"Ruby, would you please quit your incessant pacing? I'm trying to study here. You're starting to really grate my nerves!" The young heiress let out a sigh to emphasize her displeasure.

Ruby slumped onto her bunk. "Sorry Weiss. I'm just worried about Yang and Blake. They were supposed to be here an hour ago. I tried to call them, but it goes right to voicemail. It's like they both shut their scrolls off."

"It's not unlike your sister to stay out late. It's not even close to curfew yet. Maybe Blake and Yang are just enjoying one last night of civilization before this glorified camping trip you got us into?" Weiss's voice carried a twinge of annoyance.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean? I thought you guys wanted to go on adventures and stuff?" Ruby seemed perplexed at her teammate's less than eager response.

"Look Ruby, you are the team leader, so what you say goes. But as for future reference, you could ask our opinion next time, say, before committing us to a mysterious mission from Ozpin. I mean, do we really know what we got ourselves into?"

"I guess I was a little over-excited in Ozpin's office. I mean, can you believe it? First-years on a solo mission? Even my Uncle Qrow had to wait 'till his third year to be sent on a mission alone with his team. This is awesome!"

Weiss climbed out of her bunk and took a seat across from Ruby. "That's what I'm worried about. Even by Ozpin's standards, the briefing was light on details and heavy on mystery." Weiss stopped to drink some water. "We're going to have to hike twenty miles, across a forest loaded with Grimm. Then we have to find a ruined town nobody has seen or spoken of in over 90 years. Once there, we are supposed to find some old sword and bring it back to Beacon. It sounds too simple. What's the catch?"

Ruby smiled as she chimed in, "Oh you forgot something Weiss-there's other people after the sword! Maybe we'll get to fight them?" Ruby was clearly excited at the thought.

Weiss rolled her eyes. "Oh joy! More people out to kill us! I can't wait." Ruby's enthusiasm for combat made Weiss uncomfortable. Weiss was skilled in swordsmanship; she ranked second only to Pyrrah Nikos in Beacon's training duels. Yet even she never found combat itself fun. She scares me sometimes. She looks so sweet and innocent-but she wears that same smile when she's slicing a Beowulf in half. Weiss decided to change topics "Ruby?"

"Yeah Weiss?

"I know it's kind of personal, but I was wandering if you'd be willing to tell me a little more about you and Yang. You, Yang, and Blake are like family to me now. But you and your sister never really talk about the past. What brought you to Beacon?"

Ruby's reaction was unusually somber, her enthusiasm seeming to fade away. "It's a long story. I don't think you really want to hear it."

If Weiss noted the change in Ruby, she ignored it. "We're likely going to be a team for the rest of our lives. It's time we got to know each other."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Let's see, where should I start? I think you already know we're from Patch…"

Ruby was soon interrupted by Weiss. She waved her flashing scroll at Ruby. "You need to see this!" It was a breaking news report from Lisa Lavender, the attractive young anchor of the Vale News Network.

"…Lisa Lavender, reporting live from Downtown Vale. Earlier tonight, six members of the terrorist group calling itself Black Talon were apprehended by the Vale Police Department…"

"…latest in a string of attacks…suspects linked to fourteen unsolved murders…details forthcoming…"

"That's horrible! What kind of monsters would attack a little girl on the street?" Ruby's innocence was on full display, and Weiss was envious. Weiss's fingers traced the dueling scar which marred her otherwise regal face. Though she didn't know about the Black Talon, she knew all too well what kind of person would attack a defenseless child.

For the first time in years, Yang was feeling unsure of herself. She'd met Blake Belladonna on her very first day at Beacon, five long months ago. Blake had become her teammate that first day, and soon Yang regarded her as her closest friend. Discovering her real nature as a Faunus had been somewhat of a shock, if only for Blake's success at concealing it. Yang's father had raised his daughters with a respect for the Faunus, and she gladly accepted Blake for who she really was.

Yang had to admit she'd always found Blake beautiful. After finding out Blake was a Faunus, she'd also become protective. Shortly after Team RWBY formed, Blake had painfully recounted to her teammates the story of her involvement with and escape from the White Fang. Yang had immediately begun to defend and support her friend. At first, Yang ascribed her feelings to the motherly instinct she'd acquired as an older sister, trying to fill the void left by a mother who died too young. As time went on, Yang found herself seizing every excuse to spend time alone with Blake. Today was the turning point for Yang. After losing her temper with Cardin, Yang began to reconsider her feelings for Blake. The adrenaline of the fight with the Black Talon thugs had only further driven Yang's inner monologue. It was during lunch, while comforting her sobbing friend that the reality of her feelings crystalized. Yang was falling in love with Blake Belladonna.

Yang had panicked when her heart's realization first became tangible in her mind. Yang was one of the strongest girls at Beacon, truly a brawler at heart. But the daunting task of revealing her feelings, and the mounting fear that Blake would not reciprocate what she felt, nearly paralyzed her. Blake's proposed trip to the movies was the break Yang was looking for.

Once inside the darkened theatre, Yang steered Blake towards seats in the empty back row. As the battles of Grimm and Huntsman raged on screen, so too did the fires of Yang's heart. As the title cards played, Yang took Blake's petite hand in hers. Blake gave a soft, feminine purr, but did not protest. This might actually work Yang thought. She leaned over her friend, planting a gentle kiss on Blake's trembling lips.

