Chapter 4: "Family"

Far away, Yang was at her house flipping the channels with her one arm as her right sleeve was tied up to hold her lost one. Ever since the Fall of Beacon, when Adam Taurus took her arm, Yang has been adjusting to life with one arm, but with much difficulty. She still had yet to recover from the event. And yet... she had to wonder how Vale was taking it.

"...with no end in sight. Try as they might, the local Huntsmen and Huntresses can't seem to get a hold of the situation at Beacon Academy."

"...though the failsafes have supported wireless communication within the kingdom, the loss of the CCT tower continues to prevent contact with the outside world. Talks with Atlas regarding repairs have so far..."

"Vale council voted this week to continue to ban any air traffic that does not have a direct correlation with the evacuation. The council had made it clear that they feel..."

"Multiple rumors continue to circulate as to who was behind the attack at the Vytal festival tournament. While no one knows for sure, officials have confirmed that high ranking White Fang member Adam Taurus was present for the attack. Any and all attempts to bring him into custody have been met with brutal force..."

At this point, Yang turned off the T.V. The last thing she wanted was another reminder of her weakness. Being alone with it was hard enough, but it hit harder for Ruby to tell her that. To her, it was only yesterday when she slammed that door on her face in anger, and shattered their picture as a result. How could Ruby still go on? No... how could she be so dark about it? What happened to the Ruby who was so bright, so cheerful? Did she lose her, too? As she set the remote down, she heard footsteps and saw her father carrying a lot of bags and boxes.

"I'm home!"

Yang leaned back on the couch to see her father upside-down.

"Hey, Dad."

"Guess what came in today!"

Yang was getting curious about what made him so excited. "What?"

"I can't wait for you to try this..."

Then, she realized what he'd been talking about as she looked to her right stump. She'd forgotten that she wanted a new arm and made a request months ago when she came back. As he set it down, Yang was still trying to come to terms with it.

"Well?"

"It's... for me?"

"For you and you only."

With all that effort from his father and her waiting, she decided she at least had to look as she lightly opened it to see a silver metal arm.

"Brand new, state of the art Atlas tech. You know, I thought I was gonna have to pull some strings, call in a few favors, but you earned this one all on your own, kiddo."

"Huh?"

"Before I could even talk to him, General Ironwood already had one of his top scientists working on this... for you. He wanted me to tell you that you fought admirably. You should be proud of yourself."

Yang felt the complete opposite of that. How could she be proud when she lost her arm to a White Fang member? And a top ranking one, no less. At this point, her new arm would only cast a shadow she'd rather not see.

"Well? You gonna try it on?"

There was a moment of silence before she gave her answer.

"I, uh... I'm not feeling too great right now. Maybe later?"

He didn't know what to think. He thought that she'd be thrilled, but then realized she still hadn't completely recovered just yet and decided to leave her be.

"Well, Alright."

Then, Yang walked up to the stairs before turning back to her father.

"Thanks, Dad."

As she went back to her room her father showed concern on her recovery.

As time passed, Yang was sweeping the porch with her one arm before she got sweaty and set it on her stump before sighing. Next, she had to get mail from the mailbox, setting the envelopes in-between her stump and her body. Finally, she was getting herself a drink of water before the cup slipped. She gasped as it fell, momentarily bringing back a flash of when Adam hurt her, utterly causing her to panic as she stumbled back while breathing heavily. She slammed her fist on the table in a fit of disappointment toward the reminder of what a coward she is now thanks to Adam. No wonder Ruby left her... She was able to calm herself down, though, not noticing her father watching her daughter struggle to cope with the events before walking away sadly.

Meanwhile, Cinder was dealing with her own loss of an arm. And she didn't fare any better. As Mercury and Emerald watched at the door, the hatchling that resided in her heart was clenching tightly on her, making her uneasy as it was procuring a new arm for her. But rather than a human one... it was pure Grimm.

Cinder didn't exactly have good memories about that. She had to admit that her mind still trembled at the thought of the 'failure' of Project: Quasimodo. His appearance was half-human and half-Grimm, yet nothing about his appearance was human. Could that be her punishment? Was she doomed to be a failure like it?

