Sorry this was late I was taking a small break for a day or two while also organizing my notes for the story along with an idea for another story that I'm thinking of doing that might not come to fruition. I was also struggling with what to fill the chapter with.

~§~

Yang swiveled her gauntleted hand around again as she stared at it.

"Something on your mind?" Asked Blake as she noticed.

Yang looked up and smiled at her, it was a beautiful day as the sun shone down on them and the trees around them rustled slightly from a slight breeze as ahead Weiss and Ruby took the lead.

"Sort of, just strange to think I have so much… power" said Yang as she clenched her fist

Blake frowned.

"Something on your mind?" Asked Yang smiling.

"… no… it's nothing" said Blake turning away from Yang.

"Yeah, that totally sounds like nothing" said Yang skeptically.

"It's just… I've seen people be corrupted by power… people close to me, and I'm worried that it'll corrupt you"

"Oh, I meant that as in without realizing it" explained Yang "I know a thing or two about corruption myself"

"Oh really?" Challenged Blake

"Yeah, that dragon for instance. Classic corruption from an artifact. And if you go further you have Vampires, corrupted by there world view that their superior… Weiss, corrupted by those around her" said Yang.

"I suppose you know a thing or two about corruption" said Blake begrudgingly

"One of the downsides of it? You don't know when your being corrupted" Yang positioned her horse closer "so if I start heading down that path, you tell me… alright?" Said Yang putting a hand on her shoulder

Blake stared into those lilac eyes before smiling slightly and nodding "alright"

"Purrfect" said Yang grinning while Blake scowled and her ears flattened.

"Moment ruined" she declared as she caught up with Ruby and Weiss.

"Oh, come on Blake, that was clever and you know it!" Said Yang as she followed and trotted next to Ruby.

"What are you two going on about?" Asked Weiss annoyed at the quiet being disturbed.

"Puns" said Yang grinning.

"Oh gods" groaned Ruby as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Careful Ruby, there might be pollen still in the air… you might schneeze" Said Yang grinning as Ruby groaned Loudly.

"Was that supposed to be funny?" Asked Weiss incredulous

"No" said Ruby "puns are meant to torment people into insanity"

"That's a melodramatic response" said Yang rolling her eyes.

"It's a perfectly adequate response" Exclaimed Ruby "you're the worst!"

"I thought puns were supposed to be funny" Said Weiss frowning.

"Sorry, I'm not very weiss" grinned Yang as the three groaned in sync.

"I'm regretting this partnership already" groaned Weiss.

"What? Being an adventurer not what you thought?" Asked Yang.

"Well… I thought there'd be more dungeons and dragons" Said Weiss.

"Yeah, in the stories where they have to grab the readers attention, they'll be riding out to slay a dragon or enter a dungeon" Said Blake.

"But more often or not it's simply this. The stories don't really include the long rides through the country" said Ruby.

"Better then being in a castle" said Weiss as she looked up to the canopy of trees above them.

"Woah, you didn't like living the life of luxury?" Asked Yang incredulous.

"I will admit that it was luxurious… but it wasn't a life" Weiss shook her head "it was always so empty and cold… I didn't really have anyone to talk to"

"Atlas doesn't exactly seem like a… friendly place" Said Ruby.

"It's cold, and inhospitable. But the people refused to leave and they've made their thing out of it. You could say the same thing about Vacuo" Said Weiss.

"I dunno, it seems like everyone's far nicer in Vacuo" Said Ruby.

"Father always said that Vacuo was a lawless pile of of scum that he only acknowledge because he had too" said Weiss.

"Do you agree with that?" Asked Blake.

"I'd rather form my own opinion… but at the same time I would have to agree with him on the lawless part" said Weiss.

Yang grunted "the people of Vacuo are Nomadic in nature and lifestyle, but they aren't 'lawless scum'. I think your father is just ignorant and unwilling to learn of other cultures"

"Hmm… I wouldn't say ignorant" Said Weiss slowly "more… set in his ways, he sees that his system works and thinks other cultures barbaric for doing different"

"He's a tyrant either way" Said Blake frowning.

