I- I bit Weiss.
The wolf felt blood clotting in the fur around her muzzle, the scent of it stirring her brain an exhilarating intensity. Her legs trembled and her mouth was left just slightly agape, the wolf's lips no longer curled back but her crimson stained teeth still plainly visible.
In front of her, Weiss trembled, wide glacier blue eyes staring up at the massive wolf with pure terror. Her hand clutched desperately at the gushing wound, Weiss' every heartbeat expelling more and more of her life sustaining fluid with her own pulse.
Ruby's paw lifted from the soft carpet, holding, suspended off the floor as the wolf fought between her instincts to help, and her overwhelming desire to flee. Her eyes met her former partner's and instantly, Weiss' body convulsed with a wave of fear, pressing her back as hard she could against the wall.
"Hmmmrrrrooo." A soft, sorrowful whine trickled out of Ruby's throat. Her tail bristled and twitched frantically back and forth while her mighty heart pounded in her chest, blood coursing through her ears.
One step forward. Ruby started to close the gap between her and Weiss, compelled by her own desire to care for Weiss overwhelming every impulse she had. Her body giving every display that she no longer felt aggression. The wolf's neck and shoulders relaxed, her tail swaying softly and her teeth covered by her lips that her tongue instinctively licked the blood from.
The wolf came to a dead stop, smelling Weiss' fear build dangerously as she pressed tighter and tighter against the wall. She's bleeding so much. I did this…
"R-Ruby are you… in there?" Blake's trembling but desperately soft voice drew Ruby's gaze over to the cat faunus. Blake too, had her back against the bed, her ears pinned back and her eyes as wide as Ruby had ever seen them. Still, a tentative hand reached out, from meters away, towards the wolf.
Large silver eyes lingered on Weiss for a moment longer… before turning to Blake. A deep pain like gnawing teeth gripped the wolf's heart as Blake staggered back the moment their eyes met.
Drawing a long, deep breath through her nostrils, Ruby drank in the scent of everything around her, all three girls' fear overwhelming every other smell in the room.
"Mmmffff." Ruby huffed back out through her nose and sat down, her tail anxiously twitching against the floor. Her gaze never left Blake's, focusing on communicating through her expression, as far from human as they were.
Ruby slowly nodded. Not the most natural gesture for a wolf, but a universal sign of acknowledgement. I'm me.
Blake hesitated, her scent fluctuating between panic, anxiety, stress and awe and her heart never ceased pounding in her chest, shaking Ruby's sensitive whiskers with each heavy beat. For a moment, Blake graced to Weiss, still struggling to hold in the blood from her wound as it flowed around her small clutching hand.
"Okay…" Blake took a steadying breath… and rushed towards the door. "Go get help! I'll stay with Weiss!"
"Wrruuff!" Ruby barked firm in agreement, but her chest tightened as she watched Blake flinch from the sound.
The door knob rattled as Blake's trembling hands struggled to unlock it. Her attention split between helping Weiss and warily watching the massive wolf standing nearly head height to her on all fours right beside her.
click.
"Go! Find Oobleck! I can-"
"We heard a scream! Is everything-" Blake was cut off by Jaune, standing in the doorway, sleep tugging on his voice while Pyrrha stood behind him. "Is that… a wolf?"
Ruby looked up at Jaune and time, for a moment, slowed, all the while, the familiar bite of shame clamped down on her lungs. I'm sorry we couldn't be friends… Juane.
"Those eyes… is that-"
She couldn't be there to hear him finish. Weiss' blood still clung to her fur and saturated the air. With a powerful thrust of her hind legs, Ruby bounded between her former classmates, nearly toppling Jaune as she rushed down the hall at full speed.
This- This is all my fault. I shouldn't have come back, not without Yang. I- I can't live around people, this is what Ozpin and everyone else was always afraid of. Her heart thundered and her thoughts and emotions blurred together in a raging storm.
'Why did I have to be born like this? Why couldn't I be a huntress? Why couldn't I make friends? Why did I have to be a wolf!?" Tears clouded her vision, forcing the wolf to rely on her whiskers and nose to guide her through the narrow halls while her legs burned from the high speed and sharp turns.
Claws raked the hard wood floors and caught the soft carpet, struggling to get traction in the unnatural environment, but still, she kept propelling herself forward, following a familiar, comforting scent.
Instantly, her muscles tensed and her legs stopped running. The momentum of her body carried her to a sliding stop while her tail kept her balanced, until she stood perfectly in front of a tall wooden door.
"Mmmrraaaark!" Ruby Yelped, jumping up on her hind legs and scratching furiously against the wood, chirping whines filling the empty halls.
Behind the door, she heard the sound of papers falling and frantic footsteps running towards her. Still, she kept scratching, kept whining, even more as the steps grew closer. Her tail lashed rapidly all while her mouth hung open, panting for breath. The soft wood of the door giving beneath her claws, gouging long trenches in it as she panic and desperation overwhelmed her thinking.
The doorknob rattled, Ruby barely stepping back in time as the door swung open, and a familiar face stood at the other side of the threshold.
"Ruby! What are you still doing here!?" Oobleck peered out from his doorway into the halls, scanning back and forth before bringing his attention to the fretful wolf before him.
"Mmmrrroouuu." A weak and pitiful moan cried softly out of her barely open mouth, her eyes so heavy with guilt she couldn't look her friend in the eyes. Ruby's ears dropped and tail sagged while it nervously flitted against the floor.
"Calm down, calm down." Oobleck's calming voice softened Ruby's panic. His hand reached out, closing the gap as he carefully pet under her chin. "The perigee has begun, you can wait in my office until I have a moment to get you back to-"
"Rooof!" A firm bark from the massive wolf drew a shock through Oobleck's body, instinctive fear nearly making him pull away. Still, before he could, Ruby's snout rubbed vigorously against his palm.
