Chapter 4: Debate
The four warriors returned to their camp joking, laughing, and bragging loudly. They had been gone for about nine hours so food was their primary concern as they approached their camp. They sat down and passed around various roots, berries, and dried meats. After the meal was finished, attention was turned to the deliberation at hand.
Rook reached into his pack and pulled out a large water skin. He uncorked it and the smell of mead permeated about the camp. He poured everyone a tankard full "We have earned this" he rumbled gladly, "but now to the work before us."
He paused to look and consider each member of his team. "We must first decide if we believe Ozpin."
Yule turned to Nemein "You had much to say about Ozpin's question and your answers seemed to be very significant to him. What do you think?"
This very thing had been weighing on Nemein's mind. He still wasn't sure what he thought of it, so he shared his current thoughts "Shelob are from the thick forests of the North. In all the years I spent as a scout I've never seen them outside of those dense woodlands." He paused "Something must be drawing them here. I don't know if they felt something, or if they decided to follow the grimm they noticed leaving their borders, but—"
At that moment a the caw of a bird was was heard. The team turned to see a great black raven flying their way.
"Huginn!" cried Yule. The one-eyed warrior leapt up and raised his arm. The bird landed on Yule's arm and nuzzled the hand that stroked it's head.
"You've flown a long way my friend!" Yule said to the bird, "What brings you here?"
The bird reached its head under its wing and pulled out a note and gave it to Yule.
Yule took the note and gave Huginn some berries in return. The raven devoured the berries hungrily.
Yule bundled up some seeds and berries from their supplies and gave the bundle to the bird, "Here, find a place to eat and rest."
The bird hopped to the ground and then hopped several paces away, as if to give the humans privacy.
Yule read the note silently, "Our kin are moving. Grimm have been spotted from the camp but have not attacked. From what the scouts report it sounds like the grimm are headed towards the kingdom. But the elders expect enough of the tribe will start to worry about this to provoke attacks. So they are making their way to the hunting grounds now." Yule paused, "This would seem to confirm what Nemein expected, the grimm are being drawn to the kingdom's borders. Some great fear or malice is at work here."
"But that doesn't have anything to do with the radical faunus." interjected Vasara.
"True, but look at our trip through the city." countered Nemein "That man attacked the faunus boy believing that he was a part of the White Fang simply because the boy was faunus. Tensions are obviously high. Also, while you beat the living shit out of that scum, I spotted some newspapers talking about rising dust robbery rates. So that part of Ozpin's story is true."
"So it seems" said Rook, "however that does not mean his whole story is true"
"Why would he deceive us?" Asked Yule rhetorically.
"For extra strength in battle!" answered Vasara "He knows of our reputation as fierce warriors and wants an edge in this conflict."
"But we do not fight wars that do not concern us" responded Nemein, "this he should also know. It wouldn't be the first time we've walked away from a fight some fool thought he could trick us into."
The company sat in silence for a while.
"I do not think that Ozpin is trying to deceive us." Yule started slowly, "I think he has told us what he, at the very least, believes to be true. He is not foolish or arrogant enough to try and trick us." Everyone noded in agreement
"Then the other thing that remains to be determined is what our course of action will be." Rook declared.
"Well if the White Fang is behind these robberies, then they are militarizing. So why doesn't Vale just smash them?" blurted Vasara.
"Vasara, the White Fang have a legitimate claim of unjustified hatred against faunus that needs to be be addressed." Rook rumbled, trying to calm the brash young warrior, "Their methods are wrong, but that does not call for them to be annihilated."
"Plus I caught a name associated with the dust robberies, some Torchwick person. And there was no mention of him being a faunus." Nemein added.
"Considering the state the city seems to be in, I find it doubtful that newspapers would neglect faunus heritage if it were there." Said Rook
"Odd, if they have a suspect, why would Ozpin suspect the White Fang?" mused Yule
"Well let's try and guess what Ozpin suspects" said Vasara, "If this Torchwick isn't a faunus then why would the White Fang be associating with him?"
"I see two possibilities." said Yule, "Either the White Fang no long really cares about faunus rights, or this man has the demeanor or enough valuable skills or resources for the White Fang to be willing work with him and vice versa."
"Troublesome either way" mused Rook.
"If they aren't fighting for faunus rights, what is their motive?" Nemein asked.
"I suspect that is what Ozpin would like to know." Rook answered.
The camp sat in silent thought as the sun set.
Nemein took a deep draft of his mead and then said "We're here and all signs point to some trouble brewing. Furthermore, that something has caused our kin to move, ahead of our normal migration pattern. So it has already affected us, I say we affect it back."
The responses to this came much slower than their agreement to Ozipin's sincerity. But they agreed nonetheless.
"You two stay here, rest and watch the camp" ordered Yule "I do not think we should sleep without watch from now on."
Yule got up, grabbed his spear, and made his way towards the school grounds with Rook.
Huginn flew onto Yule's shoulder and joined them.
Several minutes into their walk Yule looked at Rook and laughed "You forgot to throw on a tunic! You'll upset the children."
"Nonsense! Who wouldn't want to see such a fine example of a man?"
Yule broke into hearty laughter "We shall find out!"
The two reached Ozpin's office in short order. Unhindered by the stares Rook's scarred body and the proud raven drew.
They didn't bother knocking and walked straight in. Ozpin was waiting for them at his desk.
"Did the hunt go well?"
Rook Grinned "We wiped out some new neighbors of yours. An entire Shelob nest, queen and all."
Ozpin was troubled by the knowledge that Shelob had come down to the forest outside of his school, but hid it well. "It came to my attention while you were gone that you had a smaller skirmish on your way to Beacon."
"Vasara is young and impulsive. Though she wasn't born into our kin, our customs are the only ones she knows." defended Yule "That kind of filth is a threat to our very existence outside the walls. I hope this did not cause you much grief, but understand that we are not sorry. We would have stepped in even if Vas had not."
Ozpin was intrigued "But wouldn't her outbursts of anger attract grimm? It was my understanding that your tribe's long success came in large part from your joy in combat."
"Yes, that is true" responded Yule "and that, in small part, is why she is with us. To learn to control herself more, and soothe the elders' concerns."
"Bah!" Rook thundered angrily, "She is here because she is a great warrior and with time, will learn to be just as skilled in the negotiation side of being an emissary! She was never a threat to the tribe, she can slay ten times the grimm she could ever attract!"
Yule placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, "We did not come to discuss our politics" he looked at Ozpin, "We've come to offer our help."
Ozpin grinned, "I'm glad to hear that. Would you like to know the details of your mission now, or are you weary from battle?"
Having mastered his anger, Rook responded with a grin, "Battle does not tire us, let us hear what you would have us do!"
A/N: I've been waiting to release this until my editor can give it a look over. But she has not been able to to find the time to look this chapter over. So I've read this chapter over several times, hopefully I caught any and all mistakes or weirdness. If I missed anything please let me know.