A silence fell over the training room. Team JNPR was processing what Nora just said.
"You want to fight me"? Lurmina asked.
"Yeah" Nora nodded "Our fearless leader has told us how good you are so I want to see it for myself". Lurmina turned to look at Jaune and smirked.
"Fearless leader huh"
"Fuck you aunt"
"Such incestuous thoughts Jaune" The female Faunus tutted as she waved her index finger from side to side "What would people think if they knew about them".
"They would think that you are fucked up in the head"
The family batter continued as the rest of the team was standing forgotten.
'Is this what Yang would be like in ten years'? NPR thought as one.
"Uhm teach" Nora asked "what about my fight"?
"Oh yeah" The brown haired Faunus recalled "Sure just take your position".
When the two were in position, they waited for Ren to give the signal. When it was given Lurmina was in front of Nora. Nora was shocked to see the Faunus in front of her so soon. She backed of and swung her hammer.
Lurmina stopped it with one hand.
The professor launched a palm strike into Nora stomach, sending her flying into the wall. The wall cracked and Nora's aura faded.
"Wow" Nora groaned "you sure are strong teach".
"And you weren't fully recovered from your pervious fights" Lurmina helped Nora up "It's nice that you're eager to train and fight but it is important to rest while you can". The professor brought the hammer wielder over to her team mates.
"Cause you won't always have the chance" Was the ominous advise.
"Man professor Lurmina is strong" Nora as the team went to their dorm. It was late so they wanted to take a shower and sleep.
"She is also wise for her age" Ren added. He then looked at Jaune to ask him something.
"Jaune about what professor Lurmina told us. Do you believe what she told"?
Jaune yawned. "That the cairns to be haunted, I don't think so I do believe in the supernatural".
"Why is that"? Nora asked.
"Well two years ago that my aunt and me were in a village in Mistral. One of the village girls went missing so we volunteered to help find her. When I found her she was crying on a hill. But her crying attracted more than just me. An Ursa was running towards her. I started to run to and I got to her first and was ready to kill the Ursa but it stop right at the foot of the hill".
"You're joking" Nora said.
"I know that is sounds impossible. The Grimm don't stop for nothing to kill us". Jaune opened the door of their room. "But it did. It just roared at us but it didn't come closer, like it didn't want to get on the hill. I kill it and brought the little girl home. It was later that I found out that we were standing on a crypt. Maybe that Grimm was just an odd one or maybe it didn't wanted to disturb something, but it made me believe there may be more out there then we know and that it could be worse than the Grimm".
"That sounds like a story Nora would tell" Pyrrha said as to the bathroom to take a shower.
"I wouldn't belive it myself if I wasn't there" Jaune said "but let me ask this. Is there someone on Remnant that likes to be woken up in the middle of their sleep"?
"You're just grumpy because I keep waking you up" Nora grinned.
"And I would be happy if you didn't do it tomorrow" Jaune glared at her. Nora smiled at him.
"No promises"
A week had passed. The first year students were getting ready to go to the Forever Fall.
"Do we have enough bandages"? Ruby asked.
"Yup" Yang held them up and putted them back in the first aid kit.
"Disinfector"?
"Check"
"Pain killers"?
"Check"
"Do we have" Ruby wanted to ask more but Weiss interrupted her.
"Ruby we did four checks already. We have everything"
"Alright team let's move out" Ruby cheered. She then let out a yawn.
"Ruby did you stay up late again" Yang asked.
Ruby chuckled nervously. "Yeah I did". Yang let out a sign.
"Look Ruby, I understand that you want to be the best leader you can be. But don't let your health suffer for it".
"I agree with Yang" Weiss said. Her face changed like she swallowed something sour. "That was weird to say that. But she is right you can't be a good leader when you are sick". Ruby looked at Blake but she agreed with the rest of the team.
"Fine I will tone it down a bit"
"You better or I will inforce a curfew. Little sisters need their rest" Yang teased.
"Yaaannng" Ruby whined.
"Ren do you think that the sap would be good on pancakes"? Nora asked her friend.
"I don't know"
"You think they would let us have a jar to take back with us"?
