Wow, people liked Manny that much? He wasn't even supposed to have a name. I just gave him one because it was easier than calling him 'old man' or 'guy' the entire time. His main purpose was to show the kind of guys Qrow was friends with along with making Ruby chop wood. Who knew he would be popular? Don't worry, there will be more of Ruby doing that kind of labor in the future. In his memory, of course. I'm glad people kind of liked the way I wrote Tyrian.
Also, I'm in need of a beta reviewer for my stories if anyone is interested. Fixing grammar, helping scenes develop, dialogue, you know that kind of stuff. My stuff is pretty bad during the first draft.
Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.
"I think I see the town!" Ruby announced, holding her hand above her eyes like a visor. "There it is! I see the wall!"
"Little behind schedule," Qrow grumbled. "Can't be helped, I guess. Roads were a mess."
It had been two days, two very long days since Jaune and Ruby fought the King Taijitu. Qrow had returned to the sleepy kids about an hour after fighting the Grimm, with Jaune struggling to give a lucid account of what had happened. The older man appeared at least a little impressed they won in their current conditions, which cheered the two teens up slightly. Although they were covered in mud, their physicality was being tested as they were also tired, sore, and hungry. Despite all of that, they had been happy for any bit of good news. No matter how small.
Then Qrow told them they were going to continue their travels through the mud.
The downpour had made the landscape slimy, and the roads had started to deteriorate. That meant walking through a lot of mud, gunk, and puddles. Shoes and pants were soaked. Every step they took sapped their strength quicker with all the extra weight that was put on their legs. Jaune could feel himself dragging, but he forced himself to keep moving. Ruby was keeping up, and the poor girl was in much worse condition than he was.
When they finally stopped for the night, Jaune and Ruby had just enough strength to find a dry spot, roll out their bags, change, and pass out while Qrow made food. The kids were too tired to question why he did it without at least a tiny bit of sarcastic banter. Both of them were far too out of it. Qrow understood their condition. They were reaching their limits that even determination couldn't overcome. It was why he planned to stop at the next town.
The good news was they didn't run into any Grimm since they had been attacked.
The morning after the battle with the King Taijitu, Qrow had woken them up and made them spar with him. That was the first time he did so since they left the last town. Neither Jaune nor Ruby were really prepared and got their butts handed to them even worse. Their mentor was not pleased. So, their training got even harder.
The days were becoming monotonous. Wake up, travel for a bit, spar with Qrow, fight any Grimm they encountered, spar once more, and then go to sleep at nightfall.
At least there was a form of structure for the kids.
Mostly, Qrow could tell there were little to no Grimm in the immediate vicinity, so they had enough time to put in some training. Not that he told the kids that. He wanted them to think this was going to be normal. Since they were young, it was easy to forget the basics if they didn't keep using them. All of their training had to be cemented into their bodies before he could teach them anything complicated. Ruby was better than Jaune in that regard, but his niece would get lazy if left unchecked.
"How long are we staying here?" Jaune asked, breaking into Qrow's thoughts.
"A day, maybe two while I check out a few things." The Huntsman shrugged as he answered. "Depends what's happening. If there are Grimm problems, we might stay longer. Get you brats some practice."
"Can't wait!" Ruby cheered. "Not going to say no to finally getting a shower." A giggle escaped her. "Yang would be fuming so much if she was here with us."
That innocent comment caused Jaune and Qrow to chuckle. The image of an annoyed Yang dealing without hair care products and showers for days flashed through their mind. All three of them knew precisely how Yang would react.
"A shower does sound nice." Jaune admitted, sniffing himself and wincing.
"Dibs!"
Ruby wasn't usually intimidating, but this time, Jaune knew he shouldn't argue. Growing up with a lot of sisters prepared him for this moment.
"Go ahead, Rubes."
"Smart lad." Qrow whispered, amusement evident on his face.
The three of them began to climb up to the hill the town was resting on. Naturally, this far away from the central area in Vale, any settlement wanting to last more than a few weeks needed some kind of defense. This town was no exception. The wall may just have been made of wood, but it seemed sturdy enough to repel smaller Grimm without issue. As they approached, two guards at the gate looked down at them suspiciously.
"Halt!" One of them shouted. He was a male Faunus with a long reptilian tail. "State your business."
"Huntsman traveling with apprentices," Qrow answered, holding up his license. The guard to the left of the Faunus nodded after viewing it through binoculars.
"Okay, you can enter." The man growled, gesturing behind him. Jaune and Ruby followed Qrow inside. "If you're interested in work, we might have some for you. Chief's out the rest of the day inspecting some wall repairs, but she'll be free tomorrow."
"We'll see if we can squeeze her in," Qrow assured him. "Can you direct us to lodging areas? And the bar?"
"Straight ahead, left at the large building, about two streets down. The bar's another street past that."
"Thanks a lot." Qrow told him. "You have no idea how fucked up the weather has been lately."
Ruby flinched at the cussing. Qrow had been pretty good on the trail, but the moment he met someone, he seemed to revert to his old habits.
"I'm stationed on the wall six days a week. I can assure you I know this shit all too well."
Qrow let out a laugh as he led the teens toward the town.
"Did you know him?" Ruby asked quietly. "It seemed like you did."
"Nope, first time here." The man looked over his shoulder. "The people out here are tough, so you have to act like it. Alcohol talks, as it's one of the few pleasures out here. I simply talked in a way that he could understand. If you act too polite to strangers here, people get suspicious."
"We're screwed." Jaune fake groaned as Ruby stifled her laughter.
"I will make you run ten laps around this town before you can rest." Qrow warned.
"I'll behave."
"Damn right you will."
"Uncle Qrow likes you," Ruby whispered to her friend. "I can tell. He doesn't regret taking you with him."
"Think so?" Jaune still wasn't sure what exactly Qrow thought of him. He seemed like the apprenticeship program was a hassle, though he did appear to be trying to teach them and not half-assing it. "Well, you know him better than I do."
"Trust me," Ruby assured him. "He seems aloof a lot, but he'll always make sure you're progressing. You'll be able to tell when he doesn't like someone. He will pout in the corner and drink from his flask, ignoring you."
