Notes: Hello and welcome to this side story I have been working on for some time. There is a lot of new things going on here. For starters this is the first side story I have made and I wanted to try a few different things. For starters I went with a different writing style. PATTM is always in a third person prospective since there are so many important characters appearing at the same time. So I wanted to try out a completely first person prospective that being of Cardin Winchester. That of course brings us to the next new thing. I really wanted to try playing around with different types of characters. Characters you wouldn't really call the heros but not really villains ether.

I wanted my new character to contrast well against Penny. So I had to think of what makes Penny, well penny. She is loyal, innocent, brave, and for the most part honest. I tried to make a character that was the negative mirror of this and Cail is what I came up with.

Lastly before you say anything yes Cail is partly inspired by Gail from Always Sunny.


Prologue

Cardin POV

My senses were numb, so numb I may as well not have existed at all. I couldn't feel anything, see anything, taste anything, see anything, or hear anything. And though that may seem boring to most when your brain isn't really thinking anything either it's rather nice. However much to my displeasure all of my senses decided to come back to me all at once. When they did I could hear the sound of something peeping next to me and sound of something else coming from a few feet in front of me. The sound had far less rhythm than the beeping and it was far more annoying for some reason. "This sound, could it be the sound of somebody humming?" I wondered but before I could put much thought into it feeling came back into my body and it hurt, it hurt a lot. Seriously it felt like I just went ten rounds with Pyrrha Nikos, or a super pissed off Yang Xiao Long.

If the pain surging through my body wasn't bad enough my eyes felt heavy. I cried to open them but they resisted every effort and the more I tried the more my pain intensified. However I wasn't going to let that stop me, so I grit my teeth and forced my eyes open. When I did I came to in what appeared to be a hospital bed, which would explain the peeping and the pain but raised many more questions. I couldn't remember how or why I came to be there. Since my mind was drawing a blank I decided I would try to sit up and take in my surroundings, maybe they would lend some answers. As I tried to sit up a sharp pain shot through my side causing me to wince. Then once the pain died down a bit I glanced down to find the source of the pain and noticed that my chest and leg were tightly wrapped in thick bandages.

The sight of my wrecked put me in shock for a moment but at least it was all still there so I came out of it rather quickly. When I did that's when it all started to come back to me. I had a fight with a strange boy in the academy's library. What was his deal anyway? The guys and I were just having some fun with Velvet and he decided to start some crap. Who was he anyway? I had never seen him at school before so I assumed he was from one of the other schools and had come for the tournament. However if that were the case then why was he wearing the Beacon Academy Uniform? I guess it doesn't really matter. What does matter is that I should have won that fight. I had the punk beaten but that stupid rabbit decided to grow a pair and distracted me. I only took my eyes off that guy for a minute and by the time I turned back to him he had changed some how. I don't know if he was always a faunus or not but he certainly looked like one after that. After that it was just a blur of pain.

Then I let out a sigh of frustration before shouting my thoughts out loud. "Damn that faunus freak! When I get a hold of him I will make him pay for doing this to me!"

That is when I heard a familiar voice and the likely source of the humming coming from the bed across from me. "Who are you calling a faunus freak I wonder?"

The voice causes my eyes to snap upward to focus on figure lying in the bed across from me. It was a young faunus girl with long brown hair tide up into a set of messy twin-tails that were pulled to the far back of her head and two small antenna extending from her forehead. Her eyes were dark green and they were surrounded by dark circles. She was also sporting the Beacon Academy uniform and had a cast on her left leg. I also noticed a strange shell shaped backpack lying in the bed next to her. After taking all this in I felt my blood run cold and my heart sink. I knew my headache was only going to get worse from here on since that person, no, that thing was unmistakable. "No! Not her! Please for the love of Monty anybody but Cail the Snail!" I screamed.

I have heard many rumors about the girl known as Cail aka the Snail Girl of team CRUS. Like the rumor that she is some kind of crazy witch that will put a curse on anyone who crosses her path. Team Chorus as a whole is a second year team that is made up of only female members and is rather well respected for their impressive mission success rate. Whoever their team leader Cail on the other hand is infamous throughout the campus for many reasons, none of which are good. For example you wouldn't say she is an unattractive girl exactly but, she puts next to no effort into taking care of herself and it shows. Her clothes are always wrinkled, stained, and disheveled. She changes her hair style constantly but, it's a mystery if she even knows what a brush is. Lastly whether it is her unique scent or her slimy skin or a combination of both, she always seems to leave a trail wherever she goes.

