About a month after the wedding, Yang and Neptune had gone back on the road to head out to the edges of Mistral.

Grimm were still lurking out there, and more bandits.

Yang couldn't get what her parents had told her out of her head for all that time, and acted a bit more on edge than usual.

Failing to come to any conclusion of her own, she decided to do what she didn't really want to do and ask for advice.

So she wrote to Shine.

She got an answer three days later in her time, so probably it took Shine minutes or hours, that whole thing was weird.

Shine's answer was, as usual, more thought out.

"I am glad you asked us actually, since this is something we didn't cover that much with you all. I understand that you've all been rethinking how you view relationships in light of what we taught you.

And you should, because this touches everything we do.

However, I don't want you to feel afraid.

I understand that you don't feel ready to make any clear decisions yet about what you want long term, but you have to consider that that is exactly what your parents are worried about. And they're right, it often does make things much harder.

As for what the Word says, we are supposed to flee all temptations, and I do wonder if you situation is compromising that. I didn't want to confront you if you weren't open to discussing it, but if you're asking, I think you already know deep down that something is off.

I suggest that if you want to stay together, set up some boundaries and do not cross them, no matter how harmless it seems.

If I were you--and remember, I travel with my boyfriend now, it's not as if these thoughts never crossed my mind--I would do basically what we did. You can travel together, but never share rooms, or stay secluded in any one place for two long, and keep physical contact to a level you can handle without getting carried away.

In the long run you'll both feel better about it if you do split, if you didn't cross any lines.

But everyone is different, and what's difficult for some people isn't for others. So be aware that it's different, Especially between guys and girls, what's hard and what isn't.

Also for goodness' sake, do not ever do something like wearing only under garments--people who do that are nuts!"

Yang rolled her eyes at that.

"Perhaps it would be best to consider meeting up at the location instead of traveling together at all times, if you really don't want to push it. But I won't tell you what to do. This is what I would do. Otherwise, it's up to you how to handle it, but please do take your parents' concerns into consideration, they're only trying to protect you, even if it annoyed you to hear it.

On a different note, your mother doesn't regret having you, she just wishes she was a different sort of person. Sometimes we see ourselves in our kids because we can't let go of our mistakes. But you don't have to imitate her. You both have this immense drive, but you've tended to misdirect it at times. Direct it towards staying on track, and you shouldn't have any problems.

I guess the trick is to be as aggressive about making sure we do what's right and as passionate about it, as we used to be about being angry. I've turned my anger into fuel for my compassion, and I suggest you get a focus and channel all that energy into it. You're enjoying your freedom now, but freedom gets old without a focus. But don't worry too much. It usually hits you when you're not expecting it.

For now, if you do something constructive with all that free time, and don't just ride around doing whatever, you'll probably feel more satisfied overall.

I know this, sounds really boring, but trust me, it's more fun than you think, it's just harder.

Love you--Shine."

***

Yang had to think about that.

She really didn't like being told to rein herself in, but there seemed no point to ignoring advice if she was going to ask for it.

"I think we need to talk," she said to Neptune.

"Oh...really?" he said.

She nodded.

"This wouldn't be about that stuff your dad said would it?" Neptune rubber his head.

"They talked to you too huh?" Yang said.

"It was pretty awkward,"  Neptune said.

Yang sighed. "Yeah...do you think they have a point?"

"You're asking me?" Neptune gestured. "I thought we were good."

"We are," Yang folded her arms. "But...I don't know, do you think we're really getting serious?"

"I think we've been just going with the flow," Neptune said. "I've been fine with coasting around. I never had any place I really cared about staying in that long. I mean...you've met my family," he tugged his jacket collar. "Kind of wanted some space. That's why I went to Vacuo."

"That and there was no water," Yang said.

Neptune shrugged.

"Yeah, I get that," Yang said. "And I'm enjoying not having that any responsibilities too. It's nice to have someone along, though."

"Yeah," Neptune said. "And I like you...I thought that was all it took."

"I'm starting to think we're under thinking this a little," Yang said. "I mean, I don't know why stuff has to be so complicated, but I guess it does feel like my parents did this exact thing."

"I just don't see why it's so bad," Neptune said. "I mean, you're here, that's not a bad thing."

"No, but it was rough," Yang glanced at the ground. "I mean, I can blow that off, but I don't know if I'm okay with the idea of putting someone else through that." She rubbed her shoulder. "We haven't really... had to talk about it yet, but...at some point, it's bound to come up."

