RWBY: The Son of Salem: Volume 1-3

Chapter Seventeen: Looming Shadows

-Kuo Kuana, eighteen years ago.-

Kuo Kuana was perhaps the only place where Faunus would never suffer discrimination from humans. Situated as it was on the coast of Menagerie, it was built as almost a sort of fishing village, with its back to the desert and facing the ocean. The desert island was gifted to the Faunus at the end of the Faunus War as a sign of peace and acknowledgement, but the message was clear to those with eyes to see it. Menagerie was far from the continent of Anima, and was given to the Faunus so they would be separate from humanity.

Kuo Kuana was also the only settlement on the island. Attempts to further colonize it were ultimately futile as the expeditionary teams were met with raging sandstorms, aggressive wildlife and Grimm that weren't seen anywhere else in Remnant. Eventually they gave up on the prospect of establishing new settlements and made do with one on the island's coast. This of course meant that they would have the occasional storm that battered the village, but this wasn't strange to the villagers.

But when a red portal opens in the middle of the night and two humans emerge from it, that's when things get strange.

Raven Branwen and Summer Rose emerged from Raven's portal and made their way to the center of Kuo Kuana, catching the eyes of many a nocturnal Faunus as they moved. Raven had her hand of her weapon, Omen as she and her partner headed for their destination. Summer meanwhile moved slower than her raven-haired companion, looking down at a small bundle in her arms as she shielded her son from the storm with her white cloak.

Every fiber of her being was screaming at her to turn back, to take the baby in her arms and go back to Patch, but she knew that he would be safe here.

"We're here." Raven said getting Summer's attention. "You wanna knock, or should I?"

"I'll do it." Summer replied before grabbing the massive knocker and slammed it on the door.

The pair looked at the door, silently admitting that the sound that reverberated off the door was a bit intimidating. They didn't have to wait long as the door opened, revealing a tired looking Faunus woman with bushy cat ears on her head.

"Do you realize how late it is..." Kali grumbled, before she recognized her unexpected guests. "Summer? Raven? What brings you two here?"

"Kali..." Summer began as she revealed Silver. "I need your help."

Ghira, Kali, Summer, and Raven sat at the table in the Belladonna household's kitchen area. Summer had explained in no uncertain terms that someone was after her and that Silver was the reason why. Of course, she didn't tell them everything, as she knew that they wouldn't believe her if she said that the person after him was a witch with Grimm features that had somehow got her pregnant with the two months old Bat Faunus. Even she was having a hard time believing that, and she was there when it happened.

"And so you want us to take your son under our care?" Kali asked. "Are you sure this is the best course of action, Summer?"

"Believe me Kali, I wish I didn't have to do this." Summer replied sadly. "But Silver is very special... Enough that someone has sent people after me to take him. Being on the run constantly isn't the life I want for him, and he deserves to have a normal childhood... A normal life. And unfortunately... He can't have that with me."

She felt a massive hand gently grab her shoulder and saw Ghira give her a sad smile.

"You have our word, Summer." He said. "We'll take care of him as if he were our own until the day you come back for him."

"Ghira and I have discussed multiple times that we wanted a child of our own in the future." Kali added. "He's in good hands, Summer."

"Thank you. Both of you." Summer replied.