Chapter 3: Grim Growth

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mael radec fanfic FF

You know it's a good idea but it's kind of boring. I don't love the idea of Raven having a different vision of the world but I think it would be better if you worked this with the adult Raven as something that changes her life to change or modify her ideals, for example, Summer leaving the care of Ruby to Raven and as she grows up taking care of Ruby, although at first it's hard for her to accept her role, little by little she becomes fond of Ruby and changes her way of being and is willing to fight against the world to protect what she loves. Oh boy my first review! Oh boy it's less than positive… nah I've had my fair share of both positive and negative feedback on DiA. Not to mention this is pretty reasonable if not dismissive feedback. Anywho, as for my response, well I do respectfully disagree. I mean obviously as the author I wouldn't find the idea boring, and while I can see the appeal of an adult Raven redemption arc, it's not quite exactly the story I want to tell. Raven's ideology was interesting but poorly explored in canon, and is pretty easy to pick apart IRL. That being said I wanted to explore what could make a person into this, with my own unique spin. I wanted to explore a darker part of the world and the way it clings to those exposed to it. Even if they are granted a favorable environment and given ample support they tend to return to the darkness that once terrified them. I wanted to explore Raven changing like most fics do with her, but not necessarily perfectly… I do like your idea too! Definitely something someone likely will (or considering the internet has) done themselves. I guess I'm the kinda guy to go against the grain in my stories? Maybe in time TSTC will win ya over? I don't know the answer to those questions, but thanks for your time anyway.

AN

Hey there! If things are well, I made it well within the set deadline! If not, then shame on me; luckily, we're early on, so hopefully, no one was waiting. Funny, the idea of no one reading this is more settling than someone reading on my hectic-ass update schedule.

Also, I apologize for the shorter chapters again, but it just feels right for my plan. The next chapter will be available on 10/5/24 EST.

It's weird being back at the beginning of a narrative versus DiA, where I'm fifty chapters and four hundred thousand words. I slowly feel like I'm finding my pace in this, however. Also, I know some readers detest child chapters (I would know I am some readers.), but fret not. This isn't the epic-length tale DiA is set to be. Two, the pace of this story will vary; we need to build up our main cast and my versions of the RWBY characters and verses. But we will not spend much time dealing with mini Raven. Trust the journey, my friends, trust.

Also random but fuck auto correct for constantly tryna change Luuki to Yuuki. BAD PC!

Anywho, let's get it, shall we?

Raven and Qrow spent the following months of their life "training." It was paramount that they became self-sufficient before the end of winter. And now it was clear this time was coming all too soon. The snow was thinning, and the blizzards went from often to rarely. Not this mattered to Raven or Qrow much with their current circumstances. This "training" covered various valuable and complex topics, often with hands-on experience and limited supervision. This "training" usually lasted every waking minute of their lives, often with surprise and uncomfortable wake-up calls and sudden and frequently unwilling ends that resulted in their consciousness willing to leave their tattered bodies.

Luuki had proven true to his word thus far though. As promised, he worked with them to make them worthy of entrance into the Woodsman Tribe. They learned to reliably catch a small game; Luuki had advised them to use snare traps. But had only offered them supplies, or the knowledge of how to create them. It had taken Qrow and her weeks to make a working snare, an even longer one that could hold writhing animals. In the end, it was Qrow who figured it out. Raven had no patience to twiddle with rope like him, but the two managed to catch prey with his guidance and trial and error.

They learned to gather burnable supplies, the rare edible snowberry, and even how to steal from the other dregs. The lesson had been decidedly simple; Luuki had kicked the two out of his shelter and threatened them not to return without some sort of fuel. It had taken them hours to find enough usable wood. And after they returned their meager findings, he had gleefully told them next time to use bark or standing dead trees. Knowledge that would've saved them hours and did in the future.

He had them gather every berry they could find in the forest. But would only accept their haul once they brought back an edible one. It had been hard to find any berries, and finding edible ones proved nearly impossible. Only Raven grabbed a newly seen one on the last trip that saved them, and only for Luuki to demand that they fetch more.

