It seems that this week is turning up to be a pleasant one because of the lack of school work to do and plenty of time to rest since the tests and stuffs are over.

So, Yey.

Now, shall we begin?

_... A Place To Call Home…_

The day before…

Living with the people of the Bastion has given Jaune a new perspective on surviving… as well as living. Their rigorous schedules (by the gods there were many) aside, it was still a thousand times better than the days he spent on trying to not die outside ever since he was separated from his family. Now, he wasn't an early bird back then, but he is now if he doesn't want to be woken up by a nasty case of a literal kick to his sides courtesy of Raven Branwen.

It went on until the third day when he woke up an hour early and spent his time watching the morning sun rose like a luminous light that comes after the long night back at the picturesque cliffs where he first woke up, injured, and afraid. That is, until, that bitch, Raven snuck up on him from behind and almost gave him a heart attack as well as a second experience of what it feels to have a vertical downwards fall below the mountain side when she gave him a fake push.

Jaune was almost traumatized twice. However, Raven only shrugged and told him it was part of his 'training'. Speaking of which, his training mostly consists of beating the shit out of him and partly increasing his huntsman exercise routine to levels that made him puke on the morning and the afternoon. But it wasn't just training that pushed him to his limits, because, between his training and exercise sessions, he was ordered to go around the Bastion and help out with the available jobs. And by the brother gods there was a lot.

On the mornings (after his early training) he was given the order to chop woods outside the Bastion. It was a novel experience, especially when he was given the opportunity to watch the civilian protection system in place where rangers were placed in strategic positions a bit far from their work site to act as sentries or to simply kill the occasional small fry abominations that got too curious. Then there were the militias that were on guard duty near the ten to twenty or so individuals including him working at the trees. The guards were a friendly bunch, talkative when there not so busy, and fairly disciplined from the way they carry themselves. After the job was done, he was given a small ration for his contribution and was left to wonder around inside the Bastion for an hour until Raven 'advise' (i.e. threatened him for an even more intense training session) to set himself up for the next noon job. Which is, an even more novel experience, helping the chefs cook.

Now, he wasn't unused to help out with the prospect of cooking since he sometimes helps his own mother with the occasional dinner preparations whenever he had time (translation: whenever his not lazy). So, when he first entered the inner machinations of the eatery area, he was quite surprised when the chefs there ordered him with the same passion and vibrance as akin to how Raven managed the intensity levels on his training. Hell, who knew that peeling potatoes and washing cabbages have such distinct similarities with dodging Raven's blade and an awful number of push-ups?

Though, the simple fact of getting first dibs on the hot and steamy lunch foods may have lifted a stressful burden on his shoulders… until it was time for his next job. Of which, is offering his services to the local militia by joining the patrols within the Bastion as a trained huntsman.

It was the most interesting part. He was able to explore the middle cliffs with no horde to dissuade his notion of sightseeing. The guards for the most part was vigilant in civilian populated areas and he was given an honest to brother gods wooden baton as a mark of his temporary duty. Thankfully, he didn't used the offered baton that much since the last survivors of Remnant within the Bastion were mostly minding their own business in trades, jobs, and, perhaps the most surprising to Jaune, and also not that surprising once the entertainment industry plummeted alongside the beginning of the apocalypse, is huddling within the famous fighting arena situated in the center of the middle cliffs. Sometimes he was patrolled there and even he couldn't help but watch the members of the Iron hides duking it out at a gladiator-like arena where captivated audience cheered and emerge themselves in primal entertainment with distinct satisfaction. He may have participated, like the other bored guards, in a betting or two…

But, during the end of his patrols and as he waited for his next training session, he found a spot away from the clustered tents and towering structures (that consisted of Rangers ready to shoot and kill) meant to fend off the occasional flying abominations that got too close with the Bastion's people at the middle cliffs.

The spot was a small cliff offering him a view of the Battlefield that happened when the horde arrived at their doorsteps. It was serene and peaceful. A sharp contrast to his nightmare experience at the eventful night when he first woke up at the Bastion. Hence, Jaune often find himself reflecting about his days spent outside, Ren's death, and this… place to call home, the Bastion, for his remaining week here. His perspective on surviving was tempered and hammered down to be able to hook himself enough on reality that he can, sort of, stand on his own two feet and not cry himself at the cruel world whenever he falls asleep.

His perspective on living, however, was complicated. It definitely wasn't help by the fact that Raven herself set this rigorous schedule for him… I mean, it totally wasn't because, when after his cliff-full sightseeing, he was back at it again with training, training, and training. And whenever his on the brink of exhaustion, he also utters out-

"W-Why?" Jaune remembered saying as he lay on the ground headfirst after another grueling training session.

