Chapter 15

Rowing a boat was hard work. Not that they had a choice, the old tub they'd stolen had a motor that sounded like howling Grimm. They'd used it to get out of the city harbor, and to cross most of the channel... but the final approach to the island had to be done quietly.

"Regretting this yet?" Perry groaned as they all heaved in unison.

"Shut up Perry." Ilia gasped, her arms moving in time with everyone else's. "Just shut up."

"Shutting up..." A gasp broke apart his words. "...boss."

Ragged laughter came from the other three people in the boat, the loudest from Lectrie. She'd drawn the long straw and was settled in the front, keeping an eye out for anyone else on the water while the rest of them rowed.

The donkey faunus looked over her shoulder, the woman's rough ears up and alert. "We're almost at the beach! Just a bit more!"

Her arms burned as they kept up their motion, working the oar in time with Perry's. Nearer to the back, or stern or whatever it was called on a boat, Nava and Liam were doing the same thing. A short eternity later she felt the boat shudder as it struck sand, everyone but Lectrie slumping in place in relief.

"Scout... ahead." Ilia ordered the other woman. "Not too far. Everyone else stretch out, get some water."

Lectrie nodded, pulling her mask on before nimbly leaping clear. It didn't take her long to trot up the beach and vanish into the woods surrounding Patch's small village. The rest of them got out far more slowly, grabbing bottles of water and cheap energy bars as they did.

As usual Perry stuck near her, closer than she was strictly comfortable with but not so far into her personal space that she could really snap at him either. So instead she simply wolfed down a bar that was supposedly chocolate but mostly tasted like nothing in particular, punctuating each bite with sips of water.

Perry initially seemed to content to to the same. At least until they'd finished, and then he ruined the silent camaraderie by speaking. "I have to say I'm glad we're doing this. A lot of us got worried when you called a halt after our last raid."

Ilia grimaced as she lowered her bottle from her lips. "Do you really blame me? We had bad intelligence that got six innocent faunus killed. Trapped in tiny rooms and drowned. Not exactly our finest hour."

He shifted awkwardly, as if he wanted to disagree but couldn't bring himself to. "I know, I know. That part of the mission was bad. Uh... are you sure on the intelligence for this one?"

"I talked with four professors at Signal and two of the emigre families." Her head shook once. "They all confirmed these idiots have been making threats, and they're pretty sure they killed one of the student's dogs. Left its corpse in front of their house."

Perry's attitude darkened at once, his water bottle crackling when his fingers clenched down on it. "Fucking humans. What does killing an innocent pet do?"

Her head shook, "I don't think I want to know how they make that connection. Either way I left one of our listening beacons in the bar they use, and from I heard they've got big plans for tonight. Most of Signal's staff is in Vale for an under-seventeen tournament, and another is out camping in the north part of the island to clear out a Grimm nest."

"So they've got a window to act freely." Perry's jaw clenched. "Bastards. That school couldn't leave anyone behind?"

"They did, but they've still got two hundred or so students crammed into their dorms to watch over. Several of whom are faunus." She reminded him. "And Patch doesn't have walls like Vale. They've got to watch for Grimm here too."

It was his turn to shake his head. "I suppose."

"They know it's a problem, they just don't have the manpower to deal with it. They practically tried to bribe me just to get me to stay for a few weeks to help out."

That made him blink, then smile. "I'm surprised you didn't."

"It was tempting." Ilia admitted, "I could probably have handled them myself, but I thought doing it in the mask would make a better statement."

"Hard to look bad protecting innocent families from being lynched." He agreed before pausing, as if trying to find the right words. "When we get back to Vale, I was wondering if-"

Ilia held up a hand for silence, glad for the interruption. "Quiet, I hear movement."

Perry looked frustrated but he was professional enough to fall to a knee, pulling his gun out as he did. Nava and Liam did the same while Ilia dropped a hand to Lightning Lash's hilt. The newly repairs had done a lot for it, even if she'd shied away from going all-in on upgrades. Mostly thanks to a lack of time and the tiny voice of guilt reminding her that those parts were meant for real hunters in training.

Still, the new mechashift gears and dust channels were far more efficient, and the new leather on the grip was much nicer.

"It's me!" Letrie called from the tree line. "I found the bar! We've got to move, I think they're getting ready to head out hunting!"

She grimaced. Damn. "Masks on, guns in hand. Code names only from here on out."

Everyone nodded. Within a minute white masks covered all of their faces, and everyone but her had their submachine-guns armed and ready. For her part Ilia drew her old saber, making sure Lightning Lash was secure on her back. The last thing she needed was for someone to recognize it, so it would only be used as a last resort. She'd tied her hair up in a bun and drew a black hood over it as well.

