"Steady there!" Yang yelped as she grabbed Blake's arm to keep the Faunus from slipping and falling flat on her face. Blake blushed in embarrassment as she regained her balance. Ice and crutches were not a good mix, and this was a fact she was discovering in the worst possible way. They were only halfway down the street, but she'd already been caught three times. Her only solace was that it was too early for most of the townsfolk to be awake, so only Yang, Ren, and Nora were around to see her stumbling about like a newborn fawn.

"You'll get the hang of it," Nora assured her.

"Hopefully before I break anything else," Blake muttered. "Just how far away is this stable?"


Pyrrha stirred as she heard Nora's voice drawing closer. Jaune was still fast asleep, curled up next to her stomach and between her paws. Pyrrha briefly considered moving him, but thought better of it. The last time she'd tried, she'd sent him tumbling across the stable and scratched his arm. She did not want a repeat of that disaster.

"Heyyy Pyrrha!" Nora called in a sing-song voice as she opened the door. "We've got a surprise for you!" Ren and Yang quickly followed the enthusiastic ginger inside, and Ren leaned down to stroke Pyrrha's mane.

Pyrrha lifted her head and yawned. This could be fun, and it had to be more interesting than watching Jaune breathe. Really, he was adorable, but she was seeing enough of him in the memories he inadvertently sent her in his sleep, and embarrassing as some of those memories were, they were still more interesting than watching him sleep.

"Watch the bump," Yang cautioned to someone outside.

"Yeah, I got it," they snapped back. Pyrrha recognized the voice immediately. "How does she even fit in here anyway?"

"What do you mean?" Nora asked. "Why wouldn't she fit in here?"

"Nora, have you ever seen a Nymean?" Blake asked as she stepped inside, supported by a pair of crutches. Pyrrha noticed immediately that the girl had abandoned her bow, revealing her charcoal colored cat ears. "Because if this is some prank to get back at me, I don't- Agh!" She tripped, and Yang barely managed to grab her scarf before she hit the ground. She hauled the Faunus to her feet while Ren handed her the crutches.

"This is going to be worse than the White Fang's Hell week, isn't it?" Blake moaned.

"Don't be so melodramatic." Yang chuckled. "They're just crutches."

"In the dead of winter!" Blake shot back. "And secondly-" She stopped abruptly when she noticed Pyrrha, her jaw dropping as she looked the Nymean over. Pyrrha purred softly as the Faunus hobbled over. She nuzzled Blake's hand and stared her straight in the eyes. She expected the girl to question her identity, just as everyone else had.

"This is it?" Blake asked, thoroughly confused. "Guys... She's a baby."

Blake attempted to scramble back as Pyrrha leapt to her feet and snarled in rage. The Nymean's razor sharp claws slid from her paws, and she pushed Jaune - who was now trying to wake up and was very much confused - to the side. Ren quickly stepped between the lion Grimm and Blake, holding out his hands. Blake could see the thin wisps of aura trailing from his palms as a shield.

"Jaune, you need to wake up!" Nora shouted. "Like, right now!"

"I'm up already!" Jaune hollered. "What did you say?!" "Actually, I think it was something Blake said," Nora replied.

"Wait, Blake's here?" Jaune opened his eyes. "Oh, hey Blake! Ow! Pyrrha, calm down! What do you mean you're a cub and not a baby? There's a difference?"

Blake's fear quickly turned to confusion as the Nymean turned its head to Jaune.

"Okay, okay, ow. Stop shouting! Yeah, I get it! There's a difference!" Jaune shouted before his eyes flashed with confusion. "Wait, who's the old guy teaching you earth-bending? Pyrrha?" The Nymean snorted in frustration and flopped onto the ground with her back to the group. Jaune attempted to reach out to her, but scampered back as she snarled viciously at him.

"She, uh, wants to be left alone," Jaune muttered. "For a while."

"Is that even possible for you two anymore?" Yang asked. "Aren't you... Like... Mentally bonded?"

"She can block me out." Jaune sighed as he rose to his feet. "Like she just did. Blake, why did you say she was a baby?" Pyrrha growled again and flicked an ear in annoyance.

Blake struggled to her feet. "Maybe we should explain out of her earshot. She might maul me."

Jaune nodded, then frowned. "Pyrrha, did you really just pull down your mental barrier to say she's not wrong?" The Nymean nodded while making a sound suspiciously close to wry laughter.

"Would it help if I said I was sorry?" Blake asked sheepishly. "I didn't mean to offend her."

