Chapter 11

Menagerie

Warm whispers greeted her face as she stepped onto the plank to depart from the boat. The soft smells of sunshine followed her as she made her way through the market place. Cheap wooden stalls, flags of rainbow colours and Faunus of all kinds were huddled together in the crowed town area – Blake was home.

As she made her way through she decided to stop off at a liquids stall on the way to her home. She knew Menagerie tea was too exotic and hard to come by here, so she made a deal of purchasing as much as she could. The taste wasn't anywhere near the high quality she found back in Vale but the familiarity and nostalgia were unmatched.

"..and there's your change...thanks come back soon!" said the stall owner, also a Faunus – soft feathers abridged on the top of her head.

Blake stepped forward after the customer just left and had a look around. She noticed all new types of tea, a lot of colourful packaging and tongue tying names. She picked the tea she always knew though, a warm soft tasting tea - Yin Zen cased in yellow packaging – her favourite.

"Thanks for that sweetie. I see you really like the warm yellow tea's?" the owner asked her giving her the change.

"Yes." she replied

"Don't they just remind you of the sunshine?..haha I never find myself down in the dumps with this tea, the Yin Zen. It really is the Yin to your Yang." she laughed now handing the small bag to the cat eared Faunus.

It took a few seconds for Blake to finally take the bag before shuffling off as quick as she could.

"Thank you." she mumbled as she walked away.

"Bye bye sweetie."

She made her way through the market but she was still close to the docks. The sand underneath her looked rough and course; small tough weeds of grass defiant as they grew through in shrubs. As she continued looking at the ground she looked up suddenly and spotted someone stood facing the docks with a slightly panicked demeanour. Blake moved a little closer and made out a young female Faunus, deer antlers branching off her temple. She was mumbling to herself repeatedly.

"What happened...what if something went wrong..."

Blake listened to her talk about someone who was supposed to meet her there but hasn't shown up yet. The thoughts began to seep into her mind too. Who was she waiting for? What happened to them? What could she do to help?

Blake made her way over and decided to ask her.

"Oh..oh..sorry. I'm waiting for someone..." the young girl replied.

"It's no problem. Were they supposed to meet you here?" Blake asked.

"Yes. But she hasn't shown up...oh I'm so worried...she was supposed to have been evacuated from Vale...what if she didn't make it?"

"I'm sure it'll be fine. I just came off the boat that just docked. Maybe she-"

In the distance an echo could be heard. As Blake looked on she saw another young Faunus running towards the girl she was stood next to.

"Ah! Sofia!" she cried

They ran to one another and greeted each other with a soft kiss. The young deer faunus was happy that her partner had arrived. Blake noticed the shift in their eyes; happiness and glee as they made small talk with each other. Blake smiled but then her lips began to wilt. This probably wasn't the best time to stay and watch. She picked up her bag and made off into the distance as the two females continued to hug and kiss one another.

Along her trek to Kuo Kuana she began to see the same old sights she always knew. Cramped and crowded Faunus, all types and sizes: holding hands, playing around and just enjoying the sunshine together. As she slipped through the various large groups by herself she eventually made it to the steps leading down to Kuo Kuana.

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One tiring step after another Blake made her way to the largest building in the entire neighbourhood. She placed her bag down and cleared her throat. After summoning what courage she had left she hammered the ring of mercy door knocker and prepared for the worst. A few minutes passed and Blake was getting nervous. Eventually the large wooden door creaked open and another small cat eared Faunus peaked her eyes through. After realising who was stood opposite the door, she flung it open in jubilation.

"Blake?!" she cried

"Hi..mom.." came the quivering reply from her as she looked cautiously at her mother.

It'd been a long time since she had seen her parents. She didn't know what to expect. On one hand she could get a cold reception, nasty looks and an even nastier telling off or she could get what got right now, a shoulder crushing hug from an overjoyed mother happy to see her only daughter.

"Oh my baby girl!" she said as she held Blake captive in her arms. "I've missed you so much."

Blake accepted the warm hug and embraced the moment. Her mother looked good. She wore a black themed robed, soft pumps with heels and gold studs dotted in her cat ears.

As Blake looked at her mother she noticed a large well built figure appear from up ahead.

"Kali? Who is it?" came the gruff bellowing voice.

As Kali moved aside she revealed their daughter stood beside her, a wishful yet frightened look on her face. The large figure opened his mouth in awe before finally greeting her with a warm smile.

"Baby girl.." he muttered under his breath before quickly clearing his throat. "Ahem Blake. It's been a long time. Come on in." he now said trying to correct himself.

Blake picked up her bag and felt the relief wash over her. Both girls smiled at one another as they closed the door and made their way inside.

