Disclaimer: RWBY is owned by Rooster Teeth.

Author's Notes: Naturally, nothing went according to plan. This is not the final chapter. That should be done... eventually.


A chill, stormy gust blew into the cave, swinging the mossy drape open and letting in the pale silver light of a waxing Spring moon, shining like a white eyeball through the lumbering black clouds that drifted, camouflaged, across night's dark star-scape, pelting the forest with their frigid tears. The freezing wind carried the smell of wet earth and the sounds of all the nocturnal creatures scurrying through the underbrush, brushing its ghostly fingers through Ruby's reddish hair and stirring her from her uneasy dreams.

Ruby groaned and rolled onto her back, lifting her head from the gray sweatshirt that served as her pillow and driving her elbow against the cold, rocky floor to push herself up. The loose pages of paperback books fluttered noisily in the breeze as she drew back the heavy quilt that rested across her chest, folding it to lay delicately over her knees. She slid out from under the thick sheet, grunting as she put just enough pressure on her shoulder to shift the recovering muscles, and stood, feeling the dry crunch of pine needles beneath her toes. Clapping her arms over her chest to combat the piercing chill of midnight, Ruby started cautiously toward the hollow's mouth, straining her eyes to see the ground through the darkness.

Quiet lay over the cave like an intangible sheet, the calm drowsiness of night dampening and discouraging all the sounds that normally boomed during the day. No, she thought, it was more than that. There was a strangeness to the quiet, an absence of something that should be there. Since she had first woken up in Blake's den, the clatter of the rain had echoed and rattled off the hard stone walls, but now all she heard was the chirrups of crickets hopping across the forest floor and the hooting of an owl as it hunted for prey. After almost five days straight, the rain had stopped.

Running her fingers along the sides of the cave to help keep her balance, Ruby continued meandering toward the outside, moving her feet in small, careful steps lest she step on something. Or someone, she realized as she had to suddenly stop herself before her toes jammed into Blake's back, the dark-haired faunus lying on her side facing the forest. Ruby stood silent over the sleeping creature by her feet, rubbing her hands across her arms to repel the deepening cold. Its – Her – white skin glowed in the moon's luminescence, the light erasing any marring streaks of dirt and creating a beautiful contrast with Blake's obsidian hair. The girl's light-pink lips were parted as she slept, tiny puffs of air gently swinging the tentacle of black hair that lay across her mouth. The fuzzy ears, invisible but for the white outline of light that caressed their edges, were relaxed to the side, the fur waving as a breath of cold air wafted into the cave.

It would not be impossible, Ruby pondered as she stood over the snoozing faunus, for her to leave in the night. She could walk out through the curtain of moss and into the woods and escape from the forest's monster. She could find a road and follow it until someone found her, and then she'd be home within a day. She could be back with Yang and Dad and Weiss and Pyrrha and Nora and-...

A sinking feeling appeared in her gut, and she dismissed that thought with a shake of her head. It was too late at night to have thoughts like that, too far away from home to be thinking about her. Too close to turning this dream into a nightmare.

Was this a dream? She was lost in the woods, trapped and injured in a cave with a mysterious creature, and separated from her family and friends. Is this really what she had wanted when she asked to go 'far away?' Yes, she could journey into the night and the sprawling forest and maybe she'd find her way home, but she could also maybe starve to death. No, she was better off staying with Blake.

The faunus was kind, caring and sweet. After they had introduced themselves, they had talked the day away. Ruby smiled at the memory of Blake happily discussing each of her favorite books, pulling out various small novels at random. It was amazing that she was able to remember where each one was among the enormous stacks. She had listened intently as Ruby had told her about Yang and Weiss and their romantic troubles, comforting her when she explained her sister's angry outbursts. Her touch had been... soft, and... soothing. Blake had left at sunset, leaving Ruby in the company of a long book of fairy tales, returning with an armful of gathered food. They had feasted on wild mushrooms and large, juicy blackberries.

Ruby's attention was drawn from the past and her smile disappeared as a clacking noise bubbled from the girl at her feet. Blake's body shook on the floor, rapid, breathy pants coming from her mouth as her arms and legs retreated inwards for warmth. Her teeth, the source for the odd noise, were chattering rapidly, overpowering the trill of the crickets in the woods, and the dark brows were drawn down into a distressed frown. The furry ears dropped flat, hidden amongst the wavy hair.

"Oh no!" Ruby whispered into her hands as she knelt beside the quivering faunus. "Blake?" She prodded gently at a trembling shoulder, but her light touches were not enough to rouse the shivering girl. "Blake?" she asked, pushing a little harder.

