So, one thing about me that people may or may not know is that I'm a furry. Anthropomorphic animals are awesome, and I love stories/drawings/animations/etc. about most things involving them. I have found a definite lack of Anthro!RWBY stories on this site, and have decided to rectify that. This will be a series of unrelated romantic oneshots, each taking place in a different animal AU. This first chapter will be a Wolf AU White Rose fic. Enjoy!
EDIT: When I refer to anthros, I am talking about animals that act like people. That can refer to bipedal, humanoid animals or regular animals who have human personalities. These stories are in regular, four-legged animal AUs. I may do a humanoid furry AU in the future, but this isn't it. Sorry for the confusion.
Ruby looked up at the moon, her tail wagging at the sight. It was full, signaling the second moon of Spring. The last of the lingering snow had finally melted away, allowing the growth of new grass and soft flowers. The breeze had taken on a warm, sweet-scented undertone and the prey was beginning to run in abundance.
The most obvious change, however, was in the behavior of the Beacon Pack wolves.
Mated pairs were rekindling their love while new romances began to make themselves known. Emotions that, for some, had been developing for long periods of time, came to full fruition during this season, for better or worse. This year, many young wolves were reaching maturity or were entering their second mating season with still no one to speak for. This was Ruby's first.
She shook some evening dew from her brown and red fur as she approached the young wolves preparing for the night's hunt. The pack alphas, Ozpin and Glynda, were explaining the trail the pack would take. Ruby noticed that the two leaders' tails were entwined even as they gave orders. She couldn't help but smile: The two alphas had been together for many seasons, and their love was still as strong and steady as a boulder.
Images flashed through Ruby's mind of a beautiful, white wolf with a howl that shamed even the song of the nightingale. She imagined a snow-colored tail curled around her while she slept, pictured the feel of sinfully-soft fur against hers as a sweet voice lulled her to sleep in a shared den. She wondered, for what was probably the hundredth time, if she had a chance of confessing her feelings to, let alone growing old with Weiss.
The two had been friends practically since Ruby was able to walk. She had followed Weiss everywhere. Initially, the older wolf had been annoyed by her incredibly-noisy extra shadow, but Ruby's tireless affection had caused Weiss to warm up to her relatively quickly.
While they were both still pups, they had fought off a poisonous snake and survived a close encounter with a human hunter. Now, they often ran together in the moonlight. Sometimes, Ruby would lie down near Weiss while the older wolf sang wordlessly to the stars.
She became aware of her feelings during the previous mating season, when she had watched Weiss being courted by multiple males, including her friend Jaune, and a new wolf named Neptune. She had been stunned at just how much she hoped that none of the males would be successful, how much her chest hurt when she saw Weiss being chased by someone else.
Almost everyone thought that Weiss would end up choosing Neptune, but the mating season passed without her moving to his den. When the pups started coming, Weiss was not one of the new mothers. When Ruby had asked her about it, the white wolf told her that, in the end, becoming mates with Neptune "just didn't feel right."
Ruby was jolted from her thoughts with the arrival of her sister, along with Blake and Weiss. "Hey, guys!" she said, her ears turning warm as she looked at Weiss, who was particularly radiant under the full moon's glow.
"Hey, sis!" Yang grinned, stretching luxuriously while conveniently highlighting her golden fur for any onlookers (of which there were several). "I heard Ozpin say we'd be taking left flank again. Ever think he'll let us run point?"
Blake scratched behind one ebony ear, yawning a little. "It makes sense. Coco, Velvet, Fox, and Yatsu have been running point for the past few nights. We've had pretty good results during that time. Why mess with what works?"
"Yeah," Yang agreed. "But really, who's thinking of hunting right now? I mean, really?" She grinned in a mischievous manner and passed her lavender gaze over her three friends. Blake pretended not to listen, Weiss glanced to the side, and Ruby turned even warmer beneath her fur.
"I know I am. I'm starving!" A new voice signaled Jaune's approach. The yellow-furred male plopped down next to Ruby and smiled brightly. "Evening, ladies. Guess who's running right flank tonight!"
"You?" Ruby tilted her head. "Don't you usually take the rear?"
"Yeah, but Ozpin thought he'd let Sun and his group take the rear for this one," Jaune replied. "I'm sure Sun's not complaining, especially since he'll get a good view of a certain black-furred female in the vicinity…"
Blake drew herself up with a huff, though Ruby could detect a definite blush on her muzzle. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean!"
"So, what about you?" Yang asked. "Got your eye on anyone this year, Jaune?"
"I- well- um…kinda." Jaune shuffled a forepaw nervously.
At this, Weiss spoke for the first time. "If it's me again, I'll save you the time and say that my answer hasn't changed."
