Sakura wandered the forest, hoping she was going the right direction. If she wasn't, surely there would be a friendly, normal bird in this forest that could point the way? Or more likely, the Grim had driven any respectable animal away.

Oh dear, in worrying where she was going, she had completely forgotten about a partner. A team. She had enjoyed the seclusion of training with her family. Now with complete strangers?

Now Sakura, she admonished herself, they won't be strangers at the end of four years.

But they were strangers now. Shivering as a chill ran down her back, she unsheathed her katana blades. Something wasn't right, and it wasn't her fear of human interaction. Snapping the hilts together, she looped her bowstring into its place. Drawing an arrow, she proceeded with caution.

Suddenly, the trees cracked and snapped above. The shrieking of a Nevermore interrupted the silence. A white, spear-like beak tore through the leafy canopy above, driving deep into the ground. Red eyes glinted through the trees.

Bringing up her bow, Sakura fired at the Grim. It shrieked and flew up out of the trees. Taking a deep breath, Sakura ran through the trees, keeping an eye on the small patches of sky. Where would the Nevermore strike next? Did it know where she was?

Another crash answered her questions. Leaves were knocked violently to the floor of the forest as the Nevermore alighted on the trees again. Dodging, Sakura headed for the nearby clearing she could see through the trees. If she could see it, this fight would be more equal.

Racing out into the clearing, Sakura peered upwards at the circling Nevermore. An ear-piercing screech informed her the Grim had spotted her as well. Firing two more dust infused arrows, she split her bow into its katanas form, looping the string around her waist securing it with a quick knot.

Downwards the Nevermore dived, shrieking its hate for all things good and beautiful. Hate for all mankind spilled out of its auraless eyes.

Crossing her katanas and settling into a battle stance, Sakura waited. Just as the Grim's beak was about to skewer her, she leapt aside and aimed a thrust at the beaming scarlet eye. It jerked, changing its flight course and knocked her several feet away with one wing. She rolled, her back hitting a tree. The Nevermore reared up into the sky again.

Groaning she rolled to her feet, trying to find her katanas that had been knocked from her grasp upon impact with the tree. Finding them a few feet away, she stood up.

Suddenly, from the forest several birds flew out, attacking the Nevermore in a V formation. She smiled a little, there were non-Grim animals here. Shaking herself, she ran towards the gleam of her katanas.

The Nevermore broke away from the furious attack of the birds, sending a hail of sharp-quilled feathers raining down on its opponent.

Sakura gasped as the feathered spears came screaming down. Holding one arm over her head to protect it, she lunged for her weapons.

One feather came down, ready to break through her aura and pierce her. Before she could swing her katana up to slice it in half before it reached her, there was the sound of metal slicing through the shaft. Sakura looked up surprised at the wielder of the sword.

Jazpeer glanced down at the younger girl, before turning his gaze back towards the Nevermore in the sky.

The birds were attacking the Nevermore more ferociously now, more and more joining their ranks. Shrieking, the Grim launched into the air, taking off in the other direction. Jazpeer frowned and sheathed his sword.

"I guess we should leave before it comes back," he stated.

"Yeah," Sakura stood up, sheathing her katanas.

They ran into the forest for some ways, listening to see if the Grim had followed them in, or was still being driven off. After some time of silence, the adrenaline began to wear off and Sakura's worry began to rise again. She tried to push it down, but the nagging little thoughts entered her brain no matter what.

"So...partners?" she asked, before realizing it was obvious they were. He was the first person she had seen and most likely she was the first he had seen.

"I wouldn't mind," Jazpeer answered, glancing down at her again.

She was tiny. That was the best way he could describe her. But he had seen that blow the Nevermore had received. It would probably carry a dent for the rest of its life. She was dressed head to heels in either pink or red and had a less conventional skirt than the other girls. It was long, not like the combat skirts other girls wore.

"Oh good," Sakura breathed a sigh of relief.

He didn't seem too talkative, which made the silence stretch out. Inside her head she was berating herself for not starting some sort of conversation. He probably thought she was rude. Or maybe he was shy too? No, he was being polite and letting her talk. The thoughts zipped through her mind like horses in a race.

"I hope you know where the temple is," she waved a hand in the general direction of where she thought it would be.

"I think so," he answered.

Was that a wince? She had caught sight of his eyes when she had moved unexpectedly. Why would he do that? She was, well, small. Little...insignificant...nothing to be afraid of. In his eyes she was reminded of that one time she had healed a small bird that the village boys had broken its leg. So untrusting and hurt until she had picked it up.

Maybe, if she compared people with her animals, she could understand and talk better with them. That was an idea worth trying. People were hard to comfort, but she could give it a shot.

"Then I'll let you lead," she smiled kindly. "I'm Sakura."

"Jazpeer."

This was a bit longer partner intro so I'm letting it solo. Next will be two sets of partners!

Also if your interested in a pioneer spin on RWBY you might want to check out my new fanfic! Rose of the West (Rose Garden shipping)