A/N: Hi everyone

-Firealis- Thank you for the compliment. I try to keep every character balanced. Of course, I feel like I am far from perfect and if you (readers) tell me that someone is being left out, tell me.

-Artesys- We shall see about a reunion, but drama is a definite yes.

Thank you for sticking with me. Even those who are silently reading. Your support really keeps this story going.

Roux leaned forward, pressing Oriole closer to the horse's neck. She kept her head down to avoid the gaze of the Nevermore that flew over head. This far from Nullah she could still hear the chaos, it was slowing down. If she were to guess, the Grimm were started to scatter or were being killed by the huntsmen of Nullah. She lowered her ears to block out the noise. The people had no love for her people, why should she concern herself with them. Oriole started to sway in her seat. The princess was caught in the Faunus's grasp and didn't tilt completely over. Roux could see the other's head dip in exhaustion. Although she couldn't see her face, the Faunus knew that her eyes were shutting. "You can sleep if you want to. I know you need your beauty sleep," Roux teased. She expected a response, a quip in return. Oriole didn't comment, but lowered her head to rest on the horse's mane. Now Roux could a single blue eye. It was unfocused, not seeing the trees as they blurred past. Roux huffed; the girl was really out of it. The princess's breathing was already evening out to a calm rhythm as her eye shut. The Faunus held her arms stiff so the princess didn't fall off of the speeding horse. The trees around them was thick, but the horse knew how to gracefully prance between them. Each hoof landed quickly and squarely on the ground.

A pair of bodies crashed out of the woods, yards in front of the horse. Roux pulled back on the reigns. She moved the horse back. It huffed at her, but didn't make another noise. The young man ahead had a head of blue hair, messy from lack of care. His clothing spoke of someone of wealth, though they were dirty with the dust of travel and torn. The young woman at his side had a white haircloth and tawny hair. Her own clothing suggested that she wasn't as rich as her companion. "Jay, we are nearly there," the girl said, her chestnut eyes looking through the thick grove of trees nervously. "We can't stop here," she insisted. "The Grimm can be anywhere."

Roux held still, hoping they didn't see her. They weren't facing her and the horse was remaining silent as it caught its breath. Roux could feel her own breathing quicken. She recognized the name. Jay was the name of the prince of Dale. She swallowed, looking down to see if Oriole had stirred. That was Oriole's brother. She could just ride out to them and reunite the siblings. But what then? Her old employer expected Oriole in the Glen. What would he do when he found out she had failed? Her job was just to retrieve her for him. It was her last job. She would be free to find her siblings. Carmine was looking for them as well; the two of them could find them within months. She would be free to gather them, she wouldn't be a woman enslaved to a man she couldn't stand. She shook her head. Oriole was her friend; how could she betray her. Oriole wanted to help her find her siblings; this was the best way she could help. Besides she can always free Oriole after she got her siblings.

Roux took a deep breath and steeled her nerves. She clicked her tongue, turning the horse around. Away from the voices, away from the Prince. She would get her freedom and her family even at the cost of Oriole's. She kicked the horse's sides and the mount ran.

She didn't turn around to see if the pair saw her. But at this distance she could barely see their generally shape. Even if they followed her, the horse would outrun them. Roux narrowed her eyes, determined to see this through. She turned back ahead, she can't regret this choice. She looked down to see if Oriole had awaken. The princess still breathed deeply, unaware of the choice that Roux made. It was for the best, Roux reasoned. She patted the girl's back. "I'm sorry, Jay," the princess muttered as her face twisted.

~RWBY~RWBY~

Jay turned to the sound of crashing underbrush. He could see a horse running through the trees. Its buckskin coat standing out against the white of the bark of the trees around it. "Who is that?" Tanya asked, bracing herself for an attack. Jay held his hand out to calm the other.

"At ease, it probably is someone who is escaping whatever is up ahead," Jay reasoned, his hand hovering in the air as he was distracted. He kept his eyes on the fleeing shape, trying to see who was riding. The rider's hair looked orange, but not the golden orange of his sister. He sighed in disappointment. He waved Tanya to follow him as he walked toward the sounds of combat, turning away from the horse and its mysterious rider. The pair stepped over the undergrowth, their footsteps were loud at least on the part of Jay. The two were clearly a little tense. The sounds of Grimm not letting up. Tanya kept a step ahead, her eyes trained to look for any disturbance. She could hear something at the edge of her hearing. Something soft like a child's cry.

