Hazel stepped into the police office with Tyrian, frowning as the crazed faunus chuckled. He knew trusting that girl would only cause problems, and now they had to do this because she was essential to Salem's plans.

"Can we help you?" The receptionist at the police station said, only for Tyrian's stingsr to lunge out and impale her through the chest. Hazel sucked on his teeth, knowing they had to leave no witnesses. Watts had already hacked the cameras so nobody would know what happened until it was too late.

Walking into the main office, he grabbed a police officer by the neck and snapped it just before the bullets started to hail towards him. As he absorbed them, he pulled out a pair of lightning Dust crystals and embedded them in his arms. He felt his muscles bulk up as he grabbed a desk and threw it, crushing several police officers in a splatter of gore.

Tyrian rushed in then, a whirlwind of blades and tail, killing officers right, left and center. Hazel walked through the chaos, killing an officer when he had to, before reaching the holding cells. The girl was sitting there, apparently strewing in her anger, "Real mess you got in here, Cinder."

Cinder looked up, startled, as Hazel tore the door off its hinges. Grabbing the cuffs, he snapped them just as easily.

"Torchwick," Cinder said, "free him, I need him for my plans."

Well, it was either rescue him or kill him…

Hazel freed the thief, who had several bruises on his face, and walked out with the two of them.

The office was a mess, blood and gore splattered the walls as Tyrian sat on a desk giggling to himself. Hazel heard Torchwick utter a quiet "What the fuck?"

The drive to the warehouse they had set up as a base of operations was awkward. Cinder didn't seem to want to look at either of her saviors, didn't want to thank them, didn't want to acknowledge the embarrassment of being freed by them.

Once they arrived, Hazel dismissed Torchwick, who gladly slunk off into the night, and brought Cinder in to face the floating Seer. The mist within it cleared to show Salem's face, and she said, gravely, "Explain."

Hazel watched Cinder swallow as he backed out of the room. He didn't envy the young Maiden. Salem couldn't kill her, but there were fates worse than death.

—

Vita watched as Signum touched the Scroll they'd been given to the sensor next to the door, which unlocked with a click. Opening it, they found four beds with red comforters, an AC system, and enough space to decorate it sparsely. Chucking Zafaria's stuff into the corner, Vita dropped her bag onto her bed and unzipped it. Pulling out her bunny plush, she changed into her pajamas and walked across the hall, knocking on the door.

The black haired girl, Blake, opened it, wearing a yukata. Vita pushed her aside easily and walked into the room, "What are you-?"

"Hey, Vita," Ruby said, smiling at her, "Your turn to stay with me?"

"Yeah," Vita said, climbing into the bed and snuggling into Ruby's arms. She was the only one who could cuddle with Ruby like this. Everyone else had to cuddle Ruby instead of being cuddled by her.

She cherished it.

Ignoring the looks from the others, except Yang, they slid down into bed and quickly drifted to sleep with Zafaria at their feet.

—

Blake was sitting on her bed, pretending to read from her book while actually staring at the giant wolf curled up at the foot of Ruby's bed. Ruby was sitting there, running a hand through his hair

"Are you sure it's safe to have that in here?" Blake finally asked.

"Zafaria would never hurt anyone who didn't try to hurt me!" Ruby said, voice full of confidence and indignation in equal measure.

"He's slept there since Ruby was five," Yang said, "it'll be fine."

Well, considering she wasn't going to try and sway Weiss Schnee to her side, she guessed she was out voted on getting rid of the canid in the room.

A knock came from the door, and Blake, being the closest, opened it. Standing in the doorway was the short girl that had come to Beacon with Ruby and Yang, wearing a pair of pink and white pajamas and clutching a white bunny plush. Blake blinked, "What are you-"

The girl shoved Blake to the side, causing her to stagger, and walked into the room without so much as an invitation.

"Hey, Vita," Ruby said, a smile on her face, "your turn to stay with me?"

"Yeah," Blake watched Ruby spread her arms, letting Vita climb into them before sliding down and pulling the comforter over them. After only a few minutes they were both comfortably asleep, and Blake turned towards Yang.

"What is up with your sister? Why's she have these bodyguards?"

"It has to do with…" Yang stopped and looked at Zafaria, who seemed to shrug as much as a wolf could, "Alright, this is gonna sound crazy, but it has to do with magic."

"Magic?" Weiss said incredulously.

"Yeah, I know, sounds crazy. But when our- Ruby's mom left on a mission, she apparently left behind a book of actual, honest to God magic. Called the Tome of the Night Sky, and it summoned the Wolkenritter to protect her. I know it sounds insane, but… Zafaria, help me out, man?"

Before they could say anything, the wolf morphed, transforming into a dark skinned man with gray hair and blue and white wolf ears and a tail. Weiss yelped, and Blake leapt back.

"Hello," he said, politely.

"You're a Faunus?" Blake asked.

"No, I am a wolf," Zafaria denied, "I'm what's known as a Guardian Beast, an animal granted sentience and the ability to take a human form to protect someone. I am one of the Wolkenritter, Zafaria, the Shielding Guardian Beast. It is my duty to protect Ruby. Let's all keep quiet so we don't wake her up."

Twins lowercase

"That's… That's ridiculous!" Weiss hissed, "How do you- what are you- you're a Faunus, don't lie!"

"I am no such thing," Zafaria said, "though I don't blame you for believing otherwise. Guardian Beasts seem to be non-existent on Remnant."

—