Have a chapter, I guess.

This was all wrong.

With little to work with besides 'Holbrook requires aid' they had been sent back to the site of their battle to help with… Something. Ozpin hadn't said much at the time, perhaps knowing as little as Weiss herself, or maybe because the crown had made the request and had withheld information.

Tightening her grip on her reins until leather bit into her palms Weiss glared at the road. What then? Did the crown know the supposed truth of the Church? Of Magic? Or had Hazel duped the royal family into needing aid all in a ploy to have Weiss sent to him?

The implications made her nauseated just thinking about them.

Hazel Rainart, Commander of Vale's Western Commandery, was a traitor. Raven Branwen, matriarch of the Branwen tribe, a collection of killers and thieves who shirked any and all moral grounds in favor of self-gain was working with him. Yet those same people, the ones Weiss was so certain were devoid of humanity, were expressing more than she'd seen in some time. Certainly, more than some of the aristocracy in Vale's capital.

Their caravan, nearly a dozen and a half carts in all, moved as one along the major roads. Civilians were kept in the middle and flanked at all timed by armed fighters, men and women whom Weiss doubted were as powerful as a Magi, but certainly more capable than an untrained commoner. While many served as protectors, walking alongside the slow-moving caravan, Weiss could almost explain away their peculiar behavior - bandits guarding people, by accepting that they were merely following orders.

Fine for them, although it did nothing to explain the woman in charge.

Progress along the road was slow. With Grimm more plentiful than travelers and wildlife alike fighting became a regular occurrence. Never more than a small pack but always more than one the beasts would emerge from the forests, or if they were lucky, run headlong down the road at the caravan. With no discretion and less patience still they howled, claws scoring the earth as they tore furiously towards their prey. People panicked every time despite their relative safety.

In the end it was the Grimm that were hopelessly marching towards their end.

While soldiers remained at Fort Morris to maintain a front a handful had come along, and with them came portions of the fort's armory. Those who could wield bows rained arrows down upon the Grimm, felling smaller variants in a veritable shower of iron and wood. Those who died in the downpour were the lucky ones.

Weiss was used to seniors and superiors sitting back and making their subordinates work. The Church did it, sending initiates and Hunters alike out on tasks while instructors and veterans leisured within the city walls. Gods knew the nobility did it, and even craftsmen who could afford a half decent apprentice let themselves relax.

Raven was not one of those people. Arrows thinned the crowd and Raven herself would set out time and time again to finish off the horde. The woman moved at a terrifying speed often slaying Grimm in an instant. Every time she'd engaged - Weiss had watched intently each battle, she'd use her green sword to propel herself forward, then dice Grimm to ribbons as a chef might a fine cut of meet with the red blade.

According to these people magic compelled Grimm to follow them, summoned them even, and yet here Raven was flamboyantly using it without a care. And yet Weiss was supposed to believe her claims?

Glancing forward she stared at Yang's back, narrowing her eyes at Blake's before dropping her gaze when she met Ruby's.

She didn't believe them, but the others did, or at least saw something in Raven's claims to not deny them outright.

Believing a bandit was wrong enough on principle, but to believe that they were somehow in the right and the Church, the source of humanity's salvation, the bulwark which stood against the Grimm, was wrong? Weiss had seen everything that Ruby, Blake, and Yang had. She'd witnessed Grimm spawn from seemingly nothing, and she'd seen Yang twisted by some unseen force. Weiss scoffed, kicking her foot and unintentionally spurring her horse forward, yanking hard on the reins to keep it from barreling into Blake's horse.

"Watch it!" the Meera shouted, steering her steed aside. "What are you doing?"

Being the only sane person in this group, apparently. Weiss frowned, directing her horse to the side of the procession and towards the front. Ignoring the stares as she spurred her horse to the front of the caravan, she brought it to a slow trot when she reached Raven. Vernal glared up at her, tapping at the bladed chakram on her hip and smiling as if daring Weiss to do something stupid.

She'd had the idea of trying something, sure, but she also had no intention of being cut down in an instant. Instead Weiss returned Vernal's glare before redirecting it to Raven, staring down at the woman as she walked.

"You still have yet to explain everything," Weiss said, frowning as she looked back at the caravan, barely able to spot her own group at the rear. "What Yang is, why you're so interested in me," she shifted in her saddle to ease her soreness. "Why you insist we travel with you."

"Because I don't have to explain everything, girl." Weiss bristled at Raven's response. "I don't owe you answers, nor do I think you've earned them. I saved your friend, saved you, and tried to explain the reality of this world, and yet you've done nothing but treat us like scum."

She laughed, doubling forward before smiling tersely. "Did I hurt a bandit's feelings? How cruel of me!"

"I've done you favors time and time again, even suggested that you travel with us for your own good." Raven made a point to look back at Yang, raising an eyebrow when Weiss hung her head. "And I yet I still owe you something? Oh, but it's bandits who take and take, isn't it?"

"You're deceiving people…" Weiss grumbled angrily.

"And you're blind to your faith, Schnee. Your friends have no trouble seeing the world for what it is, even Ruby. And even if they aren't wholly convinced at least they're intelligent enough to entertain the idea."

"Intelligence has nothing to do with it!"

Raven smirked, folding her arms and inclining her head. "No? It's easy for a person to stick to their beliefs. What we know is comfortable, safe even. What if everything you believe is a lie though?" She reached out towards Weiss and pointed to the mark on her neck. "What if your entire existence is founded on falsehoods and deceit? Is it intelligence then to cling to that in the face of evidence to the contrary, or dumb, blissful ignorance?"

Discontent to have any conversation with the woman, and perhaps a little upset by her continued insistences, Weiss turned her nose up and frowned. "That goes two ways, bandit. You could believe your own lies just as you claim I do. Your word means as little as Ozpin's by your logic."

