Chapter 8

Day 2: Early Morning

Tundra

Weiss' watch was entirely uneventful. No Grimm came close to the camp, and there was no sign of search parties from either their allies or their enemies. On one hand, she was glad they didn't have to fight in their weakened state, but unfortunately this also meant that they weren't any closer to being rescued. Weiss sighed loudly, it was a good thing that the night had been so quiet but she was more bored than she thought was possible.

The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon when she heard Ruby's alarm go off in the tent. "Oh thank the Gods." Weiss muttered to herself, relief flooded through her, being alone with her thoughts for so long had been tortuous. She stood, tossing off the thermal lining from her legs, and stretched, her joints creaking from being curled up under the liner all night. She straightened her now-perpetually aching left knee and the joint gave a nasty crunch; she winced, gently rubbing it. She tossed a log on the low burning fire and it flared back to life just as she heard the zipper on the tent.

Ruby emerged with a grin on her face, "I'm awake!" she said cheerily, "And I bring gifts of breakfast!" She presented two ration packs with a dramatic flourish.

Weiss smiled, Ruby's good mood was infectious, and surprising given their circumstances. "Good morning." she said as Ruby pulled the tabs on the packs that started the warming process. "You seem better."

"Eh," Ruby said, sitting down beside her and shrugging. "I feel about the same honestly. Which Is good I guess, at least I don't feel any worse!"

Weiss nodded and gestured at Ruby's stomach, "We should change your bandages, and make sure the wounds aren't doing any worse."

Ruby nodded, she lay down and pulled her corset laces apart, giving Weiss access to her stomach. Weiss pulled the bandages off and inspected the wounds. She winced in sympathy. There was no sign of traditional infection, but they could both see the unnatural purple color of the veins near the wound. Weiss could see that the bleeding had stopped the previous day, but the wounds were still not being healed by Ruby's aura. Weiss sighed, silently cursing the effects of Tyrian's venom and redressed the wounds with fresh bandages and tape. She hoped that their ride home would arrive soon, the faster Ruby got help the better. She unwrapped the bandage on her own hand, and found that the deep gash Tyrian had inflicted on her had healed overnight, leaving only the faintest line of pink skin on her palm.

While their breakfast was still heating, the two packed up the camp so they could set out to the crash site immediately when their ride back arrived. They each ate some of their ration pack, electing to save some for later. Weiss noted that Ruby looked a little stronger than she had last night, but she still needed to lean on Crescent Rose to support herself on occasion.

The two girls waited for hours but their supposedly-scheduled ride didn't arrive. Ruby sighed and checked her Scroll, it was eleven AM. She sighed, "Weiss, I don't think they're coming…"

Weiss nodded sadly, "I think you're right…the big question is what do we do?"

Ruby thought for a moment, "We can't stay here…I think we have to start heading back on our own and hope they can spot us from the air once they do manage to get out here."

Weiss sighed again, "I was afraid you'd say that. But you're right, we should get going before we lose more daylight."

Ruby nodded and sat herself on the front sled, slinging the bag of supplies over her shoulder. Weiss sat behind her and gave them a push, wrapping her arms around Ruby's middle as they slid down the small hill. There was no laughing today, the mood much more dampened from earlier in the morning.

The two struck out into the tundra, Weiss pulling the sled towards the distant shape of Atlas looming on the horizon. Ruby alternated between walking beside and riding on the sled when she felt too weak to keep up the pace.

Day 2: Early Afternoon

Several hours later, they stopped to eat the rest of their now cold breakfast packets. Weiss sighed, "I was so looking forward to eating this on the way back home. But now I have to eat it out here in the snow, sitting on a rock instead of in a warm aircraft…"

Ruby nodded in agreement. As she chewed another bite of the ration bar. Somehow it tasted exactly as bad cold as it did warm. She swallowed, "Well as long as we're here, we should probably address the Goliath in the room…"

Weiss looked at her quizzically.

"You know..." Ruby said, "You asked me about why Tyrian wanted to take me to Salem and you were going to tell me-"

"Oh, right." Weiss interrupted, she had honestly been hoping to not talk about it at all, seemed like it would just be depressing at this point. "I had a lot of time to think this morning so I'm as ready as I'll ever be…"

"Why don't you go first," Ruby said, "Mine is kinda heavy…"

Weiss nodded, "Well," she started, her voice cracking with emotion, she felt Ruby's hand slip into hers and squeeze, gently encouraging her. "Watts basically implied that they were manipulating the election so that my father would win. But…" she swallowed, "But he also said that my father is not being as pliable to their demands as they wanted. So I think that they needed a show of force, to show him that they're serious."

