A few moments passed then she heard a soft distorted voice speak to her, she barely recognized the voice of Ruby speaking to her. "Blake? Blake?... Are you ok?"

The cat ears drooped at her question, mostly due to not wanting to answer it. Blake noticed they were now in a tree, and her now even more exhausted companion was out of breath and her face was filled with worry as Ruby held onto her in a half hug and had both their weapons, her Crescent rose with the blade of the scythe broken in half in the opposite arm and her sword in its sheath hanging loosely from her back.

Blake remained steadfast in her silence, which made Ruby frown in response. Deciding to bookmark the subject for a later time she disrobed her clock giving it to Blake hiding her ears with the hood in the process. "I don't know why you froze up like that during a fight with a dangerous Grimm, and if it happens to be the reason you are hiding the fact that you are a Faunus, but that was dangerous Blake if it wasn't for my semblance you would be incredibly hurt or dead." Blake flinched as Ruby finished, again choosing not to speak. "If it was such a problem why did you not say anything about it? You didn't have to tell me anything... But we could have come up with something different or even gone and found other ruins." Still, the older black-haired teen said nothing, though her body language was telling for ruby. Blake's shoulders were slumped, she was looking down avoiding eye contact, and she had a terrified expression on her now delicate features. Pinching her nose Ruby sighed, Jumping to the forest floor below and leaning Crescent Rose on the trunk of the large tree. Looking up at Blake she called up to her. "The sun is going down, I'm going to see about our Grimm situation, and find shelter before it gets dark. Look after Crescent Rose for me, would you, I will be back before it gets dark." She said pointing out the broken scythe she was leaving behind.

After a several-minute walk, Ruby found herself at the bridge with the Grimm at its entrance, the sabretooth lifted its head slightly and began a staring contest with the girl in its resting position. After a couple of seconds, the now one-eyed creature considered the girl a none threat and with a huff lay its head on the ground closing its remaining eye.

At first, Ruby wanted to avoid a fight with the bear-like Grimm, but now... Now she was incredibly angry. Not only did it break Crescent Rose, but now the creature was looking down on her giving her the chance to leave. Ruby let out a small almost inaudible chuckle, her dominant hand a white-knuckle grip on Blake's sword slowly unsheathing it. A slow breath was released as she let loose her semblance after stumbling in her first few steps.

(...)

Two figures watch from a monitor as Ruby launches her attack, one male and one female. The female figure had had a rigid but poise stance as Ruby dodged a swing of the Grimm's paw ducking under into the blind spot she had created, destroying its eye. "I don't see the reason for her early enrollment, she has an explosive temper, she clearly does not listen to instruction, and despite her intellect and one of the highest abilities in combat I have ever seen in her age she is way too stubborn to use them effectively. Why are you so keen on her?"

"Despite everything you just mentioned she is still Qrow's student and a potential prodigy. As you can see she is a diamond ore that I want you to refine, Winter." The man said, smiling as Ruby took one of the Grimm's front limbs with a single swing of the ebony blade on the monitor.

At the mention of that man's name this Winter recoiled letting out a small huff her eyes planted on the screen, on it, Ruby was dodging frantic swings as the creature she was fighting began to slow down.

Seeing that Winter was not saying anything but still had her undivided attention on the fight, if not more interested in the tired girl taking on a Grimm twice her size and having the upper hand in the proceedings despite the disadvantages spoke again. "I had arranged for her to be partnered with your sister to make your transition as her mentor a more natural one, but it appears that's no longer the case, my rules might need to be refined it would seem."

Winter gave an affirmative hum, turning to the man she finally spoke. "Bring that man's name up here, what is it you are after?"

"What would any headmaster want? The legacies of my students current and alumni alike mean the world to me. And if that means I have to bring up old wounds to ensure the best outcome in both I will use what have you to do so." The man answered gravely.

Her eyes returned to the screen getting an answer, not the one she was wanting, but knowing well enough to read in between the lines. "I see... I will see if I can. I won't make any promises though."

"That's all I ask... In the end. I want those two to remain children as long as possible."

(...)

Breathing heavily Ruby parried the beast's remaining front left limb. The fact that the Grimm remains capable of doing some serious harm with the damage it has taken discouraged the girl. "This day has been the worst." She frowned looking at her blind enemy. "Why won't you stay down?" she questioned. Her answer came in a strained roar as the bear was on top of her. With her body screaming in pain she quickly moved out of the range of the remaining front limb, still angry at the sabretooth's apparent offense among other things. Most of all she was upset that Blake saddled her with this and was not able to handle her part in it, though she was thankful for the weapon in her hands. The sword was extremely lighter than her Crescent Rose, if it was not for her training or the fact that her uncle was a swordsman she would not know if she would have made it this far. She cursed the fact that she did not learn much about how to use the weapon from him, something to bother him about the next time she was in his company.

Ruby was suddenly brought back to reality with the four claws tearing into her arm. Gritting her teeth she waited for the bear's next attack as her right arm hung limp and bloodied at her side. Unable to do much, she came up with a plan of action. Deciding to have this battle end in the next strike she waited for the bear to make its next move, but before she could, a trail of what could be explosions came from the direction she left Blake in. With the bear distracted by the noise, she made her move using the noise as cover for her movements as she grew closer. She was right beneath it as the sword was swung upwards towards the neck letting out a smile as the explosions were on top of both of them and a gurgled growl was heard as metal penetrated flesh. The source landed next to her, tackling her to the ground in an embrace, and began crying. Ruby sighed as she relaxed with the grass on her back she pets the head of the blonde on top of her, dropping the borrowed weapon in the process. "Looks like I owe you one sis, nice assist." Her words went unregistered as the hug grew into a bone-crushing one. "Ow, ow, ow. Yang, you are hurting me."

Yang loosened her hold on Ruby as they remained like that. A familiar voice came from the trail in the direction Yang came from. "Why did you take off like that Xiao Long? We are supposed to be partners." Wiess entered the clearing flanked by Blake still in Ruby's cloak carrying the broken scythe.