Stiofan Ua Binn
-----
Ever since they passed the King Taijitu's dwindling remains, Grimm activity soared, presenting an elusive number of opposition that slowed their traversal to a crawl.
It was a manageable, especially in large part to the professor's skill. However, a foreboding notion much more fearsome than the Creatures of Grimm had appeared.
The tracks guiding them to the other half of their team revealed only a single set of footprints, and they were large, meaning it belonged to Alexander.
Where were Cooper's?
Another discrepancy involved the depth and clarity of Alexander's footprints. He was the heaviest of the team, no doubt, but it wasn't enough for him to sink so much with every step. They all walked the same soil, so why were the underside patterns of Alexander's boots so much more pronounced compared to their own?
A single conclusion came to mind to this maddening mystery: Alexander was encumbered by additional weight.
Stiofan prayed it was not what he imagined it to be.
"You appear to be deep in thought, Mister Ua Binn." Goodwitch approached him. "Is there anything you'd like to share?"
"I do." He got off his knee and gestured to the tracks. "I believe something is amiss."
"So, you noticed the signs, I see." She offered an impressed nod. "I expected much from you. Does your partner know as well?"
"I assume not." Stiofan faced the direction where Roderick went to relieve himself. "When he returns, I will inform him of our findings."
The fact their teammates were missing was stressful enough, but to learn that one of them may be hurt or worse and the other was on his own was a different matter entirely.
Hopefully, Roderick takes the news well.
"Mister Ua Binn, come and join me." Goodwitch went over to a fallen tree and seated herself on the least mossy spot. "There's something I've been meaning to speak with you about for a while now."
The flare of intrigue compelled him to oblige. "And what may that be?"
"Your academic performance of late has improved admirably not only in my class but in each one overall." She adjusted her glasses and viewed her scroll. "That's not to say your grades were inadequate by any means. It just appears as if you've begun applying yourself much more compared to last semester."
Stiofan did his best not to allow his pride to manifest. "The readjustment of life in another Kingdom and education outside of private tutoring had gotten the better of me, and in turn, my grades suffered for it. However, as of now, I am capable of performing at my absolute best."
"Is that so?" Her brow flicked up an unconvinced arc. "Does that also explain why you're so relaxed now? Before you were always so tense, like you were ready to spring into action at any given moment."
What a keen eye.
"Self reflection, professor." The gambol of shadows between the trees shrouded Stiofan in the indulgence of phantom tea. "Time in the infirmary has opened my eyes to the fortune that has fallen into my lap."
"Does that include your unwarranted encounter with the White Fang at the docks?" Goodwitch frowned. "I am no fool, Mister Ua Binn. I know you and your friends have refrained from telling us the whole story. Ozpin may overlook it but don't think I will."
Stiofan hummed and opened his ears to the chirps singing far and wide.
"Mister Ua Binn, are you listening to me?"
He fell out of his fantasy and reentered reality.
"Apologies, professor." Stiofan worked his cerebral factories to fabricate himself a quality weave of deception. "I was simply deep in thought, and I assure you it will not happen again."
"And I suppose it also has something to do with Miss Belladonna."
The proclamation itself caused his cerebral gears to grind to a halt.
Stiofan did his best to remain composed. "What makes you think so?"
"I've come to realize that during my classes, you always seemed rather focused on something else other than myself." The edges of her mouth twitched. "From what I've gathered, it involves Miss Belladonna. Why is that?"
A lapse completely obliterated his judgement. "I. . . Uh. . ."
Goodwitch's wicked crosshairs trapped him as she armed the next round against the tip of her tongue.
It appears this was his loss.
"I'm only teasing you." She chuckled and swept away the pale blonde curls framing her face. "I just wanted to take your mind off of our current predicament, but apparently, it worked too well. Forgive me for being crude to intrude on you like that."
So, that's what this was.
What an unexpected and fearsome stratagem.
He shook his head and gathered himself. "There's no need. I was caught off guard is all."
Of all people, Stiofan never would've assumed Goodwitch to have such a playfulness lingering within her. She's never displayed anything more than her professional albeit strict and occasionally irritable self at the academy. There were moments of sharp quips but nothing like what he just experienced.
To think she was capable of such a thing. . .
"I'm not sure what's going on between you two," she said." Just for your own and Miss Belladonna's sake, please try to keep your personal feelings outside the classroom."
Stiofan endured the fire scorching his cheeks.
A nearby rustle alerted them of Roderick's hasty return, screaming and barreling through the foliage with Grimm on his heels.
"Sorry about this!" Roderick ran while fumbling his belt buckle. "Trouble found me with my pants down!"
