Was really pushing to get this one out on time this week despite some hurdles along the way, only for my internet connection to die on Friday. And I mean well and truly die. Laptop's network card apparently kicked the bucket overnight, so I couldn't connect to anything at all. Thankfully, I got to come home for the weekend thanks to crappy weather (can't test the system in those conditions, so no reason to stay down there since we can't resume testing until Monday night). Honestly, Friday was sort of crazy anyway, as I had a tire blow out on the way to the lab. Changed the tire, only for the spare to start falling apart when I got to the lab. Thankfully, insurance covers a tow if my spare is unavailable, so they got me to Costco so I could replace the tires (the others needed it too, just not as urgently, so did them all).

Going into my last week of testing, but should be able to resume the normal upload schedule, though there'll be no chapter 04 April, as I'll be on vacation all that week. Looking forward to finally having some time off. Also need to start working on my big Twitch stream on 19 April. For those that don't know, I've had a community challenge going for a while to crack open a golden egg. Already 92% complete, so should hit it with plenty of time to spare. Not telling what's inside until the reveal, but it's a big announcement that's going to be a major change to the channel, so feel free to pop in and see it for yourself. Otherwise, I'll mention it later on in ANs for anyone curious.

Also, have to do a very belated thank you to Snappin for pointing out the duplicated chapter over a year ago. FFN hid the message for some reason (can still only view it on the mobile app). Wish I had seen it then instead of letting it linger until someone else caught it, but I really do appreciate feedback from all of you.

Anyways, on to the chapter. Pardon my purple prose at the start. Gotta indulge every now and then.

All of life could be summed up in movement, from water rushing ever onward to the wind that rustled the leaves. Sometimes life moved violently, thrashing about in a destructive rage that built up mountains or carved deep valleys through the very ground. Other times, it slipped by silently, whispering as it went. But it always moved. Even time was measured by the rise and fall of the sun and moon, all while Remnant itself moved through the universe, never stopping as life flourished and died upon it.

People were no different. From the moment each of them were born, wriggling their way into existence, every one of them fought to keep moving through the tides of time, right up until the stillness of death finally claimed them. Every beat of their hearts drummed against the icy grip of time. Even Remnant moved, hurtling through the universe with all of them along for the ride. Gravity pulled at them, seeking to drag them down until it someday succeeded and pulled them six feet under. Life was nothing more than a struggle to move and stay moving while the steady march of time tried to trample them back into the dust from whence they came.

Then what was the point of it all? Why struggle and fight to move if they were all doomed to someday cease? Time, the unconquerable foe, could not be stopped. Whether a man lived a hundred days or a hundred years, it mattered not. In the end, he would be nothing more than a memory, whether fond or foul, for those that still moved after him. For every soul that wept at his passing, another would rejoice, while millions more would neither know nor care. A thousand years from now, the best he could hope for would be a chapter in the history books. Most wouldn't even make a footnote. Their deeds would be buried beneath the sands of time, forever forgotten within the desert of existence. Yet life struggled on, fighting an unwinnable battle, fully aware of its impending defeat. With every breath, man refused to bow, struggling to stay upright until they were dragged down, never to rise again. Victory was impossible, but defeat was unacceptable - the paradoxical nature of life.

Adam knew the truth firsthand. He fought harder than most, enduring everything life could throw at him and somehow always coming out on top. He knew full well that he was on borrowed time and the bill would someday come due. Still he fought on, not to seek an escape from the barren wasteland of his fleeting existence, but simply to push back against the waves themselves - to forge an easier path for those that came behind. He could think of no higher goal.

Life was movement, and Adam preferred to live, for he could not change the future from the grave. And so he would continue to push, clawing his way through the relentless current until the last ounce of strength fled his body. He would keep moving forward, so others might find comfort in his wake.

That being said, Adam really hated moving. The other kind.

"You want me to go to Vale?"

"I want you to take over operations in Vale," Sienna clarified. "Progress on establishing a cell within the territory has been…slower than expected. We're hoping your presence might inspire them to pick up the pace."

In other words, scare them into action. "I thought Kelly was in charge of Vale." She'd been all gung-ho about setting up operations in a new Kingdom for the White Fang.

"That's the problem." Ah. "She's still loyal, but her methods are far too cautious. Recruitment is at a standstill, and other than the warehouse and her storefront, we don't have any bases up and running." Which meant they were growing stagnant already. If they couldn't grow when the heat was off, how would they even survive when Vale inevitably turned on them?

