Not Even Aura can Heal All Wounds
By wildstraydog
Beta: Super Saiyan Cyndaquil
Chapter Twenty: Whispers
Here's another chapter, and while I always say I'll be getting back on track with my schedule, I probably wasn't telling the truth because of holidays. But don't worry, I'm always going to try and get at least one chapter for each story every week until they are finished.
When he was roused from his sleep, Jaune didn't expected to receive the grim news that he and RWBY would be shipped out on another reconnaissance mission. Pun aside, he was completely nervous and unsure of his required performance out in the field. What happened in the Forever Fall with Weiss was nerve-wracking, and then when he found out Tawny was dead... it was like for a whole week all of the training he learned at school vanished from his mind. The only bearable light in his predicament was Professor Peach.
Headmaster Ozpin found it appropriate to have the professor assist Glynda on the mission as a precaution to what happened last time. He would fill a lot more comfortable knowing his new foster mother would be there to take care of them, and it would be interesting to learn more about the professor's teachings in regard to medicine. The downside to whole matter was that he received barely any training and still lacked any true weapon to defend himself with. He was able to borrow an iron breastplate from Professor Port last night before he went to bed – of course he forgot to tell the others this.
The armor while dented and smudged, fit comfortably over his school uniform. He looked at himself in the mirror and examined his back, please with his appearance. Funny enough, he felt stronger; like he could take on a Grimm the size of a house. Without a sword to assault said Grimm, his boost of confidence was null. He let out a tired sigh and exited the room, making his way down to the front of the academy where Ruby and the others were waiting. Miss Goodwitch, as she preferred to be called by him now, sent him a message to arrive an hour earlier for personal business. His family was most likely involved in some form.
Jaune found the ambiance of the school bizarre as he walked through the halls of Beacon, passing by students gossiping about classes and good looking boys that were part of the transfers. Sun's words from the previous day rang in his mind, bringing to mind the quiet Faunus he got to know so well. Yesterday he was fine with the thought of Sun asking Blake out, as a silent beauty such as herself would never be interested in someone unreliable. So why did it bother him? It was embarrassing to think that he developed a crush on Blake.
He shook his head of the thought and concentrated on the mission ahead. Dallying thoughts would lead to another mistake. Plus there was nothing to think about anyway, they were just silly what if scenarios.
The outside of the academy was barren with early morning classes beginning, and only the accompanying sounds of the rudders from bullheads filled the eerie silence. He could make out the rigid posture of Miss Goodwitch near the towering statue of his famous ancestor – a bleak reminder of his Father's need to force the legacy on his children. Surely not all the Arc men were as ruthlessly callous.
When the professor spot him, he adjusted the plate so that it was level, wanting to impress her out of some emotional need to feel congratulated. Like it or not, she was his guardian now. Glynda appeared peppy, not a wrinkle present on her studious expression. She nodded in approval at his early arrival and adjusted her glasses, a lock of blonde ear falling behind her tiny ears.
"Thank you for coming here early Jaune, I have something important to tell you."
"No problem, I figured it was-is it about the mission?" He only was briefed about the barest details, so maybe she wanted to talk about his involvement as a medic.
"No... Headmaster Ozpin informed me that you have a private call awaiting you at the CCT. A booth has already been reserved." A private call? The only person who ever called was someone from home. His Father all but disowned him, and wouldn't be caught dead messaging him – one of his younger sisters perhaps? That would be wonderful.
"Do you know who it's from?""
"I'm afraid not, Headmaster Ozpin did not privy me with that information. However I suggest you hurry before the others arrive." Jaune nodded in return and made his way over to where the CCT was stationed at Beacon.
The look in Glynda's eyes was pained. She probably had an idea of who contacted him. Jaune dreaded the thought of confronting his Father now that he was disowned, any politeness he bore for being a part of the family would be gone. He grit his teeth and looked ahead, mesmerized by the lumbering tower that casted its shadow across the campus. The rugged buttresses and arches gave the structure a grandiose appearance – like a castle out of the stories his Mother once read to him.
