Wassup! Guess who's back with a shiny new chapter for you all to enjoy! MEEEE!

Far into an area ravaged by death, destruction, and despair were an army of Grimm. Tons of Beowolves, Ursas, Deathstalkers, Boarbatusks, Nevermores, and others were stalking around the dry and cracked ground. All the trees were barren and it didn't look like leaves would grow on it anytime soon. In fact, there were no signs of foliage anywhere. Dark clouds covered the sky and in the distance was a run down castle on top of a hill. Two Nevermores were perched on two large pillars screeching in sync with each other. Cinder and Scott walked alongside several shadow walkers towards the castle. The creatures had very bony, lithe frames. Their skin was pitch black with red crystal-like patches in various places on their bodies. Their eyes were completely red and they also had spider fangs.

''Have you completed your preparations?" Cinder asked and the mad scientist grinned.

''Oooh almost! I'm still lacking one more thing but there's no need to worry." Cinder watched as Scott opened the doors. ''It'll come to us."

Blake watched Aedan sniff the air for the third time since she had joined him on his journey or 'quest' as the half beowolf called it. She rolled her eyes and smiled a little but that expression faded as she thought about all that happened or might have happened to him before her team first met him.

"Where are we going?" Blake asked.

"To visit a friend and former teammate of my dad's." Aedan said as he moved a vine out his way. They were moving further north and the temperature started dropping even more. Blake could tell how nervous he was from the tone of his voice to see this person.

"Do you know this person?" Aedan stopped for a moment.

"Not very well, but she knows me." Soon the green forest was traded in for a snowy terrain and Blake moved closer to the demon wolf. They finally arrived at a white and black striped cottage with a brown roof and a light red chimney. Aedan knocked on the door and a few minutes passed before a woman answered. She wore a white long sleeve blouse with a long dark brown skirt and white slippers.

"I didn't expect you to bring someone with you." The woman said while eying Blake. The cat faunus noticed that Aedan was staring at the ground and his tail was tucked slightly between his legs. "Come in."

"Thanks." Aedan said as they walked in and sat down in the living room. Blake and Aedan were on the couch and the woman was in a chair to their left.

"My name is Claire Thomas." Blake noticed something move slightly under the woman's blouse. Claire caught her gaze and chucked. "What you're seeing are my wings. I'm a raven faunus."

"Did dad tell you why I'm here?" Aedan asked and Claire turned to him.

"Yes. I've already got something prepared for you." Claire watched Aedan drop his bag next to the couch and started exploring the cottage. He still hadn't looked Claire in the eye and Blake had had enough of it. Before she could say anything, Claire spoke up. "I see you've noticed how Aedan acts around me."

"What's wrong with him?"

"I was Alistair's partner and our team found Aedan when he was just an infant in Scott's lab. I was also one of the people who told Alistair that he should kill him." Blake's eyes widened.

"You wanted Aedan to die?" Claire nodded.

"I admit, I thought he was a monstrosity who would turn out no different than the Grimm. It seemed I was proven right during that...incident."

"Where he massacred an entire village." Claire sighed.

"Yes. However my opinion of him changed despite all that. He's a good person." Blake folded her arms.

"Then why is he afraid of you?"

"I wouldn't say afraid. More like cautious, wary. That if he makes one wrong move I'll turn him into the Red Shields Knights. I have no intention of doing that."

"So what do you do?"

"Alistair wants me to provide the boy some spiritual guidance. There's a test he must pass. Of course, you're allowed to accompany him during it and if you feel that this helped you as well then all the better." Blake saw Aedan appear from down the hallway. "Well then, I'll go prepare dinner."

"Alright" Claire walked away and Blake turned to Aedan. "Are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah, just nervous. Dad told me that she wanted me dead. It's a bit hard to remain calm."

"It'll be fine." Aedan snorted.

"I guess."

"You're still in control of yourself." Aedan looked at her.

"Yeah it looks that way but I'm using all of my dad's teachings to control these urges I have..that I can remember anyway."

"Urges?" Aedan looked away.

"The urge to kill, destroy, and dominate. The first one being the strongest. Seeing these humans, faunus, and animals so much..weaker than I am. Such, easy prey." Blake watched as Aedan's eyes started glowing and he dropped to his knees. She heard his heart accelerate and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Aedan calm down!" Claire returned and Blake could now see her black wings.

"Is your resolve to stay in control so hollow Fenrir?" Aedan turned his attention to the raven faunus. "Come. Dinner's ready."

Alistair, Ruby, Weiss, and Yang were looking through Saren's extensive library for anything remotely mentioning the 'eye of the sun'.

