle" running around in my head and got them mixed up.

Whoops. My bad and sorry for that.

Cover Art: Mystery White Flame

Chapter 12

"Are you in the doghouse?"

"Peter," Jaune growled.

"You've the look of a man in the doghouse, my boy. I really am sorry."

"If you stopped reminding me of the fact, I'd appreciate it. And be able to forget it happened."

"To be fair, you shouldn't have countermanded her like that. Not in public and in front of the students. Glynda is a proud woman with a heart of steel. You need to be gentle with the heat if you want to thaw it."

"Okay, first off, metal doesn't `thaw` and secondly, I don't need dating advice from someone who is currently dating a psychopath."

"Tsune is a lovely woman."

"I see you didn't debate the last bit…"

"Bah. A man such as I needs a woman who isn't afraid to speak her mind. Or make me regret speaking mine." Peter winked. "And Tsune certainly has ways of doing that, let me tell you."

"Please don't."

"On the other hand, you and Glynda were wonderful for one another when you were working together, but you've been at odds recently. Perhaps you should use the coming trip to Mistral to reignite that flame."

"Peter, I'm going to abduct a child and meet the leader of a terrorist organisation. Where in all of that is time for Glynda and I to have some time together?"

"Between the child abduction and the terrorists, obviously." Peter's expression became a little more serious. Not too serious of course – he wasn't dying – but close enough. "Do take care, however. Glynda isn't wrong to feel conflicted at you choosing to risk Miss Nikos."

"I know." He agreed, too. In an ideal world, Pyrrha and her team could have been kept safe until Cinder was dealt with. Life wasn't quite so ideal, however. Pyrrha would become increasingly disillusioned with such treatment and might even try to leave Beacon. She wasn't a prisoner and he had no legal right to keep her here.

She was right in saying she needed experience and a chance to fight. All the things she'd said about being weak if they kept her hidden away were correct, but none of that was the reason he'd agreed to let her come with them.

It was all to keep her co-operative.

He felt like a bastard admitting it.

"Wasn't much choice. Pyrrha needs to do something and I'd feel better having her go on a mission where Glynda is around to step in if things get bad. Better than sending her out on her own or with another team. She'll have her team, Team RWBY and Glynda to look after her."

"And you."

"Sure. Why not. Mostly the others, though." And probably Neo. He doubted he could jet off to Mistral without her tagging along, and he didn't really want to. "If all goes well, we'll have Ozpin back soon. He…"

"Will know what to do?" Peter asked with an amused smile.

"I was about to say that. At the very least, he'll know more about what to do than I do. It's a start."

"The school cannot run with a fourteen-year-old headmaster."

"Don't see why not," he mumbled, "It runs with a seventeen-year-old one. But yeah," he said, at a more reasonable level, "I'm probably still going to be stuck as headmaster. He's just going to be the power behind the throne as it were. Running things from the shadows."

"And what of Ozpin in his daily life?"

"I was thinking of attaching him to a team and making him a student."

"You cruel, cruel man," Peter gasped. "Forcing Ozpin to go through school!?"

Jaune grinned. "Tell me it isn't poetic irony."

"Oh, it is." Peter grinned back. "I'm going to call on him to be my assistant constantly. And I can't wait to see how many detentions I can give him. Ha ha! That'll teach you to nix my idea of a battle royale training initiative."

He laughed along, making a mental note to pay attention to any suggestions Peter made in the coming weeks. There was a good chance he, like Blake, would try to slip something through while he was distracted.

"Keep in mind this is still Ozpin. Fourteen or not, he'll find a way to get you back."

"That's what makes it such a challenge, my boy."

"Whatever you say." Jaune shook his head, more amused than annoyed. Peter and Ozpin would have their silly little competition and he'd get to watch it unfold. Personally, his money was on Ozpin. There was a lot you could get away with as a student. "Can you, Torchwick and Oobleck look after things in our absence? It'll only be for a few days. There shouldn't be anything important to do."

"Then I'm sure we'll be fine." Went unsaid was that if something important did come up, they would be hosed. "I'll defer and delay if anyone wants to see you, and I think Oobleck is already working on that task you gave him."

