"A fantastic point of view..."
"No one to tell us no..."
Except the law. And your parents. And morals, if you're into that kind of thing.
Here we are! I promised some answers this chapter. Some. More will come trickling in as we go but here's a bit of it for now.
Too much exposition something something dull boy.
You know too much.
"Ouch!"
"Stop complaining…"
"Stop being so brutish!"
Weiss winced as the bandages around her chest were tightened, gasping for air and instinctively drawing back. A firm hand kept her in place, and she wheezed, uselessly pulling at the healer's wrists to break free.
'Do no harm' was the mantra of most Church certified healers.
Clearly this man was not one of them.
Tears swam in Weiss' eyes as the bandages were at last secured, binding her chest and covering the gashes on her ribs. A healing salve beneath the cloth chilled her, the cold solution mixing oddly with the warming sensation of magic. Grizzled and unkempt, nothing like a Church healer, Raven's tribesman hovered at her side, feeding magic into her body, mending broken flesh and splintered bone like a weaver repairing a garment.
Magic might heal wounds but that didn't make the process without pain. Her ribs snapped back with an audible click and Weiss cried out softly, leaning forward and grasping her side. A stubborn hand pushed her own away and she whimpered as her bones healed.
The dark green canvas of the tent was blurry when she opened her eyes a moment later. Breathing came easier, lungs no longer pressed beneath broken bones, although she still hesitated to take deep breaths.
"Hm… The Church trains hatchlings…" The healer lifted her bandages, maidenly honor be damned, again swatting Weiss' hand away when she tried to protect her decency. "You want to heal or no? Makes no difference to me."
Swallowing vitriol Weiss nodded stiffly, glowering at the Dimuran. "Good, sit still then before you reopen a wound." Gripping the edges of the table she focused on her breathing and not the rough fingers poking and prodding at her flesh. "Ribs seem to be together again, gashes are gone," he mused, turning his head and spitting. "Won't even be a scar. Fah… You're like a doll."
"And you call yourself a healer?" Weiss hissed in pain. Healed, but not recovered. "I've had an easier time riding a horse bareback."
"Probably the only thing you've ridden, eh?" It took her a second of staring at the man's toothy grin before she put two and two together. Bright faced and livid Weiss swung, cursing when the man caught her wrist with ease and laughed in her face. "Looks like I was right!"
"You may leave now!"
"Aye, aye, I was on my way out, lass." The deplorable man smiled and gathered up bloodied wraps - ones previously bound to her wounds. Stuffing them into a bag he slung it over his shoulder and pointed to her chest. "Kalom won't take you today. Lucky runt." The Dimuran itched the pale scales on his dark skin. "Ribs are still setting so don't go trying anything, you hear? If you're sent back here, I'll be pissed."
You'll be pissed? Weiss bristled, gripping the table hard enough that she felt splinters dig into her palms. Face still red like the sun she swung her legs off the table and slid off, keeping her back to the man as she slipped her tunic back on. A faint pain pulsed in her chest, but she could move now without much trouble; breathe too. Tossing her long white hair and plucking a few leaves and blades of grass from the ends she watched the man leave, scowling and stomping her foot.
What is that woman thinking with healers like him?! Weiss buttoned up her tunic fingers fumbling as her body continued to recover. If Ozpin found out any of his healers behaved like that they'd be on the streets within the day! They have no sense of decency here!
But then this wasn't the Church was it? Raven and her people were about the furthest thing from the Church in Weiss' mind. Yet they had been saved by the same deplorable group not once but twice now.
One had sent them to certain death, the other was the reason she was even alive to gripe about it.
Fastening her belt and the sash around her chest she searched for her rapier. Oh, right… Despondent, she sighed and slipped her boots back on, pausing for a moment to clean her face in a washbasin.
Gods did she look haggard. Circles under her eyes made her sickly, her usually well-kept hair was frayed with strands sticking out no matter how stubbornly she tried to subdue them. Weiss prodded at her cheeks and pulled down her eyelids, grimacing at how bloodshot they were. At least the ginseng mixture had helped to reduce her aches and nausea. Shame she still looked like she'd been through Spellcast Sickness. Felt it too.
Every movement was sluggish as she exited her tent. The sun's unwelcome glare blinded her temporarily and she shielded her eyes, giving her sight a moment to adjust. In the distance thunder crackled, the dark sky ebbing like a receding tide and giving way to bluer pastures. Around the hastily erected camp fires roared, crackling loudly. Various meats slung over spits sizzled and filled the air with a mouthwatering aroma.
Weiss couldn't decide if she was hungry or put off by the idea of a meal.
Squinting through the harsh light she sought out familiar faces. Plenty of civilians milled about the camp, either doing their best to help or stay out of the way. Raven's own were restless, setting up tents, starting fires, or rushing out to meet the Grimm in battle while others returned. Weiss passed a group on their way in, bloodied but smiling and laughing amongst themselves. The joviality was strange. Grimm continued to howl in the distance, far more subdued than even an hour ago but still present. Still a threat. Her heart leapt in her throat at the idea she herself might be sent back into battle so soon.
She dispelled the idea when she remembered Raven's decree. They were through fighting, Weiss and her friends. The tribe would take matters into their own hands from here on out.
I take care of my property...
Weiss grimaced, kicking at the ground with an angry huff. She was not Raven's property, none of them were. The woman was delusional if she truly believed that.
Rapturous laughter made her jump, flushing as a pair nearby laughed at her unbidden reaction. Shooting them a glare she circled around a stack of containers and followed the noise. Men and women cheered, and she overheard bets being placed.
Why was she not surprised to find bandits gambling? They were likely betting on who could go longest without bathing. Weiss shuddered, taking a hesitant whiff of the air and blanching. That wouldn't seem like such a stretch. Or perhaps they were betting on who was the crudest, or the most poorly spoken, or…
She stopped around a table and stared at the pair sat down, arms propped up and hand clasped in hand. The crowd cheered and a large Toro man grunted, stomping his foot down and sweating profusely. Veins in his neck bulged and his green eyes widened, leaning to the side and cursing as he vied for supremacy.