"Do you feel it? Don't fight it, girl. It can sense your trepidation. You must make it dread you."

How could she do that? It was literally squeezing the life out of her. She was completely at its mercy. The answer was lost to her in the moment, if there even was one. Just then, a small creature appeared. It had a spherical body that was covered with bone-like plates, along with red tentacles ending in white, bony spikes and a single eye that appeared to hold black smoke within it.

Mercury and Emerald could only look on as it went past them and beside Cinder and Salem. Then, the black smoke itself morphed into an image of a man who wore an olive green three-piece suit with coat-tails that go down to his knees. His brown vest features four gold colored buttons and the chain of his pocket-watch, and beneath this, he wore a black shirt with a dark red tie. Salem knew him well as one of her council.

"Good evening, my mistress."

"Ah. Clark Moran. About time I've heard from you."

"I apologize for the delay, however long it took. But with keeping up appearances and all that in Beacon, it was no easy task."

"Understood. Did you find the Relic yet?"

Clark, knowing how Salem was quick to cut to the heart of the matter, was ready to answer just as quickly.

"Not as of yet. The Grimm have searched every nook and cranny at Beacon, but Ms. Good witch always seems to get in the way. Though, I'd say her efforts are minuscule at this point. She's practically risking aura and life just to keep he town in one piece. Er, not that it's done any good to us so far. The Relic might as well be gone by now."

This made Salem turn to Cinder. The only weapon who could've given them this much trouble was Ozpin. It made her wonder. Was he really gone as she claimed...?

"Cinder. I'm gong to ask you this one more time and I expect a clear answer. Did you kill Ozpin?"

Cinder motioned to Emerald and Mercury to come to her, only for Salem to react angrily as she slammed on the table to make herself clear.

"No! I want to hear you say it."

Cinder mustered all the voice she could to form an answer before it came out raspy.

"Yes."

Salem then turned back to the Grimm with Clark's image and spoke up.

"Reinforce our numbers at Beacon. The relic is there."

"As you wish. Though, if I may... there's something I've meant to ask."

Salem raised an eyebrow at Clark, wondering what it could be about.

"Proceed."

"What exactly were Bartek's orders?"

Bartek. Yet another who was absent in her council meeting. He always had an enigma as unknown as his disposition. But mysterious as he was, his heart was just as easily swayed as the rest. As long as Salem can promise that to him, he should be manageable for the time being. And it may as well come to good use since nobody else knows whose side he's on.

"He should be looking for the Relic at Shade Academy. Why do you ask?"

Clark's face began to form suspicion upon it. Nevertheless, Clark responded.

"I see. I'll carry on with my duties, then."

The drone then dissipated Clark's image as it went out of the door, leaving Salem to ponder to herself. Ozpin must've been very clever to hide the Relic of Choice away. But the question is where...?

"What are you planning?"

Meanwhile, Yang was somehow trapped in a bizarre realm hearing strange voices before looking at her hands and looking up to see Adam Taurus walking toward her. Then, Yang noticed she had her gauntlets on her arms before she fired bullets at him, only to phase through him as he prepared to draw his sword. She tried one more time, only to find that the gauntlets have disappeared, as well as her right arm. As he pulled on the sword, Adam swiftly slashed through her, though strangely enough, it didn't pierce her. Though, that didn't mean he never pierced something through. Yang turned behind her to see a portal with a dark new breed of Grimm appearing before her as it snarled before roaring at her face, it's mouth glowing with fire.

With a start, Yang woke up before she turned to her replacement arm. Even after all her trauma... no. Because of her trauma, she still refused to put it on. She always saw it as a weight dragging her down ever since it came to her. Before she could have another thought, she heard laughter down the stairs before Yang walked down and heard Port speaking.

"And-and- and then in comes Qrow, wearing a skirt! I was just a T.A. I... I didn't know what to do, so I just left the room to laugh!"

Another round of laughter started before Taiyang spoke next.

"Yeah, we told him it was a kilt, he'd never worn a uniform before so he didn't know."

Oobleck, funny as it was, poked fun at him.

"That is terrible! What is wrong with you?!"

