Amber couldn't help a small smirk as Jade spoke in a language she couldn't recognize, but she did get the gist from her tone.
"I'll take that as a 'Not exactly'." she said with a soft laugh, standing up alongside the hurt girl.
"Thanks for saving me; I guess I'm lucky I met you."
Amber waved it off as she smiled, saying, "Nah, it's no biggie. Gotta stick together and watch each others backs, right?"
As Jade introduced herself to Di, Amber took the time to stretch and limber up some while they spoke, working out the kinks as her Aura healed the various bruises that the Bloodmane had given her. She had to give it credit, it was strong. But she was stronger, she thought with a small smile as she rolled her shoulders and turned her attention back to the other girls.
"Just call me Di, now let's cut the chatting and get this formality over with, I don't think your ride's gonna be getting back up."
As Elva commented on the Ursa being 'broken', Amber looked at it and shrugged.
"Well, it was a decent ride while it lasted. Was gonna end up that way sooner or later though. I just hope we don't run into anything too big before we get to the school." she told them as she started to make her way through the sands northward.
"Depends on the quality of the new additions..." Schwarz followed Matt's gaze out into the Wastes, squinting through the light that reflected off the bleached sands. However, he found that the figures in the distance were barely visible, and his attempts to focus in on their details proved to only hinder his ability to see them.
"...though, I guess at the moment it makes no difference. If we can see them, they can probably see us, meaning the decision to join together is irrelevant. That Grimm horde won't pick one pair over the other, they'll just go after us both."
"Depends on the quality of the new additions..." Matt couldn't help but frown a bit at the sentiment. He knew what it felt like to be out of your depth - hell, even after getting so far, he STILL felt like he was way, WAY in over his head. Could he really live with himself if he just abandoned someone else to die to this sadistic 'initiation', even if it meant taking a potentially foolish risk? Besides, wasn't that what Hunters did anyway? Protect people who couldn't protect themselves, even if it meant risking their lives?
He thought back to that fateful train ride after the... accident. A flash of red stopping the Ursa Major dead its tracks... the grunt of pain the woman released as she beat the monster back, clutching an injured arm... If that Huntress hadn't interceded when she did, there was no doubt in Matt's mind that Elva would be dead. Regardless of whether that was the 'correct' tactical choice, he owes his sister's life to that huntresses' courage and selflessness.
If he could save even one life the same way... maybe his own would be worth something.
Matt almost motioned to vocalize his objection, but he caught himself. Schwarz seemed a rather proud sort - a personality type he was rather familiar with, given his riveting experiences with Sanctuary's bullies. If there was one thing that would get them to tune out, it was a moralizing lecture - particuarly one concerning people they considered 'beneath' them. He'd have to do some convincing, then. Perhaps he could appeal to his reason? "If they've survived this long, it means they've managed to fight off the Horde for the last few hours, same as us. They're worth checking out, at least."
Matt took a moment to shake off the sand and grit gathering underneath his armor before he approached the two figures, waving to gain their attention. His initial assessment was correct; they were most certainly fellow Lodestar hopefuls - a man and a woman, judging by their figures. Squinting a bit more closely, he could also begin to make out telltale signs of faunus heritage on both of them. Good - maybe their senses could help them evade further ambushes.
He opened his mouth to call out to them, but he stopped as he heard the most peculiar whistling sound. Craning his neck in the sound of the noise, he saw a dim red light trailing against the afternoon sky. It looked like... a flare? His eyes narrowed further in confusion. He didn't see a trail of smoke to indicate its trajectory, nor any sights of an aircraft in the area. Where...
His train of thought derailed as the flare explodes in a flash of brilliant red light. Matt's knees buckled, the air forced clear from his lungs, and he doubled over, gasping for breath. That light... it was wrong. The second it dazzled his vision, it was as though he were punched in the gut, a sensation of utter revulsion awash over his entire body. He squeezed his eyes shut and turned away from the source, hoping that would abate the sensation, but it was futile - the abject wrongness clinging to his soul continued its oppressive grip.
All he could do was hope it would peter out before a Grimm came wandering by...
---Elsewhere---
Headmaster Barca tapped against the floor with is staff as his remaining eye darted back and forth, scanning a wall lined with video feeds. He took a sip from a cup of coffee laying on the table in front of him, allowing himself a rare smile. Approximately seventy-five percent of this year's applicants had landed and proceeded northward with minimal injury - quite a bit above their projections.
Not that it mattered, of course. Their task was to survive the Wastes, after all, not simply an impromptu toss from an airship. He had a sneaking suspicion the final freshman class would be as large as any other.
And yet...
