Part 4 - Cookies & Grimm

Qrow stretched his arms widely as he took in a large breath of outdoors air.

"You ready for this kid?"

The other nodded her head, a determined look glowing in her silver eyes. A look he recognized all too well.

"Aright then," He dropped a hand down to his sword and lifted it from its holster. With a 'vroom' it came to life, doubling in length to take its sword transformation. He lifted the weapon in a single handed guard stance, and then, with a cocky smile, rested his right arm behind his back.

Ruby noticed the gesture. She would be grateful that he was going to spare with her at minus his dominant arm, but still. She wanted this to be a more challenging first fight.

Ruby mimicked her uncle's movements. She dropped a hand down to her weapon that rested in its holster around the small of her back. She easily found the ignition switch and flipped it as she whorled the weapon around to the front. Its transformation was swift and smooth, thanks to some help from her opponent. The weapon more than tripled in length before forming a scythe's head at the end of a long staff.

Finally, Ruby thought, this was a scythe!

"We'll show him," She whispered mostly to herself. She held the weapon tightly in both hands, pulling the head of it back to prepare for a lunging strike.

"Hmm," Qrow grinned. "Taking the first move? Gutsy."

"Yeah," She returned the grin. "It's what you would've done right?"

She had a point. "Come on then. If you're going to-"

Faster than one could snap their fingers, Ruby closed the distance between them to put Qrow perfectly within Crescent Rose's reach.

Fast! Qrow barely had time to tilt his blade at the right angle to block the speed-augmented blow. The familiar sound of metal on metal clanged across the hills, sending a vibration down his arm.

Ruby disengaged and used her weapon's superior reach to send a flurry of swings at Qrow.

He dodged and parried with ease, as they weren't coming at him like bullet trains like the one from before. He took note that Ruby's semblance isn't so easily applied to smaller movement such as weapon swings. At least, not yet they aren't.

"I gotta say kid," Qrow commented as he beat back scythe swings. "That surprised me a little."

"Thanks!" She replied cheerfully, between huffs of breath. "I call it the 'Rose Bullet.' Neat huh?"

"Naming your moves?" Qrow chuckled. "I remember doing that when I was your age. Although, mine were waaaaay cooler than yours."

"Oh yeah?" She remarked, beads of sweat already forming on her forehead. "Show me!"

She swept low to try to catch him by the ankles. Qrow saw through her move before she could even make it, he leapt up and jumped off her weapons blade as if it were a spring board. He summersaulted midair and then landed behind his opponent.

"I remember calling this one," He raised his sword high and let a surge of aura flow into it. The blade glimmered with a thin veil of energy. "Sonic Scream!" A narrow, bright wave of compressed air and energy rolled of the blade and hurtled towards Ruby.

"Whoa!" She jumped left to avoid it, even though Qrow had aimed it off center to help her avoid it better. She hit the grass with a thud and the 'sonic scream' cut right through the ground, leaving behind a faint trail of displaced earth and grass.

"Neat, huh?" Qrow rested his weapon on his left shoulder. "When your father and I fought as youngsters, that move always gave him the most trouble."

Ruby leapt the guess and got back to her fighting stance. "That was awesome! You gotta teach me the Sonic Scream sometime!"

Now she's going to keep calling it that now. Qrow sighed. Well she is just a kid. Let her have fun.

"Maybe," Qrow said. "But a better question is, are ya good enough to learn it?"

"Am I?" Ruby cocked her weapon, putting a live round into its newly designed chamber. "Watch this!"

She aimed the gun barrel behind her and fired, using the recoil to boost herself forward, on top of a semblance speed boast. She was twice as fast now!

"Oh sh-oot!" Qrow almost said something else there. He had no choice but to take it head on, no time to dodge.

He used his blade to shield himself from his niece's violent upswing, feeling a great deal of pressure on his wrist.

Ruby on the other hand didn't fare so well as she lost her balance after making contact and her footing. She tumbled backwards, lost her grip on Crescent Rose, and landed on her back a few meters away.

"Oh no," Qrow breathed. The kid's too strong for her own good, he thought. He rushed over to kneel down at her side. "Easy their kid, don't go digging that grave just yet."

Ruby was seeing stars and corgis dancing around her head. "Soooooo fast…" She said with swirls in her eyes.

Qrow breathed a sigh of relief. "So what would you call that one? 'Rose Suicide' or how about 'Never-Doing-That-Again'?"

