"How's he holding up?" Qrow nudged his partner as the two shared a glass of lemonade on the cabin's porch.
"He hasn't said a single word since he left for Ms. Mallari's cottage, and despite Summer's efforts, he's brushed her off all her attempts of conversation," Tai replied solemnly.
The morning sun gracing their faces, its warmth offered little comfort as their hearts remained cold.
"How about the others? Has Yang come out of her room yet?" Qrow finished his drink and placed his glass on a windowsill.
Tai glanced at the bobbing ice-cubes in his lemonade and sighed. "No, the only things she's come out for are food and when she needs to use the bathroom. Ruby and Trifa are doing their best to console her, but I don't think Yang is going to show herself until Hawkins has left the island. I don't blame her, but at the same time I can't help but feel frustrated over this whole ordeal."
Qrow grunted. "Well, I hate to be cynical, but something like this was bound to happen whether Hawkins was around or not. I knew dismissing my sister's request to be her representative was a bad idea, but I couldn't bring my heart into serving her for such a selfish reason."
Tai curled a brow. "Selfish?"
The ravenette rubbed his temples. "When you become the leader of the Branwen Tribe, all endeavors and responsibilities fall on your shoulders. However, with greater responsibility, the amount of loot from raids and hunts also increase."
"Haha, I never took your sister as the materialistic type."
Qrow offered a weak smile. "Hah, the only things my sister seems to care about nowadays are raw power and survivability. It's just that with extra loot she can sway the other bandits in her favor."
Tai gulped down the rest of his lemonade and put his glass beside Qrow's.
"You think Jaune is still gonna be alive when we get to him?"
The question hung in the air like a heavy fog. Neither man wanted to say anything, but the conclusions of the young boy's fate that they drew were veering toward negative outcomes.
"Of course, he is," the abrupt voice of Summer sent a shiver down the two men's backs, "we're bringing Jaune back home and that's final."
Her silver eyes burning with determination, Summer had already changed into her huntress attire with her weapons holstered on her hips.
"I've already booked four tickets to Vacuo. All we need to do is let Hawkins finish his preparations and then we can-"
"Hey, have any of you seen Hawkins? He told me he'd be back for breakfast, but the pancakes I made for him are still on his plate." Carla said as she stepped onto the front patio.
"He said he'd be back in the afternoon, so I thought he already ate before he left," Tai said while scratching his head.
"By the way, where did Qrow go?"
The blonde soon got his answer when his partner appeared with his cookie-loving niece in tow.
"I'm over here," Qrow said glumly, "and I've got bad news."
Ruby shivered as she timidly held up a note towards her mother.
"Hm? What is it, Ruby? Is this for me?" Summer accepted the letter and unfolded it. The moment her eyes registered what was written, her face twisted in anger and her silver pupils burned with rage.
Tai, ever curious, peeked over his wife's shoulder and frowned.
Qrow didn't need to look as he'd already read the message the moment he met Ruby.
"U-Uncle Hawkins wanted me to give this to you before he left..." The little reaper said with her head down.
"Don't-" Summer took a moment to cool her composure then gently guided her daughter inside the cabin.
"None of this is your fault, Ruby, this is a problem that your mother, father, and uncles have to sort through. Okay?"
"O-Okay..." Ruby whimpered as she retreated to her room the moment she was allowed to.
Note crumpled under her tensed fingers, Summer turned to Qrow and Tai who shared similar sentiments.
"Hawkins..." Summer whispered in dread. "Why do you have to be so selfless when it really counts?"
/-/
As the Bullhead's engines roared over the tree-covered mountains of the emerald forest, a certain magician was busy enjoying the natural scenery they offered. Or at least he would be if not for the lackluster company beside him.
"Aw, what's with that sour face, Hawkins? Aren't you glad to see me? It's been quite a while since we've seen each other hasn't it?" Monet giggled in a sugary sweet tone that could only be described as fake.
Sporting a sky blue shirt with sleeves that reached down to her elbows, it was decorated with white flower designs along the hem and neckline. A pair of thin jeans around her long legs, a golden belt was fastened around her waist leaving little to her observers' imagination in regards to her hourglass figure. Yet despite all these changes, she still kept her favorite red sneakers with white laces as her preferred shoe of choice.
"I messaged for Tyrion to meet me on this bullhead at this time. So why is it that instead of the scorpion Faunus, I find myself encumbered by a cold woman with a flippant personality?" Hawkins replied lazily.
Monet's face dropped to a neutral expression. The temperature dropped around them, nearby passengers shivered and hurried away as the atmosphere close to the viewing platforms grew ominous.
"Tyrion was already in the middle of a mission in Vacuo, so he'll be there when you arrive. So don't spoil my mood unless you want this bullhead to have an early and unnexpected landing."