Yellow eyes flashed open and whipped to Ruby. With a guttural, animalistic snarl, Blake shoved her body off the ground and threw herself at the small girl, tackling her to the rough, stony floor. Pure power coursed through the faunus' body as she kneeled on Ruby's chest, rippling, fibrous bundles of muscle bulging along her arms. Her mouthful of exposed fangs spread inches from Ruby's face in an enraged grimace, long strands of saliva slowly extending down to pool on her cheek. Hot breath stung her nostrils, smelling of blood and twisted fury. Sharp, pointed claws pressed into Ruby's neck as she stared, surprised, her eyes locked to the narrow black circles in the center of Blake's eyes.

The swift pulse of fear thundered in her temples as the vice-like grip on her throat began to squeeze tighter, hot points of pain burning on her neck. She struggled against the heavy body lying on top of her, but her weak thrashing couldn't dislodge the growling faunus. The yellow eyes blazed into hers; cold, hungry, angry. "Blake?" Her voice was garbled and choked, restricted by the tense fingers enclosed over her throat. She wrapped her hands around Blake's wrist, tugging at her hands. Sweat beaded on her forehead as an instinctive fear tightened in her chest. "Bla-ke!"

The faunus blinked, the golden disks losing their feral rage and widening into shocked, worried rings. The claws jerked free from around Ruby's neck, drifting to Blake's sides as the younger girl coughed and sat up, taking deep breaths. "Ruby! I-!" Blake covered her face and turned away, ashamed, her chest heaving with shaky gasps. "I-... I don't... I'm sorry!" Tears gathered in her eyes as she looked in horror at her fingers. Drops of blood dripped from her nails across her knuckles, the pale skin stained red. "I didn't mean-" She leapt to her feet, backing away and shaking her head. "I didn't mean to... I didn't mean to..."

Ruby stared wide-eyed at the cowering faunus, drawing her fingers across her throat and gulping when she felt the sticky wetness. She sat heavily, sighing and holding a hand to her chest as her heartbeat began to slow back to normal. "I... I'm okay. It's okay, Blake." Was it? Was she okay? Blake had just attacked her! The eyes had been so familiar...

Blake fell to her knees beside her, glistening tears rolling down her face, her chin crinkled with approaching sobs. She threw her hands around Ruby, pulling her into a tight, warm embrace. "I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! I didn't... I shouldn't have..." Blake wailed against her back, squeezing harder, crying too loudly to hear Ruby's squeak of pain as the hug jostled her shoulder. "I'm... I'm not used to someone else... being..."

Ruby wiggled a hand between herself and the sniffling creature, pushing gently until Blake finally released her. They sat still for a moment, Ruby slowly regaining her breath while Blake controlled her sputtering apologies and wiped her eyes. "I wanted to wake you up. You were... you were shivering." She maneuvered to her knees, reaching out and picking up Blake's hand, wiping away her blood and rubbing her thumb comfortingly across the palm, keeping a firm grip when Blake tried to pull away. "I... I don't mind sharing the blanket..."

Blake blinked, and after a moment whispered a quiet "Oh." The darkness hid her blush, but not her ears, which rose from against her head and locked to the small girl with silver eyes. "Oh."

Nodding and giving the faunus a thin smile, Ruby stood and pulled her along by the hand to the thick sheet, leaning over to pull it aside and allow them both under. Ruby snuggled beneath the warm blanket, whispering assurances until Blake slowly wriggled down beside her.

"But... what if..."

Ruby touched a slender finger to Blake's lips, smiling at the concern that dwelt deep in the amber eyes. "Don't worry, I'm not scared." Really? Yes. You're not her. You're nothing like her. She is cold and evil, you are... soft and soothing. Ruby spread the gray sweatshirt so neither of them would be resting their heads on the hard stone, sighing as she let her body relax into the lumpy mattress of pine needles. Flicking her eyes nervously between Ruby's face and her own hands, Blake gulped and lay down, her eyes staring at bright silver.

The cave was plunged into darkness as a cloud obscured the moon, the patter-patter of rain beginning to return to the forest outside. Ruby was surrounded by warmth, the soft blanket pulled up to her chin and protecting her from the cold wind that blew into the den. She sighed and rolled onto her side, giggling at the feeling of hot, tickling breath on the back of her neck. A hum buzzed in the back of her throat as an arm tenderly draped itself over her body and she felt a nose poke into her hair.

"Blake?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"But I-"

"Thank you. I lo-... like this. I feel warm and... safe."

"Oh."

"Goodnight, Blake."

"Goodnight, Ruby."


Author's Notes: I just wanted a quick moment to expand on Ruby and Blake. I hope you enjoyed it.

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