"Quite the crop this year." His eye comes to rest to his side, where Professor Abah was standing vigil, arms behind her back. Much like himself a few seconds ago, her eyes were scouring the feeds, silently judging the students they recorded. While acceptance merely required the applicant make their way out of the Wastes in one piece, observation of their performance was vital to Lodestar's curriculum. There was the ever-present question of team placement, after all, including the coveted position of team leader.
Abah scoffs in response, gesturing with her chin towards the feeds. "Blanc, at this rate, I give half of them an hour to live."
"You know what I mean."
Abah was silent for a moment, her eyes fluttering towards a small cluster of video feeds in the upper right-hand corner. They narrowed for a moment, scruitinizing their subjects - namely, the group of students she had chastized for fighting earlier. "The slaying of a few Grimm does not a Hunter make."
Barca closed his own, placing his mug on the table, stirring it with his free hand. "Indeed. However..." He returns the mug to his lips, taking a measured sip. "...They seem rather adept at reading between the lines - even if they don't know it." His eye darts to Matt's feed, then to Elva, Jade, and Amber. "A skill far more valuable than the ability to snap a Grimm's neck, wouldn't you agree?"
Abah shoots a glare Barca's way and opens her mouth, before closing it without a word. She stands in silence for another moment, before responding with a grunt. "Yes, Headmaster."
They lapsed into another silence, before an exclamation of suprise from behind the Headmaster caught his attention. "Oh... oh dear! This... this will not do at all!" Turning his attention behind him, Barca sees Professor van Wink tapping away furiously on his Scroll, his expression betraying alarm. "No, no, no! What is going on!? This is unprecedented! Unprecedented, I say!"
"Calm yourself, Wink. What's the-"
"Look! Look!" Professor van Wink shoves the Scroll in Barca's face. He focuses his eye on the screen - currently displaying a readout of Grimm movement patterns throughout the Wastes. Suprise, and then alarm, begins to take hold of his features as he comprehends what it's saying - an enormous number of Grimm were moving in a single direction - towards one of the bridges seperating the Wastes from Lodestar. Far, far more than their normal patrols could handle.
"Blanc!" The urgency in Abah's tone gains his immediate attention, and he follows her gesture to the upper right-hand corner of the video feeds. They flickered and wavered as though something were interfering with their broadcast, but their content - that of an eerie red flare, and of their subjects doubled over in apparent pain - was still plain to see. A quick glance confirms Barca's suspicions - the location of this flare and the direction of the migrating Grimm were one and the same.
Abah's face sets into a snarl, her hands balling up into fists behind her back. "It would seem somebody has made the grave error of interfering with Lodestar's initiation ceremony."
"We must intervene, Blanc! Those poor souls don't stand a chance again-"
"No." Barca's tone is even and firm, even as he glowers at the video feed.
"But this isn't part of-"
"Hunters must be able to adapt to any situation, Wink. Especially so to the unexpected. I meant it when I said we would not intervene in their initiation, regardless of circumstances." He punctuates the last phrase with a clatter of his staff against the airship floor, before placing his mug back on the table, turning to leave with a steely look in his eye. "That being said... I believe it is time for me to perform my duty as Headmaster."
'No Grimm sets foot on Lodestar soil unless I permit it.'
-------
Soon, the light abates, and Matt forces himself back to his feet, coughing and sputtering. "Wh... what was that?" He wheels around, trying to force some feeling back into his numb limbs. Luckily, he still had his faculties - or at least he thought he did. Judging your mental state when you can hardly breathe makes for a difficult task.
He reluctantly turns his attention in the direction of the flare - as far as he could tell, it had vanished without a trace. No smoke, no crater, nothing.
He looks around nervously. What purpose did that... thing... serve? Was it some strange, esoteric attack from a fellow Hunter? Matt doubted it - the four of them were the only ones he could see, and there weren't any Grimm around either - or, at least, none he could see.
Scratching his head as the last of his feeling returns to his legs, he turns around, scanning he horizon to the south.
And then, all at once, he hears all-too-familiar baying and roaring in the distance, accompanied by the rumble of a thousand feet against stone.
For the third time that day, his blood freezes in his veins.
The Horde had returned. Bigger. Meaner.
And coming right at them.
Without further ado, Matt beats a hasty retreat north.
So, yea. Shit's fucked.
All of you were in LoS for that flare. Humans perceive more-or-less what Matt did, but our Faunus players sense something additional - an ear-splitting screech. Think police siren crossed with nails on a chalkboard, as heard through a megaphone pressed against your ear.
Amber kept a steady pace as she walked forward, glancing back at the others with a smile.
"Come on, guys, shouldn't be too far to the sch..." she started, but she trailed off as she saw a red light arc up into the sky.
