And here's the next chapter.

Pyrrha hissed, gripping the log she sat on as Ren's tweezer's dug through her skin. He pulled a blood stained shard of glass free of her thigh, dropping it into the grass. She rubbed her arm; looking at the large scar the wood shard had left.

She looked up as the fire crackled, a log popping. Qrow was taking a swig from his flask, his shirt and coat missing, a large bandage wrapped around his stomach. The bandages were a dark red where the stinger had impaled him. Qrow's hands were shaking as he set his flask on the log, gripping the wood a moment later.

"So… these Maidens… they have special abilities, and can do things without using Dust or their semblance?" Ruby asked.

"Long and short of it, yeah."

"And there's four of them?" Nora asked.

"Yep. Always."

"And Ruby is…. Some kind of mythical warrior?" Nora asked.

"Yeah." Nora frowned, glancing at Pyrrha.

"And you tried to force Pyrrha into being one of these Maidens."

"No." Nora looked over at her. Pyrrha shook her head, Ren moving away, finished picking at her. "I made a choice. I thought it was my destiny to protect Remnant, to save our school. And I thought I could do that with those powers." Pyrrha snorted, shaking her head. "But I was wrong." Nora looked away, grumbling, crossing her arms.

"That woman. Tyrian. Why did she attack me? Why did she know you?" Qrow took a swig from his flask, his eyes closed.

"I was a spy," he said. "Ozpin had me infiltrate the enemy's inner circle, and keep tabs on their plans. The woman Tyrian works for, Salem, she hates the Silver Eyed Warriors; she's spent the better part of Remnant's history hunting down and wiping them out. When she got news that you not only existed, but were able to use your powers, she sent Tyrian out to find you. And kill you. I've been following you lot, trying to catch up, and get you somewhere safe before she could do that."

Nora stood up

"What is all of this? Ruby's being hunted by some crazy lady, our school was attacked over a fairy tale? Will you tell us what is going on?" Nora said. Qrow frowned, and motioned to the log.

"Take a seat, kid. You're stressing me out."

Nora frowned, but sat. Qrow sighed, rubbing the back of his head.

"When I joined this fight, Ozpin showed me a whole bunch of crazy shit I never would have believed was real. He was always vague on the details but… he did tell us that the Gods, and all of that, are all very much real. I know the Followers of Dust and the Ishvarian's have their own takes on this story, but I'm going to tell you the way I interpret it. I know a lot of sects in the Brother's Church like to say that the Faunus are just Grimm Spawn but my sect, and a lot of the older ones, know that's a load of shit."

"Remnant was created by two brothers; the Brother of Light, Surya, and the Brother of Darkness, Chandra. Surya was responsible for the oceans, the forests, the lands rich for farming. Chandra created the deserts, the tundra's, the volcanic islands. Satisfied with the lands they had created, Surya created animals, filling the lands, and seas, and skies with his creations. Chandra mimicked his brother, creating his own creatures. They were dark, and fearsome beasts."

"The Grimm?" Ruby asked. Qrow watched the flames, at the long shadows it cast.

"That's what we call them now. But… according to Ozpin, they're not the true Grimm."

Pyrrha's jaw dropped, her eyes widening. She glanced at the other's; she must have misheard, right? Ren's face was blank, Nora was staring at Qrow, suspicion in her eyes.

"Wanting to impress his older brother, Chandra made his own creation. He modeled them after himself, and gifted them the capacity for destruction. He named them, Grimm. The people of Grimm spread across Remnant, inhabiting many lands that Surya's animals found too harsh to survive in, and formed their own kingdoms."

"Not one to be outdone, Surya decided to make his own creation, modeling them after himself, and gifted them the capacity for knowledge. He named them, Humans. The Humans prospered in the lands that Surya had created."

"But as luck would have it, the Grimm and the Humans didn't like each other very much. So Surya and Chandra created something together, to broker a truce between the two. This new creation would have the abilities of the Grimm, and the will of the Humans. The Brothers named them, Faunus, and gifted them the capacity of choice."

"This didn't go the way the Brother's would have hoped though. Able to choose for themselves, the Faunus sided with the Grimm, pushing humanity to the brink of extinction. With humanity all but crushed, the Grimm and Faunus turned on their creators, entering the Domain of the Gods. The Brother's, sickened by the behavior of their creations, expelled them from their Domain, and took away their gifts, and gave them to humanity. Chandra, weeping at what he had caused, wiped out most of the Grimm, and gifted humanity the capacity to create, before he and his brother sealed the Domain off, abandoning Remnant."

"So what does this have to do with us?" Ren asked.

