A Grimm Huntsman
Chapter 21
-Qrow-
Frowning, Qrow took a deep drink from his flask as he looked over at the group of students, the six of them all relaxing near the front of the bullhead. "It bothering you too huh?" Tai walked over, Qrow's oldest friend frowning as well and holding his hand out for a swig from the flask.
"The Silver Eyes were supposed to have been near extinct." Qrow grit out as Tai took a gulp of the strong whiskey, "The only ones Oz and I have heard about in our lifetimes were the Grimm Reaper, Summer, and now Ruby. The fact that Oz didn't even know of this kid's people and their power before Harry showed up is worrisome enough but for them to have the silver eyes too?"
"You're wondering what else is out there." Tai grunted, handing back the flask, "The world is changing Qrow, just look at kids these days. When we were students I'm not sure we could have compared with some of the things they look like they'll accomplish and that's not even mentioning their semblances. The world feels like it's getting ready for war and I'm not so sure we're ready."
"Well maybe you aren't Mr. Mom," Qrow teased, smirking at his sole remaining teammate "some of us actually kept up our training."
"At least I have a working liver." Tai quipped back but he could see his friend's displeasure at the reality of the situation. There were often patterns for the semblances among generations. Their generation had a great deal of supportive semblances, as did the one before them. This generation was full of semblances that were geared towards direct combat. Super speed, absorbing kinetic energy to grow stronger, absorbing lightning, rapid regeneration, clones, and even turning into a dragon.
"I think it's time I start training seriously again." Tai grunted, the blond drumming his fingers on his gut, "Can't let these brats show us up too soon after all."
"Tai, one of them can turn into a dragon and summoned the embodiment of Death." Qrow deadpanned, still getting over the mindfuck of that fact.
"And we're team fucking STRQ, strongest team in Beacon history remember." Tai grinned, "We aren't out of the game yet. Or at least I'm not, we all know you can get defeated by any pretty girl in a skirt."
"Ass." Qrow snorted, trying and failing to hide his smile. Maybe Tai had a point, they weren't out of the game just yet. Looking over at the kids, he saw them competing at a fighting game on their scrolls. "Alright, move over runts, time for the master to show you brats how to play."
-Winter-
Humming a soft pattern to herself, Winter walked through her new quarters, making sure everything was set up the way she wanted it to be. On the wall to the side was a painting of her family before it had torn itself apart. A bookshelf full of her favorites, each in its proper place as she kept them alphabetized. Her desk was polished and organized to the utmost, from the papers lined perfectly to a corner to a letter opener on a stand polished to a mirror's sheen. A pair of comfortable chairs and a coffee table to talk to Mr. Potter at, and a door to the side that led to her suite.
"Miss Schnee," a voice cuts off her hum as she heard a knock on her door "do you have a moment?"
Opening the door, she saw Glynda standing there, "Of course Professor Goodwitch." She nodded, stepping aside to let the woman in, "Did you need something?"
"I was just making sure you were settling in well enough." Glynda tells her, looking about Winter's office, "And to ask if you needed anything before classes resume on Monday."
"No, thank you." Winter shook her head, picking up a cup of tea from her bookshelf and holding it, wanting it more for the warmth than for the drink. "Although while you're here, could you explain to me a bit more about my duties? I know I'm to act as Liaison between our academies and to privately help one Harry Potter."
"Those are the main ones." Glynda nods, leaning against a chair "Other than those myself and the other professors might ask for your assistance for different classes. I'll warn you now though that Professor Port will likely either bore you with his stories or try to flirt with you, Professor Oobleck will not slow down his speech, and Professor Ozpin will likely try to trick you into doing his paperwork for him."
"That sounds…" Winter trailed off, trying to think of how to say things without offending the woman who was one of the most accomplished huntresses in Beacon history.
"I know it sounds absurd compared to how Atlas is run." Glynda allowed with a nod "But you'll find Beacon tries to be more individual than Atlas does with their uniformity. At the moment Ironwood and Ozpin have decided for you to stay at least through the Vytal festival. If you would like to stay longer we can work to find a list of available properties in Vale for you to use as a home."
"Thank you Professor." Winter nodded, "Could you tell me more about Mr. Potter while you're here? All I know are some base information that Headmaster Ozpin sent to General Ironwood."
"Of course." Glynda gestured for them to sit down, "I foresaw you wanting to know this. To start with, you should be aware that he's an alcoholic and will fight quite furiously to protect his whiskey." Sighing, Winter sat back and took notes on what the Professor was telling her, already able to see she had her work cut out for her.
-Roman-
Scowling, Roman tapped his cane impatiently on the ground. The White fang were, for the most part, nothing more than incompetent rabid animals. Some were like Perry the platypus Faunus and showed not only competence but an actually sense of humor, those he didn't mind working with. Others were more like Adam Taurus and his right hand Banesaw, still bloodthirsty animals but strong enough to back up their bloodlust and having a modicum of strategic ability. Those he detested even more than these faceless grunts.
"Come on people, let's pick up the pace a little!" he snapped, already behind schedule as the grunts he was given refused to move like a unit, and looked for any opportunity to misinterpret or ignore some of his orders. The first and most frustrating was that they refused to wear anything apart from their Fang uniforms. He had made sure instructions were sent ahead for them all to come in dock worker uniforms with their Faunus traits hidden as best as possible if able. He had brought a dock manager uniform to make it look like they were just working the night shift but no, the idiots had refused to wear anything but the uniform, their pride not letting anything else and with that part of the plan ruined he hadn't seen the point of wearing his disguise.
"Damn human." He heard one grunt mutter under their breath as they slowly carried Dust crates to the waiting bullheads.
His cane met the terrorist's teeth the second the crate was set down, "We were supposed to have finished over an hour ago. I don't intend to get caught because you lot are useless fodder. Now either pick up the pace or I'll have the lot of you shaved!" hearing footsteps running over he prepared to turn before feeling a blade at his throat, "What the? Of for fu-." He rolled his eyes.
"Nobody move!" the young voice behind the blade called out even as the fang readied weapons.
"Whoa," he smirked, feeling calm even with the blade there as he could tell the kid didn't have the nerves to slit his throat in cold blood, "take it easy there little lady."
"Brothers of the white fang!" he heard her shout out, "Why are you aiding this scum?"
"Oh kid, didn't you get the memo?" he taunted, "The White Fang and I both got brought on for a joint business venture."
"Tell me what it is, or I'll put an end to your little operation." The girl hissed, trying to sound threatening even if he could feel the slight shake in the blade.
A loud bullhead engine roared as two more armed aircraft flew over, the are they displaced pushing back his hair, "Well, I wouldn't exactly call it a 'little' operation." Smirking, he felt the sword shake even more and noted that she was holding the flat spine of a blade to his throat. Putting his cane to the ground, he fired and blew the kid back as she was knocked off her feet. Spinning, he began shooting near her feet, giving just enough time for her to dodge the blasts as he tried to either knock the kid out or make her flee. He wasn't a fan of killing kids.
"Roman, we have another bullhead inbound." One of the few Fang grunts who wasn't a complete idiot came over running as he took note of the aircraft opening, a group of eight people leaping out as he recognized one of them as the Harry kid that Hazel was here to recruit.
"Kill the humans!" one of the more bloodthirsty Fang shouted, pointing their weapons to the group of six teenagers and two adults.
"No you idiots!" he shouted but they ignored him and ran to try and butcher the kids and their guardians. "Well, they're dead." He sighed, "Neo, escape please." He called out, grabbing the one smart fang grunt as he did so. He was not interested in seeing the idiotic grunts torn apart by a dragon, not to mention whatever else that group could do.