It was some kind of flare. Frowning, she turned to face it fully and even took a step forward as a feeling of disgust rose up in her gut, and the hair on the back of her neck felt like it started to stand on end. That was a split second before she heard an ungodly shrieking, and it sounded like whatever it was was blasting it directly into her ears. She cried out and hunched forward as she clutched at the sides of her head, covering her ears to try and block it out.
But, from behind her bangs her eyes didn't look away from the flare, and she felt an overwhelming sense of dread. When it finally fell from the sky, the sound piercing her ears slowly died down so she could lower her hands and straighten up. She didn't stop shuddering though.
"That wasn't good. Whatever that was is bad, very bad. We need to get to the school, now. I don't want to stick around to see whatever caused that, that's a fight I want to avoid." she told the others with a nervous grimace.
Normally she wasn't easily shaken, but whatever that had been... It hit her in a primal way, and she had a very bad feeling about it.
Elva walked across the wastes, keeping a watchful eye on Jade in case her injuries took a turn for the worse. Amber was leading the way, setting a good pace. Elva gave her a grin and a thumbs up when she looked back at them.
"Come on, guys, shouldn't be too far to the sch..."
Amber trailed off staring up at something above them. Craning her neck Elva looked up as well, a bright red light was visible against the sky. As she observed the oddity it exploded in a brilliant flash, and a sickening wave of nausea washed over her. Her knees buckled and she fell to the ground, unable to move she whimpered and squeezed her eyes shut.
After what felt like an eternity, the light faded. Elva groggily got to her knees before vomiting up her half-digested breakfast.
"Ugh... next time I'm sticking to oatmeal," the young girl said, grimacing and wiping her mouth as she stood up. She turned to face Amber as the faunus-girl spoke.
"That wasn't good. Whatever that was is bad, very bad. We need to get to the school, now. I don't want to stick around to see whatever caused that, that's a fight I want to avoid."
"Agreed. I don't want to stick around for that to happen again." Elva replied, still feeling a little queasy.
"Follow if you want but don't chase Death Stalkers or next time I might choose to sit out of that fight. Hinder me again and you'll regret it. Oh and thanks leading that Death Stalker towards me, by the way."
Chesshie threw down her fists in annoyance. "Fine, fine, hold that against me why don't you!" She was already beginning to regret even contacting this guy, but maybe when the got to the Academy, she could ditch him.
As she hurried after him, she couldn't help but notice the flash of light in the distance...
Sorry for the lack of posts, I guess I had a bit of writer's block with this one... I can make edits/additions if needed.
Jade limped along with the others; keeping pace more through pure will than physical ability at this point. She was happy to cooperate with others - teams were the norm and superior to individuals anyway - but that also meant she wanted to not be a burden; even as her injuries left her as little else. They'd not made it far when the bright red light lit up the sky.
It looked distinctly unnatural in more than a few ways. Obviously, the blast came from some unnatural source; how could it not. The fact that it was due north of them and given their location in the middle of nowhere, it was safe to assume it was from Lodestar. However, this was the least interesting sense of the unnatural about it. The piercing red light was also... wrong. Staring at the eery after glow, it seemed obvious to Jade that whatever it was, it was not something that should exist in a good world. Her stomach seemed to churn as she stared at the light though she hardly noticed it.
The others around her had a clear negative reaction to the light; it seemed to harm them in some way given Amber's reaction. Jade however didn't feel anything quite so bad as that; perhaps it was because she was already injured so the new pain didn't register. Glancing at the rest of the group, she also couldn't discount the possibility that it had something to do with their Faunus heritage.
Once the others had settled down, Jade spoke up. "Are you all okay?" she asked, genuinely worried. Once Amber proposed making haste to Lodestar, Jade was quick to nod and step up her pace. "I've not come this far to let some scratches get in my way!" she screamed in her mind, pushing through the pain and toward their common goal: Lodestar.
Di walked beside Amber on their way across the wastes, ahead of the other two, slow as they were, though it was understandable. That fact didn't stop a part of her wishing she'd stayed hidden from these three, she knew she could be nearly at Lodestar's gate by now if she hadn't met up with them, but a larger part of her knew there was a reason Hunters were grouped, the same reason the Enclave hadn't let anyone out without friends, it was a dangerous world, even more so for a Hunter. At least these three had already proven they were strong enough individually to come as far as they had before grouping up with her and not ending up dead in the Wastes.
They hadn't gotten far from where they'd killed the Bloodmanes before the sky turned red with the light of a flare. Her eyes darting around before the flare reached its zenith and exploded, she saw a distinctly human or Faunus shaped figure in the distance, before the noise hit her full-on. Immediately crumpling to one knee, covering one ear with her hands while the other smashed against her knee, eyes squinting in pain from the awful noise. It ended almost as quickly as it came, though the ringing refused to abate, but the pain was gone at least. Taking three breaths, she stood back up.
