Author's Note
Well I'm back with the remake of the Big Bad Wolf series. More of a redux actually since I didn't continue the story anymore which I don't know why I did that. But anyway, I came up with a new one after I re read the old ones. Credit to Mr. Stark357 for editing this chapter. Enjoy, mes ami.
Chapter 1 - Changing
Who would've thought that bringing a Grimm in the sparring arena isn't a good idea?
The students are hunters in training, so fighting a Grimm has been a daily basis for them to improve their skills and keeping peace. An overexcited Ruby Rose volunteered to fight with the Grimm when Glynda Goodwitch asked.
To Ruby, it is the perfect moment to show everyone what she's made of especially to her team mates and her partner, Weiss Schnee. The ice queen crosses her arms and watches the younger girl. Ruby notices and grins, making the white-haired girl flustered.
The caged Beowolf keeps shaking the cage, scratching and banging against the cage door. The older woman opens the cage and the Grimm immediately lunges out. It sets its eyes on Ruby, it growls and bares its teeth in intimidation. A cocky grin plastered on her face as she raises her scythe. The Beowolf slowly crawls to her, its tail is raised in threat.
It snarls and suddenly Ruby trembles, uncertain of the wolf's intention other than baring its teeth and growls. It crawls instead of lunging or running towards her as if the killer instinct isn't in its biology.
It gets closer than it is supposed to be allowed and Ruby starts to back away, taking slow steps and keeping her weapon pointed at it. The growling becomes loud and it lunges. Ruby gasps and swings her scythe, hitting the side of its head. Ruby jumps back when it swipes its claws aimlessly. Her scythe changes into its gun mode and shot it several times.
Her eyes widen when the wolf manages to knock her bullets away. She immediately changes her gun to scythe mode and quickly blocked its claws. Yang became worried, she's halfway to getting up from her seat and thought about intervening. But her sister found a way to beat it. She ducks as it swipes its claws again, knocking it off its feet with her scythe and slashes it.
Yang sat back down and sighs softly. Her black-haired companion next to her notices, "She knows what she's doing, Yang," she says.
Yang looked at her and squinted her eyes, "I'm still amazed how you know what I'm thinking, Belladonna," she answers. Blake smirks.
"I have my ways," she says and giggles. Yang shrugs and looks back at her sister in the arena, jumping and waving happily.
Weiss watches her enthusiastic partner and sighs. "Still wants to show off", she thought. She looks over at the Beowolf which starts to disintegrate but then, the wolf twitches. Her eyes widen, it's obvious smoke is coming out of the creature so it's supposed to be dead.
But the wolf gets up. Gasps of shock echoes throughout the hall. Smoke still emits from the wounds of the creature and yet, it doesn't stop it. Ruby hears the footsteps and the moment she turns, the Beowolf lunges at her, swipes its claws and slashes her gut.
"RUBY!" Yang yells and jumps into the arena. Her eyes burn red and she punches the wolf. More smoke emits from the additional wounds but it is still moving, slow like a zombie. It lunges, knocking Yang away and pounces on Ruby. The younger girl breathes rapidly in panic, her eyes filled with fear and tears fall from her eyes due to the pain as the wolf steps onto her wounds. It growls, with its red eyes staring at her fiercely and it raises its claw.
Blake jumps in followed by Weiss. Blake takes out her weapon and shot it in the head. Black blood from the Grimm splatters on Ruby. She cringes, and Blake immediately kicks it away when it suddenly became limp. Weiss stabs it repeatedly with her rapier and makes sure it died for good.
Yang notices her sister's condition and quickly crawl towards her. She cradles Ruby in her arms, shaking her gently for answer of assurance but Ruby slowly falls unconscious. The last thing she heard was her sister's call before she closes her eyes.
When she wakes up, she sees a white ceiling which is enough to tell her she's not in her dorm. Her muscles are numb and her sight still blurs from the light. She blinks several times before she gets a clear view of her surroundings. She's in the infirmary and she can see her sister is asleep on her right side on a chair and also Weiss with her head rested on the edge of her bed.
