Summary/Disclaimer: Time for another chapter of A Lingering Ember. Enjoy the 900- word chapter. I don't own RWBY, Monty Oum, and Rooster Teeth do.

(Vale)

Desmond warmed his hands in the fire and looked at Neo who was silent while Desmond leaned on Melodic Cudgel while facing her.

"You don't talk much, huh? You know, a lot of people are scared of the Grimm, you uh… Seems like they're scared of you, to be honest." Desmond said, he poked the fire with one end of his cane and looked at Neo.

"I lost someone who owned that Cane," Neo said simply, not used to the words slipping off her tongue.

"Yeah? I found it in a pile of rubble, I lost my weapon… Eh, that knife was slowing me down… And now I have this and… Well, now I'm stuck here, with dead people all around me and I have Grimm around me… You killed a guy, right?" Desmond asked. Neo nodded and Desmond shrugged at this.

"I don't endorse killing, but… It happens, Vale is a killed or be killed city right now… I guess you lost someone too, huh?" Desmond asked, Neo blinked and looked at him while Desmond tapped the cane on the ground.

"I lost my parents… Ursa got them, I didn't see what happened… But they're gone, all because of these damn Grimm… I've killed off over 50…. I know it isn't going to bring them back sadly… I've been wanting to get out of here for a while… After they died, I mean…" Desmond said with a somber tone, Neo nodded before Desmond pointed with Melodic Cudgel at the tower… The same place the Grimm Dragon rested.

"I've seen him up there for a long time… I know he's in charge, but he doesn't want to die… Nothing I've seen has worked on killing him…" Desmond said and turned back to Neo, leaning on Melodic Cudgel.

"I haven't seen your story though; I'm guessing you're not from the tournament?" Desmond asked, resting his head on the cane, Neo saw something familiar in Desmond… There was no way her hunch was true though.

"I was in it…" Neo stated, Desmond raised an eyebrow and then shrugged in amusement.

"I wouldn't have expected it… I would have seen you I thought… I must have been here longer than I thought… And I've only been here for 3 days…" Desmond said, Neo raised an eyebrow and pointed at Melodic Cudgel with her umbrella: Sunday Split.

"Where did you get that cane?" Neo asked, wondering if Desmond was related to her boss and someone who acted like a brother to her.

"I found it in the wreckage… It was near a crashed Atlas Airship; a Griffon threw it up… I don't know why, but I took it and went on my way… I've been tinkering with it the entire time, fix it up and all that." Desmond said, he looked at the cane, and then he looked at the sky.

Desmond spun the cane in his hand then he looked around the street. He brushed off his clothing and then looked at Neo in amusement. He brushed off the cane before he looked at the girl.

"I had a plan to leave Vale… I wanted to talk to that guy… He had a rocket launcher I believe… damn it, what was his name? I just remembered and then I forgot it… Junior, his name was Junior! I was going to talk to him, he has connections for everything…" Desmond said, Neo nodded and looked at her gloved hands.

"I think we can talk to him; I can persuade him to let us leave here…" Desmond heard from Neo, he blinked.

"You have… You're a very interesting girl… Ok, let's go and talk to him… Follow me, he moved out of his last place since Vale fell apart." Desmond said while standing up, he looked at Neo and waved his hand.

"We should get going before its night… I mean, we can go at night, but the Grimm get angrier at night… I don't know why… Follow me." Desmond said, he brushed off his coat and looked at Neo's umbrella.

"You might have to fight some people; I'd keep your umbrella ready… Ok?" Desmond said, Neo nodded and grinned while Desmond turned and put the cane on his shoulder while he walked down the street.

Neo tiptoed after him, Desmond grinned and smirked while he continued walking down the street, wondering what would happen when they got to Junior's home, they had to deal with Junior's thugs, the man wasn't the type to talk things out… Not lately.

"Junior isn't much of the talking type, I should say… We might… We are going to have to fight him… I was wrong the first time when I said we MIGHT have to fight." Desmond said, Neo nodded in amusement.

It was going to be interesting; Desmond could already tell. Neo grinned in amusement; she was eager for a fight.

Author Note

Phew, another chapter is done! I'm sorry this chapter took so long, I wanted to make it good… Next chapter I promise to be longer. I also want to point out Desmond and Neo are going to form their gang. The next chapter will be in 2 weeks on Tuesday or so and will show Desmond and Neo meeting Junior. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!