"That wasn't good. Whatever that was is bad, very bad. We need to get to the school, now. I don't want to stick around to see whatever caused that, that's a fight I want to avoid."
"We'll need to pick up the pace then,"She turned to Jade behind them, still trying to get the ringing out of her head,"Limping time's over, we're getting to Lodestar before nightfall."
"If they've survived this long, it means they've managed to fight off the Horde for the last few hours, same as us. They're worth checking out, at least."
Schwarz sighed as he watched Matt move towards the figures, following after him with some distance between the pair. He could not deny Matt's logic, but that didn't change the fact that the new additions could still drag them down.
His fears of that were confirmed when he got close enough to see that the two fellow applicants were Faunus.
However, before Schwarz could emote his disgust, the light appeared and started its attack on Schwarz's senses. On the verge of collapsing, Schwarz was barely able to save himself from letting the scorched sands of the desert burn him by propping himself up with his sword.
Then, just as soon as the light faded and Schwarz was able to recover, the roaring of the Grimm horde could be heard. Just like Matt, Schwarz darted to the north, not giving the Faunus a passing glance to see if they would followed.
For a more important detail was on his mind.
"Why did that thing feel so...familiar? Did I read about it somewhere? There's no way I'd forget experiencing it." Sifting through random memories, Schwarz tried to piece together an answer for why the light was familiar, all the while running for his life from the oncoming horde.
The Cat Faunus was being one sourpuss, maybe she shouldn't have acted recklessly if she didn't want to take responsibility for her actions. However, before Jet could even get around to the matter of responding or the two figures in the distance, his senses were assaulted. He ground his teeth as the ear-splitting noise pierced his mind.
Sometimes, having keen senses was a downside rather than an upside.
The Owl Famous leaned on his weapon as the onslaught continued. He'd never experienced something like that, well, at least flash bombs and the like were easily explained. Questions popped up in Jet's mind about the source of the attack, though there wasn't any time to investigate; a much more understandable sound soon followed: the roar of the horde.
There was no doubt in Jet's mind as to what to do next.
He suddenly turned around and grabbed the Cat Faunus by the wrist then sprinted northwards, following the figures. He'd be damned if he had just left the idiotic girl to be run over by the stampeding Grimm horde. A Hunter didn't abandon others. A notion far removed from that of expecting people to pull their own weight, but surely wasn't much to assume the Lodestar prospectives could?
Well, the same when for him as well. He couldn't be beaten by this.
Matt's breath came in short bursts as he sprinted full tilt across the Waste sands, with nary a glance back, his armor clinking and rattling with the violent motion. For all his effort, the roars of the approaching horde was growing ever louder, and with each bay, roar, and screech he felt his eyes grow ever wider, his heart racing ever faster. There was no doubt in his mind that getting caught in that horde would spell his doom, one way or another.
It took every ounce of willpower Matt could muster to keep his sight focused forward. He wanted nothing more than to shut his eyes and pretend this was all a horrible, horrible dream - but he was so close! In the distance, he could see a small smattering of buildings constructed on the opposite end of a large ravine - presumably the edge of the Wastes and the beginning of the safe zone they were tasked to find. If they could make it there in one piece, that is...
Another round of roaring from the horde shook Matt from his stupor, sending another jolt of panic running through his body. Swallowing hard, he steeled himself, trying to force the rising sensation back. 'Remember what Instructor Brynn told you. Think about something else - anything!' Quickly deciding on the rhythm of his breathing, he counted the beats between each individual breath. Much to his internal relief, it had the desired effect - as he cycled through each count, he felt his heartbeat slow to a manageable, natural pace, his jerky gait slowly begin to smooth.
Continuing his counting exercise, he took in his immediate surroundings. The four of them were running across an open valley, with a large cliff face blocking movement to their left - east, if Matt's bearings were correct. Directly in front of them, to their north, was an approaching sheer cliff face. At their current location, it was hard to judge exactly how far down it went, but by Matt's estimate it was at least several hundred feet - dangerous, but if you could survive being thrown from the airship it was manageable.
That being said, he wasn't particularly keen on throwing himself off a cliff. He scanned the horizon for other possible routes down, squinting against the harsh Waste glare. Eventually, he located one - a small river basin carved into the stone running against the eastern cliff face, snaking down evenly into the floodplane below. He almost motioned to point it out...
And then, like a bolt of lightning, an idea struck him.
As far as Matt could tell, that pass was the only one nearby that lead to the valley below. Were it to become inaccessible, there would only be two options for someone(or something!) to get down - take the time to loop around to the west... or jump.
A shudder interrupts his breathing exercise. This... this was insanity. Block off an easy escape route, then jump off a sheer cliff? And for what? A few measly minutes of a headstart?
