A Home With Us

“Blake!”

The young faunus’ head shot up at the mention of her name. Glancing out of the barn, she saw her father calmly following an overly excited monkey faunus.

“In the barn.” She called back out, waving when the pair's gaze turned to her. “Just fixing this bloody wagon.”

“You will not believe who they asked to host the Kuo Kuana Festival.” Sun yelled excitedly.

“Really dad? That's great.” Blake exclaimed, her smirk growing to a full smile as Sun pouted.

“Aww come on Blake, you didn’t even think about it.” He whined, “It could have been me.”

“It could be, but last I checked, it came with responsibilities.” Blake chuckled as she patted Sun on the shoulder. “And that doesn’t really scream ‘Sun’, does it?”

“Why must you bully me,” the monkey faunus groaned, raising his hand to his forehead while dramatically falling onto her.

Chuckling at her friend's antics, Blake turned to her father. “When is it? The festival?”

“One week, so not tomorrow, next thursday.” 

“Plenty of time for you to find a date~” Kali sang from behind, causing Blake to jump at the sudden noise.

“Mum,” Blake let out a groan, placing her head in her hands.

“Anyways, I’ll get back to the garden. You think about your date.” Kali chuckled, watching Sun as she left out the side door.

“I’m gonna hit the road too. Neptune said he’s shouting lunch for helping him move.” Sun beamed, already walking off with a wave.

“I still don’t like him,” Ghira muttered to his daughter.

“He really isn’t that bad, dad.” Blake wrapped him in a side hug. “And don’t worry, despite mum’s hints, I’m not asking him to the festival.”

“He’s a good kid, but…”

He did actually like Sun, Blake knew that much. She knew that it was just her mother's constant hinting that the two should get together that was haunting him.

=================================

Blake sat on a bale of hay in the corner of the barn, staring at the now repaired wagon. The right wheel had collapsed on itself, taking the axle with it. Wood rot, it looked like. After she removed the ruined wheel and axle, she inspected the rest of the wagon, making sure that it wasn’t affected. Since they already had a spare wheel, and the new axle arrived this morning, putting it back together was easy.

“Now, just have to give you some paint, and you’ll be good as new,” Blake muttered to the wagon.

Footsteps from outside the barn got her attention, she turned to greet them, but was confused when a blonde woman came around the corner, clad in light armour, pistol at her hip.

Bandit.

“You have no business here, bandit.” she yelled, grabbing the knife she used to shave wood.

When the blonde jumped back, raising her hands in the air, Blake held her ground, albeit slightly confused. Wide, lilac eyes watched her carefully, flicking between her own and the knife.

“Wait, please!” the blonde begged, keeping her hands in the air. “M’not here to hurt you. Here to help, promise!” 

“And why should I believe you?” Blake warned, waving the knife in front of her. 

“I’ve been goin’ round to the people m’ clan planned on hittin, warned ‘em ‘bout the bandits. S’why I’m here.”

“I’m just supposed to believe that a bandit group is about to ‘hit’ us.”

“Well, yeah.” the blonde assured her, “Be pretty dumb of me to warn the folks if i wanned to hit ‘em”

“Blake, is everything okay?” Kali’s voice came from behind the blonde, her tone a combination of concern and curiosity?

“Yeah, mum. Little bandit friend was just here warning us about how her clan plans to raid us.”

The blonde turned to the older faunus, likely assuming she’ll be easier to convince.

“Please, lis’n to me. Just grab a few extra guards, be ready. I can’t stay 'ere all day tryin' to-”

The blonde cut herself off, hands dropping and body sagging in one motion. Blake followed her eyes, past Kali to a little black bird sitting on the fence.

“Shit.”

Blake watched as the bird leapt off its perch, began to fly towards the trio before darting left behind the side of the barn. Before she could begin to question why it troubled the bandit, a second one, wearing a similar outfit, emerged from where the bird disappeared.

“Well well well, Yang. What have we got here.” the noirette spoke, her voice sending an uneasy chill down Blake’s spine.

“Raven, it ain’t what it looks like, I swear,” the blonde pleaded to the woman, Blake and Kali practically forgotten about. "I was just-"

"QUIET!" Raven cut off the girl, silencing her immediately. "Vernal was right, you were warning them. Even when we went to lengths to keep you ill informed. I'd be impressed if it didn't cost me."

"Raven, please." Yang pleaded.

"No." Raven scolded, holding up her hand. "You so desperately want to protect these people, be my guest." The woman turned to the faunus pair. "It would seem today is your lucky day."

Blake and Kali stared at the woman, barely understanding what's going on.

"As for you, Yang. If I see your face again at camp, you will be shot." With the threat out, Raven turned her back to the trio, ending the conversation.

"Raven!" Yang called out to said woman.

Raven didn't respond, just kept walking away.

"RAVEN!" There was anger in Yang's voice now.

The woman kept walking.

"Ma!" 

Yang watched as her mother disappeared over the hill, then watched as a small bird flew from where she came.

"Fuck," the blonde muttered, falling to her knees.

The three sat in an awkward silence, somewhat recovering from the past few minutes.

“So, Yang, was it?” Kali broke the silence, giving the blonde a small smile.

‘Oh no,’ Blake thought to herself. She's seen this side of her mother before.

Yang didn’t say anything, just gave the older woman a small nod.

“Do you have a place to go?” She knelt down to the blonde, completely disregarding the pistol at her hip.

Yang shook her head.

“Well, Yang. We could use an extra farm hand, and we’d be happy to take you in.”

Yang's head shot up as she stared at Kali with wide eyes, scanning her for any form of deception.

“I-I can’t accept that. I, no you don’t have to do that.”

“Sweetie, I’ve seen first hand good people be dragged into bad situations.” Kali spoke softly, looking towards Blake. “You didn’t have to warn those people, warn us. But you did anyway.”

Yang followed Kali’s eyes to Blake. “I’m not gettin’ outta this, am I?”

Blake looked at the pair and let out a soft laugh. “Most likely not.”

“Alright, uhh…” Yang narrowed her eyes, looking up at the older faunus.

“Kali.”

“I’ll, I’ll stay.” 

Blake watched as Yang stood up, accepting the fact she was now being engulfed in one of Kali’s overly motherly hugs. It was hard to miss the quiet sobs mixed with gentle ‘thank yous’ that left the blonde as she desperately clung to the cat faunus.

‘Mum, what have you gotten us into.’