"At one point, he did seem willing to change his ways while he was teaching me to become the queen of Atlas… but then Whitley was born" Weiss frowned.

"What? Jealous daddy didn't love you enough?" Said Yang sarcastically.

"Well, after my sister left he turned his attention to me, those were some good times even if he only did so because he had to… but then Whitley was born and he stopped caring about me. And my mother stopped being there" she turned to Yang who looked guilty "so I suppose you could say I'm jealous of my brother"

Yang winced "look, Weiss, I'm sorr-"

"Oh, No! There's no need to apologise!" Said Weiss sarcastically "I'm just Weiss Schnee! The stuck up bitch who had everything!" She scowled "I'm more then just a Schnee… but that's all anyone seems to care about"

There was an awkward silence that followed as they continued on through the forest.

"Being a halfling is hard, but for most they at least have one species that accepts them" Said Yang as she looked at a bird in the trees "but for a half Orc. I'm not welcome to either species. One see me as an abomination and the other sees me as sub human or fear me. At least with humans I can prove myself by protecting them, though sometimes that isn't enough" she turned to looks at Weiss who was looking at her "I get what your going through, but sometimes that's just the way life is and all you can do is smile"

Weiss looked at her for a moment before nodding.

A more comfortable silence now fell over the group.

They continued on for several hours before the night began to creep upon them and the sun sank down to escape the day, they made camp and Ruby watched as they fell asleep one by one before looking up to the sky and frowning as the sky slowly darkened and the Stars disappeared behind an encroaching blanket of clouds, eventually even covering up the moon and descending their camp into darkness.

She dug into the packs and eventually found what she was looking for as she brought out a medium sized pebble that sat comfortably in the palm of her hand. On one side was a white rune which was slightly faded.

She placed it by the fire and sat back down as she watched the forest around them, then she heard the familiar tap of a drop of water hitting a leaf, she glanced up and watched as the leaves began to quiver as more raindrops impacted them.

One raindrop came down and hit the pebble, it's white rune illuminated brightly before a shimmer moved upwards and created a dome around the camp as raindrops hit it and washed down the sides. The bubble wouldn't protect them from anyone or anything trying to attack but it would stop any water from penetrating it, however it was getting old and the rune was beginning to fade meaning they would need to get a new one soon.

Ruby stood and slowly walked towards the edge of the bubble, she watched the rain slide down the edge and held her hand up before pushing it forward through the barrier which acted like a mist as her hand caused the part of the barrier her hand passed through to disperse before it reformed around her wrist. She felt goosebumps travel up her arms as the feeling of cold rain travelled up her senses and she closed her eyes in slight ecstasy as her wings shivered.

Fairies and other magic creatures loved the rain, the natural magic that only magic creatures could sense that was imbued in the water being euphoric to them.

She stayed like that for a few minutes before shaking herself and sitting back down and stretching her wings, but looking longingly at the rain that poured down and flowed over the dome.

It rained for several hours before slowly beginning to ease up to a light drizzle as light slowly came back and lit up the sky and forest around them. The first to wake was Blake, who sat up and whispered a good morning to Ruby who smiled and passed her a Kitu biscuit. Blake groaned slightly before biting into the biscuit and struggling to break off a chunk before finally tearing a chunk off and spending about 10 minutes chewing it in glumb silence.

Next to wake up was Yang who sat up- her hair a massive blond explosion around her- and absently held out her gauntleted hand (when they were traveling and sleeping rough she rarely took the enchanted gauntlets off) as she used the other to rub her eyes, Ruby placed another Kitu in her hand and she grunted before biting in and easily tearing off a chunk of the Kitu and chewing it.

Ruby finally brought out her own Kitu and took a few moments to tear off a chunk, she did eventually and began to chew she felt the familiar light sweetness invade her mouth as she chewed the biscuit.

