Author's Note:

Hello everybody! This is a side story that splits off of my main fic RWBY: Bloody Snow. This is a short little piece that I wrote to explain the events of Ren's re-arrival in a later chapter in that series, so if you haven't read it I'm giving you a fair warning:

SPOILER ALERT!

Also:

This story contains scenes some readers may find disturbing. READER DISCRETION IS STRONGLY ADVISED!

Now, I know I said I'd post this last month but I was busier than expected with exams and such. So without stalling further, I give you the prologue of RWBY: Bloody Snow: Volume 1: Avenging Lotus.


"Has there been any news from the doctor?" Ren asked Blake as the two walked back to the hospital wing, each carrying a large bag of food for the rest of their teams. This was the third time he'd asked in just as many days.

"None, I'm afraid." Blake responded. She'd been awfully quiet lately, even compared to normal.

Ren nodded pensively and gave a short grunt of acknowledgment. It was somewhat disconcerting that he hadn't yet come to terms with the nature of becoming a hunter even after Yang almost died. Things like this were inevitable in the line of work, but that fact didn't prepare him for the reality. We're all delicate flowers that can perish at the slightest mistake.

The hallway they were walking down was lined on one side with windows that looked out over the forest. The sun was still high in the sky, but Blake was staring off into the distant corridor seemingly deep in thought. It wasn't until he stopped by the last window that Blake snapped back to reality.

"Is something bothering you?" Blake asked quietly, keeping her distance from him as he continued to stare at the forest. He didn't move a muscle or answer for a full minute as he thought out the best way to voice what was troubling him. In that time the sun poked its face ever so slightly farther towards the horizon and made the light fall ever so slightly farther on the floor at Blake's feet.

"Have you ever wanted something so bad and worked so hard for it, that when you finally got it you were too scared to throw it all away by a single simple mistake?" Ren spoke the words slowly, stopping at the end of each part. He stepped closer to the window and continued. "Like how Jaune got here and how he's been working hard to get on par with the rest of us. But if he does something stupid that gets him expelled, it would have all been for nothing?"

"Is this about your team leader?" Blake asked sceptically. Ren had to admire how sharp she could be sometimes.

"Never mind, it was just a bad example." He said dismissively. He would figure it out himself. He hadn't failed before, and now was not the time to start.

"Then give me a better one." Blake prompted. She seemed genuinely curious about what he'd been trying to ask. Or maybe that was just concern. Nora had often told him he came across as depressed when he was anything but happy.

He had to think for a minute before he came up with a new example. "Someone who grows flowers." He paused as if figuring out how to phrase the concept properly. "They work hard in the spring to turn the soil and they care for the seeds they plant every day. They pick out the weeds, they water, sometimes they cover their plants with blankets when the nights get cold. They invest countless hours into their garden, and when the plants bloom, they are rewarded by the beauty of the weak little plants that bring them joy. But even then, bugs are constantly moving and eating at the plants and the gardener cant go on a vacation even if he wanted to, lest the wrong bugs show up in his absence and make all his work for nothing in the end."

Blake processed what Ren had said for several moments in silence. Blake walked up beside Ren and looked out at the forest with him. The setting sun made the view spectacular as the few trees that held snow shone like silver dots in the sea of red that made up the Forever Fall.

"I think…" Blake replied slowly. "That the gardener can only do what he is capable of, and has to trust the plants to be able to survive without his care for a short period of time. But at the same time, the gardener also has to realize that he can count on neighbors to look after the plants. Even though they wont do as good a job as the gardener, they could keep the plants alive long enough for the gardener to return to care for them properly."

"You might be right…" Ren let out a shaky breath and turned away from the window. I can do this… "Can you take this back? I need to find Professor Goodwitch."

"Of course." Blake answered in confusion as she took the heavy bag from him. She watched him leave back the way they'd come and just as she was about to turn away, he stopped and turned back.

"Tell Nora not to worry, I'll be back soon." And with that he left, leaving Blake even more confused. I'll be back soon. This time, I'm stronger. This time, I won't lose.


End Note:

Thank you all for reading, and as usual I own no rights to anything RWBY or RoosterTeeth related (you know, not counting my blu-rays, T-shirts, posters, etc.). I will continue posting chapters all throughout this week, so check back tomorrow for the official Chapter 1!