Chapter 1. Out of the Cave
"Hey Ruby, we're starting to run low on supplies like food and such. We should make a stop at the next town or village and stock up." Jaune informs as he looks through the groups supply bag.
"Well then we better get moving, that was a good night sleep but I don't wanna spend the rest of my life in a cave." Ruby jokes as she stretches out. "Nora, can you put out the embers? We already have Grimm to contend with out there. We don't need a forest fire as well." Ruby asks as she starts to roll up her bedroll.
"Sure thing Ruby!" Nora springs out of her sleeping bag and stomps out the embers in the makeshift fire pit, surrounded by stones of various colors.
"Typical Nora, will jump at the chance to smash anything but doesn't clean up behind her." Ren kids as he walks into the cave and begins to roll up Nora's bedroll for her.
"Thank you again for taking watch all night Ren." Jaune says as he stands and grabs his weapons. "How did it go? Anything of note happen?" Jaune inquires as he walks towards Ren.
"Well you slept through the night didn't you?" Ren responds with as he hands Nora her bedroll.
"Touché." Jaune smiles as he walks to the front of the cave and turns around to face Ruby, Ren, and Nora. "So are we all ready to head out?" Jaune asks the group. Everyone does a final check before nodding their heads. "Alright let's head out then."
The group walks out of the gray cave that they had used as a shelter last night, and began to walk along the trail to the road in the early morning air. The road was dirt and stretched through a lush green forest in a valley. On either side of the valley were towering mountains, protecting the land from the more common Grimm that plagued the rest of the world. But at the same time, the mountains were home to Grimm never seen before.
"There's a sign up there!" Nora says happily as she runs towards it to see what it says.
"What's on the sign?" Jaune calls forward.
Nora reads out the words chiseled into the brown wooden sign "It says "Morrow 5km" There's a village 5 kilometers down the road!" Nora says bouncing in the air. "It's been a while since we've been somewhere with other people!"
"Well we should be there within a few hours provided we don't run into any problems." Ren says, calling Nora back to the group.
"That's good news, we can resupply and see if anyone there has a map since ours got lost." Jaune says, a bit happier that the burden of food was lifted off his shoulders.
"We can only hope Jaune. We don't know what condition the place is in." Ruby reminds the group.
"Well that means it's that much more important that we go to Morrow." Jaune responds.
"I thought we were going to get there today." Nora jokes, smiling and giggling.
Jaune shakes his head, smiles and sighs "You know what I mean Nora." The group continues on, smiling and talking as they walk.
A few kilometers down the road team RNJR is started by a groan coming from a bush just off the road. "What do you think it is?" Ruby asks.
"It's not a Grimm I don't think. It sounded too human to be a Grimm" Jaune says nervously.
"Well give it a poke with your sword Mr. White Knight" Nora says.
"Alright' Jaune answers as he draws his sword from his sheathe. He slowly creeps towards the bush and pokes his sword into it.
"Ugh" a voice groans as the body of a fox faunus rolls out of the bush. He had white fox ears and a fluffy white fox tail.
"Um hello? Are you injured?" Ruby question as she walks towards the figure.
"Wh-what? Wh-who are you? Where am I?" The faunus asks, holding his head, blond hair falling between his fingers as he blinks.
"First we would like to know who you are and why you were in a bush" Ren questions.
"My name is Jay, Jay Bleu, although most of my friends call me Blue Jay." The faunus says, slowly getting to his feet.
"Well Mr. Bleu, why where you in that bush?" Ren asks again.
"I, I can't quite remember. Last I remember I was eating dinner with my family at my house in Morrow. Then…then." Jay's eyes went wide "I've got to go" Jay turned on a heel and sprinted down the road, stumbling as he ran.
"Did he forget the stove on?" Nora asks innocently
"Let's hope that's what's happened" Jaune says, sheathing his sword.
"Let's." Ren agrees
A/N - Thank you for reading chapter one! I haven't writen anything in a very long time so any and all criticism is welcome! Hope to see you guys next chapter!