Chapter 4: A walk through thoughts

Jaune loved walking and loved to camping, but not when in was in the middle of nowhere with no one around save for Grimm. He had seen them a handful of times, thankfully way off in the distance, there hazy silhouettes meandering around off to the sides. Jaune had been careful, walking down into the gullies made by the hills, only rising to inspect the landscape and make sure he was going in the right direction. He had already had to back track twice, each time walking in the wrong direction.

The sun was blazing, its warm heat beating down on him and while the hills provided cover from Grimm there was no escaping the intense sunlight. Jaune took a sip from his cantina, having found it tucked into the bag given to him along with some others supplies courtesy of Ozpin. As he walked his thoughts began to drift onto a wide array of subjects: Glynda, Ozpin, his combat ability (or lack thereof), his team, team RWBY, and many more. Eventually, his thoughts conglomerated onto a single topic, Pyyrah.

Has she always had feelings for me? He thought quietly as he began to tread up a hill, they began to look all the same after the first few hours. What did I miss? She never really gave any indicators, and I like Weiss! Well…I have feelings for her…don't I? That thought made him stop for a second. While it was true that he had first had a crush on her she hadn't seemed to reciprocate those feelings, as a matter of fact she seemed more hostile to him than anything else.

He shook his head and then proceeded to put them away for now and continue his march. As he crested the hill he looked up at his focal point, the tower. He was closer now, about 20 miles away, and the haze on the tower had become less and more details had begun to appear. The tower was black and seemed craggily and falling apart. It was apparent no one had been there in a long time, either that, or the people who built the place had strange architecture quirks.

Jaune then noticed another thing, shadows. He turned and looked at the setting sun and let out a sigh, it was time to build camp. Thankfully as he looked down the hill he found shelter, two outcropped rocks poking from two hills making a small overhang with a small slant in the middle where they failed to connect. Jaune walked down and inspected the area, no sign of Grimm, which was always good. He did however, find a small scorpion.

"Ha, glad you're not the big guy I faced on my first mission at Beacon." He then used his sword and chopped it in two, he was taking no chances of an unwanted bed mate. Jaune then walked up and set his bag down, he pulled out a small meal of rations and water. It didn't need fire, which was due to the fact of a lack of fire wood and the fact that a fire would be like shooting up a flare to any nearby Grimm.

The food itself wasn't great, but it kept off the hunger. He then pulled out his sleeping bag and rolled it out, he kept his sword strapped to his side and his shield against the rock behind his head. He then spent the night laying on his back and looking up at the stars and munching on a small snack of pork grinds he had taken with him. The stars lit up the sky like tiny white diamonds as Jaune slowly drifted into sleep.

…

Jaune found himself walking down a road sword and shield resting on his back. He faintly remembered it from somewhere. He wasn't sure where he was going, but that didn't seem to matter to him. He walked up a hill road and his eyes rested back onto a familiar farm and he instantly became relived.

I need to get back to Beacon, my team needs me! A small part of his brain cried, but another part seemed to doubt it. No, my team will be better off without me, Pyyrah especially.

As he neared, the screen door opened and two orange and blonde blurs shot towards him.

"Papa!" One of them cried happily as the two slammed into him, he looked down at the two unknown children.

"Uhmm…what?" Jaune said as he looked at the two in confusion, before he could reply he heard the screen door open again.

Jaune looked up to see Pyyrah, but she wasn't wearing any armor, she instead worn a plain white shirt and some jeans. She walked over to him with a smile. "Jaune! You made it home just in time, I've got dinner cooked!"

Jaune was baffled, but before he could respond one of the children let out a blood curdling scream.

"Alyssa!" Pyyrah cried, as she and Jaune looked up to see a red headed child run and hide behind Pyyrah's legs. Jaune was to confused to let out a word, but did want to help her.

"What's going.."

RRRRAAAAGGGHHH!

Jaune turned to see a massive Ursa bounding towards them. With Pyyrah unarmed Jaune was going to have to do the fighting, but she could still help as his eyes spied the family tractor nearby.

"Pyyrah get the children inside and use your semblance to lift the tractor and smash it into the Grimm, I deliver the killing blow." Jaune said commandingly, his eyes locking onto the Grimm and sizing it up. It was an Ursa Major like the one he faced in Forever Falls, he would have no trouble if he could get a clean slice to its head. He crouched into combat stance and waited for Pyyrah.

"Pyyrah! Now!" He said triumphantly, waiting for a tractor to come sailing overhead…it didn't. "Pyyrah?" He said turning to face the woman who looked at him in terror, the children bolting into the house in terror.

"What are you doing!?" He yelled, the Ursa was less than fifty feet away and closing fast.

"What are you doing?!" Pyyrah cried in response, her eyes filled with terror. "We're not hunters, I can't lift that! We're potato farmers for God's Sake!"

Jaune had no time to respond, the Grimm was upon him. He went to draw for his sword, but it wasn't there. He found himself dressed in plain clothes, not a weapon or shield upon him. Jaune had a feeling of dread come upon him as he saw the Ursa stand up, he then immediately felt a wave of peace come over him. He closed his eyes as the Ursa pulled back for a strike, he heard Pyyrahs horrified scream and the deafening roar of the Ursa.

…

Jaune bolted awake, his body drenched in a cold sweat.

A dream, He thought as the panic subsided from his mind, just a dream.

He sat there for a minute, letting his breathing and heart rate slow down before getting up packing his things and starting the day.