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Chapter 13. Blue And Purple Flowers

After scavenging to find another measly breakfast of berries and nuts, Ruby and Yang led their companions onward through the woods.

They were all on high alert after last night's wolf attack, jumping and growling at every misplaced sound they heard.

But the wolves never reappeared for them, nor did any other trouble. At least, not in the form of animals.

However, their next setback was in the form of the weather.

Whatever sunlight had blessed them earlier that morning had been a deceitful illusion, it seemed. Before noon came around, the forest turned grey beneath and overcast sky, and rain started to drizzle down not long afterward.

They hurried along through the forests, guided by Yang's confident declarations of "Don't sweat it! We'll still make it back by sunset at this rate."

Weiss and Blake kept hold of one another's hands for a while, occasionally stealing forlorn glances at one another. They only let go when the rain became a downpour.

Yang's and Ruby's fur was dyed darker and damper within seconds, and the bear was forced to constantly shake herself to try and keep as dry as possible while the squirrel hid beneath her own tail.

Blake was miserable in the rain, her once-thick hair now flat and streaked all down her back. The water weighed down the fur in her ears and tail, making them sag.

But despite her immense discomfort, she couldn't help worrying about Weiss even more.

The poor fairy was soaked to the bone within the blink of an eye, her white dress sticking to her slim form and making her appear to be even smaller than she truly was. Her loose hair was clinging to her back and arms, heavy with water. And her wings were seeping through with it, drooping down at the tips.

With so much water on her person, and her weight already so light, Weiss was being slowed down by the rain. It took much more effort to walk than it should have, and simply following after Ruby's waterlogged tail was exhausting for her now.

Blake's chest tightened at the sight of her like this, dragging her bare feet through the sucking mud, arms crossed over her chest as she shivered.

Normally, Blake knew Weiss would've had magics to fend off the cold or even to form a thin barrier around herself to keep the rain away. But as she was now, Weiss was defenseless against the elements.

Since she'd never been in such a situation before – or at least not to such an extent – she'd probably never felt rain or cold like this before in her life.

Blake could tell the fairy was doing her best to conceal her discomfort, but it wasn't long before the girl's teeth started chattering.

Without a word, Blake slid an arm around her and pulled Weiss to her side in an effort to share some of her body heat. It seemed to work for a few minutes, but ultimately, Weiss was shivering again.

That was when Blake got an idea of sorts. Quietly, she mumbled a soft apology to Weiss and slipped away from her.

"You walk ahead for now," Blake insisted. "I'll keep to the rear."

Weiss looked back over her shoulder and nodded, then continued the trek onward.

Blake simply did what her people often did if they were caught in the forest during a rainstorm. As she walked, she began picking off the biggest leaves of the nearby bushes and plants, then used the stems to weave them together.

It took a few minutes, and the resulting water-shield didn't look as good as it might've if she'd had the time to sit down and construct it properly, but she liked to think it would suffice.

Once finished, she reached out to tap Weiss' shoulder and handed her the cluster of leaves.

"It's not much," Blake said. "But you can hold it above your head and it'll keep you at least a little bit dry."

With a surprised, yet touched expression, Weiss accepted the leaves and covered her head with them. Right away, she felt less and less water dripping down onto her body.

"It works very well," she commented. "Thank you, Blake. But what about you? Can you fit in beside me?"

The beast girl smiled and shook her head.

"Sorry. If I'd made it any bigger it would've collapsed on itself. I can make one for myself, but you keep that one, okay?"

Weiss was clearly a little upset that she couldn't share the shelter with Blake, but she nodded nonetheless.

"Alright. Thank you," she murmured again. She stepped back a few paces until she was beside Blake, then strained up onto her tip-toes to kiss the girl's cheek in gratitude.

Blake felt the heat creep up into her cheeks, but as quickly as Weiss' lips had been there, they vanished. Weiss turned around and followed after Ruby and Yang, now with the shield of leaves protecting her from the rainfall.