A third round of roaring from the horde quickly squelches his rising apprehension. It was getting close - dangerously so. The elements were starting to take their toll on his allies, their breathing ragged and strained, and while Matt himself felt no physical exhaustion, his limited agility was making itself painfully clear.
They needed the space - even if it was only a few minutes' worth - or they were going to die.
He groans to himself, shaking his head. This was an awful idea...
Matt raises his voice, trying to catch the attention of both Schwarz and the two faunus students on his heels. "I, uh, I have a plan!" Drawing Irdenkrieg, he extends the staff to its full length, using it to gesture forward, towards the still-approaching cliff face. "I'm about to do something kinda... well... stupid. But whatever happens, keep running that way!"
Bolting to the cliff face as fast as his legs could carry him, Matt buried Irdenkrieg into its alabaster stone with a deafening slam. He closes his eyes, focusing hard. In the corner of his mind, he feels a tiny ripple, a vibration that seemed both within and without at the same time - the thrum of Aura within the stone responding to his own. Twisting Irdenkrieg, the ripple multiplies - first one, then two, then ten, then a hundred. Soon, his mind was quaking, resonating with the cliff face. He could feel it. Feel every fault, every crack... every weakness.
He releases a held breath, removing Irdenkrieg from its sheathe of stone. He'd only have one shot at this.
'Feet shoulder width apart. Eyes forward. Deep breath...'
Aura pools at his fingertips, seeping into his weapon at a carefully calculated pace. He winds back, Irdenkrieg at the ready... and then brings it down as hard as he can against the cliff wall.
The result is near instant, at least from Matt's perspective. The second Irdenkrieg touches the stone, the Aura discharges like a static shock, rippling through the stone at a breakneck pace. Cracks form along the cliff walls, slowly widening... until an ominous rumble begins to echo across the valley.
All at once, a massive slab of stone begins to break free from the upper cliff face, sliding down with a hideous groan, breaking apart under its own stress as it moves. A hail of rubble rains into the river basin pass, filling it nearly to the brim with rock and rubble.
Matt makes a break for the cliff face, dodging falling boulders as he does so, and leaps, not bothering to look back.
Matt lands with a dull thud, his knees buckling slightly under the force of the sudden stop. Casting a quick glance back, he saw that his ploy had the desired effect - the horde, now denied an easy way to the lower valley, began an advance to the west. He'd bought his team a few precious minutes to advance - for whatever it was worth.
Time to make use of it.
He breaks into a full sprint(for whatever that's worth, given his less-than-impressive agility) and continues on his way north. He could have sworn he'd seen a bridge spanning the ravine interposed between them and their goal. One last obstacle to overcome, and they'd be home free.
The bridge came into full view as he advanced from its east, now past the rises of stone that had blocked his vision beforehand. It was carefully laid in simple brick, hewn from stone just as blindingly white as the Wastes itself. Much to his relief, it seemed fully intact - he wasn't sure if his teammates still had the stamina to leap across a broken bridge, and he certainly didn't have the capacity himself. With the Horde still on their heels, it was their only way out - any obstacle or delay now could prove fatal.
A howl pierces the valley, rising above the whip of the torrential desert wind.
Matt stops dead in his tracks. A knot forms in his gut as he processes this new information. That...
That was not the Horde.
His eyes widen as he finally registers its location. The bridge.
'No.'
He scrambles up an outcropping of rock to get a better view of the bridge's entrance. One glance reveals the source of the howl - much to his dismay. His breath catches in his throat as he processes the terrible sight before him.
The single largest Grimm he's ever seen - easily twice the size of a Bullhead and with a physique to match. It struts along the entry pass on four massive legs, its body reminiscent of a dog or wolf. But that isn't what catches Matt's attention.
Rather, it's its head. Or HEADS, to be accurate. Three of them - one of a wolf, one of a snake, and one of a bull. They whip around frantically, their glowing red eyes contrasting against their black fur and the Waste sands. Everything about it emanates an aura of terrible wrath, a rage and cruelty that put even the most foul of Grimm to shame.
The wolf head sniffs the ground, pauses, then raises itself high and looses another baleful howl.
This time, the Horde responds in turn.
Matt can feel himself begin to tremble. It was this monstrosity... or the Horde.
He feels his grip on Irdenkrieg tighten.
One last obstacle.
'We'll totally ace this initiation, just you wait!'
He releases a single, shaky breath. No more running.
Getting the +9 for that Physique check wasn't easy, let me tell you. Had to get a +1 on the dice AND spend a fate point invoking Man of Stone... but hey, at least the result was cool, right?
The members of team MJSC need to make DC 2 checks re: landing strategies for jumping off that cliff.
Chesshie was startled when a loud roar was heard in the distance, even more so when Jet grabbed her wrist and puled her along. She would have complained, but at the moment, she wasn't going to complain.
