Chapter 3
Family
Qrow was at his favorite bar, just about to order another round when he looked outside. Sitting on a lamppost was a raven, a very familiar raven was staring at him, far too constant and intently for a normal bird. Its blood-red eyes were all the proof Qrow required.
The younger Branwen sibling sighed and threw 20 Lien on the table before walking outside, the cold air of the night was nullifying his one heavy drink almost instantly, much to his dismay, he preferred having this conversation buzzed, but as usual, luck was not on his side.
"Where do you want to talk?" Qrow asked the bird casually, fortunately, the street was vacant, otherwise, he would look insane to any passerby's view.
In response, the raven flew off into a nearby alley, Qrow followed, and after a whooshing sound and a few feathers falling to the ground, a new figure was in front of him.
The figure was wearing an outfit consisting of a shallow cut black and red dress with black shorts underneath, with a series of beaded necklaces and a belt that wrapped around her waist and carried her weapon's sheath. Attached also was a long black object that was either fur or feathers, with a red and white bandana material hanging from behind her. Her forearms bore red armored gauntlets that protruded outwards and black fingerless gloves. She wore black mid-thigh high leggings with red splatter patterns and black heels.
Her most distinctive feature was a fearsome, full-face mask that resembled the face of a Creature of Grimm. The mask has four eye slits, further enhancing the character's inhuman appearance.
Qrow sighed and said "Raven…."
The figure nodded and took off her mask, and she looked very similar to her daughter Yang; they shared the same facial shape and long, bushy hair. However, Raven's hair was jet black, her eyebrows were a little bit higher, her complexion was significantly lighter and slight age lines were under her eyes. Her hair was tied by a red bandanna and loosely done up in a ponytail with the ends resembling curved black feathers. A cowlick can be seen protruding from the top of her head, similar to that of her daughter's.
"What do you want?" Qrow asked.
Raven gave a fake smile and asked "a girl can't just check in on her family?"
"She can, but you're not. Now how 'bout we get on with it?" Qrow scoffed
"What are they?" Raven asked cryptically
Qrow didn't answer right away, instead, giving an annoyed look and asking "Did you know Yang lost her arm?"
Raven's eyes narrowed as she said "That's not…"
Qrow cut her off with "Rhetorical question, I know you know. It's just obnoxious that you'd bring up family and then carry on like your own daughter doesn't exist."
"I saved her," Raven countered.
"Once. Because that was your rule, right? Real "Mom of the Year" material, sis," Qrow said sarcastically.
"I told you Beacon would be attacked and it was! I told you Ozpin would fail and he has, now you tell me! What are they!" Raven demanded.
Qrow gave a smirk and replied "no information is free, I don't know where the spring maiden is, but I have a feeling you do, tell your secret and I'll tell you mine"
Raven scowled and replied "you shouldn't have to make deals with me, this is for the safety of the tribe"
Qrow shook his head and said "You should come back, Raven. The only way we'd beat her is by working together. All of us"
"You're the one who left. The tribe raised us, and you turned your back on them" Raven reminded him.
Qrow scoffed and replied "They were killers and thieves"
Raven got face to face with him and said "They were your family!"
"You have a very skewed perception of that word" Qrow muttered.
Raven shook her head and said "if you won't tell me anything, then there's nothing left to say"
Raven put her mask back on and opened a portal with a slash of her sword before disappearing without a trace.
Qrow shrugged and went back to the bar…
Zander was up in the clouds, stretching his wings and blowing off some steam. One thing about his powers was they needed to be let out every now and then, otherwise, he got agitated and jumpy. A few hours of Mach 6 flight and he'd be fine. More importantly, though the sky always helped him clear his head, and that was a luxury he desperately needed.
He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice another green Latios pull up alongside him, also wearing a metal collar and a mega stone.
The other Latios motioned down with his eyes, Zander nodded and followed him to the ground, landing in a clearing of the forest a few miles from Beacon.
"Hey dad," Zander said in Poké-Speech, feeling no need to reapply his human guise.
The other Latios smiled and applied his human guise, Professor Connor Malcolm had arrived out of nowhere like usual.
"Nice speed, I'm glad you're still honing your skills" Malcolm complimented.
Zander gave a smile and replied, "you taught me well, is there something we need to talk about, or do you just want to fly a little more?"
"There are a few things to discuss, then we can fly a little more, I have a mission for your team" Malcolm began.
"And that is what? I thought we were supposed to protect Beacon and wait" Zander questioned.
"Miss Rose has a power that is critical to the coming conflict, and your intervention prevented her from activating it, I need you to track down her teammates and get them back here" Malcolm continued.
Zander gave a confused look and asked "ok, how do her teammates play into this?"
"The power she has requires a very specific state of mind, one that is impossible when she is depressed at the loss of her team. The Mason twins should head to Atlas, I'll brief them there, Nia will be best suited for Menagerie, and you will remain at Beacon, Ruby's sister will need time on her own" Malcolm finished.
Zander nodded and replied, "ok, I'll get things going, ready to fly more?"
Malcolm smiled and said, "nothing would please me more!"
Zander blasted off into the sky, Malcolm laughed at how much his son reminded him of himself back in the day and shot off after him.
Author's note- Just a little more build-up, then we can get into the character chapters next time
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