F3: Welcome to chapter 3 of Volume 5. We last left off with Weiss and company getting to Higanbana but ran into a snag. Ruby and the others are captured by Synin and her tribe. Though wonder what else is happening around Remnant. RWBY is property of Rooster Teeth. Akane Shidou belongs to Decode9 and Colby Castanho and Senka Linwood belongs to MountainKing312. With that said Let's Dive In.

Volume 5-3: Sinking Feeling.

Mistral home to many good places and some not so good places if you count yourself lucky enough to not be in any of them. However it is also home to Haven Academy, one of the primary combat schools aside from Sanctum. Haven Academy itself is a large spacious place with many towering buildings with very intrigate yet stylish roof tops. Though despite it being a spacious academy the place is currently empty due to orders from the headmaster for students to head home until said otherwise.

Though inspite of the warning three students still remained on the academy grounds. The first student is Akane Shidou who is currently wearing a different outfit than normal. She is now wearing a red, orange, and deep pink top that resembles a sunset. Over it is a white-pink jacket with large sleeves to resemble a kimono with deep red trimmings with white fur interior. She is wearing loose white shorts with black leggings and white high heel boots. Around her left leg is a holster for her gun along with extra dust cartridges while around her other leg is a sheath for her short sword. On her right arm is an bronze colored arm guard that folds out into a shield.

The second girl next to her is Senka Linwood who actually arrived with an airship full of wanted fugitives calling themselves the Red Hand who was working in cooperation with the White Fang.

And finally the third person with them is male that is seventeen years old and is a bit taller than Senka. He has short, dark hair and brown eyes with slightly tanned skin. He currently is wearing a gray shirt with red sleeves along with blue jeans and white tennis shoes. On his shirt is a symbol of an axe crossing with a lightning bolt.

This is Colby Castanho as he likes to refer to himself as The Gray Lightning. But right all three of them were currently at the academy going over what they could do.

"Man this is really bumming me out. Academy is closed until teach saids so which who knows how that long is going to be. I'm really bored out of my mind here." Colby said.

"I know what you mean. But their's really not much else we can do. Besides we don't know when the White Fang are even going to strike. With the intel I've gathered before coming here even I don't have a clue." Senka added.

"Alright let's go over what we know. Senka you said that you've encountered Iona, Blake, and this Summer person right. When was that last time you've seen them?" Akane asked.

"Last I heard before leaving Kuroyuri was they were heading to Menagerie. But that was a week ago. More than likely they're already their now." Senka said but a thoughtful look came to Colbys eye.

"Hang on that name Summer does ring some bells in my head. Like I heard it before." Colby replied.

"Really? What do you mean by that?" Senka asked.

"Their was an article about it years ago. Saying something about Team STRQ and a member suddenly gone missing and another dead. I think the one that went missing was Summer." Colby replied.

"More like she self exiled herself. I don't know the full details but she went with Blake and Iona to Menagerie." Senka replied.

"Well at least they have someone with experiance helping them out. Though their is something that is bothering me. More importantly it's about the headmaster Lionheart. He's been acting rather strange lately after the attack on Beacon. He's been rather closed off." Akane stated.

"Yeah now that you mention it. He's been back and forth between the academy and Mistral. Like he's up to something." Colby added.

"The headmaster up to something? I'm not too sure about that. He's more than likely worried about what's going to happen to the school if their aren't any students here." Senka replied.

"Think we should keep an eye on him just incase." Colby suggested.

Akane debated in her head rather to do just that or to leave him be until he makes a move.

"Let's leave him be. If he does something out of the ordinary then we follow him and see what he's up to." Akana replied.

"Sounds good to me." Senka said as Colby nodded in agreement as for now the only thing they can do is wait.

=SPIR=

All that Star could see around her was darkness like their was nothing around her but she heard something that sounded like a voice trying to call to her.

"...ar..."

The voice was muffled as she felt herself being shook before the voice called out again.

"...tar..."

It sounded clearier as her vision was coming up seeing something brown and blurry.

"Star!" A voice sound male as Stars vision came back and she was staring directly at Cardin who shook her awake.

"Cardin..." She said as she slowly sat up feeling a small bruise on her head as she sat up.

