Chapter 5 - The Test
I fasten my hoodie with a nimble zip, fluffing up the hood as I do. There. All set. I let out a puff of air, staring at the sombre orange glow of the winter dawn. Kneading with the palm of my hands, I rub the sleep out of my eyes.
It's been six days since my talk with Ruby in the forest. Since then, Ruby eagerly threw herself into the construction of my weapon. I tried my best to pull my weight with the process but frankly, I wasn't much help other than basically being a nurse for a weapons surgeon. All I did was offer stilted small talk, hand her tools for components I've never heard of, and answer yes or no to certain questions about how the weapon should be designed. Long answer short: nothing crazy.
While Ruby wasn't exactly enthralled with what I wanted, she wanted to add three additional longsword blades to the front and a grenade launcher, she accepted what I wanted and dived head-first into her work with incredible enthusiasm. Seriously, the amount of stuff I could do in a day with that kind of energy. It's astonishing.
Still, while the design was simpler than most Huntsman weapons, it would still take us working nonstop throughout the week in order to finally finish it. I sigh to myself. Poor Ruby. I sure put her through hell for that gun. I don't care what she said, I definitely need to find some way of repaying her for everything she's done for me.
I start to stretch out my fingers: arms, neck, legs and back. With an oddly satisfying click from my back, my body is ready to go.
Okay. Let's go.
I tiptoe down the stairs, trying my best not to wake anyone. Ruby should still be in bed. Thanks to the work we put in last night, the gun's pretty much finished. I just need to grab it from the shed outside before I meet with Qrow. I just need to quickly nab the keys before we head out. Ruby said that she would leave the keys in the kitchen so...
Actually, scratch that last one. I think she beat me to it.
Sighing lightly to myself, I walk towards the living room table. Lying side by side each another are three items. The first is a thin pair of fingerless black gloves that look far too big for Ruby's hands. Maybe even bigger than mine, though that's not much of a stretch. Ruby must've left them because of the weather. I can't exactly aim properly when my hands feel like they're about to shatter into icy pieces. The next item is a note from Ruby, handwritten in pencil with as much finesse if it were written with a trident.
'GOOD LUCK EREN!
-Rubes'
I stifle a laugh. Even when she's writing something, she still has to be loud. Finally, I move onto the very last item. A small bag of ammo and a weapon. My weapon.
Warbreaker.
Like I said, Warbreaker isn't particularly complex. For this world's standards anyway. It's an assault rifle with selective fire capabilities: a two times magnifying tactical scope on the top, thirty bullet magazine on the bottom, and a bunch of technical jargon from Ruby that I can in no way translate. Basically, if I see anything with this gun, I can shoot it. Close, middle, or long range. It might not be as powerful as a sniper or a shotgun but, it'll do the job.
Oh. It also has a retractable bayonet at the front in-case I get stuck in a bind. So, yeah. That's pretty neat.
Still, what the really interesting thing is that the entire thing's been painted in a palette of blue and black. That wasn't how it looked last night when we left it last night. At best, it was a dull shade of grey. As I look closer, I think I can see some sort of emblem on the butt of the stock. Wait, isn't that...
A skull? Yeah. That's a blue skull. Against the coal black paintwork, it just pops out. Why is that here? No, wait a second. Isn't that kind of like my... Yeah.
Yeah! That's from my shirt! Black with a blue skull on the front of it? She totally based the colour-scheme from my shirt. Why did she do that? Did she think the skull was my emblem or something? Like that rose symbol on her clothes? Is that a thing here? What is this all about? I shake my head. Must be a cultural thing. I don't know.
I let out a small chuckle and massage my forehead. She really didn't need to do this. The gun would've been just fine without the paint. I could've lived with it being a little dull-looking. Nevertheless, a small smile crawls onto my face. She really doesn't like to half-ass things, huh. Still, it does look pretty damn cool. I go to pick up the gun bit I stop. I take another look at the note Ruby left for me, an idea forming in my head.
