Chapter 11: Another Encounter

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

Team RXDY

Rena's team rides a Bullhead enroute to Vacuo, the one-eyed faunus returned to the inn by sunrise, just as her team started waking up. The sky was painted a bright golden yellow as the sun rose from its resting place beyond the horizon, reaching out with its warm light to touch the city. The birds began their morning song as the dew glistened in the sun's rays.

Yumi, the youngest member of the team is the first to awaken stretching with a groan as her joints pop she dresses herself and opens her bedroom door seeing her leader return as she steps into the hall.

"Rena" she said upon seeing the one-eyed faunus step away from the stairs, "You're already up?"

Rena nodded, "I had something to do so I got up early." Not exactly a lie, but not entirely the truth either, but Rena figured she had worried her team enough yesterday, "Come on, let's wake the others and have breakfast, we've got another job in Vacuo so we need to leave soon."

Upon finishing breakfast, they boarded the available Bullhead, telling the pilot where they're heading. Once that's done Rena decides to sleep, resting against the compartment wall, arms crossed and Scarlet in her lap. As she does, Rena thinks back to her meeting with Ashton Fall last night.

Flashback

Rena asked, "What do you have to report?"

Ashton said, "I've been tracking Adam Taurus like you asked, collecting information on what he's up to. He was last spotted in Vacuo."

Rena queried, "Is he still there?"

Ashton shrugged, "I can't say with one-hundred percent certainty. That bull faunus doesn't stay in one place for too long."

Rena's eye narrowed, "And your information is spot-on? I don't like being lied to, Ashton."

The young man tilted his head, "Come now, Rena. We've known each other for, what, five years? Have I ever steered you wrong?"

Rena replied, "No, thus far."

Ashton smiled, "Besides, you have a great judge of character. Our relationship wouldn't have lasted this long otherwise."

Rena corrected, "Our relationship is strictly business, Ashton. You are safe as long as you remain true to your word. However, if you try to blackmail me or stab me in the back your life is forfeit."

The amber-eyed human feigned hurt, "You're as cold as ice. I was hoping we became friends, especially with one as captivating as you."

Rena told him, "If that's your attempt of flirting, you suck at it."

Ashton's shoulders slumped, "Maybe so, but oh well, I'll keep trying to forge a friendship with you, Rena." He pulled his hood up over his head, "I'm off. I'll keep you up-to-date about Adam. Who knows when we'll next meet but I look forward to it. Seeing your beautiful face brings joy to my otherwise lonely job." He turns on the heel of his boot and walks away.

Once he's gone Rena looked at the moon, "Vacuo."

End of flashback

The faunus feels one of her teammates shaking her prompting Rena to wake up.

Xavier was the culprit, "Hey, wake up. We're in Vacuo." In response Rena stretches before strapping Scarlet to her back.

Opening the compartment door, they are blasted with warm air.

'Why would Adam be spotted wandering in a desert?' Rena thought.

Draco asked, "So...mind explaining why we're here?"

Rena answered, "An informer told me that Adam Taurus was last seen somewhere in Vacuo."

Yumi tilts her head, "Adam Taurus? Is he a friend of yours?"

Rena responded, "No. I was never friends with him. Adam is a psychopath, best not to befriend him." Stepping off the Bullhead the team ventures into a town.

Yumi commented, "I'm amazed people can live in conditions like this. Scorching temperatures during the day and freezing cold at night, scarce sources of water and food rationed."

Xavier shook his head, "Nah, they've been living in Vacuo for so long they have grown accustomed and learned how to thrive. That's how evolution works, right? You either adapt or perish."

Draco said, "Better get this over with." Normally they would ask around to see if anyone has seen him, but with Adam Taurus being a known criminal they figured it would be best to give a general description and ask if anyone had seen someone matching it. Sadly, their efforts turned up nothing. Not giving up the group hire a truck driver to take them out to the desert.

Minutes tick by until Yumi picks up over the engine the sound of battle ahead of them. Telling the driver to stop, the team heads for the source. They eventually discover a team of what appears to be students battling a species of Grimm they haven't seen before.

Xavier asked, "Should we help them?" Rena doesn't answer, studying the fight.

Based on what they're seeing the faunus realizes these students have encountered these ant Grimm before. She next watches them unleash a combo attack on the target, finishing it.

Draco whistled, "Whew, that's impressive."

Xavier nodded in agreement, "Yes, it is." They next watch the group approach their location.

