A/N: Hello everyone, Cluny here. I do apologize for putting off Melting the Ice for so long. Truth is, back in March I caught the flu around the time I got to writing my Easter one-shot, Spring Time Love, and now I'm doing a special chapter for Mother's Day – Not to mention I completed the National PokéDex in Pokémon Omega, woohoo. That being said, I'm bringing in Grau Schnee's wife as something to help develop a bit of background and resolve a few things in Weiss' story (No I'm not going to kill her, I'm not that heartless). Also yes, Redwood's important information is going to be revealed. Don't be surprised if there are a few things that would be different from the main universe, this is an AU after all. And I'll soon be bringing in another younger OC that is tied in with the current problem being faced with our young heroes.

Thank you for your patience this last month, I've just been out of it. Please read and enjoy :)

~Cluny

Ruby, Blake, Yang, Umbra, Luna, Ferrina, Tesla, Penny, Bán McNabb, Teams JNPR, CFVY, SSSN, PHNX, and the Whitemane siblings, minus Ashe, sat in Professor Port's classroom. Port himself along with Doctor Oobleck, Professor Goodwitch, General Ironwood, and Professor Ozpin were also present. Emerald Sustrai, Mercury Black, Neo, and Roman Torchwick were present under guard by request of Sycamore Whitemane. Redwood Whitemane cleared his throat, "The story I'm about to tell you has been passed down through the ages and several generations of the Phoen, Whitemane, and Aquio families."

"Aquio family," Mercury asked, "puh-lease they were wiped off the map. No one's seen them in hundreds of years."

Telephe looked back to Mercury, "You don't know a thing about the Aquio family, do you?"

"What do you mean?" Mercury asked.

"She means the Aquio family,the Phoen family, and the Whitemane family are all still very much alive," Redwood said.

Mercury was persistent in "Not according to…"

Redwood shot him a look with steel blue eyes, "As I was saying," He said as his hair furrowed scaring Mercury into silence, "This story pertains to three of the oldest families among Faunus kind. Years ago, before the founding of the four kingdoms, humanity was still settling into their roles as civilizations on Remnant. The bitter cold and harsh winters hindered much of the progress of many people and their families." He paused, "The worst problem the people had to deal with, especially when hunting and foraging for food and water, were the Grimm. One day, in a coastal village on Mantel, a young man went out looking for food to feed his ailing mother. He ventured deep into the woods and found himself lost and hungry. He searched to find his way back to the village, carrying two rabbits he'd managed to fell with his bow as he wandered aimlessly through the darkening woodlands."

"How much longer does this nonsensical story last," Roman asked.

"Keep listening, Torchwick," Sycamore warned, "this story is just getting to the tragic end of the first act."

Ivy elbowed her brother in the ribs, "Hush," She hissed, "continue, Papa."

Redwood picked up where he'd left off, "The young man wandered into a cave just as a horrible blizzard blew in. For hours, he could hear the seething cold winds howling through the mouth of the cave. He was tired and hungry. Clutching his stomach, begging for mercy and warmth, he huddled down and pleaded for the weather to change. Hours turned into a day, and then two days. The hunger and thirst drove him mad. The smell of the rotting rabbits he'd caught drove him to the brink. While in the cave, he saw an outcropping of white dust crystals. Using the final bit of his strength, the boy broke off a shard of the outcropping and plunged the point into his heart."

Emerald's eyes went wide, "He killed himself?" She asked.

"He pierced his heart, yes," Redwood said, "but his torment was far from over. His chest began to feel painfully cold. Ice had begun freezing his heart and the blood in his veins. He opened his mouth up to scream in agony." He paused for effect, "But instead of a scream, there was an unnatural shrieking noise. His body completely changed. His hair grew long and gnarled. His skin became pale and desiccated. His teeth became misshapen and razor sharp. His fingers grew into long claws. His ears lengthened and became sensitive to even the faintest sound. His eyes dulled and rendered him all but blind to movement. All of his senses, strength, speed, and reflexes were escalated to new heights. From his head sprouted two antler-like horns. Finally, his body grew to a staggering fifteen feet from head to toe. His arms and legs grew in length as well."

"So what did this thing look like?" Emerald asked.