Blake kept to her spot at the back of the group, still proud to be able to walk there, since it meant Weiss was trusting her with her back. The beast girl easily could have made another water-shield for herself, but she had something else in mind entirely.

As their little group continued their journey, Blake kept herself vigilant for any signs of potential danger. But once she was certain there was nothing amiss in the current area, she focused her attention more on the plants growing in those parts of the forest.

She gathered a small collection of plant stems and flowers in her palms, some white, some purple, and even some blue. She was skilled enough in the flower-crafting field to be able to work without looking down at her hands, keeping her gaze ahead as she walked.

Once noon had passed, the rain began to slow, until at long last the storm moved on. Blake had just finished her craft and tucked it into her pocket when an exasperated sigh came from up ahead.

"Finally!" Ruby whined. "I thought that rain was never gonna end!"

"Hey, count your lucky stars that it wasn't a thunderstorm!" Yang teased. "When that happens, you're always too petrified to move. Gotta find you a tree to huddle up in-"

"Yang, shut uuup!"

Their sisterly squabbling had Blake's lips twitching up into an amused smile, and she even heard a small giggle from Weiss. Her ears swiveled to pick up on the sound better – Blake hadn't heard her laugh like that before, so innocent and carefree.

But a heartbeat later it was over, almost like it had never existed.

Weiss turned around to face her, smile wavering sadly.

"Thank you for this, Blake," she said again, motioning to the leaves above her head. "I feel bad to dispose of it..."

"It's fine," Blake reassured her. "Here." She offered out her hand, and Weiss passed the shield into it. Blake scurried off their path for a moment in order to place the leaf covering securely between two small bushes. She returned to Weiss a moment later. "There. Now the next time it rains, some animals can use it for shelter."

Her words elicited another smile from Weiss, and Blake felt her heart thump a little faster.

Weiss reached out her hand and took Blake's with it, and they continued onward side by side once again.

"We really were wrong about you," Weiss mumbled. "Every last one of us. Your people aren't savages at all."

Blake grunted.

"But I can understand why you might think we were. Some of us, anyway..."

Her thoughts went back to Adam, and she knew Weiss' did as well. She had to wonder where he was right now, what he was doing.

Probably bragging to the entire clan about how he harassed and cornered the Fairy Princess... she thought.

In the past few days, so much had been happening to Blake directly that she'd only had the time and energy to focus on Weiss and their journey home. But now that she was thinking about it, she hadn't stopped much to consider what her clan or the fairies might be doing right now.

My father's probably sent out search parties to look for me by now. And I bet the fairies have done the same for Weiss. So... why haven't we encountered any of them yet? We're close enough to our home forest by now. Surely their search parties would've covered acres beyond here by now, especially if they were trying to bring home the princess of the fairies? So why is no one out looking for us...?

Her thoughts strayed into a swirl of questions.

Weiss noticed how Blake's expression had suddenly grown more serious, and the beast girl's grip on her hand tightened until Blake's nails were digging into the back of Weiss' hand. Flinching, the fairy stopped walking and turned all of her attention to the dark-haired girl.

"Blake? Blake, what's the matter?"

When Weiss brought her to a stop, Blake seemed to snap out of her trance a little. She realized her nails had sunk into Weiss' skin and quickly loosened her grip.

"I'm sorry." She lifted Weiss' hand to her lips and kissed it softly.

Weiss reached up to tuck a few locks of damp, black hair over Blake's shoulder.

"It's alright. Just tell me what's wrong."

Blake was silent for a moment, her eyes flicking from Weiss to the forest and back again.

"It's just... I think it's a bit odd. We're not far from the river now, and I can even hear the waterfall from here," she said, flicking an ear. "We're pretty close to where you fell. So why haven't we seen any other fairies out here looking for you?"

Weiss' silence told Blake that the princess hadn't considered that either until now.

Puzzled, Weiss looked around for herself, as if to confirm that no one was out here searching for her.

