Fate's of the Trade

Chapter 6, Episode 6: Strong, Yet Alone in the Woods

Ruby Rose stares at the moon through a window, sitting on the staircase. Snow is drizzling outside. Ruby checks on Blake Belladonna, Weiss Schnee, and Yang Xiao Long, who are sitting on the rug and staring at the fire from the fireplace. Maria Calavera reads a book while sitting on the sofa and Oscar Pine is pacing back and forth. Shadow and Rinoa are seen speaking with Double A while CD fiddles with a little magic in his hands. Tifa is going through a few of the books while Emerald and Yuskue make sure to keep their weapons in top shape. After checking on the others, Ruby stands up and walks toward Qrow Branwen. Qrow is sitting nearby the window, looking outside with his feet propped on the drawer as Miyuki sits and keeps an eye on the door.

Qrow: Storm's cleared up for now. We should be able to leave by morning.

Ruby: That's good.

Qrow: No...I don't have a good feeling about this place, especially with me around...

Ruby looks down at a wine bottle on the floor with Qrow's hand hovering near it, then looks at him.

Ruby: Are you...okay?

Qrow: *scoffs*Sure. Tell everyone to get some sleep. I'll wake you guys up just before sunrise.

Yuskue: I'll backup Qrow in case he oversleeps.

Qrow: Hey, I'll wake up in time, ok? Don't worry about it.

Ruby walks away as Qrow drinks from the wine bottle. Ruby pauses and looks back at him before narrowing her eyes downward.

Back in the other room, the fire continues to burn. The book Maria is reading has a "III" on the cover, with the other two volumes on a nearby table.

Oscar: It's a diary?

Maria: The head of this household, Bartleby. Apparently, he and several other families founded this little settlement to try and live on their own. It sounds like it worked, at least for a spell.

Rinoa: Grimm?

Maria: Just one of many hardships. Slowed down their farming, made everything harder...It's a shame, really. He seemed like quite the ambitious fellow, always thinking of new schemes to overcome the odds.

ChaoticDementio: Sounds like he and the people of this town caved in due to something.

Ruby: *walking back into the room* Hey guys. Qrow said we should get some sleep. We're gonna head out early tomorrow.

Shadow: I could use some rest considering what's happened recently.

AarenAero: As long as we get out of this town. It's starting to give me...uncomfortable vibes.

Blake: Thank goodness.

Everyone gets up to get ready to sleep. Maria hops off the couch.

Maria: Hmph, the last thing you'll catch me doing is letting some kid tell me what to do. *in a mimicking voice* "Go to bed!" *scoffs*

Tifa: We're just doing this for everyone's well being.

Maria sits on an armchair, turns on the lamp next to it and continues reading from the book. Ruby shrugs and smiles before going to sleep herself. The fire continues to burn in the fireplace as everyone drifts off to sleep except for Double A and ChaoticDementio, who start reading through the diary's before Double A notices something.