The air was still Kad could hear everything. All the leaves shifting in the forest, the river below flowing on, faint howls of animals and Grimm in the distance. The night was surprisingly bright even with the clouds filling the sky obscuring the stars and the briefly whole moon.

On very rare nights like these the damage done to Remnant's celestial neighbor would be facing away from the planet for a few hours. Lots of people considered that a good luck sign.

"The superstitious bastards." He mused,

He began to lose track of the hours he spent, motionless, listening, watching. Sounds of life in the village slowly fell silent. None of his teammates came to take his position, Kad was happy about that.

Nothing was distracting him from his task tonight. Not Cinder, not anything. It always made him feel good to have a set achievable goal for something. Out here on guard, it felt right.

But very near dawn as the sky began to turn orange with the rising sun something did draw his attention. Two little black specks circling each other in the air far too the east, the direction the ramp faced. They were too far away to tell if they were merely birds or flying Grimm. Kad could almost hear their calls echoing in the wind.

Shortly before the sound of an explosion destroyed the morning tranquility.

It was muffled by distance, yet loud enough to wake the village. Many voices arouse from the camp before those were silenced by a second explosion following the first, and then a third after that.

And then the howls began.

Unmistakably Grimm this time.

Kad scrambled up to the top of one of the pillars of rocks near the valley entrance and scanned the horizon. No smoke, nothing, but the howling continued.

It sounded as if the creatures were excited.

And they were everywhere.

Sienna ran through the camp dodging questions and looking for the trainees. The four boys from Qrow's team were shaking off last nights' sleep, grabbing weapons and looking around panicky.

"Go find your classmates head out to the ramp and wait for me." She commanded.

Orders and something to do would snap them in line, or so she hoped. Their leader, the tall ginger was about to open his fool mouth to ask questions.

Sienna yelled, and pointed to the ramp "Go!"

The villagers clustered around quietly talking to their family and neighbors, hushed with fear and waiting for an explanation. Jade slowly walked out of her vehicle and straight at Sienna. The Huntress leaned closer to talk privately with the shorter older woman.

"Jade calm your people down. We do not want a panic."

"But what has happened?" The tribe elder asked,

"I don't know," Sienna said, "Give me a minute and keep calm."

CRDL joined the rest of APRC charging out to the watch position. Kad slid back down the rocks and met them halfway.

"What the hell was that?" Cardin asked him once he caught his breath.

Kad shook his head, "I don't know, but it sounds like those things might be getting closer."

The eight of them returned to the edge of the plateau. Both teams mixed together behind Kad and Cardin on the last bit of flat ground before the slope started down.

"There can't be too many out there." Sky spoke aloud to no one in particular. But the noise of all of the howls only seemed to be growing. The teams spent a few seconds silently looking at the trees, waiting for anything to happen. Sienna sprinted out to them and slid to a stop to the group's collective left.

She turned and spoke to Kad, who was now standing slightly ahead of his team and peers.

"Did you see anything?"

"No, what are we going to do?"

"Nothing for the moment, everyone keep calm and whatever is hunting out there should leave us be. I'm not sure but…"

The Huntress was stopped by the sound of trees in the forest cracking and falling. The noise of Grimm directly around them cut off abruptly. Eyes, one by one appeared glowing red in the forest. The Grimm blended in well with the shadows. But it was obvious.

There were a lot of them.

Several smaller creatures took some tentative steps out of the tree line. Their noses up in the air waving back and forth, sniffing for prey.

Sienna reached into her tan coat and pulled out a black metal gauntlet adorned with two blades about two feet long, doubly sharp and slightly curved which extended past her fingertips. Metal studs were set above her knuckles to protect the fragile bones. She placed it on her right arm and cinched it in place, twisting her fingers and adjusting the glove's fit on her hand.

A small group of the creatures looked back into the forest and suddenly leapt aside as a gigantic Death Stalker broke through the trees and charged, hissing and snapping its mouth and claws, dozens of other creatures howled and followed it.

The ramp was wide enough for three Death Stalkers to walk side by side up it. The Beacon students spread out, CRDL taking the left APRC on the right with their leaders in the middle. They didn't need the Huntress to tell them what to do. The eight of them readied their weapons and met the creatures head on.

