Chapter 8
Day before the hunts
Walking through the academy grounds at a leisurely pace, Ozpin let out a silent exhale to the relaxing air with his eyes closed, standing at the docking bay with his coffee in hand Ozpin's eyes opened to blink at hearing a distant explosion from the practice arenas the academy had on standby, making Ozpin turn with a frown as a anger growl followed in the peaceful night.
Walking to the many arena's Ozpin stopped at the sight of a crouching Loki as he held a cloud of ash as it drifted from his skin and clothing into the orb of glowing ash as it glowed bright blue before the light flickered back into an orange glow with Loki growling as it exploded outward before it regathered in his hand.
"Damn it you showed electricity in initiation, why aren't you working now?" Loki questioned as Ozpin cautiously approached, watching with a studious eye as Loki tried once more with small sparks lighting up in his hand before sizzling out of existence.
"Damn it!" Loki growled as he threw the ball of ash into an offline training bot that exploded.
Glaring at the burning ash and molten metal Loki sighed while standing up before he stopped at seeing his father watching in interest.
"I am going to make a guess and say this is about that strange ability you gained in initiation, am I correct?" Ozpin questioned with Loki nodding with a sigh as Ozpin stood beside him.
"Not many good things come from force Loki, sometimes you have to wait for them to appear before you can seize it, for example, your lightning, don't force it out into the open, you must wait for it to gather into a storm before you direct it, what you probably gaining now is simply a spark" Ozpin said with Loki thinking back to Nora.
"Then what was with it appearing when I helped Miss Valkyrie, was that a fluke or survival instincts?" Loki questioned with Ozpin looking to him with a proud smile.
"You should know you never do flukes without reason, your power is growing Loki, it has and always will be in a state of growth, but you should keep in mind to never abuse this gift you've been given, because each action, may one day have a reason to turn and bite at whoever's hand is holding the leash" Ozpin said with Loki thinking over his words before he relaxed, holding up his hand he frowned as his veins glowed a bright but feint blue as they pulsed, looking up to the molten metal that was once a training bot Ozpin spoke.
"Your replacing that Training bot correct?" Ozpin questioned with Loki sighing, even when he gave advice, Ozpin was quick to make light of the situation.
Moving out of the training arena to walk with his old man the two never noticed Nora Valkyrie watching them from her teams only window.
"Hey Nora, what are you looking at?" Jaune questioned with the orange haired bomber turning to Jaune as he placed a X-ray and Vav poster above his bed, with Pyrrah putting up a painting of a warrior wearing similar armor to her own.
"Nothing, just looking at the academy grounds"
"And Loki Fenris training" Ren added with Nora giving him a flustered angry look.
"What was he doing training at this time of night?" Pyrrah questioned as she moved to look out the window with a curious frown.
"Well, to be truthful, when we took down that Goliath i- we, made some kind of connection that made his ash thing spark into a small storm, I don't know if that was it but I felt the charge like it was from a raging storm, is that odd Ren?" Nora said with her childhood friend and brother figure turn to her with a pondering look.
"If you feel it is like that than confront him tomorrow, since we're allowed a day of rest before Beacon's semester starts, anyway good night" Ren said before lying down to sleep, leaving the other three with Nora looking out the window with a frown as Loki and Ozpin escaped her line of sight before she too laid down to sleep, not noticing Pyrrah climb into Jaune's bed and cuddle him.
"So any idea of Amber's recovery?" Loki questioned with a serious expression as they stood at the cliff overlooking Vale in the distance.
"I'm afraid she's not doing any well, there are times she wakes up in pain before falling back into unconsciousness. She's stable but I don't know for how long though" Ozpin said with Loki clenching his hands tightly with ash flaking from his skin before he inhaled to calm himself.
"I won't make any promises about whoever did this will walk away unscathed, Amber is like a sister to me and whoever did this will get a broken back" Loki said with Ozpin looking to his son with a frown of worry, placing a hand on his shoulder calmly.
