Night had fallen and for the first time since I came back to Beacon from Vasilius, I was well rested and full of energy. In the wake of the sorrow from the Vasilius Massacre, there was one shining ray of hope: Mama Thayet.

She had survived the Massacre and was the only one who knew the truth of what had happened there.

And I was going to save her.

Oz watched me leave with trepidation but I banished those doubts. Atlas personnel would already be asleep and there would be no distractions. I could immediately get to work and they could question her when she was stable on her own.

"Just promise me, you won't go too far. You'll take care of yourself." He said, brushing his gentle fingers through my hair. I smiled warmly and kissed his fingertips. "I promise. I'll even remember to eat." He chuckled at that and kissed me goodbye.

"Oh! I forgot to ask what you've been so busy with." I said as he sat down at his desk. "Whatever do you mean?" He asked, faking innocence. I leaned a hip against Orchid. "What have you been up to that has you, Glynda, the General and Qrow locked in your office daily?" I wasn't fooled one bit. Those four were up to something.

And me being me, I dislike not knowing when people were up to things behind closed doors.

He sighed and sipped his coffee. "Dahlia. Believe me when I say if I could tell you, I would. But I'm sworn to secrecy." I looked at him strangely but nodded. Whatever it was, I was confident that I would find out when I needed to. He smiled, grateful that I hadn't pushed him. Then he hesitated.

"Dahlia?" I raised an eyebrow. "Yes, my love?"

I got the feeling from him that my answer was of grave importance. So I was intensely curious about what he wanted to ask me.

"You know Pyrrha Nikos well, yes?" Well. That was not a question I was expecting. "I do. We've been fairly close friends since the beginning of the school year. Team JNPR is a sister team of my own." He nodded and I could almost see the gears turning in his head. "What do you think of her?"

I thought about it. Pyrrha was one of the people I held in very high regard and felt very close to. She was one of the few people who understood what it was like to be put on a pedestal and then isolated by the people who put you there.

"Pyrrha is… the kind of person that makes you feel safe and cared for. Obviously, she is the most capable young warrior in a century but she isn't haughty. She's sweet, compassionate and intelligent. When she graduates, she'll be the kind of Huntress that gets written into history not just as the strongest, but also the kindest. Here, we'll remember her laughter and her bravery. Her smile and the fact that she always lent a helping hand to the small things as well as the big things. She would always help you, no matter what it was. And I think that says something important about a person. A lot of people only care about the big things, the kind of moments that are monumental in the eyes of everyone. But someone who cares about the things that are small to the masses but huge to the individual… that's the kind of person that can change the world."

I thought my answer would settle while it pleased him, he also felt very, very sad. "Oz? Why are you asking about Pyrrha?"

A heartbeat later, his emotions were covered up and he smiled at me like nothing was the matter. "Just a thought, my love. She is the top of my school and I think she could be very useful for a few missions I have in mind." I nodded. Pyrrha was someone I trusted unreservedly. I had no doubt she would excel at anything put before her. "Pyrrha is ready for anything, Oz. Set her a task and she'll rise to it." He smiled again, wanly.

"I've got to go. It's time." I said, suddenly not wanting to continue this conversation. "Good luck." He said, turning his screens on.

I was in the elevator when I heard him speak.

"She is precious to me. I hope this is all worth it."

Hmmmm. I wonder who in the world he could be talking to.

The infirmary was very quiet. I had done a lot of work the past few days and everyone had been turned out. Weiss had been taken care of by one of the other healers and was safely in her own bed. I was alone, except for Mama Thayet in her tank.

I prepared a private room, cleaning it meticulously and making the bed as comfortable as I could. Then I mentally prepared myself as I stood before the Atlas machinery that had kept Mama Thayet stable.

I took a deep breath in and punched the code into the keypad connected to the tank, extending my healing threads into Mama Thayet's body. The easiest thing to do was tie her reactions to mine. Her heart beat at the same time as mine, she breathed when I did, blinked when I did. All the basics for human survival.

Then the tank hissed as the door unlatched and lifted away. Aiya.

