EDIT: A review has mentioned a good point - this is a two chapter update. To prevent reader confusion, please go back and read the previous chapter!

Okay, here it is...it took us seven chapters to reach this point...THE REUNION. Hope you guys like tauradonna...the next chapter will have a bit of fluff...

Chapter 10 – Black Ice

For two weeks, Blake never left the tenant room. Her group had to go back to eating rations, but they never complained. Instead, Blake would get a few concerned looks, and they would try to talk to her.

She didn't feel like conversing, but Blake humored them. They meant well, but she wanted to be left alone for a while.

Thankfully, none of them commented on her missing ribbon. However, the days were empty, and she soon grew lonely.

If she really wanted someone around, Blake would create a Shadow and stare at if for the minute that it would be visible. Then, the cat faunus would wave it away.

Yet, she seemed slightly on edge. Blake would try to keep an ear out at night, fearful that a Schnee worker would kick the door down. It only made her more restless and stressed out.

Moreover, she had nothing to tie her hair with. It descended past her hips in thick, black waves. It was pretty but impossible to manage. She had half a mind to take out Gambol Shroud and cut her hair with the blade. But, Fiona would wonder where she had gotten a knife. She had to keep Larch's pocketknife a secret, let alone a sword.

There was word that a Schnee official had arrived to town, hidden in the Overseer's mansion. The official would be making his rounds, and Fiona and Rose would spy on him, memorize his schedule. Blake wondered when her friends would strike. Fiona had stopped sleeping in the room, and dark circles had formed under her eyes.

Blake felt helpless; she wanted to help her, but Fiona would smile and nod. Ever since they arrived to this place, Blake and her pseudo-sister slowly began to grow apart. Fiona had work and would come home tired and restless. Before, Blake had Sterling, which distracted her from their growing rift.

Now, Blake wanted to return as fast as possible.

However, one of her quiet days were interrupted with a knock on her door. It was far too early for workers to return from work. Fear seized her heart as she inched towards the door. Her amber eyes darted to where Gambol Shroud was hidden.

"Who…who is it?" she asked tentatively.

"It's me, Aster." Blake breathed out a sigh of relief and opened the door.

Aster smiled down at her.

"Hey, everyone was getting prepared for a feast, so I was let off work early. I have a few errands that I need to run, and you've been cooped up in your room too long. It's a nice day out."

Blake was reluctant to leave, but she nodded.

"Where are we going?"

"Oh, just the market. Put on your coat; it's cold out." Quietly, Blake shrugged on her peacoat, wrapped scarf, and pulled the beanie over her ears.

Aster and Blake stepped out into the street; coal had already stained the snow a dark grey.

As they crossed over a bridge, there was a period of silence between them before Aster spoke up.

"So, how's the new weapon?" Blake nearly jumped out of her skin. Aster giggled.

"For a cat Faunus, you're really easy to read. No worries though, it's yours, so I'm not going to tell," her voice softened, "It belonged to that bookstore owner, didn't it? The one whose shop burned down? I saw your marker, so I assumed…"

"Yeah," Blake confirmed, "It was meant for him, but…" Aster waved her hand.

"Hey, there's no need to talk about it if you don't want to." They were quiet for a while before Blake spoke up again.

"Where are we going? I thought only Schnee stores were allowed here." Aster giggled.

"Whenever something is banned, people always try to come up with another way to get their hands on it. Keep that in mind Blake. You can get anything you want if you know where to look."

"We're going to a black market?"

"Yup! Just stay close to me, and you'll be fine no worries!"

"Where is it?"

"Oh, it's in an abandoned warehouse in the outskirts of town." Soon enough, they arrived at an old, dilapidated building with a locked fence. Aster took a few steps back, ran, and took a running leap over the fence, scaling it effortlessly.

"Here, just run towards me, and I'll catch you. I promise!"

This was like the evasion techniques her parents taught her; actually, Blake was sure that her father had instructed her on how to clear fences.

