Team RVER

Chapter 11

The next day, team RVER was woken up by Rinni's father, telling them to get ready for them to start their first mission. Rhys was the first one to finish getting ready, and he waited somewhat patiently for his teammates. Once everyone was ready, they all went inside the truck that Rinni's father, Aiden, owns and they went onto their mission, which was a village near the base of a mountain. It took about an hour or so before they reached the destination.

He stopped the truck on entering the village proper. Rinni's father was the first to get out and meet with the chieftain of the village, while team RVER got out and looked around the location. Upon gathering the information needed, they left and patrolled in a large perimeter around the village. Rinni went with Everet and patrolled the South side, while Violet and Rhys went East, and Aiden went to patrol the North and West side.

They spent half the day investigating and patrolling in the area they were assigned to, but Violet then called in an abandoned village they found. Aiden made a call to have the students return to the village and wait for him there, which they followed.

"I don't remember there being a village nearby here. Usually, it would take a day or two for the next one... Heck, the city of Mistral is about a day or two walk from this village." Rinni said

"Maybe it was a village that was taken off the map? Like an abandoned one." Everet uttered

"Clearly. Our initial look showed that the village was destroyed long ago. Debris was everywhere, Rhys and I had to climb over some to see the extent of the damage."

"Did you guys get the name of the village?" Rinni asked

"Sadly no, the marker for it was destroyed to complete rubble."

Rhys signed something to his teammates you can tell in his eyes he was disturbed by what they saw there.

"A-are you serious?" Everet said in a shocked tone

"I wish he wasn't but we did come across some skeletons there, some were sticking out in the rubble and some... well... I'd rather not say..."

"Maybe that's one reason why grimm is increasing there. I mean there is no doubt that there's a lot of negativity left behind there and well, the destruction and... um... deceased, will surely attract them."

Rhys signed his own insight into the conversation.

"I agree with Rhys. Even if that were the case, the village seemed small enough to not attract the reported grimm cases."

"That's right. Even if there's that destroyed village that won't attract enough grimm. There has to be another reason for it." Aiden said as he approached the teenagers before continuing

"I would like to investigate it now but I don't want us wasting too much time on it, only to get back when it's almost dark. We may be here to investigate the grimm activity, but it's our duty to protect the civilians here. We'll have a night watch later so I suggest you all get some rest, the mayor has already prepared rooms in the local inn here for us."

"So we'll be investigating it tomorrow Dad?" Rinni asked

"Yeah, now get some rest. I think it's gonna be a long night."

Team RVER then went off to the local inn and went to the rooms that were reserved for them. Violet and Rinni shared a room, while Everet and Rhys shared the other. Night time came and they spent hours on watch before some of the local huntsmen came and relieved them of their duty for that night.

The team once again went to bed, trying to get as much energy as they could for their investigation. When the light was already shining outside, Team RVER and Aiden went to the abandoned village location. They saw ruined walls, destroyed houses, and like Rhys and Violet said, some skeletons.

Rinni had a small headache and a sense of familiarity upon entering the village but she brushed it off and carried on with her mission, while her father felt a small wave of sadness as he looked around. They spotted a couple of beowolves, but it was quickly dealt with. Upon reaching the center of the village, Rinni's headache grew a bit more.

"Alright, you kids search for any clues on the northern to the eastern side of the village while I look at the southern and western part. We'll all meet back here in an hour or two before doing one last final sweep of the place. Rhys, Rinni, be sure to use those signal arrows when you are in trouble. Remember to be alert and never let your guard down. Do not go alone. Most importantly, try to get out alive, Understood?"

"Yes sir!" said the majority of Team RVER

They proceeded to go to the Northern part of the village where they only saw more ruins and, again, skeletons of the people who did not survive. Silence was just shared among the teens as they continued to search around the area. As they made their way to the Eastern part of the village they came across a home, with a huge gaping hole in its walls but to their surprise, there was little to no debris on the outside or inside the hole.

They inspected it and saw a small crater with a broken toy in the center, and its color seemed to be of dried-out blood. Rinni gasped and suddenly started to clutch her head, dropping her weapon. Her teammates immediately went to her aid, trying to see what was wrong. Things only got worse when growling and roars could be heard.

"Violet protect Rinni and cover Rhys and I." said Everet as he charged at the beowolves that were charging towards them

Rinni clutched her head in pain before pushing Violet away from her. Before she could run back to her leader she saw the ground beneath Rinni crack and more growls can be hard.

"Rin-"

"No! Stay back! M-My sembl-ugh! My semblance might hurt you!"

Rinni screamed once more in pain as a small crater began to form around her. Rhys fired a signal arrow up in the sky, hoping that Aiden would see it and help out. In worry, Violet had forgotten where she was and the current situation, so it was no surprise when she turned around only to be met with the glowing eyes of an Ursa Major about to swing at her. She wouldn't be quick enough to use her semblance to protect herself, nor be able to raise her weapon to block it. Before the hit could land she left herself being pulled back, then seeing Rinni charge at the ursa without a weapon. She reached out to stop her leader but with a punch, the ursa disintegrated into nothing. She regained her balance only to see Rinni charging at the other grimm with nothing but her fist. Each hit causes the grimm to turn into dust, but more of the creatures come to attack, more specifically targeting the leader of team RVER. Everet was the one who threw Rinni her weapon after getting over the shock. The whole team had to deal with a hoard of grimm before the huntsman they were shadowing came to their aid.