Board Thread:Speculation House/@comment-11188061-20131022161224/@comment-11188061-20131023045334

The possible fact that not all animals are Grimm isn't really a crack in the theory, Sorairo. If anything, that is actually a good thing, because I myself am dubious as to how such a large scale project is going to be carried out in the first place.

However, if it's only a few specific mankind populated regions then it would actually make far better sense.

Amendment: The Genius made her first large scale test experiment to convert all living beings at a certain region into the Grimm. She did not test it on human populated places because it would her plan would be blown completely, and she does not yet have an army powerful enough to defend herself.

The protagonists may have tried to stop her - though very likely not knowing what they're getting themselves into at the time - but they failed. As a result every single creature (except the protagonists, perhaps they escaped or whatever) in the region was transformed into the Grimm.

Also, I doubt that even though the Ursa consumes Red Sap like a living being, it doesn't actually need to consume anything at all to continue operating. Think about it like a Resident Evil zombie: Even if they went by years without actually consuming flesh, they could literally live forever until their body parts rot completely (which they don't, in the Grimm's case).

It was more of a base instinct when the Ursa was still alive as a bear. They eat, but they're not in any sense alive. They may even come to love (cue cute little chibi tames wild Ursa plot), but in the end, they are still empty husks of body without a soul.

Also, I still think that the Faunus are a natural part of mankind rather than transformed during the aftermath of the Grimm War. After all if what you said was true, then the humans at that time would do absolutely everything they can to eradicate the Faunus. There would be no reconcillation, there would be no forgiveness. The humans would never be able to just accept them, not after the terrible Grimm war that nearly slaughtered anyone.

So I think we could say safely that the Faunus are at least, natural.

And finally, I do think there are real animals (if they're not referencing to the Grimm, of course) in the RWBY world. Cardin mentioned 'like animals' once in class, did he not?