Chapter Nine: The Wolf In A Red Cloak.

Ruby was nervous. Actually nervous was a huge understatement she was down right panicking on the inside and it was starting to leak out to her movements. The wolf paced back and forth in her dorm room hands clenching and unclenching. Why did she think this was a good idea again? Did she really want to go through all of this panic of not knowing just so she could let her ears and tail out? Would it be worth it just so she could actually relax around her partner and show the frosty girl just who she was? The answer was of course yes but it didn't mean the crimson wolf wasn't seriously rethinking her plan.

Since her talk with Weiss on the roof she had made up her mind that she would show the Heiress her features before they went on their first mission, in three days. Actually Ruby had thought about showing the white haired girl her ears and tail that night but had backed out at the last second but had promised she would try again if the situation presented itself, which it had been very next day when Yang had convinced Blake to go for some light sparing leaving her and her partner in the room alone.

Ruby had tried several times to begin a conversation that could lead to her showing Weiss her ears but after a few minutes of talking the Heiress made a quick point that Ruby should start to study along with her for a test the conversation was over just as quickly as it had started.

A day later Ruby had invited her partner to sparing after their classes. Once they had got going the wolf had been distracted by Weiss' moves that she had totally forgotten why she had asked her there in the first place. But it wasn't like anyone would blame her, watching the Heiress fight was extremely captivating. Her moves were graceful and smooth, years of practicing precision strikes and slashes looked completely effortless. The wolf watched as Weiss would move from glyph to glyph without hesitation always trusting that the one she needed would be below her feet at the exact moment she needed it allowing her to fight in all three dimensions of movement. If it wasn't for her speed and own acrobatic tendencies Ruby knew that her partner be an extreme challenge for her. As it was they never successfully landed a solid hit on each other causing her to smile widely.

Now Ruby was losing time and slowly her nerve. What if Weiss rejected her? Would she prove that she was just another Schnee? Would she throw every slur she knew towards her? What if she left the team? What if she left Beacon? What would that do to her team? Would they all be washed out because one member left? The wolf had no idea to any of her questions and it just made her more nervous.

Continuing to pace the crimson wolf's thoughts started to spiral back in on themselves causing her stomach to knot and flip erratically. The sickening feeling growing with each passing moment as she started to chew on her thumbnail, a nervous tick she had developed when she was younger. Her mom had tried to wane her out of the habit by trying to teach her other ways to ease her nerves and it had worked for the most part, but when the wolf was extremely nervous she would revert back to chewing her nails.

Ruby wanted everything to go right she wanted her partner to accept her for who she was rather than for her features, she wanted everything to just work it out in the end but she knew that any number of things could go wrong. It was just how things worked. A person could prepare for every worst possibility only to have something they could have never foreseen crop up and blow everything apart, Uncle Qrow had taught her that through several training sessions.

The door to the dorm swung open as Blake and Yang made their way into the dorm, Ruby paused mid stride as the black and yellow duo stopped in the doorway with confused looks on their faces. "Uhh, hi?" Ruby smiled nervously around her thumb, quickly removing it getting a sigh from Yang she knew the redhead's ticks and could tell something was up.

"What's wrong pup?" The blonde smiled softly as she sat on Blake's bed, the panther sitting next to her eyeing the wolf suspiciously. Ruby fidgeted under the two gazes her wolf side wanting to shy away and find a secluded place.

"Nothing." Ruby muttered inching towards the door to make a haste get away. Before she could make it to far Yang had sprung to her feet and blocked the door giving her a wide smile already knowing what she was trying to do.

"You suck at lying Ruby so don't even try." The blonde grinned shooing the wolf away from the door. "And I saw you chewing on your nail so we can do this the easy way or the hard way." Blake looked between the two sisters, Yang grinning cheekily down while Ruby was half pouting half glaring up at her older sister.

After a half a minute of a silent stand off Blake was beginning to worry Ruby might attack the blonde if her Alpha nature was triggered but finally the wolf gave a huff and a small growl before slowly backing away from the door. The panther blinked in surprise at the reaction but didn't miss the small sigh of relief from the brawler as she went back to sit beside her giving Ruby plenty of room. Blake really wanted to know how she had done that. Yang gave her a wary smile with a nod that she would explain later.

