A/N: Hey, Just want to say that I've had this idea for a while, but also it might take a while to update. Mainly because I'm new to the site and I have no idea how to update books, lmao. This will be rated T to M, mainly because it's really on the border. So for now M for Mature. Like in the summary, it will break from plot. So bare with me and I hope you enjoy it! Reviews and criticism are welcome. Just constructive, though. Don't be the idiots who just say stuff like, "Worse fic" or "This is terrible." without any input. So thanks again for reading.

Mistral. Vale's more better looking counterpart. Known for its steep mountains and lush forests. You could practically see almost every biome from a bullhead. Even from the ground, if you're close enough, you could see its very own huntsman academy.

"We are departing from Haven Academy." One of the pilots stated.

Ozpin, who's lightly tapping his cane, mindlessly watches Haven slowly disappear from view. He glanced down at his scroll, a little hum of amusement escaping him. One of the other pilots sat in front of the headmaster, clearing his throat.

"Apologies sir," the pilot said, also brandishing his scroll. "Looks like we'll be arriving at Beacon once the sun is down. Maybe around ten."

Ozpin fixed his posture. "That's fine. I knew I should've left earlier."

"Understood," the pilot nodded, standing up after typing some updates. "If that will be al-"

"Actually," the headmaster, cutting him off, smiled toward the man. "If it's no trouble, can you open the door? I'm expecting a guest."

The pilot stared for a few seconds, nodding slowly. He didn't know nor wanted to know what he meant by that. He only met two headmasters in his life and they were both weird. He hesitantly unlocked the side door and pushed as wind smacked against him. Not his first rodeo, dealing with huntsman tends to have wind go where it shouldn't, but definitely his first time being attacked by a bird. The pilot yelped and swung around as he stumbled. After composing himself, frantically looking and breathing a bit, he noticed a rugged man sitting opposite of the headmaster.

"Hey," He said, taking out a flask. "Can you close the door? There's kind of a draft."

The pilot, glancing between the man and the door, begrudgingly closed the door and took his leave. This might be the first time he considers early retirement.

"Hello Qrow," Ozpin smiled, although shaking his head softly. "How has life been treating you? Pleasantly, I hope."

"Dandy," taking a sip, Qrow glanced out the window. "Nice place, strange folks, even stranger bars, what's not to like? I even went to a gift shop."

Ozpin's smile slightly widened, "Yes, well, how could you say no to traditional drinking?"

"You could." Qrow always was a bit much, especially when offering to drink.

"No thanks."

Silence hung in the air, before being broken.

"She's still on the move. Acts like she knows where she's going, but I saw her lost in the market."

"Amber tends to underestimate street markets."

Qrow stifled a laugh. "Why do I feel like she got pressured into buying things?"

"She's kind hearted."

Qrow then frowned, sipping more. "There's been talk about her, though not in great detail. She's safe, for now. She almost saw me, but I can tell that she knows something's up."

"Have you spoken to her?" Qrow glanced at his old teacher, sighing at his words.

"A bit," He scratched the back of his head. "Made it seem like she stumbled upon me. Had a drink, laughed, and embarrassed her."

"Let me guess," Ozpin tapped against his scroll, looking at this year's applicants. "She poured a drink on you?"

"Almost, she still denied the offer to come to Beacon, but I can tell she was more hesitant this time."

"I see."

"I'll keep watch for her. Don't worry, Oz."

"I know you will, Qrow." Ozpin looked back out the window, watching the forests become less dense.

With everything that has been happening, Ozpin is worried. Qrow can see it on his expressionless face. Ozpin being worried makes him worried, and if he's worried, well, not something he'd leave unattended for long.

"If you want-" He stopped, also noticing what Ozpin was looking at.

Smoke, but not too much to indicate a village or a town. Maybe a camp? No, too dense. Qrow focused, catching glimpses of a wagon or some type of car. Ozpin sighed, maybe he should have stayed at the meeting.

"Some barbeque." The huntsman took a longer drink, side glancing Ozpin. "Do you want me to..?"

"If you could please?"

Qrow nodded, lazily standing as he took another quick sip before opening the door. He nodded at the headmaster before slumping out of the exit and into the air. The same pilot glanced back, feeling the wind hitting him again. Ozpin simply shrugged.

The oversized grill died down the moment Qrow landed. Just by a glance he could feel himself becoming annoyed. Raven was his first thought. She might have not been personally involved, but her little goons could have done it. Now he has to take care of this and make it back to Amber. Not the best way to end his friday.

