Chapter 4: Testing the Waters

The flames devoured the earth, their red-hot tongues straining to pierce the skies above.

It had just been a small oversight, but a single careless miner was hall it had taken for a large mound of volatile fire Dust to destabilize, triggering a fatal chain reaction. Now, the entire operation was ablaze,with thick plumes of black smoke rising into the air.

Above ground, hordes of villagers stared in horror at the disaster unfolding below, many of them screaming out in terror for their loved ones. And in the skies, their grief and despair had attracted a horde of aerial Grimm - Griffons and Nevermores, led by the alpha of their pack, a large, armoured bird of prey known as a Thunderuk.

But hope was not yet lost; a Huntsman with flaming-red hair and dual Dust revolvers stood in their midst, frantically helping civilians evacuate while shooting at the descending Grimm. "Go, go, go!" He yelled at them, gesturing towards the nearby buildings. "Get to cover, we'll handle this!" He cursed as a Griffon swooped downward with reckless abandon, and he ducked to avoid it.

A scream caught his attention as he looked up, seeing that a young child had been caught up in the bird's claws. The Huntsman quickly fired an energy beam from his right gun, catching the Griffon's wing mid-air. The beast's captive screamed as he fell from its grip, falling toward the earth below.

Suddenly, a young woman came flying to his rescue, a pair of gray wings carrying her through the air as they retrieved the little boy. The Huntress, a tall, light-haired woman wielding a pale blue spear in her free hand, descended to the ground with the child over her shoulder. Breathing a sigh of relief, the Huntsman ran over to his companion.

"Winona!" he called out to the bird Faunus. "How are things looking down there?"

"Not good," Winona replied as she lowered the boy, who quickly ran into the arms of his sobbing mother. The Huntress swiftly pressed some buttons on her weapon's handle. "The fire shows no sign of dying down, and there are more miners down there. Take care of things on the ground, Flare - I'm going back in." Without another word, she soared into the air and plunged down into the mines below.

"Take care of things," Flare muttered under his breath, shooting another Griffon out of the sky. "Right, that'll be so simple." Glancing at his left revolver, he saw that it was running low on Dust energy.

Glancing up, he saw that a swarm of Griffons and a Nevermore had formed above the mine. Pressing a second trigger on his gun, Flare ejected the Dust crystal and launched it in their direction. The projectile detonated with all its remaining power, obliterating the Grimm in one fell swoop.

The Thunderuk had been circling the area for a while now, but with an ear-shattering screech it finally entered the fray, flying beak-first in Flare's direction. Cursing, he ran as fast as he could to lead it away from the civilians. Scrambling to replace the crystal in his revolver, he attempted to slow the avian's descent with gunfire.

As the giant bird approached the ground, Flare leapt on its back. Putting away one of his revolvers, he grabbed onto the beast's wing while pumping rounds of bullets into its armour, struggling to form a crack. As the Thunderuk returned to the skies, he held on for dear life, glancing sideways as he heard a low, mechanical whir.

He saw the spear soaring toward him, following the set path programmed by its owner. Spinning and curving as it flew, it repeatedly struck at the beast's head, wings and legs, finally causing it to lose its balance. The sudden shift in movement caused Flare to lose his grip, and for a moment he panicked.

Thankfully, Winona came to save him, flying at blinding speed with an unconscious miner over her shoulder. Her spear plunged into the Thunderuk's helmet, finally breaking off a piece of its armour. She grabbed Flare with her free hand as he fell, and carried them back down to the ground.

"Thanks," Flare panted, his heart still racing.

Up above, Winona's spear continued to fly unhindered, impaling Grimm left and right until only the alpha remained. Screeching, the Thunderuk flapped its wings to blow the weapon away. Tapping a bracelet on her arm, Winona called the spear back to her hand.

"How are we gonna take that thing down?" Flare yelled. "I could barely make a dent in it."

