Chapter 4: Worth some extra credit

During lift-off, some of the pursuing Grimm managed to do minor damage to the Bullhead causing them to make an emergency landing. This, however, did work in everyone's favor as it allowed William to retell his story to those who had recently woken-up, at this point everyone who had been unconscious was wide awake with even more widened eyes when they heard William's story. After the initial shock had worn off and most of the people present had finally managed to pick their jaws off of the ground everyone began to talk more comfortably with each other, with a few awkward and uncomfortable moments here and there.

It was only about four or five in the afternoon so the pilots didn't need to worry about not seeing what they were doing in terms of fixing the airship. While they were doing that the group moved to an adjacent hill to spot any incoming Grimm and to talk.

"So what does Grimm taste like?" Nora asked abruptly.

"Well there's no singular answer to that, each creature of Grimm has its own unique flavor; Ursa have a tough chewy beef jerky-kind of taste, Boarbatusks have a sweet and smoky flavor, but aren't very filling, Deathstalkers don't have a lot of flavor to them, but have great texture and are very nutritious, and Beowulves taste like a rich juicy steak without an ounce of fat on it," William replied licking his lips.

"What about Nevermores or King Taijitu?" Sun asked.

"Can't really say, I've never eaten those two species of Grimm before." The half-wolf Faunus replied.

"Hold on I think you're all kind of missing something here," Cardin exclaimed Earning the inquiring and skeptical looks of the group. "We've got a Faunus freak of nature and a Faunus spy who's been hiding as a human this whole time." He said gesturing towards William and Blake who in all of the excitement still had not put her bow on, but simply jammed it in her pocket.

"He has a point." General Ironwood stated.

"You can't be serious?" Professor Goodwitch asked giving him a look.

"While Miss Belladonna has certainly proven herself as a huntress she did still conceal her identity as a Faunus and William though he did help save us, he was the one who put us in danger in the first place. Additionally, we still know little about him." The general replied.

"I'm sorry, but I've told you everything there is to know about me, what more could you want?" William interrupted.

"It's not some much your story it's, in regard of whether or not we can confirm it and that your Grimm powers pose no threat. You yourself stated that you need to habitually consume Grimm and when you do you run the risk of losing control, did you not?"

"That is true, however in the ten years, I've had this power I have trained myself to resist the influences of Grimm. As I am now its effect is almost nominal. The simple fact we are able to have this conversation should at least provide some proof of my control." William replied with aggression in his tone.

"That may be true, however, I will have you know that while you are in Vale I will have you under strict surveillance and if you show even the slightest sign of being a danger to the citizens I will not show you any leniency, do I make myself clear?' General Ironwood stated in a demanding tone.

"What about Blake she's a lying traitor!" Cardin exclaimed.

"OH WOULD YOU JUST SHUT THE HELL UP!" Yang yelled with her eyes turning an indicating rage red.

"What? She lied about who she was and for all we know she could be a White Fang spy or something!" The brown-haired boy yelled back.

"YOU…"

"YANG!" Blake shouted to stop her partner from making things worse.

"Do you want to know why I hid the fact I was a Faunus?" Blake said walking right up to Cardin. "It's because of people like YOU, people who think that all Faunus are criminals and delinquents, that we are born supporting the White Fang, that we are a lesser people. Well let me tell you something, I rather be seen for WHO I am not WHAT I am." The black haired Faunus said pushing her finger against Cardin's chest plate looking as angry as that fateful argument with Weiss when her teammates learned of her heritage.

"Blake." General Ironwood interjected. "If what you just said is true then I will not doubt you. You have already proven yourself as a huntress by defending the kingdom when the Grimm broke in and I see no reason to not continue to trust you."

"Oh, thank you," Blake responded as she and a few others were caught off guard by Ironwood's atypical acceptance of her position.

"When he said the White Fang did he mean the peaceful protest group?" William responded looking confused. "What's so wrong with that?"

"How do you NOT know about the White Fang?" Sun asked with a number of confused looks looking William.

