Yes, Mother Dear

— Winter Schnee

***Yes, Mother Dear*** is the second chapter of *RWBY: Witch Hunt*.

## Plot

***Knock. Knock. Knock.***

A middle-aged man with brown hair and yellow eyes sat in bed, staring up at the ceiling.

***Knock-knock. Knock-knock. Knock-knock.***

With each knock, each one increasing in tempo, the man's eyes twitched.

***Knock-knock-knock. Knock-knock-knock. Knock-knock-knock.***

He sat up, and exited his room, walking down the hallway. The volume of the knocks began to increase just as the speed of them did.

***Knock-knock-knock-knock. Knock-knock-knock-knock. Knock-knock-knock-knock.***

Reaching the end of the hallway, he finally had gotten to the door where the knocking originated from. Almost a comical amount of locks were kept on it, each one adding what could be considered an over exaggerated amount of security. At least, it could only be considered over exaggerated until one knew what the door held back.

***Knock-knock-knock-knock-knock. ...Knock. ...Knock. ...Knock.***

"Tyrian." The man said in an exhausted voice. "Please. We're trying to sleep."

The knocking abruptly stopped. The hallway went silent, and the man sighed.

"Thank you."

One step later...

***KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!***

The man fell to the ground in surprise, holding his hands over his ears as Tyrian banged against the door over and over and over again. A noise as loud as the knocks came about, not being involved with the knocks as they were of a different cadence and tone. The man looked up to see a brown-haired woman with purple eyes approaching fast, stomping her feet with every step. She lifted her bare bear arms and banged against the door a single time, which was enough to silence the ones on the other side.

"TYRIAN! YOUR FATHER SAID TO SHUT UP! SO SHUT! UP! NOW!"

Silence once again fell over the place. Tyrian's mother sighed, and a low laughter came from the other side of the door.

"Yes, mother dear."

Huffing, the mother took her leave back to the bedroom. The father stared at the door in a tired state before standing and following the mother, his beaver tail swaying behind him. Tyrian's low chuckle continued to come from the room, though not nearly as intrusive as the knocking he had been doing previously. He slowed his laughter, eventually halting it to allow for silence... Only for one of the locks on the door to break.

Kemonoyuri was a quiet town in the wilderness of Anima, one of the few village settlements that had existed away from the kingdom of Mistral. Its name meant "Beast Village," a constant reminder that those living there, Faunus, were treated as lower than their human counterparts. The only humans that were allowed in the town were drifters who promised to simply pass through, or Huntsmen and Huntresses who helped to protect the townsfolk regardless of their heritage.

The rainy and dreary weather of Kemonoyuri matched the somber tone felt across is populous, though they made sure not to be too outward about these emotions, lest they attract the Creatures of Grimm from the forests which would surely sense their negativity. A bell tolled throughout the village, as Callows' parents made their way to the school house, his father Harlem and mother Honey. Specifics about why they were summoned had not been disclosed yet, but they knew their son had done something downright awful.

The tiny school's headmaster held his hands before his aggravated face, attempting to keep his temper in check, as the ten year old Tyrian Callows was giggling away, despite being bound up in the chair nearby. Harlem was the first to enter, and Tyrian faced him, continuing his giggling. At least, that was the case until Honey entered, her expression of disappointment immediately shutting Tyrian up. The parents took their seats across from the headmaster, and a deathly silence fell over the room for a few moments.

"...That bell." The headmaster spoke up. "We only ring that bell when we've lost someone." His capybara ears twitched in disgust. "And we have lost someone today. The Tanzanite's have lost their child, Matte." This comment gained looks of concern and discontent from the two Callows parents. "...Tyrian. Would you mind explaining to your parents exactly how that happened?"

Tyrian's face gained its crooked and crazed grin as he craned his head upwards toward the headmaster. The tip of his scorpion tail twitched despite its bindings, and he once again began his giggling.

"Oh, Headmaster Amour! Please! There certainly must be some... misunderstanding." Tyrian interrupted himself with his own laughter. "Matte Tanzanite isn't lost! He's moved beyond! All I did was free him from the mortal vessel binding him to our broken world!"

