Fangs of the Exiles

Rated M

Rwby

Summary:

Life is not about what happens to you, but what you make of it... At least that's what everyone says. Two faunus will answer whose way is right, carrying the will of a titanic kingdom while the other, the spirit of one who shouldn't exist. Forgotten, their paths will cross, for better or worse.

A/N:

Chapter 20: Return to Argus-1

[Argus Limited]

The rigid air beat against the metallic locomotive as it traveled down the tracks. The atmosphere surrounding the passengers was heavy and uneasy but, they were safe. This was thanks to the duo of Lie Ren and Jaune Arc, the latter using his recently acquired semblance to amplify the former's. This allowed them to shield the people by hiding their emotional negativity from the Grimm.

While this went on, Pyrrha and Nora kept their eyes peeled for any signs of trouble while the duo from Team ASRE helped to keep the people calm, thus preventing Ren from over-exhausting his aura. It was a good thing too as, even with Jaune infusing his aura into his friend, Ren still was a little tired from having to hide so many people from the vile creatures, including the two teams.

Pyrrha couldn't help but smile despite the potential danger lurking around every turn. She observed a heartwarming scene where three individuals were doing their best to maintain a sense of calm. The green-eyed warrior glanced several times, particularly noting how effortlessly a certain vulpine managed to soothe a group of whimpering faunus children by wiggling his ears, eliciting a few giggles. Despite the chaos and the sudden absence of Team RWBY, Qrow, and Oscar, the trio was doing an admirable job of remaining vigilant and keeping the people calm.

"Looks like daddy material if you ask me."

Pyrrha nearly jumped out of her skin, catching the gazes of a few people nearby. Mortified, she flashed a soft glare at Nora who had a knowing grin on her face at this point, making her implication clear.

"While I do adore your antics, Nora, is it really appropriate to sneak up on people right now?"

"Technically, I just walked over here," the hammer-wielder shrugged. "Second, only those who are guilty of something would be all jumpy like that."

By now, Pyrrha couldn't help but avert her gaze, rubbing her arm at the truth behind her friend and teammate's words. She was so deep in thought about the boy that she didn't notice the girl approaching. Her cheeks were a bright red hue, making her shame even more apparent; Of all the people to catch her with her defenses down, it had to be Nora Valkyrie.

"Well... We should be focused on the task at hand. We're nearly at the Argus station but, there could be another attack. We'd best be prepared."

Half expecting the hyper girl to challenge her, Nora instead saluted the spartan but flashed a devious glance before returning to her post. It was nothing short of a miracle that she didn't dispute Pyrrha, but that didn't change the reality that she was preoccupied with the boy, but, it wasn't for the reason one would expect. Sure, Aganju was an attractive person, she was dating him after all.

However, it was the sight of not only him but Roxanne comforting the people that made her both happy yet, there was worry that laced that gladness.

Nearly there to Argus... she turned as their surroundings shifted from snow-covered mountains to icy-laced plains.

A Few Hours Ago

The students, along with Qrow and Ozpin/Oscar, gathered at the house within the upper levels of Mistral. After nearly two weeks of rest and fun, the assemblage had grown rather bored with just lounging around. Eventually, the time to move forward officially arrived at the perfect time. After gathering their things, Ozpin gave them a briefing about the relic before they set off for the train station.

On the ground level, Ruby and many of the others were awaiting their means of travel with the red-hooded girl grinning from ear to ear. She bounced on her toes, giggling much to the annoyance of her older sister, Yang, and the bewilderment of Weiss.

"And?" the blond pondered, anticipation replacing impatience.

Ruby answered by revealing a small bag from the Mistral Central Station gift shop, causing Yang's eyes to light up like a Dustmas tree.

"What an absolute waste of-..."

"What'd you get me?" Yang cut into the Ice Queen's criticism.

"You'll have to wait and see!" Ruby teased in a sing-song tone, sticking her tongue out afterward.

The sibling bickering wouldn't last long when Nora stepped in between the two to gush about going to Argus, specifically inquiring about beach season as an image of Ren in nothing but a speedo began to pop into her head. It was an interesting idea, one even he'd entertain if possible. Sadly that notion would be shot down due to the weather.

Pyrrha and the others laughed at Nora's pouting and Weiss' complaints about her effort to leave their intended target, Atlas. Thankfully, it was all amended when Ruby vowed to stay by her side no matter what. This brought a deal of comfort to Weiss Schnee who was combatting a vast measure of anxiety at the concept of having to face her father again.

