Once again, a long time coming, but here we are.

Let's go check in on our favorite bunch of numbskull monster hunters, shall we?

Stirrings

I did not like hospitals.

They always smelled like old-people and too clean halls, but it was worse whenever you had to go down the surgery ward and smell the aftermath of a finished operation. You'd think with my kind of training and the various baddies my team fought on a regular basis, blood wouldn't be all that bad.

Well… if it was mine, sure.

Unfortunately, when I woke up in the all too familiar infirmary, I looked over to find Weiss getting wheeled in beside me with bandages all over her body. As I watched, red began to bleed through the white just a bit before the sight was blocked by a coat.

"For heaven's sake, why is she bleeding so much? I've stitched everything closed, gotten rid of all the shrapnel, and her aura signs are steady. She shouldn't be bleeding!"

Oh, that was… what was the doctor's name again? You'd think after being here enough times, I'd know her on sight.

"Relax, Doctor, it's only her arm. I assure you, the bleeding will stop soon, and I say that in my professional opinion as an MD."

That was Ozpin… why did it not surprise me he was a medical doctor too?

"You can take your opinion and shove it, Headmaster. The only reason I'm not getting a bullhead into Vale right this minute is because it's isolated and slow flowing. Anything else and we'd be at Vale Memorial before you could tender my resignation!"

Her name was on the tip of my tongue… Dr. Nadya!

I must've said it aloud, because the coat whirled around, and annoyed green eyes found me. "Well look who joined the living! You're quite lucky, Ms. Rose, I have half a mind to tie you to that bed permanently."

I was not in the mood for our usual banter about my poor life choices. "Is… she ok?"

Dr. Nadya dropped the playful air she'd put on, face drooping in exhaustion. "She is, minus the bleeding on her arm, but it wasn't easy. I don't know what happened, but I had to chip ice off her limps then extract the shards, in addition to some kind of shrapnel she had just about everywhere."

That sounded about right, considering what the Naja was capable of. "But… she'll be fine?"

Nadya smiled and patted my shoulder, which thankfully didn't hurt. "She will. Honestly, it's you who got the worst of it this time. Three broken ribs, lens damage, multiple limb fractures, dislocated shoulder, muscle spasms, and don't get me started on the shrapnel in your back. If it weren't for your aura repairing the damage, you'd be crippled or worse."

That was… sobering. "We… ran into a bad fight. I don't know how, but that thing knew we were there… wouldn't let us just observe."

Nadya shook her and sighed. "Well, them's the breaks. Ozpin still refuses to explain what it is you and your friends must go and fight, but I can feel him staring a hole through my head. You, bedrest, whole week."

She turned on her heel and left before I could give a witty response. I was… just too tired to try, honestly.

"We must stop meeting like this, Ms. Rose." Ozpin said as he pulled up a chair and sat next to me. "Though, for once, I have no lecture. Your sister and Ms. Belladonna filled me in on your plan, and I must say, it would have been optimal under any other circumstances."

There was a but coming, there always was.

"Unfortunately, these were not ideal circumstances. Your sister has lent me your book on the Beasts, and the Najarala was perhaps the worst one to attempt the split and observe strategy. Now, you knew not of this and there lies no fault in it, but you must understand."

He leaned in close, looking over his glasses with utter seriousness. "The more powerful the Beast, the greater their senses and ferocity. As the Najarala showed, they are cunning enough to determine the threat they face and formulate a strategy. In this case, it knew you weren't expecting a relentless assault, so that's what it did."

He folded his arms over his cane. "Frankly Ms. Rose, while your control over your powers continues to improve, you need more experience in the field than just the exercises Professor Port and Professor Goodwitch take everyone on."

I was silent. Really, I could only agree with him, especially now that my injuries were making themselves known. "I… understand, Professor."

Ozpin nodded and stood, a glass of water appearing in his hand. "Here, this should help. Get some rest and talk with your friends, you'll have this week and the next off as I figure out how to get you where you need to be."

"Also, as I'm sure you saw, Ms. Schnee went feral as well. When you can, please submit a report to me."

I took the water and drank, nodding when I was done. "I'll… do that sir. Will everyone come to visit soon?"