Instead, she asked, "Do you know where you're going?" concerned they were just going to get lost.
Schwarz continued running, following Matt if only because he got a head-start along the only path that was going in the right direction. Then, seeing the boy look back at him, he could see that Matt was about to do something...noteworthy?
"I, uh, I have a plan!"
"Ugh..." Schwarz rolled his eyes as he watched Matt ready himself to execute whatever he was planning. "Try not to sound too overconfident."
"I'm about to do something kinda... well... stupid. But whatever happens, keep running that way!"
"Wait...wh-?" Schwarz wanted to know what the hell Matt was actually trying to do before he risked all their lives on something he himself claimed was "stupid", but he did not get the chance. Matt had already struck at the cliff face, shattering it in short order.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Schwarz watched as part of the cliff gave way and fell down on the path. Not even waiting to see what Matt did, Schwarz jumped out of the way as well.
Quickly falling, Schwarz reflexively copied the same move he used when he fell out of the airship, but on a smaller scale. Summoning the tempest from his blade once more, Schwarz discharged it at the ground below, creating a cushion of air that broke his fall. Without wasting time, Schwarz continued down the path, once again following Matt simply through circumstance.
The pair then soon came upon the bridge, and the roar surprised them both as they identified it came from the bridge, instead of the horde behind them. However, while Matt was dumbstruck at the size and monstrous figure of the Grimm before them, Schwarz couldn't help but give a little smirk, even with the chill that ran down his spine. "Oh yes, a Tartarus..."
Every instinct in his body told him to find another way around, to use what power remained in his Wind Crystal to fly over, or something, anything else. The lessons of so many tutors came to his mind, urging him to run away, but Schwarz stood firm.
Blooming Anemone in hand, Schwarz struck an offensive posture, a look of desire in his eyes. The setting was perfect, a bridge to their goal protected by a most foul beast. Pitted against forces yet untested against such a foe. This was a legend in the making, and Schwarz wasn't going to pass such an opportunity for glory.
Against all sense, Schwarz was going to kill this Grimm.
"You know, I wanna point out that whoever came up with this initiation thing went a little overboard, and we should say something to somebody whenever we finally get to school!" Amber called back as she continued to sprint across the wastes towards the school.
Even through her bangs, she could see Lodestar out in the distance as she ran between the stone spires that littered that particular part of the wastes, occasionally looking back to make sure that the others were still keeping up. She wasn't about to abandon someone to the horde if she could help it, so she tried to keep a reasonable pace for the others to follow, all while keeping ahead of the Grimm.
It was when the spires started to get more infrequent and the land flattened that they saw what had to be the bridge to the campus itself. Unfortunately, there was a large shape, as well as a bunch of smaller shapes, that she couldn't quite make out.
The moment they got close enough for her to make them out clearly, she couldn't help but skid to a halt. The largest shape was a Grimm with three heads, one a wolf, one a snake, and the last a bull, all on top of a wolfish body. And she couldn't help but feel like it looked familiar.
"That's one big Grimm. In fact, I'm pretty sure I studied this... Thing at some point, but for the life of me I can't remember!" she ground out, rubbing a fist against her temple in an attempt to jog her memory.
Then she remembered the smaller figures and looked over, blinking when she recognized the dusty white armor one of them wore.
"Hey Elva, isn't that your brother over there? Matt?" she asked, before her mouth spread into a smile, "I have to say, he's got guts, and I think he's got the right idea. Whatever that thing is, let's kill it!"
Cracking her knuckles through her Aeris Spina, she broke into a reckless dash to join the others that were about to fight the Grimm blocking the bridge.
Elva sprinted alongside Jade, following Amber and Di as they weaved through the stone pillars protruding around them. The roars of the horde behind them could be heard on the wind, and she did not want to wait around for those beasts to find them. As they ran Amber called back to the two human girls.
"You know, I wanna point out that whoever came up with this initiation thing went a little overboard, and we should say something to somebody whenever we finally get to school!"
"I dunno, it's kinda fun isn't it?" Elva called back, with a big grin. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't scared right now, but that feeling was dwarfed by the adrenaline pumping through her veins.
Lodestar came into view as they ran, the terrain flattening out before them. Spurred on by the sight of their goal Elva put her head down and kept running, almost crashing straight into Amber who had come to a sudden stop.
""Hey Elva, isn't that your brother over there? Matt?"
At Amber's statement, Elva blinked and followed Amber's gaze. The largest Grimm she had ever seen was looming over four smaller figures, guarding the bridge towards Lodestar. Instantly recognizing the one with the giant staff as her brother, Elva's heart soared. She knew he had it in him!
"Yep, that's my big bro." Elva smiled proudly. "Let's go help them!"
