"Swoooooooping in, I grab Crescent Rose and BOOM! Grimm guts and spikes everywhere!"

Lance opened his eyes again, taking in his surroundings once more. He was leaning against a tree and listening to the conversation closeby. The starry night sky hung above, dotted with the various stars and planets far away from their world. There was a campsite that his team had set up hours prior on the left, a yard or two away from the tree in which he stood against. A campfire had been lit and the rest of team SPYR had crowded around it as they spoke to one another. Since he had somehow zoned out for an unknown amount of time, Ruby's exclamation managed to tell him where they were in terms of conversation. Ruby seemed to be reenacting what she and their team leader had done during their fight with the Grimm, Penny being of excellent help providing the more "flashy moves". Yang and Pyrrha seem to have a good laugh and enjoyed the over-the-top action- even Penny was able to work well with helping Ruby set the scene and aid in her retelling. Those two got along well by the looks of things.

It reminded Lance of his own team back at Vacuo…one that he had to leave when the third semester ended…one that he vaguely remembers now.

They had explored the rest of the island along with setting up camp for a late lunch. There wasn't much to be found besides a few houses- the only point of real interest was the Atlas base settled there. The site was only full of machinery that no longer worked: radio relays, small dust refinery machines, various analyzers, and even the works of a aircrafts landing pad and strip. The last section was apparently in the works before it just abruptly stopped- pavers and concrete mixers all left abandoned for several years. Signs even indicated some of those same machines were still operational and in the process of working when they were abandoned, evident by their placement. Really, one was just in a ditch that was dug out and the keys were still in the ignition. It must have idled for a while before the rot set in and destroyed the interior mechanics.

Ruby soon caught eyes with the brown-haired Faunus, frantically waving her arms to signal him to come and join the crew. Lance let out a sigh as he sat up from his rested position and trudged over to an open spot around the campfire.

"Ruby had just finished regaling up her part of the encounter you and her had with the Grimm," Pyrrha would elaborate as to catch her team leader fully up to speed. "We thought it best to have you share your side of the story."

"...really. You wanna hear my side?" The brown-haired Faunus asked quizzically, finding it rather strange that his team was wanting to bond with him this quickly.

"Of course! You were able to hold off an entire Beowulf pack and helped take down an Ursa Major- something none of us have been able to do as of yet!"

"Yeah, man- you gotta tell us!" Yang would enthusiastically concur with her redheaded teammate. All four sets of eyes were on him again, the nervousness racking within Lance's mind again. He took a calming breath as he closed his eyes, doing his best to ignore the fact that there were four very attentive girls praying down upon his every syllable.

"Well, allow me to give you some context."

When you grow through your teen years in the wild, you're pretty much considered independent. No permanent housing, no safe haven- just the wilderness and the Grimm. If you survive for long enough- like myself or the towns outside of the main kingdoms- you become accustomed to their patterns. For the individual, it becomes intimate knowledge.

Newly spawned Grimm such as Fletchlings tend to crowd together in large groups due to their weakened body structure, which makes them susceptible to area of effect damage. Beowulves only really move in packs, but scouts aren't uncommon. Ursa do the same, only with much fewer numbers since they tend to not need so many members. Just know that the smaller and weaker the Grimm, the most likely there will be legions of them nearby. Bigger Grimm such as Nevermores, Deathstalkers, and King Taijitu end up being loners. The only time you will see them in small groups would be during large-scale invasions during times of mass panic or war.

Now…classifications. Beta and Alpha Grimm are rather easy to spot once you look for the signs. Alpha Grimm have lived long enough to support themselves on their own, hunting almost for sport given how much they feed off the fear of humans and Faunus alike. They're big and tend to have more boney extrusions- not unlike the ones you see here in the clearing.

Within the specific types, there're some rules you need to understand- and a few reasons as to why I did the things that I did. When you see a beta Beowulf on its own, wait for a moment before striking- and be silent with it. There might be a pack nearby, and it's best not to let them know one of their kind is gone. Separating the Beowulves is important as they won't discriminate in teaming up on one target. If it's an alpha, don't bother attacking it. There IS a pack nearby, and killing their leader WILL provoke them no matter what. Play defensive and don't go in until you're certain the alpha is the last one who's left. Since the alpha makes itself known very easily since it roars before a swarm of Beowulves surrounds its prey, I was able to know that this pack didn't have an older Grimm. This made it far easier in quickly dispatching the beasts, even with them managing to get in real close to me. Ruby did the right thing and reasonably switched her attention to me once she was done with her side. I probably would be in several pieces right now if it weren't for her.

