4 Bright Gray

I stopped in front of the main gate to the encampment and asked the guards.

" Can you point me to the nearest cliffs?"

" The chief is sending you out on one of her tea runs, didn't she?"

I nodded in reply to her question, and she sighed then told me as she pointed in a direction.

" Head that way, and you won't miss them, but it's at least a couple hours on foot from here, so watch the sun because not only Grimm but some vicious animals come out at night."

" Of course it is..."

I said in exasperation and thanked the guard.

" Thanks for the heads up."

" Sure, whatever..."

At least there are a few bandits I can tolerate and aren't complete b*stards. As I went in, the indicated direction by the guard and clawed at the trees, I passed by to avoid getting lost and have a way back to the camp. It hit me that this was the first time I had ever left the camp, and I wanted to take in the sights but couldn't because I rather not deal with animals and Grimm at night even if I have night vision. As I walked through the forest, I saw some rather plump and juicy birds. I made a note of them for later because the sooner I can get Raven's freaking tea, the more likely I can enter in her good graces if she has any.

After hours of walking, I found a stream and stopped to get a drink. As I dunked my head in the water, I saw some fish swimming around, and I was getting hungry after walking around, so I removed the chipped knife from the pole and found myself a good-sized stick with branches all over it. I removed most of the branches and sharpened the rest to make me a fishing spear. But before I got started fishing, I gathered some stones to make a small dam to prevent the fish from getting away downstream. Now to grab me some lunch.

Good thing I fished like this in my past life in some shallow shores and streams during my travels, much more entertaining than fishing with a rod and bait, though a net usually gets me more fish. I have to make do with what I have on hand right now. First, pick a target and ease closer to it, then observe it for a few moments to try and guess where it would run off to then... strike! And I missed; I can only keep on trying. After a few more attempts, I managed to get myself one; it looked kind of like a bass.

Now for the annoying part, cut it open from its crap hole, then dig out the guts and other stuff, then rinse it out. This is one of the times I hate having paws because the guts and blood from the fish are sticking to my fur, which is not a pleasant feeling, and washing it off takes more effort than plain old hands. After cleaning my paws, I started a fire to cook my lunch. Thankfully, I got something to create sparks, the chipped knife, and somewhat shiny rock. After gathering some dry grass and twigs, I started a fire and cooked my fish.

As I watched my fish cook, I thought about my past life, where I occasionally camped. Even though I wouldn't say I liked camping but I did like hunting, fishing, and gathering some game and plant life from different parts of Earth to recreate some local dishes. Italy was my favorite because restaurants during hunting season would have some words made from seasonal game animals. Japan's Hokkaido region was nice as well, with occasional bear meat hot pot, and the seafood was to die for; I wonder if Remnant has an equivalent to Hokkaido and other places where my inner foody can be sated.

I really need a Scroll to check out Remnant's equivalent of the Internet, the Cross-Continental Transmit System. Well, some to add to my to-do list aside from meeting the main cast, becoming a Huntsman after leaving the tribe, and making sure Pyrrha does not die like in the canon, plus a few other things. My fish soon fished cooking, and I ate it; it needs salt... Well, back to work or in video game terms, complete my fetch quest. I am so annoyed with Raven's BS!

After two more hours, I finally reached the cliffs but... THE FREAKING FLOWER IS GROWING ON THE SIDE OF THE CLIFF, NOT AROUND IT; YOU BIRD BRAIN MILF! IS SHE TRYING TO KILL ME?! I will not put it past her if she views me as a nuisance to the tribe for one reason or another. I never liked mountain climbing and probably never will because so many things can go wrong at the slightest misstep. I sighed and put my grumbling aside and got climbing because being in Raven's good graces is something I am going to need if I want my Aura unlocked, even if that's more than a little iffy.

