Whew, the camping trip has finally begun. Nothing like some outdoor fun and excitement to really allow team members to bond with each other. Sorry for the delay, my Beta has a life and as much as I try to stop that, it usually fails. As a reminder I keep progress details on my fanfic page but I do answer questions in DMs or P a treon. I'm not sure how long this camping trip will be, but I expect it will be a few chapters at least. It will have some important growth moments in it along with development that will lead to a very different ending than in canon. Of course, Pyrrha and Jaune need to put aside their differences. Maybe if they both fall off a cliff together they could bond? What do you think? As always, special thanks to nBappo for Betaing.
If you enjoy my stories and feel like tossing a few bucks my way for expenses, please see my P a treon below.
P a treon . com (Slash) Darkbetrayer
Disclaimer: I do not own Toaru Majutsu no Index or RWBY.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Jaune was falling through the air as rain battered against him. Once they were above the drop-off zone, the Bullhead doors opened into the storm. Howling winds brought water into the ship, and Team RWBY moved out of the way to avoid getting wet. The best part of that moment was Ruby giving him a hug before he prepared to leap to his doom. He never got the chance to jump on his own though, as Nora pushed him out and leaped off right behind him.
"WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
Of course, she was having the time of her life.
Pyrrha and Ren followed right afterwards, and the four of them plummeted down as the Bullhead flew off.
None of Jaune's teammates were worried about falling. Landing strategy was something they all learned at the beginning of Beacon. After all, Ozpin launched them all off a cliff on their very first day during initiation. Literally launched them with spring traps. So while the rain might have added an extra challenge by making trees slick, the Beacon students knew what to do. Everyone sprang into action to negate the fall's impact.
Ren drew his guns and switched them to their dagger forms. As he approached a tree, he hooked the tip of his dagger and spun around in a spiral. While he was still falling, his blade slowed him down enough until he landed safely on the soft mud. Nora waited until she was closer to the ground before drawing her handheld rocket launcher and transforming it into her favorite mode: the hammer. Stepping on it with a laugh, she fired one of the missiles to negate the momentum from the fall and lift her up slightly. The girl then jumped off and landed with a big splash in a puddle after only falling around ten feet.
Pyrrha had the easiest time and kept her composure, like Ren. Drawing her shield off her back, the champion magnetized the metal and slipped it under her boots. Then she proceeded to surf on it downward, her fall controlled by her Semblance. A nice, gentle slope allowed her to skid neatly on the mud until she was almost at a complete stop before stepping off with one foot. The other foot stomped hard on the edge of the shield, causing it to flip up in the air. Pyrrha grabbed her shield, shook off the mud, and placed it back on her back.
Jaune's landing strategy wasn't nearly as smooth.
Graceful and precise were not his forte. His strengths lay in stamina and defense. Putting those into his current situation meant one thing: Jaune needed to defend himself against the earth colliding with him. Like Pyrrha, he pulled out his shield, transforming it from the scabbard, but did not draw his sword. The shield was raised up in front of him like a barrier as light began to glow around Jaune's body. Amplifying his Aura was the best way to absorb large blows during a fight, so why not against a much larger, inanimate object? Gritting his teeth, the young man prepared for impact.
It wasn't the ground he hit first. As the Bullhead was still flying when Jaune was shoved out, he was moving at an angle. So rather than the soft rain-soaked ground, his shield collided with several large branches of the tall trees. Shockwaves ran through Jaune's arms as he smashed through them. Without Aura, and probably without his amplification, he would have had some seriously broken bones. Each large branch shattered one after another until he broke through the final layer. Jaune finally smashed into the mud with a loud splash before sliding forward another ten feet. Laying in the dirt, he was a little sore but otherwise alive. Before training with Qrow, this would have been impossible.
Progress!
"Are you okay, Jaune?" Ren asked, reaching down with a hand to help him up.
"Yeah, you know how I like the direct approach." Jaune groaned, taking his friend's hand and standing up, wiping the mud off his poncho. The rain was still hammering down, but the trees above them provided a little bit of shelter. "I'm used to aiming for rivers."
"If the rain keeps up, you might get your wish."
"Please don't jinx us," Jaune begged as Ren grinned, and the two of them headed over to Nora and Pyrrha.
"Everyone good?" Jaune asked. "Got all your supplies?" The fact that his own poncho wasn't more damaged than a few tears near the bottom was a miracle. "We can't lose any of our supplies already."
"All set, boss man!" Nora saluted. "What are we doing first?"
"We need to figure out where we are." Jaune pulled out the laminated map, glad Beacon did something helpful for them on this trip. The rain wasn't going to damage their only guide. "This is a pretty large area, and if we get lost, we're not going to finish in time."
"How do you even tell that?" Nora looked around his arm to stare at the paper. "It's just green and white paint with lines."
"Contour lines," Ren explained. "They tell us the change in elevation. When they are close together, it means there's been a significant change. Like here, it indicates several mountains."
"Which might be those over there?" Pyrrha pointed toward the distance. Blurry outlines in the rain were still visible, and all of them could see the tall mountain range in the distance.
"Okay, and north is that way." Jaune glanced at his compass and oriented the map. "It's hard to tell exactly how far those mountains are, but I think we're in this area." He pointed to the northwest corner. "We need to head mostly south and a little east. If we get too close to the mountains, we're going too far east."
"We should make sure to check for some of these formations here." Ren pointed. "There's a low point here that could be a valley."
"We'll check constantly," Jaune agreed, folding the map up. "We ready to go, gang?"
"Let's do this!" Nora raised her fist, and Ren imitated her. "We need to be first."
"Pyrrha?" Jaune turned to his partner.
"I'm ready to go," Pyrrha replied simply. "The sooner we're out of this rain, the better."
With this weather, Jaune didn't expect her to be as enthusiastic as Nora, but her words sounded stiff, like she was just here because she had to be. Which was sort of true. Beacon had forced them all on this adventure. Being stuck with Pyrrha would have been a fun experience back when they were close. Things are just awkward now. Maybe they would have time to talk? Ren could distract Nora so Jaune could have some alone time with Pyrrha. Not that he knew what to say. Every time they talked, he just shoved his foot deeper into his mouth.
Maybe if the weather cleared and the atmosphere lightened up.
For now, try to keep their spirits up because, in these conditions, even Nora can't be cheerful forever.
"Okay, Team JNPR!" Jaune announced. "Let's get moving. A little rain won't stop us!"
"Easy!" Ruby laughed, landing next to her partner.
