A white void encompassed all around me. It stretched out into the horizon for all I could see. The sheer brightness of it stung my eyes, or what felt like my eyes.

I felt almost like nothing, yet I could feel everything in my body. My hands, my feet, my eyes, and somehow I didn't feel like I was connected to them.

As I just floated there, I wondered about my status. Was I dead? Or am I just in a coma? If I am dead, is this the afterlife?

Because if it is, then this is probably the worst afterlife I could think of.

At least with heaven and hell, you know what you're gonna get, be it eternal punishment or eternal paradise. Even the black void didn't blind me like this one did. This one is just…boring.

While I continued to float in the inky white space of nothing, I thought about my life and came to the conclusion that it wasn't the most fulfilling. I didn't do anything cool like go to the moon or cure cancer. I didn't even do anything awful like OD on drugs. I just did nothing.

That was what got me. I had made zero impact. Not on the world, my friends, or even my family. I wouldn't even be remembered.

"Would you like to change that?"

Snapping out my existentialist spiral, I heard what I think is a male voice asking me if I wanted to change my fate.

"Can you do that? How?" I asked.

Another voice, deeper than the first chimed in.

"Simple, we're gods. We can place your soul in a new vessel and place it in the mortal realm."

"Okay," I responded, "Not that I'm complaining, but why me? Why chose me out of any other soul?"

The first voice responded, "Like your thoughts revealed to you, you did not impact anything in your old life on Earth. Nothing to make a legacy, however small. By accepting our offer, you will be transported to a world called Remnant in a new body. There, you will live out a new life."

"But will I actually make a difference?"

I felt the first voice gave an ethereal form of a shrug, "Maybe you will, maybe you won't. That is all up to your decisions."

I thought about my options. I could either stay dead, or live again on a world I had no clue about. My decision was quick; no way I was going into the afterlife as a nobody. I would die as a somebody.

"I accept," I declared, "It doesn't matter what body you give me, I'm gonna make something of myself, no matter what!"

Silence permeated the void as I assume to two gods were thinking of what to do with me. Then the second, deeper voice spoke.

"Brother, how about this form?"

The first voice gave a light chuckle, "Yes, that would be an entertaining form to observe."

"What?" I asked

"Nothing, you will find out soon enough. Now, remember this: all of your choices will have consequences, whether you know it or not."

With that last bit of cryptic advice, the whole void brightened up like the sun until it blinded me in a white gulf.

Flash!

The first thing I noticed was the smell of the wind. It was a cool, airy wind. The type you'd find in a city walking about. You could stand still and just feel the wind kiss upon your face like a cool breeze. The second thing I noticed was that I was rapidly approaching the ground, more specifically an alley way.

I responded with screaming and flailing my arms around.

My mind raced with panic and rage. How dare those gods?! Telling me they'll reincarnate me and then letting me fall to my death! Those bastards! That coincided with me trying not to splat to death. My eyes scanned everywhere for to land somewhat safely.

The roofs? No, I would still definitely still die, along with any roads or sidewalks. The fire escapes? Not unless I want my sudden stop and last breaths to feel slightly different. The dumpster? Only if it was opened…hey it was opened. And I was falling right for it.

I braced for impact by trying to curl into a ball and land on my side.

Whumfp!

Unfortunately, I got cut off by slamming straight into the garbage bags.

"Oooohhh…" I weakly moaned as I climbed out of the dumpster and into the light of the night. I rolled out and fell with an "Oof!". I got up and dusted myself off, noting that my arms felt fuzzier that I remembered. Guessed I must've had hairy arms back when I was alive.

I turned and faced my impromptu land pad. The dumpster was huge, needing me to climb up it to even look inside it. I didn't remember dumpsters being this tall. I had a feeling I was able to be at least eye level with it before needing to look down. Maybe it was one of those big city dumpsters whole buildings used to throw their trash in.

Oh well, I turned around and looked down the alley way. It was nighttime with streetlights illuminating the roads. Only, the actual poles themselves were holographic. Okay, remember what the god voice told you; new world, new rules, new technology that you haven't seen yet. It was all cool. I could even see people, but they were distant and far off enough to look like walking shadows. Also, they must have been some giants because from where I was standing, they were around the same height as me, you know not accounting for draw distance.

A gust of wind gave me the shivers, letting me know that I wasn't exactly wearing clothes at the moment.

"Huueegh…" I shivered, "You'd think a pair of extra dimensional deities could have at least spared me a coat."

I looked to my right and found a mirror. It was decent sized, coming to around my height. I gasped at my reflection.

