A week had passed since her arrival, a week rhythmed by Weiss frequent disappearing – she had sworn that her family did that only to keep her away from her friends – and by her meeting with the different Faunus of the house. They were five, six when counting Ironwood: Yang the fierce lion, Zaïa the shy shark, Quartz the calm snow leopard, Matt the friendly wolf and Triss. Triss was still a mystery to Blake, despite her growing friendship with everyone else. She was a lynx Faunus and a fierce and angry person, not much the talkative type. Not that any Faunus was the talkative type… Even if Blake felt like Yang was, but restrained herself out of fear. She had also learnt the purpose of the collar: it was almost entirely made of Fire Dust, ready to explode on a simple button press… It was also impossible to take off, since there were some cooling circuit running in it – preventing explosion – that would be cut if not properly unlocked by one of the Schnee's family key. Not to mention that it blocked the active part of the semblance… The perfect weapon to be obeyed. The cruelest method she had ever seen.

Those thoughts were roaming in Blake's mind as she was herself roaming the corridors without any idea of where she was actually going. She should probably have waited for Yang to bring her to the breakfast room, but she had thought she could do fine by herself. What a wonderful idea. She was about to abandon and ask anyone she'd cross for help, when she stepped on something she shouldn't have. Yang was hugging Ruby, and her lack of reaction was only explained by her closed eyes. Blake froze on foot, not knowing what to do. They were that close? Yang's whisper answered all of her questions.

"Please be careful sis'…"

Blake's mouth couldn't be opened more, but her shock didn't last long since the lion opened her eyes and quickly pulled out of the embrace while Ruby was turning to face the intruder.

"Oh crap. I think the cat's out of the bag, eh?" Yang's humor attempt fall flat. "Okay, Ruby, tell Matt that Blake's not feeling well and that she'll eat in her room. Now, you…" she turned to face Blake, which was gradually taking back her spirits. "Come with me, we have to talk."

And with that, Yang grasped Blake's right wrist firmly, snapping her out of her incredibility and forcefully dragged her to her room. In a heartbeat, they were seated on the edge of Blake's bed, both quite awkward.

"Okay… what did you saw back here?" Yang's voice was inquisitive, but not really anxious. Blake had never tattled before, there was nothing to fear.

"You called her sis'?!" All of Blake's surprise was put in her voice, resulting in an almost shouting.

"Not that loud! Yeah we're sisters. Step sisters actually."

Yang nervously ran her fingers through her golden mane, waiting for Blake's reaction. And as she didn't move a muscle, waiting for the full explanation, Yang pursued.

"Our dad is a wolf Faunus. Ruby's mother is human though, and hopefully she didn't inherit all of these…" Yang gazed at her now steady lion tail, then her eyes came back on Blake. "Summer raised both of us like we were her own child, so for long I thought she was my mother, but one day I learned that it couldn't be. That a human and a wolf Faunus couldn't biologically make a lion Faunus."

Her voice was now sounding angry, meaning that she was about to approach a very touchy subject. Blake didn't intervene, simply waiting for Yang to be ready to speak.

"So my father told me the truth. That my real mother abandoned me… Us. Abandoned us when I was baby. My father also told me that she was a raven Faunus, and that I had her hair… and that when I activate my semblance, I have her eyes."

The said eyes were now low, as if she was disgusted of looking like her mother.

"I started searching for her… The first time I brought Ruby with me. We were young, I didn't have much than 10 years old, and our uncle had to save us. So I decided that I'll search alone, and that was the worst idea I ever had. I ran into Atlesian guards, and they were quick to beat and chain me… I've been sold to the Schnee family, and here I am. I never warned Ruby nor my father that I was searching for my mother… They thought I was dead, or that I left just like my mother did."

Blake's hand, almost self-conscious, raised and landed on Yang's shoulder in a reassuring squeeze. The lion's gaze perked up, and Blake saw a tear preparing to roll on her cheek. A smile cracked its way on the blondie's face as she regained her composure, and the next second Blake wasn't even sure she had really seen the tear. What a great acting skill! She was forced to use it thought…

"That's why Ruby dropped her donut when you first met her. She couldn't believe her eyes, that's what she said me afterward. And that she was certain I wasn't dead." She chuckled softly, and then her eyes widened. "Oh shit I almost forgot! Ruby told Matt that you were sick, Ice Queen will probably come to see if you're okay! You need to pretend to be sick!"

Blake creased an eyebrow.

"Yeah, about that… What the heck passed through your mind?"

"Sorry…" the blondie chuckled again. "I had to think fast, and that's the first idea I came to."

Her eyes suddenly darted to the hand resting on her shoulder, and Blake took it back quickly, having totally forgotten about it a second ago. They were both standing still in awkward silence when Blake's mind finally came back to her, and she stood up.

