Back with another update. This long period gave me time to try and come up with a better chapter since a couple of you voiced your displeasure of how I handled the last one. Ruby's dream was not misplaced and plays part of what's to come. I will tell you this all now. I will never put filler in my stories, if I do, I give you a warning and even then I would encourage you to read it because I will usually relate it to the plot of the story. Anyway, HOPEFULLY this chapter is more to your liking. So let's get to it.
Legend:
Bold: TV/Loudspeakers/Scroll information/Scroll Messages sent
Bold Italic: Scroll Messages Received/Radio/Disembodied Voice (s)
Italic: Thoughts/Letters/Journal Entries/Flashbacks/
Qrow ducked under his transformed student and gave a swift kick to his side. The blue eyed Beowolf let out a snarl and quickly pushed off the ground, kicking up snow as he lunged for him again. His maw was wide open and his teeth snapped together just inches from where his face was. The veteran Hunter parried the two slashes that whooshed through the air and blocked them both when they came for an overhead strike. His blade clanged loudly and his smirk only grew when he could see the furious gaze in Jaune's eyes.
"That's right, Powder Puff. Use that power!" He pushed him off.
Jaune broke away and then began tracing circles around him. The Hunter's eyes narrowed just a bit and he was slightly surprised with what he saw. With each lap he paced around him, he got faster and faster. While Beowolves were considered fast Grimm, he had never seen one move as fast as Jaune was in his current state.
With a flick of his wrist, his sword dropped low and the gun appeared once more. He pulled the trigger with controlled grace and aimed for his mentee. The shots would have been on point, but his student was moving too fast to get an accurate lead on him.
"Heh, you've got some new tricks." The Hunter mused.
His sword kicked back into place and he dashed forward with a slash. Jaune barely dodged the slash and tried to counter back with one of his own, but he caught it with his outstretched hand. With a cocky smirk, Qrow balanced on his heel and gave two hard kicks. One to the stomach and the second to his face. The force of the kick sent his apprentice bouncing across the snow with a growl.
Qrow took aim again and waited for Jaune to stand up. Once he did, he pulled the trigger and a loud bang reverberated around the snowy mountains. A howl of pain escape his student and he could see the enraged look in his blue eyes as he stared back. Jaune got on all fours and bolted for him and he shook his head. Even with his speed it was a foolish move on his end to try and do a frontal assault.
He pegged the blonde to be a tactician, and a great one at that. Very few were able to read a battlefield and enemy like Jaune did and he usually was quick to overcome a stressful situation where others would panic and fail. He could handle the pressure well and had excellent judgment when it was time to make a decision. But whenever he did something reckless, Qrow was quick to correct him on it, even if it caused him pain. His finger pulled down on the trigger again and another loud bang sounded, but Jaune managed to dodge the bullet by jumping right and continued on.
One shot after the next left Qrow's gun, but each one missed his student who was able to read him and use his speed to his advantage. The distance between them had decreased greatly and he would soon be within striking distance. Thinking fast, the old Hunter aimed at the next targeted spot and fired once more. The bullet grazed Jaune's shoulder, but his adrenaline rush helped him brush it off.
The blonde made another lunge for him, but vanished the second he aimed his gun. Qrow blinked and snapped his blade back up and kept a tight grip on it. His red eyes scanned the snowy clearing and found no sign of him. That left one possibility. He looked up and could see his student diving down for him.
He raised his blade to intercept Jaune, but he made a small mistake. The sun was at Jaune's back and the second he raised his blade and locked eyes with his student, the bright light blinded him. He braced and felt the Beowolf slam into him. His hands throbbed from blocking the strike, but his mind soon registered the slash to his arm. He grimaced and felt blood ooze from the fresh cut. He swung his arm and let the excess blood stain the snow crimson, his focus now coming back.
When he swung his blade, the blonde ducked under it and swiped at him again, narrowly missing him. He took one hand from his blade and stopped his student's advance with a firm strike to the head. The hit stunned the blonde briefly, but he was quick to shake it off and slash at him again. Claws met steel and rang around the clearing. Blood and sparks shot from Qrow's blade with each parry and block he gave for Jaune. He brought his blade up to block an uppercut, but was caught off guard by the strength from the blonde's hit. A dull hum met his ears when his paws struck the blade and launched it out of his hand.
The blade landed with a small crunch in the snow, its tip embedded in the icy ground. Qrow raised both fists and was ready to go again. One thing he learned over his years as a Hunter was that one should be prepared for anything, and that included being disarmed by an enemy. Sparing his blade a quick glance he weighed his decision. He could easily make a dash for it, but given Jaune's newfound speed he would be cutting it close. If he stunned him first, he could grab his blade and end the fight. It did not take long to come to his decision and he started by sidestepping a swipe from his student. He weaved around him and gave a hard elbow strike to his back and sent him stumbling away.
The snow crunched beneath him and followed him in a trail as he shot for his blade. His hand gripped the hilt and he tugged it from the ground. He turned just in time and raised his arm to block a strike on a collision course for his face. Blood trickled down his cheek from the tips of Jaune's claws that managed to graze him. As a follow up, the dark haired Hunter wrapped his arm around Jaune's and gave a powerful knee jab to his stomach, forcing him to double over. He felt the muscles in his neck contract and with a grunt, he lifted Jaune into the air and slammed him into the ground hard.
Snow danced around them with the harsh wind, but both were unfazed by the cold. Their eyes met and were filled with nothing but determination to end the fight. Jaune's jaw snapped at Qrow's arm and he let go to avoid his fangs and raised his sword high. This made the boy roll to the side just in time to avoid the vicious hack. A pillar white launched towards the sky from the brute force of the veteran Hunter's swing and a fresh crater sat where the blonde was just seconds before.
