Author's Headnote: Back again, at with the last chapter before the intermission. May as well check up after Ruby. Because this is the last chapter in Vale, then the intermission, and then Volume 4 or it's equivalent will begin? Are you excited? You're likely happy that this fiction wasn't abandoned, so am I. So, without further ado, let's hop in the chapter.

RWBY: Festival of Blood: No Looking Back

Ruby Rose:

Aura Status: 84%

Thirst: Slightly Thirsty

Semblance: Parasitic Petal Burst

Weapons: Crescent Rose, Slice of Life, Penny

Team Relations:

-Weiss Schnee: She wonders what Weiss is doing right now... likely training or something.

-Blake Belladonna: Her heart still belongs to her.

-Yang Xiao Long: She wonders what her sister is doing right now... likely resting or something.

UPDATE: Semblance has been developed to a more advanced variation due to training AND/OR character development.

End of main character status report.

Town of Bloodshire, February 5, Monday, 10:00 PM, The Lead Spike Inn

Well... the month has been well... different to Ruby, on the arrival to bloodshire, she had rented a room for quite a bit. She knew she had to set up a temporary base of operations, she can't sleep outside because of her vampirism, so she had to risk paying for using a hotel room. And to make up for it, she had to do some fast-paying mercenary work, mostly stuff Ruby would do. Although she would limit herself and avoid any hitman contracts, she's not going to let herself kill again. She doesn't trust herself.

Although yet again, her current appearance may say otherwise. She's developed kind of the rogue huntress look, having dying her hair fully black to avoid resemblance to her mother, and thus herself. She also changed her haircut from a bob to a pixie to further the distancing from her past life. In addition, she's wearing a pair of aviator shades that conceal her silver eyes, and a red-violet scarf covering her face and conceal her vampirism. The scarf also covers up her neck and goes down to her back. It's a long-scarf.

A change in wardrobe is also something Ruby had gone through, now wearing a grey tank-top with an intentionally visible red-violet bra, along with a black, sleeveless jacket. In addition, she's wearing black fingerless gloves. Her belt was red-violet with black flower patterns, and a silver belt buckle. And that belt was between a pair of black jeans, with real pockets and not fake ones most women's jeans have. She's not going to buy a purse to carry stuff. The jeans also have some rips and tears on it, some intentional, others non-intentional. And on top of that, she's wearing red-violet boots with black soles, inverse colored from her old pair of boots. She also has a hidden flask filled with blood, it's exterior red-violet.

She would have gone some ink done too, but she was running low on money after she got the outfit. It's a combat outfit, like her old one so it's more durable. However, she had to get rid of her old one not only because it was dirty, but it can easily make people identify her as who she really is.

And as for her false identity... she figured she would be called Roxy Tudor. So... for public instances, she would be addressed as Roxy Tudor, but in instances where people know her true identity she would be addressed as Ruby Rose.

So ya... Roxy is in the Lead Spike Inn, where she has booked a room for herself for her stay. The bar only has rooms because it was built prior to the great war, so the bar/hotel separation didn't happen yet. And she is grateful for it, being that this inn has a job-board. She's currently in the bar part of the inn, which is made from dark-oak, some electronic lighting, and really good quality wooden tables and chairs, comfy to sit on. The bar also still sells drinks with their original recipe, but Ru-… sorry, ROXY is underage, being EIGHTEEN and all.

Being that the sweet, innocent, and noble Ruby Rose would never go rogue and take mercenary jobs. That, and Ruby Rose is sixteen. Yes, she had to lie about her age. No one would take a sixteen-year-old mercenary seriously, and an eighteen-year-old one is young and costs cheap.

However, she hasn't gotten any new IDs or Scrolls quite yet, she doesn't know where the black market is to buy both. She'll have to head to Mistral to get those, which is her goal after all.

Roxy had gotten ready for another night of jobs. She looked up for the job-board... and...

Let's see here, filter out any hitman jobs and assassinations. Nothing that requires Ru-ROXY to kill. Even as Roxy, she would refrain from killing. They're different identities, not different personalities. So, she would still be staunch against killing, regardless. Let's see here, something quick... let's see here, this job will do, it pays well.

All Roxy will have to do is capture a White-Fang leader nearby. She can simply knock them out, tie them up to some rope, and get her earnings. After her shopping spree, she was saving up for a boat-ticket in which she's close to affording. And this job will get her enough, and plus some.

With these jobs, she needs to act quick. But given most people in her career would take the hitman and assassination jobs, she's got the time.

And without further ado, Roxy had stepped outside and went to do her job.

