SEVERANCE CHAPTER ONE SHADOW OF DEATH

Peacefull, if there ever were a word for what the countryside was, it would be tranquil and quiet. So quiet that the lush green hills and bright sun were the only things that seem capable of making noise, that and the wind of course. Until that is a caravan mosied it's was into the distance.

Now caravans out in the wilds where a rare thing with Grimm attack on the rise and such. But that was a risk they knowingly take. After all life outside of the kingdoms was never easy. As the caravan slowly made its way thought why were mostly merchants and traders a hardy stock people with a good lay of the land and friendly disposition. As their carts past by the first tree line opening them to the forest they traversed it was still so utterly and perfectly tranquil and calm that they didn't notice two cylinders as they fell from the tree lines and impacted the ground emitting a cloud of grey smoke that choked the air…

Need to be fast... He through as he ran through the dense cloud of smoke. Darting in and by the confused travelers before they could see him. He was a tall, lanky youth. With wiry taut limbs and a lithe appearance. Need to be quick! He thought as he ran through the smoke he looked for essential items.

Food, water, supplies the main things on his mind as he searched thump! Ah! A cry rang out as he bumped into a brown-haired girl with amber eyes. As she stared up at him her brown eyes widened in shock as she started up she was quite small even for a child as her amber eyes regarded him in terror he cocked his rifle.

"Please…"
The girl said her eyes watering as she looked at him in a desperate plea for pity. She got her first look at the man, apart from his thin, wiry frame with thin, taut limbs and messy blonde hair. She couldn't see much else due to in fact he was wearing a gas mask, as he stood. One that lent him an inhuman almost insectile appearance that was wholly inhuman nature. Again she begged him, as he lowered his gun towards her. She was a child. Tattered in dirty brown robes and messy brown hair. Her eyes widened in relief.

"Thank-

Don't waste ammo he thought as he removed his sword and without hesitation stabbed her in the throat.

"Gak!"
The girl no the child cried out as his sword stabbed into her throat. Her amber eyes went wide in shock as he slid his blade into her neck. Her eyes bulged out as they stared at him they seemed to ask why? As they glazed over as he plunged the cold steel into her throat bright red blood splashed it's hilt as she gurgled softly before he sheathed the blade with a sickening squelch. As her body fell loosely onto the ground before collapsing into a bright ever expanding crimson pool.

Figures darted in and out of the fog as people started to take note of their situation. Damn it. He thought bitterly I've waited too long now. The distraction with the girl had proven to be a horrible delay as now his time was up. And now it was time for his least favorite part of this as the people finally began to realize what was happening to them now... now the screaming started.

Yee though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death lives no harm shall come to me.

A gust of air rocked the craft as the blonde stumbled gah! He spat quickly who'd have thought out of all the things to hit him he'd be weak to motion sickness?! Jaune lamented the fact as the craft was buffeted by another blast of air.

I want to be a better person, no… I need to be a better person. He thought as the craft sailed into the turbulence that was disrupting his flight As the craft was buffeted by air only one thought occupied the young boy's mind, this is really happening huh?

He asked himself as he looked outside the port side window to the shimmering city of Vale. I really made it Jaune thought as he leaned back in his seat.

He was a well dressed young man just above six foot tall with solid broad shoulders and solid blonde hair and crystal blue eyes. Decently dressed, in an outfit bought just before leaving for Vale. He was the epitome of new and improved.

If it weren't for the anomaly resting on his lap, he would look like a preppy kid from Atlas on his journey home. On his lap hands resting securely on it laid an old tattered satchel strapped to his lap.

It was a sickly green color one that totally clashed with his prim and pressed suit, and had been so badly battered and beaten that the sewn in patchworked repairs were now so numerous that they outnumbered the bags original green.

At first glance, one would wonder why he kept such a thing. Why keep such a dingy green bag that is vehemently clashed with your original color scheme? As Jaune looked down at his bag.

