Significant Changes: The fiction is now at the point where originally posted chapters stopped going up on FFN. Chapter 30 was the cut-off mark where things began to get rewritten. As such, you'll see that I've removed "original chapter lengths" from Author's Notes. I will still be adding a few thoughts here in the significant changes section for the rest of the fiction to display the way my mind worked through the creative process. There's only 10 of chapters of 'old' scenes left before everything else is entirely new content.

Also please remember, this story was written before we had a firm understanding of what Qrow and Raven had for semblances.

Revisited chapter length: 4,493

"Regular dialogue" [Faunus speech only]

Chapter 30

Pyrrha wouldn't admit it out loud, but her feelings for Weiss had only begun to deepen.

Being in the same living space as the woman of her affections was a difficult thing. Especially because that woman didn't seem to notice. In the workplace, Pyrrha knew she had to be professional. She couldn't risk upsetting the fragile balance that her peers had going. She was only one cog in a grand machine after all, and she knew the importance of fluid teamwork.

When the work week was done, she thought she might get a reprieve. The only thing that happened was that she found her bedroom a lonely place. She went back to her old teammates, and the routine she become most comfortable with. It all settled back into place without any effort, but, that didn't chase away Pyrrha's concerns. Her heart had a somewhat empty feeling that she knew well.

She was completely and utterly invisible to the woman she cared about.

Pyrrha sat on her little front stoop, sipping a morning smoothie that Ren had concocted. Green eyes watching the goings on around the short cobbled path. It was made comfortable because she knew all of the residents in the area, not just team RWBY. The other hunters in the area respected the concept of privacy, so they didn't pay her any mind as she watched the birds fluttering around. The nearby cat was unsuccessfully pouncing into a garbage dumpster.

If she didn't think herself completely crazy, she was sure that crow squawking on the line was much smarter than it should have been. She watched as the cat tried and failed several times to catch it. It seemed as though each attempt was doomed from the start. Then the door at the end of the alleyway opened. Ace was already bounding out of the door completely ignoring Yang's shouts to get back in the house to put shoes on.

Chuckling mildly at the early morning ruckus, Pyrrha made her way over to the front of the RWBY household. "You're up rather early today, Yang."

"The whole house is up early. Ace keeps attracting Grimm. At first it was just a few spiders, then it was a rat Grimm, it's finally getting out of hand though." Yang sighed, watching as Ace chased the stray cat around, snarling at the little creature who scampered up the nearest drainpipe. Ace growled at it a little more before perking her little ear back up and running back to Yang's side as if she'd just done a good deed.

[Up.] She mewed tugging on Yang's pants. The blonde merely reached down to pat her on the head before yawning.

"It's been a real pain in the ass…" Yang went on to say, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "Who knew that small Grimm infestations could be this annoying?"

"That seems very strange, I've never heard of anything like that." Pyrrha murmured, eyebrow raising with interest as she looked down to the small child, who did in fact seem to have a small army of bug Grimm coming up from the dumpsters to follow her. "Oh…"

"Yep." Yang groused unhappily. "That's about what I expected."

"Well, that's unfortunate."

"No shit…" Yang grumbled, stomping the Grimm underfoot.

"You haven't the slightest clue why she's attracting them?"

"Nope. Just that she does, for whatever reason." Yang said, plucking another bug Grimm off of her little sister's head, her ears flicking as Yang squashed the tiny monster between her fingers. "I don't think it's that big a deal, but Ozpin wants to see it for himself. He's coming here to see her personally."

"Well, I hope he knows how to correct this." Pyrrha said, using her foot to sweep the small Grimm off of the porch. An angry shout issued from the back of the house before an ice blast shattered one of the windows. Pyrrha and Yang shared a look before the redhead pushed passed the powerful brawler in search of Weiss. Whatever reason she had for blasting ice out of the window, it couldn't have been good.

Ozpin's arrival couldn't have been more welcomed, and yet, more feared. He was a jovial man to be certain. However, lingering underneath his cool and pleasant demeanor, he was a man that commanded an absurd amount of power. When it came to keeping Remnant, Vale particularly, safe from Grimm, he did everything he could. His methods were sometimes questionable, and there were moments that people around him worried for his sanity.

