"Aaahhh!"

"Damian!"

"Stop! You'll kill her!"

"Father! Please!"

Catalaya shot up from the bed with a gasp, her breath was coming harsh and heavy. She flicked her gaze around, calming slightly as she realized where she was. The moon was shining through the window to her light, casting a soft glow on herself and the sleeping residents. Cat turned to her side, breathing a sigh of relief when she saw that Weiss was still there.

She smiled softly, pushing a displaced baid behind her ear. She looked around, the rest of the team was resting soundly, undisturbed by her outburst. Catalaya looked out the window, her gaze traveling towards the forests. The wolf shifter knew she wouldnt be able to go back to sleep afterthatso she decided she might as well go, maybe it would clear her head. She stealthily slid out from underneath the covers and Weiss's soft grip. She grabbed her fur cloak and was halfway to the door when she heard Weiss whimper.

Quickly turning back around, she rubbed her arms along her girlfriend's sides, smiling when she calmed. She kissed her lover on the forehead, pulling the covers over her some more. The shifter quietly exited the room and headed towards the balcony above the courtyard. Catalaya, with no hesitation, leapt from the platform. Her cloak flapping behind her as she fell towards the cobblestone.

She performed a rolling landing and kept running. Sprinting past shops and homes, ignoring the surprised sounds she got from the few out at this time of night. The wolf sprinted in her human form for a bit longer, the remnants of the nightmare sticking to her consciousness. A memory flashed by in her head and she shifted quickly, running even faster on all fours. She had always felt better like this, free from restriction, free to be truly wild.

Jakal was still sleeping, unaware of her struggle. Cat didn't wish to bother her with something she couldn't fix. It had been half an hour when the frustrated wolf arrived at her destination. The temple of Dulah, where all the members of the ruling class were buried. She transformed once more, it was disgraceful to enter the temple in bestial form. She used a burst of power to light the torches as she walked.

Catalaya hadn't been to the temple for years, scared to enter numerous times in her travels. Running thin, calloused hands along the walls till she reached her destination. Catalaya wiped off some grime and dirt that remained from her run as she kneeled in front of the tombstone door. She didn't need the light to see the name carved into the heavy stone. She knew it by heart.

Jinsè the Brilliant Lion. A brother and son, never to be forgotten.

Cat nodded at that. Since, it would seem, try as she might she could never forget her favorite person. The one who taught her to fight against this horrendous world. To be both a strong warrior and a distinguished lover. He was her best friend, stillisher best friend. The woman shook her head, she hadn't come to reminisce on the old times, she needed to talk to him. "Jinsè, I know it's late but I need to talk to you."

She said, her voice echoing slightly. "First, I wanted to tell you how I've been all these years. I've traveled so many places, from the tundra to the deserts, but the Nexus will be my favorite. That's where I met Snow and all her friends, who soon had become my friends."

She smiled softly, "Weiss Schnee, Snow as I call her, is the most amazing person in the world. She's a brilliant ice mage, anicedragonshifter. TheWinter Knight,and I am her Gaurdian. She loves to learn, when she's wrong she wants to learn more on a topic so as to not be incorrect again. She's usually frigid, hard to speak to when approached. Yet," Cat paused looking towards the ceiling.

"She opened her home and heart to me. Weiss gave me so much in one moment that, if it were a dream, I would've killed the one to wake me. I told her about you and she smiled, saying that she wished she could meet you. She showed me what it was like to fight to protect something, not just to kill."

Cat went on and to describe her adventures and hernowtreasured friends. The moon was falling and the sun rising when it came time to tell him of her problems. "Jinsè, brother, the nightmares are back. I thought they were finally gone with that memory but they aren't. I almost killed Dana when she threatened to tell them. I don't know what to do."

She admitted out loud, she turned around and leaned back in the warm stone, her head down. "The memories of those days haunt me even now. All the pain and suffering, of the days you'd do all that you could to make me smile again."

The shifter could feel tears streaking down her face, "I miss you Jinsè." She choked out before the sobs took hold of her. She held herself as she devolved into a fitt of reckless tears and coughs. She stood from the ground when she heard the first cry of the warbler, it was time to go.

