This was an idea I've wanted to write ever since dashingicecream came up with the idea for the AU. You can find artwork and information about it on her blog under the tag "cat!au" and I'll be giving information in this fic as it suits the story! Most of what happens here is just my interpretation of what could happen in this AU, but Dash makes the rules for her own AU, so don't necessarily consider the events of this fic to be canon!
ChuckleBrotherz was kind enough to commission this story from me! Thank you soooo much for all the support!
If you like my work, please support me on P-a-t-r-e-o-n as Kiria Alice!
Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.
Forever Home
Chapter 1. Second Chance
Weiss Schnee was a very hardworking young girl.
Even at a young age, she never shirked her responsibilities or assignments, no matter how menial the task.
She grew up in a rather strict household, where success in business and profession was highly favored, even perhaps above personal happiness.
That wasn't to say it was a bad life, not at all. It simply tended to get a little stressful at times.
But Weiss had been conditioned to stress and pressure early on, so that it wouldn't affect her as strongly in future years.
She always strived to work hard like her older sister. Winter had excelled in school, and Weiss wanted to do just as well as she had, if not better.
Due to her intense focus on schoolwork and chores, Weiss didn't have very many friends. People she knew from her classes were acquaintances at best, but no one was ever on a level she'd consider being close to her.
She'd been invited to a few sleepovers or birthday parties here and there, but when she asked her father if she might attend, his response was always the same. He'd tell her she didn't have time to waste on such things, that she should be studying instead. Similarly, he didn't allow her to bring classmates over to visit, for fear of a rambunctious accident that might cost him.
So as she grew up, Weiss' best friend was her older sister Winter.
But not even she could always be there for Weiss.
Winter would always do her best to support Weiss, but as she herself got older, her own responsibilities began piling up higher and higher. Winter never meant to brush her younger sister off, but sometimes it really was necessary. She'd often try to make things up to Weiss later, because she always felt guilty about having to deny her at the time of Weiss' request.
By the time she was seven years old, Weiss truly felt like she didn't have any friends at all. The kids at school tended to avoid her, now that they knew her personality. Whenever they'd ask her to hang out with them or invite her over, she'd always say no to everyone.
So they began ignoring her, not even bothering to ask or interact with her in the first place. They said she was cold-hearted and antisocial, that she loved her father's money and her good grades more than her relationships.
The kids at school began avoiding Weiss, until it was very clear to her that she was an outcast. She always sat alone, ate alone, and played alone.
It was often the same at home as well.
Winter was in high school now, and when she wasn't working on assignments or projects, she was working part-time at a local restaurant. Weiss only got to see her briefly every day, and sometimes not at all.
Her father left early in the mornings for work, so Weiss often missed him at the table.
If she was lucky, she'd get to see them both at dinner on weekends, but that was all.
She was lonely.
She wished she could have friends like all the other kids in school did.
She wished she could go out and have fun with people like Winter did.
She wanted someone who could always be there for her.
She wanted a friend.
And so, when her eight birthday neared at the end of the year, that was what she told her father.
He approached her while she was studying on the living room couch and asked her up front.
"What would you like for your birthday this year?"
He might've been aloof as a father sometimes, but there was one thing he never failed to do, and that was use his money to spoil his daughters. He wanted to make sure everyone else in town knew how wealthy he was, and he wanted his daughters to boast and brag about his riches and how well he treated them.
Weiss peered up at him and put her textbook aside. She'd been thinking this answer over for a while now, and she was intent to give it to him.
Shuffling her feet, the young girl clasped her hands together in her lap nervously as she met her father's gaze.
"Papa... I... I want a kitten."
Now, she'd been living in her father's household all her life, for almost nine years. She knew his policy on pets.
He didn't like the fur on his carpets and couches. He didn't like the claw marks on his curtains and tapestries. He didn't like the smell of the litter or food.
They'd never owned a pet of any kind before, not even a fish. And the one rare time Weiss had visited a classmate's house and interacted with a cat, it had scratched her over her eye and left her with a permanent scar.
Weiss knew rejection of her request was all too likely, so she earnestly continued before he could respond.