"I made a small hole in its armour," Winona replied, lowering the civilian onto the ground. The man made his way to a small area where all the rescued miners had gathered, anxiously comforting their loved ones. "The chink is barely five centimetres wide. From here, it'll take a small miracle to pierce it."

As it turned out, however, that miracle came only seconds later, in the form of an arrow whizzing above her head. As the two Huntsmen turned in surprise, it continued upward and flew straight toward the Thunderuk in the sky.

Before the beast could react, the projectile plunged cleanly into its head. It howled in pain and thrashed around in the air, flapping its massive wings to cause shockwaves that were felt at ground level. Freezing in mid-air with a final cry, the avian Grimm shuddered and fell backwards, its limp body plummeting gracelessly into the flames below.

After a moment, the villagers all cheered. Flare and Winona glanced at each other, and both of them smiled knowingly. "Heh," Flare chuckled. "Only one Huntsman I know who can make a crazy-ass shot like that!"

"I shouldn't be surprised, "Winona replied.

The two of them turned around, where a young man with a black hat and a silver-studded bow in hand stood. "My man!" Flare laughed, running over to his former schoolmate and exchanging an enthusiastic high-five. "You really know how to steal our thunder, eh?"

"Well, I try," Crowley Cloake replied with a large grin. "Anway - Flare! Winona! It's been a while, you two! Hope you haven't gone overboard with the booze, buddy. And Winona, you finally started talking to some people besides us?"

Winona said nothing, and though her face remained emotionless, her wings fidgeted happily at the sight of her old friend.

"You sure did some good work here." Crowley glanced at the wreckage of the mine and winced. "Yikes, that's even worse than at first glance. "Did you get everyone out?"

"All I could find," said Winona solemnly. "Had the mine been at full capacity during the explosion, things would be been much worse. But as for you, Crowley - why are you here? I know you don't show up anywhere without asking for something."

The archer chuckled. "You know me too well. Truth is, I've got an order from the big guy himself. The battle of a lifetime is right on the horizon, and I need help from guys I can trust - which includes you two."

"And what 'battle' is this?" Flare inquired. "I've got a party to go to tonight, man, so this better be something big."

"Mistral's about to be a hotspot - in just a couple months, in fact," Crowley replied. "And with old Ozpin getting desperate, it's up to me and the others to even the odds a bit. And you're both invited."

Winona sighed, glancing at him with a disdainful frown. "That's just like you. Do you think you can just show up without warning after a whole year, and ask us to join you on some life-threatening mission?"

"I certainly do," Crowley grinned. "Alright, guys. Once you're done cleaning this place up, pack your things and come with me - we're going hunting!"

"...This is your first time visiting our fine institution, I think," said Carnelia Stein, after taking a hearty chug of her wine. "I hope you're making yourself at home here, Qrow."

"Y-yeah," Qrow muttered, drumming his fingers on the table in front of him. Sitting beside him, Professor Ozpin simply smiled at his colleague and sipped his usual cup of coffee. "You always did know how to make your guests feel welcome. Of your many talents, that might just be your best."

Qrow supposed he had to agree. Haven Academy was indeed a hospitable place. Everything from the architecture, to the lush gardens and scenic views, even just the pleasant scent of mahogany one would get from opening its majestic doors and entering within - if he didn't know better, he'd have thought it was some expensive resort hotel rather than a school to train warriors.

That being said.…

"Isn't this a little...overkill?" asked Qrow nervously, glancing around at the grand table that had been laid out in front of them.

The entire affair, stretching out to almost the entire length of the academy's Great Hall, was draped in rich velvet sheets and decorated with scented candles. All along the table were plates of fat, roast pigs, golden cobs of corn, a fully-stuffed cornucopia, and countless other delectable dishes, their scents mixing to create a truly mouth-watering aroma. And in the centre lay a rack of bottles upon bottles of finely aged wine, some of which dated as far back as the Dark Ages.

