Chapter Text
The snow had finally settled on the island's rich soil, blanketing the ground in a pristine, icy silence. Each step echoed through the vast forest, the crunch of snow beneath her boots a reminder of her exhaustion. Her muscles screamed for rest after two relentless weeks of tracking a flock of ancient Nevermore, followed by another two of taking them down one by one. She hadn’t had a proper moment to breathe, let alone relax, and all she could think about now was checking on her two girls before sinking into the bliss of a hot shower.
The cabin emerged from the thicket like a beacon, its familiar silhouette breaking through the trees. Relief washed over her, her shoulders sagging as she neared the porch. But then she froze. Two trembling forms huddled far from the door, their fragile shapes stark against the snow. The larger of the two was hunched over the smaller, chest heaving with panic. Her heart seized as recognition hit—Yang and Ruby. Dropping her bag and weapon on the stairs, she sprinted toward them.
“Yang? What are you two doing out here at this hour? It’s freezing, and you’re both in pajamas!” Her voice cracked as she grabbed Yang’s shoulder, her breath hitching at the sight before her. Yang’s face was ghostly pale, her lavender eyes wide with terror. “Yang?”
“Mo–Mommy…” Yang’s voice was barely a whisper, her lips trembling as she turned back to Ruby. Her small hands pressed desperately against a wad of gauze, blood soaking through it in dark, horrifying waves. “I–I remembered what you taught me, b–but there’s too much…”
Summer’s world tilted. Yang was drenched in her sister’s blood, her cheeks streaked with tears that refused to stop. And Ruby—her little petal—lay limp, her tiny frame soaked in crimson, shards of glass glinting cruelly in her skin. Summer forced herself to focus, though her mind screamed with panic. Her daughters were in danger, but from what?
“Yang, tell me what happened.”
“D–Daddy came home drunk again. I did what you told me to—locked us in the room until he fell asleep—but I fell asleep, and he got in. A fox Faunus took his position at Signal, and he lost his job.” Yang’s voice cracked as she continued, her words tumbling out in frantic sobs. “He came into the room screaming at Ruby, saying it was all her fault. He started beating her with a bottle. He wouldn’t stop, no matter how much I screamed. I pushed the bookshelf on him and grabbed Ruby, then ran out here. I couldn’t get ahold of you or Uncle Qrow!” Her sobs turned into wails, her bloodied hands trembling as she wiped at her face.
“Yang, honey, it’s okay. It’s going to be okay, all right?” Summer’s voice was steady, though her heart was shattering. She glanced back at the cabin door before wrapping her cloak tightly around her daughters. “Hold onto your sister tight, okay? Keep the pressure on the wound.” She picked up her weapon, holstering it before securing it back around her. Yang nodded, curling into her mother’s arms with Ruby pressed tightly against her, hand firm on the gauze. Summer swallowed hard as Ruby groaned softly, her wolf ears flattened against her head, her usual rosy cheeks now a sickly pale. Yang was just a little girl, but she wasn’t naive. The amount of blood Ruby had lost was staggering—she should have been dead by now. And that thought terrified her even more.
They arrived in Mistral in just over half a day, but Ruby’s condition had deteriorated to the brink. Her body trembled violently, slick with sweat, and every shallow breath tore at Summer’s soul. She had done her best to dress the wounds, relying on her rudimentary knowledge from Beacon Academy, but she wasn’t a healer. That had always been Raven’s role.
The moment they landed on the docks, Summer scooped both daughters into her arms and activated her semblance. They dissolved into a swirl of white, red, and yellow petals, streaking through the massive town like a desperate prayer. She sniffed the air, catching the faint scent of sandalwood, musk, and gun oil. It led her to the base of Haven Academy, where a modest house stood, the scent wrapping around it like a lifeline. Qrow’s house. They had made it.
Summer reformed at the door, landing gently as she set Yang down but kept Ruby cradled against her chest. Her fist pounded heavily on the door, each strike a plea for urgency. “Damnit, Qrow, hurry up!” Her tail lashed behind her, betraying her panic.
“I’m comin’, hold on.” His muffled voice carried through the door, followed by the sound of bamboo sliding open. Qrow appeared, his tired eyes widening at the sight of them. His spiky black hair was unkempt, his face clean-shaven—a rare sight. He looked good, but Summer barely noticed. A new scent hit her, familiar and haunting—sandalwood, sword oil, and fresh spring. “Summer—what are you doing here?”
“I didn’t know where else to go, Qrow. Ruby, she—” Her voice broke, tears spilling from her silver eyes as her red-tipped wolf ears drooped.
Qrow’s crimson gaze darted over them, taking in Summer’s bloodied hands, Yang’s tear-streaked face, and Ruby’s limp form. He stepped aside, opening the door fully. “What happened?” Summer ignored his question, rushing into the kitchen and sweeping dishes onto the floor to make space. She gently laid Ruby down, her hands trembling. “Was it Grimm?”
“You think I’d leave my daughters in a forest infested with Grimm while I go on missions?” Her voice was sharp, her eyes hard as steel. “It was Tai, Qrow. He did this to my baby!” Her lips curled back, revealing sharp canines. “The only reason I didn’t rip his throat out was because she’s dying.”
“Dying…” Qrow’s voice was barely audible, his face darkening as he took in Ruby’s state. Her shredded shirt revealed sutures hastily applied, and a faint flicker of crackling red aura danced across her fragile body. “Summer, her aura…”
“It activated hours ago. It’s not good, Qrow. I don’t share the same aura as her, and you’re the closest match. She isn’t producing enough to heal—it’s making things worse. Her body is fighting her aura, and it’s tearing her apart. Her wounds won’t heal.” Summer’s voice wavered, frustration boiling over.
Qrow clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. “Tai… Why haven’t you taken her to a hospital?”
“I can’t, Qrow. We’re wolf Faunus, and the Schnees are investors. The hospital would report us, and then we’d be hunted.”
“Right. Sorry, I forgot. What do we do, then?”
Summer grabbed his hands, placing them firmly on Ruby’s chest. Her eyes burned with desperation. “Focus your aura into your palms. Think of her—of your intentions and what you want to fix.”
“Summer… I don’t think I can do this. What if it doesn’t work? I’m not her dad.”
“No, you’re not her dad. You’re her uncle. You’re her mother’s twin. Just try!” Her voice rose, sharp and commanding—a rare display of anger that startled even Yang, who clung tightly to Ruby’s frail hand.
The sound of slow soft footsteps broke their conversation, Summer immediately inclining her head to the direction, her eyes narrowing immediately, anger and hatred shining through them. “Raven…”
“Step aside Qrow.” The tall woman’s voice was flat and stern, her matching red eyes sharp. Qrow immediately stepped away his hands raised up in surrender, she took his place replacing his hands, Her own enveloping in a dark red glow that began to surround Ruby’s chest before slowly consuming her entire body. The small child began to cry and thrash in pain, Summer immediately doing her best to hold her daughter in place while Yang cried out in worry, only for her uncle to hold her back.
“Stay back, you will only get in the way and hurt your sister in the process.” Yang whimpered, glancing at Raven seemingly mesmerized at the sight of her. “It’s your first time actually seeing her, isn't it? She is pretty intimidating huh?” He chuckled as she slowly nodded at his remark.
“Is Ruby going to be okay Uncle Qrow?” She tugged on his pant leg, looking up at him, he frowned and knelt down next to her, resting his large hand on her blonde head.
“I don’t know kiddo, I really don’t know.”