Disclaimer: I own nothing from the RWBY franchise, I only own the story and the OC that I created.
Prologue.
Remnant.
A world held together by dust.
The unity of life against the forces of death and destruction that surounds its borders. Growing ever stronger, as the forces of light and life, fall to infighting, selfishness and greed.
All of these things and more, will eventually rip the heart from the People of Remnant, if not at the hands of the Grimm tide that stands before them, then at their own hands. For as all things know, humans and indeed all humanoid life, live for nought else, but death and destruction. Every monument they ever made, eventually crumbles at the hands of their own species, some you would count as works of nature, or shoddy worksmanship, but, this tally pales when compared to the one where humanoid life seeks to destroy the works of it's own kind.
*A forest on Remnant*
I am nothing.
I am nothing.
I am nothing.
I repeat this mantra inside my head. My face impassive, dead, void of emotion or life. Only my eyes seem to have any sort of life in them, some sort of emotion or inteligence. I stare at a small clearing as deer graze; totally unaware of my prescience, I move slow, not making a sound. Not even breathing, as I control my heart rate moving ever closer to the heard; picking my target as I move. No wasted movements, no stone dislodged, no blade of grass distorting as I move forward.
I pause. Sniffing the air, to see if there is any disturbeance that could give me away, or just as likely, give away the position unwanted attention. Like that Grimm Crow that has been tailing me for the last few days. It thinks that I don't know, but I indeed do know. It's actions are not natural, Grimm do not sit and observe any humanoid life without crying out, calling for any other Grimm in the area to come and kill this faunus, who dares intrude in thier territory. There is one fatal mistake that that Crow up there made, it was foolish enough to bring alcohol on a hunt like this. Idiot.
Well that's human stupidity for you. Or rather, 'City Dwellers' for you. Even out here, they desire the civilised lifestyle, like being clean for example. They don't smell right out here, anyone with half a nose could tell you when a City Dweller set foot in any forest in Remnant. Not only that, they could tell you what their gender is, give you a rough age gap, tell you how tall they are, how much they weight and what they had for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
They are too soft for life out here in the wilds. Very few can last longer than a few months without help out here. Especially when they lack proper knowledge. Do they know what trees provide good materials as weapons? How to track the wild life? How to use the animals fur, skin, bones and flesh? No. no they do not. They are blind to the world all around them, living their safe little lives safe behind their big city wals.
I stop, my chosen prey, not more than fifteen feet away from me. I now take my weapon in hand. To most people it is nought but a length of hardwood, a red oak to be precise, though I do prefer mahogony wood due its greater resilience. About a foot and a half long with a wrapperd leather grip on one end, while at the other, rests a small wooden notch. To the soft handed City Dwellers, this is not a weapon, but to me, this is a weapon, a tool I have used for the last six years.
This is an Atlatl launcher, an ancient weapon for Hunters and warriors alike, long before Dust, Aura, and even Grimm. This works like a Bow, for without ammunition it is just a piece of wood.
I draw a dart from my quiver, and set it into the notch on the Atlatl. The dart itself is made from Sandbar Willow wood, one of the best kinds due to its fexibility. A dart needs that flex in order to use the energy created from the Atlatl, to reach the target. Some goose feathers near the butt portion of the dart, with a sinew wrap at the base of the dart. The tip itself is also sinew wrapped, that ends at a removeable head, made again from Sandbar Willow and from carefully shaped arrowheads made from volcanic glass such as obsidian. There are also others made from a more common stone called flint, any good hunter carries atleast seven or eight of these dart hafts as well as twenty or thirty extra dart tips to replace broken ones. Not only that, they would also carry the tools to craft more in the field, and should push come to shove, I carry fire-hardened wooden dart tips as well.
As I draw my arm back, the Crow takes flight crying out, causing my target and the herd become tense, weary, all thanks to that bastard Crow. I remain still, becoming nothing, giving no indication of prescience. Time passes slowly, but the herd eventually calms down, nevertheless, I hold myself back from striking. Hunting takes patience, something I learned the hard way. After judging the time to be right, I then draw my arm back further, hold to steady my aim, then hurl the dart forward.
