Info note: A corpse flower is a parasitic flower found in the forests of Malaysia and Indonesia.

Chapter 1

Ruby ran through the forest the beowolves at her heels screeching and howling. She was seven and had decided to go with her older sister Yang to find Yang's mom. Yang had found an old map in the house that lead somewhere in the forest. Which Yang believed to be where her mom was. So the two girls snuck out when their father wasn't looking to go find where the map led. When they had reached the house there was only growling beowolves to greet them. That is how Ruby got in her current predicament being chased by beowolves through the darkening forest. Ruby didn't know where Yang had gone she had lost her in her own frantic escape.

AOOOOOO!

The beowolves let out another spine chilling screech spurring Ruby to run even faster. Ruby ran through the dark forest blurred by her tears. She was going to die Ruby thought to herself. She was never going to see Yang, dad, Uncle Crow ever again.

"I smell your despair little one"

The voice caught Ruby off guard causing the young girl to trip on a gnarled tree root. Ruby tumbled down a hill banging her head on a rock knocking her out.

The dark creature moved through the trees towards the young unconscious child. It would not be the creatures first choice, but it would have to do. The creature needed to be quick about it before it loses the child to the beowolves.

Ruby woke up her head throbbing. Where was she? What happened? She looked around at her surroundings. She was in a forest clearing with a large lake in the middle lit by moonlight.

Oh awake are you?

Ruby's head shot around looking for the voice. Who was there?

You can't see what's in your mind child.

In her mind? What was… Ruby groaned she couldn't think with her head throbbing like this.

Go to the lake then I can explain better.

Ruby scrapped herself off the ground groaning making herself to the lake. Ruby looked at her reflection in the lake. She looked exactly the same except the wolf like grimm mask covering the upper half of her face. "What happened?"

What happened was that I saved your life.

"What are you?"

I am what you humans call a creature of grimm. More specifically I'm categorized as a parasitic grimm.

"Parasitic Grimm?" Ruby had never heard of one of those.

It's not surprising I'm the last one the others all got themselves killed.

"Got themselves killed?"

Yes unlike the the others instead of taking over their hosts and hunting down other humans I chose to study them. With the knowledge I was able to gather from my hosts I surpassed all my brethren and survive.

"So what do you want from me?" Ruby asked.

Simple in exchange for saving your life you'll serve as my host

Ruby traced her finger along the grimm mask… her grimm mask. "There's just one thing I don't get."

What is that?

"Why didn't you just take my body like you said you could?"

Ahh well you see if I were to take over your body that mask you are currently wearing would not be removable. You see if a parasitic grimm take full control of the body of its host then their grimm mask becomes unremovable making it impossible to blend in. So if I take on a more… symbiotic roll then you will be able to remove the mask and we would not be hunted like animals.

Ruby brought her hand to the edges of her mask and gently removed it. Beneath was her silver eyes, but they looked different. Ruby's eyes looked more feline her pupils were sharp slits and the silver of her eyes seemed to flow like quicksilver.

Though even if you were to throw away that mask it would just come back. Most likely at a bad time so you should keep it close.

Ruby looked closer at her mask to see the distinct wolf like features. It looked like the top half of a wolf's skull with two large canine teeth protruding from the bottom. Speaking of canines Ruby noticed something strange with her teeth. Crouching down to get a closer look at herself in the lake's reflection. All of Ruby's teeth looked to be canines. It also seemed that the shadows around Ruby were… thicker, but Ruby just shook her head. Her mind was just playing tricks on her.

Yes there are a few… side effects of becoming my host, but nothing terrible I'm sure you'll deal with it. Actually I believe there is a race of people who look quite similar to you fanus I believe they were called.

"So I guess we should get going, Yang and Dad are probably worried sick." Ruby said stuffing her mask into her jacket pocket and walking away from the lake. "Do you know where my house is?" Ruby asked her new guest.

I do not believe so I only know as much as your mind remembers. Though I do know where the nearest city is. That would be the best place to go for now. Especially since I just aquired a new host and don't fancy her dying of hunger so soon.

Ruby's stomach growled in response. "Eh he I guess you're right." Ruby walked into the moonlit forest. "By the way what should I call you?"

Just call me Surrex

It was mid morning when Ruby finally made it to the city. It was called Storm City named after the ocean storms that were common. Ruby's stomach growled from the scent of the cafes serving brunch.

"You probably don't have any money huh." Ruby asked

What do you think?

"Yeah that's what I thought" Ruby groaned. "We gotta get home quick so dad can make us the biggest breakfast ever!" Ruby said practically drooling. "Though I'm not sure how I'll explain my new look to him." Ruby walked along the city streets looking for a police station so she could get home. A few blocks over Ruby finally found a police station. She entered walking up to the front desk.

"Hello!" She chimed cheerfully. The man at the front desk whom had a gentle smile looked down at her.

"Hello little girl do you need something?" He asked in a calm voice.

"Yes please." Ruby said politely "I was wondering if you could help me get home."