"Please, Papa. I'll take care of it myself. I'll pay for everything. I'll pay for all the litter and toys and food and vet bills. I'll make sure to clean up after it no matter what. I'll play with it every day and make sure to keep it out of trouble. I'll do whatever I have to, Papa. Please."
The man was already looking skeptical, a firm frown set on his lips.
"Now see here," he began. "Animals have no reason to be inside this house. It would ruin my image, and my furniture as well. It would leave a stench wherever it went. I simply can't allow an animal to live in this house. You understand, don't you?"
Weiss bit her lip, feeling a swell of tears coming on.
"But Papa-"
"What seems to be the problem here, Father?"
Both Weiss and her father directed their attention to the threshold of the living room, where Winter now stood. She met their father's gaze and inquired further.
"Weiss wants a kitten. What's so bad about that, Father? She said she'd pay for everything herself and keep it clean and healthy. That's all you really need if we were to get a pet, right?"
Weiss caught her sister's eyes briefly, realizing her older sister was on her side, trying to support her on this very important matter. Weiss quickly jumped back into the conversation.
"Yes, Papa! I'll do everything myself! I won't let it distract me from my schoolwork and chores, either. If you let me get a kitten, I'll never need anything else for my birthdays ever again!"
"Father, please," Winter went on. "Weiss works so hard. Don't you think she deserves this? Let her prove herself to you. Give her a chance."
The man looked back and forth between his daughters. Of course, he was most concerned with his image and his wealth, but despite the front he gave off to the public, he wasn't truly a mean man.
He was silent for a few minutes, and during that time, Winter went over to sit beside Weiss on the couch, putting an arm around her. Weiss flicked her a quick glance, silently thanking her for the support on this matter.
Winter felt it was the least she could do. Since she'd be swamped with higher-level schoolwork in the future, she knew she wouldn't be able to be by Weiss' side as often as they might like. Therefore, she felt it was only fair to try and help her younger sister get a companion for herself.
At long last, after much sighing and grunting under his breath, their father gave his reply.
"Very well."
Weiss' jaw went slack, and a small, excited gasp flew from her lungs. She almost went limp in Winter's arms, swaying just a little bit before she jumped up from the couch.
"R-Really? Papa, do you really mean it?"
"Now listen here," he said quickly. "The deal you proposed was that you'd pay for everything yourself, so you're to keep to that. But I won't allow you to spend any of your allowance money on this. You must put your allowance earnings towards future schooling funds regardless, am I clear?"
Weiss nodded instantly.
"Yes, Papa."
"Hold on," Winter cut in. "If she can't use her own allowance, and she's still got to pay for everything herself, how is she going to afford the cat?"
Their father shrugged.
"She's old enough to start pulling weeds. It might take a bit of time, but if she keeps up a steady amount of work for her income, I don't see any reason as to why she shouldn't be able to afford this animal by her next birthday."
Weiss' eyes were already beginning to sparkle at the thought of seeing her dream become reality.
And she'd see it through with her own two hands, as well.
"Thank you, Papa! I'll start looking for a job tomorrow! I'll save up all the money I'll need for a kitten! Thank you so much!"
She rushed forward to throw her arms around him. He was a little surprised by the action, but before he could respond, Weiss had already pulled away and dashed back over to embrace her sister as well.
"Thank you," she murmured to her.
Winter smiled, kissed her cheek, and hugged her in return.
"It's the least I could do."
With that, Weiss scurried off up to her room, too excited to go back to her studies for now.
That left her sister and father alone together. Winter stood from the couch and crossed her arms, giving him a small glare.
"Making her pay for her own birthday present..."
"It will be much more rewarding for her this way. Plus, it will ensure she can't purchase the little devil until next year, which will give me some time to prepare myself for it..."
Winter rolled her eyes.
"All right, but the kitten is her present next year. What about this year?"
The man grunted.
"What would she like?"
"You're hopeless..."
As Winter headed into the kitchen with their father to discuss potential presents for Weiss this year, Weiss herself burst into her room and threw herself merrily onto her mattress. She squealed and curled up, overjoyed and bubbling with excitement.
"Papa said yes! He said yes! I can have a kitten next year! So long as I work hard..." She sat herself up, determined and ready. "I've worked hard all my life. Papa has said so himself. I can work hard for this, too. I absolutely will."
And so she did.