"Those gifts that the Brothers gave their creations? They weren't just a metaphor. Destruction. Knowledge. Choice. Creation. The gifts left behind by the gods are physical objects, bestowing its wielder with unimaginable power. If one were to acquire all four, they would have the power to rewrite reality; they would become a god."

"Humanity has spent a good amount of time fighting over them, and after the Great War, it was decided that they were to be hidden, and locked away in places known as Vaults. With the rise of the Hunters, it was decided that the Hunter Academies would become the home of the Relics. Outside of being hidden within a large fortress teeming with elite warriors, the doors to the Vaults were made so they would only open to the touch of a Maiden, ensuring their safety."

"So… where does Salem fit in? Who is she?" Ruby asked.

"She's the Last Queen of the Grimm; a survivor of Chandra's purge. She wants the Relics so she can bring her people back. And wipe out humanity. It's in our best interest to make sure she doesn't get her hands on any of the Relics, or any of the other Maidens."

Blake leaned against the railing, chewing on her lip. She looked over when she heard one of the door's slide open. Blake smiled at her mother as she came walking up, carrying a tea tray.

"You know you can go say hi, right?" Kali asked. Blake looked at His door, and shook her head.

"I'd just be bothering him." Blake said. Kali cocked an eyebrow.

"A father always has time for his daughter." Blake rubbed her hand over her ribbon.

"I don't think all of my friends would agree to that."

Kali held out the tea tray. Blake cocked her head to the side as her mother forced it into her hands.

"What? Where are you going? Mom?" Kali stopped at the doorway, and looked back with a mischievous grin.

"You never were very talkative growing up. But you also never failed whenever we threw you in the deep end."

The tea tray shook, her hands trembling as the door slide shut.

"Kali? Was that you? Did you need something?" Blake swallowed, trying to steady her hands. She took a deep breath, exhaled, and went to the door.

Ghira adjusted his spectacles, reading over the documents the Albain twins had given him upon their arrival. He pinched the bridge of his nose; not even the High Leader anymore and still have to deal with so much paperwork.

He looked up, taking his spectacles off as he heard the door open.

"Um. Hi. Dad." Blake said, walking into the room. She had a tea tray with her. Ghira smiled.

"Blake. Well this is a pleasant surprise." He stood up, motioning to the plush purple couch. "Come, please sit." Blake hesitated before smiling at him and going to the couch, setting the tray onto the table.

Ghira went to the plush chair, scooting it up close to the table. Blake reached for the tea pot, Ghira placed his hand overtop it.

"Please, allow me." Blake gripped her knees, her bangs falling onto her face.

"If I'm keeping you from work, I can-"

"Nonsense, I've been cooped up in here all day." He poured two cups, setting his down. He reached for the sugar, placing a cube into Blake's cup. She had always loved her tea so sweet when she was younger. He began to stir it, watching the sugar dissolve. "You still like sugar in your tea, right?" he asked. Blake looked at the sugar, his heart dropping at the brief disgust in Blake's eyes. Blake forced a smile, nodding.

"I'll drink it," she said.

He handed her the cup. She took a sip, grimacing for a second before smiling at him.

"It tastes… great. Thanks, dad." Ghira sighed, picking up his own cup, taking a long sip.

"I'm sorry, Blake. I should have asked how you liked it first." He looked into his cup, at the bronze liquid. "I remember when you were so young, you loved drinking it with so much sugar. I thought you might have still liked it that way."

Blake was quiet. He blew on his cup before taking another sip. He perked up when he heard her sniff. He looked over at her, catching her wipe at her eyes. His lips parted.

"Blake? What's wrong?" Blake's hair covered her face, she sniffed again.

"Why? Why are you sorry?" she asked. Ghira rose from his seat, moving to the couch, sitting next to her. Blake turned away, her face obscured. "How can you still love me? After everything I said to you?"

"Blake…"

"I called you a traitor, a coward. And I thought that you must have hated me, when you yelled at me." Ghira wrapped his arms around his daughter, feeling her tremble. She hiccupped.

"I've never hated you," Ghira said.

"You should." Ghira tightened his grip, squeezing her shoulder.

"Your mother and I have always loved you, Blake. I knew that you were just angry. I shouldn't have yelled at you." He began to rock her. "There was not a day that went by that I wasn't afraid I had forced you away forever. That you would think that you had no home to come back to. That you didn't have a family who cared about you." Blake hiccupped.

"You were right. I should have left the White Fang with you and mom. I shouldn't have run away with Adam." She embraced him, burying her face in his chest, her tears running down. "The things he made me do. I've… I've done so many horrible things. He.. he" Ghira stroked her hair as she sobbed.

"It's okay, Blake. It's okay."

