The girl focused on her breathing as she tried to recall what information she currently possessed.

1- She was alive

2- She was alone

3- She... was scared

Weiss shook her head as she tried to rid herself of her fear, there was no sense in dilly dallying, she had to do something, though that was easier said than done in her situation.

She looked around the cracks in the downed airship and could see that she had crash landed in the middle of a snowstorm, it had fallen into a clearing surrounded by thick woods on every side.

Just perfect... she told herself as along with the deathtrap surrounding her, the severe cold and creatures of Grimm were now added to the list of possible causes of imminent death.

First things first, she had to get herself out of the wreckage, she attempted to pick herself up but was stopped in her tracks, causing her to and wince in pain.

She looked down at her waist to realize the was trapped by her seats armrests that had become mangled during the crash. She thanked her stars for her aura, after all, in situations such as this you had to count your blessings.

She struggled simultaneously to retain her consciousness and wrench herself free, but after numerous attempts, she conceded that the the metal bars were not going to budge any time soon, leaving only one thing to do.

She looked around the compartment, searching for her trusty weapon in order to slice her way out.
She managed to just about make out the silver hilt buried beneath scraps of metal and reached out to retrieve it.

The heiress stretched with all her might, trying and failing to ignore the growing pain in her abdomen as she reached for possibly her only survival option.

It was no use, it was just too far! With a grunt she relented and tried to think about her next move.
In all honesty, it seemed like a no win situation, she knew she shouldn't just give up... but what left was there to do?

A sudden call from her father telling her to come back from her training prematurely was what got her into the unmanned airship. Pre-programmed with a flight path, one that had obviously been intercepted.

She had heard large explosions battering the outside of the metal craft, then she heard the rapid beeping and sirens before the ship began to spiral into a free-fall.

Now she was stuck, with seemingly no way out, closing her eyes shut, she allowed herself to do something she hadn't for a very long time. Several tears started cascading down her pale cheeks before she started quietly sobbing to herself.

This was it, this was the end for her, she knew it. She clasped her head in her hands as she thought about her life.

There was so much she hadn't done! She had spent her entire life up until now, at the age of 15, cooped up in her home, never allowed to go out on her own accord, only being able to leave for school purposes.

Thus, she was never able to make any kind of relationship with anyone her age, why couldn't she have made at least one friend? At least one! One would be fine, one that she could laugh with in the good times and rely on in the bad, didn't she deserve the same as any other girl her age?

She let out a yelp as a fire suddenly erupted from the remains of the cockpit, slowly starting to spread to the other parts of the craft.

She shut her eyes tight, she would never be able to make a friend, she would never be a huntress, she would never find anyone to confide in, to trust, to love.

Weiss was temporarily surprised by her own thoughts, since when was she interested in that kind of thing? She decided that since it was likely her last moments she probably wasn't thinking straight.

Although... maybe... it would have been nice, at least once... to have someone like that... but it was pointless now.
She sighed once more before leaning back and accepting the inevitable.

"Uh.. miss?"
"Quiet! Can't you see I'm trying to find peace?" She scolded reflexively before the gears in her head began to turn as she sat up immediately to see the origin on the voice.

There, looking at her with a nervous grin, was a boy around her age, he was skinny teen with an odd shade of yellow colored hair, clad in a black and orange hoodie, though the feature she focused on most were his eyes... they were blue like hers except they were a deep blue, full of warmth and innocence. For some reason, she couldn't help but let her eyes linger on them.

"Uh, miss?" he repeated, startling the heiress that didn't realize that she was being drawn in.
"I was wandering outside my village when I saw the crash, are you okay?"

As she focused on the rest of the boy, she realized that there on his hip was a white and golden sheathe. A spark of hope kicked her sensible mind into gear as possible solutions to escaping this death trap began to flood her mind.

"That! Is that a sword?" She asked pointing at it as the boy nodded before pulling it out.
"Quick, cut me out of here!" She ordered, becoming increasingly aware of the fires spreading towards her.
The boy watched her as she showed him the metal bars that kept her fixed in place.

He raised his sword to strike before stopping and looking unsure. Weiss was getting impatient.
"What are you waiting for?" The boy lowered his sword, looking ashamed.
"I'm not sure I can do it without cutting you." He admitted hesitantly.
"What?! You know how to use that thing don't you?" she pointed at the sword.