It was a little difficult for such a young girl to be able to find work right away, especially when she still had her schoolwork and chores at home to consider.
But she was a Schnee, and she was stubborn and determined by nature.
Weiss wasn't ashamed to get down on her knees and pull weeds for the neighbors as her father had suggested. She didn't mind getting dirty or touching worms and bugs if she had to. She just made sure to wear old clothing that could be stained without consequence, and if the adults didn't provide gloves for her, Weiss would bring some for herself from their own gardening shed.
She was very thorough with her work, but she was also very quick with it. She never left a single weed standing, but she was also very careful never to pull up good flowers, either.
Weiss worked whenever she could, at a very low rate. Sometimes, she would only earn five dollars a week, especially during the colder months when there were fewer weeds to pull.
When it snowed, she opted to shovel sidewalks, since driveways were too big a task for her to tackle. She'd shovel her neighbors' front steps or make a path for the mailman.
The snow shoveling earned her a bit more money, and sometimes she would be paid a little more for working quickly or for doing a very good job.
When she had a break from school for the holidays, she worked whenever someone would give her the opportunity. She'd tell her neighbors she was saving up her money to get a kitten. Some of them sympathized, said she was well-deserving of such a gift, and would pay her a little extra to help her reach her goal.
When the frost thawed and spring blossomed once again, so too did the weeds. Weiss was finding more and more work in the warmer days now. In addition to pulling up weeds, she would also rake leaves or water plants.
She always stayed within the neighborhood, near enough to home that her family would know if she ever got hurt. But she never did, nothing more serious than a scraped knee or pricked finger.
Weiss didn't let anything get in her way. She worked in the afternoons after school, and on weekend mornings. She did as her father had told her to and kept putting her monthly allowance into her savings account, never taking so much as a penny's worth out for the cost of her future kitten.
While Weiss worked hard to meet her goal, Winter was sure to keep tabs on their father, constantly reminding him how well Weiss was doing and making sure he didn't intend to go back on his word.
Weiss worked very hard that year. She never let her grades suffer, and she never missed a single day of classes, not even when she caught a cold from working outside in the rain one evening.
The kids at her school would sometimes taunt her for sitting in the dirt and pulling up weeds, but she never let them get to her. She just kept thinking about her kitten, and all the things she would do for it.
She kept track of her money very well. She'd set benchmarks for her expenses, the biggest and most obvious one being to cover the cost of the kitten itself. Once she'd reached that goal, she saved up enough money to buy a litter box, and multiple bags of litter. She set a goal that would ensure she could buy cat toys and food for months in advance.
Of course, she intended to keep working even after she got her kitten, but she wanted to make more money than she'd immediately need so she could feel secure about the kitten's future.
Once school was over that year, Weiss had more time to work. On rainy days, she'd do some of her summer homework, and on sunny days she'd be out the door to water gardens.
Some of the neighbors had outdoor cats that would stroll up to greet her. A few of them even laid down in the sun beside her as she worked. Whenever that happened, it only motivated her to work harder for the sake of one day having a cat of her own.
She worked tirelessly for nearly an entire year, never once missing an opportunity where she might be able to earn a bit of money.
In this manner, Weiss was able to gather up her savings that autumn and present them to her father.
He was impressed with what she'd saved up, and even more so by the fact that she hadn't spent a single penny of her allowance to achieve this sum.
Therefore, he kept to his end of the promise.
"We'll go out this weekend and you may make a selection."
Weiss squealed and threw her arms around him, thanking him profusely. Winter hadn't been far away at the time, and she was ready for her sister when Weiss came running to her as well, crying with joy.
By this time, Weiss' father had steeled himself to the idea of having a kitten in the house. He talked things over with Weiss that evening, asking her that she keep the cat out of certain rooms where the most expensive furniture or trinkets were displayed. Weiss readily agreed to this, and also to keeping the cat in her room whenever they had company over who might dislike its presence.
They talked for about an hour about the necessary conditions that would be implemented once the kitten stepped paw into the house, before he sent her off to bed.
There were still a few more weekdays left, during which her father needed to work. Therefore, during those days, Winter walked with Weiss down to the local stores and shopped around with her for a bit.
