A/N: Just as a note, I will NOT be updating this frequently on the regular. I just have a lot of down time at this army school, and its a lot easier to rewrite already completed chapters then come up with new ones. After Chapter 4 This will most likely become a weekly update. So shorter chapters overall, but more of them.
The Emerald Forest
Ruby Rose
The day had been...weird, to say the least. I'd been launched into the forest by an old man, got partnered with a probably mean, possibly nice heiress. We'd ridden a Nevermore and fallen from said Nevermore out of the sky and landed on my first friend at Beacon. (Don't ask) A girl with orange hair rode an Ursa. The previously mentioned heiress froze a Deathstalker to the ground AND THAT WASN'T EVEN THE WEIRD PART BECAUSE A FUDGIN CAR FELL OUT OF THE SKY!
"Thats IT! Can everyone chill out for one fucking minute!" My big sis, Yang, yelled in frustration.
"Yang, language!" I said distractedly, while looking at the car. It didn't look like any car I'd ever seen. Also I'm not sure but I'm pretty sure they don't often fall out of the sky in open fields in a Grimm infested forest…my thoughts were interrupted by the ominous cracking of the ice that held the Deathstalkers stinger.
"Uhhh guys?" Jaune said, looking up, at the circling Nevermore. "I think we need to get moving, like now."
Looking at my new partner, she spoke before I could even start to get the words out. "Go on. See if whomever is in there requires assistance. We'll watch your back."
"Thanks Weiss! Come on Yang!"
In a blink I could crouch down and look in the driver side window of the upside down car, while Yang struggled to keep up. Hanging from the drivers seat was a guy who looked maybe a year or two older than Yang. He was still strapped and seemed for all the world like he could be sleeping if not for the blood matted in his short, black hair from cuts all on his forehead.
"Hey Mister! Are you alright?" At the sound of my voice bright green eyes snapped open, and the man fumbled at his restraints before almost immediately slipping back into unconsciousness. "He's alive!"
"I got him Rubes. See if anything else can be pulled out."
While she worked on pulling the stranger out of the remains of the car, I peeked in the back seat and saw a large black duffel. Pulling it out made a familiar metallic noise and I figured it wouldn't hurt to bring his weapons along with us. Standing up with the bag I could see Yang had managed to throw the man over her shoulder fireman style and she gave me a quick thumbs up to show all was good.
"We are out of time! Move you two!" Weiss screamed as the ice began to crack more and more. Just like that, we were off. The eight of us (nine if you count the stranger) legging it, trying to out run two of the largest predators Remnant had ever seen.
After several minutes of silent running, we crested a hill and saw ruins up ahead, and thast when Yang finally broke the silence.
"Welp. Not gonna lie guys, I'd call today a net win." The incredulous looks from the rest of us did nothing to dampen the bright smile on her face as she spoke.
"I think we have very different ideas of what success means." My sisters new partner, Blake, said with a wry smirk.
"Yes Xia Long, do explain what about today was a win." Weiss chimed in.
"Oh come on! We fought some Grimm, we all got our relics and made some new friends, and to top it all off a hottie literally fell from the sky!"
I could feel my face start to match my cloak as the others laughed. Even Weiss cracked the very beginning of what could charitably be called a smile, when a new voice joined in.
"While I do appreciate the compliment, I can walk on my own."
With a startled yelp, Yang then proceeded to drop the strange man, whom we'd gone through a lot if trouble to rescue and carry on the ground. While Weiss scolded her, the man stood up and revealed himself to be even bigger than I thought, at least 6'3 he towered over even Jaune or Pyrrhra.
"Don't worry. I'm fine. Where am I? Who are you?" He said while looking around at each of us. When his eyes fell on me...I got a cold feeling, like he wasn't even looking at me really. More like he was cataloging me in some file. I don't think I've ever disliked someone so quickly…If anyone else shared my sentiment they definitely didn't show it as Weiss said while pointing off in the direction we'd just come, "You're in the Emerald Forest, and we are Huntsman and Huntress in training, we have Grimm chasing us so I'm afraid this isn't the best time for a meet and greet. But know we mean you no harm, and we have somewhere safe to go. Can you fight?"
With a glance around the man seemed to come to some sort of decision. He held out his hand towards me as he said, "I can hold my own." With a start I realized he was indicating his bag and quickly handed it to him trying to not make eye contact. He proceeded to pull out a rifle of some sort and pocketed a few magazine before nodding at me. "I'll follow your lead."
"Oh, ohkay...well then lets get going...mister…?" What was up with this guys voice, he seemed, almost bored.
"Hound."
"…..your name is Hound?"
"No. But it's what you can call me."
And with that the others took off and we quickly followed. Though I made sure to put on a little burst of speed to put some space between me and Hound. It soon became apparent that trying to out run a Nevermore was little more than a pipe dream however. And reaching the ruins began a desperate battle that took all of us pulling together in ways I'd never thought possible. But looking down from the cliff edge as the disintegrating remains of the Nevermore fell, I'll never forget the look of awe from Hound as he looked up at me from the ruins of the bridge below. Or how quickly his eyes returned to that cold, sharp look as he slung his rifle over his shoulder…
"You four shall make Team RWBY, led by Ruby Rose."
"Wait. What?!" What the shizzle did he think he was doing making me leader? He must have read it wrong. Gotten confused. He is pretty old after all… before I can say anything I'm being crushed by Yang in one of her bear hugs. Over her shoulder I can see professor Ozpin disappear through a side door in the audience room, followed by the scary lady from before, and Hound.
"At least he's not my problem anymore." I thought before the rest of the afternoon became a haze of getting our assigned room, moving in and trying to get ready for bed. Just as things were beginning to settle down in our new dorm, a knock came at our door. When I answered….HE was there. He seemed surprised to see me and the others as Ozpin smiled and spoke the damning words.
"Girls from here on out Mr. Hound will be part of team RWBY. We can handle the troublesome naming conventions at a later date, saayyy graduation? Goodnight RWBY."