CH. 11

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Abaddon screamed.

Cinder flinched, but only slightly. After all, it wasn't the first time she heard him scream like that. She could see his temper flaring. "Abaddon calm down. Let's just think about what we should do ok?"

Abaddon took two deep breaths, his temper melting away as fast as it had come. He had to keep calm, having a breakdown right now wouldn't be beneficial. "Alright, I'm cool now. But…to think we spent so much time collecting six Longinus pieces, only for those damn idiots to have obtained even more. I thought that was the last of it. Cinder, how did you get this information?"

"Wellll," Cinder started, "on my way to Vale I managed to stumble upon a small camp of White Fang in the wilderness of Mistral. I was surprised that they had an encampment that close to the city. Mercury, Emerald, Neo, and I decided to infiltrate the camp during the night. Luckily, they were too laid back to notice us when we started picking off their men, knocking them unconscious. I held their leader at knife point, in exchange he gave me information that I would want to know."

"Go on," said Abaddon.

"During our absence, they came out of hiding once they were sure that we had disappeared. It turns out they already knew that there were more Longinus pieces and quickly managed to find the remaining ones around Remnant. He didn't tell me how they were able to locate them. Now those pieces are in custody of their leaders," Cinder explained.

"Leaders?" Abaddon asked. "Does that include..?"

Cinder nodded and continued. "The man you were seeking is one of their four leaders. Although, before I could get anymore intel from the captain, he died. He had taken a pill beforehand that was slowly killing him as he was talking. Afterwards I burned the camp to the ground in order to cover our tracks."

After Cinder had finished, Abaddon closed his eyes, the information he had received swimming through his mind. Dammit, how were the White Fang able to hide so well? He could've stopped them from getting this far in their mission. He knew they wanted to rid Remnant of humans, but there was more to it than that. Much more.

"Do Neo and the others know of this?" Abaddon asked.

"No," Cinder answered. "I was alone when I entered his quarters. Didn't you say that we shouldn't get our friends involved?"

"Yeah, I haven't told my friends, but my parents know some of it. Neo was with us during those years, but she knows not to say anything," Abaddon sighed. The White Fang would have to be dealt with, but for now they should relax for just a little while.

"Thanks for telling me this Cinder. Now let's join the others and get something to eat. You hungry?" Abaddon asked.

Cinder smiled. "You're welcome. And I am hungry, but not for food. I currently have something else in mind." Cinder placed a hand on Abaddon's cheek and tried to inch closer to his face. She was almost an inch from his lips when he placed a finger on hers and a loud growl emanated from her stomach.

"Not hungry for food huh?" Abaddon mused.

"I could use a salad right about now," Cinder said weakly as she clutched her stomach.

Abaddon stood up. "Good, cause that's the only thing your lips will be touching today."

Cinder stood up as well and dusted off her dress, then collected her book. "Fine, but that doesn't stop me from maybe making a certain someone jealous," She said as she walked towards the greenhouse exit.

"Jealous? What do you mean by that?" Abaddon asked in confusion. He caught up to her as she opened the door the staircase.

"My, my, as always you still have a great deal to learn about women." Cinder walked down the stairs, with Abaddon just behind her sporting a troubled face. He was really confused. What was Cinder talking about?

It was later that week that teams were assigned their first missions. These missions usually ranged from city patrols to Grimm extermination, but nevertheless, many first years were excited for the experience. Team KAJE entered the amphitheater amongst the large crowds of students to get their assignment. Each member wore a travel backpack, in case the trip was a lengthy one. They went up to one of the large screens that stood above the stage area, where teams could type in their name and select what mission to go on. Abaddon his touched the screen, scrolling through the various assignments. All of the options involving tasks within the city seemed boring to him. He wanted some real action, so he continued scrolling until he found what he was looking for. It was a Grimm extermination mission, deep into the heart of Emerald forest.

"You would pick that one," Emma mused.

"Why not? Destroying Grimm is fun. Well for me it is," Abaddon replied.

