Okay, after punching real-life in the face I've finally gotten around to writing the third chapter of this. Time to get everything rolling. So sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Chapter 3: The Opportunity of a Lifetime

Jay was lying on her sleeping bag, staring up at the dim ceiling with her hands under her head. Outside, the windows held a stunning display of stars and the bright, shattered moon, contrasting sharply to the dimly lit room they were in. A numerous amount of students surrounded them with only a few getting ready to go to sleep.

Their welcoming ceremony had ended a few hours ago. The school's headmaster, Ozpin, had addressed the students in a brief welcoming speech before they were escorted to the school's massive ballroom to turn in for the night.

Jay furrowed her brow at the memory of the introductory speech. Ozpin's introduction was, for lack of a better word, blunt. Many of the students were a little surprised by his callous and cold words, expecting something more motivational and uplifting rather than the hard truth he presented. Some of the other students even look outright worried.

Jay tried to think nothing of it. It was possible he was just trying to test their resolve, to see if some they were really devoted to the life they had chosen. After she changed into a simple black tank top and blue cotton pants, she joined Spriggan in the ballroom to try and get some sleep. If initiation was anything like what was being whispered among the new students, she had to be fully rested and prepared for anything.

Spriggan, dressed in a modest set of green flannel pajamas, tucked herself into her sleeping bag, sliding an arm underneath her pillow, "Well it's no lake-side view."

"But it'll do for tonight," Jay said. Spriggan nodded. Her eyes fell on the golden sleeve on Jay's left arm and she frowned.

"Wouldn't you be more comfortable without that?" she asked. Jay looked down at her cast and shook her head.

"Eh, don't worry about it. I've gotten used to it. It's like there's nothing there at all," Jay said. Spriggan blinked and sat up.

"If we're going to be put in a team with other people, they should probably know about it as soon as possible. I don't want you scaring them to death," Spriggan said. Jay frowned and looked down at the armor covering her left arm. She reached up to her shoulder and twisted a small lever at the armor's brim. A small hissing noise escaped the sleeve before it easily slipped off, revealing a black mechanical prosthetic underneath.

"Yeah, I guess the whole robot arm thing would freak them out a little. Good thing I didn't weaponize it or anything or it'll give them something to be really scared about," Jay joked with a laugh. She looked around the room in case any prying eyes were watching. It wasn't often she showed her prosthetic in public. People had a tendency to stare longer than they needed to.

Jay bent her mechanical fingers, listening to the subtle whirring noises the inner gears made. Vale's medical technology was second to none. In the eight years Jay had her prosthetic, she never once felt like it was a burden. It was a part of her now. It also served as a reminder to her. To remember why she had taken up the challenge of being a Huntress. To make sure what happened to her never happened to anyone else.

"When initiation starts, let's keep an eye out for each other, okay?" she said as she slid the armor over her prosthetic again. Spriggan smiled and held out a closed fist. Jay returned her wide grin and bumped Spriggan's fist with her own.

"You can be sure of it. Having to carry your weight would be pretty inconvenient though," Spriggan said. Jay pulled her hand away with a slightly worried look on her face.

"Well you don't have to say it like that," she said, crossing her arms and giving Spriggan an exaggerated pout.

"I'm sorry, Jay. I know you'll do just fine. I'll be sure to keep an eye on you once initiation rolls around," Spriggan said. Jay gave a wide smile and clasped a hand on Spriggan's shoulder.

"Okay, I'll hold you to that."

...

Tephra sat cross legged in front of a candlestick. Her shield sat on her lap, face up. Most of the other students were busy chatting among themselves, leaving her all by her lonesome in the corner of the ballroom.

She raised her hand and spread her fingers, focusing intently on her shield. Streams of red dust floated from underneath it, dancing between her fingers. Tephra pointed to the candlestick in front of her. Like grains of sand in the wind, the specks of dust slowly drifted towards the wick of the candlestick, covering it entirely.

Tephra snapped her fingers. At her command, the dust ignited, lighting the candle with a warm glow. She sighed as she turned her shield over. Small vents were spread out in even spaces across the inside. She could feel the Dust resonating inside them.

