Here we go.

Cover Art: Z-ComiX

Chapter 91

It was the lethargy that kept Ruby down more than it was pain or grief. The latter was short, raw and already growing cold; as much as she wished she could give everyone the grieving they deserved, her body couldn't give any more. Laid on Jaune's bed, Ruby stared at his pillow and his sword resting up against the wall nearby. Her limbs felt heavy; her mind felt dull; her stomach rumbled in need for food, but she didn't want to get up.

Didn't want to face anyone.

She'd heard from behind her the conversation Jaune had with Weiss in the doorway – heard Weiss' concern for her, the apology and even Jaune threaten to face down Goodwitch if she came down. It should have prompted more of a reaction from her than a tired sigh and a tightening of her body into a ball around Jaune's bedsheets.

"Was it a good idea to threaten Lady Goodwitch like that?" Sun asked. "I know you can't be affected by her magic but she could have hundreds of people drag you out by your elbows if she wanted."

"If she wants to cause a scene and humiliate herself." Jaune's heavy footfalls echoed across the room. The bed she was laid on flexed as he settled his weight down behind her. He didn't touch her, not for a few seconds, but soon a tentative hand came to rest on her arm.

Ruby didn't throw it off.

"Weiss sounded apologetic."

"Not now, Sun." Jaune hissed.

"It's okay." Ruby's voice was quiet even to her ears. Small and frail. The hand on her arm rubbed her soothingly and she buried her face into the sheets. "It… It's okay," she repeated. This couldn't be her home for the rest of her life, nor even the rest of the week. Jaune and Sun had been great to put her up but they had their own lives to live. "I… I know she didn't mean it. I lashed out."

"As you had right to," Jaune said.

"I didn't. Not at her. She didn't know-"

"Even if she didn't know what her actions would do, she shouldn't have been so insensitive when you were clearly unwell. It's not a crime," he added, pulling the sheets over her, "But it is something for her to apologise for. As she has."

"Come on, man. Don't you think you're being a little harsh?"

"Sun…"

"I'm not trying to be mean. It was an accident, yeah? This whole Grimm situation is a tragedy and what happened to the slums is worse, but Weiss and Ruby are the best of friends. Or were. It'd be a crime to lose that because someone said the wrong thing, and no one wanted to face the other over it."

"That can wait for another day. If Ruby wants to stay here until she feels comfortable enough to confront Weiss, so be it."

Sun snorted. "You're coddling her."

"I am not! Ruby is my friend!"

"A good friend would want what's best for her."

"Who are we to decide-"

"Guys!" This time her voice was stronger. Louder. It made them stop. "I said it's fine," she grumbled. "I'll face her today. Tonight. I'm not… I'm not going to hate her. It was Weiss being Weiss; this isn't the first time she's said something stupid and made me want to kick her in the river."

"Good to hear," Sun said with a laugh.

Jaune was less amused and glared at his bunkmate. "Not the first time I've wanted to kick Sun in one either. Now is a perfect example. You just can't leave alone, can you?"

"If I could, we'd have never become friends in the first place," the faunus quipped, sitting on his own bed. "Mr Lonely and Broody High House Noble not wanting to make friends with anyone. Someone had to break through that frosty exterior."

Jaune? Frosty? Maybe it was because she couldn't believe it, or maybe she longed for the distraction, but Ruby slowly sat up and looked to Sun. He caught her interest and grinned, happy to oblige.

"You can thank me for him not being a complete asshole. When I first got here, being offered a bunk in his room was a hazing ritual. They threw the new guys in there to see how long it took for them to crack and ask to be moved back to the general barracks."

"Sun…" Jaune growled.

"And he was baaad! Believe me. Didn't talk; didn't react; didn't so much as look you in the eye. It was like dealing with a statue, except if you pushed too much, he'd let out this angry little huff and glare at you until you walked away."

"A shame it didn't work on you."

"Me? I ain't afraid of no statue." Sun puffed his chest out, making Ruby giggle. Jaune's head snapped down and he relaxed a little, letting Sun talk. "I saw the glares as a reaction. Made a game out of bringing 'em out. Helped I heard everyone betting how long it'd take for me to crack. I decided right then and there I never would, that I'd put up with this grumpy asshole for however long I needed." He shrugged. "Turns out I wore him down first, and that there was an actual human being underneath it all."

"I had my reasons for wanting to avoid entanglements."

"Entanglements?" Sun rolled his eyes. "Seriously? You make it sound like we're ploughing each other."

"Sun!" Jaune gasped, shocked.

Ruby burst out laughing.

"See? She gets it. Proper sense of humour there, unlike you."

"I have a sense of humour. I simply don't find myself amused by such crass jests."