Unfortunately, something always had to ruin the mood.

"No one's gotta be worried about anything with us around."

Turning around, the group's pleasant mood instantly gave way to annoyed glares directed at two young men, probably in their early to mid-20s approaching them. Pyrrha was the most annoyed when the one carrying a standard rifle noticed her, winking shamelessly at the younger girl. All he needed was an ungodly amount of cologne and some insane pride in possessing a basic title and he'd check off every box on the douchebag checklist.

"And you are?" Nora droned, clearly not impressed.

"Why D and Dudley, of course!" the one wielding a mace replied cockily. "Argus Limited's very own Huntsmen."

50%. Close enough... Green eyes rolled.

"We'll be keeping everyone safe as we pass through Grimm territory..." D announced with vigor.

"Buuuut..." Dudley cut in. "For a generous tip, we can make sure your passenger car gets special attention should things get dangerous."

If she didn't before, Pyrrha suddenly felt the urge to vomit at Dudley's second attempt to flirt. The other girls seemed to have the same idea as they just stared in utter disdain at the two obnoxious hustlers in front of them. As if their trying to coax the group for money wasn't bad enough, the shameless attempts at being flirtatious toward minors only made things worse.

Nora spared a glance at Ren that said 'Can I break their legs' to which the boy firmly shook his head no.

"Yeah, I gotta tip for ya! Buzz off!"

Qrow Branwen drew the attention to himself, clearly not pleased at the display. Never before had the scarlet-haired girl been so happy to see the drunkard.

"Looks like Mistral's scraping the bottom of the barrel these days," he replied, while Yang and Ruby taunted the two stooges behind him.

Not taking the insult well, D pointed angrily. "Hey! You're talking to!"

"A professional Huntsman..." Qrow flashed his ID, silencing the younger male. "Well, it seems one of you 'heroes' left the staff entrance to the caboose wide open. It'd be a shame if you lost your job before it started."

"I-I didn't do it!" Dudley professed.

"Come on, dummy..."

And with that, the two left to check on the situation. Of all of the Beacon students, Pyrrha felt the most relief once the two left. She would've expected a certain vulpine to appear but, the results would've been less than ideal so she didn't complain. Ruby and Yang noticed the absence as well, though it wasn't the only one of note for the latter.

"Have any of you seen Aganju? I haven't seen Blake or Roxie either..." the blond crossed her arms.

[Upper Level]

Above the group, several heartfelt reunions took place, as well as a few separations. It was disheartening to accept, but everyone knew it was needed for their advancement. That didn't change the fact that parting was never easy.

"I still don't feel I deserve the freedom that you and your family granted me."

"Well, you're going to have to get over it, Ilia." Blake teased. "Saving Haven had a huge impact on how the faunus are seen in Mistral. Now, it's up to you all to take the progress and keep running with it."

"Right! The White Fang may have been a failure but, with our families initiating a new partnership, I've got more faith than ever before!"

Gone was the stealth suit that represented her past as a member of the fallen group, replaced now with a short black tail jacket with two tails, and maroon jean pants. Though her hair remained in its chameleon tail style, Ilia Amitola had shed all remnants of her history with the extremist group. Now, she stood ready to build a brighter future in Mistral for her kind.

Blake soon found herself joined by Aganju who shared a quick pleasantry with the girl, seeing a bit of himself in her. Of course, she was more interested in Ciel who blushed almost every time the two interacted. The fox was content with this as they weren't officially siblings, so he wouldn't make a fuss. It was bittersweet to see someone he grew to love and respect so much leave after their time together.

Better than Sun...

Sensing his thoughts, Blake nudged him in the ribs. "Thanks for looking after my sister, Ilia... Well, I guess that makes you my sister too, or something like that. Unless..."

"What he means is, it's great to have someone to babysit me while he goes off to mingle with his new girlfriend!"

Aganju hiccupped hard at the insinuation made by the blue-haired feline. Ilia and Blake laughed as he tried to conjure something resembling a comeback but to no avail, furthering their entertainment. Ilia finally empathized with his awkwardness and simply hugged the pair. Ciel joined in, showing her thanks.

"So, you're sure you don't want to come with us to Atlas?" Aganju managed to get out.

"Nope..." she shook her head. "I've had enough issues there and, since I'm a faunus, I'd rather not test the good graces of the general. I'd rather deal with Sun and his friends than ever deal with that."

