Muddled Matters
What- did we just-...? Both young women have the same thought as they gather their composure, as the sound of footsteps keeps their embarrassment teetering with anxiety that someone may have seen them.
"Hey you two, are you both... decent?" Yang calls playfully as she comes out from the overgrown pathway to see Ruby standing completely stiff. "And…. What are you doing?" Yang questions, as the sound of her sister's boots' heavy footed approach causes Ruby's brain to race. As the brawler walks towards her sister she tosses twigs out of her hair and swipes the webs off her sun tanned arms.
"W- well I was - you see... I fell…" the incoherent jammers of Ruby go unheard as Yang continues towards her. Her body becomes as stiff as a board of wood as Yang stops right next to her.
"Are you going to answer me?" Yang crosses her arms. Ruby notices that Yang is talking to the person who is crouched beside her. Who could she be speaking to like….
"IF you insist on speaking to me in such a manner then I will have to have Ruby teach you a thing or two about respect." Weiss replies as she pulls Ruby's cloak from the water, in her usual cold fashion she drops the drenched fabric in Yang's arms. The impact not only caused Yang's sunkissed arms to get completely soaked but the water splashed onto Ruby waking her from her frenzy of sputtering.
Weiss smirks as she hands Ruby the soap, the Princess careful to not make any eye contact with the leader. Ruby giggles at the sight of her sister who is completely soaked from her neck down to her stomach.
Yang angrily grunts as she loudly swipes the water off her arms while careful not to drop the precious cloak. "You're lucky, YOU'RE THE PRINCESS!" The brawler's voice grows to a nearly ear splitting volume. Yang looks over to see that Ruby's wound is not wrapped and has red streaks running sideways on her leg. Weiss finishes wringing her hair out and does her best to keep her clothes from clinging to her damp skin.
"I am not lucky to be the Princess…" Weiss responds to the boiling brawler, "we should make haste." while staring at the path that Yang just came from, "did you come alone?" What did you see… Is what I really want to know…
Yang wrings out the cloak before turning to Ruby who has taken the opportunity to wipe all the blood from her leg and re-bandaged her wound. "Well let's go then, and Ruby, what were you mumbling about before about falling?" Yang purposefully refused to answer the Princess as she threw the cloak at her sister.
Ruby catches the damp cloth, her ears and cheeks burn, "I uhh- fell….when we first… got here into...the lake yeah." The Princess turns to see Yang with her head tilted to the side as Ruby stumbles over each word.
"You know better than any just how clumsy Ruby is." Weiss coldly interrupts. Yang slightly nods her head in agreement, " shall we get going, or do you need more time Ms. Rose?" Weiss barely turns her head, just enough Ruby can see her angelic profile.
Yang narrows her eyes at the forced name that came from Weiss' mouth. "Yes, Ms. Rose do you need more time?" The brawler watches her sister carefully as she mimicked the same tone as the Princess. Ruby shoots up to her feet, her face still betraying her as now her face gets dusted in a deep red and her breathing becomes labored. "WOAH, Rubes are you alright?!" Yang's anger turns to concern noticing that her sister's face looks as it did when she was laying on the kitchen table only a day ago while she was still recovering.
Ruby swats away her sister's outstretched hand from her face, " I am FINE!" The young leader whips the damp cloak around her neck and throws the still dripping wet hood over her head. "If you are ready, your Majesty we can go back to the others." Ruby materializes right next to Weiss with her arm outstretched, though all the Princess could see from the corner of her eye was a damp red cloak tightly outlining the leader's form.
"I am ready, Yang please lead the way." Weiss coldly replies as she takes a few steps forward so that Ruby and Yang would not see her pink cheeks.
"TSK but of course follow me.," Yang clicks her tongue against her teeth as she brazenly pushes through the brush in front of Weiss, not bothering to hold the branches for the Princess trailing right behind her. Ruby takes the rear pulling the collar of her cloak up to her mouth though the soaking cloth will not stay in place as it continuously drops.
As the trio continues on the overgrown path Yang throws her hands behind her head, "So Princess… how was your first time…"
"MY FIRST TIME WHAT...I have-" Weiss shouts, interrupting the brawler mid-sentence. Yang instantly stops causing Weiss to run into her back, the impact causing Weiss to bite her tongue.