"What about my actions then?" Raven raised a hand and signaled for the caravan to halt. Wheels squeaked and a few people protested, wondering why their already meandering progress had been stopped. "You can call my words hollow all you'd like, but what of everything I've done? All these people I've saved?" She raised her voice as she spoke, and Weiss felt dozens of eyes settling on her. "Are you going to tell me that I'm a criminal for saving these lives? Look at the faces among us, the women and children. Tell them that they should be dead before trusting a lowly bandit."

"Don't turn this on me," Weiss retorted sharply. "They were desperate and without salvation. Even a beaten dog would return to its master before it starved!"

"Is that why you keep going back to Ozpin? You his good little mutt, Schnee?"

Weiss wove her rune and almost got her spell off until Raven caught her wrist, tearing her from her horse and throwing her onto the ground. Her mount whinnied snorted in panic while Vernal grabbed its reins and tried to calm it. Pushing herself up she cringed when Raven loomed over her, closing her eyes hearing a sword drawn, blood chilling. Weiss couldn't contain the frightened gasp that escaped and jumped when the blade dug itself into the ground between her legs.

"An attack hound then, one so willing to defend his honor even when he's not here." Raven knelt and smiled, leaving the sword where it stood. "He's certainly gotten you wound around his finger, hasn't he?"

Weiss glanced at the sword before her, then Raven, deliberating taking the weapon until she saw the Dimuran's eager grin. She wanted that, didn't she? An excuse to bat her around a little. No doubt her people would love nothing more than to watch Raven knock her around.

"You speak as if you know him," Weiss said, sounding meeker than she'd have liked. Pushing herself up she winced, shifting uncomfortably and moving her rapier aside. "What would a woman who has spent her life harassing innocent people know? You have no right to speak ill of the Church just because they've tried to stop your crimes."

"Weiss!" Ruby had dismounted her horse and ran up towards them, easily slipping past a pair of Raven's men.

"You make an awful lot of assumptions, Schnee," Raven hissed, grabbing Weiss' shirt and pulling her closer, close enough that when the wind blew some of the Dimuran's hair tickled her face. "I know Ozpin better than most, and certainly better than you. I'd tell you everything if I thought your little brain could handle it."

Before Weiss could retort, Ruby skid to a halt and looked between her and Raven worriedly. "Weiss! Are you okay? I saw you fall off your horse!"

Raven smiled and grabbed Weiss' in a tight grip, making her wince as she was hauled to her feet. "She's fine, Ruby. Might have a bruise later but I think she'll be fine."

Weiss pulled her arm free, glowering at Raven before sighing and facing her partner. Seeing silver eyes so filled with worry made her instantly feel guilty and she smiled, nodding before starting to dust herself off. "I'm fine, Ruby, I just slipped is all. Sorry to make you worry."

Ruby's expression brightened and she nodded. "Oh, okay! Are you sure though? It's okay to say if you're hurt!"

Was she okay? They were traveling with bandits, people who had been deluded into believing they were somehow the heroes despite taking advantage of disillusioned, frightened villagers, and to top it off Ruby and the others were beginning to question things. Knowing she was lying to Ruby now even if that lie was minor was just icing on the cake. What would be worse though? Telling Ruby she'd slipped or getting into another fight with the woman who had saved her? Saved them.

Weiss placed a hand on Ruby's shoulder and smiled more earnestly. "I'm fine, you worrywart. Please go back with Yang and the others."

"You're not coming back…?"

"She just volunteered to scout ahead, actually. To keep an eye out for encroaching Grimm," Raven explained, smiling when Weiss gave her a look of disbelief, hidden by the wind tossing her hood in her face. "Isn't that right?"

"Oh, well I could come with you!" Ruby offered all too eagerly, then smiled and played with her sleeve. "If you want help that is? I could be a messenger!"

"I…" Weiss bit her lip before shaking her head. "I'll be fine on my own. I can handle whatever Grimm come my way. I should think we won't get any surprises like in the cave."

Ruby glanced at Raven before grabbing Weiss' hands tightly, rife with worry as she squeezed them. "Okay, but no magic! You have to promise not to use magic!"

"Ruby, that's a load of -"

"Just promise, please?" Ruby begged. "What if a strong Grimm shows up and you're alone?"

Weiss sighed. "I'll be fine, Ruby. We're Hunters, we can handle ourselves."

"Because you did that so well earlier," Raven jeered, rolling her eyes.

"We tried!" Ruby's sharp rebuttal surprised Raven and Weiss both. She frowned, releasing Weiss' hands and putting her own on her hips as she stood before Raven. "Just because you helped us doesn't mean you can keep being rude to us, you know! So… Cut it out!"

Raven stared at Ruby for a time before turning away. When she grabbed her sword from the ground Weiss went for her rapier, raising it only to stare dumbstruck as Raven began to laugh, sheathing her blade. "Adorable, you're protecting her. Very well, I'll try to be less rude, provided Schnee does the same."

"Her name is Weiss!"

"Ruby… Thank you, but -"

"And… And you should come back and talk to Yang! She's been upset this whole time and you're her mother!" In the loosest sense of the word maybe, Weiss mused. Raven speaking to her daughter would most certainly not help anything. "And maybe you could be a little nicer too! I've been quiet because you helped me and all these people…"

"Ruby…"

"But you keep being mean! You're rude, and you let your people be rude to us, and you keep being mean to Weiss just because she doesn't listen to you. It's not like she's hurting anyone!"

"Ruby!"

The brunette flushed realizing she was standing inches from Raven, blinking and stepping back. Weiss cleared her throat meaningfully, her own pale cheeks pink as she turned away. Slowly, Ruby looked around and realized the entirety of the caravan had been watching them, or to be exact, watching her.

Weiss rubbed her temples before stepping forwards, easing Ruby back by a hand on her shoulder. "Ruby, thank you, but I think I'm doing quite fine on my own right now."

