Chapter 25
Bite and snarls
"Of all the people why did it have to be Oobleck!?" Odin cried as he held onto Gabrielle who was struggling to stay standing with him leaning on her.
"Guh, Loki, help with the mountain lion?" Gabrielle cried with Loki turning and lifting Odin up with little effort, allowing Gabrielle to relax and glare at her boyfriend who hung like a cub in a mother lions mouth, his eyes betraying his cuteness.
"Professor Oobleck" Weiss said with a hidden look of horror.
"Yes, I'm afraid those bags won't be necessary, girls… and boys, seeing as you've opted to shadow a Huntsman on what is now essentially a reconnaissance mission. I can assure you, we will not be establishing a single base of operations; rather, we will be traversing several miles of hazardous wasteland and making camp in any defendable locations we may stumble upon. I packed all of our essentials myself, plotted our air course, and readied the airship. And... It's Doctor Oobleck. I didn't earn the PhD for fun, thank you very much!" Oobleck said as he approached quickly to the Bullhead they were stationed to, leaving the two teams minus Loki horrified.
"Why aren't you disturbed of this?" Yang questioned Loki at noticing his tenseness replaced by a laidback slouch.
"Something told me he would be stationed to us" Loki said as he frowned at hearing a playful growl from a bag, making him turn to Ruby as she cheered… before she ultimately realised what she was cheering for.
"Well, alright, then! Looks like we're going to save the world with Doctor Oooobleck-okay yeah when you say it out loud it sounds worse." Ruby said with Odin ruffling her hair to lighten the mood, making her pout at the mountain lion Faunus who smiled before they turned to a familiar bubbly voice that made Loki smile.
"Save the WORLD!?" hearing Nora's voice Loki spun to pick her up after she leaped into his arms, making him kiss her as he spun around before she now rested on his back.
"You're going on world-saving missions without us? I'm hurt... sad! Maybe a little hungry? That last one's not your fault, though, Ren..." She ended with a playful glare to Ren who crossed his arms before Yennefer sat on his back, making him chuckle as she kissed his cheek, followed by him scratching her chin, getting a small purr from her animals species.
Making Odin stare with his arms crossed before he turned to Jaune.
"Sounds exciting. Where ya going?" Jaune questioned with a smile.
"We're going to Quadrant five, clearing out some Grimm" Gabrielle said with the four nodding before Nora spoke.
"So are we"
"Ren and Nora wanted to shadow the sheriff of a nearby village." Pyrrah said with Loki nodding.
"Be sure you keep her safe Ren seeing I won't be able to" Loki said with Nora smiling down to him with her eyes glowing slightly, a factor Blake also showed as she smiled lovingly to the two.
"I'll be safe puppy, and you look after him Kitty ninja" Nora said with Blake giving a playful salute that only Loki could muster.
"Of course commander Valkyrie"
"We set out tomorrow." Ren said before they heard Neptune speak.
Turning they saw him and Sun approaching.
"Then you can party with us tonight. We're shadowing a crime specialist. All inner-city detective stuff. We get junior badges." Neptune said with Loki and Odin showing no interest.
"That would be cool, but they have to follow regulations like all law enforcements" Loki said with a shrug, which got him one from Neptune while Jaune stood awestruck.
"We normally go to the city with you guys, which means stuff's always exploding and junk, so we thought this might be a better way to check out the kingdom when it's, you know... normal." Sun said with a shrug, making Loki look at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Sun, since when has it been nor-"
"Four minutes, ladies and gentlemen!" Oobleck called from their bullhead, making Loki and Odin cringe like everyone else stuck with the doctor.
"Well, uh... Wish us luck!" Ruby said with a small thumbs up, making Loki snort.
"We don't need luck" Loki said as Nora hopped off his back, making him turn to her to get a kiss.
"Be safe alright" Nora said with a smile that Loki returned as he stared into her own glowing eyes, making him blink at the sight before the glow vanished, leaving Loki confused before he shrugged it off and gave her one more kiss before leaving.
"I'll be back before you know it" Loki said before they got on the Bullhead, Loki sitting between Blake and Yang, looking to everyone present he shrugged with his clothes rippling into his Rogue Huntsmen outfit, minus the mask and collar.
Allowing them to look out the opening to see Beacon quickly shrinking into the distance, replacing the water between Beacon and Vale with buildings that mixed old cultured buildings with modern era designs, sitting back Loki decided to check if his weapons were loaded, bringing out Lucifer he loaded fresh rounds into the cylinder before moving onto his other weapons.
