AN: So... um hello and thank you check out this story. This is my first story on the site. Though this is more for me to have some fun and to get back into writing after not writing for well over 3 years. So had this idea and just kinda of went with it. Also this story starts during volume 1. Please feel free to leave feedback or don't it all up to you.

Chapter 1

It was another cold early morning in Mantle, as the giant floating city known as Atlas loomed overhead casting an unavoidable shadow. In a regular neighborhood filled with mostly brick and mortar buildings on the street, in one of these houses quiet footsteps could be heard traveling throughout the halls as if someone was searching for something. This someone happens to be a young girl, who was about 7 years old. She had hair a black as the night and crimson red eyes. Wearing her favorite set of snowflake pattern pajamas and fluffiest pair of slippers. She opened the door at the end of the hallway as quietly as a seven year old could slipped into the room. Her goal was to quietly sneak up on the sleeping figure laying on the bed in the middle of a sparsely decorated room. The young girl walked up the edge of the bed to check to see if the figure was really asleep. After finding the person's eyes closed the girl backed up to the edge of the room, gaining a determined look on her face before she broke out into a spirit and jumped directly onto the center of the bed. Before she could land the figure suddenly sprang up and caught her in mid-air and lightly tickling her, making her giggle. "Daddy stoppppp" whined the girl after a few seconds of being almost helpless. Her dad let out a chuckle before setting her down on the bed and asking "Clara, what are you doing up so early." Her response came in the form of a grumble from her stomach. "Alright, I'll start making breakfast. Why don't you go find something to watch on the TV" her dad chuckled again. Clara let loose a yah before making a mad dash to the living room to start watching her favorite early morning cartoons.

The Man gave a quiet groan, getting out of bed while stretching his arms above his head. He glanced at his alarm clock sitting on his nightstand, its red colored numbers telling it was just after six in the morning, grabbing his scroll sitting next to the clock. Running a hand through his pitch black hair. He made a quick stop to the bathroom attached to his bedroom. Stopping by the sink to wash his face, staring back his purple eyes with a small hint of mirth as he hears his daughter run into the side table next to the couch. Still dressed in his pitch black pajama pants and matching tank top he began to travel through his house. Passing through the living room to reach the kitchen, Clara having found a channel that was playing a cartoon with characters getting into zany adventures. He stepped onto the kitchen tile, reaching into the white refrigerator and pulling out a carton of eggs and butter, after which, he grabbed the bread off the counter of the nearby table. Before heading over to the stove he stopped by an overhead cabinet pulling out a skillet. Having gotten everything needed for breakfast he headed over to the stove to begin making breakfast for himself and his daughter. In the middle of flipping his second egg in the skillet, his scroll rang with a familiar ringtone. "Hello, this Dlam Dusk," he answered with routine ease.

"Hello mister Dusk, this is Miss Lime from your daughter's school. We are calling to inform parents of the increased rise of Grimm as of late and the schools are taking necessary steps to ensure that the children are safely escorted to and from the school." Miss Lime droned on for about another minute before Dalm could ask a question, "What exactly are you guys doing to keep the kids safe." Miss Lime replied "We are currently requesting aid from the military for an escort for the children, but we're also looking into freelance huntsmen and huntresses." Dlam having just finished the eggs and began to plate them up for Clara and calling for her while holding his scroll to his chest, "Clara breakfast is ready!" A fast reply of "I'm coming," was heard along with even faster footsteps. After climbing up into her chair at the end of the kitchen table and having her dad just set down a glass of milk for her.

With his daughter chowing down Dlam returned to his conversation with Miss Lime, "What about myself? I was a former huntsman. I wouldn't mind watching over the kids for a little bit." "I'm sorry, we can only hire currently licensed active huntsmen. Although the thought is very much appreciated," was the stale reply of Miss Lime. Dlam, not quite giving up on pressing for more answers, asked "Well do you at least know if anyone was assigned for the mission or you are guys just gonna let a bunch of little kids get hurt." Finally, Miss Lime broke her unflappable boring voice with her answer, "Now see here, we here at… Oh it seems someone just got assigned to our district," "And the plot thickens," Dlam sarcastically replied. "Would you mind telling me who got the job?" Dlam asked. Dlam then heard Miss Lime type away on her computer, more likely searching for the name of the huntress or huntsman who was assigned. Meanwhile Clara, who had enough of only here one side of the conversation, asked her dad what was going on. While Dlam was in the middle of explaining to Clara what was happening to her school, he suddenly broke out into a huge laugh that caught her off guard. Dlam wheezed, "I don't believe it. This is great." "What's going on Dad," Clara gave a confused look. "I'll explain on the way to school today honey. Why don't you finish your eggs and get ready for school, okay?" Dlam said, while hanging up his scroll as well as still giving his daughter vague answers to her questions. Clara gave a tiny shrug before going back to her breakfast.

