Simple Things, Honest Souls

by HopeOfMorning910

Though cruelty stole Ruby's voice, it couldn't crush the light in her soul. When she finds the Schnee heiress in need of rescue, what else could she do but help? Little does she know that her actions would spark a chain of events that would take her and her sister on the adventure of a lifetime. It won't be easy, but together they can overcome anything. (Medieval AU, Faunus Ruby)

12. Chapter 12 - Visiting Treline

EDITED 1/18/2020

Word Count: 15,787

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Chapter 12 — Visiting Treline

Weiss cracked open her eyes briefly before snuggling back into her blankets. The morning air was chill on her face, and she knew the moment she pushed back her blankets, the cold would instantly seep through her sleep clothes and siphon away all her warmth. She couldn't stay in her bedroll forever though, so eventually she heaved a reluctant sigh and sat up. She had finally graduated from needing Yang to wake her every morning, thank Dust. She never truly thought the day would come, but her body had finally acclimated after countless days of travel.

"Morning," Yang said from where she was stirring a pot over the fire. "I set your clothes out over there" —she motioned to the other side of the fire— "they ought to be warm by now." It was a trick the two sisters had taught her as soon as the autumn mornings had turned from cool to cold. Leave whatever you planned to wear for the day by the fire for a few minutes (preferably upwind to lessen the chance that a stray spark would land on them), and they wouldn't be stone cold when you slipped them on.

"Thank you," Weiss said gratefully. She rose and moved to the blissfully warm fireside. Yang turned away, giving her privacy, and she stripped and dressed as quickly as she could. At the beginning of their journey, she would never have dressed out in the open like this, she mused, but now it barely bothered her. Still, it was nice of Yang to make a point of turning away to protect her modesty.

She supposed it should bother her more though, especially now that they had left the forest behind and entered what Yang referred to as "hill country." Rolling hills covered with ankle to knee-high grass and shrubs as far as the eye could see with only the occasional copse or grove of trees to mar the open view. Weiss imagined that it'd be a beautiful sight to behold in the spring and summer months, but right now, many of the plants were turning brown and becoming bare as nature prepared itself for the coming winter.

To be honest, the open view and visible skyline were actually rather disconcerting. Weiss had grown used to being surrounded by trees, so now that she was without them, she felt exposed and vulnerable. The only thing that made her feel safer was knowing that Ruby would hear anyone coming and warn them long before any encounters.

"I'm done," she called out as she bundled up her sleep clothes and packed them away in her bedroll. When she had finished securing her bedroll to her knapsack and turned back to the fire, she saw a steaming cup of tea waiting for her. Murmuring another word of thanks to Yang who nodded in response, she cupped her hands around the mug, blew on it gently to cool it, and took few careful sips. She closed her eyes in appreciation as the hot beverage started warming her from the inside out.

It was only then that she took the time to fully survey their campsite. Her eyes fell upon a messy pile of bedding. Ruby's. She frowned.

"Where's Ruby?" she asked.

Yang glanced up and followed her eyes to Ruby's abandoned bedroll before looking back down. "Probably taking a walk. I don't think she slept well last night," she replied softly as if trying not to be overheard.

"What do you mean?" Weiss asked, instinctively using the same soft tone.

"Ruby's pretty neat and tidy, right?"

Well now that she mentioned it, yes. Most of the time, anyways.

Yang gestured to Ruby's bedroll. "She left it out. If she had slept well and simply woke up before us, she would have put it away herself. The only times she doesn't is if she either wakes up early enough that she doesn't want to risk making too much noise putting it away and accidentally waking us up, or if she got up in the middle of the night, planning to return, but doesn't for some reason."

Oh. Weiss felt a pang of guilt, vividly remembering the time when her mind immediately thought the worst and believed that Ruby's messy bedroll was a reflection of the girl's character.

Yang's words from a week ago suddenly came to mind.

"Ruby's not really good with people...they can stress her out to the point where her health suffers."

A bout of anxiousness ran through her. Had she said or done something to make the girl uncomfortable again?

"Is it my fault?" The words were on her lips before she even realized it.

Yang looked up, took in her expression, and shook her head. "No, it's not you. You're fine."

"But—"

It was hard for Weiss to believe Yang's words. She had been trying to do better, truly, but sometimes Ruby caused Weiss to lose her patience. The girl had just spent the better part of a week bedridden and wracked with pain! Surely, she would settle down and take it easy for a while—at least until her Aura finished replenishing itself—but no; instead, the girl was up on her feet and moving around as soon as she was able to, even though it was clear her body was still sore and hurting. The girl had absolutely no sense of self-preservation, and Weiss had snapped at her more than once because of it.

"I mean it. It's not your fault this time. I would have told you straight out if you were doing something wrong, remember?"

Weiss digested that.

It was true that Yang had been taking their new rule, "Talk to each other," very seriously. Before she had never outright ignored Weiss, but unless Weiss asked a specific question, she and Yang had been like ships in the night, only exchanging greetings and sharing immediate information like when they would be taking a break on the trail or where they would be stopping for the night, especially after Yang had lost her temper with Weiss. Now, they actually had conversations. And now that Weiss knew that Ruby was a Faunus, Yang had opened up more about what it was like for the sisters growing up in Patch. Weiss, in turn, shared a little bit of her own childhood as well.

To be honest, Weiss was still struggling with being so openly honest, but when she realized that Ruby stopped being so fidgety whenever Weiss shared something new with the sisters, she made an effort to push past her discomfort. Ruby needed to stop moving around so much and rest, so if listening to Weiss caused her to sit still for even a few more moments, that was a victory in Weiss's book.

Yang was having similar frustrations with her little sister and had more than once threatened to sit on the girl. She had even put a ban in place. No hunting, no running, and no scouting until Yang said she could—a pronouncement that had been met with a pair of pathetically drooping lupine ears and silver eyes so horrified that Weiss was forced to look away. Privately, Yang admitted to Weiss that Ruby was probably fine by now, but since the girl was finally eating again, Yang wanted her to regain some weight before returning to her usual waist tapering activities, a plan that Weiss supported wholeheartedly. Ruby was far too thin considering how active she always was—something that had become abundantly clear the one time Weiss had seen the girl unclothed—and after her talk with Yang, Weiss could only assume that the girl's weight loss was at least partially her fault. Ruby needed to eat more and regularly if she was ever going to regain whatever weight she lost, and Weiss was determined to assist in any way possible. If that meant opening up a bit more and sharing stories about her childhood to keep Ruby sitting still, then so be it.

Even so…

"You promise?" Weiss found herself asking. "That you'd tell me if I was being too harsh?"

Yang quirked up an eyebrow. "You honestly think I'd let you pick on my little sister again? Trust me. You say one thing out of line, and I'll be on you faster than Ruby's Semblance."

Weiss wasn't sure whether to be reassured or scared by the other woman's declaration but decided to go with the former.

Weiss put down her tea and started handing their bowls to Yang who accepted them with a nod of thanks. She watched as Yang dished out their breakfast.

"Why do you suppose she couldn't sleep?" Weiss asked as she accepted the bowl Yang passed her way with a quiet word of thanks.

Yang let out a gusty sigh. "Hard to say for sure, but...it's probably because we're so near town."

Indeed, they were. It had taken three full days for Ruby to be able to move on her own and a few more after that before Yang felt comfortable enough with Ruby's recovery to suggest moving on. Weiss's platform Glyphs had easily gotten them out of the ravine and after a brief discussion, they decided to drop by the nearest town to resupply. Up until now they had been able to stretch their food supplies thanks to Ruby's hunting, fishing, and foraging prowess, but since Yang had put a ban on all those activities, their supplies had been dwindling fast. Yang also hoped to find some second-hand winter gear for all of them. They had arrived some time the previous afternoon but decided to camp out for the night to avoid lodging fees. Today was the day they would actually enter the town.

Weiss hesitated a moment before asking, "So she's anxious about all the people?"

"Probably. Uncle Qrow told me that it might not only be anxiety though. She's a wolf Faunus, right? So her hearing and sense of smell are stronger than ours. She spends so much time alone out in the forest that when she finally heads back to civilization, the hustle and bustle probably overwhelms her senses."

That actually made a lot of sense now that Weiss thought about it. Even she sometimes found the cacophony of the city to be overwhelming at times. How much worse would it be for a Faunus who was used to the quiet of nature?

"Hey, Weiss?"

Weiss looked up from her breakfast to see Yang rubbing the back of her neck.

"Go easy on Ruby today, like, super easy. She might not want to go into town with us, and if that's what she decides, don't push her too hard, alright? Some days she can handle people. Other days she just can't, and pushing her doesn't solve anything. It just makes things worse." Yang gave her a humorless, self-deprecating grin. "I had to learn that the hard way."