"Hah. Like I said before, brat, you're not that special or anything… but, you may have heard from the head researcher of the enlightenment faction," Raven spoke with her usual haughtiness as she crouched and looked at him with a smug punch-able face just as Jaune recalled Doctor Oobleck's warnings," yeah, that mad green-haired retired huntsman might have implied of your involvement in Bastion's progress or whatever in the near future, so you're probably going to be sent on a side mission with the founder's trusted hunters on the soft basis of further Vale scouting while the main scouting mission for Mistral's aide remain on standby… until they've heard from the radio that either you and the team gets killed, which is a shame," Raven shrugged dispassionately before continuing," or…" She suddenly looked at him with narrowed eyes and predator-like teeth." You, Jaune, will find something interesting and I won't label you as a useless meat bag anymore… for the time being until you somehow disappoint me, of course. Now, get up! Because the Night is still young and all."

He got up just as the ground he was laying in was ruptured by a stray blade. Then he went for the counter attack with a borrowed blade that Raven throwed at him earlier (and that almost got him skewed right in the head if he hasn't caught it in time) on the beginning of their afternoon training with unsurprising results as the huntress parried it with little to no effort at all. But that's okay since he already participated that one and he was now in the process of throwing dirt at her eyes that he clumped up when he was laying in the surface. Then he suddenly found himself face down on the solid dirt with his brain only just catch up with the fact that Raven pushed her knee against his stomach and bashed her elbow on his head- sending him down in a blink of an eye.

"That was good- being tricky, brat, I'm starting to like you but don't get that over your head. You were too focus on delivering your counter attack that you have forgotten to put your guard up. Be more vigilant because when your facing abominations, there isn't any chances left once you fuck up." She tutored," Now, get up."

He got up and continued their afternoon training. Quietly praising himself for surviving more than the usual 5 seconds as he gave it his all because, after all, tomorrow is the last day before the journey begun. And he noted absently that he needed to find a weapon and armor tomorrow because, due to his busy schedule, he wasn't able to conduct his search for Crocea mors this week so he was hoping that, at least, he would know a hint or two on the whereabouts of his ancestral sword.

"Again! Do you think the abominations would give a fuck if your distracted in mid-combat! Get your ass out of your head, brat!"

If he survived the training sessions, that is.

Present.

"How did you even get this stuff?" Jaune inquired, whilst looking at a branded can of alcohol in his hands.

A chuckle erupted not too far from him. Looking over the crackling flames of burning wood, he saw Cardin Winchester sitting as his former bully chugged his second can of beer and, after finishing it, he then saw him throw the now empty can behind him as he looked at Jaune with his face grinning as akin to how Jaune remembered the battle-hungry Iron hides with their frenzied state from the gladiator rings. "Heh. Managed to stash one of these during one of the supply runs before the horde came." Cardin begun, tone proud, as the beacon huntsman student continued," Don't tell anyone about it, though, especially those within the faction that I'm at, or else you'll be bombarded with people wanting to trade their stuffs for this beauty." Jaune could see that happening. He remembered how Kelly also proudly presented his alcohol while guarding it at the same.

I guess it's one of the ways to escape this world. Even if it's only temporary.

"So, when did you arrived?" Cardin asked.

"A week ago. Got rescued when I was half-starved to death at an abandoned supermarket."

"No shit. You did!? Why the hell would you go over places like that? Shit's a deathtrap that, unless you have a full hunting party, you'll be dead faster than you can get twelve packs of beer." Cardin bellowed as Jaune blinked at the analogy." You should have tried your luck outside the city. There's fruits and wildlife ready to be hunted there." Honestly, he should have done that. But him, and his family, were too used to having his dad, a real huntsman, fetching it out for them.

"Well… I guess I should have."

He didn't because he was sheep.

"Ah, don't worry about it too much. What matters is that you survived all that and lived long enough to have drinks with me!" Cardin roared as Jaune got the strange feeling that his Beacon tormentor was trying to cheer him up.

"I guess so?" Jaune manage to utter out, confused.

"Yes, so, Jaune!"

"O-okay… but, why are you being so kind to me? Didn't you hate me back in Beacon?" Jaune spoke, perhaps a bit too harshly, as the presence of Cardin Winchester reminded him of the days back in Beacon- where his friend, Ren, was still alive.

Shit. I fucked up again.

"Sorry about that…" Jaune muttered.

However, to his confusion, Cardin let out a bellowing laugh. It didn't sound malicious or even a jeer. It was just a laugh that was, strangely, breathtaking. After a moment, Cardin stopped and composed himself as he then spoke," Do you know what it means to be an Iron hide, Jaune?"

"So, you could have more beers than the average?"

"Besides that."

"No."

"Well, Jaune, look." Cardin suddenly stood as the Beacon student raised his arms to the sight behind him and Jaune saw, from the cliffs below, civilization. There he saw the people of the Bastion minding their own business within flocks of tents and under the watchful eyes of defense towers from the middle cliffs. It was bustling, lively, and passionate in ways that he could easily imagine the Bastion itself is alive. Then, from the lower levels and down the surface, he could feel the brave hunters, trained militias, and disciplined man and women ready to lay down their lives to defend this place. It was inspiring and gave him a sense of pride at the fact that, even in at the end of the world, there was something out there amidst the new wilderness that's meant for them.

