Volume 1: Seeds
3040 A.E.- September
Odd, swirling visions of black and red danced within the young woman's field of view as she focused upon simply drawing in breaths and exhaling once again. After repeating the pattern three times, she opened her eyes and stared straight ahead at the deep brown wooden door standing before her, at three times her height. Intricate patterns of cloud forms and various beasts entwined within them were carved into the wooden panels, each varying in size from that of the girl's palm to one in the center of the two doors the size of her body. She looked upward into the giant bird's carved face, and found its rows of six narrowed eyes staring down at her. Something about the way that the predator's head was angled caused goosebumps to rush along her bare arms, and she folded them across her chest while hugging her biceps.
"Not the first, and you won't be the last," the girl remarked with a wry smirk.
She narrowed her eyes right back at the wooden bird and rested a pale white hand against the right panel of the door, atop a small carving of a lizard. Her bright red nail polish contrasted harshly against the mahogany, and her skin almost seemed to glow in comparison to the darkened wood. After one last deep breath, she shoved hard upon the panel to reveal a deep orange glow within. She hesitated for a moment and contemplated turning back, before steeling herself and beginning to walk forward at a slow, measured pace.
The inside of the structure was incredibly dark compared to the contrast of the flawless bright blue sky behind the girl, with only light from the multitude of candles lined up on either side of the entrance providing visibility. The girl turned and carefully pushed the panel closed to keep the shifting wood from extinguishing the tiny lights, and let out a heavy breath as she watched the last sliver of mountain air disappear behind the gigantic door. She turned to look deeper into the temple, and shivered once again as she saw more pure, vibrant light extending to the floor from three slatted windows high up at the far end of the hall. A throne rested twenty feet below the window, and a familiar figure sat upon it, surrounded by guards clad entirely in black robes and sleek matching armor.
The girl licked her dry, cracked lips and ran her teeth over her bottom lip before walking up to one of the shrines in the entranceway. A small mirror rested amid what seemed to be a dozen candles, and she knelt formally before it as she removed the sheathed katana from her left side and placed it upon the ground. The scabbard was a plain, undecorated black with a red knotted rope wrapped around the top to match the cord upon the hilt. She stared thoughtfully at the weapon before taking another breath, folding her hands in her lap, and raising her gaze to the small mirror.
Crimson eyes stared back at her, partially hidden behind messy strands of jet black hair. The girl wore no makeup, though the surface of her skin was unblemished to the point of resembling porcelain. The top of her simple red sleeveless vest was barely visible in the glass, and the flickering candlelight almost gave the garment the appearance of being on fire. Her stare was a cold, unfeeling, expressionless one, and she remained unblinking as she kept her eyes locked with her reflection while she began to recite a familiar oath.
"I pledge this blade to the cause. I pledge myself to this blade. The will of the steel guides my hand, and none shall hinder its righteous judgment. My strength belongs to the clan of Those Above All, and to my dying breath, I shall carry out their will."
One last deep breath rushed through the girl's mouth before she gathered her weapon and strapped it back to her side. She briefly dusted off the folds of her long black skirt with her free hand, and then began to make her way toward the throne at the opposite end of the hall.
The girl kept her eyes locked on her path ahead as she walked, despite the subtle movements in her periphery. She knew she was being watched by figures within the shadows, and she knew that few others her age would be permitted to walk along the path before her. Nothing mattered more in the moment than keeping her eyes low, her breathing steady, and her head clear as she approached the steps before the throne and dropped into a formal kneeling position once again. She placed her sword before herself and prostrated before the ivory steps as a haze of heady incense enveloped her.
"Grandmaster Arowana. I have come for my initiation."
Silence filled the room as the girl remained bowed, her forehead quite nearly touching the purple and gold patterned carpet before her. The twisted fabric irritated her bare knees, though she wouldn't dare to protest or even move as she waited. Minutes passed as the pleasant scent of the incense was slowly joined by that of acrid, bitter smoke, and an equally harsh voice.
