The First Night
I have never been a man prone to nightmares, of course I had many when I was a kid but after I became a teenager they mostly died out. Which made this one particularly unique. I was standing outside at night looking up at a broken moon. It was large, too large to be the one orbiting the earth and of course it was shattered like someone had hit the corner on it and left the pieces to drift through the void. It was beautiful in a disturbing way.
The cold wind cut through me, making me shiver in the moonlight. That's when I realized that I wasn't wearing my pajamas but a plain olive green T-shirt and a pair of blue jeans that were strangely familiar. I couldn't remember why I was wearing them or how I got there, standing in the cold, shivering and confused. I didn't notice the tent or the burned-out campfire only a couple of feet from me. Eventually, my mind finally caught up when I remembered that I had gone out camping.
A few months earlier I lost my well paying job and then my long term girlfriend decided that I wasn't good enough for her anymore and moved out. Facing complete financial ruin, I had moved back into my family home. Only after three years of living by myself, I found myself back when it all began. I am the first one to admit that I fell into a deep depression and became a professional NEET. My Dad being a former military man and school teacher finally cornered me, he gave me two options, the first was to go back to school and finish my teaching degree, the second was to join any branch of military I like besides the Coast guard and Navy. He was an Air Force staff sergeant and never had a high opinion of anything to do with ships. I decided to buy some time and go camping to make up my mind. Hopefully to refind my self worth in nature, a little dramatic but I was always a little bit emotional.
That's when the first shoe fell, I had woken up to take a piss and the sight of the broken moon had distracted me. How stupid of me, I was sitting here in the middle of my campsite like an idiot for five minutes. What a dumbass! A nervous chuckle escaped my lips as I made my way to one of the nearby trees to answer nature's call. While I stood there trying to go, the second shoe fell.
With a madman's panic, I jumped back from the tree; my eyes darted up to the moon. Why was it broken? The moon wasn't normally looking like a broken dinner plate! I stood there looking up at the moon for a whole ten minutes, trying to piece together a coherent thought. The moon in its broken glory just showed its light back at me, shattering my brain until it looked just like it.
My brain had finally started again as the animal instinct to run kicked in and I fled with all the grace of a drunken sailor back to my tent. I quickly zipped up the door and fell face first onto my sleeping bag.
"FUCK, FUCK, WHERE THE HELL IS MY PHONE!" I yelled and in panic tore the inside of my tent apart looking for the lost device.
Finally I found it and quickly opened it, a few notifications from YouTube, Twitter and the weather app and the time, 3:07 am but what really caught my attention was the signal, Which I didn't have.
"FUCK!", I once again yelled, my vocabulary becoming very limited in my panic.
The forest I was camping in wasn't that far from civilization, I could have climbed to the top of any hills nearby and see the lights of my hometown and I should have had perfect phone signal and probably 5G. Still I try to call home, only for my phone to tell me that I had no signal and try again later.
"FUCKING HELL!" I said and threw the offending device across the tent, its light disappearing in a pile of spilled supplies and clothing.
Seeing my jacket and hiking boots, I wasn't wearing any shoes when I first got out of the tent, I pulled them on and angrily stepped back into the moonlight. It was bright enough to see without a light but I had left a small flashlight in my jacket pocket the day before. Feeling safe with the flashlight in my hand, I try to make my way to the hiking tail that should have been by my camp. My plan was simple: it was a quick 15 minute walk back to my car and another 30 minute drive back home, of course I would be leaving my tent, supplies and phone but my panicked self wasn't thinking that far anymore I just wanted to be away from this place. If the moon had somehow shattered when I was asleep and the world was ending, I didn't want to die in the local National Forest.
Though that wasn't what I was thinking as I ran towards the path only to find that it wasn't there. I stop and turn around to see if I had missed it and cheap pocket flashlight darting across the ground trying to find it. Only finding leaves and the disturbed undergrowth from my run. I kept on turning this time trying to find my campsite only to see that it had also disappeared.
I stepped back and right into a tall oak tree and another nervous laugh came from me as my reality crumbled around me.
"This is a nightmare, a fucking nightmare," I laughed again interrupting myself. "A fucking nightmare" I whispered, as my legs gave out and I collapsed to the cold uncaring ground equally as uncaring red eyes watch me from the shadows. My world went black as howls of wolves filled my ears.
A flash of light or more likely another kick in the ass from precious animal instinct knocked me out of my mental collapse. My eyes snapback open. The wolves had made a simple mistake, their howls were forever buried in the human instinct and the sound of them had woken my fight or flight response, probably saving my God forsaken life. I jumped back to my feet, legs were still weak from my collapse but adrenaline gave me enough strength to stand. At least I would die on my feet like a real man.