With Weiss' money, they purchased a cat carrier to take the kitten home with, as well as a few toys, and a few weeks' worth of food. Weiss also selected a litter bin and a bag of litter, a scratching mat, a few blankets, and a cat bed as well.
To her surprise, at the register, Winter ended up paying for half the cost.
"Don't tell Father," she told Weiss. "This can be our little secret."
Weiss hugged her tightly and thanked her very much.
Once they arrived back home, they set everything up in a small, majorly unused room of the house, which their father had indicated would be the kitten's main territory. The small den was near Weiss' room, so it was the perfect arrangement.
They set up the litter box in the corner and poured out some grains into it. They spread newspapers underneath it to keep the hardwood floor as clean as possible.
Weiss set up the scratching mat in the center of the room on an old carpet that wouldn't mind getting a little shredded. She put the toys in a bag up on a shelf for now, then fetched a towel to lay beneath the food and water dishes.
She then placed the cat bed to one side of the room, angling it just right so the kitten would be able to see out one of the windows when it curled up. She also put a small stool beneath that window, so it could jump up and watch the birds whenever it pleased.
Once they'd finished setting up the room, Winter and Weiss were satisfied that it would do just fine.
When their father came home, he made a few minor adjustments to the layout, but ultimately agreed that it was favorable.
Then, Weiss just had to wait...
Two days later, on Saturday morning, Weiss jumped out of bed early, got dressed, and ate breakfast more quickly than she'd ever done before in her life.
Winter and her father ate at their leisure though, which made Weiss all the more antsy and eager to go. She kept fidgeting in her seat at the table, pulling at her dress, and fiddling with her hair. Winter chuckled behind her morning coffee.
"Calm down, Weiss. It's not like they're going to run out of kittens. There will always be kittens to adopt."
"I know. I'm just so excited!" Her eyes were sparkling, and it admittedly motivated her family to finish up their meal a little more quickly.
At long last, Weiss found herself in her father's car with Winter at her side, being driven into town. Weiss had never looked out the window as enthusiastically as she did that day.
But as she watched, she started to recognize where her father was driving them to, and spoke up in confusion.
"Papa? Where are we going?"
He raised an eyebrow, but didn't look back at her.
"We're going to the pet store."
"Oh, but Papa!" Weiss gasped. "I wanted to adopt a kitten! Can we go to the shelter instead?"
The man grimaced a bit.
"The animals at the shelter are filthy. If I must subject myself to having an animal roam around my house, I should hope it will be one that represents us. You should get a pedigree, a pure-bred. Perhaps an Atlesian Blue."
"But Papa..." She slouched back in her seat, her voice dying off into a whimper. "People buy pet store animals every day, but they almost never adopt them from the shelter. If they don't get adopted on time, the workers kill them! I want to save one, Papa! I want to adopt one. Please?"
He slowed the car down a little bit and said nothing. Winter put an arm around her sister, who was becoming upset. She flashed a glare at their father through the rear-view mirror.
"Father."
With that single word, Winter reminded him of his promise to let Weiss choose her own kitten.
If nothing else, he was a man of his word. He heaved a great sigh, but turned the car away from the pet store.
"Very well."
Weiss sobbed in relief.
"Oh, thank you, Papa! Thank you so much!"
The man heaved a small sigh as he resigned himself to his fate of having a less desirable cat in his home. Winter flashed a smile at him through the mirror, proud that he was letting Weiss do as she pleased.
Several minutes later, they pulled into the small parking lot of a humble-looking building. Outside of it was a sign that read Atlas Animal Shelter.
Weiss had already unbuckled her seatbelt even before the car had been parked. Once it was still, she fumbled with her door and jumped out immediately, bouncing up and down in place, her small purse filled with all the money she'd earned hanging from her shoulder. Winter got out after her, and removed the cat carrier crate, offering to hold onto it as they went inside.
Their father led the way down the small concrete sidewalk, which brought them to the door of the building. There were photos on a bulletin board of some of the cats and dogs that had previously been adopted from this shelter and who were now living happily with their new families.
Weiss was thrilled to think that she'd soon be able to put a new photo onto that board.
They paused, knocked, and waited for a moment, until a woman answered the door. She had her light blonde hair tied into a messy bun, and a pair of glasses sat on her nose. She looked professional, which was a bit of an odd appearance for someone working at an animal shelter.
