Salutations! So this is just a little two-shot that popped into my head. This takes place sometime after Volume 2. This is my first time writing a RWBY fic so I hope I don't make anyone too OCC. I would also like to give a special thanks to my friend Luna Kitsune for reading over this before I published it. You're the best! Also! If enough people like this I may continue it, if not I'll leave it as is. Be sure to review!

Please enjoy.

Saved by the Wolf

Part I

"There is no inherent right or wrong in this world, those labels are just artificial constructs. Right and wrong are held by positions of authority. That is the way it's always been, so how then could anyone know this truth you speak of? Don't you see the reality is that truth long ago became nothing more than a shadow of itself; it's a mere echo of the past now... The world is one big moral gray area, it just makes you feel safer that it can be categorized into good and bad, but that's not how it actually works."

~Professor Stein, Soul Eater

Everything that could go wrong, did.

There was no one else Ruby Rose could blame but herself. She was the leader of team RWBY and a leader is given responsibility. She was responsible for her team. She was responsible for knowing her teams strengths and weaknesses. She was responsible for the failure or success of the team. And if a leader fails their responsibility, the team will suffer as a result.

Maybe she should have went with Yang, or maybe she should have kept Yang from chasing after Neo all together. Perhaps her mistake was when she had Blake stay with Weiss to help deal with the White Fang members. Or maybe her mistake went farther back than that.

Doctor Oobleck once said that something as small as the flutter of a butterfly's wing can ultimately cause a typhoon half way around the world, so who is to say she didn't cause this by something as simple as tripping while getting out of bed this morning?

There was nothing she could do about that now though. No, she could only lay on the ground as she watched the feet of the wolf approach her.

Earlier that day...

Thud!

"Ruby! Get off me!" cried Weiss' shrill voice.

"Sorry, Weiss! I'm tangled in the blankets." Ruby quickly began trying to untangle herself from Weiss and her own blankets.

"Ugh! You're such a dolt!"

"I'm sorry, Weiss!"

Today was already starting badly. Ruby hadn't realized that the ropes holding her bed up had slightly loosened on one side, causing her bed to have a small tilt. So, when the huntress-in-training rolled over she rolled straight off the bed and on the heiress.

"If we miss breakfast you're going to pay, you insufferable brat!"

Ruby let out a squeak and worked faster to untangle them from the blankets. Perhaps she worked a little to fast because when finally got the blanket off of them her head hit Weiss right in the forehead, causing the Ice Queen to recoil and land flat on her back. Ruby quickly jumped up and put her hand over her mouth.

"Weiss! I am so sorry! Are you okay?"

A frustrated growl came from the heiress as she rubbed her forehead.

"Oh, Weiss... do you need an ice pack?" Ruby bit her lower lip.

Weiss got herself off the ground and then looked at Ruby. If glares could kill Ruby would be dead ten times over. Ruby tried to shield herself from Weiss' death glare by turning her head to the side and putting her hands protectively in front of her face.

"Stop acting like a baby and get dressed! I'm going to breakfast before Nora eats all the pancakes. Maybe if you're lucky there will still be some for you. Humph." Weiss proceeded to march past the young huntress and to the cafeteria.

Once Weiss was gone Ruby sighed and picked up Zwei.

"Oh Zwei, Weiss will never be my friend if I keep messing up like this."

Zwei licked his owners face in response, causing Ruby to giggle. Zwei always knew how to cheer up the young huntress. As much as she loved Blake, Ruby was definitely a dog person. She loved cats too, of course. Maybe she was just a Zwei person.

"Well, I need to get dressed and head to breakfast. Today is pancake day so I'll need to try to get some before Nora eats them all. I'm sure she's already eaten all the syrup." she giggled.

Ruby sat Zwei down and changed into her signature black combat outfit with red trim. It was Saturday which meant she didn't need to wear her school uniform. She quickly brushed her hair and teeth (wouldn't want cavities!) and then gave a final salute to Zwei before using her semblance to run to the cafeteria.

~.~.~

Upon entering the cafeteria she saw Nora had a stack of pancakes that was so high Ruby was sure the laws of physics didn't apply to it. Nora was shoveling the pancakes into her mouth so fast you'd think that she hadn't eaten in a month.

Please let their be pancakes left! Ruby silently thought to herself as she crossed her fingers.

"Hey, Ruby!" called the busty blonde huntress. "Over here! I snagged you some pancakes before Nora grabbed them all!"

