The next chapter as promised.

Coco open fired on the faunus trying her best to end it quickly since she had an unconscious person to guard. Ilia side stepped the gunfire before changing her skin color black as she hid in a nearby bush. Coco made sure to put herself between jaune and the white fang member just in case she tried to grab and run. This wasn't good, especially when it was just her in this darkness "Really regretting that I left velvet to watch neo" she whispered to herself.

Ilia quietly circled around Coco and was prepared to take her down when the sound of glass breaking alerted her to the presence of another foe. Coco's head shot over towards the sounds of combat as velvet and neo double kicked ilia out of the shadows and into a nearby tree. Ilia rolled to the left as the blade at the end of neo's parasol stabbed into the tree right where ilia's head had been.

Realizing that she was out numbered with more likely on the way led ilia to make a haste retreat. Neo was about to give chase when velvet stopped her "we need to get jaune back before she comes with reinforcements". Neo turned towards the way the white fang member fled and thought about giving chase but one look in jaunes direction had her second guessing that choice.

Neo and velvet rejoined with Coco to help carry the unconscious boy between them "not that I'm complaining or anything but why are you guys here"? Velvets ears drooped slightly "I tried to do what you told me to but you know how neo gets". Coco couldn't help but laugh "well I suppose it was a good thing she dragged you along, I might have been in trouble if you two hadn't arrived when you did".

Hidden in the trees sat ilia as she spied on the trio, she knew if this plan failed to be nothing short of a success then there was a large chance that Adam would be demoted. As fun as that sounded, it would mean working under someone she really didn't know or trust as much. As ilia pondered how to retrieve the target, the trio made a game plan with Coco and velvet carrying the boy as neo stood guard. It was a stupid plan because the only real danger came from the faunus who had night vision, now that she was busy carrying the boys legs it left her open to be put down quicker.

Once she was down and out the other two would be easier to take care of since she could strike at them freely from the shadows. Now that she decided on her course of action, all that was left was to put it into play. Moving swiftly and quietly through the trees until she positioned herself just above the rabbit faunus "sorry sister but this is necessary". Ilia dropped out of the tree directly on velvets back only for the bunny girl to shatter like glass, as soon as her feet hit the ground she knew she was royally screwed.

A click sounded off a small ways out and any thought of trying to escape quickly went out the window when she realized that she was trapped in the middle of a three way deadlock. Coco's grin grew from ear to ear "you didn't think we'd be stupid enough to actually leave are greatest asset vulnerable did you"? Ilia mentally berated herself for being so thoughtless, her muscles tensed and she was prepared to make a break for it but the pressure that now pushed against the back of her head cut that idea down.

Neo smiled viciously at her captive "I wouldn't try anything if I was you, are dear neo here has been in a terrible mood since you stole her playmate" Coco said as she stepped closer to ilia. Neo rolled her eyes and decided to cut this short, her thumb pressed the switch on her parasol handle which caused the blade to extend into the back of ilia's skull. Velvet gasped loudly while Coco hurled on the floor, neo on the other hand, felt more relaxed now that their enemy would no longer be a problem.

Neo pulled the blade free from ilia's head and found amusement in the shocked expression the female faunus had before she died. "Neo, what the hell" Coco yelled as she grabbed the short girl by her shirtcollar "she had no way to escape us and she knew that, you didn't have to kill her". After two minutes or so, Coco let the small girl go and moved back to grab jaune who was leaning up against a nearby tree. Neo tried to offer her assistance but Coco pulled jaune away from her "if that's how you treat captives, I'd hate to see how you treat the injured".

Neo glared angrily at Coco and tried to take jaune away from her but velvet intervened "just guard the rear of the group for now" velvet said. Although velvet was always polite and a tad bit shy she couldn't hold back the disappointment that showed in her voice. Noticing that her so called teammates didn't like the way she did things had neo crossing her arm's and pouting as she did as she was told.