That form those two gods thought would be funny was a two-foot tall, furry weasel-ferret type creature. My head was akin to an otter, with pointy fur-tipped ears like a fox. My nose was a pinkish color and twitched even as I stood still. My eyes were large for my size, with red irises staring right back at me. The fur around my face flared out, covering the bottom portion of my face like a beard. The fur on my chest flared up around the collarbone. My mouth was wide and took up much of my lower face, with teeth that were mainly normal, save for two fangs on both upper and bottom jaws. My fur was an off-color white with black stripes leading down my body like a cat's.

I looked at my hands. They were proportionally bigger than a human's hand, with tiny black claws ending at my fingers. The hands were mostly covered in black fur, save for the five fingers and from the wrist downwards.

I reacted accordingly.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" I screamed out into the night. I didn't want to be this! I was a human! Human!

After several seconds of screaming, I caught my breath.

"I'm fine," I said myself. "Okay, I'm fine, I'm fine".

I looked down at my legs. They were short, stout little things, also in the same black and white coloring as the rest of my fur. My feet were like rabbit's paws that ended in the same little black claws as my hands.

Then I felt my tail move into my view. Same black and white fur, except very fluffy and was long enough to curl around my legs.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I screamed again. This was not who I am, this was not who I was! I was a human, god damn you, not some ferret thing!

What am I going to do? I wondered while pacing around. I couldn't do anything like this. I would probably wonder alone until some science team finds me and dissects to see how I tick? No, don't think like that. Maybe, I could join the circus, become a big act. The Amazing Talking…Ferret-Weasel! Nah, I would have to run away. Oh, I could be some rich snob's pet and live comfortably for the rest of my life. No, I would die fat, alone, and lacking true love, like a rich snob.

"Hello? Is someone okay in there?" an old voice broke the silence.

Shoot! Someone must have heard my rightful indignation against the gods! I dashed quickly to the side of the dumpster, hugging its wall for cover trying to keep my short, sharp breaths from being too loud.

"If you are injured, I can call for help," the voice called out again.

"No thanks, I'm fine," I said too quickly for me to stop. "Nothing to worry about in here, no sirree."

"Those screams didn't sound fine," the voice replied. "I'm coming in to help."

What am I going to do, what am I going to do? He was already walking the frankly dank alleyway, and I couldn't stop him. Would this old geezer accept me for what I really am? Is it possible for animals to talk to people here? Think, think, think! What could I do?!

Then it struck me…I'm an animal, so act like an animal.

I got down on all fours and walked out the dumpster, pretending to sniff the ground. I turned and face the man, looking up at his face and trying to put on my cutest animal face.

"Oh, a werret," the old man bended down to get a good look at me. "I wonder what you are doing all the way out here in Vale."

Two things discovered: one, I'm a "werret" whatever that is, and two, I'm in somewhere called Vale. Maybe it's a continent, a country, or just a city, I don't know yet.

The man didn't look as old as he sounded. No noticeable lines on his face, but he did have white hair. He wore small black spectacles hiding brown eyes. His attire gave off the impression that he was well off, so the "adoption into rich person's life" plan was still viable. The black suit over a green vest and sweater, the dark green dress pants, and the cane all gave the impression that this dude was classy.

"Werrets usually live on mountain sides near valleys across Vale. Why are you all the way out here?" The old man asked again.

"Oh, you know: dumpster diving, being free, smelling like week-old fish carcass." I said too quickly before clamping my hands over my mouth. The not-so-old geezer widen his eyes in awe at my not-so-subtle revelation.

"This…is a first for me. I have not known any werret that could speak any spoken language."

Knowing the ruse was up, I quickly got on my knees and prayed. "Please, please, please don't turn me into the government! I promise, I can do tricks. I can uh…" I struggled to think of any talents. "I can sing, I can dance, I can even do funny voices! I don't want be locked up and dissected!"

The old man put up a calming hand. "I promise; I won't let any scientists take you apart." He looked at his watch and back to the entrance of the alleyway.

"I'll try and make this as brief as I can," he said, "I have someplace important to be soon, and I can't miss it." The old man stood up, forcing me to crane my neck far up. Old guy was tall.

"Do you know who I am?" the old man asked.

"Someone too rich to be walking down dark alleyways?" I answered.

That got a light chuckle out of him. "No, my name is Ozpin. I am the headmaster at Beacon Academy, where young adults learn to fight monsters as well as further their education. I am formally inviting you to attend my school as a first year."

"Fighting? Monsters? School?!" I reiterated. "Sorry Ozzy, but there is no way I'm going back to school!" I crossed my arms to prove my seriousness. "I already passed through with all the school crap. I ain't going back to do it a second time."

