From Vale there rises yonder, below the setting sun

A tower, a Beacon, a strong united front.

Those with dreams of valor, those called to the fight

Gather now at Beacon, sing the Huntsmans' Rite.

-Alma Mater, Anonymous

Chapter 7: A Vacation

Summer leaped onto the bed, scattering the papers Raven had all around her. "Hey!" said Raven, but her voice lacked the harsh tone it had back at the start of the semester.

"Sorry," said Summer, gathering up the papers. "I was just excited." She settled back, her fuzzy socks and cozy pajamas still on, despite the fact that it was early afternoon.

"It's lunch time anyways, get dressed."

"I will, but first…" Summer scooted closer to where Raven was sitting on the bed.

"Here we go," sighed Raven.

"Hey! Don't get that attitude when you haven't even heard me out."

"Alright," said Raven, closing her textbook. "I'll bite. What has you so excited and is more important than studying for finals?"

"Plans for after finals!"

Raven looked as confused as Summer had predicted she would be. "I'm inviting you, and Tai and Qrow, back to my house for the holiday break."

"Why?"

Summer was confused by this question, but figured Raven and Qrow probably didn't have many visits with friends while living in Anima. "Because we've finished our first semester at Beacon, and I want my family to meet my team!" Summer's eyes dropped. "And also because I can't imagine going home to my family while you and Qrow sit in the dorm all break."

"Oh. Um…"

"Come on, I know you don't already have plans!"

"Qrow and Tai already accepted, didn't they?"

Raven was sharp, Summer had to admit. Summer tried to look demure. "Ye."

Raven rolled her eyes in a 'what choice do I have?' sort of expression, and Summer cheered. "You'll love it! My mom is such an excellent cook, and my step-dad built the house from the ground up, and my little sister is the most adorable thing in the world and there's going to be so much food and…"

Summer continued on as they walked down to the dining hall (Summer still in flannel pajama pants). "...and we always get these fancy chocolates, and there'll be fires in the fireplace. Oh! And my step-dad plays the lute and-"

"Summer, I get it, it'll be fun," said Raven.

There was a cackle from behind them. "Did Raven just use the word fun?" asked Tai.

"And not to refer to combat?" added Qrow.

Summer greeted her teammates. She was glad that Tai and Qrow seemed to get along better since that crazy detention. In fact, they were nearly inseparable now. "I told her about our trip during break!" Summer said gleefully. "She agreed to come!"

"I was under duress," teased Raven. The team ate lunch together and then returned to studying for finals, which began the next day.

Summer spent the afternoon in the library, reading up on Grimm Theory, Battle Tactics, and Sociology, and then spent the evening on one of the combat pitches in a large field behind the school, firing her arrows at targets and practicing with her semblance.

Exhausted, her aura nearly depleted from overusing her semblance, Summer laid back on the lush grass. She was prepared for finals, and all of her teammates were coming home with her for the break.

"Howdy, partner."

Summer sat up. Tai was approaching from the main school building, a skateboard under his arm.

"Shouldn't you be studying?" Summer teased.

"I was, really, but then… look what my parents sent in the mail! A gift!" He held out the skateboard for her to examine.

"Can you ride it?"

Tai shrugged. "I was about to go find out. Wanna come?"

There wasn't much more Summer could do that night besides eat a good dinner and get a good night's sleep. She decided to accompany Tai. They walked down to the docks, which were abandoned on a Sunday evening, and there were plenty of ramps and open space to practice on. Summer sat on a ledge and swung her legs as she watched Tai first stumble, and then slowly get the hang of the skateboard. She occasionally shouted encouragement to him, and they only went back to the school after Summer started to get cold.

"Here," said Tai, handing her the flannel shirt he had discarded as he started to practice. "I'm hot now, I don't need it."

Summer slipped on the shirt, rolling up the sleeves so that she could use her hands. It was warm and smelled of pine and the beach. "Ready for finals?" she asked him.

"I have to pass, so that I can have some of Momma Rose's homemade cookies."

"That's the spirit!"

When they got to the dining hall, the twins were nowhere to be found. Summer imagined they had already eaten and left. Her suspicions were confirmed as she could hear them as she approached the dorm room. Tai put out an arm to stop Summer, and hushed her.

Summer shot Tai an evil look, preferring not to eavesdrop on their teammates.

"I'm just saying that-"

"No, I know what you're saying but you're wrong. We can't be too careful."