"That all you got, you mangy mutt?" Qrow smirked at him.
Jaune only growled back at him and then rocketed forth courtesy of a strong push from the ground. Huntsmen in training would have had great difficulty tracking his movements, only being able to see a black blur moving. To veteran Huntsmen, it was just another day.
Nails screeched again as Jaune's claws raked at Qrow, but only met steel from his blade. Hack after hack, slash after slash, the older Hunter blocked and parried each strike that Jaune had to offer. He could see the transformed boy was slowing down and reaching the end of his rope and it was a matter of time before he changed back from lack of power. To his credit, he managed to stay in his Beowolf form a lot longer than he originally anticipated.
Qrow spun on his heel and threw a kick for Jaune's head. His foot met its mark and knocked the blonde off balance, but he was quick to swing wildly at his leg in a desperate attempt to hit him. The sounds of tearing cloth met his ears and blood stained the ground. The stinging sensation from his leg garnered a nod of approval, but it also got a victorious smirk to spread across his lips.
"Game over."
His eye twinkled just a bit and he gave a mighty kick. His foot slammed under Jaune's jaw and sent him airborne. He pursued after him and sailed by with his blade ready to strike. Once he got over his student, he brought the blade down and they shot for the ground. A loud boom sounded around the mountains and a mini-blizzard of snow surrounded both master and apprentice. When the snow died, the two of them were in a new crater with Qrow towering over the blonde who had changed back after the final hit.
The blonde's eyes rolled to the back of his head and he slipped into blissful unconsciousness. Qrow collapsed his blade and strapped it to his back. His red eyes fell on his apprentice and he crossed his arms. For a kid who was acting like a total chicken to use his new power, he sure held no punches back in his transformed state. He purposely downplayed his skill to gauge Jaune's strength with his power. Had he gone all out, the fight would have been over as soon as it started.
He felt the mountain wind grace the fresh rips in his clothes and he did a once over on them. He clicked his tongue and lightly kicked Jaune's leg before slinging him over his shoulder.
"You owe me some new duds, Powder Puff." He walked over to Crocea Mors.
He collapsed the shield and tucked the heirloom weapon away and carried the blonde back to the cabin.
Warmth was all Jaune felt as his eyes fluttered open. He could feel all of his extremities unlike earlier when they were practically frozen during his spar with Qrow. He shifted on the old sofa and his eyes were now fully open. The interior of the living room came into focus. A roaring fire burned in the hearth and Crocea Mors was sheathed away resting against the stone chimney. He snuggled into the couch and drew the blanket tighter over him and was about to close his eyes, but a cough caught his attention.
His eyes turned in the direction of the hack and saw his teacher sitting in the recliner not far from the fire. His trademark flask was in his hand and he was looking towards the ceiling, trying to bask in the heat. The old Hunter looked at peace and it was a pleasant change from his blunt and hard-ass nature.
"You alive, Powder Puff?" He asked, not looking at him.
Again with the nickname. Every time he got his butt kicked by the old Hunter or if he collapsed from exhaustion, that was the first question that left his mouth. To which he would only grunt back or if he had the energy, would stand up and try to fight once more. However, as the flood of the memories during their latest spar swarmed his mind, his brow furrowed into a heated glare and he fixed it on his alcoholic master. The man deliberately taunted him into using the power he was reluctant to tap into and it worked. His knuckles popped as he clutched the blanket tightly.
"Qrow… killing you is officially on my bucket list," he replied.
"You'll have to get in line." The Hunter waved his threat aside.
"Are you going to tell me what that session was all about?"
Qrow took a large swig from his flask and shook his head. The kid really liked to ask the obvious.
"I told you. It was to make you start using your transformation powers," he said like it was the simplest thing in the world.
"You provoked me into attacking you with power I didn't want to use!" Jaune growled back.
"In case you haven't noticed, the Vytal Festival is just around the corner and you need to have full control of this by then."
Jaune flinched at that. That was the entire reason Qrow had run him into the ground on a daily basis. It was his job to make sure he mastered the power he had so he could continue his career and regain the lost trust of his fellow Huntsmen and the people who saw his transformation online. He did not hazard a thought on what would happen if he failed to reach the goal, but he knew that it would be a game ender.
"I would have practiced it when I was ready," he said weakly.
"Would you have?" Qrow's red eyes flicked to him. "You avoided our talks about it and did not even try it until today."
"What's your point?"
"My point is that if I didn't put my foot in your ass, you wouldn't have done it. So don't lie to me."
There he went again. The blonde grit his teeth and turned over on the couch to break away from the conversation. His stomach tightened and despite him trying to dismiss his master's words, they rang true. He wasn't just afraid of the power that dwelt within him. He was terrified of it. It was something that had to be monitored and it if he lost control of his emotions, it would make it easier for Lugo to break free and wreak havoc. Just the thought of him failing and losing control to Lugo made him screw his eyes shut and shake his head.
All the while, Lugo's cackling echoed in the back of his mind. He was under control for now, but he knew his tenant was waiting for the right moment to exact his revenge. His words during their battle danced circles around his brain and a burning sensation flooded him. He could see the looks of horror and shock on each of his friend's faces as they flashed through his head. Blood stained their faces and the life slowly drained from their eyes.
"Stop!" He shoved his face into the pillow.
Next he saw Pyrrha before him. Her armor had been torn to shreds and her flesh had been ripped apart from Lugo's teeth. His teeth clenched harder and his eyes started to sting as tears threatened to fall.
"Stop!" He said again, angrier than earlier.
