*Yang

I wave goodbye to my friends and classmates as I leave the signal academy. The senior bash was pretty lame. I could have done a better job of planning it. The only decent thing was the music. Maybe I'm just bitter because no one had the guts to ask me out again. It's hard being this flawless. I'm 5'8", or 5'11" with these high heels, and I have long, wavy golden hair that reaches my lower back. I'm wearing a classy burgundy sundress that shows off my curves. I know I'm a head-turner.

I scan the parking lot for my dad's car, but I don't see it anywhere. I take out my scroll and try to call him, but it goes straight to voicemail. I curse under my breath and try to call my uncle, but he doesn't answer either. Dad and Uncle Qrow said they would be waiting for me after the dance.

Crack

I look down at my scroll and see that it's broken. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, counting to ten. When I open them again, the red glow fades from my irises, leaving them their normal purple. I left my bike at home because of the dress, and now it looks like I have to walk. I look around the empty parking lot and feel a lump in my throat. I shake it off and start jogging home.

As I jog along the road, I try not to think about why I hoped this time would be different. Dad and Uncle Qrow are always letting me down. They're so good at forgetting their responsibilities. I speed up to clear my mind of the negative thoughts and decide to cut through the forest. It'll ruin my dress, but this night is already ruined anyway, and it'll save me some time.

It's not entirely Dad's fault, he's broken and Uncle Qrow is a hopeless drunk. Ever since Mom died, he just zones out some days. And as for my biological mother, she's a coward who abandoned us. One day, I'm going to find her and make her explain herself, and then I'm going to-

"Just die already!"

I hear the sound of a fight and instinctively run toward it. I reach for my weapon, but then remember that I left it at home. Ember Celica didn't go with my outfit, and who brings their weapons to a dance anyway? Hopefully, it's just a Beowulf and I can distract it long enough for whoever is fighting it to get away, and then I can lose it and get home safely. As I reach the clearing, I stop in shock as I see a huge Nuckelavee towering over me. I gulp nervously and hesitate for a moment, but then see a boy lying on the ground near its feet. He has a white gauntlet on one hand and his other arm is bleeding. I take a step forward, determined not to be like my mother. As I run towards the boy, he suddenly changes into a girl with a black gauntlet on her hand and an angry expression on her face. She looks even more battered than the boy, but she lunges at the Nuckelavee and manages to land a solid hit before being thrown back and sliding across the ground.

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I reach the girl and pick her up, running towards home as fast as I can. Dad and Uncle Qrow may be many things, but they're not useless in a fight.

"Don't worry, you're going to be fine," I say to comfort the girl who is breathing rapidly in my arms. I dodge between trees as the Nuckelavee chases after us, barely staying out of its reach. As I sprint with all my strength, carrying the extra weight of the girl, my muscles start to ache and burn. I don't need to look back to know how close it is, I can feel its heat on my neck. As I run burning my aura, trying to get some more distance from the Grimm, I recognize the surround ings and see the clearing up ahead. Then I realize two problems: there's no car in the yard, and as soon as we enter the clearing, the Nuckelavee will have nothing in its way and catch up with us. I look down at the girl in my arms and lock eyes with her. I smile as confidently as I can.

"Listen, when I tell you to run into the house and find a place to hide. I'll try to hold off the Grimm," I say quickly. I don't wait for her to reply. I burst into the clearing and run faster than ever before. My aura starts to flare up visibly as I cover fifty yards before I have to dodge to the side, shielding the girl from the Nuckelavee's attack. I get up and hand her my house keys, then turn to face the Grimm.

The Nuckelavee rears up on its hind legs and lets out a deafening roar. I brace myself for a fight I know I can't win. I raise my fists and get ready to fight. I don't have to win, just survive. As the Nuckelavee stomps the ground and swings its weapon, ready to charge, the girl joins me on my right and the boy from before on my left. Before I can tell them to get to safety, a light surrounds me and a pair of white and black gauntlets appear on my arms. I take a deep breath as I feel my aura replenishing faster than anything I've ever experienced before.