The jungle canopy of Azure Island stretched high above the disguised team, casting dappled shadows on the uneven ground. The air was heavy with humidity and the faint, depressing mood from the Faunus who welcomed them.

Jaune led the way, his wolf ears twitching, senses attuned to every sound. Behind him, Ruby, Weiss, Ren, and Nora followed, each silent, their disguises blending them into the environment. Weiss, in particular, maintained a steely composure, her darkened hair and red eyes adding an air of unfamiliarity to her otherwise graceful demeanor. From the looks of it, no one suspected that this was Weiss Schnee at all.

Ilia Amitola guided them deeper into the dense jungle. The group emerged into a clearing where the main camp of the Faunus refugees sprawled before them, a scene that struck them all as depressing.

The camp was a patchwork of desperation and resilience. Stolen Atlas equipment, cramped tents, makeshift barricades, and communications arrays that had been repurposed to support the refugees. Everywhere, Faunus of all ages clung to life, their expressions a mixture of exhaustion and fear. Those with Aura were visibly drained, their postures hunched as their eyes remained fixed on the skies, ever watchful for the looming threat of Grimm.

"It's bad here," Ilia said simply, her voice low. She gestured to the surrounding camp. "This is what's left of our people."

Weiss's gaze swept over the scene, her expression grim as she looked at the poor condition of the Camp.

"How did it come to this?" she asked, her voice measured, though her heart sank at the sight of so much suffering.

"The Grimm happened."

A figure emerged from the shadows of a nearby tent, her stride purposeful yet heavy. A tiger Faunus with amber eyes and wild black hair stepped into view. Tattoos resembling tiger stripes covered her dark complexion, and her left hand was a worn prosthetic. The jagged tear of her left human ear gave her a somewhat battle-worn look.

"I'm Sienna Khan," she said, her voice carrying a weight that matched her commanding presence. "Current Leader of the Menagerie Guard."

Weiss stepped forward, her tone sharp and direct. "Where are the Belladonnas? Specifically, their daughter, Blake."

At the mention of the name, Sienna's expression faltered. Her amber eyes flickered with regret, and her shoulders seemed to bear the weight of grief.

"The Belladonna family…except for Blake," she began, her voice quiet. "They're gone. Executed by Adam Taurus."

The words struck the group like a physical blow. Pyrrha's brows furrowed, and Ruby covered her mouth, her silver eyes wide with shock. Ren and Nora exchanged solemn glances, and Jaune's grip on Crocea Mors tightened.

Sienna continued, her voice laden with sorrow. "Adam Taurus didn't just do that, you know? He invaded Kuo Kuana with an army of modified Grimm. These creatures… monsters with crystals growing out of their backs did more than kill. They captured Faunus who resisted and… turned them into Grimm… They call them Hounds."

"That can't be true," Pyrrha said, her voice firm yet disbelieving.

"I wish it wasn't," Sienna replied bitterly. "We saw it happen. Those creatures implant themselves into the heads of Faunus, twisting them into mindless slaves for Adam and that fucker called Merlot's army. The irony isn't lost on me — the Grimm masks the White Fang wore to fight oppression have become real. Adam turned our people into monsters. And don't even get me started on those damn machines Merlot have."

"Machines?" Ren asked, his voice steady but laced with unease.

"Androids," Sienna said with a grim nod. "They order the Grimm like soldiers, directing them. Kuo Kuana fought hard, but how do you stand against an army that doesn't tire, doesn't stop? Settlement after settlement fell, and now most of Menagerie is overrun with Grimm."

"We thought it was a civil war," Ren said.

"It was. Then it turned into this," Sienna said, looking at the refugees bitterly.

The weight of her words pressed heavily on the group. Ruby stepped forward, her voice trembling but determined as she looked around. "Umm, is Blake Belladonna and Yang Xiao Long here?"

Sienna's gaze sharpened at the mention of Yang. "Blondie?" she asked. "She's with Blake. Trying to keep that girl from killing herself."

Nora's fists clenched. "Is Blake… okay?"

"Were you listening?" Sienna's expression darkened. "She's been through hell. Her parents were executed before her eyes, and she was treated like dirt — put in chains before Blondie and I freed her. Blake's on a warpath now, consumed by anger and grief. I lost an arm saving her with Blondie, and they're still out there, trying to resist Adam's forces with a few of the Faunus who are still active."

The group exchanged worried glances. Nora's voice was quiet but resolute. "We need to help them."

Sienna crossed her arms, studying them with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. "And who exactly are you? What's a wolf pack of Aura-abled Faunus doing all the way out here, looking for Blake? You Huntsmen?"

"We're her friends," Jaune said firmly, stepping forward. "We came to get them out of here."

