The horses snorted and stamped their feet but otherwise did not show any signs of fear which Ruby was grateful for.

"Dismount the horses!" She called out

The others hastily got off their horses and got their weapons ready as the horses trotted off down the path.

"So what's the plan of attack?" Asked Yang

"It's just one so we should be able to easily overwhelm it with numbers" said Weiss

"Yes… Yang you go for a head on confrontation and we'll attack from the back and sides" said Ruby

"Are you crazy?" Asked Blake in shock

But Yang had already run forward and had dodged a swipe from the large paw of the Ursa. Ruby extended her scythe and ran forward as well and with the Ursa distracted was easily able to slice its side with swing of her blade. The wound would have been fatal to any creature but the Ursa simply growled and swiped downwards at her which she quickly dodged as a small crater was formed around the paw.

Weiss and Blake launched themselves forward and Weiss gave a swing at the Ursa's leg that should of cleaved it clean off but she yelped as she felt her arm stop forcing her whole body to stop its momentum as she swung limply from the Ursa's foreleg. The Ursa opened its jaw in what appeared to be a grin as it swung the foreleg down towards the ground and Weiss closed her eyes.

The she felt herself stop as a hand wrapped around her sword arm and pulled her free, she opened her eyes to see Yang using one arm to stop the leg from smashing into the ground.

"Could you move?" She grunted "this isn't exactly easy"

Weiss quickly used her runes to shoot her to the side and out the way and Yang grabbed the paw with her second hand and twisted, a cracking was heard as the Ursa roared in pain before suddenly wrapping its jaws around Yang's armoured leg and throwing its head this way and that like a dog with a toy.

Blake meanwhile had been standing on the creatures back and slicing the hide, her blade not even going and inch deep. When she looked up to see Yang being thrown about she quickly ran up the creature's back and plunged her sword into the creature's face plate. Blood spurted up and ran black streaks down the creature's mask as it roared, dropping Yang limply to the floor, and bucked wildly.

Blake held on and drove the blade deeper as Ruby gave large slices to the creatures body, Blake eventually couldn't push further and considered the notion that the creature didn't care that it should be dead with a blade this deep into its brain, then she considered if the creature even had a brain.

She pulled her blade out and slid down the creatures back, safely landing behind it. The creature bucked and writhed and began to fall forward. Right on top of Yang.

Weiss suddenly shot forward, her runes showing her path as she crouched down next to Yang and went red in the face with the effort of hauling her so her arm was over her shoulder. The runes lit up again and she quickly shot forward just as the Ursa fell to the ground dead.

Black smoke rose into the air as the creature evaporated and Blake ran over to Yang as Weiss set her down.

"She okay" assured Weiss "she's breathing"

Blake thanked Mkuu as Yang opened her eyes and squinted as she stared into the sky.

"What happened?" She asked in confusion

"You went unconscious but the Ursa is dead" Said Weiss

"Weiss saved you" Said Blake smirking slightly

"Oh… I thought the knight in shining armour was supposed to save the princess?" She said grinning

"Well maybe if the knight didn't throw themselves into danger" said Weiss rolling her eyes as she blushed slightly.

"Yang!" Said Ruby as she suddenly collapsed next to Yang "I'msosorry!" She said as she hugged her "I shouldn't of made you fight it alone and-"

"Calm down Rubes, see I'm fine" Said Yang as she stood up, slightly uneasily "see?" She said proudly "nothing to worry about" she grinned toothily, her tusks jutting outward.

"Alright" She Ruby "if your sure"

Weiss looked around confused

"Didn't Valerian say there were two?"

The others girls looked at her before there was a sound of a tree falling to the ground as birds squawked above them as they flew away. The snapping of trees drew closer closer as the girls readied their weapons. The trees exploded to reveal another Ursa, this one stood up to the tops of the trees, casting a shadow on the girls as it was covered in thick armoured playing with large spikes along its back.

"Okay, he's big" said Weiss

Yang inhaled and opened her mouth, a smirk on her lips.