"Speaking of those clowns, where are they anyway?" Ilia rolled her eyes playfully.

"Sun?" the three turned around. "Oh, he's right here!"

Ciel motioned for Blake to head over toward the energetic faunus while she finished catching up on the details of her new abode. What followed was a heartwrenching separation between the two, though, they agreed to meet back up after getting the lamp to Atlas. After witnessing the scene, it was Neptune who tried to make a subtle move on the ram only to find that she was involved with the blond. When that failed, he inched closer to Ciel herself, using their similar hair color as an icebreaker.

It failed.

Miserably...

If only he knew that Sage is her crush.

Last, but not least, Neptune thought he'd try his chance with Ilia to worse results. Blake and Sun laughed at the humorous ending, the former shared a quick kiss before going their separate ways, each ready for the next chapter of their journeys. Aganju hugged his younger sisters before departing with the others, promising to return safely.

However, when he headed down the steps to join his traveling party, Pyrrha Nikos picked up that something was off about him.

Something she figured out quite quickly.

Back in the present, Pyrrha watched as the imagery of the true reason for Aganju's hidden feelings finally came into view. Little did she know, the fox had finished with the children, finally noticing the location of his obscure origins. In truth, he wasn't sure how to feel about this place as they pulled into the final tunnel.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we've safely arrived in Argus!"

Everyone listened to the relieved tone of the conductor, cheering and hugging their loved ones. Thanks to the sacrifice of Ruby and her team, they all were able to make it to the city without any further complications. Still, he worried about them, as any good friend would, but he knew the bigger problem lay ahead.

For many, Argus was a symbol of hope; the safest place outside of Atlas.

For the faunus, there was more to this city than many knew about, and even with those that knew, fewer cared about the dark side of the capital. That's where his heart felt like it was being squeezed into a vice. Still, he held his composure as best he could, seeing the bright lights cementing his apprehensiveness.

Welcome home... he mentally cursed.

[Streets of Mistral]

far away, a lone figure walked through a back alley in Mistral's lower region Fear gripped their heart as they approached a crowd of people, uncertain of where they were. They pushed through the shadows, scouting the area. The dismal skies perfectly emphasized the panic and hopelessness in her heart. Amber eyes shook in dread, searching for a haven only to find none.

Even worse, the woman found herself standing next to a large monitor that flashed with five photos; photos of familiar faces.

"...Emerald Sustrai and Mercury Black still haven't been found and are presumed to have fled the city. The Mistral police are encouraging people to."

Cinder Fall pulled her shawl over her head when the sudden rumbling of thunder was followed by a downpour. She continued to scour around, being careful not to draw any attention to herself. She observed that there were several stalls in the market, ranging from honest sellers to shady black market dust merchants. As she walked, the Fall maiden drifted from one area of the market to the other.

But why? Why would the Fall maiden, killer of Ozpin, and seeker of power be watching over her shoulder like a gazelle aware of a predator?

Where could she start?

Her inability to kill Ruby Rose.

Failure to capture the relic of knowledge.

Defeat at the hands of Raven Branwen.

The list goes on and on...

After that, Cinder had to practically crawl her way from the ground level of the vault chamber. After escaping, her fortune soon changed for the better when she encountered an unsuspecting woman who was foolish enough to stop her journey to help her. That mistake cost the poor soul her life. Shortly after, the disgraced maiden would leave, sensing a foreboding presence nearby.

Even now, she felt a sinister presence lurking nearby.

Was it her master, Salem haunting her?

Maybe she was going crazy?

Perhaps, she was still feeling the after-effects of her previous battle?

Whatever it was, she still had a mission to complete. Finally, Cinder halted her steps before finally noticing something of intrigue; a haven if you will. Seeing the symbol of a spider's web, Cinder Fall stepped inside the seemingly normal bar, grateful for an escape from the cold downpour. Even still, she felt the warmth of the building quickly shift into a bitter chill.

With each step deeper into the domain, Cinder could feel the looks of suspicion cutting in her direction. Be it a glance or a long stare, the ill intent didn't go by without note. Finally, she found her reason for even entering this cursed place.

A decently rotund woman, reaching out for her berry yogurt, stopped to find this fair-skinned woman approaching her table haphazardly; a careless act to be sure. Surrounded by two of her followers, she decided that her pleasure could wait... Mama had business to discuss, starting with a proper introduction.

"That's far enough..."

