The students had different kinds of missions depending on their year level. Those of higher year levels get to have the more difficult missions while the lower years get the simpler ones. Each team was escorted by a professional huntsman but not necessarily a member of the faculty. Most of them were volunteers. Sadly, for team JNPR, it would seem that Jacques Arc wasn't one of them.
"Don't worry about it son," reassured he. "We'll go on a mission one day when you're a fully-fledged huntsman."
Behind Jacques Arc were the students that he was assigned to escort: team CRDL. It was a rather awkward event.
CRDL's mission had Grimm excursion. Located in a nearby settlement not too far from the walls of Vale, the mission in question was as plain as it came. It was more of a warm-up really which is why most of these kinds of missions were for first-years; it was more to aid the students in getting used to roughing it in the wild.
Looking at the available missions, those that team JNPR could not take were already blackened out. Grimm excursion, escort, and investigations. Most of these missions were rather basic with escort being the least numerous.
One in particular grab the attention of team JNPR. Specifically, it grabbed the attention of Lie Ren. It was an investigation on some villages that were disappearing. According to the attached reports, it was caused by a large Grimm that instill terror on the populace unlike the ones usually dealt with by huntsmen and huntresses.
"Let's have this one," said Ren, conviction coloring the usually calm and collected boy. Nora was by his side, her hand on his shoulders.
Jaune saw nothing to argue against. He had known those two long enough to know that this must be something close to them. Jaune doesn't know why but he wasn't about to ask. Instead, he said, "sure. Let's do that. Now let's see on who the professional huntsman that's going to escort us is going to be."
The detail in question was found at the bottom of the of the report. It was Professor Harrold Mulberry, their own professor.
"Well," commented Jaune. "On one hand, we got someone we know. On the other hand, we'll have to leave early, won't we?"
"Early in the morning." Jaune could feel Jeanne nodding in his head. "Let us go then? Perhaps we could more details from Professor Mulberry."
Finding the professor was easy. Professor Mulberry tends to frequent the same locations throughout the day. It is really only during emergencies and sudden missions that he could be found elsewhere. He was found in the faculty staff. On the table, there was a little teapot, short and stout. From it, there was the steam of hot water. Surrounding it were a series of documents, probably more reports.
"Ah," said he. "Team JNPR! You're the volunteers? Good, good. Come in! Come in. Would you like some tea? Or maybe something stronger? I believe we still have some snacks left over from the dance party. Please sit. I was just looking though some additional reports that just came in about our mission."
"Anything new sir?" It was Ren who asked.
Professor Mulberry nodded. "One of these reports had survivors describe the Grimm as some kind of horse with a rider." He paused for he noticed that Ren had his fists tighten. Nora had to hold him for comfort. "Now I see," he commented. "This mission means a lot to you isn't it?"
Ren and Nora nodded.
Mulberry hummed sagely. "Very well. I will not ask as to why this mission means a lot to you but I will tell you this: we will leave in two days' time. Our mission is to investigate these villages and look for signs as to where our Grimm is going to be. It retreats into the nearby forests and hides its tracks, making it difficult even for other huntsmen to find them. Normally, this would be for your Professor Ann Greene but she is needed in the security of Vale especially with the Vytal Festival being held here. Her hands are full."
Before Mulberry continued, he poured hot water in the empty cups for team JNPR. There were different teabags and some milk and sugar should they wish it.
"Now," he continued. "I am certain that I do not need to inform you that should this Grimm be too much to handle, I will demand that you students run for your lives. We are here solely to investigate the whereabouts of this Grimm."
Ren and Nora nodded. Jeanne, Jaune and Pyrrha followed suit, though not as grimly as the other two.
"If we can though, ideally if it were in some kind of rest, we will do so." Mulberry offered a smile.
"Grimm don't rest though, do they?" Jaune asked.
"They do not. But that does not mean they do not at times find some kind of solace somewhere. Otherwise, we would all be working 24/7 against an endless wave of them."
Team JNPR understood what he meant.
