Beta: AbruptVoid2401 (Void)

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AN: All properties relating to RWBY and Harry Potter are the properties of their respective creators. I am just putting my own spin to it. (Also just in case this is an adopted work for a 'rough' outline. Please read the one shot story "Coward" authored by Whitetigerwolf. Thank you.)

Chapter 3

It was mid winter and the Grimm Pride tribe had set up camp close to the forest of Forever Fall, giving them some beautiful crimson scenery. It was to this backdrop that we see one Raven Branwen slowly stalk out of the brush with one hand on the hilt of her blade, mask over her face and her crimson glare warding off all who would get to close.

This had become routine since the training of the Branwen twins had finished. No one in the tribe knew how strong they truly were anymore - all they knew was that at least two of Ravens' trainers had disappeared without a trace, and that she had refused to go near anyone but her brother since.

Qrow, on the other hand, had become more and more reckless as the years past. At this point, only Raven was able to reign him in. The most troubling part of it all was the lack of knowledge – none of the tribe could claim to know what either of their Semblances were.

So when the tribe began to surround her after her latest hunt, weapons in hand, Raven knew that something was wrong.

"What's going on here?" she demanded. At this point, all she wanted was to get to her tent and sleep for a few hours.

"We were wondering if maybe you could tell us that, Raven." The chief said in a harsh tone.

Ravens' eyebrow rose, the implication that she knew what had –presumably- happened confusing her.

"I have no idea what you're on about."

"Don't you play dumb, girlie, you know what 'e means!" one of the tribesmen snarled.

"Well if you'd at least told me what happened, I might be able to help!" she snarled back, causing many of them to flinch.

At this the chief snorted out a guttural laugh "Okay girly, I'll humour you. One of our scouts spotted Qrow in the local town."

At this, Raven laughed.

"Is that all? He was probably just getting more of that swill he drinks like water! He'll be back by morning, I don't see why you're so worked up."

"Ah, ah, ah… You didn't let me finish. Qrow being in town is of no concern, it is who he was meeting that caught our attention. A Professor Ozpin, who he was asking for help."

"With what!" She demanded, becoming increasingly irritated with being strung along.

"He was asking for help leaving the tribe." Said the Chief.

The words hit her like a lightning bolt. Her brother wanted to leave? The only person she felt safe with wanted to leave her? NO! He couldn't… he wouldn't abandon her. Please!

While those thoughts where storming through her mind, she kept her stony mask in place. A mask so perfect that unless you truly knew her, you would never know just how broken she really was. A damaged girl hiding behind the mask of a warrior. And having worn it so long, the reflex actions necessary to maintain that mask came to the fore.

"So? What does that have to do with me old man?" she asked coldly, bristling at his accusation.

"What does it have to do with you, you ask? Well it has a lot to do with you because a good bit of the conversation my men overheard contained a request to evacuate one Raven Branwen from the tribe so that he would know that you were safe." Thundered the Chief.

During the conversation she had been keeping an eye on the tribesmen who had all slowly surrounded her.

Cursing the situation she found herself in, she walked slowly up to the Chief and looked him in the eye, until he flinched from the sheer intensity of her crimson stare. The second he did she kicked off his chest, forcing herself through a small gap in the perimeter that the tribe had made. Correcting her course using a one handed flip to land on her feet, she then took off into Forever Fall, praying that she would not run afoul of any Grimm.

As she ran she leapt into the trees to jump from branch to branch cutting down on the obstacles she would have to avoid. She could hear the pursuit behind her but they were falling away quickly, as she was too fast for them. Something of a boon, as she didn't want to reveal her Semblance just yet, as it was always useful to have an ace in the hole.

As she neared at the outskirts of the nearby town, Raven smiled. As she slowed to a walk, she could not help but believe herself to be safe – to some degree. Being in sight of a house made it much less likely that the tribe would attack, more so with a person at the window. The tribe was rather unlikely to risk the town finding them and sending guardsmen or Hunters after them.

That was, of course, when a thunderous crack sounded.

A sniper in the tree line.

Raven could only really muster a single thought before she fell on her face, vision going dark.

Fuck…