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:

Welcome back, everyone!

It's been a long week and I truly hope that you all enjoyed your holiday!

I was planning on making things longer here, but, after careful consideration, I've decided to take a different approach. After this chapter, the story will be entering the next volume in the timeframe [volume 9]. While it is still going to be, technically, a part of the Atlas arc, the next several chapters will work in tandem with the Ever-After realm of the canon.

While this chapter is short, the next will be more on par for things. As always, I hope you enjoy this chapter and I'll see you all very soon!

Chapter 31: Eyes of Hades, Path to Persephone

[Execution Site]

The chaotic room provided the perfect setting for Qrow Branwen and James Ironwood. Neither of them expected that Qrow's sister would join them, but he didn't mind. Qrow glared at James with hatred in his eyes, directed towards his former dear friend. James looked panicked, with a crazed expression darting between the Branwen siblings and the uprising surrounding them.

His chest heaved with rage. His kingdom was crumbling before his eyes! Everything he'd done to preserve the lives of civilians and elite alike was going up in smoke. Ozpin's brats were here and fighting with his soldiers. Hell, even some of his troopers had committed mutiny! How could things have gotten so bad?

"What have you done?! Do you realize what you've done?!"

Qrow and Raven took their stance. Ironwood drew his pistols, each one aimed at either of Ozpin's former pawns.

Ozpin. That damnable fox. How was it that, even as a cub now, the fangs of that old and cunning wolf were inescapable? Years of following the idealistic views of a man who kept more secrets than he disclosed had to be plenty of reasons for his measures. So, why did the esteemed general find it difficult to breathe?

Everything I've done was for the future of Atlas!

Even worse, without the report of Qrow's execution, as well as the rescue of his "peace offerings", Salem would be on Atlas' doorstep soon enough. The dread of seeing those bloody eyes made his skin crawl and his stomach drop. The casualties strewn about were nothing compared to the losses to come. Salem was ruthless, a trait he wished he'd maintained upon the children's arrival.

"Having second thoughts?" James stared with wide eyes at the confident woman, before she rushed in to attack. He blocked her blow with his gun, though her knowing smirk enraged him. Before he could respond, the general was forced to jump back when a curved blade nearly sliced him in two. "Let me guess, you were never planning on siding with Salem, were you?"

"Don't act as if you know me, Branwen!"

"You were plotting to use her to your advantage," Raven cracked her neck. "You had shady dealings with that witch in hopes of buying yourself time. You would capture the relics and leave any you deemed as beneath you to fend for themselves. Qrow. The children. My children..."

How dare this criminal look down on him? Her declaration was accurate, but still, even her brother spared a glance at the sudden proclamation of motherhood. Children? As far as Ironwood knew, Yang was the only one listed as Raven's spawn.

"You're the last person to preach at me, Raven!" He sneered, disturbing chuckles rumbling from his gut.

Ironwood pointed his pistols again, this time not wasting time. Several shots were fired, forcing the twins to dodge and scatter about. He was missing his mark, but at least he was able to keep them at bay until he could figure out a plan. Salem. Qrow. Chaos. Relics. His brain tried to form an idea as the cawing of birds consumed his thoughts.

"If you had the lives of others on your shoulders, you'd understand why I did what I did! Neither of you can fathom having to carry the weight of the world while affirming peace amongst Remnant. A single mistake and this kingdom falls!"

The moment the slash made contact with his back, James' aura shield was triggered. He stumbled forward, twisted his body, and fired relentlessly at the source of the attack. But, to his dismay, he only managed to knock out two of his men. Another shot and a few more fell unconscious. Acrimony and rage boiled within him, and his composure began to slip. He fired again and again, causing debris to fall near him, all while Raven and Qrow played their game of cat and mouse. But James was done playing. He was ready to unleash his fury upon them, and they would soon regret ever crossing him.

"Come down here and fight me, you cowards!"

"You're one to talk!"

