The air became hot and moist as the expedition of Guards headed south-west, moving away from the coast and closer to the center of Vale. Sparse pines replaced bushy oaks, the forest on either side of the road thinning as they moved into rocky terrain.

What had started as a boisterous group grew quiet, the smell of sweat heavy in the air. Laughs changed to grumbles and methodical steps replaced jaunty strides as the Guards began to feel the wear of marching in the heat of the day with rapidly decreasing shade. Captain Argento's Guards looked particularly miserable as the alcohol fueled humor of the morning's march was replaced with dehydration, sore muscles, and pounding heads.

To Reed, the hot, wet air and smell of sweat reminded him of long summer days training at his teacher's school. Compared to the hours of sparring and physical training the march seemed easy, but it was an opinion he decided not to voice when looking at the strained, tired faces of his squad.

"Does anyone have any water left?" Abbey asked, looking down the neck of her dry canteen. "One bottle for a whole day's march seems a little stingy…"

"Here," Reed said, pulling out his canteen and passing it to her. "Don't drink too much, though, or it will come back up."

"Thank you," she said gratefully, unscrewing the cap and taking a careful sip.

Chase grumbled under his breath, "As if the heat and the dust weren't enough, I keep expecting a knife in the back. How are we supposed to find this White Fang traitor anyway?"

Reed swept an uneasy gaze over the surrounding Guards, but they all appeared much more intent on their own misery than Chase's whining.

"You start by keeping your trap shut," Seraphina growled. Chase glared at her back, his mouth open for a hot reply.

"She's right, Chase, though maybe a little harsher than is called for." He glanced at Seraphina, who shrugged in what might have been apology. "Tanners doesn't know either, but it makes sense he wouldn't want it to be public knowledge. There's enough negative feelings coming off of this group without them turning on each other."

"So, what, we're supposed to just keep marching, acting as care-free as the Spring Maiden?"

Chase had a point. He was keeping a tight lid on his emotions, but the thought of a member of the White Fang marching at his side sent a shudder down Reed's spine. Scanning the Guards, his gaze settled on Tamus's squad of Faunus. They looked slightly less miserable than the rest, but not by much.

"Alright," Reed said, coming to a snap decision. "You all maintain formation. I'm going to go talk to Ivory."

As he moved to leave he felt Seraphina grab him by the arm.

"What's your plan here, Reed?" she asked, concern obvious in her voice. "You know how you get anytime the White Fang is mentioned…"

"I'm just going to talk to them," Reed said, patting her arm reassuringly. "We really don't know anything about them. Besides, it's not like they're the only Faunus on the expedition. If possible, I'd like to rule them out."

Seraphina nodded, but her eyes remained trouble. "Just be careful."

Reed made his way to the other side of the expedition, weaving through Guards who barely gave him a second glance. Spines was the first to notice his approach, sneering and pointedly turning her back on him to watch the roadside. Ivory was more welcoming, smiling and waving him over.

"Reed, what a pleasant surprise," she said, her tone warm. "What can we do for you?"

"I felt like we got off on the wrong foot this morning," Reed said, hoping the chagrin in his voice didn't sound too forced. "I have a lot of respect for Corporal Tamus, and was hoping for a chance to get to know his squad a little better."

A small smile touched Ivory's lips. She opened her mouth to reply, but Spines beat her to the punch.

"What the Grimm d'you know about the corporal?" she said hotly, glaring at Reed.

Reed took a moment to consider, feeling the weight of the squad's eyes on him.

"Well," he said slowly, "I haven't put it into words before, so forgive me if it sounds a little awkward. Honestly, I don't know that much about him. I don't know anything about his past, and all I know about his life outside the Guard is he has a family he provides for.

"Still, you can tell a lot about someone by the way they wield and respond to power. My group of recruits was full of some of the most frustrating, lazy, and unqualified individuals I have ever met. Tamus never lost his temper with them, though. Don't get me wrong, he was firm when he needed to be, but he always made time to help those who needed extra guidance. He has a relationship of equals with Sergeant Tanners, but still respects that sometimes the sergeant knows more about a topic and will cede to his experience."