"Maybe if we if we collect enough"
Meanwhile Jaune was glaring at the Bullheads. 'Why does it have to be a Bullhead' Jaune thought.
"Staring at the ship won't make it go away Arc" Weiss came up to him.
"I'm not staring I'm glaring"
Weiss signed. "Like that makes any difference. You're acting like a child. You have those motion sick pills I got for you so suck it up".
"Doesn't mean I like it"
"Urrgh you can be so immature" The white haired girl signed in frustration. "Anyway can you loan your cell phone again"?
The Faunus turned to face Weiss. "You still haven't finished that page yet"? Jaune asked.
"Of course I finished reading that page" Weiss sounded offended.
"Then what is it then"?
Weiss mumbled something. Jaune realized what it was.
"You don't really understand what the page is saying" Weiss glared at Jaune but didn't say anything.
"Don't worry, I don't understand it either" Jaune said while unlocking his phone. "Most people don't know it but use it daily".
"I see" Weiss begun "You know how to use it and know the general concept but not the precise details".
"Exactly" Jaune handed the phone over to Weiss. "I think the same could be said about CCT".
"The CCT isn't that hard to understand" The heiress argued.
"Maybe you're just smarter than me"
"Not that that is really hard"
"Harsh"
"Oh you will live"
The Bullheads landed in the Forever Forest. The students disembarked fast. When the airships left professor Goodwitch explain what they needed to do and what they aren't allowed to do as they walked deeper into the forest.
"The Bullheads will pick us up in two hours. Try to fill as much of the jars as possible so you won't have any time for sightseeing. If you come across any Grimm, do your job as Hunters and Huntresses. I will be walking around in case anyone needs any help. Have fun".
The students split up. Team RWBY and JNPR stayed close together. The first hour was uneventful except for Nora eating all of the sap Ren collected. Eight jars in a hour wasn't good.
"Guys snake" Blake called out. Up against one of the trees was a Fer-de-lance.
"You guys want me to move it"? Jaune asked.
"That's not needed" Weiss said "We need to move from here in case we get swarmed by rapier wasps".
At that moment a tremor was felt. Barely noticeable.
"Did you guys felt that"? Ruby asked.
"I thought I image that" Jaune said. A second tremor was felt.
"Ok that isn't natural" Ren concluded. Then thuds were heard behind them. When the teams turned around they saw Russel, Dove and Sky lying face first on the ground. It took a few moments for Jaune to figure out what was going on.
"Cardin is in trouble. Ren and Nora you two stay here to protect these guys. Pyrrha with me" The Faunus leader ordered. Ruby did the same with Yang and Blake as she and Weiss ran after Jaune and Pyrrha.
"Aw man" Yang whined "Why do they get to have all the fun"? A Beowolf proved her wrong by lunging at her. The only thing it achieved was taking one of Blake's bullets to the head.
"You were saying"? Blake asked with a smirk as more Grimm came into view.
"I stand corrected" Yang slammed her fists together. "Come to mama".
The Grimm ran towards the students.
Cardin was not having a good day. First his team had to wake up early to get ready for the trip to the Forever Forest. When they landed Goodwitch told them things he didn't know or have with him. It got worse when a snake tried to bite him. He was lucky it bit the armour or else he would be in trouble.
Then came the Ursa.
Not any Ursa but an Ursa major. While he was fight the beast the rest of his team ran of like cowards. He held the Grimm of for a bit. Sadly a second Ursa major arrived. His semblance held them of but it he didn't escape fast he was going to die.
Suddenly one of the Ursa was decapitated. When he looked to see what happened, he saw that Ruby kid to be the cause. She was followed by Weiss Schnee, Pyrrha Nikos and the animal. The other Ursa stood no chance.
"You ok"? The animal said.
"I could have handled them" Cardin sneered.
"I doubt you can handle the rest" Weiss shot back "Incoming". A horde of beowolves came running towards them. The leader of the pack had his head turned to look behind him. That changed fast when Ruby readied her weapon.
"This doesn't make us friends" Cardin said as he readied his mace.
"Lucky for us that we don't need friends to kill Grimm" The beast said.
