Chapter 3:
"Now, can anyone tell me the best way to deal with a Beowolf?" Professor Port asked the class. "Mr. Arc?"
Jaune jumped at the mention of his name. "Uh, well. We avoid the teeth and claws. And we also be prepared for when they leap. It leaves them open."
"Very good Mr. Arc. Though a couple of small details you forgot..." The professor nodded. "Remember that Beowolves hunt in packs, all led by an Alpha. Although such tactics are effective, even the best tactic can be ineffective if not used in the proper situation. Now, how do we deal with them when they surround you?"
He scanned the room, eyeing for potential 'victims'. "Ah, Ms. Rose. How about you?"
Ruby blinked. "Uh, well, Beowolves don't often attack all at once. They strike in teams so as to watch for any weak spots. So all we have to do is stand our ground and take out the Alpha. That'll scare the rest off."
"Well, quite basic but it will do." Professor Port nodded. "Alright, do go through the assigned readings on more advanced tactics. That will be all for today. And remember, stay vigilant."
"Not bad." Weiss nodded. "But I suppose you know your stuff in destroying Grimm."
"Hey, I've been studying Weiss, but Beowolves are kinda easy to figure out." Ruby shrugged. "I've taken out plenty in the past."
"And I will take your word for it." Weiss smiled. "Just remember that some Beowolves are smarter than the average Grimm."
"But that's why I have my best teammate here!" Ruby grinned. Weiss rolled her eyeballs. She was tempted to say that reason would only work so many times. Still, she couldn't bring herself to it.
"Well, did you manage to scribble down what we need to give to Ren?" She said, putting emphasis on their most important task.
"Yeah." Ruby nodded. "Hopefully I got everything."
"I'll do a review." Weiss said. "Maybe I can just add a few things he should note down and at the same time fill in the gaps you have." Still, Weiss had a feeling she wouldn't have much to do. Ruby was a monster at anything she put her mind to.
"EVERYONE!" Came a voice.
Ruby and Weiss looked up to see Nora dashing into the classroom, not bothering whether she was going to barrel down the students already leaving. She ran right up to Jaune and Pyrrha and remained there, jogging on the spot.
"Nora?" Jaune frowned. "What the hell?"
"Nora, slow down." Pyrrha said in an effort to quell the excitable girl down. "What's going on?"
"EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY!" Nora shrieked. "A REALLY BIG EMERGENCY!"
By now, everyone in the class had left, leaving Jaune, Pyrrha and team RWBY to deal with Nora's sudden appearance.
"What seems to be the problem?" Blake asked, frowning.
"Its Ren!" Nora exclaimed.
Everyone was huddled in team JNPR's room, looking as Nora placed a cold towel on Ren's forehead.
"So he's running a fever, has a very bad cough, has stomachache and threw up." Weiss summarized the different symptoms Nora explained earlier. "I think this is just a rather severe case of stomach flu."
"Weiss has a point Nora." Jaune said. "I mean, everything pretty much fits."
"That's what everyone thinks!" Nora said, her eyes widened. "But that's also why it's so easy to confuse with!"
"Confuse with what?" Yang frowned.
"Melpox Syndrome!" Nora answered.
"Melpox Syndrome?" Everyone said simultaneously, giving each other strange looks.
"Yes!" Nora nodded. "I have seen this happen before! And it is very life-threatening!"
"Nora, stop." Weiss said holding up one hand. "What sort of proof do you have? I have never heard of Melpox syndrome in any of the books I have read."
"Melpox syndrome started as a terrible disease from Grimm!" Nora said, glaring at everyone's obvious doubt. "Once before, Hunters and Huntresses tried using the deadly disease as a way to pacify the Grimm. But it was too spready! It infected humans too! And they fared much worse!"
Ruby blinked. "Okay... So, say Ren is infected with Melpox..."
"He is!" Nora insisted.
"Ok..." Ruby gulped, not wanting to stir an angry Nora. "Well, if he is infected with it, what's the cure?"
Nora grinned. "It is a HUUUUGE cocktail of ingredients of which has been compiled in this book!" Nora triumphantly held her little notebook up for all to see. "It details the three different ingredients needed to save Ren!"
