Half a mile from his home, Haru stood in the middle of a small clearing deep within the snow covered forest. His old tattered cloak billowed in the cold wind as he looked down at the large, flat stone that stood from the ground with writing carved into the smooth surface.
Minato & Materia
Loving Parents and Loyal Hunters
"In the Darkness, the fires of Hope will set us free."
Kneeling over the grave, Haru removed the axe and bow from his back and laid them across one another over the ground below the headstone. "I'm sorry it's been as long as it has." he said quietly. "There has been a lot on my mind for the last couple of days, but I believe you already know all about that."
The young hunter smiled softly a moment before becoming serious again, "I've decided to go to Beacon. I know deep down that would be what you wanted for me. Though I can't guarantee that it'll change my mind about the whole experience being a waste of time, given everything you both taught me about how to survive in the world."
A small gust of wind picked up, oddly warmer than what it should have been as it caressed his face and gently flowed past his wolf-ears. Haru smiled again, "I'll do you both proud." he vowed, reaching out and laying his hand on the grave stone. Keeping it there for a couple of moments before picking up the weapons and standing.
"I don't know when I will return. But I hope that you will be there with me on this journey." Haru looked down at the weapons in his hands. Leviathan, his father's axe. And Artemis, his mother's bow.
"... I know you will be." said the young hunter as he slipped the weapons onto his back. Sending one final look at his parents' grave before turning and heading back toward home.
After the call he had made to Ozpin, Haru had gathered together everything he had needed for not only the journey to Vale, but also for the time he would be spending at the academy he would soon become a part of.
Entering the house, he approached the couch where a large rucksack was already packed and waiting. Picking it up and throwing it over his shoulder, the young hunter gave his home one last look before heading back outside, locking the door behind him before going down the long trail that led through the forest.
Making sure his belongings were secure to his back, Haru gathered his aura to his legs and shot off into the trees. Infusing the energy into his muscles granting him speed that surpassed an average person. The snow covered landscape blurring past him as he headed in the direction of the nearest village.
He had a long trip ahead of him.
A bloody and chaotic battle waged in all directions. Men in ancient armor were locked in fierce combat against a massive army of barbarians, the armored warriors outnumbered by the thousands as they were mercilessly slaughtered.
Despite how hard they fought back, the smaller army was overwhelmed by the sheer number and ferocity of their enemies.
In the very center of the carnage, the Commander of the armored soldiers was locked in his own battle against the hulking chieftain of the barbarians. The bigger man wielding a massive warhammer and making it harder for the other man to land an effective hit against his opponent.
"Is this the best the 'Great Sparta' has to offer?" the chieftain goaded as he swung his hammer down hard. The weapon impacting the ground just after the Commander had managed to roll out of harm's way.
"You and your savages will regret this day!" the smaller man bellowed back, bringing his sword to bare and charging his enemy with a fierce battle-cry.
The chieftain grinned ferally, a wide swipe of his warhammer landed hard against the Commander, sending him spinning in the air and landing in a heap on the ground. His sword flew from his hand and was lost somewhere on the battlefield.
Coughing up blood, the Commander looked at the carnage around him. His army was all but decimated, a few brave souls still fought, most gravely injured but refusing to back down even in the face of death.
But as damning as it was to accept… the battle was all but lost to them this day.
A deep, rumbling laugh drew his attention back to the chieftain. Looking up at the larger man from his back as he loomed over him. "It is over," he said grinning in victory. "Our next conquest… will be Sparta itself! Be thankful that you won't get to see your cherished home burn to the ground!" he raised the warhammer high in the air, intending on dealing the final blow to the young Commander of the Spartans.
His death all but certain, the bald, red marked warrior gritted his teeth, defiant to the end… but then he saw it.
In the sky above, the clouds swirled and pulsed with a power that was none of this world. Then he felt it, a powerful presence that many great warriors had only prayed to feel while in the heat of battle.
HE was watching from his throne up on Olympus… it was his only chance for victory, for survival. The Commander didn't hesitate;
"ARES!" he bellowed, hand raised to the heavens, "DESTROY MY ENEMIES! AND MY LIFE IS YOURS!"