The fact Ruby was still laughing made him huff and prod her side. She couldn't help it. Sun's earthier jokes resonated with her a lot more than they did a noble. The ones Jaune liked would have probably gone over her head anyway. It felt good to laugh. For a moment. Suddenly, it felt horrible. Evil. Unfair. Ruby tossed such thoughts aside with a violent shake of her head.

There was nothing wrong in trying to move on, nothing cruel in laughter. She wasn't laughing at the dead and being miserable for the rest of her life wouldn't help them any.

Nothing would. While she would have liked to say action would help, it wouldn't. While she would have liked to say they'd wish her to move on, they wouldn't. Those people had their own lives, hopes and dreams and they were dead and gone. They couldn't care less about her anymore, if they'd ever cared at all.

What really hurt, deep inside, was the idea that it could have been her and Yang. But for Blake coming along and picking her at random, but for her secretly being a Wildmage, Weiss Schnee would have unwittingly drowned them in the slums. It could have been their bloated faces staring up from pools of bloody water.

"Ruby." Jaune gripped both her shoulders, steadying her suddenly trembling body. "It's alright. You're safe."

"I… I need… a few more hours?" she begged of them both.

"Of course."

"Take as long as you need." Sun echoed. "I only said you should forgive Weiss and try to make up, not that you have to run headlong into it. Leave brave sir Jaune to fight off the waves of White Arcanists. We'll cheer him on from a distance."

"About to kick you in the river again, Sun…"

"As if you'd sully your noble boot with my plebian ass."

Ruby laid back down, closing her eyes and letting them distract her with their intentional bickering. It helped calm her down enough to let her fall into a deep slumber again.

I'll make up with Weiss and Pyrrha tonight…

/-/

"Well?" Lady Goodwitch demanded. "Where is she?"

Weiss dithered before the stern woman and the rather oddly dressed man lounging across the desk from her. Though his demeanour indicated extreme boredom, he seemed unnaturally alert, as if he were judging her every word while half falling asleep.

"Ruby is… Ruby isn't feeling up to this."

"I told you-"

"I know what you said, Lady Goodwitch, but Ruby isn't in the right mind for work right now." Weiss raised her head and stiffened her back, staring the woman in the eyes. "I apologise on her behalf, but there's nothing else to be done."

The man chuckled, saving Weiss the woman's ire and drawing it on himself. "You've heard it, Glynda. The girl is tired. Give her a little rest."

"The Grimm do not rest."

"No, but we do, and she's still a child."

"That child is an Arcanist. If she cannot deal with a little stress, then she clearly was not ready to become one. There is a reason most do not until their adult years. If I had my way, she would have been denied the rites until I could be sure she had a little more maturity in her. You all would have."

Weiss bit back on her complaints. It felt like she was being insulted as well for failing to collect Ruby, but Lady Goodwitch didn't understand. Or maybe she refused to. Either way, Weiss refused to budge.

"The Grimm don't rest but you have time to complain about people. Typical. You've hundreds of other Arcanists to call on. Why not spread some of the work around if it's that important?"

"Everyone is busy, Qrow. There is no one else." Glynda sighed and made a violent motion toward the man. "Lady Schnee, this is Lord Branwen, established Arcanist of the White and one of our lead investigators. He is also Lady Rose's instructor with regards to her career, as I am yours."

"Pleased to meet ya," the scruffy-looking man said. For some reason, she had the impression he approved of her. Worse, she could just imagine his weird attitude suited Ruby. "Glad to see the old biddy's replacement doesn't have a stick shoved up their ass."

Weiss flushed at the rude statement, unsure if she should consider it a compliment or not. "Thank you? Should I be here for this, Lady Goodwitch?"

"You may as well be. I intended Rose for this, but if she's going to laze around – and if you're going to cover for her – then perhaps you can put that energy to use and fill her role for her."

"O-Of course!" Anything to let Ruby get some rest. Maybe this would be a good way to start paying her back as well. "I'm at your command, Lord Branwen. Please take care of me."

He rolled his eyes. "Great…"

What did that blatant sarcasm mean? She was just being polite, and hadn't he complimented her before? It looked like any good will she'd earned had vanished just as quickly.

"Lord Branwen and Lady Rose were investigating the Grimm as you well know. What they discovered is something you will be sworn to secrecy on. If I hear you have revealed this, your punishment will be swift and ruthless. You may well face the Sanctum. Am I understood?"

The Sanctum!? Weiss shivered. "Y-Yes, Lady Goodwitch."

"Oh, stop scaring the poor girl." Lord Branwen interrupted, swinging his feet down off the table and leaning over to poke Weiss in the forehead with one finger. It was so startling that she stumbled back, wide-eyed. "Not everything has to be delivered as a threat."