A few lingering students without classes buzzed around the fountain by the entrance. He would have stopped to admire the double-doors coated with crimson paint and lacquered wood, but he was in a hurry, and Glynda would reprimand him if he was late. The receptionist at the tower wasn't human, taking him a little by surprise how much technology evolved over the years. Thankfully he didn't need to use the elevator since a private booth on the first floor was reserved for the call.
He sat down at the monitor and heard the door click behind him, until the console vibrated. The screen was full of static, and when a face emerged, Jaune's mouth went agape, unsure of how to process his sister's appearance. With a calm demeanor and furrowed brow, Olive Arc sat in a lavish chair, her blue eyes lighting up
"Jaune... I'm glad you decided to answer."
"O-Olive, I can't believe you called-are you not busy on a mission? Wait, how is everybody?" There were so many questions he wanted to ask. She didn't laugh, rarely showing emotion to anyone in the family – the only noticeable facial reaction was a raised eyebrow.
"Settle down Jaune," Olive said in an authoritative voice, "I know you don't have much time, but I have two reasons for my abrupt call." Olive's eyes shimmered against the screen until she averted her gaze.
"What is it...?"
"Jaune, I wanted to... apologize." His breath hitched at the comment and he swallowed. Was she really apologizing? Between his elder sisters and father, Olive always was the least cruel, never directly berating him. Olive's words of encouragement motivated him to finally enroll into medical school.
"How come now... you could have always said something when Father wasn't around. Mother and the others respected you-I'm sure they would have understood your position. But If you really, don't hate me," Jaune paused. "Then I forgive you." It was hard to utter out loud. To disregard years of neglect in an instant – but he would forgive her, because the only thing he wanted was to have another family member love him.
"I think Father is wrong," Olive stated, catching him again off-guard. "Whatever any legal document or proclamation Father makes, you'll always be my brother." Jaune shut his eyes and turned away from the monitor, trying his best to hold back the tears. He couldn't understand why his sister was having such a change of heart, but it filled him with joy. The previous day's events and his disownment meant nothing now that Olive expressed her true feelings.
"Can you at least tell me why?" Olive sported a rare grin.
"Yes... but." Jaune leaned back and stuttered, the look of distraught on Olive's expression making him nervous. Her stoic expression was marred by emotion, her rosy lips trembling before she spoke.
"Jaune, it's about our Mother-she, I don't know what to say. Mother passed away last night, she's been ill for some time now and I'm afraid by your reaction that Father never informed you. I'm so sorry Jaune." He paused, focusing on the tears that streamed down Olive's porcelain-like skin.
She had to be lying... right?
A mental picture of his Mother baking a dozen chocolate chip cookies in the winter emerged in his head. Jaune almost fell off the chair, steadying himself with the shelf carrying the monitor. He began to pant heavily as memories of his childhood flashed across his mind. Throughout his younger days, his Mother often fell ill and was treated at the hospital for a rare disease – but the doctors always said it was treatable, that she could live a normal life. That was what his Father told them all... it must have been much worse.
"Did they expect this?" He whispered, eyes downtrodden.
Olive cleared her throat and wiped away a lone tear from her eyes. "Since you left for Beacon, she's been staying in the hospital-Father, he forbade us from telling you." She explained it all through a hoarse voice.
How could he keep this from him? If he had known... no it probably wasn't his father who ordered it. His mother conjured the lie in an attempt to let him concentrate on his studies – there was no doubt if he had learned about her condition, he would have left school immediately to be at her side. There was still one thing he needed to know.
"Did she... suffer?"
"No, it was peaceful, but I didn't get to see her. The rest of your sisters will remain in the care of Father. Again, I'm so sorry I have to tell you this now, I know you have a mission coming up." Olive struggled to say.