"Did you find anything?" Ruby asked.

"Nope." Yang said flipping through some pages. Then Weiss opened a book and skimmed through half of it until she briefly saw a picture and turned back to it.

"I found it, I think." Weiss said and everyone crowded around her. Alistair smiled.

"Yes this is it." Alistair said. The picture was that of a jewel shaped like an oval with tribal markings around the ends and a symbol in a middle. The words that accompanied the picture were in another language. "It's in Rivarren."

"You never told us about that." Yang said as she picked up Zwei an put him on the table so he could see. Alistair thought for a moment.

"Oh that's right! I haven't yet." Alistair sat down in one of the chairs. "Where should I start?"

"Um, what is it?" Ruby asked.

"The language comes from an ancient race of people who are long gone. They had forsaken the use of technology and focused more on the arcane. They were the ones who defeated Zariah."

"What happened to them?'' Yang asked.

"No one knows for sure. Zariah might have wiped them out in his fight with them and the last person of the race sacrificed themselves to save Remnant. Or the race integrated themselves with everyone else and abandoned their former ways and now no one can tell the difference after several generations."

"What do you think happened?" Ruby asked.

"Who knows? I've been trying to find out for years, even going so far to learn their language and some of their spells."

"What kind of people were they?" Weiss asked.

"They were quiet and peaceful from what I gathered. They practiced druid magic."

"Druid magic?"

"Magic that resides over nature, healing, and shapeshifting."

"Shapeshifting?!" Ruby shouted with a bright smile.

"Can you shapeshift?" Yang asked.

"Unfortunately I can't. That's a druid field of magic that I haven't recovered from any ancient books or scrolls yet." Alistair laughed once he saw Ruby pout.

"So what does this say?" Weiss asked pointing to the page. It took a couple minutes for him to read and translate in his head.

"The Razadelvicol, or 'eye of the sun', is a powerful gem created using the energy of the sun's rays along with the magic of five master druids to defeat Zariah. It was forged at the Dricolamar temple...huh, interesting.

"What is it?" Yang asked.

"The gem has a compatibility prerequisite. Not just anyone can use it."

"Great. Just great." Weiss said sarcastically.

"That doesn't mean we can't go and get it" Ruby said. "Where is it now?"

"It might be in Dricolamar temple. Unfortunately I don't know where that is." Alistair said.

"So we're basically back to square one." Weiss said and Ruby thought for a minute.

"What about Kira?" Everyone looked at her. "She could use her butterflies to find the temple."

"Good idea."

That night after dinner, Aedan was sleeping on the couch when a shadow blanketed his form. His eyes shot open and the last thing he saw were glowing blue eyes.

Aedan quickly sat up only to find himself in complete darkness. There wasn't even a speck of light and he stood up. Then all of a sudden he could smell smoke and..blood, lots of blood. His heart started racing as he hurried over to where the scents were coming from. Light started to illuminate the pathway and he came across a disturbing and all too familiar scene. It was the village he destroyed six years ago. Aedan fell to his knees and just stared at the destroyed buildings and burning corpses.

"Did you really think you could run from us?" Aedan jumped when he heard that voice. "You can't escape."

"I didn't mean to!" The corpses started lifting their heads up, showing what was left of their horribly mutilated and burned faces. They slowly started to crawl towards him. Aedan watched as they grabbed his ankles and feet. "I admitted my guilt! What more do you want from me?!"

"Isn't it obvious?" Aedan turned to where the very deep and rugged voice came from. It was his beowolf half with a wicked grin.

Blake woke up when she heard when she sensed that something was wrong. She sat up but realized where she was. Instead of Claire's cottage, she was in a field of grass. The sky was bright blue and clear of all clouds.

'What's going on?' Blake thought as she stood up.

"You've finally awakened young faunus." A voice said. Blake saw a white cat laying down at the top of a small hill. "I've been eagerly waiting for you. I have many questions to ask you."

"Okay." Blake said, not really knowing what was going on. Well, she had a clue but wanted to make sure. "Who are you?"

"I'm not Claire if that's the secret meaning behind your question." The cat tilted its head to the side a little. "I have no name. Anyway, would you mind if I asked you a few questions?"

"Go ahead."

"What I wanna know is..why?"

"Why what?"

"Just like your teammates you continue to develop such a strong bond with Aedan knowing what he is and the dangers that may follow. Why is that?" Blake sighed.

"Because I know what it's like to be judged for what I am."

"And that allowed you to overlook someone being half Grimm? Even with that line of thinking, what was your first thought when you found out what he is?" Blake remained silent as she thought about it. "Did you stray from that mindset?"

