Life is a strange thing.
No life is the same, it take many shapes and could say that diversity is one of the key factors of it. No life is the same as the other. It was saddening that most people used those diversities as reason for strife. For battle.
For war.
Yes. Life is a strange thing.
That was at least what Glynda Goodwitch thought as she roamed the ruins of the village. The burning houses and smoke seemed to darken the mood of the already bleak day. Rain clouds hung over her head, the rain a constant companion to her.
The village of Sighund was small with a population of a two hundred fifty seven. Due to that and its desolate terrain Sighund wasn't very well known. Fortunately enough that same terrain offered incredible defense from the Grimm.
So it came to a huge surprise when the otherwise quiet and peaceful requested hunter assistance.
Despite the simple nature of the request it took some days to get there.
Glynda Goodwitch, age twenty-six, was not new to the plight of Grimm. She witnessed it first hand how destructive, how savage, and how driven these creatures are.
Nonetheless.
It hurt seeing the damage done by the Grimm. It was a testament of their of their failure.
When she and her team arrived the inhabitants of the village were gone only the Grimm remaining at their place.
It did not take a lot of imagination to figure out what happened.
Spurred by anger she and her team quickly cleansed the village of the infestation. After a couple minutes of rest the decision was made to split up and search for survivors.
Which brought her to now.
As Glynda made her trough the ruins while searching for anyone who could have survived the onslaught. As she kept walking tough her hopes started to dwindle. Corpses littered the ground, their bodies covered in slash and bite marks. Chunks of meat were missing on some. Other had lost appendenges and other missing body parts.
Glynda winced at the sight. All these years and it still had an impact on her.
She could hear the words of Proffesor Ozpin.
Sympathy for the dead isn't a sign of weakness. It's a sign of humanity. Don't ever lose it.
A sign of humanity.
Somehow it didn't make her feel bett-
Her thought process was stopped by a weird high pitched sound. She turned to follow it.
Was it a survivor? Glynda couldn't help but wonder who could have surived something like this. She followed the sound into a old hut. The brittle roof of the wooden construct was ruined a largen hole in the middle of it.
The insides were mostly empty. It seemed to be a kind of tool shed. Showels and pickaxes were scattered troughout the room. She would have wondered why a city with no known Dust mines would need those tools and she saw no fields as they made their way to the village.
She would have. But all her questions were directed to the middle of the room.
There, in a small crater, was something.
It was small and black. Its body seemed thin and underdeveloped like it was a baby. Big ears fidgeted on top of his amphibian head. Its eyes were big and shown a bright green as it looked at her with fear. A long tail slightered behind it. Its hands were small but covered with green crystal like substance.
It's a grim…
That was the first thought that went trought her head. Instinctively she took several steps forward, her wand at her side and ready.
She would kill it.
It was a grimm. Despite the lack of grimm mask she doubted that this - thing – couldn't be anything else.
So why couldn't she do it? Was it the fearful look it gave off as she closed the distance. The way it shrank into itself as she loomed over it. Or the way it covered its big head with its tiny claws trying to futilely.
No, it was definetly the eyes.
They showed so much…emotion. It wasn't mindless. It was afraid.
Of her.
Glynda did not miss the irony.
Despite herself she kneeled down. Should it try to attack her dispatching it would prove no problem. She offered the small thing a hand, the other having a vice grip on her wand.
It regarded her hand for a moment. It inclined its head and started snffing it. Then it gave her hand a affectionate lick grabing onto her ring finger.
It didn't hurt. If anything it tickled as its teeth seemed not to have grown yet.
She gave it a pet on its head, her hand easily engulfing it all. It coed as it pressed against her touch.
It surprised her how affectionate it seemed to be.
Still she couldn't let herself be careless. Whatever it was , this was still Grimm infested territory.
None of the villagers survived.
So how did it? Where did it come from? The only possible entrance point could have been the door or the roof. The roof was more likely as the whole in it was exactly over the strange creature.
Her thinking was cut short as her com-link beebed.
"Glynda, come on. We are heading back."
"W-what about survivors?" asked Glynda. Did they finish already?
"Not a single one. Sorry." Her teammates apologetic tone ringed true.
No matter what you think of him, James Ironwood is not without compassion.
"I'll be on my way now."
"Good,lets get this over with quick."
The com-link went silent again leaving her alone.
Not alone exactly. The creature was still there looking at her with wide curious eyes. It let out a high pitched "Guh." as it tilted its head to look at her.
Glynda looked at it for a moment, weighting her decisions.
She could kill. No, scratch that.
She should kill it. This thing was definetly no human or faunus. Despite its not threathening looks who knows what it might grow into.
So why risk it?
Her other option was to leave it alone to its own devices. No one would know. It was alone and should it get into trouble she'll doubt it would survive which would easily solve the issue.
So why couldn't she?
It was strange. She couldn't destroy it, but she couldn't leave it either. There seemed only one solution.
Glynda would again approach the small creature and kneeled down and offered it hand. She mustered her kindest smile and lightly tilted her head.
"Wanna go on a little trip?"
The creature looked unsure at first as if not knowing what to do. It made eye contact for a moment.
She wondered if it could see the sincerity in her eyes. It the climbed onto her outstretched hand fitting easily enough.
Glynda Goodwitch smilled at the little creature. She was sure there was no reason to worry.
Like, whats the worst that could happen?
Oh,boy. You got no idea.