Yang grinned, straining but less visibly so than her counterpart. The crowd whooped in delight and cheered for the man, lifting mugs and glasses and spilling all over themselves without a care.
The man's hand struck the table and the crowd went silent before erupting again in a chorus of cheers and unintelligible shouts. Yang raised her arms and looked prouder than ever for her victory.
Weiss wondered if her friend hadn't lost some brain cells in all their fighting.
Watching as Yang and the Toro clasped hands again and embraced Weiss hung her head, groaning and rubbing her temples. Of course, she was recovered. Why did Yang have to encourage these people? Her eyes narrowed watching as a few bandits reluctantly handed over paltry sums of Lien, piling it up in front of Yang.
… Well, at least they'd be able to afford supplies now.
Marching over towards the table and ignoring the fanfare she grabbed Yang's shoulder, narrowing her eyes when the blonde whipped around and grinned at her. "Oh, hey Weissy! You're finally done!"
"I see you're recovering swimmingly."
"Me? Oh yeah, pretty much fine after the healer saw me!" Yang laughed and flexed her right arm. Bandaged heavily from her shoulder to her fingertips she flashed a smile. "Good as new! Healer was pretty fun too, we were cracking jokes and having a good -"
"Wonderful. Splendid. Lovely." Weiss' eyebrow twitched and she glanced at the Lien before biting the inside of her cheek. A little more and they could possibly afford a carriage back to the city. With their horses long gone now the idea of not having to walk was tantalizing.
"If you're quite finished gambling we should find your sister," she directed, hands on her hips as she looked up at Yang testily. "Assuming you're finished?"
A few bandits booed and jeered at her for her interruption. Weiss had half a mind to reply with a rude gesture and settled for rolling her eyes instead.
"Oh yeah! I saw her a bit ago, she's all set!" Then why are you here? Weiss' mind screamed, putting her face in her hands as Yang gathered up her winnings. "Sorry ladies and gentlemen but I've gotta run. My lady awaits!"
"We are not in a relationship!" Weiss snapped haughtily, face warming more than she'd have liked. Laughter broke out again, from Yang included, and she pointed away from the table. "Move! B-Before I… I… I'll freeze you!"
"Aw, Weissy, you could never freeze my heart." Heat reached the tips of her ears and she trembled, following alongside Yang as they left the group behind, laughter ringing in her ears. Oblivious or uncaring the blonde grinned, counting her earnings before tucking them away for safekeeping. "Glad to see you're all better and back to being feisty!"
Feisty? "I simply think… Our time could be spent in better ways than gambling," she grumbled, folding her arms, wincing, then dropping them to her sides. "You're awfully obnoxious today."
"Fair, fair. And relax, Weiss! I was getting us a little extra Lien for the trip back." Yang jingled her winnings with a proud smile. "You can thank me whenever you're ready."
Feeling like a petulant child and likely looking the part too Weiss stomped along, staring straight ahead, chin up and lips pressed into a thin line. Bandits behind them broke out into cheers again as their games began anew. To her left she heard another group break into song as one man woefully played a lute, sounding more like a dying fox than an instrument.
Despite the chaos they had just come from and still being embroiled in fighting - the Grimm continued to roam the area, the tribe carried on like nothing was amiss. It was disconcerting how casual it all seemed. Weiss felt her palms itch and pressed them against the sides of her thighs, chewing her lower lip and glancing around skittishly.
Yang's hand grabbed her shoulder and she squeaked, drawing back half a step and lifting her fists.
"Hey… You good?"
Was she 'good'? Expecting the ground to erupt any moment was not 'good'. Neither was expecting herself to wake up any moment and find herself in the middle of a battle. The Grimm were being kept at bay for now but how long would that last? How long until they were attacked again?
No, she wasn't 'good'. She wasn't even 'kind of good'. Weiss let loose a shuddering sigh and folded her arms loosely, scrunching her shoulders and frowning.
"Let's just find Ruby and Blake, okay…?"
"Sure thing, Weiss."
Lips trembling through a smile she nodded, rubbing her side gingerly. Once they rounded up their group they could begin planning how to get back to the city. Then they could finally relax and put this whole sordid business behind them… Until their next assignment.
She assumed Ruby would still be inside one of the medical tents. An assumption based on nothing, Weiss admitted, and one that wasn't helpful whatsoever. Raven's tribe didn't use any distinguishing markers to label their tents, or if they did then she didn't know the system. Even the healers themselves were nondescript save for their bags of tools and bandages they carried with them. When half the camp was moving about carrying some manner of cargo the healers tended to blend in with everyone else.
They stopped at the first few tents they found, poking their heads inside. One man was fast asleep, and to Weiss' chagrin, bare as the day he was born. Another was busy repairing armor and yelled at them to leave him be.
Someone was enjoying rations, another was in the middle of undressing from battle when they walked in. Weiss had to drag Yang away from that one, ears burning listening to the playful flirting between the two.
"I thought you hated these people?!" Weiss growled.
"I mean… Kinda? But they're not so bad once you get to know 'em," Yang admitted with a shrug. "Besides, I hate Raven. Most of these guys are alright in my book."
"They're bandits!"
"They saved us, Weiss. How long are you gonna keep on about that?" So long as it was true, which it still was. Weiss turned when Yang stopped and held her hands up expectantly as if to ask, 'What now?'. Yang snickered, shaking her head and pointing towards the edge of camp.
Vernal knocked over someone with a staff, shouting all sorts of wonderfully encouraging insults at him. He stood, dusted himself off, then promptly found himself sprawled out in the dirt again. Rather than try helping her kinsmen up Vernal spat in his direction, shouted another word of encouragement, and moved on to the next man in line.