Blake's heart raced as Yang's lips met hers. She'd been attracted to Yang almost since they'd met. Yang had a warrior's spirit, and a way of making the darkest situations better with only a cheesy pun and a few kind words. In truth, Blake owed Yang her life. It had been Yang's heartfelt plea just a few weeks before which had convinced Blake that there was more to life than a self-destructive single-minded hunt for justice. Blake had come so close to bearing her heart that day, but couldn't find the words. RWBY's mission to Mountain Glenn, followed by the Breach, had prevented Blake and Yang from spending much time alone together. Blake feared that she'd misread her friends actions. Yang was a very physical person, and Blake was not the best at reading people's emotions. She was sure she had lost her moment, her chance to bear her heart. In truth, Blake wasn't even sure her friend liked girls, let alone her.

Blake couldn't believe this was happening. She wasn't even sure what was happening. Whatever this is, for as long as this lasts, I will cherish it. With that thought Blake rested her head on Yang's shoulder, and her next two hours were bliss.

All too soon it was over. Blake and Yang lingered in their seats as the theater emptied out. Soon they too walked out into the evening air, arm in arm. They strolled down Vale's tree-lined streets towards Yang's bike, drawing the moments out as long as they could. Yang looked at Blake. There was much she wanted to say, but all she could manage was, "So, uh, Blakey, do you want to do this again sometime?"

Blake seemed startled, as if Yang's words had shattered some quiet reverie. "I...I would love to Yang. Yes…let's do this again."

The couple raced back towards Beacon in silence, both reflecting on the past few hours. Neither seemed to notice that they were well over an hour late for the team meeting Ruby had planned. Perhaps, lost in the pleasure of each other's company, they didn't care. As Yang darted her bike up the switchback road to Beacon, the last rays of the setting sun gave way to a shattered moon.

"Yang!" Upon seeing her big sister, Ruby rushed to the dorm room door, rose petals flowing in her wake. Yang wrapped her sister in a bear hug. "Where have you been? When you missed the meeting I got worried. There are bad things happening in Vale, Yang. Really, really bad!"

"You mean the attack on a Faunus girl in Downtown Vale? We were there." Blake had donned her stoic mask as her and Yang made their way into beacon's dorms. She barely understood the implications of the past few hours. How would Weiss react if she knew about the date? Or Ruby?

Yang chimed in, "Yeah sis. Who do you think stopped the attack?" Yang could see that her sister was still worrying. "Ruby, Blake and I are fine. Those punks couldn't even scratch us."

Weiss sat up on her bed. "I'm glad to hear you are both okay. While you two were out playing X-Ray and Vav, Ruby and I did some research. We think we know where Ozpin's lost sword is, or at least where to start looking. It's an old ruin, Carnelian."

"If you and Blake have all the supplies Ozpin wanted, I think we should head out tomorrow morning. Everyone up for it?" Ruby was mindful of her friend's earlier advice.

Weiss was glad her leader could accept criticism. "I can get us a ride on a Schnee airship as far as the forest border"

"That's the spirit Weiss! !" Yang gave Weiss a thumbs-up.

Blake silently nodded her approval.

"Did you learn anything about the attackers? The news called them Black Talon, but I can't find anything about them in Beacon's archive." Weiss was disappointed that her research skills had failed her.

A tall figure appeared in the doorway behind Blake, who screamed in surprise. He began to speak "As you girls know all too well, open discrimination against Faunus is still tolerated. The Black Talon were born of that hatred. While not much about them is known, their creed is. I swear by my blood, I shall not sheathe my blade till the last animal falls." His caffeine fueled staccato speech was unmistakable—it was Professor Oobleck.

The bespectacled, green haired instructor paused for a sip from his ever-present thermos, and Yang seized his momentary pause to land a word in. "Hi professor! Long time no see!" Ruby wasn't sure, but she could swear her sister was even more up-beat than usual.

"Hello Ms. Xaio Long. I would like to remind you that I am Doctor Oobleck, not Professor. That aside, I need to speak to you all in private. May I come in?"

They all nodded, so Oobleck stepped into the dorm, closing and locking the door as he did so. He did not take a seat, though, and Ruby tried to remember if she'd ever seen Oobleck sit in five months of class. "Perhaps I should explain myself. Professor Ozpin sent me to meet with you before your mission, as he is currently engaged in important Beacon business. The threats your team would face were unclear when the headmaster presented this mission to you. They have become very clear. The Black Talon has taken in interest in retrieving the same artifact you seek. They are very dangerous. As their creed implies, the organization's goal is the death or enslavement of the Faunus. Though small compared to the White Fang, the Talon are much more deadly. Why they desire an artifact of Vale is unknown, I'm afraid. In light of this new danger, Professor Ozpin asked me to review your team's plan for the mission."

Weiss activated her scroll's projector, and for the next hour Team RWBY discussed their plan with Doctor Oobleck. Satisfied, he granted them approval to depart the academy when ready. He left, and the girls climbed into their bunkbeds. They slowly drifted off to sleep, anxious for the coming dawn and the beginning of their greatest challenge yet.