Hey guys know this one is a little late but figured it would be better to post during the day instead of at midnight. Anyways here it is.

Beta: Gr3yb0t

Chapter 5

The kid was surprisingly good at taking charge. When he woke up he was a little miffed about them not waking him to take watch but he put that aside fairly quickly when he realized that they could get an earlier start on the day. Jaune's nose really came in handy when hunting though. They found a lot of sanguine traces by him simply sniffing the air and pointing them in the direction of a bloody cloth or a some other piece of evidence. He may not understand Ozpin's willingness to recruit a monster but Qrow couldn't deny that that nose came in handy. The wi- Glynda, had also been a help using her 'gifts' to sense disturbances in the forest. Something about witches being one with nature or some other bullshit but it was a help at least. Qrow felt he was here solely for the muscle he offered but even at that the kid was probably stronger than he ever could be, being a lycan and all and Glynda's telekinesis surely could put someone down quickly enough. But Ozpin did mention that Glynda would say the kid did good even if it was false. Qrow had to hand it to him though the kid knew his shit. He also had a reason from what Ozpin said. Kid losing his whole family to wolves... That would motivate anyone to wanna kill all things that go bump in the night. Qrow knew due to what happened to Summer. He raised up his flask and took a drink, he couldn't be thinking about this now. They had a bunch of leeches to kill.

"I sense damage to the forest in this direction.", Glynda said as she pointed.

Jaune sniffed the air, "I don't smell anything. We should go check it out though Glynda's hunches hasn't been wrong yet."

Glynda hid a small smile, "Jaune I know it's hard to understand but it isn't hunches I told you often good witches that are naturally born have a kinship of sorts with nature, We can sense when things are wrong considering we naturally draw our power."

Jaune looked interested, "That's so cool, Glynda. It's hard to see this side of your abilities in Vale. Still it's really cool I bet Ozpin took you on hunts all the time."

Glynda chuckled, "We used to but We quit going on regular hunts and dedicated our lives to training the next generation of hunters. We only went out when the next generation were in danger or if the case was just way too big for locals to handle."

Jaune thought back to his sister Lavender, poor, sweet, lavender. She was fed on by sanguine only to be killed by wolves. that case with the sanguine must have been big cause Ozpin got involved in that. Why was it so big though? The sanguine was killed just a few months after... his family. But Ozpin was keeping an eye on him at Beacon. That's going to be another question for another time though right now he needed to focus on Pyhrra.

He caught a scent it was like fresh yet stilled blood. It didn't smell dried yet. Jaune couldn't place the scent but it was getting stronger. It was strange as they hadn't moved.

"Guys, I smell something."

Qrow looked, "But you didn't a little bit ago and we haven't moved."

Glynda readied her crop, "If he smells something and we haven't moved then what he is smelling has."

It was just four hours before dawn So they could see but not much. All except for Jaune who's sight is enhanced due to his lycan condition. Qrow drew out his big silver buster sword regardless. He kept it strapped on his back and it was a simple blade but massive in size.

Qrow called out, "Jaune, we are depending on you here we can't really see and you are the only one able to tell where they are."

Jaune nodded to Qrow and continued smelling the air. The scent was overpowering. With any luck they weren't being hunted but the sanguine but they were just returning to their nest. Which would mean they were close. Jaune drew Crocea Mors just in case.

Glynda sensed tree branches being broken and they began to hear voices in the woods.

they only got parts of what was said, "Boss. mad. stop. away. drink. dry."

Jaune heard everything that was said due to his enhanced hearing. He also felt an overwhelming feeling of fear that wasn't his own but didn't understand what he was feeling or why.

Jaune whispered, "Glynda they are close I can hear them."

The good witch nodded at Jaune as Qrow continued scanning the trees. The smell started getting weaker. Jaune sniffed the air again.

"They are moving past if we follow them they may lead us back to their nest."

Qrow asked, "What are we waiting on then. Let's kill these leeches and be done with this."

Jaune narrowed his eyes, "And save Pyhrra."

Glynda placed a hand on Jaune's shoulder, "If she is there we will do just that. If not we have to be ready to kill everything in thier nest. Some sanguine can work with other monsters and if this is Roman's nest I wouldn't be surprised if there is more than just sanguine in there."

Jaune nodded and motioned for them to follow, "The scent is moving this way, come on."