I didn't know that there were wolves in these woods or why they had glowing red eyes. My instinct yelled at me that these were not natural animals, only adding more fear to my overstimulated system. That fear won the internal debate on whether to fight or fly as my turn to try to run. The oak tree was in my way but my quick thinking kicked in and jumped, grabbing the lowest branch and hulling myself up. I hadn't worked out since my firing and I was a little surprised that I had the strength to climb, God bless adrenaline I guess.
My jump saved my life as four midnight black wolves hit the trunk only a few seconds after my escape. Forcing myself to climb higher putting distance between me and the killing machines. Climbing as high as I could without placing myself in danger of falling, I found a nook that I could somewhat sit on. My heart was killing me; never really experienced something like this. The only thing close was rear ending when I was in high school. Taking deep breaths to calm down, I decided to try and find something to distract the wolves.
They hadn't taken my escape well, the four of them were still trying their best to get to me but sadly for them all they got was bark and wood shavings for their effort. The more I watch them the more strange they look. I haven't seen wolves in nature only on TV and they look nothing like them. The wolves were darker than anything I had seen, almost like their fur was absorbing the moonlight not reflecting it. The only colour they had was the crimson red of their eyes which glowed like red hot lava. I decided that these creatures were not natural wolves but some type of creature born from my deepest nightmares.
I glanced back up to the night sky to check if the moon was still shattered and of course it was. The voice in the back of my head still told me that this was a nightmare and I could wake up at any time but it all felt real too real to be a creation of my imagination.
"Deep breaths, Ollie everything is going to be alright," I whisper.
I didn't believe it but it felt like the right thing to say. My Dad was a hard ass and taught all us kids how to survive if we got lost in the woods and plus I was a boy scout. I did years of merit badge training for things like this.
"This has to be an oak tree or something," I began to talk to myself just to keep calm "and I know anything about a oak tree this shit is hard as fuck."
But sadly I should have knocked on wood before saying that as loud snapping sound reverberated through the tree. My eyes shot down just in time to see one of the unnatural wolves get a toe hold on the first major branch only for it to give out under its weight. The thing didn't even make noise as it hit the ground. It just jumped right back up to try again.
"Fuck these things don't give up," I said.
Only to make matters worse as one of the wolves stopped, back up from the tree and let out a world shattering howl. Only for it to answer by another howl only a short distance away. More were coming.
Panic once again gripped my soul and I almost let go of the tree. This wasn't getting any better and my instinct was telling me if I stayed in this tree I would probably die in it. I also knew that fear was a mind killer and if I let it rule my judgement I would only die faster. I had to think of something, that's when the stupidest idea came to me. I should try and talk to them.
"Hey, little demon dogs or better yet nice demon dogs how about we make a deal? I have some beef jerky back at my camp and if you leave me alone I let you have it sounds nice right?" I offered.
The demon dogs didn't seem to respond well to my deal as they only tried to jump higher to kill me.
"Maybe you don't like salted meat but trust me I don't taste any better, I drink way too much soda, I probably taste like flat Mt dew," I began to ramble at them.
It wasn't working but it felt like something I could do. I could yell for help but there was no chance of anyone being close enough to save me and if they were once seeing these creatures they would run the other way.
"Maybe, we could use this situation to our advantage. What if I yell really loud and call for help, maybe you could eat whoever came to save me and I could just go the other way? Just a little secret between friends right?" my desperate bargaining continued.
The wolves only took my words not as peace offerings but as insults as they redouble their efforts to kill me. Luckily this shameful display of moral cowardness gave me time to think and plan began to come together. I could grab one of the branches, throw it as far as I could and while the wolves chased after it I could make a run for it. It was probably just as stupid as talking to them but I was getting more desperate as wolves got higher and higher every jump they made.
Swallowing my pride or common sense, I broke off a medium branch and with the strength of a desperate man, I threw it. Only for it to hit the biggest motherfucker this side of the Mississippi. A tall werewolf looking shape came lumbering out of the forest. Like the smaller demon wolves that had pinned me in the tree this abomination had the same light absorbing black as them but was also covered head to cawl in bone white armour making it look like an enemy out of a JRPG.
My little branch was smashed under cawl foot as this monster let out a roar that nearly blew me out of the tree. I was beyond fuck now and my already weak sanity couldn't take it anymore. In primordial panic, I just jumped out of the tree and ran like the devil himself was behind me because he was.
I didn't see it but the werewolf let the smaller wolves chase after me like a lord letting his footmen chase a boar. I wasn't being chased, I was being hunted. Of course that didn't matter, surviving the next few minutes was all that mattered to me. I had no plan, it was just to run and pray to God that something changed.
