The airship blew away those standing near the landing zone. The roar of their engines died off, returning the entrance to the school to a relative volume. The students flocked out, rushing down the ramp before it fully extended outwards. The group pushed Xanthic ahead before he could catch up with his new friend. Riliane followed the railing leading down to the entrance, feeling the hundreds of thousands of footsteps echoing in her mind. Olive skipped happily off the ship, talking and laughing to her heart's content. D'art struggled, stumbling off before laying down on solid ground. Celeste left with an air of grace, stepping over the collapsed D'art. Owen looked around him in wonder, shocked at all the architecture and people bustling the streets. All the students spread around outside the main courtyard, showing off their semblances, weapons, and histories.
A young woman with silver hair and green eyes calmly disembarked the airship. Despite the warm air she wore a long black scarf and two different jackets. As she made her way towards the towering building a boy with messy reddish hair bumped into her in his own excitement. "Sorry 'bout that!" He spun to apologise, revealing his yellow eyes, and continued walking backwards.
"Y-you're fine," She said quietly.
"I know," he winked with a toothy grin. "Though I have to say you look fantastic…" The boy with messy raspberry red hair paused and gave her an expectant look.
"Amelia Crayne," she told him as she started to blush and accepted the handshake he offered. It was only then that she noticed his fingernails ended in sharp points like claws.
"I'm Simba Darude-Lion, it's a pleasure Amelia." Simba put his hands behind his head, Amelia didn't really understand why as it looked fairly uncomfortable. "I don't suppose you've already decided on who you want to be on your team, cause I think we'd work really well together."
"Well… I can't say I've put much thought into it… But don't you think that's a bit hasty to say?"
"Not at all," Simba laughed proudly. "I'm about as good with new people as you are beautiful. Though that might be a bit of an exaggeration of my part."
"O- thank you…" His flattery felt strange, but Amelia still appreciated it nonetheless.
Simba was very proud of himself for putting her in a good mood, but suddenly his smile turned into a shout, "Duck!" As she was told to Amelia bent her legs and a small brown orb glowing yellow narrowly missed her head and Simba caught it. "What're you doing, Moony!? You're the one that keeps telling us how dangerous these are!" Despite the mention of danger Simba chucked the ball back at the boy with his same hair color, though "Moony's" was much longer and slightly better kept.
"Sorry to interupt your… Whatever you want to call it, but Dan just had a surprisingly good idea!" The boy in dark purple robes yelled back after effortlessly catching the orb.
"My brothers can't do anything on their own," Simba tried to explain.
"Don't flatter yourself," Another young man with the same hair, his was a perfect mix between the other two. He was just slightly taller than Simba and could easily lift him over his shoulder. "We just need another set of hands. Hope my lil' bro didn't bother you too much," He turned to Amelia briefly before walking away as if everything about this was completely normal. Amelia couldn't help but notice his happily swishing lion tail. She put them out of her mind and made her way along with all of the first year students eventually gathered in the same room to hear the headmaster speak.
"I'll...keep this brief. You have traveled here today in search of knowledge-to hone your craft and acquire new skills. And when you have finished, you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people. But I look amongst you, and all I see is wasted energy," Ozpin started his speech. Celeste scoffed in the crowd.
"Don't like the speech?" Riliane asked.
Celeste looked over to the other girl, surprised. "I'd rather begin the fighting," Celeste replied.
The other girl nodded. "Before we fight, though, we must learn how." Celeste got closer to the other girl.
"I know how to fight, there is no question about that." Riliane giggled. Celeste stepped back, a slight blush upon her cheeks.
"My name is Riliane. May I know yours?" she asked reaching her hand out in front of her. Celeste reached out slowly to take it.
"Celeste. So... I saw you getting off the ship earlier. If I may ask, are you… you know..."
"Blind? Yes I am." Riliane answered. "Sorry." Celeste said, slowly taking her hand away. "Don't apologize. Life throws many obstacles at us, and it is up to us how we respond to the challenge." The rest of the of speech proceeded with Celeste staring at Riliane, and the latter thinking she was alone. A girl with black hair ran past, not however catching the eye of Celeste. "It is up to you to take the first step."