Blake cleared the fence with feline grace, landing on her feet. Aster looked surprised but shrugged.

"Alright, keep close to me and be mindful of your pockets. There's a couple pickpockets in there. Even though you don't have anything, it's still a shock to feel a hand touch you when you're not expecting it."

The building smelled musty and made her sneeze. It wasn't as closely packed as she thought, but vendors lined the walls, selling their wares. Blake's eyes darted everywhere, from dust-infused medicine to weapons, all sorts of items were being sold.

"Haha, I had the same reaction too. Now then, I'm sure the stall we're looking for should be somewhere around here…"

As they walked, a vendor leered at them.

"Care to sell me your hair?" an old woman cackled, "It'd make a fine wig, it would. I'd pay you a pretty penny."

Aster glared at her and tugged Blake closer.

"I'll tech you how to bind your hair up with a pen. Tuck your hair under your jacket. I don't want some asshole with scissors going near you."

They soon approached the vendor that sold the items that she wanted. Aster gave the vendor a nod and was handed a cardboard box. Aster tucked it under her arm and began to browse the shops.

"Aster, what's in the box?"

"Bullets." Her response made Blake stop and stare.

"What?" Aster pressed a finger to her lips.

"I'll tell you when we get back."

For the remainder of the outing, Aster made small talk, and Blake responded with a "yes" or "no". It wasn't until Aster had closed her tenant room door that she would speak about the box.

"You have a lot of questions," she observed, "But, I'm glad that you're worried about us." She set the box in her closet, behind a rolled up futon.

"Turn around and hold the mirror to your face. I'm going to put your hair in a bun." Aster took out a comb and began to brush Blake's hair.

"You're a lot more quiet than I thought you'd be," she commented, "I thought you'd have more to ask."

"I can ask anything?"

"Feel free. I'm not a parent, but I don't think it's a good idea to keep you in the dark about what we will do. And, I know you were eavesdropping that one night."

"Are you really going to go through with the assassination?" Blake asked. Aster nodded.

"Yeah, we are. To be honest, we were going to do it a few weeks ago, but that fire pushed things back. I'm sure you know why the fire was started." Blake looked down.

"I'm sorry, I can't tell you. I promised." Aster shrugged.

"I respect your decision, but I need you to tell us if there's any serious trouble. Information is a better bargaining chip than you think."

"Why do you want to kill this person?"

"Well, White Fang has stopped responding to us," Aster said, "We've been trying to get hold of them for a week, but we think they've cut ties with us until after the assassination. Makes sense, really, they can't be traced as the perpetrators."

"How are you guys going to do it?"

"I can't tell you the complete details. But, Rose and Fiona will give the all clear while Laurel fires the shot. Larch is supposed to disable security."

"What about you?"

"I'll be using my Semblance to keep people's attention off Laurel."

"You have a Semblance?" Aster chuckled.

"Yeah, I do, but it's not much. I can divert people's attention off of me and the person I'm holding. I'd make a really good bandit," she gave a half-hearted chuckle.

"Aster, what was your life like before you joined White Fang?"

She shrugged.

"I figured that Fiona would tell you, or at least you'd have a basic idea," her face was somber, "I guess I was luckier than the rest of you guys. I was born with a Faunus mom and a human dad."

"Did your mom have raccoon ears?" Aster made a face.

"Does any of White Fang teach you what happens with mixed-heritage people? I guess not. People with mixed-heritage essentially inherit their main Faunus traits, like horns, ears, or a tail. It's similar to a dominant gene, such as dark hair trumping light hair. But, they don't really have a Faunus' instincts or mannerisms."

"Like what?" Blake was confused.

"Well, I can't see in the dark, and I'm not as nimble as my counterparts. I can't scale trees as easily; going over the fence in one try took months of practice. But, I won't get sick from diseases that affect Faunus animals."

Blake was still confused.

"I'm not sure what you mean…"

Aster, fortunately, was patient.

