"We're almost home." Yang said.
"Good." Blake replied. "It's starting to get dark."
As the girls pulled up to the gate Yang noticed her sister Ruby on the catwalk that encircled the inside wall. Ruby was one of the best people for guard duty not only because she was a great shot, but because she noticed things others don't. More than once Ruby had saved the camp from an incoming horde, just because she noticed a few deer that seemed like they were running from something. She was right, they were spooked by a horde of fifty walkers. Ruby got everyone's attention and made sure they were quiet and hidden. The horde passed without even noticing the are a few times Yang could remember, if Ruby hadn't been covering her...
From the outside the camp just looks like your average Victorian Era church. This particular church had an eight foot brick wall around the grounds perfect for defense, with a ten foot wide iron gate out front. At that time twenty people lived there.
Outside there were rain catchers set up for water, and they even had a decent garden. Yang still went on a run at least twice a week, sometimes more. She did anything she could to leave camp during the day. She couldn't stand the camp leader, always wishing she could take her sister and leave. But where would she go? She had no idea if they could make it on their own.
Ruby shouted, "let me get the gate for you!"
Ruby climbed down, unlocked the gate and slid it open just enough to let the bike squeeze through.
"Thanks Rubes." Yang said as she was parking her bike.
"No problem! Did you find anything good?! Ruby said practically vibrating with excitement.
"Unfortunately no, we didn't find anything today." Yang replied with smirk.
"Liar! I know that look!" Exclaimed Ruby.
With a playful push Blake said "You're an awful liar Yang."
Yang laughed. "Well, you got me." She reached into her bag, "I know it isn't much but, I snagged these for you." Yang pulled out four small bags of cookies, the ones you usually find in vending machines.
"Ohmygoshthankyousomuch! I haven't had cookies in forever!" Yelled Ruby, as she hugged Yang.
"RUBY! What do you think you're doing!? Get your ass back to your post! Or are you trying to get us killed!?" Yelled Adam.
"Sorry Adam, I was just happy to see my sister" Explained Ruby
"GO!"
Ruby ducked her head while she ran back to her post.
"Hey! You don't need to yell at her, it was only for a minute!" Yang burst out.
"You're lucky I let any humans in here at all, if it weren't for Blake, you would all be maggot food. You best watch your tone!" Adam threatened.
Blake stepped between them, "Both of you calm down." She put one hand on Adam's chest and the other on Yang's shoulder. "The noise will attract them."
Yang backed off. In most battles you need to think about what's next, not just what's right in front of you. She thought back to Tai, "I wish you were here with us." She whispered.
"And you, who gave you permission to leave?" Adam asked.
Blake replied "I was with Yang, so I didn't think-"
Adam cut her off "I don't care who you're with you must get my permission before you leave. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes Adam, I'm sorry. It won't happen again"
"Good, It's late." He replied. "Let's get to bed."
Adam started walking to the church. Blake took a step to follow him then stopped, she looked back at Yang. "Sorry" she mouthed, Blake looked defeated. Then she turned and followed Adam to their room.
Am I reading into this too much, or did Blake reach out before she turned around? Thought Yang.
Yang shook her head and walked to the wall where Ruby was sitting watchful for any threats that lingered in the distance.
As Yang reached the top of the ladder, not taking her eyes off the horizon Ruby asked "Why does Adam hate us?"
"The only thing I know is that he despises humanity." Yang Replied
"How can someone hate another person that they don't know, especially over something so superficial?" Ruby questioned.
Yang heard footsteps from below.
"I'm here to relieve you, Oh! Didn't realize you were here Yang, how was your run?" asked Weiss.
"Wasn't bad, Blake told me about a gas station, it actually had a lot of supplies left over. We are going to take a car back tomorrow." Yang replied.
"Adam actually let Blake leave for once?" Weiss asked.
"Well…"
Weiss cut Yang off. "You didn't! You know how Adam is, he won't take kindly to being defied!"
Yang replied. "He's just going to yell, blow off some steam and then it will be fine."
Ruby cut in. "You don't think he'd hurt her?"
Yang looked at Ruby and then back at Weiss. Weiss had a look of utmost concern on her face.
"Really? You think he would hit her?" Yang asked.
"I know what abuse looks like. My father used to hit my mom. When she wasn't around he'd hit my sister. Winter would always protect my brother and me from him." Weiss was crying now.
Ruby walked over to Weiss, Wrapped her in a hug and said "It will be okay Weiss I know you miss her."
"The hardest thing is not knowing if she's even alive." Weiss cried into Ruby's shoulder.
"I know, I know" Ruby replied.
Weiss pushed away from Ruby. "Thank you."
"If you ever need to talk, you know where I sleep." Ruby replied.
"Thanks again, get to bed. Both of you. You need to be up tomorrow morning for your run. And Ruby has guard duty all day." Weiss chided.
Yang and Ruby left Weiss to watch the wall. Inside the church the pews had all been removed, broken down for firewood in the winter. Yang remembered how uncomfortable they were and felt glad they were gone.
People had run clotheslines across the room to hang sheets and curtains to make rooms for some privacy. Yang and Ruby shared a room, inside was a pair of bunk beds they had scavenged from a nearby store. Almost everyone had gotten their beds from there.
"Do you think blake will be okay?" Ruby whispered.
"I hope so, get some sleep Rubes" Yang replied.
Lying there, waiting for sleep to take her, she looked out of the big circular window above the main entrance at the moon. Yang couldn't get Blake out of her mind.
He better not hurt her. Yang thought.