A small 'woomf' sound, followed by a meaty 'thunk', my target then hits the ground, dead. The herd scatters after my attack; remaining hiddden, I allow the herd to get a safe distance away. After the herd passes by, I slowly make my way to the deer I'd felled. I make sure that it is dead; poking it with a dart to be safe, after confirming the animal is dead, I slowly and carefully retrieve the dart that killed it. I then draw my obsidian carving knife resting upon my right hip, to skin, bleed and butcher the animal. After that lengthly operation, I clean my knife, my hands and pack up the choice cuts of the deer, as well as the heart and bottle up the blood for later.
I slowly move off in the direction of the nearby river to clean myself and my gear of any and all traces of blood, so as to prevent any Grimm or wildlife from tracking me so easily. When I arrive at the river, I pause in order to take a look at the image reflected on the surface of the water. What I see, is me. A Honey Badger faunus of around sixteen or seventeen years of age, with a tall yet muscular physique, one built with speed and agility as the main focus, yet one that houses an extraordinary level of physical strength. A face that fits perfectly with the description of being 'gaunt', with high and strong cheekbones. Dark brown eyes devoid of emotion and long hair that reaches a little past the shoulders, it is primarily white in color, but turns black as it nears the tips. I can feel numerous scars on my body most of which I recieved in my early years out here in the Wilds. One of them being a prominent slash across my stomach. I also have a scraggy, matted black and white colored beard, about an inch or two in length. (ref.1)
As I'm doing this, I hear the sound of a machine, a 'Bulldog Passenger Transport Aircraft', if I'm not mistaken. And, as I figured, it is headed my way. That Crow must have finally told others about my prescience here. Will they try to kill me? Will they try to take me back for a prison scentance? These thoughts are of no merit, I will refuse to go back, I honestly see no point in being amonst humans, or faunus for that matter. I mean, if you can't trust your own species to help you in your darkest hour, then who can you trust? Simple. You only have yourself. Only you, can save yourself in that situation. And that is exactly what I did.
I had stolen a scroll when I decided that I had had enough, and ran away, beyond the walls of Vale, and into the wilderness. That scroll, gave me the knowledge that I sorely needed out here; I'd looked up wilderness survival, and primitive weapon making. I was lucky to even find websites about these things, let alone full video tutorials on the subject. But luck was with me, and I was able to find a number of detailed videos that also gave clear instructions, and information regarding the materials that would be best suited for the task. For both weapons and tools for crafting, cooking and hunting.
Hmmm. The Bullhead seems to be holding position about a mile or so away. Probably so that he occupants can get a report from the Crow. Should I head back to camp? Or should I lead them on a little run? No, I still have things to finish at camp, even though I do want to avoid contact with who ever it is, I cannot leave the materials that I have stashed there. Most likely, they will head there anyway I look at it. So, for now atleast, I will 'play host' to the City Dwellers. I sigh, if only because of the near unavoidable contact with whoever is coming. I turn and steadily make my way to camp, all while keeping my senses open to any shift in the natural world.
*Some Time Passes*
When I finally reach camp, the Bulldog starts to leave. Now, normal people would assume that this meant that the pursuit is off, but I know better, most likely that Crow has brought some friends to come get me. It'll take a while for the wind to change so that I can get an idea on how many are coming towards me. As I wait, the wind finally changes so that they are upwind of me, giving me all the information I need for now. There are only three humans coming my way, two male and one female, I'm not sure what to make of this. They could be here to kill me, for whatever reasons they posses, or bring me in. There is no logic that I can draw upon as to why these three individuals are coming for me, all I can do for now, is wait and see.
There scent is getting stronger, I can now smell some distinct scents on the three humans. The Crow is most definitely there, the amount of alcohol he has consumed in the last few days still lingers on him like a heavy cloak, no amount of cleaning will remove that shroud. The Female smells clean, too clean. Hair washed, and body cleansed about three of four hours ago, tops. She also smells of tea and a small breakfast consisting of porridge, with side order of yoghurt and a bannana. The last man,smells STRONGLY of coffee. Oum dammit! That smell is as strong, if not stronger than the one surrounding the Crow! I fucking hate the smell of coffee!
