A/N: Hello, and welcome to my last story of the year. It's not like I'm NOT going t post more, it's just, have you seen the backlog of stories I already have on here? I got to make some time for all of them. Lord knows, I've been more than a bit neglectful to some of them. (Scars in particular should already have been completed. It has, like, three chapters left.)

Anyways, welcome to another Fantasy Horror/Drama/Romance piece. Kind of like with The Castellan in that way. Though, this one will have more action up front that that one, seeing as it's kind of the RWBY equivalent of Ghost, the Patrick Swayze film (R.I.P. Legend.)(Yes, the man's been dead for decades now, but that was basically his last film and It's a good one, even with Whoopie Goldberg hamming it up in the best way.)

Anyway, Enjoy!

RWBY is owned by Viz Media and was created by the late Monty Oum

By Blood and Teeth

For as long as Mankind had existed, two races have ruled their world, the world of Remnant. Try though they might, using all the resources and technology their intellect and resilient determination could come up with, Mankind could not best their rivals, their overlords.

During the day, the world was dominated by creatures of teeth and claws, humanoid animals of the most violent dispositions. Creatures, who could hide what they were by appearing as humans, their only distinguishing trait that of Silver Eyes, until the Shattered Moon loom Full in the sky.

At night, Pale humanoids of Silvered hair and red eyes would descend on Human villages, slaughtering all who dwelled there as they fed, draining their victims dry. Only the Sun and certain silvered blades cold repel these phantoms.

Mankind's one saving grace was that their enemies, their rivals, cared more for fighting each other than the lowly humans that they shared the world with. Though, even where Humanity did prevail against the Beasts and Pale Ones, they so often fell to a more insidious threat from within. For Mankind's greatest threat would always be himself.

Still, when the two races did battle, the Beasts and the Pale Ones, human kingdoms fell...

/ /

The Kingdom of Arcadia was a vibrant, prospering kingdom of Humanity. One of the few which had weathered the many storms of Beasts and Blood, as the conflicts between the two were commonly called.

Sheltered in the shadows of five great mountains deep within the Emerald Forest, the kingdom proved to be unique among its peers. Not only did it have a thriving population and a strong military, it was also one of the few surviving kingdoms to have successfully fought off the Beastmen in open combat. The same could not be said for the far larger Kingdoms of Vale and Vacuo to the West, though. Kingdoms that Arcadia had since lost contact with some time ago.

A most disturbing development, especially as there had been rumors of Pale Riders seen in the mountains recently, scouting for a way through, while more rumors told of strange activity among the forests denizens, with the notably skittish Redback Deer and Arcadian Wolves seen migrating South, far outside of season, almost as if something was driving them out.

Still, though, the Kingdom's leaders and the populace overall wasn't concerned all that much. What was a few bloodsuckers and moon-called to their vast armies. Sure, a few of the outlying villages and townships might fall prey to the scourge before the armies could mobilize, but to the citizens of the Capitol those seemed like acceptable losses. After all, if those villages had wanted to survive, then they should've stayed closer to home, where the Authority could oversee them properly.

That those same villages and townships would argue differently, valuing the little freedoms that they had, meant nothing to the citizens of the Capitol. The Authority was the only way they could survive. Freedom, in whatever way it appeared, was meaningless before survival.

/ /

"Jaune!"

"Jaune Miles Arc, Where are you?!" A harried, feminine voice called from above as the lone blond-haired youth ignored it while they looked over their supplies once more. It wouldn't do to go all the way to Big Mouth Pond only to find that he had somehow misplaced his tackle box or something. The scolding from last time had been more than enough for him.

He smiled to himself in satisfaction as his mental checklist came up A-OK. He went to pick up the old-fashion fly rod and kit when a great big shadow loomed over him. He looked up in mild surprise to find his mother, Joan Arc, staring down at him, a flustered, frustrated look on her face.

Thinking quickly, Jaune gave her his most lovable, gape-toothed grin before saying, "Hi, Mom! What 'cha doin'?"

Joan blinked at her second child and only son in silence for a beat before sighing and rubbing at her face as she asked, "Jaune, what are you doing?"

"Goin' fishin'," the ten year old relied without missing a beat, still grinning at him mother.