Turning back to the wolf Yang resumed her bright smile, "Speak." The blonde's laugh was cut short as Blake smacked her upside the back of her head. "Ow, what was that for Kitty Cat?" She pouted as she rubbed the back of her head.

"Don't treat your sister like a dog and I won't hit you." Blake deadpanned, while she knew it was all meant in a good nature coming from the blonde it still irritated her that her partner would start a conversation like one would command a pet.

Seeing the irritation in her amber eyes Yang nodded knowing they would be having a long conversation after they figured out what was wrong with the wolf. "Right, so Ruby what's wrong?"

Ruby had sat on Weiss bed looking down at the ground while the duo had their silent exchange trying to arrange her thoughts. When Yang had asked a second time what was on her mind the redhead looked up at the older girls, "I'm going to tell Weiss." Both girls blinked at her, Blake in surprise and Yang in confusion. "Or I really want to tell her. I just don't know how to go about it or even what her reaction will be about me being a wolf. I mean I think she'll be okay about it because she doesn't seem anything like her family from what she's told me. And it would make it so much easier if I could just tell her and let my ears and tail out cause they're starting to hurt from keeping them down all day. But what if I do it wrong and I screw it all up and make her hate me?"

Yang was the first to react going over to her sister's side pulling her into her side. "No one could hate you, you're adorable."

"Adorable doesn't mean she won't hate me." Ruby rolled her eyes.

"If Weiss does hate you then I kick her ass." Yang smirked giving off a wave of heat as he eyes flicked red quickly.

Blake sighed, "Your fists can't solve everything Yang. Ruby's right about being nervous, I was nervous at first when I met you that you might know my secret but you we're perfectly fine with it. Weiss might not be." Ruby's gaze became even more worry filled at her words, "I'm sorry Ruby but you know I'm right. The Schnee's have hated our kind for four generations and while Weiss might be different from her family but I can't say that the hate didn't leak into her up bringing."

Ruby nodded, the subject of how the Heiress felt about Faunus had never been brought up because she was scared about her answer. But now that she wanted to tell her she was terrified what it would be.

"Ruby what's brought this on?" Yang asked looking back at her sister.

"We're going on our first mission in three days," Ruby explained. "If we go into the frontier area my hearing is one of my greatest assists. While we could rely solely on Blake's hearing I would feel more comfortable if we had mine and hers working in tandem." The black and yellow duo nodded at the logic in her words; with two Faunus scanning for threats would make any job they had much easier.

"Well if you're sure…" Yang looked at her sister who gave a weak nod, "Then I think you should go for it." She looked over at her partner.

Blake hesitated. The few interactions she had with Weiss had been positive but her time in the White Fang had ingrained the notion that Schnee's were not to be trusted. But she hadn't agreed with the way they had changed so what made their words still stick with her? She knew it was years of hearing the same message over and over again that made them stick in her mind but this young wolf was willing to trust a Schnee. Ruby had asked her to be her Beta in order to not become a violent Alpha and now she was seeking their advice for what she should do the two actions spoke volumes about the crimson girl. "Ruby I grew up being told the Schnee family was to not be trusted with anything outside of their love of money and hatred for Faunus. I spent years growing up around that mentality so it's hard for me to accept that Weiss is any different from her family. But if you believe she's not like her family then I think you should tell her as well."

"I do." Ruby nodded, getting a nod in return from the black haired girl. With both girls telling her she should reveal her features to the Heiress her nerves began to settle. But it still left one very big nagging question in her mind. "So how do I do it? Can't just say, 'Hi Weiss I've been lying to you for the past month so here's the truth I'm a Faunus and here are my ears and tail.'" If she went that route she had no doubt that the Heiress would flip regardless.

Yang snorted in agreement while she would love to see the Heiress flip out completely she really didn't want that to happen to her little sister, again. She was still a little piss at the white haired girl for yelling at the wolf in the first week. "Yeah probably not the best approach. What do you think Blakey?"

"Well you could try to approach her on her feelings about Faunus first then slowly work the conversation your way." The amber-eyed girl suggested, "How have you tried so far?"

