As you might have noticed, I have started updating Vol. 4 in to the main original story as well. This is only to have a complete version for the future. Rest assured, I will continue to both update the original AND this separate stand-alone version. Once Volume 4 ends I will likely return to updating the original depending on how things go.

Jwebb96: Exactly, Ember's secret is hers and hers alone in her mind…though it is interesting it ironically follows his family's tradition of the only person intended to know the secret…

Batomys2731: I am so glad you liked it, a regular roller coaster for the poor huntress. :( I thought the same about Oscar, so many other interesting ways he could have found out about the guy in his head. Precisely, Emerald may not like others or trust them from past experience, but even she cannot deny how genuine Horatio has been despite his previous allegiances.

Constipated Genius: Your choice of words was perfect, she has anchors, people who didn't run or leave during her healing process. One is a good friend, the other perhaps something more ;). I LOVE the name you give Esmerelda's weapon lol, the actual is a bit of a tongue twisting tornado…but fitting for the source material. I agree wholeheartedly on the dragon…that thing was nearly the size of the one at Beacon, would have thought it'd be a bit beefier. I was hoping that scene with Cinder would have some impact…showing her willing to lie RIGHT to Salem without hesitation…

Lelouch of Zero: You caught my Chibi foreshadowing :D I'll have to be sneakier in the future lol. Indeed, the history of those two revealed in this Volume are the reason I was so "mum" on their past in Vol. 1-3, I hope you enjoy them as I move forward.

bookwrym321: Thank you, the sea battle was especially fun to write, as is any chance to have Yang push past her PTSD with a little help. Don't worry, Tai should be home aaannnny minute now xD, and as for Pyrrha…we shall see. ;)

And with that…ONTO THE SHOW!

Team RNJRR opened the door, rushing inside the inn quickly as a downpour had begun since arriving. It was the last sizable town on their path toward Mistral and was well defended against Grimm attacks. Regardless of their safety, the news had not been promising when they arrived.

Apparently Grimm attacks had worsened in the surrounding area; even the land-route train to Mistral had been destroyed several days past and cut off easy travel to the kingdom. Their only path left was to continue on foot past the mountain.

The team stopped at the inn within a suitably well-defended town seeking a place to sleep for the night; fortunately they had enough lien between them for modest accommodations. Most were exhausted but Olivia could not sleep, with an excuse of getting fresh air she slipped out into hall. She soon found herself in a small restaurant neighboring the bar next door. She chose a small table toward the back, sighing deep in thought.

You should get some sleep boss.

You'd like that wouldn't you?

So little faith? And after I helped out with the Nikos girl, what have I done to earn such distrust?

You know full well. She did not want to have this conversation, but it seemed there was no avoiding it.

We BOTH saw what was in their heads, they deserved what was coming. It didn't earn you cramming me along with all your darker thoughts down deep for all those years!

We don't know if they did! We shouldn't have been in their minds to begin with. Not everyone acts on the thoughts in their head.

It's naïve thoughts like that which prove you need me. I don't want to go back, I won't.

Then stop trying to make me think like that, I don't want to…

Everyone thinks like that a little bit, by pushing me away you made me ONLY able to think like that. You got all the sunshine and rainbows while I got the cobwebs and bile.

"I don't care," Olivia was so frustrated she actually spoke despite not needing to. "I just want things the way they were!"

"We all do."

Olivia turned, completely unaware that Ren had followed and approached her while she was distracted.

"May I join you?" She nodded slowly, wondering how long he'd been standing there.

"Where are the others?"

"Resting in the room," he folded his hands on the table between them. "Are you alright?"

"I'm…fine…"

All sunshine and rainbows here.

"The others are worried and so am I," Ren admitted. "You've seemed so conflicted and distant since Beacon. And despite what you may have told us, hair doesn't change color that fast even from stress."

Busteeeeeed…

"I…have some stuff I have to work through, okay?"

Ren was silent, clearly trying to discern what was wrong on his own despite no hope of doing so.