Weiss finally woke up and sat up also rubbing her eyes, Ruby handed her a Kitu and Weiss looked confused as she felt it before she tried to bite into it and her eyes widened as the chunk didn't break off, after a bit of a struggle she tore off a chunk and began to chew it grimacing.

"It may not be entertaining or taste of anything but it's filled with energy" Said Yang smiling as she patted Weiss on the back and Weiss scowled at her a she slowly got up "plus we'll be at Kress in a few hours so we can have something interesting to eat"

Weiss seemed to brighten up as she pulled out a cloak and draped it over her back pulling up the hood, the others doing the same except Ruby. Ruby picked up the pebble as they moved over to the horses and fed them before attaching bags to saddles and mounting up and getting back onto the path.

The sky above was grey with clouds as a low mist hung about over the land as the light rain fell down upon them. Ruby supposed the councils guard must be doing their jobs of clearing Grimm within the kingdom as so far they hadn't encountered any Grimm.

Yang huffed and Ruby smiled slightly before directing her horse over to Yang and holding out the pebble which Yang happily took and sighed in relief as rain stopped falling upon her or her yellow cloak. The domes radius wouldn't cover all of them on horse back and she shuddered in excitement as she felt the rain hit her hands and lightly pepper her hair as the hairs on her arms and legs stood up.

She sighed as if she was getting into a warm bath and her breath came out in a cloud of mist and mixed into the mist around them. She looked over at Weiss under her white cloak and smiled when she saw that the Kitu biscuit was working as she looked far more awake and ready then she had before.

Weiss glanced over at her and frowned "Ruby put on a cloak before you catch a cold"

Ruby laughed lightly, the rain making her slightly giddy "A cold? I've never caught a cold before"

"Still, at least put on a cloak" Said Weiss in concern

"Nah, I prefer the rain" Said Ruby smiling brightly

"More like addicted" grunted Yang

"Fairies and other magical creatures love the rain" explained Blake to a confused Weiss as she watched Ruby sigh in contentment and shiver in excitement.

Ruby felt the Kitu also working on herself. Just because she didn't get tired didn't mean she had infinite stamina. The biscuit was giving her the energy she had lost keeping watch the night before, food and water also restored her energy. Instead of getting sleepy she experience the symptoms of tiredness when she needed to take a break or replenish her bodies energy, often becoming sluggish physically and mentally but never actually falling asleep.

They rode for another hour before the forest eventually disappeared around them as they appeared to be on some sort of raised path as the ground in either side was sloped. After a few minutes the mists began clearing and they saw they were on a marsh.

It cleared further and they finally saw Kress, it was on a plateau above the marsh where the town was built. The marsh acting as a natural defense. Houses however were built on stilts and overflowing into the marsh as walkways stretched between them. To the right of the girls approach a rock pillar was raised from the ground and on top of it was built a stone fort, not as big or impressive as Beacon but still eye catching along with the walkway that lead up to it.

As they approached they could see that the city was waking up as smoke rose out of chimneys and early risers began to walk about to go about their daily business.

"Alright first lets go to the tavern and get something proper to eat" Said Ruby and the others nodded.

They were met at the entrance by four armed guards who looked them over before letting them in, they were likely there to protect and warn of Grimm attacks rather then attack adventurers. They trotted down a few paths before eventually finding a tavern with stables that they tied up the horses in.

They entered the tavern and were surprised to see it moderately full and they quickly took a corner table ignoring some of the more lecherous stares they were getting, a wench eventually coming over to them and taking their orders. She came back and placed their meals in front of them but before she could leave Ruby quickly got her attention.

"We're heading West towards Hukan and we're wondering if there are any routes that were dangerous or blocked" She asked

The Wench thought for a second "I think I heard something about some of them nasty creatures attacking travelers on the Madison pass but you'd have to ask someone else 'bout that" she said before sauntering off, laughing and slapping a man's hand who had tried to grab her.

Ruby turned to her meal and began to eat as she pulled out the map and ate with one hand while tracing paths with another until she found the Madison pass and saw a symbol she hadn't seen before. A black and white Grimm mask with red glowing eyes on the path.

