Roses & Thorns – Volume 1 – Chapter 6

-Apologetic Sting-

Under normal circumstances, the class of forty or so students would have exited the lecture hall at a steady pace, trickling out after they had collected their belongings. But with the news that they would be leaving the confines of the Academy and heading into potential danger had set an electric feel to the air for many of them, and they practically exploded from the room, rushing to gather their gear and meet the deadline the substitute had set.

Ruby Rose was not one of those people, not today. When she reached the hallway she could not force herself to walk another step, instead waiting for the teammate that was trailing behind all the other students in an attempt to give her the slip. Golden eyes found her and widened considerably, but the older girl did not run, she simply averted her gaze and continued following the rest of the class. Stepping up to match Blake's stride, Ruby found herself unable to do more than glance over in a furtive manner.

An uneasy silence sat between them as they walked down the corridor behind the rest of the first years. Their other teammates had been some of the first out the door, Yang on account of her undying need to excitement, and Weiss because of her own desire to excel. It left them with an awkward vibe, and a noticeable barrier that they both maintained, as if touching one another would ignite the sparks that seemed to flow into creation whenever they were near.

Ruby resolved to break the stalemate first, speaking so quietly that she was unsure if the older girl would hear her. "..I'm sorry." It seemed that her words did indeed reach Blake, as amber orbs turned to regard her. There was surprise evident in the beautiful features, enough so that it gave her pause for a few more seconds. "I-I don't know what I did, exactly.. But whatever it was, I'm sorry."

The unexpected apology threw Blake off from her calm act. Until that point, she had been able to contain the rapid beating in her chest that had been present since she had locked eyes with the younger girl in the classroom only minutes before. She had been able to hide how much of a wreck just being near the other made her. The corners of her mouth twisted downward into a frown, but she couldn't force the words through her airways, to let the brunette know that it was far from her fault that the incident had happened earlier.

There was so much to say that her mind could not find a way to start speaking, and her voice continued to fail as silver eyes peeked out from beneath the black and red bangs once. And then again. The final time the gorgeous color of the orbs was tainted by the unmistakable presence of pain within them. "A-anyway, like I said. Sorry. I'll just.. Leave you alone." Without another word, Ruby shot off in an explosion of rose petals to catch up with the rest of the students. Blake was left behind, a hand unknowingly outstretched in the direction of the other girl, and a whisper in the back of her head criticizing her own inaction.

Tucking Packmaster into the holster centered on the back of her belt, Claire breathed out a long sigh. Excited as she was for the coming activity, she could feel the scowl emanating from across the locker room. The Schnee heiress was still as steamed from their earlier argument as she was, and a glance over her shoulder confirmed it. An icy gaze originated from light blue eyes, both of them narrowed in a way that marred the pretty features of the other girl.

Instead of staring across the distance, Claire shook her head and turned back to the locker to retrieve Staccato Scar from where it lay. Sliding it inside the space between her side and the belt that hung about her waist, she laid a gentle hand on Amber's shoulder as she stepped past her teammate. One of the first to enter the locker room, and to exit it, she made it to the door without much incident.

Crossing through the portal, she was forced to sidestep as a shorter student rushed by. The trailing red cloak was telling enough of its owner, but what surprised Claire was the unusually stoic expression on the girl's face, causing her to cock a curious eyebrow. Turning back to continue on to the launch pads, she found yet another member of Team RWBY coming down the hallway. The brunette gave her a cold stare as she stepped past, holding to a practiced neutral expression.

"And that is why those poor girls need my help." A hand clapped down on her left shoulder, causing her to dip in that direction for a moment before correcting. Glancing over, she saw that Iris was using her as a base while the other Faunus fixed the positioning of a shoe. Further study revealed that Siren Melody was indeed strapped to her teammate's thigh, and that was enough for Claire to excuse the other intrusions. "I mean, look at them, they're worse off than we were! And don't even get me started on us, do you remember how you asked me out?"