Jaune led them through the darkened forest, being careful not to make noise and Jaune sniffing the air every so often.

They eventually came to a clearing that showed an old wood cabin with a barn off to the side. Jaune noticed movement in both but didn't know how to make a move without alerting the other building.

"Shit they are in both places." Qrow helpfully added.

Jaune sighed, "Yeah they are. Any ideas?"

Glynda offered, "We could clear one silently then move onto the other."

Jaune shook his head, "If we do that and one of the sanguine get out and alert the other building we will be cornered. It may be best to split up and clear both at the same time."

Glynda said, "I'll take the barn with Jau-"

Jaune raised a hand horizontally, "No, Glynda, I'm a Lycan. Like it or not me taking one alone is for the best."

Qrow said, "I hate to agree but he's right, He's physically stronger and it would be hard for someone to sneak up on him with that snout."

Glynda said, "Then at least let me and Qrow take the barn, there is more movement from there than the Cabin."

Jaune nodded, "When you are done you can come and help me out just make sure you watch each others back."

Glynda and Qrow nodded and moved towards the barn keeping quiet and low. Jaune, after seeing that they weren't getting detected did the same as he approached the Cabin. He made it to the wall of the cabin and pulled out a silver knife from under his jacket. He listened as he heard a voice on the other side of the wall.

"We're sorry boss. We don't know how she got out. You wasn't here and I guess the one's meant to be guarding the cabin went out for a bite."

Jaune then heard Roman's voice, "You guys kill me if I could die that is. You let my meal ticket leave out in the woods because you was hungry."

"It wasn't us, boss. It was someone else's turn to watch the cabin."

"Get out I need to feed since my hunting night was cut short."

'Shit If they start going to the barn then they may spot Glynda and Qrow.' Jaune made his way to the front of the Cabin being careful not to be spotted through the windows. The cabin door opened and he smelt the pungent smell coming from the leeches it wasn't just stilled wet blood it was now dried dead blood. The leeches had recently fed and their clothing was proof of it. They shut the door behind them giving Jaune the blind spot he needed.

"He's ready to rip our fangs out and it wasn't even our watch."

"Yeah you're right, remember what he did to Perry? I bet the poor bastard is going mad in that coffin."

"I'm betting your righ-"

"Yeah man, I know I'm right. but that's neither here nor there. but when we get to the barn we will make them pay."

The sanguine didn't hear a response from his companion. so he asked as he turned, "Right?"

He was met by the blonde boy covering his mouth and driving a silver blade into his chest. The last thing he saw was blue eyes and a mouth snarling at him. Jaune pulled out the blade letting the body drop as he turned back to the cabin He grabbed the bodies and dragged them out of sight.

He drew his blade into his left hand, while drawing and racking the slide of his 1911. If he was going into this fight he was going in ready. Roman doesn't appear to have trained any of his sanguine. He had them just to order them to do what he wanted. Jaune crouched low next to the door trying not to draw Roman's attention but also to give Qrow and Glynda time to clear the barn a little more. He wondered if they were having a hard time with the barn.

He heard a loud noise from the barn that seemed to answer the unasked question. 'Shit that's going to draw attention if it continues.' What was going on out there. He heard his thoughts echoed as the door slung open in front of him revealing the man, no, the monster in a white and black suit wearing a top hat.

"What is going on out there you bunch of idiots?"

The ruckus continued. Jaune was stood behind the Flamboyant sanguine not moving and still crouched down by the now opened door. Jaune's heart beat quickly in his chest as Roman was stood mere feet away from him. The other two seemed to have zero training but Jaune knew Roman was a force to be reckoned with before he was turned from Ozpin's file. Maybe he could sneak away around the corner of the house but if he made a move towards the barn it would be a fight and sun would be up soon. Roman needed to turn around and just go back in or else everyone was in trouble. Jaune trained his pistol sight on Roman just in case but he needed to question the Leech about Pyhrra. The noise from the barn stopped as Roman mumbled something about idiots. Roman turned towards the house and Jaune fired.

###

They were doing a decent job of clearing them out mostly undetected, Glynda causing a distraction with the telekinesis and Qrow using his big sword to either skewer them or decapitate them. One of the sanguine walked around the corner of one of the horse stalls and yelled, "Hunters!" Sanguine came from multiple stalls and even the hayloft.