"I respect your privacy," he started at length. "But for the moment we are traveling together, relying on each other. If you are having difficulties, please, let us help you. If not it will only serve to draw in the Grimm more when we are back on the open road."

I am quite good at that apparently. You already told JNPR everything about you at Patch…except me of course.

"I trust you not to use your power on me," Ren insisted. "If you are scared of it occurring by accident…"

"It's not that," Olivia finally replied. "It's about her."

"Her who?"

Olivia gripped her hands together tighter. Ren was right; at the rate things were progressing they wouldn't make it to Haven before things got worse…a lot worse.

"Her name is Hildie…and it is a long story."

Patch…

"Okay, that's it," Yang instructed Roland. "Hold them gently just like that…"

"Yang, are you sure I'm doing this right?"

"Don't worry," she grinned mischievously. "They are easy to handle if you know how, just be careful and give them a good smack."

Roland complied, successfully cracking the shell and allowing him to break open the last of the eggs for breakfast. With Tai still out he had volunteered to cook despite a supreme lack of knowledge. Fortunately for him Yang was present and it seemed when she focused on a task all uncertainty and lethargy just fell away. He was acting as clueless as she seemed to improve with each passing moment.

They were both wearing matching white aprons over their standard clothes. Roland had been on the lookout for any sudden noises and had succeeded in preventing any further attacks. He had become surprisingly good at spotting trouble, even once catching a falling measuring cup with a foot before it hit the ground.

If I keep this up, she'll be better in no time, he hoped despite any real evidence as to whether that was how it worked.

"You are really good at this," he complimented as he took the whisk; a cooking utensil he was certain was a practical joke when Yang handed it to him, and mixed the yokes. "My mom refused to let ANYONE near the kitchen, it was her domain."

"I kind of had to be, have you tasted my dad's noodles? It was either learn or starve."

"Well…they were a tad overcooked, why didn't…"

Roland had to bite his tongue having nearly asked why her mother didn't cook for them. He didn't need Yang to say anything; she'd told him back at Beacon that she and Ruby were only half-sisters. He'd met Yang's mother and Tai's first wife back in Forever Fall, she had trusted him with that knowledge yet she never spoke about Ruby's mother.

"…why didn't Ruby learn?" He swiftly recovered.

Yang's lips spread serenely; it almost looked like the smile of a mother towards a silly daughter yet filled with pride all the same. Did Yang move to fill both her role as big sister and honorary mom after whatever happened with Ruby's?

"As if anyone could get her to make ANYTHING except cookies, as soon as she discovered them it ruined her for all other food. You should have seen the troubles she had, we…"

A knocking sound followed by the front door flying open in the next room over alerted them to company though it didn't take long to discover who.

"I'm home!" Tai called out to the empty living room, drawing Pyrrha from outside and the two in the kitchen. Roland could not help but notice Tai's suspicious glances at noticing he and Yang in matching aprons. "I've got packages for you two."

"What?" Pyrrha asked as she made her way down, confused upon realizing he was referring to her and Yang.

"Special delivery from the mainland, apparently a village owed some huntsmen a favor and made sure it arrived as quickly as possible." He handed a moderately sized square box to the young Spartan who lowered it to peruse the contents as he turned to Yang. "I can't WAIT for you to try this!" With a glowing smile of pride, Tai shifted the boxes in his hand, pulling out a long thin package. As Yang approached, he laid it on the coffee table and took a step back.

"For me?"

"For you, and you only," he smiled back.

Yang breathed deep, she had an idea of what lay within based on the size and shape but she had to know for certain. With slow hands she gripped the lid and lifted it away to reveal the contents. Within the case was a shiny white and silver metallic arm. It reminded Roland of the Atlas Knights they had fought against and alongside at Beacon. It was pristine, if Olivia were present no doubt she'd be gushing at the craftsmanship and intricacy required in its making.

