You guys didn't think I'd keep you hanging like that did you? I'd already had this chapter written and it was meant to be part of the previous one, I just wanted to mess with Frost :P. Also I noticed my chapters on average seem to be getting longer, weird huh? Anyway I hope you enjoy the chapter, no more rapid updates after this though unfortunately.

I don't own RWBY if I did I would get Casey Williams to sing this.

Red kept paddling, hearing the growling of the Ursa getting louder every minute. Just as she reached the shore she felt something yank on her back. Looking behind her she screamed, the Ursa had bit into her cloak and was pulling her back in. Using every last scrap of strength left Red activated her semblance, causing her cloak to tear in two and the Ursa to fall back into the water. Seeing her chance Red darted into the underbrush, the Ursa sniffed the air before disappearing into the opposite direction of Red. She sighed in relief and collapsed, 'a couple of minutes rest wouldn't hurt,' she thought her eyelids getting heavy. 'I'll just take a quick nap.'

Cardin saw the Ursa in front of him rear up, quickly blocking the swipe with his mace. He was thrown into the nearby tree by the force alone. One of his teammates commented about that being 'a big Ursa', before all three turn tail and ran leaving Cardin to fend for himself. Strangely he found that he didn't care, maybe it was his punishment. The Ursa that killed Ruby also gets him, a certain poetic justice in a way. Meeting the Ursa in the eye he watched it prepare the finishing blow.

Red awoke to the sound of yelling, "… come out everyone's worried."

'Is that Cardin? That bastard! When I get my hands on him.' Her thoughts of revenge were interrupted by an all too familiar sound. Looking out from her cover she saw the same Ursa major from before attacking Cardin. Red smiled, the irony of the situation wasn't lost on her. Suddenly the rest of team CRDL ditched Cardin, she snorted 'the more things change the more they stay the same.' However this left Red with a dilemma, should she help? He was responsible for nearly getting her killed after all, plus in her weaken state she might not be able to beat the Grimm. 'Why should I risk my life for him,' thought Red, getting up to move to a more sheltered hiding spot.

'As a girl, I wanted to be just like those heroes in the books... Someone who fought for what was right, and protected people who couldn't protect themselves!'

Red stopped in her tracks frowning, looking in a puddle showed an innocent looking Ruby staring back at her with questioning eyes. Sighing Red brought out Crescent Rose and ran back, "damn it Ruby, what have you done to me?" she muttered.

Clang

Cardin's eyes widen in surprise, there standing in front of him was none other than Ruby Rose. Using her scythe as a staff she'd blocked the blow meant for him, taking a step back she removed her scythe causing the Ursa to overcompensate and stumble in the wet mud. Both of them quickly got some distance from the Grimm. Noticing him staring she turned to face him.

"What up Cardin? You look like you've seen a ghost," joked Ruby.

He just stood there gawking, "You're alive?"

Ruby looked back at the Grimm suddenly serious, "not for much longer if we don't deal with him. Listen I need you to distract it and keep it busy, can you do that?" she asked.

Nodding Cardin picked up his mace, turning to face the Ursa. Both of them circled it in opposite directions forcing the Grimm to divide its attention between them. Ruby nodded at him giving the signal, bellowing a war cry he charged the Ursa swinging the mace in a two handed grip into its shin. Roaring in pain the Grimm turned its baleful red eyes onto him. Ducking under the incoming swipe Cardin slammed his mace into the same shin, causing it to shatter with a loud crack. Now hobbling the Ursa slipped in the mud and toppled over, seeing her chance Ruby leapt onto its back placing her scythe along its neck. Ruby fired her weapon using the whole clip in combination with her semblance to decapitate the Grimm. As she casually leapt off the corpse Cardin just stared slack jawed.

Looking over to him she smirked, "come on let's get out of this rain."

"Prof. Goodwitch this is Cardin of team CRDL I've found Ruby Rose of team RWBY. Professor? Hello? Does anyone read me?" Cardin shouted into his scroll.

Red frowned, "no luck?"

Cardin shook his head, "either this storm is causing interference or they're out of range. Either way it doesn't matter, soon it'll be dark and they'll have to return to Beacon."

Red sighed, looks like they were spending the night here. Here being an abandoned cave near the lake edge. Stretching Red got up and headed back to the cave entrance, causing Cardin to grab her shoulder.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asked, more curious than angry.

"If we're going to stay the night some firewood will be helpful don't you think?" responded Red.

Cardin nodded, "true I'll get it you stay here, I can tell you're exhausted so get some rest. I'd rather not have to face the wrath of your sister."

Red looked at him in surprise, this was not what she expected. Choosing to not look a gift horse in the mouth Red just sat down, muttering thanks as her eyelids once again grew heavy.

Red woke up to a sight she didn't expect to see, Cardin had not only got firewood he'd even started a proper fire. She was impressed maybe he wasn't just a jar-head jock. Walking over the two crowded around the fire in silence, broken only by the sound of the wind howling outside.

"Why?" asked Cardin.

Red looked up, "huh? Why what?"

Cardin didn't move, just kept staring at the fire. "Why did you save me? Even my own team abandoned me, so why?"

Red's eyes glazed over and she too began just staring at the crackling fire, almost hypnotized by its movements. Thinking back she gave a dark chuckle.

"I screwed someone over badly, they had hopes and dreams and I just took them from her. So I decided I would live out her dreams for her. You're a dick Cardin but I won't let you die for something stupid like that, she wouldn't let me."

Cardin just looked up, "for what it's worth, thanks Red."