If 'fine' included being torn from her horse and verbally beaten, then she was the epitome of doing well. Shame it didn't feel like that. Ruby offered an awkward smile and kept quiet this time.

"You certainly have an inclination for convincing people of seeing things your way, don't you?" Weiss asked.

Raven smiled, shrugging. Nearby a horse whinnied and Vernal shouted a curse, both at the animal and out of frustration. Weiss hoped the temperamental girl didn't kill her steed out of frustration. "What can I say, I'm an excellent speaker."

"Hm." Ozpin was an orator through and through, as was Ironwood. Raven though? About as pleasant as trying to hug an Ursa. "Ruby…" she turned to her friend, leaning in and studying her friend's eyes. "How does your head feel?"

After blinking owlishly Ruby tilted her head and smiled. "Uh, my head? What do you mean?"

"Fuzzy, cloudy, heavy? Have you heard any voices that you don't recognize?" Before Ruby could offer an imbecilic reply, Weiss held a finger up. "Inside your head, not around us."

Genuinely concerned when her friend didn't answer immediately Weiss shot Raven an accusatory glare. They didn't know the extent of Raven's magic yet and no one else had been forthcoming with the woman's powers. Her tribe Weiss could almost excuse - people would be fanatic enough to follow Raven for her strength alone, but the refugees? The soldiers? Her friends. That was all a bit much.

"Nope! Haven't felt anything."

Too much, which made Weiss feel awful as she scrutinized Ruby and every word she said. It was bad enough she didn't feel like she could trust most people with them, but her friend too…?

"If you're worried, I'm using some kind of mind control, relax. I don't have any spells like that."

"And I'm supposed to take your word for that?" Weiss quipped, crossing her arms. "How are we supposed to believe anything you say? You're -"

"A bandit?" Raven interjected. The woman laughed, sharp and biting, then shook her head. "Schnee, if I could do that then wouldn't I have used it on you already? You've been the biggest pain in my ass for a few days now, if I'd try to manipulate anyone it would be you. Otherwise why would I leave you and only you alone?"

Weiss didn't know why but just because she couldn't think of a reason didn't mean one didn't exist. Even if magic wasn't at work it was clear Raven was still manipulating everyone but towards what end? Again, she didn't know. Once this entire fiasco was over and everything was settled, she needed to speak to Ozpin about this. He'd have the answers, certainly. Until then however she'd need to play this game of theirs.

Vernal returned with Weiss' horse, red in the face and frazzled for her efforts. Weiss couldn't hide her small satisfaction seeing the woman out of sorts, happier still when Vernal swat at the animal for trying to chew her hair.

"Well done Vernal, your ability to tame a single horse is legendary." The woman's face reddened further, and she hung her head. Raven snorted, taking the reins and offering them to Weiss. "Mount up, girl. We're burning daylight."

Even as Weiss took the reins, she struck a defiant pose and frowned. "I don't take orders from you. I'll continue for their sake," she explained with a nod towards the civilians. "Not because you wish it."

Raven hardly bothered another glance her way as she waved a hand dismissively. "Whatever helps you sleep, girl." She had been about to walk away before stopping and glancing back at Weiss. "Hm… How about you go on ahead, Schnee? Scout for us, make sure the way is safe."

"I thought I made it clear I don't take orders from you?"

"Don't think of it as an order, think of it as… A suggestion." A firmly worded suggestion. "And if you don't want to do it for my sake then do it for theirs."

Many of the refugees had been watching their exchange for a while now and much to Weiss' chagrin she couldn't ignore their desperate, nervous expressions. "All that negativity they're feeling, all their anxiousness, why… It could bring Grimm down on us at any moment," Raven jeered. "Don't you want to make sure they're all safe? Like a good Hunter?"

"Like a good…" Weiss snatched the reins from Raven's outstretched hand. The woman grinned, knowing exactly what she was doing. Manipulation indeed. "Ruby, thank you, but I'll be going on ahead," she said, shooting Raven a look of daggers. "Because evidently some people are too self-important to be bothered."

"I'll come with you! It's not safe to go alone."

Weiss pulled herself into her saddle before looking down at Ruby and shaking her head. "I'm only scouting, I'll not be fighting any Grimm if it can be helped. I'll be fine on my own."

She felt terribly guilty when Ruby's face fell, but worse still feeling that she couldn't trust her partner. Maybe it was paranoia but who was to say Raven wasn't really influencing everyone? Without knowing a way to test for it Weiss could only take Ruby's word, a word that might be not her own.

Reunited just to be on edge around her own partner…

Right now, scouting sounded like a wonderful excuse to be alone with her own tormenting thoughts.

"Okay… But no fighting, you have to promise!" Ruby grabbed hold of Weiss' trousers to keep her still. "If you do see Grimm then you come back and get someone. Or… Or signal us and I'll rush to you!"

Seeing the earnest desire to help and doubting its sincerity made Weiss' heart feel like it had been thrown into a vice. Smiling, she gave a curt nod and reached down to pat Ruby's hand before gently prying it from her clothing. "I will, I promise."

Raven clapped her hands loudly, tilting her head towards the open road with an expectant look. "Not that this isn't wonderfully wholesome, but we should get moving. Are you going to sit and dawdle or get to work?"

Weiss could think of a dozen other things she'd love to do right now, not the least of which included freezing Raven's mouth shut. Taking the reins in her hands, and her rapier from Raven - she almost forgot her weapon had fallen aside, she eased her horse forward. Ruby waved before turning on her heel and rushing back to the rear of the convoy, sharing one last glance with Weiss before scrambling onto her own horse.

Why were her friends trusting Raven's word? Even as Ruby came to her defense, she didn't denounce the claims outright. What had the woman done to earn such blind faith?