Reed shrugged, feeling somewhat embarrassed. "I guess I don't have anything solid, its just more of a feeling. He seems like the kind of guy who puts others before himself, the kind you can rely on in a crisis. Does that make sense?"

The squad of Faunus regarded Reed as if they had just truly met him. A wide smile had spread over Ivory's face, and even Spines anger had cooled to a kind of grudging respect.

"I've known the man for years and couldn't have said it better myself!" Ivory said, clapping him so hard on the back that he stumbled in his stride.

"Not bad," Spines grumbled. "For a human."

Her brother squawked in agreement, his wings rustling in what appeared to be a pleased manner.

"Well, I call that mission successful!" Ivory said. "Consider us officially on the right foot, if you'll forgive the pun."

Reed felt relief wash over him. He honestly hadn't expected it to go so well. Conversation turned to the topic of family, and Ivory made a point of including Reed. He talked mostly about his mom and her work, not wanting to mention that his father had been killed in a White Fang bombing. He just said that his father had died six months earlier, and after an exchange of sympathetic glances Ivory quickly stepped in.

"I know how hard it is to lose a parent," she said sadly. "My mom died giving birth to me. Dad did the best he could to raise me on his own, working odd jobs for whoever would hire him. He's a little long in the horn these days, if you catch my meaning, but still sharp for all that."

"My parents are back in Vacuo," Camo said, glancing to the east as if he could see the island nation across the vast distance. "They've got decent jobs on a farm, but it's a little crowded there these days. I left to get a job, so as not to be a drain on their resources."

Reed turned to Spines and Skittles. The winged Faunus turned to his sister, who regarded him coolly. "We ain't there yet, human. Suffice to say your kind is why my brother and I don't have any parents or home to speak of."

"Come on, Spines," Ivory said in exasperation. Reed held up a hand to stop her.

"It's okay," he said. "I know how badly the Faunus have had it since the Great War. I understand it will take more than my word that I don't share the same views as the majority of my species."

Spines stared at him for a long moment before giving him a small nod. She turned away, but Reed's gaze remained on her. Could she be the traitor? She was definitely the most suspicious, Chase wasn't wrong about that. She hated humans, and if they had taken her parents from her Reed could understand why.

Something about it didn't fit, though. She was too vocal about her resentment, too quick to say that humans were what was wrong with the world. Would a member of the White Fang who had infiltrated the Guard really draw so much attention to themselves?

Reed didn't think so.

"I'm surprised Tamus told you about his family, though," Camo said, interrupting Reed's train of thought.

"Sergeant Tanners didn't give him much of a choice," he replied. "Tamus outed him as a member of the prestigious military family, then got tight lipped when Sera asked him why he hadn't gone to one of the academies."

Camo chuckled at that. Reed was surprised at the reaction, and it must have shown on his face.

"Sorry, I'm not saying that Tamus doesn't have the skill to be a Huntsman," Camo said quickly. "It's just that I don't know if he would have been welcome at Beacon. I mean, considering his father was one of the founding members of the new order of the White Fang."

The words, so unexpected and said so casually, hammered into Reed. He faltered in his march, and he felt his friendly mask crack.

Camo looked at him, and the grin slid from his face. "Oh Grimm, you didn't know, did you?"

Everyone was staring at Reed now, faces ranging from Ivory's sad expression to Spines open hostility. He quickly schooled his thoughts, mind racing.

"Sorry, I just had no idea. Tamus always seems so happy, I never would have thought…"

"His father disappeared a long time ago," Ivory assured him, "Leaving the corporal to care for his mother and little sister. Still, that kind of legacy doesn't look good on an application to a school dedicated to keeping the peace…"

The conversation grew awkward and strained. After several unsuccessful attempts to restart it, Reed excused himself, trying to look unhurried and natural as he made his way back to his squad.

"You really don't think Tamus is the traitor?" Chase said in agitated disbelief.

Reed's squad sat in a circle around their campfire, a simmering pot of stew suspended over the flames. The expedition had camped on a low hill, rocky terrain to their west, sparse forest to their east, and mountains looming to their north. The blistering heat of the day had quickly given way to a frigid night, and sore muscles cramped in the sudden cold.