One of them said, "That wasn't too difficult."

His teammate informed, "Because it was alone. Had there been a group of Legionnaires, we would have bolted out of there."

The first one waved his hand to dismiss her comment, "Nah, we would've been fine. These things are puny as long as we don't let them swarm us we'd be fine."

His teammate sighed, "I swear you are such a pain sometimes." Once they are close enough, the faunus team gets a good look at them.

The first one was the leader and female fox faunus. She stood 5'5" tall, 17 years old, reddish-brown hair, blue eyes, lightly tanned skin and wore interesting attire a blue trimmed white bolero top over a matching short camisole and white short culottes with slits on the sides running up to her hips. A teal rope sash wrapped around her waist and was held in place by a buckle with Vacuo's emblem.. Her primary weaponry was comprised of two short-barrel tonfa rifles, which were black with blue tears etched into them. She also had a secondary weapon named Emerald Orchid, another short-barrel rifle but with a normal gun handle. It didn't take a genius to spot where the weapons could combine into a larger gun.

The next person was a male bear faunus, his age of 17 years old surprising given his height of 7 feet and his burly body size, russet brown hair, brown eyes and pale skin. He wore a faded black jacket with the sleeves ripped off, equally faded and worn blue jeans, fingerless leather gloves and size 22 shoes. His weapon of choice was a heavy, four-inch thick, five by three feet rusty iron colored shield with a cannon as the centerpiece with retractable sides, on the backside of the shield was a rack that held various cannon balls filled with Dust.

The third member was obviously a male human, 17 years old as well, stood 5'9, black hair, blue eyes and light tanned skin tone. He wore a white sleeves jacket that's always zipped up with no shirt underneath it, faded blue jean shorts, brown boots. Sticking out of the right pocket was a pair of black grappling gloves with red padding on the backhand, situated on his head pointing upward were specialized goggles and around his neck were earplugs and an extra pair of grappling gloves in his left pocket. He also wore an amulet with 7 colored orbs embedded in it: purple, red, green, blue, yellow, orange and light blue.

The final member was another female fox faunus, the oldest of the group at 19 years old, stood 5'7, reddish-brown hair, green eyes and tanned skin. Her attire was more interesting than the other fox faunus consisting of a harlequin green bolero jacket with short open mouthed sleeves and gold trimmings over a white tube top and a harlequin green one legged skirt that stopped halfway down her right calf and a red sash across her waist. Her weapon of choice was a trident with a Naginata blade at the opposite end with middle spike of the trident being a rifle barrel. It's able to detach to form different weaponry, thus providing multiple options for the wielder.

The human noticed the faunus team, "Hey look, people! Hmm, haven't seen you guys before. New students to Shade?"

Xavier asked, "Shade?"

The human replied pointing behind the faunus team, "It's the huntsman academy in Vacuo...or is it that way?" he wonders pointing to the west before he turned, "Wait it was…" he turns to the large bear faunus, "Brick little help here."

The burly faunus grabbed his teammate's wrist and redirected his hand to point in the proper direction to the academy.

The human looked at him, "Thanks buddy, yeah it's that way."

Draco said, "We're not students of this Shade Academy. In fact, we don't attend any of the academies."

The human flashed a small smile, "Ah, so wanderers."

Yumi replied, "More like mercenaries."

The human's smile changed into a grin showing his teeth as he relaxed into a subtle defensive stance, "Mercenaries huh? What brings you here?"

The younger fox faunus introduced, "My name is Rhia Teyesa, team leader. These are my teammates. The large one to my left is Ulrich Mauer though we call him Brick, the one next to me is Sin Saber and finally the girl next to him is my older sister is Alena Teyesa. We make up Team RUST."

It was Rena's turn to introduce, "I'm Rena Schwartz, team leader as well. These people with me are my teammates Xavier Stone, Draco Lance and Yumi Asuma. We make up Team RXDY."

Sin said, "That's an interesting name. So you're an all faunus team, first time I've seen that..I like it." Team RXDY are taken by surprise. They don't sense any spite or any negative vibes behind the words.

Draco asked, "You don't care if we're faunus?"

Sin tilted his head inquisitively, "Should I? You're people too aren't you? I mean come on." He gestured to the bear faunus, "Brick here has been my best mate for most of my life and then there's Rhia and Alena, would I be here if I couldn't handle faunus? Honestly I'm jealous of your kind, naturally heightened senses and night vision, that's pretty damn awesome."

