With the gang reunited, well, mostly reunited, as Blake and Yang were still absent. Nora took it upon herself to regale everyone with tales of their semester break adventures. Her animated gestures and energetic retelling drew the group's attention as she described the battles they fought against Ursa and Beowolves before finally returning to her hometown. She spoke with the kind of dramatic flair only Nora could manage, waving her hands like a storyteller around a campfire.

"We faced this enormous Ursa!" she said, eyes wide. "It was the size of a house, with claws that could rip through steel and—"

"Nora," Ren interjected calmly, "it was a normal Ursa. And it didn't 'breathe fire.' That was the campfire behind it."

"And what about the man made of cheese?" Nora shot back, unbothered.

"That was in your dream," Ren said flatly, earning chuckles from the rest of the group.

Even with her embellishments, Nora's story turned serious as she described what happened at Kuroyuri. Her voice softened as she detailed how they finally took down the Nuckelavee. It was a rare moment of sincerity for Nora, her usual exuberance giving way to genuine pride and resolve.

As the story came to an end, Pyrrha, who had been listening intently, couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment. She toyed with a strand of her red hair, a wistful smile on her face. "It sounds like it was quite the adventure," she said softly, clearly wishing she could have been a part of it.

Nora didn't seem to notice at first, too caught up in her storytelling, but her words inadvertently rubbed salt on the wound. "It was such a kickass time!" she exclaimed, grinning. "Me, Ren, and Jaune — we were kicking butt!"

Pyrrha's wistful look deepened, but before the atmosphere could turn somber, Ruby, nibbling on one of her precious cookies, jumped in. "What about you, Jaune? What'd you do?"

Jaune shrugged modestly, leaning back in his seat. "Nothing much. I caught some bandits."

Ren and Nora, however, wasted no time in throwing him under the bus. "Oh, he didn't just 'catch' them," Nora said, wiggling her eyebrows. "He captured bandits left and right! One guy looked like he'd been hit by a truck after Jaune was done with him."

"I'm pretty sure you haven't seen me do any of that," Jaune said seriously and turned to Ren for any clarification. "Or did I tell you that?"

Ren shrugged, eyeing the bag of cookies Ruby had.

Ruby's silver eyes widened, and she stifled a laugh behind her hand as she gave a glance at Pyrrha. "Sounds intense! You didn't forget about anything while you were playing hero, did you, Jaune?"

Sensing an opportunity, Pyrrha put on a mock expression of disappointment. "I thought Jaune had forgotten about me entirely," she said, her voice light but carrying a teasing edge. "Off having adventures without classmate Nikos… who he didn't visit in Argus as promised.."

Jaune's face reddened as he waved his hands in protest. "What? No! That's not — I didn't—" He floundered, flustered. "I just lost track of time, okay?"

Ruby grinned slyly, chiming in with a sing-song tone. "Awful, Jaune. Just awful."

Jaune quickly turned the tables, pointing at Ruby's face. "Says cookie crumb-face over there."

Ruby blinked, touching her cheeks in confusion before letting out a dramatic gasp. "Betrayal!" she cried, brushing the crumbs away.

Weiss, who had been sitting quietly with her arms crossed, finally spoke up. "Aren't all of you eventful?" she said dryly, though a small smile tugged at her lips.

Nora, ever the airhead instigator, perked up and started to respond, "Well, maybe Pyrrha and Weiss had—"

Weiss's icy glare cut her off mid-sentence, silencing whatever mischief was about to spill from her lips. It was enough to make Nora backpedal immediately, her hands raised in surrender. "Okay, okay! I didn't say anything!"

Before Weiss could comment further, Nora's attention was mercifully diverted. She noticed Ren slyly swiping a cookie from Ruby's bag, her eyes lighting up. "Ren, you sneaky devil!" she exclaimed, pointing an accusatory finger at him.

Ren blinked at Nora, then at Ruby with his usual stoic demeanor and took a merciless bite of the cookie in front of Ruby.

Ruby, who had just realized yet another cookie had been stolen and eaten from her bag of cookies, groaned and flopped onto Pyrrha's bed dramatically. "They're all gone," she whimpered. "I have nothing left to live for."

Jaune reached for the bag, a mischievous grin on his face, but Ruby's hand smacked his hand away with surprising force and speed.

"Don't you dare," she growled, her eyes narrowed like a cornered animal.

