Ruby shivered in a cold night that was not her own. She had only the stars for companionship, as the forest around her did little to ease her confused and vulnerable mind, as it was a place that she didn't recognize in any capacity.

The details of how exactly she had arrived there were fuzzy and muted by time and emotion. The world gradually cleared around her, but she found tears rolling down her face. A feeling that had never before felt filled her, a fire that threatened to consume her and everything else around her unless she quelled it. This flame also did not belong to her, but she experienced it nonetheless.

The emotion that she didn't understand, and never should, was a raw untended hate for humanity that only the truly damned would contain. Not even the presider over all Grimm could claim to have such a burning desire to see humankind crumble.

Ruby did not yet know where the emotion came from, nor did she know where she was. She was surrounded by shadow people who were denied a role, and plainly built buildings that only a village designed to be forgotten would have.

The world blurred around her as she ran, one thing melding into another, lines and jeering faces of her fellow man taunting her.


A ruler slammed against a desk vengefully.

Ruby snorted awake, her body tensed and anything but relaxed as she looked around wide eyed for the source of the noise. There were several poorly contained giggles and chuckles as she gave a blank look at the unnamed teacher in front of her. Whether or not he had been nothing more than the shadow of a man before Ruby was unsure, she couldn't quite remember if everyone looked like that. Everyone looked the same, with only small variations of size here and there in their wispy and ill-conceived form.

Even the teacher's voice didn't sound quite right, a scratchy and annoying voice that she didn't want to hear any more of. Already the teacher had resumed his lesson, walking back to a board that read, "TRUST NO ONE OTHER THAN ME" in large, poorly coordinated handwriting, as if it was written by somebody that hadn't learned to write until much later in life.

When Ruby blinked again, the handwriting was gone, filled with text about language that she had already begun to hate, as well as the teacher's name. It was the first day of class, after all. But the name shifted and glitched, as it had been deemed unimportant.

The back of a pencil tapped Ruby's back and she looked back to see a shadow person with no face and no mouth.

"Are you okay?" It asked, and Ruby nodded, unsettled. Feeling that something was off, she turned back to the blackboard and began once again, writing down pointless information.

The class bell rang, and a collection of formless people shuffled out the door. Ruby followed, seeing no one like her in the hallways. When she looked down she had shoes, the school uniform, and all the necessary appendages to make a complete human. None of which the shadows had, their books floating in front of them, or their backpacks dangling in the black mist that comprised each of them.

Ruby knew this was abnormal, but couldn't place why. She was sure that people looked like her, at least in vague strokes. She was fairly sure they were supposed to have shoes, clothes, legs, and hands just like she did, however they lacked any of these things. This inconsistency ate at her, but she tried to act normally. As normally as one surrounded by what looked like nightmares could be at almost the age of nine.

She'd already memorized the map of the school, but triple checked it on her way to the locker room. The shadows were giving her 'odd looks', something that she knew despite their lack of facial features. They could already tell something was unusual with the young Huntress in training. Perhaps from the way she looked down, refusing to meet any one person's eyes. Or the fact that she was clumsy, constantly bumping into people and whispering a muttered, 'Sorry," before hurrying onwards.

She breathed a sigh of relief upon reaching her final class for the day, having arrived there before anyone else and finding her uncle, in his normal form, alone, and on the blacktop. He was clean shaven and tidy in his sportswear, although his paleness in the sun and sunglasses that hid bloodshot eyes betrayed his use of the bottle.

"Ruby?" He asked, seeing an emotion in her that he hadn't seen in nearly six months. Her eyes were wide, her body trembling as she clung to his leg, relieved. To see something normal.

"Can I please go home?" She asked, looking up at him.

"School's almost over. Just bear with it a little longer, okay kiddo?"

Ruby shook her head. "Please?"

He ruffled her red tinged hair, sighing. "Sorry, Rubes. I know it's hard, but it's only a little longer. Stay strong for me."

Ruby unlatched her arms from his leg, giving him a look of betrayal. She backed away, shaking her head.

"Ruby?"

"Please, Uncle Qrow."

In the remaining years of his life, Ruby would never know just how much Qrow regretted his next words. Words that would have made Ozpin proud had he been there, but horrified anyone who knew what the term 'child soldier' was. A term that Ozpin had assassinated over and over in his tenure, ensuring that it would never reach the public's consciousness, and that the idea of training a child to throw down their lives for people they would never really know was somehow a righteous and noble path.

