Ruby would sigh, her crimson cloak billowing behind her due to the wind. It was day three already on their most current assignment in the Emerald Forest, and it was already grating on them. Why did Professor ozpin send us out here? It makes no sense! Ruby would slightly scratch her head as she ruffled her hair. Yes, she knew that Ozpin always had the best intentions for her and her team, yet sometimes she just couldn't figure out what he was getting at. Although she did slightly smile at a few things that had happened. Her team was growing even closer now.
Yes, team RWBY was always a very tight-knit group, but the time alone with nothing to do did cause the bonds they shared grow even stronger. Weiss had even barely said any lectures to Ruby today! In the young leaders book, that was an achievement in itself.
"Ruuuby! Stop staring into space and help us you dolt!"
This small statement would make the girl smile a little, although she would turn around and roll her eyes at the statement.
"Alright! I'll be right there Weiss!"
In all honesty, she did have what her sister would call a "high school crush" on the team's resident Ice Queen. But she had always sought a bit more attention from her partner and secret crush. Every scolding, every lecture, and even when the tutoring Weiss would give her came up, Ruby would always wear a tiny smile, not one big enough to be noticed, but just enough to where only she knew.
After having snapped herself out of her small trance, Ruby jumped down from the vantage point she had of the forest, her now standing next to Weiss, whose arms were crossed over her chest.
"Good. Now that you're here, we can go help your sister and Blake get more firewood." At this, the huntress with the red hood would groan. which would make Weiss huff. " I know, I know, but it's gotta be done. It'll be dark soon. Now let's get going dolt." The last word was said with a hint of playfulness, which was even confirmed with the small smile that Weis had when she had said it.
The small smile would make Ruby smile even more, the two huntresses now walking next to each other. Since it was Fall, the leaves on the trees around them were already starting to turn into browns, golds, and even reds, the forest floor being slightly littered with the already fallen leaves.
"So Weiss, do you have anything planned for when we get back to Beacon?" Ruby asked in a tone she thought was neutral, when in reality she wondered if she could take Weiss out and get to know her even more.
"Well...hmm…." Weiss's hand rested on her chin as she thought, her eyes shifting a bit back and forth as the two approached a small clearing, the sound of a fist hitting wood resounding nearby. "In all honesty, nothing really. Why?"
Now's my chance! Ruby smiled happily as Yang and Blake walked back into the small camp they had made, said two carrying a decent amount of firewood in their hands.
"Oh, I was just wondering if you wanted to go and look around Vale with me. Maybe even go to a few stores?"
"hmmm…..does this me-"
"No, they will not be any workshops or weapon shops."
"Well then, I actually do wish to take you up on that offer." The Ice Queen would smile at the red clad huntress.
"Yo Ruby! Weiss!" The blonde brawler of their team called the two over as she set down the firewood, Blake now using her weapon to cute the whole pieces into halves that would be more manageable. "It's your turn now to get some more firewood."
"Then we'll be right on time then for dinner! How much do we need for tonight?" Ruby looked at her sister with her curious silver eyes, them being met by Yang's lilac eyes.
"Well, I'd say just another two arms full. We saw a clearing that you could get some wood from, so I suggest starting over there." She smiled as her hands ruffled Ruby's hair, which in turn made the younger of the two siblings groan. "Just go to where we fought that Nevermore Rubes. Can't miss the one's we've already cut down.
"Alright sis. but please!" She moved away from yang's hand as she blushed out of embarrassment. "I'm too old for you to do that." At this comment, yang chuckled as she simply ruffled Ruby's hair even more.
"Hey, you're never too old for me to ruffle your hair sis. Now get going, blake said we'll be having some venison tonight."
Ruby nodded and turned around, Weiss already well on her way to the area they would need to be at.
Crescent Rose slashed through the air with little effort as it dug into the trunk of a tree, its wielder slightly panting since it had taken her and Weiss to chop the limbs of a large tree off about an hour or so. once they had gotten enough branches on the ground, Weiss had already started to chop them into manageable pieces while Ruby continued with her slicing, them soon having enough firewood after another ten minutes.
"There we go." Ruby wiped the sweat off of her brow before she collapsed Crescent Rose into its compact form before putting it into its holster on her lower back, Weiss's rapier returning to its owner's hip. "Now then, it's time to get this stuff back to the camp!" As always, the young huntress in trainings mood hadn't faltered in the slightest, her happy demeanor having burned brightly despite the hard task they had just endured.
"Alright alright, I heard ya." Weiss smiled a bit as she picked up her share of the wood, and as the two began their trek into the forest, they would hear rustling from the other side of the bridge. "Wait….Ruby, get down." At that, Ruby would use her semblance to dash behind a nearby tree, her setting down the wood slowly and quietly as Weiss did the same once she had gotten behind the same tree. "Ruby, could you see what's on the other side?"
The huntress nodded before bringing her weapon out, her slightly peeking out from the side of the tree before looking through her sights. The sight she would be met with was that of her enemy; Grimm. But this one seemed….different. It was a Beowulf, but it seemed to stagger and slash at the air as if it was sick, the usual spikes on its back gone while its mask seemed to have more markings on it, it seeming completely defenseless against even a new huntsman or huntress.
"it's a beowulf, but it looks like it's sick"
"Sick? Ruby, Grimm don't get sick, I'm not even sure if they're alive."
Both of their sentences were said in hushed tones lest they attract the attention of the Beowulf.
"See for yourself." At that, Ruby would offer her most prized possession to her partner. "Just be careful with my sweetheart, alright?"
Weiss rolled her eyes before taking the weapon gently into her hands before looking into the sights, her eyes widening a bit as she was met with the same sight that Ruby had been met with. "I see what you mean when you said it looked sick….but either way, it shouldn't be bothering us at all. We'll just need to stay quiet until we get back to the camp, okay?"
"Alright." Ruby smiled, her weapon being returned to her as she picked up one of the piles of wood in front of her, the ensuing walk with the girl she had feelings for being with soft footsteps and hushed tones.
But one thing that the red-clad huntress hadn't notice was the thin strand of red string that had been snagged on a small branch from the tree she had been leaning against, said stran slightly flowing in the wind. And once the two left the area of their tree cutting, the beowulf looked upwards from the ground and towards the wind.
It could smell a human, and even in its dazed state, it knew one thing.
It was hungry.
