Disclaimer: RWBY belongs to Rooster Teeth.
Qrow leads Yang out of the building, eyes darting everywhere. Yang gets increasingly worried as they walk, demanding to know what's going on as soon as they stop.
"I keep seeing this bird around the building, I think Raven might be here".
Yang's eyes widened. Just when things seemed to be going her way.
They find Penny entertaining some children.
"Penny, I'm sorry, but we need you. What I'm about to ask is ging to sound strange, but trust me please" Yang asks. Penny nods, thinking she's never heard Ruby's sister so concerned. She tells the kids she'll be back as soon as she can, and the three of them move to get some privacy.
"Can you scan the building for a small bird"? Yang asks. Penny nods, "there's a small bird in the main hall" she announces after a few seconds.
"Ok, we need to check that out. But we have to be subtle" Qrow cautions.
The group walk casually towards their target, Penny stopping them just before they turn a corner into the hall.
"Guys, I can read the birds heat signature from here, and it's all wrong. In addition, it's giving off readings I don't recognise".
Qrow sighs. "Ok. Penny, I need you to keep track of that bird, but try to make sure she doesn't realise you're on to it. Yang and I will get backup and force her into the open".
"Mr Bromwen, what's going on, is it a grim" Penny asks.
Qrow's face scrunches, not being sure what to say, so Yang does it for him.
"No, she's, well like you, magical. But she's dangerous, and there's only a few people she hopefully won't attack on site, so we have to be careful".
Penny turns downcast, another threat she can't protect her friends from. "Ok" she agrees sadly.
Qrow finds Ruby, Tai and Oscar. Oscar's eyes keep changing colour, and whatever they're talking about, Tai doesn't look pleased.
"Guys, I think Raven's here".
Tai's response told him he didn't want this surprise right now, while Ruby and Oscar looked alarmed. Qrow turns to Tai, "I know, but there's a bird flying around that Penny says isn't a proper bird, odd readings and stuff". The other man sighs, "do you have a plan"?
Ilia takes a seat next to Whitley while Jaune is talking to his sister.
"So, you turned in your Dad" she asks flatly, not looking at the boy.
Whitley's heart rate increases, and Ilia can tell he's getting ready to run. "Yes" he answers stiffly.
"Why" she demands.
"Because, I. After he was arrested, things were better" he sighs.
"I'm sure they were" Ilia replies acidly.
"You hate him, I take it" Whitley asks rhetorically.
"What ever could have given you that idea" Ilia answers, venom coating every word.
"Well, it's not hard to" Whitley frowns.
"Not Father of the Year I take it" the girl laughs sardonically.
Whitley finds himself laughing along with her. "My oldest sister joined the army, the other left to become a Huntress in another Kingdom. I think there's a pattern" he adds with his own practiced sarcasm.
"And what about you" Ilia asks, finally urning to face him.
"Me. Well, I just, tried to keep him happy" Whitley sighs, avoiding her eyes.
"In your mansion" Ilia adds snidely.
"His mansion" Whitley insisted.
Before their "conversation" can go any further, Blake and Weiss appear, walking towards them. But just before they can talk to the pair, Yang appears.
"Blake, Weiss, I need you, now", her urgency instantly getting her teammates attention. They would ask why later.
Whitley and Ilia both frown, then look at each other.
Team Ruby all causally make their way outside, Tai taking position just inside the building's entrance. Soon they can hear commotion, squawking and raised voices. After a few minutes, the door opens, and two birds fly out into the air, with Tai close behind. The raven flew round a corner, Ruby and company in pursuit. Their quarry was pulling away, with only Qrow able to keep up. As they followed the raven around another corner, Yang takes a gamble.
"We know it's you Raven. You've been watching us long enough, so what do you want"!
After a few seconds, the raven stopped on a ledge. Qrow took on his human form, everyone else running to catch up as the bird transformed, thunder rumbling behind the pursuers.
Raven gave them all a stony look, Qrow in particular. But when she turns to Yang, her eyes shift to sadness. She notices the group centring their weight and putting hands on their weapons. She remembered the faunus and the white-haired girl from Haven, and realises Yangs teammates have filled the void Raven had left.
Deciding it was now or never, Raven raises her hands at her sides, palms open. For a long second, no one moves. Then, Yang takes the faunus's hand and squeezes (causing a spike of emotion Raven knew she'd abandoned the right to), then steps forward.
"Mum". The voice was flat and tense, but lacked the hostility Raven was expecting. She took a deep breath.
"Yang".
Over several seconds, the tension lowers to where no-one looked ready to fight at any moment. Blake notices how Yang had her mums' eyes, both showing such intensity and termination. But if Yang was fire, Raven was ice.
"You brought a lot of people" Raven adds.
Yang's eyes narrow, suspecting trickery. "What are you talking about"?
Raven looks above them, "so, which one are you" she calls. Ruby hears rockets, and follows Ravens gazeā¦
And finds Penny, swords out, wreathed in storm clouds.
"I said leave this to us" Yang implores.
"And I decided to help anyway, you are my friends" she smiled, like this was the most obvious thing in the world. Because for her, it was.
"Yeah, we're not gonna let you be reckless on your own" called a familiar voice. Nora leapt out into the open, hammer in hand. Klein moved out of cover just enough to keep an eye on her, while Ren placed himself slightly between Nora and Raven. Jaune and Whitley revealed themselves next, Jaune standing in front, shield ready.
"I asked you to keep an eye on him" Weiss chided Jaune.
"I said I was going to follow you, so if he wanted to protect me, he'd have to do the same" Whitely answered, in voice that told him it wouldn't matter what his sister said. Jaune gives Weiss an innocent smile that she doesn't buy for a second.
Blake's ears twitched, hearing her parents and Ilia making their way towards them. She saw them a moment later, all looking ready for a fight, with Ilia giving her an unimpressed look.
Oscar emerged last, walking towards Team RWBY, cane in hand. Raven scowls at him, but he meets her gaze without flinching. Ruby runs over to the younger boy, finding no signs of Ozpin, and puts a hand on his shoulder.
"Oscar, you can't be here, get back inside" she insists.
He returns the gesture with a gentle smile. "No, you guys were there for me, so I'm staying. Whatever happens, I'm in". Ruby's face lights up with gratitude, and the pair turn to face Raven.
"You wanna fight me Oz"? Raven demands.
"Ozpin isn't driving right now" Oscar replies, with as much nonchalance as he could manage.
Raven looks at him for a tense second, then nods.
Qrow takes a deep breath and looks his sister in the eye. "We should get back inside" he calls out, gesturing with his head as he turns away.
Raven follows slowly.
"That was a big risk" Ruby tells Penny on the walk back.
"Ruby, if I asked you to stay out of danger for my sake, would you do it" Penny asks, knowing the answer.
"Ok, you got me there", Ruby raises her hands in defeat.
She thinks of her Team, her family. Those who'd help without being asked, or despite being asked not to. They couldn't match Salem's army, or her magic.
But they had each other, and maybe, that's how they'd win.
The End
