Chapter Thirty-Nine: Call To Arms.
Ruby was practically vibrating with excitement as she looked out the dorm window to the outside world. Snow, a gentle downfall true but snow none the less was falling towards the ground coating the world in a light dusting of white precipitation. She could feel her tail swish happily back and forth as she pressed her face up against the glass and watched the snow come down. She loved snow, she loved all of the activities that the cold stuff could provide; snowball fights, making snowmen, making snow angles, and even ice skating. The wolf just loved the snow.
A small groan from beside her made Ruby's ears twitched but she kept her eyes on the world outside. She heard Weiss shift in their bed as she searched for her missing warmth before the Heiress let out another small groan, "Ruby come back to bed, it's too early to be a wake." Ruby could help but snicker at her girlfriend's complaint. While Weiss usually could force herself up during the weekdays to get around for class the Heiress was by no means a morning person usually only perking up after breakfast and at least three cups of coffee, on the weekend however Weiss Schnee absolutely abhorred mornings and anytime before ten was a to be spoken like a curse. Sadly for her Ruby had woken up at eight when she had first sensed the change in the weather.
"But Weiss it's snowing." Ruby chirped happily as her tail waved back and forth quickly. "We need to go and play."
Weiss gave another small groan as she slowly sat up and looked over at her wolf who was still looking outside, the picture of an overly excited puppy played through her mind as she watched Ruby's tail flicked from side to side a small smile tugged at her lips. With a sigh Weiss collapsed back into their bed, it was still too early as far as she was concerned, "Ruby it's just snow. It's nothing to get excited about." For the Heiress snow had lost its wonder a long time ago.
"But there's so much fun to be had in the snow." Ruby pouted slightly as she turned towards the Heiress. Weiss had thrown an arm over her eyes and was trying to fall back asleep, "We need to go out an play." Weiss groaned again she really didn't like weekend mornings.
"Ruby it's too early to be arguing with Weiss." Yang grumbled from the other bed, one of Blake's ears gave a flick of annoyance as the panther silently agreed as she burrowed deeper into the blonde's warmth.
"We're not arguing, I just want to go play in the snow." Ruby pouted again.
With a long sigh Weiss lifted her arm off her eyes, looking at her wolf a plan started to from in her mind. "Ruby, come here please." She motioned for the crimson girl to come over to the bed. As Ruby did she asked only to stop at the edge of the bed, "Closer." Weiss motioned again, as Ruby leaned over the Heiress her arms snapped out and she caught her wolf around her shoulders and pulled her down.
With a squeak of surprise Ruby was pulled down to the bed as Weiss wrapped her up and pulled the sheet tightly around them. She had been slightly off balance when she leaned over the bed and realized that was what Weiss had been counting on as the Heiress held her firmly in place. "Hey no fair."
"Shush." Weiss cooed as she ran her hand through Ruby's hair and placed the wolf at her neck. "Just close your eyes and relax, when we wake up again we can go out and play."
"But-" Ruby was cut off as Weiss placed a finger to her lips.
"We will go out after some more sleep." Weiss said again in more commanding tone. With a sigh Ruby nodded and tired to do as Weiss had said, she tired to relax and fall back asleep but she was having trouble. She wanted to go out and have fun in the snow. She tried to keep her fidgeting to a minimum but she had to adjust with small movements and her tail kept twitching disturbing the sheets. After a few minutes Weiss finally sighed again, "You're not going to go back to sleep, right?"
Ruby shook her head, "Nope." She said popping the 'p' with a small smirk.
Weiss sighed again as she shook her head and let go of her wolf, "Alright fine, shower and get dressed then we'll go get breakfast and then we'll go out in the snow." As soon as she let go of her wolf Ruby sprang away from the bed and towards the bathroom. Weiss groaned again as she rolled onto her back and placed her arm once again over her eyes, the chuckles of her remaining teammates reached her ears. "And what do you two find so funny?" She grouched.
"The pup wants out to play and she's taking her girlfriend with her." Yang continued to chuckle, "It's hard not to think of a little puppy wanting to play." Blake swatted her partner gently, "Hey you even agreed with me the other night that Ruby was just like a little puppy sometimes."
