The last few days have been busy and chaotic for Blake. Since the message from Tukson, she visited him just to be informed that the White Fang is now more active than ever here in Vale. They started openly recruiting people and are not as cautious as they usually are, they have begun by talking to faunus on the streets inviting them to their meetings and slowly integrating them into the Fang. They never operated this way before, or at least never when she was an active member. Normally, people who want to join the White Fang find them not the other way around. They have something big planned for Vale, and she can feel it.
Trying to find out what the White Fang is actually planning is sadly something even Tukson can't help with. He might still have some contacts in the Fang and is well-connected with the different faunus communities here in the city but this kind of information is apparently too valuable to entrust to some low-ranked grunt and too dangerous for those in the know to give up even for a friend and helper.
With that, the only two ways she has worked out are to either go undercover, get in contact with a recruiter, and try to establish herself as a valuable member so she can find out what they are planning or, the option she'd rather take as it not as risky and probably much faster, search the city for a recruiter or anyone in contact with the White Fang, observe them, follow them, and gather the information she needs without anyone knowing. And the new style of recruiting made it easier for her to pick out some marks.
So, she went to the streets herself to find anything or anyone that could help her reveal the White Fang's machinations. Stepping into Vale never fails to make Blake a bit uncomfortable. The streets are filled with too many people, cars are constantly honking and blocking streets, and don't get her started on the smell. As she doesn't have a clue where to actually start she begins in the most busy part of the city which is the shopping district. Well, she could probably exclude the northwestern part of the district, the shops there only really sell things for the upper class and any faunus running around in these parts would be under even heavier scrutiny from the police than they are here in the center which is already bad enough for faunus in any other place.
Getting closer and closer to the shopping district she is slowly being greeted by a cacophony of noise making her flinch back and hesitate to continue on. But she knows if she doesn't do something about the White Fang no one will.
As usual, the streets are full of people going about their day. Finding a lead might be harder than she first thought. Okay, with that attitude she won't get far, she just needs to envision how they would act and what she can expect them to look like.
Walking alongside the streets while watching the people around, she can exclude some of them immediately. For one, humans wouldn't be part of the Fang and with that faunus that are hanging out together with humans are also pretty unlikely to be members.
In front of her, a group of four faunus are walking and talking together just minding their own business. She can also exclude them from her list. A group would pull too much attention from the police and isn't exactly subtle.
Looking over to the other side of the street she can see a goat faunus sitting in a café reading a magazine. She can also exclude faunus like him, he is far too occupied with his reading material, not that she can relate, and has no idea what is going on around him. No, someone from the White Fang would be more alert, they would be on the lookout the whole time they are here, be it for recruits or trouble coming their way.
The members also should at least have a rudimentary knowledge of how to fight, which she can most likely see in their movement and stance.
So, all she has to do is look out for any faunus that are alone, check their surroundings often enough, and can fight, easy. She halts her step and sighs. Ugh, who is she trying to convince here? This is hopeless.
No, no, she shouldn't even start to think like that. With a shake of her head, she begins to move again. She is going to succeed.
Four days later she still hasn't gotten a lead. Frustration, dread, and panic begin to slowly but surely settle in. To make things worse, juggling Beacon and her new activities is easier said than done. She comes back to her room pretty late now and sleep doesn't come easy. Every class feels like a crawl and the thought of missing something important is constantly in the back of her head. What if she actually misses a lead just because she is stuck in Beacon. As soon as the school day is over she takes the next bullhead back to Vale. Maybe Tukson got some new information for her.
"I am sorry Blake but I have already told you all that I know," Tukson says, looking at her worriedly as she walks back and forth in front of him all the while mumbling something to herself.
"Maybe my other idea isn't too bad. I could just go without my bow and try to find them that way. Surely, someone would try to make contact with me," she whispers to herself.
"Blake."
"No, that is too dangerous. Even with my bow, it's already too dangerous. No reason to make it even easier for people to recognize me and spread information that I am here in Vale."
"Blake?" Tukson tries to get her attention with no success.
"But wouldn't it be worth it? The risk may be high but it could make everything so much easier. And if I continue like this I might not find anything out and-"
"Blake!" Tukson shouts.
She flinches at the sudden loud noise of the shopkeeper and looks at him with wide eyes.
"Blake, what are you doing?" He asks in a now more gentle tone. "I did not tell you about the White Fang's movement just so you can throw yourself headfirst into danger. Didn't you come here for a chance at something different?"
Yes, she did. She couldn't bear how the White Fang had changed, how Adam had changed.
"Yes, but-"
"Blake, please. Don't throw your chance at another life away for this. You have an opportunity that many of us would kill for," Tukson tries to placate. "I am not telling you to stop worrying about the Fang or even to look for some information but what you are doing right now is not good for you. Go back to your school, concentrate on that. And if I get any new information you will be the first person to know, I promise."
He was right. She knows that he is right, she knows that her even being able to attend Beacon was a huge privilege and that becoming a huntress is a way to help people.
