A/N Thanks for your reviews and support.
WhiteElfElder: Thanks for your review my friend. It does seem that way. Even if there is only a little gain it gives something that Wolf hasn't has in awhile. Hope. Hope that he can push back his darkness.
DarkRavie: Thanks for your review my friend.
Wolf's POV
Disappointment filled him. For the third morning in a row Jaune had ditched their practice. According to Pyrrha he hadn't shown up to hers either. The only time they really saw him anymore was in class. The rest of the time he was with Cardin.
By the looks on his team's faces they were thinking the same thing. Things had been going so well. Then Jaune began to pull away from him after the ritual on his world. Did the ritual scare him?
Pyrrha said answering a question from Nora that he missed," I don't know. He has changed since he started hanging around Cardin. We need to get some sleep though."
That was right. Tomorrow they were going to the Forever fall. They were to gather sap for another professor. Unable to keep his thoughts on the next he he shifted and curled up on his bed.
The next morning came to early. They were dragged out of bed by their alarms. It would be the first of many field trips that they would go on.
His sword was belted against his side as usual. Looking across the lockers he saw Jaune finishing belting his own sword. The older boy glanced at him but didn't say anything.
:I wish i knew what I did to push him away. Maybe it was too much to soon.: Wolf's depression only increased.
Ren said touching his shoulder," Whatever is going on with him isnt your fault. Just give him time."
Wolf cocked his head to the side considering the other's words. Part of him knew what he said was true. Still another part didn't agree. Instead it thought that he had done something to provoke this change.
They followed Glynda Goodwitch out to the forest that was Forever Fall. She said sounding exasperated at having to do this," Yes, students, the forest of Forever Fall is indeed beautiful. But we are not here to sight-see. Professor Peach has asked all of you to collect samples from the trees deep inside this forest, and I'm here to make sure none of you die while doing so."
Jaune was already going off with Cardin and his team. This left Pyrrha in charge of their team. He acted as the guard as he could sense nearby Grim. If his blood ignited they would know they were in danger.
Ren and Nora were collecting their's and his jars. It was amusing to watch considering Nora kept eating the sap. Maybe it would have been better if someone else had paired up with Ren.
Though that would have been him and he would have been no better than her.
What most huntsman didn't realize was that Grim and hounds alike were attracted to the sap. It was sweet and it filled the hounds with warmth. Very similar to how a huntsman meant for them did.
His thoughts suddenly stopped. What if the sap could be used in a way similar to the ritual? He would have to bring it up to Ozpin later.
The sound of breaking of glass reached his ears. It was in the distance but it reached him nonetheless. Could one of the other students be in trouble?
He looked at Pyrrha his eyes asking an unspoken question. She listened for a moment before nodding. Without a word he left.
It didn't take him long to find the spot. To his surprise though it was Jaune and team Cardinal. Cardin had a stain on his armor and broken glass was scattered in the grass. Cardin had Jaune by his throat holding him high into the air.
Wolf went to help his huntsman only to stop at the boy's words," "I don't care what you do to me... but you are not messing with my team."
Jaune... Wolf's heart went out to his huntsman. No doubt Cardin held something over his head. That was why he had pulled away.
Cardin looks momentarily shocked as he asked," What? You think talk like that makes you tough? You think you're a big strong man now?"
Jaune smiles in defiance. An enraged Cardin roars and raises his fist again, but just as the hit connects, a bright light shines from Jaune, and when the white fades from the screen, Cardin is crying out in pain as he holds his hand. Jaune, now back on the ground but completely healed, looks confusedly at his hands as they faintly glow white.
As he moved to step in a low growl resounded. Wolf been so focused on the boy's in front of him he didn't notice the Ursa approaching. When it came into view he realized how much of a monster of an Ursa it was. In his time in Remnant he had never seen one so big. This was bad! As students even a full team of first years could not take on such a Grim.
One of the boys said stating the obvious," That's a big Ursa!"
No shit dumbass! Was his thoughts. Was he the only sane person in this academy? Sometimes he wondered.
The Ursa goes for Cardin completely ignoring Jaune. In his human form he would never make it in time. So he shifts into his wolf form.
Wolf reaches them right as it is about to swipe at the red head. He leaps at it. Sharp fangs sink into the forearm of the Ursa. It's arm jerked back and he had to clamp down to keep from being sent into the air.
The Ursa's attention was drawn to him. Beowulves and Ursa were natural enemies. Even if there were humans around they would attack each other first.
It continues to shake him around until he forced to let go. By that time Jaune and Cardin were on their feet. Jaune had his sword and shield drawn ready for combat. Pride filled him.
It was in that moment of weakness that the Ursa struck. A hard strike of its claws sent him flying. The claws like his own fangs were sharp. They tore open his unprotected skin. The wound was long and deep. Nearly running from front leg to back leg.
When he struck a nearby tree he heard his ribs break. It was a terrible sound but not one he was unused to. The combined pain was nearly overwhelming though.
Wolf struggled to push himself back to his feet. There was no way he would let the Ursa near his huntsman or Cardin. While he might not like the other boy but that didn't mean he wanted him dead.