Later
Eve, the girl with black hair and a piercing blue eye walked down the hall. Her mouth seemed to be in a permanent frown as put her face in her scroll, finding her way towards the library. She nearly slammed into the large wooden doors in front of her before looking up quickly. Near the doors was a silver plate with the words 'Library' carved onto it. It was closer than she had thought, she put the scroll in her pocket, opening the large wooden doors with no difficulty.
A large room with bookshelves lining the walls opened up before her. When she stepped into the library, she let out a small sigh of relief. No more hectic hallways and bustling crowds of people. Eve bit her lip and picked a random book from the shelf, walking to a free table. She wanted nothing more than to lose herself in peace, quiet, and a good story. She sat down and opened the book to the first page, scanning the text before-
"Hello!" A chirpy voice pierced her ears. Eve flinched, and slowly looked up. A cheerful girl with a bright smile and short blonde hair beamed at her. Just what she needed. Eve looked back at the book and continued reading, trying to silently signal to the girl that she had no wanting to chit chat and that she wanted to be left alone. The girl however, stood where she was.
"Need something?" Eve asked finally. The girl laughed heartedly.
"I just wanted to say that's my favorite book! I thought no one else liked it!" The girl added. Eve blinked and slowly turned the book over, freezing when she read the cover. 'Ninja's of love.' Eve slammed the book on the table and got up. The library ceased it's whispering, staring at the two girls in the middle. The girl smiled innocently at Eve who stalked off, bag in hand.
"Hey wait up!" The girl called out behind her. Eve continued walking forward with a sigh. "Did you like it?" She asked, continuing excitedly. " I like chapter five, It gets really-" The girl hesitated. "It's really good." She finished.
Eve turned a corner, opening her scroll to look at a map of the school. Sleeping area, dorm, anything of the above. Eve frowned, she couldn't find it.
"What's your name?" The girl's words broke Eve's train of thought and she blinked.
"Pardon?" Eve asked, continuing to stare at the map.
"What's your name?" The girl asked again.
"Eve."
"That's a nice name." Said the girl. "The name's Olive."
"Nice to meet you." Eve said without sparing her a glance. Out of the corner of her eye, Olive grinned.
"You too! By the way, are you looking for something?" Olive asked, leaning over Eve's scroll. Eve sighed.
"Yes Olive, I'm looking for something." She responded.
"What for?"
"The sleeping area." Eve responded, exhausted.
"Oh! I was just there earlier, follow me!" Olive called out with a grin, prancing down hall. Eve stared at her, exasperated.
"Right." She said, following her slowly.
When the two entered the room they were looking for, they were forced to dodge a flying pillow. Eve ducked and blinked, taking in the chaos in front of her.
"PILLOW FIGHT!" Someone screamed. The large bedroom was engulfed in flying white cushions of death and angry screams. Eve and Olive stood to the side in silence.
"Is this the right room?" Eve asked finally. Olive was staring at the chaos in glee, she grabbed a ripped pillow off of the ground.
"This is it alright! I'm gonna join in on the fun!" Olive chirped, running into the fray with a fierce warrior cry. Exasperated, Eve stared after her and heaved a sigh.
And to think she expected good things from her peers. What a disappointment.
Earlier
"My fair lady." A young faunus boy with messy crimson hair said elegantly. He bent down and kissed the delicate hand of a girl with long blonde pigtails who fidgeted slightly, but didn't look his way. There were a couple snickers from the three other boys who stood to their right, observing the encounter. The male faunus flushed a light shade of crimson and cleared his throat, flipping his hair and then blowing it away when it plopped over his golden eyes.
"My name is Dan Darude-Lion. I was wondering if you could tell me yours." He said quickly, flashing a nervous smile.
"Riliane." She spoke quickly, as if wanting to be done with the encounter as quickly as possible. She took her hand out of the boy's with a polite smile.
