Twelve Huntsmen (and Huntresses)

"Cardin Winchester, Sky Lark, Dove Bronzewing and their Seer come to the stage."

The ceremony was taking place immediately after initiation, with all the applicants who made it to the forest in attendance. Ozpin, Goodwitch and Salem were stood upon a stage calling up the successful students to form the teams.

Blake didn't think much of the group Ozpin had just called up, even allowing for the Grimm. The three Huntsmen in training each wore armour and had high strength, low skill weapons. Useful enough against slower enemies but all but useless against the faster Grimm or Hunters.

Next to her, her partner seemed unusually focused on the team. She sighed. It had been clear that he wanted to be part of a particular team. This was likely that team.

"Led by Cardin Winchester, they shall be team WLDS, or Wilds." There was a smattering of polite applause. It didn't seem that anyone had a good opinion of the members of the team except themselves and Russel, who was more concerned about not making it into the team.

Ozpin waited until team WLDS left the stage. "Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Yang Xiao-Long and their Beowolf, please come to the stage."

Blake could only imagine what it would be like, stuck on a team with two people who got on quite as badly as Ruby and the Schnee. She wondered why Ozpin had put them together.

"Led by Ruby Rose they shall be team RWBY." The applause was again mostly polite, but with a few people clapping more energetically. Including the boy who had come up to her while she was reading the night before. At least there was a possible friend for them outside their team.

"Jaune Arc, Lie Ren, Nora Valkyrie and their Nevermore please come to the stage."

Twice could be a coincidence, three times was less likely. It seemed they were down to just teams with Grimm. A lot of the students must have failed then.

"Led by Jaune Arc, they will be team ANVL, or Anvil." The applause was again polite except for Ruby who seemed excited by this Jaune making it through, and as a fellow team leader no less.

"Will Blake Belladonna, Pyrrha Nikos, Russel Thrush and their Ursa please come to the stage." There was a certain murmuring through the crowd as the names were called out. Most likely at Pyrrha Nikos, unless there were other faunus from Menagerie in the room. That said, it didn't explain why her partner seemed tense as they walked to the stage.

"Led by the Ursa."

Ozpin took a drink as the crowd started whispering between themselves. It was only when miss Goodwitch swung her riding crop with its distinctive sound that they quietened down. Not that Blake could blame them. How could a Grimm be team leader? Unless it had simply chosen not to speak so far...

"They will be team URBN, or Urban."

[]

The first warning Weiss had was the whistle.

"Okay team, time to get unpacked and set up!"

"It's too late, we should just get some sleep."

"I've checked the schedule and lessons start at 9. If we don't unpack now we won't have a chance tomorrow. So lets get to it!"

"Yeah!"

Much to Weiss's frustration her team leaders sister and the Grimm seemed to agree with the plan. "Are you serious? We've barely got back from being fired into the forest. Surely we can get some sleep first?"

"And leave our clothes and pyjamas in our bags? We'll be getting them out anyway, so why not deal with everything at the same time?"

It frustrated Weiss more than she would ever admit how hard it was to argue with Ruby. "Fine. Just make sure the Grimm doesn't mess things up."

[]

"So, anyone have any suggestions about dealing with this problem?"

"You know, I somehow suspect that Beacon wasn't built with Nevermore in mind."

"Not helping Nora."

Team ANVL was having certain problems with fitting their Grimm teammate in their room. For some, not entirely obvious, reason the corridors were all large enough for Grimm like the Nevermore while the doors for the individual rooms were much too small.

"The windows are too small," came Rens contribution. "I doubt the staff would appreciate us altering the architecture enough for our teammate."

Jaune sighed. "Sorry partner. I guess we'll need to find somewhere else for you to sleep. Hey Ren, could you unpack for me while I find a good place."

"Already done," Ren replied. "Good luck."

He waited until Jaune had left with the Nevermore. "I think we need to talk about our leader."

"What do you mean?"

"I just think it might be useful to do some extra training with him. Before the official combat classes."

"Yeah, definitely!"

It was still hard for Ren to decide whether Nora really believed in the reputation she had dreamt up for their leader.

"And then we question Salem!"

Ren nodded. "It would be best to have our leader trained in case she is responsible."

[]

Things were not going smoothly for team URBN. This may have had a lot do with their team leader being a Grimm.

Blake had no idea how that had managed to happen. Granted her partner didn't seem to be proactive enough to be a team leader and the championship fighter had seemed too uncertain when they had to deal with the Deathstalker, not to forget that she wasn't entirely comfortable around people she wasn't used to and had no experience with leadership...

Okay, maybe none of the team were obvious candidates, but surely it would be better to give one of them experience?

At least there were shelves she could use for her books, even if she couldn't communicate with her team leader properly. She'd just assumed it was fine to unpack, as after all she always found a book a good way to deal with whatever insanity was going on around her.