"Not the time Yang, we need a plan of attack" admonished Ruby

"Hit it really hard?" Suggested Yang sarcastically

"No. I don't think direct confrontation is a good idea here" Said Weiss

"I agree… the armour looks too tough" said Ruby

"We'll see about that!" Said Yang suddenly running forward.

"Yang! Blake go help her! Weiss help me keep it distracted" Said Ruby as she ran in a flurry of rose petals forward.

"Right" nodded Blake as she quickly followed after Yang.

"Of all the people I had to be grouped with" said Weiss annoyed as she shot forward along her runes.

Yang ran forward and rolled under a swipe of one of its massive paws before continuing forward and raising her fist and with a roar bring it down upon the creature's belly. She grunted in pain as her fist suddenly stopped at the white bone armour. She stared wide eyed as she took her fist away to revel the amour had only slightly cracked, then she was grabbed and flying through the air as the spot she had been standing in was decimated by another paw.

She looked over to see Blake holding onto the back of her armored chest plate, her arms straining in effort. She smiled slightly before quickly shaking herself out of Blake's grip and landing with a roll on the ground, Blake landing beside her.

Meanwhile Ruby had shot forward and delivered several fast swipes to the creatures armored side but to no avail as her weapon simply made small cuts upon the white bone. Weiss had similar luck as she tried a few slices herself. She shot herself backward and focused as she raised her sword and summoned a rune in front of her as Myrtenaster glowed, channeling her power as she built up a large spike of ice before letting go like that of an archer with a drawn bow.

The spike flew through the air and shattered into millions of shards as the ice shattered upon impact with the armor. Weiss gaped before scowling and regrouping with the other girls.

"My gauntlets… did nothing" said Yang in dull shock and surprise "they've never failed…"

"My ice spike simply shattered on the bone" huffed Weiss

"Perhaps the armor is impervious to magical attacks?" Said Blake

"When I was fighting that Beowulf… I punched the armor and it simply cracked like the Ursa's" said Yang in remembrance

"But your attacks still cracked the armour slightly" said Ruby "so if we could just focus our attacks on one spot"

"Excellent, shall I just go ask it to stand still then?" Asked Yang sarcastically

"Weiss, could you try locking it in place with your runes?" Asked Ruby

"W-"

"Guys!" Yelled Blake and they all quickly jumped to the side as a paw slammed down upon where they had been standing and they scattered all around the Ursa.

Weiss got round to its back as it swiveled its head from side to side and stuck the pose she had held before and channeled her magic. She searched around and frowned when she felt a void, she'd never felt a void before, but when the void's limb moved in a swiping motion as a red shimmer passed along its left side Weiss knew what it was.

She concentrated harder and got her magic into position before channeling the rune she needed.

All of a sudden the Ursa's movements stopped as it was locked in place and it roared and struggled against the white runes. Weiss smiled in victory before suddenly her runes shattered as if made of glass and the Ursa swung down and sent out a mini earthquake with its power.

"It's powerful!" Said Weiss

"I don't think we can fight it!" Said Blake

Ruby grit her teeth but had to concede the point that the Ursa Major did not seem to be caring for their efforts to kill it.

"Blake! Go get the horses ready! We're gonna run and find somewhere better to fight it!" She called out. Blake nodded and ran off after there run away horses, they were after all adventurer guild horses and were bred and raised not to be scared of loud noises and sudden explosions or weapons and they could not of gone far, and even if they had they were trained to respond to whistle calls.

"What should we do?" Yelled Weiss as she swiped at the creatures leg to no avail.

"We keep it busy for a few minutes!"

So they set about fighting the Ursa. Ruby launching forward and delivering a hard swing to its armored paw which simply bounced off and slightly chipped the armour. Ruby growled in frustration as she quickly dodged the Grimm's swipe at her and brought her scythe round for another attack.

Yang then launched her attack and punched the Grimm in the face, it seemed to become disoriented with that as it stumbled back slightly and wobbled, Weiss the launched forward to try and get a shot at one of its eyes but the creature was able to get its head out of range just in time.