"Killing you…" Ruby said quietly, Weiss nodded somberly, "But wouldn't you be a better bargaining chip? You'd be much more useful to them if you were captured than dead. And I'd much prefer it if you'd stay alive honestly." She said with a small smile.

"That's what I thought at first." Tears began to well up in Weiss' eyes, "But then I…my father is not terribly fond of me, especially not after I embarrassed him at his party, he won't respond to ransom demands for me." Weiss sighed, "I'm also the easiest target. My sister is a much better fighter than I am and my mother and brother are very well protected by security in the manor. I'm the easiest to get to. All it took was some fake intel and we walked more than willingly into their trap."

A look of horror dawned on Weiss' face, "Ruby, since they couldn't get to me, what if they just go after my family? You've seen what they can do, if they tried hard enough, they could absolutely get to my mom and Whitley."

Ruby shook her head, "I really don't think they'd do that, at least not yet. You told me they were planning on coming back last night, right? But they didn't…" Ruby thought for a moment, "As good of a target as your family is, our team has been a constant thorn in Salem's side. Killing you both manipulates your father and removes you as a threat. They'll come after us again before they go after your family." Ruby said, trying to make her voice As reassuring as possible. "I guess the big question is why they didn't come back last night…"

"You were super out of it at the time," Weiss said, her jaw clenching as an image of Ruby dangling limply from the talon of her Nevermore flashed through her mind, "but my Lancer did a good deal of damage to their vehicle." she said, "Maybe the craft was too broken to come back. Or they decided to lay low for a bit after whatever they did at Robyn's rally." she shrugged. "Honestly we survived the night and that's what matters. One step closer to getting back home."

Ruby nodded, and sighed. "I guess it's my turn then…I don't really know where to start…"

"Well, personally, I want to know what Tyrian meant when he said he was going to make you kill me." Weiss said softly.

Ruby's eyes took on a scared and faraway look, Weiss gently ran her thumb over Ruby's hand. "Can we walk and talk?" Ruby asked, "I just want to get back." Weiss nodded, picked up the rope and began to pull the sled again, Ruby walking along beside her.

"Tyrian said…" Ruby shakily started, "He said Salem can do things to control people like me…"

"People like you?" Weiss asked, trying to lighten the mood, "cookie-obsessed cuties?"

Ruby gave her a small smile, but the faraway look of fear quickly returned. "People with silver eyes. He said she would fuse me with Grimm essence." Ruby shuddered, the mere thought of it making her feel even sicker than she already did. "If they capture me, the whole time she's turning me, they'd make me listen to you being tortured." Tears began to flow down her cheeks, "And then they'd make me k-k-kill you…and then kill every one of our friends."

"And you know what else?" She asked, her voice starting to break, "He was originally planning to just kill me for cutting off his tail, but when he saw that we were together-together he knew that forcing me to kill you would be far worse than any physical torture he could do to me…" she stopped in her tracks, letting out an anguished sob. She looked Weiss in the eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks, "And the worst part...I'd still be in there, inside the monster, watching as Grimm-me tears you apart and I…" she collapsed to her knees sobbing. "I'd rather die…"

"Oh Ruby…" Weiss whispered, enveloping her in a hug, "It won't happen. I won't let them take you."

Ruby shook her head, "Weiss you can't fight both of them alone, I'm in no shape to take them on." Weiss sighed, knowing she was right. Ruby's face hardened, "I'll take my own life before I become her pawn." Ruby said, her voice taking on a hard edge. Weiss recoiled from her, breaking the hug, a look of horror on her face. "I'm serious." Ruby said quietly, "I won't hurt any of you, not if I can help it."

The look of horror on Weiss' face lasted only a moment; her eyes suddenly burned with a determined fire. "Then we won't fight them, because they won't have time to find us. I promise that I'll get you back to Atlas. We'll get you help and then…" a dark look passed across her face and her voice too took on a hard edge, "And then we make Tyrian and Watts pay for what they did to you."

And Ruby believed her. For the first time since their ride home had failed to show, she felt like there was a chance that things might turn out ok. Ruby's body spasmed, but she smiled through the pain. "Ok," she said, wiping tears from her eyes, "Captain Schnee," she barked, standing as tall as she could and trying to suppress a goofy grin, "Lieutenant Rose reporting for duty. What can I do to expedite our arrival back at headquarters?"

Weiss smirked, Ruby was a dolt, but she was her dolt and she wasn't above indulging in Ruby's silliness from time to time, "Lieutenant, all I need from you is to sit that cute butt of yours back on the sled and we'll get moving. We'll be back in Atlas in no time!"

Ruby saluted and began to make her way back to the sled, making sure to wiggle her butt at her girlfriend. She sat and Weiss set off, the untouched snow crunching under her boots.

