Chapter Text
"So, where are we going exactly?" Yang asked, her breathing harsh as they climbed up the hillside. She readjusted her backpack and looked expectantly at Blake.
"The Northern edge of Forever Fall."
"But isn't that too close to Vale?"
"Nobody's stupid enough to stay in that part for too long, trust me." Blake raised her eyebrows and looked down at her feet, placing them expertly on the rocks. "The Northern Rail Route may run through here, but it doesn't even touch the region we're going to."
"That doesn't sound worrying at all." Yang smiled when Blake shot her a look.
"We're on the run, remember? We can't be picky."
"I'm not picky, I just want to stay alive for longer than five minutes, is all." She stopped for a moment and shrugged her shoulders, her huge backpack jostling. Blake turned back to look at her, raising an eyebrow.
"Are you scared, Yang?" A small smile tugged up a corner of her lips.
"Not when I'm in such excellent care."
"That better not be sarcasm."
"I would never." Yang gasped, putting a hand on her chest. Blake turned back around and carried on walking, Yang's quiet laugh from behind her making her smile.
"You better hurry up, we have to get to the caves by nightfall."
"Yes, ma'am."
Dusk was beginning to cover the forest by the time they got to the caves. The wind had picked up, the blood red leaves flying around their feet in tiny hurricanes. Despite her best efforts, Yang was tiring; she wasn't used to walking this much. She was more of a bike girl. Blake could see this, even though Yang didn't complain once.
"Here we are."
"Home sweet home." Yang said, groaning in relief as she dumped her bags on the floor. Blake turned on a torch for Yang, handing it to her.
"Not just yet. We've got another day's journey ahead of us."
"Seriously?"
"Yes. And don't sit down yet, we've got to head deeper inside the caves." Blake said, watching as Yang stood and put the backpack back on. She swung the torch up, keeping her eyes on the floor as they headed deeper.
"How come you know this place so well?"
"You could say I used to frequent the area." Blake said, listening to the sounds of the caves and dodging holes in the floor. She kept an eye on Yang, who stumbled a little on a dip in the floor.
"Vague. Can't tell me or won't tell me?" Yang asked, her voice understanding. The torchlight fell just as Yang tripped, Blake darting forward to catch her.
"Just concentrate on walking." Her Faunus eyes saw Yang sticking out her tongue in the semi-darkness without the light of the torch. They were close, their breaths mingling in the damp air of the cave.
"You just want an excuse to hold me in your arms." Yang threw a hand to her forehead and leaned back, making Blake stagger slightly under the new weight. She was glad Yang couldn't see her slight blush.
"Sure I do." Blake said, pretending to drop Yang. The other girl squealed and locked her arms around Blake's neck, pushing her hair into her face. Spitting out the strands of hair in her mouth, Blake chuckled and set her on her feet, straightening out her vest. Yang stood and rearranged her backpack, a smile on her face but her voice serious.
"That wasn't funny."
"Then why are you smiling?" Blake asked, smug as she watched Yang turn and continue walking.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Blake was about to form a reply when she saw the nook she'd camped in before, and she walked into it, pulling Yang with her.
"This is where we'll camp for tonight. It's a little too small for two people, but it's safe." Blake readied herself for a comment from Yang and unrolled her sleeping bag, pushing it against the far wall.
"I don't mind sharing a sleeping bag, if that's what it comes to." Yang bumped Blake with her hip and raised her eyebrows.
"It won't come to that. We just have to push our sleeping bags together."
"Very together, by the looks of it." Yang unrolled her sleeping bag and pushed the two together, so that there was a narrow space big enough to fit their backpacks in.
"It's only for one night, but if you're uncomfortable let me know and I can move deeper into the cave." Blake said hesitantly, unzipping her backpack and handing Yang a sandwich. Yang took it and stopped, smiling.
"I don't mind at all, trust me."
Later, both of them were settled into their sleeping bags, Blake having eaten and Yang still munching on her sandwich.
"Are you sure we can't build a fire?" Yang asked, her words muffled by the food in her mouth.
"Positive. That could alert Grimm in the area and bring them straight to us. Worse, it could bring people to us." Blake turned in her sleeping bag, looking up at Yang.
"What's so bad about that? There's hardly anyone living in the forest."
"That's my point." Yang turned to look at Blake, confusion evident on her face. "The people that do live here either work for the Schnee Dust Company or the White Fang. You don't want to get caught in the crossfire."
"That's why you know this place so well." Yang said, brushing crumbs off her top and lying down.
"Yes. You could say I was...stationed here." Blake's voice turned reluctant. She didn't want to think about that time, but she needed to show Yang she had nothing to hide.
"We don't have to talk about it, it's okay. Let's just get to sleep." Yang said, and Blake sighed quietly in relief. A howl sounded out in the forest outside, and Yang moved closer, almost snuggling.
"Scared of a little Beowolf?" Blake teased. Yang tutted and kicked her through her sleeping bag.
"He'll huff and puff and blow my house down, dude. Doesn't hurt to be careful."
Blake laughed quietly, Yang joining in. Another howl came and they stopped. After a while the only sounds around them were the wind, their breathing, and the occasional shuffle of feet or arms.
Yang fell asleep first with gentle snores, her head coming to rest under Blake's chin as she slept. Blake smiled, pulling an arm out of her cocoon and softly brushing a stray hair from Yang's face. She felt relaxed for the first time in a long time, and fell asleep like that, with her arm resting around Yang's waist.