This time, Qrow spoke up with spite dripping from each word. The male Branwen seized the opportunity to strike once more, kicking the soldier's knee. Another kick came from Raven, landing square on his jaw. More hits and blows landed from various angles, courtesy of the woman's infernal gateways until the last remnants of his aura shattered and fizzled out.

Still, Ironwood was built of different stuff. His resolve far exceeded the boundaries of the protective shield and it was on display as his vicious gaze locked on the man whose blade was now pointed at his head.

"After everything you've done, you're lucky I'm in a talking mood!" Qrow snarled, flashing with judgment and fury.

"You knew the consequences of war, Qrow! You've risked your life for the sake of Remnant, so you know what the costs of war. You know that sacrifices had to be made to..."

"WE knew what we signed up for, James!"

The air of civil war steadily fell still. Everyone around drew ceased their combat as all ears fell on the conversation. The air dared not move as the heated argument raged between the two. Though she stayed on her guard, Raven was courteous enough to avoid interfering.

"You said it yourself that putting 'children' on the frontlines was questionable at best and incompetence at worst! You always told Ozpin that you would rather we leave the children out of this fight if it could be helped! You swore that WE were enough to handle Salem and her forces! Now you want to talk about sacrificing them?! All so that you can play demagogue..."

"You... don't understand, Qrow."

Ironwood was about to explain, but the tip of Qrow's blade pointed at his throat silenced him. The ferocious glower of the 'bad luck charm' left no room for excuses. This was the man he once called friend... right? Despite this, the voices in his head called for Ironwood's blood. Shaking, he fought back tears as his arm trembled with hesitation. Even his sister, known for her disdain for weakness, felt sympathy for her sibling.

"How far will you go before you admit that you were wrong?"

"What?"

Qrow wouldn't have the opportunity to ask further when a crash shook the room. No, this was something far worse. The entire floating kingdom was being attacked and soon, alarms blared throughout the building: "Warning! Atlas has been breached! Waves of Grimm are... Grimm... Grhg!"

The screeching of metal was only drowned out by the deafening sound of shifting and rumbling around them. It was unmistakable that they had to evacuate to the upper levels if they were to survive this catastrophic situation. Qrow begrudgingly sheathed his blade, allowing his adversary to rise. Though the hostility between them still lingered, they both knew that their dispute had to take a backseat until they secured their survival.

[Outside]

A single focused gaze watched as a massive orca Grimm sailed through the skies toward the floating city. His hair had mostly been concealed by his hood though it couldn't hide the woe he felt for what was to come. His draconic breath and small embers passed his lips before setting out for his destination. It'd been such a long time; Reflection was all that he could do since his time in the kingdom of Haven.

As the chaos engulfed Atlas Academy, bonds between people were broken and affiliations were falsified. Amidst all of this, the faunus managed to enter the academy unnoticed, as if he was just another guest. With the entire manpower of the academy concentrated on dealing with the incoming threat, he saw an opportunity to carry out his mission. He knew exactly where to find what he was sent to retrieve, from the main hall to various corridors.

However, despite his clear objective, his purpose and place in the world remained shrouded in mystery. It was unclear what motivated him and who he was working for. Was he a mercenary hired by the highest bidder, or did he have some sort of personal vendetta? And what was the nature of his relationship with Adam and Salem - two other mysterious figures who seemed to hold great power and influence? These were all questions that lingered in the minds of those who encountered him, adding to the already tense and uncertain atmosphere.

Still, Esu knew his calling and he was set to fulfill it by any means necessary. He savored his anonymity from the others, even though it resulted in some questionable decisions. He wouldn't apologize as he felt the presence of a dark entity radiating through the corridors. Even more amusing was a familiar groan from behind him.

"Seems like that's my cue," he smirked, a reptilian fang resting on his lip.

"Where am I going?"

Blake wandered through the halls clutching her head. She'd been on a mission to find the chamber where the staff of creation was. However, this would also require her to find Penny. While the mission was simple, it was a task having to avoid the many soldiers that were stationed throughout. Tasked by Raven, she was sent to use the distraction to give herself a head start.

Was I supposed to go left back there or..." She halted her progress when a roar ripped through the building, sending her heart through her chest. "What the hell was that?"