She groaned trying to get a grip on what happened "Where are we? What the heck happened?" Star questioned.

"The airship got attacked by Lancers. You, May, and Velvet tried to fight them off but the ship took too much damage and crash landed knocking all of us for a loop." Cardin replied.

"And the others are they okay?" Star asked as Cardin helped her up.

"Velvets right ankle's banged up pretty bad. May is putting bandage on it right now. Only good thing is that other than the pilot we're all alive." Cardin replied.

Star got a good look around and noticed it was all rocky and like they were very high up somewhere.

"Okay... where are we anyway?" Star asked.

"Not sure. We're on some kind of mountain I think after we crashed. May managed to salavage what we could for food and other supplies." Cardin said they walked toward a small fire that May had made and was currently tending to Velvet.

"Hold still. Just about done." May said as she was just about finished wrapping the medical gauze around the ankle. Another minute and May finished. Though Star noticed one thing around her that it was night time already.

"How's it feel?" May asked as Velvet only smiled.

"A little better, thanks." Velvet said.

"Even with your aura it's going to take at least a day or two to heal properly I wouldn't go putting pressure on it." May reminded.

"Man talk about a day and already we're in trouble. We have no transportation, we're nowhere near Mistral, and now we're stuck up here on this mountain." Cardin said as he sat down by the fire.

"Hey at least we've survived the Lancers. I take that as a good thing." Velvet added.

"We should try and focus getting off this mountain in the morning and then we can make our way to Mistral." Star added.

However their was something that caught May's eye as their was a glow up above them. It was faint but May could still see it.

"Hey any idea what is up their?" May asked pointing toward the glow above.

They all looked up to where May was pointing at as they saw the glow.

"A glow? What's something like that doing up here?" Velvet asked.

"I'm not sure but right now it's unsafe to go anywhere till in the morning." May suggested as they all agreed.

"I'll take first watch." Star said as the rest of them got some sleep as she kept the fire going to keep them warm throughout the night. Though what they didn't know was that glow was actually someone watching them.

=SPIR=

Meanwhile off east coast of Mistral the forces of the White Fang had gathered and already set up base their as they've begun training for their potiental attack on Haven Academy. Ilia was going over her plans and making adjustments if needed making sure that nothing was out of place. Even with Blake stopping their bomb supplier they still had plenty of material to make the bombs that they need to destroy the CCT Towers that were on the grounds of the academy.

She would make humanity fear the faunus and demand to be made equal to the humans or they would suffer only more bloodshed. Plus with how things went on Menagerie Ilia believe that Fennac and Corsac had desposed of Blake, her family, and the rest that would follow.

Plus that's not all, Salem had promised her forces to aid her in this invasion and like her word she provided them along with Hazel and the scorpion faunus Tyrian who is nothing but a pychopath but she wasn't one to be choosey and while Hazel was human he didn't care less about her plan except for Salem gets what she wants.

She heard her tent flap open revealing Tyrian himself as he joined her side.

"Ah the mastermind at work at her little table. So... boring." He said his tail hanging from her shoulder.

She shrugged his tail off her before staring at him "Don't you have other things to attend to." Ilia said.

"Oh I've already done those but I'm starting to get rather bored here. Watching your troops train tirelessly everyday only gets enjoyable for so long." Tyrian said out of boredom.

"Then go find something to entertain yourself. I'm busy planning a route toward Haven." She added.

"I thought you want to get their quicker and not play it safe. Aren't we a little skeptical." Tyrian teased.

"The safer my troops are the better off we are attacking the academy. Apparently you don't know the first thing about strategy." Ilia said.

"I don't need it. Sometimes my targets are already dead before I can come up with one. That's just my style girly." Tyrian added.

"Well then take our 'style' elsewhere." Ilia ordered.

However just as Tyrian was about to leave one of the guards came in.

"Sister Ilia come quickly! Corsac has returned to us!" The guard called out. Immediately she stopped what she was doing and followed the guard. Their was a boat where other members had gathered as Corsac had just gotten off the boat.

"Brother Corsac. It is good to see you are alive." Ilia said but noticed something was wrong as someone was missing.

"Where's your brother Fennac? Shouldn't he be with you?" She asked but he looked away from her gaze before answering.