"Yeah!" Ruby did a little fist pump in the air and skipped over to her teammates.

Yang was sitting on the end, facing the table team JNPR was at. Beside Yang was Blake, who had her nose buried in some new book. Across from Blake was Weiss who appeared to still be upset from this mornings fiasco.

"So, Ruby, what did you do to anger the Ice Queen this time?" Yang asked, rather amused.

"Hey!" Weiss whined indignantly.

"I-I didn't do anything!" Ruby put her hands in the air. "N-not... not on purpose anyways."

"Ugh! Ruby was careless and fell on top of me while trying to get out of bed!" Weiss explained.

"It was an accident! And... I said I was sorry!" Ruby said sheepishly.

"Sorry doesn't get rid of the knot on my forehead!" Weiss pointed to the rather larger and slightly purple bump on her forehead.

"I offered to get you an ice pack..." Ruby bit her lower lip.

"Weiss is already cold enough, Ruby." Yang laughed.

Weiss shot Yang a glare.

"Are you three done?" came Blake's monotone voice as she peered over her book.

Yang threw her arm around Blake's shoulder. Whether or not Blake cared Ruby didn't know because it was too hard to read Blake.

"Of course! Do you have some crazy adventure for us to go on?" Yang grin was so wide it made Ruby's face hurt a little just looking at it.

"No... I just want to finish my book in peace."

"Oh." Yang removed her arm from Blake just as Ruby sat down and started to eat her pancakes.

"Things sure have gotten boring around here now that Torchwick's locked away." Ruby sighed. "But at least we put away one of the bad guys."

"The White Fang hasn't been spotted recently either." Blake commented.

And there's still that one mysterious woman who I fought... Ruby bit her lip in thought.

"Well I, for one, am glad to finally have a break. We all should be." Weiss chimed in.

"I guess but I miss kicking butt! Hopefully I'll get to see that ice cream girl again so I can tell her where she can shove that umbrella of hers."

"I believe her name was Neo."

"Who cares, Weiss? She worked with Torchwick and looks like ice cream. Her name doesn't really matter so long as I get to kick her ass!"

Weiss rolled her eyes.

"Maybe we could get to know those kids from Haven!" Ruby smiled.

"The girl with the green hair is Emerald, I think, and the one with gray hair is Mercury." Yang tapped her chin thoughtfully.

"What about the other one?" Ruby tilted her head to the side a little.

"I'm not sure. I don't really see her around too much." Yang shrugged.

"Mercury gives me a bad feeling." mumbled Blake.

"I think he's kinda cute!" Yang laughed.

Blake just rolled her eyes. "I'm being serious, Yang. Something doesn't seem right about him."

"You're just imagining things. Hey, Ruby, are you done eating yet?"

Ruby shoveled the last few bites of her pancake into her mouth. "Yemph!" Ruby replied with a mouth full of food.

"Disgusting! Don't talk with your mouth full!" Weiss wrinkled her nose.

Ruby swallowed her food. "Sorry."

"You know what? We should go shopping!" Yang propped her feet up on the table.

"Well... there are some new books I've been wanting to buy." Blake agreed.

"And I'm in need of some new school supplies." Weiss added as she crossed her arms.

"Ooh! Maybe I'll see some cool new weapons!" Ruby's eyes got a sort of dazed look in them.

Yang did a fist pump in the air. "Then it's settled! Lets go!"

~.~.~

Team RWBY grabbed their weapons from their lockers and was just about to head out when they were suddenly stopped by the mysterious Haven students with green and gray hair.

"Hey! We were just looking for you guys." the gray-haired boy said with a cocky smirk.

Blake narrowed her eyes at the arrogant boy.

The green-haired girl elbowed him in the side. "We were just wondering if maybe you wanted to show us around Beacon. This school is rather large and we seem to keep getting lost."

Blake started to speak, "Actually we al-"

"We'd love to!" Yang interjected.

"Great!" The gray-haired boy rolled his eyes, earning him a glare from the green-haired girl. Was it just Ruby or did everything he say sound sarcastic?

"I'm Emerald and this is my partner, Mercury." Emerald stuck her hand out.

"I told you I knew their names!" Yang bragged. Blake elbowed Yang, causing the blonde to blush a little. "I mean, I'm Yang! Nice to meet you!" She shook Emerald's hand.