I can only do so much with Cain Circle. Damn it Ash, way to handicap your little sister, she thought to herself. She looked up from her shield and concentrated on the beeping coming from her bracelet. The sound waves it emitted bounced across the room, outlining every other person in the ballroom with her. A few were asleep, but most were wide awake and talking to one another.

Being blind since birth, her parents were worried that Tephra wouldn't be able to take care of herself. The bracelet she used as a form of echolocation helped, but her parents still held reservations. It was bad enough being a Faunus in regular society, but being blind would have made things even worse for her. That was until she discovered her semblance of being able to manipulate Dust at will.

Of course that in itself wasn't a savior. If anything, it was extremely dangerous. More than once she had hurt herself from trying to practice her newfound skill. Powder Dust, while significantly powerful, was volatile and unsafe under the best circumstances. It was the reason why she had to wear insulated gloves. Once the dust was ignited, she couldn't control it.

Dust is Dust. Fire is fire. Once Dust becomes fire, it stops being dust. Get it? You have to project that dust away if you want to keep from hurting yourself when you set it off.

That was what her sister taught her. Ash had become something of an expert in Dust properties. Although in truth, it was more like she experimented with Signal's supply when they weren't looking. Normally it cost her a stern lecture or landed her in detention. Ash was always a bit of a troublemaker. But Tephra never expected her to join the White Fang.

Tephra set her shield aside and fell back onto her sleeping bag, drumming her fingers against her stomach. She took a deep breath, her muscles relaxing against the soft padding of her sleeping bag.

It was almost laughable. Her sister had big dreams of attending Beacon. Ever since they left Mistral to attend Signal, Ash had worked tirelessly towards that dream. She never gave up on it, which only made Tephra pity her more when she so easily tossed that dream aside to join the White Fang.

She couldn't help but wonder what was running through her sister's mind. Her delusion that violence can solve everything was only good for getting her killed. Although that would be a mercy in comparison to what Tephra would do to her once she found her. The people she hurt needed justice and if the police couldn't give it, Tephra would.

Tephra turned on her side. Once she finished what they both set out to do, she was going to dedicate herself to finding her senseless sister.

"Ash…you're the biggest idiot I've ever known…but I'm not giving up on you." She whispered to herself.

...

Ritch stared at the glimmering sword on his lap. His own reflection stared back at him with bags under his eyes. He hadn't been able to get much sleep. The entire ballroom was dark and the last person awake went to sleep hours ago, but he couldn't bring himself to do the same. His finger glided along the seam that ran down the middle of Au Helios.

His head was still swimming with worries. This was his once in a lifetime opportunity. Instead of it being his ticket to freedom, it was being used to leash him like a dog.

Ritch sheathed his sword and set it aside. He did the same with his obligations and instead focused on the initiation. Beacon was a renowned academy with a reputation for advanced learning. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that the initiation wasn't going to pull any punches.

He couldn't help but think back to Lyon. He always wanted to imitate everything his older brother did. He even kept a toy sword with him to better emulate his favorite role model. That was why Ritch wanted to do everything he could to set a good example. And it was why he hated the means of getting to where he was with every fiber of his being. He worked hard for this chance. He worked relentlessly at Signal and trained every day so that he was up to Beacon's standards. For all intents and purposes, he had as much right to be in this school as anyone.

So why do I feel like coming here was a mistake? He thought to himself. He was there for his family, everything he had been working for was for his family. But at the end of the day, once he graduated and became a certified Huntsman, his circumstances wouldn't have changed any. And that was what frustrated him. He was in Beacon on someone else's dime. When he left Beacon, all his talents would be used for the wrong reasons. Every day that passed the chain around his neck would get a little bit tighter.

Ritch fell onto his side and shut his tired eyes. No matter what the future would bring, it was going to happen no matter what. All he could do was take it as it comes and hope for the smallest chance to leave his self-imposed hell.

...

Jay stared out over the endless expanse of tress. The Emerald Forest was vast and much of it was inhabited by Grimm, making it a perfect spot for Beacon's initiation. She looked down at the stone pad beneath her feet, her heart swelling with anticipation.

"For years, you have trained to become warriors. And today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest."

Jay looked up from the stone pad to see Professor Ozpin and Glynda Goodwitch standing in front of the row of students. Next to her, Spriggan was bouncing on her toes with a wide smile.

