Chapter 29

After all the excitement of the prior day, a slow morning was sorely needed. Pyrrha lazed in bed with Ruby for the better part of two hours, revelling in the simple comfort of intimacy. She had never experienced this before in her life, always sleeping alone. She had no sisters, no close childhood friends. The closest consistent company she ever experienced were coaches and trainers, for some of whom she developed a fondness. She could not deny that her life had been a lonesome one. Until she came to Patch there was so much moving around, training, tournaments, study. Every day of her life had been dedicated to growing stronger, all for prestige, the entertainment of others. It had left so little time to pursue meaningful bonds.

Pyrrha remembered well the day she had awoken to a feeling of hollowness, depression. Along with it came a greater awareness of the world around her, the pain and struggles of her spectators' daily lives. The idea that she was living a life of comfort, wasting her skills in the ring while people were suffering in the wilderness without protectors, had sickened her. And though her journey had been far from painless, lying there that morning Pyrrha was thankful for it, that she could simply smile and be content, if only for a short while, in the arms of someone for whom she had come to care. For the first time in her life she did not feel alone. Not in the slightest.

Eventually Pyrrha allowed Ruby to help her up, leaning on the small but strong summon to keep weight off her still sensitive leg, which ached at even the slightest exertion. She chose to forgo dressing, and her normal morning exercises were out of the question. Today would be spent in rest, and her sleepwear was far more comfortable than her usual attire, if potentially revealing. A silken slip left little to the imagination, but so long as there were no stiff gales blowing through the house, her modesty would be spared.

The halls were warm as Ruby led her to the bathroom. Glynda's insulation wards worked well to trap the heat, and Yang's presence generated yet more. Even the normally frigid tiled room was pleasant. Ruby waited patiently as Pyrrha relieved herself, deciding to skip a bath for breakfast instead. Given the lack of morning exercises, she could have one in the evening instead. Perhaps with some candles, and one of Weiss' scented bombs. And a face mask. And a glass of wine. And some chocolate.

As Ruby and Pyrrha approached the kitchen, voices became clearer - Winter's, to Pyrrha's surprise, and Yang's. "It's still not bubbling." Winter complained.

"Just be patient." Yang advised.

Ruby and Pyrrha peeked through the doorway to find an odd sight - Winter huddled over the stove, a sizzling pan between herself and Yang, absentmindedly poking at the flickering flames beneath the implement. Weiss watched from the kitchen table, a cup of coffee in hand and a muffin on the plate before her. "Were my measurements correct?" Winter fretted.

Yang rolled her eyes. "They don't have to be exact Winter. You can eyeball everything."

"You said this was similar to alchemy." Winter snarked. "You need to be exact in alchemy. You cannot just eyeball everything."

"I just drew a comparison." Yang defended.

"Well it was an inaccurate comparison." Winter mumbled.

"Your face is an inaccurate comparison." Yang shot back.

"What...that doesn't even...what even does that mean?" Winter blustered.

"What even does - did I break you already?" Yang smirked.

Weiss chuckled, shaking her head, turning to Pyrrha and Ruby with a smile. "Pyrrha, Ruby, good morning." She greeted, setting down her coffee to stand. "It's a relief to see you upright." Pyrrha almost gasped as she took in Weiss' appearance - the angry slice across her left eye, bruised, swollen shut, contrasting with her bright smile. "I know, horrifying isn't it? You should see my side. I've got a porthole." She joked, patting her abdomen.

Pyrrha shook herself. "Striking certainly." She corrected.

Weiss scoffed. "Yes, as are you." She glanced at the side of Pyrrha's head.

Pyrrha had neglected to examine the wound in the mirror, or rather the scar that apparently remained, still throbbing with her heartbeat. She was not concerned with disfigurement, but a part of her simply did not wish to confront that as of yet. It was one thing to know she had narrowly escaped death, it was another to stare at the evidence. She smiled weakly. "Mistakes were made."

"And yet we survive." Weiss huffed a chuckle.

"Probably to thrive, if Winter doesn't burn the pancakes." Yang interjected.

"I flipped them!" Winter snapped, turning to regard Pyrrha. "Good morning Pyrrha, I apologize for being unable to assist you."

"There is no need Winter, you were not at fault." Pyrrha waved off the apology.

"Forgive me for my stubbornness, but my absence was voluntary." Winter noted. "General Ironwood had no authority over me. I should have come."