"Task…?"

"Something he said you asked him to sort out." Peter shrugged. "I didn't ask."

"Ah." Probably finding information on Salem. "That's fine. I'd best get down to the Bullheads and make sure everything is in order. Try not to turn my office into a pillow fort while I'm gone."

"I make no promises. And try to make up with Glynda!" he yelled as Jaune left.

Jaune waved back in acknowledgement.

/-/

"Ozpin!"

"Leonardo!" Ozpin, currently controlling Oscar's body with the boy's permission, stepped forward to give the much taller man a warm hug. It must have looked strange to those watching. "It is good to see you again. I hope you've been well." He eyed the people around. "Do these people know about me?"

"No, no." Leo laughed. "I told them you're my nephew. Easiest way to avert suspicion."

"Perfect."

"But we don't look anything alike," Oscar pointed out. "And he's a faunus."

"Now, now, no one likes a racist."

"That isn't- ugh. Forget it."

He was only too happy to. Tuning back into the conversation in time to hear Leonardo ask a quick question, Ozpin replied, running through some small talk of what they'd been up to recently. Yes, the weather had been lovely, oh, him? He was great. Died, but, you know, not a big deal. Yes, it was strange to be a full foot shorter.

"I have a room made ready for you. A private one in the guest quarters. I had the pleasure of speaking with your replacement, Jaune Arc, earlier today. He confirmed that the students you requested will be arriving tomorrow evening. Team RWBY and Qrow Branwen, I believe he said."

"Excellent." It was good to see Jaune and Glynda following his instructions. He'd half thought they might argue against it for some silly reason. "Just them, I take it?" he asked, just in case.

"As they told me," Leonardo confirmed. "One Bullhead, three students and one huntsman."

"Perfect. And thank you for your assistance, Leonardo. It is much appreciated."

"Of course! No problem." Leo slapped his back so hard he almost fainted. This body was not quite as used to the rigours of combat as his last. Muscle memory and experience only got you so far – especially when, skills or not, Oscar still had the muscle density of an active child. He could block the fastest attack coming in and disarm a man in a matter of seconds, but that didn't mean much when his arm would snap under a punch from a competent opponent and the body's reactions were sluggish and untrained.

It was nothing he wasn't used to. Most bodies were deficient when he first came into them.

"Well excuse me…"

"I meant no insult, Oscar. Your work on the farm has made you stronger than most your age. Just… not as strong as most of the people I am used to dealing with. You're a farmer, not a huntsman. But that can change. All you need to do is a vast amount of physical exercise and conditioning."

"All I need to do? You're in this body, too."

"Yes, but you're a teenager in the light of your life. It would be irresponsible for me to take away a chance for you to get some exercise."

"Lazy son of a…"

Ozpin cut him off and listened to Leonardo once more, who wasn't really talking about anything too important. Mostly things that had been happening in Mistral of late. When he heard the word `Beacon`, however, he focused his attention on the matter. "And what news from Beacon?" he asked.

"Mostly good, or so I hear. They've received the funding from the SDC."

"Wonderful news! I assume repairs are underway?"

"That's how I hear it," Leo said. "Will you be headed back there?"

"Ah. I think not. It seems to me that if our enemies were able to penetrate Beacon once, they might do so again. Also, while Beacon held and the maiden was not entirely lost, some of its power was. Though I'm not sure, that might be enough to open the vault on its own."

Leonardo turned to him, eyebrows raised. "Is that so…?"

"Yes. I did not key the protections into a quantity of power, rather the signature. Even if Cinder Fall has only a bastardised version of the Fall Maiden's powers, it would be enough to open the vault. Of course, they would need the Spring Maiden to open yours." Ozpin nodded to Leonardo. "I assume I can leave its protection to you."

"Oh, of course," Leonardo said, one hand on his chest. "You can trust me."

"I don't trust him."

"Nonsense, Oscar. I am an incredible judge of character. Leonardo is an old friend and can be trusted."

