First things first, this is the preqeual to Crimson Desires that I wrote back in June you don't need to read it first but if you want to you can.

Second: I want to dedicate this to two people

angelsoldada for always being there to edit and help from the start. She help me so much with the first thing I wrote for here.

And

starrrrii because you rock, and kept reminding me that I should do this :3

Anyway enjoy.

Chapter One

To Uncle's House Ryou Goes

Ryou,

Our birthday is coming up again right around the time of the festival this year. I want you, as a gift to me, to come and visit me on your own. You're going to be ten this year, meaning that you are going to be a big boy; and you know the routes well enough by now to not get lost. I expect to see you around noon on thesecond.

-Akefia

Ryou smiled to himself as he re-read the letter from his uncle. He would prove to his uncle that he was a grown up, after all he wasn't scared of the forest anymore. He quickly dressed himself in a white T-shirt and baggy jeans before he locked all the doors to his house and left. The streets were full of villagers setting up for the Harvest Festival that was to take place later that evening. Being polite, he nodded to all the people he passed by, with a 'good morning' placed here and there. In the distance he saw his two closest friends trying to flag him down.

"Morning, Yuugi, Miho." He said smiling and nodding to each as he approached his friends. Yuugi was a short boy with odd tri-color hair that spiked at three separate points, like the rest of his family; he was a few years older than Ryou, but kind and innocent just the same. His family ran the general store that his grandfather owned. Miho was a loud, but sweet, girl with shoulder length light lilac hair, that she put up in a ponytail with a yellow ribbon. She was the same age as Ryou, and her father was the carpenter of the village.

"Happy Birthday, Ryou." They both said simultaneously.

"Miho has a special gift for you tonight, Ryou!" The female said in third person, classic to her nature.

"Yami, Grandpa, and I got you a basket so it's easier for you to carry things when your uncle comes to get you."

"Aw, thanks guys," He blushed at all the attention that was being placed on him, while grabbing the basket Yuugi held out in his hand. "But, Uncle isn't coming to get me today. I'm going to go to his place by myself."

"Well, then it's a good thing all the things you both ordered for today are already inside the basket." Yuugi smiled as he pointed to it.

"You're going to be back in time for the festival right, Ryou?" Miho asked

"I should be. If I know Uncle, he's going to want to send me home by myself as well… after he scares me to death in some way though..." Ryou added.

"Yeah, your uncle is scary." Yuugi laughed warm-heartedly.

"Well, I better get going so I'm not late. Thanks guys." He waved to his two friends and headed for Banewood Forest.

The beginning of the path was bright and clear of fallen limbs and holes in the dirt path. The rangers of the village took great pride in caring for the main road that lead to most destinations, Akefia's cottage unfortunately was not one of them. After passing several path markers, Ryou went off the main trail to a lesser road that few ever travelled; once he reached a burned tree he left the path completely. Ryou went through the landmarks through his head as he passes them. He had a horrible fear of getting lost. He already passed over the tree bridge and the fish shaped boulders. He was surprised to see plethora of practically newborn bunnies had made a burrow near the 'fin' of the fish. He was almost to his uncle's cottage once he passed under thick underbrush. Ryou smiled when the vine infested cottage came into view. The ivy had spread to conquer more of the living area since Ryou had last been there. Walking forward he knocked on the door.

"Who's there?" A coarse voice asked from behind the wood.

"Uncle, it's me!" Ryou beamed.

"Of course it is." The door opened to reveal a tanned man with rugged white hair that matched Ryou's. Akefia embraced he nephew in a gut crushing hug. "I see you made it one piece. I'm glad, I'd hate for our birthday to also be a funeral. Come in and lock the door behind you, we have lots of work to get done."

"Uncle!" Ryou pouted, putting on his 'kicked puppy' look "I don't wanna do any work, I just got here!"

"You know that look doesn't work on me, Ryou." Akefia stated, not actually looking at him. Ryou was persistent and stuck out his bottom lip in a pout. Akefia sighed, that damn pout! "Alright, I guess we can eat first, and then get to work."