Blake's stomach knotted to think of a certain possibility, and clearly that was exactly where Weiss' mind had gone to as well.

The two of them had discussed it briefly once before, a few days back. But since then, so much had happened to keep their minds off of what might've been happening back at their home bases.

It was only too easy now to remember the awful possibilities of what could have been happening right now as they spoke.

"They... the group I was collecting water with probably told my father that boy with the horns led me away. I don't think they would've known he drove me all the way to the edge of that cliff out here. My people wouldn't know. To them... they must think your people still have me captive... right?"

A shiver shot up Blake's spine, and she could feel Weiss' hands beginning to tremble in hers now.

"But..." she gulped. "You fell over the edge. Adam probably thinks you're... dead. But if the fairies think you're alive and being held hostage-" As the realization struck them, both girls gasped. Weiss took a step back, slipping free of Blake's grasp.

"W-We've got to get back," she stammered. "Blake, if we don't get back soon, something awful is going to happen-"

"Weiss, hold on-" Blake reached out for the petrified girl, grasping her wrists with gentle fingers. She could tell how drained Weiss was right now, both physically and mentally. The trek through the forest on top of the rain, and all of that directly after a night of being chased by wolves...

Weiss had only eaten a few berries all day, and she'd drank rainwater from the tops of leaves. Her magics were depleted, her wings were sore deadweight on her back, and her face was beginning to look flushed, and certainly this panic wasn't going to do her any good. There was fear in her eyes again, and Blake hated to see it.

"Weiss..." With a soft tug, Blake pulled her in, enveloping her in an embrace as soothing as she could manage. "We'll get there. We're almost home." It felt strangely nice to be saying "we", almost as though they wouldn't have to separate once they got back. Blake rested her chin atop Weiss' head, already feeling the fairy's shuddering shoulders, listening to the whimpers muffled against her chest. Blake let out a choppy purr for Weiss. "We're going to get home before anything happens-"

"But what if something's already happened?!" Weiss wailed. "What if our people are already at war? What if hundreds have already been slaughtered because of me?!"

"Weiss-!" Blake couldn't stop the girl from collapsing to her knees. The beast girl followed, curling herself around Weiss protectively. She wanted to comfort her. But Blake knew she couldn't deny the possibility of Weiss' fears. She knew all too well that a war may have already taken place atop that cliff. She was nauseous to think about it, but she couldn't refute Weiss' theory.

"Weiss, listen to me," she begged. "None of this is your fault. It's Adam's. When you tricked him and led him away, it was because you were doing what any princess would. You were only trying to keep your people safe."

"Yes..." Weiss sobbed. "But now I've put them all in grave danger. They could be dead-" Her breath hitched and she ended up coughing.

Blake whimpered and patted the girl's back, rubbing her palms in small circles at the bases of Weiss' wings. She looked up to see Ruby and Yang huddled a short distance away, ears and tails drooping, eyes wide and scared. They knew something was horribly wrong, but kept quiet. Blake met their gazes as she continued speaking to Weiss.

"We're exhausted. We're hungry. We need to rest. I know it's not even dusk yet, but if we want to climb that mountain by tomorrow, we're going to need to regain our strength. Let's rest for now." She leaned forward, pressing her nose to Weiss' ear, then kissing her cheek. "Please..."

Weiss exhaled shakily, swallowing past more of the tears. She buried her face in her shoulder for a moment and wiped her eyes.

"Only for now," she mumbled. "But we must wake at sunset and travel in the night."

Blake's ears flattened and her tail lashed nervously.

"Weiss, it's dangerous."

"Blake." Her voice was stern and left no room for argument. Weiss pulled back and glared fiercely up into Blake's eyes. "Our people are in danger. We must be over that mountain before sunrise."

Blake inhaled slowly, then bowed her head.

"You're right. We'll travel by night, then."

Weiss nodded and leaned forward to hug her once more.

