Chapter 5:
Ruby parried the Death Stalker's stinger, the force of the attack launching her a few feet away. She crashed against a rock, the wind knocked out of her.
Weiss landed just a few feet away, groaning as she got up. "Still alive Ruby?"
"Yeah." Ruby grunted as she got to her feet. "So, what now?"
Nothing much had really worked against the Death Stalker. Its carapace was too thick for bullets and melee attacks. Worse was actually its size. This particular one was at least three times bigger than the one they had fought during initiation.
"Like I said before," Weiss panted. "Waiting on you."
"Ugh..." Ruby moaned. "Really wish Nora was here now. She could probably crack its face or break its legs."
Break its legs? Ruby thought at her last phrase. She watched the Grimm as it charged. There was no armor on its legs.
"Nora's a genius!" Ruby exclaimed as she and Weiss avoided the Grimm's stinger.
"How?" Weiss yelled as they landed.
"Go for its legs Weiss!" Ruby said, cocking Crescent Rose. "I'll hold it off!" At once, Ruby launched herself into the air, firing a barrage of rounds at the Grimm's soft spots between the carapace plates. Although it did no harm to the massive monster, it definitely got its attention.
As the creature turned upward, Weiss had dashed right under its belly. The monster's size was a problem, but it was something that served as a weakness to the small forms of the two girls. Myrtenaster rotated and Weiss swung, throwing out flaming arcs at the monster's legs.
The Grimm screeched as it toppled over. Weiss immediately used an air step, propelling herself upwards and onto the creature's back.
As the Grimm struggled to stand again, Ruby had rushed in, launching herself right at its tail and, with a rush of rose petals, sliced off the massive stinger.
The Death Stalker roared with rage and agony, it's useless tail smacking Ruby away. However, Weiss was now perfectly positioned, stabbing the thin blade of her weapon in between the plates of the Grimm's armor. A burst of light followed before the Death Stalker was completely encased in ice.
"Ruby!" Weiss yelled, boots moving through damp as she went to find her partner. "Ruby where are you?"
Something brushed against Weiss's feet. She turned and saw the Harradel flowers, the very thing they had been looking for. Its pollen was a strange white color as it fell out of the bell shaped petals.
Just a few feet away, Ruby lay face down in a small patch of the flowers.
No... Weiss felt dread grip her heart. "Ruby!"
Weiss ran up to her, turning her over on her back. "Ruby answer me!"
The girl stirred. Weiss sighed with relief. Thank God...
Ruby groaned slightly, her body quivering. Weiss frowned at the strange motions her friend was going through. Did something happen? Weiss checked Ruby for any broken ribs.
Suddenly, Ruby sneezed, and act which caught Weiss completely off-guard.
"Woah!" Weiss exclaimed. "Ruby!"
"Cough! Cough!" Ruby sputtered. "Ugh..."
"Ruby! Are you okay?" Weiss asked.
"I think so..." Ruby straightened up. "But I must have inhaled a hell load of the pollen."
"You must have." Weiss nodded. "You've practically got it all over your face!"
Ruby dusted the pollen off. "Well, no biggie. At least we found the flowers."
Weiss turned to look at the huge flowerbed of Harradel. "I have to be honest, I never knew these things existed! We have to make notes!"
"Weiss..." Ruby moaned. "Let's worry about that later okay? Ren's health comes first." She got up to her feet and sneezed.
Weiss shrugged. "I suppose." Taking the bottle Nora had given them for the pollen, Weiss immediately started picking the flowers and pouring their white pollen inside.
Maybe Nora's not so bad after all. She mused as Ruby sneezed again.
"A little more..." Jaune said as the wind whipped around at his hair.
Pyrrha grunted as she lowered him again. Jaune was now fully suspended on the side of the mountain. He strained to reach the mushroom, his fingers lightly grasping it.
"Almost got it!" Jaune yelled. Extending as far as he could, he grabbed the cap of the mushroom and, with a small amount of movement, he managed to wrench the mushroom free.
"Pull me up! I have the mushroom!" Jaune smiled. "Pyrrha we did it!"
Jaune felt Pyrrha lift him up, his body scraping against the rocky wall of the mountain.
"Success?" Pyrrha asked, panting from exhaustion.
Jaune held up the mushroom triumphantly. "Success."
"Great." Pyrrha smiled. "Now we can... Ugh!"
Pyrrha's smile gave way to a grimace of pain as she clutched her left arm. Her breath came in gasps as she curled up on the ground.
"Pyrrha!" Jaune exclaimed as he rushed over to her. "What's wrong?"
Pyrrha panted as she gave a weak smile. "I think I might have pulled something..."
"Oh God..." Jaune shook his head. "I-I..."
"Jaune." Pyrrha held her hand up to stop him. "It's okay. I'm fine. Just some rest would do me good is all."
"But!" Jaune started again, but Pyrrha covered his mouth with her good hand.
"Relax." Pyrrha said reassuringly. "Remember, we did it for Ren. You don't have to feel guilty about this."
Jaune felt the warm touch of her hand on his lips, the same hand he had held when Pyrrha chose to forgive him after hurting her. Since then, he wondered whether he saw her as more than just a teammate. Could it be possible that he even liked her?
Something growled. Jaune looked up, away from Pyrrha and to the lone Ursa who had spotted them. It sniffed the air, hungry for blood.
"Pyrrha, just stay still and don't move..." Jaune drew his sword, stepping over her to stand between her and the monster.
"Jaune, be careful..." Pyrrha cautioned.
Jaune weighed his sword. It felt heavy, which was good. He wasn't cutting through an Ursa with a light tool. He deployed his shield. It felt solid and sturdy, good for blocking the Grimm's attacks.
Jaune breathed, getting into his stance, feeling his sweat on his forehead and the mushroom in the folds of his shirt. His heart accelerated with a twinge of fear, but he knew there was no running away. Pyrrha wouldn't have done that.
Nora wouldn't have either. She'd figure a way to ride it all the way back to Beacon. Jaune chuckled slightly at the thought.
Failing here meant Ren would never get better and Pyrrha wouldn't be getting out of this alive. It wasn't an option.
Jaune uttered a battle-cry as he charged the Ursa.