"Brand new state of the art Atlas tech," Tai announced proudly. "I thought I was going to have to call in more than a few favors, but you earned this one all on your own kiddo."

"How?" Roland asked, risking a step forward for a better look.

"Before I could even talk to him, General Ironwood already had one of his top scientists working on this…for you! He wanted me to tell you that you fought admirably, you all did, and you should be proud of yourselves."

I could kiss that man! Roland screamed in his head, his calm betraying the elation in his chest. With this arm as an option…she might say yes! It would only take a few adjustments to fit my own arm.

"It's…great," Yang answered. Despite her words she had no enthusiasm as she took the package and heading up the stairs. "Thanks dad, really." With that final word she disappeared upstairs.

Tai sighed, Roland unintentionally performing the same gesture, mirroring him eerily close due to their similar attires. The two men glanced towards each other, both equally uncertain how to proceed. Their hopes had collectively soared with the arrival of the arm, the fact that it hadn't elicited a similar rise out of Yang was disconcerting. They were so worried that they didn't notice Pyrrha opening her package to reveal a familiar set of pear white diamond-shaped armor and shoulder guards with a note inside.

"You gave me a piece of yourself and I've made good use of it. I hope you are able to do the same with a piece of me," signed Jaune.

"Oh Jaune," Pyrrha hugged the armor close, her mind racing with the possibilities of what she could do with the sturdy breastplate in her arms.

Atlas…

Weiss wandered the halls of her manor once more; there was more than enough room for it until the attendees arrived in a few days. Music sheet in hand, she was memorizing the lyrics. Her father was locked in his study as he often was, meeting with business partners and even rivals. He was calling in every favor and seeking any advantage he could to make a profit despite the embargo enforced by General Ironwood.

Most uncomfortable of all, at her father's behest she had straightened her ponytail so it was lined up and centered properly. It felt off to her, like having only one shoe on when walking.

I need this to be perfect, the more publicity we bring to what happened at Beacon, the better.

"Salutations friend Schnee!"

Sure enough, the young heiress spotted the bubbly attaché to General Ironwood rounding a corner. She was surprised to see her about the mansion after her father's previous voiced distaste for what she was.

"You can call me Weiss, Penny," she smiled back, ever happy to see another friendly familiar face.

"That is good; your brother insists on calling me 'it' and demands I not approach him for conversations friendly or otherwise. I am not fond of him."

Weiss felt the sudden need to smack her little brother. "What are you doing here?"

"The general and Mr. Schnee are having another heated discussion on the status of trade and kingdom defense. I have been dismissed for the evening, your butler Klein thought you could use some company while my duties are temporarily suspended. What activities are you currently performing?"

He's always looking out for me.

"Just practicing for the concert," Weiss normally couldn't stand the overly official and complicated words of Penny's vocabulary. Yet now she couldn't care less how the former student spoke, it didn't seem to matter anymore. "Most people grossly underestimate the work and preparation required for performing."

Father being one of them.

"The general made certain to free up time to attend, I have never witnessed a musical gathering." Penny was clearly restraining from hopping up and down like a little girl. She had been on duty during the festival and only infrequently got to spend time with Cameron. "If only Ruby could attend this would be perfect!"

Weiss' previous smirk died at the mention of her team leader's name. She hadn't seen her since being forced to leave Patch; she had still been unconscious from the battle. She didn't even get a chance to say goodbye…

"You're right, it would be."

"Based on their deliberations, the general will be in meeting for quite some time. If it is agreeable, perhaps I could be your test audience."

Penny's smile was ever genuine and inescapable. Not even the aptly named ice queen could resist nodding as the two started to walk together, her melodious voice echoing throughout the empty halls of Schnee Manor.

Menagerie Landing…

The ships horn sounded loudly that they had made landfall, the ring of the afternoon bell in the middle of the nearby square going off almost in tandem. The humidity hit the trio as they walked down the plank towards the throng of faunus standing about the dock. Wherever they looked there were more people walking around going about their daily routine.