Pyrrha lifted her head just enough to stare at Blake with one glowing green eye, then slowly lowered it with a sigh.

"She says it's fine. She just... Really wants to be alone." Jaune shrugged and rose to his feet.


"So, how old is she?" Jaune asked as soon as they were out of Pyrrha's earshot. Blake paused for a moment, seemingly considering the question.

"A month, maybe two?" Blake guessed, then shrugged. "I'm no expert on Grimm, Jaune, but I've seen full grown Nymeans. They're massive, almost as big as Mammoths."

"Have you ever fought one?" Jaune asked, trying not to sound too frightened.

"Never a full grown one," Blake said bluntly. "No one in their right mind goes near an adult Nymean if they can help it." She adjusted her grip on her crutches and continued forward.

"How long are you going to be stuck with those?" Jaune asked. The group needed to move on soon; every day they stayed was a day their enemy had to destroy another kingdom.

"Two weeks, give or take," Blake answered. "Even aura can't fix broken bones in a few hours, Jaune."

"I know." Jaune sighed as he looked around at the village. It wasn't just Blake that needed time to heal. Despite insisting that she was fine, Ruby had to avoid fighting until her side healed. On top of the girls' injuries, the constant Grimm attacks had worn everyone down, so they all needed a break. "I guess we get to enjoy some downtime."

"If you're bored, there's a forest full of Grimm right outside the gates." Yang pointed out past the village. "Maybe if you're lucky you'll get injured too." Blake rolled her eyes as Yang grinned at her. "You think Ruby's awake yet?"

"If she is, please keep her from hugging me until I sit down." Blake's ears turned back slightly. "No promises." Yang smirked.


"Yang?" Ruby called. "Blake? Dr. Grey? Anybody?" The girl could've kicked herself for sleeping in so late. A leader was supposed to set an example, not stay in bed until noon. Even Blake had woken up before her, and she was notorious for sleeping until well past three o'clock on her free days. If she was sleeping more than a cat Faunus, she had issues.

It didn't help that Yang had hidden Crescent Rose while she was asleep. Normally, she would've worked on the weapon when she was stuck indoors, but now it wasn't an option. With a sigh, Ruby flopped down on the couch and stared up at the ceiling fan. She didn't even realize someone had walked inside until Yang appeared in her field of vision. She screamed in surprise and flopped onto the floor, and Yang roared with laughter.

"Oh, Dust… Oh, Dust… Hey, sis!" Yang wheezed when she'd finally calmed down. "You feeling… Down?" She burst into a fresh peal of laughter as Ruby pushed herself up.

"Yang!" Ruby whined. "That's not funny! Why'd you sneak up on me?"

"C'mon, it was a little funny." Yang insisted, barely keeping herself together.

"How many terrible puns do you have?" Blake questioned from the doorway.

Yang paused to consider her partner's question. "How many months were you gone?"

"Blake!" Ruby squealed in delight as she saw her teammate. She barely stopped herself from using her Semblance to tackle the girl in a bear hug, and waited as patiently as she could for Blake to limp over to the couch. By the time the Faunus sat down, Ruby was trembling with excitement. She flung her arms around Blake's neck, squeezing the air from the girl's lungs.

"Hello, Ruby." Blake smiled as she returned the girl's hug. "How does your side feel?"

Ruby let go of Blake. "How'd you know about that?" Her hand fell to the long, stitched wound. It was healing nicely despite her refusal to stay in bed, mostly thanks to her aura. Blake glanced down at the wound as well, looking almost remorseful. For the first time Ruby realized that Blake was no longer wearing her bow.

"I was watching from outside when you woke up," Blake admitted, her cat ears turning back in shame as she blushed.

Ruby decided not to comment on how creepy that sounded. "You ditched your bow, huh?"

"It was already ruined," Blake said quickly. "I think one of the Fang soldiers I fought before I made it to the fringes of Vale shredded it. I was probably too panicked to notice." Ruby waited for a moment, but Blake didn't elaborate any further.

"You were fighting the White Fang on your way here?" Ren inquired.

"I was running from the White Fang on the way here," Blake corrected with a shudder. "Adam's made me a rare exception to his 'take no prisoners' rule, and from what I can tell, the price he's willing to pay to have me kneeling at his feet is high."

Ruby patted Blake's shoulder and smiled, letting the older girl know wasn't going to let anyone hurt her. The Faunus didn't smile, but she nodded in gratitude, and her ears perked up a bit. She leaned back on the couch, closing her eyes and sighing in relief. "If you don't mind, I'd rather rest here instead of trying to climb upstairs," Blake said.

