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.

(Mistral.)

Neo leaned Hush on her shoulder while Desmond hummed and tapped Melodic Cudgel on the floor. He sighed and leaned on the cane and looked at Neo before clearing his throat.

"Oy, these spiders are becoming pretty annoying," Desmond stated as he straightened up. "Seriously, they almost hit another Bullhead this morning," Desmond added and then rested his weapon on his shoulder.

He sighed and rubbed at his face while Neo leaned back and forth. She smiled as their gang milled around them. Neo turned to Desmond and hummed.

"No, I'm not capturing someone to try and find out what they want." Desmond put in as Neo pouted. "You are too sadistic for your good, sweet tooth," Desmond added and cracked his fingers.

He hummed before turning back to the map. It showed supply lines, hideouts that Desmond was trying to set up.

Neo tapped Desmond on the head with Hush. The gang leader rolled his eyes as she playfully rocked on her heels.

"You do also know slaying a group of thugs like that isn't good, right?" Desmond asked Neo who blinked. "Maybe they were scum, but if they're connected to the spiders? I don't want to be dealing with an entire army yet." Desmond put in and then sighed as he tapped his cane on the floor.

Neo hummed before looking at the map. Desmond had recruited the rest of the Grey Ursas into the gang. He seized whatever he could from the mercenary organization.

But as Neo knew? They had to hide their stolen airship. Desmond didn't want to risk it being destroyed by the spiders… And the ship was close to being out of combustion dust soon.

She looked at one of the maps and pointed at one of the spots Desmond had circled.

"That's one of the spider's hideouts." Desmond put in as he hummed and cracked a smile. "And no, we don't have the manpower to take over one of their hideouts. The spiders have better people working for them." Desmond said and his smile collapsed into a frown.

Neo blinked once again.

"You know I can take over that base." Neo put in as Desmond hummed. "I've beaten them for," Neo added while Desmond raised an eyebrow.

Desmond sat up from the crate he used as a chair. So did Neo, Desmond slowly walked around the hideout.

"I know you're the best fighter in the group," Desmond said and then pointed a finger at him. "Besides me. I know exactly how you work currently. You'd slaughter them. The spiders might be monsters? But we aren't ready for a war with them." Desmond said while brushing off his suit.

Desmond hummed and watched as one of his men walked a crate across the room.

Desmond watched Neo slowly skip around the room, swinging Hush around the room. He knew she would enjoy nothing more than dismantling the spiders. But this fight wasn't something that Desmond wanted.

Not yet, he wasn't a sociopath, nor did he enjoy destroying his enemies unless they deserved it.

"You're going to go anyway, aren't you?" Desmond questioned Neo who looked up at her partner and friend.

"Hmm…" Neo stated as Desmond rubbed at his temples with amusement.

"Neo? I don't condone killing on a grand scale." Desmond put and hummed. "But if you're going? Take some people with you, I'm not letting you go on an exterminator alone. Just don't make a habit out of ripping through Mistral." Desmond added and then heard a bang.

"Hey, meathead!" Desmond yelled as he walked over towards the man. " Don't drop the damn DUST, it could explode and turn this place into a crater!" Desmond hissed before turning back to Neo who skipped away.

He rolled his eyes and turned back to the henchmen as he sighed and crossed his arms.

Desmond knew for a fact that the spiders wouldn't take kindly to this incursion… But it gave Desmond enough time to go and hunt down more leads on the spiders. The sooner they were taken out of action? The sooner Desmond could get on with his plans.

Desmond twirled Melodic Cudgel before tapping the cane on the floor. He looked around and then slowly walked back to his office in question.

Then again? It was barely an office space at this moment. Desmond hummed and waited for Neo to return.

"Boss?" Desmond heard from one of his men. He blinked before sighing.

"What is it?" Desmond questioned as he gazed at his cane. He looked around the area with amusement.

Desmond sighed and straightened up before glaring at the henchmen in question.

"Uh, we got a message from the spiders." Desmond heard while he walked over to the thug. "And they want something." The henchmen added as Desmond rolled his eyes.

"Very illuminating." Desmond snarked and grabbed the scroll from the thug.

Author Note

Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that Neo and Desmond will be fighting alongside each other soon. The next chapter will be 1200 words or so and will show Neo infiltrating the base and attacking spiders. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!

P.S: Cinder is 1200 words Monday. Yang 1200-1500 words Sunday. Penny 1200 words Friday. Ruby and Raven 900 words Friday and so on.