Chapter One: Family Reunions

The Huntress stalked her prey through the forests of Mistral, how long has it been since she had returned here? The Huntress wore; a shallow cut black and red dress, five necklaces with an assortment of beads which hung about her neck, a red girdle-belt, and a pair of matching gauntlets. About her skirt was collection of feathers, retrieved from the sight of the massacre, the last remnants found within a burning camp. Sheathed upon the Huntress's hip was a blade, Morrigan, and upon her head was a mask shaped like that of a Nevermore.

Once the Huntress fought to defending Humanity from the creatures of the dark, she did this no longer. Now she was a Queen of the Wilds, The Lady of the Branwens. Her name was Raven Branwen and she was here to avenged those who did not survive. Raven stalked her way through the forest, to the coming village. Her prey had been hidden from her sight for far too long, no doubt due to his dark patron. She shook her head in disgust, not at all surprised that the prey had fallen under the sway of the Dark Queen, Salem. Once Raven served her counterpoint Ozpin. Before she became awake to his lies.

Ozpin and Salem, two sides of the same coin. The pair were desperately fighting over Humans, like two children unable to share a toy. Raven would no longer take part in such a War, not one where she would not survive. She took her mind back to the day she became aware of the Branwens fate; their camp set alight and besieged by the Grimm. Her father and uncle killed, and what did Ozpin do. Nothing. After all there were only bandits and Qrow, her own brother, shared the same opinion. Because he'd become Ozpin's pet, he'd forgotten why they were the Huntsmen in the first place. Raven would not allow her family to burn, not if there were any survivors. A chance to save her past.

Despite her claims, this decision to abandon her weighed upon her mind, she remembered how they fought: her and Qrow. How she called unfaithful to the family, he called her a fool for caring about them. They had a new family now: STRQ. She was a mother, she didn't need to be caged by the Branwens. Let them burn, Qrow said. They reap what they sow. She tried to make him see the truth, Ozpin was same. He turned them into some changeling freaks, just to do his dirty work. But Qrow, none of them, would listen.

In the end Raven returned to reunite her tribe, though in doing so she abandoned the War. She had too, it would be the death of them all if they did not run. She begged Tai to come, to bring Yang too. Yang. She had beautiful golden-haired daughter, the perfect mixture of her and Tai. She thought of her lover, the idiot that wormed his way into her heart with his earnest desire to change the world. Raven began to quash the feeling that were rising from her stomach; the nervousness and the despair.

Since her decision to rule her people, Raven felt that she'd had split in twain. Two souls inhabiting one body, the irony not lost on her given she once worked for Ozpin. One half of her was a dark, driven Queen, fed upon the raids and carnage of her youth; it gloried in its own strengths and despised others for their weaknesses. It despised her own weakness. It was a wonderful, dark driven thing that would insure she would be safe against Salem and Ozpin's foolishness. Because it made her strong.

The other half was weak and Raven did all that she could to ignore it. It was disgusted by her choice to return, to walk a path of wanton violence and it just wanted to be a hero again. It didn't want pain to befall others and it longed to be a mother again; to hold her child to her chest and to tell Yang she loved her. To be in Tai's arms again, and to kiss and love him again. It wanted to be with Qrow, Tai and Summer again, to return to when the world was only black and white. Never besmirched by grey. She hated it for it's foolish optimism. She could never return.

Her heart fell at the thought of Summer. Sweet Summer who longed to make the world as happy as the fairy tales she read. Her prey would have to answer for that too. While she cared little for the Silver-Eyed pets of Ozpin, she care so much for Summer. Her ghost needed to be put to rest. The thought of all the happiness she shared with Summer began to choke her and her weaker half yelled for this all to stop.

The Strong survive the Weak perish.

Her mantra, the remainder of the fate that would befall if she stumbled. She tried to instill the lesson into the others Branwens and into Persephone. The runaway Spring Maiden. Like Raven she'd become aware of what her powers truly would lead to. A unacknowledged death. And so she fled, and came across the Branwens. Raven welcomed her with open arms, after all she'd seen the truth. There was no defeating Salem, only to avoid her gaze. But the girl was proving her unreliability, despite her great powers Persephone only had the barest control over them. She was nervous and unwilling to commit to combat, despite Raven's lessons. And yet despite this the foolish girl had offered to come aid Raven, not wanting to allow her to hunt her quarry alone.

Raven forbidden it, as despite the advantage of a Maiden, she could not allow one of Salem's chosen become aware that they harboured one. That and Raven wanted to settle this grudge by herself. Her and her prey had much to discuss and he had much to answer for. And not just the destruction of her tribe, but to take something of Salem's. An eye for an eye. Raven heard that her quarry was in Mistral killing off Huntsmen and with the opportunity in front Raven took it with both hands.