"I didn't ask you out. You made me kiss you during a sparring session." Tossing her view to anywhere but the struggling fox-girl, she ran a hand under the wild locks of her hair to scratch at the back of her neck, one of the many nervous habits she employed. It was hard not to replay the scene in her mind, complete with the embarrassment and angry aftermath. Remembering it caused her wolfish ears to twitch outwards for a moment, as she cringed internally. "In front of the entire school."

"You were winning, I had to do something drastic." Iris' voice became muffled, as the Faunus girl bent to examine the troublesome footwear closer. Without warning the other, Claire knocked the hand on her shoulder loose, causing her teammate to stumble and straighten with an expression that was a prelude to an insult. But the curse never came, and the fox-girl's features light up to a wide grin. "Hey, you fixed it. Thanks!" The indigo eyes of the other found her own, narrowing a bit but filling with a more cautious light. Eternal confidence was instead replaced with an uncertain start to the girl's next words. "But.. We're good now, yeah? I mean.. Friends?"

It was hard not to hear the implied question that lingered in the silence, the quiet plea for forgiveness. Deciding upon which course to take with her ex was much easier, letting lopsided smile spread across her lips and giving a genuine nod. "Whatever happened before, don't worry about it. We didn't really work, anyway. All the fights, all the drama.. I don't miss that." Her mirth at the situation caused the fox-eared teen to laugh softly, and give a small noise of agreement. "I won't try to get in the way of whatever you have going on with Yang, if that's what you're worried about."

"I.. Thanks, Claire." It seemed to have surprised Iris that she was so willing to keep their relationship on simple terms. It was not a hard choice for her, given how the last attempt had ended, and the emptiness that had followed. Beacon was a new beginning, and she would do her best to keep it free from past mistakes. Their private conversation became decidedly less so as the other students began filtering out from the locker room, the buzz of excitement evident in the air. Tilting her head in the direction of the Bullheads, she waited until the other Faunus gave a nod before following the crowd.

Wrapping fingers around the loop that hung from the ceiling of the Bullhead's bay, Ruby made it just in time for her stomach to churn with the sensation of takeoff. Holding a hand to her belly with a groan, her actions caused Yang to let out a rowdy laugh, one that drew the gaze of the other occupants of the aircraft.

Or rather, all but one. Weiss was glaring over her shoulder, an angry enough expression on her partner's face to make her glance back. Behind her stood the leader of the other team traveling with them, CAIN. Already messy hair was being blown back by the rushing wind, and dark brown eyes were turned toward the world below, studying it intently. As if sensing that a new stare had joined the fray, those orbs snapped up to her, and Claire Briar spoke with a small smile. "Hang on to your lunch, Rose. Wouldn't want you to puke all over the Princess' pretty dress."

"It's a combat skirt!" Ruby joined in the laughter as the leader of the other team returned to watching out the side of the aircraft, turning back to find that her partner had grown even more mad. The roar of the engines made it so the next words out of the heiress' mouth were heard only by the members of RWBY. "Which you would know if you were actually civilized."

Discomfort suddenly gripped the atmosphere of the transport, and no longer because of the motions through the air. Ruby found her eyes glued to the metal floor of the bay, but one of her other teammates did not stand idly by. "Would you stop it?!" The yell came from the corner of the small area, from where Blake stood, her golden eyes centered upon Weiss and a deadly scowl on her face. "Could you not just keep your ignorant mouth closed?"

Now caught staring between her two arguing teammates, Ruby was caught completely off guard and feeling as if she had missed something that had happened earlier. "Excuse me?" Weiss' tone was practically dripping with indignation, so much so that the heiress even stamped a foot in a childish manner. "Don't speak to me that way, I am-"

"Enough, children." The stern yet calm reminder that both teams were accompanied by their substitute teacher was a more than adequate reason for them to return to silence. Memphis Slate fixed a glare on each of them with stormy gray eyes as a hand reached up and tapped the headset present in the woman's ear. "Attention all teams, this is Slate." The emotionless voice played through the speakers of the transport bay, more than loud enough to be heard over the engines. "Grimm activity in Forever Fall has seen a marked increase in the last few weeks, so be on your guard. Let's get in, get the sap, and get out without anyone getting killed. I don't need that paperwork."

