After thirty minutes of hard labor, the group uncovered a body—an unconscious, sturdy-looking man who was part of the Crown’s group, judging by the scorched armband on his arm. Then they found a second body, under him, sheltered from most of the rocks. This person was also alive, and soon Sun recognized Octavia Ember.

She opened her eyes and tried to move. “Ow,” she said. Then she bolted up, grimaced, and said, “Velvet?”

“She wasn’t with you?” Sun asked, helping her to her feet and trying not to panic.

“She was standing right there.” Octavia pointed in Bertilak’s direction. The Huntsman was crouched over a hand sticking out of the rock pile, holding a sai.

Bertilak grabbed the sai trumphantly. “Aha! There you are, Red.” He tucked the sai into his belt and drew his mace, bringing it over his head. “This is what you get for stabbing me in the back.”

“Stop!” Sun closed his eyes and one of his clones flashed into existence beside Bertilak, grabbing the mace before he could bring it down on the buried body in front of him.

“Cute trick.” Bertilak shook the mace free and faced off against Sun’s clone. “But don’t cross me, kid.”

“That isn’t Carmine,” Octavia told him. “She was standing over there during the explosion—she was closest to the avalanche.” The spot was several steps away from the body.

Bertilak sighed. “Even with extra Aura, Carmine couldn’t have survived that,” he said. “Or if she did, she must be out of air by now.” Maybe he wouldn’t get his revenge after all.

- RWBY: Before the Dawn, Chapter 19