"I guess I just never saw you as much of a fighter" Yang said loudly over the turbines, making Loki look up to them to see they were standing at the open doors, hanging on securely.
"I admit I fancy myself more of an intellectual, but I can assure you, as a Huntsman, I've had my fair share of tussles." Oobleck said as Loki went to securing his handguns.
"Like the mushroom?" Turning to Ruby he saw Blake correct her.
"Those are truffles."
Still seeing the petite scratching her head she spoke once more.
"The sprouts?'
"Those are Brussels" Gabrielle corrected the girl who ultimately shrugged.
"Besides, given my expertise in the field of history as well as my dabblings in the archaeological surveys, our dear headmaster saw fit to assign me to this particular... assignment!" Oobleck said before Weiss spoke.
"What does history have to do with this?"
"Why, what a preposterous question, you silly girl! Why, history is the backbone of our very society! And the liver! Probably the kidneys, if I were to wager."
"Don't forget the spinal cord and brain function" Odin said with Loki nodding in agreement.
"And that means..?" Weiss said with Oobleck speaking with a serious voice.
"The southeast quadrant outside of Vale is home to wild forests and deep caves, but it is also the location to one of the kingdom's greatest failures, I'm sure you know what happened there Mr Fenris.
This made all eyes turn to Loki as he stood up and looked outside the side doors, seeing the Failure approaching.
"Mountain Glenn. Vale's first ever expansion attempt turned failure due to undermanned defences and impossible odds of survival, I was there when it fell, tried to get as many people out as I could, but those I had fought with were easily outnumbered, forcing us to retreat" Loki said with Blake frowning in worry.
"Do not blame yourself for those lost Loki, you were young in those years, but now you can help guide us around the area seeing you were there" Oobleck said as he placed a reassuring hand on Loki's shoulder, making the werewolf Faunus smile at the doctor before he looked to Mountain Glenn once more.
Which made him glare at the thought of this mass graveyard being used as a hideout for terrorists, making Loki clench his free hand in anger with small bits of ash rising to his anger before he inhaled slowly, watching the sight of an empty street rising up to them he was the first to drop down after they reached twenty feet, landing with a small dust cloud rising around him he stepped out as the Bullhead got a safe height for the others to join him, making him bring out Lucifer and Thor he scanned the area for any grimm as the others joined him, with Oobleck sipping from his canister.
"Ladies! Gentlemen! You still may be students, but as of this moment, your first mission as Huntsmen and Huntresses has begun! From this point forward, you need to do exactly as I say! Do you understand?" Oobleck said before he noticed Ruby with her backpack still present.
"Ruby! I thought I told you to leave all of your bags back at school." Oobleck said with the two teams turning to Ruby who smiled nervously.
Making Loki sniff the air to catch the whiff of a corgi.
"But, uh, you hadn't told us to listen to you yet. So I didn't."
Hearing this Oobleck stopped and looked away with a mutter.
"She's not wrong... Very well, Ruby; leave your bag here, we can pick it up upon our return."
"But I, well uh-"
"Young lady, what in the world could you possibly have in that bag that could be so important to bring it with..." Oobleck began until Zwei's head came out of the now opened Zipper, making everyone stare while Blake hid behind Loki who held her on his back.
"You brought your dog?"
"Get back in the bag" Ruby whispered to Zwei who merely barked in response.
"We're here to investigate an abandoned urban jungle teeming with death and hostility, and you brought... a dog?" Oobleck said with Ruby growing nervous until he zoomed by her, grabbing Zwei in the process.
"Genius!"
"Canines are historically known for their perceptive nose and heightened sense of sound, making them excellent companions for a hunt such as ours-" Stopping he gestured to Loki who looked annoyed and offended.
"Along with Mr Fenris' nose of course" Oobleck said before zooming around once more, with Ruby taking pride.
"I'm a genius!" this, in turn, got both Weiss and Yang to facepalm at their smiling leader.
"So, what are your orders, Doctor?" Blake said with professionalism, even though she was smiling at Ruby with Yennefer trying not to giggle.
"Ah, yes, straight to the chase; I like it!" Oobleck said with Loki and Odin catching the sound of something approaching, making Loki grip Lucifer tightly.