The blonde brawler slowly turns her head, dropping her arms to her side, "I find that very hard to believe Princess." Yang's face has no hints of her usual playfulness. Ruby's face goes white as focuses on the situation unfolding before her. Weiss defiantly tilts her head as she searches Yang's eyes, Ruby dashes between the pair squinting her eyes at her sister.
"Woah why are you two so uptight?" Yang chuckles, noticing that Ruby's complexion is so pale it rivals the Princess' "it is just hard to believe that the Princess of Stuab has taken a bath outdoors before, right Rubes?" Ruby exhales and her face returns to its original color.
"Yeah …. That is what you meant of course…" Ruby and Weiss both feel a weight lift as they both begin to breathe normally.
"I mean… it's not like you two kissed or anything…" Yang chuckles, patting her now frozen sister before starting back on the path. Ruby's jaw seems to drop to the graveled path, the momentarily composed Princess forces a chuckle and elbows the warrior as she passes her to follow the brawler.
"Yes… that would be unthinkable." A soft sigh escapes from her lips before Weiss comments very flatly as she gently rubs her index finger over her lips, remembering the warmth of Ruby's. The young leader still frozen in time, the absence of footsteps causes Weiss to motion to the leader to wake up. "MS. ROSE?!"
The angelic voice pierces the anxiety that keeps the leader paralyzed. Ruby grits her teeth, Yang and Weiss both notice the awkward way Ruby walked over to the pair. The young leader's limps clumsily move towards Yang.
Yang nudges her sister quickly and shoots her gaze towards the barely traveled pathway, throwing her hand up with her thumb aimed at the path. "Rubes, what is going on? Should I be worried? Do you need me to watch over the Princess for a bit?" The brawler's tone changes from joking to concern. "Did she yell at you again?" Ruby looks up and stares into her sister's eyes. The young leader lets out another exalted sigh as she tries to continue forward but Yang steps in front of her.
"No….she didn't yell at me…." Ruby tugs her hood tight around her head, though the moist cloth is not able to stretch anymore to cover her face. "Everything is fine….I just uhhh...fell…." Yang watches as Ruby wrestles with something on her mind.
"Okay Rubes if you say it's nothing, let's go before her Royal Highness over there blows her lid." Yang smirks, tilting her head towards the Princess. "Would you two hurry up?!" Weiss shouts without turning her head. "Toooo late…" Yang purposefully drags out the o's to annoy the Princess further.
Weiss crosses her arms and begins to tap her foot rapidly on the gravel, Ruby smiles beneath her hood. Yang feels a weight lifted from her shoulder noticing that her sister finally is smiling genuinely. Ruby takes the lead this time approaching the Princess though still awkward the leader seems more courageous. "...glad you decided to join us Ms. Rose…." Weiss forces out as she sees that Ruby has her face covered. I wish I could hide beneath something to hide these feelings. The Princess does her best to keep her feelings in check, her cheeks no longer bright red though the tops of her ears are still so red they almost appear to be glowing.
"Yes Ms. Rose shall we rejoin our fellow companions?" Yang announces mockly as she bows before the Princess as well as Ruby.
Ruby chuckles, slightly bowing in reply to her sister. Though Weiss, who is not amused by the display, pushes past them.
"If you want to take the rear you may Ruby." Yang suggests to her sister as Ruby turns her head to watch the Princess gracefully begin making her way back to the others.
The silver pools carefully watch each crease of the fabric with each distancing step, "uhh no" Ruby violently shakes her head and slaps her cheeks. "I shall take the lead." The young leader dash up past the Princess to her sister's surprise. I cannot stay behind and be alert…
Weiss watches as Ruby's wet cloak smacks against the backs of her calves while the young leader passes her. Yang chuckles as her younger sister takes a position a good few meters ahead of the Princess. "Whatever happened between you two…." Weiss' head snaps to the side seeing the tall brawler in her usual pose with her hands interlaced behind her head. Though unlike many a time Yang's lilac eyes do not aimlessly dart from one noise to the other instead they hold their focus on the Princess' reaction.
Weiss gulps down on her own salvia and the crispy country air as she works to regain her usual composure with Yang watching her like a hawk. A flash of warmth, the memory of Ruby's lips pressed against her own causes her to genuinely smile, the Princess remembering that Yang is watching her intensely. "Nothing happened, Yang…." She won't believe that, we are definitely acting differently.
