It's early morning when Clover wakes up. The first thing he sees when he wakes up is Qrow's shirtless back. Qrow was wearing a shirt when they went to bed, so this was the first time he was seeing his bare back. 

"Hmm, I didn't know Qrow had a tattoo." Clover mumbled sleepily.

He reaches out and gently strokes his fingers along the tattoo that covered the majority of Qrow's back. It was a pair of black wings, which was quite fitting for Qrow actually. Clover wondered if the black wing design was just a regular tattoo, or if it had something to do with his ability to turn into a bird. 

"Mmmm, Clover, that feels nice." Qrow hummed in pleasure.

"How come I didn't know you had a tattoo? Why didn't you tell me?" Clover asked, slipping his arms around Qrow's waist.

"Well, it just never came up in conversation." Qrow shrugged.

"When did you get it?" Clover asked him.

"After I graduated Beacon. Actually, all the members of team STRQ got tattoos. Summer thought it'd be cool to pick out each others tattoos. So, the way it went was that I chose Tai's tattoo, Tai chose Raven's, Raven chose Summer's, and Summer chose mine." Qrow replied.

"What were their tattoos?" Clover asked.

"Well, Tai has a design on his right bicep, not sure what it really is, I just thought it looked cool. Raven has a poorly drawn tattoo of a cartoon bird on her hip...haha, Tai has sh*tty art skills. And Summer had a tattoo of a skull with a rose and thorn flower crown on her ankle." Qrow told him.

"That's cool. Hey, are you alright? I know last night was pretty rough." Clover asked as Qrow turned over to face him.

"Yeah...I'm okay. I...just hope Ruby's alright." Qrow sighed resting his forehead against Clover's chest.

"Your niece is a strong kid, she'll be okay." Clover said.

He grabs Qrow's chin and lifts his face towards his and kisses him. Qrow kisses back, grabbing Clover's hips. Clover shifts them so that he's on top of Qrow, trapping his hips between his knees and pinning his wrists down.

"Clover, we don't have time for this." Qrow chuckled.

"Aw, come on, we're about to be on an airship with nine teenagers. This might be the only alone time we're gonna get for a while." Clover said pressing his body down on Qrow's.

"Well...in that case..." Qrow said pulling off Clover's shirt with a smirk.

Meanwhile in JN_R and Oscar's room, Nora had been awake since three 'o clock in the morning cause of the nightmares about her sister, sitting out on the balcony. 

"Nora? How long have you been out here?" Ren yawned stepping out onto the balcony, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Umm, since...three in the morning." Nora mumbled quietly.

"Three? Nora, if you were having trouble sleeping, why didn't you tell me?" Ren asked crouching in front of the chair Nora was sitting in.

"I...didn't want to bother you." Nora replied.

"Nora...remember what we talked about...about talking to each other." Ren said grabbing her hands.

"I know, but this is something you already know about, so what's the point in talking about it." Nora said, still staring sadly at her lap.

"Wait, is this about your sister? I thought you stopped having those dreams years ago. When did they start back up again?" Ren asked his girlfriend.

"....Kuroyuri...." Nora answered.

"What? Nora! You should've told me." Ren replied shocked.

"Look, Ren, you know how hard it is for me to talk about my sister. And I especially wasn't gonna mention her in front of the others...they don't even know I had a sister. Just...please don't say anything to the others, please." Nora said tearing up.

Ren hugs Nora and wipes away her tears. Then he kisses her cheeks, forehead, and lips until she starts giggling. 

"Nora, if you don't want me to say anything to the others, I won't. But I'm here for you if you want to talk about it. I'll always be here for you." Ren told her.

"I know you are, Ren. Not only are you the best friend I have ever had, you're also the love of my life." Nora said wrapping her arms around Ren's neck.

When he lifts her off the chair, she wraps her legs around his waist and kisses him.

"Ooh...let's draw on Jaune's face." Nora gasped excitedly.

"Okay." Ren agreed shrugging his shoulders.

He carries her back into the room then hands her a marker so she could draw on their sleeping teammate's face. Nora drew a handlebar mustache on Jaune's face, then she drew a circle over his eye making it like a monocle. 

"Done!" Nora said placing the cap on the marker.

"I'm gonna go get a shower...wanna join me to save time?" she asked Ren.

"Uhhhh, ummm...I-I don't think that's...a-appropriate." Ren stammered blushing.

"Ren, we're eighteen and in a relationship, what's inappropriate about just taking a shower together? I mean, that's all we're gonna do." Nora asked him.

"But we'll still be...a-and we've never seen each other....ya know." Ren replied nervously.

"Sweetie, if you're not ready to see me naked, just say so, I won't be offended." Nora giggled.

"You won't?" Ren sighed, relieved.

"Sweetie, no. I won't do anything that makes you uncomfortable." Nora said before standing on her toes and kissing Ren's cheek.

"I'll be sure not to take all the hot water." she said entering the bathroom.

