Unleash the Hounds!
I do not own copyrighted material and other authors oc's: all content goes to proper owners.
The sun slowly rose to signal the dawn of a new day. Though it was a big day for everyone gathered in this hall, few were quick to rise. Shi was going to try and sleep in as long as possible, but a loud noise and the feeling of someone jumping on him broke that dream like fine chinaware.
"Rise and shine! Its initiation day!" The familiar energy of Ruby Rose rang like a foghorn in Shi's ear.
"Ow… Ruby its too early…" Shi groaned in pain and frustration.
"Come on guys, if we are up early we can be ready before everyone else!" Ruby said excitedly to her new friend, or at least she thought that.
"Come on Shi don't be lazy. You'll never get anywhere in life like that." Azura said as he got, groggy himself, but not too bad.
"I'm starting to wonder if I drowned puppies in a previous life…" Shi muttered to himself as he rose.
However, the rest of the initiates were about to join in Shi's early morning pain as the sound of loud and stubborn argument began to blare through the hall like a gunshot. The trio looked over to see Gorn arguing with an equally large brown skinned and black-haired human. The boys already ember like eyes were burning in pure anger at the equally belligerent ram faunus.
"I don't care if you got up first. I got here first lamb chops, so stuff it." The boy roared at Gorn.
"The only person that's hitting the showers first is me Human. And I'll use your dead carcass to wash with!" Gorn roared back.
"Let's see how tough you are when I break those horns off your head and shove them down your throat!" The human shot back and the fists flew.
People crowded around, though maintained their distance as the two behemoths grappled. Our trio shuffled into the crowd to look as best they can, but between the people and the chaotic brawl, they couldn't get much of a idea of what's going on. Everyone quickly dispersed as Professor Glynda rocked up, and with a wave of her wand forcibly broke the two up.
"There will be no unsanctioned fighting amongst students! Am I clear!" Glynda roared with stunning volume.
"Yes mamn…" The two hunter hopefuls said, fear of the professor quickly overpowering hated for each other.
"Good. Now everyone gets ready and report to the Beacon cliffs after Breakfast." She said sternly, before storming off in a huff.
"Who is that guy that fought Gorn?" Shi asked.
"I don't know, but he doesn't take crap from anyone. That is for sure. And he's quite strong as well." Azura mused.
"Let's get ready before Glynda decides to come back…" Ruby said, a bit shaken at what happened.
"Agreed." The two boys answered as they shuffled off.
After the dressing down from Glynda, things went orderly and swiftly for everyone. No fights, no fuss, no mess. Even the mess hall only had hushed whispers, as if Glynda would swoop down like the angel of death on those that spoke with too high of tone. Finally, everyone began to go cliffs of Beacon. Shi saw a shimmering in the crowd and could have sworn to see a pair of different colored eyes and a cocky smile, but he blinked again and what he thought was there was gone.
"Stress is killing me…" Shi muttered as he filed in with the rest of them.
"Thank you all for arriving so punctually. Today is your initiation. You will be thrown to the ground from their platforms here, and the first person you come in eye contact on the ground will be your partner for the rest of your time here. Once you find your partner, you will make your way to the temple and grab a single chess piece for the pair of you. Then you will head up the path nearby the temple to reach the safe zone. You will face extreme peril, and some of you might not survive. I wish you all the best of luck, and good fortunes." Ozpin said as everyone filed onto their platforms.
"Here I thought it was going to be a normal field trip…" Shi muttered.
"At beacon? No way." Azura said as he stood on the platform next to him.
"On the count of three. One. Two. Three." Ozpin said and right at three everyone dropped in unison.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Shi screamed as they all rocketed towards the ground.
Everyone as they fell was scattered amongst the area, forcibly by the cover of the forest below. Shi did not have the most graceful of landings, bouncing off various branches and trees before finally hitting the ground. Fighting through the pain he slowly stood and collected his bearings. Due to his less than idea landing he seemed to have landed farther away than most. Before he could contemplate his situation he heard some rustling in a nearby tree, and frustrated noises.
