Hey, uh, been a while, huh? Yeah, the other stories of mine alongside life have delayed my ability to up this and other stories of mine with it out of the way, I should now be able to pump them out weekly compared to before. (Perhaps… maybe...) Moving on from that, we only have one comment to address before we get started on where we left off.

Also, heads up, there will be a time skip involving Melo and Amranth's point of view and the aftermath of what had happened in Mugunghwa. With that out of the way, I'll address the single comment we have before we begin. (Though, if it's too much, I'd like to see more comments, you know? It does greatly help me with my moral to keep this going.)

Fenrir's Fang96: It was for me as well when I wrote the previous chapter. As for your curiosity about Harl and Jade's relationship, I guess you could say it to be like Palpatine and Vader's. And don't worry, Jade will eventually get his voice yet, just not this early.

Alright. Now that the reviews are addressed and out of the way, it's time to get this show on the road!

With all my other stories, I do not own RWBY. Only the OCs in this story are my creation, while the rest belong to Rooster Teeth.

A week has passed since that day Melo and Amranth went on their own paths, and the Grayson patriarch's walking through the lower-level streets of Mistral. Now wearing a more complete version of his Huntsman outfit, unlike the outfit he wore when he visited his recently late mother-in-law.

Now he wore a sleeveless grey shirt that had knotted buttons with scale patterns on them in a shade of green that sparkled in the light, as well as simple black pants and combat boots. Over his shirt were layers of leather straps painted black that form a cross over his chest and back with shoulder pads that are in the same colour as his shirt and are segmented into five large scales that cover just below his neck all down to his upper arm.

Melo also has additional protection on his forearm in the form of leather guards also coloured black with green scale patterns on them. He also has knee guards the same as his shoulder guards and segmented into four layers and finally, a simple cloak that covers his body and Alpha on his back.

The only sword he had that wasn't broken after the fight that made him lose his son to his partner. Beta was currently undergoing repairs and would be ready soon, but for now, he needs to pay an old friend acquaintance a visit. It has been… forever since he's been there.

Not after they failed him in finding Harl for the first time.

But Melo's willing to give them a second shot now that Harl's back on the scene and has additional information on them that could help triangulate where he ran off with his son.

Walking through the quiet streets of lower Mistral, the Grayson patriarch finally found who he's looking for in the form of a tavern with an emblem of a spider. How long has it been since he was last here? Years? Decades ago? Whatever's the case, he has an interesting relationship with the Spider's boss.

Though it was in his youth that he first established relations with the Spiders as a means of mutual benefit. He works for them for Lien, and in return, he helps the spiders with whatever problems they have at the time, as long as there's no killing involved. Though it must be mentioned, Melo didn't have many choices at the time as an orphan and the need for money for survival was all that mattered before he eventually signed up as a Huntsman in Mistral for a better life.

After that, his relationship with the spiders grew tense being on opposite sides, but it didn't matter to Miss Malachite since Melo was willing to help out the spiders in secret for additional Lien in return and even at one point, they dated for a year and a half. Though, their relationship ended in failure due to complications of their occupations and neither having time for the other.

Even despite that, Melo and Malachite still maintained cordial relations with one another, and that was until that day when he sought her help in finding Harl for his part in his team's end. Despite their breakup, Malachite still harboured feelings for him, and thus, she did all she could to help her ex-boyfriend with his searching. It was not in the Spider's nature to fail their customers, but unexpectedly, they couldn't track Harl down despite doing what they do best.

It was as if any sort of trace that could be used to track Harl didn't exist. Even CCTs data like Harl's Huntsman profile was mysteriously wiped from it.

In the end, Melo was forced to find an alternative to where Harl could be before he eventually gave up and left. That was the last time Melo and Malachite would see each other as they moved on with their lives.

Until today, that is.

Pushing through the blue door curtain into the tavern, Melo felt a sense of nostalgia as numerous patrons gave the snake Faunus a glance before turning away when he glared at them to try something. Yet none tried, as it was clear as day that the Grayson patriarch was having none of it and wouldn't hesitate to put anyone in their place should they try to mess with him.