"I'm Blake." Blake shook Emerald's hand as well.

"I'm Weiss." Weiss shook Emerald's hand next.

"And I'm Ruby!" Ruby exclaimed. "Uh... but I think we already met."

"Yes, you're the little girl who ran into us when we got lost." Mercury sneered.

"Uh..." Ruby started to blush and stared at her feet.

Emerald elbowed Mercury again. "Ignore him."

"Ow! That's really starting to hurt." Mercury glared at Emerald.

"Then stop acting like an ass!" Emerald barked back.

"Aw! They're so cute! Are you guys a couple?" Yang gushed.

Mercury smirked and threw an arm over Emerald's shoulder. "Only in her wet dreams."

Emerald made a face but Ruby noticed the slight blush on her face as she shoved Mercury off of her. "You wish! Now get off me you perv."

Mercury adjusted his clothes and kept smirking. "She wants me."

Weiss started to rub her head as if she was in pain. "Ah... you guys? I think I'm going to go to the nurse. This knot is really hurting."

"Do you want me to go with you, Weiss?" Ruby was starting to feel guilty again.

"No." Weiss snapped. "I'm perfectly fine on my own." Weiss spun around her heel and quickly walked away, heading towards the nurses office.

Blake once again narrowed her eyes Mercury. "Where is your other teammate?"

Mercury opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Emerald. "She isn't feeling too well so she's staying in bed."

"That's too bad. Well you guys wanted to be shown around, right? Well, c'mon! We'll be your personal tour guides! I hope you guys already had breakfast because Nora has already eaten all the pancakes. That girl is a monster when it comes pancakes and syrup." Yang laughed.

"She was the girl with the really large stack of pancakes then?" Emerald raised an eyebrow.

"Yep!" Ruby giggled. "That was Nora!"

"Interesting..." Emerald smiled.

"Not really." Mercury mumbled, which earned him another elbow to the ribs. "Ow! Will you stop that!"

"Stop being an ass then!" Emerald glared.

The bickering didn't seem to stop as even as team RBY showed Mercury and Emerald around. Emerald seemed genuinely interested in what Yang and Ruby were saying whereas Mercury would make some rude and sarcastic comment. Yang and Ruby didn't seem to mind though. Blake, however, stayed at the back of the group so she could watch Mercury a bit more closely. The rest of the team may not believe her but she knew something just wasn't right about this Mercury guy. He came off as a jerk with little to no smarts but Blake noticed how he took in every little detail of his surroundings as if he was calculating something.

Whatever Mercury was planning, Blake would find out.

~.~.~

Team RBY and Mercury and Emerald walked around Beacon for about thirty minutes before they were interrupted by an announcement from Glynda Goodwitch.

"Attention. Attention students. All students need to report to the assembly hall immediately."

"Hm, I wonder what's goin' on." Yang scratched her head.

"I wonder if it's about the upcoming tournament." Ruby suggested.

"Maybe, but we should probably get going." Emerald smiled softly.

Mercury just grunted in agreement and Blake merely nodded.

Yang tugged Ruby along, Blake following close behind. Once they entered the assembly hall they became separated from Mercury and Emerald but it was so crowded they didn't seem to notice.

The assembly hall was more crowded than usual since it was full of students from all over Remnant that were here for the tournament. The room was buzzing with whispers and excitement but Ruby felt tense, though she wasn't sure why. There really wasn't a reason for her to feel worried was there? Roman was locked up and there had been no sign of the White Fang recently. This had to be for the tournament. There really wasn't another reason Goodwitch would have called them all here was there?

"Ahem." Glynda appeared on stage, Ozpin beside her. "Professor Ozpin has an important message for you all, so I suggest that you listen." Her glare was enough to silence the entire room.

The tension only seemed to thicken as Ozpin approached the microphone.

Ozpin cleared his throat and then began to speak. "Hello, students. I wish I could be talking to you under more pleasant terms. I am here to tell you that as of today the school will be on a forty-eight hour lock down."

The students started to protest and get loud but were quickly silenced by Goodwitch. "Hush, children." She narrowed her eyes at everyone.

"I know this maybe an inconvenience to some but I ask that you all cooperate. This is for your own safety. After the forty-eight hours things will return to normal." And with that Ozpin spun on his foot and walked off the stage.