"…rise, Raven."
Raven did as she was told, and slowly stood to face her master. The man called Arowana wore a large, circular, wooden slatted hat that was inclined downward to obscure his face, and wispy trails of smoke seemed to seep up and out from beneath the brim. His body was covered in a black cloth robe, save for wrinkled and veiny hands, one of which held a long pipe. Several guards surrounded the throne on either side, and each wore a similar uniform of black with deep blue accented stripes along the lengths of their arms and legs. Armored cuirasses, pauldrons, and bracers completed their outfits, and all of the metal protection seemed nearly unblemished. Raven briefly allowed her eyes to flick to the left to meet those of the one figure among them who did not belong, and her throat tightened as they returned her gaze.
A boy slightly taller than Raven was kneeling several feet to her left, at the base of the stairs. He, too, had red eyes, messy hair, fair skin, and wore unfitting clothing for the occasion. The adolescent was clad in a white woolen sweater and simple black pants. He appeared to be unarmed, unhappy, and unwilling to tear his gaze from Raven. She quickly diverted her own away from the figure, before locking her eyes back on the brim of the elder's hat.
"I am ready for the details of my first formal assignment as an assassin for Those Above All. Please, grace me with the opportunity t-"
Raven's voice faltered as the seated figure raised a massive, gnarled hand. Several gaudy bejeweled rings encased his splayed fingers, and the flesh upon his darkened palm was creased and worn with a combination of age and battle scars.
"Stop. Something hangs at the back of your throat, and weighs heavily upon you. I see it in the way you walk, I hear it in the way you speak, and it is written on your face, plain as day. I raised you, Raven. You cannot hide your emotions from me, try as you might. What is it that troubles you?"
Raven hesitated as the icy hand of doubt gripped her heart and squeezed unpleasantly. She did her best to shake off the chill, and spoke in a sterner, more purposeful voice.
"Nothing troubles me, Grandmaster. I am fully prepared to dedicate my life to your w-"
The sound of the elder's hand crashing against the armrest of the wooden throne rang throughout the otherwise silent hall like a sudden gunshot. Raven trembled slightly as the harsh, immediate noise interrupted her words, and she slammed her mouth closed immediately.
"I will ask you only once more, and you will answer honestly. This day is one that all members of our order anticipate more than any other, yet you stand before me, either unwilling or unable to begin your vow honestly. Speak your mind, girl, or be cast out with the others who failed to reach your station."
Raven's eyes once again flicked to the kneeling boy. His jaw was clenched firmly, and he shook his head slightly as the girl tore her eyes from him and directed them back to the seated figure.
"I want Qrow to come with me," she stated in an authoritative voice.
"Raven!" the boy protested, before cursing under his breath as he looked away. Several of the assembled guards turned to look at the boy, as their leader began to speak once again.
"Your brother has brought nothing but misfortune and strife down upon our people. To send him along with you would jeopardize your assignment, and quite frankly, he is only here today due to your unfortunate blood ties. Such a demand is out of the question."
"No!" Raven protested, her eyes growing fiery as she cast a hand out to the side. "Qrow has proven my equal in combat, maintained his education alongside mine, and remained loyal to our order despite your constant blaming of all negative occurrences here upon him! If you respect our bloodline, then you cannot deny him his wing! He and I belong together, fighting for you!"
"Raven, what are you doing?" the boy questioned in a gravelly voice from his kneeling position. "This is how you get excommunicated! You've earned your way, now take your reward and go! I'm not worth starting a fight with the grandmaster!"
"Listen to your brother, Raven," the seated figure replied as he drew his pipe up under his massive hat. Another plume of smoke rolled out from beneath the wooden brim, and Raven shook her head emphatically.
"This isn't right, and you know it! His semblance isn't his fault!"
"A semblance is a reflection of a soul, young lady, and your brother's soul clearly does not belong among our number," Arowana corrected. "After this ceremony, he will be leaving… but not on assignment, and not as a member of our clan. Cease this frivolous groveling, or the offer of your ascension to adulthood in my eyes will be revoked."