Hawkins sighed and curled a brow when a soft rumble came from his pant pocket. He pulled out his scroll and frowned at the blinking notification that showed he had an unread text.
"Hm?"
The magician turned put his scroll away as soon as he read the message and glanced at his surroundings. Among the few passengers, he spotted a head of peach-colored hair followed by a tall man with a yellow necktie. Behind the couple, was a man with a finely trimmed mustache, and a certain witch who Hawkins' had come to familiarize himself with.
Said witch seemed to be approaching his location a tad too rapidly for his liking.
With no chance of escape, Hawkins conceded the idea and shifted his brainpower in weaving a crafty explanation for why he was on this bullhead. He didn't need the loss of his son to be announced to everyone he knew, even if they could be considered his friends.
"Oho~ It looks like some interesting people just showed up.~" Monet's amber eyes glimmered in anticipation as she gave the magician a playful nudge with her hip.
This voyage to Vacuo was going to be a lot longer than expected. And not in a good way...
/-/
Meanwhile, in Jaune's location...
"Is the brat awake yet?" Raven scowled as she entered her tribe doctor's tent.
The man in question rolled his eyes and grunted tiredly.
"Look," he said while rubbing the bags under his eyes.
"I don't know where you picked this kid up from, but he's been through some tough crap. Sure, I'm used to seeing scratches and marks on youngsters in these parts, but I haven't seen a wound this deep for a good while."
Brick ran a hand through his brown locks and pointed to his patient that was sprawled over a bed made of rags and straw.
The blonde child wore no more than a pair of boxers with his arms and legs bandaged snuggly. However, what caught Raven's eye was the long scar that trailed from his right shoulder down to his belly button.
"He got it from a beowolf," Raven growled. "He's one of those stupid 'die for the sake of others types.'
Brick curled a brow. "And he's the one you want to as one of your representatives?"
His fellow bandit shot him a spiteful glare.
"I didn't have many options," she spat, "my own brother turned his back on me and the straw-wielding hunter proved too emotionally weak."
Brick blinked. "Straw-wielding hunter? You never mentioned anyone like that before."
Raven seemed uncomfortable but satisfied her cohort's curiosity with a vague answer.
"A tall blonde who serves Ozpin as Summer's teammate."
"Oh," was all Brick said before going back to treating his patient's injuries.
An hour later, the boy finally came around and lifted the lids over his foggy cerulean eyes. Shaking his head, he lifted himself up and glanced at his surroundings. Other than the man who wore a gray leather jacket, he was alone.
"Um... Hello?" The boy asked timidly.
Hearing his words, the adult stretched his arms and swung his legs over his hammock. Feet planted firmly on the ground, the man walked over with a small smile and crossed his arms.
"The name's Brick, and if I remember yours is Jaune, right?"
Jaune nodded. The man seemed kind, but given his current predicament and jumbled memory, the boy couldn't bring himself to fully trust him.
Jaune rubbed his neck and the moment he did, he noticed the wounds on his limbs had been cared for and meticulously wrapped. He then stared at the man who previously greeted him.
The boy cupped his chin. Brick was the man's name, right? Well, he didn't really look like a brick in Jaune's eyes.
"I know you're curious about why you've been dragged here against your will, but I wouldn't get too caught up in my own thoughts if I were you. At least for now." Brick adjusted the red bandana around his neck and gestured to the half-open flap of the tent.
"There's going to be a reveal of the representatives soon, and since you're one of them, you're gonna have to get dressed up. There's a pile of clothes behind you, and some of them might reek like sweat and blood, so do your best and find the ones that don't bother your nose."
Jaune turned to a clump of ripped rags behind him. Out of the smelly bundle, he gathered a baggy green shirt, black stitched pants, and a red scarf because he thought it looked cool.
Brick shrugged at the kid's choices, though felt his expression drop when the punk decided to tie his scarf into a big bowtie.
That, coupled with his innocent demeanor, made Jaune seem like the least threatening person in all of Vacuo. And this was probably correct if you discounted the babies that occupied the sandy kingdom.
"Kid, what the hell is that?" Brick lazily pointed to the blonde's bowtie.
Jaune seemed confused. "Did I tie it wrong? My Grandma Carla always ties my scarfs like these. Especially during winter and Christmas."
The bandit facepalmed. Was this lad really the guy who Raven was willing to bet her potential role as tribe leader on? Because if he was, there was no way the ravenette was going to win.
"Forget the scarf kid and get your ass moving," Brick leaned an ear toward the tent's half-open flap, "because it sounds like everybody else in the camp have come around and the tribe leader is about to make an announcement."
"Tribe leader?" Jaune wondered to himself. He wasn't given time to ponder as he was promptly shoved into the sunlight.