"Guys!" Yelled Blake as she galloped round a corner on top of her horse with the other three following.

"Jump on and don't stop!" Yelled Ruby as she gave another swipe at the Ursa before quickly shooting over to her horse and jumping on, scythe still outstretched as she held it behind her and grippe the reigns with the other.

Weiss hadn't heard the shout as she was currently focusing on channeling her magic into a large rune, sweat dropped from her brow as a blurry white form began to climb out of the rune.

Then she was grabbed by the back of her tunic and hauled up, her rune and the blurry summon shattering as the place where she had stood was destroyed by the creatures paw slamming down. Yang grunted and dumped her on her white horse and now they were galloping down the road. Ruby turned round and saw the Ursa paw at the ground and roar before beginning to barrel after them taking big lumbering gallops as it pursued them.

They thundered through the woods throwing up dirt behind them as the horses ran along the dry dirt. Behind them the Ursa was taking massive pounces towards them but it's heavy size and armour meant it stayed behind them. The forest began to thin as the trees became more spread apart before breaking to reveal a plain of grass before them and up ahead the path lead to a mountain range that it snaked between.

They looked behind them to see that the Ursa was still following them across the plains as it destroyed grass underneath its massive feet.

"I don't think the horses can keep this up!" Called Yang and she was correct as they were beginning to slow and the Ursa began to get closer.

Ruby looked forward and saw a stone bridge across a deep ravine that speared through the plane.

"We knock it in the river! Its armour is so heavy that it'll drown!" Called Ruby and the others nodded as the horses continued to thunder forward but the Ursa began to get closer

"How do we do that?" Yelled Weiss

Ruby thought hard for a few seconds "Can you direct where those Runes take someone?" She Yelled

"Yeah! Why?... Oh" Weiss could see what the plan was and gripped Myrtenaster and began to channel her magic, her attempt at a summon earlier had drained a lot of her magic but she poured what little she had left into making this rune big. She reached outward with her magic and found the spot where it would work.

Ruby urged her horse forward as the hooves met the stone of the bridge. A feint glow appeared ahead of them and Ruby feared that Weiss had placed the trap too early but let out a sigh of relief as it didn't activate when they galloped over it.

There was a quake and a loud crunching and she looked back to see the Ursa was now crossing the bridge but she grinned when she saw the rune fully appear just ahead of it. It placed a paw on the rune and the paw shot out to the left causing it to fall on its side which also made contact with the rune and shot its whole body to the left. It roared as it broke through the stone wall, the sound of stone smashing and crumbling as the Ursa gave another mighty roar and and fell into the ravine, falling out of sight as they heard the sound of something massive hitting the river below.

They stopped their horses at the other side of the bridge and dismounted, looking over the edge they saw a slight ripple from where the Ursa landed before a black gas emanated from the water and rose into the air before dispersing.

They all looked at each other before grinning and laughing.

"That was brilliant Weiss!" Said Yang as she patted Weiss on the back. The other girl had been panting as sweat rolled down her forehead and the pat caused her to stumble forward and almost fall into the ravine before Yang quickly grabbed her and pulled her away from the edge.

"Weiss!" Said Ruby worried

"I'm… fine" she said weakly as she tried to fight off Yang who was touching her forehead.

"You used all your magic" she said before grinning "guess we'll just rest up here"

"No, I'm fine" grumbled Weiss as she tried to sit up but fell back down.

"Alright, I'll get some fire wood. Blake go and set up the bed rolls under that rock" Ruby pointed to a large stone that casted a shadow over the plains a few meters away from the path.

"I can still-" Weiss started but was stopped as Yang picked her up and slung her over her shoulder "Put me down you Oath!" She protested weakly

"I'll make sure Icicle here doesn't melt herself" said Yang over Weiss's continued protests.

~§~

That bastard had promised to protect his daughter, he had promised. She was all he had left of his late wife and now she was gone.

Hazel grunted as he lay in the alley, looking up to the cloudy skies. He had tried to kill that liar, but he'd been caught, so in a moment of desperation he had jumped from the window and fell to the street below. It was likely his limbs were broken, he couldn't tell because he didn't feel the pain of it. He wished he didn't feel the pain of his lost daughter.