"Very nice and all Nora." Weiss snapped. "But this still looks like stomach flu! What differentiates this from that?"
Suddenly, Ren groaned. Everyone gasped as he groped around for something. Nora instantly pushed the bucket next to his bed right to where his head was.
A good thing too, as Ren suddenly heaved, puke splashing into the bucket.
"Ugh!" Everyone exclaimed. Weiss clasped her mouth and went out to get air. Jaune's tongue had come out and everyone had a grim look on their faces. Yang however, stared at the vomit.
"Why's it got purple bits inside it?" Yang frowned.
Nora did so too, moving to check, gasping as she did.
"Purple vomit lumps!" She exclaimed. Outside, Ruby could hear Weiss gag. Blake had wisely gone over to the heiress and rubbed her back.
"This is bad!" Nora spoke unbelievably fast. "This is bad, this is bad, this is bad!"
"So, is that the confirmation of Melpox?" Jaune asked.
"Yup." Nora nodded.
Jaune looked at Pyrrha who returned with a look of concern, worry and serious doubt.
"Nora, let us talk for a minute ok? Please take care of Ren." Jaune said as he ushered the rest out.
"Okay. Now I'm seriously getting worried for Ren." Jaune said as the others gathered around.
"Worried for Ren as in he's got the worst sickness or the worst healthcare?" Weiss moaned as she tried to keep her lunch in.
"The sickness obviously." Jaune sighed.
"Seriously?" Weiss arched an eyebrow. "You can't be serious about actually listening to Nora?"
"I think it's weird too." Jaune frowned. "But I really can't chance it."
"Besides, Ren is our teammate." Pyrrha nodded firmly. "If his life is in danger, we have to help in any way we can."
Ruby stared at Yang, Blake and Weiss. Yang merely shrugged, unsure of what to say. Blake shared the same worried look that Jaune and Pyrrha did. Weiss was still cupping her mouth with her hands but complete disbelief flashing across her face.
Don't hate me guys... Ruby moaned inside as she took a breath. "Okay. We'll help." She spared a glance at her teammates.
Weiss's answer was plain as day. Her eyes went wide, as if she had been stung by a bee. Blake, nodded her agreement, though still frowning. Yang merely shrugged.
"Alright!" Ruby smiled. "Operation Melpox cure, begin!"
"So Nora..." Weiss asked as Ren hurled again. "What are the ingredients for the cure to... uh..."
"Melpox." Ruby whispered into her ear.
"Right..." Weiss nodded. "Melpox. The cure?"
Nora took out her notebook and flipped to the page containing the recipe for the Melpox cure. It would've have been more reassuring for Weiss if it didn't seem to be nothing more than a kid's coloring book with elaborate crayon drawings.
"There are three main ingredients for the Melpox cure! And thankfully, they can all be found in Vale!" She said excitably. "The first is the pollen of Harradel flowers! Who will handle this?"
Ruby raised her hand. "Me, and Weiss."
"It doesn't sound too hard." Weiss noted. "But what does it look like?"
Nora showed them the drawing of a strange plant with a bell-shaped flower. "You can find it in really moist places!"
"Alright." Weiss nodded. "I think I know some places."
"Great!" Nora beamed. "Next, the Congall Eel! It lives in really swampy places! Don't worry, they have really bright blue spots on them, so spotting them is easy!"
"Blake and I will handle that!" Yang lifted hers and her partner's arms. Blake gulped, a little unsure of walking through a swamp.
"Last!" Nora said, flipping the page. "The Rhotian mushroom!" She showed Jaune and Pyrrha a strange mushroom with brown and purple spots. "This thing grows in the Emerald forest! I saw tons of them during initiation as I was flying through!"
"Alright." Pyrrha nodded. "Jaune, up for it?"
"You bet!" Jaune smiled.
"I'll be staying here to look after Ren in case it gets worse." Nora said. "Good luck guys! And please hurry! The minute those purple vomit spots turn green, we are screwed! I mean, figuratively Ren is, but still, we'd be screwed without him, right?"