Weiss frowned. "Are you proposing that we leave Ruby behind all by herself?"

"If she doesn't feel up to going into town, then yeah. I mean it, Weiss. Don't push her. Please."

That didn't sit well with Weiss at all.

Ever since Weiss had seen Ruby's pale, motionless form after their icy dip in that cursed river, Weiss had had her own share of nightmares where this time, Ruby didn't wake up. Instead, Weiss was forced to watch as the girl's body grew colder and colder until she stopped breathing altogether. Those nights, Weiss woke up in a cold sweat and would only risk going back to sleep after checking to see if Ruby was still breathing. Now, nearly two weeks later, the nightmares had mostly faded—thankfully—but soon they had been replaced by a tugging sense of worry that made Weiss need to know exactly where Ruby was and what she was doing at any given time before she could fully relax. Even now, Weiss found herself looking up, constantly surveying their surroundings in hopes of seeing Ruby returning from wherever she was.

Logically speaking, Weiss knew that Ruby was fully capable of taking care of herself and had been doing so repeatedly since the day they had met. However, after seeing just how young and innocent the girl was beneath her hood—just how small and weak she had looked while curled up in her bedroll, her body wracked with pain those first few days they had spent in the ravine—Weiss felt something akin to responsibility for the girl. Undoubtedly, some of that responsibility was born of guilt, but the rest? She couldn't be one hundred percent certain, but Weiss imagined it was very similar to what Yang must feel for the girl, a true older sibling's concern for a younger one. How else could she explain why Ruby's well-being was suddenly so important to her?

No, Weiss did not want to let Ruby out of her sight, not so soon after her recovery. Maybe in time, Weiss would learn to relax again, but right now she wanted to be able to ascertain Ruby's condition with her own eyes whenever the need struck her.

And yet...Yang was Ruby's older sister, so it stood to reason that she knew Ruby best. If Yang was telling her not to pressure Ruby if she didn't feel like going into town, who was Weiss to gainsay her?

So she said the only thing she could think of that would make her feel even remotely better about all this.

"If she does come with us, is there anything I can do to help to make it less difficult for her?"

Memories of those first few days in the ravine flashed back to her.

Ruby's silver eyes shadowed and dull with pain.

Yang having to carry Ruby over to the latrine so the girl could relieve herself because she didn't have the strength to stand, much less walk.

Yang sitting behind Ruby, propping the small girl's torso up against her own, one arm securely around Ruby's waist and the fingers of her other hand gently carding through her dark tresses to comfort her, as she and Weiss tried to get Ruby conscious enough to drink some warm, honeyed tea or swallow down the concoction of softened, mashed barley thinned with jerky broth that they'd made in an attempt to get some food into her. Weiss had been the one holding the cup of tea or the bowl and spoon because Ruby wasn't strong enough to hold them herself or even sit up on her own, and it went without saying that Yang wouldn't let someone like Weiss hold her precious baby sister so intimately. No, instead Weiss did her best to spoon some food into the girl or get her to take a sip or two of liquid, feeling more and more helpless when Ruby was barely able to manage more than a few mouthfuls at a time.

Weiss never wanted to be that helpless—that useless—in the face of Ruby's suffering ever again. That meant she needed information, and who better to seek it from than Yang?

Yang gave her a searching look. Weiss didn't know what she was looking for, but she must have found it for eventually a slow, half-smile crossed the other woman's face, and she started speaking. Weiss soaked up every word Yang had to offer, hoping that some of them would give her the tools she needed so she could finally give back to the young girl who had helped her so many times up until now. Perhaps this time Weiss would finally be able to return the favor.

---

"Ruby!"

Weiss looked up from where she was drying their breakfast dishes to see Yang striding over to Ruby and wrapping her up in a hug. The noble let out a breath that she didn't know she had been holding, and something inside her unwound just a bit. She had been getting worried.

Then she blinked. Something was off. Ruby was wearing her hood again.

Ever since Weiss had found out Ruby was a Faunus—at Yang's urging—Ruby had been traveling with her hood down and her tail unbound. (Weiss had discovered that the reason she had never seen Ruby's tail was because the girl usually kept the surprisingly flexible appendage curled up and hidden in a net-like harness that hung from the back of her belt.) It was a sight Weiss had grown partial to seeing. It was so different traveling with the girl when her Faunus features were out in the open.

Ruby's lupine ears were constantly swiveling back and forth, perking up when she noticed something of interest and occasionally turning towards Weiss or Yang to listen whenever they said something. It helped break up the monotony of travel for if Weiss got too bored of placing one foot in front of the other, she could always look up and try to puzzle out what had caught Ruby's attention this time. She would be disappointed when the girl returned to her scouting activities, and Weiss went back to only seeing her when they made camp.

Weiss watched as Yang said, "We saved some breakfast for you," and her eyes narrowed when she saw Ruby's shoulders tense ever so slightly. That wasn't a good sign. The girl wandered over to the fire where they had left her bowl and sure enough, she started picking at her food rather than eating it.

Weiss met Yang's eyes with a question. Who should intervene this time? She and Yang had taken to trading off who made sure Ruby ate. Nothing overt, of course. Just a word or two here and there, and if she didn't eat quite enough to satisfy them, they'd try to get her to eat a snack later to make up for it. And lately, she had been doing very well. Today was the first setback she'd had in a while.

Yang gestured with her chin for Weiss to try her luck and then returned to whatever she had been doing before.

Weiss wiped the last bowl dry and left the dishes where they were for Yang to put away. She made her way over to Ruby and sat down near her.

"Good morning, Ruby," she said primly.

She was greeted with a brief tail wag and a wave.

"I didn't see you when I got up this morning."

Ruby signed something slowly, but the only gesture Weiss recognized was the one for "walk."

"You went for a walk?"

Another tail wag and a nod.

"Are there people nearby? You're wearing your hood again."

Weiss's sharp eyes caught Ruby's hesitation before the smaller girl shrugged uncomfortably. The corner of Weiss's mouth turned down. The girl was hiding something—well, trying to anyways.

In truth, the girl was the epitome of an open book. Weiss could hardly believe there was once a time she thought of Ruby as mysterious, of all things. The past week and a half had taught her that Ruby was anything but mysterious. If her shining silver eyes didn't give her thoughts and feelings away, her constantly shifting wolf ears and tail were bound to. Both of her Faunus features were so incredibly expressive.

Perhaps that was why Weiss was so bothered to see Ruby with her hood up again. Ruby was just so open and her emotions so obvious that even the voices whispering in the back of Weiss's mind—the ones that constantly made her doubt herself—quieted. Weiss never had to second-guess her actions or words around Ruby. She never had to worry that the girl was privately criticizing or looking down on her. The girl simply wasn't capable of such things.

Spending time with Ruby after a lifetime of dealing with the two-faced Atlesian nobility was like finally getting a breath of fresh air, and Weiss was loathed to part with it. More than that though, it burned her to know that Atlas was so unsafe for the Faunus that one as harmless and innocent as Ruby felt the need to hide away all the time, and it hurt all the more knowing Weiss's family was a large part of why it had become unsafe. The feeling lodged itself in the pit of her stomach like a heavy rock.

Weiss didn't want Ruby to ever feel that she needed to hide herself around her.

Weiss considered her options briefly before deciding to take a page from Yang's book. She slowly reached out, giving Ruby ample time to react or move away if she chose, and grasped the edge of the girl's hood. "May I?" she asked.

Ruby's shoulders curled inward slightly as she gave this sort of half-shrug.

Weiss pursed her lips and gently pushed back Ruby's hood.

She was met with a pair of drooping wolf ears and silver eyes that wouldn't meet her own. The girl's tail wrapped itself around her leg as though...ashamed? Weiss fought hard to dispel the sudden image of a chastized puppy from her mind. Why would Ruby be feeling ashamed? For taking a walk? For not being able to sleep?

Weiss ran her eyes over the girl again, this time taking in the paleness of her features and the slight shadows beneath her eyes. She looked tired.

But that was something to deal with later. First things first, Ruby needed to eat.

Weiss reached out with a finger and tapped the side of Ruby's bowl with a pointed look. "You don't have to eat all of it, but you need to eat something." She made sure to catch Ruby's eyes as she spoke and held them until Ruby gave a small nod. Weiss's eyes softened. "Good." She turned away and pretended to be occupied by the fire while watching Ruby force down her breakfast from the corner of her eye.

Her mind turned as she considered Ruby's eating problems anew. Perhaps if they had more appetizing meals, the girl could be persuaded to eat more on a regular basis so that when these eating problems arose, they wouldn't affect her as badly. A corner of Weiss's mind immediately started considering how much lien the three of them had and how much of it could be safely used for sugary, strawberry-flavored bribes.