The man on her right stepped from around the table, clearly none too pleased with the brazen act of boldness toward his boss. Cinder frowned softly, not out of irritation but, urgency. She knew that the man was no match for her individually but, she had to curve her worst impulses if she was going to accomplish her goals. She then reached into the oversized sleeve of her robe, pulling out a small purse filled with Lien.

Seeing such an amount being offered, the blond woman called off her henchman, allowing the raven-haired woman to sit.

"You're 'Little Miss' Malachite?" Cinder eyed the woman out of uncertainty.

"I'm 'Little Miss' Gonna-Skin-You-Alive if you ever take that tone with me again," she snarkily fanned herself before eyeing the pouch of money. "Looks like your life's savings."

"It was somebody's..."

"Heh... cute. What do you want for it?"

Instead of answering right away, Cinder pulled out her scroll. Finding the exact option, she revealed the photos of the students from Beacon Academy.

"I'm looking for these travelers."

"Well sweetheart, you came to the right place."

For the first time, Cinder felt a strange comfort course through her only to have that feeling snatched away, replaced with a startled expression when a random guy walked in to greet his friends. As she calmed herself, 'Little Miss' chuckled softly.

"A little jumpy today, are we?" Though she found the entire display humorous, there was a hint of empathy in her Southern drawl. "You know, I used to be afraid of spiders. Do you know what I did about it?"

"Learned to kill them?"

Little Miss Malachite chuckled again.

"Oh no! The world NEEDS spiders... I just made the spiders work for me."

Cinder gawked at the lady incredulously before finally looking around. One by one, her amber eyes found something that tied them all together; more importantly, what tied them to Malachite herself.

A tattoo.

No matter how many times she tried, Cinder couldn't find a single soul in the bar who didn't have the spider's web marking somewhere on their body. Turning back in amazement, she remembered all of the times her (former?) master would try to dissuade her from always trying to force her way through every obstacle. Seeing it firsthand though, made Cinder Fall review those moments with more understanding.

"Give us a week. We'll find your travelers."

Cinder resisted those natural impulses and nodded in understanding before making her exit. If it would take a week to get the information, then she'd wait. Unknown to her, there was more than what she was being let in on; it didn't matter. A week would give her plenty of time to contemplate and regroup.

Stepping out in the storm once again, the torrential downpour did little to comfort the young woman as she searched for a place to stay, in the meantime. Once again, that sinking feeling stirred in her gut. She'd cautiously scour the area around her but, find nothing out of the ordinary yet, the feeling that she was being watched only increased as she drew closer to a hotel.

As she entered, her suspicions would ring true, but, not exactly how she'd envision it, or rather, not how she'd expect things to play out.

From within the crowd, a young woman stood in front of the hotel, her features hidden from view under a parasol that protected her from the vicious drops. She grinned knowingly but moved onward, blending in well with the hordes of people. What wasn't certain was that another's gaze rested on the building, hate fueling their eyes.

Unlike the young woman, this figure had been hidden behind the trees, just out of sight.

"So, you're alive, after all?"

[Evernight Castle]

A flock of Nevermore sat comfortably under the iniquitous skies above. That 'peace' would soon be disturbed when an airship zoomed past heading toward the only inhabitable location in the forsaken wasteland. It docked along a small cliff before depositing its passengers, each dejected and worried for what was to come for their failure.

Hazel stepped off first, leading Emerald and Mercury along the lone path to their fate. Interestingly, a figure none of them wanted to see was there waiting for them with a twisted grin tugging at his lips.

"Welcome back. Welcome back. Welcome back! I do hope that you missed us as much as we missed you."

Of all the unwanted things to deal with after their shortcomings, Tyrian made a solid case for being on top of that list.

Glares directed at the Faunus soon became overshadowed by the strong voice of Hazel Reinhart.

"Let's go..."

Mercury didn't have to be told twice. He wasted little time in moving past Tyrian, even if it meant facing Salem. However, Emerald hesitated, just the slightest flinch, causing the scorpion to notice that something was off. Though it was obvious, the faunus couldn't bear to let a moment's jest go by.

"Speaking of which, where is our Fall Maiden?"

This was Emerald's first mistake since her introduction to the demented psychopath.

Had she kept walking, surely Tyrian would've just rambled on to himself, or at the very least, his laugh would've softened after entering the castle. No. Instead, she froze after recalling the disappearance of the woman, her mind replaying the horrifying reality that caused her to lose control back at Haven.

