"Why are you running, huh? You started this!"

Running from this petite, black clothed girl was a group of six large, black, wolfen like bipedal creatures. These six were all that remained of a larger pack that had made the unthinkable mistake of having attacked her. At the time, they had been wholly unaware of what sort of monster they were attempting to strike at. They had simply assumed that it would be another creature of the light for them to make a victim out of, for them to send off to a grave. For them to make suffer, and in turn prolong the ring of suffering that they so relished.

Boy, were they wrong. The situation had turned around on them spectacularly, as the hunters had now become the hunted. This frail looking little girl had at first seemed like she would be unable to put up resistance. And before they knew it, she had brutally slaughtered half of their original number. Feeling genuine fear, an emotion long since thought to not exist in these creatures, the group turned tail (bad Barbara-like pun not intended) and ran as fast as their legs would carry them. But it was to no avail. The small girl had given chase, and they had no hopes of outrunning her.

She'd already caught the first two, having beheaded the first, and using one of the bony spikes located on its shoulders practically de-brained the second with a well thrown headshot. The four who remained continue to run, feeling that if they'd faltered for a second they would be destroyed. But no matter how fast they ran, how much the fear they were feeling urged them on, it was no use. The girl had caught up to the next, and the next, and the next.

Running full speed, the two who'd stumbled upon this magnificent scene tried as best as they could to keep up with the girl and the now fleeing and nearly destroyed pack of Beowolves. As they ran, they saw the girl, in bursts of speed that took her out of the spectrum of visible light for a fraction of a second, took down the remaining Beowolves, each with as much, if not much more brutality than previously. Tearing off a head, spike through the brain, bisection, beating to death with their own skull. She did it all, a Cheshire smile painted on her face. What captivated the two was the scene of the girl and the final Beowulf.

The last survivor of his pack had decided to try one final stand versus the maniacal child. But to the duo watching on, they already knew the result. The creature, while brave, was utterly screwed. And they were right. Lunging for her, the beast did not notice her hand reared back. Did not notice the speed at which her dominant hand was arcing from behind. And only noticed when it was far too late, when the girl's hand had reached it, tearing it from crotch to head. Flying past the girl was a fine mist of blackened blood and rose petal, as well as the two halves of what was just a Beowulf.

From their position, the two took in this crazy scene. They took in the details of this girl; wild red hair so dark it seemed black, clothes torn and wet, and eyes that shone like rusted steel, with slits like those of a wild beast. And her hands, which they could see were no gauntlet or gloves now. Black and mottled flesh, adorned with bloodstained nails of the purest white. As though they were the claws of a Grimm.

"Uh, yeah... no. Cinder, we should just let this one go. I don't feel right about her."

"Be quiet Roman. Look."

As the woman, Cinder as she'd been called by the man, Roman, had mentioned, something was going on with the girl. Her eyes, which had before seemed the epitome of one who is far into the depths of lunacy, had become... normal. Albeit being a color neither of them had ever seen before on a person, a bright and unclouded silver, they had no more trace of the rust like red that they'd seen before. And her pupil, which before had been snapped like a needle, was back to being a normal round. And her demeanor, which had been wild and crazed, had suddenly switched back to being the meek little girl she was before the slaughter began.

"What the-?"

They're... dead? Those creatures from before, I killed them. Right?

Yes Little Rose. You did excellently too. They got what they had deserved, and now they have no time to regret their foolish actions.

She understood, and she didn't. She knew what she had just done, and she completely agreed with what the voices told her. They did deserve it. It was their fault. But she couldn't understand why it felt so good, why it made her happy. Why the voices praising her made her feel so warm and good on the inside.

As she allowed herself the pleasure of being praised by this voice, she was nearly caught unaware by the two intruders.

Little Rose, be aware. There are some humans coming.

Whipping her head around at a breakneck speed, she came face to face with these humans. One was an orange haired man in a bowler cap, wearing along white coat. He walked with a cane in hand and a cigar in his mouth. The other was a strikingly beautiful woman. Her hair fell in waves down to her shoulder, the color of light tree bark. Her body, which was rather mature and sexy, was covered by a red dress with gold accents that almost seemed to resemble fire. Unsure of their motives, she was wary of these two strangers.

"Cinder, it's that girl who foiled our dust shop robber a few months back."

"Ahh, so it is. But she doesn't seem to recognize us. Strange."

The girl could tell they were whispering something, but what she didn't know. Roman, wanting to confirm it, took a step forward, which put the girl on guard.

"Why, hello there Red," he began, trying to defuse the situation. He was aware of her prowess, and would rather not experience it firsthand. Especially after her little... demonstration. "Remember me?"

"W-who are you?" She said a little hesitantly, taking a step back as she did.

Roman, noticing the girl's genuinely confused look, had confirmed what he'd wanted to. She didn't recognize him, nor the atrocity he'd attempted to commit on her. This could work for him, or so he thought.

"Well you see Red, you and I have a little history together."

"Huh?"

"We're... friends. Yeah, let's go with that. And this nice lady behind me was also one of your friends."

Walking up to stand beside Roman, Cinder gave him a slight jab to the kidney. She couldn't believe his stupidity at choosing such a cliché and unreliable story. But, from what she could seem it seemed to be working. Going with the momentum, she picked up where Roman had left off.

"What Roman here says is correct. We've been looking all over for you Red."

"Red? What the-? Oomph!"

"Quiet Roman, don't ruin it."

"So, my name is Red?"

"Yes."

"And you two are my friends?"

"Yes."

