“Ugh! This never ends!” Yang groaned as she punched one of the Atlas Soldiers off the train.
Team RWBY are on a train heading to a secret base in the barren tundra to the east. It was an urgent mission given by Harper who worked for Ironwood.
However they didn't expect Atlas Soldiers to be attacking them on the train. It was suspicious and strange…
“Of course it's on the same day Atlas reported a blizzard would happen today.” Weiss mentions as she skated across the train with her glyphs, swiftly stabbing one of the enemies.
“Aww man, really?” Ruby pouted before she shot with her crescent rose. “I'm so tired of the cold… why can't we be in a warm place!”
“Ice queen over here would melt, we'd have to be careful.” Yang joked, getting a glare from Weiss.
“I'm not that pathetic in a warm environment…”
Blake kicks off a troop.“How much longer is it till we arrive at the base?”
“I don't know, but why are we even being attacked by the Atlesian troops in the first place?” Yang questioned. Weiss looked back at her team wondering the same thing.
“Why here?” Weiss thinks about it.
Ruby thought about it before it finally connected… it all made sense, her eyes widening in panic. “Guys! It's a trap! Harper wants us to get stranded in the middle of nowhere! We got set up!”
Blake's ears fold back, soon hearing the soldiers jumping off the train, which only meant one thing. Danger. Looking ahead, Blake didn't even think before she ran to the edge.
“GUYS! WE NEED TO GET OFF!”
But it was too late for any of them to react on time before the train had been sent off the cliff. Blake was the closest to Yang and the cliff, grabbing her arm before using her Gambol Shroud to grapple at the cliff.
However Weiss and Ruby weren't so lucky as they got sent flying with no time to react.
“RUBY! WEISS!” Yang screamed as the two disappeared in the white fog with their screams fading. Blake was already blaming herself for not noticing sooner. There was just no time to react for any of them.
Yang was pulled up, thanks to Blake. She immediately pulled out her scroll, calling for Ruby. When she doesn't pick up, Yang tries again with Weiss, but no one picks up. This had the poor blonde stressing out and looked at Blake with panic.
“Blake! We have to go find them!”
“I- I know! But-” Blake looked up at the sky, seeing the darker clouds. “The blizzard and the grimms…” Blake cursed to herself as she tried to find a solution to this without freezing or mauled to death. She quickly pulled out her scroll, holding it in the air as she checked for a signal. There was only one bar.
“Yang, we have a signal, barely, we should contact Ironwood and let him know. If we don't do it now, the blizzard will hit and we won't have any connections.”
“But-” Yang stopped herself, crossing her arms. “So you're saying we should stay put and wait for help? But what about?-”
“Look.” Blake showed her screen, showing the team's aura level. Ruby and Weiss's aura were low, but not in danger.
“They're alive, and they're both smart, they'll know what to do… hopefully.” Blake frowns at the screen.
They're both worried, but they have a chance to get help and search for their missing teammates. Yang soon sighed, standing next to the faunus.
“Okay. Let's call him.” Yang tapped on Blake's scroll.
“Ugh…”
Weiss groaned to herself, holding her head with her palm as she slowly opened her eyes. Squinting at the white sky.
“Ruby? Blake? Yang?” Weiss called out, blinking a few times before she carefully stood up. The snow had cushioned the fall, and Weiss was thankful for that.
“Ruby!” Weiss shouted as she looked around. Seeing the train remains, she had hoped that it didn't crush anyone.
“mhmhm!! Mhhmmm!”
Ruby!
Weiss heard the muffled sounds of Ruby, soon looking at what appears to be her leader upside down stuck in the snow, her legs kicking around.
“Goodness…” Weiss sighed in relief as she walked up to the stuck leader, digging out the snow trying to free her. Eventually Ruby's face was visible.
“Weiss!” Ruby was glad to see that Weiss was okay, soon getting pulled out of the snow. “Are you okay Weiss?”
“I should be the one asking you that, but-” Weiss pauses, checking her movements and looking for any injuries. Her leg did feel injured, but her aura would easily heal whatever happens.
