Quoth The Raven, Nevermore

Sapphire POV:

After running out the momentum and coming to a stop, I take my time to observe my surroundings, and I must say, The Emerald Forrest truly lives up to its namesake. The only things not green in this forest are the occasional flowers on bushes, the boulders scattered about, and the trunks of the trees themselves.

While observing the forest around me, I don't solely rely on my eyesight. I take my time to listen to the different sounds of the forest. I can hear the leaves brush against each other in the wind, the insects going about their day, and the wild animals as they scamper about. I also take the time to take in a breath, and beyond the normal sent of the forest, I don't smell anything of note.

After noticing nothing of note, I decide to keep making my way northward, but, before I start to move, I feel eyes on me. I then hear animalistic footsteps approaching from all around me. I look around to see red eyes staring back at me from all directions. Black wolf-like creatures with bone-like white armor surround me.

My eyes dilate into slits, and a slight grin forms on my face, hidden by my mask.

I feel no fear of these creatures.

No.

Far from it.

After all,

Why would I fear something,

I was born to kill.

POV Ruby:

I couldn't help but feel my jaw drop at the battle displayed on the screen.

I see the mysterious woman wield her sword to cut down Beowolf after Beowolf. She seemed untouchable. Any attack thrown would be dodged or parried, and then met with fatal counterattacks. She seemed to fully control the fight and the Beowolfs could do nothing about it. It seemed as if every move the woman made had a purpose and wasted nothing in achieving it.

The number of Beowolfs dropped with brutal efficiency, and it wasn't long before she was standing alone. She didn't even spare the quickly disintegrating corpses a single glance before moving onward through the forest.

"That. Was. So. Cool!!!!" I exclaim with excitement.

"I must agree with your statement, Ruby. That was a very skillful display," I hear Pyrrha agree with me.

"What do you mean? they were just Beowolfs. Any of us could have taken them down," Yang says, not understanding my excitement.

"No, you don't get it, do you? It's not what she did, but how she did it. There wasn't even a little energy wasted; a simply masterful display," Weiss says with her typical attitude.

"She made that look effortless," Blake adds.

"If you say so," Yang states, still not completely convinced.

With the conversation done, I return my attention to the display.

POV Sapphire:

It didn't take me long to come across my objective, as I made quick work of any Grimm interruptions. In front of me is a partially destroyed circular ruin that sits in the middle of a clearing. The structure is comprised entirely of grey stone. The outer wall is mostly collapsed, and a few of the support pillars seemed to have done so as well. That being said the intricately designed floor shows minimal wear. I also notice several pedestals that surround the floor with black and gold chess pieces resting on them.

"I guess these are the relics, but why chess pieces? Eh, whatever, I just have to pick one, right? Let's see….What about you" I mutter to myself and reach toward a black bishop, but, before I pick it up, I get a strong feeling that I will regret doing so and move away.

I move and examine each piece one by one, but none of them felt right. That was until I walked up to the gold knight piece. Something about it was calling to me almost as if I was meant to pick it. Not questioning my Instincts, I quickly grab it and turn around to make my way back to the cliff.

POV Ruby:

"Hey, that's the same piece we picked," Yang notices.

"Yeah, that is an interesting coincidence," Blake follows up.

Weiss seems more interested in the display than the conversation, while I am too deep in thought to comment.

This doesn't feel right. This is supposed to be an example of how a professional Huntress would have handled our initiation, why wasn't there another person, after all, we had to find a teammate before making our way to the ruin. What's going on?

POV Sapphire:

After wandering for a while, I come across dilapidated ruins of a rather massive structure. Most of it is collapsed, but a tower still stands tall at the center. Through the partially destroyed walls of the tower, I see what looks like a large Nevermore. Taking them out will not be worth the effort, I turn to leave before they notice me. Unfortunately…

-SKRAAAW

It notices me. The giant bird takes off and circles me. I run toward Beacon Cliff as staying in one spot while fighting a nevermore would be unwise, and I have to go there anyway. Seeing as I am dealing with a flying Grimm, I sheath my sword in favor of my bow, which I pull out and unfold.

I start to charge an arrow with fire, but the nevermore, not waiting for me to finish, fires its feathers at me. I enhance myself with aura and dodge out of the way. It doesn't take any longer for the arrow to be ready, but instead of firing, I continue to charge it. A normal arrow would do nothing to a nevermore, but an overcharged one would do significant damage. It, unfortunately, takes much longer to overcharge an arrow; Time flying Grimm does not sit still for, attacking with everything it has.

It only takes a few seconds longer to overcharge the arrow, but I need to make an opportunity for a sure hit.

I slow to a halt in order to bait the nevermore to attack me, and it works, it almost immediately goes to fire its feather spears at me. You see to fire its feathers Nevermores need to hover in one place, not long, of course, but long enough for me to take advantage of it.

I let loose an arrow straight toward the foolish Nevermore, striking on the underside of the head. This doesn't penetrate much but I didn't need it to. I just needed it to stick, and It did so wonderfully.

The overcharged arrow quickly grows unstable without my control and, before a second passes, explodes. I close my eyes and cover my ears as the area is lit up by a massive explosion. A fireball is mad in the air but just as quickly as it formed, it fades away, revealing the charred head of the nevermore as it falls from the sky.

It's not dead, of course, but this is plenty to bring it to the ground. I don't waste this and immediately approach the fallen bird. I see the nevermore slowly start to raise its body, but, using my semblance, I freeze it to the ground to keep it from flying again.

Now that the bird is stuck to the ground, I calmly put away my bow, draw my sword, and walk over to the beast's head.

I enhance the edge of my sword with a wind blade and, with two hands, bring it down onto the bird's neck.

Decisively separating the Nevermore's charred head from its body.

Without a second glance, I continue back to the cliff to finish my initiation.