Fox softly crept up behind Bertilak.

“Watch out behind you,” Edward said.

“Like I’m falling for that,” Bertilak said.

Fox wrapped his right arm in a choke hold around Bertilak’s throat, pulling him off Edward. His arm blade prevented Bertilak from reaching up to grab at him. He struggled for a bit, then jabbed backward with the handle of his mace, knocking Fox backward. Bertilak coughed.

“Good one, kid.” From the sound of his voice, he had turned to face Fox. Fox heard the chain extend and went into his fighting stance. Arms up, blades out.

In the suddenly quiet desert, still recovering from the storm that had passed through, sounds took on a new quality. The creak of leather in Bertilak’s clothing, the sand shifting as he moved, the whirring of the spiked ball on its chain.

Fox listened to the desert.

When the whirring sound changed, Fox got ready. Instead of dodging the incoming weapon, he went toward Bertilak. He brought both of his
blades up over his head and slammed them down with all his strength, cutting through the chain. The ball went flying off into the desert and Bertilak sprawled from the sudden shift in weight. Fox caught him and pushed him down as he brought his knee up, connecting with Bertilak’s chest and then knocking him back.

Bertilak came for him again, attacking with the handle of his broken weapon. Fox easily parried the blows and got a couple of punches in.

He heard Edward bashing Bertilak with his shield from behind. Then Bertilak was retreating while Fox and Edward traded blows with him, side by side.

“Two on one? What would Theodore say?” Bertilak said.

“He’d say it’s payback for ambushing a blind guy and an old man in the desert,” Fox said.

“Yeah, but you can fight,” Bertilak said.

“Flattery will get you—” Fox turned and delivered a roundhouse kick that made solid contact with Bertilak’s thick head. “Flattened.”

Bertilak did not get up.

“Finally,” Edward said. “Now I can sit down.”

- RWBY: After the Fall, Chapter 13