"Emerald, come on..."

"Don't tell me something happened to her?" Tyrian gasped.

Soon, that worry morphed into anger; even Mercury's call went unheard as she turned, weapons pointed at the now giggling man.

"I will cut off more than just your tail!" she warned, contempt exuding from her.

This was her second mistake.

Of all the things to never do, Emerald picked one of the worst options; threatening the sadistic male. What others would call intimidating, Tyrian considers a challenge. Slowly, he straightened up, never tearing his deranged gaze from the green-haired girl. His lips looked to split his face while his body convulsed with every chuckle.

"Careful little girl. Cinder isn't here to protect you anymore."

Emerald immediately felt her courage wilt the closer the man got to her and yet, she felt no ability to move. Even once his face was only inches away from her own, she found no strength to back away; she was petrified. Looking into his eyes was like staring into a chaotic black hole, dragging her soul into the darkest depths of hell itself.

Even worse, she could only watch as the scorpion intentionally drug his right cheek over the blade of her weapon, drawing blood with an almost orgasmic shudder before visually daring her to act on her threat. She could smell the pungent scent of blood on his breath, making her want to wretch. How on Remnant could someone like him even be considered a mortal when he had such an insatiable bloodlust within?

"Back off freak!" Mercury thankfully stepped in.

For now, it seemed that the girl would be spared from striking out. Even Tyrian had to admit that he was a saving grace as his shiny new tail waved around behind him.

"Oh, don't misunderstand. I am in mourning, just as you, for it appears that you have failed our queen." Demented glee gave way to an expression of genuine concern, partially from his failure with the silver-eyed girl before. "And that is a tragedy."

Dismally, the care soon twisted into another fit of hysterical laughter. One might assume it was because Tyrian was happy that it wasn't him, but, Hazel and Mercury both knew why. Even Emerald who blankly stared at each step leading into the building understood the madman's cackles. As the doors soon closed behind them, Emerald Sustrai wishes that she'd been taken out by one of the Grimm yet, that luxury would be withheld from her.

For what awaited them was far graver.

Salem's Wrath.

Crimson eyes slowly opened, a slow-burning ire aimed at the kneeling forms of her targets.

The unfortunate victims of her gaze each held their form of negativity that kept their eyes glued to the floor. Mercury felt weighed down by humiliation for having failed in their mission. Hazel felt disappointed, yet his face remains solid as he was prepared to do whatever it took to spare the two children from Salem's wrath. Lastly, there was Emerald whose fear and shock held her down like chains.

Salem could practically taste their abrogating feeling(s) at this point, yet her face never broke from the unreadable expression. The only sign of her wrath was the piercing glare she directed at the unfortunate souls. Watts and Tyrian sat on either side of the meeting table, awaiting the inevitable tearing down. The latter's wicked grin was completely absent, as was Watts's normally smug grin.

There was no time for pettiness in the face of serious matters.

"I would like you to explain to me how it is you failed so spectacularly."

Disheartened, Hazel Reinhart lifted his head, still refusing to meet the dark gaze of the pale woman.

"The faunus militia split our forces-"

"Stop..." Salem exclaimed darkly, like a mother silencing her child. She pressed her hands together, feeling her irritability beginning to take hold of her composure. What little bit of courage the burly man had instantly waned as he sighed in submission under her matriarchal glower. "Let me rephrase the question. Who is responsible for your defeat?"

Hazel cut his eyes to both Mercury & Emerald, the latter looking like she would pass out at any moment. Despite his willingness to cut down anyone necessary, he was no monster. He knew the reason for their defeat but, given her association with the teens, he surmised to do the honorable thing.

"I take full responsibility..."

"But that wouldn't be fair now, would it?!" Salem erupted, effortlessly flipping the massive table over onto a whimpering Tyrian. Her eyes glowed with a steady rage as she started toward the three. Both of the younger members stood with horror while Hazel tried to maintain his cool. "We all know who's truly to blame!"

"I don't know what-"

Having enough of his pathetic attempts to cover for the culprit, Salem extended her hand toward him. Soon the ground began to glow beneath the hulking giant. She then twisted her palm upward, summoning many Grimm arms that reached out to grab Hazel. Clenching her fist, the tendrils overpowered him, smothering her face and silencing him for the time being.

