Welcome back everyone for the ninth chapter of 'The Darkling Thrush'! Word of warning, I wrote most of this while under the influence of headaches. This chapter had to go through a lot of edits before I could give it the go ahead for publishing.
As always I'd like to thank those who left a review, noone297, Baoh joestar, jin0uga and Gamewizard2008 (sup homie). Thanks are not enough for the support and kind words.
Anyways, off with the chapter.
IX
Welcome to Beacon: Part 4
After confronting Jaune about his fake transcripts, Cardin turned the poor blonde buffoon into his own personal servant. It went as well as you'd expect. Jaune was getting pushed to near exhaustion every day, fulfilling all of Cardin's requests in fear of the truth going public.
The more and more Jaune attended to Cardin's whims, the less and less time he spent with his actual team. Russel noticed this whenever he was anywhere near Team JNPR and even Team RWBY. There was something missing. They weren't gelling properly, he guessed.
"Why are we doing this again?" Russel asked.
Team CRDL was currently sitting in their dorm room, getting ready for their outing with Professor Goodwitch. They were supposed to be heading to the Forever Fall forest with Professor Peach, but there was a last minute matter the favored Professor had to attend to.
Cardin looked up from the sandwich he was currently chowing down on and gave Russel a confused look. "Because we all want a passing grade?" The Team CRDL leader said, trying his best not to sound rude.
"I meant why haven't we gone to Ozpin about Janue's transcripts?" Russel, causing everyone stop what they were doing. "Like I get it, you like having a slave and what not, but if he isn't supposed to be here, why not skip to the inevitable conclusion then?"
Russel just looked around, finding unsure looks in his teammate's faces. It soon became apparent to Russel that none of them, including Cardin actually were intending to reveal Jaune's secret. Not once had it even crossed their minds. Cardin just wanted another way to humiliate Jaune. Dove and Sky were just getting the benefits of a personal slave.
"Look, Russel." Cardin said, setting his sandwich aside. "It's my call, alright? We all know Jaune's going to blow his own cover anyways. Do you think we're the only ones to hear him that night? We might as well just milk this while we can." Cardin reached over, patting the box of Rapier Wasps he had Jaune acquire.
One of the effects of Jaune acting as Cardin;s personal slave, depriving Team JNPR of their leader left a power vacuum. They needed someone to step up and Pyrrha was just the girl to do it. If Russel had noticed it then so had everyone else. Especially when Cardin made a comment about Jaune's own lack of knowledge regarding The Great War. Pyrrha stepped up for her leader. She cleverly turned the table on Cardin, dredging up his own family history in a way that unsettled the Winchester boy.
Now, with a score to settle, Cardin planned to deal with Pyrrha the only way he could. He wanted it to be just as personal an attack as she attacked him that day in class. Where she used his Great Grandfather Roman Winchester, a great leader in The Great War, Cardin now aimed to use her leader in this school brawl.
"Anyways, what do you care Mr. Cynic?" Cardin asked, raising a brow at Russel uncharacteristic involvement with his affairs.
"It just doesn't sit right with me." Russel shrugged. "I put in the effort, we all put in the effort. We earned the right to be here. He didn't. Simple, no?"
Cardin pressed his fist to his chin, as if contemplating Russel's words. It was a reasonable argument right? The work you put into anything should be the same you get out. You work hard, you make the right choices and then you get accepted on your own terms. But what Jaune did was go around the rules and Trojan horsed his way into Beacon.
The CRDL leader could understand his partner's stance, but at the end of the day it was his call. "You need to relax Russel." Cardin said finally.
"We'd better get going soon guys." Sky interrupted, referring to the time on his scroll. In less than half an hour they were expected to head out with the rest of their class. They wouldn't want to be late now wouldn't they?
"We'll talk about this later." Cardin as he gathered his gear and the box of wasps.
Team CRDL exited their room one by one. They all knew where they were heading. Down to combat class they went, meeting up with the rest of the teams waiting for instruction. When Professor Peach had originally come to them all about this little excursion, none was exactly thrilled. Gathering sap just didn't sound as exciting as getting launched into the Emerald Forest without a parachute.
So when they got there, Professor Goodwitch had to work extra to get them all motivated. "The dangers out in the Forever Fall Forest are equal to those you faced in the Emerald Forest." Goodwitch said, stressing that this wasn't the milk run assignment they all though it to be. "Stick close, remain cautious. And we'll all make it back okay."