It sounded like Kelly couldn't quite live up to her ambitions. She'd had plenty of time to prove herself, but they couldn't wait forever. With Atlas still shoring up their defenses and Mistral still struggling to deal with their own problems, Vale became a very tempting target to focus on. While nowhere near as hostile to faunus as Atlas and Mistral, Vale still had its own problems. They claimed to offer equality, but getting your foot in the door when the room had been full for hundreds of years took more than just a pat on the back. Many faunus in Vale were forced to live in run-down, often dangerous conditions, often under the thumb of local gangs who saw faunus as easy targets for exploitation. Helping them often meant challenging the crime families of Vale.

While not nearly as formidable as the families that ran Mistral from the shadows, the gangs of Vale were still a force to be reckoned with for most inhabitants. Apparently, it hadn't been too bad back when the Xiong family practically ran everything, from business to the police force. Nothing in Vale happened without the Xiong family's blessing outside the walls of Beacon. Unfortunately, that died a few years back alongside their leader, leaving the suitably named Junior in charge. With one family running the show, the White Fang could've made a deal and had free run of the city. Now, every schmuck with a gun could become a problem. Not for him, of course, but the faunus of Vale couldn't exactly fight for themselves.

Not yet.

There was only one problem. "How do I get in?" Adam was sort of recognizable pretty much everywhere. He doubted anyone would miss a masked, armed faunus strolling down the streets of Vale. Getting into Atlas or Mistral wasn't easy, but he typically only stayed there for a day or so at most. Building up an entire new branch would take more than a quick pep talk.

"You don't." Sienna pointed to the map of Vale, noticeably outside the walls. Far outside. "You'll be setting up camp in Forever Fall. I'll be sending a few men with you to help in the city, but for the most part, we'll have Kelly and a few other locals come to you for training. I'm trusting you to determine if they're up to the challenge."

"And if they're not?"

"Then find someone who is." For a second there, he'd almost feared she'd have him remove them…permanently. "One of my men will take over from her when you arrive."

"Anyone I know?" Adam asked.

"Donavan." Ugh. Adam knew the guy. He was big, though not as big as Bane. A capable fighter for the most part, too, not to mention he wasn't nearly as dumb as he looked. Sienna had once recommended the bear faunus join Alpha Squad, but Adam turned her down. It would've felt too much like a replacement at this point, and none of his friends could ever be replaced. Plus, Donavan had a reputation as a bit of a womanizer, and he doubted the girls of Alpha Squad would appreciate his lewd comments and unwanted advances. Just the thought of him trying to hit on Blake had Adam's blood boiling.

So sending him to a city that Adam couldn't safely enter sounded like a great plan. "You think he's ready?"

"He will be." Adam didn't like the sound of that. "He's loyal and knows how to follow orders. With a little help, I think he'll be a valuable asset in Vale."

Which meant she wanted Adam to train him directly. That sounded like a nightmare. "What's he need?"

"Unlock his aura and teach him to use it." That definitely wouldn't go to his head. Personal training from the White Fang's best fighter? Yeah, he definitely wouldn't rub that in everyone's faces. "Once he's ready, have him set up in the warehouse in Vale and take over operations."

Once he's ready? Adam would make sure he hit that mark in record time, just to get rid of him. Sienna undersold it when she called him loyal. Donavan was a sycophant. Devotion to the cause was all well and good, but Donavan was the type to consistently attend the Albain brothers' cult meetings, treating the White Fang more like some religious army than a force for equality.

Relocating to some forest in Vale? Training one of Sienna's crazies, not to mention a bunch of city dwellers? This was really going to suck. Misery loved company, though. "I'll start getting my team ready."

"Bane will be going with you." Of course he would, but there was a distinct lack of several other names in her announcement.

"I need my team." Otherwise, he might just lose his sanity.

"And they are needed elsewhere," Sienna said. "These coming months are critical for the White Fang. Alpha Squad has been an effective force, but the plan was always to break them up when the time came. And the time has come."

Break up Alpha Squad? Maybe they'd started out as a glorified training program, but Alpha Squad had become so much more than that. They were family. They'd bled and, in some cases, died together. As annoying as they could be, Adam's team was too important for him to let go of. Keeping Bane was nice and all, but what about the others? What about…

"Blake and Ilia will be undergoing specialized training." Sienna knew who his main concern would be. She also had to know he wouldn't be a fan of having his girlfriend taken from him.