"That is probably the only time we will agree on something"
The fight was intense but short. Ruby and Pyrrha shot the incoming Grimm with pin point accuracy. Weiss did the same with her Dust while Cardin and Jaune killed any Grimm that got close. It only got easier when the rest of the teams arrived.
When Mrs Goodwitch came it was pure overkill.
"That was a nice work out" Yang stretched her arms out. The teams were walking back to the pick up point.
"It was awesome" Ruby said excited as she was telling the rest of the team what happened.
"We know Ruby" Weiss sighed out "We were there". Suddenly Ruby pulled out Crescent Rose.
"What are you doing you dolt"
"I thought I heard something" Ruby said.
Blake raised an eyebrow "You sure"?
"Yeah I'm sure" The rest of the team then heard rustling in the bushes to the left of them. when a horn came in to view Ruby shot it.
"Meeaagh"
A goat ran out of the bush and deeper the forest, spooked because one of its horns was shot of. Team RWBY looked on with blank faces. That was till Yang bursted into laughter.
The students were now in the Bullheads on their way back to Beacon.
"I still can't believe you miss took a goat for a Grimm" Yang laughed.
"Yaaang please stop" Ruby wined. She was so embarrassed.
"Come on sis everyone could have made that mistake" Yang said. Her grin was growing again "But I don't think anyone would shot at the poor thing". Ruby pulled her hood over her head. When they landed and disembarked the team saw professor Lurmina walking towards them. But she wasn't wearing her standard clothing. She was wearing tight shorts and had bandages around her breasts.
And nothing else.
"Professor Lurmina" Ruby rushed over to her to escape her sisters teasing.
"Hey Ruby" Lurmina greeted the girl "You and your team had fun in the forest"?
"Oh you have to hear this prof" Yang had a teasing grin on her face.
"Yang no" Ruby started to hit her sister. It didn't do a thing.
"What she got covered in sap"?
"Nope she mistook a goat as a Grimm". Lurmina face looked like she didn't believe them.
"She shot a horn of the goat" Ruby tried to strangle Yang but it was ineffective. The brown haired Faunus turned to the rest of the team for confirmation. Blake and Weiss nodded.
"Well that's something" Lurmina said.
"Professor Lurmina" Weiss began "May I ask why you are in this state of dress". She tried to ask as polite as possible.
"Oh this my outdoors clothes"
"You can barely call those clothes" Blake pointed out.
"Less chance they get snagged" Lurmina replied.
"You going on a mission"? Yang asked while having Ruby in a headlock.
"Yup. A village called Herind has a small problem".
"Can we come"? Ruby asked.
"Ruby Rose you can't just ask to come along. There are rules for missions" Weiss lectured "Beside I doubt professor Lurmina will just allow us to come along".
"If you girls can get ready in ten minutes sure". The gang looked at the professor who shrugged her shoulders.
"I have no problem taking you with me" Lurmina said "Beside if you come with me you will learn a lot of things". Team RWBY held a small conference.
"Come on guys this will be awesome" Ruby said. She really wanted to go. She would be doing her first mission.
"I wouldn't say no more fighting" Yang threw in.
"It would give us some good experience for our career" Weiss said.
"It not that we have anything planned, let's go" Blake agreed.
The team turn back to the professor. Ruby stepped forward as the leader was to do.
"We have decided to join" Ruby declared.
"Then I will see you girls in ten minutes at dock five" The Faunus said "Don't be late or I will leave without you".
"You going somewhere Jaune"? Pyrrha asked.
"Yup a friend of mine will arrive at the docks today".
"Have fun" Nora said as Jaune walked out of the room.
The faunus walked to the docks and saw team RWBY enter a Bullhead with his aunt. 'Probably joining her on a mission' Jaune thought. What kind he didn't know. Lurmina didn't have a preferred kind of mission. She just read through them and picked one she thought would be fun. It had led to some of the most boring missions ever to near death experience for him to complete. Like who needed veteran Hunters to observe dragonfly in Vale itself? That was a colossal waste of time.