"Olive, thank you, I... have to go." The screen went black, and he relaxed back into the chair, his arms slumping to the sides. He stared up at the ceiling and fought back more tears, steeling himself for the others.
Too many people he knew were dying, and he wouldn't let that happen on the mission. Without looking back, he kicked the chair into the corner of the room and left the CCT with burdensome heart. At the moment, he couldn't see straight, the world momentarily blurry as his emotions swelled up. He clenched his fist and punched a nearby wall outside of the building, garnering a few confused stares and whispers. Taking a few breaths, Jaune looked forward and made a promise to his deceased mother and family – cursing himself for not ever checking up on them.
No one else will die Mom.
The crisp morning air did little to assuage Blake's thoughts on the sudden news of their mission. She tucked a loose strand of black hair behind her shoulder and looked up at her teammates, all wearing varied expressions. Professor Goodwitch and Peach would be at the front entrance waiting on standby with a bullhead, yet they insisted on all of them packing supplies for the short trip. Apparently the routine patrol would take place several days within the wildlands. In the time allotted before the mission, she packed a few books and some matches, leaving the rest of the essentials up to her team.
None of their friends learned of their upcoming departure, but she was positive Ruby already sent word to everyone. Her ears perked up as the sound of footfalls grew louder from behind them, and she turned to see Sun and Neptune rushing down the hall in her direction.
"Is it true?" Sun almost bellowed.
"That we're leaving for a mission-yes." Sun exchanged a look of concern between Neptune and trailed with the four of them as they walked.
"But aren't students assigned missions after the dance?" Neptune quizzically asked as he shot a subtle wink at Weiss. Blake wasn't in disagreement of what they were saying, it was indeed unusual.
"Well the professors thought we were badass enough to go on another mission before then," Yang bragged, "Besides it's only some reconnaissance mission or something-nothing exciting." Sun chuckled in response to her bold statement.
"How long are you going to be gone?" Sun asked.
Blake let out a sigh at Sun's questioning. She he knew meant well enough, but it was annoying all the same. "Probably a couple of days at the most. We should really hurry up guys." Weiss looked down at her scroll and nodded, convincing Ruby and Yang to pick up the pace.
"Good luck." Neptune called out.
As they neared the entrance, Yang nudged her in the shoulder and batted her lilac eyes. The mischievous grin on her face was an all familiar gesture that she was thinking of a way to embarrass her. Lately she joked about her recent outings with Jaune and how it would make Sun jealous. Honestly, she didn't know what to think of their recent blonde friend... he definitely held a lot of positive qualities. Yet she never intended to enter Beacon academy to look for teenage romance – she was here to become a Huntress and make a difference.
When they reached the outside of the academy, she could already see Jaune standing beside Professor Goodwitch with a solemn expression. Even from this distance, Blake could see the tired look in his ocean blue eyes, someone who was fraught with so much in so little time. She tried to imagine what could have happened so early in the morning, but she knew well enough that if Jaune wanted to speak about it, he would come forward. Unknown to him, Blake volunteered herself among the group to personally stand guard for him during the mission.
"I'm glad you could join us team RWBY." Professor Goodwitch replied in a monotone voice as they made their way down the steps of the entrance.
"We wouldn't think of being late Professor." Weiss said.
"Hey wait a second," Ruby interjected, "Where's Professor Peach?" Professor Goodwitch let out an annoyed sigh and looked over their shoulders with an impatient look.
"That is a good question Miss Rose."
"Don't worry I'm here!" Peach yelled as she almost stumbled to the ground. In both her arms were ruffled green bags that were chained to a belt on her hip.
"Late as usual..." Glynda drawled.
The eccentric professor hadn't change in the time her and Jaune visited. She still wore a lab coat that hugged most of her petite body, but on her back was a 50. Caliber sniper rifle that housed different Dust cartridges under its magazine. She caught Blake staring and waved, earning an eye roll from her as walked toward Jaune whose face was still gloomy. His blue eyes were focused onto the cloudy sky and the distant thunder that roared across the cliffs. She found it uncanny that the weather happened to compliment the mood of everyone present.