When it comes to Ursa, it's technically the opposite. Beta Ursi are known to be pack hunters, and they will have a group of them nearby at all times- there is no denying it. Period. But with an alpha, it's a lone hunter. You most likely learned that in class- and even saw it in Forever Fall when team CRDL was attacked. If you remember, the boney parts of the beast make it hard to cut open like most other Grimm. But like Jaune demonstrated, focusing your aura into your weapon and cutting along its blackened flesh and fur is the way to go. When I identified the alpha, I did my best to sever one of its arms to knock it off balance and to startle it. That allowed me to get in close, do some minor damage, and set up for Ruby's return.

Thus, leading to now."

The females of team SPYR were silent, having taken in quite a lot just now. Lance had opened his eyes again, able to gauge the stunned reactions from the girls around him. Ruby was- again- the first to say something.

"That…is…AMAZING!"

"What an interesting point of view!" Penny would reply, adding onto Ruby's exclamation.

"To think you lived out in the outer kingdoms for years…all by yourself." Pyrrha responded, appearing to be impressed…something she must have not felt for quite a while.

"It makes so much more sense now!" The blonde then continued on. "You killed that Fletching like it was nothing, moved in like it was second nature!"

The second nature comment made the avian smirk. "It tends to become that when you live amongst the beasts of darkness for so long."

"Maybe that's why you're so edgy, too." Yang would then jeer, smirking back.

"I tend to rely on those negative emotions to get Grimm closer. It makes them predictable."

"Perhaps you should talk to Professor Port- see if he could have you come in for a lecture or two," Ruby chimed in.

"That old geezer? Sheesh, I'd rather be writing those essays Oobleck has you guys working on. At least they make you learn something."

This got the sisters to start laughing, even Pyrrha let out a small chuckle. "Ruby does have a point. You would make a good Grimm biology professor."

"People keep telling me that, but I'm not really someone who would settle into a job like that. I'm much more into the physical rather than the educational. …actually, I probably could convince Port to have you guys brought to Forever Fall so we could train against wild Grimm…"

"I have an unrelated question," Penny would interject, her hand being raised to call attention to herself. "Do you happen to be segregated and regarded as an outcast due to your Faunus heritage?"

"Penny, doesn't that sound a little insensitive?" Ruby would whisper to her ginger friend.

"No, that's…actually an interesting question," Lance proceeded to respond. "Most people don't even know avian Faunus like me exist anymore…or, if we ever did. Even if people do know now and it is common knowledge, I don't show my wings very often. Only during lift-offs or when I'm topless. And the latter doesn't tend to happen unless I'm alone."

"Not like that matters, you seem pretty jacked without needing to show your bare skin," Yang commented, throwing a little compliment his way.

"You're one to talk, miss key-hole. Even you, Pyrrha- you're showing off the most skin out of all of us. "

This got Yang to look a little mad as she glanced down to her partially exposed breasts and back up to Lance, Ruby to start giggling more, and Pyrrha to blush and avert her gaze. "I do suppose it is a bit much."

"It isn't a complaint, really. The nights out here are still pretty warm here, so keeping yourself ventilated is a good idea." Lance would stand up from his spot near the fire, take off his jacket, and leave in where he once sat. "I'll go take a look around, see if there's any straggling Grimm still around. You guys get some rest- we still gotta do our job tomorrow."

And with that, the brown-haired leader set off into the treeline. Once he was out of sight, he could look up into the sky and reflect on where he was now. Places like the Amosian Isles were a bleeding reminder that Vale and Beacon had sacrificed this grand view up above for ease of transportation along with an easy view of the streets. Light pollution and urbanization had blocked out what nature had produced for the things that existed on it. These processes and symptoms of societal changes forced everything around to seem man-made, artificial and not by natural design. Even Vacuo, a once great and thriving part of Sanus, was turned into a desert due to resources being plundered and taken by other nations. When Shade Academy was built, it was looking over what used to be an oasis: a place of peace and harmony. But now, it was barren. A shell of what the kingdom once was.

That was why the Amoisan Isles were once a cherished piece of land: a place like Vacuo where all manner of people could come and let the stress of life fade away from there. And when it was doomed to the dark fate, it now showed in its ruined buildings and out-of-place architectures. But that hope was not lost. People like this team were what gave him ideals for a brighter future.