He even moved them in their sleep and left them sleeping among the tents of the other dregs. A note left with them made it clear they were to return with some sort of proper weapons. The two had been lucky to awake before the other dregs had, even more so for them to remain asleep as the two stumbled around their tents, robbing them of a dagger and club. Luuki had merely laughed at their choices and did so again the next night. Eventually, when Raven returned with a weathered shortsword and Qrow a tipless longsword, Luuki was happy with their findings. Claiming an edged weapon with some range was best for weaklings like them.

Throughout it all, Raven and Qrow knew to be prepared, armed, and watch his drinking… Luuki had professed after his first attack on them. He said that while he was a huntsman, he had never been a teacher. As such, he would teach them as he had been taught. Luuki had apparently been taught by being relentlessly beaten… Luuki since the first attack with no mercy. The two of them could barely react to him; his blows nearly knocked them out, and his reach and monstrous strength made him impossible to beat even with weapons.

All the same, Raven felt red-hot fury during these beatings. The only solace of her new life had been escaping from their father, but now a worse man had taken his place. The two quickly gave up on avoiding or winning the man over. They fought back as best as they could. Using weapons and their numbers to last mere seconds against Luuki. But on rare occasions, they would land a blow since his display of Luuki would be unhurt. But all the same, it would only increase the force and violence he used in that brawl.

Qrow, raging and sobbing in equal measure one night, asked the man why he refused to train and only abused them. Yuuki had laughed at them before engaging in more "training." He had lunged for a wild haymaker, and the two had been devastated plenty of times. But this time was different; Qrow managed to dodge somewhat and was only glanced at; he roared with shocking volume as he launched his own wild punch. Luuki stumbled back unhurt but staggered by the blow. But Raven was shocked as she found herself flying through the air, even more so as she watched her legs fly into Luuki's face. The powerful and thoughtless blow left Raven to crash into the ground, and Luuki was knocked flat on his ass. There was a stunned silence as Raven and Qrow realized they had not only reacted to his attack for once but even counter-attacked. Qrow ran angrily in front of Raven, putting himself between himself and his sister. Raven noticed such and was even more shocked about it. Luuki, as he had claimed, had made her stronger… she had somewhat defended herself from a huntsman… even Qrow, who had never been one to confront violence in the past, had stood firm and gave as he got…

In Raven's memory, Qrow had never been a bold person, but now he sneered openly at Luuki. Fearless and furiously, he spat at the man. "You said you'd train us, even warned us it'd be hard! But this isn't training at all! You've just been beating and running us ragged! All for your own personal amusement!"

"I won't lie and say I haven't enjoyed it. Shit Two." Luuki mocked him before dragging a deep puff of his dreaded smoke. The smell was horrific to Raven and quickly became something she dreaded about the man. "Hell, it's been nothing short of a delight. But, it's just as much for the two of you as it is for me."

"You sick, lying bastard!" Qrow spat.

"We may as well hear him out, brother," Raven interjected. "The creep may have a point."

"We can't trust him!"

"You can't afford not to~!" Luuki cheerfully added. "It's me or death~!"

"He's merely trying to goad us brother." Raven decided. "You're only giving him what he wants."

"He wants to torture us with cruel abuse disguised as training!" Qrow sniped back.

"Hey, that's just a plain old lie." Luuki countered with feigned offense. "I may be a "sick, lying bastard," but I value his own time deeply. As fun as it is, running the two of you ragged is of little value to me or you. However, I think your sister has noticed what you still need to. I kept my end of the bargain thus far…"

"We are stronger, Qrow." Raven agreed hesitantly. She despised Luuki perhaps even more than her father. But all the same, they had grown. "We can even feed and supply ourselves now. Likely defend ourselves."

"He beat us up and then called it training!" Qrow turned to her angrily. "Why the hell would you take his side?!"

"I'm thinking logically, unlike you, little brother." Raven retorted. "If you forgot, we have no choice! Man up!" Her anger spiked, and she shoved Qrow back. Could he not see she was looking out for them? But to her shock, Qrow did not back down against her ire as usual. But buck back, getting directly in her face and matching her glare.