In the distance Raven could make out a village, one that had recently seen conflict. As a fire could be seen in the centre of it, and a dark figure in front of said flame. Raven entered the ruin village looking at the destruction wrought about it; she noticed the elaborate belltower at centre of the town and a nearby fountain, and deduced that such a town must've been wealthy. It didn't not spare them however, another reminder of Salem's might.

The figure still had his back to her, watching the fire in front of him. He was bigger now, clad in a sickly blue armour. She noted that it didn't cover arms, midriff and calves. Possible weaknesses for the coming battle. With that she decided it was time to face her foe.

"Turn, hellhound. Turn!" Raven called out to him.

And Fenrir Branwen turned with a wide grin upon his face.


Few Moments Prior

Team CRMS put up a remarkably good fight, given the circumstances. The veteran team put a target on their backs by pushing for ventures into the Grimm Wastes, in order to discover the source of the Grimm and perhaps put a stop to it. A team as popular as they were: their proposal intrigued those among the Council.

And so it had to be stopped. Fenrir threw another body into the fire, shaking his head sadly. He wanted there to be bodies that could at least be returned, after all they fought and deserved respect for it. But alas, nothing was to remain. Fenrir shrugged to himself, the village was to look destroyed by Grimm. To place the blame at their feet. Though knowing the Council, other factions such as the White Fang may also be under scrutiny.

This would act as reminder: never underestimate Grimm. And any such plan to travel the Grimm Wastes would die with Team CRMS. As for how they became aware of such plans; Well that would lay at the feet of Professor Leonardo Lionheart. Fenrir blanched at his name, Lionheart, how ill-suited. The cowardly little man rolled belly up as soon as he could, fawning at Salem's feet like the dog he was. To be so quick to abandon Ozpin for Salem. Fenrir didn't disdain traitors, after all he was one. Cowards, on the other hand, he despised. Lionheart was simply a leaf in the wind, carried by whatever breeze blew stronger. Least a traitor stood by their convictions. Still, Lionheart made Salem aware of their popularity and so they became the first of the many Mistral teams to be culled off. Following the Silver-Eyed Warriors to the grave, one dug for them by Ozpin.

Fenrir stood in front of the fire, and watched it burn. He always enjoyed the piece of mind staring at a flame could bring; no matter how large or small. Must be the pyromaniac in him. With the fire soothing him, Fenrir thought upon what had occured over the past years. The Cabal of Salem had its latest member: Cinder Fall. Fenrir grinned at that, he like her, there was a fire in her. An unwillingness to allow anything stand against her and Salem's plans, that and she had wonderful hips. He shook his head to remove any other carnal thoughts. Instead he thought about the last time he was in Mistral, when he murdered his tribe. Oh the good old days, still rumours persist that the Branwens had reformed with a new leader or rather a returned one: Raven, Fenrir's cousin. Whatever she thought, Raven did not have Branwens Fenrir saw to that. If there was a tribe it was most likely built up with sycophants and fools. Not Branwens. And if Raven now led them?

She'd be a fool if that were true. She was allowed to escape them why on earth would she return? Fenrir wondered if he should investigate such claims, after all the Branwens could become a threat to Salem. That or simply lie claiming he was looking for the errant Spring Maiden. Poor girl, Fenrir thought, his great head shaking solemnly. To have such burdens place upon her, another sign of Ozpin's sins. Still if the rumours were true and Raven was leader, Fenrir should really settle his grudge. After all despite claiming he ended the Branwens, the two twins still remained. That really ought to be fixed.

Suddenly his wolf ears flickered at the noise of footsteps. He kept his back to them as he continued to stare at the flame, absently he gazed up at the sky marking the clump of clouds. It looked as if it would rain soon. Then a familiar voice called out to him. Speak of the devil. He grinned, she hadn't lost any of her arrogance, this meeting was a long time coming.

"Turn, hellhound. Turn!" called Raven.

And so he did.


Raven found herself taken back at Fenrir's face. While to top half was covered by a wolfish mask, the bottom half looked so familiar to Qrow. Though broader and clean-shaven. Fenrir's hair was short, spiky with stripes of silver to be found. And behind his mask golden eyes burned.

"Hello Fenrir," said Raven, her tone strained with a bitter hatred.

"Hello Raven," said Fenrir, his tone playful at the sight before him. "To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"

"What? A girl can't catch up with her family?" Raven asked.

"Not you," Fenrir responded. "Never you."

With that he walked over to a nearby cart, upturning it with his foot, before sitting down. Pulling his own weapon out, an great chain-axe, he began to pick at the pieces of armour lodged in the teeth of it. Raven tried not to think on the implications of that action.

"Never thought you'd become a slave Fenrir," Raven muttered, lightly. Fenrir's ears flickered that insinuation, his expression, however, remained unchanged. "What did she promise you? Endless slaughter, you seem a glutton for it now."

"You're one to talk, Ozpin's little eye," Fenrir sung, not looking up from his axe. "You and Qrow both, she knows Raven. Salem knows."