I quickly shuffle through one of the nearby drawers, grabbing myself a pencil. Leaning down, I write down on the note she left me.
'Thank you.'
After throwing yet another snowball squarely at the shed window, I continue to pace around the front door. The sheer cold wind blows through my chilly bones. Once again, I take out my phone to check the time. I managed to change the time zone to Remnants as soon as I was able. No sense in keeping the same time for a place I'm far away from.
The clock appears on the screen. Five past eight. I let out another cool foggy breath. I've been out here in the icy cold for nearly two hours now. Qrow told me that we were supposed to meet up at the front door for dawn. He was quite serious about it too. Serious enough to make me dread the consequences should I have been late. Now, the only person who was late here was him! Where is he?!
I keep up my pacing, huffing to myself a little. Maybe I'm a day early? Or hell, maybe dawn means something else in this world?
I shake my head to myself. Seems a little weird. We share the same language, the same biology, same type of food but we have our dawns at different times? No way.
Well, maybe I missed him? I stop, humming to myself... Nah. That can't be it. I got up at early as I possibly could. I've been keeping a keen eye on the time. There's no way I could've been late. Or maybe...
I sigh. Or maybe I'm an idiot who wasted his morning and his time for nothing. I should've stayed indoors but no. No, no, no, no. 'The consequences if he found me not at the front would've been too dire. I should stay out here because it's the safest option.' Ugh. I really hate me sometimes.
Clasping the phone in my hands, I flip it back open and click onto the photo. The quality was choppy and it's not really the best picture ever taken of us but I don't care. It's still us in that photo and that's all that matters to me.
"Damn. Here I thought you couldn't get any shorter."
"Gah!" I jump out of my skin, snapping the phone shut and shoving it back into my pocket. I turn around and standing at the front door with his unkempt facial hair and amused expression was Qrow.
"Wow. Yang was right. You are jumpy." I can feel an eyebrow twitch slightly. Two hours and that's the first thing he says to me?
"Wh-where have you been? Dawn was two hours ago." Qrow shrugs.
"I've been in bed." My jaw drops. Qrow just smirks. "Hey. I told you to be here for dawn. I didn't say that I was going to be here." He points to his ear. "Gotta learn to listen, kiddo." You-you jerk! I've been standing out here for the last two hours! I am freezing my ass off! I could've been inside or better yet, in bed! I just wasted two hours of my life, you ass!
Is what I want to say. The best I can manage is a murmur that even an elephant wouldn't hear. Qrow looks at Warbreaker, "You know how to use that?"
I nod. "Y-yes." Well, sort of. I've never used anything other than a sporter gun before and even then, I only used it the one time when I went clay pigeon shooting. That was a few years ago, though and... I wasn't really all that great with it.
Qrow brandishes a cocky grin. "So, you remember the terms, right? You impress me with this little test I'm giving you, and I'll tell you how to get into Beacon and I'll even mentor you. If you fail, then that hoodie of yours belongs to me. Crystal?" Swallowing, I give him a firm nod. Smirking, Qrow turns around and begins to walk towards path. "Well, let's get moving then."
Flipping my hood over my head, I quietly follow him. The snow crunches loudly beneath our feet as we continue in silence. Every now and again, Qrow peers over his shoulder. Probably just to check that I'm still following him. After he checks, he takes his flask out of his pocket and takes another swig. My face scrunches up. Christ, even at eight in the morning, he's still drinking. I don't know how people can stand the stuff. The smell of alcohol alone is just so repulsive. Qrow lets out a satisfied gasp.
"Where'd you get the gloves?" Hm? I stick out my gloved left hand.
"Ruby gave them to me." I reply. Qrow just snorts and chuckles darkly to himself. He says something mirthfully under his breath. Something about a 'scamp?' They're just gloves. I don't get the joke.