Jay slid his shield onto his arm as the sound of rustling sounded in front of him. He looked at the thick underbrush. Tanya unsheathed her sword, ready to strike the Grimm that was sneaking in front of them. The sound stopped suddenly. "Please don't hurt us," a pair of frightened voices pleaded.

Jay and Tanya relaxed. Both relieved that the sound wasn't a Grimm. "We are not here to hurt anyone. Come out so we can see you," the prince ordered, his tone was stern but kind. "Tanya put away your sword," he lowered his voice to say. He didn't look away from the source of the sound. The girl gave him an unsure look, but he gave her a confident nod. Her grip shook slightly. "Give them a little trust." Tanya's shoulders sagged, but she did as he requested. Her fingers lingered on the hilt for a moment longer than she intended. Jay laid his shield on the ground leaning against a small bush and held up his hands.

"We're coming out now," a male voice warned. A group of four stood up to stand above the undergrowth. Jay looked over what appeared to be a small family. A mother, father, and son. They had minor scratches on their faces and arms. The man stepped in front of his wife and child. "Please help us. The Grimm are attacking Nullah." His face lost its defensive snarl.

"There's a lot of them," the young boy said, his brown eyes wide. He clung to a small stuffed beowulf. His face had dry tear tracks.

"The walls fell," the woman stated. "Our home is gone." She held onto her son, arms protective around his shoulders.

Jay frowned at the information given him. He looked from one to the other. He wanted so much to ask about his sister, but these people were shaken up. They lost everything and it made his heart twist. "Dale will take you in," he stated with a deep breath. "Tell any that you encounter that Dale will take them in."

"Why would they? The people of Dale are horrid. The Faunus live better than the humans there. The people of Dale give shelter to the Faunus," the man stated, his face twisted in disgust.

"Yes. In Dale Faunus are not slaves. You may not agree with it, but at the word of their prince you will be allowed safety in their walls," Jay said with a shug. "It is up to you if you are willing to take the offer."

"Prince," the woman spoke, "Do you know him?"

"Quite well," Jay responded with a straight face, "When you reach the gates, tell the guards that the two songbirds sing a welcoming song. They should let you in." The family nodded their heads in understanding repeating the phrase to themselves. "If you will excuse us, we need to see who else needs our help." Jay waved Tanya forward before picking up his shield. The two ran past the stunned family. He didn't look back to see if they had moved on.

The pair flinched at the sound of a Nevermore ahead. They looked up but it flew unconcern with them. The sounds of fighting were growing louder. A Grimm's roar was the only warning the pair got as an Ursa leapt in the air. Jay jumped back while Tanya sliced off its paw as it rose the appendage to strike the prince. The monster roared in pain. Jay struck the bear-like monster across its face with his shield. The dust within the shield activate. Ice formed around its jaws. Tanya sliced the monster across its chest and stomach. The Grimm collapsed, smoking as it disappeared. The two gave each other a quick look over before they moved on.

They were now on edge and prepared. A pack of Creeps appeared and they defeated the unarmored Grimm easily. Ahead the sounds of combat were dying. Instead Jay could hear sobbing. Jay stepped out of the forest to finally see Nullah. Tanya gasped at his side. Jay had never seen the city, but he knew it wasn't supposed to look like this.

A herd of Goliaths were stampeding away. The large Grimm caring not for the destruction that they left behind them. The walls of the once great city were rubble. People were scurrying about. There were bodies on the ground. Others were being carried by people in white robes. Jay took a stunned step forward and then another. He jogged to the nearest body.

He looked down at the mess of what used to be a man. The prince swallowed roughly to keep himself from vomiting. He composed himself and walked confidently to what remained of the city of Nullah. His blue eyes occasionally looking down, praying that he wouldn't see a matching set staring up at him.

"She's not here," Tanya said, "She might still be okay." She kept to his side as they walked past the destroyed walls. "Where are we going?"

"To speak with the archbishop," Jay replied. "I need to ask him about Oriole and more importantly what we can do to help." He looked at the destroyed shops and homes.

"No, you can't speak with him," Tanya said, her normally soft voice commanding. "We can find her ourselves." Jay looked at her. The girl was holding onto his arm, looking up at him.

"Are you afraid of him?" Jay asked. Tanya looked away in shame, holding his arm tighter. "Oh, I understand. This is about your father." The woman nodded quickly. Jay gave her a soft look. "How about I speak to him alone and you can wait for the others? Don't worry I won't say anything about you."

Tanya released her hold on his arm, "I suppose that would be fine." She stepped back and away from the prince.

