Chapter 2: New Tidings
RYVN reached the airship platform just before the flight. Immediately the younger warriors began to pale at the sight of the Nemein had been to Vale before, only Rook and Yule had ever been on the airships before. Ozpin had employed the two older emissaries to clear grimm or scout their movement, and there was mutual respect from both parties. But the nomads had never gotten used to flying, and were only proficient at coping with the stress. The younger warriors, however, were not prepared. Yule's discomfort waned a little as he watched Nemein. The normally serious man Yule saw as a brother looked at the interior wall of the airship trying to convince himself that the window behind him wasn't real.
Just as Yule started to weigh the odds of Nemein puking, the low rumbling noise that is Rook's laugh caught Yule's attention. He turned and tried, unsuccessfully, to stifle his laughter. In the middle of the ship was Vasara, looking terrified of every little movement and sound the ship made; all while standing in a combat stance with her weapon brandished. The passengers looked frightened. Vasara's attention was turned from her fear to Yule by his laughter.
"Vas," Yule laughed. "Do you intend to slay the ship?"
Vasara became aware that her weapon was at the ready and sheepishly placed it, hammer head down, on the deck, "Uuuhh...no…" She mumbled some kind of apology but continued to look at the ship like she was convinced it was about to start spawning grimm.
The rest of the flight passed uneventfully. When the ship touched down at its destination Vasara and Nemein exited the ship with desperation, but there were no jokes or laughter from the older warriors. Long ago they had reached the limit of their comfort with flying and walked off the ship quickly, thankful for the feeling of solid ground.
There was a fat man waiting for them at the platform. From behind his bushy moustache he greeted the team in his usual bombastic way, "Greetings friends! I'm glad you caught your flight! Now, if you would just follow m-"
"A moment! My limbs are not yet sure they are on solid ground!" interrupted Nemein.
"My apologies. I forgot that you are not accustomed to flying. Please, take your time!" Came Peter Port's sincere apology.
A few minutes passed and the five were off, Port talking of exploits he thought worthy of telling, and the four Hänsmen mostly ignoring him.
They passed several groups of students who stared in wonder. Yule cleared his throat and addressed a question to their escort, "Do you happen to know why your boss wishes to see us? His message seemed urgent but gave no details."
"I do not, but it appears to me that something is bothering Ozpin. I do not know what though, I have been busy teaching the young huntsman and huntresses!" Port declared the last statement very proudly.
Not long after, they reached the door to Ozpin's office.
"Here you are! Ozpin is waiting, so go on in!" and with that, Port left.
Yule and Rook exchanged glances, they had been thinking on the news Peter had given them. It troubled them deeply. Nonetheless they opened the door to Ozpin's office.
"Punctual as always, I see. Oh! Two more have joined your team!" Ozpin sat behind his desk as his guests entered.
"We try," came Yule's response. "And our two new teammates are Nemein and Vasara."
Nemein slammed his fist to his chest in salute; Vasara just stared.
"We hear you are troubled," continued Yule, "as we suspected from your letter. So let's not waste time, what troubles you? As I suspect that is why we are summoned."
A quiet grunt from Rook alerted Yule that he was getting close to causing offense, but before Yule could say anything else, Ozpin spoke.
"Direct and to the point. I've always admired that quality of your people. But before I can answer your question, I must ask my own. Have you noticed anything strange about the grimm, specifically their movements, in the last few weeks?"
Nemein spoke up immediately. "I have. I had been keeping a close eye on our scouts' reports before we left to see you. They had been spotting grimm in greater numbers and more frequently, but passing us by in such a high percentage that we have faced fewer attacks than normal."
Ozpin pressed his hands together before his nose. "Hmmm," he mused, "did your scouts say where the grimm were going?"
"No," said Nemein. "The scouts were sure the grimm were passing us by and that was enough. No use in risking lives or discovery by following. What does this have to do with us?"
"I fear that moves are being made that could affect us both," said Ozpin gravely. "There have been a string of dust robberies and White Fang attacks that I cannot think are unrelated."
"Robbers and faunus rebels?" snapped Yule. "We aren't cops and we are not interested in your civil war!" Yule had more to say but he was stopped when Rook placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Excuse him, flying is hard on us, and has worn on our patience," said Rook in his slow fashion. "But Yule has a point, though hastily made. This does not seem like a job for us. You have police and your struggle with the White Fang isn't our fight. Anyways, I doubt fighting them would do you any good."
"I agree with you, and I was not going to ask you to fight them," said Ozpin. "But I would like you to watch their movements."
"Are you trying to trick us into war?" accused Vasara.
"No," replied Ozpin. "but I fear that if all I suspect is true, war will be thrust upon you."
"I assume that you're not going to share what you suspect," said Yule.
"You are correct, I do not wish to spread rumor, even if only to four trusted friends," replied Ozpin.
"That is well enough," said Yule sounding a little weary. "We have enough to worry ourselves about without adding conjecture to that list." Then Yule was silent for a while. He looked at Rook and the two seemed to have a silent conversation.
Yule spoke. "Give us two days. Then we will have decided."
"Two days?" Asked Ozpin.
"Aye, two days," Yule responded. "Today was a long march, a wearisome flight, and heavy news. We need rest. Then tomorrow we will go into your Emerald Forest and pick a fight to clear our minds. After we have slain our enemies, we will discuss our course of action. You will have your answer no later than the second night."
"Seems reasonable," said Ozpin. "Will you be staying in Beacon?"
Rook answered, "We will camp a fair distance from your buildings. That way we can sleep as we are accustomed and not disrupt your day to day. Plus it will put us closer to the forest."
Ozpin nodded.
"Then with your leave we will go make camp," said Yule.
Ozpin noticed with surprise that his room had begun to darken as the sun set. "Yes, that is fine. Good luck with your hunt."
Nemein grinned resting a hand on the sheath at his hip. "We don't need luck."
And with that, the four left.