"Hello" spoke a silky smooth voice and he quickly looked in the direction. A woman stood there, a red dress accentuating her figure as her eyes glowed with an amber fire as black hair fell from her head. "Are you Hazel?"

"Who wants to know?" He Asked

"Someone who hates Ozpin just as much as you do" Said The woman as she walked closer "someone who knows the pain of losing a loved one to him"

"What do you want?" He Asked as some blood escaped his mouth, he was probably in a worse state then he first thought.

"I work for someone who would love someone of your… talents and skills, to work for them" Said The woman smiling "and in return, you get your revenge against one who've wronged you"

Hazel eyed the woman warily. If she had told him that at any time in his life he would of killed them for daring to try to tempt him, he had a daughter to protect and being a palace guard was the only way to keep her that way.

But now she was dead… and he had nothing to lose.

"I think you'll find I'm not exactly… doing well" said Hazel as he gestured to himself

"Don't worry about that Hazel" said the woman smiling "we'll be able to sort you out"

~§~

Weiss woke up and noticed two things. One, she was incredibly hungry and two, it was very hot, abnormally hot for summer.

She looked over and saw Ruby smiling at her, she was out of her armour and was flapping her wings generating a nice cool air current.

"Morning" She said quietly

"What… happened?" Asked Weiss as she looked around

"Well when Yang put you down on your bed roll you were already asleep, so your probably hungry considering you missed dinner" Said Ruby as she dug into her bag.

"Why's it so… hot?" Asked Weiss as she looked round at the grassy plains around them.

"We're near the Madhan" said Ruby and she pointed with one of her wings towards the mountains "and through there and a couple of miles away is Hukan which is near the Madhan" she frowned as she brought out a Kitu and Weiss groaned. "Sorry, it's all we've got"

Weiss reluctantly accepted as Ruby continued to flap her wings slowly.

"I thought that was exhausting for you?" Asked Weiss

"Hm?" Ruby tilted her head then looked at her wings "no, not these light movements. It's more like walking" she looked round "though last time me and Yang were up it was no where near as hot until we got through the pass"

"You two talk so loud" Said Blake as she sat up and her ears twitched

"Oh, right, sorry" Said Ruby apologetically

"Whatever, That feels nice" said Blake as she felt the cooling wind from Ruby's wings.

"Guess I'm still good for something" Said Ruby a slight smile as she handed over the Kitu biscuit.

"Hey, you came up with the plan" said Weiss encouragingly but Ruby looked guilty

"But you passed out" she mumbled "I pushed you too far"

"No Ruby" said Weiss "I pushed myself too far, my body simply needed to replenish my magic"

"I've been meaning to ask about that" said Blake "I know that everything has at least some magic but they usually have to channel it through something"

"My sword" said Weiss

"Yeah, but some of those runes you didn't even touch the ground or anything to summon" said Blake "runes usually require the person to touch the ground"

"Well… my magic is unique" said Weiss proudly "I reach out with and can feel around me, everything has magic and I can sense it as different colors"

"Huh!" Gasped Ruby "What's my color?" She asked in wonder

"Red" deadpanned Weiss

"Woah" breathed Ruby like she had just learned a secret of the universe

"The grimm though… it was like a void. Like the ground has a natural magic that's part of Remnant and is colored brown, the sky is a pale blue and so on… but the Grimm was a void… as if it sucked magic in" said Weiss

"It was probably its bone armor" said Yang as she sat up making the other girls jump.

"How long have you been awake?" Said Weiss

"Eh, couple of minutes" shrugged Yang and Weiss now noticed she was in a loose tunic and trousers rather then her metal armor.

"Well we should get under way then" said Ruby

"It's too hot though" groaned Weiss

"Now we see your true Atlas heritage" said Yang

Blake was actually quite happy to be in this warmer climate that was more like Menagerie.

