Two Steps Forward, Two Steps Back.

On a bright sunny day, Severa was suddenly seen sliding back as she held up her shield. Cordelia charged in and delivered a flurry of jabs with her spear, putting serious pressure on Severa, even with her shield raised. The barrage kept up until Cordelia swiftly knocked Severa's shield to the side before jabbing her in the stomach, causing Severa to fall on her back. She cursed under her breath. She had finally gotten used to only having one eye, but she wanted to make sure she could fight as well as she used to, despite her new lack of depth perception. She had been doing surprisingly well adapting her fighting style to only having one eye, but it was still clear she had ways to go.

"Well done Severa, you last longer after each spar. You're getting closer to reaching your former fighting capability" Cordelia praised.

Severa sits up "I don't want to become as skilled as I used to be. I need to become even stronger and more skilled than I ever was before. Otherwise all this will be pointless".

Cordelia sighed "Severa, there is no short cut to this. If you want to become stronger you need to take your time".

"I don't have time! I need to become stronger so I can be ready for when something happens again! I lost my eye because I was to busy goofing of instead of growing stronger... Had I been stronger... Had I been better... Maybe I could've prevented this..." Severa said as she touched her eye patch.

"I understand, Severa. But training to hard will actually worsen your skills" Cordelia began as she helped Severa up "Relaxing and resting is just as important to your training as working out and practicing. Becoming stronger requires training yes, but you also need to eat properly and rest whenever you can. That way you can build your stamina, which of course allows you to train longer, but if there is a chance to rest, you must take it".

"You sure know a lot about this stuff" Severa commented as she sat down on a bench they had outside their house.

Cordelia sat next to her "Yes, because believe it or not, I was in the same exact same position as you were".

"Really, you?" Severa asked, having a hard time believing it.

"When I was your age, I too wished for little more than to grow strong. I trained so hard I collapsed several times. There was even points where I spent more time bedridden from exhaustion than I did actual training. I ended up missing a lot of training because I was simply to tired" Cordelia explained.

"Wow... I have hard time imagining you failing at anything" Severa said, now feeling guilty as she realized she's been misjudging her mother all this time.

"I failed many times. People may call me the perfect huntress, but I did not start out that way. And even when I became stronger and my abilities were finally reaching their peek. My fellow students called me genius, but it wasn't a compliment as they always sounded very sarcastic. It was so very hard sometimes... Little Lady genius, they called me. They teased and taunted me... But the worst part was when they taunted my body. I've never been... well, very well developed in my feminin areas, in fact you are a lot more developed than me when I was your age" Cordelia continued explaining, causing Severa to look annoyed by her comment of her having larger breasts than she did "Anyway, whenever I was in my underwear, or taking a shower, the other girls would tease me about being blessed with fighting skills, but my womanhood were utterly pathetic... It was painful, because I didn't just want to be seen as a huntress, but as a woman too".

Severa looked down "Mom... I'm sorry to hear that".

"It was hard... But then, I met your father" Cordelia said as she smiled.

Severa looks at her "Can you tell me how he was back then? Yang and I talked about him, but she knew surprisingly little about him. She only knew him as the cool uncle who would visit from time to time, but he never stuck around for long".

"Qrow was very similar back during our days at Beacon. So cool and mysterious. That was kind of the reason I was drawn to him at first... But he was also the first person who ever managed to defeat me" Cordelia explained.

"Wait, really?" Severa asked in surprise.

Cordelia chuckled at her surprise "Yup, I didn't watch my step during a sparing match, I slipped on a lose rock, unbalancing me just long enough for him to deliver the finishing blow. And just like that, I suffered my first ever defeat".

"Ok... that is pretty impressive" Severa admitted.

"And it also felt refreshing. I wasn't upset at all when he beat me. The mere thought that there was someone more skilled than me was... comforting. And maybe I wasn't the Little Lady genius anymore... But what really made me like him was the fact he never treated me like the perfect huntress. He treated me as a person, a real person, and not just a skilled fighter... He was kind, and even funny... And well, one thing lad to another, and before I knew it, I was pregnant with you" Cordelia finished explaining.

Severa let her words sink in "But... if you two were so happy together... Why didn't he stick around?".

Cordelia sighed, knowing the question was coming "Qrow was great in almost every way... But we all have flaws. His flaw? He was scared of getting to close to people. He never fully explained why he didn't stay, but what he did say was that both of us would be far better of without him: You're better of without me screwing up your lives. Those were his words... Words I never agreed with".

"So... the only way I will get all the answers I want, is to ask him myself..." Severa realized.