"Of course not!"

"Is that so? That's pretty surprising."

"The reason why he kept it from me is pretty obvious."

"Agreed. Revealing what he is to a huntress in training would be a stupid thing to do. And even though you and your team are different, I'm sure there are others who won't see things as clearly as you do. That the world isn't always black and white. Greys will inevitably show up." Blake nodded.

"He's that grey area.'' The cat snorted.

"How do you know?"

"Hey Alistair, team RWBY." Kira greeted as she entered the monastery. "Where's grandpa Saren?"

"How many times must I tell you not to call me that child?" Saren asked as he walked in from the courtyard. Kira just laughed.

"Did you find it?" Ruby asked.

"Oh the temple? Yes, I did. Though I will admit it was very difficult to find." Kira said folding her arms. "I exhausted all my sources looking for the damn thing. Here, I drew a map."

"Awesome." Yang said as she took the map.

"So do we wait for Blake and Aedan to get back?" Weiss asked.

"We may not have the time. We need to find the 'eye of the sun' as quickly as possible." Alistair said and he turned to Kira. "Can you send a butterfly to them? Have it lead them to the temple and we'll meet up there."

"Roger that." Kira said as she playfully saluted.

"Any idea where it went now?" Sam asked. After the incident at the prison the leader of the Red Shield Knights refused to acknowledge Aedan as anything other than it. He was so close to shooting someone in frustration until a tracker walked up to him.

''Our hunting dogs found his scent sir. He's moved further up north into the snow region.''

"Excellent! Let's move everyone!"

"If it was obvious then I wouldn't be asking." Aedan said and the huge beowolf moved loser.

"What I want is so very simple." The beowolf said and he stopped right in front of the young half breed. "Embrace me."

''What? Like a hug or something?'' The Grimm snorted in annoyance.

"Embrace me. As in, accept me. Welcome me as yourself and become what you're supposed to be!" Aedan furiously shook is head.

"I'll never accept you! You're the cause of all these problems I have! I'll get rid of you!'' The beowolf laughed and picked him up by the throat.

"You just don't get it do you?! You can't get rid of me! I am in every dark corner of your mind! In fact, I'm the reason you're still alive!"

"What are you talking about?" Aedan asked as the wolf's grip tightened around his neck. It moved its snout closer to Aedan's face.

"Where do you think your semblance came from? Grimm can heal from almost any wound very quickly. You wouldn't have your heightened senses without me!" Aedan was thrown a few feet away. The Grimm stomped towards him. "Accept me! Accept what you are or everyone will die!"

"I won't let you kill them!" The beowolf roared in anger. Then another image appeared before Aedan. It was Alistair and team RWBY on the ground unmoving and covered in blood. "...no."

"You're stubbornness will get your precious humans and faunus killed. Accept me!''

"Leave me alone!"

"I know he's different." Blake said and the cat slowly stood up. It walked towards her. "He won't give in to his other half."

"Do you know what he's been through? With the destruction of an entire village, the nightmares, the urges to kill, and the death of his adoptive mother?"

"I do." The cat started to circle around her.

''Then, what if I told you that if Aedan let's his Grimm half take over, that if he lets himself sink into that darkness then all his pain will vanish?'' Blake's eyes narrowed.

"You're lying.'' The cat slowed its pace as it continued to circle around her.

"What makes you think I'm lying? Grimm are savage and mindless beasts remember? That's what you were taught at Beacon right? So, if Aedan forsakes his humanity and turns to his Grimm half for comfort then it will do just that." Blake's eyes widened in realization.

"By taking his memories piece by piece." The cat nodded.

"Those tragic and horrifying memories that cause his nightmares will vanish. He won't be tormented anymore. He'll finally know peace."

"But he'll become a mindless beowolf like all the others!"

"True, but that's life. To gain what we want from it, a price must be paid. The bigger the wish, the heavier the price." Blake remained silent as she stared at the grass. The cat's words soaked into her brain. "You wanted to know right?"

"Yes, I did.'' The cat sat down in front of her and its tail swayed back and forth slowly.

"Saren warned you, remember? That you may end up wishing you were left in the dark." Blake watched its head tilt to the side. "When Aedan gives in. You'll have no choice but to kill him. Well, that's good for him in the end."

"What?"

"Aedan wants to die.'' Blake immediately stood up.

"I don't believe that! He cant!''

''You say that as if it's your choice." The cat frowned as it looked up at her. "I understand the terrible things that your kind has suffered in the past but at least you were still accepted amongst each other. Aedan being what he is will find no such comfort there. Both humans and faunus will despise him. No one can understand him."