Joan couldn't help the twerk of a smile that graced her face briefly at that. Her li'l pum'kin was pretty dang cute, all bias aside. The she frowned, remembering the reason for her concern in the first place as he eyes drifted up over the wood and stone wall of their village, Domremy, to see that the smoke from earlier was getting closer.

"Jaune, pum'kin, perhaps you should stay home today?" His mother cautioned.

the boy, too young to truly understand his mother's concern could only tilt his head quizzically at her as he said, "But why, though? Saphon s'already left to play kissy-face with that girl you don' like-Oops!" He placed both hands over his mouth as he said that, looking up at her with wide innocent eyes.

Joan grimaced at that. Saphron knew very well that her parents didn't approve of her relationship with the Cotta girl. Love was all well and good, but not when there were better prospects at home. And the Blackwood's family was more than willing to arrange something between the two of them, even if their son was twenty and Saphron fourteen.

Joan didn't quite like that, but times were tough, and she had two more mouths to feed now that she had given birth to twins, girls again. And, Carter, bless him, could provide enough as the local carpenter.Maybe Jaune should start apprenticing for a trade she mused to herself. He was old enough to.

As she thought that she looked down at her only son and felt what little drive she had melt away as he continued to look up at her with those wide, innocent blue eyes, that he clearly got from Carter, and asked, "Can I's go now, Mum?"

She sighed at that before taking his face and wiping away at whatever specks of dirt were there, that only she could see, before saying, "Aye, alright. Just be home before dark! And mind your sister!" She called as the boy instantly took off at her permission.

"I'll bes fine, Mom! An' Saph ca' look after 'erself!" Jaune called over his shoulder as he trotted along, totting his rod and tacklebox.

"Mind what I say, boy, afor I come afta' you! And, it's Saphron. Saph- ron!" She called back with a shake of her head and a smile on her face very reminiscent of her son's. Perhaps, they could afford to let Saphron have her dalliances with the Cotta girl. Terra did seem like the sensible sort, unlike her little Saphron Flower.

"Okay, mom!" Jaune returned distantly, no long paying attention as he thought of all the fish he'd soon be bringing back instead.

/ /

Here. Sit. Quietly.

The voice that was not a voice hissed and tore at her mind as it commanded her. The young wolven did as she was told, ignoring the pain that came with that bloodcurdling sound. How she hated it. Hated him.

Wait... Wait...

Her silver eyes gazed at the hulking brute before her as the pair watched and waited in the shadows as the small blond-haired human youth ran by the underbrush where they lied in wait with a happy giggle as he carried a too-large-for-his-frame tacklebox and rod. If only she had the opportunity she'd remove this living stain from existence. She could almost taste it, his rotting blood, as her claws lengthen and-

Hold. Your. Bloodlust. Rose.

The male next to her snarled silently even as he voiced the same along the mental link between their two packs while he gazed down at the innocent before them with open hunger in his eyes. His great maw opened then, spilling forth a wealth of stinking saliva as well as the odor of rotting meat as an almost inaudible whine of eagerness seemed to come from him. The human pause at that and turned to look at them, a frown on his face. It was almost as if he had felt their eyes on him, because it was impossible for one of his kind to hear them, as blind and deaf they were to the world around them.

She stirred then. A mere rising of her hackles as she readied herself for the sudden lunge downward. And the inevitable crunch of teeth through bone, the squirming of an already dying body. The last faint sigh of breath as the soul escaped.

She prayed to the Ancestors that whatever Spirit watched over this one would see him safely away from their position. Otherwise, she glanced as the brute next to her again and felt her lips curling silently in disgust at his almost aphrodisiacal elation of the coming violence. Otherwise, she'd have to kill him quickly, else Brutus here would make him suffer.

Finally, as two more of Brutus's packmates, each another hulking brute from the Blood Fangs, made their way towards them, the boy seemed to shrug to himself before turning back around and ran down took the small pond before them. She sighed with relief at that and the knowledge that she wouldn't be having to kill an innocent today, after all. Especially, not one around the same age as her pup, Ruby.

Though, she thought idly, in human years her daughter was already far older. She even looked the part, being similar to a human female of fourteen or fifteen. It would be another ten or so before she was considered old enough to leave the pack's side, her mother's side. Not even the upcoming war would prevent that.

She'd make certain of that as she rose to stand.

A Pity. That.