Ruby looked sadly at the white-haired girl's back. 'She has to see how far away from Mantle we are.' she thought sadly, shaking her head, 'She seems awfully optimistic considering the circumstances.' Her throat tickled and she coughed hard, splattering her hand with more purple liquid and blood. She sighed forlornly, wiping her glove in the snow and tried to get comfortable, leaning back against the folded up tent.

Day 2: Late Afternoon

Later, Weiss steered the sled around yet another outcropping of rock, the terrain had gotten considerably more rocky and Weiss had to work hard to keep the sled on flat ground. She was exhausted from the hours of walking and pulling. Ruby had tried to lessen the burden by getting up and walking, but after less than thirty minutes her legs were clearly shaking and Weiss had yelled at her to get back on the sled.

Weiss brought the sled to a halt and leaned back against a boulder, rubbing her sore left knee. "I just need five minutes." she told Ruby, taking a swig of water from her canteen, "Just need to catch my breath."

"Take all the time you need!" Ruby said brightly, "You're the one putting in all the work here!"

Weiss pointed a finger at Ruby, "And you had better appreciate it!" she scolded playfully.

Before Ruby could retort, yet another coughing fit wracked her body. Over the course of the day, her cough had only gotten worse; her voice sounded raw and hoarse when she talked now.

Ruby put on a brave smile, but Weiss could clearly see that it was solely for her benefit. Ruby turned to the back of the sled, so she could watch their back. The easy mood of a few minutes dissipated, the reality of their situation weighing heavily on their minds.

Weiss took another swig of water and a bite of her leftover ration pack from breakfast. She scanned the sky as she chewed, hoping to see a Manta or any kind of sign that there was someone searching for them, but there was nothing. Once again she found herself wondering why no one was bothering to look for them, and what else was so important that Ironwood could just ignore two missing Huntresses.

"We've got company." Ruby said, interrupting her melancholy thoughts. Weiss rapidly turned her head, following Ruby's line of sight; weaving their way through the scattered boulders, seemingly following the trail of the sled, was a pack of five Beowolves.

Weiss' eyes grew wide, "We've got to move…" she breathed.

Ruby shook her head, "We can't outrun them, they'll be on us in less than a minute."

"Then we've got to...I've got to fight." Weiss said, the prospect of that fight seriously worrying her. Fighting five Beowolves alone was hard enough, but it would be nearly impossible if she had to protect her ailing partner at the same time.

Ruby looked away from their approaching enemies, looking in the direction of Atlas. Weiss could practically see the gears turning in her head. Ruby's eyes flicked to the front of the sled, confirming there was nothing directly in their path. "What if we could do both?"

"Ruby, you're in no state to run or fight."

"Trust me Weiss, I have an idea. Not sure it'll work but it's the best chance we've got."

"Ok," Weiss said, nodding quickly, they were out of other options anyway, "What do you need me to do?

Ruby lay down on her stomach and stretched herself out on the length of the sled, her feet braced firmly against the curled front lip. "Grab the supplies, sit your pretty-self between my legs and hang on tight!" She said with a grin.

Weiss carefully lowered herself into the triangle made by Ruby's legs, slinging the duffle bag over her shoulder. Ruby quickly deployed Crescent Rose in rifle mode and pressed the stock tight against her shoulder; she peered through the scope, drawing a bead on the lead Grimm. Weiss felt Ruby's muscles tense.

"Firing!" came her voice. Crescent Rose barked, and the round flew down range, the massive recoil sending the sled flying across the snow in the opposite direction. Weiss saw the Beowolf drop as the bullet punched right through its bony faceplate, it's comrades running around it as they continued their pursuit. Weiss' heart soared as they flew several hundred feet away from their pursuers, and Ruby let out a small bark of laughter. She pulled back the bolt of her scythe, ejecting the spent cartridge.

"I think I might be able to help on the next one." Weiss said, as Ruby chambered another round, "Just be prepared for a speed boost." Ruby nodded an affirmative. Weiss turned around as Ruby took aim at her next target, she projected a long long line of glyphs as far as she could, angling them appropriately so that they would avoid any boulders or rocks in their path. "Ready!" She called back.

"Firing!" another Beowolf dropped and the sled jerked forward again. They rapidly gained speed on the glyphs, eventually coming to a stop a good five hundred feet away from where they started. Ruby prepared to fire again and Weiss conjured more glyphs.

They repeated this process three more times, eventually ending up more than a half mile from where the fight began. As the last Grimm turned to ash, and they slid to a stop, Ruby flipped over to look at her, a big grin on her face. "That was so cool!" she said beaming, "I can't believe that actually-"

She was cut off by the biggest coughing fit yet, her entire body spasming, flecks of blood flying from her mouth onto the snow. Weiss watched in horror as Ruby's body convulsed with each new cough.

