Chapter 14: Forever Fall
Does Cardin have what it takes to be a man?
"Cuz of some…super Grimm? That's the best excuse you could come up with for draggin' me outta bed in the middle of the afternoon?"
Professor Goodwitch frowned. "Several students saw this creature and consistently reported above average intelligence and enhanced physical features. The safety of our children – of your own two…their safety is paramount. This Grimm is no excuse, and I expect you to treat this threat with the appropriate regard."
"Nah, I believe ya. One time, I ran into a Grimm that had the special power to make the entire forest spin around me. Trees got real wobbly and shit."
"And were you sober when this transpired, Professor Branwen?"
"Have I ever been sober, Glyndy-poo?"
Cardin's teammates all tried to convince old man Branwen that the Grimm had aura, but Cardin saved his breath. The dusty crow was clearly a boozehound. Nothing mattered to people like him unless it came in a flask or had a cocktail umbrella sticking out of it. Cardin understood those people very, very well. He'd been raised by the likes of them.
Goodwitch hadn't wanted to take the students out on their field trip to the Forest of Forever Fall with the unusual Grimm threat still out there, but several pleas from students (and bribes of coffee sent to the headmaster) had softened her stance. The one stipulation upon which she insisted was a teacher escort for each student group. Goodwitch joined Team Rainbow, Port was with Adventure, and Branwen got Castle. It was clear that the brats in Rainbow wanted Professor Branwen, but Goodwitch insisted that would be favoritism. That didn't make a lick of sense. Branwen had only just showed up at the school, so there was no way he could've already found a favorite. Dumb bitch probably didn't even know what the word favoritism meant.
Cardin was among the students who'd lobbied for the field trip. A powerful huntsman like himself should not stay cooped up inside all the time. He needed a chance to stretch out, get some fresh air, and squash some Grimm. Not to mention that he'd planned the most epic prank of all time based on this pansy ass jam they were supposed to collect.
Each crimson tree had a limited amount of goop, so they had to spread throughout the clearing and avoid double dipping on the same used trees. Cardin normally wouldn't have cared about the shitbrained maple syrup quest, but he needed to stay on the lookout for a clump of good trees if the prank was going to work out.
The students had split up into their teams, but the group was still generally together for safety. Cardin's own team of queers and pussies were staying close. The other team with that mohawk looking guy had spread out through the clearing. Red and Yellow were busy making out – nawww, just kidding but, like, wouldn't that be super hot? Heh, girl on girl. Epic.
There. Cardin spotted a hill from which he could get a clear view of the entire field trip, but no one would be able to see him if he went over the top of the hill.
"Yo, teach?"
"What's the matter, Cardamom?"
Cardin grit his teeth. Not here. "I think I saw some good looking trees with tons of tree slop just over that ridge. You mind if I, you know…"
"Fine. Just don't get to far from the group. We don't want Goodbitch's secret ghoulie to steal you away." The teacher waved both hands in the air in mock fear.
Heh, Goodbitch – maybe this guy isn't so bad after all, thought Cardin has he slunk out of sight behind the hill. He crouched down behind the trees, peeked an eye out over the hill, and waited. The important part of this prank was making sure everyone had forgotten he was there.
As time went on, the warning from the professors had begun to fade in the class' communal memory, and students began to wander out further from the pack. From his vantage point, he had a good view on the entire class, but he was looking for one team – specifically, one student. Castle, Adventure, Rainbow…there she was.
Weiss Schnee. The entitled little worm who'd humiliated him in front of the entire school.
Time for a little payback.
Cardin pulled the secret second jar he'd been carrying that was labelled "For Weiss Schnee." Inside was the good stuff – flash fire powder. When heavily shaken or rattled, this baby would flash into the biggest fireball Weiss had ever seen. It was normally used for magic tricks, but Cardin had bought some of the extra heavy kind from a back alley dealer in Vale. He wasn't going to aim for her (Cardin wasn't looking to go to jail for making a Grilled Schnees Sandwich), but he had a feeling that she would appreciate the fireworks when it landed nearby, given her love of flames.
Cardin looked over the ridge. Schnee was focused on filling her jar of goo, entirely ignorant of what was coming. Cardin raised his arm to chuck the makeshift grenade when he caught a glimpse of orange hair out of the corner of his eye.
Nor– Queen of the Castle Nora was starting right at him. For a second, he was worried she was going to tattle on him to one of the teachers, but she made no move to get their attention. She just stared at him. Not happily or sadly or anything-ly; just staring.
