Pet Quartet (ch7)

EARLY RELEASE FOR ALL MY PATRONS!!

First of all I'M SO SORRY! It's been years since I've updated, I know! I'd actually written until chapter 16 for this but didn't want to keep posting until it was totally finished. And then I had college and jobs and other fandoms and other RWBY fics and this one kinda got left behind...

But I'd promised again and again I'd finished it, and by darn that's what I'm did! Pet Quartet is back and raring to go!

You might wanna refresh and re-read the first 6 chapters! It's been a while! So without further ado, let's get to it!

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.

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												Chapter 7. A Helpful Idea

Blake woke earlier than usual the next morning, likely in preparation for what was to come.

She blinked her eyes open slowly, finding herself in the same position she'd fallen asleep in last night. She was on the living room carpet with Yang curled around her. Ruby was asleep on Blake's front paws, and on top of Yang's back in between her shoulder blades was where Weiss had made her nest of long, golden fur.

Blake shifted carefully as not to wake Ruby. She cast her gaze over Weiss' small form, noting how even in her sleep the injured wing was protruding a bit awkwardly. Blake let out a sympathetic purr and leaned forward, gently drawing her tongue over the little bird's back.

You'll be okay.

Blake continued to groom Weiss' feathers for a moment before she moved on to Ruby. She listened to Yang's bubbling snores all the while, until her ears caught the sounds of motion from the humans' bedroom upstairs.

Yang woke at the sound as well, stretching out her front and back legs carefully without jostling Weiss. Ruby squeaked herself awake shortly afterward, and Weiss soon followed.

The four of them exchanged "good mornings" and groomed one another a bit, Yang taking the liberty of tending to Blake's fur. Ruby crawled up onto the dog's back to settle beside Weiss, wrapping her little paws around the bird in a brief hug.

"Morning, Weiss. How's your wing feeling?"

Blake and Yang both listened for the response. It was a sigh of a whistle, and Weiss shook her head.

"It's the same. Stiff. Like it's frozen."

Ruby made an upset sound and nuzzled into Weiss' feathers. Yang whined softly and exchanged a concerned look with Blake.

But the cat flicked her tail toward the staircase where their humans were coming down, reminding the retriever that they'd be paying a visit to the vet today.

As their humans came downstairs, the four animals went over to greet them and receive the usual petting and affectionate coos. The woman scooped Weiss up into one palm and Ruby into the other as she always did, then took them into the kitchen to prepare their respective bowls of breakfast.

Blake and Yang followed the man to their dishes, but didn't eat until Ruby and Weiss had been let down beside them.

They ate together as they always did. Blake noticed once the humans had finished their food, they went to get Weiss' little bird cage. They'd bought it in the past when they'd thought Weiss would need to be kept separated from the other animals, but once the humans saw what good friends they all were, they put the cage away and let Weiss roam as she pleased, knowing the others would take good care of her.

Seeing the cage again confused Weiss, and she paused in her preening to look up at the rest of her companions.

"What are they doing with my cage?"

Here, Blake and the others paused to respond. They all knew about the vet visit today, but none of them had told Weiss for fear she'd get upset. Ruby shuffled her feet nervously.

"U-Uh, well-" Her explanation was cut off when the woman walked over to them. She reached her hand down, inviting Weiss onto her finger. The little bird hesitated.

"What's this? Is it time for my bath already?" Willingly, Weiss hopped onto the extended finger and was lifted up. Ruby, Blake, and Yang all watched as the woman took Weiss not to the sink, but to her cage. She opened the little door and stuck her hand in, urging Weiss to perch on the tiny wooden stick there. Weiss was clearly unhappy, and instantly started twittering.

"What is she doing? Why am I going back in my cage?" She looked down at the others on the kitchen floor for an explanation. Blake cleared her throat and swept her tail around a little.

"They want to help with your wing."

"Help?" Weiss repeated. "By putting me back in my cage?" By then, the woman had removed her hand and closed the cage door, leaving Weiss alone inside. "I don't like this cage! It's just a trap for birds! Birds should be free! I want to come out!"

Ruby scurried up the kitchen table and sat just outside the bird cage.

"Weiss, it's okay. They're gonna take you to get your wing fixed!"

"What?" Weiss peeped. "Where can they do that?"

"The vet!" Yang barked happily.

"Yang-" Blake tried to stop her from saying the V word, but it was too late. Weiss shrieked.

"The what?! I don't want to go there!"

"Why not?" Yang wondered. "They help animals!"

"Yes, and they also ki-" Weiss stopped quickly, remembering that Ruby was right beside her cage. Weiss changed her words meaningfully. "They also put us to sleep."

Both Blake and Yang flinched at the words; they'd heard plenty of stories as well.

