And here we go. Hope you enjoy and don't be afraid to let me know how I'm doing.

POV: 3rd Person

Jaune decided he didn't particularly care for Mistral. The country wasn't bad itself to him but the city was deplorable to him. Really just from top to bottom to how the people in charge ran the place the rampant corruption and how they treated the hunters there. Not that they were discriminated against or mistrusted but any opportunity to screw them over they took.

Jaune had over a dozen contracts with confirmed completions from various settlements close to Mistral that the small Hunter guilds had stated only Mistrals central hub could pay them out. Which meant to Jaune that they completely screwed him in over in every way with so many different hidden fees he walked away with barely half of what he should've gotten. Something that never happened in Vacuo or Vale though he guessed the same would result in Atlas.

The contracts weren't crazy in his mind either that they couldn't be believed that he accomplished them. Most were small grimm exterminations, a couple bounties on bandit leaders and a single one out for the extermination of a small bandit tribe. All of whom didn't have their aura unlocked. An easy day for even the greenest of hunters in Jaune's mind. Something that Mistral apparently didn't agree with hence all the hidden fees.

Those misgivings didn't even start on everything else within the city. To the shady red light districts, the rampant crime families that controlled everything and the blatant corruption in every corporation from Government to private sectors. Jaune didn't have much experience in cities but even he could see that simply through watching the people. His time with Aedon had taught him well in reading people and the situations they were in.

Frankly, in Jaune's mind he was surprised the whole city wasn't constantly under direct threat from the Grimm. A fact and theory that had him not trusting a single person in the entire city. Even Vale and Vacuo had at least probing attacks every couple days and he knew they were in better shape than Mistral without ever actually being in their cities. Mistral had nothing and it wasn't like Mistral as surrounded by nothing like Vacuo who could see around them for miles. Mistral had places that Grimm could get close enough for something to be there but nothing.

Jaune had been in and around the city for the better part of a month now just observing for the most part to see what could possibly be the cause for less Grimm activity. He found nothing and jobs were scarce but the underworld paid well. Even in the Frontier towns there were underworlds interconnected and Jaune had learned to spot them. Jaune did small jobs for them, usually deliveries, to have extra cash on the side.

Didn't help that Faunus were severely mistreated here and the small mines outside of the city were essentially their pens. He found the protections jobs for those mines paid well but he couldn't work them after the second try. The abuse he witnessed there wasn't something new to Jaune but was so blatant and even encouraged by a few of the hunters on those details left a bad taste in his mouth.

One particularly nasty human huntsmen at least double Jaune's age had taken advantage of his position and used it to a level Jaune could not accept. He stalked the hunter and Jaune and the rest were released. Followed the man to a small little village only a couple miles from Mistral and the mine there. One he found that treated Faunus as glorified slaves. Slaves in every way except having a collar on them.

Jaune had seen that before with Aedon's group and it was not accepted. Something he vehemently agreed with after experiencing it once to get inside a bandit camp. Not a fun time and it had been the first time he had seen one of the group, Shark, get into a full fledged argument with Aedon. They pulled the stunt off and he was able to get the codes to the collars so they couldn't be used as hostages when Aedon's group stormed the place. That night was the most violent he'd ever seen them. It wasn't a fight or a slaughter, it was a butchering and they were intent on inflicting pain. Took the group two days to get the slaves to the nearest settlement in Vale.

Regardless, he knew he couldn't do anything to the town. He was just one person and couldn't kill a town on his own yet. Even if just killed the hunter the faunus slaves would be blamed and executed. So, he came up with another plan; he waited. He waited for days watching the hunter come and go watching his route to the mine every day and not once did he ever deviate. With that accomplished he waited until the man had too much to drink one night. Stumbling around the village and to his house.