"Brother Fennac I'm afraid... has been slain." He said regrettably.

"By who? Who slained your brother Corsac?" Ilia asked again.

This time he stared back into her eyes and spoke "The human that lives with the faunus." He said and Ilia knew exactly who he was talking about.

"So it was the Basil girl. A human that was born on Menagerie killed your brother." She said before turning back to her soldiers.

"Do you see now! The human race doesn't care for us faunus even when one is born into our home! Fennac will not be forgotten but will only fuel our desire for equality! When one of you fall three more will take your place and carry on where you left off! Show no mercy to the humans and kill every single one of the until those above decide to make us equals! Not out of diplomancy but out of fear of what we can do! Make them fear you and use that very same fear to crush, rip, tear, and kill your enemies! Hit them where it hurts the worse and never relent! You all will get what you want even if we have to force them to give it to us! Our rise begins!" Ilia spoke proudly as the soldiers cheered for her.

"Forget the two month period. Next month... we march to Haven." Ilia declared before turning to Tyrian.

"You. I have a job for you. Find out this Basil girls family and kill them. Look everywhere if you have too just get it done." Ilia ordered.

Tyrian grinned at this as he would finally get a chance to kill something "As you command." He said before taking his leave from the camp. Though secretly their was one female soldier within the group that was still loyal to a certain tiger faunus as she quitely stepped out of the camp and into a small cove she made for herself that had her pet owl their hidden that carried hidden messages.

She quickly wrote on a small piece of paper before stuffing it into a small carrying piece on it's leg.

"Find Sienna Khan." Was all the female said as the owl listened to her and flew off into the night heading toward the direction of Argus as she prayed her message would get to her in time.

=SPIR=

Morning came as the sun rose on the mountain that Star and company were at as they all were awake getting themselves ready to traverse down the mountain.

"Alright is everyone about ready to go." Star said.

"Yeah. I think so. How's the ankle Vel?" Cardin asked.

"It's still a little tender. I should be okay after today." Velvet said.

"Okay but you still shouldn't put any pressure on it till it heals. So we'll go in a pack formation. May I want you in the rear to cover us if any threats comes from behind. Cardin I want you to help Velvet get down the mountain so you'll be carrying her and be in front of May. I'll take point and cover the front. Everyone good with that." Star said as they all nodded.

"Good. Let's move out." Star ordered as Velvet wrapped an arm around Cardin's neck making sure her bad foot was off the ground but still holding onto her camera. Cardin had his mace on his back for quick access if need be while May had her sniper rifle ready for any grimm that would come from afar. Star had her gunbreakers ready to defend up close as the four of them began their descent down the mountain.

An hour into their descent it was starting to get rather rough and rugged for them even though they haven't encountered any grimm yet which was a blessing to them in the least.

"Just how high are we?" Star asked.

"Not sure. We must've landed pretty high up if we're still trying to go down." Cardin said as they all continued downward.

However Star's ears twitched almost like she heard something as she paused a moment.

"Hold it gang. I get the feeling were not the only ones on this mountain." She said as she looked about trying to pin point where the noise was coming from. Velvet was also helping out with her ears to make sure they weren't followed. However Star heard footsteps coming from up ahead of them as she readied herself incase it was a grimm or someone dangerous.

The footsteps got closer as they rounded the corner of the mountain as Star was ready to strike at whatever was coming their way.

"Hey now yah mind puttin' that down their will yah." A female voice said in front of them as the source of the voice came into view.

It was a young woman with blue eyes and slightly darker blue hair tied into a ponytail. The woman wears a black and blue body suit that reaches just above her knees along with a brown leather jacket over it. Though the womans most distinctive feature are that her leg are that of a sevral cats with blue fur with three claws on each feet.

Strapped to her back is a large pickaxe.

"I ain't gonna hurt yah. If I was I would've done it by now." The woman said as Star lowered her weapons but still kept them out.

"Sorry about that. Didn't think anyone else was up here other than us." Star replied.

"It's alright. Not the first time I had a weapon pointed at me. So what the four of yah doing on the mountain?" The woman asked.

"We crashed landed actually. Our airship got attacked by some Lancers and we crashed. So we're trying to get down." Velvet answered.