"And her," the blonde added after a moment, smiling slightly amused. "She's a bitch too."
At least they agreed on that front. Weiss nodded, sweeping her hand out behind her and raising an eyebrow. They still had yet to find Ruby, or Blake for that matter. It didn't help that the camp was an incohesive mess, thrown up at a moment's notice with no regard for planning or anything. It was enough to make Weiss' head throb.
Ozpin will know.
"Oi!"
Yang sighed beside her and Weiss felt herself slouch just a touch. "Speaking of the devil…"
"Well well, look who's still alive." Vernal smirked and propped her staff on her shoulder. Weiss met her smug gaze at eye level, taking some petty satisfaction in realizing the bandit was as short as she was.
That made it all the more infuriating the strutted around like she was the size of a Goliath.
Yang tossed her hair over her shoulder and put a hand to her hip, flashing a grin that failed to reach her eyes. "Hey, Vernal. Glad to see Raven let you off licking her boots for a bit!"
"Hmph. Cute, reject. You spend all day thinking of that one?"
Yang clenched her teeth and shuffled her feet, leaning forward and sneering at Vernal. The fact she was a full head taller didn't seem to bother the bandit. If anything, it made her smile with an off putting eagerness. "What was that…? All I heard was 'Please kick my ass, Yang'."
"If you think you could, be my guest." Vernal sneered. "Unlike you, I have Raven's training. I'd love to wipe that look off your face."
Weiss pushed back at both women, cheeks puffing and arms trembling at the effort. Neither budged for all her insistence but they did step back, both looking at her bewildered as she stood between them.
"If we're quite finished picking fights with each other…" she growled, glowering at Vernal before staring at Yang. "We have people to find. And perhaps, if someone is so inclined…" Weiss took a deep breath, put on her friendliest front, turned to Vernal and smiled. "She might be willing to help us find them…?"
"Pay me."
Yang's arms slung around her middle and Weiss kicked and flailed, lashing out at Vernal and missing every time. "Pay you?! Pay you?! I would sooner throw myself into one of the bonfires than do such a thing! You leech!"
Weird that she'd been told she wouldn't make it in the courts. She had the bearing of a noblewoman… Sometimes.
Vernal sniggered and waved her staff in Weiss' face. "Oh? Then I guess you don't want to know where your friends are?"
"Weiss, what about not fighting?"
She twisted in Yang's arms and scowled, pointing at Vernal. "I've changed my mind! Yang, teach her some manners! Make her tell us!"
She was not in the mood for these games. Her stomach coiled and stress, like the rope around a ship's sail, taut and ready to snap. She just wanted to find her friends and leave this rotten cesspool already!
Pots and pans clattering to the ground drew everyone's attention from each other and towards one of the fires. One of the tribe's cooks shouted angrily, and Weiss had to admit for as crude as the woman's language was her ability to colorfully string insults together was commendable.
Then she saw Ruby bowing repeatedly, face bright as her cloak as she apologized profusely.
Nevermind. The woman was a dullard and a brute and the Grimm could turn her into a chew toy for all Weiss cared.
"Ruby!"
Weiss squeaked and nursed her side, puffing up. Yang raced to her sister. The cook toppled over as she was pushed aside and Ruby devolved into a mess of flailing limbs as her sister lifted her off her feet, swinging her around in a hug that might break a lesser person.
Judging by Ruby's slowly paling face it was probably close to that.
Weiss glanced at Vernal as she laughed. "She's got the attention span of a gnat, doesn't she?"
While not inherently wrong she was reluctant to agree with anything the uncouth woman said. "She's excited to see her sister," Weiss deflected, smiling as she watched the pair chatted animatedly.
"That right? Can't imagine why. Rose is a sorry little thing."
"Excuse you?" Weiss turned, hands on her hips. A dull throb behind her eye made her grit her teeth and her breath hitched in her chest. She ignored it. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what I said, Schnee." Vernal slung her staff between her shoulders and looped her arms around it. "You two done?"
Ruby smiled bright seeing Weiss and rushed over, stopping short of tackling her when Weiss pointed to her ribs. The brunette collided with her gently and hugged her tightly, burying her face against Weiss' neck.
"I'm so glad you're okay!"
All this blood rushing to her head couldn't be good for her. Weiss stammered incoherently, eyes darting to Yang for help and finding none. She held Ruby's shoulders and managed a wavering smile, then closed her eyes and embraced her partner fully, nostrils filling with Ruby's peculiarly sweet scent as hair smothered against her face.
"I'm glad you're well too... "
"See, isn't this just nice?" Yang laughed and slung an arm around both of them and pulled them into a hug despite protests. "The gang's almost all here!"
Weiss gasped for air as she freed herself from Yang's clutches. "A-Almost…" she coughed, trying to tidy up her frayed hair. "We still need to find Blake."
The Meera had been worse off than any of them. The Grimm had done a number on their friend and having it cleansed had still left Blake distressingly ill. The fact Weiss hadn't seen her anywhere wasn't exactly reassuring either. Ruby's wide silver eyes didn't help matters, and neither did Yang's apprehensive smile.
"Your cat friend is fine," Vernal muttered, rolling her eyes as all three of them stared at her. "She's fucked up from that thing she had but they've got her on medicine. Relax. Raven's making sure she recovers."
Trying to be diplomatic Weiss smiled and bowed her head. "Thank you, Vernal. We appreciate your help."
"Not enough to pay us apparently."
Like a flower in autumn the little goodwill they had just begun to grow withered and died.
"Now that you're all here -" Vernal looked away and scowled, then yelled loud enough Weiss cringed and covered her ears. "You idiots! I said fucking practice blocking, not lunging! Do you have stones for brains?!" The Muran shook her head and scoffed. "Why am I the one stuck training the idiots…?"
