Chapter 21

The lush and bright red of Forever Fall held everyone in awed silence as the moved between the trees. Everyone kept looking about, examining the colors of the trees. Andrew had to admit, the forest was indeed beautiful. Only Marie seemed to be unmoved by the forest, her face remaining rather still, though her eyes did sweep around, taking everything in. Professor Goodwitch did not miss the awe the forest seemed to inspire in everyone.

"Yes, students," she said, "the forest of Forever Fall is indeed beautiful."

"That's putting it lightly," Emily said.

"But," Goodwitch continued, "we are not here to sight see. Professor Peaches 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."

"I'm pretty sure most of us are fine," Andrew muttered. As if in response to his words, there was a little thud and some clattering as Jaune, carrying a box and a collection of jars, bumped into Cardin. The larger student half turned and gave Jaune an aggressive look and the blonde quickly performed the 'innocent' whistle while avoiding eye contact.

Andrew gave the two a look, trying to figure out what was going on between them. A couple of weeks ago, Cardin had gone from being Jaune's biggest enemy to his tyrannical boss seemingly overnight and the blonde put up with it and acted like a puppy too scared to leave its cruel master. Andrew had noticed this change after his team's night on the town. Jaune's lack of resistance infuriated him to no end.

He remembered days in the system, encountering other orphans who'd tried to bully him into submission. He'd learned to become stronger, faster, and cleverer than them.

It was a dark part of his history, but it had helped turn him into the man he was. One who wouldn't back down or be controlled by anyone other than himself.

Andrew took a breath and turned back to Goodwitch. Jaune was going to have to solve his own problems. He would have to find the strength to resist, or be taken.

"Each of you is to gather one jar's worth of red sap, however, this forest is full of the creatures of Grimm so be sure to stay by your teammates. We will rendezvous back here at four o'clock. Have fun."

The teams all went their separate ways, except for Jaune, who followed Cardin's order to leave with his team. If Goodwitch noticed this, she didn't say anything. Andrew spied out which way team FRST went and made sure that his teammates went in another direction.

Jaune hadn't been the only one acting out of character. Terra, of all people, had also been acting odd in the last couple weeks. He had caught her several times watching him and it put him on edge. Just like he had done to her all those years ago.

But sneaking around wasn't Terra's style. She was social in nature and liked to be surrounded by others. If she came after someone, it was through catspaws and subtle manipulation.

The wolf shook himself and listened to his teammates talk as they moved through the crimson forest.

"I can't believe that some place so beautiful can have something so evil in it," Emily was saying.

"Pardon?" Andrew asked.

"This forest," his leader replied and moved her arm in a sweeping gesture. "This has to be one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen, and we've to come here armed and with a professional Huntress so we can gather some tree sap. It's sad."

"That's the way these things go," Marie said, kneeling at the base of a tree and unscrewing one of their jars. "Life just loves throwing an extra surprise at you."

"I don't mind surprises," Reginald said. "Surprises are fun."

"You're missing my point," Marie said.

"Which is?" Emily asked.

"That you can't take anything at face value. That things are never black and white. That there's always a catch with things that look too good to be true." She gestured at the forest. "This forest is a literal example of that. We're surrounded by natural beauty, but with that beauty comes the threat of darkness, of Grimm, and if we're not careful, we'll be taken by it." Andrew almost missed the added mutter of, "I learned that lesson a long time ago."

"You're just full of sunshine, aren't you?" Emily said. "Can't things just be as good as they seem? Even for a little while? Why do you always have to be pessimistic?"

"I'm just being a realist," Marie said and screwed the jar she was carrying closed. "Almost nothing would give me greater joy than being able to walk through this place without checking every rustling bush, but that's not reality. This is the world we live in, not the world we want."

Andrew went to his own tree and unscrewed his own jar lid, wondering what Marie had meant when she had said 'almost'.

The team worked for a while, filling their respective jars and passing comments back and forth to each other. The team had grown close enough at this point where periods of silence weren't very awkward.

"What do you think Professor Peaches wants with these anyway?" Reginald asked as he sealed his jar shut.