"If you say so…"

"I'll leave you to yourself is that is alright," Leonardo said, showing Ozpin the door to his room and standing outside it. "I have a few calls to make. Business as usual. What can I do?"

"I know how it is. Thank you for your assistance thus far and please call on me when Team RWBY and Qrow arrive. The sooner we can be off, the sooner we can leave Mistral and hopefully draw their attention away from you and your students."

"Of course." Leonardo took a step back and half-turned away. "If you need me for anything, you know where to find me."

Waiting for the man to leave, Ozpin stepped into the room, shrugged off Oscar's scarf and sat on the bed. He let the control go a second later and Oscar fell with a startled yelp. The transition was easier for him, being used to it, but for Oscar there was always a brief moment where no one was controlling their muscles. If he didn't sit first, there was a good chance they would fall and injure themselves.

"A little warning would be nice!" Oscar said, not in his own voice.

"Grimm will not give warning before an attack."

"I'm pretty sure they growl and roar. Those in the woods certainly did…" Oscar shuddered.

"They were easy enough to deal with, even with your body as weak as it is. Once we have moved on with Team RWBY, I'll see to taking time to train you up a little. It won't do to rely on me to solve all of your problems."

"Solve?" Oscar grumbled. "You are all my problems…"

"Qrow is a good teacher. Or so I'm told. I wouldn't normally trust his Semblance around children, but then I don't run Signal."

"What are we going to do, though? You've mentioned training, and Team RWBY and Qrow, but I've no idea what comes afterwards. What's the point of all this?"

"You'll see in time, Oscar. You'll see."

"Considering it's my body, I'd like to know what I'm getting into. Not see it happen first person."

"You will just have to trust me. Even were I to explain, you would not fully understand. Believe me, I have tried explaining it to previous hosts and the results are the same every time."

"So what, you're not even going to try with me? How is it my fault no one else accepted what you said?" This didn't feel fair, not that anything about the situation did. He was going to be subsumed by Ozpin and the guy still refused to tell him what that meant. Ozpin had to know if he `lived on in his head`, `vanished` or was `absorbed` or something.

The fact he was keeping quiet didn't speak well on what his eventual fate would be.

"Try not to take it so personally. We have limited time and limited resources. It's not a lack of trust for you that stays my hand, more the importance of focusing on other things. The fullness of time shall reveal more."

He was being cryptic on purpose. Oscar was sure of that. It wasn't quite the same, but it was close enough to what his mother had said whenever she couldn't be bothered to explain something – `you'll understand when you're older`. He never had with those subjects, having needed teachers to explain them to him, and he doubted this would be any difference.

But what else can I do? I don't have any choices anymore. Whether I say yes or not, my mind and body will be taken over. I… I don't have a choice but to do what he says.

"You realise I can hear you, of course."

"Go away, Ozpin! I'm having an internal struggle!"

"More like sulking..."

"Ugh. I hate this."

"I'm not in love with being stuck in your pubescent body either. We make do with what we have."

Growling to himself and knowing there was no escape – neither from Ozpin's intrusions or his so-called destiny, Oscar rolled over and pulled the blanket over him. Ignoring Ozpin's comments that it wasn't even evening, and how there was so much time of the day left, he closed his eyes and forced himself to fall asleep.

Given his body had been fighting for its life under Ozpin's control only a few hours ago, sleep came quickly.

/-/

"Leonardo."

"He's here. He suspects nothing."

"Good. You've done well to keep him guessing. What of the Team being sent from Beacon?"

"Minimal. Three girls and one huntsman, Qrow Branwen. That's all they're sending."

"And Jaune Arc…?"

"Staying in Beacon. He told me that himself."

"Perfect."

"There's one other thing," he said, earning a pause from the woman on the scroll. "Ozpin mentioned that it might be possible to open the vault with even just a fraction of the maiden's powers."

"Interesting. Very interesting. You've done well, Leonardo. Ensure that your strongest huntsmen are sent on missions – their deaths do not matter. Just get them out of the picture and ensure they stay away."

"And Ozpin?"

"You may leave Ozpin to us."