Raven's eyes burned as she narrowed them at the hat. Suddenly, she closed them, and clenched a fist at her side.
"No."
Without another word, Raven knelt and picked up her katana before turning on her heel and beginning to stomp off toward the entrance of the hall.
"Raven? Raven!" Qrow cried as he stood and began to run after her.
"Enough!"
The booming voice seemed to pierce through Raven's flesh as it echoed around the temple, and she and her brother both came to a stop. Raven was the first to turn, and she put a hand down on the hilt of her blade as she looked back to the throne.
"Raven… you are not going anywhere without my blessing, and yet, I can see that you are unwilling to let go of this ridiculous notion that your brother is to be your equal. Is that so?"
Qrow moved to a position beside his sister and turned to face the throne as she spoke.
"It is. I made my choice to commit to becoming one of your assassins. Now, you have to choose. Both of us… or neither of us."
No one in the temple dared to move as Arowana slowly stood from his throne while resting the pipe upon one of the armrests. The man shook his head and made a dismissive motion with his hand while looking at one of his guards.
"…bring the brands. Both brands."
The man nodded and disappeared into a hallway behind the throne as the Grandmaster made his way down the steps. He folded his arms behind himself and stood rigidly as the other guards assembled along the sides of the carpet.
"Disrobe. Both of you."
Raven stooped briefly to deposit her katana upon the carpet, before standing straight once again and unbuttoning her vest. She cast the garment off to reveal the cloth bindings around her breasts, and looked over to her brother as he rolled his sweater up and over his head. Without a word, Qrow deposited his clothing upon the ground next to the weapon and vest. The two teens locked hands as they turned to look to the grandmaster, who remained unmoving.
"Approach, turn, and kneel."
Raven and Qrow did as instructed, and knelt into the carpet side by side as they faced the massive wooden doors at the end of the hall. They kept their hands firmly grasped as the elder spoke once again, and footsteps marked the return of the guard to the hall.
"Do you, Raven Branwen, accept the task to travel to Beacon Academy in Vale and surveil huntsmen in training? Do you agree that upon finding those that may pose a threat to our order, up to and including the headmaster, you will exterminate them, and return to us in three years' time?"
Raven furrowed her brows, but dared not hesitate.
"I do."
"Then it is done," Arowana replied as Raven's right shoulder began to burn. She clenched her teeth and whimpered as she felt the sensation of sizzling metal pressing into her flesh, and then gasped in shock as the heavy branding iron was removed. Raven fought back the urge to cry out at the incredible pain, and closed her eyes as she began to tear up.
"Then you are now ordained as an assassin of huntsmen, serving Those Above All. You will receive your new weaponry after this… situation is dealt with," the elder mused as he turned his eyes toward Qrow. "You. Boy. Do you accept the assignment to support your sister in her endeavors? To remain loyal to the clan and carry out your duties, despite our condemnation?"
"…I do," Qrow grumbled as his back muscles tensed.
"Know that you will receive no weapon, and no aid from our order. Your ascension is being carried out as a favor, rather than a rite. Your sole purpose now is to assist Raven, and should you become a burden… she will be required to cut you down," Arowana finished.
"I know," Qrow spat as he felt the iron press against his left shoulder. He cried out as the elder drove the tool deep into the flesh of his back, and allowed the metal to linger in place. Raven gave him a sidelong look of pity as he squirmed, and eventually, the iron rod was removed and handed back to the waiting guard.
"It is done. Raven, your weapon will be delivered unto you at the outset of your journey. You will be given supplies that should last you to Vale."
"I understand," Raven replied automatically.
"Rise," the elder commanded. The pair stood in tandem, their hands still linked. "Go forth, and prepare. You may not show your faces again until your work is complete. We will maintain contact as appropriate."