"So," Qrow begins again. "Here's how this is gonna work. There's been word from the locals about a small pack of Grimm gathering somewhere in this forest. Nothing too seriously or anything, but the people are starting to get a little concerned." He takes another gulp. "So, as a favour to Patch, we're going to nip this problem in the bud."
An extermination job? I was expecting more along the lines or a literal test. Target practice, sparring, typical stuff. This sounds like he's more working with me than he is actually trying to win a bet.
"Um, that... doesn't really sound like a test." Qrow smirks.
"Hey, I never said it was going to be a formal test. Remember, your goal is to impress me, kid." He shrugs. "Besides, this'll give you some good experience if you're still looking to become a Huntsman." He goes to take another swig from the flask. "If you survive." I shudder slightly. Qrow instantly notices and his smirk disappears. "This is what we do, kid. If you're looking for a safe, cushy life, you ain't gonna find it here."
I know that. Wasn't looking for one. Not here, anyway.
"I'll tell you what," he continues, swirling the alcohol in his flask. "The house isn't too far away. If you head back now, I'll forget about the bet. You get to keep your little hoodie."
"No." I don't give him another breath to speak. If I didn't want this, I wouldn't have shown up in the first place. I'm not going back on it now. Qrow stares at me with his dim red eyes. I stare back with my bright blue eyes. I'm not backing down on this.
Shaking his head and scoffing, Qrow just turns away. "You ever been in a fight?"
"...No." I lower my head.
"You know that kids your age have been training for years in order to get into Beacon, right?" My head lowers further.
"Yes..." Qrow continues.
"And you know what that pack's made of, right?" I was hoping that it wasn't so but...
"Beowolves..." A small hum from him gives me all the confirmation I need.
"And you're still gonna keep going with this?"
"Yes." No hesitation. No restraint. Yes. Yes. A thousand times, yes. I'm taking this bet and I will find a way into Beacon. I won't stop until I find a way home.
"Well then," Qrow stops. "Time to put up or shut up, kid." I take a look around us. Nothing but snowy trees and broken branches as far as the eye can see. It didn't look any different from the other parts of the forest I've seen. You could tell me that we were only on the cusp and I wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
"So, um..." I start. "How do we track them?"
"Who said anything about a 'We?'" Huh? I turn back to him and... there's no one there. He's gone! I take a closer look at his footprints. Nothing! It follows where he was walking and then... ju-just nothing!
"Qrow? Sir?!" I cry out. No response. He's disappeared. He left me. I'm...
I'm all alone.
Warbreaker bumps against my back as I trudge through the frozen forest. I blow hot air into my gloves and rub them together. I've been circling the surrounding area for over half an hour now. Looking for some kind of hint or trace for where the pack may be. So far: nothing. I don't exactly know how exactly Huntsman track Grimm. If there's any special techniques or skills or anything. I feel like I've been wandering aimlessly, wasting valuable time.
I keep walking. It's all I can do at this point. My eyes dart from tree to tree, searching for some kind of clue: some kind of indication as to where the Beowolf pack is. So far, no luck. I grumble to myself. Is Qrow playing me right now? Like he did earlier? Did he leave me out here as some sort of trick? I groan out loud. He better not have. I'm going to feel like a right twat if he did.
A sudden sound. My body snaps to react, hand reaching for my rifle. I look to see- Oh.
I let out a soft sigh. Standing soundly on the edge of one of the numerous tree branches was a bird. A crow. A single crow that was watching me intently. My arm lowers. For a second I thought... No. I shake my head. That's just silly.
"Sorry little guy. You're not the Qrow I'm looking for." The crow caws as it launches itself from the branch. My eyes trail it as it flies right over my head, scattering black feathers across the snow. Didn't want to hang around for long I guess. Can't really blame it.
I heave the gun back into place and I continue to walk down my snow-filled path.
Eventually, I stop. My eyes squint as I make out something in the middle of the the track. I lean in closer. It looks to be... a marking. A footprint. A clue! I almost let myself rush towards the marking, halting my body as I cautiously take out Warbreaker. Just because they've been here, it doesn't mean they aren't close by. Careful, now.