Phaedra, Delphin and Reed all had experience with long hours of physical exertion, but the others were agitated in their exhaustion. They'd been discussing the revelation of Tamus's heritage for the better part of an hour, and Chase was the only one still arguing in favor of him being the traitor.

"First of all," Seraphina said, palm to her forehead in frustration, "Tanners chased the Faunus across the city without catching him. Tamus is strong, and a skilled fighter, but he's not fast. Also, Tanners had plenty of time to study the traitor. Tamus is massive, there's no way Tanners wouldn't have recognized that physique."

"Plus Tamus would make Remnant's worst spy," Phaedra noted, glancing up from Halmvoulge. The weapon was braced against one leg, the head held at eye level. When Reed had reported that the fireballs were lacking in power she had swiped the weapon from him, and had spent the time since setting up camp tinkering with a variety of tools she had produced from her pack.

She continued, "He's huge, loud, and draws a lot of attention. He also has no ability to hide his facial expressions. He is way too easy to toy with."

"To be fair, most people have a hard time dealing with you," Reed said with a tired grin. "Still, she makes a good point. You should have seen him after Sera and I were injured during the Road Patrol. He looked like his world had crashed down around him. The thought that we had been hurt because of his mistakes almost had him in tears. I just don't think he's the kind of guy who could orchestrate something that would endanger so many lives."

"I still think he's suspicious," Chase muttered resentfully.

"Oh shut it, Chase."

Everyone glanced in surprise at Abbey, who clapped a hand to her mouth in horror. "Oh Maidens Chase, I'm sorry," she said, tears springing to her eyes. "I'm just so tired, and we've been talking in circles for over an hour."

"Don't worry about it, Abbey," Chase said, patting her awkwardly on the shoulder. "I'll let it drop."

They returned to their stew, tired arms spooning it into their mouths mechanically.

Reed had initially been shocked by the revelation of Tamus's heritage, and it had definitely left a stain on the Faunus squad's view of him. After consideration, though, it just didn't make sense for him to be the traitor.

Which meant they were back to square one.

They had no idea who the traitor was, and no idea how to find out. The tension that a member of the White Fang was hiding among them had taken its toll on them all. Reed constantly felt like he was being watched, and from the way his squad constantly checked over their shoulders they were feeling the same way.

Reed considered talking to Tanners. It seemed the best course of action at this point, but he grimaced at the idea of explaining to the sergeant that he had been eavesdropping on his conversation with Huntress Kadir.

"Well you're a solemn lot, aren't you?"

Reed looked up, and felt a wave of guilt as he saw Tamus himself walking towards them. He saw Chase tense, but the rest of the group did their best to salute the corporal as he approached. He saluted back, then turned to Reed.

"Reed, the sergeant wants a word with you."

His stomach clenched in apprehension, but he nodded and stood. Seraphina made to rise as well, but was forestalled by Tamus's raised hand.

"Just Reed. He'll be back shortly, I imagine, so you all just wait here."

Seraphina glanced at Reed, concern evident on her face. They may have decided that Tamus was an unlikely spy, but the thought of him dragging Reed off alone clearly didn't sit well with her.

"I'll go see what the sergeant wants," he said, forcing his voice to sound casual. "You all get some rest. It was a long day, and tomorrow will probably be even worse."

His squad nodded their accent, but none of them looked happy as Reed followed Tamus away from the fire. To his surprise the corporal didn't lead him in the direction of the officer's tents. Rather, he started east, towards the perimeter that bordered the forest.

They halted at the edge of the forest, and Tamus gestured towards the mountains to the north. "You see that pass over there, the one between the two lower peaks? Through those trees is a ridge that overlooks a ravine on the other side. Sergeant Tanners said to meet him there."

"Understood," Reed said, saluting and beginning to walk away. The hairs on his neck rose as he turned his back on Tamus, and he almost jumped out of his skin when the corporal called after him.

"Private."

He turned and looked at Tamus. The man's face was troubled, his arms crossed as he stared at Reed.

