F3: Welcome to chapter 2 of Volume 5 of the RWBY story. Last time Raven and the group had got captured by a group of bandits that suddenly know Raven. Meanwhile Weiss and company are making their way toward Higanbana. RWBY is property of Rooster Teeth. Akane Shidou belongs to Decode9 and Senka Linwood belongs to MountainKing 312. With that said Let's Dive In.
Volume 5-2: Leadership in the Camp.
It was about a ten minute walk as two of the bandits were pushing the bikes while the others were restrained as Raven figured out which path they were taking as she slightly scowled at this. Meanwhile Ruby wasn't sure what was going as she looked between Raven and glancing back toward Yang and Neo.
"Face forward kid." A bandit stated firmly as Ruby faced forward as she gulped nervously.
Five minutes later they arrived to a large wooden entrance with tall wooden spikes surrounding the encampment. Around the camp there are other people wearing the same clothing Shay was in. There were also many tents around that housed the bandits in along with a tent off to the side.
However in front of them is a very large tent that towered over them that had wooden steps and a deck along with torches on the sides which lead to a small opening in the tent as Shay headed inside it.
The bandits released Raven and the others from their restraints but still held onto their weapons as Yang approached her mother.
"What's going on here anyway and where are we?" Yang asked but her mother didn't answer her but only stared at the entrance of the large tent.
"Yang... I want you to listen and do exactly as I say." Raven said as Yang knew what that meant. Something bad was going to happen and that she should listen.
Shay came out but with someone else that came out. She was a rather tall woman that is about Ravens age but with a silver-grayish hair and blood red eyes. She wears steel gray V neck style top with a black pleated skirt over a skin tight body suit. She wears a brown belt that hangs off her right hip. She wears black armored gauntlets around her wrists that protrude outward and black fingerless gloves. She wears thigh length boots that give off a dominate pressance with black armor plating with a silver splattered pattern on it.
On her back appears to be combination of a bladed compound sniper bow that is currently in it's standby mode.
The women seemed to stare at Raven with a destained look on her face as she crossed her arms at her.
"Well... look what the little birdy dragged in." The woman stated haughtly.
Yangs good hand clench into a fist as she wanted to punch this woman in the face.
"Honestly didn't think that we'd find you all the way out here. Thought you were still living the good life Rae. Or did that boy toy of yours finally got bored of you." The woman mocked.
"Actually that's none of your business Synin." Raven fired back putting a hand on her hip.
The woman now known as Synin chuckled "What no lost love for your dear sister?" Synin asked which stunned the group.
"Like you ever give a damn. You were just ready to take over once mother and father kicked the bucket and judging it's you and not them I'm guessing they're no longer with us." Raven said.
Synin grinned "You can say... I helped speed things up a little." Synin replied.
For the first time Ravens eyes widen at what she just heard "You... you..." Raven tried to say but she was rendered speechless.
"First rule of the Branwen Tribe sis. The strong survive and the weak die. Father was mentally ill and mother was talking about splitting the tribe up. She didn't have the strength to do what the tribe does." Synin stated.
"They... they were still our parents! How could you murder them like that and not even bat an eye at this!" Raven shouted but was silenced when the butt of a weapon hit her stomach causing her to go to a knee.
Synin then looked over at the other three that were with her but she looked directly at Yang who's eyes changed to their blood red as she gave an interesting hum before walking toward her.
"Well well sis and just who is this fine young girl?" Synin asked.
Yang however didn't like how she was approaching her "Take another step and find out for yourself." Yang warned not even caring about the other bandits nearby.
"Oh feisty aren't we. I'm going to say your daughter perhaps. Certainly strong too just by looking at her. I can tell she's got the Branwen blood in her. Now what about the other two here?" She said before looking at Neo and Ruby who went stiff as just her gaze.
Raven got back to her feet as she stood straight "Don't lay a finger on either one of them." She warned.
Synin circled Ruby almost like she was examining her but wasn't that much impressed and the same with Neo.
"These two wouldn't last a day in the camp. Who are they? Tag alongs?" Synin questioned.
"One just happens to be a friend and Ruby is my niece. So back off sis." Raven stated firmly.
Synin only groaned at this remark "Need I remind you who runs this camp." Synin said as she snapped her fingers and once again the blunt of Shays weapons met Raven stomach causing her fall to her knees again.
Yang have hand enough "Coward! Trying picking on someone else!" Yang shouted.