Redwood looked to Umbra and nodded. The laid back huntsman in training brought up an image he'd covertly taken from the battle and projected it onto the board at the front of the room. "This is just after the awakening and draining the aura from two members of the White Fang." Redwood said. Neo cringed a little. Umbra swiped to another image taken just after the beast in question had brutally attacked Adam. It was slightly taller and two small antlers had started to grow through the tangled mane of white hair. "This is from draining the aura from a highly trained target with an immense amount of aura." Redwood said, "Note the difference in size and the growth of branch-like antlers."

"I got a video of it too, sir," Umbra said swiping over to the recording he got of the creature on Jaune's shield. He pressed play. The creature on the traumatized blonde's shield threw its head back and unleashed its primal shriek. Neo jumped and hid under the desk, her eyes both changed to white. Jaune froze like a deer in the headlights. He jumped when Pyrrha took his hand in hers. Ruby tensed a little when Cy began rubbing her back. Umbra kept the video file going. "This thing can take a nasty hit and keep going with power to spare." The footage showed the edge Wilt's blade being resisted by the skin of the creature's neck, just when Adam had activated his semblance. Umbra fast forwarded the footage to where Adam plunged the full length of Wilt's blade into the creature's chest, right where the heart should be, "Either of those blows would have killed anyone else," Umbra said, "But this thing shrugged it off like it was nothing."

"That's because its skin is like armor," Sycamore said, "It must have combined the aura levels it had collected from the White Fang soldiers in order to fend off that first killing blow."

"But Adam's sword can cut through the shielding power of a person's aura," Blake said.

"You forget, Miss Belladonna," Professor Ozpin explained taking a sip from his mug, "This creature has ice variant dust flowing through it. Activating the dust within its body allowed that masked Faunus' blade to be repulsed."

"Then why did the blade go through when that masked jerk stabbed that… whatever it is?" Yang asked.

"My thoughts as that the creature wanted him to get close." Redwood said, "It had the capability to take a hit like that. Then it stabbed Adam in the torso. Of course that puts us at a disadvantage."

"How so," Emerald asked.

"According to the legends," Sycamore said, "this thing not only absorbs aura from its victims, but it takes knowledge of their semblance as well. The last recorded encounter anyone ever made of this thing stated it attacked using the abilities of fallen hunters."

"Sounds like the ultimate bad guy," Yang said, "breaking all the rules set in place for the battle of good and evil."

"Does this thing even have a name?" Mercury asked.

"Wendigo," Ivy said, "Its name is Wendigo."

Blake's eyes widened in horror, she'd heard that name before. She unshouldered the pack on her back and pulled out an old leather bound book and opened it to a marked page that she'd been looking at since a few days before Rowan's match against Cardin Winchester. "Does the Wendigo look like this?" She asked pointing to an illustration that took up two pages of the book.

Umbra got up, snapped a picture of the illustration with his scroll, and projected it to the front of the room. The creature had desiccated skin, long claws on the ends of its hands and feet that looked like icicles, and a freakishly long tongue. To top it all off, where its head was supposed to be was a large skull that looked like someone had combined a large wolf skull with large antlers, razor sharp teeth, and a pair of glowing red eyes filled with primal rage. "This is what the creature will look like when it's absorbed enough aura and energy from ice dust crystals."

"How do we kill it?" Ruby asked.

"We can't kill it," Cy protested, "Like it or not, Rowan's still inside that thing."

Redwood looked to Cy, knowing that the young Faunus boy was right. Like it or not, his middle child was still a part of the monster that had plagued his family for countless generations. "The only way for us to get Rowan back, is to wait for the creature to grow around him."

"Then beat him out of it?" Yang asked.

"No," Cy said, "When the Wendigo absorbs enough ice variant dust, it's supposed to spit up the host and begin going on a stealthy rampage."

"So wolf boy's gonna end up being monster puke," Rowan laughed, "Talk about irony."

Redwood shot the criminal a steely glare, "This brings me to the second act of the story," He growled. "This part of the tale is where Telephe's family and the Aquio family come in to play. So listen, this information may just safe your life." He cleared his throat and continued. "The hunter's mother died from her illness. The other hunters buried her in the woods and returned to their lives. The doctor who'd been taking care of the woman woke up to walk to her grave. When he got there, the grave had been unearthed. He looked and saw where the deceased woman's body had been dragged. When the doctor looked up from following the dag marks, he saw the woman's body being tossed into the air and falling down the gullet of the very creature you just saw."