Raven and Qrow quietly made their way down the long carpet. Qrow stopped to gather their clothing and the katana, and proceeded to the entranceway after his sister. Without looking back, they disappeared out into the mountain air, and Qrow slowly closed the door behind them. Despite his careful approach, every single candle in the small foyer went out, and the elder narrowed his eyes in contempt.
"That boy is a curse made manifest."
The guard holding the iron brands stepped forward to join the Grandmaster's side, and offered a nod as he transferred both implements to one hand. His hair was a long, free flowing mess of red strands that hung to his shoulders, accentuated by a scraggly beard. He appeared to be only a few years older than Raven and Qrow, though his face was marred with scars. A particularly nasty one ran through his right eye, which had been blinded. The other was a muted brown, the color barely visible in the darkened temple.
"Is that not why you sent them to Beacon Academy? Such a mission is suicide, for ones so inexperienced."
Arowana let out a low, mirthless chuckle, and turned to walk back toward his throne. "I am counting on it. I would tell you to end it now, but we could use information about the school and its new leader from an expendable source. In one year, you will go to Beacon and recount their progress. Should they still live, I want you to make sure that they fail. Should you be discovered… kill them," he instructed as he sat back down.
The guard shook his head and returned to his post upon the raised platform. "Such a pity, about the girl. She had potential, even without knowing her semblance."
"She did. Her combat skills, discipline, and leadership ability are among the best I've ever seen in one her age," Arowana agreed as he picked up his pipe and once again took a long drag. More smoke billowed from beneath the hat, and he crossed his legs as he idly began to bounce one foot. "But this sequence of events was set in stone from the moment her brother's semblance showed itself. We can't afford to take any chances with hers, when it finally awakens. If it's anything like his… we need to be rid of her."
Raven walked quickly down the stone steps of the temple and onto the snowy mountain path at a brisk pace as Qrow followed closely behind.
"Raven," he stated plainly while trying to catch up. "Raven! I know you can hear me!"
The girl spun in place and raised a pointed finger, her expression furious as her deep black locks swirled around her face, buffeted by the chilling wind.
"But I don't want to hear you! I just laid everything on the line for you, and I don't need reminding of that fact! Believe it or not, brother, I care, and I'm not going to let you guilt trip me, or lord it over me, o-"
Qrow interrupted his sister by draping her crimson vest upon her outstretched hand, and giving her an unimpressed look. "I know. I just don't want you to freeze out here, is all. Come on, let's get back down to the village, before you catch frostbite."
Raven narrowed her eyes and closed her fingers to snatch the vest, before slinging it over her left shoulder. "We've just been branded, Qrow. I don't think putting fabric over it is a great idea."
Qrow blinked and shivered as he balled his sweater beneath an arm. "Oh, well… I guess not, then. Let's just hurry, in that case."
"Let me see it," Raven commanded as she closed the distance between herself and her brother.
"What?" Qrow inquired. "Sis, I can feel it. It's there."
"Even so. I want to see it," she insisted.
Qrow slowly turned in place, and pulled his left arm toward the center of his body to poke out his shoulder. The seared emblem of a wing with a gear enclosed in a circle attached to its base was bright red upon his pasty flesh.
"It's backwards," Raven seethed through grit teeth. "That absolute bastard. He still doesn't care about you, or what I want."
"That absolute bastard is our father, and you should have had respect for what he w-"
Qrow let out a pained groan as he felt a fist meet his kidney in a sharp blow.
"I told you, I don't want to hear it! I made my choice. Now, follow me back to the village, or don't. We leave tomorrow, and it's a month long journey to the Academy. We need to prepare," Raven sneered as she began to walk.
Qrow turned and immediately moved to follow once again, while holding his side. "Hey, now. The entrance exams will be a joke compared to what we've already dealt with here, and I'm not worried about the trip itself. He said he'd give us supplies, and we've made journeys like this before. We're just alone this time, which may honestly be better," he mused.