Vale Wilderness, February 5, Monday, 10:22 PM, Vale Forestland

In which Roxy had stepped into the wilderness again, this time looking for someone instead of someplace. However, since... no one is around, Ruby is relieved she doesn't have to keep up the charade here. Being a vampire is one thing, but trying to live a new life is another thing. She's still trying to get herself trying to react to the name: Roxy. But no less, the red-violet scythe wielder has a job to do it, and Ruby needs the money.

And given she has time; she sees a bunch of grimm... and she's been itching to test her skills. Sure, she rarely uses her vampire powers for combat, but she doesn't need them for that, anyway. She's got the weapons needed; her vampire powers would only be needed in a pitch where she doesn't need about concealing her true nature.

But no less, Ruby drew out Crescent Rose, after so long... and started firing a fire dust round at the ursa. In which started to come and attack Ruby, in which she responded by jumping upward, her vampirism developed her physical aptitude, allowing her to jump at a higher length, and she managed to jump behind the ursa and slice it's legs off and slays it soon after. Soon-after, more ursai come, and more action for Ruby. In which she draws her scythe, and waits for the ursai to gang up on her, and then went to dodge-roll her way out of the attack, and went to slice-downward she then threw Crescent Rose across like a boomerang and then activated Penny as she starts to swing the holoblades around.

And when Ruby's scythe had returned, she threw the blades at the ursai behind her, jumped, grabbed Crescent Rose and shifted it into rifle form, and started firing at the hilt of the blade, having it impale though the ursa, killing it. She then turns off Penny and switches to Slice of life, and decides to fire the two blades around the area whilst airborne. This gets rid of a number of the ursai before the blades return.

More ursai appear, and Ruby decides to flex to stretch her vampire powers a bit, sheathing her weapons, she activates her grimm claws, and starts running towards an ursa, and starts to slash them with the claw, it only took around five slashes to down one, and she moved on to the next, and so forth. An ursa tried to take her from behind but she toggled in and out of bird form and then followed by using a grimm blade to slice it in two.

She then angered more ursai, stretching her arm to a tendril and grabbing one over and slamming it, she then switched back to grimm claws and went slashing, slicing every single creature of grimm in sight into pieces.

After she had her fun with the grimm, she changed her arms back to their human shape. And proceeded to follow the co-ordinates to the camp. With each contract there's instructions, she has to tie this individual in rope and bring them to a specific adobe for the payment.

So... Ruby figured she had enough fun-time and went to that white-fang camp.

Vale Wilderness, February 5, Monday, 10:33 PM, White Fang Camp

Well... here it is... her target is described as a lizard faunas... the camp ground is large. Guess they're planning a raid or something. Someone's been snooping around on a stroll to the woods. But no less, Ruby had a plan to go through.

She breathed... inhale, and exhale...

"Let's do this." Ruby muttered to herself.

The young mercenary had decided to skip the stealth nonsense and went to fight them all directly, she could do it before... she can do it again.

Ruby had gone and ran toward the White Fang tent... and used Slice of Life to catch their attention, but using it to cut the cloth of one of the tents. The Pizza cutter blade then went to return. From there...

"This is where the fun begins." Ruby muttered to herself and smirked.

Ten white Fang mooks went in and started to open fire at Ruby, in which she let them get the first hit. Because she's about to show them something, Ruby used her semblance to charge at the mooks, pouncing between every single one of them as their auras and blood were drained by the semblance. She feels the blood entering her system.

Any human or faunas, or any other non-grimm animal that she passes through with her semblance would have their aura and blood drained and added onto Ruby's own. Although her aura is still capped at 100%, but it's a quick way for a refreshment and to keep herself from being feral, she discovered her semblance can do that when she started mercenary work. In addition of leaving behind wilted rose petals, her semblance now has a parasitic effect towards others. Well, that means no more semblance for non-combative use until she can figure out to control the parasitic effect.

While drained... Ruby launched herself with a wind dust round from Crescent Rose and went to slice and incapacitate the White Fang mooks to draw attention to the one she's looking for. She was swing Crescent Rose left and right, making sure she did not land a killing blow.

More mooks appeared, and Ruby switched to Slice of Life mid-fight, launching one blade and performing close-quarters combat with the other still attached, swinging it around like an axe. The blade was going around attacking distant enemies whilst Ruby was hacking and slashing mooks with the pizza cutter... as soon as the blade returned, she made a strong blow, and then dual wielding Crescent Rose with Slice of Life to do a load of blows, wielding the two weapons together as if they were one-handed weapons.