Catalaya wiped the tears from her eyes and the dirt from her cloak. Glancing back at the tomb once more, "Thank you for listening, big brother." With those final words she was off, running back to the manor feeling a bit lighter. She ran as the wolf, speeding past any creatures in her path. Clambering up the sides of the giant stone walls surrounding the city, she hopped from rooftop to rooftop. When the manor was in sight, the shifter, using a tree as a springboard, leapt into the same balcony she exited from.

Quickly Catalaya shifted to her usual form and unhooked the cloak from her shoulders. She slipped into the room quietly, hanging the garment up as she went. The shifter slid underneath the covers, careful not to disturb her girlfriend. Who quickly latched onto her when she felt her unnatural, familiar warmth. With a smile, Cat dug her nose in the soft tresses, admiring the smell of blueberries and fresh spring water. She pulled the other woman close and soon fell to her fatigue. Completely unaware of the gold eyes that had been watching her the entire time. "Do not fret, Little Ember, I am here." They said in a soft, strong voice before disappearing into the shadows.

Alicia's Room

The matriach was scouring over maps of Drelathaer, looking for anyway to safely create an evacuation plan. She could tell she'd been up way too late working on this plan. Yet, no matter what she tried, sleep wouldn't come. She sat under the candlelight stressing over the incoming convoy, her missing husband and many other problems.

She wasn't suited to be a leader, the only reason she had power was because of her marriage. Her hidden bear ears flicked when she heard a sound from the hall. Alicia looked through the crack in her door to see Catalaya exit her room and head to the balcony. She tilted her head and shot up when she watched her daughter leap from the edge. Alicia shot out of the room at just the right moment to see her youngest sprinting through the city streets. She let out a sigh of relief that she was unharmed, but settled to ask her later on where she was going.

Entering her room again She activated the crystal ball, calling Lili. The mouse shifter answered at the second ring, "Yes, miss?"

Alicia spoke tiredly, "Sorry to disturb your sleep, but could you bring me a pot of coffee?"

Lili nodded, "It's n-no p-problem miss." And she hung up, quickly heading to work. Alicia nodded and yawned, then shook her head in frustration.

She needed to come up with something to keep her people safe while her generals searched for her husband. There was a knock on her door and Lili shuffled into the room, a large, full tea tray in her arms. Alicia barely noticed the mouse set an entire plate in front of her. "Y-you weren't present for dinner so I brought you something to eat as well." Alicia smiled at the considerate girl.No wonderAlex likes you.

She thought to herself as she nodded, "Thank you, Lili. You can return to your rest now." Lili nodded,"Just r-ring me if you need anything miss." With that the girl left the bedroom quietly. Alicia quickly set into her coffee ignoring the plate of food. It would be four hours after when she fell asleep reading over another group of files.

The bear shifter awoke to a cold draft against her skin. Alicia rubbed her tired eyes and looked to see her window open wide, letting in the cold air. She shuffled over to the shutters and latched them closed, wondering when she opened the window. Her thought was cut off when she could feel cold metal at her neck. Alicia stiffened, knowing from experience that even one wrong move could end her right there. But she was a queen, a mother; she would prevail. "What do you want?''

Her captor growled out, "She is suffering once more." The woman cocked a brow, "Who's suffering? How can I help?"If they want money, this will be over quickly."Money? Is that what you need?"

That only seemed to make her captor angrier, the blade digging deeper into her flesh. "Money cannot heal her. It cannot heal her broken spirit."

They growled deeply, "You must fix what you have broken. Before it is too late."What I broke?Alicia thought confused,And who is 'she' ?She swallowed reflexively, "I don't know who you're talking about? What's their name?"

The knife pushed harder into her skin, "You know exactly who she is! You simply are blinded by distractions to see her pain!"

The mysterious person growling out in a low voice, "Just as you were then. When she needed you the most."

