Chapter 3

Their camp didn't look like much.

Maybe a dozen camouflaged tents were scattered beneath old trees, serving to let them sleep in some degree of comfort. Eating and working was done more in the open, with large tarps spread between branches to provide shade and a bit of protection from the rain. It was nothing like their main headquarters in southern Anima, that facility a full blown base hidden inside of a small mountain, but then this little camp wasn't supposed to be anything like that.

One of the downsides to being considered terrorists meant you had to travel light, and travel often. It had been that way in Ghira's day as well, even when they'd been peaceful activists, before Atlas had declared them an illegal organization and Mistral had quickly followed suit. It was best not to give the humans and their vigilantes an easy target, a place they could focus on. Better to be ready to move fast and quiet when you needed to avoid trouble.

Back then Ilia had wondered every night if what they were doing was actually working. If real change for the Faunus would come, if one day they would be accepted instead of being cast out.

She still wasn't sure... but there had never been a day under Ghira that felt like this one. No day of picketing, no amount of letter writing, no halfhearted interviews with reporters could ever come close to matching the feeling that action could bring. That victory could bring. Even with the weight in her chest from what she'd done, the empty feeling in her stomach, it still felt... it felt so good to see the smiles of those workers.

Everyone else seemed to agree, because the camp was positively bursting with noise and happiness.

Trucks were parked haphazardly where they could fit between the trees and tents, without even a token effort to hide them. Those few who'd even tried to do so had been mobbed almost at once by the thirty or so workers who'd decided that leaving with the White Fang was better than staying. The civilians were nervous but excited, laughing and hugging anyone they could get a hold of. Men and women alike gushed with gratitude, boasted of what their lives could be on Mengarie, slapping their new brothers and sisters on the back as they thanked them.

Sienna had more or less given up on giving orders, instead simply shaking every hand offered and laughing along with everyone else. A few token guards were set in case a Grimm wandered by, but the rest of their company was more than happy to celebrate their unqualified victory with their newly freed brothers and sisters.

"Look at them." Ilia smiled as she leaned against a tree, her spots glowing a dull but contented orange. "Yesterday they were people who didn't get paid enough to even visit Mistral, and tomorrow they'll be seeing the world."

Blake grinned back at her, "And they'll be going to a place that will welcome them."

"Not all of them." Adam said from his place on Blake's other side. He was the only one still wearing his mask, for reasons that both she and Blake fully understood. "I talked with a few of the younger ones, they want to join us. To fight for the others still trapped in other mines, or in worse jobs than that."

"Like we do." Blake said as she looked out at the crowd, missing Ilia and Adam exchanging significant looks behind her back. "Did Sienna say what the plan is before she got dragged into the crowd?"

Ilia coughed, spots dimming as her good mood fell. "Uh, we're leaving at first light, soon as we can get the trucks through the trees again. Half of the dust and all of the workers who aren't joining will drive straight south for the coast with an escort. Everyone else will be headed back to headquarters."

"Good." Her friend nodded before glancing between the two, her gaze lingering longer on Adam than on her. "Um, I made food for you both. If you're hungry. It's just soup but it's fresh and hot."

"That sounds good, we..." Adam paused, then sighed and shook his head, "The three of us needed to talk anyway."

Dark ears flattened as Blake's eyes narrowed. She gave both of them sharp looks, then lifted her nose in the air and strode angrily towards the nearest tent.

Ilia grimaced and felt her freckles flare to a depressed blue as the two of them followed her through the canvas flap. Blake's was one of the larger ones in the camp, with more than enough room for all three of them despite the fact that she wasn't a combat-level huntress yet. Or a ranking member of the White Fang. The Belladonna name might not have meant as much as it once had, not since her parents had left the fight to administer Menagerie, but it definitely still meant something. Blake usually had her pick of supplies and rations ahead of anyone else, although she showed a surprising level of maturity in not taking advantage of it.

