RWBY: The Son of Salem (Volume 6-7)

Chapter One: Nightmares and Grim Tidings

Kill.

Hunt.

Destroy.

It prowled the streets of Kageyuri, lashing out at anyone who was foolish enough to come near it. A boy, who looked no older than sixteen, let out a battle cry before rushing at it, and was rewarded for his bravery with a swift, brutal death.

Please. Stop.

Destroy.

Kill.

Devour.

No. Stop. Don't kill them.

It pounced on an old woman, crushing her skull with frightening ease before it grabbed an old man, raising him over its head before ripping him in half, its fur stained red with blood and viscera. It heard a scream, then saw two people. Two Faunus. The man grabbed a rifle and aimed at it.

Resistance.

Futile.

Weak.

Crush.

Maim.

No. Don't. Please stop.

It evaded the shot, then lunged at the man before ripping his throat out. The woman screamed in horror, before it dragged her toward itself, then sank its claws into her chest, prying her ribcage open before tearing her heart out and eating it.

"Mommy..? Daddy..?" A voice called out. "Why are you sleeping? There's a monster in our house. We need to go. Wake up. Please wake up.

It stalked towards the frightened child, savoring its fear, then it roared as pain shot through its skull.

Pain.

Endure.

Kill.

Kill.

Not him. He's too young. Don't kill him.

Kill.

Kill.

Kill.

Kill.

Kill.

Please no!

KILL!

It lunged towards the child, and he screamed as its fangs sank into his shoulder.

"NO!" Ruby screamed as she awoke.

The Wolf Faunus began breathing heavily as the nightmare she just experienced ebbed out of her like water from a sponge. Once her heart wasn't hammering against her ribcage and her body stopped sweating, she looked at her hands. They weren't clawed, or furred, or covered in blood and gore. They were human. Normal. She placed her head in her hands, then started to cry.

She had been aware of what she was doing as the Wolf, but had been unable to stop it from taking lives. That family, and Penny were dead because of her. Because she had been turned into a monster against her will. Made a prisoner in her own body.

It was an experience she wouldn't wish on anyone. Not even Cinder.

"Ruby..?" A groggy voice beside her asked, getting the Wolf Faunus' attention. "Are you okay..?"

Ruby looked to her left and saw Weiss looking at her, concern etched on her face. The Fall Maiden berated herself for waking up her girlfriend at two in the morning, and gave her an apologetic look.

Her girlfriend.

Three weeks after the battle and their first kiss and Ruby still couldn't believe that Weiss had reciprocated her feelings. It felt unreal to the Wolf Faunus, but she knew it was.