As the smoke thinned, Adam's eyes darted around the camp, his gaze landing on the cage where Jacques had been held.His stomach dropped as he registered the empty space inside. A deep scowl etched across his face, and he turned sharply to Raven, frustration and anger clear in his voice."Jacques escaped!" he spat, pointing to the abandoned cage.Raven's head snapped to the cage, her face shadowed with disbelief that quickly melted into cold fury. Her eyes narrowed as she approached, each step radiating anger.When she reached the empty cage, she clenched her fists, staring at the broken lock and the faint footprint left behind in the dust, all signs of a careful yet swift escape.The realization of being outplayed gnawed at her, each second feeding the embers of her growing rage. Her fists tightened until her knuckles went white.And then, with a furious roar, she unleashed her anger, seizing a nearby metal lamp.With one savage swing, she smashed it against a wooden post, splintering the post and sending shards of metal scattering across the camp."AGHHHHH!" Her voice ripped through the night air, laced with wrath and frustration, so intense that the entire camp seemed to still in shock. Every bandit, every White Fang member froze, heads turning in fear toward their leader.The stunned silence that followed was oppressive, the only sound the faint crackling of the broken lamp swinging back and forth.No one dared to speak or even breathe too loudly, each one sensing that Raven's fury was a storm best avoided.Adam's gaze remained steady, though a sliver of wariness flickered in his eyes. He crossed his arms, addressing Raven with a cool, almost taunting tone, "It seems your daughter wasn't alone. Clever of them."Raven's head whipped toward him, her narrowed eyes seething. "And you let it happen?" she accused, voice dripping with venom.Adam's jaw clenched, meeting her glare head-on. "Don't put this on me. You were the one so fixated on your 'family reunion' that you didn't even see the real threat coming."Raven's fists clenched at her sides, the tension between them palpable. Her mind raced, anger fueling a fresh resolve.Yang had been a distraction, the bait. The entire encounter had been a clever ruse—one she had fallen for completely. And now, her pride had cost her both her leverage and her dignity."Find them," she hissed, turning to her gathered forces, her voice ice-cold. "I want Jacques back, and I want those fools who dared to undermine me brought here. Alive."The command spurred the camp into action, each bandit and White Fang member scrambling to obey, eyes averted as they dared not risk further angering Raven.Within moments, small groups formed, scattering into the night to search for any sign of Team RWBY and their allies.But as Raven stood there, a dark realization crept into her thoughts. Yang had been right—this was more than just an escape.It was a challenge to her power, a reminder that even she could be outmaneuvered. And she couldn't ignore the sting of betrayal from her own daughter."Yang…" she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible, a strange mixture of bitterness and regret lacing her words. But as quickly as it had come, the vulnerability vanished, replaced by her hardened mask of control.Tonight's loss was only temporary, she told herself. And one way or another, she would make sure her enemies paid dearly for their insolence.Forest, Small CaveThey hid in the shelter of a small cave, the rocky walls providing some semblance of safety as the night stretched on. Inside, the atmosphere was quiet but tense, every minute feeling like an eternity as they waited for the bandits or White Fang to realize Jacques Schnee was missing.Ruby knelt beside Jacques, offering him the small amount of food they had managed to bring.His hands trembled slightly as he accepted it, but he ate slowly, as though savoring every bite despite the evident exhaustion in his eyes. His pale face was drawn, and it was clear that he had not been properly fed during his captivity. The man who had once been the face of Atlas's wealth and power was now a shadow of himself, gaunt and weary.Blake, meanwhile, kept her eyes trained on the entrance to the cave, her sharp senses alert for any sign of danger.She crouched low, peeking out into the moonlit night, her brow furrowed in concentration. "Seems like nobody followed us," she muttered softly, the tension in her voice lifting slightly.The quiet of the night gave her some peace, but she knew it was only temporary. They couldn't afford to stay in one place for too long.Ruby joined her, her concern for Jacques still clear in her eyes. She gave Blake a small nod, though the worry didn't fully leave her expression. "Good. We need to get him out of here as soon as possible, though. I don't want to stick around for too long in case they send a bigger search party."Blake nodded, stepping back from the entrance, her senses still prickling with the feeling that they were being watched. She motioned for the others to keep quiet and stay alert.Inside the cave, Weiss sat next to her father, her posture tense. She had been stealing glances at him as they tended to him, her emotions a swirling mix of confusion, anger, and something deeper—something she wasn't quite ready to face.Her father, once so proud and cold, now looked so fragile, a broken man who had been trapped in a cage, both literally and metaphorically."Father…" Weiss whispered, her voice trembling slightly as she looked at him.Her heart ached as she saw the man who had once ruled Atlas with an iron fist, now reduced to this state. Her mind was clouded with the past—the many times she had hated him, resented him for what he had done to her and her family.But now, seeing him like this, she couldn't ignore the pang of guilt that twisted in her chest.Was this the man she had tried so hard to escape from?Was this truly the person she had once feared so much?She looked at him again, noting the lines etched deeply into his face, the weariness in his eyes, and the way his frailty seemed