"Boo." One of the boys from the right called out, throwing a pillow at Dan. It bonked him in the head and landed on the floor.
"Hey! Cmon!" Dan snapped. The group of boys hollered out several cat calls and grinned at the girl who seemed to be as soft spoken as ever. Dan grabbed the pillow on the ground and threw it back at the group angrily. "Sorry about that." He chuckled nervously. "They're just-" He didn't get to finish what he said, because three large pillows smacked his face and he stumbled backwards from the impact. Riliane finally looked up, her grey eyes widening as she looked around with a confused expression.
Dan was seething, his seemingly perfect flirting (in his point of view) was ruined by his uncouth brothers. He grabbed two pillows, one in his left, the other in his right, and threw them back at his siblings.
One of the pillows whisked past them, smacking a girl who sat a few feet away. Her hair was sky blue and came to her shoulders, as the pillow slid down her face and fell onto the floor Dan knew he had made a mistake. The girl's lilac eyes flickered open and blazed furiously, she stood up slowly, the pillow in hand. And then the screaming began.
Present
"Filthy minions!" Olive cried out zealously, standing on a large stack of pillows. "Charge towards our enemy and spill their blood!" She hollered while making a strange animal call, swinging a pillow over her head. With a laugh of joy she pointed to the opposing 'fort' of pillows. "Off with their feathers!" She shouted. Her side of the room obliged, several people charging with warrior calls towards the enemy with pillows of all assortments.
On the other side of the room, on another fort, was a girl with sky blue hair and lilac eyes. Her arms were crossed and eyes narrowed. Near the bottom of the pillow tower was a battered cardboard sign that had the words 'Fort Kickass' shabbily painted onto it's surface.
"Make them pay!" She barked, her side erupting in pillow soldiers meet the others in warfare.
In the middle of the room was a rather pathetic looking pile of pillows that surrounded four faunus brothers. They ducking the onslaught of feathers, throwing a few at both sides here and there.
The girl with sky blue hair, jumped down from the fort, grabbing two particularly long pillows, dodging a swipe and kicking the legs of the person who was in front of her. She made her way to the middle of the room while attacking those who passed her. Olive jumped down from her spot, swinging the pillow around like a sword and sprinting towards the center. As the two met eye contact and moved to attack, a piercing voice shattered the ears of everyone in the room.
"ENOUGH!" Yelled a woman with blonde hair, she stormed towards the center of the room. The screaming stopped abruptly, several students in mid attack slowly dropped their pillows and stepped back from their opponents.
In the center, Olive and the girl with blue hair stared at the woman, slowly letting their pillows fall to the ground. "Who started this?" Asked the woman angrily, she was seething. Hesitating, almost all the people in the room pointed to the small fort of pillows that contained the faunus brothers.
"That one threw a pillow at me." Spat the girl with blue hair, pointing to one of the brothers in particular. They flushed a bright shade of pink and slowly backed away.
The woman heaved a sigh and flicked her wand angrily. Slowly, the ripped pillows and feathers that laid on the ground hovered into the air, repairing themselves and flying to their original locations. The shabby sign with the words 'Fort Kickass' printed onto it was flung up into the air, ramming into the head of one of the faunus brothers. It was the tallest one of the bunch and he rubbed his head. The students, ignoring the event, watched in awe as the room went back to it's previous state, until it looked as if nothing had happened. Then the woman's eyes snapped to the faunus boy furiously. She grabbed him by the collar and dragged him out of the room, ignoring his screams.
Eve had been watching the entire affair with a doubtful gaze and a disappointed first impression. She plumped down on her sleeping bag in the corner, curled up under her blankets, and hoped no one would pay her any notice.
After the pillow fight affair, the entire room slept rather peacefully. Not one thought of initiation the next day, but of their homes and their pasts. A girl dreamt of her home in the forest of crimson trees. Another dreamt of their work in the mines, and the pain of losing an arm. There were many more. Not one imagined the horrors that awaited them tomorrow.
