"CLARE!!!"

-----------------------------

Jaune's eyes opened with fear; his chest heaving heavily as if he had gone and sprinted a marathon, with each breath quick and ragged. Without hesitation he hastily broke out of his scratchy warm cocoon of a blanket, ignoring the freezing cold air washing over him as his eyes darted frantically around, barely able to see through the murky darkness.

Anxiety tightly gripped him, not letting go as he stared in fear at the darkness. Images of blood red eyes flashed before his mind and with that, the sound of snarls that usually accompanied those crimson eyes. Clutching his chest tightly, he found himself unable to breath as if he made so much as a single sound, the darkness would eat him. Well, what usually resided in the darkness. He could feel his heart pounded harshly against his ribcage like it was ready to break out and flee into the night.

THUD.

Like a animal primed to react, he jerked his head towards the sound. Again, he saw nothing. Yet he didn't budge, staring at the spot where he could've sworn he heard it. After staring at the spot in silence for forty seconds a vague outline begin to materialize. On the floor...was a toy. Blinking once, and then twice, he look a bit to the right of the toy only to see dresser right next to it. Seeing something he recognize, a breath of relief escape his lips and soon enough, he could see he was in his bedroom. His new bedroom.

Looking to his side the blond spotted Mr Bun Bun, his stuff rabbit, lying right beside him. Reaching his small arm out, he grasped Mr. Bun Bun by the his paw and pulled him in, holding him tightly in an attempt to feel somewhat safe,

"I-its only a dream." He whimpered, a single small tear slowly trailing down his cheek.

Without warning a cry of pain escaped his lips, his body lunging forward as his right hand swiftly clamped over his left bicep.

Pain.

That's what was slowly crawling up his left arm.

Sheer. Agonizing. Pain.

Baring his teeth, his fingers dug deeper into the skin, clenching even tighter in hopes for the pain to go away. Slowly it began to lessen, letting up bit by bit before finally disappearing completely. Quick, small, swallow breaths echoed the room soon after a soft whimper, "Will the pain ever go away.." He choked out, slowly opening his cerulean blue eyes as they begin drifting over to his arm, going down his left shoulder as he followed his shirt sleeve only to come to an abrupt halt upon reaching the end of the sleeve. The sleeve itself simply dangle rather eerily before the tentatively reached out and tugged his sleeve up, revealing his stump. It was still in the process of healing as jagged marks were everywhere running perpendicular to where his elbow joint use to be.

Shaking his head, he then reached out with his right arm and grappled Mr. Bun Bun, pulling him close. Lying back down, he saw the a hint of faint light illuminating through his window.

Visibly his body begin to relax, the lights presence giving him another form of comfort. Clinging to Mr. Bun Bun, he snuggle into it and slowly, drifted back into the field of dreams.

------- Next Morning------

It was early in the morning, the sun had just barely peeked over the horizon, yet Jaden 'Jade' Viridian was already up before the sun's 'head' even peaked. Garbed in a dusty brown light tunic, she quietly walked through the hallway, her eyes flickering back and forth at the random things lying about on the floor as she swiftly avoided them. She wasn't what many would call the most 'cleanliest person', but she it by with being just presentable. Making her way through the hall, she found herself coming to a complete halt. Her eyes latched onto the door laying before her. Hesitantly, she reached her hand out and gently grasped the handle before cracking open the door just an inch. Peering in, she checked on her new "Son", the boy was lying (almost) soundlessly in his bed, hugging onto the stuff animal she had given him.

"Clare..Clare where we going..?" The boy mumbled, turning over to his side as he snuggle his stuff rabbit.

She could feel her heart dropping upon hearing those words. It had been nearly a month since she took him and his younger sister in and a lot of her friends and even her parents were question her as to why. She only gave them one word.

Guilt. She felt guilty for their predicament.

From her time in academy she knew that, out of the many emotions humans encounter on a daily basis, guilt was the most self destructive. Admittedly, no one was perfect and they had to learn to deal with the fact that they couldn't save every single person.

Yet...

Images flashed through her mind, images of a young huntress standing her ground to the bitter end. Facing an onslaught of Beowolves she yet remain undeterred at the large numbers charging at her. She couldn't have been more than 18 years old, probably just graduated from an academy. She practically dug her heels in the spot she stood, determined to protect her two siblings to the bitter end

Biting her lower lip her eyes flicker towards the floorboards. She couldn't help but hate herself, hate how she was too cowardly to jump in to help. She had encountered massive amounts of Grimm gathering, heading towards a particular direction. Silently she followed, curious about what these beasts were up to. Of course she didn't do so without requesting backup and later when came across innocence's being pursued she didn't jump in. She was so sure backup would come, and until then she'd wait before jumping in.

Thirty minutes.

That's how long she watch the oldest sister defend her two siblings. It had felt like an eternity and her conscious slowly begin to prod her, telling her what she was doing was wrong and cowardly. That she wouldn't last long without the assistance of another huntress. Again, she reassure herself help would come soon.

Then it happened.

The huntress she was watching had been impaled, her blood sprayed everyone even splashing onto the boy who stood in shook. Even when that happened, she didn't jump in. In fact she was stuck in a daze before being jerked out of it by a piercing scream and when she came to, the boy was in front of his younger sister, trying to protect her. One of the beasts had its jaws clamped around his left arm, and without any effort tore it off. She didn't know what was happening afterwards, one minute she was watching then then next her body practically began moving on its own, slaying any beast within the proximity of the boy and his younger sister.