You're so used up that you can no longer tell what the original was and what was the new patchwork. Just like me, he thought ironically as he held the sobering metaphor like a child. Please gather your belongings and report to the landing are, n monotoned Pa said as the ship finally began it's landing procedures a voice said welcome to Beacon academy for hunters as a dull feminine voice said an introductory speech and he walked off the ship.

'I'm here…'
Jaune said in a hushed tone as he stepped foot on the school grounds. I made it to beacon! He could have jumped for joy if he wasn't already exhausted. His body had been beaten to hell an back and was barely holding up as was… As he stared at the large castle, he felt the unnerving feeling of someone watching him. Looking quickly he saw no one seems to fit the bill of an interloper, he shrugged but never let his guard down as he proceeds into the school proper…

Top of Beacon tower…

Interesting… the headmaster thought to himself as he watched the fresh students disembark from the transport dock. He always loved this time of the year fresh new faces full of idealism and naivety not yet hardened by war and pain. As He watched the stunned, they resembled nothing more than sparks of flame. Shooting fires intent on banishing the darkness once and for all!

At least most of them did. As he took a sip from his ever-present mug, he saw him. Unlike the rest of the sparks of flames that lit up the world around him this student as not on fire. No, he was quite the opposite while the other youths radiated life and happiness and joy he radiated solitude and suspicion. His entire body was composed of short quick movements practical in motion and brutal in its efficiency. It was like watching a shadow dance among the flames. As Ozpin stared at the boy, a sly grin came to his face as the transport finally finished unloading and began to take off. A shadow of death had come to Beacon. He couldn't wait to meet it...

Beacon entrance

As he began walking forward he huffed his battered duffel bag that housed the entirety of his worldly possessions over his shoulder above his head; it was ragged and tattered. Even still it housed every last item he owned save for his weapons which he carried on his back. Everything he owned was housed in that down, beaten bag and he loved it for the world.

"We finally made it to Beacon didn't we old friend"? He asked as he felt his sword pommel gently on its back holster, as he caressed the handle lovingly, "It only cost us everything." He sighed as he realized the truth behind those words, it was true Jaune had burnt all his bridges to get into Beacon.

He honestly had nowhere to return to. No one would take him in, not the raiders, especially not the fang hell not even Roman would take his sorry ass now. For the first time in his admittedly short life, he was truly alone... He sighed deeply as he lamented his past life choices, keep moving forward he thought as he took his first steps.
Severance Shadow of death

"Are you alright?" Jaune asked the girl in the red hood as she lay in a self-made crater. This girl had apparently gotten into an altercation with another student and was now face first on the ground. I'm fine! The girl said in a nervous voice she graciously took his hand as he pulled her up from the ground.

"Thanks for helping me!" She said as he pulled the girl up he got his first good look at her. She was short, very short actually he doubted she was over five six in height with red, black hair, blood red cape and gothic outfit on her self-fitted with silver crosses black combat boots and silver!?

Jaune froze in shock as his body went stiff as a board. His mind went dim, and his breathing hitched as he looked at her face her eyes were a bright silver color that made him pause. As a cold hand gripped his heat, his breathing became labored as he stared at her. Is she? No, she can't be! He shook the thoughts out of his head as soon as they came, she's dead anyway. Summer's dead and there is nothing you can do about it.

He's dressed snazzy! Ruby thought as she got her first look at the boy who had saved her from the crater of that mean girl.

Who did that princess think she was anyways?! She thought as she took his hand.

Her first impression of her savior was white; he was dressed head to toe in a searing white tuxedo. The suit was clearly well made and if she had to guess steam pressed? Although she had no idea what that sentence meant it seems to fit his looks to a tee.

From what she could tell it was a piercing white three-piece suit, topped with layers of rich red linings and buttoned to the near top leaving only the last button ajar.

After that was the shining white dress shoes, he wore that despite all logic looked inhumanly comfortable.

Looking further up he also wore a blood red tie that was adorned around his neck and to top it all off there was a gleaming white bowler hat on his head. Now that she thought about it where has she seen that outfit before? Why does it look so familiar…?