With his eyes narrowed down, Melo glances around to see Malachite watching him silently, as if she's trying to remember who he is. And yet, despite the spider's failures to help him track Harl down, Melo felt an echo of happiness seeing her again. With a small nostalgic smile on his lips, the snake Faunus made his way slowly towards his ex-girlfriend before pulling his hood down and revealing himself.

"Malachite. It's been a while."

"Melo…" The leader of the spider's mutters in surprise at a familiar face before she snaps out of it and regains her composure. Though it should be noted that Malachite's bodyguards in their purple outfits were watching Melo with suspicion, with one of them even having his hand on his holster. "Well, I'll be damned. I was under the impression you died or something throughout the years. It's been too long."

Yet, hearing Malachite's words earned a chuckle out from Melo as he sits causally on the chair opposite her. "Too long indeed… After all, you have no idea what happened to me, right?" Melo says as he rests his arm on the table.

"After you request a favour to me to stop gathering information on you? Along the lines of wanting to disappear?"

"Yeah, after that day…" Melo's mood immediately drops at the thought of the day on which Malachite came to him with the news that his partner couldn't be tracked down. Knowing that the mood suddenly turned sore, Malachite glanced at her bodyguard to her right and with a single wave of her fan, the guard went off somewhere as she brought her eyes back to Melo, now pressing his forehead on his index finger close together with his elbows on the table.

"A lot has changed over the years, Malachite. But I need your help now." The snake Faunus brought his head up from his fingers and stared directly into his ex-girlfriend's eyes. "Harl's back, and he'd kidnapped my son." He explains, though that earns a curious raise of eyebrow from Malachite.

"Harl? Your son? I'm going to need some details if I am to help you, dear."

"Right." Melo nods his head as he begins explaining what he has been doing over the past few decades as two glasses of wine were brought in by Malachite's bodyguard. Malachite did the same and explained what she'd been doing as well to catch up on one another, though also threatening to gut Melo if he dared to spill her history to anyone, which Melo agrees to never speak of anything here.

"So, all those years ago, you found someone else to fall for and even have children in Menagerie… How curious…" Malachite purred like a cat with an intrigued look in her eyes. After all, it is the spiders' nature to learn everything they could and act as info brokers to anyone and everything. So, hearing what her ex-boyfriend had been doing after so long was a breath of fresh air after years of holding her breath.

"Yeah. I hope you're not planning to set up shop there." Melo joked as he took a sip of wine, before his eyes narrowed at the memory of his partner coming back that day. "Harl's back now and working with slaving bandits. Please, Malachite. I need your help to find him and get my son back."

A pause of silence washed over the table, with Malachite's bodyguards glancing at Melo with suspicion and hints of curiosity as to what their boss will say. Even more was that the tension and the suspicion they held for the Grayson Patriarch faded away into pity. They may be criminals, but loyalty and family are important to them.

…

"I'll do anything for my daughters." She mutters before closing her eyes. "Even if I have to move the whole kingdom to keep them both safe. So yes, I will help you, Melo. Especially now that the spiders have more contacts to work around. We will not fail you again." Malachite smirks as she brings her fan up and opens it.

Upon hearing her words, a tidal wave of relief washed over Melo, with the snake Faunus letting out a sigh of relief and a thankful smile. "Thank you. I owe you one."

"Just don't get yourself killed in your rampaging revenge crusade, Melo. Wouldn't want your family to suffer more." Malachite immediately snarked, though there was no harshness in her tone, which was incredibly rare coming from her. "Do come back in a few days, I'll have my spiders look up on anything related to slaving bandits. Such actions are deplorable…" She mutters in the last bit, but Melo catches it with his enhanced hearing.

"Again. Thank you, Malachite. It's good to see you again after all these years, and I'll see you soon." With that, Melo got up from his seat and left Malachite's tavern without looking back. With one of his tasks completed, Melo begins his search for a Huntsman Blacksmith, since Beta still needs to undergo some repairs and once that's done and whenever Spiders tell him Harl's location.