Synin approached Yang and then cupped her chin roughly "You think you can boss me around because your mother is my sister. New flash kiddo I really don't give a damn." She said before shoving her back.
"Throw these three in the pit. I've got some words for my dear sister here." Synin replied as the bandits took Yang, Ruby, and Neo to a small cage like area and threw them in while Shay took Raven inside the larger tent.
"Jerks!" Yang shouted as the door was closed on them their wrists still tied.
"Jeez what's all the rucus about?" A female voice said which sound familiar as the turned to see a ginger haired girl with her wrists tied and next to her a certain blonde hair boy without his armor. They both have some bruises but other than that their are relatively okay.
"Wait. Jaune? Nora? You two are here too." Ruby said.
"Yeah we we're flying back toward Argus after getting evacuated but then we got attacked by Lancers and crashed landed." Jaune said.
"The pilot and the crew didn't survive but we did. Though that's also when we ran into her and her tribe. They captured us and brought us here as their prisoners. Not sure what's going to happen to us." Nora replied.
"How long have you two been here?" Yang asked.
"Almost two weeks now. They conviscated our scrolls so that we couldn't contact anyone." Jaune answered.
Nora looked "I mean not like anyone can find us here anyway. Even if we could get out they have our weapons." Nora said with a down cast look which was rather unusal for all of them as they normally see her all chipper and happy.
"Hey you okay Nora? Something bothering you." Yang said.
"It's... nothing really." Nora said turning away from Yang.
"It doesn't sound like nothing. You sure nothings..." Yang said but Nora glared at her.
"I said it's nothing so get off my back!" Nora shouted which made Yang take a step back. Nora then hugged her knees close to her chest trying to be small as possible.
"It's... about Ren... he didn't make it. She's very upset about it." Jaune said calmly even though they know that Pyrrha's death must've affected him too but didn't say anything as they each took a spot in the cage as they hoped to wait it out for now as Yang wondered what her mother was doing right now.
Meanwhile inside the large tent Raven was sitting down across a small table as Shay place down a plate of food in front of them before moving toward a corner of the tent.
"Please eat. You must've had a long journey." Synin said before digging into her meat but Raven didn't bother touching hers.
"Why?" Raven asked at first.
"Hm. Why what?" Synin said back.
"Why are you still living like this? You were given an opportunity to leave this behind and yet you stayed. Why?" Raven asked.
"Why I stayed instead of becoming a huntsmen like you and bro. I don't need ot be some fancy huntress to do what needs to be done. You seem to have forgotten all that sister. Being a huntress would only restrain me, hold me back from going all out on someone. And that whole team thing doesn't exactly suit me." Synin stated.
"So you just want to stay a theif and murderer the rest of your life. Typical just like a bandit." Raven said.
"Hey you're the one that abandoned this life and for what. To live an easy life with have a husband and kid. What happened to the sister that I knew. The ruthless brute of the Branwen Tribe. Or should I call you something else like... Spring Maiden." Synin said as Raven suddenly jumped up from her seat.
"How do you know about that?!" Raven shouted but heard a click from a gun behind her.
"I suggest you sit back down." Shay stated firmly pointing his gun at her. Raven grunted but obilged as she sat down again.
"How do you know that I'm a maiden?" Raven asked again.
"Oh dear sister. You think mother and father weren't keeping an eye on you even after you left the tribe. I believe it was almost what... six years ago. You were called for a mission to handle grimm in the area with some other huntsmen right. But it got too out of hand even for you to handle as there were too many grimm." Synin started.
"Then one of the younger huntresses that's probably what in her late teens at the time used her powers to safe you but costing her own life in the process. She saw you and you inherited the powers of the Spring Maiden. Does that sound about right?" Synin smirked as Raven huffed which could only guess that she was right.
"Okay. So you know about that. Then you know exactly what I can do if you don't let me and the others go." Raven said knowingly but that didn't seem to bother Synin as she took a sip of her tea.
"You sure you want to try that. Or did you forget about the little leverage we have on you." she pointed out referring to Yang and the others.
"So here's a proposal to you dear sister. Come back to the tribe and together you and I can pillage, destroy, and even take people as slaves. We can do whatever we want and eventually run the whole damn continent. Not even those in Wind Path or Kuchinashi would be powerless to stop us." Synin said holding out a hand to her sister.
Raven at first want to take her sisters hand but she then slapped it away with a loud smack to her palm.
"You don't know what truly is out their. Your little dream will never come to light." Raven spat.