Amour's expression filled with more anger and disgust as Tyrian talked. "...And how did you do that, Tyrian?"

"My tail inside his neck, of course."

Honey flinched at the comment. "Tyrian."

Tyrian looked at his mother with an expression that could only be described as unnaturally lovingly. "Yes, mother dear?"

"Be. Quiet."

Tyrian lowered his head in an overexaggerated expression of shame, his tone of voice changing. "Yes, mother dear..."

"Harlem. Honey."

Both parents turned their attention to Amour, who at this point was beyond words regarding his emotions about the situation.

"I've always had trouble out of Tyrian since he began attending school. But I think I speak for everyone when I say that nobody expected this. A child taken at such a young age, at the hands of another student, no less. I know that this must be a horrific experience for the both of you. ...And I'm sorry. But we can't risk this happening again. We're such a small settlement, that an incident like this again would threaten to wipe us out if the Grimm come."

Harlem's brow furrowed "Wh-What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that, it's already been decided that it would be best if you leave Kemonoyuri."

"What?!"

"You're not serious?!"

"Damnit, Callows!" Amour hit his desk as he stood up. He was glaring eye to eye with Honey, though Harlem's confidence had been shaken to the point he had sat back down. Amour took a moment to calm himself. "A child is dead. By the hands of yours. Of course I'm serious. Two hunstmen are willing to escort you to a new location. But you can't stay here. And THAT thing-" He glared at Tyrian. "Must be kept under control."

Honey kept her glaring at Amour before cracking her neck. "Fine. You'll just run us out anyway if we don't go."

Amour remained silent for a moment, then sat back down. "...Good luck out there."

Harlem shook his head and was the first to step out of the room. Honey grabbed hold of the chair Tyrian was tied in, and dragged it out of the room. Amour kept his eyes on the young Scorpion Faunus, who glared back at him with a smile; as the door to his office swung back and forth from Honey's exit, Amour could've sworn for at least the smallest of moments, Tyrian's yellow eyes changed to a piercing and toxic purple.

It had been three years since the Callows had been forced out of Kemonoyuri. Tyrian had been kept locked inside his room the entire time, treated like a prisoner within his own home. The parents had done constant maintenance on the room to ensure Tyrian couldn't escape it, and had been without issue for three years, aside from the occasional racket Tyrian would make from within the chamber solely to get some form of reaction. The only constant opening was a small sliver at the bottom of the door which allowed for circulation of air, and for Tyrian's food. The plumbing situation shouldn't be mentioned.

Harlem had made it back to the bedroom. He looked up to see Honey giving him an exhausted and disappointed look.

"Wh-What is it?"

"What is wrong with you?"

"...I-I don't-"

"You're terrified of him. And he knows it. You've never had a backbone, and that's why he never listens to you."

"He n-never listens because he's-"

"He's what, Harlem? Insane? Crazy? Maniacal? What else could you say about him that no one else did? We heard everything when we left Kemonoyuri, something we wouldn't have had to do if he was properly disciplined by both of us. And not just me."

"Y-You're saying it's my fault we left? My fault h-he.... Killed that boy?"

"Your lack of confidence certainly doesn't help anything!"

"Matte's blood i-isn't on my hands, Honey! Y-You're off base. Please-"

"No. NO! I'm... So tired. I'm tired of living in these woods. I'm tired of keeping our child locked in a glorified cupboard. And I'm tired of you."

"....O-Of me?"

"Your damn passive nature. That constant state of insecurity. I thought it was endearing at first. But it's become insufferable and a weakness. He'd kill you if it weren't for me." Honey continued her look at Harlem, who looked away while holding his arm. "...Goddamnit, Harlem! Give me something to work wi-"

Glass crashed in another room of the house. Fearing the worst, the two put aside their conversation and entered the hall. Though they were relieved that the source wasn't Tyrian, what actually caused it wasn't much better. The negativity of their argument had attracted a Beringel, which had broken through the window. It glanced up at them, and roared as it pounded its chest, before rushing the two. Honey gave out an equal roar as she charged towards it as well, her large size and animal arms allowing her to take the beast head on. Harlem, however, cowered away from the fight.