She was slicing and dicing with the Pizza-Cutter and Scythe, dealing massive damage against the White Fang mooks. one came to parry the attacks, appearently a rogue huntsman. She sheated Slice of Life, and then went to Swing with Crescent Rose, only for the her opponent to block it with his hand. She then swung it in the ground and used the blade-shift function to turn it around, the blade then shifts and turns 180 degrees. She then loaded a special energy cell round onto Crescent Rose and opened fire. it fired a thin and automatic laser-beam... which started to overheat the Scythe. so, she stopped firing, and sheathed her scythe.

She then punched her current opponent and activated Penny, and started to throw blades toward the White Fang members she couldn't reach with her melee attacks, and the started to release of a flurry of blades towards everyone else in close range.

A couple minutes of fighting later, the person she was looking for had made an appearance. Ruby de-activated Penny and sheathed her weapons... and waited, waited for her opponent to make the first move. She watched as the lizard faunas went to strike at her with that battle axe... but then she grabbed onto the axe and swing it around behind her, she then unfolded Crescent Rose in Rifle form, and knocked out the lizard faunas with the stock, while he was on the ground.

Now that that's out of the way. Ruby picked him up, tied him around some rope... and proceeded to head to the residence for some pay... as Roxy, of course. She's not going to call herself Ruby Rose in public. As far as she knows, her new name and new life is under: Roxy Tudor.

Town of Bloodshire, February 5, Monday, 11:14 PM, Town Exterior

The Town of Bloodshire looks like a mix of eras all in one. Some of them built in the Medieval Era, some in the Industrial Era, others in the Modern Era. Being that Bloodshire was the third largest city, dwarfed by Scorpio and Vale. It makes sense that has some history. It was also home to the man who made Ruby... sorry, Roxy the thing she is today: a vampire. The roads are also made of mixed materials.

There is a notable amount of vampire population in Bloodshire, but this is appearent given that this is where a master vampire had resided for most of his post-life. However, the vampires seem to respect the privacy of Ruby/Roxy instead of the ones back in Vale. As a matter of fact, a majority of the vampires are in high-up positions in Bloodshire, the council, high-ranking positions... the vampires are the ones on top while the mortal humans and faunas are at the bottom. Given the state that Bloodshire is secretly ran by vampires, it would be innevitable that Ruby/Roxy would be found out, but secret kept hidden.

It's because of this she has the flask, these special flasks were designed to preserve blood and keep it from going bad. Other than that, she keeps her distance from the locals, mortal or vampire alike. she doesn't need her name to be known here.

Roxy was tasked to deliver the local White Fang leader to a specific residence... which by the picture looks like it was one of the older buildings, with a specific mark on the door. So... Roxy went and looked around for the specific building in particular.

The mercenary kept wandering the area, until she found the residence... she knocked on the door and waited...

A door slightly opened and two eyes were peeping.

"What do ya want?" the individual asked.

"I got that Lizard Faunas you wanted." Roxy said, under her scarf.

"Bring him inside, I'll give you the money."

Roxy had put the unconscious body inside the adobe... on the floor, somewhere and gently. And Ruby received a nice compensation of 10,000 Lien.

"So... who do ya work for?" the individual asked.

"I'm Freelance." Roxy stated.

"Ah, riding solo. You licensed?"

"Nope."

"Very dangerous to carry a weapon and do this type of work unlicensed."

"The Kingdom is gone, no need to worry about the rules."

"The Duchy of Bloodshire does uphold the rules of Vale, regardless."

"I don't plan on staying here for long, anyway. Nice talking to you, thanks for the pay. Now if you excuse me, I'll try not to spend it all on one place." Roxy said, as she proceeds to close the door. May as well head back to the lead spike to do more jobs, the night is still young and she could hear some gossip.

Town of Bloodshire, February 5, Monday, 11:30 PM, The Lead Spike Inn

Roxy had sat down at one of the tables, although she isn't ordering anything. She's just listening... and waiting. She didn't see anything worth the effort on the job board so she's waiting for a direct contact, although she doubts it given that most people are up during day... and well... she's a vampire. Or in the public eyes, a night owl.

The mercenary was waiting for something interesting to happen.

And then it came. It seems like Raven Branwen came to the inn. She recognizes the mask. Most of the people around her noticed and stayed away from her, whilst Roxy didn't flinch as she sees the bounty-hunter walking to the bar and ordering a drink, much like she did when she ordered one back in Calford. And sees her pay the bartender, takes off her mask, chugs the entire drink, and puts her mask back on. She then leaves. Roxy was watching out of curiosity. She knows what happens when you get on Raven's bad side, and Roxy prefers to keep her head attached, so she just doesn't interact with her.

After Raven left, the bar went back to it's pre-Raven state and started with the shady bar stuff again. Roxy, although stands out, keeps to herself. She doesn't wish to look for trouble. However, trouble seems to come to her...