Her thoughts when interrupted as she got others face as she saw the most dazzling pair of blue eyes she had ever seen in her life. As she was briefly captivated by them before she looked at the things above them and noticed the scars, one long jagged scar traced down his forehead to his neck with a sister song across that. The scars seemed old but significant reminder of a hard-won battle.

"My name's Ruby!" The Girl said in a timid voice, "Ruby Rose! And your's?" He chuckled as the girl struggle to keep her eyes on him. The tone of her voice made it seem like she was asking him for his left kidney and not just his name.

"Jaune Arc," he said as he held out his hand "nice to meet you." Remembering with perfect ease the name Roman had given him. Even now he had no idea if it was his real name but it was the name on his sword, so the master thief declared, to quote. Ah to hell with it! It's the name on your sword so it's your damned name!" Roman decreed in a fit of frustration as Neo giggled at him silently form her spot, and just like that Jaune Arc was born. At this, the girl beamed as a smile adorned her face so bright and blinded it was as if she had become the sun itself as she shook his hand with the force of a small industrial-sized pair of pliers, "nice to meet you!"

She said as she gave the brightest smile he had ever seen, as they shook hands a similar smile came to him she's cute. He Thought as they began to walk together.

Severance Shadow of death

"So you want to be a hero to?!" The girl asked instantly impressed with the boy she had just met and dared to call her very first Beacon friend. Ruby was practically giddy at meeting her new friend, who she hoped would be with her for the rest of her time at Beacon. Despite what Yang said her mom was right! Ruby would make friends with the best people!

Her mom Summer Rose had said the day before she departed for beacon and she was right! Although Summer usually was right in matters of this. More so than Yang or aunt Raven at least. Ruby had been here for less than ten minutes and despite nearly blowing up an heiress, which totally was not her fault by the way. She had already made fast friends with the hunter protege Jaune Arc! If there was ever a better example of a noble hunter Ruby had yet to see one!

"Yeah, I want to save as many people as I can. " Jaune said as they walked through the campus grounds.

"That's so cool!" Ruby said as she eyed him thoroughly impressed. Truth be told she was delighted to have made this friend. He was everything she wanted in a hunter.

Strong, composed and fixed with the burning desire to help others!
Though the latter part was more her youthful imagining then hard facts. As they walked on the ground there, footstep made quiet stepping noises until Jaune stepped on a particular stone and was greeted not with the sounds of shoes on pavement but instead he was greeted by the familiar shoes on slick liquid as the pavement gave way to a pool of blood.

As they walked down the pathway, SHLOP! SHLIP! The sound of slickening tiles filled the air as Jaune walked passed the slick blood cobblestones. As he stepped SCHOP! A bright crimson puddle formed on his feet as the cobblestones leaked out thick puddles of blood onto the walkway.

SCHLOP! His feet now were thick in the blood and spread it all over the grounds. You see Jaune had the gift. Or curse if he was more honest ti was more lick a pox. You see Jaune could see the blood. Whenever a person took another's life, the life of a sentient being they would gain the blood. And it would follow them wherever they walked.

It showed itself in bright reflecting pools or crimson liquid, following your every movement and filling your every footstep with slick scarlet imprints and coalescing where you sat. The more you killed, the more blood you would get. It was as simple as that. As he walked the puddles of blood expanded and grew, he was worried that his new friend would slip and fall into them.

Not literally fall of course as most people could not see the blood. Let alone interact with it, not even Jaune could interact with the blood. Besides him, a rare few individuals, like Specter and Taurus could actually see the blood. Most people seemed to utterly ignore the vivid crimson substance deposit have miniature puddles following them.

As they walked, the blood was getting thicker unusually so to the point where it had become bothersome to him. This was strange. Usually, the blood wouldn't act up like this. Jaune thought as he walked through the cobblestone path he was lucky he could see the blood otherwise his companion surely would have had a heart attack or three.

