This is sort of a proof of concept. I'm writing this just to see how it feels. Not sure if I'm going to continue this. You've been warned.
If there's anything wrong there, please let me know.
The trek through the forest from their camp was a long and hard one, the uneven hills, damp soil filled with wet dead leaves making the already arduous journey even tougher on their tired and sore bodies, and the sparse sunlight of the setting sun that managed to filter through the red canopy of the trees did not help by creating an ominous atmosphere, but the urgency of their task prevented them from stopping.
Luckily the group currently going through such journey could count on a few advantages, namely the safety that came from being in a tightly knit group, the body armor they wore as well alongside the firearms they wielded (well-maintained atleasian rifles they acquired after a raid), and last but not least their natural gifts of night vision provided by their faunus heritage. But although those advantages made the job easier, it did not make it easy.
But finally, after a whole day of walking, their persistence bore fruits, for they located their objective: a small campsite that overlooked the train tracks that cut through the ever-red trees of the Forever Fall forest.
"Well guys" said the apparent leader - a man of athletic build, with black hair and ram-like horns – after taking a deep breath, "we finally reached their ambush position. Not much longer until we meet with Taurus and his crew, I reckon. Do you think you can locate his scroll signal now, Silvia?"
The faunus that was addressed, a tall woman sporting parrot-like feathers spread throughout her body nodded, and after inserting a few commands into her scroll turned to her squad leader saying "We are not very far. If we head towards the signal in a straight line, it should be a little over three miles southwest of our position. Thankfully the train tracks have to circumvent the hills and we don't. If we keep pushing on at this pace, we might make it before it's completely dark."
"Aw man, can't we rest for just a little bit?" inquired a small man whose faunus trait, oddly enough, was giraffe ossicones. "We've been walking for hours without stopping, and my everything hurts. Besides, what's the harm? We have the sight advantage, anyways. Please say yes, Dan."
"I can't believe you're the most experienced here, Marco…" Replied another male faunus, this time sporting fins across his arms. "Despite the fact the other teams could only buy us limited time free of any Grimm attacks, how about the fact that if we make Taurus wait for even a moment longer than necessary, he WILL chew us out for a whole day? You know how he is. Or the fact that the sooner we get this over with, the sooner we'll be back at camp, safe and cozy?"
"I was only asking, geez…"
"Be that as it may" interrupted the leader "Koy is right. This is a time-sensitive matter, and we must deal with it as fast as we can. Silvia, take the lead."
Nodding once the woman took point in their squad, heading towards their new destination.
Following Silvia's lead proved to be the right choice, for they arrived at their destination just as the sun's light was replaced by moonlight. The first signs that they were arriving at their next object were spotted a few moments before they were able to see the train. Across the ground an assortment of robot parts were scattered, alongside the remains of metal crates and barrels, with a few sprinklings of empty bullet cases.
A few more seconds of walking saw them breaking through the trees to find clearing that contained support beams that kept the train tracks above the canopy, as well as a derailed train wagon that laid on it's side, it's underside facing them, and across it huge gashes in the fuselage, as if a hot knife had went through the metal like warm butter, a sight not at all new to those that had previously worked alongside Adam Taurus.
Taking point again, their leader quickly started issuing orders "Marco, start stacking those crates. Keep them close to the tree line to make space for the bullhead. Silvia, scan for any other signals in the vicinity, that might mean another train is coming. Koy, prepare the flare for when we have finished taking the cargo out of the wagon and organizing it for loading. When both of you are done, assist Marco. I'll look for Taurus." And like a well-oiled machine they went about their duties.
Meanwhile, the leader moved forward as to circumvent the train, and as expected the encountered more sings of battle. Littered on the ground huge robots lay in all states of disrepair, some sporting gunfire marks, others completed bisected. Maybe the White Fang would be able to make us of those parts even if just as scrap metal. Something to think about in the future.
What was not expected was the total absence of Adam Taurus and his team. Dan knew the man from past missions. One of the few truly skilled in the White Fang, very much unlike him, someone that never went much above an average grunt in skill. Sometimes those doubts gnawed at him. At least he was good enough to lead a team efficiently, good enough to become a lieutenant, and that made him valuable to the Fang, to the cause they all fought for. Thoughts for another time.
Focusing back on the task at hand, the ram faunus started to look for signs of his quarry. Normally on those kinds of missions Taurus would vacate the premises but stay near the wagon to be able to see whenever a White Fang team approached. But enough time had passed since their arrival, and he had yet to make his presence known. And that was cause for grave concern.
Looking around with in a more attentive fashion, Dan was able to notice something that he missed the first time. The gashes on the upside of the train where not only comprised of single and even slashes, but also of sets of threes jagged cuts, and the whole floor was littered with what looked like feathers embedded into the metal. Upon seeing this Dan's heart began to race and he could only think of, and shout, one thing: "Grimm!".
