*Chapter 3: Walk Down the Path*
Red stood in front of the mirror in her new dress with a black corset that her mother gave her to fit her. Red's hair was brushed down, and there is a red bow on the back of her hair. Red puts on the cape. It does look great on her dress. Red then puts on her tall white socks with black strap shoes. The mother came over with a basket filled with supplies. A loaf of bread, a bottle of wine, fresh apples, and a chicken leg in a bag. The clothe covered the food, and the mother hand over the basket to Red who took it.
"There you are." The mother said. "Oh, you look so lovely in that dress and cape, Red."
"Thank you mother." Red replied and head out in front. The horse is standing by the grass with Max sniffing around the yard. Before Red got on Sal, the mother reminded her the rules once again. Red promised everything and got on Sal and held the basket with one hand.
"Be very careful out there, Red." The mother said. "Stay on the path. Do not talk to strangers along the way."
"Yes, mother." Red says. "And if I get hungry, I can eat one of the apples?"
"Oh, of course, Red." The mother said. "But, don't be starved out there just because all of this food is for Grandmother. Just don't eat too much of it, okay? And don't drink the wine either." Red laughed a little.
"I'll have water from either a river or at Grandma's, mother." She said. "Okay, I have to go now. Grandmother needs me." As they waved goodbye, Red got Sal walking down the road. The mother had her hand over her heart.
"I love you, Red. Be careful. Be safe." She says. Max watched Red leave with Sal trotting away from the house, he whined a little. Red turned back to see her mother and her basset hound watching. She will be safe and sound when she returns from Grandmother's.
Red continues to guide her horse down the path to head down to the woods, and there is a sign by the gate. Beware of Wolf. Sal snorted a little, and Red nudged his side to make him walk more. Little did she know, there is a Fox watching her go down the woods with Sal.
"What kind of human like her would go in the woods alone?" He wondered. "Oh, Wolf would do anything to have that cub." The Fox disappeared in the tall grass. Red looked around to spot anything nearby, but so far, everything is at peace. Before her horse could trot any faster, he hears sounds which makes him nervous. He neighed a little and backed up.
"Whoa, whoa, Sal. What is it, boy?" Red asked by pulling, but then, sounds from the trees are heard. Red looked up. Nothing in sight. Sounds of flapping is heard. It's just a bird. "It's okay, Sal. Only a bird. Nothing more." Red says, trying to calm down the horse. As the horse to trot, a sound of an owl is heard. Red looked up to see the brown and gray owl sitting on the branch of the tree. "Wow. Such a beautiful owl." Red says.
"Thank you, dear." A voice said. Red looked around, but all she sees is just an owl she admired. The Owl just stares at her with his big gold eyes.
"...Did you just talk?" Red asked.
"Certainly, my dear." Owl spoke. Red couldn't believe it. The Owl talks to her! How is that possible? Sal never talks, Max never talks, and neither does the farm animals in Wills. "I'm so sorry that I scared you, dear. Is this your first time wandering around in the woods?" Owl asked.
"Uh, no. I never expected animals can speak." Red replied. "I thought there was a Wolf around here, but I guess not." The Owl shivered a little.
"You must be warned, dear." He said. "The Wolf is dangerous. But, with your red cape, he will find you."
"I won't be in the woods too long." Red said. "Now, it's nice meeting you, Mr. Owl. I must be going." She nudges Sal to trot. The Owl opened his wings and flew off the branch.
Red and her horse found a river away from the path. Red got off of Sal and took him to the water for him to have a drink before moving on again. As the horse drinks, Red sets the basket down and cup her hands together to get the water for her to drink as well. Dragonflies are flying around the river, and pass Red. She smiled at them, and then noticed the frogs hopping on each rock with croaks. Do they talk too?
"Hey, what did you do to my nuts, you nutcase?" A voice asked from behind. Red peeked over the bush to see two chipmunks there. One is talking, and the other had his face stuffed. "I left the nuts right here, and they are gone! Are you sure you haven't eaten them?" The chipmunk asked. The other shook his head. Red moved away and sat on the ground. So, the forest animals talk. Strange.
