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A Much Needed Talk

Camp...

Around a campfire, Ruby Rose, Jared Shay, Qrow Branwen, Jaune Arc, Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie sit on four logs positioned in a square. Qrow has just finished telling the story of the Maidens.

There is silence and Qrow takes a swig from his flask. He has a bandage wrapped around his abdomen over his clothing, "Really? No questions?"

"Of course we have questions. This is just...a lot to take in." Jaune said.

"It is, after the Library." Jared said, looking at Qrow. "I left you guys for a bit. Lost River Song, I'm, um, still gonna see her. But still, this is just, wow."

"Sure, of course." Qrow said, sighing.

"So these...Maidens...they're powerful fighters that don't need Dust to use magic." Ruby said.

"And they're not Magical Girls who made contracts with Kyubey either." Jared said, remembering this. "I forgot about the Four Maidens. Since it's not a fairy tale I grew up with. Well, right now, the bees are disappearing."

"Yeah." Qrow said.

"And there are four of them?" Nora asked.

"Yup. Always."

"Which means that, whenever one of them dies, the power transfers to someone...a female...that they cared about?" Ren asked.

"Whoever was in their thoughts last. Important distinction. Best option is someone we can trust. Regardless, their souls become combined, in a way." Qrow said.

"And that's what you were trying to do to Pyrrha...the night the tower fell. You were trying to turn her into one of them." Jaune said.

"The previous Fall Maiden, Amber, had been attacked. She was young, inexperienced. And her assailant, who we now know is Cinder, somehow managed to steal some of her power, but not all of it. We were afraid that if we didn't do something, the rest would go to her as well."

"So you forced it on Pyrrha." Jaune said, looking angry.

"We didn't force anything. We explained the situation and gave her the choice, and she chose. You were there, you heard her."

Jaune hangs his head for a brief moment before getting up and walking several feet away from group. Qrow watches him go.

"That guy, Tyrian...why was he after me?" Ruby asked.

"Because he wants your chocolate chip cookies." Jared said, smiling. "And Yang's strawberry sunrise. That has no ice, and one of those little umbrellas."

"Well, you definitely painted a target on your back with what you did at Beacon. I told you having silver eyes is a rare trait. And the fact that you were able to use them seems to have upset some very powerful people. Not many people know about the silver eyes. Those that do aren't very happy that one has surfaced. That's why I've been keeping an eye on you in order to make sure you were safe. All of you." Qrow said, sighing.

"Well, then, why not just travel with us? It seems like that would've been way easier." Ruby said.

"I had to keep you guys safe, because I love you all." Jared said, happily. "You're my friends, my family. I don't want to lose you guys too."

Jaune answers her loudly enough to be heard, but with his back still turned to everyone, "He was using you as bait."

"Look, I wouldn't put it like that...it's complicated." Qrow said.

"What is all of this? Ruby's being hunted, the schools are being attacked, and Jared has been facing the most guilt out all of us, all for what?! What is the point of all of this?! Will you just tell us what's going on?!" Jaune exclaimed, turning back to face Qrow.