Ozpin, who I expect to be slightly mad at my denial, just shrugged it off. "If that is your decision, so be it. Although, I would like to mention that Beacon offers full housing with a three meal-per-day plan and showers with warm water. Though, if you do wish to live out here on your own, then that is fine with me." With that, he turned around and walk towards the exist.

I pondered my choices. I could either go back to the hell that is school, but live comfortable like I used to, or live freely but get used to dumpster diving and sleeping in the cold, wet rain. I made my decision.

"Hey, wait!" I called to Ozpin, running towards headmaster. Ozpin stopped and turned around, waiting for me to catch up and catch my breath.

"Alright," I said, "I'll go to your school, but if I die fighting your monsters, I'm gonna kick your butt!"

"Of course," Ozpin said, closing his eyes and giving a light smile. He opened his eyes back up and walked out the alleyway with me following behind.

Turns out walking isn't my new body's strongest attribute. Whether it was me, or my body, I had a challenge walking with my squat little legs. Even going on all fours, it was a challenge to keep up with the old headmaster. So, I decided to improvise. Using my tiny claws, I climbed up Ozpin, till I got to his left shoulder, making a nice perching point for me to rest. Ozpin side-eyed me, silently asking me what I was doing.

"What? You walk really fast for someone needing a cane." I replied. We walked more through the streets of Vale, taking in the night air.

"If you don't mind me asking, what is your name?" Ozpin asked.

"My name?" I replied. "Oh yeah, it's uh…" Oh, great, did I actually forget my name? Come on man, think.

"It's uh…. Uhhh…" I stalled, snapping my fingers.

"You do have a name, correct?"

"I do, Ozzy. It's…it's…" I almost got it. I almost got it…

"It's…Dave!" I exclaimed.

"…Dave?" Ozpin repeated.

"Yeah, Dave. Or David or Davey or whatever. Not all of us get have cool names when they're born, Ozpin." I replied.

Ozpin continued, "So, I can assume you have no last name?"

"Oz, I'm two feet tall, covered in fur, and not even human. Yeah, I'm pretty sure family legacy isn't something that came up at all."

"And I can confirm you are a male, right?"

"Yep." Be pretty weird if I was a girl. I learned from cartoons that the boy animals don't have to wear clothes and the girl animals do. Although, given the constant light breeze hitting everything, I'm starting to wish more of those guys did wear pants or something.

"So uh, where are we going?" I asked Ozpin.

"The police station." He replied.

"Oh ho! So one of your little students got themselves a misdemeanor? I bet it's drunk driving, you know teenagers plus booze plus cars never makes a good combination."

"No, it wasn't that," the headmaster rebuked, "This young lady got herself involved in a breaking and entering incident. Also, she is not enrolled into Beacon…yet."

We walked the rest of the way in relative silence, with me and Ozpin asking small questions along the way. These include "What is Vale?", "Why are streetlights made of light?", and "What do you mean there are only four countries and why do you keep calling them 'Kingdoms'?" Eventually, we got to the police station. We were expected on arrival and led to the interrogation rooms. I got some odd looks, but I guess a weasel-ferret riding on a headmaster's shoulder is an uncommon thing.

We stopped at the room we were supposed to go in. Ozpin already got a plate of cookies, which I suspected was to lure the felon into a false sense of security in order to confess their crimes. Ozpin and I both said thank you to the officer that led us, which did not disappoint me when I saw the look on that man's face when he heard me talk.

We walked into the room. It's like any interrogation room you've seen: dark one-sided mirrors, a cold table with two chairs, and that one really bright blub police officers always use. Two people were already inside. The first was an older woman who rocked the hot librarian/teacher look. The glasses, the dress, that no-nonsense look in her eyes can make any man weak. Rawr, indeed.

But, I guess she didn't like me, because the first thing she said after we walked in was, "Ozpin, what are you doing with that?"

"Relax Miss Goodwitch," my boy Oz said, "He is someone I have interest in. Now, I wish to talk to Miss Rose."

We got to the aforementioned criminal. She looked like Little Red Riding Hood became a goth. She was decked out in red and black, from her corset to her skirt, and to her boots. Her short hair was black with tips of red at the end. She looked awfully young for a criminal, but looks can be deceiving.

I jumped off of Ozpin's shoulder and onto the table, just as he was setting the plate of cookies down. "Don't worry, Oz, I got this."

I strode up to little Miss Rose and did my best bad cop impression. "Alright lady, we got enough CCTV footage to put you away for a very long time. You better tell us where you and your buddies are hiding out or things'll get nasty! We can do this the easy way, or the hard way! CONFESS ALREADY! WHO ARE YOU WORKING FOR?!"

As I finally stopped shaking her with all my might, Miss Rose didn't clamp up like a harden criminal. Instead she looked like she was going to break down from stress. Which she did.

