Chapter 2: Grim Alliance

AN

Hey there! The second chapter of The Strength to Change is here! The first chapter went rather well. I remember the launch of DiA only having about ten views on the first day, and we easily doubled that, so I'll happily take it, lol. I also got some pretty pleased feedback, so I'm happy to see it.

Also, I've been rewatching RWBY, RWBY Ice Queendom, and even the DC x RWBY crossover for research, which makes it clear how unfortunate RWBY's lifespan was, and how much of a crying shame that truly is. There's a lot of potential here, and the characters had even more potential. Hopefully, I will do alright with it myself, but we shall see.

Also, I will maintain both TSTC and DiA, though it should be understood that DiA is the priority. I like this story a ton and will be finishing it, but at the present moment, DiA is my main project. (Also, depending on how this fic goes, I may delve into the RWBY verse again.) So expect the two to kind of alternate with this story receiving shorter chapters or more sporadic updates until one of the two are done.

Finally, this story will be darker, and dark themes and events will be explored. We'll be exploring the effects of trauma and how it manifests itself in some depth. (Don't worry; I have my own experiences and research I'm doing to help pull this off well, lol.) So, just a warning. Also, this chapter is short again, but it just feels right for this story. IDK. Let me know if the chapters should be longer.

Finally, finally! I forgot to mention it in the last chapter, but as an avid reader of his, I must shout out Coeur Al'Aran. He's a talented and versatile writer. He writes RWBY fics and is a big inspiration in my writing for this verse. I don't intend to bite off him, of course, but it only felt right to shout him out.

Anywho, let's get into it; enjoy ~!

Raven watched, bored and agitated, as her mother screamed into her scroll. It was just the two of them in their small home today. Father and Qrow and any other able-bodied men had been summoned by the Mayor of their city to work on the wall. For a frontier village such as themselves the wall offered most of their protection, and maintaining it was seen as the duty of all. Usually, the rare periods of their missing father were peaceful, but it seemed her parents had found something to argue over despite the distance. She heard something about money, while they weren't the poorest of the village they certainly weren't rich. But the reason for the arguments never mattered. Their father would always find a reason to rage, and her mother, always stubborn, wouldn't back down an inch. The two of them would perfectly rile themselves up into another domestic dispute. Not much of one, her mother would verbally berate her father as he physically beat her. Raven had watched her spitefully spit insults even during her most severe beatings.

These dreams were becoming annoying. Ever since their village had fallen, whenever Raven fell asleep, she would dream of the old days—so often, in fact, she could now even tell she was in a dream. She had heard other children discussing in the past excited. But thus far Raven was not a fan. At first, it had been disturbing, but now the events had been played back to her so often that it felt… like it wasn't even her. These events had happened, but Raven did not dwell on them anymore.

Whatever the argument was, it ended suddenly. The dial tone of her mother's scroll made it clear her father had suddenly hung up on his wife. Likely the man would simply deal with her once he arrived home. More than content to ignore her till then. Her mother seemed shocked for a few seconds before, with a choked sob, she began to cry silently. Raven's body moved despite her indifference. The small Raven toddled over to her mother and, with a cry of admiration, lunged into her for a hug. Her mother did not hug her back as much as she collapsed onto her. The two a crying mess as they embraced each other desperately. All of which Raven suffered with practiced ease.

Raven once loved her mother, unlike Qrow who still did, and they both cared for her more than their father. After all their mother never directly harmed them; she just never stopped their father. But she was never the one to strike them. In fact, as far as Raven could remember, she had been a relatively decent if aggressive mother. At least she had thought so at once, but this conversation was one she dreamed of often, one where her hatred grew for not only her father but her mother as well.

Raven could somewhat remember the thoughts that had gone through her head that day. Concern for her mother crying, her dislike of her father growing, and a helplessness to affect things herself. Had left her mind to one conclusion. She had to get through to her mother. Make her understand, the three of them could leave and be happy. Raven had been foolish.

"Mom," Raven started, straining to be heard from the growing sobs of her mother. "Can we leave? I don't like daddy anymore. Can't we go somewhere else without him-"

Raven was inwardly unaffected by the blow. As sudden as it was she had remembered it would come and had been struck much harder by her father before. Yet indeed, it had been much worse back then, for her younger self froze, and tears slid down her cheek. A betrayed and pained sob leaving the young Raven.