Jaune boarded his Bullhead to down town Vale. When he made it to the docks he looked around to see if his friend had arrived yet. He did spot a Dust store with a broken window and police surrounding the building.
'Why does that one store need that much police' The blonde asked himself. To him it looked like your average Dust shop. He decided to listen to what the detectives were saying to each other. When the term White Fang fell, Jaune's mood soured quickly. Of course it was them. Instead of helping Faunus kind they just make it worse.
"Hey stop that Faunus" Someone shouted. Jaune turned only to sign at what he saw. He saw two sailors chasing a monkey Faunus. The Faunus was a tan-skinned boy with short spiky light-blonde hair and blue eyes. He wore two red wrist bracers over black fingerless gloves and an open loose-collared white jacket with no shirt underneath, displaying his muscular physique. He also wore blue cargo pants tied up with a white belt. He had put white bandages on his legs and has a chain hanging from the belt loop on the right side of his pants. He sports black and yellow sneakers and wore a black cord with a round pendant bearing a monkey emblem. As a result of his Faunus lineage, he has a long prehensile monkey tail the same colour as his hair.
"Thanks for the ride guys" The Faunus waved goodbye as he jumped of the ship.
"You no good stowaway" One of the sailors yelled. The Faunus jumped onto street lantern and started to eat a banana he liberated form the ship. His stunt had catch the attention of two detectives. He showed how much he cared for the rules by throwing the banana peel to one of the guys faces. A short case occurred but the Faunus gave the officers the slip. The Faunus stretched he body and mentally praised himself on a job well done.
"You really can't keep out of trouble can you Sun"? The money Faunus heard behind him. He turned the see a blonde fox Faunus. One he recognised but was very different then the last time he saw him.
"That you Jaune"? Sun asked. The fellow Faunus smiled. That was all the conformation he needed. He walked over and shook Jaune's hand.
"Man you sure have changed" Sun proclaimed "I thought that the armour was permanently welled on you".
"And I thought you stop breaking the rules all the time" Jaune said back "I guess that Lurmina's lesson didn't stick very well".
Sun shivered in reminder at meeting the woman. He was low on cash and had decided to liberate a few Lien. What he got was an almost bad case of death. Quite permanently according to the rumours.
"I did learn my lesson" Sun countered "I learned to pick your targets better". Jaune facepalmed at that.
"Can't believe that was almost four years ago" Sun mumbled to himself "Anyway why did I need to come earlier? You weren't exactly clear about except that you needed my expertise".
"At my initiation my team and another team were almost attacked by an abyssal spectre. Lurmina wanted it to be dealt within month but it is still evading her. What I want you to do is to check if it hasn't drained any of the students cause I absolutely suck at that" Jaune explained.
"I see" Sun said under his breath "Sure I can do that".
"Thanks man" Jaune said "I own you one".
"Well you can pay me back by threating me to pizza" Sun replied "I'm starving".
Jaune shook his head in good fashion. "Sure I will show you where to get the best pizzas".
It was quiet on the Bullhead. Well that wasn't true. Team RWBY were talking about what they thought was going to happen, strategies on different kind of Grimm to how cool it was to having their first mission way before the rest of the year. Lurmina on the other hand was dead silence. She was meditating.
"Sud we awake her up"? Ruby asked her team.
"Well we don't know what we are going to do on this mission so we need to ask her than" Blake pointed out.
"Let me do it" Yang volunteered "Professor". The Faunus teacher opened one eye. "So what are we going to do on this mission"?
The Faunus left her meditating position. "Well as I said the village of Herind has big problem. They can't leave their village anymore or are too scared to leave" Lurmina explained "We are going there to deal with the problem. We will probably be back at Beacon tonight or tomorrow".
"What kind of Grimm are we dealing with" Yang asked while cracking her knuckles. She was itching for a fight.
"There are no Grimm around the village anymore. They're wiped out"
That threw the team for a loop. The Grimm weren't there anymore and the villagers were too scared to leave? What was going on there?
"Are we dealing with bandits then"? Blake asked. Ruby didn't look too thrilled about that.
Lurmina grinned at the question.
"No we're going to take down a Madhimoni"