Red froze, "what did you call me?" she asked, shakily.

Cardin frowned, "umm… Red you know because of your cloak. Seems like a better nickname then shrimp. I can call you something else if you want?"

He laughed, "awe well don't you look adorable, I think I'm gonna call you Little Red now."

Red just sighed knowing she'd have to put up with this the entire night. Still at least it would stop after tonight. There's no way he would keep it up after Halloween, would he? Somehow she didn't feel that confident about it.

Red shook the memory away, sighing in relief, "no it's ok it has… just been a long time since someone called me that, that's all."

Cardin nodded in understanding and the two began to descend into an awkward silence. Red's mind was elsewhere thinking about home, her old friends and the fun they used to have.

"Remember Little Red, we might not see each other as often but we are still friends," he smiled.

"Yeah but it won't be as much fun without you," she smiled, sadly.

She felt him give her a playful shove, "tell you what I'll teach you my favourite song, whenever you're feeling down just sing it. It really helps," his smile grew as he ruffled her hair.

Tears began pouring down Red's face as the memory faded, unable to take the silence any more she followed his advice.

Of all the money that e'er I had

I spent it in good company

And all the harm I've ever done

Alas it was to none but me

And all I've done for want of wit

To mem'ry now I can't recall

So fill to me the parting glass

Good night and joy be to you all

Of all the comrades that e'er I had

They're sorry for my going away

And all the sweethearts that e'er I'd had

They'd wish me one more day to stay

But since it falls unto my lot

That I should rise and you should not

I gently rise and softly call

Good night and joy be with you all

A man may drink and not be drunk

A man may fight and not be slain

A man may court a pretty girl

And perhaps be welcomed back again

But since it has so ordered been

By a time to rise and a time to fall

Come fill to me the parting glass

Goodnight and joy be with you all

Come fill to me the parting glass

Goodnight and joy be with you all…

Cardin sat in silence listening to the song, speaking up once it was over. "That was beautiful, where did you learn it?" he asked.

Red looked up to face him, "it was taught to me by an old friend back home, but he… moved away… left Vale. I doubt I'll ever see him again."

Cardin looked apologetic, "sorry, you two must have been close."

Red brightened, "yeah we've been friends ever since the first grade." She laughed, "been inseparable ever since."

Red was surprised, this was definitely different from the Cardin seen in the show. He actually seemed like a nice guy, so why did he act like a bully? After taking a second to build up her resolve she decided to pop the question.

"Hey Cardin why do you abuse Faunus and act like such a bully? I mean talking to you here it's clear you weren't always like this," she asked.

Cardin flinched before looking at the fire, obviously having an inner conflict. Red waited patiently, they had plenty of time after all and she wanted Cardin to have his thoughts in order. Finally seemingly coming to a decision he began.

"How much do you know about the White Fang?" he asked.

Red frowned, "only that they were a protest group supporting Faunus rights that turned to terrorism when all their protests were ineffective," she answered.

Cardin nodded, "that's right, you see my family actually supported the old White Fang."

Red's jaw dropped, Cardin noticed the reaction and laughed. "I know hard to believe right," he said.

Red just nodded before asking, "I can understand not supporting the White Fang any more but why hate Faunus in general?"

Cardin's expression darkened considerably before taking a deep breath.

"It happened just after the White Fang leadership changed, people were overconfident and didn't understand the threat," he explained. "My mother decided to take my sister shopping for my birthday present, that day White Fang took everyone in the mall hostage."

Red felt bile rise in the back of her throat. "Let me guess, we don't negotiate with terrorists," she said, depressed.

Cardin gave a dark chuckle, "got it in one."

Red thought back to the cafeteria incident, 'no wonder he snapped so quickly' she realized guiltily. Still he shouldn't take it out on innocent people, Faunus or human.

"Cardin I'm really sorry for what I said in the cafeteria, if I'd known I wouldn't of said it," she apologized. "But treating people, human or Faunus, like crap is not the answer and you know it," she continued. "All you're doing is proving the White Fang right, you're helping them. You really want to help the people who did this to you?"

Cardin reared as if slapped, "I can't help it, when I see one of those Faunus I see all the happy times with my mom and sister that they stole away," he admitted.

Giving him an encouraging smile Red began, "Look Cardin, the way I see it every life is a pile of good and bad things and while the good things don't always soften the bad things, the bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things or make them unimportant."

Red placed a hand on his shoulder, "remember the good times you had with them, but don't let the bad things taint their memories. If you can stop living in the past then maybe you'll be able to recreate those happy times with your friends now, after all it's called the present for a reason," Red finished.

Cardin looked down on the fire with a thoughtful expression on his face, Red gave him a friendly shove.

"Go get some rest and think about what I said, I'll take first watch," she said.

Nodding in thanks Cardin lay down and before long the sound of snoring filled the cave. Red headed towards the entrance to begin her shift. Looking at the puddles she saw what seemed to be Ruby smiling and giving her a thumbs up. Red blinked and it was gone, replaced with her own reflection. Shrugging it off to tiredness she began her shift.

So what did you guys think? I decided that I didn't like that Cardin was instantly a bully in the show. Everyone becomes a bully for a reason, you don't wake up one day and say "I feel like making someone else's day crap." You have a reason either a complex one like Cardin's or as simple as wanting to fit in with 'cool kids.' So I gave Cardin motivation to be a dick. And that brings about the end of the Forever Falls arc, will the next one be cannon or something else? Who knows? Hope you enjoyed it.

P.S Whoever recognised both the song and the quote you have made my day.