Something was wrong in all of this. Maybe they needed distance, or maybe the help of a veteran Hunter. Whatever Raven had done to her partner she'd find a way to undo it. She'd help Blake too, and Yang… Yang she wasn't sure about, not after their latest surprise.

Save her friends, save the refugees, and somehow find a way to stop a powerful Magi and her tribe from having their way.

Oh, and stop the sudden Grimm outbreaks and bring a criminal to justice.

Sure, she could do all of that.

All she'd need was a miracle.

/+/+/+/+/+/

Blake sneezed, blinking back tears as onions fell into the boiling pot.

Cook duty. If not for her foolhardy comment about knowing how to cook she'd have been spared her job. Now she was preparing a stew for their ensemble of characters while enjoying a hearty meal of her own foot. The Meera wriggled her nose, blinking back tears, then turning her head sharply to sneeze. Her ears bolted upright, and she grimaced, wiping her face on her sleeve and continuing.

"Having a bit of trouble, missy?"

Blake frowned at the smug Muran across the pot, ears flattening before she huffed. Shay chuckled and drove his cleaver through another slab of meat.

Most people in Raven's camp had minimal cooking skills: how to prepare meat, which vegetables in the wilds were edible and how to prepare them. Things that could help one survive in the wilds but hardly enough to land oneself a job as a premiere chef.

Not that we have much to work with, she mused, chucking carrots into the steaming broth, hissing and swallowing her offerings whole like a gluttonous beast. Deciding she was through with her chore she dumped the remaining vegetables in and used a nearby bin of water to wash her face and hands. Shay pulled a face and continued his own work, nowhere near as deft with a blade as Blake was far from done. Hopefully he knows how to cook meat properly.

Leaving Shay to finish preparing the stew she shook her hands dry and cut through the groupings of people. Carts had been drawn into a circle forming a camp and perimeter, albeit one solely for the civilians. Raven refused to allow her own people the comfort of a makeshift wall, although Blake questioned how defensible a few wooden carts were, and instead made her people sleep beyond the threshold. Somewhere along the lines she and her group joined 'Raven's people' and fell into the same category.

Where half a dozen fires raged on inside the camp only two burned away beyond it. One large enough to be a bonfire and the other a pitiful thing more akin to a matchstick. The former belonged to Raven's tribe while the latter was her own. With Yang recovering and Weiss being Weiss it had fallen to Ruby to prepare a fire for them.

Blake couldn't blame the younger girl for trying.

Said girl was the first to greet her upon her return, smiling and patting the spot beside her on their log-turned-bench. Sat on the opposite side of Ruby, Yang nodded and offered a small smile before going back to feeding twigs to the flames. Settling down beside the silver-eyed girl Blake returned a half smile before taking her book from her bag, carefully brushing lint and grass from the hardcover. Just something she'd borrowed from the keep seeing as its former master wouldn't be missing them.

We never did learn where the noble went… The Meera glanced towards the bonfire and watched Raven's people dance about, laughing raucously, half blitzed out of their minds with ale while the others sang. The soldiers didn't seem too upset for Raven's being there. Either the noble ran then when Grimm started showing up…

Or they disposed of their former master. Blake frowned and opened her book, leaning towards the scarce campfire light to read a bit easier. It wouldn't be the first time a nobleman had an uprising, nor would it be the last.

Was it wrong she felt a twinge of happiness at that thought? At least the accompanying guilt at her grim satisfaction kept her from feeling like a complete monster.

Normally Blake could lose herself in whatever story she had gotten her hands on. Books - well written ones, had the wonderful ability to transport you to another world, to help you forget or at the very least ignore your own hellacious existence for a time. It was a magic unlike any other, one which even the world's greatest Magi couldn't hope to replicate.

Normally she'd be whisked away to another realm, although normally someone wasn't staring at her like a hawk.

"Is something wrong…?" Her eyes found Weiss' across the flame, ghostly pale face scrunched and focused.

"I don't understand you." Blake lowered her book and inclined her head. "How is it you can act so… So relaxed with these people," Weiss scoffed, looking to Ruby, then to Yang. Her shoulders squared and she rubbed her face in her hands. "You're all delusional."

"Not that I don't think these folks aren't awful too, Weiss, but what are we gonna do?" Yang leaned back and chucked another twig into the flames. "We could leave, sure, but someone wants to help these people…"

Ruby ducked her head while wringing her hands together. "S-Sorry, but I just don't want to leave them alone. Not with Raven…"

"Neither do I, little sister of mine," Yang said reassuringly while tousling Ruby's locks. "Which is why we're staying."

"But you act relaxed around them? You let your guard down, do as they say." Weiss ran her hands over her face again before sighing loudly. Blake watched her leg begin to bounce and wondered what about this was just so difficult. "You believe that woman's lies without any proof?"

Ah, that was it. Still hung up about that then. Blake marked her page before setting her book aside. Weiss had avoided the topic earlier in the day then skulked off to scout alone so there hadn't been much of a chance to speak about it. Maybe now they could make some progress?

"Think about it, Weiss. It makes sense, doesn't it? That magic could be responsible?"

"You're suggesting that the Church knowingly endangers everyone!" Weiss snapped angrily. "And I do mean everyone. All four kingdoms would be complicit in this. Every citizen would be at risk, every Hunter unknowingly perpetuating some… Some war against Grimm, and for what? Control?"

"That's about the gist of it, yeah," Yang said.

"And that's what makes no sense! Any evidence Raven has offered us has been coincidental at best, contrived at worst. There was always something else involved that could explain our encounters." Weiss rose to her feet and began to pace before the fire, brow creased as she listed off on her fingers.

"At Holbrook the people were on edge, miserable. Their crops were suffering, they had been recently attacked." She paused to glance at Blake and the Meera couldn't keep from curling her lip back in contempt. It wasn't as if she'd wanted that either. "If all the nearby settlements are suffering the same way then of course Grimm are appearing en masse! Half the kingdom is in dire straits!"

