Years ago …

The Epulum Forest was located on the continent of Sanus north of the Emerald Forest and was known for its tall fir, cedar and chestnut trees. The legends said that in this forest there was an ancient oak with purple leaves and a trunk as wide as four people and very high.

General Ironwood had not gone into that forest to chase a legend but to hunt down a Grimm. The man, accompanied by Winter Schnee and a squadron of ten soldiers, was exploring the forest with a gun in hand when he saw Qrow Branwen appear out of nowhere.

"Hey, Jimmy, where are you going with your army? Does Ozpin know you're here?"

"General, who's this?" Winter asked, drawing her sword.

"It's okay, he's just a friend." He turned to Qrow, "There's no need to be hostile."

"I'm not the one running around with an army. I'm just a man asking questions, Jimmy."

"Very well, in the meantime let's resume the march, I'll explain to you along the way."

Then the soldiers resumed their march following Ironwood; Qrow joined the General and asked:

"So, Jimmy, do you want to tell me why you brought these soldiers to Sanus?"

"We're looking for a particular Grimm ... Valravn."

"What a ridiculous name ..."

"It might be ridiculous but it's the name of a pretty powerful and rare Grimm. This can make a morph, and it's not often seen. Atlas is interested in this particular monster."

"So you want to study it?"

"If the Grimms are evolving I want to know."

"I don't want to tell you how to do your job, Jimmy, but I don't think walking around alone chasing an unknown Grimm is very smart."

"I'm not alone. Winter is with me and my men too."

"Yeah, right… and since when are amateurs great allies? No offense, miss."

"Go to hell" replied Winter with a cold tone.

A monstrous roar from the forest. Qrow and Winter were the first to draw their weapons while Ironwood ordered his soldiers to prepare to open fire. From the darkness this beast appeared with a massive body that resembled that of a wolf, it had the beak of a raven and a long feathered tail. The beast roared, and with its paws hit hard enough to shake the ground below. Qrow's sword became a scythe; the man attacked first, landed a couple of blows, taking care not to get hit by the long claws of the Grimm; then Winter intervened and attacked the beast from behind, meanwhile the soldiers started shooting.

Valravn roared again and spat out a liquid substance similar to oil and stickier than glue; this substance struck three of the ten soldiers and, from the smoke and screams, it was clear that it was corroding them. Ironwood didn't think twice about saving his men but he burned his hand when I touch that black liquid and then took the men one by one and tried to get them out.

Qrow and Winter were still fighting that raging Grimm. The girl created a glyph to evoke the jackal-looking Grimm thanks to which she managed to distract Valravn; Qrow took the opportunity to try to amputate the legs of the beast but failed because he was hit by its tail.

Ironwood was able to save only one man, the other two died in pain. The General took out his guns and joined the battle. Valravn tried to hit the General with a paw but he stopped it with his right arm and fired, with his left gun, in the belly of the beast; no damage. He rolled under the monster and, when he stopped, he remained on his knees so as to give Qrow a foothold to jump up and onto the Grimm's back. Ironwood stood up and saw that Qrow was aiming for the beast's throat.

"Stop shooting!" he ordered the soldiers.

Valravn began to fidget and ran towards the forest to be safe but the creature summoned by Winter blocked the Grimm's passage; the girl tried to pierce the side of the beast, however Varlavn made a brusque movement that catapulted Qrow backwards; the Grimm began to spit that black substance left and right, some soldiers were hit and Ironwood managed to avoid that black liquid.

"Winter! Qrow!" he exclaimed.

Winter created a glyph under Ironwood to increase his attack speed, and the man began firing and reloading with superhuman rapidity; Winter, then, pierced the beast in the side; the girl then used another glyph to slow the Grimm and then Qrow, with the scythe in hand, cut off the monster's head. The beheaded corpse fell.

"Done. Nothing complicated, Jimmy, right?"

"Wait a minute ..." Winter said pointing to the lifeless body of the Grimm.

The corpse was shaking, something was coming out of it… two pairs of wings and legs of a bird of prey were seen; this creature twice the size of an eagle and with the face of a wolf, came out of the belly of the corpse and took flight.

"Kill it!" Ironwood ordered.

The soldiers fired but it was too late ... the beast was already gone.

"Oh ... so that's what you meant by 'morph'" Qrow commented, amazed.

"It was our chance to capture it, and now who knows where it will be ..."

"Don't worry, Jimmy, I'll chase it," Qrow said as he entered the woods.

"You? And how do you want to do? You can't even fly."

"Ozpin didn't tell you, huh?"

"He didn't tell me what?"

"Actually ... I can fly."

Qrow left, leaving both Ironwood and Winter confused.