"My name is Corey Gold Tokiwa-Silver, and I'm heading home to find myself. I'm no longer certain what I should do anymore. I lost my arm when Beacon Fell, my teammates Azuel Hiden and Sumire Yoshizawaw were among the many casualties. My older brother Fuwa took care of me for three months. I lost my right arm, and he gave me a replacement one, a Robotic one that has built-in claws and a pistol." I looked around the boat as I kept my hood on. My cat ears droop slightly.

"To think of all the places I would go, it's Kuo Kana in Menagerie." I waved goodbye to Fuwa as the boat took off.

The salty breeze of the sea brushed against my face as the boat glided over the waves, the rhythmic sway of the vessel oddly soothing. My right arm, or rather, the metallic replacement Fuwa gave me, rested on my lap. I flexed the claws experimentally. The subtle whirring of the internal mechanisms reminded me of how much I had changed-how much everything had changed.

I pulled my hood down tighter over my ears. The other passengers didn't seem to notice me, most too absorbed in their conversations or staring out at the endless blue horizon. I preferred it that way. Less attention meant fewer questions.

Menagerie. It had always felt like a distant, almost mythical place-a safe haven for Faunus. Now, it was my destination. Not because I wanted refuge, but because I had nowhere else to go.

"Home," I muttered under my breath, tasting the word as if it were foreign.

Fuwa had insisted this trip would help. That getting away from Vale, from the memories of Beacon, would give me clarity. But the thought of leaving everything behind felt more like running than healing. I wasn't sure clarity was what I'd find on Menagerie's shores.

I traced a claw over the wooden bench, feeling the slight give of the wood beneath the metal. My mind wandered back to Beacon-the towering spires, the laughter of my team, the vibrant halls that once echoed with our dreams. Azuel's determined grin. Sumire's quiet confidence. Their faces haunted me in the dead of night, their voices just beyond reach. They were gone, and I had survived. Why? What made me special? The question gnawed at me every day.

The boat rocked gently as a voice pulled me from my thoughts.

"You alright, there?" It was a fellow passenger-a Faunus woman with sleek black hair and vivid amber eyes. Her fox ears twitched in curiosity.

I hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah, just... thinking."

"First time heading to Menagerie?" she asked, her tone light, though there was a hint of sympathy in her eyes.

"Yeah," I said, keeping my answer short.

"Don't worry. It's beautiful. And welcoming." She smiled softly. "You'll find peace there."

Peace? I wasn't sure peace was something I could ever find again. But I forced a smile in return. "Thanks."

She gave a small nod and wandered back to her seat, leaving me to my thoughts once more.

As the coastline of Kuo Kana began to take shape on the horizon, I felt a flicker of something deep inside-a mix of dread and hope. Maybe Fuwa was right. Maybe I'd find something here. Or maybe I'd find nothing at all.

Either way, I had to keep moving forward. I looked at the port, and it hasn't changed since I left.

My home, it's been awhile since I was last here. The passengers unloaded their stuff. I walked away from the group of passengers. My ears drooped as people were discussing what happened at Beacon and the fall of Vale. The Cross Continental Communication Tower was destroyed. Great no contact with other kingdoms.

"Hey did you hear?" A Tiger Faunus running a fish stand.

"No?" A shopper responded.

"That the White Fang was responsible for the fall!" A human girl adds in. She had blonde hair, green eyes and she was about six or seven years old. A grown woman accompanied her. She was a cat Faunus with silver eyes and black hair. Her cat ears look like mine.

"Amnbet, don't get involved with politics." She scolded her.

"Yes Mom." She replied.

I kept my hood low as I passed by the market, my ears twitching at the mention of the White Fang. My gut twisted. The White Fang, once a symbol of Faunus pride, had become something else entirely-something darker. Hearing them being blamed for the fall of Beacon wasn't new, but it still stung. Not all of us believed in their methods.

I quickened my pace, wanting to escape the chatter. The path leading toward my old neighborhood was just as I remembered: narrow streets lined with modest homes, their warm tones blending into Menagerie's natural landscape. My heart pounded harder with each step. How many times had I run through these streets as a kid? How many times had Blake and I raced each other down this very road?

Blake. The thought of her brought a pang of sadness. I hadn't seen her since Beacon fell. Was she here? Would she want to see me if she was? I pushed the thought aside. I had enough on my plate.

My family home came into view-an old but sturdy house with weathered wood and a roof that always needed repairs. I hesitated at the gate, my robotic hand tightening around the latch. The memories flooded back: my mother's laughter, my father's stern but loving gaze, Fuwa's protective presence.

I pushed the gate open, the creak of the hinges echoing in the still air. The garden was overgrown, weeds choking the once well-tended plants. The porch steps groaned under my weight as I ascended. I stopped at the door, my hand hovering over the handle.

"Here goes nothing," I muttered, taking a deep breath and turning the knob.

The door opened easily, revealing the familiar interior. Dust coated the furniture, and the air was stale, but it was still home. I stepped inside, my boots thudding softly on the wooden floor. Memories flashed before my eyes-family dinners, late-night talks, and the comforting warmth of home. It felt both foreign and familiar.

I closed the door behind me and took a step further when a sudden knock echoed from outside. I froze. Slowly, I turned and opened the door.

Standing there was Amber, the girl from the market, her green eyes wide with surprise. She held a small bag of groceries in her arms.

"Amber?" I asked, blinking in disbelief.

