Little Red Riding Hood
By shinku
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Summary: Because not all wolves hide in sheep skin.
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'I'm gonna keep my sheep suit on, until I'm sure that you've been shown, that I can be trusted walking with you alone.'
-Little Red Riding Hood, Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs
He'd been following her since she's stepped into the woods. The pale flickers of white and gold out the corner of her eye was the only way she knew he was there. No sound, no scent, almost no sign.
She grinned wickedly.
What a stupid wolf.
She carefully adjusted her red hood making sure to keep the semi-long cloak wrapped securely around her. It'd been a unique, and useful gift from her grandmother. A way to protect herself in a world that was prone to eating it's own young.
Now, with this eerie predator sniffling along her trail it might yet prove its value once again. Perhaps, it was time to have a little fun with her escort.
"Do you enjoy hiding Mr. Wolf? Don't you want to come walk by my side?" There was the slightest wisp of color along her right, when suddenly he was there walking along her left.
Not just any wolf then.
She made sure to keep her head down, and her amused eyes out of sight. No sense in spoiling the game.
"You shouldn't walk in these woods alone." He spoke easily. "You never know what might follow you home."
Peeking at him out the side of her hood, she felt her lips twitch. He was wearing a wolf mask. It's upper head and elongated snout covering the top half of his face. It was beautiful thing, made of fine leathers and bits of steel. Her fingers itched to touch it.
However, it wasn't the mask that provoked her humor. It was his choice in clothes, or rather, just the breeches and vest.
They were sheep skin.
Her lips twitched again.
How quaint.
"Do you escort everyone that passes through these woods, Mr. Wolf?"
He grinned at her, the expression showing off sharp teeth.
"Only those that look good enough to eat."
Oh?
"A bit biased, Mr. Wolf?"
"On the contrary, I merely have a big heart. Isn't it generous of me to keep my eyes on them?"
She doubted those caught in his sight would agree.
"Then I'm safe with you here, Mr. Wolf?"
"Of course, even bad wolves can be good."
She bet.
"Then it was quite fortunate you happened upon me. Wasn't it, Mr. Wolf?"
He edged closer until their arms were brushing. "Quite fortunate."
Well, wasn't he friendly.
They walked the rest of the way like that. Closer than was proper, but untroubled enough with each other to make it look polite.
What an obvious lie.
Soon they came to a fork in the road. One path branched left, the other right. She went straight.
"Do you know where your going?" He asked.
She smiled. "Of course, Mr. Wolf."
Before long, they stood in a small clearing and the wolf glanced around curiously.
"Is this where you wanted to come?"
"Actually," She said, pinning him with a grin of familiar sharp teeth. "I need to go a bit further, but grandma wouldn't be to happy with me if I brought a man home."
The wolf took a single step back, recognizing the game far too late. In a sudden rush of movement he was on his back, pinned to the ground by a playful she-wolf. Her grin was triumphant as she straddled his waist, a firm grip around his wrists.
"Leaving so soon, Mr. Wolf?"
He growled from deep in his chest and bared his fangs, the sound dark and menacing.
Her grin took on a wicked edge.
"Don't be that way, Mr. Wolf. After all, I still owe you for walking me home."
He continued to growl, trying warn the brazen female off of him. Then her lips came down on his and the rumble suddenly ceased. She kissed him with all the demanding innocence that only the young and inexperienced could manage. Her tongue occasionally darting out to taste him. As he responded, it took an effort of will on his part, not to flip them over and finish was she was starting, but he had the sudden urge to keep this one.
He could wait
For now.
Minutes past before she pulled back, smiling at him with a lazy confidence. Slowly, so as not to startle she calmly released one of his wrists and gently slid the mask from his face. His features were sharp and perfect, the sign of a wolf, but more than that, his eyes were blue. There was only one wolf in these woods with blues eyes.
She licked her lips. "You can walk me home anytime, Mr. Wolf."
He grinned, sliding his hand along the side of her face, trying to memorize as much of her as possible. After all, anyone that could play his games and win was worth pursuing.
For a short moment she leaned into his hand, relishing in the touch. Then in the next, she was gone, standing a few feet away at his feet.
"Now don't forget, Mr. Wolf. It's your job to walk me home now."
"Jareth." He corrected.
She grinned, before throwing her arms wide and taking a bow like a stage hand. Her cloak briefly fluttered in the air and for the first time, he saw what it hid. He almost laughed. On each hip hung a pistol and along her right thigh sat a twelve inch dagger.
Safe with him indeed.
"Sarah Williams." She announced, "Until next time, Wolf King." and with a practiced gesture, spun the edges of her cloak snuggly against herself and disappeared.
There was no sight, no scent, almost no sound.
He grinned wickedly as he stood, listening to her soft footfalls as she vanished further into the wood. What a tempting creature.
Tilting his head toward the sun, he savored the feeling of the wind on his skin before glancing around for his mask.
He suddenly laughed.
That little thief, she'd stolen his mask.
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The End
*cackles* I love getting one over on Jareth. It's so much fun! Please don't forget to leave a contribution in the little box. -Shi