"They're outside, resting." Ozpin said as he made for the door. "It's quite late though, so forgive them if they don't come in until the morning."

I blinked as he waved goodbye. Actually, now that I looked around, the lights of the infirmary were on and the shattered moon was shining bright in the night sky outside. We'd left just before noon, so we'd been out of it for a while.

I sighed and leaned back onto my pillow. It was one thing to hear about my injuries and feel them, but as I laid there, the image of Weiss bearing down on me with such rage in her eyes hovered over me.

It was like looking at a completely different person. Something that was almost unnatural. Not our favorite prickly snowflake who was secretly addicted to less than healthy donuts. She thought I didn't know why she spent the extra hours in the gym, but no one got sweets past me!

…I was tired, just thinking that took a lot of energy. Not even a twinge of my funny bone.

A sigh passed my lips and I looked to Weiss again. She was sleeping soundly, but I could see just a little furrow in her brow. That was the 'I'm angry' look, but I could see a twitch in her lip that told me she was seeing something… sad.

Being partners led to noticing stuff like this. Heck, Yang and Blake had telepathy for all intents and purposes, to the point Blake could feel a craving for tuna and Yang would already have a tuna salad sandwich ready to go.

Jaune and Pyrrha too, I could name a dozen examples of those two and their mind-meld. Same with Ren and Nora, but those two were like that well before becoming official partners.

Weiss and I though, we ran on facial expressions and body language. If you asked her, I was the easiest book to read since grade-school, but Weiss had her own set of ticks and twitches that always slipped through. Like if you got her eyes to narrow, that was normally a bad thing, but if she was digging a nail into her sleeve at the same time, she was trying not to laugh.

Alright, Ruby, you can do this! There must be a way to get Weiss out of whatever she's seeing and get you to sleep…Aha!

This idea was likely very silly and childish, but it had worked on me for years and years. Even Yang swore by using it whenever she was too hyper to get to sleep. Let's… just say I was glad she wouldn't be hearing this.

I hadn't done a lullaby in a while.

Golden slumbers kiss your eyes,
Smiles await you when you rise.
Sleep,
Pretty baby,
Do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby.

Cares you know not,
Therefore sleep,
While over you a watch I'll keep.
Sleep,
Pretty darling,
Do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby.

It was more for myself, really, but I sang it where I thought Weiss would hear. It seemed to work too, as I watched her face relax and her bandaged arm fell onto the sheets in easy reach. I don't know what possessed me, but I reached across with my uninjured arm and wrapped my fingers around her wrist.

"Rest well, Weiss. I'm… so glad you're ok."

I drifted off to sleep as the lullaby hummed through my mind. It really was such a soothing song, and it had helped me through a lot all these years.

…Another thing I'll have to thank Mom for.

-Weiss-

I don't know what roused me, but I was rightly irritated that the pleasant melody in my head was interrupted by what sounded like giggles and clicking cameras.

Damn it all, did I fall asleep in the library again?

One eye creaked open only to shut as a flash of light shot a lance of pain into my skull.

"Nora, no flash!"

"Come on, it's too cute!"

I tried to growl, but no sound came out. Instead I slowly opened the other eye to see my compatriots surrounding me with scrolls out and taking pictures. What in the name of all that was holy were they doing?

"Yang, stop drawing on the bandages, Dr. Nadya's going to be mad."

"Ah, she won't seem 'em."

Ok, that could only mean I was in the infirmary. Let's see… oh right, we went on a mission, fought a giant lizard-snake called a Najarala, and Ruby got pinned after we'd gotten smacked around and caused it some major pain…

Wait, where's Ruby?!

The thought jolted me awake and forward, scaring the daylights out of the others if their screams meant anything. I was more concentrated on the blinding pain that shot through me and concern for my dolt of a partner. "Ruby!"

I felt something grip my wrist and looked to my left, Ruby's bandaged and bruised body in the next bed. How she was reaching across the gap and sleeping escaped me, but at least she was breathing. After that brief rush of relief, I spotted Ruby's hand coiled around my wrist.

Well, that explained the pictures and giggles.

With what I'm sure was a dignified glare, I looked to my guests. "Put those scrolls down and have some decency why don't you? We're injured parties, not side-show attractions."