Then I heard the snail girl snicker and call out to me again in her trademarked low crackly voice that would always put everyone around her on edge. "What's the matter Cardin Winchester you as if you've seen a ghost?"

I was stunned for a moment, if only because I truly felt like coming face to face with a ghost would've been better. Hell if half the things I've heard about Cail were true I think I would rather be in detention Glynda Goodwitch right now than be trapped in a room with her. Mind you of course this was my first time meeting Cail the Snail in person but of course that was no accident. I put in no small amount of effort to avoid this encounter. And because of that I can't help but wonder how she already knows my name. However they say that engaging her in conversation will lead to disaster but my curiosity overpowered my commonsense. "You're Cail right? Tell me snail, how do you know my name?!"

Cail seems to chuckle slightly before responding to my question. "Oh Cardin Winchester, I could ask you the same question could I not? We both know very well how, so don't be so silly. The Winchester's are a fairly well known family after all and you yourself are quite infamous around campus. Besides that, it also says it on the name plate of your bed." Cail says motioning down towards my bed.

Her words caused my face to flush red with a mix of both embarrassment and anger. Her voice was as grinding as the rumors had said but her tone was far more infuriating. It almost sounded like she was speaking to a child and he could let that pass no matter who she was. "Shut your mouth snail witch! Don't you dare act so familiar with me or I will come over there and break your other leg!" I snapped at the girl.

In response to my words a wide twisted grin spread across Cail's visage until its corners were threatening to split her face in half. "Oh my, it would seem that you know how I like it don't yaw?" She asked in an almost playful tone while letting out a light giggle. "Well in that case why don't you go ahead and give me some more why don't you! Come on big boy I can take it!" She said while motioning towards herself like she was beckoning me to continue.

Wait, what did she just say? Was she actually asking for it? Does she think I won't do it? Those were the thoughts that went through my head. I was frozen in confusing before my mind finally recalled another rumor about Cail. Or rather a group of rumors that is. They were the same rumors that had made the snail girl so infamous in the first place. The rumors being that Cail had many eccentricities. Eccentricity One: Cail is dirty in mind, body, and spirit. Eccentricity Two: Cail is now and has always been very clumsy or at the very least unlucky. This is because of the fact that she is so prone to getting into serious accidents. And Eccentricity Three: Cail is a completely hopeless masochist. All of those things together made for one mess of a faunus.

And at this point Cail was staring at me with those creepy dark green eyes of hers. Her eyes had a strange sharpness to them that wasn't there before and they seemed even darker than they had been before. They looked so dark in fact that they almost matched the dark cycles under them perfectly. Needless to say I didn't want this to go any longer. I had no desire for this to head in a strange direction after all so I try to change the subject. "What are you doing back here Cail? Didn't team CRUS leave on a big mission two days ago? I thought you wouldn't be back for a week."

Cail smirks and chuckles to herself again before responding. "Full of questions, aren't we Cardin Winchester? Want to know more about me I see." And there was that condescending tone of hers again. The way she keeps saying my full name kind makes it feel like she's trying to provoke me. And if provoking me really is her goal then its working, because I'm right on the edge of snapping and really breaking her other leg. However before I can get the chance to give in to my desire she begins to speak again.

"Well to answer your question Cardin Winchester. I got my injury just after me and my team had taken out a large pack of Grimm during our mission. You see I had got a bit over zealous and ended up putting an Ursa's head through a tree. When I did the thing ended up toppling over on top of me. Of course my aura protected me from most of the blow but it was weakened from battle and my leg was at a bad angle. Anyway at least the hard part of the mission was already behind us at that point so my team decided to just send me back ahead of them. That way they could mop things up without needing to worry about me. Not that they really would of course. This sort of thing happens to me all the time so they are kind of use to it." Cail explains in a strangely chipper tone given the subject.

