LOOK AT THE PRETTY COVER!

Ahem. Sorry. I'm still freaking out a bit. You see, I commissioned a cover for this story from my dear friend Nicodemus Tibbits, and it turned out even better than I could have hoped! If you like the gorgeous cover (and why wouldn't you?), please support Nick by following his Tumblr, nightmaregaze (which also has a larger version of the picture), and his Twitter, NicodemusWolf.

Enjoy, and awoo!

"Twelve?!" Blake was staring openmouthed at Sun, eyes wide as she questioned every interaction she had had with her fellow beta until that moment.

The werewolves and humans were sitting in the Inn, enjoying their lunch together. At one point, Jaune mentioned a new tidbit of information he had gotten from Pyrrha, and none of the humans or Faunus were quite sure what to think.

"Yep! Just turned twelve over the summer." Sun flicked his tail cheerfully. "I can never remember the exact day, but I always know I'm a year older by the end of summer."

"You… That…" Blake shook her head slowly.

Sun frowned at Blake's expression. "I'm not too old for you, am I?"

"I…" Blake took a breath. "When do you become adults?"

"Four years." Sun's brows furrowed. "Don't you?"

"Not quite," Weiss murmured, trying not to show her distaste too obviously.

"We're considered adults around sixteen," Ruby explained.

Sun's jaw dropped. "Sixteen?!" He stared at Blake. "You're sixteen?! I pegged you as being seven or eight. I mean, I heard that humans age slowly, but still!"

"I'm eighteen, actually," Blake corrected. "Ruby's sixteen."

"Sweet Moon!" Sun laughed. "I heard the saying that females mature faster than males, but I guess werewolves of any sex have you guys beat!"

"This may prevent you from getting married," Weiss said to Jaune and Pyrrha. "Twelve is far too young for any priest to allow it."

"But, I'm an adult in werewolf years!" Pyrrha groaned. "What difference does it make?"

"I mean, unless the churches have a magical beam that tells them how long someone's been alive, there shouldn't be a problem," Jaune pointed out.

"So, if a person gets bitten," Ren asked. "Does their aging process speed up?"

"Only if they're bitten at a young age," Pyrrha explained. "Most people are bitten as adults or adolescents, so the change isn't obvious. If a baby or young child is bitten, they'll be adults in less than three years."

"Wow. I guess, if you want your kid to grow up and get out, just get a werewolf to help!" Yang said with a snicker. "Why aren't you guys more popular?"

Ferron was drinking deeply from a dark glass of stout. He wiped his beard with a sigh. "If there's one thing I missed while living in the forest, it's this stuff… Hic!"

"Go easy on those, Ferron," Pyrrha warned.

"I c'n do what I want," Ferron mumbled. "Y-You aint- Hic! -my leader anymore…"

Flynt started to angrily respond, but Pyrrha held up her hand. "No, I'm not. I'm still your friend, though. Drowning your sorrows in this weird, bitter human concoction is not the answer. Haven't you been having a good time helping the blacksmith?"

"Yeah, but…eh." Ferron took a swig, then put down the glass. "It's my hands. I l-look at them every day, and I know they'll never be paws again. It's hard, ya know?"

"I can only imagine how much this is hurting you," Pyrrha said. "Still, being human has its perks, and I'm sure you'll find more and more of them as time goes on."

"We can help with that!" Nora piped up. "Cooking is awesome. I'm not talking about a campfire, but over a stove! And baking!"

"I don't like cooking," Ferron sighed, resting his head on the bar. "Don't mind me, kids. Just keep doing what you're doing."

Sandy and Deery glanced at each other, then hurried to sit on either side of the former beta. After ordering watered-down wines, they started using their powers to try calming Ferron down a little.

"Where do you think Uncle Qrow, Roman, and Bartholomew are right now?" Ruby wondered aloud. It had been three days since their departure.

"If it had been me and Roman traveling in the cart," Neo murmured. "We'd be in Umber. They're probably further, since they don't have as much baggage to worry about, or people to trade with."

Yang nodded. "Qrow was never one to take his time." She gently squeezed the young trader's hand, still feeling immensely grateful that she was finally talking again.

At that moment, the door opened and Ilia walked in. "Neon, it's your turn."