"It's worse nearer the desert, we didn't go to Hukan when we were last up here but I imagine they trade with the people of Vacuo and are very near the desert"

Weiss groaned as she rolled up her bed roll and picked up her sword. It was then she noticed she wasn't wearing her armor and it was packed neatly into her saddle.

"I did that last night when I noticed how hot it was" Said Yang casually when she saw Weiss's confused look.

"Oh" Said Weiss as she attached her bedroll to the saddle and paused "thanks for… for ugh… taking care of me" she said awkwardly

Yang looked slightly surprised but grinned back "no problem Weissicle"

"Never call me that again" Said Weiss as she climbed into her saddle.

"Alright snowball"

"No"

"Whatever snowglobe"

"Don't"

"Sure ice queen"

"Stop"

"Okay-"

"I will freeze your mouth" Said Weiss holding onto Myrtenaster threateningly as it glowed.

"Alright" said Yang laughing as she held up her hands innocently

They began to trot along the path, leaving the rock behind them as the mountains loomed ahead, the grass around them eventually giving way to rock as the path snaked directly through the middle of the two mountains. They came over a crest and got their first view of Hukan. It was a small grotto semicircled by mountains with the desert on the other side.

The town itself looked normal for a trading town with exception for the sand which covered it. What made the sand unusual was that trees that didn't grow in the desert sprouted up from the sand along with bushes and taller grasses. Further past the town was a mountain with stone steps leading to a door and black figures prowling around it.

The part of the town that faced the temple had hastily put up barricades with several figures clearly putting up a fight as black figures charged the barricade.

"Lets help them!" Said Ruby as she brought out her scythe and charged forward.

"Wait!" Cried out Weiss as Ruby charged down the path towards the central street of the town.

"She's not wearing her armour" said Blake worried

"We need to help her" Said Yang as she brought out her gauntlets and charge after her sister.

"That impulsive dolt" Said Weiss annoyed as she brought out Myrtenaster and charged after them followed by Blake.

Ruby charged forward as adrenaline coursed through her, those people needed her help otherwise they would die. She charged down the path and entered the far end of the long street, urging her horse forward as she held her scythe out behind her.

She neared the barricade and saw it was a lot of people shooting bows and swinging swords as Beowulf's assaulted their defenses. Ruby neared and several people turned towards her and cried out before diving out the way as the horse leapt into the air. She brought her scythe around and beheaded a Beowulf that had launched itself at the barricade.

Her horse landed and continued to charge onwards, kicking up sand as Ruby began to swing her scythe and it became a red blur around her as Beowulf's were beheaded and eviscerated and sliced clean in half around her.

Yang followed her sister but stopped her horse at the barricade and hopped off, running forward and punching a Beowulf in the face as its mask cracked and it was flung backwards.

"Someone call for adventurers?" She asked as she punched another.

"About time you showed up!" Said one of the defenders in relief "is it just you two?"

"Well-" Yang was uninterrupted as two more horses jumped over the barricade "there's them two as well" She grunted as she grabbed a smaller Beowulf by its face and crushed it easily.

Weiss grunted as her horse landed but she kept her sword in her grip and easily skewered a Beowulf on the end of it causing it to dissolve. She focused her magic and summoned three runes which fired out icicles and penetrated the unprotected hides of three Beowulf's and they collapsed.

Blake was also hacking and slashing at the Beowolves that came close to her. She saw one leap at her and she activated her own magic and a still image of her and her horse appeared as she galloped ahead invisible. The Beowulf launched at her and the three around it were enveloped in a fiery explosion and incinerated, Blake and her horse suddenly appearing back into existence.

Ruby continued to swing her scythe like a spinning top and slicing any Grimm in her path, she heard a snarl behind her and turned to see a Beowulf pouncing at her, she tried to bring her scythe round but knew it wasn't going to make it. Then an icicle flew past her head, so close she could feel the cold from it, it flew and curved unnaturally forward and stabbed into the roof of the Beowulf's mouth causing it to fall flat to the ground.

Ruby looked round and grinned gratefully at Weiss who huffed.