"As you've been informed, the southeast area has been marked as a recent hot spot for Grimm activity. Now, there are several possible explanations for this behavior, one of which being-Grimm." Oobleck said with team RWBY confused until Loki spun and fired a round into a mid-lunged Beowolf, turning back to Oobleck the doctor spoke.
"Excellent reflexes Mr Fenris" leaning to look past Loki the teams followed his action and saw another lone Grimm scouting around.
"Though there appears to be more"
"If we keep a neutral grip on our emotions they won't bother us unless they catch our scent" Odin said with the others nodding.
Bringing out their weapons Oobleck stopped them.
"Stop" turning to the doctor in confusion Loki kept an eye on the Beowolf.
"There are a number of reasons why Grimm will congregate in this particular area, the most likely of which will be their attraction to negativity: sadness, envy, loneliness, hatred. All qualities that are likely held by our hidden group harboring ill intent." Oobleck said with team RWBY turning to him.
"So... What now?"
"We wait. We track. If this specimen leads us to its pack, that pack may subsequently lead us to our prey." Oobleck said with all but Loki turning to him.
"How long will that take?" Gabrielle questioned the doctor.
"It's uncertain. Hours, days, weeks. Why, lone Grimm have been known to stay isolated from the pack for months-"
"The pack is here" Loki said while pointing at the once alone Beowolf, making everyone turn and see the whole pack scavenging the area.
"What?" Really Weiss?
"They see us!" Odin said in warning as he and Yennefer readied their weapons with Loki growling, along with Blake letting out a panther-like growl.
While Weiss repeated her question only louder, with Oobleck answering her equally as loud.
"AND NOW THEY'VE SEEN US!"
"Trackings out of the question now I guess" Loki said as he fired at the incoming Grimm, Gabrielle keeping closer targets at bay with her fire imbued buckshots.
"An accurate assumption, yes" Oobleck said as he watched the two members of GLOY keeping the growing horde at bay.
"What now Doctor?"
Turning to Ruby with a dramatic feel, he spoke.
"Show me what you're capable of."
"You heard him, Let loose!" Gabrielle said with a cheer with Loki the first to rush forward, letting out a snarl as he shoulder checked a Beowolf, impaling it into a metal pole from an old concrete pillar he ducked under a swipe to form a shield on his left arm, backhanding the Grimm to stun it he threw it into the air with the shield for Odin to throw his spear through its head, nailing another Grimm into a wall it called it back to knock down another Grimm, sending it Yang's way he watched her pulverize it with just her punch's, making him wince at the thought of Loki somehow taming this dragon.
Turning to Weiss who was being flanked he stabbed his spear into the chest of a mid-lunged Beowolf, getting a roar of agony he sent it flying to the sneaky Grimm behind Weiss, making the Heiress turn to see the thrown Beowolf knocking its brethren down, followed by Weiss freezing them solid.
"Thank you Odin!"
"ANYTIME, ICE QUEEN!"
"CAN YOU ALL STOP CALLING ME THAT!" Weiss yelled
"NO!" the seven yelled with laughter as they held the small horde at bay, with Loki smiling as he stood beside Blake and Gabrielle, firing at any stragglers while Ruby fired her Crescent Rose.
Seeing the small pack of Beowolf diminished around the abandoned street, Loki followed the others to Oobleck with team RWBY standing at attention.
"Do not celebrate yet, for I am certain this is the first bout of many, team GLOY, we'll split up to cover more ground seeing as the four of you handled yourselves well, team RWBY, you four will accompany me to the south of the area, and GLOY the north, Now, let us continue" Oobleck said with the teams nodding.
"Stay safe you lot" Gabrielle said with the four nodding, turning to Loki Blake spoke.
"Be safe ok, Nora expects both of us back" Blake said with Loki chuckling.
"We're all going back, and besides, it's a simple clear the area mission, we'll be fine" Loki said before placing a kiss onto her forehead, followed by Yang pulling him into a kiss before running after the others, leaving Loki with Blake who let out a small giggle.
"Okay come on lucky boy" Gabrielle said as she and Yennefer dragged Loki away, with Odin laughing hysterically at the werewolf Faunus' face.
Walking beside her Partner who had a contempt smile, Blake spoke.
"Was that necessary?"
"Oh yeah, worth it more than you think" Yang said as Oobleck led them further.
"Okay Loki, any news you want to share about the surroundings?" Gabrielle questioned as they stood within an abandoned Café, with Loki sitting back on a table with his feet on said table, with Odin leaning on the counter with his arms crossed, Yennefer sitting on the counter while Gabrielle held her shotgun to the window in case any Grimm spotted them.