Raven sneered. "I'm no longer Ozpin's chosen fool, I learned that following him is a death-wish!"

"You can't leave this war, Raven. There is nowhere to hide from this war," Fenrir laughed, a deep rumbling coming from his chest. "One way or another; you'll be force back into it and then you'll understand. This war is bigger then us all."

Raven shook her head, a light laugh coming from the Nevermore mask. And Fenrir frowned at the sound of it.

"That's where you're wrong, Fenrir, I have left and now I am free for the first time in my life." She said, gesturing her arms out wide. "I want no part in Ozpin and Salem's petty squabble and so I won't."

"You court oblivion." Fenrir grinned at her, so self-assured in that.

"Better that than slavery!"

"You're a fool to think so." Fenrir said.

"Says the slave to the free woman." Raven shot back. Fenrir for his part seem more amused then offended. His childhood among the Branwens had given him thick skin.

"My, my, what a curt response!" Guffawed Fenrir, finally looking Raven in her crimson eyes. "And what prompted you to find your freedom after so many years of servitude?"

"My family!" Raven yelled, and found herself shocked by the vitriol hatred she spewed into that. "The ones that you murdered."

Fenrir shrugged one mighty shoulder. "Am I supposed to be taken back? Or begging for your forgiveness for my actions, Raven? Because if so you'll be disappointed."

"Did their deaths mean so little to you? Are you that monstrous?"

"Did their deaths mean so much to you? Are you that weak?"

Raven could only looked on in shock, the expression hidden behind her mask. He meant every word, a small part of her always wondered if Fenrir carried any guilt for what he did. Some lingering bond of family. Despite all that she'd seen and all that she fought, she couldn't believe that Fenrir seemed to exalt in his act of slaughter. To be so proud to be the butcher.

"It's clear now, how much Salem has twisted you," she needled. "You're her pet now, just like your mother was Tyr's. Then again given your mother I'm not surprised you turn out the way you did."

Silence fell over Fenrir, he didn't respond immediately. A claw-like hand came to his head and he clutched his skull, tentatively, as if his head was aflame.

"Arrogant sow!" Came Fenrir's own curt response, if appeared his skin wasn't as thick as he once thought. "You think me a monster for what I did? The Branwens deserved it! For all their talk of 'might making right' they bled like dogs in the mud easy enough!"

"And now you're Salem's pet murderer?" Raven asked in disbelief.

Fenrir snarled in irritation. "I sit at on the right side of the true Queen of Remnant," Fenrir's eyes went wild, the look of a zealot. "She has long been denied her throne and now she will claim it. Ozpin's lies will be burned away in the fires of war and the wolves shall reign supreme!"

Raven shook her head in disgust not even bothering to mock his fanatical speech. She'll let her actions speak for her. But before it begun she needed to know one final thing. One last ghost to put to rest.

"Who killed her?"

At first Fenrir seemed confused, unaware of who the 'she' in question was. But then realisation spread across his face, any anger left replaced only with smile.

"Now we come to the meat of the issue." He grinned, showing every fang in his maw. "This was never about the Branwens, was it?"

"Tell me now!" Demanded Raven, ignoring Fenrir's jabbing.

"They were proper fighters - all of them," Fenrir said, ignoring her lost in his own memories. "They lived up to their title of warriors and faced us all without fear, just like the legends said!"

"I don't care about them! Who killed Summer?!" Raven yelled, tears threatening to stain her eyes.

Fenrir didn't answer only to pull back his armour, revealing a long scar across his chest and neck.

"She was the last one: she knew it too," Fenrir explained. "She didn't run and her eyes were so resolute, so…" He struggled to find the word. "Pure, honest, no agenda behind them, she just wanted to be a hero. Be proud of her Raven for she never felt fear, and in my long years of conflict she came closest to killing me. She was a true Huntress and we'll never see her like again."

"Why didn't you die and why did she have to?"

"Spite and Ozpin."

Raven nodded and her decision made. She pulled her blade, Morrigan, from its sheath on her hip. And Fenrir rose from his seat and he clutched his axe in his left hand. The clouds above them broke and rain began to fall. Fenrir raised his right hand, watching the droplets cascade down his gauntlet.

"Shall we not wait until the dribble abides?" He asked.

"Makes little difference to me." Raven responded.

"Justly said. Let us stand and fight!"

And the battle for revenge and retribution began.


Author's Note: Hey everyone! And welcome to the third entry in my little RWBY'verse. It's always been a theory of mine that Salem had the Silver-Eyed Warriors all killed, which is why Ozpin is kept such a close eye on RWBY. So within this 'verse I had Fenrir be the one to do the deed of killing Summer. Though she almost got him in turn. As for why Raven is here: Well, she saw her chance and she took it. These two do have a grudge to settle. Anyhow hope you enjoy, feel free to review and enjoy the rest of your day!

Edit: On a whim decided to go back and fix some of the spelling errors throughout this chapter and expand here and there. I hope you all enjoy!