to be catching up with him.Jacques glanced at his daughter, his eyes hollow but softening with recognition.His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. "Weiss…" he managed, his words strained but sincere. "I didn't expect this… I didn't think I'd see you again, especially not like this. You've grown so much…"Weiss's breath hitched, and for a moment, she couldn't bring herself to respond.His words hit her like a blow, the weight of everything she had once wanted to say to him crashing down on her. The walls she had built up over the years—walls of resentment and anger—now seemed fragile and brittle, threatening to collapse at the mere sound of his voice.She opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, she simply nodded, her gaze dropping to the floor as she tried to steady her emotions."I never wanted this for you, Father," she said, her voice quieter than she intended. "But I can't ignore what you've done. I can't forget it."Jacques's face twisted in what could have been guilt, regret, or perhaps a mix of both. His posture sagged, and his once-proud shoulders seemed to carry the weight of all his past decisions, as though they had caught up with him in a way that was impossible to ignore.He looked smaller somehow, a man defeated by the very arrogance and indifference he had spent so many years cultivating.Now,in this moment, those walls seemed to crumble away, leaving only a broken father—broken by time, by mistakes, and by his own choices.He opened his mouth, but his voice came out hoarse and strained. "I know," he rasped. "I've made terrible mistakes. I can never undo them. But..." He paused, glancing at Rinko, who was studying the map in his hands, making quick calculations as he planned their next steps.Rinko Schnee didn't offer any immediate comfort, though he didn't seem angered by Jacques either. Rinko simply focused on the task at hand, though his quiet presence was perhaps one of the few anchors Jacques had left.Jacques turned back to Weiss. This time, there was no venom in his gaze, no disapproval or cold dismissal. His eyes were full of something else now—something rare for him: concern.A softness he had never shown before, like a father who had seen the damage his neglect had caused and was now desperately trying to find a way to make amends."I don't expect you to forgive me," Jacques continued, his voice growing more fragile with each word. "But... I am sorry. For everything. For all of it."Weiss stood frozen, her breath caught in her chest. His words, so unexpected, hit her like a tidal wave.His tone felt genuine.Must be from all the time he was inside the cage, he had plenty of time to reflect.The anger that had defined so much of her life—anger at her father's abandonment, at his indifference to her, at the role he had played in so much of her pain—was still there, but now, mixed with something she hadn't expected: confusion.Could she forgive him?Could she even begin to process this?But the tears came, despite herself. She wiped them away, but they kept comingShe had spent so long building walls against him, against the hurt he had caused, and now it all felt so... overwhelming."I'm sorry, Weiss," Jacques repeated, his voice cracking, the words heavy with a vulnerability Weiss had never heard before. "For neglecting you... for making you feel like you weren't enough. And for Rinko... I failed you both. I've been a terrible father."Rinko, who had kept his focus on the map, barely looking up through most of the exchange, finally turned his gaze to his father.His expression was hard to read, but there was a subtle shift—a tightening around his eyes, a flicker of something soft, something that might have been forgiveness. Or maybe it was simply the recognition of the man who had disappointed them all.After a long silence, Rinko broke it. "I forgive you, Father," he said quietly. Rising from his place and took a few steps towards Jacques.His voice was steady, but there was a depth of feeling there, a resonance that spoke to years of wisdom, layered with the quiet hope of someone who just wanted to believe that people could change.Jacques's eyes widened, brimming with regret as he looked into his son's eyes, the silent plea for acceptance written on his face.Rinko saw it—the desperation, the sorrow, the man who had been brought low by his own mistakes, now reaching out for redemption."R-Rinko!" Weiss's voice wavered as she struggled to hold back her tears, a part of her in disbelief that he could forgive their father so readily. She wanted to understand, but the hurt ran deep."I understand what you feel, Weiss," Rinko said, his voice gentle as he turned to her. "But you didn't see what he did last time. He already showed me that he's willing to change. He stood up to Raven, tried to protect me…" Rinko—Kakashi—paused, kneeling so he was on eye level with his father, who sat trembling in a rare display of emotion."And that action alone was enough. I forgive you, Father."Jacques's expression crumbled, and a swell of emotions—regret, shame, relief—flooded his eyes.He had never allowed himself to feel this vulnerable, this exposed. But here, surrounded by his children, he felt his own carefully constructed walls collapsing under the weight of their forgiveness.He couldn't hold back the tears that had threatened to spill, and with a shuddering breath, he let them fall. "I don't deserve this," Jacques managed to say, his voice thick with emotion. "I've hurt you both… I've pushed away the only people who mattered."Kakashi closed the small distance between them, leaning in and wrapping his arms around his father in a gesture so simple, yet so profound.It was a hug,but not just any hug—this was a true embrace, it was a moment that spoke of acceptance, of the chance to rebuild as a family.Kakashi felt a bit akward, though his heart told him it was necessary.Jacques's shoulders shook as he returned the hug, his hands clutching Rinko like a lifeline. For the first time, he was allowing himself to feel—not just the guilt or the bitterness, but the