Having him come to their humble dwelling was not what constituted a relaxing afternoon.

Truth be told, it was also a little embarrassing when a team of hunters had to make a call and report a bug Grimm infestation. Students normally took such cases, though, the circumstances this time were more than a little unusual.

Ozpin was neither appalled nor surprised when he took a look at the child attracting the little vermin. In fact, he quite expected a call about something, though it wasn't exactly something like this. "Ace Branwen…" He said more to himself than to the group of huntresses surrounding him. He adjusted his glasses, and gazed to Yang. "She is Raven's daughter, correct?"

Yang only nodded quietly, hands balled into fists at her side. "What of it?" She asked, though the question lacked heat.

"Yang, come on, be nice." Ruby hissed quietly. "Yes sir, I'm the one that issued the initial report about her when I found her."

"That you did." He hunched forward, peering at the child who was more than happy to hide behind Blake. "Inquisitive youth, isn't she?" He noted with a smirk. The way her own eyes studied him in return was slightly amusing. Offered his hand, wandering how she might respond.

Ace took a sniff, flinched, and hide further behind her protector with a tiny growl. [No.] Her ears flattened back in a display that would be aggressive, if only it wasn't adorable.

"Hmm, not very sociable, are you little one?" He said, more to himself than the others.

[Male bad.] Ace proclaimed as she looked up at black. He gave Ozpin another passing glance complete with a small hiss. Then her clawed fingers finding purchase on Blake's thigh. [Kin. Male bad.]

Blake could only roll her eyes as she flicked her ear at the child, inclining her head impassively in Ozpin's direction. [Male good.] He responded before aggressing the headmaster in front of her properly. "Ace doesn't like new people, or the smell of brandy." Blake said, though she knew it wasn't a very good excuse. Her nose detected just the slightest hint of it, but the smell was the same sort Qrow liked to drink. If anything, that man had made an impression that Ace wouldn't soon forget, and scent largely told the difference between friend and foe. "Blame her uncle for that. Qrow is a bit of an idiot…"

"So I've heard." Ozpin chuckled backing away to give the small child some space. "He claims she has quite the vicious bite, though I'll happily take his word for it."

"Smart move." Yang smirked. "Trust me."

"She is a biter." Blake said. "Faunus teeth are no match for human aura..."

"Indeed, Faunus adapted differently from humans. The ability to chew through aura came to them through over many eons of evolution, likely to defend themselves against humans in the first place." Ozpin agreed, settling himself on the sofa. "She bites strangers often then?"

"She's a good kid." Yang told him.

"Well, she bite Qrow, but he messed with her ears. If I were her, I would have bit him too." Blake muttered before sighing. She felt her shoulders slumping under the weight of that admission. "Yang's right though. Ace generally doesn't bite anyone unless she's annoyed or playing."

"I wouldn't expect less. Now then, other than Qrow, she socializes well with others?"

The team shared a glance, but it was Blake who finally spoke.

"That's hard to say." Blake answered. "She's very affectionate to people she knows…but, well, she is a Faunus."

"Now, now, you don't need to worry. I'm well aware of the youthful indiscretion in youngsters." He replied gently. "I've spent more than enough time around children to understand that they aren't to be underestimated. That goes for humans too." He said, eyeing Ruby momentarily before casting aside whatever thought he had popping into his head at the time. "Though, you hit the nail on the head. Ace is a Faunus, so some things are meant to be expected. If you had to describe her preferred method of playing, it would be?"

Blake hesitated, but decided to just be as blunt as possible. "She'll play with toys occasionally, but, she's much more interesting in batting things around, hunting, stalking…"

"So, feral behavior?" He asked bluntly, this earned him several scowls.

"You wanna rephrase that?" Yang asked curtly, reminding Ozpin very much of her uncle in the way she scowled at him. It was a demand, not a request.

He didn't react, and merely tented his finger upon his lap. "That is the proper terminology, I assure you."

"He's right." Blake sighed, shaking her head at Yang. "If Raven were a Faunus, she'd be what we'd call feral. You never abandon your mates or offspring. You never, ever do something like that. It's against our social code, and more often than not, also against our primary instincts. She is young, but she does act a little bit feral."