"Looks like Raven wants to keep you away from her," Yang suggested with a smug smile. "Maybe you're not her favorite after all."
"Wanna bet, reject? How many hunting trips does Raven take you on?"
"Hey, she needs bait, doesn't she?" Yang jeered.
"You want to go?! I'll kick your -"
"Oh wow, look at that butterfly!" Ruby squeaked suddenly, grabbing Yang's arm and pointing at the innocuous insect. All three of them stared at it as it fluttered by harmlessly, befuddled by her outburst. Weiss glanced behind the Dimuran and gave her partner a thumbs up, mouthing 'thank you'.
"Look, just shut up and lemme say what I gotta say. I don't want to be doing this anymore than you lot do," Vernal grumbled, rubbing her head before inclining it back. "Raven's got your friend with her. Wanted to make sure no one messed with her on account of being in the Fang."
"But she isn't," Weiss argued.
"Tell that to the idiots around us. We don't exactly get along with those maniacs, Schnee. If one of them thought they could get away with sticking her in the ribs they'd try it." She smiled darkly. "Hell, they might still try. Worth it if it means killing one of those animals."
"B-But you won't let them do that, right?" Ruby paused then frowned. "And they're not animals! And Blake is our friend!"
Vernal waved a hand dismissively and rolled her eyes. "Raven said to leave her alone so I'm doing that. Just like I'm talking to you idiots on her behalf." She sighed, pointing towards the back of the camp with her staff. Or was it the front? "She's got your friend and she wanted to talk to you all once you were awake. Her tent's under the big birch."
Damn it. Weiss had half a mind to take Blake and just leave at their first chance. Fat chance of doing that now with the Meera in Raven's care. She probably did that intentionally, the witch. Using Blake as means to keep us around.
"Thank you, Vernal," Ruby said with a smile. "But you really should try to be nicer. Blake isn't a bad person -"
"She's an animal, and a wild one at that," Vernal interrupted.
"And our friend. And I don't like when people talk badly about my friends. Besides…" She glanced up at Yang and smiled, knocking her hip with her sister's. "Yang would totally kick your butt! I bet Weiss and I could too!"
Weiss facepalmed. Yang laughed and slung an arm around Ruby's shoulder, high fiving her. Vernal merely sighed and shook her head, twirling her staff as she wandered back over towards the group training nearby.
"Good job, Ruby! That was almost intimidating!"
The brunette whined and pulled Yang's hand away from ruffling her hair. "I can be intimidating! Weiss always says though you shouldn't meet aggression with aggression. It just makes things worse."
"Oh yeah," the Dimuran rolled her eyes and chuckled. "'Cuz she's been doing such a good job of that herself."
"I'm right here you know!"
"Kinda the point, Weissy!"
"Guys!" Ruby slipped out of Yang's embrace and clasped her hands together. "We can argue later, Blake's waiting for us!" And Raven, much to Weiss' chagrin.
Conceding to Ruby's point Weiss nodded once, pulling her tunic tighter as a chill ran down her spine. A brief flash of vertigo made her hold her breath and she held a hand up to keep her friends at bay, smiling reassuringly.
"Just some lingering effects of Spellcast Sickness, I'll be fine. Let's go check on Blake. With any luck we'll be done with this business at last."
Yang hummed and rolled her bandaged shoulder. "'Cuz we've had such good luck up until now, right?"
"We've done pretty well I think!" Ruby smiled and spun around, walking backwards as they carved through camp. "We're all here, aren't we? And we saved Plockton, and probably Ambrose, and loads of other towns too! I'd say we did good!"
"Well," Weiss corrected. "We did well." She smiled when her partner puffed up indignantly. "But yes, we did. And there will be plenty of time to celebrate when we get back to Vale City."
She couldn't wait to return, to enjoy a proper bed, a warm bath, and a good meal at Monty's Corner.
All that stood between them now was Raven and whatever nonsense she intended to push on them now.
The home stretch at long, long last.
Will we be welcomed?
Weiss' hands twitched and she pressed them hard against her thighs, forcing a smile.
Of course they would be.
/+/+/+/+/+/
Weiss had been told growing up that staring was rude. She hated being stared at. It was a mutual rudeness.
Weiss couldn't stop staring.
She'd expected Blake to be asleep and Raven to be… Well, whatever Raven did in her spare time.
Sipping tea and playing a game together was the last thing she'd anticipated. That the unlikely pair was so engrossed in their little match they didn't notice her arrival with Ruby or Yang was equally surprising.
Ruby shuffled beside her, opening and closing her mouth repeatedly as she tried to find words. Yang sniggered silently, then after shrugging at Weiss she leaned forward and cupped her hands around her mouth. "Helloooooo?"
Blake nearly toppled over, jumping where she sat and sneezing, ears standing on end before flattening. Yang howled with laughter and Raven sighed, moving her now spilled tea cup aside and using the carpet beneath her to wipe away spilled liquid. The woman shot her daughter an irate look before collecting game pieces and sliding them away into a small box.
"Most people knock before they enter someone's home," the bandit leader mumbled.
Weiss glanced back before raising an eyebrow. "Tent?"
"Point taken."
Well this was unexpected. And… Weirdly wholesome? Sure, Blake looked paler than a stark white bedsheet and about as hearty and hale as a leper but she was up and active… Sort of. The normally agile Meera moved with all the grace of a potbellied pig, swaying where she sat and hanging her head, coughing and pulling her blanket tighter around herself. Weiss had half a mind to offer a healing salve for whatever good it might do, groping blindly in her empty satchel.
Right. She'd used them all fighting Merlot.
"I know I told Vernal to send you to me but I expected you to take longer." Raven pushed the low table aside with her foot, clearing space in her already densely packed tent. "How are you feeling?"
"... You're talking to us, right?" Yang asked.