"Yes but please try not to compare you sister to a dog," Blake explained with her head still buried in the blonde's chest. "I know you mean well but still."
"Yeah, yeah I hear you Blakey." Yang sighed as she kissed the space in between the panther's ears. "You want to get up too?" A lazy flick of one ear let her know the answer was a resounding no.
Weiss just shook her head and slowly sat up in her bed, she could hear Ruby zipping about the bathroom only for the door to open up a few minutes later to reveal a freshly showered, albeit quickly, wolf in a pair of black jeans a long sleeved gray shirt and signature red cape around her neck. In all it was a good outfit for the new changing weather.
Seeing the look of excitement in Ruby's eyes the Heiress roused herself off the bed and to her dresser pulling out a pair of thicker tights, a slightly longer light blue skirt, a long sleeved white shirt and calf high black boots. As she pasted Ruby to enter the bathroom she gave her wolf a small peck on the cheek making Ruby's tail swish happily.
Knowing that Ruby would not wait long Weiss went through her morning routine as quickly as she dared, showering and then quickly and thoroughly drying her hair the applying a light amount of make up and a light coating of perfume. Once she was done she exited and saw Ruby patiently waiting on their freshly made bed, though her tail, which was swishing about, told the Heiress that the wolf was getting excited. Once Weiss had placed her night cloths in her hamper Ruby sprang up from her spot and zipped to her side.
"Ready to go?" Ruby asked quickly.
"Just a minute." Weiss said as she pulled out a slightly thicker bolero jacket and pulled it on. With a smile she offered her arm out to Ruby, "Now let's go get breakfast."
Ruby smiled widely as she wrapped her arms around Weiss as she gave a small tug towards the door. "Bye Yang, bye Blake." The wolf chimed as they left the dorm, Yang gave a lazy wave as Blake just continued to cuddle her space heater.
Once Ruby and Weiss had left the dorm the wolf's face lit up with pure joy as she looked up and let the falling snow land on her face, the small points of cold sent shivers down her spine and into her tail. She let her eyes drift close as her hearing stretched out around her. As the snow drifted down the sounds around the wolf were muffled and muted creating a peaceful atmosphere around the campus.
Weiss watched her partner with a small smile, she watched as the stark contrast of the white snow fell into her wolf's dark crimson locks highlighted the red hues in her hair. She too listened to the world around them through the muffling effect of the snow. She remembered one day when she had been very young when Winter had taken her out of White Castle and into the woods that surround it, she had been amazed at how quite the snow had made the forest making it seem both small and large at the same time. Winter had shown her animal tracks in the snow, pointing out a pack of wolf prints in the deep snow. And as Weiss stood there with her wolf she couldn't help but smile.
A grumble from Ruby's stomach broke both of them out of their thoughts and made the wolf blush, "Sorry." She mumbled, "I guess I'm a bit hungry."
Weiss just shook her head good naturedly, "Let's go get food, then we can spend some time out in the snow." Ruby nodded happily and let the Heiress lead them to the cafeteria.
Once inside the large building Weiss and Ruby went through the line getting the food they desired; a plate of pancakes and sausage for Ruby and a bowl of fruit along with yogurt and a muffin for Weiss. When they went to sit down they spotted a familiar pair of long ears sitting at one of the tables.
"Good morning Velvet." Ruby chimed as she sat down across from the rabbit.
Velvet looked up through bleary eyes as the younger pair sat down clutching her mug of coffee in her hands, "Morning Ruby, Weiss." She nodded at each before taking a large gulp of her drink. "Or for me good evening."
Weiss grimaced slightly as she poured herself a cup from the large silver pitcher, "You're still on late night rotations?"
"No," Velvet shook her head, "I got off of them last month, I was filling in for another Medic last night who out of a mission with his team. I had to do my shift as well as his so I've been up and moving since about nine yesterday morning."
Ruby frowned at that, "How did Coco take that?"
