Chapter-10

Much like regular animals, Grimm of certain species tended to move in packs. Depending on their types, their behavior when not trying to destroy humanity with a single minded ferocity mimicked their more mundane counterparts in the animal kingdom. Nevermore migrate in flocks, Goliath moved in herds and aquatic Grimm traveled in schools. They didn't forage because Grimm didn't eat; even when they devoured humans, it wasn't because they were hungry, per se. It was just an efficient way of killing. As far as the scientists of the world knew, they didn't gain anything from it.

However, unlike a lot of wild herd animals that tended to avoid civilization, Grimm had no such qualms. They'd walk right through and over a village without pause, tearing all those that got in their way apart. The only time this impulse was checked was when there was a sufficiently large concentration of humanity in one place. As much as the negativity attracted them, the smarter Grimm didn't dare attack a Kingdom head on. Not unless they were whipped up into a frenzy like in Vale, or had an easy route of attack. The crumbling wall in Mantle came to mind or the train tunnels from Mountain Glenn used by the White Fang.

Because of its importance, Amity was kept away from the kingdom proper. General Ironwood didn't want Salem's people getting word of what he was planning, so as far away from people it could feasibly be, the better. Unfortunately, it meant that it was stationed in Grimm populated territory. While they had been doing a good job keeping the local nests under control and Robyn Hill was no closer to discovering why resources were being diverted from Mantle to the middle of nowhere, there was nothing to deter an incursion from without.

Atlas regularly monitored the surrounding tundra for Grimm movements, calculating their most likely paths. While it wasn't always accurate, it gave a fair estimation for where and when to avoid, which outposts needed to be on high alert, and if private operations needed to cease for safety reasons. The Schnee Dust Company had learned the hard way that Grimm cared little for profits, nor for their state of the art machinery and security personnel. As typical of their luck as of late, the latest reports indicated that a large mass of Grimm were slowly making their way through an adjoining valley close to where Amity was hidden. While it projected that they were simply going to pass by, it was close enough to make the General nervous.

That was why Jaune was currently enduring one of the worst airship rides of his life. Another thing that the Grimm of Solitas didn't care about was the weather; they had evolved to withstand the cold and ice unlike their counterparts on the other continents. A simple snowstorm, or worse yet a blizzard, did little to stop their mindless march. Jaune wasn't a Grimm, and airships weren't infallible.

That was why his stomach was presently lodged in his throat. Each dip, sway and shudder reminded him that they were hundreds of feet above the ground, their several ton airship getting pushed around like it weighed no more than a leaf in the wind. If not for the pilot's calm reassurance, he would have been well beyond freaked out by now.

He was only a little freaked out.

Even Yang was feeling the strain; boisterous, fearless Yang, clutching her chair with a white knuckled grip. Her mechanical hand threatened to bend the steel framing, her face pinched with poorly concealed worry. They'd already unloaded the rest of their friends at several key locations, so it was only the pair of them moving onto the last destination; a small outpost on the uppermost region of the mountain range, one that overlooked the entire valley.

They'd be lucky to see two feet from their window at this rate. The storm had rolled in quickly; the only warning they had was a hasty transmission from Atlas after they had dropped Ruby and Ren off at their spot.

"We are approaching our destination," the pilot said calmly over the intercom. Nothing ruffled that man's feathers it seemed. His voice didn't even change mid-speech when they dropped several dozen feet in a second, their stomachs swooping as weightlessness overtook them. "Prepare for drop; I repeat, prepare for drop."

Jaune groaned.

Yang tried to smile reassuringly but it looked more like a grimace than anything else. Unbuckling their restraints, they stumbled on unsteady legs to the back. Gripping the railing, they waited as the metal shell of their transport shuddered. Jaune could tell they were descending but not much else, and it wasn't until the co-pilot rushed back into the cargo hold that he realized the moment was upon them.

"Opening bay doors; I repeat, opening bay doors. Good luck."

The co-pilot slammed his hand over the big red release latch. With a hiss, the hydraulics shifted, a roar of wind and snow instantly filling the hold. Jaune grit his teeth as his face was buffeted by ice cold winds, his aura flaring to life. When the ramp lowered all the way, it felt like they were trapped in a wind tunnel, the force almost enough to push them back. Glancing over to the co-pilot, Jaune noticed he was taking it much worse than they were. Without aura, he had to latch his belt to the railing so he wasn't flung off his feet.

