Chapter 15, The Beast Beyond Appearance

The full moon glistened over the forest clearing below, casting a cold, silvery light on the old abandoned house standing tattered and in ruins at the far edge of town. An eerie, thick gray mist swept through the clearing, curling around the tall grass and piles of debris. The howling wind echoed through the rustling, leafless trees, their branches crackling and creaking as if whispering secrets to the night.

Pyrrha and Qrow crouched at the forest's edge, staring into the clearing. Their eyes locked on the crumbling house ahead.

It looked untouched, abandoned for so long that even time itself seemed to have forgotten it. How long it had stood there, no one could say.

Qrow shook his head, his expression grim.

"I've got a bad feeling about this, Red," he muttered.

Pyrrha knelt, her sharp eyes scanning the ground. She spotted large, unmistakable footprints leading toward the house. The Beast had been here—there was no doubt.

"It's here," she said firmly.

She turned to Qrow, her gaze steady.

"The tracks lead to the house. It must be inside," she insisted.

When she stood to move, Qrow's hand landed firmly on her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks.

"Wait," he said, his voice low but urgent. "We can't just walk up there. That thing could be watching us, waiting for the right moment. We need to be smart about this."

Pyrrha glanced back toward the clearing, her jaw tightening. As much as she hated to admit it, he was right. Wandering blindly into the Beast's territory would be suicide. She nodded reluctantly.

"Right," she said.

Milo and Akouo flew into her hands with a flick of her semblance. She glanced at Qrow, a sly smirk tugging at her lips.

"That's my girl," Qrow said with a faint smile.

"So, what's the plan?" Pyrrha asked.

Qrow stepped forward, pulling Harbinger from his back. He scanned the clearing, the mist curling around him.

"Stick close," he said. "We'll use the debris for cover. Stay tight, stay quiet."

"Got it," Pyrrha replied.

They crept into the clearing, the forest edge vanishing behind them. Pyrrha stayed close to Qrow, her rifle form of Milo ready as her eyes darted through the swirling fog. Qrow kept Harbinger in shotgun mode, his stance tense and prepared for action.

"See anything?" Pyrrha whispered.

"Nothing," Qrow replied, shaking his head. "Stay sharp. It could be anywhere."

Suddenly, his foot hit something. He froze, looking down to see the mangled remains of a Grimm soldier. Its body lay rotting, mauled beyond recognition. The stench of decay was overpowering.

"Damn it," Qrow muttered under his breath, his unease growing.

A low growl rumbled from the house. Pyrrha and Qrow dove behind a broken pile of debris, their weapons raised. From within the shack came the sounds of chaos—things being smashed and thrown, accompanied by the furious howls of the Beast.

"What the hell's going on in there?" Qrow muttered.

Pyrrha shifted slightly, her eyes catching a glint of something on the ground beside her. A trail of reddish-purple liquid stained the earth, leading toward the house. She leaned closer, narrowing her eyes.

"I think it's wounded," she said.

Qrow moved beside her, his expression hard as he studied the strange liquid. He frowned.

"This... looks like Grimm blood," he said. "But it's different."

"Different, how?" Pyrrha asked.

"It's thicker, darker," Qrow murmured. "I don't know what this thing is, but it's not like any Grimm I've seen."

Pyrrha's gaze returned to the house. Whatever the Beast was, she needed to see it for herself. Without waiting, she crept forward, ignoring Qrow's whispered protests.

The two reached the steps of the house. Pyrrha paused, her eyes catching a golden plaque on a square pillar near the door. Its engraved letters read:

Dr. Sorren Paulivic.

A chill ran down her spine. Whoever this doctor had been, this house must have been a place of healing. Now, it was little more than a lair for the creature they hunted.

"It's too quiet," Qrow said, breaking the silence.

"You think it knows we're here?" Pyrrha asked.

Qrow crept up the steps, peering through the cracked doorway into the darkness. Pyrrha followed closely, her fingers tightening on her weapon. Only a sliver of light from the doorway illuminated the inside, revealing vague shapes strewn across the floor.

"See anything?" Pyrrha asked softly.

"No. It's too dark," Qrow replied. He glanced back at her. "We'll have to go in."

Pyrrha smirked faintly, readying herself.

"I'm ready," she said.

"That's what worries me," Qrow muttered.

They exchanged a glance, both uneasy about what awaited them inside. Pyrrha took a deep breath, her resolve hardening.

"Here we go," Qrow said.

He pushed the door open, the creak echoing ominously, and stepped inside. Pyrrha followed, disappearing into the darkness.