"I-I'm just saying," he added hastily, seeing Carnelia gaze up at him in surprise. "There's only the three of us." As the headmistress was sitting at the front seat of the table, about ten metres away, Qrow had to raise his voice to ensure she could hear him.

"Nonsense," Carnelia replied, looking genuinely taken aback as she cut open a juicy rare steak with her silver-plated knife. "When I have guests over, I consider it my priority to treat them with the finest of hospitality. Or is my chef's cooking not up to your standards, Qrow Branwen?"

Ozpin sighed. "That's quite enough of your teasing, Carnelia. I assure you, your taste in cuisine is as sublime as it has always been." He popped a small piece of meat into his mouth. "Now then, while we savour this wonderful duck fat and scrumptious tofu brisket, why don't you inform us on the situation in Mistral?"

"Well, there's not much you don't already know, Ozpin. Those damn Branwens - ah, not including you, Qrow - have been increasingly active for months now. Worse, a pair of known Salem associates have been seen negotiating with them." Scowling, the headmistress allowed herself a smoke before continuing. "Clearly, they're planning for something big - and thankfully, bandits are always predictable. Though, even if we know a big battle is coming, the Branwen tribe aren't to be taken lightly."

"Indeed," said Ozpin grimly. "As Qrow has kindly informed us, their chief Thoron is a tremendous force to be reckoned with. No doubt the tribe has been holding back all this time...and now that they're planning to fight for more than simply survival in the wild, we will have quite the battle on our hands. And if that battle will be fought on Mistralian soil...we'll need your help, Carnelia."

"Of course, of course." Carnelia waved nonchalantly at Ozpin as she cleaned off her plate. "First and foremost, we need to ensure that the Relic of Haven remains secure - that's what they'll be after, naturally." She turned towards Qrow. "You're up to speed on that, aren't you?"

Qrow nodded. "I know the basics. At least, Summer and Tai filled me in on most of it."

"Hmph. I suppose that'll have to do. It's good that you're here, Qrow - with Samson dead and Leo compromised, we're in desperate need of more enforcers here in Mistral. Especially with classes now in session…" The headmistress sighed, and waved her arm in the air. A maid immediately came over with a plate of seafood fondue and another bottle of wine.

"We might know what the Branwen tribe is capable of, but we still need to know them. We don't know if they'll risk attacking the academy with so many Huntsmen on guard, or if those savages have enough integrity to wait for summer break. Knowing the timing of their attack could be everything - and that's what we need you for."

"...Yeah. I figured it would be something like that." Qrow felt queasy. He knew that accepting this mission would have been walking into the lion's den - and he wasn't sure how much of that was proverbial. But more than the very real threat of being torn apart by vicious bandits, Qrow was terrified of the idea of seeing his old 'family' again. His few memories of the them weren't exactly shines and rainbows, but the tribe was still a part of his life, and that was something he could never change.

But now, he would have to confront it. And this wasn't the sort of adversary he could simply hack away at with Reaper's Gambit, and running away was out of the question. Was he really up to the task?

"The main camp is located in the ruins of an old village," Carnelia continued. "Wouldn't surprise me if the bandits took it over after pillaging it. In any case, it's not particularly hard to keep tabs on the area, since it's quite close to Ghibli Forest - Phoebe's homeland." She was interrupted by a call on her Scroll. "Ah. Speaking of the devil…"

She placed the device in a small compartment on the table's side. With a low whir, a large oil canvas on the wall depicting an intricately detailed map of Remnant began to shake, eventually splitting into four small paintings of each of the Kingdoms, revealing a massive television screen in the centre.

...Yep, thought Qrow. Definitely overkill.

"...Ozpin. And Madame Stein - it is good to see you again." Phoebe Wanejaw's face appeared on the screen, clad in an industrial white outfit marked with a blue symbol, depicting the head of a wolf. "Ah, and Mr. Branwen, as well. I apologize if I have interrupted anything."