"Alright," she says downcast. "I'll hold you to that."
It's not like she made a lot of progress anyway but it still doesn't mean she'll just forget about the White Fang, they are too dangerous to be left alone.
"Take care Blake and try to enjoy your time at Beacon, will you?"
Stepping outside of Tukson's bookshop, Blake thinks about what to do next, maybe one last sweep today won't hurt and then she can return to Beacon earlier than the last days or maybe she could sit down at a café after, just this once. Gods know how many questions her team is going to ask her like where she is been until late in the night, she really could use the silence, well relative silence anyway.
Before she can even contemplate further the sight of an unruly mop of blonde hair, and a happily wagging tail distracts her. There he was, Jaune Arc wandering through the streets marveling at the sights. She had to stifle the smile coming onto her face seeing him like that, it's kind of charming.
It feels like it's been forever since she last saw him, even though she knows it's not true.
Feeling mischievous for the first time in a long time, she begins following him noticing all his little mannerisms when he sees something new or interesting. She made the observation about him often enough but he really resembles a puppy a lot. Not only is his tail wagging at different speeds depending on whatever catches his notice but his whole body perks up. She really wants to surprise him right now. How would he react? Would his tail stop wagging in surprise? Would it wag harder when he sees her?
After a bit of him walking and her following, and no it's not stalking, he apparently found his destination: a flower shop on the other side of the street.
Oh, gods. Please don't let him buy Weiss any flowers. She thought he was over her by now since he didn't really talk to her anymore. Maybe she should show herself now and stop him. And what's so good about Weiss anyway? What did that prissy princess have that she didn't?
She stops for a moment at that thought and lets Jaune gain some distance from her. Um, it's not like she wants Jaune to bring her flowers, it's about the principle. And it's not like Weiss would appreciate such a gesture from him. Yeah, that's it. Nothing more. Satisfied with her logic she starts to get closer to Jaune and is about to call out to him when someone else gets the attention of Jaune.
"Be careful, brother. The florist is not the most enlightened fellow if you catch my drift," a man says casually leaning against the wall of the alleyway. Blake stops again. She has a bad feeling about him. On the first look, he seems to be a normal civilian but his eyes tell her differently. Orange with slitted pupils. He is a reptilian faunus and his faunus trait is his eyes. Someone like him would be very inconspicuous in a crowd. Almost indistinguishable from any human.
Jaunes said something back and went into the shop.
She should keep some distance, observe for a while, and try not to stand out. His eyes aren't only for show. Maybe she finally found the lead she was searching for. And of course, Jaune would be the one to stumble on someone from the White Fang by accident. He will probably talk to Jaune more when he gets out so she will just wait it out.
The loud slam of the flower shop's door surprises Blake as a shocked-looking Jaune stumbles out of the shop and into the alleyway. What the hell happened? He looks like a horde of Grimm is behind him. Before she could even think if she should go over and be there for him, The possible White Fang member said something to Jaune. She can't hear them but it seems to calm Jaune down who is now being helped up by the faunus. Oh, Jaune be a bit more careful about who you trust.
After their short interactions, they leave with Jaune following the faunus.
"And now he is just going to leave with a stranger, great," Blake mumbles to herself.
Should she stop him? At this point she is sure that this is someone from the White Fang, Jaune could be in danger if she lets him continue with this. But she might also lose the only chance to find out what they have planned.
Should she stop him? At this point she is sure that this is someone from the White Fang, Jaune could be in danger if she lets him continue with this. But she might also lose the only chance to find out what they have planned. Jaune would understand, right?
Hurrying after the pair who are now moving in the direction of the residential area, she decides that of course he would understand, he is training to be a huntsman after all. And after she is done with her investigation she'd tell him all about her suspicions and what she had to do.
Blake's pursuit of the two led her into neighborhoods sparse with humans and the more they walked the more the faunus population rose. It also meant that she would be far more noticeable and her efforts to remain unnoticed had to increase as well. As a consequence, the distance between her and her mark widened too, there was no chance for her to hear anything he might have to say to Jaune now. Something that she still noticed though is how they were received by the faunus living in this part of the neighborhood: friendly, happy, and at some points it looked like some exchanged grateful words with the reptilian faunus.
Isn't this what she wants? The neighborhood might look a bit rougher than the others they have passed by coming here, potholes litter the streets, the sidewalk is marked by cracks flowing like a river through it, and the facades of the apartments are dirty and in need of repair but it pales to the life it holds. Faunus kids running through the streets racing each other, some girls sitting on the stairs of their apartment building giggling to themselves and gossiping, through an open window she can see older faunus talking and laughing together; she smiled seeing something of her childhood in these streets.
She almost misses Jaune and his companion going into a building down the street, the door already closing behind them. With long strides, she moves to follow. It's an old school. A wide staircase leading to multiple doors is at the front of the building. Entering here would grab too much attention. She hurriedly circles the building in search of a back entrance or another point of entry. She can feel her heart beating harder in her chest; having no eyes on Jaune makes her nervous.