Not waiting to hear what the others said, Elva tore off towards the other students, a blaze of electricity crackling in her wake.
Di and her group rushed across the canyon wastes, Amber and herself leading the charge through the spired landscape, the other two lagging behind.
"You know, I wanna point out that whoever came up with this initiation thing went a little overboard, and we should say something to somebody whenever we finally get to school!"
"This is Lodestar you're complaining about, right?"She replied, staying behind Amber, no point in overexerting herself here,"We got into the most prestigious Hunter Academy in Vacuo, I don't think they let just anyone in because of a test score. Not like the Grimm are going to take it easy on us just because we're students."
Finally exiting the canyon of spires and its oven-like shade, they were greeted by the sun's full glory beating down on them once again, all the sweat she'd managed to collect quite quickly evaporating. Looking all ways, she saw the school from earlier, and the bridge, though what was on it was far from anything she knew of. Some kind of very dangerous Grimm obviously, though advanced forms of Grimm were not what she had studied, simply the best ways of killing the ones she expected herself to run into.
"That's one big Grimm. In fact, I'm pretty sure I studied this... Thing at some point, but for the life of me I can't remember!"
That was a surprise to her, Amber did not strike her as the most studious Huntress-in-training, a small bit of shame and jealousy followed quickly however as her companion ground her teeth in aggravation, but Diamond didn't let it distract her for long. There was a way across the chasm the bridge spanned for herself, true, but she had already joined up with these three willingly, and she couldn't just throw them aside just as willingly...
Fortunately, her inner turmoil was interrupted before she came to a decision she'd probably later regret in the form of other Lodestar Initiates being spotted, the brother of Elva being one of them. Of course, this was immediately followed by both Amber and Elva charging off towards the bridge and the Grimm standing on it. It appeared that the focused recklessness she'd been brought up with in the Enclave was not an isolated case.
"This is how people get killed,"She whispered,"Not paying attention and going after the monster before they can handle it."
With an exasperated sigh, she took off behind the two hotheads.
"We got into the most prestigious Hunter Academy in Vacuo, I don't think they let just anyone in because of a test score. Not like the Grimm are going to take it easy on us just because we're students." Diamond said. Jade nodded in agreement. "Think of it this way; if this exam really IS too hard for most, than when we complete is we're going to go down in history as the strongest freshmen class ev-" Jade started to say before skidding to a stop.
Below them was easily the largest Grimm she'd ever seen. It was a three-headed monstrosity that seemed likely to maim or kill anything that got in it's way. "Is that a Tatarus? What the hell is one of those doing so close to Lodestar?" Jade said in mild shock. Had Lodestar imported a Tartarus just for the initiation? Amber was right; that IS overkill. Of course, it would die like all the others before her bow, but that was an entirely different matter.
In front of it was another team; including one familiar looking figure. Before she could identify the person, Amber and Elva spoke up. "Hey Elva, isn't that your brother over there? Matt?". Jade had a single thought pass through her head -"Glad to see he made it this fa-" - before it was interrupted by a new piece of information.
"Wait. YOU'RE Matt's sister?" Jade said, surprise in her voice. By the time she'd said it however, both Amber and Elva were headed down the hill to engage the beast. Diamond in turn commented on their allies... "brashness". Jade was once again inclined to agree, but could also see it from their perspective. Helping a friend or sibling was a powerful motivation. For that matter, killing a Grimm of that caliber was an additional temptation.
While the other three raced down the hill to join the other team, Jade bolted for the nearest cover to prepare her shot.
Tactical Acumen using Stealth, Round 1 of Deadly Accuracy
"Check your Scroll if you doubt me." Jet said, offended by the lack of faith in him. However, there was far more pressing things to worry about, namely the horde of Grimm behind them. The Owl Faunus kept running with a firm grip on Chesshie's hand - running from a Grimm horde in a desert in the afternoon, the task Lodestar had set upon it's prospective students was pretty simple but was pretty brutal. If he ever stopped, both him and Chesshie would go down. Regardless, Jet would run ten thousand miles and more just to walk through Lodestar's gates. Not the harsh heat or the thundering swarm or vexing individuals of Grimm could take that determination from him. Not now, not ever. No member, or ex-member, of the White Fang goes down easy.
"I, uh, I have a plan!"
A voice broke through Jet's focus, silencing the mental cry of, 'Run!"
"I'm about to do something kinda... well... stupid. But whatever happens, keep running that way!"
It was that clumsy boy from the canteen, all quivers and stutters like before. Jet slightly nodded, at least the boy acknowledged that what he was about to was stupid. 'Be it on your own head then.' Jet mentally quipped as his pessimistic mind came up with a variety of worst case scenarios. However, the Owl Faunus didn't expect the lad to knock down a cliff face, doing some major landscaping work. Jet had to admit that was one helluva move. As for being expected to jump off a cliff, well, Jet could do landing strategies. Still holding Chesshie's hand, as the land beneath him ran out, he jumped. The buffeting winds which greeted the falling Faunus almost swept away Jet's hat, but a quick tug on it kept it safe.
