Thief
Note: This is set in the same AU as Dragon Academy and Bath Time.
X X X
Crescent Rose cackled inwardly. Oh, the other dragons might make fun of her for being small, but she was the youngest. She had plenty of time to grow. Besides, being smaller could be very useful sometimes…
Like when she needed to sneak into the kitchens to filch some freshly baked cookies.
Looking about furtively, the six-feet-long dragon slithered down the corridor and then pressed herself flat against the wall before craning her neck around the corner to peer into the kitchens. Good. She couldn't see anyone, but she could smell the cookies cooling on a countertop near the back of the kitchen.
Practically salivating at the thought of so many fresh cookies, she folded her wings against her body and continued to slither across the floor. It might be severely lacking in draconic majesty, but flapping around would only get her caught. Slithering, however, was far less noticeable.
Pausing a few more times to make sure she was alone, Crescent Rose eventually made her way over to the counter where the cookies were. Eyes alight with hungry glee, she leapt onto the counter and flared her wings majestically…
Only to come face to face with her competition.
"Hey!" Ruby cried. "You can't take these cookies! They're mine!"
Yours? Crescent Rose bared her teeth. You snuck in here to steal them!
"Well… well… uh… so did you!" Ruby shot back.
Crescent Rose's eyes narrowed. These. Are. My. Cookies. She huffed, and flame kindled in her jaws as she spread her wings out to their full length. Mine.
Ruby responded by drawing herself up to her full, not very impressive height and glaring as mightily as she could. "No. They're mine."
The dragon hissed. Ruby hissed back.
Fine. Crescent Rose looked about furtively. Her keen hearing could pick up footsteps coming closer. We can split them. But we have to do it now. People are coming.
"I guess…" Ruby started grabbing cookies. "How much time do we have?"
Not long. Crescent Rose used one of the magic spells she'd learned to start shoving the cookies into a pocket of folded space. She wasn't nearly as good at it as Myrtenaster, but holding some cookies wouldn't be hard. Hurry!
They had just finished grabbing the cookies when someone bustled into the kitchen. With a muffled squawk, Crescent Rose dove behind the counter. She ended up draped over Ruby.
"Can you get off?" Ruby muttered. "You're heavy."
I'm tiny for a dragon. You're just weak.
"Weak?" Ruby scowled. "I'll have you know -"
Quiet. They'll hear us and take our cookies.
That got Ruby to stay quiet. Unfortunately, whoever it was didn't seem to be intending on leaving. Instead, they could both hear the sounds of someone preparing to make some food.
"We need to get out of here," Ruby murmured. "But how…?" She frowned. "Wait… there's a window over there."
It's a very small window.
"I could fit out of it," Ruby said.
And the kitchens are on the fifth floor. Can you fly?
"Good point." Ruby paused. "Maybe if I shove you out the window, you could fit. Then you could fly us to the ground."
Maybe…
"Okay. On the count of three." Ruby counted to three, and then the two of them began to slink over to the window. Whoever else was in the kitchen was still focused on their work, so they managed to get there without being discovered. "Okay. Get up near the window."
Crescent Rose hopped up onto the windowsill. I don't think I'll fit – ah!
Ruby hurled herself forward. The force of the shove sent Crescent Rose right through the window, and Ruby tumbled headlong toward the ground. A scream tore itself from her lips as her fall accelerated. The cobblestones of the courtyard loomed in her vision, and she made a mental note to haunt Crescent Rose for failing to catch her.
Less than ten feet from the ground, something grabbed her and yanked her back up into the air. It was Crescent Rose.
"It took you long enough!" Ruby wailed. "I almost died."
I would have caught you earlier, except you were flailing around like a madman. How was I supposed to catch you with your arms and legs going everywhere? Crescent Rose huffed. I should charge you five cookies for saving your life.
"Well, I should charge you ten for getting you through the window."
I can still drop you. Crescent Rose scowled.
"That would be murder. Could you live with that on your conscience?"
I'm a dragon. I can live with almost anything.
X X X
In contrast to Ruby and Crescent Rose's somewhat inept yet somehow successful attempt at cookie thievery, Gambol Shroud had a far easier time of it.
The shadows cast by the table stirred. Slowly, carefully, Gambol Shroud eased her way out of the shadows before grabbing a tray full of cookies. With the same silent stealth as she'd appeared, she sank back into the shadows, cookies safely stored away.
Heh.
Nobody was better at sneaking around than a shadow dragon.
X X X
Author's Notes
As always, I do not own RWBY, and I am not making any money off of this.
Ruby and Crescent Rose are perfect for each other, and Gambol Shroud knows how to really get things done. Incidentally, Gambol Shroud isn't interested in eating the cookies. She's more interested in using them as currency to bribe Ruby and Crescent Rose.
As always, I appreciate feedback. Reviews and comments are welcome.
