They came under the cover of darkness like a swarm of locusts over the island with flags raised high and eyes cold. A writhing black mass of dark soldiers with killing intent in their eyes. The market was empty, all but silent for the marching of an unhesitant army. Stomping over fine fabrics and pushing over carts of expensive spices. A gold and bronze palanquin decorated in fine jewelry appears behind the army, three slaves lifting it by each leg off of the ship. The sight would've given any other serious pause but to the Hunters it was unfortunately a near common sight.

Blake watched out the corner of her eyes as her father tightened the straps on his kevlar vest, checking his gun with the practiced ease only a former White Fang soldier could have. Despite his pacifist ideals even Ghira knew that sometimes violence was the only other option. An option Blake was above all trying to avoid for her father. Who, to her disappointment, refused to go to safety with the others-her mother included. A true leader doesn't cower in the shadows, a true leader fights for the people. She thought with sarcastic disdain.

A hand on her shoulder pulled her from her rumenations. Turning her head she found Yang by her side with a serious look on her face. "It's time." With that Blake nodded and a switch was flipped in her head. Flicking the button for her comm unit on she let the rest of the team know she was ready and headed to her position. As she traversed her way into the brush along with her designated team, she casts a single cat ear to the side with interest at Weiss' soft encouragement to Catalaya.

"Everything will be fine. We're right behind you, the moment you're in trouble I'll come running, my wolf." Blake smiles softly as in her periphery she sees Catalaya nod and smile shakily as Weiss places a gentle kiss on her cheek. Personally, Blake felt it was too early for Catalaya to be in the field. Despite all her progress so far the entire team had begun to notice her little reactions to things.

Flinching at loud sounds or voices, putting more distance between herself and strangers, as well as her clear lack of confidence that once flowed off her skin like it belonged there. Outside of sparring she seemed anxious, like she was unfamiliar with dealing with people normally. That and how she stuck to Weiss and the rest of the team like glue when put in a social situation just screamed uncomfortable.

The knowledge that Weiss was at her side put some of her fears to rest but no one could really fault her for worrying about her friends. Blake shook herself as she slipped into the shadows, a silent prayer going out to the others that had become so dear to her.

Catalaya marched like a tin soldier towards the encroaching horde. The enchanted armor quickly morphing over her body and into place as she walked. A casual hand rested on the hilt of her katana, she could feel the ancient energies within the blade silently humming along in anticipation for the coming fight. Watching with what looked to be disinterest as Von Daleam climbed from the covered platform atop the backs of human slaves. The shifter's senses that had spread widely in preparation went of like a klaxon in her head as a hooded figure climbed out behind the old Vampyr. Balanced Insanity's blade heating up at their appearance, whether it was fear or anticipation she wasn't sure.

Unknown cloaked woman with Von Daleam, seems powerful be wary. She silently urged through her link with her lover who communicated the message to the others. "If it isn't the infamous Black Flame. I'm surprised you've come to face me in your condition." Barely even noticeable, a slight shiver runs through her body as his voice washes over her. Her senses finding something disconcerting about his blasè attitude all things considered.

"I wouldn't miss this for the world." Catalaya said casually as part of her focused on creating the bes strategies. She did however notice how the Vampyr frowned at her casual dismissal of his appearance. Expecting something different were you?

She recognized the stuttered movements of his fingers in an attempt to call upon his Draugrs. Even took a smalk amount of satisfaction in his clear dissatisfaction at the empty reply. "Looking for something?" She let her smugness bleed into her voice, following her tactic to contiue to aggravate him further.

The half formed snarl of his lips told her enough of the story.

"Enough talk Phantom!" With an overdramatic flourish he ripped his cape from his shoulders and readied his saber in the air, the blade shimmering in the moonlight. Catalaya turned her body so her right hand held her enchanted blade ready meet his own.

With the stance of a crouched tigress primed to stike, the two malignant forces clashed to the sounds of metal striking metal, sparks of the meeting lighting the air around them in a beautiful performance of light and death.