Damn the old man, damn his zealotry. For if he was evil, he surely would have been struck down long ago by a hero. Instead he thought nothing of his little hypocrisies, memories that had slipped by the wayside to preserve his self image, and he failed to remember the once ironclad ideals he had.

"You want to be a Huntress, right? That means you have to be brave. I know there's a lot of people and it's overwhelming, but you'll get used to it I promise. Just... try and stuff it down."

"But..." Ruby's eyes were cast downward as she relaxed, giving up. She followed her uncle's lovely advice, taking her fear and shoving it somewhere deep inside. Like setting aside firewood for the winter, except in this case, it would erupt years later, in the form of a hatred for humanity that could rival her mother's.

"Better?" Qrow asked, kneeling down.

"Yes." Ruby answered quietly.

"Good. Think you're ready to make your weapon later?" Qrow smiled kindly.

Ruby's face lit up at the proposition, momentarily abating her fear and negative emotions. "Promise?"

"Promise."

It was at this moment that a gaggle of shadow men poured through the door. Ruby tried to back away but found Qrow's leg blocking her. Remembering his suggestion, she buried her fear and walked away from her uncle, joining the slowly growing group. After it stopped growing, Qrow nodded to himself, placing his hands behind his back.

"Hello, class. You can call me Mr. Branwen, and I'll be overseeing your physical training while here at..."

Summer watched as she leaned on the side of the fortress known as Signal, seeing the same shadows that her daughter did. Although she never thought about the fact that only certain people had form. The change had happened so long ago that she thought nothing of it now.

What she mainly thought about was Qrow, and his ability to act professionally under duress. While the kids would never notice Qrow's slightly faster speech, increased perspiration, and the way he fiddled his hands behind his back, Summer knew that he was nervous, extremely so. He simply wasn't used to actually burying his fear as Summer had, usually choosing to forget or drink instead. He was unable to act on his own advice.

Summer no longer trusted her former teammate, as he was too close to Ozpin, who she was absolutely sure had his sights set on Ruby. Not because she thought Qrow would ever do anything to harm Ruby on purpose, but she feared he could be manipulated against his will.

Her rage cooled for the moment, she allowed Qrow to maintain his class with Ruby in it— for the moment. Summer had hoped he would take the hint and take Ruby home, but instead he had misunderstood Ruby's plight and forced her to walk around surrounded by what most people would describe as 'monsters'. Nameless, formless beings with only a vague shape to their existence.

Summer could see Ruby doing her best not to stare at them, her daughter shuffling in place quietly and doing her best to remain calm. Summer no longer cared for her daughter in the capacity of a mother, cold and uncaring to the world, and so she regarded her fear towards those near her as nothing more than training her for when she was truly alone. Summer would shape her into the perfect cold-blooded Huntress at any cost.

As it was the first day of class, tensions were high, and of course, when Qrow asked if there were any questions, there had to be one particularly stupid child that raised his hand. Qrow pointed to him, allowing him the opportunity to hang himself, although Qrow didn't know he'd lain the noose then.

"Does she need to pee? She keeps moving around like a weirdo." One of the shadow men asked, referring to Ruby. There was a chorus of chuckles and laughter that quickly died down when Qrow showed no sign of joining their merriment.

Rage and anger towards humanity filled Summer, although only disappointment towards humanity filled Qrow as he refused to show emotion. "...what's your name?" The boy answered, although neither Summer nor Ruby heard anything more than static in place of where it was supposed to be.

Ruby was still, her face red. She still managed to feel embarrassed despite her fear, something that even internally she was annoyed at herself for doing. She shoved the embarrassment deep inside her psyche. Her face was no longer scarlet, instead she was now calm and composed, even while surrounded by the shadow people.

"Two laps. We'll talk later about this."

The shadow failed to hide his joy at such an easy punishment, floating towards the track before Qrow tsked. "Not there. All around Signal. You have seven minutes before I add another lap. Go."

The group turned to watch as the formless thing bobbed off into the distance and out of sight.

"Any other questions?" Qrow asked, although he knew there wouldn't be. "Good. First thing we'll be doing is an icebreaker, getting to know each other. Pair yourselves off and grab a ball. Tell your partner something about yourself whenever you toss the ball."

Qrow's Scroll buzzed and he answered it, but Ruby was unable to concentrate about that after having something press down on her shoulder. She flinched, before it was just a lone shadow person behind her, holding a ball.

"...want to partner?" It asked, in a voice that was not even close to that of a child.

"S-sure." Ruby gulped. It was harder to keep composed than she thought it would be.

"I'll start. My name's _." The shadow told her, the ball lifting of the air seemingly of its own accord.