Ruby chuckled nervously as she rubbed the back of her neck, "I, umm, I haven't." Blake face palmed at her words with a small groan, "Well there's never been a real good time for me to try and anytime I have tried I've been distracted or side tracked."

"Oh Ruby." Yang sighed roughing up her hair. "How about you ask her how she feels about Velvet? She did mention the other day that she was disgusted about how CRDL treated her in the cafeteria before that giant got his hands on them." The blonde snickered; she had sparred again Yatsuhashi and knew just how strong he was. When she had heard that he and Fox 'kindly' suggested a friendly match between them and CRDL she was sad she hadn't witness it for herself.

"That's a possibility." Blake nodded in agreement; she had heard the Heiress' comment as well, which had caught her by surprise. "It's a good opening because she's such a noticeable Faunus and she's also helping with Weiss' Dust Manipulation class so she's been exposed to her for a while."

"I just wouldn't let Coco know you're using her girlfriend as a conversation starter." Yang added quickly. "I don't care if Velvet says she's harmless that girl is fiercely protective of her." Ruby gulped, since her run-in with the mysterious brunette she couldn't shake the feeling that her eyes saw way more than they should. "So you good pup?"

"Yeah I think I know what I'm going to say." Ruby nodded she just had to work out the exact words she would use. "Thanks guys." She smiled at both of her teammates before standing, "I need to go for a walk to think before I talk to her though. Burn off some of the energy and nerves." Yang nodded, she knew that the wolf needed the quiet now to think it through.

"Good luck." Blake nodded as her leader left the dorm leaving her and the blonde alone. Turning her amber eyes on her partner she saw Yang stiffen up. "So we need to talk."

Yang chuckled nervously as she walked over to her partner's bed sitting on the edge, "Yeah I got that vibe. Look I'm sorry if I said something out of line but it's Ruby and she's never minded it coming from me."

"That's not the point Yang." Blake shook her head, "Just because she's your sister doesn't mean you can give 'pet commands' to her. She might not thinks it's derogatory coming from you but if another Faunus heard it they would see you as just another arrogant human who think's their better than Faunus. I know that's how you show your affection for her and I know you mean nothing bad by it so that's why I've tolerated it but others won't be as understanding." Yang look down at her feet as she nodded along with her partner's words, "Also you have to think about her future," The blonde looked up at that. "If Ruby shows Weiss she's a Faunus the odds are she'll stop hiding out right, and when other people hear you talking to her like you do then they'll just assume it's okay with her and then they'll start in as well."

"Yeah I get it." Yang nodded, she had grown up using the little jokes with the wolf thinking it cute whenever she pouted or tried to growl at her. She never saw the wolf as anything but her little sister so when she could tease the little girl the blonde had took it just like any older sister would tease their younger sibling. When her mom had explained that Ruby's life would be different from hers she had sworn that she would protect her younger sister with everything she had, she would never let anyone hurt Ruby and that vow had become stronger after that day.

"Yang I know you love teasing her but you'll just have to find different ways to do it." Blake said in a gentler tone seeing the down cast look in the lilac eyes.

Taking a deep breath Yang flopped onto her back and stared up at the panther's amber eyes. She had found herself captivated with the golden orbs and their depth. The blonde had learned that Blake didn't communicate vocally very often outside of the dorm so she had learned to read her thoughts by the way her eyes moved and flashed. It was a silence she was learning to enjoy. "Yeah I get it. I'll work on it."

Blake sighed; she had no doubt that the blonde would come up with even more embarrassing ways to tease the wolf but at least they would be better. Now she wanted to know how Yang had stared down the young wolf. "So how'd you do that?"

"Do what?" Yang gave her a confused look.

"You stared down Ruby without triggering her Alpha nature." Blake clarified.

"Oh." Yang shrugged, "It's something I learned from our mom." The black haired girl raised an eyebrow at her words. "She was something of a wolf whisper. Only human that knew all of the locations of the wolf packs and had their trust." Blake looked at her in surprise; no one knew the location of the wolf packs they hid themselves extremely well in the frontier. Seeing the panther's surprise Yang chuckled. "She was raised in the frontier not far from a wolf pack and spent a lot of time among them, eventually she learned how to track them."