Yumi said, "You're certainly an interesting human, Sin." She watches the only human member of RUST approach her, kneeling to her.

Sin commented, "You're too damn pretty, Yumi. Any chance you'd like to join me for dinner?"

Yumi blushed leaving Xavier to speak, "You don't get asked out very often Yumi, what do you say?"

Yumi's cheeks brightened, "Given my occupation, I'm hesitant."

Sin hummed with a curious look, "I don't understand how no one's asked you out before. Anyone would be lucky, no blessed to have you as their girlfriend."

The blush on Yumi's face brightened further, "M-me? Someone's girlfriend?"

Sin smiled, "Why not? You're beauty shines as bright as the desert sun." The wolf faunus stutters at the flirting thrown her way.

He next directs his gaze at Rena, finding himself drawn to her, grabbing her armored hand.

Sin stated, "And you Rena Schwartz. A beautiful name for an even more beautiful lady." Before anyone knows what happened, Sin feels cold steel pressed against his throat.

Rena queried, "What do you think you're doing, human?"

Unbothered by the weapon being pressed against his throat Sin smiled, "Just commenting on your beauty. You are a goddess among the faunus."

Rhia sighed, "There you go again, Sin. I keep telling your flirting tendencies get you into trouble."

Xavier asked, "He does this often?"

Alena snorted, "On every attractive girl he meets, human or faunus. It takes every ounce of willpower not to kill him when he flirts with my sister."

Draco walked up to Rena, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Easy, Rena. He means no harm." She looks at Draco before pulling Scarlet away from Sin's throat, sheathing it.

Rena warned, "Don't touch me again or I'll skin you alive."

Sin placed his hand over his chest and bowed his head, "My apologies for not asking permission first. Your beauty left me without reason."

Draco asked Rhia, "What was that Grimm you fought? Never seen anything like it."

The fox faunus replied, "That ant Grimm? It's called Legionnaire, it's a native to Vacuo but they've been spotted in Menagerie as well. It was theorized they preferred hot and dry climates like here in Vacuo but that changed after they were spotted in forests and near rivers according to Iris Ritter, our Grimm Studies teacher. She's a zoologist who studied Grimm in the wild. Legionnaires live in underground colonies like normal ants. What makes them unique and dangerous is they'll attack anything that disturbs their nest including other Grimm. What they lack in defensive capabilities and speed, they make up for it in numbers. The size of most colonies only number around three dozen but most speculate the number can be greater depending on factors like the location, climate and availability of food. One or two Legionnaires are no problem, but a big enough swarm would give even an experienced hunter a challenge and an entire colony was able to level an entire town in under an hour."

Xavier whistled, "Sounds like a nasty species of Grimm."

Rhia nodded, "They are. Fortunately they are rare with less than a dozen sightings and even fewer recorded attacks every six to ten months."

Yumi asked, "And that one you just faced?"

Alena replied, "Mostly likely scouring for food. What brings you here?"

Rena said, "We're looking for someone."

Sin said, "Me I hope."

Yumi shook her head, "No, someone named Adam Taurus."

Sin smiled, "Taurus?" He turned to his best friend, "Remember him Brick?" The bear faunus simply nodded, "Yeah we ran into him back in Mistral before we came here."

Xavier asked, "You've met him before?"

Sin nodded, "If by met you mean broke his hand in a fight he started then yes."

Rena locked eyes with him, "You fought Adam Taurus?" She asked not buying it for a second.

Sin nodded, "He never laid a hit on me." He chuckled, "Not to brag, but in a one on one fight I'm basically unbeatable."

Rena stated, "Guess we'll look elsewhere."

Sin called out, "Hold up. Let us escort you back to Shade. It'd certainly be better than roasting alive out here." He looked at Rena again, running his eyes over her, "Although I think you'd look sexy with a tan." The one-eyed faunus experiences flashbacks of previous flirts groping or flirting with her.

Draco said, "We rented a truck. It's nearby and has enough fuel to make it to Shade Academy if you can help direct the driver."

Rhia wiped her forehead, feeling sweat beginning to form, "Let's move. This heat is becoming unbearable."

Sin directed his gaze at her, flashing a hintful grin, "I know some ways to cool you off. Wanna try?" Rhia's face turns red not caused by the mid-day sun prompting Alena to glare at him.

She cracked her knuckles, "You're begging me to beat the shit out of you, aren't you Sin?"