The moment he exited the tent, he immediately felt uncomfortable. It was as if all the people around him were staring at him, and when his eyes adjusted to the light, he could confirm that everyone was indeed staring at him.
The others who occupied the camp were a gruff sort. Their outfits slapped together by rags of varying color, only a select few possessed armor pieces in the shape of spaulders or gauntlets. At least the majority of them appeared relatively clean.
Jaune offered a short wave and nervous smile, but the smirks he got in return twisted a knot in his gut. A bead of sweat ran down his cheek as some of the glares he was getting felt nasty or cruel. None having the warmth of the farmer's he'd gotten used to in Vale.
"So that's Raven's brat, huh? He looks absolutely pathetic." Snickered a female bandit with shaggy black hair.
"You'd think that after visiting the famous Beacon Academy, Raven would've gathered a respectable following. Hmph, guess I was right not to bet my lien on her or her brother." Scoffed a male bandit while taking a swig from a green bottle.
"So this is what the third strongest member of the tribe can produce? I gotta say, I'm not impressed." Said a teen with torn jeans and a missing tooth.
The harsh words made Jaune feel small. Smaller than he'd ever felt in his entire life. Visibly deflating, his gaze fell to the dirt beneath his shoes as he trudged back to his tent. However, before he could shuffle away, a firm set of fingers coiled around his collar.
"Where are you going?" A vaguely familiar voice hissed.
Jaune turned around to meet with a set of narrowed, blood-colored eyes. The woman who'd been responsible for bringing him here stared him down in disdain and dragged him to the center of the camp.
The boy, without a clue of what was going on, reluctantly complied due to not being strong enough to wrestle free of Raven's hold.
Now standing beside the ravenette, Jaune glanced at her stern visage then to an approaching group of strong-looking individuals.
Brick among them, the doctor trailed the steps of a much larger man with dark skin and wild, spiky magenta hair that stretched out in rectangles instead of points. Dark gray pants fastened by a red belt with matching black and red boots, he kept his upper torso bare save for the tatoos and chains wrapped around his neck and stomach.
"Jararara!" The intimidating man laughed as the chains on his body rattled.
"Is everybody here? I hate having to wait!"
Jaune shuddered at the man's booming voice. Or at least he thought that it was he who shivered. Veering his gaze back to the woman who held his collar, Raven had an uncertain expression cross her pale face as the other bandits around her gathered.
"Um... who's that?" Jaune whispered to no one in particular.
"The tribe leader..." Raven hissed under her breath. "Mad Treasure..."
"Jararara!" The man laughed mockingly. "Looks like we're finally ready to have a proper meeting!"
"Marcus! Dufor! Raven!"
Jaune hesitated when Raven released him and stepped forward along with two other bandits.
The one addressed as Marcus, was a stout man with half of his blue hair shaved. He wore a gray shirt, brown pants, and dark brown boots; with a spaulder on his right shoulder and a club holstered on his waist.
The second, called Dufor, was the tallest among the three called and was rather lanky. His brown eyes slanted in a way similar to a serpent, he kept his shirt and pants baggy and had several throwing knives hitched to the three belts that wrapped around his thin torso.
Last but not least, was Raven who was still dressed in the same combat uniform since she left the tribe for Beacon. However, her original sword was nowhere to be seen and was replaced by a simple longsword instead.
Jaune blinked. That was his dad's sword, wasn't it?
"So, you all want a shot at becoming my second in command and eventually earning the number one spot as my replacement eh? Jararara!"
None of the three who were addressed spoke up.
"Oi, Oi, what's with the silence? I allowed you three to compete because of your strength, so I guess chatter isn't your forte, but how can you lead if you don't have a sense of charisma?"
Mad Treasure turned to Brick and grabbed him by the collar.
"Oi, doctor, why don't you hurry to Raven's side and we can get things underway? The same thing goes to the other representatives, so don't keep me waiting and get a bloody move on!"
Brick, obviously displeased by Mad Treasure's disregard for personal space, grumbled to himself and positioned himself beside the one he supported. Two other strong-looking individuals followed Brick's example, and soon Jaune found his spot in the middle of the camp feeling a tad cramped.
Mad Treasure lowered his sunglasses to reveal a pair of light magenta eyes.
"First things first, are there any objections on those who are attempting to become my second in command?"
None of the spectating bandits dared to move.
"Alright, with that out of the way, will the three of you announce who you've chosen as your two representatives?"
Marcus coughed into his hand then spoke loudly. "My representatives will be Robert and Gibson!"
The young man named Robert wore a simple red hood and patchy gray pants. A crossbow hitched on his back by a strap, he kept his dust-infused arrows holstered on his other shoulder.
