Chapter 4
The group could tell that Cardin wasn't exactly happy about the situation.
"It's just Russel that didn't make it into the team," Sky tried to reassure him. "Replacing him with a Seer shouldn't be too much of a problem."
"There was also that kid, with the sword. But that isn't the point. I've been partnered with a Seer. That is the point."
They had met up at the ruins, having already found maps for the forest before getting to Beacon. There were limited possibilities for where Beacon could hold initiation and it was just luck that their goal was also the best place for the team to come together.
Cardin and Dove had grabbed the relics they needed, and as far as they could tell were the first to get their relics.
"Let's just get back to Beacon. And if Russel managed to get into a team of girls or something, like a reward for messing up the plan, he is going to regret it." Cardin glanced at his team. "If the team holds him back that punishes him enough and we can help out. But he needs the punishment."
They started back, the Seer following them silently.
[]
"I don't think this is the right way..."
Pyrrha was getting nervous as she trailed after her partner, who seemed to be ignoring her. At least they hadn't run into any other Grimm. That said, the Ursa seemed to have a specific destination in mind, one that didn't seem likely, to Pyrrha at least, to be the ruins they were meant to find.
That said, she wasn't one to abandon or give up on her partner, even if they were a Grimm. So all she could do was follow her partner and hope that they were going the right way.
A mountain loomed before them, but the Ursa didn't change from its path. Pyrrha frowned. Was that a cave ahead?
[]
Goodwitch frowned as she focused on one particular pair she was monitoring on her scroll. "Is it just me or is that Ursa heading for a specific place?"
"Would you know anything about this, Salem?"
Salem shrugged, amused. "You think I have a plan that starts this soon?" Technically it had already started, but Oz probably wouldn't consider it a plan. "There are things that Grimm are naturally attracted to. Like giant Grimm on occasion. But I haven't given any of my students special instructions."
Goodwitch frowned, tapping her riding crop against her leg thoughtfully. Something about that reminded her of something. She turned to Ozpin. "You said about a cave with Deathstalkers being here years ago," she ignored Salem snorting at the understatement – they had a story to maintain after all even if all of them knew just how old he really was, "when was it last checked?"
Ozpin drank from his mug before answering. "Last time I checked there was a single Deathstalker. I'll admit it had grown quite large, but that is why I put a warning at the entrance."
Goodwitch relaxed slightly. "A 'Keep Out' sign? That should be enough."
"Those are insufficiently informative. I painted the wall with the image of a giant Deathstalker overrunning a bunch of hunters. That should tell them everything they need."
Both of them just blinked at Ozpin. It was Salem who recovered first.
"I know that I haven't made a major attack recently, but when you say things like that it still makes me wonder how I haven't won yet."
[]
Yang was starting to get properly relaxed about her partner. At first the knowledge she could win if the Beowolf attacked, helped by the fact it had saved her hair against the Ursai, had meant she was willing to put up with it, but after fighting together against some more Grimm she had starting warming up to her partner a lot more.
Yang had expected the Beowolf to be a straightforward fighter, much like herself, but in the encounters with other Grimm so far her partner had been much more focused on flanking, making surprise attacks and making use of openings. It felt like real teamwork.
Even better he had led her straight to the ruins.
She sauntered forward and picked up one of the 'relics'. "That was easy."
It was only then she heard screaming from above.
[]
It had been decided that Jaune would mostly sit out of the teams fights, on the basis of it being his partner who they had sent scouting and so needed to follow, and Noras comment on how aura could throw you off between being unlocked and getting used to it.
Jaune had no idea if Nora had figured out his secret and this was her way of keeping it or if she really believed he was some amazing fighter who had earned his place in Beacon without aura. Either way it seemed his team was giving him the cover he needed to get through (and survive) initiation.
So far they had only run into small groups of Grimm, enough to give Jaune an idea of how his team fought. Aside from his partner, but he had already seen the Nevermore take out a group of Grimm while protecting him.
It didn't seem like the team had anyone to take hits, to be the focus of enemy attacks, and given his shield he could fit that role. At least it gave him something to focus on in training.
His partner was leading them North, hopefully the right direction. If not it seemed doubtful that they would find the ruins while there were still relics left.
Jaune heard a muffled snarl from behind the group, giving him time to get his shield between him and the Beowolf that was attacking.