"What is done is done." Weiss soothed. "We are here, we are alive, battered or no."

"Some more than others." WInter murmured, returning to the pan. Weiss rolled her eyes, returning to her seat.

Pyrrha patted Ruby's shoulder, limping over to the pantry. "Are you hungry Weiss?" Ruby asked, taking a seat at the table.

Weiss smiled, shaking her head. "No Ruby, Glynda provided for me yesterday, but thank you."

"Not even a few drops for your coffee?" Ruby pressed.

"I prefer my coffee without sugar, thank you." Weiss joked. Yang snorted.

"You fed from Ruby?" Winter questioned.

"I did, it was an experiment." Weiss confirmed.

"It was something." Yang could barely contain a laugh.

"It was a success, and that is what matters." Weiss rolled her eyes.

"Where are Nora and Ren?" Pyrrha asked, returning to the table with a muffin of her own, and several cookies for Ruby, who munched on them cheerfully.

"The guest room." Yang answered. "Blakey's watching over them."

"Ruby told me they suffered silver poisoning." Pyrrha added.

"Nora got the brunt of the shrapnel pushing Ren out of the way, and silver burns to her eyes." Yang explained. "We don't know if she'll be able to see again, but Glynda's hopeful. Ren inhaled a bunch dragging her away, he's in really bad shape too."

"How are we treating them?" Pyrrha asked.

"By keeping them comfortable and well fed." Winter replied. "Until the silver has been filtered out of their systems, regeneration will be impaired."

"I take it you studied werewolf physiology during your Templar years?" Pyrrha theorized.

"Only insofar as how to kill them most effectively." Winter admitted. "Silver smoke is extremely effective for a reason. It was designed with werewolves in mind." She scooped up a slightly overcooked pancake from the pan, grimacing. "A vampire will be weakened, but their undead nature allows them to regenerate quickly, and slow respiration prevents much ingestion. Werewolves are cursed, but otherwise natural, living beings. They suffer, they slow, and if not hunted down by pursuing Templars, they fall victim to Grimm or Huntsmen."

"It's cruel." Ruby commented, visibly sickened.

"The world is cruel Ruby." Winter sighed. "The kind are victimized and exploited day after day by many beings of great and terrible power. Yes, on rare occasion, Templar methods cause collateral damage, but if they held back even once when extreme force was required, the world might lose faith in their protectors. Vampires, for all their power, are kept in check by the sheer strength of the Order. Atlas remains Remnant's greatest authority dues to this. To falter is to invite chaos to spread across the land, and no one wants another Dark Age, let alone another Great War."

"A peace born of fear is a thin shield at best." Pyrrha suggested.

"Perhaps, but the right wrong in the right place can be the difference between a murder and a massacre." Winter declared. "Life is not black and white. Ren and Nora accepted the risks when they worked with Templars, as you should have when you became a Huntress. A vampire enthralled one of our own. At any point the general could have been assassinated, the entire camp might have been rigged with explosives. It is purely due to whatever mercy compelled Cinder that I and any other Templar stand this day. If we hold back against that kind of power, we lose our advantage."

Winter sighed, leaning against the kitchen counter. For the first time since Ruby met her, she seemed almost vulnerable. "We are a weak species Ruby, frail fragile, a single unlucky fall from death. In order to survive we must be careful, and more ruthless than the world. Cruel or no, it is a sad necessity. Or else we might all become cattle to vampires, fodder for Grimm, and subject to every other manner of victimization the world can inflict upon us. One day you will understand. You are young, in human experience at least, but with time the world teaches harsh lessons to us all. Weiss and I suffered ours young, for better or worse, and time and time again we are reminded. I hope your life is kinder, I hope yours is softer, but life has rarely rewarded my hope. Indeed, it seems to take joy in dashing it." She finished morosely, leaving the room silent. "Would you like some coffee Pyrrha?" She finally attempted to change the subject.

"Please." Pyrrha nodded.

"Can't we just make pancakes without being depressing?" Yang groaned.

"Nothing is stopping you." Weiss smirked.

"Winter has the spatula." Yang countered.

"So take it from her." Weiss suggested.

"Get your own." Winter snarked.

"Get your own." Yang mocked.

Weiss sighed.

Winter's pancakes aside, breakfast was refreshing. The coffee sparked Pyrrha's energy, the muffin filled her empty stomach, and in spite of the more depressing subject discussed beforehand, Winter and Yang's continual banter lifted her spirits. All in all, Pyrrha felt prepared to visit her injured companions.