"I kind of want to know what he puts in that flask." Jaune whispered back.
"Yang and I pranked him once," Ruby reminisced fondly. "We poured out his alcohol into the sink and replaced it with milk."
"What happened?" Jaune couldn't wait to hear.
"He thought dad did it, and they got into a big fight, knocking down a wall of the house." Ruby shivered. "We learned then, never touch that flask. Dad told us afterward that Uncle Qrow never shared that flask with anyone. Probably shouldn't touch it."
"It's not like I was planning to." Jaune quickly assured her, knowing he didn't have the guts to try something on his mentor like that. The punishment would likely destroy him. The training was harsh enough without even more torture. "I was only wondering."
"You kids talking about me?" Qrow grumbled.
"Nope!" They replied in unison as they headed to their destination.
The lodging was cramped with only two beds, but Qrow was willing to sleep on a chair. Ruby had instantly rushed for the bathroom first while Jaune cleaned off his clothes. Qrow had left them alone, they presumed to go to the bar. Once Ruby was finished showering, she swapped spots with Jaune, who finally got his own shower.
"I feel like a new person," Ruby sighed, collapsing on her bed after they had finished relishing in the sweet embrace of civilization. "Oh, sweet softness, don't ever leave me."
"Showers, bed, free breakfast in the morning," Jaune mused, laying on his back in his own bed spread. "Can we live here?"
Both of them laughed at that, but neither were seriously considering it. They had decided on their path to be a Huntsman and Huntress. There was no turning back. Even though they were still students, they knew that this is what they wanted to do. Regardless of how arduous the journey was, it wasn't like someone else decided for them. Opportunities had been presented to let the two teens drop out, and they refused. At this point, both of them were firmly committed to their goals. That didn't mean they couldn't enjoy some rest and relaxation.
"I don't ever want to get up." Ruby groaned. "Hiking sucks."
"Tell me about it," Jaune chuckled weakly. His muscles were sore, but slowly he was getting used to it. Ruby probably had a slightly larger learning curve with her body. "I've been camping before, and we hike with backpacks, but this is the first time doing it for days and days at a time."
"I feel bad for Uncle Qrow," Ruby mumbled. "He has to slow down for us."
When Ruby was sleeping at night, she didn't dream much. Her mind and body were just too tired. Before she managed to fall asleep though, some thoughts kept slipping into her mind. Her uncle couldn't go from town to town as fast, being an awesome Huntsman and helping everyone. With them dragging him down, people might be getting hurt before he could show up to help. More than once, Ruby curled up in a ball, imagining that situation.
It's why she never once complained about her suffering.
Huntresses had to travel all over Remnant and vehicles weren't always available. She would have to get used to this. Part of her recognized it was getting a little easier now. It might be because they hadn't been exhausting themselves fighting Grimm constantly, or maybe she was finally developing her core strength. Either way, the young girl was determined to learn everything quickly and grow, so she wouldn't be a liability. Soon, she would be the one rushing out to protect people.
She and Jaune would be top-tier fighters against the Grimm.
"Yeah, I hate that too," Jaune agreed. "There's nothing we can do about it except learn what he teaches us and take it to heart." His hand clenched on the bed. The first time he stood alone against the Beowolf still haunted his dreams. He couldn't imagine a normal civilian facing something like that. "It shouldn't be long before we can keep up with him."
The boy tried to stay optimistic, just like Manny had told them. It only recently began to sink in why that was important. Being alone outside for days on end with your thoughts could drive someone mad. One moment you're having a good time, and the next, you're dwelling on something negative. That negativity would only fester and then attract Grimm. It was mentally exhausting.
"I knew it would be tough," Ruby admitted. "Just thought it would be more fighting swaths of Grimm over trudging through muddy ditches."
"Feels like we are fighting Grimm more often than when we were at Beacon," Jaune pointed out. "It's been only like, what? Two days since we fought the King Taijitu? That's barely any time compared to sitting in Beacon doing homework and fighting training drones."
"You have a point," Ruby agreed. "Maybe it just seems longer when we're stuck walking without video games or junk food."
"And having to keep an eye out for Grimm," Jaune added grimly. "I can't imagine trying to do this without Qrow. Think we could keep this pace up and stay up half the night each to keep watch."
"Noooooo." Ruby shook her head furiously. "Maybe that's why Beacon has us in teams of four? Allows us to alternate the night shift easier."
"Could be," Jaune agreed. "Lots of reasons for the groups, I suppose. Small groups move quickly, but we have enough friends to cover each other's backs. Share night watches as you said. Plus, spending so much time together, you get to know each other and become like a… fami…ly..."
'Crap!'
Ruby pushed herself up on her aching arms as she glanced over at Jaune, who had just fallen silent. His face was stony and unreadable. Any light in his eyes was gone as he retracted back into those dark thoughts. Ruby had to shake him out of it, but she wasn't sure what to say. No matter how much she thought about it, no good answer came to her on how to help her friend with his team problems. He hadn't brooded over it for days, so part of Ruby thought he had finally passed it.
Turns out, he had just been distracted.
"Jaune!" Ruby suggested louder than she meant. "How about we don't stay locked up here. We could-…"
Bang!
The door to their room opened, and Qrow came in. Looking around, he pointed to Jaune.
"You, come with me. Now!"
At least the sudden intrusion jolted Jaune out of his slump.
"W-Wha…!?" The boy stuttered, bolting upright. "Why!? What's going on?!"
"Is someone in trouble?!" Ruby gasped.
"Yes, me!" Qrow grabbed Jaune's shoulder and nearly kicked him out the door. "There's a cute bartender and I need one of you to impress her. Ruby's too young to enter! Get going!"
While the drinking age in Remnant was technically 18, Huntsmen-in-training at the schools were allowed to drink at 17. The rationale was that if they were old enough to fight monsters for Humanity's sake, they were old enough to drink. Ruby had just fallen through the cracks. Getting into Beacon two years early wasn't something the government considered when they made that law.
So she was left to gape as her Uncle took her best friend to go drinking…
…WITHOUT HER!
