A/N: Consider this an alternate timeline for Adventuresome and Reincorporating. Why? Because I love the universe I've created in them. This will be Lancaster, so if that's not your thing that's cool. The first chapter is set mere weeks after Beacon falls.

Prologue:

The silence in the little rented cabin was suffocating. Jaune, Ren and Nora were packing their belongings. The three surviving members of Team Juniper would fragment even further in just a few hours. Jaune was returning home to his parents, they had invited Ren and Nora but the duo declined. Though they didn't know where they were going, Ren and Nora were, as always going together. The feeling of hopelessness in the air was tangible. Jaune suspected the silence was due to none of them trusting their voices. The trio had been on the verge of tears all day. It felt wrong to be apart, but there was nothing for them to go back to. Beacon had fallen, and with it his team had nothing to hold it together any more.

A sharp knock on the front door startles the silent group. The three share a look as Jaune reaches for the doorknob. He's not prepared for the sight of a messenger on the other side of the door.

"Can I help you?" Jaune asks politely, though the confusion is evident.

"Is there a Mister Jaune Arc here?" The messenger is curt and professional. Ren and Nora are on guard just in case.

"That's me." The blonde boy affirms.

"For you then, sign here." The messenger passes Jaune a clip board. He signs his name and removes the letter from the clip. The board is handed back to the messenger who leaves. Closing the door the three stare at the envelope in confusion. Long seconds pass before Nora loses patience. "Just open it already, its not gonna bite!"

Jaune laughs nervously and rubs his neck. Sliding his finger along the envelope he opens it and retrieves the letter. "It's from Ruby." He states having first scanned the bottom of the letter. The envelope gave no indication of the sender on the outside. The mention of their silver eyed friend releases a tension in the room. "She's okay then?" Nora breathes. "Thank goodness."

The room is quiet as the blonde boy scans the letter. Ren quirks an eyebrow when Jaune wipes a tear from his eye. Worry bubbles in Nora's chest . "Is everything okay?" She asks instinctively grabbing Ren's arm, preparing for bad news.

"Yea" Jaune breathes. "Everything is fine, I'm just a little overwhelmed.. Ruby's going to journey to Mistral. She wants to know if we'll come along." Jaune looks up from the letter to meet Ren and Nora's eyes. Nora is smiling for the first time in weeks. Ren has a light in his eyes that, likewise had been lost. There isn't a need to ask. Their decisions written on their faces. Smiling Jaune runs to the table and scribbles a letter in response. They're on their way. The three of them should arrive in Patch in a weeks time. The three rush to finish packing, but now they do so with excitement. They need to get to the post office before it closes and send the letter off. They also need to get to the train station and change their tickets. Their new destination the island of Patch!

The week of travel is rough, but mostly for paperwork purposes. There were travel restrictions in place around the grimm infested Beacon. They have to prove they have a reason to go near several times. It was relatively smooth sailing once they reached the safe zone though. The ferry ride from the mainland to the tiny Island was mostly pleasant. Jaune only got a little seasick. The upheaval in his stomach was quickly forgotten when the little island came into view. It was nearing dawn. The first rays of the morning sun caused the little community to look more warm and welcoming than anything the three had ever seen. Soft smiles linger on their faces as they leave the ferry behind.

They pass. Signal Academy on the way. Taking note of an oddly specific sign on the schools fence. "No Caffeinate Corgis allowed on premises." It reads. Jaune laughs "Why do I have a feeling that rule is in place because of Ruby?" Ren smiles, that was the first time Jaune had laughed in a month. They follow a well worn dirt path until a cozy cabin lined with sunflowers comes into view. "It looks so warm." Nora sighs at the little cottage.

The three walk up to the door. Ruby had asked them not to knock. It's only moments before the door finally opens and Ruby steps out to join them. They exchange greetings and take the first steps in their journey. Jaune marvels at just how right traveling with her feels. He can sense Ren and Nora feel the same way. There's a warm feeling that begins to bubble in the blonde boys chest. He is so grateful to be reunited with his best friend. There is no way the tiny girl will ever know just how much that letter meant to them, to him. She had become the very thing they needed most. The thing he needed most in the moment that letter arrived. She became his hope.

A/N: Being home sick has advantages, like extra time to write. This story will be updated on the days I don't update Adventuresome. Pretty decent prologue I think. Its how I've always pictured Ranger coming into existence.