The wolf drew back, her hardened silver eyes darting between Oobleck's hand, and his worried face. Her butt lifted from the floor and her tail began to lash impatiently. Her chest tightened the moment her mentor understood, and looked at his palm.
Crimson smears of mostly dried blood cling to his skin. His expression shifted from disbelief to horror in an instant.
"Was it Ms. Schnee? Of course it was Ms. Schnee." A firm shake of his head snapped him back to the present situation. "This is bad, this is incredibly bad."
Oobleck's head jerked between the wolf and the hallway behind her, fidgeting anxiously in place. Ruby could feel his heart pounding almost as hard as her own. His scent which usually soothed her, now emanated stress… and there's nothing I can do to help.
"Ruby." The teacher's voice took on a profound clarity as his body became unusually still. The wolf and man locked eyes for a long moment, his smell now less brimming with stress, and instead, a sorrow and anxiety took hold.
"On my desk there's a parcel bound in leather. It's for you, I think you'll find it helpful and easy to carry in your current state. Take these as well," Oobleck pulled a small card from his pocket. "It's the keys to a small air-transport, hopefully Ms. Tranquous knows how to fly one, if not, hide in there until I arrive."
He knows I brought Verna?! For how long? Does he know about Aries too? So many questions… but no time. With a firm nod, Ruby took the card into her mouth and rushed to his desk. Oobleck followed, only to place the keycard in the leather bound cylinder for her, and to grab the first aid kit out of a drawer.
Ruby knew she couldn't linger, only sparing a quick glance at her friend and mentor… before they parted in the hallway. Oobleck rushed down the halls to the dorm of Team RWBY, while the wolf bolted the opposite direction, towards the exit.
Every instinct in her body told her to turn back, to tend to Weiss, to explain, to apologize. Even so… her legs propelled her forward.
How would I apologize? How would I explain? I don't even know what I am. I never should have come here. I was selfish, and stupid. I just need to-
… her legs kept moving, the hallways blurred around her, but something wasn't right. She felt the rush of the air flowing over her wishers and pushing against her upright ears, but-
My semblance! Her pupils dilated, swallowing up the silver with a deep black and the shock nearly sending her careening across the floor. I can't use it, it's gone. Is this the perigee? Am I no longer human at all?!
Try as she might, the wolf couldn't bring forth her aura or semblance, neither responding to her will, and their ever-present existence now leaving a void in their absence.
The wolf couldn't slow down, she couldn't take a moment to process everything that had just happened. All she could do was focus on navigating the suffocatingly claustrophobic halls. She controlled her bite, her fangs cradling the leather bound cylinder, the sensation the only reprieve she could find amidst the chaos.
She could smell the cool autumn air distinct from the warm smells of Beacon, the familiar scents she never got to in as a wolf. Only in her human form, when her senses were heightened just after a full moon, was she able to take in what it would have been like… If a wolf could have been a huntress.
The doors and corridors blurred past, halls she walked, people she knew but could never get close to. The same floors, the same views; home, for years. Was this place always so small? So cramped?
Her footing gave on a sharp turn, Ruby's side slamming into the wall. The wolf felt her ribs compress at the impact, her trembling legs barely keeping her from collapsing.
She struggled to breathe, saliva dripping from between her fangs, saturating her fur and mingling with Weiss' dried blood. Her body felt so intensely hot, blood coursing through her ears and trying to dissipate the heat that she couldn't lose from panting, the package from Oobleck occupying her mouth and keeping her tongue from regulating her temperature.
I'm tired.
With that thought washing over her entire being, the wolf's legs buckled, and her belly rested on the cool floor. Ruby's tail laid still while hot and heavy breaths pushed air through her nose, every inhale flooding her mind with details about the world around her.
I can smell myself in these halls. I smell different as a human, I never really noticed. I smell the anxiety I had coming in, the fear. I was human… now what am I? Why am I scared, I'm not even allowed to be scared as a human. Being a wolf is comfortable. Even now, even here, I feel more right than when I came in.
Her ears swiveled, picking up on even the slightest sounds. Water running through the pipes, the soft breathing of people in their room down the hall, the hum of electricity. The wolf felt her heartbeat slowing, the thunder in her chest now little more than a firm beat.
I know I don't have time. I bit someone. I bit Weiss Schnee, the daughter of Jacques Schnee, heiress to the Schnee Dust Company. I bit my former partner… who hates me. This won't stay quiet, I won't get out of this with a slap on the paw. Even before charges are pressed, I'll almost definitely be held at least for questioning or confinement. She felt the iron grip of her jaw loosen, nearly dropping the package Oobleck gave to her.
'Maybe I shouldn't run.' Her paws ached and her muscles trembled under her weight. Maybe I should face the consequences.
She had to consciously force her body through every agonizingly slow step, barely able to remember where the exit was amidst the chaos in her heart.
I didn't mean to. I didn't mean to bite her so hard. Her aura couldn't protect her, and she doesn't have the strong skin and thick fur of a wolf. She might never be able to use that arm again, I felt her muscle giving under my fangs, I didn't want to hurt her.
Her blood felt like fire as her body desperately tried to get rid of her excess body heat. This happened once before. When I was little. I bit Yang, I lost control then too. We were just playing, then I bit her. It was supposed to be a love bite. By the time I realized what I had done, Yang was crying and there was blood everywhere. She- she smiled at me, even though it hurt and she was scared. I've hated what I was since that day. Until I met Verna…
Her legs gave out once more, and Ruby pressed her side against the cold wall to try and mitigate her quickly rising body temperature. I don't know what to do. Mom, I couldn't be like you. I couldn't lead my team here. I can't stay with my pack. I- I'm scared. I'm scared.
Ruby's eyes fluttered shut, and her body relaxed. I'm not going to make it out of this…
Ruby felt herself drift out of consciousness as her brain began to shut down from the stress and heat.
In her last moments of awareness, she could have sworn she felt herself floating, and moving down the hall. A familiar scent was the last thing she sensed before darkness took over.
