"Having said that, the first person you make eye contact with, will be your partner for the next four years."

Ruby rolled her eyes as she played with one of the straps on her backpack, trying to get it tight as she could before she got thrown into the air. Great, Professor Ozpin has a twisted sense of humor … got to love it. Not!

"Once you have been pair up, you will make your way North to an abandoned temple, where you will find a group of relics. You and your partner will choose one relic and return here to the cliff."

Fine, avoid making eye contact with anyone, sneak in grab a relic then claim I couldn't find anyone when I get back here; You can do this Ruby."

"And if you should find yourself at the temple without finding a partner, you will remain at the temple until a suitable candidate arrives. For, if you return to the cliff, sans a partner, you will fail and be removed from the program."

Oh you jack- "Excuse me, Professor Ozpin, but what if for some odd reason, like something happens to someone that I have absolutely nothing to do with it, you know, because I wasn't around and have an air tight, court approved alibi, and that someone gets severely injured or accidently dies and I don't get a partner? What happens then?" Ruby asked Headmaster Ozpin with her best 'I am completely adorable' smile she could muster.

"There will be enemies within the forest. Your instructors will be monitoring your progress but we will not interfere. So do not hesitate to destroy everything within your path. For if you do not, you will die." Ruby watched him take a sip of his coffee, she could have sworn she saw him smile a bit before he went on. "And Miss Rose, those conditions would still apply. So, again, it would be in your best interest to seek out and obtain a partner early. I know I don't need to point that out since I am sure you would gladly take whatever steps you need to help ensure your fellow students avoid any 'accidents' until they return here."

"You sure know how to suck the fun out this," Ruby mumbled as Ozpin took another sip of his coffee.

"If there are no more questions," Ozpin asked then ignored Jaune, which almost made Ruby smile, he told them to take their place.

Ruby quickly jumped towards the end of the line, next to Yang and sadly, next to Jaune as well. Ruby needed to be near Yang when she was launched so she can observe her trajectory, where she hit the apex of her arch and speed of her flight so Ruby had a half away decent chance of landing anywhere near her. If she was going to be hamstrung with a fucking partner, might as well be someone she knew would let her down eventually, rather than be surprised at the worst possible moment.

"So are you dropping us off or … something," Ruby heard Jaune ask while Yang gave her a cheeky smile and slipped on a pair of …

That bitch! Sunglasses … cheating little … Ruby thought as she watch Yang go flying off.

"So did you … pass out … parachutes?"

Ruby gave Jaune a look of amusement then was rocketed away herself. She could see Yang ahead and above; she still hadn't hit the apex yet. Which made Ruby pause a moment, Wait? Yang weights more than I do, so her height shouldn't be higher than mine … "You Bitch!"

Ruby saw, clearly now, how Yang was using her shotgun gauntlets, similar but a heaver, more powerful version of her own, to give herself an enough of a boost to get up higher in the sky. Ruby gave a momentary thought about increasing her own height and speed but knew it wouldn't work as well for her since the 12-gauge slug shotgun shells just had more of a kick then her puny .357 rounds.

And unlike that traitor, her arch was already at its apex. Ruby shot a small Nevermore out of frustration as she watched Yang somehow outsmart her.

With a growl, she closed her eyes so she could concentrate on making the calculation she needed to arrest her own speed enough so she would land safely and not end up a splatter on the ground. She also laid out in a spread eagle fashion to help slow herself down.

Okay, Ruby; you were at 1000 meters above the ground and will be traveling at 140 f/s at the end, wait! Was I … err … at least … I had to be … I mean if Yang was a good fifty feet above and forward … and she use her … no, Ruby stop over thinking it … let's go with 1000 meters so I need to start slowing down in five … four … three …

That is when she hit the top of the first tree. Instantly, she curled up slightly to protect that most important lady parts when she slammed into the top of the subsequent tree … over and over again. Ruby bounced either through or off of each tree in line, each one causing her to tumbled further out of control. The forest resonated with the sounds of wildlife fleeing and screeching as well as branches snapping. She finally hit the ground, bounce a couple times, then started rolling down the hill, right into a small ravine till she finally came to a skidding stop in a small creek, face first.

She pulled herself up and sat back on her knees, while still in the small creak, wiping the mud and water from her face and then stretched her legs out from under her making another, smaller, splash as she yelled up in the uncaring sky, "Fuck!"


Weiss landed softly in the jungle as someone went screaming overhead. She glances up in time to see a yellow blur go shooting over head with a trail of smoke behind it.

Hmm, Yang Xiao Long, I presume. Either showing off or … no, I am just going to assume she is showing off.

Weiss took a moment to survey the woods around her, careful not to move her feet since she wasn't sure she could find North again if she moved around too much. Weiss has never spent much time in the wilderness before, at least not alone.