"We can see that, Mister Hill." She sighed and brandished her riding crop. "Mister Ua Binn. Are you ready?"
"Of course."
Stiofan readied his weapons, and they made short work of their adversaries.
"I still can't believe this." Goodwitch nudged the carcass of a Grimm with her toes and shook her head as if it were an unruly student. "What could be attracting so many of them?"
"I harbour no negativity, professor, and I cannot imagine you being possessed by such." Stiofan wiped his blades clean. "Have your emotions been bothersome of late, partner?"
"I'm doing fine." Roderick sheathed his sword. "It has to be either Cooper or Alex."
Goodwitch searched the distance. "I speculate that your teammates are unsettled, and they've been attempting to calm their fluctuating emotions. That alone can confuse the Grimm."
"You can say that again," Roderick said. "What are we going to do when we find them, anyways? Do we finish the mission or do we head back?"
"That depends on both Mister Gates and Mister Oakwood's conditions." The professor rummaged through her backpack. "If they're fine, then we may proceed as planned, but if I deem them unable to continue on this journey, I'm taking you all back to Beacon."
She withdrew a couple energy bars and flourished them like valuable jewelry.
"Before all that, you boys must be hungry after all that fighting." A speck of worry fluttered alongside those words. "Take these. It should sate your appetite and give you a little boost for now. Go on. I made sure to bring the best snacks with me."
Although supplemental foods such as those weren't his ideal choice, the rumble in Stiofan's stomach voiced no complaints.
"Don't be shy now." She nudged them closer. "I have plenty more to go around for later."
Roderick hesitantly accepted the offer. "Thanks."
Stiofan also did the same. "Gratitude."
"Now, there's another matter we need to discuss." Goodwitch sipped her bottle and faced Roderick. "Specifically about you, Mister Hill."
He paused mid-bite and stepped back. "What is it, professor?"
"It's important you keep your emotions under control when I tell you this," she said, low and steady. "I wished to spare you the realization, but I think it's best if we prepared you for it now rather than later."
Maybe it was best if the disclosure came from more familiar hands.
"Professor, if I may?" Stiofan said.
She nodded and allowed him to take the lead.
"Roderick," he said, "we believe something may have happened. . ."
-----
Roderick Hill
-----
Further ahead, they came across a creek.
It barely went up to the ankles and would take an easy hop, skip, and jump to cross. Rocks the size of pillows were sprinkled between the running waters, splish-splashing a lullaby good enough to sleep to.
"This looks like a good place to take a break," said Goodwitch. "Ten minutes and then we're back on our feet."
Roderick couldn't agree more.
"Look here in the mud," said Stiofan. His boots squished louder the closer he went to the creek. "Their tracks are much more pronounced now, and they appear to continue on the other side of the creek."
"That's good to hear. First: we rest." Goodwitch looked up and telepathically swatted a Nevermore out of the sky. "We've been at this for two hours now. It'd rather catch our breaths when we can than tire ourselves and become easy pickings for the Grimm."
Roderick slid down the base of a large tree, more out of frustration than exhaustion.
Keeping Alexander and Cooper off his mind was harder than carrying the concrete blocks of uncertainty strapped to his back.
He unloaded his arsenal of positivity to keep his feelings in check.
It ranged from the crazy fun he had dancing with Yang, to how good it'd feel once he got Pyrrha and Jaune together, the thrilling anticipation of competing in the Vytal Festival Tournament, and the unbelievable satisfaction of finally finding out what his Semblance could possibly be.
Although, there was only so much ammo for distraction before it ran dry, and he was down to the last shot.
"Are you well, Mister Hill."
Roderick jumped and swung his fist.
Goodwitch motioned a finger and telepathically deflected his punch, embedding his metal knuckles into the bark.
No amount of words could describe how much he wanted to throw himself in the creek and let it take him away.
How could it almost happen again?
Deadpanned, the professor glanced between him and his fist. "I suppose this is a bad time?"
"N-no." Roderick tucked his prosthetic behind his back. "I just, uh, you know, uh. . ."
"It's alright. I'm not angry," Goodwitch said in her really nice voice. "I only wanted to check up on you, and it looks like I was right."
"I'm fine."
"Is that so?" She settled herself on a green rock. "Then you wouldn't mind if I joined you, do you?"
Clearly, there wasn't a choice.
Roderick accepted.
"Wonderful." Goodwitch cleared her throat, crossed her legs at the ankles, and straightened herself. "Besides, I believe this chat of ours has been long overdue."
A bad feeling bubbled in Roderick's stomach. "I'm not in trouble or anything, am I?"