Maybe he could be a part of that future someday…

"He probably just fell asleep," Yang would say to her younger sister as they made their way out from their small camping area. The archeologist had left much earlier before them, allowing them some privacy to eat their breakfast with Penny before moving out. They were concerned that their team leader hadn't shown up back at the campsite since that night. Yang, being logical, assumed that he had fallen asleep wherever he was. Last time she saw him was leaning against the tree they now passed. "He doesn't seem to be around, though. That's concerning."

"Maybe he went up to sleep in a tree?" Ruby would reply, trying to add reason to their leader's disappearance. He might want a better view overhead.

"He does seem like the guy who would want higher ground. Maybe he has good eyes, too? …oh- speaking of good eyes."

Yang would put a hand on Ruby's cheek and turn her head to the left and up. Now both sisters were looking at a very large and stable branch, rustling in the breeze. On the very start of the branch rested that winged huntsman, his curly brown hair sparsely waving due to the wind. His arms were crossed over each other to protect himself from any wind gusts- probably from supplying Pyrrha his jacket that night. The Xiao-Rose duo would snicker as they got close to the trunk, nodding towards each other. Ruby would kick at it as Yang punched it, shaking the entire tree and its various branches. Lance, himself, was awoken by the vibrations rocking into his back- causing him to leave over to one side and beginning to slip off the branch. This woke him up entirely and started to flail as he fell, flapping his wings as he spun and fell into a bush. The sisters burst out laughing from there.

The brown-haired leader, thankfully, was mostly unharmed. There was a stick in his clothes or in his hair and was a little scraped up from the branches inside the shrub, but the impact was mostly dampened by that plant formation. He was obviously irritated by the matter of how he awoke, who wouldn't be?

"Not even the start of the second day, and I'm already getting kicked around," he'd grumble to himself, getting back to his feet to brush himself off. "This is why I work alone…ahem- you two seem to have gotten a start on the day already. Gimme the business."

"Ruby and I were planning on searching the rest of the coast, scavenging and analyzing what we can," Yang would reply, calming herself down enough to where she could respond without laughing. Her younger sister still kept a quiet giggle, clearly unable to hold back the hilarity that was her leader falling from a tree. "You wanna come join us, Mr. Ruffled Feathers?"

Lance would hum, ponder the question at hand and attempt to come up with their next series of actions. "I'll go to the other island in the opposite direction- check out the Atlas tech we saw from the airship. Just make sure you mark the distinctions on your maps- once you're done with the coast line, make your way to the next island. Pyrrha and Penny can stay on the inland and deal with any Grimm that may still be here."

"You got it!" Ruby chipped in, doing a stiff salute. Ruby and Yang interlinkeds as they skipped on their merry way out into the forest to head to the beachside. Lance, once again, cracked a smirk while shaking his head.

"Sheesh…these freshmen." He watched them for a few seconds more, letting them get out of sight due to the trees blocking most of their silhouettes before turning to go back to the camp. He was hungry, but not desperate enough to sit down and have a meal. Penny was tending to the fire and was cracking an egg on the stone slab to cook it.

"Salutations!" The redhead said aloud, doing her signature salute.

"Seems like Pyrrha's the only one asleep right now," the avian Faunus commented, searching through the bag nearby and pulling out a green apple. "Best to let her sleep- probably one of the few times she's slept out here in the wilderness."

"I will prepare her a meal in the meantime," Penny replied as she carefully watched the egg sizzle on the stone. "Would you like for me to prepare your meal, sir?"

"No, I'm good," Lance replied as he took a bite out of the apple. He would look towards the northwest and begin to take a stride in that direction, but Penny would stop him by saying a few words. "The next island is west-northwest." The brown-haired man stopped, turned, and looked up towards the east- temporarily stunning himself by looking at the sun. His arms flailed before he turned away, pointing one arm now east and turning to his left to go west. Once he adjusted to the northeast, he looked back to the redhead as he slowly tilted his arm more westward. She then nodded once he was approximately forty degrees up from the west, prompting him to smile back. Lance took a step forward towards the designated direction, starting slow before getting into a full stride. His wings unfurrowed as he picked up speed, beginning to run. He hopped, landed in a crouch, his wings glowed a subtle blue along with the midsole of his boots glowing white, and shot down as his legs extended- thus launching him into the air and allowing him to glide his way through the air towards the next island.