Her sister only sigh as she put a hand to her forehead "Very well sister. It seems you've left me with no choice." Synin said as she snapped her fingers and almost immediately Shay took the back of his gun and clubbed the back of Ravens head as she fell forward as she was knocked unconcious.
"Put her separate with the others. I don't want them coming up with any ideas." Synin said as Shay began dragging Raven out of the tent taking to a separate part of the camp as Synin simply drank her tea as she planned her next town to raid in which she had one in mind. Higanbana. She just hoped that her scouts find anything interesting their.
=SPIR=
It's been a week since Oscar has left his farm behind him after leaving a note for his mother to find but to Ozpin it was necessary for what was to come. Oscar managed to get some answers out of Ozpin about a lot of things more importantly about the other lifes he had lived as the former headmaster wasted little time explaining about them. For a choice of weapon he decided to take his fathers war axe that can double as a shield to be used for protection from grimm.
As of right now he was exiting a small bakery with some bread and other food in his bag.
"Thanks again!" He called back to the shop owner before leaving the bakery as a sign above read 'Shion Bakery' swung in the wind.
"Now explain to me where we're going again cause it sounds like quite the trip." Oscar said.
"We must get to Higanbana first. From their there we can travel to Kuroyuri. Last I heard the residents are busy rebuilding the town. Then from their it's a straight shot to Mistral and Haven Academy." Ozpin explained.
"You make sound so easy and yet crossing this much terrian could take days if not another week to cross." Oscar added.
"You'd be correct but we are currently lacking a mode of transportation at this very moment." Ozpin added.
He was right as they didn't have anything that could get them their faster and taking an airship would be too costly for him as he tried to come up with an idea.
"Wild horse! Watch out!" A man shouted as all the people that were in the area got out of the way as Oscar looked toward the direction of the whinning from the horse.
The horse itself was bigger than him but it was black furred horse with a wild black mane and tail but it had a small white spot on the face and it was bucking anything and anyone that got in it's way.
"Oscar I suggest that we move quickly." Ozpin suggested but Oscar didn't.
"No I got a better idea." He said as he instead ran toward the horse. When he was in front of the horse it reared up it's front hooves at him almost trying to stomp on him as Oscar raised his arms up.
"Whoa! Steady their girl!" He called out to it as the horse missed him which gave Oscar the opportunity to grab the reins that were dangling in front of him. Thankfully his time on the farm gave him plenty of time to toughen up as he was able to hold on to the rein while also trying to calm it as the horse tried to rear up again.
"Easy girl. Easy now." He said in a calm voice. It was surprisingly working on the horse as it didn't try to rear up at him again as it shooks its head.
Oscar then took his hand and gently rubbed down the horse long face.
"There you go. That's a good girl." He said calmingly as a stable boy came running toward him.
"Thank you stranger for catching her. Darn girl got away from me while I was trying to brush her. Not sure why though." The man said. Oscar however notice that the horse didn't put much pressure on it's back left hoof.
"Can you hold these for a second?" He asked before handing the reins over to the man and then went to inspect the hoof. Oscar gently raised the back hoof making sure to be extra careful and noticed that the original was completely gone as it was more than likely causing the horse some pain.
"Ah there's the problem. The horseshoe's gone. It was putting too much pressure on the hoof causing the pain. How long ago have you check the horseshoe's?" Oscar asked.
"It's been about a month since I've last fitting her with them." The man said.
"Their probably going to need changed. If you like I can help out. I've dealt with this kind of stuff before." Oscar replied.
"I'd appreciate it young man. It's hard to do by yourself." The man said they lead the horse back to the stable.
It was a small stable but it did everything that it needed to do but Oscar noticed that there weren't any other horses around.
"Did you have more horses?" Oscar asked.
"I did. They were either stolen by bandits, killed by grimm or other predators. She's my last horse. Though I'm afraid that something bad will happen to her too." The man said as they immediately got to work on the mares horseshoes. It took Oscar about an hour to fully fit the mare with four brand new horses as the horse seemed to whine in approval.
"There we go. Good as new." Oscar said petting the horses head. Seeing this the man came to a descision.
"What's your name young man?" The man asked.
"Um... Oscar Pine." He introduced himself.
"Well Oscar. I really appreciate what you did for me so in return... I want you to keep her as gratitude for your help." The man said.
"Huh? Sir I don't think I can accept this. You said so yourself that she's your last horse and should be taken care of by someone else." Oscar replied.
"That's what I'm saying young man. Besides what happened today is a sign that I should retire from handling horses. My wife has always told me that I should retire and now I can knowing that this horse is in good hands." He said.