"Remember he's been trapped in that valley for the last ten years," Blake said looking at Sun and then to William. "About five years ago the White Fang switched from being a peaceful protest group to a far more violent collective. Even going as far as attacking stores that refused to serve Faunus and even stealing Dust shipments from companies that used Faunus labor."

"I…I had no idea," William said looking completely shocked. "Some of the news articles said things like that, but I didn't believe them. The local newspaper had been calling them a terrorist group ten years ago when it WAS a peaceful protest group, right?" William asked before receiving a nod from Blake.

"News articles?" Weiss asked.

"The village uses the northern base of the valley as a garbage dump. That's how I got a lot of my supplies; tools, books, clothing, and yes newspapers."

"Ew, you got your clothes out of a garbage dump," Weiss replied.

"Didn't exactly have much of a choice," William rebutted.

"That reminds me, you said earlier Feign Village hires huntsman during the winter months when the Humber Aconitum isn't in bloom, right?" Mercury asked.

"Yes, that's correct," William responded.

"Then why didn't you just leave during the winter months, I mean you've had ten years, it seems like you could have left at any time."

"Well it wasn't that simple, when I first got trapped it was in the spring, and the only area near the valley where there isn't any Humber Aconitum is the northern end of the valley, which is at the base of a steep cliff made of rock that is too hard and too steep for me to climb up. When I said they hired huntsmen during the winter months, I should have said when they get snow."

"What's the difference?" The gray-haired boy asked.

"The Humber Aconitum is a unique plant that can actually bloom all year round if the conditions are right. Feign Village actually only gets snow very rarely, however, when it does it is usually a disaster and that is why they work so hard to have a surplus of cash for that time of year on the off chance they get snowfall. Unfortunately, the last ten years have actually been the perfect conditions for the Humber Aconitum to bloom year round."

"What about when it rains?" Ruby asked.

"Even if the pollen isn't in the air, the petals and even the stem of the plants themselves are harmful to Grimm. Just touching them will cause an intense and agonizing burning sensation that will last for HOURS." William explained.

"Are we talking from experience?" Mercury asked sarcastically.

"What do you think?" William replied equally as sarcastically. "Now I have a question for you." Directing his attention towards Mercury and his team.

"Sure, what do you want to know?" Cinder replied.

"How is that you and your teammate with green hair took so long to recover from my little concoction and correct me if I'm wrong, but don't students usually group up in teams of four?"

"Yeah now that he mentions it, I don't think we have actually ever met your other teammate." Weiss chimed in.

"Well I can't really answer about the poison, perhaps we just got an extra dosage, and as for our fourth member she is currently dealing with some family issues at the moment." The amber-eyed woman replied.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, is everything ok?" William replied.

"Don't worry, one of her family members is just going in for a routine surgery, and they just want her there, she will still be able to attend the Vytal Festival."

"Vytal Festival?" The wolf Faunus inquired.

"You don't know about the Vytal Festival?! It's sooo cool, there's a tournament and food and a dance and it is AAWEESSOOMMMEEE!" Nora 'elaborated'.

"Well that sounds interesting, maybe I'll participate."

"Uhm, you can't William, it's for huntsmen and huntresses in teams from the four training academies. Well unless you want to enroll at Beacon, form a team with three other people, and then pass the combat exam clearing you to participate in the Vytal Festival all in the next three weeks." Ruby stated, earning a number of stunned looks from those around her.

"Well… that was oddly specific, however, I don't think I will be doing any of that."

"Why not?" The girl in the red hood asked.

"Well, I guess it's just a matter of the fact I'm not fond the idea of becoming a huntsman. Not that there is anything wrong with it if that's what you want, but it's just not for me."

"Why?"

"No real reason, just the thought of being a huntsman never really appealed to me."

"Where do plan to go after you visit your mom's grave?" Ruby asked.

"I don't know, I guess I just have to figure that out after I've visited her grave," William replied looking visibly distressed by Ruby's question.

The group continued to chat for a little while longer before the piolets signaled that they had completed the repairs. They boarded and took off. When the group had arrived at Beacon it was already past midnight. Their 'small engine problem' as the piolets called it added a good four hours to their trip. As they were landing William noticed a grey-haired man wearing a black suit, green scarf, and holding some kind of weaponized cane.

