Chapter 8: The Fog Of War

Ruby was unable to focus on anything as she and Jaune walked towards Kuroyuri. The sky had

darkened and the smell of rain coming was on the winds coming from the west. They were gonna need shelter if they didn't get to the ruins of Kuroyuri soon. But Ruby's mind was in a different place altogether; she was thinking back to Vale. The shouting Ren had done stuck to her and was gnawing at her brain. She had felt words like those before; this place they were heading to must have had a meaning to Ren, and not a good one.

She was trying to lift her spirits by thinking back to a year ago; she was young and naive still then; she didn't want this; no one did. She thought to her mother, and how she had said goodbye to her days before the Fall-then it was all white. The Fall had shook her soul nearly apart with Penny and Pyrrha's deaths, and Ren's tone was only letting her uncover the feelings she had tried to bury already from the events that had unfolded.

Penny Polendina was one of her best friends; only behind Jaune and right before Weiss. Penny did not need to die there at Beacon. She was too pure and innocent, more so than Ruby herself, and Ruby had championed herself for years as innocent and pure compared to Yang! Seeing Penny's body on the floor of the Amity Arena was something burned into Ruby's brain, even if she didn't want to see it. Then there was Pyrrha Nikos; Penny's accidental killer. Pyrrha was a literal champion of a Huntress in training, one she had been close to; but not as much as the rest of her team, Pyrrha had always been more distant. However, she was still what Ruby thrived to be: Strong, Skilled, Friendly, Beautiful, Stunning, Tactful. Pyrrha gave her life up so she could give others time to escape. She had been a Huntress through and through; and while Ruby knew she wasn't here she could feel like she had to still thrive to be strong to help bear Pyrrha's death. She hadn't told Jaune yet that she had seen Pyrrha disintegrate into ash in front of her. Jaune would be more than heartbroken by that, he was already shaken by Pyrrha's death; he did not need to hear and then picture the visuals of it.

Pit pat. Pit pat. Pit pat.

Ruby froze as something caught her attention. It was like a drum. It didn't sound like thunder rolling over the hills from afar it sounded closer. Nor the sound of freight trains. It sounded like hooves marching and they were not too far away.

"Ru-Ruby?" A voice came softly to Ruby from within the winds. Ruby snapped out of her thoughts to realize she had stopped dead where she stood. She turned to the voice's owner: Jaune Arc.

"I-I just had a bad thought is all." Ruby said, trying to move again towards the city. "It-it's not an issue. I'm sorry I stopped."

"Ruby…" Jaune's voice was sincere as they started to walk again, Qrow barely moving. "Come on. You can tell me anything on your mind."

"It-It's nothing. Just remembering talking to my mother and wondering how she would do things differently in this situation."

Jaune just tried to smile as he stared ahead, unable to currently support Ruby physically. "It'll all be alright; ok Ruby? We'll get to Mistral and get Qrow treatment, I promise, I just need you to help me carry him."

Ruby just nods "O-Okay Jaune." she says slightly higher than a whisper as she slowly drifts into her own memories as they walk towards the ruins of Kuroyuri.

It was a warm autumn evening; the winds were blowing softly as a red cloaked figure walked towards a set of cliffs. Hands pulled down the hood of the cloak to reveal a black haired woman with red streaks and silver eyes had been hiding underneath. The sun's golden rays casted onto her as she came to a standstill at a small memorial stone. The woman's face shifted from a smile into a frown as she read the words on the stone for what could be said at least her hundredth time; Summer Rose: Thus Kindly I Scatter.

"Hey mom. I know I have not been back here in a while and I'm sorry that I missed my normal time of the year to visit but with the Vytal Festival in Vale this year, things have been hectic to say the least." The woman stopped talking to fixate herself on trying to play with her belt buckle. One she had inherited from her mother after her disappearance. Memories flooded to the young woman; she had been in Beacon for just under a year now and so many things had happened to her. Ruby Rose was already making her name for herself as one of Beacon's best students of their class, well... behind Weiss Schnee and Pyrrha Nikos… and Yang.

Yip Yip! Ruby looked down, broken out of her concentration by the sound of a dog, there at her foot was Zwei; her pup. "O-oh!" Ruby shouted, turning back and waving for a second. "While Yang said she had something to do; I was able to convince Dad to come with me up here! You know… after the time I ran into a whole pack of Beowolfs on the way home last Winter, I don't think it's too safe to come up here alone anymore."

Ruby perked up some more, trying to smile. "Dad's going to start going on more missions again soon! He said with me and Yang at Beacon, he can go back to helping the island of Patch fight against the Grimm…" Ruby looked down for a moment, a thought had crossed her mind when talking about the Beowolves earlier. "Uncle Qrow left his teaching job at Signal right after I left for Beacon as well; I don't know how to feel about that. I love him dearly mom but… at least Dad said he's going out and being a proper Huntsman and saving the world. Just like what I want to do! I really want my license so I can join Uncle Qrow out there properly!" Ruby's smile faded as she stood there. "Though.. I think they miss you Mom. I know I do, and I would bet Yang misses you too. We're all moving forward though, as I haven't been kicked out of Beacon yet! Glynda has though pulled me into Ozpin's office a few times to discuss my… uhh tendencies to get into trouble."