"Now I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignment of teams. Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given teammates today," Goodwitch said.

Spriggan looked to Jay and gave her a short nod. Jay returned the gesture and focused ahead. Ever since Signal, Jay and Spriggan had worked together whenever possible. Their teamwork was exemplary and they always knew what the other was thinking in the heat of combat. When it came down to it, Jay could never ask for a better partner.

As the professors continued briefing the students, Jay's fingers traced a silver staff hanging from her belt. In its folded form, Hydra Spike was no bigger than her forearm. Next to her, Spriggan hefted her massive double edged battle axe, Chrysolite. The two glanced at each other. Jay gave a brief thumbs up before she heard the stone pad wind up and catapult her into the air.

Jay soared through the air, her hair whipping against the wind. Her heart was beating in a frenzy as the canopy of tress came closer and closer. She snatched her weapon from her belt and unfolded it to its full form. A long, slightly curved blade extended from one end of the staff. Jay pointed it towards the sea of trees. Her finger fell on a small switch. With a flick of her thumb, the blade shot out from the staff, held together by a steel chain.

The blade coursed through the air, impaling itself into a tree branch. Jay swung down through the forest like a pendulum. She flipped the switch again and the blade reeled itself back in, pulling free from the branch and dropping Jay harmlessly on the ground.

Jay looked up at the sky. She could hear the sharp sound of wood breaking and leaves fluttering from afar. The sound grew louder until she heard a tree being sliced in half right behind her.

Spriggan skidded to a stop a few feet away, her feet burying themselves into the soft ground. Her axe was still poised from chopping down numerous trees to slow her fall from the sky.

Jay turned to face her, smiles growing on both of their faces as they made eye contact. Jay walked up to Spriggan with outstretched arms, "We made eye contact."

"Good to meet you, partner," Spriggan said. She scanned the surrounding area, putting her axe on her shoulder. It wouldn't be long before the Grimm caught wind of so many students landing in their territory. They had to use that time wisely.

"Move as fast as we can and don't stop for anything. We shouldn't fight unless absolutely necessary," Jay said as she swiveled her head from left to right, looking for the tell-tale black fur and white bone of a Grimm.

"Conserve our strength and complete our objective. Wonderful thinking, Jay," Spriggan praised with a cheeky grin. The two continued into the forest, slicing through the thick foliage and watching their steps on the uneven terrain. The early morning sun beat down on them as the grass and leaves were crushed underneath their feet.

Jay checked every side as Spriggan kept her eyes to the ground, watching for any tracks left behind by the Grimm. Jay halted and perked up. A low growl was carried through the wind. Spriggan heard it immediately, dropping into a low stance with her axe above her head.

"Well that certainly didn't take long," Spriggan said. Jay raised her staff up to her chest, pointing the blade towards the noise.

"Think you can tell what it is?" Jay asked. Spriggan furrowed her brow. The growl echoed in the forest, growing increasingly hostile.

"Sounds like an Ursa. Nothing too dangerous. But he might have friends," she said. Just as she finished her sentence, a hulking mass of fur and bone leapt from the bushes, its heavy paw swiping at Jay. She rolled out of the way and onto her feet as the Ursa turned to face her, red eyes glowing and teeth gnashing. Spriggan stepped next to Jay, both girls staring down the Ursa as it prowled towards them.

The beast stood on its hind legs, letting out a mighty roar. It raised its paw again and brought it down. Jay held her staff over her head and stopped the attack dead in its tracks. She grunted under the heavy force and pushed her staff up higher, pushing the paw away. The Ursa growled and pulled its paw back while swinging the other and barely missing Jay as she stepped back.

"Jay, duck!" Spriggan shouted. Jay dropped down immediately. Above her, the air rippled as Spriggan's axe sailed over her head and cleaved into the Ursa's stomach. Jay jumped back and aimed her blade, pulling the trigger of her staff and shooting the blade into the Ursa's neck. She grabbed the chain and nodded to Spriggan. Both girls pulled their weapons free, forcing the Ursa back down on all four legs.