The girl just stared blankly at Roman and Cinder as what they'd told her was being processed by her. Unsure of what to do, she looked to the only person, or only thing, she could currently trust.

Is what they're telling me true?

. . . I don't know either, little Rose. But... they reek of blood and violence. The part that they had just so happened to not mention to the girl. Apart that they found inviting, liberating. Something they wanted a part of. You can trust them, little Rose.

"Okay then. Alright." She said seemingly to nobody, confusing the duo before her. "I'll believe you. So, Cinder, and...?"

"I'm Roman you little- YEOWCH!"

Extending her hand to Red, Cinder gave what she thought was her warmest smile. "Let's go back, Red."

Back with the Beacon end of things, teams RWB and JNPR were in a frenzy preparing for what mission Ozpin had given them. Considering that it hadn't been too long since Ruby should have gone missing, Ozpin had decided to send the two teams, sans their missing leader, out on a joint mission to find and recover the missing Ruby. Due to RWBY's leader currently being missing, the leader of JNPR, Jaune, was put in charge of both teams.

Ozpin had given the students the rest of the day off to prepare and supply themselves for their search and rescue mission, as well as special permission to leave school during educational hours and gather what supplies they needed in Vale. Not a single person on either team had wasted any time in beginning their preparations. None, but Jaune himself.

On her end, Weiss had gone with Pyrrha and Blake to Vale. Her goal was to stock up on some dust, believing it may be necessary in case subjugation or force became required. Blake sought out a book store to acquire some extra literature regarding Grimm, specifically Beowolves. Pyrrha had gone to pick up some supplies for the maintenance of the groups weapons.

On their end, Yang, Nora, and Ren had decided to begin packing food supplies, courtesy of the Beacon Academy Exchange, a small store on campus that sold just about everything by way of food. Everyone beforehand had chipped in, Weiss of course contributing the most, and left the three in charge of getting food they thought would suffice. Or rather, Ren was busy deciding while Yang and Nora were there for the muscle.

And in his room, peeping his gear, was Jaune. He was still unsure of how to feel regarding the previous night with Ruby. The feeling of being with his best friend, just hanging around and talking about all the useless stuff that they could. It felt comfortable to him, felt warm, had felt irreplaceable. He wanted back his best friend. He wanted back the girl he had come to like. But he was also afraid of what was happening to her. What the others did not see, what he had.

The eyes that were looking at him, filled with lust. They were Ruby's, and not her own. The lips she'd planted against his were doubtlessly her own as well, but it felt wrong. He'd enjoyed it, a bit too much. But he had still felt at the time that it was all off. That it wasn't right at all. The sight of her atop of him had captivated him, her usual adorable charm replaced with a new type of wild beauty. The memory of this shook Jaune up, and made him feel so many conflicting things.

Attraction to Ruby, fear of her, an obligation to protect her. But also lust towards her. And this made him also hate himself.

This maelstrom of emotions surging inside of him, Jaune mostly focused on the fear. Fear of the girl he had come to cherish changing, becoming something dark. Something... something wrong. Lost in his thoughts as he was, Jaune had failed to notice the door to his room open. He had failed to notice who'd marched on in until he'd felt a hand grab his shoulder.

"Hey Vomit Boy, whatcha thinking about? It better be about we're gonna go find my little sister." At the mention of her little sister, Yang felt Jaune tense up slightly. "So that's how it is, huh?"

Grabbing Jaune by the collar of his jacket, she'd hoisted him up and against the wall, slamming him hard enough to make his armor rattle.

"Ooph!"

"Listen here, and listen well Vomit Boy! I don't care what you may think about Ruby had done to you. Know that you are an irreplaceable friend to her, and she needs you now more than you or her might even realize. If you really are her friend, you should realize the depth of how much she cares for you! For Dust's sake, she's an introvert with the social skills of Crescent Rose! Now, man up, act like her best friend, and begin to think of how we're going to get her back!"

With her little speech ended, Yang dropped Jaune, who landed on his rear with a slight thump. Looking up, Jaune saw that the blonde brawler now had her arms folded across her chest, left foot forward and tapping at a pace that betrayed her patience, or lack thereof. He was afraid of Ruby changing, but what Yang said just now was also true.

"Now get up. We've got to go find my sister." Saying so, Yang offered him a hand to get up.

The hand offered to her seemed so far away, but so close. Should she take it?

Cautiously taking the hand-

Cautiously taking the hand-

Jaune picked himself up.

Red perked herself up.

After getting back on his own feet, Jaune grabbed Crocea Mors from where it lay on his bed, attached the sheath to his belt, and steeled his resolve.

After resolving herself, Red went over to the fallen creatures, grabbed the corpse, and tore several claws and teeth, pocketing the keepsakes of her new life.

"Now those are some good eyes. Okay Vomit Boy, let's get going to where Ruby is. Also, Ren needed an extra hand with carrying the supplies."

"Now those are some good eyes. Okay Red, let's get going to where our home is."

*Author's Note*

Well, that was an interesting chapter. Took me a while to do this because I had to try and account for how I was going to do some of the parts that changed perspectives rapidly, especially that ending part. Anyhow, took me a while to get all of this planned out and typed down. But, like I always do, downed a few monsters (which, it seems, I am now immune to), and decided to get this chapter done...

Which I unfortunately didn't finish yesterday because I feel asleep halfway through. So, feeling guilty I decided to bang this out today. So, enjoy. And remember kids, Dust is not meant to be snorted. Please follow all rules and regulations stated in the free pamphlet provided by the Schnee Dust Company.