The fire crackled weakly in the center of the ruined lot, its light casting long shadows against broken walls and jagged glass. Blake, Weiss, and Yang sat closest, their expressions muted.
Weiss poked at the flames with a stick, her posture stiff. "I shouldn't have said what I did. Protecting my family's honor... that's not really why I'm here. I don't even know if I believe that anymore."
Blake folded her arms, staring into the embers. "I thought I had an answer. Stop the wrongs in the world... but maybe that was just me running from what I used to be. I don't know if that makes me qualified."
Yang leaned back, resting her hands behind her head but not hiding the tension in her eyes. "And I said I was in this for the thrill... Guess that makes me sound like a total idiot, huh?"
The silence that followed was heavy, until Jaemin, sitting on a chunk of collapsed concrete with Jisoo and Jiwon, leaned forward with a smirk. "Sounds like you're all still figuring yourselves out."
Weiss bristled. "And what of it? Not everyone grows up with a perfectly clear purpose."
Jaemin shrugged. "Relax. I wasn't judging. Just saying... sometimes not knowing is part of it."
Jiwon spoke next, his voice steady and thoughtful. "Even answers change. Why you fight today might not be why you fight tomorrow."
Jisoo added, tossing her chakram up and catching it. "Yeah. Point is, you're still fighting, right? That's enough for now."
The tension eased slightly, though the weight lingered.
It was then that Ruby and Oobleck returned, Zwei trotting happily at Ruby's side. Oobleck carried a new stack of notes, sipping from his mug. "Now then, we've made excellent progress this evening. But every expedition requires vigilance! Who shall take first watch?"
"I will!" Ruby piped up immediately, her voice bright but firm.
She took her place at the edge of the ruin, Crescent Rose folded at her side. Yang watched her go, then called softly, "Did Oobleck ask you the same thing he asked us?"
Ruby shook her head. "Nope."
Yang frowned but didn't press. Soon after, she, Weiss, and Blake settled by the fire, eyes heavy but troubled.
Ruby gazed out over the shattered skyline, the moonlight silvering the ruins. A distant howl echoed through the night, low and haunting. Zwei pressed close against her leg, ears back. Ruby bent down, wrapping her arms around him with a soft smile.
"It's okay, boy," she whispered. "Things will be better tomorrow."
The howl faded into the night, leaving only the crackling fire and the uneasy silence of two teams searching for meaning.
Ruby sat with her legs crossed at the edge of the broken street, Crescent Rose resting across her lap. The ruins stretched out into the distance, silent except for the low hum of the wind. Zwei had fallen asleep curled against her boots, his tiny snores oddly comforting.
But Ruby herself wasn't asleep. Her eyes drifted from the skyline to the firelight behind her. Team RWBY and Team NOVA were already settling into uneasy sleep, except—
A faint crunch of rubble behind her made her glance over her shoulder. Hyunwoo approached, his spear slung casually across his back, the firelight painting sharp lines across his face. He didn't say anything at first, just lowered himself to sit beside her.
"You're supposed to be sleeping," Ruby said softly, almost a whisper, so as not to wake the others.
Hyunwoo gave a small shrug. "Can't. My mind doesn't shut off that easily out here."
Ruby hugged her knees, resting her chin on them. "You're worried too, huh?"
Hyunwoo's gaze stayed fixed on the ruined city. "Always. Places like this... they remind me what my father used to say. 'The world doesn't forgive people who aren't ready.'"
Ruby tilted her head slightly, watching him. "Is that why you wanted to follow his path?"
Hyunwoo let out a quiet breath, almost a laugh but not quite. "Part of it. He believed protecting people was worth the risk. Looking at this place... I think he was right. If we don't stand up, the Grimm will keep swallowing everything."
For a moment, the only sound was the wind and the faint pop of the fire. Ruby leaned a little closer, her expression softening. "That sounds... kind of like something I'd want to believe too."
Hyunwoo glanced at her then, catching her eyes for just a second. He reached out and gently patted her head, the gesture calm, almost brotherly. "Then hold onto that. Even if you don't have all the answers yet. You will, eventually."
Ruby blinked at him, cheeks coloring slightly, before she quickly looked back out at the ruins. "...You sound like Professor Oobleck."
Hyunwoo smirked faintly. "Don't say that. I don't drink nearly as much coffee."
Ruby giggled quietly, covering her mouth so as not to wake the others. Zwei stirred, pressing against her side, and the moment softened into silence again.
