"So, what are we looking for?" Nora asked, kicking a rock ahead of her as she and Ren walked through the forest.

"Anything unusual."

"What kind of unusual?"

"The location of the White Fang, or some information about their connection to the Grimm."

"Maybe their masks are magic that let them communicate with the Grimm!"

"I think that is unlikely."

"It would be cool, though!"

The Hunters emerged from the thick trees into a large clearing.

"Oh! A mining camp. It looks deserted, though." The pair looked around as they walked down the rows of portable shelters and tents.

"I wonder why Weiss didn't mention she had expanded out here."

"This is not Weiss' camp. There are no SDC logos or expensive machinery." Ren peered into one of the shelters. "It appears to be mostly hand and power tools."

"Oh, so someone's stealing her dust?"

Ren shook his head. "No, this land is not owned by the SDC. I do not believe it has a claimant. Mining here is not illegal."

"So, where do you think everyone is?"

"I don't know." Ren and Nora arrived at the edge of the quarry and peered over the edge.

"What is that?"

"It appears to be dust."

"Ren, it's black. There is no black dust."

"Not that we have encountered." The pair made their way down the slope to the crystalline formations jutting from the ground. Carts sat around it, filled with jagged cuttings from the black crystal. Nora peered into one of the carts.

"Hey, Ren, why do you think they left all of this here?"

"They must have left in a hurry." Ren gazed around the edge of the quarry before narrowing his eyes and slowly drawing StormFlower. "Or they never left at all."

Nora glanced at her partner and readied Magnhild. "You think it's a trap?" He nodded.

"Very observant."

Ren and Nora glared up at the figure who had appeared at the top of the cliff. He wore a Grimm mask under his horns and held one hand on the hilt of a sword.

"You got here faster than we expected. I'm sorry that we didn't have time to set up a proper welcome. Nonetheless, I have been asked to extend an invitation to you."

"Yeah, I don't think trying to kill our friends is a good way to get us to follow you."

"No. In fact, I'm hoping that you refuse. I'd quite like to kill you."

"Hey, Ren, do you think he'll be harder than the mech?"

"Wait." Ren held up a hand. "What is your name?"

"That doesn't matter."

"Who do you want us to meet?"

"That also doesn't matter."

"You are determined to fight."

"I am."

"Very well, then." Ren and the faunus crouched into a ready position. Nora twirled her hammer and grinned.

"Finally!"

The faunus suddenly slashed horizontally, spraying out a gust of black dust. As they watched, it swirled and coalesced, forming together into recognizable legs, body and head. The pair gasped as a bone-white mask with swirling red details settled over its face. A moment later, blood red eyes opened as the Ursa reared back and roared.

"Ren?"

"Yes, Nora?"

"He just made an Ursa."

"Yes, Nora."

"We should probably kill it."

"Yes, Nora."

The Ursa roared and charged down the incline at the pair. Nora leapt forward and smashed into its face, crumpling it backwards and sending into the ground, where it began dissipating. Above them, the faunus had disappeared.

"Come on, Ren!" Nora called back as she began sprinting up the side of the quarry. Before she could reach the top, three Beowolves leapt over the edge, forcing her back. With an annoyed grunt, Nora hefted Magnhild and swung it at them, firing as she did so and sending the three of them all tumbling into each other. A moment later, Ren was above them, his blades sinking into their necks. The pair continued up, reaching the crest of the slope and entering the camp. Which was now full of Grimm.

"Where'd he go?"

"I think escape is now our goal."

"Awwww…"

"We're escaping through a horde of Grimm."

"Ohhhhhh!"

Nora grinned and launched forward, bowling over another group of Beowolves and continuing on to smash down an Ursa. Ren followed behind, harrying the Grimm attempting to get behind her and finishing off any that she left on the ground.

Something suddenly flew out of the crowd of Grimm, striking Nora in the side and knocking her off balance. She crashed to the ground as the object rebounded upward into the waiting hand of the faunus from before, who advanced on Nora, preparing to strike.

"Adam!"

Another man, his face obscured by a hood, leapt out from the sea of Grimm, lifting a pair of daggers to block the faunus's blade.

"Stand back!" he shouted again, pushing the faunus backwards and whirling on the brandished a dagger at them. "Go away! You're not needed."

Ren watched in fascination as the Grimm settled back; some wandering away, others sitting to observe the new man. Nora crawled over and stood up next to Ren.

"Is that guy controlling the Grimm?" she whispered. Ren nodded slowly.

"Dammit, Adam!" the man shouted up at the faunus. "I said alive! And not hurt!"

The faunus—Adam—sheathed his sword and crossed his arms. "You also permitted me to act at my own discretion."

"No, I said if they attacked you could fight back. You didn't even give them a chance!"