The blade disappeared from her jugular but Alicia was shoved forward onto the hard floor. There was a fluttering and a small envelope fell in front of her face. Behind her, the window creaked, being opened by the stranger. "She cannot fight if she is in pain. She cannot prosper in the condition you left her. Help her to heal or lose another peice of your heart." The queen felt more than heard a burst of magic being used, accompanied by a bright, golden light. Looking back, she found the intruder to have disappeared completely not a trace had been left behind. She slammed the window shut after looking out to see if they remained.

The bear leaned heavily against the wall, her breaths coming harsh and fast. She glanced down at the envelope frightfully, who knew what manner of evils it could contain. The woman sighed and looked around,I guess I have no choice in the matter.She thought to herself as she grabbed the fire poker and leaned forward to jabtje envelope. Nothing happened. No explosions. No burst of knives. No magic made to kill her. That only made her more nervous of the contents, really.

With a mind full of fears and shaky legs, Alicia inched over and picked the item up with her forefingers. She gave it a quick sniff, not even finding a scent on the object. Carefully, she peeled open the top with her claws. Using her right hand to reach in and grab what hid within. The Cheiftain's wife pulled out an image, that upon viewing, had her sobbing. It was of her youngest child, Catalaya.

She was wearing torn and bloody clothing, hanging limp and hopeless in the grasp of chains. The woman knew this sight well, she knew automatically that her daughter was only 5 in the photo. She knew what the stranger wanted from her then.If only I could actually do it.She thought to herself in sorrow.If only I could have saved her before.

Breakfast The Next Morning

The Cheiftain's wife and children sat at the long oak table, eating their breakfast in moderate silence. Their guests, Team RWBY could feel some kind of tension in the air around them but said nothing. The team of hunters were slightly concerned, as Cat seemed to never come down for her morning meal. Yang nudged Weiss's shoulder and whispered, "What's taking your girlfriend so long?"

Weiss only shrugged, "No clue." She said, barely masking her own concern. The meal was almost over and it was pretty well known amongst the Hunters how cranky the shifter got if she didn't eat.

Just as Weiss was readying herself to go back up, she saw a familiar head of hair descending the stairwell. Weiss smiled at her softly, getting a small smile in return. The ice mage understood how difficult it was for her to be around her family, but was glad she was trying. Catalaya walked over to the empty seat next to Weiss, sitting down she nodded in greeting to those around her. Weiss placed a plate in front of her, piled high with meats and fruits. Cat kissed her cheek in thanks and dug into the delicious meal.

Catalaya noticed her mother looking at her strangely throughout the meal, looking sorrowful and hesitant to do something. With quick movements, the servants cleared the table of dishes and food. The group stood and headed to the war room in the castle, Cat doing so slowly and tiredly. Inside it was almost dome like in shape, a large table sat in the middle. Atop it were many maps and books bound in leather. In the center was a wide map of Drelathaer. Weiss felt her lover tense slightly at entering the room and was quick to grasp her hand. She leaned deliberately on her side, providing a comforting prescence to keep her calm. The shifter smiled softly in thanks but didn't let go. Weiss gave most of her attention to the meeting but also a good portion of it to comforting her lover.

As Alicia went over evacuation routes for the citizens, she rubbed her thumb slowly back and forth along the top of Catalaya's hand. The wolf shifter did speak every once in a awhile, but when she did she sounded tired and subdued.What's wrong, Wolfie?Weiss asked through the mental link, bit concerned when she only got a confused response from Jakal. It would appear the beastial aspect was having trouble finding out what was wrong with Catalaya as well.

Weiss had been reading over the map with Kaine when she felt ill suddenly. Her vision became blurry and her stomach was doing flips. The mage would've fallen hard to the floor if not for Catalaya who caught her just before. "Snow? What's wrong? Are you okay?" The entire room could feel her apprehension and concern. "I-I don't feel too hot. F-f-feel so wea-k."

She tried to pull her magic forth, to search for what ails her when she found she couldn't acess it. Instead finding the table she was holding, turn to ice. "I-I can't control it." She whispered fearfully to herself as Catalaya checked her over physically. "What can't you control?" Alicia asked the young woman.