Preparations can then be made, before the hunt for his son begins.

He'll get his child back, no matter how much he must sacrifice to bring him home, and if it means drenching himself in the blood of bandits to get him back, then so be it.

Amranth POV

It's been a week since that day…

And we're almost home. I'm almost home. Home and away from that nightmare… My husband is now hunting for my baby boy, but I can't help but fear for his safety. I remember the look in his eyes when he was about to put my half-brother down. He was so furious, and I've never seen him this mad before. I have known him since we first met decades back, Melo can get incredibly reckless when he's passionate about something.

And I fear for his safety.

Family's important to him, as it is to me. But I still pray every day to the God of Animals. To the Brother Gods, just someone to watch over my husband and little kitten. I know he reassures me that he'll be alright. But my nights have been constantly plagued by echoes of the past. My past.

And I can't help but fear and wonder.

What if he failed?

What if something horrible happened to him and my little kitten?

I don't even know if I can keep going if I lose either my husband or my little boy.

…

Until now, I still wonder where did everything go so wrong? What would our lives be like had I ignored my mother's request to come visit her? Would we still have our normal, happy lives? A soft whine from my baby girl quickly broke me from my thoughts and my eyes found themselves on her resting on my arms. I was standing on the deck of the ship with other passengers, with Menagerie just within sight in the distance.

Another whine came from my baby girl as her eyes opened to see me looking at her. I'm glad that Bianca is alright, though I believe it is best I get her checked for any psychological impacts that could have happened to her. That would be most wise of me to do that. With a soft sight coming from me, my daughter brought her hand up as I could only smile and let her grasp onto my finger as a memory of the past washed through my mind.

The time I had Jade in my arms when he was just an infant kitten.

But thinking about my kitten only brings up an important topic I've been bothered by for the past week. How can I explain the situation to my best friend Kali and her husband Ghira? Most importantly, how can I relay Jade's kidnapping to Blake? Melo and I already knew and predicted that she would never take my kitten's kidnapping very well, and I'm afraid that knowing this might affect her perception of the outside world.

With Sienna's popularity within the White Fang growing thanks to Ghira's reluctance to resort to violence and growing discontent with the lack of progress, I fear she might use the incident with my son as a tool to inflame the Fang to side with her out that we need to fight back to stop more Faunus from suffering. But learning my husband and Ghira's talks well enough, the path Sienna's suggesting will only escalate things further.

It didn't help that Blake is invested in the White Fang cause, and I fear that my kitten's kidnapping might radicalise her away from her father's restraint and passive path. I only hope that Kali and Ghira can temper her grief when it is revealed to her. "Everything's okay, my dear, we're in safe lands." I whispered to my baby girl as she could only make baby noises in my arms as I gave a soft smile to her.

Bianca simply blinked at me and made me let out a soft chuckle as I brought my attention to the shores and, more specifically, the Belladonna's mansion far inland. I hope Kali and Ghira are available by the time I reach there. There is no doubt they'll be surprised by my early arrival since we are supposed to be back in three weeks instead of one, since travel from here to Mugunghwa takes a week.

Bringing my attention back to my dear little bird, I began to hum a soft melody to put her back to sleep since the ship we're on slowly brings us into the harbour. Though a part of me wished that Melo and my son could be here with me… I don't feel safe going alone after what happened to us. I'm only glad that I'm on safe grounds now.

Even then, minutes later, when the ship finally reached and docked at the harbour and I disembarked with my suitcase with my daughter on my back, eventually found myself walking through the familiar streets of Kuo Kuana heading straight for the Belladonna mansion and I met some of my patients and friends. Many of them are wondering why am I back alone with Bianca without my husband and son.

I… have to tell them that I don't wish to talk about it and briskly move on without looking back. I only hope they will forgive me for brushing them off like that, but I must see my best friend this instant, I'll deal with the aftermath soon enough.

Though there's no doubt that news will spread soon enough about my early return with only my baby bird in hand, and some will ask questions.

I only hope I have the strength to hold on until my husband returns with our son.

