Velvet Crowe stirred, her amber eyes snapping open. She inhaled sharply, the air sharp and filled with unfamiliar scents. The warmth of her previous imprisonment—the endless abyss within Innominat—was replaced by a cool breeze that rustled leaves overhead. She sat up, her raven-black hair spilling around her like ink, and surveyed her surroundings. Trees stretched skyward, their emerald leaves glimmering in soft sunlight. The forest was alive with sounds—birds chirping, leaves rustling, and the distant roar of some unknown beast.

Her first instinct was to clutch her arm, feeling the rough texture of the bandages that wrapped her daemon arm. The latent power within it still pulsed faintly, but it seemed... muted, as though the centuries of slumber had drained her.

"Where am I?" she muttered. She stood slowly, testing her strength. Her legs felt steady.

Velvet stepped forward into this alien world, her boots crunching against the underbrush. The forest seemed unending, and its tranquility unsettled her. There was no sign of Innominat's light, no sign of her companions. She was alone in this strange place. But that solitude was fleeting. Soon, she felt it—a prickling sensation down her spine. Her daemon arm throbbed beneath the bandages, reacting to something nearby. Velvet froze, scanning her surroundings. From the shadows emerged creatures with black, sinewy bodies and bone-like masks that gleamed in the dappled sunlight. Their red eyes glowed with malevolence as they advanced toward her, a low growl emanating from their throats.

"What are you?" Velvet demanded sharply. The creatures didn't answer; they lunged.

Velvet's bandaged hand tore free, revealing her grotesque claw. With a practiced motion, she leapt forward, slashing at the nearest beast. Her daemon arm cleaved through its mask, and it dissolved into wisps of black smoke. But for every one she defeated, two more appeared.

"These things… they're drawn to my arm?" she mused aloud.

Suddenly, a flash of red darted into the fray. A young girl, wielding a massive scythe, charged at the creatures with astonishing speed and agility. Her silver eyes glinted as she dispatched the monsters with elegant, sweeping strikes.

"Need a hand?" the girl asked, her cheerful tone contrasting sharply with the grim situation.

Velvet regarded her warily. "I don't need help," she replied curtly, though she couldn't deny the relief she felt at the sudden reinforcement.

The girl grinned. "Well, you've got it anyway. I'm Ruby Rose, by the way."

Velvet didn't respond, instead focusing on the creatures. Together, they whittled down the horde, their contrasting fighting styles—Velvet's feral aggression and Ruby's precise strikes—creating an effective partnership. As the last of the creatures fell, a voice called out. "Ruby! What are you doing running off—" A young woman with pristine white hair and an elegant rapier emerged from the trees. Her icy blue eyes landed on Velvet, narrowing with suspicion. "Who is she?"

Ruby shrugged, wiping some sweat from her brow. "Not sure. She was fighting the Grimm when I got here."

"Grimm?" Velvet echoed, looking at the dissipating black smoke where the creatures had once stood. "So that's what they're called."

Weiss stepped forward, her gaze locked onto Velvet's daemon arm. "What's with the arm? Are you a Faunus?"

Velvet frowned, the unfamiliar term catching her off guard. "What the hell is a Faunus?" she asked bluntly.

Ruby tilted her head. "You… don't know what a Faunus is? They're, uh, people with animal traits."

Velvet's scowl deepened as she processed the information. "I'm no Faunus. This arm—" She flexed her daemon claw, watching Weiss instinctively tighten her grip on her rapier. "—is the mark of a daemon."

Weiss exchanged a wary glance with Ruby. "Daemon? I've never heard of that. How do we know you're not dangerous?"

Velvet let out a dry laugh. "If I wanted to hurt you, you'd already be dead."

"Okay, okay!" Ruby interjected, stepping between them. "No need to fight. Weiss, she helped me with the Grimm. And, uh, you don't look like a bad person to me," she added, glancing at Velvet.

Weiss crossed her arms. "Helping once doesn't prove anything."

Velvet turned, surveying the forest. "I don't have time for your squabbles. I need answers. Where am I, and why did I wake up in this place?"

Ruby hesitated, sensing the weight behind Velvet's question. "You're in Remnant, specifically the Emerald Forest. But… wake up? Are you saying you've been asleep?"

Velvet nodded. "For centuries. The last thing I remember was... defeating Innominat." Her expression darkened. "And now I'm here, in this strange world with creatures drawn to me."

"Drawn to you?" Weiss asked sharply. "The Grimm are attracted to negative emotions, but if they're coming after you specifically—"

"Save your theories," Velvet snapped. "If these 'Grimm' want a fight, they'll get one. I just need to figure out what I'm supposed to do here."

Ruby exchanged a glance with Weiss, her curiosity clearly piqued. "Well, we're kinda on a mission ourselves. If you want, you could come with us? Maybe someone at Beacon can help you."

Weiss looked appalled. "Ruby, you can't just invite someone—especially not someone like her!"

Velvet smirked. "Relax, princess. I'll make my own decisions."

Ruby grinned sheepishly. "Okay, no pressure. But if you need a hand, we're around."

Velvet turned, her amber eyes fixed on the horizon. "I'll keep that in mind. But for now, stay out of my way." She stalked off into the forest, her bandaged arm trailing at her side.

Ruby watched her go, a mix of admiration and concern on her face. "She's kinda cool."

Weiss huffed. "She's reckless and dangerous. We should report her to Ozpin."

"Maybe," Ruby murmured. "But I think she's just lost."

She watched as Velvet disappeared deeper into the forest.

It's just an idea lol.