Jaune's Resolve

4 - Forever Fall

"Finally.." Jaune muttered. They went over the tree, a quiet relief could be heard from Pyrrha.

"Well, well. Look who got ahead for once. Jauney the Vomit Boy & his babysitter."

The voice behind him curled like oil over water.

Jaune turned just in time to see Cardin Winchester strolling out from behind another tree, a smirk plastered on his face like it had been painted there.

"Sorry, Cardin. Looks like I got here first," Jaune said, tone calm, almost casual as he approached the tree and unslung his sample vial.

Cardin's smirk only deepened. "Oh, I know. Which is why I'm really glad you did."

He bent down, picked up a pebble, and flicked it skyward with surprising precision.

Thwack.

A brittle cracking noise followed.

Both Jaune and Pyrrha looked up in unison—just in time to see the pebble strike the underside of a large wasp nest, nestled among the high branches.

"Oh no..." Jaune muttered, eyes widening.

Cardin grinned ear to ear. "Good luck defending yourself, Jaune-y boy!"

The nest cracked open like an egg. The furious buzzing came next, a sharp, rising hum that vibrated the air around them. Within seconds, a black-and-yellow swarm spilled out, diving like arrows toward their location.

"Run!" Pyrrha shouted.

They bolted into the woods, Pyrrha taking the lead as Jaune held to the rear. Cardin's laugh echoed through the trees behind them like a victorious trumpet.

But Jaune didn't laugh.

He watched the way the buzzing swarm split, following both of them—but not evenly. The majority were on Pyrrha, drawn to her faster movement, her metal armor, or perhaps just chance.

"I'll lead them away!" Pyrrha called, glancing back.

Jaune's eyes narrowed as he spotted the faint trace of bootprints—fresh ones, heavy and deliberate. Cardin hadn't come from the tree. He'd circled behind it.

"No," Jaune said, his voice low but firm. "Trust me."

Pyrrha blinked, mid-run. "What?"

"Go wide! Draw them out, then lose them in the thicker trees!" Jaune shouted. "I'll handle the rest!"

Despite her confusion, she nodded and veered off. The swarm split—most veering after her, leaving only a few stragglers tailing Jaune.

'Good. Just enough.'

He ducked under low branches, skirted a ridge, and dashed toward the direction the prints led—toward the spot he knew Cardin would be catching his breath, thinking the prank had worked.

And there he was.

Cardin stood at the base of a narrow hill, casually leaning against a tree and chuckling to himself.

"Cardin!" Jaune called.

Cardin straightened. "Huh?"

Then he heard it.

BZZZZZZZZZ!

The buzzing returned with fury. Jaune, sprinting straight for him, had a trail of furious wasps not five feet behind him.

Cardin's eyes widened. "What the—?!"

Jaune ducked at the last moment, diving to the side as the swarm behind him veered upward, catching sight of their original tormentor.