Judging by the strength of the overall scent, it'll take them about half an hour or so for them to get here, unless they deviate for a different purpose. Well, I might as well get breakfast on the go, something simple I think. Strips of venison, with boiled Chicory roots. Chicory is a bushy plant with small blue, lavender, and white flowers. The entire plant is edible, just pluck off the leaves and either eat them raw or boil them. You can even pop the flowers themselves in your mouth as a quick snack, the roots can be also be boiled to make them tasty. You can even bake and grind them to use as a coffee substitute.
*Half an hour later*
A few minutes before I would call breakfast ready, the three humans arrived. Approaching me from behind. Wise move on their part I will give them that, but I smelt them coming from a mile off. Oh, they pause, from what I can hear, they are arguing, good Oum, I cannot believe that they are arguing right now! Heh, just goes to show how soft these City Dwellers really are. The female from what I can gather, is angry at the Coffee man, why though? Ahhh, she deems me a threat, heh. Coffee Man seems adamant about something with regards to me though, most likely because of what the Crow told him about me. Whatever. Let them think as they will, I will not go back to human or faunus civilization. Not alive at least.
If they won't come forward, then I will prompt them.
"I know you three are there." I state. "The Crow has been following me for the last few days. So when he finally took off and the Bullhead arrived about an hour later... You would have to be monumentally stupid to not put two and two together."
They are silent now. Two of them smell shocked at my declaration. Whilst the Coffee Man smells interested. I do not like that, not one bit.
"So I think it best that you come forward, and not skulk in the shadows like thieves." When I say this, the two men give a small chuckle, but the Female dosen't sound amused.
"In that case, if you'll allow it, we'll come forward." Replys one of the men. The voice sounds controled, calm, strong. But also a little mirthful. I give a grunt and a slight motion of my head, all the while just staring at the meal cooking on the fire. Their steps, bring them up behind me, and they stop there. It's like they fully expect me to turn around, to acknowledge them in some way! No! Not happening.
"If you expect me to turn around, then you are sorely mistaken. You will move to the front of the fire for me to see." I emphasize two key words. I will not show them any respect, nor will I expect it in turn, for out here... the only law is your own.
"Young man! You will not take that tone of voice with your elders!" The Female, apparently, didn't like my lack of respect towards herself or her companions. Like I care, so I tell her as such.
"Inside those walls 'Hunteress', respect, may be yours. But out here? Out here, noone who will give a damn. Out here, it is survival of the fittest, only the strong, the clever, the ruthless, the savage and the feral alone may survive." I speak only the truth, I had learned this from hard earned experience. To hunt out here, you have to be clever enough to avoid detection from the Grimm. Not easy at all. You must literally make the scent of the forest your own, make the scent of animals your own. You must become as air, dirt, water, a purely natural part of the landscape. This is not an easy thing to be because of the fact that I am not a natural forest creature. Being both ruthless and savage is very easy out here, you just need to make sure that when you go in for the kill, you make sure that you damn well kill your target. Strong, for the very beasts that you hunt, could very well make a meal out of you if you are not careful. Not only that, but you have to fight the Grimm with whatever weapon is at hand. Feral though, as a Honey Badger faunus, I can tap into the most feral of my instincts to make myself tougher than normal, but this is not aura or semblance however. These feral instincts made me tougher than those without aura or semblance, but I would most likely have survied out here a little better if I did have it unlocked. Nah, most likely I would have died, for the Grimm would have been able to find me that much easier.
"...!" She is not happy. Good, emotionally driven people make mistakes, are easily driven, controlled and manipulated.
"Steady there Glynda!" A man speaks in a sarcastic manner. From the smell of alcohol I can say that this is the voice of The Crow. "This kid has fangs!" True, I do have fangs, rather sharp, piercing ones.
"Qrow! We are not here to indulge in his beha-!" She begins hotly, but I can see she does not take me seriously. So, whilst her attention is drwn away, I pick up a rock and throw it at her almost neglectful. Though I do expect one of the men to catch or deflect it. A sound of movement, and a hand catches the stone.