He hadn't had time to draw his sword, and bracing the shield between them prevented him from changing that. Sounds from behind him caught his attention, and Jaune turned his head to see a group of Beowolves fighting Ren and Nora.
Given that Nora was much more focused on offence, and he had no idea how good her 'aura' was at protecting her, and that Ren was much more focused on skill than straight up fighting, Jaune decided that he had to deal with the Beowolf himself.
He changed his footing in order to throw the Beowolf forwards, off his shield giving him the opportunity to draw his sword and prepare to catch the next attack.
As the Grimm landed upon his shield again Jaune had the chance to use his sword, Crocea Mors, to deal some damage, even as he tried to ignore it snarling at him over the top of his shield.
Except, as he now remembered, he didn't know how to use a sword.
He tried stabbing the Beowolf around his shield, but the angle prevented him getting much force into the strike, and the blows didn't seem to do any real damage. At least the Beowolf didn't seem to have any way to harm him either, as long as he kept his footing.
All he had to do was wait for his team to deal with the other Grimm.
[]
"Interesting tactics," Ozpin mused as he sipped his coffee. "Delaying an enemy from joining the fight to let his allies finish off the others. Did he realise how dangerous a distraction can be in combat?"
Goodwitch sighed heavily. "Ozpin, you can't seriously be considering him for team leader. He has shown no signs of the combat prowess a Huntsman needs."
"Leaders don't always need to fight directly," Salem reminded them. "In fact it can be better for the leader to hang back, observing and directing rather than acting as a fighter like any other. The willingness and ability to sit back and think things through are required for a good leader."
Ozpin raised an eyebrow from over his mug. "Are you trying to sabotage the process of assigning team leaders? Making things easier for yourself in the long run?"
Salem laughed. "If I wanted to do that I would suggest a Grimm as team leader. From what I've seen so far you'd go for it."
[]
There was a cliff ahead of Blake. She paused, looking to each side to decide which way to take to get round or whether it would be easier to climb over it. It would be difficult, but by using clones as platforms she might be able to manage...
"Um, which way do you think?"
Blake remembered the problem with that course. How had she ended up with someone with so little initiative as a partner anyway? Why was this 'Russel' at Beacon in the first place?
Judging by his weapons Russel had a preference for fighting sneakily like her, but with no sign of any ranged option. If it came to a fight it would be best for Russel to take the front line while she stayed at a distance using Gambol Shrouds pistol to help her partner.
"That way," she decided, and let Russel take the lead before ascending part of the cliff and following him. The height advantage could come in handy should they run into Grimm. Plus she wasn't about to trust a complete stranger as her partner just yet. Not given her last partner...
[]
Pyrrha wondered why exactly her partner was so keen on exploring the cave.
"I really don't think this is the right way. Can't we go back yet?"
The Ursa ignored her, leading the way further into the darkness. Wait, there was a light ahead. Could this have been a tunnel? But it didn't look quite right...
"This doesn't look..."
She realised what the light was coming from in time to grab her partner and get it out of the way of the Deathstalkers sting.
The Ursa growled, at her or its fellow Grimm Pyrrha couldn't be sure. "I think we'd best run. Come on!"
They fled the cave, the Ursa directly behind her. What was going on? Why was the Grimm attacking her partner?
This just didn't make sense!
[]
Russel frowned. "Did you hear that," he asked his partner. Except, she wasn't behind him. Where was-
"Sounded like a scream," she agreed from her position on the cliff behind him. Oh. Made sense, good place to attack an enemy from, if you could manage it. "I think we should check it out."
"Whatever you say."
Despite himself Russel grinned. It was good having someone to take charge.
AN: I hadn't intended to take so long between chapters, but when you only have 2 days in a week to do any writing (damn work getting in the way) delays can happen. Combine that with interruptions to break the flow of writing further, and the chapter comes out half-length and without a proper title. In any case, I want to take this opportunity to state that I have chosen the Grimm for each team, and who they partner with/replace, for reasons. Part of it was giving 1 Grimm per team. Which meant I had to remove someone from team JNPR, and given that I didn't want to split Nora and Ren that meant I needed to completely mess up the teams (which I felt could wait for a later story rather than my first attempt at fanfiction) or give Jaune another way to survive, hence Nevermore. Other reasons will be pointed out as they happen.