"Uh, uh, alright I admit! I took money out of the swear jar to buy parts for Crescent Rose! I confess! Please don't tell my dad!"

Great, now she was sobbing and making me feel bad. I probably should have toned down the bad cop routine.

Ozpin and Goodwitch both looked at each other then back to Miss Rose. Ozpin comforted with, "Don't worry Miss Rose, you won't be getting in trouble tonight. In fact, your actions helped police investigations with the recent string of Dust robberies."

"Despite the thousands of Lien in property damage." Goodwitch muttered which earned her a quiet "Glynda," from Ozpin.

"So, I'm not in trouble?" the kid asked. Great, those grey puppy dog eyes keep making me feel sad for her.

"No, Ruby," Ozpin replied, "I was going to commemorate you in your attempt to stop Mr. Torchwick's robbery, if my partner had not made such a hasty decision."

I already backed off from Ruby and felt two piercing glares from Ozpin and Goodwitch.

"Alright, I'm sorry!" I exclaimed. "I'm sorry I accused you for something you didn't do." I turned to face Ozpin, "Although, why didn't you say anything before hand?"

Glynda rolled her eyes, while Ozpin shook his head. "Now, let's get back on track. Ruby Rose, do you know who I am?"

"You're Professor Ozpin, headmaster of Beacon." Ruby responded.

I'll be honest, I zoned out during this part. Ruby and Oz kept talking about a bunch of thing: how Ruby got sliver eyes, who taught her to fight with a scythe, and how she made some kind of sniper/scythe thing. Which was really cool, because I got to watch the footage of her beating up a couple of goons, and let me tell you; I do not want to get in the way of a girl who uses recoil to kick enemy ass.

"Miss Rose, would you like to go to Beacon?" Ozpin asked.

"Yeah, I would," Ruby said. "I still got two years left a Signal though. But my sister, Yang, she'll be going to Beacon this year, so that's pretty cool."

"I'm afraid you're misunderstanding my question. I'm asking would you like to go to Beacon now?"

Ruby's eyes lit up like a string of lights. "You can do that?!"

Ozpin nodded yes. Ruby squealed with joy, hurting my very sensitive ears in the process.

After calming down, Ruby asked Oz, "What about him?" pointing at me.

Ozpin gave a light grin, "Mr. David will also be attending this year."

"That's right, kid" I said, "You get to be in class with a legend. Don't let my greatness overwhelm you." I flexed my muscles, ignoring Ruby's quiet giggles at my display in manliness. That question also raised another in my head.

"Hey, Oz," I whispered, getting close to Ozpin's ear, "What's the average age for kids in Beacon's first year?"

"Seventeen." He responded back. After doing the math in my head, I realized that the scythe-wielding death machine was fifteen and was more interested in cookies and weapons than anything else. Yeah, not my type.

"Yeah, I'm around that age. I think." I responded.

"Now with that all taken care of," Ozpin continued talking to Ruby, "I can contact your parents or other guardians to get you home and inform them of the news."

"Thank you," Ruby replied, "My sister will pick me up. Seriously, I can't thank you enough, Professor."

"None needed, Miss Rose."

"Bye Professor Ozpin! Bye David!" "You don't have to call me that all the time! I can go by Dave or Davey!" I cried back.

As I was distracted by getting Ruby to call me by a less formal name, Glynda and Ozpin were having their own little meeting.

"Ozpin, you can't seriously consider letting a werret into a Huntsmen Academy." Glynda protested. "I was already skeptical of you letting Miss Rose skip two years, but this Daivd seems nothing like a proper Huntsman. All he seems is a one-trick pony."

"I understand you suspicions, Glynda," Ozpin said, "But believe me, there is more to young David here than just hot air. There is something about him I have not felt for a very, very long time."

Ozpin turned away from Glynda and walked to the table I was standing at. I climbed up to Ozpin's shoulder and we both left the room. Across the hall, Ruby waved us goodbye, and to be courteous, I waved back. I heard one last, "Bye David!" before almost getting out of earshot.

The last thing I heard from Ruby was, "Um, Miss Goodwitch, can I still have that autograph?"

Me and Ozpin both walked out into the night sky, a little darker than before. As we walked to the airport or something, Ozpin surmised what will happen tomorrow.

"Once we take the Bullhead back to Beacon, we will go over the basics of Huntsmen training and Grimm in order to prepare you for the coming initiation. It will be tough, but I have faith you will pull through."

While those last words of encouragement truly touched my heart, I was more focused on the sky and the stars. Specifically, one certain object in the sky.

"Hey Ozpin?" I asked.

"Yes?"

"One small question, WHY IS THE MOON FREAKIN' BROKEN!"