"Some stories aren't for others to tell," he said, his voice grave. "I don't know what this digging into my past is about, but I'd appreciate it if it stopped here. I'm sure you know how hard it is for these types of memories to be dug up. It may have happened a long time ago, but that doesn't make it any more fun."

Reed lowered his gaze and nodded. "Of course, Sir. I'm sorry."

Tamus nodded in acknowledgment of the apology, turning and striding back towards the camp.

Reed wove through the stunted trees, wondering why Sergeant Tanners wanted to meet him so far from the expedition. He'd passed the last perimeter patrol half a mile back, at this distance the expedition camp was merely a soft glow to the south.

The trees suddenly ended, and Reed was surprised to see that the ridge was scattered with crumbling stone structures. Walls towered fifteen feet in some areas, only to have collapsed fully to the ground in others. Corners were the only indication of what might have been houses, and at the far western point a round structure ten feet tall was all that was left of what had most likely been a tower.

The ruins were old, Reed's history classes hadn't even mentioned a settlement in this region.

As he stepped carefully over weather rounded bricks he heard a voice call his name. At the edge of the ridge one building had survived better than most. It was two stories tall, and though the roof had caved in long ago the walls stood strong and unyielding in the face of time.

Peering into the doorway, Reed saw Sergeant Tanners sitting against the opposite wall. His elegant gun-spear was laid across his lap, a cleaning kit open on the ground next to him as he polished the swirling blade.

"Take a seat, Reed," Tanners said without looking up from his work. "I'm almost done with this."

Reed sat across from Tanners, legs folded underneath him, as he watched the sergeant's methodical work. His hands moved in gentle circles, almost appearing to caress the metal head as he oiled it to a shine. The blade was straight and flawless, any nicks accumulated over the past day already corrected by the whetstone nestled in the cleaning kit.

Tanners held the spear up to his face, nodding with approval before carefully replacing the cloth and oil, then closing the kit with a click. Finally he looked up at Reed, and for the first time he noticed heavy, dark bags under the sergeant's eyes.

"Thank you for coming all the way out here, Reed," he said, a tired smile touching his eyes. "I know it's an unusual locale, I just needed to get out of the hustle of the camp for a few minutes."

"Of course, Sir," Reed said, trying to hide his confusion and, if he was honest with himself, apprehension. What could Tanners want to discuss? He wasn't fooled, the sergeant may have wanted to get some peace and quiet, but there was a reason he had asked Reed to meet him here, rather than after he had returned to camp.

A low chuckle escaped Tanners's lips. "Guess that excuse didn't fool you, huh? Alright, I will get right into it. How did you find out about the White Fang traitor?"

A chill went down Reed's spine. "Sir?" he said, trying to sound casual. "I don't-"

Tanners's grip tightened on the shaft of his spear, the movement causing Reed to trip over his words. The sergeant's eyes were calm, but there was an edge to them.

"Don't play the fool, Reed. You're clever, but you're also a terrible actor. Let's review: since early in the expedition there has been a tension in your squad. The lot of you talk in hushed tones, with way too much suspicious glances cast at your fellow Guards. Then you break away from them to talk to the only squad on the expedition composed entirely of Faunus. You start digging into their pasts, and even get them to reveal the identity of Tamus's father."

Tanners leaned forward, his piercing gaze freezing Reed. "Your history puts you at direct odds with the White Fang. In fact, it is almost too at odds with the White Fang. You should be the least suspicious person in the Guard, but you are operating with information you shouldn't have. Less than a handful of the Guards know what you know, so I need you to tell me how you found out. And don't mince your words, Private. I have almost as little patience for liars as I have for traitors."

Reed gaped at Tanners, stunned at the implications behind his words. "Sir," he said in a strangled voice, "You suspect me?"

Tanners said nothing, body settling into that relaxed posture that was too relaxed, too at ease to not be a farce. Reed had to force himself to not snatch up Halmvoulge and prepare to be attacked.

Forcing himself to take a deep breath, Reed shifted into a cross-legged position. It was an unready position, legs trapped by his own weight. His instincts screamed that he had just signed his own death warrant, but Tanners's posture noticeably settled following the motion.