"Not at all," replied Ozpin, though his kindly smile had disappeared from his visage. "Though if you're contacting us, should we assume that something has happened over in Menagerie?"

The wolf Faunus hesitated, before shaking her head. "No, there is nothing particularly urgent. However, I do have a message to report. It appears that the White Fang is planning to send some of their missionaries to Mistral as early as next week, in order to negotiate with the staff of Haven Academy. It is likely harmless…"

"...But it's unusual behaviour for them," Carnelia finished. "I find it hard to believe those mutts would get off their asses and take action, unless they were certain they could gain something from it. But I'll deal with them when they come - in the meantime, do you have any updates on the Branwen tribe?"

"There is nothing new to report," Phoebe replied, "However…" Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she paused for a about a minute before reopening them and continuing. "The bandits appear to getting closer to the forest with each day. It seems they are continuing to expand their territory. And…"

She hesitated, turning to Qrow. "I have caught a glance or two of their chief. A behemoth of an individual, more Grimm than man. Hair the colour of midnight, and eyes red as the scarlet moon of legend - the traits of Branwen blood. Qrow, I am sure you already know what you - what we will be up against."

"Yeah, well, I've made my choice - might as well see this through," Qrow muttered. As a thought suddenly occurred to him, he frowned at the wolf Faunus. "Wait a sec, you're in Menagerie. How can you see what's going on halfway across the planet?"

Phoebe smiled, a wistful look coming over her face. "The Ghibli Forest is my domain - the place where I was born and nurtured. It is a part of myself - and as such, that is the form my Semblance has chosen to take. No matter where I am, that territory, and all things in it, are my eyes, my ears, and my weapons. Sadly, its reach ends at the forest's border, though I can still perceive some things if they are close enough.."

That's a pretty specific Semblance, Qrow thought. Still, at this point he was willing to take whatever he could get.

"As you can imagine, Phoebe has been quite the asset to us since she joined," Ozpin chimed in. "Her homeland is called the 'Forest of the Devil's Whisper' for good reason, after all. And even without her Semblance, her strength as a warrior is unparalleled."

The wolf Faunus bowed. "You humble me, professor. But regardless, I have delivered my message, so I must return to my post. I will continue my duty as a spy until I have further activity to report - be it from the White Fang or the Branwens." She nodded at Qrow. "May all our work bear fruit." With that, the screen shut off.

"...Unparalleled, you say," Carnelia grumbled, now popping a glazed cherry into her mouth. "I suppose so, but she could have been stronger still if she'd had the privilege of attending a Huntsman school. Preferably Haven, but I suppose I'm biased."

Ozpin chuckled. "I'm afraid that path was not the one she was meant to take. Still, it's fortuitous that young Crowley found her when he did, or else we might in a entirely different position today."

That caught Qrow's attention. "Crowley?" he inquired. "You mean Crowley Cloake - that guy with the bow and arrow?"

"Of course." It was not Ozpin who answered him but Carnelia, finishing off her fifth bottle of the meal. Shockingly, her face had not turned the slightest shade of red. "He is one of the finest alumni Haven has produced in my time. Shortly after graduating, he ran into Phoebe during...well, during a mission, and I convinced him to bring her into our order."

"...Oh. To be honest, I didn't think he was that good," Qrow muttered, though in hindsight it made sense. The guy was part of an ancient, top-secret order dedicated to protecting Remnant from the most vile evil ever to befall the world. It would be more surprising if Crowley weren't 'that good'.

Still, he couldn't help but notice the momentary scowl on the headmistress' face as she had uttered the word 'mission'. What's that all about?

"Now that was an interesting four years," Carnelia went on, continuing to reminiscence of times long past. "Team CHRN - Crowley Cloake, Winona Highlander, Miriam Risotto, and Flare Nebula. They were a fine team, no question about it. Gave me several migraines and possibly an aneurysm once, but there was no one quite like them."