His companion, however, paid the blood no mind as they walked in their usual rhythm. He was worried Ruby would be caught in the blood but to his surprise, every time her foot came down the blood receded from her.

It seemed as if it was actually scared to be anywhere near her and her happiness? It was almost as if she had burned it by merely existing around it. As she talked to him he felt a faint smile form on his lips she was everything he had ever wanted to be…

Kind, courageous, loving, and above all else she wanted to help those around her. She wanted to save people. Not like him, not like Jaune who simply had no choice in the matter. If he didn't save people he was damned, although odds were he was damned no matter what he did. He made a decision then and there if he was to succeed in this school so must she. If Ruby Rose could not be a huntress then neither could he. He mused as the blood receded to it's much more manageable twin puddles as he started to listen again.

"So I have this!" Ruby yelled before slamming a massive scythe into the grounds. "Whoa!" Jaune said as he backed off from the death machine. This here is Crescent Rose! She's a high impact sniper rifle that's also a scythe! Ruby said in a tense voice that she hoped would successfully hide her true motives.

You see Ruby was never good at hiding how she felt. She wore her emotions on her sleeve for the world to see.

A fact that her elder sister would often tease her endlessly about growing up.

And right now she was struggling to hide the series of emotions welling up inside of her. As she looked at her first friend in the school. She was conflicted. On the one hand this boy Jaune her first real friend who she looked up to as a literal shining knight.

Someone who had come of his own free will, to help her an actual stranger whom he had never met after she literally exploded on the school pavement. Ruby made her decision then and there regarding the tall boy in the white tuxedo, whoever this Jaune Arc was he had to be a good person!

He was someone Ruby wanted to become friend with and be great hunters together.
That's why it was so hard to make conversation when she saw her friend in pain.

She couldn't tell at first, but now it was clear. Jaune was hurting. Badly. Not the physical kind but the internal kind. The emotional pain that did not just go away when you felt better, but the kind of hurt that grew, the kind that would linger fester and feast upon your soul until there was nothing left. Form the way he walked to them the way his shoulders slumped at every step he took. To his voice that seemed dull and sodden. She couldn't tell at. First, he was good at hiding it, but now she was sure of it. He was sad beyond sad he was depressed, and she was going help him no matter what.

She saw it in his eyes, eyes which once shone a bright dazzling blue. Now upon closer inspection that which once was boldly pronounced orbs were sunken and hollow.

His eyes appeared to sink into his skull rather than simply be on them. Also, his eyes had lost their spark she had once seen. The radiant blue shine was now dimmed and dulled. Now they no longer radiated warmth but pulsed in icy fear Ruby fought to keep half from shaking as she looked into his cold, dead eyes. They looked less of a pair of eyes that a human wore but more like the eyes of a doll.

It looked like they were painted on in a macabre mockery of life rather than actual parts of his body. That was equally deadly.

Like a battery that was slowly running out of power and was struggling to stay alive.

His whole body seemed to radiate exhaustion and tiredness, and it looked like he wanted nothing more than to lay down and sleep and never get up again.

Although these things were bad, they were nothing compared to his eyes. Ruby had to hold her gasp as she eyed the hollowed empty eyes that radiated permanent exhaustion with every second. the thing that really bothered her was his steps. Or lack thereof. It had been in the corner of her mind for some time now, but now Ruby was sure of it.

Yet as bad as all those things where the thing that really bothered her was his steps. Or lack thereof. It had been in the corner of her mind for some time now, but now Ruby was sure of it.

He's not making any footsteps! She realized as she forced her hearing scrunching her eyes shut and listening closely she was right!

Despite them walking side by side she could only hear one pair of feet hitting the ground. It was like he was purposely muting his body! As they walked down the pathway.

The second thing that caught her attention was his gait. Jaune's walked caught her attention as he seemed literally incapable of being in direct sunlight for any amount of time. She watched as he ducked a boobed in subtle almost indecipherable movements, ones that would surely be next to impossible to notice if you weren't looking for them directly.

