Okay so here's a longer chapter now! I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.


Chapter 3. A Troublesome Cat

As the days went on in Blake's house, Weiss waited for her wing to heal.

The little white bird kept making comments such as "Once my wing is better, I'm going to leave. I'll fly off and find a flock to join."

Those declarations from her always led to Ruby's high-pitched cries of "Nooooo! Don't leave us! We'll miss yooou!" She'd throw her paws around Weiss and wail into her pretty white feathers.

Blake could see it on Weiss' face one day when the process finally started to crack her resolve.

Blake had nudged Ruby away into the kitchen for her lunchtime cookie and gotten a moment alone with the bird.

"You're not really going to leave, are you?" she asked.

Weiss merely ruffled her feathers a bit, then bent her head forward to preen her chest.

"I'm not sure," she said. "I was seriously considering it for a while, but now it's getting difficult to imagine... It'd break Ruby's heart. And perhaps maybe even yours." She blinked knowingly up into the cat's eyes.

Blake flicked her tail and looked away.

"Maybe..." she mumbled.

Weiss puffed out her chest proudly at having guessed correctly.

"I've got to weigh my options," the bird went on. "It's much safer to live here with you two and your humans. Outside, there are so many predators; dogs, cats, foxes, possums, raccoons, coyotes. And not to mention hawks," she shuddered. "Just when you thought you were safe from the beasts on the ground by hiding in the treetops, you get swooped on by an aerial attack..."

The way she trailed off led Blake to believe Weiss must've witnessed the horrors before for herself, but she didn't press the matter.

"Well, I'm glad you might want to stay. I know Ruby will be thrilled if you stick around."

"Yes. I'll decide and tell her once my wing is fully healed," Weiss decided.

Blake bent down, and Weiss hopped up onto her shoulder to be carried into the kitchen.

Blake went to her bowl where a familiar mouthwatering scent was wafting from it. Ruby was already gobbling up her cookies and crackers beside the cat.

Their humans picked Weiss up to feed her little strips of fruits and seeds.

Once they'd all finished eating, the trio was left to go about on their merry way.

Weiss still couldn't fly as well as she usually could, so she used Blake for transportation to be safe. Ruby scuttled along at the cat's paws as they headed for the cut-out square in the door.

"It's a nice day out today," Blake said. "Let's go outside."

She pushed through the flap in the door carefully to ensure Weiss didn't get hit by it, and Ruby slipped out next to the cat.

As soon as Blake stepped paw outside, the birds in the bushes scattered and darted off. But she never hunted them or was aggressive toward them, and oftentimes if she just lay still basking in the sunlight, they'd return and calmly continue about their routine pecking.

Blake trotted through the grass, crossing the yard, leaving the bushes and bird feeders behind. She was bound for the little patch of soil a bit closer to the road.

Her humans had planted several bushels of flowers in the little garden there, and the buds were just beginning to sprout with pinks and purples. Blake liked to laze about and sleep there because there were no trees or bushes to block out the sunlight. Plus, putting her scent near the garden kept rabbits and groundhogs at bay, so they wouldn't eat the human's flowers or foods they were growing there.

Making sure Weiss was perched comfortably on her shoulder, Blake laid herself down on her side, letting out a purr. Ruby scurried up to take her usual place at Blake's front paws, stretching herself out over them.

Blake started to drag her tongue over Ruby's course fur, emitting a content purr. Weiss bundled herself up near Blake's belly fur and preened her feathers a bit more.

After a few minutes, the trio curled up together and drifted into a collective, lazy slumber, the sounds of Blake's purrs filling the air.

. . .

Weiss woke a little while later, lifting her head and shaking her feathers out a bit.

She looked over her shoulder to find Ruby and Blake were still fast asleep, their darker fur easily able to absorb the sunlight.

Weiss hadn't been outside much since she'd arrived here, and she wanted to explore a bit. But she didn't want to wake her friends.

So she stretched out her pink legs and hopped off through the grass, surveying the yard as she went. There was a bird bath near the feeders, where several starlings and sparrows were splashing about.

Enjoy the dirty hose-water, Weiss thought. I get bathed in a clean, beautiful sink.

She turned her beak up smugly and continued on her way.

Weiss paused her hopping at the edge of the property to peck around the base of a tree. She wasn't looking for bugs and grub like the other uncivilized birds did, but rather she was in search of seeds and nuts.

She was so focused on her task that she wasn't aware of the creature hunting her.

He moved with deathly silence, his paws making not a sound as he crouched in a nearby bush - waiting - ears perked forward, tail twitching in anticipation for the perfect moment to strike.

A sudden rush of sound and motion had Weiss screeching in terror as a scraggly, gray-furred cat pounced at her.

Weiss just barely managed to scramble away from his ragged claws as they tried to pierce her.

The second she looked up at him, she recognized this cat. It was the one who had attacked her before, injured her wing, and scarred her face.

"No!" she cried. "Not again! Get away from me, you monster!"

She still couldn't fly, and every attempt to flap her wings caused pain to shoot through her back.

With a growl and a shriek, the tomcat pounced at her again, swiping out a paw to bowl her over into the grass, leaving her dazed and paralyzed.

But the commotion had woken Blake and Ruby.

Blake recognized that growl just as clearly as she recognized Weiss' cries of pain. With a furious yowl, she tore off down the yard, snarling aggressively at the tomcat with the torn ears.

Adam heard her, whipping around and spitting at her as he took his attention off Weiss.

Blake didn't stop running, but instead leapt at him, knocking into him full-force and tumbling them both down into the grass in a flurry if claws and tails. Blake shredded at his back as she felt claws trying to puncture her belly.