"My magic. I can't control it!" Weiss shouted in frustration and anger, icicles grew in the ceilings. Catalaya held her close, running her hands through her hair in attempt to calm her lover. The group felt the ground shake heavily and were instantly alert. "The hell is that?!" Kaine shouted.

They ran as fast as their feet can carry them to the balcony, and were greeted with a terrible sight. The Council of Nine' s convoy attacking the barrier around the city. The royal mages were unableto fight, finding themselves unable to control their magic as well. "It must be some type of spell."

Dana said as she ducked a peice of rock flying towards her head. "We need to evacuate the city!" Alicia shouted before she yelled to the soldiers below in an odd language. They each nodded at her and went to work protecting the citizens. Weiss was holding her knees to her chest as Cat held her in her arms. Ruby ran back to thwur room and brought back their weapons, "We have to protect them."

Cat looked Weiss up and down, she knew she wanted to fight it was her duty to do so. But this spell made her unstable, she could get herself killed. The mage gave her a look she knew well, one that begged her to help her.

"What about Weiss? What about her magic?" She asked, holding her tight to her chest.

Alex stepped up to assuage her fears, "I'll take her out of the city. Gia, Ayoanna, and I can work to fix her magic and heal the injured citizens at the rendezvous point." Catalaya wasn't keen on letting her liver out of her sight, especially in this condition. But knew this could very well save her life, and nodded.

The group split to do their jobs. Gia, Ayoanna, and Alex would take Weiss and the castle gaurd to the rendezvous point. They'd take Lili with them because her large ears would alert them to trouble. Marcus had disappeared in the confusion, probably trying to save his own skin Yang assumed. The men would coordinate with the rest of the soldiers.

Ruby, Yang, and Blake would scour the city for any injured or lost, cutting down the opponents that try to get through. Catalaya and Alicia would go through the forests, towards the convoyb to try to negotiate. Much to Weiss's displeasure. With heavy hearts and worried minds, they said farewell to each other and leapt into action.

Catalaya and Alicia ran as fast as they could through the thicket and underneath the weapons fire around them. The two women stopped when Alicia scented opposing soldiers coming their way. They climbed a tree and watched as twelve soldiers ran past them and into the fray, shouting their war cries. "There's too many, how are we supposed to get past?" Alicia questioned her daughter once back on the ground. "We stay silent and unseen. It's all we have right now."

Outside The Convoy Main Camp

Cat shook her head clear of dizziness, she'd felt a but off since crossing into the darker parts of the forests. Alicia pulled her binoculars down, "The entire place is crawling with gaurds and mages. What do you suggest?" Cat had to bite down the instinctiveOh, now you care about me?And instead explained how they would go through the old mine system a mile east, it was the safest way she knew. Nodding the two started to rise when Alicia was struck down. "Mother!" Cat half shouted and grimaced when she was hit as well by black tendrils of energy.

The wolf looked over to see her mother struggling in her bonds, just as she was. She would've given Jakal control but found she was restrained as well somehow. A group of six men, in black robes emerged from the brush, a man in a blood red robe between them. He walked right past Alicia and in front of Catalaya. "You have much pain in you. Why?" Cat said nothing, bracing her mind against his mental probing.

"That's just awful." He reached a wrinkled hand to her and stroked her cheek, "I could make it go away, if you do as I say."

Cat snarled at him and shook her head. "Fuck off." The leader said nothing and conjured a black ball of energy. He was aiming for her mother then, Alicia struggled even more at the sight of the unknown magic.

"No! Leave her be!" Cat shouted as she leaned forward and bit the man on the calf.

She regretted it for a moment, his blood tasted wrong. He kicked her back and into a tree. "You would protect one who has made you suffer so much?" He seemed genuinely confused at her actions. He glanced down at the blood and his entire demeanor changed.

The kind old man was replaced with a monster. He chanted in a language so foul, their captives ears began to bleed harshly. A black tendrils shot its way forward and imoacted Catalaya in her chest, burrowing right into her heart. She was blinded with darkness as it consumed her entire being. Before she finally lost consciousness she saw him, herfatherwith those same chains covered in her blood.

You've been a bad girl. You must be punished.The apparition leapt at her and she screamed