Vernal

Raven was late.

Raven was never late. That meant something had gone wrong. Vernal looked over everyone that was at the rendezvous point. Aside from Raven, they were still missing around five or six people. The tribe never bothered to go looking for someone if they went missing, it went against the very laws of the world.

The strong survived and the weak perished.

If you weren't strong enough to manage on your own during a raid, then that simply meant you were too weak. The Grimm would arrive soon with all the negative energy that was coming from the remnants of the destroyed village. They would have usually just left whoever didn't show up in time behind, but this was the first time that Raven didn't show up.

Did the rule still apply to the leader of the tribe?

"Bah. I'm not waiting around for the Grimm to show up." Oliver grunted as he stood up. "I'm heading back to the tribe."

Others among the tribe's warriors seemed to share similar sentiments. Vernal bit her lower lip. They were well within their rights to leave. Under normal circumstances, she would have left as well, but this was Raven. What was the point of returning to the tribe without their leader? Someone else would take the crown, but she had no interest in serving under another leader.

As she watched more and more of the tribe's warriors pack their loot and leave, she grit her teeth and stormed back into the remains of the village.

Vernal would not leave Raven behind.

Corpses littered the place. Vernal didn't have any qualms about killing, but sometimes some of their fellow tribe members went too far. Killing was simply a necessity for her, but to some members of their tribe, it was more like a hobby. Something that they did for fun, for sport.

She never did get along with those people.

As Vernal made her way towards the front gates of the village, she heard someone talking. Slowing down to lighter footsteps, she quietly made her way closer while staying hidden behind some rubble.

"-nd why should I help you?" That was Raven's voice! "You killed four of my men."

"Oh please, Raven. Let's not pretend that you actually cared about those nobodies." Another voice said. "You can't tell me that as a bandit, you never expected something like this to happen. It's just a part of the game."

Vernal peered over her hiding spot and saw a black-haired boy squatted down on the ground next to Raven with his hands hanging limply over his knees. She recognized him from the description that the twins gave from their scouting report. Heavy armor, youthful appearance, a real wannabe knight alright.

"… The vault's heavily guarded." Raven eventually pointed out. "How do you plan on breaking in?"

The boy just laughed in response.

"Break in? I'm walking through the front door. You think Leo and his lackey's can stop me?"

"You'll be making an enemy out of Ozpin."

The boy just shrugged. "I'm not too worried about the old wizard."

"What's your endgame then?" Raven asked. "Why do you want the relic so bad?"

"Isn't it obvious?" The boy tilted his head. "I'm going to kill Salem and the Relic of Knowledge is the first step in that process."

…

Just what the hell was this conversation? Vaults? Relics? Wizards? Salem? Raven had never mentioned anything about those things to her.

"… You're being serious here?" Raven tentatively questioned.

"Do I look like someone that would lie about this?" The boy questioned back. "Ozpin's 'strategy' hasn't been working, so I might as well try something new."

"Then you should know that Salem can't be killed."

"Guess I'll just have to prove you wrong then." The boy simply replied as he stood back up. "Look Raven, I'm not asking you to help me for free. You help me out, I'll help you out. A favor for a favor."

Raven just snorted in response.

"I'm surprised, you're not going to force me into opening the door for you?"

"You and I both know that would be pointless. It wouldn't be hard for you to open a portal and run halfway across the continent as soon as the opportunity presented itself." The boy dryly replied. "I could kill you right now and find the next maiden to open the door for me, but that would just be a colossal waste of time for no reason. I'd rather not do that, but if you don't want to help…"

Vernal felt her shoulders tense.

This bastard thought he was going to kill Raven? She wouldn't allow it. Vernal quietly pulled out her Chakram blades.

"Tch, you make it sound like I have a choice." Raven grunted. "Better you than Ozpin, I suppose. At least you're straightforward with what you want. That favor isn't going to be cheap."

Vernal paused. Raven had agreed to it? No, she was being forced into it.

"Just name it." The boy casually replied. "If it's within my power to grant, I'll do it."

Vernal loaded in an aura piercing round, one that was designed to take down huntsmen, courtesy of the SDC. They were expensive, so she didn't use them often, but this was as good a time as any.

"I want protection. Since you already know about my Semblance, form a bond with me." Raven calmly stated. "I'll call for you whenever I need it."

Vernal lined up the shot.

"Fair enough. And whenever I need transportation, you open up a portal for me." The boy held out his hand. "We have an agreement?"

Raven warily eyed the boy's hand for a moment before she reached for it.

That was when Vernal pulled the trigger.

A resounding bang echoed through the remains of the town as the bullet struck home. The boy's head snapped forward as the bullet impacted against the back of his skull. He staggered for a brief moment, before he regathered himself and rubbed the back of his head, as if he had just been punched rather than hit by an anti-huntsman round.

Her jaw dropped.

What the hell was this guy's head made of? Titanium?

"Vernal!" Raven shouted with a bit of panic laced into her voice. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

Vernal was stunned for a moment. Why was Raven angry with her? She was just trying to help.

"What do you mean?" She shouted back, her temper getting the better of her. "That guy was threatening you!"

"Damn it, stand down Vernal!" Raven snapped, her eyes blazing with the spring maiden's power. "He's not someone that we can fight!"

"... Hey, I don't mean to interrupt, but…" The boy casually interjected. "It's not a big deal."

Raven just brought a hand up and began to message her temple.

"... You just took an anti-huntsman round to the back of the head, Charlie." Raven dryly replied. "And that's not a big deal?"

"Meh." The boy shrugged in response. "It stung a bit, but that was about it."

Vernal found herself at a loss for words at the absurdity of the entire situation.

Author's Notes- Taking some liberties with the world building here. Daily updates until my muse inevitably burns out. Reviews can help with that though!