Jay's blade locked back into her staff as Spriggan pulled her axe back for a fatal blow. Both girls swung their weapons forward, chopping their weapons into the Ursa's skull with sickening cracks. The beast's body fell limp and collapsed to the ground.

Jay sighed and pulled her staff free. Thin trails of smoke left the Ursa's corpse until it completely disintegrated.

"Nice play, Sprig," she said, turning to her partner. Spriggan perked up and held her axe close.

"We can't congratulate each other just yet…there's more," she said. On cue, several more growls filled the air. A pack of five Ursa emerged from the forest, surrounding the two girls. Jay and Spriggan stood back to back, raising their weapons.

"Sometimes, I hate it when you're right," Jay joked. Spriggan cracked a smile. Both girls faced their targets, their bodies coiling like a spring. Jay released a low breath and nodded. Two Ursa were at her front while the other three were behind her, being watched by Spriggan.

One Ursa charged without warning. Jay bent her knees and vaulted over it. Spriggan spun around and swung her axe at the incoming Grimm, slicing its neck with a well-aimed attack. The second Ursa charged ahead with its jaws wide open. Jay landed on its back, grabbing a tuft of its hair to keep herself steady.

Spriggan turned to face the other three. One Ursa charged her head on as another moved to her left. Spriggan sprinted forward as the Ursa swiped its paw. Chrysolite sailed upwards, severing the Ursa's arm and sending it tumbling to the ground with a pained howl. Spriggan brought her axe back down and crushed the Ursa's skull.

She looked to her side and yanked her axe to the left, the shaft of her weapon smashing itself into the Ursa's head. Spriggan chopped her axe downwards, swiftly killing it with a chop to the back of its neck.

Down to two, she quickly moved to dispatch her last Ursa, swinging her axe in a horizontal arc. The Ursa reacted fast, clenching its teeth around the handle of her axe and pulling it out of her hands. The Ursa growled, lunging at Spriggan with its teeth bore to kill.

A loud bang echoed through the forest. A blade connected to a silver chain suddenly tore through the Ursa's hide, lodging itself in its skin. Spriggan followed the chain's length to see Jay still holding onto her Ursa, using her staff to choke the life out of it.

Jay reeled the chain back in, yanking the impaled Ursa to her as she jumped into the air. The two Ursa collided into each other, sending them both sprawling to the ground. A second later, Jay came back down, her blade piercing an Ursa's neck. The last Ursa jumped up and tried to tear her throat until a green battle axe was thrown into its skull, killing it instantly.

Spriggan walked over to the Ursa's corpse, planting a foot against its head to pry her axe free. Jay rose to her feet, folding her staff to its smaller form with a sigh.

"Game. Set. Match," she said with a smile. Spriggan pulled her axe free and turned to face her with a laugh.

"I believe I had the most kills," she said. Jay shrugged as she watched the tree line for anymore Grimm.

"Initiation isn't over yet, Sprig. I still have a few tricks up my sleeve," she said.

"Let's keep heading north. With luck, we should reach the temple before long," Spriggan said, walking back into the dense forest. Jay hurried after her. Off in the distance, a lone figure in a black cloak followed them, twin swords in hand.

...

Ritch held his hand over his eyes, shielding them from the sun as he looked up into the sky. Aside from the rustling of the leaves, the forest was silent. He sighed and set his eyes downward. Ever since he landed in the forest, his only company had been the Grimm trying to kill him.

"Damn it, I need to hurry and find someone. I'll look bad if I'm the only one without a partner," he muttered to himself as he continued on further into the forest. The sound of a twig snapping grabbed his attention. He turned around and raised his sword at the source only to see a harmless bird pecking at the ground.

Ritch lowered his sword with a groan and turned around, coming face to face with the blood red eyes of a Beowolf. Ritch jumped back in shock, raising his sword in an attempt to beat back the Beowolf. But strangely, it refused to move.

Ritch raised a brow, waiting for the Beowolf to make a move. The only move it made was lurching forward and falling to the ground, exposing the icicle sticking out of the back of its head. Behind the dead Beowolf stood a Faunus girl with long grey hair, tiger ears, and dressed in dark red robes. A circular shield hung on her back. She faced him without opening her eyes and gave him a brief nod.