...unless they were serving fish for dinner, in which case everyone else had learned to race for the food line before she could eat half of what was available.

Blake sat on her bedroll without a word, waving towards the small pot bubbling atop the equally little portable heater. She'd already set out bowls and spoons, and candles were burning merrily on a small table nearby. For her part Ilia simply sat on the ground beside the limited offerings before serving herself some, glad to see actual meat in the liquid.

Someone must have gotten a deer while we were preparing the ambush. Thank the gods, I was sick of just broth and vegetables.

Adam sat as well, closer to Blake than to her, and after a glance and a nod she poured filled up his bowl with some of the venison stew as well.

Their younger friend kept her mouth shut for about a minute while they slurped broth and wolfed down slightly overcooked meat before she lost her temper, "You're going to try and talk me out of it again, aren't you?"

"Blake..." Adam tried.

"No." Arms crossed high on her chest as golden eyes flicked between them. "I've already made up my mind, and you can't change it no matter what you say!"

Ilia cast her eyes down at her bowl. "...I killed a man today, Blake."

"I just said that it's not going to work! I'm-" The near shouting abruptly shifted into a choking sound. It took the younger woman a few moments to recover, her eyes very wide. "What? Ilia?"

She licked her lips and shook her head once, disguising her inability to speak by taking a long sip from her bowl. Adam sighed and spoke for her, "She wounded a guard, thought he was down and out. He got up and tried to jump her while she took another one prisoner, went for her throat with a knife. She deflected it and countered. He didn't have aura. It was quick."

Blake's mouth worked, opening and closing soundlessly several times. She recovered slowly, took in a few more breaths, then carefully slid around the heating pad. Ilia closed her eyes as her friend hugged her tightly, their temples touching.

Ilia exhaled slowly, an arm carefully wrapping around Blake in turn. "...it was bad, Blake. I didn't like it. I don't want you to have to go through that. Neither does Adam."

There was a slight shudder, then Blake tightened her grip once before gently pulling back, her ears flat. "I... I don't want to kill anyone either. But... Ilia, I can't just sit here, making food and hoping you all come back alive. I've done that for a year with Adam, and now you're back and starting missions and I'm just... I have a semblance. Aura. Training. I have to use it. I have to."

"Blake," She tried, only for a pale hand to cut through the air.

"I have no right to sit here, safe and sound, while you two are risking your lives to save the faunus." Blake said firmly. "I stayed with the White Fang to do good. To fight for our people. I didn't stay to be kept safe as some kind of stupid rallying symbol against my parents!"

Ilia looked helplessly at Adam, then felt her jaw clench when he just shook his head and sipped more soup. We'll both talk to her... yeah, right. Guess it's up to me.

"Even if that means killing someone?" She didn't want to fight with Blake, but she didn't know what else to do besides play hardball. And... it was as though her mouth simply began to move without an input with her brain, words tumbling out as if her body simply had to expel them. "Blake I just... I ended a man's life! I gutted him! You can't imagine... maybe he was a racist, maybe he was just protecting his partner, maybe he was just doing his job, but none of us will ever know because I left him bleeding out in the middle of nowhere!"

Her words made an immediate impression. Blake flinched, her ears flattening even more as she quickly looked away from her. She seemed to stare at a still silent Adam for a moment, then cast her eyes down at the ground instead. "I-"

"I can still smell it." Ilia closed her eyes and shuddered. "The blood. And... worse. And I know I did what I had to, and I know I'm going to have... to have to do it again, but I still want to throw up. I can't stop seeing the blood on my mask. Seeing his body twitching and bleeding while his friend stared at me like I was a Grimm or-"

"Ilia!" Adam cut her off sharply, "That's enough! She got the point!"

Ilia sucked in a breath, realizing she'd gone fully blue somewhere in her miniature rant, her spots a bright and lonely green. It took serious effort to at least get her skin back to a natural tan, but her spots merely shifted to a sullen azure. "...I'm sorry."