Kad spun his chain up around his left arm he drew his knife in the same hand bringing Ignis up in front of him with his right.

Cardin rushed forward and jumped over the left claw of the Death Stalker rolling when he hit the ground, swinging up with his mace and smashing through several of the scorpions' legs. The creature lurched to the side snapping and hissing.

Co'Balt slid and rolled beneath the other pincer and cut through legs on its other side making the monster fall to the ground. Kad moved forward and thrust his great sword into the mouth of the Grimm. The fangs on the cross guard prevented his hand from disappearing down its throat. The glowing red blade pierced its innards and burst out through a gap in the armored plates on its back.

Kad braced a foot on the face of the now dead Grimm and brutally ripped his sword out in a shower of blood smoke and saliva.

Alicia, Jaxon, and Co'Balt were quickly cutting their way through the right horde of Grimm. One of them would leap forward and engage a small group of creatures drawing their attention. The others would then rip past killing a few and moving at the next pack. Mostly using their blades as there was little room for long range options in this type of fight.

CRDL was steadily pressing forward side by side hacking through the Grimm.

Behind the first wave several greater creatures began to emerge from the tree line.

Kad took a step back leapt forward, jumping onto the Death Stalker and then off at the approaching monsters. He swung Ignis down left and cut and Ursa in half through its shoulder and neck. Moving with the momentum of his strike Kad spun low and stabbed a charging Boarbatusk with his reverse gripped knife.

Sienna stood on the dissolving Death Stalker taking stock of the situation. They were holding hard. The explosions earlier seemed to have woken every Grimm in the forest. She could still see others moving to the east in the trees only a few breaking off to attack them.

A Beowolf bit down on the shaft of Sky's halberd shaking its head and trying to rip the weapon away.

The Huntress raised her left hand, a flash of gold light erupted from her palm and the wolf's head exploded. Sky blinked from the explosion, momentarily stunned but quickly shook it off and pressed forward.

Ignis stabbed through the stomach of another Beowolf. Kad spun, shifting his grip on the sword tipping the wolf over to bleed out and die. One of the two legged reptiles, Creeps seemed to fly at the giant. Kad slashed hi knife slashed across its eyes then hammered the hilt of his sword up into its side, while the beast howled in pain on the ground Kad raised his arm and sword up then stabbed down. Ignis burned through organs as well as a half a meter into the concrete ramp.

Russell crossed his arms clutching his Dust knives in front of him. When he swung them out two bolts of lightning Dust shot forward and blasted the Ursa majors' hind legs into charred stumps. It fell forward onto trembling forearms which stopped it from defending itself when Cardin swung his mace down and smashed its skull.

Something large roared from the forest momentarily drowning out the sounds of the battle. There was only a small assortment of Grimm still throwing themselves against the teams. Sienna brought both arms up and conjured her semblance again. Two orbs of light one to the left and one too the right shot forward and exploded against the thicker demon horde. She focused the blast wave backwards and all manner of twisted Grimm tumbled and tangled each other destroying their cohesion.

The ones she hadn't targeted attacked undaunted by the carnage behind them.

Kad dropped the steel wrapped around his arm gripped the chain and swung it left to right, up over CRDL and then down cracking across the Grimm. Many were crippled others were killed instantly. The chain smashed into the guard rail running up the ramp ahead of the three remaining members of APRC. With a flick of his wrist Kad pulled the black steel back to lie against the dead hulk of the Death Stalker scorpion.

Jaxon stabbed Uzipho up under the chin of a two legged Creep after pushing the Grimm over onto its back. The Faunus spun counterclockwise and slashed through the raised up paw of a Beowolf charging at Co'Balt to his right. It barely slowed the monster. Alicia conjured an upright glyph in front of the hind legs. The wolf landed hard on its stomach and Co'Balt brought his boot down with all his strength onto its neck cracking vertebrae.

It seemed as though they could break the creatures.

Until a second wave rolled out of the forest,

A few seconds ahead of a giant Goliath.

The massive elder Grimm swung its head looking at the Hunters, the beast raised its long trunk and howled into the sky.

An uneasy pause settled over the Beacon students,

Sienna signaled them back to her, as the eight of them inched backwards toward their guardian Sienna spoke,

"All of you head back to the village now."

Kad protested, "We're not leaving. And you can't kill that thing on your own."

