Ruby Rose sat in Hunting Theory class, idly sketching on the paper in front of her. Professor Port was regaling the class with another tale of his heroism - nearly a daily event for them. His story was cut short by a loud beeping sound. A few students snickered at his miffed expression as he retrieved his scroll from the desk. His frown deepened as he read the message on the screen.

"Miss Rose," he began, still looking at the scroll, "is the rest of your team present?"

"Yes, sir," Ruby responded, perking up.

"You four are to report to Professor Ozpin immediately, in his office," Port commanded, finally looking up.

Team RWBY walked through the halls of Beacon towards the headmaster's office, and Ruby was worried. She didn't think she'd broken anything important in the last week or so, but she might have been forgetting something… Maybe she'd broken a rule she didn't know about?

"You're overreacting," Yang dismissed, reading the concern on her sister's face. "I bet it's something good. Maybe he wants to congratulate us on how awesome we've been, recently."

"If it were so mundane, he wouldn't interrupt class," Weiss countered. "He needs us for something."

"We're about to find out," said Blake, as the girls reached the door to Ozpin's office. On the outside, it looked like any other teacher's room; the only notable difference was a small, gold plate adorning the entrance. Ozpin's name was etched into it.

"Come in," came a voice from inside, muffled by the door.

Ruby opened the door, and the rest of her team filed in after. They sat down in the chairs Ozpin gestured to. The room was surprisingly simple, without much in terms of decoration. Ozpin's desk was barren but for a few papers and an expensive-looking coffee maker.

"I apologize for interrupting your class, but I had urgent need of you four. I have a mission for you."

Weiss smiled imperceptibly, relishing her small victory.

"You are to hunt down and eliminate a White Beowolf that has been terrorizing the northeastern quarter of Vale," Ozpin continued. "It has been seen retreating into the Emerald Forest, where its den is presumed to be. It should be considered quite dangerous; it severely wounded a huntsman who came to aid in the defense of Vale. However, even though you are not full huntresses yet, your combined combat skill is far beyond that of any one professional."

Team RWBY swelled with pride, each member smiling at the compliment.

"As it is assumed that the beast resides on our property, it falls on us to eliminate it. You should leave within the next hour, before it has time to make another raid on Vale. Good luck."

Ozpin stood, and with a wave of his hand dismissed the girls.

The girls stood on the Beacon Cliffs, in the same area from which they had been launched a few months earlier. Weiss and Yang were in the middle of an argument over how they should go about searching.

"And I'm saying we should use the launch pads," yelled Yang. "They're right here for us to use, and we might even spot something from the air."

Weiss rolled her eyes. "We'll get separated. The time it'll take to find each other and reorganize ourselves isn't worth it, in addition to the fact that we'll have no real idea where we are in the forest. We're better off climbing down and searching systematically."

Ruby stood apart from them, deep in thought. It took her a few moments to realize that the two had stopped arguing, and were now looking at her expectantly.

"Weiss is right," the leader spoke up. "We can't afford to lose our bearings."

The heiress congratulated herself with a smirk, while Yang crossed her arms with a frown.

"But," continued Ruby, "it will take too long to search the entire forest if we stay together. We'll need to split up; I'll go with Weiss," she finished, grabbing the other girl's wrist.

Yang shook her head. "It's too dangerous. You heard what Ozpin said; I can't have you rushing in to a fight against something like that."

"We have our scrolls," Blake interjected. "We just agree not to engage the Beowolf without the entire team - send the other pair a message if you encounter it, and we'll meet up to take it down."

"That," said Ruby, pointing at the faunus girl, "is exactly what we are going to do."

Yang reluctantly agreed. "If there's nothing else, we should get going. Come on, Blake."

Without another word, the blonde-haired girl leapt off the cliff.

"See you soon," smiled Blake, before following.

"First official mission for Team RWBY, commence!" Ruby whooped as she dove off the cliff.

And I get to wander the woods with her for hours. Again, thought Weiss. Fantastic.

Not terribly enthusiastic about the prospect, Weiss dove off after her partner.