"Ruby. Ruby, please wake up!"
A voice. Distant and faint, a whisper in the void.
"Hmmrrrroo."
I don't want to wake up
A cool sensation drew her closer.
"Aries, she's still burning up."
She resisted, pulling back against the voices.
It's so hot… let me sleep.
"Mmmrrfff."
A heartbroken whine and a light pressure tugged on her consciousness.
"Ruby, I don't want to lose you. I- I think I know what I want. Yang said to think hard about it, and I have. I can't tell you my choice until you come back so please, wake up. Your pack needs you."
Cool drops hit her muzzle as bleary silver eyes opened to the moonlit world, and a beautiful girl crying over her.
"Woof!" Aries barked loudly, pulling Ruby the rest of the way to awareness as he licked around her muzzle and ears, his evaporating saliva helping to cool her down until she began panting on her own.
Verna, Aries. Ruby's ears twitched on top of her head and her stiff muscles stretched weakly. Her mouth opened and her tongue flopped out while rapid breaths drew cool air over her flat tongue, drawing away her body heat in the most effective way she could as a wolf. I'm outside, with them. How? I- I feel weak and hot. I passed out.
The alpha wolf forced herself to her paws, sitting up to expose her body to the cooling autumn winds.
"Ruby!" Verna threw her arms around her wolf friend's neck and buried her face into her chest fur. The wolf felt her friend's tears soaking through her thick fur while her arms held her as tight as she could. "It's good to see you."
Ruby could hear the warmth in the artist's voice and the weight behind her words. Despite her hazy mind and shaky muscles, Ruby rested her chin on top of Verna's head, feeling her soft hair and taking in her unique scent. She sees me… huh?
"Arrff!" Ruby huffed a bark, pulling away as her mind caught up with reality. She looked around frantically, bringing the not too distant school into view.
"You've only been out a few minutes I think, we found you here, someone called out your name, but we didn't see who. We ran towards the voice and there you were. I also found this beside you." Verna pulled a leather bound parchment and a card from her bag.
Ruby's muscles relaxed for a moment, her tail sweeping the cool grass back and forth while Aries stood beside her, close enough to support her if she fell, but allowing airflow between them to cool her down.
We- we need to leave. I'm not letting Aries go back to the Zoo or Verna go to jail. I'm sorry Weiss, I know I hurt you. I kept this secret my whole life, even from you, my partner who gave me every chance to do better. And you got bit for it. I'll make it up to you, somehow.
The wolf spared one last look towards Beacon, her eyes fixating on a light in one of the upper floors… her old room. Goodbye… everyone.
With a soft breath through her nose, Ruby forced her body into action, shakily standing with Aries there for support. One paw after another, Ruby walked forward, feeling the worried eyes of her pack as they followed.
Her tail dragged weakly against the dirt and grass, her blood felt like fire and every nerve felt like it was melting. Her thoughts bubbled to the surface of her mind before boiling away almost immediately, a feverish haze clouding her senses and her consciousness.
Even so, she pushed herself forward, towards the hanger where the transport would be. Our only chance of getting out of here. I won't let anyone hurt my pack… they've been through enough already.
We need to… hurry. The wolf's consciousness waned and her muscles buckled, crumpling to the ground. She felt herself panting but still, she was barely cooling down. Her muscles wouldn't response, giving out the moment she tried to force her body weight up. You both need to leave me. I can't protect you like this. Everything that's happening is my fault, I lost control, and everything fell apart.
"Hmmrooo…" Ruby groaned weakly, hoping Aries would understand her despite her near delirious state.
"Ruby!" the wolf felt small human hands press into her fur as Verna's voice hardened with conviction. "Aries, help me get her up!"
Everything feels so heavy. Is this the perigee? I wonder what's going to happen to me? My thoughts feel blurry… am I losing my human mind along with my human body? That scares me. I won't ever get to talk with Yang or Verna again. Gravity pulled so strongly on her eyelids, overwhelming her ability to keep them open. If I fall asleep now, who will I be when I wake up?
The tug of sleep pulled harder at her mind, drawing her back into the dark abyss, while her muscles gave up fighting to support her. I'm so tired.
"Woooof!" A deep and panicked bark again ripped her from the blissful embrace of sleep.
She felt the crisp wind rushing over her whiskers, drawing in the scent of grass and fallen leaves to her nose, but another scent stood out above all; paint.
With all he will power, the she-wolf's massive and powerful jaw muscles cleaned, bulging up under her fur. She bit and clawed against the overwhelming exhaustion that called her to rest, and forced her eyes wide open, to bathe in the brilliant silver light of the full lunar perigee.
"We've got you, just hang on," A voice swelling with optimism and exuberance spoke just beneath her ears. Ruby could smell panic and fear leaking from every sweat gland on Verna's body. "Oh, and if you could tell us where the heck we're going, that'd be cool too!"
Ruby's feverish brain finally caught up to reality. They were moving, but her body was nearly limp. The artist held onto her front paws tight, leaning forward as she ran. Verna was carrying the wolf more than twice her own size on her back.
"Mmrruff." Ruby gave a small huff, and forced her snout to point to where the faculty hanger was, and without hesitation or clarification, Verna followed Ruby's directions.
Aries kept up a subdued pace just beside them, constantly glancing up at his alpha and never straying far from his packmates.
Ruby could feel Verna's heart pounding through the girl's back, the hard and frantic pulse resonating through the wolf's chest and syncing with her own. Beside her, she could hear Aries' heart pounding just as fast, and she could smell his fight or flight instinct nearly overriding everything else, save for his desire to stay with them.
The deceptively strong Verna managed to carry her friend with surprising speed, likely thanks to the adrenaline that poured into her veins in the panic. Within minutes… they found the hangar.
Several small transports used by the staff for school related activities, strictly for faculty and accompanying students.