"Hot tempered, too." Weiss added. "Although, I assume that runs in the family."

Ozpin nodded at this. "If I may?" He asked, producing a small mirror. "I'd like to see this behavior for myself."

Blake gave a huff, already knowing what he intended to do with it, and inwardly cursed. She found it offensive, but didn't say anything, it wasn't exactly her call to make. She looked over to Yang. In fact, it seemed as of the whole room regarded her with the choice, Ruby included.

"What are you all looking at me for?" Yang shrugged, sending the look directly back to Ozpin. "We called you to help us…do what you need to do."

He flashed the mirror, reflecting a little ball of light onto the floor. He wondered if Ace might go after it, but she was far less interested in playing, and much more interested in hiding behind the older Faunus. After a few moments, he gave up, and placed the mirror away. "Feral perhaps, but not rabid." He concluded slowly. "If she has a temper, I assume it isn't any more than others within the family. I doubt that it would be some sort of developmental or emotional dely."

"And that would mean, what, exactly?" Weiss pondered

"Merely that she doesn't think like a Grimm." Ozpin replied succinctly.

"Is that really a thing?" Ruby asked him. "People thinking like Grimm?"

"In a manner of speaking, although, it would be exceedingly rare. Humans and Faunus have souls, so, befriending a being without one isn't natural. In order for that to happen she would have needed to have a soul tainted enough to appeal to a Grimm's malignancy. It usually happens among isolated individuals, or those who do not care for humanity as a whole, but I highly doubt this is the case here."

"Then what do you think it means?" Yang asked hotly.

"I believe this may have something to do with her semblance. Perhaps a side effect, of sorts. She's much more interested in staying on the hip. She hasn't outright attacked me, and she's not seeking something to kill. I doubt there is a cause for concern. The Branwen bloodline is a strange thing. It's not out of the realm of possibility that this is meant to happen, odd though it might seem."

"I beg your pardon?" Weiss said, affronted that anyone might even think to say such a thing. "I hate to be disrespectful, sir, but earlier this morning I had to murder a small nevermore in our bathroom." She explained, pointing to the back hallway. "Where it might have come from is anyone's guess, but either way, I find this entire debacle just a little asinine."

"I understand your concern. It wouldn't be the first time I've had people gawk at my assumptions, but allow me to explain. Qrow and Raven, in my very personal opinion, remain special cases. When they were young, they both carried semblances and abilities that seemed out of the ordinary. Qrow's tends to be relatively benign in the long run…so long as he is careful...Raven's on the other hand…well, that was a complicated matter. Both of them had complications that came along with their semblances. For Qrow, it just so happens to be misfortune, he is very unlucky."

"Well, that's great, but I don't have some weird Grimm attracting superpower, and I'm her older sister by blood." Yang said, plucking yet another spider Grimm away from her little sister. "This, is way too freaky…it's not okay."

"Yang, you are the abnormality, not your relatives." He replied evenly.

"…What…?"

He sighed at length. "I draw this conclusion because Raven's semblance was complicated. We never completely understood the extent of it." Pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, he eyed Yang mindfully. "She could use it for good and malicious intent. It frightened her. That I know for a fact. As a student, Raven was powerful. As a huntress, she was deadly. It goes without saying that your uncle is also burdened quite heavily by his own semblance."

Yang gave him a dark look. "Yeah, but uncle Qrow doesn't attract Grimm either. Are you saying my mom did?"

"No, not at all. I'm saying that this is not the strangest thing I've heard of, at least not when it comes to your family" He murmured. "You were born and raised as relatively normal girl. You share your mother's explosive temper, and your uncle's recklessness. Your semblance is indicative of your nature, and it is also quite destructive. After all, you do have to be harmed before you can use your semblance to its greatest potential. You just don't use your semblance in a negative way. Ace may simply be exhibiting signs of her semblance early. A lack of control could certainly manifest in particularly odd ways. It isn't unheard of."

"Somehow I doubt that attracting Grimm could become a manifested semblance..." Weiss said, turning to look at Pyrrha, who merely shrugged.