"Hello," she greeted them. "How can I help you today?"
Weiss answered right away.
"We'd like to adopt!"
The woman's face instantly brightened, and her stern expression softened just a bit.
"Is that so? Well, I'm very glad to hear that. Please come inside. But mind the door, some of our cats are out of their cages."
She ushered them in one by one, the girls scurrying in without hesitation, though their father seemed reluctant to step into a room where straying furs might cling to his suit.
The woman brought them into a room full of at least a dozen small cages, most of which were filled with all different sizes and colors of cats. A few cats were loose in the room and were presently climbing on a small cat tree, or sleeping in little plush beds. They all peered wide-eyed at the newcomers, and a few of them even scurried over to curl around their ankles in greeting.
While Weiss' father pulled away, his daughters bent down to pet and greet the cats in return.
The woman smiled.
"I'm assuming you're here to adopt a cat, am I correct?"
"Yes!" Weiss jumped back up to her feet, her eyes sparkling. The woman nodded.
"That's a relief to hear. We only have two dogs right now, but we have almost twenty cats. Myself and some of the other volunteers are fostering some at our own houses right now. My name is Glynda, by the way."
"Miss Glynda?" Weiss said. "I want to adopt a cat so you don't have to put it to sleep. Whichever one is closest to being put to sleep, I want to adopt it."
Glynda's eyes widened a little bit, and her expression changed from stern to soft.
"I'm very glad to hear that. But we're actually not a kill shelter. If we get overcrowded, our volunteers will foster some of our cats or we'll give them to other non-kill shelters to look after. So you don't have to worry about that."
Weiss had been firm and determined until this point, but now that she knew none of these cats were on death row, she relaxed.
"That's great! That's wonderful to hear!"
"Weiss, come have a look," Winter coaxed her. "May we play with them a bit?"
Glynda nodded
"Of course. Please do."
With permission given, the two girls each picked up some of the toys lying around and began playing with the cats who were out of their cages.
There was a chubby tabby cat, a slender ginger cat, a cat that was all white except for a raccoon-striped tail, several brown and black cats, and all combinations of the colors.
There was also a cage where four black and white kittens were mewling and bumbling around, trying to play with the toys from behind the cage bars. Weiss' father nodded to those.
"Weiss, look there. Didn't you want a kitten? Why don't you choose from those and we can be on our way."
Weiss went over to that cage and looked inside at the four tiny bundles of fur. They mewled and squealed and stuck out their tiny paws. Winter and Weiss cooed and gently stroked their fingers over the animals' fur. But before Weiss could say anything, Glynda spoke first.
"I'm afraid those kittens aren't up for adoption just yet. We only just got them in a few days ago, and we still have to get them to the vet for their shots. Will this be your family's first time owning a cat?"
"Yes," the man replied.
"Then I wouldn't suggest a kitten right off the bat, anyway. I'd recommend an older cat, one that's spent some portion of its life already in a household, not a shelter. A cat like that would adapt to life in your house much more quickly than a younger cat who's only ever known shelter life. Besides, kittens get adopted all the time. Older cats rarely ever do. Most of them die in shelters."
Weiss frowned at the thought, but it only fueled her determination to rescue one of these animals.
"That makes sense. Which cats are the older ones?"
Glynda pointed out several cages and their occupants. The chubby tabby out of his cage was also rather old, but Glynda informed them he was already going to be adopted in another week or so.
As the girls looked around and continued playing with the cats a bit, Glynda pressed their father further.
"How would you feel about de-clawing, sir?"
He sighed.
"I'd been considering it, but my daughters won't allow it."
"Yes," Weiss chimed in. "We can't de-claw them! For a person, that's like taking off half our fingers! It hurts them a lot!"
"Not to mention," Winter added. "Then walking becomes painful for them. The litter in the box hurts, so they won't use it. De-clawing will just cause all kinds of problems, and it's inhumane to begin with. So absolutely not."
Their father nodded to Glynda.
"So there you have it."
The woman was highly pleased.
