Chapter 1: The Juniper Tree

There was once a rich young man born of noble blood. It was his duty to marry into a royal family. However he could not betray his heart. He did not love his arranged bride. On the night before his wedding he took flight. He rode through the night never looking back. As dawn began to break, him and his horse collapsed. Freedom was his.

Noon broke through the trees that surrounded him, He listened to the sounds of nature till the forest went silent. Not even the leaves rustled to break the silence. From the silence came a voice. It was a song. A beautiful melody echoing through the woods. Like the song of a Siren, he was entranced. He had to know which creature could have a voice so lovely. Following the voice he stumbled through the forest till he found himself in a meadow. If there was ever an Eden, this was it. Flowers of every color bloomed. A small path led to the center which stood a Juniper tree. The creatures of the forest were gathered listening to the song. When he reached the tree he stepped on a branch. Everything stopped. A young maiden stood up to see the new visitor. As soon as their eyes met, they knew they had found love.

They soon married, building a home on the outside of the forest. Each day was a joyous one. Their love knew no bounds. It seemed as if this perfect couple had it all. However, they could not bear a child. One day the wife ventured into the meadow she had loved so much disheartened. Laying under the tree she cut her finger as she peeled an apple. A drop of blood fell tainting the pure white canvas of snow. She cried to the gods that she could have a child who's skin was as pail as snow, with red blood coursing through its veins.

Her prayer was answered, but not without a price. Months later, as a baby was forming in her womb she became gravely ill. Knowing that death lurked nearby she made her husband swear that he would burry her under the Juniper tree if she were to die. As she gave birth to her baby boy, she died with joy. Keeping the promise he made, the husband buried her under the Juniper tree where they had fallen in love.

Years later he remarried a widow taking her and her daughter into his family. It seemed their family was complete. However what couldn't be seen on the surface was the woman's hatred for her husbands son.

He was often gone on business leaving his son with his new mother. While he was gone she would abuse him. Starving him till he was close to death, beating him till he could barely stand. His sister would lovingly tend to his wounds, and sneak him food pitying her younger brother. However, they were both afraid to tell father of mothers cruelty.

One day while father was on a trip the young boy stumbled into the house after playing asking for an apple. Pointing to a chest, the cruel mother said he would find it on the bottom. He struggled to lift the heavy lid. Annoyed at his inability to do a simple task she lifted it up angrily. The boy gave her a smile thanking her.

Curse this boy who will inherit his fathers fortune instead of my daughter. As his head peaked into the chest she slammed it shut decapitating him. Hearing the noise his sister stumbled into the room. In a panic she forced her daughter to dispose of her dead brother. Tears in her eyes she dragged her brother to the meadow where his mother was buried. She couldn't save him, the least she could do was make sure he rested in peace. As she buried her brother she offered a prayer to the gods to watch his soul.

The gods took pity on the boy who's life was taken away so cruelly. The god of light knew they could not resurrect him because of the balance of life. Angry with his older brothers decision to turn a blind eye, the god of darkness vowed to make him one of his creatures of Grimm. Not only would he bring him back, he would allow him to seek vengeance. Hearing of his younger brothers plan to bring back the boy as a creature of darkness, the brother hesitantly brought him back. Not as a human, but a bird who would fly free to see the the world that taken him away so cruelly. Pleased with his older brothers decision, the god of darkness gave the boy a blessing. He would fly for eternity to bring justice. Not only to the world, but justice to those responsible for his death.

Returning from the grave the boy flew to town singing the song of his death. Entranced by the creatures beautiful song, the townspeople took pity at the sad story and rioted. The boy had no idea why the people were riled. Following them he witnessed his step mother being crushed with a stone. Her head severed from her body just as she had done. Confused by this action he realized that the song that he had sung was understood by the people. He tried again to speak but was unable. Panicking as he saw his sister and father being drugged our of the house he tried to sing again. The same song came again. As if answering his mistaken cry the mob killed them.

One villager walked to him and reassuringly said "justice has been served."

As the villagers left he was left with the corpses of his family. A mother guilty of a crime, and father and daughter who were victims of her evil. He began to cry. Looking at his reflection in their blood he saw that he was no longer the boy he was. Although a bird, he was a bringer of death.

Through the night he drug his father to lay next to the Juniper to be with his wife. Exhausted covered in blood and scratches he went back to retrieve his sister. Wrapping his bill around his sisters shirt he pulled. He had no strength after pulling his father through the woods. His will filled him with strength. She brought him to rest with his mother, he needed to bring her to rest with her family. Her true family. Inching step by step to the tree the horrors of the events he witnessed filled him.

Arriving he let his sister go and collapsed with the corpses of his fallen family. He was ready for death to take him, but it never did. Unbeknownst to him, he was cursed to walk this world for eternity to bring justice to those wronged. Afraid of bringing death the bird stood by tree for nearly a century.

One day the gods vanished from the world. All that was left, was him, creatures of the god of light, and creatures of the god of darkness. At least that's what he thought.

Grimm... The creatures of destruction that pollute this world. Soulless beings that want to drain light. Creatures that throb off the despair and darkness of humanity.

Have they told you that Grimm roamed this world before the dawn of man? That they were a gift from the brother of darkness to protect this world in his absence.

Were they born good, or were they born evil? The answer was... Neither. These creatures were born to obey their master. Puppets to be moved however the puppeteer saw fit.