"Aedan has that with us. He's accepted by us.''

''And he knows that. But between the Red Shield Knights, the human extremists that are still out there somewhere, the White Fang, and most of civilization, they will either shun you, exile you, or even try to kill you for even giving a glance in his direction."

''...He wants to die. To protect us." The cat nodded.

"Unless the Red Shield Knights are destroyed they will never leave him alone. People who find out what he is will never leave him alone. He will be the death of you." Blake thought for a moment. She understood now. The reason he was a little apprehensive at making friends when they first met. This was what he wanted. To die so they wouldn't endure even more suffering. The only problem with all this is that this isn't what the others want. This isn't what she wants. "So, will you let him slip away? Will you grant that wish of his?"

''Hell no." The cat immediately looked at her. Shock very apparent in its blue eyes.

''Excuse me?" Blake folded her arms.

''I said no.''

''Why not?''

"It's a pretty selfish wish if you think about it."

''Selfish? How?"

"I understand why he thinks this way and I'm glad that he cares so much about us but he's also being ignorant of our feelings as well. We don't want him to purposely die and leave us to mourn the loss of a friend and teammate. Even if it's to protect us, I won't allow it."

"I see." The cat said and then burst out laughing. After a minute had passed, it finished. "My my, what a fine young woman you are. If you can truly help him overcome this rather large obstacle then I hope you succeed.''

"Thank you." Then the cat frowned.

"I suggest you hurry though. The half breed isn't doing too well.'' Before Blake could say anything, the cat faded from view. The field and sky started to crumble until everything went black.

Blake shot up from bed and saw Claire sitting in a chair next to her.

"You're awake now. How was your dream?" Claire asked.

"What was that?"

''It's a special brew I made. I put it in your dinner earlier to alter your dream."

''So that dream was the test?" Claire nodded.

''Indeed, and I'm glad to say that you passed. However, Aedan had such a..violent reaction to it."

"What happened?"

''The boy stormed out the house through the window. He still can't move on from his past and from what he is. Not doing so will doom him." Blake got out of bed and raced out the room.

It had started raining when Blake rushed out the house after Aedan. She didn't know what happened to him during the dream but it obviously wasn't good. She barely even noticed her clothes and ears getting soaking wet as she searched for the missing half beowolf. Eventually she managed to track him down to a very small clearing surrounded by trees. Most of them were sliced apart. Aedan's back was to her and his head was lifted up towards the clouds. He just stood there with the only movement being the slight rise and fall of his chest as he took in each breath and eased it out. Blake slowly approached him only to stop halfway once he spoke up.

"During my meditations, I would always picture myself like this. The rain was something that relaxed both sides of me. But now, it's not working as much as it used to." Aedan said and Blake moved closer to him. She noticed that his wet bangs were covering his eyes. "Why?"

"Why what?" Blake asked.

"Why won't you abandon me?" Shock could not even begin to describe how Blake felt at that moment. His tone of voice suggested that he actually wanted her to abandon him. "Why won't you avoid me like the plague?"

"You're different."

''Damnit Blake, stop it!'' Aedan's sudden shouting caused Blake to step back.

"What are you talking about?"

''Stop being so accepting of me! You, Yang, Ruby, even Weiss seriously need to stop!" Aedan raced over to a few trees and started slashing them apart with his claws in frustration. "You seriously need to stop! Everyone just needs to STOP!"

''Aedan calm down!" The half Grimm growled at her.

"No I will not calm down! You're a huntress in training and I'm a half Grimm abomination who shouldn't even exist in the first place! You're the one who should hate me! My existence should disgust you! This would be so much easier on us both if you would just do what you're damn training to do and fucking KILL ME!"

A resounding smack took place after Aedan's short rant. It was even heard through the rain. Aedan stood there as the left side of his face throbbed in pain. He didn't expect Blake to slap him and he remained quiet as he turned to look at the cat faunus.

"Don't you ever say that again!" Aedan was about to say something but Blake glared at him even harder, effectively shutting him up. ''Look, just because you can't see the good in yourself doesn't mean no one else can. You're the one who needs to stop thinking that way."