"I knew she noticed." Luuki chimed in, breaking through their tension. "Like she said, she's thinking logically. You hate my training and claim it's nothing of the sort, yet you just managed to dodge my punch…"

"Anyone could you cripple!" Qrow insulted the man, much too angry to remember his fear of him. He likely remembered this when Luuki tripped his legs out from under him.

"Not just anyone…" Luuki joked as if he hadn't just swept Qrow's legs. "In fact, the two of you haven't these last few months. So slow and inexperienced were the two of you that you became walking, punching bags for a man like me. It's been like that for months! But now you dodged and hit me back like a man! Hell, your sister fucking dropkicked me in the face!"

Qrow seemed stunned by the realization, seemingly realizing just how different they had already become. Raven merely nodded; like Qrow, she hated Luuki. But this situation was their only choice, and it seemed to be working… with his help.

"The two of you have come far! And have just a bit further to go! In fact, this little bout made it clear to me. The two of you have passed survival training; now you need the skill any good Woodsman needs. The ability to kill and dominate!" Luuki reasoned. "So let's have our first advanced combat lesson… besides I wanna try out that kick you landed on you, Raven…" Luuki decided as he spat out his cigarette and attacked the two in earnest. Despite their growth, they were both roundly and roughly beaten.

If the months before had been grueling, these final couple of months proved backbreaking. Raven often lamented, not accepting the slow death of the cold. Qrow's hatred grew to outshine even hers; her brother would openly oppose the man at all points. And often tried to convince her to escape.

But Raven never bothered dignifying such with a response. Qrow was strong as she was, perhaps not as strong, but strong all the same. If he was, he'd realize the folly of escape. If they escaped, what would be left of them? They would find no home, had no family to go to, and would almost certainly live in squalor. They would be another pair of orphans in this cold world. They did occasionally appear in their old home. But it never seemed to last long in such a cheap and merciless environment. She would be damned if she fell to the same. Besides, a burning question inside her left her resolute about their current path.

They had lived well before; they made enough to live relatively well. But all the same, the potential happiness they could've had was ruined by their father. Life in the tribe was more similar; it was clear to Raven. It didn't matter where they went or who they were with. There would always be those who were strong, and they could take it all at their whim.

The only escape to it seemed evident to Raven. She and Qrow needed to be strong enough to live as they pleased. Strong enough to enjoy the life they had been forced into. Luuki was a despicable, conniving, and cruel man. But under his rough tutelage, the two continued to grow. They were stronger, faster, cunning, and ruthless. All things that Luuki drove into them. And in time, they wouldn't need the old bastard…

Qrow would see it her way in time, she was sure. All the same, the siblings moved forward, checking their traps, gathering supplies, and making sure to mask their tracks. So far the other dregs had not noticed their survival, but soon they would have to move from the cave. Luuki had made it clear at the end of winter they were to strike out as planned and search for allies. Which made his secret of still being alive all the more valuable. They would all die should his enemies within the Woodsman Tribe learn of such.

"I'm just saying we don't need to stick with the bastard. Winter is almost over; we know enough to rough it up on our way to another village." Qrow complained as he checked a tripped but empty snare trap; it seemed to have been triggered by something larger than their target and had been broken for it.

"You've been saying that for days now, brother," Raven replied, bored with this topic.

"And you've been stonewalling me all the while," Qrow sighed. "I get you to disagree with me, but I wish you'd explain."

"So you plan to use our new survival skills to make it to another village?" Raven asked with a resigned tone. She knew this conversation would not go well. But she also knew Qrow wouldn't let it go unless they discussed it. "Well, what's the chance that a village within walking distance wouldn't be a likely target of the Woodsman Tribe."

"Come on, don't bullshit me, Ray. We wouldn't stop at the first village anyway; we could travel around and find one nice and primarily far."

"What to say that wouldn't be attacked as well? Besides, what do we do? We're considered children by most, so they'll stick us in foster care, likely splitting us up. Even if we aren't, we would be orphans with no money, no education, and certainly no support." Raven countered.

"Come on now, that's a lame excuse! It would still be better than this! We might live longer!" Qrow complained.