"Each animal has a couple diseases specific to their species," she explained, "If a dog catches a virus, its human owner won't be affected. However, if the owner is a dog Faunus, he'll display symptoms. They take longer to show, and a Faunus will usually get better. However, if a disease is deadly and left untreated, the Faunus will die."

Blake nodded in understanding.

"But, those with mixed-heritage can't get sick that way. It's an even trade, I guess. Although, seeing in darkness is a lot more useful than you'd think."

"What about the rest of White Fang? Do they look at you like a Faunus?" Aster shrugged.

"They'll tolerate it, but either way, you'll be excluded from both groups somehow. Especially with my Faunus trait…" She sighed. "I'd be rich if I got one Lien for all the comments I got about coving the marks up with makeup."

"My mom had similar marks too, I'm sure. But, she left me and my dad a few weeks after I was born. I wish I had someone like me to ask for advice but…" a frown tugged at her lips, "My dad did as much as he could, but I really let those comments get to me back when I younger. I got my Semblance from him."

Her words piqued Blake's curiosity.

"What happened?"

"My dad got remarried and had a human baby," she said flatly, "My stepmom was nice, but I got a lot of stares wherever we went. It made her uncomfortable, so, she didn't really take me out with her when she ran errands or anywhere, really. When the baby came, they were really busy." Aster laughed bitterly. "My half-sister had the spotlight, and I was left to myself."

She had a faraway look in her eyes.

"I pretty much did what any rebellious teenager did. I ignored her, and she ignored me. My dad tried to bring us together, but it didn't work. She'd go off somewhere else, and I shut myself up in my room." Aster clenched her hands around Blake's hair a little too tightly.

"She got teased at school, and my sister saved up her allowance to buy me a bottle of concealer. That was the kicker," she snorted, "I slammed the door in her face and wouldn't speak to her for weeks."

In the corner of her eye, Blake could see a bottle of concealer tucked beneath a bundle of towels.

Aster combed Blake's hair in silence before she spoke up again.

"After a while, my sister denied that I was related to her whenever someone asked. That should have hurt me more, but it didn't. My dad tried everything he could to include me in his family, and I'm glad that he tried. Yet, the damage was done. But, I wasn't a model kid either. I got bullied at school and fell into the wrong crowd. My grades dropped. I skipped class, vandalized property, and got suspended."

"What happened then?" Blake asked, "What did they do?" Aster took a sharp intake of breath.

"They did nothing," she stated, "My family lectured me for a while, and then they'd go back to their lives. To be honest, I was a stupid kid and acted out to get attention. I felt left out, so I turned into a delinquent. Being lectured was better than being ignored. I was actually kinda proud of my graffiti art though." Aster chuckled sheepishly. "I even got a tattoo."

"What is it?"

"Oh, it was the old White Fang emblem – the one with the white wolf." Aster pulled up her sleeve to reveal the design inked onto the inner part of her arm, slightly above the crease of her elbow.

"It didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. Well, after a while, I think they gave up. They'd say nothing and just look the other way. I eventually got tired of them, and then…" she trailed off, "There was word of a White Fang recruiter coming into town, so I packed my bags and ran away from home."

Blake's eyes widened in surprise. She had never imagined that calm, collected Aster would do such a thing.

"You ran away?"

"Yeah, I did. I lied about my age on the application passed the physical. I even left my dad my birth mother's pendant. Looking back, that was stupid. It was the only thing I had left of her, but I wanted to completely cut off ties from my old life."

"To be honest though," she continued, "Life in White Fang was a lot better than back home. At first, a few members thought I was a spy who got raccoon markings tattooed on her face. But, they let up after a while and treated me like I was one of their own. It was like I had found my real family. They went through the same harassment and discrimination. My friends cared about my safety and would actually want to sit down and talk to me. We celebrated each other's birthdays, watched tournaments together, and played pranks on the officers."

Aster sighed at the happy memory.

