The following day a large group of us, Cardin and his team present and looking none the worse after last night, walking through a forest akin to the painting in our room behind Goodwitch. "Yes students, the forest of Forever Fall is indeed beautiful, but, we are not here to sightsee. Professor Peach has asked all of you to collect samples from the trees deep inside this forest and I'm here to make sure that none of you die while doing so."
I looked around and found Cardin giving me the evil eye before Jaune bumped into him and he moved his gaze.
"Each of you is to gather one jars worth of Red Sap." Goodwitch continued. "However, this forest is full of the creatures of Grimm," I glanced towards the members of Team RWBY with a smile, "so be sure to stay by your teammates and we will rendezvous back here at four o'clock. Have fun." She added.
"Should we talk about last night Fang? You've been ignoring me more than anyone else, I'm your teammate and I need to trust you, can I?" Blake pulled me aside from the others.
"Of course, it's just, I don't want to slip up and mention anything about you being a Faunus when you haven't told everyone yet." Her eyes widened at this. "Sometimes it's easy to tell who others are when you hide yourself away." I replied to her unasked question.
"How-".
"Day one. Everyone has their own scent." I tapped my nose then placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, my lips are sealed."
Blake nodded to herself then did something unexpected. I winced as her arms wrapped around me in a bear hug, "Thank you." She whispered. Her nails, sharper than expected, pricked my back through my clothing, slightly piercing skin.
"Blake," I managed to get out. "Nails."
"Oh, right. Sorry." She apologized.
"Hey, it's alright. Not the worst I've gotten. We should probably…" I lifted the jar pointedly.
"Yes, of course."
It was quite as we filled the jars. "Fang?" Blake broke the silence.
"Yeah?"
"I-I need to tell someone this."
"Tell someone what?"
"You have to understand that this was a long time ago."
I took a step forward, "Blake, what are telling me?"
"IusedtobeamemberoftheWhiteFang." She quickly said.
"That was…fast. I didn't understand that, please repeat?"
She took a deep breath and her golden eyes showed her fear. "I used to be part of the White Fang."
My brain took a few seconds to process this information and, upon completion, I crushed the jar in my hand, spilling sap onto the ground and sending glass into my hand.
"For what it's worth-". She began
"Why would you even begin to think that I am the best person to tell this to?!" I leaned against a tree, "You're not anymore though?" I sighed.
"No, not anymore."
"What made you leave?"
"I-"
Her response was cut off as both our Scrolls went off, showing messages from Ruby. "Let's head back." Blake said with a sigh.
"Yes, lets." I followed her and we soon found Ruby, Weiss and Yang, with their jars filled. I then realised that I hadn't removed the shards in my hand. With each pull I winced a little. As we approached the rest of our team I pulled an angled piece of glass roughly three inches long. 'That was a mistake.' The cuts freely allowed for blood to flow which I attempted to hide by holding my hands together as the skin began to slowly knit itself together.
Forever Fall, Pt.2A loud roar echoed through the trees as we sprinted to our team. "Did you hear that?" I asked Blake.
"How could I not have heard that?"
"Point taken." I spotted an Ursa towering over Jaune, "Over there." I pointed. "Blake, find the others, I'll help Jaune."
"He looks like he can handle himself." As she was saying this the Ursa brought its massive paw down and slammed into Jaune's shield, knocking him down. "Fine, be careful."
"I'm always careful." I said running to help Jaune, skidding to a stop when I saw that he was defending Cardin, who was lying on the floor watching Jaune with a look akin to awe.
A second Ursa made its presence known by stumbling out of the thick forest, stomping towards Cardin, 'Can't believe I'm gonna do this'. I charged the Ursa as it began to swing at Cardin, slamming into its side with the force of a Death Stalker, sending it to the ground. A quick slash with MaV and it was soon missing a head, turning around I also saw that Jaune had decapitated his Ursa as well; I would venture a guess that he had some form of help. I looked at the surroundings and saw Ruby, Blake and Pyrrha watching, the latter lowering her hand, 'Curious, very curious.' "Jaune, you good?"
