Chapter 4
They were walking for a good while before they saw the others. It was starting to get dark out, so they had set up camp near a bunch of rocks for shelter.
Yang started to notice something was off once they got closer. Everyone seemed to be outside of the tent, around a fire that they had got going. That wasn’t what was off, though. Why are there two more people over there? Who are they?
Nora noticed them first. “You’re alright!” She shouted, running over and embracing Ruby in what looked like a bone-crushing hug.
“Ye-a-h.” Ruby choked out, her face twisting in pain.
Ren put a hand on Nora’s shoulder, having walked over with Qrow and Jaune as soon as they noticed them. “Nora, let her breath.”
Nora huffed, not wanting to, but she let go of Ruby anyway.
“We’re so glad you guys are okay!” Jaune said, then he paused, “You guys are okay, right?”
Weiss nodded, coming up next to Ruby. “We’re all okay. Our auras absorbed most of the damage.”
Yang tuned out the rest of the conversation, looking instead back at the campfire to see who else was there. Her eyes widened once she realized who they were.
Blake noticed as well, her jaw dropping. “...Sun?”
Sun got up from the campfire and bounded over to them, a mischievous grin on his face. “Heya, Blake!”
Without wasting a second, Blake ran up to Sun and hugged him tightly. “I can’t believe you’re here!”
Yang felt something reverberate through her chest at the sight of them, a feeling she wasn’t a stranger to. Why do I feel jealous? They’re just friends. I think.
Blake pulled away from the hug so that she could look at him. “What are you doing here?”
“Me and my team were escorting some people through the desert, and me and Neptune got separated from them. We ran into Jaune and the others an hour later and decided to camp out with them until morning. Then we could all go back to Shade together!” Sun explained, the grin never leaving his face.
Blake perked up. “That’s great! It’ll be nice to have you back.”
“Sounds like you missed me,” Sung said with a smirk, nudging her playfully.
Blake rolled her eyes and nudged him back. “Only a little.”
Yang walked past them and over to the fire, where she sat down without a word. They seem to be close. Maybe he’d be better for Blake than I would. But it’s not like she likes me back anyway.
She didn’t notice the looks that her team gave each other.
The rest of the group came back over to the fire; Jaune, Qrow, and Ren sat down where they were before. Ruby sat down next to Yang, with Weiss sitting next to her, Blake sat down on Yang’s other side, Sun sat next to her, and Penny sat down next to Weiss.
There was a moment of silence, then, “... What happened to your arm?”
She could almost feel the tension fill the air at that comment. And she swore that she heard Sun let out a mumbled “Neptune and his big mouth.”
Yang took a moment before answering. “It got caught in the rocks. I can’t wear it until it gets repaired.”
“May I see it?” Penny asked, holding out her hand.
Blake glanced at Yang to see if it was okay and handed it over to Penny at Yang’s nod.
Penny looked it over as thoroughly as she could, twisting it around in her hands. “... It needs some new parts to get it working fully again. But I could make it so that it won’t electrocute you and will do some basic functions.”
“Will I be able to fight?” Yang asked, trying not to let her hopes up.
Penny shook her head, handing the arm back. “I wouldn’t suggest it. It would most likely cause irreparable damage.”
Yang tried not to let the disappointment show on her face. It’s not Penny’s fault that I’m useless without my arm.
Yang could tell that Ruby wanted to say something, maybe comfort her, but Yang stood up before she could say anything.
“There’s nothing we can do about it now,” Yang said, walking towards where the sleeping bags were set up. “See what you can do for now. I’m heading to bed.”
She ignored the stares that followed her. She grabbed her sleeping bag, set it up, and got into it.
She tried to get to sleep, but it wouldn’t come. After a while, she gave up and simply stared out into the distance.
Every once in awhile, she would hear some bits of the conversation taking place over by the campfire.
“--Yang’ll be fine. She’s always been a tough little firecracker--”
“-- I’m just worried about her. She’s been acting strange--”
“Maybe we should ditch her. It’s not like she’ll be of any use to us--”
That caught Yang’s attention, but when she had looked back to see who was talking, it didn’t look like anyone had said anything or even reacted to it.
Shaking her head, she turned back around and closed her eyes, trying once again to sleep.
This time, sleep found her.
But it definitely wasn’t a good thing. Not this time.