The forest was silent, unnaturally so. All the sounds and movement of its nocturnal inhabitants were missing, and the shattered crescent moon shown down on a forest that seemed much more menacing than normal. It almost looked like a photo except for the slight breeze stirring the leaves.
The snapping twig sounded like a gunshot. A shadow shifted and stood, peering around with blood-red eyes. A hacking cough alerted its companions and quickly more shadows gathered together. The pack of beowolves grumbled and growled, staring into the darkness for the source of the sound. Waiting to see what foolish creature would approach them in their territory.
There. A flash of color in the dark woods. The Grimm stood mesmerized as a yellow will-o-wisp danced its way towards them. Watching it closely, they stood frozen until the dull clank of metal reached their ears and the will-o-wisp took on a decidedly more violent pose. Snarling, the beowolves leapt forwards, intent of destroying it before it reached them. It was already too late. A whine as a new black shadow slashed into a leg, a screech as a flash of white stabbed through a packmate's eye, a final gasp as a floating red figure sliced through a neck. The pack leader stumbled and fell after a strike from the will-o-wisp shattered its facial bones. A growl died in its throat as it watched the four streaks of colors come together and start celebrating its packs demise. Darkness was creeping into its sight, so the beowolf felt more than saw the approach of one older than itself. Feeling the numbing burn as its body began to disappear, it let out a barking laugh.
The last thing it saw was the four colors turning toward it, and the ghostly glow of a death stalker's tail.
It wasn't supposed to happen like this.
Weiss crumpled to the ground, staring up at the death stalker. Myrtenaster lay loosely in her hand, sticky and dark red. Her white dress was ruined: even if the dirt and blood washed out, the countless tears and cuts couldn't be repaired. Idly, Weiss wondered if she should invest in something a bit more battle-oriented for her outfits but the thought went unfinished. She could hear the cries of her teammates, Yang swearing at the Grimm and Blake yelling at her to move, though they sounded like they were underwater. Her eyes never left the tip of the death stalker's tail slowly bobbing above her head. Something was wrong. The normally golden stinger was too dark, and misshapen. Unnatural lumps stuck off it at odd angles, shifting each time the tail moved. The tail was dripping, and Weiss lifted her hand to look at the red drops that fell on her. Red. The stinger was wrapped in red. A horribly wail filled the forest, and the Weiss realized she was the source.
Staring up at the lifeless body of her partner, Weiss screamed.
Weiss jerked forward, mouth open in a silent scream. Jerking her head, she frantically looked around for the Grimm. The RWBY dorm room calmly greeted her panic, the only sound the quiet snores coming from Yang's buck. Stifling a sob, Weiss slowly stood to look into the bed above her. Vision blurring, she rubbed at her eyes as she gazed at the small dark-haired girl sleeping peacefully and sighed in relief when the girl shifted and let out a soft snore. Sliding back into her bed, Weiss wrapped her arms around herself and tried to calm down her racing heart.
"It was just a dream," she whispered to herself, staring up at the bed hanging above her. "It was just a dream." The bed swung slowly and Weiss' eyes hardened. "I won't let anything happen to her."