"I apologise on Glyndas' behalf. But please, lets keep this civilised." The Coffee Man caught it. His words are, again calm, though I do detect a small hint of force in them. Heh, a petty attempt at intimidation. Not gonna work here pal!
"If you want civilised, then you are farthest from it here." My voice is void of mirth, sarcasm, hate or even fear. "If you want to talk, then come in front of me. Sit on the log on the oposite side of the fire so that we might talk. Like civilised people." I cannot keep the venom from my voice as the word civilised makes its way past my mouth.
"Thank you young man." Replies Coffee Man. It's most likely that he heard my tone there but chose not to acknowledge it.
"Ozpin! You cannot be serious about this! He is nothing more than an a-!" I interupt her tirade, because it is very clear what she was going to say.
"An animal." She remains quiet, but I can sense her unease. Maybe it's due to my being faunus that makes her feel so? No, most likely it's Coffee Man who makes her feel so.
"Glynda." His voice now laden with authority. "I would have thought that you would know not to use such offensive language." His disapproval of her words is quite apparent.
"I-I am deeply sorry for offending you." She sounds sincere.
"Don't be. I, like all faunus, are nothing more than animals pretending to be human. Whilst humans are but a small step away from being the animals they so despise." This is the truth of the world. This is my truth. My understanding of life. Hmm, they seem to find my words rather strange. Why though?
As I spoke, the three humans move around my, and sit on the log on the oposite side of the fire. Allowing me to get a good look at them.
Judging by scent, the one on the right is the one called Qrow. Hmm, I'll keep calling him The Crow. He has graying black, spikey hair, red colored eyes and slight stubble along his jawline. His face is lacking any excess fat and holds a playfull tone to it, yet I can see a face that has seen death. One that has jaded his views on life, but he seems to have a little lifeline. His Figure is lean but built for speed, yet holds a surprising degree of power. He has a tattered red cloak across his back, with a grey dress shirt with a long tail. Black dress pants, and black dress shoes. On his hands are some rings. On his right index finger lies one ring, with two others on his fourth right finger and he also wears a necklace with a crooked cross-shaped pendant
On the left is the one called Glynda, who appears to be a middle-aged woman that has very light-blonde hair, that is tied back in a bun with a loose curl hanging down the right side of her face. Her eyes are a bright green color, and she wears thin ovular glasses. She also wears teal colored earings that match the pendant hanging on her collar. Her face is set in a stern manner, but I do detect a motherly feel to her that very few people actually notice. She wears a white long-sleeved, pleated top that has a wide keyhole neckline and gauntlet cuffs that flare in pleats at the wrist. Her lower body is covered by a black high-waisted pencil skirt with bronze buttons and black-brown stockings. She wears black boots with brown heels, and a cape that is purple inside and black on the outside. The cut of the cape is stylized to end in flames and arrows, with a row of diamond-shaped bronze beads on the back. Above this line of beads appears an emblem of a tiara. I'll continue calling her The Female however as I don't wish to show her any form of respect when she hasn't earned it.
Lastly, in the middle is the Coffee Man, known as Ozpin. He appears to be a middle-aged man, with tousled silver hair and thin brown eyes. As I look at him however, I notice his eyebrows do not match his hair color. They are black. He must have suffered some heavy trauma to turn his hair a different color. He has a light complexion with sharp facial features. This face is set in a manner that seems indifferent, yet he holds many emotions and feelings behind that carefully set face of his. His outfit consists of shaded glass spectacles and a small, purple, cross-shaped pin on the green colored cowl around his neck. He wears an unzipped black suit over a buttoned vest and green shirt. He also wears black trouser shoes and long, dark-green pants. He is also carrying a cane; it's handle is embelished with a pattern, and has a large knuckle guard that reaches down to the bottom of the handle. There also appear to be small gold gears in the handle at the point where the shaft on handle meet. The shaft itself is gray-black in color, and has a roughly squarish shape to it. Very different to the usual rounded shaft.