love he had buried beneath his ambition and pride.Weiss watched them, her heart warring between anger and relief. She had never seen her father like this, and part of her wondered if this was real, if it could truly last.But as she saw her brother embrace him, she felt her own anger soften, just a little.Maybe forgiveness wouldn't come so easily for her, but she could allow herself this moment, allowing herself to hope.Quietly, she stepped forward and placed a tentative hand on her father's shoulder. Jacques looked up at her, his eyes filled with unshed tears, and for the first time, she saw him not as the tyrant of her childhood, but as a broken man—someone who was trying, in his own flawed way, to make amends.They stayed like that, wrapped in a silence that felt heavy yet comforting, each of them finding solace in the presence of the others.It was far from perfect, but perhaps that was okay. For once, they weren't just the Schnees, bound by duty and pride. They were a family, with all the messiness and beauty that came with it.When they finally pulled apart, Rinko gave Jacques a gentle nod, as if to say they could move forward from here. Jacques wiped his eyes, his gaze moving between his children with a look of gratitude and something almost like awe."Thank you… both of you," he whispered, his voice barely above a breath. "I'll try to be the father you deserve. I know it'll take time, but… I'll do everything I can."They nodded in quiet agreement, a shared understanding passing between them.The rest of Team RWBY watched quietly, standing just outside the moment but fully aware of its significance. Ruby, Blake, and Yang exchanged glances, each one feeling the weight of the Schnees' reunion in their own way.They were touched by how much strength and forgiveness Rinko and Weiss had shown. Their resilience was a reminder of how family bonds could endure even the hardest of times.As they left the cave together, stepping into the cool embrace of the night, a newfound sense of unity hung in the air. The memories of their past weighed heavily, but now it felt as though they had found a path forward. Their future, though uncertain, was theirs to shape.Reaching the cliffside, they paused, looking out over the horizon. Below, in the moonlit valley, a train rumbled along the tracks at a relentless pace, its long, metallic cars gliding like a snake toward Vale.Yang chuckled, nudging Ruby. "Another train to sneak onto? Almost feels like tradition at this point," she joked, lightening the tense mood.Rinko held tightly on his father on his back, who still looked pale and worn, and gave him a reassuring nod. "Let's go," he said, determination in his voice.Without another word, Rinko leaped from the cliff, landing on the roof of one of the train cars with practiced ease. The rest of Team RWBY followed, landing silently around him, poised and ready.Raven, AdamRaven's grip tightened around her sword, her knuckles white as she glared at the empty clearing before her. The faint tracks of Team RWBY and her fleeing family were barely visible in the soft moonlight, but it was enough to confirm what she dreaded most—they were gone."Damnit!" She slashed a nearby bush in frustration, leaves and branches scattering across the ground as her sword sliced through it like paper.Behind her, Adam crossed his arms, his face twisted in a smug, disdainful expression. "Hmph," he sneered. "After all your talk about strength and control, it's disappointing to see them slip through your fingers so easily."Raven whipped around, her eyes flashing with a dangerous intensity. "Shut it, Adam," she snapped, her voice dripping with venom. "The last thing I need right now is your commentary."He shrugged, unfazed by her anger. "It's not my fault you're losing control over your own camp, Raven. Maybe you're not as powerful as you like to think."Raven's jaw clenched, her patience fraying at the edges. She knew Adam was pushing her buttons on purpose, reveling in her failure, but right now, it felt like every word he said was a spark to the fire of her rage. She wanted nothing more than to silence him, to remind him just who he was speaking to.Instead, she took a slow, calming breath, forcing herself to keep her composure. "They won't get far," she said coldly, scanning the forest beyond with narrowed eyes. "My scouts will track them down before they reach safety."Adam raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "And what happens if they don't? If your own children slip away from you like that, how long until the rest of your allies start to question your leadership?"Raven's gaze sharpened, a hint of crimson in her aura as her anger flared. "You'd do well to remember who you're speaking to, Adam. I've led this tribe through every challenge, every threat, including keeping you here. But if you doubt me, feel free to test how far your loyalty to Salem really goes."Adam smirked, his own gaze defiant as he met her glare. "Is that a threat, Raven?"She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "It's a warning. I won't let anyone—even you—stand in the way of my plans. This alliance is fragile, Adam. Don't test it."They held each other's gaze, the tension between them crackling like a live wire, neither willing to back down. Finally, Adam scoffed, breaking the stare. "Do what you want, then. But if they've made it out, this failure is on you."With one last look of disdain, he turned and walked away, he went inside one of his trucks as some of the White Fang were left within her camp and most of them went back to the White Fang base including Adam.This escape had wounded her pride, and Adam's words only deepened that wound, but she couldn't afford to dwell on it. She'd lost her advantage tonight, and that couldn't happen again.Gritting her teeth, she turned back to the woods, steeling herself with cold resolve. "Run as far as you can," she muttered under her breath. "I'll find you. I always do."She slashed through the air, as a portal leading to Yang's emerged. It's time to settle this once and for all.[End]