"One part of this exercise is to help better stimulate team bonding. Team leader's this is your time to shine. I will be acting in a supervising role, but the rest is up to you." Goodwitch said before taking a step back and pointing to the various boxes of glass jars in the corner. "Your equipment is over there. Go ahead and claim it."
"Is this a part of the exercise Ms. Goodwitch?" Ruby Rose, the leader of Team RWBY asked after raising her hand and being called upon.
"As a matter of fact, it is." Goodwitch said with a nod.
"Alright, as leader I say we take it into a vote, whether one of us fetches our equipment or we all do." Ruby said excitedly.
"How about I just grab our stuff?" Blake asked in her usual neutral tone. There's was no reason to make a big deal out of just picking up her teams equipment.
"Or…you could do that yeah." Ruby's excited expression faltered slightly.
"I'll just go get our stuff, okay?" Juane said to the rest of Team JNPR. Pyrrha, Ren and Nora just watched as their leader walked off. For the longest time there had been something off with him and none could figure out just why. Pyrrha had a basic idea since Jaune revealed her secret to her, but had nothing concrete to go on.
"You heard the lady, time to dance." Cardin said loudly, quickly taking command of his team. "Russel, as Team Leader I need you to fetch our jars. Sweet and simple."
Russel just shrugged and walked off to gather his team's box of jars. Passing by Team DNCE's elected official to acquire the same amount of jars, Russel couldn't help but antagonize the stout beaver faunus.
"Sup tubby." Russel waved to him as they walked past each other. Ezekiel just sneered over his shoulder in retaliation and hurried on his way.
Blake collected her team's gear quickly and was off. She couldn't resist giving Russel a dirty look, especially after seeing the brief interaction between him and Ezekiel. What that was about was anyone's guess. All Russel cared about was getting his team's crap and moving on.
But while the team's busied took the time to better plan the outing amongst themselves, Russel saw a rare opportunity present itself. Alone in the corner was only Jaune and himself. The other teams had already retrieved their items, leaving only them.
"Out of curiosity, Jaune, just how bad were your original transcripts?" Russel asked quietly.
Jaune looked up at Russel in surprise. He only knew Cardin had been eavesdropping that night. To the young Arc this was just confirmation that his secret was spreading and sooner or later it would be getting out.
"Just curiosity, Russel?" He asked tiredly.
"Yep." Russel nodded.
Jaune let out a quiet sigh. "My grades were crap. Nothing I did, no matter how much effort I put into the work, nothing could pull me out of whatever rut I was in."
"You get caught up in your own world or something?" Russel inquired. "Maybe you're just a bad test taker. They have those you know. People who're terrible at taking tests. It's a real thing."
"Well, my grades were terrible. And I knew Beacon would never take me." Jaune shook his head in dismay. "I didn't even have an aura when I got here."
If Jaune wasn't busy feeling ashamed of himself and looked up, he might've caught the brief look of sympathy that had crossed Russel's face. There was a time when Russel couldn't produce an aura. The only thing separating the Grimm for the people. Imagine what that must do to a person. Being compared to the very thing the terrorized humanity. Russel had been there and he could tell Jaune was there as well.
But that feeling passed and Russel quickly grabbed one of the two remaining boxes and made himself scarce. He made it back his team, but couldn't help but notice Pyrrha had been watching them. While he doubted she had super hearing; that was something Russel had to be careful of. Next time he ever had to take someone aside to discuss private matters, he'd do so in a more discreet fashion.
"Alright class, time to head out." Professor Goodwitch announced to the class brightly.
And so Vale's future Huntsmen set off on an hour long trek through the woods beyond Beacon. The walked through cascades of falling leaves and through waves of shimmering light that pierced through the veil of trees around them. All were in awe of what nature had to offer.
"Beautiful isn't it?" Sky asked aloud, earning several nods in agreement from not only Team CRDL but also members of Teams RWBY, JNPR, WILL, STAG and even Team DNCE.
Goodwitch could only smile at the comment. The world of Remnant, despite its many faults, was one of beauty. There was more to fight for than just humanity, but the land where they walked.
"This is a good enough spot." Goodwitch declared. "Stay within close proximity of this spot, no wandering off. We have four hours until night fall. That gives us three to work with." She said before allowing the teams to run off and collect sap.
Jaune, who Cardin made carry both his team's box of jars and his own, heaved as he set them aside, taking the moment to rest. "Heavier than they look." He said to Pyrrha, causing the Mystral Champion to laugh.