Only to flinch as Brutus spoke to her mind-to-mind again, the blackness of his thoughts and soul a sickening, oily sensation that tried to cling to her own mind. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and him from her mind as he turned towards and sneered as he projected. It is good to know that you of Rosewood Pack are as eager for the spilling of blood as we of the Blood Fangs. It almost make me hope that our Elders will agree to the mating between the two of us.

The evil brute then rose and crossed over to give her the slightest of nuzzles, causing her to shudder at his touch and the female packmate, only recognizable from her slighter size, to growl in displeasure. He chuckled deep in his throat at that. It sounded like gravel being ground to powder. A prospect. Of which, you seem to be just as eager for. Hahahaha!

With that last remark he laughed boisterously in her mind as he and the other male took off towards the meeting place with the female only slightly behind the pair. The female then pause glare at her before saying mind to mind, her voice like ice on glass, shrill and painful. Not if I have anything to say or do about it. Flask will never stand for the dishonor of having a weakling from the Rosewood Pack in the Blood Fangs!

Then she took took off after her packmates.

Summer let her go. She let them all go. But not before shuddering to herself at their mere presence. Then she snarled silently. If I have my way, Blood Fangs. You'll never leave this valley alive.

With one last glance towards the Human boy and a further prayer that the Spirits grant him their protection, she left, her supple, lithe form vanishing into the shadows beyond, never to be seen again.

/ /

It was getting pretty late into the afternoon as Jaune puled and tugged at the line, shouting out, "Oh, so you wanna make a fight of it, huh?! Well, too bad! You're going to be dinner whether you like it or not! HaaHH!"

He then proceeded to yank back mightily on the rod while reeling in on the line as the fish on the line fought for its life. Already, there was a set of five others on the ground by Jaune's tacklebox. Each the length of his arm and swollen with meat to boot.

"Haha! You'll never escape meee! And that's a promise! An Arc promise!" Jaune shouted gleefully, panting from exertion as he pulled and pulled on the line. He was having the time of his life.

He couldn't wait to show his folks just how much fish he had caught. It was going to be awesome!

/ /

It was a little known fact that the Kine, the Pale Ones, as they were called, could come out when it was light. Though, they preferred the dark, their eyes naturally adjusted to it, they could see just fine during the day. And, even though the light of Remnant's sun was deadly to all but the oldest and most powerful of the Kindred, they had their ways of avoiding it's rays.

The deep shadows of the Emerald Forest were one such method.

A Kindred could easily dart from shadow to shadow so long as they were quick, and the light filtered, weak, but that was uncouth, unbecoming of one of the grand race. They were not the Wolven or the Bearan or any of the countess other Slave races. They were not petty humans, only good for feeding on. No, they were the Kindred and as such they had found ways around the world most deadly natural disaster.

Which is how the young bloodkin found herself staring at the human child as he toyed with whatever was on the other end of that line, the normally reflective silver sheen of her Day armor hidden under the shadowy eaves of the nearby tree. She actually found it impressive how one so small was doing so well. Each of those fish he had caught was easily eight to ten pounds on average and at least two were upwards of twenty. How a child, a human child, had had the strength to not only reel those monsters in, let alone not become food for them himself was beyond her, but she was impressed, if mildly.

And, she had been watching him for an hour now. His stamina and endurance were incredible.

Should the boy grow into that of a man, he would make for a most impressive specimen. Possibly one worthy of Serving. She swallowed audibly as a flash of fantasy entered her mind then. The thought of some nameless, faceless male wrapping his arms around her and holding her to him as she writhed beneath him. The thought of what the sex could be like... delectable. The act of taking his blood would be... indescribable.

She jolted as a mailed hand gripped her shoulder and she turned to find Gilda, her shield sister and squad sergeant, standing there, looking unimpressed by the sight before her. Or, at least, that's what Weiss thought before the Kindred spoke, her red eyes giving away her superior rank in the Clans, "A pity that we don't have the time. That one's essence would be delectably sweet, I'm sure.'

The bloodkin flinched at that, taken back. She stared between her sergeant and the boy in confusion. No, in horror. "My Lady Goldstein, is that not against the Ordning?"

The Kindred merely shrugged in response before uttering, "Mayhaps, but the moment you taste such succulent meat and hear their cries, you'll become addicted to the flavor. The Gods alone are not worthy of such as this, I assure you, Love." She then turned shoved the Bloodkin up against the trunk of a nearby tree faster than she could blink and said as she rubbed a thumb along her lips, her jaw, "Besides, my sweet, it's not like you'll say anything to it, should an Officer ask, yes?"