"Weiss," Blake said calmly. "That's not going to happen. They won't do that to you. I promise."

"How can you be so sure?" Weiss' voice was starting to crack, and it was clear how upset she was becoming. "A bird unable to fly is as good as dead. There's no point in life for a bird who can't fly."

At her words, Ruby gasped and also became very upset.

"Weiss, no! Don't ever say that!" She hurried over to the door in the cage and used her fumbling little claws to heave it open. The little red-brown mouse slipped herself inside the cage before the door closed behind her. She climbed up the slippery side bars until she clawed her way onto the wooden perch beside Weiss and pulled her into another hug.

"Don't say that, Weiss! You have plenty to live for, even if you can't fly! You're my friend!" she wailed.

Her little sobs filled the kitchen for a moment, and even Blake and Yang were at a loss for words.

But Weiss was realizing the flaw in her own statement and regretting it. She wrapped her good wing around Ruby's back and pulled her close.

"I'm sorry. Don't cry, Ruby."

Ruby nestled closer and sniffled.

"I'm coming with you. I'm gonna stay right here next to you until you can come home."

Weiss was very relieved by her words; she hadn't wanted to go to the vet, especially if it meant going alone.

"Thank you, Ruby."

As they shared a soft little embrace, Blake and Yang watched from the floor, both relieved now that things were looking better. When their humans came back into the kitchen, the woman was surprised to see Ruby in Weiss' cage with her.

"What are you doing, deary?"

"I think she wants to keep her company," the man guessed.

"Oh, how sweet!" The woman adjusted her glasses and then carefully picked up Weiss' cage. "Well then, let's get going."

The pair headed for the door and the man opened it to let the woman outside with the cage. Yang and Blake shared one look and came to a silent agreement. Yang rushed forward, barking excitedly as she followed them out the door. Blake darted after her, mewling to get the man's attention.

"Hold on now, you guys wanna come, too?" he chuckled. "Well, I suppose you can all get a checkup while we're there."

Blake and Yang both grimaced, but didn't change their minds. They wanted to be there for Weiss.

So the entire family got ready to head out. The woman took Weiss' cage with Ruby and the bird inside, while the man coaxed Blake into a small carrier. Luckily for Yang, she was too large for any cage and got to hop in the back seat of the car freely.

Blake's carrier was put on the ground behind one of the front seats, and Weiss' cage was put behind the other to keep them from sliding or tipping over on the ride.

Yang seemed to be the only one particularly happy about the car. Her tail wagged and wagged as she kneaded her paws eagerly, occasionally sticking her head out the window as the vehicle took off. That action had Weiss yelling at her within seconds.

"Yang, get your head inside, you nincompoop! If that window goes up, you'll lose your ears!"

"I'll be fiiine~" the retriever slurred past the wind. Weiss rolled her eyes, but she couldn't focus too much on the dog right now. Ruby was clinging tightly to Weiss' good side, huddling against her feathers.

"I-I've never b-been in a car before..." she mumbled.

"Neither have I," Weiss said, surprisingly calmly. "But, I actually kind of like it..." She looked up toward the big glass window, the one where Yang wasn't currently sticking her neck out. The world was passing by them in swirls and blurs, and in a way to Weiss, it almost felt like flying somehow.

She watched the view fondly as the drive continued, and Ruby eventually stopped shaking, but continued to hold onto Weiss for support.

Meanwhile, Blake was a tense bundle of fluffed-up fur in her carrier. She hated being confined in small spaces for extended periods of time. Being born a stray, it was something she could never get over. She made little growls of discomfort as she constantly turned around and around, unable to get comfortable even with the blankets her humans had put in for her. Yang noticed her plight and peeled away from the window for a minute to peek down at the cat.

"You doin' okay?"

"Define 'okay'", Blake grumbled.

Yang spared a sympathetic whimper for her, but left her alone.

The drive continued for a while longer, and the four of them dealt with it in their own respective ways.

When at last the car lurched to a halt, the doors started opening, and Blake knew it was finally over.

Or rather, it had only just begun.

Their humans opened the back doors of the car. The man took Weiss' cage and draped a small handkerchief over it to keep the two inside from getting overwhelmed by all the other animals and people that would be inside. The woman clasped a collar and leash onto Yang's neck and let her jump out, then reached in for Blake's crate.

All four of them were taken across a small parking lot, then up a few stairs. Blake flashed her eyes quickly over to Yang, and even the hyper retriever was beginning to dread what was to come.

But they could silently agree – this was for Weiss.

They each took a deep breath.

The doors opened, and they were taken inside.

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A/N: Next chapter we will meet a couple of friends!

Originally I'd imagined the man and woman here as Oz and Glynda... shows how old this story is ahaha. They aren't really in-character though so you can imagine whoever you'd like.