The officer looked at her thoughtfully "Of course what's you're name."

"My name is Ruby Rose mister."

The officer eyebrows went up at that "Well Ruby your father Taiyang has already notified us about you going missing. Just give me a few moments while I file the report and we'll get you home. Ok?"

Ruby shook her head "Yes thank you!" Ruby watched the officer walk off.

Did that man say Taiyang!? the Surrex hissed

"Yeah why?"

The hunter!

"Yup he's my dad and he's super cool!"

We have to leave now!

"Why?"

Why!? Because he's a hunter and hunters kill grimm like me… and you.

"But dad has never hurt me. Why would he now?"

Because now you're part grimm he'll only see you as a monster now.

"Wha! No he…" Ruby was cut off by Surrex

Yes he will! Hunters are sworn to protect the peace at all costs and that means killing grimm like us. It has happened before and it will again.

Ruby's hands trembled. Her dad would never do that! Would he?

Go! Run! We'll need the head start.

Before Ruby could even realise it she was running out of the police station. Her heart was pounding like when she was running from the beowolves. Tears streaming down her face she was scared. Scared that her own father was coming to hurt her.

Taiyang burst into the police station Yang just behind him.

"Where is she!" He asks frantically.

The man at the front desk addressed him in a solemn tone. "I'm sorry sir she was here, but suddenly ran out of the station and we have not been able to find her."

Taiyang was already halfway out the door "Don't worry Ruby I'm coming for you."

Eight years later

Yang stood on the launch platform on top of the cliff where their Beacon initiation would begin. She looked at the other new students including Pyrrha Nikos the ever popular fighter, Weiss Schnee the stuck up heiress, and a girl name Blake Belladonna who seemed really good at pissing of the heiress. Yang smiled to herself this was going to be interesting.

Weiss walked through the forest in which she was supposed to find a relic. As she stumbled into a clearing she saw a girl with blood red hair dressed in ragged clothes. Weiss didn't recognize her. Did she miss the opening ceremony? Weiss doubted she would have missed such a ragged looking person. It even looked like she didn't have a weapon.

"Hey!" Weiss yelled. The tensed and seemed to tuck something away before turning to look at her.

"Umm… Hello." She said awkwardly. As Weiss got closer to her she saw that the girl was young a little too young. Weiss also saw her feline like eyes. Great Weiss thought my partner's going to be fanus that hates me.

"Come on let's go we have a lot of ground to cover." Weiss said motioning towards where she suspected the relics were.

"I think there might be a mistake here." The red headed girl said. Weiss sighed she had no time for this. She grabbed the hood of the girls jacket and started dragging her along.

"Now's not the time to be getting cold feet." Weiss chided the girl "You want to become a huntress don't you?"

"What do you mean she's not a student!" Weiss yelled at Beacon's headmaster Professor Ozpin.

"Well I'm not sure why she was there, but the young girl who you retrieved the relic with is not a student at Beacon." Ozpin said calmly. Weiss groaned. What was she going to do! That girl who was skilled enough to fight grimm with only a butterfly knife isn't a student at Beacon!

Ruby sat in a waiting room in the heart of Beacon flipping her knife around nervously. This is bad she thought to herself.

That's an understatement.

"I don't need you patronizing me Surrex!" Ruby practically growled at the grimm.

So what's the plan to…

Surrex was cut off by the opening of the door. A blonde woman walked in who looked extremely annoyed.

"Come with me Professor Ozpin would like to talk to you." Before Ruby could respond she was already on her way out.

Don't follow her get out of here.

"But the Professor Ozpin wants to talk to me! I have to at least see what he's like!" Ruby said chasing after the blonde woman.

You're going to get us killed.

"Oh come on I'm like sixty-seven percent sure we can get out of her if things get hairy."

Sixty-seven.

"Yeah I mean it's over half and that's good." Before Surrex could respond they were entering the Professor's office.

"Hello" Professor Ozpin said soothingly "Please have a seat." Ruby awkwardly sat in front of the Professor. "I have to say Ms. Rose I am very surprised to see you here of all places."

I told you. You should have bolted when you had the chance.

"You've been missing for eight years and no one has seen hide nor hair of you. Then you suddenly show up in the Beacon initiation out of the blue. Not to mention that you are looking distinctly… fanus."

"Eh he… well you know… hormones… eh he…" Ruby's hands were sweating now.

Really? Hormones?

"Oh shut up." Ruby muttered.

"Excuse me?" Ozpin asked.

"Oh! nothing! I was just uh… talking to myself."

"So here is my delema Ms. Rose. You caused quite the mess in Beacon's new student team formation. There is now one team that is short a member unless you are willing to fill in the role."

"What! Me!" Ruby said in surprise.

"Yes Ms. Rose even though you did not. Well that I know of go to a training school, yet showed exemplary talent. And I for one think you would make a great addition to the school." Ozpin said with a smile.

"Well… I…" Ruby was still in shock.

Don't you dare.

"I'll do it!"