It took her a moment to realise the book was from her other stash. She glanced at her teammates quickly, making sure they hadn't seen it, or would see her hiding it.

"I'm... heading out," Pyrrha told them. "I need to clear my head."

Blake couldn't blame her. It was somewhat awkward in the room, with no member of the team being particularly talkative.

It all made Blake wonder if the team could function.

[]

"I think having a Grimm for team leader qualifies as sufficient punishment."

"That just cancels out having the Nikos girl as a teammate. We'll have to keep an eye on them to see if Russel is having too good a time without us."

Team WLDS had unpacked and organised themselves very quickly, under Cardins direction. Sky and Dove were good like that, following his plans and orders.

The only issue was the Seer, but it seemed willing to float out of the way, following what directions he gave it. Sure, it looked somewhat creepy, but that could benefit the team, as they would become a lot more used to it than their opponents.

"Anyone know where his teams room is?" At his teammates reluctantly shaking heads Cardin sighed. "Then start looking. We'll need to keep an eye on him no matter what."

[]

Team RWBY stepped back to view their room.

"It looks... cluttered," Yang commented.

"It's a mess! And how are we supposed to use the beds like that?" Weiss did have a point.

"Hey, it wasn't me that left them like that!" It almost impressed Yang the way her sister had failed to notice what she had done with the beds until now. "But I don't think there's space for the beds with everything else. Besides, we don't need all the beds."

It was too good an opportunity to miss. "What, you're planning on sleeping with me? Or is there something I should know about you two?"

"Yang!" Ruby recovered much faster than her partner.

"Kidding, I get what you meant. My partner... you know we really should give him a name."

Ruby shrugged. "It's your turn I guess."

Yang grinned. "Okay partner, your name is now 'Drei', okay?" The Beowolf barked, in a manner they took as agreement.

Ruby shook her head. "Really Yang? Not a proper name, like 'Marty'?"

Yang shrugged. "A tradition is a tradition. But anyway, does getting rid of one bed do much for the lack of space. If we could cut it down to two beds though..."

"Do either of you have a reasonable solution?" Weiss seemed close to breaking point. "And it better not be getting rid of any of my things. I made sure to bring the bare essentials."

"A bunk bed!"

"Wh-what?"

"We turn two of the beds into a bunk bed! It's the perfect solution!"

"No it isn't. How do you propose to create a bunk bed? These beds aren't made for it!"

It was up to Yang to provide the voice of reason. "We'll need to speak with someone about removing one of the beds anyway. Why not get rid of three and get a bunkbed at the same time? It's perfect!"

"It's too late to go to the faculty. We need a solution now. There are classes in the morning, we should already be asleep!"

"Why not use the fourth bed for materials? That way we could build a proper bunkbed. We could even use the sheets for curtains!"

Weiss sighed. "I suppose the only way I'll get enough sleep is if I go along with this insanity."

"That's the spirit!"

[]

"I guess you could sleep on the rooftop. It's that or fly to somewhere else for the night."

Jaune hadn't had a lot of luck finding somewhere for his partner to sleep. In the end they had found themselves on the rooftop. It had crossed Jaunes mind that the door was rather larger than it needed to be.

"I knew there'd be a way up... oh, I'm sorry!"

Jaune turned, startled. It was another of the first years, Pyrrha he thought her name was.

"It's alright," he assured her, "my partner," he indicated the Nevermore (who was tucking its head under its wing in an approximation of a sleeping bird), "wouldn't fit in the room so I had to find somewhere else for it to sleep. It's not like it's my roof or anything."

"Ah, I felt the need for some time to myself. My team," she sighed, "we aren't really much of a team. I mean, you were there when they made the Ursa team leader. I guess that says all need be said about it. None of the rest of us are able to be leader, we don't seem able to communicate. This isn't what I expected from Beacon."

"I don't know how to be leader. I never expected to be made leader, the others would be better choices."

"I'm sure that's not the case, Ozpin must have some reason..." she trailed off, remembering her own team leader.

"I should return to my team."

"Maybe we can talk again later."

Jaune shrugged. "As long as we remain in Beacon. I mean, surely it'd be a good thing to have our teams on good terms."

She smiled, hesitantly. "I'd like that."

[]

Russel sat on one of the beds. He wasn't used to the uncertainty of not being told what to do.

He wasn't even sure if he should take the bed. If he had been on Cardins team, as they had planned, he would've had one assigned. With a team leader who didn't speak, however, it was much more unclear as to what to do.

He couldn't even rely on his partner for direction. She had unpacked her books, hiding one of them, and sat on a bed reading. It didn't seem like she was interested in talking, or giving him directions.

There was a knock at the door. He glanced at his team. Their leader was laying on the floor, apparently sleeping, while his partner seemed determined to ignore it, even if her bow twitched for some reason.

He got up and answered the door.

It was Sky.

