The Smuggler of Vale

Taking Them Back

The sun was beginning to set as Qrow and I stalked the streets of Vale following the scent of the twins. Cinder's men were clever, they circled back on themselves, wandered through alleyways full of trash to mask the scent, and even a trash dump to throw me off of their trail. It didn't help that a rainstorm was about to start, I've had to backtrack to pick up their scent three times, costing us hours. The scent was thankfully beginning to get fresher as we made our way to the rattier side of Vale. I say the rattier side, but all it is is slightly less new and a little more run down. There are a couple of abandoned buildings that were boarded up, but they were owned by crime bosses as safe houses. I walked passed one particular boarded-up building and the scent began to fade, but I kept walking. I could feel eyes on us as we passed. It was a three-story building, the tallest on the block, with faded brick walls and a boarded-up front door, meaning there was another entrance/exit. The last thing I spotted was an alley in the back, there's probably an alleyway around the next corner.

"Qrow," I murmured

"Mm?" he grunted

"That business back there is where the trail ends," I said in a hushed tone not looking back "We'll double back at the end of the block and grab some reconnaissance,"

"Oh yeah, how long do we intend to do that?" He said lazily, but I could tell this was all a test to him.

"I'll have a lay of it in an hour, then when it's dark we'll go in," I said turning the corner and looking for an alley. I tugged on my new rifle on my back, It was pretty much the same weight as my shotgun, the new bandolier I was sporting for the rifle rounds, and the added awkwardness of the shotgun strapped to the small of my back made me feel a bit awkward. I'll just have to adapt, I located the alley and stopped at the corner of the building before the alleyway. the alley has many pathways back to different streets, making heading off an escape difficult if they split up. I spotted a man covered in a blanket, supposedly homeless at first glance, I focused on him and could easily spot his newer shoes. , another thing I observed quickly is that there are no dumpsters and trash littering the alley so that there is nothing to hide behind. Roman must've planned this over a while. I huffed a breath of frustration, I hate it when it's not an easy job.

"What can you see?" Qrow asked from behind me

"It's not just a through alleyway, it's basically a maze with too many escape routes for me to trap or cover. There's also a guard with a clear sightline to either side of the alley, but it's just one guy. I can immobilize him simply enough, but if someone inside is watching him I'm screwed before we even start."

"So what's the plan?"

I could smell the rain about to start as I racked my brain for a plan. "How much will you help with this?"

He raised his eyebrows at this "I can only intervene if someone's life is in danger,"

"This is a matter of life and death," I said hopefully

"Sorry kid, no dice," He said as he pulled a flask from his coat.

"Fuckin drunk," I muttered

"What was that?"

I ignored him and stared down the alleyway as the rain began to fall with the sun dipping over the horizon. I'll give it an hour then move I moved back down the road so as to not draw suspicion, but keeping my sense of hearing and smell on the individual in the alley, listening for a guard change or any sign of the guard leaving. I leaned against the building and slid down to sit on the street. I closed my eyes to meditate for a while, and before I found my center my scroll went off. I pulled it out of my pocket and saw Blake on my screen. I contemplated sending it to voicemail, but that would just be unjustly cruel of me.