"Yeah, I'm good." He cracked a smile before setting his face and helping Cardin up. I left to re-join the bystanders before I again stopped, the smell of Grimm emanating from their direction, I peered into the tree-line behind them, making out the glowing red eyes of what I would assume to be a Beowolf. It appeared to be smarter than other Grimm, setting an ambush as it stealthily crept from the shadows. I made a full paced sprint towards them, not having time to yell a warning, I lunged for it as it swept its claw towards its closest target, Blake. I was seconds too slow as the blow connected and threw Blake into a tree; she rebounded off the hard wood and lay motionless. I landed on top of the Beowolf and glanced over to the others, "Help her, this one's mine." It threw me off and I quickly got to my feet, determined to protect my friends. It made a run towards the others and I hastily grabbed one of the spikes on its back, attempting to slow it down I ripped the spike off. To the Grimm's credit, he didn't react much apart from an annoyed growl, which turned into a whimper as the spike found a new home in its head, dropping it to its knees centimetres from the downed Faunus.
"Is she-" I began.
"She's fine." Yang replied, removing her hand from Blake's neck after checking for a pulse. "Just having a little catnap."
I grinned as Yang made the unintentional joke. "Good, that's…really good." I picked up Blake and carried her as we headed for the rendezvous point.
Ruby slided up next to me, "Soooo", she drew out the word. "You and Blake."
"Me and Blake?"
"Come on, it's pretty obvious, the way you look at her, the way she looks at you when you're not watching."
"She does that?" I said, excitement creeping into my voice.
"Pffft, naw. But, y'know, I could drop a few hints to her."
I rolled my eyes, "Thanks Ruby but I don't think she-". Blake twitched a little, arms stretching as if to gain support. I wrapped her arms around my neck and we kept going.
"You realise she is, in fact awake right now." Weiss added.
"Yes Weiss I do, I was seeing how long she would take to start walking."
The accused locked her gaze as she looked at me, "Why walk when you can be carried?" She grinned. I released my grip and hers tightened around my neck. I gave her a smirk as she set herself down and scowled at me, "Why even bother?" she threw her hands up dramatically, before they snapped to her waist, a groan escaped her.
"That doesn't sound good."
"Gee Yang, you think?" I said sarcastically. "Let me see."
"I-"
"Blake, listen, if your ribs are broken, walking will only make it worse and take longer to heal, trust me." She lifted the side of her shirt and undershirt, revealing a large bruise; I gently touched the area with my fingers, "Where is it worst? Here or here?" I moved from the edge to the centre. Her hiss of pain told that it was the second, "I'm not the best judge, but I'd say that they're broken, a professional opinion would be better, but as is we don't know." She lowered her shirt over the area, careful not to make contact with her injury. "Hop on."
"What?"
I rolled my shoulders, "The Fang Express will be departing shortly, would all injured team members please board." I joked.
"Are you sure?"
"Hey, I carried you with this didn't I?" I held up the hand still slick with my blood. "I think I got this." She climbed onto my back and Yang was the next to talk while we walked.
"So how did that happen, also where is your Sap?" she demanded.
"Uh, yeah about that, those are both very good questions; as such I shall answer them with two words." I looked at them all "Listen very carefully because I'm only going to say this once. I." Insert dramatic pause. "Tripped."
They almost fell over from the stupidity of the build-up. "You tripped?" Weiss' tone was one of disbelief, "Onto what, a cactus?" Ruby appeared next to her.
"Yeah." Holding her hand out for a high-five, before realising one wasn't coming and shuffling away.
"Now that you mention it," I started, "no. I just fell. Over nothing. And the jar broke. In my hand."
"I don't believe it."
"Neither do I."
"Totally a lie."
"Don't believe me, but Blake was there and she saw it, didn't you?" I looked over my shoulder to see Blake fully asleep. "Thanks for the backup." I shook my head. The return journey back to Beacon was even less eventful than after the Emerald Forest. I did notice Jaune staying away from Cardin and closer to his team, the opposite of our entry.
It was dark by the time we returned to Beacon and thus I laid Blake down in her bed and made sure that her bruise was healing, which it was. "I've never seen you like this before." Ruby's voice causing me to turn around.
"Like what? Caring? Am I not allowed to care for anyone on my team, is that what you're trying to say?" I retaliated, faking annoyance.
"I-"
"Hey, calm down, she was only trying-" I cut Yang off before she could continue.
"I know what she was doing, believe me, I would do this for any of you here. You guys also need to recognise when someone is acting."
"You were what!?" Ruby, Weiss and Yang yelled in sync.
"I guess I'm just that good. Anyway, if you don't mind, I think I'll be going for a shower. Later."
A quick rush of water later and I returned to find the team asleep in their respective beds, I followed suit, knowing that Ruby did have a point; I haven't been that way for a fairly long time.