Ruby was happy that Cinder let her go outside from her confinement to prepare for her journey. Plus her team didn't want to see her anyway. She let out an angry sigh and shoved things into her back pack she requested from Cinder. Bandages, medicine, pots, pans. She wanted to be ready for anything since they were leaving that night. Blake was near by leaning against a tree reading a book. She grinned at the thought of the old days. With Weiss, Blake,Yang and her fighting Grimm side by side. Yang. She missed her so much. Her sarcasm, her optimistic spirit...But she knew she would never be the same since what happened to her arm and how betrayed she felt from Blake.

If only she knew that Blake was gone for a reason. Sure, Ruby wasn't sure of that reason herself but she had to have faith that what ever Blake was hiding was worth her leaving the team. Ruby shook the negative feelings away and thought positive about her sister. What would she do if she were here now? Yang would most likely joke around in a situation like this. Saying things like "Looks like your going on a camping trip." or "Never thought you would go gallivanting through the forest with a psychopath. I thought you were better than that?"

She winced at that idea and peeked behind her to see Adam packing his own bag. He looked up at her catching her stare and she twisted her head back and instantly caused a stinger in her neck. She rubbed it annoyed as a bag was thrown next to hers.

"Hurry up!" Adam growled and walked away. Ruby gritted her teeth and a sleek smile crossed her lips.

"Sure thing, Goat!" He paused his pace and twisted his head half way behind him. She watched as he clenched his fists and walked again with a now, stomp in his steps. She laughed at the way he tried to hold back his temper. Ruby zipped her bag shut and looked to the sky. It was still pretty early in the morning, she inhaled and exhaled, watching the vapor of her breath making swirled patterns into the air and disappear.

"Did you just call Adam a goat?" Blake shut her book and tried to conceal her little giggles afraid he would hear. She rested her book on Ruby's bag and held out her hand. Ruby took it and pulled herself to her feet and shook out her skirt from the morning dew.

"It's an inside joke between me and him. I guess it's a nick name."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yup. He has a nick name for me too." Ruby paused to remember it and she frowned annoyed. "It's Rose..."

"Well isn't that your name? If anything it's a nice nick name compared to the one you gave him. What's wrong with it?" Blake asked with a laugh. Ruby scratched her chin and tried to find a way to answer.

"Yes but... Well one he's crazy! Two, I thought a nick name like that would come from...Ya'know...Someone else...Someone special?" Ruby bit at her lip thinking of Juane...So yes, she likes him a tad more than a friend, and it was clear that he felt that way too. They have been testing the waters for a few months now. But...But now...Were they really not as close as they thought they were? Blake went to ask what she meant but she noticed Ruby's sad expression so she changed the subject.

"I want you to take this with you." She picked up her book and flipped through it to a particular page. "A lot has changed since your mom took the ember, especially the land. This book show's the new terrain, which I suspect where you need to be is here." Ruby peeked at where she pointed on the little map in the book and her eyes widened.

"That is pretty much on the other side of Remnant?!" She stepped back to absorb the distance. "I have NEVER gone that far...anywhere! And with the C.C.T.S. still down, meaning no trains, aircraft, pretty much any type of teleportation to take us there! It is going to take forever!" Blake shrugged sadly.

"I guess that's why Cinder gave you a month?"

"It's going to take longer than that!" Ruby rubbed at her temple hoping to relieve some pressure from the coming on headache. "I-" She took a deep breath trying not cry. "I don't think I can do this Blake and every body is counting on me." Blake wrapped her arms around Ruby and she accepted.

"That is why I'm giving you this." She let go and handed Ruby the book. "If you reference this with your fathers journal its going to help you. Okay?" Ruby nodded and took a deep breath.

"Okay." Ruby took her bag and placed it on her shoulder. "I'm ready."

"Do you want to say goodbye to-"

"No." Ruby didn't mean to be so blunt but that's how she felt. "Even if I did Jaune and the others... They would still be against this idea. And I don't want them convincing me not to go...Especially when I'm already considering it...I can't be swayed. I'm doing this." Blake nodded. She understood.

"We better get going then." Ruby grinned sadly and started walking away. Blake went to follow when she noticed the extra bag she left behind. "Ruby you forgot Adam's back pack."

"Mr. Grumpy Goat can carry his own Damn bag!"

It was almost nightfall and they were about ready to go. Ruby pet the mane of her horse that Cinder gave them for the journey. She curled her fingers in the mare's hair, fiddleing with things helped her concentrate. She kept thinking about where they needed to go first. Ruby looked over Blake's book and her dad's journal for hours during that day. They were in the country of Vale but they needed to get to the country of Menagerie. Which was easier said then dead.