“I'm okay, you?”
“Better than I was in the snow!” Ruby follows with a smile, patting the snow off her clothes before she scanned the area.
“Where's Yang and Blake?”
Weiss shrugs, “I'm not sure, I just woke up and found you. Here, maybe we can call them.” She pulls out her scroll, her personal space being invaded by Ruby looking over her shoulder. Tapping away, Weiss soon furrowed her eyebrows, quietly groaning. “There's no signal…”
Ruby then walked off, holding her hands near her lips as she called out.
“YANG! BLAKE!!!”
But there was only silence, her arms falling to her side in defeat.
“I don't see any signs of them being here. Maybe they didn't fall with us.” Weiss came to a conclusion, getting a hum from Ruby.
“Uhm, Weiss? Didn't you say there would be a blizzard?”
Crap. Her shoulders then slouched, annoyed at the realization. “Yes… Yes I did. We're not in a good situation, stranded in the middle of nowhere, probably full of grimms, and a blizzard will be hitting soon.” Weiss is so tired of this already. They've barely had a chance to get a break. Ruby held her chin, thinking of a solution to this.
“Let's find a shelter for now. Maybe we'll find a signal.”
Weiss frowned. Normally she would be against this, saying that they should stay in one place till help arrives, but with the danger of a blizzard coming, they have no choice in this.
“Agreed. Luckily our auras are okay, low, but okay. But we should be careful from this point. Who knows what's out here.”
Ruby nods before grabbing her weapon and placing it on her back before the two walk across the snowy tundra.
“WHAT?!” Yang nearly screamed, her eyes flickering in red. Blake held her arm.
“But they're out there! ALONE! In the blizzard! We can't just wait till the storm is over!”
“I'm sorry, but it's too dangerous to send anyone out in the blizzard. Aircraft are unavailable till the storm is over. It is suicide to send anyone on foot searching for them. Not to mention, we don't know where they are.” Ironwood explains calmly. Yang's hair was on the verge of just lighting on fire, but Blake held her hand, calming her. Winter, who stood next to Ironwood, remained silent, but there was an obvious conflict in her expression. Worried for her younger sister.
“I can go look for them! The blizzard will not affect me!” Penny salutes, only to get denied by the General.
“No… it's best if you stay here.”
Yang took a deep breath. Blake took her turn to speak. “I understand sir, but it's like Yang said, our teammates are stranded out there. There has to be a way to find them.” Ironwood scowls, thinking.
Suddenly the door opens, to which Yang and Blake turn around to see that it was Qrow. “Come on kiddo.”
Winter scowled and spoke with a stern voice.“Who allowed you in?! You can't just barge in here like th-”
“Yeah yeah, I'm leaving with these two.” Qrow interrupts Winter. Yang and Blake looked at each other in confusion, Qrow looked at the duo, speaking his plan to them.
“There's a truck in mantle that we can take, I'll take you two with me and we can search for th-”
“Are you crazy?!” Winter interrupted, walking up to Qrow scowling. “It would be suicide for you all! I-”
“So you're just going to let your sister be stuck out there in the storm?” Qrow made eye contact with Winter, who scowled, but didn't say anything, walking backwards to stand by the General.
“Are you sure about this?” Ironwood checks with Qrow.
“Of course I am. No way in hell am I leaving my niece out there alone.” Qrow says, getting an annoyed sigh from Ironwood who rubs his temple.
“Very well, We will provide a vehicle for you. But there will be no help or support.”
Qrow smirks and nods before leaving with Blake and Yang, the door closing behind them. Penny looked at Winter with worry.
“They'll be okay… right?”
Winter's expression relaxed, looking at the android. “I hope so.”
Penny frowned, before she walked in front of Ironwood. “General! I request that I go with them! I will not leave the vehicle at all, please let me go with them.”
Ironwood stares for a long time before he eventually allows Penny to go on the rescue mission. Penny didn't waste any time as she quickly left to go catch up with Yang and Blake.
“This was a terrible IDEA!” Weiss shouted loudly. The blizzard had begun long ago and it was getting worse as minutes went by. It was getting harder to see, and the cold was starting to get to them.