"Well, I'm glad you all seem to be so well-educated on this matter. We won't ever adopt our cats out to people considering de-clawing. That little fellow over there was actually de-clawed by his previous owners," she said, nodding to a black tomcat. "One of our volunteers heard the news around town and we ended up taking him back from them. Now since he's de-clawed, he has special needs, so we're waiting for someone to come along who can treat him right. Now, what about letting your cat outside?"
"No!" Weiss gasped. "It could get hit by a car! Or killed by a dog!"
"And we wouldn't want to risk fleas or dirt in the house," Winter added in.
Again, Glynda nodded in approval.
"Very good to hear. Cats who are let outdoors are highly susceptible to all kinds of diseases, which will only cost you money at the vet's office. They're more likely to be injured or killed by other cats, wild animals, dogs, cars, or people. Cats who live their lives indoors typically live healthier lives, and usually double the amount of years of an outdoor cat."
She continued to talk for a while about cat trivia, informing the family on how to best choose and care for a cat fit for their house.
As Winter played with some of the loose cats, Weiss went to the cages Glynda had indicated and asked about each cat inside.
She looked at an older white queen, a pair of tabby toms, a few grey and tuxedos. Some seemed energetic, and others seemed lax. Weiss knew her father would prefer a cat that wasn't too rambunctious or might risk damaging things around the house. She wanted a cat she could play with, but also one that would behave, so she wouldn't have to worry about her father getting upset and making her give it back to the shelter.
Weiss went from cage to cage, reading the small notices on the outsides of the bars that said the cats' names, ages, and dietary preferences. She had to avoid ones with special, expensive diets, since she'd be paying for everything herself.
There were cats with short fur, and cats with fluffy fur.
There were cats with green eyes and cats with blue eyes.
But there was one set of eyes that stood out to her.
As soon as Weiss walked up to that last cage Glynda had pointed to, she all but froze.
In the back of the cage, huddled up in the shadows inside a small, soft bed, she could just barely make out the shape of a cat.
Its fur was jet-black, so that Weiss almost didn't see it in the shadows. But she saw one of the ears flick, and then the head turned.
Two deep golden eyes blinked up at her.
At first, the cat's eyes were just opening, as if from sleep, and it was docile. But not a second later, the eyes narrowed into slits and the cat growled, hissing defensively as it pressed itself back into the far corner of the cage.
Weiss recoiled, startled, because this was the only cat that had hissed at her. Glynda came over to her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Oh, you'll have to pardon her," she said softly. "She's been through a lot. Poor thing..."
Weiss looked at the little note card outside the black cat's cage. She was a 9-year-old female, and her name was Blake.
Weiss swallowed, and softly raised the question.
"What happened to her?"
Glynda sighed and shook her head sadly.
"Her previous owner was a very bad man. After we got her and took her to a vet to be examined, the vet said the man had always been abusing her, for years. He liked to kick her and grab her by the scruff of the neck. She lived with him nearly all of her life. He never let her outside, because he didn't want her to run away. He wanted to keep hurting her for as long as he could."
She paused for a moment, and Weiss felt the woman's grip on her shoulder tighten. Weiss could feel stinging tears already dripping down her face.
"That's... that's horrible... Wh-What happened to the mean man?"
Glynda patted the girl's shoulder and went on.
"A police officer heard the man screaming one day. He was shouting so loud, the officer heard him even from outside the house. The officer knocked on the door to investigate, and as soon as he opened the door, he saw this skinny little cat lying on the floor, half-dead.
"He arrested the man for animal cruelty, and we brought Blake to a vet. She only just got released from the vet last week. But after nine years of living with that awful man, she doesn't like people anymore. You can't blame her."
Weiss was sobbing by the time she'd heard all of Blake's story. She buried her face into her hands and wept for a minute or so. Winter came to her and pulled her into a long embrace. The older girl continued asking questions in her stead.
"How is the cat now? Physically, I mean?"
"Physically, she's almost all better. We just need to get a bit more food into her. There's a chink missing from her left ear that will never heal, probably an injury from when that man struck her. But the physical damage is minor. It's the psychological scars that will remain."
Weiss managed to stop crying long enough to pull herself away from her sister's chest. She reached up to her own face, where her classmate's cat had left a physical scar over her left eye when she was very young.
