Spider's Web

Six Years Ago

Lil' Miss Malachite idly waved her fan before her, enjoying the puffs of cool air as the lost little girl came walking back into her tavern.

"Well now." She drawled, "From your self satisfied look, I trust you're the proud owner of a huntress' license?"

"I am." Fall replied.

To her amusement the one-eyed girl didn't take the offered seat this time. Instead she placed her hands on the back of the chair, feet spread just enough to give her leverage to move in either direction. Paranoid little thing.

Then again, now that Malachite knew just who'd scarred her, she supposed she couldn't blame her.

Fall spoke again once she was settled. "The information that you promised."

"I promised nothing." She replied. "That bein' said, I may have found what you'd like to know. Question is are you going to tell me what I desire?"

"Yes."

"Outstandin'. Here's how it's goin' to work. I'm going to ask you a question, and you're gonna answer. Then you can ask me one. We go until we're both satisfied. If that's not agreeable to you, walk away right now."

Her little fly didn't look thrilled, but she jerked her head in a sharp nod all the same.

Excellent. "First question's the easiest. Why did ol' Belladonna cancel his last speaking tour in favor of staying on Menagerie this year?"

Silence for several seconds, the girl twisting her little lips before replying. "He has been ousted as the leader of the White Fang, and now is only the Chieftain of Kuo Kuona."

Well now. That was news indeed, and the clever huntress had avoided saying just who had replaced him. Making her burn another question to get the answer she really after.

"Where is Rhodes?"

Malachite sighed. Every time Fall impressed her with a dollop of cleverness, she took two steps back. That question was a wasted one. Neither specific nor all that important. "The huntsman who trained you as a girl is back in Atlas, and has been for a year. Who replaced ol' Ghira and what is their agenda?"

"Sienna Khan, and that is two questions in one."

"And so it is, and I expect an answer all the same."

A muscle in her scarred cheek twitched. "The White Fang will no longer be denouncing violence and targeted attacks if they are done in the name of advancing Faunus rights. Who is the man who attacked me, and where can I find him?"

So quick to be petty in return. "He's nameless and homeless, like all of his kind. I do not know where he is, but I know who he works for. What's Khan's plans for Mistral?"

Another twitch, sharper this time. Pale fingers tightened viciously on the wood of the seat. "Mistral will be receiving her personal attention thanks to the anti-Faunus laws your Council passed last year. Who do Rhodes and my attacker work for, what is their goal, and why did they want me kept a slave?"

"They call themselves the Vale Secret Service." A name that she found deliciously ironic. "Officially their goal is the protection of the Kingdom and City of Vale against any non-Grimm threats. I don't know why they had Madam White take you in, but it's an easy guess to say they were grooming you to be a grateful weapon. Somethin' you've already guessed."

Which was insidious and alarming, even to someone like her. She was no stranger to breaking people when she had to. When a message needed to be sent. But even she had her limits, and the notion of arranging what they had for the girl in front of her was... more than a little disgusting.

Both for what it was; a girl maneuvered into an abusive home, given just enough of a taste of training to keep her in line, all set up for her to be gratefully freed later. That was bad enough, but what worried her far more was the scope of it.

Such a plan was something that took years. A decade even. That spoke of patience and a unity of purpose that made her concerned for her own network's security.

"...yes." Fall hissed. "But I needed the confirmation. How-"

"Ah ah ah." Her fan snapped shut. "It's my turn girlie. How do I keep this new White Fang from interferin' in my business?"

The girl snorted. "Recruit faunus, protect faunus, and use your connections against racism."

As expected. The first she could do, the second she could consider if compensated, and the third? She saw little need to waste her political capital on that. Not when there was more potential to be had in manipulating both sides.

"Earlier you said what the official goal of this secret service is." Fall went on. "What's their real goal, and how do I find one of their agents?"

Ah. Such a shame that she'd caught on so quickly. That was going to make this conversation take a turn for the dramatic. "The same as any organization, girlie. The accumulation of power by any means necessary. As for finding one? That won't be hard at all."

Fall didn't mistake her meaning. Her body locked up, single eye snapping around the tavern.

"They honestly thought you'd died when you threw yourself into that ice water." She went, lazily fanning herself once more. "You could have stayed hidden if you'd just stayed out on Menagerie. Shame for you, good business for me."

A slender figure slid out from one of the corner booths, black body armor creaking in the falling silence. The blank mask made it impossible to tell, but everyone knew that the agent's eyes were locked onto Fall.

"Sorry girlie, but business is business." She leaned back in her seat. "And your manners left somethin' to be desired."

Fall glanced at her, twisted her scarred face up into a snarl, and then abruptly spun. The chair came up and over as she heaved it in the agent's direction, forcing the figure to throw themselves to one side in a dodge.

