Blake was not one of late nights, usually she'd make a point to be in bed by ten at the latest, but according to her scroll it was early morning, and none of them had slept a wink.

"So we left kin and Rossa to do their thing, went and had ice cream. All in all, it was worth the wait." The lion Faunus chuckled sadly, finally falling silent after hours of innumerable tales detailing his bravery and might. Ruby and Clement were, of course, fixated, it wasn't every day you met your heroes. Weiss had seemed interested at first, but the night had taken its toll and she had retreated to her tent. Yang hadn't even got that far, sprawled face down in the snow.

After 6 years as Yang's partner, she was still amazed by her ability to sleep anywhere, from a hole in the ground to the disposal chute of an airship. It was unnatural. Blake was the opposite, and it was this that kept her up. Even as Ruby and clement retreated to their tents, chatting excitedly, she stayed seated, watching the fire dance.

"Sleep not your thing?" Blake looked across the fire to the shifting pile of blankets, where two blue pools stared out at her. Blake shrugged, "someone has to keep watch" she suggested, halfheartedly. This got a laugh from the mound, causing it to shake, shifting it enough to reveal a mop of silver hair and a golden grin.

"You think Leon left a single thing alive in a mile's radius of here? The only danger left is the cold." He nodded over to the comatose Yang, "I've taken the liberty of popping her in a tent so her nose doesn't fall off" a second glance confirmed that yang was indeed gone, the only evidence being a dent in the snow that looked suspiciously like a face. "Now get some rest while you still can, we've got a lot to talk about in the morning" the man gave a soft smile before he sunk back into the blankets.

Blake slid into the tent, wiggling into her girlfriends' arms. It wasn't a bed, but it didn't matter so much, as long as yang was there. With that pleasant thought, Blake lay her head down on the bedroll and shut her eyes.

Blake woke in her own bed, in her own room, and gave a sigh of relief. she wasn't in a dark snowy forest in the company of two half mad hunters, she was safe and-

Then she saw the truth.

The land was split by a path, leading up a small hill into the unseen distance. On the left side there was a great ruin, derelict and crumbling, filled with shadows and stinking of pain and regret. On the right was a modern building, white walls and too many windows, the sharp tang of disinfectant clung to it. A sign stood by its the entrance, but its name was blurred. Only the shining sea lay behind her, the path sinking into its murky depths. The only way was forward.

It had taken far too long to reach the hill, and even longer to ascend it, but finally, Blake reached the peak. She gazed down at the island, marvelling at the monolithic ruins and sinister machinery that dotted the plains. A sweet music drifted through the air, echoing through the skeletal remains of once mighty fortresses. She stopped for a moment to listen. calming her laboured breaths to better hear the distant song, only for it to catch as she realised someone was humming along.

She spun around, and came face to face with death.

"I told her you'd make it! She was all like "No, she'll just go back to sleep" but i knew you were a smart cookie!" Rossa laughed, pushing a strand of blood red hair from her face. "But where are my manners?!" She stepped back, rising to her full height as she spread her arms, the world at her back. "welcome to hell".

"That's totally proof, pay up"

Augen sighed as he flicked the coin over to his partner, who gave a quiet victory cheer.

"You know, i always say to myself, could he possibly get any lower? And every time i think you've reached your lowest, you surprise me with some new low." he glared at his partner.

Leon laughed, ruffling the shorter man's hair, "is someone angry they lost?"

Augen shrugged, "Actually I'm just saddened by how terrible of a person you are"

That caused Leon to laugh again, "I'm still fucking gorgeous"

"I'm sure you'd come first place in a Grimm beauty pageant"

"And I'm sure your mom would come first place in the whore's pageant"

"As quick a wit as ever Leon"

"Yeah well at least i didn't think the chicks where "just good friends" "

"You think all girls are secret lesbians"

"They 90% are dude"

"As good in maths as you are at comebacks"

"Whatever man, you wanna raid their rations and blame it on the wildlife?"

"Does the sun rise in the east?"

Leon paused, his eyes narrowing.

"Yes?"

"Yes"

"Booyah!"