Another set of flowers. Another candle lit. Cardin Winchester was just one of many here in the cemetery. Why wouldn't he be? He, along with many others, have lost someone important in their lives. For the leader of team CRDL, that lost was in Sky Lark. Cardin always knew that not all huntsmen teams would survive their entire careers intact. He knew that and yet he was still in disbelief at the sight just in front of him. The thought of losing someone had always felt distant to him. Death was an inevitability for anyone and that one would one day lose those that they cherished. It was only now with Sky's own that really made him understand. Even then, it still didn't sink in for him. He was expecting that one morning he would wake up and this was all a dream, that Sky would still be there probably making some jokes with them or something. His days always felt like something was missing when he couldn't hear Sky's voice.

But it wasn't going to be that way. Cardin was one of those who were unlucky enough to have it happen early on. It certainly didn't help that Beacon is still not fully operational. Their curriculum had changed to a laxer one mainly to accommodate the lack of students and promoted what was essentially a glorified apprenticeship with the school being the hub of both lessons and missions. What he and his team would be learning won't be the same as another team as those would be dependent on the nature of the missions and the one who would be leading them there.

Cardin got up to his feet and sighed. There was still much to do around in Vale and yet somehow there was little that he could do. Ever since the attack on Beacon, negativity had been on the rise namely in the form of worry about what would happen in the coming days. With Beacon no longer being in the state that it was, the different prep-schools had to step up as the means of aiding the professional huntsmen and huntresses. It certainly didn't help that some of Beacon's students have transferred to other schools in order to resume their education. He can't get angry at them; he was also offered the same. The only difference was that he never took it. Sky had been the reason for that, nobody in team CRDL wanted to just leave their teammate behind. It wasn't a decision that they had made as a group but individually.

In the days that had followed since the attack on Beacon, team CRDL had been training under the guidance of whoever could give their spare time for them. Usually, that was Jacques Arc, Jaune's father. The more experienced huntsman would often watch over them in their training but never really taught them much of anything other than a few pointers. He would also spar with them and overall was hands-off and let the team learn from experience for the most part.

At the moment though, it wasn't the case. With the strange phenomenon of Grimm being rather sparse and getting sparser lately, the number of missions that they have taken had also decreased. It might have been a good thing since they could focus more on the rebuilding but most of them are only really good for being a muscle. Huntsmen usually train at an early age and it was a specialized field. Only those who managed to indulge some interests outside of it could actually help out more. Most revolve their whole lives around fighting and not much else. In fact, one professional huntsman was now taking charge of two teams just so that the students have something to do and learn to work with those outside of their own.

For team CRDL, that came in the form of—

"Cardin!" cried the high-pitched voice of Ruby Rose, of team RWBY. Much like his own team, RWBY was down one member though in their case, their member was just called back to Atlas. While Atlas itself hasn't closed down its borders—only made them stricter—it was Weiss' father, Jacques Schnee, head of the SDC that was responsible for Weiss being stuck there. As such, according to Ruby anyway, that makes them soul-teams, whatever that meant.

It didn't take long for Ruby to be in front of Cardin. While she wasn't using her semblance which allows her to move at incredible speeds, she is naturally oriented for speed and her jogging pace is significantly greater than her peers. She wasn't even panting when she arrived. Her earlier call had gotten the attention of nearby on-lookers who were also there visiting their loved ones. Thankfully, they didn't mind it too much and resumed with their visit.

"Another scouting mission?" Cardin asked. He already knew what was coming. There had been more of those ever since the Grimm had become scarce.

Ruby nodded. "Everyone else is waiting already."

"And who will be the professional escort this time?"

At that, Ruby was silent, as if realizing something. When he pressed further, she said, "not important. Don't worry about it. Actually, you know what? I could always come back later you know? I kind of disturbed your visit here, it's the least I could do."

Cardin raised an eyebrow. He was never one to be too enthusiastic about missions but he wouldn't exactly detest them either. He chose to become a huntsman, after all. "Let's go," he said. "I'm already done here. See you later, Sky."

"What? No, no, no." Ruby was repeatedly making X-signs with her arms. "You could do totally spend more time, I was being insensitive and all and you didn't really need—"

"Ruby!" a male voice cried out. A blonde man who isn't Jaune's father was approaching. "What's taking you so long? Where is the other team lead—oh you found him?"

At the blonde's words, Ruby slouched. "Yeah, dad. This is Cardin Winchester. Cardin, this is my dad, Taiyang Xiao Long."

Cardin's eyes widened. Oh. Now he understands.

"Hey, nice to meet you, young man. My daughters have told me about you."

"Did they, sir?" Cardin erred on the side of respect. It wouldn't do well to be too casual. That was something that they had gotten used to with Jacques Arc.