The light from Qrow's scroll cut through the oppressive darkness, revealing a room in utter disarray. Beakers, books, loose pages, and shattered bottles littered the floor, while deep claw marks scored the walls, evidence of the Beast's presence. Pyrrha and Qrow stepped inside cautiously, their weapons ready, their gazes darting across the wreckage.

Pyrrha knelt and picked up a small white bottle from the floor. She turned it over to reveal a faded label: Levoparin. A standard medicine for common illnesses.

"Look at this," she said softly. "Levoparin." She glanced around the room. "I was right—this was a place of medicine."

Qrow's light hovered over the claw marks on the wall. His face hardened.

"Yeah... was," he said grimly.

Pyrrha continued to examine the debris. Her fingers brushed over scattered notes, shards of glass, and more bottles. Then, she noticed a fallen picture frame. Picking it up, she wiped away the dust to reveal a photograph inside. It showed a dark-skinned man wearing a white lab coat over a sweater and gray pants, standing proudly in front of the house. Beside him was the pillar bearing the plaque they had seen earlier. On his head were a pair of wolf ears, and a tail curled behind him.

Pyrrha squinted, bringing the frame closer. Dr. Sorren Paulivic. And he was a Faunus.

Before she could process further, a faint sound broke the silence. Her head snapped toward the adjoining room, where moonlight spilled through a gaping hole in the ceiling. She glanced at Qrow, who motioned for her to move forward.

They crept toward the entrance, taking positions on either side of the doorway. Qrow peered around the corner, his expression tightening as he took in the scene.

The small lab was in ruins, much like the rest of the house. Broken equipment, shattered glass, and crumpled papers covered the floor. Debris from the damaged ceiling lay scattered about. Yet, there was no sign of the Beast.

Pyrrha joined him, her eyes drawn upward to the ceiling's jagged opening. That had to be how the creature entered. She scanned the room. Where was it hiding?

A soft clink beneath her foot made her freeze. She glanced down, noticing glass beakers rolling across the floor. She held her breath, her body tensing. Qrow turned his head sharply, signaling her to stop. The two stood still, listening intently.

Silence. Only the faint sound of the wind outside reached their ears.

Pyrrha exhaled slightly, allowing a sliver of relief to wash over her.

Then, a low, guttural growl shattered the quiet.

Her breath caught in her throat as her head snapped toward the sound. From the shadows at the far end of the room, a hulking figure emerged.

Qrow's hand gripped her shoulder, pulling her quickly behind a fallen bookshelf that leaned precariously over a broken machine. They ducked, holding their breaths as heavy footsteps thudded closer, accompanied by deep snarls and the scrape of claws against the floor.

Peering through a narrow gap, Pyrrha saw the Beast for the first time.

Bathed in the moonlight, its massive form stood revealed. It towered over the room, hunched on powerful hind legs covered in thick black fur. Its long, muscular arms hung past its knees, fingers tipped with sharp claws that nearly grazed the floor. Purple veins pulsed beneath its fur, glowing faintly. Along its hunched back, its spine jutted grotesquely through its skin.

The Beast's head was a horrifying fusion of man and wolf. Its elongated snout revealed sharp fangs that protruded from the corners of its twisted jaw. Its breaths were ragged and shallow, each exhalation a desperate rasp.

Pyrrha cupped her hands over her mouth, her wide eyes betraying her shock and terror. Beside her, Qrow narrowed his eyes in a mix of disgust and bewilderment.

"Goddamn," he whispered. "What the hell is that thing?"

It defied reason—a grotesque amalgamation of Grimm, animal, and man, yet belonging fully to none.

The Beast staggered slightly, placing a clawed hand on the counter's edge for support. Its chest heaved as it panted heavily, a deep, guttural growl rumbling from its throat. It coughed violently, splattering more of its glowing purple blood onto the floor. Then, with a strained whimper, it collapsed to its knees, clutching its chest.

The creature's breaths came in short, frantic bursts, its growls tinged with pain. Whatever it was, it was suffering.

Pyrrha's heart pounded as she watched the scene unfold. Whatever the Beast's origins, one thing was clear: it wasn't just a monster. Something deeper—something more tragic—lay beneath its horrifying exterior.

Pyrrha squinted curiously from behind the bookshelf. The creature's labored breathing, the way it clutched its chest—something wasn't right.

"Something's wrong," she whispered. "I think it's in pain."