Lugo's laughing grew louder and Pyrrha's form slowly faded away and was replaced with someone else. The long, golden locks of hair that cascaded down her back like a waterfall that caught the eyes of every male around her were now stained crimson. Her right arm was missing, the bone jutting out for everyone to see. But even that was not had him on the verge of snapping. No. It was seeing her lilac eyes wide with shock as Lugo's teeth held her neck. Blood shot out and her mouth opened in a silent scream. Lugo's eyes were locked with his and he could see the twisted grin on the Beowolf's face as he gave a hard tug and the blonde went limp.
"No!" He bolted upright gasping for air.
A cold sweat had formed on his face and his blonde locks clung to it. His breaths were fast and shaky. His sudden outburst got the old Hunter's attention and he was looking at him from the corner of his eye.
"Is it talking to you?" He asked.
"No. It's what he said to me during our fight." Jaune shook his head.
"What'd you see?"
The blonde shook his head again and remained silent. He was in no hurry to recall the grotesque scene and was not sure how Qrow would take it if he elaborated.
"I don't want to talk about it," he answered back.
"Suit yourself." Qrow shrugged. "This is our last week, so get some sleep. You'll need it."
Last week. His master's words resounded through his head. It was hard to believe how fast two months had come and gone. The Vytal Festival would begin next week, and it seemed like it was just yesterday when he and Qrow arrived in the Atlas Mountains. He silently reflected on how much he was taught since he began and while he didn't feel much different, he was sure he had gotten stronger. All of those basic skills Qrow hammered into his head when they first started and the pointers he gave to his combat style helped him improve. The harsh mountains did wonders for building his endurance and when he got back to Vale, he'd have a lot more stamina than before. There was no way he'd let his friends handle most of their enemies this time.
Despite this being his last week, he knew that Qrow had at least one last stop he wanted to make with him before they made their trip back to Vale. He was not sure what his teacher had in mind, but he had a hunch it involved another unforgiving area. Then again, if he survived the brutal cold of the Atlas Mountains, he could survive anything. That was the idea, anyway.
Taking the advice of the old Hunter, Jaune leaned back on the couch and his heavy eyelids drooped. The warm embrace of slumber wrapped around him and carried him to his dreams.
With the end of his training in sight and determination to get the hang of his transformation powers, it provided the young Arc a light at the end of the tunnel. The grueling training regimen of the crazy, old Hunter would soon be at its end. Three days remained and much like the first two days, Qrow had him transform again and again and they would fight again and again. It was still humiliating to lose to his master time and again, and he learned the only reason he landed a hit on him earlier that week was because Qrow let him.
During the breaks between their battles, Qrow would point out his improvements and said that he was getting the hang of his power quicker than he anticipated. But there was always room for improvement. One thing that both master and apprentice noticed was that his transformed state had a short time limit. It varied between each spar as the day went on, but after timing each transformation, Qrow estimated a three minute average. This led to his next test which was to see if Jaune could change back and forth willingly to split up his time limit and save his power.
Needless to say, it was not as easy. Transforming into his Beowolf form was tough enough, but trying to switch back and forth required a lot of focus and mental strength. Each transformation took a toll and wore him down greatly. It was frustrating. He got the hang of transforming into a Beowolf without too much difficulty, his success with changing back was too sporadic. The majority of his attempts to change back failed and he only did so when he burned up his time.
The blonde shook his head again and was down on all fours, his sharp eyes on Qrow once more. Said man was holding his blade at the ready and he gave him a curt nod to begin the task. Taking a deep breath, Jaune closed his eyes and focused on his human form. The two times he managed to pull it off, he had his normal appearance in mind and that was only part of the puzzle. Whatever else went into doing it was beyond him.
"Change back, you idiot!" He berated himself. "Change back!"
Lugo's taunting laugh echoed in the back of his head.
"What's the matter, Jauney? You struggling a little bit?"
"Sorry, who are you?" The blonde retorted.
"Oh, good one. How did you enjoy that little picture show the other night?"
Jaune felt his claws dig into the icy ground and he shook his head. He would not let Lugo get to him with his jabs. He would be playing right into his hands… well, paws would be more accurate. A low growl escaped him and cold air swooped into his nose as he took a deep breath. In a rare moment of kindness, Qrow's calm words met his ears.
"Calm down and let your mind relax. Focus on your goal."
He cracked an eye open and saw the veteran take a swig from his flask. Qrow had faith in him, even if he acted like an insensitive prick. It was time for him to have faith in himself. He did it twice before and he could do it again.
"Change back… come on." He closed his eyes.
What was the last piece of the puzzle? A calm state of mind and focus were the first two, but what was the last one? His mind was clear, but something started to take shape. It wasn't Lugo or his taunting cackles, much to his relief. No. This time it was different and the warmth that came with it was soothing. The dark figures that formed came into focus and he could see the faces of his friends. Pyrrha, Nora, Ren, Ruby, Weiss, Blake and Yang. All of them giving him reassuring smiles as if to say, "You can do this. We believe in you."
His friends. He was doing this for them. He no longer wanted to be the one lagging behind. It was time to step it up and be the one leading the charge like the leader he was chosen to be. His eyes snapped open and he could feel the sharp pain shoot through his body like before. He bit back a scream and almost collapsed to the ground.
He shivered and opened his eyes. His pale fingers were covered in snow, much like the rest of his front. He stood up gingerly and almost fell to the ground again. His hand rested on Crocea Mors and was ready to draw it, but he never got the chance. Just as he was about to draw the blade, his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he was surrounded in darkness once again.
Jaune's head soon snapped up and he was met with a hard thump. Tiny lights burst in front of his eyes and he felt the splitting pain from the back of his skull. He was resting against a nearby tree and Qrow was sitting on a stump beside a fire he made. He trudged over to his master and sat down beside him to warm up for the next go around.
"What did you notice that time?" Qrow asked.