And he couldn't even put to words at the ancient monument within the highest cliffs that they were having a campfire over. That one, since he found out earlier when they arrived, is opened only when they were under invasion or if they were contributing to the Bastion's progress by conducting important research, acquiring invaluable weaponries, or activating the numerous (as Cardin boasted) defensive systems in place because the heart of the Bastion… can be dangerous to those who misuse the still working mechanisms… or maybe dangerous because it can also be used against them.

Nonetheless, the whole thing, from the surface area to the highest cliffs, felt like a Bastion.

For them.

For the survivors outside.

And for those who want a place to call home.

"The Factions of the Bastion represents our last hope in maintaining a sense of humanity in our differences amidst this cruel world we now live in." Cardin begun, catching Jaune's attention as the fellow Beacon student spoke without his usual boastful and proud tone in replace for a reflective soft echo that came from someone who lived and breathe as part of the Bastion. " The Night Prowlers are the blades that hunt down the darkness, Sentinels act as a shield to defend the people from the Darkness, and we, the Iron hides, are the living armor that came from the Darkness." Cardin Winchester recited.

For a while, Jaune said nothing, as he paused and take in the moment they were having. Afterwards, he made a remark," Since when did you became all so grown up, Cardin?"

"Well, when the world takes… something away from you… it gives something back in return." Jaune heard him say, as he then realized something missing from the man, or, more specifically, a team that was always there for him. But before he could ponder about it, Cardin spoke again," And I've noticed that your team lost something as well."

Ren

"I… I…"

"Want to talk about it?"

"… Yes."

Not long after, Jaune flicked the lid of his can of beer open and drank from it.

The day after...

"Have you ever ridden one before?" Kelly asked as the high-ranking Faunus Faction leader looked at him with pure amusement in his eyes.

"… No." Jaune answered as his head lay back on the solid dirt ground while his feet dangled from up high and was somehow interlocked with the reins of the horse given to him as a method of transport for their embarkment. Not a second later, he heard a distant chuckle and then the sound of feet hitting surface level. Afterwards, he felt himself lifted up as the man untangled his upward feet and hefted him back on his own two feet. The humiliation didn't end there, because the white horse that he fell from looked at him and snorted.

"He doesn't like me." He concluded.

"Well it's either that or trying to catch up with your unit, horseless." Kelly supplied as the man sighed and repeated the instructions on mounting, again.

"D-do I have to?" He uttered out loud, looking unsurely at the horse that nearly gave him a concussion. In response, Kelly only raised his eyebrows. Eventually, Jaune sighed and approached the white horse with apprehension present and evident

"Now, don't show him that you're scared, kid." Kelly advised.

Easier said than done.

"That's it. That's it!"

I think I'm getting it.

"Wait! No! Don't put your feet there-"

Shit. Too late.

If it weren't for his aura, then Jaune might not only have a concussion, but a brain damage as well to top it all off because he was now in the exact same position as he was when the horse caused him to fall off due to his own inexperience. However, amidst all that, and as his head was still ringing from the downward fall, he heard another distant voice entering the domain of his drumming ears. It was familiar, but just that.

More importantly, the mysterious person lifted him off with no effort and immediately guided him through the steps in mounting the mad horse. Surprisingly, the white horse gave no offensive response as a feminine hand gently placed his right hand on the saddle and, realizing what the person was implying, he pushed himself as his left feet that was on the seat supported his now swinging right leg to the correct position on the other side. Then, not a moment later, Jaune blinked and looked down with disbelief over his eyes as he finally realized that he succeeded in mounting his transport and was finished with step one.

"Oh, thank gods, finally." He heard Kelly remarked as his hearing and vision finally balanced itself. Now, as he was about to relish the fact that further concussions were nullified, he begun to hold the reins on his horse and proceeded with step two- but was interrupted when a cough broke him out of his concentration and chastised himself soon after for not giving thanks to the person who helped him.

"Did you really think that I would let you go out there alone, Jaune?"

He blinked.

"Yeah, it's me."

He turned around sharply and abruptly stopped as he gaped at the person that just helped him.

Nora?

He must have said that one out loud because the Beacon huntress before Jaune gave him an energetic grin in response as he processed the entire thing.

"… so, when are you kids going to stop staring? I know you're having a moment or two, but hurry up! The embarkment has started and you two must get in line with the units on the move or else I have to explain to the other faction leaders why I left the members of my group behind." Kelly groaned out.

_... A Place To Call Home..._

Next Chapter will be uploaded on Feb. 16 (Not on the usual Monday because I have to figure out how to integrate my other fic to a proper schedule pace)

In regards to JauneXNora, that would entirely depend on how this fic will end up becoming because, currently, I don't have plans for romantic ventures for our favorite noodle blonde but I am also the type of writer that would cook it up if it will help the story progress or it's for the sake of character development. However... I'll keep it in mind.

Anyways, thank you for reading this chapter, leave a review if you want to (criticisms are welcomed), and I hope you have a fine day today and a pleasant evening afterwards. Stay safe, you lots.