"Cardin wanted to know where you are," he explained, and drew out his scroll.

"He could have called me," Russel realised.

"After you failed to call him?" Sky cut off as his scroll connected to Cardins.

It hadn't occurred to Russel to contact Cardin. He was used to Cardin calling him when he needed to. They had known each other almost their entire lives and he, like Sky and Dove, naturally deferred to Cardin, in the same manner as their families always had.

It didn't upset them, being natural followers. After all, in life there were always more followers than leaders. There was nothing wrong with it.

"He's coming to check on you," Sky informed him, finished with the call. "He wanted to be sure you were okay. But also that you were punished for ending up on a different team."

Russel nodded. He hadn't reached the rendezvous before Cardin had found a different partner. If he had been faster they could have had the team Cardin had planned.

"How is your team?"

Russel sighed. "It would be better if the plan had worked. This team doesn't seem to work."

"Cheer up. If that's the case Cardin probably won't have to do anything."

[]

"I have some concerns, headmaster."

"About what, Glynda?"

"Some of the Grimm students may not fit in the dorm rooms. I confess I only realised after we assigned rooms, but it could be a problem."

"It simply gives the students a chance to practise problem solving. We can't be expected to do everything for them."

"I do not think having Grimm wander the halls at night is a good thing. Even if the older years know about our new students."

There was a pause as Ozpin tried not to look as though he was using his drink to avoid responding.

Glynda sighed. "Ozpin..."

"What opportunity have I had to address our returning students? It was only today that I learned about the Grimm myself. Since then we had initiation and dealt with organising the new teams. There won't be any problems tonight."

[]

It had been a while since Velvet had the chance to take pictures of the emerald forest from Beacon.

It was almost a tradition for her now, recording the start of each new term.

Coco had them all busy unpacking for the new year at Beacon, so it was only now, gone night, that she had the opportunity to sneak out to the rooftop and take the picture for a memento of the moment.

It was the first time she found a Nevermore perched on the roof.

Her yelp of shock seemed to startle it, making the Grimm shake its wings out and turn to look at her.

As Velvet fumbled for her camera/projector, having fallen onto her back, she knew she would be unable to protect herself before the Nevermore could strike.

Except... it didn't.

It fluffed its wings as though indignant at having its rest disturbed and tucked its head back under a wing, apparently unconcerned at having a Huntress on the same rooftop.

Velvet carefully stood back up. It seemed likely that her team would want to hear about this, but chances are they wouldn't believe her. Unless...

Velvet snapped a couple of pictures, capturing the image of the Nevermore before the emerald forest.

They would have to believe.

[]

When Pyrrha returned to her teams room she was startled at the presence of another team, or rather three quarters of the team, standing outside with her teammate, Russel.

It looked like he was being told off.

"You mean you haven't even claimed a bed or unpacked? Why not?"

"Uh, excuse me?"

For all her experience in fighting tournaments Pyrrha had never really enjoyed being the centre of attention.

In the ring she didn't even notice, it was just her and her opponent.

But right now, involving herself in the conversation with people she barely knew at best, things were different.

"What? Oh, you're one of this idiots teammates aren't you?"

It was Cardin, the boy with a mace.

"I wouldn't call him-"

"What other word is there for someone who doesn't sort themselves out when they get assigned a dorm room? I knew I'd have to take of these guys, but I didn't realise it'd be this bad."

"I don't think any of us have unpacked..."

"Why not? Do you really need to be told to get your things organised in your own room?"

Pyrrha hesitated. When he put it like that...

"Leaving things in a mess is what I'd expect from those beasts," he continued, "not humans. Damnit, I can't look after him how he clearly needs, so I'll just have to trust you and the other one to take care of him. But if Russel comes to harm when you could prevent it, you'll have to deal with my team. Come on you two."

The human members of team WLDS left, heading for their own dorm.

Pyrrha watched them go. What had Cardin meant by beasts? Surely not faunus?

"Are you okay?" Her teammate nodded. "Do you know them?"

"My friends, we came to Beacon together. The plan was to be on the same team."

Pyrrha sighed. "I don't think you really get the concept of friendship." Not that she had any real experience herself. Not yet at any rate. That was one of her reasons for coming to Beacon in the first place. To make real friends, not just meet people trying to befriend 'the invincible girl'. "It sounds like we both need to unpack. You can tell me about them while we do."

AN: Due to events outside my control I must place this story on hiatus for the next couple of months. It will resume in May. This has nothing to do with the delays for this chapter, which was because of getting a new laptop and so having the opportunity to play pc games again, like Star Wars" Rebellion, Jade Empire and RWBY: Grimm Eclipse.

As for the chapter, behold the name of the Beowolf. Referring to a tradition where, presumably, Raven named the first, Summer the second and now Yang the third. It should also be apparent that I am working on giving team CRDL from Cardin more character and backstory, all with a particular plan in mind.