"If I pretend I'm sick, I must be in my bed and nightgown. Could you wait outside so I can change?"

With a nod Yang walked out of the room, and as she walked Blake noticed something funny: her tail was tilting right when her left foot was forward, and left when her right foot was forward. She wondered why she hadn't noticed this before, and she only realized she was staring at Yang's butt when the door slammed. She blushed, but hopefully there was no one to see it, and she started to apply the sketch of plan she had set up.

Weiss visited, accompanied Ruby and some breakfast leftover. Blake played her part wonderfully, and stayed in her bed for the rest of the day that passed quickly since Yang was required to stay at her side.

Blake stood up, fully awoken in the middle of the night. The surroundings were quiet, she was fine, and nothing was disturbing the peaceful sky… She had no idea of why she had awakened. Call it instinct, destiny or whatever you want, she got out of her room and started to roam the halls. That was probably a bad idea since she didn't know her way in here yet, but she did so anyway. She walked aimlessly, just admiring the sky through the gigantic windows, before trying to find the kitchen or a bathroom to drink, without the least success of course. Now she was totally lost, blaming herself for being such brainless, and she suddenly found herself in front of Weiss' door. And what she heard tore her heart apart. Weiss was crying, sobbing with muffled sounds. She was probably retaining her tears or burying them in her pillow. Blake couldn't just walk away, so she breathed deeply and knocked on the door.

"Weiss? Can I come in?"

"No! I'm fine don't worry! Go back to sleep Blake."

"No you're not. I heard you cry. Please Weiss, I'm your friend, you can trust me…"

The door opened, revealing a tired and red-eyed Weiss, wearing an ice-blue nightgown and her white hair flowing in a mess. She looked much like the child Blake had found many years ago, because that's what she was right now: a lost and sad kid that didn't knew what to do. Hopefully, now Blake knew what she could and must do: she pulled Weiss in an embrace before she could say anything.

"I'm here for you Weiss. You can cry as long as you want but please don't ever shut down to your friends…"

For a few minutes, the heiress cried, nose buried in Blake's shoulder. Then, eventually, she let out a muffled, despair call.

"I can't take it anymore Blake…"

Slowly, carefully, Blake pulled Weiss' shoulders back so she could look at her straight in the eyes.

"Hush your cries, I'm here and I'll listen okay? Now seat and tell me what's happening."

Weiss nodded and took a few steps back, evading Blake's attempt to grab her hand.

"It's silly… My father brought me to some affair today… I didn't know that it was about a fleeing attempt…" Ice blue eyes stared in golden ones, looking so desperate. "They killed her Blake. In front of her own pup! I know she was a slave, a Faunus, and that she shouldn't have ran… but still…" She gazed off. "I know that I'm not a model of tolerance either. Heck, I'm a brat to so many people and Faunus! I just wish everything could stop, that I could start anew again…"

Blake sat beside her, hesitating a second before uttering in a low voice:

"You know, you could start over…"

"Very optimistic!" Weiss' sarcastic tone surprised her. "I am the heiress of a huge, racist, cruel enterprise, and I can be whatever I want? We're not in a fairy tale. There's nothing such as a "good fairy" to rescue me from my father you know. I'll never be anything else that what my father want me to be."

"You could run." Blake had spoken without thinking, but Weiss didn't react. "I could help you run, and I'm pretty sure Ruby would help too."

"I can't run from myself Blake! Wherever you go, you carry yourself with you, and I can't stand myself anymore. Not to mention that my father will catch us…"

"No he won't. And besides, if you don't like what you are, try to make up for your mistakes." Blake felt like this moment was one of the most important in her life. A page was about to turn, another chapter was about to begin. She breathed deeply, and then risked an ultimate suggestion. "You could free the slaves before running."

Weiss' gaze came back on Blake, without the slight shock. Just an inner light, a small glimpse: hope.

"You think they'll forget me?"

That was… pretty unexpected. And encouraging. Blake saw an opportunity that would probably never show again.

"Maybe not immediately. But if you free them and excuse yourself they'll no longer hate you. They could even help you flee, since you helped them."

Weiss seemed to proceed the information, measuring what it implied. Blake was breathless, waiting for Weiss' reaction, fearing and hoping altogether. Then, all of the sudden, Weiss' sight hardened with determination, and she turned to Blake, before pulling her in a hug she reciprocated once the surprise had passed. Without letting go, the heiress whispered:

"Thanks Blake, I don't know what I'll do without you. Can I ask you one more favor?" Blake nodded in response. "Please help me flee, help me free the Faunus… Help me retrieve my real self."

And Blake swore.