Cinder Falls... For Ruby Rose (ch12)

2-DAY EARLY RELEASE FOR ALL MY PATRONS! THANK YOU!

Direct follow-up chapter to the previous one! I was late one last month's chapter so now you get two in a row! Thanks again to the patron who is requesting it! A lot of people like this fic!

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.

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												Chapter 12. Unfamiliar Territory

At first, Ruby took Cinder by the hand and started to eagerly pull her across the big park and toward the forests beyond. But then she realized she had no idea where she was going, so she eventually reeled in her excitement and let Cinder take the lead.

Cinder set a much more controlled pace as she led her girlfriend across the open fields, trying to keep things at a leisurely pace so as not to rush their time alone together.

They strolled through the grass until they reached the edge of the forested area. Beyond that point, the woods became much thicker and covered by foliage, and an incline lead up the side of a small mountain.

Despite her enthusiasm, Ruby took a moment to stop and stare, admiring how green the trees were, how the sunlight cut down through the leaves and branches in dappled patterns. Cinder was quiet for a moment as she took it all in.

"Wow..." Ruby mumbled. "It's really pretty here. I mean, it kinda looks like every other forest ever, but it also kinda seems different somehow..."

Cinder let her absorb the view for a moment longer before giving a small tug to Ruby's hand. She began guiding her into the forest, keeping to the small dirt path that marked the hiking trail.

"Haven is known for its natural beauty," she explained. "It is said in our history books that back during the very first war known to mankind, Haven's forests were luscious and thick enough to conceal thousands of refugees from enemy attackers. That is how Haven got its name."

Ruby's eyes widened in wonder as she looked all around herself, imagining crowds of people taking shelter beneath the protective trees as angry ships growled in frustration above.

"Whoa..."

Her eyes caught sight of a few shiny plaques on nearby rocks or trees, and she recognized them as informative memorials. When she showed interest in them, Cinder led her to each one lining the path so Ruby could read over them. She seemed to be a much more diligent person when she was learning of her own volition rather than when some graded class was forcing her to.

They took their time walking through the woods together, with Ruby asking an occasional question or five and Cinder calmly answering them all to the best of her abilities. She enjoyed walking with Ruby very much, but there was one particular part of this hike she was secretly eager to show her girlfriend.

Before long, she could hear the rustling of the leaves being drowned out by something else, something that sounded similar, but a bit louder and more consistent.

Ruby didn't seem to notice the change in sound though, because she was so focused on the visual scenery.

Cinder didn't give anything away as she led Ruby onward and upward along the path. As they advanced, Ruby began to notice the atmosphere was getting a little cooler, and there was a mist in the air.

"Hey, Cinder? Why's it suddenly getting cooler? I thought heat rises..."

Cinder chuckled at the comment.

"You will see. There's something up ahead I think you might like."

"Oooh! Oh boy!" Ruby skipped along behind her, following Cinder up a small rise in the ground. Now Ruby noticed the louder rushing sound up ahead. "Hey, Cinder? What's-"

But before she could finish her next question, Cinder brought her up over the rise, allowing Ruby to glimpse an entirely new sight.

Several feet ahead of them, the trail was marked by blue paint on the trees. Past that, the ground fell away in a steep incline. Beneath it was a massive pool of water, spilling down from a series of falls on the opposite side. Heavy streams of white water tumbled down over one another, filling the air with sound and mist.

From above, the sunlight was streaming down just as fiercely, cutting through the canopy in waves, highlighting the water in greens and blues. Pale rainbows were projected from the mists where the falls met the pool, filling the forest with color.

The air was crisp and clean and easy to breathe, but Ruby had lost her breath at the sight of it all. Her jaw hung slack as her unblinking eyes traveled up and down and all around the area, trying to take it all in.

"Whoa..."

It was all she could manage, and Cinder didn't blame her. She could still remember the first time she'd seen this sight for herself as well.

She waited for a few moments as Ruby took it all in, then gently began leading her once more. She took her along the path which kept them a safe distance away from the fall of the cliff and the water, but not far enough away to subtract from the beauty of it all.

It was a while before Ruby could speak again, and by then Cinder had brought them to a small bench beneath the trees. Ruby snuggled into her side as she sat down, still admiring the waterfall.

"Wow... This place is so amazing. I never knew Haven was so pretty. Heh, no wonder it's where you're from!"

Cinder hadn't been expecting the compliment and she felt a blush pooling in her cheeks. Ruby giggled and pecked the side of her face.

"I am glad you like it," Cinder murmured.

For a while they sat together, chatting softly or not at all. Ruby leaned into her side and Cinder rested her head on top of hers.