“We've been walking for an hour or more! We haven't found anything but snow!” Weiss shouts again.
“I know!” Ruby shivered as she rubbed her arms. This was really bad. If they don't find shelter soon, it will be over for these two.
What they do know is that it's afternoon, as it was getting darker and darker. Which was not good for them both. But they were fortunate enough that they've not encountered any grimms lately, as the blizzard made them blind and weak.
“AUGH!”
Ruby turned around to faintly see her friend kneeling down on the snow. “Weiss!” Ruby quickly walks over, kneeling down to her. “What's wrong? What happened?”
“My leg really hurts…” Weiss answered, getting a confused noise from Ruby.
“What?! But I thought you were okay!”
“I- I thought so! I mean my leg was probably injured by the fall but my aura should've healed it by now! Wait…” Weiss pulled out her scroll, checking their aura.
“It's… low?” Ruby stared at the screen in surprise. It's showing their aura level is on the verge of breaking. “But why…?”
“The cold…” Weiss breathed out, Which Ruby looked at her. “Our aura is working hard trying to keep us alive from the cold. It's keeping us protected… but we don't have much long before it breaks”
Ruby started to worry. She was already worried earlier! But Ruby had hoped they'd be in a shelter by now. The realization that they're at risk of dying soon hits her.
“I'm so tired…” Weiss pants. So was Ruby. Her body felt heavy and numbed. The snow did look nice to sleep on now that she thinks about it. No! What is she thinking?!
“We can't give up… not now!” Ruby stood up, trying to pull Weiss back onto her foot. “Lean against me, I got you.” She says as she proceeds to put Weiss's arm around her neck, while she uses her other hand to hold Weiss's waist.
Ruby looked around, there was nothing but snow and low visibility. There was no plan but to keep walking. They could feel frost on their skin. Ruby had a hard time seeing due to the snow in her lashes. Her hair was getting frost.
“Weiss? Can you use your semblance so we can go faster?”
Weiss then reached out with her free arm, soon a glyph appeared, but it was flicking before fading away, leaving Weiss panting. “Sorry, I can't.”
“That's okay! That's fine!” Ruby breathed out. No! It wasn't fine! But it's not her fault. Ruby gritted her teeth as she took a step. She just has to keep going!
What felt like an hour, their aura broke. Ruby's legs felt so heavy, it was too much for her, as they both topple forward into the snow. Was this it for them? Was it truly over?
“No…” Ruby weakly spoke. She finally became what she wanted to be since she was small, a huntress! She didn't want to die, not now! Not when the world needs her, and has so much she wants to do in the future.
Ruby weakly pulled Weiss closer to her, quietly speaking to her, “I'm sorry…” before closing her eyes.
. . .
“Ruby!”
. . .
“Don't give up…!”
Ruby slowly opens her eyes, seeing a figure in front of her, someone with a white cloak.
“Follow my voice…! You can't give up, not now, not ever.”
Why does it sound so familiar?
The stranger slowly walks away, which Ruby noticed there was a faint glow to them.
No… I can't give up now…! I have people waiting for us!
Ruby gritted her teeth as she struggled to stand up.
“R…Ruby?” Weiss softly groans.
“Come on Weiss, we can't give up…! I won't let us…!” Ruby strained as she forced Weiss to get up, leaning against her. Ruby then slowly followed the stranger.
A few minutes later, the figure disappeared, there it was, a small cave!
“Shelter…!” Ruby breathed out in happiness, to which she slowly walked inside, going deeper in the cave till the cold air wasn't crashing into them anymore.
Weiss was barely awake, but she unsheathed her weapon, where a faint glow appeared on the tip. Soon revealing two brown skeletons up against the wall, startling the girls.
It looks like someone tried to survive out here but had fallen to the cold. There was an old worn fireplace, to which Weiss immediately lit it up. Soon the fire brought the warmth and light they've looked for so long.
Warmth… Thank god. As much as Ruby wants to relax and just succumb to the exhaustion, their job isn't done yet.