"As long as an Ursa doesn't rip my pants again," Jurano said. He remembered two years ago when an Ursa attacked him on a field trip back at their previous combat school. Jurano didn't have any trouble killing it, but he failed to notice that the Ursa managed to slash the back of his pants open. He spent the entire field trip with everyone laughing at his rabbit patterned boxers. Jurano blushed in embarrassment at the memory.

"Just don't get carried away like last time. You were too cocky," Kathleen laughed, causing Jurano to blush even harder.

Abaddon looked back at the screen and noticed a detail about the mission that he hadn't seen earlier. "Hey guys, looks like this is a two team mission. It says the area is too dangerous for one team alone," he told them.

"Okay, why don't we just ask RWBY, JNPR, CFVY, or MNCE?" Emma suggested.

"Ask us what?" Abaddon and the others turned to see RWBY and MNCE. Each member of both teams carried a backpack filled with supplies.

"We were gonna ask if you wanted to accompany us on our mission since we wanted to be partnered with a team that we know, but it seems your hands are already full," Kathleen said.

"Yeah, we already have our mission," Ruby replied. "We're going to investigate strange Grimm activities in Mount. Glenn. It seems there are way more Grimm than normal."

"A huntsman is supposed to accompany us as well. Frankly, I'm worried that we won't get the full experience," said Weiss.

"The only experience I need is kicking some Grimm ass," Yang said.

"We haven't chosen a mission yet," Mercury pointed out.

"Oh good, would you like to join us?" Jurano asked.

"Sure," Cinder replied.

"Speak for yourself," Emerald huffed, apparently aggravated at the ordeal.

Cinder walked up to the screen Abaddon was using and typed her team's name in, assigning them to the mission. "There you go. Also, we should head to the landing pads now. The briefing says our ride will be here in a few minutes."

"Well, since you guys are settled, we'll be going too. See ya later!" Ruby said as she and her team left the amphitheater.

"Alright everyone, let's go." Abaddon led the way as both teams made their way through campus. As they approached the landing pads, they caught sight of a bullhead that was waiting for them.

"And theirs our ride," Mercury said.

As the group headed towards the bullhead, Abaddon noticed someone was missing. He counted everyone and found that Neo wasn't among the group. Looking back, he saw her at the back, her backpack slowing her down. Abaddon went over to her and gently pulled her pack off her.

"Feel better?" he asked.

Neo straightened her back. "Yeah."

"Hurry and get on the ship. I've got your bag," Abaddon said as he hefted Neo's bag onto his left shoulder.

Neo hurried onto the bullhead with their teammates. Abaddon entered a few seconds behind, then closed the cargo door. After the door closed, the lights in the passenger area turned on. Abaddon walked over to Neo, who was already in her seat along with everyone else, and dropped her bag at her feet.

"Whaddaya have in their? Small bodies?" Abaddon joked.

"No, just some things I thought I would need. Mainly food," Neo replied with an adorable smile.

"Probably anything sweet, as usual," Abaddon said before heading to the cockpit.

He greeted the pilot and sat in the passenger's seat. The pilot began flipping switches on the cockpits console, bringing the engine to life with a soft purr. Everyone felt the bullhead lift up off the ground and into the air, soaring high over the grounds of Beacon Academy.

"Anyone feeling sick back there?" Abaddon yelled.

Everyone except Emerald said "no."

"Can I get an amen from Emerald please?" Abaddon exclaimed.

"Fuck off!" she yelled in response.

"That's the spirit!" Abaddon said.

It took almost half an hour to reach their destination: A clearing in the Emerald Forest that lay a good distance past the mountains. There were no Grimm nearby at the moment, so the bullhead descended until it barely touched the ground. The cargo door opened, allowing everyone to exit.

"Alright, here's your stop. Once you've cleansed the area, be sure to contact me on these communicators. Happy hunting!" The pilot gave Abaddon a small box filled with eight ear communicators.

"Thanks!" Abaddon took the box as he left the cockpit. He saw that Neo and Kathleen left their packs, probably wanting to travel light. Ignoring their things, Abaddon picked up his own from beside one of the empty seats and exited the bullhead, closing the cargo door shut. The bullhead then ascended into the air and took off past the mountains.