"Yeah, except we're doing more recon today. 'Fraid there won't be much weapon swinging this time, either."

"I understand, sir. We're getting used to it." That much was certain. Team CRDL's weakness had been their lack of a recon skillset. They were specialized in the combat and even then, there were others who were better than them in that regard.

Taiyang Xiao Long gestured for both he and Ruby to come along. "Outside the walls we go."

The three of them then proceeded towards a rather old looking car. It was also fairly crowded with the combined team members of both RWBY and CRDL already inside. There was another adult huntsman with them. Team RWBY's Yang Xiao Long was the only who wasn't included primarily because that girl had a motorcycle just next to it. No spare helmet by the looks of it for another rider.

"Alright," said Taiyang. "Inside we go."

Ruby Rose had shotgun and thus sat at the front, together with the other professional huntsman who smelled of alcohol. Leaving the third member of RWBY, Blake Belladona, with the rest of CRDL. It was an awkward affair for Cardin. Considering his past treatment of the faunus, he became rather conscious of himself whenever Blake was involved. Her faunus heritage was eventually revealed to them and it made it difficult for him to be natural. Was he being insensitive? Was he actually being better? Blake didn't appear to have let it bother her but it certainly mattered to him. Cardin was striving to be better, after all. His personal biases are still there. Sometimes he ends up slipping into them with how natural those things came to him. They may not be harmful anymore and no longer translate to actions but his thoughts were still there and his internal commentary of those things were still there.

The vehicle didn't take long before it started up. Despite the rather old looking thing, it was still well-maintained enough that it still had some mileage to spare. A family car, that much was certain. Yang Xiao Long was following behind and while the speed was alright, it was relatively slower than what was usually expected of drivers during this part of the road. The walls of Vale were too far out that it had taken them a few hours before the walls of Vale had actually come in sight. As they drove, the sight of Vale still rebuilding was in full swing. Massive technological devices and vehicles that he could not name nor see ever be set up were all acting as the different buildings were either repaired or destroyed to be rebuilt. These sounds have become common place for Vale with some still undergoing the process of being accepted. Finances were ever the problem for any civilization even during times of peace.

Cardin had never really made it to the outside of Vale's walls before this new arrangement. There was usually a lot of things to be done already within the borders of Vale, namely the Emerald Forest and Forever Fall. Granted, those are usually for students while the professionals get to go outside. This would be another expedition outside and there are stationed guards already that were waiting for them. There was a dedicated parking lot for anyone who would travel outside the walls. Most usually leave them behind with only a few being granted access to travel. The car in question was more suited for the city than any off-road travel.

Stepping out of the vehicle, Cardin Winchester had to stretch himself. Being one of the larger individuals, the car was a rather small space for him. It didn't help that he had to share the seat with others which made the already small space even smaller.

"Alright, teams!" called out Taiyang. "More investigation except this time, we'll be traveling further out. In fact, we'll be camping out there for a one or two nights." From the back of the car, there was a multitude of those large bags that would be carried on their backs. Each one had already been prepared for them ahead of time which Cardin was thankful for; none of his team had prepared for that. They were light and had little in the way of supplies which had allowed them to fit at the back of the car.

"We'll be foraging out there," said the other huntsman. "Hope you kids picked up something from Plant Science."

"With Peach as their teacher, Qrow?" replied Taiyang. "I'm pretty sure they can manage, right girls?"

"Yes, dad," Ruby and Yang replied in unison. There was a certain dread in the air with those two. It was as though they were expecting something to happen.

After they had passed the gates and were now traversing the wilds, Taiyang began, "so, how did you boys get to know Ruby and Yang."

"Dad, no!" the two girls replied in unison. Blake, meanwhile, was chuckling to herself. The other members of team CRDL shook their heads and shrugged

Ah, Cardin thought in realization. Taiyang was that kind of father. Cardin gave as safe an answer as he could. Less so for team RWBY and more so for himself. He already had Jaune's father interrogating him when it came to Jeanne d'Arc. The two only ever interacted at Sky's grave and he would have preferred if Sky wasn't used as some excuse for a date. So what if the two of them exchanged farewells before team JNPR left, it wasn't an end all be all for a budding attraction. Besides, Jeanne was a semblance, an extension of Jaune's soul. What does that say about him considering how he treated the guy?

They continued to march further out. The open patches of ground with an unnatural rock formation that had once been camp sites became their guide in both traversing the fields and would be their guide back home, not that they would need much of a guide considering the walls haven't visibly shrunk as they went the distance.