"Yang's a great teammate by the way! We don't fight often over anything so that's great, and seeing as I'm leader I get to put her into line!" Ruby stood there a moment. "T-that was a joke mom, I told you when I came over for the break before second semester that we had formed team RWBY. It's actually gotten easier to get used to it being the same as my name. I still wonder why Headmaster Ozpin let me in so early, though I have earned my merit in the class by taking down the criminal that I tried to stop months ago! But I guess it's the old saying 'like mother like daughter' in effect. I hope one day he'll tell me but it's weird as well…" Ruby stops to rub her head for a moment. "Headmaster Ozpin really is starting to sound like how Uncle Qrow talks, it's a little worrying sometimes. Perhaps they know something about my potential to be a skilled huntress from what you did?"

Ruby's scroll buzzed. "Oh it's from Weiss; I need to meet up with the others soon! Tomorrow the tournament starts and we want to take team RWBY to the top; and if we don't it's still alright! I'm actually also rooting for a team from Haven, team SSSN, as well as an Atlas team led by my friend Penny… oh and I can't forget my second best friend Jaune's team! I'm rooting for all three of their teams as well; I want to see all of us get to the finals! Can't tell Weiss though otherwise she'll get huffy about it. W-well it was nice talking to you Mom, I hope after the tournament I'll be able to tell you how far we got in the tournament. I-I'll talk to you later… bye Mom." Ruby said as tears fell from her eyes onto the memorial stone before she turned to her father with a smile. "You ready Dad?"

Ruby's father turned to her before speaking. "Yes Ruby. I already talked to Summer a few days ago. She knows I'm about to go on my mission after you win the Festival and keep STRQ's tradition alive for the next generation. You know that STRQ was able to win both of our tournaments, let's see if you will too Ruby." Her father smiled towards her. "Let's stop at the house though before I send you on your way back to Vale."

Little did Ruby know but her father had caught sight of a dusty old crow sitting close to her while she was standing at the memorial. As Ruby's father ushered Ruby and Zwei away; he turned to smile at the crow. With a nod the crow took off towards Vale, joining up with a few other crows along the way. However this dusty old one had its own thoughts to contend with.

They say when the Owl Faunus Mr. Edward hoots at night when he overlooks the bay of Vale from his lighthouse, a mist rolls in from the ocean. The legends then say that a ghost will arrive in those mists. Tonight was no exception. The moonlit air twinkled as the fog silently rolled in, with only Mr. Edward's light, able to pierce the fog. The fog was carrying into port a ghost ship of sorts this night. The ship silent as it pulled into a dock tucked in an abandoned corner of the harbour and lowered anchor. A sole light was seen traveling the ship as a woman stepped off the ship. This was a woman with a goal in mind, to seek out help.

This woman being the warrior woman once known as the Summer Rose; former leader of STRQ, and super mom. Summer was walking around the harbor; she remembered this area being full of life but it seems years of abandonment led to its downfall, but she could not dwell on the dockyard's status. She had a mission. But who to go ask would be a hard choice to pick for the wolf faunus. At this hour Oz would not like a wake up call, and with the Festival taking place; he should not be awoken, he needs his sleep. There's Tai-No. Taiyang is out of the question, Ruby is home. She's there and if she woke up; it would open a can of Centinel that she did not want to get into right now. Qrow… Qrow is likely on a mission, the chances he's in Vale is slim. As Summer thought about it; the more worried she got until it clicked. Tukson! Her favorite bookshop owner was a part of Ghira's White Fang! They could help! They might even still have a branch in the city… though Summer stopped to think; it's been fifthteen years…. What could change?

She could not think on it as she made her way past the From Dust Till Dawn shop, pausing to look at the store. She remembered the days when she would come here or to the Coal's Dust Shop in Mantle to get her dust. Maybe after the tournament it'll be nice to go check up on Mantle.

The city streets felt cold as Summer walked down them towards the closed stores, finally arriving at her destination. The Tukson's Book Trade. What was the slogan again? Oh! "Home to every book under the sun". Summer looked in horror as she saw Police Tape and parts of the building boarded up. She pulled herself under the tape; as it rubbed on her ears, to try to look inside, only for the door to open for her. A layer of dust covered everything in the room as she stood in the door frame. "Wh-what happened?" Summer asked herself as she walked around. Surely something happened; what happened to Tukson?! She found her answer in a corner; there was what seemed to be a blood splatter and the remains of some of Tukson's claws. "Oh Tukson…" Summer said trying to hold back a tear from falling. She had long known Tukson and to see this? She sighed to herself, perhaps some anti-faunus person fought him.

She walked around the store, unaware what to do now; this had been her only lead to getting help! Damn it! She looked around the store until she found under the desk a box. Pulling it out she saw a shipping label. 'To: Blake Belladonna, Student at Beacon Academy.' Summer smiled. She had met Blake once when she was a kitten still cradled in her mother's arms. Kali had been her childhood babysitter before she had moved away during the Revolution, leading Summer to be invited to meet Blake. Summer just beamed as she read that Blake is a student at Beacon Academy, perhaps she now knows Yang, they should be the same year!