"This happens all the time huh?" I asked before noticing the fact that her beds name plate had been bolted on. Normally these types of beds would have nameplates that you could easily just slide on and off so they could use the bed for other patients. I heard she was accident prone but she must really have a problem if they have a bed reserved for her use alone. Or perhaps she is from a rich family like the Schnees or something. Come to think of it what is Cail's last name? I don't think I have ever caught it and it doesn't seem to be written on the name plate either.

Having noticed me eyeing her and her bed Cail called out to me again. "What's that look for Cardin Winchester? Could it be that you're worried about little old me? That's really sweet of you but, don't worry I heal quite quickly so I will be out of here in no time at all."

When I realize that I am staring I quickly glanced away and opened my mouth to retort. "Why would I be worried about a faunus freak like you!? Shut up and leave me alone!"

After my little outburst Cail became quite and only stared back at me with that twisted grin of hers. It felt wrong somehow. Even though I got her to be quite it felt like I gave her what she wanted. Like I was a puppet on strings dancing to her commands. I hated it. I hate it so much that I felt like decking her and if I thought my leg could carry my weight long enough to do so I would've. However I guess it's a good thing that it couldn't since I got the feeling that see was counting on it. And since I couldn't do anything and didn't feel like engaging with the freak any longer the room stayed silent for awhile after that.

Finally after nearly half an hour of silence Cail drew in a deep breath before breaking the silence. "Hey, you know Cardin Winchester. I think this could become the start of a wonderful relationship."

What the heck is she on about now!? It was then official I didn't understand this girl at all. And I didn't know why but those words of hers terrified me to my very core. I didn't know what she had in mind but I knew that I didn't want anything to do with the crazy faunus freak anymore. Of course with that said, what should I do about this? From what I have seen so far she couldn't be intimidated and actually hurting her seemed like it would have been even less effective. So if Cail indented to get closer to me what would I do to stop her? Fortunately despite my fears Cail ended our conversion there and said almost nothing for the rest of the night only muttering a few things to herself and wishing me goodnight before bed which by the way didn't do much to help me sleep. And then just as she said she healed up quickly and was released early the following morning. And with her gone and having the room to myself the rest of my stay went by rather peacefully. The only note worthy event was when my teammates came to visit me a few days later. They wanted to tell me the results of the capture the flag contest they had at school. I couldn't believe it when they told me what all went down. I wish I could've been there to see the contest for myself even if I couldn't have competed in it but oh well.

Then the long awaited day of my release finally came and I was more than ready to get back to Beacon, get back at that freak whose name I had found out was George Bolt, and forget all about that crazy snail girl. And so I was all packed and ready catch the next bullhead back to the main campus when a young female nurse came into the room waving around a small folded card in her hand. "Mister Winchester somebody sent you a get well card."

"Did you say a get well card?" I asked a little caught off guard by the sudden gift. "A bit late for one of those to be showing up but whatever give it here." I commanded as I reached out for it.

She quickly held out the card for me and I took it without a second thought. After that she quickly left the room giggling like a school girl. "What's her deal?" I wonder to myself before looking over the card. The card itself didn't seem to be anything special just something you could get at any convince store. And it didn't seem to be signed anywhere on the outside so I flip it open to take a look on the inside. The card was very simple in design with one side only saying the words 'Get Well Soon' in bold letters and depicting a teddy bear rapped in bandages underneath them. And the other side looked like it was normally blank but, it had been written on in what had to be the most sloppy hand writing I have ever seen. I could just barely make out the words written there and they said. "I will be waiting for you Cardin Winchester." I read them allowed.

When I read those words my blood instantly ran cooled. It wasn't hard to realize who it was that had sent this card to me. The question was why? At least at first until a thousand more questions spawned from it. "What does she want with me? Is she just trying to mess with me?! Is it even her? It's not signed anywhere so there is no way to know for sure if she even sent this. So is it possible I'm just being paranoid?" Then I remembered something that happened right before Cail had left to return to Beacon Academy. She had scribbled on a piece of paper and stuffed it into her night stand. I hadn't thought much of it at the time but now that I did think about it, it seemed like an odd thing to do right before leaving someplace you likely hope not to return to.