Unluckily for me nothing did as about 10 minutes later and with the help of a fallen tree I was once again on my ass surrounded by the demon dogs. My right foot was killing me, shooting hot daggers of pain up my leg if I dared to put any pressure on it. Now I was truly fuck, this time there was no trees or anything I could jump up on to get on of their reach and the big werewolf motherfucker was leading the pack. They had me clearing nothing around but glass and demon dogs, probably about ten, but there could be more hiding in the tree line. Their crimson eyes watching. I attempt to stand, only for my right foot to betray me and cause me to fall again. Destiny wouldn't even give me the chance to die on my feet, the cold hearted bitch.
Desperately looking around trying to find anything to defend myself with, The only thing I found was a hand size rock nearby. I grabbed it, at least I could claim that when down fighting when I face my ancestors in the next life.
The werewolf strutted forward without a care in the world. It wasn't even winded by the chase, that prideful fucker even grind at me showing me his drool covered teeth. They were as long as kitchen knives and probably sharp enough to cut through bone.
His show since me over the edge and my fear turned to anger, "COME AT ME YOU MOTHER FUCKER!" I bellowed at him. Some of the smaller wolves even backed up at my show of anger but not him. I lifted up my rock, "I am going to crave your fucking skull in you dumb fucking animal!" The thing let out the closest thing to laugh it could. It sounded like a car engine drowning in mud. It didn't even phase me, all reason had left me a long time ago.
It stepped forward out into the shattered moonlight, letting me see all its terrible wonders. The multiple inch thick bone armour it's sword like cawls and tightly bound muscles. It was telling me, "No you won't, I am going to crave your skull in and then I'm going to tear limb from limb human"
That shut me up, I just stared at it waiting for it to come and take my head off with one hit. It made its laughing sound again as it got closer. The small wolves also closed, making the circle around me smaller by the second. Death had found me and it had found me wanting. That's when God or destiny decided to intervene.
A flash of light exploded across the creature's chest, shattered its bone armour and knocked it back a few feet. Dark red ichor started dripping from its chest as the smaller wolves started looking around trying to find whoever injured their lord. Soon enough another flash hit him this time cause it's bonery face to explode in a shower of gore.
The hot blood and bits of meat bounced off my face waking me up to my salvation. I too turned to look for the interloper just to see who had decided today was not my day to die. It was a woman, I couldn't tell much besides that but she was the one who had saved me, I knew in my heart of hearts.
She ran forward seemingly summoning a gust of wind to propel her forward. She hit the first of wolves like a freight train, completely disintegrating them with the force of her impact. She shot a staff forward and summoned another ball of light shooting at another wolf and like its master before it detonated like a grenade.
She looked at me, her brown eyes meeting my blue, "RUN" she yelled and I did try but once again my right foot gave up. I fell face first in the glass completely helpless. I felt her presence over me and hand grabbed the back of my shirt and hull me up.
"It's my right foot, I fuck it all up!" I say instinctively.
She didn't say anything but pulled me close and with a glow of orange light healed me, like she was a female Jesus.
"GOD," I yelled probably louder and then I should have because she nearly dropped me but the sensation was beyond description. All the pain in my foot disappeared along with my fatigue and fear in an unbelievable instant.
"Run" she whispered again, "I'll be right behind you."
"Yes, ma'am," choked out and took off
Only for her to yell "Right! Go right!"
My stupid self almost ran right back into the remnants of the pack who was regrouping in the shadows of the trees. A few more of the demon dogs decided this was the time to strike and charged out of the forest right at us. She jumped unbelievably high over my head and landed between me and them. She was now glowing when the orange light. She struck her staff forward and a wave of orange gushed forward and all three of the wolves disappeared. The Remnants of the pack must have decided that they had bitten off more than they could eat because the last of them ran into the forest with the tail between their legs. She turned back towards me only to find me standing there memorised by her power, with an annoyed look she pointed back the way she came. I nodded and ran.
It felt like I was running forever before I heard her voice again "Over here."
Somehow she had gotten in front of me probably with the same magical power she used to defeat wolves. She was standing by a tightly grouped patch of pine trees that gave her good cover in the forest. I stop feeling the exhaustion of the night come back to me. I felt her hands on my shoulders as I lifted my head up. She stood there holding me up. Looking me up and down like I was a prize horse or something.
"Why are you out here?" She demanded, not letting go of me, if anything she tightened her grip.
"I was camping!" I answered immediately, I knew her power and knew just like that werewolf I could stop her if tried.
"Camping?" She asked, clearly confused.