"Oh she's furious," Velvet chuckled as she took another drink of her coffee, "But I'm the one who volunteered for it so there wasn't much she could do other than just grouch about it. She'll cool off in a day or two," Velvet paused as a mischievous smirk crossed her lips, "Or sooner if I can kick Yatsu and Fox out of the dorm for a few hours." Both of the younger girl's faces lit up with blush at the rabbit's implications. "Hey there's no need to be embarrassed by it. Besides it's a great way to make an annoyed Heiress calm down." Velvet winked at Ruby making the wolf turn crimson while Weiss felt her jaw drop.
"V-Velvet!" The Heiress cried out as the Faunus began to laugh.
"Sorry." Velvet chuckled out as she whipped away a tear, "It's just you two really need to lighten up. Besides I'm sure you've walked in on Yang and Blake at least once."
"Actually we haven't." Weiss said with a bit of a bite to her tone before she paused, "Actually I don't know if they've even gotten that fair in their relationship, I know they tease each other about it but I don't think they've actually…" She let her words stop before she embarrassed herself.
"Had sex." Velvet finished making but Ruby and Weiss burn with blush again, "Again you two need to lighten up." The rabbit shook her head, "We'll considering neither one of them can get the other pregnant I doubt I'll be seeing them if they do. Unless they get tested first, which they really should even if they haven't been sexually active in a while, never hurts to be sure." She had ignored the fact that Ruby and Weiss were turning the same color of the wolf's cape. "Actually now that I'm thinking about it have you two had 'The Talk' yet?"
Ruby choked on her pancakes and Weiss spit out a mouthful of coffee before coughing and trying to clear her airway. When she could finally suck down a lungful of air the Heiress glared at the rabbit Faunus, "Isn't that a very personal question?"
Velvet shrugged, "I'm a doctor, a since you're both regular patients of mine it would be nice to know if you're both on the same page."
Weiss tried to deny the logic behind the girl's words but couldn't, fighting and failing against the blush the Heiress finally nodded, "Yes if you must know I was given that conversation some years ago." Ruby nodded in agreement quickly just wanting this conversation to end.
"Yes but which one?" Velvet asked taking another sip of her drink. "Where you given the 'birds and the bees' or the 'flower to flower' talk?" Weiss and Ruby paused making Velvet sigh, "You both know clinically speaking when you two do reach that level that things aren't going to work out like they usually do, right?"
"Of course I know that." Weiss snapped; she had not been expecting this conversation this early in the morning, or ever.
"Well when you both decide to go that far please stop by the clinic or my room when before," Velvet sighed. "I don't want either of you getting hurt the first time."
"Right will do." Ruby finally squeaked out, "Can we move on, please?"
"Sure." Velvet smiled; content with the fun she had had, "So you two are up early."
Weiss while still slightly embarrassed was thankful for the change in topic, sighed and nodded, "Yes well someone wanted to go out and play in the snow." She gave a playful glare to the wolf beside her who just smiled and nodded.
"Ah I see." Velvet nodded, "You know the first time I ever saw snow was when I came to Vale. It doesn't snow in Vacuo, too dry and too hot. Coco found it hilarious for the first few months on how I reacted." A wistful smile crossed the rabbit's lips. "Though it never did faze her."
"Snow losses it's appeal when you grow up with it for nearly nine months straight." Weiss sighed. "Growing up in Mantle means you get use to snow rather quickly."
"Yeah that's what she said." Velvet nodded in agreement before giving a small yawn, "Well as pleasant as this has been I'm bushed and have a nice warm bed calling my name. Have fun." With a smile Velvet stood up and left the cafeteria. With the older girl gone Weiss and Ruby returned to their breakfast.
Once they were finished Ruby quickly pulled Weiss out of the building and back into the cold air, the snow was still falling to the ground and by now had left a at least three inches on the ground. The grounds keepers had been keeping up with the build up though and kept the walkways clean and clear.
Ruby led them to a small wooded courtyard near the edge of the campus. Once they had reached a small clearing in the center of the trees Ruby dropped Weiss' arm and let out a squeal of glee as she bounded into the clearing only to flop onto her back and giggle as she moved her arms and legs.
"Ruby." Weiss sighed as she shook her head trying to keep the smile off her lips, "You'll catch a cold if you stay on the ground."
