Chapter 45 –Branwen Encampment: Straight as the Qrow Flies
Cover Art - Mi Chumi
Chapter Beta - ZoroEpsilon
One Week Prior
Qrow was in Vacuo when Ozpin summoned him back to Beacon 'without delay'.
It had been a shitty trip, mostly because he'd been originally sent to Vacuo to look into some really weird reports. How weird? A woman supposedly spotted riding a Nevermore weird. Which was either Salem, which was terrifying, or a hallucination by some drunkard, which was a waste of time.
So Qrow grabbed the first flight back to Vale, since that was faster and wouldn't wear him out using his own wing-power.
From the Vale airport, Qrow transformed and flew directly into Ozpin's office through a conveniently open window, where he transformed back and dropped himself smoothly into a chair in front of the Headmaster's desk. And behind that desk the immortal sat, calmly sipping his coffee and looking at Qrow over his pince-nez.
But Qrow could tell he was agitated. He'd learned to read those subtle cues over the years.
"What was the rush that you wouldn't tell me over Scroll, Oz?"
"The Spring Maiden has passed to another."
Qrow straightened in his chair, swinging his legs back down to the floor and leaning forward. "Shit. Where?"
"Indeed." Ozpin set down his coffee and steepled his fingers. "Based on the expression of power prior to the transfer, I believe it was not… a natural death." Ozpin pulled up a holographic map over the desk, showing a narrow cone that started at Beacon and slowly widened as it spread out to the southeast. "And based on the direction and strength of the sensation, I believe that we can narrow the area where it occurred to here." An oval appeared over southern Mistral, south of Lake Matsu.
"That's one of Raven's stomping grounds," Qrow muttered.
"As you suspected might be the case, the Spring Maiden is, or was, in her vicinity."
"Suspected, but Raven kept telling me to fuck off and mind my own business."
"If the Maiden has transferred to another, perhaps you will find…" He looked over his glasses. "a more receptive Raven?"
"Doubt it, Oz. Raven's been a pain in the ass ever since Summer…" he sighed. "You want me to try anyway."
"It seems prudent, does it not?"
"Fine. I'll try. Again. Just don't get your hopes up."
"And what of the other matter I asked you to investigate?"
"No telling, really. Just a couple of fishermen who swore they saw a big Nevermore flying in the distance with a woman on his back. Sounded like BS to me."
"No description?"
"Too far away. Oz, I don't buy it. Salem's not the kind to just go wandering off by herself on a Nevermore, is she?"
"Not likely, no. Very well. We will chalk this one up to overactive imaginations." Ozpin took another sip of coffee. "However, Salem has been quiet for some years. This may mean that she is content to let the seasons flow as she gathers strength, or it may mean that she has some scheme that she is executing. We should not dare to let our guards down."
Qrow rubbed the stubble on his cheek. "I hear ya."
Ozpin steepled his hands again. "See if you can locate Raven as soon as possible and determine if the Maiden is still with her, or if she has knowledge of the Maiden's location. Enlist Lionheart's assistance to do so. I will call him beforehand, so he is forewarned of your arrival." Opzin's eyes bored into Qrow's. "We must ensure the Maidens are not coopted by Salem. Especially the Spring Maiden. For all our sakes."
Qrow stood, his red cape uncrumpling from the chair, and nodded. "On it. I'll let you know if I find anything." With an eye-watering transition, Qrow assumed his avian form, and flew from the room back through the open window.
Opzin sat for a few moments in contemplation, then stood as well. "Salem. What sort of schemes do you have in play this century..." he muttered as he walked over to the window and gazed out across Beacon campus. And further out, over the blissfully ignorant city of Vale in the near distance.
0 0 0
Lionheart was almost no help at all when he'd arrived at Haven. The man sat behind his desk, looking put upon.