She remembered all too well how excited Ruby had been that night at the cave when Yang brought back some strawberry preserves. Weiss had been somewhere between shocked and appalled at how quickly the girl had seemingly inhaled her slice of bread slathered with strawberry preserves and then proceeded to beg her older sister for another.

Weiss shook her head. Even back then Ruby's puppy-like tendencies had been on full display and at no point did Weiss ever suspect the girl might be a Faunus.

Yang must have been keeping an eye on Ruby as well for the moment the girl gave up on trying to finish everything in her bowl and put it down, Yang was there.

"Hey Weiss, can you go fetch some water to douse the fire?"

Knowing the errand was, in truth, a veiled way for Yang to ask for some privacy so that she could check on her little sister, Weiss did as she was asked. She did her best to ignore the uncomfortable pang she always felt whenever she witnessed just how much the sisters loved each other. By the time she returned with a basin full of water, both sisters were back on their feet, their discussion apparently over. Ruby's hood was back in place and her tail was hidden once again. Did that mean…?

Weiss shot a questioning glance at Yang as the taller woman took the basin from her. Yang gave her a nearly imperceptible nod. Weiss relaxed. Ruby would be coming into town with them. Good.

---

Treline was a medium-sized, relatively prosperous town that was surrounded by protective walls of rammed earth and survived on a combination of trade, agriculture, and sheep herding. It was named for the fact it literally once stood at the "tree line" where the forest ended and the rolling hills began. Of course, the original tree line had receded greatly due to deforestation. The trees had been felled not only to create land for farming and shepherding, but also to use for building materials and firewood. Or at least that was what the elderly owner of the travel goods store said as he chatted with a bright and congenial Yang. Luckily for them, Treline was also well known for its wool and woolen products, meaning they should be able to find some good winter clothing.

Weiss was rather impressed by how effortlessly Yang started up a conversation with the shopkeeper, chatting about everything but what they had come here for. Yang managed to tease out all sorts of useful information—the best affordable eating and drinking establishments, where she could find a good cobbler, the best places to get some second-hand winter clothing, what the local specialities were—and even learned that the shopkeeper had a wife, two sons, a daughter, and a second grandchild already on the way before finally hunkering down to play the haggling game. In the end, Yang walked out with full provisions for all of them at a notably lower price than the shopkeeper had initially asked for.

That was their first stop and conveniently, the shop had been located near the northern gate through which they had entered. Navigation after that ended up being much more difficult.

There were just so many people walking, laughing, talking, shouting, and who knew what else. Weiss assumed it was because everyone was trying to get in and out of the town gates, and the gates were only so wide, causing traffic in the area to get choked up. She had been bumped into and jostled enough that she wanted to scream at the next fumble-toed buffoon who ran into her. What was worse was that she couldn't even try to evade properly because her vision was currently being impaired.

By what?

By the dratted, mud-colored, visually offensive, hooded cloak she'd been forced to wear! Honestly, how did Ruby live her life with this horrid thing on all the time? Weiss had only been wearing it for maybe half an hour at most, and she already wanted to tear it to shreds. She hated how it cut off her peripheral vision, leaving her open to being jostled by clumsy fools simply because she couldn't see them until it was too late. She had only acquiesced to wearing the drabby thing after Yang pointed out how distinctive her Schnee hair and eyes were. That and Yang's other suggestion was for her to dye her hair—a suggestion that left her horrified at best. Wearing Ruby's spare cloak had seemed to be the lesser of two evils. Now she wondered if perhaps she had been a tad too hasty in her decision.

That was when a small hand reached back, gently took her by the wrist, and pulled her forward. Surprised, Weiss looked up only to notice that she had been drawn into a small pocket of empty space. It took her a moment to realize exactly why that space was there. It seemed that Yang's muscular figure was intimidating enough that most people were giving her wide berth as they passed, creating a clear little bubble around her that Ruby knew to take advantage of. Weiss breathed a sigh of relief, fumbled around until she had Ruby's hand in her own instead of around her wrist, and gave that small hand a gentle squeeze of thanks before letting go. There wasn't any point in trying to speak. Weiss could barely hear her own thoughts amidst all these people. Ruby turned just enough to give her a thumbs up, and Weiss could almost picture the girl's tail wagging and her face breaking into one of those grins of hers. It was enough to loosen a bit of the tension that had been building inside her.

Their next stop was to the local cobbler's shop. There, Yang had Weiss trade in her worn shoes for a sturdy pair of winter boots. Even worn, Weiss's shoes were made of high quality materials so they got a very good discount on her newer footwear. Apparently, the boots had been made for a rich merchant's wife who wore them a few times (scuffing them badly) before complaining and forcing the shoemaker to take them back. Unwilling to make no profit on the boots, the shoemaker sold them to the cobbler who mended the scuffed leather as best he could before putting them on display—or at least that was the tale the cobbler told them. Weiss suspected he had embellished the details more than a little. The boots were a little loose, but Yang said that Weiss would be wearing thick woolen socks soon enough and that she'd need the extra room so that her feet weren't constricted.

By then it was nearly midday, so Yang followed her nose to a corner of the market square where there was a variety of food vendors. Yang led them to a corner of the eating area, dropped her pack for Weiss and Ruby to watch, and went off to get some food for the three of them. Weiss watched curiously as Ruby went through their packs and pulled out their travel mugs. When Yang returned, she handed Weiss a basket of food, accepted their travel mugs from Ruby, and walked off again. She soon returned with three full mugs of spiced cider.

"I'll get three copper lien back if we return the basket," Yang said as she passed out the mugs and sat down on one of the upturned crates scattered around the area. Weiss sat down on hers much more gingerly, half afraid the rough hewn wood would leave a splinter somewhere unpleasant. The basket sat on a third crate and Ruby soon came back with a fourth crate for herself.

It was an eye-opening experience for Weiss. She had never had to provide her own mug just to get a drink before. And they had no plates or eating utensils! Thankfully, the basket was full of foods that seemed to be specifically crafted to be eaten by hand: sausage rolls, some sort of flatbread topped with melted cheese and fragrant onions, bite-sized cabbage rolls filled with spiced ground meat, fried potato wedges sprinkled with herbed garlic salt, grilled chicken skewers, and a few other things.

It was all quite fascinating to her. Her father would have probably locked her in her room for at least a month if he ever saw her eating a meal like this, but instead of trepidation, the thought caused the corner of her mouth to twitch with satisfaction as she finished off her sausage roll. For once, he was not here to dictate her every move and action. This was her life to live and experience as she pleased, even if that meant she ended up sitting on an upturned crate and eating food with her fingers. She reached for a slice of flatbread, and her smile widened when she found it was still warm and pleasantly crispy.

All in all, it was a surprisingly good meal—the best any of them had had in over a month. Even Ruby seemed to enjoy it, and she especially enjoyed the apple fritters Yang had kept hidden until the end. Ruby ate hers so fast that when Yang gave her a second one (she had ordered four of the sugary, apple-studded, fried treats), she specifically told her to eat slower. Ruby didn't quite succeed, but Weiss could tell Yang didn't really care. Yang—no, both of them—were just happy to see Ruby eating properly in spite of the rough morning she had.

When they were done, Ruby and Weiss went to go wash up at the fountain in the center of the square while Yang guarded their things. After they returned, they traded places with Yang who went to go return the basket and get cleaned up herself.

Their last stop for the day was the second-hand clothing store. It...surprised her, to say the least.

Shopping in Weiss's previous life meant a meticulously planned out affair that required a horse-drawn carriage, no less than eight guards and a driver, and a high-end merchant with several attendants fawning over her as soon as she arrived at the establishment. She would be offered food and drink as she told the merchant what she was looking for, and the attendants would rush to the back to fetch and carry out a few selections for her to examine. Or perhaps the merchant would be called to the castle to show off his wares, but either way, shopping was an organized event. Deliberate with nothing left to chance.

The second-hand clothing store was nothing like that.

The moment Weiss entered the store, she was met with piles and piles of clothes haphazardly strewn across several long tables, colors and patterns clashing with seemingly no rhyme or reason.

"Ho there, strangers," the owner said as he approached. "Lookin' for something in particular?"

"Ho there," Yang responded. "And yes, winter gear. Got a bit of traveling to do, and it's getting colder every day."

"Aye, that it is." He pointed out where the warmer clothing would be and explained it was all roughly organized according to size and clothing type. Yang gave him a word of thanks and then guided Weiss and Ruby to where the man pointed.

"Take off your pack for a second, Weiss. Gotta see if these fit you." The sharp woman waited until the shopkeeper was out of an earshot before speaking and made sure to keep her voice down. "Weiss" wasn't a common name, and they didn't want to risk garnering the wrong kind of attention.