"Hey, young cub!" The same voice asked. The Chipmunk climbed on Red's leg to sit on her knee. "You see any nuts around?"
"Uh, no. I...I'm not from here." Red replied. The Chipmunk sighed and jumped off. "But, when I notice your friend, his mouth is full and...he could be the culprit." Red says.
"Oh please!" The Chipmunk told her as he rolled his eyes.
"Look, I have to get going." Red says as she stood up, but then, a howl is heard. The Chipmunk cried out in alarm and climbed up the tree with his friend. Red got her basket and climbed on Sal who made noises nervously. "Let's hurry, boy!" Red said as the horse began to trot quickly. The howl isn't very close, but there is a Wolf around. The ravens fly out of the trees and nearly ran into Sal who neighed in fright. Red ducked down and look ahead of her to see that the path is still leading to her Grandmother's place, but then, there is a sign that leads two different paths.
"Sal, let's go to the right. Grandma's house is in that direction." Red says, but then, the raven crows fly around, and Sal rises up, making Red cry out and fall off of him. The basket landed on the ground as the food and a bottle rolled away. Sal neighed and ran off in a wrong direction on the left path. "Sal! Sal! Come back!" Red cried out. But, the frightened horse never hears her cries. Red groaned a little and gathered the food back in her basket.
"Those crows are so terrified of the Wolf, dear." A voice said. Red looked back up and saw Owl again on the branch. "I'm sorry about the horse. You must be on your way before the Wolf comes around." Red stands up and brushes down her dress and cape.
"I must find Sal. He's my way to get to my Grandmother's faster." Red said. "Now thanks to those stupid ravens, I have to get Sal back and try to calm him down." She ran down the left path where her horse heads off to, but she hears Owl's voice.
"Wait, wait! It's too dangerous! Young human cub! Wait!" He flew off the branch to follow her. Red gripped on her basket as she runs down the path. There are horse tracks continues ahead, but until it leads off the path. Red looked over to her left, possibly where Sal heads off to. The Owl lands on the boulder next to the path, watching Red who stares off in silent.
"Sal is off the path." Red said. "I have to get him back."
"No, dear. You couldn't." Owl said.
"He will be more scared if I didn't find him." Red told the old bird. "The Wolf will find him."
"That is the point! The Wolf is nearby, and he will come after you if you go out in the woods with no path!" Owl exclaimed.
"I'm not afraid, Owl. Sal needs me, and I need him. I must hurry so I can get to my Grandmother's house. She's very ill." Red said and walk down the grass. She puts on her hood and held the basket close. The Owl watched in worry. He flew off the boulder and went ahead of Red.
"That human cub had no idea how dangerous the Wolf is. Sooner or later, the Wolf might have her for lunch."
A black paw stomped on the ground, and a black nose lowers on the dirt, and inhaled. The Wolf sniffed the scent by the river and found footprints. He sniffed them, and licked his teeth.
"Well, well, well. A human child is out here alone in the woods, but she does have a horse." The Wolf said by forming a smile. The Fox sat by the river. "Fox, go to the Woodpecker. He's the honest one. He must have seen the girl."
"But, I don't know if the human cub made it that far in the woods, Wolf." The Fox said. "But, I will do what you request." He rush down the grass to follow the footprints. But found the horse prints instead. The Wolf noticed the Fox sniffing the ground.
"Something wrong?"
"No. Smells like the human cub left in a hurry. She heard your howl not too long ago, and she got on the horse. The path continues on this way." The Fox replied. The Wolf sniffed around to make the Fox stop sniffing. They followed the scent and there is two paths with signs. The Wolf look towards the left and follow it. The Wolf stopped and turned to the left again to find the scent of Red that is off the path. She is in the woods, literately.
"She's out there. And I can still smell her. But lost track of the horse." The Wolf said.
"How are you gonna get her?" The Fox asked. "Just pounce on her and-"
"No. I must track her, and see how she is worth to eat." The Wolf said. "But, let us see if she does get by the Woodpecker. That little bird can tell the truth." The Wolf rush towards the grass and follows the scent of Red. The Fox feels nervous about this, but he followed him.