He shook his head "A little, but if I mess up..." Weiss looked at him in annoyance.

"With that attitude, you'll never get anything right! Don't run away just because it scares you! You have to overcome this, you can do it, I know it, you just have to believe in yourself a little!" she didn't really know what she was saying or if she meant it, but it seemed to have the desired effect as something seemed to spark inside of him as he raised his sword yet again with a look of bravery in his eyes.

He aimed carefully as Weiss leaned back as far as she could just in case. He took a breath before swing the sword down to meet the bars.

'ca-dunk'

Weiss opened her eyes as the bars that confined her now lay broken at her feet, she was free!

"Not bad" she commented passively, hiding her glee.

The boy smiled proudly before holding out a hand. "Hey, I'm Jaune"
The heiress cleared her throat, remembering her position and politely took his hand before standing and brushing herself off.

"Weiss Schnee, pleasure" She spoke elegantly as she stepped outside of the wreckage and breathed in the cold air, it felt so refreshing!

"So, why were you in there in the first place?" The boy asked curiously, Weiss's eyes widened as she had forgotten that crucial detail.

"IT LANDED IN THE CLEARING! HURRY" the yell came from the thick woods, it was close. She quickly turned to the blond

"Quick, we have to get out of here!" She yelled in panic as he nodded, sheathing his sword and coming towards her.
It was then that she noticed a small metal briefcase laying just outside the craft, undamaged.

"Wait, grab that first!" He turned towards it and attempted to lift it, managing to get it a few feet off the ground before his untrained muscles failed him as he was forced to drop it. Just what the hell was in it?

Jaune rubbed his now aching arms and looked back in desperation.

"Is it really that important?" he seemed eager to get out of there, but Weiss knew she couldn't leave without it, the products inside were entrusted to her by her father before she left for training.

Weiss knew, plane crash or not, without that briefcase, her father would be fuming, and that never lead to anything good.
"It's.. important to me" Jaune didn't seem satisfied with the vague answer but had no time to respond.

The sudden sound of footsteps spurred the boy into action as he held his breath before begrudgingly picked up the heavy case, pulling the handle up to his shoulders before joining the heiress as they ran into the dark woods.

They ran through the thick snow, neither knowing how long for, with the snow hindering their vision, they stumbled and staggered through the endless forest, having to constantly call out to each other, neither being able to see the other.

"Ah!" Weiss exclaimed as she was tripped and fell to the snow covered ground, she was struggling to pick herself up again. Like it or not, she had to swallow her pride once more and rely on others.

"Jaune!" She called, her only response being the whistling of the freezing winds as the blond was nowhere to be seen.
"Jaune!" She repeated, no response.

She gasped as she came to the obvious conclusion, he had left her.

She should have known, no one would willingly help her for no reason, he had probably just seen her and thought about the possible reward money for finding her.
It was fine, she didn't need him anyway, at least that's what she told herself. Ignoring the cold tears that began to reappear as she whimpered in distress.

"Jau-"

"WEISS!" Her eyes shot open as she heard the familiar voice, she initially dismissed it as a figment of her imagination to taunt her in her last moments.
It was only when she felt herself being picked up bridal style and once again rushing through the dark, snowy woods that she began to consider the possibility.

He had come back for her...

After minutes of panting, shambling through the blackness, a light appeared in front of them. It looked like the entrance to another clearing, Jaune quickly rushed towards it, anything would be preferable to spending another minute in the darkness of the forest.

As he entered the clearing, he covered his eyes as they adjusted to the light before re opening them and dropping his jaw in awe at the sight.

The girl in his arms groggily flickered her eyes opened as she too took in the beauty before them.

They had come across a small cliff edge that allowed you to see over the entire forest and the icy glaciers beyond. And just below the cliff side was a beautiful frozen lake that seemed to sparkle as the snow fell upon it.

The pair temporarily allowed themselves to take it in as Jaune set the heiress down, making sure she could stand before letting her go.

With a groan he set down the heavy briefcase the metal briefcase he was forced to carry over his shoulder, not that he would risk complaining to Weiss, who for the first time since they met, was smiling, obviously taken in by the view. It was a much better look for her.

"It's beautiful, don't you think?" she felt a soothing sense of calmness as she addressed the boy behind her.
"Yeah, it really is" he replied, focusing on something entirely different.

