I've read a bunch of RWBY fan fics over the past few weeks and I thought that I should at least experiment with one myself. This is actually part 1 of a two-part prologue. I hope you guys like it!

Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY. It belongs to RoosterTeeth and Monty Oum.

...R.I.P. Monty :-(

Light snowfall covered the small land of Patch. The gray clouds gave way to little sunlight, but enough to give people a sense of direction. However, the bitter cold was enough to make people want to remain indoors.

...Well, most people...

Deep inside a barren woodlands, a young blonde girl was trudging through the ground dyed white, cold and alone... Almost alone. Behind her was a small wagon and upon further inspection, inside of it was another even younger girl, asleep and bundled in red to keep her warm.

"Mom's out there... Mom is out there... and we'll find her really soon. You hear that, Ruby? We're gonna go see Mom now. And then, Dad will be like himself again and we'll all be happy... And that's a promise from your big sis Yang."

Young Yang Xiao Long dragged the dormant Ruby Rose through the frigid snow and through the woods alone, reassuring both Ruby and herself, but herself more as she knew Ruby couldn't hear her. Yang peered through the map she had procured from her father's study, hoping to find the alleged location of her first mother. She was so tired, so hungry... so... lost without her mother to love and nurture her. Did her mother not love her? Is that why she left them? Was it because of her father? She had to know. NOW!

However, young Yang thought to herself: how was she, a girl of such little training in the fighting style of her family who carelessly dragged her baby sister through the bitter cold be able to find her missing mother? She shook her head to clear her mind of such depressing thoughts and focused on the task at hand. With renewed vigor and determination, she continued her desperate search bearing nothing but a makeshift map and an iron will that was slowly rusting with each passing minute.

Unfortunately, her trek through the uncharted woods had attracted the attention of a pack of black, canine beasts. Their only mindset being to hunt, kill, and consume. They were creatures who harbor a great abhorrence for the human race and will attack on sight. Their leader's blood red eyes darted left as it caught the scent of those disgraceful meat bags and a low growl emanated from its throat to alert its underlings. Yang was unaware of their slow pursuit, all of them meticulously stalking at every corner of the woods, hiding under the cover of the nearby brushes and awaiting the moment they get to dine on their delicious flesh and use their skeletons as chew toys.

Meanwhile, Yang had crossed an icy river and was walking up the snowy hill before them. She heard Ruby drowsily murmur something about her favorite sweets and this had brought a small smile to her face. She ignored the pain welling up in her feet and ankles as she finally made it to the hill's apex, spotting a small shack in the middle of a clearing. Her heart skipped a few beats before it raced in adrenaline. She was overjoyed as the long awaited moment became known to her. She could see her mother! Finally! She sprinted down the hill and made it to the shack's front door and pounded vigorously at the door, only to see it was unlocked.

Here it is...

The moment she had waited for...

With a deep inhale, Yang placed her hands on either side of her mouth and yelled.

"MAMA!"

...But there was no answer...

No, instead Yang felt a sharp feeling of pain as a black blur charged straight at her, causing her to drop Ruby, who was once in her arms like a mother held her child. The girl in red began to cry from her hard landing. The pack of wild beasts had come for their next meal. Eight in total as they evenly dispersed and surrounded both sisters, growling lowly with their heads tucked down signaling that they were about ready to pounce. If these beasts had any semblance of emotion, they would definitely be taking pride in the quivering fear they were instilling onto the youths.

Sparing no time, one of them had leapt at elder of the two, claws bared and ready to tear at her pale skin. However, it missed and was only able to slightly nick at Yang's left cheek. She felt the stinging pain grip her which was only augmented as one of the beasts charged and rammed her in the stomach causing her to hit the wall on the far end of the cabin, effectively knocking the wind out of her.