Yang chuckles, dropping her arms from the back of her head, "as if...you two are hiding something." The brawler's voice turns stern, Weiss feels a few beads of sweat rolls down her neck. "But as long as it doesn't interfere with our jobs I suppose it can't be that bad." Yang smiles, "it's nice that Ruby has someone else she can have secrets with."
Someone to have secrets with? Like friends have….this is much bigger than women keeping family love interests between themselves… Weiss feels guilty but at the same time a sense of relief that at least the brawler will not continue to press her for information but, "Though for Ruby to keep a secret from me, it must be a pretty juicy one." Yang jesteringly nudges the Princess. Dear goddess please teach this brute some manners….I am Royalty…
Ruby's steps begin to slow stride as she becomes more and more interested in the conversation being shared between her sister and Weiss. What are they talking about? The leader hears her sister being her usual self, thank the goddess, please help Yang let this go… Ruby felt her heart warm as it seems that Yang has finally accepted her new duty to protect the Princess. The light hearted laughs help to calm Ruby's racing thoughts enough that she no longer feels the need to gnaw on her cloak collar.
"Hey Rubes, can you hear alright from there?" Yang snickers, to Ruby's surprise the pair had caught up to her without the young leader realizing how slow her stride had become. Yang throws her arms around her sister's neck causing her hood to fall around her head.
"There we go now we can see your pretty face!" Yang exclaims as she drops her head to be face to face with her sister. Ruby blows raspberries at her sister and the pair laugh as they continue down the road.
Weiss dawns a slight smirk as she silently agrees with Yang, something she never thought she would do. For once that br- no Yang is right Ruby is much prettier without that hood covering her gorgeous face...Weiss stops mid-step causing her to trip on herself. "Uhhh.." The Princess places a hand on her head and another on a tree that is nearby. What - Ruby breaks away from her sister noticing the purposeful steps of the Princess' pristine footwear is no longer keeping pace with them, but has completely stopped.
"Princess ?" A shaky voice followed by apprehensive footsteps approach the slightly dazed Princess. The sudden display of the Princess leaning against one the many gangling trees that line the path they travel along. "...uhhhh…" The young leader stops just short of Wiess, wanting to respect her space in light of their current relationship. Ruby awkwardly motions to her sister, mouthing the words "what do I do?" pointing at Weiss.
Yang whispers "I don't know, but we have to get going…." Ruby reluctantly takes a step closer to Weiss.
Weiss pushes off the tree, nearly knocking Ruby backwards. Instinctually Ruby reaches her hand out to Weiss. "Ahhh…." Weiss grabs the calloused hand and leans back causing Ruby to come hurtling towards her. Both of their eyes widen as their bodies are now going to collide, "WOAH!" Yang manges to catch Ruby before she and Weiss smash into each other.
"Well, I didn't think you had it in you Princess!" Yang gives Weiss a look that the Princess has not yet experienced from the brawler. Lilac eyes so consumed with an all consuming sense of possessiveness, for instance the brawler's eyes turn a bright red.
Ruby blinks several times, looking about to see that she is beside her sister with the Princess just a few steps away. "She is stronger than she looks!" Yang smiles, patting her sister down especially gently near her wound. "There, that looks much better except." Yang tilts her head, gently rubbing her hand beneath her chin. "TSK Ah that's what is missing!" The brawler begins to smooth out her sister's stray hairs with the damp hair. Ruby can feel Yang's hands tug on the inevitable knots that are scattered throughout her head.
"Ow Yang that hurts!" Ruby snatches Yang's hand out of her head by ducking out of her grasp. "We need to get going!" Weiss clears her throat causing Ruby to push Yang forward and she turns with her usual goofy smile to the Princess before bowing, "After you, m'lady"
"YANG!" Erin's voice roars as she trots as fast as she can to the brawler. Pyrrha and Ren nod at the brawler who smirks tilting her head behind her. Yang excitedly scoops up the energetic girl and walks towards the pair. "So what is left to do…?"
Weiss releases a sharp exhale seeing that their campsite is completely packed up and that they will not have to waste another second out in the wilderness. I pray dear goddess please allow for a bed within four walls be in my future….possibly tonight's future….there have already many more surprises than I could have ever imagined ….Weiss goes to her "bed" area and picks up a small silver brooch. "I can only guess who you belong to…"Weiss whispers in a slight dread, turning to see Ruby searching for something.