"Yeah, it already would have if you had...you know," Neptune shrugged.

"I don't even know why I haven't gone there," Yang shrugged. "It's not that I don't want to--maybe deep down though, I was thinking about how inconvenient it would be if something went wrong there..."

"I do... kind of see it..." Neptune admitted. "I hate being responsible sometimes."

Yang finally laughed. "Yeah, it sucks...but let's be real, we can't just...ignore it."

Neptune rubbed his head. "I don't really like talking about things like this, so I'm not sure how to put it...but.."

He glanced around.

"Well...we've been through a lot, all of us. I would never want to kill that by doing anything to hurt you. If you're feeling that way. But does that mean you don't want to date."

"No, I mean, like you," Yang said. "But maybe we do need some ground rules--I can't believe I just said those words, but...well you know it's just gonna bother us if we blow them off. I mean...I'm not big on authority, you know that, but you don't want to think your parents are worried about you all the time."

"Yeah, your dad was kind of good at guilt tripping me about it," Neptune winced. "And I know my mom would agree. She's actually really against having kids and stuff when you're not ready."

"Isn't she a single mom too?" Yang suddenly recalled.

"Yeah...Dsd kind of just...disappeared," Neptune said. "Could have been eaten by grimm, could have just walked out on us. The problem with Remnant is, you'll never know sometimes. I think that's kind of why my mom is so...her."

"It's funny because she's so different from your personality," Yang said.

"I'm not uptight, you mean?" Neptune said. "I don't know, sometimes I think I am, deep down, and I'm just trying to play it off more cool."

[I think his behavior on the show implies this actually.]

"That and less judgemental," Yang said.

"I was more judgy when I was a little younger," Neptune said. "I think joining team SSSN kind of knocked it outta me a lot. They would take any of that crap in Vacuo. I've always kinda tried to blend in."

"I've always considered myself pretty laid back, too," Yang mused. "But then I do have that temper. Ever feel like we're only okay with part of ourselves?"

"Oh yeah," Neptune said.

Pause.

"You know though, you're the only person I've ever really had these kinds of conversations with," Neptune said. "Sun's cool and all, but we don't talk about deep stuff. Just not our style. And I guess I worry I won't be cool enough for team SSSN. With you, I don't feel that way, though.

"Really?" Yang said.

"Yeah...I guess because you're just so chill about stuff like that," Neptune said.

"Same, though," Yang said. "I mean that's kind of why we're together, isn't it? We're just both so comfortable with each other."

"I'm just saying I wouldn't want that to go away," Neptune said. "And if we did break up, I'd hope we could still be cool, you know."

Yang smiled. "Yeah, I think so."

She tapped her chin. "So we have to be careful. I don't want to ruin it."

"I don't want to have to worry about it," Neptune said. "So whatever you want, okay?"

"Okay, but like don't just say that," Yan said. "You have to mean it."

"I do mean it," Neptune shrugged. "Let's face it, I'm never gonna get another girl as cool as you, so I'm willing to do pretty much anything to keep you happy."

"Wow, that is so... like needy but sweet at the same time," Yang snorted.

"I'm working on my confidence, but cut me a break, I'm not good at this feelings stuff," Neptune pleaded.

"No no, it's cool, actually, it's nice to hear that once in a while," Yang suddenly frowned. "Sometimes I think...you know, if my dad or Ruby really needed me around, they'd have a bigger problem with me going off like this."

"Oh no, I'm sure they just didn't want to hold you back," Neptune said.

"Yeah..." Yang sighed. "Sometimes, I guess we want to be a little held back---or at least feel like people would hold us back if they could."

"So does that mean if I hold you back in a fight, you're okay with it?" Neptune joked.

Yang rolled her eyes. "You know, don't think any of this means that I'm gonna take it easy on you about your semblance. I still think we've gotta work on that.

"Oh, come on, you could take it a little easier..." Neptune said. "I've gotten so much better. Why push my luck?"

"We all know what you can do now, you have a standard to live up to," Yang argued.

"Way to make me regret facing my phobias..."

The conversation changed after that.

They didn't talk that much about the subject again, but they did decide to make some slight adjustments to their travel arrangements and rules about that.

[Hey, it's real life people.]

* * *

Another 4 months after that, it was getting cold in Mistral again, and Yang and Neptune headed back to Argus to wait out the snow clogged roads that would soon make driving around pretty much impossible.