"Stupid vines! Let me go!" A distinctly feminine and gruff voice yelled.
"Are you okay?" Shi asked.
"No, I'm not! Whoever the hell you are, get over here and get me out of these infernal things! I dropped my weapons in the fall!" The voice yelled back angerly.
Shi slowly walked over and looked up where the voice was coming from. What he saw was a girl of about 5 foot, thin as a rail, olive complexion, long straight black hair, and piercing blue eyes. She was clad in leather brown, rugged clothing, and steel toed boots. At his feet he noticed two single hand sickles, colored in a beautiful bronze color.
"So, I guess that makes us partners?" Shi asked as he looked up.
"I don't care! Get me down!" She yelled back.
Shi gave a nod and picked up her sickles. He threw them up and cut into some of the vines, and the girl grabbed them. She then proceeded to cutting herself out, before falling to the ground with a hard thud.
"Are you okay?" Shi asked.
"I'll be fine." The girl muttered.
"What is your name?" Shi asked.
"Iris Fertalis. From Vacuo. And who the hell are you? You look like you crawled out of a hole." She said bluntly and somewhat rudely.
"I kinda did. Shi lung of Vale." He answered simply, offering his hand.
"Let's get going before we get hunted down by Grimm." Iris answered and began to walk off, leaving Shi hanging.
Iris lead the way as they walked, and she proved none too interested in Shi's attempt at small talk. She strode forwards with intent, purpose. Poor Shi could barely keep up with the smaller woman she was that vigorous. They heard a rustling up ahead of them in a nearby clearing, and the two drew their weapons as they approached. When they approached, they found Gorn and a human in a suit and tie with Silver hair and blue eyes arguing.
"Would you please quiet down? You're going to attract every grimm within 3 miles." The human said in a thick upper-class accent.
"Of all the people I have to be stuck with, it's an overstuffed peacock of a human!" Gorn roared in anger.
"Master thief, thank you very much. I've worked hard on my reputation." The human answered calmly as he adjusted his tie.
"Even fucking better." Gorn growled as he noticed the other pair walk up.
"Ah finally some for appropriate company. Nigel Honeyington, how do you do?" He said as he offered his silken gloved hand.
"Shi Lung. And this is Iris Fertalis." Shi answered as he shook his hand.
"Very good. Well, we are all here, and pragmatism would suggest that we work together to get to the temple. Strength in numbers I believe it is." Nigel said.
"We are not joining that pipsqueak." Gorn shot at his smaller partner.
"If you have an actual idea instead of complaints, we are more than willing to hear them. However, if you do not, then please refrain from opening your mouth." Nigel calmly answered, which got a growl out of Gorn.
"That is all well and good, but does anyone know where the hell the temple is? If we cannot find it, then we cannot become hunters. And the longer we take, the more time other teams have to find it before us." Iris said, ready to get moving impatiently.
"A woman of action. Now that is the kind of thing I like to see." Nigel said with a smile.
"I imagine grimm will be at the temple. If we go where the sound of fighting is, it might get us closer." Shi suggested.
"Fine. Let us fucking go already. Makes me deal with you three shorter." Gorn said as he began walking.
The three humans followed the large faunus, as really he had about as much idea which way the temple was as they did. They then heard something in the distance. Loud booming, and what sounded like growls. Seeing as it might be a fight, they rushed over. What they found however shocked them.
The battle that happened was finishing up when they arrived. Azura and the boy that fought Gorn sliced down two beowolves, Azura with his Katana, and the boy with a massive two-handed axe. Two girls also were fighting, a taller one with an olive complexion and a great spear, and a short, thin, and pale girl with a Testubo. Once the grimm were down, the four noticed them.
"You again." Gorn and his foe said in unison.
"Easy Zhan. He's not your enemy." Azura said, putting his hand on the larger boys chest.
