Chapter 13: The Pieces Fall Into Place

Ruby sighed to herself as she walked down the stairs, her mind had a lot going through it at the moment. She had finally given herself an afternoon to think. Oscar's questions from a week ago had plagued her. Everyday she thought about them… her goal, her… drive to keep going. It was weird. Why? Well it tended to lead her back to Qrow. As much as she did not want to admit it, she was his goal, wasn't she? To make sure she was protected, to see her flourish the best he could.

And he wasn't the only one to have her safe as their goal.

While she hadn't directly talked to Jaune about it, there was.. Something about how he discussed her and was around her that struck a chord. It was similar to how Qrow was to her, but less of a parent.. And more… of.

Ruby didn't know the answer she was searching for.

Jaune meant a lot to her, everyday she'd wake up hoping to help him if he needed it, to see his smile made her smile in return. Every time she heard his voice her ears perked up and her tail wagged. She knew he was going through a lot, just like her, and she was there for him. That's what mattered.

She sighed as she walked into the main room, she was going to talk to Qrow to see if there was anything she could do to help fix their… bond. They had shattered the Uncle-Niece relationship they had, but…at the same time, had really anything changed? He was still there for her always after all. He had lied to her about her parentage, so what?

Summer meant a lot to him. To them. The fact that since the fight between them, he'd abstained from alcohol around her and her team, normally she could only smell apple juice or apple cider in his flask, sometimes just mineral water or coffee.

She smiled a little to herself as her tail wagged. He was sobering up because he'd finally stopped lying to himself, for her. As she made it past the garden, she slowly realized Qrow and Oscar-Ozpin were having a discussion. "Oz… this isn't looking so great." Qrow sounded like he was on the brink of tears. It caused Ruby's ears to droop and her tail to slow to a soft sway.

"So you've told me Qr-." Ozpin's more mature voice came out of Oscar.

"Oz. You know me." there was a pause as Qrow took a deep breath. "I've never been optimistic, that was Summer's job. But… I've only found one huntress: Oscar's grandmother, Maria." Ruby frowned, she wanted to gasp but she knew she'd be caught eavesdropping if she did. "Every other huntsmen or huntress, any of the teachers? People don't… Pro Huntsmen don't just bite like that Oz. S-Someone's here, tracking them down, killing them."

Ozpin sipped his cocoa before placing his mug down. "That might be the case Qrow, we don't know exactly. But… in all of my time on this planet, I've learned a lot about humanity… sure there are indeed a misguided few who have filled their hearts with malice. But they are not the norm. It doesn't take a great number of people to cause harm, yes, but I still believe there are far more people in this world willing to prevent it. Like yourself, like Summer, like-" he turned, noticing Ruby at the corner of the room. Ozpin smiled a little, causing Qrow to turn and deflate a little as he saw his daughter. "-Your daughter, Miss Rose."

"I uh… I hope I'm not interrupting?" Ruby said nervously. She wanted to talk to her father but… Ozpin was here.

Qrow stood up for a moment. "No Petal." She could tell he seemed just as nervous as she walked over. "Please, come sit." He patted to a seat next to him as he returned to sitting. "Oz here was talking to me about our next steps. We know something's brewing right under our noses… now what did you want to talk about?"

Ruby paused, unsure of her answer at the moment. "I..I just wanted to talk to you Qrow, about things." she said eventually.

Qrow just wrapped an arm around her as she sat down, and Ruby couldn't help but lean into it a little. "Very well, pipsqueak. I'll let you lead the conversation."

Ruby perked up a little. "R-really?"

Qrow nodded, turning to face Ozpin, giving him a glare. "Of course Petal. You have every right to speak your mind towards us…" he paused and whispered under his breath. "Towards me." After saying that he relaxed as he started to rub her back a little. "So what'd have to ask?"

Ruby tilted her head a little, before fixing her posture and sighing. "I-Well, I was hoping it was going to be a bit more private?"

Ozpin looked up and frowned. "Ah, I understand Miss Rose, let me get out of your hair so to speak, but before I go, was there anything you wished to ask me while I was in control?"

Ruby thought about it as Ozpin slowly got up and walked out. "W-wait, there was something Professor…"

Ozpin turned and smiled at Ruby. "Yes, Miss Rose?"