"Well, maybe I don't wanna spend my entire life a helpless victim! This might be hell, brother, but we are becoming more here! Maybe I want a life where we're not the victims but the ones who are feared!" Raven snapped at Qrow.

"There's more to life than strength, Ray. Do you really think we'd be happy in a place like this?" Qrow gestured to the slightly snow-covered forest around them. There was visible trash and waste left over from the Tribe. Dead dregs were exposed to the snow, likely having either been killed or died during the harsh winter. The tribe sent giant plumes of smoke into the sky, partially blocking the sun.

"Were we happy when we had a roof, food, and family before?" Raven asked, glaring directly into Qrow's eyes. Her brothers moved from her own, conceding her point. "If you don't wanna stick with m-"

"Come on, Ray, you know I wouldn't, couldn't do that," Qrow said hesitantly. "We just need to get rid of Luuki. The bastard may be useful, but I have the gut feeling once we're done being his lackeys, he may just want to get rid of us…"

"Maybe…" Raven admitted. "But by the time he does, it will be too late. We'll have become the monsters he wanted."

Their argument was indeed not over, but at least it stalled. For now, the two traveled in silence. Each trap was tripped, but not with any prey captured. It was odd, as if the traps had lured and perturbed something else.

"What kind of dumb animal runs into multiple traps?" Raven complained as she retied the snare for their latest empty trap. "Surely a deer or hog would recognize the trick after a while."

"Maybe a particularly dumb bear?" Qrow wondered out loud. "Whatever it is keeps obliterating the traps, so it must be larger."

"Must be a bear, then," Raven concluded.

"Wait… no, they hibernate during winter. Or most, I think," Qrow continued. "So it can't be a bear… A large, dumb animal, seemingly prowling our turf."

"Almost sounds like a."

A bone-chilling and shockingly loud huff of air cut through their light conversation. Raven and Qrow both turned as they faced the new arrival. It almost seemed like a hog, but its dark fur and seemingly glowing orange eyes betrayed such. All along its body were plates that seemed to be made of bones. Even its face and snout were covered in the plates. It had massive tusks that were nearly as long as it. It breathed heavily as it stared the two of them down.

"That, that can't be…" Qrow said fearfully. "They're rare during the winter; I had thought it to be a sure thing they wouldn't come. Luuki said so."

"Luuki, as we knew, is a liar…" Raven said with mock calmness. She slowly drew her dingy old sword as Qrow did his. "A fucking grim, the big bad of the world. Just our rotten luck…"

The creature, seemingly deciding they were, in fact, human and therefore enemies, snorted in excitement. It started to kick its feet, seemingly sizing them up and picking its target.

"Raven, we need to run," Qrow suggested.

"If it's anything like the boars we've seen, we won't be able to escape," Raven said. "Our only option seems clear…"

Before anything else could be said, the boar charged forward. Raven flinched, as did Qrow, but it became clear it was aiming for Qrow. Her brother, shocked, attempted to backstep but stumbled back. His fall narrowed, sparing him as the boar suddenly became a bony ball that launched over her downed brother. Raven ran to him and helped him to his feet as the boar impacted straight through a snow bank.

"If it hits us, we're dead!" Qrow exclaimed.

"We need to find a way to stop its charge!" Raven screamed as it once again came in. The two of them split up and surrounded its two flanks. The grim screeched angrily as it once again had to choose a target. This time it chose Raven, who stood still as it drew close. Timing it with luck, she dived out of its way; once again, it flew past and, this time, struck a tree. The boar-like grim squealed again as it writhed within the tree. But it seemed to be stuck; Qrow rushed to it and stabbed into its side with a desperate thrust. It snorted in pain and thrashed wildly, managing to smack Qrow away with its tusk. The mighty grim sent Qrow flying with the blow, and he landed roughly on the ground. Seemingly stunned by the impact, Raven knew she needed to strike. With a crunch, the tree's trunk snapped, freeing the boar. Raven raced in to finish it, but her blade began to lodge in its tusk as it turned to face her.