'I know," She said in a knowing tone, "I'll draw it away, you kids go evacuate the people."

Surprisingly Cardin sided with Kad in this argument, "No, we'll fight." He said adjusting his grip on his mace held in both hands.

Murmurs of agreement came from their teammates. They knew their duty.

Sienna quietly sighed acceptance, "Alright the four of you,"

She pointed to Jaxon, Dove, Alicia, and Russell, "Go to the village and get them moving. There should be enough planes for everyone but don't forget to leave one for us."

Jaxon nodded in agreement and took the lead back to the village with the others chosen following close behind.

The Goliath threw back its head and roared again, responding to their elder the Grimm surged forward again.

Singular Taijitu snakes slithered amongst the Grimm drawing closer. There were other stronger and bigger creatures this time. All of them howling and screaming for blood. The Goliath stepped out of the trees, crushing a few smaller Grimm that didn't have the sense to get out of the way.

Kad swung his steel chain up and over his head. He slammed it down, stopping but not killing a giant Beowolf at the lead.

Sienna raised her hand again and shot a ball of energy into its snarling mouth which blew off the top of its head.

The Huntress shot forward in a cloud of dust, slashing with her gauntlet at every target she saw casting her semblance at creatures out of her reach.

But however skilled and brave she was still only one warrior Kad, Cardin, Co'Balt and Sky followed in the wake of destruction she left.

A Taijitu snake reared up in front of Kad, one horizontal cut and a portion of its upper body fell to the ground neatly severed its smoking essence glowing with burn Dust. He rammed his knife in an Ursas' stomach and mercilessly ripped up cutting through flesh and bone.

Cardin jumped spinning his mace which barely slowed when it connected with another lizard. He didn't stop to see where the dead Grimm landed, suddenly having to hold off an Alpha Beowolf by the throat with his left hand as it ripped at his arms and struggled against his strength. Claws scratched against the armor on his shoulders its snapping jaws were mere inches away from his face.

Sky saw his leader in trouble and acted spinning his halberd up through a Boarbatusk and then down into the lower spine of the Grimm trying to kill Cardin.

A Death Stalker ran past Sienna while her concentration was elsewhere. Co'Balt ripped Keila out of his last target, brought the shotgun up and fired at the monsters' eyes. The beast blinked missing the Faunus' mad dash to the side.

Another rolling Boarbatusk spun forward at Kad who let it impale itself on Ignis. He raised the skewered monster and flicked it aside. Its bulk pinning the long red sword in place, Kad swung his left fist into the skull of a snarling Beowolf killing it instantly and then backhanded into the ribs of another. The Grimm on his sword wasn't quite dead yet it squealed in pain while the blade slowly slid out incinerating its innards.

Kad turned and swung the sword up first the head of the wolf he just struck flew backwards into the mob, continuing this movement he slashed Ignis into the tail of the Death Stalker Co'Balt was dancing around cutting straight through the deadly appendage.

He moved forward a whirlwind of death spinning through the horde killing a Grimm with his fist clutching the knife and chain or Ignis every rotation. He was the only one who was close to keeping up with Sienna.

Co'Balt jumped onto the back of the tailless scorpion. It felt him climb on and tried to snag him in its giant claws. The Faunus ducked beneath one swipe and smashed his ax down into the Grimm's armored head and then ducked again beneath the other grasping claw. Smashing Keila down again and again trying his hardest to crack its thick skull.

Sky and Cardin fell behind backing away from two Ursa Majors, ducking under their swiping claws and trying to get enough weight and momentum behind their weapons to stop at least one of them so they could focus on the other. The smaller Creeps they kept having to kick aside weren't helping.

"Leave it! Get on board."

Jade was having trouble managing the flow of her people back to the airships. They wanted to bring too much stuff, it was going to be a tight fit placing nearly two hundred men women and children onto the drop ships. She was considering having some of the vehicles loaded and airlifted out.

If they had time.

The four Beacon students had calmly searched through their vehicles finding hiding youngsters and stubborn fools grabbing trinkets or preparing weapons to fight. They brought them all out to the ships, dragging them sometimes if necessary.

Jade could plainly see the youths were eager to go back and fight, the four of them jumped and turned back to look at the ramp whenever the sounds of battle reached a peak for a moment.

