Day by Day: The Things That Pass
Lilac eyes flicker open, peering at the blankness that was the pasty painted ceiling.
"Uncle Qrow?" Squeaked out Yang, but the only response was silence.
Looking around at what she recognized as an infirmary room at the combat school her Uncle taught at, Signal. Closing her eyes, she let out the breath she subconsciously was holding in. Realizing that she, and more importantly Ruby were both alive after her disastrous adventure, Yang turned her head to the side. A letter upon a nearby dresser? With Signal's Insignia no less. Yang tentatively got up and shakily walked over to the dresser. Flipping it over, she saw one of the things she dreaded most: her Uncle's Official Seal. Tearing the top of the envelope off, Yang hastily read what was written
"My beloved niece, you've done something very stupid, and because of that stupidity you'll be immediately enrolled in Signal in two weeks. I'll be homeschooling Ruby while you are taking official schooling. You are to arrive at my office tomorrow at 0500 for preliminary screening and training. I don't know how or what you're feeling, but to better equip yourself to pursue the things you want is what is needed now. Be ready, Be Cunning, Have Strength, for these are the things that pass.
-With love, Uncle Qrow"
After rereading the letter several times, Yang finally laid the letter back onto the dresser. Walking towards the window, and gazing towards the night sky, Yang thought to herself
"Be Cunning, Have Strength, these are The Things that Pass" Yang repeated the mantra in her head. " Guess I'll have a lot of explaining to do tomorrow."
The alluring smell of cookies that permeated the air turned a switch from off to on in Ruby's head. She instantly rose from her cot and groggily looked around for the source of the smell. She rested her half open eyes on her Uncle Qrow who was holding up a plate with a pile of cookies. Instantly devouring half of the cookies, she finally realized where she was and started to blab out rapid fire questions, mouth filled with unswallowed cookie mush. Attempting to swallow the cookie mush in her mouth and failing horribly, she was cut off by her Uncle's hand in the air
"Ruby, you're at Signal right now, your sister has put both her life and your life in danger and is now receiving punishment. I'll be personally homeschooling you, but once Yang graduates Signal, I unfortunately cannot take care of either of you. Because I need to go on a mission."
Ruby slowly nodded her head, taking in the information.
"So... will you promise to come back Uncle Qrow? Are you sure you'll come back?" Ruby never wanted to hear anything similar to "Going out for a mission, be back soon" ever again. Not after her mother uttered those words years ago.
"No... I can assure you I will return, but I can't make you a promise, for there is uncertainty in everything Ruby." Qrow responded. "Uncertainty is something we can't control, and thus is something we must live with."
"What does this homeschooling mean Uncle Qrow?" Ruby asked, tilting her head in an adorable fashion only a little kid could do.
"It means you get to pick your favorite things to learn, and I get to help you, being a teacher at Signal also gives me, and by extension you, access to its resources. Resources such as its armory and blacksmithing area." explained Qrow
Before Qrow could even finish his sentence, Ruby immediately squealed "OH EM GEE, I GET TO FINALLY MAKE MY OWN WEAPON! The extension of ourselves! Our mechanical counterpart! One of the conduits of our souls!"
As Crow watched the energized Ruby start bouncing around the room faster and faster, almost turning into a blur, her little mouth going off about all the weapon designs and cool things she wanted to make; all of the weapons she wanted to try. Qrow somberly wondered what his two little nieces would do after he would have to "Go for a mission and be back soon" just like Summer had to do.