"I had little reason to give them a chance. They are our enemies."

"No, these are good guys. They're like me."

"Is that supposed to instill confidence?"

"Okay, hold up," Nora said, holding up her hands. "Who are you, exactly?"

The man turned around, regarding Ren and Nora. "I guess it has been a while," he admitted, pulling down his hood to reveal a tall, green Mohawk. "But it's good to see you guys again."

The Hunters's eyes widened in recognition. "Russel?"

0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0

"Yang, you really shouldn't be punching cars."

"Awww, come on," Yang pleaded, grinning broadly from her seat on Ruby's desk. "It's fun."

Ruby pouted up at her sister. "Yeah, but you're messing up my work."

"Sis, I punch stuff. It's what I do."

"You're supposed to be punching people.," Ruby grumbled.

"It was a tactical decision. Besides, you make good weapons. They should be able to handle a little car now and then."

"They probably could if the person using them didn't explode whenever she punched."

"You're just jealous."

"I am completely okay with not exploding."

"But Ember Celica likes exploding. She's fun, unlike you." Ruby stuck her tongue out. Yang poked her nose. "You love me."

Ruby scrunched her nose. "Yeah, but you're my sister. That's cheating."

Yang folded her arms behind her head and leaned back against the wall. "Still counts."

Ruby clicked Ember Celica, causing it to extend into its gauntlet forms. "Alright, she's done." She set down the weapons. "She should be able to punch through walls now. If you're still insane."

"Always, little sis," Yang replied cheerfully, gripping Ruby in a tight one-armed hug. Ruby hugged her back.

"Just be careful, okay? Because if anything happens, I'm coming in after you."

"Don't worry. I'll be fine. Me and Junior have been through worse than this."

The sisters sat in silence for a few moments.

"Yang…"

"Yeah?"

"Are you and Junior…. um…"

Yang gulped and looked sideways at Ruby. "Are we what? We're not anything. Why would we be anything?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yang!" Junior's voice rang out from the front of the shop. "We're ready to go."

"Go on. Go play with your boyfriend," Ruby giggled, shoving Yang out of her office.

"He's not my boyfriend!"

"Uh-huh. Go on. Have fun. Punch bad people."

Yang pulled Ruby into a final hug. "I'll see you soon, sis."

0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(0)0

Alone in his darkened office, whirling shadows crossing his face, Ozpin sat, contemplating the scroll placed on the desk before him. He waited, eyes fixed on the name emblazoned on the glowing screen.

The scroll buzzed. Three minutes later than he had estimated. Ozpin pressed the accept button and lifted the scroll, taking a sip from his mug.

"General."

James Ironwood stiffened even further, if it were possible. "Professor."

"I thought you might call."

Ironwood didn't blink. "Of course you did."

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I've heard some disturbing rumors about what's going on in Vale, Ozpin."

Ozpin sipped his mug. "Is that so."

"The White Fang attacked a Valesian village."

"That is true."

"And that criminals controlling a large portion of the city have begun open warfare."

"A slight exaggeration, perhaps."

Ironwood's eyes narrowed. "Ozpin, you're not protecting your people."

"I think we have different definitions of 'protection'."

"They deserve to be protected."

"We agree on that, at least."

"If you won't do it, Ozpin, then someone else will have to."

"Don't waste time justifying yourself, James. We both know your reasons, and it won't make a difference to anyone else."

"You cannot be allowed to remain in control of Vale."

"If you believe that you are capable of taking it from me, then you have every right to attempt to do so."

"You can't win, Ozpin. Atlas's army is larger and more advanced."

"Perhaps. But you don't have Beacon."

"Do you think your children can win a war?"

"Absolutely."

Ironwood and Ozpin stared at each other for a moment.

"Very well, Ozpin. You've made your choice."

"This choice was made a long time ago. Goodbye, James."

Ozpin ended the call.

"Glynda."

Glynda Goodwitch immediately entered the room. "Yes?"

"Recall Captain Winchester and his team. He has more pressing concerns now."

"Of course."

"And send out VCFY, BLDE, and MISL. I have no doubt that there are already Atlesian forces in the city. We must be able to respond immediately."

"What of myself? And the professors?"

"Bartholomew must continue his work. It is too important to be interrupted. Peter as well. And I'd rather you yourself did not leave the grounds, as well."

"As you wish."

A/N: VCFY: Victory. BLDE: Blade. MISL: Missile. Fun fact: MISL is based off of my OC team, LPIS (Lapis), which I created before I even had the idea for this story, though it has not appeared in any fics. For those worried that I'm going to flood the story with OC's, don't be. BLDE and MISL will only appear in the background, if at all. There are enough characters to keep track of already.