The autumn wind was harsh, but there was an unnatural heat in the air as Ruby scaled Beacon's tower, riding up pure white glyphs that shone in the darkness. As she approached the top, the roar of Grimm faded.

Shouldn't I hear them fighting? Ruby wondered, a distracted thought finally breaking through the horrid concoction of pain, loss, and panic she'd maintained for too long.

No, not again, don't look!

Ruby launched herself onto the top of the tower, those signature glyphs fading quickly.

The sound of a bow being drawn taut.

LOOK AWAY! Cinder released the arrow, but the scene paused. The arrow hung in midair impossibly, the air completely still. The only sound that reached Ruby's ears was her own panicked breathing. Pyrrha's bright green eyes stared at her own in tragic acceptance.

No, I can still-

Instead of experiencing the scene again, this time it was Ruby who was impaled, looking down in shock as the shot tore straight through her.

NO!

When she looked back up, it was no longer Beacon, no longer Cinder. Her panicked breathing sped up more, she could hear her heart in her ears.

No, no, no!

It was Salem, holding Blake by the neck, Blake's lifeless eyes completely rolled back.

MOVE!

She tried to scream, but couldn't, tried to rIse her arms and fight, but found herself immobile and powerless, with not even a voice.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" Ruby's voice finally cut through, but found herself held down by surprisingly gentle hands.

"Ruby! It's me, calm down," Cats ears and yellow eyes that seemed to glow in the dark greeted her in the near-pitch black bedroom.

"I'LL…. I'll...Blake?" Ruby slowly brought herself to reality, the faunus noticing tears well up in her eyes, letting go of her arms.

Almost immediately, Ruby threw her now-free arms around the other girl, quietly sobbing.

"Blake…" Ruby blushed in the darkness, a bit embarrassed. "Did I…"

"Wake me up? No, I couldn't sleep."

A moment passed between them. Now that her eyes had adjusted, she could make out the details of her counterpart, the many scars and scratches she had acquired over the years, before and after they'd met.

Blake put a hand on Ruby's neck, then trailed upwards, running it through her hair. "Tell me."

Ruby looked away. "It was Beacon again, when Pyrrha…" She didn't need to finish that sentence. "But then, it was Salem, and she-" Ruby choked up a bit, having not yet shaken off the panic from her nightmare.

"It's okay, you can tell me." Blake spoke softly, noticing all the little signs Ruby gave off when she was upset.

"She killed you." Blake sighed.

The yukata Blake was wearing shifted loudly as she moved in to embrace her partner.

The redhead let out a muffled gasp, quickly returning the embrace, sighing contently.

"T-Thank you."

"Hush, Ruby, just let me hold you."

She complied, kissing the girl's cheek, never wanting to let go.

When they woke up in the morning, they were still holding each other.