She looked at me, her eyes narrowing for a moment before recognition dawned. "Corey?" Her voice was a mixture of shock and relief. "I thought it was you! You've... changed."

I gave a half-smile. "Yeah. It's been a while."

She glanced at my robotic arm, her expression softening. "You've been through a lot."

"Same could be said for everyone," I replied, stepping aside. "Want to come in?"

Amber hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah, I'd like that." She stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room. "It's been years since I was here."

I closed the door behind her, feeling a strange sense of calm wash over me. Maybe coming back wasn't such a bad idea after all.

"Mom! Corey's home!" My little sister ran down the hall to get my mother.

My mother walked down the hall. She looks at me for a bit. "You came home?" She crossed her arms.

"Yes." I looked down at the floor.

"I thought you died! You ran off with the White Fang, and I never heard from you!" She raised her hand and I flinched. She embraced me. "Fuwa told me you were going to Beacon. He told me everything about you, and your team CASD."

I hugged her back. "I'm sorry!" I cried into her shoulder. "I left to find myself, I left after joining the Fang." I couldn't hold it in anymore.

I rarely show any sadness in my life. The last I cried like this was when I killed my father when I unlocked my Semblance of Shadow Domination. My mom kept rubbing my shoulders. "There there, everything is going to be alright."

Amber stepped closer, her hand resting gently on my knee. "You've carried this alone for so long," she said softly. "But you don't have to anymore."

I pulled back slightly, wiping my eyes and looking at her. She wasn't the little sister I remembered-she'd grown stronger, more grounded. Her calm presence steadied me. "Amber... I'm sorry I wasn't here for you."

Her eyes softened, a hint of sadness crossing her face. "You left, but you came back. That's what matters now." She gave a small smile, one that reminded me of how much I'd missed while I was away. "Besides, you're still my big brother. Nothing changes that."

I chuckled softly, despite the heaviness in my chest. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," she said, her voice catching slightly. Then she threw her arms around me in a fierce hug, her strength surprising me. I hugged her back, feeling the warmth of family I hadn't realized I was so desperate for.

Our mother stood nearby, her eyes watching us with a mixture of relief and pride. "We'll get through this together," she said firmly. "We've lost enough. No more running, no more hiding."

Amber pulled away slightly, her eyes shining with determination. "We're stronger together. You've been through so much, Corey, but we're here now."

I nodded, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. For the first time in years, I felt like I belonged again. There was still a long road ahead, but with Amber and Mom by my side, maybe I didn't have to walk it alone.

Amber smiled, nudging me lightly. "Come on, let's sit down. You can tell us everything-if you're ready."

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah. It's time."

My cat ears dropped as I walked to my old room. The bed was dust covered. My old room, the last time I was here was about nine or ten. I looked out the window to see Blake and Sun walking side by side.

Amber looked at me, her eyes were uncorrupted by the world we live in. To think my mom remarried a human. "Can you read me a story?" She had one of my books, a piece of fiction about humans turning into animals in a world that's not overrun by Grimm.

I sat on my old bed. "Maybe later." I was still recalling the night that claimed the lives of Azu and Sumire. Dan evacuated with everyone that didn't fight. Something felt off about that. He's typically too stubborn to... was he working with the Enemy? Was he a spy? I knew he opened up to me about his childhood bully, his family life, he was... a fellow Faunus, a friend and a brother in arms. He's from Atlas and had a better life than me.

No he couldn't be working for Cinder's group. I won't believe it.

I shook my head, trying to dispel the thoughts creeping into my mind. Dan wouldn't betray us. He couldn't. But the seed of doubt was already planted, and it gnawed at me. My instincts, sharpened by years of fighting and surviving, wouldn't let it go. Still, I wasn't ready to face that possibility-not yet.

Amber climbed onto the bed beside me, her small frame pressing close. She hugged the book tightly to her chest, her wide eyes staring up at me. "You promise later, right?"

I smiled weakly and ruffled her hair. "Yeah, later. I promise."

Satisfied, she nodded and settled next to me, flipping through the pages. I watched her for a moment, her innocence a stark contrast to the dark thoughts in my head. Amber was the light in this house, untouched by the war that had taken so much from me. I envied her purity but also felt an overwhelming need to protect it.

I glanced out the window again. Blake and Sun were still there, their conversation animated but quiet from this distance. Blake's presence stirred something deep inside-familiarity, comfort, and a shared past we'd never fully confronted. She'd left her family behind to join the White Fang, just like I had. But she found a way back to the light. Could I?

Amber's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Corey, why did you leave? Mom never talks about it, and Fuwa only says you were on a mission."

I froze. The truth hovered on the tip of my tongue, but how could I explain everything to her? She was too young to understand the weight of my decisions, the mistakes that haunted me.

"I thought I could make a difference," I said carefully, my eyes fixed on the pages of her book. "I thought joining the White Fang would help make things better for Faunus. But I was wrong."

Amber tilted her head, her brow furrowing. "But you're back now. Does that mean you can still help?"

Her simple question struck deeper than any accusation. Could I still help? Was there any redemption left for me? I didn't have the answer, but looking at her hopeful face, I knew I had to try.

"I'm going to try," I said quietly. "For you, for Mom, and for everyone who believed in me."

Amber smiled, her trust unwavering. She closed the book and rested her head against my shoulder. "I know you will."

I wrapped my arm around her, holding her close. For now, this was enough. Tomorrow, I'll figure out the rest. But tonight, I was home.