There were merchants, performers, dealers and more than a few shady looking individuals keeping to the shadows of the buildings. In the immediate area, dozens of people from just as many walks of life were gathered and beyond there were even more.

"Wow, sure is pretty crowded," Sun remarked as they squeezed through the crowds.

"Sure is," Blake answered flatly.

"I never really noticed before now," Esmerelda admitted, realizing only once off the boat is was the first time walking the streets without a form-obscuring hoodie.

The island of Menagerie was the home 'gifted' to the faunus after the Great War eighty years earlier. It seemed a kind gesture at first until the details started to emerge. The island was two-thirds desert and that portion was crawling with some of the most dangerous Grimm known worldwide. As a result, the entire faunus population was forced to find space on the remaining third. It had become obvious the island had been given to quiet the faunus, hoping they'd take it and be content…such uncaring nature had led to the early days of the White Fang.

"How could you not notice?"

"After my mom and dad were lost at sea, my family was VERY worried about how safe I was as the only human on the island." Esmerelda shuffled with her top uncomfortably at the direction the conversation had taken. "She refused to allow me outside unless I was covered to hide that I wasn't a faunus. The only time I ever got to be outside I was mostly alone, except…"

Years ago….

A little girl with strands of red hair emerging from her hood shuffled past the buildings, unlike most that were walking out in the open, she was sticking to the shadows. She wore a dull grey hoodie two sizes too big for her as she had been told, hiding all features of her body while retreating to her sanctuary. She was seldom allowed out, however when her nana was off with friends of her ma and da she could sneak away from their house. As long as she was back before sundown she would be none the wiser…she never was. Finding the loose plate on the side of a condemned building, the girl slid it aside just enough to slip in, closing it behind her.

As soon as she was alone in the dark of the structure she cast off her hot overbearing hoodie, allowing the air to hit her. Despite the still-warm humidity of her hideaway, she could not have felt more open as she ran across the deserted structure.

"Your general has returned!" She proclaimed to a lineup of soldiers made of sticks, rocks and anything else she could find. She had created several short rows standing as best they could at attention. "Status report!"

The assorted soldiers did not reply.

"Excellent! Then our fortress is secured," she sneered with in triumph. This was the only time she got to really let loose. Even at home she was not allowed to make noises that might draw attention. In this place though she was completely…

"I think your troops have been lax in their job."

The girl spun fast, only now catching the silhouette of another child. Based on his size he must have been about her age, she scrambled to find her hoodie but it was far on the opposite side of the building. He had seen her.

"I didn't mean to scare you," the boy hopped down and she got a better look at him. He had messy brown hair and was dressed in a ragged black shirt with matching shorts. She spotted the small nubs of wings growing out of his back. To her horror he was looking her over.

"Get out!" She shouted. "This is my spot!"

"I didn't see your name on it; in fact I've never seen you before. Are you new to the island?" He asked as his eyes roamed. She knew what he was looking for and he wouldn't find it.

"I-I've lived here my whole life, please leave…"

"What are you? No fur, wings, ears, horns, claws; can you change your skin?"

"Please, I just want to play."

The boy's eyes widened in excitement as the truth passed through his mind. He spoke his thoughts without hesitation, "I've heard about your kind, are you a human?!"

That was all it took, tears welled in her eyes and she squatted down, covering her face with her hands as she started to sob. She had been found out, the one thing they didn't want and she had just given it away. If he went out to tell others it'd be all over the island in no time.

"Hey, hey," the boy inched closer. "Why are you crying?"

"I-I…" she couldn't finish her sentence.

"My dad always said that humans were supposed to be scary, but you aren't scary at all. If it means that much to you," he muttered under his breath. "I can keep it a secret, I'm SUPER good at those!"

The girl looked up into his eyes, sniffling back the tears trying to tell if he was being serious. From what she could tell of the big awkward grin on his lips he seemed to be sincere.

"P-promise?"

"Of course, I'd never lie to a pretty girl, but only if you tell me your name."