"Qrow attracts trouble in all forms. He's like a magnet for it. Grimm just so happen to be included." Ozpin replied, his gaze returning to the eldest sibling. "Yang, you must understand that genetically speaking, you all share a commonality with destructive forces. However, unlike Qrow and Raven, that didn't stunted your growth as a person. You grew into the well-adjusted adult that your mother could never be.

"There must be something we can do to help Ace." Ruby said.

"Perhaps it would be better to say that we have no choice but to do something." Weiss said darkly. "What concerns me, is that a child is even capable of collecting Grimm in the first place."

"What I don't like is that they're coming in the house." Ruby added quickly "Grimm hate hunters."

"That's true…" Yang sighed, starting to feel overwhelmed. "You'd think these Grimm would go someplace else with such a high concentration of hunters in the area. You don't think…Ace…she's not in some kind of danger…or a risk to Vale, is she?"

"No." Ozpin only shook his head. "Of course not. While I don't find this child's propensity to attract Grimm to be particularly beneficial, I also don't think the Grimm she attracts poses a direct threat to Vale. Unfortunate realities seem befall the Branwen line. I believe that's what we're witnessing here. Furthermore, the Grimm are collecting around her, but you've never once stated that they were attacking her…or you, for that matter."

They all took pause, but it was Weiss who nodded. "It's true. We haven't been attacked, just annoyed."

The graying man nodded. "It leads me to believe they have some sort of fondness for her. We shall observe cautiously with this in mind. Take measures to rid the Grimm that collect when and where you see fit. The only advisory I would make is that you be careful. Don't release her aura. Until she is older, we must act with caution that her aura, and the use of her semblance could be dangerous. Perhaps, it might even be deadly, and then ladies, we would truly have a problem on our hands."

The rest of the week passed, but tiny Grimm kept gathering.

One afternoon a loud scream surprised everyone as Ace ran fleeing from the kitchen, Weiss chasing after her to murder a tiny death stalker that the Faunus had befriended. It was no larger than an insect, but venomous all the same. Likely, it had freshly hatched out of an egg, but that didn't do anything to ease the anxiety among the members of the household. Even after it was disposed of, the looming implication was terrible enough as a threat.

The occasional wayward nevermore was one thing, and most bug Grimm were annoying, but harmless. However scorpions, animal, Grimm, or even Faunus for that matter, were another problem entirely. The scorpion had a toxic venom, a single sting would be deadly to a small girl. Even a seasoned huntress would need medical attention before their aura gave out entirely. They couldn't risk the Grimm attacking Ace, and so after it had been thoroughly dealt with, the four women decided to take extreme measures.

There were objects used to ward away venomous Grimm, but Ace was too young to use most of them.

Several were activated and maintained by aura. Used by skilled hunters while sleeping in the wilds. Wristlets with chemicals were toxic too, and Ace was a chewer, so that was out of the question. There were medicated sprays, but those were over the counter, and often times worthless. They weren't willing to take the risk. Thus, there was only one other option, and, just as expected, Ace absolutely hated it.

To be fair, Blake hated it too, and mentally cursed herself the entire time she put the thing on.

A training neckpiece infused with the aura of an already powerful hunter was their best option. Younger students wore them at combat schools to keep them safe. Due to her small size, Ace had to be fitted for one personally, and Ozpin had ordered it to be made particularly for her. That didn't stop Ace from crying however. Ace clawed and clawed, but it was made of metal. There would be no way for her to get it off, and though anyone could infuse the special material, Blake insisted she be the one to do it.

Blake sighed, rocking the fussing little girl to sleep.

She had mixed feelings about such tools, neck pieces particularly, due to the negative connotations inherent in such a trinket. However, even her personal worry stomped down any argument against the implement. She reminded herself that once Ace was old enough to use her own aura effectively, the thick cord of metal around her neck would no longer be needed, and a different method could be used.

"I can't believe you agreed to that contraption. I thought for sure you'd put up a fight." Weiss said, bringing Blake a glass of wine from the kitchen. Pyrrha followed behind, glass of her own wine in her hand. She sipped it quietly as she sat down.

"It wasn't my decision to make." Blake said softly. "Yang has the final say in these sorts of matters, and she wanted it done."

"Don't give me that." Weiss said softly, a knife-like edge in her voice. "You're just as worried as the rest of us, and while I agree measures should be taken, there has got to be a better way."