Glynda threw sanguine against the interior of the barn with her abilities as she waved her crop. Qrow sliced through as many as he could using his sword. They were all coming at them fast and seemed to be somewhat trained. Glynda kept throwing the Sanguine toward Qrow as he sliced through their power propelled bodies. Qrow with such a heavy sword was surprisingly fast with it. He was able to keep the horde back from all directions. Qrow was slicing any where he could, torsos, necks, and even through a few heads. The Sanguine just kept coming though.

They swung their fists at the Hunters that came into their home and attacked them but Qrow and Glynda refused to let them get close enough to bite them. A bite wouldn't turn them but it would hurt and with some sanguines they could drain a body fully in just a matter of minutes. Glynda and Qrow kept killing the sanguine using the impromptu strategy. The sanguine numbers were falling and there were only a few left.

Glynda started realizing she was getting drained from using her gifts and pulled out a mid evil looking silver dagger to stab and slice the ones unfortunate enough to get too close. She stabbed the first in the chest and Sliced another's throat there was sizzling where her blade pieced the skin.

Qrow with out a second thought dispatched one in front of him with decapitation and in the same motion released his sword grabbing it with his left hand, killing another Sanguine, and drawing out an old Single-action revolver pulling the hammer back and blasting a sanguine in the head over Glynda's shoulder.

Glynda looked at the sanguine as it fell after pulling her blade from another's chest as she looked at the man he shot her a roguish smile. They then heard a gunshot from outside of the barn. Glynda looked to Qrow and nodded. The barn was cleared it was time they helped Jaune.

###

Roman grabbed his left shoulder as it sizzled and burned. Jaune stood there in shock, He had missed, Roman now knew where he was and was staring right at him.

"Oh kid, You fucked up."

Roman lunged at Jaune and was on him faster than the bullet that pierced his arm. Roman sunk his teeth into Jaune's neck and Jaune felt a burning sensation. This was it his first hunt that he ran and he was going to die. Roman reared his head back in pain and let out an inhuman scream.

"AAAAHHHHHH!"

Roman released Jaune as he collapsed onto the ground.

"Y-You... You're a Lycan.", Roman hissed in a struggling whisper.

Wha- Does lycan blood incapacitate sanguine? That was good information to have. Jaune stood grabbing Roman by his collar dragging him into the Cabin.

Jaune quickly scanned the cabin and noticed a girl with pink and brown hair. Jaune dropped Roman's collar and drew his sword. Aiming it at the girl he felt a rush of fear, the same rush of fear he felt earlier in the woods. He dropped his blade down to his side.

"You're not a Sanguine, are you? You're an empath."

The girl hid behind a chair trying to put it between Jaune and herself.

"It's okay, I'm a hunter, My name is Jaune Arc. What's your name?"

He felt even more fear over coming him.

"You're gonna be okay I'm here to help you, and get rid of these leeches.", he offered with a small smile.

He felt a glimmer of hope start forming as she leaned out from behind the chair a little.

"Stay there till I deal with this thing, I don't wanna place you in any danger."

He felt the hope grow.

Jaune turned to his captive. Roman still laid there coughing up blood and Jaune pulled some silver chains out of his bag draping them over the Well-dressed Sanguine. Roman smirked, "We need to have a conversation Roman." Jaune pulled a couple of syringes out from his pocket and pulled over a foot rest. He stabbed one into Roman's neck and earned an audible grunt.

"Kid, you do what you gotta do."

Jaune smirked, "Oh, I fully intend to but I got a few questions though. Now, Let's talk Pyhrra Nikos."

Roman laughed, "She's probably dead. Either that or she's a sanguine hunting down people on the country side."

Jaune lost his temper and grabbed a coffee table sitting next to him by the leg and smashed it against the floor.

"Ooh, did I hit a nerve?"

Jaune still holding the leg of the table pulled out his knife and started sharpening the piece of wood.

"Looks like you're going old school, kid. I like you're style but it's true."

Jaune narrowed his eyes as he looked at the Sanguine in front of him. replacing the syringes now filled with blood into his pocket. Jaune went back to widling the wood.

Jaune asked, "Did she feed before you let her go?"

Roman laughed coughing up a little more blood, "We made sure she had a belly full of blood and she fought her way out and through us."