Seeing that he planted the trap. Nothing extravagant, just a few shallow holes haphazardly covered too look like an amateur minefield on the path the hunter used. Something the man, if was a half decent hunter, would notice even if he was hungover. That was the plan though as Jaune planted claymores all over the the small minefield he had created. All bought through the underground and when asked why he needed so many he showed the pictures of the hunter he had taken at the mines and at his village. The Faunus man selling the claymores took one look at the photos and gave Jaune half off.

Jaune then planted those claymores all over the ground and trees around his fake minefield and waited. Sure enough several hours later the hunter came stumbling through the path but he didn't even stop at the rather obvious minefield. This didn't bother Jaune because he had enough claymores anyways and when the man didn't stop he clacked the detonator of the claymores.

The shock of the explosion rattling his ribcage but he didn't look away from the perch on the tree he was crouched on. The hunter was eviscerated and left in bloody scraps never having gotten his aura up through either carelessness or ego; that or the claymores had ripped through his aura. Something that might've been the case as Jaune was used to working with people who's aura's were top tier.

Still, through all this and the lack of grimm and grimm extermination contracts in the area Jaune had only one real thought about Mistral. Someone in the city was an active ally of whoever was controlling the grimm. It was the only thing that made sense to Jaune. To much hate and suffering in and around the city for there to be so little grimm in the area. Which was why he had decided to leave the city after one more full nights rest with a roof over his head. In the red light district but it was cheap and Jaune had slept in worse places.

The next morning the city was completely locked down as riots erupted across the city. Mostly faunus but a decent amount of humans as well protesting the living conditions, the corruption and the blatant disregard for descency in the mines and others but those were the standouts. The riots were surprisingly mostly peaceful in the beginning as Jaune observed them.

Mostly just being city wide protests but then the Mistrali government got involved. The people in charge brought the hammer down on the protestors with everything from Gas and firehoses. When that didn't work they sent out the police in full riot gear and that's when everything went downhill.

The cops weren't just pushing back the protestors or confining them to an area. They were actively attacking them in every way from ganging up and beating them to electrocuting them along with more potent gas and firehoses. The way people were gaggingand throwing up from mere seconds of exposure to the gas showed that. Along with people going literally flying from the hoses.

Through all of that the protests didn't stop and then it got far worse. The cops then started using lethal ways of dealing with the protestors. Few and far between were the uses but after the first shot was fired and a human woman holding a picket sign collapsed with a bullet in her head everything went to shit. That's when the protests went to full blown riots with booths sides going lethal.

Bodies started dropping like crazy and it all quickly devolved spectacularly. Cops and the most of the hunters on one side while the protestors, most criminal groups, and a group of all Faunus stepping onto the stage. Called themselves the White Fang. Jaune hadn't truly decided his opinion of them quite yet but for now he would reserve judgment. They were helping people under attack.

With all of that it once the protests turned into actual riots and the government and police started escalating Jaune could tell where this was going. Into a military style lockdown where anyone and everyone will be under suspicion and more than likely outright killed by the more blood thirsty. Seeing this as a definite future he decided that he would wash his hands of almost all of Mistral, including the city, and join the rioters. Which is where he found himself now.

Sitting in an alley with a couple other hunters, all faunus, they waited for an opportunity. One that appeared when the protestors and Fang fell back firing shots in their retreat. A ploy easy to spot if the attacks had been smart but the cops were thirsty for blood after seeing their comrades cut down in the surprise attack the protestors had executed. Car bombs were a hell of a thing.

Either way once the protestors ran away and the cops began chasing them Jaune and the other hunters with him and the Fang in the other side's alley sprung on the cops. The first one Jaune met never had a chance as he buried his ax into the man's head before using his body as a shield to fire several shots with his mechashifted pistol downing several more cops as they charged. Holstering his pistol and ripping the ax out of the man's head he sprinted away not intent to stay and fight. The fang and the other hunters having the same idea after collapsing a quick attack on the cops before running away.

A 'shoot and scoot' as one of the hunters had said as they ran.