The danger of hypothermia still lurked around. Weiss was also aware of the danger, which is why she's still fighting to stay awake.
They're both wet and frozen from the snowstorm. The first thing she did was take off her cape and put it by the fire before she tried to take off her clothes. Soon leaving her in under garments.
“Weiss…? Can you-”
“I know…” Weiss breathed out, slowly, but she took off her outfit as well. She took notice of her leg, it looks swollen, it doesn't hurt anymore though.
Eventually Ruby grabbed her now dry, warm cape, before she laid it over both of them. “Get closer Weiss…” Ruby whispered, laying down on the cold floor.
“...m’kay…” Weiss mumbled as she laid with Ruby. Eventually understanding Ruby's plan. They both hugged, pressing against each other.
“Ruby…?” Weiss softly spoke, getting the tired girl's attention, who responded with a hum. “If this is how it ends… I'm sorry, but I don't regret a single thing. I'm glad I met you…”
Ruby would be embarrassed and blushing right now if she wasn't so weak. “Me too… you're the best partner ever…”
Weiss quietly chuckles. “Perhaps I'll just say this too… before I regret not saying it… but I love you Ruby… I wish I could've told you in a better place..”
Ruby smiled, feeling her consciousness fading away. “Me too… love you… too.”
Eventually the exhaustion finally won for both of them.
“Any signs Penny?”
“I still cannot detect any signs of life.” Penny reports to Blake, which only increases Yang's stress. They're in the backseat of the Atlas truck, driving on the snow. The truck was meant for the snowy areas, which made it easy to get to places.
Penny was in the front seat with Qrow.
“What if they're dead…?” Yang clutches at her hair, leaning over the seat. “What if they're just out there in the snow dead?” They've been searching for hours, and it's nighttime.
“Yang…! Don't say that! We'll find them! We have too!” Blake wanted to be hopeful, but this is the tundra, there's nothing out here, and it's dark. It would be a miracle if they found them in time.
“Any signs?”
Blake opened her scroll onto intercoms, seeing Jaune.
“Nope. Penny hasn't detected anything yet.”
“This isn't good.” Ren says in the background. “They won't be able to last out here for much longer.”
Team JNR had volunteered to assist in the search party, having a separate vehicle as they searched.
“Are you sure we're in the right area of the tundra?” Nora asked.
“We should be.” Ren responds.
“We have arrived at the east part of this tundra. I have detected a crash nearby. Would that be the train you guys were on?” Penny announces.
“Yes! Yes that's it!” Yang shouted.
“What are the coordinations?” Qrow asked. Penny soon says the numbers.
“Okay, meet us there Jaune.” Qrow then sped up the vehicle.
“You got it.”
Eventually the headlight shined on the train remains. Another light source arrived to the destination.
“Okay, get out and start searching for any signs. Do NOT go far, and stay together.” Qrow ordered before getting out.
They're all suited up in snow gear, equipped with high beam flashlights. Soon everyone got partners and began searching. Penny stayed in the back of the truck, but she didn't like the idea of doing nothing.
“I promised the general I'd stay.” She told herself. Even if it's killing her to not go help.
Yang and Blake searched the area together. A thousand things were happening in Yang's mind. Thinking of all the results of her beloved sister.
“Yang?”
What would she tell dad? How could she break it to Winter? What was Yang supposed to do if Ruby is de-
“Yang!” Blake grabbed Yang's arm, getting her attention.
“Sorry, I… I'm just-”
“Me too. I'm worried too.” Blake's gloved hand slid down to Yang's, holding her. Yang smiled behind her thick coat.
She tries to lighten the mood by asking Blake “Can you even hear anything with that hat on?”
“What?!” Blake called, making Yang laugh.
“Nora and I checked the trains, it's all empty. We haven't found anything.” Ren reports with the intercoms.
“Nothing over here too.” Jaune reports.
“Damnit…!” Yang shouted in frustration, kicking at the snow, till that's when she noticed that the snow doesn't look right in this part. Yang shined a flashlight on it, revealing faint signs of footprints.
“We found footprints.” Yang immediately reports.