"That will for a different day Loki, for now just enjoy what little peace is present" Ozpin said with Loki sighing, the ashes returning to his skin.
"I'll see you tomorrow Oz, have a nice night" Loki said with Ozpin nodding as his son left him at the cliff before he turned to the left where the outline of a woman stood, turning to him he smiled to the mysterious woman who nodded.
"He's growing more stronger than I anticipated Hoshi… he'll need you guidance more sooner than you thought" Ozpin said as the woman floated to his side, leaning onto his chest with her head facing Vale in silence as her features became clearer, showing she was in her thirties yet youthful at the same time, sitting atop her head was a set of jade coloured horns that curved into a halo like object, her ears were that of an elves.
Her body donned the clothing of a Kimono with golden plated gloves running up from her hand with her middle fingers holding the gloves in place.
"I know my time of hiding is shortening Ozpin, I just hope it isn't too late to keep that beast at bay" the spiritual being known as Hoshi said with Ozpin wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"You will be there for him Hoshi, I have faith you will keep him on the right path" Ozpin said as he placed a soft kiss on her forehead, making the angelic beauty smile softly before she left in a swirl of golden light that dimmed into a copper that finally left reality, leaving Ozpin alone he stared to Vale with a comforting smile.
Walking through the halls to his Teams Dorm room, Loki opened the door to see Gabrielle and Odin sleeping on their bed while Yennefer slept in silence, making Loki smile at the sight he moved to his bed to lie down, changing his clothing into sleepwear he closed his eyes as he wrapped himself in the blanket from his bed.
"So your saying this Loki Fenris can become something akin to a Beowolf?" Adam Taurus questioned in controlled anger as he stared at the image of Loki beside the werewolf humanoid that Cinder Fall had sent him in his hideout.
Looking to the scroll that showed the woman was also displeased.
"Yes, and to make things more interesting, he never existed until an anomaly twelve years ago occurred, levelling a portion of Vales continent, Devils Pit is what people have called it because whoever goes in there never comes out the same, saying things like underground storms, cold lava… shadow figures"
"I know about that, I've managed to acquire some intel that a large dust deposit below there has been found, apparently whatever happened their made those dust deposits super charged" Adam said with Cinder frowning in thought before she smiled.
"How big is this deposit?"
"As large as Atlas' academy, maybe even bigger because those that I sent have given me reports of the deposit growing" Adam questioned with Cinder frowning.
"Growing you say?" nodding to the maiden thief Adam sent her the reports his men had gotten.
"Yes, it's been corroding the ground beneath it to grow, but it's not the dust that makes me worried" Adam said with Cinder frowning.
"And what makes you worried"
"I'm worried of what happens if that boy comes into contact with the place, it's energy signature is near identical to the scans he lets out" Adam said with Cinder narrowing her eyes in thought.
"Have your men triple the guard of the area, don't let anyone in or out, or that boy" Cinder said with Adam nodding.
"Already on it, just waiting for them to get there, I'll inform you of anymore reports" Adam said with Cinder nodding before cutting off the feed.
It was that moment a heavily wounded Faunus stumbled in, making Adam and his lieutenant rush to his aid.
"What happened where's the rest of your squad?" the Lieutenant questioned as they moved him to a hospital bed, removing the chest plate they paled at the sight of claw marks closely resembling a beowolf.
"One of… one of the shadow things… came at us like a wild animal *Cough* laughed each time it attacked us, its eyes were just filled with blood lust!" the Faunus spoke with a bit of blood coming up.
"Get him healed and sent to recovering, see if there are any other survivors from the Devils pit!" Adam ordered as he looked to the Faunus before seeing ash inside the chest plate they tore off of him.
"Get me into contact with Sienna Khan" Adam added while walking into his designated office.
the next morning
Letting out a yawn of waking up, Nora Valkyrie scratched her head to get the itch she looked to her teammates who were still asleep she quietly climbed out of her bed she picked up a set of clothing before heading into the bathroom to shower.