Once Weiss's pack was off, Yang held a thick woolen shirt up against the back of Weiss's shoulders. "Hmm...a bit too big." She grabbed another and tried again.

Soon enough, Weiss had a set of warm-looking shirts in her arms: two thinner undershirts and four thicker overshirts. The shop owner wordlessly came by and offered Yang a basket to put the shirts in while they continued to browse. She thanked him, took Weiss's things, plopped them in the basket, and turned back to looking for things for Ruby.

"Go ahead and look around," Yang said to Weiss as she held a shirt up to Ruby's back. You're going to need a winter coat, gloves, and maybe a scarf if you get cold easily. You'll need some woolen leggings and socks, too. Maybe three pairs of leggings and four pairs of socks?"

And so she went.

It bothered Weiss a bit to know all these things had been used at one time by some stranger, but Yang had explained to her that "normal people," as she put it, were extremely lucky if they could afford a single new outfit a year. New clothes, as Weiss defined them—that is, non-homespun, tailored garments made with high-quality materials—were only for people who could afford them, like merchants or nobles. The rest of the populace made their own clothes or made do with second-hand items, altering, patching, and resewing them as needed.

It took some time, but eventually Weiss found enough garments to suit her needs. She even found a warm winter coat that came in a non-objectionable grey, and a pair of fur-lined gloves that made her body warm the moment she slipped them on.

She glanced back to see Ruby helping Yang find clothes for her much larger frame. It looked like it might take them a while longer to get everything settled so she continued to browse, gradually working her way from the bandanas and scarves to the cloaks and shawls.

That was when she caught sight of a single vibrant color mixed among the dull browns, blacks, and greys. She reached into the messy pile and unearthed a brilliant crimson cloak of surprisingly good quality. The fabric was thick, sturdy, and double-layered, meaning it would be quite warm. Its seams were neat and held together well when Weiss tugged experimentally on them. It was a little dirty, but that was nothing a thorough washing couldn't fix. In fact, the only problem Weiss saw with it was that the bottom hem was a bit frayed.

It would suit Ruby well. The thought surprised her, but only for a moment. And it would certainly be better than the weathered old thing she wears now, and...I owe her for saving my life.

The problem was the cost. They weren't poor but nor were they in a good position to allow any extraneous expenditures. Their funds had to last—at least until they got out of Atlas and out of reach of her father's influence. Once out of Atlas, Weiss wouldn't have to worry as much about being recognized, and if need be, they could take on side jobs to procure extra funds as they made their way to Vytal's capital.

However, now that she had seen the cloak, she was highly reluctant to just leave it be. It was perfect for Ruby and would match her red-tipped hair quite nicely. It even had a hood!

Weiss held the cloak up to check its length and saw it fell to the middle of her calf. Perfect. Ruby was handy with a needle and thread. Even if they trimmed off the entire frayed bottom edge and Ruby resewed the hem, it would still fall to a suitable length on her smaller frame.

Weiss was so focused on the cloak and her own thoughts that she jumped when Yang suddenly said, "You stare at that any harder, and you're gonna burn a hole through it." Yang looked at the cloak in Weiss's hands. "Did you want to buy that?"

Weiss had to take a few deep breaths to still her rapidly beating heart, but eventually she said quietly, "Not for myself. I thought...well...maybe it would look good on Ruby." Weiss turned pink when Yang's brow shot up. "But I know we can't really afford to waste funds right now, and she doesn't really need it since she already has one. I just...thought it would look nice on her, that's all." She was about to put it back when Yang stopped her.

"Go ahead and add it to our stuff," Yang said. Weiss stared at her in shock. Yang rolled her eyes. "I mean it. It's fine. We've already saved quite a bit of money by relying on Ruby's hunting and foraging skills all this time. And I'm pretty good at haggling. I'll be able to talk Mr. Shopkeeper over there down to a reasonable price. Trust me."

She did, but still, Yang's sudden willingness to spend money struck her as odd. Hadn't they passed by all those other villages because she didn't want them wasting money when they didn't have to?

"Aren't we supposed to come to a full agreement when it comes to spending team funds?" Weiss said at last.

"Eh—," Yang said with a shrug, "majority rules. Besides, Ruby's not gonna mind, not this time."

Weiss eyed her suspiciously. "What do you mean by that?"

"I'll tell you later. Here, give me that and go distract Ruby while I get these things paid for. Oh, and leave your packs with me. I might need to trade in some of our old things to get a better price. There're a few other shops up and down this street. Get Ruby to take you exploring. I'll catch up as soon as I'm done here."

To Weiss's surprise, Yang didn't take long at all. She and Ruby had walked perhaps halfway down the street and poked their heads into about three shops before they stepped outside again and heard Yang calling Ruby's name. They turned to see Yang with their three packs sitting at her feet and their winter coats slung over her forearm.

Once they reached her and reclaimed their packs, Yang passed out their coats. She took a moment to show Weiss how to tie the heavy piece of outerwear to the outside of her pack so that she didn't have to carry it in her arms as she walked.

Then she gestured for Weiss and Ruby to follow her and led them into a quiet alley. When she turned back to them, she had a wide grin on her face that instantly put Weiss on guard, especially after Yang shot a wink at her.

"So Ruby," Yang said as she turned to her little sister, "Weiss got you a little something special while we were shopping."

Weiss could feel her face heating up as Ruby looked at her and tilted her head questioningly.

Yang continued, heedless of Weiss's attempt to glare a hole through the side of her head, "Check your pack. Oh! But before that..." She reached out and pushed Ruby's hood back. "Alright, now go check your pack."

With another questioning head tilt, this time accompanied by those remarkably expressive lupine ears of hers, Ruby swung off her knapsack and as soon as she started lifting the flap, Weiss saw a flash of red. A moment later, the smaller girl was standing with the crimson cloak hanging from her outstretched hands. Her eyes were wide, and her mouth was open in a surprised little "o" shape.

Weiss unconsciously started tensing up. Did Ruby not like it? It was the dirt. It had to be the dirt. And maybe the frayed bottom. Weiss wasn't skilled enough with a needle and thread to fix the frayed edges, but she had at least planned to give the garment a good wash before presenting it to the girl. Why did Yang have to always have to jump ahead and bulldoze through everything? Normal people planned. They looked at their options, considered the possible outcomes, and then chose the one that led to the best case scenario, didn't they? So why couldn't Yang let her do so just this one time?

Weiss didn't know where else her racing thoughts might have led her because suddenly, Ruby was hugging her tightly, filling her nose with the scent of roses, and catching her so incredibly off-guard that she could only stand there stiffly until she was released. She looked down to see the widest grin she'd ever seen on another person's face and a pair of shining silver eyes. Ruby seemed to be unable to contain her excitement for she was practically bouncing in place and even spun around in a giddy circle once. Or twice. Make that three times. After the third time, Yang walked over and placed a large hand on her little sister's head, most likely to prevent the girl from doing it again and getting dizzy.

So...she liked it. Ruby liked it. Weiss couldn't help but let out a little sigh of relief.

"Don't forget to say 'thank you,'" Yang was saying to Ruby.

Ruby turned to Weiss and gestured 'thank you' at least three times, still with that amazingly bright grin on her face. Seeing Ruby so unabashedly happy soothed something in Weiss. She didn't know what, but her shoulders loosened all the same.

When Ruby finally ducked away to return her new cloak to her knapsack (with great reluctance, it seemed, but they needed to wash all their new things thoroughly before wearing them), Yang bent down near Weiss's ear and said, "Don't forget to say 'Happy Birthday' to her later."

Weiss's head shot up. "It's her birthday?"

"Yep. She was born during the Harvest Festival. Didn't you see all the carved turnips and gourds in people's windows and lining the streets?"

Well, now that Yang mentioned it, she had. She just hadn't put much thought into them. They were just a silly superstition. There was no way a carved vegetable would have the power to ward away evil spirits—assuming evil spirits even existed—and there was no way they would be able to ward away Grimm. It was far more likely that the prospect of good food and celebration that accompanied the Harvest Festival masked or banished negative emotions for a time, and that was what kept the Grimm away.

"Why didn't you mention that earlier?" Weiss demanded.

"Because," Yang said in that soft way of hers that meant she was being serious for once, "the gift meant more coming from you before you knew it was her birthday."

"I...don't understand."

Yang shrugged. "You don't have to. Just trust me when I say it makes a difference."

Weiss frowned at that and was about to question her further, but Yang chose that moment to step away. She ruffled Ruby's hair once before helping the girl put her hood back on. Yang then started leading them back out of the alley, leaving Weiss no choice but to follow.

---

Sometimes Ruby saw her life as a continually filling bucket with a faulty valve at the bottom, much like one of the ones on the bottom of a wine barrel or beer keg.