Jaune and Pyrrha were back by now, of course, and enjoying newlywed bliss, from all Emerald told them.

She had news of her own.

"Mercury and I completed the specialist program!" she said. "We're legit now."

"Got the stupid badge and everything," Mercury said. "Yippee..."

"Even a punk like you should be a little excited about this," Yang took a look at Emerald's. "Nice."

"He's just being a pill about it," Emerald said.

She'd changed her hair a little, growing out parts of it and trimmed the longer ends to be a bit more even. Other than that, she was pretty much sticking to her usual style--with jackets now.

"Are they gonna make you wear a uniform?" Neptune asked.

"Technically, we're supposed to, but uniform production is kind of slow with Atlas being a non entity," Emerald shrugged. "So Winter said we're all just going to have the badges and that's it. I'm kind of glad, too much white is so blegh."

"So it really only took a year to become a specialist, huh?" Yang said. "You'd think it'd take longer."

"Well, we're not military specialists," Emerald said. "Just huntsmen ones. We already had these mad skills, so it wasn't that much of a problem for us to get a leg up. I think they changed it anyway."

"So, will you have a team?" Pyrrha asked.

"For now, Marrow is going to lead us and couple other of the newbs who signed on after Atlas moved to Argus," Emerald replied. "Marrow's okay, I guess. At least he's not such a snob."

"His power is so unfair though," Mercury said.

"He just doesn't like that someone can stop him so easily," Emerald shrugged.

[ I just wonder why Marrow didn't just freeze the entire room when Tyrian was on his murder spree, like does he have to see something to use his semblance on it?]

"I'm really happy for you guys," Neptune said. "It'll be so cool to be out there doing those really dangerous assignments."

Emerald shrugged. "I think the appeal is that we can do them with a little less danger...and that's kind of what they're thinking. Winter says they need people who can take on big grimm... and mind grimm...the ones that hide out in the middle of nowhere. People are going to want to expand...and that means driving the grimm out."

"We can all literally just tell them to run and they run now," Yang said.

"Yeah, but not everyone can do that," Emerald said. "We still need to kill them."

"Blondie? Blue boy? Don't tell me you haven't been killing them?" Mercury said.

Yang and Neptune looked a little guilty.

"Well, we kill them," Neptune said. "But sometimes when we're tired, you know... or just want to chill, we just scare them off."

"But they could just run and find some other hapless victim," Emerald pointed out.

"Okay, it's still a little weird to have you lecture me about that," Yang said oddly.

"Oh, she's become insufferable," Mercury said. "The whole specialist team is sick of her saying 'but what if we could do more?' or 'what about these people?'"

Emerald threw something at him and he ducked.

"I don't think it's bad to be conscientious about it," she said.

"I think it's great that you've changed so much," Neptune said.

"Not that much," Mercury mumbled.

"There's other stuff going on," Emerald said. "Like I said, the grimm aren't gone...it might be better for Winter to explain though."

"If you two are going to be snowed in for a while," Mercury said. "You should think about volunteering to be part of the Argus huntsmen group. They'll be using ships so you can still get in on the action."

"I admit spending the entire winter waiting for the snow to melt does sound pretty boring," Yang said. "What do you think?"

Neptune shrugged. "I wanted a break, but a few missions here and there wouldn't hurt. I get bored you know."

"Yeah, that's the reason to help people, so you won't be bored," Emerald said dryly.

"Oh, give it a rest," they all complained.

***

In fact, Winter was pleased to hear they might join the volunteer squad.

The volunteer group was made up mostly of huntsmen who were only passing through Mistral but needed to wait out the weather, like Yang and Neptune, or huntsmen who didn't want to join the militia or official roster of heroes but did want jobs.

A lot of them circled in from other kingdoms when business was slow.

Qrow was part of the group--and he was kind of heading it up in some ways as one of the most experienced huntsmen in it.

"Hey Firecracker," he said, when Yang walked in. "Just in time to stir up some trouble, I see."

"Guess I'd be in good company," Yang said. "You know what they say about birds of a feather."

"I will murder you," Harriet, who was in the break room, growled.

"That would be a group of crows, yeah," Neptune said.

She gave him a death glare.

Winter walked in, and some of the huntsmen who were leaders.

"Ah, Miss Xiao Long, glad you could join us," Winter said.

Winter had expanded in her social skills to be occasionally nice to people even while on the clock.

Frankly, she was still pretty intimidating even this way, and the volunteers tended to act pretty scared of her, to Qrow's infinite amusement.