"You can tell any people that they can seek shelter in Dale," the prince suggested, taking a couple steps back. Tanya nodded, but looked uncertain.

RWBY~RWBY~RWBY

The group of teens wove through the forest. Ivy walked between Robin and Harriet. Both experienced huntsmen scanned the forest in front of them. The woman kept her arms tight around her. A snap of a branch behind her made her jump. She turned to see Salken holding his hands up in a nonthreatening manner. She sighed in relief that it wasn't a Grim.

Shiloh walking beside Harriet, kept her unseeing eyes up ahead. "I can't see any Grimm," she noted, "They appear to have been destroyed or are now scattering," she said, her voice calming. Ivy felt the slight sting of embarrassment. The teens around her were far braver than her, willing to face down the beasts without batting an eye.

"Well, isn't that a shame," Asher said sarcastically, "They had all of the fun." The dark haired teen had his hair loose. He twisted the water from the long dark strands. With care he brushed his hair back into a more neat pony-tail.

"I would not wish for combat so soon. You are liable to faint on us," Shiloh responded, giving the young man a smirk.

"Me? Faint like some noble woman? You're funny, Shiloh," Asher responded.

"You are fussing over your hair like a noblewoman," Shiloh teased just as quickly. Asher gaped at the young woman. Robin laughed from his position and Harriet giggled behind her hand. Ivy also felt a short chuckle slip from her lips.

"Are any of you injured?" she asked, looking over the group. "I failed to ask any of you sooner." The teens shook their heads.

"I think we all just need a good rest," Robin replied.

"And a warm meal," Harriet added, "My parents told me that Nullah has very interesting spices and some of the best sweets in Sanus."

"I am looking forward to a warm bath," Salken added. "My fingers are freezing." Ivy looked over the group as they spoke about about luxuries that they missed being on the road. Ivy remained silent as they spoke louder and louder.

Shiloh shushed everyone. "We will be at Nullah shortly," she stated. Robin pulled his hood higher and Harriet gave him a sympathetic look. Ivy could feel excitement buzzing through her veins.

"Have any of you seen Nullah?" Ivy asked the group. The other shook their heads. "Are you not excited. This is an entire different state," the woman clasped her hands together.

"Not particularly. I don't particularly care for walls," Robin responded as he fixed his hood.

Ivy nodded, "I never really lived within a city-state's walls either." The group stepped out of the forest to look at the city of Nullah. The group stopped in surprised. There were no Grimm around, but the evidence of their previous presence. A couple of loose bricks crumbled.

Ivy could hear shouting coming from a small group yards away. The woman sped up her pace to jog to the group. "Is there something I can do to help?" she asked the people at the edge of the mob.

One man turned around to face the short woman. "Are you huntresses and huntsmen?" he asked looking over the woman to see the teens' approach. Shiloh and Harriet nodded, while the young men shrugged. "You have to arrest her then. She is a murderer," the man shouted.

"Calm yourself, "Shiloh said, stepping up to him. "While you focus on past crimes, your future is uncertain." She pointed to the partially destroyed city. The man sputtered, but Asher nudged him aside so the group could walk through the angered civilians.

Robin being one of the tallest of the group saw the cause of unrest. He stopped, reaching out to stop Harriet who walked in his wake. She looked up at him as his bright eyes looked unsure. Asher and Shiloh stopped next while Salken walked past the group. Ivy at his tail was the last to see the center of the commotion.

Kneeling in the center of the crowd was Tanya. Her hands covering the top of her head, but her small hands couldn't hide the two Caracal ears pressed against her skull. Ivy stepped confidently toward the girl before kneeling in front of her. The older woman picked up the girl's fallen headscarf. It was muddy and filthy, but the woman handed it gently to her. "Get up sweetie," Ivy put a hand on her arm. "We won't let any of them harm you."

Robin padded to the girl's other side, turning so he faced the crowd, his eyes as sharp as the nocked arrow in his bow. Harriet stood behind the girl a blade unsheathed in her hand as she looked at each person in their eyes. Asher brushed her shoulders with his fingertips before holding his spear at ready. The mob faced the small group who stood protectively in front of the Faunus girl. "I suggest you take care of your homes and family," Robin said, his tone commanding.

"Anyone who wants to get the beauty here has to get past us," Asher added. His semblance whipped the winds around the mob and teens, whistling angrily. The Nullahians backed away with a couple of spits at their feet. They disperse leaving the friends alone.