Chapter 7: Encounter

Disclaimer: RWBY belongs to Rooster Teeth and Monty Oum, I only own my Ocs.

Team RXDY

The faunus find themselves wandering along a dirt road.

After yesterday's fiasco where the client Joey Werner deceived them and sought to retrieve the bounty on their heads, Rena is being more cautious. On the flip side they gained an ally in the True Grimm led by Venus. Having passed a test the dinosaur Grimm queen gave her a ring to summon Venus in time of need.

The team stopped at a town so Rena could purchase a necklace to hold the ring around her neck. However, Draco expressed his hesitation to accept the new alliance.

He said, "I don't think this is a good idea, Rena. What if Venus betrays us like Joey did?" Rena stops moving, prompting the others to stop as well.

She turned, facing the dragon faunus, "Joey caught us off-guard. Look where that got him. Do you think I survived this long out of luck? Or you three for that matter?"

Draco said, "Well, no but..."

Rena told him, "I survived this long due to my gut feeling and learning through my mistakes. I've done things I'm not particularly proud about but you must get out of your comfort zone if you want to survive in this line of business, Draco. I sometimes have to work with people I vaguely trust. Plus I'm not one to befriend bad people."

Xavier asked, "Do you have any friends at all besides us?"

Rena looked at the ox faunus, "My reputation made others either afraid or thought of me as a monster."

Yumi said, "But you're not a monster, Rena. You're our friend and team leader."

Rena explained, "I have more blood on my hands than you think. Some directly caused by me and some indirectly. I was taught to remain calm under any circumstance. You three are the not first group I've led."

Xavier said, "You led a squad before, right? That's surprising."

Their leader stated, "The world isn't all black and white as you believe. There is a gray area very few see."

Xavier asked, "Let me guess. You're one of them."

Rena nodded, "Yes. I've seen things or committed acts that'd make you crap your pants."

Draco pointed at his left eye socket, "And that eye patch? You wear that for fashion?"

Rena's eye grew dark, "A battle wound. One I prefer not to talk about. I need you to trust me, Draco. I know what I'm doing." She placed a hand on his shoulder, "We're mercenaries. Our allegiance lie with no kingdom. I put you guys' safety before money." They hear Xavier's scroll ring and turn to him while he answers it.

He said, "This is is unexpected. Our next client is the Headmaster of...Beacon Academy. He sent a team of first-year students called Team TEAL on a mission and were expected to return today but something happened and wants us to assist them. Should we help?"

Rena crossed her arms thinking, "I say we help them. May not get paid but since it's students from an academy we'll do it. Where are they?"

Xavier looked at the message, "According to the Headmaster, TEAL is located at some forest outside of Vale. It's called the Death Forest."

Draco said, "I've heard stories about it. The northern end of the Emerald Forest once hosted some of the most dangerous Grimm, so dangerous they burned the forest in an attempt to kill them off, for some that end of the forest never revived, the plants are still withered and the ground still scorched. It's said anyone or anything that steps inside are never seen again. Why would he send first-year students there? Something like the Death Forest should be off limits to anyone, even seasoned hunters and huntresses should stay clear of that place. Strange beasts roam the forest praying on travelers."

Yumi held her arm, "It may be dangerous but if it means saving students, I say let's do it. We've been in worse situations before."

Xavier agreed, "Yumi speaks for the rest of us. Whatever your decision is, Rena, we'll follow you."

The one-eyed faunus said, "It'll take days if we travel by foot. We'll use an air ship to transport us to some port near the Vale border then use a Bullhead for the rest of the trip. Tell the Headmaster we accept his request."

Xavier nodded, "Right away." He sent a reply to the client, a minute later he got a reply back, "The Headmaster says he's grateful and transmitting the coordinates of Team TEAL."

