"Are you guys O.K.?" Natasha immediately asked once Ravus and Aero found the rest of the team.
"Why wouldn't we be?" Ravus responded, brushing away Natasha's hand as she tried reaching for his shoulder.
"We heard you fighting something." Vivian explained.
"Oh, that." Ravus said, nonchalantly. "That was the Ursa we saw."
"I thought you weren't going to attack it yet?" Vivian asked confused.
"We didn't. It charged." Aero said, looking over at Ravus. Vivian and Natasha turned to look at Ravus as well. Natasha's eyes were wide and her mouth hung open slightly. Why does she look so concerned? We said we would watch the Ursa and we did. We've handled others before.
"It charged? At you?" She asked, her eyes scanning Ravus' expression.
"It charged at both of us. And we took care of it." Ravus returned, turning to Olive. "How about we take care of that wood bridge and finish this mission."
"I can appreciate the confidence kid but-"
"Alright then, let's get going." He interrupted, turning around back toward the bridge. Now that you've made your public appearance we can get to work.
Once the team made it to the bridge, they were able to get a better look at what it was made of.
"Well, this definitely isn't made by man or animal." Vivian said, crouching down to get a better look. "These branches look like they've been hit by lightning. And they aren't arranged in any order."
"Wouldn't that mean that water could get through?" Natasha asked.
"Most likely the branches were dragged along the bottom by the current, kicking up sand and mud." Aero hypothesized. "When the branches caught on these large rocks, the material kicked up then was able to plug any gaps in the branches."
"So why don't we just break up the branches and let the water flow?" Ravus suggested. "One blast from your weapon Natasha should do the trick." He added looking at his teammate.
"Actually Ravus," Natasha replied, hesitating a moment, "I don't think that's the best idea."
"Why? It's just wood?" Ravus returned.
"Well, you see-"
"Fine." Ravus huffed, turning to Vivian. Natasha obviously is infatuated with Olive. "Viv, use your ax for what it was built for and start chopping."
"Bad to the Bone was not built for chopping wood." Vivian began, clutching her weapon protectively. "And I agree with Natasha." Ravus looked at her dumbstruck. Vivian too? But she's always the one worried about efficiency? What's going on with my team?
"Guys, it's wood." Ravus said gesturing to the bridge. "If it wasn't for the water we could literally burn this down and be gone in an hour."
"Ravus, some problems are not as simple as they appear." Vivian argued.
"Yeah, if you would listen-"
"Aero, can you take care of this?" Ravus asked, ignoring Natasha.
"Ravus," Aero started. Ravus lowered his eyelids, causing Aero to falter. Aero looked over at Vivian and Natasha. Vivian shrugged and Natasha crossed her arms over chest, turning away from the boys.
"Ravus," Olive began. Ugh, what's she going to tell me this time? "are you sure, beyond a doubt, that this is the best first action to take?" Ravus looked at Olive, confused. What does that mean?
"Yes." He said, looking her in the eye.
"Alright." She conceded. "Aero." Aero took out Moonlight and spun the dust chamber again. However, after several strikes, the only damage to be made to the bridge was a few scratches in the wood.
"Ugh. Let me do it." Ravus groaned, transforming Shooting Star so both blades were on the same side like a scythe.
"What are you gonna do Ravus?" Natasha asked, worry still touching her voice.
"I'm gonna get rid of this pile of wood." He replied taking a step onto the bridge. Aero was just being to safe. Ravus squared himself on the wood bridge, finding a place to hook the blade under a piece of wood. This will take care of it.
At the sound of the ammunition leaving Shooting Star, Ravus jumped, taking a piece of wood with him. However, more than one piece was released as a result of the blast. A large piece knocked into Ravus' leg as he fell, knocking him off balance and causing him to miss his landing. He had only a moment before he was swept under the water.
Ravus struggled to breach the surface, the formerly calm river flowing violently with the rush of water the broken bridge released. Soon, Ravus' lungs gave way and he inhaled a large amount of water. Suddenly, he stopped moving and faintly felt pressure on his shoulder.
His head broke the surface of the water and he gasped for air, coughing as he struggled to clear away the water in his lungs. He felt being laid down onto the hard ground as he panted, finally able to breath. He blinked opened his eyes, seeing a wet Vivian and Natasha above him.
"Ravus?" Natasha, implored. "Ravus?"
"Yeah." He coughed out, his throat burning from the water. She sighed in relief. Aero walked over and offered a hand. Ravus reluctantly took it and stood to his feet.
"Well," Olive spoke, "now that that excitement is over, how about we find our quarters for the night." Ravus lightly nodded, allowing everyone to go before him as they walked.
Ravus rubbed his hair with a towel as he sat on his bed. Team RAVN and Olive had been set up in a small hut near the edge of the river. The rest of the team thought to take a walk around the perimeter of the village but Ravus opted to stay behind. Ravus let go a heavy sigh as he thought of Natasha and Aero's face when he told them he didn't want to join them. Aero looked like Dad whenever Uncle Qrow comes to visit and is drunk. Natasah, Ravus sighed again, Natasha looked like someone just broke her heart. Ravus dropped the towel to the floor and fell back on his bed.
"I guess someone did." He said aloud.
