Early the next morning Trezzahn roamed the halls of of his manor, smiling as his eldest daughter, Alunja, meditated with his young sons, Lakjin and Kaijin. Well, attempted to meditate with them, the ways of their human mother lost to them. He smiled as Kaijin recalled his times of play with the small redheaded human girl. Trezzahn smiled again, it had been a long time since he saw a human, much less a whole group of them. He shook his head at the sad yet happy memories of his wife and resumed his original task, waking his guests. He'd been genuinely surprised when the youngest child of the Black Onyx Beasts Cheiftain became the weilder of Balanced Insanity at such a young age. Garnering a hatred for any being not a Beast, and despising the humans who worship kinds like the Fallen. Now she valued the friendship she had with a group of the same race. As was very obvious her feelings towards the pale female mage.

Trezzahn came upon the room he'd assigned to the ones known as Team RWBY. He knocked, receiving silence, he carefully opened the door to find a sight he thought only common among Trolls. The girls were piled together on the bed either on top or beneath another. The blonde girl held the cat eared one and the small redhead close to her body, a loud snore leaving her mouth. What made him chuckle though, was the way Black Flame-no Catalaya as she asked to be called-held the pale mage close to her chest, her nose in the braided silver locks. He barely took another step when Cat had disappeared from the bed, replaced her body with a pillow, and had a short sword at Trezzahn's neck. "You should know better than to sneak up on me, freak." She said.

Trezzahn chuckled, "And you shouldn't hold a blade to the neck of a king, mutt." The two looked each other dead in the eye before soft laughter escaped their lips. "I assume breakfast is almost ready?" Cat asked the Cheiftain. Trezzahn nodded. "Then I'll get them up and ready for the day." Cat walked over to the bed, walking to the pale woman first, and gently woke her up. "Wake up, Snow." She whispered gently. Weiss woke up groggily, ready to chew out whoever awoke her but instead gave Cat a soft smile and a nod. Cat smiled and woke up Ruby and watched as the redhead fell out of bed dragging Yang to the floor. Blake laughed softly and helped her girlfriend and her sister to the large marble bathroom with Weiss behind them.

Catalaya watched as they left the room before sighing and stretching, "I could've killed you, old friend." She said rubbing her eyes. Trezzahn nodded and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Yet, you did not. You've gotten better control of your wolf since then, young one." Cat glared at him for bringing up the topic but let him speak,"I can only assume it is because of the silver haired ice mage you're so fond of."

He watched her blush,"I'll take that as a yes." He watched her go to the basin and wash her face and body,"It is. She has done so much for me despite so little I have done for her." She picked up a red tunic, brown trousers, and a bear fur lined cloak. "She keeps your darkness at bay. She is slowly bringing you to the light." Cat nodded,"Weiss chases away my pain and overwhelming anger. She keeps bringing me from the brink of my insanity, into the warmth of her heart. I will be both incredibly grateful for her help and forever in her debt."

"As her friend or as the Guardian to the Winter Knight?" Catalaya looked to the ceiling for a moment before turning to Trezzahn and shrugging,"Only time can tell." With a nod the Cheiftain left the girls to get ready to search for another piece of the Duskshadow Armor. Catalaya watched with a smile as Weiss emerged from the bathroom scolding Yang, "Why in the hell would you cannonball in the bath?!"

Yang laughed,"It seemed like a good idea at the time." She said as she dried her hair. Weiss would've gone off again if not for Cat clearing her throat loudly. The girls looked toward her with varying embarassed expressions. "Breakfast is ready if you're interested."

Cat chuckled as the girls blushed and hurriedly dressed themselves for the day. At the dining hall, the Hunters were served Corn Beef Hash and toast with glasses of mango juice. Cat and Nora finally had that eating contest they were so pressed on, with Trezzahn's own children joining in on the fun. Of course, Cat won, only by half a piece of toast. While team FVY and JNPR helped the disgruntled servers clean, Ruby and Blake did a supply check while Coco and Ren talked with Trezzahn on what terrain or creatures they would face. Weiss scolded Catalaya's eating habits and was having her change into an outfit not covered in food. Yet, she was only quieted when Cat took off her clothes in the middle of the room.