After walking for minutes straight through the streets of Kuo Kuana, Amranth soon reached the main doors of her friend's mansion with dread creeping on her back with every step she took. Her thoughts brimming with ideas on how to explain what happened to not only to Kali and Ghira, but to their daughter Blake too about what had happened. It did not even help that on the way to their mansion, Amranth came across her other friends and many of them were asking questions upon noticing her traumatised looks and the lack of her husband and son with her.

That and the fact that she's here a week earlier than what she said she would be gone earned some eye raises from those who were aware of her visit to her mother's place. Taking a gulp of air because she's going to need it, Amranth slowly grabs the door knocker and bangs it on the door.

A wave of silence overtook the main entrance as Bianca woke up with a whine and her eyes glanced at her mother before footsteps could be heard as the door opened up.

"Amranth?" Kali asks with surprise upon witnessing that it's her friend who opened the door, but even she can tell at a glance that something has gone horribly wrong by her friend's disturbed looks and the fact that she's here earlier than expected. That and, in addition, Melo and Jade are not with her. "What are you doing here?"

"Kali…" Amranth voice's shakes as she glances behind her and back to her friend. "I… I need to tell you and Ghira something privately." The Grayson matriarch began to shudder with tears slowly gathering in her eyes, and Kali knew at that point that it must be that severe for her friend to insist on talking to her and Ghira privately.

Never in a long time had Kali seen Amranth this emotionally compromised before. In fact, she always knew her friend as the cheerful one, never one to take things in the bad turn as such when she first discovered that she was pregnant with Jade.

Compared to her, who actually had a minor freak out when she found out that she was pregnant with Blake since they wanted a child at a later time, Amranth was beyond ecstatic that she just about announced to the whole city that she was finally having a child months later it was confirmed that she was pregnant.

But now?

Amranth is now standing before her with her clearly about to have an emotional breakdown while cradling Bianca tightly as if she's afraid someone would try to steal her baby bird. "Come in, we can talk in Ghira's study room, he's there doing some paperwork." Kali explains as Amranth slowly nods her head as both women walk in, with Kali quickly closing the door.

But as the two women make their way to Ghira's study, Amranth asks nervously. "Kali, where is Blake? I haven't seen her at all here." The fox Faunus asks as her ears visibly lowers and twitch.

"Oh! She's taking a nap right now. Why?"

Kali could only ask before her friend gave an answer that made her very concerned. "I fear if she hears what I am about to tell you and Ghira. She will not take it very well. I'm… not ready to tell her that yet." Kali knew her daughter well. One of the few things that could make Blake lose her temper is when something happens to Jade in particular. Just like that one time some Faunus children tried to pick on Jade with her around, and she immediately lashed out at them if her best friend didn't stop her.

Now that she thought about it, Amranth's here without Jade and Melo.

What happened to both of them?

"I see…"

With that, the both of them silently made their way through the halls of the mansion and even stumbled across several Menagerie Guards who were standing by watching for any trespasser, though they never said anything, many of them gave curious glances at Amranth's sudden appearance. Nevertheless, the only sounds were the footsteps of Kali and Amranth as they finally reached Ghira's study room.

As what Kali had said, Ghira can be seen on his chair with papers stacked on his table as he continues to read and sign them before placing them aside. Though it was clear that he had been on them for some time now, judging from the empty tea cup on his table and the growing exhaustion in his eyes.

In addition, two more Menagerie Guards can be seen on opposite sides while Ghira did his daily paperwork that never seems to end. "Ghira, we need to talk now." Kali calls her husband out, with her tone lacking the usual carefree nature she usually shows around him. "It's important."

"Kali, what's the-" Ghira visibly freezes and pauses as soon as he brings his head up from the table to see Amranth beside his beloved wife. "Amranth? Why are you here? What's going on?" He asks, with the Menagerie Guards tensing up in alarm, just in case there's an intruder. Yet, Kali quickly answers her husband's questions.

"She needs to tell us something important. Privately."