“Alright, back in the trucks. We're going to follow the trail.” Qrow orders.
Soon everyone's back inside, starting it up as they began to drive, following the trail. Blake held Yang's shoulder.
“Well… I guess we can cross off the “What if they got crushed by the train” off the list.” Blake smiled, making Yang chuckle.
“Yeah…” She breathes out.
“Hey…” Qrow gets Yang, Penny, Blake's attention at the driver. “Nothing wrong with having hopes… but be prepared to find something we're not gonna like.” He warns.
Yang tenses up, but Blake nods.
All the sudden Penny had let out a loud gasp, scaring everyone that's on the vehicle. “I have detected life! It is very faint. They are in critical condition!”
“Lead the way!” Qrow shouted, getting a nod from Penny.
“We must hurry! Their aura has already been broken for a while.” Penny states. Yang could hear her own heart pounding against her chest. They finally found them.
Eventually a faint light source was seen. “THERE!” Penny points. Qrow puts it into park as soon they arrived. No one said anything as they left the trucks, rushing inside the cave.
“RUBY!” Yang almost screamed out when she saw Ruby and Weiss laying on the floor with a cape over them. They didn't flinch or make any noise, which wasn't good.
Yang was already by Ruby's side, gently shaking her shoulder. She's so cold to touch…!
“Get the extra coats!” Yang shouted.
“Already have them.” Ren gave Yang the thick soft coats. Blake helped Yang get the unconscious girls in the coats before picking them up. Nora and Ren were grabbing their clothes and weapons before they all rushed back to their vehicles, sitting down at the seats. Jaune joined the girls this time. Yang tried her best to warm her sister back to consciousness.
“They are experiencing hypothermia. Activating heaters.” Soon Penny was radiating heat, heating the inside of the truck.
Jaune placed his hand on Weiss and Ruby, giving them aura, trying to bring their aura level back to normal.
“Fuck it.” Yang activated her semblance, heating up as she held Ruby close to her chest. “Come on… Ruby please wake up…”
So cold… yet so hot…
…
I can't move …
. . .
I don't wanna die…I don't want Weiss to die…
“...BY!”
Who is… that?
Why is the ground shaking…?
Ruby tries to open her eyes partly, noticing that she's in the arms of someone who's glowing so brightly.
“...Y…Y…ng?” Ruby tries to call out, her body failing to work the way she wanted to. Voices sounded muffled to her, she has no idea what's happening.
But was met with a warm hand to her cheek. Now that she did that, someone's hand was on her shoulder. Ruby notices her own body has a white aura.
“...our...ay… afe…”
…
I'm really tired. . .
But… Weiss! Is she okay…!
Unfortunately the exhaustion won again as she closed her eyes once again.
Ruby isn't sure what was happening, but she felt her consciousness slowly returning to her. Her body was so hot, it was almost uncomfortable.
Also she felt sick, which sucked.
Finally having the strength, Ruby opened her eyes, met with a ceiling. She found herself in a bed with multiple layers of blankets. Ruby slowly pushed herself, wincing at the sharp pain she felt on her finger tips that had bandages around them. She looked around, recognizing the room. They're in the Atlas dorms.
“Ugh… hello?” Ruby calls out, rubbing her head.
“Mgh… be quiet…” Someone mumbled. Wait, that voice! Ruby immediately looked over her bed to see Weiss below her sleeping.
“Weiss?!”
Weiss flinched and immediately sat up, which she regretted after feeling dizzy. “Ugh… Ruby you're so loud…”
The realization then finally hit them both that they're in Atlas, not outside freezing.
Ruby got off her top bunk to sit next to Weiss, holding her cheeks.
“Are you okay?” Ruby asked with worry in her voice. Weiss was blushing, but responds by holding Ruby's wrists, pulling them away.
“I think so. I feel ill, but otherwise I'm okay. Are you?”
“Same over here, I just feel sick… but I feel so warm. Wasn't there something wrong with your leg though?” Ruby reminds, to which Weiss got out of the covers to check her leg, which had bandages around it.