"Esmerelda…Esmerelda Mustra."

"It's nice to meet you Esmerelda," the six-year old held out a dirt-covered hand. "My name is Yuma."

Present Day…

"Not a faunus eh?"

A shoulder checked Esmerelda harder than the others passing by and shook her from her memories, clearly intentional as she stumbled into others near her. Sun and Blake helped her back up, turning to the one responsible.

An especially tall young man flanked by three others had made an opening in the crowd as other civilians moved to avoid them. He had a round pair of ears clearly the trait of a bear though he seemed to have enough body hair to match as well. Those around him had varying traits form a short woman with a red fox tail, and a pair of tall sleek men with green panther eyes and sharp talons respectively.

Barely off the boat…

"Ya know," the lead bear-faunus started. "I thought you looked rather cute, but after what you said and now that I look real close…you aren't a faunus at all. What a waste."

Esmerelda reigned in her anger; it would not do to start a scene.

"I am just here visiting family, may I pass?"

"There is no family for you here. How about you turn right around and get back on the boat?" He asserted, puffing out his chest to the snickering of his posse.

"What is wrong with you?" Sun stood up beside her, Blake flanking the other side. "We were literally just walking!"

"Walking with a human," he spat, clearly having been looking for a fight about something all day. "They gave us this land, the least they can do is stay off it." Esmerelda tried to just walk by, however the four would always step into her path clearly unwilling to let it go.

I can't believe I was so careless! I was supposed to stay under the radar and I open my big mouth in such a crowd. If things come to blows I'll never get a chance to…

"It's either the boat or going through us," he growled, cracking his neck for emphasis. Sun and Blake lined up next to Esmerelda ready to back her up at a moment's notice. "What's it going to…?"

The fox-faunus backup he had went sailing over his head, slamming into a nearby fruit stand with a resounding crash. The bear turned around.

A tall elderly woman with white hair in a matching robe bent her back, avoiding a slash by the remaining clawed thug expertly dodging his haphazard swings with minimal movement and cracking him at each opening he left her with a sturdy oak cane. The green-eyed panther attempted to aid his comrade, advancing on the woman from behind with hands extended.

What had been mistaken for a white robe unfolded, revealing a large pair of swan wings that body slammed him in the chest, he went flying backwards into a brick wall, slumping to the ground and did not get back up. The green-eyed assailant finally succumbed to the merciless blows and fled into the crowds

The lead thug roared, rushing the stranger who had interrupted his planned fun for the day. Despite looking in the complete opposite direction, the old woman sidestepped him, hooking her cane around an ankle as he raced past her previous position. The large bear went tumbling over onto his face to immediately feel a slap of the cane on his face, threatening a renewed beating.

"You can go ahead and return home Poh." She started with a throaty yet commanding voice. "Your mother is worried sick and I feel you've done that enough to the poor woman for the week."

"Ms. Musta?" He groaned upon finally recognizing the attacker. "How can you defend a human?"

The old swan-faunus slapped him in the face with her cane again, leaving a painful welt.

"I'm not defending a human you walking stereotype! I'm protecting my granddaughter!"

"Your grand…?" The young man looked between her and Esmerelda in shock and fear. Without another word he scrambled to his friends, picking up who he could and kicking the others awake before they disappeared into the spectators.

The woman wiped off her dress despite the apparent lack of dirt, folding the large wings back around her body as if for warmth. Sun and Blake just stared dumbfounded at the newcomer who had taken out four ruffians without any effort. Esmerelda stepped forward with a sigh so she was directly in front of her. Blake couldn't be completely certain, but it seemed like she was standing a little straighter, her face flattening to be as polite and emotionless as possible. It was only then they realized they both had matching deep-blue eyes.

"Hello Esmerelda," she greeted. "It has been too long; you seem to be doing well. Have you been eating properly? Not five minutes after landing and you already find yourself hip deep in trouble. I hope you now understand the precautions I took in your youth."