Exiting a few minutes later Nora left her dorm room to get early breakfast, hearing a whistle from team RWBY's dorm she smiled as she continued on before the door to team GLOY (Glory) opened to show Odin and Loki exiting, Odin sporting a black eye and Loki wearing a helmet with two indents in the sides.
"Told you not to be a smart ass" Loki said with a muffled voice.
"Says the one who threw me into the bathroom!" Odin said with Loki turning his helmeted head to him.
"Ever hear the term personal space?" Loki questioned mockingly before they turned to see Nora who waved awkwardly.
"I'll meet you in the cafeteria" Odin said with Loki looking after him in mild panic before looking to Nora with his helmet breaking down into ash, showing his awkward smile.
"Uh, good morning, Miss Valkyrie" Loki said with Nora blinking before smiling.
"Do I look like amiss Valkyrie, Nora's just fine" Nora said with Loki looking at her eyes that had such energy in them he looked away with his own blush as Nora smiled.
"Anyway, what's your name?"
"Loki Fenris" Loki said as they began to follow Odin to the cafeteria.
"So, your this Famous Faunus people have been talking about?" Nora questioned with Loki chuckling.
"I'm not that famous, I'm just the adopted son of a well-known Headmaster" Loki said with Nora instantly intrigued.
"So your not on the cereal boxes I saw once?" Nora questioned with Loki making a face as he stopped and turned to her.
"No, no I shot down that request when they came to me for the photo shoot, I think Pyrrah got that deal instead" Loki said as they continued onward, with Nora skipping behind Loki who opened the doors for her, allowing them to exit the dormitory with Loki following close after Nora who skipped the entire way, with Loki questioning how Lie Ren put up with her.
But it was a welcome change to have someone energic and optimistic.
Walking into the cafeteria they saw Odin looking to the menu in thought.
"Do they have pancakes?" Nora questioned excitedly as she walked to the menu with Loki following, looking to the menu himself he simply gave an order for whit-bix and sugar, getting said bowel he sat down in wait for Nora and Odin.
Looking up he saw Nora sitting beside him eating a plate with Pancakes… a mountain of pancakes to be precise and Odin simply had cornflakes… with sugar.
"And I thought I had an odd appetite" Loki questioned with the two turning to him, with Nora looking at him adorably with a pancake in her mouth while Odin looked to him with a raised brow.
"Says the one who can turn into a Beowolf like creature" Odin said with Nora in mid bite before turning to Loki.
"So you can turn into a puppy?" Nora questioned with a raised eyebrow.
Making Loki turn to her with a small smirk with his right hand holding up with his fingers extending with claws with slight black fur growing with muscle, leaving Loki's right hand as a clawed hand, flexing his index finger he ran it slowly across the table he wrote his name with a smirk as Nora looked amazed.
"You do realise you'll have to fix that… right?" Odin questioned with Loki giving him a deadpan look as his hand shifted back to normal, with Nora noticing small jolts of lightning coursing through the veins of his hand.
"You didn't see anything" Loki said with Odin chuckling as he got up, bowl in hand.
"I'll be with my girlfriend" Odin said as he left the two to watch him walk to another table to see Yennefer, Gabrielle and Blake talking.
Along with teams RWY and JPR sitting down socialising.
"So…?" turning to Nora she had a mischievous smile that made Loki suspicious.
"Yes?" Loki questioned with his eyes narrowing in joking suspicion before they blinked as Nora held up her plate of empty pancakes, making Loki look to Nora who was beaming.
"Can I have more pancakes?"
"Only if I get two or three?" Loki said with Nora pouting before he shrugged and nodded, making Loki take her plate and walk to the foods.
"Another mountain of pancakes Mrs Barbara?" Loki said to the woman who smiled.
"I see you've got a girlfriend already?" the woman said with Loki blinking before shaking his head.
'No it's not like that, she just wants pancakes, and I'm taking three as payment" Loki said with the woman chuckling.
"Whatever you say kid, whatever you say, here you go" Barbara said as Loki now held a plate of pancakes, turning he saw Nora smiling excitedly, setting it down he took one from Nora's hand to eat, making her look at him he smiled cheekily with the girl blushing as she hid her face, looking back up the two shared a smile before Loki heard Gabrielle calling his name.