Jaune smirked and asked, "I have one more question for you? Who is the pink and brown haired girl that's hiding behind your chair?"

Roman chuckled, "I don't know she's an empath. Can always tell before she is going to die so we know to stop feeding."

Jaune glanced over his shoulder to the chair and saw the girl shivering, scared and not knowing what her own fate is to be. Jaune saw the healed fang marks on his neck... 'Lavender, She was fed on like that and survived. This girl will not suffer the same fate. I'm stronger now and she will live. No matter what.'

Jaune asked, "What is her name?"

Roman chuckled and copped a cocky grin, "Snack, food, dinner, I'm a sanguine, Why in the world would I give a human a name or acknowledge that she would have had one?"

Jaune felt anger, pissed even, He wanted to drive the now finished steak into Roman's chest killing him once and for all. It wasn't until he glanced over that he realized he was feeling the girls feelings towards her abductor.

Jaune motioned for the girl to come out, "Hey. You are okay he's bound. Come on out here with me."

Jaune felt a rush of fear coming from the girl likely for being focused on. Jaune chuckled lightly to help settle her nerves, "It's fine, I'd be pissed too if this leech did to me what he did to you. But you now have a choice, Either let me kill him and never get your revenge for what he's done to you, or come take this stake and end this monster and keep him from hurting anyone else."

Jaune felt the fear dwindling and took that as a cue to motion for her to come over to him. The girl slowly came from behind the chair and knelt beside Jaune. He noticed she was skinny, sickly skinny, It wasn't surprising for sanguine to keep captives it was sad but if the sanguine didn't drain them dry, a lot of them starved to death. Jaune held the wooden stake over to the girl so she could take her life back by her own hands. As soon as Jaune released the stake into her hands he felt a small feeling of fear.

Jaune raised his hands up showing he wasn't going to hurt her, "It's okay. It's your choice. You can take your life back though. You are in control of your life not me and not this leech."

Roman hacked up a little more blood and chuckled, "The snack wants to trade one monster for another, eh? Well come on then. do your worst."

Jaune felt a rush of anger and rage as he saw the small malnourished girl plunge the stake into Romans stomach. She wasn't trained so her aim was off. She drew it back trying again, and again, and again. Until eventually, either through luck or actually calming down a little she hit the mark. She plunged the stake into Roman's heart. The sanguine let out one final gasp and his lifeless head rolled to one side.

The girl collapsed falling to her side. Jaune quickly swooped her up and held her limp body in his arms. He told her, "Hang in there we got food at our camp, We are gonna get you back there, feed you and then you can leave if you want."

The girl opened an eye to look at her savior. Jaune said, "He's not wrong but I'm going to let you choose to follow me, but you don't have to."

The girl lost consciousness as Jaune carried her out of the house. He saw two figures in the distance. They ran up to him undoubtedly to make sure he was okay.

Jaune said, "I'me fine, She needs food though."

Glynda asked, "Who is this? It's not Pyhrra."

Jaune said, "No, it's not and I don't know who she is. She is an empath however. Roman was keeping her to drain her till he felt her dying and stop feeding." Jaune looked down at the lifeless and emotionless face. "She needs food and rest. We can get her into vale and she'll be okay."

Glynda nodded, "Okay we will go back to camp and grab some food for her. Come on Jaune."

Jaune, Qrow, and Glynda walked away from the barn and cabin that now had no sign of life. They didn't do what the came out to but they did eliminate a huge threat to vale and saved a girls life to boot. So why did Jaune feel like he failed.

###

It was day break. The girl opened her eyes and looked around her surroundings. There was a small fire mere feet in front of her and she saw A sleeping blonde woman and a sleeping dark-haired man. She sit up and looked around a little more and saw trees all around her. She was in the woods, during the day she felt the sun on her skin it felt nice. She must have portrayed her feelings cause she saw the blonde knight turn from on top of his rock he was sitting on and shoot her a small smile. She didn't know what to think about the blonde man he was there and he saved her from Roman. But she could feel what he felt. He felt remorse and felt sadness. People didn't know that she could feel other's emotions probably just the downside of her being mute. She couldn't exactly tell them. Why did the man feel guilty, did he regret saving her? He turned to her once more this time asking, "What's wrong?"

The girl couldn't speak and didn't know what she would say if she could. She just motioned to her mouth with her index finger.