Her tutors have taken her out to the forest beyond the walls of Atlas, a couple times, in organized trips with a security chaperone, and her family estate was located in a mildly wooded area but nothing like this. As far as she could see around her and above her, was trees, braches, leaves and brush.

It wasn't scary for her to be out here, in such unfamiliar surroundings, alone, since she was a Schnee and knew no fear. It was however … unsettling.

Especially the way the trees seem to loom over her rather petite body, and how the wind seems to rattle the leaves making such strange sounds that was joined by unseen creatures calling out in their voices. Such sounds that she was hearing were never something she has ever experience, except in video recordings. Nevertheless, no matter how … unsettling … present circumstances were, she still had a mission to complete and an excellent grade to earn.

Squaring her shoulders, Weiss started heading North, knowing that eventually she would find either Pyrrha or maybe that girl Blake or someone who was at least somewhat competent enough to be her partner for the next four years.

Even Yang Xiao Long wouldn't be too unrealistic of a partner, Weiss though as she pushed through some brush that seemed to grab at her as she moved through it. She supposed that Yang wasn't, couldn't, be as a big bimbo as she acts if she got this far …

Then again, Jaune is here, so that might not mean as much as I hope, Weiss though as she pulled some ugly thrones like things from her jacket that stuck to her as she moved through the brush.

Weiss just couldn't explain how that idiot, how can any teenage boy, for that matter, who was in their field not know who Pyrrha Nikos is? Not only was she the strongest fighter in the Sanctum Academy, gathering the most wins and honors than any other person their age but she was also very attractive and elegant.

Clearly not as elegant, as beautiful or as graceful as I, Weiss mused as she tripped over some root she missed while swatting at the annoying bugs buzzing around her head. Clearly, he knows excellence since he, of course, target me first but to be unaware of Pyrrha? Then again, after I mentioned that disgusting Pumpkin Pete cereal … well, he does seem to be the kind who would eat that garbage.

Weiss stop for a moment to look around as she tried, unsuccessfully, to get some dirt off her skirt. She knew she had walked a fair distance but this forest looked … about the same as the section she landed in. Two thoughts occurred to her, one was that she hoped she didn't have to deviate too far off her present course, she was unsure she could find North again in this mess.

And the second thought was that whomever said that nature was a wonder that everyone should enjoy, obviously had the IQ of a dry sponge and had no actual experience with what they were taking about.

Nature in the wide open, untamed spaces was not a joy to behold!

Wild forests were dirty, creepy and disgusting deathtraps waiting to trip up and dirty perfectly clean clothing! Her clothing was already snagging, tearing and she just knew it was going to be next to impossible to get clean!

Weiss couldn't imagine any sane, rational person would prefer …No, wait, she would, I wager. Yang did say that child has run away from home on several occasions to play in these woods. If anything that was just one more thing that made Weiss question just how that girl got into such an academic institution such as Beacon Academy, which was by far, the best of the four school that train hunters and huntress.

Avoiding her family and their influence wasn't the only factor in Weiss's choice to come to Vale. Although, that was a very powerful incentive, it pales to the fact that Beacon Academy has consistently produce the best hunters and huntresses then the other three combined. And Headmaster Ozpin was far more selective in his acceptance process, keeping his classes a bit smaller than the rest, still, he also has the highest number of students who have little or no formal training. Whereas Atlas, on the other hand, rarely admits anyone without the credentials from some accredited preparatory school.

While her father, predictably, and her sister, Winter, to a less degree but still enough to make Weiss a bit sad, both felt as did most of the upper class members of Atlas; breeding and training from only the best will make them stronger.

Weiss's tutors have always insisted that she use her reasoning skills and intellect to see through the lies and deceptions around her. To abstractly, as possible, examine all evidence presented to her in any situation, to see if what she had been told matches with what she has seen or know. A concept that has put her at odds with her tutors as well as with her family as well.

If the Atlas system works so well, if they have the largest and finest military in the world, was it because they were or because no other nation has a standing army?

If Atlas was such a powerhouse when it comes to science and technology, was it because they have the best minds available or because of the Schnee Dust company allows the Atlas government a substantial discount, which allows for more mistakes and time to produce inventions?

If the Faunas, which used to be enslaved by Humans, were still too ignorant and lazy to be considered the same as humans, was it because they were or was it because those who claim to be compassionate and 'want to help lift them out of poverty' set up the rules to keep them down?

That argument was guarantee to produce fireworks; to have someone tell her that she just has to trust them and that when she gets older she will see the truth, in which she answers back by always points out how many humans are just as 'lazy and dimwitted' and how it does not make them superior either just because they are human.

And if Atlas system of recruitment was truly superior; then why did Beacon win the Vytal festival more often than not?