"Hmm" She hummed to herself as she traced the other routes and noted that it would take longer for them with all the other paths.

"Problem rubbles?" Asked Yang

"We're heading to Hukan, the town that requested the aid, it's close to the Madhan, so it'll be warm" Said Ruby absently

"What? Worried 'bout a little warmth?" Asked Yang

"No, but we should be prepared even if it is close to autumn, it'll still be hot being close to the desert" Said Ruby to herself before looking up "the Problem is that the quickest route to Hukan is apparently experiencing Grimm troubles"

"Ah" Said Yang "that's useful and not useful" Ruby hummed in agreement

"Well… could we ask around?" Asked Blake

"Yes, that's probably a good idea. We can do that while we shop for supplies" Said Ruby

"What do we need?" Asked Weiss

"Well I could use some more crossbow bolts" Said Ruby

"Gets some more Kitu" Said Yang to which there was a collective sigh

"Really? Kitu? Can't we have something… interesting?" Asked Weiss

"Well, we can pick up some other stuff that'll last us a couple of days on the road. But we should probably get a route planned out" Said Yang

"Mmm, me and Yang can go ask the guards to see if they have anything" Said Ruby as she folded up the map "you two could go and ask some of the townspeople"

"Actually why don't I go with Blake?" Asked Yang abruptly

"Ugh, always so eager to be rid of me" Said Ruby in mock hurt while Yang rolled her eyes.

"So we send the two most likely to be discriminated against out to ask about information" Said Weiss skeptical.

"Why do we need to split up at all?" Pointed out Blake "I mean surly the guards will have been patrolling the routes. Why not just ask as a group, I'm sure that'll get us answers if the four of us turn up"

"Oh, yeah. That works" nodded Ruby flushing slightly

"Your good at plans Rubes, sometimes you just overthink things" Said Yang sympathetically as they stood up.

The girls left the tavern as more patrons entered and after a quick stop to ask a passing local made their way towards the fort. The air around them was still moist but the mist was almost gone, simply a veil that shielded the rest of the marsh from view. They reached the bridge and were stopped by two guards in armour.

"State your busines" Said one, his voice echoing and tinny due to his armour.

"We've come to ask about Grimm trouble you've been having" Said Ruby "we're simply adventurers heading towards Hukan, we need to go through Madison pass to get there but we hear there's been some trouble with Grimm"

The two soldiers looked at each other before turning back "Wait here" the other said and ran off up the bridge towards the fort.

"What's he doing?" Asked Weiss

"Likely getting someone with more authority" said Ruby absently as she stretched her arms and legs and behind her she spread her wings and gave them a shiver before folding them back into a cloak. "No offense" she quickly added as the other guards helmet turned to her reproachfully.

Eventually the guard came back with a man dressed in leather clothes, his face growing a slight stubble as his crimson eyes looked over each of them.

"Greetings, I'm commander Valerian Jymbol Of Kress Fort. May I get your names?" He Asked

"Of course, my name is Ruby Rose, this is my sister Yang Xiao Long, that's Blake and this is Weiss Schnee" Said Ruby pointing to each of them in turn.

"The Weiss Schnee? At my Fort? Well… how… unexpected" Said Valerian surprised before turning to Ruby "are you the leader of this group?"

"Well…"

"Basically" Said Yang

"She comes up with good ideas and battle tactics" Said Blake

"…" Weiss remained silent until she noticed that everyone was looking at her before she huffed and rolled her eyes "I suppose she's capable and experienced enough" she said

"I guess I am then" Said Ruby, her wings twittering nervously.

The man eyed her critically before turning his gaze to the other three "are you sure you could handle it?" Asked Valerian

"How hard is it to tell us what the Grimm look like? It can't exactly be a secret" said Yang

"I'm sure someone in town would be willing to tell us" Said Weiss "we only came to you as a formality"

The other three held their breath as Valerian looked at Weiss before he huffed "I suppose you'll have to do"

"Thy arrived a few nights ago and have settled on that path" explained Valerian.

