RWBY: Team CRML
Chapter 3
Liam
In the locker room, I was looking over my weapon. It's a katana that can change to a long range, high caliber sniper rifle. Ruby and I actually came up with the idea together.
Making sure the gun was loaded, I switched it back to a katana before sheathing it on my back.
"Hi, Liam." I looked up to see Weiss standing in front of me.
"Oh, hey." I stood up from the bench. "What's up?"
"I heard we'll be getting teammates today." she told me. "And I was wondering if you'd want to be on my team?"
"Sure." I replied.
"I already asked Pyrrha." she gestured back at the spartan themed girl.
"Pyrrha Nikos?" I asked. "The world renowned fighter or something like that?"
"You know her?"
"Eh, just a bit." I replied with a shrug.
"Would all first-year students please report to Beacon Cliff for initiation? Again, all first-year students report to Beacon Cliff immediately." a woman's voice said over the comm.
"It's time." I said while getting to my feet.
Minutes later, Beacon Cliff
As the headmaster and Glynda approached, each of us stood on a small jump pad. "For years, you have trained to become warriors, and today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest." the headmaster said.
"Now, I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignment of 'teams.' Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given teammates... today." Glynda added.
"These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon. So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well." the headmaster continued. "That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years."
"Whaaaat?!" I glanced over to Ruby, seeing she was incredibly nervous.
"After you've partnered up, make your way to the northern end of the forest. You will meet opposition along the way. Do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path... or you will die." the headmaster added. "You will be monitored and graded through the duration of your initiation, but our instructors will not intervene. You will find an abandoned temple at the end of the path containing several relics. Each pair must choose one and return to the top of the cliff. We will regard that item, as well as your standing, and grade you appropriately. Are there any questions?"
"Yeah, um, sir?"
"Good! Now, take your positions." the headmaster said, ignoring the student.
Taking my stance as the pad clicked, I was the first to be launched into the forest.
Flipping in the air, the ground was quickly approaching. Just as I reached the trees, I changed to my avian form and flew to the ground before changing back. Hitting the ground, I rolled to my feet, immediately pulling my weapon off my back and scanning the area.
Once I made sure I was alone, I began walking through the forest. I kept an eye out for Yang and Ruby just in case I ran into one of them.
Hearing a twig snap by a bush nearby, I quickly spun to face the source, my weapon at the ready. After a second passed, a male Faunus emerged from behind the bush, his white hair making him stick out from the green.
Brushing his clothes off, he looked to me. "Oh."
I didn't say anything as I sheathed my blade.
"Hmph." he placed a hand on his hip. "Teammates, huh?"
"Seems so."
"Well, in that case, name's Chrome."
"Liam." I kept glancing over the trees and brush for any Grimm.
There were a few seconds of silence. "There aren't any Grimm nearby." he said before walking passed me. "C'mon."
"What makes you so sure?"
He pointed to his cat ears. "I'd be able to hear 'em."
"Hm." placing my sword in its sheath, I followed him. "Chrome, huh?"
"Yep."
"Got a last name?" I asked.
"Belladonna."
"Belladonna?" I repeated. "Isn't your family in charge of Menagerie or something like that?"
"You know that?"
"Yeah. Used to have a couple buddies that were from there." I shrugged.
"What about you? What's your last name?"
"Branwen." I told him.
"Cool name."
"Yeah, it's-" I stopped when I noticed Chrome had stopped walking, his head tilted slightly as his cat ear twitched. "You got somethin'?"
There were a few seconds of silence. "Get ready."
Pulling my weapon off my back, I readied myself. After a few seconds, the bushes in front of us rustled as two more students emerged. "Ugh, I hate forests!"
A female fox Faunus emerged from the bushes along with another student close behind her. He wore a hood and bandanna, making it hard to see his face. Noticing us, the two stopped. "Oh!" the girl smiled as she rubbed the back of her head. "Hi!"
"Come on." the guy growled. "We aren't getting to the temple by standing around."
"He's right." I agreed. "Let's get moving. We can say our introductions while walking."
Walking through the forest, I turned to the Faunus girl. "So, you got a name?"
"Nicole Redwood." she replied. "You?"
"Liam Branwen." I told her. "And this is Chrome Belladonna." I gestured to my teammate.
"Who's he?" Chrome asked, gesturing to the guy.
"Marek." he replied. "No last name."
"No last name?" I asked.
"That's right."
Falling silent, we walked the rest of the way to the temple. Surprisingly, we didn't run into any Grimm.