"You've… told us some info on the Relics, and Qrow here filled us in on the Maidens… but what of Beacon's Relic? Shouldn't Salem have it if she has Cinder?" Qrow and Ozpin looked at each other, trading glances.

"Very astute, Miss Rose,-" Ozpin said, his smile grew wider at her. "I was wondering who would be the first to ask, as no doubt all of you have that question. No, thankfully she does not." He looks at Qrow and then towards the general location of the school. "It's true that the Relic at Haven is very much at risk, and for now, that should remain our primary focus. Let's just say I made finding the Relic at Beacon a... bit more challenging than at the other schools."

Ruby sighed. "Oh… that's a relief." she just smiled a little more. "Soo uh-" she was about to speak when Qrow's scroll started to buzz. They all turned to it as Qrow grabbed it. It was Leo Lionheart calling. Qrow slowly answered and brought it to his ear.

Ruby, being next to him, heard everything Leonardo had to say. "Qrow.. There's been a breakthrough with the Council, I've managed to convince them with Atlas' borders being closed, that they should focus on the Valian trade route, and that requires taking care of your sister. Let's meet tomorrow to discuss with some potential Huntsmen I can round up on such short notice, alright?"

Qrow just nodded. "That… sounds good Leo, some good news for once… where shall we meet?"

"At the School's main hall, maybe an hour af-after sunset, al-alright?" Leonardo's voice was cracking which caused Ruby and Qrow to raise their eyebrows.

"Yeah, just me or should I bring the kiddos?"

"Please, bring them, they'd be on the mission too. I'll talk to you tomorrow." Leo hastily ended the call, leaving Qrow to slowly put down his scroll.

"Well?" said Ozpin looking up. "What did Lionheart have to tell you?"

Qrow just stared at his scroll for a moment. "He said there had been a breakthrough with the council. Thinks he can get a small raiding party together in a day for the bandits and that we should meet him tomorrow night."

Ozpin looked at him a little confused. "That… sounds drastically different from your original conversation, does it not Qrow?"

Qrow nodded as did Ruby, who spoke up. "Yeah, his voice seemed as if he was perhaps hiding something…I heard you two as I walked in, you said you haven't found anyone Qrow?"

Qrow paused and nodded, before pulling out his flask and taking a sip of the apple juice. "Only Oscar's grandmother, who I can not ask to join us, she's way too frail for such a mission."

Ruby took a breath. "Then this doesn't seem right… how can he find Huntsmen in a day if you can't find them in a month?"

Qrow just looked down. "Exactly Petal… things aren't looking so good."

Hey, can I take over?

Ozpin paused as he turned a bright Emerald Green for a moment as Oscar took back control. "W-well, you're right, things don't look good, but well, we have to give him some hope right? He is one of Ozpin's other headmasters after all. I'm…" he pauses to look at Ruby and Qrow. "I'm going to tell the others so you two can relax and Ruby can ask her questions in private." He smiles as he walks away.

"Bye Oscar." Ruby said with a smile as she turned back to Qrow. "So…". The father and daughter pair just stared at each other for a moment as they relaxed a little more on the couch. Qrow waited for Ruby to speak up. "I… I still am trying to figure out everything, you just don't… drop something on me like that Qrow."

Qrow sighed as he started to rub Ruby's back. "I-I know Petal, though you were the one to enter my room… I wanted to tell you everything, just slower, so you could process it, but it seems my semblance got the better of me once again." He laughed a little. "Sorry."

"No no I should be the one to apologize, I was the one to enter your room… so these clothes I'm wearing, they were my mom's right?"

Qrow just smiled and nodded. "Yep, we picked a good chunk of them out together for her to bring her to settle into the place, before Raven left…then well…" he was trailing off, thinking back to those early years after graduation. "When I needed space from Yang, I flew here…Home." he smiled. "That's when I painted your room and put the childproof locks on everything, planted the tree…" he smiles and looks at her. "I'm getting sidetracked aren't I?"