"Wrong," Raven stated harshly as she continued along the snow-covered dirt path. She guided her brother down and around a turn in the cliff, and began walking back toward the temple and below it. "He said he'd give me supplies. That means we're running on half of what we need, unless we bring our own gear or buy along the way. Didn't you hear him say he wouldn't be giving you any aid?"
Qrow fell silent save the crunching of snow beneath his boots. He cast his eyes down to the path as he continued on for several minutes, and nearly ran right into Raven.
"Hey," she began as she looked up at her brother. He blinked in surprise, and refocused.
"…hey."
"Even if he doesn't care, or if the whole clan is against you… I won't be. You may be a pain in the ass, but you're my brother," Raven admitted with a slight frown. "We stick together. I never would've left without you, even if they hadn't allowed you to come."
"Yeah, yeah," Qrow grumbled as he rested an arm over Raven's shoulder. "I know. When you want something, you get it, no matter who's standing in your way. C'mon. Let's get off this mountaintop and down to the house to get a fire going. I'm freezing."
Raven snorted, and hugged her arms once again. "Pussy."
"I can see you shivering!"
Throngs of students gathered in the amphitheater of Beacon Academy, chattering and bustling amongst themselves as they waited for their inaugural speech. Despite the large crowd of nearly fifty first-year students, a clear divide existed between two groups, with a gap large enough for five people to comfortably walk through side by side. On the east side of the room was a clump of around twenty human students. Most kept to themselves and talked quietly, while those on the edge of the crowd stared off at the other set of students. Closer to the western wall were what appeared to be humans, though each had one unique animal feature, ranging from horns, to scales, to wings or claws. Several of the beings, known as faunus, stared right back at their human counterparts, and neither side looked particularly comfortable.
The room itself was a massive cloister filled with tapestries, gigantic holographic screens, a wide stage that spanned wall to wall, raised bleachers surrounding it in a semicircle, and a door on the opposite side of the room leading to a hallway that tunneled deep into the giant castle-like building. Raven stood off in a corner, out of view from the stage amongst the crowd of students, while her brother leaned up against a nearby column, arms crossed and eyes closed. Both had already donned their school uniforms- a black jacket with gold trim, a white shirt, and matching pants for Qrow, and a similar jacket with a plaid skirt for Raven. Neither spoke as they waited, until a massive swell of noise caught their attention and caused Qrow to open his eyes.
A tall man in his mid-twenties or early thirties walked out onto the stage to thunderous applause. The figure held a coffee cup in one hand and cane in the other as he walked, and stopped abruptly before a waiting microphone. He was clad in a long green jacket with a black vest and white shirt beneath, brown pants, and small, circular black glasses. His hair was jet black with flecks of silver scattered throughout the tips of the strands. After offering the crowd a warm smile and waiting for the noise to die down, he spoke in a calm, friendly voice.
"Students of the class of 3044," he began, only for the assembled crowd to grow rowdy once again.
Raven rolled her eyes and groaned, while Qrow shook his head and let out a ragged sigh. "Hooray for math, people. Seriously, shut up," he complained, only to earn a nasty look from a nearby blonde, tan-skinned boy with a scraggly goatee and a uniform identical to Qrow's.
The man on stage cleared his throat and raised his coffee cup slightly, before beginning again in the same tone.
"Students of the class of 3044, it is my distinct honor and pleasure to welcome you all to Beacon Academy. My name is Professor Ozpin, and I will be serving as your headmaster for the duration of your time here. With new leadership comes new ideas, and I am incredibly excited to share with you the vision I have for this storied building. But first, allow me to begin by saying that each and every one of you has earned the right to be here, and I have faith that you all…"
The headmaster continued to offer words of encouragement and inspiration, as Qrow slid down the pillar into a sitting position and brought his hands up to the side of his skull.
"Ugh, seriously? I know I've always said I wanted the opposite of home, but this is ridiculous! I guess we're all just as unique and special as everybody else, huh? What a load of shit."
