The wind howled through the dense forest, each gust more ferocious than the last. The sky, once a patchwork of gray clouds, had darkened ominously, signaling the approach of a formidable storm. Team RWBY—Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang—pressed forward, their cloaks and hair whipping wildly in the tempest. Beside them, you matched their pace, the familiarity of your camaraderie from Beacon Academy lending warmth against the encroaching cold. And behind, followed Qrow, Oscar Pine, and Maria.

Soon, the outlines of quaint farmhouses emerged, their silhouettes ghostly against the stormy backdrop. The farmhouse seemed eerily silent, the usual signs of life conspicuously absent. Windows were dark, doors ajar, and an unsettling stillness hung in the air.

— This place looks abandoned. But why would they leave in such a hurry, especially with a storm coming? Yang's brow furrowed as she surveyed the scene.

— Something doesn't feel right. We should stay alert. Blake's ears twitched beneath her bow, her senses attuned to the unnatural quiet.

The door creaked ominously as they pushed it open. Inside, the air was stale, carrying the faint scent of decay. A table was set for dinner, plates filled with food now spoiled and moldy. Chairs were overturned, and a child's toy lay abandoned on the floor.

— It's like they just... vanished. Ruby's eyes widened as she took in the scene.

— No signs of struggle, no indication of Grimm attacks. What could have caused this? Weiss ran her fingers over the dusty mantelpiece, her expression contemplative.