"Hey! The girls all said he had nice legs! I did that jerk a favor! Besides, that's not even the best part! See, then we—"

Then, Port interrupted by planting his foot on the table.

"Like what you see?"

Then, they heard another burst of laughter before Port fell, causing the laugh to grow even louder before Yang joined in with a light giggle, catching the latter's notice.

"Oh, um, Miss Xiao Long! Please, join us."

As Yang walked in, Oobleck made an offer to be as gentlemanly as he can, being aware of her current... situation.

"Yes, yes, pull up a chair. Please, pull up a chair."

"I'm good."

Yang sat up on the counter before she turned to him.

"Despite popular belief, teachers do have a life outside the classroom."

"Professor Goodwitch is working around the clock to restore Beacon to its former glory. But Mistral isn't built in a day, and we need some rest from time to time."

Taiyang laughed at this a bit before speaking.

"Look, let's not worry about that right now. So, there we were, standing in the auditorium, looking at Qrow wearing a skirt! Then Oz tells everyone: 'It's time to work on our landing strategy!'"

The group, excluding Yang, laughed a bit before Oobleck and Port spoke up.

"The Branwen twins have always been... interesting, to say the least."

"That sure didn't stop young Tai..."

"Hey, come on, man. She's right here."

"Oh, please! She's a mature young woman. If she can handle combat, she can handle a few jabs at her old man."

"That's not the issue, Pete. And besides, she's still a teenager."

Yang didn't like being babied by her father, let alone by the teachers in the room with him, so she took the opportunity to speak for herself.

"'She' is also in the room and can be directly spoken to. And 'I' think I've been through enough to be considered an adult at this point."

That much was true. Since Summer was gone, Yang had to take care of Ruby as a bigger sister. And even with Taiyang acting as a father, Yang was still the one left to pick up the pieces. Alone... Taiyang sighed in towards her daughter's opinion disagreement.

"Adult or not, you still got a long way to go before you're ready for the real world."

"Oh my gosh! Does every father figure just have the same three condescending phrases?"

"Yeah, but we only use them when we mean it!"

"Is that so?"

"As a matter of fact, it is so! If you honestly think that you're ready to go out there on your own... well, guess you lost some brain cells along with that arm."

That stunned Yang for her father to say that as Oobleck dropped the cup into the table. However, the reaction wasn't quite what they expected as Yang smiled a bit before lightly jabbing him.

"You jerk!"

Then, she laughed with her father before Oobleck spoke up.

"Are we finally talking about the Goliath in the room?"

That made them pause for a moment before laughing even harder. After the laughter died down a bit, Port spoke to Yang.

"Miss Xiao Lo— Yang. If you don't mind me asking, why haven't you tried on the arm yet?"

"Oh, yes, yes! A piece of Atlas technology being given out like that is rare indeed, not to mention the effort it took to deliver it here. It seems a great many people want you to return to normal."

Yang took a moment to collect herself before she opened up to them.

"I'm... scared. Everyone keeps talking about me getting back to normal and I appreciate it. But..."

Yang then motioned to her stump in reference.

"This... is normal now. It's just... taking me a while to get used to it."

Her father decided to give her a piece of advice about her take on normal.

"Well... Normal is what you make of it."

"What is that supposed to mean? Do you want me to just pretend like nothing happened? I lost a part of me. A piece of me is gone and it's never coming back."

"You're right. It's not coming back. But that doesn't have to stop you from becoming who you want to be. You're Yang Xiao Long, my sunny little dragon. You can do whatever you put your mind to. So, whenever you're ready to stop moping, and get back out there, I'll be there for you."

Yang still wasn't quite sure about whether she wanted to or not, considering Adam Taurus is still out there. On another note, Ruby is with the rest of Team JNPR (minus Pyrrha, the Fall Maiden), and evening if she could go find her, Ruby hated her guts. At least, that's how she acted the last time she saw her. If she couldn't change her mind then, what could possibly change her back to the sister she loved now?

"I..."

Port decided to join in to help her at this point.

"Fear is like any other emotion, it comes and goes. It's all in how you handle it. Why, even I find myself wrestling with that emotion from time to time."