"You shouldn't of just charged in like that!" She said angrily

"Sorry" Said Ruby apologetically as she sliced off a Beowulf's arm.

A fireball flew by them and a Beowulf was incinerated next to them.

"Keep your eyes on the battle!" Yelled Yang from afar

Blake rode up next to them "we won't be able to keep this up forever"

"They're thinning" Said Ruby "if we just keep it up a little longer"

A deep rumble around them and the Beowulf's all stopped before turning and retreating, the girls on the backs of their horses occasionally swiping at one that neared but otherwise the Beowulf's continued their retreat and ignored them.

"Well that's convenient" Said Blake as the Beowulf's ran up the mountain path and into the open doors of the temple which slammed shut behind the last Beowulf.

The defenders began cheering and several clapping Yang on the back. The three girls rode back to the barricade and the defenders happily opened up a gap for them to ride back into the town. When they dismounted they were marched to the local tavern where they were promptly fed and given the finest ales from the townspeople.

"Thanks for the support!"

"I thought for sure we were goners"

"I was down to my last arrow!"

A woman stepped forward, she had dark skin and a half shaven head of hair with dull yellow eyes and dressed in a long expensive looking purple cloak as she smiled gratefully at them "My name is Dianna and I'm the mayor of Hukan and I thank you for your aid" she said bowing

"It's fine" waves off Yang "it's what we do"

"So, What's this about a temple?" Asked Ruby as she leaned forward on her stool.

"Yes, as I'm sure you saw the temple at the top of the mountain is the home of a kind deity that we offer wines and crops too and in return the desert is kept at bay and we get rain for our crops" explained Dianna

"That why there's so much sand?" Asked Weiss as she looked around at the sand that had somehow made its way into the tavern.

"Yes, the creatures seemed to have taken up refuge in there. I'm no expert on them, they only appeared a few weeks ago after all, but the survivors that made it back from the temple said it was like some sort of nest" said Dianna gravely.

"Hmm" hummed Ruby "sounds bad"

"Has it just been the wolves? Or have you seen other forms?" Asked Blake as she opened the Grimm book.

"It's not only wolves, yesterday a scorpion the size of a man was tearing through the defenses" said Dianna as others spoke up

"It had a glowing yellow stinger!"

"Pincers That could cut your arm clean off!"

"So many eyes… gave me the creeps"

"More like the shits!"

"Shut up"

Blake flicked through the book until she landed upon the image of a large scorpion.

"Deathstalker" she murmured before holding up the book for others to see "like this?"

"That's it!"

"It wasn't as armored though"

"And it wasn't to the scale of that one, much smaller"

"Anything else unusual?" Asked Ruby "like at the end there, that rumble, has that happened before?"

"Yeah, they always retreat when it does though"

"Do they attack at regular times?" Asked Weiss

"Well I suppose their quite reliable, they won't attack again until tomorrow morning" said Dianna

"Alright, well we're nice and rested and well fed now" Said Ruby smiling appreciatively "but I think it's best we go and clear this shrine now before they come back in the morning"

"That would be most kind of you" said Dianna

"Come on, let's go" Said Ruby as she stood up.

~§~

Salem watched through her seer as the man stormed into his laboratory and slammed his papers on the desk.

"Those foolish closed minded bastards that dare call themselves researchers!" Exclaimed the man as he grabbed a cup on his desk and threw it at a wall.

The rabbit in its cage squeaked in terror and the man turned his anger upon it.

He picked up a glowing vial and poured it onto the rabbit which screeched and writhed as warty growth erupted across its skin and its fur darkened as it began to grow and contort.

Salem watched with a smirk as she watched the rabbit contort into a monstrous form. It was sloppy, and the rabbit expired immediately. But the man had potential.

The seer moved silently towards the door and moving through the metal grate it looked at the name upon the door.

'Dr Arthur Watts'

~§~

I don't know what ships I'm going for here but I've noticed in my writing that I often find writing Weiss/Yang scenes easiest so that might develop.

What do I ship your probably not asking yourselves? I'm a multi shipper so I don't have any real preference.

See ya