Besides her obvious physical appeal, traced with tattoos and well toned musculature, she finally saw a grouping of scars over her entire body. "You want to know what happened?" Cat's rough voice cut through her trance, wordlessly Weiss nodded. Catalaya pointed to a circular scar on her shoulder, "This is from a minotuar war party that attacked my caravan." She pointed to a angular scar on her calf, "The talon of a griffin. Caught me while I was hunting in the edge of Dragon Territory." She finally pointed to a small horizontal scar that sat in the center of her back,"This is from Marques."

At that name Weiss growled slightly in anger, hating how the thought of that monster makes Cat so timid. "That's from your fight isn't it?" Weiss was disappointed when Catalaya nodded with saddness. "I had him pinned to the ground with my foot, I was pummeling his face, unrelenting with my attacks. I hadn't been holding anything back, neither had he."

She retied her cloak, "He used Shadow magic to grab me and fling me into a wall. They grabbed me and threw me into the air where he waited. He used his hands to drive a claw into my spine, paralyzing me." Weiss stopped, "If you were paralyzed, how did you win?" Cat chuckled darkly,"I didn't get up. My wolf did, it ended the fight." Before Weiss could ask a question about her wolf Cat cut her off saying they should go meet the others at the stables now.

Of course when the got there, the Hunters were expecting horses not Raptors. The green skinned, feathery creatures were very much so a surprise to the group. Nora almost killed the first one that ran up to her. The beings wore brown leather saddles, harnesses of rope, and small satchels for transport on the sides. "No need to be so wary." Trezzahn said as he mounted the largest of the group,"The are tame creatures, they just want to take in your scents."

Blake was very adamant in her refusal to ride, as she claimed, "A prehistoric deathtrap." Catalaya had each member of the Hunters outstretch their hands so the Raptors could know they meant no harm and allow them to ride. Slowly, warily the creatures chose a rider from the group, yet the rest in the stables seemed to crowd around Weiss who was slowly becoming comfortable around the overgrown puppies they were. She was petting the ones that came up to her, laughing as they rolled around and squaked at her in joy. Trezzahn watched the scene with interest,She has turned a group of murderous beasts into tame killers. She must be the Winter Knight, he thought to himself.

Cat must've become slightly jealous at the attention being handed out as she whistled and sent the excited Raptors back to their stalls. Weiss was ready to complain until the largest of the group, a female Raptor names Scales, kneeled, allowing her to climb onto her back. The gathered watched with intrigue as Catalaya walked up to Scales and they each stared each other in the eyes before the wolf girl smiled and whispered in, what they assumed was the ear.

Weiss barely caught the whispered, "Take good care if her or I'm making leather boots." Scales stiffened for a second before clearly nodding her feathered head. Cat smiled and walked away, to the outside of the stable with the group behind her. "Aren't you taking a raptor?" Coco asked. Catalaya shook her head and walked to the center of the path before saying something in Romanian, which Weiss translated to mean,

"Come to me, Steed of the Dark."

Before their eyes the ground split apart and from the cracks came a large black stallion with silver markings and red eyes. It bore a saddle of polished silver and black durable chain harnesses. The group stared in awe as it, almost casually, walked out from the crack in the ground. Its eyes sparking red and crackling almost like a raging fire. It huffed at the group before nodding at Catalaya. Cat rubbed its head and whispered to it, presumably thanking it for coming so quickly.

"This is my steed, Spirit Pierdut. His name means Lost Spirit." Cat clicked her tongue twice and Spirit Pierdut bowed to the group as though he were a brave knight. Cat mounted the steed and snapped her fingers causing the crack to disappear and the ground to be as it was. Trezzahn guided his Raptor, Tonsa, to the front of the group,"It is nice to see you again, Pierdut." The horse nodded at the Chieftain, "Let's move on shall we?"

The dazed Hunters follwed after the large troll carefully eyeing the stallion. Cat guided Pierdut to walk beside Weiss on Scales, the raptor growled at the stallion who only stomped his hoof sending her to silence. Weiss found it interesting how the stallion eyed her carefully, being chastised for staring by Cat a swcons later, "It's rude to stare at a lady, Pierdut."

