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"Good luck students." Professor Ozpin nodded, and suddenly the metal plate next to Tai snapped up shooting the student next to him into the air and the forest below.

"Oh, you have got to be…" Tai couldn't even finish his sentence before he too was thrown headfirst into the woods below. He quickly tried to throw a glance back at the cliff seeing if he could spot Qrow, but luck it seemed was not on his side. Okay, landing strategy I've got this… Never had to deal with this many trees, but whatever I've got this.

Squinting his eyes against the wind stinging his eyes Tai tried to look for the best point of entry. There, a break in the leaves showed a level of higher trees rising above the forest, and fewer branches to hit. Raising his arms in front of him Tai readied his gauntlets. Impacting the branch, he shattered it with the force of his impact. The sudden change of force flipped Tai backward. Towards the limb approaching his legs. Bending his legs as he touched the branch and kicked off it. Shattering the limb while flipping Tai upside down. Reaching his arms out Tai felt the metal bracers impact another tree limb. Flipping him back up and on the ground.

Running a few extra feet to bleed off the last of his momentum, Tai looked back and smiled at the human-sized hole he had just created.

Well… I landed. Now which way to this ruin? I need to get a relic and a teammate. It'll be easy everyone here seems nice, I'm sure they will be great.

A sudden yell cut off his train of thought. Looking up Tai saw a student several plates down from him flying through the air with almost no control. Given how little time he had had to prepare for his flight Tai wasn't surprised.

Still, that's not good, if there are any Grimm around, he could be in danger. Tai took off at a sprint towards the student, a hint of panic in his chest.

Instantly Tai realized that running in a forest was much harder than running on the sands of Vacuo. At home, he could run for hours as long as it wasn't too hot out. Here every branch, shrub and whatever else grew in this forest seemed intent on grabbing and tripping him. He was forced to create a zigzagging path between trees. Rounding a tree Tai stumbled as a bush appeared in front of him. There was no avoiding the unexpected obstacle, and Tai ran straight into it. His leg catching in the many branches he tumbled head over heels right into the blade of a halberd.

"Wow, holy crap!"

Tai looked up to see the boy he had been running after quickly raising his weapon while the girl next to him quickly aiming anywhere but at a fellow hunter.

"Oh, oh man! You scared the shit out of us!" The boy switched his grip on the weapon and extended an arm to Tai.

Shaking his head, Tai took the offered limb. "Sorry about that! Bush just kinda came out of nowhere and attacked me!" he smiled trying to play off the situation.

Pulling Tai up the boy smiled, but then his face returned to serious again, "Were you being chased!"

"What? Oh no, nothing like that. I was actually trying to find you. I saw you fly overhead after I landed and thought well, he's as good a partner as any." Smiling Tai playfully punched the boy's arm, "But I guess you already partnered up shame."

The boy smiled back, "Yeah, sorry you just missed me, Lilly here found me a few minutes ago. My name's Dew." Lilly inclined her head as she was mentioned, focusing instead on holstering her two pistols.

"I'm Taiyang, nice to meet you two!"

The girl's head shot up at this, "Taiyang? You're the transfer from Vacuo?"

Smiling and rubbing the back of his head, Tai nodded. "Yep, that's me!"

Dew's eyebrows raised, "Wow, all the way from Vacuo! What made you come to Beacon?"

"Clearly because it's the best school there is." Lilly answered as if it was an obvious fact, "I've heard Taiyang was one of the strongest of his class. So naturally, the best would come to Beacon."

Tai smiled awkwardly, "Well thanks, I trained really hard, but I'm hardly the best."

"Don't sell yourself, short man! I'm sure you're great." Dew punched Tai in the arm.

"Well, good luck to you two, I'll see you around. Got a partner to find and all that." Tai turned to leave the clearing.

"Make sure you avoid those Branwen's!" Lilly called after him.

Looking over his shoulder, Tai cocked his head at the girl.

"The Branwen's, I hear they are just a couple of tribal people who crept their way into Beacon ruining this prestigious academy."

Squinting in confusion Tai looked back at her. "Come again?"

Lilly sighed as though she was explaining something to a toddler, "The Branwen's are from a nomad tribe, a couple of barbarians that wormed their way into this once fine academy."