"Got any descriptions of appearance? Abilities?" Asked Yang

"Well, I sent a few guys up. Half of them came back" said Valerian grimly "they said they looked like some sort of bear, a pack of them with tough armour and thick hides"

"Bears" mumble Blake to herself as she brought out a book and began skimming through it. The book was something that they had been given by Ozpin before they left and was a complete encyclopedia on Grimm. She flicked through several pages before stopping on an image of a black bear with bone white armour and spikes along its back "something like this?" She asked as she held up the book

"Yeah, that fits the description" said Valerian as he squinted at the image.

"Ursa" Said Blake "bear like creatures that are big and tough but slow and not as intelligent as other Grimm" she summarized

"Well they wiped out half of a 10 man team" grunted Valerian

"How many Ursa were there?" Asked Blake

"There were three, but my men managed to kill one"

"We'll handle it" reassured Yang

"If you insist, but it's not my fault if you die" Said Valerian

"Right, how encouraging, I can see why the soldiers here must love you" Said Yang dryly as they turned an walked back into the city, Valerian glaring at their backs.

"So now we get supplies and then ride out that way, I'm afraid we'll be sleeping in our armour" Said Yang as the other two looked at her incredulous

"I don't have armour" mumbled Blake

"That's because you can basically turn invisible"

"I refuse to sleep in my armour" said Weiss indignantly

"Well have fun when we get ambushed at night and your killed" Said Yang nonchalantly. That made Weiss shut up and stop complaining.

"Cheer up Weiss, it could be worse" said Ruby nudging Weiss's shoulder

"How?" Asked Weiss doubtful

"You could be a fairy and not require sleep and thus be left as a night watchmen every single night while wishing you could experience dreams or waking up well rested instead of having to be on constant alert for danger" Said Ruby smiling as Weiss glowered

"Show off" grumbled Weiss

~§~

They had bought supplies in the cities market and had then spent a comfortable warm night in the tavern before getting up and having a nice breakfast as the sun shone brightly overhead. They were loading up their horses before changing into their armour and mounting up and riding out onto the streets as people walked about doing their routines.

"How do we get onto the Madison pass?" Asked Weiss

"Follow me, we head down this street and round this turn" said Ruby as she launched into a trot with the others following.

It took them several minutes as Ruby looked at the map then around at all the streets and moving about before the finally came to a road similar to the one they rode in on with a raised path with grassy slopes either side leading down into the marsh. Towards the distance was a wall of trees, to the right was the mountains that made up the spine of the Vale kingdom, stretching from the start of the savage lands of the east all the way to the great Madhan desert in the West, their snow capped peeks reflected light and gleamed like the brightest light spell. To the left was the marsh going on and on into the distance with a wall of trees a few kilometers away.

"We head down here and up ahead there'll be a crossroads, we take the right one and we'll be on the path" Said Ruby as she put the map away and started down the road.

"Hey Blake?" Asked Yang "got any more information on these Ursa?"

"Let me take a look" Said Blake as she pulled out the Grimm book and flicked to the same page. The image showed a creature similar to the Beowulf but bigger and stockier with an angular head with four long horns coming off the end of its mask.

"There are two types. Ursa minors and Ursa Majors. Ursa minors are covered in usual armour and have thick hides but are slow and lack the intelligence of other Grimm and animals. The Ursa Major can be identified by the spikes on its back, an increased size and intelligence then their minor counterparts" read Blake as she looked at the separate image of an Ursa major.

"They sound pleasant" Said Yang

"It sounds like we should be prepared for a tough fight" Said Weiss

"I'm sure we'll manage, but keep your eyes and ears sharp" Said Ruby

"I was thinking of closing my eyes and making as much noise as possible" Said Yang smirking and Ruby rolled her eyes and shivered her wings.

"You know what I meant"

"Yeah, but it was more fun to tease ya"

"I hate you"

~§~

They travelled for an hour without incident until they came across a tree that was felled across the path along with blood on the ground.