Blake nodded at the explanation before something caught her attention, "You said human."

Yang sighed as she stared up at her bed above her, "Yeah. Summer was human."

"So was Ruby's dad a Faunus?" Blake questioned as she eyed the blonde, the sisters obviously had a sorted past and she really wanted to know more about it.

"Probably." Yang shrugged catching the look in her partner's eyes the brawler shut hers before slowly sitting up across from the black haired girl and crossed her legs, "I'm not going to tell you everything, some of that is Ruby's to tell and she should be one to tell you if she wants." Blake nodded mirror the blonde's position. "Summer Rose was not my biological mom but I didn't learn that she wasn't until I was about six, the woman who was left when I was only six months old and my dad had no idea how to take care of a kid so Summer stepped in to help him. They were both on a team with my Uncle Qrow and that woman. I don't even know her name, dad's never told me and Qrow would always curse her instead of telling me. But that never really mattered to me, Summer was my mom. She raised me, she was there for me when I needed her, and she was always so kind and caring never once raising her voice in anger. She was also an amazing Huntress, an unstoppable force on the battlefield.

"One day when I was really young, four I think she went on a mission to Dragnaire, it was only suppose to last a week maybe two but she was gone for nearly a month and when she did come back she had this buddle of clothes in her arms and the widest grin in the world, I don't really remember everything but I do remember my dad being so stunned that he couldn't talk and Summer's grin being brighter than the sun then I remember looking at the bundle and in it was wrapped this tiny infant wolf faunus with bright silver eyes." Yang smiled at the memory, Blake could see some tears in her lilac eyes but they didn't fall, "We were such a mismatched family but that never bothered me in the least." Blake stared at her partner as she shook out her blonde hair.

"What happened to her?" Blake asked in a whisper, she knew that the personal question could tip the scales and make the brawler clam up again but she wanted to know more now that she was opening up. She wanted to see this vulnerable side of the fiery girl more often; it made her feel as if she was important.

Yang's head dropped, "Eight years ago she went out on a routine mission, a simple sweep and clear of a nest in the northern part of Vale, but something went wrong." The black haired girl heard the pain break through her voice causing her heart to break. Shuffling to the side of the blonde she slowly put her arms over her shoulders. Yang flinched slightly before leaning into the embrace, "They never found anything." Blake felt a few wet spots on her shoulder as the blonde turned into her, the sweet smell of lilacs filling her nose along with the occasional hints of the sharp gunpowder. "Hey is it okay if we talk about this more later?"

Nodding into the thick silky hair Blake pulled Yang closer feeling more and more wet spots on her shoulder, "Sure."


Weiss was extremely grateful that the only other team that shared their floor was JNPR. With only ten teams in each year each dorm housed four teams on the first and second floor and two on the third floor, while this did mean the third floor was slightly smaller it also meant that she didn't have to worry about anyone catching her stretching out on one of the floor lounges couches. She had spent the last few hours of the day running though fencing exercises in preparation for their mission. Night had fallen several hours before she had arrived back in the dorm. When she had entered her room she had found Yang and Blake both on the black haired girl's bed, the brawler's head resting on her partner's lap already asleep. Blake's amber eyes flicked up from her book as she watched the Heiress enter.

At first Weiss had been taken back by the scene but from the look in Blake's eyes she knew that if she woke the blonde there would be a fight. So she had just shrugged changed into more comfortable clothes then grabbed her scroll and left for the lounge at the end of the hall. The lack of her crimson leader had been noted but the redhead had been distracted the majority of the day so she just tacked it up to Ruby being Ruby.

With her scroll on a news site Weiss let her head fall back against the arm rest of the plushy seat, it would appear that her father was using a branch family to take the fall on a security issue that had led to a bombing in a small village outside of Vacuo territory while a shipment of Dust passed through. The Heiress grimaced as she stared up at the ceiling, how was she going to fix this?

When she had sworn that she would correct the SCD she had a limited idea on how deep the corruption went but now that she grown up she could see the true depths of it. Everything her father did was for his own gain or so he could obtain more power. In Mantel he had close to absolute power already, if he wanted an election to go a certain way it did, if a new development would pull away from the wealth of the Company it was suddenly defunded. There was nothing that he couldn't make happen and nothing was out of his reach. So just how should she go about dismantling his power?