"Not fair!" The indignant girl yelled out after them but didn't receive any response from Qrow. Grumbling, she slammed the door to the room shut a little more forcefully than she needed to, before collapsing onto the bed. "I'm not a kid! I can drink!"
Ruby buried her face in her pillow and continued to grumble about the unfairness of it all. Seriously, it wasn't like she wasn't an adult, right? Grimm exterminator, best friend, and team leader showed she was mature enough to make her own decisions. Ruby even drank milk! So why did those stupid old people think she couldn't go to a bar with her friend and uncle.
Sitting up, there was something she could do.
"Right! I have to call Yang since I'm in town." Grabbing her Scroll, the young girl quickly dialed her sister's number.
"Ruby!" Lilac eyes, blonde hair, and a familiar face came into view. "Finally able to call? I was starting to get worried."
"Hey, Yang!" Ruby couldn't help smiling at seeing her sister. "I did promise after all. We just got into town about an hour ago. Had to shower and rest up. It's pretty brutal out there the last couple of days. Rain and marching through mud, yuck."
"I do not envy you," Yang smiled. "Though, you aren't showering with Vomit Boy, right?"
"YAAAAANNNNGGGG!" The young teen flinched. "Ewwwwwwww. He's my best friend. I don't think of him like that."
"Whatever you say," Yang rolled her eyes. "Speaking of him, is he with you?"
"He and Uncle Qrow went to a bar!" Ruby spouted, a little upset as she remembered. "And left me! Can you believe it! I'm supposed to be his apprentice too."
"Er… you do know you aren't old enough to be in a bar, right?" Yang raised an eyebrow as she asked that.
"So? I didn't have to drink anything."
"Think it's a law or something," Yang shrugged. "Either way, they won't want someone there who won't drink. Though, I think Uncle Qrow just wants some guy time. Anytime he visits dad, we're always there."
"You think?" Ruby was surprised. Her uncle never mentioned they were too clingy or he needed space. "Does he think Jaune's like his nephew?"
"Guy time doesn't mean that!" At Ruby's question, Yang burst out laughing. "It's more… guys like to talk about certain things with other guys. Just like we have girl time with Blake and Weiss."
"When you always ask if any of them are dating?"
"Exactly!"
"Ugh… fine. I'll leave them be. But Uncle Qrow better do something cool with me to make up for it."
"He probably will," Yang assured her, and then her face grew serious. "It's actually a good thing Jaune is busy right now." Ruby sat up instantly. When Yang used Jaune's real name, he either was in trouble or did something to impress her.
"Why?" The girl asked hesitantly, unable to restrain her curiosity.
"Remember when Goodwitch mentioned we were going to Forever Falls on a field trip?"
"Yeah?"
"We went there while you were traveling," Yang's expression darkened and her eyes grew narrow. "Cardin and his team were unhappy about Pyrrha beating them two on one and wanted to take her down a peg…"
So Jaune found himself at a bar for only the second time in his life.
Not to say he hadn't had a drink before. He and some friends back home had secretly taken some alcohol from their parents from time to time. Not a lot and they were safely at home. They were underage though. The first time Jaune actually went into a bar was when he first arrived in Vale. Trying to figure out how to get into Beacon, he had learned this one club had some dubious connections. It was there, sitting at a bar, Jaune got his fake transcripts.
At least now, the boy wasn't doing anything illegal.
"Drink up, kid." Qrow told him, as the bartender slid down a couple of shots. "You look like you need it."
"How did you know?" Jaune asked quietly, picking up the glass and sniffing it. The pungent smell burned his nose, making him flinch.
"Overheard you brats," Qrow explained. "Was coming back to check up on you two and heard the last bit. Decided to step in because you drew back into your shell."
"I wasn't going to." The lie was obvious.
"Listen, if you want to mope on it privately, that's up to you," The man didn't bother to comment on the bullshit he just heard. "If you bring your allies down with your mood, that's another thing. It's a problem. Ruby's going to be worried about you that it may distract her during an inopportune moment." His expression drew dark. "A single distraction can be fatal."
"Sounds like you know this first hand." Jaune picked up the shot glass and looked at the brown liquid.
"I've seen people die because of that." The words were monotone, but he could feel angst slipping through his teeth. "Good people."
"Is that why you drink?" The question escaped the teen's lips.
"Yes... and more."
The ease at which Qrow replied caused Jaune to shiver. He hadn't lost any close friends, technically. Pyrrha had hurt him, but she did it because she actually cared. They still had a chance to make amends. Part of him considered what would happen if something happened to Pyrrha and he never got a chance to apologize. His stomach churned and that was the only answer he needed. It made him sick. Deep down, Jaune knew he was wrong. He knew that Pyrrha didn't make a mistake and didn't deserve being ignored. Saying it out loud was another story.
"I have to apologize to her," Jaune muttered before raising his shot and gulping it down. As the strong liquid slid down his throat, he could only compare it to fire burning the inside of him. Coughing, he almost dropped the glass. "Khak khak ahck! What the heck is this?!"
"Something strong to take your mind off things." Qrow laughed. "Feel better?"
"NO!"
"Then you need another."
Qrow had already gulped down his third shot.
"So, are you really going to apologize to that girl?" Jaune glanced over at his mentor after he registered his words. "Before you ask, I'm not saying you're right or wrong to do so or not. That's up to you."
"I messed up and I'm going to apologize, but I don't know if things will go back to what they were," Jaune admitted. "I know I screwed up, but I can't help thinking she messed up too. It's selfish and I hate it."
For an instant, Qrow's expression softened.
"Yeah, people suck." The Huntsman pushed another shot toward the boy. "We aren't rational, we aren't perfect, and you better fucking believe we are selfish. In the end, you'll make a decision about what is more important to you. Hopefully, before it's too late." He punched Jaune's arm lightly. "One last piece of advice. Don't apologize until you're ready. A fake apology doesn't make you feel any better."
"Ren… my teammate… said nearly the same thing." The boy picked up the shot and downed it in one gulp. This one went down slightly easier than the last one. "Once I can finally stand up straight, show I'm capable of being a Huntsman, I think then I can finally show my face to her. I don't think I can do it before that."