"Yes, Ozpin called me. And yes, I will provide all appropriate assistance. But understand this is the Vytal Festival year. Everyone is stretched thin, including me. And on top of that, I am in the midst of a fundraising campaign to improve Haven's facilities in honor of hosting this critical event."
"I hear ya, Leo. Just looking for information. Anything that will help."
Lionheart sighed. "I'll see what I can dig up. Why don't you enjoy Haven's hospitality while I put some feelers out regarding Raven's current location."
Basically, you're telling me to sit on my ass and wait, Qrow thought to himself. Which was exactly what I didn't want to do. But whatever.
And so Qrow sat in Haven Academy for two whole days only for Lionheart to finally tell him that he had no idea where Raven was at the moment, and that the area he'd circled on the map in the first place was probably right.
"Thanks Leo," Qrow responded dryly before he headed out to the wilds of Southern Mistral to do the hard work on his own.
"I'm providing you with the same level of candor and assistance that I'm sure Ozpin would," Lionheart replied, and his smile had made Qrow's hands twitch.
What the fuck was that supposed to mean?
0 0 0
Well, that could have been a royal fuckup, thought Raven as her Semblance notified her that one of her bonded was rapidly approaching their camp. Good thing he hadn't arrived a few days earlier, he'd have found freaking Summer here, not to mention that band of merry idiots that helped rescue her.
It had only been a couple of days since Summer had left the Branwen Tribe's Camp. Raven tried not to think too hard about that. Summer's exit was like scar tissue left behind after being cut. Right now, it was sore, and tender. But eventually it would toughen up, and she would pull out the thought then and roll it around in her head.
Tai and Summer.
Yang and Ruby.
Safe at their home a continent away, assuming Selene was able to come through on her promises. Otherwise, it would be up to Raven to spirit them away and help them find a place where they could hide from both Ozpin and Salem.
And she would do that, too. The loss of Summer… the apparent death of Summer, had nearly broken Raven over the last three years. The knowledge that she'd had to run, to save herself, and Summer hadn't been able to make it out had eaten at her. And then on top of that, to learn from Jinn that it had all been for nothing anyway… that had been the straw that broke the Deathstalker's back.
And now Raven was here, with her Tribe, as if nothing in the world had changed. But everything was different because Summer wasn't dead. And Summer didn't blame her.
And on top of that, Raven no longer had a Spring Maiden that she had to hide from Qrow. And Vernal was strutting around the camp like she owned the fucking place, thanks to her performance during the jailbreak, and the knowledge that Raven owed her a favor.
Raven grinned, and it was an amazingly amused grin. Have to take the little shit down a notch or two eventually. But let her have her fun… for now.
That was the kicker. Raven felt fucking good. She felt… shit, was this happiness?
She almost gagged out of reflex, and then laughed at herself for the reaction.
Go ahead and get your ass over here, Qrow. This is gonna be fun as hell…
Qrow was sure he was getting close to Raven's current den of thieves and cutthroats. He'd seen signs of recent bandit activity in the surrounding villages. That is to say, the villages had been very on edge with doubled guards, and a few of the larger ones had apparently requested Huntsmen contracts, though with the lien they'd scraped together as an offer, he doubted they'd get more than a single or two-man team to bother coming all the way out here in the middle of nowhere.
Life's tough all over, he groused, banking hard right to avoid an eagle that had been paying him a little too much attention.
And then he smelled the faint whiff of cookfires, checked the wind, and altered course slightly.
Within minutes his suspicions were confirmed, and he alit on the ground just outside the camp, transformed back to his human form, and sauntered out of the thick woods like he owned the entire continent. He didn't bother to draw Harbinger.
That was the key with these punks. Act like you were the biggest bastard on Remnant, and they'd be wary of what exactly gave you the balls to act like that.
The fact that he could back it up and kick the ass of everyone in the camp didn't hurt.
Well, almost everyone in the camp.
Qrow had the satisfaction of seeing the men guarding the palisade wall stiffen and hold very still as soon as they recognized his lean gray and white clad form. It was hard to mistake Qrow Branwen for anyone else, red eyes or not.