/-/

People often wished they could fly. What was that old saying, free like a bird? Qrow was what many would call `blessed` in that he had the capability to not only experience flight under his own control, but also to drift lazily across thermals, winging his way through the open air. It was liberating, but, like many things in life, better in one's imagination.

If one were to look up from countryside Mistral, one might have wondered if that was a bird, a plane or a superman. Two out of three wasn't bad – though the way it was tumbling down from several thousand feet might have garnered some concern.

"ARGHHHHHH! SON OF A BITCH!"

Qrow plummeted out the sky, along with a very surprised peregrine falcon who suddenly found its talons full not with a corvid, but one-hundred and seventy pounds of huntsman. It squawked and flapped its wings, for all the good that did either of them. Over and over they rolled, locked in an eternal struggle of him trying to free the bird's talons from his jacket and the bird trying to understand how its life had gone so wrong so quickly.

All it wanted was breakfast.

Grabbing the thing by the legs and ignoring the way it ferociously pecked at his face, Qrow tore the fabric of his jacket and tossed the thing away. "And think twice before you dive down on a crow next time, you cocky bastard!" He watched the large bird of prey wheel away and huffed. "Fucking falcons. Think they're all so high and mighty. Oh, look at me, I have talons the size of your body and can dive down on you like a missile."

Okay, sure, he should have noticed the thing stalking him, but he was busy thinking about Raven. The person, not the bird. The jury was still out on whether Ozpin's magic had tied their forms to their names or the bastard's sense of humour had been on a particular brand of `dad humour` that day. Personally, Qrow figured it was the latter.

Hm. That forest is coming up pretty fast…

Lethally fast, in fact. Qrow sighed and transformed back into a bird, swooping and diving down at an angle to bleed off a little velocity before he dared extend his wings. That was another thing, too. Suddenly having wings didn't mean you know how to use them. When he and Raven had first transformed, even walking on piddly little legs was hard, let alone flight. They'd bumbled their way around Ozpin's office knocking over cups and scattering pens on the floor, smashing into windows and flying up into the ceiling and dropping down like dead pigeons.

It took days to learn to fly, and even that was only from the bed to the desk in their room; a distance that could be covered in five steps normally but had seemed a lot more terrifying when you were one fiftieth the size. On the bright side, Summer had been really good at petting and preening his feathers.

Feeling that it was safe enough, Qrow brought his dive into a swoop and began to glide across the top of the trees, wheeling left and right in search of a thermal to take him higher. The forests of Mistral were extensive and often unclaimed by civilisation but finding the Branwen tribe was never difficult. You either looked for a big ass clearing full of tents, the campfire smoke for a group of two hundred plus, or a burning and razed village.

No villages this time thankfully, he'd blown a gasket at the last one and Raven had given him that condescending look, the one that made him want to rearrange her face with his fist. No angry thoughts, he reminded himself. You're going to be on best behaviour. Got to get Raven on board with the plan. Don't antagonise her. Don't let her antagonise me. With that in mind, Qrow flew in over the camp and toward the tent in the centre which he knew to be Raven's. Spying the open flap, he dove down.

And smashed into a window.

Wings spread, Qrow slid down the pane of glass that had been held out the flap between two hands. He fell with a splat to the muddy floor, feathers all over the place and beak open. His aura kept him alive, but it didn't stop his head spinning. He turned back into a human, if only because it spread the hurt out over a larger area.

"Qrow," Raven greeted, placing the glass pane back inside her tent.

"W-What the hell was that?" he croaked.

"You flew into a window. You should watch out for those."

"You live… in a tent…"

"Your point?"

"You did that on purpose."

"I'm sure I have no idea what you mean." she lied. "And I was just thinking about how I wanted to clean it. Bad luck, really. An unfortunate coincidence. Maybe it's your Semblance acting up again? You can hardly blame me for every misfortune that befalls you."

He could when her Semblance let her sense where her `bonded ones` were and whether they were in danger. It was how she always knew of his arrival, and how she knew this time, without a shred of doubt, that he'd be flying down at just that angle.

