(Opening Theme: Let's Just Live Performed by Casey Lee Williams)
The whole group didn't know how long they were walking, it had felt like years to them as they continued along the dirt path. They tried to hurry along as fast as they could, as they carried two of their comrades that had been gravely wounded; this being Cristal and Qrow. They had discovered that morning that Qrow was indeed poisoned by Tyrian but the reason why they didn't know about because Qrow had a slow reaction than Roman did. Without enough materials to make another antidote for him, their only hope was to get him to the next town.
While Cristal was being carried on Ren's back, Ruby and Jaune carried Qrow on a makeshift stretcher. To make matters worse, the map they were carrying had been damaged during the fight against Elise, they only thing the could do was walk along the first path they found.
The rest that were still standing had their weapons ready, and their guard up in case they had encountered any enemies. Melody walked beside her father, and Scout was on the opposite side of Qrow, while Frosty hung out in Ruby's cloak hood, since Melody had to get rid of her hoodie, when they realized it had poison on it. Senka walked alongside Ren, so that he could protect Cristal just in case while on his back he carried her weapons Qrow's weapon and Melody's. Nora, and Rosario lagged behind in case any enemies would try to sneak up on them from behind.
Roman walked in the middle of the group along side Neo; he was using his own cane as leverage to walk, since despite the poison being out of his system, he still felt pain in his wound on his side. His white cape coat had been removed and was on Cristal since he knew she needed it more than he did. They had already explained to Roman, what Qrow had told them last night, and despite him having so many questions on the manner, he decided to put them aside since they had a bigger issue to deal with.
"Come on dad…" Melody said gripping his hand as she walked by his side, "You gotta hang on… Just a little longer…"
"Hold on Uncle Qrow." Ruby soon said turning her head to look to him, "Just hold on…"
Qrow let out a couple of coughs, as he started to mumble words that were incoherent. Most of the words became clear as he said aloud, "Tai… She's not coming back… Tai…"
Scout placed her hand on his forehead, and felt that it was hot to the touch, "It's no good, he's getting worse."
"Hey Ren!" Jaune called out; Ren's head turned slightly to him, "How's Cristal?!"
Ren looked to Cristal, who was breathing hoarsely, and just like Qrow, she was talking in her sleep as well. "... Destiny…" She said groaning, "... Not her… Please… Please don't take her that place… I'm begging you..."
"She's not getting any better." Ren said to him.
"Damn it! We've been walking since this morning!" Rosario said, "We have to be getting close to a town or a village by now!"
"We just gotta be!" Nora said.
"With the map damaged there's no way of knowing for sure." Roman said to them.
"Well we have to walk something eventually." Neo said.
Finally Ren was the first to stop in his tracks, and the group stopped as well. Adjusting his hold on Cristal he ran up ahead of them. "Ren what is it!?" Ruby called out. "What do you see!?" Melody called out after. Ahead of them was a fork in the road, and Ren stopped in front of a total of four signs, one pointing back down the path where they came from which was to Higanbana. The other two signs on the right, read Mistral and Kuchinashi, while sign on the left, read Kuroyuri which had an X over it.
Nora soon saw the signs and her expression brightened.
"Hey! Hey! Mistral!" Nora said running to where Ren was and pointing to it, "You guys, we're on the right path!" Her expression soon fell, when she the signs only had the names of the places but not the distance between them and there. Rosario, Roman, and Neo soon ran up to the signs too, and read what was on them.
"Does it say how close!?" Ruby said.
"No." Rosario said, "It just says the names!"
Roman looked to the path on the right and saw the mountains in the distance, "From the looks of it up ahead, it might take us into the mountains!"
Ruby and Jaune set down the stretcher, and Melody kneeled beside him, still hanging onto his hand. "Guys…" Jaune said looking to Qrow and Cristal, "I don't think all of us here can make that climb."
"Well Senka's a Griffon right?!" Melody said, "He has wings, can't he just fly my dad and Cristal up there?!"
"Senka will only listen to Cristal, and with her out of commission…" Scout said turning to Senka, whom they saw was nuzzling Cristal's head with his beak gently and made a worried noise, "... He won't listen to any of us…"
Ruby looked to her uncle who still let out raspy coughs, and than Cristal who was still on Ren's back whom she saw was still in pain. She clenched her fist and ran to the signs, quickly reading through them; Jaune followed behind her, while Melody and Scout stayed with Qrow. "Okay, okay!" Ruby said before pointing to the left, "What about here!?"