"I'm not sure what I can say." Jaune shook his head. "All I know is that I managed to change back."
"True. You're three for seventy-five by the way."
"Anyway, I know that a calm mind and focus are part of it, but I'm not too sure about the third piece."
Qrow only gave a grunt and sipped his flask again. He glanced at the blonde and could see his eyes fixed on the fire in deep thought. The kid had no idea how close he was to getting the concept, but it was something he would have to learn on his own. He was not one to divulge answers since that limited one's capabilities and if one couldn't find answers on their own accord, they had no place in being a Huntsman. His red eyes glanced down at his flask and then back at Jaune.
"Have a sip of that." He tossed the flask to him.
Jaune juggled the flask and managed to secure it, looking back and forth between his mentor and his most treasured possession. He never had a drink in his life. When he was younger he remembered seeing his father and other grown men drinking it like it was life itself. Of course when he tried to get answers about what it was, his old man would dismiss it and tell him he'd find out for himself someday. Now he had a chance to take a small step into manhood by having his first drink. He brought the flask up to his nose and took a whiff and shook his head. The alcohol was potent and stung his nostrils just a bit.
Out of the corner of his eye he could see Qrow watching him. He had hoped to share his first drink with his father when the time came, but at that moment, his master was the next best thing. He brought the flask to his lips and felt the drink grace his tongue… and almost spat it back out. The liquor he managed to swallow sent him into a hacking fit and he held the flask out for Qrow who only chuckled lightly.
"Too much for you, Powder Puff?" He took a large gulp.
"That was awful." Jaune shuddered. "How can you drink that?"
"It's a man's drink, kid. It takes time to develop an appreciation for it."
Jaune's face looked a sickly green and he hung his head to deal with the kick of the alcohol, wishing he had something to wash it down with. At least he figured out one of the mysteries life had to offer him as a man. Liquor was nasty.
"While we're waiting for your power to come back, let me ask you something," said Qrow.
"What's that?" He looked to him.
"What's the deal with you and that redheaded partner of yours?"
Qrow was merely curious about his student's status with the well-known Huntress in training. Although he saw the girl in person one time, he could tell the she was smitten with the oblivious blonde. Her shy tone and that sudden hug she gave him before they left made him shake his head.
"I'm… not sure," said Jaune. "She's my best friend and my partner."
"Thanks for stating the obvious." Qrow took another swig from his flask.
"She has helped me improve since I first arrived at Beacon, and God knows I didn't deserve any of her kindness after the way I treated her."
"You talking about your transcripts?"
The blonde only nodded. He suspected that Ozpin and Glynda knew of his forged transcripts. Nothing ever got by Beacon's headmaster and now Qrow's nod to it only confirmed his belief. In truth, he had contemplated on revealing that secret to his friends. He would rather them find out from him personally than Cardin or someone else.
"Do you think she may consider you more than a partner?" Qrow handed him the flask again.
Jaune caught the flask and let out a laugh before taking a bigger gulp. His face twisted and he almost gagged again. He screwed the flask shut and threw it back to Qrow.
"You seriously think someone like Pyrrha Nikos would go for a guy like me?" He grimaced.
The blonde felt his chest tighten the second the words left his mouth. It hurt to think he did not have a chance with a girl like Pyrrha, or any girl for that matter. Especially given his new condition. Yet at the same time, was it really possible? Even after everything he and his partner had been through, she stayed by his side. The biggest test of their relationship came with his transcripts. The redhead never held it against him and even went out of her way to try and help him which he foolishly lashed out at her out of pride. Although he handled his business with Cardin personally, Pyrrha was quick to accept his request of helping him to become a better fighter.
Her devotion to help him was strong and he never understood why. Deep down he was sure it had to deal with the fact they were partners and great friends that she went as far as she did. She even went so far as to give him advice about Weiss when he had that crush on her. Then came the dance.
His face fell as he thought about the start of that night. He was dateless, under the impression he missed his chance with Weiss after she went to ask Neptune. Then when he went to go give the suave boy a piece of his mind after he heard he turned Weiss down, he saw Pyrrha. Her beauty that night quickly caught his attention. Her long, flowing red hair was tied in its signature ponytail and held up from her circlet. The scarlet dress she wore shimmered in the light and put her bright, emerald eyes on full display. Her beauty, however, did not hide the look of hurt on her face.
If there was an award for being an asshole, he was sure he would have won it that night. His partner had no date to the dance, where in his mind he thought she would have no trouble snagging one. It only got worse after that revelation when she said that he was the kind of guy she hoped would ask her. However, despite the rocky start to that night, he was able to mend it with brutal humiliation on his end, but he did promise her. Garbed in that dress, the two of them danced for the rest of the night, and the glowing look never left her.
"I mean, I guess if I had a better way of knowing I'd definitely ask her to be my girlfriend," said the blonde.
Qrow had listened to his student's past with the girl and had the resist the urge to swat him on the head. The kid was just as oblivious as Taiyang was back in the day when they were teammates. Not picking up on his sister's cues drove her insane and the only way he got the message was when she planted a big one right on his dumb face. From the sound of it, the redhead would have to do the same for him, pending if she got any bolder with her advances.
"What brought that up if you don't mind me asking?" Jaune asked him.
The old Hunter shrugged it off. He only asked to pass the time and to see if the kid had noticed. Seeing as the blonde wanted an answer, he decided to humor him.
"When you continue your career as a Huntsman, you'll go through some rough times," he began. "You'll see things you wish you didn't and the life can take its toll on you. I've seen the strongest Huntsmen, some of my closest friends break from it."
Qrow downed the rest of the contents in the flask and stared back into the fire. The silence between him and Jaune was his signal to keep talking.
"My advice to you if you continue this path is to either sever your ties with your friends, or find something that will give you light in your darkest hour," he said with a stretch.