"Could have fooled me." Zhan answered, gripping his axe.
"Can we not fight each other and attract more grimm please?" Nigel asked.
"Fine…" The two larger boys said in a huff.
"Much better. Hello Azura. How are you doing?" Shi asked.
"Pretty good. This is Zhan Vulkan my partner, and I met these two over here." Azura said with a smirk and pointed to the two girls.
"Rena Nikos." The girl said curtly.
"I-I'm Ember Hedda…" The smaller girl answered in an exceptionally soft and shy tone.
"Shi Lung, Iris Fertalis, Gorn Hideback, and Nigel Honeyington." Shi said, pointing to each person in turn.
"Sorry we couldn't reach you guys to help you out." Iris said, seemingly disappointed.
"We had it under control." Rena answered, annoyed at the idea of help.
"Anyways down to business. Do you know where the temple is?" Nigel asked politely.
"Not yet. Though when we were falling, I think I saw it that way." Azura said, pointing to north.
"Jolly good. Then let us head out and get this done." Nigel said, brushing some leaves off his tux as they continue on.
Azura scoffed at the tux clad hunter to be and followed. The 8 moved forward for seemingly forever, navigating the ever-changing landscape of the forest. Finally, they exited the forest to the blinding light of the midday sun, and on a stone covered area they saw the temple. Crumbling, abandoned, and lifeless. At its center was a couple chess boards put up with white and black chess pieces. Some were already taken, but there was more than enough for the 4 pairs.
"Something isn't right here. It feels too easy." Nigel said nervously.
"Quit being a baby. Take the easy win." Gorn said dismissively as he stepped forward a single step.
They then heard moving, and a great rumbling of the earth. Then from the cliff above jumped a truly enormous Beringel, somewhere between 30-40 feet tall as it rose on its hind legs. It sniffed the air and looked down at the 8. Driven by instinct it beat its chest so strongly they could feel each hit before it let out a deafening roar.
"Nice going dumbass." Zhan said snidely.
"Don't start bickering now, we have a fight on our hands! Spread out and hit it from all sides! Divide its attention!" Azura yelled, and the other split up.
Everyone splits and draws weapons. Shi drew his blade and tried to get into cutting range but was knocked aside and into a wall hard. Iris seeing the massive gorilla go for the kill distracted it by transforming her guns into their gun mode, short-barreled submachine guns, and began firing full auto. The rounds did little to its armored hide, but it got its attention, and it lumbered after her.
"Get up Shi!" She yelled as she changed clips while dodging a swipe of the massive grimm.
"Damn that hurts…" Shi mutters and slowly rises.
Rena using the moment to her advantage jumped on top of the wall Shi was flung into and ran behind the behemoth. Once there she jumps with her great spear ready and pierced its back between where the shoulder blades would be. It roared in irritation and tried to shake her off.
However, the others were able to set themselves up to fire in on it. Gorn pulled out his own weapon, a tommy gun, and Nigel a pair of silenced pistols. They fired into the side of the monster, away from its armored chest. From the other side Ember's testuo opened up, and a handle flipped out of its side. She then pulled the trigger handle at the back and fired a dust tipped missile at the gorilla in its other side. Iris still being at the front laying down at its head to distract it.
"Zhan, Shi! Let us move in quick and hit its legs!" Azura yelled, and the three charged in.
Like before Shi did not much of a chance. The enraged grimm swung one of its massive arms in rage and clipped him, sending him skidding across the stone tile floor. Though his aura remained intact, he was in a lot of pain. Zhan pulled a trigger on his axe, causing one of his blades to flip to the other side to make a two-handed sword. Azura swung and cut the right leg as he ran past, followed by Zhan not long after. Though the grimm's legs bent, they held, and it roared in pain and rage.
"All we are doing is tickling this damn thing!" Gorn yelled as he reloaded his drum magazine.
"Its fucking massive what do you expect!?" Nigel yelled as he aimed for its joints.