And he wouldn't let her go without a fight. "They're already some of our best."

"And they could be better." Anyone could be better. By that logic, she ought to pull all of Alpha Squad from duty. "They're good in combat, but we need more than just fighters for what's ahead. Blake and Ilia are our best options for stealth."

"What about Yuma and Trifa?" The two of them were surprisingly quick and effective when they needed to be.

"I have plans for them as well, but bat wings and darkened veins are a bit unique. Cat ears, on the other hand, are a dime a dozen." Not to mention Ilia's lack of obvious faunus traits. She spent years in Atlas masquerading as a human in school. She could do the same now. "Plus, they're young. Young enough that most people won't pay attention."

"But-"

"The assignments are set," Sienna interrupted, already tired of dealing with his arguments. "Bane will accompany you to Vale. The rest will be given their own missions. End of discussion."

If she thought this was over, then she clearly hadn't met Blake. "They're not going to like this."

"It's not up to them." Obviously, because if it was, they'd all side with him. "Sometimes, the right decision isn't the popular one. They'll understand in time. For now, though, I'd appreciate it if we didn't tell them until you're ready to leave."

"I don't think that'll help," Adam signed. If anything, she'd only make things worse that way. "You don't know them like I do."

"I think I know them well enough." Apparently not, or she wouldn't be trying to hide things from them. "And I trust them to be mature enough to understand the wisdom of my decisions."

"It's not their maturity I'm worried about." Or it was, but not the way she thought. "I know my team. More than that, I know Blake." Adam looked around the room for a second. The door they'd come in through was too obvious and had a small window in it. The one across the room, however, did not. The one rarely used, since it led to the back side of the building, which didn't have much. What it did have was an empty hall that could be easily accessed. "And if I know Blake, then your plan's already ruined."

"Why do you say that?"

Adam raised his voice, addressing the door more directly. "Because she's not as quiet as she thinks she is." He didn't hear anything, but that didn't surprise him. Blake actually was quite stealthy, after all, even in retreat. Sienna's ears twitched in that direction, her feline ears picking up something beyond his capability and confirming his suspicion.

Sienna checked the door, but no one was there, Blake knowing better than to stick around when she'd been compromised. She'd be on her way to warn the others and rally them against Sienna. Whatever plans Sienna had for keeping things under control, they'd gone out the window.

Too late to worry about that. He didn't envy Sienna the fight ahead, even if she'd brought it on herself. "What about the others?" he asked, more to distract her than anything else.

Sienna considered chasing after Blake but decided against it, knowing the futility of her effort. "Yuma and Trifa will be assisting the Albains in Menagerie." Yikes. Those two really got the short straw, didn't they? "The twins will be staying here and assisting in training demolition squads, while Marcus joins Felicia in Atlas."

Really scattering them to the wind. "And Laurence?"

"Laurence will be overseeing updates to all of our systems, starting in Menagerie." Back in Kuo Kuana? That seemed like the least important place to focus on, unless Sienna knew something he didn't. "Yuma and Trifa will follow him to our other bases, both to assist in training and to act as his escorts."

Bodyguard duty. Not the most glorious job, but someone had to do it. Laurence might not be the greatest fighter, but he was too valuable for them to lose. He didn't love the idea of Marcus in Atlas, though. Felicia could use some extra muscle, but Marcus wasn't exactly the most subtle person. Atlas would be on high alert, too, meaning any slip up could be costly. "What about operations in Anima?"

"I can handle things here for now." Oh yeah. Despite her recent activity, he'd kind of forgotten about her. "Besides, just because you're in different regions doesn't mean I can't summon you if needed."

So he wouldn't be stuck in Vale forever? In hindsight, that seemed obvious. Vale probably wouldn't have any major missions, so he'd be wasted there when his talents would be more useful in places like Atlas. Trying to challenge their enemies on hostile ground would be suicide without him. Once he got Donavan set up and the Vale branch up to full speed, Sienna might even decide to bring him back to Anima. Or wherever she planned to keep Blake and Ilia. A few months, and they'd be back together.

A few months too long.

"No."

"No?" Sienna stopped at his sudden refusal.

"No." He didn't often put his foot down, but he'd earned this much. "Blake and Bane both come to Vale with me."

"Adam, we need-"

"No. Blake comes with me, or I don't go." Things were going too well between them to let her be stolen away now. Long distance was the relationship killer, no matter what anyone said. Absence made the heart grow fonder? More like absence made the heart to wander. Knowing his feelings wouldn't be enough to sway Sienna, he hurriedly came up with a new plan. "Blake can infiltrate the city without being spotted. It'll make it easier for us to figure out what's really going on and pass intel to the city than making them come to us every time."