At the moment of the launching the army split, scattering across the sands following unheard orders of destruction. In her peripheral, Catalaya noted the hooded woman vanish into the shadows with an entourage of soldiers following behind purposely. Normally a cause for concern was ignored as she focused her energy on beating the nigh ancient Vampyr. Within the sounds of their clashing she could hear the sounda of battle behind her; the ringing of Weiss' familiar magic in her ears, the quick succinct bursts of Blake's pistol, clear resounding shots of a particular red reaper's sniper rifle and the roaring flames she could only assumed belonged to the red eyed berserker Yang. Background noise providing the sountrack to a battle she both feared and revered in the moment.

Von Daleam got in a lucky slash across her left shoulder that, while she initially winced, was forcefully ignored after but a second of mental relaxation. "There was once a time I wouldn't have been able to hit you."

He sneered haughtily at her, "Seems you've truly grown weak." His smooth laugh broadcasted clearly across the empty space onyl to rattle around her head in a flurry of responding thoughts and assesments as his next strike while blocjed aent her sliding along her heels and into the walls of a nearby shop.

When did he get so strong? The warrior deflected another strike aimed at her arm with a quick wrist movement, the impact sent forceful vibrations up her arm. This isn't normal even for a Vampyr like him. Her brain worked on overdrive using part of her senses to see just where this influx of raw physical power was coming from.

As she just barely ducks under a wide arced swing aiming for her head she notices the shine at the hilt of his saber. A bright red jewel rested at the very end, glowing faintly. As their blades interlockes she could feel it thrumming with power, slowly feeding into his own. As it glowed ever ao brightly beneath the moonlight it made sense.

"Why don't you speak child? Too afraid of your better?"

A moonstone. Explains his limitless power supply.

She leapt backwards, somersaulting in the air to take up a defensive stance to collect her thoughts. "Running away now? Foolosh!" She hastily rolled out of the way of a leaping downward attack. Sand and debris being launched into the as the blade met the ground.

"I'm stronger than you'll ever be!"

Catalaya sheilded herself from the blast of wind just as it hit her. He's right. But where he has strength, I have speed.

She lowered her body to the ground, left foot forward, right hand on the hilt of Balanced Insanity as she sat like a cobra ready to strike. Her skin shifted partly as fangs grew and claws topped her fingertips. She forced magic to pulse strongly through her veins, letting droplets of blood coat the blade that vibrated and let out a near audible growl for more. Eyes slowly changing to a vibrant crimson she met the charging ancient head on as the blade burst into black flames of the hottest caliber. A wave of burning energy collided with the physical force of his blow faster than the eye could track, knocking the Vampyr through a wall and into a tailor shop.

Even as he stumbled out of the brick she was upon him, moving faster than he thought possible. The man who was once the attacker, the predator was now the prey as he seemed to out more focus on avoided the plentiful and dealy strikes.

Drawing more and more on the moonstone in attempt to sate the unnatural burns he recieved at the hands of the burning blades. Regal renaissance-esque clothing burned around the edges, parts of it in tatters, peices fluttered in the supernatural gales of wind their movements created.

Unannounced to him his actions were part of her plan. From her experience, the biggest flaw of constant pulling on a moonstone is its inevitable failure. One that was quick to come as a well timed flurry of strikes sent the man flying colliding with his own transport, leaving in peices. As the ever aggressive Vampyr stood once more she visibky watched him attempt to pull on the powers of the stone only for it to explode in his hands.

He dropped his saber to the ground as the burning pieces of the red gem buried themselves into his skin painfully.

He snarled loudly, a terrifying unearthly roar launching from his mouth as, in a blind rage, he leapt at his opponents turned back. In but a mere second Catalaya whipped around and stabbed her blade, almost to the hilt, into his abdomen. The unnatural flames encasing it allowed it to slid easily into his flesh also produced an assaultingly purtid smell of buring flesh. Yanking it from his body harshly she watched with a cold dissociative gaze as her collapsed, holding his stomach uselessly. Her eys widened in mental anguish as the symbol on the amulet he bore around his neck; a three headed snake surrounding a raven.

The same symbol the men who attacked her wore.

"Where did you get that amulet?" She asked, her voice disturbingly cold.

Von Daleam simply snarled, lunging half-heartedly only to have himself decapitated by her blade. His head rolled along the ground for a moment before it and the rest of his body turned into black ashes. The smell of it turned her stomach harshly and she turned and vomited into a bush.