As for staying incognito for this Jaune had found a hoody big enough to cover his chest armor and plenty of his face along with a mask for the bottom of his face. He may had agreed with what they were doing but if they failed he wasn't intent on having a bounty on his head. Something the other hunters agreed with as they all wore various things to throw people off. One of them even donning fake cat ears to think they were a different type of faunus.

That wouldn't be the first time Jaune would do that either as over the next several weeks as the fighting intensified he racked up kills this way. Even taking out a hunter team with the help of the Fang. They hadn't liked working with a human but when he explained the plan to the group he had found they agreed to it.

Jaune collapsed on a team of three hunters while the were patrolling a quiet part of town killing faunus and humans indiscriminately as the area was a 'no go zone'. He wasn't able to do much to the three as they were obviously experienced and stronger than him. However, he was still able to dent their aura with his AK from a distance. Weapon was old but was reliable and hit like a truck.

After a few shots at them with only the first three hitting as the hunters blocked the shots with a shield or deflected them with their weapons Jaune took off. He knew he wouldn't be able to get them to follow more than a block as they would think he was running them into a trap then but that's all he needed to bring them into the kill box.

He ran less than a block before stopping in a dead end alley and spun around. Blocking an overpowering overhead slash from one of the hunters with his ax he bet it all. Grabbing his sheath Aedon had gifted him he tossed it forward between the man's legs and extended it as it left his hands. Sticking between the man's ground and the ground the man gave a high pitched squeal before Jaune slammed his fit into the man's with as much aura as he was comfortable with blowing him back several feet and onto his back.

The moment he did this one of the other two hunters, a huntress, dropped down with her shield and got in front of the fallen man as Jaune had instantly pulled his AK out planting it on top of his extended shield. That action was nothing more of a fake out as the walls on either side of the alley erupted in brick, mortar and shrapnel on the two hunters while Jaune's shield protected most of him. His aura wasn't in the best shape from the explosion, probably around 20% he thought, but it was better than the two hunters caught in the crossfire of explosions. They were eviserated.

Looking around Jaune spotted the 3rd hunter on top of the building on the right of the alley. He looked down in disdain, sadness, and acceptance. Man didn't bother trying to come down and took off. The Fang that had used the explosives complemented Jaune on the plan before disappearing. Jaune doing the same following them but not before picking up the dropped sword of the now dead Hunter.

Had a good weight to the blade and sharp but nothing special. Still, for certain situations it would work well with the shield so he sheathed it in the now collapsed shield. It stuck out a little at the end but that was fine with Jaune, he could grind down the blade so it could fit in all the way.

After that Jaune followed the Faunus who had helped him and ended up using the sewers of the city. Something Jaune berated himself for not thinking of before. He would have avoided this whole mess and just left the city if had just used his brain. Though he rationalized that using the sewers would have been just as much a hazard as he had no idea how to navigate them. Getting lost down there would not be good.

"What are you doing here human?" one Faunus stated as he spotted Jaune coming down the tunnel. Before Jaune could respond another one, blue haired bunny faunus stepped around the corner. Jaune recognized the woman as the one who had accepted his plan.

"He's good Crete. He was the one with the most recent plan," the now named Crete lowered his weapon and Jaune proceeded forward. Keeping his mask and hood up.

"Got any food or water your willing to share. That and a way out of Mistral if possible?"

"Running already human?" growled another Fang member Jaune didn't recognize. Nor could he tell what Faunus the woman was.

"Yes. I'd rather get out of this while I can. Grimm have to be on their way and with everything going on it won't be a small attack. Wouldn't be surprising if Mistral asks Atlas to step in," that seemed to quiet everyone.

"I recognize that voice and those weapons kid," a voice said to the left and I too recognized the faunus. He was the one that had sold me the claymores. Shorter in stature with pale skin and small bits of scales along his face and arms. Couldn't tell exactly what type of faunus he was but I assumed something reptillian. The slit orange iris' reinforcing that.

"Sir," I replied respectfully as I nodded to the man.