As each day passed, the bucket filled with that day's experiences, thoughts, and feelings; and the things she managed to fully process or didn't need to worry about trickled out through the valve at the bottom. Most days were like that. She went through life, filled her bucket, and let things trickle out so that she didn't get overwhelmed. Other days though, maybe the valve got stuck and she couldn't open it properly, or perhaps the sheer volume of what entered the bucket was far greater than what could pour out the bottom even if the valve was open. Those were the days Ruby started to falter, and she struggled to hold her bucket steady as it got heavier and heavier. Sometimes she was lucky, and the flow stopped long enough for her to pry the valve back open. Other times, Yang or Uncle Qrow were around to help her steady the bucket just long enough to rearrange her grip so she could keep going. Once in a while, however, the bucket grew too heavy. Its handle would dig into her fingers and no matter how hard she tried to hold onto it, it inevitably slipped from her weakening, aching grip, and it would splatter on the ground. Those were the really bad days.

Today was one of those not great days. The prospect of going into town and dealing with other people for the first time in a while left a tight feeling in her gut and kept her up for most of the night. At some point, Ruby gave up on sleep and took a long walk in hopes that it would tire her out enough to simply pass out when she returned to her bedroll. It didn't really work though, not when she could hear the thrum of civilization so close by. Yang and Weiss might not be able to hear the town from this far away, but Ruby could, and if the wind blew just right, she could even smell it—a nose-wrinkling hodgepodge of unwashed bodies, miscellaneous livestock, cooked (and sometimes burned) food, raw sewage, smoke, and a plethora of other things Ruby couldn't quite name right off the top of her head. The smells and distant sounds only served as a reminder of what was to come: a foray into the unknown with strangers around every corner. An expedition into the organized chaos that people called civilization. A never-ending struggle not to turn tail and run from all the sounds, smells, stress, and anxiety that pressed in on her from all sides.

Dealing with people always set her off like that. Every time she even considered encountering a stranger, much less a whole town of them, a part of her mind immediately went into fight-or-flight mode. All of her senses went on full alert, her stress levels shot up, tension ramped itself through every muscle and nerve, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't relax. It was scary. It was exhausting. And most of all, it was just so discouraging knowing that no one else she knew seemed to have as much trouble as she did. In her head, she knew that most people weren't bad—that they weren't going to hurt her—but the rest of her never seemed to agree.

Yet in spite of it all, when Yang asked her if she was going to go into town with them, Ruby told her she would. Because if she didn't, Yang wouldn't get to do what she always wanted to do whenever they reached a new town; she wouldn't be able to ask around and find information on her birth mother. Ruby knew she wouldn't because Yang always put her responsibilities first and herself last. In this case, that meant she would stay with Weiss no matter how much she might want to go off on her own for a little while and search for answers. That is, unless Ruby was there to stay with Weiss.

Ruby might not like going into town, but that didn't mean she couldn't do it. All Ruby had to do was convince Yang that she'd be fine even if Yang left to do something else for a little while. Yang always worked so hard and did so much for Ruby, so if enduring the discomfort of society for a little bit was the only way she could pay her back, then so be it.

Still, that didn't mean she was going to like it.

Ruby's wolf ears folded down as she watched Yang make her way through the throng of people, leaving her and Weiss behind. Their shopping now completed and their midday meal shared, there was no reason for Yang to stick around if she had other things she wanted to take care of. It had taken a bit of effort on Ruby's part, but eventually she managed to convince Yang that she and Weiss would be fine on their own for a few hours.

However, she could already feel the absence of Yang's warm, comforting, and protective presence. It was like a fire had suddenly gone out, and a chill had crept in its place, leaving Ruby feeling more than a little bereft and lost. But she couldn't focus on that right now. She had to be a proper guide and take care of Weiss.

Ruby gave herself a shake and turned to her companion. She waved to get Weiss's attention and signed, Do you want to walk around? That's what people did when they visited towns and cities, right? They looked around and if they had money, they bought stuff to take home. She and Weiss couldn't really buy anything—their packs were already pretty much stuffed to the brim—but they could still look, right?

There was a pause before Weiss asked, "Are you asking me if I want to take a walk?"

Ruby nodded.

Another pause. "Very well, then. Lead the way."

And so Ruby did.

It was kind of nice walking around with Weiss. The noble didn't say much, but then again, she didn't need to since Ruby was equally as quiet, for obvious reasons. They wandered the main streets, popping into whatever shop looked interesting. Ruby's favorite places were the glass artisan's shop and the bakery. She loved how pretty all the glass pieces were, and bakeries always smelled so good.

Weiss must have gotten hungry again for while they were at the bakery, Weiss used a little of the spending money Yang gave them and bought some mini-egg custard pies to eat as they walked around. They were almost as good as the apple fritters they'd had during their midday meal! Almost. Eggy custards were good, but they'd never be as good as something that had fruit in it. Weiss's eyes must have been bigger than her stomach though, for she ate the first one and had Ruby eat the remaining two. Not that Ruby minded. She loved sweet things.

Unfortunately, things started going downhill after that.

As soon as it hit evening and store owners started stepping outside to light their storefront lanterns, the crowds increased twofold. It was the week of the Harvest Festival and that meant three or four nights of celebration, depending on local traditions. In Patch, the first night was always dedicated to welcoming back the souls and spirits of one's loved ones with small offerings of their favorite foods while also carving turnips and gourds to ward away the less friendly spirits. The second and third nights were dedicated to feasting, drinking, having fun late into the night, and giving thanks for a good harvest. The last night was a solemn affair, for that was when any visiting spirits, friendly or unfriendly, returned whence they came. Families lit a candle for every departed loved one to guide their spirits home one last time and blew them out before turning in for the night. Blowing out the candle signaled to one's departed loved ones that everyone was home safe and sound and that the visiting souls could return to the other realm without worrying about the living. The final night also marked the official end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.

Ruby, Yang, and Weiss must have arrived on either the second or third night, because the streets started getting more and more crowded as people closed up shop or returned from outside the town to join the festivities. Taverns, restaurants, and eateries opened their doors wide. Music could be heard leaking out of various establishments. Shouts, yells, and laughter could be heard from the town square where there were sure to be contests, dancing, games, and food and drink vendors.

It was all too much.

Ruby didn't know when she had stopped walking. Maybe it was after that last tipsy man bumped into her, the alcohol on his breath making her pulse race uncomfortably. Maybe it was after that lady screeched with laughter out of nowhere, causing her to jump and her breathing to grow unsteady. Maybe it was after that loud, ear-piercing clatter followed by a man's angry cursing as he accidentally dropped whatever he had been holding.

All she knew was that suddenly, every sound was too loud, every smell too strong, every human body too close. She was drowning. Suffocating. She couldn't seem to get enough air. She was sweating and feeling lightheaded. Her heartbeat stuttered even as it threatened to pound its way out of her chest, and it hurt.

Distantly, she thought she heard someone call her name. They were saying something. Asking something. Ruby might have tried to respond, but she wasn't sure. Someone took her by the hand and started pulling her along. At first, her panic spiked. Who had her? Where were they taking her? But then a slight breeze blew towards her face and she knew.

Weiss.

Ruby lost outside awareness after that. Her body was too busy screaming at her, telling her that she was only moments away from dying, that her heart was going to explode from beating so hard.

It felt like an eternity passed before she was aware of someone standing in front of her, holding her hands. Faintly, she noticed her knapsack was gone. Weiss must have removed it as well as her own.

"—uby? Breathe with me. You're safe. I promise you're safe. Breathe. One, two—"

Ruby tried. She breathed in and out, pushing away everything but the soft but firm voice that was telling her she was alright. That she was safe.

She sounds like Yang, Ruby realized, and making that connection helped even more. Yang might not be here in person, but she was still here. Ruby didn't know how long Weiss stood there with her, talking to her, rubbing soothing circles along the back of her knuckles, but Weiss never left her.

At last, after one final tremulous breath, all of her tension fell away, and Ruby felt like a puppet whose strings had been cut. Exhaustion washed over her. She must have wobbled or something, because suddenly Weiss was there, holding her steady by the elbow.

A silent sob rose to the back of Ruby's throat. She really, really wanted a hug right now. She wanted Yang. She wanted someone to wrap her up in their arms and let her know that everything was going to be alright. She wanted to know that Weiss wouldn't hate her for being so weak and broken that she couldn't even handle a handful of people who meant her no harm.

"Ruby?"

Ruby choked back the urge to cry and reached out blindly to give Weiss's hand a squeeze. I hear you. I heard you. She was still too frazzled to be able to offer more than that. Her hands were shaking so badly.