That had to be worth something. People didn't often wander in and out of the cities, at least not on foot. Once or twice could be explained away, but multiple trips, especially for longer periods, might get noticed. The outskirts were just too dangerous for travel like that. Passing through Grimm territory normally required speed, protection, or both. A bunch of civilians on foot wouldn't last long on their own and would be unusual enough to raise eyebrows.

"It would be more convenient," Sienna considered, her resistance to his demand already showing some cracks. "But having her infiltrate the city carries its own risks."

Time to go all in. "You wanted her to learn about stealth, right? No better teacher than experience, and if she messes up, it's not like Vale executes faunus on sight." Atlas would be less forgiving of a suspicious faunus. Even Mistral. The worst Vale would do is lock her up for a bit. If they tried that, he'd just have to break her out. Vale's cells were nothing compared to Kesseki, so he'd be gone before the city even knew what hit them.

"My concern isn't about her failing. We need trained infiltrators that won't be recognized on sight." Like him. Hard to miss the most wanted man in all of Remnant. "Blake and Ilia can escape a fight if things go south, but they can also avoid one. Better they remain unknown than risk being exposed.

Wait, her plan was to make Blake a spy? Blake Belladonna. As in the daughter of the last leader of the White Fang and current Chieftain of Menagerie. The same Blake Belladonna that was a known member of Alpha Squad and had participated in almost every major White Fang operation of the last few years. That Blake? "I think everyone already knows who she is."

"You'd be surprised how easily people forget." Not that easily, surely. "That's another reason I wanted to get back in the field. With humanity so focused on you and me, they'd soon forget everyone else. I doubt most people would even recognize Blake now. Give it a few months, and she could probably walk through the streets of Vale without any problem."

Was humanity really that dumb? Maybe. Then again, like Sienna said, a young girl with cat ears was a pretty common sight in most cities. Getting into Vale would probably be the only challenge, and mainly because the guards there might actually be watching for them. The average person in Vale might not even notice her, too focused on their immediate surroundings to even consider anyone beyond arm's reach. Get her some less obvious clothes- oh, who was he kidding? Black and white were already pretty basic. They might think her a waitress or something before ever suspecting the cute, innocent cat girl of being a wanted terrorist.

"Then you'll let her come?"

"It hardly seems I have a choice in the matter," Sienna huffed. Adam did his best not to smirk and rub his victory in. "Fine, you can have Bane and Blake go to Vale with you, but on one condition." Adam nearly agreed before even hearing her out. "She only goes into Vale when absolutely necessary. The less exposure she gets, the better."

"She won't leave my side," Adam promised. Since he wouldn't be trying to sneak past the walls anytime soon, that meant she wouldn't either.

"Fine, but the others will still have their orders." Fine by him. He had his best friend and his girlfriend. What more could he need? "In that case, we're done here. I'll have Donavan meet you in the morning for training. I assume you'll want to be the one to tell your team the news?"

"I'll let them know." Not just because he wanted to tell Blake. The others wouldn't be as excited, but he ought to be the one to tell them, if only to spare Sienna their indignation. They'd know it was from her, of course, but he'd rather they grumble in private than openly rebel against her orders. He could deal with their anger if he had to.

"Good. I expect a quick turnaround on Vale with three of you there, understood?" Adam wasn't one to waste time, but he'd make sure to deliver results. It was the least he could do after Sienna agreed to his demand.

"I'll see it done."

/- - - - - - - - - -/

Adam wasn't at all surprised to see all of Alpha Squad waiting to ambush him the moment he stepped outside.

"Is it true?"

"She can't seriously be splitting us up!"

"Can we at least pick our assignments?"

Adam ignored their questions, zeroing in on Blake instead. "I see someone's already spilled the beans."

Blake didn't falter under his accusation. "They deserved to know."

"And I deserve to be able to have a meeting in private." Or so he'd thought. "I was always planning to tell them."

"Was that before or after you left?" Before, obviously. Wait, she hadn't heard the end of their conversation. In fact, she'd missed a good chunk of it. A very important chunk. "She can't just split us up like this." Alpha Squad, or the two of them? He didn't like either idea.

"And how come Bane gets to go with you?" Marcus demanded. "What about the rest of us? What are we supposed to do?"