"He's the one I told you about Aero," the reptillian faunus said as he turned to the side looking at a beast of a faunus. The Faunus had droopy ears over his head showing him to be some type of dog faunus. He would've easily towered over Aedon and had a deep tan on his skin with several scars along his forearms and up along his neck. Piercing brown eyes and an overall shaggy appearance with his beard and hair. Regardless when he was addressed everyone in the area looked to him. The Leader of this little group apparently Jaune thought.

Aero walked up to Jaune and evaluated the boy before him. If his friend Amar was to be believed the kid had killed a huntsman before this for the simple reason of abusing faunus. Then when this shitstorm happened he stayed and fought with the Fang and protestors. Scattered reports from the few hunter level people with the Fang had described the young man. Efficient, effective, smart and not afraid to get dirty. Wandering from fight to fight as if the kid was always ready.

Aero liked the boy already but again if Amar was to be believed the kid wasn't much older than 15, if he even was 15 yet. That was someone he didn't want in this fight and the fact that he had already fought and killed had Aero disappointed in himself that he hadn't found the boy earlier to get him out. No one that young should be doing things like this. If half of what was said about him were true than this kid wasn't truly a kid. He grew up on the frontier and knew death. The fact he was just visiting Mistral when this all happened reinforces that. With that he made his decision.

"Calliope," he called out to the blue haired bunny Faunus. She went straight and to attention as he called her name. "Take him to the tunnel. Get him out of the city and give him some dried meats before he leaves," the faunus nods before going over to a stack of dried and packaged meats.

"Thank you sir," Jaune spoke to the massive Faunus who waved away the thanks.

"You've done more than enough. If you're ever in Meangerie find the Granley's and tell them Aero sent you. They'll give you a roof over your head so you can get situated," Jaune's eyes widened before he gave a small bow to the man.

Jaune felt a little bad about asking for some of their meats as he had his survival pack with enough to cook food, light fires, his tent, some salt to preserve meats and purify water all in his pack on his back. Never left his side back since the riots started. He rationalized his thoughts by saying that they'll be able to scavenge from the city and he wouldn't be able to do that.

By the time he raised up from his small bow Calliope was next to handing him some dried meats and a water bottle. Giving her a nod of thanks she gestured for him to follow her and he did so without hesitation. The sewers were not fun to get around in but there were certain intersections marked with three small, almost unseeable slashes on certain corners. Jaune only caught them because Calliope would run her hand over them as they walked and took certain turns.

It took them three hours of walking through literal shit and piss before they reached the exit. Opening the grate for him she gestured for him to leave and he didn't need to be told twice before doing so. Giving her a small nod before leaving.

Getting out in the open he wished he had been able to breath in fresh air but the smell lingering to him from the sewers wouldn't allow that to happen for a bit. At least that's what he thought as not even two minutes after leaving the sewer it started to pour. Looking up at the sky Jaune just sighed at his luck but at least the smell would wash off. Discarding he hoody he had immediately when it started to rain, not the mask though as he kept it hanging around his neck.

Going on a brisk jog through the area he ran for a few miles at a steady pace passing by a small town. Bypassing the town he ran until the rain eventually stopped and the wetness of the rain replaced by the sweat of his run. He kept running further until the sun was barely still peaking over the horizon. A good dozen or so miles from Mistral Jaune stopped and began looking for a place to spend the night.

The search took him until the sun had disappeared beyond the horizon. He found a natural overhang on a small hill surrounded by trees. Letting him avoid the incoming cold of the night and have a way to escape if anyone came around the area. Setting up his traps just in case he started a small fire that would be obscured by the overhang and the trees he stripped and laid his armor and clothes around the fire. Hoping they would be dry by morning.

Jaune slept lightly as he always had growing up in the wilds and when morning came he was happy to see that both his clothes and armor were dry along with none of the traps being disturbed. Cleaning up his small came and getting dressed he decided that he strike back out into the wilds for a couple moon cycles. Explore and see what was in the area while making his way towards Vacuo. Not the city but or even into the desert, just on the boarder to see what was in the area. Maybe the desert if he could get enough supplies before going.