"Uhhhh," Ruby shook off the stars and corgis. "I figured it would surprise you enough for me to get a good hit on you." Qrow helped her sit up. "Maybe I mixed in too much dust into the ammo,"

"Maybe," Qrow said as he brushed blades of grass off of her head. "Using the recoil on top of your semblance is pretty smart. And dangerous. If you live long enough, we can try working on it together."

"Really?" Ruby squeaked. "You mean it?"

Qrow shrugged. "Sure, just so I can make sure you don't do anything stupid while I'm gone."

Ruby smiled for a moment but Qrow picked up on a hint of sadness. His mentioning of him being gone reminded her that all of this wasn't going to last forever.

"Anyways," Qrow desperately tried to change the subject. "Let's take a break. You're pretty strong for a kid, but you blew all your stamina on those few swings. It's something you gotta build up as you grow."

"Right, gotta work on that." She said, still a little dazed, but with a raised thumb for assurance.

With the help of her uncle, Ruby picked herself up and went up to the house, where her father had been watching from the front porch.

Taiyang let his daughter go inside without a word, noting the hint of gloom in her eyes. Qrow followed soon after, stopping at the porch.

Taiyang sighed. "You know, when Yang was that age, her kite got stuck in a tree. It made her so upset that she knocked the whole tree down with a single hit." A small smile appeared. "That's when I knew I needed to start training her to be a huntress."

"Sounds about right," Qrow remarked as he fished out his flask from his pocket. "And now the other's faster than an actual bullet. You're going to have your hands full with the two of them."

Taiyang nodded in agreement. "Yeah, about that…"

Qrow stopped mid gulp. "About what?" He asked suspiciously.

Taiyang scratched the back of his head. "Look Qrow, you can see how much Ruby likes having you around. This past week you've help her build her first weapon, showed her how to use it some, and-"

Taiyang stopped when Qrow shot him a sharp look. He put up a hand to quell the other. "All I'm getting at is, you should consider doing some more training with her."

Qrow breathed in deeply and sighed. "You know why that's a bad idea."

"I don't actually," Taiyang retorted. "You'd be a perfect teacher for her. I mean, what do I know about scythes?"

"Huh, yeah, what do you know about anything?" Qrow snarled.

The tone shift was as palpable as the change in wind. Taiyang furrowed his brow. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Qrow finished a large sip before continuing. "If you were in on it, Ozpin would tell you. He'd tell you all about what's really out there, beyond the reach of most huntsmen. I know I may sound overdramatic in saying this, but I need to go back."

"But if Ozpin were to-"

"Taiyang!" Qrow glared. "I've held up my end of the deal, you'd best do the same."

The sudden urge to bury his fist into the others face nearly overwhelmed Taiyang, but he let calm emotions prevail.

"Alright," Taiyang finally said. "At least, just give the girls one more night. It'll make them happy to have dinner together before you head out."

Qrow nodded. "That's fair, but by the next morning, I need to get going."

"Fine then, if that's the case, I best be getting everything ready for tonight." He turned to go inside but stopped suddenly at the door. "Oh, that's right…"

Qrow cocked a brow. "Forget something?"

"Yeah…" Taiyang pinched the bridge of his nose. "I was supposed to clear out some Grimm that have popped up in the Ash Woods recently. I've been putting it off so I could spend time here with you and the girls."

"Hmm, not a good idea to leave that alone for long." Qrow commented. "Ash Woods huh, it's been awhile since I've hunted there."

"You mean…?"

"Yeah, I'll have the place cleared out before I take off here." Qrow was quick to say, as he turned towards the road.

"Wait, Qrow." Taiyang said with a raised hand.

Qrow waved behind him as he walked away. "I'll be back before dinner, I promise." He looked over his shoulder and gave him a confident smile. "Unlike you school teacher folk, I do this sort of thing all the time."

Taiyang sighed in defeat. It was already the beginning of the end, as he could see Qrow was already falling back to his usual pace in life.

The Ash Woods were appropriately named so for all of the dead, burnt up trees that stood silently still like gravestones for miles. Long ago in Patch's history, a swarm of Grimm gathering in the forest threatened to kill off the early settlers, and in their desperation, had set fire to the entire forest. The Grimm that survived the blaze would later be cut down by Huntsmen from the then newly formed Beacon Academy. Since then though, the forest had never grown back, and no one has ever dared to enter it without caution. Grimm still had a tendency to show up every now and then, leaving it to the local Huntsmen who taught at Signal Academy to occasionally thin the herd.