Honey clawed at the beast, attempting to hit anywhere its bone armor didn't cover with the use of her sharp bear claws. The Beringel roared in pain from each hit, and then thrashed directly at her chest, knocking her back far enough to hit Tyrian's door. She got down on all fours and charged the beast, knocking it over by hitting its legs when it raised its arms to thrash down on her. Harlem peaked around the corner, and his eyes widened when he saw Tyrian's door had been damaged in the fight. Being significantly smaller than the two fighting, Harlem was able to use his spry nature to get over the fight and to the door, trying to keep it closed.

As Honey picked herself up to thrash down on the Beringel, it grabbed hold of her chest and threw her about before bashing her on the ground, causing her to roll across the floor before stopping right near Harlem. The two of them shared horrifying glances, but Honey's glance became even more horrified when she realized that, whilst on the ground, she could see right through the slit in Tyrian's door which his food went through. On the other side was the half-visible face of Tyrian himself, staring back at his mother, with possibly the first tear she'd ever seen him shed. Suddenly, Honey was quickly and violently yanked away from the scene; she screamed in fright and pain as the Beringel dragged her by the ankle. It lifted her and hit her against the ground.

***"MOTHER!"***

"HONEY!"

Harlem finally mustered enough courage to run into the fight, leaving Tyrian's door unattended. When Harlem reached the ape, it hit him away, throwing him through the same window it crashed through to begin with. It then lifted its arms again, and relentlessly bashed down on Honey over and over again, splattering blood all over the floor. With one final raise of its bloodstained hands, the Beringel attempted to thrash down again, but stopped. It seemed to have some trouble breathing, and looked own, to see a scorpion tail had gone right through its torso. The tail then yanked back out, and the gorilla Grimm collapsed as it disintegrated. From behind the dying Grimm stood its assailant, a smirking Tyrian, whose expression changed drastically to horror as he noticed his mother's corpse beneath him.

"M-M-Mother dear?"

Outside, Harlem stood up with a groan, and looked through the window, only to become terrified upon seeing his son standing there. Tyrian's head snapped towards him, immediately changing to a look of rage. His body turned for him to fully face his father, and he took a deep breath while closing his eyes.

Harlem was surprised when Tyrian's anger turned to a crazed smile and his eyes opened again, having changed from the yellow of his father's eyes to the purple of his mother's. Tyrian's stance lowered, and his tail raised, pointed right at Harlem. Overcome with fear, Harlem turned and ran, with Tyrian jumping out of the window after him, pursuing on all fours as he licked his lips. Running through the forest, Harlem took a sharp right turn into a nearby brush and continued on his way until he reached a clearing. He stopped for a moment, attempting to catch his breath. Looking around, he didn't see Tyrian in the immediate area, and didn't hear his running, either, prompting him to sigh with relief.

This relief was short-lived, as Tyrian's silhouette covered Remnant's shattered moon as he jumped from the top of a tree, and pounced on a once-again-horrified Harlem, Having pinned his squirming father to the ground, Tyrian's tail moved about, uncomfortably close to his father's face.

"T-T-T-Tyrian! Please! I-"

"Awww, he's begging! FAR more interesting of a response than the Tanzanite boy had!" Tyrian giggled to himself. "What did she say? That if it weren't for her..."

Harlem's eyes widened with realization. "N-No! I'm your f-father! Tyrian..."

Still pinning Harlem to the ground, Tyrian took a sharp inhale as his head craned up to the sky.

"....Yes, mother dear."

Tyrian's tail shot upwards before careening down into Harlem.

In the village of Kemonoyuri, Amour sipped his tea by candlelight whilst reading a novel. In the three years since the Callows incident, his bright fuchsia hair had gained several white and silver streaks, including the fur of his Faunus ears. Said ears twitched a bit, and he looked up, though upon not immediately seeing anything outside his window, he shrugged, and continued reading.

'The four treasures of legend had been stashed away, each protected by a lady of immense power."

That was odd. Amour was certain he was reading in his head and not out loud.