One after another, I timidly pace myself towards the footprint. I scan the trees, making absolutely sure that I'm alone here. Satisfied, I kneel down beside the clue, my eyes narrowing as I look over it.
I rest my head on my fist, murmuring to myself. Well, it is a Beowolf claw. No other creature comes to mind when I look at the paw indented into the snow but, the problem is that there's only one of them here. Qrow mentioned that it was a small pack. Where are the other markings?
I groan out loud. If this one broke off from the pack then that's going to make my job even harder. The faster I find this pack, the better my chances are of impressing Qrow. My eyes follow the tracks left by the Grimm, gazing as they disappear into the dark forest. With gun still in-hand, I stand up, take a deep breath and I follow the tracks deeper into the forest.
As I travel further in, I notice that the trees are starting to close in on each other. Their branches clash together, blotting out the sun. My breath becomes uneven as my ears stand alert to the foreign sounds throughout the forest. A snap of a twig, the crunch of my shoes, the wind blowing against the trees. I keep moving forward, tracing the Beowolf's steps keenly. Then, I hear another sound. I stop, gulping audibly. Quietly, I manoeuvre myself behind one of the trees. I brace Warbreaker against my shoulder, peering through the scope. Then, with bated breath, I wait.
There it is. Skulking out from the trees was the dreaded monster.
The Beowolf.
My arms start to tremble. My lungs feel like they're drying up and refusing to function. I have to bite on my lip to stop myself from screaming out. Calm, I tell myself. Calm. Calm. My grip tightens on Warbreaker.
That's right. I have a weapon now. Things will be different this time. I will not falter. Not here. Not now.
I let out a held breath. I stay hidden behind the tree, watching intently as the Beowolf merely lingers. I don't think it noticed me. Thank god. I have to keep my cool or it'll discover me.
I keep watching. The Beowolf continues to drift slightly from place to place. It doesn't seem to be looking for anything. Why is it staying here? Why isn't it going after the rest of its pack? My eyes narrow. Something's not right here. It's not doing anything. It's like it's...
Waiting for something.
Suddenly, a petrifying howl pierces the air. Quickly following was a swarm of howls surrounding me. My eyes dart around me. Piercing red and black eyes peer out from the darkness, retching drowl foaming from their mouths. I take a look back to the Grimm right in front of me, its head twists around barring it's dagger-like teeth. It's like it's laughing at me. My head reels back. They... they planned this!
Those bastards!
Gun up. Push shoulder into stock. Stabilise. Target the head. Ready. Aim. Fire!
A deafening blast from the barrel of Warbreaker knocks me off my feet, my shoulder screaming out in agony. I cradle my shoulder with my other arm, looking up to see the Beowolf unharmed. I grit my teeth. Damn it! Damn recoil! That was even worse than I thought it'd be! I'm just lucky that my shoulder isn't dislocated.
A snarl from the Beowolf causes my heart to skip a beat. Dozens upon dozens of red eyes begin to circle me. This was far bigger than a simple small pack. The pack comes closer. Closer. Ever closer. I look at Warbreaker lying right by my feet. I was so focused on the shoulder that I didn't notice that I dropped it from the pain. I look back up at the Beowolf. It growls at me, licking its lips like I was some kind of tantalizing prey. My breath hitches.
Another howl and the pack start their hunt.
With all of my remaining strength, I swipe Warbreaker from the ground and I run for dear life. I run for a seemingly empty portion of the forest. No dice. A pair of red eyes are there to greet me. I skid in place, the Beowolf pounces at me. Its sharp claws aiming straight for my ribs. With adrenaline in my veins, I dive past the rabid Beowolf. Its claws just barely nick my side. I wince but nevertheless, I push on.
As I run away from the rampaging pack of monsters, I can hear a feint sound just off in the distance. I can't quite make it out with the air pounding through my ears.