I lifted her into my arms, grunting a little bit. Mama Thayet wasn't fat but she had some meat on her bones and despite her missing legs, she was still heavy.

I carried her into the private room and laid her on the bed. I carefully pulled the sheets and blankets over her, leaving her arms on top.

I could feel the slight drain on my Semblance but since I had tied her to myself it was no effort. I didn't worry about it. "Alright, Mama Thayet. Time for you to rejoin the world." I murmured, reaching into my Semblance. I found the strand tied to her brain and gave it a little nudge. Her awareness came slowly and I could feel her wanting to panic but her heart stayed in time with mine.

Her eyes fluttered open and she and I took a deep breath in. Her beautiful brown eyes, the same color as her daughter's opened fully and stared at me. "D...Dah...lia?" She said as we exhaled. "Hey, Mama. We missed you." Her eyes teared up and I blinked a couple of times for her. "You came. You really came. T-Thank God." She said, tears rolling down her cheeks.

I took her strong hand, heavy with square cut nails in my own and squeezed carefully. "Of course I did. We couldn't just leave you there."

She looked at me with clear eyes. "Vasilius?" My lower lip trembled a little when I shook my head. "Gone. You were the only survivor." Her thoughts became clearer as she began to wake up more. She slowly shook her head. "Gods have mercy. Oh no…" She cried and it was hard since she had to breath with me. I clasped her hand tightly and held against her grief. She had witnessed her friends, her neighbors, everyone she'd known torn to pieces by the Grimm.

"I'm so sorry, Mama Thayet. I never thought in a million years something like this would happen. Vasilius was a strong village. It had weathered years of attacks and with the communications so strong, we never saw this coming." She shook her head. "No one could have predicted this, my silver bird." She was shaking and it took some work to control it on my part. "What do you mean, Mama?"

We took several breaths together before she felt ready to answer. "It wasn't just the Grimm, sweet girl." My eyes widened. It wasn't just Grimm? But all the signs were clear as that from a heavy Grimm attack.

"Dahlia." She said with an air of dread. "They had Grimm Tamers." I sucked in a short gasped and apologized to her because she also gasped and that wasn't good for her. Grimm Tamers? What in the world?

"Who is they?" Mama Thayet's eyes grew very far away.

"We didn't realize what was going on till we heard the first screams. They rode in, a girl riding a white King Taijitu and a boy riding a black one. They had an army of Grimm with them and they destroyed everything. They were so young and no one knew what was going on. We had no time to defend ourselves. I was in the garden when it all happened. A young beowolf took my legs but I managed to collapse the shed down on it and me. I passed out a little later from the pain. They ordered the Grimm to kill everyone. Down to the children. They wore White Fang uniforms but I could see another mark tattooed on their foreheads that I didn't recognize."

I shook my head in disbelief. Hadn't Ironwood said that there had been two people on the radio, assuring that everyone was safe?

No one had even thought of Grimm Tamers. Why would we? They were so rare and were carefully managed so that their Semblance was put to good use, protecting cities and villages. "Mama, can you remember what they had tattooed on their foreheads?" My body had gone totally numb. Please no… don't let it be…

"It was a thin crescent moon, red as a rose. Yes… red as blood."

Those two were of the Taken.

Children like Ghost weren't marked because he was born into the Regime. Ghost's mother had sold her baby boy for a better life which Omar gave her. Ghost had been raised to worship Omar. He needed no proof of loyalty. Others were taken. Young children stolen or bought and then converted to the Regime. They were marked so that they would never betray Omar and the New Order. Those with the mark were called Taken and were often considered the grunts of the New Order. Those two though, were something special. They had led a kill party without direct supervision from one of Omar's inner circle.

Taken they might be but I knew that they were loyal to Omar and his filthy Regime.

Omar had commanded the attack on Vasilius. He had authorized the killing of an entire village. Why?

For me, of course. He wanted me to know what he could do, if I continued being disloyal.

Anger flowed in my veins as surely as blood did. How dare he. How dare he slaughter those innocent people just to torment me. He wanted me to play the game.

I would kill him. I'd kill him and all his Children. I leaned my forehead down till I touched Mama Thayet's hand. "I promise, Mama Thayet. They won't get away with this. The people of Vasilius will be avenged for their deaths."