The skies opened up, a massive vortex was revealed that shined brighter than the sun itself. All the fighting came to a stop, both armies staring up at the heavens at the spectacle as a towering, all powerful being began to descend upon them…
Haru blinked his eyes open, the remnants of the dream he'd been having slowly drifting to the back of his mind as he rejoined the waking world.
He'd been having dreams similar to that one for the last couple of months. Each one about the same bald, tribal marked man that fought with a ferocity and strength greater than any huntsman. Each one became more vivid than the last as he seemed to see the man's life from his perspective.
There was no explanation for the appearance of the dreams… but each one left him confused and a bit drained by the end.
Yawning, he sat up in his seat aboard the large transport ship that was currently heading to Vale. The wolf-Faunus had spent the last four traveling. Arriving at the small town in the valley where he lived, he got land transport to Atlas where he booked passage to the next kingdom via dust plane.
Showing the customs officials the credentials Ozpin had given him, he had no trouble in his journey, though he still got odd looks given his rough and rugged appearance that apparently didn't "fit in" in Atlas.
Torn un-kept clothing was looked upon with contempt by those from a "higher-class", even more so given that he was a Faunus. But Haru merely ignored them and their shallow ways and let his mind wander as he boarded the plane and got plenty of rest from his journey so far.
Looking across from him, Haru saw a little boy with brown hair looking back at him with curiosity and awe. Giving a gentle smile in return, he waved at the boy who waved back grinning widely. The boy's mother saw the interaction and pulled her child's attention away, "Don't interact with it sweetie." she said before sending a harsh glare at the wolf-Faunus and moving herself and the boy to another place to be seated.
The hunter watched them go, keeping his frustration of the woman's prejudice in check and took a breath to calm himself. Even after all the years since the last war, the Faunus were still looked upon as second-rate compared to others.
Although not everyone was that way, there were many Humans who treated Faunus with equality. But there were still a great deal who looked upon them with hate, fear or indifference, many businesses openly refusing to serve them or give them jobs simply because they were different.
And things weren't getting any better thanks to the White Fang and their terrorist-like attacks. Making all Faunus look like the monsters everyone believed them to be. Forcing some of them to hide their animal features so that they had a chance to fit in with the rest of the world.
Haru, however, wasn't one of those Faunus. He grew up proud of his heritage and was always told to never be ashamed of who he was.
"Attention passengers. We will be arriving in Vale shortly, please gather your luggage and prepare to disembark." the PA system chimed with a female voice. All of the passengers gathered their things and waited for the ship to touch down.
The wolf-Faunus pulled out his rucksack from the compartment beneath his seat, making sure that everything was in place while he waited for the ship to touch down.
It would be a couple more weeks before the start of the new semester at Beacon, and Haru had already decided to familiarize himself with Vale during that time before starting at the academy. There wasn't much point in being in a new place if you didn't know the lay of the land. And according to the information Ozpin had sent him after accepting the invitation, all new students coming from other kingdoms were put up in a couple of hotels around Vale until the start of the new year, so he didn't have to worry about a place to stay thankfully.
However, it was strange to have such things already prepared for him, having been used to foraging for himself for so long. But if there was one thing Haru could be sure of it was how to adapt… though that didn't make it any less odd given his upbringing.
Several minutes later, the transport vessel touched down on the sky-port on the far edge of Vale, the passengers beginning to disembark down the ramps that extended. Haru was the last one off, his large bag slung over his shoulder as he took in the new sights and sounds around him.
Vale was a bit different compared to Atlas. The Northern kingdom looked more advanced given that it was home to not only the biggest militant army on Remnant, but also the Schnee Dust Company headquarters as well.
Vale, however, looked to be more like an average city, calm yet busy at the same time. Not nearly as crowded with people and had a more average feel to it. It wasn't a bad change.
Wolf-ears twitching frequently, the hunter took out the scroll that had been given to him and checked the directions to where he would be staying. Closing the device down, he started making his way in the right direction.