Bonjour everyone! here is chapter 2, of course i'm not a very good writer. But sometimes i just need to release my creative thoughts. I hope you like it. And thank you so much for commenting on this story. It gave me so much enthusiasm and support!


Red skipped through the forest, her heart thudding against her chest. She approached the largest oak tree and sat on one side. Excitement buzzed in her.

Today was Thursday. That meant she could finally speak to 'him'.

She hugged her knee. Glancing up into the sky, she waited patiently for noon to strike.

"You're on time again, Little Red Riding Hood." The tree spoke abruptly.

She snickered; delight gleaming in her clear, blue eyes. "Of course, I can't afford to lose even a second during the time I can chat with you."

He gave out a deep and rich chuckle like chocolate melting into a thick liquid. "I don't get it." The voice rang out, clearly amused. "What's so special about meeting up every week with an ancient plant like me?"

"Because…"

Because you are the Wolf, she finished in her head.

He pushed her to go on, "Because?"

"…Because it feels nice… for me to talk to someone that can keep secrets about my problems and life," said Red.

He grinned. "Don't tell me that the chickens ran loose again."

She puffed her cheeks. "Excuse me, but you've probably never seen a chicken that tries to claw your eyes out when you collect their eggs. They are crazy!"

A laugh rippled out into the air. "This is the world of Fairy tale –a place where all stories that are told in children books of another dimension happen." A smile cracked on his lips. "It's supposed to be a perfect world. How could something like this happen?"

She scoffed, "The hens are just jealous because their chicks follow me around like as if I was their mother."

"Ah… that would explain it." There was a perceptible pause in the air. "What on earth did you do to those poor chicks?"

"Nothing really…" Red fiddled with my fingers. "I just… happen to be there… when they hatched from their eggs…"

Wolf slapped his head. He felt himself smiling from ear to ear. "Oh, don't tell me you spoiled them with food because you found them absolutely adorable?"

An arrow of truth knocked her on the head. She scratched her head. "Well, it might have been one of those reasons…"

"Those poor chicks, stuffed with food and becoming more and more fat," he mused out.

She bit her lip, her eyebrows furrowing. "Hey, they're not that fat… they're just… a little bigger than other chicks…"

"Oh yes Red… I completely believe you." He emphasised the word 'completely', stressing it out more than it needs to be.

Guilt twinged in her chest. "Alright, they might be a little too big. But they still love me!"

The Wolf's gaze softened. He gently pulled out a patch of grass beside him and allowed it to be carried in the air as the wind blew by. Love. How lucky were those small creatures. They were a born being able to love Red. If only he were to be able to choose who he could love, that would have been wonderful.

"Of course… everyone loves you."

Red perked her head up and listened silently to his quiet breathing. A wave of calmness swept over her. "Do… you love me?"

Silence filled the air. Wolf took in a sharp breath. The atmosphere felt heavy, as if gravity was pulling them to the ground. What should he be saying? No? But he was a tree right now. Not the Wolf. His real self wasn't permitted to love her. What about trees? Can they love Red? What if they could? What if this was the opportunity to clear out his feelings?

"Of course… I love Red." He whispered gently.

A sense of satisfaction simmered in Red. Even though he was pretending to be Mr Tree right now, Wolf was still Wolf – the person she loved dearly. She sighed. "Mr. Tree, thank you. However I love someone else."

His ears straightened up in alert. "What? W-who?"

She smiled sadly. "He is someone beautiful, gentle and kind."

"I see…"

Red rested her hand on the tree, imagining what it would feel like to lean against his back – warm, strong and comfortable. Ah… if only the tree was not between them, that would be perfect. "He is special. Lots of people misunderstand him because of who he was born as." She bit her lip. "It's not fair how others judged him based on the story he involved in before they actually come to know him."

He ran a hand through his luscious yellow hair. "It's so cruel how we are unable to choose anything. It's so harsh that we are born as characters in a book from another dimension and have our fate decided already."

She nodded her head. "Yes… I would give anything to be able to end up with him."

Wolf hesitated, fearing her answer. "I-is it the wood chopper?"

"No, of course not!" Red exclaimed.

"Prince from Snow White?"

"On my gosh, of course not! All the princes look the same to me." She shook her head.

"The prince from the beauty and the beast?"

Red frowned. "Didn't I just say that I don't like princes?"

Wolf shrugged. "Well, he's different. He was a beast."

"No, but I suppose the beast thing is quite close."

"Then who?" He tilted his head. Could it be possible that she liked girls? Ah... it explained the fact that she was not hypnotized by the charms of rich prince charming.

"It's The Wolf." Red admitted. It's you who is behind this tree.

A branch snapped under his feet, sending shock flowing through his vein. Birds twitted their chorus while the leaves rustled in the calm breeze. The sun popped out from behind the clouds, illuminating the earth. Wolf was gobsmacked. He opened his mouth but closed it again. Words clogged in his throat, unable to drift out what he wanted to say.

Red smiled faintly. "So… what do you think he'll say if I told him?"

He shifted subtly. The urge to say it was tempting. It tickled his chest, forcing his mouth to open. Then they rolled out of his tongue. "He… loves you too."

She tried to laugh lightly; it came out forced and weak. "How do you know?"

He didn't answer to that. Instead, he asked something else, "Why would you love someone that has fangs and claws? He's…" there was a perceptible pause, "…he's not suitable for you."

She shrugged and glanced up at the clear sky. "I know… my mother explained it numerous times. I was Red, born into the fate of ending the Wolf's life. I would scream out and the wood chopper will come to my rescue, thus killing him in the process." She rustled her hair roughly. "However, I can't help but grow to love him. I…" she whispered, "I can't bring myself to hurt him. I can't walk the other path in the forest, the one that I'm supposed to take, when I get to my grandma." A whimper came out. "It will lead to his death."

He reached out for her. His hand itched for the feel of her beautiful hair. But he stopped himself just in time. "Red, did you know that he wouldn't mind dying if it'll end this painful love?" He left his hand drop. "He would dream that you guys will have a happy ending, just like Cinderella and the prince. He always watched you in the distance." He sucked in a deep breath and continued, "He wants to comfort you when you're upset. However, he can't. His arms would tremble. The only thing he can do is to stay by your side until you stopped crying."

"Really?"

Wolf nodded his head. "Yes, he did that. And if that is not love, then I don't know what is."

A brief smile curved on Red's lips. This was enough for her. "Thank you Mr Tree. I hope that one day I can tell him face to face."

"I think he'll be overjoyed, after all, I suspect he also wants to tell you the same thin as well."

She started at the grey tail that protruded from the side. She giggled. "Yes. I hope that day comes."

"Well… I suppose the conversation is coming to an end soon. I require my one week sleep." Wolf pretended to yawn.

She gasped and quickly grabbed her basket. "Sorry Mr Tree, I'll see you later then! Bye!"

"Good bye." He murmured out. The softness of the voice mesmerized her for a fleeting moment. When she regained control, she turned around and hurried to her grandma's place.

When her footsteps disappeared, the Wolf stepped out from behind the oak tree. Longing flashed on his human face. He tightened his hands into a ball of fist and pressed it against his chest. Raging desire burned in his piercing eyes. Pain coursed through his body and he knew that sooner or later, he'll lose his posture. He won't be able to control himself. He might end up hurting Red.

Something had to be done. Perhaps it was time to end everything, end this tragic love.

His fingertips crushed against the spot where she just sat and sighed deeply.

"God, if you hear me, please help me," he whispered. "Please allow this story to have a happy ending."