Ch:2 - "Protect Thee."

"For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all. Infinite in distance and unbound by death, I release your soul, and by my shoulder, protect thee."

Chapter Start:

"Where are the little buggers anyway" For some reason I had a sense of foreboding...

"Well Ruby and Yang went outside to play." Tai said nonchalantly. Qrow thought for a while and finally said.

"Well Tai mind getting something that has their scent? maybe something recent?" Qrow asked something weird in a casual manner.

"Qrow... what the hell are you planning." I am legitimately not kidding right now, Tai has this strange dark aura around him and shadows are covering his face, strange red eyes are glaring at Qrow now.

"Calm down... jeez, I was thinking of letting Gwyn find them. you know tiger faunus and all." came the calm reply of Qrow, as if an angry overprotective father isn't scary.

"... I've done laundry just a bit ago and their sheets included. I'm not really sure if there is anything else."

"Gwyn, think you can just pick up on the lingering scent inside their rooms or something?" Qrow asked.

"Well it wouldn't be impossible but it would be faint and not as accurate so if i do track them I might follow older trails." which is true, I'm not so proficient in smelling tracks and all. nor is my nose as strong as that of a tiger. I'm more proud of my hearing and eyes.

"We can just hang out and wait for the girls to come back. nothing bad would come of it." oh god, this man just jinxed it.

"meh, got any good whiskey left?" It is obvious who said this.

I followed and sat on the living room sofa. I saw pictures of Tai,Qrow,Summer,Ruby,Yang. strangely enough not Raven. in some pictures it isn't all of them. there is even solo pictures. one is something I'd like to believe is photo shop. Ruby with stuffed cheeks and stars in her eyes.

suddenly Tai spoke up, "those two are my daughters. the blonde one is Yang, she is confident and hard headed, strong willed and all. you'd like her, she is already starting to learn some moves but not asking me for help. the one with black red hair is Ruby, she is timid at times but sometimes is so confident it is hard to believe she can be so meek. be careful though it seems like she is always on a sugar rush at times and might annoy you." He said softly with a smile looking at the pictures. my eyes flickered towards a picture of summer but chose to keep quiet. we sat there Tai and Qrow drinking and telling stories, Qrow telling some about me which got me semi involved. while I snacked on some greens with a bottle of koka-kola (xD)

Eventually I stood up and stretched out, some joints popping in a satisfying manner. "I'm gonna do some training maybe familiarise myself with the nearby woods." Tai didn't answer but Qrow nodded at him. "Break a leg kid, might as well try and find Yang and Ruby, try not to spook them too much." I rolled my eyes and just walked out. "and hey kid I know my nieces are cute but don't try and make a move on em." I felt a strange energy and hurried out not even bothering answering.

coming to the back of the house I can see a dirt trail. 'so they frequently travel into the woods huh'

I followed it a bit and came across a river a bit off the path, I went towards the river and shed my top which is a white muscle shirt. now I am just wearing sneakers and black joggers. I went into my stance for Crushing Fang.

I lowered my waist and planted my feet apart but firm into the ground. tucked my arms to the side. And punched. a faint blast of air emanating from each punch, I did this in a firm manner taking my time. Eventually I reached 200 punches and stopped. it is quite tiring punching with your all for 200 times nonetheless, thankfully I am not so tired as to collapse but I am tired enough to feel sluggish.

I leaned towards the running water and splashed my face and hair wet. I stood back up and took the time to examine the fruits of my effort for half a year.

looking down I see my fit body that already has quite defined pecs and abs although not so visible as to be easily seen it is there and it is growing. my deltoid, aka, muscle in the shoulder connecting to my back. is quite solid as is my growing biceps and triceps. I find the notion of me being a faunus having denser muscles quite OP for early game now. so now if you look at me it is obvious I work out. But not having muscles too defined. yet.

Looking towards the sky it seems I have been training for a while. I follow the trail further into the wounds and came across stepped on grass on an old trail. this one leads further into the wounds and the other leads to a nice little hill for picnics. following the old but recently used again trail I started picking up scents. one is kinda sweet, almost like a cookie. the other is a more... hmm, peculiar but not necessarily bad smell, it actually smells quite nice. And has traces of strawberries.

realising this is the scent of the two protagonists and realizing that Qrow hasn't found them yet since their scent over here is quite faded. I shrug it off. Qrow will save them. I might as well make a nice impression nonetheless right?

/POV Change/

I've been walking this old trail for a while now, so long infact that Ruby has fallen asleep in the wagon I brought. how long has it been? An hour? maybe 2 or 3. we left at around 2 so it is now even hotter. I am starting to get tired of this. why did I even go here in the first place? No it is because I found out Summer isn't my real mom. I always thought I got my looks from Dad and Ruby took after Mom, but My real mom left us. And i found an old picture of dad and uncle Qrow as well as mom summer, and one other woman I don't know in an old cottage. I remember this cottage it is somewhere in the woods. so I ventured to find it. realising the other woman in the picture looks kinda like me.

I wiped some tears that appeared in the corner of my eyes. Mom Summer died... And i found out she isn't my real mom. my real mom left us and dad. I want to find out why she did that! Why she left us alone!

shaking my head with my renewed vigour I went onwards! but spotted a nice resting place so I'll just rest for a little while.

ahh, nothing nicer than being surrounded by beautiful nature, Dad always says its dangerous though, I pouted about this. when I ask him why he says grimm are attracted to those with their aura unlocked and wander around. And if someone even if they don't have aura have negative emotions it acts as a beacon for grimm. well lucky for me the nearby woods has been said to be potentially rid of grimm for a 3 kilometre area! I dunno how far that is but it sounds far.

