Ashes to Ashes

by Lucenthia

A month after the breach in Vale, the Vytal Festival is about to kick off with a bang. But Cinder's meddling throws a wrench into the works, and as they hunt for her, Team RWBY start to doubt not only the people around them but themselves. Follow these girls as they say goodbye to the things they loved, the innocence of youth, and the solitude and peace they always knew.

3. Chapter 3

"You'd better not die before we meet up again next week." Cardin said. He gave Jaune a punch in the arm that was almost friendly. He and his team had put on their backpacks and were heading out. His assigned route took them across the sharp ridgelines of nearby mountains. Team RWBY would be following the streams up gentle hills which eventually led to the mountains CRDL would be surveying, while JNPR would continue searching the forest they were currently in. The next rendezvous point was further up a valley, around a hundred kilometres from their current campsite.

"Same goes for you guys." Yang said, "The atmosphere of mutual tolerance around a campfire sure makes a girl appreciate her allies."

Cardin gave a small wave in the general direction of team RWBY before heading off. Their armored boots left deep impressions in the black soil as they left. Yang looked around with her hands on her hips. "Well, hope you guys are still alive next time we see you."

"You too." Pyrrha said. "It's been nice working with you the past few days."

With that, team RWBY waved goodbye to team JNPR and started walking towards a valley in the distance. The four walked in usual formation. Weiss took point with Ruby and Yang behind her looking around them to make sure they weren't ambushed from the side. Blake was rearguard, using all of her heightened senses to prevent an attack from behind.

They walked in silence, aware that unnecessary noise would distract them and attract Grimm. They hiked farther upstream and the trees that had shaded them from the sun thinned until they were walking on the side of a rocky hill with tufts of grass poking out.

"Alright, time for some lunch." Yang said. She had found a flat rock in the middle of the hill. She set her bag down pulled out her supplies. Beside her, Ruby seemed to disappear as she flopped down into foot-tall grass.

"You know, I have to agree with Cardin." Weiss said. She had taken off her trainers, once white but now stained brown with use. She had abandoned her high heels within a few days out in the wilderness. "It doesn't exactly seem likely that someone from team CNDR is going to come waltzing over that mountain."

"Look, Ozpin was always a little weird." Yang said. "But he's protected Vale for decades. My dad and uncle Qrow love him. What do you think, Blake?"

Blake looked up in surprise. Nowadays she barely spoke. "I think there isn't anything we can do about Ozpin now, so there's no point worrying about it."

"Have you heard anything from team SSSN?" Yang asked, "How are things over in Haven."

"All communications between Kingdoms have been blocked, remember?" Blake said. "It's like we're at war with each other."

"According to Ozpin, it's bigger than any war we've seen." Weiss said. Weiss' reminder brought about a melancholy silence for the rest of their short meal. Ruby, as usual, finished first and spent the rest of her rest indiscriminately slicing at the grass with her scythe. By the time team RWBY headed out again, there were overlapping circles where the grass was completely cut to the ground.

The next time they stopped was when they saw smoke.

The sun was setting and they were looking for a campsite when they rounded a bend in a hill and saw several campfires. Yang grinned at her team and said, "That must be one of the nomad settlements Port was talking about!"

"Oh, really? I thought it was part of the Atlasian Millitary." Weiss rolled her eyes, but couldn't hide the small smile that played around her lips.

"Maybe they'll give us a place to stay." Yang said, walking briskly towards the encampment. The others picked up the pace at the prospect of food that hadn't been carried around in their packs for weeks.

As they entered the encampment, a man dressed in a leather vest and a pair of fur shorts. His skin was wrinkled but looked tough. He held onto a spear and said, "Our clan leader will question you."

"Well, that was quick." Yang said to no one in particular.

"We've seen your like before." The man responded. Shrugging, team RWBY started walking towards a tent that looked exactly like the others: large brown canvas teepees. They entered to see a thin woman with steel grey hair. "More Hunters, I see."

"You've met some of us before?"

"Aye, as did my predecessor, as did his." The clan leader said, "My name is Kedinn."

Team RWBY introduced themselves, after which Ruby stepped forward. "We've been looking for four people. We were wondering if they might have passed by."