Ruby shook her head. "No… Dad." She said looking up at him, she had admitted it to him, her tail started to bash between him and the couch. "I want to know more, while I don't think I'm… ready to accept everything, I do want to start off on the right foot again, as we…" she paused looking into his crimson blood eyes. "We both learn how to deal with our newfound relationship. I want to take it slower. I do want to bring something up."

Qrow just smiled. "Anything kiddo, ask away, I'm done trying to keep secrets about you from you." He slowly took another swig of his juice.

Ruby relaxed and took a deep breath. "So, I told you that I turned into a bird, and you've shown me you can. Is it.. A blood tradition, like my Silver Eyes?"

Qrow just nodded a little. "Yeah, Me and Summer hoped that one day you'd take flight on your own, but well you never really seemed to show the signs as a kid so I just thought maybe the magic's trail had run cold."

"Run cold? What do you mean by that, Qrow?" Ruby said, tilting her head a little. "Can you tell me more?"

Qrow just looked out of the window. "Yeah… as far as I'm aware, there was an event eons ago that wiped most of the world's magic from Remnant. Oz agrees with me on this theory, and the Branwen People were one of the groups who were able to protect themselves from the blast. From there the story… bleeds a lot. Some say we were the original Faunus, others say other shapeshifting groups were. But whatever the case may be, as time has marched on, the Branwen tribe slowly got pushed around, and nearly went extinct a couple of times, leading to today…"

"Where…only you and your sister have it, am I wrong?" Ruby asked, trying to smile. "At least until I discovered I could do it."

Qrow nodded once more, smiling a little at his daughter. "I hoped one day I could sit both you and Yang down to teach you both." He chuckled a little. "It was always Summer who wanted me to push you both to learn it at an earlier age but I disagreed, could you imagine if we had a baby chick or two running around the house."

Ruby giggled. "I could see how we could become a problem if it had been unlocked so early… Perhaps though, tomorrow night even Qrow." Ruby just grinned up at her father. "After we meet up with Leo, can you start teaching me? That way I should have a small grasp on it for our raid, so me and you can give the drop on Raven?"

Qrow's eyes lit up. "Ruby… you wouldn't hav-"

"No Qrow, I want to." Ruby was quick to cut him off. "I want to learn so I can help you… I already had it happen once, a few more tries and I should be able to do it in the field without problems." Ruby said, putting a hand on her father's. "I promise Qrow, I want to learn, think of it as a bonding exercise if it makes you feel better."

Qrow sighed and could only grin. "You want to learn that badly?" He moved his hand from her back, up to her hair to ruffle it up. "Then I am going to have to teach you Petal. Tomorrow night sounds great."

Ruby just grinned. "Thank you… Dad." she says. "It means a lot, that you're being honest… that you're sober."

Qrow just looked down at his flask. "Guess you could tell I wasn't drinking, no… I tend to drink apple cider when I'm in a good mood, soberly at least. It was one of your mother's favorite drinks, in fact she named one of her weapons off of it: Apple Slice."

Ruby thought about that for a second. "Apple Slice and Strawberry Solstice right?"

Qrow just smiled. "That's right Ruby. Did I tell you this already or?"

Ruby shook her head. "N-No, there was a friend of mom's at Beacon during the Festival, she was originally going to use the forges to craft herself some more defensive weapons, but when she heard mom passed… she took it upon herself to craft up replicas of them, I helped!"

Qrow was taken aback, he remembered Summer had her weapons back during the Fall, he didn't recognize though that they were replicas. It brought a smile to his face, realizing that Summer had gotten help reforging them by their own daughter. "Oh.. I remember hearing one of our old friends was in town. I was going to meet up with them after the tournament until well…everything suddenly collapsed around us, didn't it?"

Ruby just froze for a moment and then smiled. "But that's why we are here Dad, to make sure Haven doesn't fall, to make sure Atlas won't fall, and Shade as well, no matter when Salem tries to take their Relics, we will be protecting the schools, it's our duty, as Huntsmen and Huntresses."

Qrow was taken aback by her words as he slowly hugged Ruby. "Your mother would be so proud of you for saying that Ruby." he smiled as he let go of the hug, or at least tried to, as Ruby pulled him back in.