"So... that cat is a little bit like me... and she's the same age as me..." Her mind was already made up, and her family knew as much. Weiss straightened up and looked to her father. "Papa... this is the cat I want to adopt."
After hearing the horrific story of this cat's life, even he couldn't remain stoic about the matter.
"I see. But I believe it might be a bit difficult."
However, Glynda didn't entirely agree.
"I'd argue," she began. "That perhaps it might take her a while to warm up to you all. She'll probably hide a lot for the first few weeks or so. But she's already housebroken. She always uses her litter box, and she eats well. She isn't sick, and even though she might hiss or growl, she'll never swat or bite you. She has a very good temper and disposition. The only thing you'll see from her is a lack of immediate affection. But over time, she should come around, once she knows she can trust you to keep her safe and treat her well."
Weiss nodded vigorously, still wiping her eyes to clear away the tears.
"Yes! We'll be kind to her! We'll give her a good home and a good life! I swear we will!"
Glynda smiled and patted the girl's head.
"Thank you very much for giving her a second chance. Now then, there are just a few more things we need to discuss..."
Glynda addressed all three of them as she spoke about Blake's unique situation, and how they should go about interacting with her in the beginning. She spoke of when and how to feed her and clean up after her. Weiss listened to everything intently, since she would be in charge of Blake.
Glynda spoke for a little while longer. Winter, and even their father, was paying attention to what the woman was saying.
They had to fill out a few forms and some paperwork, and Glynda gave them all of Blake's previous veterinary bills to keep a record.
Then, at long last, Glynda took the carrier from Winter and opened the door to it. She unlocked Blake's cage, causing the cat to bristle and growl. But Blake never lashed out or bit Glynda even as she reached in to pick her up.
The woman soothed the cat as best she could, murmuring softly to her. Blake hissed and squirmed, hating the touch of the human's hands on her.
Weiss stayed back as much as she could, but reached out her hand toward Blake as she was being put into the crate.
Their eyes met, and Weiss smiled.
Blake seemed to become still as she gave Weiss' fingertips a small sniff.
"There," Weiss whispered. "You're a good girl. You're such a pretty girl, Blake. I promise I'll take good care of you."
Blake stopped growling for a moment.
Glynda managed to get her into the crate and secured the door.
"You're in good hands," she said to the cat. "You don't have to suffer or be alone anymore."
Weiss requested that they be able to take one of Blake's blankets home with them, so she would feel more comfortable with it. Glynda readily agreed.
She pulled the purple blanket out of Blake's cage, and instead put it into the carrier with her. The cat growled a little bit and hid in the back of the crate nervously. But Weiss sat down in front of her and reached her fingers in again.
"It's okay. It might be a little scary right now, but I promise you, I'll take good care of you, Blake. You're finally coming home. To your forever home!"
The cat looked out at her through the crate's bars and blinked slowly.
Somehow, Weiss believed she understood those words, because Blake didn't hiss or growl anymore.
Weiss paid the adoption fee, and received profuse thanks from Glynda. Weiss promised she'd never bring Blake back here or give her up. She promised to care for her as best she could, and to never hurt her.
By the time they walked out of the shelter, with Winter carrying the crate, even their father seemed content.
Weiss sat in the back seat of the car, herself and Winter each holding onto the crate between them to keep it steady.
All the ride back, Weiss kept excitedly whispering to her new friend.
"I'll take good care of you, Blake. I promise."
The cat's chinked ear gave a little flick, and her whiskers twitched.
Weiss believed that was Blake's way of smiling.
A/N: My mother works at a cat shelter, so all of these things Glynda's told Weiss are true and I know it for a fact! I might have used this chapter to promote healthy cat adoption tendencies, ahaha. But yes, don't declaw them, don't let them outside. Please be kind and considerate to your pets and keep them safe and healthy!
Weiss' father's comment of getting an Atlesian Blue was a reference to Russian Blues, which were considered royalty's cats. But in the fic, they live it Atlas, so I changed up the name accordingly.
And yes, Blake's abusive human was meant to be Adam.
This is only the beginning of a very long, trying journey for Weiss and Blake. And in the next chapter, you'll see they certainly aren't alone in it, not at all!
If you like my work, please support me on P-a-t-r-e-o-n as Kiria Alice!
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