"I loved my trainee days, especially learning how to use the bow and arrow. I was originally placed into the spy division, but the administrators found out that I couldn't see in the dark. I was then relocated to crowd control to protect the speakers at rallies."

"Did your family look for you?" Aster looked uncomfortable but nodded.

"Yeah, I was assigned a rally in my hometown and saw a couple posters. I sneaked out and tore them down." Aster took out an old pen from her bag and stuck it in Blake's hair, securing the bun. "I didn't want to see them. I guess a part of me feels a little guilty that I didn't let them know I was alive and okay. But, I was afraid that I'd somehow convince myself to come back and leave my friends behind. And, that's it. I've stuck with White Fang since."

Aster finished the bun and looked at it proudly.

"There! All finished!"

That evening, the group was unusually quiet. They ate their meals in silence with the occasional whisper.

However, before Blake want to bed, Fiona spoke up.

"You probably know what's coming, don't you?" Blake nodded.

"Yeah, I do. Come back safe." A tear ran down Fiona's eye as she reached out and pulled her into an embrace.

"I'm so sorry that I haven't been there for you," she choked out, "I wanted to get this whole mission over with so we can go home." Blake felt a lump in her throat too big to swallow down.

"It's okay, Fiona. I was fine."

"Sometimes, I think I made the wrong decision. I shouldn't have left Roan and stayed on the boat, see the world. But, no, I was too busy fighting for a cause that has already died. I was too naïve to see it, and that landed us into this mess."

"No!" Blake denied fiercely, "You didn't do anything wrong!"

Then, Fiona pulled back and looked at Blake in the eye.

"Blake, I know you're not going to like this, but I need to talk to you seriously. I want to make sure you know what to do if none of us come back."

"Don't say that!"

"Blake, listen to me," Fiona said seriously, "There's a chance that this could go horribly wrong, and I need you to know what to do. I want to do everything possible to keep the Schnees from getting their claws on you." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a slip of paper and, to Blake's surprise, a cartridge of bullets.

"I know you got a Huntsman weapon in the closet. I was going to say something, but Aster convinced me not to. In hindsight, she had a point. I feel better that you can competently wield it. We've been scouting out a potential escape route. All of us have a copy. If you go south and through the woods, there's a train loading station a little way off. You need to board the train with red crates inside. It may take a couple days to come, but it will show up every few days. After getting on, you need to hide using any means possible."

"Any means?" Fiona pressed her lips together and nodded.

"Yes, any means. Whatever it takes to stay alive. This is a life-or-death situation. You need to pass ten stations, and by then, you would be in Vacuo. It's in the middle of a desert, but keep your coat. It gets really cold at night."

"Okay."

"Then, ask where the visitor's center is. I'm sure there's someone there who will point you in the right direction. They have maps there. Take one and go to the address written on the sheet. It's to an old bar. When you're asked your name, use "Nightshade"."

"Nightshade?"

"It was your father's codename before he joined White Fang. The people running the place are old friends of his. They'll take you in and keep you safe until one of us sends word."

"What about White Fang?" Blake asked, "Do I go to them if the bar is gone?"

"No!" Fiona exclaimed, "Blake, I know you have a lot of faith in White Fang, but you must never go there!"

"Why?"

"White Fang has changed. It no longer stands for what we believe in. It pits humans and Faunus against each other, and the leaders have become warped and twisted monster no better than the Grimm themselves. They're sadistic killers, and I don't want you to ever become like them! You must run away, Blake."

Blake frowned, "Run away? But that's…"

"It's never cowardice," Fiona denied, "There is no shame in running away from a fight you can't win, so you can live to see another day. Promise me, Blake. I need you to know that there is nothing wrong in running away."

The words didn't sit well with her, but Blake nodded. Sighing, Fiona pulled her into another embrace.

"I want you to use your life to do good, Blake. Help the Faunus and the humans, be the diplomat that you always wanted to be, but never, ever turn to the White Fang."

