Destiny No More

Chapter 49

Qrow scratched his chin, leaning back against the wall as he thought carefully. "Yeah, that's about the same time." Ozpin had wanted to verify his theory, or at least make sure that there were no glaring holes in it. Asking Qrow to come speak with him had been tricky however, Pyrrha still wasn't sure whether he was pro-Ozpin or pro-Ironwood at this point. She was glad to see he didn't let his own trust, or lack thereof, stop him from helping.

Pyrrha turned back towards the Headmaster. "Then what are we waiting for?" They finally had a lead on the Spring Maiden, and if they could find her they had a chance of winning.

"It's not that simple." Qrow shook his head. "The tribe isn't easy to track, they live out in the wilds, and they don't have much of a connection to the real world."

"And those who encounter them and live are reluctant to tell the tale." Ozpin elaborated, painting Pyrrha a dark picture. When she'd heard the words 'bandit tribe' she had been hoping for something different. Knowing Qrow, she had figured they were more akin to rogues than actual bandits.

"Isn't she your sister?" Pyrrha raised an eyebrow in confusion.

Qrow scoffed. "That doesn't mean a whole lot to someone like her. Trust me, you wouldn't approve of her idea of family."

"Finding the Branwen tribe will take time." Ozpin held up his hand, stopping her from immediately making her objection known. "But that does not mean we will be doing nothing. Qrow, can you locate them?"

The man in question looked back towards Ozpin, the silence dragging on for a long moment. "Yeah, I can find them." He turned to look at Pyrrha. "But he's not wrong, it will take me a bit. Raven is a lot better at covering her tracks these days... and that's something I wouldn't have expected from her."

"That might lend some credence to our theory then." Ozpin sat back, and though his words were true, he didn't sound like he enjoyed that fact. "We must also think what state she will be in."

Pyrrha looked between the two in confusion. "You think she might be a prisoner?"

Qrow shook his head. "Not likely, someone with that kind of power wouldn't be kept on the sidelines for long. It's more about what it takes to survive in the tribe."

"A vicious ruthlessness that many of today's weaklings would call barbaric." Ozpin smirked slightly. "I believe that is what Raven described it as."

Surprisingly, Qrow smiled back for a brief moment. "She wasn't entirely wrong. If Spring is still there after nearly two decades, she'll have adapted to fit in."

"So she won't be willing to help us?" Pyrrha asked.

"Not for free." Qrow explained. "And lien won't do us much good either, they'll want something else of value." He shrugged softly. "No idea what might be enough. Depends on Raven's mood."

Ozpin's small smile fell away. "With our enemy moving to secure the Spring Maiden, we don't want them to know we are as well." He turned to look at Qrow. "We will need to act swiftly, but most importantly, unseen. Can I trust the General to be... discreet for the time being?"

"I'll have a talk with James." Qrow said, standing up from the wall. "Are we done here?"

Ozpin sighed but nodded. He started for the elevator, stopping beside Pyrrha for a moment.

"Stop off to see Winter when you can. Didn't say what she wanted." The way Qrow's eyes shifted back towards Ozpin made her doubt that fact, but she nodded nonetheless. He was gone a second later, the elevator doors closing quietly.