He managed to catch the flicker of surprise in the blonde's eyes. His words were harsh, but they were true. Everything he told Jaune was to give him guidance to make his own decision when the time came and he shared it with him because it would be the biggest decision he would make. Being a Huntsman was not for the faint hearted and if he had the knowledge he did now and could go back, he would have severed the ties he had with his team. It still hurt to think about them, even after all of these years.
He, Taiyang, Raven and Summer were the best team to graduate from Beacon. They had the skill to back it up and were notorious for completing some of the most dangerous missions. In the end, the role as Huntsmen consumed them and brought them down. They were the best and they have now become mere shells of their former selves. The remnants of their team was now scattered and broken.
"Is that what happened to you?" Jaune's quiet voice met him.
The silence between him and Qrow was awkward and he immediately wished he had not said anything. Hearing the words of an experienced Hunter put things into perspective. His blue eyes shifted to Qrow, expecting to see a hard look. Instead he saw his vacant gaze drawn to the fire, lost to whatever memories that plagued his mind.
"Yeah…" the veteran finally replied.
"Who did you lose?" The blonde continued his questions.
"That's a story for another time."
Qrow let out a grunt and stood up with a long stretch. It was starting to get dark and after checking his scroll for the time, he cursed under his breath. Their little conversation went on longer than he expected and now he had to compensate for the last test he set up for Jaune.
"Check your Aura level," he said.
The blonde got to his feet and unlocked his scroll. He was almost fully recovered for the next spar.
"I should be good in an hour." He pocketed his scroll.
"Good. Because tonight will be your last test before we move on," said Qrow.
"What's my test?"
Qrow plucked his blade from the ground and strapped it to his back. He folded his arms and leaned against the tree.
"Do you know what an Alpha is?" He asked.
Jaune stiffened and he could hear Lugo's howling laughter. He remembered how strong an Alpha was and barely escaped one with Lugo's assistance the first night they arrived. His blood ran cold and he felt the color drain from his face.
"Yeah…" he said with a slow nod, not liking where this was going.
"Good. Because you're going to kill one tonight." Qrow started back for the cabin.
Just when Jaune thought his master couldn't get any crazier, he somehow managed to top himself. An Alpha. How did Qrow expect him to kill an Alpha? Those Grimm were one of toughest someone could face and even some of the strongest Huntsmen had difficulty taking them down. They required precision and teamwork to be battled effectively, and the only teammate the young Arc had was Lugo, who was bent on trying to gain back control. The only saving grace he had was that if he died, Lugo died… again.
Qrow had waited for Jaune's Aura to replenish to start his test, but by the time he was ready, it was dark. The moon was blocked by the dark clouds overhead that threatened to conjure a violent blizzard. To raise the stakes, Jaune would be on his own and had to return to the cabin by morning.
"Don't even think about chickening out. I'll know if you do," said Qrow.
"How do you expect me to kill an Alpha?" The blonde snapped back. "I'm nowhere near strong enough for that!"
"You better figure it out, Powder Puff."
Jaune's knuckles popped as his hands formed tight fists. Killing Qrow was definitely high on his bucket list now. If he managed to survive against the Alpha, he would see how lucky he was and try to kill his cruel teacher. At least maim him a little bit as karma. In fact, with the task that Qrow gave him, he decided to do something he never would to the old Hunter.
"Fine, but when I come back, you're answering all my questions." He crossed his arms with a defiant stare.
Qrow's steely glare never left as he sipped his topped off flask.
"Come again?" He sneered.
"You heard me," Jaune strode up to him until he was just inches away from his face. "You're answering all of the questions I have for you when I kill that Alpha."
The Hunter scoffed and rose a brow. His glare was now gone and replaced with a very amused smirk.
"Only the ones I want to," he answered back.
"No. All of them." The blonde shook his head.
"Keep this up and I won't answer anything."
Jaune growled and restrained himself from jabbing Qrow's chest.
"Tell you what. You come back after killing that Alpha, I'll answer three questions you have. No lies," said Qrow. "I won't dodge them, either."
The blonde boy had a smirk of his own spread across his face and he turned around to look at the forest. His ballsy standoff with Qrow gave him a bit of a confidence boost, and even more so when the man promised to answer some of his questions when he came back. He definitely wanted some answers.
"I'll be timing you, Powder Puff. So start when you're ready." Qrow pulled out his scroll.
Eight o'clock. The blonde had until six the next morning to return with his kill made. He looked up and saw Jaune's figure dash into the tree line and vanish from view.
The blonde knight had bolted into the dark forest, trying to stay as calm as possible. His confidence in terms of fighting Grimm had grown after training with Qrow, but it dwindled in terms of more deadly Grimm. Fighting hordes of Ursai and Beowolves was one thing, but fighting Deathstalkers, Nevermores, and Alphas? This was a death sentence and he was on a slow march to a cold grave. To make matters worse, depending on the Alpha he came across, he would have to be mindful of their traits. He needed every ounce of energy to face the Alpha when he crossed it if he wanted the slightest chance of prevailing.
"So, have you lived a full life, Jauney?" Lugo asked.
"I'm not talking to you," Jaune answered back.
"You might want to rethink that plan, genius. You know exactly what we're getting into here."
The blonde growled under his breath and shook his head again. Lugo was doing him no favors and winding him up would only attract the attention of Grimm nearby. He tried to think about possible strategies to use in his upcoming battle, but it was not promising. His best chance to win his fight would be to lure the Alpha to the frozen lake to the east, or to the giant gorge to the west. Fighting it head on and alone was suicide, but if he could use the terrain around him to his advantage…
"You won't trick an Alpha that easily." Lugo butted into his thoughts.
