Unexpected Incarnate (RWBY Ozpin Incarnate SI)

"Wait, so Weiss went down after Zack got dragged down by a Manticore?!" Jaune blurts out with surprise. It has only been minutes since team RWBY and JNR plus Qrow and Neo had regrouped inside their cabin after the battle above Argus Limited. Both Nora and Ren gave concerned looks with a hint of surprise at their friend's willingness to jump after their fox Faunus friend. Neo on the other hand, simply blinked before she glances at Ruby with a grin as if something had clicked in her mind.

"So now what?" Nora asks as she lazes on her bed nervously. "Zacky and Weiss are alone down there, are we sure they'll make it?" Nora couldn't help but point out before Ren adds his thoughts into the matter.

"I'm confident both of them can make it and meet us at Argus. They have Ozpin along with them. Though… last I checked, the Relic of Knowledge is with Zack on his belt. If Salem gets word that both of them are alone…"

"They'll be in for a whole lot of trouble." Qrow joins in while leaning against the wall before he pushes himself off it. "But we can't do much about that now, kiddos. We got to stick to the plan and hope that they'll make it to Argus while we look up on a way to get a ride." Qrow explains though everyone could only look at Ruby with concern with her sister doing her best to comfort her.

She has been absolutely silent ever since the aftermath of the fight, and that silence she's emitting is causing an ever-growing concern from those who know how Ruby usually behaves. "Ruby, listen to me, I know you're worried about Weiss and Zack's safety, we all are. But you got to get yourself together. I know those two can make it through whatever is thrown at them." Yang explains, though Ruby didn't seem to acknowledge her sister's words, with her body hunched up and arms wrapped tightly around herself.

Though the silence lasted in the cabin for some time, a knock from the door alerted everyone's attention as everyone, including Ruby, perked up to it with Neo changing into her disguised outfit immediately. With Qrow currently being the closest of the group to the door, the veteran Huntsman quickly opens the door to reveal Dee and Dudley waiting outside.

"What do you want? We're busy over here." Qrow could only growl out at the sight of the two Huntsman, as both of them gulped nervously before Dudley spoke.

"Uhh… Our boss wants to see you. All of you. Something about thank you fellas for a job well done."

"Boss?" Blake asks in the background as her ears twitch. Though, everyone immediately observes the two's increasingly scarred looks as they glance at each other.

"Yeah… Can you come with us? You don't want to know what she's like when pissed." Dee butts in quickly, while everyone could tell that whoever their boss is, they're not one to fool around. Probably for the best, they comply to avoid getting into trouble.

"I can still feel the ice on me…" Dudley mutters out before both Huntsman shudder at the freezing memory, while Qrow gives a raised eyebrow at the two men before him before looking back at everyone. Glancing at each other with some like Yang and Nora giving a shrug as a response, Ruby nods her head as she finally spoke with everyone in the same picture.

"Yeah… Let's go."

With that, everyone left the cabin and made their way to the front of Argus Express and through the many cabins, which had many thankful civilians thanking them for saving their lives from the Grimm attack not too long ago. Including Maria herself, though unlike the other civilians, she could tell that something must have happened to make every one of them less enthusiastic and insisted on talking to them privately at a later time.

Eventually, team RBY, JNR, Qrow and Neo finally arrived to see the same Huntress woman who assisted them not too long ago in the midst of a talk with the train conductor. In fact, it is clear that the conductor was profusely thanking her for the assistance, even though she technically was not required to intervene.

"I am simply doing my duty as a Huntress Captain." Katherine stated her words as fact as she glances at Dudley and Dee walking in as she glances back at the conductor. "Just ensure this train reaches its destination. Now, I must attend to other matters now."

"Of course. Madam." He said before walking off out of the room as Katherine brought her attention to her subordinates.

"Thank you for bringing them here. Now, stay back and allow me to talk to them." She orders as both Dudley and Dee acknowledge her orders before stepping to the side as Katherine brings her eyes to the gang, her golden eyes studying every detail of her guests before greeting them.

"Good evening all of you and I wish to thank you for your assistance in defending Argus Limited from the incursion that occurred minutes ago. Though I must offer my apology for failure to protect your… Faunus friend, though I certainly did not expect to see your other friend leap after him. But allow me to introduce myself. I am Katherine, and I am assigned by my mistress to ensure the renovation of Argus Limited succeeds without problems."

Upon Katherine finishing her speech, Yang was about to speak first but was quickly stopped by her uncle, who silently signals her and her friends to let him handle the conversation. "Pleasure to meet you Katherine, now what do you need us here for anyway?" He asked before Katherine's eyes narrowed down dangerously.

"Answers related to the… condition of your Faunus friend, his traits are unusual and secondly…" Katherine says before she suddenly disappears from everyone's sight and reappears just behind Neo in her disguise with Galatea drawn and its sharp end barely above her neck.

"Whoa!" Jaune was one of the first to react, with Neo genuinely caught off guard that she had no time to react to the blade now just a centimetre from her throat!

"I do not tolerate stowaways aboard this train. Now answer, who are you? You are not on the list." It certainly didn't help everyone that the very air began to freeze as they saw her used earlier, and now Neo's legs were frozen solid to the floor, with Dudley and Dee glancing at each other worriedly.