Blake had shifted away from her again, her eyes still averted as she breathed heavily. This time it was Adam who moved, swinging himself around so he was settled beside her. She leaned into him at once, tucking herself under his arm and against his side in an almost reflexive way.

It made her give Adam another dark look as a little twinge of anger tried to brush its way past her depression, but his own expression remained stoic as he spoke quietly, carefully. Like he was afraid she was about to bolt. "Forgive her, Blake. The first time is always hard, and she's been our lead scout for the last two months. It's not an easy job."

Her eyes narrowed, but she said nothing as he continued, clearly speaking more to Blake than to her. "I don't want you fighting anymore than she does... but you're right. There's more you can do than just making soup, more you were born to do than just be a symbol kept safe in the back ranks. You can scout for us, do recon. No one can catch you, not with your semblance. You'd leave them behind in a second."

A slight shudder came as Blake lifted her head, "...maybe."

Ilia exhaled and finally got her freckles to darken as she spoke up, her voice a little rough but under control, "There's also Grimm duty. We got lucky today, but we might not be next time. Maybe then the workers we save will be traumatized and depressed, and we'll be all that's protecting them from Beowolves or Ursa. You've got a better weapon than I do, and a good combat semblance. I know Yuma would appreciate the help on sentry duty, and watching our backs when we're out there."

Shoulders rose and fell as Blake's breathing slowly steadied. "Maybe. I was... I'm going to talk to Higher Leader about it when we get back. I'll think about it. All of it.'

"That's all we're asking." Adam said, a hand reaching to stroke the edge of a furry ear. "You mind if Ilia and I talked outside for a minute? I can bring us back some bread and water after."

"That... sounds good."

Ilia pursed her lips as she set her half-empty bowl aside, quietly thanking Blake for the food before standing up. Adam took a bit longer, making sure Blake was comfortable on her bedroll and not-so-subtly nudging her book of the week a bit closer with one foot as he rose. The young woman rolled her eyes a little but picked it up all the same, seemingly content to distract herself with some light reading while the two of them slipped outside.

Adam led her away, closer to where his tent was setup at the edges of the camp. Everyone else was apparently still celebrating, getting to know one another, or finally getting back to work preparing the camp to be broken come morning.

"What the fuck was that?" Adam's voice was a hiss as he stopped, casting a quick look around to make sure no one was nearby before he raised his voice. "We were supposed to talk her down! Not traumatize her!"

"I didn't hear much talking from you." Ilia spoke through equally clenched teeth, "I had to say something!"

"Did you? I had it under control, if you'd just waited for my lead we could have talked her down calmly!" His head shook sharply, "You know how Blake gets when she's upset, did you want to spend all night trying to find her in this damned forest?"

She threw up her hands in frustration. "How was I supposed to know to follow your lead when you didn't tell me what your plan was!? It looked like you were just being quiet and letting her argue with me!"

"I had it under control, you don't always have to run your mouth Ilia!" His words came with a step forwards, letting him loom over her. She had no idea if he'd meant to do it, or if he realized just how threatening his height and strength was compared to her... but it still made her step back, unsettled as her skin rippled to black.

"I..."

Adam's anger seemed to slowly deflate at her retreat, at her body camouflaging itself as if he was a threatening predator. He slowly lifted his hands, keeping them spread as he shook his head head. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be that harsh. I'm just... worried for Blake."

"I know." She replied, not quite accepting the apology as she let her skin return to normal. "I'm worried for her too. And for you."

His head rose. "What's that supposed to mean? Please don't tell me you're annoyed that she came to me instead of you when she was scared. Not when you were the one doing it to her."

A muscle in her cheek twitched. "I didn't mean Blake, though I am concerned about how touchy you are with her. She's three years-"

"Two and a half, a little less even."

"Whatever!" She saved an impatient hand, fear fading into concerned anger once more. "I'm worried about what you almost did in that base! You were ready to kill that guard, even after he was down."