"Ready?" Jaune roared over the deafening sound of the raging tempest. Yang nodded curtly as her hair whipped about wildly, and reached out, grabbing his hand in hers. Taking a firm hold of her, he mouthed, "One, two, go!"

They leapt.

There was a moment where it felt like they'd never touch the ground again, a span where there was nothing but howling wind and ice, before with a crunching jolt their feet hit the ground through several inches of snow. Aura took the brunt of the force, their knees threatening to buckle as the unexpected stop sent shockwaves up their bodies. Looking up, Jaune couldn't even see their transport; all that showed it was even there were the blinking lights, red and green upon the wings. Even those were difficult to see, and soon vanished as the vehicle pulled away.

Yang pointed ahead, lowering her head to protect her eyes. Jaune followed her finger and nodded, seeing the faint light blinking about twenty yards away. Shielding his face with his other arm, he tugged her along, forcing their way toward the outpost. As they got closer, they started to make out more details; the square shape of the building, the reinforced antenna and dish upon the roof, the shuttered windows. There was an adjoining garage, security door sealed tight, though from their briefing, they were informed it contained two all-terrain vehicles.

When they finally reached the door, Yang almost slammed her scroll against the reader. The pad flashed green and with a hiss, the door sprung open. They both almost collapsed inside, and it wasn't until that moment that he realized they were both shivering.

He had never been so cold in his entire life. Without aura, he was fairly certain they would have frozen to death on their brief walk from the drop zone. Even with it, he felt worse than when Winter froze him solid.

"Fuck," Yang swore, hugging her shuddering frame. "This place better have heating!"

The outpost wasn't large but it had a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom, enough to accommodate two people comfortably. It was dark within, all the systems on standby. Finding the correct console, Jaune attached his scroll and watched as the computer ran the required security checks.

"Welcome, Jaune Arc," a robotic voice greeted, repeating his huntsman identification number. They both heard the dust generator kick to life, the lights flickering on in an instant. Heat poured from the vents above as screens lit up, running several scans during boot-up. While they weren't exactly warm, they were less cold. It was a start.

"Think we can get Remflix out here?" Yang asked with a grin.

"Doubt it," Jaune tapped at the keyboard, bringing up several camera feeds. They could see themselves and Yang couldn't fight off the urge to wave.

"Groovy. What else we got?"

Not much; just a whole lot of snow. Some of the cameras were completely buried, while others just couldn't see anything through the harsh weather. They wouldn't know if the Grimm were there unless they ran right over the top of them and by then, it would already be too late.

"Well, this is a waste of time," Yang deadpanned.

"I guess we wait it out," Jaune shrugged.

There were thirty cameras in total, with five situated in their building alone. Thankfully there were none in the bedroom. Being recorded while you slept would be a little creepy. While Yang investigated the garage, Jaune continued to bring the rest of the systems online. When he made a connection with the military communications feed, his screen instantly changed. A familiar face beamed at him with one of the biggest, most genuine smiles you'd ever see.

"Greetings, Jaune," Penny said happily, her ginger hair bobbing as she bounced on the spot. "Do you have anything to report?"

"Hey Penny," Jaune returned warmly. "Everything seems to be operational here, though I don't think the cameras will be of much use. Are you guys receiving everything?"

Jaune waved at the camera above the screen. Penny waved back enthusiastically.

"We are. The bad weather has impaired their usefulness considerably, which is very unfortunate."

"Have you made contact with the others?"

Penny nodded.

"They have all communicated their well being. For now, the weather is only localized to your location and that of friend Ruby, though that is expected to change," she leaned closer to the screen. "This mission may take longer than expected because of it."

Jaune had a feeling that would be the case.

"Well, I'll keep you posted if anything changes. Good to see you, Penny."

She may have been an android, an artificial being created by the science of Atlas. But it was also true that Penny had aura; the manifestation of the soul. He could see that in the way her eyes lit up, her smile somehow becoming wider as her lips parted, revealing her perfect teeth. Twin dimples on either side just made her the cutest thing ever.