"No, I'm trying to speak to everyone outside the tent. Yes I'm speaking to you three." Raven deadpanned. "Unless you've forgotten how to speak?"
"Much to your chagrin, no, we haven't." The woman had the audacity to look disappointed. Weiss glanced at Blake and shared a small smile with her friend all while trying to not look too upset by how sickly she appeared. At least she's not contagious. I doubt Raven would have her if she was. "We've all recovered well thanks to your… H-Help…"
"Hm? What's that, Schnee?" Raven leaned forward and inclined her head, cupping a hand to her ear. "I didn't quite hear you."
"Thank…" Weiss hung her head and bowed rigidly to hide her embarrassment, thankful her hair was down to mask her obvious humiliation. "Thank you for your help…"
"Thank you…?"
"Don't push it."
"Eh, more than I'd expected from you lot." Seemingly satisfied the Dimuran sauntered over to the far end of her tent and retrieved a burlap sack. "Present for you girls, before we get started. I'd suggest keeping these from the Church."
From the sounds it made it was stuffed with paper. She squared shapes jutting out through the material suggested books. Or bricks wrapped in paper. Weiss couldn't fathom why anyone would give them the latter.
"What's inside it…?" Ruby leaned forward on her toes and squinted, as though doing so let her see through the material.
"Merlot's research, scraps we collected from his home. The bits and pieces I didn't need anyways." Raven smirked and dropped the bag at her feet. "I was curious about what he was trying and why. I have no plans on recreating it. Don't go getting any stupid ideas, I'm hardly going to terrorize Vale."
"Forgive me if I remain skeptical," Weiss quipped.
"Think what you want, Schnee. I didn't save your lives twice because I'm trying to conquer the kingdom." Raven sighed and sat back down, waving for the girls to join her. "Your friend isn't exactly mobile right now," she said, glancing at Blake as she coughed into her arm. "Sit down. We've got a lot to discuss." She paused then added. "Well, that depends on you girls, I suppose."
Weiss kicked aside bits of clothing and random odds and ends. Raven's tent was a complete disaster. Bits of armor and clothing strewn about, sheets of paper piled haphazardly in various spots. Her swords laid on her bed and a spare robe not unlike the one she wore hung on a post beside it. Other than that… Unmarked containers, cooking pieces, and varying sizes of bags cluttered her tent. It was enough to make Weiss feel antsy.
"What do you mean?" Weiss settled in her spot and frowned.
"I said before I'd give you the full story, didn't I? But I thought you couldn't handle it." Raven poured herself another cup of tea, replenished Blake's who drank it immediately, and offered more to the rest. Against her better judgement Weiss took the offering but didn't drink. "Still don't think you're ready honestly," she amended, sipping. "But chances are your worlds are about to open up quite a bit. Only fair someone gives you a warning."
"So… The floor is open to you four. If any of you have questions about anything at all I'll answer them." Raven took another drink before smiling. "Or you can leave and that will be that. You can return the city blissfully unaware aside from that little nagging voice in the back of your head asking, 'What if?' Your choice."
Truthfully? Weiss expected nothing more than insipid, baseless stories from Raven. More claims of what magic did, how the Church was wicked. More nonsense.
Yet she couldn't discount her own curiosity. Raven had mentioned Merlot's work surely to pique their interest. The woman smiled meaningfully at them and grabbed the bag of the doctor's works, sliding it closer before sipping her tea in silence.
Confound her. Yang leaned forward and stared at the bag with such fervor Weiss almost expected it to go up in flames. It didn't, much to her chagrin. Then Raven wouldn't have anything to lord over them.
Besides saving their lives. And contributing to Merlot's downfall.
She'd have less to lord over them.
"Merlot's research…" Weiss began, eyeing the bag before rubbing her clammy palms against her trousers. "What was he after?"
"Strength, in a manner of speaking. He was looking to create a human-Grimm hybrid." Raven answered simply. Much too candid for such an outrageous claim.
"Why?" Ruby pressed, her eyes inevitably falling on her sister. "What did he think that would do?"
"A Magi that never tired." Yang unfurled her fist and ran her bandaged hand through her hair with a tight smile. "Grimm don't tire. He wanted to find a way to stick that into people and make them basically impossible to wear down."
"He wanted to make soldiers loyal to him and him alone. The 'next step in evolution'." Raven made air quotes before spitting. "That's the gist of what I read anyways. He managed to get a proof of concept with Yang, but it looks like he never had a chance to do more. My guess? He started running around the kingdom using people as his test subjects."
Well that was disturbing. A man with so little regard for life that he'd willingly sacrifice entire villages to perfect some twisted experiment. Weiss shifted and licked her dry lips, tongue feeling heavier in her mouth. She sipped her tea, nearly spilling it as her hands trembled.
A monstrous man, but a man nonetheless. A man they killed.
Murderer.
We did it to protect the kingdom, Weiss argued back. With herself.
"I'm sure you girls could make sense of it, or at least you can, Schnee." Raven stared at her for a moment before going on. "Something about sealing and runes, bunch of shit I don't understand. Doesn't matter anymore really, bastard's dead and so is his work."
"How do you know?" Ruby glanced at Blake nervously. "Blake is going to be okay now? She's not infected?"
"Whatever Merlot did seems to have died with him. The healers couldn't find anything wrong besides looking like utter shit." Blake glared at Raven for that one. The woman smiled and shrugged. "Truth hurts, kid. Merlot's have more on it, but you can read those later. I'm not wasting my breath repeating it.
"So… She'll make a full recovery?" Weiss couldn't help but sound hopeful.
"Like I said, looks like whatever he did has come undone. Your friend here's clean," Raven said. "Though she'll be sick for a while yet. Healers said it did a number on her body."
Blake nodded and smiled weakly at them, trying and failing to speak. After a few pitiful attempts and only making raspy sounds she hung her head, sighed, and drank her tea instead.