Sin replied, "Last time I checked, I beat you in a fight fair and square." Alena hasn't forgotten their fight, she was confident she'd defeat the hunter-in-training, but that mindset ended up costing her the fight. Also Sin proved to her he has experience in fighting prior to their meeting. Since then, she begrudgingly tried to tolerate him.

Xavier interrupted, "Um...how about we hop on board the truck so you guys can report back to Shade?" Alena turns on her heel walking toward the truck, hopping on board followed by the others with Rhia sitting in the passenger seat giving the coordinates of Shade Academy to the driver.

Draco queried, "So Sin, what's up with Brick? He hasn't spoken a word since our meeting. Is he a mute?"

Sin shook his head, "No, he can speak he's just not much of a talker. But he's someone who has your back."

Yumi said, "You two seem close. Like brothers."

Sin smiled at the wolf faunus, "That's because we are in all but blood, I did say he's my best mate after all. We've known each other for a long time, having been through thick and thin and everything in between." He turned to his team mate, "Right, Brick?" The bear faunus nods with a grunt.

The rest of the trip was mostly quiet save for Sin talking to Yumi, telling jokes or made up stories earning cute laughter from the wolf faunus, each one making Sin smile even more.

Suddenly the truck is thrown onto its side, disorienting the passengers. They next feel the truck being dragged somewhere, daylight vanishing.

Draco wakes up, his head throbbing. Standing he observes his surroundings, quickly becoming clear they're underground. His faunus night vision allowing him to see.

Nearby Rhia's eyes opened up, "What happened? Last thing I remember is the truck flipping onto its side."

She heard Sin's voice next to her, "Make yourself comfortable, I know I am." Looking down she sees that she's laying on top of her team mate who has a grin on his face. Rhia quickly gets off, her face bright enough to see in the darkness.

Draco said, "Must be some kind of sinkhole, think there's a way out?" A human scream rings throughout the area putting the others on alert.

Xavier pointed in front of them, "Came from ahead. Let's go. Stay together."

Sin wrapped his arms around Rhia, "I'm scared, hold me." Alena hears the mock fear and teasing smirk on Sin's face as her sister is reduced to stuttering. Alena balls her fist so tightly her knuckles turn white.

Rena ordered, "Let's find the driver." Staying together, the group searches for the truck driver coming to a wide cave and sees the human trapped in some kind of web. A screech fills the air and soon six glowing red eyes appear out of the darkness above the web, slowly a spider Grimm emerges. The faunus take in the creature's appearance.

It stood 5.2 feet in height, 10.5 feet in length, 20.6 foot leg span, curved white fangs measured 1.6 feet long capable of crushing and piercing prey, 2 rounded body segments, armored black body and scythe-like blades lined the inside of its legs.

Yumi's eyes widen to full capacity as her body freezes, horrified by the monster they're seeing.

Alena mirrors her actions but her body shakes, recognizing what Grimm this is.

She whispered, "No way, that's impossible. A Gloom Widow?" The truck driver, stuck in the spider's web, sees the arachnid Grimm making its way to him, droplets of sickly yellow-white venom dangling from its menacing fangs. Hissing at its trapped prey the Gloom Widow chooses where it'll plunge its fangs settling at his ribcage. White-hot pain strikes the man's nerves the moment the spider Grimm's fangs pierce his flesh, deadly venom already circulating through his body shutting down organs one by one as digestive juices begin liquefying the insides, turning them into a soup for the Gloom Widow to suck up.

Yumi suddenly feels woozy and vomits repulsed by what she just witnessed. She empties her stomach until there's nothing left to empty. Groaning quietly, the wolf faunus wipes her mouth while the others cover their mouths and noses with an arm not that they blame her reaction.

Unfortunately for them, their vibrations are picked up by the Gloom Widow. Ceasing from its meal the arachnid moves its head trying to locate the source of the vibrations until it spots them.

Rena cursed, "Shit, it's seen us!" The spider Grimm unleashes a loud shriek that rings in the group's ears making them wince.

With a speed that betrayed its size, the Gloom Widow is upon them forcing the group to disperse just as one of the spider's front legs slam into the ground leaving a small crater. A grueling hour passes and the Gloom Widow proves to be a tough opponent. Most of Team RUST sustained injuries only Sin's semblance saved him from getting too badly injured though his team isn't as lucky.

Team RXDY isn't fairing any better.

