Chapter 3:
Ruby was lying down on her bed. She enjoyed a dreamless sleep that was refreshing beyond anything. She breathed, the cool night air filling her lungs. A smile crossed her face as she snuggled in the warm blanket.
She breathed again, and this time, she choked. Ruby's eyes snapped open to find that she was no longer in her Beacon academy dormitory, but was now within and endless abyss of water and ocean. She flailed her arms, desperate for a single gulp of air.
Stretching her hands out, she pulled through the water, intent upon reaching the surface. Her lungs burned as the final bits of oxygen in the ran out.
She pulled and pulled, but somehow, the surface didn't seem to get any closer. Instead, she felt herself drift slowly into the bottomless abyss. She stared downward and immediately saw a strange hand grasped around her ankle. It was black and cold and its strength was incredible.
Ruby reached down and attempted to wrench herself free. Instantly, two glowing red eyes shone out from the crushing darkness, staring at her. Ruby watched as another hand reached out and grabbed her, pulling her deeper in.
Ruby gasped as she shot upwards, the motion rocking her suspended bed and causing her to topple-painfully-onto the floor.
"Ow, ow..." She winced. Her back ached as she got up, aware of the three pairs of eyes now staring at her.
"You okay little sis?" Yang frowned, concerned.
"Yeah." Ruby nodded as she got up, the aching in her back still throbbing. "Just a nightmare."
"And a painful land on the floor." Blake noted as she went to the bathroom. "What was it about?"
"Please Blake." Weiss said, stretching. "I doubt anyone wants to talk about nightmares."
"Chill Weiss." Ruby said. "It was just a really weird one of me drowning. The crazy part was some sort of, well, monster making sure I drowned."
"Ok," Yang blinked. "9.7 on the weird scale."
"Could it be because of that commotion yesterday?" Blake said.
"If it is, it is utterly ridiculous." Weiss replied.
"Shut up Weiss." Yang scowled before turning back to her little sister. "Ruby, remember, I'm always here if you need someone."
"Yang, relax." Ruby said. "I'm not a kid anymore. At any rate, shouldn't we be more concerned about the test Professor Port is going to give?"
"She's right." Weiss nodded. "This test is going to decide who get nominated for the Vacuo Open Arms invite. And do we want to go or not?"
"As if you needed to ask princess." Yang grinned, punching her fists together. "I'm so gonna ace it!"
"Do remember she helped." Ruby grinned mischievously, throwing Weiss an equally mischievous look. Her partner gave a small smile back in reply.
"Yeah yeah." Yang rolled her eyes. "I'll remember Weiss's hand in all this."
Ruby nodded as her teammates got ready for class. Still, something at the back of her mind lingered. Did the dream mean anything at all? Could it be a forewarn of something terrible?
Come on Ruby, get it together. She said in her mind. That sort of thing is just story book stuff.
Ruby asserted that there was nothing to worry about. Grabbing her toothbrush and towel, she got ready for the day.
Professor Port scanned the room as the students-forty or so-did their quiz. He glanced at his watch. A good thirty of the ninety minutes had already expired. He turned, spotting a student scratching his head, obviously stumped at a question. He walked over, wondering if there was some form of confusion in his mind.
Ruby kept her eyes glued to the paper in front of her. Most of the questions were simple to her thanks to the recent studying they had all done. She glanced to her right where Jaune was seated. He didn't seem to have problems either. Had he done some studying? If so, she could only imagine one other. She snickered as she glanced over at Pyrrha.
Yang didn't seem to be struggling at all. Nora was whistling some strange tune as she wrote answers down on the paper. Ren didn't seem to have difficulty either. Ruby quickly turned back to her own paper just as Professor Port came by. No need to have the bearded teacher think she was cheating.
Ruby scanned through the remaining questions. Her eyes caught a particular question.
Name three different types of Grimm
It was a question simple beyond compare. Still, it struck a strange chord in Ruby's mind. She caught Professor Port moving over to answer another query from a student across the room. Soon enough, he would have another query to answer.
Professor Port collected the last paper from Weiss, nodding appreciatively. "I hope everyone does well for this test. Remember that not only does this reflect on your total overall grade for the year, this test also will decide the candidates for the Vacuo Open Arms invite."
"I understand that many of you have been wondering how many of you will be chosen. Well, I have the answer." He said as he paced the classroom. "Well, if you would like to know, the top twenty percent of all students in your year will have a chance to undergo this momentous event."
Whoops triggered throughout the class. Yang cheered as loudly as she could, with Nora joining in. Weiss couldn't help but give a wide smile. Ruby merely listened intently on the professor's words.
"As for who they will be," He continued, amusement spreading across his face. "It seems you will have to find out. Class dismissed."
As the rest of the students began to file out, Ruby went over to Weiss. "I have to ask the professor something. Meet you later for lunch?"
Weiss blinked. Ruby rarely consulted teachers on schoolwork, and even if she did, the only one she felt comfortable around was Professor Ozpin himself. This was definitely strange indeed.
"Look, it's nothing." Ruby said. "Just have some extra things on my mind that I think he can answer."
"Alright then." Weiss nodded. There was no harm in going to another person for advice, why should the same be said for school? "See you later then."
Ruby nodded and went over to professor Port, who was just about to leave the class.
"Professor?" Ruby asked the minute she was in earshot of him. He turned, surprised to see the red cloaked girl standing before him.
"Ms. Rose?" He frowned. "You don't often see me for consultation. What seems to be the problem dear child?"
"Well, I don't mean to prove anything sir..." Ruby said sheepishly. Even if he did seem to be a portly man with a funny moustache, she couldn't help but feel an intimidating aura around him. "The thing is, recent events have put quite a large number of questions into my mind."
"Dear girl, confess to me what is bothering you!" He said with great enthusiasm. "I will try to help in any way possible!"
Ruby thought slowly about how to phrase the question. As soon as the words were formed in her head, she spoke.
"Well, are there any species of Grimm that you think might not have been heard of?"
The professor blinked, surprised at such a question. "You must forgive me if I don't understand what you ask Ms. Rose."
"Well, we know about all of the Grimm that you have taught us about." She continued. "But do you think that there may be Grimm that no one has yet seen?"
"Hmm..." Professor Port frowned. "You're going very deep into this it seems. I applaud that! A true huntress would definitely believe there is more to the world than she herself would know. However, I must be frank..."
"You're not very sure?" She replied.
"Correct my young lady." The professor nodded. "I have seen many things since my youth, but even I am not fully aware if we truly know the Grimm or not. These monsters are as mysterious as their origins are. Who else can hope to fathom anything of them save for themselves?"
"I see." Ruby pursed her lips. "Sorry for taking up your time sir."
"No apologies needed." The professor smiled. "Though perhaps you can visit the library. I believe that is where you can find what you seek."
"Thanks sir." Ruby grinned as she rushed out of class.