January 19th, 2041
9:39 AM
Where most communities eat in their homes, Liberteria had a sort of tavern styled mess hall where Grimm and humans can eat and drink and socialize. But for some, that was not that much of a luxury. At one of the tables, Jaune sat and stared at his bowl of porridge. Hearing someone talking across from him, he looked up and saw Ruby was eating her food with a smile on her face.
"What," Ruby asked, a smile on her face.
"Huh," Jaune asked.
"I asked what are you looking at," Jaune's vision vanished and in Ruby's place was Coco.
"Sorry… I guess I just spaced out… again."
"Well, I was asking what is your job today," Coco asked as she took another bite of her food.
"I have hunting today, and I need a partner to come with."
"Why not Pyrrha?"
"I don't know…"
Coco looked at Jaune and sighed, "Jaune, you and I have lived together for a couple months now, so I feel as though it's time I deliver my honest opinion. You can't just lock everyone away because of a girl you knew for a week."
"…" Jaune hated that idea… but deep down, he felt that Coco was right.
"Just ask if she wants to go hunting with you."
"…Okay, fine. What about you?"
"I am just doing the same job as always."
10:11 AM
Jaune was standing outside of the door to Pyrrha's house and knocked. After waiting a few moments, Pyrrha opened the door in her pajamas, which was a full pajama suit.
"Jaune? What are you doing here?"
"I have been assigned to go hunting and need a partner, and well… I did enjoy talking to you yesterday. Would you like to come with?"
"Sure, let me just get dressed. I'll meet you at the gate in ten."
"Okay," Jaune said as he walked away as Pyrrha continued watching him leave before going to get dressed.
10:21 AM
Jaune was waiting at the gate with two bows and two quivers full of arrows when he heard Pyrrha's voice approaching behind him.
"Hey Jaune."
Jaune stood up and faced Pyrrha, "Hey."
"Looks like you are all set," Pyrrha smiled as Jaune handed her a bow and quiver.
"Thanks," Pyrrha said as she wrapped the quiver around her back, "You ready?"
Jaune nodded as he looked up at the lookouts, "Heading out!"
The gate opened and the two walked out to go hunting.
11:00 AM
Elder Ozpin sat at the table of the council and faced his fellow Elders, "Thank you all for coming today. I know that recent news has been, shall we say, troubling and heartbreaking, which is why I decided to have this meeting. We currently have over 20,000 Grimm and humans who are living here in Liberteria. I wish to know what the status is on our last evacuations from the US."
"I began evacuations starting three weeks before the G.G.B, so all of our factions on the West side have fully evacuated. Any Grimm that are left there will have to find their way on their own…" Elder David said.
"Sadly, the Southwest was not as careful. From what I heard, they took heavy casualties… but we managed to save about fifty-seven or so. It isn't a lot, but they are more than nothing." Elder Gwen said.
"It has been a few weeks since I have heard from any of my informants in the Southeast. I am afraid that we will have to fear the worst," Oobleck said.
"The Midwest did not fare the same either, I am afraid. We managed to evacuate most of the upper regions, but it appears that the authorities were a step ahead of us and the last few transports were ambushed… what about you Hazel?"
As Ozpin and the others looked to Hazel, he was staring at a piece of paper that had his attention.
"Elder Hazel."
This seemed to catch Hazel's attention as he turned to the other Elders, "My apologies…"
"How was the evacuation of the Northeast?"
"Well, the evacuations were almost a success… but the last few transports suffered major losses."
Ozpin noticed the look of concern in Hazel's eyes and decided to address it, "You seem troubled."
Hazel handed the paper to the Elder next to him. Being Elder Oobleck, Oobleck read the paper out loud.
"The sun shall rise on a quiet day. The scarlet rose blossoms through the winter forest. The sky was as blue as neptune as it reflects off of the legendary fall. What is this?"