In her father's notes he mentioned that Ruby's mother spoke of two northern mountains, one in Atlas and one in Menagerie. Apparently the Ember is one of these two mountains. Ruby thought long about which it could be. She went back to her mother's version of Little Red Riding hood. In her version it always snowed, it was so rare to have even the slightest warmth of sun where Red lived and that there were short summers which she assumed the country in her story was Atlas. The icy weatherin Atlas matched with the description of her story. If the tree was there then her mother would have moved the ember to Menagerie.

It was the complete opposite of Atlas. Where Atlas was cold and freezing, Menagerie was warm and tropical and full of life and has a northern mountain that is considered a memorial to the natives that lived there. They were even said it was full of power. Ruby was sure why they thought it was so powerful was because of the energy illuminating from the ember. Adam and her would have to find a way to get in the mountain. That might be hard since the natives think its this sacred place. Would they even let them in?

Plus Menagerie was an island, meaning water, meaning boats, meaning her over the side of the boat vomiting. She could fight the deadliest of Grimm but couldn't overcome motion sickness. Even the thought of swaying side to side was making her nauseous. She would be fine, she hoped at least. But first they had to get out of Vale then travel into Mistral and catch a boat from there.

Sadly even entering Mistral was a challenge on its own. Uncle Qrow described it full of swamps and low lives. People didn't play fair there and started violence for the hell of it. Ruby sighed. And they had a month to do this? That isn't enough time but it was all she had. Her hand began to cramp from the nerves, she rubbed it tenderly with her thumb and tried to take another deep breath to calm down.

"You better get a hold on that." She whipped her head toward the voice. Adam was behind her preparing his own things and tightening his horses saddle. He patted its neck as he went to adjust it on the other side.

"A hold of what?" She asked irritably. He was wearing that mask again, that stupid mask. She could never tell what his expressions were under it. She could only imagine him doing some sarcastic expression or some face equally annoying as that. He glanced up still tying something to his horse.

"That's your wielding hand isn't it?" She blinked and looked back down to her hand. "Your going to have fight where we are going so I suggest you fix whatever is wrong with you before we start traveling." She clenched her fingers in a fist and glared at him.

"What? Afraid your going to have to fight on your own?" He rose himself into his saddle and grabbed the reins.

"I can take care of myself Rose. Don't underestimate me."

"My name is Ruby." He smirked.

"Like I said, I can fight my own battles. You on the other hand is no match to the unknown." She didn't say anything as she pulled herself onto her horse which surprised him. Before they went on their way, Cinder and Blake walked up to Adam's horse. Cinder extended her hands to the animals snout and pet it lightly while glanceing up to Ruby.

"It seems that we already have some that know of our little expedition. So I suggest you both be careful and take refuge in the nearest town. Just for tonight,"

"We were so careful. How did anyone find out?" Blake asked. Yesterday Ruby would have taken that question suspicious but she knew that if anything stopped Ruby and Adam from completing their mission Cinder most definitely woud take it out on her and the person she was protecting. As much as Ruby wanted so badly to find help she had to do this, she needed to keep her friends safe...That's all that mattered even if she had to be the one taken down for it.

"I'm not sure. We might just have a mole in our midst's. We will find the traitor soon enough but as for you two, do as I told you and we will take care of the military. Don't worr we will give you a head start. Blake?" Blake perked her ears and waited for Cinder to give her orders. "Take some men and kill who ever is blocking the road?"

"Kill? Blocking the road?"

"Yes. I can see them." Ruby gasped quietly when she saw Cinders eyes glow a red color. Ruby looked to Blake and she licked her lips nervously.

"Must we kill them?"

"Lets see kill them or...Kill him." Blake's eyes widened at Cinders reply. Ruby frowned. Him? Was that who she was protecting? Ruby shook away the thought when Blake reluctantly nodded.

"Yes Ma'am." Blake then turned sharply and ran off. Ruby could of sworn she was going to cry. Cinder blinked her eyes and the glow from her eyes disappeared.

"Honestly why can't she just be a good pet." Ruby noticed Adam fidget in his saddle when she said that. Did he just get...angry? She walked to the side of the Horse and placed her foot into the holster and lifted herself to him with ease. "One more thing." She grabbed Adam's jaw in her hand and placed her mouth against his.

Ruby's brows rose in surprise and awkwardly looked to her hands. Is she? Ruby glanced back a peek and blinked with a grimace. She is! Though there was something Ruby couldn't help notice. Adam was showing no emotion. It was like he didn't feel anything, he acted numb. She broke the kiss, finally and let her self slide of his lap. Once her feet hit the ground Adam rode off and Ruby kicked her heels and hurried behind him. She looked to Adam as they rode in the moonlight noticing him taking the back of his gloved hand and rubbed it hard against his lips.