"Is that your village?" Weiss asked, spotting a collection of buildings and houses to the west of the forest.
Jaune smiled at that "Yup, home sweet home, I live there with my parents and sisters"

"It looks... welcoming" She couldn't think of much else to say, the village looked rustic, yet charmingly so, but she was used to bigger cities.

"I'll show you around, then, I know the best comic book stand!" She rolled her eyes at the blond's attempt to impress her before turning away.

Weiss looked thoughtful before speaking once more without turning back towards the boy.

"Listen, if you weren't there today... I don't think I would have made it out of there in time, you saved my life." she chuckled fondly, a first for her. Firsts becoming rather common in these past few hours.
"More than once actually... I suppose what I'm really trying to say is... thank you" she whispered the last part.

She got no reply, she thought it was uncommon for anyone to be speechless at such a simple thank you, then she heard the thud as his body hit the floor.

She turned around instantly and looked on in horror as the blond's body collapsed against the snow as a man in a white and black uniform stepped over him, grabbing the briefcase and turning towards the heiress, the uniform had a red wolf with three claw marks against it.

'The White Fang!" she thought with anger as he took another step towards her.

"Did you really think we couldn't follow your tracks? Ever heard of snowprints, princess?" Weiss cursed beneath her breath as he moved to close their distance.

She reached to her side only to realize she had forgotten Myrtenaster back at the crash site.

"You should have just died in the crash, now we get to take you alive" he smirked, grabbing the heiress by the throat and lifting her off the ground.
Weiss couldn't fight back, the crash and the forest run had left her exhausted, unable to even activate her semblance.
The man's smile grew rider as he began to laugh as Weiss started to lose consciousness.

"Put... her...down" Weiss turned to her side in surprise as she saw the blond attempted to pick himself up, only managing to get onto one knee.
"Oh yeah? And why should I do-"

"And the case." Jaune spat, the man grumbled, annoyed at the interruption.

Jaune lifted himself slightly into a position that seemed to resemble... no, he couldn't be thinking, Weiss looked on in concern.

"That case..." He lifted his finger to point at it, then to Weiss.

"...is important to her..." The man attempted to retort but was silenced as the boy looked up with piercing eyes, the eyes Weiss had been drawn in by before, this time filled with valor and passion, they really were his best features.

"And that girl..." He slowly turned his finger towards himself. He didn't know where these words were coming from, he was barely thinking. All he could register was the scared look upon the pretty girl in white before him and the sudden rage building within him.

"Is important... to ME!" with that he rushed forward to charge the man as he dropped the girl in order to defend himself.

But Jaune didn't stop.

Without any hesitation, he charged into the man, sending them both flying off the cliff edge as Weiss looked on in shock.

One second they were there, the next they vanished from view.

There was a resounding crack then a splash as Weiss looked over the cliff to see the water ripple as two shapes fell below the surface, into the murky waters.

"JAUNE!"

Jaune took a moment to consider his actions over the last 5 seconds, he tackled an assassin... off a cliff... into a frozen lake..., not his brightest idea.

His thoughts were interrupted as they plunged into the black abyss of freezing water that instantly set his brain into overdrive as he realized the danger he was in, he looked around him and barely managed to make out the silver shining briefcase, then to his left he saw a dark object approaching him rapidly.

It took him a second to dodge the fist as he saw the body it connected to, the assassin wasn't finished quite yet. Jaune attempted to go for his sword but couldn't get it out fast enough before receiving a blow to the stomach, forcing all the air out of his lungs.

He let out a drowned yell as the assassin smirked as he revealed his shark like teeth, being a faunus really came with its perks.

Jaune felt his consciousness slipping as the cold prevented him from moving any more as he closed his eyes in defeat.

At least he had died saving someone else, right? That's probably a good way to go.. well it's the best he would get.

That's when he heard it, a voice, calling out his name, he squinted his eyes and looked through the assassin shaped break in the ice as he saw a person calling down for him, it was a beautiful girl, with white hair styled into an immaculate ponytail with pearly white skin and icy blue eyes that he found so alluring.

'Weiss...' he thought, suddenly regaining his senses as he saw now a reason to stay, he had someone he wanted to stand beside, someone he wanted to protect.

With a new sense of determination, he re-checked his options. Weapons are useless, he had no hand to hand skills and he hadn't even unlocked his aura yet.