The students began to yell and protest, wanting to know why they were being forced to stay inside Beacon. Ruby was also wondering what had happened. Was there an attack? What threat was so big that they had to keep a school full of warriors on lock down? Ruby looked around and found that Mercury and Emerald were gone.

"Yang, Blake, we need to find Weiss."

"Agreed." Blake's eyes seemed to darken a little.

Yang threw a fist up in the air. "I think we're gonna get to kick some ass!" Yang was actually worried about what was happening but didn't want to worry Ruby.

Yang grabbed Ruby's hand and followed Blake to the nurses office. When they entered the nurses office Weiss was already leaving. When she heard them enter she looked up at them.

"I assume our break is over now, huh?" Weiss sighed.

"So you heard the announcement, too?" Blake asked.

"Of course." Weiss said with a slight huff.

"Are you alright Weiss? Is your head any better?" Ruby bit her lower lip.

"I'm fine. Let's just go find Professor Ozpin and find out what's going on."

Ruby nodded. "Alright! Let's move out!"

~.~.~

Yang kicked the door to Professor Ozpin's office open.

She always likes to make an entrance… Ruby inwardly sighed.

"Ah, team RWBY. I was expecting a visit from you." Ozpin said as calm as ever. He leaned back in his chair, sipping from his signature mug.

"Professor... why is the school on lock down?" Weiss asked. "What's happening?"

"Straight to the point?" he chuckled. "I'm sorry girls, I can't really talk about it."

Yang frowned. "I don't want to hear that bullshit! Tell us what's going on. Why are we on lock down?"

Blake narrowed her eyes. "Does it have to do with the White Fang?"

"Sir, please. We just want to help." Ruby said softly. "What could be so bad that a school full of huntresses and hunters is on lock down?"

"Well..." Ozpin sipped his coffee.

"Ozpin! You cannot seriously be considering telling them!" Glynda growled, entering the office, whip in hand.

"I do not see the harm in telling them." Ozpin said evenly.

"Ironwood is already out for your job. Do not anger him farther by giving out confidential information!" Glynda huffed.

"Well we can't help it if they overheard our conversation about how Torchwick broke out of out of jail." Ozpin said with a slight smirk.

"Ozpin!" Glynda hissed.

"Torchwick escaped?" Blake was absolutely livid.

"Perhaps." Ozpin answered.

"Ozpin! Stop talking at once!" Glynda was outraged. "They are only children!"

"Why is the school on lock down just for Torchwick? We kicked his ass once we can do it again!" Yang yelled.

"We may have reason to believe that there is someone working with Torchwick here in the school." Ozpin replied.

"Ozpin!"

"Glynda, do you really think we could keep team RWBY here if we wanted to? Knowledge is power, so why not equip them with what we have?"

"...fine." Glynda huffed. "Torchwick escaped about three weeks ago. Apparently he broke out with the help of some girl with pink and brown hair. This information was hidden from the public to prevent more scare. Since he has broken out there have been large shipments of Dust stolen and we have reason to believe it is Roman who has stolen this missing Dust."

"That still doesn't explain why the school needs to be on lock down. If our team can handle Torchwick, surely the other teams can as well." Weiss put a hand on her hip.

"Well, girls, there's a bit more to it than that." Ozpin sighed.

"You see, even while Torchwick was locked away there was still Dust being stolen. Torchwick would not give us any information on who he was working with." Glynda began.

Ruby could already imagine all the sarcastic responses he probably gave them.

"But it isn't just here in Vale that Dust is being stolen. It's being stolen all over Remnant. So much is being stolen that Dust will soon be in short supply." Glynda continued.

"That's ridiculous. I haven't heard anything about Dust being stolen. My father would have surely mentioned it."

Glynda grimaced. "General Ironwood has ordered all Dust companies keep the stolen Dust under wraps. His goal is to keep all the citizens calm. The Grimm incident put the people in a panic and we want to maintain peace as long as we can."

"But if Dust becomes hard to get won't the people notice? Especially with the upcoming tournament?" Blake raised an eyebrow.

"Ah, yes. We are currently dealing with that." Ozpin sighed. "In fact," Ozpin turned his gaze to Weiss, "Your father has actually raised the prices on the Dust the company sells to limit the people buying it."

Weiss stayed silent and seemed to be in deep thought.

"This still doesn't explain how someone in the school would be working with Torchwick. Or why." Yang said, clearly frustrated.

"We cannot answer the why just yet and you need not concern yourself with the how." Ozpin replied calmly.