Jaune shook his head. "No, it's not you. I can take a hint. It may take a while, but I can take a hint. No, it's…" He trailed off, turning his head. Ruby followed his gaze until it rested on a striking red female who was smiling in their direction.
Weiss snorted. "Well, it's about time," she declared, a smile coming to her face. "Honestly, while you spent all last Spring chasing me, Pyrrha was spending it chasing you."
Jaune's ears perked up. "Wait, what?!" He turned to stare at Weiss. "Seriously?"
"Seriously," Ruby affirmed, her silver eyes sparkling as she affectionately nudged his shoulder. "So, you'd best get her soon!"
"I- Wow!" Jaune's tail started wagging. "Um… I'm gonna go that way. Um, Pyrrha is on my hunting team, you know, and…"
"Yeah, yeah. Get going, lover boy," Yang chuckled giving her friend a hard shove in Pyrrha's direction before turning to the other females. "I love this time of year!"
"We know. You flirt enough for ten wolves," Weiss said. "Do you think you'll actually settle down with one?"
"Maybe. Maybe not." Yang shrugged. "Let's get going. I think Ozpin and Glynda are getting the party together. Time to hunt some caribou!"
…..
A few hours later, with full bellies, the wolves returned to their dens. Ruby immediately trotted over to Weiss. "Hey. Do you want to go running when you're done cleaning?"
The white wolf, who was trying to wash blood from her muzzle in the stream, paused long enough to nod. "Of course. I wouldn't miss it!"
"Great!" Ruby grinned, pausing to take a drink of water. "So…are you thinking of anyone this Spring?"
Weiss let out an exasperated sigh. "I really hate hearing that question."
"Sorry!" The brunette wolf's ears flattened as she glanced to the side.
"Don't apologize. I'm not mad at you." Finally withdrawing her dripping muzzle, Weiss shook her head a little to dry off. "I'm just frustrated with the pressure put on everyone during this time. You can't approach someone without them thinking you're hoping to court them. Everything is suddenly about falling in love, chasing females, chasing males, flirting, and acting foolish. If you're of age, you're expected to be interested in someone. If you're in your second year as an adult, you're expected to have pups already." This fact seemed to be particularly bothersome to her.
Ruby nodded slowly. "Yeah. I see what you mean. I guess I have it easier, since no one's really interested in me. Not sure how I'll handle it if anyone starts chasing me." Except you… she added silently.
"Oh, it'll happen." Weiss said, her voice completely confident. "You're more attractive than you give yourself credit for." Was that a blush showing through her white fur? Ruby wasn't sure. Either way, it was quickly hidden when Weiss yawned and scratched her ear, hiding her potentially-red muzzle. "So, you wanted to go running?"
"Uh, yeah!" the younger wolf replied, trying to will the warmth from her face. "Let's go."
As the two ran beneath the stars, Ruby felt her nerves slowly unwind and vanish as they were replaced with the pleasant exertion on her leg muscles and the refreshing night air rapidly coming in and out of her lungs. She glanced at Weiss out of the corner of her eye and felt a thrill at how her friend's whole body moved like a glowing, alabaster river beneath the moonlight.
Weiss turned to meet Ruby's gaze and smiled. Then, her icy blue eyes glinted mischievously before she increased her speed, shooting ahead of her friend.
Ruby's silver eyes narrowed and a grin came to her face. You wanna race me, huh? Bring it! Her nimble feet began to move faster and faster, kicking up grass and flower petals, which flew in a frenzy behind her. In moments, she was nose to nose with Weiss. She flicked her ears in a superior manner before jumping forward.
Not to be outdone, Weiss bumped Ruby's flank with her forehead, throwing the younger wolf off balance before streaking ahead, her white paws hardly touching the grass. This, of course, led to Ruby tackling her fully to the ground and starting a playful scuffle that Weiss eventually lost. The moon-colored wolf rolled onto her side, laughing breathlessly. Ruby's heart warmed at the beautiful, rare sound.
Panting slightly, she sat down on the ground near Weiss, looking up at the full moon. A thought occurred to her. She scratched at her shoulder and asked hesitantly, "Hey, Weiss? What if you met someone who didn't want pups, but wanted only you?"
Weiss blinked curiously before sitting up. Her ears flickered as she thought it over. After a moment, she replied. "How do you mean?"
"Like…imagine if someone didn't need you to declare yourself in Spring, if that…individual was willing to wait as long as necessary." Ruby tilted her head. "Would you consider being with that person?"
"It would depend entirely on who it was. I would have to have feelings for the wolf in question, obviously." Weiss scratched behind her ear, looking slightly uncertain. "Why?" There was an edge to her voice, as if she was expecting a very specific answer.