As I was having fun and combing my precious hair I suddenly saw red eyes in the forests ahead of me. I got scared remembering about the red eyes of grimm and hurriedly ran to the wagon and started dragging It while running away.

I ran and ran but I eventually heard terrifying growls getting nearer and nearer accompanied by heavy footsteps. they were running after me and I knew it. I started crying realising I can't escape. suddenly one appeared in front of me and I suddenly stopped and the wagon I was pulling hit me hard. Ruby is now fully awake, and is whimpering at the sight of grimm while I was in tears due to the pain of getting hit and the situation at hand.

They are vaguely humanoid looking bipedal wolves with a wolf bone mask and glowing red eyes with strips of bone like armour dotted about and large bone like claws.

one jumped at me and I closed my eyes while hugging an also crying Ruby. but the pain never came. instead I heard a grunt of pain and a whimper of an animal. but said whimper sounding far scarier than it should be.

I opened my eyes and I see infront of me is a kid like me with no shirt and only wearing black joggers and sneakers. in a what dad called a horse... stance? with his feet apart and his waist lowered and his arms tucked in. but his one arm is extended towards a Beowulf with its mask cracked.

The boy has long messy white hair reaching about to his neck. as well as long tail almost as long as his legs passively swaying behind him. his tail is just like his tail white, but having streaks of black lines indicating his faunus heritage...

"Run if you can!" he said loudly without looking back. his hands now tucked again in preparation for another punch. the grimm now walking a bit to the side as if sizing him up. I hesitantly stood up, the growling of grimm scaring me. Ruby whimper and I help her up. I was just about to run when 3 more grimm appeared behind him, ahead of us. blocking our escape. I felt helpless. weak. I can't even protect myself and Ruby...

/POV change/

half an hour ago...

"Qrow, Kids been gone for a while lets go and find them." Said Tai with a slight slur.

"eh, Gwyn is probably training. Ruby and Yang might be in the hill area. but sure let's go." Qrow stood up and picked up his weapon Harbringer.

Tai said nothing at this and they walk towards the back door. following the trail they noticed a discarded white muscle shirt near the river a bit off to the path.

"Isn't this Gwyn's?" asked Tai a little confused.

"Yeah, kid had got a habit of forgetting to put back on his shirt after training." he said casually and pointed at an area with deep marks. "Those marks usually appear when he trains. atleast on soft grounds." He said already used to it. after all he would stay in that place for a long time while throwing punches that can fire of ,albeit weak, blasts of wind.

Tai only nodded and followed the path again, they weren't at the hill. this got them a little worried. And as if to confirm their worries they heard a scream of fear.

they both exchanged worried looks and sped off towards the location of the sound. running off the branches of trees to cover high ground. they came across a scene they won't forget.

Gwyn infront of Yang and Ruby on one knee with a bleeding gash on his left arm.

Tai was just about to jump in and help bit Qrow held him back.

"Qrow are you crazy! They need us! more so Gwyn who is already badly injured!" Tai said to Qrow.

"I know, but this is also a chance for Gwyn to unlock his aura." Qrow said in a blank voice.

"Don't you care about him! his been with you for half a year!" Tai said this and wanted to take it back. Qrow spoke in a blank voice suppressing his emotions. of course Qrow does.

"Of course I do! it's just you don't know him it's as if he is addicted to power. And this world is a survival of the fittest. I'll protect him but not coddle him! that's how he wants in. And don't you dare say I don't care for him I've come to see him as family!" Qrow angrily said to Tai. Tai flinched at this and kept quiet. although he was confused as to what Qrow meant addicted to power.

To their amazement Gwyn stood back up with a defiant expression. He went back into his stance and despite not having aura it felt like he was leaking invisible pressure. a grimm with a cracked bone mask charged. so did another with blood stained claws still dripping, a beat later.

Gwyn punched in quick succession at the first and was able to break it's mask. the other was almost upon him and he rolled away. he inched back towards the girls and noticed a sneakily pouncing beowolf younger than the rest and he jumped and kicked it and did a series of punches and kicks to kill it.

Gwyn is now obviously spent, having bloody knuckles and a badly bleeding left arm he was breathing hard and was swaying. his long tail wrapped around yang's waist and he stood ahead of Ruby. as the remaining 3 grimm charged something snapped. the previously invisible air of his fighting spirit vanished. And out came from him is a white burst of aura with streaks of black. the amount amazing the two senior hunters. his gash immediately started healing to the naked eye and the fact that his aura was being spent to do so wasn't lost on the adults.

healing is something people can do with their aura. but other's healing isn't as strong as Gwyn's.

Gwyn suddenly in a burst of speed sprinted towards the youngest of the grimm and smashed a aura covered fist with Taiyang's earlier right strait, blasting it to smitherins. it fought off the two simultaneously by dodging and weaving but it seems miracle don't last forever. he was unable to beat the trickier older grimm as they worked together to tire him out. his burst of power quickly tiring him out.

he went back to the girls as he dodged a claw swipe heading for his head and stood in his crushing fangs stance. with a deep breath his aura started blazing and focusing mainly on his right fist. And he punched out yelling. "CRUSHING FANGS" a charging grimm got the brunt of it. not just experiencing the strong pressure blast of air, it also tasted the pure physical strength in the fist as well as the projected aura. the other one barely survived due to it being partially behind the other one.

Gwyn is now on one knee and is glaring at the badly injured, but alive grimm. the grimm inched closer and closer as it brought it's claw up and was about to kill him. yet he never lost the fire in his eyes and the glare he gave the grimm.

but the claw never descended. a great sword cleaved it, it was sent flying in a mass of smoke. And the grimm exploded into smitherins due to a punch from Tai.

Gwyn smiled at this and promptly fainted..