Richard was 5 years old and lived a simple life with his father and mother. They were not rich or poor, they didn't abuse him or spoil him. They were normal parents and they lived a normal life as a normal family. Well almost normal. Richard's father, Xavier Wulf, was a Faunus, more specifically a wolf Faunus. His mother, Clara Wulf, was human. Richard growing up saw nothing wrong with this, they were his parents and both of them loved him very much. Richard grew up not so normal himself. According to the doctors Richard was more Faunus than human, yet he had no features of a Faunus, no ears, no tail, no claws. He did however have two grey spots in his hair. His parents told him he was special, and that his ears would grow when he grew up, they predicted around the age 10. Non the less they lived together and Richard found himself in a pattern of a life. Since his mother wanted him to become a scholar Richard attend normal school instead of one of the hunter academy's. His schedule went something like this.

Richard woke up to his alarm. It was 6:00am and he got up to go shower. He scrubbed his hair and washed his body. He got dresses in blue jeans and a thin blue sweater with a black shirt under, along with black shoes. He went to the kitchen to find his father with breakfast ready, it varied from cereal to eggs and toast. He sat at the table and his father served him. He ate quietly as his father cleaned the utensils he used for his own breakfast. He finished around 7:00am and went to brush his teeth. Once his teeth were clean he grabbed his backpack and made sure all his need work was there along with essentials for school. Richard and his father left at 7:20am. He was walked to school witch was a 10 minute trip. Once they got there his father stayed with him until class started then Richard was on his own for the day. This was his least favorite part of his day. He liked school and learning, he didn't like the other kids that bullied him. He was picked on for not having ears or a tail like most Faunus and for having grey spots. "Spots!" they'd tease him, treating him like a dog. He ignored most of they're teasing and name calling. Once in the class he enjoyed the thing he learned and excelled in his class. He was one of the quiet kids, but he knew all the answers. After the first session recess came. Richard would look in his backpack and find one of the books he'd been given from his parents. He enjoyed reading the fairy tales and stories of hunters and heroes. He'd sit alone while they other kids played. Sometimes he'd watch and learn how to play, but he never played with anyone. If he tried they go play something else. He just sat and read his story. The bell rang and the next session of class began. Back in the classroom some more work was done and a lesson or two on math or literature. At lunch he always sat alone eating quietly sometimes he'd pull out his book once more and read alone. More time in the classroom, then the school day ended. His mother would come to pick him up and take him home. Once home he'd go to his room and do any homework he was given. Then once that was done he'd once again bring out his book and begin reading. He read at a slow pace and sometimes he read out loud in his room. He'd read and read until he finished or until his father came home. Once his father was home they would eat dinner as a family.

Dinner conversations were mostly between his father and mother. Sometimes they'd ask him about school. He'd give simple answers trying to keep from talking about school. Once he finished dinner he'd put his dish on the counter next to the sink since he didn't reach far enough to place it inside. Then he'd go back to his room. He got ready for bed by showering once more and putting on his pijamas. He'd lay down in bed and wait. His father would come in with a book in hand. Bedtime story was the best part of the day for him especially on this particular night which happened to be Friday, meaning his father would read for longer than usual. He read more advance stories for Richard's age but he didn't mind taking the time to explain words and similes found in the stories. Richard could imagine everything as he slept, if he could be a hunter, a hero, he'd like that but he also would like to please his mother by being a scholar. The stories were enough for him, as long as his father and mother where there with him he enjoyed his life. Tonight he fell asleep to the story about a brave hunter who single handedly took down a giant Nevermore. His dreams followed the stories as he imagined the heroes and monsters they fought. He dreamed and dreamed and enjoyed his sleep.

It was cut off by a sudden awakening. He opened his eyes but they were irritated and he could smell and see smoke in his room. He got down coughing, covering his mouth. He crawled to the door and opened it. He looked down the hall to see a raging fire in his living room. The flames blazed brightly and the heat could be felt all the way down the hall. He called out "Mom!?" no response. "Dad!?" he coughed and no response was heard. Then a crash come from the other end of the hall. Some one came out of the smoke. He was tall and dressed in white robes. He saw Richard and ran to pick him up. He ran straight through the fire and popped out the other side. He put Richard down and went straight back. Richard was standing he comprehend the situation. He just saw his house on fire. He saw the firemen hosing it down. After a short while the same person come back out. His robes where singed and barely any white could be seen. He was wearing a hood so Richard couldn't see his face. He ran away and the firemen moved in closer. It took all night to put out the fire and in the morning Richard sat alone with tears in his eyes.