Yang painfully raised her head and, to her horror, four of the canine beasts were slowly stalking around Ruby as if taunting Yang to come over there and do something. The blonde felt both pain and anger well up inside her, the anger taking the pain down a notch or two. How dare they try to hurt her baby sister?! How DARE they! With strength she didn't know she had at the time, Yang rushed at the group and managed to punch away one of the beasts before grabbing hold of Ruby, holding onto her for dear life. Unfortunately for her, this only angered the whole lot of them as they finally decided to start ravaging. All eight of them grouped up collectively, their leader taking the front. Yang's anger and pain turned into spine tingling fear. She couldn't contain her fidgeting. She was powerless and outnumbered without the slightest sliver of hope filling her eyes as bitter tears escaped her eyes. She finally braced herself for the pain to come as she closed her eyes.

'If I'm dying, at least I'll keep Ruby safe in my arms!' was her only thought at the moment. The leader of the pack finally lunged at the two, jaw opened to tear at the frightened blonde's flesh and taste her very blood.

...That was until it exploded in a bright flash of light, surprising all whom were present. Once the smoke cleared, the ten-that-were-once-eleven bore witness to the charred and blackened body of the pack leader. The remaining seven of the canine creatures then caught the scent of another, hoping that it was the bastard who just killed their superior. Yang, on the other hand, hesitantly opened her lilac orbs after noticing the lack of crushing pain (or rather less than she was feeling already). She turned her head to see the biggest of the creatures lying dead on the wooden floors and its underlings turned away from her and growling threateningly at something. Regaining the feeling in her legs, Yang shifted leftwards and looked up to catch a glimpse of who or what had inadvertantly saved her and her eyes widened at what she saw.

Up on the rafter furthest from her stood a person; a boy who looked no older than herself. His jet black hair was spiky and unkempt and his ultramarine blue eyes bore a blank expression on his light tan face. His outfit consisted of an alizarin red coat with breast pockets on each side of the zipper and a fur rimmed hood under which he wears a simple black shirt. A blood red scarf was wrapped around his neck with four letters that Yang couldn't make out very well. He wore navy blue, baggy pants and had normal, white sneakers. He was armed only with one bow with sharp edges.

The boy jumped and landed right in front of Yang, impaling the already dead body with one end of his bow and leaving it there as he stared threateningly at the pack without a leader. His eyes narrowed, silently threatening bodily harm to or the murder of anyone who stepped closer to the girls. The beasts, however, ignored such a threat in favor of avenging their fallen superior. They all lunged at the youth with the intent to kill but the boy stood his ground, picking up his bow and splitting it in half, converting it into dual blades as he got into a stance.

One by one they all started to fall. The boy's movements earned him the upper hand despite being outnumbered. Each cut with his blades sending searing pain and quick deaths to these vile creatures. In a matter of minutes, the battle was over, leaving Ruby, Yang, and the newcomer. After reassembling his bow and strapping it to his back, he turned to the awestruck Yang and Ruby. He wore a warm smile as he neared the two, however Yang only scooted away from him in apprehension. The boy flinched slightly and stopped where he was. He stood unmoving, hoping that it would let them know that he was a friendly. Yang's eyes only narrowed as she kept inspecting him. The two kids had a staring contest one with kindness and slight amusement and the other with caution and slight fear, but that fear died down ever so slowly as she saw that he wouldn't do anything to them. But she wasn't about to let Ruby go and after what seemed to be centuries for Yang, she spoke.

"W-Who are you? Why did you save us?" she asked. The boy tilted his head in confusion before assuming a thinking position. About half a minute later, he simply shrugged, unsure as to why he had come to their aid.

"You still didn't answer my question. Who. Are. You?" Yang asked with a tone more threatening than she knew she could muster at the time. The boy only responded by pointing to his scarf. More specifically: the gold lettering embossed on it. Yang had to squint as she was still sure that in no way was she about to get any closer to her unknown savior, no matter how grateful she felt.