So with that thought in mind I move over to her night stand and pull it open before quickly riffling through its contents to find the paper neatly folded on top of a book titled The Third Crusade. The book looks old and worn and the title sounds quite familiar for some reason but since I have no interest in the book at the moment I promptly ignored it and pull out the paper before unfolding it in my hands. Then before I even bothered trying to read it, I compare the hand writing of the paper and the card that I was sent and to no surprise they were a perfect match. There was no doubt now that Cail had been the one who sent me this card but why did she send it? I highly doubt she really cared about my wellbeing. She seems like the type who is well informed but if she knew anything about me she would know that I don't care much for her kind. So what gives?

That's when I decided to finally try and decipher the sloppy words printed on the paper Cail had left behind. And when the words finally came into focus they said. "Dear Cardin Winchester, I suspect if you are reading this that means you are feeling quiet well by now. And that makes me very happy but, you really shouldn't look through a girl's things without asking you know. And for being such a bad boy I will have to punish you when you get back so be prepared. And then when I'm done giving you your punishment maybe you could return the favor." I didn't even what to make a guess about what she meant but it didn't really matter since I was already disgusted. However the words were not the most disturbing part about the message because at the bottom the paper it seemed to be stamped with black lipstick in the shape of her mouth.

I think I might have blacked out after that point since my memories little bit vague to say the least. All I could remember was the peace of paper being there one minute and the next it had been completely torn apart and its remains had been deposited in the nearest waste basket. When I realized this I took a deep breath to clear my mind. "Alright just breathe Cardin, she is just a stupid faunus like the others don't let her get to you. Sure this is the first time you had to deal with one this crazy but all faunus are a little insane right!? Regardless I don't want anything to do with this one so I won't." So I decide right then and there that I wouldn't get anymore evolved with her no matter what.

And with that I grab my things and left the hospital before heading straight for the transport ship that waiting to take me back to Beacon. And when I board the ship it took off at my command. And about half an hour later we had arrived at Beacon's air dock and were hovering directly over the landing zone. Then the ship lowered its landing gear and slowly descended until it was completely settled down on the ground and opened its doors to let me off. Without wasting any time I quickly step off the ship and step onto the dock. When I see Beacon laid out before for the first time in what seems like for ever I take a moment to breathe in the fresh air around the school and let out a sigh of relief. For once I can actually say that I'm glad to be back in this cruddy place some people call a school. However that peaceful feeling was quickly lost when I heard the sound of unorganized footsteps approaching me.

That's when I heard that voice again. "Hello again Cardin Winchester, how was your flight?" And when I turned to face the source of the voice sure enough there she was. The girl very girl I had hope wouldn't appear before me again, Cail the Snail girl. And of course despite being out of the hospital and back at the Academy she looked as messy as ever. The only difference being that her hair was pulled up into a bun with her bangs covering most of her face and her cast had been replaced by a bandage rap. Cail was still wearing that twisted grin of hers as well. That grin sickened me every time I've seen it so far.

"Hey freak mind telling me why do you keep calling me that?!" I demanded.

"Whatever do you mean Cardin Winchester?" She asked while drawing out my name as long as possible. It was clear she was doing this intentionally and I don't know why but it really, really bugged me.

"That right there! Stop using my full name it's creepy!" I demanded.

That's when Cail's expression changed slightly. Her twisted grin became wider than it had before. "Is that so? Why didn't you say so! In that case from now on I will just have to call you Cardin then won't I?" She responded.

And that's when I realized my mistake. Oh crap! Is that what she's been aiming for this whole time?! I can't believe I fell for such an obvious ploy. I thought to myself. It's of no matter though I didn't intend to stick around for her play anymore of her games with my head. So quickly I pushed my way past her and ignore her as she called for me to come back. And I was almost out of the landing zone when a second bullhead transport ship had zoomed in over our heads to land on a different landing platform. This ship clearly looked like it had seen far better days. It was completely covered in dents, scorch marks, and small Grimm bone and feather fragments. And the moment the ship had sat down on the ground the engine seemed to breathe one last breath before the whole thing just broke down and began falling apart. Even one of the reinforced sliding doors that separated the passenger area of the ship from the outside would just completely fell off revealing three girls wearing a wide range of combat gear and who soon stepped off the aircraft and proceed to start screaming curses and complaints at one another in annoyed tones. I couldn't make out what they were upset about but it seemed to me that they were arguing about whose fault it was that they had such a hard time on their mission. And that's when I recognized the group in question. Given their tattered appearances at the time it was difficult to tell at first but they were the rest of Cail's team, otherwise known as team CRUS.