What surprised Ruby the most was not the cold tone the Huntress had employed, but the utterly casual way that Slate had dismissed the prospect of students dying. It was not hard to imagine the reason that this woman was put into the field instead of teaching in an academy, already seeming like the type that preferred being alone. "Hey, Profe- Uh, Ma'am?" Yang's voice rang out with a touch of uncertainty upon it, emphasized by the way she stumbled over what to call the older woman. "If there's a bunch of Grimm.. Why are we doing it?"

Slate, who was standing in the center of the bay without a handhold, tugged at the tight sleeve on her right arm. "Simply put, because the Headmaster has assured me that you are up to it. RWBY and CAIN especially so." Folding her arms, the older woman donned an amused grin. "What, don't think you're up for it, blondie?"

"I was just worried you wouldn't be able to keep up, in your old age." Yang matched the smile with a vicious one of her own.

For the first time since the woman had entered their classroom, Ruby saw Slate take an interest in one of them, specifically her sister. Laughing in a way that shook her slender shoulders, the Huntress didn't even try to hide that she was impressed. "I like you. What's your name?"

"Yang Xiao Long, I'm sure its a pleasure." The brawler gave the best impression she could of a mock bow without letting go of the handle that kept her secured placed on the aircraft.

"That remains to be seen. We're here." Cool gray eyes took on a challenging gleam as a smirk crossed the woman's face. Slate pulled up a scroll and tapped a finger against its interface a few times, her other hand busy connecting her headset to the speakers once again. "Alright kids, listen up. In your VTOL you will find two packs, that means one to each team. I want every jar filled, and you all back at the extraction point by eighteen hundred hours. As you've probably noticed, we will not be setting down, that means landing strategies! Move out!"

Ruby turned to glance around for the packs, finding that Nyx had already grabbed the one belonging to CAIN, and Yang was busy picking up the one for her own team. "Landing strategies?" The confident tone brought her around, where she found Claire stepping off the side of the Bullhead into free fall.

Shock barely had time to register before Iris stepped up to the edge and tossed a wink in her direction. "Better follow quickly if you want the easiest ride down!" The Faunus girl turned and extended her arms, falling from the aircraft with an excited yell. Even as Ruby turned back to gather an explanation from her teammates, she let out a cry of panic.

Yang had needed no further encouragement than the two members of team CAIN jumping, and had promptly rushed to tackle her younger sister out of the Bullhead. The wind slammed into her form as they dove over the side, deafening her as it whistled by and the ground grew closer with each second. Beneath them was Forever Fall, a forest where the trees never bowed to seasons, and the leaves never lost their signature red color.

Blackened trunks and a floor of fallen blood red leaves created a beautiful contrast, but one that was disrupted by the rusted glow that encompassed the area beneath their transport. Even with her younger sister screaming as they were hurtled through the air, Yang enjoyed the exhilaration that came with the fall, letting out a cheerful yell of equal volume. As they neared the ground, gravity relinquished its hold on them, and they slowed to halt.

Hovering a few inches above the forest floor, Ruby righted herself quickly, stepping down and relishing the feeling of comfort that was her boots connecting with solid ground. After a moment of recovery, she reached over and slapped her older sister's shoulder. "Yang! That wasn't funny!"

"I dunno, Rose. Looked pretty funny from down here." It was Iris that taunted her, the Faunus bounding over, all too eager to help Yang up. Gripping the offering hand, the blonde girl was yanked up to her feet, nearly falling over from the laughter that shook her form as she hugged the fox-girl for support.