"I'll see you later I guess, enjoy the pancakes" Loki said with Nora looking after him she looked to the plate before she lifted it up and moved to sit with her team.
Sitting with his team Loki looked to Odin who at the moment was polishing his metal eyepatch, showing his right eye had a severe burn Loki winced.
"You alright?" Loki questioned with Odin looking up from his polishing, looking to his eyepatch he shook his head with a small wave.
'I'm fine, thanks for asking though"
"We're teammates, and in my case a pack, so it's my right to be worried for a member of the pack" Loki said with din chuckling as Yennefer giggled.
"I thought this was a pride seeing I'm a lion Faunus" Odin said with Loki smiling with Yennefer as Gabrielle was balancing a biscuit on her nose.
Before she leaned her head back and caught it in her mouth, letting out a small cheer before Odin leaned in and bit her biscuit, making Gabrielle let out a small "Eep" as Odin ate his piece, leaving Yennefer to the book she was reading and Loki to the ball of floating ash in his hand morphing into many shapes, before they looked up to the Intercom.
"to all first year students, you are given today to sort out your needed items before your four year stay in Beacon, use this day maturely"
"Huh, that's new" Loki said with Odin looking to Gabrielle before he took off.
"Let's go" Yennefer said as she followed after her brother, sooner followed by Gabrielle and Loki.
Vale hours later
Following after Yennefer and Gabrielle, Odin had a look of utter horror at being dragged into this situation again, his arms feeling as if they'd fall off from the weight he cursed his families bloodline for their luck of always getting women like Gabrielle, energetic, loyal, beautiful but mostly the torturous enigma known as shopping choices.
Letting out a groan of carrying his girlfriend's clothing he looked to Loki to see him not even holding Yennefer's supplies with strain or effort, in fact… much to his horror it looked like Loki was enjoying this current situation, even as Yennefer put an embarrassing hat on his head… where did it go exactly since looking at him now the hat was now black with a skull on the front (Overwatch Reaper hat).
Looking at his teams leader with a begging look Gabrielle noticed this and sighed, looking to the load of supplies and clothing she saw Odin struggling to stand while Loki merely had a small smile of waiting.
"Alright fine Odin, let's go back to Beacon," Gabrielle said with Odin cheering while Loki followed the two females of his team, looking to the right he spotted a certain informant waving to him.
Seeing his informant for the White Fang, Neopolitan, or who they liked to refer to as Neo smiled at him with a wink.
her hair color is typically half pink and half brown, with white streaks on the pink side, her eyes were brown, pale pink, and white, and they can alternate coloration in differing combinations, with this ability apparently being entirely under her control.
She wore a white jacket with a pink interior, brown pants, black gloves, and black and white boots with very high heels. Under her jacket is a brown corset, curved in the middle and at the bottom, exposing her hips. She also wears a multitude of necklaces, which hang haphazardly around her neck.
Holding an umbrella on her left shoulder Loki looked to his teammates before back to her and nodding to follow, making the petite smile and get up.
Following them to a bullhead where Loki placed his luggage he helped Odin put his in, allowing his three teammates to enter he turned and saw Neo drinking a milkshake on a chair in a café, turning to his team he spoke.
"I'll see you guys later, I have a friend to meet in Vale" Loki said with Odin turning to him with a raised eyebrow before he shrugged.
"Alright, but be safe, we'll see you later tonight" Gabrielle said with Loki nodding, stepping away towards Neo he smiled as she waved to him, watching the Bullhead take off to Beacon from the public landing pad he sat with Neo who smiled.
"Hey Neo, got any news for me?" Loki said with the petite moving her mouth, before she stopped and blushed before she pressed one of the beads on her necklace she let out a sigh of annoyance.
"The White Fang have found a large dust deposit in the Devils Pit" Neo said with her voice sounding mature yet youthful at the same time, with Loki frowning.