(3rd Person POV)

Within the Branwen camp, Raven was currently in her tent, sharpening the red Dust blade of Omen when Vernal came in, looking slightly alerted.

Vernal: "Raven, we have a problem."

Raven: "What is it?"

Vernal: "Salem's found us."  The ravenette's eyes widen before she sighed, putting down the cloth she was using to clean her blade.

Raven: "Salem... Okay."

Vernal: "Five of her followers are waiting to speak with you."  There was a brief silence as Raven took a second to mentally prepare herself.

Raven: "Right... We planned for this. Bring me my helmet."  She said, looking at her.

"AUNTIE..."
CHAPTER 11: DEALS...

(3rd Person POV)

Outside of her tent, Cinder, Mercury, Emerald, Seraphim and Watts waited patiently or impatiently for the leader of the Branwen tribe to arrive. Soon enough,  Raven walked out of her tent, dawning her mask.

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

Cinder: "Don't be too upset with them, Raven."  The ravenette looked down at her.  "Your men simply recognized the power of a Maiden and a Guardian Beast when they see it."

The Fall Maiden's eye shot out orange flames while the Seraphim became surrounded in a purplish red Aura as a projection of The Demon God of Death, Battra appeared behind her, roaring into the sky. From her battle against Cassie, Seraphim's left eye was wrapped in a black cloth though that was the least of her concerns as she couldn't stop thinking about her father. As she did, her wings drooping downwards a bit, Cinder continued speaking.

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

Raven: ... *to her tribe* "Leave us, pack your things then break down camp; we're moving."  Following her command, the rest of the tribe began to leave as Raven stayed with Salem's faction.

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

Raven: "I know all about your master, but I don't believe we've met."  She said crossing her arms.

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

Raven: "I doubt anyone should be afraid of you."  Mercury gritted his teeth at her annoyed, before the ravenette took a glance at Seraphim, recognizing her.

Mercury: "Oh yeah? Tell that to-"

Cinder: "Quiet."

Raven: "That's what I thought."

Cinder: "I'm Cinder Fall. These are my associates, Arthur Watts and Seraphim Branwen. And my disciples, Emerald and Mercury."

Raven: "Two children you've tricked into following you, a disgraced Atlesian Scientist, my niece you've somehow managed to kidnap and raise her wrong 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 ego-mania. Is that about right?"

Seraphim: "N-Niece...?" 

She looked at her confused and slightly shocked. There was a brief silence before Watts cleared his throat.

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

Seraphim: "You're... my Aunt?"  They all looked to the Dark Divine moth, as she eyed Raven who smiled behind her mask. Seraphim began walking towards her aunt, only to have Cinder pull on one of her wings, causing her to yelp in pain.  "Ah!"  Cinder glared daggers at the Battra Hybrid, causing her to cower back and remain quiet.

Cinder: "Aren't you perceptive?"  She glanced back at Raven.

Raven: "It's what 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."

She grinned while producing a magical flame in her palm and Battra roared behind Seraphim

Raven: "Vernal!"  The bandit's right hand woman stepped out of the tent and went to stand next to her.

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

Raven looked at Vernal before nodding. She was skeptical but sighed deeply before closing her eyes and holding her hands out. Suddenly, the wind speed began to pick up and thunder crashed as a dark swirling, almost hurricane cloud formed above the camp. As the wind picked up further, Emerald, Mercury, Seraphim and Watts shielded their eyes from the flying leaves while Cinder with a power hungry expression on her face. Finally, Vernal relaxed herself and opened her eyes as the wind returned to normal.

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

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 here 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: "The Maidens are merely a means to an end. Salem's true desires are the relics locked within 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. It's the best deal either of you are going to get."  Seraphim looked at him, clearly not buying it.

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 now. All we need is the key to the vault. You're not the only one to turn your back on Oz, Raven."

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 your tribe and your little secret to live out the rest of your days squabbling in the wilderness. We just. Need. The relic."

Raven: "I need time to think this over."  She said shaking her head lightly but Watts quickly intervened.

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

Raven: "Backed into a corner, huh."

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

They remained in a brief, yet intense silence before Raven took off her mask, revealing her face. Seraphim looked shocked to see that she had the same eye color as her.

Raven: "Agreements like these are built on trust, and forgive me for saying, but I don't trust a single one of you."  She looked at them all before landing on Seraphim, her expression softening a bit.  "Almost all of you, but you're going to need to give me more."

Watts: "You are in a poor position to negotiate."

Raven: "I want my brother dead."

Their eyes widen at her claim, even Vernal's, but Seraphim's had widened the most.

Seraphim: "D-Dad...?"

Raven: "That's right. He knows I have Spring and if I help you get your relic, he's going to become a problem, especially since he knows you have his Long Lost Daughter. 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 right into an ambush. He arrives at Haven, we take him down, you get your relic and we all live happy."  She said smirking a bit while Seraphim looked confused and slightly horrified... But then Cinder began chuckling.

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 lists 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 of 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 and Cassie!"