Yang put her scroll away with a big grin. "Come on, Snowflake, it's cute seeing you both hold hands like old friends!"

"Yeah!" Nora… quiet shouted. I'm unsure as to what else it could be called.

I simply huffed and nodded to Ruby's hand. "We're not holding hands, fool. She's grabbing my wrist, which I might add, really hurts."

Yang clearly didn't believe me, but Blake was ever sensible and started giving me a rundown. "So, now that you're up, I'll tell you what Dr. Nadya told us. You came in with shrapnel everywhere, from the head down, and you used so much ice that it entombed your arms and legs. Dr, Nadya had to chip it off then extract the stuff that had gone into your skin."

That sounded revolting, but by the looks of things, I still had all my fingers and toes. "Then I will thank her when I see her, again. Really, they may as well name this ward after us."

"It's not like we're single-handedly filling the beds." Ren noted with his usual calm. "We just happen to be here a little more often than the others."

Jaune sighed and tapped on the cast he was wearing. "Not when team CFVY comes in baring flowers every other day. One of us is in here so often, most of our other friends have a damned system going."

It was rather disheartening to hear that, but the evidence was irrefutable. I mean, there were flowers with get well cards gathered to my right and a platter of cookies was next to Ruby as well. Velvet had even left a signed card, the sweet girl.

"Continuing," Blake sighed as Yang wandered over to Ruby's side. "Jaune broke his arm when the Great Baggi and its gang ambushed them, landed right on his shield. Ren got some bruises and Pyrrha took a few slashes on her legs and shoulders, but they're already healed. Nora got a concussion when the Baggi gang triggered a rock slide, but she was fine after a storm rolled through and she got to smashing."

Why was I not surprised? "And you?"

Blake tapped her back. "I took more than a few claws and teeth back here, but they were mostly glancing blows. One of the bastards was able to dig in a claw, left a scar that loops around to my hip. Yang over there refused to believe that they were big enough to hurt her, but getting hit by two tail swipes and a body slam almost broke her ankle. Got some burns when she held the Jaggi down and blew it up."

Heaven, it sounded like Blake was almost disemboweled from behind! Yang at least was built like a truck and could shrug off being thrown into concrete, but even her aura couldn't stop all the damage.

"You know, I've been wondering something." Nora said as she floated on by, Ren supporting her newest, and literal, flight of fancy. "Most everyone's auras can take punishment like it's nothing, like in combat class. Yet, when we go against the Beasts, it's like our auras are… thinner, I guess?"

That… was an amazing observation! Who knew that Nora's general flighty mind could strike on such a novel idea?

"I thought it was just the force behind their blows." Pyrrha muttered, playing with her ponytail. "But now that you mention it, I have noticed that my aura is weaker whenever a Beast strikes me. It's almost like… I can't access it fully."

That was true. I was putting a lot of power into my aura whenever we came to blows with the Beasts, because that's what we needed to survive. Yet, with the Grimm…

"Holy mackerel." Jaune breathed, apparently realizing something. "That's why my arm hasn't been healing like normal. I bet the Beasts have… anti-Aura abilities or something. That would make them so much more dangerous than Grimm, especially to unprepared Hunters."

I personally believe at least one of us-Blake-was hung up on the thought of a holy fish, but Jaune's idea made far too much sense. "Is… that why Ruby's all wrapped up?"

Everyone went silent, which sent a thrill of alarm down my spine. "Guys… is she ok? She's breathing, I can tell that much, but is there something else I should know?"

No one was willing to talk for a whole minute before Yang groaned. "Ok, I'll spill. Ruby got real beat up in that fight, even more so than when she went feral against the Qurupeco. Broken ribs, limbs, eye damage, random muscle spasms, and all kinds of shrapnel in her back. Doc was able to get almost everything out, so her aura just needs to finish pushing out what the Doc couldn't get at and finish up. It'll be a week at least."

My world paused. That… that couldn't be right, Ruby was moving just fine. Admittedly with a limp, but she hadn't been bleeding last I saw, and she was only bruised from the damned Naja tossing her around. There was no way I'd allowed so much damage to go unnoticed, I just didn't let something like that go.