"Of course we've seen rogue Hunters. They often choose to run from their big cities. But they don't matter to us. We give them temporary shelter if they wish, and send them on their way."

"You do?" Ruby and the rest of her team leaned in closer. "Have any come recently?"

"Might've been one last year, or perhaps the year before." Kedinn shrugged. "But living out here amongst the Grimm means we got more important things to be worrying about."

"But none within the last few weeks? We have pictures."

"No." The short reply elicited sighs from the team. "Well, thanks anyways." Ruby said, "I guess we'll be on our way."

Yang looked at her younger sister pleadingly and butted in, "You said you let some Hunters stay for a night?"

Kedinn smiled. "Of course. Our hospitality extends to any who come in fear of Grimm. You will have to use your own tent, but for tonight, our food is yours."

"Alright!" Yang punched the air in delight. "You have no idea how grateful we are."

The rest of the team thanked Kedinn as well, and set their tent up on the outskirts of the encampment. "See! Ask and ye shall receive, little sis."

"I just didn't want to impose." Ruby said, "It didn't seem as if she liked us very much."

"I think that's just how these people work." Weiss said, "Growing up away from civilization tends to make people less, well, civilized."

"They seemed civilized enough to me when they offered travellers food." Blake said, "How many people in Vale would do that?"

"I'm just saying that we shouldn't expect them to act like people in Vale." Weiss' hands moved around more when she was aggravated. Now she placed them on her hips as she and Blake stared at each other.

"Look, let's just focus on the positive." Yang said, "We don't have to cook for ourselves tonight!"

"Just don't get your hopes up." Weiss said, "I don't think these tribesmen have discovered gourmet food."

Blake sighed but ignored Weiss. Instead she focused on hammering in another tent peg. After the tent had been erected and they had thrown their bags in, the team sat down on the nearby rocks and watched the moonrise from the mountains the rivers flowed from.

"Have you guys ever wondered why the moon's fragmented?" Ruby asked, "I loved listening to stories about them."

"You mean fairy tales?" Weiss scoffed. But Yang jabbed at Weiss and she kept quiet.

"I never really had time for them." Blake said, "My mom and dad always told me stories about the Faunus Rights Revolution."

"Well, I loved it when mom told them." Yang said, referring to Summer. "Do you remember?"

"No, it was always dad who told them to me." Ruby said. "My favorite one was about how we humans were pure and used to live on the moon, but then we got kicked down to this planet of darkness because we offended the ruler of the moon."

"I heard that one too." Weiss said, "But I also preferred the one where the moon and earth loved each other so much that the moon kept on sending little gifts down to earth, until it accidentally spent too much of itself on his lover. And that's why it's fragmented."

"That's a little dark." Ruby said, "And a little stupid of the moon. Why do love stories always end badly?"

"My favorite one was that there actually used to be people on the moon, and after a huge war we won, the moon shattered. But in the process we lost all our technology." Yang said. She turned to Ruby. "Remember when we used to pretend we were the moon and Remnant and fought each other?"

"Yeah." Ruby pouted, "You always won."

"Sounds like a cool childhood." Weiss said wistfully. She picked at the short grass they were sitting on.

"Didn't you and your sister do stuff like that?" Yang asked.

"No, me and my sister," Weiss frowned. "My parents weren't really that normal either."

"Neither was our dad." Yang laughed, "Remember that time he went to the doctor and found out both me and him were allergic to mistletoe? He then burnt every single fern around the house, just to be safe."

"Okay, that's both weird and over the top." Weiss said, "I can see where you two get it from."

The four of them laughed lightly and continued watching the moon. The sky slowly darkened around it, and before they knew it, the man that had greeted them before stood before them and said, "Dinner is prepared. Follow me."

The entire clan sat around a large campfire that spewed just as much smoke as it did fire. Ruby breathed it in and coughed violently. "What is that stuff?"

"Is that cigar smoke?" Weiss asked, "My dad always stank of that stuff."

"Grimm are attracted to negative emotions." Kedinn sat cross-legged next to them. "These fires ward off what negative emotions we can." She gestured to her other clansmen, whose smiles seemed a little too relaxed and genuine.