"But now, more than ever, we need warriors who are like them," Ozpin added. "Now, and in the future. I had hoped that Team STRQ would be those warriors, and so far I have not been disappointed. But the day is coming when they will truly have to prove themselves."

No pressure, Qrow thought sarcastically. Just the fate of the entire world at stake here.

"I certainly hope they will," said Carnelia. She got up from her seat and began pacing around the room, hand on her chin. "In the meantime I'll have all the Huntsmen and Huntresses I can trust raise their guard around the academy. It's important to be prepared to anything, at anytime, after all. Once I have that done, Qrow will head to the Branwen camp to perform the negotiation, accompanied by another member of our order - just to be safe."

"We will certainly need to take precautions," Ozpin agreed. "But thank you very much for having us, Carnelia. If you need us, or some new development occurs, I will return as quickly as I can." With an aura of finality, the professor stood up and motioned to Qrow. "Come then, Qrow. While you're in Mistral, you'll need an abode of your own. I will escort you there."

Nodding, Qrow followed him to the Great Hall's doors, wincing at how heavy his stomach was from all the food. "Thanks for all that," he called out before he left. "Oh yeah. Professor Stein, sorry for asking, but - where'd you get that crazy alcohol tolerance from?"

The headmistress frowned. "I exercise," she said simply. "Perhaps you should work out more."

Slightly embarrassed, and realizing he probably shouldn't have asked such a stupid question to one of the most powerful people in the world, Qrow made his way out of the Great Hall.

As Qrow exited through the grand doors, Ozpin turned his head back, a solemn frown on his face. "This may not work the way we want it to," he said quietly.

"Hmph. Tell me something I don't already know." The headmistress scowled, reaching into her pocket for another cigar. "Though even if negotiations fail, and we have to go to war after all...we still have one last hope. Atlas is just about finished with the 'secret weapon', and your approval will be all we need to use it."

The headmaster of Beacon shook his head slowly. "Foolish as it may be...I still hope it will never come to that." With that, he left the hall without another word.

Tensions were high from the start.

As the train roared down the railway, churning toward its destination, Tai fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat. Outside the window, he saw rows of lush green forests passing in and out of his view, with the main city barely visible in the distance. A cool breeze brushed against his face, and he could smell a faint aroma from the local flora.

Other than the grinding of the train against the tracks, there was no sound to entertain the Huntsman's ears. They had purchased tickets for an early train, in a carriage with no other passengers to disturb them. Though Tai appreciated the relative silence, it also meant the tension in the air was enough to make him choke.

His neck was hurting; he'd been staring out the window for basically the entire trip, not once moving his head. But Tai was willing to endure it. After all, right beside him sat a notorious criminal and murderer, who was a full head above him, and had muscular arms that could probably rip an Ursa Major in half.

"So," Tai said, hoping his voice sounded courteous enough. "You really are Rae and Birdy's cousin, huh?"

"...That is correct." Fenrir did not turn to face him (which was perfectly fine with Tai), but simply gave a curt nod to Raven, who sat to his right. The dark Huntress simply stared forward, arms crossed, not saying a single word. "Luka Branwen is my father by birth, and Ragna is my brother. However, the great tribe those two attempted to desecrate will always be my only family."

"You seem to know my uncle far better than Qrow and I do," said Raven, speaking up for the first time since they'd boarded the train. "About his motivations, about you and Ragna...and why he tried to destroy the tribe. You said Luka seeks to change the world. What does that even mean?"

Fenrir sighed, and for a single moment Tai had the strange sensation that the giant had shrunk a bit - not in size, but in the sense that in one second his presence, his very existence seemed to have vanished into insignificance. "Luka knew - or rather, he learned - an important secret about this world. I do not know how he came across it, or when, but Ragna told me that he was never the same since. And it was around then that he became fully obsessed with decoding the many truths of Remnant.