"Nice speech." Qrow chuckled. "Now that you've decided that, are you going to stop moping? It's going to upset Ruby and annoys the hell out of me."
"Nah, I'm going to stop," Jaune promised. "If you see me start to fall back, knock some sense into me."
"Oh, I was planning to," The man assured him. "Part of the perks of being a mentor."
"Avoid the face?"
"That solely lies on your ability to dodge or block."
This time, both of them got to enjoy a small laugh, causing the mood to lighten up.
"What do you think of the training?" Qrow asked suddenly. "Everything you imagined it to be?"
"Way more," Jaune admitted quietly. "I knew it would be tough, but it never really sank in until I had to get up while my body still ached and continue, regardless of the weather. The rain really hammered it in. You never think about some of this stuff. I expected constant fighting, some long walks between towns, and then swordplay from you. But tracking, weather observation, fighting my body every step of the way? They don't teach us that at Beacon."
"Students find this out eventually in their first mission," Qrow explained. "It's why they are chaperoned by a Huntsman for those. The main difference is they only do it for a couple of days at most. You're living it. That's what this apprenticeship is. 24/7 training. No goofing off, no relaxation except an occasional drink at a place like this." He gestured to the nearly empty bar. "So you should get used to it."
"Ruby and I talk about this all the time," Jaune assured him. "No matter how tough it gets, we aren't giving up. You're stuck with us, old man."
Finally, a small attempt at humor escaped him.
"You're lucky I have alcohol in my system, or I wouldn't let that comment slide, brat."
With neither of them being fully sober now, they had fun trading insults— nothing like a bit of guy humor to lighten the mood. Jaune did feel slightly sour, leaving Ruby out of this, and silently vowed to make it up to her sometime. As the two of them continued to talk, the female bartender came up to them, with two drinks Qrow hadn't ordered.
"Here you go," She told Qrow, setting the drinks down in front of them. "The woman heading upstairs bought you one. And your cute friend. Said you wouldn't mind the bottom shelf, but I snuck you two top."
"Thanks." Qrow smiled at her after his eyes darted to the upper floor. Meanwhile, Jaune was frozen when the woman winked at him and left. "Looks like you got a fan, boy."
"Was she flirting with me?"
Qrow almost burst out laughing at how confused the boy was. The situation required him to remain vigilant though, so he couldn't have fun with it. The woman who bought them the drink was familiar. Someone Qrow would never forget, no matter how much he wanted to. Still, if she was here, that meant she wanted to talk about something important. The fact she bought Jaune a drink too, showed she wanted to meet them both.
"Come on, kid." Qrow stood up and grabbed his drink. "Follow me."
Confusion was evident on the boy's face, but to his credit, he grabbed his drink and began to follow Qrow upstairs.
"Someone you know?" Jaune asked quietly.
"Someone I'd rather forget," Qrow muttered bitterly. "Listen, kid. I need you to keep everything you're about to see and hear a secret, even from Ruby, unless I permit you."
"Even Ruby?" Jaune repeated. "Shouldn't she-…"
"Remember what I told you when we started?" Qrow growled. "About listening to me regardless if you like it or not." He stopped walking upstairs and glared at Jaune until the teen nodded. "Good. You'll understand when you see her. I don't know what she wants, but I doubt it's good."
Jaune felt his throat dry at how serious Qrow had become. There was no amusement in his eyes and his tone reflected he really didn't want to see this woman. They didn't talk again after ascending the stairs and walked down the hallway to the far private room. Qrow didn't even knock as he pushed the door open. All Jaune could do was follow, ignoring the lack of manners. If his sister ever caught him entering their room without permission, the results wouldn't be pretty.
Instantly, the boy froze when his eyes fell on the woman sitting at a table.
'It couldn't be…'
The woman looked to be almost a spitting image of Yang. There were some noticeable differences, but other than that, it could have been a clone. Instead of blonde, her hair was pitch black but just as full and lustrous. Crimson red eyes over lilac ones were scanning Jaune as he stared at the woman. They reminded him of when Yang got mad and her eyes changed color. The woman was also older, but she still seemed pretty young. On the seat next to her was an elaborate white mask that would have covered most of her head.
Shaking his head slightly, Jaune told himself he had to imagine the similarities. He was probably just buzzed from the turpentine he had been given to drink.
"Raven!" Qrow greeted suddenly, pulling up a chair and sitting down. "It's been too long. Still a colossal bitch?"
The words caused Jaune to freeze as he was halfway to sitting in the chair. His eyes darted to the woman named Raven, expecting her to say something. Or maybe snap and stab Qrow.
Nothing more than a scowl came back though and he managed to sit down.
"Charming," The woman named Raven sighed. "So we're playing this game. Hello Qrow, are you still a raging alcoholic?"
"So you are still one. Great!"
"What's with all the false bravado?" Raven questioned. "Trying to impress this boy?" She lazily gestured over to Jaune.
"Kid knows me well enough that this is nothing." Qrow shrugged and sipped the drink in his hand.
"You never seemed the type to take an apprentice." The woman accused. "He's your first one, isn't he?"
"Favor to Oz." Qrow wasn't concerned as Jaune sat there, unsure what was happening. "Giving the greenhorn a little field practice. Like how we trained."
"Er…" Jaune interrupted when he felt like he had to ask. Both of their gazes fell on him. "How do you two know each other? Did you two date?"
The room went dead silent.
Then Qrow began to retch.
"BLAARGH!"
The man leaned over and began to vomit into the trash can, losing all the alcohol still in his stomach. The woman, Raven, meanwhile froze and her eyes narrowed. Jaune suddenly felt like his life was about to end as the cold gaze lacked any hint of mercy. The woman's hand reached for the sword on her hip.
"Say something like that again, and I will personally cut out your tongue."
"Yes, ma'am!" Jaune stiffened up as her words washed over him like ice water.
"Kid, never… I repeat… never suggest that again." Qrow's face was slightly green. "Don't tell me you don't see the resemblance."
"She's…" Jaune blinked and examined the woman again. "Yang's… mom?"