All of Team RWBY were skilled with their landing strategy. Ruby used her beloved Crescent Rose's high-powered shots to move through the air, negating the momentum caused by gravity. One shot gave her horizontal movement, and another aimed forward and down slowed her speed before she hit the ground. Conserving ammo was important early on so she limited her shots. Yang did something similar with her shotgun gauntlets, propelling herself forward and bouncing off trees. Of course, Ruby's sister was a show-off and fired several additional shots as she skimmed the trees before finally grabbing one to stop on.
Blake used her ribbon, far stronger than a normal one, to wrap around a tree. Throwing her weapon around a large branch, she swung down and landed with a light splash in the mud. Weiss did it the most elegantly. Summoning glyphs in midair that formed a simple makeshift staircase was all it took for her to neatly descend. The heiress managed to step so lightly onto the grass that she didn't make a sound, or at least none they could hear over the storm.
"Naturally." Weiss would have brushed her hair back, but it was hidden under her white poncho as the rain continued to hammer them. "Now, can we find some shelter?"
"We literally just got here, Weiss-y!" Yang shouted from the tree she was standing on, clearly visible in a yellow poncho. "We can't set up camp already and expect to finish first."
"You just want to get done quicker to get out of this weather," Weiss shot back.
"Don't you?" The blonde grinned at her, and Weiss had no good retort for that.
"I believe Weiss was talking about a place where we can examine the map to find out where we are," Blake spoke up, walking over as she hid her weapons under her own purple poncho. "Unless you want to stand around in this weather,"
"Ah, no. Lead the way, Ruby," Yang told her sister.
"We're literally under trees." Weiss rolled her eyes and gestured to the tall foliage. "Let's just find thicker ones."
"Yeah, but Ruby's used to this and probably knows where there's better shelter," Yang pointed out. "Like a cave."
"You do realize I can't just find a cave!" Ruby huffed. "Unlike what most people think, caves are pretty rare." She sounded super knowledgeable, and all she had to do was repeat what her uncle told her. "There are certain areas more likely to have them formed, but it's still not easy to find them."
"That's nice to know, but we did want to figure out where we are quickly, did we not?" Blake asked sternly. Even if the Faunus girl was trying to remain calm, a little displeasure was leaking through. None of them wanted to be out here like this.
At least Yang didn't make any wet cat jokes.
Team RWBY gathered under the thickest trees they could find and huddled together as they stared at the map. Ruby found it really difficult to pinpoint their location. It was a lot easier to follow a route from a town when she was traveling with Jaune and her uncle. Now they had to figure out where they were first. With the thick forest all around them, it was hard to see any landmarks. Ruby traced her finger along the map until she made a connection.
"There's a lake in the northeast part of the map," Ruby announced. "With a river heading southwest and nearly splitting the map in half, If we can find either the lake or the river, we can figure out where we are. Once we do that, we can easily figure our way to the finish line."
"That's all well and good, but we can't see much," Yang reminded them. "Thick forest, dark clouds; it's hard enough to see each other down here."
"Hmm, give me a boost then, Yang," Blake decided.
"What, you're going to climb a tree, kitty cat?" There was a joke that caused Ruby and Weiss to facepalm. Blake just let it wash over her without comment. From anyone else, she would have considered it racist, but Yang was just... The blonde girl didn't mean it in a discriminatory way.
"I mean, a real boost," Blake said, crossing her arms. "Unless you think you can't do it, I'm sure Weiss can use one of her propulsion glyphs."
"That's what you meant," her partner laughed. "You should have said that in the first place. Hop on." Bending her knees, Yang cupped her hands near the ground. Blake stepped forward and jumped lightly before placing one foot there. With her superhuman strength, Yang tossed her high into the air, zipping past multiple branches before Blake grabbed one of the ones near the top. Using her acrobatic skills, she spun up onto the branch and continued climbing to see if she could get above the treeline. "Not bad, though I think Nora could have thrown her all the way to the top in one go."
"If she hit Blake with her hammer, maybe," Weiss shuddered.
"I don't think Blake would like that," Ruby giggled.
"She would become a flat cat." Yang grinned as Weiss groaned loudly.
Ruby didn't think her sister's joke was funny, either. At the same time, making jokes, even bad ones, out in the field like this was a way to keep people's minds off the depressing atmosphere. Yang might be actively trying to distract them because Ruby knew she could be serious when the time called for it. Some situations did not warrant jokes. Most of the time, Yang was pretty good about recognizing those moments. This time there would be special circumstances when she wouldn't try to get her sister to stop.
A few minutes later, the loud rustle of leaves indicated something heavier than rain was coming down. A few thumps followed, and some larger branches shook before Blake plopped down on the grass.
"I can't be one hundred percent sure, but it looks like there's a river a mile or so that way," Blake pointed. "It could be a ravine, but I think that's our best shot."
"Alright then, Team RWBY!" Ruby announced. "Let's head that way!"
Since none of the others had any better ideas, the four girls began to hike through the muddy grass and underbrush. There were no roads or even trails, so they had to forcefully move through bushes and tall grass and go around thick clumps of trees. Even Ruby was having a rough time. During her adventures with Qrow and Jaune, they usually followed roads or trails when possible. The map indicated this time they weren't going to receive that blessing. Fifteen minutes later, which felt more like an hour later, they finally got through the forest and came out on the river bank.
"Hey, the rain seems to have mostly stopped," Yang commented, holding her hand up.
"Small blessings," Weiss grumbled, glancing down at her mud-covered shoes. She had switched to hiking shoes, as those were essential items on the list provided by Beacon. Still, the heiress didn't enjoy the sight. They were already caked with dark brown gunk. It was going to be a long couple of days for her.
"It normally doesn't rain constantly for days at a time." Ruby puffed out her chest proudly as she showed off her knowledge. "It's going to be on and off. So we should try to get the most distance when it's light and then rest when it's coming down really hard." She oriented the map with the compass so it was facing north. "Okay, so we know that way is north, and that means the river that way will go to the lake and that way will go south."
"Sounds like we're almost there," Yang said happily.
"We need to know where on the river we are, though," Ruby pointed out. "We need to cross it eventually, but if we do it when we're too far south or north, we'll end up skipping the finish line." Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the map and then around them, looking for landmarks. As the river banks were clear and the forests thick, there weren't any noticeable features.
"You sound oddly nervous." Weiss's own eyes narrowed at her partner.