"Wait Miss Katherine! She has a ticket, and she's with us!" Ruby yelled out.

"You heard her, there's no need to get all riled up here. So, let's calm down and talk it out." Qrow added in with his hands open, but his words only succeeded in earning the chilling glare from her. It didn't help that Yang and Nora immediately got into their stance once it was clear that Katherine wasn't going to stand down.

"Is that so?" Katherine muttered as ice continued to grow from Neo's feet, and now her entire lower body is encased in ice. "If you know what's good for you, you will reveal your true identity. You may be with them, but the fact you're disguised as one of the staff members earlier is already a concerning matter. I am under the assumption that you have some sort of illusion Semblance…"

To everyone else watching, it was clear as day that Neo was tempted to retaliate, judging by how she's glaring at Katherine as her hands clenched up into fists. But she's only not giving in to the temptation out of the fact that there's too many people in the room to fight in and Zack's word to try her best not to resort to violence first in a problem.

Even then, the fact that Katherine had already frozen her in place didn't help at all.

But all of a sudden, without even saying a word, Katherine sighs as she withdraws Galatea from Neo's neck as if some sort of revelation made her cave in and stop, though Neo's still frozen in place. In addition, she signalled for Dee and Dudley to leave the room, which they did without hesitation, with neither wishing to be in her presence any longer.

"But upon further thought and against my better judgement, I'll let her go since you all appear to trust her deeply enough to fight for her innocent, but I recommend you could at least explain the situation related to your Faunus friend, Zack Arakan. I clearly remember seeing him with an abnormally large tail at the station. Not having a second tail or in possession of markings or vulpine ears. Or fangs in addition."

Silence went by as everyone nervously glanced at each other. How are they going to explain this situation to someone not part of their group? Even more, it's clear that Katherine has quite the influence to throw around if necessary. Can they even get to Argus without spilling their secret?

"Do we even have a choice?" Jaune asks before Katherine folds her arms.

"You and your friends do have a choice, Mr Arc. Alternatively, I could have you all arrested for human smuggling or impersonation. But… I am willing to close an eye on the situation should I get some answers in return, and as thanks for your help defending the train. Needless to say, it is no ordinary matter to see a Faunus with more than one animal trait all of a sudden."

"What do we do? I don't think we can walk out of this easily…" Yang whispered to Qrow as his eyes burrow deep into Katherine's with frustration over the situation, and it's clear that she's not changing her mind anytime soon.

"Will you tell anyone about this?"

Ren asked and, to everyone's relief, Katherine shook her head. "No. I swear upon my life that I will not tell anyone about this." Though it is true that Katherine vows to remain silent on the matter, such anomalies like that fox boy must be brought to her mistress, though they don't need to know about that.

After all, how did he manage to hide his looks?

Though, she's unaware that it was Neo who was disguising as Zack the whole time, while the fox Faunus himself hid in Qrow's bag.

"Well… I guess I'll tell ya, just as long as you agree to remain silent on the matter, okay?" Qrow says before he glances at everyone and gives a thumbs up to assure everyone to leave the talking to him. And seeing her uncle giving a thumbs up, Ruby nods her head as Qrow begins explaining the details, though as vague as possible to Katherine with the other's adding in occasionally.

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Weiss POV

"Nnng… What happened?" I felt myself groaning out silently when my consciousness returned to me, I can't remember what exactly happened, everything felt cold and… there's something hard underneath me, and then it hit me. "Wait a minute… I remember now… A Manticore took Zack off the train and I went after them willingly, and then we tried to slow our fall then… Wait, Zack!"

I felt a rush of adrenaline and fear washing over me as my eyes shot open as a rush of freezing air flooded my lungs! It's freezing here! Before long, I can see that I'm lying on my unconscious Faunus friend surrounded by snow in the middle of a crater. His arms and tails still protectively wrapped around my body as the memories of the very end played in mine.

"Right. He protected me when he created that barrier when we're about to hit the ground. But, how did he do that? Was that magic he used?" I thought for a moment as I gently pried myself off his arms and kneel beside him as I called out to him.

"Zack, can you hear me? We need to get going and find shelter now." Yet, I felt myself getting increasingly colder by the second, he's not waking up, is he hurt? He doesn't look like he's injured. You better not be dolt! "Zack! Wake up! Can you hear me?!" I call out again as I gently lift his back off the snowy ground.

I don't know how we survived that fall, but whatever happened, I think it knocked him out.

It's the only way to explain what happened to him. And where is professor Ozpin? His help here would be greatly appreciated right about now. As I glance around, all that could be seen as far as the eye could see is just snow, and I think a blizzard is coming from how dark the clouds are getting above us right now.

Yet, I had hoped this wouldn't happen. I'm sure Ruby and the others would think the same as well. Everything was going just as we planned days back and yet, I do not know how or why, but despite our efforts to stop what Zack had explained happened in the show, something similar still happened.

But the situation we find ourselves in is worse, I believe.