“It feels fine, I think my aura took care of whatever was wrong.”
“That's good.”
Weiss looks at Ruby, noticing they both have a bandaid on their noses. Must be a mild case of frostbite… Ruby definitely has frostbite on her fingers since she has finger less gloves.
. . .
Suddenly Weiss turned red, covering her face in embarrassment.
“W-Weiss? What's wrong?” Ruby blinked in confusion.
“D- Do you remember anything before we passed out?”
Ruby thought about it for a while before it finally clicks for her. Her face was almost the same as Weiss.
“O- Oh.”
“Arghh… I really thought that was it for us! We almost d- yeah… we almost died.” Weiss hugged herself, uncomfortable at the thought of that. “I'm sorry Ruby, I wish I could've said it at a more romantic time.”
“It's okay. I like you too!”
“Eh?”
“I said I love you too back there!”
“O- Oh yeah you… did. Oh… oh…” Weiss stared at Ruby. Just like that? That's how it starts?
“Does this mean you're my girlfriend now?”
“I- I suppose so. If that's okay with you.”
“Sure!”
“Okay… uhm”
. . .
“Can I kiss you?”
Weiss was going to explode in embarrassment… but she's always wanted this. So Weiss gave a nod, getting a peck on the cheek. Not what she thought she'd get, but it was a sweet start.
“I did not expect to wake up and be kissed after almost dying, but I'm cool with it.” Weiss grins.
“Ruby?”
Ruby looked at the doorway seeing Yang and Blake. Before they knew it, Weiss and Ruby were trapped in a tight hug from Yang.
“Thank god you're finally awake…! I was so worried…!” Yang held back her tears.
“Y- Yaangg… I can't breathe.” Ruby strained, which made Yang pull away. “Wait, what do you mean finally awake?”
“You two have been asleep for almost 3 days.” Weiss and Ruby blinked. Three days?
“How did you find us?” Weiss questions.
“Well, first it started off with us calling for help when we had signal, then Ironwood refused to let us go back to save you two, but then Qrow came in and managed to convince him to get a vehicle and search for you guys. JNR and Penny came along to help.”
“Penny?” Ruby smiled at that, getting a nod from the blondie.
Blake crosses her arms. “It's a miracle that you two survived. We've been searching for hours. We had no idea if you were even alive. How did you guys even find shelter?”
“I dunno. We almost passed out on the snow till I heard a voice and saw a woman with a white clo-”
Yang and Ruby stared at each other in shock. “Summer… Mom.” Yang says, tearing up.
“You must have been on the brink of death.” Yang says. “What did she say?”
“She said to not give up, it wasn't my time or something like that. It's hard to remember.” Ruby shrugs, but it was really comforting that her mother had somehow arrived to save her and Weiss.
“I'm just so glad you two made it. Even after we found you, I-” Yang stiffens up.
“You were barely breathing. We didn't think you'd make it out alive.” Blake finishes for Yang, turning to look at Weiss. “You should've seen Winter. She refused to leave your side when you temporarily stayed at the hospital.”
“Winter did?” Weiss was surprised, getting a hum from Blake.
“I'm sorry we worried everyone.” Ruby lowered her head.
“Hey.” Yang held Ruby's hand. “That doesn't matter anymore. You and Weiss are awake and alive. That's all that matters.”
Ruby smiles at her sister before hugging her.
“Get some rest, we'll let the others know that you two finally woke up.”
“Finally.” Weiss immediately rolls over, getting comfortable, making Blake chuckle.
“Noooo….” Ruby whined. “I don't wanna go to bed alone. I wanna sleep with her…” Ruby then laid next to Weiss, who welcomed the cuddles.
(LOVELY ART FROM @LesbianismFr on TWITTER TSYM)
“uh huh…?” Yang blinked before looking at Blake, whispering.
“Are they… together?” Blake shrugs at that, unsure as well.
Soon they left the room, leaving the warm room to Ruby and Weiss.
“I don't think I wanna leave this bed anymore.” Ruby sighs in happiness.
“Dolt… shut up.”
“Yes ma'am”