"Hey! Look, one of them has a door already open." Verna's legs burned and trembled. Ruby was heavy, and entirely dead weight in her current state. No way I'm leaving her behind, not now, not after everything she's done for me. Even if I get arrested. She didn't hesitate to come back for me when we were fighting Ebony Grey, he's way scarier than the cops or huntsmen.
Verna forced herself to move, leaning forward to make sure Ruby didn't slide off her back as she trudged for the open door, only praying it wasn't a trap.
Behind her, she could hear voices, and lights flashed around them. If she had to guess, campus security was onto them.
"WOOOORFF!" Aries barked loudly behind them. Verna didn't wait to turn around and see what was happening, trusting Aries to watch her back instead.
Just before her muscles failed her, Verna slowly lowered into a crouch, allowing her friend to slide safely off her back, and onto the cold metal floor of the air transport. Ruby was entirely limp, and her eyes were closed, but she was still breathing.
"Rest up, you've had a long night." Verna fought against her first instinct, to turn around and hold Ruby, to pet her and to do everything she could for her. But right now, there's only one thing I can do… figure out how to fly this thing.
"Ruff!" Aries called out, rushing into the airship, his long claws scraping the hard floor as he grinded to a halt, panting for breath beside Ruby.
"Good job Aries, I got it from here!" Verna beamed a smile brimming with conviction and gratitude in equal measure.
The artist spun on her heels and bounded towards the cockpit which miraculously, was wide open, sparing her from having to pick the lock. Verna rushed to the control panel, a mess of incomprehensible buttons and levers and made her dizzy just to look at them… until she turned to a small screen on the dashboard.
Auto-Pilot engaged, do you wish to proceed along planned course? Yes or No.
"It's already set to take us somewhere?" Verna hesitated, her finger lingering over the yes icon.
"T-They're over here! Be careful, they have some kind of huge attack dog!" A shaky, unfamiliar voice shouted outside the airship.
"Oops, out of time." Verna shook her apprehension and clicked the icon, and immediately the engines started up.
Please provide access key The monitor lit up in bright letters with an icon below in the shape of an empty rectangle.
In a flash Verna unzipped her backpack and pulled out the card she found along with the papers beside the unconscious Ruby. As quickly as she could, she slapped down the card atop the icon, and hoped for the best…
Welcome, Dr. Oobleck.
With that, and a picture of the professor she had met only once before, she let out a sigh of relief. She could hear the pneumatic door close with a soft hiss, stopping the guards from getting onboard.
Course set for; The Island of Patch. Estimated flight time; Twenty-five minutes.
"Patch… that's where Ruby is from, and where Yang and the others are going." Verna looked out the window of the airship, she could see the island far in the distance, surrounded by the sparkling moonlit sea.
Verna's shaky legs nearly lost footing as the engines fired up, and the ship began to move, only catching herself on the pilot's seat. Her anxiety however, only ebbed as the ride smoothed out, and they were drifting away from Beacon.
A heavy sigh escaped her lungs, taking with it all her pent up stress and fear. We made it.
Verna had to physically fight her legs to not give up on her, slapping her thigh muscle to get it to cooperate, as she made her way back, where the two wolves lay.
Finally by Ruby's side, Verna's legs gave out, as much from emotional exhaustion as physical. Her small hands grabbed Ruby's soft fur, and her cheek came to rest against the alpha wolf's ribs.
She could hear Ruby's heart, rhythmic and calm, and each breath she drew in lifted Verna's head in a gentle rocking, up and down as her lungs drew in each breath, and softly released it. Verna closed her eyes, and relaxed her muscles, all but for a warm smile pulling at her lips.
"Get some rest, Ruby," She whispered softly. "We're going home."
Bright moonlight streamed into the cold, quiet room, competing against the artificial white lights shining down from above. It was quiet, save for the impatient breathing that filled the air, keeping it just above dead silence.
Bleary and tired eyes glanced at each other from around the table, the late hour compounding the exhaustion they felt waiting. Still, at the end of the table, a man sat, poised and quiet, patiently waiting.
Then, all the heads in the room turned at once, to the sound a door creaking open, and a thin, very very exhausted man slumped in.
"How's the kid?" Qrow asked, breaking the silence so casually, his feet resting up on the table as he leaned back in his chair.
"Ms. Schnee is stable, the medical staff looked her over, her would healed fast and she suffered no complications, other than a low grade fever. She was sent back to her room for rest, with an antibiotic prescription." Dr. Oobleck's words dragged out of his mouth, no amount of caffeine able to combat the exhausting day he had.
"I hope you know I'm holding you all personally responsible for my daughter's injury! Letting a wild animal into the school, it's bad enough you allow the faunus in, what kind of institution are you running there!?" Jacque Schnee yelled from the other side of a monitor, connected all the way to Altas.
"Now Mr. Schnee, there's no need for that. I assure you we're taking this matter with the utmost care. As you heard, your daughter is going to make a full recovery." Ozpin spoke diplomatically but firmly.
"Hrmmf, if you think I'm just going to let this go, you've got another thing coming!" With that, the CEO of the Schnee Dust Company, signed off, leaving the rest of the room in relative peace.
"With that out of the way… Ruby, I mean, Ms. Rose, she didn't-"
"I hate to say this, but Dr. Oobleck shouldn't be allowed to attend this meeting." Professor Port stood up from his seat, his head turning from his friend and colleague, to Ozpin. "It's clear he's too personally involved to be objective. We know it was his keycard Ms. Rose and her fugitive friends used to commandeer the airship. It's clear he aided in their escape. I don't blame him for his decision, but he can't be part of this anymore, he's too close to all this."
"Wait a moment, please." Taiyang, almost as drained as Oobleck, spoke softly from his seat. "I'm Ruby and Yang's father, I'm the closest there is to this, and Qrow too. Saying he can't be here because he cares for Ruby is just stacking the deck against her."