Jaune raised his hands in surrender, chuckling. "All right, all right. You win."

Weiss looked around at the group, her gaze softening despite herself. She hadn't realized how much she had missed the chaotic energy of their combined teams until now. Nora, always oddly observant, noticed Weiss's expression immediately.

"Oh, what's this?" Nora said, leaping from her seat and grabbing Weiss around the waist in a sudden hug. "Is that a smile I see, Ice Queen?"

"Let go of me!" Weiss sputtered, though she made no serious effort to pull away. "You've gotten entirely too energetic."

Ren, sitting beside them, shook his head apologetically. "It's the high from taking back Kuroyuri," he explained. "It's given her... momentum."

"That's one way to put it," Weiss muttered, prying Nora off her lap.

Ruby, still nibbling on her salvaged cookie, suddenly looked up. "I wish Yang and Blake were here," she said wistfully.

The atmosphere grew quieter at her words. Ren stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I've been thinking about them, too. If the rumors about Menagerie are true, they might be in trouble."

Weiss sighed, her brow furrowing. "I hate to admit it, but I am worried, too. Blake's... well, she has a tendency to throw herself headfirst into anything involving the White Fang."

The collective groan that followed was instant and unanimous.

Ruby grabbed her head with her hands. "Now I'm really freaking out."

Jaune raised a hand, catching the group's attention. "Why don't we just go to the CCT and see if we can contact them?" he suggested. "If they're fine, they'll let us know."

Ruby's mood immediately brightened. She sprang to her feet, pointing dramatically at the door. "Great idea! To the CCT!"

The group exchanged amused glances before following Ruby's lead, leaving the dorm, leaving Team JNPR's dorm room a mess.

The group of six made their way to the CCT tower, their pace quick but tinged with a somewhat nervous energy. As they entered the lobby, Ruby turned to Weiss with a mischievous grin.

"Weiss, you're covering the fee, right?" Ruby said, hands on her hips.

Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose, already exhausted by the suggestion. "And why, pray tell, should I be the one paying?"

"Because," Ruby said, puffing up her chest as though it were the most logical thing in the world, "you're Ms. Moneybags! Obviously!"

The rest of the group stifled laughter as Weiss crossed her arms and glared daggers at Ruby. "You are insufferable."

Still, Weiss begrudgingly led the way, handling the fee without another word. The group squeezed into a private communications room, its small space quickly becoming cramped. Jaune and Pyrrha ended up shoulder-to-shoulder in one corner, Jaune's attention fixed on Weiss as she worked, completely oblivious to the faint blush dusting Pyrrha's cheeks.

"Weiss, can you contact them yet?" Jaune asked, leaning slightly forward.

"Would you please stop rushing me?" Weiss snapped, her fingers flying across the terminal.

Ruby tilted her head curiously as Weiss connected to the system operator. "Huh, does it always take this long?"

"Menagerie doesn't have a CCT tower," Weiss explained, her tone clipped. "Messages have to be relayed through a nearby station, which takes time."

"But why don't they have one?" Ruby asked, scratching her head.

Pyrrha spoke up, her voice soft but thoughtful. "The CCT system is a delicate infrastructure. It requires a level of cooperation and trust with Atlas to install and maintain. The people of Menagerie... aren't exactly eager to let Atlas in."

Ruby frowned, shifting uncomfortably. "That's dumb. Don't they realize how useful it'd be?"

"Not everyone values convenience over autonomy," Weiss replied with a pointed glance, her tone laced with quiet annoyance. "And Atlas hasn't exactly made itself popular in certain parts of the world."

Ruby opened her mouth to respond, but the terminal suddenly crackled to life. A professional voice spoke, carrying the calm detachment of someone used to fielding calls from across the globe.

"This is the Atlas Relay Station," the operator said. "We have received your request to contact the Menagerie communications station. However..." The operator paused briefly, as though choosing their words carefully. "There has been no response from the station. Its status has been marked as unknown for some time now."

Ruby's face fell instantly, her hands tightening into fists at her sides. "What do you mean, unknown?" she asked, her voice tinged with panic. "Why hasn't anyone checked on them?"

The operator's response was calm but unhelpful. "We have no further information at this time. If you have additional concerns, we recommend contacting the Mistral Council or Atlas authorities for assistance."

The call ended with a soft beep, leaving a tense silence in the room. Ruby stared at the blank screen, her expression clouded with worry. "This isn't right," she murmured. "Something's wrong..."

