RWBY: Team SWRZ

The trip to the extraction point was hell for Rowan Cassidy. For nearly the entire half-hour walk, Schwartz der Hund and Wei Tian argued back and forth about which one of them was far more superior than the other. Personally, Rowan had no interest in their dɨċk measuring contest. She didn't care which one of them was stronger. All she wanted was some peace.

Her least favorite thing about the entire trial was the people tagging along. None of them fit her ideal description of discreet; which was something she wanted to be throughout the test. Everything was a mess. Nothing went how she wanted.

Rowan's snatch and run job in Mistral was a bust. If not for her ex-partner, Duncan, she'd be off somewhere on a cruise relaxing with the millions of dollars she could've stolen off her mark. The thought of sunbathing on the deck of a luxurious ship, sipping away on fine wine brought a smile to her face. Oh, what could have been.

Unfortunately, all that was a pipe dream. Rowan was stuck in Mistral until news about Duncan's incarceration reached her ears. Hopefully, it'd take a few weeks. She just had to put up with everyone's antics until then. But it was easier said than done.

Schwartz's impulsive and recklessness reminded her too much of Duncan. If they were out in the field together, she wouldn't hesitate to leave him behind. Watchet was decent in her eyes. He seemed like a bit of a kiss-ass though; always following Schwartz around, hanging on his every word simply because they were partners.

Speaking of partners, Zorina got on Rowan's last nerve. While one ear got chewed out by Schwartz and Wei's bickering, the other got bombarded with stupid rantings from the silver-haired girl. On and on the girl raved about her powers of darkness would consume the entire world of Remnant or some shit like that. The con woman refused to put any effort into listening to her partner.

Zorina was lucky that Rowan didn't like killing people. If not for that, the silver-haired Huntress would've found a bullet between her eyes a long time ago.

Thankfully, Rowan's salvation came at the sight of the extraction point. Instructor Lilith and other teachers flagged the Huntsmen in training down, prompting the children to rush onward. To their credit, they were the only ones that reached that particular point. However, they were far off from the first ones to finish the trial. Schwartz and Wei were both disappointed upon hearing the news; meanwhile, the others quickly got over it.

"Not bad," Lilith congratulated the students on their job well done. Sure, they had some rough edges and kinks that they needed work on. But she didn't expect perfection out of them. That was the whole point of the trial; to gauge the skills and abilities of the Huntsmen in training and mold them into professionals throughout their four-year stay. "You kids did quite alright out there. Get yourselves on the ships. We'll take you back to Haven."

"Thank you!" Rowan wasted little time in being one of the first of the students on the ship. Zorina and Enlai followed her lead shortly afterward.

Wei immediately recognized the person Shun referred to; his ex-partner, Ilma Aden. The Huntress that was brutally impaled by the Boarbatusks.

"Are you still going on about that girl? Get over it. She's dead." Wei commanded. Death was a natural occurrence in life. There was no avoiding it. Sure, some could delay the inevitable. But Ilma wasn't one of them. "Get on the ship and let's get out of here."

"I'm actually with the cat on this one," Schwartz added his two cents on the situation. He didn't give two shits about the students that died during the trial. They were weak, and therefore, they died. Those that survived were strong, or at least smart enough to continue living — no need to grieve for the dead.

"I didn't need your input," Wei growled. Schwartz turned and faced the Faunus. His hand hovered over the sheath of his sword in mere anticipation; more than prepared to attack if provoked further.

"That's enough out of you two," Lilith stepped in between the students and forced them apart. "Make sure that you both take separate flights back to Haven. I don't want any more fighting out of you. Understood?"

"...Yes, ma'am..." Schwartz and Wei reluctantly complied with the woman's orders and went into separate vehicles.

"It's finally over," Enali Chun stumbled onto the airship and collapsed onto the hard, wooden floor. The young man exerted far more power than he planned throughout the trial.

"Get up, Enlai. Lying on the ground like that is disgraceful," Wei chastised his partner. Now that the two were a pair, he'd make sure that his team would exude tremendous levels of strength.