"Hey, Winter," Neptune said.

Winter gave him a look that could have frozen his blood.

"It's Lieutenant, while on the job, Mr. Vasilias," she said.

"Right, right, I'm sorry...Ma'am." Neptune squeaked.

Winter nodded curtly.

"Well, for those of you who were not at our last meeting," she meant the volunteers, "we've had an emerging grimm problem in Southeast Mistral."

She pulled up a map on the holographic screen in the room.

"Excuse me, lieutenant," said one woman, who must have only been in her 20s, "I thought that grimm population was in decline since the war ended."

Winter nodded. "So it has been, overall," she said. "But with the grimm moving away from our big citiea, some areas are seeing an influx of them, whether they are running away, or they are trying to inflict damage in a smaller way. We now know that many grimm are more intelligent than used to be popularly believed. It's possible they could have a strategy in pulling away into the smaller towns. The problem is,"

She made one area bigger and then indicated a darker part on it that denoted a large grimm movements. "If they gather too many here, it will be difficult for anyone to go in there, and then they may erupt out of it at any time and swallow up a town. The Argus base wishes to disperse them before they have a chance to do this and nip the problem in the bud. But we don't have an overabundance of huntsmen to throw at it. Or artillery, currently. Which is why we've been looking at the specialist fighters. Now that you've graduated , we want you to head up small sa of regular huntsmen and specialists combined, and hit the grimm at multiple points, till you scatter them. Most grimm are easily handled if you have a decent amount of people and only a few of them. Even ordinary people can kill them no trouble. But when they form herds, they're difficult for even the best huntsmen, so our goal is not to annihilate them all at once but to get them to spread themselves out. Is that clear."

"Yes." Emerald said.

"But ma'am," said a different person, a man this time. "Grimm are blind beasts, usually, how can we scatter them? They hunt us, they don't usually run from us. Only a few have ever been known to do that. And, if you'd forgive me saying so, that's only your elite team of heroes who have that power."

Some other people looked worried about this also.

Winter pursed her lips together. "We'll be sending those people out with you," she said. "I intend to take some missions myself, even."

Some people perked up.

"But since this will be extremely dangerous, if you wish to apply for other assignments, that's your call," Winter added a bit thinly. "Otherwise we'll assume you're amenable to the danger, and assign you as we see fit."

Not many people wanted to back out and look cowardly. But they said they'd have to talk it over with their full teams.

After the meeting broke up, Yang went up to Winter.

"How long have the grimm been growing like that?" She said.

"We didn't notice it for a while, but our guess is likely as soon as a few months after we defeated Salem," Winter said. "Their intention seems to be to use their numbers to keep from being hunted further. Clever, for grimm."

"It's definitely freaky that they can even think that still," Neptune said. "I'd want to think the worst ones were still hiding in the grimm lands."

"What grimm lands?" Qrow said dryly. "Have you seen the satellite images of that continent lately? Look."

He pulled some stuff up.

"Dang, Uncle Qrow, when did you get tech savvy?" Yang said.

Qrow shot her a look. "I kind of had to work at this stupid base."

"I thought it was cool," Neptune offered.

"Stop being a brown nose kid," Qrow said. "Anyway, see?"

The images taken from the land did indeed show a land that had gone green again.

"We think some animals may even have returned," Winter said. "As you can see, there's flowers now, that suggests bugs at least...The grimm lands are no more."

"Weird. Do you think anyone would actually live there?" Yang said.

"The idea still weirds me out," Qrow shook his head. "But may in a couple decades, people will have forgotten about it, and some brave idiots will set up there...who knows it might work. The soil might not be toxic anymore."

"We have no reason to think so, but I think we should send someone out there to take samples first," Winter said. "However, we really don't need to worry about it now and we can't spare anyone to go on an expedition to a land that's been uninhabitable for so long. The point is, we're still focused on the grimm problem."

She rubbed her forehead.

"You never get a break, huh?" Neptune said.

"Oh, compared to the crisis on Atlas, this has been nothing," Winter waved dismissively. "Small problem by comparison. I suppose I still can't get the idea of it becoming something bigger out of my mind."

"We've seen too much to take a threat lightly anymore, I guess," Qrow agreed.

"Hey, we're down to go out there and blast some grimm to kingdom come," Yang said. "And scare them off. No problem. Though a few bombs might clear them all out."

"Those are very expensive, and at best would only put a dent in the problem, and risk damage to the countryside," Winter said.