"On my way!" Neon kissed Flynt's cheek before rushing outside and toward the wall.

Ilia started to follow when Blake called to her. "Ilia, why don't you sit with us?"

"Oh, um…" Ilia blushed. "I'm not very talkative."

"You don't have to be," Pyrrha assured her. "You can just sit with us. Only if you feel like it, of course."

Ilia hesitated at the door before walking over and sitting down between Blake and Neptune. She smiled a little when the innkeeper put a fresh plate of rabbit meat and preserved fruit in front of her. She tasted one of the berries, and her eyes widened. "Was this soaked in honey?"

"Sure was," the innkeeper replied. "Keeps 'em good forever. Too bad we can't trade with the other towns. Honey-soaked apples are to die for, and we just used our last jar a few days ago." He realized what he just said, and hurriedly corrected himself. "Of course, better to be blockaded than sucked dry by vampires, mind you. Not trying to sound ungrateful!"

"We understand," Pyrrha assured him. "This whole thing is annoying and inconvenient for everyone. The sooner we can get everything sorted, the better."

"Indeed, Leader Pyrrha. Indeed." The innkeeper collected a few empty glasses and walked back into the kitchen.

"Even now, it feels strange being called that," Pyrrha mused.

"Better get used to it," Neptune said. "We don't want anyone else, after all!"

Jaune watched her face flush with slight embarrassment and smiled encouragingly. "I've heard that humility is a very good quality in a leader."

Pyrrha returned his smile. "That's good to know. There are times when I feel like that's all I have."

"You have way more than that. Trust me." Jaune leaned in to kiss her cheek.

"Careful, lover-boy!" Coco called over. "Don't forget our pact!"

Jaune laughed. "Don't worry, Coco. I didn't forget."

"I think there should be a penalty," Fox said. "If one of you breaks before we get back to Vale."

"If one of us breaks?" Coco snorted derisively. "Please. If anyone's gonna break, it'll be you or Pyrrha. I'm not even a wolf, and I can smell your lust a mile away!"

Both Fox and Pyrrha blushed bright red. "Th-That's not true," Fox protested weakly.

"What, are you saying I'm not irresistible?" Coco smirked when this caused her husband to start stammering in a panic. "Besides, don't think I haven't noticed how much you've been missing my company. Those pants of yours don't leave much to the imagination."

"Coco!" Fox slammed his head on the table, groaning loudly.

Weiss sniffed. "Can we turn this conversation toward a less lewd topic?"

"Pfft!" Coco covered her mouth to stifle a snicker. "Okay, Weiss. We'll stop being lewd. Won't we, everyone?"

Weiss scowled, turning back to her food with a loud huff.

Scarlet giggled. "Don't make an alpha mad, Coco. That's one of the first rules of being a werewolf. You should know, since you're going to be one eventually."

"I thought avoiding Dust and eating like a horse were the first rules."

"They are," Scarlet allowed. "But being on an alpha's good side is right after that and right before howling on key."

"I could eat a whole horse," Sun muttered, then winced. "Uh, sorry Neo."

"No offense taken," Neo replied. "I know you wouldn't eat Griffin if he was still around." A slight shadow passed over her eyes, but she quickly shook it off.

"Of course not," Pyrrha said. "Nor will we touch the horse Roman brings back."

"I know." Neo smiled.

"I just hope we can get out to hunt tonight," Ilia murmured. "I sensed five new Huntsmen. They're already spreading out. I wouldn't be surprised if they tried attacking soon."

"I feel that they're too preoccupied with the Grimm," Flynt noted. "I've been sensing more and more of them attacking their camp every night."

"Well, it's not surprising, considering the anger and hatred in all of them." Sun shrugged. "Maybe the Grimm will take care of the problem for us."

"Sun!" Pyrrha gave him a reproachful look.

"What? They want to kill us!"

"So did we once upon a time," Blake reminded him.

"Yeah, but you were smart enough to realize we were good once you met us," Sun said. "Those idiots would stab any of us through the heart, even if we pulled them from the jaws of a Grimm."

A look of realization suddenly came to Pyrrha's face. "That's an idea…"

Jaune frowned nervously. Pyrrha had that "I have an idea that may put me in danger, but I don't care" look. "What?"

"What if we protected them from the Grimm?"