A slash. I look up to see a collapsing tree about to crush me. Almost falling on my back, I halt my momentum as the large tree falls at my feet. Another Beowolf leaps onto the bark, its dark saliva splattering everywhere as it roars in my face.
Stifling a yelp, I change my direction as the remaining pack reforms in their chase.
How?! How can they do all this?! They're supposed to be mindless, stupid monsters! How can they possibly come up with all these tactics?!
A feral growl. My head turns to look but I'm too late. A scathing slash from a set of giant claws knocks the wind from my lungs as I'm thrown across the forest. Pain sears throughout my body. I force my eyes shut as my body clashes and tumbles against the hard ground like a ragdoll. Sliding to a stop, I finally open my eyes. A burning sensation courses through my skin as I try to push myself off the ground. The feeling's strange. My body's not broken but my mind still registers the pain as if I were.
If it weren't for my Aura, I'd be dead several times over right now.
I try to push myself up again, only to collapse as agony overcomes my mind.
Come on! I scream at myself. Think of what's on the line here! Think of what you're going to lose. Get up!
I can hear them. Chomping at the bit to tear me to pieces. I need to get up. I need to make some distance. I need to fight back! I need...
I need to get up!
Once more, I try to my aching body off of the ground. My arms are wobbling. I can barely stop myself from screaming out. I try to stand up with one leg but it quickly falters and I'm kneeling on the ground. My back aches: my arms ache, my shoulder's numb, my legs feel like they're about to fall off and to top it all off, I look behind me to see a gigantic lake as far as the eye can see. Unfortunately, while the lake had frozen due to the cold, the layer of ice was far too thin. Pockets of broken ice lay scattered throughout the lake. I grit my teeth. There's no way I'm going to make it across that. I'll drown or freeze to death before I'd make it.
My hand taps my pocket. My phone. It's not there. Where is it?! I look back to where I was thrown from. Lying a few feet away from me was Warbreaker. I look up further to see a wave of Beowolves encroaching on my position.
Then, one particular Beowolf stands out from the rest of the pack. A towering, ghastly demon with solid bone adorning its chest and eyes that could pierce through your very soul. If a Beowolf pack is anything like a regular wolf pack, I'm willing to bet that's the alpha. I clutch my stomach again. Damn, that thing hits like a train. Hell, it might as well be a train. It ran over my like I was a speck. My eye catches a glint of silver. I zone in on it, seeing that was my five year old flip phone.
Lying right at the feet of one of the other Beowolves. My heart lurches.
"No..." I start crawling towards it. The Beowolf peers down at my phone, tilting its head slightly. I was too far away from it. There's no way I'll reach it in time. I stretch out my hand, like I'm trying to will it towards me. "Please." I beg. "Please don't." The Beowolf takes another look at me...
Before crushing the phone underneath its claws.
My heart stops.
The pack throw their heads back to howl but I can't hear a thing. I stare at the destroyed remains of my phone.
Years of dumb conversations between my big sister and I: gone.
Years of Mum asking me what I wanted for dinner: gone.
Years of phone calls asking me to switch my phone on after school: gone.
"No." I wail. I can't see their faces anymore. They're...
Gone.
A gunshot. My gaze wanders slightly. Standing behind the sea of Grimm was Qrow, holding up what looks to be some sort of gun barrel hidden by the sword blade. He yells something out, arms stretching out as if to goad them. One by one they start to turn away from me. I look back to the Beowolf who did it. The one that crushed my phone. I watch as it turns away.
My blood begins to boil. It destroyed my phone, one of my last possessions that I have from home. It destroyed it and it has the gall to turn away from me? Like nothing ever happened?!
How dare you.
My arm is trembling but I'm not afraid. I snatch up Warbreaker from the ground, aiming right at the Beowolf.
I press down hard. The rifle bucks against my shoulder. I managed to adjust to the recoil this time. The bullet rips into the Beowolf's back.