He received quick response in the form of this squad gathering around him to form a circle, rifles at the ready and pointed at the cardinal directions. None spoke a word and the site was silent.
One heartbeat.
Two heartbeats.
After nearly a minute had passed, the nerves of the squad started to subdue, and their forms relaxed slightly.
"I'll be dammed, my heart nearly jumped out of my mouth there, Dan." After a brief laugh to ease his nerves, Marco said. Looking around, he was able to spot the claw marks that alarmed his leader. "Whatever thing made those has already been dispatched by Adam, I'm su-"
As if to disprove him, a whoosh was heard from the tree line, quickly followed by a feminine cry of pain by his side. Shocked, Marco turned around to see that his teammate was on the ground and had been hit by a number of large, black feathers that easily pierced her armor and where now stained with his teammate's blood.
Quickly turning around to face the tree line after a barked order from his leader he saw that his other teammates had already opened fire towards the tree line, and he quickly followed suit, spraying the nearby area with high-grade, atlesean-made bullets.
But this moment of indulgence nearly ended up costing him dearly, as one of his bullets managed to perforate one the barrels that contained high flammable dust, which exploded in a most spectacular fashion, illuminating the surroundings and blasting heat on his face. Idly he thought that had he stood a little bit closer to it, he would've been burned.
As luck would have it, this instead forced whatever they were shooting at to make itself know, and they where not prepared for such a sight. Standing on all fours facing them was a creature unlike any they'd seen before. It stood taller than 9 feet, with a coat of fur the color of the night sky, pointed ears and yellow cat-like eyes that seems to pierce his soul. It walked in an appendage that looked eerily like a bat's but clawed, and it's tail was filled with sharp feathers that gleamed in the sunlight. If one were to examine their thoughts at that moment in time, he or she would find that the echoed one single phrase: "this is no Grimm".
Using this moment of surprise to it's advantage, the beast roared a challenge towards the faunus opposing it and with a speed that belied it's size it lunged towards them, sharp claws and beak at the ready.
Both Marco and Koy where able to dodge to it's sides, but lieutenant Dan, by virtue of being in the middle was not so fast or lucky. While still in the air, and with a mighty swipe of it's sharp claws, the creature was able to clip Dan in his legs. As if tearing wet paper, his legs flew off, separated from his body at the knees, and he laid on the floor twisting in pain.
With desperation in their eyes Marco and Koy opened fire at the sides of the creature, which recoiled from the damage. Unloading an entire clip, they saw that they were able to puncture the hide of the beast, causing it visible pain.
In this moment of respite, they were able to see that the creature was not completely mint. A number of large gashes littered it's side, and the membrane in one of it's wings was severed.
With another ferocious roar the creature's eye was filled with blood, gaining a red color. Turning towards Koy, the creature lunged at him, and as he was expecting that, he was once again able to dodge it, even if by a hair's breadth. What he was not expecting, however, was for the creature to claw at the ground, halting it's momentum and swerving around, positioning itself at the fish-faunus back. With a mighty swing of it's tail, the Faunus was launched unceremoniously towards the derailed wagon, hitting it's side with a sickening crunch, and slowly falling towards the ground, where he stood groaning. All of this happening before Marco had time to reload.
Finally finishing the (on his mind) lengthy reloading process, Marco discovered that he faced the creature alone. Now, none could say he was a coward. Having briefly served in Atlas before joining the White Fang, this man had faced much, and always came on top, or at least alive. But here, facing an opponent that he clearly could not defeat, he took the only logical choice (for him at the time), and lunged forward, opening fire on the creature, all the while laughing maniacally. If he was to die, he'd do it bravely.
Having once experienced the pain those bullets could cause it, the creature took to evade to the side, keeping it's huge arm between the bullet and it's face, feeling something snag in it's underbelly, until he got close enough to rapidly spin, hitting the madman with both it's feathers and tail, puncturing and crushing the opponent.
Now taking stock of the situation, he could see that all three of it's victims lay on the ground… What, three?
Looking under it, it saw the last of the it's prey, the one it had taken the legs from, smile a bloody smile, point it's weapon at his underbelly, and open fire.
With a painful roar the creature jump, it's belly filled with holes and every movement causing it immense amounts of pain.
As revenge, and with great effort, it swiped it's claws across the prey, tearing it's insides open, picking it up in it's mouth, and crying with every step it reentered into the woods, leaving behind a scene of devastation and massacre.
"And for tonight's main story, a Schnee convoy that was attacked by the White Fang…"
Laying on a single bed, located inside the room of a dingy hostel, a teenage cat faunus dressed in a nightgown turned off the TV, turned off the lights and went to sleep, ready to start he live anew, in a new place.