"I thought you were a bodyguard."

Ren looked up, confused. "I am in training, but yes I am."

"Don't you have any hidden blades?"

Ren hesitated. "Well, no, but if I did, I wouldn't tell you."

"Don't bother," said Cat. "If you had any, you would have at least attempted to use one by now. What kind of bodyguard doesn't have an emergency blade?"

Ren winced. Cat sighed. "Okay, here." He reached into his back pocket and slipped a small dagger into Ren's bound hands. "I can't free you myself, or Snake will suspect me. Wait for me to switch guard duties with Rabbit and break free then. Rat checked you for weapons, but I can say he missed one. You may have to fight Rabbit, but I'll pretend not to hear anything. Get out, stick to populated roads, and get wherever you live and stay there for a few days. If Snake doesn't suspect me, I can convince the others to get out of the city."

"Wait," said Nora. "Why are you helping us?"

Cat hesitated.

"Ever since I can remember, we have feared and hated Humans. I still do. I joined because I am tired of waiting for someone else to decide when to treat us equally and this group promised to deliver. I don't like it, but I want a family one day who won't be hated simply because of who they are. I've stolen, vandalized, blackmailed and fought to make things better and sometimes, it works. But I also meet people like Snake, Faunus who don't care about our goals for peace, and…I would rather spend my entire life fighting for peace than being respected through violence."

Cat glanced over at the office door. "I'll trade watches with Rabbit. She hates second watch. I just hope this ruse works."

"Cat, before you go, I need to say something," said Ren.

"What?" asked Cat, leaning over.

"I'm sorry," said Ren and without warning slammed his palms to Cat's temples. Cat slumped over and landed with a thud on the floor.

"Ren!" squeaked Nora.

"Shhh!" whispered Ren. He closed his eyes for a moment, then hurried to the side of the office door. A second later, it burst open and Rabbit entered waving a Dust Rifle.

"Cat!" she hissed. "What's going—"

Ren reached up, grabbed the rifle, and swept Rabbit's legs out from under her. Rabbit tried to get up, but Ren rolled over her back and swung the rifle. It struck her under her chin and she crumpled without a sound.

"Ren!" squeaked Nora again. "How—"

"Shhh!" said Ren again. He closed his eyes for a few moments, then relaxed his shoulders. "Okay, we're safe now."

He walked over to Nora and cut her bonds.

"If you tell me to 'Shhh' again I will hit you," said Nora. "Why did you do that to Cat? We had a plan made. Is he okay?"

"He should be fine. Just giving him a stronger alibi," said Ren. "Snake may not believe he didn't hear us escape, especially if Rabbit was tougher than she looked. I didn't want to do it, but the technique is most effective when you don't expect it coming."

Nora looked down at Rabbit. "How did you know she heard us?"

Ren hesitated.

"Nora, I trust you, but I need your word you will keep this secret."

Nora nodded. "Okay, I promise."

"It's my Semblance," said Ren. "I can use it to augment one aspect of myself at a time. Speed, hearing, sight, Aura strength. I used it to make sure to knock Cat out and listen for Rabbit and Ape if they came running. I also used it to find you in the street earlier. Used sparingly and with the right timing, I get the advantage in a fight."

Nora stared at Ren.

"Ren, that's amazing! You should use it all the time. You'd be Super Ren!"

"I can't," said Ren. "Using my body beyond what it is capable of puts a serious strain on me. I'd pass out if I use it too often." He looked around. "We need to get out of here. Let's go before Snake comes back."

Ren led the way over to the metal door to the outside and pulled on the handle.

"Locked," he said. He looked up at the roof. "I want to avoid the roof if we can help it. Ape has got to be a lot stronger than Rabbit."

"I got an idea," said Nora. "But when I do it, we got to run."

"Why?" asked Ren.

"Because it's going to make a whole lot of noise."

Ren sighed, then rolled his shoulders.

"Okay Nora, but we stick together. We are probably not that far from the main road, otherwise someone might have seen the Faunus carrying us. So we get out, run for the road, and hide in the crowd. No way they will follow us into a public place. Agreed?"

"Got it," said Nora. "Ready?"

Ren nodded.

Nora took a deep breath and cracked her knuckles. Then she slammed her fists into the metal door with such force, it blasted clean off its hinges and slammed into a very surprised Snake who apparently had been standing just outside about to enter. Snake flew against the alley wall with the door on top of her. Ren looked at the twisted remains of the door and then to Nora, his face white with shock.

"What...how…" he sputtered.

"You're not the only one with an augment Semblance," grinned Nora. "Super-strength only though, and I can use it continually. Let's get out of here!"

Leaving the groaning Snake behind, they ran for the road.

Nora and Ren glanced back a few times while they ran for the castle, but there seemed to be no pursuit. Nevertheless, they were extra cautious when they made their final sprint to the servant entrance.

"We made it!" said Nora.

"I think so," said Ren. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine," said Nora. "But look."

The sky had grown dark, the last glimpses of sundown were disappearing. It had been midmorning when Nora had escaped the castle and now it was past dusk.

"My father definitely knows I've gone," said Nora. "He may never let me out again."

"Don't say that, Nora," said Ren.

"But it's true," sighed Nora. "Despite everything, this has been the best day of my life. I learned so much about my city, my mother, you, and Faunus. I actually want to know more and help to make this kingdom better, something I never wanted before. I never had the motivation to want it before. I was told I was just going to be queen of the castle and not care about the outside world and you helped me find a purpose in it and brought me home safely. But my father is afraid of the world. No, he hates it, for the war, the Faunus, and for it taking my mother from us."

Ren looked at her. "Nora, I—"

The servant's door swung open. Shao was standing there.

"Your Highness," he said, quietly. "You need to come in. You too Lie. The King needs to speak with you both."