"I heard you tell Huntress Kadir, Sir," Reed said. His heart pounded in his ears, but he was proud that his voice came out calm and controlled. "During the morning break."

"Why were you out there?" Tanners's voice was a whip-crack, harsh and uncompromising. "Were you following me? Or Huntress Kiwidinek?"

"It's kind of embarrassing, Sir, but I was trying to find a quiet place to… relieve myself."

Reed felt blood rush to his cheeks, but he held Tanners's stare. The sergeant held his gaze for a moment before a strangled sound escaped his mouth. His head lifted to the ceiling, and a rumbling guffaw burst from him.

Reed stared at him in shock as the laughter died into a breathless chuckle. "Oh Maidens," Tanners said, wiping tears from his eyes. "Of all the ways you could have found out, that's what happened?"

"You don't believe me?" Reed said, bristling as his cheeks grew even redder.

"Oh no, I definitely believe you," Tanners said breathlessly, holding his sides as he suppressed another wave of laughter. "Hermit, your face is redder than a Grimm's eyes!"

Reed stared in bafflement at the sergeant. One moment he had been a man with murder in his eyes, the next he was crying from laughing so hard, and Reed noticed for the first time that Tanners barely looked older than Reed himself.

"You have no idea how relieved I am," Tanners said, straightening his face, though the laughter still danced at the corners of his eyes. "I've been leaning on your squad more than you know, placing you in key defensive positions and giving you some of the most difficult patrols. When Tamus told me you appeared to be rooting around for the White Fang traitor I was worried it was an elaborate ruse to take suspicion off yourself."

"That would be kinda… dumb, don't you think?"

"Hardly. Putting suspicion on others is a classic strategy of subterfuge. Plus, with an almost entirely human squad you'd make a good plant."

"So that's why you asked me to meet you all the way out here," Reed said, trying not to feel hurt by Tanners's suspicion. "That way, if I was the traitor, you could take me out without any interference."

"In part," Tanners admitted, "But in the event that you weren't, which I desperately hoped was the case, there is something I want you to see."

Tanners stood and motioned for Reed to follow him. There was a staircase against one wall, leading to the second floor. The stones underneath the steps reached all the way to the floor, otherwise it never would have survived the years of disrepair.

Cresting the top step, Reed saw that the building was not as in tact as it had looked from the entrance. Three walls of the top floor still stood, but the one facing the north had crumbled over the cliff. It afforded an excellent view of the ravine that ran between the two mountain ridges.

Reed stared down into the ravine in horror. The bottom was completely obscured in a writhing mass of glowing red and deepest black. Grimm in numbers that Reed could never have imagined paced the rocks below, clung to the rock faces, and even perched atop the mountains opposite.

They covered every visible surface for a mile in either direction.

"We have to fight this?" Reed said, his voice a mixture of awe and horror.

"Maybe," Tanners said, and Reed cast him a questioning glance.

"There's something off here, Reed," he continued. "Can you tell me what it is?"

Reed stared at the horrifying collection of monsters. The thought of so many Grimm a mere handful of miles from the expedition sparked his instinct to flee, but he squashed it ruthlessly and forced himself to think logically. Tanners was right, something about their actions were wrong. None of the monsters were still, but they paced up and down the ravine, hardly appearing to take note of the expedition…

"Why aren't they drawn to the Guard camp?" Reed asked, the thought igniting in his brain, connecting all the inconsistencies.

"Exactly," Tanners said in an approving voice. "The Guards are exhausted. They're picking fights with each other, arguing over the most trivial manners, and Argento's Guards are somehow simultaneously hungover and drunk. That should be more than enough to attract the Grimm."

"It doesn't make sense," Reed muttered, barely hearing Tanners. "It almost looks like they're waiting…"

"This is what I wanted you to see," Tanners said, turning away from the Grimm and staring at Reed as he leaned against the wall. "The Grimm have always been a problem for the people of Remnant, but they've been consistent. They act as mindless animals, intent on killing and destruction, drawn by the negative emotions of humans and Faunus alike.

"Recently, though, their behavior has become unpredictable. They congregate outside settlements but they don't attack, apart from the occasional pack of lesser Grimm. Massive variants previously unseen have been spotted all over, but very few have needed to be engaged. Support towers used to go down left and right, but the one that is the goal of our expedition is the first to fall in almost a year."