Qrow, crouched beside her, gave a small shake of his head. Whether the Beast was in pain or not didn't matter. What mattered was that they were dangerously exposed. A creature like this, with a wolf's keen sense of smell, would find them soon enough. His grip on her shoulder tightened.

"We need to get out of here," he said firmly. "Before it catches us."

Qrow shifted his weight, but the floorboard beneath him let out a creak. Both froze, their eyes darting to the Beast. Its ears twitched at the sound, and it raised its head, sniffing the air. Slowly, it turned toward the fallen bookshelf.

Pyrrha's breath hitched. "I think it knows," she whispered.

Before either could react, the bookshelf was wrenched aside with a powerful swipe. Pyrrha and Qrow scrambled back as the Beast loomed over them, its shadow stretching across the room. It growled low, baring its jagged teeth.

Qrow was the first to move. He stood and leveled Harbinger at the creature. "Red, run!" he barked.

"Qrow, wait—" Pyrrha started, but it was too late.

The Beast lashed out, striking Qrow and sending him crashing into a nearby machine. Pyrrha rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the follow-up swipe. She turned to see the Beast stalking toward Qrow, who struggled to his knees.

"Qrow, watch out!" she shouted.

Qrow rolled aside just as the Beast lunged, its claws raking the air where he'd been moments before. It snarled in frustration, but before it could strike again, Pyrrha intervened. She leapt in front of Qrow, raising her shield just in time to block the Beast's powerful blow. The force drove her to her knees, her arms trembling as she held firm.

"Hold on, Red!" Qrow called out.

He sprang forward, slashing at the Beast with Harbinger. The creature roared in pain, staggering back under the assault. But it wasn't finished. With a furious growl, it caught the blade mid-swing and hurled Qrow across the room. He collided with the wall and slumped to the ground.

"Qrow!" Pyrrha cried.

The Beast loomed over him, reaching down with a clawed hand. But before it could strike, Pyrrha fired several shots from her rifle. The bullets struck its back, causing it to snarl and turn toward her. It charged, smashing through debris and equipment in its path. Pyrrha dodged nimbly, rolling to safety and holstering her weapon.

She turned to face the Beast, raising her hands in a gesture of peace. "Please," she said softly, her voice steady. "We don't mean you any harm."

The Beast paused, its growl deepening. Its yellow eyes bore into hers, filled with a mixture of rage and pain. Pyrrha heard Akara's voice echo in her mind:

"Heed what you learned, Pyrrha. Remember the Pack."

The Pack. She recalled the Sabreines in the valley and how submission had pacified them. Perhaps this creature could be reached the same way. Slowly, Pyrrha knelt before the Beast, lowering her head in a gesture of respect.

From behind, Qrow groaned as he rose to his feet. Seeing Pyrrha kneeling before the creature, he called out, "Red, what are you doing?" His instincts screamed danger, and he moved to intervene.

"Qrow, no!" Pyrrha cried.

But her warning came too late. Qrow leapt at the Beast, swinging Harbinger in its scythe form. The blade struck true, carving a deep gash across the creature's chest. The Beast howled in pain, staggering back and crashing into a pillar. The impact brought part of the roof down, burying the creature under a cloud of debris.

As the dust settled, Qrow advanced again, raising his weapon for a final strike. But he found his scythe frozen in place. He turned to see Pyrrha, her semblance holding the blade back.

"Red, what the hell are you doing?" he demanded.

"Listen," she said urgently.

A guttural sound rose from beneath the rubble. "Hhhheee... llpppp..." The word was faint, but unmistakable.

Qrow's eyes widened. "Did that thing just speak?"

Pyrrha nodded, her face a mix of awe and determination. She approached the Beast cautiously, its glowing eyes locked on her.

"Do you understand me?" she asked softly.

The Beast groaned, its voice strained but clear. "Y-y-yes..."

Without hesitation, Pyrrha began clearing the debris. "Help me, Qrow," she said.

"What?" he barked. "Are you insane?"

"Trust me," Pyrrha insisted, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Reluctantly, Qrow joined her, and together they freed the creature. It stood slowly, towering over them, its chest heaving from exhaustion. Qrow gripped his weapon, ready to strike if it showed any aggression.

But the Beast didn't attack. Instead, it placed a clawed hand over its wound and looked at Pyrrha. Its gaze softened, and it growled two words.

"Th-thank... you."

Pyrrha smiled and stepped forward. "You're welcome."

Qrow stood frozen, his grip loosening on Harbinger. Whatever this creature was, it wasn't just a monster. And Pyrrha, against all odds, had reached it.