Weiss squeezed back gently. "Is there anything you need? Do you need to go somewhere else? Should I go find Yang? Or—"

That did it. Weiss's concern, as halting and unsure as it sounded, undid the final chains that kept Ruby frozen. She turned and before she could second-guess herself, Ruby leaned into Weiss's shoulder and pressed her forehead against the noble's neck, feeling the thrum of the noble's pulse and the warmth of her skin against her own. Ruby's hands clutched at the sides of Weiss's shirt. She really wanted to give Weiss a full-on hug—to sink into the warmth of another person for a little while and forget everything else—but remembered at the very last second that Weiss wasn't Yang. She might not want Ruby clutching at her like that. In fact, Ruby was quite sure Weiss didn't like being touched or hugged, but even this much helped.

With her face so close to Weiss's neck, Ruby couldn't help but breathe in that scent that was uniquely Weiss's. It brought back hazy, pain-wreathed memories of when they were still in the ravine after she and Weiss had fallen into the river.

After that first day in the ravine, the effects of Aura-depletion had hit Ruby hard. She had been barely cognizant of anything but the brutal agony that seemed intent on crushing every nerve in her body. It was her Aura's way of telling her in no uncertain terms that her soul was in danger. The pain was so bad that she couldn't sleep; she couldn't even hear or see properly. The pain was just too distracting.

However, one of her senses still managed to make its way through the pain: smell. Ruby might not have been able to see Yang and Weiss or make out their hushed conversations, but she scented them often. Yang smelled like the sun, warm and full of life, while Weiss smelled lighter and airy, like the world after a snowstorm. Every so often she would scent one of them nearby and maybe even see a fuzzy blur sit down next to her. It was comforting. Even though she was stuck in her bedroll, weak and helpless, she knew she was safe as long as she was still able to scent them.

It was during that short week of recovery that Weiss's existence had subtly shifted in Ruby's mind. She was still someone Ruby needed to look out for and protect, but she also became someone whose presence brought a measure of comfort to her. Weiss wasn't quite family like Yang, not yet, but she was no longer a stranger or someone Ruby needed to fear. Pack, a voice whispered softly in the back of her mind. Yes, that sounded right. Pack. Not necessarily family, but they lived and hunted together all the same.

Ruby took another deep breath, letting Weiss's airy, snowy scent fill her lungs. She wasn't alone. Weiss was here. Weiss was someone who had watched over her when she had been vulnerable. Ruby was safe with her.

Weiss had stiffened the moment Ruby had pressed herself against her—reinforcing Ruby's belief that Weiss didn't like being touched—but the noble didn't move away. Instead, to Ruby's faint surprise, Weiss eventually brought her arms up and laid her hands loosely on Ruby's shoulders. After another moment, one of Weiss's hands moved to rest against Ruby's spine and then slowly started to rub her back in small circular motions. The movement was awkward and hesitant as if the noble hadn't received enough backrubs of comfort in her life to know the mechanics of offering one herself, but it was enough. It told Ruby that although Weiss might not like being this close to her, she would allow it, if only just this once.

Ruby released the death-grip she had on Weiss's shirt and wrapped her arms all the way around the noble's slim waist. That felt better. If Weiss was letting Ruby hug her, then the noble couldn't possibly hate her for being so pathetic. Things were going to be alright. Ruby let out one more shuddering breath and finally relaxed fully into Weiss's hold, letting the noble's heartbeat, scent, and warmth lull her back into a semblance of calm.

---

Yang weaved her way through the crowd of chattering, drinking customers, trying to reach the corner of the bar. She sat down at the only open seat, stuffing her knapsack down on the floor between her knees to keep it out of the way. The man next to her laughed loudly at something his companion said, and his tankard hit the counter with a dull thud.

This town was a bust. Yang had dropped by every tavern, bar, and inn to see if anyone had heard of a woman named Raven or recognized a description of her to no avail. Maybe Uncle Qrow was right. Wherever she was, she wasn't in Atlas and hadn't been in years. Sometimes Yang wondered why she even bothered anymore.

"Ho there, stranger. Can I getcha anything?" the barkeeper asked over the din when he caught her eye. The Harvest Festival meant that even people who didn't usually frequent bars and taverns were out having a bit of fun, and it was loud.

"Something that actually tastes good? The last place served me some ale that was so bitter I swear I lost some of my curls," Yang said as she ran a hand through her thick, wavy locks as if to illustrate her point. She wasn't actually here to drink, but it'd look strange for her to sit at the bar without ordering anything. Plus, the barkeeper might be more willing to chat if she was a paying customer.

The barkeeper raised an eyebrow. "You must have gone to the Sheep's Head then. They serve pig swill even on the best of days. Not really the kind of place a woman like yourself ought to be visiting." The man looked to be in his middle to late thirties with fading brown hair and muscles that spoke of years of lifting and hauling around wine, ale, and beer kegs. He turned, fetched a wooden tankard, and filled it partway. "Here. Treline's finest summer mead."

Yang accepted the drink with a word of thanks and brought the tankard to her lips. She could smell the honey in the brew and took a moment to savor it before taking a sip. She couldn't help but smile as the flavors washed over her tongue. If Ruby ever got over her aversion to alcohol, Yang was sure she'd like this. The mead was sweet but not too heavy. Its alcohol content was on the high side though. Yang would have to pace herself lest she ended up more than a little tipsy.

"That's good stuff," she said to the barkeeper with a broad grin.

The man smiled back. "O' course it is. Treline makes some mighty fine honey though we're mostly known for our wool."

"Do you get a lot of travelers down this way?"

"More than most places, but not as much as others. Why?"

Yang took another sip of her drink. "I'm looking for someone. A woman. I've been told she resembles me, but with black hair and crimson eyes. Goes by the name of Raven." She tried to sound offhand about it, but judging by the look in the bartender's eyes, she wasn't sure how well she succeeded.

"Can't say I have. She family?" Nope, she hadn't succeeded at all. She must have more alcohol floating around in her system than she thought. Then again, this was probably her eighth stop tonight, and this mead was pretty strong.

"Something like that," was all Yang said in reply. She tossed a handful of copper lien on the counter. The barkeeper swept up the coins with a nod of thanks and was soon called away by another customer.

Yang took a moment to survey the room. This was one of the better bars she had visited tonight, though it was packed full just like the rest of them. It was called...The Oakbarrel?—or something like that. The place was reasonably clean, and its patrons were on the respectable side of society.

A coil of worry shifted in the pit of her stomach as it always did when Ruby was out of sight. Ruby had been insistent that she and Weiss would be fine, but Yang still worried. But at least Ruby wasn't alone. Weiss was with her, and Yang was slowly learning that maybe there was more to Weiss than the stuck-up, entitled noble she'd seen thus far.

Watching Weiss as she hovered over Ruby's weakened form back at the ravine had been like staring into a mirror. Yang knew what she always felt whenever Ruby was hurt or bedridden. Worry. Guilt. Sorrow. Frustration. Self-recrimination for not being there to protect her. And to Yang's great surprise, she saw many of the same emotions pass through Weiss's usually dispassionate, icy blue eyes as they both watched over Ruby. It was that obvious show of emotion that made Yang relent at the time and allow Weiss to help her care for her precious baby sister.

Admittedly, it was one of the hardest things Yang had ever done. Yang had to tap down hard on the part of her that always went into protective overdrive whenever Ruby was sick, sad, or hurt—the one that demanded that she keep everyone away from Ruby until she was better—not because Yang really believed that they would harm her, more because she just didn't trust anyone else enough to let them near her when she was vulnerable. But Weiss was so clearly worried about Ruby that Yang didn't have the heart to push her away. She knew best how bad it felt to see someone suffering and not be able to do anything to help. So in the end, Yang forced back her typical knee-jerk reaction to keep Weiss away from Ruby until the latter had recovered, and let the noble help care for her, albeit only in little ways.

And Weiss surprised her by rising to the challenge every single time. Honestly, it had been odd to see how uncharacteristically subdued the noble had become those first few days. Thankfully though, Weiss's strange mood didn't last long. As soon as Ruby started getting restless from inactivity and started testing the limits of both Yang and Weiss's patience, Weiss's fire returned as though it had never been gone in the first place. The only difference was that this fire was determined to make sure Ruby took care of herself and returned to full health, something Yang could get behind wholeheartedly.

Granted, Yang had a bit of an internal struggle the first time Weiss raised her voice at Ruby when Ruby got up even though she was still supposed to be resting, but when it became apparent that the noble was only worried and Ruby understood that Weiss was only worried, she breathed easier. She didn't like seeing Weiss snap at her little sister, but if Ruby was taking it in stride, maybe things were alright. Maybe Yang didn't need to get involved again just yet.

