Ruby Schnee

A warm day. That was the best way to describe it. Whether that was referring to the temperature or just generally how she felt, Ruby couldn't tell you. Her step nearly had a skip to it as she moved across the path, made more of dirt then faded brick, but still solid enough to actually be called a path. It matched the general aesthetic of the building ahead, constructed from wooden beams and a lovely red brick that gave a warm rustic vibe. Her own clothes didn't really match suit with it, being a touch more expensive then would one expect someone to be wearing when coming up on a school like this.

Her hair was tied back into a ponytail, reaching her lower back and being rather annoying to deal with if she let it out straight, and it also got in the way of her cloak... well, if she ever really wore it anymore. No, usually it was worn by someone else now, in fact said someone was wearing it right now Ruby realised as she glanced to her right. She stopped her movement and leaned down to the boy currently clutching her right hand, he seemed to have been expecting this as his expression suddenly turned guilty.

She gave him a gentle smirk and cleared her throat to get him to look at her, but that only resulted in him awkwardly shuffling slightly away, which was the opposite result to what she intended. With a gentle sigh she poked his still adorably puffy cheek before speaking with a gentle and patient voice. "You can wear it today, but take good care of it ok?" His expression suddenly shifted to excitement and he turned to her with elation, his silver and light blue eyes lighting up with joy as he nodded maybe a bit too hard.

She giggled softly and pulled him into a hug before he shook his head clean off, embracing him in a warm hug full of motherly love like she had so many times over the last eight years. "Will you be good today?" A gentle shrug was his only response, and she couldnt help but laugh again as she pulled back, adjusting his collar a little as she did. "Alright, just don't get into trouble. I love you, Argus." He mumbled back a response with a small blush on his face, Ruby having realised that his friends were watching, and now taking the chance to kiss his cheek to embarass him further before sending him off.

The pout he wore as he ran off was all too cute, and Ruby stood proud as he turned back to wave before going inside... though now that he was out of sight the worry set in, as it did everytime he left her field of view. Would he be alright? Was he going to get picked on? No... no way. Firstly he was a Dragon, so there wouldn't be any kids stronger then him anyway... and Patch was a nice place. The families here were nice, and they raised good kids... Besides, he was a Prince! Who would pick on a Prince? They would sooner try and befriend him to get him to buy them treats and stuff... yeah... that's what would happen.

Possible extorting of her son aside, Ruby turned away and began heading back to... somewhere.

She paused. This didn't seem right. Where was she going? The castle? But... this was Patch... why would Argus be going to a school in Patch...?

She felt confused, a strange cloud forming over her memories before she heard crying... crying not her own, and not that of an adult either. Nor the crying of a child old enough to go to school...

No, she knew what this was now.

"This is a drea-"

Her eyes shot open and she didn't even bother climbing out of the covers. Her body exploded into dozens of rose petals as she shot across the room, settling and reforming her body next to the gilded and honestly too fancy-looking crib. Ruby was quick to reach her hands down into it and pick her poor baby up, the little one crying up a storm. She gently soothed him in her arms and turned just in time to see his other parent climbing out of bed, they shared a gentle smile as Weiss moved over, checking him but trusting Ruby to hold him still.

The crib was a new addition to their room, sporting the same dark wood design as all the other furniture, but also giving off an air of security. Ruby herself had looked into enchanting it previously, and currently it was probably the single safest spot to sleep in the whole castle.

"He have a nightmare...?" Weiss's whispers were the result of a tired voice, and Ruby shrugged gently.

"Not sure... he could be hungry." She looked down at the Prince, his expression softening now that he was surrounded by his parents, their scents being enough to drive away whatever was bothering him and settle him quickly. Ruby let out a small sigh as he closed his eyes again and she rested him back down into the crib. "I love being a Dragon and all... but I'm even more thankful he's one..."

Weiss gently chuckled and nodded, standing next to Ruby as she leaned over the crib and gently wrapping an arm around her waist. "It is helpful... even if he dosent know we mean he's safe, his instincts do." She reached down with her other hand and gently stroked his cheek, to which Ruby smiled.

"Someone being super-mum?" She teasingly whispered it and Weiss shot her a glare.

"I told you, he will be calling me 'mother' only. You can be mum, or mummy or whatever you want." The serious way Weiss talked about this always made Ruby giggle, and now of all times wasn't an exception.

"Jeez Weiss, he's a week old and you're already laying down the law huh?"

"I prefer his education start early." She said it with such a jokingly prim and proper voice that Ruby couldn't help but giggle softly again... though the talk of education reminded her of her dream.

"Argus wasn't the only one having a dream to be honest."

Weiss looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Oh? And do tell." She glanced at Ruby's shoulder, and only now did the girl realise she had left her cloak on its hook by their bed.

"Well..." She walked over to the hook and went to grab it... but instead left it there, gently stroking the cloth instead of putting it on. "I guess I had a dream Argus was older... he was going to school in Patch and... he was wearing this."

"I hate to break it to you Ruby-" Weiss moved up behind the her and gently wrapped her arms around her in a hug. "But Argus won't be going to school. Especially not in Patch... he'll be given tutors and instructors here and-"

"I know that." She layed her hands on Weiss's own, covering the soft hands gently laying on her stomach. "I was more worried about this."

"Your cloak? You surprised he was wearing it?"

"Kinda? I... I guess I always figured I'd give it to him when I found out about you being pregnant... but... I thought I would need a while before being ready to let it go."

"Its ok to let things go Ruby." She rested her chin on Ruby's shoulder, the action making Ruby smile... mainly because she knew Weiss had to be standing on her toes to accomplish it.

"Yeah... I know." She let go of the cloak and turned around, hugging Weiss happily before slowly moving back into bed. She was determined to get some sleep tonight... and who knows, maybe she'd have another dream about the future with it.

"Hey, Ruby...?" Not quite yet then.

"Yeah, Weiss?"

"Are you gonna make a new cloak?"

"Probably... why do you ask...?"

"Will it be ready in time for the Blood-moon?"

"I could probably make a new one tommorow if I needed to rush, Weiss."

"Maybe hold off on that... I think introducing Argus to your father will be more then enough to talk about."

"Yeah... maybe..." Their conversation came to an end, and Ruby could tell exactly when Weiss had fallen asleep, her breathing becoming calmer and more steady.

Ruby herself stayed awake a little longer. Her thoughts drifting as she thought on the future...

"I wonder what your plans for the future were... mum...?"