"Jaune?" Weiss asked the blonde softly.

They were slowly riding on Jaune's horse for a long while after their run in with the White Fang and Winter. They were headed back to the camp they left all those days ago.

"Yes?" He said, turning in his saddle slightly to get a look at her.

"Why didn't you kill Winter?" She asked. The question had been on her mind ever since they started their trip

"Hmmm… Why should I have? Was there a reason why I should?" He asked, confused.

"Well didn't she attack you and nearly kill you?" Weiss reminded him.

"That is true but… Alright think of it this way. I killed Adam because he was a danger to more than just me or you. He was a fanatic that would've chased everyone who he saw as an enemy to the ends of the earth if it suited his goals. He was a dangerous animal that needed to be put down before anyone else got hurt." He rationalised.

"True." Weiss admitted.

"Winter is a different story. She was only a danger to you and I, a danger that can be easily monitored and dealt with if that was required. While she may have killed me, that was part of the job and did not have any feelings attached to it, I was an obstacle that needed to be removed." Jaune said, feeling like he had to do a bit more explaining.

"You have a strange way of looking at things, anyone else would've sought revenge." Weiss commented.

"That is true… but then what does that give me? A sense of satisfaction that doesn't last forever. And maybe she will return the favour and help or look the other way if we were to run into each other again." He said hopefully, clicking his tongue in thought.

"So basically, you didn't kill her because she's not an unhinged mass murderer?" She said bluntly.

"That… sounds about right actually, thanks for simplifying." He said, chuckling.

"So what happened when we were separated?" Weiss asked, changing the topic.

"That I don't know myself entirely. When I came too, I was on a bed in a dark damp cave. Found a whole civilisation of people don't there too." He added, almost as an afterthought.

"What like, as in cave people?" Weiss asked, not taking him seriously.

"Well yes, cave people who were loyal to you."

"Wait what!?" Weiss squeaked.

"Yeah there are a group of people who live underground and are working towards restoring your rule… I suppose this is a bit crazy for you." He admitted.

"Well yes because my anointment wasn't very public and too recent for any group really to band together like that." Weiss assured herself, confused and somewhat frightened.

"Could they have something to do with your mother?" Jaune wondered.

"I mean maybe. My mother wasn't in the spotlight very often, but she did try to look out for me, maybe these people were loyal to her also."

"It has certainly been a while since I've come back here… For the both of us. I can't wait to sleep, I feel like I'm going to die." He groaned while swaying in the saddle a little.

"Hey stay with me, I don't want to have to explain to the gate guards as to why you're knocked out on a saddle with me." She grumbled.

"Fine." He moaned while straightening up, the gate in question coming into view.

They stopped within a few metres of the gate and the guard just took one look at him before allowing entry. Jaune nodded and moved his horse forward, Mash following in behind.

"I'm surprised they let you in so easily." Weiss commented worriedly.

"Ehhh that guy is an old friend of mine, we joined the army at the same time actually. But if he's not willing to have a chat then things must be grimmer than I thought." Jaune admitted, chewing on his lower lip.

Now that he mentioned it, the camp did look a lot emptier than when they headed out. "What happened here?" He wondered aloud.

He kept walking until Pyrrha's tent came into view. He swung off his horse with Weiss in tow, trudging up the hill and entering the tent on his own volition.

There Pyrrha stood with the three Commanders, all huddled closely over an expansive set of maps. The sound of the tent flap garnered their attention and they all looked up to see the newcomer.

"Jaune… It's good to see you." Pyrrha said abruptly before looking back to the plans.

'Classic Pyrrha, never much for emotions were you?' He said inside his mind as he joined the table, Weiss waiting at the entrance.

"So where are we now?" He said gruffly.

"We've been recently attacked and are still recovering from it, but our scouts say that the main force is less than four days away, even less if they push themselves to the extreme." Pyrrha stated, moving a piece representing a group of Beowulves closer.

"What is the remaining force of my group?"

"They went out to meet the surprise attack in a counter offensive to pincer them between two forces, but we took high casualties due to the unexpected amounts of Death Stalkers and Taijitsu's."

"Why are they sending out such heavy units with a surprise attack force? Surely it'd be tactically sound to keep those units with the main group, where they are the most effective." Jaune said, confused at the Grimm's movements. The girls were busy looking at the map as well but Jaune can tell they were busy thinking of plans.

"That's right, and that's why I am concerned over it. Of course we don't know the true number of the Grimm's main force so they could spare the forces, but still it was a tactical decision made by someone, and I want to know who or what they are." Pyrrha exasperated.

"Lemme guess… Scouting duty?" He sighed.

"Yes but you've had a rough couple of days by the look of it, give the job to your second in command and go get some rest. I have other things for you." Pyrrha looked back down at the map, signalling that she was done with him.

He gave a lazy salute and turned on his heel, exiting the tent to see a worried Weiss. "You're not going anywhere are you?" She murmured.

"No no… I've been ordered to stay and rest, she's got something else for me apparently." He said, shrugging and continuing to walk along.

"Is that it?" She murmured, her tone of voice making Jaune turn back to her.

"Is that it what?" He asked, confused.

"I get kidnapped, you get murdered, you come back to life and you save me, you barely talked to me on the trip here and all you can say to me is that you're going to have a rest?" She stated incredulously.

"Is there something I should've said or done?" He asked, genuinely confused.