That would mean Ambrose was now safe. Well, maybe not safe, not if there were still Grimm on the outskirts. Gods willing Coco, Fox, and Yatsuhashi were able to handle the hordes that had spawned. If they fell, then so too would Ambrose; nothing would hollow their victory more than knowing they'd ultimately failed to save even one town.
Trying not to dwell too much on unpleasant thoughts, and perhaps walking right into more, Weiss handed the sheets back to Raven. "What did he want with me, exactly…? I've heard repeatedly he wanted to have me work with him. He mentioned as much back in the fort." The concept of working alongside such a maniac made her shudder. "Any mentions of why that was?"
"Schnees are known for their ability to use runes. Even a bastard is skilled in them," Raven said, as if that news was the most obvious declaration in the world. "He probably wanted a protege, or at the very least someone to help replicate his work. That's just me taking a piss though. Whatever his reasons are likely lie in those papers," she nodded towards the burlap sack. "Or died with him. For your sake I hope it's the former."
"And you…?" Weiss asked hesitantly. "Why did you want me?"
It wasn't for more strength. Raven eclipsed them all in terms of power, dwarfed them in experience, and there was a legitimate chance so too did some of her subordinates. They had no idea how strong Vernal was, not really, and beyond a few others - mostly healers, they hadn't interacted with most of them. Nor was it for a ransom, or at least Weiss didn't think it was. Her family disowned her, and while the Church might try to negotiate for her return it could just as likely send Hunters to retrieve her instead… Or abandon her entirely if it wasn't worth the risk.
Raven took her time, pouring herself another cup of tea and offering more to them. Ruby took another cup willingly, Yang waved it off, having yet to touch hers. She seemed just as interested as Weiss in her mother's answer.
"Fair. I guess we'll start with why I originally wanted you." Raven leaned back and folded one leg over the other, smiling as she cocked her head. "I wanted to figure out a way to bring down wards around the city."
"I would never help you with that!" Weiss shouted. Blake cringed and she uttered a quick apology before looking at Raven aghast. "You're insane if you expected help with that."
"And you're an idiot if you think I wanted to watch the city burn."
"... Huh?"
She… Didn't? It was reassuring the others looked just as perplexed as Weiss did. Otherwise she'd have felt like an idiot for jumping to such a conclusion. Not that it was unwarranted.
"You have the wrong idea if you think I want that. I hate the Church. I could care less about the common urchin crawling through Vale's streets." Raven shook her head. "I wanted to learn a way to weaken the ward and stage attacks from afar. Show that their infallible defenses have weaknesses."
"So that's it? You just want to kill people?" Yang scowled. "Wow, real noble of you, Raven…"
"Hunters, and maybe the priest here and there. Anyone too blind to accept the truth," Raven corrected, smiling casually, like they were discussing the weather and not murder. "Take away some of the Church's pawns and weaken it. That's my job, after all."
"Your… Job?" Weiss stared in confusion, tried to speak once or twice, then shook her head. "What do you -"
"My tribe isn't the only group that hates the Church, girls. We're all cooperating, all playing our parts to undermine it. My particular area of expertise happens to be killing Hunters," Raven admitted with a predatory smile. "So, that's what I do. Wards though? Keep cities safe, make my job a hell of a lot harder. If I had a way to undo them though, or even weaken them? I'd have a much easier job now wouldn't I?"
An easier time murdering people.
You murdered Merlot, didn't you? You're the same.
"I did say I never claimed to be a saint," Raven went on, distilling the silence that had settled inside the tent. "Hunters who genuinely try to make Remnant better? It might be naïve drivel but I leave them well enough alone. They aren't hurting anyone. The ones who are so blind they refuse to listen to reason? The sort who hump their master's leg for a chance they'll be praised?" Did she really have to go with that analogy? Weiss grimaced. Raven grinned. "Zealots have no place on Remnant. I enjoy dealing with them, frankly."
"You're… You're actually a monster…" Weiss lamented.
Ruby fidgeted and hugged herself, looking up at Raven, torn somewhere between disappointment and unease. Yang continued to stare at her mother, lip curling back as she growled.
"You think this is funny, don't you? Killing people like this?"
"Funny? No, not really. Know what I do find funny though?" Raven leaned forward and cupped her chin, smiling as she raised an eyebrow. "You still haven't asked the important question. Why haven't I been set upon by the powers that be?" She waved her free hand about. "Why do I get to kill Hunters without having the whole kingdom come down on me? How do you imagine I managed to get someone like Hazel… Sorry, High Commander Rainart to work with me?"
Because Hazel Rainart was a traitor. Hazel used his position to protect his associate, and Raven could run around and kill indiscriminately. That, or it was because Raven was a lying, conniving, deceitful woman.
Except it wasn't a secret the Church and nobility didn't always get along. Weiss garnered a lot of hatred for her upbringing, but some of that was simply because she was a Hunter. Nobles loved to get into spats with the Church whenever they could. Even a fledgling Initiate could witness their regular confrontations in the city.
"You girls think the world is so black and white, don't you? That it's everyone against the Grimm." Raven laughed bitterly. "The worst threat Remnant faces isn't the Grimm, or bandits. At least, not just bandits. It's us. Murans. Ydrans. Dimuran. The people that make up this godsforsaken world" Raven dropped her hands in her lap and sneered. "Those wars the Church put a halt to all those years ago? They still go happen, they just happen behind closed doors."
"You mean to suggest the Church and kingdoms are locked in a proxy war?" Weiss couldn't fathom that. It made no sense. They were mutually beneficial, the kingdoms and the Church. One governed, the other provided protection. In return the kingdoms furnished the Church with wealth and prestige, celebrated its Hunters, and honored them.
Are we the bad guys in all of this…?