"I hardly doubt Yang considers me as such," Raven commented coldly. "So, you know my daughter?"
"They went to Beacon a short time before he came under me," Qrow informed her dryly. "I can also agree Yang does NOT consider this bitch a mother. Egg Donor, Birth-giver, Fetus Incubator, she's come up with a lot of interesting names over the years."
"Yang mentioned her mother left when she was young, but no more than that." Jaune recalled. "I just know about Ruby's mom."
"Raven is also my sister." Jaune's face paled when Qrow told him that. He now realized why they acted so strongly. "Not that it matters much. Our tribe doesn't care about blood, does it?"
"If the blood is strong, we do." Raven replied simply, sipping at her drink. "Ozpin is waging a foolish war and you must know it. Come back, Qrow. Bring Yang with you and help strengthen our tribe."
"I don't see why you think my answer will ever change," Qrow huffed. "I knew this wasn't a social call."
"Don't you think a sister can stop by and visit her brother now and then?" Raven asked, finally showing emotion besides anger with a smirk.
"Sure," A loud huff followed the woman's pronouncement as Qrow shook his head. "But we both know that's not the case. Don't try to act like our family was anything closely resembling normal." He chuckled into the remains of his drink. "Now who's showing off for the kid?"
"You're not the type to take an apprentice," Raven repeated, pointing a finger at Jaune. "I even heard you have a second one."
"It's Ruby, Summer's brat." Qrow leaned forward and rested his arm on the table. "I took them as a favor to Oz and I'm showing them the ropes. Giving them some real-world experience."
"At least you remember some of our tribe's teaching." Raven scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"I gave them a Test of Blood recently, and they passed," Qrow's finger tapped the table impatiently. Raven actually raised an eyebrow at this declaration and her eyes snapped toward Jaune. "Now it's just polishing the stones."
Jaune was confused. What test did Qrow give them recently?
"Your skills would be better suited elsewhere." Raven pushed further.
"Okay, we both know I'm not changing my mind, no matter how much you bitch at me," Qrow finally stopped pretending to care. "What brings you here?"
"Same reason as you," Raven leaned forward. "I know what happened to her and I'm investigating too. The last thing we need is that power in her hands."
Jaune was not completely lost and remained silent, sipping at the drink in his hand. The one thing he could see was the drink was better than the poison shots Qrow gave him. Whatever these two were talking about, they were careful not to say anything too revealing. It might have been because he was there, but it could just as easily be for anyone else who might be eavesdropping.
"You're too late," There was a clink as Qrow actually set down his glass. "She's gone. There's nothing to look for and that power is safe. I'm looking for the bastard that tried to take it."
"They will be long gone, but feel free to waste your time," Raven rolled her eyes. "You place too much blind trust in Ozpin. He keeps a lot of secrets from us."
"I would too," Qrow countered her with his own brand of sarcasm. "Look how well you turned out."
"It seems we aren't going to agree any time soon." Grabbing her helmet, the woman stood up.
"Seems not."
"I wanted to try one last time to appeal to your survival instincts, but it seems like you're set on riding out the sinking ship."
"I'm not going to run because it's tough," Qrow spat at her, standing up too. "You're the one who ran away. You're the one who abandoned us! Why don't you get off that high horse of yours? You decided a bunch of bandits was more your family than Yang or Tai… or me!"
"That sentimentality will get you killed one day." Raven placed the mask on her face. "Boy, what's your name?"
Jaune straightened up at finally being addressed.
"Jaune… Jaune Arc."
"An Arc?" For a moment, Raven's voice seemed contemplative, but the mask hid her expression. "And you passed the Trial of Blood? Should you decide to leave this weakling and discover true strength, look up The Branwen Tribe. I have my own apprentice, so we might meet again to test your skills."
"That won't be necessary!" Jaune shook his head as he sat there defiantly. "I'm following Qrow and don't see myself changing that anytime soon."
"You're just as big of an idiot as he is then. Suit yourself."
Behind her, a large red portal capable of her walking through appeared on the wall. Jaune couldn't see through to the other end, but Raven obviously knew where it came out. The woman didn't even say goodbye as she stepped through. The portal instantly closed behind her, leaving no signs behind on the wall.
"Bitch." Qrow grumbled.
"So why was Yang's mother here?" Jaune asked, looking at the still-standing man glaring angrily at the wall where Raven vanished.
"Just being her usual self." Qrow collapsed back in his seat. "You don't want to be like her, and trust me; you don't want to be part of her tribe."
"You two were part of the same tribe?" Jaune only had bits and pieces of the story, but he could put them together quickly enough.
"Before we started Beacon," Qrow couldn't help unleashing a bark-like laugh. "Both of us were part of a bandit tribe. Hard to believe, right?"
Not really, but Jaune was at least smart enough not to open his mouth then and there.
"We came to Beacon to be stronger and take back the knowledge to our tribe," Qrow chuckled. "Things don't always work out quite as planned though. Tai, Ruby and Yang's dad, became pretty much my best friend. Summer, Ruby's mom? She was the person that held us all together. Then, while Raven decided to head back, I wanted to stay and work for Oz."
"Why did Raven leave?" Jaune asked and Qrow turned a wary eye to him. "Umm… if that's too personal…"
"Raven's not the nurturing type," The man answered, rattling the ice cubes in his empty drink glass. "The fact she stuck around for as long as she did was still a miracle." Out of nowhere, he chuckled. "I remember Raven insulting Tai for years, calling him weak, stupid, etc. Finally, during our third year, he had enough."
Qrow looked like he was reliving a pleasant memory.
"Tai told Raven, and I quote, 'Shut the fuck up! You've been a bitch to me since we've met and I've had enough of this shit. If you don't stop with the insults, I'll kick your ass from here to Vale!' Then he punched a wall, leaving a hole. Know what Raven did after that?"
"Beat him up?" Jaune guessed.
"HAH! No. Summer and I expected that. No, Raven pushed him against a wall and started making out with him. That's when they first got together."
Jaune gaped at his mentor after hearing that.