"I hate you…"

"Shame." Raven said it without a care. "Are you just going to lay there?"

Grumbling, Qrow stood and wiped himself down, stepping inside the tent and ignoring the laughter he heard from outside. Raven liked to play her games and back when he'd been a kid, he'd fallen for them every time, always trying to outdo her to no avail. Now, he was able to rise above it. Sort of. Still pissed him off.

"I've come from Beacon."

"Big surprise." Raven sat on a stool and crossed one leg over the other, then leaned back and poured some booze into a glass. She didn't offer it to him or even offer a glass. "You've ever been Ozpin's pet bird. What's changed?"

"Ozpin is dead for one."

"Hmph. We both know that isn't true."

"True, but I'm not here on Ozpin's orders. I was sent by the new headmaster."

"Oh? And who is it this time? Goodwitch? Another of Ozpin's loyal dogs, or did he train someone up for the position specifically?"

"Neither. It's a kid called Jaune Arc."

Raven's brows drew down. "Never heard of him."

"Heh. I'd ask if you live under a rock but we both know the answer to that one." Qrow considered telling Raven the truth, then decided against it. Raven wouldn't pledge her loyalty to someone she thought was fallible. "He's the youngest man to ever take the position at twenty. Youngest huntsman to be a teacher, too."

"Sounds like quite the character. Ozpin train him?"

"Nope." He enjoyed the flicker of surprise. "In fact, Ozpin didn't have much of a hand with him at all, and he even disagrees with some of Ozpin's plans."

Raven had quite the poker face but there was interest there. Only curiosity, but enough to have her prod. "At least someone has some intelligence. I don't imagine it will matter, though. There's no beating Salem."

"Good job he doesn't plan to go after her, then."

Her glass, halfway to her mouth, froze. Qrow enjoyed the look on her face.

"He's not a traitor," he said, cutting off that line of thought. "Jaune is just more of a realist. He doesn't think it necessary to risk everyone's lives going on some mass crusade against Salem, not when it'll cause so many deaths. His plan is just to keep the maidens and Relics out of her reach and continue as normal. Hold her back for this lifetime and make humanity stronger. I even heard talk of forming a military in Vale so that the city will be safer in future."

"Ozpin would never stand for it. He has… thoughts about military force."

"Ozpin is off gallivanting around in the body of a fourteen-year-old," Qrow said. "He doesn't have a say in what goes on in Vale."

"Salem, then. There's no way her or her people would allow Vale to gather such strength. They'll launch an attack, if not from without then from within."

"Already did. Tell me you heard that news, at least."

"I heard Beacon was attacked…"

"Yep. And guess who was responsible for driving off Cinder Fall, one of Salem's lieutenants and half the Fall Maiden."

"Half…?"

"It's complicated."

"Sounds it. And I assume it was this Jaune fellow who did it."

"Exactly. He's already beat back Salem once, and that was when she had the element of surprise on her side, not to mention traitors in Beacon among the very staff and the support of the White Fang. And hacked military tech from Atlas. All of that and Jaune still fought them back. It's only looking better now. Beacon is being fortified and turned into a stronghold, while students are being sent out on active missions as mercenaries to raise money for repairs and to gain experience in real combat situations."

"Interesting." Raven tapped her finger along the table's surface. "He certainly sounds more… active than Ozpin ever was. And it's intelligent of him to recognise the danger and take steps to mitigate it. Only fools walk into danger with their eyes shut." Raven downed her drink. "But I'm sure you didn't come here to wax about your new boyfriend. Get to the point. What does Ozpin's newest and youngest headmaster want with me? My loyalty? Me as a spy? Or does he want me to come and train children to fight? Or maybe to fight his battles for him?"

"None of the above. He wants information."

Raven's eyes narrowed. "I'm not telling you who the Spring Maiden is."

"Good." Her surprise brought a grin to his face. "At this point, it's probably better off we don't know, and we've already got enough problems keeping half a maiden safe. The others are probably better off spread around."

"That's not what Ozpin believed…"

"Like I said, I'm not here for Ozpin. That ties into what we want. Information on Ozpin. Well… Ozpin and Salem."