"Sorry for being late, had to grab a few things before we left." Peach smacked one of the bags that rattled against the chains. Knowing the professor, there was no telling what kind of experiment was lying inside.
"Now that everyone is accounted for," Professor Goodwitch began, "As you were previously told, we are heading for Mariani for reconnaissance and patrol-Vale forces need an assessment of the Grimm forces gathering in the sector." If it was so simple, why bring along two professors?'
"What if they attack us?" Yang asked.
"We'll only engage in small skirmishes-avoid contact with any larger class Grimm. Even with me and Professor Peach, it will be dangerous if a horde of Grimm surrounded us, especially Goliaths or Ursa." They were using tactics employed by the previous generation of Hunters. The White Fang used similar techniques when teaching their recruits – sadly they were all used for militia attacks and bombings.
"I'll answer any further questions on the ride there." Professor Goodwitch escorted them over to the bullhead, which was a larger model then the one students used.
The compartment was much roomier, having enough seats for everyone to stretch out their legs. She decided to sit by Jaune, curious as to why he was acting so melancholic. The rudders came on and spun, drowning out the cool breeze outside. The constant humming blared against her eardrums, though she taught herself to tune it out on previous excursions. Professor Goodwitch said that the ride to Mariani would take at least an hour and thirty minutes, giving her plenty of chances to talk with Jaune. The only problem was Yang, the blonde eying them with a Cheshire smirk. She could be too nosey for her own good.
She looked down at Jaune's hands to see him fiddling with his fingers in some nervous twitch. The rucksack next to him was bundled tight, with the zipper jammed near its edge; packing in a hurry usually resulted in that. She placed her hand onto his shoulder, causing him to flinch at the contact. She pulled away, but Jaune let out a sigh. A stifled giggle from Yang earned her a glare, the brawler nonchalantly whistling as she walked across the bullhead to sit by Ruby and Weiss.
"Jaune, are you okay?"
"Sorry Blake... I just, something happened." His words were sparse and heavy, the delayed breaths an obvious indication of his mood.
"Jaune, you can tell me if you want, I won't tell anyone." He chuckled, grasping her hand in surprise. A blush crept onto her face but she didn't push him away, actually enjoying the warmth it brought.
"Oh, sorry, I..." He pulled away once he noticed.
"It's okay." She returned a brief smile.
The rest of the ride to Mariani was filled with moments of silence that were only interrupted by quick chats about the environment. The village was known for its swamplands and rainy weather, a harsh place for Huntsman and Huntresses to kill Grimm that used the environment to its advantage. In the corner of the bullhead were several overcoats that Professor Goodwitch packed for them; the material was sewn to keep students warm in frigid conditions. The White Fang's Vale branch actually avoided Mariani because of its mercenary gangs that frequented the bars and bounty hunter offices. She was a little worried how open the folks there would be upon their arrival.
The patter of rain assaulted the bullhead as they grew closer to the swamps, and the side doors closed, obscuring any glimpse of the land below. The professor stood up and handed the coats to each of them, the linings and top collars adorned with white fur that insulated heat. The coats themselves were all black, complementing the rest of her attire. She watched as her leader snuggled up to Yang with a worried smile, reminding Blake of Ruby's naiveté despite her strength. Yet she was still the only person she wanted to lead her against the Grimm, her ability to not judge others admirable. It was a trait she actually saw in Jaune, and if he attended Beacon, she would not have been surprised if he led his own team.
The bullhead shifted as it began to lower into an open area near the village gates. Blake stood up and grabbed one of the handles to steady herself as the bullhead touched down – the rain was now battering the metal, and the clinking sound became almost rhythmic. When the doors opened, she could feel the mist against her cheeks, and the wind picked up, causing the rain to go sideways. Setting up camp in the swamps would be difficult, especially if they couldn't make a fire because of the rain. Then again, she assumed one of the professors had a plan for such an occasion.