Today was a test to see how well Ruby and Weiss managed without Yang around—a test that Yang wasn't sure she would have risked if Weiss hadn't picked up that red cloak for Ruby. If Yang hadn't seen with her own eyes Weiss doing something utterly selfless for once. For the first time ever, the noble had thought of someone other than herself. Better yet, the person she was putting before herself was Ruby. Yang didn't have it in her to dislike anyone who looked after Ruby. Still, only time would tell if Weiss would stay her current course or revert to who she had been during the first half of their journey. She hoped for the former though. She was actually starting to like who Weiss was when she wasn't acting all noble-y.

Yang trained her eyes around the room again, taking note of who might be trouble and anyone who was more than a little tipsy. It was a habit that Uncle Qrow had drilled into her after he found out she was visiting the seedier areas of town to find information on Raven. He couldn't stop her so he decided to give her the tools to protect herself.

"If you're reacting to trouble, you're already too late and the next thing you know, you might find a knife between your ribs before you can get your Aura up. I'm not saying be paranoid, but pay attention to your surroundings. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. Always err on the side of caution, Firecracker. It might save your life one day."

Yang was pretty sure that wasn't one the of lessons Ruby got. Ruby was horrible at reading people. Her instincts were sound—Ruby could usually tell if something was not quite right—but that didn't mean she would think to do anything about it. Ruby was always willing to give people the benefit of the doubt and tried to look for the best in everyone. Sometimes she was right—Weiss was a good example of that. There was clearly far more to her than Yang had thought and if Ruby hadn't been so accepting of Weiss, Yang might never have given the noble a second glance. Even so, Yang sometimes worried that one day some smiling lowlife might try to take advantage of her little sister's good nature, and Ruby would get hurt. Yang would do anything to prevent that from happening.

When Yang brought her tankard up to her lips again, she inadvertently met the eyes of a tawny-haired woman who had been having a discussion with a rather large group of people a few tables over. Yang's eyebrow rose when the woman suddenly smiled and made her way over to her. The woman wore a sensible brown skirt and an olive green blouse, and she looked to be a few years older than Yang.

"Greetings, stranger. I don't think I've seen anyone quite like you 'round these parts."

Yang ducked her head in greeting. "I'm just passing through. Heard it was the Harvest Festival and decided to have some fun."

The woman nodded, "And fun is important to living a fulfilling life. I noticed you watching our discussion. Have any interest in joining our cause?"

"I'd have to know what your cause is to be interested in it. Didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I was just watching the room, you know—people watching. Seeing what kinda people make up this town and all that."

"Ah, a worthy pastime when enjoying a good drink. No worries; I've done the same myself many a time. May I?" The woman gestured to the seat that had just opened up beside Yang.

Yang hesitated for the briefest instant before giving her a nod. She had to meet up with Ruby and Weiss soon, but she could stand to stay a few minutes longer. She had to admit she was curious to know what the meeting was about. They clearly weren't here for the drinking. Most of the members had drunk sparingly at best, so something else must have brought them together.

"My comrades and I were having a send off meeting. As soon as the Harvest Festival ends, we'll be venturing out to as many towns as we can reach before the snows hit so we can share our teachings."

"Teachings?"

"Aye. We're believers of the Pure Soul. I don't suppose you've heard of us?"

Yang shook her head slowly. "Can't say that I have."

The woman nodded. "Understandable. We've only just started gaining a following." Her tone shifted to one that reminded Yang of when the Elders in Patch told teaching stories back when she was a kid. "Haven't you ever wondered why the Grimm exist? Why they only prey on humans and Faunus?"

Yang's brow furrowed. "The Grimm are drawn to strong negative emotions and while animals might feel sadness and fear, most of them don't feel them as strongly as humans and Faunus do."

The woman shook her head. "That's what the Huntsman schools teach, but it's all a lie. The Grimm are our punishment for desecrating the gift the gods gave us." When she saw Yang didn't quite follow, she added, "The gift of the soul. Our souls are sacred and meant to stay within us, but then some foolish humans and Faunus decided to take that gift and turn it into a power of destruction."

"Wait a minute, that's backwards. Humans and Faunus had to learn to unlock the power of their souls to survive against the Grimm. If they hadn't, all of us would have been wiped out by now."

"Are you sure? None of us were here back then. Who's to say some Aura user didn't twist the truth? How else do you think the Huntsmen and Huntresses rose to the top of society as they did? Because they painted themselves as heroes to keep the rest of Remnant under their thumb.

"I'm sure you've seen how corrupt the Huntsmen are. Some of them won't lift a finger to help others unless they get paid first. The worst of them get paid and then attempt to extort even more money, promising extra protection to only those who can afford it. Others act like they're entitled to free food and lodging wherever they go because they're the so-called 'heroes' of humanity.

"Aura users are the true blight on society. It is because they defiled their gift—their souls—that the gods grew angry at humanity's arrogance and sent the Grimm to punish us. Only when all the Aura users have repented will the Grimm leave Remnant for good."

Yang just stared at the woman in disbelief as she fervently shared her beliefs. Did she seriously believe all that?

"You've got to be joking," Yang said at last. "There are plenty of good Aura users out there who use their powers to protect others, regardless of how much or if they even get paid."

The woman was already shaking her head. "No matter how 'good' an Aura user seems, the truth still stands. Aura users are people who sold their very souls for power. They're abominations."

"So what—you want to wipe out anyone who has an Aura? Because I can tell you right now, that's never going to happen."

"There's no need to go that far. As long as they repent and turn their abilities to our cause to show their sincerity, I'm sure the gods would look upon them favorably and forgive them when the time comes."

That didn't even…

First she was saying Aura users were abominations and the next second she was saying she was more than willing to exploit their abilities to further her own agenda?

How…? What…?

Yang closed her eyes and rubbed her temple as her head started to hurt. This was what her curiosity got her. Next time she would make sure to leave well enough alone.

Luckily, Yang was saved from having to respond by the barkeeper.

The man stepped over with a scowl. "Winnie, how many times have I told you not to harass my customers? I won't stop you from coming in here for your meetings as long as you buy a drink or two, but I won't have you bothering anyone else. If you want to spread your drivel, do it elsewhere."

The woman's expression tightened, but she retained her smile. "I know, Derry. But the lady was curious." Winnie glanced back at Yang. "If you're interested in hearing more or joining our cause, we'll be having another meeting on the morrow. We'll be at Geoff's Tavern, east of the market square. Ask anyone and they'll point you in the right direction. I hope to see you there." The woman gave Yang a wave and returned to where the rest of her companions were.

Yang heaved a sigh. She gave the barkeeper, Derry, a wry smile. "Kinda wish you intervened sooner."

The man gave her a commiserating grimace. "Sorry 'bout that. She's a stubborn one."

"Does she really believe all that stuff she was saying?"

"From what I've seen? Scarily enough, yes. She's been all around these parts, talking to people and trying to persuade them to change their views."

"But you don't believe all that Pure Soul stuff," Yang noted.

Derry shook his head. "Nope and I never will. My granddad was a Huntsman before he settled down to raise my ma, and for the longest time I wanted to become one, too. Too bad I barely have enough Aura to save my face in a fist fight." He raised his hand, and a pale green glow wreathed his fingers. His Aura was so faint that Yang was sure no one would be able to see it unless they were as close as she was and only if they were paying attention.

Yang gave him a nod.

He lowered his hand. "The people here have grown soft, hiding behind their thick walls, safe and protected from the Grimm. They've forgotten the sacrifices others made for them to be able to live like this—the sacrifices people like my granddad made for them. He's got scars left and right, and his leg pains him something fierce even on a good day. People like Winnie don't realize that while they're going about their everyday business in peace and comfort, there are people out there risking their lives to keep Grimm away from the cities and roads where people live and travel. If half of the people Winnie talks to spent even one day outside the walls seeing what the Riders, Huntsmen and Huntresses do, they'd change their tune real quick."

"I'm surprised you even let her in here. The things she said made my head hurt."

The man snorted. "The trick is to stop listening as soon as she gets that shiny look in her eye. That's when she starts spouting her more nonsensical stuff. 'Sides, she's got money, which is why I'm willing to let her use my place for her meetings."

"Is that kind of thinking common around here? That Aura users are blights on society and all that?"

"Not so common. There have always been people who're uncomfortable with the idea of Auras, but Winnie's cult is among the crazier ones."

"I see. Well, thanks for the rescue."

"You're mighty welcome. Enjoy your night. Let me know if you want something else to drink."

"Will do, sir," Yang replied with a lackadaisical salute, which earned her a good-natured chuckle.

---

Yang had just finished the last of her mead and was getting ready to pick up her knapsack when her previous good deeds came back to haunt her. Honestly, being a good person was getting harder and harder these days.

"You, Blondie!"

Yang turned at the drunken bellow, stared flatly at the man who produced it, and just shook her head. As if sensing what was to come, the other patrons started moving out of the way.