Cinder: "He certainly does."

Watts: "If we leave that school a bloody mess, it will draw 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 beings 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 for Raven to shake but Watts quickly grabbed it.

Watts: "Wait."  The False Maiden glared at him intensely.  "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."

Cinder: "Then what are you worried about?"  She said activated her Maiden powers and burnt Watt's hand, forcing him to let go. Then she smugly walked over to Raven.  "Fly back home and tinker with your machines. And tell Salem, she'll get what she wants, and more."

Cinder yet again held out her hand to Raven but this time she took it.

>>Meanwhile<<

Currently in the Belladonnas settlement, Ghira leaped around the room before latching onto a pillar. Then he jumped from it and clawed at a White Fang member before another one rushed him with a spear. Ghira caught it and threw her into Fennec. Corsac activated the Fire Dust in his weapon before sending a fire ball towards Ghira. He responded by throwing the spear at Corsac. The fire ball made contact with Ghira, sending him flying back while the spear pinned Corsac to the wall by his hood.

Fennec: "Brother!"

Ghira growled as Fennec stood up and activated the Wind Dust in his weapon, sending a tornado like attack towards Ghira who used his arms to block it but while he was preoccupied, a White Fang member tried to attack him from behind but Sun kicked in the window and knocked the White Fang member out. Corsac then freed himself by taking off his hood before joining his brother. The two combined their Dust attacks, forming a small fire whirl that was blocked by Sun spinning his staff.

Sun: "Hurry!"

Blake then jumped down from behind and landed in front of Fennec and Corsac. The two tried to stab her but she used an Ice Dust version of her Shadows to encase their weapons and hand in ice.

Blake: "Dad! Where's mom?"

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

Sun: "What about Olympia? Did you see her??"

Ghira: "Not necessarily but I heard a loud cry-like sound and a crash, so I assume she's here."

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."

Ghira: "You'll have to get in line. Blake, go! And find the princess while you're at it!"

She was still hesitant before she nodded and the two ran off further into the house, all the while, Fennec and Corsac melted their way out of the ice.

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

Ghira: *slight smirk* "Shut up."

Sun: *smirks* "You got it."

With a battle cry each, the two charged into battle.

>>Back With Raven<<

Back in the Branwen Tribe, Raven was sitting on her bed, looking stressed beyond belief as her hand caressed her own forehead. She sighed...

Raven: "Yes Vernal?"

Vernal: "I followed them as you asked."

Raven: "Did they spot you?"

Vernal: *scoffs* "Of course not. They have a ship two clicks west from here. Looks like they're staying there for the night."

Raven: "...Thank you Vernal. Anything else?"  She glanced at her, only to see her look down a bit.

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. *gets up* If Qrow and those brats wanna follow Ozpin then let them. When the chaos reaches its peak, we'll grab the relic and Seraphim and make our escape."  Vernal looked at her confused.

Vernal: "You're niece?"

Raven: "She was dragged into this against her own will, and she was brainwashed into working for them. And I bet I know what her goal is."

Vernal: "And the fact that your Daughter and Nephew will be a part of all that?"

Raven: "...Doesn't matter. I warned them. They made their choice. 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."

Vernal left the leader on her own. Raven was about to leave too before...

Seraphim: "Auntie?"  She turned around to spot her niece standing at the entrance.

Raven: "Seraphim. Why aren't you with your group?"

Seraphim: "I... wanted to ask you something..."  She was shy... innocent... Almost unbelievable for someone like her to be a killer.

Raven: "Okay then. Ask away."  She said, as she patted the spot on her bed next to her to sit down. Seraphim followed and sat down next to her, her wings drooped down. However before she could even speak.  "You're looking for your father and brother, right?"

Seraphim: "H-Huh? Yeah..."

Raven: *sigh*  "Well, lucky for you, they're both in Mistral."  Seraphim's eyes widened.

Seraphim: "B-Big bro's here too...?"

Raven: "I can take you to him but considering you killed his teammate, you're guaranteed to be attacked, not by him or Qrow, but by his friends."

Seraphim: "I... killed his teammate..?."  her eyes widened in horror as she looked at her aunt

Raven: "Princess Olympia Mosura. Her, Lazarus, Cassie Ghidra and Cassandra Ryuseicho were all on a Beacon team; Team LCOC. And you..."

Seraphim: "... I killed one of their members... But... she said... I had to kill them all in order to see him again..."

Raven: "You were lied to, dear. You were taken away from my brother at four and been fed false information all your life."  Seraphim just looked horrified and surprisingly, tears fell from her eye...

Seraphim: "I... I..."  Raven wasn't the least bit shocked but surprisingly, she brought her niece into a hug.

Raven: "There, there... Let it all out... Once the attack on Haven happens, I'll get you out of this war. I promise."

Seraphim: "A-Auntie..."  She however, couldn't finish her sentence as she continued crying into her Aunt's shoulder...

END
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Oh? Is Seraphim gonna switch? But would it matter?