This time around, I love my paws and my claws because it makes getting a solid grip on the cliff so much easier; plus, I think my arms are stronger than human ones, which makes sense, I guess, since from my shoulder, my arms are all animal, like some kind of Frankenstein non-sense. Or maybe Chimera is more accurate? I soon reached the flower and picked it up, and put it in my pocket, but I then heard a noise that filled me with dread, a loud bird-like squawk that roared at my ears. I saw a large bird-like shadow and saw its source, a Grimm. A bloody freaking Nevermore as big as a horse, if not bigger!

Sh*t, sh*t, and double sh*t! I am going to freaking die for a tea plant... f*ck me sideways. I could not help but laugh at the morbid humor of my situation as despair sets in my mind, either the Grimm gets me, or I fall off the cliff and break several of my bones, and the Grimm gets me anyway. Grimm for the win, hooray, I thought with dark sarcasm. As the Nevermore drew closer, I snapped myself out of my despair and tried to think of a way out of this mess. As my mind ran a million miles an hour, I got one crazy, and I mean crazy, idea, funny and my parents in my past life always said not to imitate things I see on TV, but technically, I saw it on the Internet but whatever.

" Well, Ruby, Nora, I haven't met you in person yet, and I am already taking a page out of your books."

I muttered to myself as the Grimm drew closer, and just when it was about to reach me, I jumped towards it and grabbed on its legs for dear life. The Nevermore struggled and tried to make me let go, but I held on because my life depended on it. As it justled me in the air, my grip slipped, and my claws dug into it. It cried out in pain and frantically tried to shake me off. I gambled and let go of one of its legs and focused my grip on the other one in hopes of climbing onto its back. Its talons tore into my side, but I managed to start climbing it and reach its back.

My claws dug into the Grimm's wings, and I bit down on the nab of its neck. I tried to stir it towards the camp, as I said, tried. I succeeded in making it only more frantic to get me off as it flew randomly and erratically. I actually saw the camp in the distance from the corner of my eye, and I redoubled my efforts to make the Nevermore go towards the encampment. I somewhat succeeded and got it to go in the general direction.

After who knows how long of grappling with the Grimm, I was overhead the camp and changed my strategy. I let go of its neck and one of its wings and focused on making the other one unusable, sunk my teeth and other claw into its wing, and as it tried to flap its free wing wildly to stay airborne, we instead started to crash. The ground got closer, no me and the Grimm got closer to the ground rapidly. I managed to shift my position so the Grimm would cushion my fall a little; good thing I have sky diving experience from my past life.

I crashed with the Nevermore and bounced!?-Off the ground once before landing on my back, causing no small amount of pain as I felt tears fill my eyes, stupid immature body, no pain tolerance. I soon saw Raven walk up to me and force myself up despite the pain and grabbed her hand and put her good for nothing wild tea leaves in it and said with all the fear, frustration, and anger I could muster in my voice.

" Never, again!"

I felt my consciousness fade and darkness took me as I thought, too much excitement for one day.

***

Raven looked at the plant in her hand as the snow leopard Faunus fell on its back, passing out from exhaustion. A few members of the tribe that saw the whole scene, from crashing in on a Grimm to handing Raven's wild tea leaves over, started to snicker at the sheer ridiculousness of the entire thing, and their laughter was infectious. Raven even allowed herself a slight smile while actually looking impressed with the young Faunus in completing his given task despite the obvious complications. The Nevermore got up and screeched at the bandits trying to intimidate them, which stopped the laughter.

Raven drew Omen and casually walked over as the Grimm thrashed around with a clearly broken wing. Once the Grimm was in range, she beheaded it in a single slash with little to no effort. As the Grimm started to fade away in black particles, she picked up the young reincarnator and noticed his injury with the blood on her hand from lifting him. Then bellowed out a demand.

" MEDIC!"

Soon said medic showed up, and Raven then ordered.

" Treat him, then bring him to my tent for the night."

" Understood, chief!"

Raven looked at the flower the young Faunus brought her and smirked. As she went to her tent to brew it into tea, she thought to herself, "looks like the tribe got an interesting new member."