"Don't. Say. That." Her mother snapped. She, too, froze, seemingly realizing what she had done. Raven was used to the horror on her mother's face at this moment. The first time it had been comforting, but it now meant little to Raven, and she was sure it meant little to her even then. "I'm sorry, Ray. Listen, it's… complicated. We can't leave; we would never survive on our own…"

It was clear to Raven now what her mother meant. A mother and two children in her village would be seen as a burden. While beautiful and hardworking as her mother was, three mouths to feed and bodies to clothe would be a burden no reasonable person would take. Furthermore, their father was a vengeful and petty man. No one would risk his ire. Of course, her younger self could not understand such.

"Why? He's bad mom. I don't want you and Qrow to be hurt. I'm… tired of being hurt…" Raven answered back.

"Life in our village is tough. Without money or power, you are nothing here. Your father is the only huntsman we have, and he brings both in ample supply. With him we live relatively well, but it's stressful on him. Sometimes he lashes out, but he means well. We need him, and he needs us…" her mother attempted to explain.

"But he's bad." Raven countered with the simple logic only a child could provide. Raven's mother smiled sadly at her at that.

"Women like us, love, have no choice but to cling to the strong. Your father is a strong and reliable man, so he gets what he wants. By standing with him, we can benefit and survive with him. One day, Qrow will be strong as well; remember to keep him close, Ray. A woman must always stay close to the strong…" Her mother said in tears. Her younger self sobbed into her mother's chest at that, not fully understanding what she meant and scared of what it meant for her.

Raven felt sick; she would instead strike her mother if she could… but as wrong as those words were. Raven had found the worth of them…

She awoke again with a tired groan; her mind was a blur of confusion, further muddled by a freezing pain all around her body. From her head to her toes it felt as if her skin was ice.

But Raven was alive; she and Qrow's tent had somehow been damaged. Forced into the wild during a snowstorm, the two desperately had to seek shelter. Qrow had collapsed… but somehow she was alive… but had-

Raven lurched up, head whipping around for her brother. Luckily, he was to her immediate left. Still asleep and breathing though he was shaking, pleased to be alive and her sibling to have survived as well, Raven momentarily relaxed. Once she had fully woken up and calmed down she cautiously took stock of her surroundings. She seemed to be inside a surprisingly spacious cave. The two were resting on a large flat stone near a healthy-looking fire pit; which roared happily and managed to heat the cave. The smoke and mist from the melting snow drifted towards the entrance in a trail. The well heated cave barely keeps the snow from coming in. Had she managed to get them inside the cave herself? No, she distinctly remembers collapsing. In fact at the time she had been certain they were both going to die. So, how had they been brought into this cave…

They hadn't. Someone (hopefully not something) had dragged them here while they were unconscious. Apparently heading to the cave had been the right call. For whoever had saved them seemed to have made it their camp. But who and why? She just couldn't see the Woodsman Bandits aiding them nor the other dregs. Nor had any of them seemed the type to nurse them back to health. Raven was more pleased their clothes were dry, even more so when she discovered she still had her knife. She even saw Qrow's screwdriver still in his waistband. Someone had saved them and left them safe and their possessions on them.

Their interactions with the tribe had been limited to the assault and the forcing them into and out of the camp afterward. The group seemed violent and spiteful to them. Many of them even assaulted or stole from them if they drew close. So the idea of any of them saving them was absurd. The other dregs would sooner rob and leave them for dead… so who had-

"Oh, so one of you useless shits is awake now." A voice broke through her inner dialogues as she whipped around to see a limping man enter the cave. The man carried an entire deer on his shoulder. He had wild, untamed, dirty blond hair. A massive, rugged, blond beard as well. His face was covered in scars, which, combined with a toothy smile, made him look nefarious and grizzled. He was clothed in thick fur articles. He couldn't have been a dreg; he was much too healthy and well equipped. The man was doing so well compared to the other dregs; his weapons weren't rudimentary or weathered, but new and seemingly unique. On his left hip sat a simple silver revolver on his right seemed to be a baton that had been converted into an ax with a blade crudely welded on. Finally, the rugged look was finished with two thick sticks tied to his leg, Raven assumed it was some kind of makeshift brace. Apparently, the man was injured… potentially in her favor if he proved to be a threat…

The man chuckled merrily at her as he limped past her and her brother to the other side of the fire, where two more large flat stones lay. He dropped his kill and his weapons on the other stone. Happily whistling he removed the thick fur clothing leaving himself in a simple leather outfit. He merrily puffed his tobacco as he whistled a tune as if unbothered by her. Nor concerned with addressing her.

