Next Update, Friday, May 4th.

Chapter 9

Raven had never thought herself to be a good mother. She didn't even think herself to be an adequate babysitter.

She was not particularly calm, and she wasn't easy to get along with. Small minds agitated her, and even her own child had once been a constant fuel for her ire. Children were raised away from the bandit camps. Mothers would take their children and safely tuck themselves away in hideouts where the children would be watched over. Eventually, they return to the camp to receive proper training.

Spouses and extended relatives would visit the mothers and their children often, but they would quickly return the camp to attend their own duties. The safety measures might have seemed extreme, but, they ensured the protection of the entire bandit camp.

However, it was this little detail that made upheaving an entire camp dangerous and difficult as well.

The mothers, and their children, would have to move with the rest of the bandits. They'd need to travel as a full tribe with homes and resources packed away for the long journey. A new place to hide them would have to be located. If things went sour, Raven would have several young children, and many pregnant women unable to engage in combat.

Under those conditions, it would make fighting even Grimm a messy situation.

"What are these chains for?" The white haired, blue eyed boy in her company asked. His fingers shook the chains, rattling them loudly.

The racket pulled Raven from her thoughts, and she casually looked over to see what he was doing. She had conveniently forgotten just how curious children could be in the face of knickknacks they'd never seen before.

"Traps." She told him. "I need them for food."

"This metal jaw? That's a trap too?"

"Don't touch that." She muttered, more for his own safety, rather than concern. "It's for large animals. It'll break human bone if it recoils."

He nodded, leaving the heavy bear trap alone. "Well, what are these?"

"Grimm masks."

"What about those?" He said stepping outside her line of sight.

By the sounds of metal scraping against brick, she knew exactly what it was without having to look. "Tools. I use them to repair my sword."

"Oh." He said quietly. "What about that?"

This time, she didn't have any of his curious racket to go off of, and cracked an eye open. "Weapons, to hunt Grimm. From left to right, a cross-bow, bolts for it, knives, those two wooden bats with spikes are called maces, and I have more where that came from."

"Cool…" He breathed.

"You like my weapons?"

The boy nodded. "I've only seen swords….lots and lots of swords…"

Raven nodded at this, and sipped on the drink on her hand. Her bare feet rested on the stone slab jutting out from the fireplace. She was careful not to get too close, but it felt good to heat them after such a long walk. The warmth sinking into her sore bones. It was less taxing than heating water for a bath, too, which she was too tired to think about doing. "You still won't tell me your name. If you don't, I can't do anything for you."

"My name…" He frowned. "It doesn't matter."

"Suit yourself." Raven shrugged. "I don't care how long you stay here, but don't expect me to look out for you. I like being on my own."

"Why?" He asked.

"It's just the way things are, kid." She told him. "It's been that way for me for a long time."

"Oh…" He murmured, trailing off.

"You've got no family. At least, that's what you said. Lucky for you, there are places for people like that." Raven explained, emotionally distant. "Places where a kid like you can be trained how to be a man. You're just about old enough to learn that way of life. It might be good for you, if you truly don't have anywhere else."

The boy looked at her questioningly.

She just shrugged. "Just think about it, that's all I'm saying." Raven settled back into her seat and yawned as a loud knock came to her door. The bandit grumbled to herself as she downed the rest of her drink. She reached for her sword before getting up to answer the door. She turned to the boy in her possession. "Stay out of sight."

"Why?"

"Just do it." It was the only warning she would offer, as she opened the door. What stood on the other side shocked her.

It finally all made sense, too much sense.

"Release my brother this instant." Winter Schnee demanded loudly enough for her bother to hear her. The white Grimm at her side huffed, ready to fight if ordered to do so.

"Winter!" The short haired boy rejoiced, rushing to her side, nearly tackling her as he flung his arms around her waist.

"Whitley." She addressed him smoothly. "I'm glad to see you are well. Now, listen and stay back." She brushed him behind her, placing herself between her younger sibling and the woman in front of her. "Perhaps you'd like to tell me why my little brother ended up here, of all places."

"Found him, and he followed me like a duck." Raven just snorted, leaning heavily on her doorframe. "Brats do that from time to time. I'm more interested in why you're here in my forest."

"Oh, let's not do this pissing match." A man grumbled, is words slurred as if he were completely sloshed. "Alright, we got the kid, already, so let's go!"

Raven knew that voice anywhere. "Qrow, you asshole, get off my property!"

"Well, fuck you too." He groused, middle finger outstretched. He lost his balance, falling into the small garden she maintained in order to grow food.

"Elegant as always." Raven said with a shake of her head. "Dumbass." Then her gaze lifted to Winter. "No wonder he looked so familiar, he's Jacques' brat. What's that bastard Schnee done now, and why the hell have you invaded my domain?"

"None of that is your concern, I'd ask you not to bother involving yourself in this matter further..." Winter began, a glance to her brother the only slightly betraying her thoughts. "I'm sure the bandit queen has other concerns. This is a trivial matter for the likes of you."

"The hell it is." Raven groused, realizing all too well the murmurs likely circling this forest. "All the tribes are going to shit a brick if they find out about this. It'll be like the bandit Olympics, who get's the kid first? He'll be a prize, Schnee."

"Which is why I demand that you don't say a word about this." Winter replied darkly. "As I've said, my brother is of little concern to you."

"Do you realize what a kid like him is actually worth?" Raven pointed out. "Are there any more of you idiot blue bloods in the area, or is it just you two?"

"Winter…" Whitley spoke softly, gaining his sister's attention. "She's a huntress. She has all kinds of stuff in there that she uses. Oh, and she lives here all by herself. She's like a one woman village, isn't that awesome?"

Winter's deep blue eyes moved up and down Raven's body thoughtfully. Her study was a slow one, as though memorizing every tiny inch upon her form, and contrasting it with Qrow's own. Raven scowled at being gawked at so openly, even as a blush intend her cheeks regardless. If she had to admit it to herself, Winter Schnee was quite a fetching woman in her own right. The two continued to stare at each other, both refusing to back down.

Finally, Winter came to some sort of conclusion. Whatever it was, it remained a mystery to Raven. The two shared their lingering gaze a single moment longer. Then, Winter blinked, and looked to her sibling. "She isn't a huntress, Whitley, she's a bandit from a tribe that lives in this area."

"She must be a nice bandit then." He said.

"There is no such thing. Bandits, even one like her, cannot be trusted. We have to return to our own camp. It's too dangerous for you out here in the woods at night." She said to him as placidly as possible. She would give him a firm talking to later, when she wasn't afraid of a bandit ambush. "We must leave."

"Oh…" Dejectedly, he nodded. "Can't we stay, just a little longer?"

"No, it would be rude." Winter said pointedly. "Besides, tactically it would disadvantage us. Faunus can see clearly in the dark, Qrow and I won't be able to protect you." She turned, and began to usher her brother away from the small cottage, only to pause and turn back once more. "I trust there will be no more problems in the future."

Raven just huffed. "With Qrow around, don't count on it." She shot back, slamming the door behind her. Then, as an afterthought, it swung back open a moment later. "And for god's sake, keep the little shit out of sight!"