Yang found it hard to believe, considering he was laughing a lot earlier.

"Really? You?"

Then, Oobleck explained to Yang what he meant.

"He's afraid of mice."

"They bring only disease and famine!"

Then, Yang began laughing as Port ranted about them.

"And don't even get me started on their tails! So hairless, simply unnatural."

Oobleck had to reassure Port as Yang giggled.

"Port, I assure you, you're safe. There's no mice here right now."

Later, Yang walked back up the stairs before waving to them.

"Goodnight."

As she walked to her room, she looked back to her arm before hearing laughter outside of the house before Port thanked Taiyang.

"Thanks for having us over, Tai."

"Anytime. You're always welcome."

Then, Oobleck spoke to him next.

"It may be a while before we return. There is still much work to be done at the school."

Then, Port spoke of another issue.

"I... hesitate to ask, but... is there any word from Young Miss Rose?"

Taiyang responded solemnly.

"Not yet."

"Have you thought about going after her? Trying to bring her home?"

Taiyang clenched his hand from the question. He, out of all people, knew how Ruby was desperate for revenge on Cinder since that day. He wanted to go and find her each day, but with Yang down in the dumps, he couldn't just leave her. Taiyang broke the silence with a deep sigh.

"I've got to... look after some things."

That made Yang remember their argument. The last time she ever saw Ruby. Their words exchanged to each other was just as heartbreaking as when Blake left her.

"You can do whatever you want. I'm gonna lie here. Just leave me alone."

"You know what...? Fine! You want me to leave you alone so bad?! Then BE ALONE!"

Having that be the last thing Ruby said to her made it all worse. Never did she imagine her own little sister would hurt her like that. But she wouldn't blame her one bit. Ruby had her whole world crumble around her, but instead of being her big sister like always, she told her to leave. No matter how misguided Ruby was in her new quest for revenge, Yang should've been there for her to keep her safe. If only she could've said yes...

"Oh, Ruby..."

Yang spoke the truth when she lost a part of her, but it was never about her arm. It was always her little sister. She drove her away, and now, she feared that she'd never come back, any more than her arm would. Yang looked back to her arm before remembering what her father said next.

"Whenever you're ready to stop moping, and get back out there, I'll be there for you."

Yang looked at her stump next before looking to the arm. Her arm may not be around anymore, but Ruby is. It wouldn't matter if she doesn't come back. It shouldn't! Because Yang would run to her when she needed help. And whether she would admit it or not, Ruby definitely needed help.

"I'll find you, Ruby. I promise."

Meanwhile, Team RNJR was walking to the next village as Jaune held the map. Usually, it'd be Ruby, but her mind was otherwise engaged. Even after the last town they went to, Ruby was still haunted by this "Baron" character who was after her. What kind of Grimm could pass for human? Apparently, Baron did. How could that even be possible?

"Come on guys! If we pick up the pace, we can hit the next town before sunset."

Ruby grew a bit dismal given Shion's attack. Maybe it was the chaos, but Ruby had reason to doubt.

"Assuming it's still there."

"Of course it'll be there, Ruby. This one's supposed to be pretty big."

In curiosity, Ruby looked to the map, trying to pronounce the word.

"Hee... gan... bay... na..."

Ren knew what she was really trying to say.

"Higanbana. It's a well-protected village with a popular inn."

Nora felt it was good news given the weather.

"Which means... no more camping in the rain!"

Seeing Ruby give a small smile at the thought of it, because no one in their right mind ever thought camping in the rain was a good idea, Jaune felt her point was made.

"See? Everything's gonna be fine. You know, we've had a lot of ups and downs, but things could be a lot worse. Really thought we'd see more Grimm."

"As did I."

"I guess our luck is finally turning around. To Higanbana!"

"To Higanbana!"

Grateful as Ruby was for that, she couldn't help but feel that something was off. They should've seen more Grimm since Shion. Her nightmares included, she was practically drowning in negativity from what she saw! Yet, there weren't any to be seen. Something has to be wrong... Little did she know how right she was.

As the team walked, they remained unaware of the beowulf watching them before it leaped at them, only to be impaled by a sword, making the beast groan before it was plucked out, leaving the Grimm to fade into black mist. The culprit was none other than Qrow Branwen.

