Chapter 8:

When Animals Attack

Blake awoke in warmth and softness, just as any feline deserved. She was a cat again and a pleasant fog had settled over her mind. Not that there was anything wrong with that. She didn't have to worry about any human problems like class or homework. Instead, as any member of her superior species, she could enjoy the finer things in life. She nuzzled the pillow she was currently resting on and gave a contented purr. Still, she was a bit hungry. Perhaps she should get up and order one of her servants to feed her. Well, maybe just a few more minutes...

She awoke to a brilliant flash then another. What infernal sorcery was this? She opened her eyes to a third flash. Though dazzled, she identified the source, one of the strange, tiny and noisy devices that the humans carried everywhere and seemed perpetually focused upon. Scrolls? Was that the human name for them? She didn't know why they bothered. Surely there were other, far more interesting forms of entertainment available. After all, who was she to deny the pleasure of her fine coat to others? She meowed irritably, ordering the human causing that incessant flashing to stop and maybe to get her something to eat. Unfortunately, the human in question, one Weiss Schnee, ignored her authority, giggled and made her scroll flash again.

Intolerable. It was far too early to put up with such nonsense. Well, at least Weiss was better than the two sisters. After all, disobedience was preferable to a fetish for feline asphyxiation. Where were the two sisters anyway? They didn't seem to be around and the room was blessedly missing a corgi as well. Maybe they'd taken the beast for a walk. For whatever reason, the creature couldn't entertain or walk itself, further proof of feline superiority.

Weiss giggled again as the scroll in her hand flashed. What was so amusing anyway? Blake groggily rose from the bed. Refined creatures such as herself were not meant to be awakened so suddenly. The motion was more difficult than usual. It felt as if she were tangled in something yet her bed seemed neatly made. Blake meowed grumpily.

"Oh, aren't you adorable," Weiss cooed as she flipped her scroll around and pushed the object towards Blake.

The image on the scroll was obviously a picture of her; however, the image of her wore what looked to be a miniature version of Weiss' current outfit. Blake stretched and twisted her neck to check. She shouldn't have bothered. Even as she shifted, it was obvious that some twisted soul had dressed her while she slept. The most likely suspect giggled and snapped another picture. Blake narrowed her eyes to shield herself from the flash. Enough was enough. What other indignities would her so-called teammates put her through? It was time to assert her feline superiority and punish the humans for their insolence. Still, she would give them one final chance. Blake hissed at Weiss ordering the girl to take off the offending garment. Rather than accepting her final chance at mercy, the girl smiled and took a final picture.

So be it then. Blake focused her feline fury and struck. She swiped a paw at Weiss and barred her teeth in satisfaction as four pink energy arcs flashed from her claws to strike the heiress. In the face of her terrible wrath, her target chortled, "look at them. They're so pink, tiny, and adorable. Maybe I can get a picture."

The girl's reaction wasn't entirely unsurprising. After all, Blake had been trying to be merciful. It wouldn't do to permanently injure one of her servants after all. Still, a lesson was clearly in order. She began to focus her energy again. The technique had seemed far more effective when she was in faunus form. Perhaps she had simply held back a bit too much. She swung again, releasing her energy in a mighty attack.

A brilliant flash blinded her as she struck. Clearly a last ditch effort at defense by the human. Her attacks struck the girl's side. Her target laughed, "stop Blake, that tickles. Oh, I wonder if the picture came out."

Clearly direct action would be ineffective. Still, she had other means to make her displeasure known. While the giggling human was distracted with her scroll, Blake hopped atop the bookcase between to her team's beds and walked over to a white cup that Weiss used to hold her school supplies. Blake placed her paw on the cup and looked the heiress in the eye.

"Do it and you're bedroom slippers," Weiss threatened.

Blake innocently pushed the cup. It tragically fell to the floor spilling school supplies across the carpet. Weiss hissed in fury. Blake meowed innocently at Weiss and moved to a binder perched atop the shelf. Weiss took a half step towards Blake. It was such a shame that the motion surprised Blake and caused her to push the binder from the shelf. Blake watched as papers scattered everywhere. It wasn't Blake's fault. She'd had a tense day and was easily startled.

Blake moved to the next binder on the shelf and watched patiently as Weiss dug around in her purse. Maybe the girl was searching for tribute to Blake to apologize for her wrongs. It could also be typical Weiss behavior. She liked organizing things after all. Maybe Blake should wait to see if an apology was forthcoming. On the other hand, pushing things off the shelf was surprisingly satisfying. What was a feline to do?

She nudged her paw forward. Maybe just one more. In response, Weiss drew forth the object she was searching for, a miniature spray bottle. The girl aimed the bottle at Blake and fired. Blake hissed as her fine coat was showered with water and reflexively jerked away from her attacker. Unacceptable. She would have vengeance. Blake leaped forward to push the binder off the shelf but was driven back by a second carefully time squirt. Blake hissed again and was rewarded with a third squirt almost directly into her open mouth. Clearly retreat was in order.

Blake ran. She leapt from the bookshelf and hurled towards the door. Her foolish human servants had left it open and ripe for her escape. She dodged around Weiss who proved wise enough to allow her departure with only simple "humph" albeit a particularly pretentious one. The human obviously did not want to risk Blake's further wrath. Instead, the girl immediately moved to reorganize the chaos she had created after provoking an innocent feline.

Seeing that the human would not bar her way, Blake flicked her tail up and strolled out the door. Leaving seemed appropriate in any event. It was obvious that her teammates had no idea how to treat a refined creature such as herself. Surely there were other servants who could properly appreciate her finer qualities. It wouldn't exactly be hard to find superior servants to a trio of animal abusing teammates.

Who should she pick for her next subjects? Team JNPR was obviously out thanks to the presence of a Nora. A pity really as the remainder of the team would otherwise be splendid servants. Pyrrha's kindness, competence, and graceful yet powerful fingers would make the girl a fine subject. Ren was more difficult to read. But, given that he doted on Nora, Blake was certain that he could be persuaded to properly care for a superior creature such as herself. In fact, his powerful elegance might make him an ideal manservant. Finally, Jaune was at the very least gullible enough to fall prey to her manipulations. Unfortunately, the existence of a hyper-active feline throttling ginger ruled out the JNPR option.

Perhaps she should just look around instead. After all, there was little reason to choose her new servant hastily. She was hungry anyway. Surely some of the students wandering Beacon would offer her tasty tributes and worship. Maybe she could find that delectable looking rabbit around. Her tongue flicked across her lips. It was time to hunt and explore.

Well, she had one thing to do first.

An ebony feline adorned in an alabaster dress haughtily strolled across the academy grounds. The elegantly attired creature found a secluded nook in the drooping shade of one of Beacon's towers. The feline carefully shifted its head left and right in a stately survey of its surroundings. Seeing that all was well, the fashionable feline paused for a delicate sniff to properly take in the air. The regal creature gave an imperious nod.

The cat unsheathed its claws and promptly eviscerated the dress.

The cat emerged from the secluded alcove with its head held high as ruined strips of white fabric floated to earth behind it.

Professor Ozpin sighed and closed his scroll.