"What can I say? The hearts of men are fickle and egos trump everything else." Raven was one to talk, strutting around like a songbird too keen to show off its feathers. "The kingdoms held power for centuries, using Magi in their wars. Here comes the Church promising peace and a way to combat Grimm. Suddenly the royal families and nobility lose a bunch of their power and the people are divided. Is it so hard to believe they'd fight each other?"
"That's… There's no way they'd do that," Ruby protested weakly.
"Oh? And why do you suppose the crown pardoned Yang and Blake? Do you suppose they wanted to give you two back to the Church? Or is it because they planned to bring you two - who have no real allegiances, into their ranks?"
"Where do you fall into all of this then? Are you allied with the crown?" Weiss asked dubiously.
"Me? I'm my own ally, Schnee. I left it all to try and keep out of it." Raven snorted, looking aside idly and drawing a knee to her chest, draping her arm over it. "Easier said than done, clearly. I guess I agree with the Crown more, though it's still a lesser of two evils."
The Church and the Crown… Fighting? Now Weiss was positive Raven was feeding them lies. The two entities had a mutual relationship dating back almost a century now, perhaps even longer. Undoing that wouldn't just hurt both of them but the whole of Remnant. It would be the great wars all over again. And for what? Influence?
Pettiness was befitting of nobility as far as Weiss was concerned, but the Church? Ozpin?
What we've been doing is right. We protect people…
At what cost?
"Like I said, you do with this information what you will. I'm just the messenger here." Raven stood and wandered across her tent, prying open a container and retrieving dried strips of beef. "No takers? Fine, more for me."
A war between the two governing bodies on Remnant. It was absurd… Right? Petty squabbles between clergy and noblemen weren't a sign of impending strife. A difference in ideologies perhaps, but not a pretense for bloodshed.
The Church couldn't make laws, nor could it enforce any other than its own. They were excluded from partaking in wartime efforts - infinitesimally rare as those were, and while they held sway and magical prowess besides, they had little real influence on everyday life. That belonged to the nobles, the dukes, and the royal families.
Would the Church want to command that kind of authority…?
Weiss couldn't picture it. Ozpin sitting on a throne. He was much too humble, too gracious. He welcomed nobles, infuriating as they were, with open arms and worked alongside them. Then again, the same man had authorized a suicidal mission to send her and Blake to their likely deaths, hadn't he? And only by Hazel's intervention - which if Raven was to be believed, by the Crown's intervention, they were reunited and spared a gruesome fate.
She didn't want to believe a single word of it, yet she saw plausibility in the ideas. Her stomach knotted up and she licked her lips.
If the Church was waging war for more power, then did it not care about the people? Was all of Ozpin's talk of unity and cooperation just lip service?
Who were she fighting for? What was she fighting for? Who had they killed Merlot for? Why? Whose side was he on? What would happen to them when they returned to Vale?
Weiss felt her chest seize up and her breath stop with a hitch. Her hands shook even as she gripped her thighs to try and still them, nails digging into her flesh. Her throat felt like it was constricted, an invisible pair of hands throttling her, starving her of oxygen.
She was a Hunter. She fought for the Church. They killed Grimm and protected people. They were the heroes of Remnant.
They were the heroes.
… Right?
Weiss pushed Yang away when the blonde tried to grab her, shaking her head. Was Yang a product of the Church, the Crown, or something else entirely?
Why did the nobility hate her? What specifically about her upbringing made her so deplorable to so many? Was it because she was a Hunter? Or did it have something to do with this supposed war of theirs?
It was probably nothing. Raven was spouting more lies. So, why then did it feel like the world itself had been pulled out from under her? Despite sitting on solid ground Weiss felt weightless, her head empty, thoughtless as if she'd been pushed underwater. Her hands brushed against something rough, but she couldn't tell what, her sense of touch numb. She felt like she was going to burst.
The Church? A lie. The Crown? A Lie. Her life? A lie.
Everything was a lie.
A pair of arms wrapped around her and Weiss barely reacted, too busy clutching her own chest and trying to keep panic from spilling free. Ruby's voice, despite being right beside her, sounded so distant she strained to hear it.
"Weiss, Weiss, you're okay… You're okay…"
She wasn't. Not really. Rocking back and forth not of her own volition she let Ruby hold onto her, unsure if the trembling she felt was because of her or her partner. Probably both. Feeling Ruby's chest rise and fall against her back she struggled to match her rhythm, closing her eyes and clutching onto Ruby's hands like her life depended on it.
It was a slow, painful experience. Her heart which had seemed poised to burst from her chest gradually settled, an odd twitch in her face disappearing. Muscles untensed and she took shallow breaths, exhaling each time with a shuddering sigh. Slumping back against Ruby, who in turn had Yang to help hold her up, she kept her eyes closed until she was certain she wasn't about to scream, or lash out, or whatever illogical thing she'd been primed to do.
To her credit Raven said nothing of the display. She watched, red eyes both interested and sympathetic. Once Weiss felt able to sit without support, she glanced down at the cup of tea set before herself and lifted it with still trembling hands, closing her eyes and slowly sipping at it.
Blake's cough helped bring her back to the moment, setting down her up and glancing worriedly at the Meera. The ravenette wiped her mouth on the blanket around her and cleared her throat, blinking back tears.
"It… It makes… Sense… Kind of…"
Ruby whimpered behind her and Weiss realized her partner was still holding her. She placed a hand over Ruby's, squeezed it, and tried to reassure her partner as best she could from her awkward position. Any other time she'd probably have been beet red from being held. Right now she wasn't sure she'd keep a grip on sanity without it.
"Isn't so fun learning you're a pawn, is it?" Raven said. She smiled wistfully, looking down and plucking at the fur lining of her robe with disinterest. "Hard to get out of their little games too. They'll find you, one way or another."
"What the hell are we supposed to do then, huh? Just accept we're stuck in this?" Yang asked.