None of the group seemed to sleep tonight. Halfway through, Larch and Laurel got up to smoke the last cigarettes Larch had saved from headquarters.

Blake drifted from shallow sleep to wide-eyed wakefulness. She could hear Aster whispering something to herself in the other room, a prayer for their success and safety.

Dawn seemed to come too soon.

In the end, the group had left, saying their goodbyes. Laurel's face had frozen into an expressionless mask, while Rose had let a few tears slip through. Larch and Aster remained silent; Aster had used the bottle of concealer to hide her markings while wearing a beanie with two sticks under it to mimic a horned Faunus. Fiona lingered a while but gave Blake one last hug and a "I love you" before leaving.

Blake locked the door and proceeded to memorize the paper's contents, whispering the address to herself.

Blake listened for a shot, a bang, but there was nothing. Did they follow through with their plan? Her nerves made her stomach hurt.

However, she soon heard a tap on her window. Blake jumped and let out a squeak of surprise. As she swung around, she saw a glimpse of red hair; it was Rose.

Hastily, she wretched the window open.

"Rose!"

'We're okay, we're okay," Rose repeated, "We just didn't want to leave any witnesses if us going in."

With great difficulty, the rest of the group squeezed in through the window. Rose's arm hung at an awkward angle, and blood seeped from a gash in Aster's side.

"I'm okay," she said weakly, but her face looked deathly pale.

"I'm going to send a message," Larch stated and left the room. Fiona walked up to Blake and hugged her tightly.

"It went through," she confirmed, "Now, we just need to wait for White Fang to send word, and we'll be out of this hellhole." Fiona was covered in sweat and grime, but Blake hugged her back.

A week passed, and there was still no word from White Fang. Rose and Aster couldn't leave the building, leaving Blake to tend to them.

Fortunately, Rose's arm had been reset with some wood and gauze, but she was likely unable to hold her own in a fight. Her skin had a dark, blue discoloration and swelled, but Rose was the least of her concerns.

Aster's wound had become infected, and Blake didn't know what to do. For now, she had managed to keep it from spreading, but Aster wouldn't be getting any better without medical attention. Larch remained beside her and helped whenever possible.

On the eighth day, Laurel spoke.

"Rose and I…we're heading back to Rose's hometown in Vacuo."

"But what about returning?" Fiona protested, "There's still time."

"No, there isn't," Laurel sounded so dejected, "Correspondence takes three days tops. White Fang has a telegraph system set up all over Remnant to prevent messages from being intercepted. We've been set up."

Fiona looked torn, but she didn't say anything.

"We don't want to leave you guys, and you're welcome to come along…"

"You know Aster is in no position to move, and Larch won't leave her…you guys go. I'll say you got killed by Schnee police." Laurel had tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be… you have every right to run."

Another week had passed, and Aster had not improved at all. Fiona had said something along the lines of blood poisoning, but none of them were too sure.

By now, the town had a curfew, forcing the four of them to remain in the tenant house. Night after night, Blake listened for the sounds of stairs pounding down the hallway.

Aster had slipped into a deep sleep, only to wake up with faint mutterings that never made any sense. Larch was glued to her bedside while Fiona did everything possible with her Aura to attempt to heal her.

Nothing worked, and Blake felt helpless.

One day, while Fiona and Larch were napping in the other room, Aster mumbled Blake's name.

Looking up, the cat Faunus moved to her bedside.

"Aster?"

"I'm dying, aren't I?"

"No, don't say that. White Fang will be here soon." Aster smiled and closed her eyes.

"I can't wait to go back," she mumbled weakly and drifted off to sleep. Blake felt numb, she didn't know what to do, but…

An idea formed in her head. She still knew where the black market was. Blake touched her long hair. Maybe if she could sell it, then she'd be able to get the right medication.

However, it was the afternoon; curfew would be soon. But, she wasn't sure if Aster would survive the next night.