It's just the two of us, and while I have confidence that we can meet up with the others in Argus in time. I still have my doubts about the situation I found myself in at the moment. Zack mentioned and went through our journey after the events of Haven, although quite vaguely I must admit. I believe he was under the assumption that this wouldn't happen and never went into full detail about it. I'll need to ask him whenever he wakes up.

Another thing, wherever we are, I know for sure that we can't stay here in the middle of this crater forever. We need shelter and a heat source as soon as possible, or this freezing cold would erode our aura, and we'll eventually succumb to this weather. Goodness… I think I might have to drag his body at this rate.

Thankfully, that didn't seem to be the case when I noticed my friend's body glowing green, and I immediately knew that professor Ozpin was in charge now. As my attention was brought back to the professor's side, I heard him coughing out as his eyes opened up, while I could only simply give him a relieved look. While I am still unnerved with the idea that Ozpin can take over the boy I've become infatuated over, I'm simply glad that he is back and we can leave this place.

"Miss Schnee, I see that you're awake before I am." The professor said as I immediately helped him to his feet as he took out his cane. "I had hoped this wouldn't have come to be." He mutters out, with Zack's tails swaying against the winds, while I agree with him.

"I feel the same way, professor." I agreed. Though he must know what happened to him, why is he unconscious while the professor is still awake? "What happened to Zack? Did something happen to him?" As I worriedly asked before noticing, Ozpin gave me a knowing look before he pondered with a finger against his chin before explaining.

"He is simply unconscious right now, Miss Schnee. Do you remember that energy barrier he created while you two were falling?" Yes, professor, while it was brief, I do remember seeing a purple barrier. But how does that have to do with him rendered unconscious?

And as if reading my expressions, he continues.

"I must admit, he caught me surprised when he managed to replicate my ability to conjure an energy barrier, although unintentionally, to protect you and himself from the fall, but instead of utilising my magic to conjure a barrier as all previous incarnations do, Zack used his own magic. Though the experience heavily exhausts him, so it will be a while before he wakes up again." So, Zack used his magic to save us both?

I'm glad that's the case. I wouldn't want to imagine how either of us would have been if there were only my glyphs to slow us down…

Though the thought of him protecting me made my cheeks and ears feel warmer than it should be, and I couldn't help but glance away for a moment to gather my bearings. "W-We should make our move, professor. The weather is getting worse, and I suspect a blizzard is around the corner." I said right as the howling winds got louder and the dark clouds above grew ever close to our location.

"I concur, we should make our move now." Ozpin says as he glances up at where the tracks were, and I never realise how far we've fallen! I think Zack and I fell over several kilometres! And I willingly jumped after him! I swear, that dolt's making me act more impulsive than I should have been, and it's all his fault!

And so, professor Ozpin and I made our way through the frozen wastes, but for a moment, I suspect there's something following us. But every time Ozpin or I turn around to watch our backs, there's nothing there, except for the growing blizzard in the distance. I believe all this stress is affecting the both of us. Because professor Ozpin's troubled by something.

I do not know what, but it's not within my right to ask him what's wrong.

Though it took hours trudging through the endless snow that goes above our knees, we eventually found a cave to hide in. It's cold, wet and freezing and only marginally better than the outside, but the main issue is that I'm running out of aura, I had only ten percent of my aura last I checked through my scroll, and I think I'm going to suffer from hyperthermia if this goes on for another hour without shelter and heat.

I mean, for goodness's sake!

Both of us have snow all over us, and I think I have wet snow in my heels!

Ugh! What an awful feeling! And I'm starting to regret wearing only a scarf for this journey. At least Zack still wore that jacket he received as a parting gift from his parents, so that's likely why the professor is relatively alright, despite this freezing cold…

"Miss Schnee, are you alright?" Professor Ozpin turned before asking me.

"I-I-I-I'm n-not alright, professor. L-Low on aura and f-freezing." My teeth clattered all the while as I did my best to clear myself of snow before rubbing my arms. I really could use something to warm me up right now! "I-I'm sure either of us can use fire Dust to warm us up now that w-we're in shelter."

"Understood. Stay here while I gather some wood." And so, I watched as Ozpin left to retrieve some wood for a campfire. Thankfully, it only took half an hour for the professor to come back with sticks and enough wood pieces to start up a rudimentary campfire before using a bit of fire Dust in one of the vials Zack always carries to ignite it.

"I think this should last us for a couple of hours at best, but it's better than nothing…" I mutter internally before shuffling closer to the campfire and feeling its radiating heat wash over my body. I'm feeling much more comfortable now. "Thank you, Ozpin."

"No problem, Miss Schnee. But before I forget," Ozpin said as he suddenly began to take off Zack's equipment on his arms and the straps holding them together, much to my initial confusion.

"W-What are you doing, professor?"

"Unlike you currently, Miss Schnee, I still have plenty of aura to last a couple of hours, but you need this jacket more than I do if we are to make it out and reach Argus alive. I'm sure that Zack will understand the situation once he wakes up." He makes a point but… I don't think I should be wearing his jacket, Ozpin.