Leaning forward in his seat, Loki brought out his scroll to bring out a holo-map, a sight that made his team blink at in shock, standing up to see more thoroughly, Loki pointed out a small building where four green blips were.
"Alright, so far we're here and team RWBY and Oobleck are to the south, right now were have the smaller area to clear out and explore for White Fang, right now we're here" Loki said as he indicated the red blips, with Odin nodding in understanding.
"I'm still trying to figure out why the White Fang chose this for a hideout location, there's nothing here" Yennefer said with Odin correcting her.
"Nothing on the surface, what people keep forgetting is the expansion also had deep caverns below, even an entire city was built below when they mined the Dust enough" Odin said with Loki nodding as he typed on his scroll, making his three teammates perk up as their scrolls beeped.
"I've set up GPS' on your scrolls for quick rendezvous points and regrouping, no one is getting lost" Loki said with Gabrielle speaking.
"How are you doing this, we're nowhere near the CCT to get reception?"
"Believe it or not I didn't trust the towers back then like everyone did, so I built my own separate communication system, I was gonna propose the backup to ironwood but once again the egotistic council denies my proposals, so I instead set them up on my travels, quite handy right" Loki said with the three nodding, before they heard a howl outside, making Gabrielle ready her weapon until Loki stopped her, confusing his teammates as he ducked down, making his other teammates follow suit as an Alpha Beowolf came into view, snarling at something out of their view… until whatever the growling Beowolf was on edge towards roared back, making Loki and Odin's eyes widen as a Beringal walked into view, snarling at the Beowolf as they circled each other, making Yennefer frown in confusion at the sight of Grimm being territorial.
"This is weird, this is a first sight for Grimm to be territorial against each other" looking to Yennefer the three turned back to the Grimm, the Beringal pumping itself up by hitting its chest, making the Beowolf roar before the two rushed at each other, the Beringal raising its hands to slam the Alpha to the ground, only for it to be spear tackled by the Alpha Beowolf, which bit down on the Beringals face as the Beringal punched its sides to get it off, it was this moment Odin saw his sister do something stupid.
Which was run out with her daggers ready.
"Yen-what the hell is she doing!?" Odin said as Loki followed after her, followed by Odin and Gabrielle, crashing through the door they saw the Alpha thrown off by the Beringal, ducking under the thrown Beowolf the Beringal set its sight on Yennefer and Loki, letting out a roar it lunged at Yennefer who was the closest.
Looking like its attack was about to connect it was tackled away by a lycanthropic Loki who bit it's right shoulder, moving left and right to worsen his bite Loki threw the Beringal away to keep Yennefer safe.
Looking to where the Beowolf was thrown Yennefer saw it disoriented, looking to Loki and the Beringal as it tackled Loki away she turned and rushed to the Beowolf, with Gabrielle and Odin looking at her like she was crazy, moving to stop her they turned to see Loki roar as the Beringal bit down on his right arm, leaving him to left hook it off.
"Help Loki, I'll see what she's planning" Gabrielle said with Odin nodding as he readied his spear, activating the lightning dust with the blade he rushed to help his friend.
Upon approaching the Beowolf Yennefer saw it was pinned down by a concrete pillar against the collapsed storefront, and upon seeing her the Beowolf bared its teeth in warning, making Yennefer back away until she heard Loki and Odin being thrown around, Loki having to keep Odin out of harm's way as they fought.
Turning back to the Concrete pillar with a look of determination Yennefer ignored the Beowolf as she moved to the pillar, making her panic at how close she was to the jaws of death she grunted as she tried to move the pillar off of the Beowolf as it began to stop growling.
"COME ON, Move you piece of hardened dirt!" Yennefer said with a grunt until Gabrielle came to help.
"If you're gonna do something stupid I may as well come to get you out of trouble!" Gabrielle grunted as they began to make progress, making the Beowolf turn its body with its right arm freed, it pushed the rest of the concrete off with the two panting, until they froze as they realised what they had done, turning to the Beowolf it let out a soft rumble in its throat as it looked at the two, allowing them to see three scars on its face, probably from the Beringal that was now getting the upper hand against Loki and Odin.
Sniffing the two as they stood still as statues it turned to the Beringal as it had Loki at its mercy, the werewolf Faunus trying to Bite its foot that was keeping him down while Odin was thrown through a window.