"Yeah, but neither of us helped her escape. It's the perigee, we've known that something could happen, and it did, now we don't even know if Ruby is even in there anymore." Qrow huffed bitterly, finally bringing his feet to the floor and glaring at Tai. "The only thing we do know is that she's big, strong and capable of inflicting serious damage. Ruby is too dangerous."
"Qrow, you don't seriously mean that." Tai glared right back at his former teammate.
"That's enough." Ozpin interjected, raising his hand to quell the infighting. "Unfortunately, I agree with Professor Port's assessment. Dr. Oobleck, please wait outside, you'll be informed of the conclusion after we've reached it."
"I-" Oobleck stammered, his fists clenching at his sides… before his muscles relaxed with a soft, defeated sigh. "I understand."
Oobleck looked around the room, faces he'd known for decades. His eyes settled on Qrow's. The whisky scented huntsman narrowed his eyes at the teacher, before Oobleck broke eye contact… and walked out the door.
"Now, how shall we proceed to deal with our wolf problem. If we don't handle it, I fear that rich blowhard might do something drastic." Port looked from face to face, trying to encourage ideas.
"Perhaps our initial punishment went too far. Her imminent expulsion likely had serious adverse effects on her mental state, and pushed her to leave Beacon. If she stays here, we can at least keep her contained, and possibly train her to control her wolf side better." Glynda had stayed quiet until then, however, she had hoped that Oobleck would be with her. That man is Ms. Rose' strongest advocate, she needs a friend in this room.
"She's always been ticking time bomb, if she bit much higher up, it's possible Ms. Schnee could have bled to death before help arrived." Port sighed, returning to his seat. "I don't think letting her in was a wise idea in retrospect."
"Or maybe forcing her to suppress her wolf side was the mistake." Glynda fired back coolly. "She's obviously more comfortable being a wolf, and she'd be less of a danger if everyone knew about her condition."
"Yeah? What happens if they're on a mission and she turns and takes it too far? Like her last mission. Even if that didn't happen, her existence is a big deal, especially since she can bite through aura, lots of people would do just about anything to have that, if we had just broadcast it, it'd be painting a target on her back." Qrow huffed indignantly, picking up his flask from his belt and giving it a shake, only to find to his disappointment that it was empty.
"The question remains, how do we deal with the situation at hand." Ozpin sighed, leaning back in his chair.
"Look… I can take full responsibility for my daughter." Tai stood up, his voice cracking as he held back a tightness in his throat. "Please, I just want my baby girl back home. We have plenty of land, and we're far from town. She can run free to her heart's content, even if she can't turn back anymore or… or even if she's not in there anymore."
Tai could barely make out the faces of those around him through the haze that pooled over his eyes. I don't want to lose any more family. I can't lose any more family.
"I'm sorry, but she's too dangerous to just let roam, especially after the perigee. We need to contain and monitor her before letting her out into the wild." Port couldn't bear to even look at Taiyang as he spoke.
"Moving her to Patch isn't a bad idea." Glynda nodded to herself. "If Ruby is still in there, then we can set parameters and come to terms that work for all involved. If she's fully a wolf, and her intellectual capabilities are diminished, we can use other means to monitor and track her."
Tai frantically rubbed the tears from his eyes, struggling to recompose himself. "I- I think that would be fair."
"Very well, I think that's an adequate solution." Ozpin spoke calmly, but somehow, a trace of boredom leaked out with his words. "Qrow, I'd like you to locate and return Ms. Rose. Due to your own condition, you stand the best chance of finding her, and she'll trust you, at the very least, your scent will be most familiar to her."
"Alright, I think I can handle tracking down my nieces." Qrow groaned as he holstered his flask at his side before forcing himself up. "I'll head out now, they didn't leave long ago, and I have an idea where they're going."
"Oh?" Glynda folded her arms over her chest dubiously.
"Give me some credit. They're definitely going to the Emerald Forest. Grimm don't bother Ruby when she's in wolf form, we know Yang is with her, along with another girl and a wolf Ruby broke out from the zoo. They seem like they can handle themselves." Qrow have an insufferably smug smirk, before turning away and walking out the door.
What a mess. Qrow stuffed his hands into his pockets as he walked out into the well lit hallway. You just couldn't stay out of trouble, huh Pup?
It was late, and he was more than ready for bed, ideally with a few shots to help him out. He glanced out to the wide starry sky through a window, the massive full moon dominated the skyline, shining brightly down on the world below. With a soft shake of his head, he forced himself to keep walking.
I don't know exactly what you've gotten yourself into, but I'm willing to bet you're in over your head.
"Qrow." A tense and familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.
Oobleck leaned against the wall, his arms folded over his chest and his foot tapping erratically on the floor.
"Oh, right, you're here." Qrow chuckled bitterly himself, before giving a quick glance behind him, assuring that he was alone.
"Please, I don't know what conclusion they came to, but I'm fairly certain it's not going to be in the best interest for Ruby, and that Jacque Schnee, I don't trust that he won't do something drastic, there isn't much time and-"
"Uuhg, will you slow down." The gruff huntsman ran his fingers through his oily black hair. "Look, I'm grateful you called me when Ruby first showed up, and then warned me first after she nipped the Schnee girl, but give me a little credit. I carried that big puppy out of here and set up the autopilot to get her somewhere safe."
"I know… and I'm thankful, though I don't understand your hostility back there." Oobleck's foot came to a dead stop, and silence filled the hall.
"Look, everyone in there is good people, but they're more concerned with the big picture or their own feelings to really think about what that pup really wants. You told me she pissed off the cartel, if she's on the run from them, isolating her in one place that she's associated with is a death sentence. They'll find her in no time. Still, I heard the other options, none of them are pretty. I'm gonna watch out for them, and I need you to work with me on this." Qrow looked up to the ceiling with a complex expression.
"Is there really no way we could convince the others?" Oobleck hated the thought of lying to the friends he'd known for so long.