"Your guess is as good as mine."

The feline spun on her heel to strike the voice but was halted with a wave of his hand. In a matter of seconds, Blake Belladonna vanished into thin air while Esu walked toward the source of the cry. If a battle was in progress, he'd have to time himself perfectly or else risk discovery. Esu wouldn't be deterred, not even when he heard the sound of a pistol click behind him.

Damn... What a mess this is turning out to be.

"I don't know who you are, but you're coming with me!" the tone was feminine yet commanded authority. "Keep your hands where I can see them and turn around slowly."

"I'm a little busy, so..."

"TURN AROUND!" the woman demanded. "Slowly."

The faunus let out a deep sigh and slowly complied with the orders he was given. As he turned around, he found himself facing a white-haired woman who had a weapon pointed at him. It wasn't long before he recognized her as Winter Schnee, the personal lieutenant of General Ironwood. As he stood there in front of her, he couldn't help but notice the expression of horrified shock that was etched across her features.

As the faunus continued to stare at her, he too was taken aback by the revelation before him. Here he was, standing face to face with one of the most respected and feared members of the Atlas military. Winter Schnee was renowned for her tactical brilliance and unwavering loyalty to General Ironwood. Yet, despite her fearsome reputation, she was now gawking at him in disbelief.

At that point, the faunus couldn't help but wonder what would happen next. What he was certain of was that she was a hindrance to his mission, and like Blake, she needed to be removed.

"You're...! You were reported dead! How can you-?!"

Esu took this moment of indecisiveness and waved his hand again, causing Winter to disappear just like the feline faunus before her. He groaned before rushing down the corridor, leaving behind the standard weapon. He still had a goal to complete and nothing would stop him.

[Elm enters the battle after Aganju defeats both Kairi and Marik. Before they can fight, Cinder attacks but is stopped by Nora and Penny while the group retreats. The two lead Cinder away and lose her though Nora's injury begins to catch up to her. Penny stalls and Nora ends up meeting up with Ruby and the others outside of the gateway. Penny manages to open the door after losing Cinder but Salem is coming. Build up Nora becoming the new Winter maiden.]

The training room had been reduced to nothing short of a warzone by an insatiable beast. His body was shrouded by a black translucent aura and his eyes burned with a menacing glow. His face was partially covered with a skull-like helm as if mimicking that of the Grimm themselves. It was as if any shred of who he was had been replaced by this chimera.

The tendrils waving behind him dripped with a mix of Kairi and Marik had fallen to the uncontrollable monster that Aganju had become. Pyrrha could see that they were still breathing, the painful groans were enough to Sango was the only enemy remaining, though it was a safe bet that this wouldn't last for too much longer.

The panther faunus inched back, his heart racing with fear as the savage beast fixed its eyes on him. Aganju, the predator, bared his teeth and smiled wickedly, relishing in the terror of his prey. The faunus knew he was in grave danger, but he could not bring himself to look away from the beast's piercing gaze. The air was thick with tension as the two faced off, and the faunus knew he had to act fast if he wanted to survive.

"Where are you going?!" Aganju hissed. "Is the big bad soldier scared of me?! I thought you were going put me in my place?"

"Aganju?"

Sango continued to shift away, sweat mixing in with traces of blood and fear. Aganju finally stalked forward, calculatingly following the older mortal. Pyrrha grew nervous, her body gripped by an invisible force that halted her desire to move.

It seems like the events that transpired during the attack on Beacon and their journey to Haven were nothing compared to what's to come. The anticipation of what's ahead feels like a heavy weight on her body, though she tries to maintain her poise. Her voice was the only thing that remained steady, but all attempts to reach her boyfriend seemed to fall on deaf ears. She can't help but wonder what horrors await her, and it feels like time is running out. It's only when she lets out a blood-curdling scream that the beast stops in its tracks, turning to look back at her.

What was expected to anger instead unveiled to be confusion.