"Yay!" Ryou glomped onto his uncle, once again in a crushing embrace. "I brought meat from the Turtle Run, and Yami taught me how to cook!" Ryou went into the kitchen and placed the basket on the table. "Can I cook it, Uncle? I'll make it extra rare for yooooou."

"As long as you don't burn down my home, then yes you can."

"I promise!" Ryou rushed over to the stove to prepare it for cooking. "Uncle, why aren't you wearing your cloak?" He asked as he set out the ingredients for the meal.

"I don't own that old piece of shi-crap anymore."

"What? Why?"

"Don't focus on that, focus on cooking." Ryou huffed before turning back to the stove.

"You know, Uncle, I'm really looking forward to the festival tonight. Are you sure you're not going to go this year?" He asked as he placed the food down onto the table.

"No, Ryou, I'm not going. I'm going to have my own festival here later tonight." Akefia smirked before he cut Ryou's question off before he even asked it. "You'll understand when you're older."

Their meal was filled with pleasant small talk and joy. When they finished it Akefia put Ryou straight to work with cleaning; he never really minded helping his uncle though. Even if one day's work at his uncle's was worth more than a week at his. After all of the indoor cleaning was complete they shifted outside to gather and chop some wood in preparation for winter.

"Here you go." Ryou chirped while he handed his uncle a large piece of wood, holding it with two hands.

"Alright hand it over and back away." Akefia placed the wood onto the stump and nudged his nephew back. Grabbing onto the axe he raised up and brought it down, successfully chopping the wood.

"I bet the moon is going to be really pretty tonight." Ryou remarked as he looked up at the sky, evening was close to approaching.

"I'm assuming you don't know what the full moon means do you?" Akefia smirked, while Ryou gulped.

"N-no." The child strutted.

"Would you like to know?"

"I guess…" Akefia placed the axe down and gestured for Ryou to sit. He cleared his throat and spoke.

"They say that there are men who are truly beast at heart. Most can blend in with us, never reveling the darkness they have inside. Some, the really powerful ones, always expose some parts of their power, but all of them, every single one are forced to change in some ways when the moon is full."

"What are they?"

"Werewolves, Ryou, werewolves."

"They only change when the moon is full, right?"

"Yes, but they don't always change in the same way as each other unless…"

"Unless what, Uncle?"

"Unless it's a moon like tonight. The Harvest Moon forces each and every one of them to become as a wolf. Their senses change and become more primal in their needs. Pray you never run into one, Ryou; especially if they are taken by your looks, they might even come back for you."

"Uncle?" Ryou shivered in the cool air. "A-are werewolves really real?"

"Heh, you look cold, you should have brought a cloak of some sort with you." Akefia stated, ignoring his nephew's fear. "Come inside, I have something for you anyway." He moved away from the log and headed towards his home. Ryou watched him leave before quickly running after him. "Sit down, I'll be right back." He gestured towards the chair before he headed upstairs to his bedroom. A short while passed before Ryou's uncle descended the stairs. He tossed him poorly wrapped package. "Happy Birthday, Ryou." He nodded as he watched his nephew open the gift. Inside was a red velvet hooded riding cloak, the exact same one he was asking his uncle about earlier in the day.

"Are you…are you really giving this to me?" Ryou asked, his eyes had crystal clear tears in them when his uncle nodded. He loved this hood for as long as he could remember. The color of the hood was so vibrant compared to the dull clothing the village had to offer. Ryou stood up and wrapped it around himself. He glanced down at himself before he jumped his uncle, forcing him into a hug. "Thank you, so much!" he cried tears of joy.

"You deserve it; you've proved that you're trying to get over your fear by coming here."

"Still thank you so much, Uncle."

"Alright now," Akefia ruffled his nephews' hair "enough of the crying. Let's get some dinner in you before you head back home."

I hope you enjoyed this because I can promise that it's going to get darker ;p

See you soon in another update.

Review please, feedback would be great on this or Crimson Desires.