"A better way, such as?" Blake asked.

"I don't know, but there has to be something." Weiss replied.

"We were lucky, Weiss, incredibly so that she wasn't stung. Otherwise we'd be in the children's ward right now fearing for her life." Blake sighed, fingers brushing against the metal. "If we can come up with something else, you know I'd be the first to jump at the opportunity. It's just that Ace doesn't have a concept of fear when it comes to Grimm, and I'm too afraid there will be an accident if we don't do something."

"Well, there are always Grimm traps…" Pyrrha began, "Weiss told me your hesitancy about those."

"I don't want poison in this house." Blake stated firmly.

"True, I see your concern, and Yang's, since most are chemical based. I assure that mine aren't. My traps are made to trap a Grimm to be disposed of later. There is no dust or poison involved." Pyrrha replied. "I could very easily show you how to use them."

"No. This will have to do. She's fast, and if she got out of sight or managed to get hurt, I'd never forgive myself." Blake said as she avoided the small hands reaching for the alcoholic beverage. "Besides, I'd rather not teach Ace the concept of racial bias." Keeping it well out of reach, she used her free palm to rub soothing circles onto the small girl's back. As expected, Ace melted into the contact like a gooey little puddle. "I was raised among a group of people who viewed neck pieces as a form of capture. A symbol of oppression and little more. I was taught to hate them. She doesn't have to think that way. A lot of Faunus do, but several don't. She doesn't need to be raised to think of every necklace as a collar."

Weiss didn't stop frowning. "We could have had that mental made into a wristlet…"

"And risk her taking it off? She's strong and…" Blake rolled her eyes when she was cut off with an inquisitive stare. "What...?"

[Kin.] Ace mewed.

"Yes Ace, we're talking about you."

[Kin.] She mewed again, ear flicking in an attempt to make a question.

"Lay down." Blake told her, guiding her back into a restful position.

[Kin.} Ace complained, wanting to play instead.

"No, it's not playtime." Blake sighed when Ace perked up again. "Lay down."

[No.] Ace growled, she wanted no part of that.

[Down. Now.] Blake growled low in her throat.

Glaring Ace down, there was no question of who was in charge. "Do as I say." She commanded tersely, causing red eyes to go wide as Ace curled back into Blake's side demurely. Blake ignored the surprised look that Pyrrha shot at her, waving it off. "As I was saying, my upbringing isn't something that should be entirely repeated. It would be best if those old prejudices died, so she's keeping this…contraption…as you aptly named it, on until further notice."

The slender woman scowled, buried deep in thought. Blake had once considered the look to be one that contained unpleasant thoughts, but now she knew better .She had come to understand that Weiss often looked that way during intense concentration. Glowering into the book pages, or gazing off into space had little to do with the woman's temperament. Instead, it had everything to do with the intensity of the woman's concentration. "Blake, we're going back to patrol the wall tomorrow." Weiss said after brining the wine to her lips once more. "Are you going to be okay on your own?"

"I think I can handle a few Grimm..."

"That's not what I mean, and you know it." Weiss said, emptying her glass. "Ruby's leaving for a quick currier mission, but she'll still be away for a few days. As much as you shoulder a great deal of burden when it comes to raising Ace, you generally have help from someone at least."

"It won't be for long, besides, I want Ruby to take that mission. She is a huntress first and foremost, and those missions help maintain the villages on the boarders. Without those supplies, morale would drop, and Grimm would attack soon after."

"I know that, but given the circumstance, I'm sure she can ask for a replacement."

"I want her to go." Blake said, she didn't bother extrapolate further. Weiss knew just how important villages were.

Those villages were safe havens among Faunus who feared living in the large cities. The smaller villages didn't carry the same racial burdens. Choosing instead to be judgmental of outsiders as a whole, rather than the race a person hailed from. A hardworking and honest family could eventually find a home among villages. They were an important milestone in Faunus culture. It was imperative that those villages received those supplies, and that a huntress accompanied those merchants to keep them safe.

"Fine then." Weiss huffed softly. "Still, you'll call and notify us if things get out of hand around here, correct?"

"Yes Weiss." Blake said with a roll of her eye. "I will call you if sudden ineptitude gets the better of me."