Why were some of the greatest Hunters and Huntresses in recent memory, such as Juna Goonyella, Violet Carmichael, Ken Hurouse, Summer Rose … all from Beacon, two had been Faunas …

Weiss froze as she notices that all the unfamiliar noises around her stopped. Even the breeze rustling the leaves seem to be silent. Weiss may not know much about the forest and wildlife around her, however, she did not like the sudden and complete silence either. Turning very slowly, she scanned the brush around her till she saw a section nearby start to move on its own.

Wide eyed, Weiss pulled her Myrtenaster from her belt as slowly as she could, wondering what could be making that movement. It was as if something was trying to sneak up on …

Or someone, Weiss relaxed a bit and let her annoyance show on her face. Oh God, it probably that loser Jaune trying to spy on her or maybe Yang double back trying to spook her. Yang seems to be the type that would pull a stupid stunt like that. Walking over to the area she saw moving, she had an even worst thought, Or … Ruby! "Ruby Rose, if that is you in those bush trying to scare me, it won't work you, immature child! We don't have time to play …"

Weiss dropped low and swung her body to the right, almost without thought, as a beowolf leapt from the bushes and snapped at her head. As she swung, her blade was able to slash a line from its neck to midway down its flank. It wasn't enough to kill it but being crouched down meant the second beowolf that was in the trees above her, missed as it jumped down at her.

Spinning her cylinder, she set the second Grimm on fire while jumping to her right as a third and four Grimm joined in the fight. Using one of her glyph, she pushed herself backwards in a single bound to give her some room to deal with …

Eight? Nine? How many are there? Weiss shook her head, it didn't matter how many there were, one or a dozen, she was a Schnee and a future huntress and she will not shrink from her responsibility to destroy the Grimm. She will stand tall and defeat her enemies, she will not suffer defeat and die here and now, or suffer a worst fate; a poor grade!

For the next few minutes, Weiss lost track of the number of Grimm she either froze or burned, how many times she shot ice through her portal glyphs, how many Grimm she slaughtered, all she knew was they just kept coming.

And she was getting mentally and physically exhausted.

And they were still coming.

She took a quick step back …

And fell backwards after tripping on a root.

She watched, as time seemed to slow down, as a large beowolf launched itself in the air, it's jaws open wide and …

Weiss watched as the Grimm got hit by something, which sliced its head clean off.

"Stay down, Snowflake!" A voice said from behind her as another something buzzed overhead. "And don't look at me."

"Ruby! How did you find me?" Weiss said, never has she been so happy to see anyone before.

"I followed your little girl screams. God damn-nit, you really want to fucking win that bet, don't you? What did you do, send out invitations?"

"I was not screaming like a little girl, you dolt." Weiss snapped, never before has she been so annoyed to see anyone before.

"Stop moving around, your blocking my shots and don't fucking look at me!"

"What do you mean, 'don't look at you'? Why would I want to look at you anyways, you are nothing special to look at, you know!" Weiss shouted out over the noise of Ruby's gunshots.

"If we make eye contact, we are going to be stuck together for the next four years!"

"But if we don't work together, we will die."

"We won't know that for sure," Ruby said diving to the right and bringing her left arm up and catching some kind of disk out of the air before swing her right arm at the throat of a Grimm.

"We are outnumbered," Weiss pointed out as she sent a pair of Grimm flying backwards. "We will die if we don't work together."

"We will work together, just not look at each other!" Weiss heard the clicking the sounded as if Ruby was reloading her weapon.

"That is just ridicules! We cannot hamstring ourselves in any manner. Would dying really be preferable to being partnered with me?" They stood back to back as the circle of Grimm started to closed in on them, it seems to Weiss anyways, that for every Grimm they kill, two more took its place. After a couple seconds, Weiss snapped, "Well?"

"I'm thinking, Snowflake!" As Weiss huffed, Ruby shook wildly, "Grab my backpack." As Weiss pulled the backpack down, Ruby told her, "Open it up. Inside on the top there is two black boxes. Do you see them?"

"Yes, they both have red buttons? What are the purpose of this devices anyways?"

"Right, one red button is plain. The other one have two white arrows pointed up … now when I tell you, hit the red button without …"

"Got it!"

"What?"

"I pushed the red button …"

"Not yet, you fucking ass hat! Please, tell me you hit the plain …"

"No, I hit the one with two white … Hey!" Weiss let out a yelp as Ruby swung around, picked her up in her arms, bridal style, and bent down in a runners start position. As Ruby ran from her backpack, which had starting to beeping loudly and quickly, the world blur for Weiss as they ran through the forest. They didn't get far when she heard an explosion behind them and then they both were sent soaring uncontrollably through the air.