"There are orders for everyone, not just me," Adam answered, though that only added to the chaos as questions came at him from all sides. "We'll go over them all later, but this was always the plan for Alpha Squad." Not his plan, but the fact remained.

"I don't like this plan," Yuma complained.

"Is anyone else being paired up?" Of course Ilia would want to know that. She'd been on her own for so long. Bane was basically a big brother to her, while Adam had been the one to rescue her in the first place. Losing them both would be a big blow. At least she would've had Blake around to keep her company. He felt a little bad for robbing her of her last friend, but not that bad.

"Not everyone's being split up," he confirmed, holding a hand up to cut off the next barrage. "Like I said, we'll go over everyone's assignments in detail later, but some of you won't even be leaving Reyno. A few of you are going to Menagerie for a bit." That seemed to calm them down a little. Reyno and Menagerie were hardly unknowns to them.

"What about me?" Marcus asked, still demanding his own answer.

Funnily enough, he was the only one not included in the local list. "You're actually going to Atlas." Not exactly the best assignment. Enemy territory. Harsh environments. Worst of all, it would be in the middle of a crackdown by the military, upping the risk even further.

"Atlas?" Marcus thought about it for a second. "Nice. Front lines. Enjoy the view from the back row, losers." Of course he would be excited about the worst assignment. This was Marcus he was talking to. The guy was always eager for a fight, and Adam had just sent him to the brink of the biggest one. He'd have to make sure to talk with him later and warn him not to cause any trouble. Well, no more trouble than they could handle. Maybe he'd be better off calling Felicia and giving her instructions.

"I'm not going to Menagerie," Blake complained, bringing the focus back on herself. Yeah, sending her home would be rough. He'd give it about ten seconds before Ghira and Kali hunted her down and dragged her home for the biggest telling off in the island's history.

Good thing the plan had never been to send her there. "You're not going to Menagerie," Adam agreed.

"I'm not staying in Reyno, either." Correct, but she didn't know that. Thankfully, she missed his smirk as she continued her rant. "I'm your best fighter. You can't just sideline me while you run off to Vale. What am I supposed to do in the meantime?"

"Blake-"

"Don't Blake me!" That sounded weird. "I've more than earned my spot. I've been in the White Fang longer than almost anyone here, including you." True, but she'd been born into it, so that was cheating. "Whatever you're doing in Vale, I could help."

He knew he could end this at any moment, but it was just too much fun watching her get all riled up, even if he knew he'd pay for it later. "We're just going to train the new Vale branch."

"Perfect! I've already been to Vale." So had he, even if he hadn't actually entered the city. "I've met Kelly, and I'm your best teacher. I'd be much more useful there than cooped up here on my own."

"That's true."

"Plus, I could help out in the city. You and Bane can't risk being seen, but I could go buy supplies for the camp. Or help scout out new locations. Even meet with our men on the inside!" All good points, all of which he'd already thought of and argued for. If she wasn't so busy with her barrage of reasons, she probably would've noticed his poker face failing. "And you always say experience is the best teacher. How can I learn if you don't let me try?"

"It wouldn't make much sense to leave you behind."

"Exactly!" She didn't even seem to realize he wasn't arguing with her anymore. Just as she didn't seem to realize who had appeared behind her. "Sienna doesn't know what she's talking about. She doesn't understand-"

"What don't I understand?" Blake's mouth clicked shut. "Perhaps you'd care to enlighten me?"

Whether summoned by her name or just passing by, Sienna now stood waiting for Blake to challenge her to her face. Maybe rushing him right outside the building he'd met Sienna in wasn't their best plan. Blake's eyes darted around, looking for a quick escape, but it was too late. She'd dug her grave. Now she could lie in it, or something like that. Steeling herself, she turned to engage her new opponent, thankfully with a little more care than the ambush she'd sprung on Adam. "I don't like the new team assignments."

"Oh?" Sienna looked to Adam, but he was enjoying this far too much to clear anything up. Still, Sienna was smart enough to piece some of it together, it seemed. "And how exactly would you change my orders?"

Blake gulped, a little intimidated by the reminder of the hierarchy at play. "I-I should go to Vale with Adam." And Bane, she forgot to add.

Uh oh. Adam recognized that grin. Sienna always did like to play with her food. "And what of the other assignments? Any objections there?"

Blake hadn't even considered the others, too focused on her impending separation from Adam and all the action. More so the first one, by the sounds of it. As flattering as that was, ignoring her teammates like that wasn't a good look. "I…I mean…" It took her a second to remember a rather important detail. "He hasn't told us all of them yet."

