No answer came from the monster, as soon as it opened its mouth it took a step back and growled. Weiss stood back not quite understanding why his humanity had suddenly vanished. Then it struck her.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Blake's voice rang behind Weiss, Whitley's eyes looked to the huntress brandishing her weapon as the black tendrils grew and soon his human features were covered in a black mask. The only thing to point out he was still human were his white hair and vaguely humanoid shape that stood like a wild animal rearing itself for an attack.
"GRRRROAHHHHHH!"
Her brother rang out in a beast like roar and sprang to his back legs, he jumped back to maintain distance before looking to Weiss. He attempted to lunge- she knew it was not to harm him but Blake did not. Metal met flesh and he hissed before backing off, where there was once a layer of black and skin below had grown back just as fast as Blake had damaged him. She saw a faint glow.
Aura...?
Was his Aura healing him, or did it turn him into...this? Could Aura be tainted?
"What...?"
Blake hissed out similarly as her attack got shrugged off. She then went to lunge in further before her hand was pulled back by Weiss.
"What are you doing?!" She questioned and it was similarly repeated by the rest of team RWBY who came by just as prepared with their weapons raised. Before she had a chance to explain- Her brother ran. He knew he was outnumbered and more than that- the sympathetic way those once blue eyes now ringing red looked into her soul. He didn't want to harm her.
Before the others could chase after him she shouted.
"WHITLEY!"
But it was too late, her brother was lost again.
"Wait...Whitley? You saw your brother? Did that grimm-"
"YOU IDIOTS! That WAS Whitley!"
"WHAT?!" The other three called out in unison. As they lowered their weapons Weiss sighed, explaining how the creature came up to her and recognized her as sister- and that Blake had briefly seen his face before it took over when she initiated combat.
"That's...that's crazy! Your brother isn't a grimm!" Yang protested to which Ruby nodded along, Weiss only shook her head. She could not blame them for defending their teammate.
"I know what I saw. I don't know WHAT happened to him but I think...it has to do with his Aura."
"His Aura?"
"I saw it" Blake added on "In the fight, it covered his skin to look like a grimm. I think...I think that's a semblance." She seemed to be lost in thought as she explained. "Maybe that's how he lasted this long? His semblance made him look like an Alpha? No more that that he...he acted like it. Like an animal"
"Animal or not he's still my brother!" Weiss protested to which Blake did not look amused. "Not...like that"
"We know what you mean, Weiss. Right kitty cat?" Yang helped out in her own way.
"The point is" Ruby interrupted "Something happened to him to turn him into...that. We've found him, right? Should we get miss Goodwitch?"
"Would she even belief us? Hey miss goodwitch Weiss saw a grimm and thought it was her brother! Problem solved!" Yang mocked the idea "She'd probably kill him thinking he's a grimm before we can tell her what really happened"
Weiss conceded to that point, shaking her head. "I don't like the idea of letting miss goodwitch see my brother like this, we- no...I owe it to him to get him help. Whatever this is we can fix this."
"You never spoke well of him, why does he deserve this?" Blake asked.
Weiss thought for a moment before shaking her head. It was the right thing to do. Besides.
"It's a family matter"
Run
Something deep inside Whitley told him. Something deep and primal- a call to arms and a call to flee. It was not fear that drove this but something...deeper.
Survive, is what the voice told him. The voice was his only companion these weeks- the only thing keeping him alive. Eat when it told him, what it told him. The voice was not something...real. It was a primal part of him. Something that awoke to keep him alive. It was a hunter- a predator.
But what does a predator do when met with its match? It waits and plots. It could pick the huntresses off one by one and out heal them. His aura repaired him at a faster rate something innate informed him.
But then his humanity roared its head. He would not- no he would NEVER hurt his sister. That was something father did. He struggled to fight against the urge to turn back and rip and tear, the best he could do is run. He could survive- but he can't hold off the thought of hurting her more than he already had.
But the voices behind him calling out seemed to indicate that wasn't happening. Sprinting on all fours his hoof-like feet drove into the dirt and branches in a pad and a crunch- arms stretched out to the tree trunks as he dove from branches and under roots. Eventually he found himself backed against a river- his new found voice gave him physical advantages but he didn't learn how to swim simply because of this. The rapid movement of the river was too much to combat at his novice level, as such he backed himself against a wall at a slight incline.
As he saw his sister approach he could not fight the urge to lunge- body moved out of instinct. Claws dug into the dirt where she once was as rose petals littered the same spot. A fist approached and knocked his cheek back- but his body did not move. The blonde that had attacked was sent back as a claw swiped and nearly ripped if not the aura. She was sent back to a tree with her back thudding against it.
