A/N: Er. Yeah. New Chapter. Fun fun fun.
Team RWBY and JNPR were all over the camp, trying to help wherever needed. Jaune had been placed with the injured, running back and forth to try and find a way to help ease their pains in any way.
Are you sure there isn't any shout that could heal everyone here? Jaune asked conversationally, as he moved from a green haired boy to a girl wearing a purple shirt, hands already lifting her up and wetting her lips with the water pouch he had on hand. Vedrahgol snorted in derision at the question.
Healing? No dragon needs help with healing. We fight until the enemy has fallen off of their feet or we die. And Dovah heal at magnificent rates anyway, so. Jaune could literally feel the dragon-soul's mental shrug, causing Jaune to unconsciously follow with an eye roll of his own.
Leave it to you to make things harder. Jaune said teasingly to Vedrahgol.
Jaune needed this banter with Vedrahgol. After several hours of tending to the wounded, Jaune's mind and body was starting to slow down and drift off into space. Talking with the dragon helped Jaune keep his mind on the tasks at hand and took his mind off of how badly some of them were suffering. Even Vedrahgol could feel the tension in Jaune's mind, and started to sober up.
It seems as if the whelp was able to anticipate your next moves. Vedrahgol said. Jaune didn't need to ask to know that he was talking about Imaar. Jaune nodded though, wholeheartedly agreeing with the statement.
Imaar had anticipated that they would send in help for Atlas. So he had set up an ambush to bring down the airships. But it seemed as if Imaar hadn't left anything to chance, and kept a detachment of land bound Grimm close by as well, which started to attack once the students and teachers fell into the forest. Judging by how many people were injured, Jaune could only assume that there were tens of thousands of Grimm in the forest, waiting to strike.
In fact, Jaune was sure that there were several thousands more lying in wait for them, only to pounce once the camp lowered its defenses.
With that dreary thought in mind, Jaune whispered one of his new shouts, and looked around the clearing, trying to spot to see if there were any approaching Grimm.
While there were a few packs approaching here and there, the active guard posts set up with individual snipers were making quick work of dispersing them. As relieving as that should be for Jaune, there was something that not even the keenest eyes in the trees could see.
All around the clearing, there was almost a wave of black surrounding them. Sure, it was probably still miles away, but the sheer number that Jaune could see sent a shiver down his spine.
We thought that by doing this, we would be boxing in Imaar… maybe though… maybe he has us boxed in, Jaune thought worryingly.
But at least there was some good news. When Jaune looked overhead, he could see the faint impressions of humans, flying in through the canopy. It didn't take long for everyone else to notice as well, as the force of the airship blasted their way through the trees. Taking every little victory that they could find, the Hunters and Huntresses-in-training raised their arms and cheered, happy that something was finally going their way.
It didn't take much longer before the airship appeared on top of the clearing, slowly hovering its way down before landing. The doors to the ship popped open, and about a dozen people came out with medical equipment and a few stretchers, ready to transport the wounded back to safety. Another figure appeared, and ran towards Professor Goodwitch, a worried look on his face.
The man approached the blonde witch quickly, and pulled her aside, whispering something into her ear. Jaune's stomach seemed to have formed another pit, as he saw Professor Goodwitch's face crease with worry. The man seemed to ask another question, which made the teacher pause for a second, before shaking her head and saying something back. The man finally nodded, then ran back to the unit helping the injured.
Professor Goodwitch pinched the bridge of her nose, taking a deep breath.
"Students!" She called out, attracting everyone's attention to her. "Good job on preparing everything in a timely manner, as well as aiding those who are in need. Unfortunately, with that comes bad news." The crowd stirred a little, uneasy, but ultimately, not very surprised. After all, they wouldn't be Hunters if there weren't surprises lurking in every corner.
"It seems that the while the airship was overhead the forest, they spotted hordes of Grimm approaching our location. The Grimm will be here in only a matter of hours. It was reported that there was many different type of Grimm." The professor took another deep breath.
"And they are also bringing in flocks of Nevermore."
Again, the muttering started, everyone knowing the implications of a flock of Nevermore covering the site. They would prevent any and all airborne vehicles from landing, and with that, delay or even stop the students from getting to the frontlines of battle.
"This is why all hands that are able will be needed at this moment! We need a barricade to be created, as fast as possible! The deeper the trenches, the higher the walls, the better! I also need the following people to me: Miss Coco, Mr. Arc, Mr. Blint, and Miss Gale."