"You intoxicate your own people?" Weiss asked indignantly, "What if Grimm actually do attack?"

"We have people on watch." Kedinn said, "And unless you have lived out here for decades, I would advise you not to judge."

She then smiled and handed out wooden bowls filled with stew. It looked similar to the stew team RWBY had been eating, but after learning about what was in the fire, RWBY was wary. Reading their concerns, the clan leader said, "We want to relax our people, not incapacitate them."

Yang slowly took a bite, and said, "This is really good!"

Weiss was a notoriously picky eater, and nibbled at a chunk of meat. It was spicy and seared her throat, but at the same time filled her stomach with a lingering warmth. She took a few more bites before giving the rest to Yang. "My stomach was not made for spicy food."

"Aw, come on, Weiss!" Yang said, with her mouth full. "This is great!"

"Ew! Say it, don't spray it!" Weiss flicked her hand to get rid of some residue that Yang had sprayed in Weiss' general direction. Yang's grin widened, but she remembered that she was in public and refrained from infuriating Weiss further.

When everyone seemed to be finishing their dinner, the Kedinn stepped next to the fire in the middle of the circle. Silence fell and team RWBY knew something was going to happen.

Then Kedinn yelled, "From earth they come!"

"FROM EARTH THEY COME!" The entire clan repeated what Kedinn said, causing Ruby to jump.

"From earth they come, and to soil they go!" Kedinn yelled.

"FROM EARTH THEY COME, AND TO SOIL THEY GO!"

"Wandering remnants of a glorious whole!"

"WANDERING REMNANTS OF A GLORIOUS WHOLE!"

Ruby was enamored with the clan as they swayed back and forth, yelling back what Kedinn cried out into the night.

"Whole they were, and whole they shall be!"

"WHOLE THEY WERE, AND WHOLE THEY SHALL BE!"

"Broken they are, and broken are we!"

"BROKEN THEY ARE, AND BROKEN ARE WE!"

The clansmen were thumping the earth with their hands. It had started off as a slow and soft heartbeat, but now grew louder.

"When the gate opens and twilight falls!"

"WHEN THE GATE OPENS AND TWILIGHT FALLS!"

"Peace and balance shall envelop us all!"

"PEACE AND BALANCE SHALL ENVELOP US ALL!"

Ruby's mouth was hanging open, and she realized that she had been breathing in copious amounts of smoke. When she tried to focus on Kedinn, she only saw the fire behind her and the shadows and shades the flames twisted into. She turned to Mako, who had materialized beside her during the chanting.

"What was that?" Her words were slurred together and her head lolled from side to side.

"You have your fairy tales and we have ours." Mako said. He then got up and said, "We believe in the Primordial Grimm."

"The what?" Yang asked. She grinned at Weiss, who was so drowsy she rested her head on Yang's lap.

"You are young, but have you heard of the more powerful types of Grimm?" Mako asked. "None of your Ursa or Beowolves, oh no. I talk of the Behemoths. The Leviathans. The Ganeshi. The Sleipnirs. And most legendary of all, the Grimm with names."

The Hunters shook their heads, and the clan leader continued. "Legend has it that the older the Grimm are, the more intelligent and powerful they become. Those who live long enough gain consciousness like you or I, and we have dubbed those the Primordial Grimm. Some of their names we know. Garmr. Hati. Skoll. Others we don't."

"Wait, but the Grimm are already really powerful." Yang said, "We've only been able to maintain four major cities, and Grimm attacks are still frequent. If there were even more powerful Grimm, why would they need to wait?"

"I don't know." Mako shrugged. "But that is simply our fairy tale. You are free to have your own. Now, it is late, and you should be getting some rest."

"Yeah, okay." Ruby said, "Thanks for the story. It was really cool."

"We tell it to every Hunter with whom we cross paths." Kedinn walked over from the fire. "Given your close contact with the Grimm, this story is usually of particular interest."

"Wait a minute." Ruby said, turning to her team. "Ozpin said that CNDR was a rouge team, right?"

"Yeah, what about it?" Yang asked.

Ruby took out her scroll and showed the clan leader a picture of team CNDR. Kedinn raised her eyebrows and said. "You walk a dangerous path, children. That of knowledge. Others more powerful than you seek it, and if you continue along this path, you'll undoubtedly encounter far more than you bargained for."