Glynda frowned. "It's important she realise how serious this is."

"And she would if you told her it was serious. Give her a chance to impress you before assuming the worst."

Despite his uncouth behaviour, Weiss was grateful to Ruby's instructor for stepping in on her behalf. She could be trusted. If Lady Goodwitch said something had to be kept a secret, she would have kept it a secret. Now, she was anxious about the Sanctum and felt small and belittled for being threatened with it.

None of which she let show. Weiss kept her shoulders stiff and her back straight. Never slouch; never back down; always maintain eye contact. A true lady was firm and resolute, standing unflinching before the storm.

"I am a cynical woman right now, Qrow, with everything going on." Glynda sighed. "Very well. It has turned out that the Grimm are not attacking Beacon alone," she said to Weiss. "Through a little luck and some skill, Lord Branwen was able to determine that several Rogue Arcanists from Menagerie are working with the Grimm, either leading, steering or commanding them in some way."

"W-What? Is that even possible!?"

"It is. As I told you before, the White stands to prevent the disasters of the Mage Wars happening again. The Grimm – we believe – were created during those times as a weapon to be used against other magic users. Whether they went out of control or were set loose we do not know, but we know that they can, in theory, be controlled or influenced. We believe that is happening here. To what end, we don't know. Why would Menagerie Arcanists wish to destroy their home? Unknown. Why would they come here for us? Unknown. All we know is that they are involved."

"And that they are easier to deal with than an army of Grimm." Lord Branwen said. "Squishier. We don't know for sure if killing them all would make the Grimm leave, but it'd at least stop them gathering. It'd make this horde finite."

Weiss found herself nodding. If nothing else, robbing the Grimm of magical support would be a great boon. If they were commanding the attack as well then it would mean robbing the Grimm of any strategy. If they attacked in a wild mass, they could more easily be dealt with.

"Is that what you and Ruby have been doing? Killing them?"

Lord Branwen laughed. "One man and a fresh Arcanist? I think not."

"They have been hunting them," Glynda said. "Investigating them. If we knew where they were then nothing short of a hundred Arcanists of the Crimson and White combined would be sent to deal with them. Sadly, those Arcanists are needed on the walls to repel the next attack. That is why I am forced to use you and Rose for tasks like this," she said. "Every Arcanist is needed, no matter how fresh they are. I have too many empty positions as it is, and not enough experienced, combat-ready Arcanists to fill them."

"Can't we repeat the flooding?" Weiss asked. She felt Lord Branwen's eyes narrow on her and shrivelled up a little inside. Still, if the slums were empty now then there would be no more victims. "It worked once."

"There is not enough water for that. I had teams blocking the river for well over a month in preparation for this. There's simply no way to speed the process up and the meltwater won't come down until next year. There will be no second flood, though it is intelligent to ask."

"If we can move on?" Lord Branwen snarked.

"Hmph. Very well. Lady Schnee, you will be answering to Lord Branwen until such a time as Lady Rose gathers herself. Prepare yourself for a journey outside the walls, listen to his instructions and come back safe."

"Yes ma'am."

Weiss bowed to her and then to Lord Branwen, following him outside and away from the office. It was honestly a miracle that she'd managed to convince Lady Goodwitch to leave Ruby be, and she hoped it would be enough for her friend to recover. Enough to forgive her. In the meantime, she could take on a little of Ruby's work.

It's strange how seemingly important this is, and yet Ruby and I are being sent. Two brand new Arcanists. I get that there must be a lot of other things going on, but how much use would we be in a fight?

Lord Branwen was walking silently ahead of her. It didn't take a genius to figure out that he was unhappy with the new arrangement. Few were the nobles who liked changes, and her family was still something of a taint to their order. Weiss took a deep breath, intent on proving through action her merit.

"I just want to say, Lord Branwen, that I will do my utmost-"

"Enough of that." He stopped so suddenly that she almost collided with him. His reddish eyes were narrow and annoyed as he rounded on her. "None of this `Lord Branwen` business and no simpering. I'm Qrow. You're Weiss. Cut the bullshit and speak your mind."

Rude. Savage. Ruthless. All those words and more flashed through her mind and yet the only thing she could say – the first thing to come to her lips – was, "I see what Ruby means when she called you eccentric…"

Lord Branwen's eyebrows rose.

Weiss slapped both hands to her mouth. "I am so sorry!"

"Ha!" Lord Branwen – or Qrow, she supposed – threw back his head in laughter. "So, turns out there really is a person under all those layers of silk. Ruby called me eccentric, did she? Coming from her of all people."

"R-Ruby is an upstanding member of our order!"

"Is she?" he quipped. "The way she eats, the way she talks, the way she holds herself. Not exactly designed for fine company, is it?"