Despite my hesitation, I simply watched as Ozpin took off the last of the armour before taking the jacket off and covering my body with it. I am simply too exhausted to protest at the moment. "Thank you. But now what? It's too cold to move on currently, and continuing the journey at night is a terrible idea." I let out a sigh as I continued resting near the campfire before the professor sat next to me.

"We'll rest for the night and continue the journey tomorrow morning. I believe Zack packed some sandwiches in his jacket as a snack." An amused chuckle left his lips and true to his word, there were several chicken sandwiches in one of the pockets I searched through.

"Those should serve as a source of food for now, but we'll need to ration it until we find more food as soon as we can."

After keeping the sandwiches I found, a moment of silence passed quickly as I was left to ponder though the past few hours, with Ozpin holding on to his cane with both hands and staring out into the tundra as if pondering something in his thoughts. Perhaps some sleep would do me good, but it's still unbearably cold despite the campfire that I can't rest.

"Miss Schnee," I perked up at Ozpin's voice as I faced him. "I believe it's time I tell you something I've been keeping to myself from everyone." You've been hiding something from everyone?

"What is it, professor? What's so important that you wish to tell me now?" I softly asked with the howling winds in the background blowing into the cave for a second. Yet, Ozpin simply looked down at the ground with Zack's ears sinking and sighed.

As if he is afraid to reveal what he kept from us.

"Back in Mistral, do you remember how I explained about the existence of the maidens, magic and specifically about my purpose to stop Salem?" Yes, you told us about it when Yang and I joined months back. Nodding my head to confirm him, Ozpin continued, though I spotted worry on his face. "What I didn't explain that day was the whole story between Salem and me… We were close once, and what happened between us and the Brother Gods."

Close once?

"Explain." I firmly asked as Ozpin did just that. For the next few hours, Ozpin explained everything he didn't mention to everyone.

I… didn't want to believe it, but everything he said stunned me.

For as long as he existed until now, Ozpin… No. Ozma, that's how he originally went by, had been fighting a hopeless war against Salem. Against his own wife for millennia at this rate. I just don't understand. I'm aware of what Zack told us about the Brother's relation with the sisters, but… How could the Brother's be so cruel to force this on him? Giving him the objective of uniting humanity to prove them worthy to the Brothers, only for Salem to divide them over and over again, in addition to suffering betrayal after betrayal from people he thought he could trust to defend the world against Salem...

Even then, I should be furious at him!

Furious for hiding this from us!

From all of us.

But… thinking through it.

Had Zack not revealed the truth by the Relic of Knowledge that it IS actually possible to defeat Salem, I think we would have all turned on Ozma should we learn that Salem is impossible to kill. But that's still not an excuse for manipulating everyone, even if it's for the greater good of keeping humanity's hopes up. Nonetheless, at least, I understand why he hid it from everyone.

He's so broken after fighting it to keep Humanity's hope up against what was once thought of an unkillable opponent for millennia, despite suffering so much betrayal from those he thought he could trust. Even Leonardo, who promised him years ago only to sell him out to Salem in the end.

But that only brings one more thing up. "Why tell me this? You could have hidden this from everyone and nobody wouldn't need to know, since Salem can be stopped." I asked as Ozp- Ozma hesitates before speaking.

"You can thank your friend for that." Ozma smiled at me. "He is the one who encourages me to tell my secret, ever since I discovered his secret. I will not lie, I was terrified about how everyone would react to the truth. I've seen it happen so many times in my lifetime that I expected that it was only a matter of time that you and your friends would all turn your back on me should it get out. Just like Leon selling me out to work for Salem to save himself, or Mrs Branwen leaving me."

He explains before bringing his eyes to the campfire, with fire reflecting off his eyes. "When I learned that Salem can indeed be defeated for good that day, I felt hope. After so long of fighting what, I thought, was a hopeless war. At that moment, with Zack's encouragement, it gave me the push to tell you all the truth at a later date when I feel comfortable enough.

"But why start with me and not the others?" I couldn't help but bring that point up. It didn't make any sense to me why Ozma couldn't tell every one of us back in Mistral or in the cabin earlier?

And why start with me specifically?

"A number of reasons, in fact, but mainly because I consider you for your willingness to think before acting a boon to have. Though Zack did mention in his thoughts about you being the mother of team RWBY, which is much easier to explain." Ozma chuckled, while I could only raise a fuss in response. Seriously? Calling me the mother of team RWBY?

But then again, I could see myself acting in that role for the team.

Someone has to…

Furthermore, I suppose there is truth to Ozma's words…

Zack did label me third when it comes to his plans to reveal his origins slowly back in Mistral had we not stumbled across his accidental reveal of his origins and plans. Though, I must admit, I'm a bit peeved he placed me behind Ruby and Ren. Does that mean he doesn't trust me enough? No, that's foolish of me to think like that.

"Thinking about him, are you?"

WHAT?! Wait a minute!

Even Ozma knows of my infatuation with him?! Was Nora not lying when she said back at the station that everyone can see my infatuation with Zack? Including Ozma?! I felt my entire face growing warm, Ozma simply chuckled at me with the smuggest grin I've seen on Zack's face!