Oscar wasn't sure what to think and didn't want to accept the horse but eventually he relented.
"Thank you. I'll take good care of her." Oscar said.
"Good. Saddle is in the stable. Have a safe trip." The man said before walking back toward his home. Oscar grabbed the saddle and placed on the horse making sure that it was secure before getting on her himself.
It was still a little weird riding a horse but he didn't seem to mind as he looked down to the horse.
"You're going to need a name first." He said as he thought of a name to call the horse as it is a female horse.
"How about Khaleesi?" He asked the horse as it moved its head up and down like it was agreeing with him.
"Alright Khaleesi we got a long road ahead of us." Oscar said and one flick of the reins and Khaleesi took off and exited out of Shion and into the wilderness ahead.
=SPIR=
Adam, Pepper, and Weiss woke up before daybreak and had made incredible progress as they were already nearing the town of Higanbana but there was some complication that stood in their way. The town was brimming with huntsmen that would no doubt notice Adam in a heartbeat and try to arrest him as that was something they all wanted to avoid.
"Well this isn't good. The port is right there and with so many huntsman around we can't risk you getting seen." Weiss replied at this.
"So do we just go around?" Pepper asked.
"Going around will just take longer and we need to get to that port in order to get to where we are going." Adam stated.
"Plus even if we go straight through we're looking at some mountains to cross too which could take hours if were not careful." Weiss said.
"Besides even if we do get into town it looks like the ferry not even their yet. So we'll be waiting either way." Pepper added.
Weiss bit her bottom lip as Pepper did have a point depending on where the ferry was going it would take a few days to get back to the port. However Weiss noticed a small tavern that was near the middle of the town. Usually small places like that have people with information that could be useful to them.
"I've got an idea. You two stay put. I'm going to check out that tavern over their." Weiss said.
"Really? What would that place have anyway other than food?" Pepper asked.
"Intel. It's a good place to start." Adam said.
Weiss got up and put her hood over her head just incase anyone recognized her as a Schnee before marching into town. It was almost immediate as people began looking at her strangely and with wonder trying to figure who the mystery woman that came into town. Once she reached the tavern she opened the door and stepped inside the small establishment.
It's a two story building with wooden tables scattered around and a bar in the back. Thanks to her heightened smell she could smell that a few of the people at the bar were already drunk as her noise scrunched up from the smell. She noticed a time table next to the bar that looked like a schedule for the ferry. She gave a small grunt seeing that the next ferry won't be in till tomorrow afternoon.
"Table for one?" The waitress at her side asked.
"Yes." Weiss said immediately as the waitress guided her toward a table. Through this Weiss noticed by the bar a small sign that cleared stated that faunus weren't allow in the tavern so she had to be extra careful not to show her tail.
"Here you go. Is water fine miss?" The waitress asked.
"Coffee with cream if you please." Weiss stated as she sat down and waited patiently as the waitress stepped away.
She suddenly heard heavy footsteps coming toward her as a muscular man came into her view and sat across from her.
"Well... you seem rather new around? What's a pretty thing like you doing around these parts?" The man asked. Weiss could tell he was drunk so she had to be careful not to anger him.
"Just passing through. On my way to Mistral actually with a couple of friends." Weiss said not looking at him.
"Like what? You student their or something?" The drunkened man asked.
"Not exactly. Just going their to conduct some... business so to speak." Weiss worded her sentence not to give away what she really was doing.
"Yeah right. Someone at your age. What are you desperate for lien or something?" He said before taking a sip of his drink.
"I mean sure you got the body for it but I doubt you'll last long." He said slurring some of his words.
Weiss was not like how this conversation was going especially him suggesting she was going to... she wasn't even going to think that thought.
"It's rude to assume something you know nothing about." Weiss growled.
The man only seemed to laugh "Oh well look at that. This kittens got claws. Like I'm so scared. Your less threatening than those White Fang goons." He said which suddenly got Weiss's attention.
"White Fang. They were here?" Weiss asked him.
"Oh yeah. Couple of goons they were. Came here about a few days ago coming from the mountains. Wanted to burn down this tavern here. But me and the boys didn't let them." He said slurring in his words again.
"I see... did they say anything else before you threw them out." She said.
"Yeah. Something about a academy their going to blow up. I don't know I passed out after throwing them out." He said.
"So that mean's the White Fang are already on Anima and are heading toward Mistral. Not sure of how many their are." Weiss thought.