By the time they rolled back to their feet the girl had already leaped onto the nearest table, throwing herself shoulder first out of the adjacent window.

Malachite chuckled, hearing what sounded like muffled swearing as the VSS operative sprinted after her. Maybe the girl had some manners after all if she knew better than to fight them in here. That or she was scared out of her mind.

Either way, it was time to move on with her other business.

"Send out a few boys." She ordered the room at large. "Keep an eye on them both, and let me know just what they're capable of. Everyone else? I'm afraid this bar's seen it's last round. Let's not make it easy on those Valean dogs to find our webs, hm? Not unless we want 'em to."

Her spiders nodded as one, splitting up as they got to work.

Cinder Fall

Present Day

The small convoy of faunus we found in the west had the usual story to tell. A corrupt judge, a more corrupt sheriff, and a thoroughly racist community to back them up. A faunus farmer killed for the 'crime' of illegally owning a weapon and resisting arrest despite those supposed arms only being found well after he'd been repeatedly shot. His killers being released on a technicality, his wife being arrested for 'conspiracy' mere minutes after being told the verdict.

Both her and her daughter had been raped in jail by the valorous militia not long after that. It was best not to think of what their final fate might have been had the White Fang not broken them out and gone on the run.

Coco Adel had changed into more practical boots, the better to furiously stomp through the western grasslands with. "How the fuck does crap like this happen out here?"

I snorted and waved at the emptiness around us. "Is it not obvious? Vale cares little for its outskirts so long as food is shipped and taxes are paid. Corruption can easily becoming endemic without oversight."

"This is a hell of a lot worse than just corruption!"

"I've seen worse." I told her flatly. "That village was a paradise compared to what some of the resource camps the SDC operates are like."

"...I really wish I didn't believe that. How do they keep the Grimm off of them?"

I felt my lips curl into a wry smile. "Automated turrets, a well armed militia, and being right next to the Vale-Vacuo rail line. I don't doubt that huntsman make regular stops there, and find the village both quaint and hospitable."

Coco spat to one side. "Unless they're faunus."

"Unless that, in which case they likely mark it as hostile and warn other faunus huntsman to stay away." I tipped my head to the shuffling people ahead of them. "Had that family not decided to try and make a life outside of the city, I doubt anyone would have ever noticed just how that particular outpost was being governed. Without a direct outlet for their racism it was likely a peaceful village with little negativity to draw Grimm."

"And if any showed up after a faunus did, they'd just blame the faunus instead of themselves."

"Of course."

The student growled again. "We're telling someone when we get back, right?"

I shrugged. "I'll relay it to Ozpin when I claim the bounty on those Grimm we killed on our way here."

"Do you have to sound so uncaring?"

"As I told you, I've seen worse." I reached up when she looked at me, tapping the scarring on me face, then lowering it to the perfect circle of white still marring my throat. "I've lived through worse."

She winced and quickly looked away. "Yeah, right. You ever going to tell us how that happened?"

"One day." I said, as I so often had. "But not today. Go on ahead, make sure the others are properly positioned. There are few Grimm in the grasslands but it won't be long before we're in the forest once more, and the grief and trauma will draw them to us."

"On it. Will there be cars waiting for us?"

"Only if you do not mind riding with the White Fang."

Coco shook her head once. "...you know, I didn't really get them before today. Didn't believe Emerald when she said you'd worked with them. Now I'm stuck wondering just how stupid I was to realize people don't become terrorists without a reason."

"Good." I smiled. "Always think-"

"-for yourself. Yeah, yeah." She picked up the pace, breaking into a slow jog. The dozen or so faunus gave her waves and thanks as she moved past, the stylish girl replying in kind. She slowed up a bit, gland handing, then pulling her beret off and putting it on the head of the young boy who'd just lost his father and his home.

I let out a quiet huff at the sight. The girl was a natural when it came to that kind of thing, unlike myself. It was good that she had leapt at the chance to do a real mission before starting on their summer break. Otherwise I'd have to be up there, faking it, tolerating people touching me, and trying to protect them all with only Emerald and a few mildly competent members of the White Fang for aid.

Not that we couldn't have managed that against just a few Grimm, but the militia stalking us would have posed a problem.

Well, at least the male half of the team had already left for their summer vacations. It would be easier to conceal the upcoming events with only one additional factor present.

I waited until Coco was far enough ahead to call out, "I'm doubling back to check for Grimm. Continue moving, obey team CFEY's orders!"

More waves, a disappointed look from Emerald that I was separating from the group. I shook my head slightly when she met my gaze, wordlessly telling her that I was lying. She was no fool and understood after a moment, nodding towards the collection of refugees and terrorists. I nodded once; she would stay to protect them.