"If that's your plan, then we better continue your training" Cordelia said as she stood up and grabbed her spear "I watched your matches during the Vytal Festival, including the one where you lost. The flaws in your fighting style is that it's not flexible. I understand you wanted to separate yourself from me, including developing your own fighting style. Which is good, but sometimes it's good to pull from other's styles. Even your semblance helps with that, as you can copy other people's semblances but mix it with a different fighting style. There by allowing you to use their powers in a way they can't".

Severa listened to her mother's words as she got ready for another spar. Cordelia charged in with a jab of her spear, but instead of blocking it like she did before, Severa used her shield to hit the spear down, causing Cordelia to stab in to the ground. Severa used this chance to run up Cordelia's spear before leaping and wrapping her legs around Cordelia's neck. They spun around as Severa was ready to used her weight to throw Cordelia down... But once she leaned back to throw her, Cordelia grabbed her legs and managed to throw her of, causing Severa to crash face first in to the ground.

Cordelia laughed in pride "Well done Severa! You really almost had me there. Where did you learn that move?".

Severa got up brushing herself of "A friend showed it to me...".

Cordelia wondered who that friend was... That friend, was a certain cat faunus.


In Atlas, Bernadetta was outside, practicing her bow skills. She hit several targets as she swiftly moved to the next one. She kept this up until she had finally hit all targets. She took a moment to catch her breath, until she heard a voice behind her.

"90 out of 100 targets. All in only a few minutes. I must say, that's impressive" She turned around and saw Yuri.

"Then I need to do better... I'm not stopping until I hit at least 95" Bernadetta said.

"Didn't your father forbid you from even stepping outside your room?" Yuri asked, though his tone made it clear he didn't care about that.

Bernadetta clenched her fist "I don't give a damn what he says anymore. I am getting out of here, even if I have to fight my way out".

"Funny you should say that. You see, I just received a very interesting call" Yuri said while holding up his scroll.

Bernadetta looked at him confused. What call... She would soon find out... Her friend has unlocked the bird cage.


Back in Menagerie, Lyre and the masked White Fang member leap from tree to tree, Lyre in pursuit of the other Faunus. They both pause for a moment, gripping different trees. Lyre glares for a moment before she leaps at the masked girl, who managed to avoid her. The spy emerges from the trees and onto a roof. She continues to run across the buildings, Lyre right behind her. Sliding under some arching pipes, she finally turns and stops. Using her weapon in whip form, she slices the pipe, releasing steam to block Lyre. It doesn't work; Lyre moves right under the pipes through the steam and managed to tackle the girl, who rolls with the tackle and managed to throw her of.

Lyre lands on her feet and swiftly got in to her fighting stance "Who are you! Why were you spying on the Belladonnas?".

The girl said nothing as her skin changed color from pitch black to a more tan looking, meaning that was her true skin color. So she was a chameleon faunus, that explains how she was able to blend in so well. Lyre charged at her, but the girl dodged and tried to strike her with her whip, but Lyre blocked them with her arm guards and tried to counter with several punches, which the girl either dodged or blocked.

But during their clash, the girl's scroll suddenly falls out of her pocket, which causes her to gasp and tried to break of the fight so she could get it back. Lyre noticed this and pushed her away before dashing for the scroll herself... only to cry out in pain as the girl's whip suddenly snarred around her, sending violent shocks through her body.

"Get away from that!" The girl demanded.

Lyre struggled until she ended using her semblance to break free. The girl stumbled back and before she could recover, Lyre delivered a semblance charged punch right in to her face, shattering her mask and knocking her down. Lyre was breathing hard as her aura flickered away. This girl was more dangerous than most of the other White Fang Members...

"Lyre!" She looked and saw Blake and Sun arriving, having clearly been alerted by all the commotion, Blake was the one who spoke "What's happening!?".

Lyre collapsed on a knee "White... Fang... spy... scroll...".

Sun noticed the scroll and picked it up "Well, this looks important. But who's she?".

Blake looked at the White Fang who was struggling to stand up after the vicious punch she had received "Ilia...".

The now named spy looked at Blake before standing up and aimed her weapon, though she was slightly of balanced "Give it to me".

"No" Blake refused.

"Give it up, you can't fight all of us alone" Sun declared.

"A White Fang is never alone. Two of you used to understand that" Came a voice that was very familiar to Lyre.

"Lethe..." She whispers.

Her older twin walked up next to Ilia "You are either brave or very stupid to come back here".

"Well you have some nerves even showing yourself after what you did to Lyre!" Sun shot back.

Lethe grits her teeth as she glanced at Lyre... who actually looked scared of her now. Lethe hesitated until she noticed Ilia was barely standing and was constantly grabbing her head. Lyre must've hit her even harder than anyone realized.

"We're leaving, Ilia" Lethe declared.