"Hey," the blonde boy standing nearby cut in as he stepped up to Qrow and stared him down. "The headmaster is trying to be welcoming, and it's his duty to make a speech like this. He's new, we're new, and all of us have no idea what we're doing just yet. How about you stop being such a jerk and give him a break?"
"How about you stop being a simpering dipshit and grow some actual facial hair?" Qrow retorted from his spot upon the floor. The boy brought a leather-gloved hand up to his chin and rubbed at his jawline, while glaring daggers.
"…asshole," he spat before turning to walk away. A sudden hand shot out for his shoulder from behind, and he turned around in surprise. His deep blue eyes met with a set of feminine crimson ones as Raven looked him over, and he found himself at a loss for words.
"He's an asshole, alright. He's also my brother, so let me apologize on his behalf. Neither of us have gotten much sleep, and we're both a little nervous. My name's Raven," she said while offering her other hand.
The boy merely blinked in a stupor as Qrow rose from behind her, and shook his head before walking off. After watching him go, the blonde took Raven's hand and shook enthusiastically while clasping his other hand atop the pair.
"Taiyang. Call me Tai. I really didn't mean anything by it, I just w-"
Tai was soon silenced by a finger pressed to his lips, and a flirtatious smile. Raven shook her head to silence him, and lowered her hand.
"It's fine. We'll talk later, alright? I should probably go find my brother, and try to listen to the headmaster."
"Right!" Tai agreed as he put a hand up behind his head while a hot blush broke out upon his cheeks. "Um, good luck!"
Raven replied with a wink before turning and following Qrow deeper into the crowd. As soon as she caught up, she gripped his hand and dragged him toward a wall on the opposite side of the room. Qrow didn't resist, and let her corner him as he looked off toward Ozpin while Raven began to rant in a whisper.
"Look, that kid may have been a colossal tool, but could you not make enemies for us before we even start? I'd like to keep our reputation decent, so our lives aren't made harder than they already are!"
"Well, at least you agree that kid's a total douche," Qrow mused. "If you want me to shut up, I'll shut up, alright?"
"Alright," Raven agreed with a firm nod, before turning to stand beside her brother. The pair faced the stage once again, as Ozpin's monologue continued.
"…all be taking a written exam covering personality, morals, fighting style, and various other factors to help the faculty best place you on a team of four. Once you have been placed, you will be assigned a dormitory, and your luggage will be delivered to you from storage. Now, for the controversial bit," Ozpin warned before taking a sip of his drink. "As many of you have no doubt noticed by now, for the first time in the history of Beacon, there are faunus among us. Those faunus are every bit as valid and welcome in my school as any human huntsman or huntress, and I expect them to be treated as such. With faunus slavery being abolished nearly twenty years ago at this point, there is no justification for treating them any differently. All faunus applicants are welcome within these halls, and no consideration will be given to assembling teams of all faunus, or all humans. If that is a problem… might I humbly suggest you find your way to the front doors, and enjoy your ignorance elsewhere," he finished as he gestured outward toward the door to the hallway on the other side of the room.
Stunned silence ruled over the crowd for several moments, before soft whispers broke out among both parties of human and faunus. Qrow gave Raven a surprised look as his sister muttered to herself.
"He's insane…"
"He's bold," Qrow corrected as he once again folded his arms across his chest. "A move like that's not gonna do him any favors, especially as a first year headmaster. Shade Academy's the only other one that accepts faunus right now, and the student populations are completely segregated out there."
"I'm well aware," Raven replied. "But still… he's asking for trouble, by rocking the boat this much."
Steadily, movement broke out in the crowd of humans. A cluster of eight students made their way toward the doors, and one boy turned and cupped his hands to his mouth to yell at the stage as he went.
"I'm not sharing a dorm with fucking animals! My parents will hear about this!"
All eyes in the room slowly traveled from the crowd of humans leaving the amphitheater up to Ozpin. The headmaster gripped the head of his cane a bit tighter as palpable tension filled the room, and he brought his coffee cup up to his lips to take a long, deliberate sip.