The wreckage is definitely a supply wagon, more or less. Judging by some of the ruins, Qrow had no idea what he was looking at. That was until he saw a body. White Fang. Great, so not Raven. Raven might be a bandit leader, but still not a total idiot. Qrow crouched down as he inspected the White Fang member.

Mistral Branch. He heard they started attacking people, but in 'self defense'. After the sudden violence, Qrow is very tempted to just leave. Some bandit bodies were found, definitely not Raven or her goons. Looks like it got too heated, both sides abandoned supplies and judging the tracks, there was more.

A voice cut Qrows thoughts out. Young, a kid maybe? He never delved in politics so he didn't know kids could join the Fang. Stepping over the body and making his way over, he raised a brow at the kid in front of him. A little bruised up, but aura is slowly patching him up. Signature mask in his hands. Glancing at the top of his head, he noticed the black hair with orange highlights. Though with some faded yellow and red tips in his locks.

"Cowards!" The kid growled. "Ran when we had the advantage!"

Qrow went to speak until he was cut off. "It's fine, some supplies made it."

The kid spoke, but he could tell the difference in tones. Qrow stared at the boy, mouth slightly opened. He was definitely speaking to himself. Kids and kids that are traumatized, great. The Fang are definitely getting desperate. Unfortunately, he stood there for too long. The boy turned, eyes wide with both fear and hostility. The boy's definitely a faunus, the sclera in his eyes are black, pupils orange. Qrow, realizing the knife in his hand, quickly threw his hands up.

"Hey, easy." This kid is missing a few screws. "Not apart of-"

The kid turned and ran. Qrow stood dumbfounded before sighing as he gave chase. The child, most likely no older than thirteen or fourteen, dodged branches and jumped hedges. He was tired, most likely from whatever fight he was in. The leaves rustled as he sharply turned, knife pointed. His eyes widened, seeing no one. The crunch of leaves behind him made his nerves sky rocket.

The boy turned again, ready to kill his pursuer, only to blink as his dagger stabbed into the ground and his back slamming into the dirt. Qrow winced, not expecting to see the boy's aura shatter. Orange flickering as it burst and faded away. The boy grit his teeth, Qrow clearly able to his canines.

"Ah shit," Qrow mentally smacked himself. "I didn't mean to push ya that hard. Didn't know your aura was that low."

The boy rolled over to his hands and knees. Some will, Qrow thought. The boy slowly looked up at the huntsmen. Qrow went to try and knock some sense into the kid, opening his mouth to speak. Until the boy's orange eyes turned red. Bright and yet the color was slightly darker. Reminded him of his niece on a bad hair day.

The boy's aura suddenly flashed, coating his body with red in an instant. Qrow stepped back, eyes widened and questioned if he took too much to drink. The boy suddenly dashed, snatching the dagger from the ground and slashed the full fledged huntsman.

Qrow weaved, surprised by the sudden attack. Countless questions started circling his mind as he continued to dodge. His aura broke, he was sure of that yet Qrow couldn't help, but question. He broke it and suddenly a different aura covers him? Qrow composed himself, side stepping the thrusted blade. He slammed his knee into the boy's ribs, feeling a bit of guilt at the pained gasp escaping his mouth. He applied a good bit of strength, hopefully enough to stun or break his aura.

Looks like it's the ladder as his aura shatters as he slammed into the ground. Qrow sighed seeing the boy struggling to stand. The boy glanced back at him, glaring eyes flickering. Qrow really hoped this was over. He groaned seeing the boy encased with yellow aura. Qrow inched closer, ready to deal another blow, until a slightly new voice spoke out.

"Wait!" The boy cried out. "Please don't hurt me!"

Qrow stood stunned, staring at the now yellow eyed boy. Maybe not insane, hopefully. Qrow eased up, but made sure to keep his guard up. He stared at the boy, seeing the fear in his eyes. The boy flinched when the man kneeled down, shaking his head.

"All right," Qrow is pretty sure he ain't drunk. "Why'd you attack me?"

"I," the boy started, sheepishly looking away. "Didn't."

Qrow almost burst out laughing, stifling his grin. "You didn't? Then who did? The wind? A ghost? You possessed?"

"N-No. It was me, but not me."

"Kid, I'm not drunk enough. I already deal with someone who speaks in cryptics."

"I'm not lying!" He nervously shouted. "It wasn't me. It was them!"

"Them?"

"The doctors said, 'other personalities'." Personalities? So he is insane.

"Personalities? Like a split personality?"

The boy nodded hastily, so he continued. "All right, hold up. Explain from the beginning while I drink and think."

