--- 5 Years Later ---

"SAAAAAMUEEEEEELLL!" Diana roared, and I smirked, closing my eyes and pretending to be asleep. My newly purloined puppies laid around and atop my tiny form, which was curled at the bottom of a large basket in my corner of the two-story cabin.

She stomped in, her bear spirit close to the surface. She stopped, viewing the situation, and sighed, calming down visibly. Alia walked in, and then laughed loudly. "Little stinker..." She snagged me up by my scruff, and lifted me like a cub. "Do you think we're fooled? Open those pretty blue eyes, child." She chuckled.

I smiled and opened my eyes, the electric blue orbs that enchanted most people instantly. She was unaffected, as she actually loved me.

"Cans I keeps them?" I opened a gap-toothed grin, and she sighed.

"...No." She ground out, the sound of the words clearly causing her distress.

Diana smirked. "Was that so bad? Now, Samuel. We've spoken about stealing-"

"They're Puppies!!! NO ONE OWNS THE PUPPIES!!" I cheered loudly, declaring in my best warriors battle cry, waving my tiny fists around.

She raised an eyebrow.

"THE CWEATUWES OF THE FOWEST SHALL BE FWEED FROM MANS TYWANNY!!!" I continued, and she sighed.

"Sammy-"

"I WIWL NEVEW BE SIWENCED!"

"SAMUEL!" She roared, silencing me instantly. She breathed deeply. "You can't take other people's belongings." She said softly.

"Why not?"

She blinked, then sighed. "Because it's not right to steal. If it's not yours, you can't take it."

"But all the fowest cweatures awe mine." I cocked my head.

She blinked. "Why do you say that?"

"Nimueh said so." I said simply.

Diana walked up and placed a hand on my skull, and closed her eyes. She opened them, and I watched as fear lanced through her gaze. "Interesting. A Lake Fae... and her name is Nimueh? Interesting..." She hummed, setting me down on a chair, and sitting across from me. Alia sat on the floor and simply watched us, confused.

"What's intewesting? And what's a Lake Fae?" I asked slowly.

"Nimueh is a Lake Fae. Fae are magical beings, like Alia and I... You're a Claiborne and Faunus Mutt, with a Fae's Blessing, that explains why you smell like Fae..." She was musing to herself, ignoring me mostly.

I blinked at her, and she nodded. "Ah. Right. Well, most Fae are very dangerous, child, so don't talk to them without me or Alia present, and never thank one. Never swear something to one. Just... Be careful around them." She warned.

I smiled. "I'm always caweful, mama."

"No you're not, little one. And don't think you can sweet talk me out of punishing you. You're still grounded for leaving the cottage without permission. And I don't know why the forest would belong to you, but the puppies aren't yours, so I'll return them." She sighed.

"But-!"

"No arguing." She held up a finger, and I sighed.

"Yes mama..." I muttered dejectedly.

"And as for the forest being yours... We'll figure that out, I suppose. Now. You're grounded, starting immediately; wash the dishes, bring in the firewood, and fill the water pails, at the nearest opportunity after Alia is done with you." She stood and walked over to the bookshelf, looking for something.

I looked at mother, and froze. She was staring at me with something akin to a dare in her eyes. She wanted me to try to run. I wisely stayed still.

---

I sighed, rubbing my sore behind, as I walked down to the creek to gather water for the cottage. The bucket was almost as big as me, so hopefully I'd be able to carry it when it was full.

I dipped it into the creek, and looked up. A woman I recognized sat on the water, arms under her chin. I smiled, and waved. "Hewo miss Nimueh." I said.

She frowned. "What did I tell you about using true names, little boy?"

I grinned. "To not to."

She raised an eyebrow, and I laughed. "How awe you doing, miss?" I asked, hauling the large bucket out of the water, soaking myself in the process, waiting for her response.

"Tired. How is your bottom?" She asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

I sniffed. "It still stings."

"The pain will make you stronger, child..." her eyes went glassy, and her voice deepened at least ten octaves. She spoke, and mist drifted from her lips with the words. "When you need guidance and sanctuary, seek out the Slayer of Adelbert, and ask of him one favor only. That is all you are owed. Be wise."

I blinked as the bucket slipped from my hands, and she shook herself, her eyes returning to normal. "I apologize, child, for frightening you... Run along, now. Your mothers are looking for you." She disappeared, and I sighed, picking up the empty bucket.

I dipped it back in the river, carrying the bucket up the hill towards the cottage, and towards my mothers questing voice, calling me for dinner.

--- Year 9 ---

I frowned down at the person under me, a girl-child that seemed lost. I spoke softly, so as not to spook her. "Are you lost?" I asked.

She screamed, and I covered my sensitive ears. "Ow..." I muttered, and looked down at her again. "What was that for?" I asked testily.

She flinched. "Sorry... I thought I was alone... They say no one lives in the forest..."

"Lots of people live here." I cocked my head, and leapt out of the tree, landing on my toes, the 20 foot drop a simple hop to me.

She blinked, and slowly stood up. "Oh... I'm sorry."

"No need, it's not your fault. Are you lost?" I asked again.

She nodded, an odd red coloring filling her pale white-colored cheeks.

I smiled. "No need for shame, this place can be confusing, especially to outsiders. It changes to confuse you, you know." I chuckled, and grabbed her wrist, then let go from the freezing cold of her skin. "Ow..." I flexed my hand.