As he grunted, fighting to breathe, Salem directed her attention to none other than Emerald. The shivering girl still wouldn't even look in the matriarch's direction. She could feel those hellish eyes blazing her soul as the woman's presence drew closer. Even with the outburst now subsided, the sheer demonic force of Salem made the girl wish that she'd been captured by police back at Haven.

"Emerald?" She felt her blood freeze under the eerie calm of Salem's tone. She wanted nothing more than to come up with an excuse to give, but her mind could only a blank. She stood there petrified as the Grimm Mistress approached her. The dynamic of dominance was more evident when Salem was only an inch or two away. "I want you to tell me whose fault this was... Now!"

"Cinder! We failed because of Cinder!" she confessed, feeling humiliated at her immediate submission.

"That's right," Salem placed a hand on the shaky girl's shoulder, literally feeling the essence of Emerald's fear radiating off of her. "I want you to understand that failure. I want you to understand why Cinder must be left to toil in her isolation until she redeems herself."

Those within the chamber exchanged looks aside from the fading Hazel. Mercury and Emerald looked to Salem with awe at the implication made.

"She's... alive?"

"You're joking! How could you possibly know that?" Watts interrupted.

"Are you questioning our divine savior?" Tyrian challenged.

"I-" The former Atlesian scientist stammered over his words before crossing gazes with the woman. He cleared his throat, hoping to save face. "Of course not. Forgive me..."

"It's important not to lose sight of what drives us. Love. Justice. Reverence. But, the moment you put your desires before my own, they will be lost to you," Finally, Salem flexed her hand, causing the shadows to relinquish their hold on Hazel. As he wasted little time in taking sweet oxygen into his lungs, Salem continued. "This isn't a threat; this is simply the truth. The path to your desires is only found through me."

A slightly disoriented Hazel staggered back to his feet, nodding. Tyrian looked on in wonder at Salem's sovereignty. Watts dusted his jacket off, standing tall once again as their leader faced them once again. She spared a moment to stare out as a few nevermore Grimm flew around before sighing to herself.

"...And so, we must press on..."

She proceeded to push forward with the next step of their plan; the sword of Vacuo that currently resided under Shade Academy.

"Ma'am. I have more to report."

Everyone turned to Hazel, picking up the blatant trepidation in his voice. Not one to be disrupted, Salem gave a silent warning in the form of the Grimm's hands appearing once more. The husky man trembled but didn't fold under the pressure. Her glare was more of caution than outright danger.

"Qrow and the children are taking the lamp to Atlas..."

Tyrian started chuckling wickedly. "Not if I can help it!"

"...and they're being led... by Ozpin."

The room fell silent. Nobody dared to even move as all eyes flashed between each other. A worried Watts tried to explain the heavy ramifications of the development, ignoring the obvious threat mere feet away. Mercury noticed however as the windows surrounding them began to crack. Little by little, the small cracks soon grew louder, pulling everyone's attention to a furious Salem.

No longer was her gaze locked on anyone but rather, she was in contemplation. Her blood boiled as she processed the news of her former lover and enemy having reincarnated so soon. This was not only unforeseen but also unacceptable. Unknown to the others, Salem felt nothing but animosity for whatever was being sought to spite her with this. She was now shrouded by dark energy as her anger increased.

"Leave..."

Tyrian tried desperately to appease the one he considered his queen only to have his explanation shut down when she eyed him, daring him to proceed. Thankfully, the demented scorpion heeded the warning, shrinking away to the only exit provided. Watts followed suit with Hazel leading the youth out. Whatever was about to happen, he knew that they didn't deserve to feel her wrath on any level.

"Let's go."

As he huddled them out, the doors slowly closed behind them all, leaving Emerald to gaze deep into the bloody orbs of Salem. When the entrance was sealed fully, she backed away just before hearing a blood-curdling screech. As she shuffled away, every fiber of her began to crumble when Hazel rested his hand on her shoulder.

"You don't want to stick around when she comes out..." he urged. Though his voice was gruff, there was obvious concern in his tone.

Hazel could sense a hidden concern in Emerald's behavior, and he felt her rush towards him. Although taken aback by her sudden outburst, Hazel didn't resist as she clung to his robe and cried softly, unleashing all her bottled-up emotions. He noticed that the others had left the room, and he comforted Emerald by embracing her with his strong arms.

When they separated, she wiped the tears from her face.

"Thank you..." she sniffed.

"Don't worry about it," Hazel turned to walk away. He stopped short to turn his gaze back to the girl, understanding, and sympathy shining for but a moment. "She made a valid point, though..."