And so he did. Confusingly, but he got the gist of it. From the point he and his members got attacked by bandits to Qrow showing. Supply trade. That's what they were doing here, then they got attacked and high tailed it out there. Even if it meant leaving some behind. Then as he was fighting with some others, the bandits left. Retreating is more likely. Surviving members left him to guard the supplies. It's been a couple of hours.

Qrow shook his head, seeing a pattern. "All right. I get that, but you didn't tell me how you did all that with aura."

The boy awkwardly sat against the tree. "I don't know."

"You don't?" That kinda makes sense. "So it just happened one day?"

"No." He put some thought into it. "Well, I don't know about 'personalities'. It just sorta happened when I was a kid. I- We don't remember much. Then a few years ago, someone unlocked our aura."

This is getting too confusing. Qrow was almost done drinking too.

"Then it was weird. We all felt ourselves get lighter."

"Yeah, aura does that when you first unlock it." Qrow smiled at the unknownst kid. "So it just happened? And you stuck with it?"

"We kinda keep it secret."

Qrow stared the boy, unconvinced. "Some secret…"

The boy blushed, embarrassed. "We didn't expect you to chase us."

"That's fair." Qrow laughed, before humming. "Actually, that brings up another question. Do you have a name? Or atleast do any of you have a name. You know, multiple personalities and stuff."

The boy smiled and shook his head. "We share a name. Cause it's weird to have different names."

"Oh that's weird." Qrow rolled his eyes. "So what's ya name?

"August."

"No offense, August." Qrow stood up, dusting himself off. "Kinda expected something different."

"I get that a lot."

"How old are you anyway?"

"Fourteen." He quickly added. "Turning fifteen in a couple of months."

"Don't you have parents? Someone who takes care of you?"

"I was from Menagerie. An orphanage. So no. No parents."

"And you joined the Fang?"

"I'm a faunus. Why wouldn't I?"

"Well yeah," Qrow awkwardly stuck his hands in his pockets. "But why a protest group? Aren't you mad that they left you?"

"Not really. I never really liked any of them. We didn't know them much."

"You don't have friends?"

Now it was August's turn to be awkward. "Not really."

Qrow mulled over the options, choosing the worst one. "What kind?"

"Huh?"

"Damn, faunus I mean. What kind of faunus?"

"Oh, lion."

"Huh, I know a lion."

The boy looked up, intrigued. "Really?"

"Yeah, though always nervous, so kinda like you."

"Oh."

Awkward silence. Then again how else do you continue the conversation?

"What are you?"

"Huh?" Qrow stared at August as if he asked if he asked if he was a woman. "A human?"

"No, like, what do you work for?"

That makes more sense as Qrow shook his head. "Professional Huntsmen. Beacon graduate."

The smug look on Qrow slowly widened seeing the boy's eyes widen.

Silence.

Qrow started to worry that maybe he broke the kid.

"We're going to prison…" The boy suddenly said, deflating.

"Wait, what?" Qrow's eyes widened at the realization. "Wait, no. You're not going to prison."

August's eyes widened. "I-I'm not?

"No, kid. It was a misunderstanding."

August sighed in relief.

"But that doesn't mean we're done here."

August took back his sigh.

"You're a special case and honestly? Protesting ain't," Qrow tried to find the right words. " Your guys' specialty."

"I kinda figured." August said softly.

"But you ain't out of cards, kid." Qrow stated, kneeling down in front of august. "Look, my-"

Qrow mulled over the options.

"-old headmaster is kind of not new to the whole weird thing. Plus you have nowhere else to go, so…"

"So…?" This kid…

"Why don't you come with me and see the headmaster?"

"Become a huntsman?"

"I didn't say that." August deflated. "B-But maybe? He's pretty nice. Look, he's helped a lot of other people, including me. Just come with me and see how it goes. Alright?"

August stared at the hunter. He thought about it and it terrified him. How could it not? Fighting monsters and school? He shivered at the thought of it. Plus they all don't even have semblances.

'Might as well.' August heard in his head. He felt relief wash over him. At least one of them can make this decision.

Qrow stood up as an orange aura engulfed August. His eyes, turning orange. He let out a sigh.

"Sure, why not?" August pushed himself to his feet.

"And you are?" Qrow is way too sober for this.

"Just consider me the one that mainly talks." August awkwardly smiled. "Also sorry for, uh, trying to stab you?"

Qrow raised his brow at the 'question'. "Eh, water under the bridge. So you're coming?"

"Yeah, plus I don't have anything better to do. It's the best option. Also, I've always wanted to go to Vale."

Qrow shook his head at this smiling kid. "You are something else, kid."

The two started to walk, mainly August following behind him as Qrow began to make a call.