"Professor Ozpin, what are you doing here?" Ruby asked as the Bullhead's doors opened up.

"Well when a number of my students, students of other academies, and my colleagues take significantly longer than expected for what should have been a simple harvest tour, it is only natural for the headmaster to be concerned." The man responded. "Speaking of which how did the mushroom picking go?" He asked triggering looks across the group as they realized that they had, understandably, completely forgotten the whole reason for their trip in the first place.

"Well... You see the thing is…" Ruby began.

"We didn't find the mushrooms!" Nora blurted out. "…but we did find a Were-Grimm so do we still get the extra credit, PPPPLLLLLLEEEEAAASSSSSSEEEEE?" she begged gesturing with her hands.

"Were-Grimm?" Ozpin replied raising an eyebrow.

"uhm, yes that would be me," William stated raising his hand halfway as he sheepishly walked closer to the front of the group towards Ozpin. "Hello, I am William Beorthwulf, nice to meet you." He greeted.

"And you are this 'Were-Grimm'?"

"Yes, though I have never actually been called that before, but it is kind of an accurate name." The Faunus boy answered nervously.

"And what exactly is a 'were-Grimm'?"

"I think its best I show you," William replied before moving from the crowd as a black substance that resembled a mass of hair shavings, like one would see on the floor of a barbershop after an overdue haircut, crept from along his spine covered his body as his bones visibly shifted to more monstrous form. Once he had taken the shape of an unarmored Beowulf the white bone-like substances began to push out of his body and take the form of the Grimm that they had fought earlier. The finishing touch being his right eye turning piercing red, the typical for Grimm and his left eye remaining its normal bluish-purple. Though the process itself actually only took less than a few seconds to those watching it seemed as time had slowed down. Even those who had seen him transform from his Grimm form were hit with a sensation of awe anew as they watch the young man before them turn into the beast they had fought before.

"Well, that was certainly… a surprise." Ozpin stated looking only somewhat dazed by what had just happened before him, at least to his students, to those who knew him he was in monumental shock. "I guess that counts enough for extra credit."

"Yes!" more than a few students celebrated.

"Well, I guess I'll just be on my way," William said as he reverted back to normal, trying to get away.

"Hold on, you can't just leave." General Ironwood said.

"Well then are you going to escort me?" William replied with anger in his voice.

"I understand how important it is to visit your mother's grave, however, we cannot just let you go until we have a team of huntsmen who can monitor you..."

*low roaring sound*

"What was that?" a number of people asked unison.

"Um, sorry that's my stomach." William blushed.

"That was your stomach, that's a little hard to digest," Yang said with a number of people putting their hand on their face and shaking their heads.

"It is late, perhaps we all should get something to eat and you should visit your mother's grave in the morning." Dr. Oobleck interjected.

"Where would I even stay?" William replied getting more than a little annoyed.

"You can stay in team PRPL's old room, their room has been empty for a while." Ruby chimed in.

"Who is team PRPL and why is their room empty?" The Faunus boy asked.

"Well, they were a team that was attending Beacon until about a month ago," Ruby answered.

"What happened?"

"They weren't really the best students and when professor Goodwitch lectured them they didn't take it too well," Jaune explained.

"Who is professor Goodwitch again?" William interrupted.

"I am." The blonde teacher replied. "And I'll have you know they got everything they deserved."

"What did they do?"

"They snuck into professor Goodwitch's house to attack her, however, they came in through her bedroom window as she was coming out of her shower and… well…" Yang led on.

"I get the gest… they're still alive, right?"

"Well, last I heard they should be able to remove the catheters in another six months or so." Professor Goodwitch responded with a slight grin.

"Ok remind me not to make her angry," William stated.

*louder roaring noise*

"Alright, I am hungry and tired I'll go along with your idea until morning," William admitted defeat to his growing hunger.

"Well, there's still the matter of the fact that the cafeteria is closed," Blake stated.

"Then why don't we go into town and get our dinner on a roll," Yang suggests earning a similar response to before.

"Please stop," William asked. "Your puns are actually causing me more damage than your punches." He said earning more than a few laughs from the group.