"Because Uncle Qrow let me overshoot our target, and we had to backtrack for over two hours!" Ruby whined. "Do you know how embarrassing that was? We wasted half a day and had to hike at night." Yang couldn't resist a small snort. "SEE!" Ruby flung a hand at Yang. "At least Jaune didn't laugh. Uncle Qrow did, but not Jaune. He was trying to make me feel better the entire time! Hmph. I'm not making that mistake again."
"If you ask nicely, Weiss might comfort you," Yang teased.
"No, I won't."
"Hmm, you might," Blake smirked at the heiress. "In your own way, of course."
"I think our best bet is going northeast because if the lake comes into view before we can verify where we are, then we won't overshoot too far. If we head south and realize we were way south of our goal, we'll have to backtrack." The finish line wasn't completely northwest, but it was closer to the top of the map than the bottom.
"Sounds like a well thought out plan." Weiss admitted, looking a little impressed. "Good idea."
"Yay, Weiss complimented me!" The young leader cheered.
"Don't ruin the moment."
"But there was a moment!"
Weiss facepalmed as Yang and Blake chuckled.
"So just follow the river?" Blake asked. "I recommend we don't walk on the bank. With the amount of rain, it's going to quickly exhaust us trudging through the mud."
"No, let's go near the tree line." Ruby decided, looking around. "Everywhere is going to be muddy, but at least there's grass there. Plus the trees will give us some shelter when the rain picks up again."
"How often did it rain during your travels with Uncle Qrow?" Yang asked, sounding impressed at Ruby's insight as her sister led the way.
"Enough and it always sucks unless you try to stay positive." Ruby sighed and then smiled. "So let's talk about happy things as we walk. We have days to catch up on everything."
"Sure, what do you want to talk about first, sis?" Yang grinned.
"Probably how we didn't kill each other." Weiss joked.
"There were a few times." Blake mused.
"Hey! You're the one who sprang up your big secret to me without any preparation and even then I wasn't planning to kill you!" Weiss protested.
"I was thinking of you and Yang, but thanks for that." Blake sighed, trying to find humor in that memory and failing.
"Oh… sorry."
This wasn't how Ruby wanted things to go. Sure, Blake being a Faunus was a surprise, but it didn't change who she was as a person. Being part of the White Fang was more of a shock for Weiss since her family had relationship issues with them. Talking and getting to know each other was important and so was their history. They just needed to dial it back a bit and talk more on the positive things. To improve their friendship. Ruby had to change the topic quickly.
"If the rain stops, we can wash off in the river." Ruby suggested. "So we won't be covered in mud as much."
"Won't the ground still be muddy?" Blake asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Right." Ruby blinked, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment.
"And wouldn't the water be cold, filled with parasites like leeches?" Weiss crossed her arms and shivered. "No, thank you."
"I think that's mostly still water," Ruby considered, tapping her cheek. "Uncle Qrow didn't care if we swam in rivers. I never really went though."
"Why?" Blake asked curiously. "Too tired?"
"It's more that we had limited clothing." Ruby's cheeks turned red as she glanced at the ground. "So, um… Jaune and Uncle Qrow went in without them."
"I see why you didn't join them," Weiss huffed. "But for that man to agree to do that in front of—"
"Ruby…" Yang's eyes widened. "You didn't like… spy on them… right?"
"What?! No?!" Ruby gasped, incredulous that her sister would think that. "I usually just soaked my sore feet while they swam. Jaune and I both knew how to swim, so I think it was just his way of letting us take a break."
"So Jaune and Qrow went off on their own?" Blake mused. "Naked…" Her eyes glazed over, and a small smile graced her lips.
"Bad kitty!" Yang threw a mud ball at the back of Blake's head. "You stop that right now!" Blake growled at her. "No, I've dealt with that enough at Signal; I don't need my partner doing it at Beacon."
"Huh?" Weiss frowned.
"Uncle Qrow was really popular, and a lot of our classmates liked him." Ruby sighed, recalling those awkward times. "It was… awkward."
"Almost as bad as when they met our dad," Yang grumbled.
"Ewwww! Don't remind me!" Ruby covered her ears. "So Blake, no thinking of Uncle Qrow that way! That's an order."
"You really enjoy abusing your power," Weiss commented.
"Like you wouldn't, Ice Queen?" Yang grinned.
"I was raised to be a leader; I know how to inspire."
"Sure, you do. Just like you almost inspired a mutiny."
Ruby giggled as Weiss and Yang argued. The old her would have been upset they were arguing, but their banter reminded her a lot of Uncle Qrow and Manny. Not offensive, just friends needling each other. Ruby figured they were having a good time and doing their own way of bonding. Meanwhile, Blake grumbled and crossed her arms, secretly ignoring Ruby's order as they followed the river.
"Why are there so many?!" Jaune cried out as more Beowolves emerged from behind trees and up a small hill.
"Who cares?!" Nora exclaimed gleefully. "Let's smash them all!"
Team JNPR had been traveling for only a couple of hours when trouble started. Initially, things seemed promising—the rain was letting up, they pinpointed their location on the map, the sun hinted at breaking through, and Nora's cheerful chatter filled the air. Jaune couldn't ask for much more. Pyrrha remained unusually quiet, occupying most of Jaune's thoughts on how to approach her. He exchanged a couple of glances with Ren, silently signaling for him to keep an eye on Nora. Now, the challenge was figuring out what to say to Pyrrha first. They needed to talk, but awkwardness plagued every attempt Jaune made.
Even while distracted, Qrow's training compelled Jaune to heed danger signs.
"Hold up!" Jaune called the others. "There are Grimm in the area; we need to be on guard."
"Are you sure?" Ren asked, his hand drifting to his side. Nora bounced eagerly on her feet, scanning her surroundings. Pyrrha halted beside them, her eyes sweeping the area.
"This." Jaune walked to a tree, brushing its bark. "Claw marks here, fresh ones. Likely a Beowolf, judging by the height and the three claws."
"Aww, just one?" Nora pouted. "That's hardly a fight."
"Beowolves rarely travel alone, Nora," Jaune reassured, unable to suppress a smile. "They usually hunt in packs. We'll likely face half a dozen or more." Memories of his first encounter with Beowolves flooded back—how terrified and helpless he'd felt, separated from Qrow and Ruby, surrounded by eight of them. If not for Qrow's arrival, he might… no… would not have made it back alive.
Now, Jaune felt more confident that he could handle them alone.