Ruby swallowed loudly, feeling her courage fading. "N-No reason. Just curious." She resisted the tense urge to dig her claws into the dirt. Dangit! Now, the moment's gone. Nice job, wimp! she mentally scolded herself.
Weiss studied her for a moment with those wonderfully-sharp eyes before lying down again and turning her gaze toward the moon. "At the risk of being a hypocrite, may I ask you a question?"
"Who am I interested in?" Ruby guessed, her ears flattening and her tail thumping nervously against the ground.
"No," Weiss muttered, still staring fixedly at the moon, which highlighted a definite reddening of her face. "I was wondering: What do you want in a mate? What are you hoping for?"
Ruby felt her mouth go dry. This was it! A chance like this would probably never come again. She would forever be mentally kicking herself if she passed this moment up.
Taking a deep breath, she looked at her friend out of the corner of her eye. "I want someone I can trust, someone who will stand by my side forever." She scratched at the ground, pushing her terror back enough to continue. "I want my mate to also be my friend. I want to be able to laugh with her, run with her. I want to hear her voice every day and every night for the rest of my life."
Weiss looked sharply at Ruby, a strange expression on her face. "Her?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Was there a hopeful tone to her voice, or was Ruby just imagining things? Steeling her nerves, she nodded, meeting Weiss's ice-blue eyes with her trembling, silver gaze. "Yeah. Her."
The two wolves regarded each other silently as the moon's light caressed their forms. Slowly, they shifted until their sides and flanks were touching. Weiss averted her eyes, her ears twitching in an uncharacteristically shy manner. Encouraged, Ruby took the opportunity to nuzzle her snowy neck, her own ears flicking to the side. Weiss smiled and leaned closer, resting her head on Ruby's folded paws. Ruby responded by draping her head over Weiss's shoulders and closing her eyes contentedly.
"Sooo," she muttered with a slight grin. "What are you looking for in a mate?"
Weiss huffed, rolling her eyes. "What do you think, you dolt? I want a hyperactive dunce who follows me everywhere." She turned to lick the soft fur of Ruby's chest before continuing in a more serious voice. "I want someone loyal and kind. I want someone who can make me happy, no matter how bad I'm feeling at the time. I want someone who will let me be myself and love me for who I am."
Ruby nipped the older wolf's ear affectionately. "I think that can be arranged."
For a few hours, the two remained in that position, basking in each other's presence. As the moon started to set, Ruby lifted her head. "Hey, Weiss? Could you sing for me before we go to bed?"
Weiss smiled as she sat up. "Only if you sing with me."
Ruby's ears flattened and she glanced to the side. "You know my howl isn't nearly as good as yours…"
The white wolf touched her nose to her friend's muzzle. "That's a matter of opinion. It would mean a lot to me."
Of course, those words immediately shattered Ruby's resolve and she turned her gaze toward the moon, waiting for Weiss to begin. When she did, the brunette wolf let out a dreamy sigh. Weiss's voice was clear and pure, echoing off the trees and nearby caves and falling to the ground like clear raindrops. It scattered across the sky, accompanying the dimming stars. It was only when she opened one blue eye and tilted her head that Ruby remembered to begin howling as well.
Her own voice was, in her opinion, shrill and unremarkable. However, when blended with Weiss's song, she found that the imperfections seemed to fade away. Weiss adjusted her voice, changing the tone until it melded perfectly with Ruby's. For a moment, the two howls blended together into one long, piercing note that rang through the night like a winter chill. All was silent for a split second after the song ended, as if every living thing had stopped to listen and were only now remembering to return to their regular lives.
Ruby's tail thumped against the ground and she turned to smile at Weiss, who smiled back before beckoning with her head and walking toward the dens. Seeing the dens made Ruby remember the late hour. Letting out a yawn, she followed, coming to a stop outside Weiss's den. She scuffed a forepaw uncertainly as she watched her best friend enter. Should I follow, or…?
Before she could ponder for too long, Weiss stuck her head out. "Well, are you coming in or not?"
"Oh! Yeah!" Ruby's ears straightened as she trotted eagerly into the den. Yawning again, she plopped down on the well-kept bed of moss in the corner.
Weiss chuckled softly before lying down next to her new mate, wrapping her tail around her and curling her body protectively around the younger wolf's form. "Goodnight, Ruby."
"Night, Weiss!" Ruby felt her eyes drifting shut, lulled by her mate's warmth. "I love you."
Weiss licked Ruby between her ears and rested her head across her back. "I love you too."
The two were sound asleep before the moon even finished setting.
As things currently stand, I plan on doing a Dragon AU Arkos, a Horse AU Team Sloth, and a Cat AU Black Sun. If you have any suggestions for pairings and corresponding animal AUs, let me know. Please review, but don't flame.
Praise Monty and peace out!