"Port, Oz and Glynda are big picture types, needs of the many and things like that. Tai… he just wants what's best for himself, not that I blame the guy." He shrugged. "No, we gotta keep this between us for now, at least until we have all the information."
"Very well," Oobleck resigned, forcing himself off the wall. "I'll leave it in your hands for now, just keep me informed, and if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
"Right now, I just need some sleep." Qrow's eyes blinked wearily, trying to maintain their alertness. Sorry Pup, Firecracker, you'll be on your own tonight, but I bought you some time on my end.
"So… this is your room." Verna spoke so softly her words bordered on a whisper.
The artist's fingers tenderly stroked the flank of her wolf companion, her hand sinking into Ruby's warm, soft pelt. She was mesmerized for a long moment, staring into that pitch dark fur that swallowed her fingertips and then some.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want to be in here without permission… well, okay, I did a little." Verna blushed softly as a weak laugh escaped her. "I figured it would be nice to wake up here, you've been through a lot, we all need comfort sometimes."
Even though Yang insisted that she was allowed in her little sister's room, it still felt wrong to her. Despite that, she couldn't help but look around. It was a comfortable place, two very large dog beds sewn together replaced a typical human bed, which was far from what Verna expected. The whole room was made to cater to her canine self; it had chew toys that were clearly well loved, a treadmill with claw marks on the belt, a bunch of plushies that were perfectly intact, and photos lining high shelves nailed into the wall, likely to keep the growing wolf from knocking them over.
Her eyes were drawn to one photo in particular, a beautiful woman in a pure white cloak, who held a striking resemblance to Ruby's human form.
"That's your mom? She was beautiful." Verna constant petting slowed until her hand came to rest over the wolf's rib cage, letting her feel Ruby's steady, soft breaths.
I'll have to apologize to her after, this is an invasion of her privacy. I just couldn't leave her alone yet. Verna sighed, kneading her fingers against Ruby's pelt.
"Mmrruuuu." A soft whine stole the artist's attention, drawing her back from her thoughts, and to the large ginger wolf laying side by side with Ruby.
"Sorry Aries, don't worry, I'm sure she'll wake up soon." Verna gave him a bright, playful smile before reaching out to him with her free hand, and slowly stroking the top of his head between his ears.
Well, I can't say I've ever imagined myself in this situation, but that just means Ruby's expanded my imagination. Her playful and energetic smile softened to a warm gratitude as she looked down at Ruby's face. I want to talk to you, once you're better. Yang told me how you see me, how you see all of us. I'm ready to give you my answer, so wake up soon, okay?
It took way more willpower than she expected to pull away from Ruby and Aries. Their soft breathing, warm fur and the comfort they gave her started weighing on her eyelids, all she wanted to do was keep petting them until she fell asleep with them. But I can't, not yet.
"Aries, look after Ruby for us. I'm going to fill everyone else the best I can." With muscles that felt like they'd been replaced with lead, she struggled to her feet, stretching away the sleepiness and the tightness in her body.
"Hhruuf!" Aries gave a hushed bark in response, pressing close to Ruby and placing his head atop her shoulder.
"Thanks, she's in good paws." Verna snorted a giggle, giving one last thankful look to the wolf watching over Ruby, before she closed the door behind her.
Ruby and Yang's home was so warm. She could imagine the love and light that grew here. As she walked down the halls to the stairs, she imagined the little wolf pup scurrying through the house, a small blonde girl, the two sisters causing havoc like kids do, but having the time of their lives.
She could see a door frame with height measurements on it, in black red and yellow ink, she figured by the lines that the black was for Ruby as a wolf. The banister to the stairs had the scars of strong teeth gnawing through the wood, and yet, they weren't replaced.
Someday, I wanna talk to her about this place, about her growing up. Maybe we can swap stories? But honestly, mine is gonna be pretty boring compared to hers. She couldn't help but smile at the thoughts running through her vivid imagination.
"How's she doing?" A worried but hopeful voice broke Verna from her warm thoughts, bringing her staring into the eyes of Ruby's fretful big sister.
"She um… she hasn't woken up since she collapsed on the airship." Verna's smile faded, though it didn't leave her face entirely. "Aries is keeping an eye on her, but I think she's going to sleep through the night. Maybe it's because of the perigee, or maybe it's something else."
"Well, for now, all we can do is let her rest. Aries will warn us if anything changes." Yang held it together, being strong for her alpha and little sister.
Around her, the rest of the impromptu pack arranged themselves through the dining room. Krystal was sitting closest to the back, near where Alan slept in the spare bedroom. Vitali a few seats down on the table from Yang while Thistle kept close to the stairs, standing and leaning against the wall, ready to go into action at any moment.
"So, what happened?" Krystal spoke, her dull and tired eyes betraying her weariness. Still, the fox faunus was more than happy for any distraction from her chaotic mind.
"I don't know. Ruby went in, she told Aries and I to stay out of sight and wait for her to get back. We heard someone shout her name about an hour after and when we rushed over, she was unconscious and had a keycard for the airship and a bundle of papers beside her. We got on the airship and it was already open and the autopilot had a course set for here." Verna knew if she sat down, her exhausted mind and body wouldn't let her get back up, so she opted to lean next to Thistle.
"So, at least someone in there is on our side. Probably Oobleck, he and Ruby are friends." Yang sighed, swallowing the fact that she wasn't going to get more answers.
"The real question is, what now?" Krystal looked from Yang, to Thistle and then to Verna, all replied with the same uneasy expression.
The room fell silent, except for the muffled groaning in the spare bedroom, and it clearly distressed Krystal, who filled the air with the tapping of her shoe.
"We wait until Ruby wakes up." Thistle took a firm step forward. "She's the reason we were able to fight the cartel, she's the reason we survived and she's our friend."
"Ruby will know what to do." Yang ran her fingers through her sweat soaked bangs. "I'm going to follow her, wherever she decides to go."