That day he was taken to the local orphanage. Like that his whole world changed. He didn't have a father or mother or anyone. He was truly alone. The kids in the orphan house didn't make things easier. He was the youngest there, and the others despised him as they said he would have no trouble getting adopted. Richard thought otherwise. He was prepared for life in the orphan house. He didn't know anyone that would be willing to take him in. His papers said he was Faunus so when people saw him they changed they're mind about adoption. Two weeks in the orphanage with no one but the other kids that would bully him. One night Richard was once again called down to see the people interested in his adoption. He walked down to the office with his little suitcase full of his close to see the people would go to ask about adoption. When he entered the room he saw a familiar figure. He wore white robes and Richard could see little patches of black. He turned around and Richard saw his face for the first time. He walked over to him and kneeled down to look Richard in the eye.

"Richard," he began "I'm sorry, I couldn't save them."

"Who are you?" Richard asked.

"My name is Conner, I'm here to take you home, to my home."

"I want to go to my home" Richard mumbled.

"I know you do, and I'm sorry, but...you can't." Conner said putting his head down as if he has failed Richard in some way.

Richard stood there watching Conner. He brought his head back up, "you have a choice Richard, come with me, or stay here, what do you want?"

Richard stood in silence before answering, "I'll go with you."

"Okay then," Conner stood back up and walked over to the reception desk. he filled out some papers before turning back to Richard.

"It's cold tonight, do you have a sweater?" Conner asked him.

Richard shook his head.

Conner thought for a little. Then he picked up Richard, who was pretty small for his age. He said "then we'd better get you one," holding Richard so he sat on his left arm. He picked up Richard's suitcase with his right hand and he walked out the orphanage.

He was, right it was cold tonight. Richard clung to Conner to try and keep warm. He closed his eyes as he buried his face under his shoulder. He felt cold for a while until a sudden warmth was felt and he relaxed. He opened his eyes and saw he was inside. He looked to see a man behind a counter.

"Hello Kyle" Conner greeted.

"Hello Conner, I was just about to close shop, what can I do for you?"

"This little one needs a sweater to keep warm tonight."

"Of course, I'll see what I have."

He went into a room behind the counter and came back out with a white hood.

"Thought you might appreciate the color" He said handing it to Conner.

"The colors fine, thank you" he put down the suitcase and Richard and began to put on the sweatr for him.

"What's your name?" Kyle asked when Richard looked up at him.

"R-Richard" he answered timidly.

"So where'd you find him?" Kyle asked Conner.

"Orphanage, I just adopted him" Conner answered zipping up Richard's sweater.

"Never saw you as the 'father' type" Kyle said.

Conner put some lien on the counter and said "Thank you" and once again picked up Richard and his suitcase. He walked out the shop without saying another word.

The sweater Richard received was warm, he barely felt cold. He put on the hood of the sweater and once again closed his eyes holding on to Conner. He slept before they even walked out of vale.

Richard woke up to Conner slightly shaking him. "We're here" he said opening a door. He walked inside, and closed the door behind him, there was a hallway with many doorways and stairs the lead to a second level.

"This is home now" Conner said with some sadness in his voice. He walked in, carrying Richard still, and went up the stairs. He walked into a plain room with a big bed. He set down Richard's suitcase next to the bed and sat Richard on the bed. He tok off his shoes and laid him down and pulled the covers over him.

"Get some sleep" he said and began to walk out the room.

"wait" Richard said sitting up.

Conner turned to see Richard out of bed and opening his suitcase. He pulled out a book and walked over to Conner. He handed it to him, Conner took it and looked at it, it was a story about a fabled Hunter.

"Can you read it to me?" Richard asked.

Conner starred at the book and then looked at Richard with a slight smile.

"Of course" he answered. Richard scurried back to bed and climbed in. Conner grabbed a chair and sat next to him. He pulled out a match box from the nightstand and light a candle to provide light. He opened the book and began to read.

"Long ago, in the kingdom of Atlas, there lived a Hunter..."