Pierdut huffed and bowed in apology to Weiss who chuckled, "It's no bother, Pierdut." The horse smiled, really smiled, at her while giving Cat a smug look. Catalaya rolled her eyes before looking confused and sighing. "What's wrong?" Weiss asked the woman. "He wants to know if you would pet him." Cat said shyly.

Weiss snickered at her expression before agreeing and slowly petting the stallion's head. Admiring at the feeling of his hot fur and the smoothness of the silver markings. "Why is he so hot?" Cat turned to her, "He is a creature of Hell. Hellfire runs through his body, the silver runes are actual silver, keeps the flames under control."

Ruby's eyes widened, "If he's from Hell, how did you to meet?" She asked as she rode up beside them. "It was after I left the clan, a long story actually."

"We have the time." Trezzahn said from the front of the caravan, in between his gaurds, "We won't reach the temple till sundown. I for one have never heard this story." Catalaya rolled her eyes and began her tale.

"Many years ago, after I left my home..."

I had been traveling through the many realms. Doing any odd jobs I could get in order to finance myself, I wasn't liked in a few places, being a Phantom Beast, of course so jobs were hard to come by. I had recently settled in Tifroner, part of the Elven land. Beneath my feet were numerous underground caverns were the Thulin lived, who had taken me in after I was injured in a fight with a Griffin. In exchange for my stay I did plenty of things. From training their soldiers to didgging new caverns, easy stuff. I didn't mind it gave me something to do besides training, I made friends with many of the more brave children who came up to me and was respected even by their leader.

One day, I'd been tasked with clearing up a cave in and to retrieve the surviving elves when an alarm was sounded. The sound of the trumpet easily flowed through the caves, I ran to the entrance, grabbing Balanced Insanity on the way to find numerous Thulin injured and dead, all from a scavenger party. Some one was trying to break through the walls, throwing dark magics at the defensive barrier. The archers could only do so much, the swordsman couldn't even get close to the monster they screamed about. I ran out the chamber and climbed onti the top of the wall beside a surprised archer faction. What I saw wasn't a monster, it was worse.

It was a Dullahan.

"What's a Dullahan?" Nora asked. Only getting shushed by the entire group, including Trezzahn's gaurds who were very interested in the story. Cat cocked an eyebrow and continued.

A Dullahan. A type of Sellie fairy, undead that carries its decapitated head around with them, and rides either a skeleton warhorse or a Devils Steed. At the time, they were becoming killers for hire, the effective kind. I was practically overwhelmed with fear, it was taking down the Thulin like it was nothing. Besides the fact that it's way more skilled in battle than myself, there's no exact way to kill it. We were in trouble. In my reflection it had downed the barrier and was in the process of destroying the stone walls, behind that wall mothers held their children as fathers tried their best to comfort them. A blast of black energy hit the wall, it slowly eroded the thick stone. I called for all archers to retreat into the city and assist in evacuation, I've never seen those boys move faster in my life.

I hopped down and conjured a group of stone golems to delay the Dullahan. I grabbed any lost children and tossed them onto the transport, their was no time for slow hesitation, they would all die if we remained. I ran through caverns, searching for anyone remaining, unfortunately, I found someone. Two children, a Thulin boy of 14 and a young Thulin girl of 6 years. Their parents bodies on the ground bleeding out, the boy held a beaten old sword in the air. He threatened the Dullahan while ushering his sister into a sprint in my direction. I moved as fast as I could when I saw the Dullahan move. I wasn't fast enough, he killed the boy. I snapped and let my wolf take over, I embraced the darkness and attacked.

Weiss put a hand on Catalaya's shoulder assuringly. Cat smiled in thanks then continued.

I do not know for how long we fought, just that it was a grueling battle to which I will never forget. I could barely counter the speed of his strikes but he was unable to take the strength of mine.But I was begining to tire, he knew that and used a magic I'd never seen before and threw me into the cavern wall, I impaled myself in a stalagmite in the process. He conjured some type of dark energy and was going to hit me with it when the wall and floors began to crumbled. Behind me was a tomb, on it was ancient writing, I assumed it was Greek. By reading it I came up with a plan. I sent out a burst of energy at my attacker causing him to stumbled and fall into a small nearby cavern.