"Is that all of them?" Dove asked the old woman.

"Should be…" Jade knew the face of all of her clan, she was comparing the ones waiting to the ones who she knew had already left. It was tight but they could make it, two more transports for civilians and herself and one last ship to carry a few of the village warrior guards and the others fighting the Grimm.

Co'Balt finally pulled Keila out of the now dead Death Stalker. It felt like he had been fighting for hours already. And the Grimm just kept coming.

Sky had lodged his halberd in the arm of one bear but when it reared back in pain it took his weapon away in this opening its brother leaned its head down and butted Cardin over onto his back. He couldn't spare a moment to look right and see what the noise of splitting air was that seemed to be heading for him, he raised his mace to protect himself.

The Ursa drew in a breath to sound its triumph but Co'Balt's ax thudded into its neck nearly decapitating the Grimm, but the ax blade stopped on its spine. The beast fell forward dead Cardin shot to his feet and swung at the other Ursa, activating the Dust crystal embedded within. When his mace hit the Grimm slaying and sending it flying backwards from the force of the explosive impact.

Cardin looked down at the Grimm that had almost killed him then leaned down and pulled the shotgun ax out of its neck and tossed Keila back to its owner. Along with a small nod of thanks that wasn't reciprocated.

He had to get out of the habit of being saved it made him look bad.

Cardin took the lead and jogged a little down the ramp too tired to enter the melee around Kad and Sienna, Co'Balt followed him and so did Sky after he collected his weapon. The Goliath was nearly at the ramp now.

Sienna clawed open the side of the Creep with her gauntlet spinning down to her right and then leapt up and planted the blades in the throat of one last Ursa. It reared back clutching its ruined wind pipe and Sienna blasted it away with another ball of concentrated Aura.

Engine sounds distracted her for a moment, she briefly looked back to see the students she sent to the village jump out of a bullhead skimming close to the ground and run next to the three boys who had fallen behind her and her team's leader.

Speaking of him

An Alpha Beowolf sailed through the air down to the foot of the ramp with its face a barely recognizable pulp of flesh. Kad slid to a stop a few feet to the right of the Huntress.

The bullhead circled close to the Goliath, the men from the village leaned out the starboard door aiming a few automatic rifles at the creature. It blinked it eyes as bullets peppered its face. The Grimm howled, took several quick steps forward rose up on its hind legs swung its trunk and smashed the plane out of the sky in a ball of fire.

The flaming wreck crashed down into the trees, Sienna doubted there were any survivors.

"What was this thing doing here?" The Primarch wondered,

Kad watched Goliaths before but he had never killed one he hadn't even fought one. Such an endeavor was one of the few things Cinder forbade him from doing. The beasts were just too dangerous and hard to bring down. There were many stories of Goliaths crushing entire armies all on their own even close to the Great War when explosive weapons became more prominent. They usually traveled in packs, this one didn't seem as large as others Kad had seen but it was still the size of a building. Several stories tall with a trunk and tusks the length of several lamp posts.

And strangely it was alone.

The ground shook from its immense bulk crashing down. Kad was running through ideas, and quickly running out of them.

Time seemed to slow.

The Grimm bent its front legs lowered its head and swept its tusks at Kad and Sienna left to right. Kad rolled to his right dodging the surprisingly quick bone white strike, Sienna dodged left under its left tusk and trunk, but she couldn't avoid the right.

The ivory protrusion scraped the ground digging through a layer of concrete. Caught Sienna on her back and smashed her through the metal beam of the left guard rail. The rivets holding that rusted red piece together buckled and snapped sending a large portion along with the huntress down to the river side.

The Grimm looked sideways at Kad, triumph evident in its eyes then swung back again right at the giant who knew he could not dodge.

He tried to brace himself for the impact. Nearly blacking out and when he came too barely a second later feeling nothing beneath his boots. Out of breath but not injured, instinctively he grabbed onto the only solid object in arms reach. Dropping Ignis as he held on with all his strength while the Goliath shook its head trying to throw him. It took a few thundering steps up the ramp toward his companions.

The seven of them backed up slowly Co'Balt, Jaxon, and Dove opened fire. But their weapons had no effect on the thick skin of the monster's chest. Neither did the Dust Alicia and Russell threw at its legs, ice shattered as muscles bunched and brought the Grimm closer to the hopelessly outmatched youngsters.