"Are you hungry dear? Thirsty? I just made some tea. Oh here let me get that for you" Kali now taking the bag from her.

"Thanks Mom."

Blake made her way down to the lounge and took a seat next to the sitting table. She could finally relax and breath for once. She sighed to herself as she watched her father head out the door up to his study. Her mother prepared the tea and brought it over with a happy spring in her step.

"Here dear, your special tea just how you like it." Kali smiled, setting the tray down on the table.

This table was used for mainly meal times and hosting guests. To Blake, even if she never spoke much, it was good to have family time around this table.

"So then dear, tell me about how you've been." said her mother.

"I've been well. I brought some more tea home with me too so don't worry about making too much." Blake replied taking a sip of her favourite beverage.

"Oh nonsense dear, I always enjoy making tea you know that."

Blake smiled into her cup as she drank more. She began to settle a little inside. It was a rough journey back and she had a lot to tell her mother. She just didn't want her to worry right away.

"It is a shame though." her mother now sounding concerned. "We were watching with baited breath when the news came."

Blake looked at her curiously.

"Vale certainly had it's flaws but it certainly didn't deserve what happened."

Her mother now cupped her hand around Blake's shoulder. "I'm glad that you're okay. We were both so worried."

She now sat facing her daughter who placed the cup down on the table.

"I know." said Blake. "I wanted to come and see if you were both okay?" she asked tepidly.

"Of course we are dear. Your father was worried out of his skin too." she said now pretending to mask her mouth like a whisper "Just don't tell him I said that."

Blake couldn't help but giggle as she thought of her father pacing up and down along the matted carpet.

"But if you ever want to go say hi, he's only up a floor in his study" Kali suggested, cupping her tea in her hands as she took a sip.

"I don't want to bother him too much."

"A father always has time for his daughter." her mother replied.

"Not all of my friends would agree with you on that." Blake said with a quick smile and a rolling of her eyes.

Just after she mentioned her friends, her smile began to frown and she looked down at her cup refusing to take another sip.

Her mother looked at her carefully, examining her eyes. She knew something was wrong. She let a minute of silence pass before deciding to open Blake up.

"So I saw that you and your friends got quite far in the Vital festival." she said breaking the tension.

"I want to hear more about the adventures of team RWBY."

Blake continued to stare into her cup, she was hoping to avoid speaking about this for a while. Apparently the Vytal festival was popular back home too.

"What do you want to know?" Blake smiled forcefully.

"Well if I remember there was that one wearing the red hood?"

"That's Ruby." Blake replied quickly "She's the leader. Ruby is always ready to take action and believes in herself as well as others."

Her mother continued to sip her drink as she had succeeded in getting more out her daughter.

"The snow haired girl is Weiss. She's part of the Schnee family and I thought I was going to hate her. Wow we must have argued with one another countless times..but she's a nice person inside. She isn't like her family." Blake said smiling. "and..." she brought the cup up to her lips and began to inhale the scent of the yellow tea. Hoping to find strength.

"and there's your partner." Kali now finishing her daughter's sentence.

Blake looked at her a little confused as she began to fill her mouth with the hot liquid.

"The blonde haired girl..she must be your partner right?"

"How did you know th-"

"C'mon Blake I am your mother, I know these things. You may not talk a lot but I saw those looks you were giving her during your rounds." she said suggestively causing her daughter to splutter out the remnants of her drink. "I bet you chose her as your partner the moment you laid eyes on her."

"Uh-ah...mh...Mommm!" she scowled the embarrassment beginning to sink in.

Kali laughed while giving her daughter a further suggestive look. Blake found herself blushing slightly as she tried to wrestle free from the eye contact her mother was giving her.

"I thought so." she smiled "So what's her name?"

Blake looked into the empty cup as a warm smile rose on her lips.

"Yang." she said "Yang Xiao Long." Her words sounded like butter, smoothly travelling through the air. She looked up at her mother. Her eyes were smiling warmly at her. Kali knew in that moment what her daughter was trying to say. She got up and took the empty cups and tray back to the kitchen.

"That's a lovely name." she said as she took the cup from Blake's hands. Blake gazed into the distance slightly as she couldn't help but think about her partner.

"You know I hope this isn't like the first time..." her mother called from afar.

"Hmm?" responded Blake as she now turned her head over to the kitchen.

"That girl you were with from the White Fang, the one who lasted two seconds." she said stocking up the tray as she made her way back. "I hope she's going to stick around this Yang Xiao Long. I wouldn't mind some little blonde grandchildren some day."

"Momm...!" groaned Blake once more.