What surprised him was when the gate rolled to the side, and Raven Branwen stepped out to meet him.
Surprised him enough to cause him to stop in his tracks.
His sister was fucking smiling.
It was terrifying.
"Raven…" he said cautiously. He let his eyes skim over her. She had Omen sheathed and her hands were not on the hilt, but instead planted firmly on her hips. And she had the grin of someone who's just bet on the last place underdog at the Mistral Regional Tournament, and won everyone else's stakes in the process.
"Qrow." Raven's red eyes were practically glowing. "What brings you out here to the ass-end of nowhere?"
Qrow's eyes narrowed. "I'm betting you already know the answer to that, Raven."
"I do, but I wanted to see if you'd admit it." She smirked. "Let's go for a stroll, just you and me. Catch up on things, eh?"
Shes gonna fucking kill me, was his first thought, which he quickly revised to Nah. She's just gonna beat the shit out of me.
They made it a few hundred yards into the trees before Raven laughed and clapped her brother on the shoulder.
"What the fuck Raven?"
"Can't a girl act like she's glad to see her only brother?"
Qrow stopped and faced Raven, eyeballing her carefully. "You're not drunk. And I'm not that drunk. What the hell are you playing at?"
Raven's smile faded slightly, then came back with full force. "I'm just in a good mood, Qrow. Give me a fucking break, why don't you?"
"You haven't been in a good mood that didn't involve disemboweling someone in years, Raven." He glared at her with suspicion. "So, who the fuck did you kill?"
Raven barked a laugh, and then another. It quickly dissolved into near hysterics, and Qrow found himself stepping back carefully as she leaned against a tree, nearly doubled over, with tears streaming down her face.
"I say again, what the fuck Raven!?" which just seemed to set her off again.
Finally, she began to collect herself. "Heheh. Fuck! Hah! Oh man, I needed that. Never change, Qrow. Never."
"Raven..."
"Yeah, yeah. Blah blah important blah business blah. You're running Ozpin's errands again, Qrow. Go ahead, spit it out."
"The Maiden—"
"The Spring Maiden, yeah. Lily was here." Her smile faded. "The pressure at Haven was too much for her, and I offered her refuge here." Raven shook her head. "It got on her nerves after a while, and she tried to leave."
"Raven, you didn't—
"No, Qrow, I fucking didn't. She got hit by Grimm a few miles outside camp. She almost beat the fuckers." She shook her head sadly. "She was dead by the time I reached her." Qrow started to speak, and she put her hand up. "Before you ask, no. Nobody in Branwen Tribe inherited the Maiden. You won't find Ozpin's next sacrificial lamb here."
"Dammit Raven, you know—"
"I know exactly what I'm saying. Ozpin took the most dangerous objects in the world, locked them in impenetrable vaults, and made four human keys. Golly gee fuck-all can't imagine why anyone would see that job as a curse." Her good attitude was gone, and she stalked up to Qrow. He stiffened, but her hands were still nowhere near Omen. "My opinion of your boss hasn't changed, Qrow. He's a fucking manipulating puppet master who tells you exactly how much he thinks you should know, and he values you as much as he would a wrench or a hammer."
This had been a longstanding argument of theirs, and he braced for another screaming match. But instead Raven put her hands on both of his shoulders.
"And some day. Soon I hope, you'll understand that. But until then, why don't we take advantage of the fact that you're here, and have a drink or twenty."
Qrow started, brow furrowing. That was different. "You are in a good mood."
"Yep."
"And you didn't recently kill someone?"
Raven barked a laugh, and then punched him lightly in the shoulder. "Fuck off, o' brother of mine. Let's go get pissed, my treat."
Back at the camp, Raven led Qrow toward her tent. The Tribe was milling around, doing Tribe things, which when they weren't raiding was generally what any village would be taking care of: cooking, cleaning, arguing, laughing, guarding, sparring. He caught sight of Vernal. That little shit was a handful and then some, and she looked like she was on top of the world. When he entered Raven's tent, he was surprised to see an old woman there.
