The Ark

Chapter 1

The sirens wailed and I could feel something, or a mix of something flowing through me. I could feel fear and excitement. I could hear screams and laughter. I was a human and a monster. I heard screams of terror as the people lost all hope in being saved, I heard over and over again that the Huntsman weren't coming and that there was no hope at all. Cara was a small crescent shaped island in the middle of the north sea past Vacuo. The Huntsman had more than enough Grimm to worry about and none could be spared to protect the small unimportant island that barely had one hundred occupants. The town's people who so often hunted and pursued me were in a frenzy of panic so strong they didn't even acknowledge me. I could feel the Grimm coming in droves, flying and swimming toward the source of terror. I knew they were coming and I knew that the people of Cara had no chance of survival, as for me I was a different case as always. My cloak fluttered away as people ran past me toward the island stronghold. For once no one took notice at the sight of me, I suppose I was the lesser of two evils. I didn't need to worry as much as the rest of them but once the Grimm finished feasting on them, and they would, I would be the next target. I pushed through the throngs until I finally could see the peer which was all but deserted. The wind shrieked as the water crashed violently against the black wooden dock. I saw the ships dotting the shore, the wealthy who had the power and money to attempt to escape the coming storm. They had left humans and faunus and taken their wealth on transports to Vacuo to try and escape the oncoming invasion without any care for the citizens below them. Yet suddenly the ships began to disappear one by one, vanishing into the clouds and water as if by magic. And then the storm struck. Nevermore, Griffon, and Manticore swooped from the sky like a black cloud that shrieked bloody murder. The terror of the people increased at the horde that began landing on the buildings, letting out fierce cries. But this terror only fed the beasts and they began one by one to pick off their targets. Nevermore let out waves of arrowed tipped feathers that sliced through villagers like knives, I saw Griffons slashing through men armed with nothing but kitchen knives, their bodies and entrails taken never to be seen again. The villagers were so confident that Cara was a safe haven, free from the Faunus and Grimm scourge which to them were one in the same. If I was any sign of the future they should have known they would fail and that eventually the plague would come for them too. A little girl, a Huntress in training most likely, beat back a few Griffon with her flail. She sent streaks of Dust powder fire into the coal black creatures which vaporized them instantly, turning them in black ashes which scattered in the wind. The girl stood triumphantly, wiping some ash from her pale white skin seconds before a Manticore grabbed her in its claws and tore her limb from limb. Her screams fell on deaf ears as more and more Grimm descended and brought havoc on the outnumbered citizens. I was safe for the time being, the Grimm believed that I was one of them, but that would only last so long. I rushed along the dock hoping to find some kind of ship to try and escape the carnage, but there was none. A lone Nevermore flew above head, probably deciding whether I should be it's next meal or not.

"Climb on if you want to get out of here!" a girl's voice called over the din.

She was on the deck of a large transport boat, brown hair and purple cloak billowing in the wind. She probably couldn't see what I looked like from where she was standing, if she did she'd probably shoot me instead of inviting me to safety. The Nevermore decided for me if I would take her offer or not as it finally decided I was human enough to devour. It dove down, boney beak open for its next meal.

"I've lived this long, you won't have me you bastard," I muttered as I charged at it, matching the birds ferocity as I tried to reach the ship.

I had no weapons, no dust, and no protective aura, but I did have my heritage. I called on my semblance and felt my body changing and morphing. My body of white and brown hair shifted as big black Nevermore wings sprouted from my shoulder blades. I could feel my feet lift off the ground as my boney white claws lost purchase on the dock, I hurtled at the bird with my claws upright. If Grimm could show surprise the Nevermore definitely did in it's glowing red eyes, it had tried attacking a human but it was met with something almost as Grimm as it was. The surprise faded as I buried my bone white claws into its feathered neck and its entire body crumbed to dust. I shot forward with the momentum of my strike until the wings slowly began to fade and I tumbled to the ship deck below.