"Information?"

"We can't act against them if we don't know what we're up against and Goodwitch and Jaune say Ozpin left them no clues. He was too secretive-"

"I've been saying that for almost two decades," Raven snapped, "And you refused to hear me. Yet this new headmaster of yours says is in a single year and you heed his advice? I'm not sure whether I should feel validated or absolutely livid, Qrow."

"Yeah." He winced. Raven had been talking against Ozpin since before Yang was born. "Look, the difference is that you were calling Ozpin the source of all evil. Jaune is just saying he's a little paranoid and not sharing all the info he can. There's a marked difference there. Jaune still likes Ozpin; he just considers him a lazy bastard." He paused at Raven's amused snort. "And I'm not here to ask you to be loyal to Jaune. He never even mentioned that, and I don't even think it would be a good idea. You're as like to run away if he places any trust in you."

"You'd run away too, if you knew half the things I do…"

Qrow leaned forward. "That's what we want to know. What we're up against. What we can do to stop her, if we have to stop her. What she's capable of."

"Now? You picked a fine time to open your eyes, Qrow. Whatever happened to trusting everything Ozpin said on faith alone?"

"Beacon was attacked. People died."

"Summer died before and you never questioned him."

"I did, actually." Qrow's eyes closed. "It was the biggest argument we ever had. But I'm not here to talk about Summer, I'm here to talk about Salem. And Ozpin. Anything you know would be useful and I'll walk away once we're done. Jaune isn't asking you to do anything or put yourself at any risk. In fact, the more we know, the less risk you'll be in since we'll be able to keep our maiden safe without your input."

"I get the idea." Raven rolled her eyes at how thick he was laying it on. "I'm not entirely unreasonable, especially not when you are – for once – making sense. I'll start with the Goliath in the room. Salem. She's immortal."

"Like Ozpin?"

"No. Likean immortal. Ozpin can die. Sure, he gets thrown into another body, but Salem cannot die and cannot be killed." Raven saw his face tense and smiled cruelly. "Yes, and now you see why I was so reluctant to let Ozpin throw my life away against her. You cannot defeat Salem. It's impossible. Ozpin asked the question of the Relic of Knowledge – and the answer was that she could not be defeated. Run her through? It doesn't kill her. Chop off her head? She lives. Burn her body to acid? I'm not sure, but I've a feeling she just wouldn't burn. Or she'd reform."

"Are you-"

"Sure? The words came directly from the Relic of Knowledge. Yes, Qrow, I'm sure. Every time Ozpin sends you to do something against her, it's never been with the thought that you might stop her. Just delay her. Take away her toys. Limit her options. That's all it's ever been, and I refused – and still refuse – to have my life relegated to a blood-soaked speedbump. Not that you ever cared to listen before."

Qrow had to physically fight back the urge to argue Ozpin wasn't like that. He wasn't - but getting into a fight now wouldn't keep the information flowing and he had a job to do. Reigning in his temper, Qrow placed both hands in his lap and sat down next to her.

"I'm listening now, Raven."

Not much changes due to my error thankfully. Qrow would still be sent to Raven for information, the only change being that Jaune's reasoning of "Maybe she'll help because she did at Beacon" doesn't exist. Instead, it's "might as well ask; worst she can say is no".

I do like the idea that Qrow's bird form, mixed with his Semblance, would lead to local wildlife trying to snack on him. Or worse, court him. That or he keeps flying into the windscreens of Bullheads mid-flight.

Omake:

Raven stood on the precipice, eyes closed and mind clear. There was no fear, only focus. Drawing a deep breath, she prepared herself, spread her arms wide and took the plunge.

THUD!

"Snrk!" Summer, the treacherous bitch, snorted and snickered from her bed, hands sealed over her mouth as the tiny Raven huffily picked itself up off the floor and glared her way. For some reason the ruffled bird's anger didn't do much to intimidate her and she rolled back, legs kicking in the air and laughing wildly. "Hahahhahahha!"

"Nice try, Raven," Taiyang cheered. "You almost did it."