"This weather sucks!" Yang cried out.
"I'm afraid it's quite normal for Mariani Miss Xiao Long." Professor Goodwitch answered back with a smirk. She never knew the woman to have a sense of humor.
"Professor," The pilot yelled, "I'll be back in two days at 0800 hours-please try to be here-but if there's a delay the Headmaster will message you!" She nodded, and the door to the bullhead slammed shut.
Blake watched as the bullhead pulled up, the force from the rudders throwing up nearby leafs and moss into the air. She looked at Yang and the others and noticed Weiss pulling the coat over her shoulders, hugging her arms in a vain attempt to warm herself up. Was it funny that the resident "ice queen" was cold? She was more surprised that Yang didn't make a joke out of it. She also found it hard to believe that there was any chance of them going out for patrols in this storm. Professor Peach bent down near a puddle and used a spyglass to examine some form of plant, oblivious to her surroundings.
"Everyone, please follow me to the nearby inn," Professor Goodwitch instructed. "And let me you remind so you don't forget later on-by no means cause a ruckus. There are several unfavorable characters in these parts who do not like the presence of Hunters." If there were plenty of mercenaries around, why go to the trouble of putting up a request for Huntsman?
"I'll keep myself under control." Yang replied with a giggle.
Large wooden gates stood between them and the village, and the lock was wedged by two large metal ingots, the material strong enough to withstand the strength of most Grimm. Atop a ledge on each side of the gate, was two spotlights that beamed their lights in their direction. She could hear the cocking of guns and the mumble of suspicious men. Professor Goodwitch stepped forward with both arms up and bowed slightly.
"We aren't intruders, we're here from Beacon academy."
"For the request," One of the men shouted. "Come in!" The gates opened slowly, and the bending of locks echoed against the sound of rain. Villagers rushed out with their guns leveled in the opposite direction, their breath visible in the cold as they turned to look into foliage. They had every reason to be on high alert – it would take days to walk to Vale.
So far, the welcoming wasn't a good sign.
Weiss found the rainy weather dreadful, her overcoat soaked from the bottom up. She had to avoid placing any of her heels into the large puddles of mud inside the village. Professor Goodwitch led them to a large wooden building in the middle of the village that was surrounded by patrons. The front of the inn had a roof hanging overhead on the porch, where a couple of men sat drinking with curious expressions. No doubt the ruffians were thinking horrendous thoughts about her team – men from such backwater locations often spelled trouble. Yet Jaune seemed the most troubled of all.
She couldn't have been the only one to notice his attitude when they arrived outside Beacon. Something was amiss with the boy, though knowing what he was going through, she had no doubt it was family related... she also was dealing with her own problems in that area. There was also the fact that he barely got any training done since Tawny's death, only having found him a suitable weapon yesterday. Luckily she made an emergency call to have someone at the company launch a pod with the modified weapons she needed for him. With the heavy storm, it would take at least an hour before it arrived.
The pungent scent of alcohol invaded her nostrils as they entered the inn, accompanied by the loud shouts of jovial customers. The building was far more pack then she imagined, with every corner of the establishment occupied with men and women singing or playing games of pool. Several inconspicuous people caught her gaze, some of the men in ragged brown cloaks that were soaked from the rain. The stares they received from the customers were quite unpleasant, a look of shock mixed with disdain as Professor Goodwitch and Peach escorted them up to the main desk in the room on the left.
"Excuse me, are you proprietor?" professor Goodwitch asked.
"Yep, that would be me." A scraggly old man answered while scratching his back. The wrinkles around his face almost covered his squinting eyes, while the hair on his chin had whitened years ago.
"My name is Professor Goodwitch, and these are my students behind me-we're here for the request you sent." The old man scratched his beard and appeared lost in thought until he snapped his fingers.