They would be in pain. Pyrrha assumed Glynda had provided them with painkillers, but even in their current state a werewolf would burn through them quite fast. A double dosage would hopefully suffice. Dried poppy, a hint of wolfsbane, and several herbs to boost their immune systems, all ground up into a fine paste, and diluted in milk and sweetened with honey. Glynda likely would not have gone to the same lengths to make the potions palatable, but Pyrrha felt her friends deserved as much consideration as possible. They would be in enough discomfort without being forced to swallow a bitter poultice.

Gathering fresh bandages, a bowl of warm water and a cloth, Pyrrha made her way down the hall, Ruby in tow. The ache in her leg was subsiding, though still discomforting. She limped along with Ruby poised to catch her should she fall. The summon had her own idea of how to assist the werewolves, or Nora at least. A stuffed bear, found forgotten in a dusty corner during her exploration of the home. It had been in a sorry state when discovered, several holes and splits in the seams. It was either well loved and long forgotten, or somehow neglect had taken a physical toll on the poor doll.

Glynda was unaware of the bear's origin, and Blake likewise had no memory of it. So Ruby took it, washed it, gave it new stuffing, and sewed and patched every hole and seam until it looked brand new. She found it interesting, and so it came to sit on the nightstand. But now Ruby had found a new potential use for it. Human children took comfort in such toys, why not a wounded werewolf? It seemed so simple to Ruby, something soft and cuddly to distract from the harsh and painful. Pyrrha could only smile at her optimism.

With a knock, Ruby opened the door, and Pyrrha entered. It was dim, but not dark. Blake sat in a chair by the bedside, a book in one hand, and Nora's hand in the other. The blinded werewolf twitched at their entry. "Who's that?" She whispered, her eyes weeping tears from beneath the bandages that covered them.

"Pyrrha and Ruby." Blake answered, closing the book to stand, Nora's hand raising along with her. "Glynda needs me." She stated. Nora attempted a small smile, letting her go with a squeeze. Blake surprised Pyrrha by embracing her. "It's good to see you awake." She whispered. "She's attempting to remain optimistic, but the situation terrifies her. Keep her calm, keep her distracted, and don't let Ren speak." She instructed, ruffling Ruby's hair as she left the room, leaving them alone.

"Pyrrha, Ruby?" Nora called softly. "Are you still there? I can't hear too well either."

"Yes Nora, I apologize." Pyrrha quickly made her way to Nora's side, setting down her supplies on the bedside table to take up her hand.

"Apologize?" Nora questioned. "Silly, you're alive and you're here. I heard you got shot and I was so worried. I'm sorry I couldn't help."

"You have nothing to be sorry for Nora." Pyrrha soothed, reaching up to brush some stray hair from her forehead. Her temperature was boiling. "I saw what you did, it was very brave."

Nora coughed a laugh. "I got blown up. Renny had to drag me away while everyone else did the fighting."

"You threw yourself in harms way to save the man you love." Pyrrha countered.

"I could have done better." Nora sighed.

"You can't expect better of yourself under those circumstances." Pyrrha insisted. "We were taken off guard by an enemy we had no way of anticipating. It's a miracle no one died."

"But we might have." Nora persisted.

"We might die any day Nora, but for now we live, and we must be thankful for that." Pyrrha declared.

"I don't feel very alive right now." Nora winced.

"Let me change your bandages, and I can give you more painkillers." Pyrrha offered.

"Ugh, that stuff is nasty." Nora complained.

"I know, I mixed it with milk and honey to help." Pyrrha noted.

"Gods, you're a saint." Nora praised.

"I try." Pyrrha chuckled. She made to unwrap the bandages, but once again Nora's hand held fast. "Nora, I'll need both hands for this, please." Nora's lips drew tight, but she obeyed.

Ruby took the opportunity to step forward. "I brought you a teddy. It might not help with the pain, but you can squeeze it to feel safe." She pressed the toy forward. Nora's hands fumbled to grasp it about the stomach. The resulting smile seemed far more genuine.

"I love teddy bears." Nora murmured. "Thank you Ruby. Are they a he or a she?" She asked. Pyrrha used the distraction to begin unwrapping the bandages.

"Uh...I don't know." Ruby replied.

"Well, I don't feel anything down there, so let's call her a she." Nora winced as the final loop came free, leaving two patches over her eyes. "What should we call her?"