"Alright, I suppose you all have what you need?" Abaddon asked.

His answer came with the sound of unsheathed weapons and donned equipment.

"So what's the exact objective here chief?" Mercury asked.

"From what I read in the mission report, Grimm numbers here have gotten a little high. Also, some witnesses have reported seeing a new kind of Grimm, so we'd best be on our guard. This area is pretty large, so we should split into teams of two to cover more ground. We can communicate faster using these." Abaddon held out the box of communicators. Everyone reached in, grabbed one, and donned the earpieces.

"I suggest that we all go with our team partners. That means me and Kathleen, Jurano and Emma, Cinder and Neo, and finally Mercury and Emerald. Once everyone gives me the all clear, we'll meet back up in this clearing for extraction. You all cool with that?" Abaddon asked, to which all his teammates nodded.

"Alright then, let's go."

At that, every pair strolled off into the dense forest in different directions.

Abaddon and Kathleen ventured deep into the forest northwest of the clearing. They walked for about ten minutes, but had yet to stumble across any kinds of Grimm. Abaddon had been itching to break some skulls, but he guessed he would have to wait for that.

"This is strange. This area is supposed to be crawling with these damn things and we've yet to see even one," Abaddon said.

"I wonder if the others have had any luck." Kathleen turned on her communicator to contact their teammates. "Hey guys, any sightings so far?"

"Nope," Jurano answered.

"Nothing," Cinder replied.

"Same here," Mercury said.

"Alright, keep searching. We're bound to run into something soon." Kathleen turned off her communicator. She looked at Abaddon and shrugged.

"Well, this is such a bother," Abaddon whined.

"Maybe a roaming huntsman came by and killed them off?" Kathleen concluded.

Suddenly, there was a huge commotion ahead of them. It sounded like a band of beowulves attacking something. Abaddon and Kathleen sprinted towards the sound until they reached its source: a small group of eight beowulves. The strange thing was that they were attacking each other.

"What do you make of this?" Kathleen asked, looking towards her partner. Although, judging by the frustrated look on his face, she knew he didn't like it.

Both Abaddon and Kathleen rushed the unsuspecting Grimm. Grabbing one of his short swords, Abaddon beheaded one of the wolves as it was biting its kin to the ground. The boy then put his right foot on the chest of the grounded wolf and crushed its head with his left foot. The other six beowulves snapped out of their fighting and charged Abaddon. Kathleen dashed towards them and fired off three rounds from her swords, felling three beowulves with headshots. Using her semblance, she caused a quick gust of wind to propel the three remaining wolves forward. Kathleen tightened her grip on both of her swords as the Grimm flew through the air towards her. Once they were close, in three swift movements, Kathleen slashed through each of them. Their severed bodies tumbled to the ground.

"It's like you love to show off your skill," Abaddon said clapping.

"And you love to show off your strength," Kathleen replied with a smile.

She was about to sheathe her swords when an Ursa Major came crashing through the bushes. Although, it didn't attack them immediately and instead was running around in a panic. The Ursa roared every now and then, as if it was in excruciating pain. Kathleen rushed towards the Grimm, using a gust of wind to increase her speed, but then the Ursa stopped. Its body began shaking and puffing up.

"Kathleen, get back now!" Abaddon yelled.

Kathleen skidded to a halt only a few feet from the Ursa, then produced another gust to dash back beside Abaddon. He grabbed Kathleen's wrist, pulling her behind him then putting both the shield gauntlets on his arms together to form his mega shield. A second later, the Ursa's body exploded, sending bone fragments in every direction. Some shards were embedded in the ground, in trees, and even in a few large rocks.

Abaddon collapsed his shield. "That was close." He gave Kathleen a hand as she stood up.

"What the hell was that?" she asked.

"No time to figure it out right now." Abaddon turned on his communicator. "Does everyone still have zero contact with the Grimm?" Every one responded, still with no conflicts. "Alright, I need everyone to come to my location. Use your scrolls to link to my communicator signal. Also, you should hurry, because the situation just got complicated."