After breakfast, both father and daughter got ready for the day. Clara was in her light pink colored room with posters from her favorite movies. She was standing in the middle of the room next to her bed that has a dark blue comforter with snowflakes adorning it. She was pacing her room back and forth, in her school pants with her pajama shirt, looking for something. "Dad, where's my favorite shirt? I can't find it anywhere!" Clara shouted, peeking her head out the doorway down the hall towards her dad's room. Dlam, still in his room, shouted in return, "Did you check in your dresser it should be in the top drawer. That's where I put it yesterday after I finished the laundry." Clara bolted over to her dresser opening the top drawer and looking into it and still not finding her favorite shouted, "I don't see it in here dad." "Okay, I'll be in there in a few minutes," Dlam said, still getting dressed.

After Dlam was fully dressed in a white dress shirt with a dark blue tie, a black jacket, matching slacks, and matching shoes. His pitch black hair combed down with it just barely reaching his eyebrows. He casually walked into his daughter's room and saw how she somehow turned her room into a disaster zone within a few minutes looking for a shirt. Dlam just gave a sigh and walked over to the dresser that was up against the wall and opened it up. After seeing it was not on the top of her other shirts. He quickly skimmed through the rest of them before pulling a black long sleeved shirt with pure white swan in the center of it. "Found it," Dlam handed her the shirt. "I'll be waiting in the living room," Dlam walked to the living room then to the front door of the house. He pulled off his puffy dark green coat that was sitting on the hooks next to the front door and threw it on. Clara came racing into the living room now wearing her bright yellow pants, the black shirt with a swan in the center, and black sneakers. She was carrying her backpack and had an excited look on her face ready to face the day again. Dlam grabbed her pink scarf and jacket off the hooks next to where his coat just was hanging. First, he wrapped her scarf around her, then he helped her slip her arms through jacket. "Alright, ready to have another great day?" Dlam question. Clara nodded with a shout, "Yeah!" Dlam smiled ruffling her hair, "That my girl," opening the door for her. She walked through the door and down the steps. She waited at the bottom of the steps while Dlam locked the door behind him.

"Now, remember you have dance class after school today. So, don't dilly dally after the final bell today." Dlam stated as he took Clara's hand in his own. They started to walk down the street to the drop off area for the kids of the block. Clara nodded, her curiosity having got the better of her, she asked her dad what he was laughing about during breakfast. Dlam chuckled again, "You'll find out in a couple of minutes."

Break

"What do you mean I have to escort a bunch of children to school this morning?!" the white haired Atlas specialist known as Winter exclaimed more than a little miffed at the new information. The poor soul who was manning the mission's desk was nearly knocked onto the floor by Winter's outburst. "Um…well...it appears that private Koral is not feeling well and um…currently no other operatives available," shuddered the desk jockey. Winter, still not satisfied with the answer, pressed for information, "Surely the General would not allow a specialist to work a lower priority mission such as this." The person behind the desk, apparently having a death wish, gave Winter the truth, "Actually it was the General who suggested that you do the mission. He said it would help strengthen the relationship between Mantle and Altas if one of the best was willing to help out even on the most menial of tasks." Winter gave the desk worker a hard glare before taking out her scroll to call General Ironwood to validate the claims of the desk worker.

After a couple of rings the General answered "Ah, Specialist Schnee, I see you have been debriefed on your mission this morning." "Yes I have been debriefed. I am just concerned that this is a slight misallocation of Atlas' resources," Winter said, maintaining a professional tone of voice. The General replied "I maintain that showing Mantle that a high ranking personnel in Atlas such as yourself is willing to help out. It will help bridge the gap between them. Also I believe you need to take it easy for a little while you have been a little high strung the last couple of weeks. So, as of now you are now only taking on low ranking missions along with your administrative duties. Take this time to do things you want and unwind a little, maybe even call your sister. I don't think you have talked to her since she went to Beacon." Winter could not believe what she was hearing, "But General-" Ironwood cut her off before she could start making an argument, "This is an order specialist is that clear." Winter signed as gave the most half hearted yes sir of her career before hanging up her scroll. "Alright, get me the full report on my… mission," said the now almost lifeless Winter as she looked at the mission board apathetically. Winter knew she was in for a long day. The problem was not so much that it was a low ranking mission, after all no mission is too small for the Altas military, but Winter did not know how to really talk to little kids or even being around them for extended periods of time. Winter was no quitter though she would take on this mission with skill and pride of an Atlas specialist. So, she lifted her head up high and began to mentally prepare for the mission.