"If they can fight don't they deserve a chance?" Tai asked. That was certainly the case for Shade.

"Please, any brute can swing a stick and call it fighting, being a huntress requires intelligence. Just stay away from them."

"Okay, you got it." Weirdo, they don't sound that bad. More likely a hyper active imagination. Tai ducked under a tree limb and was alone again. No idea what that was about, but whatever. Now, where am I? Spinning on the spot Tai looked for anything that could point him towards the temple again. Nothing. Well, I'll find a partner on the way. No big deal I'm sure a bunch of people haven't met up yet. "Let's, go, that way!" Pointing to his left for no one, in particular, he set off once more.

Taking his time to avoid tripping on the undergrowth slowed Tai down a lot more than he was expecting. Almost tripping over the thousandth tree root, Tai grumbled to himself. What I wouldn't give to get out of this forest and be back on the open ground. As if in answer to his unspoken request the forest began thinning, gaps could be seen among the trees now, and an imposing cliff face rose into the sky. A grin split across Tai's face. He'd made it to where the relics were somewhere at the base of that cliff, and no doubt a partner. Someone, he would become as close as a family with during the next four years.

Assuming you don't bite each other's heads off. His grin broke into a full smile at the thought, Nah we'll get along great! Breaking into a run Tai made for the cliff, not noticing the black hulk laying in his path. Tripping head over heels Tai rolled several feet before coming to a halt with a skid that took him several more feet. "Damned trees!" Tai swore, pushing himself up, "It will be too soon before I have to deal with another, one, of, you." The words dying in his mouth as a Grimm Creep began untangling its limbs from where Tai had sent it flying. Around him, Tai noticed four more of the black tripeds emerging from the forest around him.

Really wishing I had a partner right about now.

Glancing over his shoulder, Tai looked hopefully for any sign of human life, anything that would provide him back up, no one appeared to offer their aid however.

Raising his arms in front of him Tai dropped into a combat stance, legs slightly bent arms close to his torso, and yet fluid like water. With a loud snap, the gears and springs on his gauntlets activated. From the bracers sprang metal plating. The shields of his weapon a good foot and a half wide expanded to cover the bracers. Then with the release of locks and springs, the length of Drachen Ira doubled creating full metal plates on each arm. Smiling Tai looked for the first unlucky foe.

Snarling the nearest Creep leaped towards Tai, half way through the air it met with a fist. Just before impacting with the creature's skull, Tai flicked a switch and the springs that had been holding the lower foot of his shield snapped forward, into the rest of the weapon. The force drove Tai's fist into the Grimm's skull. Bone shattered as the Creep smashed into the ground and bounced away. Letting the momentum carry him forward Tai spun into a kick catching the next Creep in the chest and sending it flying, completing his turn Tai slammed his fully extended gauntlet into the next Creep, hammering it into the ground.

Right three down and six, too, go?

The Grimm circled him growling at their prey.

"I could have sworn there were only two of you the last time I checked!"

A Creep to his left roared and leaped for an answer. It only made it half way.

Closing the distance to his attacker, Tai caught the beast with an uppercut. The metal plate snapped into itself, providing the extra force needed to throw the monster into the air. Leaping after his opponent, Tai brought his elbows to his side and raised his forearms in front of his chest. Flicking the switch to extend Drachen Ira to it's full length he let the momentum assist in smashing the Grimm back to earth. Throwing himself into a flip Tai spun back to the ground and kicked his leg out bringing it down on another Grimm. Kicking off the broken enemy, Tai twisted in the air, bringing his gauntlet crashing into a third Creep. A snarl forced Tai to whip around and duck under Drachen Ira's shield as a Creep collided and slide off clawing at him as it went. The impact sent shockwaves through his body, and Tai took several steps back.

Not going to let that happen again. Taking a few seconds to slide away from any further attackers Tai looked around. Three down three to go this is going to be easy.

"Then why are there more of you!" he shouted in rage. More than fifteen Creeps now filled the forest around him. Even an Alpha had joined the pack.

Then his eyes fell on the head of a Grimm crawling out of a hole at the base of one of the trees.