"K… Ku… Kuro? That's a weird name…" she deadpanned softly. The now named Kuro felt insulted as he whined and made a pout that nearly rivaled Ruby's in cuteness. Yang's eyes softened, if only marginally. Kuro held a hand out to help her up. She nearly refused, but her mind was telling her to accept any and all help she could find so she readily reached out and grabbed it. She let Ruby, whose fear subsided enough to let her walk again, go but fell forward as the pain in her feet, back, and face ricocheted throughout her body. Kuro had caught her easily and shifted so that she rested on his back. Yang was slightly... no, greatly taken aback by his continuous gestures of kindness. She had no time to question it as he walked out the door, dragging Ruby who was seated in the nearly forgotten wagon.

Yang couldn't believe it. All her life she was told to never trust anybody she did not know, but today this random guy in red comes to her rescue like those heroes in storybooks. However, she was also wracked with guilt over nearly getting herself and Ruby killed by doing something stupid like running out on her own to find their mother. Right now, she just wanted to cry and be held in her father's or even Uncle Qrow's arms and be told that everything will be okay. Her thoughts of self derision were disrupted when she felt Kuro stiffen. Quicker than she had time for, he kicked back Ruby's wagon and jumped to the left, just barely dodging a bullet aimed at his leg. A middle aged man holding what appears to be a scythe emerged from the deep ends of the shrubbery, eyes narrowed dangerously as he pointed it at Kuro.

"Kid... I'm only gonna say this once: step away from my nieces..." the man all but growled as the sound of a gun cocking filled the ever so suffocating silence. It was safe to say that Kuro nearly needed a change in underwear. Ruby, however, was only filled with glee as she stepped out of the wagon and enveloped the man in a big hug.

"Uncle Qrow! You're here!" she cheered, tears of joy falling and staining Qrow's shirt, not that he cared right now. He just wanted to know who the hell this kid was and why he is he currently piggybacking his eldest niece.

"Now, kid. Do not make me repeat myself. Drop my niece NOW!"

Kuro, feeling intimidated by the man, slowly and carefully set Yang down onto her feet. She hissed in pain as her feet hadn't fully recovered, but she could still manage.

"Now, kid, you stay there. Yang. Come here. We're going back home," he commanded, the threatening tone in his voice never wavering. Kuro knew that a shot from that weapon Qrow was holding can easily turn him into Swiss cheese, so he stayed perfectly still while Yang made her way to her uncle with a bit of trepidation. However, seeing the look of fear in Kuro's eyes made Yang do something that she herself didn't expect to do.

"U-Uncle Qrow, please don't hurt him... Kuro saved me and Ruby when we were attacked by those monsters," she pleaded. Qrow's eyes softened slightly, but he dared not to lower his weapon.

"Yang, while I am relieved that you two made it out alive and well, how do we know that Kuro (Is that what she called him?) may or may not have some ulterior motive behind rescuing you?"

"I-" Yang stopped herself. Uncle Qrow has a point: what if he was doing this for something deplorable? The girl's heart was practically shouting at her to say because she trusts him, but her brain is currently trying to use deductive reasoning in response to Uncle Qrow's question.

"(sniffle) Uncle Qrow... I know that Kuro is a good guy, or else he would've left me and big sis alone back there," Ruby said before she lets go of Qrow and runs and hugs the boy in question. "And good guys always help people in need! We shouldn't hurt the good guys!"

Qrow let a small smile grace his lips and shook his head at the younger girl's attempts at defending the fearful, blushing boy. He finally lowered the scythe before strapping it to his back and turning around.

"Alright, Ruby. I'll let your friend live..." he said. He didn't need to turn around to see Ruby's face brighten. "But the three of you must stay close until we reach the house, understand?"

The three kids silently complied and followed Qrow through the snow, the girls holding onto Kuro for warmth and Kuro blushing from the close contact the entire way.

After ten minutes of complete silence, the group of four had arrived at a house in the small town which Kuro guessed was their home. Qrow opens the door and lets the kids go inside first. But of course the quiet, peaceful time would not be left unscathed as the voice of another man bellowed from the other room.