"Ah yes," The man slowly answered, "You're looking for Natsuhiko, the mayor of this fine village. He should be out there in the inn with the rest of the youngsters-probably already a few drinks in." He chortled, pointing to a tall lean man at the bar wearing a black plume hat.
Natsuhiko was quieter than the others around him, but Weiss noticed the blush on his cheeks, and as they drew closer, the odor of whiskey was evident. Professor Goodwitch tapped the man on the shoulder, and he turned blindly into their direction, spilling alcohol onto the floor. Even she could tell the man was drunk, his eyes blurry and speech clearly slurred. Natsuhiko set the mug down onto the bar and stood from his chair, patting down the red kilt that was snugged against his waist. The plain green shirt was covered with a brown sash that read the word "Mayor" in bold letters.
How were they supposed to converse with a drunk mayor?
"I assume you're Natsuhiko?" Professor Goodwitch asked with a similar look of disbelief on her face. The man smiled and nodded his head.
"That's correct, I'm the mayor of this amazing village!" Natsuhiko announced to the cheer of the patrons. Weiss couldn't believe this place.
"We're here for the request... I'm from Beacon academy." Natsuhiko's eyes widened at the statement, and he saddled up next to Professor Goodwitch with a lecherous smile.
"And to think," Natsuhiko slurred, "That such a sexy woman could hail from that pretentious academy." Glynda squeaked, the sensation of the man's hands on her buttocks causing her to react, punching Natsuhiko so hard in the chest that he barreled through one of the tables.
"Don't ever touch me!" Professor Goodwitch shouted with a blush.
"Nice moves Glynda," Professor Peach added.
"Let this me a lesson students," Professor Goodwitch began with a huff. "Never let anyone touch you physically without permission-it could lead to serious harm and legal actions." Yang couldn't stop laughing.
"You're so strong professor!" Ruby commented.
The sound of broken wood collapsing to the floor broke their conversation as Natsuhiko removed a board from atop his lap, rubbing his stomach in pain. "Damn... you sure pack a helluva punch lady-I think I'm sober now."
"That will make things a lot easier."
"I already got yall rooms for tonight, didn't know how long it would take for you guys to get rid of the Grimm." Natsuhiko said, brushing off wooden chips from his arms. Up close he was quite handsome, and young for his position.
"That would be wonderful," Professor Goodwitch said as she bowed, being courtesy even in front of the same man who fondled her. "We'll be leaving for the wildlands after lunch, so hopefully the weather will let up." Natsuhiko chuckled, and pointed to the door.
"You're welcome to lunch, but don't give your hopes up on this storm going away. Hey young man, must feel lucky getting to be around all these beautiful young ladies." He shot a wink at Jaune who blushed.
He is indeed lucky.
"Grub sounds awesome, let's get some food Rubes." Yang grabbed Ruby by the arm, the young girl protesting that she wanted to stay with everyone else.
"Very well, you're free to roam around the inn and acquire lunch, but meet at the entrance in one hour." The professor let out a sigh and made her way over to the bathroom, leaving her with Professor Peach and the rest of the team. Weiss highly doubted that this inn served anything to her liking, especially because she favored healthy alternatives.
"It's just us then, I'll grab us a table, come help me Jaune alright?" Before he could answer, the professor grabbed him by the shoulder, forcing him into the corner where an empty table was located.
Professor Peach's choice of location in the inn was suitable for their group, and while Ruby was away with Yang, it allowed her to observe the illusive woman. Jaune and Blake had described their meeting with the professor before, yet she was still unlike any of the teachers at Beacon. She was bold and talkative, interacting with the rest of her team as if she was the same age – but from what Jaune explained, she was a genius and an exile. A woman shunned for her ideas of keeping peace using a method most Huntsman would laugh at. This was the person that motived Jaune to become who he was today... if only she could find such motivation in an individual.
"Don't be shy princess, come join us!" The professor shouted.
"I-I'm not a princess," Weiss corrected, "I'm an heiress." She huffed as she walked over to the table and sat across from Jaune, catching his brief smirk. It was much better than seeing that mopey expression from earlier.