"Then what about the caves, Weiss?" Ruby's meek voice barely carried over the crackling fire. The girl looked like she didn't want to rebuke her partner in the slightest, perhaps afraid of arguing. Blake wondered what it must have been like for them back in Vale. Was Weiss always the one leading and Ruby only following at her heels, doing as Weiss asked? Some friendship if so.

Weiss stopped her pacing and instead of addressing Ruby turned to her elder sister. "What exactly happened to you in those caves? Or better question still, what are you?"

Yang smiled tightly and leaned back, golden tresses framing her face as she tossed her head. She regarded Weiss silently before crossing one leg over the other. "A Dimuran. Well half technically. Gets a bit messy when you think about it…" Beside her Ruby pulled a face and shuddered.

"You know what I mean, you twit! What kind of person turns into a Grimm?!"

Blake found herself leaning towards Yang and her ears perked, stood at attention. She was just as interested as Weiss when it came to Yang's transformation. They had seen it twice now and yet knew nothing about it. What brought it on, whether it was a new kind of magic. She seemed to exert some control over herself, sometimes, while others she ran rampant. Was it a kind of self-enhancing spellcraft?

Rather than speak Yang slowly stood from her seat, taking a moment to begin undoing her top. The sash around her abdomen fell to the ground, her leather girdle dropping at her feet. Lifting her wild mane over one shoulder Yang glanced back when Weiss sputtered, cooing and flashing a playful grin.

"Aw, someone feeling embarrassed?"

"I asked for an answer!" Weiss almost shouted, averting her eyes. "Why are you stripping?!"

"Y-Yeah, I don't want to see you naked either!" Ruby whined, hood pulled firmly over her head.

"Not like you haven't seen me before," Yang chuckled, rasping her knuckles on her sister's head. Blake didn't take her eyes from Yang the whole while, albeit for reasons besides ogling the blonde beauty. Naturally the Dimuran mistook her stare and grinned at her when she noticed. "Like what you see, kitty cat?"

"That remains to be seen," Blake quipped, smirking, satisfied when Yang's cheeks turned a light pink. "I assume there's a reason you're stripping down…?"

"Because she's gross!" Ruby proclaimed fitfully.

Yang snorted and bapped her sister's head. "Because Weiss wants an answer, and I figured it's better to show rather than tell, ya know?"

The beige vest toppled down and caught on Yang's belt at her waist, revealing patterns of blackened scales littering her back, shoulders, and neck. Flexible yet tough, a Dimuran's scales acted as a natural armor for them, something blacksmiths the world over struggled to replicate in their wares. Shy of skinning one alive and testing the scales Blake doubted they ever would replicate it.

More fascinating than any scales however, or the well-defined muscles in Yang's back, which Blake made no short note of, was the mark between her shoulder blades.

Tattoos weren't unusual. The Mark of the Church existed, and any current Hunter was fixed with one. Bandits wore tattoos sometimes to designate which tribe they belonged to, and many people got them simply out of preference.

A pulsing tattoo that gave off a faint glow despite being pitch black? Now that was unusual.

Blake felt an odd revulsion at the sight of the symbol. It almost resembled a Mark of the Church, with a circular frame and several runes between the layers, visible only as they glowed against Yang's paler skin. Three crystal shapes protruded from the cardinal directions. Where south would be on a compass there were five instead of a single crystal, fanning out from the center.

And at the center of it all was an eye turned on its end, vertical and unblinking. Despite being only a tattoo Blake swore she felt it watching her. An involuntary chill made her draw closer to the flames, biting the inside of her cheek before finally taking her eyes from the mark.

"Yang…?" Ruby whispered, having at some point drawn away from her sister. "What is that…?"

"A brand. Or a seal, I forget which exactly." Yang lowered her shoulders and stretched, biting her lip and hissing when black smoke spilled from the sigil. "How's it look, by the way? I can't exactly check out my own back?"

Weiss slowly moved her way around the fire, drawing closer to Yang's tattoo than Blake or Ruby dared. Not without reservations as Blake could tell the girl was paler than normal, watching as her confident stride was reduced to a precarious shuffle the closer she got.

The white-haired girl reached out and her fingers traced the mark without ever touching it. Black mist parted as she swiped through the air, drawing back with a startled if knowing stare. "These are runes… None that I recognize though, but there's no mistaking it."

"Are you sure?" Yang asked, almost begged. "You could find out what they are, right?!"

Taken aback by the sudden enthusiasm, or perhaps put off by the eerie mark, Weiss stepped back. She stared a moment longer before sighing and looking elsewhere, anywhere but Yang's back. "Theoretically. The Runic system is old however, far older than even the kingdoms. There's a reason I tend to utilize the same spells repeatedly. The runes are as varied as their applications."

"But you recognize them as runes, right?" Ruby stood and inched towards Yang. "Yang, where did you get that? I don't remember you having something like that before."

Yang smiled bitterly as she drew her vest back up, much to their collective relief. Concealed again the mark's ominous air seemed to vanish along with it. Blake stared at where it should be a moment longer until Yang's hair fell into place, glad to have it hidden once more.

"This? I got it thanks to some freakshow's experiments. Volunteered to try and help out the Church, got turned into a freak because of it." Yang fastened her sash on her torso again, turning back once decent again and chuckling. "Wanna know why I believed Raven despite hating her guts, Weiss? That mark is why."

Weiss' loss of words only lasted a moment before she shook her head vehemently. "Now wait a moment! You mean to tell me the Church turned you into… Into whatever you are now?"

"Jeez, be a little more callous will ya?"

"You still didn't explain exactly what it is you are now," Blake pointed out. Showing the mark was enlightening, sure, but it did nothing towards explaining how Yang could change, or why she changed.

