Chapter #1: Unfamiliar land part #1 - Team RWBY


Ruby

The men found Ruby atop a lone column of stone. Her red cape fluttering in the wind, her hood covering her black hair with red tips. They asked how she got there but she didn't know, so they asked her to accompany them back to the Eyrie which was only a short walk away. Given Ruby's semblance of speed she could have covered the distance much quicker without the need to navigate through the rock outcrops. But she didn't.

Along the way she pressed the men for answers. Where she was, who they were, what the Eyrie is. The men didn't answer, they simply mocked her for her stupidity. They'd assumed she was from the Vale and had simply gotten lost during the night, but the Knight among them was still wary of the girl who knew nothing.

"Come on!" Ruby squeaked as she skipped around the armoured men. They were already tiring from all the ups and downs, their hands that were previously resting on their hilts had become tools to help pull and stabilise them. "Why do you guys wear so much armour, we have…."

"We wear it for protection you foolish girl". One of the men barked. Ruby not being so easy dismayed just huffed.

"Well sooooorry. Geez, where are we anyway?" Ruby asked, she'd still not been told where she was, only where they were going.

"You're in the Vale, controlled by the Lord of House Arryn. I am Ser Vardis Egen, Captain of the Guard". The knight, a man past his prime with black hair and beard, grey sprinkled throughout his hair showing his age.

"Ser? Where on Remnant are we exactly? This doesn't look anything like Vale to me" The hooded girl asked again. The men looked at each other before leaving it to Ser Vardis to answer the girl's question.

"I don't know what Remnant is, but you are in one of the seven kingdoms of Westeros". Ruby didn't understand this and her usual energetic and care free self was rendered quiet. That was until she saw the Eyrie, a castle atop a huge tower of stone. She was awestruck, the castle was unlike anything she'd ever seen. She began to giggle in excitement and almost ran towards it until she saw the Knight's face.

Dome shaped rooves sat atop sturdy looking stone buildings. Ruby couldn't wait to get inside, but the only way up was a thin pathway allowing for no more than two people abreast. She found herself following behind Ser Vardis with two other men behind her. The others remained at the bottom of the path. It didn't take long to realise why as the two men and the knight began to tire. Ruby went to overtake Ser Vardis but an arm outstretched.

"You will remain behind me at all times and only speak when spoken to. Got that girl?" He asked, his voice had turned rough and irritable. She just nodded and returned to her position behind him. She checked her lower back to find Crescent Rose still attached. Breathing a sigh of relief, she started to gently hum. These men are out of shape. I wonder where the others are? She thought to pass the time.

Upon entering the castle, Ruby was given no time to look around as she was told to wait quietly while Ser Vardis made sure the Lady of the Vale was ready in the High Hall. One of the men give her a nudge to move her along that she complained about. But on entering the hall her eyes widened as she took it all in.

A circular room with small pillars to hold up the roof, candles lighting the room and two staircases starting at the back third of the room. They were either side of a raised platform and led up to where an older looking woman sat upon a throne made from weirwood. The woman's eyes fell on Ruby who gulped.

She was slender but not very pretty, she had the blue eyes of the Tullys along with the auburn hair which she had tied neatly. Two tails of hair that started at the rear of her head rested over her shoulders and onto her chest. Her eyes were what really made Ruby uncomfortable, unblinking and cold, showing no emotion and a certain annoyance.

"My Lady. I have found this girl, she claims she doesn't know where she is". Ser Vardis told the woman who still hadn't taken her eyes off Ruby. Ruby on the other hand had begun to fidget and kept looking away from the older woman.

"You don't know where you are? Tell me you name child and well see if we can't place where you are from". The older woman spoke.

"Ruby Rose. I'm from Vale, but not this Vale. Another one". This only served to confuse the Lady and Ser Vardis, who had both just returned from King's Landing after the death of her late husband.

"Rose sounds like you should be from the Reach, yet you say you are from Vale. Only not this Vale?" The woman asked wanting to get the information out of the young girl.

"Yep! There are four kingdoms where I come from, that man…" She said pointing to Ser Vardis "…. Said there are seven here. Where on Remnant are we?" She asked. She didn't mean any disrespect and her voice had only raised a little, yet she was still scolded by a nearby guard.