"Miss Xiao Long does have a point since you all have apparently been through a lot why don't you see if you can find an open restaurant, on Beacon," Ozpin said pulling out the Beacon Academy Black Diamond cooperate credit card. "And as for you Mr. Beorthwulf you can stay in team PRPL's old room until your business has been concluded, but before you leave I'd like to talk with you some more and gain a full understanding of the circumstances surrounding your abilities. Perhaps even finding a place in Beacon for you."

"Thank you for the food and a place to stay, but there is nothing you can say that will convince me to attend Beacon," William replied as he and the group walked towards the shuttle that would take them into town. Cinder's team declined Ozpin's invitation and General Ironwood needed to take Penny to get checked out.

Eventually, the group managed to find a pizza place with a buffet and almost no one else in it. Ozpin paid for everyone's meal and they began going in line picking up their food. William was easily the most excited about this.

"William you know you're only supposed to grab what you can eat," Weiss commented noticing that William was carrying about six pizzas worth of slices on his plate not counting the half dozen breadsticks, small salad bowl, and a healthy helping of pasta.

"Yes, I'm aware of this." William responded cocking his head toward the sign at the start of the buffet line that read 'only grab what you can eat'.

"Well don't you think that's a bit much?" The heiress rebutted.

"Not really, this is just the first course." He replied.

Much to everyone's surprise he was true to his word. In a consistent pace, he was eating three slices in the time for a normal person would take for one slice, William efficiently reduced the mountain of food into crumbs before everyone's eyes. He then got up and went back to the buffet, got another plate of equal size to the first one. As he began to eat his second helping he retold his story to professor Ozpin who sat across from him, who only interrupted to inquire further details about the given topic. Once William had finished his story the Grey haired headmaster began inquiring about William's interest, his thoughts on philosophy, and why he was against being a huntsman. Just like his first plate William eventually reduced it to crumbs without even slowing his eating pace in the slightest. Once done he went back to the buffet for the third time.

"Where do you put it all?" Coco asked.

"My transformations use up a large amount of energy so I need to consume a lot of food. On average I eat about three or four whole Beowulves a day." William explained before heading towards the buffet.

"Well, you certainly have a healthy appetite," Ozpin commented as William sat down with a third overloaded plate. "As for your mother's grave, do you know where she is buried?"

"Well no, all I know is it is a graveyard near Beacon Academy, how many of them can there be anyway?" William asked putting his pizza back on his plate.

"There are actually eleven graveyards all within ten miles of Beacon Academy," Ozpin replied.

Williams's eyes went wide. "Eleven? Is there some way I can narrow down the location?" he asked with an obvious concern in his voice.

"I guess the first step would be to identify your mother, I do not believe you have actually given me her name. Nor do I recall ever meeting a huntress with the last name Beorthwulf."

"Well Beorthwulf was my father's name, my mother kept her maiden name Habile, Dawn Habile."

"WHAT?" Professor Goodwitch replied. "You're Dawn's son? You're her Lowell?"

"You knew my mom?"

"Lowell?" Ruby asked.

"My mom would call me Lowell as a nickname, but the question is how do you know my Mom's nickname for me?" He said focusing on professor Goodwitch.

"You don't remember me do you?" Professor Goodwitch asked.

"As far as I'm aware today is the first time we've ever meet."

"When you were four, your mother left you with a friend for four months while she was going in for surgery for her injuries?"

"Yes, she left me with a friend of hers, I remember her having blonde hair and she wore glasses…" William trailed off connecting the dots.

"You, you were her friend?"

"Yes…"

"Why didn't you, why didn't you help her… help us." William said trying to hold back his tears swelling with conflicting emotions of anger and sadness.

"I didn't know. Your mother and I attended Beacon together. However, when we graduated we lost contact. It wasn't until she had been critically injured and she needed someone to watch you while she was to go in for surgery that she got in contact with me again. She did not want to talk about your father who had recently passed and I did not want to pry. When your mother left the kingdom of Vale I was working as a freelance huntress going on various missions. In the time you and your mother lived in Feign I had taken on a mission to protect a group that was trying to create an expansion of Vaccuo. It was two years before I could try and get in contact with Dawn again, but when I tried, I had been told both you and she had died in a fire. It wasn't long after that I became a teacher at Beacon."