"Uh…hi?" Ritch said. The girl said nothing and kept on walking. Ritch sheathed his sword and ran after her. She was the first person he had seen since he stepped foot inside the forest. He wasn't going to let the opportunity slip through his fingers.

"H-Hey, you don't have a partner, do you?" he asked. The girl tilted her head in his direction, but didn't offer a response.

"If you don't…I mean, Ozpin did say the first person we met would be our partner," Ritch said. The girl stopped dead in her tracks and pivoted her whole body to face him.

"He said the first person we made eye contact with," Tephra said. Ritch rubbed the back of his head.

"Well, yeah, but…" Ritch trailed off, unsure of how to bring up the fact that she hadn't opened her eyes at all. Tephra snickered and lightly punched Ritch in the shoulder. He took it as a sign that at least she didn't hate the idea.

"Do you want to partner with me that bad?" Tephra asked. Ritch hesitated but ultimately nodded before realizing the futility of his actions. Surprisingly, the girl understood him as she held out a gloved hand.

"Then don't disappoint me," Tephra said. Ritch reached for her hand but pulled away as a bolt of electricity shot from her hand and shocked him. Ritch vigorously flapped his hand with a hiss. Tephra laughed as she raised her hand up. The inside of her palm was coated with yellow dust.

"I reserve the right of kicking your ass to the curb if you do. The name's Tephra Nether by the way," she said. She lowered her hand and unlatched her shield from her back. She raised her left wrist, listening intently to the sound waves it emitted. She took in the shape of the things bouncing back at her, even noting the bulky armor of her new companion. With a satisfied nod, she lowered her wrist.

"It's clear. How much farther until we reach the temple?" she asked. Ritch took a few steps ahead of her.

"We've been walking a good distance already. Hopefully we'll get there before anyone else. Coming in first might make us look good right from the start," he said. Tephra bumped her shoulder against his as she walked past.

"Whatever you say, Golden Boy," she said. Ritch raised a brow at the nickname.

"It's Ritch Dorado," he said as he followed her. Tephra merely shrugged.

"Same thing," she replied. Ritch pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head.

What did I get myself into?

...

"Do you think they can see us?" Jay asked. Behind her, Spriggan was keeping a look out for any wandering Grimm.

"It's a camera, Jay. Of course they can see us," Spriggan replied. She looked over her shoulder to see Jay crouched over a hole in a tree. Inside was a small black camera pointing straight at them. No doubt it was how the Beacon professors were keeping an eye on them. Jay waved a hand in front of the camera. She leaned in within inches of its lens as if she would see the person watching them on the other side.

"Well, do you think they can hear us? Maybe they can give us some directions because I swear we've been past this area three times now," she grimaced. After countless fights with the Grimm, Jay had all but lost her sense of direction. The canopy of leaves had gotten so thick that the forest floor had gone dark with barely a shred of light piercing through.

"Perhaps picking a direction at random wasn't the best decision. I feel as if we're farther away from our destination than when we started," Spriggan said. Jay groaned, pressing her knuckles against her forehead.

"No…don't say that! You're the last person I want to hear that from," Jay said. She closed her eyes and twiddled her thumbs, thinking furiously for an idea. Fighting was her forte. Killing soulless monsters was her bread and butter. But trying to navigate a dense forest with nothing but her gut feeling was downright unreasonable.

"Do you think we can get a vantage point from the trees? Maybe we'll be able to see the temple from there," Spriggan suggested. Jay shrugged, tapping the camera with her finger. If it got them out of the darkness, she was willing to try anything.

"Give it a shot," Jay said. A thin, black object suddenly shot over her shoulder and struck the camera, breaking it in two. Jay fell back with a yelp, staring at the destroyed camera with her jaw hanging open

"I didn't mean it literally, Sprig!" she exclaimed. Spriggan turned around with a confused expression on her face.

"What are you talking about?" she asked. She immediately noticed the destroyed camera and the sleek object pinning its remains against the tree trunk. Jay pulled it out and held it out for her to see.

"It's a dart. It just pulverized that camera. I didn't even see it coming," she said as she stood up. Spriggan took it from her hands and examined it. A viscous yellow liquid coated the dart's tip. She took a quick sniff and recoiled in horror. The heavy metallic smell assaulted her senses, forcing her to hold the dart at arm's length.

