Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Thieves' Dance. Enjoy the 1200-word chapter. I don't own RWBY. Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth do.

The flap of wings signaled to Ozpin that his spy had returned to him. He rotated in his chair to stare into the wide-open sky. The gears of his clockwork like house surged under him. He was quite interested in hunting down whoever they were.

"We have a problem." Russet said, crossing his arms over his chest. "A pair of assassins tried to murder Tukson. They weren't White Fang. I engaged them, but they managed to escape while I was busy fighting them." Russet added as he dropped off the balcony and into the room.

"Did they work for her as you said?" Ozpin questioned, gaining a hum from Russet. "If they did? Then we appear to have to step up our plans further. They cannot be allowed to gain a foothold in Vale." Ozpin asked to which Russet sighed, bringing a hand to his temples as he did so.

He didn't know the duo; they were certainly skilled. Both could easily have been rouge huntsmen, but no rouge huntsmen would randomly target Tukson who was planning to leave. They wouldn't know who he was.

"Their skilled assassins, they knew him personally." Russet stated, turning to Ozpin who was busy frowning, unsure of how to handle this. "I don't know who trained them, but I do know that their powerful. The girl was the more dangerous one, her partner was too busy trying to engage me directly." Russet added, crossing his arms over his chest as he did so.

He knew that there was plenty of enemies within Vale that wouldn't mind some random violence… However? None of them were quite willing to engage in something like this, they were warriors.

"And how is Tukson currently?" Russet heard from Ozpin which caused Russet to click his jaws together. "Your report said he's safe." Ozpin added as Russet nodded.

"He's safe from them." Russet responded, putting a hand to his temples as he did so. "I'm going to assume you had someone shadow him until he's off her radar? I can't be two places at once, sir." Russet added, pausing to rub at one of the wounds he had retrieved.

He wanted to fight them again. Assassins in vale? Why not? They had the White Fang kicking down their front door already, why not add a pair of murderers who wanted them dead and gone this bad?

"General Ironwood had a transport take him to Atlas, he will not be seen for a while." Ozpin put in to which Russet nodded. "I will be sure to make sure his information is accurate before something happens to him. He promised us perfect intelligence in exchange for his cooperation." Ozpin added, watching as Russet passed around the table with much interest.

"I'm quite curious as to what her plan is and what Tukson is part of it for." Russet said, his ears twitching as he did so. "He's a former White Fang, sure… But why would they want him dead enough to have a pair of assassins who are Huntsmen level hunting him down? What does that gain her?" Russet questioned.

Ozpin sighed and looked out the window. He knew enough to know SHE was someone who often made the most interesting move when it came down to it. She would strike again and this time? She would leave nothing to chance, it was common of her to do something like this.

"Do you think they will come back? Salem has many agents." Ozpin put in to which he was given total silence from the bat Faunus. "You're scared, yes?" Ozpin questioned to which he got a nod.

He was silent, Ozpin was not foolish enough to think that Russet was as in the know as he was. There were many details that his agent didn't understand about this life he lived, one couldn't live as an assassin if they knew they'd be on the chopping block the very next day. You had to have balance.

"I think it would be best if you rested for a few moments, we need to think about the next move." Ozpin ordered as Russet turned, raising an eyebrow at his friend and master.

He felt unsure of what to tell him. He also felt like he knew that woman who he felt like he knew them.

(With Emerald)

Emerald hummed, whoever she had fought? They were good. A master huntsman? Perhaps, but she knew she had failed… And that angered her.

"You had to try and kick him." Emerald stated, turning to Mercury. "How did getting thrown into a bookcase feel?" Emerald asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

Mercury scowled, leaning on the dirty wall behind her. She was left with her own thoughts. She turned to see Mercury was busy rolling his eyes.

"Which one of us is telling her?" Emerald questioned to which Mercury shrugged. "Fine, I'll do it. someone has to tell her we failed." Emerald added, shaking her head.

She pulled out her scroll, unsure of if she could explain her failure to her master. She had screwed up, let down her master who had given her almost everything.

"I'll do it." Mercury stated, pausing to pull his scroll out of his pocket. "Did you know who the hell that guy was? He looked pretty fancy for a huntsman." Mercury added to which Emerald rolled her eyes.

She didn't know what that was. whoever they were? They had made two of Cinder's assassins look stupid. She would NOT allow them to humiliate her again.

"Tell her the target got away." Emerald stated, rubbing at her temples. "And tell them to look out for a masked huntsman. And their touch enough to have beaten us both." Emerald added, pausing to think of how best to handle this.

Cinder would make sure that they were punished. She HATED failure. The mere sake of a failure made her ticked beyond believe. She was quite aware of how bad she took their losses in the past.

"That guy seemed to stop when he saw you." Emerald heard from Mercury. "I think he knew who you were or something. Maybe that's why he backed down. Ever think of something like that?" Mercury questioned which caused her to shake her head.

"Maybe, there's a lot of thieves back in Mistral." Emerald said, shrugging as she did so. "There's plenty of people who could or would have gone after me. Why? What does that matter?" Emerald asked to which her partner rolled his eyes, unsure of what to say.

She knew that was something was going on. Something was bound to change sooner or later. However? She didn't plan on letting it get the better of her so soon.

Author Notes

Phew. Another chapter done! I apologize PROFUSELY for the wait and the lackluster chapter. Next chapter will be longer and such. Next chapter will also be in 2-10 months and will show Emerald and Russet training and such. Next chapter will be 900-5500 words and such. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!

P.S: Next chapter is on Saturday. Ruby 900-1200 Monday, Yang 900-4500 words Thursday. Raven 1200 Saturday, Cinder 900-3500 Friday, Elm 900-3500 Saturday. Weiss 900-3500 Saturday, Winter 1500 Sunday, Penny 900-1200 Saturday and such.