Raven was still determining what to make of the man. She silently observed him while subtly attempting to wake Qrow, shaking his shoulder as with her hand. The other drifted to the knife, this man seemed anything but friendly…

"Hahaha!" The man laughed boisterously. "You, at the very least, are just as spunky as I thought! You certainly have caught on quick. Most wouldn't think to be suspicious of someone who had saved them. Then again most are weak and foolish. Yet here you are attempting to wake your brother for backup and get your weapon ready in just in case you need it. Promising indeed!"

"What do you want"? Raven asked bluntly. Giving up on waking Qrow, she instead drew her knife and faced down the man. She kept herself between Qrow and the man. Something in her told her she wouldn't want it to escalate to violence. But she wasn't foolish enough to think that she would have a choice. Her mother had warned her of older men like this.

"Well asked." The man said with a snort. He paused to take a deep drag of his smoke. "Smart of you to realize I wouldn't have bothered with the two of you unless I had use of ya. I have no patience for kid shit, so I'm gonna tell you like it is."

"And if we refuse?" Raven asked. Her instincts were screaming at her not to trust this man. Something about him reminded her of her father.

"Cold-hearted but a reasonable question all the same. Well, I have no particular interest in killing or hurting the two of ya. You're too young for a lay too, so you have no real need to fear me yet young lady. But if you're not interested in hearing me out, I'll kick the two of you out into the cold with spunk. I have no interest in your survival if you're not useful to me." The man assured her with a cold smile.

"Bastard!" Raven snapped at him. These monsters had been like this to them for a while. She was tired of letting them do it. If they were gonna die anyway-

"Now, now." The man interrupted her, seeming to sense her tension growing. "Spunk is good, but it doesn't help you if you die because you bit off more than you can chew. Besides, remember your brother is worse off than yourself; if he doesn't stay here where it's nice and toasty, he WILL die in mere minutes. Furthermore, even with your cute little weapons, you won't do much against my gun here, " he said as he waved it at Raven.

She growled but remained silent. Qrow may have been weaker than her, but she couldn't let him die. He had just started to become strong! Raven had put much too much work into him, and he had finally started to become strong! She wouldn't be alone…

Seeing her resignation the man smiled. "Good, you're gonna hear me out. In case it hasn't been obvious, your good old home village was wiped out by the Woodsman Tribe. The same one we are both members of here and now. We are a violent and nomadic group of bandits who take and do whatever we please. Meaning we pillage villages like your own and take anything or one that we think has value. Such is why you two were decided to have escaped the fate of slavery, ransom, and or slaughter. The two of you are now considered dregs, low-class tribe members who have yet to prove themselves. Dregs like yourself are left out in winter to cull the weak and unworthy. Clearly, something you can see applies to both of you. As of now."

"We were surviving fine until our tents were," Raven attempted to interrupt before the man pointed the gun at her directly.

"Do not interrupt me. Do so again and the Motivator here will speak on it." The man darkly warned her. "Thank you. You make a good point though; despite being both young and weak, you two have survived decently well. Well, enough that people felt the need to change that. I saw it myself; several other dregs cut your tent open while you two slept. Ran off and watched as the two of you were buried alive in the snow. More than likely, they intended for the two of you to freeze to death and, by proxy, gain your supplies for themselves. A common strategy among dregs these days, sabotage is something the two of you are gonna be experiencing often. See dregs are desperate to escape their status, and with the tribe picking out dregs after winter, and always happy to have more men. They are motivated well to eliminate the competition, they figured it betters their odds if there are less of them. Worse yet, they're not quite wrong. In fact they'll likely decide to just outright kill both of you eventually. That's where I come in though ya see. See, as you are now, both of you little shits are destined for a pathetic death, but if you side with me. I'll prevent that; I'll help you survive and thrive. Teach you how to establish yourself in the tribe, give you tips and advice galore. In fact by the time I'm done with you, you won't only survive the winter. But become a bonafide member of the Woodsman Tribe with ease."