Realizing his job wasn't done yet, the assassin swam back to the drowning blond.

With little else he could do, he held up his arms to block the oncoming punch that propelled him backwards through the water.

"Thud" he winced as he had hit his head on something hard, turning around, he saw that it was the silver briefcase, he prayed it contained something useful.

He attempted to force it open, to no avail, he turned it over and looked closer, it needed a combination!

Sensing something coming towards him, Jaune did the first thing that came to mind and blocked the blow with the case.

The assassin let out a silent shout as he clutched his hand. The blond was distracted by something shiny that floated in front of him, it was the case combination lock. Then that would mean...

He took another look at the case and sure enough, he was able to open it.

He was temporarily stunned as a radiant powder blue light shone from the case, illuminating the dark surrounding the two.

Something about the glowing light captivate him, it gave him a sense of wonder he had never felt before.

He was broken from his stupor as he saw the assassin preparing for another strike.

Dust, what could Jaune do with Dust? He had no weapons, he had no way to ignite it, he didn't have any spare cloth to make a cape, though that wouldn't really help in the situation at hand.

Then, it became clear to him, he remembered the other way to use Dust, it came with heavy risks and was considered crazy but he was out of options, he had to do something!

With one glance upwards towards the heiress above the surface. He narrowed his eyes with determination.

There was no turning back after this...

'Here goes nothing...'

"Jaune! Jaune can you hear me?!" she yelled down the crack in the ice, having lost sight of her savior, he probably wouldn't be able to hear her anyway.
She couldn't sit still, constantly pacing, thinking about what she could do.

Getting Myternaster was out of the question, navigating those woods was near impossible, she couldn't call for help, no reception.

The heiress took a glance town into the freezing waters.

Could she jump in after him? A part of her told her it was ridiculous, that she would only be getting herself killed by doing so, but what else was there?! She had to help him, after all the times he saved her, she couldn't let him die for her too!

He was her first... friend. It felt odd for her to use that word but she was sure that's what he was, they had met just hours before and yet there was no doubt in her mind.

With that new-found revelation, she removed her light blue jacket, ignoring the cold as she removed her shoes and took he position over the crack.
Steeling her resolve, she prepared herself to dive and started counting.

3...

He better not have drowned already...

2..

He is SO going to pay for a new dress when this is over...

1..

"CRACK"

Weiss' counting was interrupted as she saw the crack slowly beginning to expand, causing the rest of the frozen lake to break, including where she was standing. However she was distracted by something else entirely.

Two shadowy shapes were making their way towards the surface, and they were coming very quickly.

Before she could get off of the frozen lake, there was a rumbling as the shape came closer to the surface. The heiress took a knee as the tremors increased.

Then without warning, the ice in front of her suddenly shattered as a colossal pillar of snow and ice shot out from the water, bringing along with it the White Fang Assassin and a boy in a black hoodie before it stopped growing 20 ft above her, she could just make out the conversation between the two.

"Your friends, get them and get out of here, and know that if you ever go after my friends again, I will not be so forgiving, got it?" The assassin nodded in fright of the teen in front of him.

Weiss recognized the voice, but it sounded... colder than before, there was a certain icy tone to his voice when he was threatening the White Fang member.

The assassin jumped down from the icy structure and as soon as he was out of sight, the ice pillar began to shrink in size until it was low enough so that Weiss could see the teen on top.

It was a boy around her age, he was a skinny teen with snow white skin and similarly colored hair that was styled like Jaune's but with rougher edges and spikes in several places, clad in a black hoodie, just like his.

"Who are you and where is Jaune?" Weiss stared the newcomer down, she had noticed that the boy looked remarkably like him, but it couldn't be. Her eyes weren't deceiving her, the boy in front of her barely matched Jaune's description.
"Weiss..." he faced her and smiled, opening his eyes to reveal deep blue eyes, full of warmth and innocence.

It was him, his other features may have changed slightly but his eyes remained the same. She would remember those eyes anywhere now.

She didn't notice tears starting to well up before she ran to him and embraced the teen, relieved that he was safe.

"Jaune..." she whispered, something stirring within her. Acting before thinking, purely upon the sudden desire to run to the boy, even if just to make sure he was really there with her.

"Let's get out of here, Snow Angel."