Yet, out in the wilderness, caution was paramount. One misstep could spell disaster. It was better to err on the side of caution. Though they were rested now, exhaustion would sap their stamina eventually, increasing the risk of making mistakes. Instilling the importance of constant vigilance early was crucial. Ren likely understood this already, but Nora would charge in without a second thought. Polar opposites, yet still a close-knit team—they complemented each other perfectly.
"It looks like several trees bare marks," Pyrrha observed, running her hand along another trunk. "They seem to lead in the direction we're headed." The gouges were deeper on one side and shallower on the other, indicating the Grimm had swiped the tree and moved on.
"Hmm, I'd rather not follow the Grimm, but it might give us a chance for a surprise attack," Jaune mused, rubbing his chin. "Though it's hard to gauge their numbers..." He glanced at the muddy ground, numerous tracks converging. "Ah… crap. There are a lot of them."
Nora's grin widened.
Things were about to escalate quickly.
"You're in charge, Jaune," Ren stated as they examined the tracks. "What's the plan?"
"Hmm…" Jaune unfolded the map, pointing to a nearby hill. "I think we should detour to get a better look at our opponents. Grimm can gather in large groups, and sometimes it's wiser not to engage." Nora started to protest, but Jaune cut her off. "We're not being graded on how many Grimm we kill. If we want to beat Team RWBY, we can't afford to waste time and resources."
Seeing the dilemma in Nora's eyes was oddly amusing.
Torn between battling Grimm and securing first place—two things Nora relished. Despite appearances, Nora wasn't unintelligent; she simply had boundless energy, often resulting in accidental displays of her formidable strength. Jaune had recently learned why Nora possessed such power. Her Semblance allowed her to channel and control electricity into her muscles. When combined with Jaune's Aura Amplification, it produced an explosive enhancement in strength. Fortunately, Professor Goodwitch hadn't linked them to the recent damage caused by their experimentation.
"If we can't avoid it, we'll have to fight," Jaune added firmly.
"Fine, we can scout first," Nora relented with a sigh.
"Call it reconnaissance," Ren suggested, giving her a reassuring pat. "Or detective work, if you prefer."
"Oooo! I love detectives! Too bad we don't have cool outfits."
"Maybe another time," Jaune chuckled, then turned to Pyrrha. "Are you okay with the plan?"
"It sounds fine and everyone's in agreement." Pyrrha answered, finally letting her opinion known. "It's probably better to slip past them if possible."
"Then let's go." Jaune waved for all of them to follow him down a side route. "Keep your weapons ready in case they try to ambush us." He didn't draw his sword, but slid it partially out of its sheath and kept one hand on the hilt. Nora carried her hammer over her shoulder and Ren had his weapons in his sleeves ready to draw them. Pyrrha had her weapon in its spear mode, ready to be used.
Walking as quietly as the soaked ground squishing and squelching below their feet, the four of them continue through the trees in a more roundabout route. After about a half an hour, they found the hill and started to ascend. It wasn't very tall or steep, but it was the only one nearby. There were a couple trees on there too so one of them could easily get a full view of their surroundings. That was going to be invaluable information out in the wilderness. There were still several hours still until the sun would start to set and having a ton of Beowolves nearby at night wasn't something Jaune wanted to experience.
"This almost reminds me of the first time Qrow threw me into a Beowolf pack." Jaune chuckled. "That was a lot of fun."
"Did you kill them all in a feat of strength no one expected?" Nora asked eagerly.
"I think I cut down one or two before I was cornered." Jaune tried to remember. It felt so long ago when he struggled to face a single Grimm. Now he had cut down so many of them he couldn't even consider an exact number. "Qrow came in and saved me. It was all a test to see if I could stand the pressure. I guess he thought I had the mindset of the Huntsmen. After that, sooooo much training. Sparring in the morning, hiking, fighting Grimm, sparring, and sleeping. We only have to do some of that."
"We could totally spar." Nora pointed out.
"This trip's only a couple days." Jaune replied hastily, a little worry leaking into his words. "We don't want to accidentally hurt each other and have to deal with injuries that could slow us down. Qrow was a professional and knew how to pull his punches while still never dropping his guard."
"Good point!" Nora nodded sagely. "That's why you're the leader. You always have good ideas and know the answer to everything."
"Except homework." Ren's lips twitched.
"Ren's joking, we're doomed." Jaune groaned, earning a laugh from Nora and a full smile from his virtually brother.
Pyrrha didn't really join in and just followed, keeping to herself. She felt like a third wheel. Sure, Jaune occasionally talked to her and asked her opinion, which a good leader should. It was just when they started on these light friendly conversations, it was always him, Nora, and Ren. They didn't include her naturally unless it felt somewhat forced. It should have been better than a deliberate silent treatment. Instead, Pyrrha just felt hurt in a different way. She would rather be back with Mercury and listen to his bad jokes, maybe spar with him since he never considered her Semblance unfair, and go out together in Vale.
If he had been on her team, Beacon would have been so much more enjoyable.
Not this.
"But you caught up to Ruby, right?" Nora asked and the moment she said that name, Pyrrha's mind focused on her 'team's' conversation again.
"Hah, no. Ruby's amazing." Jaune laughed. "One on one, she would dominate me, but I'm getting closer to her everyday. Learning to fight against her speed made a lot of opponents more manageable."
"It's said during ancient times, a master would have his apprentice fight against others who were slightly more skilled than them in order to force them to grow midfight." Ren mused. "You don't learn as much when your opponent's skill is far below your level. Ruby was still able to learn when sparring against you because your defense was superior to hers. which forced her to learn how to fight people in long term battles. You on the other hand learned to fight against those faster than you. Both of you had your own weaknesses and strengths."
"Then Qrow joined and beat us both up." Jaune snorted.
"Teamwork and learning to fight against a superior foe."
"Pretty sure he was just upset he was out of alcohol most of the time and took it out on me."
"JAUNE! IT'S QROW!" Nora shouted.
"Where?!" Jaune spun around in a panic. "I meant it in a good…dang it, Nora." He facepalmed as he realized he was being played. His friend was clutching her side and laughing. "Very funny."
"You panicked so hard!"
Pyrrha might have found that funny in the old days, but now she felt a small sense of satisfaction watching him panic. Then she felt bad about that. It wasn't like her to enjoy other people's suffering. Maybe all the negativity at Beacon was finally getting to her. If it wasn't for Mercury making things better, Pyrrha would have seriously considered leaving. Being an outcast at school with so many people hating you for something you can't control really wore her down.
"Almost there…" Jaune told them as they were about to reach the top of the hill. "Ren, can you cli-..."