Only now did the hectic day finally catch up to her. She'd hardly slept last night due to her excitement about today, only to have been thwarted and miss Ruby when she'd gone to visit her. She'd taken a several-hour-long flight to Vale and back, and now she'd hiked through the woods and up the mountain...

At first, Ruby just thought Cinder was admiring the scenery like she was. But after a while, Cinder stopped responding to her questions.

"Cinder?"

Puzzled, Ruby tried to look up at her girlfriend, but Cinder's weight was limp at her side. When she was quiet, she could tell Cinder's breathing had deepened a lot. She'd fallen asleep.

Ruby giggled a little bit, amused. Cinder was sort of like Weiss in some ways, she'd found out, and one of the ways they were similar was that they didn't often fall asleep in front of others, especially not in broad daylight.

Ruby wiggled her arm around the small of Cinder's back to help support her, nuzzling happily into her shoulder. Now that Cinder was resting, Ruby felt she needed to be responsible and look out for her.

So she sat there on her little vigil, gently rubbing up and down her girlfriend's back, sometimes through her wavy dark hair. She'd never seen Cinder asleep before – she'd never gotten the chance to.

She might've been even prettier this way than when she was awake, if that was possible. The lighting in the forest made her skin glow in contrast to her shadowy hair. Ruby just wished she could see her pretty amber eyes, but she was willing to wait.

So she waited for about half an hour, but that was when she started getting drowsy, too. It began with a few yawns that just became more and more frequent, until her eyelids drooped and she slumped back against the bench.

Of course, Cinder woke a few moments later to find Ruby now asleep and snoring softly. One of her hands was still loosely around Cinder's back, indicating to her that Ruby had taken care of her as she'd rested.

But by now, twilight wasn't that far off, and Cinder didn't want to stay in the forest after sundown. But she also didn't want to wake Ruby from her nap.

So she did the only thing that would satisfy both criteria.

Slipping off the bench, she knelt in the grass and eased Ruby onto her back, slinging the girl's arms around her neck and reaching back to secure her legs. She managed to get Ruby into position and stand without waking her.

She took a fairly level path back down the mountain, but now that she was well-rested, she didn't mind the extra half mile of walking. Not even the chilly evening air bothered her now with Ruby's weight lying comfortably against her back, spreading warmth throughout her body.

She paused every once in a while to readjust her hold on Ruby before continuing onward.

Once she was back at the park, she got a few looks and giggles from amused onlookers, and a few even offered to help her, but she politely refused.

The sun was just setting by the time she got back to the air ship docks and boarded an evening flight. An attendant helped her ease Ruby into a seat, and Cinder thanked him for the assistance.

Finally, Cinder sat down beside her girlfriend to relax on the flight home. She lifted her arm and tucked Ruby into her side, kissed the top of her head, and closed her eyes.

Ruby next woke to a calming, familiar scent, like weak wine and smokey fireplaces. Then the quiet whirring of motors and calming background music being played on the intercom registered in her mind. But even more prominent than those sounds was a steady pulse pressed softly to her ear.

She cracked her eyes open to discover she was on an air ship again and the sky was darkening with nightfall. She was cozily warm and pressed closely into Cinder's side.

Ruby shifted her arms to hug her girlfriend loosely around the waist and repositioned her head against Cinder's shoulder. She knew she wasn't awake to hear her, but she felt to need to talk to her anyway.

"Thanks for showing me around today, Cinder. And thanks for carrying me back..."

She could only assume that's what had happened, because her chest was still warm and fuzzy from being pressed against Cinder's back.

Ruby leaned up a little to kiss Cinder's cheek sweetly, then sighed and closed her eyes, making a mental note to thank Cinder properly once they were both awake again.

She didn't know how long the flight back to Haven Academy would be, or how long she and Cinder would have to rest together. But Ruby was going to make the most of it.

She caught the flight attendant's attention and ensured he would wake them up if they slept through their stop. Once that was taken care of, Ruby snuggled back into Cinder's side and hugged her.

She reflected on what she'd done with Cinder today, from the crazy flights to the fun lunch date to the calming waterfalls.

There was still so much excitement to be had during their little vacation together.

But for now, Ruby was just content to enjoy the quiet stillness in between, with Cinder at her side.

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A/N: I wanted to stress the 'Ruby being responsible for Cinder's sake'. I feel she'd let someone else take charge sometimes in normal, non-battle situations, but when it's up to her, Ruby will step up and take care of the other person.

Also, the idea of how Haven got its name was just something I made up. RT might've covered the real reason in a World of Remnant for all I know...