Standard Disclaimer: I don't own Ruby or anything else I may reference. I have some claim to my OCs.

Okay. This chapter took way longer than I thought it would. I'm not sure how well it turned out.

Before beginning I just want to say thanks to Presbydos for the fics first review, and reply to questions:

In regards to Sam carrying a lot of weapons. He's carrying a primary weapon, a sidearm, and a knife. If one were to use a soldier as an example, then this would probably be standard equipment. The only piece of 'non-standard' equipment would be his grappling hook, and that probably wouldn't take up too musch more space. I guess it sounds like a lot, but I don't think it's all that much more.

In regards to modifying the rifle into a transformable melee weapon. Since the rifle has a bayonet, it technically is a short spear already. The purpose of using a rifle with a bayonet is that it is always in melee mode and always in gun mode. It is primarily a ranged weapon, but is meant to fill both roles simultaneously.

Chapter 7

The initiation was over. Once we reached the top of the cliffs we were met by one of the professors, not one I recognized, who informed us that we four were going to be on the same team. I suppose it makes sense that we were told now rather than wait until the ceremony tonight. That event was when they would announce team names and leaders.

For now we were sent back to Beacon to wait for tonight, and to get some food.

The dining hall was far from packed, initiates only at this point, and not everyone had completed the test yet.

The four of us were in good spirits. Arthur had his default smirk, Harriet was practically bouncing up and down, and Daniela was happy (and somewhat smug) about being right about the method of team selection, and was happily babbling away about potential team strategies already.

Then Art interrupted. "Okay, don't get me wrong, you've got some good ideas, but why are you acting like you're already team leader?"

I looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"...Okay fine she's probably-"

I raised my eyebrow further.

"...okay definitely going to be picked as leader. New argument, we have plenty of time for ideas and testing over the next four years. Dani, how about you relax and enjoy the moment? Right Sam?

I smiled. "Fair enough."

Daniela was silent for a moment. Then she smiled. "I guess."

Art smiled. "Right. You agree, Sam agrees, and you agree too right Harri?"

Silence.

"Harri?"

We all looked at where she had been sitting. She wasn't there.

I may not have known Harriet long, but my impressions thus far meant that the idea of her running around unsupervised shortly after being seen in an excited state filled me with a vague sense of dread.

"That was fucking awesome!"

The feeling intensified when we heard her shout.

Daniela was the first of us to speak. "...If I look in her direction will I see Harriet talking to the group that took down the Nevermore?"

I looked. "…Yep."

Daniela nodded, and then scrambled out of her seat and hurried off.

'This could be…'interesting'.' "…Well, I guess the day's excitement isn't quite done yet."

…

"Art?"

I turned. He was gone.

I sighed and turned my eyes up. "They say you love us all equally…but you don't do ya. I'm on to you."

I got up and hurried over, hoping like hell that this wouldn't become one of those moments later described as 'hilarity ensued'.

As I came closer I could hear Harriet continue. "-dragged a Nevermore up the cliff and fucking decapitated it."

"I'm really sorry about her." And Daniela apologising for her partner.

The general reaction among team RWBY (and team JNPR as they were at the same table) was…I believe nonplussed is the term.

It was around then that Art arrived. "In all fairness a decapitated Nevermore during initiation is pretty impressive. He then gave an exaggerated bow. "Felicitations beautiful ladies, Arthur Wallen at your service."

"Dial it down Casanova." I said as I walked up.

"Casa-what?"

'Right, Earth reference.' "Never mind."

After three complete strangers introducing themselves rapid-fire, there seemed to be some relief seeing a familiar face. Ruby greeted me. "Hey Sam."

"Ruby, Yang, Jaune." I nodded to each of them. "I see the team has been busy introducing themselves."

"Only one of them actually gave their name." Yang said in a dry tone.

"Well, Arthur introduced himself, drama king that he is."

"I reiterate, at your service." He bowed again.

"I reiterate, dial it down. Over here is Daniela, who I'm pretty certain will be named team leader."

Daniela smiled and seemed to stand a bit straighter. "Hi."

"And finally there's Harriet…she bit off a Beowolfs ear…that about sums up everything I know about her thus far."

Harriet grinned. I think everyone was a bit unnerved that there were still a few hairs caught in her teeth.

From there the introductions continued. After they were done I continued.

"We caught the end of your fight with the Nevermore. We came out of the trees just in time to see you drag it up the cliff and cut its head off. I have to agree with the general opinion, it was pretty impressive."

Ruby seemed embarrassed at the praise, Yang grinned, Weiss sat a bit straighter with a sure smile, and Blake just smiled.

Daniela spoke up. "I've been wondering though, what happened to the Deathstalker? We saw its tracks but there wasn't any further sign of it."

"We killed it with its own stinger and it fell into the canyon." That was Nora.

Harriet grinned. "Sweeeet."

"I have a question of my own." Art said. "How the hell did you guys manage to piss off a Deathstalker and a Nevermore so much? I mean, the Deathstalker I kind of get following you, but the Nevermore would have had its view blocked by the trees for most of the chase. What did you do to piss it off so much that it kept…" He trailed off. Then his eyes widened and he pointed at Weiss and Ruby. "Wait a minute, you two are the ones we saw riding the Nevermore!"

That got everyone's attention.

"What?" Harriet asked.

"We saw them through the scope on Sams' rifle." He turned back to them. "Why the hell were you riding a Nevermore?!"

Ruby sheepishly scratched the back of her head. "We were lost."

Everyone looked at her.

Art broke the silence. "…So…you decided to use a Nevermore, a giant flying monster, to get a better vantage point."

"Didn't you check for landmarks during the initial launch?" Daniela asked.

"…Dani, we were fired through the air like artillery shells. I think we were more focused on landing in a way that didn't involve the word 'splat'." I deadpanned.

Art shrugged. "We got a better view by climbing trees."

I raised an eyebrow. "What the hell do you mean 'we', I was doing the climbing."

"And I encouraged you, it was a team effort."

####

Things shifted into a more general telling of their fight and ours. The next notable moment started with Daniela talking to Ruby about her weapon.

"I don't think I've seen a weapon like that scythe before. How did you learn to use something like that?"

"My uncle Qrow taught me."

I couldn't resist. "Let me guess. Tall, likes black, thin to the point that people joke about him being 'skeletal'."

Ruby looked at me and blinked in confusion. "Have you met him?"

My jaw dropped and eyes practically bulged out of my head. "…No…That was a complete guess."

'Holy shit. Little Red riding Hood was trained by the Grim Reaper.'

'…Or perhaps I should say 'Grimm Reaper'.'

I shook my head. "Subject change, how about…" 'What the hell. Might as well have a bit of fun.' "…Team leaders. We're pretty certain Dani here will get the job for ours. She came up with a battle plan, and she's already putting together strategies. Any thoughts on who'll get the job for yours?"

####

That night during the ceremony, the four of us were officially named team DASH with Daniela as team leader.

Teams RWBY and JNPR turned out the same. And because of the discussion, since Ruby and Jaune were named team leaders I was 40 Lien richer.

Up next is the first day. I've had material planned for this for a long time and I'm looking forward to writing it.