"No!"
"Why not?"
"Are you insane?!"
"We'll find the temple in no time."
"It'll kill us, we'll fall off! Why in the world would you think this is a good idea?!"
"It can fly."
"It can fly. People, fly on airships. People, do not fly on Nevermores! This is a terrible idea!"
Weiss Schnee was having a hard time keeping her voice down. Knowing the minute that Grimm bird saw them they would be in serious trouble. But for some reason Ruby's first thought was to go and ride the damn thing!
"What's the worst that can happen?" The young scythe wielder asked
"Mmmmmmrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…" Weiss was so enraged couldn't even form words. "How could she be serious?"
The Nevermore was busy at the moment. When it had crashed through the trees flapping its wings around, it had knocked down several trees and almost spotted them. Ruby and Weiss had conveniently just passed around a large boulder, behind which they crouched and concealed themselves. But now they were trapped.
The Nevermore was tugging at a spear stuck in its chest. Trying to pull the weapon out. Once it did so, it would leave. Which was perfectly fine for Weiss. Ruby on the other hand had a different opinion.
She scowled one last time at her reluctant partner. "Come on don't be a baby."
Ruby kept low and hurried over to one of its feet. Crouched down right next to those lethal talons and laid her hands on the monster itself. One last time trying to wave the heiress over.
Finally the Nevermore plucked the spear out of its chest and spat it aside. Stretching its wings, while it howled out to the forest in with the slightly trilling but still menacing call. It flapped once rising a few feet into the air.
Deciding that no way was she going to be left alone in the forest again Weiss made her decision. Even if this was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard of.
Now or never,
Weiss ran forward and just managed to grab onto its foot as the bird flapped again, soaring into the sky with its two new passengers. Heading back to the temple to pick up the trail of the ones that had roused it from slumber.
They had entered another clearing. A two hundred foot circle of flat open ground,
And they had been caught right in the middle of it.
Kad quickly assessed the situation and came to the conclusion that this was not good…
These Beowolves had come out of nowhere. The first ones panicky and lost like they were running from something. Possibly whatever was making pall of smoke on the horizon. They halted on the edge of the trees at the opposite end. Sniffing the air and eye balling the four trainees,
Jaxon, Alicia, and Co'Balt were already starting to edge back the way they came from. But Kad knew better, the moment they turned to run ran the pack would charge. They couldn't show any fear. He doubted the Beowolves would see any in his eyes sweeping across their ranks. Expressionless, Kad started to plan
More of the pack was gathering. Larger wolves moving to surround them, numbers giving them courage to start to close the semi-circle. Finally breaking starting to really stalk forward when the Alpha broke through the trees and its pack. The ancient towering creature threw back its bone white head and let loose a chilling howl.
If Kad had his javelin he would have killed it right then and there. He frowned a little in annoyance as none of his companions made a move other than to take a few more cautious steps backward.
But there was no way they were getting out of this forest other than through this pack. They couldn't waste time energy on a fighting retreat across half of the Emerald Forest. Plus they had evaded the Nevermore for the moment. Kad wasn't too keen to go face that Grimm again.
The giant finally spoke. Putting all the calm he could into his deep voice. "Don't run… We can do this."
It hard to inspire people when your back was turned on them and you were staring down a horde of nightmare creatures just to buy a few more milliseconds to get a plan together to live through the next ten minutes. The net of Grimm still closed around them.
Kad looked back to his partner. "Alicia, can you get them out of the trees?"
"Do what?" She asked him, confusion emerging through her mask of fear.
"Fire, anything," Kad said, "Confusion is our ally, burn some trees, get them moving,"
Eyebrows scrunched in concentration Alicia looked down at the levels of the different Dust levels she had in the revolving chambers on her knife, Detergeo. After a quick calculation deciding she had more than enough for a good show.
Kad shifted to his next teammate "Jaxon, keep at range and cover her,"
The lion Faunus didn't appear to be listening. His eyes flicked across the Grimm flanking them. Ready to bolt at any second.
Jaxon had fought Grimm before of course. Everyone who made it to Beacon would have at some point. But he had never faced this many at once. The old tales were coming back to him in all their gristly details. Jaxon he was a good fighter, but wondered whether this little group was good enough to take down this entire pack.
"Who cared if they ran," he asked himself. Jaxon cared greatly if he lived to see tomorrow.
"Jaxon!"
Kad's voice cut through his fear like sunlight breaking through a storm.