"Moral of the story, never trust blondes." Qrow looked at him then his gaze went up to stare at his hair. "Touch Ruby, and you lose your most important appendage. Understand?"
"Crystal."
Qrow finally stood up and walked out of the room. Jaune couldn't do anything but follow. They stopped at the bar to get one last drink and pay their tab before leaving. The sky was clear, and the roads were empty. It was late, and besides an occasional patrol or drunk, no one was out and about. Qrow kicked a rock and looked bored.
"What Raven said about you never taking an apprentice, is that true?" Jaune spoke up, recalling something Raven had said early on. "And she also said she might be seeing me again with her apprentice. Does your tribe… make apprentices spar?"
"Pretty clever and observant, aren't you?" Qrow remarked, evading the question.
"Comes with the territory of being surrounded by people exponentially stronger than me," Jaune tried to laugh. It was heavily forced though. "Back at Beacon, I was hoping they would teach us how to fight. Turns out combat class was just sparing and trying to correct a few things at a time. I just had so much to correct. The only thing I could do was observe others' fight and hope I could pick up a few things involving swordplay."
"That's… not a bad strategy in your position." The older man almost sounded impressed. "The only downside is you need to find someone with a similar style to yours. Learning from Ruby might teach you her attack patterns, but wielding a scythe is far different from using a sword and shield."
"I could tell that much. It's just, what else could I do? I would have had to…"
Jaune paused as he struggled to finish the sentence. It was so strange having words stuck in his throat that felt impossible to get out, but he knew he would have to overcome that.
"Admit what you did."
The silence hung over Jaune as Qrow finished his sentence.
"Yes…" The boy admitted. "I should have told my team. Not let them find out from others."
"Can't change the past, so don't focus on it," A sudden heavy slap hit Jaune in the back. "I've made mistakes that, when put side by side with yours, makes yours look like a child's tantrum. Ozpin had said he had done even worse. Learn from it and don't make that mistake again."
"I'm trying not to dwell on it," Jaune protested and shook his head. "Need to stop thinking about it for now."
"There you go," Qrow encouraged. "Already getting to the part of adulthood where we just push things to the back of our mind and pretend they don't exist."
"Not sure that's healthy…" Jaune trailed off and then glared at Qrow. "You never did answer my question."
"Which question?"
The way Qrow responded told Jaune that his mentor wasn't fully ready to explain himself. Would there be a better time to ask him? They were alone walking down an empty street, unlikely to be overheard, and Qrow was slightly drunk. Jaune was also worried about what Raven said when she left. If she was as bad as Qrow made her out to be, he needed to know what was going to happen.
"Let's start with why you haven't taken apprentices before." Jaune pushed, holding his ground and trying to sound serious.
There was no response as the two of them walked through the town. Something told Jaune he shouldn't break the silence but maintain it until Qrow spoke first. After a couple of minutes, the older man turned around as they passed the inn Ruby was waiting in.
"My job wasn't something I could take untrained kids with me," Qrow answered at last. "They would get themselves killed. It's only now that things have changed. More of a necessity. Do you think you could survive if we went straight into the Wilderness and faced hordes of Grimm?"
"No, I wouldn't." Jaune admitted instantly. "I learned my limitations pretty quickly."
"Yeah, sometimes you have to accept there are things you can't do with others that have to be done alone," Qrow continued. "You and Ruby asked about slowing me down and I answered then. For a number of years, I was running around doing things you couldn't dream of and still fell behind. They tell you Beacon prepares you for what it's like to be a real Huntsman. That's hardly the case. You learn a lot more after you graduate and many people don't last long. We are in a very dangerous occupation."
"Like Ruby's mom…" Jaune muttered. Ruby mentioned Summer to him before, how her mom vanished on a mission to help people.
"Like Summer…" Qrow agreed, sounding more depressed than Jaune had ever heard her. "That's something I dwelled on for a long time. She was family, kid. One of my closest friends." He lashed out a passing light pole, and there was a bang as his fist hit it.
Jaune gulped, realizing this was a sore spot for him.
"There's another reason I never took an apprentice," Qrow suddenly spoke again. "You might not believe this, but I'm pretty unlucky. Never wanted to risk someone getting hurt around me."
"But… you're so strong!" Jaune protested. "Ruby told me all sorts of stories about you. You're like one of the most amazing Huntsman on Remnant.
"HAHAHAHA!"
Qrow actually collapsed on the wall of a building at Jaune's statements.
"Oh, I needed a laugh like that." Qrow slapped Jaune on the back again, almost sending him sprawling to the ground. "Thanks for that, kid."
"Anytime," Jaune grunted, rubbing his back. He didn't understand why Qrow called himself unlucky, but he could hardly say he was utterly unlucky. He managed to get into Beacon and not die. That was a miracle. "And about what Raven said about her apprentice and seeing me?"
Qrow sobered up instantly.
"Yeah, about that…" A loud sigh escaped him. "We're going to have to up your training, by a lot."
"Up it?" Jaune's eyes widened in horror. "How is that even possible? And why? Won't that kill me?"
"Probably." Qrow shrugged and looked unconcerned.
"That's not very comforting!"
"I have never once promised you that any part of this trip would be comfortable."
Jaune recognized the shadow of a grin forming on the man's face in one of the old lights attached to a building.
"Very funny… haha." Jaune remarked dryly.
"I'm not joking about the training," Qrow suddenly stopped. "If Raven decides she wants you to fight her apprentice, it's because she's using you as a stepping stool for them. She'll wait until she thinks you're strong enough to pose some measure of challenge. Then, she'll have her student beat you up until you're near death, or dead if she messes up. The Branwen Tribe doesn't hold back in training, and the first rule is, the strong are right."
Jaune's mouth and throat went dry.
"So not much we can do. As you saw, she has this annoying ability to make portals," Qrow continued. "You just have to keep training and work on growing so you don't die."
"Do you think I'll be able to beat her student?"
"If you survive, I'll count that as a win."
Yeah, Jaune was beginning to regret all his choices again.
"Anyways, go back and keep Ruby company," Qrow told him. "If you stay out too long, she'll come looking for you."
"What about you?" Jaune asked instantly. "She'll want to know."