"Beats me," Andrew said, setting his jar down beside him. "I'm sure we'll find out next class though."

"One thing's for sure," Reginald said. "This stuff has got a strong scent. A sweet one, but a strong one."

Andrew nodded and then stiffened, just slightly. Reginald had turned to ask Marie a question and hadn't noticed. Andrew stood with practiced casuality and glanced around. There was nothing that seemed out of the ordinary, but he still felt uneasy.

"Something wrong, Andrew?" Marie asked. Emily and Reginald glanced at him and their positions shifted slightly. Andrew had known them long enough now to know that they were preparing in case of an attack. Andrew shook his head.

"I guess I'm just on edge because of what you said earlier," he said simply. "All that stuff about things seeming too true and all that." He picked up his jar of sap and added, "We should probably get some more sap. Maybe if we get enough Peaches will give us some extra credit."

Reginald flopped onto his back and said, "Eh, let's take the time to rest. We've still got plenty of time. We're not out of here until four anyway."

A sudden roar broke through the clearing. Everyone was on their feet in a flash, weapons drawn.

"What was that?" Emily asked. There was the sound of something coming through the brush and several people ran into the clearing. It took Andrew a moment to recognize them. Russel Thrush, Dove Bronzewing, and Sky Lark, three members of team CRDL. Cardin was suspiciously missing.

The three humans looked completely afraid as Reginald, Andrew, and Marie grabbed them.

"What's going on?" Marie asked.

"Ursa!" Russel yelled and tried to get free. Marie tightened her grip on his arm and Russel grunted in pain.

"Where's your leader, Cardin?" Emily asked.

"The Ursa's got him," Russel said. Marie's eyes narrowed.

"You left him behind?!" she yelled. "What were you idiots thinking?!" Emily glanced at Andrew.

"Can you go find Professor Goodwitch?"

"Of course," Andrew said. Anticipating her next words he added. "I'll be faster on my own. No offense." Emily nodded and Russel spoke up.

"What about us?" Russel asked. Marie's voice was grim when she answered.

"You're coming with us to see if we can save your leader before he gets turned into mince meat. I might not like him but I don't think even he deserves to die."

The group then split up. Everyone else began to retrace Russel, Sky, and Dove's steps through the forest while Andrew went in another direction, trying to find their teacher.

The faunus moved quickly and silently through the red trees that had only a few moments earlier seemed beautiful and serene. Now they appeared foreboding and deadly. A forest painted in blood.

He felt as if something was watching him and he spun around, pulling and extending Fenrir's Fang in one smooth motion. Rather than seeing a Grimm, like he had expected, he saw Terra.

"What are you doing here?" Andrew asked, confusion nearly making him forget his errand. He couldn't stay too long.

"I was trying to figure out what all the commotion was about," The girl said slowly. Too slowly.

"There are some Ursa about. One is attacking Cardin. I'm looking for Goodwitch."

Terra's eyes locked onto Andrew and she asked, "What for?"

That unsettled Andrew. The answer seemed fairly obvious to him. "She needs to know. A couple of Ursa we can handle, but if anything serious heads our way we'll be in trouble."

"But it's Cardin," Terra said, her words sounding disjointed and fainter. "Why would you care what happens to him?"

Andrew's uneasiness grew more intense and he shifted his stance slightly. He noticed that Terra's hands were rather close to her sides.

"Why shouldn't I?" Andrew asked slowly. "He's a student the same as you and me. He doesn't deserve to be killed. Hopefully assistance isn't needed, but in either event, Goodwitch deserves to know."

"Since when have you ever played by the rules? I didn't think you helped the competition," Terra countered. Andrew raised an eyebrow at this.

"I seem to recall following the rules quite often. I just never followed your rules."

"Yes, you are rather disobedient, aren't you?" Terra said, her voice now coming through clear and cold. Andrew's brow furrowed.

"What do you want?" he asked, with more force this time.

Something seemed to shift in Terra's eyes and pure, unadulterated hate radiated from the girl's body. "You," Terra said in a hiss. Then she lifted the pair of crescent guarded sword hilts from her sides. The hook blades extended from the hilts and Terra moved forward towards Andrew at blinding speed.