Kakashi closed the novel with a soft thud, his head swimming in a pleasant haze of dopamine. A contented smile crept across his face as the last lines of the story echoed in his mind.'What a masterpiece...' he thought, basking in the afterglow of finishing the book. 'No wonder I couldn't stop.' He glanced down at the worn pages in his hands, almost reluctant to set it aside. He had, after all, read it twice in a row, completely immersed in the tale."Okay, time to—" Kakashi's words trailed off as his gaze shifted to the horizon.The soft golden hues of dawn spread across the sky, bathing the world in a gentle morning light. His smile faded as realization struck.'Wait... is it morning already?' he thought, blinking in disbelief.He quickly glanced over at Team RWBY, all still sound asleep in their makeshift camp, oblivious to the passage of time. His face palmed, dread slowly creeping in."Uh oh... not again," Kakashi muttered, feeling the weight of familiar regret settle over him. The sense of déjà vu hit him hard—he had done this before, losing track of time while getting absorbed in a book back in Konoha with Icha Icha Tactics. Clutching the novel tightly to his chest, he felt cartoonish tears of frustration welling up inside.'I couldn't help it! It's just that good!' His inner voice screamed in protest. He was mentally kicking himself for failing to keep watch properly.A few minutes later, the soft stirring sounds reached his ears, drawing his attention. Yang stretched her arms overhead, her muscles flexing as she yawned and blinked against the morning light. She looked far too energized for someone who had just woken up."Man, I feel so refreshed!" Yang exclaimed, her voice full of early-morning pep that somehow managed to annoy Kakashi further. She grinned, shaking out her limbs and basking in the warmth of the fire's last embers.Blake was the next to wake up. She yawned quietly, her cat ears twitching as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Her voice was much softer, more languid as she greeted them. "Morning..." she mumbled, pulling her blanket tighter around herself as she sat up.Kakashi glanced around the camp, only to realize Ruby was nowhere in sight. His brow furrowed slightly, and his body instinctively tensed.Kakashi's attention shifted toward Weiss, who remained stubbornly wrapped in her sleeping bag, clearly not ready to face the day. Her brows were furrowed, and she let out a groan, still half-asleep and clearly annoyed by something—or rather, someone."Rrgggh..." she grumbled, pulling her blanket over her head to block out the light and the sounds of their conversation. She shifted, making it evident that she hadn't been entirely pleased with the noises Kakashi had been making throughout the night.Kakashi winced, his guilt resurfacing. 'Oops...' He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry, Weiss. Got a little carried away with my book..." he admitted, knowing full well that his late-night giggles were probably to blame for her poor sleep."...You don't say," Weiss muttered from beneath her blanket, her voice muffled but dripping with sarcasm.Yang let out a hearty laugh, clearly amused by the whole situation. "I knew you were reading something juicy," she teased, her golden eyes gleaming with mischief. "Come on, share with the class! What was so good that you stayed up all night, giggling like a schoolgirl?"Kakashi's eyes widened at Yang's teasing, and he instinctively clutched the book closer to his chest. "I, uh... well, it's..." He trailed off, trying to find a way to describe the novel without admitting how ridiculously hooked he had been.Yang leaned in, a smirk forming on her lips. "Don't tell me—was it one of those books? You know, the kind with lots of action and romance?" She waggled her eyebrows suggestively, clearly enjoying Kakashi's discomfort.Kakashi cleared his throat, trying to maintain his composure. "It's... a literary masterpiece. Full of... uh, complex character dynamics and thrilling action sequences." He could feel his face heating up despite himself, and Yang's grin only grew wider."Uh-huh, sure," Yang said, her voice laced with mock skepticism.Blake, who had been silently watching from the sidelines, finally chimed in, her voice calm and measured. "Leave him alone, Yang. Everyone gets hooked on a good book from time to time." She gave Kakashi a sympathetic smile. "Besides, there's nothing wrong with getting lost in a story."Kakashi sent Blake a grateful look, relieved to have someone on his side. "Thank you, Blake. At least someone understands."Blake nodded in acknowledgment, before turning her attention back to the fire. "Although, you might want to manage your time better next time. We all need rest," she added with a small, knowing smile.Kakashi chuckled sheepishly. "Yeah, I'll keep that in mind."As the group slowly began to prepare for the day ahead, Kakashi found himself glancing back at the novel in his hands. Despite the embarrassment, he still couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction from the story he had devoured.'I'll definitely have to read the sequel,' he thought with a smirk.But for now, his priority was getting through the day without succumbing to the exhaustion he was sure to feel later.Despite the long night, he couldn't help but feel a little more connected to this group of young Huntresses, a sense of camaraderie quietly settling in.'Yeah, this isn't so bad,' Kakashi mused, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips."Where's Ruby?" Yang suddenly asked, snapping him from his thoughts. She was looking around, having just realized that her sister's sleeping bag was empty.Kakashi froze for a moment, his mind racing. 'Where was Ruby?' He mentally retraced his steps from the night before, but... he had been too caught up in his book. 