Chapter 2:

The year had gotten off to an odd start, but I didn't think too much of it since the team trials were coming up. We would all be on our own, but we would get to be in a team with the first person we encountered, and two others, depending on if the trial was similar to what I had heard about Ruby's team. I remembered from all my research about attending the Academy, and from all of the articles I had read about Ruby and her teammates, that it was vital to be with someone you could understand, and would be willing to work with you when things got rough.

I could only hope.

The newest class gathered at the launch site. There were a lot of students I didn't recognize, but that didn't mean I wouldn't get to know them. I did see Nina though; she was on the opposite side of the line from myself. Part of me wanted to find her, she seemed strong, and now that I could get a good look at her weapon, well, let's just say I knew there was a lot more to her than met the eye. And with that kind of mystery, usually there was power behind it. The girl immediately next to me was wearing the cool gloves I had seen the day before, as all the new and returning students were waiting for the introductory announcement. A few ideas of what they could be went through my mind, but I guessed I would find out sooner or later. On her other side, there was a boy; one with dark hair, and a long, spear–like weapon on his back.

"What's his story?" I thought. "He looks older than the other kids in this class, I mean, I'm older too, but not by a lot."

I shook the thought out my mind and refocused my attention on what was to come.

"Ready?" The Academy's director said as he raised a hand. "Launch!"

And we were off; soaring high into the sky. I would be lying if I said I wasn't at least a little afraid, but I caught sight of a branch that looked sturdy enough for Riley to grab on to. Her lower scythe hooked onto the branch just as I was about to miss it, and I was able to quickly swing my self down the succeeding branches to the forest floor.

"Now that that's over, I just gotta find someone else." I sighed; I was happy with my landing, but these woods were known for the Grimm that made them their home, if 'home' was the right word for the places where Grimm roamed. I switched Riley into her bow form and started walking in the direction of where I had thought I heard someone land. Hopefully I would be right, and it wouldn't be an Ursa or a Nevermore. As confident as I was in my abilities, well, I would be more comfortable with someone helping me out.

Nearly half an hour had passed and I had yet to find anyone, and maybe that was normal, but it was boring. If I couldn't find a partner, I would have at least liked to battle something.

"Oh…" I took a seat, leaning against a tree, and lay Riley across my legs. If I was going to rest, I would at least keep her nearby in case of emergency.

I thought of home while I rested; what my little sisters would be doing, how my Mom was doing, if Dad was keeping it all together. I knew I couldn't afford to worry about them for long, but I couldn't help missing them.

"They're fine, Alynna. Just… Focus." I murmured to myself aloud.

"SKRAWWWW!"

I jumped up from my resting spot and easily found the source of the roar; a Nevermore.

"Why did it have to be something with wings?" I groaned. "Well, I guess it's as good a time as any to break in Riley."

With Riley set in her ranged–attack form, I had a pretty good chance of at least damaging the dark bird. I knew I had to watch out for the claws and keep an eye on its wings, in case it decided to go for its feather spears. And, I was alone, so there was that factor too.

I took my stance, and was ready to fire an arrow into the only vulnerable part I could see. Before I could even start to draw my arrow back though, a gunshot fired and went clear through the Nevermore's neck. As the monstrous bird, who seemed as surprised as I was, tried to recover, the boy with dark hair from the launch line appeared in front of me with his axe–spear… gun, and took another shot at the bird. This time, it wasn't a standard bullet shot though, it looked like it was the tip of a sword being launched from the gun's long barrel.

The bird fell fast after the shot landed in its wing.

"That only paralyzed it temporarily, we need to run."

"Okay…but, how–" He disappeared back into the woods before I could finish the question; which just annoyed me.

When I caught up to him, in a small clearing a few miles from where I had encountered the Nevermore, he was perched on a tree limb.

"What's the big idea?" I yelled up at him. "You don't just… save a girl… and the go running off."

"So, you admit I saved you?"

"I could have handled it myself. But it was nice that you were there anyway."

"Right."

Then it hit me. He had the same voice as the one I had heard after talking to Nina at the welcome the day before.

"So… I'm Alynna… Blythe." I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Renley. Just call me Ren though."

"You're weapon, is, different. Not something I've seen before."

"It's a shotgun–pike. Or, shot–pike, as I call it." He explained.

It was like he had told a lot of other people this before. It sounded so rehearsed.

"It looks like we're partners. Since, you were alone, when you came and helped me before."

"It looks that way."

Well, Renley didn't seem all too thrilled about our partnership. I guess not everyone is so open to being friends as others though. One thing I knew though, he knew what he was doing when it came to fighting Grimm, and that was valuable. The rest, well, we would see in time.