Those unforgiving rubies had been replaced by vulnerable violets peering through the transparent shroud. For now, the air was devoid of bloodlust. She rushed to his side as he stood there frozen in place. She threw her arms around him, ignoring the wild energy encompassing them both.

"Pyrrha! What are you...?!"

"Let him go!" she whispered, clutching him tighter. "Just let him go, Agan..."

The chaotic aura surrounding them began to fizzle out, making the air far less tense than it was. As the grey blob dissipated, Pyrrha detected the damage perforated along the boy's body. The random bruises were of little concern; No, it was the grotesque displays of scars and distorted flesh. Every slash. Every burn. The discoloration of flesh. Was this what Team RWBY had spoken of?

While she pondered this, Sango took this opportunity to save his life. Rushing out of the room, he clutched his head, trying to shake off the effects of everything that'd happened. Besides facing the beast of a boy, he felt like a fog was lifting. His skull throbbed while he trudged down the corridors. Heavy footsteps plodding on the floor, he bit back a groan for fear of awakening the creature and igniting a pursuit.

"Sango!"

An electric pulsation tore through what little relief in Sango's noggin, courtesy of a rattling crash. He dropped to a knee from the rumbling, preparing for the inevitable collision with the tiled floor. To his surprise, the impact never came, although he did feel pressed onto something sturdy.

Callous hand. Tight muscles. Soft breasts?

Sango Bagheera forced his eyes to open. What he found was the worried/calm warmth of brown staring down at him. Short brunette hair and olive-hued skin. He recognized this person as he lazily grinned.

"Elm?"

"Don't talk..." she instructed curtly, gingerly tossing his arm over her shoulder. "We need to get you somewhere safe."

His face turned red at the stern tone directed towards him, but he wore a smug grin despite it. His normally well-kept hair was now a mess, hiding his face from his best friend. They walked slowly but deliberately towards the medic ward, but Elm was frowning as her mind conflicted with her gut - an obscure but common response in the Amazon. She could feel the faunus beginning to sag, his weight pressing down on her more, most likely due to exhaustion.

"What the hell happened to you? That team of yours is going to get you killed one day!"

"Didn't..." he wheezed, trying desperately to clear his throat. "...think you'd care."

Elm went against her better judgment and entered the room upon hearing Sango's call for help. She quickly found him and sat him down in a nearby chair before grabbing a roll of bandages. Fortunately, there was no significant damage to worry about. However, Elm was more concerned with Sango's troubling words. As she wrapped the dressing around his head, she frowned deeply, trying to comprehend the implications of his allegations.

"What did you mean?"

"Huh?" he cracked his neck.

"You said that you didn't think I'd care about you. What the hell did you mean by that?"

Sango bowed his head, careful not to aggravate his injury. Thoughts filled his head, mainly scolding him for such an absent-minded bumble. When he looked up, his breath caught in his throat, locking eyes with Elm. It was evident that she was far from in an amusing mood, He caught something else lurking behind her eyes, something he hadn't seen in a very long time. The eyes of heaven met with a disjointed gaze of earth.

"I... It's nothing, Elm. Forget I said anything."

Elm closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose and taking deep breaths. As her chest rose and fell heavily, she mentally counted down before giving a reply. In truth, she wanted to bash his head in; maybe that would spark some brain cells. Another explosion pulled her from the idea.

That's right. Everyone was either evacuating or fighting Salem's forces!

Neither of them were in any condition to fight, despite their rank. General Ironwood wasn't reliable right now, and there was no sign of Winter or the other members of the Ace-Ops. Whatever was going to happen, they needed to get off this floating rock or else they'd find themselves among the casualties. The idea left a bitter taste in her mouth, but hearing the passive-aggressive response from Sango felt like a slap to the face.

Surely, he didn't believe that, right?

"We'll talk about this once we find Winter..." Elm said, swallowing back the tears that threatened to escape. This was not the time for such sentiments, and Sango's sudden inquiry wasn't going to change that, no matter how much she relished that. "That's an order! Non-negotiable."

Sango winced at the rigid tone, but he nodded his compliance.

"Alright, I guess."