His was a much more obvious reaction and she rolled her beady little eyes. She had not `almost done it`. She'd stepped off the back of the couch and hit the floor like a lead weight. The only benefit was that by being the first, Qrow had to give it his best shot or deal with being called a pussy for the rest of his time at Beacon. Possibly his life.

The crow – Qrow – nervously waddled to the edge of the sofa, moving sideways with clumsy steps and leaning over to peer down his beak at the floor. It was only about three feet but that felt a lot more at their size. Raven glared back up, daring him to back away. She would not let him live it down. Qrow seemed to realise that, looking awkwardly to a laughing Summer for help, getting none, and then spreading his wings.

THUD!

"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Raven chittered along with Summer, staring at her brother as he lay flat on his birdlike face, wings swung up behind him. He glared back, somehow managing to fit all the loathing in a non-human expression.

"Hey, it's still learning time," Taiyang said, moving over. He offered her a hand and Raven hopped up onto it, gripping his finger with her talons and allowing her teammate to lift her up. "Your feathers are out of place," he said, moving his other hand to stroke them down.

Raven pecked at his finger to stop him, glared, and then began to preen herself.

She was eighteen, alright? She didn't need someone to preen her, let alone Taiyang with his silly compliments and longing looks. Digging her beak between her feathers, she set them straight and nudged them into position. There was something bizarre about knowing how to do that but not how to fly. Oh well, small mysteries.

"You know, you have nice feathers."

Raven paused to look up at him. If she had eyebrows, one would have been raised. Really? He was flirting with her now? Leaving aside the questionable implications of sexual relations between a bird and a human, this was hardly the time or the compliment. Shaking her head from side to side, she held out a feather and poked around under it for an itchy pinfeather. There was something incredibly relieving about nipping open the crusty white sheathe and letting a new feather come free. It was like scratching the world's best itch.

Taiyang was smiling down at her again, finding her cute. She would have flown away but that was a precarious proposition and likely to end up with her splatting down again. She pecked on his hand instead and pointed to the desk. He moved over and let her hop off. Flat wood was difficult to balance on, but she skittered to a stop and hopped across it.

"Maybe she wants some bird seed," Summer teased.

Raven, glaring back, hopped over to a piece of white paper and pinned it down under one talon. She then took hold of the rest in her beak and began to tear it to shreds.

"What is-?" Summer gasped. "NO! My homework!"

Yeah. Who was the seed-eating bitch now, huh? Raven tossed her head, throwing the shreds of homework left and right. Summer came running over to collect it, trying desperately to gather all the pieces in the hopes of being able to tape it back together again. Unlikely. You deserve it for taking the piss, she wanted to say. Seeds are no joking matter.

Because wow, they tasted real good like this.

No. No seeds! Focus! I hate seeds. Hate them!

Hmmm... seeds.

NO!

Hopping again to the edge of the desk, Raven took a deep breath and spread her wings. Flight now, seeds later.

"Wait," Taiyang said, rushing over. "Maybe we shouldn't push it. You already fell once. Maybe you should take a rest. Practice some wing movements. I know baby birds are thrown out the nest and just manage, but you're basically a new born at this point, even if you're body is fully grown."

Was he suggesting she couldn't? Was he calling her weak!?

Raven pecked his fingers away and then skittered across the desk, pecking at him the whole way to make it clear how little she appreciated the coddling. Only when Taiyang was a good ten feet away did she turn back, huffing and smoothing down her ruffled feathers. What did he know? She was Raven Branwen. She was strong. She was the best huntress in their year, possibly even in the entire school. She would also be the best bird, flight or no flight.

Hopping to the edge, Raven spread her wings and took flight.

THUD!

"Snrk." A scroll camera flashed. "Nice look, Raven."

I hate you so much, Summer.

Just Team STRQ things. What, did you imagine they'd turn into birds and instantly know how to fly? I like to imagine there were all sorts of terrible experiments, Taiyang trying desperately to win Raven's approval by cheering her on while she tsundere'd all over him.

Next Chapter: 30th May

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