"Qrow! Where have you been?! And why the hell were the girls with you in the woods?!" he yelled. In an instant Qrow's tranquil features turned dark as he shot past the three children, all of whom had shared a quick glance at each other.

"You want to know why, Taiyang?! Well, take a damn good, long look at THIS!" Qrow slammed the map that Yang had with her onto the table, shocking Taiyang greatly.

"While you were sitting on your ass wallowing in your self pity those two helpless children were out there, ALONE AND IN THE GOD FORSAKEN FREEZING COLD, searching for their MOTHER! Do you have any idea what would've happened if I hadn't noticed that they were missing?! They would've DIED! THEY WOULD HAVE FUCKING DIED! Tell me something, Taiyang: Just what matters more to you? Your missing wife? Or YOUR DAMN CHILDREN'S LIVES?!"

Taiyang sat in silence. His body stopped responding in reaction to the information thrown at him. How could he let this happen? What possessed him to just let his two children go out and risk their lives just for his happiness, completely oblivious to the fact that their mother is dead. As he thought about this Qrow continued, but with a calmer tone this time.

"Listen to me, Taiyang. What happened to Summer struck hard for me too, but do you want to know what I did to help me cope with this?" the man raised his head with a somber expression. "I close my eyes and think about what Summer would say if she saw me crying like a little kid who lost his favorite teddy bear. Heh... She'd probably give me hell and tell me to man up and let it go. And that was exactly what I did: let it go... We need to move on, Taiyang. If not for ourselves, then for Ruby and Yang."

Taiyang couldn't hold it in anymore and bitter tears stained his cheeks. Qrow saw his sorry condition but this time, instead of admonishing him, he sat down and comforted him. Taiyang and Qrow stayed this way for a while until the former's tears finally stopped. After separating and Taiyang giving Qrow his thanks, the latter moved towards the front door and placed his hand on Kuro's left shoulder.

"Although, I should mention that I was only halfway into finding where they were when I saw this kid right here along with the girls, safe and sound." Kuro rubbed his left arm in embarrassment as the younger girl beamed.

"Yup! Yup! He's like those good guys from those books! He had this thing that he broke and then he used it like a sword and then those monsters tried to hurt him and then he-"

"Ruby." Yang giggled at her sister's ranting before stopping her. It was then that Kuro, for the first time since anyone had met him, spoke up.

"Ruby's right, Mr. Qrow. My bow can turn into these little daggers by breaking them in half, and magically turn back when I put them together. I kinda found that out by accident, though..."

"Amazing... And to think that it's in the hands of someone so young..." Taiyang muttered.

"Well... I've actually had this since I was really little. I can't really remember how I ended up with it, but boy did it come through for me in the end!"

"And that's the very same weapon you used to save my daughters?" Kuro nods in confirmation along with the girls.

"Well, words alone cannot even begin to show how grateful I am that you returned my children to me. Even though you three haven't met until then."

"Well, it just seemed like the best thing to do. I couldn't just stand there and watch them get you-know-what," Kuro made the universal gesture for death by running a finger in a horizontal motion in front of his neck. Both adults nod in approval.

"Well, then I guess it's about time for you to head home, Kuro. Your family is mostly likely worr-"

"I never knew my family..." Kuro somberly interrupted Taiyang. Everyone in the room flinched except Ruby, who merely tilted her head in confusion.

"Well... then, do you have any other relatives like aunts or uncles? Anyone?" Qrow inquired, already getting a feeling of what the answer might be.

"No. Don't know them, either... It's just been me, myself, and I for most of my life. I was told that I was found and placed in an orphanage, but every one of the other kids used to pick on me, so I took my bow and left while everyone was sleeping. And from when I was four to today, I've lived to support myself."

"So, let me get this straight: You're an orphan..." Qrow asks and Kuro nods.

"...You have zero knowledge about your parents or your family in general..." Kuro nods again.

"...You were miraculously found out of nowhere and taken to a nearby orphanage..."

"Yup." Kuro made a popping sound with the "p".