"We need something to shift the tide! I'm open to ideas!" Azura yelled as he regrouped with Zhan.
Shi slowly rose, gripping his ancient sword, and charged in. It was not graceful, but he swung over his shoulder into the back of the beasts leg. Unlike most of the attacks, this one dug deep, splitting into the beasts thick body, and spraying black liquid out of the wound. The Beringel hobbled forward and turned around, before reaching down and grabbing Shi, making his drop his sword.
"Shi!" Azura yelled as he rushed to grab his friends weapon and save him.
His effort however was too late as the grimm shoved Shi into its mouth and closed. Everyone stood in horror for a moment. Just as the grimm was about to swallow, it was forced to open his mouth as a electrical shockwave burst it open before dissipating 15 feet away. Shi then rushed out and jumped. A horrible landing was prevented by Zhan, who just barely caught him in his strong arms.
"Thanks Zhan…" Shi said panting.
"Don't do something like that again." Zhan said sternly as he sat him down.
"We might need him to." Azura said as he came and handed Shi back his weapon.
"Do you want him to die?" Zhan asked.
"We will when we ran out of ammunition, and Shi's blade is the only thing that seems to effectively hurt it!" Azura yelled over the constant explosions.
"I don't know why it did that well, I ran into it with my plow back home!" Shi said confused.
"I don't care how it does it, it is! Now let us get you in striking range!" Azura yelled.
The trio made a break for it, with Zhan and Azura in front to cover Shi. Narrowly dodging another swipe, Shi jumps onto their shoulders and uses it to jump further. Blade in hand he thrusts into the beast again, piercing as deep as the blade can go. Stealthily, Shi's hands glowed lightly, and so did the blade. Using his own body weight, he sliced down the monsters stomach. The beast stumbled to the side, smashing through one of the structures of the temple, and nearly trampling on Ember. When it finally stopped, it was close to the edge of the cliff.
"Gorn get over here!" Azura yelled.
"Why!?" Gorn yelled back in confusion.
"We need you and Zhan's strength!" Azura yelled back.
"For once I agree with him!" Zhan yelled.
"Don't do what, both of you can be in that things gullet together to kill it through indigestion!" Iris roared at them.
This threat forced the two big men to put aside their feelings, even for a moment, and work to a common goal. Gorn ran over as fast as he can as Azura grabbed Shi.
"I need you two to throw Shi at it as hard as you can." Azura explained.
"Do I get a say in this?" Shi asked.
"No." The three taller men said in unison.
"Alright. One shorty in the side pocket!" Gorn yelled and in unison picked Shi up by his sides.
"Fire!" yelled the short blue samurai.
The two big men reared back and in unison shot putted him at the gorilla at shocking speed. Shi barely held onto his blade as he made one wide swing into the right side of the beasts neck. This cut caused it to roar in pain and lose its fragile footing, falling down into the ravine below. Shi was about to celebrate until he slammed face first into the rock face, before falling on his chest onto the edge of the ravine with his sword.
"That was almost cool." Iris said, putting her left hand to her side.
"Unfortunately, me may have killed him." Rena added dryly as Ember rushed to check up on him.
"Shi. How many fingers am I holding up?" As the short girl made a V with her fingers.
"Where's the pumpernickel?" Shi asked hazily.
"Yep he's fine." Rena added before walking towards the chess boards.
Zhan helped Shi up and shook him to get him back to the land of reason. Swiftly the pairs divided up their prizes. Shi and Nigel selected with White queens, while Azura and Rena selected the black queens. With prizes in two they made their way to the safe area.
"To think, this is the easy part." Azura said to Shi.
"If this is an easy day, I'd hate to see a hard one." Shi muttered as he looked up to the sky, wondering about the future.
I did not expect this to get this long, but what yah going to do. Anyways, I thank all my readers for joining me in this wild ride and hope to see you in the future. Next time, our heroes are divided into their teams, and begin the long road of becoming hunters. However, rumblings of ill tidings begin to rear their ugly heads.