I raise my gun again. This time, the Beowolf doesn't look away from me. It streaks towards with a ferocious glint in its eyes. Another buck from the gun. This time, the bullet merely skids across the Beowolf's face. No damage. My tongue clicks.
It closes in, raising its claws. Overhead. It'll cut me in two if I don't pick my moment correctly. Five paces. Four paces. Three. Two.
An opening. It has its claws too high up. Now's my chance! I hit the button at the side of the gun, unleashing the bayonet with a mechanical click. Ducking my head, I lunge at the bigger Beowolf. The knife makes contact with its skin for a measly millisecond before the Beowolf hooks a claw underneath my stomach and throws me away.
Rolling with the momentum of the throw, I quickly regain mobility. I snap the gun to the Beowolf's head. My finger gains an inch on the trigger before launches itself at me. Gotta move!
Too slow. Within seconds, the Beowolf has me pinned beneath its deadly claws as its jaw vehemently attempts to bite me. I'm forced to use Warbreaker as a makeshift shield in order to fend it off but that only makes it easier for the Beowolf to have me well and truly snared. Its weight begins to press against my chest. I kick my legs as I struggle to breath. Damn! Damn!
Push! I need to stab it with the bayonet! Push!
The gun doesn't move. The beasts maw inches closer.
Fight harder, damn it!
It twists slightly but its still not enough. I won't be able to hit it from here. Push it more! My head was millimetres away from being ripped off from my shoulders.
Just one time! I'm so close! Come on! Fight! The blade's out. Slowly, I turn the barrel over. More. Just a little more!
Got it! With a jolt of energy, I stab the monster in the shoulder. However, it barely gives more than a meagre grunt and a feral growl. Releasing the pressure from the rest of my body, it raises its claw to swipe at me. Taking my chance, I roll out of the way. The claws scrape the ground as I scramble to stand up again. This has to be my chance. I raise the gun again and-
Not fast enough. The Beowolf's on me again. It slashes, this time making direct contact with my body. With the sheer force of the strike, I'm thrown back across the field. I stick my right hand out against the ground to slow my momentum, instantly reeling it back as a burning sensation takes over my hand. I collapse in a heap, wincing as entire body aches.
I lift up my hand. Instead of finding a fully intact glove, I'm greeted with severely torn fabric and blood seeping from a shallow cut. My blood turns to ice. I swallow down a huge lump in my throat. No Aura. No more safe-guards. I clench my fist tightly, letting out a breath of air.
It's do or die time.
The Beowolf howls violently. No wasting any time, I roll onto my back. Swiping my rifle, I immediately lock-on to the Beowolves leg. It attempts a lunge but I'm not slow this time. With a fiery ignition from the chamber, a bullet flies directly into its kneecap. With a terrible screech, the wolf's leg fails to hold up its weight and collapses in on itself.
However, the wolf isn't finished. Not by a long shot. Disregarding the anguish in its first leg, it pools all of its power into the other and prepares to lunge at me. Not this time. Switching from semi-automatic to burst, I fire a volley at one of the beasts arms. With a feverous reaction from the monster, all three bullets make their mark. One. Two. Three! The arms dangles limply. I push myself back up onto my feet. I'm not out of this, yet. I'll aim for the head. End this now!
Once again, I underestimate the demonic hellspawn. Despite the damage done to both its arm and leg, the Beowolf presses off from its leg and follows through with its attack. It takes its remaining arm and lunges straight for me. My eyes widen and I desperately scramble to dodge but it's too late. Not enough time! It's going to skewer me!
I'm dead! I'm dead! I'm dead!
A mechanical slice. A blood curdling yowl. I lower my arms from my face. My eyes see red. A red cape.
Ruby? I look up. No.
Qrow. Of course. I shake my head. Why did I think it was her? He's been here the entire time, fighting against the bulk of the horde by himself. Honestly, it looks like he didn't even break a sweat. He's completely unharmed.
