Slowly as the sandstorm passed over them the sights of Vacuo came back into view, as if on cue, Ruby and Weiss who had been out slightly ahead of the rest of the group felt both their scrolls vibrate in their pockets before ringing out a little alert, frowning slightly at the surprising noise the two stopped and pulled out their scrolls, Ruby was the first to unlock her scroll and she could see the small single bar of signal, she let out a sigh of relief as they were now close enough to the CCT tower, as the other three of the group caught up both Blake's and Yang's scrolls emitted similar noises.

Weiss watched as her scroll updated as it caught up after their time in the Ever After, she was unsure how to respond as the scroll delivered its notifications.

Willow Schnee: 12 Voicemails

Winter Schnee: 5 Voicemails

Whitley Schnee: 2 Voicemails

Klein Sieben: 1 Voicemail

She turned to her teammates and could see they were receiving similar notifications, looking to Ruby she noticed that her scroll was shaking in her hands as an ashen expression appeared on her face, walking to her leaders' side she immediately understood when she looked at Ruby's scroll, the last voicemail causing a pit to form in her stomach.

Qrow Branwen: 3 Voicemails

Taiyang Xiao Long: 2 Voicemails

Pietro Polendina: 1 Voicemail

Weiss acted quickly and placed her hand on top of Ruby's scroll covering up the screen and bringing her leaders attention up to her and she spoke softly.

"Hey, just Ruby and Weiss remember, until we reach Shade." Ruby smiled gratefully as she understood, putting the scroll back into her pocket she turned to the other three. Her and Weiss chuckled slightly as Jaune was shaking his scroll, his different duration of time in the Ever After having long since drained the scroll's battery, eventually he relented throwing it carelessly back into his pocket grumbling under his breath.

Ruby and Weiss noticed Blake's ears had become lower almost cowering within her hair for cover as she looked at her own scroll.

Kali Belladonna: 5 Voicemails

Ghira Belladonna: 4 Voicemails

Ilia Amitola: 2 Voicemails

Blake reached out for Yang's hand for support, finding it with ease, she squeezed it gently which Yang reciprocated.

"Do you think we should just delete them?" Blake asked timidly.

"I dunno, it almost feels like an invasion of privacy." Yang admitted clearly conflicted, as she stared down at her own scroll.

Taiyang Xiao Long: 2 Voicemails

Qrow Branwen: 2 Voicemails

Raven Branwen: 1 Voicemail

Shaking her head in an attempt to dispel the thoughts that seemed to cloud over her scroll she put it back into her pocket, seeking to lighten the mood, Yang playfully snatched Blake's out from her grasp, she skipped forward and she passed in front of Weiss and Ruby, Blake let out a small Hey behind her, as she passed the two she snatched Weiss' scroll with her free hand, holding both proudly, opening Blake and Weiss' lists of contacts Yang spun around looking towards the other four.

"So… who are we calling first?.. I dunno about you guys but we deserve a lift." Flicking her thumbs across the two scrolls causing the list of contacts to spin like a raffle, as the scrolls came to a stop Yang's eyes landed on Weiss' screen smirking as she looked up to the group.

"And I know just the woman who can spare a lift." Pressing down on Weiss' scroll silence descended on the group interrupted only by the ringtone of the scroll as they waited with bated breath for the person on the other side to answer.

The scroll rang once…twice…a third time…on the fourth ring Yang turned to Weiss frowning slightly.

"Did you upset her or something?"

Yang did not notice due to having her back to Vacuo but as she finished speaking, she realized everyone was looking behind her. Turning around herself, the scroll still ringing in her hand as her arms dropped to their sides, she was able to immediately identify what had gained the groups attention.

Leaving a blue trail as it shot up into the sky, it was hard from this distance to make it out, at the moment all it seemed to be was a ball of blue that turned sharply into the direction of the group, taking the opportunity of the distraction Weiss stepped forward and snatched back her scroll, hanging up the call, tutting out disapprovingly at Yang's antics.

"Have you forgotten? She said when we are needed most, we don't know how long we've been gone."

"Riiight…" Yang answered back. "How long have we been gone?"

They stood in surprise as what looked to be a bullhead and an Atlas dropship lifted up into the sky and started to follow the blue streak towards the group. The group were unsure how to react, should they be ready to defend themselves, Blake walked up to Yang and instinctively reached for her hand again laughing quietly to herself.

"I guess we're about to find out."

As the blue streak came closer the group realised that as it flew lower towards the ground it started to pick up a load of sand from the desert, they gathered closer to shield each other from the impending impact. When the sand made contact with them, team RWBYJ were forced to cover their eyes, hearing and therefore not seeing as the cause in front of them made impact as they landed.