Sienna twisted the knife just a little. "But he told you yours?"

"No." She'd overheard it. Rather, she'd overheard where it wouldn't be.

"I see." She really could be too cruel sometimes. "If you truly believe that you know better than both Adam and myself, then perhaps we should reconsider."

"What?!" The chorus of disbelief from the others had Adam shaking the ringing out of his ears.

Sienna brushed off their outburst. "Sorry, Adam. I guess I'll take Blake back off of the Vale mission."

"Good." Blake reveled in her victory, unaware of what she'd done until the words sank in past her obliviousness. "Wait, what? Off the mission?"

"And after Adam demanded you be added, too," Sienna lamented. "Had I known you didn't want to go, I would've-"

"Wait!" Blake waved her hands frantically to cut her off. "You mean I am going to Vale?"

"You were," Sienna corrected. Good to see her time in command hadn't robbed her of her cruel humor. Well, good to see when it wasn't directed at him for once. "Adam and Bane will just have to make due without you."

For once, Blake didn't know what to say. Her mouth moved, but nothing came out, her mind too busy reeling to form any words. When it finally recovered enough to put a few syllables together, she hurriedly shouted, "I want to go!"

"But you said-"

"I want to go to Vale," she insisted. Glancing between her two cruel superiors now that she had a chance to realize they were messing with her.

"What do you think, Adam?" Sienna mocked, intent on getting her own back on Blake for spying on them.

This was too good to pass up. "I don't know. I mean, I really did think she-"

Blake's hand slapped over his mouth. "He wants me to go." True, but shouldn't he be the one to say it? Just to spite her, he licked the palm sealing his words away. Blake yanked it away, wiping it on her pants. "Gross."

Sienna chuckled at the childish display. "Very well. I'll let Adam detail the rest of your assignments." With that, she sauntered away, leaving him to his fate.

"That was mean," Blake pouted, ears flat against her head. Honestly, it was too adorable for him to feel bad.

"Technically, I never said you weren't going." He knew she wouldn't accept his defense, no matter how logical. Maybe this would teach her to stop snooping so much. Nah, this was Blake he was talking about.

"You didn't say I was." True, but that was on her.

"Enough about her," Azul insisted, butting in before things could devolve into another lover's quarrel. "What about the rest of us?"

He had a feeling there'd be some complaints, but he'd weather the storm and look for the silver lining, even if he couldn't see one yet. They could drive him nuts sometimes, but it was hard to imagine not dealing with their antics day in and day out. The twins' arguments. Yuma baiting Trifa. Marcus constantly looking for a fight, even if he knew he'd never win. Even Laurence's pointless attempts to teach him about technology. Little things that he'd taken for granted and even been annoyed by that he'd probably miss once they were gone.

Life was movement, and sometimes, that meant moving in different directions. At least he got to keep Bane and Blake with him. Hopefully, the distance wouldn't cause them all to drift apart. The first chance he got, he'd make sure to reassemble the team. The world wouldn't be allowed to forget Alpha Team.

Because he certainly wouldn't.

The end of an era and the start of a new arc. This isn't the end of those characters. Like Sienna said, they'll be called back as needed for bigger missions. Just means we won't see them as often now, which was always the plan for the team. Adam also won't be specifically locked to Vale. He'll just be based there and will travel to Anima and Solitas as needed for missions instead of living in Reyno. Still over a year away from canon, but we're setting up for the eventual merge into familiar territory and the end of the truly unknown territory.

On the discussion of life at the beginning, it's loosely based on Captain Wolf Larsen's views and discussions in my favorite book, The Sea Wolf (by Jack London). I personally do not agree with either the view here or Captain Larsen's explanation, but it's a fascinating read of him and the MC debating philosophy and worldviews in the midst of an absolutely fantastic story. Granted, I use it here as a longwinded setup for a dumb joke, but it's been a while since I've been able to write something a little deep like that, so when inspiration hit, I decided to indulge a little.

Also, some of my In RWBY's Shadow readers might recognize the new character Donavan. Never actually named him in his previous appearance, but this is the same bear faunus from the warehouse raid. We won't be seeing Team LHSR appearing in this story, as they aren't canon, but I do enjoy tying in some references here and there. Maybe someday I'll give them the sequel they deserve, but that can wait until after Adam is finished.

Next chapter: Adam relocates to his new home.