Blake is at the end of her bed, reading her book. She tries to sit up and groans, earning the attention from the black-haired girl. "Ruby?" she places her book down and gets up, going to Ruby's side and gently pushes her down. "You shouldn't move. You're still recovering," she says.
Ruby sighs softly and slowly nod. "H-how long… I've been here?" she asks.
Blake stays silent for a moment, looking down to think for a moment, "It's been three days," she says. "The wound wasn't fatal but it'll leave some ugly scars."
Ruby frowns, looking at her sister and her partner in guilt. Blake notices and places her hand on her shoulder, "Don't beat yourself over it. Nobody ever thought a Grimm could've come back to life," Blake says.
"But I've made them worried…" she mumbles. Blake sighs and smiles. She caresses the younger girl's hair.
"They'll understand. But let's not wake them up for now. They haven't slept for a while for worrying about you."
Ruby nods. But then she tilts her head in confusion, "What about you, Blake? Have you been sleeping?" she asks.
"I took a few naps while waiting here with them," she replies and sighs softly. "I'm going to inform the doctor that you're awake. Just don't move so much, okay?"
"Okay," Ruby says. Blake quietly leaves the room and closes the door. Ruby lays still on her bed. She carefully lifts her arms and look at them. Her eyes widen and she gasps softly, seeing a pair of paws instead of hands. She blinks, only to see them going back to normal.
"I… I must be dreaming…" She mutters to herself and slowly closes her eyes. "Sleep is the only option for now…"
It doesn't take long for Ruby to find out something's wrong with her.
Ruby is finally discharged from the infirmary after she's confirmed to have no serious injuries. But she still gets scolded by Weiss and Yang for making them worried and Blake suggested to treat Ruby for lunch to shorten their lectures. Nevertheless, they agreed.
At the cafeteria, they sit with team JNPR. Weiss brings a plate of cookies for Ruby. She beams at her white-haired partner, who easily blushes and look away. "Thanks, Weiss!" she says.
The smell of the freshly baked cookies entices Ruby and she immediately takes a bite from one of them. But as soon as the crumbs reaches her throat, she feels nauseous. She cringes, looking away quickly from the others and tries to swallow it. Across the table, Pyrrha notices. "Ruby, are you okay?" she asks, surprising the younger girl and she instantly swallowed it. She quickly sits back up.
"I-I'm okay! See?" she laughs nervously and look at her friends. Receiving no answer from them, she gulps and eat the rest. Each cookie worsens her nausea to the point she couldn't hold it in anymore. She gets up and runs for the restroom. She barges in, ran into a cubicle and threw up.
Her throats burn from throwing up too much. She gasps, walking towards the sink and washes her mouth. She splashes water to her face and looks up to the mirror. She yelps in surprise, noticing a pair of wolf ears and looks at her dog-like face. She trembles and slowly looks at her hands, or in this case… claws that resembles the Beowolf's. Cold sweat starts running down her face and she hyperventilates.
She hears footsteps approaching and she splashes her face again. Seeing her face won't change and the ears won't go away, she quickly pulls up her hood and makes sure it covers her face or at least shadows it.
Yang peeks in, concern is plastered on her face, "Ruby, what's wrong? You ran off just like that. Are you sick?" she asks. "What's with the hood, sis?"
Yang is reaching out for her hood as she gets close. Ruby freezes, terrified of what would her sister say about her face and ears and yelps. She doesn't hear gasp of shock from the blonde. She glances at the mirror, only to see her face has returned to normal. Yang tilts her head in confusion upon seeing her sister staring at the mirror. "What's with you? You look like you've seen a ghost," she says.
Ruby stays still for a moment, trying to process what she has seen. She sighs softly and grabs Yang's hand, "I-it's nothing. Let's go…" she replies and pulls her out of the restroom.
She's never been that terrified since the last time she fought the Beowolf.