Yang looked as pleased as anyone would while being interrogated, shifting her weight between her feet, then busying herself with her bracers. Finally, after exhaling and nodding her head she gestured over her shoulder at her back. "That thingie is why. I can kind of… Go Grimm, I guess? It's kind of hard to explain. And gross."

Ruby stood at her sister's side and stared in worry. "What do you mean 'Go Grimm'? Yang, can we fix it?" Before her sibling could reply the brunette turned her attention onto Weiss. "Weiss, you know runes! Fix Yang! Take that thing off her!"

"Ruby, even if I recognized the runes, which I don't, undoing a seal isn't easy. I need to know the corresponding rune for each one present and its opposite, then understand the purpose of the seal. Besides all of that," Weiss frowned and shook her head. "I don't know sealing magics. I can perform it, yes, but I've never tried. And I don't imagine this is something I should attempt haphazardly."

"Yeah, much as I'd love for Weiss to potentially kill me…" Yang reached out and pat Ruby's head. "I said 'potentially', Rubes. No guarantee she would."

"No guarantee she wouldn't."

"Jeez, Blake, always a ray of sunshine, aren'tcha?"

"I am a shadow user," Blake said with a shrug.

"Right. Point being Weiss is right. I'd probably need the guy who did this to undo the seal, and even then, who knows what might happen. See, cuz uh…" Yang's mouth pulled into a thin line and she fidgeted, a look of disgust flashing across her face before she grimaced. "Seals are supposed to, ya know, seal stuff, right? Well mine does, and it kind of… Sorta… Seals a Grimm…? In me…?"

Oh.

Oh. That's bad. Not to mention horrifying, repulsive, and probably, most definitely a breach of moral or ethical code. Feeling as ill as Ruby looked Blake ran a hand over her shoulder, skin crawling as she imagined something beneath the surface. A symbiotic relationship with a Grimm? Was such a thing possible?

Yang transformed into something not quite Grimm and not quite Dimuran so the proof was there, disturbing as it was.

"It… It feeds off magic energy in a way. Sorta like how plants do sunlight, I guess? When no one's flinging spells around it takes energy from me, which is kind of… Better. I've got a lot and it doesn't eat that fast." Yang shuddered and looked down at her right arm. "When there's magic being used though? Thing goes on a feeding frenzy. Gets bigger, starts acting up. It's uh… Probably like rabies, I guess? I get all fuzzy headed and angry and… Well you've seen what happens to me by now."

Weiss hugged herself and looked to be on the verge of tossing dinner before they'd even eaten it. "... And the Church did this to you…?"

"Technically… No? I mean they sort of signed off on the project, but I don't think they knew exactly what they were getting into. One of their researchers did this before they chased him out and labeled him rogue." Yang flashed her canines and growled. "Bastard has probably done way worse than this too since then."

"Wait! If he's still around then we can find him, right?" Ruby suggested, bouncing in place. "If we can find him, then we can make him fix you!"

"This man has a name I assume?" Weiss asked. "If we can locate him then surely, we can make him undo his seal as Ruby suggests. Loathe as I am to ask her for help perhaps Raven can provide us some direction?"

Because they didn't have enough on their plates already. Save Vale, find the criminals wreaking havoc, and now help relocate an entire village of survivors. Why not track down a rogue researcher while they were at it? If not for Ruby's valid concern for her sister or Weiss' interest - whether genuinely wishing to help or wanting to learn more about runes Blake couldn't say, it was difficult for her to refuse Yang outright.

Besides, if the Church really is as malicious as Raven says then this would be damning evidence against them. I could even use it to figure out what happened to my parents. What really happened.

Blackmailing the Church of Remnant. Why not? She'd done stupid things before.

"I'm not sure if we'll find him, that's the thing. He always has a knack for showing up wherever I am. Pretty sure the bastard stalks me." Yang spat, then scowled. "But sure, we can ask Raven and see what she knows. Hate the idea of being any more indebted to her, though at this point it isn't like we're not already owing her." Saving Ruby's life, then all their lives. What was one more favor owed by now? "Let's ask her after dinner, yeah?"

"Oh, the guy's name," Yang added as almost an afterthought. "Sorry, kind of a lot going around right now. Like I said, the guy we'd be lookin' for is a former Church researcher, knows his runes too. His name is Merlot. Crazy hair, stupid big mustache, and a face you just wanna punch. You'd know him if you saw him."

The name meant nothing to Blake. Not that she was well versed in the Church's affairs to begin with. Obviously, the organization would keep its internal affairs to itself, especially if one of their own had begun developing freaks of nature. Yang's reveal garnered no reaction from her which was confusing compared to Weiss and Ruby's startled gasps.

"Yang… Do you mean Doctor Jacobis Merlot…?" Weiss' voice trembled.

"Yeah? Wait, you know the guy's full name?"

Ruby, looking like she'd just seen a ghost, nodded stiffly. "Y-Yeah, he… He helped heal us after Holbrook. Helped a lot of the villagers too." She grabbed her cloak and twisted it in her hands. "Weiss, do you think…?"

"He might be somehow related to all this? I'm certain if what Yang says is true. It's too coincidental not to be." Weiss cursed delicately before kicking a rock into the fire. "What if he's responsible for the miasma too? And all these Grimm? And what's the purpose behind all of it? Is he just trying to sow chaos?"

Possible, but illogical. Causing outbreaks on this scale would take an immense amount of magic, time, and preparation. If all Merlot wanted to do was cause widespread panic then he'd accomplished his task, but that seemed more like a means than an end.

Blake felt she understood but Yang beat her to voicing her idea. "It's a cover for something else…" The Dimuran punched her palm and groaned. "Damn it, I should have guessed! He's causing all this to keep the Church and everyone else busy! That's got to be it!"

"What would he be doing though? What's so bad that he needs the whole kingdom running scared?" Ruby mused. "If this is his distraction…"

"Then what is he planning?" Weiss finished.