The woman only shook her head at this "Hon it's a lot easier going up than going down. Not many people that go up the mountain try to get down. Trust me on that." She said.

"Kinda hard too for a woman we know nothing about." Star replied.

"Alright how about we change that. Arrastra Skye. Nice to meet you." Arrastra introduced herself.

The four people only glanced at each other before the sniper spoke up.

"May Zedong. Same to you." May introduced.

"Cardin Winchester." Cardin added.

"Velvet Scarlatina." Velvet said.

"Star." Star introduced.

"Their now doesn't that make things better. Though like I said earlier you all might not want to go down. Your best bet is going up." Arrastra stated.

"Okay why would we want to go up?" Star asked.

"I know it sounds crazy but what if I told you their is a town up on top of the mountain." Arrastra added which surprised the four of them.

"Wait their is a town up their?" May questioned.

"Yep. Kuchinashi. Though you four might want to stick with me if you go up their." Arrastra added.

"What for? Is it that dangerous?" Cardin asked.

"Yeah. Some of the people their don't like outsiders but if you four stick with me you'll be alright." Arrastra answered.

The four of them looked at each other for a moment as if trying to decide.

"Um... can you give us a minute we need to discuss this." Star said as they got into a group.

"So what do you all think?" Star asked the others.

"Honestly we would have better odds with her than by ourselves. Plus we could have a chance to get off this mountain." Cardin said.

"I don't know... can we trust her?" May asked as they looked over to her.

"Well... it does appear she knows her way around the mountain better than we do. For now I think we should go with her." Velvet replied.

"Then I guess we're in an agreement." Star said as they turned to face Arrastra.

"We'll go with you." Star said as Arrastra smiled.

"Cool. Then just follow me." She said as Star and company followed her but instead of going down they were heading upward.

As they began traversing the mountain they noticed how cloudy it was starting to get and that it was starting to rain getting them wet. It took them roughly an hour but they arrived at a large wooden entry way that had a sign on it stating where they were.

"Kuchinashi." Cardin said.

"Yep this is the place. More correctly this is the central strip." Arrastra stated as they noted the amount of people that were crowding around. Though they noticed that some of the vendors were armed with weapons. Even some citizens were armed as well which kinda put them off.

"What did we just step into?" Star questioned.

"Yeah people around here, while some of them are citizens almost three forths of the population here are mostly theifs and criminals looking to get away from the authority of Mistral. While their are huntsmen here they only step in when they are needed." Arrastra replied.

"So almost everyone here is a criminal. Great." May said.

"Don't worry they won't attack you." Arrastra added as they walked on.

They soon were walking past a marketplace that seemed just as crowded from where they walked from.

"Careful here. The Hedges is a smorgesborg for pick-pocketers. So watch your wallets." She warned them as they were more vigilance about whats around them.

"So where are we headed?" Star asked.

"The Skillful. It's a tavern meant for huntsmen and huntresses. Plus it's a good place for all of you to dry off so you don't catch a cold." Arrastra said as they saw the tavern ahead of them. It's a large tavern with no windows around it but it looked rather quiant. Arrastra lead them inside and immediately they felt a warmth of relief hit them.

Inside the tavern their were many wooden tables with five chairs each. On the wall their a photos of former headmasters, and other huntsmen. In the back of the tavern their is a stage allowing performers to perform.

There were already a few huntsmen and huntresses chatting about private matters.

"Here sit down." Arrastra said as they did with Cardin sitting Velvet down into the chair.

Though not a moment later of the four of them sitting down a womans voice rung out.

"Arrastra! What are you doing here!?" An older woman voice said.

An older woman walked to their table as she stood just a head taller than Arrastra. She has white hair with a scar running down the side of her face. She wears a green shirt with black pants. However she wear chest and shoulder armor and combat boots. Though the noticable trait is her silver eyes.

"Sorry Opal but they were on the mountain so I had to bring them here." She said apologetically.

Opal only stared at her before looking at the group that came in with her before groaned.

"They look like fleshlings to me. Probably not even full fledged huntsmen." Opal added before heading behind the bar.

"I'm guessing they want something hot so they don't freeze." Opal said.