"It's either that or we die. You got a better idea?" He retorted.
"I do. Hand control over to me and let me handle it."
"Not happening."
"We're dead if you don't."
Jaune stopped and rubbed his temples. He took a deep breath and calmed down. The anger that was building in his stomach was growing with each taunt Lugo gave.
"That's a risk I'm willing to take. Plus, I'd be taking you with me." Jaune smirked.
"Swallow your pride, you brat! You're not strong enough to fight an Alpha!" Lugo barked back.
"Neither are you."
"We're connected. You die, I die. I'm not going to let an Alpha best me."
"Yeah? You gonna' hand the reins over when the fight's done?"
Jaune got no response from his tenant and smirked again. His victory was short lived though. When he looked up, he saw dozens of red eyes glaring at him through the darkness. He swallowed lightly and his hand rested on the hilt of Crocea Mors, ready to draw it. His hopes to avoid fighting before encountering the Alpha were dashed.
Metal hummed as he pulled the blade from its sheath and held it ready. His shield popped up a second later and he brought it up high to gaze over the top. Doing a quick look around the frozen wood, he could make out at least twelve Grimm. His heart was steady and his nerves were calm. He was ready to fight. His blue eyes went from one Grimm to the next, but they made no effort to engage him.
"Why aren't they attacking?" He relaxed his stance.
He dropped his guard to see if he could get a reaction from the Grimm, but they stayed rooted to the spot. The next red flag came when the red eyes retreated into the darkness to leave him alone. It was eerily similar to that first night.
"Is the Alpha near?" Jaune asked Lugo.
"Probably," was his lighthearted reply.
Jaune tucked Crocea Mors away and closed his eyes to focus. White hot pain flooded his body and he fell on all fours. Every limb and bone in his body broke and took shape to adjust to his new body. The pain vanished as soon as it had come and the blonde opened his eyes. He felt the warmth of his black fur as it shielded him from the cold. The bone-like mask on his head was ready to protect him from any frontal attacks.
One perk that he enjoyed about being a Beowolf was his senses. He was able to detect anything in the surrounding area that his Aura would have difficulty finding. He could smell everything and hear everything around him. His nose twitched and he picked up a new scent. It was powerful and strong. His ears perked up when he heard the snow crunch loudly. The Grimm was getting closer and he knew in his gut that it was the Alpha.
He turned around and glared in the direction of the Alpha, backing up slowly. While he waited for the Grimm to reveal itself, he took a moment to orient himself. The lake was to his back and the gorge was ahead of him. While the lake provided him the chance to drown the Alpha, it was possible the ice was too thick for it to fall through like last time. The gorge, however, was so deep he could not see the bottom. All he would have to do was find a way to knock the Alpha in.
It was a half-baked plan, but it was the best he had. His mind was set and it was all just a matter of how he made the best of it. He was glad none of his friends were around to witness his reckless idea come to fruition and it was a secret he would take to his grave.
A calm breath left him and he opened his eyes. He had tuned out the heavy footsteps that came for him, but he had no need to locate the Grimm. The looming shadow that stretched in the small clearing courtesy of the moonlight showed him just what he was facing. He could not help but laugh inwardly. The large Ursa he encountered on the first night was glaring down at him with its massive red eyes. Its teeth poked out in a cruel snarl and it let loose a growl the made the trees around him shudder.
"I guess it's time for round two, huh?" Jaune looked up at the Ursa.
"What are you?" The Ursa took another step towards him. "You're human, yet you're not."
"I'm just a freak that's full of surprises."
The Ursa let out a grunt, but did not move to attack him. It lowered its head down to him and sniffed again, prodding him to growl.
"What do they call you?" Jaune asked.
"Yagesho," the massive Ursa replied. "And you?"
"Jaune."
Yagesho's eyes seemed to light up with interest. His maw closed and his sharp teeth gleamed in the gaps of moonlight. It was one that promised pain and a low chuckle escaped him.
"Do you know the punishment for our kind for fleeing an Alpha, boy?" He asked.
"No." The blonde shook head.
He was already one step ahead of him. Jaune charged forward and ducked low enough to dodge the vicious hack from Yagesho's claws. The tree that he was in front of just seconds before was slashed in half and it gave a thunderous crash as it fell to the forest floor. Snow danced around the clearing and kicked up behind him as he dashed for the gorge to the west. His speed and timing were going to be the biggest factors in his fight with the massive Grimm.
The ground thundered beneath his feet and he heard the deafening roar echo around the forest. He dared not to look back as the Alpha pursued him. Looking back only guaranteed a swift death. Although it was hard to look at the positives before him, he would not have to worry about fighting more Grimm if what Lugo said was true. Since Yagesho was the Alpha, they would not interrupt his fight in fear of being struck down. The Grimm's size alone would have made anyone with half a brain rethink fighting him.
Jaune leapt over a series of bushes and weaved around snow covered trees that were mowed down a second later. Each leap and bound he gave did nothing to put distance between him and Yagesho. For a fleeting moment he doubted his decision to go for the gorge instead of the lake. Even if he were to turn around now, he would lose the energy to stay in his Beowolf form and the Alpha would have no difficulty catching him at all. Pushing that thought to the back of his head, he then drifted back to his time limit. Three minutes was his average limit for transformation, with the very rare five minute instance. He had been in his current form for two minutes, giving him one minute to reach the gorge and kill Yagesho, maybe less. He silently prayed that he had more time.
"Damn it!" He jumped over a downed tree.
Not much further. He had at least two hundred meters to go until her reached the chasm. His lungs ached and with each breath he could feel them tighten like he was being squeezed. The discomfort that came with it nearly made him vomit. His energy was being sucked from him as he tried to keep his sprint going.