"Oh crap, sorry Cardin dear but I got to go take care of this. Official team CRUS business you know how it is." Cail said before she seemed to suddenly lose interest in keeping me around and went to meet with her distressed teammates. When she arrived the group's attention quickly shifted their focus onto their leader and she was instantly greeted by a whirlwind of insults and blame. They said things about how if she didn't get herself hurt all the time things like this wouldn't happen, about how much of a crappy leader she was, and for some reason they even brought up how unkempt she was. Not that I disagreed with any of it but it seemed a bit unnecessary. If any of my boys talked to me like that I would crucify them. Of course Cail is not me so after her team said whatever they pleased they just left Cail standing on the platform alone as they started on their way back to the main campus.

Then for whatever reason my legs began to move on their own and I soon found myself standing next to Cail with words I didn't rightly recognize trying to form themselves in my mouth. When I realized I was trying to give her an apology I manage to kill those thoughts before they were expressed in words. However I couldn't completely prevent myself from speaking unfortunately. "Wow so that was your team, what a bunch of bitches. How can you let them talk to you like that? You're their leader you should put them in line."

In response to my words Cail turned to face me. And when I seen her face I was slightly taken back. I don't really know what I was expecting her expression to look like but, I was far from ready for what I received. Her expression wasn't that of sadness or anger. No, rather she was still wearing her usual twisted grin. The grin that said everything is going the way she planned. "What's the matter Cardin? You look a bit confused. Did you get hit too hard and really don't understand what is happening around?" She asked.

I opened my mouth to retort but before I got the chance to form a response she went on without me. "Then shall I explain it to you then? Those girls are all quite well suited for the life of a huntress. This means they are useful but it also means that they are full of pride. And they are also all hyper competitive spirits who just can't stand the idea of playing second fiddle. They all feel like they should have been given the role of leader. And just between you and me I think their right, at least in some sense. Of course that makes them a strong and reliable team on the battlefield. However the problem is that winners can't exist without losers. If there is nobody to lose they can't win and they start to turn on each other. I just chose the path of least resistance." Cail then motioned toward her teammates in the distance and I started to catch what she was saying. All the anger and frustration that they were showing just a moment ago seemed to have vanished and they were chatting idly.

Seeing this I became dumbstruck for a moment. I have never seen a girl willingly play the victim like this before. And I can't be sure how much of her is the real her or just an act anymore. After that Cail also started on her way back towards the campus stating that her business here was done. And for the briefest of moments I almost thought she looked kind of cool. At least until she tripped over her own feet and face planted right in front of me with her skirt flipped up. And that's when I face palm so hard I almost broke my own nose.

"Hey Cardin could you be a dear and help me up I am still injured you know?" Cail inquired from her new position on the ground.

Then I let out a sigh of exasperation before stepping forward to stand in front of her and offer her my hand. "Fine you freak but just this once."

And the moment I reached out to her is when her twisted grin straitened and she extended her own hand to meet mine. As I tried pull her up onto her feet however she jumped up onto her good foot before grabbing hold of my face and forcing her lips onto my own in what was without a doubt the most disgusting kiss I have ever experienced. When my mind caught up to me I shoved the snail away as hard as I could but she effortlessly flipped away and landed perfectly on her feet once again.

I began frantically rubbing my lips with my hand in a desperate attempted get them clean before I started to spit out the tainted contents of my mouth and turn towards the offender to question her. "What the hell do you think you're trying to do you bitch?! Also why are your hands so sweaty!?"

Cail just grins wider before responding in a slightly different voice, this one more playful. "Cardin dear didn't I tell you? That was your punishment for peeking at a girl's things. As for my hands that's not sweat." She then turned away from me and ran off back toward campus with her tongue sticking out and said in a challenging tone. "Now it's your turn, come punish me if you can!"

I am not even sure I want to know what she means by that but. Before I realize it my legs are already giving chase. "Get back here you freaking Snail!"