Desperate times called for desperate measures. Coco had one terrible idea, but if it worked, it was going to hurt. A lot.

Coco focused her Semblance on one of the Gravity Dust bullets on her weapon’s bandolier/purse strap, hyping up the explosive mineral until it—well, exploded.

The shock wave of the gravity-manipulating ordnance blasted the sand off of Coco, but it also exploded the rest of her bullets. The impact knocked her Aura down to a dangerously low level. She wheezed as the air in her lungs was pushed out and then she was gasping to replace it.

Her ears rang and her eyes were bleary, but she was happy to see she had stunned Carmine, who had been standing right on top of her. No, she’d only surprised her. Carmine still seemed as fresh as she had at the beginning of the fight. How was she even doing that?

Reese hurled her hoverboard at Carmine while Olive tossed her pike at her—accidentally knocking Reese’s weapon out of the way.

Idiots, Coco thought. They really needed to coordinate their attacks better.

Carmine noticed right away. “They aren’t exactly Team CFVY, are they?” she asked Coco.

That was when Scarlet swung his sword at Carmine and hit her from behind. He got sand in his eyes for the trouble.

“Good thing the cavalry is here,” Carmine said.

Coco looked up to see a Death Stalker scurrying toward them.

“Uh-oh,” Reese said, whipping around. Coco turned. Another Death Stalker was coming at them from the other direction.

“Nice seeing you again, Coco.” Carmine twirled her fingers in a goodbye. “Thanks for ‘saving’ me.” Her laughter grew distorted and distant as sand whirled around her like a personal storm that slowly drifted away from the Shade students and the Grimm that their fighting—and Coco’s fear and anger—had summoned.

- RWBY: Before the Dawn, Chapter 10