That made her pout some more, but she stayed in formation when I turned and began moving back the way we'd come.

It didn't take long for them to move around one of the rolling hills, tall grass hiding them from view. I slowed my pace, found a good spot to stand, and then settled in to wait for our pursuers to catch up.

Coco Adel was empathetic, intelligent, and a good leader. But she hadn't quite thought the matter through. A mark of her inexperience, of the comfortable life she had lived.

Corruption and a hands-off attitude aside, even distant Vale would have to act if the evidence of what happened out here was dropped in their laps. Metaphorical heads would roll. Cushy jobs would be lost. Oversight created.

The faunus would not be allowed to reach Vale.

It didn't take them long to work up their nerve to approach. A single figure became visible on a distant hill, waving to someone else out of sight before vanishing. Within a few minutes there was the quiet rumble of a dust powered truck, a rather battered vehicle carefully navigating the thin dirt road.

I planted my feet and didn't move as they approached.

The driver slowed to a stop a few yards away, a burly man clambering out of the left side. He wore the tan uniform of a Valean sheriff, a heavy pistol holstered at his side, one hand resting on its grip as he strode forwards.

"Ma'am." His grin was straight and even, surrounded by half-shaved stubble. "I don't suppose you've seen anyone else on this road? We're looking for a group of criminals who broke out of our jail two days ago."

"Criminals?" I asked lazily.

"Aye. The worst kind. They killed my deputy and left three of my staff in intensive care." His eyes focused on my missing eye and scars, then slid up and down my body, making my spine tighten and stomach roll in distaste. "You should be glad they're on the run, or they might have gone after a beautiful woman alone on the road."

Reaching up, I casually shifted Midnight off of my shoulder. His gaze snapped from my breasts to the weapon as I shifted to hold it in bow form. "A huntress can handle herself against mere criminals, even in the wild."

"...that they can." He allowed. "You clear out the Grimm migration headed our way?"

"I did, yes. There are a few stragglers around however. We've seen a few Beowolves in the fields."

"We haven't seen any in a while, but we're focused on tracking down the convicts. Mind if I ask you again if you've seen them?"

I snorted. "Skip the theater, sheriff. You're terrible at it. You know I was escorting them, you've been following us for the last six hours working up the nerve to attack."

The man's expression tightened. "They're convicted criminals. Hunters don't have the right to interfere, not unless you want to lose your license and get tossed in prison."

His would be threat made me throw my head back, barking out a genuinely amused laugh. It had been so long since I'd heard such stupidity delivered with such a straight face, I couldn't help but cackle.

"This isn't a laughing matter!" He spat. "They're members of a terrorist-"

"Spare me." I waved my left hand, still chuckling, "Their only crime is the possession of donkey ears atop their heads. Don't bother obfuscating. I can taste your fear that they will reach Vale, that my students will tell Beacon, that your private little kingdom will be torn from your grasp."

Lips pulled back from his teeth in a bestial snarl, the man taking a single step forwards as if to try and loom over my less impressive height.

Extracting an arrow laced with fire dust made him freeze in place as I set it to the string.

"That's threatening a law enforcement official." He waved a hand, and a group of men and women armed with rifles and shotguns began to climb out of the truck. Six.. seven of them all told. Eight with the leader. They held their guns like they knew how to use them, but were clearly uncertain about what was going on.

"I won't press charges if you clear out of our path right this moment."

I rolled my eye without moving. "And what would you do once you catch them, Sheriff? There is a student team from Beacon escorting them through the wild. A team that has already been told the story of what happened in your little village."

His expression remained flat, but I saw at least two of the militia flinch at the news. "I've got the legal authority to arrest lawbreakers. Students should know that."

Adjusting my posture a bit, I took a slow step back as if giving way to the numbers arrayed against me. The motion disguised the slow stretching of my back and arms, loosening the muscles there. "I believe I told you to skip the theater, Sheriff. Let me make this clear. The faunus and students are under my protection. They are mine. You may accept this, return to your fantasy kingdom and enjoy what time you have left... or you may unwisely press the issue."

"You wouldn't dare. Get the hell out of our way, bitch! That's an ord-"

Midnight snapped up, right arm pulling back, fingers holding tightly until the opportune moment.

The arrow slammed into his chest, flames erupting from the point of impact. The fool was dead long before his body struck the ground.

Had they'd been smart that would have been the only death that day. I would have intimidated them into admitting that he'd drawn on her first, established a secure call to Ozpin, and neatly wrapped this entire diversion up in short order.

Instead the collection of frightened sheep thought themselves wolves in their panic.

