(RWBY) castles that tower above the horizon

chapter LVI: Beacon

"Alright pup! Beacon" my stepmother smiled still holding me in her arms as I woke up from the long ride, but I huffed looking at the loads of bull heads arriving. "Ah, those should be the rest of the academys" she informed as I looked at the streams of students in curiosity "go and 'inspect' them if your that curious" she smirked letting me stand on my own and making me complain about losing my ride.

Well I wasn't that bothered after I saw a familiar ginger, I smiled racing over to her and crashing into her withthe strike force of a ancient boartusk and sending her to the floor, I giggled when she smiled down at me "friend Ruby!" She chriped hugging me slightly before jumping to her feet, helping me up soon after "it's been approximately three weeks five days sixteen hours fifty two minutes and twenty five seconds since I've last seen you! Isn't this just so exciting!?"

"Yes!" I giggled not understanding a word she just said but I really didn't care I was just so happy! "Come on I wanna go show you my mailbox!" I squeaked pulling her arm towards the general direction where I recognised home to be before I crashed into someone, someone who yelped backing away much like I did at the sudden interaction.

"Hey! Watch it kid!" Someone else shouted helping their friend who growled at me causing me to growl back, our tails fluffed up and our ears pulled back.

"I'll go get Mrs Rose!" Penny said leaving my side as I continued this growling match, I was at an immediate disadvantage, I was small I can't bite very hard and I'm young, this person was twice my size on all fours, bigger teeth and bigger claws, if mummy was here right now she'll send them running!

Alright Ruby, you can either do one of two things. One you can Run away with your tail between your legs and go get your mother who will tell them off, or two you can fight back and show this meanie who's boss!

"ARF! ARF!" They barked trying to get me to back down, that is until I growled louder, leaping forwards and biting onto their shoulder, hearing them yelp loudly while their friend panicked.

I growled letting go of them and watching them cower, that is until someone grabbed me by the waist lifting me up in the air "Hey! We do not attack people!" My stepmother shouted causing me to yelp myself, whining defencelessly at the dominant woman, she growled at me herself before flicking my nose making me whine even more. "You there, get her up you two are coming with me" she instructed to the annoyed woman from before who nodded helping the other wolf faunas up who was gripping her shoulder with tears in her eyes.

"Can Penny come too?" I asked quietly fear evident in my voice, I ducking as her flamy red eyes stared down at me.

"No, penny can not" she growled apologising to my friend soon after, before then leading the girl to the infirmary. "Im very sorry about Ruby's behaviour, she isn't usually like this"

"Olivia started the attack, it really wasn't her fault" Her friend sighed pulling her hood down over her head "Well as far as I can tell, I'm only her team leader"

"I hear you" my stepmother sighed looking back down at me as I flinched.

"I- I thought she was j-just going to run away s-scared" the other Faunas said while the doctors inspected the bite on her shoulder.

"Ruby has more guts in a fight then she should, she could face down a golioth with not a shiver of fear but any other time she'll run with her tail between her legs at someone clapping their hands too loud" she smiled rubbing my ear as I relaxed slightly at the fact that I wasn't being held responsible for my own actions "You have someone with you kid?"

"My older brother took a while off to come with" she said shakily as her shoulder was rubbed with a aura amplifier and then rapped in a bandage.

"Alright, do you know her brother's name?"