When the Goliath shook right again Kad used the momentum to bring his left leg up and place it on the tusk. He released his death grip and jumped forward grabbing its flat ear with his right hand. The giant's weight almost pulled the Grimm to the right but it corrected its course back into the valley. He slashed down at its eye with his knife when the head moved left, but his knife barely made a scratch on its white eye lid when it blinked before he struck. It was moving to erratically to aim a proper stab.

It was almost all the way up the ramp now, the others had split up hugging the wall. Kad only had one idea left.

He had to turn this beast around.

It shook again and Kad let go letting the Grimm fling him up, he landed hard on his left side up on the Goliath's back. Springing to his feet he dropped his knife and took his chain by the last few links in his left hand. Hoping he would have enough length to complete his plan.

He took a few shaky steps up to the base of its head. The razor back spikes were further back he didn't need to worry about those. But at least it wasn't moving forward. Kad crouched and threw his chain down around the left side of its thick neck. His right hand barely grabbed the last few steel links of the other end before it fell down. Kad braced himself and pulled back with all his strength, like a twisted version of a circus performer from Vacuo trying to ride an elephant.

The moaning growls turned into strangled coughs as the chain dug deep cutting off circulation. Kad could feel all the muscles in his body tightening with effort. Pressure building in his head as he tried to swing the Grimm around. It jumped again trying to throw him off, front feet leaving the ground.

Alicia and Russell shared one look, and knew they had the same idea.

"Burn?" She asked,

"Of course," He replied with a grin.

Alicia held down the trigger on Detergeo. The whole knife not just the blade glowed red from the power she was trying to channel. Russell was more conservative, but he had two knives to channel with instead of one. Alicia felt her hand shaking with effort, she slowly brought her left hand up to the back of her right which was holding the knife and conjured a glyph to focus the insane amount of energy.

When the Goliath jumped again and both of them let loose. The air in front of them cracked, moisture hissed and evaporated when the red beams shot from the glyph and right into the center mass of the Grimm.

The chain was scraping against the Goliath's lower jaw bone and the Dust hit far enough below that not to melt Kad's make shift reigns.

Shocking was the only word to describe the sudden realization that he was falling. The last time it had been this bad was when he fallen on Remnant. Anyone else would have been screaming bloody murder on the way down into the river, but Kad's laser focus killed any feelings of fear. The Grimm's rear legs hit the rail, and Kad gave one last herculean pull and the mass of the Goliath took care of the rest.

Cardin was the first up to the rail looking down at the Goliath struggling to find its feet. All of the scenery around the Grimm was drenched from the water it had thrown during impact. Kad brushed off his fall quickly and stood again. Raising up his empty fists prepared for when the Grimm got up.

Cardin looked down the ramp.

Kad's sword, the only weapon Cardin figured would do anything was standing point first in the ground further down their battlefield. Too far away to run to before the Goliath was back in action.

CRDL's leader put his left thumb and pointer finger in his mouth and whistled to get Kad's attention.

Kad knew he was screwed.

He could barely stand after tanking the tusk hit moments ago and with no weapon. Having to let go of his chain on the way down or he would have been crushed underneath the Goliath. Someone on the bridge whistled and a shadow crossed the morning sun. He briefly looked up to see Cardin's mace flying through the air.

Not thrown at the Goliath,

Tossed at him.

His left hand caught the cudgel beneath the flanged head and red explosive crystal.

Cardin hoped it would help till he could get to the sword.

Kad tossed the mace up in the air and grabbed the padded hilt with his left hand. He swung it once in a figure eight getting a feel for it.

The Goliath rolled to face him, its legs were too big to get its feet on solid ground. It locked eyes with Kad one last time. Kad ran forward, swung the weapon down past his leg brushing through the gravel and up finger held down on the only button.

The first explosion only seemed to anger the Grimm, which tilted its head and roared trying to bat him away. Kad shouted and swung again, the sound of cracking bone evident beneath the explosion.

But it was still moving.

Getting up.

Kad clenched his right fist.

New strength flowed in his veins.

As rage clawed its way up from his chest and into his head.

This thing tried to kill him. Tried to kill his friends.