Nothing good, that much was obvious. Beyond that however they were no closer to finding an answer than before.

It was all speculation, Blake knew, but it sounded plausible enough. "We should bring this to Raven's attention," she suggested. "Maybe she knows him and where to find him, or at the very least can help figure out where he is."

"Agreed. If he's responsible for all this then all the more reason to stop him." Weiss smiled. "I knew it had to be a rogue agent responsible for this…"

"Still in denial?"

Weiss scowled at Yang. "Denial? I can believe that an unchecked researcher who was removed from the Church and labeled rogue. Regardless of some grand conspiracy we have a lead on this crisis. I'll go speak to Raven." The very notion looked to physically sicken Weiss as she suggested it. "In the meantime, try and think of where you might have seen him, Yang, or if you know of any hideouts of his. Anything we can use."

"Aye aye, captain!" Yang stuck out her tongue and saluted.

"What do you want me to do, Weiss?" Ruby asked with a smile. "Want me to come with -"

"No, thank you. Why don't you keep your sister and Blake company? Between the three of you I'm sure you'll have some revelation."

"Oh… Okay! I can do that!"

Weiss smiled slightly then left without another word, leaving Ruby to sulk. The sisters sat down again and rather than start discussing ideas Yang took to comforting her sister. Blake wasn't sure why Weiss turned Ruby down again especially with how eager she'd seemed to be reunited not days earlier. Maybe it was the stress of everything wearing on her?

Blake collected her book and started to move away from the fire. "Where are you going?" Yang asked after her. "I thought we were going to put our heads together?"

"I think better alone," Blake explained, tapping her head with her book. "Besides," she gestured towards the now sulking Ruby. "I think we can wait until Weiss gets back, don't you?"

"Ah, alright. Don't go too far, Blakey. I don't want to spend all night looking for a lost cat."

The Meera snorted but smiled. "Relax. Your unkempt hair is like a beacon in the night."

"Unkempt?!" Yang almost sounded offended, then paused and laughed. "Aw, are you saying you like my hair?"

Sure, let her think that. Blake left Yang whining as she moved away from the camp and the fires, using the faint light of the stars and moon to find her way. A tree not too far from camp provided a wonderful resting place and she dusted off an exposed root before settling down, propping her back against the trunk for comfort.

Something told her they were in for a long, long night. Besides now feeling uneasy around Yang and her 'companion' there was too much on her mind. Hopefully a bit of quiet reading would do wonders to calm her thoughts.

Blake opened to her page and began to read again, rolling one of her ankles as she began to lose herself on the prose once more.

Or she'd have liked to. What she discounted as limbs creaking in the wind soon became too distracting. For one there was hardly any wind. Putting her book down and frowning she lifted her head and gazed up into the canopy, eyes widening when the canopy stared back. Trees didn't have eyes either.

On reflex her hand shot back to where her weapon would normally be, mentally cursing herself for leaving it back at camp. With no sword in hand she prepared to cast a spell until the figure from above dropped from their perch into view. A heavy, dark shroud concealed their smaller, slender figure, and a mask covered their face. Their hands came up in surrender and only once Blake settled did they remove their cover.

"Ilia…?" Blake said breathlessly.

Her lifelong friend smiled wearily. "Blake… It's good to see you again."

At a loss for words Blake glanced back towards camp nervously, then pushed herself to her feet with help of the tree. No sooner was she upright did Ilia hug her, throwing her arms around her and knocking them both back into the tree. "Ilia! What are you doing here? How… How are you here?"

"I've been tracking you since that fort, since I heard where you were going." Well good to know that Vernal failed miserably covering their tracks. "I could ask you the same thing! Why are you traveling with these people? Most of them are Murans!"

"They're… I know, Ilia, I know. They're not all that bad though." Seeing her friend's dubious expression, she grabbed Ilia's shoulders and eased her back. "Nevermind that for now, why are you here? Not that I'm not happy to see you, but why?"

If Adam found out, then he'd have Ilia killed. Or their friends. Hells, he'd probably kill them all just to make a point! Didn't Ilia realize how risky this was?

"I'd like to know why you're here as well."

Ilia turned in an instant and drew her sword, putting a hand on Blake and pushing her back. "Wait!" Blake grabbed her friend's arm and tried to disarm her only to be shrugged off. "Ilia, don't! She's on our side!"

"You expect me to believe that?"

Raven smiled, holding her hands up as she approached. She stopped with Ilia's sword tickling her throat, grinning and lifting her chin as if to tempt her. "Give me a reason, girl. I've wanted to deal with you since I saw you, but I've wanted to know why you were following us too."

Ilia's arm lowered a hair, enough that Raven could brush aside the blade. The Talpa's skin turned red, then blue, and finally white as she backed away half a step. "How did you know…?"

"How?" Above them a bird cawed, wings fluttering loudly as it descended and landed in Raven's outstretched hand. It pecked and fluttered before squawking, shimmering before being reduced to a single feather which Raven tucked away in her robe. "Now talk, girl. Before I decide I'm through entertaining your little games."

Wait, if Raven was here then where was Weiss? Blake looked back towards the camp and couldn't see anything wrong from where they stood. Ruby and Yang continued to chat by the fire while the circled caravan seemed to be at peace.

Had Raven known Ilia was out here? Had she been waiting all this time for a chance?

Blake didn't know if she was impressed or annoyed.

"Well?" Raven growled, losing her air of playfulness as she set a hand on one of her swords. "I'm waiting."

It was Ilia's turn to raise her hands, stepping back and moving to stand beside Blake. Realizing perhaps her odds of not only beating Raven but escaping a camp full of her subordinates besides, the freckled Talpa swallowed nervously.

"It's… It's the White Fang. They're making moves with everything that's going on…" Ilia began, glancing at Blake uneasily. "And Adam… B-Blake, you have to understand that we tried to talk him out of it. He's losing his mind!"