"Well...I don't know." Ruby answered. "How do we name someone?"

"Most people name children after family, or looks, or something meaningful." Nora explained. "How did your name come about-nng."

Pyrrha gently removed the patches, revealing Nora's eyes, clenched shut at the sudden change. "Sorry." Pyrrha whispered, placing the soaked patches aside and taking up a cloth from the bowl, wringing it dry. "She glowed red when I summoned her. A ruby was the first thing that came to mind." She began dabbing at Nora's face, wiping away the bloody tears, gradually closing in on her eyes, angry red coloring the lids, yellow discharge gathered around the edges. "Describe the unique aspects of the teddy Ruby."

"She was stuffed in a corner when I found her, dusty and split." Ruby started. "I sewed up a few holes, but one needed to be patched. I used an old handkerchief Pyrrha didn't need. It was purple, with black printing."

"There we go, Mrs. Hanky!" Nora grinned. Pyrrha soaked and wring the cloth once more, and began dabbing at Nora's eyes. The werewolf hissed, squeezing the bear tight. "It's not working, but at the same time it is."

"Almost done, then I can put in some eyedrops." Pyrrha soothed, gently wiping away the last of the discharge. "Can you open your eyes for me please?"

Nora huffed, slowly obeying, fresh tears spilling forth as she struggled to open her irritated eyelids. Her normally vibrant blue irises were milky and pitted, her sclera angry red, victims of burst blood vessels. It looked extremely painful. "Give it to me straight doc, I don't look great do I?" She managed a shaky smirk.

Pyrrha sighed, smiling sadly as she dunked an eyedropper into the anesthetic mixture. "You look like you stared at Yang for too long." She joked.

Nora snorted, only to be interrupted by a hacking cough from her left, as Ren's lungs struggled to cope with the chuckle Pyrrha had coaxed forth. "Renny? Sweetie?" Nora croaked, clouded eyes flickering over to her pained partner. She abandoned Mrs. Hanky, turning onto her side to lay a hand on Ren's chest, rubbing soothingly. "Pyrrha's here, she can help!"

"One moment." Pyrrha placated, filling a cup with the painkiller and hurrying around the bed. She knelt by Ren's side, waiting for the injured werewolf to settle, Nora's lost gaze searching for her all the while. "Ren, when you believe you are ready, nod for me."

Ren began to settle, taking shallow, wheezing breaths, expression tight, teeth gritted. Ren's trembling free hand clenched across his chest, and Pyrrha lay a hand atop it, squeezing gently. She was surprised when it snapped open, tracing its unsteady way up her arm to her shoulder, where it gripped firmly. Ren gulped in air slowly, until his breathing was some semblance of calm, and nodded.

"Open your mouth." Pyrrha instructed, moving the cup closer. When Ren obeyed she slowly angled it to touch his lips. When the liquid touched his tongue he flinched, then relaxed, anticipating the harsh flavor of Glynda's dosage only to be met with a mild sweetness with a slight bitter aftertaste. He gulped it down greedily, nearly chasing the cup when it was taken away. He managed a weak smile, squeezing Pyrrha's shoulder and patting it in thanks. "You're welcome, now rest." She ordered, returning Ren's gesture. "I won't be going anywhere...Ruby."

"Yes mistress?" Ruby chirped.

"I am dedicating myself to the care of Ren and Nora." Pyrrha answered, returning to Nora's side. "Full time." Picking up the eyedropper again, she cupped Nora's cheek. "Three drops, eyes wide open."

Nora obeyed, blinking as each eye was treated. She sighed as relief slowly set in. "Thank you." She whispered as Pyrrha set the dropper aside, refilling the cup.

"Anything you need, ask, don't think you can ask too much of me." Pyrrha promised as she held the cup to Nora's mouth. The female werewolf drank far easier than Ren. "Ruby, I need you to alleviate pressure from Glynda. Normally both myself and Weiss assist her when required, but between recovery and commitments neither of us will be fit to do so."

"I can do that." Ruby agreed.

"I know you can." Pyrrha smiled, setting aside the empty cup. She picked up fresh patches, placing them to soak in the herbal water. "Just do as Blake says, and Glynda should be happy. She was already under a lot of stress, and with all that has happened, the situation has only become more difficult." She sighed. "But it seems the worst is behind us."

Nora flashed a weary smile. "We can only hope."