“Come on, boy. I’ve seen you fight Grimm. This is no different,” Edward said.

Edward was right. If Bertilak had been a Grimm, Fox would have been done with him by now—sandstorm and heat notwithstanding. But there was one huge difference: He wasn’t trying to kill Bertilak. In fact, he was specifically trying not to kill Bertilak. He had to finish this differently. Had to draw him closer and lull him into a false sense of security.

“He’s behind you,” Edward said.

Fox turned his head left and right, as though he were trying to listen hard. He fired a shot from his weapon out into the desert, away from Bertilak and Edward.

“Can you hear me? Fox? He’s practically on top of you,” Edward sent. “Dammit.”

Fox felt Bertilak close by. He heard him swing the chain of his mace, and just as he expected, he felt the chain slip over his head. He brought his arm blades up just in time to prevent the chain closing around his throat. Bertilak squeezed. Fox pushed hard—and his tonfas helped him slip out of its embrace, slicing into Bertilak in the process.

Bertilak bellowed and shoved Fox forward, making him stumble headfirst into the sand.

“You’re going to pay for that,” Bertilak snarled.

- RWBY: After the Fall, Chapter 13