"Dog pile!" was the first words I heard when I woke up. I tried to move, but the confines of my sleeping bag wouldn't let me. Simultaneously, Yang and Ruby landed on my stomach, and I was glad I hadn't eaten yet. I somewhat free myself and pull them off me. "Morning you two." I grunt. I change into new clothes, and Yang starts talking. "Ruby and I are going to breakfast. You comin'?" I'm putting on my socks quickly. "Yes, yes." I say in a hurried tone. "Give me a moment please." I quickly put on my boots and gauntlets and walk out the door with Ruby and Yang to go to breakfast.

"You got enough pancakes? Asks Ruby. "Don't Judge me." I say protectively. "Seriously though, did you have to get so many?" Yang questions. I look down at my food. "You know I eat more when I'm upset." Yang looks sad, but knowing. "Flashbacks again?" she asks, and I nod. Breakfast proceeds in silence, besides the occasional small talk. The three of us spend the rest of the morning preparing for initiation. We packed ammunition, checked our armor, and gossiped about teams. I was sharpening my knife. Most of the day the student body waited for initiation. The hour finally came, and we gathered above the Emerald Forest, and stood on metal platforms. Professor Ozpin stood in front of us. "Fpr years, we have trained to become warriors, and today your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest." He said. Now Ms. Goodwitch spoke. "Now, I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignment of teams. Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion. You will each be given teammates. Today." Ozpin took over again. "These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon, so it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well. That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner or the next four years." Hmm, lovely. I thought. "After you've partnered up, make your way to the northern end of the forest." Ozpin continued. "You will meet opposition along the way. Do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path, or you will die. You will be monitored and graded for the duration of your initiation, but our instructors will not intervene. You will find an abandonded temple at the end of your path, containing several relics. Each pair must choose one and return to the top of the cliff. You will guard that item, as well as your standing, and grade you appropriately. Are there any questions?"

"No." I said to myself. "Let's get going!" I look to my left and watch others get launched off the cliff. I get into a ready stance, and a few seconds later was launched into the air.

It was exhilarating. The cold wind stung my face, but I didn't care. I almost didn't realize the speed of my fall. At the last second, I launched my magnets, and using the polarity to my advantage, launched off them and landed quietly on the grass. I quickly take in my surroundings. Everything seems to be in order. I relax a little as I begin walking northward.

A couple of minutes later, I quite accidentally stumbled across my partner. Still walking North, I heard a noise not natural to the forest. It was a mix of a laugh and a chitter. I draw my grenade launcher, and the noise halted. I loaded a belt of grenades into the launcher port as I try to locate the origin of the sound. The sound came again, and now I could tell it was close behind me. I whip around and grab at the air. The chittering turned into a high-pitched squeal. I looked at the creature in in my hands. It was light broewn with white spots. It was also long and furry. I hear the unmistakable sound of a rifle magazine sliding into place.

` "Put. Him. Down." I heard a person say. I turn around to see the barrel of a rifle pointed at my forehead. I looked up and down cooly. He was hanging from a tree. a monkey faunus. I muse. He was fit and slim, a perfect sniper build, which seemed to be his specialty. He prodded me with his rifle. "Did you hear me? Let him go!" he commanded. I release the creature and it floats over to the faunus. "For future reference, if we're gonna be partners, don't prod me with your rifle. Again." I tell him. "Then don't touch my ferret." He replies. I shrug my shoulders. "Fair enough.", I agree. He turns and starts swinging into the forest, and using my magnets, I speed after him.

Our journey was actually quite docile. We found the temple quickly with my partners trained eye. The two of us look around the temple. "Huh. Chess pieces." My partner states nostalgically. I go around looking at all the pieces. "I guess these are our artifacts." I tell no one. I turn to my partner, who is holding a black rook. "You want that one?" I ask, and he nods. We turn to leave and see two people running out of the forest. One was wearing a very large black cloak eith light armor underneath. The otherperson kept running towards us, while the cloaked figure turned, knelt, and fired into the forest. There was an electric crackle, and angry hissing followed. The girl approaching us stops and turns around. "Naomi!" she cries out. "What are you doing?!" Naomi turned for a split second, and it rose, seemingly out of the ground. A King Taijitu. The fire of a rifle snapped me out of my trance. There's just something awe-inspiring about the creatures of Grimm. My adrenaline pumping now, I throw myself into the fray. Not my brightest idea. Bearing down on the Taijitu, I fire into the point where the two bodies conjoin. I could see the black head of the snake turning toward me, so I turned to face it. That's when my world went black.