A/N: Cinder Fall makes a deal with Raven which would be very big trouble for Qrow later.

It was daytime at the Branwen Tribe camp. Raven was sitting alone in her tent sharpening her sword. Suddenly, Vernal entered.

Vernal: Raven, we have a problem.

Raven: What is it?

Vernal: Salem's found us.

Raven's eyes widened briefly.

Raven: Salem... okay.

Vernal: Four of her followers are waiting to speak with you.

Raven stoodding up.

Raven: Right. We planned for this... Bring me my helmet.

Outside of her tent, Cinder, Watts, Emerald, and Mercury all stand and wait while the bandits surrounded them, eyeing them carefully. Raven stepped out of her tent with her mask on as she addressed her bandits.

Raven: I don't recall inviting so many guests into our home. Either I'm losing my memory, or you've all lost your spines!

Cinder: Don't be too upset with them, Raven. Your men simply recognized the power of a Maiden when they see it.

Her eye glowed and trailed fire.

Cinder: Which is why we'd like to have a word with you.

Raven: Leave us. Pack your things, then break down camp. We're moving.

She adressed to all the bandits, who all left to do so.

Watts: Little late to run and hide. You've been on our master's list for some time, so you must understand that we cannot allow you to slip away.

Raven: I know all about your master, but I don't believe we've met.

Mercury: We're the guys you should be afraid of.

Raven: I doubt anyone should be afraid of you.

Mercury: Oh yeah? Tell that to.......

Cinder: Quiet.

Mercury did as told.

Raven: That's what I thought.

Cinder: I'm Cinder Fall. This is my associate, Arthur Watts, and my disciples, Emerald and Mercury.

Raven: Two children you've tricked into following you, a disgraced Atlesian scientist, and a Fall Maiden with a surname so appropriate, she probably picked it herself. Something tells me you've got more than a slight case of egomania, is that about right?

Mercury and Emerald exchanged a brief look, while Watts cleared his throat.

Watts: Technically, I was also a doctor, but I must say, the rest was spot on.

Cinder: Aren't you perceptive.

Raven: It's what's kept me alive.

Cinder: I'm afraid the only reason you're still alive is because you have something our master wants. Of course, if I'm wrong...

Cinder activated her Maiden power again and held out a small flame in her right hand, grinning evilly.

Raven: Vernal!

Vernal stepped out of Raven's tent and walked up next to her.

Cinder: So, this is the long lost Spring Maiden. Prove it.

Raven and Vernal shared a glance with each other, with Raven nodding. Vernal sighed and closed her eyes. She held her hands out and suddenly, the wind started to pick up gradually. The blue sky turned to gray as clouds covered it. Leaves blew in the wind. Watts, Mercury and Emerald covered their faces as thunder was heard, while Cinder smiled in amazement as she watched the Spring Maiden unleash her power. Vernal then lowered her hands and opened her eyes as her powers settled.

Raven: Vernal has done well under my guidance. I'd take that into consideration before you try anything.

Watts and Mercury brushed themselves off as Cinder spoke.

Cinder: Raven, I won't underestimate you, so please don't insult my intelligence. There is a slim chance you and your Maiden could escape today, but if you know our master as well as you claim to, then you know you could never truly escape her. But we come bearing an olive branch.

Watts started to walk up to Raven.

Watts: The Maidens are merely a means to an end. Salem's true desires are the Relics locked inside the Huntsman Academies. Come with us. Allow Vernal here to unlock the Relic of Knowledge, and all previous acts of defiance against Salem will be forgiven.

He then whispered up to Raven's face.

Watts: It's the best deal either of you are going to get.

Watts walked away from them to rejoin his group.

Raven: You talk as if walking straight into Haven will be easy.

Cinder: That's because it will be. Headmaster Lionheart is loyal to Salem. And now, all we need is the key to the vault. You're not the only one to turn your back against Oz, Raven.

Raven gripped the hilt of her sword.

Raven: I'm not helping Salem, I'm not helping Oz! I don't want a part in any of this!

