Jaune panted as he took another swing of his sword. The recording of Pyrrha that he used to train ended the lesson and began to repeat it. It was a calm night, a new moon as well. Only stars lit the sky as Jaune fell to his knees in exhaustion. He told himself it was time to return to camp where the others slept soundly. He trudged back to camp one step after the other. His foot got caught in a root as he fell to the ground. Too tired to get up, he drifted to sleep.

When he opened his eyes he laid on a warm sleeping bag, staring up at the morning sky through the tree canopy. "Nice trip, dumbass." Said an aged voice. Jaune saw a man put out a cigarette. He had a dark blue vest that extended to his waist with light armor plating covering his arms and somewhat baggy pants under the armor on his legs.. He had a scruffy beard with hints of grey in his hair. A scar on his cheek. He had a sword and what resembled a rifle on his back and a knife strapped to his thigh. A tattered white cloak around his neck that reached to the middle of his back. Latched onto his belt was a blue Grimm mask that caused Jaune to become a bit nervous.

"What happened?" Jaune asked, confused. The man stood up and made his way over to him.

"I was out hunting last night and found you face down, passed out. So I decided to bring you back here." He offered an outstretched hand. Jaune took it.

"Who are you?" Jaune asked as the man helped him up. Jaune winced at the pain of his ankle.

"Name's Liam. You?"

"Jaune."

"Well, Jaune, you hungry?" Jaune nodded. Liam pulled two sticks with cooked squirrels impaled on them. "Hope you like squirrel, these were hard to find around here." Liam said as Jaune took the stick. Jaune ate quickly, having no food since the night before.

"So, Liam," Jaune began with a mouth full. "Why are you all the way out here?" Liam took a bite out of his cooked rodent.

"For now, I guess I'm saving teenagers out of the forest." He smirked "On my way to Haven Academy. What about you?" Jaune nodded.

"My team and I are on our way there as well." Liam took another bite.

"Looks we share a destina-" Liam's eyes suddenly locked onto some brush. Jaune grabbed his sword.

"Did you see something?" He asked anxiously.

"No, nothing." Liam said as he lit another cigarette. Jaune calmed himself. "Forgive me, Jaune, I've had to be more alert ever since my time in the Atlesian Army." Jaune stared at him intently at him.

"You're from Atlas?" The look on Liam's face told Jaune he didn't mean to share that information, he stood.

"That's a long story." He paused. "In the meantime you should get back to your friends." Liam pointed near some smoke rising through the trees, "I found you over that way, I'm guessing that smoke is where you're headed." Jaune nodded.

"Thanks for patching me up." He said as he jogged away, a slight limp in his step. Liam waited for Jaune to disappear into the forest before he sat back down. He pulled a handgun out of a holster hidden in his vest. "Need to work on your hiding, Branwen." He loaded a bullet into the chamber.

"I could say the same for you." Qrow dropped from a tree. "Last I heard you went AWOL after-" A bullet grazed Qrow's face.

"Don't say it, Branwen. I know what I did, and I regret it to this day." Qrow took a seat opposite Liam.

"Did you at least go to her funeral?" Liam shook his head. A tear ran down his face.

"No, believe me, I tried." He lifted up his shirt to reveal three small circular scars. "Three .9mms and an ass kicking by him and I was left begging for death." Qrow took a swig of alcohol and offered it to Liam. He accepted and drank it thankfully.

"Hardly feels like sixteen years, we're getting old, Liam." Liam nodded. "I remember our days at Beacon." Qrow said as he and Liam reminisced.

"So Qrow, what brings you into the middle of nowhere?"

"People."

"Who would that be?"

"No one you need to concern yourself with." Qrow said flatly. Liam chuckled at Qrow's defensiveness

. "Sure sounds like someone I need to know about."

"It isn't."

"So Atlas is where you disappeared to." Qrow said, changing the subject. "Heard tale of a man they called the Carnivore of Atlas." Liam rolled his eyes. "They say he never missed a shot." Qrow said as he peered at Liam's rife. "Also heard how this "Carnivore of Atlas" was on trial for murder, and how he fought and died to lower the sentence that he got." Liam didn't respond. He took a deep breath.

"In all honesty, Qrow, I'm surprised you stuck around after what happened." Qrow sighed.

"It wasn't your fault, Liam, she saved him." Liam said nothing. "The last thing she told me was that she wanted me to keep an eye on you." Qrow approached him and placed a hand on Liam's shoulder. "I intend to honor that." Qrow stood up and tucked him flask away. "What do you plan on doing in Haven? What's next for the great Atlesian "Carnivore"?" Liam poured water on the fire.

"Find my daughter, and maybe get a second chance to be dad," he chuckled. "Although I really doubt that, with all the lies he's put in her head, I won't be surprised if she acts like I'm evil incarnate." Qrow took another swig of booze.

"How're you gonna do that?"

"I have an informant, I believe you two know each other." Liam looked up. "What about you….?" He was alone. He holstered his sidearm. Blade, and rifle ready to travel, he pulled on his boots and pack. Damn Branwens, Liam thought to himself. They always come and go as they please. He lit a cigarette and pulled a tattered white hood over his head along with his Grimm mask and set off. He smiled under the mask, for the asshole he was, Qrow was always good for a smile.

So this is chapter 2. In this chapter, I aimed for a little bit of description and a wee bit more background.

As always, constructive criticism is appreciated and enjoy!