This time a wire came across his other wrist as to hold him back. Quick thinking on his human half the voice relied on his tactical knowledge, using that to pull the other using the string and ducking- sending the raven haired girl colliding with the one with a scythe that had approached overhead.
Then came Weiss. She approached him with her sword out but did not attack- she was defending herself. The voice prepared itself, snarling and roaring out before attempting to lash out another time. His body stopped- the huntresses looked confused. It looked as if Whitley was fighting himself to not attack.
Inside the creature two voices stired.
ATTACK! Kill them- kill them now! They cannot help us, this is survival! Rip and tear and EAT!"
"NO! I will...not..." His voice was weak. The other commanded him- but the boy refused.
"You...you kept me alive but- this is not something I can abide by!" His weak frame nearly gave out as he argued with the mysterious black figure inside his conscious.
It was like him exactly- except bone like white protrusions came from his sides and torso- along his shoulder blades and ankles. Red eyes among a black smokey skin.
You are in no position to command me, weakling. Your body is simply my plaything.
It spoke with teeth smiling wide, dagger like slits in its mouth.
"No!" He broke forth, blue eyes met red. "I will not tolerate this- this is my body!"
It is ours. You took the deal to survive.
A deal with a devil it was. He did not know he signed it as he consumed human flesh for the first time.
"You may be my semblance, but you are not in control!" The Schnee sneered as he raised a fist.
...Fine. You may have it, but remember. Every time your life is threatened, every time you must fight...you rely on me. I am a monster of your making.
It relented. The Schnee simply shook his head, taking back control.
"No. I will never be rid of you. But this is my body, and I will decide when you help."
I look forward to when you next relapse, Schnee. The blood will be all the tastier~
Hunter, as Whitley had dubbed the voice. Had the last laugh.
But for now, he must deal with Weiss. After all- it's a family matter.
He'd stopped moving, Weiss had noticed. The brief scuffle although short and precise- they'd taken damage. Yang and Blake's aura was in the red and Ruby's was yellow from a few hits. The others surrounded him- confused as he his body convulsed at the internal struggle they were not privy too.
Soon he stood up though- red eyes looking to all of them with a snarl and the three of the four that were prepared to fight readied themselves again.
But before them the black slivers retracted- white skin on top of blue eyes shone through as it all but disappeared. Where ones bone like protusions were now all that was left was a malnourished boy with a black arm.
Weiss was the first embrace her brother- He let out a soft whisper of a weep.
"S...so...sorry..." He spoke without much conviction, not for a lack of trying- but pure exhaustion.
"It's okay, Whitley. I'm here. We...we can get you help..."
"Ironwood..."
She turned her head in confusion.
"Have him detain me. Can't hurt...then."
His childlike way of speaking was likely a biproduct of this exhaustion and a month of the wilderness- but it mattered not. She hugged him tighter as he collapsed entirely- eyes shut.
As she began to pick him up they heard a voice from the woods. Glynda had returned with the other search party.
"What do you all think you're-" She was cut off by Weiss, presenting her brother's unconscious body.
"We...found him. But something...something's wrong."
Glynda adjusted her glasses with a confused and considerate look. She seemed shocked at what this young man went through.
"We must inform his father." Glynda looked to Weiss to gauge her response, which to no one's surprise she shook her head.
"No- You can't." "Miss Schnee I know your relationship with your father is-" Glynda was cut off as Weiss protested.
"No- he doesn't want to go back. He said he doesn't want to hurt us. He said Ironwood can help him. He can, right?"
Glynda considered her words carefully, sighing softly. "I need to make a call."
Hours passed as they waited for whoever Glynda had called. Team RWBY were recovering in the infirmary.
"So, you doing alright Ice Queen?" Yang asked, sitting beside her teammate. Her bruises had healed already, the benefits of aura.
"I'm fine, you were the ones to get injured."
"You know what I mean Weiss"
"I know, that's why I changed the topic"
"Weiss-"
"How am I suppose to feel?! My brother goes missing and we find him like...like this! And he almost hurt us- almost killed us!"
"I know I know. It's all fucked up! I just...what can we do Weiss? Ruby is blaming herself for not being able to help" Yang rang with a concerned expression, hand on her shoulder.
"I...I don't know. I don't think there's anything that can be done. I'll live but...Whitley- what happened to him? What made him like this?"
"Maybe it's what Blake said, a semblance. I mean, I'd say a semblance that turns you part grimm is pretty far fetched but my sister can turn into rose petals."
That made Weiss snicker a tad, sighing softly as her head rested against Yang.