"ROAAAARRRRR!"
A large black wolf head, covered by a white mask, suddenly rose from the other side of the hill. Teeth bared and claws outstretched, the Beowolf lunged at Jaune. In a heartbeat, it was met with a swift block from Jaune's large metal shield, followed by a quick, decisive slice from his sword that severed its head. It was instinctual for Jaune—his first response to surprise was always to raise his shield and strike with his sword. How many times had he relied on these reflexes? More than he could count on his fingers, that was for certain.
"Nice one, Jaune!" Nora called out cheerfully, rushing up to give him a congratulatory high-five.
"Careful, there's more!" Jaune shouted, keeping his weapons at the ready.
Since Nora, Ren, and Pyrrha couldn't see over the hill but Jaune was nearly at its peak, so only he could fully grasp the looming threat. The hillside seemed overrun—a chaotic mass of black and white fur, bones, and glaring red eyes. Dozens upon dozens of Grimm were ascending towards them like a relentless swarm. Jaune instinctively backed up, his mind racing to figure out what had alerted such a large group to their presence.
"Why are there so many?!" Jaune cried out as more Beowolves began emerging from behind trees and over the small hill.
His initial thought was that they had made too much noise. Nora wasn't exactly quiet during their journey, and their progress through the muddy terrain could have easily attracted attention. However, unless they had unwittingly stumbled upon a pack of Grimm, it shouldn't have drawn such numbers. The other possibility was their emotional states—strong Aura or negative emotions often attracted Grimm. Jaune wasn't amplifying or activating his Aura, and as far as he knew, none of his teammates were either. That left the unsettling thought—were their emotions inadvertently drawing Grimm towards them?
"Who cares?!" Nora's voice cut through the tension, filled with excitement. "Let's smash them all!" With a powerful leap, she brought her hammer crashing down on a Beowolf's head, obliterating its upper body into a messy pulp. In a swift follow-up, she swung her hammer to the side, knocking two more Grimm away with sheer brute force.
While there were numerous Beowolves, none appeared to be Alphas, nor were there any larger Grimm species among them. The four of them together should be more than capable of handling this pack. The real concern lay in how much energy and ammunition they would expend to eliminate them. Their current battlefield positioning was advantageous—they held the high ground. Fleeing would only invite pursuit from the relentless Beowolves, and navigating through the rain-soaked terrain would quickly deplete their stamina. Recognizing this, Jaune, as the team leader, made a swift decision.
"I'll draw them in!" Jaune declared, his Aura flaring brightly as he amplified its power. "Pyrrha, stick close to me in the center. Nora and Ren flank them as they start to surround us. If we feel overwhelmed, we retreat towards the tree line. Watch for any of them attempting to flank us!" He banged his sword against his shield. "Come and get me!"
His taunt proved effective.
Perhaps too effective.
"Shit, shit, shit!" Jaune cursed as over half a dozen Beowolves leaped at him, their combined weight slamming against his shield and pushing him back. With little space to maneuver, he delivered precise jabs with his sword, aimed at their eyes and joints.
"I got your back, Jaune!" Nora's battle cry rang out as she swung her hammer, knocking several more Beowolves away and creating a temporary buffer for Jaune. With a powerful downward slash, Jaune's enhanced Aura lent strength to his blade, slicing through a Beowolf diagonally. Continuing the momentum, he twisted his wrist, driving the blade up into another Grimm's body, severing its arm, then swiftly decapitating it with a third strike.
Pyrrha had advanced alongside him, her spear thrusting unerringly between the eyes of an approaching Beowolf. Bone masks proved sturdy but offered little defense against a skilled Huntress. Pyrrha, a seasoned champion, dispatched Grimm with swift, precise thrusts. Each movement lethal, seamlessly weaving into a whirlwind of controlled chaos. Jaune had always known Pyrrha was an exceptional fighter, but now, with more experience, he marveled at her prowess.
Despite the overwhelming numbers, not all Grimm approached directly from the front. Some flanked them from the sides, attempting to encircle them. More that it was the only way they could reach without climbing over the others. Sweat beaded on Jaune's brow as he deflected claws with his shield. Should the Beowolves succeed in surrounding them, their situation would become dire. While individually they could handle the Grimm, the sheer numbers posed a significant threat. Grimm didn't tire like humans; they pursued relentlessly.
Enter Ren.
The team's stealth expert and ninja, cloaked in green, moved swiftly, slashing and shooting any Grimm that encroached on their right flank. Dodging under a clawed arm, Ren swiftly dispatched a Beowolf, thrusting his knife into its throat, before landing on another with a decisive slash. Leaping back to avoid snapping jaws, Ren's movements were graceful yet deadly. Among Team JNPR, Ren had the lowest Aura reserves and wasn't suited for prolonged frontline combat. A blow shrugged off by Jaune or Nora would potentially incapacitate Ren. When overwhelmed, he tactically withdrew, allowing Nora's massive hammer to send Grimm flying.
While Nora's enthusiasm was infectious, Jaune's focus remained on the Grimm advancing towards him. The majority of the Beowolves were fixated on Jaune, drawn to his blazing white Aura like moths to a flame. His Aura's amplified strength enabled him to cut through Grimm flesh and bone effortlessly but overtime, his fatigue would build up in his arm..
Glancing over to his left, Jaune's eyes widened as he noticed Pyrrha.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Pyrrha wasn't fighting next to him anymore. In fact, she wasn't anywhere near him. His partner had pushed forward into the swarm of Grimm, cutting and slashing them down, one after another in a continuous fashion. Never stopping, never breaking her stride, and perfectly aiming her weapon into their weak points. Each slash, stab, or shield toss was perfectly timed with the attack before. During all of this, it was almost like she was dancing; a deadly, mesmerizing dance. Jaune would have been impressed if she wasn't getting isolated from the rest of the team.
No answer came from his partner as she was concentrating solely on the enemies around her.
"Nora, Ren!" Jaune yelled to his other two teammates. "We have to clear an escape path for Pyrrha!"
"She's too far away!" Nora called back, only now noticing how far Pyrrha was from them. "Besides, she's doing great!"
"We can't risk that," Ren told her seriously, slipping past her to cut down another Beowolf. "There's too many."
"NORA!" Jaune realized there's only one option. He hated using their ammunition so early, but this was an emergency and a pack of Grimm this big wasn't common. "Grenades! Just don't hit Pyrrha!"
"Cover me!"
