RWBY

“What about that one?” Sky asked, pointing to the monitor. A Faunis girl was just emerging from a cave, banner in hand.

“Haru Goro, from Sanctum academy. She was in the same year as Pyrrha Nikos,” the headmaster replied, reading off from a scroll. “I’d say she has good odds, if she can keep her head on straight.”

Sky grunted, and turned his attention to the island. The headmaster and he were on the opposite shore of the channel, where medics were helping some students who arrived injured, along with a few other of Sky’s cohorts who were busy fighting off the ocean-bound Grimm that had chased them. “Lotta scrubs this year. I say fail them all.”

“Now now, Sky, patience,” Professor Lionheart replied. “It’s our place to train them. As a professor, you’ll need patience for those that struggle.”

Sky didn’t reply. He turned his attention back to the monitors, swiping through the cameras posted throughout the forest, when someone caught his eye. He grinned. “Now here’s someone with some fire in her eyes.”

***

On the other end of the screen, there was a massive Grimm staring down a tiny figure on the ground. Its massive wings shadowed the sun. It reared its head and gave a startlingly loud cry through its beak, before stretching one of its paws forward, inching closer to the figure. For whatever reason, it didn’t approach. The figure on the ground merely grinned in anticipation, keeping a massive axe balanced on her shoulder with one hand, her other hand on her waist.

The Griffon lunged, spreading its wings to catch as much air as it could. Like a flying dart, the beast moved beak first, ready to eviscerate the red-haired Faunis girl. Unfortunately for it, the Faunis was ready. She let the axe drop behind her, then pulled the trigger on the other end of it. With a thunderous boom, the axe flew upwards; she redirected its force over and down, slamming the axe head straight into the beast’s crown. It squawked as its chin smacked the ground. The force of the blow lifted the faunis girl off the ground. She used her momentum to change the angle of the axe and point the barrel straight into the head; another trigger pull, another thunderous boom, and the Griffon perished.

Thrust into the air by the power of her second shot, she somersaulted and landed on her feet next to the disintegrating Grimm. Hands on her hips, she pointed at the Grimm.

“My name is Yusha Bestial!” She declared. “And you just got Yusha’d!”

Her shoulders stung viciously. Yusha hid the pain beneath the shittiest joke imaginable. The rest of her body ached as well, but this was a level she could handle. She rolled her shoulders, working out the pain, before recovering her axe and moving on. Behind the formerly existing Griffon, there was a massive tree. Tied to its very top was a banner flapping in the wind. Yusha planted her axe into the ground, stood on the beards of both heads, and fired the gun. One shot took her halfway, so she fired again and snatched the banner, before letting gravity take her. She landed on the ground like a superhero.

The banner, on closer inspection, had part of a key sewn into the fabric. She tore it out with little trouble and pocketed it before moving on. Now, all she needed to do was find the other key holder. Briefly, she wondered why she hadn’t run into any other students yet. She put the thought aside; they were all probably spread out, and trying their hardest to succeed. All she had to do was the same! So, Yusha closed her eyes, spun in a circle, and stopped when she started getting dizzy. “That way!” she declared, and started off in the direction she was certain to lead her to the other half of the banner.

***

“Fuck fuck fuck fuck!”

Haru sprinted through the forest, nearly losing her footing on some branches. Her semblance triggered, and she flung around and fired her guns into the canopy, watching the Simian chasing after her retreat after being hit. It howled in pain, but she had no time to pursue. More Simians followed; where they all came from, she had no idea. She just focused on running towards the shore where the boats are. Then again, she also had no idea where that was, so she just ran west.

Haru was very suddenly regretting her life’s choices.

Two more Simians swung closer behind her. She again turned to shoot, but only hit one. The other lunged at her; she quickly converted her weapons into blades and then struck out at it. The simian took a deep cut, but not before slapping its arm into Haru. She flew to the side, taking a heavy blow against a tree, her aura starting to flicker again. She struggled to her feet, tuning her senses to her surroundings. She didn’t hear anything or see anything. Finally, Haru gave up and took a deep breath, letting her guard down at the same time a Sabyr pounced at her from the bushes.

The ground punched Haru just as hard as the Sabyr did. Somehow, she managed to just barely roll out of the way and found herself against a rock wall, the Sabyr approaching and cutting off her escape route. In the rush, she lost her grip on her weapons; they were behind the Grimm approaching her.

It growled as it inched forward; either it was wary of Haru, or savoring the kill. Regardless, it was the only reason she was still alive, though it wouldn’t last long. Disarmed like this, her semblance was effectively useless. She briefly considered scrambling up the tree, wondering if the Sabyr was able to climb trees or not.

There was nothing she could do. Try and run, and the Sabyr will kill her. Sit here, the Sabyr will kill her. Try and climb, the Sabyr will kill her.

Panic flooded her mind. Haru, for probably the first time in her life, was well and truly terrified. Somewhere in the back of her mind, her semblance triggered again; she couldn’t process it, buried under her fear as it was.

The Sabyr snarled, and lunged.

Only the front half moved. It tumbled to the ground lifeless.

An enormous battleaxe had spawned between it and the back half. Holding its handle, a faunis in a long red coat and vibrant red hair; a huge grin splattered on her face.

The only thing in Haru’s mind when she saw her was: Oh my god she’s hot.

Shorter chapter this time. Also, federation is broken, so not a cross post this time, smile emoji!