Chapter 5: Chapter 5. Adversity and Manipulations
I just turned 7 years old Ruby should be 5 now and her mother should be going MIA(missing in action) soon or already has. In the past few years things have changed around the nursery encampment, first the Denmother has been feeding me like the rest of the kids, second everyone else has been trying to have as little to do with me as possible, third a raven has been following me around I'm not sure if the raven is that Raven Branwen, lastly I have been assign to hunting duties along with Vest and Ame while the rest of the other kids around my age or older have been helping around the camp. All in all not bad changes except maybe a certain bandit leader having a interest in me for some reason. I'm currently in the northern part of the forest with a poor quality rifle that looks like it was badly put together that seems to be standard with the other bandits. I was tracking some boars down to take back and all of a sudden I'm hearing roaring, howling, plus some rifle shots. I went to check it out and found Ame in a ten foot tall tree with a large battle scarred Beowolf clawing at the base of the tree.
The grimm was twice as big as any other of its kind but what really made it different was the numerous scars all around its body, it had a number of broken weapons embedded in its body that showed it had experience fighting huntsmen and huntresses or who ever else fought this beast. The real eye catchers was the large metal collar around its neck that had chains loosely hanging from it and the manacle that covered most of its forearm with chains wrapped around it. Ame was still calling for help while firing shots from the tree then her rifle jammed, she tried to unjam her rifle but she instead dropped it. The defenseless girl proceeded to cry out at the top of her lungs.
Ame: SOMEONE HELP ME, HELP ME PLEASE.
I watched as the grimm continued to claw at the tree it wouldn't take much longer for the tree to fall. Ame was panicked she continued to cry for help then she noticed me watching from the bushes, she looked to me with tears in her violet eyes and begged.
Ame: Silva please help me I don't want to die, I'm sorry for everything please I'll do anything. The other hunters are dead from fighting the grimm there's no one else around to help, please help me.
"If the other hunters are dead what do you expect me to do" is what I would like to say but bandits aren't really great fighters in the first place they mostly rely on numbers and fighting those weaker then them to win fights or raids. Plus the fact that I can beat the living day lights out of most of them back at camp makes me think about fighting the battle scarred Beowolf would be a chance to see if I'm actually strong or if the bandits were just that weak. Then a loud creaking sound started to come from the tree and it was beginning to fall I made my decision then and there. I aimed my rifle at the beast as it was watching the tree fall I decided to go for the legs in order to slow it down, I pulled the trigger. My shot was a direct hit the grimm howled from the pain and looked to my direction then started to charge at me.
I quickly turned tail and run, I made sure to go though parts of the forest that would help slow down the beast like groves of trees that were close to each other or large thorn bushes. While heading towards the nursery to see if the guards can handle it or not, I started to see more smoke then usual coming from the camp as I got closer a sense of dread started to fill me. Reaching the main gate to the camp the first thing I saw was red lots of red then the corpses of every one knew scattered about in more then one piece. The smell of of all the bodies filled the air and I begun to almost lose my lunch but the sound of crashing trees reminded me that I was expecting company, I did my best to focus on what I need to win against the beast for starters a better weapon would be a good idea.
I went off to the armory/forge to see if the camp smith and I use the term loosely because if my rifle is any indication of his skill I can't get my hopes up. Reaching the forge it was a disaster like the rest of the camp it took some digging but I found something pretty good a plain single edge bastard sword with a curved tip that was of a lot higher quality from what I seen compared to the usual bandit weapon. I heard a loud howl from where the main entrance was I was hoping for a gun but beggars can't be chosers, I went into hiding among the ruins of the nursery in order to ambush the Beowolf. I saw it wandering around sniffing trying to find me, good thing I covered my self in bloodied dirt to hide my scent. I thought to my self.
Silva's thoughts: Breathe in, breathe out, now focus on the enemy before you or you will die.
The grimm continued to sniff around trying to find my scent I waited behind some rubble to get the best chance at attacking it. The beast had its back turned against me looking at a the opposite direction so charged at it thrusting the bastard sword at its exposed back and sunk in making it howl. The grimm started to shake from side to side trying to dislodge the sword and me from its back, I held on with everything I had while trying to push my weapon deeper into the monster. The grimm managed to knock me back with sword in hand my back was up against the wall of the encampment, the next thing that happen would haunt my dreams for months to come the Beowolfs chest started to glow red-orange and spat out a torrent of flames.
Time seemed to stop just before the flames hit me I couldn't believe that I was going to die again after just 7 years here on Remnant... No I refuse to let it end like this... I will not just give up here, I WILL NOT BOW TO DESTINY NOR FATE FOR I AM MY OWN MASTER OF MY SOUL AND LIFE, SO I WILL LIVE. The blaze envelope me for a couple of moments but I was still breathing I looked to myself to see a bluish gray no a iron colored aura protect me from the flame I looked to the creature of grimm and said with determination.