"My name's Ruby." She responded quickly in words and a toss, hoping that she wouldn't be forced to try and repeat their name.

Qrow snuck off, although Ruby was the only one to notice his hurry. The other students were too engrossed in their activity and unaware of their surroundings.

A ball slammed into her face, knocking her flat. "Ow." She said after some thought, rather half-heartedly.

She picked herself up quickly and tossed the ball back to her partner.

"You didn't say anything." Her partner pointed out in the strange, monotone voice of a shadow person. It was impossible to tell what inflection they gave the words, which made it impossible for Ruby to tell if it was a playful joke or an accusation.

"I live at—" She stopped herself, about to repeat the address of her burned down home. "I live at my uncle's."

The ball sailed back to her. "I live with _, and _. I have a dog named _.."

Ruby caught the ball. "I don't have a dog. Mom used to say that they were filthy vermin."

If the shadow person was off put by this statement, Ruby couldn't tell.

"What teacher is your favorite? Mine is _." They asked.

"I'm not sure yet." Ruby answered, as she couldn't remember the names of any of her teachers. She was fairly certain that she should have remembered at least one, but not one of them came to mind. The idea that memories were missing from her mind sent a shiver down her spine.

"Did you make any friends today? I did."

"N-no." Ruby said, her thumb running over the marked surface over the ball.

"Oh. Do you want to be my friend?"

The ball lingered in the air along with the question, the shadow person expectant.

"Yes."

"Cool. Do you want to come over to my house after school?"

"I can't. I'm doing something with my uncle."

"Oh. Okay."

They tossed the ball back and forth without saying anything. Far more than seven minutes had elapsed, but there was no Qrow or sign of the kid who had been forced to run laps.

And not that anybody could see it, but Summer was absent from her post as well.

"Why do you want to become a Huntress?" Her shadowy partner asked.

"To kill all Grimm." Ruby said effortlessly, tossing the ball back and watching as the air caught it.

"Not to help people? That's what my _ said people should become Hunters for."

Ruby didn't have a response, and instead tossed the ball back.

"That's why I want to become a Hunter. To help people that are weak."

"Why?" Ruby asked, feeling unsure of her own motivations.

"Because that's what my _ said you should do if you're strong. Protect the weak. _ doesn't like it when he says that, though. She says calling people weak makes them feel sad. Are you sure you want to be a Huntress?"

"My mom told me I could do whatever I wanted." Ruby said, feeling a little defensive.

"Are you weak?" The shadow asked, no longer tossing the ball back.

"No! I... drink milk."

The ball bounced in the air a little, the kid laughing at her response. Ruby caught the ball when it was thrown. "Dad said I shouldn't be friends with anyone who's weak, so I'm glad you're not."

Ruby shifted uneasily. She didn't know whether or not she was weak, and had answered out of pure reflex, an instinctive desire not to be regarded as cowardly or powerless.

"Where's the teacher?" The shadow person asked, finally noticing Qrow's absence.

"Uncle Qrow left a while ago."

"He's your Uncle? He seems cool."

They were no longer tossing the ball now, instead choosing to rest on the grass. Although to Ruby, the shadow person seemed to hover just above the ground, the grass below it matted.

"He is. He uses a scythe-sword-shotgun named Harbinger."

"Woah. Can I see it some time?"

"Yeah. Do you like scythes?" Ruby asked as nonchalantly as her uncle had asked her.

"They're okay. Swords are better."

"Swords are okay." Ruby compromised, unwilling to budge. "I would make a sword if scythes didn't exist."

"I guess I would make a scythe if swords didn't exist."

Ruby nodded, happy with their answer. "I designed my own scythe and Uncle Qrow is going to help me build it later." She could scarcely contain her excitement, now that she was getting more used to the shadow people.

"Liar. My _ said we make our weapon in two years."

"I'm not lying! Your... things lying!"

"Things?" The shadow person asked, too confused to be angry.

"Your parents."

Ruby and the shadow people collectively turned their head when a teacher walked out and gave a high pitched whistle. Although Ruby couldn't be sure if it actually was a teacher, they were about the same size as her language teacher.

"Mr. Branwen is currently attending to an emergency. Class is dismissed for the day. Please make sure to clean up the balls and put them in the shed."

The shadow person said nothing more before going back inside. Unsurprisingly, all but her and her partner wandered off, leaving the two of them to pick up the balls.

"I think your uncle is doing something now. Are you sure you don't want to come to my house?" The shadow offered.

"Yes. He'll be back, since he promised we would do it."