"I…Thank you Qrow, for listening to me. I know this all is a lot on you, it's a lot on me too." She said, slightly muffled. "But we're healing, in our own ways. And tomorrow is another day that we can start patching up more, right?"

"Right Petal." Qrow said, embracing his daughter, he wished this would never end, that Summer would return, knocking on that door, and joining their hug as a family.

Oh how the chips would fall when it came to tomorrow.

Weiss was awoken from her soft slumber by the sun peeking up between Mantle's streets. She'd been at Pietro's for a week now, getting accustomed to Mantle's quirks. It took a day to get used to the smell of smoke and dust from the furnaces constantly being fed by her… father's company. It took another two to get comfortable in the attitude once more. Being locked in a mansion near the top of the city of Atlas had its cons when traveling to somewhere closest to where Atlas had once stood on the ground.

Weiss slowly got up and took her shower for the day, putting on a loose tee shirt and a pair of sweatpants as she left the guest bedroom and started to slowly make her way down the stairs. She slowly stopped at the bottom as she heard talking from within Pietro's Pharmacy. That was strange, it was barely morning… Pietro normally wasn't open yet.

"-it's just, I'm getting old Pietro. I can't do everything I used to for the city." an elderly woman's voice spoke up from within the room. "These past few years have really taken their toll on me. From losing Sterling nearly a decade ago now, Summer before him…to seeing the Vytal Tournament fall apart…" the woman sighed before speaking up. "Then to hear the fateful news that a Silver Eyed Warrior froze the Wyvern at Beacon… I'm scared, for them, for us…"

Pietro just smiled. "I understand Ashley, the Fall of Beacon's changed all of us…Penny's made a full recovery after I gave her more of my aura-"

Weiss poked her head in to take a notice of Ashley's ashen colored hair as she spoke up softly. "Oh Pietro, that's what, your third time donating a permanent section of your aura pool to her?"

Pietro coughed a little. "Fourth. Even Ironwood's changed, if you haven't seen him recently. He's slowly becoming more and more paranoid by the day…though it helps give me time to breathe down here honestly. But I do worry for him, like how I worry for you."

Ashley's voice just laughed. "Thank you Pietro, you're such a good friend, so much nicer than those royal houses that always try to say they're important… even if they've not had a claim to the throne since before the Great War." She just laughed some more. "Yeah… but really Pietro, I feel one of these days I might either collapse or require an assistant to help do my job… seeing as well-."

Pietro put a hand up. "You already sent the letter to them in Patch.-" Weiss looked towards them confused, Patch? Like the Isle of Patch off Vale's coast? "-Your granddaughter's forging her own path, Ashley. You told me once, years ago that you had talked to her guardian, after your daughter's death: that you didn't want her raised up here if possible."

Ashley rubbed her neck. "I-I did, I just wanted her to choose her own path, and it seems she has. I shouldn't be worried but.." she pulled up the day's newspaper. "Maybe I should look into getting a maid to do everything that I can no longer do, Pietro… As a councilwoman-"

Weiss took the chance to step in. "I uh.. Hello?"

The two elderly adults turned to look at her. "Oh, good morning Weiss, this is Councilwoman Ashley Lupis, she came in for her monthly check up. Ashley this is-"

Ashley got up off the table and walked over using a white and red cane, with soft gold hues separating the two primary colors. As she came closer to Weiss, the Councilwoman spoke. "Weiss Schnee. Former heiress to the Schnee Dust Company. I've heard lots of stories about you, you know. Your defeat of Flynt Coal during the Vytal Festival was quite the spectacle."

Weiss blushed as she slowly moved to pull herself a cup of coffee, bowing as she did. "Lady Lupis! I'm honored by those words."

Ashley just laughed. "No need for formalities, I'm not on my royal duty, I'm merely talking to an old friend here. Your craftsmen work during that fight and the one before… well.. It's not Summer Rose levels… but you can improve." She laughed. "So.. based on what I know being on the Council, you're not meant to be here huh, a runaway."

Weiss gulped. "Y-Yeah… you could say that."

Ashley smiles. "I like that about you already Weiss. Your father's such a right pain in the arse for Atlas, I can't believe your grandfather allowed the marriage… backstabbing jerk Jacques is." she sighed and smiled at Weiss warmly. "Well if you're here and have nowhere else to go, I can pull strings to get you your license to be my assistant."

