"Don't stray, my son," said Mother Wolf. "To disobey is to bring dire consequences."
"Aww, I'm am not afraid. I'm fierce!" said the little gray pup. "Listen to me growl!"
A mere squeak broke the silence. The other pups laughed, his sisters with him being the only boy, rolling on the ground near their den.
Mother Wolf chuckled. "You need to practice. Right now, you must have a nap."
"Real wolves don't need naps. They hunt!" He growled, but his sisters continued their mocking laughter, some nipping him in the rump.
"Oh yeah, a real hunter you are," one teased. She took her paw and drove his head into the grass, snout-first.
"I'll show you!"
Mother Wolf reached down and picked him by the scruff on his neck before he could fight back. Through her teeth, she said, "You haven't been weaned. You cannot hunt yet and there are many dangers in the wood you must avoid."
"Danger? Ha! I am not afraid of any danger!"
"You carry your father's spirit."
She carried him into their den, a hollowed out tree deep below its roots. She set him down while his sisters eagerly followed.
"Let me go. I will not be scared of anything!"
She growled at her son after she padded the soft, moldy earth. "We are predators, but we are not the only ones who prey in the forest. There are many creatures who would not hesitate to feast upon my young such as the eagles. When you are more grown, the great birds will respect your fangs, but until that moon has passed, I am tasked to protect you."
Wolf's sisters gathered to listen to Mother Wolf's words. He tried growling again. His mother sighed, but continued, "In time, all of you will be destined to protect your own young. The other threat is the humans for they are not afraid of us, either in numbers or alone. Be wary, pups, and avoid them. They use vile sorcery and many of our kind, including your father, are now pelts to adorn their furless skin during the cold winter moons."
"I will avenge all the packs. They will feel my fangs," said Wolf, raising his snout defiantly.
She nudged him. "No, now is the time to sleep, son."
"Wolf is gonna get eaten by an eagle or cooked in a witch's stew," said one of his sisters.
"Hush, now lay your heads," admonished their mother.
The pups obeyed, his sisters crowding him. The soft warmth of their fur against his turned his eyes heavy and in moments, peaceful slumber fell upon all the mother and her pups.
…..
Wolf awoke, disturbed by his dreams of fire and running. He glanced around, yawning as wide as his little mouth could. Cold air blew through the hollow, brushing his fur. He stared at the blinding light outside, the Maiden of Spring struggling to come while pushing Witch of Winter away.
Mother Wolf and his sisters still lay asleep. Taking care not to wake anyone, he stepped away from her underside and bolted outside.
Despite the lack of snow and lush greenery returning to the wood, his little snout puffed out a cloud of frosty air. He left the den, running through the underbrush, darting along the game trails, and disappearing deep into the forest once again waking with new life.
He froze as the screech high above the trees stopped him dead, his blood running cold. Glancing up, he spotted a shape diving toward him, deftly dodging between the branches, its talons outstretched, the beak open in anticipation of blood and fur in its maw. As fast as his little legs could take him, he dove in the underside of a bush.
The eagle ripped away the top as it made a pass, diving back up into the air.
Wolf resumed his panicked flight, his heart beating hard against his chest. Confusion set in, he no longer able to find his way back to his den! The great bird shrieked its battle cry again as the lupine crept through more brush.
He called, "Mother! Mother!"
She did not answer. The eagle tore another bush apart, effectively trapping him in an exposed clearing with no underbrush save the one currently underneath. His eyes darted around and spotted a small hollow in a tree.
Across the open expanse.
He ran for it, the eagle screeching, the sound of heavy wings beating in the air. He dove under the roots of the old tree just as he felt the air snap behind him, wincing in pain as the sharp beak sliced his hind leg. Wolf backed himself deep under, meeting the flaring, orange eyes and sharp beak.
The predator stepped away from the tree, and once again, flapped its wings, taking flight into the air.
Wolf panted, his blood pounding throughout his tiny body. He howled, hoping his mother would hear him and come. She didn't and time passed, but the forest still remained far too quiet.
The eagle waited outside somewhere.
"Mother...I am scared. Where are you?" he asked, his voice weak.
Hope fled from him as he collapsed from exhaustion.
…..