"I was mostly kidding," Yang said. "You're always just so strait laced."

"Miss Xiao Long, I do not allow that kind of talk towards me while I'm on duty," Winter said.

"When do you allow it?" Neptune asked.

He got a glare.

"Sorry...just kidding..." he mumbled.

"Hmm," Winter frowned. "To return to the subject. Would the two of you prefer to be assigned to Emerald and Mercury's team. You're already familiar with each other's skills."

"I guess for a few missions it won't hurt," Yang wouldn't have imagined she'd agree to this a year ago, but she didn't really have any beef with them now."

"I'm fine with it I guess," Neptune said.

***

That was how they ended up flying out to the edge of Mistral with team Obsidian--as the squad had dubbed Emerald and Mercury, who still worked as partners.

Surprisingly, Raven joined them.

"I really didn't need you following me around," Yang faked not being happy about it.

"Not everything is about you, Yang," Raven was by now getting past where she could be guilt tripped so easily. "Schnee wants me to oversee this one because the grimm are particularly thick in this area and I can evacuate everyone safely. You should take it seriously, she's trusting you with the more dangerous assignments because of your extra powers."

"Sweet," Neptune said.

"Well, if I can be appreciated," Mercury asid.

Winter had decided to send teams of 7 out, as the usual 10 or so for a squad was too many for them, but she didn't feel the 5 person Ops team was sufficient for younger huntsmen.

Marrow had taken a group of less overpowered people (as Mercury put it) to a different spot.

Raven's would be right in the center of the grimm infestation that they could detect. They would have to get the most grimm moving, while the other teams would head them off and keep them from regrouping.

"At times like this, I do miss magic powers a little," Ravne muttered, as the pilot flew them over the terrain and they spotted some grimm already from the air.

"Don't say that," Emerald made a face.

Along with them, there were two more people assigned from the volunteer group.

Not Ren and Nora sadly, as they'd been picked for a different, more stealthy group in the mountains.

The forest area was more tricky because grimm could hide from you and not be that far away.

So the two people with them allegedly had tracking skills--since no one else in the group did.

Yang and Neptune hadn't met them, and Emerald and Mercury only knew them by sight. 

They were some of the old Atlas huntsmen now turned freelance, as it were.

One's name was Pedro Piper, and he carried what looked like some kind of flute--what was it with Atlas and musical weapons?

The other was a Faunus with bat ears who introduced herself as Sergeant Babs Claw.

They were both slightly older than the four teens, though they couldn't have been much older than Marrow and no longer had rank, but they didn't seem too thrilled to be working with "Teenagers."

Which Sergeant Claw voiced rather indiscreetly to the pilot, who was only dropping them off and then following them with air support.

"Get real with her," Mercury said to Emerald. "It's not like there's a Sergeant when the military is almost totally disbanded."

"I guess it sucks for her to not have a position anymore," Emerald said. "The way they had to cut back to just enough people to run the base did annoy a lot of former officers I guess..."

[Gotta love how we only ever meet the Ace Ops and Winter on the show so we have no idea how many officers that would be.]

"Can you stop sympathizing with the snob?" Mercury said. "She's looking at us like we're fresh meat on the chopping block."

"Ew," Emerald said. "Will you relax? We'll show our stuff once we're out there. I'm not really psyched about dealing with this many grimm."

Raven was ignoring the attitude, as usual, and checking her scroll.

"Okay, people, we have an update," she said. "We thought there were no people out here, but there's a chance there was a traveling caravan leaving one of the coastal towns. It might be close enough to be a problem."

"A caravan for what?" Neptune asked.

"Dust supplies probably," Raven was still reading. "And other supplies. It'll be on armored cars and trucks mostly, but they won't have enough dust to deal with this amount of grimm if we drive them too close. Scouters better be ready to warn us."

"Don't worry, I'd hear anything that was close enough to be a problem," Claw spoke up.

"I know we debriefed at the base, but I repeat, do not try to kill more grimm than strictly necessary yet," Raven reiterated. "We want to thin them out. A fight might draw more of them to us if we drag it out too long."

"Bandit gets a badge for one year and suddenly she's an expert on warfare," Piper muttered aside.

"What was that?" Raven looked up.

Piper hadn't spoken that loud, but he shrugged. "I was just wondering if we were going to engage in any kind of guerilla warfare."

"Didn't she just say not to?" Mercury said. "Dumba--."

Piper glared at him.