"Goodness, no." She chuckled. "Nothing of the sort."
"Oh, man." He cringed. "It's my grades, isn't it?"
"Not at all." She waved it off and pulled out her scroll. "If anything, they're above average at best, except for math. You're lacking slightly in that department."
Of course it was math of all things. Those equations were going to be the end of him.
"However, we can save that for another time." Goodwitch adjusted her glasses. "What I wanted to talk about was your brother."
Roderick's entire mood dropped.
"Let me be frank," she continued. "At first, I thought you'd be more like Reynold, but after getting to know you better over these last several months, I can see that you're nothing like him at all."
Ouch. Way to put someone down.
"In all honesty, you're much better than him."
Roderick perked. "Wait, what?"
"Reynold was a very talented student, no doubt." Goodwitch stretched a finger. "Yet, he struggled at one thing: leadership."
"But Team RRYL was one of the best teams to ever graduate from Beacon," he said and watched her closely.
"Yes, they were. Although, it took them their entire first year to finally get their act together and become a true team." She groaned at what must've been a horrible memory. "You have no idea what kind of train wreck that was."
Roderick resisted the urge to laugh at his brother's expense. "What are you trying to say, professor?"
"Have you not realized it yet?" Goodwitch pushed up her glasses and smirked. "When you're together with your teammates, be in the gardens or in the training hall, and even with the rest of your friends for that matter, it's clear to see that you have a talent, Mister Hill."
"A talent?" His mood spiked back up. "Me?"
"Very much so," she said. "Unlike your brother, you're a natural."
Roderick tried not to show the grin trying to break free over the fact that he got one up over Reynold.
"Um, thanks, professor." Giddiness bounced around in his chest. "I-I honestly don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say a word." She sighed as if he were a silly child. "Just prove me right and surpass my expectations. I'll gladly take that instead."
"Well, if you put it like that," Roderick touched his pendant, "you got it."
Stiofan slid into view, danger stricken across his face.
"Grimm," he said, "on the other side of the creek."
They all jumped into action and hurried back, spotting the array of Grimm sniffing the air like starving customers in a buffet line.
Despite them being right there, served up fresh on the dinner table, the Grimm paid them no heed and faced the complete opposite direction.
Soon after, with a few howls, the Grimm simply left.
"Uh, what?" Roderick said and lowered Rex.
"That was certainly unexpected." Goodwitch tapped her riding crop against her chin. "What could be more appetizing than us three?"
"Wait." Stiofan checked the ground and his eyes shot wide open. "The Grimm are heading in the same direction as Alexander and Cooper!"
The declaration was the same as getting slugged in the jaw.
Goodwitch's glasses slid down her nose. "What?!"
"Alexander must be the source of their attraction," he said. "It is the only explanation as to why they would leave in such a hurry."
"To think Mister Gates could generate such negativity." A bead of sweat ran down her cheek. "What could've possibly happened?"
"We can talk about that later!" Roderick crossed the trail of rocks in the creek. "Follow the Grimm!"
-----
Leon Alexander Gates
-----
Alexander had another dream.
This time, he stood before his father's casket, a Huntsman who sacrificed his life to save a village from an overwhelming Grimm attack on his own.
The cramped seats overflowing with relatives and friends in the courtyard of his home swelled grief in his chest. The droning sobs buzzed his ears. Tereo and Tharros were polished to perfection, propped behind the casket for everyone to admire and cherish like a meaningless trophy.
Alexander remembered the pain in his mother's eyes most of all. She stayed by his side the entire time. Not once did she allow a single tear to fall, smiling whenever she caught him looking. Now that he was older, it was clear she did more for his sake than her own, and he could only imagine what kind of torture she went through at the time.
That dumbass of a friend Chrysos was also there.
Alexander never admitted it out loud that having him close by did more than any condolence ever could, especially after how that day ended in ashes.
-----
The portico gate was sealed shut. The windows were blocked off by rock Dust. Fire ravaged the home. Enemies flowed into the courtyard from the roof, offering their farewells with a blade or kissing them goodbye with a gun. They were defenseless. Escape was impossible. Smoke spread destruction in its wake, strangling any neck it found. Everyone did whatever possible to survive, but it was futile to resist.
"Take these and run!" Mother shoved Tereo and Tharros into Leon's arms. "You have to go now!"
Tears streaked Leon's cheeks. "What about you?!"
She embraced him tight enough to crack his ribs. "Leave, my Mighty Lion, and live forever."
A man charged them, sword poised high.
Mother pushed Leon and spun, planting her heel into the side of the attacker's skull, knocking him out.