Ilia, who had remained silent until now, snorted. "Fat chance. Blake's not going anywhere. She's too far gone, and you'll have a hard time getting off this island. I doubt your smuggler's coming back for you."

Jaune squared his shoulders, meeting Ilia's skeptical gaze. "Yeah, that seems to be the case.."

Ilia studied him for a moment, then sighed. "Brave or stupid, I can't tell. But you're here now, so you might as well see this through"

"I don't know what made you come here, all of you, but we need every Aura-abled Faunus on this island right now," Sienna said. "Welcome to Azure Island. Make yourselves useful now that you're here."

The group huddled in the corner of the refugee camp, their energy dampened by the dire reality they faced. Even Nora, the usual hyper-energetic member of the team, sat quietly, her normally bright demeanor replaced with uncharacteristic solemnity. The weight of their situation pressed down on them all, making the air between them heavy with tension.

Weiss stood with her hands on her hips, her tone sharp as she voiced the question lingering in everyone's minds. "What now? We weren't exactly prepared for… this." Her gaze swept over the weary Faunus around them, a bleak reminder of how out of their depth they were. They knew nothing on what the real situation was.

Ren, being a voice of reason, sighed. "This is beyond anything we've handled before."

Nora nodded, her voice quieter than usual. "Ren's right. This isn't just a civil war… it's worse."

Even Pyrrha, always composed and confident, looked troubled.

"We've stepped into something we can't handle on our own," she admitted, her eyes heavy with concern.

Ruby fidgeted nervously, her silver eyes darting from one teammate to the next. "Are… are we just going to leave Yang and Blake here?" Her voice was small, trembling with a mix of fear and hope.

Weiss turned sharply to her, her voice firm but tinged with exasperation. "Of course not, you dolt. Don't even think that. But you have to acknowledge the truth of this situation — we're in over our heads with this one. Menagerie is overwhelmed by Grimm, androids, and psychos like Adam Taurus and Merlot!."

Jaune, who had been silent until now, leaned forward. His voice was low but steady. "It's worse than we thought. If they can secure Menagerie as a base, it means Anima is next. And maybe… the whole of Remnant."

Ren's expression tightened. "So what do we do? If they are right, we can't exactly call for reinforcements."

Jaune hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Don't worry about that. I have… another way." But when he tried to elaborate, his throat tightened, and his words faltered. He frowned, feeling a strange barrier in his mind, and finished awkwardly, "My lips are sealed."

Pyrrha raised a brow, her gaze searching as she studied Jaune. "What are you talking about?"

He shifted uncomfortably, but maintained a calm exterior. "I just mean that if it comes to it, I have a way to get us out of Menagerie safely. But for now, let's focus on what we can do here and try to form a plan."

Pyrrha didn't push further, though her thoughtful expression lingered.

Jaune straightened, his tone decisive as he addressed the group. "We'll vote. If you want to leave, raise your hand. If you don't, we stay and see this through. No judgment either way."

A heavy silence filled the air. One by one, they glanced at each other, searching for an answer. But no hands rose. Instead, Ren spoke up, his voice calm but resolute. "You should know by now that we're staying. We don't leave our friends behind."

Jaune allowed himself a small, appreciative smile. "I figured as much. But I wanted to make sure you all understood the risks. This isn't just about saving Blake and Yang anymore. It's about doing what we're good at — taking down Grimm. We've faced Merlot's creations before. We can handle them."

Weiss crossed her arms, her skepticism clear. "And the disguises? Will they hold up?"

"They'll last," Jaune assured her. "Just don't drink the antidote until we're in the clear."

Weiss's eyes narrowed as Jaune stood up. "And where are you going?"

Jaune met her gaze evenly. "I'm going to try… that method I mentioned earlier. If it works, we'll have a way out of this place just in case."

Pyrrha stepped forward, concern etched into her face. "It's dangerous to go alone. Let one of us come with you."

He shook his head, his voice firm but gentle. "I need to do this alone. My… lips are sealed."

"Jaune," Pyrrha held a hand out. "Wait—"

Without waiting for further argument, Jaune turned and strode into the jungle. The dense trees soon swallowed him up, their shadows casting an eerie gloom. He walked until he was certain no one had followed, then paused in a secluded clearing. The sounds of the camp were distant now, replaced by the rustle of leaves and the hum of unseen insects.

Taking a steadying breath, Jaune muttered the words that had become second nature to him.

"It's not a place you go, it's a place you know."

For a moment, he felt it — a strange, familiar pull, with multi-colored leaves trying to reach out for him, as if the very fabric of reality was shifting around him. The forest seemed to blur, and the air grew lighter. But then, abruptly, the sensation shattered. A chill ran down his spine, and he froze, his instincts screaming a warning.

In his mind's eye, he saw it.