"I have no knowledge of this, Remnant or four other kingdoms. This world is yet to be fully explored, so perhaps your Remnant is part of it". Ruby's energy practically fades into nothing. Remnant is the name of the world she and her friends come from. For the woman before her, obviously someone of importance to know nothing of it sent chills went down Ruby's spin as she started to consider the possibilities. Remnant had been explored after all, this land wasn't a part of it. Where am I? Oum… help me.


Weiss

It wasn't Grimm that were approaching her at such a speed. Although it was something she hadn't thought she'd see either. Horses weren't very common on Remnant, yet here were four along with their riders. She kept Myrtenaster at the ready as the sound of hooves on the cold earth rumbled closer and closer.

They were on her quickly but she made no move to run away. She wanted information, to know where she was and how to get back to Beacon and her friends. They stopped just short of her, five meters or so with the lead one looking dumbfound that there was a small girl with only a dress on. Weiss would argue that it was a combat dress if it was ever called anything else, but it wasn't addressed as she herself was.

"What's a sweet young thing like you doing out here after a storm like that?" Came a voice from behind the first rider. Weiss narrowed her eyes and stared at the man. He was clearly younger, had a decent face with a thin beard, brown hair and eyes to match.

"I would suggest you watch your tone. I've had plenty of suitors, all of which put you to shame". The man scowled at her while the other two began to laugh and mock him.

"How about I just show you what I can do then girl". He replied, moving his horse forward. Weiss stepped back and got into a fighting stance, as she drew Myrtenaster and pointed its thin tip at the horse. It reared and the man atop tumbled to the ground with a thud. Weiss was quick to move beside him and as he moved his cloak that had blocked his view he froze.

"Hm, not a challenge at all. A waste of my time". She pointed the blade away and walked over to the first man that had arrived, his express had softened yet he had his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Which way leads to Beacon?" She asked. Their weapons look old. Wherever I am must be either isolated or somewhere I haven't read about.

He looked at her in confusion which made Weiss frown. "I don't know which direction that is. But perhaps, if you come back to Winterfell the Maester could point you in the right direction Ms?" Weiss only took a moment before agreeing to the man's offer.

"Fine. But I'm not walking there. I want that fools horse". The man obliged the Heiress and made the young man walk back to Winterfell unless one of the other two wanted to have him ride on the same horse.

Weiss found herself too short to mount the horse, mostly due to the face she'd expose her underwear if she tried. She crossed her arms and frowned. Stupid horse being too tall. Stupid dress, stupid…. The clearing of a throat made her turn around.

"My name is Hallis Mollen, I could aid you in mounting the horse if you'll let me". Weiss felt her heart speed up. She'd rather not be touched even with the gloves this man, Hallis, was wearing. After a few seconds of consideration Weiss consented and he helped her onto the horse and got her feet in the stirrups.

With a leg on each side and the reins in her hands the others left Hallis to deal with the girl. He too started to leave and Weiss started to panic. It only took a moment for him to turn around and smile. "You don't know how to ride do you child?" Child!? I'm seventeen thank you very much. She thought but didn't dare say it. She could use some more assistance.

"Must be nobility of some kind hmm? Not that little ladies such as yourself should be carrying a weapon anyway". Little lady! She scowled at him, but with his guidance Weiss made her way slowly and uneasily to the gates of Winterfell. She learned that it is located next to the Kingsroad that leads all the way down to King's Landing. Neither of those names rang a bell to the heiress who was still completely lost.

Inside she saw what she could only describe as old medieval designs and lacking certain qualities she'd grown up used to. The ground wasn't paved with stone blocks or even pebbled, mud and grass the ground was, natural and hard from the cold. Stone and wooden buildings littered the interior of the first wall. She figured being a castle there would be at least one blacksmith, and a lot of accommodation for the soldiers and guards garrisoned there.

But the thing she found most interesting wasn't the buildings, but the banners that hung from the tall towers and above the gateways. A grey wolf on a white backdrop, fur made scaled armour for its neck. As she stared at the banner, Hallis ordered one of the men to fetch the Lord. Catching the word Lord, Weiss turned to him.