"Ugh, it's definitely not a natural substance. It's most likely a mixture of different chemicals. Possibly a sedative," she said. Jay searched the area, hoping to spot the shooter only to find nothing.

"Who the heck is shooting tranquilizers at a camera? Who does that?" she asked. Spriggan narrowed her eyes as she slowly reached for her axe strapped to her back.

"I don't think that dart was meant for the camera, Jay," she said. Jay caught on to her suspicion and raised her staff.

"You don't think this is another test of theirs, do you?" she asked. Spriggan shrugged. Ozpin had neglected to mention the possibility of human enemies during their initiation. As far as he let on, only Grimm were supposed to be here.

"I can't say for sure. I was expecting a fight against Grimm, not other Huntsmen. Although it would make for an interesting diagnosis of our skills," Spriggan said. Jay shuddered at the thought.

"You're not instilling a lot of confidence in me, Sprig," she remarked.

Spriggan opened her mouth to speak. Her words died in her throat as she flinched. Her whole body twitched as her axe fell from her hands. Jay turned to face her. Her perplexed expression turned to one of shock as she watched Spriggan's cloudy eyes shut and her body collapse. Jay dove forward, catching Spriggan just before she hit the ground. She laid her gently down on her back in the grass, shaking her to try to wake her up.

"Sprig! Hey, Sprig! Snap out of it!" Jay shouted. She gave Spriggan's cheek a few gentle slaps, trying everything she could to coax her friend out of her sleep. Jay's hand fell back on her shoulder, grazing something protruding from her jacket. Jay gently turned her over to see a black dart sticking out from her shoulder blade. Jay pulled it out and tossed it aside.

"Sprig, can you hear me? Come on, don't shut me out now."

The bushes around them fluttered. Jay's eyes shot up and followed the trace of the noise. In the dark, the trees and grass blended too well together. She could hardly make out a shape that resembled Grimm or human.

Jay lowered Spriggan to the ground. She pulled her staff free and rose to her feet. There wasn't an ounce of wind that passed through the forest. Any sound made had to have come from something.

A soft click echoed in the forest. Jay whirled around to see a single dart sailing towards her chest. Pure instinct took over. She raised the golden sleeve encasing her left arm. The dart bounced harmlessly off the tough metal, toppling to the ground without a sound.

Jay wasn't spared a moment's breath. Another dart sailed towards her neck. Jay ducked and heard it hit the tree behind her. She rose in time to see a figure in black charge her with twin swords poised to stab her.

Jay twisted her staff to a vertical position, deflecting both blades to the side and twirling around her attacker. The blunt end of her staff struck the figure in the back, sending them into a stumble.

"What the hell? You guys didn't say anything about fighting other Huntsmen," Jay protested. The figure turned and Jay froze. The white and black mask she wore covered everything besides her mouth, which was twisted in a vengeful scowl. The black patterns on her mask looked like ink splotches where her eyes would be with thin lines flowing downward like tears.

"You're not a Huntress…are you?" Jay raised her weapon. Hecate took her combat stance, her black swords nearly unnoticeable in the dark, as if they swallowed any light that broke through the trees.

Hecate said nothing. She rushed Jay again, her swords coming down in a hammer swing. Jay did her best to parry her attacks, her staff barely blocking each swing. Hecate swung both swords in a horizontal arc and Jay moved to block it.

Both swords came to a stop, grinding against the silver body of Jay's staff. Hecate growled and slid her blades down along the shaft, cutting Jay's unarmored right hand.

Jay yelped and retreated. Her hand throbbed painfully, her aura struggling to cope with the damage. Hecate kicked Jay square in the stomach and sent her to the floor. Jay hit the ground hard, her staff falling from her hands.

Hecate stood over her and held her sword in a reverse grip as she raised it high into the air. Jay rolled out of the way and up to her feet just as the sword pierced the soft dirt. Jay swung her leg out and kicked the sword out of Hecate's grip.

Jay dove towards it and retrieved the sword, raising it just as Hecate prepared another slashing attack. Both swords locked with one another, producing sparks as metal scratched against metal. Hecate pulled her free hand back and threw a punch that Jay grabbed by the wrist.