Cinder: That ship sailed when you chose to harbor a Maiden. But if you come with us to Haven, we'll leave you, your tribe, and your little secret to live out the rest of your lives squabbling in the wilderness. We just... need... the Relic.

Raven: I need time to think this over.

Watts: You don't have time. In two days, Haven Academy will be destroyed by the White Fang. You're going to choose now.

Raven: Backed me into a corner, huh?

Cinder: So, are you with us, or against us?

After a tense moment, Raven removed her grip from her hilt and took her mask off.

Raven: Agreements like these are built on trust. And forgive me for saying, but I don't trust a single one of you. You're going to need to give me more.

Watts: You are in a poor position to negotiate.

Raven: I want my brother dead.

Cinder: Qrow?

Raven: That's right. He knows I have Spring. And if I help you get your Relic, he's going to become a problem. I have enough problems to deal with. Qrow doesn't trust me, but he does trust Ozpin's other lieutenants. If Leo really is loyal to you, then you can order him to invite Qrow into an ambush. He arrives at Haven, we take him down, you get your Relic, and we all leave happy.

Cinder: Now this is a proposition I can get behind.

Watts: Alright ladies, let's pause for a moment. We have one objective - retrieving the Relic of Knowledge. Now Qrow Branwen may be on our list of individuals we would very much like dead, but he's not going to go down without a fight, and he's not going to fight quietly. Our advantage here is just as you said - we walk straight into Haven, no resistance, no one the wiser. A battle with your brother throws that all out the window.

Raven: He's good, but not that good. All of us against him? It'll be over in a heartbeat.

Emerald: But it's not just him. He has the students with him. He has Ruby!

Cinder: He certainly does.

Watts: If we leave that school a bloody mess, we will draw the attention of the authorities! The Kingdom will be on high alert, and the White Fang's attack will be ruined!

Cinder: Then we wait. We wait until the full moon. Leo invites Qrow and his little fighters to Haven the same night Hazel and Adam arrive with the White Fang. As soon as the battle is won, the White Fang demolishes Haven, and any evidence we may have left behind is lost along with the school.

Raven: Then, Salem leaves my people alone. For good.

Cinder: You have yourself a deal.

Cinder held her hand out to shake with Raven's, but Watts suddenly grabbed her wrist.

Watts: Wait. Don't think I don't see what you're after. If this falls to pieces over your grudge with a child, I will not be taking the blame.

The Fall Maiden glared at him.

Cinder: Then what are you worried about?

She then activated her Maiden powers and burned Watts' hand, causing him to remove his grip and hold his hand in pain.

Cinder: Fly back home and tinker with your machines.

She held her hand out again in front of Raven.

Cinder: And tell Salem she'll get what she wants - and more.

Raven stood still for a moment, glaring at Cinder's hand in front of her, but then offered her own hand out and shoke it with the Fall Maiden, sealing the deal.

Cinder: You made a wise choice.

Raven: Don't get ahead of yourself.

She said before she and Vernal headed back inside the tent, while Cinder smirked. However, She soon started to feel a slight pain in her head and placed her hand over it.

Cinder: Mmghh.

Emerald took notice of this.

Emerald: Cinder?

Cinder was seeing images of her as a child while being tormented by her step sisters and step mother.

Emerald: Cinder?

She said now a little more worried. Cinder snapped out of it and looked to Emerald and Mercury.

Emerald: Are you alright?

Cinder: I'm fine.

Mercury: You sure? You kinda look like.....

Cinder: I said I'm fine.

She said before walking off, leaving Emerald and Mercury to look at each other confused. Back in Menagerie, gunfire could be heard from within the Belladonna Family Home, as well as sounds of fighting grunts and efforts. Ghira was leaping around the entry hall and used his claws to hang from one of the pillars, before pouncing on a White Fang soldier and clawing him down. A female White Fang soldier charged at him with a spear, but Ghira grabbed it, lifting her off the ground, and tossing her into Fennec. Corsac held out his weapon, which started to glow red as Ghira preped to launch the spear at him. A fireball was launched from Corsac's weapon as Ghira threw the spear. The two attacks managed to hit their targets, with Ghira's Aura shimmering from the fireball and Corsac getting pinned to the wall by his hood.