Same can't be said for the Beowolf, though. With a single slice from his sword, its remaining arm comes clean off and though it still stands, it was creeping at death's door. Qrow looks me in the eye, wearing an expression I can't quite understand. It looks like he's... afraid? Afraid of what? Why should he be afraid?
"Stay back!" My eyebrows furl. Why? You're here. It's about to die. I don't see any of the other members of the pack still alive. You killed them all. Why are you telling me to stay back?
My knuckles tighten on the grip of my gun. I see. I understand completely.
He thinks I need protecting. That I'm incapable of fending for myself. I'm failing. I haven't impressed him at all. I'm going to lose the bet: my chance to go to Beacon, my chance to go home, my hoodie!
No.
I won't let that happen. Sorry Qrow but...
"This one's mine." Without another word, I race pass Qrow. He screams something. I don't listen. I'm too focused on ending this wretched beings life. I lift up the bayonet, aiming for its heart. If it even has one, that is. I was going to finish this thing, once and for all!
Then, the Beowolf spurs to life. Trying once more, the beast lunges at me with its razor sharp fangs bare. It's trying to bite my head clean off. I've learned my lesson, though. I don't reel back and my body doesn't freeze up. I don't hesitate and I don't give an inch. Ducking my head, I lunge at the larger monster. Its fangs come closer. Closer. Close enough to kill. Not this time.
I said that it wouldn't be like last time.
For a few seconds, the only thing I can hear in my ear is my own heartbeat bumping against my ribcage. Contact in five. Four.
Three. Two.
One.
The sound of pierced flesh echoes throughout the forest. My mind goes blank. Did I win? Did I kill it? Am I okay?
The answer to all three of those questions is no. I didn't win. I didn't kill it. I'm not okay.
Not yet.
The Beowolf screeches in abstract horror as my knife plunges deep into its chest. With both of its arms disabled, it can't force me away like it did before. Pooling all of my energy: all of my might, all of the adrenaline pumping through my veins, I pin the monster against the ground. Recovering from its agony, the Beowolf writhes against the ground as it tries to throw me off. Gritting my teeth, I flip the mode of the gun as I grab on tightly to the stock.
Fully-automatic. With a press of the trigger, a storm of deafening bullets tear into the wolves body. I don't dare let go of the rattling Warbreaker. I hold onto it like my very life depended on it. I hold the trigger tightly. Over and over, more and more bullets decimate the wolf. My whole body shakes from the force. I have to shut my eyes due to the violent flash each shot produces. More bullets. More flashes. More. More. More. More. More. More! More! More! More! More! More! More!
Suddenly, silence. I press down on the trigger again.
Click. Click. Click.
With a shaking hand, I grab the magazine out from the gun, peeking inside it. Empty. I drop the magazine with a clutter as I look over all the bullet shells scattered around me. I look down at the Beowolf, my chest heaving in and out as I do. It stopped moving, its dark eyes turn dim. With a final glare over the body, I tug at the base of the gun. Another tug. Yet another. With a grunt, I final dislodge it from the Grimm. Upon releasing my gun, the Grimm dissolves into black dust. Slowly, it fades into the air, defeated.
At last, the fight was over.
I stand adrift in the middle of the forest, my eyes slowly starting to fall. I look over my shoulder at Qrow. Hey. What's with that look? Oh. Oh, I know. I smile lightly at him.
"How... how did I do?" My eyes drop and I fall into the deep black void...
Crunching snow. A heartbeat drums in my ear but it's not mine. My body jolts up and down with every crunch.
Stifling a groan, I open my eyes. I find myself staring at a red cape. Qrow? I look down to see his arms hooked underneath my legs. He's carrying me. I shake my head. What happened? My head's in a whirl. I remember... being angry. Really angry. A sea of Beowolves: a wave of bullets and... I let out a gasp.
My phone. My phone's gone.
My head falls. It... it didn't need to do that. You can tell me that they're mindless but I won't believe that anymore. It did that on purpose. Grimm are evil. Pure evil. Every single last one of them. They don't deserve to live!