He shook his head and mane of hair, trying to focus again as his fear became nothing but a fading memory. Co'Balt laid his hand on Jaxon's shoulder. Assuring him he was not alone that his new friends stood with him.
"Co'Balt stick close to me," Kad spoke to his last remaining teammate. "Keep back some, just don't let them surround me."
"The bloody hell are you going to do?" The ax-man asked.
The voice of Cinder flowed up from the depths of his memories. Telling once again her many lessons of hunting and battle. "In the absence of heavy firepower, Dust, or numbers. Surprise is the greatest force multiplier a warrior has."
He took in a deep breath, feeling the warmth of his aura deep beneath his skin. Making sure the supernatural shield was manifest and ready. The pack howled and broke into a run rapidly closing the noose around the team. And Kad sprang into motion, hoping his sudden berserker charge at the Alpha reminded his team what they were supposed to be doing.
Dirt flew back from Kad's feet. His roar of defiance beating back the howls of the creatures. He looped his chain up around his left forearm, gripping the last loops of slack tight in his calloused fist. It shortened his reach but the black steel provided a little extra armor which would be crucial in the heart of the pack.
The Grimm doubled their pace. Jaws full of carnivorous teeth gleamed in the late morning sun as they leapt into the air. Kad's knife flashed out in an underhanded throw. Sinking right between the eyes of his first target. The sheer force of the impact flipped the very dead Grimm back head over heels.
Still Kad charged. His chain swept up shattering the leering skull masks of three wolves in one back hand strike. Ducking down to rip his knife free so he could bury it up to the hilt in the stomach of the next wolf in line. Casting the dead Grimm to the dusty ground as Kad began to fight his way toward the Alpha.
He kept this left arm rotating in wide circles. Anything that got in his way was smashed aside by the heavy metal. Bones and skins broke like over ripe fruit. A line of dying Beowolves forming in his wake, twisting and squirming in agony as the internal damage done by his chain slowly killed them.
Wolves that tried to judge the moment to leap and attack while his arm was aside coming in for another blow were killed by his darting knife. Snapping out like a snake taking eyes, punching through necks, slashing across throats, up under and between ribs. The knife hacking through limbs as easily as it cut through air.
Alicia began her work. Bringing Detergeo up in a circle over her head as she pirouetted. Bolts of burn Dust sailed over the pack and into the trees when she planted her feet and flicked the weapon forward. Explosions like mortars and devouring fire sent the creatures howling and scampering in confusion. The flames spread through the underbrush and out to the grass in the clearing driving the pack toward Kad just as planned.
Jaxon's bout of chilling fear had now been completely replace by a burning rage, angry and confused at his near panic.
He was going to be a huntsman dammit. He wouldn't fear any Grimm, the Grimm would fear him.
The Faunus violently racked the bolt on his weapon and raised it to his left shoulder. The lead wolf circling to their right lost its head in a splash of black blood and white bone fragments. Adjusting his aim he shifted his rifle Uzipho back to the center of the pack. Calmly making shot after shot at the approaching line of beasts.
Some Grimm went down instantly, their heads exploded by Jaxon's uncanny aim. A lucky few dodged shots at their heads. Others caught the bullets in the thick fur of their throats or their broad armored chests. Staggering for a few steps but unharmed and undaunted.
He sighted on the next Beowolf in the ragged line and pulled the trigger.
Uzipho only clicked,
He was out of ammo.
The unbelievable amount of Beowolves howled and charged with renewed enthusiasm. Perfect predators, sensing the lull in lethal noise and lead flying out. Seizing the advantage of his momentary weakness.
As quickly as Jaxon's moods had swapped to anger they switched again to shock and fear. Fear from knowing he had no time to reload before they were upon him.
But the air shimmered in front of the charging creatures and a glyph burst into existence directly in their path. Wolves yelped as they slammed into the red shifting circle without slowing and ended up flat on their faces in a twisting pile of flailing limbs. The wolves yipping and snapping at their kin as they attempted to right themselves.
Jaxon smiled a little to himself. It was almost comical. He quickly began feeding more bullets into his gun.
Alicia circled her hands again. The Dust selector clicking as it spun to Lighting. Crackling bolts building around her right hand, goosebumps crawling up her arm as she stabbed Detergeo forward at the Grimm.
Thunder boomed through the forest on a crystal clear afternoon. And a lance of nature's wrath fried ten Grimm inside of their skin where they lay tangled on the ground.
Co'Balt skidded on his knees beneath the swipe the first wolf in his way tried to kill him with.