Raven wandered around the cave as her mind raced. Every instinct she had was telling her this man could not be trusted. His cruel smile promised no kindness or brightness in the future; instead it seemed to promise a ruin that he would quite enjoy seeing. But Raven could sense something else as well, the man was strong. She was sure of it; her mother's words echoed through her mind. Reminding her that she could cling to the strong. But Raven was not her mother… she wouldn't rely on him. Typically, Qrow would offer advice to her now, but he was out. And death awaited them should she say no. They didn't truly have a choice, but there was a chance this could at least give them strength…

"What's in it for you?" Raven asked bluntly. The offer wasn't a bad one, in fact she was desperate to accept it. But she knew this man wasn't offering it to look out for them…

"Oh?"

"Your deal sounds good, too good. I can't see what you possibly stand to gain. And if you're so good, what could you possibly need us for?" Raven accused.

"You really do have spunk. Alright, well, as I'm sure you notice, I'm injured. In fact, I was injured by our very own tribemates. See back in the day, I was the former leader of the tribe. In fact, I was the strongest one we ever had and acted with the freedom it granted me. But in time, also created many enemies for me. I wasn't concerned at first; no member of the tribe could best me in single combat. And mobbing the leader was seen as cowardly back then. However, I can now see why none of the other former leaders made it long. In time if the men dislike you, they don't care if they act like cowards, they only care if you fall. See the problem was they ousted me with pure, old fashioned, overwhelming numbers. Nearly the entirety of the tribe united and attacked me enmasse. So many were there I could scarcely defend myself. Beat nearly to death they then shattered my leg. I survived, of course, crawled away and ever since then bided my time to heal and get my revenge. Problem is however if I return now, I will be looked down on for being weakened, attacked and due to said weakness slaughtered and disfaced even in death. Hell even if I was healthy, they'd likely just find one way or another to kill me eventually. Meaning I need to take care of this group before I can ever reclaim my glory. To add to my problems, surviving on my lonesome is only worsening my leg. It's been years and it hasn't healed properly. Likely from all the work it takes me to stay alive. It is stopping me from healing and regaining my spunk and putting me in an endless cycle of bullshit." The man informed her.

"You plan to have us fight and kill these enemies of yours?" Raven asked with a raised brow. She had fought several times since arriving. She and Qrow were no stranger to violence and had done well against others their age. But the adult's dregs? They tended to win out. So the idea of fighting hardened bandits seemed suicidal. "Surely we don't stand a chance."

"Well, for one, I'll be helping. Something you'll be thankful for the day of I assure you. But for two you are right; the three of us would get overwhelmed with ease. Likely to die torturous deaths. That's why you two will need to make some friends. Some trusted allies, maybe other dregs you can climb the Woodsman Tribe ladder together. Once you're both up to snuff and you have some decent support, we'll make our play. Once that's done, our deal is done. We both enjoy the spoils and live the best life the tribe can offer. Now, I'm tired of explaining. Are you in or out? If you're out, I need to start throwing you out there."

Raven did not have to think long. Nor did she have the time to do so. Qrow and her had made a promise after they lost their parents. To survive no matter what it took.

"Deal."

"Excellent!" the man said with a broad, cruel smile. "Since your brother is down, your little ass will have to work twice as hard. I have some buckets here. We need water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. Very vital I'm sure you can figure out. So vital it will be your first task! Take your brother's screwdriver and use it to chip at the ice. Take the shards from such and collect them in that bucket. Once you've filled the bucket, set it by the fire to melt the ice. I have a large barrel I manage to lug over the day. You'll pour it in there, and keep going till it's completely filled."

Raven growled angrily as she stomped toward the man. "I don't remember agreeing to become your servant!"

"Eh, you're my apprentice or something now. They're basically the same spunky role, " the man assured. "Besides, we do need water to survive out here in the wild, especially your sick brother, and you said you want to learn to survive. Consider this your first lesson."