"Shit!" Raven cried as she tried to force the blade through and into the grim. However, it merely grunted before slowly marching forward. Raven's meager strength proved no match for the grim as it slid her forward, the partially snowy ground allowing her no friction to stand with. She fell to her knees as the boar attempted to close in with its meal. But to Raven's joy, her blade kept it at bay; the creature didn't realize why, but with the blade tangled with the tusk, it couldn't draw closer. Her eyes darted to Qrow, who was slowly climbing up and walking over, obviously stunned and delirious by the impact. The grim squealed angrily at the problem, but Raven could feel her sword slowly bending. It wouldn't hold!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Three loud and powerful shots rang through the clearing. The first impact stopped the grim in its tracks. The second tore a sizable chunk from its head. And the third knocked it from its feet, freeing and saving Raven instantly. The beast flew from the impact and landed a distance away. Qrow collapsed next to her, hugging her tight. Raven could only stare on in shock. She had nearly died…

"Well, well, well. I didn't imagine a grim would be out and about like this, but suppose it's good I checked on you two." Luuki said as he refilled his revolver and marched over to the decaying body of the grim. He spat distastefully at the disintegrating pile as he walked over to the two of them. "Seems I saved you two little shits yet again aye?"

They offered no answer, and the man merely laughed. Raven and Qrow merely watched on following Luuki back to their cave. Neither spoke until they drew close, at which point Qrow whispered into her ear. "Maybe we do need to be strong…" His uncertain words sounded to her

The training became lighter in the final month. They were almost ready now that they were "toughened up," as Luuki said. More shocking to Raven was just how reasonable training had become. They fought Luuki as usual, but he didn't obliterate or beat them. Instead, he would lash out "gently" and actually bother for once to offer advice on what to do better. The man had even started to train them with their weapons. Primarily on how to use them and where to aim, but training all the same.

Qrow's hatred for Luuki had not changed, but Raven recognized Qrow as less hostile. Both of them had while the man was terrible; the grim attack had made it clear he did not intend for the two of them to die. Their father hadn't even offered, so they grew more agreeable towards the man.

However, neither was stupid enough to think Luuki was a friend, merely an ally motivated by their health for now. When Luuki left, the two spent days planning how to eventually overcome the huntsman. But try as they might, the two of them couldn't figure out a way to win.

Luuki was a former huntsman like their father. They were known for their superhuman strength and speed. Worse yet, the man was always armed with his baton and revolver. Even if they could somehow match him, he would need only one shot to kill them. And the man had made it clear—well, he had continuously lied about it long enough for it to be clear—that he had no intention of unlocking their Aura.

They would need the number to escape his wrath, the two decided. They would play along for now, but they would betray the man once they had their allies. Raven from their figured they could simply join the clan. But Qrow seemed firmly against such. But Raven was confident Qrow would see reason soon enough.

Today was the odd rest day. They usually had these whenever Luuki got too drunk to teach or even walk. On those days, the two of them would simply pass the time hunting or scavenging. But for once, the two had decided to lounge around for the day. They had more than enough food, water, and supplies for the next few days.

"Hey Ray… I know it's stupid to ask, even more so to even think it. But, do you ever think back and miss our old lives." Qrow spoke as he worked on cleaning his old blade. "Our father and mother were bastards, but in a weird way."

"No," Raven answered immediately. "That life was meaningless and haunted by our father. I feel nothing for it or our parents. They made us weak, they abused us, then they proved weaker than we ever could be!"

Qrow silently worked for a moment. Raven could tell he didn't fully agree with her; whenever he did in their arguments, he'd get quiet. "We might be strong, but we're struggling to stay alive. And now we're caught up in this shit. Just I don't know, tired. Tired of hunting and fighting and the constant mind games."

"I am too, brother," Raven assured. "One day, we'll pay back Luuki and the Woodsman Tribe for our treatment. But our survival is hinged on Luuki and the tribe for now. I don't want to die, do you."

"Of course not, but I'd rather not spend the rest of my life working under bandits," Qrow concluded.

"Then we'll grow strong enough for not even the tribe to stand in our way. Strong enough to free ourselves from Luuki and maybe…" Raven started but stopped. "I'm not sure yet. But we can't die; for now, we gotta tough it out."