They all looked to the sign, that had an X over its name.
"Kuro-" Ruby said trying to pronounce it, "Kuroyuri! Can we get help there!?"
"Red…" Roman said to her, "I guarantee you no one is going to be there."
"He's right…" Ren said before adding, "That village was destroyed years ago…"
"But it may not be a bad idea." Rosario said, "From the looks of it, it might take us around the mountains."
"If that's the case, it's the best chance we've got!" Jaune said.
"It will take too long." Ren said to them sternly.
"The town would've had a doctor right?" Ruby said, "We could maybe scavenge some medicine; find the materials Scout needs to make another antidote, maybe antibiotics for Cristal!"
"Assuming that it's still there to begin with." Neo said.
"We won't find anything there!" Ren said before shouting, "WE JUST HAVE TO PRESS ON!"
Everyone stood silent by Ren's sudden outburst, and all that was heard was the wind blowing the leafs across the ground gently. They looked to Ren both shocked and worried about him. "Ren?" Jaune said, "Why are you acting so-"
"We can split up." Nora said cutting him off.
"What?" Ruby and Jaune both said at the same time.
"Half of us that are able to climb can cut through the mountains." Nora said, "While the rest of us, can take Cristal and Qrow through the village."
Scout had soon joined the group having heard what Nora was suggesting, "You want us to split up?" Scout asked.
"No! We can't!" Jaune said, "We're supposed to stick together, to keep each other safe!"
"We don't have time for safe!" Nora said to him, "If we're able to make it to Mistral we'll bring back help! If we don't, at least we'll have a better view of the land! Up there we can if there's somewhere else we can go!" Ren turned to Nora, and they both gave one another an affectionate smile. Everyone, not including Roman and Neo had an unsure look, until they glanced over to Cristal, and than Qrow after they heard him let out coughs. They turned back to each other, and though they didn't like the idea, they had no other choice.
"Okay." Jaune said, "Ruby and I will go through the village with Cristal and Qrow."
"Me and Ren can cut through the mountains." Nora said.
"And that just leaves everyone else." Ren said.
"I'll go with you guys." Rosario said turning to Ren and Nora, "I've been through the mountains before on one of my jobs, so I know the terrain better than anyone here. I'll get you through there."
"What about your leg?" Ruby asked, "I thought it was damaged from the fight."
"Don't worry." Rosario said with a reassured smile, "It's nothing too serious. I'll be fine. Besides, this isn't going to be my first time climbing up a mountain with a damaged leg."
Rosario than turned to Scout, "Kid, I think it's best if you stay with Ruby and Jaune. Your of more help to Qrow and Cristal than you are to us."
Scout was hesitant at this, as her ears went down, "But… There's nothing I can do to help them… I don't have the medicine too…"
"Don't always rely on medicine kid." Rosario said putting her hands on both her shoulders, "You'll improvise when the time comes. I believe in you."
Scout looked to the ground, still unsure on what she should do as she played with her ribbon. Finally she looked up to Rosario and nodded; Rosario smiled at this. "I'll go talk to Melody." Rosario said to the group, before going over to where she was. Finally Roman spoke up, "Neo and I will accompany Ren and Nora through the mountain terrain."
Ruby and Jaune looked to to him shocked, "Are… Are you sure that's a good idea?" Jaune asked, "You're hurt too."
"This wound is nothing Arky." Roman said patting his side gently, "Believe or not, I've dealt with worse wounds than this. I'll be able to climb easy."
"I'll be able to help him just in case." Neo said, "And if he's wound does open, I'll know how patch it back up."
"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Ruby asked him.
"I'm sure Red." He said, "I'm a grown man, I can handle myself."
Rosario approached Melody who was still by her father's side, and holding onto his hand refusing to let it go. She kneeled by her side, putting her hand on her shoulder; Melody flinched slightly, before realizing it was Rosario. "It's just you." Melody said softly.
"How are you holding up?" Rosario asked.
"...My only parent, who ever gave a damn about me in my life, has been poisoned… And he could be dying…" Melody said, "I honestly don't know how I'm doing."