"But Weiss I'm making a snow angel." The wolf chirped as she jump up and away from the from she had made in the snow, "Look it's you." She turned and smirked at her girlfriend. Weiss rolled her eyes at her wolf's antics.
"You know perfectly well how I feel about that nickname." Weiss huffed playfully.
"Oh of course I do Princess." Ruby smiled as she walked over to her girlfriend, her hands suspiciously hidden behind her back. "But it fits you so well." She smirked again as she leaned into the Heiress's chest, her hand slowly coming around her back, "Especially when I do this!"
Weiss felt the back of her shirt being pulled away briefly only to be followed by a jolt of ice cold snow being dumped down her back causing her to jump and squeak in surprise, Ruby laughed and ran away as Weiss growled at the wolf, "Ruby Rose, this means war!" With a flick of her wrist the Heiress summoned a glyph that shot a clump of snow into the air, then with her other hand she hit the suspended snow with a repulsion glyph sending the snow clump hurtling towards her wolf.
Ruby laughed and dodged to the side leaving a trail of red petals behind her, "You'll have to be faster than that Princess." She taunted picking up a handful of snow and threw it at the Heiress.
"Oh Ruby you underestimate me." Weiss laughed as she blocked the snowball with a glyph. "You forget I grew up with snow." With another flick of her hand four clumps of snow shot up into the air and were then repulsed away towards the wolf who gave a yelp of surprise at the sudden barrage.
"Hey that's no fair." Ruby pouted as she dodged, "I can only throw snow balls, not unleash a whole mound of it."
"Oh Ruby," Weiss sighed mockingly. "All's fair in love and war. And this just happens to be war." With a large glyph Weiss side a tidal wave of snow towards the wolf burying the crimson girl in white, the only thing left visible was a bit of her tail that was poking up from under the snow. "Ready to give up?"
The mound that buried Ruby shifted and the wolf's head poked up through the snow and shook her the white clumps out of her hair, with a mock glare she growled at the Heiress, "I will never surrender!" Weiss flicked her wrist again and a smaller clump of snow landed on the wolf's head. "Weeeiiissss." Ruby pouted as the Heiress walked over to her.
"Oh my little wolf, what a handful you are." Weiss smiled down at her girlfriend and offered out her hand.
A mischievous smirk crossed Ruby's face and before Weiss could retract her hand the wolf pulled the Heiress down into the snow with her making her squeak in surprise. "Ruby!"
Ruby laughed as she pulled Weiss into her and quickly wrapped her cape around them making the squirming Heiress pause and give off an annoyed huff. "Better?" The wolf asked.
"You know this cape is surprisingly warm." Weiss nodded as she lay beside her wolf.
"Yep." Ruby nodded, "Mom made it from special Dust cloth that keeps it warm during the winter and cool in the summer. She had one just like it."
"Hmm. I might have to partner with Coco when we're older to see if we can make something similar." Weiss muttered as she looked up at the gray sky.
The two of them lapsed into silence as they let the snow fall around them enjoying each others warm body pressed up against the other. Only after a few minutes did Ruby break the silence, "Hey do you hear that?" She asked as she pulled them into a seated position.
"Hear what?" Weiss asked as she looked around quickly looking for any danger.
"It sounds like a bunch of bullheads." Ruby said as she stood up her eyes going to the sky, "They're coming from Vale." The wolf cocked her head to the side as she tried to figure out what was going on. "About, twenty, no more than that." The wolf frowned.
Before Weiss could speak up the ground shook and explosions roared through the air. Instantly the Heiress was on her feet next to the wolf, "What was that?"
Ruby blinked just as sirens filled the air, their cry hurting her ears. With wide eyes she turned to her girlfriend who had put the pieces together at the same time; Beacon was under attack.
Ozpin had his head in his hands as he glanced down at the report Glynda had just place on his desk. A treat to Beacon and an attack on Taiyang had just been revealed through Raven. That she had actually reached out to them to warn them was promising, maybe she'd actually come back this time.
Glynda had been in shock when she had received the call and had almost missed the message before she shook herself out of her stupor and actually wrote down what the other woman had said.