'Had she wandered off?' His heart skipped a beat, guilt gnawing at him."I-... uh..." Kakashi began, his voice faltering as he scratched the back of his neck, avoiding Yang's gaze. How could he admit that he'd been so caught up reading that he hadn't noticed anything?Yang's eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping into her expression. But before she could press the issue further, a sudden bark echoed through the ruins they had camped in. Everyone's attention snapped toward the entrance.Panting and wagging his tail, Ruby's loyal dog, Zwei, stood in the doorway. The little corgi looked anxious as he barked frantically, his body fidgeting as if trying to communicate something urgent."Zwei!" Yang exclaimed in relief. She crouched down to greet him, ruffling his fur. "Where have you been, little guy?" Zwei barked again, wagging his tail, but something in his behavior felt off—like he was trying to tell them something.Kakashi watched as Zwei turned toward the entrance, his excitement replaced by what seemed like concern. The happy-go-lucky corgi was distressed, letting out sad little whimpers.Weiss, still groggy from sleep, rubbed her eyes. "Wait... if Zwei's here, where's Ruby?" she asked, her voice rising in panic.Zwei barked again, this time more frantic, his body tense. He scratched at the ground as if urging them to follow him.Yang's face paled as the realization hit her. "Oh no... Ruby must be in trouble!" she said out loud, her voice thick with worry. Her fists clenched, and she looked ready to bolt out the door.Just then, footsteps echoed from the entrance, and Doctor Oobleck emerged, already geared up for action. His glasses reflected the morning light as he adjusted them on his nose, his face unusually serious."We need to move. If Ruby is missing, she could be in danger," Oobleck said, his usual rapid-fire speech slightly more controlled but no less urgent. "There's no time to waste."Blake, already moving with her usual calm efficiency, grabbed her things and checked her weapons. "Zwei seems to know something. He'll lead us to her," she stated, her amber eyes locking onto the anxious dog.Weiss groaned as she stood up, still a bit sluggish.Kakashi, though feeling the weight of his own guilt, knew this wasn't the time to dwell on it. Ruby's safety came first. He grabbed his gear and tightened his headband, pushing away his weariness. There would be time for reflection later. Now, they had to act."Let's go," Kakashi said, his voice firm. He gave Zwei a nod, silently promising the little dog they'd find Ruby no matter what.Zwei barked again, bolting out of the ruins with the team right on his heels. The search for Ruby had begun, and every second counted.A Few Minutes LaterThe team followed Zwei closely as the corgi led them through the maze of ruined streets, darting from corner to corner. Kakashi moved with precision, his eyes scanning the environment for any signs of danger. As they pushed forward, they suddenly came upon a large hole in the middle of the road—a massive, gaping pit that definitely hadn't been there the last time Kakashi and Oobleck had scouted the area.Kakashi's eyes narrowed as he studied the hole. This wasn't here before. His mind quickly shifted gears, focusing on the possibility of what had happened."Look! Ruby's scythe!" Yang's voice rang out, sharp with alarm.They all rushed toward the edge of the hole. There, lying near the rim, was Crescent Rose—Ruby's signature weapon—half-buried in debris and dirt. Yang's breath hitched at the sight of it, panic flashing across her face. She carefully bent down to pick it up, her fingers trembling slightly.Kakashi knelt beside her, inspecting the scene. He leaned forward, peering into the pit. The hole was deep, its bottom lost in the shadows, and the sides were jagged as if something—or someone—had recently disturbed it. A chill crept down his spine."Do you think she fell down there...?" Weiss asked hesitantly, her voice wavering as she stared into the darkness below.Kakashi's gaze hardened. "Most likely," he replied, his tone grim. He stood up, his mind racing as he analyzed the possibilities. Was Ruby attacked? Had she fallen while fighting something?"Ruby wouldn't just drop her scythe," Yang muttered, gripping Crescent Rose tightly. "She'd never leave it behind willingly."Oobleck stared down into the hole, eyes wide with a sudden realization. "Of course... Of course, of course, of course! How could I have been so blind?!"Yang, confused by his outburst, furrowed her brow. "Dr. Oobleck? What's wrong?"Oobleck turned to face the group, speaking so fast his words practically blended together. "Mountain Glenn! Yes, the expansion of Vale that was inevitably destroyed by creatures of Grimm. It was previously home to thousands of working people, commuting from the city to the main Kingdom—developed an elaborate subway system, Grimm attacks increased—city evacuates into metro tunnels, but what do they find? The southeast quadrant of Vale is known for wild forces and deep caves!"Yang blinked, trying to follow his rapid explanation. "Uh, Doc? What are you saying?"Oobleck, barely pausing for breath, continued, "We're not just looking for an underground network; we're looking for an underground crime network!"Blake stepped forward, tilting her head. "So... they're working in caves?"Oobleck shook his head, trying to contain his enthusiasm. "No, no, no! Mountain Glenn was Vale's first serious attempt at expansion. It worked for a short period, thanks to aggressive perimeter defenses and unique transportation. They developed an elaborate subway system to ferry citizens from the new territory to the inner Kingdom. But without Vale's natural borders to protect it from the Grimm, Mountain Glenn was doomed from the start!"The team began to piece together the significance of what he was saying, the fog of confusion starting to lift."As the attacks intensified," Oobleck went on, "the people took shelter beneath the city, in massive caves they had cleared out for the subway system. They cut themselves off from the surface, creating what essentially became an underground village.""Wait..." Yang interrupted, her eyes narrowing. "Are you saying Ruby could be in some kind of underground hideout?"Oobleck nodded. "Precisely! After an explosion opened the mouth of another cavern filled with subterranean Grimm, the Kingdom officially sealed off the tunnels, turning it into one of the largest crypts in the world. If Ruby's down there..."He quickly unscrewed his thermos, revealing it as a weapon in disguise. "We must move quickly before she's lost to those caverns or worse—before the Grimm find her."Yang clenched her fists, determination burning in her eyes. "Then let's go get her."Kakashi, listening intently, finished securing the rope around his waist. "Time to move. If Ruby's down there, she might not be alone—and we need to be prepared for anything."Weiss, Blake, and Yang nodded in agreement. The air grew tense with urgency as they gathered their equipment, ready to dive into the unknown.Oobleck gave Zwei a nod, and the corgi barked in response, eager to continue leading the way. As Kakashi descended into the pit, he could only hope they weren't too late. Below, shadows stretched into the unseen depths of Mountain Glenn—a place filled with more than just forgotten ruins.[End]