Her other hands stroked my head softly. "Be careful, silver bird. Be careful you don't turn into something you're not." My heart felt like it was on fire. I'm sorry, Mama Thayet. I'm already much worse than they are. I just hide it better.

I leaned up and smiled. "Yes, Mama." I tapped my ear piece. "Elin, Elise." I said.

"What's up, Dally?" Mama Thayet smiled. "There is someone here that would like to see you both." There was silence on the other side. A few minutes later, a pair of disheveled twins busted through my infirmary door and then into the private room. I felt all the Thayet's heart well up with happiness. "Mom?" Elin's voice cracked.

"Hello, my beautiful children." Mama Thayet said, carefully raising her arms, with a little help on my part. Very carefully, the twins snuggled into their mother's side, crying happily. I let myself out of the room quietly, not going too far. My connection with Mama Thayet was tenuous and delicate. I took some concentration to keep it active and strong. I couldn't afford to stumble now.

I pulled out my school Scroll and messaged Ironwood.

General. I have the answers you are searching for in regards to the Vasilius Massacre. Meet me in the Infirmary come morning and come quietly. We have much to discuss.

"Grimm Tamers?" General Ironwood said, pouring whiskey into his coffee. I thought it was a little early in the morning to already have whiskey but honestly, I had no room to speak. I nodded and poured myself another cup. He and I sat by my desk, close enough to the room I could keep Mama Thayet going but far enough that we would intrude.

"The White Fang have a pair of Grimm Tamers…" His heart was heavy and he was filled with worry. Grimm Tamers were so rare and counteracting them was nearly impossible. A single Grimm Tamer could control a massive amount of creatures at once and could be used with devastating effect. The idea of Omar having control of two Grimm Tamers was enough to make me sick. I hadn't mentioned the tattoos. Ironwood would ask some uncomfortable questions if he found out that I knew so much about the New Order and its leader.

After all, I had once been its General.

"This changes a lot, Dahlia. I'll enforce more security and have a watch set out for people who fit Mrs. Thayet's descriptions of the two. Gods, Grimm Tamers. As if things weren't difficult enough." He sighed and I put my hand on his arm. "They weren't expecting any survivors. We have the upper hand for now." His frown deepened and creased his handsome face. "Eighty seven good, innocent people died for us to get that upper hand."

Pain flared in my chest and I tamped it down hard. I would get revenge for those eighty seven people. Those two Grimm Tamers were forfeit the second they led those Grimm to a place I considered to be a home.

"Then make their sacrifice worth it, General." With a few strands of healing, I healed the soul wounds that had been left by the Massacre. I built his confidence and gave him relief and determination. It was harder than usual, with much of my concentration focused on Mama Thayet. It was uncomfortable for me to remember that my Semblance was not limitless.

"I promise, Dahlia. I'll make sure they didn't die for nothing." Ironwood said, putting his hand over mine. "Be careful." I murmured. His smile was very kind and his feelings were gentle. He cared about me and was fond of me. It was strange, but even though I was a student, he believed me in some ways to be an equal.

"I will be." His Scroll beeped. "Glynda is here. I have to go." He shouldered an unseen burden and stood. A burden that felt very familiar to me. The same one Oz seemed to be carrying about. "Goodbye… James." I said, testing the waters a bit. He chuckled. "Goodbye, Dahlia." He left right afterwards.

Maybe the key to getting over something like the Massacre was forgiveness. Not of those who did it, for I would never forgive Omar and his Children, but I forgave Winter. I forgave Ironwood. It made me feel lighter and more able to accept. It still haunted me like a specter in my mind but it joined the ranks of memories that always lurked in my mind. It hadn't been long and part of me was ashamed that I could so easily put Vasilius into that dark box in the corner of my mind. All those memories of bodies and crows and blood.

But my team had done the same. Even Elise. She was so strong and how could I tell her to move on from those memories if I couldn't?

I was moving on. I had the future to look after now and I couldn't coddle those dark memories. If I was to shape my destiny into something bright then how could I allow myself to linger in darkness? Lessons that I was starting to teach myself. Hard lessons.

