White Fang Camp, Sanus

"We'll find her sir. I swear on my life."

Standing in the tent that served as their command center, the leader of the White Fang's Vale Branch listened as his lieutenant relayed his report.

A whole week had passed and Blake was still nowhere to be found. Adam had hoped that his partner would've returned by now after realizing what a reckless decision she had made in the heat of the moment. Unfortunately, he was wrong and there was no sign of her anywhere.

A part of Adam feared that the reasoning was more gruesome. That Blake disappeared into the wilderness alone and met a horrific end by a bandit's or Grimm's hand. That their foragers would eventually discover a mangled corpse holding Gambol Shroud.

The bull Faunus disparaged such thoughts. If there was anything he knew about his sister is that she was tough. Many in their organization saw Adam as their golden boy due to his gift with the blade, but he knew Blake's talents were far from nonexistent. She was too tough and, in spite of her past with Ilia, too smart to simply perish in some nondescript location.

Which begged the question, why hadn't Blake returned? Why abandon him and the White Fang after everything they had been through?

The horned Faunus pondered as to why his only family had just...left. Adam knew Blake's convictions for the White Fang weren't as steadfast as his and he thought he knew why.

Ghira and Kali...Adam had quite a few words for them, but he couldn't deny that they had created a loving environment free from the general mistreatment of their people on Menagerie. The swordsman had always thought that Blake's unwillingness to do what was needed was due to her never experiencing the abuse and loss that so many Faunus did.

But even then, Adam couldn't understand his sister's choice. Sure she could be soft at times, but he had taken care to assure her that their actions would lead to a better future for their kind. The man had even wondered if Blake had entered a rebellious phase, but being a rebel was the very essence of their cause.

"Forget it. If Blake wants to gallivant into the sunset somewhere, that's her choice. She'll see how wrong she was, in time."

Eyes peered behind the custom mask to once again study the map between Sanus and Solitas. A thousand times he had poured over the map, a thousand times he felt his bloodlust spike.

Adam looked up to address his lieutenant. "Any updates about the target and their route?"

The mountain of a man cleared his throat. "I'm afraid not, sir. We did receive confirmation the SDC's heiress would be arriving in Vale to attend Beacon. But we've still have not found any openings to attack her on course."

The bull felt his blood rise and jaw clench. Attend Beacon? What a joke. He thought this would finally be his opportunity, but it seems like it will have to wait another day.

"Forget it," Adam said sharply to the larger man, "It's time I return to Mistral and-"

Gunshots and bodies falling reverberated around them. The pair quickly dashed outside as the leader drew out his red blade.

"What is this?!"

The battlefield was still smoking. It was outside where surrounded by the carnage were a trio of humans that Adam thought he would never see again.

Cinder smiled as she regarded the emerged duo.

"We could've gone to anyone for help," the black haired woman discarded her swords and strode forward. Her serene expression refusing to falter as the high ranking White Fang member tightly gripped his own weapon. "But we chose you, Adam Taurus."

The woman raised her hand provoking the two Faunus to ready themselves for an attack. They were instead caught off guard as her eyes seemed to burn and instantly a wall of flames erupted in front of their eyes.

"Our plan will be beneficial for both of us," Cinder said softly with all the confidence in the world, "or one of us."

The boy and girl on both her sides unlocked the suitcases they were holding. Inside the girl's were Dust crystals and canisters. Within the boy's case contained neatly arranged stacks of Lien.

Resources and money.

...

"So, which will it be?"

...

Adam slowly straightened up as the Fall Maiden lowered her arm and glowing ceased.

She smiled.