Qrow has many memories of the forest. He and his sister would always run off and play in the graveyard of a forest. None of the stories or Grimm scared them. They were definitely an eccentric couple of kids.

How times have changed though…

Qrow took a sip from his flask and let the liquid snap him back to attention. This may be small-fry work but he shouldn't to get caught up in his past when dealing with Grimm.

He was well within the forest and yet no Grimm in sight. Odd, though, they usually gather together in certain areas, Qrow knew. Perhaps, he wondered, he would have to get to the heart of the Ash Woods. Thought would actually put him close to where Yang and Ruby had once gone…

The sound of a snapping twig quickly brought him back to attention. Looks like he wouldn't have to go that far after all.

The sound came from his six o'clock direction. He spun around and pulled out his weapon in one fluid motion.

"Come on out, I ain't going to hurt ya much." With the turning of gears, he flipped the sword into its gun form, aiming the barrels at the cluster of dead trees he heard the noise originate from.

"Eep!"

'Eep'? Grimm don't go 'eep'. Qrow thought. But then suddenly he realized what does go 'eep' when they have a gun pointed at them. Teenage girls.

"Ruby!" Qrow called out. "Did you seriously follow me out here?"

A little red hood popped out from behind one of the trees. "Umm, maybe?" She said nervously as she pressed her index fingers together.

Qrow put a hand over his face and groaned. "Tai is going to punch me dead."

He put his weapon away and walked up to Ruby, who stood like a statue with her hood pulled over her head. Qrow reached out and pulled back the other's hood to see her face.

What he saw was an innocent expression filled with nervousness and worry, but not a hint of fear.

"What are you doing here, kid?" Qrow asked as he looked down at his niece.

Ruby continued her stone statue impression for a few more moments before finally cracking. She closed the small gap between them with a strong hug and buried her face in his torso.

"I just wanted to spend more time with you…"

Someone must've shot him in the heart while he wasn't looking, otherwise it was that one little line that shook him to his core.

"Look, Ruby," He began, giving her time to look up to meet his eyes. "I wasn't going to just take off without saying goodbye."

"But you are leaving though," Ruby said, water starting to build up in the corners of her eyes. "I heard you and dad talking."

Qrow needed a double shot of pure alcohol fast. "It's just... I..." Words were of no use. How could he ever put it into terms his little niece could understand. If Taiyang wasn't hard enough to talk straight with, Ruby was just near impossible. How could he ever say something like, sorry kid, that's just how it is.

After moments of standing there, letting his niece softly cry into him, he finally found the courage to speak up.

"Hey, Ruby,"

"Yeah Uncle Qrow," She said with a small sniffle and a little red on her cheeks.

"Why do you want to be a huntress?"

Ruby didn't expect any sort of question like that. It took her only a moment though, despite her current state, to formulate an answer.

"I want to help people," She said honesty stronger than steel. "If there's a difference I could make in other people's lives by being a huntress, I'll put my life on the line to make it happen."

Qrow blinked a few times. "That's probably one of the best reasons for being a huntsman I've ever heard." He patted her head. "You wanna know why I became a huntsman though?"

She nodded a reply.

"To protect those around me, the people I can't live without." He sighed, a painful agony in his voice. "In the end though, that didn't keep some those people from... going..." Make that a triple shot now with extra everything in it.

"Someone's got to be out there, ready and waiting for what pops up next." Qrow continued. "That someone is often myself. But just know that I'm always thinking of you girls."

For once, Qrow decided to finally complete the hug between him and Ruby. The smaller one only squeezed tighter.

"Hey Uncle Qrow," Ruby began, her voice muffled from inside his chest.

They finally parted and Qrow could now see a new look come across Ruby's face. A look of determination.

"When I become a huntress, can I come with you on your missions?"

Ten tons of something hit Qrow square on the head. "Huh? I don't know kid," He hesitated for a moment. "You wouldn't like the sort things I'm caught up in." Deflect and dodge Qrow, deflect and dodge! There was no way he'd get his niece involved in his work with Ozpin.

"Yeah, well," She pulled her hands behind her back in a sweet and innocent posture. "That way you wouldn't be as lonely out there."

Deflect and... Oh dust. "Maybe kid," He finally said, after holding his breath for as long as he could withstand. "Just... grow up some first okay? You don't need to worry about that sort thing just yet."