Rena turned around, "Let's get a move on." The team ventures to the nearest port, climbing onto the nearest available air ship. Taking their seats, the faunus team waits for the air ship to arrive at the airport near the Vale border. Once they do, disembark and journey towards a base, borrowing a Bullhead. Telling the pilot the coordinates, he flies the aircraft toward them.

It's nearly dusk by the time the Bullhead reaches the destination. Touching down the passengers hop off.

The pilot advised, "Please hurry and find this Team TEAL. I don't want to remain here for very long."

Xavier gave the two-fingered saluted, "We'll be as quick as possible."

Rena ordered her team mates, "Xavier, Draco, you two search the perimeter of the Death Forest. Yumi, you and I will look around. But whatever you do, do not go inside the forest. It could be full of Grimm we don't know about. Move out." As they search the sun sets, turning the sky orange.

Yumi stares at it while Rena continues her search, arms clasped behind her and humming a happy tune. Her ears twitch as they pick up the sound of a camera clicking.

Turning around, she saw a girl a year older than her, slightly taller, black hair tied in a ponytail with a braid running from her forehead to the base of the tail, short bangs framed her face, bright green eyes, lightly tanned skin and 38A cup breasts. Her attire was composed of a forest green hooded robe lacking a sash to tie it together with a symbol of Vale on the back. Under the robe she wore a black bustier top and black loose fitting leggings with beige boots. She also had a side pouch containing multiple Dust pens of each type.

Near her feet was a 5 pound book.

An embarrassed look appeared on her face, "I'm sorry. You looked good against the sunset, I couldn't resist. My name's Emmara Ace."

Yumi nodded, "Hi, Emmara. I'm Yumi Asuma, nice to meet you. Are you by chance a member of Team TEAL?"

Emmara answered timidly, "W-well, yes. How did you know?"

The wolf faunus informed, "The Headmaster of Beacon Academy said a team of first-year students were sent on a mission but something happened and hadn't returned."

Emmara blinked in surprise, "Headmaster Ozpin? You attend Beacon as well?"

Yumi shook his head, "No. My team doesn't attend any of the schools." She sat down next to her, "We're mercenaries."

Emmara asked, "Mercenaries? People who take mission requests for money? But that's wrong."

Yumi smiled, "My leader is experienced at this work." The two spend the next hour getting to know each other until Rena shows up, seeing her team mate talking with another huntress.

Emmara finds herself unnerved by the intensity behind the faunus' eye and yelps.

She said, "Um, hi there. I'm Emmara Ace." Rena studies the girl's nervous appearance, leading her to believe Emmara is nervous or uncomfortable around faunus.

The faunus voiced it, "Are you uncomfortable around my kind?"

Emmara shook her head, "N-no. I like the faunus I just. I'm just..." She shrinks into herself before she can fully explain herself.

Another female voice explained, "Emmara is nervous around new people. She meant no disrespect." Directing her gaze ahead, Rena spots a dog faunus teleporting into view.

She stood 5'10" tall, gray hair tied in a ponytail and hung over her shoulder and tucked into a black choker around her neck to hold it in place, green eyes, light olive colored skin and 38B cup breasts. She wore a gray cheongsam coat with the emblem of black skull impaled by a crimson knife on the back, black tight fitting shorts and underneath the coat and shorts a blue skin tight body suit also with the same emblem on the back and black tabi boots completed the attire. Strapped to the left side of her hip was a long black steel chain with a kunei at the end, a collapsible sword strapped to her back, around her waist was a belt containing smoke bombs and throwing knives and a demon mouth piece rested on her collar bone.

Emmara said, "Alexia!"

'Hmm, why does she feel familiar?' Rena mentally asked herself.

Alexia looks at Rena and recognition forms on her face. But quickly as it comes, it leaves.

Emmara asked, "Where's Tira and Cassandra?"

The half-faunus told her, "They're finishing a patrol of the area. They shall be here any time now." Lo and behold they do, allowing Team RXDY to see the final two members of TEAL.