Emerald looked at the illustration, "How big is this thing supposed to get?" She asked.

"The full height is thirty feet from head to toe," Redwood said, "that's not including the antlers." The students were in disbelief that such a creature existed, "The creature caught the scent of the doctor as he ran back to the village. Effortlessly, the creature kept pace with the man and snapped him up just as they both broke the tree line. The villagers looked out at the scene as the ear-splitting scream from the doctor was cut short by a sickening crunch." Neo had moved to hide behind Roman, "Wendigo then turned to the town folk and called forth a pack of red-eyed dire wolves from the snow drifts that cut off escape from their master's insatiable hunger. It singled out that which would most likely raise screams to wet its appetite more, a small child." Ruby held Cy's hand tightly while Neo hugged Roman tightly, "The beast lunged at the child, shrieking and lashing out with its long tongue as its claws reached forward to grab her."

Everyone's eye widened as they pictured the scene in their minds. The image of a horrifying monster with razor sharp teeth, long tongue and claws, and glowing red eyes leaping toward a child with a gaping maw sent a child racing down their spines. "All seemed lost for the young girl," Redwood said gravely, "but out of nowhere there came a thick fog from the sea that concealed a massive white wolf with dark blue markings on its head and glowing steel-blue eyes. The wolf leapt forth from the fog bank and repulsed the Wendigo. Seeing their master attacked by this unforeseen combatant, the dire wolves turned their soulless red eyes to the villagers. As they slowly advanced toward the frightened town folk, they were stopped by a stream of fire from above. Frightened and confused by the flames they looked to the sky to see the figure of a giant red bird with a long seven colored tail, a crown of golden feathers, and shining blue eyes." Telephe smiled proudly as Redwood went on, "The wolves turned to run, but were met with a deaf-*ening crack of thunder as bolts of lightning and the bellowing growl of a massive green water dragon with gleaming yellow eyes. The village people were silent at the appearance of these three giant creatures. Wendigo was furious that his feast had been interrupted, 'Who are you,' It asked with rage in its whipering voice. The wolf growled, 'We are Remnant's guardian beasts.'"

"Their names are Whitemane of the North Wind, Phoena the Goddess of the Sky, and Aquios the Lord of the Sea." Telephe said, "They hold a great deal of power, greater than the Four Maidens of Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall combined. As individuals, they are capable of great feats. If all three work together, they're capable of taking down beings of tremendous evil."

"And Wendigo was no exception." Redwood said, "The trio battled through the wilderness, driving Wendigo back into the cave. Phoena called forth firestorms and blasts of superheated air to weaken Wendigo. Aquio brought forth large bolts of lightning, and heavy, blinding rain. Whitemane brought forth harsh blizzards and deadly avalanches. The battle raged for miles and miles, the human onlookers followed at a distance, watching as the three titanic beasts fought with everything they had to drive Wendigo into the mountain cave from whence it crawled. Four days of battling later, the battle ended. The extensive damage to the continent of Mantel was easily healed by the three creatures. Phoena burned the land, and churned the soil with the beat of her wings. Whitemane shook his fur and scattered seeds to the winds along the scorched and revitalized earth. Aquio called forth rain and quenched the fertile ground."

Ruby was mystified at this, as was Jaune, they'd never heard of creatures capable of such incredible feats. They dared not interrupt the story because of the plethora of questions they had building in their minds. Redwood continued to the final part of the tale, "As thanks for saving them, the villagers celebrated their saviors. In return for the kindness from the humans, the trio bestowed unto them the existence of three families. The Whitemane family of Mantel, the Phoen family of Mistral, and the Aquio family of Vacuo, all of whom chose to live peaceful lives in nearly inaccessible regions of the world, now are there any questions?"

Ruby's hand flew up, "What kind of Faunus are the Aquio family?" She asked immediately.

Redwood was caught by surprise, "They're a large Faunus family, and the only dragon Faunus on record."

Everyone except Telephe and the elder Whitemane siblings was surprised. "Where do they live?" General Ironwood asked, "And will they help us with our current situation?"