"It was good to see you too, Jaune. Please come and visit when you return!"

 "Was that Penny I heard?" Yang asked as she returned.

"Yeah, she was just checking up on us. Penny implied that the storm might be here to stay for a bit."

Yang sighed. "Great. Well, we might as well make the best of this. Come on; they have these awesome snow bikes that look like they'd be a hoot to take out for a joy ride."

She grabbed him by the hand and pulled him along, shooting a cute smile over her shoulder. Her energy was infectious. After they checked out the snow bikes – and Jaune had to admit, they did look like they'd be a lot of fun – they went over their available provisions. The kitchen was well stocked, though everything was canned, pickled or smoked to extend their shelf life. There were also things like rice and noodles, things that if stored correctly, could last for a very long time. They wouldn't be eating like kings but they would never go hungry, even if they were trapped there for weeks on end.

"So, since we can't really do much besides enjoy the lovely view," Yang joked sarcastically, "how about you cook us up something. Ruby said you could be quite the wizard in the kitchen."

"She exaggerates," Jaune had often cooked for his team when they'd been traveling across Anima, but so had Ren and Jaune thought the raven haired boy was a much better cook than he was. Though growing up with seven siblings meant he was pretty handy at throwing cheap meals together. "But sure; what are you up for?"

She winked at him. "Surprise me."

Noodles it was! There really wasn't much he could do with them besides add a bunch of sauces and hope for the best. Gathering the needed supplies, it wasn't long until he had the pot boiling on the stove. Combining a few different pastes and condiments, he mixed them together and tossed it through the noodles once he removed them from the water and dried them out. It came out mildly spicy and much to his own puzzlement, quite good. Taste test successful, he heaped a serving into a bowl and set it down in front of Yang who looked oddly happy.

"I've always wanted a guy to cook for me," she confessed. "Think you're gonna impress me?"

"Try it and find out."

Jaune watched as she forked a bunch into her mouth, nothing delicate about her eating habits. She made a sound of surprise, nodding her head.

"Mm, not bad, lover boy," she said. "Not bad. Maybe I'll keep you around. I'd love to see what you could do with some real food."

Gathering a serving for himself, they both dug in. Now that they were settled, he felt unusually conscious of her. All they were doing was eating, yet there was an odd tension settling between them. It wasn't unpleasant or uncomfortable, it was just there . Jaune frowned; though if he thought about it a little more, it had been there for a little while now. Ever since their night out clubbing, to be exact. It was just that it was easy to ignore when they were around other people. Thinking about that night reminded him of their dancing and the feel of her voluptuous body against his, soft and warm and active. That in turn reminded him of Blake, and being sandwiched between their sexy bodies.

Then he thought about the feel of Blake's hot, sticky, clutching cunt around his fingers.

Jaune shifted in his chair, a spark of heat settling in his loins. That had been yesterday, yet he could still smell that musky scent of her arousal, suffocating in the best possible way. He could still taste that heady tang of her discharge that he had licked off his hand, staining his tongue with her essence. Blake was so fucking hot, it was unbelievable what they'd done together. Sure, Cerise was a beautiful older woman and Neon was very attractive, but there was something special about the girls on Team RWBY.

And he was alone with one of them, right now. He was alone with her, thinking about how her body felt on his, gyrating and grinding, while daydreaming about fingering her teammate and partner. Having his first time had really unlocked some part of his brain, hadn't it? Sure, he was a healthy guy and puberty had placed all sorts of thoughts in his mind, but they had never been so bold. To think about one girl while reminiscing about things he had done with another.

Not just any other, either.

He wasn't sure what was going on between Yang and Blake these days, but it certainly spoke to a certain closeness that was approaching something more than friendship. He recalled Nora mentioning once that they might even start dating soon, though Ren hadn't thought so. But Jaune felt that perhaps Nora had the right of it. He could be pretty dense with things like this but the signs were all there; the lingering touches, the embraces and looks. Even he could see it. If the way Weiss had been acting when he picked the pair up before going out clubbing, she saw it too. They'd had their rough patch but had come out the other side, closer than ever.