He dragged his ax Keila's blade along its left leg as he slid by. Fur and muscle parted beneath the keen edge and the Grimm snarled in pain. Co'Balt jumped to his feet and fired the shotgun backwards without looking. But knowing there was no way he could miss at that range
A ragged hole exploded out the front of the injured Grimm's chest. Its spinal cord cut the beast fell forward to bleed out and die on the forest floor.
Using the shotgun's recoil, Co'Balt punched the ax head into the stomach next wolf coming for him. It doubled over as the air in its lungs violently disappeared.
Spinning Keila and gripping both hands on the warming barrel Co'Balt swung the ax down past his leg, back up over his head, and down into the skull of the Beowolf. The Faunus jumped and rolled over the spiked shoulders of the lobotomized beast and hacked low at the next wolf, cutting through both of its front legs while it sprinted forward on all fours.
He kicked left, the armless monster rolled to the side. Co'Balt didn't bother to finish it off, with those injuries it was as good as dead.
"Don't let them surround me."
His dark grey eyes flicked up the bulk of the pack still hurling themselves in a suicidal rush at Kad. Shells fell down at his feet as fast he could pull the trigger, Co'Balt raked the Grimm with his shotgun from side to side with buckshot. Beowolves tumbled and fell tripping those rushing behind them trying to get at the giant and bull Faunus.
Kad swung his chain again, wrapping the sharpened links around the neck of another wolf. The loose end smacked into his palm. Kad gripped them tight and swung left. Pulling the very surprised Grimm off its feet, smashing the beast into another of its pack mates. Impaling the other wolf with the jagged spikes along the back of the Grimm in his grip. Kad's furious cries of exertion almost turned into a laugh for a moment. He had never killed a Grimm with another Grimm before.
Co'Balt levered Keila out of his last foe's neck. Seeing the giant approach the last of the Alpha's guardian without him. Co'Balt bent his knees down, there was no way he wasn't going to have a part in bringing down the pack leader.
Jaxon was correct earlier when he speculated on how Co'Balt had managed to get to the temple so fast. Co'Balt's semblance had manifested itself as Speed. He was able to propel himself at an incredible velocity for a short period of time. Clouds of dirt flew from beneath his boots as he used this ability to leap over the decimated left flank of the pack and land right next to Kad as they came up to the largest wolves.
And the pack leader.
Almost twice the size of any of its brethren, built of layers and layers of powerful muscles and many heads taller than even Kad. Armed with monster claws and massive spikes as formidable weapons to use against anything that got within arm's reach of it. It was an ancient lethal killing machine. Out for blood and vengeance on the Hunters who had slain so many of its kin.
The last four Beowolves of the pack rushed forward to avenge their fallen, and protect their leader. If they wanted vengeance Kad was determined to make sure only disappointment lay in their future.
Co'Balt drew Keila in both hands back behind his head and hurled the weapon as hard as he could. The savage ax spun end over end and crunched into the upper right leg and groin area of the Beowolf on the far left.
Jaxon stood still as Alicia came close and conjured another glyph right beneath their feet. She grabbed Jaxon's arm, flicked her right hand and knife up then launched them both next to Kad.
Jaxon rolled forward. Shifting Uzipho back into its spear form. He crouched angling the long blade up to block. The second Beowolf on the right split its paws on the blade of the spear as it clawed downward. The beast reared back clutching its ruined paws snarling in pain. Jaxon lunged and speared the Grimm straight through its heart with his yellow blade.
When the wolf on the far right tried the same tactic against Alicia it merely scraped against the glowing red glyph she had conjured in front of her raised left hand. The wolf snarled in frustration as it moved to bite through the magic symbol.
Its red maw wide open baring fangs the size of kitchen knives. The Grimm's snarls turned into a fit of frantic choking and coughing when Alicia rammed her blade deep into its mouth. Its weakening swipes barely scratched her leather jacket as she twisted Detergeo even further down the warm moist pit until it gave one last defiant cough and slumped dead against her.
Kad faced the last wolf before the Alpha. Bringing his left arm up across his chest then met its charge head on. The Grimm saw his arm not moving, impulse registering a prime target.
Sharp ivory fangs shattered as it latched onto the chain around Kad's arm and orange jacket. The Grimm barely had time to even think about trying to push off the giant as he pulled it lower and stabbed his fighting knife down through in a reverse grip. Severing its spine at the base of its skull. Instantly vaporizing the creature of darkness
Kad took a moment to look at the Alpha. Finally with an idea of what his new team was capable of.