She wrapped her arms around the younger girl, desperately trying to soothe her pain. The fit passed several minutes later; by the time it was finished, a small patch of snow off the side of the sled was stained an ugly purple and red color.

Ruby's breath came out in ragged gasps, and her eyes were nearly closed. "Ruby?" Weiss asked, shaking her slightly, there was no response from the sickly girl. "Ruby!" she cried. There was still no response. She grabbed Ruby's hand as tears began to flow down her face, "Ruby are you with me!?" she desperately screamed.

Ruby's fingers gently squeezed Weiss' hand, "Always." Came Ruby's voice, barely more than a whisper. Weiss let out her held breath, Ruby was still there, for now. Weiss quickly injected Ruby with another dose of the strong painkiller, it was well ahead of schedule but she clearly needed it. She unpacked the sleeping bag and wrapped it around her partner.

"Get some rest Ruby," she said softly, "I'll get us to a good spot to set up camp." Ruby gave her the tiniest of nods.

Weiss pulled the sled for another thirty minutes, occasionally hearing a weak cough from the sled behind her; she eventually found a suitable hilltop with a decent view of the area around them. She hurriedly set up the tent, bundling Ruby into it to keep warm while she set up the rest of camp. She built the fire right next to a nice, flat rock so they would have a place to sit.

The sun had sunk below the horizon and the stars were beginning to come out by the time she got the fire going. By then, Ruby said she felt a little stronger, and with some help from Weiss was able to hobble over and sit by the fire.

Weiss had Ruby lay down and she began the process of changing Ruby's bandages. Weiss gasped as she peeled the bandage away. The purple lines they had seen earlier that morning had spread, completely covering her abdomen and reaching up to her lower chest.

Weiss' jaw clenched, "I'm going to kill Tyrian…" she hissed bitterly.

Ruby gave a soft chuckle, "I think you might have to fight Yang for that honor once she finds out what happened."

Weiss gave a small smile, "We'll kill him together then." she said as she taped the new bandages into place.

They made sure to keep an eye on the tundra as they ate dinner, looking for more Grimm coming their way. Thankfully the night was silent but for the wind.

Ruby gingerly touched the bandages covering her stomach, letting out a quiet hiss of pain, "It's getting worse Weiss…" she said softly.

"I know." Weiss replied, deliberately avoiding looking at her, afraid she might break down crying if she saw her partner's weakened state. "That's why we have to move faster starting in the morning. I'll stop conserving my aura and just bundle up as much as I can against the cold. I'll shoot us along with glyphs; if the terrain cooperates, we should be able to cover about a half mile every go. I'll do that until my aura is in the red, we'll huddle for warmth until my aura is high enough for another run and repeat until we get home and you're safe and healthy."

"Or until you drop dead." Ruby said bitterly, "Taxing your aura like that isn't safe, and you know it. You'll die long before we get to Mantle."

"Well, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO RUBY?!" Weiss screamed, "YOU'RE...you're very sick there's no way to help you out here. We have to get home as soon as we can."

"Weiss I'm-"

"Ruby we'll discuss this in the morning, neither of us are in any state to have a rational discussion."

Ruby sighed, nodding in agreement, "Fine, I'll take the first watch."

"Ruby, you can barely sit up on your own." Weiss sighed, "Let's just go to bed, neither of us are in any shape to be on watch right now."

Ruby nodded in reluctant agreement, her eyelids drooping slightly, "What if Grimm eat us during the night?"

Weiss chuckled, "Honestly I could use the rest at this point."

Ruby snorted, "That's dark... But I can't disagree at this point. And after what we did this afternoon, they'll think twice before messing with us." Ruby tilted her head slightly, a thought occurring to her. "Go in without me. I just want to look at the stars for a few minutes."

Weiss nodded, leaving the tent unzipped and wrapping herself in the sleeping bag. She began to drift off almost immediately. She could have sworn she heard Ruby's voice coming from outside but wasn't certain. Sometime later she heard the zipper as Ruby sealed the two of them inside the tent for the night.

The younger girl crawled inside the sleeping bag, curling up against Weiss' front, her forehead pressed to Weiss' chest. Weiss wrapped her arm around her, trying to will health back into her partner.

Sleep was fitful for both of them.

And that's a wrap on Day 2. Day 3 will of course be up next. as the story goes on, I'll be showing what's happening from Both Ruby and Weiss' perspective and occasionally switching back to Atlas to keep up with Yang and Blake. Let me know what you thought of the chapter/story in the comments! As always, Thanks to my wonderful wife-to-be V for being my trusty editor. And of course thanks to all of you for reading!