Chapter 1: Hunted
The wolf Faunus ran through the forest, weaving about as it tried to evade its pursuers. The dull throbbing in his leg grew more intense with each step, the mask he wore became stifling with his panicked respiration, the weight of his weapon grew upon his back until it felt like a mountain had been dropped upon him.
All his life, he had made mistakes, but this one may just cost not only his life, but the lives of his wife and one child. The huntsman wondered how he had fallen so low, to resort to theft. Had it been the day he broke from his team? Or perhaps after his injury had left him a dead weight, unable to take on any more jobs. It did not matter. What mattered now was saving his family, for the wolf knew that there was no salvation left for him. Not after stealing from the Schnee Dust company. Their PMCs would be coming soon.
Finally, as he ran along the dirt path, his little home came into view; a small cottage, hens clucking in the foreyard. Behind ran a river along which a small peach orchard grew. The huntsman arrived at the orchard, where he saw the two things he cherished most; his human wife Lydia (How long ago it seemed when they met at a club in Vale), and his 14-year-old son, Herman Grauer. It seemed only yesterday that he held the squalling infant in his hands. Tears almost came to the huntsman's eyes as he remembered the prowess his son showed with his father's weapon. The lad had grey hair and blue eyes with a pair of wolf ears protruding from his head. His skin was sun kissed, his face well formed with high cheekbones and an aquiline nose, like his mother. Herman was clad in a navy blue sherwani with one sleeve missing, beneath which he wore a white long-sleeved shirt, black trousers and hiking boots.
They saw him too, concern growing on their faces as they saw his tattered attire resplendent with crimson stains, dirt streaked face and desperate grey eyes.
"Caleb! What happened? Did something go wrong?" Lydia anxiously asked.
"I... I messed up. Gather up all the Lien and food, and go."
"Why? Aren't you coming?" Herman asked, too innocent to know what was going on.
"There's no time, now GO!" Caleb roared "They're coming for me, not you! You may still live if you head north, towards Vale, towards Beacon!"
"We can't go without you! Please...my love, come with us." She protested frantically
"Go now. I'll meet you at Vale, I promise." Caleb raised his voice. Arguing was not an option, Lydia could see as she walked back to the house, head bowed.
"O...okay." she bit back a sob.
As she gathered up all the clothes, she realized that this may be the last she saw of her husband. A tear trickled from her eye.
Meanwhile, Caleb loaded his double-barreled shotgun as he walked to his son, kneeling so he was eye level with the lad.
"Listen, big guy. You may not see me for some time and It's now up to you to keep your mother safe. Can you do that for me?"
The boy nodded. Despite everything, Caleb smiled as he unslung the weapon from his back and unsheathed it, a huge 6 feet tall onyx black longsword. But what made it special was the silver-grey teeth tracks that ran along both edges. They began to quickly whirr around the blade once the switch below the pommel was flicked, activating the inbuilt motor. Another button and it transformed into a rapid fire, air cooled LMG, fed by a 100-round box underneath the weapon.
"Nihil is yours now. Take care of it, will ya?"
The boy nodded. He knew his responsibility.
Placing the mighty weapon in his son's hands, it made him proud to see his son quickly moving into the correct position, with his arms extended and blade pointed towards the opponent. Then he began; a flurry of sideswipes, heavy overhead blows, backstrokes, kicks and barges. Caleb even chuckled a bit as Herman stumbled slightly; the boy was not yet used to the chainsword's weight. The boy would make a huntsman yet.
"Herman! Come now!" Lydia called, hefting the satchel over her shoulder.
The half breed looked at her, then at his father.
"Go."
As he saw his wife and son go further away, his sorrow was compounded as they finally vanished from view.
"I love you both. But it has to be this way..." he muttered to himself.
He turned around, shotgun ready as he heard the sound of an incoming vehicle. The truck stopped at the edge of the road and 3 PMCs dismounted. All were dressed in white combat attire, with heavy vests and chest carriers bearing countless magazines, knives and various other forms of equipment.
"Looks like you got nowhere to run now, you damn mutt." growled the bearded one, hefting his assault rifle. The other two, a clean-shaven young man and a somewhat older woman followed suit.
"If I surrender, what becomes of me?"
"Surrender? You're dumber than you look. Old man Schnee just called and he wants you dead. Should've thought before joining with the White Fang, eh?"
Caleb growled, baring his teeth. He would never ally with that bunch of degenerates. But it seemed nowadays any Faunus was assumed to be one of them. At any rate, he'd go down fighting. He raised his gun.
Ravens flew through the air, shocked by the sudden explosions.
Blood ran among the dirt as 3 people lay dead.