"The fair maiden passed, and the treasures were forgotten."

Amour's eyes widened. *He was* reading in his head. But *someone else* was speaking. Right over his shoulder. Amour turned his head slowly, and immediately fell out of his seat upon seeing Tyrian behind him.

"T-Tyrian?!"

Tyrian let out a sarcastic and exaggerated gasp. "You DO remember me! I'm honored! Because I certainly remembered you during my years of confinement!"

Tyrian proceeded to be incredibly extra and do a flip onto the chair Amour had been sitting in, standing on it to be taller than Amour. Fearing for his life, Amour grabbed the woodcutter's axe on his wall and swung it at Tyrian, who grabbed hold of the handle with his tail and yanked it away from Amour's grip, dropping it behind him.

"How exciting! I most definitely was not expecting any fight out of you!"

Tyrian jumped off the chair, and in the process, kicked Amour in the chest, knocking him against the bookshelf. Amour looked up at him with fear-filled eyes.

"H-How did you get here? What do you want?!"

"How? Why, I gained freedom, obviously! And that's exactly why I'm here! To grant you freedom!" He licked his lips as his eyes changed to purple yet again, instilling even more fear in Amour as he realized it wasn't just a trick of the light. "Just like I did to Matte Tanzanite."

The town was woken up in a state of confusion, The death bell tolled over and over, interrupting the town's otherwise peaceful night of sleep. Numerous concerned parents, and a few children who managed to tag along in their sleepy conditions, rushed to the bell tower.

"What's going on?"

"Who died?"

"Please, we need to remain calm."

"KEMONOYURI!" The town was startled, looking up at the top of the tower where the shouting voice originated. "YOU ARE ABOUT TO MEET THE SYMBOL... OF YOUR SALVATION!"

As the crowd murmured amongst themselves, something was thrown out of the top of the tower. Stopping about halfway, it was shown to be the corpse of Amour, his neck veins filled with the purple toxin from Tyrian's tail, his body suspended from the top by a rope. Tied to his body were the bones of a child, the dug up remains of Matte Tanzanite. Dread and panic came over the civilians, worsened when Tyrian began maniacally ringing the bell again with his own crazed laughter to go with it. The silhouette of a giant bird flew overhead, only furthering the negativity in the village. Tyrian, on the other hand, gasped, and seemed delighted.

"Right on time!"

Tyrian peered over the edge of the tower, watching as Nevermores, Beowulves, Ursai, and Beringels ravaged the town, breaking into buildings and slaughtering the civilians. Stepping back, Tyrian proceeded to flip out of the bell tower, and land inside a wagon of hay that broke his fall. And he waited. Screams and cries filled the area, though Tyrian was holding out on another sound he heard.

***Clip-clop. Clip-clop. Clip-clop.***

The sound of horse hooves passed by the wagon, along with a dragging sound, and a very, very faint moan. Tyrian quietly and slowly peaked his head out of the hay, his eyes welled with tears of joy.

"It's... glorious."

Tyrian crept out of the wagon, careful not to attract the unwanted attention of any of the monsters he intentionally attracted to the town, and made his escape, ensuring he wouldn't be caught up in the massacre himself.

## Characters

* Harlem Callows
* Honey Callows
* Tyrian Callows
* Headmaster Amour
* Matte Tanzanite *(bones)*

### Grimm

* Beringels
* Nevermores
* Beowolves
* Ursai
* Nuckelavee

## Trivia

* The behind the scenes notes of Tyrian's parents are as follows:
	+ "Harlem" refers to a home on a forested dune, bringing to mind greens and beiges. It may also bring to mind black due to the word's association with Black History. His allusion is the Hero of Haarlem, the titular character of a story wherein a boy prevents a dam from leaking by plugging the hole with his finger. The allusion is why Harlem holds Tyrian's door closed during the Beringel attack.
	+ "Honey" brings to mind yellows, oranges, golds, and browns. Her allusion is Winnie the Pooh, hence her name, and being a Bear Faunus.
* "Amour" is a word associated with love, bringing to mind reds and pinks.