Break

As Dlam and Clara continued down the street coming up on the drop off location for the children. Where children and parents had already begun to gather all around and most all of them were solely focused on the slightly nervous looking white haired specialist. As they reach their destination Dlam let Clara dash off to talk with her friends. While Clara was busy adamantly talking to her friends about how she almost got the jump on her dad this morning. Dlam, ever the brave one, decided to be the first of the parents to approach Winter. "So, do you lose a bet or something?" Dlam broke the ice with a chuckle. The question made Winter focus completely on Dlam, "I will have you know that I was personally selected for this mission to ensure that the children are safely escorted to and from school." Dlam gave Winter a blank look, clearly not buying what Winter was selling. "I take it someone else called in sick and you had to take the job instead," Dlam said as if he was there when it happened. "Not that it matters, I'm just glad someone competent got the job. I'm Dlam Dusk nice to meet you," Dlam continued, holding out his right hand.

Winter looked at his hand for a second before taking it in her own hand, "Winter Schnee, it is a pleasure to meet you as well. Which child is yours?" Winter asked looking around for a child that looked similar to Dlam. "That's her," pointed to Clara who was now talking with a little wolf eared girl with yellow hair about her dance class after school today. Dlam called Clara over to him. As Clara reached her dad and escort for the day, Dlam kneeled down to Clara's level and placed his hands on her shoulders "Clara this is Winter, she's going to make sure you and your friends get to school safe. So, I want you to be on your best behavior for Winter, okay?" Clara looked between her dad and Winter a couple of times before giving a hearty nod. "That my girl!" Dlam gave her a small hug before standing up and turning back to Winter with a ominous warning "Be careful she likes to ask question after question." After seeing the interaction between father and daughter, Winter gave a small laugh with a big, shocking to even her, smile, "Then I will just have to give her answer after answer, will I not?"

After Dlam broke the awkward and tense atmosphere, the other parents and their kids went over to introduce themselves and asked questions regarding the current affairs with the girmm. A few more minutes later all the kids were lined up and ready to be led to school. Clara and the rest of the children waved goodbye to their parents as Winter started to walk away with the kids. A little bit into the trip none of the kids were saying a word, focusing on their escort too nervous to talk around their new escort. Clara, taking notice of Winter's saber strapped to hip, ran right up next to her and excitedly asked, "Is that your weapon? What kind of cool things can it do? Can it shoot things?" Clara continued after to ask Winter more and more questions. Winter took a second to process the miles a minute questions being thrown at, keeping on guard for any wayward vehicles or strangling Grimm, before stating, "Nothing that fancy, it does house a second blade however." Clara looked up at her with big wide eyes with a silence of wanting more. Winter continued to explain, "I find that the easier the maintenance is on the weapon the more reliable it is in the field and is less likely to break down." So, Winter continued to explain many of the ins and outs of weapon care all the while Clara was still looking up and nodding along with all the new information she was learning.

Another handful of minutes later Winter and the children had reached the front of the school with faculty waiting by the front door. As the teachers by the door started to take a headcount of their students that were shuffling in with Winter giving a small report of the trip. Clara stayed behind waiting for Winter to finish talking to a teacher. After Winter gave her report to a rather portly looking teacher she felt a small tugging on her hand. Turning to find the disturbance, to no one's surprise, was Clara who decided to thank Winter for taking them to school. "Certainly, it was a pleasure to talk to you," Winter said. Clara smiled, "Are you gonna be here after school too?" Winter returned the smile, "Of course, it is my mission to make sure all of you kids are safely transported to and from school." "Clara, come on class is about to start," shouted a nearby classmate. Clara took off to her classroom while waving bye to Winter in the process. Winter continued to smile at Clara before going back to giving her report to the portly teacher. After which Winter had most of the day freed up until the kids are to be returned home.