"I see…" Rosario said.
"So what did the group decide…? What are we going to do?" She said.
"We decided it's best to split up for now." Rosario said, "Your dad, and Cristal are going to go through the village with Ruby, Jaune and Scout, while the rest of us go through the mountain. I'll be going with Ren and Nora, and, this is just me suggesting, but, given your connection between you and your dad I think it would be best if you go with us, so that way it could-."
"... I can't." Melody said cutting her off, "I'm sorry but I can't."
"Melody. It's not a good idea too-"
"Can I ask you something?"
Rosario was a bit taken back by this, but soon nodded her head. "You said to us… That you have a brother and you left him, even though you didn't want to. Did you ever regret leaving him?"
"Everyday of my life I do." Rosario replied.
"I've been, away from home for so long. Not just because I'm looking for my cousin's mother, but because I'm afraid of something I can't control and I'm scared that I might hurt the people I love." Melody said to her, "But… They're some days when I regret leaving home, not even so much as telling my uncle or my dad goodbye in person. The day I left, all I did was leave them a letter telling them I was going and that was it. Now knowing this may be the last time I actually see my father, the last night I talked him, terrifies me. I can't bare to go through with it, knowing if I go away from him that it may be the last time I ever got to see him, so I can't go with you."
Rosario said to her after letting out a sigh, "I don't really understand the father daughter relationship, since the man I've lived with most of my life was never a father to me or my brother, but… If you think it's the best thing for you to do. Than I won't stop you or convince you otherwise. You just make sure you take care of him, and your cousin."
Melody turned to Rosario and nodded her head, before they both exchanged in a hug.
After moments, everyone had gotten ready to go with their own group, Cristal now being on Jaunes back, and Scout and Ruby were going to carry the stretcher Qrow was on. "Well Red." Roman said, "From the looks of things we may not be seeing each other for a while."
"I just can't believe this is happening." Ruby said.
"We'll do what we always do and survive." Roman said, "But just in case… I want you to take this."
Ruby wondered what he meant, but saw him rummage through his pockets; he pulled out from his pocket, his own lighter.
"Your lighter?" Ruby said, "But… I don't smoke."
Roman chuckled slightly, "It's not just used for smoking Red. It was actually from Destiny, she used her money to buy it when her and Neo were having a girls day out. In way I guess it always brought me good luck; even when I wasn't smoking on the job I always carried it with me. I want you to hold onto this for me, until you see me again."
"But why?"
"Just to show, that we'll see each other no matter what comes our way. Make sure you don't lose it and take care of it with your life, like I would."
Ruby nodded her head and smiled slightly and reached for the lighter in his hand, but Roman suddenly froze up when she suddenly hugged him. With hesitation he returned the hug and patted her on the back. "Stay safe." Ruby said.
"Always." Roman replied.
"Roman." Neo said, "It's time to go."
Roman nodded to Neo, and they both broke out of the hug, Ruby taking his lighter with her; she placed it in her dress pocket. Ruby got to the front of the stretcher, and Scout got behind. Jaune adjusted his hold on Cristal, and turned to Ren, Nora, Neo and Rosario. "Take care of each other." Jaune said.
"Don't worry." Nora said with a reassured smile, putting her hand Ren's shoulder, "We've always have."
"We'll be okay." Neo said to him, "Don't worry about us."
Rosario said to Jaune, "Just take care of my partner and team blondie. Don't make me hunt you down."
Jaune nodded to Rosario, and smiled a small smile, finally the now two groups went on the paths opposite of each other. With one last glance to each other, they all went down the separate paths they had chosen, with Ruby, Jaune, Melody, Scout, and Senka following behind them, taking Cristal and Qrow to the village, while Roman, Neo, Nora, Ren and Rosario went towards the mountains.
"... I hope they'll be alright." Scout said worriedly.
"They will be." Ruby said with a reassured smile, "Trust me, they're going to be fine."
"You don't know that." Jaune said softly.
The whole group stayed silent at this point as they pressed onward. But all of them were unaware that they had stepped over a symbol of some kind as they continued towards the village.
(Ending Theme: I'm Waiting For The Rain TV Sized Performed By Maaya Sakamoto)