"This way, Leon!" Chrysos yanked him away. "I found a way out!"
Leon took one last look at his mother. Their eyes locked for a moment. He cried out. Her smile was brighter than the fire, sharper than the sword she wielded. His mind went blank. Half of him fought to stay with her while the other half of him died there on the spot.
Chrysos pushed him through a hole in the wall barely big enough for them to squeeze their way through.
One end of the hall was lit ablaze while the other collapsed in on itself. Either way, the fire found glee incinerating Leon's home. It hurt to breathe. The heat clawed his flesh. His eyes stung. The tears flowed faster, and sweat drenched him from head to toe.
"You gotta pull your own weight or we'll never make it!" Chrysos dragged him to the nearest window. "Help me get this open!"
"What does it matter?!" Leon gripped Tereo and Tharros to the point his fingers ached. "Everyone's dead and so are we! We're done!"
A hard crack whipped him across the cheek.
"Shut up and leave it to me," he said and grinned like a fool. "I'll keep you safe."
Leon couldn't do a thing other than stare.
Wood screamed and snapped from above. Chrysos covered him. A fiery beam swung down and bashed them.
Glass shattered.
They rolled out on the sand. Chyrsos hit the ground soaked in flame, and Leon screamed, wrestling the burn ripping his shoulder to shreds.
-----
"Xander, we got trouble!"
Alexander grumbled awake.
What was it now?
The answer came in the form of animalistic barks from the Beowolf, eyeing them like fresh candy ripe for the pickings from the cave entrance.
The bear blocked the path. The Beowolf swatted him like a fly. Alexander dove to catch him, blowing the wind from his lungs, and Cooper pelted the Beowolf full of arrows.
"Well, that's bloody fantastic," he said. "Couldn't they have at least waited until our Auras have recovered?"
After making sure the bear was alright, Alexander got up and gritted his teeth at the soreness pricking his feet.
"Wait," Cooper's face slacked, "you're not doing what I think you're doing, are ya?"
Alexander grabbed Tereo and fought off the stiffness choking his muscles and joints.
"Oh, no." He tugged him back. "Don't you dare."
"Just gonna stretch my legs." He activated his shield. "A jog should do it."
"Stop joking around and look at this."
Cooper showed him their Aura levels: Cooper's flashed red and Alexander's was a low yellow.
Guess it refilled a bit during their break.
"And look at yourself." Cooper motioned to every part of him. "You can barely stand. You're in no condition to fight."
Alexander ignored the throbbing in his ankles. "I'm warmed up."
"Shut up and stay put." He poked him with his bow. "You'd be mad to even consider going out there."
Merry Outlaw gave Alexander an idea.
He pulled the bow closer, surprising his partner, and ejected an ice arrow out of the magazine.
"I'm borrowing this."
"W-what are you planning on—" Disbelief socked Cooper in the nose. "You. . ."
"If we get overrun here, it's over." Alexander counted the fiery eyes closing in from the shadows of the treeline. "If you get that, then you know the ice won't last unless someone holds the line. Besides, I bet it's me they want."
"Think about it, mate." False hope broke his grin. "Just how far do you think you'll get?"
Alexander drew Tharros and held it high. "As far as this can reach."
Cooper flinched, marveling as if Alexander said either the coolest or dumbest thing ever.
Handfuls of Grimm creeped up the glade, and Alexander marched on.
Courage pumped his guts, persistence pushed him past the pain, and the dangers lurking ahead drowned the thumping in his ears, putting off his discomfort as nothing more than an afterthought.
"Hey," Cooper said.
Alexander turned and nudged up his shield in time to block an arrow.
Cooper nocked another arrow. "This is gonna end badly, you know."
Alexander jerked his head at the Grimm salivating from the mouth. "For them, maybe."
"Always the smartass." His tongue sharpened against his teeth. "I can't tell if you're tremendously brave or idiotic. You've already done enough. What exactly are you trying to prove?"
"There's nothing to prove." He changed his beanie to a helmet. "You just remind me of someone."
Mouth taut and eyes choked, the bow quivered. "Don't."
Alexander continued.
"Xander," he said loud enough to pierce the cave walls. "For crying out loud."
Cooper joined him.
"If you won't change your mind," he trembled, "then I'm coming, too."
As nice as that was to hear, the risk was too great.
Alexander could hold his own with the amount of Aura he had left; Cooper wouldn't last minute.
This was the best option.
Letting off a light shockwave, Alexander blew Cooper back inside and tossed the arrow behind him.
Ice erupted, completely sealing the cave.