Regardless he decided that today would be a day to hunt for some food. Not anything big but a couple jackrabits or squirrels wouldn't be bad. So he set up his traps around him before pulling out his pistol and beginning to shirt. The low caliber wouldn't destroy all the meat but it would be okay for food. So Jaune picked a spot near a tree and waited.

The sun passed a few sections of the sky maybe halfway to being at its apex before Jaune heard a slick click telling him one of his traps went off followed by squealing. Sighing at the development he had hoped that he would be able to catch something or the trap would've outright killed what it caught. Since that wasn't the case he would go kill the animal and cook it for a late breakfast as this place was done for hunting.

As he walked there he kept quiet as much as possible in case whatever was caught in the trap was part of a pack. Wolves, wild dogs, and other animals that would be a pain to deal with just because they were a pack. As he got close to the still squealing animal he was surprised to see that it wasn't in the trap anymore. The squeals were close enough for that mistake to happen and the trail of blood was easy to follow.

Doing so I was happy to see that it was a young boar. Maybe only three months old at the max but still plenty fat and barely limping along with a broken leg. Jogging the few feet to it while taking out his sheath he slammed it into the top of the boars head making it go limp. Knowing the boar wasn't dead he took out his mechashifted knife and slit the boars throat.

Hefting the small boar he took the body back to the came he had slept at. Being close enough that it didn't matter to him and even though the boar was young there was plenty of meat to be taken. Something that would take most of the day to get it properly cooked and preserved with the supplies on hand.

So he proceeded to go through the process of gutting the pig and hanging it to drain the blood. While that process went along he made an underground smoker. Digging a hole four feet deep starting a fire at the bottom letting it burn before adding twigs easily burnable things like dried leaves and more wood two feet high in the hole. Then all he could do was wait just making sure the fire kept going within the hole until it eventually was only embers.

While the fire burned itself to embers he went to the pig and started cutting out all the usable meat possible. Loosing all the organs was a disappointment as they would've been nice bits of meat but boars in Mistral had developed for their organs to be poisonous. Aedon had taught him this and some animals had developed like this to ward off Grimm off all things. The Grimm might not eat but they will slice or bite into animals and they had defenses against it.

Most notably being the Vacuan Diamondtail Snake. Not only are they very poisonous but if you cut the head off its body releases all of its poison in a cloud. If you're caught in that cloud and don't get the antivenom within 20 minutes you're dead, that's including grimm. Plus if you actually kill the snake only the second half of it is edible as the first half is full of poison glands.

There's other of course like the White Tailed Jackrabbit in Vale that if you even take a bite of it's legs as a human or faunus you're paralyzed for an hour. The toxin in the jackrabbit's legs outright kills lesser grimm though. Weaponizing had been tried according to Aedon but the jackrabbit was hunted to near extinction during the end of the Great War because of the massive hords of grimm. The animal is now almost extinct and highly protected.

It was only natural in Jaune's mind for animals to develop protections as they developed. Nature demands adaptation afterall.

Regardless by the time he was done cutting all the usable meat from the boar and setting them on his tarp the fire had been reduced to embers. Taking a couple more pieces of wood he planted them with twigs in a criss cross pattern only half a foot up from the bottom. Then he took the metal rods he used for his tent he planted them into the side of the hole criss crossing before planting the gathered meat from the boar on the metal rods. Before finally gathering up some long but thin branches and placing them over the hole and covering them with leaves trapping the smoke as best as possible.

Then all he had to do was wait so that's what he did. Setting his traps back up he went back to the underground smoker. Passing the time for the meat to be finished by taking stock of his weapons conditions and ammo count. The ax, sword and sheath/shield were all in solid shape but the grip on the ax needed to be redone within the month and the sword needed to be grinded down so it could fit in the sheath. Both also needed to be sharpened.