"What do you mean?"

"Salem said not to lose sight of what drives us. The question is: What is it that drives you?"

"That's easy. Without Cinder-"

"No," Hazel interrupted softly. "I meant before she came into your life. What drove you to live this life? Who drives you to fight?"

Emerald paused, uncertain of what to say. Hazel didn't press the matter, leaving Emerald Sustrai to ponder his words. While she knew Cinder to be her saving grace, she did have a life, crappy as it may have been, before her. Now with Cinder in exile, Emerald was alone, just like before.

Emerald couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. Sure, she had Mercury, but the fact that he was the only one she could truly trust in this place was worrying. The way that Watts seemed to constantly rub everyone the wrong way, Tyrian's unpredictable behavior, and the fact that Hazel was the only one who treated her with respect without any fear involved were starting to make her feel uneasy. She couldn't help but wonder if something bad was going to happen soon.

He was like that big brother figure she never had; that realization wracked her mind as she walked away sticking close to Hazel.

[City of Argus]

Victorian-style houses that were built close together.

A streetcar system.

Hilly terrain.

A very large suspension bridge.

This was the city of Argus, a port town bustling with a natural harbor for commerce purposes. It was, in simple terms, the perfect balance of Mistralian and Atlesian culture. It was quiet and peaceful as the members of Team JNPR and ASRE rode on the hovering transit system through the lit streets, each member abuzz with the beauty and tranquility of the city.

All but one...

A pair of mismatched eyes viewed the happy-go-lucky scene with thinly-veiled derision. While the others were amazed by the gorgeous architecture and subtle refinements, Atsura viewed this place as a form of hell. To him, there was no joy found in this town; nothing but a veiled farce showcased for the world's comfort. It was like Mistral only, Argus hid its true nature well.

Lost in thought, he failed to notice two pairs of orbs staring at him, sensing his uneasiness.

Roxanne and Pyrrha sensed that the fox was anxious, and they both understood why. Roxanne observed that, despite the peaceful surroundings, there was a severe shortage of faunus in the area. This confirmed her partner's statement that the city was not as innocent as it appeared.

The latter of the two, Pyrrha, gathered that her friend and lover dreaded coming back to this place due to his past. He often stressed to her during their journey how he preferred the Kingdom of Vale over Mistral, specifically the city of Argus.

Comforting the faunus proved to be a challenging task. Pyrrha had her own set of issues, one of them being the growing number of fans that would follow behind upon spotting her. Whenever she tried to show support to Aganju, people who recognized her would interrupt with requests for autographs or personal questions about her time at Beacon.

There was a concerning apathy to the foxes' attitude, even though he wasn't angry with the girl in the least. Instead of intervening, she simply allowed this behavior to continue. His lack of action only changed when he overheard an insensitive question about Penny Polindina, but even then, he was stopped when he noticed the ram shaking her head. The overall disregard for the situation left him feeling uneasy and worried about the potential consequences.

"So, where are we going to be staying?" Nora asked impatiently, clearly not enjoying the excessive additions on the trolley.

"Thankfully, I was able to contact my sister before we took off. She said it was okay for us to crash at her place." Jaune apprehensively answered.

At that moment, the transit car came to a halt, with a lone blond woman carrying a sleepy baby in her arms. Her shiny blue eyes shined brightly upon seeing her brother. As they exited the vehicle, everyone was happy that

"It's so good to see you all!" she excitedly hugged the taller Arc who reluctantly returned the gesture. "Come along out of the cold. My wife and I have dinner waiting for you all."

"Thanks, Saph..."

"Sorry, but I must decline..." Everyone turned to see a remorseful Pyrrha looking back at them. "I have to go visit my mother; it has been quite a while since I've seen her. I may convince her to open her door for a few of us afterward."

"Not a problem, Pyrrha. We can catch up later."

However, while most of the group vocally agreed, there was a noticeable absence of a certain vulpine. It was only when Pyrrha mentioned her mother that the gang finally noticed that he was missing.

"Where'd he go?"

"I don't know... He was here just a few minutes ago." Roxie noted.

"Nora and I can go with Pyrrha. Maybe we'll find him along the way?"

The suggestion from Ren was enough for the group to form a solid game plan. Roxanne and Jaune chose to check the western end of the city while Ren, Nora, and Pyrrha headed to the east side. With everything set, the two trios set out, each concerned for their friend; some more than others.