She needed a way to definitively prove that she could become the next President of the SDC and win over the board while at the same time undercutting their power to remove them and place people that shared her vision for the future in their places. Weiss had originally thought that by becoming a Huntress she would start down that path to proving herself but now that she was seeing more and more of the pain her father could cause she wasn't so sure. Closing her eyes the Heiress began to rub her temples.

A small cough made her open her eyes slowly Ruby was standing a few feet away from her, the long red cloak hanging around her. The younger girl must have been pulling the cloak close to her because the front was closed tight. "H-hey Weiss." Ruby shifted uncomfortably.

"Hello Ruby." Weiss responded sitting up looking at her partner. "Did you need something?"

Ruby continued to shift, her silver eyes not looking at the Heiress. "I, umm, I was wondering if we could talk?"

Now Weiss was really confused, if Ruby wanted to talk she usually just talked so why was she asking now? And what could have the redhead to look so nervous? Whatever it was had peeked her interest, "Sure." Ruby exhaled slightly taking a seat in the chair across from the Heiress, her cloak still clinging tightly to her. But the moment she sat down the crimson girl went silent causing Weiss to feel some irritation to build, "Ruby you said you wanted to talk, so talk."

Ruby took a deep breath before looking at her blue eyes; Weiss could see hesitation in those sterling orbs, "I was curious what you thought about Velvet."

Weiss blinked at the girl, she wanted to talk about Velvet? That made very little sense to the white haired girl. Why did Ruby want to talk about the second year? Sure she was an interesting girl with very good Aura control and understood Dust weaving better than some of the scientists at the SDC but why would Ruby want to talk about the… Faunus.

Now it made sense, while they had approached how her family felt about Faunus the subject stopped there never going into how Weiss felt about them. She or Ruby had always stopped the conversation before it could go that far. It was almost as if the crimson girl was shying away from the subject incase it enraged the Heiress.

Taking a deep breath Weiss looked at her partner in her silver eyes, "You want to know my feelings on Faunus?" Ruby nodded slowly getting the white haired girl to sigh, "Well first can I preface this conversation with something first?" Ruby cocked her head to the side in confusion. "I mean can I say my over all feelings before I explain them?"

"Oh." Ruby smile sheepishly giving a small nod of her head.

"Good now, I do no believe that all of the Faunus are terrorists, nor do I see them as just more advanced animals. But with that being said I cannot tell you I haven't had thoughts like that." Weiss started, a mixture of emotions flooded the silver eyes across from her. "Let me explain; my family believes that Faunus are below them and that they are to be kept in their place by any means necessary. I witnessed their cruelty for years before I questioned it and even then I was sure that they had their reasons. The reason I was given did make sense, the White Fang. Nearly a day wouldn't go by when I didn't overhear a conversation or report about a bombing, an assassination of a board member or their family or a stolen shipment where the crew had been killed. So logically it made sense, I hate to admit it but I could see why my family hated Faunus and if it wasn't for a realization about my family I had I probably would have followed their line of thinking."

"What did you realize?" Ruby asked in a small voice her cloaked wrapped tighter around her as Weiss had spoken.

"I already told you," The crimson girl gave her a confused look. "They only saw me as a tool to be used to further their goals. They were full of hate and lies that if they could lie about caring for me then what else did they lie to me about? The answer was everything. They lied to me about why the White Fang was attacking us, they lied about how Faunus were lower beings and they lied that they were innocent. While I still have no sympathy for the White Fang, to many innocent people have been killed because of them but I recognize that the SDC is not blameless either. I also realize that the White Fang is not a representation of the whole Faunus race. So while I have no hatred towards Faunus I have not always been so open to them."

Ruby cast her gaze down and Weiss could see the rapid thoughts flicking about behind the silver. She still didn't understand why she was so captivated by the crimson girl or her silver eyes that were always so kind and gentle when they spoke or how Ruby would smile widely when the redhead saw her. With their closeness the Heiress could smell the hints of the girl's perfume, roses. Was that actually her perfume though? The smell of sweet roses followed the younger girl around nearly constantly so it was hard to tell if it was her perfume or just her natural smell. Either way made sense to the Heiress, the girl did leave Aura rose petals behind whenever she activated her semblance.