Team JNPR then separated, deciding it would be best if they all spread out. It was then, when Jaune was most separated from his team when he was grabbed by Cardin and the rest of Team CRDL. Out of view from Goodwitch, Cardin got to work.
"Just need one jar filled up." He said to his team. Russel, Dove and Sky went along with it. Each one filling a jar a third of the way. Then they all handed their jars off to Cardin, whom poured the contents into one jar.
"Cardin, wh-what's going on?"
Cardin stared out into the forest, past the trees and at Pyrrha, who's back was turned to them. "Payback."
The Arc followed Cardin's stare. Jaune's eyes widened. "Pyrrha...?" He then turned to Cardin in search of an explanation. "Wh-what are you-?"
"That's the girl. Red-haired know-it-all, thinks she's so smart. Alright, boys..." Cardin pulled out a buzzing cardboard box with a large 'W' written on its sides. "Last night, old Jaune here managed to round up an entire box of Rapier Wasps, and now, we're gonna put him to work."
Russel looked over to Jaune and patted him on the shoulder. The Team JNPR leader laughed nervously.
"Now, according to one of the essays you wrote for me last week, these nasty things loooove sweets." Cardin jotted a thumb over his shoulder at Pyrrha as she gathered sap. "I'm thinking it's time we teach her a thing or two."
The members of Team CRDL got up from where they sat. Cardin reached over and yanked Jaune to his feet. Without looking, Cardin could tell Jaune wasn't willing to perform the task he was about to give him. But nonetheless, he would do it. One way or another.
"And you're gonna do it." Cardin said to Jaune.
"Do what?"
"Hit her with the sap." Cadin leaned forward. "Either that, or I'll have a chat with Goodwitch, and you'll be on the first airship out of Beacon."
Jaune looked down at the jar of sap in his hands and then up at the members of Team CRDL. Jaune turned towards the group, aiming his throw at Pyrrha, who was too oblivious to notice. Jaune tried to steel his nerves and his now shaking hand to do the deed. What happened next didn't surprise anyone in the slightest.
"No." Jaune murmured.
"What did you say?" Cardin's eyes narrowed down on the Arc.
"I said... NO!" Jaune declared before throwing the jar at Cardin. The jar collided with Cardin's breastplate, breaking on impact and covering it with sap. Jaune recoiled as the other team leader laughed darkly.
"Oh, you've done it now..." Cardin said threateningly. "You know that wasn't very smart, Jauney boy."
Russel and the others stood by, just watching as Cardin picked Jaune up off the ground, seemingly his signature move. "I'm gonna make sure they send you back to mommy in teeny tiny pieces."
"I don't care what you do to me..." Jaune said once more in a defiant fashion. "... but you are not messing with my team."
"What?" Cardin raised a brow. "You think talk like that makes you tough? You think you're a big strong man now?"
Jaune smiled, enraging Cardin. The Team CRDL Leader let out a roar and raised his fist. He threw a punch, but just before the hit connected, a bright light burst from Jaune, causing him to let go of the boy and get flung backwards. As the blinding light faded, the rest of Tam CRDL stood in shock as they found Cardin on the ground, holding his hands and crying out in pain.
Jaune, now back on the ground but completely healed, looks confusedly at his hands as they faintly glow white. Fumbling over the number of questions running through his head, Jaune was caught unaware by Sky, who swept over to deliver a kick from behind. Despite being thrown onto the ground once more and on his stomach, Jaune hadn't lost his fighting spirit. He just looked up and glared at Cardin.
After focusing his aura on his hands, Cardin was good as new. Now it was time to deal with Jaune. He turned and began to approach the fallen knight. "Let's see how much of a man you really are..."
Russel glanced around, checking to make sure that they hadn't caught the attention of any of their peers or their professor. Thankfully, they hadn't. But that didn't mean they hadn't gone unnoticed. Just before anymore punches could be thrown.
A familiar roar caught Russel's attention.
Russel, along with the rest of his team a Jaune slowly turned, finding an Ursa Major standing to too far from them. With dozens of jagged spikes sticking out from its wide back, the Ursa Major was a monster with impressive killing capabilities. It leaped forward, landing in front of the students and causing the ground to shake beneath its feet.