The trip back to the home of the rose family was a very quiet endeavor, the only noise came from velvet as she called ahead to let them know they had jaune. Once they arrived at there destination, they were met by the adults first "let's get him into the house" summer instructed to Qrow. Qrow complied with her request and took the young man out of the girls hands and delivered him to the couch in the living room.

Summer knelt next to the unconscious boy and began to give him a quick check up "he's got bruises all over his body" she listed off. "Small cuts that need to be disinfected immediately" she turned to ruby "go into the bathroom and get me the first aid kit that's on the shelf above the toilet". Ruby nodded before using her semblance enhanced speed to run to the restroom, summer returned to her work while ruby was gone. Her focus shifted to the wound on his leg, she pulled back the bandage to get a better look at the damage.

Blood began to leak from the wound "hmmm he'll need some antibiotics to prevent any infections from rearing their ugly heads along with knew bandages". Summer placed her hand against his head and luckily the kid wasn't running a fever but one part of his face was swollen. "How those monsters could treat a boy like this and say they fight for equality is beyond me" she hissed.

When ruby returned with the first aid kit, Summer had Qrow escort the kids out of the living room so she could focus on her task without interruptions. The only one allowed to stay was Saphron since she received a crash course in first aid training during her third year at signal.

/

Blake tossed and turned in her bed as his words played over and over in her dream "I'll let you live because you tried to help me out" once those words vanished she would feel the pain of being choked to death. She couldn't breathe, he was killing her with one arm wrapped around her throat and his hand covering her mouth so she couldn't scream for help. Blake thrashed with all her might but no matter how hard she fought she just couldn't break free from him.

"Blake, Blake wake up" Adam yelled as he fought to keep her restrained so she wouldn't hurt herself. The more he held her down, the more she fought back until her eye's snapped opened and she realized that she wasn't in danger anymore. Tears trailed down her face and she gasped for air until she was able to calm down and regain her composer.

Adam sat on the corner of the bed near Blake's head "I've never seen you like that before, tell me what happened". Blake thought about telling him the truth but she knew it would only fuel his anger for the humans they fought against. "It was just a bad dream, don't worry about it" she said instead "ilia, is she back yet"? Seconds passed but Adam didn't answer so Blake pressed further "Adam where's ilia"?

Adam let a sigh escape his lips but eventually he answered her "she's been missing since last night, so I've decided to head out and search for her once I'm ready. Blake sat up quickly "I'm going with you" she insisted but Adam already had a feeling this would happen and made no attempt to dissuade her decision. At the time he really didn't think much of Blake's reaction to her dream but when they eventually found ilia's body being devoured by a Grimm...well he soon regretted bringing her with him.

Blake's eye's widened at the scene of her friend being eaten and the words of the night before played in her mind "I'll let you live because you tried to help me out". She had helped him, even if it was unintentional, she gave him the opportunity to break free and ilia, her best friend, paid the price for her mistake. The negativity radiating off of her drew the Grimm's attention but it didn't matter when the beast was cut down a moment later by the angry cat faunus.

Ilia had no family to mourn for her so Blake took that responsibility and cried her heart out over the loss of her friend. Knowing it would cripple the morale of the fang members if they returned with ilia's body in this shape, Adam began to dig up the ground for a makeshift grave to put ilia's body in. The grave was quickly made by mixing a few low output energy slashed that sliced through the dirt and rock "it's time Blake" he said knowing that to be out here for so long could have them caught by the enemy.

Although Blake hadn't stopped crying, she complied and had Adam help her place the body in the ground "I'm sorry" she whispered quietly "this...this was all my fault".

/

The morning light was unrelenting in it's assault on his face "I hate morning's like this" he grumbled. Jaune was still hurt and he could tell because his whole body ached "better fix that" his semblance activated to boost his aura. The small cuts and bruises began to heal rapidly as his aura refilled itself, his eyes opened slightly as he looked down his leg "that's gonna take a little more time I suppose".

Looking to his side, he was surprised to see Saphron asleep next to his bed, he smiled gently "Guess I should start being a better brother".

Blake being Blake, always blaming herself for things she can't control. If I really think about it she could be a tragic hero of her own story.