"I'm just going to scout around a bit, maybe get some more alcohol. Someone made me throw up what little I had in my stomach with their stupid comments."
"But you two made such a cute couple."
Jaune's smart mouth got him in trouble as a leg made contact with the back of his. The force made him crumble and he collapsed into the dirt. At least it was still soft from the rain the previous days.
"What was that for, asshole?!" The boy shouted.
"New lesson, never let your guard down." Qrow shrugged then the man grew serious. "Remember, kid. No telling Ruby what you heard with Raven. You and I got some drinks, you bawled a bit about your skills, I was awesome, and we had guy talk. Nothing else. Understand?"
"Crystal…bastard," Jaune mumbled the last word under his breath.
It was obvious Qrow heard him, but he didn't seem to be upset at the insult. If anything, he was amused by how fast the boy was adjusting.
"Finally!" Ruby cheered, as Jaune stepped through the door to their room. "You two took forever! And left me alone! Not even a text about how long you were taking!"
Guilt washed over the boy as he saw his friend's face.
"S-Sorry," Jaune stammered, as he did feel a little buzzed. The shots Qrow forced on him were finally taking effect. "After a couple of drinks, you kind of lose track of time." He flopped down on the bed. "What have you been up to?"
"I called my team," Ruby huffed. "Talk to them for a while. It's kind of late to call yours, but you really should tomorrow."
"Ah, right." Jaune looked up at the ceiling. "I'll let them know we arrived in town. Nora will be worried if she doesn't hear from us."
"And, there's something they will probably want to talk to you about…" Ruby muttered, her tone filled with nervousness. It was enough to make Jaune sit up and look at her.
"Why?" Jaune asked cautiously, eyeing the girl. "What happened?"
"I only heard this second-hand," Ruby explained quickly. "So I might not have all the answers."
"Okay, I understand." Jaune moved to the edge of his bed. "Just tell me. The suspense is killing me."
"Beacon did a trip to Forever Falls for first years," Ruby started off. Jaune knew this as they had been told before he and Ruby left. The trees there produce a special red sap that researchers liked. It was also pretty sweet and Nora had mentioned she was going to drink a lot of it. "Well, something happened. It involved Pyrrha and… Team CRDL."
"WHAT?!" Jaune jumped to his feet.
"Calm down!" Ruby raised her hands up and waited for Jaune to sit back down. "From what Yang told me, Team CRDL was upset that Goodwitch had Pyrrha beat them in combat class in a two on one. Pretty badly, Yang said. So, it looked like they wanted revenge."
The blood in Jaune's veins froze as he processed it. Cardin and his team were bullies. No one could dispute that. They were also known racists who hurt Faunus and called them animals. Pyrrha was someone who wasn't easily bullied and proved her skills over and over. It's why she was at the top of their class in combat. Weiss was at the top of their year in academics, but Pyrrha also was a close contender there. If she managed to beat two members of Cardin's team alone, they would want revenge.
Fighting fair wouldn't work, so they had to have done something underhandedly.
"Did they hurt her?" The words came out of his mouth as someone else spoke them.
"Blake was the one who saw it happen," Ruby continued. "Cardin collected some of the sap and threw it at Pyrrha. A jar full of it. It broke and covered her completely. Then… they released a crate of rapier wasps which attacked her."
Jaune just sat there as he processed this. Rapier wasps were poisonous insects with sharp stingers that were attracted to sweet things. If Pyrrha was covered in sap near them, they would have swarmed her. Enough stings would not only cause some welts, but could make her very sick. Part of him couldn't believe someone would actually risk the life of another student. This was more than just bullying.
"They… got expelled, right?" The boy choked out.
"Pyrrha managed to get into the river without too many injuries," Ruby recited. "I checked. Blake reported it to Goodwitch, but all Team CRDL admitted to was throwing the sap as a prank. They got some detentions, but that's it. Nora and Ren were somewhere else, and Yang and Weiss had been doing their own collecting."
"What bullshit is this!?" Jaune thundered, causing Ruby to jump. "They should have been expelled! Goodwitch can't honestly think that it's a coincidence! They were trying to kill her!"
"Jaune, calm down!" Ruby pleaded. He must have been drunker than she realized. Yang and Qrow could easily explode if they were angry while drunk. It took work to calm them down, but it was possible. "I doubt she thought it was, but you need proof to punish people!"
Jaune punched his bed.
"We've been out here less than two weeks, and we already know how easy it can be for people to die," Jaune growled. "Purposely risking another's life is so far from being a Huntsman that Ozpin should have expelled him instantly."
"I agree," Ruby soothed. "Yang's not close with Pyrrha, but even she admitted they deserved to be beaten to the ground." She wasn't entirely sure why Yang didn't like Pyrrha much anymore, but decided that was between them. It's not like Yang and Jaune were super close either. "Weiss reacted almost the same way as you did. She's furious they got away with it, even with Blake being a witness. Pyrrha didn't see anything, so it was just Blake versus them."
"I'm beginning to think they purposely turned a blind eye to those guys at Beacon." Jaune muttered angrily.
"There's no way they would," Ruby assured her, walking over and giving him a hug from behind. "They are just jerks who will either get kicked out when they get caught, or they will eventually realize what being a Huntsman is all about. They don't get a super cool teacher like we do."
Jaune felt himself chuckle weakly.
"We do have an amazing teacher, don't we?" Jaune told her. "Next time you talk to your team, can you thank them for watching out for mine? Especially Blake."
"Sure, no problem!"
Jaune laid back down in his bed after shutting off the lights. Ruby, meanwhile, was also trying to fall asleep. It was very late and both of them were exhausted. Physically at least. Their minds were working overtime on so many things.
'Ren and Nora weren't with Pyrrha,' Ruby thought to herself. 'I know Nora was upset, but Ren's always so calm and collected. He wouldn't push her away.'
It's not like Ruby asked her team to spy on them. She simply requested them to let her know if there were any obvious changes they noted. Weiss was spending more time with Pyrrha, which made sense. Since those two didn't have partners, it made sense for them to hang out. While not all partners were close, being in proximity with someone else for a long period of time forced people to get used to each other. Weiss was a prime example of that. They were like oil and water at first and not besties.