The one to the right was a human girl standing the same height as Alexia, 18 years old, shoulder-length fiery red hair with green streaks down the sides and center, blue eyes, lightly tanned skin and 40C cup breasts. Her current attire consisted of black pants, red shirt covered by brown coat and brown boots. In her hands were twin rifles.

The girl next to her stood at 6'0, same age as her companion, short ear-length white hair, pale skin, her left eye was icy blue, her right eye was pale and glazed over, 40C cup breasts, her body looked like it was a Grimm's chew toy with 3 scars going across the right side of her face, from her temple down across her right eye down to her lower lip and chin, her right hand was missing its last two fingers, deep claw marks ran across her back and bite marks on her left thigh and calf. Her clothing was composed of a sleeveless obsidian black tunic with crimson wave patterns, matching colored shorts but lacked patterns and steel toed boots.

She was carrying a double-bladed spear with a bow string running down the shaft allowing it to be turned into a bow. Her second weapon was an SMG with a forearm stock to reduce recoil. Both were colored black just like her clothes. Strapped to her back was a quiver filled with Dust arrows and 8 extra clips for the SMG strapped in rows of two on both arms and legs.

Yumi finds herself unnerved by the cold look in the scarred huntress' eyes.

The first one said, "I haven't seen you before, been making friends without me knowing, Emmy?"

Emmara blushed, "They just showed up."

The newcomer looked at RXDY, "I'm Tira Cage, looks like you've met my sister Emmara Ace, I call her Emmy. The one next to her is Alexia Ava Adel, her nickname is Triple A." She gestured to the girl next to her, "And this is Cassandra Lynch. Her nickname is Pretty Cassie or Big Cassie, whichever one I feel like calling her."

The scarred huntress glared at her, "I'd appreciate it if you called me neither of those."

Tira ignored the comment, "We make up Team TEAL. And you four are?"

Rena said, "I'm Rena Schwartz, team leader. These three behind me are my team mates Xavier Stone, Draco Lance and Yumi Asuma. We form Team RXDY."

Tira looked over her, "A full faunus team. I haven't seen you before, you attend Beacon? Or one of the other academies?"

Rena answered, "We attend none of the academies. We formed on our own. We're mercenaries."

Alexia queried, "What brings you here?"

Xavier replied, "We've received a request from the Headmaster of Beacon that a team of first-year students were sent on an investigation mission I guess but haven't returned yet. So he asked us to find you."

Alexia titled her head, "Ozpin?"

Cassandra scoffed, "Well, we're just fine. There was no reason for Headmaster Ozpin to send out a rescue mission."

Xavier asked, "What's wrong with you?"

Tira waved it off, "She's always like that. Don't worry about it." She next checked Rena out, "Although, I must say I'm glad he did send out a search party. Someone this pretty searching for me, it's like a dream come true. Want to go out sometime?"

'Great, a flirt.' Rena thought.

Yumi commented, "You and Emmara don't look alike."

Emmara stuttered, "I was adopted by Tira's family, that's why we're not blood related. Although Tira has watched out for me so she is my sister." Tira appears in front of Yumi in what seemed like a second.

The fiery redhead smiled, "Has anyone told you how cute you are, Yumi?"

The wolf faunus said, "More than I can count."

Tira hugged her, "Because you are! I'm tempted to have you all to myself."

Rena warned, "You'd have to take her over my cold, dead body!"

Tira broke the hug, holding up her hands, "Relax, beautiful."

Xavier wondered, "So what mission were you doing?"

Alexia provided the answer, "Some recon mission. Some new species of Grimm have been sighted too close to Beacon grounds. Many third-year teams were sent to investigate but the creature wasn't seen. So Ozpin sent us to see if we could spot it."

Cassandra said, "More like seeking it out for the thrill of it."

Draco studied Team TEAL, "So we have a thrill seeker, a timid photographer, a ninja and scarred girl with social issues."