"Who is this Lord?" She asked, still unsure of where she was. Perhaps he can point me in the right direction. They dismounted, but as Hallis was about to continue a small pup ran up to Weiss and stopped. It tilted its head and whined. Weiss liking dogs remembered her partner's dog Zwei that had been sent to Beacon.

Squatting down with her legs closed so no one would see up her combat dress, she extended her hand slowly. The pup sniffed her fingers a little before licking them. Weiss smiled and moved her other hand atop its head and scratching its ears. "Who's a good puppy, you are, you are. Yes you are". Hallis watched in awe, the Stark children's direwolf pups didn't take kindly to others interacting with them.

While Weiss was busy patting the pup its owner stood observing. A young girl named Arya Stark was very interested in the scarcely clothed stranger who was happily patting her direwolf. She stepped forward enough so Weiss turned her head up, the pup moving back to Arya's side. Observing from the base of a stairway off to the side stood Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North.

"Aren't you cold?" Arya asked the girl and she stood back up. Weiss looked the girl over. Younger and shorter, skinny with troubled hair and fair skin, but not a pale as her own. Her hair was dark brown and her eyes an odd grey.

"I am rather cold if am being honest. My name's Weiss". She watched as the younger girl looked her over and scrunched her face.

"You like wearing dresses like my stupid sister?" Weiss frowned and crossed her arms.

"This isn't a dress. It's a combat dress and don't you forget it". She turned her face up and turned away slightly, but in doing so she gave Arya a clear view of her weapon. Arya who was about to make fun of her again for liking dresses, stopped. Finally seeing her dad she pointed at the weapon.

"How come she can use a sword but I can't?" Arya always wanted to learn the sword but her father had never allowed it. It was only because she started to sneakily perform archery that she became proficient at it. And that took a long time, she wasn't supposed to be doing it, yet when she'd finally hit the bullseye she'd heard clapping from her father. From then on he allowed her to practice archery, but she truly longed to learn the sword.

Weiss followed the girl's gaze to find an older looking man with a thick fur cloak and boiled leather underneath. It looked warm and just thinking of it made Weiss's skin shiver. The man himself had brown hair and grey eyes like the girl, his beard had greys coming through showing his age. His face seemed long and serious, but a smile plastered it as she heard him chuckle.

"Run along Arya, I have to talk with our guest". He turned his focus to Weiss and his face hardened. She felt a little threatened, it was almost like dealing with her father, a horrid man who did nothing except see her as a tool for furthering the family name. A name that he'd married into. And so, Weiss was asked along by the Lord of Winterfell where they discussed who she was and where she was.


Blake

She'd already been wandering around for hours. The sun was rising, near midday as she continued to walk. Feet sinking into the snow-covered ground with every step. Blake hadn't even managed to see a single animal the whole time. Her amber eyes darted around her surroundings and over the landscape whenever she made it to the top of a hill of cliff. Midday her teeth were chattering, Bake hadn't been going to visit a snowy area back on Remnant so her attire was lacking in warmth.

The trees towered above the Faunus, their icy leaves hanging down, threatening to drop on anything stupid enough to hide beneath them. She noted how sharp some of them seemed. I bet they could at least cut bare skin. And although she might be right, the blood at the base of a distant tree wasn't from an iced leaf, there was simply too much blood.

Blake seeing the red soaked snow started to track it. It was easy to follow even through what little greenery there was. Ducking under low hanging branches and rubbing against wet ferns of various kinds dampened Blake's clothing to the point she was walking with her arms wrapped around herself. Red here, red there, a small hill with the blood trail leading up it along with three different tracks.

One was clearly an animal of some kind, the other tracks were human like footprints side by side. Stumbling and falling to her knees, the cold spread further over her body. The culprit was a rock hidden under the snow. Frustrated and cold she nearly swore before she caught sight of those she was tracking. Far ahead two figures disappeared into a cave.

"Oum damn it!" She cursed and stood up. She kicked the snow causing a clump to move and resettle. She'd only been there a short time and already she was growing to hate snow. Cold and unforgiving, clothing doing nothing more than keeping her cold. Her breath being the only noticeable warm thing as the mist wafted forth.