"She didn't say when the attack might take place?" Qrow asked from his spot along the wall.
"No." Glynda shook her head, "She just said that the White Fang will be making its move soon and their targets were Beacon and Tai. She didn't say how she knew or where she was. Just that we had a problem and then what it was."
"Did you try and trace the call?" James pressed from the seat beside her.
"Of course I did." Glynda snapped, ever since it had been revealed that he was the cause of Summer's death the combat professor had been less than short with the man. "It bounced around the globe about a hundred times before finally landing on a spot somewhere in the middle of the ocean between Vale and Mistrial."
"Well she always was clever like that." Qrow snorted. "Well I guess I'll be headed towards Patch now to make sure Tai's okay."
Before Qrow could move Ozpin spoke, "No Qrow you're staying here." He pulled his head out from his hands and looked at the stunned Huntsman, "Tai is more than capable of taking care of himself, if an attack does happen here we will need every capable Huntsman and Huntress to defend Beacon."
"Oz I am not leaving Tai to fend for himself." Qrow growled as he stormed up to the Headmaster. "He's the only family those girl's have left and I am not letting some jump up terrorist bastards take him from them."
"He's a fully trained Huntsman with more than enough strength to put down a few attackers." Ozpin sighed, "This may be what gets him back in to the game."
"Is that all you care about?" Qrow shouted, "That him getting attack and possibly killed might pull him back into the job?"
"We need him back on our side." Ozpin stated calmly, "He needs to heal his wounds instead of letting them fester, if an attack pulls him back then so be it."
"You're playing with lives Oz." Qrow seethed.
"And sometimes it's necessary for the bigger picture." Ozpin replied, "We need all of the people we can get now that we know who we're facing. The Doctor is not one to go down easily and if he's working with Augustus it's going to get very dangerous very quickly."
"You believe that he's finished more of the projects, don't you?" James questioned.
Ozpin nodded, "I do." He pulled up the report Coco had sent him after their mission on the island, "Clearly this unknown Grimm was a Chimera and he's the only who could actually make them." Another press of the button pulled up a file on Penny, "Collodi could never finish MARIONETTE himself and only the Doctor had knowledge of HALLOW and how to manipulate a soul to actually force it into a machine. So yes I believe he's finishing his projects and if he's giving them to Schnee then we are in trouble."
"And how does he factor in with the White Fang?" Glynda asked.
Ozpin sighed as he turned to look out his window, "I believe he is manipulating them for some reason not yet known. He's been using them to hit targets that would only benefit the SDC, he's been using them to keep us busy and unaware of his true plans. He's playing a very long game of chess and hiding his pieces."
"Great." Qrow growled as he pulled out his flask and took a long draw. "We're playing a game that I could never get the hang of."
"We just have to be cautious." Ozpin nodded, "Believe in Tai Qrow, he will come out on top. We just have to be ready here for when they do attack."
"And when do you think that will be?" James questioned pulling Ozpin's gaze away from the window.
"I have no idea," Ozpin admitted, "It could be hours from now or it could be months…" The old man paused as a part of his screen flickered, it was a radar signal that showed a large number of bullheads heading towards Beacon. That wasn't right, Ozpin blinked as he saw a line of signals racing away from the bullheads and coming towards Beacon. Ozpin quickly spun in his chair and watched as missiles impacted around the campus sending pillars of smoke and rubble into the air.
"Activate emergency protocol one, Beacon is under attack."
A/N: And scene! Sorry I didn't post last week, and that I'm late on this one, last finals week (hopefully) and job hunting have me on the go all the time and when I finally do get time to sit down and relax I'm usually mentally dead and can't write so it might take me a while to get next chapter up too but I promise I'm still working on it and that I will finish this story come hell or high water. Also I'm going to look into getting a beta to actually help out because doing double duty of trying to catch everything while mentally dead is not going over so well. So if you're interested hit me up, or however that usually goes.
With that: Thank you all for your continued support, please leave a review to let me know how I'm doing, and may you have a wonderful day to smile about.
PS: To those of you going through finals week either this week or next, may the force be with you and good luck.