"They live on the western most part of Vacuo." Redwood replied, "To reach their home, you need to travel five days through the desert. The blazing hot temperatures prevent approach on foot, but those who can brave those conditions must rappel down a steep cliff side with few hand and footholds."

"What about by sea?" Ironwood inquired.

"That's the trickier of the two approaches," Redwood stated, "You have to brave a twisting, foggy labyrinth of sharp rocks strewn with ships and unpredictable currents. Even the sea borne Grimm don't dare to cross through there."

"Is there a way for us to contact them?" Ozpin asked, "A group that isolated can't be easy to get in touch with."

Redwood smiled, "I'll do that in a bit," he said, "Astral projection is the Whitemane way of contacting such reclusive groups."

In the Beacon infirmary, Winter Schnee waited patiently by her older sister's bedside. In her company was the now emboldened Ashe Whitemane. The five year old Faunus sat patiently looking at the girl who'd fallen in love with her middle brother. She clutched a doll her mother had given her on her first birthday as she listened intently for the white haired girl to wake up. One of her wolf ears scanned for sounds coming in from the halls outside the small room. She was on guard in case the White Fang Lieutenant made a move to hurt the Schnee girls. The sound of footsteps caught the young Faunus' attention, but they weren't the heavy footsteps from the large masked Faunus on the other side of the building. They were the lighter sound of heels, a woman. She looked over and saw a new visitor enter the room.

The woman looked like Weiss – an older, taller version with slightly shorter hair held back by a leather ponytail holder. She wore a white ruffled blouse, a royal blue skirt and short black heels. Her name was Engel Schnee, Weiss and Winter's mother. Ashe nudged Winter. The older girl looked over to the new visitor, "Momma," she said as she ran and hugged her.

"How have you been, my little girl," Engel said hugging the twelve year old.

"I've been alright," Winter replied, "Why are you here, I thought you were away in Mistral at a conference."

Engel looked over to Weiss, "Why would I put my job ahead of one of my daughters being hospitalized."

Winter looked to her older sister's bed. The injured girl's wounds had healed as she slept. The only thing keeping her in her room was the unbearable soreness. Redwood had put her on a regimen of herbal pain killers that actually helped the heiress relax. "Nnh," She groaned as she woke from the herbal haze.

"Good morning, sweetheart," Engel said.

"Mother, ngh, what are you doing here?" Weiss inquired as she struggled to adjust herself in the bed.

"I came to make sure you were alright," Engel replied giving her daughter a gentle hug. Weiss returned the hug while holding back her tears. Out of all the people she could wake up to in the world, she was happy it was her mother. Engel turned her gaze to the other person little Ashe, "And who do we have here?" She asked sweetly releasing Weiss from the hug as carefully as she could.

"That's Ashe Whitemane," Winter said, "She's Mr. Redwood's youngest daughter."

"Oh, I see the resemblance now," Engel chuckled, "how old are you, Ashe?" Ashe said nothing but held up five fingers, "Oh my, five and the youngest of how many?"

"She has three older brothers and an older sister." Weiss said.

"Three older brothers, huh," Engel gasped, "My, you must be a tough little one." Ashe nodded furiously and flexed with her face puffed up. This pose made the three older girls giggle, "My, my," Engel giggled, "I guess that proves my point."

"She's also really brave," Weiss said, "The White Fang kidnapped her and the youngest of her three brothers. Before I handed myself over to save them, she punched a Beowolf on the nose and made it more of a large puppy. She even made it sit and roll over, and then she gave it a belly rub of all things." She winced as she laughed a little, "The White Fang and my team and I were shocked that she actually did that."

There was a knock on the door. It was Ferrina, "Excuse me, Winter," she said stepping into the room, "I'm here to pick up Ashe…" She smiled in surprise, "Weiss, you're awake."

The heiress nodded, "Yes, and I'm also very sore."

"From the beating you probably took, I wouldn't put it past you," Ferrina said, "I'm glad Cy rescued you."

"Who's Cy?" Engel asked.

"He's the youngest of Ashe's three older brothers." Ferrina said, "He's only ten years old, but he's got a lot of spirit and is just as crafty as all members of the White Fang put together." She blushed, "Pardon me for asking, but I didn't get your name, Miss…"

"Engel, my name is Engel Schnee," The older woman said, "I'm Weiss and Winter's mother, Grau Schnee is my husband of twenty nine years."