Weiss shuddered involuntarily from the pleasure that touch induced in her, hating it and the woman responsible, before swallowing and shaking her head no. "Good," Gloria purred at her, her blood-filled eyes cruel. Then tilted her chin up so she might kiss the smaller, slighter woman before she withdrew from her, chuckling to herself.

With the inhuman quickness of her kind the Kindred then took off, back towards the main troop. Weiss watched her go in silence, still panting from the sudden passion force on her. She glared down at her fist then as it gripped tightly the hilt of her rapier.

"Still too fast for me," she uttered in disgusted, impotent rage.

With one last look towards the boy she turned and followed after her sergeant, her lover. Her foe.

/ /

"Oh, shoot!" Jaune whispered to himself as he looked up at the sky and saw how dark it was. He immediately began packing up the rest of his kit including shoving a thick rope through the open mouths and gills of the seven fish he had caught, all heavy, fat catfish. "Mom's going to kill me."

Then he ran, heading off for the village at a decent trot. One which would end of the ground without leaving him breathless. Only to immediately stop as he instinctively felt like someone was staring at him. It wasn't the first time that day that he had felt that way. First, it had been his mother, then he had felt it twice both times out in the woods. Once just as he reached the pond and the second time as he was fishing.

It was why he had originally stayed so long. Afraid to leave. Feeling, instinctively, that had he done so, he wouldn't be alive anymore.

He sowed his breathing before the thought of that could start to set in. Then, as calmly as he could, he began to look around. At first, he saw nothing in the looming gloom. Then, there! A pair of bright, glowing red eyes.

He inhaled sharply at that and stood there frozen, unable to think of what to do about that. He was too far away to scream for help from the local guard. He had a knife on his person, one long and sharp. He drew it and looked at it. It was indeed as sharp as the day his father had given it to him. But, he knew, that now, like that day his father had given it to him that it wasn't for protection.

He stared at the blade, and swallowed his terror before raising it up before him in a poor imitation of the stance his father had showed just as the owner of those red eyes rose out of the foliage to stalk towards him on two, towering legs. He swallowed as he looked at it. It was like a Arcadian Wolf, if those gracious beasts had been forcibly altered to walk on two legs. Its back, though straight, was hunched at the shoulders and its overly long arms in long, grasping hands. The kind that filled a child's nightmares. And, that mouth! The teeth seemed to long for it, curving, jutting outwards from it as steaming drool dripped down on the matted fur of it's barrel-like chest.

Jaune inhaled through his mouth before breathing out through his nose in attempt to hold his fear at bay, just like his dad had taught him. It didn't help. His knees were knocking, and, as the Werewolf suddenly let out a hearty chuckle, he felt it as a warm, wet sensation spread across the front of his pants.

It was to late to run now. The werewolf would catch him before he made it five feet. There was only one way out of this. He glanced at the blade in his hand once more, remembering what his father had told him, then, with a high pitched cry he charged at the wolf before his fear could paralyze him again.

His father had told him one thing, only the one, when he gifted him that dagger on his birthday last year. It was to be used as a final, last resort. In case, he had no hope of surviving, of making it. To end himself before he experienced pain and death the likes of which not even his nightmares had seen before.

But Jaune couldn't do that. He wasn't brave enough to. So, instead he ran at the wolf in a hopeless attempt of fighting it. He gave another high pitched battle-cry as he raised the dagger in hand while the werewolf merely chuckled as it drew a paw back to swipe at him.

Only to stop as two blurred forms then stabbed him, clinging to his great frame like some kind f linchpins. The Wolf's yelp of pain sounded more like a roar as he then began to thrash about even as the two armored figures did their best to hold on to him.

Jaune stopped his headlong charge at that, almost tripping over his own feet in doing so. He paused, gaping at his rescuers, trying to identify who they were from their armor. It was a strangely graceful design. A seemingly single series overlapping of silver plate, unadorned with any distinguishing emblems or symbols. To Jaune, that armor reminded him of the Elven armor from the stories Saph had read to him when she was younger, back before she fell for Terra.

His momentary relief at being saved by the armored figure chilled when one looked towards him briefly, and he saw the glowing red eyes within its helmet. He knew what that meant. Vampires! Bloodsuckers!