They sit there studying me as surely as I am studying them. Hmmm, breakfast is ready. I then start to prepare my breaksfast in front of their eyes; The female is showing her emotions rather freely. A poor thing to do out here in the Wilds. With my breakfast done, I proceed to eat, waiting for one of them to start speaking. From there, I will speak and act.
"Thank you for affording us a chance to talk to you young man." Coffee Man said, finally speaking. "I am rather curious though, just how long have you been out here?" His tone, questioning.
"It's been about five or six years now." I respond simply. His face shows little, but, his eyes widen slightly, betraying a sense of surprise. His companions, however, are rather plain to see. The Crow seems a little awed at what I just said, whilst The Female is apparently shocked, she also seems to be a little upset at the fact.
"About five or six years, you say? That is a long time. What made you decide to come out here? You spoke earlier about a lack of trust for humans and fuanus? What do you mean by that?" Coffee Man asks. I snort at that, does he really think that I will just hand over my personal history just like that!?
"Do you honestly belive that I would divulge my past to you just because you asked for it!? You!? A complete and total stranger whom I do not trust, not one bit!? I had you pegged as an intelligent man, but it seems that I gave you too much credit!" I say, acid lacing my tone at his poor attempt at getting at my personal history.
"Now see here-!" Again, The Female tries to speak reagarding my lack of any form of respect towards them. I won't have any of it.
"If you are quite finished, I have work to do." Seeing that this is getting us nowhere, I then forcefully end the conversation. Standing up, I kick dirt onto the fire untill it is out, then I begin to grab my cooking utensils and start to pack up my belongings.
"Hey easy there buddy, we still want to talk to you about something." That idiot Crow tries to intervene, but I do not stop packing, as I then start to grab as many of the useful materials as I can, disgarding those that will only slow me down.
"Young man, would it be possible for you to entertain a thought?" Ozpin asks, slowly yet clearly.
"Depends on the thought." I reply dryly. "Don't expect much from me here. If you want me to fight for humans and faunus, then you are barking up the wrong tree, if you want me to kill Grimm, then think again! I am not some 'pawn' in your little game, Coffee Man!" The force and venom in my tone cause Ozpin to, against his own will, blinks a few times, in shock perhaps. It is not just him who blinks but The Crow and The Female also; most likely due to what I called him. He gains control of himself and starts to talk again.
"I do not see you as anything less than a person. NOT some piece to be thrown away." Coffee Man speaks quite clearly with regards to how I view myself in his eyes. His words are quite firm infact.
"I came because my associate, Qrow here, told me about something that I had found to be interesting-!" He begins, but I interupt.
"So, you find me 'interesting' do you? Am I some sort of endangered animal that you want to stick in an enclosure for scientific study perhaps?" I reply in a dead voice, but I add a note of hostility, to show what I really think of that thought process.
"No! No, I do not! What I found interesting, is the fact that you were even out here! Noone should be able to survive without aura, semblance or even modern technology for any length of time, especially when so deep in Grimm territory!" He seems to be quite interested in my ability to survive out here. I wonder where he is going with this?
"I will not try to pry into your past, but do you know what I really see before me?" He looks me in the eyes, trying to get me to understand something maybe? "I see someone who has survived, despite impossible odds. I see someone who has fought every day for up to six years, deep in Grimm territory, and has still survived! I see a strong warrior, a survivor, a true blooded Huntsman! That is what I see, when I look at you." Strong words there Coffee Man, but it will not alter my opinion of you and your associates.
"I want to offer you a place in my school, Beacon Academy." His declaration caught me off guard, I was not expecting this. Nor as it appears, did The Female.
"Ozpin! You cannot be serious! He has no desire to protect others! No desire to fight the Grimm! How can you make such an offer!?" The Female does not attempt to hide her anger at his offer. Can't blame her really. I am not liking it one bit. I mean, he wants to put me in a place where my freedom is quite literaly, in his hands. I would have to follow his rules and do things his way! I would have to play nice with the very vermin I so hate and despise! As my emotions start to run wild within me, I notice that the only one who hasn't spoken yet is The Crow. From what I can see on his face, he is contemplating something, probably what Coffee Man just said.