"Ruby so what did you think?" Nora zooms up to the leader, as Ruby walks past her going straight to the spot where she slept for a few moments throughout the night. "What are you looking for?" Nora questions as she watches Ruby lifting various twigs and leaves around the edges of her pile. "-ro-ch-" Ruby mumbles to herself as she begins to become more frantic in her search.
Nora narrows her eyes, hearing large branches in the forest snapping. "Ruby, did you hear that?" Everyone, including Erin and Weiss stopped what they were doing, all their eyes glued to the area of the forest where the noise was heard. "Tsk...Crack...Tckkkk…"
"Whatever is causing that noise isn't worried about concealing itself…." Pyrrha says as she slowly takes her shield out, spear in striking position walking towards the noise.
Yang and Nora follow close behind the Spartan warrior while Ren and Ruby stand at the ready beside Erin and Weiss. "I can protect myself!" Weiss shouts as she takes a few steps behind the pair not wanting to be close to the leader.
Ruby turns, "Princess we have to stay together…. Now is not the time to decide that you are fit for battle!" Ren scoops Erin up and pulls a dagger out into his free hand.
Pyrrha, Yang and Nora enter the tree line leaving Ruby and Ren's line of sight, Ruby and Ren regroup with the Princess who continues to move as if a force keeps her from staying near the leader.
"GRIMMMMMM" Nora can be heard shouting as the trees begin to sway and bend. The sounds of struggles can be heard.
"We need to get out of the open…" Ren shouts as he runs towards a large rock formation near the forest. Erin clings tight to Ren's chest as he quickly slides behind the rocks.
Weiss starts to run towards formation, Ruby follows close behind keeping her scythe low to the ground ready to swing upwards if need be. As the pair quickly get behind the rock cover Weiss tries to catch her breath as she looks over to see Ruby glancing over the rocks before she crouches beside the Princess.
The sound of branches snapping off trees grow louder and louder, Ruby flips her scythe so that both of her hands firmly grip the handle. Ren looks over to see Ruby getting ready to leave the cover, "pssst Ruby!" He whispers, Ruby glances at Ren as she pokes her head over the rocks to see Ursai being thrown into the clearing which the squad was just resting at.
The thunderous cries of the dark beast causes Ruby to duck down quickly noticing the glowing yellow eyes turning towards where they hide.
"what Ren?" Ruby whispers as she hunches over towards him, each step carefully placed to muffle as much noise as possible.
"We can't wait here for the others…" Ren motions to the fragile girl beside him, "we have to get them out of here and somewhere we can keep them safe." Even with his hushed voice the Princess hears what he is implying.
"There aren't many options for us Ren," Ruby starts before she feels a hand on her shoulder.
"I can help protect Erin," Weiss interrupts, "Ms. Rose is right, we don't have the luxury of spending time to locate a better position."
Ren and Ruby both exchange worried looks before Ruby removes Weiss' hand from her shoulders, "what worries me is that we don't have the other with us and we have no idea how many Ursai there are…"
Ruby holds her index finger up to her lips, everyone listens to the silence. The young leader turns her head. It's quiet... much too quiet peeking around the boulder to see...the ursa is gone
"Keep your guard up…" Ren mentions as he stands up now with his daggers tight in his grip, Ruby keeps her scythe at the ready while Weiss stands with her rapier in hand, keeping Erin between herself and the rocks.
"Maybe it went back to its pack to fight with the others?" Weiss walks beside Ruby who is examining the Ursa's footprints as they seem to go back to the woods. Her beloved scythe right beside her with the handle up in her usual fashion so that she can quickly grab it if she needs.
"But why, ursai have a great sense of smell….it must have known we were here…" Ruby questions as she slowly stands up.
"BEHIND YOU!" Ren shouts as the Ursa comes charging right at Weiss, Ruby quickly grabs Weiss' shoulders to protect her.
"GET OFF OF ME!" In a panic Weiss shoves the young leader without realizing she is pushing her right into the warpath of the beast. As Ruby's body falls backward Weiss' eyes fill with panic as she can see the silhouette of the ursa closing in on them. Ruby desperately throws her hand out towards the Princess hoping to evade the oncoming blow… their fingers touch for a brief moment….
A/N Good Morrow Travelers, I dearly apologize for the delay in posting this chapter. It seems that time has eluded me this month. I hope you are all well and still enjoying the tale as it unfolds. As always please feel free to share, comment, like and favorite, it means so much to me. I will look for you all in the next chapter. See you there! ^,.,^/