Velvet nodded. “We’re a team, aren’t we?”

“Yeah, but I’m responsible for keeping you alive,” Coco said.

“We’re supposed to keep each other alive,” Fox sent. “And we share the re—” He held up a hand. “Shhh. Listen.”

“What is it?” Coco sent back.

Fox started walking down the mountain path, so softly his footsteps didn’t make a sound. Velvet’s rabbit ears twitched and rotated, orienting on the sound. “I heard it, too,” she sent. “Follow us.”

As they went deeper into the passage, the others heard it, too—faint voices, calling for help. The voices led Fox to a narrow crevice in the side of the mountain, maybe one and a half feet across.

“Hello?” Velvet called inside.

There was quiet for a moment, then several voices, accompanied by cheering and sobbing.

“One at a time,” Velvet said. “We can’t hear you.”

“Thank the Brothers that you found us,” a man’s voice called. “We’re trapped underground. Part of the tunnel caved in a minute ago.”

Coco glared at Yatsuhashi. He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

“Are you from Lower Cairn?” Coco asked.

“Yes! The Grimm attacked, destroyed the village. It was so fast.”

“How many are with you?” Velvet asked.

There was no answer.

“Hello?” she called again.

“There’s only six of us.” More sobbing drifted up from the cave.

“Only six.” Coco slumped to the ground beside the crack in the mountain.

“Over two hundred people lived in Lower Cairn,” Velvet said.

“My gods,” Fox sent.

“Maybe there are more survivors …” Yatsu looked away down the mountain path. It was enough of a miracle that they had found these. But that made it even more important to come to them.

“Are you hurt?” Velvet asked.

“My wife sprained her ankle, and my son needs his medicine,” the man called. “And we’re very hungry and thirsty.”

“We’re coming to you,” Velvet said. “We’ll get you out.”

She removed her camera and started to lower herself through the opening.

Coco put a hand on her shoulder. “Hold on. What are you doing?”

“We can’t waste any more time,” Velvet said. “This is what we came here for.”

Coco shook her head. “Velvet. You’re hurt,” she said softly.

“I’m fine.” Velvet briefly closed her eyes as a wave of nausea and dizziness washed over her. “No one else can squeeze through this opening.”

“I can make it wider.” Yatsuhashi reached for his sword.

“You’re more likely to finish the job and bring the tunnel down the rest of the way,” Coco said. “I’m just as small as you, Velvet. Shorter if you don’t count the ears. Maybe a little thinner, too.”

“Hey,” Velvet said.

“Besides, the team will need you and Fox’s hearing to find another entrance and locate me and the survivors. I’ll go. This is all my fault anyway, right?”

“I didn’t mean that,” Velvet said.

“You did, and you were right.” She looked around. “Your Semblance led us right, Fox. The survivors were exactly where you thought they were, only they were under us. I’m sorry for doubting you.”

Fox nodded.

- RWBY: After the Fall, Chapter 11