"I see…" Ghira hums before glancing at his guards upon hearing his wife's voice. "I want both of you to guard the entrance and not let anyone in, nor should either of you listen to what happened here." Without even saying a word, both guards nod their heads firmly as they immediately depart to fulfil their chieftain's orders.

Without a second passing, Kali quickly escorts Amranth towards the closest couch before she joins her husband on the opposite side. The silence following was deafening, with Amranth staring at Bianca to gather her thoughts for a moment before sighing reluctantly.

"Kai, Ghira… I had hoped my visit would've passed easily but…" The Grayson matriarch gulps for air as she tries to hold her tears in. "It went wrong… So wrong…"

"Amranth, it's okay, we're here for you." Kali whispers to her friend, though it did nothing to console the fox Faunuses emotional turmoil threatening to spill out. "What happened?"

And so, the next few minutes, which felt more like hours, Amranth explained the events that occurred on the journey to Mugunghwa. The time there to finally reach the town, to the reveal that her half-brother still wanted her gone after so long, to the fact he hired slaving bandits to get rid of her family, only for him to accidentally kill his own mother and be arrested while Jade was kidnapped. As for her dear husband, he is now out searching for their son.

Though aware of Amranth's background to a certain extent, neither Kali nor Ghira expected her half-brother to let his hatred of Faunuses get to the best of him that he tried to get rid of his half-sister and her family even though they would have left if it weren't for his hatred getting the best of him. In addition, hearing that Jade was kidnapped by slaving bandits sent a wave of alarm to the Belladonnas, as now they understand why Amranth insists on telling them privately without Blake.

Because if she learns what happened to him, no doubt Blake would react badly to Jade's kidnapping.

"I hope Melo can get him back…" Kali's voice was barely a whisper as she cannot imagine what it must be like for Amranth to lose Jade to bandits and the last thing she saw was bandits kidnapping her critically wounded son. In fact, she doesn't even want to imagine how she would have felt if Blake was kidnapped. "Know that we'll help you wherever we can, Amranth."

"If you wish, I can contact some who support our cause in Mistral to help look out for your son." Ghira adds in after a period of silence except for weeping for his wife's friend. "If nothing else, we'll do what we can to help you."

"Thank you. Both of you." Amranth could only tearfully thank her close friends before Kali stood up from her seat and gave her a gentle without squishing Bianca in the process. Though the bird Faunus was too busy sleeping comfortably in Amranth's arms.

But unaware to the adults in the room, Blake had recently used one of her secret paths to sneak into her father's office room only to hear the conversation. Though she wasn't there to hear the whole thing, she did hear enough about Jade's kidnapping, and it was too much for her. Without making a sound, the little cat Faunus almost collapsed on the spot from being overwhelmed before silently rushing back into her room while desperately trying not to break down on the spot.

"Jade, please… please. PLEASE! Be safe and come back… I don't want to lose you…" Her heart aches for the childhood friend she confessed to loving not too long ago, she wants him back.

Back to his side…

Back in Harl's camp somewhere in Anima, Jade has found himself under the care of Seraphina for the past week. While it would take months before he would deem recovered enough for some 'training' under the hands of Harl, the little cat Faunus has been trying his best to get himself together. Though, it was notably difficult seeing the situation, he is in presently and the nightmares that plague his dreams.

It did not help that Harl would visit Jade to 'talk' with him. Something about making him strong or along those lines. Jade did not care. He just wants to go home and be with his family and away from this living nightmare he's enduring right now. Even then, Jade couldn't help but notice how that evil bandit man had been paying attention to him ever since his kidnapping.

Then there is his rambling about how the little cat Faunus is going to play a part in the great new future that he has 'foreseen'. Of course, Jade didn't believe a single thing of what Harl had said and suspected that his captor had some screws loose in his head. Whatever the case, he found himself notably treated much better than other children sent here to recover from the rooms, which was a notable contradiction to how he acted before.

And that alone made the little cat Faunus fearful. And while doesn't care for his captor's ramblings, it does bring up questions. What plans does that evil bandit man have for him? Why does he seem so focused on coursing him to his side?

And why?