Coughing into his hand to recompose himself, he continues, "Other than that, I suggest you get some rest, I'll watch over the night and keep the fire going until it's time for you to take over." Right… Some rest does sound nice to have at the moment. It's already dark outside, and I still need time to think through everything Ozma had told me.

"Understood…" And so, I laid on the floor and closed my eyes to get some rest. Though I will never admit it, Zack's jacket is quite comfortable and warm to wear despite sleeping on the cold floor. No wonder he never takes it off, besides serving as a reminder of his parents.

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The next morning…

Zack's POV

"Hm? How long was I out for?" I wonder. There's… Why does everything feel colder than it should have been? I can't be dead, unless… It was then that the memories of the aftermath renewed in my mind and I remember everything, "Fuck! Right! A Manticore grabbed and dragged me off the train! And then… Weiss came to save me and then… I created a barrier before everything went blank, I think?"

Everything's fuzzy. I can't hear or feel things correctly, and there's this constant howling of what, I think, is the wind. I think there's also the crackling of fire coming not too far from me. The good thing is that I can feel my sensors slowly returning to me, though slowly, the only question is: What happened while I wasn't here?

As if hearing and answering my thoughts, I heard a familiar voice in my head. "Do not worry about what happened when you weren't there, I've temporarily taken control of your body at that time." Ozpin! Good to hear from you, and thanks for saving my life! Wouldn't want to freeze to death in the middle of a blizzard.

"Really! Thanks for your help while I was not there. If you catch what I mean."

"I do." I swear I can feel Ozpin nodding his head at me. "Now, before you wake up now to resume our journey to Argus. It's a shame that all our planning didn't go as we had hoped." He hums as I couldn't help but agree,

"I get you. I was hoping that we can reach Argus without anything like this happening. I swear, it was almost as if fate didn't want things to change, no matter how much I wanted to shift its path, and it makes me worried about the future. About whether my efforts are for nothing and nothing would change, no matter how hard I try." I explained. If my attempts to stop Cinder from mortally wounding someone and preventing our separation on the trip to Argus end in far from what I hoped, then what can be done to save Atlas from its fall?

Is it destined to fall?

After a moment of silence, I continued. "As we both know from my memories, Weiss was mortally wounded by Cinder in the story, but instead. I was the one who was wounded. Then we have this. My attempts to avoid our separation only resulted in us in an even more precarious situation than how it was. Now instead of team RWBY with Qrow, Oscar and Maria. It's just us and Weiss. And they went through a lot of shit just to get to Argus. Furthermore, I still have the Relic with me, so if there are a lot of Grimm, we'll be overwhelmed."

I sighed. All this thinking is making me uncertain if my actions are even making a difference at all… I've tried to avoid them to spare us from more trouble, yet nothing seems to have changed. It only ends in a similar outcome as the original, far from what I hoped.

…

"Have faith in yourself, Zack. You shouldn't think only of the negatives of your actions, but the positives too. And while it appears that some things don't seem to change, or it appears to have got worse, your actions did make a difference, even if it seems miniscule." There is truth in Ozpin's words. I won't lie about that. "Now, as much as I'd like to help you in your moment of doubt, you should wake up and prepare to move. We can't stay here longer than we should."

Right… Now that Ozpin mentioned that, my body feels smaller. Am I in my fox form? "Hey Oz, did you somehow turn me into my fox form?" But to my surprise, I can feel Ozpin's confusion as he answers me

"Not that I am able to, why?"

"I don't know how or what's happening, but I feel as if I'm sleeping on something that is definitely not the floor in my fox form somehow..." Last I checked with my sensors coming back to me, we're in a cold environment, so why is the ground underneath warm? Gently opening my eyes, I finally got my answer! I'm not resting on the ground but on someone's lap.

Even more, it's Weiss's!

If I were in my Faunus form, I would've been in a blushing mess!

I've never rested on anyone's lap before!

Though I cannot deny, it feels comfortable…

Neither have I seen Weiss this gentle before! Most of the time, her petting would not be his gentle, with her actively fighting with the others, mostly against her partner for an excuse to get a hold of my small form! "Oz? How did I end up on Weiss's lap?" I ask while feeling my friend gently brushing her hand over my ears and down my neck.

"I frankly do not know. I only remember resting near the campfire once it was her turn to take watch over the fire. Not on Miss Schnee's lap." You know, things must be perplexing if the both of us have no idea what is happening. Which is extremely rare, mind you.

"Zack?" I heard Weiss's voice full of hope above me, that made my ears perk up as I bent my neck and looked up at her. Why is she wearing my jacket? "You're here, are you?" Giving a slow nod of my head, the smile I saw on her face grew ever more as I pushed myself up and off Weiss's lap before taking in the scenery.

So, we're in a cave in the middle of a cold ass tundra.

Wonderful. Just wonderful…

Letting what could be described as a fox-like grunt, I felt my body changing and soon enough, I was back in my Faunus form. Though I'm lacking my jacket since Weiss was wearing it for some reason. I suspect Oz has a part to play as to why she has it.

"Morning, Weiss. I'm glad you're-" Whoa! Holy shit! Calm down, Weiss! I'm not dead or anything along those lines!