At least I made that one pay for taking them away from me. That ugly, rotting, son of a bitch.
"Knock it off." Qrow reprimands. "You'll only bring more of them." I flinch at his tone, instantly loosening my grasp on his shoulder.
"S-sorry..." I squeak. He doesn't look at me. For a couple of minutes, we just stay silent. I remember... disobeying him. He told me to stay back and I refused. I frown slightly. I thought that killing the Beowolf might've impressed him, that it would prove that I was more capable than he thought I was.
This silence just proved that it was all for nothing. He's giving me the silent treatment. He's disappointed that I didn't listen to him. He's disappointed that I didn't fare well against the Beowolf horde. He's disappointed that I wasn't a better fighter: a better shot, just... better.
I failed. Completely.
"Kid. What did I just say?" He growls. "Stop it." I clutch onto my hoodie tightly.
"Q-Qrow..." I start "I-I-I know that I don't deserve it but, please. Please don't take my hoodie." He raises an eyebrow.
"You think you failed?" My knuckles turn white. My voice trembles with every word.
"I'll do anything, just please. Don't take it. It's all I've got left."
Qrow sighs. I squirm like I had just taken another strike from the Alpha Beowolf. My pleading hasn't done a thing. Now he just thinks I'm pathetic. A pathetic wretch. I should've known better than to try.
"Kid, you're dumber than you look." My head jerks up. He ruffles his hair. "The test wasn't to see how many Grimm you could kill. The test was to see if you impressed me." I perk up. Wait, is he really saying what I think he's saying?
"Congrats, kid. I concede. You win."
My jaw drops. I... Was he being serious? I take a good long look at his face. He's not smirking. He's not laughing. Hell, he's not even smiling! He's being completely serious.
"Well hell, don't jump for joy or anything," he scoffs lightly.
A smile starts to spread across my face. I... did it.
I actually did it!
"Yes!" I cheer at the top of my lungs. I can't believe it. I won! I actually won! I get to keep my hoodie! I can try for Beacon! I don't know how I did it but I've proven to Qrow and to myself that I can do it! I can get into Beacon! I can!
"Alright! Alright! I take it back. Stop cheering," he grumps. "God, you're even more when you're happy than when you're glum."
I stop cheering, quickly snapping back to reality. My cheeks flush a bright red as I rub my arm. "U-um, sorry." I'm still smiling, though.
"Don't get ahead of yourself. You might've survived today but if you pull that crap you did back at the lake again, you'll be dead long before you're ever accepted into Beacon." His gruff voice says lowl.
My smile to fade away. That's right. I still need an answer.
"U-um, Qrow sir?"
"Six months." Huh? "There's an entrance exam for Beacon in the spring. There's only forty places available though. So, until then, we need to get you into proper shape. You've got a lot of bad habits to kick before then, kid." I bow my head.
Six months, huh? Then I'll make every day count.
Wait a second.
"W-wait. We?" I blink. Qrow just smirks at me.
"What? You thought I was joking or something? Starting tomorrow, you're going to be my pupil." He's not joking. He was totally serious about that? I thought he was just mocking me.
"But," he points at me. "Don't think for a second I'm going to hold back on you. I'm not that kind of teacher, kid. If I think for a second that you're not taking this seriously, I'm dropping you. No questions asked."
I stare him dead in the eyes before nodding firmly to him. He nods back.
"Good. Say, you're fine to walk now, right?" Well, my legs do feel fine. I don't feel so tired anymore.
"I... think so," I reply.
"Good." Without hesitating, Qrow releases his grip on me and I fall down to the ground with a yelp. "You can walk just fine then." He stuffs his hands in his pockets and keeps walking. Grunting, I rub my back as I glare at him.
"Just for record," He calls back. "Yang was right. You are light!"
I sigh lightly. That drunk's supposed to be teaching me for Beacon.
Me and my bloody luck...