"Mr. Black, that is not the kind of attitude we're going to have between teammates," Raven warned him.

"What? Are you serious, he--" began Mercury and she gave him a look.

Mercury knew better than to cross Raven and he shut up sullenly.

"Everyone ready?" the pilot opened the hatch.

Everyone jumped to the ground.

After landing in various places in a small circle, they began to look around for grimm.

"Hey," Yang walked closer to Raven. "What was that? You know Piper was out of line."

"He didn't say it loud enough for me to confirm it," Raven had her hand on her sword hilt warily. "And I don't have time to make a fuss over stupid side comments, but Black stirring up some negativity right now is a jackass thing to do. We can ignore the snark, but if you start fighting, the grimm will be on us like flies. I would think I wouldn't have to explain this."

Yang decided she didn't like her mom as a commander very well. She was way tougher on people when she was in charge.

"Whatever," she unlocked her gauntlets more.

Raven didn't bother to say anything else to make her feel better, not her style.

"Just ignore them," Emerald told Mercury, where they were walking. "There's enough to worry about. They're just idiots."

"I think Schnee should have assigned us people who'd work with us willingly," Mercury said.

"Uh...well the reality is, that's not that many people... where Atlas in concerted..." Emerald said.

"I thought they were over it. We're heroes now," Mercury said.

"Yeah...but you know some people just think you and I were dragged along for the ride, and didn't really do that much to help," Emerald said hesitantly. "Neon was telling me that, you know...and Flynt was saying that we just get a bad rap because a lot of people knew about us being in Atlas while the fall was going on. I mean...we always knew not even was going to let it go that easily. They did lose their jobs and homes because of us. Can you really blame Piper and Claw for being a little resentful?"

"I can, actually," Mercury said. "How much more s--- do we have to go through to clear our record? Can't change the past."

"You didn't even want to clear your record that long ago, now you're pissed that people won't let us?" Emerald said. "D---, Merc, nothing makes you happy."

"Oh sure," Mercury said flatly. "They're just snobs. Like they always were. Branwan is more qualified than their dumba--- commanders were, and they all know it."

"Just stop spewing negativity, all right? We want to find the grimm before they find us," Emerald pleaded. "I don't need to listen to you b---h right now either."

"Fine," Mercury sighed. "I'd rather find the grimm right now anyway. I need a distraction. I just hope I don't have to bust out the eyes. They think I'm a enough of a freak without me adding that."

"I think we could use it," Emerald said.

"I'm not sure I'm in the right zone for it," Mercury grumbled.

"Get in the zone!" Emerald hissed.

"Is there a problem over there?" Claw looked at them.

"No..." Emerald said.

"Oh? You're not letting this mission get in the way of your nice little lover's spat, or anything?" Claw said.

"Excuse me?" Emerald said.

"Everyone knows you two are hooking up on the job," Claw said. "But keep it out of the mission all right?"

"What--" Emerald was shocked.

"Not bad enough assigning us with a pair of criminals, but they have to be hormonal teenagers on top of it," Piper muttered.

"Hey, we're not--" Emerald sputtered.

"You got a problem with us, a--h---?!" Mercury snapped at him, making a fist.

"Hey!" Raven yelled at them. "Shut up all of you. I will write you up if I have to. Claw, Piper, if you have a problem with my selections for this mission, I can have you assigned to a less high priority mission once we get back."

"You assigned them?" Claw said, a bit more taken aback.

"Schnee and I picked these teams out together," Raven said.

"Sure, you and her boyfriend," Piper muttered. "Some nepotism, right there."

"What did you just say?" Raven looked ready to punch him.

"Uh, Mom--" Yang suddenly grabbed her shoulder. "--remember what you just said?"

"Yes, Yang." Raven looked back at her. "And don't refer to me as Mom on the job."

"Nepotism abounds," Piper muttered.

"All right, you know what? No one talks to me that way--" Raven began.

"Mom, shut up!" Yang suddenly said.

"Yang, how dare--" began Raven, but then a growl cut her off.

Glowing, red eyes appeared out of the woods.

"She was trying to tell you that there was a Grimm right through those trees..." Neptune said, sounding frustrated.

A Grimm that was shaped like a lion with long tusks like an elephant's, and the size of a tank, leapt out of the woods at them.

[Yes, the bonus chapters are getting some action too. I wanted to spice it up.]

https://youtu.be/99mFKI-EvQ4

[RWBY "Thunder" AMV by Heizell]