Blake didn't really want to intervene. It was something between their team and it would be inappropriate to get involved in her own words. If she did see their relationships start changing in front of her, she would let Ruby know, but wouldn't deliberately spy on them. Blake did admit to seeing Nora purposely ignore Pyrrha a couple of times in class, with Ren being the one to talk to her. They didn't seem to hang out much outside though. Pyrrha was going off on her own more often.
Yang was friendly with Nora, so she didn't get to hang with Pyrrha much. The two of them caused way too much destruction and Weiss spent a good part of the afternoon complaining about them. That honestly brought a smile to Ruby's face as her partner hadn't changed. She was still the rule-abiding girl who would only break them for the team. Ruby knew if Yang was ever in trouble, Weiss would help ensure the punishment wouldn't be too bad.
There would be some of course, because Weiss believed Yang needed more of it. Ruby actually agreed with her on this. Yang's antics were awesome, but sometimes, she pushed things too far. She also treated Ruby like a child too much. Now that they were separated, Yang couldn't do that anymore. Ruby was on her own with just her uncle and Jaune, being forced to be an adult to survive and help people.
Sleep eventually fell over the girl and she began to snore lightly before turning over in her bed.
It was at that moment, Jaune took out his Scroll.
The boy had been struggling with his own thoughts and feelings about it. The fact Pyrrha was hurt infuriated him. That was probably a good sign, as he hadn't dismissed his former partner completely. A small part of him then decided to mess with his insecurities.
'Are you upset Pyrrha was hurt or that Cardin decided to slander the name of Huntsmen?'
His hand shook as he held his Scroll.
It was apparent, the first thing, right?
Emotions swirled in his mind as he stared at his Scroll. If they hadn't left on bad terms, Jaune would have instantly called Pyrrha to console her. Assure his partner she was right and that he would be there to protect her in the future. Now? That wasn't something he could do. He wanted to, but couldn't seem to press that call button. Something was stopping him. Jaune gritted his teeth as he desperately debated what to do.
Finally, his fingers began to move as he typed out a short message.
'I heard what happened. You did nothing wrong.'
With a single tap of his finger on his scroll, the message was sent and the boy fell asleep.
"You the Huntsman who just wandered into town?"
Qrow was walking around the town wall, staying in the shadows to avoid talking to any of the guards patrolling the perimeter. Somehow, this Faunus woman still found him. She had long auburn hair, piercing green eyes, and a couple cyan-green feathers on her head, indicating her trait was avian in nature.
"I am. What's it to you?"
"I'm the current chief of the village," The woman introduced herself. "You can call me, Teal."
"Qrow."
"How long are you planning to stay here?" Teal asked.
"No more than a couple of days, but the sooner we leave, the better." Qrow shrugged nonchalantly. "What's up?"
"Did any of the guards tell you what's been happening?" The chief asked, leaning against the wall.
"Nope."
"There's been… disappearances."
"Dangerous world out there," Qrow pointed out. "Grimm, weather, you name it."
"If it were a Grimm attack, that would be one thing," Teal muttered. "We're used to it. People know not to go outside without an armed escort. Occasionally, you get someone stupid enough to think they will be safe because someone cleared out the Grimm recently."
"And you find their remains as a reminder about why you have procedures."
"Exactly." Teal frowned and tapped the wall anxiously. "This is where things get worrisome. One person disappearing, okay. They could have been eaten or fallen off a cliff where we can't find their body. Several? That's when we start investigating. When we came up with nothing, we sent a call to other nearby villages and guess what we found. They have an unusual number of missing people too."
Qrow leaned up against the wall next to her.
"Sounds like something is going on then," Qrow mumbled. "I want to say they all just packed up and moved somewhere, but we both know how ridiculous that would be."
"At least you aren't one of the optimistic Huntsman who just dismisses our issues."
"Lady, I've seen a lot weirder stuff than what you've described. My worries are that it's some new type of Grimm that likes eating people whole."
"I don't think we'll be that lucky." Teal looked at him. "We finally found some evidence, and I want to know what you think."
"I think I'm too sober to hear this."
"Aren't we all?"
Neither spoke for a few minutes until the chief broke the dead silence.
"One of our scouts found some old tracks two days ago heading east. They weren't taking the main path, but all the paths are kind of worn, so it doesn't really matter. We found a campsite with signs of a fire and a tent."
"And no signs of them leaving?" Qrow raised an eyebrow.
"No, worse." Teal made a fist. "We found tracks that looked like a large vehicle. If it wasn't for the rain making the ground soft, we probably wouldn't have noticed it."
"Did they get picked up?" Qrow felt a sinking sensation in his stomach that it wasn't the case. He still had to do his due diligence and check out all possibilities first. "Meet an escort?"
"I doubt they would head further into the Grimm Wilderness if that were the case," Teal laughed. A laugh that was devoid of anything resembling amusement or happiness. "There was also a single gunshot hole in a tree. A tree in the middle of the camp. It came from the direction of the vehicle."
The lines on Qrow's face grew more pronounced as he frowned. This sounded familiar. Far too familiar for his liking. He could investigate this on his own, but with Ruby and Jaune with him? Neither of them faced something of this magnitude before. It might be too early for those kids to see this. His mouth felt dry as he spoke.
"Slavers?"
"That's what we're thinking," Teal growled. "Some bastards are out there kidnapping Faunus."
Feel free to leave a review, comment, suggestions, or ideas, I love reading them. If you have a question you wish I ask and would like a quick answer, feel free to message me directly. I try to respond to those within a day or two. Comments, I tend to respond to in the next chapter.
Wishez: Another chapter in the book, and to those who even read my notes, this is my last chapter for TCWM. I've been burnt out on RWBY content and decided it's best to take my leave from this. I will still be editing all of Dark's other fics, including SV, just because Toaru carries it enough for me to ignore the RWBY side. If you do have experience in editing, please let us know in the Kamachiland server.
Dark: Hours are long, there's no pay, and you get no respect. Not for the faint of heart.