Guardian

Chapter Twenty

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Blake sounded nervous as the wooden gateway to Raven's camp appeared.

"Considering the last time I came here I broke half the things in her tent and shattered her favorite tea set...probably not," Yang grumbled. "But she really is our best option."

"Shouldn't the others have come with us?"

Yang shook her head. "No. My mother isn't the nicest of people particularly to strangers."

"She's never met Ruby or Weiss?"

"Once," she huffed. "On a job years ago we needed information much like we do now. She isn't exactly a fan of the Schnee's and, well, Ruby's mom was Raven's teammate too."

"So why let me come?"

"Maybe I just want her to meet you," Yang winked but was suddenly serious as they approached the guards. "I'm here to see Raven."

They immediately pointed their guns at them and Blake reached for her weapon but Yang stopped her. "I would turn around miss before you wind up hurt."

Yang sighed and reached into her pocket, pulling out a single black feather from it and wished her mother would stop adding new people to her tribe. "Can I just see my mother please. It's urgent."

They cautiously lowered their weapons and looked between each other before slowly opening the gate. "Boss has some visitors! Look alive!"

The camp was bigger than the last one Yang had been too and she had gathered more followers to fill it but her mother's giant tent still stood at the back center of it. In front of the tent stood a familiar woman Yang was not to happy to see.

"Well, well," the woman crossed her arms. "Look what the Grimm dragged in. Better not be causing more trouble Xiao Long."

"Always a pleasure Vernal," Yang sneered. "She in there."

"She's out actually but she'll be back soon."

"Great. We'll just wait here then."

It was clear that Vernal wasn't happy about Yang's answer but she also knew better than to tell Raven she sent her daughter away. "Fine but I can't let you in her tent until she gets here."

"Fine," Yang sat on the other end of the wooden stage her mother's tent was on and gently pulled Blake into her lap. Ever since they had arrived she had noticed the stares her girlfriend was getting from the tribe and she wanted it to be clear that they shouldn't even try.

"Did I hear all of this correctly? Yang Xiao Long in this camp?" The voice that pierced her ears made Yang suddenly feel very cold. She peered around Blake and found herself staring into the green eyes of her former partner, Blaze Summers.

She pulled Blake closer to her like a security blanket and scowled at him. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Now is that anyway to treat an old friend. I happen live here."

"I hear he's joined a group of bandits." Yang groaned as Weiss's words came back to her. It wasn't like she didn't think it was possible he had joined up with her mother's tribe but she really wished he hadn't.

"We aren't friends Blaze, never have been."

"Blaze?" Blake suddenly shot up from her girlfriend's lap and stood protectively in front of her. "Yang's old partner, Blaze."

"What's it to you?" He grumbled and his eyes wondered to her feline ears, which twitched under his stare. "I see you brought a stray with you," he scoffed. "I really wish Raven would stop inviting animals to the camp, it'll turn into a zoo before long."