Chapter 20 Heading out
(Jaune POV)
I know Akira has been talking about hunting, it sounds like fun to her, but I'm not sure how much fun it would be for the others.
"So what is the plan exactly?" Shawn asked.
"Jaune, Ruby, you're the leaders of your teams, and Professor Ozpin said I had to have two other teams accompanying my team, so will you please agree to going on a weekend trip to the Silver Woods to go hunt an elk without using your weapons whatsoever?" Akira asked.
"Really? Well I don't know, how safe will it be?" I asked.
"As safe as possibly could be if you know enough about surviving in the wild," Akira said, "Please?"
"Why not? It sounds like fun," Ruby said.
"It sounds dangerous," I said.
"But where's the fun then?" Akira asked.
"Sure, Team RWBY is in!" Ruby said.
"So…how about it Jaune, will JNPR be joining as well?" Akira asked.
"Well…fine, why not," I said after seeing Nora's face as she was holding in her excitement, "so when is it?"
"Whenever all three teams have a free weekend," Akira said.
"What about the Vytal Festival? The Tournament?" Weiss said, "The academy dance? Does any of that matter?"
"How about the weekend before the week of the festival?" Akira asked, "But it wouldn't really matter that much."
"Why not, and since it's a Friday, I propose we all go to the town afterschool," Weiss said.
"Um…why?" Ruby asked.
"To get outfits for the dance, you aren't going dressed like that after all," Weiss said.
"Okay, so who's paying?" Yoko asked.
"I will," Shawn and Weiss said at the same time.
"No I will, I can ask my father for the Lien," Weiss said.
"But my parents already sent me my weekly allowance for attending Beacon," Shawn said, "I wouldn't mind."
"Oh if you insist," Weiss said, "but the next time we're doing this, I'm paying," Weiss said.
"Sure whatever you say," Shawn said.
(Akira POV)
After classes, we all met at the courtyard, heading to the town nearby, finding a Faunus friendly store. It is normal to find Faunus friendly stores often run by Faunus themselves. Sometimes they were better. For one, they don't spray perfume all over the place, which is great for Canine Faunus. The other is that clothes sold are tailored to go over the Faunus traits if needed.
I honestly don't like clothes shopping, I hate being fussed over, back at the White Fang, they rarely fussed over anyone, it was the same with Tai and Masumi, they didn't fuss over either me or Felina. I just want to not have to worry about looking nice if I can't do anything at all.
After what seemed to be like hours we finally had the attire chosen out and paid for.
"You know, if you ever need combat attire, I can recommend a good place," the cashier said noting Team ASPR's current combat gear.
She was right I suppose, there were so many stitches from all the repairs we had to make since school began.
"I guess it wouldn't hurt," I said.
Afterwards, finding the armory, we were looking around at the combat attire tailored specifically for the Faunus, it didn't hurt that much at least…I think. When we got back to the dorms, Weiss insisted that the outfits for the dance would be kept in her team's dorm room to ensure they would be in perfect condition. The new combat attire wasn't exactly needed yet so they were in our lockers even though Weiss wanted them to be in the best condition possible when we do use them. I wasn't sure what was the best thing to do with them, and the lockers did seem to be the best place.
Finally at least a month of being annoyed by Cardin and being bored in classes, we were finally on an airship heading towards the Silver Woods.
"So, what's so special about the Silver Woods anyways?" Weiss asked.
"It's one of the few places the Grimm cannot get to," I said, "It will be the safest place to hunt disarmed."
"Wait you didn't bring your weapons at all, what kind of dolt are you?" Weiss asked.
"The kind that could already hunt a moose without weapons when I was just a kid," I said, "It's just a learning experience, and also a onetime thing. So don't worry about it, okay?"
"Akira, should we teach them the signals?" Blake asked.
"Signals, what kind of signals?" Jaune asked.
"It's not really much," I said, "the last time I hunted with my grandfather, we used silent signals to communicate; so then no one would hear us. Blake and I could teach them to everyone so it would be more like a real hunt."
After the hours on the airship, everyone was able to understand the signals and the airship landing in a clearing a mile or two away from the closest herd and five miles away from any predator. Finally a place where I can relax. Stepping out first, I took a lungful of the almost clean air, letting it settle in my lungs before exhaling.
"You okay?" Yoko asked as everyone walked out.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I said, "Come on; we have a herd to track down. Oh and you better not bring your weapons."
"What about the Grimm?" Jaune asked.
"There are hardly any Grimm in the Silver Woods, why would you expect animals you would find at a zoo here?" Akira said.
"But what about the hunting part," Jaune asked.
"We aren't hunting the entire herd of course, separating them to get just one," Akira said, "Besides, you're not the one who will be finishing the elk off, a Faunus with sharp enough teeth can do it."
"As in biting into the elk?" Weiss asked.
"Don't worry; we'll be going after a healthy one, besides," I said, "I've done it already. Let's hurry up now, so we won't have to wait until morning to find them."