"It is also possible that the Grimm may have suffered some kind of damage due to the different town's guard or local huntsman. While Grimm may not need to rest they may still need to heal their injuries. That much I gather considering the attacks have gaps of time between them."
Taking out his scroll, Professor Mulberry then sent team JNPR additional photographs and reports so that they could look into them at their own time.
"We'll see each other again by tomorrow evening." He got up and began to take the now empty teacup and teapot for them to washed. "Use the time to stock up on any supplies we'll need. While I would not encourage you to go splurge I would also advise against anything too cheap."
Looking at the additional photos, team JNPR slumped. The amount of destruction and death that can be found in these photographs make them wonder just to what extent those places are truly destroyed.
"Thank you, professor," they said as they left the faculty room.
Ren and Nora volunteered to go stock up. "We know what it's like to rough it out more," Ren said.
"Sounds like a plan," replied Jaune. "Pyrrha, Jeanne and I will look over these files and come up with a plan on finding the Grimm."
Team JNPR nodded in unison. The trio made their way to the library for there was a map of Vale in it. With the help of the librarian they were able to find the approximate locations of the villages.
"Whatever it is, it frequents villages in-between Vale and Mistral," Jaune commented. They were not allowed to mark them as that would be vandalism but they didn't need to, all the different villages were located in these areas.
Dematerialized, Jeanne entered the conversation saying, "mountainous area, judging from those shapes. There might be a cave in there somewhere."
"Wouldn't it have been easy to find it then?" asked Pyrrha.
"The place could be too open that the only way to find it is through footprints or something," Jaune responded.
"That makes sense."
Taking down a few notes, the three then made their way to one of the empty tables nearby. With a piece of paper, they drew a rough sketch of the area as well as those surrounding it.
"Okay, we'll make the assumption that we can handle it," said Jaune. "If we can't then we'll have to retreat."
"Right." Pyrrha nodded.
"We're looking at a very big Grimm. It has to be if it was the only one destroying all these towns and villages. It's probably already injured but let's not take any chances. It has to be tough to still be moving about now."
The three went on like this for a few hours. Nothing too specific but their plans had enough detail that they could then enact in various scenarios. Granted, most of them used a lot of what-ifs and the real thing is most definitely not going to reflect that but the plans are flexible enough.
At the end of it, the trio came up with series of tactics and plans that they would employ in finding and possibly fighting the Grimm. If there was any metallic weapon on it, Pyrrha Nikos would use her Semblance to further deepen those into it. For Jaune and Jeanne, they're to use their respective weapons in the hopes of incapacitating its movements. Nora can use her hammer to strike at it hard should its hide be too tough for any piercing weapons with Ren being her support.
Satisfied, the three shook on it. They want that good grade and if coming up with a plan on their own would get it, they would. It was great timing too, for when they had finished, the day was already reaching its end. After cleaning and arranging their spot, the three left the library.
They met up with Ren and Nora at the dorm room. Turns out that team RWBY had their missions already and went ahead as their dorm was left empty. There was a strange scent reminiscent of something canine, though. Shrugging, team JNPR went inside the now less spacious dorm room.
There were sleeping bags by their beds. Extra set of clothes for each of them, including Jeanne of course. There was even some rope and a couple of flares there ready. The water flasks were color-coded and fire-starters can be seen peeking out of the pockets of the bags, sealed tight.
"Wow," commented Jaune. "You guys really went all out, huh."
"Let's hope this mission goes well," said Ren with conviction in his voice.
"Let's call it early tonight then. We'll need it for tomorrow."
/-/
Jaune was awoken by the sounds of his scroll ringing, someone was calling him. "Hello?" he said.
Suddenly, the call was cut short. When looked at the name of the contact, he tilted his head.
"Ruby?"
AN: Was messing around with Paint 3D and MS Word. Can't find a photo of Jaune and Jeanne that meshed as well as this one. Background is from Jeanne's Bond CE (Assuming the photo can already be seen that is).