Ahead he could see the tree line give way to the night sky and a flat surface. Filled with renewed vigor, he tucked his head down and burst through the thick bushes and rolled across the icy snow. He continued to slide and had to dig his claws into the ground to slow himself. He ground to a halt just shy of the cliff and peered back to take a look down. Anyone who was afraid of heights would have went pale and stiff as a board. Absolute blackness was all his blue eyes could see. No telling of how deep it went, but the black abyss was unnerving. Just looking at it seemed to pull him closer to the edge.
He broke from his trance when the tree line was flattened and Yagesho roared in fury. The large Ursa glared down at him and took a couple of steps towards him. If looks could kill, the blonde would have been dead ten times over.
"You've got nowhere to run now, boy!" He snarled.
Jaune narrowly dodge a slash from the enraged Grimm and could feel his hair stand on end. He ran under Yagesho, all the while taking a look at the area around him. The ground was icy, their fighting area was limited and there were a few large pine trees that were taller than the Alpha. His mind raced to formulate a plan and with his frequent dodges, it did not take long to come up with one.
He spun on his heel with ice kicking up behind him and shot back at Yagesho. With a cry and dove forward and used the ground to slide to the closest tree he could. His momentum saved him from being cleaved by the Ursa's massive claws and he slammed into the tree with a grunt. A hard, throbbing sensation filled his ribs and he hissed as he pushed himself up. His mind took off another minute from his transformation. It looked like luck was on his side with five minutes. That left him with at least two minutes if his hunch was right.
Yagesho swiped at him with another roar and he jumped to the side just in time. The side of the tree burst into a small cloud of splinters and rained down on him. He wasted no time and slid over to the next tree and turned to lock eyes with the Ursa again. He was caught off guard though when the large Grimm lunged for him instead. The ground quaked and he had no choice but to jump up and meet Yagesho head on.
The tree cracked as the massive Ursa slammed into it and it bent towards the left to the next tree, hanging on by a thread. Jaune was able to latch onto Yagesho's unprotected neck with his claws and opened his jaw as wide as he could. He could hear his jaw snap shut and felt his teeth pierce flesh, the cool trace of blood gracing his tongue. The ear piercing roar it garnered from the Alpha was enough to make him clamp down again to make him thrash in pain.
In a desperate attempt to pry him off, Yagesho charged at the tree again. He crashed into the towering wood and sent it toppling over to take the next tree with it. In doing so, he managed to make Jaune release his grip and the young warrior was scrambling to get up.
"Don't tell me that's all you got!" Yagesho yelled.
He swung at Jaune and this time his aim was true. The poor blonde did not know what hit him. One second he had taken the fight to Yagesho and managed to hurt him, the next thing he knew, he was hit with the most powerful blow he felt in his life. The strike hit his side and he felt some of his ribs crack beneath. His cry of pain fell short and became a silent scream. He soared through the air and his eyes widened again from a second blow. This time he felt his back collide with a towering tree, sucking all the air in his lungs out.
The blonde landed on the ground in a crumbled heap. His teeth were bared in pain and anger as Yagesho skulked for him. Time was up.
His fur began to dissolve and fell to the snow covered ground in clumps. The last thing to fall was his white mask that shattered and blew away with a small gust of wind. Tears of pain welled in his eyes as he tried to push himself up. His ribs and his back were badly bruised and the smallest movement brought him excruciating pain.
Jaune bit his lip hard enough to draw blood and pushed himself to his feet. White spots filled his vision and he blinked rapidly to rid them. His raspy breaths brought sharp stabs of pain to his ribs and his hand trembled as it pulled Crocea Mors free from its sheath. Through his pain he continued to give Yagesho the most defiant glare he could. He was unsure of what the giant Ursa was saying, but he had no doubt that he was mocking him.
The blonde spat out a glob of blood and watched for Yagesho's next move. He got his wish when the Ursa raised both sets of claws high and got ready to bring them down. Fighting through the pain, he ran at the Alpha and did a slide, clutching Crocea Mors with both hands. The second he came upon the Grimm's hind legs, he gave the hardest slash he could. The blade slashed both legs with a curving sweep, making Yagesho growl. Meanwhile, Jaune choked back another cry as the vibration shot through the blade and up his arms.
Jaune used his slide to bounce to his feet again and stumbled to the last tree. He gripped the sheath and shifted it into its shield form and held it up with difficulty. His feet planted firmly in the ground and he twirled Crocea Mors as he waited for Yagesho to turn and charge him again.
The Alpha turned around and slowly crept to him. He towered over him like a god that was ready to inflict divine punishment for defying him. He swallowed and felt his parched throat itch from the soothing effort. His hand got a firm grip on Crocea Mors and he waited for the giant to make its move. It opened its mouth and spit dripped from its sharp teeth. Its breath was rancid and almost made him gag. His gaze hardened and he sidestepped just in time to avoid being devoured by the Grimm.
He sunk to his knees from the sudden dodge and saw his perfect chance. With Crocea Mors brought back, he stabbed forward as hard as he could and the blade went straight through Yagesho's eye. He quickly withdrew it and slashed at Yagesho's neck. The blade cut into his hide, but nowhere near enough to cause a lot of damage.
Yagaesho's cries echoed around the forest and the valley. His anger had reached a new threshold and he would do everything he could to purge the blonde from existence. With his one good eye remaining, he spotted the blonde boy trying to run away, but he had other plans. He spun on his heel with his paw outstretched and swung. The boy's cry of pain did nothing to please him. All that would satisfy him was the blonde's corpse.
He saw the golden hair bounce on the ground and land near the edge of the chasm. The boy struggled to get up and was fighting exhaustion and pain to do so. Whatever the boy was, he respected his resolve to finish the fight, but it would all be in vain. He had no hope of winning. When the boy stood up and looked at him, he lunged with his paws out. A loud cry met him and he began to squeeze the boy in his hand, looking at him blankly.