Gibson, a boy who was much closer to Jaune's age, wore a dirty yellow jacket and dusty blue jeans. His black hair at shoulder length, his green eyes trembled as he felt the attention of those around him veer toward his small form. He also had boots with holes that were patched shoddily by random bits of cloth and a short sword sheathed on his back.
"My representatives," Dufor announced, "are Bill and Vernal!"
On his words, the man addressed as Bill was an average-looking chap with a black mask over his mouth and nose. A black vest over his longsleeved gray shirt, a brown belt held his two machetes on his hips.
As for the tanned girl next to him, Vernal had a few years over Jaune and had short, spiky brown hair that pointed forward. Icy blue eyes sneering at the other children who served as representatives, she wore a simple brown shirt and maroon-colored pants with black boots and matching fingerless gloves. A long dagger served as her weapon of choice.
"Those who serve me," Raven declared in a proud voice to mask her uncertainty, "are Brick and Jaune!"
Brick, who'd already been physically described, had added a pair of robust brass knuckles on his scarred fists with Jaune seeking shelter behind him as he possessed no weapon.
The doctor sighed and pushed the blonde boy out into the open. Jaune didn't know what to do exactly, but judging by how his other peers were trying to look as intimidating as possible, he tried to do the same and puffed out his chest while crossing his arms.
Mutters and murmurs echoed from the sidelines as the spectators discussed their potential candidates for future leadership.
As for Mad Treasure, he eyed the group with a half-hearted sense of pity. Said pity, vanished in an instant when his predatory gaze landed on the most vulnerable looking one among the group.
The blonde boy was sheepish in the way he carried himself which was opposite to the powerful tribe members that he supported. Not only that, he even offered a shy wave to the other kids who were supposed to be his competitors.
A smirk crossing his sharp visage, Mad treasure cracked his knuckles and straightened his posture.
"Alright, with that out of the way... Let's have a test!"
Without warning, Mad Treasure lunged forward with his hands raised. From each open palm, a thick iron chain burst into reality that spun in the air before darting towards the three adults who stood before him.
Marcus batted the incoming projectile with his club, his boots digging into the ground from the momentary clash.
Dufor opted to duck then dash to the side, letting the chain pass him and land in the dirt.
As for Raven, she managed to shield herself from the attack with her new sword, but the powerful impact caused her to skid across the sand and almost lose her footing.
Murmurs from the sidelines echoed over the camp, most were impressed with Marcus and Dufor, but a few disapprovals reached Raven's ear that caused her to snarl.
"Jararara! What's with those petty faces you punks?!" Mad Treasure laughed as his chains retracted then wrapped around his forearms and fists.
"Chain Hammer!"
Pounding his now armored fists, sparks flew as he charged toward his victims.
"Argh!" Marcus coughed as a chained arm slugged him across the cheek.
"Whoa!" Dufor jumped clean of his leader's assault and withdrew his knives.
"Hah!" Raven chose to confront Mad Treasure's advance and met his punch with a swing of her stolen sword.
She managed to parry a handful of her leader's attacks, but over time her stamina was worn down and she was forced to retreat momentarily.
"That's not enough action for me!" Mad Treasure boasted and shifted his sights to his candidate's representatives. "There's no need to feel left out, why don't you join the party?"
Light magenta eyes narrowing on a pair of innocent cerulean, Jaune yelped as he realized he'd been singled out from the group. With no weapon or idea of what was going on, he ducked behind the first thing that came into view that was bigger than him.
"H-Hey, what are you doing?!" Vernal screamed in panic.
Jaune peeked over the girl's shoulder, and when he saw Mad Treasure closing the distance between them, the boy's protective instincts kicked in and he hurled himself and Vernal to the ground.
"Thoom!"
His fist meeting the ground, Mad Treasure let out a chuckle as the earth he pounded caved into a small crater.
"Jararara! Is that all you guys got? You won't survive next week's trials at this rate!"
Chest swollen with pride at the fearful faces around him, Mad Treasure decided that his fun had run its course and retracted his chains.
"That's just a taste of what's to come. So don't any of you get any ideas about looting the treasury early. Understand?"
He received hesitant nods that further boosted his ego. With that, Mad Treasure walked proudly to his tent and slammed the flap behind him shut.
As the tension around the camp slowly dissipated, there was only one thought in Jaune's mind.
"I wanna go home..." He shivered as no one around him offered support.
Instead, he got a boot to the face from Vernal before she stomped off, then he was dragged back to Brick's tent by Raven who said nothing as she threw him under the cotton-based establishment.
Left to sulk, Jaune huddled on his straw mattress and quietly cried himself to sleep but before he drifted off to dreamland, he muttered one last thought.
"Where are you, dad?"