"Part of that truth I'm fairly sure you know by now. About Ozpin, and his Huntsmen's eternal war against Salem, a being of pure malice. But Luka was able to burrow deeper into this secret side of history, and he discovered something earth-shattering - a secret that could affect all of Remnant, forever."

"...And what secret would that be?" Raven's gaze was fixated on her cousin now.

"That, I do not know," Fenrir admitted. "Luka and Ragna have not enlightened me with the specifics of their knowledge. They do not trust me - and for that, they are wise. My father did let slip one possible clue, in a conversation I happened to overhear. He said to my brother, 'Eden holds the key'."

Eden. Tai frowned at that word, a vague memory being jogged in the back of his head. "That word...it's familiar," he muttered. "Wait, I remember! We heard it from Luka himself, during that trip to the ruins! It's like, the name of some ancient kingdom, right?"

"An ancient civilization said to have been blessed by the Two Brothers themselves," Raven muttered, her head lowered as if deep in thought. "Gaining gifts that the rest of humanity could not even comprehend. They were supposed to be a myth, but Uncle did seem convinced it might have existed."

"So Luka's interested in this 'Eden', huh? Maybe he wants to find it and steal its treasures or something," Tai suggested weakly, though he had no confidence in any of his guesses. And he still didn't trust a word that Fenrir was saying - even if Raven did.

The giant simply shrugged his mountainous shoulders. "Believe whatever you want. I am simply telling you what I know. And while I can tell you no more of this matter, I do know more of one other thing - something very dear to you, Raven." He turned to his cousin. "You want to know why Luka sought to destroy the Branwens? I can tell you."

Raven immediately tensed. That had certainly caught her attention. She said nothing, but gave a curt nod to signify that she was listening.

"Simply put, he despises us," Fenrir continued. "The Branwens embody everything that he considers foul and disgusting in the world. He loathes us, because we maintain the traditions of our people. He resents us, because we possess strength that he was never given. And he hates your father most of all.

He sighed, flashing a weary smile at Raven. "More than anything, Luka must have believed that crushing his brother's tribe - or rather, make it destroy itself - would pain him more than a thousand battle scars. The chief values his tribe - his family - greatly...as do I, of course."

A moment of silence, that felt like an hour to Tai, passed. Before either of them could reply, the train speakers blared to life. Next stop: Mistral Central Station, came the soothing pre-recorded voice over the machine. This is our final destination, so all remaining passengers will be getting off. Be sure you have all belongings on you before leaving.

"Ah, but it seems the rest can wait," Fenrir murmured. "I am sure your father will be able to tell you more than I ever could. After all these years, no doubt he will gladly answer any questions his long-lost daughter might have for him."

Hearing the giant's words, Tai felt an uncomfortable sensation in his gut. Fenrir's words seemed to hold no malicious intent - at least for the moment - and yet shivers seemed to go down his back every time he spoke. He glanced at Raven, but the dark Huntress' expression was unreadable.

After what seemed like an eternity, the train arrived at the station. Thank you for travelling with us, came the soothing voice. We hope to see you again soon. "You too," Tai muttered weakly as the three of them exited the vehicle. Despite everything, there was a slight tinge of happiness in his heart at the thought of visiting the famously beautiful Kingdom of Mistral.

Unfortunately, Fenrir was giving them no chance of taking in the sights and attractions, as the moment they were off the train he had them follow him out of the city, and into the nearby forests.

As they walked, Tai silently channeled some Dust into his arms, just to be safe. Out here, they were alone, just the two of them with a notorious murderer who could probably rip him in half with his bare hands. He was a full-fledged Huntsman now - he had to be ready for battle at all times.

Eventually, Fenrir stopped. "We should be close enough now." He turned to Raven, holding out his hand. "Your blade...may I have it for a moment?" Quietly, the Huntress handed over the crimson katana.