"Visha, this is my brother Qrow. I told you about him."
The old woman before him looked to be a civie somewhere north of sixty years old. She was wrinkled as hell and had gray hair pulled back in a rough ponytail. But her eyes had some fire in them.
"Oh yeah, you told me all about this one." She appraised him. "Wish I was a quarter century younger." Qrow jerked back and Raven nearly lost her mind laughing at him again. Coughing, she managed to catch her breath. "Oh hell, woman. You're gonna kill me. And his ego's big enough already, don't feed it any further." She motioned to one of two chairs, and pulled a table up. "Bring us that bottle of red I showed you, that night we had the… bonfire." She gave Visha meaningful look, and the old woman smiled slightly and exited the tent.
"Uhhh… what was that?"
"One of the reasons I'm in a good mood."
"You got a maid, and now you're in a good mood?"
"You'd be amazed what having a servant who actually knows what the fuck she's doing around here can do for your attitude." Raven laughed. "And she doesn't take any shit either. Not afraid of fucking anything. It's refreshing as hell."
"Where'd you pick her up?"
Raven just grinned at him in a way that told Qrow he wasn't going to get a straight answer out of her on that either. He rolled his eyes as he sat down, Raven following.
Visha returned and opened the wine expertly, pouring each of them a glass. "Take a few hours off, Visha. Maybe teach Vernal some manners," Raven said with a smirk.
"Not likely," Visha drawled. But she nodded to Qrow and exited the tent.
"Raven…"
"Yeah. Yeah. She was… part of a package deal. Somebody had stuck her out in the middle of nowhere acting as the only permanent servant onsite for a high value target. We liberated the target and got her as a side-bonus." Raven's eyes were shining.
"High value target, huh. And that's why you're in a good mood."
"Oh, you can't imagine. The benefits we're reaping from this one…"
"Filthy rich?"
"Way beyond just loot, that's for damn sure." Raven seemed to choke back another laughing fit, and took a long drink of wine before continuing. "Might change how we do business out here, even."
Qrow tilted his head. "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean… I've been thinking about the Tribe. Sure, we're tough as nails. But I'm starting to think maybe we might explore a different business model. Something that doesn't cost us our edge."
Qrow nearly spilled his wine. This was… crazy talk. He'd argued with Raven for nearly a decade about her… career choices. And she'd shit on him every time, sneering at him and calling him a weak ass bitch.
What the hell was this?
Raven's eyes narrowed. "I can see your brain working over there. Watch what comes out of your mouth. I'm thinking about things, I haven't gone soft, and I will kick your ass."
"Fine. Fine." He took a long drink. "So… what kind of… alternate business model?"
"I was thinking more along the lines of a protection racket."
Qrow nearly spit out his wine. "You think villages will hire you after years of raiding them?"
Raven's grin was feral. "I think at first, they'll bribe us to leave them the fuck alone. And then, when the first Grimm attack comes, or some other little fucks think to do a little easy raiding… and we step in… then you're damn right they'll hire us."
Qrow blinked. That was... awfully close to the kind of thing an actual licensed-
"If you call me a Huntress or imply we're some goody-two-shoes militia, I'll ram Omen up your ass, sheath and all."
Qrow just shook his head. "Was thinking more like mercenaries," he lied smoothly. "Other things never crossed my mind."
Raven let her smile return, and she tilted her head. "Not bad. Not bad. Branwen Tribe… the baddest-ass mercs in Southern Mistral. Has a ring to it."
That left one problem.
"Raven, you know if you stick your head out, the Mistral authorities are gonna be there with a pair of cuffs, or a fleet of gunships, within 48 hours."
"Maybe… maybe so." She gave him a side-eye. "I'm working on that, too. Believe me."