"I received this message late last night from an abandoned hideout in Maine by my last informant in the states, Sun WuKong."
"What does the message mean?"
"WuKong tends to use his first name as the code itself, referring to himself as the sun in the sky. As for the other codes, I—"
The council heard their door being opened and stopped their conversation to look and see Coco walking up to them.
"Ah Miss Adel, how can we help you?"
"I am requesting the Trials of Grimm."
11:34 AM
Jaune was staring at a slightly old, but recent print in the snow as Pyrrha was talking about a story of her time in Liberteria.
"So then, this guy tried to use a spell to send tree sap in my direction, but he messed up and sent the sap at himself. As punishment, Elder Gwen said that no one was to heal his wounds and that he had to let them go down the human way. Had to actually go to see her every day to make sure."
"Funny… Looks like it went this way," Jaune pointed in the direction of the print.
"What is it?"
"Might be a deer or two," Jaune said as he began walking.
"I still don't understand why Liberteria doesn't just go into one of the cities and offer trade for services."
"Well, I would assume that the Elders don't trust humans for the moment. With everything that is going on, alongside that message the Council sent to President Ironwood, I wouldn't be surprised if we don't come into contact with humans for a while."
"Don't you live with a human?"
"Coco is different…"
"Different how?"
"Well…" Jaune said as he turned to Pyrrha, "We arrived in Vermont together and crossed the border together. We also lost some close friends getting here…"
"I'm sorry if I—"
"Shh! Look," Jaune pointed.
Pyrrha looked in the direction that Jaune pointed at and saw a small group of deer.
"Bingo."
11:24 AM
The room was silent as the Elders stared at the human in their presence with a sense of confusion.
"Miss Adel, did I hear you correctly," Elder Oobleck asked.
"Yes."
"Why do you wish for the Trials? They have been done in years."
"That is because there hasn't been a human in Liberteria for years."
"Coco, think about what you are—"
Ozpin raised his hand and silenced Hazel, "If she didn't know the cost of this then she would not have come. Tell me, Miss Adel, why you wish for the Trials."
Coco walked up and pulled out a piece of paper and placed it in front of Ozpin. The Elder picked up the paper and opened it.
"Who gave you this?"
"Does it even matter?"
"What does it say," Elder David asked.
Ozpin turned the paper to reveal the paper said, 'HUMAN BITCH'
"I see… It must have been from yesterday's announcement," Elder David said, "But this is dangerous."
"Miss Adel, while the Elders do have biased opinions, Elder David is correct. There is no coming back and the cost—"
"I know… I know what the cost is… but this is my only option."
Ozpin stared at Coco and nodded, "Please leave while we discuss."
Coco nodded and walked out of the room.
"We cannot really be suggesting this," Gwen said.
"The last time we held a Trial, the human—"
"You need not remind us of what happened to them, Elder Hazel," Ozpin said, "regardless, the girl is the only human here in Liberteria. If we decline her request, then more of these papers will appear."
"And if she is attacked by one of us, what will she do," Elder David said.
"Why do we not hear from the Elder who became a Grimm?"
The Council turned to Oobleck, "Elder Oobleck?"
"…I was part of the Trials, this is true. I know the risk that I took could have taken my life… but I knew that it was better than what options were left."
"This is ridiculous…"
"I suggest that we vote on the matter," Hazel said.
"I agree. All those in favor of the Trials, raise your hand."
David, Oobleck, Ozpin, and Hazel raised their hands, while Gwen just looked away.
"It has been decided. Let us end here to go prepare and see to our other duties. Elder Hazel, please inform Miss Adel of our decision."
As they began to leave, Hazel and Gwen walked out of the Council room and towards Coco, who was staring up into the sky.
"Miss Adel."
Coco turned to the two Elders, waiting for their answer.
"We held a vote. You will participate in the Trials."
Coco nodded, but saw the look in Gwen's eyes as she began speaking.
"I hope you know what you are doing, kid."
