Chapter 12: The Habit

Weiss awoken locked in a cage, her vision was blurry still. She couldn't make out where she was at exactly, she blinked to clear up her vision as she rubbed her head soon after.

"Look who's awake." Raven said as she looked at Weiss with her arms crossed. "Too think, we'd get the chance to capture a Schnee in our backyard."

Weiss glanced up at Raven. "You...who?" She didn't really know who Raven was, but there was a itchy spot in her throat, she wanted to say Raven looked like Yang. But she wasn't sure how'd the end results would be if she had said it.

"Who am I?" Raven asked. "None of your business." She walked off as she turned her head. "Draken, take care of our....guest will you? I want to know where the next cargo ship will be."

Weiss gritted her teeth. "So that's why you have me captive, you want dust."

Raven didn't say anything as she walked into her tent as Draken had came out, he walked over to where Weiss' cage was at. He looked at her as he was silent for a moment, he pulled over a stool and sat down on it.

"And what do you want?" Weiss asked with a cold glare. "Last I checked, you left Beacon early."

"What I want? It's not what I want, it's what she wants." Draken said. "Surely you must know when the next cargo shipment of dust is."

Weiss scoffs. "Like I'd know, I was just fleeing from Atlas to meet up with the others." She crossed her arms as she looked away. "Besides, I'm sure the dust from the cargo ship I was on before it crashed is still salvageable."

Draken sighed. "Nope, I checked."

Weiss found this hard to believe as she cocks an eyebrow up. "Right..look get me out of here, I need to find a way to get to the others."

"I can't." Draken said. "You're going to be held here until Raven decides when to let you go, think of it as a price exchange. You for the dust, you'll go back to Atlas while we get dust in exchange."

"You wouldn't." Weiss said giving him a cold glare.

"Oh we will." Vernal said walking over. "We'll use you for our gamble to get the dust, just imagine what your father would do to you if he finds out you've left?"

"And you are?" Weiss asked.

"This is Vernal..the Spring Maiden." Draken said. "She found refuge here with us and became part of the tribe."

Weiss scoffs. "Wow, surely no one would come looking here for her. It's not like the world's going to end anytime soon, oh wait...." Clearly she was being cocky and sarcastic.

~~~

Raven had called Draken and Vernal into her tent, for a small chat. It looked like she wanted to do something important as she looked at the two bandits.

"What is it?" Vernal asked with a curious look.

"I'm going to be stepping away for a brief moment." Raven said. "You two are in charge of the camp, and making sure the Schnee doesn't leave."

"Ah...okay then." Draken said. "We'll do our best then."

Raven turned around as she walked out the back of her tent and disappeared, a Raven flew off into the sky as Weiss saw the bird. Vernal came out of the tent first as Draken was doing something in the tent before walking out.

"You there." Vernal said as she looks at Weiss. "How about we make a bet?"

"What kind?" Weiss asked.

"If you beat me in a battle...we might let you go, but...be warned, you're dealing with a maiden. So your aura might just break." Vernal said.

Weiss huffed. "As if I'd lose to you of all people."

Vernal chuckled. "Really? Draken, let her out..we'll see how tough she is on her words."

"Oh right." Draken said getting the keys out and unlocks the cage. He stepped aside as Weiss came out of the cage.

"Get your gear." Vernal said glancing at Weiss. "And then, we'll see how well you can hold your own against a Maiden."

Weiss had a smug look on her face. "Don't come crying to me if you lose."

~~~

Weiss' aura broke as she was soon tossed back into the cage. Weakened and bruised, she lost to Vernal. She couldn't believe she was beaten by the Spring Maiden, this was something she wouldn't stand for. She would be laughed at for losing a fight, all she could do was sit in the cage and wait.

"Pathetic." Vernal said. "And here I thought you were a Schnee, but I guess I was wrong. You're worthless."

Raven returned as she walked out of the tent as she looked over. "Hmm. What happened here?"

"Vernal picked a fight with Weiss. And she had beat Weiss, that's why she looks like that." Draken said. "She still won't tell us about the next dust cargo shipment."

Raven glanced at Weiss for a moment as she looked at Draken and Vernal. "That's enough for now you two, we should give our guest some time to pull what resources she has left together, until she's ready to tell us what we want to know." She took her mask off as she looks at Weiss once more.

Weiss slowly looked up at her meeting with Raven's eyes. "Y-You're..."

"Yes, I'm Yang's mother. So what?" Raven asked.

"You should've been at Beacon when she needed you!" Weiss shouted at her.

"Silence!" Vernal said as she kicks the cage. "Don't take that tone with her."

Weiss covered her ears as she closes her eyes, she didn't want to hear the ringing of the cage being kicked in her ears. Raven stopped Vernal who scoffed and walked off while Draken just stayed, he looked at Raven and then at Weiss.

"Hmph, it's not my choice on what happens to Yang." Raven said. "I've only saved her once, and I didn't plan on doing it again." She looks at Draken before walking off. "Vernal, come with me to my tent...I need you for a favor."

Vernal walked past Draken and followed Raven into her tent, wondering what Raven wanted her for this time around. Weiss stayed silent for the entire day hoping someone would come find her or find the bandit camp.

A/N: [I can't take any credit for Draken's character, he belongs to one of my friends on Discord. All credit goes to them.]