Something plodded along the ground, disturbing the silence of the forest as the sun began its descent, allowing the Moon to come soon. Wolf's ears perked up from the disruption.
"And what do we have here?" asked a voice, feminine and harmonious.
A pair of legs covered in strange garments blocked the exit of the hollow, a red cape dragged along the ground.
"Come out, let me look upon you, pup," commanded the voice. "Don't be afraid. Are you hungry, my young friend?"
Wolf moved toward the exit, each step with caution.
"That's it. Don't be afraid."
The small lupine gazed up and met a woman's eyes— a human woman. She dressed in red garments in a red cape and hood. She smiled.
"Greetings. Are you lost, my little pup?" she asked.
He shook his head. "N—no! I was out hunting. You're in our lands!" He growled, hoping to scare the young lady.
Instead, she stifled a slight chuckle. "My, so brave you are." She reached down and rummaged her hand through his fur. "What big ears you possess for one so young. How fares your hunt, my dashing predator?"
"My ears are not big."
"Oh, but they are, and so are your eyes. When you grow up, you'll—"
"My teeth are big too!"
She laughed, soft and gentle. "Yes, you are indeed a prowling beast. What is your name, so I may quiver in fear at the mere mention of it." She giggled.
"I am called Wolf."
"That's it?" The woman shook her head. She wagged a finger at him. "No, no, no. Let's invoke something to inspire fear in your enemies.. Let's call you...the Big Bad Wolf."
Wolf tilted his head for a moment. "Yes, I like it. I will be known as the Big Bad Wolf!"
"I am Red. I live in the cottage by the pond."
The lupine gasped. "A witch lives there! Are you a witch?"
"Oh my heavens, no! But you're correct. A witch does live there. My gran is a witch, but do not be afraid. Come with me. I know you hunger and then afterward, you shall lead me to your home."
Wolf cast his eyes down. "Please...I desire to go home now. Take me back to my mother."
Red knelt, stroking his fur with a gentle hand. "I know what it's like to be without a mother for I never knew mine. She died giving birth to me. I will feed you and then you will return." The maiden set her basket next to her and opened a lid. Wolf glanced and spotted nothing but darkness within.
"That's it, my brave Big Bad Wolf."
He hopped in.
…..
The lack of a cool breeze stifled Wolf as he lay in the basket, Red humming along the way as she traveled deeper into the wood. She had closed the lid and latched it. The pup could see through a tiny hole, the maiden strolling around the large pond in the center of the forest to a crooked house. As she approached, the lupine smelled many sweet sensations.
Red opened the door and called, "I'm home!"
"What have you brought, dearest sister?" said a voice to Wolf's left, it too like Red's, feminine and like a songbird.
The latch came undone and a hand reached into the basket picking up the pup by the scruff of his neck.
Fear wracked the lupine as many skulls and pelts decorated this house. This was no home, but a place of slaughter!
Wolf faced a beautiful maiden except she had long-flowing raven hair and an ashen white face, almost as if she died and they preserved her. The eyes of Red's sister gleamed with desire as she smiled, exposing pearly white teeth. In one hand, she bit into a luscious red apple, its juices dribbling down the corner of her mouth.
"One so young. There must be a litter nearby!" said the ebon-haired woman as she unsheathed a knife from the folds of her dress, its blade stained dark brown.
"Don't bear your blade at what's mine, Snow. Where is gran?"
"In the kitchen preparing supper. I'm about ready to call my sons." Snow reached up and pecked Red on the cheek, departing for the door. She cried, "Boys! Boys!"
Snow sang her tune a high pitch melody. In a moment, almost a dozen birds flitted about her hands. She said in a sing-song tone, "Go, summon my precious children. Tell them it is time for supper." The birds obeyed.
Red carried Wolf in the crook of her arm. He begged, "I don't want anything to eat. Let me go home!"
"Oh no, my dear pup, you're my guest of honor." She entered the kitchen, the smell of rot strong enough to make Wolf wretch.
In the center, stood an old crone, skin wrinkled like crumpled parchment amidst a carpeting of warts and moles. Sparks flew as the hunched-over hag sharpened a large serrated cleaver on a spinning stone, cackling as she stared at a young girl locked in a cage. A boy, fully clothed, lay trussed up on the serving table upon a giant iron platter. Many vegetables and fruits surrounded him with a brilliant red apple shoved in his mouth.