Cassandra snapped, "What did you call me?"

Rena held up her hand, "Don't provoke her, Draco." A loud howl suddenly interrupts them, echoing through the dusk sky. Emmara feels a chill run down her spine.

Draco asked, "What was that?" They next hear soft footsteps moving closer, slowly a Grimm emerges from the forest.

It was slightly taller than a Beowolf, ripped muscles bulged against its black furry body, bone-white plating on its chest, arms and tail, a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth, claws meant to rip and tear anything in its path and burning red eyes.

It growls, mouth bared in a snarl and saliva dripping as it stares at the group. Its entire body tenses as another Grimm joins it.

It shared the same muscular build except it walked on all fours, black fur and plating focused on its lower body and tail, red-orange eyes, a longer muzzle filled with menacing sharp teeth with its canines being the largest.

The four-legged Grimm, named Feral, lunges at Team TEAL.

Tira joins her rifles, Phobos and Deimos together and form a staff catching Feral's clawed strike. The force behind it causes Tira to stagger on her feet. Cassandra aims her SMG and fires, Feral dodges the bullets and runs at the scarred huntress swinging a clawed hand. Cassandra deflects it with her spear and shoots her SMG again. The Grimm evades the barrage with unnatural ease and seeks to retaliate when it feels its paw encased in ice. Turning its snarling face at the perpetrator it sees Emmara aiming her hand at him, her book open and glowing. Turning to her, Feral leaps its mouth opening. Alexia teleports in front of the Grimm, throwing a smoke grenade obscuring its vision. When it clears Emmara isn't present. It next feels being attack from multiple directions.

From her position, Rena sees Alexia landing hits on Feral. She remembers one time seeing an assailant using the same tactic.

'So it was her.' Rena thought.

She avoids Lupine's mouth. The Grimm unleashes a loud howl then attacks more aggressively. Yumi jumps onto the beast's back, driving Hermes through it while the Lupine thrashes. Yumi grips the monster's fur to keep herself from being flung off. Xavier charges the Grimm and punches right on the jaw, Lupine shrugs off the attack and Xavier's instincts tell him to move, he does backing up as Lupine snaps its jaws at him. A quick swipe of its arm repels the ox faunus, Xavier grunts from the raw strength. Lupine thrusts one of its front clawed paws at the ox faunus knocking him off his feet. His aura takes the hit and Lupine shakes off Yumi. It pins the wolf faunus with its paw and moves its face closer to Yumi, opening it. Rows of deadly teeth display with strings of saliva and Yumi feels its hot breath gagging at the repulsive scent. Not interested in becoming its meal Yumi stabs the beast's paw. The pain is barely registered by the wolf Grimm. Its red-orange eyes stare at Yumi in a mocking manner. It then roars in pain as it feels a sharp object slicing its furry, muscular leg. Looking at the direction it sees Rena glaring at it before Xavier rams into it, knocking Lupine off its feet. The wolf Grimm returns to its feet. Growling it targets the ox faunus, snapping its jaws at him. Xavier dodges it and sees a blue blur streak past him and cut one of Lupine's fangs in half.

Catching it, Rena jumps onto the wolf Grimm's back and shoves it into the left eye, earning a loud roar of pain from Lupine. Draco stares at the wolf Grimm and another memory of that night appears in his mind. He remembers seeing this Grimm and feeling it sink its teeth into him.

'Time for some payback.' He thought.

Rena severs both of its hind legs and Draco runs past her Semblance activated. He rolls the beast onto its side and slashes the exposed underbelly. High on bloodlust from the normally calm dragon faunus, Draco drives his claws through the gradually wounded wolf Grimm, ripping through fur, blood and entrails until the beast is cut in half, vaporizing while Draco pants. Blood drips from his claws.

He suddenly feels Xavier wraps his massive arms around him, subduing him.