"I'm a bit disappointed we didn't get to kill any Grimm." Nicole frowned. "I wanted to practice a bit."
"Don't let your guard down." Chrome said. "We could still be attacked any moment now."
"He's right." Marek said softly.
Approaching the temple, we entered and saw, on multiple displays, chess pieces. "What is this?" Nicole asked as she picked up a white bishop piece. Walking over, I grabbed the other white bishop piece.
"The 'relic' we're supposed to bring back?" I shrugged. "Probably..."
"If these are the relics, then there's no need to stick around any longer." Chrome said.
"Then let's get back to the-"
"Sh!" Chrome suddenly shushed Marek. I looked to my teammate and saw his cat ears twitching.
"What d'ya hear?"
He suddenly pulled his weapons off his back and turned to the forest. "Get ready!"
Pulling my sword from its sheath, I took my stance as Nicole pulled out an axe/shotgun hybrid and Marek pulled out a spear/rifle. After a few seconds, I saw the bushes begin to rustle.
After another second, a dozen Beowolves charged at us from the forest.
Marek was the first to attack, throwing his spear at one of the Beowolves before charging towards it. As the spear stuck from the Beowolf's chest, Marek jumped on it, cutting the Beowolf in half and sending his weapon spinning into the air. He jumped up and kicked the weapon into another Beowolf before ripping it free, turning the creature to dust.
"Let's go!" Chrome and Nicole charged forward and I was quick to follow.
Jumping over one of the Beowolves, I slashed my sword through its neck as I landed on my feet. Jumping back as another Beowolf swung at me, I pointed my weapon behind me and shot a round, giving me a boost forward as I slashed the beast in half.
Turning to another Beowolf, I had to raise my weapon to block its paw as it slashed at me. The force caused me to spin around as I took a step away. Feeling my back press against one of the others, I glanced back to see Nicole meeting my gaze.
Turning back to the Beowolf, it swung at me, forcing me to duck under its paw. While I was crouched, Nicole took the chance to roll over my back, swinging her axe into the Beowolf's neck and firing off a shot which completely eradicated its head.
Hearing the fighting come to a stop, I looked around at the others to see they had cleared the rest of the Grimm. "That it?" Nicole asked.
After a few seconds, Chrome spoke. "There's something else. Get ready!"
Turning back to the forest, I watched for a few seconds before glancing at Chrome, seeing his gaze was actually pointed to the sky. Looking up, I saw a Nevermore was flying towards us.
After a second, the winged Grimm launched countless of its feathers at us. "Run!"
Turning around, we all rushed to the cliff, only to skid to a halt as we noticed the bridge was out. "What now?" Nicole asked.
In the distance, the remains of a tower stood. "Liam, if I get you over there, you think you can distract it?" Chrome asked.
"How do you plan to get me across?" as I said that, a couple white glyphs appeared in front of me. "Right!" taking a step back, I jumped to the first glyph before launching myself to the next. Repeating the action, I landed on the tower and switched my weapon to its sniper form.
Taking aim at the Nevermore, I shot round after round into its head and body. Getting its attention, it began flying towards me.
As it got near, two swords were suddenly thrown into its underbelly, a soft purple glow coming from the bottom of them as the Nevermore was pulled downwards. Crashing into the ground, Chrome rushed forward and had one of his swords fly back and attatch to its hilt before encasing the Nevermore's right wing in ice. Jumping back, Chrome created two glyphs to his left and right. "Now!"
Marek and Nicole both jumped off of Chrome's glyphs, using their weapons to cut through the creatures wings. Shrieking in pain, Chrome finished it off by slashing his sword through its neck, decapitating it.
Sheathing our weapons, I noticed Marek walk up to the Nevermore as it turned to dust. Holding his hand out, the dust went to his palm. It seemed as though he absorbed it.
Looking to Chrome, he gave a thumbs up as Nicole waved. Marek looked to me and just crossed his arms.
Hours later, Beacon auditorium
"Ruby Rose. Weiss Schnee. Blake Belladonna. And Yang Xiao-Long." Professor Ospin called them on stage. "You four managed to collect the white knight pieces. From here on you will be known as team RWBY. Led by...Ruby Rose."
The four of them had a quick celebration as Ruby and Yang looked to me and gave a thumbs up.
"Next up!" Ospin said. "Liam Branwen. Marek. Nicole Redwood. And Chrome Belladonna." Ospin called us up to the stage, standing shoulder to shoulder. "You four collected the white bishop pieces. From now on you will be known as team CRML (Caramel). Led by...Chrome Belladonna."
End of chapter 3