"Okay. Bye, Ruby."

The shadow person bobbed off down the hallway as Ruby waited for her uncle. She decided to wait outside, since she thought Qrow might not know where she was otherwise.

After about 10 minutes, she became antsy and started to bounce a ball off the wall to herself.

After 20 minutes of that, she got bored and started to count the blades of grass around her. She got somewhere in the quad-digits before getting bored of that too and starting over on a different spot. That had taken about 30 minutes total.

The golden sun was once again setting, passing off the day to the silver moon, but not just yet. There were still a few more minutes until dusk arrived and the sun was gone, giving way to an especially cold night.

Ruby started to walk around, trying to keep warm as she waited for her uncle. She kept telling herself that it would be only a few more minutes until he arrived and fulfilled his promise. She kept telling herself she wouldn't be cold much longer as she paced around.

Eventually an adult shadow person came out.

"Clubs are ending for the day, do you need someone to pick you up?"

"I'm waiting for Uncle Qrow." Ruby answered, standing a decent ways away from them.

"Qrow Branwen? Dear, he's at the hospital right now."

"B-but he told me..." Ruby trailed off, staring at where she'd seen Qrow run off.

"Can your mom or dad pick you up? Gosh it's freezing out here."

If the shadow person moved to rub their hands on their arms, Ruby didn't see it.

"Mom's dead. Dad's at Beacon." Ruby answered normally.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to bring up any bad memories."

Ruby cocked her head, confused. There was an awkward pause before the shadow continued.

"So you live with your uncle, Qrow Branwen? Why don't I walk you home? And what's your name?"

"Um... Dad told me not to trust strangers... Can I please go home?"

"Are you okay? Do you want to come inside the school for a little bit? I could call your uncle."

The shadow lurched towards her.

"N-no thank you."

Ruby stepped backwards, unconsciously getting ready to run.

"No one's supposed to be out alone right now. There was a Grimm attack here a few hours ago. Can you please come inside? What's your name?"

The shadow and Ruby stepped in sync, when one took a step forward, the other took a step back.

"Can I please go home? Please? I don't want to be here anymore."

Tears were welling up in the young girl's eyes. The day had simply taken too much of a toll on her, and her tactic of pushing down emotions was already beginning to spark and backfire.

"You can. Just come inside for a minute, and let me call your uncle. Do you need something to eat? It's been a few hours since lunch."

The person outstretched a helping hand as a gesture of good will, one that Ruby couldn't see.

"I don't want to go inside."

"Okay, dear. What's your name?" The shadow asked, stopping in its tracks and holding up invisible hands.

"Ruby Xiao Long."

"I'm _ _. Can you call me that?"

Static had filled where there was supposed to be a name, rendering Ruby unable to repeat back her words. The little girl shook her head, her eyes never leaving the shadow person.

"That's fine! Is 'friend' better?"

"You're not my friend." Ruby said reproachfully, eying the shadow person up and down.

"How about this, why don't we sit here for a while? I can get you a blanket and some food, and I won't come near you or tell you to come inside the school."

Ruby thought for a moment, and then nodded.

The teacher breathed a sigh of relief. "Just wait there, I'll be back in a minute!"

After the teacher took a moment to unlock the door and heading inside, Ruby was left alone in the field.

The reaper heir blitzed past the fortress, running faster than she ever had before. Fueled by desperation and a hefty pile of fear, she went as fast as her little legs could possibly go. The usual guards at the gate were absent, leaving Ruby to go through the giant iron doors without trouble, and out onto the open road.

Fifteen minutes of running while looking back for any shadow people later, she was back at Qrow's apartment. Her hands shook as she took the secret key from under the railing, unlocked the door, and put it back. After hurrying inside she locked the deadbolt and handle. Using all of her strength, she pushed a chair in front of the door.

"Yang?!" She called out, remembering her sister. Ruby was met with no response, as her sister was at a friend's house. She was alone in the apartment and everything looked malicious, from the TV to the game console. Dread filling her every step, she locked herself in what had become her and Yang's room, barricading the door with both of the chairs in the room.

Only to realize that the window curtains were drawn aside, and after a moment's hesitation— she closed the curtains and plunged herself into the darkness that she feared so much. Then, clutching her mother's scythe to her chest, she waited for the shadow people to break in and kill her, all the while rocking back and forth as she cried.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed, and as always I'm very receptive to criticism and feedback. For long time readers, I've made considerable edits to earlier chapters and you may want to skim them if you're confused in the future. I recommend at least checking the first chapter, as I included Summer's death as a scene.