If you're wondering what happened, she just straight up tackled me into a ferocious hug with her arms around my neck and rested her head on my shoulder as soon as I turned to face her after I changed to my Faunus form! I ended up awkwardly embracing my friend's hug before she muttered just loud enough for my ears to pick up. "I'm so glad to see you are okay. I feared the worst when I woke up and found you unconscious."

I felt my eyes closing as I felt the same, likewise.

I am glad that she's alright too after what happened. Though consciously or unconsciously, I don't really know myself, my tails begin to wrap around her waist and hold her closer to me. "And I was too with you when I woke up. I feared the worst of what could have happened to you." I whispered, though it appears that my words had an impact on Weiss because she instantly tensed up while still hugging me. "What happened anyway while I was gone anyway, and why are you wearing my jacket?" I asked next as she broke away from me before returning to her prim and proper self.

Though I did notice her cheeks in a slight shade of pink.

Is she-? No, I got bigger things to worry about, like getting us back on track to Argus. I can ask her later if she's alright. But I cannot deny that her acting like this is gonna bother me for some time now. This is not the Weiss I know! She's not this awkward or affectionate with anyone! Is this a side effect of my presence here?

A question to ponder another day, there are more pressing things to address than my friend acting weird.

"Right, many things have happened while you're unconscious, and I can explain it over our breakfast. As for why I am wearing your jacket…" Go on… Don't keep me in suspense, Weiss, "Ozm- professor Ozpin insists that I should wear it to keep myself warm."

"Wait what?" My eyes widened slightly when I heard her fumble. "Ozm? Wait, does she mean Ozma? But that would mean…"

"Yes, Zack. I told her my secret." Ozp- Ozma whispered in my mind. Yet, despite the initial shock, I couldn't help but smile. I'm glad to see that you're willing to tell someone the actual truth now.

"I see it's about time you decide to open up Oz." I couldn't help but chuckle out while Weiss waited patiently for me to come back to her. "Glad to see that you're making some progress, now you have the rest of the gang to tell once we get out of here."

"Yes, I'll admit, revealing the truth to Miss Schnee is surprisingly liberating for me. And it's only best if the others get to know the truth too. Once we reunite with them." And in truth to his words, I could roughly tell that his spirits are notably uplifted to an extent. Though there's still Ozma's guilt that everything if his fault is clearly still in his mind, which is painfully becoming mine to feel as well.

I hate this feeling… so much…

"Well… glad some progress has been made, but I'm hungry right now, I haven't had any meals since yesterday." I felt a growl from my stomach as Weiss giggled at me before taking out one of my sandwiches, which I had made for myself. She then gently tore it into two and handed one to me.

"Thank you, Weiss." I said as I sat near the fire and took a bite, and to my silent surprise, Weiss sat next to me as she too took a bite out of our breakfast.

We also had a cup filled with (Relatively) clean water, which apparently Weiss got by filling it with snow and melting it. Where she got the cup from, I do not know, and I'm not gonna complain about it. It's free water, after all, and she even assures me that she boiled it first because I raised health concerns over it. With that, she began telling me the events of what happened yesterday, from my use of my own magic to save ourselves, to Ozma and her finding shelter in this cave, to him telling her the truth and also passing her my jacket.

Then there's the case when it was her turn to watch and keep the fires on while Ozma slept, and… it got weird to say the least. Apparently, while we were resting, I suddenly changed into my fox form and crawled onto Weiss's lap to sleep. The thing is, neither Oz nor I were aware of it. It was as if my body moved on its own and decided that Weiss's lap was a good spot to rest on.

Is this a side effect of my eventual evolution into a Kitsune Faunus in which animal instincts become more influential in my actions? Because Ozma does believe that is the case with me. If I can get the chance, I need to ask the sisters about this. I'm sure they can shed some much-needed light on this.

Some time passed as it only took half an hour, but both of us had our fill and drink. And toilet stuff… Let's just say that I needed to pee and decided to do my business deeper into the cave and away from sight. Ugh… That's what I get for drinking two cups of water before shit hits the fan… Weiss did the same earlier before I woke up, and I'll just leave it at just that. But anyway, with that done and claiming my jacket and gear back, we're ready to leave.

And so, off we go, trekking through the snow and to where Argus would be via the train tracks high above us on the cliffs that it's almost impossible to see it clearly, even with my eyes. Furthermore, as we walk through the snow, we eventually arrive into a forest and…

Something's not right about this place…

It's not just the blizzard raining down on us but… I don't know, it feels as if something's watching us. And… are those crows in the trees watching us from above? Or are they tiny baby Nevermores? I can't tell since I can't get a good look at their faces as they're hiding them behind the leaves and snow. Even then, there's too many of them in one place and if they're Grimm, they would have attacked us thanks to the Relic on my belt.

"Is anyone got a bad feeling about this place, and not just me?" I ask out loud, as I got two responses.