His AK was as reliable as always with nothing discernably wrong but he only had two full magazines left and one half mag. His pistol/knife was in the same exact spot for ammo but the mechashift components needed a little bit of maintenance. Nothing terribly concerning but a couple bits of the mechashift components needed some lubricant and one screw was close to breaking off. Deciding it was better to just keep the pistol form for now until he could find a decent settlement.

He was just finishing up the maintenance he could do when one of his traps went off eliciting a yelp of surprise. A human yelp. Grabbing his AK he stalked into the trees and silently climbed one waiting for whoever it was to show themselves. He didn't have to wait long as a short orange haired girl appeared with what appeared to be a massive hammer on her back. Right behind him was a typical mistral boy with two machine pistols holstered on either leg.

"Nora."

"But Renny, I can smell pancakes," the girl whined just as they passed Jaune and broke into the clearing. "See, they aren't here. We can just take a few scrapes on be on our way, no harm done. I'm sure they would share," the boy sighed and slumped a little as he followed the girl who skipped forward.

Dropping down behind the boy I leveled my AK at his face as he spun around. Eyes wide as he stared down the barrel of my gun. The girl spinning around at the sound at well and immediately brought out her hammer but didn't make a move. They both had to know that at this distance the AK might not break his aura completely but would definitely put him on his ass. Leaving them at a complete disadvantage.

"Why do you want my food," Jaune stated in a matter of fact tone. The boy opened his mouth to speak but the girl spoke before he could.

"We're really hungry and haven't eaten in FOREVER. Couldn't you share mister, pleeeeeeeease," she both whined and pleaded in a weird way that was actually endearing. Looking at the boy silentl asking if she was always like this. He shrugged and nodded his head.

"Food still needs a couple hours before it'll be ready. You can wait with me," Jaune sighed out but he wasn't all that worried. The two looked about the same as me and for them to be wondering like this he guessed they were the same as him. Orphans just wondering.

"Yay!" the girl shouted before she damn near appeared right in front of Jaune. "I'm Nora! And this is Ren," she grabbed the boy putting her cheek on his giving a giant and blinding smile while the boy just seemed to be dealing with it. Sending a silent message to Jaune through his face that Nora was always like this. Jaune couldn't help but chuckle at that.

"Jaune. What are you two doing around here anyways?"

"We're heading for Mistral City. Finished some contracts in the surrounding towns and we're trying to get paid," Ren answered. Jaune shook his head at that.

"Don't bother. They'll cheat you out of your money and the city is on lockdown right now."

"Why to both?" Ren asked as he took a seat by the underground smoker. Nora doing the same right next to Ren as Jaune sat on the opposite side.

"Bunch of hidden fees at the guild and riots. Started out as protests and the cops escalated, it's bad there right now. I got out yesterday through the sewers and some help," Nora looked downtrodden for all of a moment before her cheery smile came back but she didn't say anything to that. Ren just adopted a blank face that seemed to be the boy's default setting to Jaune.

"I don't believe you. It can't be that bad, where are all the grimm then," Nora asked and Ren seemed to nod along with her but it was so minute Jaune couldn't tell if he was actually nodding along or not.

"That's another problem and why I'm leaving Mistral."

"Because there isn't any Grimm close to the city? That's a weird reason," Nora stated bouncing around as she sat.

"Someone is in charge of the Grimm. They have a leader," that took the air out of both of them as they bored holes into Jaune's face as he said that silently demanding his reasoning. "My village was destroyed when I was six but that wasn't what got my attention. The fucking massive hoard of Grimm used tactics the entire time. Human, and Faunus, tactics the entire time and they had no Alpha or Elder grimm leading them. If they had one there's no way I would've gotten away.

Then a couple years after that I watched a village get raided exactly like mine had been. Only this time there was a man there leading the Grimm. A orb like grimm with tentacles next to him. My guess is whoever is behind that orb like grimm is the actual leader of the Grimm."

"That's -" Ren started but was interrupted by Nora.

"Impossible! No I don't believe it, the Grimm are mindless," she crossed her arms and looked away. Jaune shrugging his shoulders at her.

