He missed home, at least that was what his dream told him. Sitting atop a Larinoth's head and watching the world move by. Watch a pack of Herbivores just exist, as they raised their young. Predators weren't after them today, and that was fine. They didn't need to be here. Without them, this place just seemed so at peace, and that was what he was looking for today. A moment of peace, in a world that at times semed overshadowed by monsters and dangers.

"From up here everything seems so small." Gales muttered as he heard the roar from above and turned his head. One of the Sky Kings were busy flying around, most likely patrolling their territory. Not hunting for food it seems, at least not at the moment. For some reason it brought a smile to his face.

"Ah found you." Jumping slightly Gales turned his head as he looked behind him, watching someone climbing up the Larinoth's neck to get to him. "What are you doing up here?"

"Just taking in the sights… care to join me Abel?"

Sitting up Gales rubbed his eye as he yawned, took a moment to gather himself and dropped back on his bed. "Sleepy…" The teen muttered as he ran a hand through his hair. He looked at the alarm clock, watching it read 5:50 and made a noise. I got two hours before school officially starts." He told himself before leaning back and taking a breath."Abel… I wonder what your doing right now." The teen muttered the name before pulling himself from bed and took a moment to stretch. That done he grabbed a pair of sweatpants and a random t-shirt before heading off to the bathroom.

Lost City

"Abel." The teen simply made a noise as he pulled himself from his thoughts and glanced to the side, his attention turning to one of his older brothers as he tightened his grip on whatever was in his hands. "Wasn't expecting you to be up this early."

"We are creatures of habit." The teen admitted as he looked elsewhere and turned away from their camp. "My habit is that I don't sleep well when my mind is elsewhere."

"Care to share?"

"Not really."

"It might help."

"I know." Abel muttered before he looked at the item in his hand and just frowned. It's the ring gifted to him by the Kaiser, and honestly seeing it his brother just frowns slightly.

"You think about our lost brother don't you?"

"You can tell."

"He's been on your mind since the Aetheryte took him months ago." Abel just looked elsewhere as the older male just gave him a sad smile. "You care for him."

"I love him." The teen muttered as looked at the ring.

"As do we all, we are family after all. But you… you love him more than we do, you actually spent time with him before we brought him back to us. I understand why your love would eclipse our own for him." The older man stated as he sat next to his younger brother.

"I don't love him because he is family." The teen grumbled as he looks to the world beyond. "I love him because..." The teen paused for a moment as he drifted off. "Forget it…"

"Abel… you knew him better than I did. Tell me, what is he like?"

"He is… different. Taught the ways of the hunter or not, he is not like the rest of them. He is not like those that have accepted the elder dragons and wyverns living above him…. He see's the world with eyes I fail to fully understand. His eyes, his will grants him a sense charisma. People look up to him, and he the creatures see him as equals." The teen made a noise. "He's also incredibly weird, and a bit of an opportunist. Sometimes I forget he has a brain in that head of his." He looked at his counterpart. "Did I tell you he slept on an Espinas once?"

"The Thorn Wyvern?" his elder brother just gave him a look. "He slept on it?"

"Yes, while I was infiltrating the Hunters Guild, he had taken a quest to slay the wyvern. The rest of our team had been dispatched to make sure he hadn't killed himself after a few hours… we found him asleep on it's head."

"How could he… I was aware that the Thorn Wyverns were docile less they woke up, grew angry, but for him to sleep on it's head…"

"Apparently after he found it he couldn't complete the quest, his weapon couldn't cut through it's scales… he found himself under equipped and given he couldn't slay the beast, he decided to join it during 'nap time'." Abel shook his head. "He's very strange, but that made him fun to be around… he kept things interesting. I loved him for that."

"I see…" The older brother just fell silent before closing his eyes. "We'll find him you know."

"I know."

"Brother Abel." A new voice called out to the pair as they turned to see a sister standing at the end of the hall.

"Sister Lacus."

"Master Lucio wants you."

"This early?" The older brother muttered as he looked at Abel for a moment. "Can it wait?"

"Master Lucio wanted him to be the first to see the Aetheryte when it stabilized." Abel stood in an instant as he looked at Lacus.

"You mean it's finally ready to send us."

"Yes. Master Lucio just wants some final words with you before you go."

"I'll be with him in a moment."

Vale

Beacon

Just because he was in school now, didn't mean that Gales was going to change his schedule much. He ran that morning, used it to wake himself up before heading back to the dorms and took a shower. That said his timing could have been a bit better.

"Mr. Ashe, it's good of you to join us." Glynda stated as the teen scratched his head

"Happy to be here." The teen smiled as Glynda narrowed her eye slightly.