As quietly as she could, Blake pulled on her hunting pants, a black jacket, and a beanie to tuck up her long hair. She then pulled Gambol Shroud from its hiding place and loaded the cartridge into the hilt.

Fiona rolled and mumbled something in her sleep.

"I'll be back soon," Blake whispered and stepped out into the cold. A foot of snow had fallen, coating the world in white. Without a word, Blake raced to the warehouse.

As she jumped over the fence and dashed in, she spotted the old woman at her stand.

"I want to sell my hair," Blake said, "How much is it?" She pulled off her beanie and let the black waves fall to her hips.

The woman eyed it with interest.

"Hmm…200 lien."

"Okay," Blake pulled Gambol Shroud from its sheath, and in one fell swoop, lopped off her hair. It now hung half an inch above her shoulder.

'Here," the woman took it gleefully and tossed Blake a wad of cash, "Where's the medicine stand?" The woman pointed to the one in the far back.

Blake raced to the stand, where a tough-looking man eyed her with suspicion.

"What do you want, kid?"

"I need something to heal blood poisoning and wounds."

"They aren't cheap-"

"I have 200 lien." The man raised his eyebrows but handed her a bag.

"190 lien." Blake handed him the amount and placed the bag in her coat pocket. She then dashed out of the warehouse. Night had fallen, and curfew was no doubt in place.

Blake would have to sneak back without being noticed. The night was silent, and the darkness would be enough to conceal her.

That lasted only five minutes.

Out of nowhere, there was a loud whistle and an explosion that lit up the night sky. The mine went up into a sea of red, purple, and green flames as the factory burst into flames. Screams echoed into the night sky, and, to her horror, Blake could see Grimm begin to swarm from the forest.

The cat Faunus broke out into a sprint, desperate to return to the home. Horrible flashbacks from the menagerie attack plagued her mind, as she raced through the town. Slowly, buildings went up in flame as the inhabitants began to swarm the streets.

To her left, a Boarbatusk lunged at her. On instinct, Blake pulled out Gambol Shroud and sliced it in half with the sharpened sheath.

Grimm from all sides lunged at her while she sprinted through the grounds. Beowolves, Ursa, and Boarbatusks sprang at her from all sides. Blake killed them all, covering herself with their smoking blood.

On one end, an Ursa swung out at her, catching a Shadow while Blake sprang out of the way from a Beowolf's outstretched paw.

Out of breath, Blake unsheathed the sword and struck its white mask, killing on impact.

Sterling's words echoed in her ears "Aim for the Mask".

Adrenaline running, Blake swung out at the Ursa and slit its throat. A Nevermore flew overhead with a high-pitched cry.

Blake had to make it to the building; she couldn't let the same thing happen to Fiona.

"No," she growled, "Leave me alone!" With the two blades at her side, Blake sprang forward and decapitated a Beowolf.

However, despite her struggles, it was futile. More and more Grimm poured from the forest, making it impossible for her to move five feet without being attacked.

Screams pierced the sky as the snow slowly turned red. As Blake slowly approached the bridge, she could see that it was aflame. She couldn't cross.

"NO!" Out of nowhere, Blake felt a claw catch her side and tear at the flesh. White-hot pain exploded her senses as she staggered. An Ursa major stood up on its hind legs and growled, its paw raised for a final strike.

Without thinking, Blake raised the blade and flicked the latch. The sharp metal swung back, nearly catching her cheek, revealing the barrel of a gun. Blake fired at the mask, just as the paw swung down, knocking her off balance and plunging her into the icy water below.

Water filled her lungs as Blake struggled to keep her head afloat. It was dark, and she couldn't see. Fighting against the current, the river swept her downstream and away from the town.

Coughing and spluttering, Blake struggled to reach the shore. Rocks banged up her limbs as she kept her grip on Gambol Shroud. Blake tried to remember Roan's instructions to keep herself afloat.

Then, Blake swung out and her blade caught hold of a tree root on the shore. The cat faunus dragged herself to safety.