Elin and Elise came out of the room. Their faces were tear stained but they were happy. "Mom says that you need time with her so we're headed out. We'll be back later with Peyton. Are you alright?" Elise said, holding her brother's hand.

"I'm good. If you could bring me more coffee, that'd be great. I'm almost out of it." I looked at the half a pot I had left. Elin nodded and smiled gently. "That stuff will stunt your growth you know." I chuckled and took another sip. "Does it look like any of me needs more growing?"

The willowy boy raised a sarcastic eyebrow.

"C'mon. Dally's got work to do." Elise said, tugging her brother out of my infirmary. Funny how it was now my infirmary. I didn't actually own the building but apparently, unspoken rules and such, the building had become part of my territory.

I growled with pleasure and stood slowly to head to the private room.

"Ah, my silver bird. I need your help. I'm having trouble writing on my own and my handwriting looks a mess." She sounded cranky and it made me smile. Just her presence made me smile.

"Alright, Mama." I said, taking the papers from her and looking them over. I felt my eyebrows furrow together. "I want to make sure all my affairs are in order." She said stubbornly. I looked at the kind faced woman who looked so like her daughter. "Mama Thayet, you don't have to do this. You'll be fine soon, I just have to heal you."

She eyed me strangely. "Darling, near death experiences put many things into perspective. I'd like to have this done in any case." I sighed and took the pen from her and pulled out a clean sheet. I rested the clipboard on my propped up leg. "In any case, Mama Thayet. Alright, where would you like to begin?"

I'll hand it to that woman, she has one hell of a no-nonsense attitude, I thought to myself. She had all her affairs in order, everything planned out in the event of her death. Since she had no other living relatives besides Elin and Elise and her husband had left her when the twins had been children, everything she had left went to her son and daughter.

Restitution pay had been gifted to her by Ironwood as well as the promise of new legs as soon as she was strong enough to stand. The pay she had given, as well as all the money she had saved up over the years. It was a fairly substantial sum. I had the legal documents drawn up the next day once everything had settled down.

It had not been an enjoyable afternoon for me. Not with all that happened to Yang.

I still couldn't understand why Mercury had gone back to Haven when I was here and I was far more skilled than any healer in Haven. It's not arrogance speaking. I knew all the healers in Haven and none matched my skill. If Mercury had been hit that badly by Yang, why rush him all the way back to Haven?

It made me grind my teeth I was so frustrated. I couldn't go out and find out myself so I sent out my team to sniff around for me. I even called some of my old contacts in Haven to see if they knew anything.

All anybody knew was this: the world saw Mercury coming up to shake hands with Yang who had won her round. Then Yang shotgun punched the boy's leg and he crumpled like a tin can. Yang swore she saw him attack her but the camera footage said otherwise.

I had tried to get a hold of the golden haired girl but she had been ignoring me. Ignoring everyone. Oh, I hated being on the sidelines. If I had been there, I could've seen for myself what happened!

I had already talked to everyone I could. Ironwood, Oz, Qrow, Jaune, Ruby, Blake, everyone! Everyone say the same thing. Yang had been disqualified and was pending suspension. All we could do was wait for Mercury to land in Haven so he could be questioned about what happened on that stage.

Elise had seen the whole thing and was really worried. She had seen Yang's face just before she attacked Mercury. "I don't know, Dahlia. She looked surprised, shocked and then angry. She told me he said to her 'There won't be a next time, Blondie.' after she told him better luck next time. Then he jumped at her like he was going to try and take her down while her back was turned." Yet none of that had been caught on camera.

Not knowing was driving me insane and I wanted a drink but I had to keep my wits about me to heal Mama Thayet. And Gods know, I was trying.

I rubbed my temples. "Why wasn't Mercury brought to me?" I muttered. "What was that, silver bird?" Mama Thayet said, signing the last of her documents. Her color was better and her voice was stronger which I took to be good signs. "Nothing, Mama. Just talking to myself." She smiled and finished her signature with a final flourish. "Ah, done."