Head rising when his name was called, Jaune saw that the professor had gotten very serious, her eyes hard. With haste, Jaune arrived right next to the other three called up.
"I am going to assign groups to the four of you. Miss Coco, you and your assigned teams will be building the ramparts, use any material necessary to make a solid wall. Mr. Blint, I will have two teams, as well as yours, to scout and harass the lines that are advancing us. Traps, mines, distractions, anything to slow them down as much as possible while keeping your force alive." The two leaders nodded and went on their way, calling out orders to the teams that Professor Goodwitch had pointed to while talking to them.
She turned her attention on the last two leaders.
"Miss Gale. I would like for you to work on the trenches, as well as build anything that will help that will help fire back over the walls. I know you're a talented engineer, and I'm going to be pairing you with other teams of the like. We only have a few hours, so make as much use of it as possible." With a nod, the girl left to gather up her force as well. Finally, the blonde witch turned her attention towards Jaune.
"Jaune. I'm assigning you three teams, along with you own." She pointed them out. Team RWBY, CRDL, and another team… team LAVA if Jaune could remember correctly. Professor Goodwitch continued, "I need you to set up something to pull away any Nevermore. We need to make sure the Airships can land, or else no one here is making it out. Understood?" Jaune nodded.
With a nod of dismissal from the professor, Jaune sprinted to the teams, calling out to them. As they turned their attention to Jaune, he barked out orders while his mind worked furiously.
I have a feeling that Professor Goodwitch isn't just assigning me to air patrol because of Nevermore. Jaune thought to himself, as well as the resting dragon inside of him. Vedrahgol was quick to agree.
I don't know how many of the corrupt Grimm there are in Remnant, but I would not be surprised to see if another one hinders our progress. Jaune nodded, trying to think of anything that could counter another dragon attack.
With a few distracted callouts, Ruby, and Levine, the leader of team LAVA, climbed the highest trees and set up sniper defenses, and with the help of team CRDL, also created artillery platforms that would support air defenses.
While that was happening, Jaune continued to consult Vedrahgol for some way to fight against a dragon.
I don't need to beat the dragon. Jaune thought, all I need to do is distract it for long enough that we don't have to worry about it trying to wreck the camp.
Vedrahgol nodded. Correct. Hm. Actually, I may have a few shouts that will aid us in battle. Let me show them to you…
And with that, Jaune continued to multitask and command the groups while learning a few shouts that would specifically hinder an attacking dragon. Without keeping track of time though, it was a blur of activity before Blint and his group burst through the clearing.
"They're coming!" Blint said, breathless. For half a second, everyone froze, surprised at the interruption to their almost trance-like working state. Then, the whole camp erupted into organized movement.
It was time to show what it was like facing an army of prepared Hunters and Huntresses.
The area ahead of them was silent, as everyone was in their ready stances, prepared to decimate anything moving.
Finally, with a rustle of bushes, a group of Beowulfs emerged, roaring in rage. And only a few seconds behind them were hordes of all types of Grimm, from Boarbatusks to Ursai. Without a battle cry of their own, every gunman raised their weapons and fired, almost continuously against the line of Grimm. Rows upon rows of Grimm toppled to their knees, disintegrating before their very eyes. Any Grimm that was fortunate enough to escape the firing squad was unfortunate enough to meet the blades of the ground troops, cutting through the monsters with ease.
Jaune stayed in the back, but not because he was afraid, nor was it because he was being useless. With a smart use of his shouts, Jaune continued to track the Grimm, from the ground ones to the airborne, and made sure that this information was relayed to the Professors, who were acting as the field commanders to the Hunters and Huntresses before them. Without the ability to hide from sight, any attempt at an ambush was quickly defeated before it could even be mounted.
Jaune kept an eye out for the airborne Grimm, trying to find a particularly large flame that would signify a dragon coming down upon them. But the only things that he could see were the smaller, darker shadows of Nevermore and the slighter larger Griffons.
I don't get it. Jaune thought, a little frustrated. This can't be it. Imaar couldn't possibly think that this would be enough to take down a whole group of Hunters, did he?
