Chapter Eight
Quickly and quietly Blake made her way through the Emerald Forest, leaping from branch to branch. She knew stealth would do little to help her avoid the creatures of Grimm. The former White Fang operative was trying to evade the other students. She simply couldn't risk being partnered with some random student, too many things could go wrong.
So Blake decided she'd have to pick someone herself and do so quickly. Mentally she went through a list of possible candidates from the students. There was Jaune...who'd be acceptable solely as a desperate last resort. There was the famed 'Invincible Girl', Pyrrha Nikos, who she considered almost as unlikely a candidate.
A well-off human from Mistral? I might as well pick a Schnee as a partner. she thought sardonically as she leapt down to the forest floor. The Kingdom to the east was almost as bad as Atlas in it's treatment of her people. That train of thought led her to her fellow Faunus, Sun Wukong. He had already figured out her secret, well one of them.
I still can't believe I outed myself.
Sun had promised to keep her secret but she wasn't thrilled with having to trust a stranger's word. But she didn't really have a choice, if she left Beacon where else could she go? The ebony-haired girl considered home for a brief moment but dismissed that idea.
After everything I've done, they'd never forgive me.
Ignoring that painful thought she took to the trees again in a burst of speed. Years in the White Fang had ingrained in her the merits of evasive maneuvering. Blake focused back to more immediate, less painful issues. Her thoughts went back to Sun Wukong as a possible partner. She supposed it would be a good way to keep an eye on him, to make sure he kept his promise.
Granted he doesn't exactly come across as the most nefarious person, just somewhat...?
Really he'd been nothing but friendly to her, even if something of a pest. Honestly 'nefarious' was probably the least appropriate word to attribute to him. So what was the appropriate word? Goofy? A more relevant question to consider: how skilled was he at fighting? His acceptance into Beacon carried the implication of some skill.
So Sun...wouldn't be so bad even if we have nothing in common beyond species. But then again is there anyone here that I do have anything in common with?
The image of a petite girl eagerly reading her copy of 'The Man with Two Souls' by the light of her scroll came to mind. Ruby, she realized, would also be a good choice now that she thought about it. They shared a mutual love of reading. Blake also had to admit she found the silver-eyed girl's idealism admirable. There was, however, a more pragmatic reason to consider her as a partner:
She must be some sort of prodigy given how young she is in comparison to most of the students here. Honestly, that may make her a more ideal partner than Sun in some ways. Blake decided I guess that settles it, now I just need to find-
"Ruby?" A familiar voice called out from somewhere nearby prompting Blake to stop, "Ruby?... Anyone? Come on, I'm getting bored here."
The voice, unmistakably female, was surprisingly matter-of-fact in tone. You'd think she was in a public park, not Grimm-infested wilderness. She stopped upon catching a glimpse of golden hair from the corner of her eye.
Hidden among the leaves and branches, she watched with some incredulity as Yang Xiao Long casually strolled through the Emerald Forest. She actually envied Yang in a way, something about this forest put her on edge. It lacked the inspiring beauty of the Forever Fall or the familiarity of what remained of Menagerie's coastal jungles.
Blake quietly shadowed the blonde realizing she was a potential partner as well. While not as ideal as Ruby or even Sun, she at least seemed accepting of Faunus. There was also something endearing about the way she doted on her little sister. A rustling sound drew both girls' attention, Blake's hand went for Gambol Shroud.
"Ruby?" Yang called out. From behind a tree Blake watched in disbelief as she stuck her head in the bushes.
Is she insane? That's obviously not-
"Ruby?" A deep growl echoed through the woods, "Nope." Yang jumped back as a large black ursine shape tore through the bushes. What Blake had believed to be golden bracelets shifted into gauntlets. Then another Ursa charged out and took a swipe at Yang who easily evaded the blow.
I suppose this would be a good chance to see how she handles herself in a fight.
Blake's mind ran through several possible stratagems to deal with the Grimm. Yang just drove her fist into the gut of the nearest Ursa and sent it flying through a tree.
...I guess she prefers the direct route. a wide-eyed Blake thought as Yang knocked back the other Grimm with an uppercut and a hard kick to the stomach. A feat that took more strength then the cat Faunus could muster.
"Hey, you guys wouldn't have happened to see a girl in a red hood have you?" Yang asked playfully, Blake could only stare in disbelief. This girl was bantering with Grimm. The enemies of all life and the blonde boxer was treating it like a game. Yet the Faunus couldn't help but smile at the other girl's carefree attitude.
Yang laughed after dodging another swipe of the Ursa's claws, "Jeez you guys couldn't even hit the broadside of a..a...b" Yang's voice trailed off as her lilac eyes focused on something Blake couldn't quite perceive at first. Then she caught sight of what looked like a golden thread drifting in a ray of sunlight.
...is that a strand of her ha-
"You," Yang said in a low, dangerous tone that seemed to have even confused the Ursa, "You monsters!" The blonde roared as golden flames wreathed her body. Twin shotgun blasts suddenly echoed from her gauntlets to launch her forward at the bear-like abomination.
In a berserker rage, Yang ruthlessly pummeled at the Grimm, driving it back and leaving flaming debris in it's wake. Yet as far as Blake could tell they weren't random blows being thrown in a fit of rage. Even if rage was driving her the blonde stayed true to form.
But, Blake thought as the other Ursa charged after them, she appears to have lost all situational awareness. She drew Gambol Shroud from it's sheath and pursued the Grimm, I guess the choice of partner has been made for me.
She shifted her blade to it's chain scythe mode as the ursine monster rose up and let out a roar. A sound that would have terrified most people who heard it. In Blake, it instilled urgency prompting her to hurl her weapon. In Yang, it elicited a very different reaction:
"What!? You want some too?" Blake said nothing as Gambol Shroud's blade embedded itself in the Ursa's back. The beast went rigid and fell forward revealing a very surprised-looking Yang. The blonde blinked, her fiery eyes fading back to lilac. She then shuffled awkwardly before meeting her gaze.
"I could've taken him," Yang replied coolly, appearing as confident and seemingly carefree as she had been the night before. Blake managed to keep from rolling her eyes but couldn't help herself from smiling a little. This girl wasn't her first choice but the Faunus found her...interesting. Besides, it was her understanding that students were organized into teams of four.
So maybe I'll end up with Ruby as a teammate at least? Blake wondered as she sheathed her blade, I'd at least like to see how she'd handle herself in a fight. A prodigy like her must be a sight to behold on the battlefield.
