CACE: A RWBY Story

Volume 0: Chapter 3

The entire first year class stands in a uniform line, facing the edge of a cliff overlooking a green forest. Professor Ozpin and Professor Goodwitch look back and forth across the students, who have been instructed to stand on platforms displaying the school's emblem.

"Students, it is our privilege to put to rest any rumors of the assignment of teams." Professor Goodwitch begins. "Today each of you will meet your teammates in the forest below. The first person, to whom you make eye contact with, will be your partner for all four years here. Professor Ozpin will tell you of your mission."

"Your task is simple, retrieve a relic from the temple on the other side of the forest and return back here." Professor Ozpin instructs. "Beware of the creatures of Grim, they have claimed parts of this forest. It will be in your best interest to find and travel with your teammate to survive. Best of luck."

As soon as he finishes, the student on the far end is launched into the air. The student next to them is launched, seconds later. Most students confidently await their turn to be launched into the forest below. A few students look shocked and seem to be dreading the moment they will be falling into the forest below.

Cat and Ze, who stand on launch plates next to each other, share a quick smile of encouragement before readying themselves. Charley and Alex, who are not far from Cat and Ze, draw their weapons and prepare for the coming mission.

"See you soon." Alex gives Charley an encouraging wink.

"As always." Charley replies, as he returns his focus to the forest below.

Each student is launched into the air, and for a moments all of them are falling through the sky together. Some shout and cheer as they fly through the air, as others cry out for help. Each student lands far enough away from others that each must fight their way through part of the forest to meet their partner.

Ze descends through the trees, pushing off tree trunks and breaking through branches. He is covered in scratches and bruises, as he crashes to the forest floor. Landing, he groans in agony.

"I can take a fight." He growls, trying to sit up. "But falling is not my style."

His aura is able to heal his wounds before he straights up to take a look at his surroundings. The wolf ears on his head twitch back and forth, picking up the sounds of the forest and other students. Sounds snapping branches and other weapon discharges in the forest serve as a signal of other students near his location.

Only a few hundred feet away, a descending Charley discharges an entire magazine of rounds from his rifle to slow his fall. As a tree looms nearer, he changes his weapon into its sword configuration. Any branch in his way is sliced cleanly in two, he eventually hits the forest floor. While unable to hear others around him, he can remember seeing a few students near him as he fell below the tree line.

"Someone's got to be near me." He whispers, barely heard over the rustle of the wind through the trees.

As this happens, Cat descends through the tree line, further away. Using her katanas as a physical barrier between the tree branches and her body. At times she looks like a human blender, mulching the trees around her. When she hits the ground, she gracefully lands on her feet.

"Gotta find Ze." She whispers to herself. As she takes off into the woods, she continues to repeat to herself. "Gotta find Ze, gotta find Ze."

A short distance away, a few more students descend through the forest. While not extremely close, the three are near enough to hear each other. Two find each other before the third can find a partner. The third is Alex, looking disappointed she hasn't found a partner.

"Don't worry Alex." The one with stylish sunglasses reassures her. "Just like Velvet and I, you'll find your teammate."

"Coco and I can help you." Velvet adds. "There is a person running in that direction."

Velvet points to the direction away from the cliff they had come from.

"Thanks!" Alex takes off in a sprint after her target.

After a minute of sprinting, she nears the running student. As she closes the gap, she notices that it's not Charley. Before she can change her mind, the girl she is chasing stops. A few Beowolves emerge from the brush around the girl. This girl is hooded and wields two short katanas. The Beowolves attack together, creating an overwhelming fight for the girl. She is able to step to the side of the attacks, but is unable to land a decisive blow to end the fight.

"Come on!" Alex encourages, under her breath.

The girl parries an attack by one of the grim but is knocked to the ground by another's paw.

"Come on!" Alex shouts this time, shocking the student on the ground.

Alex fires a bolt from her crossbow into the closest Beowolf and charges at the next one. She puts a small amount of distance between the grim and the girl. As Alex charges at the next Beowolf, she hears a shot ring out from behind her. The Beowolf whom she hadn't seen as she charged the one in front of her was about to attack from her flank. Delivering a finishing blow to the final grim, Alex turns to thank the girl. Both lock eyes.

"Thanks." She pauses. "Looks like we're going to be teammates."

"Yeah." The girl sighs. "Catherine, but you can call me Cat."

"Alexa, or Alex." Alex pauses to carefully study her new partner. "Good to meet you Cat."

Cat isn't able to reply to her new partner's statement. Two people emerge from the brush.

"You found a partner." Coco comments, eyeing Cat up and down. "Seems like a good match. You can come with us, if you'd like."

"Come on Cat, maybe we'll find that friend of yours." Cat perks up at this and is ready to follow.

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