"Ilia, relax." Blake held her friend's shoulders. "Just take a breath and tell me, okay? What's happening?"

"Adam… Adam and Yuma, they're saying Sienna is ordering them to attack towns affected by the Grimm outbreaks. Take what we can, conscript anyone we can, and…" Ilia paused, and her face crumpled, hanging her head in defeat. "He's… He's labeled you a traitor to the cause, Blake. The whole organization was told to kill on sight. He wants you dead, Blake, and he's willing to use everyone he can to make that happen."

Oh. That was bad.

Raven laughed, clapping her hands while she did. Neither of them could figure out where the amusement was in all of this.

"The White Fang wants her dead, do they? That's grand! And petty!" Raven chortled, then grinned at Ilia viciously. "Are you a messenger then, girl? You can tell your superiors that the Belladonna girl is one of mine now. If they want her then they can deal with me and my tribe! I've been wanting an excuse to snuff you lot out!"

"No!" Blake shouted.

"No one knows I'm here. I came to warn Blake, that's all." Ilia paused. "I won't stop you if you want to kill Adam though, or the others. We have friends there though that we need to save first, if you plan to attack."

Raven tilted her head. "Oh?" Her arm lashed out and she dragged Ilia closer, lifting the girl off her feet. "And why not just wipe them all out? Or you, for that matter? If no one knows you're here…"

Blake grabbed Raven's wrist and pulled, startled when the woman didn't even budge. When she tried again to no better results, she instead tried to put herself between the bandit and Ilia. "If you hurt Ilia then… We'll leave. You want us here for some reason, don't you? I'll tell the others and we'll leave."

"Oh? Are you threatening me, Blake?" Raven dropped Ilia only to grab her by the shoulder, squeezing hard enough to make the Talpa cry out. "If she goes back as she is, she'll likely die anyways. From the sounds of things your commander is losing his mind. Do you really think my killing her here is any worse than what he'll do?"

Probably not. Raven would likely make it quick which was more than she could say of Adam. Blake tried again to pry the Dimuran's hold and she caught Ilia when she was released.

"No, but she doesn't have to die. She could stay here with us."

"N-No. If I don't go back then Adam will expect the worst, that I went to you." Which Ilia did but that wasn't the point. "I have to go back otherwise he might hurt the others."

"If you go back unharmed, he'll have suspicions though." Raven crossed her arms and smiled. "Perhaps I should at least rough you up a bit, make it look like you were caught up in a fight. Hm… How fond are you of your arm?"

Blake eased Ilia back and glared at Raven. "Stop, just stop. You aren't hurting Ilia."

"No? So, you want to send her back to her death then?"

"Blake, she's right. If I go back like this Adam will know I snuck out, or someone will notice I'm gone and have reported it. If I go back hurt I can at least say I had a reason for being out."

Which would mean Adam would likely not even bother questioning Ilia and go right to doling out punishments. Blake could already hear Yuma feeding him lies, convincing Adam that Ilia and their friends were all traitors to the cause.

"... Then let me do it."

"Blake…?"

"You could say that you found me, and I attacked you, thinking you were trying to trick me." Even as she said it Blake knew what a horrible idea it was. Adam knew she'd never attack one of her friends even if she felt threatened. She'd sooner run than do that.

Raven cleared her throat loudly and gestured to herself. "Tell him I attacked you, or one of my men. Tell him we found you going through a town and threatened to kill you if you returned, or whatever tickles your fancy." The Dimuran grinned. "And better still tell him he's welcome to try and make us pay if he wants. Vale is mine for the taking, not his. If your commanders have an issue with that then they're welcome to take it up with my tribe."

The notion of attacking Ilia still sickened Blake, as did sending her home unharmed to face Adam's accusations and wrath. Even if he was angry for her sneaking out at least with the pretense of being attacked his anger would be directed elsewhere.

What else was there? Ilia could do it herself, or Raven could become impatient and attack, potentially killing her friend in the process. They needed something convincing.

Ilia grabbed one of Blake's hands and held it to her own cheek, smiling while the Meera watched her in anguish. "Blake, it's okay… I'll keep the others safe and I'll work on a way to get us out of there, I promise. Just trust me, okay? This is the right thing to do."

It might be the 'right thing' but that didn't make her want to do it any less. "I wish you hadn't come here, Ilia…"

Her friend just kept on smiling, closing her eyes and nodding. "I know."

Raven yawned. "Sometime tonight, Blake. I need to get back and see what Weiss wanted. Vernal can't keep her there forever."

"Shut up! I'm… I'm getting to it."

It didn't have to be much. A black eye, some minor cuts. Realistically Ilia would probably suffer worse wounds after fighting someone like Raven, or perhaps not if she was expected to get back to Adam. Injured enough to make a point but not so much she couldn't travel.

Even that much felt excessive.

Blake grit her teeth, eyes prickling as she drew back her hand. She could picture Adam in her place, herself in Ilia's. A phantom tingling on her cheek made her release a shuddering breath and she froze for a moment, whining and closing her eyes. She tried to force her trembling fingers into a fist.

"Ilia… I'm sorry…!"

"I know."

She groaned when Ilia helped her hand close, smiling once again before bracing herself. Blake whined and shook her head, forcing herself to imagine what Adam might do if he caught her friend. What he might do to the others if he had even an inkling of what they were planning. She tried to make herself believe it was Adam's fault she was doing this, that she was being forced to harm her friend.

That didn't make the first punch hurt any less, not for either of them. Ilia staggered but kept on smiling, righting herself and nodding. Blake groaned again as tears dribbled down her cheeks, cursing the gods, the Church, Adam, anything and everyone as she delivered another blow.

This was all so, so wrong.

Hopefully the next entry doesn't take me almost a month. We'll see. Thanks for reading.