Wiping her mouth with the back if her sleeve she sighed and looked into the distance. The sounds of the many fights made her flinch internally. She was so tired-mentally and physically. A fight like that straight out of recovery had worn her out more than she realized. The familiar energy he had putting out reminded her too much of then.

Catalaya dragged her weary body to a likely looking spot and climbed atop a fabric ladened bench, absentmindedly wiping it of dust. She laid back on it and barely noticed the soft tears running down her own face.

Jakal?

Yes little flame?

Let Weiss know about what happened. I just-I don't think I can fight for a little while.

Alright. Would you like me to stay?

No. I'll be fine I think. Just-just need some time. I don't want to worry her.

Of course.

Feeling them recede from the forefront of her mind, Catalaya let herself freely cry. Soft sobs barely audible over the sounds of crashing waves.

Weiss

The ice mage hadn't heard from her lover since the the original message of a new adversary on the playing field had cone through. Between protecting the citizens and slashing her way through what felt like a neverending horde of vampires she admittedly didn't have time to communicate when her mind was too focused on staying alive long enough.

Like the others she had been worried about thrusting Cat into a fight this big so soon, more so than they realized. It hurt seeing her dissociate from the world, acting like nothing more than the animal she was desperate not to be. Not a pretty sight in anyway.

It hurt to know that nothing she did could fix her, could make her feel safe again. Which was why she threw herself into her work, quickly rising to become feared and respected in the supernatural world. Though her colleagues belived she was too brutal, savage with her methods. She could only scoff. They aren't the ones facing murderous creatures on the daily.

After finally slicing her way through a few stragglers, the Schnee surveyed the situation with the eye of an experienced soldier. Taking immediate stock of the condition the militia soldeirs were in, whether they could contiue fighting alongside her or not. That and whose injuries were fatal or otherwise needed no attention. She ordered those able to transport thw critical cases to the shelter for immediate treatment and others to escort them safely. Aware that there could be any number of hostiles in the shadows.

It was as she was leading the escort, swiping away remnants of vamp dust from her shoulders, the previously quiet link to the shifter practically explode with fear, hesitation but the amount of anger slamming into her skull made her force her mental barriers up as she stumbled. Brushing off the concerned voices of those around her, she pushed them on as she reached out-tentatively so-in attempt to soothe the anguish. Finding her self blocked off, she forced bits of calm through the small hole in the link. Her fears temporarily sated she softened her stance slightly as they approached the shelter, giving a message to one of the militia to pass on, she joined the others on watch in case of a seige.

The few moments of anxious peace were interupted when she felt Jakal's prescence brush against her. What's wrong? Is she hurt? Do I need to-

She is alright, mostly. The encounter has brought up some bad memories. A link has been descovered.

Her heart beat rose slightly at the thought of what the possible lead could be. Is she relapsing?

Jakal hesitated, she could feel it. They were going to speak when her senses went off like a wildfire. An arrow was flying at her, reaching a hand out she grabbed it. Wincing at the heat of it in her palm, skin blackening over before healing over.

"You're faster than expected." A sultry voice claimes from the brush. Weiss readied her rapier, whoever this was made her feel more than uneasy. A slicing through the air announced the presence of another arrow. This time lodging into the solfier of the man next to her who fell to the ground screaming.

"Circle up! Protect the injured!"

They moved with frightened speed, the heiress draggibg the injured man into the circle's center to be treated by the medic. The protectors raised their shields in an impenetrable wall, picking up the slack of others.

"Smart too." Another projectile slammed into the shield wall, exploding in flames that pushed the men back a little but otherwise did no harm. Another two made them stagger slightly, nearly falling from formation.

"Move!"

They moved like a tank, protecting one another from the arrows that only seemed to get closer and stronger as they moved. Seeing the base getting closer Weiss ordered to the others to push on inside while she herself rolled iff to the side and fire off a blast of ice that blocked the next volley of flames from reaching the men in a collision of steam. A swarn of vamps rushing out from the soldiers.

"Go! Protect the citizens!"

Weiss fired off her own volley and sprinted away knowing without a doubt that the unseen woman would follow her.

Flicking on her comm she spoke hurriedly, "Need assistance up at the base. Swarm inbound. Drawing away the unidentified hostile, standby." A few midair somersaults landed her on a branch just as four arrows thudded into the bark next to her head. The surface of the tree blackened into ash and broke apart. While she could hear her teammates responses in her ears her brain was more focused on the approaching figure.