When abandoned by their master they evolved. No longer mindless creatures. Time had taught them wisdom. It taught them freedom, light, darkness. With this newfound knowledge a new generation of Grimm were born; Born with the ability to choose.

One day a women entered their home. Filled with fascination for a creature they had thought was extinct, they gathered as she went to bathe in the pool of their old master. This women had an aura. An aura of hatred; Of darkness; Of revenge. The aura of her despair created a sensation, quenching a hunger they never knew existed. They watched as this women entered the pool. She was ripped apart and instantly reborn. Dying a thousand deaths, each death reborn stronger and stronger. She emerged a godess of chaos, now with the power to shape the world to her will.

Hungry with power, she took control of these creatures as their new master. Forcing them into submission in a way their previous master never did, they lost everything they gained. Freedom. The creatures scattered around the world, but no matter how far away they couldn't escape her leash. When men were reborn they feared these creatures. This sensation was new. More strong than the rage of their master. It gave them power. Giving into the bloodlust the fate of the Grimm was sealed.

Those who tried to escape enslavement were hunted. These huntsman could not understand the forces that controlled them. Their home was invaded. Their freedom was gone. They were nothing but the lust that had betrayed them.

That is until a boy was able to communicate with them. He had a gift. He understood the pain of these creatures. This child had seen hell. A hell that began in the winter one fateful day as a women made a deal with the devil.

Gadwall layed under a tree. He had a book opened up to cover his eyes. The shade from the tree gave a nice breeze letting him enjoy a mid day nap. A shriek from the forrest woke him from his slumber. As the book fell into his lap he began to grin. Jumping up shoving the book in his pocket he ran toward the noise. He hadn't heard a cry like this before. Evading trees as he navigated through the forrest he heard an annoying screech from Shadow.

"Ay, whats the rush." Shadow wheezed gasping for a breath from the sudden movement.

"I've never heard this howl before. I think it might be a new species."

"Can't we take it slow," he complained. "It's not going anywhere."

"It might. We don't know it's abilities or speed. For all we know we aren't' going fast enough." He picked up speed putting more power into each step.

Shadow wished he kept his mouth shut.

As they neared the area of the howl Gadwall slowed down. Shadow crashed into a tree next to him exhausted. Peaking through the trees Gadwall saw a Grimm he had never seen before.

It had the posture of a Beowulf, the mask of an Ursa, with the wings of a Griffon. His eyes sparkled as he began to trace the creature in his book. As he finished the drawing, he watched as the creature ate fruit from a tree.

Gadwall was what he liked to call a Grimm protector. As long as he could remember, he was able to understand Grimm. He understood their thoughts, could hear them speak. To him Grimm weren't evil like the world professed. To change others minds he scours the world of Remnant to find new species of Grimm. To understand them. To write about them in his book. To show the world they weren't what they thought they were. In his years of travel, he came to learn that Grimm were not inherently evil. They were under the control of a higher evil that he prayed he'd never encounter. By communicating, he was able to release them from the trance they were under granting them the freedom that had long been taken from them.

Shadow was one of these saved souls. During an early adventure, Gadwall found him alone in his nest. He was a Griffon (a winged Grimm). The creature was an infant. From the look of it, his mother was killed by a huntsmen. He used his aura to release him of his curse. As he began to leave he noticed that the Griffon had followed him. Hiding in his shadow. Smiling he took him as his companion. Traveling was lonely, he was happy to have a friend.

A shot echoed through the silent forrest. Everything seemed to freeze. Then a cry of pain as the creature fell to the ground. Dropping his book, he ran to the injured Grimm.

"It's ok buddy," he said kneeling next to the fallen beast. Stroking it's fur it was shocked that the human understood him.

"Please. Help," the creature whimpered as he began to disintegrate into dust.

Gadwall gave the biggest smile."It's going to be alright," he lied. The confidence in his voice gave the Grim assurance. Waving a hand over the beast a black glow began to radiate from his hand. His aura. The pain was gone and the creature began to close his eyes. As it drifted away his body faded becoming dust in the wind.

His face darkened as a feeling of emptiness filled him. Clenching his fists he hit the ground with a loud scream. Shadow bowed in respect for his fallen brother.

A rustle came from the bush. Emerging was a figure. More specifically a hunter with his riffle in hand. "Hey buddy you all right." Laughing he continued. "Lucky I shot that thing before it hurt you."

"It wasn't going to hurt me."

He laughed harder. "Good one, and i'm not a huntsman." The hunter suddenly noticed Shadow. "Move!" he began to aim at him.

Gadwall's face darkened raising his hand Shadow burst into a dark cloud. Suddenly he appeared on his shoulder.

The Hunter aimed his gun at Shadows new location.

"Move!" The hunter yelled. As he began to pull the trigger Gadwall appeared in front of him thrusting his gun in the air. As the shot went off he twisted his body and threw a kick.

"What are you doing?!"The hunter yelled as Shadow charged at him pinning him to the tree.

Gadwall was silent, he didn't look up. Their was a look of blood thirst in his eyes. Rage. Pulling a gun out of his coat pocket at lighting speed he held it to the hunter.

"You're just like her. Taking the life of an innocent creature."

The huntsmen was confused. They were the only ones there.

"Grimm are human too!" Gadwall yelled pulling the trigger.

The huntsmen closed his eyes accepting his fate.