The storm had passed, with only the lightening rain tapping against the window as a reminder to most people. Everyone was quiet, too tired to speak. Yang had returned to her bunk, silently cradling her arms in her lap. They stung with every movement she made, stabbing at her constantly. She didn't regret what she had done, and she'd carry her teammate through the forest again if she had to, but the lashing branches had left their mark. Not only was she covered in red wounds of various shades, she had also lost a considerably large amount of blood. She was drained, her energy sapped. She could barely bring herself to reach for a book.
She was by no means concentrating on reading, casting glances to her right every minute or so to check up on their bedridden leader. She knew that something was wrong that Ruby wasn't telling them, and if Blake was correct, it was a lot more serious than the young girl was telling. She was putting on a brave face, that much was obvious. Yang watched as she held her knee protectively, wishing only that she was okay. She feared the worst, despite Blakes reassurances that the chances of it being broken are slim. It was her sisterly instincts that gave her the uneasy feeling, she was sure of it.
Weiss wasn't entirely comfortable sitting on the top bunk, somewhat terrified of the precarious methods that Ruby employed to keep it in the air. The rope was going to snap, she knew it would. And then there would be an enormous crash and most likely a huge accident. She dreaded to think what would happen if it collapsed while Ruby was underneath, crushed to a pulp. She doubted she would be able to sleep at all tonight, with or without exhaustion. She kept quiet about her fears, it was the last thing Ruby needed right now, and Weiss didn't like the sound of a very angry Yang bearing down on her, especially in the state she was in.
She checked her scroll briefly, announced to her team that she was going to try for an early night and began making her preparations, quietly but efficiently going about her business. Blake watched from the corner of her eye as Weiss tidied the mess that was Rubys bed and then set about changing in the bathroom. She didn't take more than a few minutes, placing her immaculately folded but filthy clothes in a neat pile at the foot of the bed. She bid Ruby a good night, warned her not to stay up too late and rest, climbed the ladder and settled herself in.
Blake guessed that Ruby would be the next to turn in, Yang most likely would hold off her own tiredness until she was satisfied Ruby was asleep. It was comforting to know that Yang cared about her leader not only as a sister, but also as a friend. It was rare for Blake to be close to one person, let alone three at once, and she wasn't entirely at ease with them yet. Her past experiences had given her a feeling of isolation that she couldn't shift, no matter how hard she tried.
Sure enough, Ruby gave a small sigh a little later and leant over, dropping her books into the bag at the side of the bed and very slowly easing herself into what passed for a comfortable position. She had told Weiss not to worry, but in truth she yearned to be under the covers, it was an uncharacteristically cold night and the room was chilled. She didn't want to disturb Yang or Blake, but it seemed her sister knew what she was feeling without having to say anything. Upon noticing Rubys slightly pained face, Yang had hurried over to the bed and pulled off Rubys boots, gently helping her sister under the sheets. They were both too tired to go through changing Ruby out of her cloak and clothes, so Yang instead unfolded a blanket from under the bed, draped it over Rubys body and kissed her on the forehead.
Yang returned to her bunk, grimacing as she climbed, still forgetting her injuries until they shot into her senses. Throughout the entire day, her mind had been split between worrying over Ruby, and worrying over Blake. She did not even consider her own pain, even for the brief moments it overtook her thoughts. Since that morning there had been a distinct feeling of unease in the pits of her stomach that no amount of forced optimism could shift. She wanted Blake to open up, but she knew that was asking too much of her partner, especially after what she had been through. On the other hand, Ruby was temporarily disabled, requiring someone to be with her at all times. Yang knew that all three of them would take good care of her, but she still felt an obligation to help, as though it was her duty.
Content as she could be with Rubys state, she pushed her frets aside as well as she could and whispered a goodnight to Blake, burying herself under the bedclothes. It didn't take long for her injuries and fatigue to catch up with her as she rapidly fell into a deep sleep, finally nursing her tired everything. Blake didn't respond, planning out the course of the night. She would wait a decent amount of time to confirm all three of her teammates were asleep, and then she would make her move.
It must have been an hour at the least, and none of the four in that room had moved much since. Yang was snoring into her pillow, muffled by the fabric, sleep had well and truly taken her away. Ruby shifted frequently, but her body language was not as active as she would have been normally. Blake decided this was as good as she could get, Ruby would most likely be in too much discomfort to pay any attention to the vacant bed beside her. All was quiet above, so Weiss must have fallen asleep too. It seemed like a perfect time to slip away. Blake checked her scroll, careful not to shine it into any eyes. 12:39. Good enough.
She folded it back into her pocket, silently pulled a bundle of Yangs spare clothes from the pile in the corner and rolled them into makeshift balls. Stuffing them under the covers, she was sure that if anyone woke up they wouldn't bother looking to make sure that she was actually there. The darkness was on her side once again as she took a second to make sure her illusion was convincing, somewhat pleased that she'd made a plausible looking 'person' in such a short time. She felt the reassuring touch of Gambol Shroud on her back and opened the door, smoothly moving to the opposite side and closing it behind her with a faint click.
In an ideal world, she would be able to complete her task and return undetected, both by her team and anyone else that she may happen to come across. She knew all too well that the time held little meaning for some people, and so she set her guard high. Moving swiftly down the hallway, she was mindful of her foot placement to minimize sound. Her natural stealth would benefit her regardless of the time of day, but the monotonous night outside and the near blind level of light would make it even easier. She was used to a lack of vision, her eyes far above those of an average human. She could make out the corners and turns minutes before she arrived at them, her eyes having adjusted to the gloom.
She was glad of her memory, as she had only walked this path once before in a rush. It had taken her minutes back then, but she remembered well enough to know which places people would most likely be around. Time was on her side tonight, but she kept her pace up, much preferring to have this over and done with as soon as she could. She passed nobody as she moved, glad that she had planned ahead of time. She could hear the faint ruckus of a late night in one of the dorms, no doubt celebrating over some mindless achievement. She was careful to avoid artificial light, sticking close to the walls by instinct.
A frantic but weak rapping sound bounced through the corridors, a clear indication that someone was approaching in a hurry. Flattening herself against the wall in the corner, she placed herself in an optimal position to avoid detection. If they chose to move past her, she would be completely hidden from their sight, melding into the shadows as though she was one herself. The sound grew louder as she traced it with her eyes through the walls. They rounded the corner, nearly bumping into it as they did so. She was right, probably a student that had forgotten something important. He dashed past, completely unaware of her presence.
She listened intently, waiting motionless until there was no sound besides the rain. She resumed moving, certain that she was nearing the midpoint of her journey. She broke from the building onto the amphitheatre, feeling a sense of relief wash over her as she sprinted around the perimeter. One of the hard parts was completed, but the hardest was yet to come. The ground was sodden, and she knew better than to leave wet footprints trailing behind her. She timed her heartbeat with her footsteps, cautiously winding her way across the buildings.
The ensuing minutes passed without a hitch, and she found herself standing outside a door with a window behind her and not a soul in sight. It was dark inside, but even so she daren't drop her guard. She felt her body tense up as she reached for the handle, a sense of guilt creeping into her mind. She knew the risks and had decided to continue despite them, she wasn't about to stop now. She pulled firmly, easing the door open without a sound. She pushed it open just enough to slip through the gap and closed it slowly behind her. A golden plate read above the door.
'Headmasters Office'