While he tried to climb out I opened the tomb to find just what I needed.

Arachne.

Cat held her hand up when Nora looked as though she was going to interject.

In her time she was an amazing mortal weaver, she challenged Athena to a contest. In which she won, yet, it was her hubris that made the goddess turn her into a spider. I found a small spider weaving in the top corner just as the Dullahan climbed over the edge. I did a quick enlargement spell, growing Arachne to the same size as I. I said, "Miss, Athena has sent someone to do away with you who hath bested her."

She was enraged,"Who does that lowly goddes send this time?" I pointed behind me, "It has already killed a child in its haste." Arachne was furious at that mention and leapt from the tomb, grappling with the undead swordsman to the ground giving myself time to run.

Right into the Dullahan's wayward black magic. It sends us to one of the circles of Hell, the sixth to be exact. It wasn't the most dangerous but it sure as heck wasn't safe either. I was chased by some of the demons standing gaurd, ranting how if they gave me to their master they'd be returned to the mortal world. Obviously, I wasn't happy with the fact that that required me dead, so I stayed out of sight, away from any and demons minor or not who would attack me. Amidst the smoke, ash, and death I ran right into the master's stable of sorts. I collided with a hellhound who scampered away when I snarled at him. I was nicked from behind and whirled with my weapon to find my attacker was only 2 feet tall and a small stallion.

The little thing was chewing on my cloak, yanking at it like it had attacked it. I lifted up the cloak by the ending tassels and watched with amusement as the little horse held on with its chompers, kicking its small legs outward. I picked up the young Hell creature and held it before my face, clicking my teeth to get it's attention. The black stallion stared at me with confusion and curiosity. I could then tell the youngling was male and practically bones. I placed him on my shoulder, reaching in my bag for a bunch of apples. I placed a bright red one in front of his face, he sniffed it before chomping on it. I could tell he was happy as he wiggled around for another. And another. I allowed him to drink from my supply, smiled as he jumped in excitement and confusion as the water touches his lips.

I stroked his short mane, allowing him to nuzzle into me before I had a thought. "Where's you parents little ome?" I got an image of two horses, a black male and white female, being killed and fed to a group if lesser demons. I could feel the small stalion's fear and saddness and had the greatest and stupidest idea ever.I decided to take him with me.But first he needed a name.

I spent the next 20 minutes walking to the throne room trying to find a name for the little thing. He was so excited about everything, his spirit was bright. That was when it hit me Lost Spirit, Spirit Pierdut, Pierdut for short. He seemed happy at the name so I made it official by giving him my emblem on his right shoulder, two silver wolfs fighting each other. He stood proudly, prancing in circles teying to see it. I was laughing at his antics when I felt a dark presence near me. I stood stock still and hadPierdut hide behind me as the figure showed themselves. I was very surprised to see it wad the Dullahan being choked by the Devil.

"You were supposed to take out the elders quietly. Not draw attention to yourself." The horned man said as the Dullahan fell to the ground with a thud. The sound of the headless swordsmans armor hitting thw cobblestone scaredPierdut that he yipped, completely blowing my cover. The Devil stared at me before sending the Dullahan to bring something, "You must be the wolf he's talking about." I nodded unsure of what else to do.

"Please, come sit. We have much to talk about." He walked towards a small table and conjured two chairs. I wordlessly sat down, holdingPierdutclose to me, stroking his fur to comfort him. "You've made a friend have you?" He asked. I held the small stallion closer, out of reach. "Don't fret you can keep him, I've got too many running 'round anyhow. Tell me," he took a cup of tea from the Dullahan, "what did you do to make my soldier send you here?"

"I was protecting the village he attacked. I watched him kill a child." The Devil clenched his clawed hand and the cup cracked then broke apart at the force. "That is despicable." at my raised eyebrow he continued, "Even I have rules. He will be punished thoroughly." The Dullahan's head gulped loudly. "Is there anything I can do to make up for this travesty?" I thought for a moment, "The boy," "you want me to bring him back?" I sighed and nodded, "Along with me, and Pierdut here, getting a way back to our settlement." The red skinned man chuckled, "That is simple, the portal however will cost you." He leaned forward, "What will you pay?" I shook my head, "I will allow you to take my blood, I know you can use it for spells. Is that enough?"