With a scream of alarm at that, he turned and fled as fast as he could down the narrow forest path back to his village. Somehow he had the cognitive presence of kind to pick up his abandoned fish as he did so, hollering all the way.

He had to warn the village guard, had to warn his dad. A werewolf was one thing. Vampires another. Both together meant only one thing. War! A War of the Immortals. And human villages burned in the wake of such things.

/ /

Weiss wasn't sure if she should be amused or insulted at the boy's antics. While he had the courage to stand up to the Wolf. He had immediately screamed and ran the sight of her and Gilda. Though, knowing Gilda's preferences now, that was most likely the correct thing to do.

Raaaahhh!

She tsked and grimaced as the Beast flailed about, knocking the pair of them about as he struggled. She had reacted without thinking when she saw the boy charge the wolf, knowing only that if that had been Winter or Willow she would've done the same. If only Weiss's thrust had been true.

Now, they would have work for their victory.

The were wolf finally flung them off. The pair instantly turned the throw into an elegant flip before touching down as one, and drew their backup weapons, Twinned, curved daggers, their silver blades gleaming in the moonlight. The wolf huffed and snarled a bit more before he got his animalistic nature under control again. Then, with a snarl of rage he ripped Gilda's rapier from where it had pierced his ribs and broke the blade in one hand before tossing it her way with another, wordless snarl.

The three circled each other then, keeping equal distance from each other. Already the wolf was panting, whether from the pain or exertion she couldn't be sure. Finally, he smiled at them, and Weiss had to repress the shudder at the sight of his teeth, as he growled out, "Well, this is a surprise. I thought we would have some time to play before you came."

"Tch, so like an animal to play with his food," Gilda responded, lowering herself into a crouch. Weiss prepared herself to back-up her leader.

The wolf merely chuckled at the insult. A deep, oddly melodious sound. Then he snarled, "How like you Bloods to throw your own inadequacies back at us. I can smell the same sickness in you that is in me." He all but hissed the last. Weiss glanced at Gilda to see what she would make of that, only to blanch at the look of rage that twisted her features into a hideous mask.

"You dare!" She shrieked, blood spraying from her mouth with rage. "You dare! I'll break your arms and legs before I kill you so that You can feel it as I skin you alive!"

Then she rushed at him with Weiss right behind her. The wolf merely chuckled again at that as he ripped Weiss's rapier from his shoulder and said, "Bring it, little Blood. I shall enjoy hearing your screams as I crush your bones between my teeth."

With a clashing of blade on blade the battle was joined.

/ /

Jaune cried out in relief as he saw the glow of the village from beyond the tree tops. He felt the grin spread out on his face at the sight. Yes! He had made it. Now, all he had to do was warn the village guard and everything would be alright.

His grin vanished s he rounded the next bend and saw the flames rising up beyond the broken gates.

"No," He breathed. "No, no, no, no..."

He started forwards, slowly, staggering towards the gates as if magnetically linked to them. Then he was running, running past the ripped open gates, past the bodies of guards and village splayed everywhere. Past the flames.

"Nonononononono!" He found himself screaming as he tore through burning avenues and fleeing villagers, dodging around the few guards still fighting and dying to buy those villagers time. Past the werewolves ripping men and women and child apart. Past the vampires that tore out throat and drank the blood of his neighbors as they dragged them into buildings never to be seen again. Past the carnage as Werewolves and vampire tore into each other, ripping and killing each other as much as the humans around them.

Past it all, to reach the big house on the hill. His home.

He staggered to his knees in exhaustion even as he looked on in horror as flames writhed around the outside of the building and found himself shouting shrilly, "Mom! Dad! Saph! Where are you!" He clambered back up to his feet and began to make his way towards the main doors just as the roof collapsed inwards under a shower of sparks and hellish smoke.

He stood there, frozen in horror and grief his house burned down before him and could only watch, too small and weak to do anything.

He stood there for who knows how long before Saphron found him. She clutch him tightly to her and wept as he stared off at nothing while Terra and an unknown man watched over them. Somehow, they got out of that village as it burned around them. Somehow they made it out of live.

But what was life in a world like this?

A/N: And That the end of the first chapter. Yeah, this one's starts off more than a bit dark. Jaune, Weiss, and the as yet unseen Ruby will return next chapter, in a time skip. For now, take care and I'll see you in the next one.

Essiter out! Bye!