"Don't think that you're getting out of this either, cat-boy," she yanked him by his jacket collar, making sure that he was staring deep into her eyes. Conviction met his worried portals. "Once we're in the clear, we're going to talk about this and set the record straight. For now though..."

Sango tilted his head, his mind drawing a blank.

What could he expect from them once they speak to one another?

Sensing this, Elm leaned in and pressed her lips onto his own. If he expected anything, it would be a headbutt for his troubles, but this was far from his anticipations. While it started softly, the hunger between them finally took hold. Elm had been waiting since their time at the academy; the night of the dance. She didn't foresee that Sango would match her energy. His rough hands cupped her face tenderly.

Elm secretly adored how he touched her like she was the most delicate piece of material ever crafted by the brothers.

He tilted her chin, earning an abrupt gasp, wanting more. He licked his lips at the way she smiled hungrily.

Please...

Sango laid his lips to hers once more, kissing her slowly. Like the animal traits, he was a predator toying with his prey now, slowly, agonizingly slow. Her world spun around, blurring and vanishing along with the cares and inhibitions that were just prevalent mere moments ago. Perhaps it was this moment that allowed her the freedom to act. From her moans and his growls, it was evident that they were willing to risk things, if only for a bit. He kissed along her jaw, letting his tongue trail down to her neck. His teeth grazed the already vulnerable flesh before he bit down, drawing a squeak from her throat. How far would they take this? How far COULD they take this?

A fire had been lit, roaring to life inside of them both, but moreso in the burly woman. Such a rare sight was enough to settle things, for now at least. Sango knew better than to think that the carnal act would resolve everything, but it appeared to be a good start.

"Let's get out of here and find Winter then..."

"That won't be necessary." The pair pivoted toward the door to find a faunus clothed in a sleeveless cloak. Elm and Sango immediately recognized him by the reptilian horns and similar eyes to the panthers. Before they could act though, he waved his weapon, and the pair were removed from the scene altogether. "You have more important matters to deal with."

The chaotic atmosphere was perfect for Salem. She looked around, enjoying the screams of terror and the sounds of war. Mortals were amusing, but irritating in how resourceful they could be in fighting the inevitable. Standing atop the massive whale Grimm, the witch had the perfect vantage point to play her role as a puppet master, guiding her "toys" however she pleased with her twisted heart.

"Stubborn fools..." she hummed. "Always willing to struggle rather than accept their futility with dignity. Is this why you placed your faith in them, Ozma?"

Salem expected no response as she was alone at this point. Most of her subordinates were on assignment, though there were some loose ends that she had to take care of too. Hazel's betrayal was certainly one she never saw coming. The burly man had sacrificed himself to afford her captives time to escape. While she found this deed noble, for Hazel at least, it was nothing more than a trivial effort.

One of the escapees troubled her greatly; Emerald Sustrai.

The ability to conjure illusions with one's mind was nothing to scoff at, and now, potentially, the user could be on the enemy's side. While she was immortal, Salem wasn't beyond the influence of the young woman's semblance. To balance this, Cinder had returned and brought the Lamp of Knowledge to her. She knew this was a peace offering; Cinder's past failures had motivated her to accomplish this feat.

Still, she would manage. Even the smallest victories, when accumulated, add weight.

Watts and Neo were still on her side, as far as she knew. All she needed now was the staff and she could move on to the next goal, Vacuo.

So, why wasn't she satisfied?

"Where are you?" she called to the wind, her voice perfectly contrasting the warzone below. "I know you're..."

Salem's gaze enlarged as an answer, quiet as the wind surrounding her. With a sharp gasp, the woman's lips twisted into a deep frown. Her throat rumbled with a growl, signaling something was amiss. The one who was unaccounted for was here, yet someone's presence was missing entirely. Earlier, she had felt a malicious aura radiating from Atlas Academy, but now, it had vanished entirely. Her eyes blazed and her growl erupted into a full-out roar, one that would steer her minions to attack with a greater force.

"What did you do?!" she hissed to an imaginary foe, her voice trailing with the passing wind. "Where have you taken him?!"