Scoffing at the two, Ruby looked over to where the source of the gravity field stood, the wolfish ears atop Claire's heading twitching as if following the ticks of a clock. Dark brown eyes were studying the airship, or more precisely, those that had jumped later than the rest of them. Soon after their landing, they were joined by the remaining five occupants of the Bullhead, all of them landing gracefully on both feet. The second the last pair of boots touched ground, a snap was heard, and the Faunus that had slowed their descent allowed her semblance to dissipate.

There was a moment where Claire locked eyes with Weiss, and instead of a glare there was an expression of respect on the heiress' features. For that brief second, the pale girl certainly was beautiful, but then it was gone, replaced instead with a scowl that caused her to sigh heavily and brace for what was coming. "What a waste of energy, using your semblance like that! What if we encounter Grimm?!"

Rolling her eyes, Claire made it a point to not engage the heiress, instead scanning the surrounding area for what they had come for. "Slate. Any old tree will do, right?"

"No." The Huntress moved up beside her, pointing northward with a certainty. "See the gray ash covering their trunks? Means these are still relatively young. We need the older trees, the ones with black trunks.. Those will be deeper in." Turning to face the rest of the students, the woman gestured them onward. "Let's move!"

Their steady pace made good time, arriving at a deeper section of the forest quicker than Ruby would have expected. When they reached a strange sort of natural intersection formed from the denser concentrations of trees, there were two presented paths for them to take. Slate was in the lead, and turned when she slowed to a stop. "That path should lead you farther in." Pointing down the right hand side, she then nodded her head in the direction of the left. "This one will let me check in on the rest of the students." Stormy eyes turned back to regard them, and the commanding voice of the woman took on a more sarcastic tone. "Assuming you all will be okay without a babysitter?"

Taking a moment to look over the small gathering of her own team and the four members of CAIN, Ruby turned back to the Huntress and gave a confident nod. "Don't worry about us, Slate." With a bow of her head, Slate took off into the forest, heading in the direction of the other students. Turning to face the other team leader present, she gestured down the path that had been pointed out to them. "Shall we?"

"After you, Rose." Claire's response caught her off guard, having thought that the older girl would have wanted to take the lead on this. Recovering as quick as she could, she began her way down the trail that led deeper into the forest. Behind her, the crackling of dry leaves and twigs snapping announced that the others were following.

Yang cracked a wide grin at the way her sister had taken charge of the mission so quickly, with that signature Ruby awkward cuteness. Stomping happily along the trail, she scanned the surroundings with an appraising eye. Forever Fall was a scene out of a dream, or a painting, its beautiful landscape of bright red clashing gorgeously with the black and gray of the tree trunks. It was almost surreal, and it almost distracted her from noticing the way that her partner was darting a nervous gaze around the canopy. "Something wrong, Blake?"

Golden eyes paused their flitting to lock onto her, widening at having been discovered, but the girl's expression remained as neutral as always. "It's nothing, just keeping a lookout for those Grimm Slate mentioned." Yang didn't buy the explanation for a second, given the way that Blake resumed the behavior the moment their conversation was over. Besides, what were a few Grimm to them now?

Stopping short of a large clearing, Ruby made a noise of surprise, one that was repeated by each member of the group that made it to where she was standing. The trunks on the other end of the small glade were those that would be considered ready for harvesting, and the scene that it presented was almost a disturbing one. Each of the crack and blackened trunks of the trees was leaking red sap that dripped and flowed down to the ground below, looking far too similar to blood from where she stood.

"Guess that means they're ready." The husky tone of Team CAIN's leader pulled Ruby from her observations, and she glanced over to find dark brown eyes studying her for a moment. "Think we should split up, teams of two?"

"Teams of two." Nodding to confirm the idea, Ruby turned to face the rest of their small party. "Yang, Nyx, pass out the jars so everyone has one. We're going to split up so we can get this finished as quickly as possible." Even before she was done speaking, her sister and the tall brunette boy were complying with her commands, opening the large packs and offering the glass containers to those nearby.