As the sand washed over them the figure spoke.

"Is it really you?"

Weiss forced herself to open her eyes, sand be damned as the voice of her sister registered, the desperation that travelled through the air matched by the tears that Weiss could make it bubbling in her eyes. Weiss took some small steps forwards before breaking out into a small run, crashing into her sister the two pulled each other into a tight embrace.

"You didn't answer." Weiss stated with a chuckle as she could start to feel tears building in her own eyes. Winter pulled her closer as she answered.

"I didn't know if my scroll was playing tricks on me… how are you even here, I watched you fall."

Weiss let out a deep breath of relief. "I'll tell you everything later, we had to take the long way."

Off behind them Yang elbowed Blake as the blonde had a smug expression.

"I know a thing or two about older sisters… and an older sister whose part of a military, that guarantees a rapid response."

…

Qrow sat impatiently against the hull of the ship as they flew out towards the direction the signal was coming from, his foot tapping out in frustration, he looked to his left the taking in the concerned expressions of Team CFVY while opposite him was Sun, Neptune, he closed his eyes as he pinched the bridge of his nose, he'd prefer to have Tai and Raven here but he wasn't going to put them through the pain if it ended up all being a trap, staring down at his scroll he prayed this wasn't another nightmare, that when he awoke the weight of reality would come crashing back down, staring down he was unwilling to even touch the screen fearful it would shatter and he would wake up, the text that it displayed being nothing but a sick fantasy.

Scroll Signal Detected: Ruby Rose

Scroll Signal Detected: Weiss Schnee

Scroll Signal Detected: Blake Belladonna

Scroll Signal Detected: Yang Xia Long

It seemed cruel to bring the kids along but if it was a dream or another one of Salem's tricks he could at least spare his friends, his sister and the parents the false hope that he could feel staining his throat like an expired drink and besides if it was a trap he knew they could hold their own, a buzzer rang out as a red light flickered on above the door.

"We're here, prepare for landing." Stated the pilot through the intercom as the crew braced they could feel the airship come to a stop as it started its descent, Qrow held tight to his weapon, fighting the pressures of force that came with the motions of the ship landing he stood up and carelessly stumbled to the rear door wanting to see as soon as possible. He felt the landing gear touch ground as the rest came up behind him ready to follow his lead.

The door came down much too slowly for his liking but eventually like a horizon the door lowered until he could see some heads and recognised the hair that sat atop them, not wanting to wait anymore he grabbed the still lowering door and jumped over it sinking slightly as he landed in the sand, the six had his back to him sheltering from the sand that the ship was kicking up while who he hoped we Weiss and Ruby were in a deep conversation with Winter, as the reality dawned on him he dropped his weapon, letting it fall from his grasp like the sand that surrounded them would.

"Kiddo" he said gruffly, his voice cutting through the air as Ruby and Yang turned around looking for the source, without thinking his legs carried him forward as he watched Ruby and Yang run towards him, moving as fast as the loose sand would allow him he grabbed onto them tight hugging them both.

"I thought!.." Qrow tried to finish but Ruby admitted into his chest.

"We know, we did to."

"I should have known…" he laughed out in relief. "You kids are attracted to trouble."

Yang loosened the hug slightly so she could look up at her uncle as the tears welled up in her eyes.

"I wonder where we get that from?" she said sarcastically. Qrow ruffled her hair with his hand as the three remained there for a moment, Qrow scanned the area and watched as Blake and Jaune were talking to Sun and Neptune while Team CFVY were with Winter and Weiss.

"So… What's the story? I'm sure it's a good one."

Qrow felt Ruby and Yang soften slightly from the embrace.

"Let's just…" Yang started but Ruby finished.

"…Get out of this desert."

He nodded, raising his voice so he could get everyone's attention.

"Right let's not stay out here like sitting ducks, I'm sure they are all hungry and we will have plenty of time to catch up back at Shade."

Qrow reluctantly ended the hug with his nieces, turning around he walked over and picked up his weapon, when he turned back he saw Yang and Blake holding hands as were Ruby and Weiss, eliciting an eye roll and shaking his head slightly as he let out a little laugh, Team CFVY brought up the rear as Jaune, Neptune, Sun and Winter were the first to walk onto the ship, Winter turned back to Weiss and her team beckoning them forward as Team RWBY seemed to pause for a moment. Ruby took a deep breath as she looked left to her team and they looked back at her each giving a small nod, she smiled gratefully and stepped forward and the rest of them followed.