"Accept it? I never said that, did I?" Raven retrieved her sword from her bed, the green blade, brandishing it and putting the flat of the weapon against her palm. "The other reason I wanted you here, Schnee? To fix Yang. You, and no one else."
The latest bombshell dropped in their laps rendered them speechless. Raven's admission made all four girls stare at her dumbstruck, waiting for her to laugh, or admit she was stringing them along.
"The Church can use curing her as a bartering chip for loyalty. The Crown too. But you have Merlot's research, you share his magic. With enough practice you could undo what he did and save Yang." Raven smiled, pointing her sword at Weiss. "I'd rather owe a debt to you than the alternatives. Think about it, Schnee. We'd be even."
"You… Want me to cure your daughter…?"
"Did I stutter?" Raven chuckled. "I'm not without some compassion, children. I did save you after all."
"Are we supposed to pretend you didn't abandon us?" Yang muttered. Her shoulders sag and her head fell, taking a deep breath before looking up at Raven again. Her lilac eyes shimmered and she sat up straighter despite it. "Now you suddenly care?"
"Did you not listen to anything I said? I left to try and escape it all, Yang. And more importantly, to keep you and Ruby out of it." Raven scowled and threw her sword into a crate, blade piercing wood like wet paper. "Instead Tai encouraged you two to train and become Hunters like the fool he is."
"Dad…?" Ruby whimpered and Weiss took the chance to hug her partner instead.
"The Church and the royal families don't care about their people, or if they do, they have a real ass backwards way of showing it." Raven laughed. "Which I get is ironic coming from me. But the point remains, girls; you've got groups like the White Fang, the Conglomerate, and like mine, fighting for scraps and trying to keep our heads above water. You can pick a side and deal with the consequences…"
Raven pushed the bag of Merlot's research forward with her foot. "Or… You can figure things out yourselves. Maybe you kids can figure a way to fix this mess that we haven't been able to. Hell, you certainly can't do any worse. Gods know you can't do any worse."
"... But… How do we fight… The Church? And the kingdoms…?" Blake coughed, her throat rasping painfully. She chugged her remaining tea and rubbed at her neck.
"You don't. At least, not the four of you alone. Plenty of people would kill to have a Schnee on their side, even a bastard. The Church has most of your family, girl. The Crown seems to want you for themselves. Hells, Merlot did kill for you." Raven folded her arms and rolled her neck before sighing. "You've got a choice. Pick a side or figure things out for yourselves. And not to rush things but you're probably running out of time to decide."
Outside of Raven's tent people began to shout. The sound of flames erupting roared through the camp, then promptly went silent. Vernal called for people to stop and as swiftly as the shouting began it fell silent. The bandit leader stared at the flaps of her tent before chuckling.
"They'll kill us, you know, if they find out we're even considering leaving or betraying them." Weiss shuddered. "All of this is… A bit much."
"They might kill you, sure. But then again they seem to have a poor track record of killing their problems." Raven grinned and spread her arms. "I'm here." She pointed to Yang. "She's here. Merlot survived until four scrappy women got the better of him. The Church isn't invincible, just damn close. Plenty of people get away from them. Plenty of 'dead' folks resurface."
Ruby gasped and pulled against Weiss' arms. "My mom!" she exclaimed, eyes wide, hopeful. "You were friends with her, right?! Do you know what happened to her? Dad doesn't, no one does! No one tells me anything other than she died!"
Beyond the tent a few men and women cursed, spitting insults. Bottles smashed as they were thrown and Vernal shouted again. The voices were coming closer and closer.
Raven lowered herself into a squat before Ruby, smiling as she glanced again at the exit. "According to the Church? Dead. According to everything else I've found…"
The flaps of the tent opened and Vernal rushed inside, red faced and frantic. Behind her a tall figure in a cloak strode inside, thin and dressed in dark clothes. A greatsword hanging off his back caught Weiss' eye, and the familiar shock of gray-speckled black hair beneath the hood made Weiss' jaw drop.
"Who can say?" Raven smiled innocently and rose to her feet, her smile widening into a taunting grin as she walked around the girls towards her brother, lifting her chin to meet his eyes. "Qrow, how good of you to join us. I see you got my letter."
"Shut it, Rae. You know why I'm here." Qrow's eyes roamed over the tent before settling on Ruby and Yang both. He brushed his sister aside and Weiss had the courtesy to release her partner, moving back as Qrow pulled both girls into tight hugs.
Raven gestured to Vernal and the young woman left in a hurry, though not before glaring a hole through Qrow's back. "I've got some things to attend to, you enjoy your little..." She rolled her wrist and sighed. "Whatever this is. I'll be back before long, dear brother."
Qrow ignored her. Ruby and Yang were too busy burying themselves in Qrow to respond. Weiss glanced at Blake uncertainly, sharing a shrug, before looking at the lanky man again.
He was a Hunter, right? Loyal to Ozpin and Ozpin alone from what she remembered. He was Ruby and Yang's uncle, and yet…
Could they trust him? Could they trust Raven?
Could they trust anyone beside themselves?
"Clock's ticking, Schnee," Raven sang on her way out.
Weiss glanced at the bag of Merlot's research again and swallowed. She doubted they'd find answers to Raven's latest wild story inside, but maybe it would be a start?
What was even happening in Vale? In the other kingdoms?
Suddenly she missed Merlot. One man was easily dealt with. But entire kingdoms? The Church?
Weiss wasn't a fan of this new world of theirs. Sometimes ignorance really was bliss.
Good to know the Grimm aren't the only enemy! Just a casual war between this world's equivalent of the Academies, the royal families and their armies.
Those moments of people hating on Weiss seemed pretty isolated, didn't they? That miiiight change in the coming chapters ;)
Hopefully I did an okay job of hinting at this rift in prior chapters. If not... Well can't say I didn't try!
Thanks for reading as always you lovelies, and until next chapter...
Stay beautiful!