Hopefully it won't come to needing it. Last thing we need is for someone from Signal to recognize me and plaster my face all over the kingdom. That would make things complicated.

They followed Lectrie as she led them down a worn old path, emerging from the treeline into the edge of town. After that they hardly needed a guide. Even if Ilia hadn't already known where they were going, the sound of drunken men and women was a beacon no one could miss.

Ilia took the lead, her second wind rolling in as the five of them raced down a dark residential street. A few lights were on but they didn't see anyone outside. Not until they made it to the small collection of brand new homes built at the northern edge of town.

Nine Humans using a mixture of scrolls and a couple of actual torches for light were already surrounding the first house. It was a quaint home, with a single story painted red, and a nice little picket fence only half finished out front.

"-fucking animals!" A man was shouting, "Should have stayed on your zoo island!"

A much more nervous sounding woman shouted back, presumably from a window. "I've called Signal! Go away and leave us alone!"

Mocking, drunken laughter came from the small crowd, their apparent leader speaking up again. "Like those bestiality lovers will save you! You want to stay on our island then you've gotta pay rent like a proper person! Let us see that bunny tail on your little ass or we'll burn your house down!"

Lectrie began to aim but Ilia quickly put a hand out, whispering harshly. "Not yet! Everyone spread out, stay behind them. We can't let even one escape."

The other woman looked furious but jerked her head in a quick nod. Ilia made a series of quick gestures, silent commands that saw her team fan out behind the mob.

"-a Huntsman is coming!" The voice in the house screamed, her voice going shrill with very real fear. "Go away before he teaches you a lesson!"

All that got her was another round of laughs. "Last chance bunny bitch! You can pay us with your ass willingly, or we'll burn you out of your little hole and then have our fun!"

They were nearly all in place when one of the Humans, drunker or simply more of a pyromaniac than the rest, took action. He stumbled forwards, throwing a bottle with one hand and his torch with the other. The booze shattered against the side of the house, glistening for the moments before it erupted in flame.

"Fuck! Open fire!" Ilia spat, rushing forwards with her saber raised.

One of the mob managed to hear her over the raucous cheers of the others. The woman turned, stumbling a little from whatever she'd been drinking, and then her mouth opened in a scream of her own.

"White-"

It was as far as she got before Liam put five rounds into her chest. The others all cut loose at the same time, firing in short, aimed bursts just like she and Adam had taught them. Humans fell left and right, dying one after the other. A couple tried to run but none of them were faster than bullets.

Perry and Nava cut the runners down before they got very far. By the time she was among them, only the leader was still upright and able to swing his torch at her.

Ilia sneered, bobbed to her right, and took his hand off at the wrist in a single cut. The thug's scream cut off into a choking gurgle when she flicked her saber back the other way, opening his throat.

Ignoring his flailing, she collapsed her weapon and slid to a stop near the burning home. Not much of it had gone up yet, and a quick look around let her see bags of dirt settled in next to empty pots and small bags of plant seeds.

"Grab the dirt!" She barked as Lectrie and Liam came running up, "Douse the fire!"

The donkey-eared woman was quick to grab one, tossing it to her partner. He ripped the bag open within a moment and handed it to Ilia in turn, and she threw it over the flames. It took all four bags but they managed to mostly smother it, and Lectrie was quick to run around the side to try and find a water hose to make sure.

"We've got the fire out!" Ilia called in, "Are there any flames inside?"

No response.

Grimacing, she glanced at Liam. "Break the door down. We've got to make sure they're all right."

He nodded once, sucked in a breath, and then lowered his shoulder. It wasn't as easy as the movies made it look. His aura flickered several times as he repeatedly rammed into it, the wood giving way on the fifth effort.

Ilia followed him into a cute little house, a living area on the right and a kitchen on their left. A young woman was clutching a bunny eared girl who couldn't have been older than three, holding her child to her chest with one hand while her other clutched a shaking kitchen knife.

"Smoke!" Liam's bark jerked her attention the other way, to where gray was coming out from one of the vents. "It's in the walls!"

Cursing, Ilia took a cautious step towards the woman and her daughter. "Ma'am, you have to get out of the house. We're here to help you."

"T-terrorists!" Said woman stuttered, shaking even more violently. "Y-you're t-t-terrorists!"

"Ma'am, your house is on fire." Ilia tried again, keeping her hands spread peacefully. "Please. You have to get your daughter to safety. We'll try to save your home but you have to get clear."

The woman hesitated, green eyes wide... then her daughter let out a sob and her resolve broke. Her knife clattered to the floor, both hands clutching her child as she stumbled forwards. Ilia quickly got a hold of her shoulder, guiding her out into the night.