"I'll go with Rose." Claire spoke up as she took one of the offered jars, unscrewing the lid to test it before twisting it back on. "Amber, you're with Nyx, naturally." A tiny smile appeared on the redhead's lips as burning eyes rose to regard her for a brief moment, one that she returned with a wide grin. "Yang, you're with Iris. That leaves you and Blake, Weiss." Her lips slid down into a more neutral expression as she turned to face the heiress, finding that the indignation that sent a chill down her spine was waiting for her in the pale blue orbs of the other girl.

"Ruby." Blake watched as Weiss addressed their team leader, and not Claire. "Perhaps it would be best if you and I switched, considering earlier.. Arguments." Affixing a hard glare to the back of the heiress' head, she found it hard to maintain anger when the girl was setting her up with the perfect opportunity to talk things over with Ruby.

"No." The youngest of the group did not even consider the proposal, giving a simple shake of the head that tousled the locks of brunette hair. "These teams work." Even as Weiss was about to refute the decision, Blake saw the way Ruby's silver eyes locked onto her for a moment. There was no small measure of uneasiness within her teammate's gaze, and even a sliver of dread. It was enough to flood her heart with guilt as she felt her insides crush together in pain at the subtle rejection.

Let a noise of discontent pass through her lips, Weiss simply resolved to take the jar that Yang was incessantly tapping against her arm, stomping off in a direction with not even so much as a glance back to make sure Blake was following.

"Alright then, let's get a move on." Claire turned and waited for the younger leader to join her before striding off towards the East end of the clearing. As soon as they were out of earshot of the others, she turned a minute degree in order to converse more easily as they walked. "Things seem to be a little cold on Team RWBY."

She was not prepared for the look on Ruby's face when it finally lifted to regard her, the expression of sadness making her feel like an ass for making light of the problems facing the other team leader. The young brunette gave a helpless shrug, the downcast look on her face only growing stronger. "I don't know what to do. Weiss and Blake are mad at each other for some reason, and Blake.. Sorry, I don't want to bore you with this."

"I'm not the best at.. Talking, really." Claire stepped around the wide trunk of an ancient tree, catching a hand on the bark and swinging herself the last part of the distance so she landed back in stride with the other girl. "But I can listen. Let me know if you need me." A glance told her that something akin to shock had taken hold in the argent orbs, and it drew a laugh from her as she shook her head. "I don't come across as that unapproachable, do I?"

"Well.." Ruby was trying hard not to insult the taller girl, but knew there was no way to circumvent it with the answer to the question. "You kind of do. I mean, after what happened in the arena.. I know Weiss seems okay with it, but I saw the way you were looking at her during the fight and.." Shutting herself up, she hesitated to meet the Faunus' gaze for a moment. Relief flooded through her when she did, finding none of the anger she expected. Instead, it was an expression of guilt and averted eyes. "You're just a little scary, is all."

"So I've been told."

There was no chance to ask the other to clarify. Ruby started as the wolf-girl's ears gave an agitated twitch as the Faunus glanced about in alarm, and the taller of the two dropped into a readied combat stance. "What is it?" Her ears strained to pick up the sound that had alerted her companion, but it was not long before she heard it too. Twigs were snapping at an increasing rate, the sound drawing ever closer. Something, a lot of somethings, were coming.

Iris' grin only grew as she heard Yang give another loud and relieved sigh, the confirmation that the blonde was glad to be partnered up with her more than enough to enforce her playful mood. Each bouncing step was met with the happy swaying of her tail, relishing the pleasant sensation the movements caused of cool air passing over her fur. "Xiao Long." The use of the last name caused lilac eyes to snap up to regard her with a questioning expression, one that she met with a sultry wink. "I know you have a good view from back there, but try to keep up, yeah?"