The first bullets were fired wildly, in panic. One or two clipped my shoulder, drawing red sparks from her aura. My legs moved as she swung into a closing sprint, my next arrow striking the nearest target, a woman, in the throat.

Two down. Six to go.

More rounds hit me as panic and reflex gave way to discipline. Aura fell as I closed the distance, loosing a dust arrow as I bounded over the thrashing body of my second victim. Fire blossomed around the head of an old man, his white beard and long hair lighting as he fell.

Three dead.

His falling body took several rounds as I angled my approach, using him to block two of the other shooters. The next member of the militia had a shotgun. It must have jammed because they swore, dropping it, going for a knife on their belt.

Wielding midnight like a staff, I opened his throat to his spine without slowing down, twirling as I bounded past to bring the other edge across the face of the pistolleer beside him. The first cut didn't kill him, but he reeled back in pain, utterly open to a follow-up strike that tore apart his jugular.

Five dead.

Discipline broke as their numbers dwindled. The last woman among them ran right, clearly hoping to use the truck for cove. Probably aiming to get around it, to get into the driver's seat. A good plan had I not been in position to deal with her.

Another arrow slid free of the quiver, set on the string, and then was sent into her back just before she get out of my limited field of vision. She fell, howling, twisting as the fire dust burned her from the inside out.

Six dead.

Snapping my head around found the final pair of men showing less sense; they too were running for their lives, but were instead racing into the tall grass.

I raised Midnight once more... then lowered it. Instead I lifted my voice, calling, "I warned you that there were stragglers!"

I wondered if they understood my meaning in the seconds they had left to live. I hoped so, but the Beowolves that pounced on them didn't give me a chance to ask. Blood and limbs flew in equal measure as the Grimm, drawn by their ill intentions no doubt, tore them apart. The screams were thankfully short lived.

It didn't take them long to finish their feast, to turn their scarlet eyes on me.

Considering their position, I calmly fell back, retreating as they came bounding forwards. I swung around the vehicle just as they caught up, one going for one of the still twitching militia while the other flailed a paw in my direction.

Metal shrieked as it tore gouges down the side of the vehicle. Snarling at my dodge, the juvenile beast leaped up, back feet leaving more marks on the hood... then it collapsed into a pile of melting sludge when I put an arrow threw its maw.

"Thank you for leaving that evidence." I told its disintegrating corpse, idly turning to my right, drawing one final arrow and letting it loose just as the second Grimm tried to come around the back. "Your assistance was much appreciated."

The dead Grimm didn't answer.

Letting out a final sigh, I checked my scroll for my aura. Fifty-two percent. Enough for what had to be done, though I'd need to do things good my soul after.

I walked to each of the corpses that bore wounds from arrows or blades, kneeling down to press a hand against them. My semblance came as greedily as it always did, heat and flame converting what I touched to ashes.

An hour later I was slowing down from my run, catching up to the White Fang party. Behind me was a ruined truck and two men obviously killed by Grimm, with no evidence at all for the rest of the militia. Consumed by the monsters of our world, no doubt.

The White Fang saw me coming, a wolf-eared young man stepping up. "We heard the gunfire. Are they...?"

"They choose a poor time to come into the wild filled with dark intent." I told him, not a word of a lie emerging. "Tell the family that they will never be harmed by those Humans again."

He nodded, nothing but gratitude and admiration in his eyes. "Gods bless, you huntress. The White Fang owes you for today."

Yes, yes they did. "Go, keep them calm, keep them quiet."

The terrorist gave him a genuine salute, a gesture echoed quickly by the others. Coco and Emerald watched with amusement from the side, approaching only once the faunus had once again formed up to escort their charges.

"Lot of howling." Coco noted. "How many Grimm did you have to take down?"

"More than I'd expected to see." I glanced at Emerald in question, my disciple giving me a quick thumbs up. Her semblance had converted the roar of gunfire into the screaming of Grimm then. Very resourceful, and well thought of her. Especially since I hadn't directly ordered her to do it. "You did well to stay here and protect the others. I'm very proud of the both of you."

Coco arched an eyebrow while Emerald looked as though I'd just kissed her.

"Come," I ordered, "We're nearly to the pick up location. We'll let them go ahead of us, and stay in the wilds for a few more days. We'll see how well the two of you can work together if I merely observe."

They both nodded, falling in beside me as we finished the mission.

Please read and review, criticism is welcome, flames not so much, as usual. Reviews are my lifeblood as a writer.. every-time my email goes off with a review it makes me want to write more, so please take the time to leave one. Guests can leave them as well, and it only takes a minute, so please. Even if it's as simple as "I enjoyed it, please continue."

Thanks, Kat