Forever Fall (Day)

"Yes, students. The forest of Forever Fall is indeed beautiful. But we are not here to sight-see. Professor Peach has asked all of you to collect samples from the trees deep in the forest, and I'm here to make sure none of you die while doing so." Glynda said as she led the students through the crimson forest. "Each of you is to gather one jar's worth of red sap. However, this forest is full of the creatures of Grimm, so be sure to stay with your teammates. We will rendezvous back here at 4 o'clock. Have fun!"

'You can't tell us that and then say "have fun".' Russo thought with a scowl as he caught Jaune being dragged by Cardin in the corner of his eye. Eventually, Team XICR managed to start sap-collecting. However...

"What are you looking at?" Ivy asked as she drained sap from one of the trees.

Russo just stared into the distance, at the area over the hill they were underneath. "Nothing, just got my head in the clouds." Russo said with a faked smile. He used brute strength to punch a hole in one of the trees before putting the sap inside his jar.

"Cardin, what's going on?" Jaune asked the boy.

"Payback." he growled as he stared at the group. One pyromaniac in particular.

"Russo?" Jaune asked. "What are you-"

"That's the guy. Little red jackass, thinks he can threaten me. Alright, boys..." Cardin said, bringing out a box filled with something buzzing...and angry. "Last night, old Jaune here managed to round up an entire box of Rapier Wasps, and now, we're putting 'em to work. According to one of the essays you wrote for me last week, these things LOVE sweets. I'm thinking it's time we teach him a thing or two." Cardin said with animosity before getting an idea. "And you're gonna do it!" he told Jaune, handing him a jar of sap.

"Do what?" Jaune asked, scared.

"Hit him with the sap!" Cardin ordered. "Either that, or I'll have a chat with Goodwitch, and you'll be on the first airship out of Beacon."

Jaune was torn. Stay at Beacon, or harm one of his friends. Granted, Russo and Jaune weren't close. After all, the two were on different teams. But he wouldn't do that, he wouldn't deserve being a Huntsman if he did. "No." Jaune said.

"What did you say?" Cardin asked angrily.

"I said NO!" Jaune yelled, throwing the jar at Cardin out of instinct.

Down the hill, Russo and the others heard the jar breaking. "Did you hear that?" Sapphire asked.

"Yeah. Stay here, I've got an errand to run." Russo said as he walked into the woods, grinning.

"Oh, you've done it now..." Cardin said evilly as his teammates readied their weapons. They ended up throwing Jaune into the dirt. "You know that wasn't very smart, Jauney boy. I'm gonna make sure they send you to mommy in teeny tiny pieces." Cardin said as he held Jaune by the collar.

"I don't care what you do to me, but you are NOT messing with my team." Jaune said with furious conviction.

"What? You think talk like that makes you tough? You think you're a big strong man now?" Cardin asked rhetorically as he punched Jaune in the face. Thankfully, his Aura deflected the attack and sent Cardin flying backwards. His wounds were all healed too. But as he admired his new Aura, he was kicked in the back by one of Cardin's teammates. "Let's see how much of a man you really are." Cardin said as he raised his mace.

"I think that's enough, Cardin."

Everyone looked to the source of the voice and saw Russo, Vesuvius in his grip.

"Russo!?" Jaune shouted.

"So, you managed to figure out what's happening here? Not like it matters. I'll still kick your ass!" Cardin yelled as he ran toward the blonde with his weapon.

"I actually think I'll decline, but there IS someone I'll let you fight." Russo said with a grin. As he said that, an Ursa Major burst from the woods and attacked the group. Cackling to himself, Russo sidestepped the Grimm and let it rampage towards Cardin. "Little known fact about Ursai, they LOVE sugar."

Cardin's eyes widened in terror at that statement. Screaming, he and the rest of Team CRDL ran off. The Ursa tried following but stopped abruptly. It sniffed the air a few times before turning to face Jaune.

"What the-" Smelling something on his armor, Jaune looked down to see a large splotch of sap on his breastplate. "Oh no."

"Oh yes!" Russo said, safely perched atop a tree. "Who will win this wonderfully brutal bout? The literal wild animal or a scrawny child with little to no fighting skill?"

"Help me, you jerk!" Jaune yelled, raising his shield in fear.

"Hmm, no, I don't think I will." Russo said, smiling. "Conventional training doesn't seem to work, so I figured 'what better way to get Jaune better at fighting than by putting a close friend in mortal peril'?"

"But what if this kills me!?" Jaune screamed.

"You know what they say! Whatever kills you makes you stronger!" Russo said gleefully.

"THAT'S NOT THE SAYING AND YOU KNOW IT!" Jaune yelled, absolutely terrified. 'Well, if he won't help me, I'll do this myself!' Left with no choice, Jaune swung his sword at the ursine Grimm, clanging against its bony armor. After a few attacks, he managed to land a blow on its actual body.

Meanwhile, Russo watched in silence. 'He's not too bright, but he does seem to learn from his mistakes. If he got just a little better with that sword, he might actually turn out to be a good Huntsman.'

After a while, Jaune raised his shield to defend himself from another attack. He didn't notice, but the shield moved upwards as though it were pulled by something invisible. The Ursa's claw bounced off the shield and was soon stabbed through the heart by Jaune's weapon.

Looking down from his treetop seat, Russo saw Ruby, Weiss, and Pyrrha eavesdropping on the battle. "This should be interesting." the blonde said with a grin.