It was as if he would instinctively seek the shadows whenever the chance presented itself. His body would jump and somehow merge with the dark as if becoming apart of a greater whole. His walk while sullen and surefooted was also catlike and enigmatic…

Seeing these things were troubling to the extreme for the young girl. But nowhere near as bad as having little to no experience with strangers and not having the faintest clue on how to help!

So when pressed for time and in desperate need of a distraction she did was she knew best. She went to her default option for dealing with awkward social situations she brought out her weapon.

"Pretty cool right?!" She said desperately hoping her friend would agree. That's amazing! Jaune said for lack of better term to describe the massive sniper scythe hybrid I Know right!?

"That's amazing!" Jaune said for lack of better term to describe the massive sniper scythe hybrid that was now implanted into the ground in front of him.

"I Know right!?"

Ruby beamed I designed her myself and everything! Ruby beamed in a way that could only be described as absolutely adorable and was causing Jaune to positively smile before he noticed her impatiently tamping her feet "sooo?"

The girl said before glaring at him in a way that might have been intimidating if it didn't look like a drowned puppy.

"So what?" Jaune asked bemused by the girl's antics. It was rare that he got to talk to a member of the opposite gender for this long without one of them missing any body parts, or lose their internal organs so Jaune was determined to keep this novel conversation going for as long as humanly possible.

"So show me yours!" She yelled suddenly and loudly to Jaune who looked at her with a blank deadpanned expression on his face.
"Show you what?"
"Your Weapon! Where's your weapon?!

She said in oddly demanding but cute fashion."Come on!" She pouted adorably, "I showed you mine, so you have to show me yours right?" The girl asked in the most adorable way possible.

"That's how it works in the real world right?" The girls said oblivious to her double entendre as Jaune sighed before reaching to his back.

"This here is my sword one Crocea Mors!" He said in is the best heroic voice that the had been practicing, it was definitely better than when he had first started but was still stiffer then Roman after an all-night bender, or Qrow for the matter. Jaune thought as he pulled his hand from behind his back revealing a long and immaculate long sword.

Ruby's already high opinion of him skyrocketed upon seeing the blade. One look at its master crafted handle told her all she needed to know about him. If he would not only find but keep his weapons in the fine condition and use them effectively? Ruby was in love!

Her Face instantly turned red this thought as she shook the thoughts away.

Bad thoughts! Go! Shoo! Run before Yang finds you and kills you!

While Ruby was having a mini-meltdown as she ha the first inkling of a crush on a complete stranger! "You ok?" Jaune asked as he put a hand on her head making her already reddish face go full on hemorrhage levels of crimson as she barely stood up as her legs shook.

Guess I should show her the next part he thought as he reached behind his back to reveal another handle.

Whatever nervous spasms Ruby was undergoing receded instantly upon the arrival of a new weapon as she looked with rapt interest that became pure shock as he reached behind his back with his left had an withdrew an old weather-beaten pump action shotgun with the word Shorty scrawled into its barrel.

"This here is Shorty! She's been with me my whole life!" He said happily as she stroked the weapon affectionately.

Before he could introduce it further the voice of a confused reaper interrupted him.

"Sword and... shotgun!?" Ruby asked clearly confused at the concept, "how do you fight with that?" She asked not seeing how such a weapon combination was possible or even practical! That doesn't make sense!

Ruby Nearly yelled at him causing a confused frown to form on his face. What do you mean it doesn't make sense? He asked perplexed by the girl's sudden outburst.

"How do you even hold the two weapons?" She asked him using a rather comedic version of how one might hold the two weapons. "Like this?" He replied holding both weapons up for her to see, "with my hands?" Jaune said as he held one weapon in each arm.

"I meant how do you use them in a fight!" She yelled now seeing how others might see her own awkwardness, with my hands? Jaune answered in the most innocent way gawked before rallying. "How does it even fire?" The small reaper asked her new best friend in the whole world desperate to know more about his strange and exotic weapon.

"It uses magnetic coils to accelerate the shot's, to a velocity nearly three times the speed of sound," he said with an honest expression "why?" At their weapons talk, Ruby's mind went into overdrive.