"You are a real piece of work aren't you?" I give my voice an edge, it does not go unnoticed.
"Steady there. It is just a thought, a bad one yes, but still just a thought." The Crow finally enters the conversation, acting oddly enough as the voice of reason. I did not see that he had it in him to be a mediator. "I know that Ozpin is asking you to go beyond your comfort levels. But, the way I see it. Don't you feel a little lonely out here? Do you really not like the idea of interacting with other people? Do you truly desire to remain an outcast from all society? Forever? Think on this for a bit, what he is offering is a chance to interact with people in a controlled environment, a place where you can chose when you can interact with others. Out here, you may seem to have that choice, but there may come a time where you can't make that decision, what would you do then?" Qrow asks, hoping for me to see reason in his words.
I hear what he says, but I cannot agree to them. I had run away from society as a whole, of my own volition, and I have no intention on going back. Here, I can live how I want, do whatever I please! If I went with them however, I would be strapped with who knows how many rules, regualtions and conditions that would limit the freedom that I so cherish. I hate both faunus and humans, I do not want any further contact between myself and them, I had made my choice and I have lived a good life ever since I left the walls of Vale. I will not give that up without some very strong resaons. And those that he just gave me? Bloody, piss poor ones!
"If you think that that will be enough to sway me, then you are far more of an idiot than Coffee Man!" I lash out at him, for his moronic statement. "I hate both the fuanus and the humans! If I went to your school Coffee Man, my freedoms would most likely be taken away from me, and that is something that I would never agree to!" I am getting angry now, they are pushing their already unwelcome presence into an overbearingly agrivating one, and it is getting on my nerves!
"Please, let us all calm down and think rationally." I twitch at that. "There is no need for there to be hostilities between us-!" Oh for the love of-! He just won't quit will he!
"Look here pal, I am done with this conversation, I am done with your ideas, I am done with you and your associates! I am not going to join your school as I am not going to leave the one place that I know I can trust!" I make my intentions very clear so that ther is no misunderstanding between us.
"What would get you to join my school?" That calm voice! Why won't he just..! No, no. Calm down, letting my emotions run free is what he wants. He is trying to get me to join him by letting my emotions carry the conversation. Damn near almost fell for it too!. I breathe deeply a few times to get my rampant emotoins under check.
"Coffee Man. That very nearly worked. Trying to get my emotions to take control of the conversation, a very wise move on your part, but I am now back in control of my emotions." I intone, voice now controlled, measured, calm. "I don't need to reitterate this, but I am not going back. These wild-lands are my home now; you may view this as being a waste of potential, but I don't really care for your opinion right now. You have remained here long enough. Go back to your walls, your soft beds, your easy meals. I will remain here until the day I die." My conviction will not be broken easily so I make sure to get that across. With a heavy sigh, Coffee Man speaks.
"Very well. We have overstayed our welcome, we will not trouble you any more." With this he and his associates prepare to leave; Coffee Man turns around at the last moment. "Please keep my offer in mind though young man. There may come a time where you and I will meet again." With this, he walks away. Leaving me in my deconstructed camp with his last words echoing through my mind.
A/N
Hey guys. This is my second attept at a RWBY-verse Fanfiction. Hopefully you liked the rewrit of this chapter, and I really hope you will like the story I have planned as well.
A big SHOUT out for Velo C. Raptor, a fellow writer who took an interest in my story, and gave me a number of pointers on what was wrong with the narrative of the story I was writing. Through further conversations with them, I had decided to rewrite the prologue chapter so as to make it more structurely sound. Their words and ideas will be instrumental in making this story of mine both interesting and enjoyable.
I will even further welcome any and all forms of critique of this story and any others that I decide to write up. With regards to this, any further chapters will take a while to finish and upload, all because I want to make it feel and fit as close to perfectly as I can.
So, again, please review and comment on this chapter, as I want to improve myself so that you all can enjoy a good story.
See Ya around!
(ref.1) - I looked up facial desrciptions and matched them to faces from various celebrities. The face I based my OC's off of, is the croation actor Goran Visnjic, this is a close approximation to the facial structure I was looking at.