…Right?

Yang, in an unusual show of empathy where I'm concerned, stood and started guiding everyone away. "Alright, let's give these two their beauty sleep. We still have our own things to do, but remember Snowflake, we're investigating the minute you and Rubes are up to it."

I nodded absently, not really paying attention. My gaze was locked on Ruby, so I almost didn't hear one more comment Yang made as they left.

"Geez, the way she looks at Rubes. Wonder if Snowflake even knows what a crush is."

I launched an extra pillow in a vain attempt to silence the cheeky blonde, but the doors slid shut and my weapon of vengeance slapped against the doors before slumping upon the ground in defeat.

Of course I knew what a crush was, anyone with any social knowledge knew. This wasn't a crush though, this was utter worry and abject loathing. I am a Schnee and I swore to Ruby I'd be the best partner ever. Considering I didn't notice just how badly my partner was hurting, I'd betrayed that oath, and that was a blow my pride simply would not tolerate.

As such, I would become her caretaker, it was the only way to forgive myself for letting such a breach of my promise occur. Ruby may not want me to fuss over her, I did enough of that already, but damn it she was my partner.

…She was my friend, and I would rather stroll naked through the grounds than see my first honest friend in years if not my entire life suffer because of me.

I felt my arm burn as passion roared in my breast and I felt the distinct urge to take off the bandages. Following the urge was nothing more than idle curiosity, but as I unwound the cloth and gauze, my pulse quickened with panic.

Jagged lines and crags of blue pulsed with white energy in tune to my quickening pulse. The colors formed images of… slaughter and death so profound and unsettling, I felt my stomach heave with revulsion.

I couldn't cover the filthy thing fast enough.

That… that's like Ruby's mark. Oh no… I went feral!

It was the only reason for this… stain to appear. Ruby had said it showed up after they'd been nearly killed by the Qurupeco, so maybe… she'd noticed Ruby's state and been so afraid she'd lost all control.

…Then perhaps she'd already paid the price for being negligent.

No, I can't think of this like a debt, Ruby would get on my case if I did that. Just… do it because you care about your friend's well-being. That's what all the self-help books say.

I was not so arrogant as to believe I was always above those around me. In maturity, most of the time sure, but I was also not experienced in the realm of caring about others. Live most of your life alone while being used as a doll until your older sister ups and leaves, see if you turn out better.

Bitterness aside, I settled into my bed and hummed the melody that had calmed me. I don't know where it came from, but I was willing to let the sudden inspiration take its course.

I also may have… grabbed Ruby's hand. I'd had to make her let go to untie the bandages, so better to make up for it.

…

…

No matter what Dr. Nadya says, I was not smiling after I fell asleep, nor did I 'entwine my fingers in a loving grip'.

Mad, the lot of them.

…In my defense, Ruby's grip is very soothing, I needed it to calm down from finding my mark.

…

…

I had it bad, didn't I?

-Vale Harbor-

"Another has fallen."

The announcement was greeted with hisses and growls, the congregation much larger than it was barely a month ago. The rulers of the sea were beginning to gather, yet many of the Elders still slept.

"The land walkers are slow to gather." Ar'dynle said, the great Lagiacrus shaking dust from his scales. "And the sky swimmers even more so. I know that the enemy is in far greater abundance upon the land and sky, but this is… strange."

A croaking hiss turned the congregation's attention to a scarred Royal Ludroth, only one eye present in its skull. "It is the children of man, the ones that smell of power. My forays into the rivers with my concubines have yielded at least that much."

A Plesioth by the name of Cra'se stalked forward, fins bristling with coiled muscle. "Your forays have met only the raptors, none else. If you are to be believed, then children have been keeping even the wolves and brutes at bay."

Se'to, the Royal Ludroth Team RWBY had fought near the beginning of their time at Beacon, growled. "That's why we're here, is it not? To discuss why our fellows have yet to appear!"

A thud rang through the hollow, all eyes turning to the burning Elder steaming in his personal pool. "Enough, bickering amongst the representatives will not be tolerated. Ja'bas, has there been any word from the scouts to the other continents?"