The final bell of the school had just rang, most the kids in Mrs. Carbon's class were putting away their school supplies or making a mad dash for the front door of the classroom ready to be done with another day of school. Clara was talking to her best friend, a yellow haired fannus with wolf ears on the top of her head. Her friend was wearing a slightly beat black jacket and pants with some comfy look earmuffs covering her human looking ears. "Topaz, it's going to be the best we finally get to learn something new today at ballet," Clara said, throwing her hands up, hardly able to contain her excitement. Topaz's response was less enthusiastic, "Yes, Clara, I know you've told me like fifty times today." Clara gave out a slightly embarrassed chuckle, "Woops, Sorry." Clara, wanting to change the subject, "So, what did you think of Winter? Isn't she cool?" Topaz adopted an annoyed look before turning away from Clara who now had a confused look on her face. "Hey what's wrong?" Clara asked her best friend. Topaz just shook her head and told her not to worry about it. As the two friends walked through the halls of the school to the front door they saw the same woman who helped them get to school this morning.

Clara made a dash to Winter excited to learn more about the mysterious huntress turned escort. "Miss Winter!" Clara exclaimed in excrement. Winter, who up until this point was standing at attention, tilted her head down to see the little girl running towards her. "Good afternoon Clara, how is your day going for you?" Winter asked. Clara raddled off a number of different things she had either done or learned while at school, while Winter idly nodded her head with each new topic. Winter was reminded of own little sister with the excitement Clara was giving off while talking. Winter idly wondered if that was the reason she was so at ease talking to Clara. "And then I get to start learning a new dance later today at ballet class," Clara finished. That had peaked Winter's interest, bending down slightly, "Really, how long have you been taking lessons?" Clara, happy to have found a common interest with Winter, explained, "Only a few months, but Mrs. Nix says that I'm a really fast learner. I'm one the best dancers in my class." By now the other students were lining up and ready to leave. After doing a headcount Winter started to lead the kids back home.

A little more than halfway to the drop off point a small growl was heard. All of the children who were chatting idly were immediately turned silent, all of them staring at a lone Beowolf that had followed them. Quickly Winter moved in front of the kids, while also telling them to remain calm and not to focus on negative feelings. Winter drew out her saber ready to attack. The Grimm moved first, lunging forward baring its sharp claws bearing down towards Winter. Winter took summon a white glyph below her feet before shooting forward. In a brief instance the Beowolf was sliced in half. Doing a quick scan of the surrounding area looking to see if any more of the Grimm were around. With all of the action said and done Winter did a quick head count of the children., Clara ran over towards Winter. "That… was… Awesome!" Clara praised jumping up and down. "How did you do that?" came from the excited Clara. "It was quite simple actually. A single Beowolf is hardly a threat for an Atlas trained Specialist," Winter explained with a prideful look in her eye as she started to tell Clara about some of her daily training during her day at the academy. The other children were just as excited and soon they all began to ask Winter questions about her huntress abilities and skills. The rest of the walk to the drop off zone was without any extra excitement.

Dlam was waiting at the drop off zone, ready to take Clara to her dance class this afternoon with a duffel bag and snacks, wondering why the group was running late. "Dad," Dlam turned as he heard his daughter yell at him. When Clara reached her father she began to regal him with what had happened earlier, "Dad you should have seen it. There was this Grimm and it was stocking us ready to eat us or something. Then the Grimm lunged at us with teeth and claws, 'rawr rawr' it growled. Things looked grim and then Winter was all like not to day and sliced it in half. It was sooo cool, can I please get a sword, please." Dlam laughed, patting her head, "Why don't you ask me again in a couple years." Winter came over to the pair to properly explain the situation with the Grimm. After going in a surprising amount of detail about the walk to here from the school. Winter wrapped up her report to the parents,"Finally, rest assured that the children were completely safe."

With the children returned to their parents, Winter decided it was time leave for the day. Before she could take off she felt a small tug on her hand for the second time today. Turn her head towards the source of the tugging. To see little Clara looking down at her feet obviously feeling embarrassed, "Will you be taking us to school tomorrow?" Winter gave her a truthful answer, "Yes, I will have been assigned to escort all of you for the remainder of the week. Clara's face lit up with a 1000 watt smile upon hearing the news. Suddenly Clara wrapped her arms around Winter's legs in a tight hug. Winter just stared down at Clara in mild shock unsure what to do when a child is attached to one's legs. Luckily Dlam was there to save the day, "Alright, Sunshine I think it's time to let go of Miss Winter. We don't want to be late for dance class right?" Clara slowly let go of Winter's legs walking backwards. Dlam came up behind Clara and put his hand on her shoulder. "Hey," Dlam got Winter's attention, "Thanks for looking out for my daughter. She means the whole world to me." After seeing the display of the father-daughter team, Winter gave Dlam a small smile, "It was a pleasure looking after such a bright and spirited child as your daughter." With Winter taking her leave, Clara gave her a wave goodbye, "See you tomorrow Miss Winter."

AN: So what did you think so far?