Elsewhere, in RWBY and Penny's room, everyone except Ruby was awake.

"Should we wake her or let her rest a few more minutes?" Blake asked brushing her hair.

"I think she should sleep for just a little bit longer, last night wasn't easy for her." Yang replied.

"I hope she feels better. Seeing her sad made me sad." Penny said frowning.

Ruby wakes up with a yawn and stretches.

"Good morning, guys." Ruby said quietly.

"Good morning, Ruby. How are you?" Weiss replied.

"Better than last night." Ruby mumbled.

"Friend Ruby, why don't you get dressed and then you and I can go get everyone breakfast." Penny suggested.

"Okay." Ruby agreed.

After getting dressed, Ruby and Penny head out and get the others breakfast. When they get back to the inn, everyone else was waiting for them in the lobby.

"What'd you get us?" Qrow asked his niece.

"Doughnuts!" Ruby answered showing the others the box of doughnuts her and Penny bought.

"Woohoo! I love doughnuts!" Nora cheered excitedly.

The others also had a positive reaction to the doughnuts. Then, afterwards they head back to the fueling station to refuel their airship.

"Okay, the airship's been refueled, everyone get on board!" Clover called out to the others.

As soon as everyone is on the airship, it's in the air and back on it's trek to Vacuo. Soon when one would look out the window, all they would see was miles and miles of sand.

"Are we in Vacuo?" Jaune asked.

"Yep. But, we still got a really long way to go before we reach Shade Academy." Qrow replied.

At that second, the engine started making funny noises and smoking.

"Aw, fu-" Qrow began to say before the airship suddenly started falling out of the sky.

As the airship was falling, anyone who wasn't holding on for dear life was being tossed around like ragdolls.

"Penny! Weiss! Slow us down!" Ruby shouted.

Penny uses her Winter Maiden powers to create a wind tunnel to keep the airship steady, then Weiss uses her gravity glyphs to slow down the airships unwarranted descent. When the airship crashes into the ground, it kicks up large clouds of sand. And Oscar, who was one of the ones being tossed around like a ragdoll, is flung to the front of the airship and hits the control panel, his aura shattering on impact.

"Is everyone okay?" Clover asked the group.

"Yeah." everyone but Jaune replied.

"BLEHHHGGGG! *cough* *cough*....I'm okay." Jaune whimpered after vomiting.

The engine of the airship gives out one final boom before large amounts of smoke leak through the cracks of the hood.

"Well...that's unfortunate." Oscar grunted rubbing the back of his head.

He looks over to Qrow, who is giving the boy a glare, then Oscar realized exactly what he just said.

"Oh crap, Qrow, I...I-I didn't mean it like that. I wasn't saying it was your semblance bad luck...I-I-I just meant bad luck in general...I...I...I'm gonna stop talking now." Oscar stammered.

Clover exits the airship and is surprised by the intense heat that smacks him in the face.

"Woah, Qrow, you weren't kidding, Vacuo is hot." Clover said, shielding his eyes from the blazing sun.

"Oh my gods, Clover's right, it's like an oven out here!" Weiss said stepping out of the airship.

"Ya sure, you Atlas snowflakes are going to be okay in this environment?" Yang asked.

Weiss and Clover glare daggers at the blonde girl, then Clover and Qrow go to check on the engine.

"What do you think happened?" Clover said to no one in particular.

"Isn't it obvious...this was because of my semblance." Qrow grumbled.

"Qrow, don't start. This wasn't your semblance." Clover groaned.

"Oh, come on, Clover, you got a brain in that pretty head of yours, don't you? Look at what just happened, the engine just suddenly cuts out after we refueled it. How can this not be my...OW! Did you just flick my ear!?!" Qrow said, pouting angrily.

"Yes, yes I did. One: you were being self deprecating, and two: you basically called me stupid." Clover replied, folding his arms and pouting as well.

"But...I also said your head was pretty." Qrow muttered quietly.

"Yeah, and for that, you get this." Clover said before kissing Qrow's cheek.

"Come on, you love birds, hurry up and check that engine!" Weiss demanded.

"Alright, your majesty!" Qrow replied waving his hand dismissively at the girl.

Immediately after the hood was lifted, a Grimm leaps out and latches itself onto Qrow's head. What type of Grimm is it? Well, it's a small type of Grimm that travel in packs, called Gremlins. The Gremlin that had latched itself onto Qrow's head was biting and clawing at him.

"Get this d*mn thing off me!" Qrow shouted trying to pry the Grimm off of himself.

Clover grabs at the Gremlin and helps Qrow pull it off his head, then throws it to the ground. Then Ruby quickly takes out Crescent Rose, in gun form, and shoots the creature twice. The Gremlin lets out a high pitched screech when it's shot, then disappears into a cloud of black smoke and dust. 

"You okay, Uncle Qrow?" Ruby asked him.

"Yeah, just caught me by surprise." Qrow assured her.

"Was that the only one?" Oscar asked.