I don't know what the perigee has done to her, but it doesn't matter. I swore I was going to take care of her, which means I'm staying by her side. That's my choice… but them…
"Listen." Yang closed her eyes and drew in a long, steadying breath. I hope this is the right decision
She opened her eyes, and sure enough, everyone's gaze was fixed on her.
"I told Verna this before, but everything's happened so fast." Yang shook her head, she was still reeling, trying to process everything that happened just in the last few days. "Ruby is a wolf, and as a wolf, she sees things differently than us."
Verna took a small, cautious step forward, though she didn't know why.
"Wolves need packs. They're social animals. If they don't have a pack, they get distressed and lonely isn't even a strong enough word. You all saw how Aries was, wolves need packs." Yang felt a deep cold biting into her heart, at the thought of Ruby in the place Aries was in.
"Why are you telling us this?" Krystal's voice wavered with hesitation as she spoke.
"Because… Ruby sees us as a pack. She's an alpha, a natural leader, it's in her blood. I think you've all seen for yourself how she is, it's easy to follow her." Yang beamed with pride for her sister. "Wolves can choose to leave a pack at any time, she won't hold it against any of you. So you all need to think about what you want, because going with Ruby means being part of her pack, and it's a big deal for a wolf."
"That's... a lot." Krystal wrapped one arm around her chest while she bit the thumb nail of her free hand, a nervous habit she struggled to kick.
"I know, and I know there might not be a lot of time for you all to think things through. Ruby would do anything for her pack, not just because she's a wolf, but because that's just who she is, she protects people she cares about with everything she's got." Yang watched the room, looking at their reactions, their facial expressions, their eyes, for any hint of who might stay… and who might go.
"I- I don't think I'd mind." A soft and unusually gentle voice pulled everyone's attention to the tiny redhead by the stairs.
"Short-fuse, do you understand what you're getting into? I'm not sure I understand what this all means." Vitali looked his little sister in the eyes, worry and confusion playing through his expression.
"Ruby gets me, and I get her. When we fought together, I felt like I was exactly where I should be. We barely know each other, but she was able to figure out how to fight with me in the middle of getting our asses handed to us. Plus… I like her. She risked her life to save people she just met, she had no reason to think that Ebony Grey would let us all get out alive, but she circled back for us, not many people would be willing to do that. I don't see why I shouldn't follow her." Thistle failed to make eye contact with anyone but her brother the whole time, her face feeling a hot glow while she struggled to keep a shred of her dignity.
"The cartel is going to be after her now that they've seen what she can do." The tiny redhead's voice cooled and her fists balled at her sides. "She's got a target on her back. I can't abandon her, I know she wouldn't leave us behind. So, if being part of her pack means I can follow someone… worth following, then that's good enough for me."
"She's not wrong." Krystal leaned back in her chair. "We all have targets on our backs, and they're probably looking for us right now."
Those who fought the cartel that night felt the chill in her words. An image of Ebony Grey and Iris, out there, tracking them at that very moment, made their blood run cold. Verna, Thistle and Krystal all still hadn't physically recovered from their near death experience with the Venom cartel's mercenaries. Just thinking of it made their wounds ache.
"I think we should all get some sleep. It's late, and there's nothing we can do right now." Krystal pulled her nail from her mouth, and slowly got to her feet. "Alan and Ruby aren't in any shape to be moved."
"Yep, I'm dead tired." Yang gave a long, deep yawn, triggering several others in the room to follow. "We don't have enough bedrooms for everyone. Thistle, you can sleep in my room, or by the couch with Vitali."
"Hey, why do I get the-"
"Krystal,my you're probably gonna stay close to Alan right?" Yang abruptly cut off Vitali's protest to the couch.
"I'll be staying by his bed tonight, yeah." Krystal gave her a small nod.
"Um… Verna, you can take Ruby's room if you want." Yang's playful and mischievous grin somehow managed to burn right through her exhaustion.
"No-no, that's fine! I um… I can sleep outside, or wherever Thistle is sleeping." Verna felt like she had swallowed fire dust as hot blood rushed through her cheeks.
"Suit yourself." Yang shrugged, very pleased with herself for the reactions she got from the artist. I tried for ya, little sis.
Verna and Thistle watched the rest of the tenuous pack break apart to crash for the night. Everyone was showing the signs of the eventful past few days. Krystal left for the spare bedroom to tend to her brother as he suffered the onset of withdrawal. Vitali, with a frustrated grunt, flopped himself down on the couch, muttering something under his breath before letting his body relax. Yang went straight to her room, looking more than ready to pass out the moment she hit the pillow.
No one changed out of their dirty sweat and blood stained clothes, partly out of fear of having to flee in the middle of the night. It didn't take a wolf's keen senses for the artist and the fighter to feel the collective stress and emotional fatigue of the pack.
"Verna…" Thistle spoke uncharacteristically soft, her eyes staring off into nothing as she addressed her friend.
"What's on your mind?" The artist tried to sound cheerful, but a tense weight in her chest gave her voice a harder edge than usual.
"You've known Ruby the longest, besides her sister obviously," Thistle played with the end of her her short red braid at the side of her face, rubbing the individual hairs between her thumb and the middle of her index finger. "Do you think she's worth following?"
"That's a tough question. If you're asking me if I trust her, then yes, I do. If you're asking about me joining her pack, that's an answer I want to give to her before I tell anyone else." Verna's shoulders slumped. She could still feel the sensation of Ruby's soft fur against her hand, a faint comfort that almost made her smile.
"I'm going to stay with Ruby tonight." Thistle's voice hardened with that unbreakable strength that Verna couldn't help but admire. "If anyone comes in through the front door, they'll encounter Vitali first, he's a light sleeper and he's good at evading, Yang and Krystal are nearby. If it's just Ruby and Aries and Ebony somehow gets up to her room… I should be there to protect them."
Thistle felt a gnawing in her stomach as her jaw clenched tight. I couldn't do much to keep Ruby safe, without her, I'd be dead. I've always been strong, but we never made real headway until Ruby was leading us. She needs our help now, and I think I get it. If she didn't have a pack, and she was going through this alone… I can understand that.