She blushed again. "I'm- I'm sorry... what's wrong?"

"Your skin is very cold." I remarked, humming. "Are you alright?" I asked, pressing a hand to her forehead.

It was like ice, so I hummed. "I see... Jek will know how to help." I picked her up, and started running swiftly, while she squealed and held on tight.

---

"Samuel... Why have you kidnapped a human?" Jek rumbled down at me from his colossal height of around 56 feet. Jek was an Ent, and I really liked him. He was also a healer, and the oldest being in the forest... Well, besides Nimueh.

"She's very cold, Jek. Can you fix her?" I asked simply, and set her on his large stone table.

He hummed down at the unconscious girl, and shook his head. "She's fine, child. Humans' skin is simply much colder than yours. Take her to the human village, and find her parents. Simply tell them she passed out in the forest, and leave. Answer no other questions." He nodded slowly, and turned to face the sun again.

I picked her up and bowed to him awkwardly, then started running swiftly to the edge of the forest.

On the way, I passed several friends, woodland creatures I'd nursed or brought to Jek for more dire help, and also a few Sprites and even a Spriggan. He was an old one, almost as old as Jek, and he greeted me warmly, as always.

"Ho there, Samuel! What mischief do you bring to the forest today?" He laughed melodically.

"Nothing today, she was lost and then passed out. Jek gave me instructions." I nodded.

He hummed. "Then I suppose you're fine... Have a good day." He nodded and slowly turned to full wood again, sleeping.

I reached the edge of the forest a few hours later, and then walked into the village with a bit of trepidation. Everything was made of stone and cut wood here, which made me uncomfortable.

I asked a near man where her parents were, and he nodded, eyeing me curiously as he pointed at a seemingly random cottage towards the northeast side of the circular village.

I knocked on the door, and she woke up just in time. The older man who opened the door blinked at the sight of me setting her on her feet. "She's alright, sir, she passed out in the forest. Good day." I bowed and turned, sprinting away as fast as my feet could carry me, enjoying the speed I could reach in the open space, with no obstacles.

Perhaps I was never meant to feel such things, but I didn't care. Even Claiborne sometimes enjoyed the open sky, in place of a cave or forest. Maybe it was the Faunus in me...

--- Year 12 ---

I exited my clearing, smiling. I greeted everyone by name, inquiring about their various situations in the languages they preferred.

I met the only other Claiborne in the forest, Amir, and she smiled, her stone-like skin cracking slightly from the movement. She was very old, so old that Jek said he didn't remember her birth, so perhaps she was older than him.

"Ahhh... Little Sam... What comes?" She spoke slowly, her voice like stone scraping flint.

"Hello, Amir. May I ask you a question about Claiborne's?" I asked, making sure to enunciate clearly.

She slowly nodded. "Yes..."

"How do I do as you do? Control the Stone? It answers to me... But it resists, at the same time." I asked slowly, concentrating on the ground under my feet. A small globe of dust appeared, and compressed into a marble, but then shattered. I sighed, and looked at her.

She nodded again, slowly. "I See.. Blue Skies... Green Fields... I see Ireland." She hummed, changing subject, as she always did.

"... This is Ireland, Amir." I said gently.

She blinked slowly, then laughed, a loud, grating sound. "I see my Ireland." She corrected me.

I blinked, and nodded. "I see."

She looked at me, and simply waited. About ten minutes later, she frowned. "See... what?" She asked.

I blinked again, and laughed gently. "Sorry, Amir. I meant 'I Understand'. Or, I think I do. You remember your old Ireland, many seasons ago."

She shook her head. "No.. I.. SEE.. It." She rebuked me, and slapped a heavy hand onto her chairs stone arm.

I blinked. "I didn't know you had the Sight, Amir."

"Not often...... But, yes... I see Ireland... covered in metal men... listen to me, child. Cold Iron Is On The Wind." She wheezed past calcified lips.

She spoke those last six words clearer than she'd ever spoken to me, or in my living memory, and my spine shivered at the fear the words brought out in me.

Cold Iron killed all manner of Magic Folk, especially Faunus and Fae. Claiborne were much unaffected, but it would still hurt to touch, for me, as a half-Faunus, or so I'd been told. That someone would be mass producing it...

"Why tell me? I can't do anything about this... Can I?" I asked.

She placed a hand on my shoulder. "The Dark Smith Can Help You." She nodded sagely.

I nodded slowly. "Yes, Amir... What can be done about this... Invasion?"

"Nothing...... Nothing... At... All..." she looked at the dirt, and closed her eyes, falling asleep.

I sat on my heels, and frowned, deep in thought. 'I wonder what that means '''The Dark Smith can help you'''? Hmm... that's the second dire prophecy of my life... what was the other? I was so young... ah! It was; '''When you need guidance and sanctuary, seek out the slayer of Adelbert, and ask of him one favor only. That is all you are owed. Be wise'''. Interesting... a smith and a murderer can help me stop cold Iron from invading? Odd... And why does the Murderer owe me a favor? Or does he not owe the favor yet? So odd!'

I was yanked out of my memory by a hand on my shoulder. I looked up, and a woman with red hair stood, gazing at me questioningly.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your thoughts, but could you tell me where I could find someone? I'm looking for a person named 'Diana'?" She asked softly.