"So you know them!" Ruby said, trying to shake off the effects of the smoke. "When did you meet them?"

"Around twelve years ago, give or take. They too were seekers of knowledge. I shall talk no more of this."

She turned her back and left. Ruby and the others tried to follow her, but her clansmen formed a wall and Mako pointed in the direction of their tent. "You will leave tomorrow."

It wasn't a request.

Head buzzing with questions, Ruby and her team went to their tent. Despite being in an encampment with others, they decided to set a watch. Ruby volunteered to take the first watch, not wanting to go to bed feeling wrung out from breathing in the smoke.

As she kept watch she let her Aura flow quickly through her body, hoping that it would force out the toxins in her. She paced in a circle around the tent, swinging her scythe this way and that. She wondered about the legendary Grimm the clan leader had told them about. And, yes, she even hoped to see one! If they had names, then that meant they had to be the most intelligent of all. Maybe they were even human.

She imagined humanoid shapes in black fur, or a civilization comprised of Grimm, then shook her head. She was supposed to be killing them, not trying to befriend them. She sighed and continued pacing around the tent, the usual melancholy washing over her. Being around her team staved it off, but solitude and the night tended to coax out the mixture of fear and nostalgia that now gnawed at her insides.

Despite her nocturnal doubts and aftereffects of the smoke, she was still alert and heard Mako approaching long before he was within speaking distance. The man regarded Ruby for a moment before holding out a tree root. "Here, this combats the effects of the smoke."

Ruby took it and chewed, releasing a bitter juice that made her screw up her face in disgust. But as Mako predicted, her vision cleared and she could focus on him.

"I am interested in Vale." Mako said, "Would you care to tell me about recent events?"

Ruby laughed. "Well, there have been a lot of things going on. Do you know about the White Fang?"

"A Faunus rights movement that sprang up shortly after the Faunus Rights Revolution."

"Well, your information might be a little outdated." Ruby said, "They've got new leaders that are more violent. They use force to get people to respect them. And a month ago, they blew in a breach in Vale, letting in Grimm."

Mako's eyes widened. "Was anyone hurt?"

"No, not really." Ruby said, "Luckily, we got there in time."

Mako nodded. "That's good."

He fell silent, and Ruby took the opportunity to ask something that had been on her mind. "Hey, Mako. Why are your names, well, sort of different to ours? I mean, it doesn't really refer to a color."

"Our ancestors didn't take part in the Great War." Mako said. "They felt no need to give us names like yours."

Ruby nodded and Mako continued. "I came because no one should be on watch alone. The darkness can amplify loneliness and attract more Grimm."

It was only now that Ruby realized that just talking with Mako had lifted her spirits. These clans did know a thing or two about avoiding Grimm. They were also better at sensing them too, because Mako suddenly stiffened. "Something is coming."

Ruby immediately cocked her weapon and her eyes darted around. She felt Mako gather his own Aura around him, and she did the same. She now saw a dark figure approaching at rapid speeds. It was heading straight for the encampment, and Ruby yelled, "Guys! Get up, something's coming!"

Blake darted out of the tent within seconds, Gambol Shroud already unsheathed. Weiss was the next to tumble out of the tent, only taking a moment to brush her messy hair out of her face. Even as she did so, Ruby could hear Yang load Ember Celica from inside.

"It's a man." Blake said, as Yang rolled out of the tent. "But he's camouflaged himself. I can't see…" But as the man entered the range of their weapons, he put on another burst of speed and skidded to a halt in front of team RWBY.

"Ah! Girls! How wonderful to see you!" A loud voice fired off words like a machine gun. He spoke so fast even Ruby had trouble following Dr. Oobleck's voice. "Well, I see you too have found the nomadic clans! Excellent people and perhaps our only source of knowledge from before the Great War! I do hope you have interrogated them and learnt valuable information about their customs and, more importantly, their history!"

"Um, Dr. Oobleck?" Ruby asked, "What exactly are you doing-"

"Excellent question!" Oobleck exclaimed, "After three weeks without results and much persuasion from Glynda, Ozpin has decided to change strategies regarding the theft of the Sliver. I have been instructed to-" He broke off and his head swiveled to stare closely at Mako. "Well, as I live and breath! Burgundy! Why, my classes without you have become dull in comparison! I thought your team had been exterminated by Grimm!"

