Rubys instincts took over her senses as she vaulted over one of the fallen trees, extending her scythe and powering herself towards the creatures head with a gunshot, the blade extended. Her timing was perfect, swinging over her head and shooting, slicing into the black flesh and drawing deep crimson blood. It stumbled slightly, swinging its head in a wide arc; rage burning in its eyes.
Blake felt a large impact slam her off her feet, winding her and forcing her eyes open. Her vision was a blur, phasing between black, green and brown. She could sense something holding her tightly around her waist, but there was no pain. She briefly noticed something distracting the shadowed creature and tried to reach out, but she had no energy left. She tried to speak, but nothing happened. Everything was unfamiliar to her.
Ruby landed heavily on the forest floor, jumping backwards to avoid a swipe of the deadly claws. They sliced through the air seconds after she moved, adrenalin coursing through her veins. She leapt upwards, using her rifle to give her extra height. She raised the blade over her head, aiming to pierce the area directly between its eyes. She underestimated its speed, as no sooner had she avoided one attack was she in the path of another. A gaping maw was heading directly for her, lined with teeth as long as her forearm. Blood stained its tongue, a grim reminder of the sheer strength it possessed.
It lunged at her with a speed that belied its size, aiming to tear her in half. She held her weapon above her head, rapidly trying to remember her own notes. Tongues were sensitive, but it was a very risky place to attack. She positioned her scythe above her, ready to launch herself forward. The area lit up, but there was no lightning. A series of blue explosions slammed into the beasts flank, illuminating its bony sail and runed mask. It staggered sideways, caught off guard by the attack. Ruby glanced to her left, watching a brilliant circle of blue stars fade from her partner.
Weiss turned her hilt to red and sliced it downwards, launching herself towards the battle from a brilliant white platform. She watched as it let out another terrifyingly guttural roar and lunged at Ruby again, thrusting its head towards her with alarming speed. Ruby fired downwards, throwing herself even higher into the air with her cape blowing in the wind. She rotated her scythe around and fired again, hurling herself towards its head with a target in her sights.
Blake felt someone propping her between tree roots, using haste and care, minding her injuries. She barely registered the lack of feeling in her body or the frenzied bellows behind her. She could somewhat hear gunshots, but her mind was scattered. She watched helplessly as someone dressed in brown placed their jacket over her chest, revealing a yellow shirt that matched their hair. She smiled faintly, fighting to stay conscious as the rain hammered her ears.
Yang regretted having to leave Blake in this state, but her teammates needed help. She scowled to herself, took one last look at her partner and ran towards the fight. She could see the muzzle flares of gunshots and blue explosions dancing around an enormous shadowed beast, which narrowly missed swatting Ruby out of the sky with a clawed hand. She didn't hesitate to loose several rounds from her gauntlets at the legs of the creature, closing the gap as she fired. The explosions blocked her view of its feet, sending it stumbling sideways off balance. It smashed into the trees but didn't fall, breaking through the wood with a swipe of its tail as it caught itself and turned to face the three.
Weiss and Ruby stood either side of Yang, weapons at the ready. Thunder continued to boom above them, competing with the deep growls that echoed around the clearing. Ruby motioned to attack the head, aiming to disorient it. If they could stun it long enough to escape, they wouldn't need to fight. Yang charged forwards, shooting at the ground to send herself directly towards the creatures head. Weiss darted to the side, aiming to throw it off balance so Ruby could disable it. They all saw the maw open wide once more, and they all felt the shivers as it tore through the wind.
Yang raised her fist behind her head as she watched the beasts head close on her, throwing a punch onto the tip of its snout, firing as she did so. The impact forced a pained snarl into the air as it recoiled in shock. Weiss immediately took advantage and sent brilliant red orbs smashing into the left flank, leaving trails of energy in the air. It staggered backwards, lashing out with its jaws in a blind attack.