"You've actually been most helpful. Now if you'll excuse me I'll be taking me leave." Weiss said but before she could the man grabbed hold of her left arm.
"Now c'mon why don't you sit awhile. Have a drink. Who knows you might just get lucky with someone here girly." He said with a coy smile. The thought of that made Weiss want to gag so she decided to instantly put this to a stop as she held up her right hands palm directly at him as her prosthetic pulsed with energy.
"You got exactly five seconds to remove your hand from my arm before you lose something very important to you." She said before moving it to directly between his legs.
Immediately he let go of her arm just as the waitress was coming back with her coffee and set it down in front of her.
"Oh this is for this gentlemen here. Best to get him sober." Weiss said as she walked out of the tavern leaving behind a few lien cards for the waitress plus a tip.
However the man in the tavern wasn't too thrilled that she left him and wanted to get a little payback as he sent a message from his scroll to someone outside.
After leaving the tavern Weiss was making her way back to where Adam and Pepper are but she noticed ahead of her another man in his early twenties and a woman in her mid twenties ahead of her as they were staring right at her.
"His lackeys. Just great. I really didn't want to have a fight today." Weiss thought with a groan as the woman in front of her stopped her.
"Hold it their missy. Just where are you going?" She asked in a mocking tone.
"I'll only say this once. Move aside and no one gets hurt." Weiss said in a calm voice.
"Wrong answer sweetheart." The other man said as the man from the tavern appeared a few feet behind her.
"Do you know who we are kitten? We're the wrong people to piss off and you piss one of us off you get all of us. Higanbana is our terf you faunus." He said as Weiss looked a little shocked.
"Yeah. I can smell a faunus from a mile away just by looking at you. Now here's what's going to happen. Your going to give us all your stuff right now and maybe if you beg for mercy we leave in one piece." He said as the others chuckled.
Weiss however was not impressed by them. She could tell they had little training and that they used their looks to look intimidating as she only huffed at them.
"Think that's funny girl. You heard him. Hand over your shit or we'll beat it out of..." The woman said as reached for Weiss's coat only to be met to with a metal right hook to her cheek sending her flying a few feet away.
"Damn it!" The woman yelled clutching her cheek.
"You three think you honestly scare me. You are like children that need a little discipline if you ask me. You act like your huntsmen but you don't look the part." Weiss said.
The other man growled "Get her!" He shouted as they both charged at her. Easily predicting their movements she ducked the second mans clothsline before meeting with an uppercut to his stomach which stunned him before following up with a straight punch to his face knocking lose a few teeth as he landed on the ground helpless.
The guy from the tavern tried to tackle her but she quickly jumped above him to avoid it. Then in mid air Weiss thrust her palm outward toward the man and fired a lightning pulse blast that shocked him making him fall to the ground rendering him powerless.
Weiss simply dusted herself off from the little fight she just had without much of breaking a sweat.
"Didn't even need my weapon for this." Weiss said as she walked past the woman before sending her a glare.
"Now. Go back to wherever it is you three came from and don't come back." Weiss growled actually scaring the woman who actually picked up the two men and headed out of the town entirely heading west. She gave a sharp nod to herself before returning back to Adam and Pepper.
She returned to the same spot where she left them before removing her hood.
"So what you found out?" Adam asked.
"Well for one I'm never going back into that tavern again. But I did find some news. Turns out the White Fang are here in Anima. Apparently they've come through here already but don't know where." Weiss began.
"And the ferry? What about that?" Pepper asked.
Weiss shook her head "Unfortcunantly the ferry won't be in till tomorrow." Weiss replied.
"By the time that get's here we'd be past Kuroyuri by now. Guess we're going to need a different plan." Adam stated.
"I mean we could try and make our way toward Kuroyuri or we can wait for the ferry to come." Weiss said.
"Hm... both are viable options and if the White Fang are about then we should look into this more. Especially with my contact I have in Wind Path." Adam replied giving his answer.
"Alright new plan. We'll stay here till morning and hopefully by then the ferry will be here and then we can get on and proceed with our original route."
"Sounds like a plan." Pepper nodded in agreement as the three of them now have a plan. However what they weren't aware of that those three 'huntsmen' weren't huntsmen as they were returning to their home in the Branwen Tribe camp.
F3: And that's chapter 2 of Volume 5 in the books. Raven and the others captured by her sister along with Nora and Jaune already their. This could get really dicey. Don't forget to leave behind a comment and also please follow and/or favorite. Thank you. With that said this is Fireuser3 and I'm Out.