He laughed heartily, "Just perfect indeed." He snapped his finger, "This is your way home." He was ready to usher me into the portal before I felt a sting, he was pulling some of my blood from an open wound. "Let me make myself clear," he looked to me as I grabbed his collar, "the boy must be alive. The same overprotective brother he was before, no changes or else I'll be making a new knife from your horns. Got it?" The devil nodded before I clicked my teeth and Pierdut followed me through the portal. I found my home filled with Thulin elves, I ignored their calls and searched for the little girl. Finding her crying for her brother, "Don't cry, sweetheart." I said.

"But big brother is gone." She wailed. "No he's not." She looked at me with confusion that quickly turned to joy as from the ground came her brother. A bit dirty, bruised, and with a scar going diagonally from his right shoulder to left hip. "Big brother!" She shouted as she tackled him, crying and luaghing just as much as he was. I turned to gather my things when the boy grabbed my hand, "I know what happened, I should be dead."

I looked him over, "What is your name?" He looked confused, "Jacob. My sister is Natali." I smiled and crouched down to his level, "Then you should know Jacob, no girl should be without her big brother." He smiled at what I said before hugging me.

Not long after speaking with the elders I was packed and ready to move on. When Natali came running, she had a wooden sword in her hand and a cloak over her shoulder. "I'm going to be just like you when I grow up." I laughed, "With determination and practice, of course." She handed me the cloak, "This is to keep you safe from the bad weather. Just like you protected us." I generally refused gifts but with a smile like that I just couldn't. I attached it to my armor and patted her on the head, subtly placing a blessing spell for her and her brother. I whistled and Pierdut came running to my side, he was pulling a small cart with our tent and food in it behind him as part of his training. I smiled and gave him a peice of my sliced apple before heading on my way. Waving at the siblings who smiled brightly.

"That's it." Cat said as the group continued to look towards her. "Wait," Ruby said, "if you gave him your blood he could do lots of bad spells right?" Cat smiled slyly, "What I gave him was the blood of the Dullahan and Arachne. If he uses it the spell will explode, killing him and destroying his castle." Weiss laughed at her ingenuity, "Looks like we're here." She said as she saw a clay temple coming into view. "We'll make camp here." Trezzahn said as he and his gaurds began setting up their tents, giving the Hunters enough space to build their own. Weiss and Catalaya decided to share a tent since Yang kicked the two out so her and Blake could "reconnect". Ruby shared a tent with Pyrrha and Velvet.

Cat watched as Weiss was lulled to sleep by an old lullaby in her tongue. She scratched Pierdut's head as he lay beside her, more of a dog than a horse really. She heard rustling and called out quietly, "You may enter, Arachne." A small spider climbed in before becoming larger, it had a woman's head and torso, her body that of a spider, "Good evening, wolf." Cat smiled, "The same to you, spider. What is it you need? Not that I don't mind seeing and old friend."

Arachne chuckled before turning serious, "Remember when you asked me to keep track of anything regarding a certain topic after you saved me from the River Styx?" Cat nodded, "Well, I have some information." Cat motioned expectantly. "The Fallen, Marques, was attacked recently." Cat looked up from the ground, "What does this have to with me?" Arachne took a deep breath, "His wings were cut off, then burned. I found the ashes." She turned guiltily from her master, "There was also a specific magic signature left behind belonging to..." Arachne pointed to Weiss who remain sleeping.

Catalaya sighed then smiled slightly, "I figured that was blood." She mumbled. "Should we take action? The law will come for her." Arachne asked. "No," Cat shook her head, "we will do nothing. I will take her training to another level if her passion is so strong. You can leave, go back to your travels, forget this happened and send a letter next time." Arachne chuckled and transported herself back to her home. Catalaya blew out the lantern, tucked herself into her blanket caccoon, pulling Weiss close to her chest.

"I won't let anyone take you, Snow." Cat squeezed her close, breathed in her scent before falling asleep. Dreaming of a white dragon and black wolf.