Entry 1

It is currently 11:30 at night, and I'm writing in a journal. I don't think I've done anything like this since the early years of combat school. I don't even want to think of how long ago that was. Around 20 years… Nope, not thinking about it.

What does someone even write in a journal anyway? Do I just talk about my day? Why am I writing questions in my own journal? Is it possible to ask yourself a rhetorical question?

I guess that answers that question…

So why am I doing this? Well, Bart recommended I make a journal entry every day. I guess that's the history buff in him talking. 'In order to move into the future we must be able to reflect on our past'. Well what if I don't have something interesting to write about for every single day of my life? What's the point of reflecting on things that aren't there, or didn't happen. I suppose I did promise him that I would write a page in this journal every day. I don't know why I did, but that was the promise. Come to think of it, I've never seen Oobleck so adamant about something.

Okay, let's try this again. At the very least, I can do it for him.

Today rained. Again. Spring ended a while ago, but the days have been rainy and cold for the past week. I've asked the girls to stay inside to let it pass over, but it's not like they would have gone outside anyway. Ruby still hasn't stopped crying. She's barely eaten anything and refuses to come out of her room. I don't think she's slept a full night in the past week. I can't blame her. I haven't either.

I think Yang has been sleeping with her every night to try to help her with the nightmares. She's changed. Just last week Yang was picking on Ruby for not being able to pick up the loaded grocery bags. Now she cuddles with her every night. It's hard to believe she's only seven with the way she's been acting recently. From what I can tell, everything she has been doing is helping. Ruby needs to feel safe and loved. I'm happy that Yang can help her with that.

Bart left about an hour ago. He stopped by once the girls were in their room. He wanted to talk, but to be honest I couldn't get a word out. I just haven't been able to find the right things to say. I guess that's why he gave me this journal. To let me put the unspoken words down on paper.

Then there's Qrow. He still hasn't left yet. He hasn't made eye contact with me since the day he arrived. That's probably my fault too. I told him to leave, but Ruby refused to let go of him. He has no right to stay here. If she knew what he did then she would want him gone too. She's too good for any of this. It's not fair to her that any of this happened. It's not fair to any of us. Now he has the audacity to stay here and drink. The mighty hunter Qrow reduced to nothing more than a drunk who can barely get off the couch. Please. If he were half as strong as he believes he is then none of this would have happened.

Author's Notes

Hi Everyone!

I wanted to thank you for reading my first ever fanfiction!

I know that there will be some learning to do, but to me it's all good if it means getting back into writing.

To go along with that, let me know if you have any thoughts on the story. Being my first, I'll take all the criticism I can get!

For the sake of the story, I put Summer's death around the time that Ruby is 5, Yang is 7, and Tai is 30.

Thanks again for reading!

~Sh1f7er