He'd made short work of the other Grimm before it. Then, he heard a crowing made at him, making him turn to see a raven with red eyes on a branch looking at him. Then, the Raven flew away as Qrow looked on with a glare.

"Hmph... 'luck.'"

Later that same day, Team RNJR went into an inn adjacent to a tavern, to which Ruby looked out the window. Something still didn't sit right with her. The Grimm should've come when she had doubt. So why didn't they? Jaune noticed Ruby staring out at the rain and wondered what it could be about. He walked over to her and tried to speak to her, hoping to stir her from her malaise.

"Uh, Ruby? What's that look about?"

"I don't know, Jaune. Something seems... off."

"Off? Like what?"

"You said something earlier. You thought we'd see more Grimm since Shion, but... we haven't."

Jaune then realized his previous words out loud and began to get as weary as she did.

"Yeah. That is pretty weird. Grimm are usually drawn to negativity, aren't they?"

"Mm-hmm. But this time, they didn't come. The only thing I can't understand... is why."

As Ruby said this, she noticed her Uncle Qrow just outside a tavern before Jaune got her attention.

"Ruby? What's up?"

"I just thought I saw someone... can you guys let me know what room I'll be in? I just gotta check on something real quick."

"Uh, okay."

Ruby walked out of the inn and sneaked by the tavern's walls to avoid being caught in the rain too much while peeking inward and saw her uncle at a table. Somehow she had a feeling that she'd find Qrow at some point. Maybe seeing a familiar face would do her some good, even if it was drinking liquor.

"Uncle Qrow?"

She continued to watch as he received a glass of a drink.

"Oh, I didn't—"

The waitress explained where it came from.

"From the woman upstairs. Red eyes. Said you wouldn't mind a bottom shelf."

The waitress and Qrow looked upwards before he thanked her.

"Thanks."

"But I went ahead and gave you top. Lucky you!"

As she walked away, Qrow turned back to the window and noticed that Team RNJR wasn't standing anymore before he spoke to himself in caution.

"Yeah."

Meanwhile, Ruby went inside the tavern, hoping she'd catch up with her uncle. But unfortunately, there were other patrons. One of them, a man with one dark brown eye as he had an eyepatch over his left eye, a black coat completely unzipped, and a dark grey shirt over it saw how young she was.

"Hey. A little young to be drinking, aren't ya?"

Ruby felt it to be a bit offending, although it was a fact to be seen in plain sight as she sighed. At the same time, she noticed that Qrow was walking up the stairs to meet the woman upstairs who gave him his drink. Ruby then turned to him in response with a glare.

"Who asked you?"

Ruby proceeded to walk up the stairs, though the man was indifferent as he went back to his drink.

"Alright. Whatever. Touchy..."

Although the man took a sip of his drink, his eyes couldn't help but find themselves locked on Ruby.

Sure enough, when Qrow got to the top, he saw Raven sitting on the table with her mask on it.

"Hello, brother."

"Raven."

Qrow began walking to Raven as Ruby got up to the stairs. When she did, Raven took notice of the little girl behind him at a fair distance. She didn't quite feel surprised by that, but Raven felt it should be addressed.

"You know, she's not exactly the best at being subtle."

This confused Qrow before he turned to see Ruby behind him. It came as a surprise to him that Ruby would find him so soon. Then again, it was only a matter of time. Even Ruby knew that she'd cross paths with him eventually, whether she wanted to or not.

"You know, I don't think they allow kids in here, young lady."

"Then it's a good thing I'm not a kid."

This made Raven raise her eyebrows. Somehow, Ruby's current attitude was more appealing to her. Would Qrow have anything to do with that? She gave her brother a confused look before he responded.

"Don't look at me. She just got that from your side of the family."

Raven then looked to Ruby, wondering what could've happened to her for her to be like this.

"I guess you learned how the real world worked."

Ruby tensed her hands, remembering how pitiful she felt, how weak Cinder made her.

"More or less..."

Qrow didn't see that as a good sign and wanted to avert any possible outbursts.

