A Grimm Life

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Since they were away from Menagerie, Adam and his group of the White Fang needed to establish a base, a place to live and rest. For them, this was a crimson forest. A giant forest with burning bright red leaves. Adam is sat down in his tent, tending to his crimson katana, keeping it clean and sharp. As he cleans it, he can't help but look at a photo of himself and Mutasim. It was taken shortly after they had arrived at Menagerie. Adam couldn't help but smile as he thought about his brother and missed him. 

Adam: Brother... I wish you came with us. 

He finishes wiping his sword and stands up, leaving his tent. Upon leaving, he sees his Faunas brethren preparing for battle, making him frown. Even the state of the camp looks like they're gearing for war. Amidst the commotion, he sees Blake. 

Adam: Blake! What's going on?! 

Blake: Adam! Scouts have reported that a horde of Grimm are on their way here! 

Adam: In that case, prepare for battle! 

The cat Faunas nods and rushes to help set up the camp's defences. Grimm attacks weren't common around this forest which worried Adam. Was there a decline in moral that went unspoken? Or were the Grimm simply extending their reach? Adam draws his blade and stands with the other Faunas, waiting for the Grimm to show themselves. 

The group wait and wait. But the Grimm are nowhere to be seen or even heard. The people murmur amongst themselves, confused about where the Grimm are. Adam turns to Blake. 

Adam: Blake, do you hear anything? 

Blake: No. It's weird. It's like they just-

Her ears perk up. 

Blake: Wait. Something's coming. 

She draws her blade, her ears twitching every few seconds or so. All of a sudden, a howl echoes from above them. Everyone looks up to see an Alpha Beowulf Grimm falling from the sky and landing in the centre of the camp. The Grimm tries to stand up, but another figure lands on top of it, impaling a greatsword into the beast's chest. The figure pulls the blade out just a tiny bit before ramming it back down into the beast's chest once more, finishing the Grimm off. The Faunas watch with wide eyes as they witness the brutality of this lone fighter. 

After killing the Grimm, the figure slowly raises their head and turns around to face the Faunas. But the identity of the abnormally larger figure shocks Adam and Blake, making their hands shake. 

Blake: W-What...? Adam, i-isn't that...? 

Adam: Brother...? 

Mutasim's right side of his face had black cracks slowly corroding him, like a virus spreading throughout his body. Even his right arm was enveloped in this black substance. Blood leaked down his lips and his left arm was broken as evident from how it hung limp. His clothes were all torn apart, revealing the black substance covering sections of his torso and the rest of his body. Not only was his body affected, but his hair had changed colour too, resembling the skulls of the Grimm. White with red markings, or in his case, red highlights. 

He roars like a wild animal before throwing the Alpha Beowulf's body at the Faunas. Adam and Blake manage to dodge it while another Faunas gets knocked down by the corpse. Before anyone can think of what to do, Mutasim lunges forward, thrusting his greatsword towards Adam. The red haired Faunas dodges out of the way just in time and jumps backwards. 

Adam: Brother! Don't do this! 

Mutasim lets loose another wild roar as he swings down on Adam, forcing him to block. The other Faunas move in to try and aid their leader. The wild white haired man notices this and swings his blade at them, sending them flying back with one wave of his blade. Blake moves in and jumps on Mutasim's back, trying to tie his hands behind his back. It proves fruitless as he throws his head back into Blake's face, sending her landing on the ground. She groans and notices Mutasim about to plunge his blade down on her. Thinking quickly, she uses her Semblance to create a clone which takes the attack for her while she jumps over his head, striking at the back of his head with her weapon's sheath.