RWBY: Son of Salem

Velvet's POV

I watched as Marek stood up and walked in front of me. He reached behind him and pulled out a...tail?

"You're a Faunus?!" I asked him.

"No." he shook his head. "I wasn't born with this." he gestured to his tail as it swayed back and forth.

I looked closer but couldn't tell what animal it was.

"Beowolf." he said softly.

"What?"

"It's a Beowolf tail." he replied. "The guy that experimented on me used Grimm DNA, Beowolf DNA to be exact, to try and boost my strength and speed."

I stared at him. "Why?!"

"For my mother's use." he sat back down. "She wanted me to help her with her plans. Wanted to weaponize me. But I didn't want that life, I wanted my own. So, I ran."

"That's horrible!"

"I'm telling you this because you're the first person to actually look at me like I'm...normal." he gave a soft smile. "And I thank you for that."

Marek's POV

"Thanks." I said to her.

"For what?"

"Listening." I replied. "I never really had anyone to talk to before I came here."

She smiled. "I should get back." she stood up and headed for the door. "I have to study and Coco said she'd help me with my photography."

"You take photos?"

"Yes." she pulled out her camera. "Want to see?"

"Sure." she handed me her camera and I started to look through it. They were mainly photos of weapons. "You like weapons?" I asked as I continued to go through it. "These are actually kinda cool."

"Thanks." she took the camera from my hands. "Can I get a picture of your weapon?"

"Sure thing." I pulled it out and held it in front of me. She took a shot as I changed it to it's assault rifle mode. She took another photo before smiling and turning to the door.

"Thanks again." she said as she left the room.

I smiled as I fell into my bed.

I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

The next day

I sat at the table in the back as I ate my breakfast. I took a bite as another tray was placed in front of me. I glanced up to see Velvet smiling at me.

"Hey, Velvet." I returned the smile.

She sat down. "You won't mind if the rest of my team joins us, right?"

"Not at all." I took a bite of my food. "Any more trouble from Cardin?"

"Nope." her smiled widened a bit. "He hasn't even looked at me since you helped me."

"Good."

"Hey, Velvet." Coco said as she sat down with Fox and Yatsu.

"Yatsu, Fox, Coco." I said. "Good to see you guys again."

"Likewise." Yatsu said.

"You mind if we sit?" Coco asked.

"Not at all."

The trio sat down and started talking with one another.

They were talking about their studies and what to do when the Vytal Festival tournament starts.

I finished the rest of my food and was about to leave.

"Hey, Marek!" I heard a familiar voice yell.

I turned around to see Ruby walking up to me.

"What?" I asked the girl.

"I...wanted to apologize..." she pressed her index fingers together. "About what happened during initiation."

"Oh." I shrugged. "Don't worry about it."

"I shouldn't have been so rude."

"It's fine, really."

She smiled before turning around and walking away.

"See you guys later." I walked to the exit.

I headed for my next class.

I walked in and took my seat in the back corner, waiting for everyone else.

"Today Class, we're going to the Emerald Forest." Goodwitch said as everyone walked in. "Professor Peach has asked us to collect sap from the trees."

We stood up and followed Goodwitch to the forest.

I took a jar and walked over to a tree, kneeling down and scraping the sap into the jar.

It didn't take me long to finish. I stood up and was about to head back to Goodwitch.

"URSA! URSA!"

I glanced behind me to see Russel, Dove and Sky running away.

"What?! Where?!" Yang asked.

"Back there! It's got Cardin!"

"Jaune!" Pyrrha said with concern.

I turned around and rushed towards where they came from, with Ruby, Weiss and Pyrrha close behind.

It didn't take long to find Jaune and Cardin.

Cardin was on the ground backing away from the Ursa and was about to get hit but Jaune jumped in the way, attacking it.

We were about to help.

"Wait!" Pyrrha said, stopping us.

We looked back and saw Jaune get hit around, not landing a single strike.

"He's going to get himself killed." I told Pyrrha.

He rushed the Ursa again. They both went for an attack and it looked as though the Ursa was going to hit Jaune, but his shield moved up, blocked the Ursa's paw and he took the chance to swing, decapitating the Grimm.

"Uhhh, what?" I heard Ruby say.

"How did you?"

"Well, you have your glyphs, Ruby has her speed, my semblance is polarity." Pyrrha replied.

"You can control poles."

"No, you dunce! She has control over magnetism." Weiss told Ruby.

"Magnets are cool, too."

We were about to leave when another growl made us turn back to Jaune.

An Alpha Ursa came out of the forest and was approaching Cardin.

Jaune quickly helped up Cardin as I smirked.

"I can handle it." I walked towards the Ursa. I stood in front of it as it brought it's paw back. It swung at me and I quickly pulled out my sword, blocking the attack. I used my free hand to take my hood off and stared into it's eyes, my red eye beginning to glow a bit. It whimpered before shaking it's head and swinging it's paw at me.

I ducked under the attack and shoved my sword into it's leg, causing it to stumble before yanking my sword out of it's leg and slashing upwards, cutting the beast in half.

I put my weapon on my back and put my hood up, as my red eye started to go back to normal. It stung a bit, causing me to close my eye in an attempt to lessen the pain.

I felt the pain go away and turned to Ruby, Weiss, Pyrrha and Jaune. They all stared at me.

I felt myself grow a bit irritated by this. "What?!"

"That. Was. So. Cool!" Ruby squealed.

"It was quite impressive." Weiss said.

"That?" I pointed behind me at the dead Ursa. "That was easy."

Pyrrha continued to stare at me as did Jaune.

"That's twice." I heard Jaune mumble.

"Twice what?" I asked him.

"Twice a creature of Grimm cowered at you." Jaune replied. "I've never seen them scared before."

I walked passed them. "Hey, good job with that Ursa." I told him as I walked by.

A few hours later

I was laying in bed trying to go to sleep. I kept tossing and turning, not being able to keep my eyes shut for more than 3 seconds.

I sighed as I sat up.

"Damnit." I got up and walked to the door. I left the room and started walking down the halls.

I rubbed my eyes as I headed outside for some fresh air.

I looked up to the sky and stared at the shattered moon for a few seconds.

I heard howling in the distance and decided to go to the Emerald Forest for a midnight hunt.

A few minutes later

I walked through the trees, listening for anything that sounded like Grimm. I had my weapon at my side and at the ready.

A low growl made me stop in my tracks and turn to the bushes. I changed my sword to the assault rifle and aimed it at the bushes.

I waited for a few seconds but nothing happened. I sighed and changed it back to the sword.

Another growl came from my left. I quickly turned as a large Beowolf pounced on me, knocking me to the ground. It pinned my left arm down as it inched closer to my face.

It let out a loud howl as I tried to reach my weapon with my free hand.

I felt my finger graze the hilt and quickly wrapped my fingers around it, swinging it towards the Beowolf and hitting it's side, knocking it off me.

Getting to my feet, I changed it to it's assault rifle and shot controlled bursts into it's chest. It stumbled back as I emptied the magazine. I reached behind me and pulled out another clip and quickly reloaded as the Beowolf shook it's head and pounced again.

I managed to slide under it as it went over my head, taking the chance to shoot it's underbelly while sliding.

The Grimm fell limp and started to turn to dust.

I turned to head back to Beacon but stopped when more growls errupted from the trees.

A Beowolf jumped out of the brush and swung at me. I jumped back, barely missing it's attack, as a dozen more crawled into the open.

I pulled my hood off and readied my weapon.

End of chapter 6