Fostering the Metal: Talis Ebonmere

''Darkness gives way to a strange haze, a teal and black fog that swirls and eddies around him. A lone man stands on a small piece of metal. The boy is muscular and tall, looming large over other people, but nothing compared to this abyss. A teal swirl eddies out of the mists, forming into a mockery of the boy. ''

''"What do you think you can do?" comes a voice, dulcet and mocking. "You of all people should know that the darkness always outlasts the light". The voice laughs, and the man doesn't react. "You stand on that flimsy piece of metal you call protection. You can't even face the world, how can you possibly hope to change it?"''

''The boy grits his teeth. "Darkness...Is dispelled by a single candle. You should know how pathetic that is". ''

The voice in the darkness begins to reply, but as it begins to speak, a loud clanging noise fills the boy's ears...

* Clang! Clang! Clang!* "Wake up, you iron bound idiot!"

Talis groans. "S'not morning yet, Enyasi". The clanging continues, until Talis loses patience. His eyes shoot open, and he sits up in bed. "What?"

Across a plain room, with only a wooden dresser and a bed in it, an armor stand is being rocked back and forth by a wolflike faunus girl in plain red pajamas. She looks at Talis and grins. "Good morning, big guy!" she runs over to his bed and jumps onto it, then rolls over and looks up at him, mouth open and fangs showing. To anyone else, it'd be unnerving.

Talis cracks a grin, then rubs his eyes. "Stop calling me that". He yawns, then gets out of bed, gently pushing her out of the way. He almost hits his head on the ceiling fan as he straightens to his full height. "And what time is it?"

"Time for Breakfast!" Enyasi declares, her white and grey hair in a tangled mess behind her. "The old lady made waffles!" She jumps off of the bed, landing on all fours. She rolls to her feet and springs out the door, slamming it shut behind her.

Talis groans, slipping into a pair of black pants and throwing on a shirt. He opens the door to his room and steps out, slowly and carefully. The stairs creak under his weight as he steps down them, and he sees Enyasi sitting at the big kitchen table, with a large, empty seat beside her. As Talis walks down the stairs, a young boy sitting across from Enyasi waves a piece of bacon in front of her field of vision. Her eyes immediately fixate on the piece of meat, and he waves it back and forth. His head quivers with amusement, making the antlers on top of his head shake back and forth.

Talis walks to the kitchen, where an old woman with grey hair is sitting with a waffle iron and a fat fryer in front of her.

"Morning, Carinus", Talis says dully. She turns her head towards Talis.

"And how are you today, Talis?" Carinus asks, her wrinkled lips turning upwards into a smile.

Talis leans against the counter. "I'm fine. I just got up".

Carinus's nose wrinkles at that. "You are a good boy in many respects, Talis, but you are not a morning person". She sniffs lightly. "I had to send Enyasi to get you up for breakfast". She chuckles, taking the bacon out of the fryer and putting half on a plate. "I'm surprised you survived a single Grimm attack, much less a year".

Talis gives her a frown. "Nothing wakes you up like a Beowolf chewing at your helmet, I'll give you that".

Carinus takes two of the waffle irons and empties their contents onto the plate. "Well, here's your breakfast, Talis. Try not to eat too fast".

Talis takes the plate and turns to walk away. He turns back. "I have a question, Carinus".

The old woman is pouring more waffle mix into the irons. "Yes?"

Talis pauses for a moment, trying to find the right words. "Why do you do this?"

"Why do I do what, dear?"

Talis shakes his head. "There are kids in here that you could turn out if you wanted to. Kids you could try and get rent from". Talis closes his eyes. "It puts a drain on your resources to keep us all, and yet you do".

The old lady chuckles. "Well for you, It's simple. I keep you around 'cause nobody misbehaves in there while you're trying to have a meal, and 'cause you're gonna be a hunter".

Talis looks at her, stunned. "How do you know that? I only told Enyas-"

Carinus chuckles at Talis, shaking her head. "That girl. Of all the kids I've taken in, she's the most trouble I've had in twenty-five years". She looks at Talis. "But that's slowed down ever since you got here". She chuckles some more, waving her hand at Talis dismissively. "You're gonna be a hunter, 'cause its in your blood, boy". She walks over with another piece of bacon, putting it on Talis's plate. "Now go and eat your breakfast".