Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Fight or Flight. Enjoy the 900-word chapter. I don't own RWBY, Monty Oum, and Rooster Teeth do.

(Vale.)

The quartet was blasted into the air before they split off in 4 directions.

Maize fired off Vindicta and Retribution before grabbing a branch and swung in an arc before using the momentum to flip to the ground.

He landed in a crouch before putting his guns on his waist. He didn't need their other form yet. He dusted off his jacket before walking through the forest.

He looked up to see Raven fly over his head and hummed before he adjusted his hat and started to walk under the trees.

"Pickpocket Princess…" He muttered before following in the direction as he knew they'd have to solve this as a group.

(With Raven)

Raven kicked off a tree before balancing on the tree branch as she looked around the forest.

The Emerald forest reminded her a lot of Mistral. She noticed a Beowolf howl before sighing and resting her hand on Omen before she dropped down to the next branch.

She leaped down to another branch before swinging herself down to the ground. She landed in a crouch as she rested her hand on the hilt of the weapon.

She turned to look around before turning around, her eyes narrowing under her Grimm mask.

She drew and cut the Beowolf down. It fell, perfectly bisected to the ground as she stepped over the Grimm.

She sheathed her sword before tapping the handle as she continued walking. She glanced around at the trees, taking in her surroundings. She enjoyed the forest because she had dozens of perches and she could launch ambushes from every direction.

It also helped that not all Grimm were able to climb trees. She turned only to watch a gun being fired towards her.

She watched as the bullet pass inches from her eyes only to see them cut through an Ursa which crashed to the ground. A smoking hole was within its bone-like mask, dead between the eyes.

She turned to see Maize who glared at her while holding the blue and white revolver which had the image of a Blind Worm Grimm painted on it.

"If I was going to kill you, that shot would have been going right through your mask." Maize blew the smoke off his weapon and lowered it so it was parallel to the ground.

"I'm a scavenger, not a thief." Raven retorted as Maize rolled his eyes.

"You act like people who steal off others and disobey the law are different. I live in a kingdom where we have no law." Maize twirled his weapon.

Raven pressed a button on her stealth that made it fire Omen out with its signature crimson blade.

She caught it and tackled Maize, twisting his free arm behind his back and wrapping her legs around his waist so he couldn't stand up.

Maize responded to her resting Omen against his throat by pressing Vindicta to her chest. The duo looked at each other as their eyes were the only things visible through their headwear as the duster covered much of Maize's face and it was with a hood.

"What now?" Both considered killing the other at the moment but knew they were at an impasse.

They were partners. They already knew no matter how much they disliked each other, the moment they locked eyes, they would-be partners.

Second, both had Aura, which meant either's attack would only damage the cloak of Aura which kept them safe.

And third? Grimm surrounded them, drawn by the rush of negative emotions like a shark to fresh blood.

Both rolled to the side and backed up till their shoulders touched. Maize looked at a group of Ursa while Raven glared at a pack of Ursa.

"We can talk about this later." Maize hummed and nodded; he cocked the hammers on his guns.

"Keep up and don't slow down. They eat you alive." Maize didn't know how to feel about Raven. She did entirely have the skill to match her talent.

But if she was a thief? He'd hate her like the others, Humanity fought itself more than they did other people.

"Then follow my lead, rattlesnake," Raven said with a smirk. She gripped her sword tighter as the duo prepared to combat the horde of Grimm.

Both screamed out war cries as the Grimm dogpiled them.

(With Sal and Tai)

Tai looked at Sal before humming.

"I'm guessing your new to Vale, right?" Sal nodded before both heard faint cries in the distance.

"They uh… They're busy destroying the forest, aren't they?" Tai asked. Sal nodded as the duo started walking towards the forest before both looked at a Nevermore which flew overhead.

None of the group knew their day in the forest would change them forever and define team RUST.

Ozpin watched all of this from the cliff before taking a long sip of his tea and looking at the ground.

Author notes

Phew, another chapter is done! I want to point out that Maize and Raven have a very different relationship than Tai and she would. I will post another longer chapter next week as hopefully, my friend can respond so we can brainstorm some ideas. The next chapter is on next Saturday or so and will show Maize and Raven fighting Grimm and forming up with Tai and Sal. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!

Ps: Glynda's story will hopefully be done by tomorrow.