Aedan remained silent. That rant he made wasn't how he felt completely. He mostly loved the fact that he found team RWBY and became friends with them but he was afraid. What would he do if Alistair and team RWBY met the same fate as Mable because of him? Blake made him feel something he never felt before and that also scared him. Those feelings of love coupled with lust, bliss brought on from her presence, protectiveness over her against an enemy, butterflies in his stomach whenever she looked at him, agitation from being away from her for too long, and others that he still had trouble sorting out. Wanting her was one of the two things is human and Grimm halves mutually agreed upon. Aedan turned his gaze to the muddy ground and Blake's eyes softened when she saw the look of shame in his. Despite his eyes being that of a beowolf, she actually found them beautiful. As red as Ruby's hooded cape and they gave off a warmth to them that she was sure their owner wasn't aware of. When no one was paying attention she actually found herself checking him out on occasion. Blake chuckled to herself at that thought. A cat faunus girl is attracted to a boy who's half human and half Grimm. This was something she doubted her favorite fiction writer could come up with.

"I'm sorry." Aedan's voice snapped Blake out of her thoughts.

"It's alright. You're stressed out and needed a release. I understand."

"I guess, but I still had no right to take it out on you. Even my beowolf half is pissed at me for doing that." Blake let out a light laugh and Aedan smiled.

''Do you trust me now?" Aedan looked away and scratched the back of his head.

''Yeah, I trust you completely." Blake folded her arms.

"Then transform." Aedan looked at her confused.

"You can't be serious." The look in Blake's eyes told him that she was. "What if-''

''Just do it. It'll be fine."

Aedan was worried. He didn't have his serums and his chains were destroyed. He'd never forgive himself if he hurt Blake. He took a deep breath. If she had faith in his other self then he would too. The familiar sensation of transforming was now upon him. His hair grew longer and spikier. It turned into fur halfway down his neck and covered most of his body. His fangs and claws lengthened, he grew a snout, red markings appeared around his eyes, and forehead under his bangs. His ears were more like a wolf's now. Bone-like spikes grew out of his back, shoulders, arms, elbows and knees. More muscle mass was added on as he grew a foot taller and his tail grew longer. His legs and feet were now that of a beowolf and his eyes were completely red except for his human-like pupils. Blake noticed that they were smaller than before once he made eye contact with her again. His breathing was accompanied by slight growling. He did look a bit intimidating staring at her like that but it wasn't gonna stop her. She knew Aedan was waiting for something to happen whether it came from her or his Grimm blood.

As the ninja took a step forward, she noticed him flinch. She silently ordered him to stay there and held a hand out to him. Aedan's ears twitched as he watched Blake's hand slowly reach up and caress the bone-like plating on his snout. Her lithe fingers delicately traced the red markings up his face and he lowered his head so she could reach his hair. Blake glided the fingers of her other hand through the wet fur on the bottom half of his face. Then she wrapped him in a soft hug. Despite them both being soaking wet, Aedan gave off a lot of body heat and Blake felt warm. She smiled when he returned the hug. Aedan lowered his head some more and gently nuzzled her hair and cat ears. His tail wagged as she purred contently in the comfort his soft fur provided and it was accompanied by a very low and soft growling sound coming from the hybrid that seemed like his version of purring.

Blake felt his fur recede as Aedan returned to human form and it was replaced by warm skin and muscle. Shredded remains of his sleeveless hoodie littered the ground next to him but he didn't care in the slightest. Hell, Zariah could invade Remnant with a huge army of Grimm right now and he wouldn't care. Was this what it felt like to be in love? A sudden stroke of boldness hit him and red eyes met amber again. Then Aedan softly kissed her. Blake honestly didn't expect him to do that but she wasn't gonna complain. She returned the kiss and even felt the urge to touch him some more, to feel him. As the kiss deepened, Blake draped her hands on his shoulders and slowly started to explore the hills and valleys of muscle down his chest, biceps, and abs, causing him to shiver with pleasure. He ran his fingers through her hair and dulled his claws so he could safely scratch behind her cat ears. Blake moaned into the kiss and started purring again. The need for air had taken over and they broke the kiss. The rain also managed to stop.

"What's your fascination with my ears?" Blake asked with a smirk.

"I can't help it. They're adorable." Aedan said with a smile. He saw one of them twitch when a raindrop landed on the tip and his tail wagged even harder. "See! That's what I'm talking about!"

"Am I allowed to pet your tail then?" Aedan's face immediately turned red and Blake laughed.

"Y-Yeah. I-I guess you are." Blake smiled as she snuggled back up to him and they stood there for a little while. Suddenly, they sensed danger and broke apart. A large group of about thirty Red Shield Knights appeared.

"You know, I'm getting a little tired of playing hide and seek with you." Sam said as he walked out from behind a tree.

"And I'm getting tired of you stalking me like an obsessed fangirl." Aedan said and Sam's eyebrow twitched in annoyance.

"Arrest the faunus! Kill the abomination!"

Aaaaand that's it for this chapter! Hope you enjoyed this! Read and Review!