"It has, I have and I do," she admitted. "It is…agreeable to see you again nana."

Sun and Blake immediately looked to each other and back to them before simultaneously asking the same question on their minds.

"NANA?"

Village Inn…

Ren just sat there, eyes ever calm yet the hint of confusion at the story Olivia had finally confided in him. A second personality, one made of all the negative emotions she had pushed away along with much of her semblance for years having risen to the surface since utilizing her power at Beacon. And worse yet it seemed she couldn't be pushed away so easily a second time.

"I…don't know what to say," he finally answered. "She is tied to your semblance?"

"She seems to be," Olivia nodded. "I just…don't want her to come out at a bad time, I have no idea how she'd act."

"I feel this is a much more deep-routed issue related to your semblance and emotions overall, perhaps with additional practice…"

"No," Olivia asserted. "I used it once and this happened," she motioned to her hair now half platinum silver and blonde. "If I use it again, she'll have full reign, I know it."

"All humans have positive and negative emotions; if we didn't the Grimm wouldn't be a problem. You need to confront this Hildie once we have some time, perhaps after we reach Haven. My semblance allows me to suppress emotions, perhaps if I can mute her for the rest of our trip we can…"

Olivia's hand lashed out, gripping Ren's wrist and bending it painfully even through his aura. Her eyes had gone black as pitch with a dim red within and a truly terrifying scowl had formed on her lips.

"You try and lock me away again, and not even your little Valkyrie friend will find where I bury your bones!"

Olivia blinked at Ren's look of terror, her eyes reverting back to their normal rose-pink color as she seized her hand and yanked it back.

"I am so sorry," Olivia stood up with tears in her eyes to step away from Ren. "She can hear everything I say or think. For your own safety I…I can't have you do that."

"Olivia…"

"I'll be outside; I can find somewhere to rest for the night." Without allowing him to retort, she rushed out the doors into the night air too terrified to sleep near her friends. The young huntsman in training could only watch, utterly baffled on how he might help his fellow traveler and friend.

Tavern Bar….

Qrow sighed from the table in the bar, thankful that none of Ruby's team would ever have a reason to step inside. He'd be able to watch them and get something drink at the same time. That is…if he'd had any money. Ruby's uncle had been tailing them since Patch, making sure they were protected from the hordes of Grimm roaming the countryside. It had been grueling as it seemed everything within miles had been drawn towards their traveling band. If he hadn't been working non-stop they would have been swarmed on a daily basis.

What could be attracting so many? He contemplated; it was as if the negative emotions of an entire crowd were drawing them in. Even as they spoke, Grimm attacks on the village defenses were up by a small margin.

The older huntsman sighed as he kept an eye on the kids that he could from his seat. His thoughts were interrupted as the waitress placed a drink in front of him, one he hadn't ordered. He quickly turned to explain her mistake.

"Oh, I didn't…"

"From the woman upstairs, red eyes, said you wouldn't mind the bottom self," the admittedly attractive waitress motioned towards the bar's second level which had been unoccupied when he'd entered.

She's here…of course she is, probably wants to rub it in a bit.

"Thanks," he muttered, dreading the conversation he knew was coming.

"But…I went ahead and gave you top. Lucky you." The waitress leaned forward with a whisper, throwing a flirtatious wink and smile his way before continuing on her rounds.

Lucky me, Qrow risked a mischievous grin to slip through. I may be twenty years too old and forced to be a respectable role model…but I still got it.

With a renewed outlook, he picked up his drink, taking a deep sip as he slipped up the creaky wooden steps. The second floor was small, only able to hold about a half dozen tables. Each of which was unoccupied…until he got a look in the back. A dark-haired woman in red and black armor sat in a seat, a second empty one across from her. She had lit the small table lamp, the light throwing an eerie shadow across her features and the pale-white Grimm mask she had propped on the table.

Who knew she could get even more ominous?

"Hello brother," she greeted as he came into view, her smile of smug superiority never wavering. How much he despised that smile.