Fennec: Brother!

Fennec got back up and activated his weapon, which glowed white as a wind gust was conjured from it. Ghira brought his arms to his face to block the attack, and his feet drag backwards a couple of feet as a result. A White Fang soldier with an assault rifle was hiding behind a pillar and took the opportunity in an attempt to attack Ghira. Suddenly, Sun burst in from the window behind him and knocked him down. Corsac discarded his hood and joined his brother as they prepared to launch a combination attack with their weapons. A stream of wind and fire whirled toward Sun, but he blocked the attack by twirling Ruyi Bang and Jingu Bang. He then called out to someone.

Sun: Hurry!

Gambol was being loaded with a new cartridge, getting the attention of Corsac and Fennec. Blake jumped down from the terrace above them, dodging a fireball and a wind attack in the process. She did a three-point landing in front of them. The brothers attempted to stab Blake, but she used her ice Dust-enhanced Semblance to trap their hands and weapons. She lept away from them to join her father and Sun.

Blake: Dad! Where's mom?

Ghira: I'm not sure, I got ambushed right away.

Blake: Once we take down Corsac and Fennec.....

Ghira: No, go now.

Blake: But........

Ghira: You keep assuring me your friend isn't a complete waste of space! Let's see him prove it.

Sun: We got this, Blake. I've wanted to sock these creeps since the day we met!

Corsac used the fire Dust in his weapon to begin melting Blake's ice clone.

Ghira: You'll have to get in line. Blake, go!

Blake did so and left the room. Corsac and Fennec free themselves, and prepare to fight.

Sun: I won't let you down, sir!

Ghira: Shut up.

Sun: You got it!

The both of them proceeded forward. Back at the Branwen Tribe camp, Raven sat on her bed leaning her forehead to her hand. She heared someone enter her tent.

Raven: Yes, Vernal?

She said without even looking up.

Vernal: I followed them as you asked.

Raven: Did they spot you?

Vernal: Of course not. They have a ship two klicks west of here, looks like they're staying there for the night.

Raven: Thank you, Vernal.

She looked up to her.

Raven: Anything else?

Vernal: Do you... actually believe they'll let us go once they have the Relic?

Raven: Of course not. They'll never leave us alone. Once our purpose has come and gone, we'll be discarded. Salem only uses people until they are no longer useful. If we want to have any chance of defending ourselves against her, then we need this Relic. If Qrow and those brats want to follow Ozpin, then let them. When the chaos reaches its peak, we'll grab the Relic and make our escape.

Vernal: And the fact that your daughter will be a part of all that?

Raven: Doesn't matter. I warned her. She made her choice.

She got up and approached the exit of her tent.

Raven: This path won't be easy for us either, but we must do what's right for the tribe.

Vernal: I know. I'll do whatever it takes.

Raven: Good.

Raven exited the tent. Vernal walked out to see where she had gone and noticed a cawing black bird and the sound of Raven's portal activating. The scene transitions to the exterior of the Mistral Home. The sound of Raven's portal was heard closing as her bird form flew in. Qrow was drinking from his flask while sitting on a bed, and he heared the sound of Raven cawing, seeing her through the window. Oscar walked up to his doorway.

Oscar: Hey, Qrow?

Qrow turned his attention to him.

Oscar: Oz needs to talk to you.

Qrow stood up and followed Oscar out of the room, looking over his shoulder at the window. Back at the Belladonna home, Blake burst into the forked hallway. She heared the sounds of fighting to her right and proceeded down the left hallway. Ilia was crouched on a balcony railing in a large room. She was donning her Grimm mask and heared the muffled sounds of fighting going on around the building. She then heared the door open and saw someone walk in on the floor below her. Blake took a defensive stance as she noticed her former friend standing up on the railing above her. The two reach for their weapons, with Blake gripping Gambol Shroud first. Ilia proceeded to grab her weapon's hilt. The two glared at each other.

A/N: Cat vs Chameleon.