The Huntsman of Red V2

Chapter 54 Curse Arm: Part 1

Forever Fall was a Beacon Academy tradition that had been passed down as a right of passage for first-year students since Beacon's founding. There was no significant meaning in the field trip other than to gather tree sap in a location where Grimm wandered, but that was part of the experience. Not only would first-years experience Grimm outside the walls of the kingdom, but they could do so under the safe supervision of trained professors. In short, it was just another part of Huntsmen training.

And Yang was going to miss it, not that Ruby was all that depressed with the outcome.

In fact, Ruby was rather relieved that things had turned out this way, as she'd played no small part in ensuring the result. Rather, it all began with her.

By being able to confide with Summer, many more avenues that had been locked to Ruby as a student with no credibility or connections of influence were suddenly opened.

Ruby could not have been any more relieved. She'd always viewed her mom as a hero, but the swiftness and decisive actions Summer had taken left Ruby embarrassed at her own lack of initiative. To even compare her bumbling approach to her mother's had her flustered.

Together, Ruby considered herself and her mom a team to prevent future tragedies- Together, they were the Roses!

"Ruby, can you stop?" Weiss whined, hiding her face with a hand while jutting an elbow into Ruby's side. "You're embarrassing us."

"Oh, uhm, sorry," Ruby blushed and quickly stopped pumping her fists in determination while Weiss made a face and tried to scoot away from Ruby.

Neo grinned and foiled Weiss's attempts by pressing herself closer to Ruby and Weiss, and wrapping her arms around them. Weiss squirmed in outrage, trying to break free, causing Ruby to squawk when Weiss shoved her face away.

Pyrrha sighed and shook her head from the side. Out of everyone on the Bullhead to Forever Fall, her team had to be the one that was acting up on the way. Then again, Jaune's team wasn't any better with Jaune looking green the entire way, and Blake keeping her distance.

Team SEVR was the best behaved. Emerald looked bored. Ren was putting up with Nora who'd ditched her team, Vernal was brooding, and Ector was working over his spear.

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Pyrrha glanced towards Ruby before sneakily making her way to pat Jaune on the back.

She had to score those brownie points where she could get them.

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"Please remember to keep with the group, and do not wander on your own unless given permission," Glynda warned, heavy stress lines on her forehead. "Professor Port and Oobleck will be accompanying us, and no one is to stray from eye-sight of a professor. Am I clear?"

"Yes!" Ruby mumbled with the rest of her classmates while her mind focused elsewhere.

Here she was. At ground zeroes.

Taking a breath, Ruby tried to keep her composure, but couldn't prevent herself from fidgeting. Weiss thought she was too childish to contain her excitement on a mere field trip and rolled her eyes at her, but Ruby didn't even notice.

She was tense, cautioning Shirou to always stay on guard.

He was idling near her in astral form, ready to act at a moment's notice, but Ruby was stressed because he was ready to act in the wrong place and time!

Subtly, Ruby tried to remember where Summer had collaborated with Ozpin to coordinate an ambush on Cursed Arm. She knew that she wouldn't be of much help on her own, but where she goes, Shirou would definitely go.