"Raven," he nodded before slowly approaching, pulling out the empty chair. He just stood there, eye darting between her and the mask she had pushed too far to his side of the table. After several seconds she acquiesced and pulled it closer, prompting him to take a seat. "So what do you want?"

"A girl can't just catch up with her family?" She asked, throwing her hands up innocently.

"She can, but you're not," he replied bluntly. "How about we get on with it? Unless you plan to keep these coming." He took another sip of his drink for emphasis.

"Does she have it?"

Qrow leaned back, knowing full well to what she was referring. Despite that, he didn't feel like answering her just yet.

"Did you know Yang lost her arm?"

Raven clenched her fists at his words, "That's not…"

"Rhetorical question, I know you know," Qrow interrupted. "It's just a little obnoxious that you bring up family then carry on like your own daughter doesn't exist. That a boy she met less than a year ago has been caring for her when she needs it more than her own mother."

"I SAVED her," Raven stressed. "Her AND that little brat you think so highly of!"

"Once, cause that is your rule right? I'm surprised your confusing code extended to him but that doesn't make you 'mom of the year' sis."

Qrow reached down to take another sip only for Raven to seize his wrist, staring daggers into her brother.

"I told you Beacon would fall," she whispered. "And it did. I told you Ozpin would fail and he has. Now you tell me, does…Salem…have it?"

"And here I thought you weren't interested in any of that…just like Maggie." Raven's eyes widened at his mention of the name, with an annoyed expression she released his wrist and leaned back. "You should come back Raven, the only way we beat her is by working together…all of us."

"You're the one who left, after the tribe raised us and you turned your back on them."

"They were killers and thieves, how many villages did we destroy? Hell we probably killed as many innocents as the Grimm, I'm surprised you got her to help."

"Her?" Raven raised an eyebrow as if she had no idea what he was talking about.

"I saw what you did to the people of Shion."

Qrow recalled his trailing behind Ruby and her team, taking a moment to stop at an unmarked grave they made time to dig. He even gave up some of his flask for the unfortunate huntsman buried beneath.

"The weak die, the strong live. Those are the rules." The tribe-leader asserted.

"I saw the damage," he stared her down. "I know full well that wasn't you or anyone from our 'family' either."

Raven had reached the limit of her patience, she knew her brother well enough. He was diverting attention from one important fact.

"If you don't know where the relic is…" Raven stood to her feet to leave.

"Maggie's son was a casualty at Beacon, did you know that?"

Raven froze, the slightest hint of surprise crossing her eyes, though not enough of a shock as it should have been.

"So you DID know she had a kid? I imagine that was quite the revelation, our little tribe-sister marrying a filthy huntsman? I was surprised as hell when Oz brought me to him. It would have been nice to know that a few years ago. I'm fairly certain she never took to your skewed family code. If you know where she is, I think you should tell her what your rules cost her."

"I haven't seen her since she left, another ungrateful child like you."

Qrow narrowed his eyes, as if he trusted Raven in regards to something like this.

"We NEED the Spring Maiden; if you know where she is…you need to tell me."

"And why would I do that?" Raven scooped up her helmet from the table.

"Because without her, we are ALL going to die." Qrow stared into her eyes with absolute certainty.

"I look out for family…my family," Raven asserted and donned her helmet before turning as a red schism in the air appeared behind her. "If you want that to include you, you know what to do." Without a look back she walked through as it closed behind her.

That shortsighted…! How we can be related is beyond…

A sound of shattering glass and loud gasp caused him to turn, realizing that the flirty waitress from before had witnessed his sister's disappearing trick. She was shaking from head to toe with a terrified expression locked on her face.

Might as well diffuse the situation a little, Qrow sighed as he held up drink barely touched.

"Better make this a double."

Pasts and secrets come to the forefront, shedding light on the circumstances leading to our heroes and their current outlooks. As always, I hope everyone Reads and Reviews…but most of all Enjoys! :D