Blake vomited water, as she coughed and gagged. Winter pierced her skin as her soaked clothes felt like ice.

Her mind repeated the mantra "run…run…" as Blake staggered away from the river. The town was a bright light in the distance, but Blake didn't dare venture back there. With snowfall whipping around her body, Blake searched for the train station.

There was nothing but dark forest. A sob escaped her hips as she tried to find where she was.

Blake was lost, rapidly losing blood, and tired. As the snow turned scarlet from under her, Blake took a few step forward and collapsed.

The blood loss was terrible as she tried to return to her feet. Blake's head spun, and she fell back. Her head felt like it was spinning as her amber eyes looked up at the stars. The bright lights twinkled against the inky sky. They looked so bright and beautiful; she never really admired them until now.

Was this what dying felt like? Would she just close her eyes and let the pain slip away? Would her body just shut down and be covered in snow? Tears began to trickle down her cheeks. Would a Grimm make a meal out of her corpse? Breathing felt harder now. Would she be reunited with her parents and Sterling? Would she maybe even see Larch, Aster, and Fiona? Would she end her suffering and join her loved ones in the great unknown? She could hear her heart pounding in her ears.

This would be for the best, a peaceful end to a harsh life, gazing up at the stars as she would wait for death to take her.

But…

"I…don't…want…to…die…" Blake sobbed out. She tried to move, but the wound sent piercing pain through her body.

However, out of the corner of her eye, Blake saw a faint shadow. Adrenaline racing, Blake sprang to her feet. Her vision spun, making her surroundings a blur, but there was no mistaking the red eyes of a Grimm.

But, this wasn't a Grimm she had seen before. It had a different silhouette against the firelight. It stood on its hind legs, and two short horns protruded from its skull. Was this Grimm a scavenger? Did it think she was a leftover meal? Blake could hear its low growls; it sounded vaguely familiar.

Blake didn't want to die at the hands of Remnant's monster. Her grip tightened on Gambol Shroud.

A savage cry tore at her throat as she sprang forwards, blades gleaming. She seemed to take it by surprise, catching the side of its head. There was a crack and something hit the snow. The mask had shattered and fallen, but the Grimm was still standing.

Was this a new breakthrough? Had Blake discovered what was under a Grimm mask? Too bad she wouldn't be able live to tell the tale.

The Grimm turned, and maroon eyes met her amber ones. The shock shook her out of her haze. Blake relaxed her defensive stance.

With wide eyes, the Grimm opened its mouth and said "Blake?"

Squinting, Blake tried to stop her vision from spinning.

"Is that you? I thought you had been killed."

Blood dripped down her side, staining the snow red.

"Blake, you're hurt." Whatever the thing was, it took a step towards her; its gloved hand outstretched. The face was now illuminated by the fire, revealing a pair of maroon eyes, brown hair with red tinge, and a concerned look. Dizzy, she tried to stay upright.

"Blake, it's me. I'm not going to hurt you." She blinked, trying not to pass out, but her body felt so numb. Head pounding, Blake searched her memory, trying to find something.

Then, her mind gave her the faint image of a young boy, one she thought she would never see again. One she had long forgotten from years of suffering and pain. There was a sharp pain in her head.

Before she could stop herself, the name found their way to her lips.

"…Adam?" And with that, her legs gave out, and Blake descended into darkness.

...Okay, so Adam did have his mask on for the beginning. But, before I started writing, I wanted Blake to not recognize him at first and somehow remove it. It would be her reminding him of who he was before White Fang's influence.

I also hope you guys liked my headcannons about the Schnee Company and mixed-race Faunus. I wanted to include a bit more detail, since Roosterteeth didn't really elaborate much.

Also, have you guys looked at the RWBY manga? They actually give Adam character and personal conflict instead of making him a huge jerk like in the animation. Read it, it's good. Blake's volume 4 outfit also got released, I think it's really cool!

There might be a small intermission chapter from Adam's POV, so look forward to that!

Love,

raining-indigo