"Believe what you want but that's what I saw and what I believe. And if most of the Grimm truly were mindless the attacks would be nonstop but they aren't are they."

"So you think someone in Mistral city is the leader?" Ren asked with Jaune shaking his head.

"Allied maybe but the leader there I doubt. Either way, someone there is involved with whoever the leader is," Jaune answered. "You can't tell me you didn't notice how little Grimm there is in the direct area around Mistral city? Practically no extermination contracts or Alpha hunts which are more rare. Something isn't right here."

Jaune's words seemed to silence them as they both contemplated his words. Nora was the first to begin reacting again though as she shook her head silently mouthing 'nope' several times over before looking away. Ren looked contemplative but didn't say anything though he did look to Jaune silently conveyed that he would take the words into consideration. As Jaune was relaying his silent thanks Ren's head snapped to the side and looked up.

Following his eyes Jaune saw a Raven sitting on a branch at the edge of the clearing. A regular Raven which was native to Mistral. The White Eyed Raven of Vale had small white feathers around their eyes and this one didn't.

"Friend of yours?" Jaune asked looking at Ren.

"She's been following us the last two months popping up every couple days," Nora answered in a more melancholy tone than before. However, it was instantly replaced by her blinding smile.

"You guys feed her? Might be why." Jaune asked.

"No. She just likes us I guess," Nora shrugged. "I wonder why she's so far out of her territory though, Raven's almost always stay in the northern portion of Mistral."

That seemed to be the end of their conversation as Nora backed away from Jaune and went to the wall of the overhang. Ren following her after a moment leaving Jaune alone at the pit. He looked over at the Raven that was sitting on the branch and swore that it had eyes only for him. Staring at him like it could see through him, holding a frightening intelligence in their eyes that shouldn't have been possible.

The rest of the time waiting was spent in silence among the three as the Raven eventually flew away. When the food was ready Jaune uncovered the meat and handed some to Ren and Nora. Giving them a little less than half the food while he kept the rest. They said their thanks to him before wishing him luck and leaving. Jaune waited for another two hours before falling asleep for the night.

Waking up bright and early the next morning before the sun had even peaked across the horizon. Time to head to Vacuo he thought…

"Kids… You really don't want to do this," Aedon spoke as he was surrounded by a team of fourth year Beacon students.

"You're wanted for numerous counts of murder, extortion and rape. You're coming with us whether you like it or not," the possible leader spoke. A cat faunus with black hair. Her words though elicited a growl of anger from Aedon as she spoke as rage ignited in him.

Aedon wouldn't fight the murder or extortion as he had done that but Rape. He has never and will never do that. If you have to force yourself on a woman to get laid than you are the worst type of scum in his eyes. Running a hand down his mask he looked back to the kids.

"Where did you get this information?"

"Professor Ozpin warned us to look out for you while we did our mission."

"Of course," Aedon ground under his breath. "Kids, I'm not being patronizing but unless you want to be in a hospital for the remainder of your time at Beacon back off."

"We ca-"

"You will," a new voice cut in and the imposing figure of Nicholas Arc entered into the area laying a hand on the leader. The man may have not been what he once was but he was still an S class hunter even after his collapse instead of the SSS class he had been before the incident. Something to think about that not even one of the strongest in the world could protect everyone while he fought the unprecedented hoard that had attacked his home and killed most of his family.

"You kids will die if you fight him. Get," the kids looked like they wanted to say something but instead disappeared as they sprinted away. The silence between Nicholas and Aedon stretched on and the tension build until Nicholas lowered the sword. The sword portion of Crocea Mors.

"I haven't seen you in over a decade Aedon. Why are you here?" he asked.

"I found the second half of Crocea Mors," Nicholas' eyes widened as he looked Aedon up and down not seeing the sheath anywhere.

"Where is it?" he growled out.

"It's with your son."

"... What?"

How'd you like that? Hope y'all enjoyed. REVIEW please so I can get better. Hope y'all have a blessed day.