"And friend of his for many years before that," Redwood said stepping into the room, "How have you been, Engel?"

"I'll feel better knowing my oldest daughter is in your care, Redwood." Engel replied, "And I know I never had chance before because of my schedule. But you have my condolences for what happened to Cherry. She was a wonderful person, and an even better friend."

Redwood smiled, "Thank you Engel," He looked to the other three girls, "Winter, Ferrina," The they looked to him, "Could you please take Ashe to the landing bays and keep an eye on her? Everyone else is there awaiting the next move."

"Next move," Weiss asked. She then remembered what Cy had told her as he carried her back to Beacon, "Is Rowan going to be alright?"

Redwood looked to the floor. He shook his head, "He doesn't have a big chance of surviving the gambit I'm going to try," His voice was full of remorse, "but I know he'll fight his way through to the end. He's that much like his mother."

By now, Winter, Ashe, and Ferrina had exited the room and made their way to the Landing Bay. Engel stayed with Weiss and Redwood, "Your son, the one who helped save Weiss," She asked, "what is he like?"

"Cypress, or Cy as he prefers to be called is only ten years old," Redwood said, "What he lacks in sheer physical strength is made up for by a strong mind and will power. But he's a little taken by your daughter's leader and teammate, who is four years his senior."

Engel smiled, "And what about this person Weiss mentioned earlier?" She asked, "I believe his name was Rowan."

"That's my middle son." Redwood said as he got out his scroll and started giving Weiss a check-up, "He's like Cherry used to be, strong, wise, resourceful, and kind hearted."

Engel noticed how Weiss reacted to Redwood's description of the boy, "Is he in a relationship with anyone?" She asked.

Redwood smiled, "Yes," He looked to the heiress, "his oldest friend whose life he's saved about four times now, including last night's events."

"And I haven't even gotten a chance to help him in return." Weiss said staring off into nothing, "I must be the worst girlfriend in history."

Engel looked at her daughter and put her hand on her shoulder, "We all make mistakes every now and then, my snowflake," She said gently, "But, if you're twice the Schnee your father is, half the Schnee that I am, like I know you are, then I know you won't let a complication like this stop you from helping the boy you love."

Weiss yawned, "Mr. Whitemane," She said drowsily as Redwood finished checking her for anything, "I hope whatever you have planned… gets Rowan back here… safely." She fell back in the bed asleep.

"She'll be asleep for a little while," Redwood said, "That's part of the effect of that pain killer I gave her. It maximizes healing rate and lengthens sleep time. She should be better by the time my plan to rescue my son bares fruit."

"I'll stay with her," Engel said, "if that's alright with you."

Redwood smiled and nodded as he left, "If it were Grau, I'd have guards positioned at every door in this facility. But since it's you, Engel, I'll do what Cherry would in my shoes. Stay as long as you want." He whistled and Baltus. When the wolf-hybrid reached his master it paid attention to the coming instructions. The only thing Redwood needed to do was cross his arms over his chest and point with two fingers into the room. Baltus took up a post at the foot of the bed like a sentry dog, "He'll keep both of you safe." Redwood said, "He may be a pet, but he's still a Whitemane." He walked off toward the Landing Bays. "Now," He said under his breath as he dialed Ozpin's office, "let's get this plan of mine underway. I'm going to save you, my son."

A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed that, my first chapter after taking a lot of much needed time off. I hope you all had a great Mother's Day.

On the note of Engel Schnee, her first name is German for angel (I had the thoughts of a song by Rammstein when I thought of her name). I wanted her to sound like the picture of beauty, so Engel fit perfectly. As for Weiss being out of action, it'll be a little while. She'll drift in and out of consciousness as this arc continues. She's not going to be in the state we see her in at the end of Volume 3, not after writing my latest One-Shot.

Now, the legend I wrote, I've actually been thinking of this for about six months or so. I wanted to bring in my three favorite pieces of mythology, the wolf from Native American lore, the Phoenix from Phoenician lore, and of course the Dragon from Asian lore. I put them against the Wendigo because Phoena, Whitemane, and Aquios are powerful and based on creatures meant to bring light to the world.

Well I hope you enjoyed the latest chapter. See you next time.

~Cluny