Adam was a warrior, not a gambler, or a liar. He couldn't bluff to save his life; his back tightened and his jaw clenched at the accusation and even with his mask she knew he wasn't looking at her. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes you do. He was done." Ilia lowered her voice. "The fight was over. He was a prisoner, not a soldier, and if Sienna hadn't interrupted you-"

"I would have scared him senseless." Adam shook his head sharply. "Not whatever you are thinking I was about to do."

"Adam-"

"I need to get back to Blake." He spun on a heel and stalked away from her, his posture once again radiating his brooding anger. "I'll see you in the morning."

Ilia stared at his back before lifting her hands and furiously rubbing at her face. Adam had always been a bit prickly, from the day she'd first met him, but lately it seemed like it was getting worse. Being around Blake seemed to be the only thing that could keep him mostly calm.

Once she'd been able to keep him calm as well. They'd been friends even before she'd met Blake, before she'd introduced them. But now...

Now it's just Blake, which is both cute and unsettling... and some days... She shook her head. Worries about whether or not she was a third wheel, a friend being pushed aside to make room for blooming romance, all of that could wait. For now, she was still slightly hungry, and it would probably be best to let everyone calm down and enjoy the rest of the night.

She waited for Adam to retrieve the promised bread and water, and only once she'd seen him head back towards Blake's tent did she start walking. She slipped between tiring but still happy workers to grab a half-loaf of bread of her own before vanishing, not wanting to disrupt the still festive evening with her worried mood and tired body.

An exhaustion that only got worse when she got back to her tent to find Trifa sitting on a fallen log just outside of it.

"Hey." The spider faunus gave her a small smile. "Sienna thought someone should check in on you... and from the way you and Taurus were just in each other's faces, I think she was right about that."

Ilia shook her head and found herself sighing yet again. "I'm fine, Trifa. That was just Adam being Adam."

The older woman rose as she walked past, slipping into her tent behind her. "Being a brooding, angry pile of righteousness that makes Blake's panties evaporate?"

"That's not funny." She shot back, setting her bread on the folding table that was her only furniture before fumbling for a candle. Not that she actually needed the light, her night vision was in the top percentile even among faunus, but that didn't mean she always felt like sitting around in the dark. "She's too young for him."

"For a month." Trifa noted as she sat down again, "Then she's fifteen. Old enough to be sent on extermination missions by Huntsman prep schools has to be old enough to make her own choices with her body. You can't protect her forever... and you know she's never going to look at you like she does Adam."

Ilia felt her freckles pinken... then shift to a sad blue once more at the blunt honesty. She lit the candle and set it aside without looking up. "I know she won't, and I'm not trying to break them up or anything like that. It's just... I don't know. It doesn't feel right. Adam isn't right for her that way."

"Spoken like the jealous woman you are."

Growling, she tore off a bit of bread and threw it at her. Trifa caught it effortlessly and popped it into her mouth before speaking again, "I really have no idea how you three are friends. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather have Adam at my back in a fight than anyone else, but he's so... Adam."

"He just needs to calm down." She defended him. "He's not always like that."

Trifa didn't look like she believed her. "Yeah, sure. I heard him blaming you for something. What was it?"

Shaking her head, she tore off a bit more bread and then told her everything that had happened since they'd gotten back to the camp. Trifa was a good sounding board; she listened attentively and without interruption, never once looking bored. Though she did start looking a bit concerned when she got to the part where Adam denied everything about what she had seen in the mining complex.

"He hasn't... you know? Done that for real before?" Ilia asked once she'd finished. "I was exhausted, I want to think I was just seeing things. That he was just trying to make the guard piss himself or something."

Trifa pursed her lips in thought. "I've never seen him execute someone, if that's what you're asking. He's killed people in battle, sure, so have I, and so have you now. But not execution. If he had Sienna would have done something. Randomly killing low-level grunts who've surrendered doesn't do much for the freedom-fighter image."

She looked up and bit her own lip. "I'm sensing a but coming."