Ruby slowly stood breaking Weiss' train of thought, taking a deep breath silver eyes fixed the white haired girl in her spot. Weiss gulped as she looked into those eyes they never looked as intense as they did now, they held notes of fear, hesitation and uncertainty but under those was a hard resolve. Whatever Ruby was about to do she was not about to back down. "Weiss I need to show you something." Slowly the cloak that had been wrapped tightly around her body began to loosen. "I need you to promise me you won't freak out until I've explained okay?" Confused by the girl's words and movements the Heiress nodded slowly. Taking another deep breath Ruby closed her eyes before releasing her hold on the cloak allowing it to slip from her body.

Weiss sat stalk still trying to remember how to breath as her eyes took in the girl before her. When the cloak slipped to the floor the Heiress was given a good look at her partner's attire, a pair of black compression shorts clung to her thighs and hips showing her healthy curves. A tight black shirt with long sleeves clung to her skin. Weiss' brain shut down as she drug her eyes up the younger girl's body noting every subtle curve the tight cloths revealed. Her mouth went dry as her heart began to race. Why was she having this reaction to the crimson girl? Slowly a better question began to form in her mind; why was Ruby showing herself to her like this, was there a purpose to her showing herself like this?

A twitch of motion on the top of her hair brought Weiss' gaze to two triangles that stood up out of her hair. It took a minute for her to connect what she was seeing, ears. Ruby had a pair of Faunus ears sitting on the top of her head. Weiss blinked slowly as she studied the ears. Like her hair the ears where black at the base and turn crimson at their tips. From behind the girl came a small swish of motion that drew Weiss' attention again. A black tail swayed slowly behind Ruby, it too was black near the base and turned red at its tip. Weiss felt her heart hammer in her chest Ruby was a Faunus. The very race they had just talked about, the very race Weiss had just reviled her feelings toward to the younger girl. The very race her name was supposed to hate.

Flicking her eyes to Ruby's she saw the girl looking down at the ground holding her arms in front of her trying to make herself smaller, legs shifting in small movements as if she was ready to bolt at the slightest sign of trouble. She could see an odd expression crossing her face as she pulled her lower lip into her mouth biting down on it slightly, Weiss could now understand why the girls canines had appeared longer than her other teeth. The younger girl was very nervous and she knew why. She had just revealed herself to a Schnee. Even with Weiss telling Ruby not three minutes ago how she felt she was still nervous and the Heiress understood, hate was a hard thing to forget.

Taking a slow and stead breath Weiss closed her eyes and felt her heart slow down back into a normal rhythm. "You're a Faunus." She stated flatly making Ruby snap her eyes back up to her.

"Y-yeah." Ruby nodded slowly.

Weiss nodded centering her thoughts, "Why did you hide it from me?" She kept her voice slow and soft trying to ease the fears out of the Faunus before her. While she already suspected the answer she wanted hear it so she could show the girl before her she was not her family.

Ruby looked at her confused, "I-I thought… I mean you're…. Your family…." Weiss shook her head as she stood and took a few steps towards the girl.

"Ruby I just told you, I am not my family. Yes I have their name and yes they tried to force their views on me but they did not succeed. A few ideas did wormed their way in yes but I am able to see the lie they were." Weiss placed a soft hand on the Faunus shoulder as she looked in to soft silver eyes. She could see tears brimming in them causing her to sigh. "Don't cry you dolt."

A wide smile broke across Ruby's face as a few tears leaked out from her eyes. "I can't help it. You have no idea what it means to me to hear you say that." Ruby sniffed as she whipped away her tears. "I was so worried that when you learned you'd be so mad at me and leave the team."

"I'm not mad at you being a Faunus Ruby." Weiss shook her head bending down and picking up the soft red cloak. "I am mad at you however for hiding it from me but I understand your reasoning." Shaking off any dirt that the material may have picked up before throwing it over the girls slender shoulder wrapping her back up. "Though I have to ask why did you think yourself in your underwear the best way to show me you are a Faunus." Ruby turned a brilliant shade of red as she pulled the cloak closer.