Vedrahgol also stirred uneasily. There was something that was raking over his scales, something that told him this wouldn't be as simple as they initially thought it would be. But that had to be impossible. The only thing that could throw off such a solidly structured group at this point would be another Dragon… unless…
Jaune was knocked off of his feet as a resounding boom blasted the center of the camp into pieces. The fighters became a little scattered, and the perfect system that kept the Grimm at bay faltered just long enough for the Grimm to advance close enough so that explosive wielding Hunters, like Nora, were forced to revert to their melee forms.
What in the shattered moon made that explosion?! Jaune looked around, trying to pinpoint the source of the destruction. As the smoke cleared, he could see a crouched form in the middle of the crater, which straightened up and revealed itself to be… humans?
"What?" Jaune said his expression dumbfounded, as four girls rose out of the crater, wielding weapons. Eyes shining a dark hue of purple, and their auras shimmering the same color, the girls started to attack the camp from the inside.
One of them kicked up whirlwinds of all sorts, blowing away defenses and tents, and causing general disarray, while another settled back and shot arrows. The other two also kicked up a lot of trouble, one with her throwing knives and the other blasting shockwaves of fire towards tightly packed groups of Hunters.
With the sudden appearances of the girls, the rigid defense shattered, and the camp overrun with Grimm.
Jaune drew Crocea Mors, panicking. How's this possible? I thought I would be able to see the difference between human and non-human?
Well the answer's obvious then, isn't it? Vedrahgol said, his voice filled with impatience, these girls aren't human! Now kill them before they kill any more of your humans!
Without another word, Jaune went to engage the enemies, sword clashing against the spear-wielding girl.
"Why are you guys doing this?" Jaune demanded to know. The girl looked at Jaune, as if wanting to say something, but instead mumbled, "hrrrngh" before continued to attack Jaune. Without another word, Jaune focuses on fending off her attacks.
For once, just once, I'd love it if things went our way. Jaune raged at the world.
The world seemed to answer back, in a cacophony of steel and screams.
Omake
"Ruby! What are you doing?"
The brunette reaper spun her head around to look at a shocked Yang, who seemed as if she was half a second away from pummeling the… thing that was standing right next to her little sister.
"Yang! I was just talking about you! Come over here!"
Yang looked a little uncertain, but was caught off guard by the welcoming smile that both of them sported, and hesitantly stepped forward to join the two of them.
"So Rubes… you wanna introduce me to your new friend?" Yang asked, not taking her eyes off of… of it.
"Oh, well, you see, it's a pretty funny story and all. I saw him while I was walking back to the dorm and was like, wow, that's so cute! Then he was like, oh, I'm lost, can you help me? And I was like, sure I'd love to help, like wow, you're so cool and stuff. Anyways, we walked around campus for like, hours, and couldn't find—"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Yang interrupted, holding out her hands to stem the rapid flow of words leaving Ruby's mouth. "How did you know he was lost?" Ruby tilted her head to the side a little, not understanding the question.
"What do you mean? I just told you silly, he said that he was lost!"
Yang looked back and forth between Ruby and the dog, trying to make sense of what Ruby was saying.
"Okay." Yang said, breathing out through her nose. "Let me get this straight. You found a dog and it told you that it was lost?"
"He." Ruby corrected, "He was lost. Yes. Say hello Barbas!"
Yang was about to open her mouth to ask where in Oum's mighty underpants Ruby had thought of the name Barbas, and actually named the thing, before it opened its mouth and started to speak.
"Hello there, sister of Ruby. I am hoping that you'll be just as hospitable to me as—"
"Holy Dust from the pits of Schnee, it's talking!" Yang shrieked out, reflexively lashing out with a gauntlet and letting loose a shotgun blast that hit Barbas right in his snout and pretty much eviscerated the whole dog into a giant red mess.
"YANG!" Ruby gasped in horror, "You just killed Barbas!"
"It was a speaking dog! There's no way it wasn't a Grimm!" Yang countered, pointing at the spot where the dog was standing.
"A Grimm? A GRIMM? Then why's there BLOOD EVERYWHERE?!" Ruby yelled furiously, gesturing to the whole of the room. Yang turned to see blood on the floor, dripping from the ceiling and a few spots pattered onto Ruby's face.
"I… uh. Whoops?" Yang said meekly. Ruby's face was starting to turn red with anger.
"I can't believe you did that!" Yang waved her hands around, trying to laugh it off.
"Oh come on Ruby. It was just an accident. What's the worst that could happen?" Yang laughed nervously, rubbing the back of her neck.
A few dimensions away, Clavicus Vile raised his head, suddenly feeling a little… freer.