"Okay, we're getting off-topic here. Ruby, you're not even supposed to be here right now. Just wait outside."

"But Uncle Qrow—!"

Qrow only placed his hand on her shoulder, maintaining a serious tone in his voice.

"This ones between brother and sister right now. Just wait outside, and then I'll tell you all about it."

Ruby looked towards Raven who gave her a small grin. She didn't know why, but she didn't find her to be any good. Something felt rotten about her. And Ruby didn't like that one bit as she turned to Qrow.

"Okay, fine. But I'm holding you to that."

Ruby then walked down the stairs with a scowl on her face as Raven gave her opinion about her once she was out of earshot.

"Honestly, I'm surprised. I would've thought she'd turn out like Summer."

Qrow didn't take that very well as he turned back to her with a glare.

"So, what do you want?"

"A girl can't just catch up with her family?"

"She can, but you're not. How about we get on with it? Unless you plan on keeping these coming."

Then, Raven asked him a different question in response following a moment's stillness.

"Does she have it?"

Qrow hardly saw that as important compared to everything Ruby and her friends went through.

"Did you know Ruby mutilated someone, and that Yang lost her arm?"

Raven felt offended before she spoke.

"That's not—"

"Rhetorical question. I know you know. It's just obnoxious that you bring up family then carry on like your own daughter and half-daughter don't exist."

"I saved Yang."

"Once. Because that was your rule, right? Real 'Mom of the Year' material, sis."

Raven took her brother's arm in angry panic, haunted by the image of Summer on Baron's sword and the sinister grin he gave her.

"I told you Beacon would fall, and it did. I told you Ozpin would fail, and he has. Now you tell me. Does... Salem... have it?"

"I thought you weren't interested in all of that."

"I just want to know what we are up against."

"And which 'we' are you referring to?"

Then, Raven let go of his arm in anger before she sat back down. Qrow used the opportunity to reach out to her. He knew how close Summer and Raven were in the days of Team STRQ, especially since Taiyang gave them both children. If he had his way, Raven would be dead and buried, but the only reason he's even trying at all was for Summer's sake.

"You should come back, Raven. The only way we beat her is by working together. All of us."

Raven only glared at Qrow back with a scowl as she retorted.

"You're the one who left. The tribe raised us, and you turned your back on them."

Qrow set the drink down in restrained anger.

"They were killers and thieves."

"They were a family."

"You have a very skewed perception of that word."

Raven stood up in anger before she spoke.

"I lead our people now. And as leader, I will do everything in my power to ensure our survival."

"I saw. The people of Shion saw, too."

That was a memory Raven did not like to remember. She could still hear his sinister laughter as Summer looked to her with a hurt look on her face in his blade. Raven shook her head to clear her mind of that wretched sound before he responded.

"The weak die, the strong live. Those are the rules."

Qrow then moved on to another matter.

"Well, you've certainly got someone strong on your side. I saw the damage. And I also know that someone equally strong is after Ruby, too."

Raven assumed he was talking about the Grimm Huntsman that she encountered before and turned away from her brother as she explained herself.

"We couldn't have known the Grimm set in as quick as they did. And this one, that Grimm with the sword... it looked just like her."

"I'm not talking about the Grimm, or Baron, by the way. And I'm not talking about you either."

Raven only turned to talk to Qrow, trying to get the answer to her previous question out of him.

"If you don't know where the Relic is, then we have nothing left to talk about."

Qrow only clutched his hand onto her mask, before he spoke of new information.

"I don't know where the Spring Maiden is, either. But if you do, I need you to tell me."

"And why would I do that?"

"Because without her, we're all going to die."

For a moment, Raven and Qrow embraces the silence that came before the former broke it.

"And which 'we' are you referring to?"

Raven began to walk away from Qrow as he glared at her with a growl before he ended up shouting at her.

"YOU OWE THIS TO SUMMER, YOU BITCH!"

Raven stopped in her tracks with a gasp. How did he know about what happened between her and Summer? And if he did know, why didn't he tell Taiyang about that?

"You always blamed me for turning my back on the tribe, but you never had any room to talk, not after you left her to die!"