"No, it can't be, Gremlins travel in large groups so that they're more threatening." Clover explained.

Then suddenly, about twenty or thirty Gremlins crawl out of the airship's engine compartment, snarling and giggling. Team RWBY and company take out their weapons as the Gremlins leap out and attack them. Because of their speed, small size, and pack mentality, Gremlins make difficult opponents. Though it was quite challenging, the group was still able to defeat all the Gremlins that were attacking them.

"That...was our first time fighting a Gremlin." Blake said catching her breath.

"I haven't fought a Gremlin in years." Qrow said placing Harbinger back onto his back.

"What are we gonna do now? The engine is completely useless." Yang said gesturing to the still smoking engine.

"We have no choice but to make the rest of the journey by foot." Clover sighed, furrowing his eyebrows and placing his hands on his hips.

"UHHGGGGG! Seriously! Why does this always happen to us!?" Jaune and Nora groan.

Qrow was about to say something, but before he could say it Clover flicked his ear again.

"What was that for!?" Qrow asked holding his ear.

"You know why." Clover simply replied.

"Let's start now, and maybe we'll reach a village by nightfall." he told everyone.

Gathering their things, the group head in the direction they were traveling in. An hour passes and everyone was beginning to feel the scorching heat of the desert sun. Periodically, they would use the back of their wrist to wipe away the sweat that collected on their brows. And some of the ones with fairer skin began to turn pinkish. The only one who seemed to be completely unaffected was Penny, probably because she was a robot...and also probably because she was the Winter Maiden. The two adult men walked at the front of the group, but then Clover began to lag slowly behind, though Qrow didn't really notice due to the fact that he couldn't really focus in this heat. Then, just like that, Clover drops to the ground with a thud, causing the kids to gasp making Qrow turn around and see his boyfriend sprawled on the ground unconscious.

"Clover?!" Qrow shouts concerned, crouching next to the soldier. 

He pulls Clover into his lap and lightly pats his burning hot cheeks trying to wake him.

"I think the heat's getting to him. We need to do something quick, he could get heat stroke." Ruby said kneeling next to her uncle.

"Penny, come over here and see if you can use your powers to cool him off." she said waving over her friend.

Penny walks over and kneels in front of Clover. She hovers her hands over him and uses her abilities to create an icy windy mist to cool him off. Soon, Clover's breathing evens out, and his face starts looking less flushed. Qrow places the back of his knuckles to Clover's cheek and sighs in relief when felt less heat radiating off of his boyfriend.

"Keep going, kid, it's working." Qrow told Penny.

Nodding, Penny continues what she is doing. Suddenly, Ruby, Qrow, and Penny hear Blake shriek then turn to see Weiss slumped limply in her arms semiconscious.

"Hehehehehe...I lasted longer than Clover! Who's the snowflake now? Ha!" Weiss giggled all loopy.

"Blake, bring Weiss over here." Ruby said shaking her head.

"Come on, Weiss, let's get you laid down and cooled off." Blake said dragging the white haired girl over to where Ruby, Penny, Qrow, and Clover were.

"I don't need to lay down, I'm fiiineee." Weiss said pushing away from Blake, swaying on her feet.

Not two seconds later, she's face down in the sand.

"See! Totally fine." Weiss said, her voice muffled into the ground...probably getting sand in her mouth.

Blake and Yang sigh and roll their eyes before turning Weiss onto her back and dragging her over to lay next to Clover. Penny uses her powers to cool off Weiss and Clover until they regain full consciousness.

"Qrow? Why am I on the ground?" Clover asked groggily, slowly sitting up.

"You passed out from the heat. So Penny cooled you off. Weiss too, she passed out after you." Qrow explained helping him to lean against his chest.

"Take it easy, don't rush yourself." he told him.

"Is Weiss alright?" Clover asked rubbing at his temples.

"Yeah, I'm okay." Weiss replied with an exhausted sigh.

"I could use my powers to keep us all cool while we travel so that something like this doesn't happen again." Penny said.

"Are you sure that won't tire you out, using your powers constantly like that?" Oscar asked her.

"I think I will be alright." Penny replied standing.

Ruby helps Weiss to her feet while Qrow helps Clover to stand. The Atlas natives lean against their partners for support, still weak and dizzy. 

"Just let us know if it starts to become too much for you, okay, Penny." Clover told the robot girl.

"Yes, sir, I will inform you all if I begin to feel like I'm over doing it." Penny promised.

Penny extends her icy mist to surround the entire group. Some of them couldn't hold back a delighted sigh, feeling the relief the cool air provided in contrast to the unforgiving heat that was beating down on them. Qrow grabs Clover's arm and drapes it over his shoulders, then Yang provides support on Clover's other side. Ruby and Blake do the same for Weiss, then they all continued on with their journey at a pace that won't over exert Weiss or Clover in their current condition. Hopefully, the group will find a village soon, so they can figure out how they're gonna make the now even longer journey to Shade Academy.