Blake wrinkled her nose while Weiss paled slightly while Ruby and Yang simply surveyed the forest around them.

"Guess we're close" Said Yang

"Yes, Blake keep your ears open" Said Ruby as she maneuvered her horse around the tree and onto the path.

"I don't hear anything out of the ordinary" she reported as they continued down the path.

"Do they have any special abilities or habits?" Asked Yang as they approached a small bump on the path.

"Ugh…" Blake began to skim through the page as she looked for anything. "Sharp claws… average hearing… territorial… large paddle like paws making them surprisingly capable diggers"

"Diggers?" Asked Weiss as her horse placed a hoof upon the hill at the same moment as Yang cursed.

The ground quaked causing Weiss's horse to buck and shake wildly in panic as the ground rose and rose, then dirt fell off to reveal a hulking black shape that growled low and deep, far more akin to a bear then the wolf like growls of the Beowulf's.

Weiss had managed to get her horse under control and was next to the others who had drawn weapons. The Ursa slammed its forelegs back down upon the earth and the ground shuddered, it pawed at the ground and roared, the sound echoing out around them and off into the forest as the birds in the trees took flight.

"What was that about being prepared?" Asked Yang as she raised her fists and Weiss glared

~§~

~several days earlier~

The castle was old and ancient, but Salem had picked it for a reason.

"This was the very Castle" she told her two followers at the table "where they planned my demise many millennia ago, now I sit in this room on a throne" she smiled at the irony

"It is glorious my queen" groveled a Faunus man with a scorpion tail. His name was Tyrian and he was one of the few left who worshipped her as some sort of ancient god.

"It is certainly a triumph" commented Cinder as she looked at Tyrian disapprovingly.

Salem smiled slightly as Tyrian scowled at Cinder. As nice as it was to have an unquestioning pawn who worshipped the very ground she walked upon, it did grow tiring quick. Cinder thus far had been quiet, only speaking when she wanted to add her thoughts to the discussion, she was still new to this after all.

Salem then frowned, she needed more. Another two and then her trusted four would be complete and she could put more plans into motion.

"What news do we have of potential allies?" Asked Salem

"I have been told by Emerald that a man who worked as a bodyguard to Ozpin has become a fugitive after a failed assassination attempt a few days ago" said Cinder.

"Interesting" mused Salem. Though he didn't sound extraordinary he definitely sounded useful to learn secrets from. Then again, maybe he was more then he sounded. "What's his name?"

"Hazel" said Cinder "after some snooping she linked that his daughter had recently been killed in Vale and that she was under the protection of Ozpin"

"Alright then" Said Salem "I want him" if What was being implied was true then he likely hated Ozpin as much as she did.

"As you wish" bowed Cinder

"And any others?" Asked Salem

"None that have come up in our channels" said Cinder regretfully

"Anyone would be foolish not to serve Mistress" Said Tyrian

"Indeed" said Cinder shortly before walking out

"And what would my Mistress have me do?" Asked Tyrian bowing deeply

"Train, learn to fight or die trying" said Salem smiling cruelly

"As you wish my Lady" Said Tyrian still in a deep bow showing no clear signs that the comment distressed him as he walked out the room. Before the door shut, in floated a seer Grimm that hurriedly floated over to her.

"Warning. Primary protocol to protect life until level 2 civilization reached not being followed. Current actions go against Primary directive. Current Njaga forms and use harmful to current civilization" it said in its strange deep echoing speech.

Salem scowled and turned to the Grimm which floated in front of her "You will obey me, or you will be replaced"

"Primary Protocol can not be violated. You must cease your current actions-" the creature ceased to be as Salem crushed the glass head, the red mist dissipating as its body dissolved so quick it didn't even hit the floor.

~§~

The only sci-fi thing in this whole story is the Grimm because I thought that it would be interesting

There'll be more in two weeks… maybe. But in the bright side I have a vague idea of what I want to happen.

See ya