His mind blanked as his aura flared to life and fire ignited in his blood

His shout sounded more animal than human, as he brought his arm up and his glowing fist down onto the bone mask. The Grimm howled in fear. Light tinted with color flashed in a ripple, cracks shot across its face.

Killing the Goliath instantly.

Kad stood there sucking in deep shaky breaths and letting them out slowly. His could feel his fingers trembling from the shock of his release of aura. He tried to gather his thoughts about the last few moments. The other students from Beacon were spread out along the bridge high above him stunned with awe and staring. Kad raised his right hand up pointing at all of them one by one.

"That… Is how… It's done."

Dove and Jaxon helped pull him up onto the bridge after Kad walked over to a part he could reach with a small jump after throwing the mace up. He also retrieved his chain rewinding it around his waist. Cardin had dragged the sword that was as tall as him up the ramp and gladly swapped weapons back with APRC's leader.

"You're welcome." He said brusquely, retreating behind his usual demeanor after the shock of his first real battle had set in.

Kad placed Ignis back in its harness and accepted his knife from Alicia. He would check all of his arsenal later for damage. He smiled and gripped Cardin's left shoulder briefly.

"Yes, thank you brother."

Cardin blinked at Kad's words. He knew damn well nobody liked him that much at Beacon. Kad moved through his companions squeezing their shoulders and thanking them the same way. Without them this would have been a disaster. Kad slowly began to walk back down the ramp. Sore but not limping from the fight. It took a moment for the others to realize where he was going.

The ruined railing had flown considerably farther than the Huntress had. Sienna lay face down on the river bank, hair plastered to her head from the splash the Goliath made. Her arms were splayed out beneath her, both plainly broken.

She didn't respond to their approach.

Kad knelt down and gently rolled her over, feeling bones move beneath his hands. Already knowing her familiar condition. She was not breathing at all. Her mouth hung open and her eyes blankly stared at nothing.

No one spoke for what felt like a long time,

Alicia knelt down and gently closed Sienna's eyes. Jaxon took off his jacket and laid it over her fallen form. As Kad looked up he saw many of them on the verge of tears,

This wasn't how any of them had pictured their first mission.

Kad picked Sienna up and turned to his companions,

"Come on," He told them, "Let's go."

Returning to the abandoned village. They placed Sienna on a cart and Russell found a blanket to cover up her body. None of them had said a word for almost an hour sitting around in a circle in the middle of the camp numbly drinking out of water bottles they found and waiting for anything to happen.

While Kad calmly pondered the explosions that had set the Grimm in such a frenzy.

A short time later three Atlesian drop ships and a bullhead flew over the clearing. The bullhead touching down where all the others had only yesterday.

Kad was the first to his feet and walk over, the engines fell silent. Two of the other ships landed at the top of the ramp and disgorged a load of android soldiers out to form a line. The other hovered over the camp, its guns sweeping for targets that weren't there.

Qrow stepped down from the ship not waiting for the ramp to extend. He headed straight towards his abandoned students, his red cloak billowing behind him.

Kad wasn't going to let Qrow speak.

His right arm shot up shoved the huntsman back against the airship. The giant gripped Qrow's shoulder tight, drew his knife and held it against his throat.

Despite how lightly the teams had gotten off this Hunter had still abandoned them.

"Where the fuck were you?!" He practically snarled.

Qrow held up his hands "Elsewhere. What happened here?"

"You left. That's what happened!"

"Is everyone alright?"

Kad's face didn't move an inch from its perfect picture of fury. But his fingers tightened around the hilt of his knife. Qrow looked around, realization slowly spreading across his features about who was here, and who was not.

"Where…" He swallowed, "Where is she?" Qrow asked, his voice breaking with emotion.

Kad hung his head and let the man go. Qrow peered around the giant and noticed the covered up figure on the nearby cart.

He took a deep breath and addressed the students, "Tell the pilot in there to take you back to Beacon. I'll come find you all later and explain myself. But… it should be apparent what happened."

And with that he was finished,

Qrow slowly walked forward as if in a trance,

The students already forgotten.

The eight of them boarded in silence, the last they saw the huntsman as they rose into the air was him kneeling next to the cart. Right hand covering his face and his left gripping Sienna's limp armored hand.