Obviously female from their clearly feminine stature, they walked up to her as if they owned the place. She could feel the smugness radiating off of their aura.

"Identify yourself."

The woman pulled their hood from their head ro reveal glowing amber eyes peeking out hauntingly from beneath onyx locks, a sinister smile on their face. Even in seemingly old styled robes, they seemed to accentuate their appearance. Full of wisdom but with dark intentions.

"You may call me Cinder Fall, Winter Knight." Their voice was like smooth jazz to Weiss' ears, carressing her mind like a predatory snake before she shook her head of the strange prescence.

"What is it you want?" Her tone was firm as pushed her senses to see just how dangerous her opponent was.

"Just to talk." At the raise of a pristizne eyebrow she contiued on, sauntering slowly around Weiss in a circular motion. "You have a lot of power you know, nore than you realize."

Weiss kept eyes on her the entire time as she spoke. "You could be so much more. Yet, you waste you're time with these petty mortal affairs."

Weiss scoffed, "If your here to convince me to join you, you're wasting you tume on a pointless endeavor." She felt apprehension as Cinder merely smiled like she knew s secret she didn't.

"Of course. You'd never betray them. No, the very thought leaves a bad taste in your mouth." She vanished before her eyes and appeared once again behind Weiss with a gentle grip on her shoulder. The heiress found she couldn't move in the moment, something restraining her movements.

"Think of all the times they've held you back, how often you have protect them. If it wasn't for their pesky morals your beloved wouldn't have been hurt would she? Be honest with me." Cinder spoke in her ear, running a clawed hand down her exposed back, sending tingles up her spine. Her words were akin to a poison tipped blade, quick with ther strikes and just as quick to infect. Her mind spiralled for a few moments, finger twitching on Myrtenyster's hilt. She snarled mentally at the image of her love's crying face, in anguish at an attack the should have been prevented. The draconic bloodwithin her boiling in rage at the omages runnjng theough her head before her mind settled on the memory of her fist mission with the team. It was painful, ot was long and it was one of her happiest memories with the three women.

Cinder was in front of her again, clawed hand resting gently on her chin as she smiled softly, almost motherly, at her as she pulled herself from her influence.

Though she still couldn't move her body, she was free to spout her distaste. "You will not turn me against them!"

Cinder simply kept smiling, trailing a hand to rest against her throat almost casually, hand heating with near burning heat. "The human in you may hold sway currently but don't forget little mage," she gripped her throat tightly and Weiss found the strength to reach and grasp her wrist. Steam coming from the contact between their skin. "You're still a beast with no control, eventually you will spill blood along your fangs."

She pulled her close as Weiss struggled and flailed, whispering into her ear, "A monster in man's skin ready feast on their flesh. And you will enjoy it like the animal you are."

Cinder dropped her unceremoniously to the ground as she gasped harshly, hand gripping her stinging throat. Weiss could only watch as she sauntered away into the shadows. "Think on it dragonling, you may find truth in those words." Lifting their hood back onto the head, she disappeared into the woods like dust on the wind.

Weiss shook her head harshly looking over her reflection in the water, happy that there wasn't any visible bruising. She used her power to soothe her wounds as she stood shakily and walked off slowly, legs wobbling.

Really, at the moment all she wanted was to sleep for the next few days.

When they all regrouped at the Cheiftain's home, everyone was clearly exhausted from the battles. Though they did their best to debrief each other as they ate, dinner was spent more or else nodding along to Ghira's words and grunting as they took their fill. Catalaya was bit a quieter than before but her position was no more concerning than earlier.

Thr group, to both the amusement and confusion of the older Belladonna's, seemed to subconsciously be drawn to each other. Something that was inherently familiar to the group by now. According to stories from their daughter, they'd done stuff like this for the past few years pretty much unwittingly.

Upon cleaning up the dishes the were treated to the sight of five of the strongest fighters curled up on a pile of cushions together. Ruby being stuck in the middle of the two couples.

Kali did of course tell her husband off for thinking to wake them up. Deciding together to let the group get some hard-earned rest. Though not before taking a few pictures for thd photo album.