"I can still fight... we can beat them together..." Ilia tried to argue.

"You have a concussion, we're at a disadvantage. We need to leave now" Lethe said, her tone final before looking back at the others "But make no mistake. This is far from over, and you will wish you had stayed away".

In a swift movement, Lethe picked Ilia up and jumped of the roof. Sun hurried to see where they were going, but by the time he reached the edge of the roof, they were gone.

Lyre grabbed her sides, still feeling the pain of Ilia's whip... and she finally passed out from both the pain and exhaustion.


Back with the traveling team, Ruby and Jaune carry Qrow on a makeshift stretcher. Ren is aeahd of them on the path, leading the way while Norabrings up the rear and Lucina was on the right, constantly scanning for any nearby grimm. Qrow is groaning in pain and is a touch delirious.

"Just hold on, Uncle Qrow" Ruby pleaded.

"Tai. She's not... coming... Tai" Qrow coughs repeatedly.

"He's getting worse" Jaune said.

"He's not going to make it at this rate" Lucina said

"How much farther?" Ruby asked.

"We've gotta be close" Nora said, but didn't sound sure.

"Without the map, there's no way of knowing. But I feel like we're close to something" Ren said before he suddenly holsters StormFlower and runs ahead.

"Ren?" Lucina called after him

"What is it?" Ruby asked.

Directly ahead is a fork in the road with a signpost. They are coming from the direction of Higanbana. Kuchinashi and Mistral are to the right, where the land is mountainous. To the left is Kuroyuri, its name crossed out. The path that way remains low ground.

Nora runs up next to Ren "Hey, hey! Mistral! We're on the right path! Oh...".

"Does it say how close?!" Ruby asked in an urgent tone.

"No. And it looks like the path takes us up the mountains" Ren answered.

Jaune and Ruby set Qrow down as Jaune spoke "Guys, I don't know if all of us can make that climb".

Ruby looks at Qrow, concerned, before rushing forward to the signpost "Okay. Well, what about this place? Kuro... Kuroyuri? Can we get help there?".

"That village was destroyed years ago" Ren answered in a bitter tone.

Jaune approaches "But if it takes us around the mountains, it's the best bet we've got".

"It will take too long" Ren said sternly.

"The town would have had a doctor, right? Maybe we could scavenge for medicine!" Ruby said with some hope.

"Right!" Jaune agreed.

"And it's also safer, we can't cary Qrow over the mountain" Lucina said.

Ren closes his eyes, lowers his head and shakes it "We're not going to find anything! We just have to press on!".

There is just a brief moment of silence. Ruby watches him, clutching her hands before her chest.

Jaune was surprised by his friend's sudden change in attitude "Ren, why are you acting-".

Nora cuts Jaune off and coming up beside Ren "We can split up".

"Huh?" Ruby asked like she had just heard something really crazy.

Nora puts her hand on Ren's shoulder "Ren and I can cut through the mountains while you, Lucina and Ruby take Qrow around through the village".

"No, we're supposed to stick together! We keep each other safe!" Jaune argued.

"We don't have time for safe! If we make it to Mistral, we'll bring back help! If we don't, at least we'll have a better view of the land! Up there, we can see if there's somewhere else we can go!" Nora said. Ren turns and looks at Nora. They exchange small, affectionate smiles. Still holding his gaze, Nora drops her hand from his shoulder.

"Ok spill it. Why are you two so against going to Kuroyuri? It's clear as day you two are scared of going there... There is more to it than you're telling us, isn't there?" Lucina demanded, tired and frustrated.

Ren looks at her for a moment before he sighs "It's personal".

"No! You don't get to be that selfish when we have a dying man with us!" Lucina said, taking a step forward before Jaune quickly stopped her.

"Lucina, it's ok... That plan could work, and we are wasting time arguing" He said.

Lucina sighed but backed down "Right... I'm sorry you two... I'm just...".

"It's ok, we understand" Ren assured with a small smile, Nora did as well.

"Ok" Jaune steps forward and he and Ren hug each other "Just take care of each other".

Nora smiles at Ren "We always have".

On the path to Kuroyuri, Jaune and Ruby lift Qrow, with Lucina taking up the roll guard. They turn to Nora and Ren, who are on the path through the mountains to Mistral. They nod and Nora waves. Ren starts to turn, looks back one more time, and then runs. Nora follows.

Ruby spoke confidently, offering comfort "They're gonna be fine, Jaune".

"You don't know that" Jaune said.

"Yes we do. They are strong, stronger than any of us realize. If anyone can survive out here it's them" Lucina said, and she meant every word.

Jaune said nothing as they continued on... However, they had no idea what was out there... Something horrible was waiting in the village.

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