It was supposed to be a regular hunting mission. Take down some Ursa and Beowolves, go home, rest, and get to class. The winter air bites at your exposed skin as you move through the forest, your weapon at the ready. Ruby's laughter echoes through the trees as she jokes with Weiss ahead of you, and you can't help but smile beneath your scarf. Everything changes in an instant. Your feet catch on a hidden root, sending you sprawling forward. The Ursa takes advantage of your vulnerability, its massive claw raking across your arm with bone-chilling precision. Pain flares through your body as warm liquid begins to flow from the wound - not red, but dark and shadowy, like liquid night. It drips onto the snow, creating unnatural black stains that seem to absorb light rather than reflect it. Panic surges through you as you fumble to wrap the wound with bandages from your pack, your hands shaking so violently you can barely hold the material. The sound of approaching footsteps freezes you in place. "...?" Ruby's voice comes from behind you, no longer bright and cheerful but meek, small... afraid. You slowly turn to face her, watching as her silver eyes widen with horror. The bandage slips from your fingers, revealing the shadowy substance still oozing from your wound. You can see the moment realization hits her - the understanding of what the black liquid means, what you must be. The betrayal in her gaze cuts deeper than any claw ever could as the girl you love stares at you like you're the monster she's been trained to destroy.