Summary: She was cold, and she was also feared by many, even her own brother feared her. She had long ago accepted that she was dangerous. She was fine with being alone, she was a loner anyway. She was sure that even her own blood would fear her to. Yet she didn't think she could ever bear her son fearing her, even if they're not related by blood.
Author's note: This is a short chapter. I was aiming for five thousand words, but I was a satisfied with what I had at the end. Adding in anymore just felt like it would destroy the chapter flow. Also, thank you for all your support for this. It means a lot, truly it does. Anyways, just one more chapter to go before chapter six, I say this because that is beginning of what everyone is waiting for. Keyword: Beginning. Meaning they're meeting won't right away. Also, next chapter is introducing everyone's favorite lovable mute!
Her fist struck out, hoping to strike against her son's cheek. It was not to be however as her son ducked, before spinning on his heels as he attempted to perform a sweeping kick. Raven smirked as she jumped, successfully avoiding the kick.
Her leg shot out, and collided against her ten year old son's cheek. Jaune's aura protected him from the blow, and the blond haired boy went with the moment to spin and go for a high kick as Raven was landing.
With her smirk widening, Raven caught Jaune's foot, spinning a moment later before throwing the boy harshly to the ground. The blue eyed shot to his feet in an instant, and mother and son circled each other like predators fighting over a meal. Their swords were leaned against a tree, the two sparing with Close quarters. Raven's legs were slightly spread apart and her hands held in front of her palms open.
It was a favorite stance of hers. It allowed her to better utilize her own form of mixed martial arts. When she told Jaune she had mastered many forms of combat, she was not kidding. Swordsmanship was her favorite, with martial arts coming in as a second.
Her own martial arts style was a mixture of all the styles she had accumulated over the years. Jaune's fighting style however, was more geared towards using his hands for grappling, whilst utilizing kicks to their best efficiency. It was something Raven had began teaching on a whim after she deemed his swordplay to be acceptable. To be honest, Jaune's swordplay was at her level back when she was his age.
Thus, with her swordplay meeting her expectations, Raven thought it would be appropriate for him to learn unarmed combat. After all, you won't always have your weapon with you.
Raven stepped forward, and her son shot fourth, jumping as he lashed out with a flurry of kicks. Raven lifted her hands, blocking Jaune's strikes and occasionally dodging. An opening became visible to her, and she took it. Shifting her feet, Raven jabbed Jaune in the ribs, the blond ten year old losing his breath temporarily as his aura bluffed the blow.
Lifting her knee, Raven slammed it into Jaune's back as he fell, following by slamming her elbow into his abdomen. The boy was slammed into the ground, rolling to his feet as Raven stomped on the ground where he once occupied. Aiming a higher kick, Jaune struck at Raven.
Raven deflected the blow, but she was surprised as Jaune bent his leg, holding her arm as he used the momentum to ascend. Using her arm to keep his balance, Junae's other leg shot fourth to strike Raven in the abdomen.
Raven used her other hand to grasp Jaune's offending leg, than, with a smirk. The black haired woman, fell back, tossing Jaune away as the blond fell face first into the ground. Jaune rolled uncomfortably before falling on his back with a pained grunt. He quickly attempted to his feet after regaining his bearings, but it was too late as Raven knelt beside him, her knee keeping his body pinned.
Her fist struck, aiming for his face and the boy instinctively shut his eyes, awaiting the blow… Only it never came.
Opening his eyes, Jaune blinked as Raven's fist stopped only an inch away from his face. Her index and middle fingers uncurled from their position, and softly poked him in the forehead.
"I win again Jaune." His mother's voice sounded off, the amusement clear within her tone. Pulling back, the black haired woman smiled down at her son. "Up Jaune, you still have two hours of studying left before it's for more sparing."
Obeying, Jaune stood, pouting as he dusted off his white shirt and black pants. "I still couldn't hit you." He spoke.
"You nearly had me. That little trick you pulled with your leg surprised me." Raven complimented, "However my experience has allowed me to counter almost anything that can surprise me." She pat her son's head. "Fret not there is no doubt in my mind that one day you'll be strong enough to defeat me. But that day is far from now, so until then," She pointed at a pile of books that was lying around on the campsite. "Two hours of studying, get to it."
Both mother and son returned to the campsite. Jaune sitting down next to Crocea Mors, before pulling a book into his lap and reading its contents. Raven strapped her own weapon to her waist before sitting on a nearby boulder.
The black haired woman observed her son intently for a few moments before turning her gaze to the blue sky above. She glanced at the positioning of the sun, and she idly realized it was around noon. Her crimson orbs caught sight of a Nevermore flying overhead, the beast not spotting either of them.
"Jaune," She called out, keeping her eyes trained on the Nevermore as it flew further away. Jaune did not look up from his book as he spoke.
"Yes Mom?"
"What is your dream?" That made the blond haired child look up, his blue orbs blinking as he processed the question.
"Dream?"
"Yes...What is it that you wish to accomplish in your life. What is the goal that you want to strive to?" Raven asked.