Pyrrha awoke to the sounds of birds chirping overhead, the faint distant crackle of fire and a strong gust of wind. She sat up from her sleeping bag and stretched her arms, yawning in a classical fashion before she fully stepped out of her sleeping quarters. The redhead decided to poke her head out of the tent, witnessing that her friends were not with her in their sleeping bags. What she found was the glorious light of day, some having already seeped in through the partial gap in the folding front. Penny was squatting next to the lit campfire with a cooking stone being held perfectly steady. There were presumably fresh eggs being cooked on said make-shift skillet, which made Pyrrha question the situation even more. Was she dreaming?

"Penny?" She would call out to the ginger-haired girl, her grogginess causing her to sound lower in pitch.

Hearing her name made Penny turn her head towards the tent, now able to see that her teammate was awake. "Good- morning, miss Nikos! I was preparing unfertilized chicken spawn for your breakfast. I was unsure of what your preference was in terms of how they should be cooked, but I had made a calculation estimating a 82% probability it would be- sunny-side up!"

Pyrrha was very confused but couldn't exactly blame her teammate for doing her best to help bond. And because of that, she let out a small laugh. "Thank you, Penny. I'll be with you in one moment." The scarlet-haired huntress would then pull herself back inside the tent and get changed into her full armor set. Once she returned, Penny had changed from cooking eggs on the skillet to frying small patties of meat. A plate was placed on one of the logs that the four sat on during their time around the campfire that night, a set of collapsible silverware being placed on it as well.

"I…thank you, Penny. But you really didn't need to do this," Pyrrha would say as she sat down to dine away at her eggs. She felt incredibly flattered that someone she barely knew was able to make her breakfast without prompt to do so.

"Yang had mentioned to me that you wished to converse," Penny would say as she flipped a patty. "I thought that a simple breakfast routine would help to bridge our relationship!"

"Well, that is certainly a way to become friends. It seems a lot of my newest relationships come from that same topic…" The Mistralian responded before she took a bite out of her eggs, humming softly as she tasted how spot on they were cooked.

"Oh, like how you first met Jaune, last name Arc."

This prompted Pyrrha to stop chewing for a moment, resuming in order to swallow what she had amassed. "...How would you know about that?"

"Ruby's friend Weiss told me!"

"...I see." Pyrrha resumed eating her breakfast from there, pondering on how much Penny actually knew about her friends and of herself. If she had talked to the rest of team RWBY about various things, then perhaps that does explain the question of how she properly guessed her cooked eggs. But it still prompted more in-depth reviews of what it all meant- which were pushed to the side as the ginger would sit down next to her team member and move the grilled patties onto Pyrrha's plate. She also noticed that Penny put out the fire once she was done.

"I have already eaten this morning, so please take them." Penny says as she smiles happily. Pyrrha couldn't help but smile back and give a non-verbal look of thanks before cutting them up to cool them down as she continued her devouring of her eggs. They sat in content silence for a while, just listening to the sounds of nature and the taller redhead nibbling at her well-done meal.

Penny seemed to be holding back a question as she turned to look around. She made sure no one else was nearby and whispered to her partner: "Would you like to know a secret?"

Pyrrha would hum in surprise, her mouth being filled with both bits of egg and meat. She took a moment to swallow and cleared her throat before responding. "What is it?"

The shorter redhead looked around again, just to be positive none of their teammates were around. "I don't have a semblance."

The Mistralian would raise an eyebrow and tilt her head quizzically. "What do you mean?"

"I have done rigorous aura training and put myself in controlled scenarios that could cause the development of a semblance. However, there have been no such breakthroughs," Penny would elaborate further.

"Penny, semblances don't just pop up when you force them," Pyrrha responded with a hint of laughter in her first few words. "They have to come naturally, in times where you won't be prepared."

"Hmm. You have a very interesting viewpoint. However, there have been many cases where huntsmen and huntresses do not find their semblance despite their line of work. It is not uncommon for people such as ourselves to not have a semblance."

"Right. I suppose you do have a point. Although, that does give me a different question: how do you operate your weaponry?"

"Oh! Would you perhaps like a showcase?" Penny's face lit up in astonishment, visibly excited to have someone willing to listen to an explanation about her weapons.

This, in turn, made Pyrrha smile. "That sounds lovely."