"Thank you...I'm just worried. What if they treat him like some kind of experiment? What if they can't help him?"
"I guess...all we can do is have faith. I mean- your sister trusts Ironwood right?"
"Yes...I suppose you're right. Winter always was-"
"Was what?"
The two looked over and Weiss's cheeks quickly flushed. She approached Winter quickly- neither were in a position to consider how they should act. The Schnee's hugged, a foreign concept.
"Winter- I...I'm so sorry I should of been there for him-"
"No- Weiss. I should of too. But you did find him."
Winter comforted her sister in a way, it reminded Yang of how she was with Ruby. It was more like she had to be a mother that went missing. She wondered if Winter had to do something similar.
"Do you think Ironwood can help him?"
"We can only hope. I have it on good authority he will do his best. After all. It is a family matter"
When he awoke he was contained. Glass on all sides- strong enough to contain him even if hunter were to take over. Around him was nothing but machinery and white padding around this room. A single metal door stood. If he had to guess- this was a military complex of some kind. It seems Ironwood did take him in. His suspicions were confirmed to be true as the man himself entered with a team of scientists.
"I see you're awake young Schnee."
Ironwood replied, in a concise cold manner.
"You're being contained for your own and others safety. I'm sure you can understand"
His weak body allowed him a nod.
"We're still working on your blood samples, but so far it's proven our hypothesis. You've awakened your semblance, your blood has trace amounts of aura. Whatever it is has made your right arm made of material completely identical to that of which grimm is made of- except...it does not dissipate."
He explained, Whitley was no moron- despite his exhaustion he managed to keep along with the logic.
"It's fake. But it's also real. It's real enough to fool other grimm, that's what's important. It's why no grimm was sighted near your location- your semblance managed to fake you being an alpha."
No doubt they'd want to research and replicate this. A presence that scared grimm off was valuable.
"Do not look so worried, young man. I am not going to keep you prisoner. You're still as much as a person as anything" He attempted to comfort. If he didn't sound so dedicated and cold it might of worked.
"But for now, you must comply with our tests and you will be brought back to a healthy weight. You're lucky young man"
A wheezy laugh escaped him, but it turned to a cough and nearly throwing up. He let out a growl
"Hungry..."
"I can imagine. You're severely malnourished and as such we expect to slowly get you back to normal eating patterns. Gentlemen, if you would."
A plate of food came under the flap of the door containing him. It was a tray with what seemed to be like a small portion of roasted beef. His teeth quickly sank into it- before he quickly spit it back out. He hurled up nothing as there was nothing to give, but threatened to do so at the taste. He shook his head.
"No...hungry...raw. Raw meat..."
He complained. The scientist looked to Ironwood with a confused and cautious stare- Ironwood simply nodded his head. Moments later a tray of raw beef was put under the door.
Within seconds he tore into it. If there were any bone left it'd be gone, Whitley licked his lips at the meal that had been gone in mere moments.
"No...blood."
"Is that a complaint? Do you need blood to..."
The Scientist was cut off as Whitley shook his head. Teeth bared.
"No...Blood tasty. No need. Only want"
His skin began to convert once again. Metal bars slammed down outside the glass- another protective measure on their behalf. Ironwood shook his head.
"Team RWBY explained how your encounter went. Our best guess is something with your semblance is out of control, rather than faking an alpha- you act like one too. We're hoping with proper training you'll learn to control it, young Whitley."
He snickered and laughed maniacally. Teeth bared against the glass as his eyes now looked to the general with lustful hunger. Not for sexual purposes- no. It was purely for the thrill of the hunt.
"No Whitley. Whitley weak! I am Hunter!"
The creature snickered.
Ironwood seemed shocked, he heard of the report but this was...beyond what he had imagined. The scientist with him looked equally as confused.
"Hunter, then. You are...Whitley's semblance?"
It shrugged in a oddly human like fashion, despite every cell of ironwood's body telling him this thing was NOT human.
"I am...stronger. I am hunter! His body weak! His mind weak!"
It complained as ironwood shook his head.
"Any time his eyes are not blue he is to be kept under double the supervision. When Whitley returns we will question him more. For now it doesn't seem like he'll grow hungry. And keep me updated on his blood samples!" Ironwood commanded, to which the nameless scientist simply nodded. Cowards, the lot of them.
Hunter began to chuckle to himself tapping the glass, fingernails grown to long points.
"Hehe...when can I see my dear sister again, mister ironwood?"
Something felt off. Like this thing using Whitley's voice was not simply using that- but the intelligence. It was learning. It was feeding off of the young boy to become a much more dangerous predator all together.
"It's a family matter, Mister irondick!"
And a rude one at that