Nora clicked the switch on her hammer, collapsing its long handle into a compact rocket launcher. Reacting swiftly, Jaune dashed to her side, raising his shield to intercept the oncoming flood of teeth and claws. Ren joined the fray, his handgun blades spraying bullets into the mass of Grimm. Jaune quickly assessed the situation, realizing Nora needed a better vantage point. With a powerful swing of his sword, he sliced through three Beowolves, cleaving them neatly in half without hesitation. Catching Nora's eye, Jaune subtly nodded towards his shield.
Seizing the cue, Nora sprang forward, planting a foot on Jaune's shield, which he angled to boost her launch.
Her muscles tensed and then exploded with strength—a force even Jaune could feel. Using his shield as a springboard, Nora rocketed high above the Grimm. With a mischievous grin, she aimed her launcher and pulled the trigger. Explosions rang out as multiple grenades shot through the air, trailing pink smoke. Jaune glanced up and noticed the grenades forming a heart shape as they separated. Pyrrha, hearing the explosions, instinctively raised her shield, though Jaune knew Nora wouldn't harm her teammates intentionally.
The explosions ripped through the Grimm below, blasting them to pieces and sending others flying. Centered within the heart-shaped barrage, Pyrrha emerged unscathed, shielding and deflecting any debris that came her way. As the smoke cleared, craters dotted the hillside where the concentrated attack had devastated the Beowolves, thanks to Jaune's diversionary tactics. Pyrrha on the other hand was safe between the craters where the explosions didn't directly reach.
Only a few scattered Beowolves remained, struggling to rise.
Pyrrha retrieved her shield, launching it with precision to strike one Grimm in the skull as she charged another. Her spear thrust through the chest of the Beowolf, lifting it in an arc before slamming it down behind her. Simultaneously, her shield rebounded off a tree, returning to her hand just in time to intercept another attack. A final Beowolf leapt towards her, jaws snapping, only to meet its end as Pyrrha seamlessly shifted her weapon back into sword mode, severing its head. With the last Grimm dispatched, Pyrrha sheathed her weapon and wiped the sweat from her brow.
"Whew, we did it!" Nora cheered as she landed with a squish. "What a way to kick off our first day!"
"Indeed, though at these numbers, we probably cleared most of the Grimm in the area." Ren replied, walking up to her. His eyes weren't on his partner though. They were focused on Jaune, who was approaching Pyrrha and didn't look happy.
"What were you doing?!" Jaune demanded to know, stomping over.
"Huh?" Green eyes were full of bewilderment as confusion set over Pyrrha. "What are you talking about?"
"You ran off into the middle of all those Grimm on your own!" Jaune tried to keep himself from shouting, but his volume did rise a bit. "You were supposed to stay with the team!"
"I was fine on my own," Pyrrha countered, strapping her shield to her back. "My fighting style is more suited for being on my own against multiple opponents."
"That's not the point!" Jaune threw up his hands in the air before taking a deep breath and calming down. No one had been hurt, so there was no need to shout. "I called out a strategy for the team to clear out the Grimm without taking unnecessary risks. When you ran out ahead of us and started fighting, you left yourself open to being swarmed with no easy way to reach you. Nora just happened to have the right weapon for the job, but it was still dangerous since you could have been caught in the explosion."
"There was no reason to worry." Pyrrha assured him calmly. A little too calmly in fact as she seemed to look past him at Nora and Ren. "I've trained for years to handle situations like this. Even if all of them focused on me, I most likely could have taken them all out."
Her words could have been mistaken for bragging, but Pyrrha said them as if she was commenting on the weather.
"You-..." Jaune bit back his bitter retort. It almost sounded like a jab at him. He took another deep breath to calm himself. "We know you're skilled, Pyrrha. You're at the top of the year, but you can't exhaust yourself this early in a trip. We won't necessarily get a good night's sleep to recharge. All you're doing is making it harder for yourself by doing things on your own." Pyrrha's eye twitched but Jaune didn't notice. "You can't do everything…"
"I do fine on my own." Pyrrha cut him off. "But this is a team exercise, so I'll follow your lead from now on. It seems that when I don't, things get worse, doesn't it?" That last part was kind of childish and it reminded her of something her boyfriend Mercury might say to rile up Emerald.
Jaune felt slapped in the face as Pyrrha walked by him to pick up her bag she dropped before the fight.
"I'm just trying to get us to work together." The boy found his words. "Like how Ruby and I…"
"It's always about Ruby." Pyrrha cut him off again. This time, there was a strong hint of anger in her voice. "Maybe you two should have been partners."
"Maybe we should have." Jaune blurted out and instantly regretted his words. As much as Jaune wanted to blame his anger on worry for Pyrrha after her stunt, or the depressing weather, that wasn't the case. No matter how much Qrow warned him about his anger, he still kept doing things like this. Pyrrha's eyes went wide and the shock quickly became hurt. They finally had time to talk and all they did was push each other further apart.
Nora's mouth fell open and she turned to Ren for help. Not that he had an answer for this. All he could do was put his hand on her shoulder to stop her from doing anything to intervene. If they got out all their grievances, including the ones they kept hidden, then there was a chance they could finally heal. There was the old saying, 'things always get worse before they get better.'
"Okay, Team RWBY!" Ruby announced, setting her pack down in a relatively dry spot under some trees. "It's time to set up camp!"
"We still have a bit of light though." Yang pointed at the sky. Even with the multitude of red and orange, the sun hadn't set. "There's another hour at least."
"You… shut it!" Weiss pointed at Yang, her eyes flashing dangerously. Out of everyone, Weiss was the one who seemed to be feeling the strain the most. Being a Huntress meant she had more endurance than a normal person, her strength and stamina were still below the others, especially Yang's who was a front line fighter.
"You want light if possible to set up camp." Ruby explained, taking a swig of water from her bottle. "It's sooooo much easier when you can see what you're doing. The ground here isn't too bad, so it shouldn't flood if the rain picks up again."
"I take it you were left to drown once?" Blake asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Nah, we used hammocks most of the time unless we were exhausted and the ground was dry." Ruby shook her head. "Or found a cave, which only happened twice. One had an Ursa in it. But Weiss has a tent, so we need to find a good place for her to set it up."
"It's not that she's tired because she has to carry her own stuff?" Yang suggested, grinning as she looked over at the heiress, who opened her mouth to angrily retort but Ruby cut them off before they could argue.
"We didn't encounter any Grimm and we managed to make great time." Ruby kept her tone bubbly and happy. "Remember how close the lake was? We barely had to backtrack. So it's best not to push ourselves too hard today. We still have a couple more days of traveling and each day gets harder than the last until you get used to it."