The others were already shaking their heads. "I don't think that'll work," Weiss said frankly. "Remember Burgundy? You were attacked while fighting the Grimm off."

"But Wallace recognized me," Pyrrha insisted. "And rumors started to spread. Now, Burgundy may end up as one of our biggest sympathizers."

"A bunch of citizens spreading rumors over a period of time isn't the same as a group of hardened Huntsmen who have already decided what to think and who to kill," Blake said. "They'd be just as likely to kill one of us as one of the Grimm."

"I'm not ready to lose anyone else," Flynt said, staring at the table as images of Perry flashed through his mind.

"It's a good thought, Leader," Neptune said quickly, noticing her dejected expression. "But, I think these guys are incapable of being convinced. Our best chance is to drive them away peacefully."

"How would we do that?" Sage asked. "Would twenty-five Huntsmen really bow before a bunch of people from other towns, provided those people actually do come to help us?"

"They'll reach a point where their honor prevents them from trying to kill everyone who opposes them," Jaune said. "It's the same strategy we're thinking of for going back home."

"Will they have an honor code if they think everyone's been corrupted by evil werewolves?" Ren asked.

Jaune stopped short, frowning. "I…" He breathed a defeated sigh. "I'm not sure." His hand sought out Pyrrha's and gave it a squeeze. Little more was said that afternoon.

….

That night, close to midnight, Blake threw back her head and howled an urgent alarm. The Huntsmen were coming!

There were thirty of them now, all bearing deadly weapons and Dust. They voiced their rage inarticulately into the night sky. A few shouts of "Destroy the blasphemers!" and "Down with the beasts!" could be heard.

The Obsidian Huntsmen swarmed across the wall. Brawnz led half of them out the main door and stood his ground, ready to fight to the death for that entrance into town. Pyrrha's pack, meanwhile, rushed to the side entrance by the mountain to guard it.

As expected, half of the incoming Huntsmen rushed the front entrance, clashing with Brawnz's group. Yang could be heard shouting colorful obscenities every other second.

Blake perked her ears, growling in confusion. The other half of the Huntsmen weren't coming toward the gate. They were running at the mountain, and not even toward the mines.

The spring! she realized. If they contaminate it, there will be no water for us! She barked a desperate warning to Pyrrha, who immediately ordered the others to follow her.

The werewolves circled around, getting to the mountain path while the Huntsmen were still trying to find it. Positioning themselves on either side of the path, they waited.

"I don't know," one voice was saying. "Seems rather unsportsmanlike, don't you think? Cutting off a water source instead of taking them out in a good, honest scuffle."

"This isn't a game, Peter," another voice replied. "This is a fight for the souls of the people of Obsidian. The beasts won't care how 'sportsmanlike' our methods are."

"Still, I wish I'd been chosen to go with the attacking party. All this espionage really isn't for me."

"Obviously. Stop talking!"

Pyrrha's mind was racing. In a few seconds, the Huntsmen would turn the corner, forcing the werewolves to fight for their only water source. This would be a kill or be killed situation. There would be no way for anyone to leave this encounter unscathed. If we kill any of these humans, she thought mournfully. There won't be any hope. The unfairness of the situation created a bitter taste on her tongue.

There had to be a way to drive the Huntsmen off without killing them. They wouldn't have any problem with killing the werewolves, so there had to be another way to convince them. If they had brought a human of Obsidian with them, they could have negotiated a hostage situation.

No. We wouldn't do that to anyone in Obsidian. But…we could take a hostage of our own…

The footsteps drew closer. Making a split-second decision, Pyrrha leaped from her hiding spot, closed her claws around the first human in the group, and brought him to the ground.

There was a stunned pause before the pack followed her into the open, making a circle around her. Pyrrha squeezed the arms of her captive, who was a large, stocky human with gray hair and a bushy mustache. The human struggled in her arms, shouting insult after insult.

"Curse you, you filthy beast! Unhand me this instant and see what my musket has to say to you!" He yelped, dropping said musket when Pyrrha dug her claws into his arm. "Forward, my friends! Don't worry about me! Attack these fiends!"

The Huntsman hesitated. Some had Dust vials in their hands. Others held their weapons in shaky hands. "They aren't killing him," one of them whispered.