"Take your seat, please." Gales didn't have to be told twice, as he headed towards a seat next to Pyrrha as class resumed.

"I'm happy you made it." Pyrrha whispered as she looked at the teen. "What took you?"

"I took a jog."

"Did you start late?"

"No I just… didn't stop." The teen grumbled as Glynda had them turn a page in their textbooks. "I got distracted."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Pyrrha stated as Gales glanced at the rest of Team JNPR. Ren was lost in their reading, Jaune was trying to keep up and Nora…

"Oh that's not fair…" The teen muttered as he saw the fake eyes drawn on the young ladies eye. Gales pouted as he reached behind Pyrrha and tried nudging the sleeping Nora. "Come on… almost there… just a bit… more."

"Gales? What are you?"

"Shh~" Pyrrha flushed as Gales leaned close to her.

'Did he always smell so earthy?'

"Just a little more…"

"Little more what? Mr. Ashe?" Gales froze as Pyrrha's flush drained. Slowly the teen turned his head to see Glynda standing across from him with a look of annoyance on her face.

"..."

"..."

"...hi."

"Hello." Glynda looked over to Nora as her eye twitched. In an instant the riding crop was in her hand and dropping onto the table as two figures jumped.

"Ah!"

"Pancake!" Nora looked around before her attention turned to Glynda and she fell silent. "..."

"..."

"... hi." At that moment Gales could have sworn their teacher was replaced with a enraged wyvern.

Lunch

"I can't believe we got lunch detention!"

"I don't even know what detention means!" Nora and Gales both dropped their heads on the table as Glynda went about drinking a bit of tea and ignored them. "But I'm getting the impression it's like when Ashe used to have me stand in the corner when I was little." The teen muttered as Nora just made a noise. "I'm hungry~"

"You should have just let me sleep." Nora whined as she held her stomach and pretended to whimper. "My tummy wants food."

"So does mine." The two fell silent as Glynda took another sip of her tea. "Can't we just get food and come back?"

"No."

"Ple~ease." Nora just received a look. "Kay." A forced silence passed between the two as the two waited for their time to pass.

"Nora?"

"Yeah?"

"Why are you petting my leg?" Glynda nearly choked on her drink as Gales said the words and quickly looked at the pair in mild horror and disbelief.

"What?!"

"I'm not petting your leg, I'm petting your pelt, there's a difference." The young woman said as she smiled. "Your pelt is really soft." That made Gales smile as he looked at his signature item and petted the pelt as well.

"It is, isn't it?"

"Yeah, just a little smelly, don't you wash it?"

"Hey I wash it." The teen said defensively. "Every time I find a lake or waterfall I wash it out. Keeps the monster blood from getting stuck on it."

"You don't use a washing machine?"

"What's a washing machine?" That got a look from both women as Gales tilted his head curiously. Nora just took a moment to laugh as she leaned back.

"Good one, you don't know what a washing machine is, you almost got me."

"Nora… I'm not messing with you, what's a washing machine?" Gales repeated as he looked at her.

"A washing machine is a piece of technology that cleans your clothes for you." Glynda stated as she entered the conversation. "Your old apartment should have had one."

"It did?" Glynda's eyes widened as she looked at the teen.

"Yes, don't tell me you… since you've been in Vale you haven't been cleaning your clothes?" Had this boy been wandering around in filthy clothes all these months?

"What- no I wash them." Gales said before raising a sleeve to his nose and smelled it. "I use the tub and wash them by hand."

"You wash your clothes by hand?"

"Do you not?" Gales looked between Glynda and Nora as he gave them a curious look.

"No, that's what a washing machine is for." Nora admitted. "Duh."

"Well I do mine by hand."

"Is that how it's always been for you back home?" Glynda got a nod. 'I got the impression that Gale's homeland was underdeveloped… but to not even have a washing machine… where exactly are you from?' Nora made a noise as she stared at Gales' pelt for a moment and patted it.

"Professor Goodwitch, can I nap until detention is finished?" An odd question, but one Glynda allowed either way, earning a sudden yes from the young huntress in training as she disappeared under the table. Gales just looked down at the young woman now resting her head on his pelt as she brought a finger to her lips. "Your pelt is comfy."

After Lunch

Gales got odd looks as he made his way to his next class. A few people snickered, some took pictures on their Scrolls and others aw-ed. He ignored all of them. With a foot he kicked the door to his class open as he got even more looks. "Not late; the bell hasn't rung yet." The teen stated as Professor Oobleck made a noise.