'Like that's the priority here.' His inner-critic never left him alone.
Wielding the Dirge in sniper rifle form with just one hand was awkward, but all Jet needed to do was send a blast downwards. He held down the trigger, causing the weapon to charge up a blast. Just before they met the ground, he released it, interrupting their fall and sending the unlikely duo a little bit upwards. Jet let go out of Chesshie's hand at the apex and landed a roll. His eyes widened as they scanned across the landscape and met a very unwelcome sight: the biggest Grimm he'd ever seen and one person was meeting its gaze, sword raised, like some pompous fool. The ragtag group would need to work together to take this one down, that was obvious. Whatever the foe may be, there was still the basic procedure anyway: find a vantage point and sneak to it.
Unfortunately, Jet failed on the sneaking part. The Grimm had three heads with two eyes each, making six in total.
As they ran, Chesshie was surprised when she heard a voice saying, "I, uh, I have a plan! I'm about to do something kinda... well... stupid. But whatever happens, keep running that way!" She turned to see another student standing there, one she recognized from the canteen. But she didn't have time to take in that much details before the boy struck at the cliff... causing it to crumble.
Whoa. Was all she managed to think before Jet ended up jumping off the cliff with her in tow. She felt the wind blowing against her face, making tears leak from her eyes, so she shut her eyes in response.
Suddenly, Jet let go and Chesshie found herself on her own, landing - pardon the pun - cat-like on the ground. But no sooner had she stood up, then she realized exactly what she was facing - an enormous three-headed Grimm. Despite herself, Chesshie felt sweat running down her face.
Ah crap... She thought. This test just got a whole lot worse...
There seemed to be no way around it, though. Either be killed by this monstrosity, or fight it. And if there was one thing Chesshie couldn't do, it was let herself get killed so easily. Drawing her Queen's Mallet again, she prepared herself for the resulting fight.
Amber sprinted across the ivory sands with Elva close behind, not even able to hear what Di had said before she trailed at the back of their small pack. As she got closer, she also recognized another figure thanks to the cat ears and purple hair.
"Hey, there's Chesshie! Good to see she's alright too." she said in-between breaths.
"Oh yea! Oh and that rude owl guy too... Hopefully he's not picking on Matt again. I don't recognise the other guy." Elva replied as she ran. As the two of them got closer to the towering Grimm, Elva had a bolt of inspiration.
"Hey Amber, you seem pretty strong. Think you can toss me at that head there?" she asked, pointing at the wolf head.
Blinking behind her bangs, Amber nearly skidded to a halt as she looked over at the smaller girl. Then she looked back at the Tartarus and frowned a little. With a final glance back at Elva, she slowed down and shrugged.
"I think I could, actually, you have a plan?" she asked.
Elva grinned and slapped the folded axe on her back as they ran, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
"Oh don't worry, I have a plan. It's called giving that mutt a makeover with this girl! Whadda you say?"
Amber gave her a crooked grin before she took a few final steps to close the distance between them and the Tartarus. Given the fact that Elva was short and slight, she couldn't be too terribly heavy, and if Amber was right, that was about the point where she needed to throw her. Crouching, she held out a hand and nodded once.
"Climb on then." she told her.
"This is either going to be insanely awesome or the dumbest thing I've ever done." Elva thought as she stepped onto the extended hand, crouching and steadying herself with a hand on Amber's shoulder.
With a surprising amount of ease, the Faunus girl stood and lifted Elva up, hefting her with her hand while extending the other as a way to aim.
"If you want to change your mind, now's the time. You sure about this?" she asked, chuckling softly.
She had to give the short stack credit, this was her kind of plan.
"I ain't backing out now, let's do this!" the shorter girl said, grinning wildly. Sparks ran through her hair as she fixed her gaze on the wolf's head.
"Right!" she said, before raising her voice to yell, "Hey, ugly! I hope you're hungry!"
Then, with an almighty grunt, Amber promptly tossed Elva forward like a javelin, causing the girl to streak through the air straight for the Tartarus. And she had a feeling it wouldn't know quite what hit it.
"YEEEHAAAWW! Batter up big guy!" Elva yelled as she flew through the air. Drawing Labrys and extending it with a flourish, she activated the boosters, sending her spinning in a storm of energy.
"THUNDERING SLASH!"
Labrys slashed across the wolf face, causing it to roar in surprise and pain. Elva's momentum carried her past the beast, crashing to the ground in front of the other students.
"Hey guys! Having fun?" she asked, winking at Matt.
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