Weiss paused looking at her mug of coffee. "Are you serious Lady Lupis, me?"

Ashley smiled, and nodded. "I could use some company from time to time, I've… lost contact with some important people in my life since the Fall of Beacon, and as I had mentioned to Pietro here, I've started needing someone around the house to help take care of me."

"That sounds-" Weiss started.

"Lady Lupis! Please accept Weiss!" Came Penny's voice, who had sneakily found herself at the door frame. "She's a real close friend of mine and I want to see her get her license so we can protect Mantle together!"

"Uhhh Penny you uh shouldn't-" Weiss was lost for words at Penny's sudden outburst.

Ashley only giggled a little. "My, it seems Penny is eager to get you back on your feet Weiss." Her face focused as her tone became serious once more. "I was being serious about my offer Weiss, I had actually requested you when I sent out my letter to Patch to ask my own granddaughter to assist me. Your father declined the invitation to summon you, claiming you were not fit to leave the manor."

Weiss was taken aback by the elder wolf faunus' words. "Y-you actually requested me?"

Pietro spoke up as he walked over. "Of course she did! You're one of Atlas' best citizens even if your father refuses to see that, your work at the tournament and Fall of Beacon have cemented you in the hearts of Atlas and Mantle, much like how your teammate's mother was."

Weiss just smiled at that. "Y-Yeah. Well I accept." she said shocked, it seemed like she had a new job, a new task, that she'd be starting by the end of the day, no interview needed. Was she really that famous now that she could be put on the same pedestal as the Summer Rose?

She knew Ruby had been raised up in Summer's shadow, but her shadow loomed over more than just Beacon, more than just Vale; she had been born and raised in Mantle… Atlas. At least, that's what the old recordings from her Vytal Festival Documentaries have said about Summer. Weiss hadn't really even considered this outlook, too focused on the Schnee name rather than her family's origin, so she hadn't done all of the research she could on Summer.

Ashley just spoke up after a small sip of water. "So it's settled then. Come on Weiss, go grab your stuff. We need to leave before those drones start their next shift, otherwise I'll be receiving a message to send you back to Atlas, and well, once you're in my house, I can file all the legal paperwork to override your father's… persistent squabbling to bring you home."

Weiss just nodded, quickly traveling upstairs to pack her suitcase before grabbing Myrtenaster and plopping on her heavy coat. "R-Ready."

Ashley just smiled as she finished her cup of water. "Then we shall be off Pietro, I'm sure Weiss will be back within the week, tonight if the paperwork all gets approved…" The two made their way out of the pharmacy into the early Mantlean morning, the air stinged by excess usage of Fire Dust, scented with cinnamon to appease the people. The two walked down the street, the street was quiet, still. It was just them, and a couple of people traveling in cars and buses. Mantle was… pretty when it didn't look so dystopian compared to Atlas floating above. Weiss took the time to appreciate it a little as she walked, keeping pace with Ashley, who was a lot slower than her normal pace.

Eventually they slowly walked up to a cornerstone building and Ashley unlocked the door, it fit in with the rest of Mantle. Slowly she opened it for Weiss to enter, inside was two paths, a door to the left and a more open office space before her. Ashley opened the door to reveal that right next to her office was… a very modest home.

It wasn't what Weiss was expecting when she heard 'royalty'. No. It was a lot more humble, even less lavish than the Schnee Mansion is. If she hadn't known, she would have said this was just a normal house, not one that the Queen of Mantle lived in. "Is-Is this it?" Weiss croaked.

Ashley laughed. "Yep. I moved out of the Royal Palace when I chose to settle down right after Graduation from Atlas. After my father passed, I made the Royal Palace a museum, unless my daughter decided to take it over, but well… she died young."

Weiss frowned. "I'm sorry to hear that."

Ashley smiled, thinking of Summer. "Well, don't be… as much as I feel depressed about losing her, she died on the frontlines doing what she loved best, fighting grimm, protecting-saving lives Weiss." She sighed and smiled. "But she's no longer here, and well…" she paused. As if hesitating something but then smiling. "You know what…" she suddenly turned to the stairs they had passed and started to walk towards them, eventually climbing up and showing Weiss to a room. "If you're going to be living with me, I think it'd be fitting to offer you this room… I feel she'd want that."