An angler's lantern lowered from the ceiling to reveal a gaping maw filled with teeth. "None from the southern or northern groups yet, but the western team sent a messenger. The land there is almost crawling with the Enemy, but they've spotted a Sky Queen and several others patrolling the air far from the nearest human settlement."

Ha'rok, the Elder known as a Dire Moralis, grinned. "Good… then the Sky King should join soon with his fellows. Der'sal, have your lessers infiltrated the waterways of this settlement?"

The beady eyes of a Cephadrome hiding near the entrance of the cave sparkled in answer. "Mostly, my Lord. One of the more… adventurous ones is investigating a possible entrance into something the humans call an information tower."

Ha'rok hummed as the congregation discussed that news. Gaining access to more information was always good, but how to interface with something so… alien? If there was one thing he had to admire about the humans, it was their never-ending need to create, no matter if it be good or ill.

The sound of crumbling stone halted all conversation, every eye and maw turning to the middle of the cave. Lightning, fire, and water gathered to end whoever dared intrude upon this meeting, but the powers faded as magma encrusted beak burst from the floor to reveal a sail-backed leviathan with bright blue eyes.

"Agnaktor," Ha'rok rumbled, the leviathan of fire bowing reverently. "Speak thy name and purpose."

The Agnaktor reared up, pride radiating like the heat it commanded. "I am called Te'wep, my Lord. I have come baring word from my Lieges in the northern continent."

"The Elder To'ev and the Elder Ae'sor send their regards and ask for a meeting."

The cave descended into pandemonium, but Ha'rok and Ar'dynle watched Te'wep closely. If those names truly meant what the oldest leviathans here thought they meant…

…Then that gathering, festival the humans called it, would indeed be the best place to… formally announce their return.

Ha'rok wanted to see the Wizard and Witch's faces when that happened.

-Vale, White Fang Recruitment Venue-

The snake in the rafters knew not what the half-lings below were up to, but it did know that whatever it was benefited the Enemy.

It cared not about the lone pair of humans among them, hemming and hawing about how hard it was to acquire something called a mech. There were also various complaints about being slow and 'business being interrupted' but the snake paid little attention.

Instead, it gazed at the metal men that were folded up on the ground and the strange object that lay underneath some kind of fur. They smelled of nothing but steel and pitch, no life in them, which made the snake wonder why such things were made in the first place.

A noise made the snake sink deeper into the shadows, a female human walking into the cavernous building and striding over to the other pair. She began to speak with the man who had orange fur on his head.

It could not hear the conversation, but risking its stealth wasn't worth the trouble.

Whatever was said took little time, for the woman was soon on her way out. The snake knew not who that woman was, but it knew this for certain.

She held the taint of the Witch and the Enemy around her like a fog, so powerful it was noticeable from so far away. The two that met her at the door and followed her outside carried the same stench.

The snake tasted the air, waiting for the witchlings to leave before hissing. It couldn't leave, not yet, but the Elder would hear of this.

It was so like the humans to ally with something that wishes nothing but destruction on them.

Damned fools.

-Atlas, Mountain-

It was rather impressive, gazing down on the towers of steel and rock that humans had created.

Where once they could barely manage simple buildings of stone, those in the present had clearly advanced far beyond their more… naive ancestors.

It was almost a shame it would all go down in flames.

"I hear that rumble, To'ev." A great monster of white plate and ice harrumphed. "You and I both know sparing them will only give the Witch and the Enemy an advantage."

The Ukanlos's companion snorted and pawed at the snow, frustration apparent. "We had allies amongst the humans once, Ae'sor, you know this. I simply question why we must make them our enemies again when the true threat still exists."

Ae'sor rumbled as he moved, his great bulk carrying him through the snow like a plow. "The power the Enemy draws from them is too much and they killed many of our kin for little reason than a desire for trophies. Doubtless, some deserve better, but you know we cannot be hesitant."

To'ev snorted again and stood, snow falling off his gleaming silver scales. "I know, we'd not have sent for Ha'rok if that were not the case. I simply pity them."

Black-red energy gathered into To'ev's wings, his next words mournful. "Were it not for the kindness of that woman, so long ago, we would not be so hesitant."

The Valphak shot into the air without another word, Ae'sor watching him go with an equally mournful call. Truly, it was sad, as that woman that had first approached their kin was truly a unique existence.