One thing she positively loved about the brawler was that timid responses were few and far between, the girl was never put off-kilter by a flirt. Instead of a sheepish admittance of staring, Yang instead flashed her a radiant grin. "And which one of us has her tail raised to give me that view, huh?" Despite the reply, the taller girl bounded up beside her, softly bumping their shoulders together and giving a laugh. "I'm just glad that I didn't get paired up with anyone else. All my teammates are being so moody today."

"You should try having Claire on your team. That girl is the definition of moody." Brushing a hand through the purple tips of her hair, Iris took a moment to sneak a look at the blonde from under her bangs. Yang was beautiful at most times simply by default, but the way the brawler looked in sunlight was almost at a level of unfair. Many thoughts raced through her mind, some of them causing her cheeks to tinge with a familiar warmth, one that she forced away by changing the subject both internally and externally. "So what's up with your team? Aside from Blake and Ruby's thing."

"Do you know what's going on with those two?" Yang slid to a stop, and lilac colored eyes locked on to her, revealing her mistake as she stumbled over several different answers before settling into a shrug that explained nothing to the blonde. "Oh come on, it's my little sister, you have to tell me if you know something!"

The pout presented before Iris was far too endearing to resist, and she sauntered forward with a playful smirk. "Well, what do I get if I tell you?" Reaching toward the other and resting a confident hand on the hip of the much stronger girl, she balanced the large jar in her offhand. "I mean, this is vital information."

Yang melted a little when she felt the gentle touch of the Faunus girl dance over her skin, the unfamiliar feeling of uneasiness churning in her stomach as she stared down at her shorter companion. Pools of indigo were relentless, capturing her gaze in each attempt of her own to disengage from this compromising situation. If she had been anyone else, she was sure she would be putty in the hands of the skilled manipulator that was Iris Vex, but she was a Xiao Long, not some helpless schoolgirl from Vacuo.

Instead of backing away from the contact, she leaned into it, driving the other girl back the few steps it took until the Faunus was pressed flush against the sturdy trunk of a tree. Grinning at the way she had reversed the momentum of the conversation, Yang was denied the reward of her small victory by the buzzing of the scrolls in each of their pockets. A male voice, presumably one of the Bullhead pilots, sounded out. "Beacon students, be advised, there are Grimm sighted in the area and bearing down on multiple positions."

Another voice joined the fray as Yang heard the girl between her and the tree groan in frustration. "This is Slate. Provide cover for the flanks and hold the extraction point, we're completing the mission, Grimm or no. Students, get that sap and get out as fast as you can!" It was the silence that followed that pulled her back to reality, a reality where she had an arm wrapped about the waist of a beautiful girl and suddenly no time to act upon such an advantage.

Iris, however, was more than happy to offer an alternative. "Finish this conversation later?" An eager smile was her reward from the blonde as she pushed off of the tree and straightened herself, attempting to calm the butterflies that had been worked up into a frenzy in her stomach. She brought the jar that had nearly been dropped during the previous exchange close to her chest. "Lets get these stupid things filled."

Listening in on the broadcast, Blake had paused with her hand against the trunk of a nearby tree, watching as sap pooled in the jar she had placed at the base of the vegetation. It was far from her first excursion into Forever Fall, the last being only a few months before she had entered Beacon. But, her teammates did not know that, they did not know her past. Especially not the one she was now partnered with for this mission.

Pale blue eyes narrowed at her as the heiress turned and screwed the cap on a filled jar. No, if Weiss Schnee knew that it was her that had helped thrash the shipment of Schnee Dust that had been coming in on the train through this forest, her life as she knew it would be over. It was something that Blake thought of often, what would happen if her history came out to her teammate. Scenarios of being on the run, unable to return to the White Fang, unable to hide from the forces of the sprawling Dust corporation.

Of course fate had resigned her to the joke that was being on a team with the girl next in line to take over the corrupt company, and of course Weiss had been revealed to be the spoiled brat she had assumed the heiress would be. "What did you do to Ruby?" The words, spoken so sharply off the tongue of the silver-haired girl, brought her back to the task at hand. Even as she opened her mouth to ask what the other meant, Weiss spoke again. "When I suggested a switch of the teams so that we wouldn't have to be together, she didn't even consider it. And when she said no, she was looking directly at you, not me."