Weiss never considered herself a maternal figure. She prided herself on almost everything besides her biology and her upbringing. Her body was slight, and she lacked the same voluptuous softness of her peers. She was lacking in the bust, and in the rear. She was a prickly woman as well, this she knew, and she had no desire to truly change her ways. If it wasn't for the poise and elegance beaten into her as a child, she knew she would be a completely lost cause.

Her beauty was a delicate one, as though she was made of glass that would shatter in an instant. Becoming a huntress was the solution to many of her problems. Still, she was almost positive she doomed herself to being a spinster. Never to marry, and never to raise a child of her own. Seeing after Ace, was perhaps the single most baffling occurrence to ever happen.

While she didn't look the gift horse in the mouth, she also couldn't help but wonder about the direct shift that was ongoing in the household.

No one could deny all four of them had embraced their newfound domesticated ways. Blake was now pursuing a romantic relationship with Ruby. Yang had given up her questionable partying and drunk antics. Lastly, but perhaps most interestingly, Weiss could not deny her own personal investment in the youngest member of the household.

She had attempted to brush the entire matter off plenty of times, but she wouldn't be headed back to her station along the wall if she didn't feel some sort of responsibility.

"We might as well get going. If we wait for Yang, we're all going to be late." Weiss groused only loud enough for Pyrrha to hear. "If we go now, I can cover her shift."

"She does seem to be having trouble saying goodbye, doesn't she?" Pyrrha noted sadly.

"It's not that I don't understand why." Weiss began slowly as she turned and began the long walk back to the perimeter wall. "Yang's never been one for restraint. Practically crushing relatives in bear hugs and drowning them in tears is par for the course. I just wish she would be more mindful of her other duties. She's far too easily distracted."

"It must be difficult." Pyrrha noted.

"Of course it is." Weiss said before biting the inside of her cheek. The emerald eyes focused on her were entirely too sincere, looking for more truths than they ought to. It was not a comfort, and with a short breath, she gave Pyrrha a sideway glance. "What I mean to say is that they're sisters. It wouldn't make sense to do any of this if it were easy on Yang. I think I would lose all respect for her if it was. I absolutely refuse to believe she could just turn her back on that little girl."

"It suits you..."

"What suits me?"

"Looking after the wellbeing of another." Pyrrha said offhandedly as they walked back together. "It suits you, Weiss. Just as much as it suits Yang."

"I highly doubt that, Pyrrha."

"I know it may not seem like it, but, I think you give yourself too little credit." In that, Pyrrha was certain. It was almost painfully obvious. "I can tell how reluctant you are to leave."

Weiss only huffed, brushing the matter side. "You would be reluctant too, if you knew you'd come home to a swarm of little Grimm skittering out from every nook and cranny."

"Is that truly the only reason?"

"I beg your pardon?"

Pyrrha sighed. "Our teams are the nearest thing to what might be considered a warm and happy family. I sometimes fear it will be the only solace we will ever come to know. That being said, it would only be natural to be reluctant to leave such a comfort, wouldn't it?"

Weiss chose not to answer that. "You still talk to your relatives, don't you? At the very least they contact you. I've been stationed in the mail room before, I've seen the letters in your box."

"I keep regular contact." Pyrrha said, but the statement lacked enthusiasm. "I have no doubt in my mind that my family loves me, and that they did their absolute best to provide for me…however, I would never be able to call my mother or father particularly warm people...oh, but it's not that they're unkind at all. It's merely that they don't display emotion very well. Freedom of expression was always a secondary concern...I'm sure you understand."

"That's merely the way things are for people in our position." Weiss answered distantly. "If it's any consolation, I believe you to be plenty expressive."

"Oh, I wish that were true." Pyrrha lamented cryptically. "You are far more expressive than I shall ever be. I envy that in you, really, I do. You've always be able to say everything you've wanted to, and you stick by that spoken word avidly. If I could have even a fraction of that confidence, I'd be an entirely different woman."

"You give me far too much credit." Weiss told her, squaring her shoulders, and adjusting the bag slung across her back. "When in regards to my family, my father particularly, push came to shove. I simply shoved back. That's all there is to it."

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