"I highly suggest we leave this place as soon as we can." That's… very bunt of you, Oz. But I'm picking up… anxiety from him? What could be in this forest specifically that would make Ozma this anxious? Actually, when was the last time I've seen him this afraid over something? Maybe that time I was mortally wounded but not in my life, to be honest…

"I concur." Weiss agrees with me on my right. "There's something off about this place. Could it be that we reached the Brunswick Farms you told me a while back?" Yeah, Weiss did 'force' an explanation out from me about what happened to her and her friends in the story, and I did. Mostly on how they came across the Brunswick farm filled with Apathy Grimm and how that farm and its inhabitants met their end.

The thing is, Weiss's answer could be correct. But at the same time, the trees in this area are FAR too dense from what I remembered happening in the show. "Could be, but Brunswick Farms doesn't have densely packed trees, and I don't remember seeing this many of these birds watching us…"

As if they're waiting for something…

"If it's the case, then we shouldn't stay here for any longer than we should." Weiss voiced her thoughts as I nodded my head. But as we moved on, the winter storm suddenly intensified and, even worse, the birds began to caw. And not just one of them, but all of them! Each one of those birds began to caw as if they're alerting something and to our shock, they were tiny Nevermores!

But it was Ozma's reaction that took me off guard when I felt his fear. Which is alarming coming from him. Because it's genuine. "Oh no… no no no no no… It can't be…"

"Ozma? What the hell are you talking about?" I asked out while Weiss and I had our backs against each other with our weapons drawn. I also noticed her glancing at me worriedly as each one of these Nevermores took to the skies and continued cawing endlessly around us.

"CAW!" "CAW!" "CAW!" "CAW!" "CAW!"

"No! We're too late! It's right on top of you! You and Miss Schnee need to run now! You can't fight it!"

"Run from what?! What the hell do you mean it's right on top of us!?" I shouted out, and then the ground rumbled from something stomping towards us from behind. It was then that I felt Ozma's fear increase tenfold as Weiss and I slowly turned around, and we saw it…

Oh, by the sisters… that's… Oh, man… This is not good…

Towering so high above that its head overshadows every single tree in the vicinity, it had a grotesque humanoid shape with hoofs large enough that it would splatter anyone into paste should anyone find themselves underneath one of them, claws so thick and long that I'm sure anyone without aura would die instantly from a single attack. It's body also appears to be composed of several bone like armour and a ribcage on its torso that seems to protect something glowing blood-red deep in its chest.

Even more, black smoke radiates from its lower legs, forearms and head. In addition to black smoke radiating from its head, on its head, it possesses a deer skull as a head with numerous scars and dark glowing red piercing eyes that stared straight into mine and Weiss's soul, with a maw filled to the brim with crooked, yet razor sharp teeth that looks bloodied recently, and lastly. This thing possesses antlers so large and spread out widely that it could impale a human with ease and knock down any trees in its path.

In short, horror.

Horror has a face, and I'm staring right at it.

A monstrous Grimm that I've never seen nor heard in my time growing up in Remnant, nor in my memories back on Earth! "What-what is that thing?" I gulped while feeling my whole-body becoming rock solid at the sheer intimidating presence emanating out of that thing, with every single hair on my body standing on edge and my ears sinking at the sight of that thing! In fact, just being in its presence alone makes me terrified on an instinctive level!

Which is saying something, mind you!

"The Bloody Hidesman… I thought it was just a fictional tale my grandfather read to me when I was younger…" Weiss mutters fearfully next to me as we could only take steps back as the Bloody Hidesman slowly closes the distance and appears to let out a malicious chuckle that sounds more like a beast's growl!

"More accurately, a Wendigo Grimm! They're an extremely rare species of Grimm known for their extreme intelligence and sadistic nature, and I've lost one of my lives against it! I recognise those scars I inflicted on its face! Zack! You need to run now! You can't defeat it!" You went up against that thing in the past and lost?!

Shit man!

If even Ozma is terrified of that specific Grimm, I don't think we stand a chance against that thing!

We got to go.

Now!

Grabbing her hand tightly, I began running for my god-damn life with Weiss in tow with me away from that thing! Like hell, we're standing up to that thing, and I can even see how terrified my friend was upon seeing a FREAKING Wendigo! "Weiss! Oz went up against that thing in the past and lost! There's no chance we'll win against that thing!" And I think that monster didn't like its prey running away because it let out an ear-piercing howl so overwhelming I think I felt my blood freeze again, before trees began to collapse and fall as the Wendigo chased us!

"He went up against that thing and lost?!" Weiss basically shrieked in horror with the sound of trees being crushed and a nerve-racking stomping that seemed to get louder every second, with the sound of constant cawing filling the air! How the fuck is either of us going to get out of this alive?!

"Weiss! That thing's closing on us fast! Can you use your glyphs to speed us up or slow it down?" I cried out as a tree right behind just collapsed! Oh fuck, it's on our asses already?! How is it moving that fast for its size?!

"On it!" Pulling Myrtenaster out from her waist, Weiss points it in front of her as several glyphs formed in front of us before she ran ahead while still clutching upon my hand. "Hang on!" And the next second we both leapt onto her glyphs and began skating away before we heard another crash barely behind us!

I'm sure that had she not created her glyphs, I think we would've been crushed flat by falling trees!

"Too close for comfort! But how do we get away from that thing?!"