Why else would her descendants, bearing the same silver eyes they'd granted her for her compassion, betray that trust and seal them? Had they not done so, the Witch's influence would have been destroyed.

And the world would have had peace.

Truly regrettable.

-Ruby-

I woke up with a jolt. I don't know what I saw, but it looked like the Beasts were having meetings of some sort. I mean, I knew they were intelligent, but organization of that scale?

Then there were those big guys too… scary stuff.

Though it was obviously a dream, I mean Beasts being friendly? That was a wild thought for sure, but the Naja did say it regretted having to kill me… until Weiss cut off its tail, but who wouldn't be pissed?

Anyway, I was awake and suffering the kind of soreness reserved for Yang & Pyrrha's Physical Fitness Power Hour TM. Considering I was still in the infirmary bed, I was honestly kind of wishing that was the reason I ended up here in the first place.

"About time you woke up."

I blinked and looked over to find Weiss grinning at me. "Oh… hey…"

Weiss gestured to the table between our beds, a plate of cookies sitting on it. "You had some well-wishers while we were out of it. Dr. Nadya told me we had to put a lot of sugar into our systems, for reasons I still fail to fathom, so why not share these with me?

…

"Ruby?"

I stared at her a moment longer before starting my search for the hidden camera.

"Ruby, I'm serious!" Weiss protested, cheeks flushing pink. "Geez, I'm not above sweets if they're on doctor's orders, so stop thinking this is some elaborate prank!"

I wasn't quite ready to let this go, but better to humor her. "Alright, if you say so. Um, I do know we'll be here a while, so… what do we do?"

Weiss smirked and waved to the foot of her bed.

Where a big screen TV, with my game systems and a dozen movies I'd been dying to see, was waiting.

"…Weiss, remember that talk we had about throwing money around?"

She could not have rolled her eyes any harder. "Dolt, the others brought all this for us. Yes, I had to pay for their lunch, but that's it. May as well enjoy our stay, if only so we don't die of boredom. Getting all your work done on time pays off, no?"

I had to laugh at that, even though it made my chest burn. It actually was kind of nice not having any other work hanging over our heads.

"Hold on, give me a second."

I blinked and looked over to see Weiss press some buttons on her bed, which made it roll towards me until Weiss was close enough to reach over and pat my hand. "We're going to relax, got it? We took down a four-star Beast, no small feat. I think some indulgence is worth it."

I couldn't help but blink at Weiss's friendly behavior. "Weiss… I'm not dying, am I?"

Weiss looked like I'd called her hair ugly. "What, no! You are going to be just fine, I just felt you deserved something after doing so well in such a terrible position."

I kind of smiled. Weiss was being her usual self, just with an added sprinkle of finally calling me her friend off her chest. Really, there was no reason to turn her down, and I could tell she was nervous by the tiny twitch of her eye.

"Well what are we waiting for? I call dibs on first movie!"

Weiss almost burst into relieved giggled, which made me giggle too. Really, we were just a pair of dorks with way too much on our plates. It was best to leave the thoughts of monsters and beasts on the backburner for now.

Instead, I got to spend time with my very best friend, who I really could count on to cheer me up, even when she was so plainly hurting just staying awake. Everyone deserved a friend like that if you asked me.

…Though… deep in my heart, to the point I barely noticed it at the time…

I… really wished those bright blue eyes would look at me alone…

Someday.

Ch. End

Ok, here we are with the chapter!

I do hope it's enjoyable, especially since I realized we needed to get some plot moving with the human enemies, and we see more of the Beasts! It really is interesting writing such a diverse group of distinct creatures, but that's the fun part!

Next chapter's going to focus on Yang and Blake as their time spent waiting for the other half of the team to recover will still be busy. The investigation has to start at some point, so may as well get in some leg-work.

The only question is if Yang can actually focus on the investigation rather than stare at Blake's legs.

…Can I just say it is an absolute treat writing these characters as so very interested, yet utterly unable to see it? I now understand the glee of writer's using the usual 'dense protagonist' trope, though not to the point this lot are brick heads.

That's all I have! Thanks for reading and I'll see you next time!