Star nodded "Thank you ma'am." She thanked as Opal prepared four drinks for them.

"Don't thank me kiddo. Besides Arrastra would have a fit if I let you kids freeze." Opal added preparing the drinks.

"You know I would." Arrastra added.

After a few minutes Opal brought over four cups of hot drinks for the four of them.

"Here you go. On the house." She said setting the drinks in front of them. They each took a swig of their drink feeling the warm liquid heat their throats as the gave a relieving sigh.

"Man that's way better. Thank you for the drinks ma'am." Velvet said but the woman just shrugged it off.

"Arrastra if you brought them here you know it's only a matter of time till they show up." Opal said which made Arrastra freeze in place before facepalming herself.

"Shoot! I should've realized!" She cursed herself.

"And just who are 'they'?" May asked.

Just before Opal could say anything the door flung open as four individuals came in.

The first was a male that is around the same age as Arrastra with a light skin complextion with black ruffled hair and bangs with light blue eyes. He wears black pants, leather jacket and a belt that goes across his chest. He wears dark black boots and light grey fingerless gloves.

The second is a male a head taller than the first with dark skin and long dirty blonde hair with deep purple eyes as goggles were on his head. He wears a dark grey pants with a tan belt. He wears a light tan shirt with a green sash across his chest. Over them is a brown vest with a black cape over his right shoulder.

The third is a female that has black hair with orange colored eye. She wear a long purple trench coat with silver armor on her left shoulder and hips. She wear black gloves that have silver armor fingertips that are sharp to the touch. She wears black skinny jeans that fill out her curves and combat boots. On her back is an axe like weapon but with the blunt end looking like a shotgun. She has fangs from her mouth as she is a rare spider faunus.

The final person is female that has black hair tied into a small bun at the top with blue eyes. She wears a black and grey shirt under a tan furred aviator jacket that is left opened. She wears tan kaki pants with dark grey boots that have steel segments on the toe and heel of each boot. Finally she wears black gloves. On her belt is a sword with multiple dust chambers on the sheath.

"Well well looks like we found what the people were talking about." The black haired man said.

"They don't look that strong to me. Probably just some trainees." The big guy stated.

"Though that bunny girl looks rather cute to me." The kaki girl stated cutely.

"This isn't time for your urges." The other girl said.

Though that was when Opal spoke up "Why are you here Sil?" Opal asked glaring at the four members.

"Oh chillax Opal. We just heard that kitten here brought in a few outsiders. You know Kuchinashi has rules against outsiders." Sil replied.

Arrastra growled at this as she gripped her weapon tightly "Get out if you know what's good for you." She said.

"Do you plan on stopping us just by yourself? These four are outsiders and don't belong here." The faunus girl said.

That was when Star got up from her seat and stared at them as she readied her weapons.

"Why don't you try it pal?" She growled at them almost begging for a fight to happen.

The faunus girl placed a hand on her sword expecting Star to attack them.

"Hey their's no fighting in my bar! If you want to duke it out then get out!" Opal shouted.

Sil raised his hand as if to calm the faunus girl before he spoke "Just remember this you four. You're on our list." Sil said before gesturing his team to move out as they left the tavern.

"Okay just who the hell are they?" Cardin asked.

"Team SMMK. Sil is their leader. The other three is Marcus, Mina and Kaki. They're a huntsman team that work for the elites here in Kuchinashi." Opal said.

"They aren't huntsmen when they act like mercenaries. Even taking jobs from the criminals that are here." Arrastra stated.

"Wait if their full felged huntsman then why do they work for criminals?" Star asked.

"If they provide enough lien then they take the job." Opal said before looking to Arrastra.

"I need you to watch over the four until they can get a grip of things. Plus with you four are on their hit list." Opal replied.

"Find them a place to stay and don't let them out of your sight." Opal ordered as Arrastra headed out to find a place for the four of them to stay. Star and the rest of them stayed their at the tavern only wondering now what they've got themselves into.

F3: That ends chapter 3. Star and the others had arrived in Mistral but now in Kuchinashi and intro to Team SMMK. Wonder what will happen to them? Don't forget to leave a comment and please make sure to follow and/or favorite this story. With that said this is Fireuser3 and I'm Out.