Yumi had a gash in her left leg and blood loss slowly taking its toll on her, deep slash marks littered Draco's back, Xaiver's chest had a horizontal cut despite him using Gemini to block most strikes and Rena had a cut on her right cheek and the strap to her eye patch was cut in half leaving her bad eye exposed. Only years of training keep her alive. Both teams' aura were no doubt approaching their limit. If their auras break, it may very well be game over for them. At this point, survival is key.

'The stories aren't kidding. This thing is dangerous we've barely inflicted any damage on it.' Alena thought.

She spots the spider Grimm spray its venom the group disperses and cover their mouths to prevent inhaling the toxic substance.

Xavier asked, "Sin, may I borrow Brick?"

Sin replied, "What for?"

Xavier explained, "We need to take out its eyes. If we can do that, we can produce a cave-in giving us a chance to escape."

Sin nodded, "Sure why not, Brick, did you hear that?" The bear faunus nodded with a grunt, "Good, now if you'll excuse me" Sin charges back into the fight surprisingly evading any attack sent his way. Jumping back to avoid being skewered by the Grimm's scythe like leg Sin jumps onto it's back and with each strike of his fists a burst of his aura follows dealing damage to the monster spider.

Xavier said, "On my count, Yumi jump and Brick swing your shield to launch her so she can land on that thing's head." The wolf faunus got into position as the Gloom Widow prepared to shoot its venom, "Ready? One, two, three, now!" Yumi jumps off the ground and Brick swings his shield launching Yumi at the target. Using Hermes as sort of a grappling hook she drives it into the middle of the spider Grimm's forehead receiving a quick comedic greeting from Sin. She next climbs on top of its head and succeeds in taking out half of its six eyes before the Gloom Widow flings her off. Yumi quickly retreat.

Eyeing the wall in front of the Gloom Widow Xavier drives his charged up gauntlets into the rock, cracks begin to form that grow bigger traveling up the wall and reaching above the Gloom Widow's head. With a final hard punch, the rock starts to fall as Xavier joins the others. The rocks pile on the spider. The group doesn't know how long the pile will hold and need to get above ground before that happens.

Team RXDY and RUST search for a way out staying close together, briefly taking a look at her scroll Rhia sees their auras slowly regenerating entering the orange zone. They eventually see daylight poking through cracks in the ceiling and by sheer chance a rock wall lies below it. Cracks in it can serve as steps similar to rock climbing. They go up one at a time with Xavier having to carry Yumi on his back due to the gash in her leg.

It seems that a guardian angel is watching over them because a bullhead is searching the area for them.

The pilot sees them and flies the ship at their direction. Touching down they see third-year students from Shade Academy urging them to get on.

Sin asked, "Did Professor Eden send you guys?"

The leader of the group, a male deer faunus nodded, "Yes. She didn't receive word from your team so she sent us out to look for you." Xavier runs to the pilot.

He ordered, "Get us out of here now!" The pilot pulls back on the control stick, lifting the bullhead into the air. It reaches a safe height as the Gloom Widow bursts out of the ground roaring at its escaped prey.

Sin yells, "Awesome it's still alive."

The pilot asked, "What the hell is that?"

Xavier urged, "Ignore it, get us back to Shade!"

The pilot nodded, "Don't have to tell me twice." The flight back to Shade is quiet as the third-year students use the medical supplies they brought with them on the injured, wiping disinfectant alcohol. Yumi hisses at the burning sensation.

Soon their auras regenerate enough to heal their wounds. Cuts heal and close. The group rests.

Xavier sat next to his team leader, "You okay?" Rena turns her head to look, her left eye covered by her black hair.

The faunus replied, "I'm fine. That was gutsy of you, Xavier."

Xavier rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish expression, "At that point, it was survive or die."

Rena praised, "And your plan paid off. It got us out alive. Great job." She directed her gaze at Brick then Yumi, "You both did well. Thank you." Brick nods without a word.

The bullhead lands at Shade Academy and RUST steps off followed by RXDY.

Rhia said, "Let's report to Professor Eden, she must be worried sick about us."

Sin nods gleefully, "Yeah, let's tell her what we found, gods that was so much fun!" The fox faunus leads her team to the headmaster's office, knocking on the door.

A voice told them, "Come in." Rhia opens the door entering first. Sitting at her desk is the headmaster herself.

She greeted, "Ah, Rhia. Glad to see you and your team are alive. I was worried something terrible happened. I take you completed your mission?"