Summer noticed it had not been tapped yet, surely she could take whatever's in the box with her to Blake. She opened the book to see a signed copy of Ninjas of Love, and under it was another book. Summer knew the book well. The Third Crusade. She had seen plenty of copies throughout the years, it was the White Fang's book. She sighed as she pulled it out and read through it, until she saw something catch her eye, tucked in a sleeve was a piece of paper.

'Blake; I'm giving you this as I know you'll know what to do with it. Everything here is every current base of the White Fang in Vale. Be careful with this info. And please, if you see your parents; please give them hugs for me; for I fear I won't be able to… Good luck kiddo. - Tukson.'

Down below were locations of all the White Fang safehouses in Vale and the passwords. One of them was even in the dockyard Summer had parked; what luck!

Summer made her way to the dockyards looking for the building, and when she arrived it was dead silent. Plucking up courage, she knocked on the door. Within a minute of knocking a slot in the door opened and a dude wearing a mask with glasses appeared within it. It was a little unnerving to have to look up and be on her toes to try to be eye level with the peephole. "Yes?"

Summer smiled, as she tried to play with a hole in her set of clothes, she missed her emblem, she loved playing with it at times like this. "I got a tip that this is the White Fang?"

The man's mask stood cold, though she could see the man's eyes narrowing. "Who is asking."

"Summer Rose."

The dude nodded. "What is the password then?"

Summer smiled, taking a breath to remember the book's codes. "London Jack."

The dude stood a second before nodding to her "Mhhmmm." He then turned to another member in the building. "Go get Adam."

Summer tried to keep up her smile. She hoped this Adam was friendly or at least willing to give her the stuff she wanted in exchange for her wares from the ship. The door eventually opened and there was a taller gentleman with auburn hair and black bull horns. She could not make out his eyes under his Grimm inspired mask. Further down she could see her black silky suit and red undershirt, noticing the markings adoring the left shoulder, she couldn't place what they were yet though, maybe they tied into something on his back.

The taller man spoke, his voice however noticeably having hints of fear. "Yes? We are quite busy. Uh Ms. Rose. What do you need?"

Summer beamed. "Cash and a weapon. I uh… commandeered a ship from a pirate and have all of it's wares to sell to you… it's mainly dust."

Adam smirked, turning away to look into the building, Summer got a good look at his emblem, a Rose with thorns, much like her own, only his was a lot more wild looking compared to hers. "Perry toss her your pistol." Adam commanded towards the other members of the room, which Summer still couldn't get a good view of.

"B-but." Perry, the faunus wearing the glasses only sighed as he handed Adam his dust pistol.

Summer smiled as they accompanied her to the ship, she could tell they weren't alone; sure enough she could see more goons appearing out of the buildings as she walked. They made their way onto the ship and Adam was interested in the robots. "Oh those? Take them, I wasn't sure you would even want them, they just seem too militaristic for a Faunus Activist group; you know?" Summer perked up. Adam only replied by pulling out a stack of lien. "We'll take the Robots for now Ms. Rose. We… have another source of dust in the city."

Summer just beamed as she looked over the lien in her hands, he had literally tossed quite a lot to her. "Wonderful, it's been a-' Summer started before realizing something. Clothes! She might as well ask them before buying her own! "You wouldn't happen to have casual outfits would you?"

Adam sighed, Summer could tell he didn't want to waste any time on her for whatever reason. "Hey Derry! Go get this woman an outfit or two then, she looks to be your size." Without a word a deer faunus ran off back to the main building and came back while the others were finishing unloading the parts of the robots. "Here you go Ms. Rose, these should work."

Summer smiled as the clothes in front of her. "Thank you … Adam right?"

Adam nodded. "You're welcome then. Now leave the White Fang alone." And with that the White Fang pulled out, having grabbed what they wanted. Summer was a little put off by their abrupt exit but ignored it as she sat back in the captain's bed on the ship. All she could think of is how off putting the White Fang seemed to be now, maybe it's time to talk to Ghira. Eventually she pulled out her new books and started to read. Blake likes this stuff? Wow it's a heartbeater for sure. Oh wow; that is a katana huh. She closed the book at that scene and started to doze off. The morning rays keeping her fall asleep. She needed to get ready to go to the Vytal Festival; she might as well watch it before making herself known to Ozpin.

Adam closed his dorm's door and locked it before turning to sit down on his bed and then turning on his scroll to message Cinder Fall. "Ran into a friend of the Belladonnas who came and donated us some Robots. What do I do?"

The phone buzzed a second later "Now is not to worry about the Belladonnas Adam. You have a mission. Do not make me come down there. Let them be oblivious to your plans."

Adam inhaled for a moment, turning to face his window he had in his dorm; overlooking the rest of the White Fang attending to the robots. It was less than Seventy-Two hours from the planned attack, and they were all ready, especially with Ms. Rose's donation, which caused Adam to grin evilly. He knew he was going to Beacon Academy itself to fight each and every student until he fights one Blake Belladonna.