"Is this all you think you can be?"
He couldn't back down now. Cardin had been magnanimous enough to forgo Ren's semblance on the bullhead so Schnee could get it instead, and this was how she repaid him – by taking a cheap shot when he was distracted by some rabbit freak. She had to pay
Two turquoise eyes bore straight into Cardin's soul.
"We all came to Beacon to become more than we already are."
Schnee had ruined his reputation. Just one throw and he'd be back in charge. Top dog. No one messes with Cardin Winchester without paying the price.
As the seconds passed, his team leader's neutral expression fell. She looked…disappointed.
"I know you can do better than this, Cardin."
Damn her and damn her one-on-one therapy. Cardin had thought she meant it as a euphemism for beating the shit out of him, especially since she seemed to have some fucked up fetish for breaking legs. But she'd literally sat him down for a two hour psychoanalysis session with her as the counselor. She even had a fricking clipboard and reclining therapist chair.
N– The Queen of the Castle smiled brightly, nodded, and resumed sipping her sap as Cardin lowered the jar of flash fire powder. The incendiary package fell out of his hands and rolled away as his grip on it lightened.
Cardin ducked back under the cover of the hill and laid down in the crunchy leaves. What a fucking pussy I've become…thank the Brothers the boys back home can't see me now.
He looked at the tree next to him. It was a beautiful shade of red, more robust than any other autumnal hue he'd ever witnessed. Vibrant leaves cascaded down from the canopy, tumbling through the as though they were being gently poked and prodded by an invisible hand. Even the air he breathed felt richer here.
Now that I think about it, Cardin thought, Forever Fall isn't that bad a place. It's kind of nice. I think I like it. But, like, in a manly way.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a tap. Regardless of the fact that he'd only chosen this hill as a convenient throwing spot, there were actually a few damn decent trees for sapping. Maybe he'd have time to get an extra bottle of the stuff for his teammates. Even if none of them needed it, the queen would certainly be happy for a snack. Cardin didn't know why, but he really liked it when she smiled. Actually, he was pretty sure he did know why.
First, he ought to round up the missing flash fire powder. It wouldn't do to let any of it accidentally catch fire with all the grass and trees around. Goodbi– Professor Goodwitch would have his ass if his team started another forest fire. Cardin looked towards the bottom of the hill.
His violet eyes were met by black ones. Black ones with dark, slimy liquid pouring out of them.
The human markings were new to it. It understood that each distinct carved shape corresponded to a particular sound, but it was not aware of which shape stood for which sound.
Yet.
Focusing on a specific concept helped it accelerate the process. Human carvings. No, they are called letters. Specifically, this is New Valean.
Melion had been fluent in New Valean before his death, among many other languages. Being deprived of his vast library of knowledge was a major setback to Queen Salem, but least it was not gone forever.
It looked at the jar in its paw with greater comprehension and began to read the label aloud. "For Whee…"It shook its head."For Weiss S–"
The human child gasped before it could finish. He was clearly frozen in fear. It noticed his hand reaching for the gargantuan mace he carried with all the sneakiness of an Ursa Major.
It mattered not; weapon or not, the boy was no threat to it. No huntsman could ever be.
It reached into jar and sifted through the fine yellow particles. Scooping out a handful, it slowly closed its hand around it only to feel a burning sensation against its aura.
Fire in solid form.
Is this what Dust is? No, not quite, but still fundamentally aggressive by its very nature.
A weapon of some sort.
Queen Salem had not given it specific orders to protect Weiss Schnee, but it understood the nature of its intelligence. Sapience was a gift, but it was also a responsibility, granted so that it may execute her will. The Queen trusted it to understand her grand plans and create its own orders when she was unavailable to provide them. It was not like his mindless progenitors; it could think for itself. In fact, it was expected to and would be failing if it did not.
"You aim to harm her."
"AAAA–"
Black paws hurdled towards the boy at breakneck speed and covered his mouth, but it was too late. Other humans would have heard the shout. Seeing no other option, it set the cannister on the leaf-covered ground, got down on all fours, coiled its tails around the horror-stricken human, and fled into the forest.
Omake
Nora: And how does that make you feel?
Cardin: *on therapist chair* I literally just sat down. We haven't discussed anything yet. How does what make me feel?
Nora: *shakes head and takes notes* Tsk-tsk.
Cardin: *nervous* Uh, I mean, it makes me feel…sad?
Next Chapter: Fox Hunt – In which a school field trip must recover their kidnapped damsel.