"Now, where is that handsome man?" She said, looking around. I raised my eyebrow. "Which one, we got lots here." She laughed but doing so exhausted her. I couldn't keep her energy levels up and her body refused to hold steady.

I poured more into the strands connected to her and then drank more coffee to counteract the fatigue it brought on. "The one that's been hovering around you like a wolf with one pup." She said, smiling cheekily from her pillow. Oh, that woman.

"Did I hear someone say handsome?" A familiar brusque voice said from the doorway. I rolled my eyes. "Hi, Qrow." He came in, a dashing crooked smile on his face and a gleam in his red eyes. "Heyya. Pup. You're looking totally exhausted." I groaned. So it was going to be this today huh? "I'm fine, Qrow. What're you here for?" He held out a box. "I was ordered to make sure you ate lunch by a small girl who managed to throw me across the school grounds and into a pond." I laughed loudly. No wonder I thought I heard his shoes squelching. "That'd be my daughter." Mama Thayet said, grinning from ear to ear. "No wonder she was so lovely." He said very suave.

I took the box and found with relief that it was all plain food. Regular rice with plain chicken and a small thing of spinach. I ate it all quickly, realizing that I hadn't eaten in a long while. Qrow and Mama Thayet chatted about Elise's performance in the one on one round. She and I had watched it on a screen in the infirmary and it was quite the fight. The guy she fought gave her a hard time but Elise was more stubborn than he was and she had been training for this for over half a year.

She had used Serenity to distract him and finished him with a hard punch to the gut that sent him flying off the platform. It was the closest fight I had seen yet in the one on ones. I was so proud of her and it made me happy beyond belief that Mama Thayet had been able to see it.

I was so glad she had gotten to met Peyton and Daren. She had loved them the moment she saw them and I could feel how pleased she was that both her children had such beautiful and kind significant others.

Even Oz had come to see her once. And she hadn't been fooled one moment.

"You're in love with him." She said, right after he left. It had stunned me speechless. "I, ah… well, you see… ah." She tutted in a motherly tone. "He's handsome, smart, kind and well off. And he is mature enough for you." She said smiling at my ever changing expression.

"How?..." She had winked at me. "Silver bird, I've been around a while and made many matches in my village. I saw the way you looked at him and the way his eyes lingered on you when he thought I wasn't looking. You need a man, not a boy. And that is one fine man." Her bluntness was refreshing and her acceptance like a golden light inside me.

Now I knew where Elise got her perceptive nature.

Mama Thayet laughed at something Qrow said and startled me out of my reverie, and I poured more energy into her healing strands as I felt her wane. "Isn't that right, Pup?" Qrow asked and I looked at him bleary eyed. "I missed that," I rubbed my eyes clear, "what did you say?" I could feel concern like a pulse off of Qrow but he hid it well.

"I said that Elise is small but she is mighty." I chuckled. "That she is."

"Dahlia, honey. Why don't you go make another pot of coffee. You're looking a little peaky." Mama Thayet said, gently. "Are you sure?" I asked. I didn't like leaving her alone. "Elin and Elise are heading back with Peyton and Daren in tow. I'll be fine. Go on." She urged, looking back at the screen Peyton had set up for her.

Qrow helped lever me up and out of the room. "Easy there, girl." He whispered, setting me down in my desk chair. "I'm fine, bastard. I just need more coffee." He grunted in displeasure. "What you need is sleep. What's it been? Two days, maybe more? And you've been using your Semblance this whole time." I glared at him and poured myself more coffee. "Dahlia." He said, unbearably gentle. "If you don't sleep, your body is going to shut down." I growled viciously. "Don't you think I know that?!"

He only raised an eyebrow.

Suddenly anger was to tiring to hold onto. I sighed and drank more coffee. "I know, bastard. I'm doing my best here. I can't sleep. If I sleep, I lose my connection with her and she dies. I have to stay awake till she recovers."

He kneeled down in front of me and looked up, forcing me to meet his knowing eyes. "Pup. It's not worth losing both of you. Just remember that." I tried to smile down at him, feeling my Semblance drain even more, trying to reassure him.

"Qrow. If I lose her, there won't be much left of me to save."