Rhia explained, "Yes. We took care of a Legionnaire like you asked us to. Sadly, it was alone so we weren't able to follow it back to it's colony."

Eden nodded, "Well what matters is that you're back safely." She next looked at Team RXDY, "And who you might four be? I have never seen you before."

Rhia said, "Ah, yes. Professor, this is Team RXDY. We came across them after we defeated the Legionnaire."

Rena stepped forward, "Greetings, Professor Eden. I'm Rena Schwartz, team leader. These three next to me are my teammates Draco Lance, Xavier Stone and Yumi Asuma."

Eden greeted back, "Hello. Like Rhia said. I'm Professor Eden, headmaster of Shade Academy."

Rhia cut in, "Excuse me, Professor."

The headmaster returned her gaze to the fox faunus, "What is it, Rhia? Something else happen during your mission?"

Rhia held her arm, "It actually occurred afterward."

Eden interlocked her fingers together on the desk, her attention drawn, "What happened, Rhia?"

The fox faunus explained, "During our trip back we were attacked by something and pulled underground. When we came to, Draco thought it might have been a sinkhole, but...We next heard the truck driver scream and followed it. Reaching the direction it came from we discovered him in a web. That's when..." She falls silent.

Eden asked calmly, "When what?"

Alena took over, "That's when we saw a spider Grimm. Professor, we saw a Gloom Widow."

Draco queried, "What's a Gloom Widow? I've never seen one until now."

Eden answered, "The Gloom Widow is a dangerous spider Grimm. It can build burrows or webs. It's quick, aggressive and venomous. It's so dangerous it was hunted down to extinction. Or so we thought. It looks like there's one left, maybe even more. We still don't know where the Grimm come from or how they're created so it's possible that species repopulated somehow."

Xavier added, "Yeah but could it stand up to a Phoneutria?"

Alena whipped around to face him, "You faced a Phoneutria?!"

Xavier nodded, "And captured it. A fully grown one. It wasn't easy though. The thing was aggressive and deceptively quick. It was part of our mission, Atlas scientists wanted us to capture a Phoneutria for them to study."

Eden queried, "Is it still there?"

Xavier shook his head, "Unfortunately, no. Someone let it free. Who knows where it went. For all we know it could be the only one of its kind, there's so many variants of the Grimm. Some of which we haven't seen yet."

The headmaster of Shade hummed, "A Gloom Widow and Phoneutria, two dangerous spider Grimm. Please continue about your encounter with the Gloom Widow, Alena."

Alena said, "We saw it drain the driver dry and engaged battle with us. Nothing we did hurt it but it sure did hurt us."

Sin interrupted, "Except me you mean."

Alena ignored him, "At that point, survival was the sole objective. Thankfully Xavier's quick thinking got us out alive. It was fortunate you sent a bullhead for us because the moment it took off, the Gloom Widow erupted out of the ground."

Eden took in the information, "You're alive, that's what matters. Rhia, you and your team are dismissed." She waited for the others to exit before turning to Team RXDY, "As for you four, I thank you for helping Team RUST, they are promising students and it'd be sad to have them be taken too soon."

Rena reasoned with a blank tone, "The life of a hunter or huntress is dangerous. Once you sign up for this line of work, you put your livelihood at risk."

The headmaster smiled a little, "Ah, so you've stared death in the face and laugh at it?"

Xavier shrugged, "We've been at this business for almost four years now so we're used to these life or death situations. Although that Gloom Widow all of us encountered is something I don't want to experience again."

Eden agreed, "Nobody wants to. As far as we know Gloom Widows are the most dangerous Grimm that's been recorded."

Draco noticed the tired look on the headmaster's face, "You okay? You look exhausted."

Eden said, "You needn't worry about it."

Yumi tilted her head cutely, "Must be stressful being the headmaster of an academy. Probably boring as well."

Eden chuckled at the wolf faunus' remark, "It can be boring at times, but it's well worth it to see so many promising students grow and graduate."

Rena turned on her heel, "We'll take our leave. It was nice meeting you, Professor Eden."

The headmaster offered, "Why don't you stay here for the night, there are a couple of empty dorm rooms for your team to use."

Yumi said, "We don't want to intrude on your campus, Professor."

Eden shook her head, "I don't mind. You saved my students it's the least I can do." RXDY debate with each other and come to a decision.

Draco crossed his arms behind his back, "Okay, we'll stay here for the night."