Mako, who had been sidling away to the campsite, froze at Oobleck's words. "I don't know who you're talking about. Perhaps you should drink less Dust fluid."

"Ah, but only one of my few protégés would know that it is Dust fluid inside my thermos!" Oobleck yelled, "Ah, it gives me such energy as it does my weapon!"

"Um, Dr. Oobleck?" Yang asked, "How much have you been drinking?"

"Oh, I lose track of such trivialities!" Oobleck yelled, "But I haven't had time for sleeping while trying to track you students down! Perhaps for the five days I've been out on the trail!"

"You haven't slept for five days?" Weiss exclaimed, "Shouldn't you slow down a little, professor?"

"What nonsense!" Oobleck said, "Why, Burgundy can tell you of the time I had to stay up for two weeks leading a Grimm extermination mission out here! Ah, those were good times! So much knowledge to be found! Grimm trails everywhere! We even saw a horde of Pantheras! To be so close to their mandibles, close enough to make the most well-documented thesis on Panthera anatomy! And it could never have happened if I hadn't gotten swallowed half a dozen times!"

Oobleck's caffeine rush explained why he was talking even faster than usual. Team RWBY looked to Mako for confirmation, who nodded. "Oobleck's devised a concoction that heightens the body's limits for an extended period of time. And, yes, he did get swallowed by several Pantheras."

"Wait, are you a rogue Hunter?" Ruby asked.

"No, just someone who's had enough with life in Vale." Mako said, "Ozpin never bothered sending people to look for me."

"You decided to leave?" Yang asked, "After all you had worked for?"

Mako sighed. "If you had said that to me ten years ago, or even five, I would have attacked you for saying that. But I've left all that behind." As he talked, the thick tribal accent faded away and was replaced by one that was distinctly from Vale. "Do you really think I deserted my post on a whim? Let me ask you something. Why did you all decide to become Huntresses?"

The four girls looked at each other, then at Oobleck, then back at each other. "To protect others." Ruby said.

"And what if you found out you couldn't?" Mako said, "What if you found yourself kneeling by the comrades you were supposed to protect? What if you realized that you were just another casualty in a never-ending war, and that your sentiments and resolve meant nothing to the man at the top?"

"If that's what you think of Ozpin, then you don't know him at all." Ruby said, "He cares about us." Ruby remembered the way Ozpin's eyes had bored into her own, but he had just been scared. He couldn't be dangerous, at least, not to his Hunters.

"I suppose you'll see." Mako said. He turned to Oobleck and said, "I'm glad to see you're still alive."

"As am I, Burgundy!" Oobleck said. "I suppose there is no way I can convince you to return with these girls? Vale will need every able person they can get!"

"Vale must be in dire straits if it needs a washed up old man like me." Mako smiled. "Is team DRGN still active?"

"I'm afraid not." Oobleck said with some solemnity, "Two of them perished six years ago, and the other two now work at Steeple Academy in Vacuo."

"I expected as much." Mako said, "In any case, good luck in your future endeavours. From what little I've seen, it looks like you'll need it."

"Thank you." Oobleck turned to team RWBY. "Girls, your new orders are to make your way back to Vale as soon as possible." He turned to leave, but Ruby said, "Wait, can we talk in private for a bit?"

Oobleck considered it for a moment before nodding. "Very well then Ruby, what is it?"

They walked away from the tent and three very curious pairs of ears. "It's about knowledge." Ruby said, "And, well, sort of about Ozpin."

She hesitated before continuing. "Both Ozpin and Kedinn, the leader of this clan, warned me about pursuing knowledge. But you always taught us that knowledge prepares us."

"Ozpin warned you about meddling like you did with the White Fang?" Oobleck asked. His voice slowed down to a normal pace, sensing the gravity of what Ruby was telling him.

"Yeah, it was the day the alarms went off." Ruby said.