Trudging on she muttered under her breath. Cursing the snow, the cold, Weiss, but at the same time wishing she had at least someone to talk to. The tracks, and blood by extension led into the cave where she saw the figures disappear into. She was less than five meters the cave when she could see it wasn't completely dark in there. Light glimmered through the cracked ceiling where ice hadn't frozen over. Rays of light illuminating some of the cave, though with Faunus natural ability to see well in the dark the rays didn't matter much to her.

And that's when she heard it. A roar, not from a man but from an animal. Yelling followed. Curses and then rumbling. "Cut it off!" Someone yelled from within. "Are you mad?!" Another voice answered before a shape started to pass through some of the light rays. Blake stood there, cold and frozen, not wanting to move but needing to as the huge mass neared the entrance, its exit of the cave.

Blake seen the animal's eyes glisten with life as it burst outside. Within a few meters now she had to act. To let it go or cut it down was the conflict she fought within. The great beast was no less than a bear, bleeding and wounded, a spear lodged in its side. She was amazed that it was still alive, let alone still had that much energy. The will to live... Sorry my friend. She said almost prayer like before jumping to the side as it ran past her.

It only took a moment for Blake to do something she'd performed hundreds, thousands of times over. Unsheathing Gambol Shroud, she slashed at the bears throat as it passed, the long katana like blade passing through a vital point. The raging beast's roar died out quickly with little more than a whine at the end. Warm blood covered the snow before Blake as the bear slowed and toppled over, dying from the mortal wound Blake inflicted upon it.

The bear's blood dripped from her blade as she walked over, cleaning it on the bear's hide. Initially sad, one thought hit Blake above anything else. The fur hide of the bear would be warm enough to shield her from the wind. Not that she knew how to skin the beast and make a cloak. Sheathing Gambol Shroud, she looked over the bear. I killed it, doesn't look like a Grimm though. She moved to its head, examining it, and deciding it was nothing more than a normal bear, not a trace of Grimm upon it.

Footsteps behind her made her shift focus to the two figures. She found them to be two men, cloaked in furs. One holding a crude looking sword and the other two parts of a broken spear. Both men stopped and all three stared at one another. Blake sizing them up, even though she was cold she knew she could eliminate them both if she should need to. They hadn't been able to take down the bear and she'd done it in one swift strike.

"Girl. Where are your clothes?" The one with a long brown beard asked her. The other with his sword in hand steps towards the body of the bear. She watches him examine the finishing strike.

"These are my clothes. Do you know where I am?" She asks, her hand resting carefully on her hilt. The two men exchanged a look.

"You're in the north, the real north girl". The bearded one answered. The real north meant nothing to Blake. Though it could be Atlas, the place where Weiss was from, but the weapons seemed ancient.

"Forget about that". The one with a smaller black beard says while removing his own cloak. "Take this, you'll freeze to death otherwise". Blake took it hesitantly, watching him for any movements. The man still had other fur clothing on, but his cloak was so large that when Blake had put it on she could wrap it completely around herself and then some.

Turning her nose up from the smell of it she coughed. The man laughed while the other blew a horn that made Blake jump. Still revolted by the smell of the cloak, she found herself growing warmer and mostly shielded from the cold northern winds. It didn't take long for several more people to arrive. Mismatching furs and more crude weapons. Why the horn? Why not message via scroll? She couldn't help but wonder as the bear was slowly skinned and carved.

Blake watched with disgust as the bear was butchered. The skinless, furless carcass was chopped in pieces small enough to be carried by several different people. Some watched her and none talked to her. She stood there, still shivering as the carcass was stripped and even the bones were carried away. What are these people? She wondered. Savages? Do they really need everything? The sound of crunching snow behind her caught her attention.

As she rounded to face the noise, two men stood before her. One old with grey hair and a patchy beard. The other a younger man with black hair and stubble. "Our hunters tell me you killed the bear. How's bout you come to our camp. Here, being alone means death". The old man said, offering Blake a potential roof over her head.

"Can I have some furs made for me from the bear hide?" She asked back, she killed the beast that would have run and provided the people with food and hide, she simply wanted her own warm clothing. Clothing that didn't stink of the man who had given her his cloak.