With a jar filled with the crimson sap of Forever Fall, Blake watched as her teammate strode over, the accusing tone of her words accompanied by an equally accusing glare. "So, what did you do to my partner?"

"Don't you have an inferior race to subjugate?" Surprising both of them, Blake spit her words in anger, the sudden rage at the mention of Ruby building up in her chest until she had to strike out. She met the scowl from the shorter girl with one of her own, stepping up so that they were mere inches away from one another. "Or can you spare the time to mess with my business?"

"What is wrong with you today? I mention one thing about a terrorist organization and you fly off the handle like I've insulted you personally! Well, here I am, insulting you because you've upset my partner!" Weiss' voice was raised in response to how she had snapped at the heiress, and it was enough to nearly push Blake over the edge and back into an argument about the racism held within the other girl.

"You-!" Before she could finish, a gibbering howl echoed through the trees, followed by a chorus of identical sounds that came from a dozen different directions. Moving as one, she and Weiss both drew their weapons and faced opposite directions, scanning the treeline for any movement. They knew what those howls meant, but the fact that many more continued to join the dissonant symphony that was already blaring through the forest was an unsettling revelation. "..Beowulves"

Moving quickly, she turned and screw the lid on her jar, just in time to stop it from spilling over with the sap. "We need to get back to the clearing and ditch these things." Weiss shared the same thought she had, indicating the glass jugs they would be forced to lug around in a fight. "Then we need to find the others."

Their argument momentarily forgotten in the face of fighting Grimm, Blake gave a slow nod in the direction they had come. "Go, I'll watch our backs."

The arc of Crescent Rose tore through flesh and sinew as if it was but paper before the blade. Another beowulf, Ruby's second kill of the evening, was torn in two and tossed to the side in a heap. Blood so dark a shade of red that it was nearly black showered the nearby area, staining the red leaves on the ground and showing very clearly where she had struck. Another growl alerted her to the presence of a Grimm behind her, and she felt the wind of the incoming strike a second after she was pulled away from the blow.

Claire had yanked her back, the Faunus still holding a fistful of her cloak as she steadied herself. With a step forward, the taller girl spun into the next attack, the bright steel of a saber cleaving through the shoulder of the juvenile 'wulf and producing the expected howl as it was then kicked away. Despite having never fought together before, Ruby was glad to have the other student at her side, their rhythm in battle similar enough that they could work when pressed. "We have to get out of here!"

Nodding in agreement, she searched for an opening in the closing ranks of the charging Grimm, finding it directly behind where they had been facing. Without wasting time to converse the idea, she grabbed the nearest hand and pulled as she made a break for it. The moment they were clear, the pack that was attacking them adjusted and closed off the way that would lead back to their group. Still leading the wolf-girl, Ruby was forced to alter her path. It happened a second time, and then again, and it was the fourth that it finally struck her what was going on.

Slowing to a stop, she bent at the knee and slid over the forest floor, letting the weight of her scythe carry the momentum forward to decapitate a beast foolish enough to block her way. Another replaced it as her slash cleared the area, and she prepared her aura to take the wicked claws, flinching away in the few precious milliseconds she was allowed. The strike never fell, as a hand clasped onto her shoulder, and an extreme weight pressed down upon her. Holding strong against it, she realized what was happening when she heard the impact of a solid object meeting flesh.

Claire had used the smaller girl as a platform for a lunging kick, driving the beowulf back before it could finish its opportunistic attack. Caught off guard and now off balance, a second spinning kick brought the beast to the ground, the heel of a boot on its neck. Her left hand tore Packmaster from its holster and unloaded a three-round burst directly into the face of the Grimm, the Dust-enhanced ammunition causing the dark matter held within the body of the animal to splash across her neck and cheek.