"Thank you."

With their decisions made, Blake cast a glance to their companions. Ruby and Yang seemed to agree on everything, but they said nothing to interrupt. The two sisters merely curled up together where they were and tried to rest before nightfall.

Blake knew she and Weiss needed to do the same.

Gingerly, she moved Weiss back a few inches, so Blake may see her face once more. She wiped the tears away for a moment, putting kisses in their place, curling her tail around Weiss' waist to keep her close. Her hand pressed to the small of Weiss' back, but a slight movement of her fingers had the girl flinching. Blake froze, her lips frowning.

"Your wings are still in pain?"

Weiss grimaced.

"They're still sore, and the rain weakened them even more. I think it's a combination of things. Not only the fatigue, but also a lack of magic," she discerned. "These past few days, I've been in foreign territory where fairies don't dwell. There was no magic in those parts of the forest. But once I get back home, the air and trees will have magic in them, and I... I should be able to fly again after I let my wings heal a bit."

Blake saw the sense in her words, and it made her feel a little better.

"That's good. I was getting really worried..." She fidgeted a bit where she sat.

Weiss pressed closer into Blake's lap and kissed her wet, black nose.

"And thank you for worrying, Blake."

Blake couldn't help but smile a little bashfully.

For a moment, she kept Weiss in her arms, threading her fingers through the fairy's long, silver tresses.

It was then she remembered the little craft she'd made earlier. She slipped a hand into her shorts pocket and extracted the little trinket, but kept it at her side for the moment, out of Weiss' view. Blake was careful with her next choice of words.

"Weiss... do you still have those flowers... your mother gave you...?"

The fairy was still for a moment, confused at the sudden question. She sent Blake a curious glance, but it wasn't distrustful at all.

"Yes." She reached into the sash on her waist and carefully extracted the tiny white flowers that had once been a part of her beloved hair band.

Blake gathered her resolve and held Weiss' gaze.

"May I see them?"

Weiss hesitated. Despite her claims of how much she trusted Blake now, and how much she clearly cared for her, she was uncertain about letting go of the last parts of her mother she had left.

Blake waited for the response, ready to respect it, whatever it was.

Weiss inhaled slowly, and though the exhale shook a little, she nodded.

"Just please..." she said. "Be careful."

Blake smiled and kissed her forehead.

"Of course."

She opened her free palm toward Weiss.

Slowly, the fairy deposited the precious flowers into her hand. Blake didn't clench her fingers over them or touch them any more than she needed to. She revealed the little string of flowers and stems she'd been working on, woven through with purples and blues.

Weiss was speechless at the sight of it, and watched in baffled silence as Blake gently added her mother's flowers into the mix.

It took a few minutes, but she didn't displace a single petal.

The end result was a brand new hair band, skillfully constructed and secure. It was decorated now by the flowers Weiss' mother had given her, as well as the flowers Blake herself had added in.

The beast girl admired her own work for a moment before presenting it to Weiss.

"Here. Please take it, Weiss."

She used her free hand to take the fairy's and slowly uncurled Weiss' fingers. Blake transferred the little hair band into her palm.

Weiss was nearly breathless as she stared at it, marveling at how meticulously it had been crafted.

"Blue..." she gasped. "Blue... flowers? I've never... I've never seen them before. I didn't think they existed... Up in the treetops... we don't get to see very many flowers anymore..."

Blake felt a small pang go through her chest. She realized that since her people had started taking residence in the forests, that some of them - like Adam's group - had more or less terrorized the fairies into being prisoners high up in the trees. Aside from when they went to fetch water from the river, Blake had never really seen a fairy so up close until she'd met Weiss.

And Weiss hadn't seen flowers in a very long time.

Blake was both sad and guilty to think about it.

But when she saw how Weiss' eyes lit up like stars in the night sky, she found herself smiling once again.

"Do you like it?"

Weiss nodded her head instantly.