Eyes as black as night, its crimson irises glowing with an unnatural intensity. The presence was vast and malevolent, its attention turning sharply in his direction.

Jaune's heart pounded as he canceled the attempt, breaking the connection before it could solidify. He stumbled back, his breaths ragged, and the oppressive feeling faded. Whatever that presence was, it had noticed him or had been about to. And his instincts told him that allowing it to do so would have been catastrophic.

Trying to shake off the lingering unease from the encounter with the ominous presence. He tried for another method. He placed two fingers to his lips and let out a sharp whistle. Moments later, the underbrush rustled, and Juniper, his loyal jackalope, bounded through the trees toward him.

But to his surprise, someone else was riding on Juniper's back.

"Autumn?" Jaune blinked, his brows furrowing in confusion as the red-hooded woman gracefully dismounted. She hefted her black-and-gold axe onto her shoulder with practiced ease, her sharp eyes scanning the jungle.

"Well, well, look who's here," Autumn said with a mischievous grin. She sniffed the air, her expression sobering as she looked around. "Yup, this is Remnant. It's been a while… I think?"

"What are you doing here? And why are you with Juniper?" Jaune asked, his confusion growing.

Autumn ruffled Juniper's fur fondly. "We were wandering around the Everafter, minding our own business, when Juniper perked up at your call. You've got quite the loyal friend her— looks like someone's here to welcome us. Let me take care of it."

Jaune opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Autumn vanished in a blur of motion. Too fast for Jaune to react. A fraction of a second later, she reappeared, slamming a Grimm to the jungle floor by its neck. The creature writhed for a moment before Autumn's axe came down in a clean arc, slicing through it effortlessly. The Grimm dissolved into black smoke.

Jaune stared at the scene, his mouth slightly agape. The Grimm had looked unlike anything he'd seen before, its form warped and crystalline, as if it had been mutated by some unnatural force. "What… what was that?"

"Seems like someone gave us a greeting," Autumn said nonchalantly, brushing some dust from her cloak. "You should be careful."

"I didn't even notice it," Jaune admitted, feeling a pang of embarrassment.

Autumn's sharp gaze softened as she turned back to him. "You must be troubled, Jaune. I can see it on your face. And I can take a good guess about what's bothering you. I felt it too — a presence trying to peer into this place. Luckily, Juniper here evaded it. Isn't she just the best?" She patted the jackalope's flank with a small smile. "So, next time, just call her instead of using those words. I think there's a Witch that might cast her eye on you if you get careless."

Jaune let out a sigh of relief. "That's… good to know. Thanks."

Autumn's grin returned, sly and teasing. "Sometimes you've gotta trust your elders to point you in the right direction, kid."

"Elder?" Jaune frowned. "You don't look—never mind." He waved the thought away, knowing better than to argue with her lighthearted jabs.

Autumn chuckled, then leaned on her axe, her expression becoming more serious. "Alright, spill it. What's got you tied up in knots? Maybe I can help."

Jaune hesitated for a moment, then explained the situation in Menagerie. The chaos, the Grimm, the androids, and the horrifying rumors about the Faunus being turned into monsters. He told her about his team, their disguises, and their resolve to rescue Blake and Yang. He even mentioned the smuggler and the difficulty of finding a way out if things went south and how dire the situation was.

Autumn listened intently, her expression unreadable as Jaune finished his explanation. She remained silent for a long moment, her eyes flickering with a mix of thoughtfulness and concern. Finally, she sighed.

"Sounds like a mess," she said. "And you're right to be worried. This isn't just some scuffle. This is war. I know your Master had you fight a lot of, Grimm, but Grimm that can think and act on orders is dangerous. "

"Tell me about it," Jaune muttered, running a hand through his hair. "We knew it was bad, but seeing it firsthand… it's a whole other level."

"Maybe," Autumn studied him for a moment, then nodded. "You're doing the right thing, Jaune. But be careful. You and your friends can't take on an entire army by yourselves. You'll need allies, strategy, and a whole lot of luck."

"I know," Jaune said, his voice firm. "But we can't just stand by and do nothing."

Autumn's lips quirked into a small smile. "Good answer. Just remember—you've got more than just your strength and skill. Use that head of yours too."

She tapped the side of her temple for emphasis.

Jaune chuckled. "I'll try."

"Good." Autumn turned toward Juniper, who nuzzled her hand affectionately. "Alright, We'll leave you to it. But don't hesitate to call if you need us. Juniper knows how to find you."

"Thanks, Autumn," Jaune said sincerely. "I think I have an idea on how to handle this. Gotta cut the head of the snake, right?"

"That's the spirit! Then, I'll leave you to it."

With a wink, Autumn hoisted her axe onto her shoulder and disappeared into the jungle with Juniper, leaving Jaune alone.