And a passing thought to show he could coordinate them.
Kad formed a plan. It required a little improvisation by the others, but he wasn't worried.
"Co'Balt! Catch!"
Gently he spooled out his chain and swung one end left over to Co'Balt. The black steel smacked into the Faunus' right hand with a solid punch.
"Come on!"
The Alpha roared and attacked, rearing up to bring its claws crashing down through aura clothes and flesh. Kad ran to the right, Co'Balt was nearly dragged along but he got the idea. Boosting his semblance to dash to the left. Barely quick enough to keep up with the quicksilver blur of the giant.
Both holding the chain low to the ground, and wrenching it tight in an attempt to trip the massive creature.
Jaxon saw their idea and quickly turned Uzipho back into a rifle to help his comrades. He fired twice. Bullets tore through Grimm's knees and then the chain cracked shins. Co'Balt and Kad barely slowed down as they yanked the steel up and tripped the Alhpa forward onto its face.
Alicia quickly turned the selector on Detergeo to ice, sweeping the blade out in a wide loop right to left. Two bolts shot away from her glowing blade and froze the Alpha's arms to the ground.
The wolf still had some fight in it. Twisting its great head back with a howl of frustration and pain. Straining to free its arms and trying to stand up on its injured legs. The small shards flew up from the light blue ice with an audible crack.
Kad pulled the chain free from Co'Balt's grip. His commanding voice echoed over the empty battlefield.
"The neck!'
The Primarch spun right building up his momentum. Gripping both hands hard to the trusted loops of his weapon. His teammates knew what he asked. Gunshots barked across the clearing. More blue Dust bolts shot out at their collective target. Ripping Warp crafted flesh to ragged shreds.
Milliseconds before Kad's chain smashed the beast's head clear from its shoulders. It's immense body falling limp to the ground with an earth shaking thud.
The victorious quartet gathered around the now dead dissolving Alpha. Some slightly amazed, but all very proud at what they had just done. Co'Balt bent forward slightly trying to catch his breath.
The young Faunus let out a single disbelieving snort of infectious laughter
Smiles were shared all around as that laugh made its round s again and again through the four of them. Kad was pleased. He had found strong teammates. He figured their team was probably going to be first back with relics.
If that wasn't a good first impression he didn't know what was.
To Kad, today was a great day.
Later that evening.
As tradition. Professor Ozpin personally addressed the students who had passed initiation. Basking in the light he could feel radiating off from the hundreds of future Hunters before he presented and named the newly formed teams.
"Congratulations, to all of you," He began. "Rarely are we blessed with a class that shows so much potential. Let me be the first to welcome you into our family here at Beacon as official students."
The headmaster stood on the grand stage in the ball room, now packed with the relatives and friends of this year's class. The applause and cheering was nearly deafening, and Ozpin knew these youngsters had earned every ounce of it.
"Without further ado, I will now present teams." He turned to the first team in line as they walked onto center stage.
"Kad Amaranth, Jaxon Peridot, Alicia Redstone, Co'Balt."
Kad and his team bowed their heads when Ozpin spoke their names. Excitement and pride swelling in their chests.
"The four of you collected the White King pieces, and were the first team to return with relics this year, well done."
The applause started again but Ozpin held up his right hand gesturing for silence.
"From this day forth you will work together as team Apricot,"
Their portraits and the letter selected from their names appeared on the displays above Ozpin's head and shifted into order. A, P, R, C.
"Led by Kad Amaranth."
The crowd began cheering again and Ozpin did nothing but nod in return as Kad bowed his head once again to the headmaster.
Their new team walked off stage as Ozpin continued with names and took their place in a close semicircle among the returning students who had come to witness the ceremony. Playful punches on the arms, whistles and exhilarated yells signified what they thought of them. Race, class, and age momentarily forgotten in this moment of camaraderie.
"Wow what a stupid name."
Alicia blinked in surprise at her bull Faunus teammate. "Really Co'Balt?"
"Come on Ali," He replied swing both his bare arms up in exasperation. "We're named after a fruit…"
Kad chuckled quietly at Co'Balt and just shook his head.
"Do you have a better name?" The giant asked.
"…No." Co'Balt admitted.
His three teammates burst into laughter. And Co'Balt could only shrug. "Well go team APRC."
He held out his fist. Tanned face now split in a genuine smile for his new partner, teammates and friends, "Come on don't leave me hanging."
All of them tapped their fists together. It was official, they were in this together till the end…