The room was small and cozy, smaller than her room back in the Mansion. A full size mattress filled the center of the room, draped in a white and red color scheme. On the left hand side of the room were cabinets and a work desk, hanging above said work desk was diagrams of a weapon Weiss remembered from the Vytal Festival, or well the promotional stuff for it: Apple Slice & Strawberry Solstice. Weiss recalled they were Summer Rose's own weaponry, so…these likely weren't replicas of the diagrams, perhaps they were the original.

She looked around the room more, everywhere she looked, she could see Summer Rose memorabilia, from a statue, to… her trophies sitting on top of the cherry dresser. Weiss slowly got up to look at them, these were the actual Vytal Festival Trophies from the years Summer Rose had won. Her daughter must have spent quite the amount of Lien on these before her passing. "W-Wow. Your daughter must have been a huge Summer Rose fan?"

Ashley just laughed a little. "No.. well.." she paused and smiled at Weiss. "I think it's kinda hard for my daughter to be a fan of Summer…-" She smiled and hit a plaque on the door, Weiss turned and after reading the plaque, gasped. The plaque was simple with the name 'Summer' on it.

"-If she was Summer Rose."

Blake sat in the passenger seat of one of the trucks in the convoy. She had chosen to ride with Summer as she hadn't gotten a driving license unlike Ilia, who Sun had chosen to drive with. They were nearing the town of Higanbana on the continent of Anima. One of their volunteers had been an owner of one of the few Menageriean cargo ships, and thus offered to transport as many of the vehicles they could take to Mistral on a short term basis as could fit on the ship. Everyone who needed training had spent the journey to Anima aboard the S.S. Pride, who offered to take them once the route had been planned.

Higanbana, was a crossroads town from what the maps had said. An old north to south road crossed the main Valian to Mistral trade route. That being said, for a crossroads town, it was quite rustic, which to Blake's shock, in a stark comparison to the fuel shop right on the outskirts of the town.

The Just Rite. Sure it was just your standard dust station and convenience mart combo, but with its concrete white walls and tacky near orange wood trimmings, Blake had to admit that it looked too… Atlesian compared to the Higanbanan Rustic style just before it. Summer turned the turn signal on and spoke up. "This'll be our last stop, we need to refuel before Mistral." She slowly parked in front of one of the dust stalls outside. The shade of the cover did not help block the hot winds sweeping through though. The building's elevated height allowed the sun's rays to drape Blake as she and Summer got out.

Blake put a hand up to block the sun's rays as the next truck in the caravan pulled up behind their truck, they had been leading after all. Summer said they were because of… someone. Those words had sent shivers down Blake's neck back at the port when Summer had mentioned it, it made her keep her eyes sharp.

It wasn't long until Summer had stocked up on the fire dust and drove out of the way to park before walking into the building, followed by Blake. The building's interior was a lot more what Blake figured for store around these parts, empty shelves, dusty floors. The gentleman at the counter slowed his glass cleaning and looked up as they sat down.

"A drink please." Summer said looking over her sunglasses. "Water would be nice."

Blake just nodded. "Same please… oh by the way, how much fire dust do you happen to have on tap right now?"

The gentleman paused and looked at Blake as he filled up a glass for Summer. "Well, due to Atlas' embargo on dust, I've had to dip into my reserves, and well, I should have enough to survive the next month unless a convoy came-" he paused as he saw the next row of the convoy pull up to fuel. "Oh." He turned to look out of the window behind him. "I might have enough if you ration a little bit…" He smiled. "Let me ask you, where are you going? There's not many people that happen to take this road anymore."

Blake nodded as her senses made her turn for a moment, there in the corner was a creepy looking man. "Yeah, we're not from around here, we're traveling to Mistral."

The creep looked up as the gentleman behind the bar just kept speaking. "Oh good, the last person to come through was searching for someone, she wanted to ruffle some feathers with Ra-"

Summer put her glass down. "Raven Branwen."

"N-now Missy!" The bartender spoke up. "You uh shouldn't go messin' with Raven and her bandits! They're a world of trouble for a huntress!"