"Hey." an Atlassian official stated, sitting next to Roxy. He was wearing a suit, and his hair is freshly combed.

"Hey." Roxy echoed the soldier.

"You a mercenary?"

"Ya, why?"

"I got a bounty you'd like."

"No deal."

"What? Why? Aren't you a mercenary?"

"I don't do Hitman jobs. If I do bounty-hunting, the target has to live."

"You didn't even hear me out."

"You dress sharp, you look like you belong in an office. Yet you come here, looking to do a different kind business than you are dressed to do."

"Yes... and you see..."

"Nope. I don't care how much you're paying."

"Guess I'll take my offer to someone else."

"So be it." Roxy said... rolling her eyes over her sunglasses as the Atlassian official leaves.

The rest of the night was just this... taking jobs, turning them down. It ain't honest work, but it's all she could do for now...

Town of Bloodshire, February 6, Tuesday, 8:00 PM, Ruby/Roxy's temporary room

Ruby woke up... the door was locked and she was to herself... and in her underwear... a Red-Violet Bra and a pair of briefs. She doesn't bother with matching underwear. Even then, the only part of her underwear that would be seen is her bra, given the choice of outfit. She looks at herself in the bathroom mirror.

"Although I'd wear contacts to conceal my eye color... but it's too much effort." Ruby commented to herself. "Shame that I had to change my hair, I liked it better the old way. But I need a new look, and a new identity to keep people off my tail long enough."

Ruby sighed. Tonight, is the night she'd leave the continent. She'd expect she'd start a great adventure with her friends... funny enough, but sometimes the world puts in her in a position not what she'd expect, like being a vampire for one. This quest she goes through, she has to go through it alone. Sure, she has her weapons. And Penny is sort of... alive... but in standard terms: she is in fact, by herself.

Although she still has the face of the fifteen-year-old girl with a dream, Ruby has far matured from that. Even if she could still be a huntress, it'd be a waste of time to bother getting a license. This is her life now, living under a false identity, staying under the radar.

Ruby had gotten dressed, wearing her new outfit. Well, she has to admit, she does look cool wearing this... but she needs to keep up the plain mercenary act while in public. She lifted her scarf and lowered her hand in front of her face and gets herself in the act. As far as she is concerned, she's never met anyone she knew before she ran away.

Town of Bloodshire, February 6, Tuesday, 8:30 PM, Dockyard

Unlike Vale's docks, these ones are made of wood. Like the kind one would see on a TV-show or something.

But she's not here to admire the woodwork, she's here to rent a boat with autopilot, or someone who would drive a boat to there... she pays well. Roxy looks around for sailors, shipmen, or anyone who operates a boat, or one with autopilot. The mercenary would be searching quite a bit. She already checked out at the inn, which means if she's only got tonight. She then comes across someone.

"Do you own a ship?" Roxy asked.

"Ya?" the person said.

"Well, lucky me. I'm going to pay you 10,000 Lien to get me to Anima on my conditions. If you dock during daytime, wake me up at night."

"Okay? I mostly have the thing at autopilot so we can chill and see the seas."

"You can, but I'll be under and asleep. I'm a night person."

"We'll arrive in a week. So do you want to?"

"Do you want the money or not? I'm not here to make friends, I'm here to get to Mistral."

"Oh, what reason?"

"My reasons are my own, if you don't want the money, I'll give it to someone else."

"I'll take the money, let's just get to the ship."

Roxy followed the person to their ship, in which they'll end up boarding. After getting on the ship, Roxy went downstairs under the deck where she would drink a bit of flask blood, the blood being preserved by the special flask, and waited out the trip. Thankfully, she can ration her flask blood enough for a week. She only needs enough to keep her from going feral, if it runs out, she can just find an outlaw and cut their hand when she gets to Anima.

It's an interesting turn of events, but she's determined. She almost gave up back in the cave, but she wouldn't give up now. If she would to go down, it would be on her own terms. And if would be the accurate statement given her state of mortality. She still regrets leaving her team behind, but she knows she can't change the past.

Author's Footnote: I had other plans for this chapter, but I figured it would be best if they were pushed to Volume 4 instead of here. Sorry if it seems sub-par.

There's a poll for whether or not the Harmony dust that Yang was injected with would have a desirable impact with her arm. Would it grow back? If so, how much? You can put your answer on the poll displayed on my profile page or answer in the reviews.

Other than that, this is the end of this segment. Then it's the intermission and finally, Volume 4. So, what do you think of the chapter? Make sure to leave some feedback, and see you next chapter.