"But," It was Trifa's turn to sigh. "Like you said, Adam's always had a temper, and it gets pretty roused when he's fighting. Maybe you really saw what you think you saw, maybe you didn't, but I wouldn't put it past him. If Blake can't take the edge off of his anger he's going to lose control of it sooner or later. Maybe his next job will help."

Her head cocked to one side. "Huh?"

There was a definite wince and then her voice lowered, "You didn't hear this from me, but Adam's getting transferred. That old man running the Vale branch stepped down and Sienna wants someone from her inner circle to take over. Whip them back into shape."

Ilia jerked back in surprise. "Wow... Adam? Really? He's too young for that level of position! Especially with... well, everything we're talking about."

"Who else is there?" Trifa asked, "From what I heard she wanted Corsec to take the job, but he refused to leave Menagerie... though I don't think she's going to tell Adam he was her second choice. His ego probably couldn't handle that. But even with his temper... the position has to go to a huntsman, and most of the older ones quit the group with your parents. That or they're pretty iffy about following Sienna's orders."

"Why not one of the Vacuans? Or did none of them want to leave?"

Trifa shrugged, "I think she guessed they weren't about to move and saved them the bother of saying no. If not Corsec then she wanted a hunter from headquarters, someone who knows how she thinks and can be trusted. Right now that's me, you, Gray, Yuma, and Adam. Which means it's Adam. He's stronger than any of us, more experienced, and you can't doubt his zeal. He can be pretty charismatic in the right moments too."

"I... guess I can see that. Still..." She rubbed tiredly at her face. "Who's going with him?"

"Right now? Just Gray." A small smile split her lips, "But I'm guessing Blake will all but demand to go with him, and Sienna won't want to risk her running around complaining for months on end."

"Yeah, Blake definitely would if tonight's anything to go by." Ilia frowned. "What about me?"

Trifa winced and glanced away.

Her heart sank. "Trifa..."

The other woman took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. "...Chieftain Belladonna has requested at least one huntsman return to Menagerie to help keep the city safe. He says the militia are getting overworked, and the Albain brothers agreed with his request. They want someone to split time between Grimm patrols, working with the militia, and training new volunteers in aura usage. Sienna agreed, we need more Huntsman level fighters and everyone knows it."

Ilia felt her skin ripple to blue while her spots flared green. "...and they want me to do it? I barely finished my own training!"

"It's not decided yet." Trifa said in a rush, reaching out to gently take one of her hands. "Sienna said it's down to you or Yuma. He's got more experience, and you're her favorite scout, but she doesn't know if his temperament could handle it. And... well, Ghira knows you, treats you like a daughter. That could mean a lot when it comes to supplies and finding recruits. I think she's going to decide on the drive back to base tomorrow."

Fingers wrapped around each other as she squeezed Trifa's hand tightly. "I... I just got back from Menagerie. I don't want to go back yet. Not until I've... accomplished something. Done more."

And now I sound just like Blake... gods. I'm either a hypocrite or this is an awful time for irony... no. No. I knew what this would involve, more than Blake does. I sacrificed my innocence today on that stupid road, I did that so that other people wouldn't have to. If I don't go with, Blake's going to end up in the same spot, and Adam's temper is just going to keep getting worse.

I have to go with, if only so that Blake wouldn't turn out like Adam. Or... or like me.

She exhaled slowly and nodded. "Who's in charge of the order tomorrow?"

Trifa blinked, "Me, why?"

"I need a favor." She let out a shaky breath and gave her fingers another gentle squeeze. "I need to be in Sienna's car. If Blake and Adam are going off to Vale, they aren't going without me. "

Please read and review, criticism is welcome, flames not so much, as usual. Reviews are my lifeblood as a writer.. every-time my email goes off with a review it makes me want to write more, so please take the time to leave one. Guests can leave them as well, and it only takes a minute, so please. Even if it's as simple as "I enjoyed it, please continue."

Thanks, Kat