Son of the Branwen

Chapter 45: Rest and Resolutions

The dining table was surrounded by smiles and laughter as everyone sat around chatting about their adventures. After Hawk helped finish the cooking, Qrow and Oscar who Hawk was just introduced to, the former students were enjoying a massive supper. Jaune had just explained how he had lost their map just outside of the town of Oniyuri, which caused the room to burst out laughing.

Yang: "How do you lose your map at a time like that?"

Jaune: "Believe me, I've asked myself the same thing ever since."

Weiss, Ruby and Yang burst into a fit of laughter while Jaune couldn't help but sheepishly chuckle.

Nora: "Hey, but you made up for it, Mister Muscles! You shoulda seen this guy take a giant Grimm head on!"

Jaune: "I couldn't have done it without Hawk restraining it and Ruby wearing it down."

Ruby: "Uh, me? Did you see Ren during that fight? He was out of control!"

Ruby pointed at Ren with her chopsticks while Ren gave an embarrassed smile.

Ren: "I'm sorry, I may have lost my temper momentarily."

Ruby: "No, no! Out of control as in 'awesome'!"

Ren: "Oooohhh... Thank you."

Everyone burst into another fit of laughter as Ren gave a big smile to Ruby.

Weiss: "Sounds like the five of you have had a long journey."

Hawk: "That, is a big understatement."

Ruby: "So Weiss! What were you doing in Atlas?"

Weiss got slightly embarrassed as her first thoughts were back at the party.

Weiss: "Well... I did a performance at the Schnee charity ball. Where there was a small... incident."

Nora leaned on her elbows taking in the story, while Ren shook his head at how excited she was getting. Weiss started getting more embarrassed as she continued.

Weiss: "This woman was insulting Beacon academy, saying how the world was better now that it was gone. I lost my temper and... accidentally created a summon..."

Everyone gasped at the table as Weiss put her face into her hands to hide her embarrassment. Hawk reached over and placed a hand on her arm for support.

Ruby: "You did not!"

Weiss: "Yeah, right in the middle of the party."

Yang: "Please tell me you let that lady have it."

Weiss: "Of course not! Even if I did really want to."

Nora rolled her eyes and crossed her arms with a skeptical look.

Nora: "No way, I don't believe it."

Hawk and Weiss chuckled as Weiss created a summoning glyph right beside Nora. Within seconds, her summoned Boarbatusk stood right beside Nora. It growled and her as Nora went wide eyed as she stared at it. With a yelp, Nora leaped from her seat and fell onto her side in a state of shock, causing another round of laughter.

After it calmed down, Yang glanced at Hawk who was finishing his bowl of noodles.

Yang: "Hawk, I wanted to properly thank you."

Hawk raised an eyebrow as he set his bowl down.

Hawk: "What for, Yang?"

Yang: "For coming to help me when I needed it, back at the Patch."

Hawk smiled and nodded, but Ruby's jaw dropped as she stared at Hawk.

Ruby: "Wait, wait, wait! What?! When did you go back home?"