Jaune was screwed. His Aura was nearly depleted and he did not have the energy to transform to turn the tables in his favor again. Now Yagesho had him in caught in an iron grip and showed no signs of releasing him. His blue eyes scrounged around desperately for something that could aid him in his escape. He would gladly take the failure and live to fight another day than die at the hands of the Alpha. His heart started to beat faster and he squirmed to try and free himself from the Alpha's paw. The hand holding Crocea Mors was free, but he did not have the room to make a swing a stab to free himself.
A chill went down his spine as Yagesho opened his mouth and started to reel him in to finish him off. His struggles became more violent and as he got closer, the growing pit of dread in his stomach became a reality. He had no way of escaping the fate that awaited him.
"Snap out of it, kid! You're gonna' get us killed!" Lugo barked.
"I don't have the strength to beat him!" Jaune shook his head.
"Then let me out so I can get us out of this!"
"No. I'm not letting you out."
"I have nowhere to go if I get us out! Do you really think that drunk master of yours will let me take off in your body?"
Jaune said nothing and felt his grip on Crocea Mors slacken. It was now or never.
"Fine."
Yagesho was stunned with the sight before him. The blonde surrendered himself, but he transformed into the Beowolf once again. He let out a roar when the sharp fangs of the Beowolf bit on the digit of his finger. His grip loosened and the Beowolf squirmed out of his grip and rested on top of his hand. It then pushed off and jumped up to his mask, his claws raking down the side until he was just beside his eye.
Lugo wound his arm back and stabbed forward with his claws piercing Yagesho's remaining eye. He twisted his hand and garnered a howl of pain from the large Alpha. He then jumped off and landed on the ground with a wince. His host's body was in no condition to battle anymore.
"What are you?" Yagesho looked around frantically, now blind.
The large Ursa fell on all fours and got to eye level with Lugo. Loud sniffs filled the air as he tried to smell him. The creature fought unlike any human or Grimm he had seen and it intrigued him. It was humiliating. An Alpha like him being defeated by a small, unworthy runt.
Meanwhile Lugo saw his chance to strike. He slowly stepped back until he was just inches from the ledge. The Alpha heard him retreat to the chasm and slowly crept forth and continued to sniff him out.
"I'll ask you once more. Who are you?" The large Ursa sneered.
Lugo sprung from the ground and his teeth latched onto Yagesho's esophagus. He bit as hard as he could. A sickening squelch followed by a crunch came after his teeth sank through the Alpha's neck and met. With a ferocious growl, Lugo yanked down as hard as he could. Blood spewed on him and covered his body and the snow below him. He spat out the remnants of Yagesho's throat and glared up at him. The large Ursa was still and swayed a bit, all the while trying to speak.
"The new Alpha," Lugo answered.
Yagesho fell forward and Lugo dived out of the way to avoid being crushed. The massive Ursa fell into the chasm below and was swallowed by the dark abyss. Lugo limped away from the gorge and fell face first to the snow in exhaustion.
"You're welcome," he said to his host.
Jaune shuddered after feeling Lugo release control back to him. He hurt and in his current state, he was not going to make it back to the cabin under his own power. He grit his teeth and grabbed fistfuls of snow as he tried to get up. His muscles shook and he fell back into the cold, powdery substance.
He felt his body trembling from the frigid air. Battered, cold, wet, and drenched in blood, he tried to pull himself forward, but a sharp, tight pain shot up his arm and stopped him in his tracks. A muffled groan escaped him and he repeated the motion. This time his arm didn't ache and he dragged himself through the snow. One pull after the next he got closer to the tree line. By the time he reached the trees, he could no longer move his arms. They lay stretched out for another pull, but did not have the strength.
The blonde knight's eyes grew heavy and everything was growing dark around him. He tried to shake himself free from its clutches, but only succeeded in rolling to his side. The trees, the sky and the snow covered ground began to blur. Tunnel vision started to cloud him and he saw a figure land not too far from him. The figure got closer and closer, their feet crunching in the snow with each step.
Although his sight was gone, he could still hear. The footsteps stopped just to his side and he felt someone roll him to his back.
"I got you, Powder Puff."
Qrow picked the blonde up and slung the blonde over his shoulder, careful not to irritate his wounds. His red eyes glanced back to the gorge where the Alpha plummeted. He had watched the fight from afar and was about to intervene, but stopped when he saw the blonde transform a second time. He was unsure whether it was voluntary or if he gave control to the Beowolf, but he was glad he did not step in. Event though Jaune got his butt kicked, he fought hard and managed to kill the Alpha in the end.
He smirked and started the long trek back to the cabin.
"Guess I owe you some answers."
There you all go. Solid, long chapter focused on Jaune, so hopefully this takes the foul taste from your mouths after the last one and I don't get rude bits and pieces in reviews. Anyway, good news, BOLC ends for me this Friday so that means updates should be more frequent. Anyway, check out the statements and shout outs below. See y'all next time. -CaptainPrice
Statements:
1.) MIBOLC ends Friday for me. Updates should be coming more frequently.
2.) I got the name Yagesho based off of old Native American lore that varies between different tribes. Basically Yagesho was a giant bear from what I was able to gather.
RWBY Story Shout Outs:
"Spectrum" by Super Saiyan Cyndaquil: Updated 3/23/16
"Shattered Arc" by ImSoAwesome: Updated 3/7/16
"RWBY: Tomorrow and Never Again" by PaulXion: Updated 3/23/16
"The Heat" by wildstraydog: Update 3/15/16
"Displaced" by CaptainPrice: Update 3/19/16