"…very good. Trash collection is generally on Tuesdays, so if anyone else here has morals that belong in a dumpster, by all means, join them. Failing that, placement exams will run first thing tomorrow morning. For now, I would suggest that you assemble into groups of four at most, find an unoccupied dormitory, and get some rest. You'll find basic toiletries and supplies wherever you decide to stay, and every room is open to you, as the upperclassmen will not arrive until next week. Once you are placed upon a team, you will be assigned a final living quarters. Good luck."
Students immediately started to break into packs and move for the hallways the moment that Ozpin began to leave the stage. Raven instinctively grabbed Qrow's hand and began to pull him along through the door and around a corner, while walking at a brisk pace. The pair passed by white, featureless walls and the occasional painting along their way as Qrow finally wrenched his hand free and moved to walk beside his sister.
"Let's get as far away from the rest as we can, and see if we can call home to let them know we're here," he offered.
"Exactly," Raven agreed. She came to an abrupt stop before a door, and Qrow doubled back slightly to return to her side. "Elevator. Let's get to the second to last floor. Probably the least likely place anyone would think to go, for the night."
"Makes sense to me," Qrow offered as he hit the button beside the elevator. The doors opened immediately, and the pair stepped inside before he hit the button for the ninth floor. The doors closed, and the car began to ascend at a rapid pace.
"This is going to be… interesting," Raven mused. "Hopefully pube-chin doesn't find us tonight, or ever."
"Who, the blonde kid?" Qrow asked with a smirk. "Looked to me like you were all over him."
Raven snorted, and cuffed her brother upside the back of the head. "As if, and his name is Taiyang. Keep that in mind, if you see him on a roster somewhere."
"Or in your bed," Qrow joked as he stepped out of the opening elevator. He took another kidney shot with a chuckle as Raven joined him, and the pair began to make their way toward the far end of the empty hall.
"932… 934… 936 it is," Raven said as she reached for the door handle. With a quick twist, the portal opened, only to reveal total darkness within. Despite herself, Raven tensed, and called out. "…hello…?"
"Taken," came a reply in a gruff male voice from somewhere in the room. Ice seemed to course through Raven's veins as her eyes widened. Qrow pushed past her and fumbled for a light switch, while muttering to himself.
"The hell do you mean 'taken'?" Qrow asked as his fingers finally hit a switch, and the room became illuminated.
The walls were a bare white, with a window on the wall opposite the door and an empty bookcase beside it. Four plain beds with white sheets stood with gaps between them, and a figure sat with their back to the siblings upon the last bed in the row. Slowly, they stood, and turned to face the duo.
The occupant was a boy wearing dirty, ripped jeans and a white t-shirt with splotches of brown stains across the fabric. The left sleeve had been torn off entirely, and a worn, battered katana was strapped to his belt on the left side. He had a short shock of red, spiked hair, with two curved, black bull horns pointed backward from his forehead along the length of his skull. A dirty, dark green bandanna was tied diagonally around his head and over his left eye, while the other was a deep, piercing blue. It narrowed slightly while he looked over Raven, and his lips twisted into a sneer as he rested a hand atop the hilt of his katana.
"I said, it's taken."
Author's Note:
And so, it begins. Expect a lot of huge alterations to canon, and a long prologue to RWBY's first year that will be split into two parts. Volume 1 will cover STRQ and OKRA's time at Beacon, while Volume 2 will cover the year before Team RWBY enters Beacon Academy and go back and forth between a certain other pair of teams and events outside of the school involving Team RWBY and others. This story will be updating on Mondays, every week. Initially, I wanted to update twice a week, but What You Stole will be coming back in early 2020 (and maybe even before Volume 7 ends…) and updating weekly as well. To preserve my sanity and prevent burnout, I'm going to stick to once a week for this story, especially since its chapters will all be near or greater than 5,000 words. Hope to see you along for the ride!
-RD