"Trick! Get her to one of her neighbor's, make sure they're faunus."

"It's all right ma'am. You're safe." Lectrie said as gently as she could, taking Ilia's place and wrapping an arm around the now sobbing woman's shoulder. "You're both safe. Come on, this way. It's all right."

Ilia lost a few seconds watching them go, then turned back and ran to the house. Liam had already come out as well, grabbing the hose that Lectrie had dropped. Between them they soaked down the entire front of the home, wrestled the hose inside, and then coated most of the living room as well.

It probably did all kinds of damage on its own but she wasn't sure what else they could do. She was pretty sure Patch didn't have a dedicated fire service, and she seriously doubted that the woman would be able for afford a new home and belongings. At least the smoke had seemed to have stopped.

They were stumbling back outside when she realized something rather important.

"Where's Pear and Stag?"

Liam blinked, looking up from where he'd been inspecting his fluffy tail for blood. "Uh... last I saw they were making sure none of the Humans got away. Maybe they chased after one?"

Ilia frowned. "I'm going to tear them a new one if they wandered off instead of helping save that woman and her kid."

Her subordinate twisted his lips. "Yeah. I'd rather a Human get away than let a three year old burn to death."

"Agreed. Grab Trick once she's done, take pictures of the scene and the house, and then get back to the boat. I'll round up those two so we can get clear."

There was a quick nod before they split up. A quick jog got her back to the street, the corpses of the would-be lynch mob laying around her.

Six... seven... She glanced down the street, eight and nine. That's all of them, so where did those two idiots run off to?

Another look around didn't let her see anyone, but there were plenty of lights on inside of homes now. If one of Signal's professors wasn't scrambling into clothes and grabbing weapons than she'd badly misjudged them. Their window to get out of here without having to deal with the authorities would be shrinking every minute they wasted.

A third look at the dirt street gave her a clue; boot prints headed back the same way that the last two members of the mob had been trying to flee.

What's that way? More homes and... Her stomach sank. ...and the bar these idiots were drinking at.

A bar with Human owners.

Ilia's legs began churning before she'd finished the thought, arms pumping as she sprinted down the street. More and more lights began to flicker on as she ran past homes, people sticking their heads out of windows or stepping onto their porches. Shouts came when they caught sight of her mask, men and women calling for others to call Signal. That the White Fang was attacking Patch. Attacking Signal.

That last bit made her sick when she heard it. Was their reputation really that bad that people thought they'd attack a Huntsman Academy? One for children on top of that?

Her third wind came as she whipped around a corner, sliding to a stop as she approached The Laughing Cow.

The bar and grill was already on fire. Its cute, cartoon sign of a bull sipping beer through a straw was barely visible as smoke billowed out of windows, scarlet flames dancing inside. She could hear bottles bursting from the pressure, adding more fuel to be consumed. There wouldn't be any saving of this particular building. The neighbors would be lucky if none of the sparks carried to their own places of business.

Nor could she save its owners.

The married couple who had owned the place were already dead. Their hands bound behind them with twist-ties as they lay face-down in the parking lot.

She had just enough time to see a third form laying beside them before Perry casually aimed and pulled his trigger, putting three rounds into the sobbing boy.

Boy.

He couldn't have been older than fifteen.

"What in the nine hells do you think you're doing!?" Her scream tore something in her throat. "What the actual fuck!?"

Perry and Nava both jumped in surprise, whipping around to face her. The latter at least looked uncomfortable, shifting awkwardly, but Perry simply shook his head. "Dealing with the last of them. Come on, it's time to leave. Authorities will be here soon."

Ilia's skin flared to scarlet, her eyes and hair following suit. "Don't you fucking dare try to give me orders after that! That was a child!"

"We don't have time for this Ilia!" He snapped back. "We have to go before-"

"Code names!" She screeched. "You incompetent fucking-"

"Shut the hell up you panicking bitch!" He bellowed in reply, "We're done here! Mission complete, let's go!"

She was ready to tell him they could find their own way back when motion in the corner of her eye made her swing around, the other two following suit as a fourth person came into view.

Ilia recognized him. Had sparred with him in front of a bunch of excited fourteen year olds earlier this week. Well, that was putting a positive spin on things. She'd gotten her ass kicked by him several different ways, and she hadn't thought he'd been trying all that hard.

Professor Qrow Branwen of Signal wasn't wearing a shirt, and his left boot was untied. Of course the giant sword clutched in his left hand and the murderous look in his eyes made him look exactly as deadly as he was.

That look went from murderous to apocalyptic when he saw the three bodies at Perry's feet.

There wasn't any need for orders or further arguing. All three of them turned and ran for it.

The veteran huntsman pursued.

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