The rest of the group exchanged uneasy glances. Pyrrha placed a comforting hand on Ruby's shoulder, while Jaune leaned against the wall, his jaw tight with thought. Even Nora, who was usually quick to crack a joke or lighten the mood, was unusually subdued.

Weiss cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "We don't have enough information yet," she said, her voice steady but firm. "Jumping to conclusions won't help anyone. We'll figure this out."

Ruby nodded, though her worry didn't fade. "Yeah... I just hope Yang and Blake are okay."

"Same here," Jaune said quietly.

The group exited the towering CCT building in silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts. The sun cast long shadows over the courtyard, its canopy of trees providing cool shade. Jaune led the way toward a quiet spot under one of the larger trees, and the group settled onto the soft grass where a warm breeze lingered.

Pyrrha broke the silence, her voice calm but firm. "If things are as bad as they seem, rushing in without a solid plan could make everything worse."

Ruby frowned, her gaze fixed on the ground. "I get that, but we can't just do nothing. What if Yang and Blake are in trouble? What if they need us?"

Pyrrha tilted her head slightly, sympathy softening her expression. "I understand how you feel, Ruby. Truly, I do. But if there really is a civil war happening, no bullhead is going to fly there and if one did, it would be nearly impossible to leave safely. That's the reality we're facing. It's not in Vale either so we don't have anyone who can help us out like the Professors did here in Vale."

Ruby balled her fists, frustration bubbling just below the surface. "So what? We just sit here? Wait until it's too late?"

Jaune leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands together. "Being reactionary isn't going to solve the problem," he said, his voice steady. "If it really is a civil war, then it's a war. Rushing in without knowing what's happening could make things worse — for them and for us. "

Ruby glanced up at Jaune, her silver eyes filled with worry and defiance. "But what if they need us now? What if they're trapped or... or hurt?"

Jaune sighed, running a hand through his messy blonde hair. "I get it, Ruby. I do. But Pyrrha's right. We need to be cautious. We don't even know for sure what's going on over there. Blake and Yang could be safe, it's just that they don't have any means to contact us."

Weiss crossed her arms, her posture tense but her voice measured. "Ruby, I know you want to help them. We all do. But charging in blind won't do anyone any good. We have to be smart about this. The highway, the train in Mt. Glen… if we can't wise up after those incidents, then we're just being fools."

Ruby's shoulders slumped as she let out a frustrated sigh. "Yeah, I know. It's just... hard. Sitting here and waiting while they might be in danger."

The group fell silent again, the weight of the situation settling over them like a heavy blanket. Jaune rested his chin on his hand, his expression thoughtful. His mind raced, piecing together the fragments of information they had and considering their options. If Menagerie really was in turmoil, it wasn't just a matter of going there. It was about what they could realistically do once they arrived. Knowing his friends, they'd want to help, and that means possibly fighting battles and soiling their hands with blood.

Nora's voice broke through his thoughts. "You're thinking, aren't you, fearless leader?" She leaned forward, her bright eyes narrowing with curiosity. "Cooking up some big idea?"

Jaune gave her a small smile. "Something like that. But whether it's actually useful or will help depends on the situation."

Pyrrha watched him closely, her green eyes calm but questioning. "What are you thinking, Jaune?"

Jaune straightened up, glancing around at his teammates and friends. "I'm wondering if Headmaster Ozpin knows anything about what's happening in Menagerie. He might have information that we don't."

Ruby perked up slightly, hope flickering in her eyes. "You think he would?"

"It's possible," Jaune said with a nod. "If anyone has connections or resources to get intel on a situation like this, it's him."

Weiss adjusted her posture, sitting up straighter. "That's a good idea. Headmaster Ozpin is probably the best person to ask."

Ruby managed a small smile. "Thanks, Jaune. That's... a start, at least."

Nora leaned back, her hands behind her head. "Well, if fearless leader has a plan, I'm all in. You're not gonna keep us in the dark, right?"

Jaune chuckled softly. "Of course not. But first, we need to figure out what's actually happening. If Ozpin doesn't have anything useful, we'll go from there."

Ren, who had been quietly observing the conversation, nodded. "It's a logical first step. Better to gather as much information as we can before making any decisions. The big question is… will the Headmaster tell us anything in the first place?"

The group shared a collective sigh.