"You're only a small thing. I'm sure we can come to an arrangement". The old man spoke with an amused tone. "Hrorand. This is my son Dorrand". He said, clapping his now revealed son on the back. Blake nodded, keeping the smelly old cloak wrapped around her.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Blake Belladonna". With that the old man told his son to go help with the bear while he would speak to Blake. She walked beside him to their camp, asking questions and listening intently to what information he had. He didn't seem very learned, but Blake would take any information she could about this land. She soon discovered that she wasn't in Atlas, and perhaps not even on Remnant anymore.


Yang

As Yang left the swampy ground she stumbled upon a backpack, she recognised it as Ruby's and grabbed it. The smoke further on was still ascending into the sky which was Yang's goal, however, the bag needed investigating. Opening the top, she looked inside. "Of course you would Rubes". She said aloud with a laugh.

Inside the bag was a whole lot of ammunition for Blake, Ruby and herself along with some dust of various kinds. Yang didn't use dust but she knew Blake and Weiss did, her main concern was the shotgun gauntlet ammunition. Tying the bag back up she threw it on her back, slipping her arms through the straps.

She continued walking and taking in the sights. Yang wasn't one to really let things get to her but she hadn't seen a soul on the way towards the smoke. The sun was rising and although it wasn't as cold as where her teammates found themselves, it wasn't the warmest either. It took her almost an hour of walking before she found the source of the smoke.

A stone building three stories tall with turrets and chimneys. The smoke rose from them and the smell of cooking filled the air around it. She noticed horses tied to posts along with a carriage leaving down one of the roads. Taking a breath, she walked right up to the door and walked inside. It swung open easy enough, but what she found inside made her blink several times.

Wooden seats and tables with large wooden pillars and stone walls. The smell wasn't to her liking but it wasn't bad either. The few patrons that were there, all of whom took note of her enter. Some of their gazes lingered, not that it bothered Yang. She was used to the staring from nightclubs she'd been to, having such a figure was a gift and Yang wasn't one to let looks bother her. She'd happily break their hands if the dared touch her in perverted ways.

Taking a seat with her back to a protruding wall in the middle of the room she waited, observing the people in the building and finding it to be similar to a bar. People ordered food and alcohol and a serving girl came out taking both to the tables. The men often remarked about her looks and some even offered to take her out back for a good time. When they got a little physical the girl looked to the inn keeper for help.

"Alright lads, let her go before I have you removed". The woman's voice came forth, strong and authoritative, but it only made the man holding the girl laugh. The girl looked troubled, so Yang with a sigh got to her feet and walked over. She threw the man a smile.

"How about you let her go and I'll make you an offer". She saw the man's eyes trace her body. The smell the man gave off was one of a drunkard making him easy prey. The girl was released and ran to the safety of the kitchen once more.

"You gonna take her place girl?" He asked with a crocked grin, grasping at Yang who took a single step back. She gave him a small giggle and batted her eyes at him.

"How about if you beat me at an arm wrestle I'll let you have your way with me. And if I win you give me all the money you have on you?" She'd noticed them paying mostly with copper coins and the occasional silver. She'd also learned many names and places she'd never heard before. King's landing, Baratheon, Stark, Lannister, The Tridant, The Neck to name just a few. It confused her so she'd decided to try and earn some money, that way she could buy information if she needed to.

The man snorted loudly and moved his drink aside. His friends made some room and Yang took a seat. "Touch me and I break your fingers". She said while shooting the man she sat next to a deathly glare.

"Hurry up blondie. I want to bend you over this table". His crocked teeth once more flashed as he smiled. It disgusted Yang who didn't know where she was or how much she could get away with. She moved her hand up first and then the drunk man took it. They stared one another down as the pressure began to grow.

With no signal for go and Yang found herself pushing him back slowly. It was easy, too easy, so she eased up and let him level out and get a slight advantage. She could put him out of his misery any time, but decided to exaggerate her struggle in hopes of earning more. The battle went on for nearly an entire minute longer before Yang finally slammed his hand onto the table, cheering loudly.