"It's not! How can you forgive me? I'm a coward. I'm a murderer."

"Because you're my daughter. You were led astray, Blake. And you had the strength to turn away from that path. You came back, you fought your demons every chance you were able to. You're strong, Blake, and courageous. Very few people are able to do what you've done."

Blake broke the hug, sniffling, and wiping at her eyes. She looked at the blue ribbon on her arm, smiling.

"I didn't do it alone," she said. Ghira nodded.

"You didn't. And you never will." He glanced at the ribbon, looking at Blake's face; the faraway longing in her eyes. He cocked an eyebrow. "I've been meaning to ask. What was it like, living in Vale with that team of yours? Why did you decide to come here, and not help rebuild after the Fall?" he asked.

Blake hesitated, grasping the ribbon before sighing.

Ghira looked up as the door slammed open, Sun jumping into the room.

"Yo, Blake, I-!" he paused, looking at them. He nervously rubbed the back of his head. "I'm interrupting something, aren't I?"

Ghira sighed. Blake scowled, her ears pinning back.

Nora glowered at Qrow.

"So, let's just say any of what you've just said is true. Why don't more people know? The Great War wasn't that long ago."

"You think the Relics would just be common knowledge? Like they wouldn't be kept a secret that only those who had the money and power to try and acquire them would know about? You've been on the road for what, seven months now? I'd thought you'd have figured out how things work outside the Walls of the Cities." Nora frowned as Qrow motioned with his flask.

"We're in the modern age and it's still a kill or be killed world outside of the Cities, kid. Some poor beggar in a town in the middle of bumfuck nowhere wouldn't know anything a hundred years ago, and they're not gonna know anything now." Nora got to her feet, snarling.

"Don't talk to me like that!"

"Then don't say stupid shit. If the whole world knew about the Relics, Maidens, and Salem, there would be complete and utter chaos. We'd be in a situation even worse than the Great War. You wonna be stuck fighting in that? I sure as hell don't."

"T-this is-!" She heard Ren get to his feet, feeling him grab her shoulder, a pink glow in the corner of her eye.

"Nora, calm down." She swatted his hand away, turning to face him, shoving a finger at Qrow.

"No, I won't calm down! This is bullshit!" She looked at Qrow. "How can you expect me to believe any of this? That what, magic, and gods are real? That my friend died over a stupid fairy tale!"

"Enough!" Pyrrha shouted, springing to her feet. Nora frowned.

"I won't pretend like I know what happened to you that night, Pyrrha, but none of this makes sense! How can any of that be real! The Grimm weren't people! They're just monsters! How do we know that woman, that Tyrian, wasn't just some White Fang assassin? They're the ones who attacked our school, right?"

"Kid, liste-"

"Shut up!" Nora shouted. "All of this is your fault! If any of that stuff is true, you're the reason why our school got attacked! You're the reason why Jaune is dead!"

Nora grunted in pain, Pyrrha's fist slamming into her face, hurling her to the ground.

"Guys! Don-!"

Nora growled as Pyrrha grabbed her by her jacket, hoisting her into the air, her feet dangling as she was brought eye level with her. Pyrrha sneered.

"It's not their fault. It's nobody's fault but my own. Everything he's told us, I've seen. I let him go with me; I knew I would die up there. Jaune's blood is on my hands, not his." Pyrrha's gaze softened. "So please calm down, and blame the person actually responsible."

Nora frowned, wrenching free of Pyrrha's grasp, grunting as she hit the grass. She scowled up at the taller woman.

"If it's all real, why didn't you tell us, huh?" she looked over at Ruby. Ruby was standing near the fire, playing with her hands as she watched them, her silver eyes bright in the darkness. "Why didn't you tell us any of that, leader. Why couldn't you trust Ren and I enough to let us in on it? That you and her some amazing mythical heroes."

"I… I didn't want to burden you two. I didn't know about the Maidens, and Pyrrha didn't know about my eyes. I wanted to keep it to myself, I didn't want any of you worrying about me, or thinking I was different then you." Nora snorted.

"Well look what good came from that." Nora said.

"Kid, can you do me a favor and please shut the fuck up." Nora frowned at him, at Ruby, and Pyrrha as they watched her. She shoved past Ren, the fire's light fading.

Ren tried to follow, grunting as he felt someone grab him. He looked back. Pyrrha had grabbed his wrist, shaking her head.

"She needs to cool off. Let her go for a moment." Ren looked back at his partner, watching her sulk in the nearby trees. He could hear her grunting as she punched one of the trees. He sighed, taking his seat on the log.

"So… do we have a plan?" Ruby asked. Qrow laughed, and took a swig from his flask.