Once again the Ursa charged at him. Wolf went to attack it again. This time he sank his fangs into its leg. Hoping that it would slow the damn thing down. Instead he was kicked into the air.
As he was kicked into the air a flash of good caught his attention. Jaune hit the Ursa with his sword in the opening that he had been given. He wasn't given much time to think on it as he crashed into the ground.
Pushing past his weakness he tried to regain his feet. Only for his strength to give out on him. This sent him crashing to the ground unable to move.
Jaune was back to attacking the Grim but was slowly being driven back. One strike had enough force to send the blond almost to the other side of the clearing.
The Ursa was once more upon him. Wolf expected it to pick him up or strike him with its claws. Instead it did something unexpected. It lifted a massive foot and brought it down upon him. Slowly putting all its weight on him.
His body was already weakened from the blood loss. His bones began to crack and break. The pain made him black out.
Jaune's POV
He launched himself into another attack. Even as he heard Wolf's words ring in his ear," Be sure to check your scroll. If your aura level is low you need to retreat."
His aura was in fact low. Far lower than it should have been for this kind of battle. If he was sane he would have high tailed it out of there. But he couldn't. He couldn't leave Wolf behind.
Seeing Wolf collapsed and the Ursa stepped on him like a bug was a shock. He grows angry again and starts to run at the Ursa as it also begins to dash towards him.
Just as the Ursa is about to hit him, the glow surrounds Jaune's shield lifted up to block the swipe. Jaune uses the surprise defensive move to lean on the ground, push his shield back up, and swing his blade right through the Ursa's neck. The head falls to the ground as the body slams onto the ground.
Without waiting to see it's body dissipate Jaune ran to Wolf. The younger boy wasn't moving. His breathing was coming in ragged gasps. A weezing sound sound also came from his chest. Remembering what Wolf had said about first aid he knew that a lung was likely punctured. The problem was they were too far to seek medical attention.
Why wasn't Wolf's aura activating?! Shouldn't it be helping heal the damage?! Panic was rising in his chest. Wolf was going to die unless he did something.
He placed his hands on the other's chest and focused. They needed a miracle. Pyrrha once told him that sometimes ones semblance could be unlocked in an extreme situation. If he had a semblance this was the time for it to activate.
As if hearing his thoughts a gentle white light enveloped him. It went down his arms and over the other boy. He heard rushed footsteps behind him. Turning his head slightly he saw Pyrrha, Ruby, and Weiss. They were followed shortly by Goodwitch and the Headmaster.
It only took half a second for the man to take in the scene and rush towards where they were in the grass. The Headmaster hissed at the sight of the large wound across Wolf's side.
He said his voice shaking," He tried to protect us from an Ursa. It was huge. I have never seen one that big. When it tried to kill him I jumped in to help."
Amber eyes met his blue ones. For half a second they searched his before nodding.
The Headmaster said in a low tone," Wolf would give his life to protect those he cared about. For the longest time that consisted of a small group. Just myself and Qrow. Now it seems he has added you to that."
Jaune felt a pang of guilt in his chest. Wolf had been nothing but kind to him yet he pushed him away. For what? To keep his friend's secret from getting out? In hindsight he should have told the headmaster what was happening.
His thoughts were broken by the Headmaster saying," It seems young man you have unlocked your semblance. You can heal someone's wounds. If you have enough aura left to do so."
Now that he thought about it. Wolf's weazing had stopped. His breathing was still labored but it no longer sounded like he was dying.
A moment later he was gently pushed away by medics. They had no doubt been on standby just in case. He watched as they loaded him into a evac ship.
The Headmaster said softly but firmly," Go with them. I will take things from here."
Jaune waited just long enough to nod politely before jumping on the ship. The medics didn't pay him any mind as they continued their work.
Ozpin's POV
Once the medical ship was in the air he turned his furious gaze to the red head. There were few things that one could get thrown out of his school for. Bullying was one of them.
The red haired boy flinched once he noticed where the anger was directed. The boy said trying to explain," I didn't touch the beast! It was all the Ursa!"
Ozpin said in a deadly quiet voice," No you threatened his in training huntsman. Putting the growing fledgling bond in danger. Not only that but you threatened to expose him to the council. Young Jaune sent me the evidence this morning. Not caring what happened to him."
The red head was shaking with both fear and anger. He yelled angrily," You can't do anything to me! My father is on the Vale council. He will have your job!"
That would be true. If the council didn't fear putting him back on active duty. If he were to go back on active duty as a huntsman, Wolf would have to go as well. There was no way they would allow a half trained hound into the duty roster. As long as the boy had not gone through with the bonding ritual with young Arc. Then they didn't have a choice but to keep him as headmaster.
He growled," Not only did you put a fellow student in danger. You put MY hound in danger."
Winchester pales significantly. It wasn't well known what a broken bond would do to someone. What most people knew was that it was a pain like nothing else.
He continued," For that Mr. Winchester you are hearby expelled from my school. You can explain how it happened to your father. I'll have a professor escort you to your dorm to collect your belongings. Then to an airship."
With that said he spun on his heel and made his way to the airships. He had a hound to check on. With any luck Mr. Arc' s semblance would have healed most of the damage.