The ox faunus said, "Calm down, Draco. Whatever caused you to go crazy is over." Draco takes a few deep breaths calming himself. His features return to normal but his fingers remain bloody.

Draco told his team mate, "I'm okay. You can let me go now." They next watch Team TEAL fight Feral.

The Beowolf targets Emmara upon realizing she's the weakest of the four. However, Alexia and Tira are keeping it away from her.

Blocking a strike from Tira's staff, Feral drives his claws at the fiery redhead, sending her away even though her aura protected her. Feral runs toward Emmara dodging the girl's spells. Fear appears on Emmara's face as the Grimm comes closer. A smoke grenade rolls in front of her then explodes. Emmara runs minutes before Feral pops through the smoke, right into Cassandra's waiting SMG. The scarred huntress unloads spraying bullets at Feral. Not deterred the Grimm thrusts its claws at her Cassandra moves left, right, left, right, down, jump. Feral raises its left hand when it feels a spear rope wrap around it. Seizing the chance Cassandra loads a fresh clip into her SMG and fires. Barely fazed by the bullet swarm, Feral pulls on the spear rope Alexia feels herself flung toward Cassandra. She teleports after releasing the spear rope. Emmara encases Feral's lower body in ice and Tira separates her staff into twin rifles, Phobos and Deimos. The bullets impact, tearing into the Grimm's body. Despite the pain, Feral roars in defiance. It feels an arrow lodge itself in the throat. The Grimm chokes until it falls silent, evaporating.

Tira wiped her forehead, "Whew, that was close."

Cassandra snorted, "One less Grimm to worry about."

Alexia turned her attention to Rena, "Are you going to escort us back to Vale?"

Xavier said, "Yes. So please, get on the Bullhead the pilot doesn't want to remain here." The group steps on and Rena tells the pilot it's time to head back. Closing the hatch doors, the aircraft takes off.

The trip back to Vale is uneventful with Emmara talking with Yumi while Cassandra does maintenance on her SMG.

Tira sat next to Xavier, "What are you doing?"

Xavier said, "Drawing. It's my favorite downtime hobby."

Tira asked, "Mind if I see them?"

The ox faunus smiled, "Sure." He flips through the pages.

Tira commented, "These drawings are very good. Xavier, this is amazing work! How did get this good?"

Xavier admitted, "Been drawing since I was a kid. Learned through trial and error. I draw whatever comes to mind." He next flips to a sketch of Yumi twirling in falling leafs with a smile on her face.

It's nighttime when the Bullhead touches down in Vale City and Team TEAL hops off.

Tira asked, "Not coming?"

Xavier said, "We're wanted in some kingdoms, Tira. We can't stay in one place for too long."

Emmara told him, "I-if you want we can see if Ozpin will grant you asylum here in Vale."

Xavier smiled at her, "Thanks for the offer but we'll have to decline, Emmara. As mercenaries, it's best not being affiliated with any kingdom. It makes it more difficult for the enemy to connect us to the four kingdoms. You can tell Ozpin we'll accept the transfer of money via scroll."

Alexia nodded, "As you wish. I look forward to our next meeting."

Rena said, "So it was you that attacked my camp eight years ago."

Alexia looked at her, "I beg your pardon?"

The one-eyed faunus said, "Your fighting, your mask, the Semblance. It matches the attacker."

Yumi asked, "Another person you know, Rena?"

Before Rena could answer Alexia said, "I apologize but I believe you have me confused with someone else." She bowed politely and gracefully, "Thank you for your help today."

Tira said, "We'll take our leave now." She turned waving, "See ya. Let's head back to Beacon Academy, team!" Rena leads her own out of Vale City.

'Why do I get the feeling something is about to happen?' She thought, feeling a sense of foreboding roil in her stomach.

A/N: Chapter 7 done.

Here, Team RXDY met Team TEAL and assisted them in dealing with two new Grimm.

It seems Rena and Alexia had an encounter before.

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Stay tuned for chapter 8.

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