"This is the only way…"
11:40 AM
"Just a bit more…" Jaune whispered as he waited for the biggest deer to get into view.
Just as Jaune was about to loosen his grip on the string, a loud noise was heard behind him. This caused Jaune to lose his focus and the deer suddenly scattered into multiple directions.
"Shit. Pyrrha, what was that? They ran off."
But when he turned, Pyrrha was right next to him, "That wasn't me."
"Well, if it wasn't you, then who was it?"
Before either could say another word, they both heard the source of the noise.
A loud roar echoed through the forest as they turned to see a black bear.
"Fuck…"
"Run!"
The two ran as fast as they could as the bear gave chase.
"Split up!"
When the two reached a small cluster of trees, they split off into different directions. As he turned to look back, Jaune saw that the bear turned and chased Pyrrha.
"Crap."
11:42 AM
Pyrrha was running as if the devil was behind her, and in a way it was.
'Where the hell did Jaune go,' She thought to herself.
As she turned around another cluster she quickly turned and aimed her hand at the bear, "AER!"
The bear's weight managed to keep it still, and now it was angry and closer than ever. Swiping its paw, the bear hit Pyrrha's shoulder as she turned to run.
"JAUNE," Pyrrha yelled as she ran.
Seeing no other option other than 'Buy time', Pyrrha decided to try and improvise.
11:44 AM
Jaune ran in the direction of the bear and Pyrrha and heard her yell his name, which meant that it was bad. As he turned the corner, he saw the blood on the snow and the trail continuing. Running in the direction of the trail, Jaune saw the bear was trying to climb a tree.
"Jaune!"
Hearing a voice from the tree, Jaune knew that it was Pyrrha, and knew that bears are quite good at climbing trees, so he had to act quickly.
"Hey you furry piece of shit, over here," Jaune said as he rolled up a ball of snow and threw it at the bear.
Making contact with the bear's fur, the bear stared in his direction with a look of anger.
"Fuck."
He had to act quick, because that bear was now charging at him. And then… he thought of it. Quickly extending his hand, he yelled, "Tempus tincidunt."
The bear was now only a few feet from him and within pouncing distance before it slowed and came to a stop.
"Pyrrha… little help…"
Pyrrha saw the spell and was amazed by it, but knew she needed to act quickly. So, she hopped down and ran up to the bear and placed her hand on the bear's head, "Insomnia."
Feeling the tension in the bear's body soften, Pyrrha and Jaune released their spells and the black bear collapsed to the ground, asleep.
"Agh…" Pyrrha said as she held her arm.
"You okay?"
"Nothing that a spell couldn't fix," Pyrrha said as she began to use the healing spell on her arm, "Where'd you learn that spell?"
"When I was leaving Vermont with Hazel, he used the spell on a group of soldiers that were about to open fire."
"Oh my god…"
"Yeah, it takes a lot of energy…" Jaune said as he looked towards the bear, "Well? What are we gonna do about this guy?"
"Probably woke up early, which is weird because the bears around here don't wake for another week or two…" Pyrrha said.
"What should we do?"
"Let's head home… we can warn them about Ol' Ursa here."
"Ursa?"
"Oh… yeah, that was the name of my dog. He was a brown lab and huge like a bear, so we named him Ursa."
Jaune stared at the bear for a moment before giving a small chuckle, "Ursa… funny."
Pyrrha smiled at Jaune's emotions coming back. Lifting her hand from her shoulder, she saw that the wound was healed.
"Come on, let's go back."
January 19th, 2041
10:23 PM
Ruby and the others were on foot, walking down a familiar path to Ruby.
"Ruby, are you sure about this," Sun asked.
"We don't have a choice."
Ruby raised her hand and pounded on the door. Seeing the light come on, the five were surprised to see the sudden gun that was pointed at their face when they heard a sudden gasp.
"R-Ruby?"
"Hey… Raven."