Eden smiled, "Good. Some of the Grimm here in Vacuo are nocturnal." That evening it's quiet except for grunting and music playing in the school's weight room.

Rena throws punches and kicks at a punching bag while wearing a pair of Shade Academy's female PE clothes made up of a short-sleeved white shirt with blue trimming and matching set of shorts although it felt a little tight. Professor Eden also gave the faunus a temporary eye patch for her to wear until Rena can get a new one.

Resting on a jump box is her scroll playing a song titled Time to Say Goodbye, finding it symbolic.

'Once you take a life, human, faunus or Grimm, you're no longer innocent. Everybody has to grow up eventually for better or worse.' She thought, punching faster, harder.

Narrowing her remaining eye Rena throws a hard punch ending the training session. Sweat drips down her chin and onto the rubber matting, She takes deep breaths to calm her pounding heart. Walking over to her scroll Rena presses the pause button and closes the playlist. Taking a seat on the mat the faunus opens a picture of her holding a cat faunus close, both smiling at the selfie.

In the picture Rena had both eyes and the cat faunus next to her had amber eyes, pale white skin, growing black hair that reached her neck, cat ears rested on top of her head and wore a black yukata with white trimming.

Rena smiles at the picture.

She asked, "How long has it been since I last saw you?"

Another voice said, "Ah, so this is where you've been." The smile disappears on Rena's face quickly closing the picture and stands. Stepping into the weight room is Sin.

He commented, "So this is you without your armor. No question about it, definitely the beauty of a goddess."

Rena quaried, "What do you want, Sin?"

The young hunter-in training said, "No need for the icy tone, Rena. Just want to talk."

Rena asked, "About what?"

Sin grinned, "Come on, after what we went through you don't trust me? I mean you no harm."

The one-eyed said, "Yeah, that's what you humans say. As long as you get something out of it."

Sin replied with annoyed agreement, "Yeah I've met a lot of people like that, but you know not all humans are like that."

Rena answered back, "Maybe three percent. The remaining ninety-seven are assholes. They'd rather see us faunus in cages."

Sin offered, "Well, give me a chance to prove I'm not one of them."

Rena cut him off, "I don't want your pity, human."

Sin went on, "It's not pity. I want to know more about you, maybe even be friends?"

The one-eyed faunus stated with skepticism, "Me? Friends with a flirt?"

Sin chuckled before admitting, "Yes, I am a flirt, but I'm also a gentleman." He walked closer grabbing her hand, finding it to be smooth instead of being calloused or rough, "One chance. That's it. Give me a chance and I promise you won't be disappointed."

Rena pulled her hand away, "Didn't you hear my warning earlier? You got a death wish or something?"

Sin laughed a little, "Hahaha, beautiful and deadly. A lethal combo, you remind me of the woman who trained me." He next looked at her remaining eye, "Has anyone told you your eye is beautiful? Although, if I may ask what happened to your left?"

Rena replied, "Lost it in battle a long time ago."

Sin smiled, "Well I think it makes the other one enchanting. Like a crimson jewel that never loses its shine. Yours burns with passion, determination, desire and strive to succeed." Hearing this human giving compliments about her beauty stirs alien feelings inside of Rena. She has been complimented about her beauty many times before, having both men and women desire her. The way Sin's saying it feels more honest and truthful without deceit or ulterior motives.

Rena told him despite her blank tone, "Back off, Sin. Unless you want me to skin you alive as promised."

Sin heeded the faunus' warning, backing off, "Okay. We can go at your own pace, beautiful."

Rena walked past him toward the entrance of the weight room, "Don't get your hopes up." Sin watches her go.

'Gods she's beautiful.' He thought.

After showering and changing back to her short-sleeved black shirt, black leggings and boots, Rena dumps the burrowed gym clothes into the clothes bin she heads for the dorm room Eden graciously offered to her team.

Stepping inside, she discovers it having bunk beds with Xavier taking the bottom left one and Draco sleeps on the top. Yumi sleeps in the bottom right thus making Rena take the top one, her armor and Scarlet resting on the desk in the middle of the room. Climbing the ladder she makes herself comfortable before dozing off.

A/N: First chapter of 2020 done.

Here the team met Team RUST and watched them take down a Legionnaire then survive an encounter with a dangerous Gloom Widow.

Later Rena and Sin talked with the latter flirting with her despite Rena's threats. He even offered becoming friends. The reason for her behavior towards flirts will be explained.

Read and review.

Stay tuned for chapter 12.

Vader 23A