Thoughts about social awkwardness and therapy practicality flew out the window now replaced with, convenient numbers.

How much force does it shoot with? What kind of magnetic coils does it use? What's the maximum charge rate? What's the preferred charge rate? She fired over ten questions a second at her friend an overwhelming him with information and causing his head to turn.

What kinds of ammo does he use? She Pondered as she looked at the weapon. Does he use solid shot or buckshot? Did it take factory make or custom ammunition? At the thought of custom ammunition her brain nearly overloaded with possibilities Does it have any attachments?

Scopes were becoming quite popular on all weapons even shotguns these days and even due to their range limitations it never hurt to have additional accuracy!

There were even the rumored sniper shotguns that she had heard about in the latest guns and bullets! Sniper shotguns! Hah! No matter how much she heard it always sounded ridiculous!

Does he load it manually or can it auto reload? She doubted the later as she saw no discernible hint of an autoloader anywhere nearby. Although Just because you didn't see it doesn't mean it isn't there! She thought as she looked at the barrel. How much rounds per magazine?

Does the weapon shift? Highly unlikely given its nature and design, where did he find it? Did he make it himself or did he buy it off of someone? So many questions and so little time!

Given her imminent brain overload, she asked the simplest one. "How do you fight with those?" At this Jaune smile as he looked at her before grinning viciously, "you'll just have to see, won't you?" He smiled as he spoke Causing Ruby to finally lost it and bit down onto his arm in public. "OWWWWW!"

Severance Shadow of death

After their impromptu weapons talk a brief dab of rubbing alcohol and his absolute stalwart defense against Ruby's ultimate weapon the puppy eyes of cuteness!

He never thought any gaze could ever match his old bosses regarding intensity. He shivered involuntarily at the memory of when his latest boss became irate at somebody when she was mad at you, you would know it. For however short the rest of your miserable life would be spent in absolute panic.

As he remembered the burning buildings and people alike a shiver ran down his spine at the sight of her flaming eyes full of cinder….

"And That's why I came to Beacon!" Ruby Said as they walked they had been talking about their own lives, and the two got to know more about each other. Jaune learned Ruby was a younger sister to a girl name Yang who had abandoned her in lieu to hang out with her old friends.

She also lived on an island called Patch and had a rather peculiar family, although life in the wilds had insulated him from much of the outside world he was fairly certain most familial units consisted of two parents and not three. As he learned about her two moms and dad.

Ruby also got to know more about Jaune although she was none too happy from what she learned. She learned he was orphaned as a child and any parents or siblings he had were most likely eaten by grim in the wilds.

This led to him growing up in a bad environment and struggling to stay alive. Although this adversity while horrible and she would not wish it on the worst enemies. Not that Ruby Rose had any enemies not yet at least.

It had also tempered his resolve to save people who were less fortunate than himself from a similar fate and explained why he was here; this was something Ruby admired with great passion.

Too many times she had seen how people responded to great struggle and adversity with selfishness and succumbed to the challenge of life-giving into their base desires of greed and self-preservation.

Seeing Him not only rise above the challenge but devote his entire life to helping those who could not help themselves?

Ruby was more the impressed she was enraptured by the young man. As she no longer saw him as a sad broken and downtrodden soul, but a weary and battle-tested warrior a shimmering knight of virtue and honor!

A Shining paragon of truth an justice! As she watched him very eyes dilated as her cheeks blushed a bright red as her chest tightened inexplicably quickly. She definitely wanted to become better friends with him…..
"You're a pretty funny kid."
"I'm not a kid!" She puffed her cheeks, she was cute, unreasonably cute and adorable she was near perfect you sound just like my sister!

As he smiled much at the young reapers annoyance, she pouted to him. A most effective attack a thought crossed his mind do you know where we are going?"
" I Was following you."
"I Was following you."

Above a voice called for all new students to report to the auditorium for assembly as they both looked to each other "oh crap!"