"Argh you don't get it do you!? How do you think I feel? I'm alone too you know, and I don't have anyone here I can turn to!" She began shouting, making Jaune wince.

"Well it's not like you're not invited to my living quarters! Sorry if I pretty much died and came back to life and saved your hide! Playing the hero takes a lot out of the person!" He yelled back, turning around and taking a few steps, sighing as he heard a sob. She was right, he barely talked to her during the ride back so he could see how that looks. "Just… Just come with me, alright? We can talk there." He said softly.

She nodded and walked up to him, wrapping herself around his arm as they walked back to his tent. Mash let out a gruff and got up, waddling with them.

They entered his tent, him dropping his pack and unbuckling his armour and dropping it piecemeal on the floor, groaning as he collapsed onto his bed in his common clothing. "I feel like I want to die." He moaned while he turned over. "You okay?"

"No… not really." Weiss murmured.

"Well come here." He beckoned her over.

She thought for a bit before relenting and sitting on the bed with him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in closer, holding her close.

"Is this what you wanted?" He whispered.

She nodded slowly, her hands resting on his forearms. "You smell…"

"Well sorry for sweating." He mumbled.

"No no… It's fine… It comforts me." She whispered as she rubbed her head into his arm.

"Alright well… Whatever floats your boat." He sighed as he closed his eyes, falling asleep nearly immediately.

"That's so unfair." She murmured as she closed her eyes also, exhaustion overtaking her.

Sometime later

"You know, for a frigid bitch she does seem pretty cute when she sleeps." Aurora commented, playing with her hair as she watched the couple.

"Well they are both exhausted to the point that he looked like he was about to fall over. I think they both deserve a rest." Midnight reasoned as she too watched the pair.

"Do you think he likes her?" Cerise wondered aloud, joining in the two Peeping Toms.

"Wouldn't be out of the question, they do say that people who have gone through a lot together will naturally fall for each other." Midnight stated.

"Do we know what happened on that crazy trip of theirs? A two day holiday turned into a nearly weeklong escapade. You don't think they did it on purpose did they?" Aurora asked the Cat, who turned to her and shrugged.

"I don't think so, I think Jaune is too rigid and loyal to the army to intentionally increase his time of leave."

"Then what the hell happened? He looks like he's about to drop dead and she looks like the victim of a kidnapping!" Aurora wondered aloud.

"You know I can hear you three depraved women." Weiss said as she opened her eyes to stare at them all.

"Good to see you're awake Princess." Aurora teased.

"Not for much longer, go away." She grumbled as she snuggled up to Jaune even more. Partially because he was warm and partially because she knew it would make them jealous.

"Well sorry for messing with your beauty sleep." The blonde murmured, taking the bait.

"She's right, maybe we should let them sleep. Pyrrha doesn't have anything for them right now so let's just leave them alone." Cerise mumbled to the others.

They all looked at the couple before turning and exiting the tent, a gust of wind catching the flap as it fluttered back down.

"God can you believe her? One trip and she believe that she can hold all of his attention!" Aurora huffed, flames began licking at the end of her locks.

"Are you jealous of her?" Midnight teased, a deep shade of red appearing on the blonde's face.

"N-no! Why would you think that?" She spluttered

"Well why do you care how much time they are spending together?" Midnight teased again, enjoying playing this game of cat and mouse.

"W-well you know it could um… She could be using him! That's right!" Aurora reasoned rather poorly

"Didn't seem like it to me." Midnight quipped, making the blonde clench her fists.

"Well… go choke on a baguette…" She grumbled, crossing her arms and looking away.

"Come on guys, don't fight. We've had enough of that already, just look at this place!" Cerise shouted, and she was right. All around them there were tents that would never have occupants in them again. Groups of people having lost friends are huddled by small fires to keep themselves warm, the sentries on duty were robotic in their movements. No one wanted a similar attack to happen again.

"Sorry, I am just frustrated. You two were also worried to death about him, and now that he's here we can't talk to him! It just makes me angry!" Aurora shouted to no one in particular, causing Midnight to lay her hand on the boxer's arm to calm her down.

"Yes we are both frustrated, but I believe he does deserve this rest? I am sure that he will come to us to see us, then we can all talk to him. So just calm down, alright?" She cooed, soothing Aurora.

"Fuck, makes me want to take up smoking." Grumbled Aurora as she rubbed her forehead, attempting to soothe a headache that was forming.

"Wait, when did he get a bear?" Cerise asked, causing the duo to turn towards the big brown bear that was Mash who, upon being noticed, vocalised, and got up and wondered over, head butting Cerise.

"Awww he's actually really cute, such a big wet brown nose." She cooed and rubbed the bear's face, causing a few groans and moans to come from Mash's throat.

"Such soft and warm fur too." Aurora said happily as she hugged the bear tightly, nuzzling her face into that soft fur. "I want him to cuddle me all night long." She sighed.

Midnight looked at Mash in the eyes and saw something there, was it an intelligence? "Do you understand me?" She asked cautiously.

Mash cocked his head slightly and bobbed it up and down. Midnight didn't know how to take that, whether or not Mash could understand her, or he was just bobbing his head up and down. Finally she relented and joined the other two in petting the bear.

'Cheeky little shit, you can understand me can you?' Midnight thought as she stared into those eyes, seeing that spark of intelligence again.