She held out her other hand while she nursed her "tired" arm. The man grumbled and hesitated which made Yang's smile turn into a serious stare down. Silence filled the inn as other patrons looked at the increasingly tense situation. Until the man finally relinquished his coin purse. Yang's smiled returned as she tossed the purse up and down, the coins inside jingling around.

"Thanks! Now I wonder what I could but with this?" She said aloud and went to stand. A loud thumb one the same table she was at made her turn around. The one responsible was much larger and even uglier than the previous.

"My turn girl. Same deal". He put a purse of coins up, bigger than her previous winnings by twice the size. Not knowing what coins were inside she shrugged. Better to have whatever I can get easily I suppose. Yang nodded and cleared her throat.

"Mind if we use our left arms? My right is a little sore after that last one". She poked out her tongue and tried to look cute. She giggled too, but the man she was facing smiled.

"Done". With confidence in his eyes he placed his left elbow on the table and smirked. Yang felt a chill run through her but did the same. This time one of his friends counted down to start the match up. His initial reaction was fast and strong, but Yang withstood it and fought back to a neutral stance. The man grimaced while Yang smiled.

Yang could tell he was much stronger than the last, but even with her left arm she slammed his to the table and once more cheered in victory. There was laughter and other people cheering too. She was quick to grab up the purse and put them both in the front section of the bag. Three more men came to face Yang and try to get into her. They all had to beat her though and not a single one did.

Once the sixth man came and failed Yang had already made a fair amount of coin, much more than she was aiming for. But this sixth man, he wasn't taking the loss too well and ended up grabbing the corner of the table and throwing it aside. Yang was on her feet immediately and easily predicted what the man was doing. A fist was flying right at her, untrained and influenced by booze.

With her right hand, she pushed it away. It flew to the side of her head while her left fist struck him so hard in the face that he fell over backwards, blood trickling from an obviously broken nose. His friends looked from him to Yang only to see the golden-haired brawler more than ready for a fight. It looked like a couple of them were about to take her up on the offer as they raised their fists.

"That's enough! Get the hell out of my inn!" Came the voice of the inn keeper. Yang didn't know if she was included in that telling off but casually grabbed her bag, now filled with coins that she'd have to count.

"That's for the enjoyable time boys. Hope to see you all again". A wide grin formed on her face as she went to leave.

"Hang on blondie. I didn't say for you to leave." Yang looked to the inn keeper and then the men who were slowly funnelling out the other door. Yang sighed once they were all gone and look back at the woman who was much older than her.

"Sorry about the mess. Name's Yang". Her voice normal for her and friendly too, she hadn't meant to upset the business of someone she didn't know and who seemed like an ok person.

"Fuck the mess. Do you know what those men were going to do to you?" The woman asked in a serious manner, her arms folded. She had dirty blonde hair frizzled to her shoulders and pale bluey-green eyes.

"Ah they were weak." Yang made a dismissive gesture with one arm and leaned on the counter. "I've dealt with worse and still come out on top. That was just some easy money". The woman looked at her with narrowed yes.

"You're strong then?" Yang just laughed and nodded, punching one hand into the other with a grand smile. "If you're not going anywhere for a while how's about you work for me? I could use someone to sort out the riff-raff".

Yang had to consider it. She knew names but nothing more. "I suppose I could. But I need to know a few things. Perhaps you can answer any questions I have and any more money I win from fools I'll send some your way?" The older woman nodded and smiled.

"Name's Masha Heddle. Pleased to meet such a fine young woman". Yang smiled back as Masha told the serving girl to arrange a room for their new, short term employee. A room that was hard to access and had a hidden compartment where Yang could keep her things.


Firstly, I want to thank those of you who pointed out that I had forgotten someone in the prologue. (Sorry Jaune) That has been fixed and he too is now involved.

Secondly, I would like to tell everyone that I have not yet read all the books but am up to date on the tv adaptation. I know the two vary in many different ways and I will change even more to fit the RWBY characters. Since this is fanfiction I don't see the problem, but I am sure that some people will complain.

Finally, thanks to all who have read this far and enjoyed the beginning. If you have and questions, concerns or ideas, please let me know. If I like any suggestions I may try and include it or maybe change it a little. Thanks Everyone :)