It was her turn to grab the young leader of Team RWBY and pull her along, utilizing her superior senses in order to lead them through the gaps in the Grimm lines. The second set of ears atop her head, those that were trimmed in gray fur, twitched with each new sound. Her mind processed these cues, and though she knew that they were being herded away from allies, it was the only way to avoid being overwhelmed. It was only a matter of time until that advantage wore thin, however, and she knew that it was lost when a claw swiped out of the shadows.

Catching it in the shoulder at a full tilt sprint, Claire spun and slammed onto her back, losing her hold on Ruby. Skidding across the fallen leaves, she rolled into the sudden momentum in order to launch herself back onto even footing. The maneuver was successful, allowing her to pivot and catch the smaller girl as she came tumbling by. It cost her in the end, as another claw came across her back, blunted by the aura that shielded her form. But that protection could only do so much, as the force behind the attack seeped into her muscles and bruised the skin beneath her clothing.

It also drained what energy she still had, causing additional effort to be expended with each panting breath as she swung wildly in the direction she had been struck from. Staccato Scar found purchase, cutting through the legs of the wolf-like Grimm and dropping it to the ground, where it cried out in bitter agony. There was no time to finish it, as Ruby recovered and pulled them both from their kneeling position.

Breaking from the treeline, Ruby made it only a few more paces before skidding to a stop, holding onto the larger forearms of the Faunus girl in order to avoid tumbling over the edge of the cliff that now trapped them. As if to celebrate their triumph, the pack of beowulves took up a discordant chorus of howls, growing ever closer to their position. Her hands twirled the shaft of her weapon through their fingers with practiced ease, slamming the blade down into the earth to create a base to fire from.

But it seemed that her companion had other ideas, the muddy brown of Claire's irises glancing to the trees, and then to the ravine that awaited them over the cliff. Ruby caught the look, and turned to gaze at the older girl with a disbelieving expression. "Are you serious?!" The discussion was ill-timed, as the ranks of Grimm broke from the trees in a dead charge.

Baring teeth in a grin that was surprisingly close the animal that she shared a likeness with, the Faunus girl did not wait for her permission. Claire kicked out to dislodge Crescent Rose from the dirt, then planted her feet and lunged forward, tackling the smaller girl off the edge of the cliff. It proved to be in the nick of time, a dozen claws reaching for them as they sailed out over the expanse below. The speed at which the beasts had attempted to attack them left many of the Grimm to tumble over the brink and fall with them.

Hugging the brunette to her chest, Claire reached within and activated her semblance, encasing them both in a brownish-red glow that held steady for the first few seconds of free fall before beginning to flicker. With her aura drained as it was, there was nowhere near enough power to slow their rapid descent to a safe degree, and thus she resolved to pour everything she could into the very last moment. As the ground below neared, she spun to place herself between her cargo and their destination. Despite this precaution, gravity reversed its effects on their forms, the flames of her abilities flaring back up.

It proved insufficient, as the last thing Claire felt before blackness claimed her was the impact of solid dirt, and a moment of lancing pain that was silenced by blissful nothingness.

Author's Note: Broke this section off and continued it in the next chapter.. Wasn't expecting this arc to take so long. Apologies for the wait for this one, ideas for another fic keep coming and taking up time. If you haven't already, please check out the link in my profile for Team CAIN's commissions. The wonderful and talented Keethy finished Iris sooner than expected, so you can see both her and Claire there. Also, a dossier for Memphis Slate is up, for those interested in knowing a side character's backstory as well as a glimpse for a fight scene in the next chapter... As always, please follow, favorite, and drop a review with your thoughts! Until next time, my friends! - Fox

Side note, I'd like to know what you thought of the scene between Yang and Iris towards the end there. Writing flirting or relationships in any sort of announced fashion(instead of just alluding to it) is relatively new to me. I'd like to know what I can improve with there.