"So don't be nervous kids," Professor Peach said, "I know how it is, especially in a seedy place like this-just keep to yourselves and will be out of here real soon." How she was cheerful in such a dreadful place was beyond Weiss.
"We appreciate your help Professor."
"Thank you Miss Schnee."
A few minutes later, she caught Yang and Ruby from the corner of her eye bringing several plates topped with pieces of bread and baked chicken. A minimal feast for sure, but she was famished from the long trip. Complaining about the meals in an establishment that offered free board would be rude. She could tell by the wayward table manners from her friends that she wasn't the only one starving. Yang plucked the meat off the large chicken breast with her fingers, while Ruby nibbled on the flat bread with a disappointed smile; it seemed only sweets appeased the young girl when accompanied by lunch.
She looked down at the plate and released a sigh, picking up the wooden fork that was carved by the villagers. These circumstances were part of becoming a Huntress, to experience what people beyond the massive walls at Vale or even Atlas have to endure to survive. She placed a morsel of chicken into her mouth, her eyes lighting up in surprise at the rich flavor and texture it presented. Winter once said that not all treasures are mined like Dust from mountains – she was right. Perhaps it was her hunger, but it was one of the best lunches she ever had, and she blushed at the smiles she was receiving.
"Enjoy lunch ice queen?"
"It was... quite delicious actually."
Yang let out a chuckle. "Don't need a loaded chef to make a good meal." No you didn't, and she would take that advice to heart.
"Um, Professor." Jaune spoke up, trailing his blue eyes at the eccentric woman. She halted midway in her lunch, a piece of chicken hanging from her mouth. Why in the world Doctor Oobleck married someone so offbeat was beyond anything she could fathom – then again love wasn't biased.
She couldn't be incompetent if Headmaster Ozpin chose her.
"Sorry about that," Peach giggled, "What's up?"
Jaune placed his utensils onto the table and looked back at the revolving inn doors, the sound of heavy rain still evident. "Are reconnaissance missions for students usually so far away from the academy?" The professor hummed at his question and wiped her mouth.
"To be honest, not really-I won't lie, you guys were chosen because of your skill. But as you can see, Oz sent two of us to watch over you because of the distance and type of Grimm that might be out here." Weiss wasn't that surprised, no headmaster would risk his students lives.
"If the mission is potentially dangerous, why not send a second or third-year team like CVFY? I don't think I've ever saw a fourth-year student in Beacon either." Blake commented. Now that she thought about, Blake was right – none of the seniors had so far made an appearance.
"Afraid they're all too busy," The professor curtly replied. "Look, there's no need to worry, I'm sure this mission will be simple." The doors to the inn busted open and a haggard man covered in moss and rain fell onto the floor panting. The building went silent as the man stuttered to form his words.
"Grimm, outside the gate!"
Without a second to think, she and the rest of her team sprinted outside pass the crowd. A little further ways beyond the gate, the trees that lined the swampy lands shook against a violent tremor. She ignored the pouring rain that assaulted her back and focused on the silhouette emerging against the spotlights that were directed north. With a loud roar, the Grimm became visible as it jumped in front of the gate, pounding its chest in a show of dominance. She remembered reading about Beringels and how strong they were... now they were about to found out. They would catch pneumonia if they stayed out in the rain without those overcoats that Professor Goodwitch provided, so she rushed back into the inn to retrieve them.
"Jaune what are you doing?" She ask as he stared back at the beast, ignoring the rain dripping down his exposed face.
"Trying not to run away."
"Stay in the inn until we need you!" He flinched at the request and nodded, accepting that without any weapon to use, he was only in the way.
I'm sorry Jaune. Weiss thought as she joined the others back outside. She would make it up to him in time. Right now, they had to make sure that gate didn't fall.
So this was delayed by a day or so because of... personal things that happened. Sorry about this again, and I hope you're enjoying the story!