Yang landed precariously on the bridge of its upper jaw, striking the scales with anger. She held on with one hand as it lowered its head under the force of the attack, holding still just long enough for Ruby to place her scythe directly between its eyes. The blade embedded itself a few centimeters under the skin, eliciting a dangerously unpredicted reaction from the creature. It swung its head in a wide arc, shaking repeatedly. Yang could feel her grip loosening, watching her sister trying to steady herself.
Weiss watched with held breath as it flailed its head around in a wild rage. Her eyes widened with alarm upon seeing Yang desperately holding on with one hand. She flung herself forwards with haste, leaving a brilliant white rune behind her. She ran as fast as she could, keeping a terrified eye on her teammate. This entire encounter was not going to plan. Lightning struck again, just as Yangs grip finally faltered. Ruby cried out for her sister, barely audible over the storm. Yang loosed another round at the beast as she fell, hitting it square on the shoulder. She was too concentrated on attacking to notice her imminent collision course with the stone cliffs.
Ruby yanked her scythe from its head with force, leaping off seconds before it whirled around to face her again. She heard the footfalls coming closer before she had even landed, panic threatening to overrun her senses. She rolled with the impact and ran, not daring to turn around. Another roar bellowed behind her, she could hear the rage within it. Her plan was simple, but she had no idea how effective it would be. She jumped, hooking onto an outstretched branch with her scythe and swung, hoping to throw herself clear before it could reach her. She caught a glimpse of a hulking black form in her vision, just before a blow smashed her to the ground.
Yang watched helplessly as her sister was attacked, the scene playing out through flashes of lightning and what she could hear above the wind. She hit something behind her forcefully, feeling the breath being expelled from her lungs. Almost immediately, she begin to fall, too dazed to slow her descent. She watched as the floor grew bigger, tensing herself for the hit. A floating circle in the shape of a snowflake formed directly in her path, and she felt her momentum halt. Another one appeared below that, breaking her fall and allowing her to land without any pain. Weiss landed beside her in a crouch. The two exchanged brief glances, nodded to one-another and rushed to help their leader.
Ruby bounced off the ground, rolling to a halt beside a small ditch. She stood up, slightly disoriented. Determination set in instantly upon hearing wood splintering behind her. She wheeled around, watching the mammoth beast smash its way towards her, pushing its way through using sheer strength. She formed another idea in her head and acted on it, running towards the oncoming creature at full speed. She held her scythe behind her, poised to press the trigger as late as she dared. The head lowered again, opening its jaws in an attempt to bite through her body. She crouched and fired, sliding across the sodden earth underneath the attack and stopping herself once she had cleared its tail.
It spun around, cracking and destroying the trees that were in its way. There was no hesitation as it charged again, shaking the ground with every step. Ruby broke the cover of the trees in a rush, panting for breath. Another blue orb sailed through the air above her, weaving its way between the trunks to reach its target. She turned and darted towards Weiss, motioning to find Yang, rescue Blake and run. Weiss nodded, sending another barrage into the trees. They could see the explosions engulfing the plants that scattered the ground, being trampled into the earth by an enraged monster.
Weiss grabbed Ruby by the arm and ran from the cliff, heading towards the sheltered area they had emerged from. They heard another crash behind them, followed by a terror-inducing roar that pulsed with primeval fury. They cleared the debris and ducked behind the very same rocky outcrop that they had used previously. Ruby glanced to her right, catching Blake propped against the bark with Yangs jacket draped across her front. She was about to move to help her teammate, but her sister rounded the edge of the forest and motioned for them to move, courage evident on her face. Yang scooped Blake up in her arms without a moments hesitation and held her close, running as fast as she could through the trees.
Ruby ran side-by-side with Weiss, weaving between boulders and trees, vaulting over the fallen trunks that blocked their path. All the while they could hear a constant thudding behind them, accompanied by the violent crashing of the thunder overhead and hateful bellows that came from the beast as it tore its own path towards them. It crushed logs underfoot, using its head as a battering ram. They all felt a rising terror in their hearts, they couldn't afford to make a single mistake. A grim realisation dawned on Ruby as they fled.
They were being hunted.