Although reluctant, Enali stood and took a proper seat inside the ship. He knew he was in for one hell of a ride with Wei sticking around.

"Hey, what's with the gloomy atmosphere?" All three of the young men raised their heads and looked toward the ċȯċkpit. Out came Ilma, stuffing her mouth with bags of chips. Enlai and Shun immediately surrounded the girl, bombarding her with questions about her sudden resurrection.

"Ilma?! It's you, right?! You're here in the flesh?" Enlai repeatedly poked Ilma's face.

"We saw you get impaled! After that, your body burst into flames!" Shun placed his large hands on the girl's shoulders and shook her, nearly forcing Ilma to drop the chips.

Irritated by the boy's actions, she slapped their hands away and stepped back. "Yeah, yeah, that happens. Back off."

"How can you be so nonchalant about this?!" Enlai exclaimed.

While Enlai and Shun continued to bother Ilma with their questions, Wei kept to himself and waited patiently for ship to arrive back to Haven Academy.

With the trial in the forest completed, the students left standing were extracted and brought back to the safety of Haven Academy. Those that were able to stand were collected and escorted to the auditorium, where the Headmaster, Professor Leonardo Lionhart, waited. The man welcomed the Huntsmen in training with open areas and began to call out their names, requesting them to line up in front of him. It was the most anticipated moment for first-year students.

It was time for them to get paired up into teams. Regardless if they wanted them or not, all the students were stuck with whoever the Headmaster decided. Schwartz again kept to the back of the room, observing the expressions of the other students that got formed into groups. Eventually, Wei Tian, Enlai Chun, Illma Aden, and Li Shun were called to the front of the room.

The Headmaster mentioned their accolades during the trial and commended them on their skills before proclaiming them as Team WEIS, with Wei Tian selected as the leader. Afterward, Schwartz der Hund, Watchet Amin, Rowan Cassidy, and Zorina Teufel were called up to the front. From that moment on, Schwartz blacked out. It didn't take a genius to figure out what was going to happen next. The three people he didn't ever want to see again, were now going to be his partners for the next four years.

"Schwartz der Hund, you showed tremendous bravery and courage during your trial out in the forest. Therefore, I have decided to make you the leader of Team SWRZ." Leonardo announced.

"What?!" Schwartz and Rowan exclaimed in unison. However, the reasons for the outburst differed from one another. While he didn't enjoy getting stuck with three of the most annoying people in the school; the thought of leading them piqued his interest. He'd never been much of a leader before. Back at his tribe, he wasn't allowed many opportunities to lead groups.

Perhaps in the next four years as a team leader wouldn't be so bad after all.

Rowan, on the other hand, wasn't about Schwartz as the leader of the newly formed team. The Headmaster saw his recklessness as bravery?! Schwartz nearly got everyone killed with carelessness and hot-headed tactics. It was thanks to Rowan's plans that earned them the victory against the last Grimm during the trial. If anyone should've been chosen as a team leader, it should've been her.

She wouldn't have it. She wouldn't allow an idiot like Schwartz to boss her around.

"Congratulations, leader." Watchet placed a comforting hand on Schwartz's shoulder. Unlike Rowan; he looked forward to teaming up with everyone. Sure, he was upset that he wasn't chosen as the leader. But it was something he could get over. Even if he weren't in charge, he'd do everything he could to make his team the best in the entire school.

Although Rowan kept silent about the shocking turn of events, her body language said it all. Head down; shoulders drooped, hands in pockets. Nothing about the situation pleased her one bit. If anything, it only added fuel to her dėsɨrė to escape from Mistral as soon as possible. Nothing could make her day any worse.

"History shall never forget the day of our glorious formation," Zorina proudly boasted, wildly posturing, as usual, making sure that everyone witnessed her grandeur.

"Schwartz der Hund..." Schwartz muttered quietly as him, and his new teammates abandoned the stage for the next team. "Leader of Team SWRZ. I think I like the sound of this Huntsman stuff now..."