"... And you ran away armed only with a bow because you couldn't handle being bullied by the other children?"

"Uh-huh. That's what happened..." Qrow saw a pained and lonely glint in Kuro's eyes as he confirmed each fact. He closed his eyes briefly before letting out a breath that he even know he held. Ruby hugged Kuro's middle as she started crying again and the boy merely pets her. Yang followed suit. Qrow and Taiyang shared a glance and reached a unanimous decision.

"Alright..." Taiyang said vaguely.

"Alright?" Kuro parroted in confusion.

"You can stay here for the night. It's the least we can do..." Qrow clarified. Kuro was about to protest, but a yawn from him left no room for debate.

"Can we at least stay up and play with Kuro, Daddy?" Ruby asked suddenly. The adults looked at each other once more and both shrugged, thinking the exact same thing:

'Sweet Monty, we've gotta stop spoiling them...'

"Fine, but you kids go straight to bed when it hits 12:00, understood?" Taiyang sternly commanded, earning nods from all three. Ruby punched the air and uttered a victory shout. She and Yang dragged Kuro upstairs and to their room to start their little games.

Opening the door to their room, Kuro took in its contents: two simple dressers painted red and yellow for Ruby and Yang respectively; there were two beds, one made neatly and the other had its blankets sprawled all over with one of the comforters lying unceremoniously on the floor; a large chest overflowing with stuffed animals and other toys was located in the furthest corner of the room; and the window was decorated with clear, translucent curtains.

Kuro returned to Remnant when little Ruby squeezed his hand and offered him a cookie. He raised an eyebrow before accepting the treat and Ruby sped off, a mass of rose petals left in her place. Kuro did a double take before shrugging and inspecting the doughy snack. Yang saw this and grew curious.

"Aren't you gonna eat that?" she asked and Kuro glanced at her, confused.

"You're... not gonna take it from me?" he asked.

"Why would I do that?"

"Well, it's just... back at the orphanage, the other kids would either hide or just plain eat all of the snacks before I could get any," Yang gasped softly. "It's because of that that I've never had an actual cookie before. Usually when I was out on my own, I would actually just pick fruits off of the trees. Although, that usually ends with me falling and hitting my head on the ground. It really hurt... Anyways, I've always wanted a cookie, but I could never get one so..."

Kuro bit into the cookie and an explosion of flavor that he had never experienced went off in his mouth. The softness, the myriad of chocolate-y decadence, and the... roundness sent him into Cookie Heaven. He devoured the rest so quickly that he almost bit his own finger off. He stole a quick glance at his blonde companion, whose look of disbelief said it all:

'Are you kidding me, bro?'

After a quick minute of silence, Ruby came back with a red jar labeled 'cookies', already digging in as evident by the cookie crumbs staining her mouth. Kuro used his scarf to wipe her face clean, with the redhead squealing a bit in discomfort with colored cheeks. He reached inside the jar and pulled out two cookies and hands one to Yang and the three each took a big bite. Their quiet moment went away when Ruby moaned in discomfort. Yang was the first to react.

"What happened, Ruby?" the younger sibling said nothing as she covered her mouth with her hand. Kuro couldn't help but chuckle a bit.

"I think she might've bit her tongue..." Ruby moaned again. That was all the answer the eight year olds needed as they laughed. Ruby sent a pouting glare at them for being laughed at, prompting them to laugh even more. The three kids continued to get along while playing together until Taiyang sent them all to bed.

Kuro was about to fall asleep when he felt two extra weights land on his bed. Opening one eye, he saw Ruby and Yang snuggling close to him with content smiles as they immediately fell asleep under Kuro's warmth. The boy-made-pillow could only smile. A real smile. One final thought raced in his mind before sleep claimed him:

'Is this what it's like to have sisters? I'm... really happy...'

Okay, so leave a review on how you guys think I did. If you're gonna flame, at least be civilized as I do take the time to read them. If I feel that they're too offensive or downright degrading, I'll just ignore you so please don't be rude.

~ Peace!