Silva: I will beat you and live.
The grimm growled as if in response smoke still coming out of its maw it crouched down readying itself to pounce on to me I readied myself to take it on. The beast leaped at me with its fangs ready to rip me to shreds and with my newly awoken aura I took the hit to grab the chains on its collar. The grimm was biting on my aura protected shoulder while I aimed to thrust my sword in to the gap in between its collar and neck to kill this monster. The beast noticed that and tried to get away but I was holding on to its chains around its neck so I was dragged along with it, my striked true getting in between the collar and though its neck. The grimm in pain tried to claw at me to make me stop but I still held on pushing the bastard sword though it even if I was already low on aura quickly with every hit from its claws. I pushed my sword in to the creature of grimm then it finally stopped struggling but not before my aura ran out and the beast dealt me a finale blow across my chest. As the grimm dissolved into nothingness I fell on to my back bleeding and said to myself.
Silva: Just need to rest now that the grimm is dead but what the heck a fire breathing Beowolf I am so looking forward to summoning that with my glyphs.
I couldn't help but be excited at my first real victory since being born on Remnant it showed me that I was at least a little strong and that I can get stronger still. As my excitement started to wear out so did my mind and body at last after the fight and then darkness welcomed me as I fell asleep.
(Third person POV)
Hours later someone walked into what was left of the nursery camp they saw the aftermath of whatever attacked the person who arrived was Raven Branwen chief to the Branwen bandit tribe. Raven had her hand on her weapon Omen ready to fight in case whatever attacked here was still around as she inspected the rubble and ruin it became clear that grimm was responsible for the destruction with the paw prints of a large beowolf scattered all around. As Raven continued her investigation she spotted something odd, a large metal collar and manacle on the ground plus various broken weapons. Raven came closer to see what these were doing here when she spotted another body to be buried, she saw that this body was different from the others because it was still in one piece. As she got closer to the body she noticed that its chest was moving up and down, realising that there was a survivor she moved quickly to the survivor side.
As Raven examine the survivor she quickly identified him it was Silva Cloud the child she was keeping an eye on in hopes of getting his loyalty. She noticed the healed up wounds on his body along with the sword in his hand and went to have a closer look at the collar and manacle. After examining them, the broken weapons, and foot prints she looked to Silva then spoke in a impressed tone.
Raven: So a 7 year old boy manage to beat a grimm that a whole camp of bandits couldn't it looks like I need to keep him close so that I can bind him to me.
Raven went to Silva and picked him up over her shoulder then went to leave the nursery encampment also carrying the sword that he was holding in her free hand. As she left she looked to nursery she wasn't bothered by the fact that there was only one survivor it was to her a good trade off one warrior that can become at least as strong as a huntsmen while losing only some mediocre bandits and future bandits. Raven only real problem is setting up a new nursery because having it in the main camp wasn't going to work due to the nature of bandits and their movements though out Anima.
( Several days later)( Silva POV)
I felt myself waking up but I was comfortable so I decide to stay just a while longer then I heard a voice.
???: I know your awake so get up or else.
Whoever was calling me meant it so I forced my self up despite wanting to stay in bed. I rubbed my eyes and looked around trying to get my bearing when I noticed the person sitting down serving herself tea. Raven Branwen, mother of Yang Xiao Long, a cynical, patronizing, stubborn, selfish woman with a, quoting Qrow here, "very skewed perception of the word family". I honestly have mixed feelings about her I can understand her weakness in fearing Salem to the point of running away even if in the end there really is there is no point if Salem has her way but what I really don't understand is her leaving Yang like that and treating her as such because I was a parent in my past life even if it was adoption I still loved my girls more then I thought possible and was glad for it. Raven spoke in a patronizing tone.
Raven: So after resting for the last couple days are you well enough to tell me what happen at the nursery.
I gave Raven the run down on what happen that day she was surprised at the part with the fire breathing beowolf but otherwise she took it calmly while serving herself and me tea. Raven called for a guard and gave the order to have the patrol keep an eye out for unusual grimm plus to beef up the number of patrols and patrolmen the guard left quickly to notified the camp. Raven then looked to me and after sipping her tea she spoke to me.
Raven: While there I have a proposal for you there are things you should know beforehand, first you are the only survivor from the nursery camp, second you are still too young to stay at the main camp, and lastly even if you have unlocked your aura at an early age you still need a teacher guide you.
So I was the only one to make out alive and now I need to figure out what to do next. As Raven waited for me to absorb the information I dig though the memories and information I remember about Raven because she is not likely let me wonder around freely and is likely going to try and manipulate me if she hasn't already since she should be aware of what silver eye can do. Raven then spoke to me again.
Raven: Here is my proposal become my adopted son and I can solve your problems easily.
Okay I'm I the only one that thinks that this is messed up.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone