The mud is pitted and without a single print - just the same as it is after snowfall but deep brown. It isn't pristine of course, but the fragrance of the pines above is so fresh it invites us to pause and take in the moment. The group keeps walking a medium-sized party consisting of the arc family and the daughter of a good friend.
Pierre Arc: the youngest of 7. Skipped along the woodland path her hair tied into two pigtails.
"Don't stray too far, Pierre." He said it with a worrying tone. Jaune held the map next to his sibling. She was older and was soon to be a 2nd year at the atlas huntsmen academy. She chuckles putting her hand behind her head. Unlike her brother and father reading a map was never her strong suit. She preferred combat like their mother who wielded the family heirloom Crocea Mors.
It was an owl that belonged in the paintings of a children's book. Its ear-like tufts were reminiscent of a teddy bear, yet it started with yellow eyes befitting a witch's cat. His plumage was a mottled grey-brown, as such he was almost blending into the gathering gloom of nightfall. Then he let out a series of low hoots, four, possibly five, and before opening out large and rounded wings. In-flight, the only sound was the rhythmic beating of the air, and once he soared high it was carried away on the breeze, too quiet to alert any prey. He did a circle landing ahead of them on a different branch. Jaune's mother Arachida Arc was staring at the owl. She held a gloved hand up with her finger as a perch.
"What's up with that?" The family's father asked, Arachida looked at Darc as he checked the compass.
"Don't know, it's on alert." She answers that Jaune watches his mother's demeanor and walk change. She's looking around more, his sister Saffron pulls Perrie closer. Elysia Goodwitch was also the daughter of a family friend. Acacia and Elysia were on the same team at Atlas academy, the team was led by Elysia the other two members were Vega Bleu and Cye Shian. The two of them sped up to walk beside Arachida.
She was the first to notice the beowulf's harrowing red eyes glaring at them. Its breath was a black mist as it lumbered forward slowly. Then it lunged, slashing at Arachida she raised the shield. The beowolf slammed into the shield. Arachida clenched her teeth as they rattled from the impact. Noticing her two youngest had their eyes on her. She put on a smile and flipped the grim over, not waiting for it to attack she slashed her sword in an arc. Its head landed next to it as it disappeared in red & black vapor. The pack came from hiding, beady eyes on them, their bodies rumbled with low growls deep inside their chest. Elysia wielded a hammer-like weapon with a Black metal body and head with glowing nostrils and eyes that changed depending on the dust inside the weapon, its handle segmented stick, with a shell-like weight
Her weapon's name was Hyston She lifted the weapon like a mallet balancing it over her shoulders, Acacia's weapon hunt & strike was shifting weapon in its first form was two gladius swords that combined into a musket rifle. She was the first to attack getting on one knee she fired dust rounds into a beowolf chest. Elysia followed the attack with a massive swing from Hyston. Two beowolfs turned to vapor as her weapon let out an arch of fire. While Eylisa readied herself for another swing, Arachnida ran to attack the beowolf's with powerful slashes powered by her semblance: wave. Her aura was channeled through the sword giving it a golden glow down the middle, she turned the remanding beowolf's to vapor.
They continue walking until they find an opening in the forest. The daylight had dwindled to a barely perceptible lightening of the gloom, the group found a nice pond to set camp around with the area clear of Grimm the arc children went about making camp.
As night fell the blue haze of day lifted to reveal the stars. Jaune always felt that this was closer to the truth of who he was. To him the night was when the curtain was pulled back, his eyes were closed and he held Crocea Mors with a beginner's grip.
"You don't have to do this." His mother took notice of his red palms and the sweat that soaked his white shirt. He discarded his pumpkin Pete hoodie on the sand. His mother watched him, his chest was rising rapidly as he regained composure from their previous spar against her. He had to do it, get into a huntsman academy. His mom was a well-known huntress, with a spotless record. Some people called her the angel of light.
"Mom, I'm ready" he was quick to shut her up with his answer. Arachida swung her fist, Jaune raised his shield to block her punch. A shockwave of pain traveled through his arms.
"Again!" Jaune shouted, Arachida shook her head.
"No" she says he looks at her.
"Why not?" he asks She slowly picks up the dropped shield. "You're not ready."
Just like that she puts the weapons together and heads into her tent. Jaune stood there upset that he wasn't strong enough to take his mother's own punch.
It didn't take a miracle for the group to notice jaune wincing once in a while, he didn't help Darc with the map as much as he did yesterday. He kept to himself, Arachida tried to talk to him but he refused to respond keeping his head down. He did amuse Peirre when she gave him a dandelion to make a wish on.