"I have no fucking idea! Just focus on keeping our distance from that thing or something!" Weiss immediately gave me a scared 'please tell me you're joking look' as I glanced behind us to see an entire tree trunk thrown directly for us!

"Weiss! Get down!" I cried out as we both ducked low as a tree trunk missed us entirely before it smashed ahead of us onto another tree and sent splinters of wood and leaves all over the place!

That was too close for comfort! Damn it, there's got to be a way to lose that thing!

OI!

AWOR! Ishmael! I don't know if you're seeing this, but we could use some help over here!

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Adam POV

It is done.

The bandits that the Khan sent us to hunt down are now beaten to an inch of their lives and now unconscious with their arms and legs bound by rope. It had only been a day of searching until they were found by us and everyone pounced on them in an ambush. I cannot lie, it's disturbing to see how brutal and efficient the Forgotten ones were.

Nerium especially.

Cervid wasn't kidding when she mentioned that Nerium is the strongest of Forgotten ones barring from the Khan himself from how I see their hierarchy is run. I've witnessed her take on tens of bandits by herself and defeat all of them without a single scratch on her. Even more so that the bandits that we ambushed were an entire tribe of a hundred migrating deeper into Anima for reasons not explained.

And we only had a group of twenty-five, and we crushed them flawlessly. Not my words, but one of the Forgotten One soldiers, who's a human who I fought beside.

Human…

From what is told of my past, it is said that I despised Humanity for how they treated my people, and I went too far with my hate. I do not know what made me hate Humanity, but I suspect it has to do with the SDC scar on my face. And speaking of my scar, it will take some time for tailors to create an eyepatch large enough to hide it and therefore, I just had it wrapped up in a white cloth.

In addition, since I'm now part of the Forgotten ones, they gave me a new outfit similar to what I have worn ever since I woke up without my memories, but it's mostly white and grey. Yet, I find it fitting as a new beginning for myself. Hearing about what I did made me afraid of myself, that I would become a monster again.

I only hope that once I get my memories back, I won't go off the deep end but instead become someone deserving a second chance, even if many won't forgive me for the sins I've done.

"Lost in your thoughts?" I heard Nerium call me out. Oh, I must have been dozing off in front of all the bandits.

"Yes… Just thinking about something…"

"Hmm…" She grunts before her eyes gaze into the distance. "Well done for your first mission, by the way. I've expected you to lack behind us, but not only did you keep with us. You exceeded my expectations." She's complimenting me? Thanks, I suppose?

"Now, enough daydreaming, help the others tie them together so they can be brought home. We could always use more labourers." Nerium points at the bandits laying before us. Of course. I shouldn't waste her time now. But as I reached for a rope attached to my belt, the whole forest shuddered suddenly, followed by an ear-piercing howl that really hurt my ears!

And I'm not the only one because I can see my fellow Faunus and Human allies clutching onto theirs as well! The only one that doesn't seem to be reacting to it is Nerium herself. In fact, she looks suddenly eager? Why?

"What was that?" I heard one of my fellow Faunus, who possesses venomous neurotoxin bites through the use of his fangs, ask out worriedly as I can only agree. Whatever it came from, it has to be dangerous.

Could it be Grimm?

But what kind specifically?

What species must be to let out that kind of howl that I couldn't help but feel unnerved by?

Before we could fully recover from that experience, Nerium suddenly pulled out her scroll as we could see a hologram of the Khan's head as he spoke. "Nerium, what is your status?" He asks, as she tilts her scroll, so the Khan can see the bandits lying on the floor. "Bandit scums have been defeated and apprehended. But we have the situation."

"Yes, I know what you're talking about. Everyone in our sanctuary heard that howl. And I know that only the biggest and deadliest Grimm can let a howl that loud." The Khan said as he paused. "I have a new objective if you feel like taking up on it, track down the source of that howl and bring some volunteers with you. I want you to find whatever's making that noise and silence it for good, feel free to use your semblance if required. Now, I'll organise some reinforcements, just launch a flare and our brother and sisters will come to your aid. Khan out."

With that, the Khan ends the call. "Looks like the Khan needs his sword again, what are your orders, sister?" One of the Forgotten ones that followed us asked, as Nerium turned to us all, with an eager smile on her lips.

"Well then, beating pathetic bandits is quite the bore, don't you all think? They didn't put up much of a fight!" She says as she walks towards us with her hands behind her back, all the while with an eager grin on her lips. "So, who among you wishes the honour of joining me in our special objective…" Glancing at my allies, I can see that a couple of them raise their blades or hands into the sky as they begin cheering in favour.

As for me?

I think I'll come along.

I have this feeling that whatever comes next, it'll give me a glimpse into my past. I don't know, it's just this gut feeling that I have to come along.

"I'm in."

"Good…" Nerium grin grew even wider at all of us as she turned and began walking towards where the howl came from before drawing her sword and pointing it into the air. "Then with me! As the Khan's sword, we'll cut down the darkness that dare stand in the way of our victory! Now join me and let the hunt begin!" Nerium finishes off her surprisingly charismatic speech as everyone except for me broke into cheer as we moved with haste towards where that howl came from.

I guess only time will tell where this leads us to.