"I'll carry you!" Yang offered. Blake frowned and opened her left eye to look at the blonde. She yelped as Yang swooped down and scooped her up with her one arm, grinning the entire time. "Going up!"

"Yang, wait!" Blake's protests fell on deaf ears as Yang bolted up the stairs. Ruby laughed and grabbed the Faunus's crutches before following the pair upstairs.


"Hey, Pyrrha," Jaune was ready as soon as the Nymean's mental barrier fell. He quickly excused himself from his conversation with Dr. Grey and stepped outside.

The village was awake now, with people running about attending their daily business. The smell of smoke as the blacksmith started up his forge, the newly returned messenger boy was shouting his news in the town square - Jaune was happy to hear that things were slowly growing better in Vale - and a group of kids chasing their dog trying to steal Crocea Mors. Again. A few people stopped to say hello or thank him for his hand in exterminating the Grimm that had been plaguing the village, and Jaune tried his best to politely respond to all of them.

Hello. Pyrrha finally replied as Jaune reached the village stable.

"Have you calmed down?" Jaune called.

You know you don't have to speak. Pyrrha responded, her tone cagey. No one else is here to listen.

Force of habit. Jaune rolled his eyes. So, can you answer the question now?

Yes, Jaune, I've calmed down. Pyrrha sighed as Jaune entered the stall she'd been staying in. I wouldn't have removed the barrier if I was still upset.

Huh. I guess you've got a point there. Jaune felt incredibly stupid. So... What happened? Why'd you freak out? The Nymean focused her green eyes on Jaune and rose to her paws. She walked to his side and sat down with a sigh.

I don't know. I've been thinking about it since you left, but there was no real reason for my temper to flare like that.

At least you didn't actually hurt anybody.

What about you?

Jaune waved his hand and chuckled dismissively. Scrapes and bruises. My aura's already taken care of it.

Jaune… The Nymean started, an apologetic tone coloring her voice, and Jaune raised a hand to cut her off.

I told you, Pyrrha. My aura's already fixed it, so there's no reason for you to worry. Or apologize. Jaune sat down and rubbed Pyrrha's fur behind him. He slowly turned to lean his side into hers, looking into her eyes as he continued running his hand along her mane. So anyway… What do you think about the stuff with Blake?

I… I'm a little glad that she's returned. Yang will certainly be happier with her around again, and Ruby appears to have already perked up. It seems as though we'll be here for a while yet, however. Pyrrha exhaled softly and laid her head down on the straw-covered floor, closing her eyes as Jaune's petting continued. She furrowed her brows as she thought back to the encounter earlier. That "baby" comment was rude of her. I'm a cub, not a petulant child, and I will not be called as such.

Jaune snorted at her before responding, "Pyrrha, you're kinda acting like a 'petulant child' right now." He gulped and grimaced as Pyrrha fixed a fiery emerald gaze on him.

You're lucky that I think you're cute, Jaune. Otherwise that comment may have earned you a shaved head or worse. Pyrrha growled at Jaune before jerking her head away from his hand and scooting back a few inches from him.

"Okay, okay, I promise I won't say anything. Now will you come back so I can sit with you again?" Jaune smiled at Pyrrha, who had turned her face to him and was currently pouting with her fuzzy cheeks puffed out and her eyes locked on him. After a minute of staring at him, Pyrrha sighed in agitation and slowly pulled herself back over to Jaune's side, plopping down with a huff. Jaune leaned back into her side and continued petting her vibrant red fur, causing her to finally give in and purr softly as he gently scratched all down her side. Eventually, Jaune gave in to his curiosity from that morning and asked,"So, who was that guy I saw earlier in one of the memories you sent me?"

Pyrrha suddenly stopped purring, and her face contorted in sadness. That… That was my father, Jaune. I… I don't really wish to talk about it. Jaune could feel how depressed this topic was making the Nymean, so he gathered up his pillow and sleeping bag and laid down against her. What are you doing?

"I lost, like, an hour of sleep, Pyr."

Oh. She placed her head on his chest. I'm sorry.

Don't worry about it.


REVIEW REPLY TIME!

Patleon909 - Friendly reminder that cats have a tendency to hate each other if they wren't litter-mates (or adoptive parents of kittens).

Dragonsoul1 - Eyup.

Prolazynator - Blake is a cat person. Pyrrha is just a big floofy cat.