Jaune's Resolve

4 - Forever Fall

"One time," Nora groaned, "and it was glowing blue! I thought it was an energy drink!"

Before anyone could laugh, Pyrrha raised a hand, eyes focused on a nearby tree. "There. That one's leaking sap. Crimson, thick, and clean. It's exactly what Professor Peach described."

The team began to approach, but from behind the tree, a figure suddenly stood up—Russel Thrush, smug and grinning, already holding a canister half-filled with red sap.

"Sorry," Russel said, holding up the container. "This tree's taken."

"HEY!" Nora shouted, puffing out her cheeks like a kettle about to blow. "WE FOUND IT FIRST!"

"Nuh-uh." Russel leaned against the trunk lazily. "I got here first, therefore it's mine. Go find your own."

Nora's gauntlets sparked slightly as she stepped forward. "You little—"

Jaune quickly placed a hand on her shoulder, firm but calm. "Right. Let's go, Nora."

"But Jaune—!"

"Not worth it." He met her gaze, and this time, she huffed and backed down—barely.

Ren and Pyrrha exchanged a look. Ren shrugged. Pyrrha gave Jaune an approving nod as they turned away.

Ten minutes later deeper into the forest, the leaves grew thicker and the air heavier. Eventually, they found another viable tree—taller, older, its sap flowing freely down a crevice in the bark.

"Looks good," Pyrrha said, pulling out a vial. "Jaune, do you want to try—"

"Whoops," a voice said, mock-surprised. "Sorry, this one's taken too."

Jaune clenched his jaw.

From the far side of the tree emerged Sky Lark, another member of Team CRDL. He had a crooked grin and a nearly full vial in his hand.

"Oh come on!" Nora bellowed.

Jaune sighed, he didn't say another word as he moved. The team naturally followed him as they went deeper to the forest.

"I swear," Nora hissed, "if the next tree has Cardin sleeping in its roots, I'm launching him into orbit."

"Don't tempt her," Ren added dryly.

Jaune spoke forward this time. "Fine, clearly they're trying to slow us down. So we don't let them. We split up—Ren and Nora, take the ridge path east. Pyrrha and I will go south. If anyone sees a tree, ping the others. We'll work as a unit."

Pyrrha nodded quickly. "Understood."

Ren gave a silent salute.

Nora blinked, then tilted her head. "Since when do you give orders like a real leader?"

"Since Cardin started playing games," Jaune said with a smirk.

As the team split and vanished into the golden foliage, a quiet hum settled back over the forest.

Jaune pushed ahead alongside with Pyrrha, focused, alert. He wasn't about to let Russel or anyone from Cardin's crew swipe another tree out from under them. Not today.

Pyrrha jogged to catch up with him, her eyes scanning the horizon. "Jaune, are you sure this far in is safe?"

"I've got a good feeling about it," he said, forcing a calm he didn't quite feel. "Besides, we need to bring something back eventually, and I'm not leaving empty-handed because some jerks decided to play territorial tag with every tree they find."

As they rounded a bend in the forest path, Jaune slowed—then stopped.

Ahead of him stood a tall, wide-leafed tree, exactly matching Professor Peach's description.