"Blake, it's beautiful! I love it. I really..." Though her lips smiled, they soon trembled as a familiar warm wetness started dripping down her face.

Blake purred gently and affectionately bumped their foreheads together.

"I'm glad."

Weiss cupped her hands around the flowery accessory, then brought it up to her chest.

"Once all of this is over... once I get back home and get my magic back... the first thing I'm going to use it on will be this. I want to preserve it forever."

Blake's purr only grew louder in knowing Weiss would treasure this little piece of her.

The fairy didn't move for a moment, and simply continued to savor the feeling and sound of Blake's purr.

Then, she moved back a little and took Blake's hand. She rolled the little hair band back into Blake's possession, then turned around to face away from her.

"Would you tie it for me?"

With a nod, Blake slipped the band around her wrist for the moment. She gathered all of Weiss' loose, wet hair, combing through the silver strands with careful fingers. She smoothed it out a little, making it as neat as possible.

Weiss closed her eyes, enjoying the tender feeling of Blake's touch and savoring the song of her purr.

Blake was exceedingly careful with Weiss' hair, knowing the last beast who'd touched her there had ripped it. She didn't think Weiss let anyone touch her hair, so she felt very privileged.

Once she'd gathered it all neatly, she slipped the hair band into place, looping it several times until everything was secure.

Weiss sensed she was finished, then turned back to face her.

"Thank you."

Blake smiled and shook her head.

"Don't thank me. It was my pleasure."

"Not just... for the hair band," Weiss murmured. "For everything, Blake. You've... done so much for me. Things I can't even begin to explain." She moved forward once more, wrapping her arms around Blake's shoulders and closing the distance between them.

Blake returned the embrace, being mindful of Weiss' wings.

"You've done just as much for me, Weiss."

The daylight was beginning to fade, leaving the dripping green forest to lose its color. Grey overtook all else, and dusk was nearing.

They both knew they would need to rest so that they may start traveling again by moonlight.

They waited just a few moments, pressed close together until they could feel their heartbeats overlapping. Blake's soft purr persisted, spreading warmth throughout Weiss' body.

This would be their last evening to have this. To have each other.

Blake didn't question herself when she pulled away slightly. She didn't think about the consequences or the pain her actions would bring. She lifted a hand to the side of Weiss' face, tilted her chin, closed her eyes, and leaned in.

And Weiss kissed her back, breathing clumsily against her mouth in a way Blake wouldn't have expected from a princess. It was nervous and excited and scared all at the same time, but it was genuine.

Blake was just as fearful, but right now, neither seemed to care.

They didn't know exactly what tomorrow would hold in store for them, but they knew there would be pain – it was just a matter of how much they could handle.

But at least for now, they could have this.

Their lips came apart, only to be drawn back together a second later, breaths entwining and lips pushing gently, seeking more than what was given.

Each requested, and each obliged, silently conveying what words would never permit them to.

No one else had to know.

They would be the only two.

If there really was going to be a war, only they would know of this moment.

Even years from now, if they made it through this, when they were both in their respective homes with their families, only Weiss and Blake would ever remember this moment.

They just wished they wouldn't have to regret it.

Their souls cried out to maintain this above all else, but they had already made their choices.

At last they parted, silently breathless. Tears coated each of their faces, warm and painful, their hearts breaking a little more with every beat.

Blake laid them both down, keeping Weiss tightly in her arms.

Weiss didn't let her go either – defiant, despite her own decision.

They had both decided to do this – to let themselves love the other, only to leave her behind with the next sunrise.

But they both knew that even when they had been separated, neither would ever forget.

Silver twilight swept over them, and soft sobs were soon drowned out by the songs of the night.

A/N: I like the idea of Weiss not having seen flowers in so long, only for Blake to give them to her. I believe it was mentioned earlier on that blue and purple flowers only grow on the ground, so such colors in flowers would be foreign to the tree-dwelling fairies.

Next chapter begins the suspense, race against the night to get home before sunrise!

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