"Good call." Blake set her bag down and rummaged through it. "It stopped raining for a bit, so we can keep everything dry if we act quickly."
Humming to herself, Ruby quickly found two sturdy trees and secured her hammock between them. Wrapping the chains tightly around the trunks, she adjusted them with a few last cranks to ensure everything was taut. Above the hammock, she tied a second rope, ready to throw a tarp over it and stake it down into the ground like a makeshift tent without a floor. The entire process took less than five minutes. Wiping her brow with her arm, Ruby turned to check on the progress of her team.
Blake had finished setting up her sleeping arrangements as well. Her experience with the White Fang had taught her survival skills, and setting up a hammock seemed to come naturally to her. Yang was a bit slower but was almost done. It was her first time, after all, but setting up a hammock wasn't particularly challenging—all one needed to do was ensure everything was secure. Ruby glanced over at Weiss, trying not to sigh. She had warned Weiss multiple times that setting up tents required more effort. Still, Ruby wasn't one to gloat, at least not openly.
"Need some help?" Ruby asked, walking over to her partner.
"I'm… fine." Weiss grunted, slipping the pole through the fabric. "Almost done and… there!" She pushed the cross poles up and the tent popped up at last. "Pretty easy for my first time doing it. Though I didn't expect it to be so old."
"I guess Beacon doesn't have a lot of extra funds for camping equipment." Blake pointed out. "As it's not something they use often."
"Poor Weiss-y, no silk sheets or goose feather pillows." Yang cried out dramatically, putting a hand on her forehead and pretending to swoon.
"It will have to do." Weiss huffed, grabbing her bag and putting it inside. Ruby waited until everyone was finished setting up, but before they settled down to draw their attention.
"Okay, team!" Ruby clapped her hands. "Now that camp is set up, we have to figure out the night watches."
"The what?" Yang asked.
"We take turns staying awake to make sure Grimm don't sneak up on us during the night." Blake explained.
"Were you paying any attention to Professor Port's lectures?" Weiss asked the blonde.
"You know as well as I do, of course not." Yang rolled her eyes.
"I've told you about it so many times during our calls." Ruby crossed her arms and pouted. "That's why I was so tired all the time. Someone has to stay awake and watch over the others. Were you even listening to me?"
"I was, but there was just a lot going on." Yang rubbed her neck awkwardly. "I remember now, but I was more interested in all the other stuff you were doing. Sorry, I'll try to remember everything."
"Good," Ruby smiled at her sister. She wasn't really that mad in the first place. It was actually pretty hard to get the girl upset. "It's going to be easier with four people then three. Each of us only needs to be awake for 2 hours. Yay, more sleep!"
"What's the watch shift then?" Blake asked.
"I'll take the second or third watch." Ruby stated quickly. "It's the hardest one because your sleep is split into two. First and last are the easiest because if nothing happens, you don't have to try to get back to sleep."
"I'll take the other middle shift." Blake volunteered, causing Weiss and Yang to look at her. "What? I have night vision, remember? It only makes sense that I take a shift in the middle of the night."
"I guess that sounds reasonable." Weiss nodded her head. "And Ruby… I take it you're volunteering because you have more experience?"
"Yeppers!" Ruby gave a thumbs up. "I know Yang hates when she can't get her beauty sleep and well…"
"I appreciate it," Weiss assured her with a small smile, making Ruby feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The heiress understood what her partner was doing for her. It was truly appreciated and the little twinge of annoyance at being babied was overshadowed. "Yang, do you have a preference for the first or last shift?"
"I'll take the last one I guess," Yang decided after thinking about it a moment. "I'm used to getting up to do my hair anyways."
"Okay, then Weiss will get the first one." Ruby declared. "See how easy it is to decide things when we don't argue."
"Heh, well annoying Weiss is more of a hobby now." Yang snickered.
"Maybe I'll drop some ice in your bed during my shift." Weiss smirked back.
"Based on our luck so far, we will either get swarmed by Grimm every night or won't encounter a single Grimm or week." Blake mused. "So do try to save some of your energy when the worst option occurs."
"Pssh, we can handle anything, Kitty Cat," Yang put an arm around her shoulders. "So don't get your ribbon in a knot."
"We have a little time before it's completely dark." Ruby looked around and sat on a rock. While it wasn't dry, it wasn't as wet as the grass and mud. Her poncho was waterproof anyways. "So let's relax and wind down. Normally we would gather firewood but…"
"We would have better luck convincing Cardin to be a good person than starting a fire in this weather." Weiss finished.
"Indeed." Blake nodded toward her. "Though I did hear from Velvet that Cardin's been leaving her alone since Jaune punched him in the face." A small vacant look gleamed in her eyes as she remembered that wonderful moment.
"That was amazing." Yang laughed. "If I knew that was all it took, I would have done that."
"It was rather unexpected from him." Weiss admitted slowly. "He was actually kind of…"
"Cool?" Ruby's smug expression couldn't be more obvious.
"Shush you."
"I think it was more of a shock to Cardin because Jaune originally was weaker than him." Blake pointed out. "If you had done it, Yang, it probably wouldn't have affected him much. Bullies tend to go after those weaker than them. Jaune showed that even the weakest people can get stronger and stand up to him. His confidence was probably shattered."
"It doesn't hurt that his Semblance is pretty powerful," Yang added. "Seriously, being able to regenerate his Aura mid-fight is crazy."
"Uncle Qrow had him practice that all day, every day," Ruby recalled, thinking back to their travels. "Imagine hiking in this weather while constantly using your Semblance. I can't even go full speed for thirty minutes."
"His Semblance boosts his Aura, which adds to his recovery," Weiss pointed out. "That's why your uncle made him do that training, duh."
"No one can argue with his infallible logic," Blake chimed in, looking up at the sky as Ruby grinned at her. "Ohh, Weiss. Did you hear anything about what Atlas is doing about those slave traders, Weiss?"
"No," Weiss said, shaking her head. "If my sister knew, she's not telling me. Due to legal issues, she probably can't."
"As long as they don't get a slap on the wrist, it would be a warning to other asshole racists, right?" Yang said this and then covered her mouth. "Sorry, Ruby."
"Eh, just because I don't like to swear doesn't mean I'm not used to it anymore," Ruby sighed. "It's everywhere, and all of Uncle Qrow's friends use it."