"But I do worry about it, and you too." She protested.

"I said you don't have to worry about it," Qrow softly repeated. "Just focus on being a kid and growing up, there will be plenty of time to save the world together afterwards."

Fast both in body and in life. Qrow cracked a smile. "One thing you should be worrying about right now is if your dad finds out where you ran off to." He added.

"Oh, yeah... that would be a problem." Ruby gulped. "Well, it's a good thing I was able to sneak out faster than anyone could see... I guess." Suddenly Ruby began to think of all of the possible punishments her dad could bestow upon her if she gets caught. The worst possibility of all being he puts a lock on the cookie jar and throws away the key! Not the cookies!

Qrow blinked and wondered what was racing through that head of hers that made her face go so pale all of the sudden.

"Alright then," He motioned for her to follow him. "Let's get you home, there aren't any Grimm around these parts for me to slay anyhow."

"Awww," Ruby protested, but followed nonetheless. "I had Crescent Rose loaded up and everything too. You sure we can't stay and find one Grimm for me to test her on?"

Qrow had a good chuckle from that. "Geez, already thinking of your first kill? Slow down a little, before you get in way over your..."

Qrow's words left him as he came to a dead stop.

"Yeah, I know." Ruby went on, not noticing the pause. "It's just-"

Qrow reached out and clamped a hand on Ruby's shoulder, stopping her also. Before she could give a question, Qrow raised a hand and made a 'quiet' gesture by pressing his index finger against his lips.

The air was uncomfortably still as Qrow's sense picked up on something that brewed around them. Something that his decades of experience was all too familiar with. Bloodlust.

"Ruby," Qrow said very lowly, not moving an inch. "Do not be afraid. I promise, everything will be alright."

Ruby nodded slowly, a brave face shown but still a small hint of worry. Whether it was worry for himself of her, Qrow couldn't tell. But now wasn't the time to think about that, or think about anything at all. It was time for his battle instincts to finally kick in.

With a steady hand, he reached for his weapon's hilt, and released the trigger on it.

The sudden 'vroom' shattered the silence, and was swiftly followed by a thunderous roar from behind.

He spun, as fast as he could, and blasted a Beowolf directly in its snout before it could finish its leap towards the pair. He kept one arm across Ruby to shield her from any possible harm. The creature of Grimm was dead before it ate the dirt, coming to a stop just paces away from their feet.

But that was hardly the start of them. The rest of the pack, hidden well and surrounding them, began to howl viciously, as if to signal the end of their pack mate, or the humans that stood before them.

Normally he'd top off with a drink before continuing, but with Ruby at his side, he felt he'd need every ounce of sober he could muster, and throw it all right at the beast who dared to try to lay a claw on his precious niece.

"Stay close Ruby," Qrow felt a flare light up in his left eye, the same usual feeling he gets whenever he took a fight as seriously as he possibly could. He initiated his sword to transform one more time, taking its deadliest form as the scythe he's used to kill thousands of Grimm over his career.

Ruby watched as Qrow stood between her and the Beowolves that slowly approached from the trees around them. In that moment, as she saw Qrow ready to fight with everything he had to protect her, she felt a similar feeling come over her.

She turned, lining her back against Qrow's, and grabbed the handle of Crescent Rose. She willed the weapon to transform and take a scythe form that was very much like Qrow's weapon. With a twirl, she held the weapon at the ready, not an ounce of fear left within herself.

"Ruby, don't!" Qrow exclaimed over his shoulder. "Let me handle this."

"I'll watch your back and you can watch mine," She looked back towards him with a wink. "That's what partners do right?"

Qrow felt it in that look she gave him. She was ready for a real hunt. "Alright fine, we don't have time to argue about it anyhow." Up ahead the pack finally began to surge forward, a black mass of red eyes and claws gunning towards their throats. "Do not tell your father a thing about this." Qrow gave one final remark. "He'd seriously kill me if he ever found out."

Ruby smiled and nodded before jamming her scythe blade into the ground and pulling the trigger on the first Grimm that came up in her crosshairs.

A/N: So sorry about the wait. Things kept getting busy for me. But I'm back on the ball now and I expect the final chapter to be coming up after this one. With the ending of RWBY Volume 3, I now have tons of ideas for new fics. Once this one wraps up I'll move one to said new ideas. Anyways, thank you so much for reading this so far. I hope you all are enjoying the story as much as I am.