"What do you mean we don't need to concern ourselves with how? If someone here is going to betray us we need to be sure there really is a rat!" Yang stomped her foot.

"Miss Xiao Long, please calm down. There are somethings even I cannot discuss and I hope you will understand that. We have the school under lock down to prevent students for leaving. Doing such will keep whoever this rat is, as you called them, from leaving."

"And you expect us to just sit here?!" Yang screeched.

"Of course not." Ozpin laughed a little. "Glynda and I will take care of the problem here. While we are busy trying to calm the other students who is to say we will be able to notice if one of the teams happens to slip out."

"What exactly do you expect us to do if we leave here?" Blake asked.

"Well, there may or may not be a warehouse on the edge of Vale that will be receiving a large shipment of Dust. I'm sure you'll probably find something of interest there." Ozpin waved his free hand around.

"There is a map on the wall if you wish to find out what direction to go." Glynda sighed.

Ozpin stood. "Now, we must be going now. Do try to hurry, or I may notice you are leaving." Ozpin said with a gentle smile.

Glynda only shook her head. Together, Glynda and Ozpin, left the office.

Blake was already at the map, memorizing every part of it.

"Blake, are you going to be okay?" Ruby asked quietly, putting a hand on Blake's shoulder.

"I will be once we get Torchwick." Blake muttered.

Yang's eyes softened. "We'll get him Blake, don't worry."

"Yeah!" Ruby grinned. "Team RWBY will get Torchwick and all the other bad guys behind this!"

Blake muttered something too soft for them to hear but they were both to afraid to pry so they let it go.

"We should be going. Professor Ozpin said we didn't have much time." Weiss looked at the others. "We all have our weapons, right?" When everyone muttered their agreement Weiss nodded. "Alright, then I believe we should go."

"Agreed." Yang nodded.

~.~.~

Team RWBY managed to slip out of Beacon unnoticed thanks to the help of Ozpin and Goodwitch. It took them a good hour to actually get over to the secluded warehouse. The outside appeared to be old and worn down with the paint slowly getting chipped away by mother nature. In big, white letters the word "Schnee" was painted across in all caps. A few of the windows were busted and ivy had gnarled its way through. It appeared as if no one had been here in decades.

Weiss had a frown on her face. "I don't think I've been to this warehouse before. Why would a shipment of Dust be coming here? It doesn't appear to have been used in ages."

Blake thought a moment before answering. "That is probably why the Dust is being delivered here. If it hasn't been used in ages who suspect a large shipment of Dust to come here? If what we were told is true, they are probably trying to hide the Dust shipment as best as they can. Not many people would think to look here. It's old, insecure, and in the middle of nowhere. It's not necessarily a bad idea."

"Yeah, except Torchwick is a master thief." Ruby mumbled sadly.

"Well no one seems to be here right now." Yang said cheerfully. "Maybe we have nothing to worry about."

Blake shook her head. "I think we should stay hidden here. It's barely ten o'clock so my guess is is that the shipment hasn't been made."

"Blake is right," Ruby agreed. "We should stay here and wait for the delivery. Torchwick will most likely show up as it's being unloaded. If we stay hidden we will have the advantage of a sneak attack."

"Good thinkin', sis!" Yang wrapped her arm around the youngest huntress and ruffled her hair.

Ruby blushed and playfully swatted her sister away. "Stop it! You're embarrassing me!" she whined.

"Aw! How cute!" Yang giggled.

"Guys! If the goal is to stay hidden I suggest you both shut up and stay down." Weiss hissed.

Yang rolled her eyes and crouched down behind the pushes with Blake and Weiss and was quickly followed by Ruby.

Blake turned to Weiss. "When do you think it will be delivered?"

Weiss turned her gaze to the ground. She felt so lost she wasn't sure what she thought anymore. Usually her father told her everything about the company. She was never left so in the dark like this. She prided herself in her knowledge of her family's company. "I... I don't know." she said quietly.

Blake just nodded and turned her gaze back to the warehouse.

Ruby put a hand on Weiss' shoulder. "It'll be okay, Weiss." she whispered.

For once Weiss didn't shrug off the young huntress - she was grateful for the comfort. "Thank you." she whispered.

Salutations! So this is the end of Saved by the Wolf part I. Originally, this was going to be a one-shot but the story alone, not including author's notes or the quote, was over 8,000 words. So, I split it into two parts.