Ruby had scuttled over to Weiss' side to help her up and then hurried into the bushes to hide with her. Both mouse and bird watched in horror as the two cats tussled.

Blake kicked herself away from Adam, jumping to her feet and hissing in pain as her belly throbbed with ache. Adam stood as well, ears flat against his head, tail lashing.

"Well, well," he growled. "I guess you've still got some fight left in you, Blake. I'll admit I'm surprised you can still remember the basics even though you've gone to live the luxury life with humans."

The fur on Blake's spine started to lie flat, just for a second as she looked him over.

Adam had a dozen new scars and wounds covering his body than when she'd last seen him. The life of a stray guaranteed all kinds of fights with all kinds of animals – not just cats. Battles for territory and hunting rights could sometimes end in murder, which was what had forced Blake to turn her tail on that lifestyle.

She had been lucky to find kind humans to take her in, but not every stray was that fortunate.

Adam narrowed his orange eyes at her.

"You've gotten quite plump," he noted, looking back at his own skinny form. "I'm honestly shocked you can still move so quickly. Is it nice fattening up on human food?" he spat.

"They're not all bad," Blake growled. "There are just as many good ones as bad ones, if not more."

"They're all horrible!" Adam spat. "If they find us eating just one of their ten thousand precious sparrows, what do they do? Poison us. Trap us and kill us. Let their dogs loose to maim us."

"Mine would never do that," Blake hissed.

"If you believe that, then you haven't given them a reason to yet," he snapped. "I'll show you. I'll show you what they'll do to you if you grab a meal just because you're trying to survive. Your humans are no different and I'm going to make you see that."

"Fine!" she yowled. "Then fight me! We'll make all the noise we can. When my humans come out, they won't hit you or throw things at you! They'll take us both inside to make sure we're okay. I'll prove to you that they're good!"

"Nice try, Blake," he growled. "But I'm not looking to fight you to prove my point."

He flashed his gaze to the bush a few feet away.

Blake followed his eyes and gasped.

It was where Ruby and Weiss were hiding.

"Adam, no!"

But it was too late. He was already tearing off across the grass toward them.

Blake pelted after him, trying to be faster so she could intercept the attack.

But Adam was right - she'd put on a bit of weight since she'd started being fed from a bowl, and she couldn't top his speed. So she screamed out to Ruby and Weiss.

"Run!"

Ruby had been trying to, but Weiss was still frozen with fear and unable to move quickly enough.

"Weiss! C-Come on, we have to-"

But she cut off in a shrill cry that was accompanied by Weiss' shriek.

Blake skidded to a halt not five feet away from the bush, her body trembling an ears shaking.

Adam had clawed his paws into the dirt as well, stopping just inches away from the bush.

Both cats' ears were perked to listen to a frightening sound approaching them.

It was a dog.

Bark after bark sounded close by, and Blake was torn between using the distraction to bowl Adam away or just dive into the bush to collect Ruby and Weiss and run for the door.

But she didn't get the chance to decide before a massive golden retriever burst its way into the yard, jaws snapping. The dog was headed straight for Adam, charging at him in a flurry of teeth and golden fur.

Despite her fury at the tomcat, Blake still couldn't bear the though of seeing him hurt. So she moved quickly, sinking her teeth into his scruff and dragging him out of the dog's path. She dropped him and then darted to the bush, shielding Ruby and Weiss with her own body.

The dog came to a stop, panting and grunting as she looked the cats over. Blake shrunk back, but her fur lifted up, and her lips curled up into a snarl.

"Get out of here!" she hissed. "Leave us alone!"

But the dog's mouth lost its snarl, and she lowered her head to Blake.

"Don't worry. I'm not here to hurt anybody. Just scare."

Puzzled, Blake flicked an ear, surprised a dog had spoken to her of all creatures. They were supposed to be mortal enemies, last Blake had heard.

But then again, so were she, Ruby and Weiss.

The retriever once more set her lavender gaze on Adam, curled in the grass. He stood and hissed at her.

"You wanna fight, mutt?"

"Really think you can take me on, kitty?" the dog growled. "Try me."

Adam flashed a glance to Blake, his orange eyes narrowed.

"Cunning, Blake," he spat. "I didn't know you had a dog. You really are the bane of every alley cat's existence. Traitor." He backed away, ears still flat. "Fine. But this isn't over."

With one last warning growl, he turned tail and fled across the street, disappearing into the shadows.

Blake hissed after him, then ducked her head into the bush to find her petrified friends.

"Are you two alright?"

Ruby was huddled around Weiss, and the bird had one wing draped over the mouse protectively.

"Y-Yeah..." Ruby squeaked. "I'm okay. Weiss?"

The bird let out a thin whistle of air.

"A few ruffled feathers..." she admitted. "But fine."

Blake purred in relief, then bent down to lick both of their heads before pulling away out of the bush.

The dog was still there, posture erect as she watched Adam go. Despite Adam's accusations, Blake had never seen this dog before in her life. She too, gave a warning growl as the retriever turned back to look at her again.

"What do you want?" Blake demanded. "There's nothing here for you."

The dog shrugged, then sat down on her haunches, and that big fluffy tail started wagging.

"I didn't want anything from you!" she said simply. "I just couldn't stand seeing that cranky old cat picking on you guys. Are your friends okay?"

Blake flicked an ear; this dog had been watching long enough to have seen Ruby and Weiss before they'd hidden.

The cat nodded slowly.

"Yes. They're fine... Thank you."

The dog smiled, and her tongue lolled out.

"That's great!" Her tail thumped against the grass happily. "Oh, and by the way, I'm Yang!"

Blake stared at her dumbfounded.

It was going to be an interesting afternoon.


A/N: And with that, the gang's all here!

P-atreon is Kiria Alice if you're interested!

Please review!