Qrow sighed. "Yes, I know that, but Raven, if you go on like this then-"

"Then everything will be fine."

Summer slowly backed up, then made enough noise as she approached the door that the twins had time to collect herself before she entered. She didn't like being sneaky, but she had a feeling that Tai would have enjoyed listening to the rest of their conversation.

"Alright team! I need a shower, but then let's have one last review session for the team practical exam before we get to bed."

"Yes, sir!" teased Qrow.

In the end, Summer felt that the finals went better than expected. She was top of the class in Grimm theory, and third in battle tactics (behind Barty and surprisingly, Glynda). She scraped a B in sociology, and her individual combat was in the top ten of the class. Raven was second in solo combat, behind some brute named Yarrow who seemed to have an unlimited aura. Their team battle was against Team CROM, made up of four boys named Cooke, Rudy, Onyx, and Mist, and though they took five seconds longer than the "time to beat", they bested CROM without a single casualty on their side.

"That was so cool! Qrow, did you see when Summer snuck up behind Cooke? Oh the look on his face was priceless!" Tai was raving all the way back to the dorms. "Even Ozpin looked impressed with the battle. It's a shame he's only sending third and fourth years to Mistral for the Vytal Festival this year."

"Yeah, but we'll definitely qualify our third year!" Summer pitched in.

"Yeah, but, I'm from the desert, man! Next Vytal Festival is set to be in Atlas. I'm going to be a Tai-cicle!"

"You will freeze for the glory of our team," said Qrow. "And you will like it."

"Alright, let's get back and finish packing, we need to be to the station by seven!" Summer skipped ahead, excited to return home. She slowed down to let the others catch up, and caught sight of a unplaceable look on Raven's face. Summer felt a little guilty. Perhaps she shouldn't be boasting so much about her tight-knit family when it was clear Raven and Qrow likely only had each other. Still, that was all the more reason for Summer to welcome them into her home, she figured.

"Alright," Summer said, instructing the others who stood over open suitcases. "Lysander is pretty chilly this time of year. It's a seaside town, so I also borrowed these from Professor Port." Summer held up the rubber boots they had worn on their detention below the school. "If I were you, I would pack warm sweaters, long pants, and thick socks. If you have hats, gloves, and scarves, pack them, but if not, my mom has plenty of extras."

"Looks like you're going to be a Tai-cicle sooner than you thought," said Raven to Tai.

Qrow laughed. "Sis, I think that's the first joke I've ever heard you make."

They packed according to Summer's instructions, ate a small dinner in the dining hall, signed out for break in Professor Qymia's registration book, and walked off towards the station. They boarded the flying ship, which would take them as far as the northern border of the Vale mainland. Next, they would have to take a ship across the North Sea to Vale's northernmost island of Killian and its small, southern-coast village of Lysander.

The kingdom of Vale spread out gloriously in the setting sun, from where Team STRQ stood sat in the viewing cabin. "Oh, I almost forgot," said Summer, reaching into the smaller bag, which was slung over her shoulder. "These are for you!" She passed small packages to her three teammates, who all had their faces pressed curiously to the airship's windows.

"For- for what?" asked Raven, holding the wrapped package delicately.

"For the holidays? For being my teammates? For passing finals, whatever you want!"

"But, we don't have anything for you," said Tai, looking guilty.

"Oh, no worries, coming along with me during break is enough!" Summer took this time to gaze out the window, and let the others open their gifts. She smiled, knowing she had chosen well.

"Sweet!" Tai ripped through the paper first, revealing a pair of aviator sunglasses. "I'll look so much cooler on my skateboard now!"

"You'll never look cool," drawled Qrow. "Oh, awesome!" His gift was a small toolkit, perfect for adjusting all the tiny pieces of hardware on his scythe. "Thanks, Summer."

"An awesome weapon needs lots of care!" Summer hummed.

"What is… this?" asked Raven. She was holding a red square of cloth, attached to a loop of elastic, decorated with embroidery, and lined with lace.

"It's for your hair, so it doesn't get in your way during combat. I made it myself!"

"Raven, that's now officially the girliest thing you own!" Both Qrow and Taiyang laughed at Qrow's joke.

"Thank you, Summer" said Raven, pulling back half of her mane of hair and slipping the accessory on.

"Look, I see the sea!" Taiyang's words were true, and the airship was drawing ever closer to the coast, and the tiny village of Lysander. Summer relaxed back in her seat, ready for some cozy holiday cheer.