But then Neon had asked him if he was sleeping with Yang. Then when he said no, asked if he was with Blake. He couldn't blame her, really. Their dancing had been more than a little dirty, filled with a certain passion that really couldn't be faked. It was real enough that for a moment, Neon had doubted herself. If there was someone as confident and outgoing as Yang, it was Neon. She wasn't prone to second guessing her actions. But she wasn't the type of girl to ruin relationships for a bit of fun. Neon was dirty dancing with him because she wanted to fuck. Why did Yang? Why did Blake?

If they were so into each other, what had that been all about? And that wasn't even getting into the whole situation with him and Blake. If those two liked each other, why had she let him finger her? She was the one that had wanted him to stay with her, in her bed. Why had she jerked him off? If Ruby hadn't interrupted, would they have fucked? All signs pointed that way. The thought of getting to fuck Blake Belladonna raw had him bricked in an instant.

He really didn't understand how he ended up here.

"Are you okay?" Yang asked, drawing him away from his thoughts.

"Uh, yeah," he replied, stuffing noodles into his mouth. "M'fine."

"You look a little flushed."

He was more than flushed. His cock throbbed strongly, urging him to use it. He was a little surprised. Jaune had never gone from zero to a hundred so quickly before, not just from a few thoughts. Not only that, he felt absurdly hot. Pulling at his collar, he stood and walked over to the sink, filling a glass to the brim.

"I guess I'm a bit hot," he said after knocking back the glass in one go. It did little to calm the raging inferno inside.

Yang gave him a look of concern. "That doesn't sound good. Even with the heat on, it is still pretty mild in here. Maybe you should lie down."

That was a good idea.

"Are you sure?" he had to ask. They were on a mission, an important one; though as of that moment, the weather made it impossible to do anything more than wait and see.

"Yeah, I can watch the screens," Yang waved her mechanical hand as if to shoo him. "Go rest up. If I feel like I'm about to fall asleep watching snow, I'll give you a call. Or, you know, if Grimm show up."

She was a good friend.

Jaune smiled. "Thanks. I owe you."

"Psh – what, for this?" she rolled her pretty eyes. "This is nothing. You just cooked for me, so consider us even. Now hurry up or do you want me to tuck you in?" she joked, giving her eyebrows a jiggle.

Maybe he did. But he didn't dare say that, instead just giving her a grateful nod before heading into the bedroom. It was very spartan. There were two beds, a pair of bedside tables and a wardrobe in the corner. That was it. The window was still shuttered and would remain so, at least until the storm passed by. The glass would no doubt be reinforced but Jaune didn't want to take the chance. Not like that was much of a view now, anyhow.

Removing his boots and armor, he set his sword down by the door before flopping down on one of the beds. It was rather comfortable, his body sinking into the soft mattress. He still felt feverish, so he kicked off his jeans and pulled off his black hoodie. Feeling the mild air against his bare legs made him feel a little better, so without a thought he pulled off his undershirt. Wearing nothing but his trunks, he didn't bother getting under the blankets, shuffling up until his head rested against the firm pillows.

His shameless erection continued to tent his underwear but he pointedly ignored it, focusing on his breathing. Closing his eyes, he let his mind drift until he slipped off into sleep...

Death surrounded him on all sides, yet the inevitable never came. Jaune waited, breath coming in shallow gasps. Crocea Mors was out of reach. There was no way he could get to his blade before they pounced, yet even though the countless red eyes were brimming with inhuman rage, they didn't move.

Fear gave way to confusion. Jaune slowly turned his head, scanning the host of Grimm. Each movement he made had them bristling, teeth bared in snarls and deep growls, but still they remained where they were. His glance told him there was no escape, that all he could do was stand still – but what then? None of this made any sense.

He had been fighting for his life one moment, and now what? What were they waiting for?

When Grimm acted out of the ordinary, it was never good.

When they started to move, Jaune felt the air leave his lungs in a rush. Muscles tense, he readied his legs. He was going to leap for his blade, distance be damned, but then he realized that the Grimm weren't moving toward him.

They were parting to let something pass.