Tai audibly gulped as he saw the giant hold the sword in his hands, as a gleam of sunlight radiated off its edge and momentarily blinded him. His heart raced as Fenrir raised the katana, but thankfully all he did was swing it at the air, generating the swirling red vortex. "This portal should take us right to their front gate," he explained, handing the sword back to his cousin.

"And as for you…" Fenrir turned to Tai with a leering expression. "I know you agreed to this, but one more time, I will give you a chance to leave. I can tell you are someone who has been fairly sheltered their whole life. You are used to things being easy for you. Our family does not take kindly to people like you - and I assure you, this is a family matter."

Fear rushed through Tai's body, but he would not give Fenrir the satisfaction of knowing he was afraid of him. "If it's Raven's business," he retorted. "Then it's my business too. That's all there is to it."

"...Very well." The giant nodded gravely. "Then may the gods help you, Huntsmen." With that, he walked into the portal, and Tai and Raven followed after him.

When they emerged, the three of them were in front of a tall gate, made of crudely-carved wooden stakes and torches. Some had rotting skulls mounted on them just for an extra shade of creepy. A young man clad in black and red was standing watch, and jumped as the new arrivals appeared from the vortex.

"What the hell?" He growled. "Where did you come from? What-" The guard's eyes widened. "Wait a damn minute. You're Fenrir, aren't you?"

"I am," Fenrir replied calmly. "It is very good to see you again, Canary."

"The feeling is NOT mutual!" The guard, Canary, spat at the ground in disgust. "You shouldn't have come back here, Fenrir - the chief cut all ties with you when you failed to bring back the new recruits like you promised! He said to kill you on sight if you ever returned, you know!"

The giant's expression twisted itself into what could have been a smile. "Very well, then. Try."

"...U-uh..." Canary gulped, his bravado falling apart immediately. "W-w-well, um, there's the whole army back there, a-a-and if you try and threaten me again, I-I-I'll…" His yelling had caught the attention of several other tribesmen, who had come over to check out the sudden commotion.

"I never threatened you a first time," Fenrir said, exasperated. "All I want is an audience with the chief. I have something - someone he would like to meet."

Canary scowled, his eyes not meeting the giant's gaze. "Y-yeah, like that's gonna happen. And what exactly do you have to offer him anyway, huh? ...Wait." He shifted his view to where Raven and Tai stood behind Fenrir.. "Who are these two? And that girl...she looks like-"

"What's going on here?" An unfamiliar voice interrupted him. At the sound of it, all the tribesmen immediately tensed up and stepped to the side, leaving a path open for a single man to approach the trio. "Ch-chief!" Canary stammered, saluting as he walked by.

If Fenrir was a giant, then this other person was a veritable colossus - the type only ever seen in myths... or perhaps in nightmares. Every trace of his massive body radiated unmatchable power, and his very presence seemed to give off a suffocating aura, that made Tai realize he was literally shaking in his boots. The man was handsome, but in an otherworldly, almost terrifying way. And though, if one were to muster enough courage to look him in the eyes, his face had several noticeable wrinkles, he could have been decades, centuries, or eons old and it wouldn't have mattered.

And finally...the man had long black hair and crimson-red eyes. The same as Qrow, Raven, and the other Branwens. This guy is...Tai thought nervously. He's not human…

"Fenrir," the chief growled. He frowned, though not angrily. "I thought I'd made my statement perfectly clear. You were to never come back, and now not only do you return, but you come with guests? I-" His eyes widened as he saw Raven. "It...this can't be…"

Fenrir smiled, and bowed before the man. "Chief Thoron. I apologize, once again, for my previous failure. Though I know I will never truly make up for it, I make you this offering as a form of repentance. I have returned your child to you."

Hesitantly, Raven stepped forward. "...Father…" she murmured.

"...My dearest little girl - my Rae." Thoron Branwen smiled warmly. "Welcome home."