"Oh." William murmured slumping back in his chair. "Heh, I tried to kill my mom's friend and the only other person who ever looked after me." He lamented. "I am quite a piece of work."

William remained quiet for a while before someone spoke up.

"William I don't hold anything against you, given all you have gone through I am the one who should be apologizing for not looking further into your mother's death." Professor Goodwitch said apologetically.

"Do you know where my Mom is buried?" William finally asked.

"Yes, she is buried in Aesop's Fables cemetery. I can take you to her grave tomorrow morning."

"Thank you." He replied still looking depressed.

"Come on man don't beat yourself up, with everything you've gone through there's no way we could hold it against you." Yang comforted with several nods from the group. "Besides I'm sure once we get to know you we'll find out you're a fun-guy," Yang said holding up a slice of pizza with mushrooms on it. As her teammates facepalmed themselves William and a few others began to chuckle.

"Speaking of fungi you never did tell me if you were able to find any Vie Verte," Ozpin asked taking a sip of his drink.

"Vie what?" William asked.

"Vie Verte, it's the mushroom we originally came to the valley to find. They grow to the size of this napkin dispenser with a dark green top and a tanned stem." Pyrrha elaborated.

"Why were you looking for a mushroom like that in the Valley of Grimm?" the 'Were-Grimm' asked.

"We received a tip that it was growing in the Valley of Grimm." Professor Ozpin answered.

"I'm sorry but I have been over every square inch of that valley and never seen a mushroom even closely resembling that kind of mushroom."

"Well it's supposed to grow only every thirty years, so maybe it only recently appeared in the center of the valley." Blake rebutted.

"Again I'm sorry, but it seems you were sent on a wild goose chase, though I did move between living locations in the Valley I usually stuck to the center of the valley because that is where Grimm activity is the lowest. I would notice if a species of mushroom suddenly popped up."

"Who would send us on a wild goose chase?" Ruby asked out loud.

"Perhaps it was a wild Grimm chase," William stated. "Perhaps whoever sent you to look for this Vie Verte actually want you to find me. Although that just raises more questions."

"What do you mean?" Ruby asked.

"Well, outside of the people of Feign Village, you're the only living people who should know that I'm not some run-of-the-mill Grimm. This can only mean that someone from Feign Village wanted to either have your team eliminate me or for me to eliminate you and bring on the wrath of Beacon Academy for killing some of its students. However, if what you said is true about this Vie Verte only growing every thirty years means that the person who did this either found a way to grow these mushrooms or by some means had access to a preserved specimen. However, I honestly can't think of anyone in Feign Village who could pull something like this off."

With that everyone returned to a more awkward silence as everyone ate quietly. After everyone had finished eating and William cleaned his fifth plate everyone left the restaurant and headed back to Beacon. Professor Ozpin got the key to team PRPL's old room, team JNPR had a spare pillow and blanket they loaned to William.

When he walked in he noticed that the room was fairly empty. There were four beds each pushed against one of the walls. A thin layer of dust coated most of the furniture, evidence that no one had stepped foot in this room for a while. The only proof that anyone had even inhabited the room was a large number of the clear tap edges in groupings of four all over the walls, apparently, the previous tenants had more than a few posters. By William's count, there had been at least twenty posters scattered around the room.

William only bothered to try and count them as a means of distracting himself. His thoughts were swirling between too many things for William to keep track. Professor Goodwitch agreed to allow him to eat breakfast at the cafeteria and then take him to his mother's grave. However, he couldn't find comfort in this.

I don't even know what to think of all this; the people I tried to kill are the ones who got me out of that valley, heck one of them was Mom's friend. And I tried to kill her… So many things happened, but I finally get to see you again mom, just wait a little longer. He thought as he slowly succumbs to heavy eyelids allowing them to finally close. So many things had happened, so many things weighed on his mind before they slipped into the void as he yielded to his body's cries for sleep. These things can wait all that is important now is sleep.