Jaune asked, "If you are hungry you could just ask for food, we got a little bit left from our voyage out here."

What? That wasn't what she was trying to say but now that he mentioned it, when was the last time she had ate? Was it days, weeks? Sanguine aren't exactly known for thier hospitality. She just nodded.

The blonde boy reached into his bag and brought out some kind of food bar of sorts it was a pink colored bar with some kind of krispies in it. She looked at the bar for a few moments. Her savior looked at her curiously then shook his head and said, "You probably don't know what that is it's a strawberry flavored protien bar. Glynda gets on to me for buying them but I can't help it they are really good. Go ahead see for yourself."

She unwrapped the bar slowly and the man just watched her with a smile on his face. She sensed him but he didn't really give off any emotions, it was like he was waiting for her reaction. She bit into the bar. It had so much flavor and tasted like a cold version of fruit. She didn't recognize the taste but she enjoyed it thoroughly. She must have sent what she felt out cause she felt the man's happiness towards her.

"seems like you like it," The man laughed, "I know a little about empaths but I'll admit I only know you can make others feel how you feel. I felt your anger last night, with Roman."

She looked away from him and felt guilt.

"Don't worry," The man continued no doubt sensing her emotions, "You didn't do anything wrong. If you didn't do it I was going to. I'm just sorry for what he must have put you through."

She felt her fear rise as she though of the feedings, the starvation, the isolation. The threats on her life if she kept running.

The blonde man placed a hand on her shoulder and she flinched away letting his hand drop. He jerked his hands up placing them both in front of his face showing he's not a threat, "You're safe now. You will never see that place again If you don't want to..." He thought for a minute and appeared to flush a little, "I'm sorry I didn't even ask your name, I told you last night my name is Jaune Arc, What's your name?"

What was her name? She had no memory of her life before the sanguine she was kidnapped by and discovered what she was at such a young age. The only reason they kept her around was the empath abilities. able to feel every drop and the fear coming off of her as they fed on her. She shrugged honestly she didn't know what her name was after all.

Jaune looked at her curiously, "Do you not know it? how long have you been with them?"

This was getting tired trying to talk to him with out being able to. She once again pointed at her mouth. and felt his amusement as he got into his bag and pulled out another bar this one was a white creamy color. He handed it to her. She was still hungry so she grabbed the bar.

Jaune smiled at her, "That one is vanilla cream. It kinda reminds me of vanilla ice cream. maybe after you eat and get full you can tell me your name?"

The girl didn't know how to tell the blonde boy she couldn't talk she has tried but he just kept thinking she was hungry. As her stomach grumbled she remembered that it wasn't a false statement. She just shook her head knowing that she couldn't talk therefore couldn't tell him her name, not that she knew it any way. She felt his disappointment.

After she finished eating the bar she raised the wrapper showing she was empty. Jaune grabbed the box of bars from his bag and placed it on the rock beside him, "Help yourself..."

He was so upset, he saved her and all he wanted to know was her name. She wanted to know her name as well. What if she made up a name. Come to think of it the bars were similar to her hair color. She looked at the box and it read, Neopolitan crisps. She picked up the box and patted Jaune's shoulder. He glanced over to her. She pointed at her chest and covered part of the box.

Jaune raised an eyebrow in confusion as he read the uncovered part, "Neo?"

She nodded her head as she felt his subtle relief.

Jaune said, "Your name is Neo? that's a nice name. What is your last name we may be able to find some of your family or find info to get you home."

Not wanting a repeat of the past few awkward moments she shifted her hand on the box.

Jaune read it and with a goofy looking smile he extended his hand out to her, "Nice to meet you Neo Politan. Once we get back to Vale we can talk to my step dad and try and find your home."

Neo returned a smile for his benefit even though she knew that name wouldn't find anything. She may be able to however get to know her savior and learn more about him. She did want to know why he was so kind to her even though he felt guilty after saving her.

Author's note:

Wow little bit of a twist killed off Roman way early but rescued Neo. Will this have changes from canon? Of course it will this is AU. I'm pretty sure I have hinted to that by stating a church here and there and there will be more on that in future chapters. Anyways hope you all enjoyed and as always I appreciate your feed back.

p.s.: My beta did a good job this chapter with fixing some grammar mistakes and helping make a couple of scenes better.