"Did what?" Ravus bolted upright and saw Olive standing in the doorway. Ugh.
"Oh, I was just thinking if the village, uh, prepared for Huntsmen to visit." He lied. Olive nodded her head slightly.
"Yup." She agreed. "Most villages try to have a place for visitors to stay. Most Huntsmen stay in inns if the village is large enough for frequent visitors. But," she paused, taking a seat on a bed across from Ravus, "most Huntresses and Huntsmen aren't called to those type of villages."
"Hm." Ravus responded, looking out the small window.
"So, what happened today?" Olive asked. Ravus looked over at her.
"What do you mean?" He returned sharply.
"Oh, it was a strategy my old team used." Olive explained, casually crossing her legs. "We would always review what happened that day. The good. The bad." She paused again. "The embarrassing." Ravus glared. She smiled back and Ravus quickly returned to the window.
Did you really just do that? To a Huntress? Ravus thought, mentally slapping himself.
"So," Ravus started, clearing his throat, "what normally happened during this." Ravus asked, actively trying not to grit his teeth.
"Well, most of the time our leader would open it up to whomever wanted to share first." Olive explained. "Then once it was done, she would lead us in making almost a, resolution, for the next day."
"Wait, you weren't the team leader?" Ravus asked, turning back to Olive. She nodded in confirmation. "Then why are you so big on 'this I what a leader should do'?"
"I saw what a leader did. And I know what a leader can do." She explained. "My team couldn't have been more different. I was born and raised in the city of Vale and thought I'd seen it all when it came to crime. My partner grew up in a small village and had never seen an airship until she left for Beacon. Our leader and her partner were equally opposing forces, with very different ideas of how to handle conflict." Ravus turned more toward Olive, curious where she was going.
"But," Olive continued, "by the end of our time at Beacon, I knew that I would do anything for our team leader. Just like I knew they would do anything for me. Just like your team did for you." Ravus looked down at the mention of RAVN.
"What," Ravus cleared his throat, "what happened earlier today?"
"Well, after you broke loose the wood piece with your weapon, it left a weak point in the bridge. That, combined with the pressure from the blast, cause the entire structure to fail. The water rushed in and took away almost the entire bridge."
"I know that." Ravus grumbled. "What happened after that."
"Your team happened." Olive said gently. "Natasha immediately began chase. She was practically flying down the river. Vivian started calling for Aero and he was the one to stop you thanks to Natasha's spotting. Once stopped, Vivian and Natasha were able to support each other through the rushing water until they reached you." Ravus swallowed, imagining the whole scene.
I messed up. I messed up big time. And they still got me.
"I realize I don't know much about you Ravus." He turned to Olive at his name. She had her hands folded in front of her, leaning her elbows on her knees. "But I have a little experience with being a part of a team." She smiled, and for a moment, Ravus smiled back. I guess she does have a sense of humor. "And I know that a Hunstmen won't always need a team, but a leader does." Olive paused, then lightly groaned as she stood up. "Well, I'd probably get back. Can't do much just sitting down." Ravus followed Olive with his eyes as she left the hut.
Ravus lied down and took a deep breath, taking in the fresh forest air and Olive's words. Hunstmen won't always need a team, but a leader does.
"But I'm both." Ravus said out loud, staring at the ceiling. "I know my team needs a leader. That's what I'm trying to do. But I need to be the best I can be and, they, they…" Ravus let his voice fade, lost at what to say.
"Who were you talking to?" Ravus jumped slightly and looked at the door. Vivian stood in front with Aero and Natasha slightly behind her.
"Oh, uh." Rabus stumbled again, cursing himself for talking out loud again. I need to stop doing that. "Just my Dad."
"Oh. Any news?" Natasha asked, taking a seat on a bed.
"No."
"Hmm." She replied. Aero leaned against the wall by the door Vivian had joined Natasha.
"So," Ravus drew out, "any news from the village?"
"We explained to some of the residents what happened earlier." Aero began. "They were worried a Grimm had broken in with all the noise."
"They also wondered where the new bridges came from." Vivian added.
"New bridges?" Ravus asked.
"After the one bridge gave out, the wood collected into two bridges farther downstream." She explained. "They aren't quite as large as the original but someone or something could still cross it."
"And this has made the village more nervous because there are three now, all at separate parts of the river." Natasha continued.
"Three?" Ravus asked. "We're going to need to remove three?"
"Yeah. It had been one but after the village had tried demolishing the wood it became two. And now it's three." Natasha finished quietly. Ravus looked at her, his throat dry.
"The village-"
"Had tried what you had done before we got here." Vivian answered before he finished.
"They had told us when we visited the village while you watched the Ursa." Natasha added. Ravus looked over at Aero, who just stared back with no expression.
"Guys, I," Ravus began, his whole mouth dry. "I messed up." He finished, looking at the floor. There was a long pause. Ravus gripped the edge of the bed, his whole body tense.
"Apology accepted." Natasha said, breaking the silence. Ravus looked up, his mouth hanging open slightly.
"For now." Aero added, arms crossed over himself. Ravus closed his mouth, understanding.
"We are here Ravus." Vivian began, her voice firm. "We want to know that you are too." Ravus looked at each of his teammates. His friends.
"I'll, I'll try."