"I guess…"

"So my instincts were right, I didn't figure kids like you, but I suppose beggars can't be choosers." A voice suddenly echoed into their cave. Raven and Qrow both scrambled to their feet and raised their weapons defensively. "Hmm, tough, looking young people with weapons… dregs of the tribe, are we?"

"Who the hell are you?!" Raven barked defensively. "Are you from the tribe?"

"Unfortunately, so, " the man concluded as he walked in. He was older than them, but it couldn't have been by much. He was a dark-skinned man with long, dreaded black hair, a pleasantly smiling face, and furs of various creatures. "I am a fellow dreg friend."

"Answer her question." Qrow snapped at the man as he drew closer to strike if needed.

"Woah there!" The man said as he suddenly hefted a single-hand crossbow directly towards Qrow. Both froze, realizing the man was armed with a range weapon. While not a gun, neither of them would be quick enough to dodge a bolt at close range. "Didn't come here looking for trouble. Just wanted to ask about sharing the lodging with you all."

"Not an option there, stranger." Luuki's confident voice chimed in as the man arrived behind the other man. "Fraid, we can't spare the room, nor can we have you know we're here."

"Well, you've done a poor job of that." The man assured. "Plenty of people noticed the smoke from the fires you all have been using. I assume the people inside the camp assume it's some dregs, and the dregs think it must be the main camp. It's pure luck that's kept you from being discovered thus far."

"Must be more of the same luck that allowed you, a dreg supposedly, to be so well supplied. Your story makes no sense…" Luuki said angrily; in an instant, he whipped out his revolver and levied it at the man, who managed to turn and aim his own weapon at the same time.

"It makes perfect sense if you have the full details." The said with a shrug. "Besides, I don't think you wanna kill me. One, I have a solution to keep the smoke from giving you away anymore. Two, I have a business proposal that fellow survivors like yourselves may be interested in."

"Counterpoint, I beat the piss out of ya shitty self till you give me that info anyways!" Luuki snapped.

"Not the best idea on your part. I can tell these two little dudes aren't keen on you. They'll likely side with the victor if you start a fight with me." The man assured kindly. As if Luuki had not just threatened to torture him.

"Which would be me! No one has spunk like me!" Luuki snapped, done with the fearless man in front of him.

"Nope, not you, Luuki Ragar, former leader of the Woodsman Tribe." The man said cockily, walking directly in his face. "See, I have a friend within the tribe, and I happen not to notify him personally of my safety. Within the next few days, he'll leak this location. The main camp will send warriors to pillage and kill this camp. And they'll discover their hated former leader…"

"You bluff." Luuki accused.

"One way to find out. Or we can be allies and work together; if you are raising these two, you surely need bodies for your attempted coop."

"Who the hell are you, and how do you know all of this?" Luuki asked looking somewhat perturbed by the man in front of him.

"Because I've been tracking, stealing, and generally being a nuisance to the Woodsman Tribe for months. My name is Robin Vennetta, and I intend to kill James Woodsman, leader of the Woodsman Tribe." Robin answered easily.

"Ha! So we have the same goal. But, preposition or not, I have no need for another weakling. Even a well-armed one would be a burden…" Luuki trailed off purposely.

"I'm not a huntsman like yourself, but I can handle myself in a fight, know the clan well, and have some plans you could use. Lump in the valuable info and supplies I'd offer. Well, you'd be foolish not to." Robin concluded with a shrug.

"A manipulative little shit you are. I approve! Welcome to the Ragar Tribe Rebellion!" Luuki cried happily, sheathing his revolver. "Remember whose in charge here…" He left as a cryptic threat as he sat back. "Now tell me everything…"

AN

And done. The next chapter may be a time skip; if not, then the one after. As I said, we won't be stagnant for long in TSTC, though this chapter is a bit of a transitional one—but an important one all the same.

Also, as a warning, since so few of the Brawen Tribe in canon are named or explored, and their history as a whole is kind of a mystery, I will be taking liberties with such, as well as using OCs where I don't have a canon character to fill the role. Sorry if this upsets you, but fair warning.

Thanks for reading, feel free to support or give feedback. And Peace~!