A sudden rustling snapped her back to reality as she saw her charge sitting up, still cover and wrapped up in his blankets as he stared out at his window.

Softly clearing her throat, she then called out his name, "Jaune?"

Silence was all that greeted her. The boy simply sat in his spot on the bed, bundled in his blankets as he stared out of the window as if in a daze. A soft frown spread on her face as she opened the door and walked over to him. Jaune's trance was finally broken by the sudden motion of the bed mattress. Turning his attention to the source of the disturbance, he saw his adoptive mother sitting on the edge of the bed, simply smiling at him, "Hey, how ya feeling today?"

"Fine, I guess..." He replied in an uncertain tone, his eyes glancing downward, his hand fidgeting ever so slightly.

"That's good. I was wondering... after breakfast, do you want to go to the park? I'm planning on taking Crystal there and I'm sure there are a few kids who you could befriend..." She spoke with a soft yet tender tone. Those words however, cause to blond to stiffen slightly.

There was a brief moment of silence between the two. Finally, after a what may like seemed an eternity (in reality it was only two minutes) he raised his head to her, his hollow cerulean eyes meeting her emerald colored ones.

"W-what's the point..? I-I'm a stranger here...pretty sure everyone knows each other here.. " he replied in a soft yet empty tone. It wasn't quite the response she wanted, yet she wasn't one to give up. After all, it came with the occupation of being a huntress.

Humming to herself, she scootched closer to him, sitting right beside him before gntly placing her hand on his shoulder, "I can only imagine how tough it must be. To come to a new place where no one knows you... however, there are times where one must try to think of the positives."

He blinked a couple of times as he processed that statement, "The...positives?" He inquired in a curious fashion.

Nodding with a smile, she gently ruffled his blond locks,

"Yes, the positives. For every negative thing, there's always something positive. No matter how bad things may get in life, there's always a positive even if it may not be apparent."

Jaune remained silent, taking in her words as his legs rocked back and forth over the edge of the bed as he pondered on her words. Slowly, she reached out and gently clasp her fingers around his hand, pulling it onto her other hand, "Think of it like this. Strangers are simply friends you haven't met yet. Just because you don't know em' doesn't mean you'll never become friends."

For a few minutes the blond simply sat there, absorbing her words. After much deliberation he gave a slow nod, indicating he wanted to go. Jade simply return a gentle smile, "I'll get breakfast read, you change out of your P.J's I don't think they'll be appropriate for first meetings."

"Not true! I mean everyone likes bunnies!" He blurted before covering his mouth and looking away in embarrassment as he puff his cheek


-----------------Thirty Minutes Later----------

Hesitantly Jaune crack the door open, peeking outside as his cerulean eyes took in everything. The streets were awfuly normal, a couple of people walking past his home without a care in the world. He even noticed a boy around his age holding a very weird looking book, the book was very brightly color, practically popping out of the book.

"Jaune, the park isn't going to come to you ." His adopted mother joked in a lighthearted manner, gently clasping his shoulder with reassurance that he wasn't going to be alone. Jade turn her gaze to her side as the younger sibling walk up to her brother, softly tugging on his sleeve.

"Brother.. are we going to make friends?" His younger sister Violet questioned.

Holding his breath, the eight year old wondered what to say in this situation. He wasn't sure if he could... he wasn't like Crystal...or Clare, or even Jane. They practically befriended everyone they met with ease. Him? Well... he was barely able to make one friend at his old settlement.

However, he couldn't find it in himself to say no. He wanted his sister to be happy. With a force smile, he gave her a nod, "Y-yea. I think we'll make plenty of friends."

"That's the spirit." Jade chirped, giving a rather proud smile. "Let's get going, there should be a lot of kids there by now." she finished before gently grasping the small hands of both kids, leading them through the door.

After ten minutes he knew it wasn't going to take long for them to reach the park.

How?

Laugher. Ton's and ton's of laughter. It was as if someone told the worlds most funniest joke because it was nonstop, building up like a roaring wave until it was all he and Violet heard. Looking around, he saw kids of all ages playing, some building sand castles with their partners, other competing in tag or some other game. The sheer amount of kids made him want to shrink, wanting to disappear. Yet his sister was the total opposite, her blue eyes light up and at the first chance she charge at a particular group so she can join in the game they were playing. It look pretty simple, just four squares and a ball.

Timidly he duck behind his adopted mother, hiding behind her. She simply gave a soft expression before kneeling down and looking him in the eyes. "I know it can be overwhelming, but don't worry, I'll be here. Now, go have some fun ok?"

Giving a hesitant nod, he glance around until his eyes landed on a trio of kids, looking like they were having a blast with the gymnasium. Slowly, he begin approaching them all the while mentally rehearsing on what to say.

Unfortunately, he wasn't' exactly paying attention when he was thinking through his introduction and his entire body slammed into someone,

"Oomph!" He grunted, falling onto his rear end. Shaking his head, he glanced up at whoever he had bumped into as sitting across from him on the ground was a girl with crimson hair, and sparkling emerald green eyes. He then noticed she was gazing at him with curiosity. Freezing on the spot, he force his gaze down in attempt to think of a way to start the conversation. Taking a leap of faith, he spontaneously clapped both of his cheeks and raised his head, beaming up at her as he Introduced himself. "I'm J-Jaune! Jaune Arc! N-nice to meet you!"