AN: I do not own any content included in this story, it is the property of its creators/owners.
Ravens Flight
Chapter 1
Welcome to the Tribe!
Remnant was a violent world, a divided world. Never was this more apparent than when one looked in from the outside, as those of the wilds did. Human, Faunus, Grimm. City, Village, Nomad. Hunter, Soldier, Civilian. Each division helped define a person, but made them shallow-minded, made them see it through tinted glass.
The Nomadic Tribe 'Grimm Pride', looked at the world and saw a brutal truth. That the strong live, and the weak die. Predator and prey. This was how they lived their lives. To Outsiders, it made them seem like fierce warriors, brutish and uncivilised. It was true, to a point. In a world of predator and prey, morality was decided by the strong. Murder and looting were commonplace amongst the Tribe's hunting parties, taking what was needed –and wanted- with impunity. The only caveat they universally adhered to was 'don't get caught'. Everything else was secondary.
It was in this environment that a set of young twins were being raised.
Walking back to her tent was a young Raven Branwen, her midnight black hair tied back with a small red ribbon, crimson as her eyes, and a ninjato on her hip.
She had been out hunting to get both her and Qrow some food, because as much as she loved her brother, the Oum-damned bastard was lazy. Unlike her, who was already training for the weapon she wanted (it was just too big for her small 6 year old frame), he had still to decide if he even wanted a weapon!
Stopping her mental tirade, she continued her way through the camp with her catch -a couple of rabbits-, weaving between the drunken and unconscious men of the tribe with irritation. Oum save her but they reeked of the shit. It was enough to put her of the stuff for life. As she entered the tent, she was greeted with the sight of her twin haphazardly sprawled across his 'bed' upside-down.
GAH! He was so annoying. Not that she showed it on her face, no, she refused to let him get to her. Sighing almost imperceptibly, she sat down to skin the rabbits.
A short time later, Raven having just finished gutting the bunnies, she was poked in the side. Screaming profanity at the only person thick enough to do such a thing, she twisted around and threw the conveniently placed knife towards her brothers' face. To her immense displeasure she missed, and Qrow swooped in to wrap her up in a bear hug, that irritating smirk of his plastered on his face.
"What's wrong sis, get up too early?" he asked.
"No, you dullard" she replied a she roughly shoved him off. "Our training is starting soon, and you have yet to choose a weapon, or even a general type! At least then you could get a feel for what you wanted later on! But you've done nothing except sit on your ass all day.
Qrow didn't even bother sitting up, instead getting comfy on the ground where he lay.
"Well sis, that'd be because I'm not sure if I even want to fight."
"Brother, you know as well as I that it's the safest option. As nomads, our lives are constantly in danger, we must be able to fight if we're to survive. So unless you want to run to the nearest city, you need to learn."
"Hm~" Was his only reply.
Believing the point won, she returned to her task. She would bring it up again soon. After all, as annoying as her slacker brother was, he was family. He made her feel safe. So she would nag him all day long, if only to keep him alive and well.
It was what family was for, after all.
xXx
Six years later both she and Qrow were well into their training. They were using ordinary weapons, there was no need for some fancy mecha-shift monster when learning the basics. It was bare steel, and a 'learn or die' attitude.
The trainers of Grimm Pride were firm believers in the 'school of hard knocks', though they took it to the extremes. During these lessons, Raven learnt of the brutality of the world. She was given tasks at certain stages of her training, to judge if she were ready for the next stage. They all came with a single, universal rule: complete the task or be punished. She had failed once. She refused to do so again, crafting a shell, a mask, behind which to hide as she completed her objectives, no matter the cost to herself… or others. She did not know if Qrow faced the same, as their training was separate, but she hoped beyond hope that he was unharmed.
xXx
Some time later, Raven stood quietly in the cold night, the Chief beside her. She wore her signature outfit, a skirt and top in black and reds, black hair flowing down her back like an elegant mane. Tonight, she and Qrow would finally create their personal weapons, and be yet another step closer to being warriors!
The only problem with the plan was the distinct lack of her brothers' presence.
A handful of minutes later, there was a rustle in the bushes off to the side and Qrow stumbled out of the undergrowth, a bottle in one hand. Had he stolen someone's liquor again? She sighed. If she ever found the moron that let have his first drink she would castrate them with a rusty ball-bearing!
xXx
Raven was incredibly proud of her creation. It was simple, but effective. The blade itself was telescopic, so she could adjust the size of the blade as circumstances required. It was made from a high tensile strength and conductive metal alloy, allowing for dust to be channelled through the blade on command. The scabbard, despite appearances, is actually very light weight, being nothing more than a shell to keep the blade safe from the elements and a dust chamber at the mouth. Its' size would take some getting used to, but at least it didn't weigh the dozens of pounds it appeared to.
She did worry about Qrows' choice though, as while she had decided to remain relatively simple, her brother had basically done the opposite.
He'd decided on a single-edged cleaver-broadsword. She could have understood if he'd stopped there, but no, he had to give it an integrated shotgun. And what sort of poison had he been drinking to make a mecha-shift scythe mode with exposed gearing sound like a good idea!?
There was no way that this wouldn't come to bite him in the ass at some point, it was a demonstrated point that the more complex something was, the more likely it was to break down. It was why she was such a firm believer in K.I.S.S – Keep It Simple, Stupid!
Well, if his weapon failed and got him hurt, at least she'd get to tell him 'I told you so'. And at least now their training could begin in earnest. Remnant wouldn't know what hit it!
For now It is time to dig in and start the training with her new weapon. For the sake of keeping what is hers safe she will become strong to keep it safe from any danger. That is a promise of a life-time!
AN: I do not own any of the properties included within this story, they are the properties of their original creators.