"Well it's easier to show my tail off." Ruby muttered.

Weiss nodded in understanding, "Wait don't they have skirts that will allow your tail to be out?" She had seen several Faunus on campus with their tails out so why didn't Ruby have one?

Ruby chuckled a bit as she moved them towards the couch, "Well they didn't have my size at the beginning of the year so I had to keep it tucked in against me and since I wasn't sure how you would take me being a Faunus I just haven't gone to get my new ones yet."

"That can't be comfortable." Weiss sighed as she sat down.

Ruby nodding in agreement, "It's not, my tail got a few cramps in it."

Weiss look up at the top of the girls head again looking at her ears, they stood up at least two and a half inches tall and were nearly a inch and a half wide, they stirred a question in her, "Ruby how did you hide your ear? I've seen you with out your hood on and I doubt I'd miss them."

"Oh well I just flattened them against my hair." Weiss watched as Ruby's ears flexed and folded down against her hair, then giving a small shake of her head tossing her hair about the ears disappeared in a sea of red and black. "I leaned this trick a few years back. Kinda nice that my ears match my hair perfectly." Again her ears once again reappeared as they stood straight.

"That is convenient." Weiss agreed, now that she was seeing the features on the girl before she noted how well they fit the girl. Her ears added something that she had never noticed the girl was missing or had even known that she was missing. Her tail fit her bubbly attitude with its little excited twitches.

"Weiss?" Ruby asked cocking her head to the side. With the added ears and tail the Heiress knew why she had seen the picture of a confused puppy whenever the crimson girl had done that. Failing to hold in her laugh Weiss doubled over in a laughing fit holding her sides. "What's so funny?"

"You look like a puppy." Weiss chuckled out getting a large pout from the redhead, making her laugh harder she had always suspected that there was a reason Ruby had the perfect puppy pout and now she had her answer.

"I'm not a puppy I'm a wolf." Ruby whined in the most puppy like way causing the Heiress to continue laughing.

After a few minutes of glaring from the redhead Weiss was finally able to settle down and look at her partner, "Ruby they still call young wolves puppies." Ruby continued to give her a pouting glare.

"You sound like Yang." Ruby muttered, pulling her ears closer to her head.

At the motion Weiss felt something pull in her chest, "Alright Ruby I'll stop. I really don't want to be compared to your brutish sister." Instantly her ears perked back up and her tail began to twitch again. Weiss smiled, at least she be able to tell what her partner was thinking now. "Speaking of which I know Yang obviously knows but does Blake?"

"Yeah." Ruby nodded her head getting to Weiss sighed. Of course Blake would know, the redhead wouldn't have been afraid of telling the black haired girl. "She's known since the beginning of the year."

"I see." Weiss looked down at her hands, while she understood why she was the last person to know on her team it still didn't sit well with her.

Seeing her partner's look Ruby grasped her hands in her own causing the girl to look up at her, "Weiss I wanted to tell you sooner but I was scared. I'm sorry if I hurt you but it's just…"

"I know Ruby." Weiss nodded, she could feel tingling in her hands but didn't move them away from the crimson girl's. "I don't hold it against you, I understand." Suddenly Ruby moved forward and wrapped her arms around the Heiress' middle resting her head on her collarbone, the scent of roses filled her nose. "R-R-Ruby?" Weiss felt heat flood her face as the girl nuzzled her cheek against her shirt.

"Thank you Weiss." Ruby whispered, the soft breath against Weiss skin to tingle and shivers went up her spine. Before she could pull away she felt a slight shake from the crimson wolf that was clinging to her.

With a sigh Weiss brought her arms up and placed them around her partner pulling her in slightly, "You Dolt." She whispered gently.


A/N: And there we have it! Weiss now knows of Ruby's wolf features now we can move on yay!. Also yay for Whiterose comfort as well as so bumblebee too. A bit of background on the Xiao Long-Rose family and more will come. Next week RWBY goes on their first mission! So to those who are wondering what's wrong with Winter patience we have a long way to go and a lot to cover and all will be revealed in time.

With that: May my thanks reach everyone, don't be shy come say hi, and may the sun shine on you to make you smile.