Without another word, Thistle let her muscles unbind, and started up the stairs. Only moments later, she heard another set of footsteps following close behind her, as Verna followed her to Ruby's room.
The girls collapsed almost immediately as they lay on the oversized dog bed with Ruby. Sore muscles that hadn't gotten much of a break finally relaxed. Ruby was still unconscious and seemingly unwakeable as Verna and Thistle's bodies fell softly against her side. Aries had fallen asleep, pressed up close to his alpha.
With the light off and only the shining light of the full perigee moon to illuminate the darkness, the two girls' bodies surrendered the last of their tensions. Their eyes drawn to close as the steady rise and fall of Ruby's chest lulled them into sleep.
The house fell into a comfortable quiet, only broken by soft breaths and gentle snores of the exhausted pack, as they all got their much needed rest.
I barely slept last night. Cat ears twitched atop a head of messy black hair.
Blake walked through the halls of the school she'd attended for years. No matter how tired she was, she could just rely on muscle memory to guide her, though now that hardly mattered. Glancing down to the floor, she could see trenches left in the wood, carved out by large claws in a panicked rush leading towards her dorm.
A quick glance out the window lit her amber eyes up with the light of dawn, the rising sun painting the sky in brilliant reds and soft blues. The early rays catching in the rising steam of a cup of tea held carefully in one hand.
The moments of the previous night's events kept playing in her mind, over and over. Everything had seemed to move in slow motion as it was happening, but it was almost a blur in retrospect.
I hope Ruby and Yang are okay. They haven't been back. Is Ruby really leaving Beacon? Yang will probably go with her if she is. I can't imagine them wanting to come back after everything that happened. Blake's gaze descended to the cup of pale golden tea, her reflection distorting in the cup as the liquid swirled gently within it.
"Hey Blake." A familiar voice pulled the cat faunus' attention upwards, to her worried classmates.
"Oh, hey Jaune, Pyrrha." Blake's ears flicked, forcing her brain out of her muddled thoughts. "Good morning."
"How's Weiss? How are you holding up?" Pyrrha leaned forward, ever so slightly, with a genuine look of caring and concern that she had whenever anyone was struggling with anything.
"She slept through the night. Doctor said she had a mild fever and she just needed rest and antibiotics for the bites. Though her wound is pretty much completely healed." Blake's lustrous eyes dulled as her forced smile faded away. "She had a long night, I know she prefers coffee but chamomile and mint tea will help her relax more than caffeine will."
"She's lucky to have you taking care of her," Pyrrha face shined with a bright and infectious smile. "If there's anything we can do to help, don't hesitate to ask, okay?"
"Thank you, I'll keep that in mind." Blake gave a tepid nod, but her drooping cat ears betrayed her feelings.
"That wolf…" Jaune began without even thinking, hesitating as he saw Blake's body stiffen and her ears pull back ever so slight. He glanced to his partner, but Pyrrha only looked back with a neutral expression he couldn't quite read.
"That wolf was Ruby, right?" He forced himself to finish, his concern and curiosity overriding his fear.
"... yeah, that was Ruby." Blake gave a bittersweet smile, her free hand clutching the warm ceramic of the teacup for comfort.
"Did- did you know?" Now Pyrrha spoke up, having as many questions on her mind as her partner did.
"Yang knew for sure, and… I found out a while ago. If it's alright, I'd like to tell Weiss the details of that before anyone else." She squeezed the warm cup just a little tighter. Did I make the wrong choice, keeping it to myself? I never even told Ruby that I knew. I figured it wasn't my place.
"Hey, don't worry," Jaune's tone warmed up as he tried to comfort the cat faunus. "Like you said, Weiss is gonna be alright and Ruby and Yang, I think you all can work this out."
"Thanks, I hope you're right about that." Blake tried to give them a real smile, but it fell flat as her worry swallowed up her expression. "I should get this to Weiss before it gets cold."
"Of course," Pyrrha took Jaune's hand in hers and stepped aside. "We're right across the hall if you need anything, even if it's just to talk."
Blake only had the energy to respond with a soft nod, before walking past her classmates. She could hear their hesitant footsteps behind her as they slowly walked towards the cafeteria.
I know they mean well but our team has been a mess for a long time. I don't think there's much fixing things at this point. I was frustrated with Ruby as much as Weiss was, I figured Ruby had her reasons, when she didn't even seem shocked that I was a faunus, I guess I assumed she had her own secret. I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. Now that it's all out in the open, and she's left with Yang, I don't know what our future is going to be like for the rest of our time here.
Blake walked on autopilot, but every so often, she'd look to the gashes on the floor, and she could imagine that terrified and guilt ridden wolf running for help.
Finally, the claw marks and her force of habit brought her to that familiar door. Blake froze at the threshold, staring blankly at the doorknob.
I really don't think they'll ever come back. It's just Weiss and I now. I miss Yang, and I miss Ruby too. They made their choice, and I have to believe it was the right one for them. All I can do now is work with what's left.
Steeling herself, Blake steadied her heart and mind… and turned the doorknob.
"Weiss, I brought you… some… tea?" Blake blinked in bewilderment as she closed the door behind her. Their room was a disaster, as though a hurricane and an earthquake hit at once in the tiny space. Blankets and books and shelves knocked over, it looked worse than when Ruby left the night before.
"Weiss? Weiss?!" Blake quickly placed the tea on the only standing bookshelf in the room, her heart pounding as she frantically rushed in.
"Urmmfff." A muffled whine drew Blake's attention to the corner of the dorm room…
"W-Weiss?" Blake's eyes were swallowed by her pupils as she stared down in silent shock at the corner. "You're… you're a…"
There, crunching in the corner, a figure sat, looking up at Blake, its pale blue eyes glistening with fear. A large, stunning, snow white-
"Wolf…"