Taking a step back and delivering another killing blow to one of the beasts that got too close, Tai glanced around again and found at least ten other holes scattered throughout the area.

So, this is what a nest looks like, I'll be sure to remember that.

Tai looked around again as the much more immediate threat stalked closer. "Well boy's it's been fun, but I have places to be so if you'll kindly excuse me."

The Alpha Creep bellowed at him.

"Well if you say so!" Tai shouted, diving away from several creeps as the pack charged at him. Throwing a punch into the nearest Grimm Tai spun on the spot and ran away from the charging horde and past the dead body.

Instantly Tai remembered why he hated running in the forest, as a tree root caught him and almost sent him sprawling. The growls behind him were more than enough encouragement to keep moving.

Trees and bushes whipped by as he ran, well-timed blows forced several trees to collapse behind him. Hopefully on some of them. Stumbling over a bush Tai looked up to see open fields. "Oh thank god!" fully retracting Drachen Ira into the gauntlets on his arm, Tai set out at a full sprint. Within seconds the howls of the Grimm were fading away.

Looking over his shoulder, Tai saw two Grimm still continuing the chase. Ahead of him, an old structure rose out of the ground. Ancient stone pillars seemed one with the field as the separation between humanmade creation and nature had vanished decades ago.

Reaching the small outer wall, Tai vaulted over the stone, tore across the once ornate floor, and jumped the wall on the other side. Rolling quickly to take cover behind the tall outer wall, Tai looked around. Planning to get the drop on the Grimm as they ran by chasing in the direction he had been running, and froze. Sitting behind the wall mostly hidden was the woman he had seen talking to Qrow. Her long black hair flowing down to her waist just peaking over the edge of the wall, with her eyes closed and a look of concentration on her face and showing no sign of reaction to someone just leaping over her.

The howl of a Grimm echoed from the other side of the wall. "Hay, hay! Look out!"

She made no movement, no reaction.

Bounding over the wall, the first Grimm landed. Snarling as it spun around crouching down to devour the unconscious woman.

Tai felt like the world moved in slow-motion as he activated Drachen Ira while diving to block the attack, as the Creep sprang.

The metal rang as claws tore at the shield blocking it from its prey. Tai had tackled the woman to the side while holding the beast off as best he could.

Her eyes flew open, and Tai felt like he was facing two opponents as he stared into blood red orbs filled with anger.

"You idiot, just what do you think!" She cut herself off as she seemed to come back to reality when Tai rolled off her and batted the Grimm away. Rolling to her feet faster than Tai had seen anyone move her sword was already flashing out, moments later the monsters head dropped to the ground in a pool of smoke.

Standing up she sheathed her sword as the second Grimm leaped over the wall she spun around.

Tai took a single step forward catching the grim in midair. The force of his blow shattered the wall and the Grimm.

Turning to give a thumbs up and smile to his new partner Tai froze as he found her sword an inch from his neck.

"Wow, um ha ha. You got me! Good one partner!" Raising his hands and trying to slowly back up Tai only felt the wall bump into the back of his knees.

"I had that. There was no need for you to step in. So one, we are not partners. I'm waiting for mine to show up. Two don't ever save me again! Three, what's your name?"

Tai reeled under the flood of words, his mind latching onto the last thing that he heard. "Taiyang." Regaining some of his composure and stepping to the side away from the blade still pointed at him. "Taiyang Xao-long, at your service, miss…"

"Thank you Taiyang. I'll be sure to pay you back for helping me." She began returning the long, blood red, katana to its sheath.

"Ah, don't worry about it I mean, can't have a friend hurt on my watch and all that?" He smiled again. I guess we did kinda meet in a weird way, well I'm sure she's nice.

Red eyes flashed, as she made the metal rasp against the sheath for the last few inches before letting it click against the base. "I don't like owing people. And we, are not, freinds!" she bit out.

Okay well, she's a work in progress then. "Well, will you at least tell me your name before you decide we aren't friends? I mean we worked pretty well just now Miss…"

She didn't blink. Instead, her faced darkened, "Branwen, Raven. And we are not friends, Mr. Xao-long."


Well we have met everyone! Next time the whole gang will meet up. Hope you enjoyed and as always any feedback is great!