What purpose does it mean to bring him to his side?

As Jade contemplates silently on his poor-quality mattress, the cold, chilly winds of winter wash through the cloth tent and engulf his small frame like an unstoppable tide of water before familiar footsteps can be heard. Immediately knowing the origins of those steps, Jade swiftly scrambles fearfully to the other end of the cage before Harl himself bends down and stares into Jade's single eye.

It also didn't take long for two other bandits to walk just behind Harl before he himself brought a key and began to unlock the cage which withheld the cat Faunus. For a brief moment, Jade experienced a sense of optimism regarding the prospect of escaping, however, logic suggests that even if he were to successfully escape, he would have no knowledge of his current location.

Thus, against every chance to take it, the cat Faunus silently watched with fear creeping on his back as Harl fully unlocked the cage. "Get out." Harl orders out. Though it is apparent that Jade's hesitance to follow Harl's orders made one of the bandits following him lash out.

Violently if it has to be said.

"Oi! You hear what the boss said. Out of the cage, you brat!" The entire cage rattled and Jade found himself tossed onto the dirty floor of his enclosure once the outraged bandit slammed his fist against the cage.

"Better do as you are told, boy. I'm only going soft on you because you're still severely injured. But don't think you can blatantly go against my word. For it is law." Harl spoke with grim resolve and it struck the little cat Faunus. This evil bandit is the boss of them all.

And happens to be Daddy's partner if he remembers the details correctly…

Pushing himself off the floor, Jade could only meekly comply with his 'master's' words as he slowly made his way out of the cage and stood before Harl. Though the little Faunus was extremely reluctant to face or even look at him and found the dirt floor to be a much more interesting thing to see, he had no choice and slowly brought his eye up.

Only to see him grinning in satisfaction at Jade's compliance, even if it's reluctant.

"Good… Now come, I believe as an honorary guest of ours, it's only fitting I show you what we have to offer here." Harl simply states with his hand open before the bandit to his left passes him a length of chain with a sling hook at the end as he attaches it to Jade's collar.

"But allow me to make this clear," Harl states, his words like law as his eyes pierces the little Cat Faunus. "Follow me willingly, and I'll treat you higher than anyone else here. Go against me, and I'll make your life a living hell until you break."

Jade felt his mind overwhelmed with fear upon hearing Harl's obvious threat, the fear was so overwhelming that it made the cat Faunuses ears flatten against his head and his body trembling uncontrollably like a leaf with cold sweat beginning to pour slowly. He can tell that Harl really meant that he would make his life hell here if he goes against him.

Then again, following him wouldn't be any better. "What am I to do here? Maybe I can buy time for daddy to save me? I don't want to remain here, but I don't think I have a choice in the matter…" With his options tied and no other choice available for now, Jade has no choice but to nod his head reluctantly to follow Harl's orders.

"Good… Let's go."

Thus, Harl moves out of the tent with his bandits and Jade shuffling behind them reluctantly with a chain attached to the collar on his neck. Though, if any were paying attention, Harl's eyes were shimmering in a shade of rainbow before they dissipated, and he muttered to himself.

"Don't worry, little kitten, you're in safe hands… What is done is for the greater good."

And cut!

Now, this took me some time to write, but I hope you guys enjoy reading this as it was for me doing some world building. Yeah, I wanted to expand more on Melo's history and as you can no doubt tell, he has quite the history with the Spiders. Then we have Amranth reaching to Menagerie safely but not mentally alright.

But Kali and Ghira will be there for her. Until Leathad finally arrives at Menagerie to serve as Amranth's maid.

And poor Blake… Things will get better. Probably… Maybe…

And finally, Harl has some big plans for our protag cat Faunus, what they are, no spoilers, but I think you'll like what I have in store when the time comes. Anyhow, I'm done here. So, if you enjoy this story and wish to show your support for more in the future, Follow and Favourite this story.

While you're at it, leave a review of your thoughts on this chapter. I want to know how you feel about it.

With that, I'll see you all in the next chapter. Please let me know what you think of this one!

RGQC out!