But if I find you responsible for another transgression of this magnitude, repercussions will be swift and severe

"He sort of, well, threatened me." Ruby said. "I mean, not actually threatened me, more like a warning. It wasn't like he was interrogating me or something. It's just-"

"I suspect there is more going on than either of us know." Oobleck said in a quieter tone, cutting off Ruby's backpedaling. "I too have suspected that Ozpin may be hiding something hidden in the histories."

Ruby's eyes widened as Oobleck said, "I tell you this because this seems to be a recurring pattern. When I was working for my Ph.D, I first attempted to research the times before the Great War. Not only did I find no records at all, but Ozpin himself came to me and told me not to pursue this line of research. Since then, I have held Ozpin in a queer regard. While his intentions are undoubtedly noble and while he is one of the most capable men I have known, there has always been a niggling curiosity about him resting in the back of my head.

"And why did Kedinn warn us about seeking knowledge?" Ruby asked.

"This is pure speculation," Oobleck said, "But I believe that these secretive nomads are the only remnants left from before the Great War. I believe that they know what Ozpin is hiding, but choose to keep it a secret, perhaps for their own safety."

Ruby nodded again, her heart sinking deep into her abdomen. Oobleck ruffled her black hair and said, "I apologize to burden you with this knowledge, but I have never been one to deny seekers of knowledge. Besides, I have a feeling you will not have the luxury of innocence for much longer."

On that grim note, Oobleck started speaking in his normal rapid-fire voice. "Well then, Ruby, an excellent discussion! I hope to have many more in the days to come! But for now, I must find team CRDL up in the mountains! Goodbye and good luck!" With that parting note, he dashed away again, quickly disappearing into the night.

Ruby headed back into her tent, only to be confronted by Yang and the rest of her team, all of whom were glaring at her. Ruby shrank back as Yang stepped forward and hissed, "Ozpin threatened you!"

"How did you-" Ruby started, then turned to Blake, who wiggled her ears in response. "Blake! Why did you eavesdrop on us?"

"Hey, you'd do the same if you were in my position." Blake said, "And I'm glad I did. Is this why you've been so down these past three weeks?"

"You know, apart from the fact that we haven't eaten good food, slept in a bed, and been on a suicide mission for the past three weeks." Weiss chipped in. Blake jabbed her in the ribs and said, "Not the time!"

"We're here for you, Ruby." Yang said, "You don't need to hide things from us."

"Look, it didn't matter, okay?" Ruby said, "I don't think Ozpin really meant it anyways."

"It didn't matter?" Weiss asked, "So you don't think we deserve to know when someone like Ozpin threatens us?"

"You guys are just making such a big deal out of this." Ruby said, "Of course I'd tell you if something was wrong. You can trust me, I promise."

"It seems hard to trust you when you hid a death threat from us." Weiss said.

"Guys, lay off Ruby." Unexpectedly, it was Blake who came to Ruby's rescue. "She's right, you're making a big deal out of nothing. Sure, she messed up, but we don't have to yell at her like this."

Yang and Weiss both paused and looked at how Ruby's lips were pressed tightly together, and how she was slightly hunched over as if weathering a storm. Feeling guilty, Yang stepped forward. "Look, I'm sorry I overreacted. You've just seemed really sad, and I want to do something about it."

"I'm fine, Yang. I'm just on edge." Ruby smiled at her. "Can we just go to sleep?"

"I second that decision." Weiss said. "We could all use some rest."

"Yeah, definitely." Blake hopped lightly over to her sleeping mat and curled up.

Yang wanted to say more to Ruby, but she was already lying on her side, breathing softly. Behind Yang, Weiss slept on her back with her hands crossed over her lap. Yang thought she was sleeping, but Weiss mumbled, "I think that's a unanimous decision that you're taking watch for a few hours."

Yang chuckled and said, "Gee, thanks. I'll wake you up when I'm done."

Weiss gave an undignified grunt that she would never let anyone else hear. Yang laughed again and headed out of the tent while silence settled within it.

---

Alright! Hope you guys enjoyed that. I had to tweak a couple of things in this chapter and chapter 4, which was why this one took a little longer getting out.

Thanks to my new followers and single favourite! Your support's much appreciated.

Again, if there are things you'd like to see changed, or anything you want to say about the story, feel free to give me feedback.

Thanks!