Raven felt her rage only grow. She hadn't been nearly frozen twice just to be demeaned like this!

"Or I can chuck the two of ya out!" The man finished his thought with a taunting smile. Once again stopping Raven just before she snapped.

Raven snarled once again before she freed the screwdriver from the unconscious Qrow and grabbed the bucket from the man as she began to march to the outside of the cave. However the man's voice stopped her yet again.

"One last thing, my name is Luuki Ragar. Former huntsman and current bandit of the Woodsman, formerly known as the Ragar tribe. What's the two of yours names?"

"Raven, Raven and Qrow Brawen." Raven spat back as she marched out. "And if you touch Qrow while I'm gone, I'll kill you." She threatened. In truth, she was confident she couldn't, but Qrow, so far in life, had been her only constant. If the man dared take what was hers, she would genuinely try to kill him regardless.

The man laughed as Raven stood at the cave entrance and began her monotonous and unfun work. "Fitting names for you birds~!." She heard Luuki say in between stabs with the screwdriver.

Raven initially had tried to reject her task, not due to the effort it would require, but because allowing another man to order her around was infuriating. She still felt that way but now recognized it was merely a part of the suffrage the task posed. Standing in the entryway of the cave exposed her to snow and the cold wind. Giving her a deep chill only enhanced by the sweat she built up as she worked. Apparently, chipping at ice was a challenging task without considering the cold as well. She had given up on her initial strategy of stabbing wildly. Using her knife as a chisel and the screwdriver as a hammer was more effective. Slowing chipping away at hanging icicles thick and long enough to be considered natural weapons. Each time she broke one it fell into pieces into the snow below, causing Raven to occasionally stoop over and dig through the snow to collect them. It was slow and painful work, the cold seeming to have settled in her soul. Her hands ached from the cold and her muscles strained as she forced herself to continue. Ever since they had been taking from their village, keeping track of time seemed impossible. But it felt like it had been hours since she started. Raven had long ago lost track of how many buckets she filled. And while she had initially revolted, more threats from Luuki made it clear she would be given no quarter.

Having filled her bucket once again, Raven marched back into the cave slowly her exhaustion slowing her into a march. The heat within the cave at this point barely registered with her. She felt numb at this point and only felt the pain of gripping the heavy bucket with her hands. Arriving at the fire, she dropped the bucket and slowly trekked over to the barrel. Before she would dare rest she checked her progress. It was barely half-full… Raven sighed heavily as she prepared to sit down. She had plenty more work to do, and the fire would quickly melt the ice in the bucket. It would earn her only minutes of rest. She had quickly learned in this task she had to be diligent about retrieving the bucket, lest it get too hot for her to carry. She had burnt her hand the first time.

"HAHAHAHA!" Luuki cackled from nearby. Raven fell to her behind exhaustively as she glared at the man she was quickly coming to hate. He was smiling wildly but still focused on his grisly task. The deer before him had gutted the deer and discarded the unwanted inwards in a leather pouch before him. He seemed to be removing extremities now and moved with practiced ease. Raven was unbothered by seeing such a thing; her mother and father often had her help in the past with their own kills in the past. No one in their village could afford to not help produce food. "You're really working hard! Good, I'm as good as my word. Had you proven to be unmotivated or unable to be useful, I would've killed you both of ya! You're done for now, any longer, and you're liable to freeze to death anyway."

Raven did not thank the man, she merely collapsed entirely. Happy to be done for now. Breathing heavily she happily allowed the heat to slowly seep into her.

"It's lucky that I managed to bag a deer for the two of you." Luuki continued as Raven rested; the man seemed to constantly talk. He seemed to love hearing his own voice and always seemed focused on planning. "Once it dries out, I'll leave it in the snow to preserve it, and it should feed the three of us for a week or two, depending on how hungry I am. That'll give me time to teach you to hunt and gather before we need food. Though if you're lousy at it, the three of us will starve."

"We have some experience," Raven answered curtly. She hated the way the man commanded and looked down on her. At least her father hadn't worked her like a slave.

"Thank the Twins for that," Luuki said earnestly. "But it's time I tell you about the Woodsman Tribe and what it means to become a full member. There are certain rules we keep in mind."