"Don't cook us!" the young girl cried through swollen tear-weary eyes.
The old woman laughed. "Ah, dearie, but you and your fat pig of a brother came into my home, gorging yourself on sweets. Is it my fault your parents brought you into the woods to abandon you?"
"Hello, Gran. I have returned," said Red.
"Ah, good then. Oh, you brought a friend. The pelt knife is over there."
"I'm keeping him."
"No!" protested Wolf, but Red met his defiance by digging her nails in the underside of his belly.
The crone stopped, turning her attention fully on her granddaughter. "Are you now?"
"I shall raise him and break him. He will become our huntsman, ferreting out the other wolves, starting with his own siblings."
Wolf's fear died as a mote of strength welled up from within. "I will not!" He bit down as hard as he could on Red's hand, causing her to drop him. He yelped when he crashed to the floor, spots flooding his vision, but he recovered and dashed out of the kitchen.
"Stop him!"
The cleaver impaled deep into the door frame as the pup dashed out the kitchen, leaving the wails of a little girl in his wake. He skidded to a stop as the front entrance burst open. Seven small men in filthy peasant breeches, shirts, and vests stormed into the house, fighting amongst each other until the commotion turned their attention. All of them looked alike with misshapen ears, droopy jaws with drool freely flowing, wisps of matted hair, and deformed faces. None of them reached the full height of a regular human man, but Wolf assumed they reached their manhood. As they spotted pup, their curious gazes turned to cruel sneer as all seven smiled through rotten black teeth.
They charged, trying to stomp on him with their hard leather boots as they shouted in thick imbecilic drawls, "Wolfy! Squish wolfy! Kill wolfy!"
The terrified lupine dashed under a dresser.
"What's all this racket?" shouted a man, his voice booming like thunder. The pup spotted a humongous man dressed in a massive wolf pelt wielding a large woodsman ax. "Boys, where is your mother?"
"Behind you, father," said Snow.
"Ah, Red is home early too. Good, what's for supper? I'm famished."
Gran jerked a thumb behind her. "I fattened up those two kips I caught. One is ready for the oven."
"Excellent! Excellent! Now, what is with the child wolf?" asked the ax man as he slung his tree-feller over his shoulder, pointing at Wolf who cowered under the furniture.
"He's mine, father," said Red.
The thick-bearded man shook his head. "Now, daughter, I won't allow it. All wolves must die. Boys, have your fun."
The seven mismatched miniature men laughed, shoving and pushing to be the first to reach Wolf, their feet raised high.
Grubby hands overturned the dresser, trapping Wolf.
Before the first boot came down, the window and wall exploded as a huge furry body crashed through, a gray wolf crackling with orange magical flames. She snarled, sucking the air out of the room.
"You dare lay harm to my young? Your lives and your tales end NOW!" Mother Wolf screamed.
"You're not the only one with magic, beast!" laughed Gran as lightning danced between her fingers.
"Boys! Daughters! The guns!" shouted the ax man as he hefted his weapon.
Mother Wolf glared at her son who dashed across the room to be by her side. She said, "Wolf, run home. Don't stop, don't look, flee this place!"
Wolf obeyed, but once he reached around the lake, he stopped, turned and watched to his horror the house consumed in flames, gunfire still ringing from within that terrible abode, and the screams of the dying.
Black plumes of smoke reached to the cold, uncaring heavens as Wolf struggled to find his way home.
…..
The day bled away to the night and night fell away to the day. It repeated with the sun rising, the moon ascending again and again.
"Mother, mother," called one of Wolf's sisters, her voice weak as she lay next to another pup already collapsed from thirst.
Wolf limped to the exit of their den, his fear welling up again in his chest.
Eagles—dozens of them sat on the branches. They waited.
"Wolf, where is mother?" asked the oldest sister. A couple of his other siblings moved about listlessly, unable to focus as hunger and thirst dominated their every thought.
"Gone."
She never returned.
The eagles bided their time, their cold yellow eyes all focused on the entrance, staring directly at Wolf.
"All I wanted to do was hunt," he whispered, weary, confusion setting in, but he strayed instead.