Weiss bristled and glared the rude man down. "That is my friend you are dismissing, and I will not stand for it! You may be my superior, but that does not mean I will let you get away with such slander!"

"That so?" He looked her up and down as if seeing her for the first time. "Maybe I misjudged you. Seems like you've got a bit of her in you as well. Maybe she's rubbed off on you. Or dragged you down into the mud with her." He laughed. "You'll do. In a pinch, anyway."

"I… well…" For the life of her she couldn't figure out if she'd been complimented or insulted. "I will do my best, Lord- Qrow."

"Better. And you will or we'll both of us be in danger. Goodwitch is right that we need to find the ones behind this, and she's also right that we can't spare any more experienced Arcanists for the job."

"Honestly, sir, I'm not sure what I or Ruby offer to this. What can we do that you cannot do on your own?"

"Take a message back." He turned away, motioning for her to follow. "That's your job – to run if I die and deliver a message of what happened back to the Collegium. One Arcanist to hold the enemy back, the other to return safely."

"That's… That's horrible…"

"It's necessary. The White doesn't falter and all that. This job isn't for the faint of heart, especially not now. If we're able to find where these people are operating from then that information is worth my life twenty times over. You bring it back here while I buy you time, and Glynda will lead a strike force herself to clean them out. That could end the war."

"Of course, it gets worse," he continued. "I'm here because I'm necessary. I'm the best at what I do. If I'm going to be taking someone along with me whose only job is to survive and run, why risk someone equally important? Why risk a combat capable Arcanist who could fight on the walls when we have new, fresher recruits like you and Ruby?"

Was he calling them expendable? Weiss bristled and opened her mouth to argue.

"Not saying I agree, girl, or that any of us want it to be this way. I just want you aware of what's going on. I'm not for the secrets and needless threats Goodwitch is."

"I… I appreciate that…"

"Good." He paused and sighed into his fist. "We're going outside the walls. I want you in something more realistic for travelling through forest. That means no robes, no skirts and no jewellery. If in doubt, go through Ruby's clothes and pick out the roughest, toughest set of trousers and tunic you can find."

Weiss frowned. "I know how to dress, sir. My sister and I have gone out riding many a time and I certainly didn't do that in a skirt."

"Then by all means, girl. Impress me."

/-/

Weiss meet Pyrrha at the bottom of their dorm and held her arms out for judgement. Clad in tight white hose riding pants and shin-high grey boots, her lithe form was clearly defined and almost scandalously shown off. Her modesty was protected by the coattails of a dark blue jacket that rode down past her bottom, open at the front with the Schnee snowflake emblazoned on the left chest, over her heart.

Beneath that, a well-fitted blouse hugged her small bosom and was tucked into her hose, belted tightly with leather and a silver clasp. Aside from the fine material, there was little to denote wealth. The outfit was designed to be ridden on horseback, so there was no loose cloth to get caught in tack of chafe when bouncing up and down in the saddle.

"How do I look?" she asked Pyrrha.

"Adventurous," the redhead replied. "Like you're ready for the cavalry charge. Are you really going out there? Past the walls?"

Weiss let her arms fall. "It would seem so."

"I don't like this. It's too dangerous. You hardly know any combat spells and you'll be a sitting duck for the Grimm."

Yes, but then that was what Qrow was for. And Ruby had been no better, she reminded herself. Ruby had known all this and gone out all the same, so Weiss could not back down.

"What will you be doing?" she asked.

"I'm still training people to fight," Pyrrha answered. "I should ask Lady Goodwitch to trade roles with you."

"It won't work." Pyrrha was too necessary. If she could teach ten people to fight better than that was more than Weiss could offer. "You have your duty and I have mine. I'll be fine. I need a favour from you, however."

"Ruby?"

"Am I that predictable?"

"Yes." Pyrrha smiled gently. "I'll talk to her if I see her and explain the situation. Is there anything you want me to pass on to her?"

"That I'm sorry," Weiss said without a moment's hesitation. "That I was callous and insensitive, and that I would do anything to take back what I said. That…" Her voice wavered. "That I miss her and wish she-" She bit her lip suddenly. "No, forget that last part. Don't tell her that. Just say I'm sorry and I'll be back soon."

"I'll tell her." Pyrrha stepped forward and brought her into a warm hug. "Good luck, Weiss. Come back safe."

"I'll do my best."

My cat caught a bird last night and I had to spend a full thirty minutes caring for it before it would fly off. Poor thing was in complete shock and letting me handle it however I wanted. Cats can be such bastards at times. I know it's instincts and all, but it's a surprise just how mine can go from laziest thing alive that won't play, won't run and won't move unless carried, to playful killing machine taking sadistic joy in torturing an animal to death.

Next Chapter: 13th June

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