"I don't know who you are but whatever you're trying to do, it's not going to happen!" Jay said. Hecate opened her clenched fist, revealing a small mechanism in her sleeve.

And a black dart pointing right at Jay.

Jay's eyes widened. A single click and a stab of pain left her entire body feeling like concrete. Her grip on the sword loosened and fell to the ground. She stumbled back, clutching her neck and pulling out the dart. Her vision distorted and faded. Her legs gave out underneath her and forced her to a knee.

The cloaked woman advanced on her, sword pointing at her neck. Jay managed to look to her side to see the other blade lying on the ground. With the last vestiges of strength she had left, Jay fell towards it. She clutched the sword tightly in her hand and threw it at the woman with all her might. The sword struck the woman in her wrist, forcing her to drop her sword with a pained grunt.

Jay fell even lower to the ground, only managing to keep herself propped up by her weakening arms. She took one last look at her injured attacker and glared at her as their eyes met.

"You...you're going to…regret this…"

Her thoughts dulled. Her eyelids shut of their own accord. Jay managed a single breath before her consciousness faded. She didn't even feel the ground hit her when she collapsed.

...

"I…I think we're lost," Ritch said. Tephra furrowed her brow and punched him in the arm. After following his lead for what felt like hours, she wasn't pleased to hear that he had led them down the wrong way.

"Remember what I said about disappointing me?" she said. Ritch shot her a glare. Getting lost was enough of a punishment. He didn't need Tephra twisting the knife.

"It's not my fault. We're in the middle of a forest. It's not like there are signs pointing towards the temple," Ritch defended. As they continued walking, Ritch grimaced at the steadily growing darkness. Even though the sun still shined brightly in the sky, hardly a shred made it to the ground thanks to the thick leaves above them.

"With the way you've been steering us, I'd doubt the signs would help much anyways," Tephra quipped. An uncomfortable pause descended on the two. They were content to keep to themselves as every step they ventured took them further into the dark.

"Maybe it's better if we turn around," Ritch suggested. The sound of metal clashing brought their attention forward. They were only supposed to be fighting Grimm. Why did it sound like two people were fighting?

Ritch shoved his questions aside. He broke into a run towards the noise as he pulled out his sword. Tephra sighed and followed after him.

"I don't know who you are but whatever you're trying to do, it's not going to happen!"

Ritch followed the voice, his run breaking into a full sprint. Tephra caught up to him, her tiger ears facing ahead. She grimaced once the sound of metal suddenly stopped. The two came to a stop in a forest clearing. They immediately noticed two discarded weapons, a girl in green lying on the ground, and a cloaked figure hovering over another girl with a blue scarf and a golden cast.

"What the hell is going on here?" Tephra shouted, grabbing the cloaked figure's attention. The figure looked down at her wrist and scowled. She ran off in the other direction before disappearing in the foliage. Ritch hurried to the green girl's side, placing a finger on her neck.

"She's alive. That's a relief," he said. Tephra kneeled over the other one, checking to make sure she was alive as well.

"But they aren't conscious. Whoever that person was, they wanted them alive. What for?" she asked. Ritch snapped his fingers next to the green girl's ear, but she didn't respond. Something didn't feel right. Seeing two students lying out cold with a cloaked figure hovering over them wasn't a very encouraging thing to witness.

"Whatever they want, they're not getting it. We need to get them as far away from here as possible," Ritch said. He grabbed the green axe on the ground and secured it to his back. He slid a hand underneath the girl's back and legs and picked her up. Tephra shot him a look of annoyance.

"I can't believe I'm doing this. These two owe us," she muttered before grabbing the silver staff lying on the ground and hoisting up the other girl.

"Hopefully they'll wake up soon. Then you can pester them as much as you want. How's that sound?" Ritch said.

"Like I'm not getting enough compensation. But whatever, I'll deal," Tephra said. Together, they hurried out of the clearing as fast as possible.

In the shadows, Hecate glared at the two retreating. She was out of darts and the last thing she wanted was to pick a fight with her injured wrist. She had to bide her time. Besides, if she was careful, she stood to gain a lot more than just two of them. She nodded to herself and retreated further into the woods, a plan already forming in her head.