Now on the backside of the building, she takes off her bow, freeing her ears; hiding her ears would only be to her own detriment now. As little as they muffled her already great hearing if she wants to find them quickly she needs to use her senses to her full potential.
She enters the school.
A look to the left: nothing, to the right also nothing. The cloudy sky keeps the empty hallways in a dim light not that this would hinder her or any other faunus. For a moment the only thing she hears are people outside on the street but then echoes of footsteps, two people maybe more.
Slowly and silently she moves. The hallways are eerily still, no light shines from underneath the rows of doors in the wall, there are only the footsteps, hers and hopefully Jaunes with whoever he is now.
She found them. They gathered in the auditorium, obvious in hindsight. She hides inside the room under the stage with the only way to see is through a small gap in the wood. They have arranged some chairs in a circle in the middle of the room where Jaune and fifteen other faunus are now gathered.
Jaune looks fine, a bit nervous but fine. Probably because he is surrounded by strangers who are all happily talking to one another. The talking slowly stops when the reptilian faunus who brought Jaune here stands up from his seat and waits for a moment.
"My friends, it's good to see you all here, and you probably noticed we have a few unfamiliar faces with us today," he gestures to Jaune and two other faunus, a woman with white cat ears and a man with colorful feathers on his arms. "Welcome you three. I am glad you found your way to us. Now, before we begin with your introductions let us remind ourselves why we meet here and how it can change our lives."
He solemnly looks into the round and steps into the middle of the circle with his arms spread wide, almost as if is stepping into a spotlight: "I do not know where everybody here comes from but I know what we all have in common; we all had to experience hardships because of our heritage."
His words ring true even for Blake but she can't help but feel like this is just some performance. An act that he rehearsed before. An act he has done over and over again. That still doesn't stop everyone else in the auditorium from hanging on his every word, Jaune included.
"I see how they treat us in this city. For the longest time, our people have been subjected to injustice and treated as the dregs of society. The police who are sworn to protect us, look at us with suspicion, upholding an order we've never benefited from. We are not allowed to rely on this city. We can only rely on ourselves, on our faunus brothers and sisters. Only when we stand together can we affect change. Look at this neighborhood, look at what we have built together without the help of those who would see us brought low. And it all began in a room like this. A room where our fellow faunus gathered and exchanged ideas, to put aside any quarrels we have with each other-," he pauses for a moment to look around. "And to build this community."
Blake rolls her eyes. This guy really likes to hear himself talk, doesn't he? The smattering of applause only makes her want to roll her eyes harder. Even Jaune was enraptured as he was applauding wholeheartedly. Come on Jaune, don't let yourself be reeled in so easily.
The faunus with the colorful feathers, a parrot faunus it seems, is called Kaleo and tells them of how he came from Menagerie in hope for a better life for him and his partner but now he has to live in a rundown apartment because no landlord wants to rent to people from the menagerie. And those who do demand a far too high rent. A friend of his who is also here invited him to come here.
The cat faunus with white ears introduces herself as Bianca and tells a story of how she was laid off from work because of a racist new manager and how hard of a time she has now in finding a new job that pays enough for continuing to live here in the city. Someone suggested coming here and that they could help her by finding new employment.
"I guess, I have to introduce myself now. Haha," Jaune awkwardly laughs while scratching the back of his head.
"No need to worry brother. You are with friends."
"Okay, um. Hello, I am Jaune Arc and I am from Domremy a village near the frontiers and, um, I am a student at Beacon," he says. "I-I don't really have anything happen to me like Bianca or Kaleo, well, today some shopkeeper was insulting me a bit but that's about it."
"Jaune, don't downplay the situation! I was there and the florist hurled insults at you just for trying to buy some flowers. Don't put with that," the reptilian faunus who spoke at the beginning interrupts Jaune.
The others in the round nod their assent. Bianca who sits next to Jaune softly pets his hand and smiles encouragingly at him. Blake narrows her eyes at the gesture from the other cat faunus while Jaune looks at the gathered faunus with a thankful smile.
"My time at Beacon is not what I expected. Yes, my team is awesome and yes, I made great friends there but the truth is, it's lonely there. I am the only faunus in my year and–," Jaune stops for a moment." if there is one thing I learned from what happened today it's that I wouldn't be able to tell my friends about it, and expect any kind of understanding for what I experienced. They just wouldn't understand."
Blake feels awful; she assumed that Jaune had a hard time with him believing himself to be the only faunus. That is why she wanted to tell him about her in the first place but only one little hitch in her plan and she didn't even try to correct it.
"Hm, I understand Jaune. No, we understand," the reptilian faunus interrupts Blake's self-deprecating thoughts. "You don't need to feel lonely anymore. We are here for you."
Again every faunus agrees with his sentiment, some even stand up to pat Jaune on the back who now has a watery smile on his face. Bianca is grabbing his hand and is stroking his hand with her thumb.
Blake should be happy that Jaune has people who support him, that he can be open with someone but a bad feeling in her stomach tells her this won't have a happy ending.
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