"Have you ever seen anything like this?" Reed said in awe.

"Yes."

The simple statement took a moment to permeate Reed's troubled thoughts. When it finally took hold her jerked to face Tanners, the sergeant's gaze serious.

"The Grimm are acting like those I fought on Mimar."

Reed sucked in a startled breath. The lost continent. Countless attempts had been made to settle the unclaimed land to the north-west. Each had been annihilated by the Creatures of Grimm. No person had made it more than a handful of miles inland before being ripped to pieces.

Or so he had thought.

"You…" Reed swallowed before continuing, "You've been to Mimar?"

Tanners nodded. "I wasn't actually part of the Forever Fall squad like Tamus told you. That's the biggest congregation of soldiers in Vale, so that's where I tell people I was stationed. If anyone actually bothered to look at the deployment records they would find my name there, but no one in that region would be able to tell you who I am."

"So what were you doing on Mimar?" Reed asked, fascinated that someone he knew had visited the lost continent and lived to tell about it. "What was it like there? Is it untamed wilderness like they say?"

"Only on the southern part of the continent," Tanners said, eyes distant. "Most of the continent is rocky terrain almost impossible to navigate. The mountains that surround the northern region are impossibly high, to the point that Dust powered ships can't fly over them. It took my squad weeks to find a way through the wilderness, and even longer to locate a pass low enough for us to get through. Once we did…"

Tanners trailed off, and the look in his eyes made Reed's heart pound in his chest. Dreading the answer, he asked, "What did you find?"

"Black pools, as far as the eye could see," Tanners voice was haunted. "Grimm crawled from the pools in numbers that make that horde look like a fledgling pack. It was enough to send the strongest Huntsman or Huntress running with their tail between their legs, physical or metaphorical. That wasn't the worst part though."

A shudder ran through Tanners, spurring Reed's intestines to wind themselves into knots. Tanners had always been a rock to Reed, but this night was tearing down every preconceived notion he had ever had about the man. Tanners was human, just like him. In fact, Tanners was only a one year older than Reed. The thought terrified him more than the the horde looming just below them.

"There was a castle," The sergeant's voice caught, and it took a visible effort for him to continue. "A Grimm-begotten castle, surrounded by pools of birthing Grimm. They have a master, Reed. The Grimm are just tools, for whatever Dark-spawned thing lives in that castle."

"And now that Master has plans for Vale," Reed murmured in horror.

Tanners nodded. "Not just for Vale, but for all of Remnant. Despite years of peace, tensions between nations are at an all-time high. Ozpin thinks-"

"Ozpin?" Reed said, momentarily distracted by the name. "As in Professor Ozpin? Headmaster of Beacon academy?!"

Tanners waved a dismissive hand. "Yeah, he's been a close friend of the family for decades. Anyway, he thinks there's trouble brewing on a scale we haven't seen since the Great War. He's doing everything in his power to counteract it, but the fact is he doesn't know what is going to happen, much less how to stop it. Between the White Fang, bandits, political tensions, and the unusual Grimm activity, there's too many things that could go horribly wrong.

"To be honest, that whole 'Tanners family tradition' thing? My excuse for being stationed in the Town Guard? That hasn't been in practice for generations, but it was a convenient excuse. The real reason I am stationed in Adigiar is because it is biggest settlement in Vale outside of Beacon. I am here to keep an eye on the town, and to gather any worthwhile individuals who weren't picked up by one of the academies. There's a war brewing, and we need every capable hand we can get."

Reed braced himself on a crumbling wall, trying to process the information that had just been dumped on him. It was on a grandiose scale that he hadn't imagined he would ever be involved in, at least not until he had graduated from one of the academies. It was too much for the moment, so he back-tracked until he was on ground that he could stand on comfortably.

"Well," Reed said slowly, "That's all terrifying and all that, but its a bit beyond our current situation, isn't it?"

Tanners smiled at him, a genuine smile filled with warmth. "You're absolutely right, saving the world can wait. First we have to save ourselves."