A tear began to escape her right eye before she wiped it from her face. She can't let her brother see that she got to her.

"I don't know what you're talking about..."

"You should. You and Summer went up against Salem before. Guess who's the first to run away?"

Raven only clenched her hands before she tried to explain herself, her voice threatening to break.

"It wasn't like that...!"

"Then tell me, Raven. What was it like?"

Raven could not answer Qrow. Her hands only trembled in sadness that is quickly being exposed.

"You... you wouldn't understand."

"Then we don't have anything to talk about. Just get out of here and run away! It's all you're ever good for anyway!"

In compliance with Qrow's harsh request, Raven took her mask back before opening a portal and walking into it. Shortly after, the group heard the waitress gasp in surprise before Qrow turned to her and made a deep sigh before holding he glass to her.

"Make this one a double."

Later, Qrow exited the tavern, only to find that Ruby wasn't waiting by the tavern. She must've gone inside to keep from being rained on. It probably would've been for the best. Just then, Ruby's voice spoke out from behind him, catching him by surprise.

"I'm over here."

Qrow turned around behind him to see Ruby by the doors he just walked through. She didn't look very happy to have been waiting for this long. Not that he'd blame her, what with his drinking habits and all. She must be wondering what he and Raven were talking about. He did owe her the explanation.

"So... I guess you're wondering all that was about?"

"I heard you say my mother's name. That Raven owed it to her, whatever she needed to do."

Qrow began to get embarrassed. If she heard that, she was bound to have heard the curse word he wasn't normally allowed to use around her or Yang.

"Oh, boy. You must've heard me use one of the forbidden words, then."

Other days, Ruby would've told him off for using foul language, but not this time. For her, it was just the proper word to describe her so-called Aunt Raven.

"You don't have to apologize. Raven deserved it."

Qrow turned to Ruby and saw that she was getting upset. Of course she had a right to be; this was Summer Rose they were talking about. But how could she be? She wasn't supposed to know already. Unless...

"You've been overhearing our little discussion, haven't you?"

"Yeah. And I wish I never did..."

Ruby was now on the verge of shedding tears. She never got to know her mother, but she didn't know why. This time, she knew. And it was all Raven's fault... And she thought nothing would top the Fall of Beacon, but here she is. Before he could try to make her feel better, Ruby only turned away.

"Ruby..."

"Don't. Not right now."

Qrow pulled his hand back as he took a sigh. He's not sure how Ruby would be able to process this information about her mother. She's been through enough already with Cinder involved. Maybe it'd be better for her not to hear it yet after all.

"Right. I'm, uh... sorry you had to go through that, Ruby."

"It's okay. But... if you really felt sorry... you would come with us."

Qrow's heart began to sink almost immediately. She didn't know it, but there was something about him that would put their lives in more danger than they have been on their own. Him keeping his distance like he'd been doing before was the whole reason they made it through despite the negativity spawned from Shion's massacre.

"Ruby... I want to, but... I can't."

"What do you mean you-?"

"I just can't!"

There was a small silence between the two of them. After a moment passes, Ruby's expression turned into a hint of anger.

"Fine. Be that way, then. Like I ever needed you."

Ruby made no hesitation to turn her back on Qrow, walking into the inn before slamming the door. In the meantime, Qrow began to take a deep sigh. Sometimes, even he wondered why he stuck around. Every step he took was but a legacy of his jinx. The Grimm fell prey to that jinx. The last thing he wanted was for Ruby to be a victim of it too. Maybe it was already too late...

"I'm sorry, kiddo."

Meanwhile, out at Taiyang's house, he was watering the plants when he heard the door open and saw Yang walking out with the new arm attached to her stump. Yang then turned to her father with a smile before he looked back to her, returning the gesture.

"Okay. Let's get started."

A/N: Hello. :) Here's another chapter for you. Anyway, there is the introduction of another new OC by the name of Clark Moran, who alludes to James Moriarty from Sherlock Holmes and is portrayed by Robin Atkin Downes. For those of you still wondering how Pyrrha's doing, you'll see more of her soon, as well as Paragon. There may even be some lemon sequences on the horizon the next chapter. Until then, enjoy your day. :)