The two of them sat together, keeping watch over the shattered city. Neither spoke for a while, but somehow, it didn't feel lonely anymore.
____
The night was quiet, broken only by the hum of the wind weaving through the skeletal remains of Mountain Glenn. Yang had taken Ruby's spot at the lookout, resting Crescent Rose against the ledge while Ruby reluctantly sat back at camp with Zwei curled against her side. But the dog was restless, ears flicking before he suddenly leapt up and padded toward the ruins.
"Zwei?" Ruby whispered, scrambling after him.
She followed his tiny form through the shadows until she found him scratching at a half-collapsed wall — then lifting his leg. Ruby sighed.
"Really? That's why you ran off—"
But her words froze in her throat. From the other side of the rubble, voices drifted through the night — low, harsh, and far too organized. Ruby crouched, peering through a crack. White Fang uniforms moved in the dark, rifles slung over shoulders, blades at their sides.
Her heart skipped. "The White Fang..."
She turned to scoop up Zwei. "We need to tell the others—"
But then her eyes narrowed, resolve hardening. They were right there. An entire patrol, moving deeper into the ruins. If she followed them now... maybe she could find out what they were planning.
"Stay close, Zwei." Ruby slipped after them, Crescent Rose folded tight against her back.
The trail led her further into the city's skeleton, every step weighed down by tension. She nearly made it back to warn the others — until the ground gave way.
The crumbling pavement split with a deafening crack. Ruby yelped, hurling Zwei upward with all her strength. "Go!"
The corgi landed safely, barking frantically as Crescent Rose skidded across the broken surface, just out of reach. Ruby's eyes widened — then the floor collapsed completely.
She plunged into the dark.
Her body slammed against concrete, dust filling her lungs. Before she could rise, shadows fell over her. Two White Fang soldiers yanked her to her feet, wrenching her arms behind her.
"Got one," one of them sneered, pressing the barrel of his weapon into her side. Ruby struggled, teeth gritted, her silver eyes flashing with defiance.
____
Back at camp, Yang descended from her lookout, stretching. "Alright, Ruby, your turn—"
Silence.
Her smile faltered. "Ruby?"
A bark broke the night. Zwei came bounding into camp, fur dusted with rubble, Crescent Rose dragging behind him by its strap.
Yang froze. Weiss sat upright, Blake's ears twitched beneath her bow. Jiwon and Jisoo exchanged sharp glances, already rising.
Dr. Oobleck set down his thermos, gaze suddenly sharp behind his glasses. "...Something's wrong "
Yang's fists clenched. "We need to find her!!"
Oobleck's voice cut through, calm yet commanding. "Stay focused. If Miss Rose is disappeared without trace, she probably in trouble."
The fire popped, sparks drifting into the night as every Huntress-in-training braced for what came next.
As the others scrambled into motion, Hyunwoo's Scroll buzzed. The glow of the screen lit his face, and his expression hardened as he read the notification.
Neo: Guess what, your friend is here.
Attached was a photo. Ruby, unconscious, head lolled to one side, was bound to a chair in some dimly lit room. Neo sat in the foreground, winking, holding up a peace sign as if it were a casual snapshot.
Hyunwoo's jaw tightened. He had known this part was coming — Ruby's capture. In the original timeline, this was the very thing that led them straight to the White Fang hideout. If he tried to alter it too much, they risked losing their only lead. Still, he typed quickly.
Hyunwoo: Don't hurt her too much. We're on the way. And aren't you guys short on Dust? You don't have enough for the bomb and to power the train at the same time, do you?
A moment passed before Neo's reply blinked onto the screen.
Neo: Yes, it's not . But it's still enough to destroy a small area in Vale. Still can cause panic.
Hyunwoo exhaled through his nose, thumbs moving again.
Hyunwoo: Then when we arrive, I want you to activate the train and the bomb earlier than scheduled.
The reply came with a frown emoji.
Neo: But... aren't Cinder gonna suspect something?
Hyunwoo leaned back, watching the camp stir as Oobleck began issuing instructions. His reply was sharp, deliberate.
Hyunwoo: She won't. It's a reasonable move, given the situation. She'll believe it.
The typing indicator blinked for a while. Then Neo sent a single emoji: a smirk.
Hyunwoo locked his Scroll, slipping it back into his pocket. His frown lingered, but he stood, spear in hand.
Yang caught the shift in his expression. "Something wrong?"
Hyunwoo shook his head lightly, masking his thoughts. "...Just got word. We'll find Ruby soon."
___
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