Now standing over the students, the Ursa Major lifted its head. Its nose flared as it caught a whiff of the sap on Cardin's breastplate in the air. The Ursa Major let out a hungered roar, sending a searing chill down the student's backs.
The world tuned out for a moment. Everything slowed as Russel took in each breath. This wasn't the same Ursa that haunted him as much as he haunted it. And it wasn't the starved Ursa he'd been forced to fight in Oakwood. This was something he was unfamiliar with. This Ursa Major knew not fear. It didn't know years of endless starvation alone in the dark.
This Ursa Major sent shockwaves of fear through Russel. Its murderous eyes stared into his very soul. Russel paled, and then it was a game of survival once more. Fight or flight, his instincts took over. Childhood trauma was ruling his body, his mind taking a backseat. Russel turned and ran.
It didn't matter if he had the weapons to fight the Ursa Major, or even if he had the friends to back him up. This went further than anyone would understand. And Russel didn't care if they ever would. That Ursa in the woods near his farm would forever rule his life.
Dove and Sky followed Russel's example, taking flight.
"That's a big Ursa!" Dove shouted as he ran.
But Russel couldn't hear him, he was too busy scared out of his mind. Next thing he knows he's shouting bloody murder, hoping to alert the rest of the class. "Ursa!" Russel shouts as he dashed through the forest.
Out of seemingly nowhere, Yang appeared in front of him. Russel, unable to stop, found himself running into the blonde bombshell. Unmoved, Yang simply grabbed ahold of Russel and lifted him into the air. The rest of Team RWBY and Pyrrha crowded around him as Dove and Sky continued to run.
"Ursa, where?" Yang demanded while shaking Russel.
Why do people shake you when they ask you questions? Russel thought mid-shake. "Back there! Cardin. Jaune." Russel managed to say before getting thrown aside.
He landed on his back and the sole remaining Thrush found himself staring up at the sky. Team RWBY and Pyrrha ran off, ready to fight whatever enemy dare lend a finger on their friend. It was just a painful reminder that he just ran and left his partner behind.
Crap. He had to go back.
"Bloody Ursas." Russel grumbled. As he found his way back onto his feet. Still reeling from the adrenaline fueled fear and being manhandled, Russel dizzily walked back the way he came. He pulled out one of his daggers, the least he could do was throw it at the blasted Grimm.
When Russel returned to the clearing where he last left Jaune and Cardin, where he was half expecting to find their chewed remains, he found Jaune standing victorious over the Ursa's decapitated body.
"Holy crap Juane!" Cardin exclaimed as Jaune helped the Team CRDL leader off the ground.
"Don't ever mess with my team - my friends - ever again." Jaune stared Cardin dead in the eye. "Got it?"
Cardin nodded apologetically as Jaune turned to leave and join his friends. They all walked past Russel, with Jaune giving the Thrush boy a mile long stare, the same he just gave to Cardin. His message went beyond Cardin, it went to the whole team. You could mess with Jaune, but never go near his friends.
So as they walked away, Russel approached his leader and folded his arms over his chest. Cardin stood there with a look Russel had trouble discerning. "Hey, fearless leader." Russel waved at Cardin. "We still got to collect sap. You in or what?"
"Yeah." Cardin said quietly.
After collecting one jar of sap each, the teams were off on another hour trek through the woods. They made it back to Beacon at sunset. Once delivering the sap they collected, Goodwitch dismissed the class. Cardin walked off to the wash rooms after mentioning he had much to think about.
So that left Russel, Sky and Dove with the fact that they had abandoned their leader when he needed them most. And that Jaune of all people had been the one to save him when they couldn't. They sat in the dining hall, munching away on chicken legs and mashed potatoes.
They were having the usual discussion or same old dinner talks. There was no mention of Dove's mom and her home style cooking, or Sky's topics of alchemy and magic. Not even any of Russel's usual antagonistic comments. They sat there and hashed out the one issue that was anything worth talking about.
What were they going to do about Jaune?
After it was all said and done, Russel volunteered to head off after Cardin to talk while the others went off to finish up assignments at the library and talk with professors. Russel entered the CRDL dorm room, finding Cardin sitting on his bed, lost in thought.
"So Vomit Boy saved your life." Russel said as he walked into the room.
"Yep." Cardin muttered simply.
"You must feel like an ass." Russel commented.
"Yep." Cardin's head fell slightly, his chin drawing close to his collar bone.
"So what happens now?" Russel questioned. "With Jaune I mean."