Summer smirked. "So I hear…" she got up and walked over to the shelves and picked up a set of aviator glasses, putting them on the counter. "I'll be taking these for the road." She put some Lien on the counter. She watched the creepy guy look at her funny as she grabbed her change. In the time that they had been talking, it seemed like most of the convoy had filled up and were waiting on them. "Come on Blake, let's get to Mistral." She sighed as her mind thought about Raven.

"So… are you looking for Raven Branwen or?" came a voice as they slipped out of the Just Rite, Summer and Blake turned around to see the creepy looking man right behind them. "As I can take you to her for a price." He smiled and they could see that he's lost a couple of teeth.

Summer smirked as he recognized the man's weapon. "Nope. Not today." She leaned in, staring at the man's eyes. "Thank you for the offer though. If I really wanted to speak to my sister, I would have already done it. So please, watch your steps Shay."

Shay blinked and nodded, walking back into the building as Summer and Blake walked, Blake spoke up. "So is Raven who you've been watching for?"

Summer sighed and nodded. "Yes Blake. I knew she was around these parts and our convoy? If she had proper scouts, she would already have an ambush planned for us." Summer smiled. "But last I checked, her best scouts had been herself and her brother." Summer and Blake hopped into the truck. "And if I know Qrow, he'll be at Haven waiting for us."

Blake looked at Summer. "And what makes you so sure?"

Summer laughed. "I was his partner for years Blake, surely you understand how Yang worked don't you?"

Blake shivered but nodded. "Y-Yeah." She hadn't really given herself time to think about Yang for a while, and it was sending a flood of emotions to her.

Summer smiled. "For me, call it a hunch. But I have a very good feeling that he'll be at Haven if the White Fang is going to attack. He has a habit of being in the right places at the wrong times. He calls it bad luck. Me? Well I call it being a pretty damn good Huntsman."

Yang stood in the armory of the bandit tribe, it was just a simple tent with easily sourced parts laying around for her to grab if she needed them. A small anvil, a small blast furnace, barely even the proper machine to handle creating bullets. Crude. But it was functional as Yang was reloading Ember Celica with dust rounds. Tomorrow was the big day, plans were in motion that she was going to play a huge part in rather if she wanted to not.

The full moon was tomorrow, and that meant that the White Fang was attacking Haven Academy. She slowly capped a round of ice dust, as she thought about her confrontation with Adam, with Mercury.

A plan had been laid out by her mother about the next day, and although she didn't like it, it seemed to be the best to keep them on the downlow until it was time to strike. Raven was already in Mistral discussing stuff with Leo, waiting for a signal to drop Vernal and Yang onto team RNJR along with Cinder. Yang would have to rough up her friends until Cinder signaled to head to the vault. Raven and Vernal would follow Cinder down while Yang stayed until she felt the time was right to show her true colors.

Yang turned to face a mask next to her: a Sea Feilong mask that Raven said had been her own mother's. Yang smirked to herself about it, such a fitting grimm to bear a resemblance to. Tomorrow she'd wear it as long as it was needed.

Likewise, Yang had been offered two of the tribe's best swords to use for the battle. Raven refused to allow her to wear Ember Celica around Cinder, her metal arm at least concealed the gun mechanism real well, well enough to throw them off Yang's trail. Yang looked at the swords as she put them on her hips. They felt weird, she couldn't say she wasn't used to using swords though, her last class at Signal had been focused on weapons such as swords and spears, and that was less than two years ago.

Man, just how the world had changed in two years.

Thank her uncle for recommending it over the more mundane Criminal Justice class. Signal was more of a school for those wanting to be somewhat okay in fighting Grimm no matter their job career, while those who wanted to be Huntsmen would graduate and pick one of the four national academies… like Beacon.

Yang just looked down at herself as she capped another round of fire dust.

Like Haven.

Her hand started to shake a little, catching her off guard. Her mother's plan was going to work. They might have to face her uncle and her sister but it needs to be done. The Relic must not fall into Cinder's hands.

Yang sighed to herself as she kept working tirelessly on her dust rounds. She had little time to prepare, but she needed to be armed and ready.