"I thought bandits had no rules?"

"Well, we're no normal bandits. Woodmans have very few rules, but we all have the same ones. Three big ones in fact; one the weak are trampled, two the strong rewarded, and you never kill a tribemate outside of official duel or legal dispute. Also, becoming a member requires three more things; a kill while under the clan, surviving at least one winter as a dreg, and earning the approval of an established member."

"So that's what we need to do to get in? I've never killed… never occurred to me to do so… we were planning to survive regardless and joining the tribe seems to be the only way, but killing for and impressing these bastards? Aren't we just gonna take out half of them anyway?" Raven wondered out loud. There was no point in hiding her thoughts from the man now; he was her lifeline for a while.

"I wouldn't worry about them too much. The first requirement and third will come naturally. Let's focus on making you spunky kids worth a damn first. For now, rest. I'll wake you when I need the deer to move outside. A cripple like me shouldn't exert himself like that; better to leave it to my favorite student."

"I'm no student of yours, and I give a damn if I'm your favorite." Raven snapped back.

"Hmm, your brother is now my favorite." Luuki taunted.

"Shut it!"

The next few days seemed to last an eternity. Between the seemingly endless tasks Luuki would order her to do and the growing concern over the still-sleeping Qrow, Raven was on edge. Though she supposed keeping busy was better than stewing in her misery.

Luuki kept her more than busy however, he would work her to near collapse gathering food and supplies for them. Only to let her rest up to do it again. The deer had nearly been impossible to carry, but she did after nearly an hour of trying. True to his word, he also had Raven fetching water until three whole barrels were filled over the next few days. Barrels she had been sent to fetch, of course, in more back-breaking labor. He also sent her out at least once a night for a hunt, though she had yet to catch anything. The infuriating man wouldn't even help or let her use his gun. And yet he demanded she search for deer! Was she meant to run down and stab a damn deer to death?!

Indeed, the taskmaster seemed to revel in frustrating her. His cruel and mocking smile was often displayed when he ordered her around. Raven was sure she would've tried to flee or kill the man if not for the injured Qrow. Oh, Raven blamed him as well. He had always been weaker than her, leaving them indebted to a strange man. She would have him kissing up to her for days to right this!

But all the same, Raven did her best to listen, to not test the man she knew wouldn't hesitate to kill them both. Besides, they would need him…

His treatment and "training" were rough and uncaring but doubtless effective. Already, Raven had learned more from the man than her mother or father when in came to survival. And while a massive creep the man was mostly fair. So did her best to take it in stride. If the man kept his word and made Qrow and her strong in the end, then it would be worth the trouble.

It was on the fourth day that the man finally decided to begin some real training. Luuki had woken up in a foul mood and declared that morning would be their first combat lesson. Originally, the conniving man had planned to wait for Qrow to be back in health so the two would have a safe sparring partner in each other. But seemingly randomly enraged that day, Luuki had no patience for such.

"Enough bullshit, I need to make sure your spunky self won't get killed randomly when I'm not around. Can't you ruin my efforts by being your pathetic selves. Put your fists up, or I'll beat you half to death instead of just kicking your ass." Luuki spat as he stood.

Raven growled at the open threat, but she was no fool. The man would thrash her. This would be no training, he meant to beat her for his own satisfaction. Her eyes glanced over to Qrow; she needed to keep his ire away from him. She would need his help to deal with him…

"Fine, if you won't, then I'll beat around your vegetable of a brother." Luuki spat as he began to march over him. Seemingly instantly uninterested in her.

However, Raven had barely heard him finish before her body moved. There was no consideration or plan; she needed to strike the man, stop him, she would not let him. He had been insufferable, cruel, and manipulative. And for him to threaten HER brother so boldly…

Years of wanting to fight back against a similar man slammed into her mind as she launched her entire body weight into the back of Luuki's bad leg. The man cursed as he fell to his knees. But Raven was motivated by desperation and rage, she scrambled to her feet before he could recover, and threw three punches to the back of his head. But the man merely grunted through her blows throwing a blind elbow into her face.

Raven didn't remember falling or realize how hard the man could hit. She lay dazed on the ground for a second; however, she was knocked out of it as a crushing kick hit her ribs. She rolled from the painful blow and scrambled away from Luuki.