Standing on its two feet the Beowolf let out a howl that echoed, making Yennefer cover her ears with Gabrielle as the Grimm lunged towards the fight, leaping up so it landed on the Beringals back it bit down on its left collar bone, enticing a roar of agony from the Beringal it thrashed wildly to shake off the Beowolf, failing to see Loki stand up with his own look of anger, teeth bared and right hand poised to strike he did so as the Beringal turned towards him, leaving its throat open to the vicious swipe he had ready.
Leaving the Beringal a gurgling mess as the Alpha Beowolf dropped off the Beringal, growling in satisfaction at the dying Beringal it turned to Loki who stared back.
Watching the two stare at one another Yennefer saw it made no move to strike Loki, instead it turned and began to leave, a noticeable limp in its step, stopping and turning to Loki he shifted back into his human state, giving a nod of thanks, surprisingly he got one back with Odin crawling out of the store.
"What I miss?"
Looking to the fading corpse of the Beringal Yennefer spoke.
"You wouldn't believe us if we told you, brother" Yennefer said with a smile.
"What possessed you to do that?" Loki questioned the Leopard Faunus she smiled awkwardly with a shrug.
"I just suddenly had a thought of Cardin changing after the Forever Fall excursion, how he came from being a Dick to a good friend, that and Ren has been filling my head with haiku's and Philosophies," Yennefer said with Loki sighing as he helped Odin walk his daze off.
"let's just keep looking around until we rendezvous with the others" Loki said with a sigh as he lifted Odin onto his shoulders as he spoke dreamily of "Oh Gabrielle, I would like more grapes and yogurt please".
This, in turn, made Loki look to Gabrielle who blushed at hearing her boyfriends slurred words.
It had been a good few hours of looking for any signs of human and Faunus contact to the abandoned streets that the four noticed that they had gotten no other contact with any Beowolf, a fact that Yennefer had smiled inwardly at the thought before they heard a growl, making them turn to see a Ursa running at them, making the four ready their weapons until Loki noticed a stone falling from the ruin of a three storey building, looking up he saw a Beowolf fall down onto the Ursa, followed by three more shoulder charging it into a wall, allowing them to tear out its guts that instantly began evaporating into black smoke, leaving the four to stare in slight horror at the instant death of the Ursa, until they flinched at hearing a snort beside them, showing the same Alpha Beowolf from before standing beside Yennefer, turning its head to her the four noticed its red eyes a bright blue, turning to what could possibly be called its pack they approached the four, mouths black with grimm Blood, staring at the four with neutrality they turned to Loki whose eyes glowed in challenge, until the Alpha walked by him, cutting through the pack they turned and followed it away.
It was that moment the scroll of Gabrielle came to life, picking it out of her pocket it showed Ruby's face as the caller ID, answering Gabrielle spoke.
"Yes Ruby… Alright we'll meet up with you guys, you will not believe what we found" hanging up she pocketed her scroll and began to make her way, followed by the others who jogged after snapping out of their stupor.
Upon finally reaching the others they had a fire ready and going with extra food cooking, seeing Ruby waving from a window with crescent Rose in its sniper form Loki' stomach chose that time to rumble for food.
Walking into the camp to see Yang, Blake and Weiss looking exhausted the four shared a look with Blake speaking.
"Why are you four good for wear?" looking to the three Yennefer spoke.
"We… had some help" this got the attention of nearly everyone in the camp.
"Really, who else could be out here?" Oobleck questioned with Yennefer turning to Gabrielle and Loki, the latter shrugging.
"I… wouldn't say someone, more like what" Yennefer said with the five looking at them in confusion.
"Child, what do you mean?"
"We got help from an Alpha Beowolf, helped it kill a Beringal" Loki said with Oobleck looking at them in shock.
"A Beowolf, with three claw marks on its facemask?" Oobleck questioned with Loki nodding.
"yeah, why?"
"it helped us when we were starting to be surrounded by Ursa and Creeps, had a lot of Beowolf to back it up" Yang said with Loki and Yennefer looking at her in surprise.
"Wow, talk about small world" Yennefer said as she sat down with Oobleck handing her a plate of camp food, which was steak.
"I can go for some steak right now" Loki said as his mouth began to water, making everyone laugh.
Not noticing a certain Alpha Beowolf watching closely while lying down, its blue eyes melting into gold before resting its head down.