"Don't you dare look away when I'm talking to you!" Or at least that's what Yang thought he said. It was kinda hard to tell since his words slurred in strange places.

"Trouble?" Derry, the barkeeper, had come back to Yang's side of the bar.

"Maybe," Yang said with a grimace.

The drunken man stomped over unsteadily, his face red and his eyes crazed. A couple of men that Yang vaguely recognized as his drinking buddies stood behind him, grinning like fools. They didn't look nearly as drunk as he did.

Oh. So that's what all this was about. Friend One and Two were probably bored and decided to egg Drunken Idiot on so that he'd pick a fight with Yang.

"Heard you was going 'round askin' questions at all the drinkin' places. Wasn't hard ta find ya," Drunken Idiot slurred as he swayed back and forth.

Yang sighed. "I wasn't trying to hide, but good job. You found me. Now you can leave."

It took the man a few seconds to process what she said, but when he did, he scowled. "You think you're so funny. But you're a liar. That's what you are. You told that girl lies about me an' made her change her mind."

Yang crossed her arms and gave him a hard look. "You were harassing that girl. She didn't want to go anywhere with your drunken arse, and she told you to 'let go' more than once."

Drunken Idiot snorted. "You're just jealous she's pertier than you. No one would want a bear like you when they could have a sweet li'l thing like her."

Yang drew in a long breath, counted to ten, and prayed for the patience to deal with fools. A fire was starting to burn in her belly, but she did her best to suppress it. Bringing attention to herself was the last thing she wanted to do. "Yeah. Sure. That's exactly what I was thinking." She grabbed her knapsack and swung it over her shoulder. Maybe if she got lucky, she could get out of here without a fuss.

"Gotta pay ya back for near 'bout breakin' my arm." Drunken Idiot took a swing at Yang which she easily sidestepped (again), grabbed his arm as it went by (for the second time that night), and pulled it up behind him in a painful lock (just like she had done the last time he'd come at her swinging). This time though, she didn't just murmur a warning in his ear and let him go. Instead, using the man's arm as leverage, she walked him to the doorway where his friends were and shoved him at them.

"If you want a fight, fine; I'll give you a fight, but not in here. Get outside," Yang said in a hard voice.

The man struggled to reorientate himself as his friends hauled him back to his feet, but when he did, he snarled, "You think you're so tough? Well let's see how tough you really are."

He reached into his pocket and threw something at Yang with a triumphant smirk.

Yang reacted the way Uncle Qrow had trained her to.

In less than half a second, her Aura blasted up and out towards whatever was coming her way. Something flashed and exploded in midair before the sheer strength of her Aura shoved the explosive energy away from her and back towards the man and his friends. It struck them hard, and the three of them crashed through the doors, landing somewhere out of sight. The doors swung shut, and Yang just stared. Scorch marks now marred the wooden doors, and the caustic smell of smoke floated on the air.

Did that idiot really just throw a fire Dust crystal at her while inside a building that served alcohol?

That was when Yang realized the entire room had fallen silent, and everyone was staring at her, some in awe and others in fear.

She rubbed the back of her neck and walked back to the bar. She dropped a silver lien and a handful of coppers next to her empty tankard. "Sorry about the damage."

Derry took one look at her and shoved the silver back at her while pocketing the copper lien. "This'll be more than enough, 'specially after I get Elwood out there to pay up. With all these witnesses, I can plead for unlawful property damage before a magistrate, and they'll force him to pay for it. The damage would've been far worse if you hadn't been so quick on your feet, and someone could have gotten hurt. Thank you for that."

Yang shrugged uneasily. "It was my fault he came here in the first place."

"Naw, it wasn't. Elwood's a real piece of work. He'll pick a fight with anyone regardless of where he is." He paused. "You a Huntress?"

"Nope. Just a traveler. Thanks for the drink. I'd better check to see if those three are alright."

"Safe travels, lass. If you're ever in the area again, come back for a visit. Your first drink'll be on me."

Yang grinned at that. "Sure, if I'm in the area." She gave him a wave and headed for the door.

The woman from earlier, Winnie, waylaid her before she could get further than five steps.

"Your soul can be saved and all will be forgiven if you repent and dedicate yourself to protecting those with pure souls from those without," Winnie said, even going so far as to place her hand on Yang's arm.

Yang gently, but firmly shook the woman's hand off. "The thing is," she said in a soft voice, "I unlocked my Aura for one reason and one reason only: so I could protect my baby sister, and I'll never regret that. If loving and wanting to protect my sister damns my soul or whatever it is you and your people think'll happen to me, then I don't think I'd want your gods' forgiveness anyway. I hope you have a good night, ma'am." With that, she walked out of the building.

Once she reached the street, she checked on the idiot and his friends. They were a little singed and each of them sported a nasty-looking bump on the back of their noggins, but the fire Dust the idiot used must have been more light than fire because other than their bruised heads and sore egos, they would be perfectly fine. Then again, it only made sense that a man of his standing would only be able to get his hands on a fire Dust crystal chock-full of impurities. The real stuff was expensive.

"Yang? What was that? Did something just explode?"

Yang blinked and straightened. She squinted down the street at two cloaked figures walking her way, their forms flickering in the unsteady lantern lights adorning the building fronts.

"Ruby? Prin—Snowflake?"

She remembered at the last second it probably wasn't the best idea to hint in public that Weiss might be a noble or royalty. Sure, most people would think it was a joke, but she still didn't want to take that risk. And obviously using Weiss's real name in the open like this was out.

"Ugh. Please don't call me that." There was the unmistakable sound of someone sniffing. "Were you drinking?"

Yang winced. Uh-oh. Weiss taking that tone was never good. "Only a little? But—oof—!"

Whatever explanation she might have given and any tongue-lashing Weiss might have been about to give her was interrupted by a small, cloaked body slamming into her.

Yang's heart dropped.

"Ruby?"

Ruby didn't respond. She just held onto Yang as tightly as she could.

Yang's lips pressed together as she coaxed her baby sister to let go just long enough for them to slip her knapsack off. Once it was on the ground and out of the way, Yang scooped Ruby up into her arms, one arm supporting her from underneath and the other across her shoulders. Ruby wrapped her arms around Yang's neck and pressed her face into her shoulder and hair.

Yang glanced around, noting that they were starting to draw attention. "We should get out of here. Snowflake, could you—?"

Weiss was already there, picking up Ruby's pack. "I've got it. Let's go."

They did their best to avoid the worst of the crowds, taking empty alleyways when they could and walking until Yang was sure no one had followed them. Only then did Yang call for Weiss to stop.

"Ruby?" Yang called out softly. "You alright?"

Her little sister nodded into her neck. Yang ran her hand up and down Ruby's back in hopes that it'd help.

"Did something happen?" Ruby stiffened in her arms but didn't attempt to sign anything.

In the end, it was Weiss who answered. "It was...a little too crowded. Too many people, too many sounds. We both decided it would be best to come find you so we could leave sooner rather than later. You said you'd be visiting all the local inns and taverns so we decided to start from the places closest to the market square and work our way outward. Luckily for us, you were in the first one we found."

That was because Yang had purposely visited the seedier places first because those were the places Uncle Qrow admitted Raven might be more likely to visit. The establishments near the market square—the central hub of the town—were for wealthier, well-to-do folk so she'd left them for last.

"Yeah. I was getting a little tired of all the hustle and bustle myself," Yang said lightly, all the while acutely aware of Ruby's every shift in movement or hitch in breathing. "I'm ready to call it a night if you two are."

Ruby tightened her grip and nodded, just as Weiss said, "Indeed. We should go. We could all use some rest."

Weiss's voice softened ever so slightly towards the end of her sentence, and her head tilted in such a way that Yang was certain she had been speaking to Ruby and Ruby alone. That meant whatever happened couldn't have been Weiss's fault, not if she was this concerned about Ruby.

Good. Yang hadn't been looking forward to getting rough with Ruby's first sort-of friend anyway.

Yang gave Ruby a squeeze. "Alright then. Let's get outta here." She started walking and Weiss followed, still carrying Ruby's pack for her.

Yang would ask Weiss later what happened. She could ask Ruby, but she felt like this might be one of those times where Ruby played off whatever had happened so as not to make Yang worry. For once, Yang was honestly and truly glad that Weiss had been there with her little sister, not only because it meant Ruby hadn't been alone when whatever happened happened, but also because it meant Yang would actually be able to get some answers.

Right now, though, the most important thing was to get Ruby someplace where she could relax and calm down. Everything else could wait.

With Ruby cradled in her arms and Weiss walking by her side, Yang led them all out of town, using the route she had memorized much earlier that day in case they had to leave in a hurry. Her foresight served them well for it took them only a little longer than half an hour to clear the gates and soon enough, they were back in the wilderness and heading to the place they had camped the night before.