Pyrrha, with some help from Sage, managed to pin the human's hands behind his back. She quickly communicated her idea to the others.

Nodding once, Ruby and Weiss stepped forward, activating their alpha stares. Go away. Take others. Don't attack again. We keep hostage. Will not bite.

The humans at the front of the group stiffened before their eyes glazed over.

Tell them.

"We need to go away," the lead Huntsmen said in matching, dull voices. "Take the others. Don't attack again. Peter is their hostage. They will not turn him if we do as they say."

Pyrrha winced, wishing that they had only made one human give the message. Having all of them talk at once like that wasn't exactly doing much to dissipate the werewolves' image as beasts of the Devil. Still, she held firm, positioning her claws over the human's throat.

"Don't listen to their demon mind tricks!" the human shouted, pressing against Pyrrha's claws defiantly. "Kill them!"

The other Huntsmen, looking incredibly unsettled, hesitated before pulled their dazed friends down the path. They backed away slowly, then they could be heard running as fast as they could go toward the front entrance to Obsidian.

By the time the werewolves got back to Obsidian with their loudly-protesting hostage, the other Huntsmen were gone.

Brawnz was carrying an injured Dew toward the infirmary, but paused when he saw the werewolves. "What in the… Never mind. Just tie him up and we'll figure out what to do in a second."

Jaune and the Vale Huntsmen rushed over as Ruby quickly turned into her human form. "Is everyone okay?" Jaune asked.

"They were going for the spring," Ruby said as soon as she could talk. "Pyrrha took one of them hostage. No one died."

"Let me go, and we can change that, Devil-child!" the Huntsman snapped.

Ruby groaned. "This is already giving me a headache…"

"Let me try." Jaune took a step forward, and the other werewolves moved to the side to let him approach. "Hello," he said. "I'm Jaune Arc of Vale. Who are you?"

The Huntsman glared at Jaune through his bushy eyebrows. "Peter Port of Saffron. How far gone are you, boy?"

"There's nothing wrong with me," Jaune said gently. "These werewolves are our friends. If they were just wild, evil animals, they would have killed you already."

Peter snorted. "Please. I'm not stupid. I know that werewolves are smarter than the average beast. That's where the Devil's influence comes in." He tried and failed to pull free from Pyrrha's arms, one of his hands flexing.

Ruby caught the movement. "Jaune, maybe you should pat him down for Dust."

"Ah, right!" Jaune quickly checked the Huntsman over, finding several vials and bombs, which he took to the entrance to the town. When he came back, he saw that a further patting down had revealed a stash of bullets in the man's boots.

"He had a musket," Ruby explained. "We figured it shot Dust rounds."

At that moment, Brawnz returned. "Okay, what's going on?" He looked at the new Huntsman. "Hostage?"

"Yep," Ruby replied.

"Huh." Brawnz nodded slowly. "Not bad. This could work." He turned to his Huntsmen. "Okay, let's find some accommodations and a guard for our guest."

Pyrrha let out a sigh of relief as Peter was taken from her. She didn't like the feeling of holding someone down like that. As she allowed herself to relax a little, she noticed her pack looking at her with approval. She had managed to keep their water safe without threatening their position, even though it hadn't seemed possible. Yet again, despite her misgivings, she had proven herself to be a worthy leader.

Her face flushed beneath her fur when Jaune approached and kissed her brow. She found herself wondering what Cinder would have done in this situation. Kill everyone, of course, she thought. Then again, she wouldn't be on this quest in the first place.

She watched as Peter was led off. She had bought Obsidian more time, and perhaps created an opportunity to convert one of these radical Huntsmen. It was a start. Still, she hoped that Qrow would return with reinforcements from Burgundy soon. This couldn't end soon enough. Time wasn't on their side.

After all, fall was upon them. Winter would soon follow.

It's funny how canon characters keep finding their way into this fic, isn't it? Next week, we'll see how things are going with our new hostage, and return to our favorite roadtrip!

If you like what you see and want to show extra support in exchange for rewards, my P/atreon is Solora Goldsun.

For writing tips, prompts, top 10 lists, and fandom rants from yours truly, check out my blog at soloragoldsun dot wordpress dot com. (New posts currently on hiatus.)

Peace out!