"Don't lose all your innocence, sis." Yang hugged her tightly, and Ruby didn't struggle to escape.
"The slave traders are probably going to get punished heavily," Blake said. "But the people who hired them will most likely escape justice. That's how they operate—using scapegoats to take the blame if things go wrong. While it looks like justice is served, things don't change. That's what the current White Fang believes. It's considered lookalike justice for most of them. You have to take out the top for any meaningful changes to take place."
Weiss looked at the ground and remained silent. Her father's company was involved in the slaver's incident, but to what extent? Weiss didn't know for sure. She had always been aware her father wasn't the most compassionate man in business; you had to be tough and ruthless to survive. However, he was supposed to have always followed the law. Now, Weiss had to admit there were ways to follow the letter of the law without adhering to its spirit. It allowed for discrimination under the guise of legality. Faunus were injured at a higher rate in the Dust mines than humans because they were assigned more dangerous areas with older equipment. The SDC simply pretended they didn't know.
Those talks with Blake were tough.
"So what do you think we should do, Blake?" Ruby asked.
"I think we need to convince people through nonviolent means that humans and Faunus are equal and that people should be judged on their character, not how they were born," Blake replied. "It means we have to stand up against those who put us down, but we can't cross a line."
"That's what we came up with," Ruby said, crossing her arms as she nodded. "We call out discrimination. It turns out a lot of people actually agree but tend to keep their heads down until someone speaks up."
"There's a lot of truth in that," Blake agreed with a smile. "That means there's hope."
Yang noticed Weiss being unusually quiet and, uncharacteristically, didn't needle the heiress. Instead, something else came to mind, and she decided to be a good friend. This time. There would be plenty of opportunities to tease Weiss later.
"When Weiss takes over the SDC, there are going to be some positive changes," the blonde suddenly spoke out.
Weiss' head spun so fast, there was a small crack in her neck. Blake also raised an eyebrow at this, looking stunned herself. Ruby, on the other hand, giggled and helped lighten the mood to avoid any Grimm following their negativity.
"Yeah, she will! There's a reason Weiss is my bestie!"
With the atmosphere lightened after some heavy talk, they chatted for a little while longer as the sun set. Rain began to increase, and they took it as a sign to go to bed. Weiss stayed up for her watch, and everyone else climbed into their hammocks. Ruby yawned and snuggled into her sleeping bag, the gentle rocking of her bed and the pattering of rain lulling her to sleep.
"NOOOOOOOOOO!"
Instantly, Ruby's eyes snapped open as she grabbed her weapon and bolted out of the hammock, rolling to the side and flipping out. Bursting from the tarp over her bed, she raised her weapon, ready to fight. Blake joined her right after, while Yang was actually moving and beginning to rise. Eyes darted around, searching for the source of trouble in the heavy rain. The yell had come from Weiss, who was currently leaning halfway over her tent.
"What happened, Weiss?!" Ruby yelled out.
"The tent is leaking badly!" Weiss cried back. "The inside is soaked!"
Lowering her weapon in disbelief, Ruby could only stare.
"Seriously!?" Yang wasn't happy about having her sleep interrupted. "You sounded like you were dying!"
"Don't just stand there; help me!" Weiss demanded, trying to save her sleeping bag.
Ruby rushed over and helped her, making sure to cover everything from the rain, and was able to get a look inside. There was a large pool of water forming, and there was no way it was going to get better, even if they drained the tent. There were either holes or the waterproofing was shot. Beacon's equipment wasn't the best, and they made the mistake of not checking it before heading out.
"Ugh, what do I do now?!" Weiss threw her hands up in frustration.
"Ruby did suggest you use a hamm-..." Blake started to say:.
"I KNOW!" Weiss snapped, and the raven-haired girl went silent. Yang was about to open her mouth to say they told her so, but Ruby cut her off with her own idea.
"Weiss, keep your stuff under a tarp, and you can sleep in my hammock tonight."
"Really?" Weiss blinked. "But what about you?"
"It's about time for my shift to start, so I'll be up," Ruby shrugged. "My bed will be empty."
"But what about after your shift?" Yang asked, rubbing her eyes.
"Weiss and I can cuddle!" Ruby beamed. "We don't weigh much, and the hammock should easily hold us." Weiss looked a little hesitant about this.
"It will be my turn after hers, and she can sleep in my bed," Blake answered, pointing out the obvious and having Ruby's grin slip off her face. As someone who liked to read late, she was a bit of a night owl and was able to think clearly. "Then, when it's Yang's turn, I'll sleep in her bed."
"Perfect plan!" Ruby gave a thumbs-up, hiding her disappointment. "Now get some sleep, everyone. I'll keep watch." After Weiss' belongings were secured, the rest of her team went back to sleep, Ruby sat on a rock, looking around with a flashlight in one hand and her weapon in the other. The noisy rain made it hard to hear anything, but anything walking toward them wouldn't be able to remain silent in the mud. The darkness was a little unsettling. No moon and no fire provided comfort.
But this was something she was used to. Instead of Jaune and her uncle sleeping nearby, it was her team. Their light breathing and occasional snoring were sources of comfort. Ruby calmed her nerves and focused on her surroundings, ignoring her own tiredness. Time passed slowly, as it always did, with only her own thoughts to keep her company. Eventually, her shift ended, and she woke Blake, who got up without complaints.
Ruby slipped into Blake's hammock and instantly fell asleep.
Blake chuckled and took her spot on the rock under the tree. Her bow was removed to uncover her cat ears. Even covered by her plastic poncho, she could still hear better out here without the fabric muffling her hearing. Her eyes scanned the surroundings, looking for any sign of trouble. Being a lookout was pretty common during her days in the White Fang. With Grimm, the Atlas military, and other threats, they always had to be prepared.
"... mmmm… that's nice… zzzz…"
Blake smirked as Ruby started talking a bit in her sleep. Not something she did normally back at Beacon. Returning to the wilds probably stirred something up within her.
"... Jaune… zzzz…you can... eat my cookie."
Blake's eyes widened, and her mouth fell open.
"She's talking about cookies, right?"
It was a good thing Yang was asleep.
Feel free to leave a review, comment, suggestions, or ideas, I love reading them. If you have a question you wish to ask and would like a quick answer, feel free to message me directly. I try to respond to those within a day or two. Comments, I tend to respond to in the next chapter.
nBappo: Oh yeah, this arc is going great. Also. Ruby? Cookie? She means cookies right? Right?
Dark: Cookie. Only Jaune only gets one. No one else gets any.