"Ah yes Mr. Ashe, how good of you to join us." The professor stated as he looked at the teen. "But why are you carrying Ms. Valkyrie like that?" Gales just looked at Nora as she continued to sleep in his arms. The normally energetic girl had a peaceful smile on her face as she mumbled something and snuggled closer to the teen. A few students made noises, some going on about how adorable the seen was or how they wanted to be held like that. Others admittingly muttered something akin to jealousy. For reasons she wasn't sure Weiss was among them.

"Nora took a nap, I couldn't wake her up." The teen admitted.

"I see~" Gales just looked at the students as Ren took a moment to pull himself from his seat and sighed. He stood before Gales and Nora, lightly nudging the sleeper.

"Nora it's time to wake up." Nora made a noise as Ren sighed and looked at Gales.

"You got this?" Ren didn't respond just continued trying to gently pull his childhood friend from her sleep. Eventually he just sighed in defeat and placed two fingers on her cheek and started doing small circles.

"Ngh… Ren?" Nora muttered drowsily as she looked at her teammate. "Hi Ren~ Is it time for breakfast?"

"It's time for class."

"Oh… ok." The young huntress muttered as Gales set her on her feet and watched her rub her eyes.

"Thank you for bringing her to class." Ren just got a thumbs up as he grabbed Nora's hand and started leading the drowsy girl to a free seat, as for Gales, he took a seat next to a certain Ice Queen… who seemed to aggressively take down notes for the rest of class.

After School

"I think Weiss is mad at me."

"What makes you say that?"

"Every time she looks at me today she's been glaring at me. So~ yeah I think she's mad at me."

"Nah~" Ruby stated as she looked at Gales and hit him in the arm. "Your good, since we've known each other, she's always had that look on her face."

"You've known her what three days now?" Gales stated as Ruby nodded.

"And she's always had that glare on her face."

"Good point." Gales admitted as he crossed his arms for a moment and watched Weiss.

"But I'd give her some space either case."

"Yeah~ tell Jaune that." The two fell silent as they watched Weiss disappear and leave a dejected Jaune behind. The teen walked back to them as the pair waited for him.

"Strike out?"

"Yeah~" Gales patted the boy on the back.

"Don't give up, it's only been two days since school started."

"Yeah, I'm sure you'll win her over eventually." Ruby got a smile as they started off themselves.

"Thanks guys. I don't plan on giving up so easily anyway."

"That's the spirit!" Gales patted Jaune on the back as he he made the teen lose his balance. "Never give up - unless she's already spoken for. In which case definitely give up…" Gales paused for a moment. "She's not spoken for right?" Jaune fell silent. Ruby and Gales watched him walk over to a wall and knock on it with his head.

"You know I didn't ask, maybe that's why she's not interested; she's got someone back in Atlas." He knocked his head against the wall again. "I should probably look into that."

"It'll be a start." The other two said together before looking at each other.

"Jinx, you owe me a soda?"

"What's a jinx…? Gales just got a pair of looks as Ruby scratched her head.

"A jinx is… you know a jinx. Your supposed to say it when you say the same thing as someone else at the same time and then the person who doesn't has to buy you a drink."

"Oh so it's like a dare."

"Yeah~" Ruby fell silent for a moment. "I guess?" She looked to jaune as he just shrugged in a way that basically said the same thing.

"Hm… so I owe you a drink… I can do that." Gales stated as he put a hand on his hips. "We'll just have to hit Juniors to grab it."

"Juniors?"

"He runs a club here in Vale that I work part time at." The teen admitted. "Someone trashed it a while back, so they're closed for repairs, but I can at least bring you in to grab that drink." The teen paused for a moment. "If you want I mean."

"Oh~" Ruby went silent for a moment before seeming to think. "Sure." Gales just grinned as Jaune disappeared into his thoughts for a moment..

"Wait…"

"Awesome. I only work nights though, and it's a school day so…" The dual haired teen rocked his head to the side as he started to think. "Was do you say Saturday night?"

"Wait…"

"I don't see why not." Ruby just smiled as Gales returned it. "I'll see you Saturday… well technically I'll see you tomorrow but~"

"I get it." The teen just chuckled for a moment before looking in a random direction. "Either way I'd best get going, I gotta hit Tukson's Bookstore. See you two tomorrow guys." The teen waved before taking off as he left a smiling Ruby and a confused Jaune behind.

"Wait…" Said teen just looked at Ruby and the retreating boy as he raised a finger.

"What?"

"Did… did Gales just ask you out on a date, and get a yes?" Ruby just pulled back and made a face.

"Wha~t no~o. We're not going on a date." Ruby stated with a light laugh. "We're just going to grab a drink at a club he works at." She snickered. "That's not a date." he face froze for a moment as she seemed to think, the humor slowly leaving her as she looked up to Jaune. "Right?"