"Like I've been saying, you have spunk, but it'll take more than that in a fight to the death. There's no mercy, no rules, and no second chances; you don't have time to feel pain or lie down. You must use what-"

Raven howled with glee as she launched a large stone into Luuki's face. The man stumbled back, stunned, and his nose bleeding and bruised. Raven's resentment of the man was unleashed as she managed to tackle the off-balance man off his feet. Her speed and his unbalance are the perfect combination to knock Luuki to the ground. With a scream of hatred, Raven began to reign wild blows directly into his face. However, suddenly, she was launched back as the man managed to get a foot under her. His larger size allowed him to kicker her back with ease. Raven rolled through to her feet but was sent flying again as Luuki's bodily shoulder-checked her to the ground. He laughed at her as he began slow and painful stomps onto Raven. She curled into a ball from the hits, her eyes glaring at the man even as he beat her.

However, a yell cut through the commotion, punctuated with wood breaking. Luuki cried out in pain and crumbled to the ground, exposing a now awake and exhausted-looking Qrow; he had grabbed a log from the fire and used it to attack the man's lousy leg either by a stroke of genius or luck. Qrow then raised it for another blow but was suddenly kicked away by Luuki. Raven attempted to stand but collapsed, too tired or sore to fight. Qrow coughed painfully from the ground down as well. However, both twins crawled over to each other; Raven and Qrow did so, and supporting each other and managed to stand together, staring the man down. Defiant even as it was clear they were helpless.

However, both flinched when Luuki merely smiled before walking over to his preferred rcok and sitting nonchalantly. "Well, that was better than expected. You're a shockingly good fighter, girly, and your brother catches on quick. I'll call that a grand success! Maybe you two are shits after all!"

"Who the hell are you, and why did you attack my sister!" Qrow snapped at the man.

"Oh, that's right, you don't know what old sis got up to while you were napping." Luuki realized with a smile. "Well, I'll let her explain the details, but that was training. You both did very well. I'm sure you're glad to hear it."

"Too well, I thought you were some hotshot. But we nearly kicked your ass!" Raven snapped at the man.

"Oh, come on now, do you really think you had me at any point? I could've easily shot the two of you, and besides…" Luuki said with a smile before he drew his revolver. Both Qrow and Raven flinched, but to their shock, Luuki pointed it at his own leg and smiled before shooting it with glee.

The shot was deafening and echoed in the cave like a roar. Both twins incredulously stared at the man. But instead of a grisly leg wound and gushing of flood of blood, the bullet seemed to have flattened against an invisible force around his leg. It pinged to the ground harmlessly. The man, seemingly unbothered by it, laughed at their befuddlement.

"Yeah, I reacted the same way the first time I saw Aura. See, in that little fight, the two of you would've been helpless if I had used that." Luuki joked with amusement. "Quite the trick, aye? One that, in time, the two of you will learn. One that most bandits in the camp don't even know. Our secret weapons of sorts. Now I am going to go fetch something, Raven. You let sleeping beauty here know about the shake of things." Luuki said as he slowly marched out of the cave before he stopped and turned around to glare at them with murderous eyes. Raven felt a small amount of fear, and by Qrow tensing beside her, she was sure he felt the same.

"Don't you two shits dare try to run out on the deal. I WILL find you if you do. Have fun while I'm gone~!"

AN

Jeesh, what a grim chapter. Hopefully this isn't a hard read for anyone, I know it touches my feels personally. But I assure you I don't make light of the tragedies happening here. Rest assured DV, child abuse, and so on are real and shockingly common crimes that happen to real people like you and me. Make sure if you ever suffer such you seek proper help. And remember to look out to those around you. I've learned the hard way how easy it is to overlook it in someone close to you.

Also remember what Raven thinks or is told by someone else, especially here in The Strength to Change, isn't necessarily the truth. Deception both to others and one's self will be a significant theme, but I'm sure you all will be more than able to discern that.

Anyways no need for me to yap too much, next chapter will be longer and should be released sometime around 9/15/24 - 9/20/24. There will be a chapter of DiA before this of course. So keep in mind that it will be after that regardless. Finally thanks for reading, support if you care to, and Peace~!