Jaune stared with wide eyes as a figure approached. It was slender with long, willowy legs and wide, plump hips. It looked human yet no person alive had a complexion so pale, the purest white he had ever seen. Almost translucent, he could see the webs of black veins beneath its skin, crisscrossing its bare torso like arcs of lightning. A toned stomach rose into a pair of perfect breasts, capped with dusky nipples slightly pointed upwards. Its face was unnaturally beautiful – or would have been, if it wasn't so terrible. The skin was marked underneath with the same black veins, the cheeks sharp and cruel. Red eyes gleamed not with the mindless rage of Grimm, but with an intellect on par with humans. When its lips pulled away in a half smile, Jaune sighted razor sharp teeth suitable for rending flesh.

It looked female but that was impossible. Unheard of.

Wait.

"Salem?" he questioned in disbelief. His heart thudded in his ears.

The being – the Grimm – paused as if surprised, its head quirking to one side curiously. It had hair, or at least something that looked like hair. Long and white, it flowed down over its bare shoulders in waves of purest silk, stopping just shy of her hips. Those eyes considered him for a moment and Jaune felt nervous, skin prickling under such a gaze.

"You know Mother?" it spoke. The voice was both human and not. Alluring and sensual, but also terrifying; a warning.

He knew in that moment – had known already, truly – that this Grimm, whatever it was, was more dangerous than all the others surrounding them.

He was in trouble. Big trouble.

It wasn't Salem but that was only a small comfort. While it shared similarities with the vision Emerald's semblance and fear had shown him, there were enough differences. Jaune found it difficult to remove his eyes, drawn to the line of her waist, the curve of her hips. He tried to fight it but it was pointless, his eyes landing on the juncture between her plump, shapely thighs.

She was hairless; smooth. He wasn't sure what he had been expecting but this wasn't it. She wasn't just smooth in the sense that she had no hair, but there was nothing there. Where he should have been able to see her vulva or even the hood of her clitoris, there was nothing. She had breasts and nipples, the face of a human woman, even hair atop her scalp – and yet between her legs, there was nothing but smooth, unblemished skin.

He couldn't tear his eyes away.

"How do you know Mother?" it asked, resuming its walk. It was graceful, long legs stretching sensually with each step. The way her hips rolled and swayed was neither exaggerated nor inconsiderable, a natural cadence which oozed sex appeal. Her firm breasts bounced lightly, the perky tips shaking.

Jaune swallowed heavily.

"How long has it been, I wonder?" it mused.

Before he knew it, she stood right before him in all her splendor. He tried to back away, move – anything! But his legs refused to cooperate, rooted to the floor. When she met his eyes, he had the mad urge to reach forward and grab her, touch her. Hands trembling, he fisted them by his side. This seemed to amuse the creature, her half smile returning. White fangs gleamed dangerously.

"Interesting," her hand was upon his cheek in an instant. He didn't even have time to flinch. A foreign scent tickled his nose, dripping with sweetness. It invaded him everywhere until he could literally taste it upon his tongue. "You will do wonderfully."

He jerked awake with a gasp, that sweet scent still lingering in his nose. Jaune stared at the ceiling with wide eyes, inhaling great gulps of air. His skin was drenched with sweat, his back and arms uncomfortably sticking to the blanket beneath him. His heart rate was through the roof, thumping against his ribcage so hard it almost hurt. He was hot; no, he was burning up . It felt like ants were crawling under his skin, skittering to and fro. It was a maddening sensation; all he wanted to do was scratch and scratch until it stopped, tearing at his flesh and digging them out, one at a time.

And between his legs, his cock throbbed in agony, hard enough to hurt. The tip was weeping steadily, staining his trunks with an obvious wet patch. It demanded attention, screaming at him to take hold and relieve the pressure. So he did, hastily pushing his trunks down and gripping his erection firmly. The veins stood out harshly against his palm, thick and angry.

His dick had never been so hard before. Though as soon as he thought that, he somehow knew that was wrong.

A soft, needy little whine reached his suddenly all too sensitive ears. Turning his head quickly, he stared with shock. On the other bed with her legs spread wide and her fingers buried in her gushing quim, Yang Xiao Long stared back with a look of primal lust and sudden fear.