Qrow finished his glass, draining it while he thought, and Raven refilled it.
"You're serious about this."
"Deadly. Some of the boys won't like it. But they'll fall in line, or end up on my wanted list, one way or the other."
Qrow shuddered. That was a death sentence. "What happened to change your mind, Raven?"
"Opportunity knocked, Qrow. And I wasn't so far gone that I didn't hear the sound. And I decided to answer the door instead of stabbing them through it." She chewed on her lip. "I'll tell you all about it someday."
The hell… Qrow went through all the possible scenarios he could imagine. Had she thrown in with one of Mistral's organized crime families? That was a possibility, though they usually didn't bother with the less profitable rural areas. A pirate clan? Too far from the coast. Powerful patron? Operating in the open… his eyes widened. "Raven, you haven't aligned with Sa—"
"Oh fuck no, are you nuts?!" She looked him up and down. "You need to get laid or something. Your brain's clogged with stupid."
Qrow let out a breath. Okay. Yeah. That was stupid. Fine. "Alright, I'll hold my curiosity for now. But… this is a hell of a gift horse I guess."
"It's what you wanted, don't overthink it." Raven lifted her glass. "To thinking outside the box."
With only a slight hesitation, Qrow raised his as well. "Yeah. Sure. That."
They spent the rest of the day getting quietly drunk and talking about old times. Months later, Qrow would realize that should have been a clue. Raven never talked about the old Team STRQ days. It had always made her upset and angry. But now… now she was laughing about one story after another of his and Tai's bullshit, or some prank Summer had pulled. Or the times Raven and Summer had beaten the boys at some spar.
It felt like old times.
It should have been a clue. But he was too shocked and too happy to think about it that deeply.
And more than a little drunk.
Qrow stayed for a couple of days. One reason was to recover from the massive hangover from that first night. The second reason was because he knew better than to trust Raven's word regarding Maidens.
He also knew better than to ask around. Raven ran her Tribe with an iron fist. If she told people to keep their fucking mouths shut, they would. So he snooped and listened. All he got for his troubles was some glares when he got caught, some merciless teasing from Raven's maid Visha, and eyerolls from Raven.
Finally, he decided he just wasn't going to learn anything new and told Raven he was heading out. And to his shock… no that wasn't the right word. To his terror, his sister hugged him.
Sure, she tried to break his ribs in the process. She was still Raven. But still. And she'd hissed in his ear. "Take care of yourself, Qrow. I mean it. Be careful out there." He couldn't even respond as she pulled back, shaking her head. "Get the fuck outta my camp, you idiot. And close your mouth before Visha shoves food into it."
Before long, he was winging his way back to Mistral City so he could report back to Ozpin and see if his boss wanted him to catch an airbus back to Beacon or run down another wild nevermore chase.
It was over a week after Qrow's visit when Raven finally got the first of the messages she'd been waiting for. It came in the form of a runner, one of her moles from the closest village, bearing an envelope with the word Raven written on the outside. Inside she knew she'd find a handwritten message, short and sweet, from Selene. A message that either told her things were proceeding according to plan, or that she'd have to make immediate moves to pull Summer and her family from Patch and send them somewhere else. Somewhere safe and remote.
She was ready. The important thing was that Summer had to be safe, one way or the other.
[A/N] Special thanks to Shadowstorm-Vash, Jack Redhawke, and DragonL0RD for your kind reviews. I'm very glad the prior chapter lived up to your expectations!
And in this chapter... a wild Qrow appears! And apparently Raven in a good freaking mood, and she's taking it out on him. And of course, we get our first appearance of Ozpin as well!
Reviews are of course, greatly appreciated. Next chapter, Selene has tons of fun notifying the Queen of the Grimmlands what kind of wild bullshittery she's gotten up to. I'm sure the Queen will have absolutely no issues with Selene fraternizing with a Silver Eyed Warrior!
Chapters update every Monday night / Tuesday morning!