"Nope." Ren stared at the man in confusion. "I was mostly focused on getting you to safety, maybe even finding a way to make sure you didn't get involved in this mess. But since you decided to run away from home and walk all the way through Anima, that part can't be helped." Qrow rubbed his chin. "Haven is Salem's next target. But with me no longer looking for the Spring Maiden, I don't know if she'll divert her attention to try and secure her first like she did with Beacon. If so, we could have a few years to prepare."

"And if she doesn't?" Ren asked. Qrow shrugged.

"Then she'll crush us like an ant." He took a swig. "I have a pretty good idea where the Spring Maiden is. If we head to Mistral City and warn Headmaster Lionheart, we may be able to use it as a base and try to hold out until the mess in Beacon is fixed. Headmistress Goodwitch is, well, you know how she is. But even that shit show will take a while to clean up." Qrow got to his feet, grabbing his shirt and coat and slipping it on. "Alright, I think it's time for you kids to get some rest. We got a lot of ground to cover tomorrow."

"Uncle Qrow?" Ren looked over at Ruby. She was staring into the fire, hesitating before looking up at her uncle. "When you showed up, you said, 'She won't take her too'. And said that Salem hates people with Silver Eyes. Did…" Ruby took a breath. "Did she kill my mom?"

Qrow was quiet, clenching and unclenching his hands.

"Do you know what your mom used to call me when we fought together?" Qrow asked. Ruby shook her head. "She used to call me her bad luck charm." Qrow chortled, the sound cold. "My semblance isn't a lot like others, Ruby. I bring misfortune to everyone around me, even the ones I love. I was beginning to work as a spy for Ozpin, and your mom and I got into a bit of a fight. After that your mom decided to cut all the secrecy crap and just go after Salem directly. That was the mission she left home for, all those years ago." Ren heard flapping, and the cawing of a raven. "Salem likes to work in the shadows, she rarely ever gets her hands dirty herself. So to answer your question, no, she personally didn't kill her. But a member of her inner circle did."

"Do…do you know who did it? Were… were you there for it?" There was another cawing, Qrow looking to the trees. He shook his head.

"I wasn't, and I don't know who did it. I was doing a job for Salem, and got back to find your mom's body. I managed to sneak it out, and bring it back home." Qrow closed his eyes, leaving the camp. "I'm pretty tired. Get some rest."

Ren watched him for a moment before looking at Ruby. Ruby was watching her uncle, an emotion he couldn't place swirling in her silver eyes. Ruby sighed, closing her eyes, and looking away.

Blake crossed her arms, cocking an eyebrow.

"What. What could be so important that you had to interrupt." She asked.

"That brand on your arm, only one branch of the White Fang did that right?" Sun asked. She frowned.

"That's what was so important."

"No! Well, kinda." Sun shook his head. "Neptune and I were down at the market the other day, and he noticed some girl had the same branding on her hand. She was trying to hide it with a glove."

"So?"

"So? So? Don't you think that's suspicious? What if she was sent here by that Adam guy." Blake rolled her eyes. Sun frowned.

"There are plenty of people here who used to be with the Fang. It's-" Blake's ears perked up; she looked aside, into the darkness of the trees.

"What is-" She held up a hand, squinting. A dark figure clung to one of the trees, a mask obscuring their eyes. The figure leapt from the tree, latching onto the one next to it.

Blake jumped onto the ledge, leaping from it and onto one of the tree's, grunting as she landed. The figure jumped to the nearest tree, barely grasping it before jumping to the next one. Blake grit her teeth, and chased after them.

Ruby's eyes slowly opened, covering her mouth as she yawned. Dawn's light was trickling through the leaves, dew coating the grass. Ren was folding his bedroll up, Pyrrha groggily getting to her feet, her tank top contorted, her armor laying in the grass. Nora was fiddling with the dead fire.

Ruby bolted upright, her eyes widening as her uncle started violently coughing. He was slouched against a tree on the outskirts of their camp. She got to her feet, running to his side as another coughing fit began. She stopped next to him, dread shooting through her.

He was drenched in sweat, his clothes wet and sticking to him. The veins on his arms had begun to turn a sickening purple, the spot where he had been stung was a purplish brown; the nauseating color staining his shirt and coat. Ruby fell to her knees as her uncle fell onto his hands, his body rocking and trembling as another fit hit him. Thick, violet mucus splattered against the grass.

Qrow wiped his lips, his hands trembling as he looked at the purple phlegm.

"Well," he looked over at Ruby, terror in his eyes as he forced a smile. "That's not too good now is it?"

Next up is Yang's last original content chapter for this Volume!