"Why does it depend on me, Russel?" Cardin stood up, anger swelling deep inside. It felt like he was being talked down to. And that didn't sit well with the young Winchester. "You, or Dove or Sky can all go rat Jaune out to Ozpin all by yourselves for all I care!"
"They honestly couldn't give a shit if he stayed or not." Russel shrugged. It was a true statement, earlier the trio had met to discuss how they felt on the situation. Sky was impressed by the fact someone like Jaune was able to kill an Ursa single handedly. Dove shared Sky's opinion and the two decided that Jaune had just as much a right to attend Beacon as anyone. But it wasn't any skin off their back if he got kicked out.
"That's their opinions. But what about you? Earlier you just wanted him gone." Cardin recalled.
Russel shrugged, not too long ago he wanted to wash his hands of Jaune. Tell Ozpin and have the boy ejected. But then he and Jaune shared a few words and he saw a little of himself in him. It just made the whole ordeal more complicated than it needed to be. His fault, won't happen again.
"There's a lot to take into account." Russel spoke thoughtfully. Cardin leaned against a wall, silently quelling his anger. "You got a code Cardin. I know that for a fact." Russel said, pointing a finger at his leader. "The only reason we've been getting along is because I saved you. Don't deny it, I'm not an idiot, I take notice of these things."
Cardin sighed once more, not denying anything. "So now that Jaune saved your butt, you feel like you owe him too." Cardin nodded at Russel's statement. "So, you're not going to rat him out are you?"
"No I'm not." Cardin resolved firmly. "I owe that doofus that much."
"And if I tried to, what would happen?" Russel asked curiously. "Would stop me?"
Cardin didn't have to say a word. He just stared at his partner. CRDL's only rule was broken today, when the team ran out on him. For the sake of the team, this was a matter that needed to be unanimous, everyone had to be on the same page. Or else this was going to be the end of Tea CRDL.
"Then I guess Jaune stays at Beacon." Russel said, easing the tension in the room. "Hey, the dining room's still open. Let's go get yourself something to eat."
Cardin shrugged, seeing why not. Just as they prepared to head out, they couldn't help but overhear a pair of familiar voices up above. Cardin and Russel opened their room's window and stuck their heads out. Now hearing the voices clearly, it wasn't a surprise that they belonged to Pyrrha and Jaune.
"Pyrrha... I'm sorry. I was a jerk! You were only trying to be nice, and... I had all this stupid macho stuff in my head-"
"Jaune! It's okay!" Pyrrha said with a smile. "Your team really misses their leader, you know. You should come down! Ren made pancakes! No syrup, though - you can thank Nora for that!"
"Wait!" Jaune called out, causing Pyrrha to stop in place. "I know I don't deserve it after all that happened, but... would you still be willing to help me... to help me become a better fighter?"
"Hey!" Jaune cried out as he was shoved to the floor by Pyrrha.
"Your stance is all wrong. You need to be wider and lower to the ground." She then offered her leader her hand, which he graciously accepted. "Let's try that again."
Cardin and Russel exchanged looks, each having the same one the other wore on their face. It was that all knowing look that only an outside observer could possess. Cardin then raised his hand and extended three fingers. Russel nodded in complete understanding and readied himself as Cardin counted down.
One after the other, each digit folded inward, joining Cardin's fist. Now, after the count of three, both Cardin and Russel raised their hands over their mouths in order to amplify their voices.
"Just Fuck Already!" They shouted in unison.
The pair of teammates had a laugh, they could only picture the looks on Pyrrha and Jaune's faces. No doubt the spartan's face was as red as her hair and Jaune as clueless as ever. And without anything left on their plate. The pair of friends walked out of the room, hitting the lights on the way out.
At the end of the day, I guess 'The Darkling Thrush' is also about the friendship between Russel and Cardin. Especially during this Arc. Next chapter especially as we finally find out just what the hell is up with Cardin. Why are you being such a dick Cardin? Reasons.
For all of the Forever Fall forest dialogue, I ripped a good chunk out of transcripts from the episode. So that's all preserved, I did not edit any of that, that is all depicted from the show. This and the previous chapter were the hardest to write because of it.
Other than that, I just introduced Team STAG right there. And here I thought I was being crafty. Team STAG is an all Faunus team. I hope you guys will find them to be neat in regards to what little interaction we have with them. I've also planned out the next 2 arcs fully.
'Til next time, ladies and gentlemen. Later Days!