"I want to be like you." He answered almost immediately. Raven's head turned towards him, her crimson orbs intently gazing upon him as she raised an eyebrow.
"You… Wish to be like me?"
"Yeah, I want to be a Hunter."
"A Hunter, that's it?"
"No, there's more to it."
"Explain," Raven said, although, she suspected the reason.
"History says that Huntsmen were created to combat against Mankind's greatest enemy, the creatures of Grimm. Yet, it seems like the purpose of the Huntsmen have been forgotten over time. Instead of focusing on Grimm, Huntsmen have taken part in wars, fights that don't even involve them. They've even taken sides in matters that shouldn't involve them to begin with." Jaune frowned.
"It seems like the Huntsmen have lost their way. It's like they've become only weapons to be pointed at an enemy that shouldn't even be there rather than being what they were meant to be. I want to remind Hunter's what they really are. Warriors, warriors mean to fight and die for the protection of all life. Whether they are Human or Faunus, warrior's that if necessary, will have to kill even others of our own kind to protect this world. This world may be cruel… But I love this world, and I want to protect it."
Raven neutrally gazed upon Jaune for a moment, his words and the determination in which he spoken his beliefs. Raven found herself agreeing with him. Hunter's were meant to be just as he said. Warriors, meant to fight, kill and give their lives to protect Humans and Faunus alike, so that the rest of the world can peacefully continue living in their pathetic ignorance.
She had wanted to be a Huntress for this very reason. She despised the world. After all, the world was a cruel place that seemed to hate everyone equally. Despite that, she still wanted to protect it. To preserve it, because this world could be so much more, it has so much potential to truly be great. Yet, the Huntsman of today, the people of Remnant was wasting so much of that potential. And Raven absolutely despised wasted potential. Besides, if the world could still produce people like Summer and Jaune, than perhaps the world was worth still protecting.
Smiling, she spoke. "You have an admirable goal Jaune." She said, agreeing with her son's words. "You have a solid head on your shoulders, Jaune. I don't think I've ever felt so proud." Jaune beamed at her words. "Now back to studying Jaune." Nodding, Jaune returned to his book, becoming quickly engrossed.
Very admirable indeed my little Blackbird Raven thought, blinking. Very well than Son, when the time comes I will personally see to it that you attend one of the Huntsman Academies. Than after graduation, I shall come find you Jaune. However this also brings another problem She thought.
She glanced at her son as she mulled it over. Her son had already chosen his path, but the path of a Huntsman was difficult. He would experience many things, and so Raven decided that her son needed to experience one thing that was vital. As her son said, Huntsmen were warriors. They fight, kill and die for Remnant. That meant, Jaune would eventually need to experience his first kill. Raven pursed her lips slightly. She remembered her first kill. The gut wrenching regret she felt before she rationalized it in her mind.
It had gotten easier over time, but there was always a lingering regret when she killed someone. After all, taking a life was still taking a life. Briefly shutting her eyes, Raven decided to wait. To wait until the right time until he would take his first kill. Besides, she needed to find a suitable task he could take. It had been awhile since she had been on the grid.
Looking up at the sky, Raven blinked as she noticed the sun in a different position. Two hours had passed already? Well, wasn't that something. Standing, Raven turned to Jaune.
"Jaune, studying time is over. Time for more sparing," She said, placing her sword to lean against the boulder she had previously been seated on. Her son looked up before smiling eagerly as he set his book down and bounded towards her.
Mother and son quickly entered their stances, eyeing each other like a predator eyeing its next meal. Raven clenched and unclenched her fists, the joints cracking. Jaune tilting his head slightly until a crack sounded off as both mother and son gave predatory grins.
Their feet shifting, both mother and son charged.
Jaune jumped, his right leg aiming for Raven's face. The black haired woman ducked, her hand moving to grasp Jaune's leg. It was not to be as Jaune used his hand to grasp onto Raven's. Seeming to break dance in mid-air, Jaune aimed a Horizontal kick towards his mother's face. Raven leaned back, his kick missing entirely as the wind gently brushed Raven's face. Crimson orbs seeing an opening, Raven spun, taking Jaune with her as he remained grasping onto her.
The black haired woman threw Jaune across the clearing, the blond righting himself in mid-air as he landed on his feet. Looking up, Jaune saw his mother already reaching him as she jabbed Jaune's face.
Jaune slapped her fist away, and he jumped to avoid Raven's sweeping kick. He crossed his arms in front of him to block Raven's punch that would have struck against his abdomen. Going with the momentum, Jaune flipped, landing on his feet against a tree before launching himself towards the black haired Huntress.
Raven clothes-lined the blond, and the blond fell to the ground. He quickly rolled to his feet and caught Raven's fists in his hands. Using her hands a crutch, the blond jumped and attempted to perform a drop kick. It would have succeeded had Raven not rolled back, taking Jaune with her as she did so. Jaune quickly let go, and he rolled to his feet. Raven was already up to her feet by then, and the two circled each other once more.
The two once again charged deflecting, dodging, and blocking as they spared. As she spared, with her son, a thought went through Raven's mind.
I am glad I found you Jaune. My little Blackbird