"My Dad wanted me to join the army and I didn't know what to do so I…" I started to ramble
She cut me off "You're a runaway,"
I stopped by her accusation. I didn't run away or at least I didn't consider what I did running away but the way she said it almost made me think that she heard it before.
"I didn't run away," I said slowly, my mind still troubled by her accusation.
She only smiled, "Just a tactical retreat?" she said like it was an inside joke between me and her.
I looked at her dumbly and she pulled me into the trees letting me see her camp. "I can't have us standing out there Grimm could see us," she said as she let go of me.
I still didn't know what was going on but her presence made me feel safe and the trees I guess did make good cover.
"Your yelling woke me up, you're brave for that, most kids would have cried or begged facing an alpha like that," she said, kneeling down in the clean spot of ground.
She was wearing tall leather riding boots that ran up her legs stopping at her mid thigh under them she was wearing black leggings. It was almost comical that she was wearing something like that out here. I snapped out of it before I made it awkward.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to stare, I guess I'm tired, what did you say again?" I asked if I completely forgot what she said, to tell the truth I wasn't listening.
"I said that you're a brave kid," she repeated.
I kneel down myself and just give up after a minute and lay down on the ground, the exhaustion making me dizzy.
With a Yawn I said, "Thank you but I'm not a kid, I'm 24."
She giggled at that, "If you're 24 then I'm queen of Mistral" then she added "you're probably not a day over 16."
I blushed at that, I wasn't used to women calling me youthful but I assumed that it was because of the dark.
"I'll prove it to you in the morning, I'll show you my driver's licence or something," I said as I rolled over on my back.
She laughed again, "Alright then, what's your name runaway?"
"Oliver Murphy, yours?" I asked.
"Amber," she answered.
"Nice to meet you Amber," I chuckled. "I guess that your name makes sense, you glow amber ha, what a concept."
"I glow, you mean my aura?" she asked, confused by my rambling.
I rolled back over to face her, "Yeah, if that's what you call it, it's fucking magic that's what it is."
This time it was her turn to blush though I didn't see it in the dark, "It's called aura and it's not magic but the projection of my soul."
I chuckled again, "Soul magic, demons and wizards just like a fucking fantasy game"
"Wizards!" she squeaked, alarmed by my accusation.
"You got the staff and power, your like fucking Gandalf the cute," the exhaustion making says things before I think about them.
It got awkward again, after a few minutes I broke the silence, "Sorry, I fucking tired as shit and wasn't think straight."
"You're not tired, you're in shock," she answered.
I lay there for a minute running the symptoms through my head, "I guess I am."
"I can help", she said standing up and looking down on me.
Before I could answer, she knelt down again and placed her hands on my chest. I wasn't wrong, she was cute. Somehow beyond reason my heart race increased at her touch. She smiled and it was a cute one like the girl next door or the little sister of your best friend. My eyes widened as her hands began to glow.
"Don't worry this won't hurt", said before she began to recite a poem or scripture.
"For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all, infinite in distance and unbound by death. I release your soul and by my shoulder protect thee."
Immediately, green light began to glow around me. It was faint but it was there. My panic, almost exhausted by the night, returned and I attempted to stand up but Amber strength forced me back down.
"Calm down, Oliver it's okay, it's just your soul healing you." She said, keeping her hands on me. She didn't trust me and I didn't really trust myself either at this moment.
"That's not normal," I say, failing to keep the fear out of my voice.
"It's completely normal, you're in shock and exhausted, your Aura is trying to help you recover, just calm down." She said again.
Then she added, "You never learned about aura did you?," She asked.
"No ma'am," I tried to say clearly but my emotions were running wild now. I attempted to fight down a sob but it didn't work, "Have no idea on what's going on," I cried.
She let go of my chest and started running her hands through my brown hair, "it's going to be okay, I know of a town nearby and I have a friend who can help you." She promised "right now just relax and let the aura do its job."
So I did, I fell asleep listening to the humming of a strange wizard girl in strange woods surrounded by man eating demons. That's how I spent my first night in Remnant. It's probably the last calm night of my life.
Author's note
Thank you for reading this. It's probably my fourth attempt to write this chapter but I decided that this is probably the best it's going to get so I decided to post it. Also this isn't self insert but I am pulling from my experiences, friends and family experience to make Oliver a better character. One more thing thanks to simison from FRWBY discord for letting me run such an idea by him it was a great help.
I would appreciate reviews and feedback. I can't promise a date for the next chapter but will be working on it tomorrow and once again thank you for reading and have a great day.
PS, I had post this from my phone, the Website wasnt working right so if their is any problems with format I am sorry and will fix them later if website works for me again.
