The wind danced through the plains, sending gentle ripples across the grass and ghosting across Blake's Aura. She took a deep breath, for a moment remembering her last visit here - the smells were familiar, and oddly nostalgic considering it hadn't been that long since she'd been to Ciel.

"So...is this where Beacon is?" Ruby tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Er, will be...? Time travel makes that a little confusing."

Both are correct, for you.

"Uh...?"

"I see," Weiss said, gaze sweeping across the horizon. "Because we're not native to this time, but we're here regardless, I assume?"

Correct.

Yang sighed. "We travel thousands of years into the past, and the first thing you guys want to talk about is grammar. I wish I could say I was surprised." Penny pat her shoulder comfortingly.

"Grammar is important! All aspects of language are. Without language, it is difficult to be understood!"

Yang eyed her, frowning. "I want to be annoyed that you're right." She rolled her eyes. "Ugh. Sometimes I wish you were less endearing, Penny."

The redheaded gynoid tilted her head to one side. "I do not know how to be? I am sorry!"

"We've got a ways to go, to get to the city. Longer, if we want to take the time to scout for Grimm on the way. We should get going."

They set off jogging...which, for Huntresses (even in training), was not an insignificant speed.

"Speaking of the city, a thought occurred to me," Weiss continued after a moment. "Blake...I understand that you were able to understand the natives through some interaction with your nature as Arbiter. How are we to communicate with them?"

Blake blinked. "...Wow, I can't believe I haven't thought of that. Um. That's actually a little embarrassing." When Yang laughed, she flushed. "Hey, come on!"

"No, no, sorry, it's just - heh heh - it's really humanizing, I guess? You're kinda larger than life these days, Blake. It's...nice to see you forget something small like that." Without breaking stride, Yang threw an arm around her partner's shoulders. "So. Plan?"

"Is there...some kind of translation spell? Or can we study Cielan in Dreams? It wouldn't be the quickest solution, but..." Weiss trailed off.

Magical translation is possible. Blake is capable of learning to perform it. Otherwise, I will weave the magic.

"Just like that...?" Blake mumbled quietly. "I thought you wanted us to do things on our own."

Yes.

She frowned, opening her mouth.

But when needed, I will intervene.

She closed it, thoughtful.

Penny simply smiled. "Of course! Mother is always helpful, but we should take care to rely on ourselves. We cannot grow otherwise!"

"Well, the trip is more than a day, right?" Ruby continued once Blake nodded. "Then, tonight, you could try to learn if you wanted. Or we could work on something else; it's been a while since we were able to train together in Dreams." She smiled softly, and Blake felt warmth in her chest. "...I missed it, really."

"...Yeah. I did too," Yang muttered where only Blake could hear.

The Grimm dissolved into the air as Yang stood, fist outstretched, frowning at the crumbled remains of the proto-Beowolf. "That...was way too easy."

Weiss paced back and forth, fingers tapping against where Myrtenaster rest at her side. "They're so...empty. Weak and foolish, compared to how they are in the future. Even newborn Grimm are more dangerous than this."

Blake nodded. "That was my observation, as well, but I have no idea why. Obsidian? Did...you get any hints from that Dream?"

Perhaps. The Dream was...muddled. But the Grimm were not designed to grow, nor to evolve.

Weiss chewed her lip. "I...choose not to get into the idea of the Grimm being 'designed,' for now. But I assume you're talking about them as a species, not individually?"

Correct. Individual Grimm may grow in power and are capable of learning, but as a species they should not have changed so drastically. Some event must have altered them.

"That's worrying," Ruby played her fingers across Crescent Rose thoughtfully, as her eyes flickered with faint light. "Is there any way we could get more information?"

Perhaps. A large concentration of Grimm, intact or destroyed, might be sufficient to gather data. But without samples of the intervening time periods, it may be difficult to extrapolate what happened.

"It might be worth a try." Yang rolled her shoulders. "These things...I can't imagine them being threatening. Not really."

Blake frowned. "Keep in mind that the Cielans fight with only a few people with awakened Auras."

"Even so...Maybe it's just me, but it seems like even then? I guess I don't have a good baseline for what civilians are capable of in fights, though." She shrugged.

Penny looked pensive, tapping a finger deliberately against her chin. "Atlesian standing combat forces could hold indefinitely against this level of Grimm."

Blake tapped a finger on Shroud and Veil's hilt for a moment, considering. Ciel must have fallen, but...she has a point. The Grimm...I can't see them managing it in this state. Her eyes tightened as she pictured a Wilder assassin lunging out of hiding.

"Blake? Everything okay?" Ruby touched her arm lightly, and Blake relaxed with a slow breath.

"Yeah. Just thinking. It's nothing; let's keep moving. We've got a ways to go before we camp."

"Are we going to need to keep watch? Because I hate that. Worst part of camping." Yang was smiling, even so.

Penny raised a hand.

I will watch for threats.

Penny lowered her hand, smiling, and Blake found herself smiling as well.

Your mortals rest and return to the Dream.

A/N: We're back, baby!

I can't promise rapid updates, but it's time to get back to it. Thank you, everyone, for putting up with the impromptu hiatus, and welcome to all the new readers that got lured in by my other fics.