The only tracks being available being those that say the Grimm were moving away had been common. This time was no exception. The blistering heat of the sun above them made Cardin wished he could just remove his armor. The heat that was being kept by the metal was enough that he could feel the heat even underneath the shade. While the bags they carried weren't that heavy, given enough time, those things would weigh down even the strongest and most enduring of individuals.

Eventually, they made their first stop. The forests here were fairly dense and the ground was getting uneven. It hadn't occurred to them but they were nearing the mountainous terrain that had served as a natural barrier against the Grimm. Even here, footprints all indicated that the Grimm were heading away from the kingdom. The professional huntsmen have decided that this was to be their break which everyone sighed relief. It had been an exhausting trek and they didn't even realize how far they had gotten if they hadn't checked their maps.

"Alright," Taiyang began suddenly after a few minutes. "Ruby and Mr. Winchester was it. Both of you with me. We'll be doing some leadership training."

Ruby groaned. That was the first time Cardin had ever seen of the girl actually be exhausted this day. He guessed that even she would have to run out of steam eventually. Still, leadership training? Cardin didn't have much of that in previous missions, they usually handled things as a team with the only leadership roles there being when the Grimm would actually appear.

Cardin stretched before following the blonde adult as they traversed the uneven ground. When they had made some distance away from the rest of the team, Taiyang then opened up with the first lesson of their leadership training.

"So," he began. "Now that we're away from the rest of the team. Let's test your leadership skills for now. Both of you have seen that there hasn't been that much Grimm sightings lately and we already believe that the Grimm are moving away from the kingdom. What do you do next as leaders?"

Ruby was the first to answer. "Find the Grimm?"

"We're already doing that, Ruby. And we've not had much progress in that regard. Mr. Winchester? Can I call you Cardin?"

Cardin Winchester wasn't so sure how to answer. He had similar one as Ruby and already that wasn't what Taiyang had wanted. Was he looking for something specific? That didn't do well either when he tried.

Taiyang shook his head. He didn't appear disappointed but more unsurprised. "The fact that there had been lesser amount of Grimm when we should have expected the number to increase should be a clue enough. Rather than waste resources on finding where they are, we should be staying back at home and rebuilding the kingdom."

"So why aren't we?" Cardin asked.

"Why, indeed," said Taiyang. "Ruby? Any reason you could come up with for that?"

Ruby contemplated on her answer. Did she really need to look constipated while doing that? To be fair, he wasn't coming up with the best answers either.

"The person who asked us this has reason to believe otherwise?"

"I see. Well, you have certainly seen the tracks yourself. What do you think that reason would be?"

Another minute passed. Ruby then answered, "the Grimm are gathering somewhere beyond the mountains." This time there was more certainty in her tone and she was more confident than she was before.

"Good," Taiyang replied as he nodded proudly. "Thing is; it was your headmistress that asked us to do this."

"Professor Goodwitch?" Cardin asked.

Once again, Taiyang nodded. "That's right. Grimm activity may have lessened which normally would have been a good thing. But it is odd and concerning considering everything that has happened in Vale. We may be rebuilding and returning back to normal, but the fact was that even during those first few days, Grimm activity hadn't been as terrible as we were expecting."

Then, Taiyang's shoulders slumped as he sighed. "There is also another reason. Qrow and I have decided that it is best we do it this way," he continued. "It is about that friend of yours, Jeanne d'Arc was it?"

Both Cardin and Ruby looked at one another in confusion. They weren't sure what the Grimm activity had anything to do with their friend and judging from the expression of Ruby's father, neither of them had doubts that it might not be a good thing.

"What do you mean, dad?" Ruby asked.

"Tell me Ruby," Taiyang replied. "Did it ever occur to you that Jeanne was always able to manifest herself pretty much indefinitely despite being a semblance?"

Cardin never really noticed it before it was pointed out. At first, he had reasoned in his mind that it was simply a case of a semblance evolving or that both Jaune and Jeanne had simply learned to be more efficient with their aura usage.

"I mean," Ruby said. She had similar thoughts as Cardin. "A little but semblances evolve don't they?"

"That they do, sweetheart." Taiyang nodded. "However, there is only so far a semblance could evolve even if it were for mere efficiency."

"Then, what is happening?" Cardin asked.

"Oh it's just about everyone's favorite fairy tale." Taiyang snickered and shook his head. "The reason for the Grimm being pulled back is because they are not exactly as mindless as we initially believed them to be."

Both Ruby and Cardin stared at Taiyang in disbelief. When Cardin looked to Ruby for answers, she shrugged and shook her head.

"Sit down," Taiyang said. He waited for the sound of a bird to fly over before continuing. "Let me tell you a story about two brothers. It's a favorite fairy tale."

AN: Similar to Knight War Order, CRDL and RWBY will be the ones on the Vale side of things. Updating the tags as of this chapter.