A/N: OMG I got a really positive response from you guys and thanks so much! I'm sooo sorry I haven't been updating regularly, but thanks so much for sticking with it! Also guys, I'm looking for a beta, so PM me if anyone can beta this story for me!
This one's going to be a little longer because we're going to flash-forward to teenager Red with flashes of her 'unfortunate' past. It's kind of a filler? Not really, but ish... yanno? Not much plot development, but that comes along in the next chapter! BTW older Red cusses a bit, so be warned! Flashbacks will be italicized, yeah? AND without further due... HERE IT IS!
Disclaimer: I don't own LRRH or ANY of the references made in this story. All I own are the OCs and the plot ^_^
My head throbbed uncomfortably when I woke up. Hearing shouts from outside, I shifted groggily. What could possibly be going on out there? I wondered. Wait -
Shit. Today's June 12th... my birthday. I shot up quickly and groaned in frustration as the world spun. Today was the day I'd been dreading since I was nine.. that day. I shivered involuntarily at the thought...
I took off and ran.
I ran deeper and deeper into the woods until I realized that I needed answers. WHY? Why am I so dangerous? I turned on the spot and trudged back home slowly. What if I didn't want to know? What if it was horrible and awful and terri- no. Either way, there's no turning back if it's going to happen eventually. Time to go home and get answers.
HOME.
Geez, what does that even mean anymore? Am I even welcome anymore?
The distress that had accompanied me that night was terrifying. No matter, time to deal with whatever those fat old grannies had to throw at me. I started to throw my stuff together making two piles: Shit I needed and shit I could live without.
I scoffed at 'happy' memories that came up as I sorted through old clothes, papers and pictures. I shuffled through old dresses that I loved and smoothed out the wrinkles, chest constricting painfully at the thought of leaving them behind. Soon, I'd made my way to my old childhood clothes and I swallowed a lump in my throat. So many happy memories and so many lies. I wasn't sure I was happy or bitter about it.
Bittersweet.
My bittersweet childhood. I sniffed as I quickly scrambled through the clothes, blindly pulling them out and tossing them into the 'can live without' pile.
Until I found a little red hood. It used to be my favorite. I'd wear it all the time. the last time I wore this hood was the day I'd been banished. I drew a sharp breath and closed my eyes as I remembered that crazy day, the best and worst day of my life.
Blue eyes. So beautiful and so pure. Zach was my hero. I'd dream of him. My best friend. M EXTREMELY ATTRACTIVE best friend. Of course, I didn't realize how attractive he was until later... but still.
Then heat and stuffy air. That stupid fire, the strange arguments and the stuffy shaft I was forced to climb down.
Mel. Melody Pond might've been the best thing that happened that day (except Zach *blush*). She helped me discover an important part of me that day.
And then I ran.
As I walked briskly back to the village, tears stinging my face, I realized how blind I'd been. The signs had been there, I supposed. There's always been a sense of distrust between my parents and the other parents. None of the others really liked me too much and I couldn't play with any of the other girls as much as my sisters could.
Fresh tears started to rain down from my heavy eyes. I rushed home as quick as possible, avoiding low branches and dodging logs.
A shrill, sharp cry stopped me in my tracks. It was in the direction of the village. After a quick moment of indecision, I raced towards the village as quick and my little legs could carry me with a new found vigor. Nothing in the history of the world could've prepared me for what I was about to see.
Blood. Everywhere. The soft white snow was stained with crimson sin. It was horrific, yet I couldn't look away. Intrigued by the scene, I crept closer.
I followed the trail of blood and found myself looking at blood-stained paw-prints. Raising my head, I discovered the back of a large animal. Unsure of what it was, I circled around to the front, trying to get a better look. A... bear? No, bears were fluffier. A dog? Yeah, it looked like a really big dog. A... wolf? It looked like a blown up wolf. It was so big!
Suddenly, the wolf's head snapped up and it met my eyes.
Icy blue eyes stood in stark contrast to the midnight black fur. Lips pulled back in a growl revealed brilliantly white, yet blood-stained teeth. Sharp canines at least an inch long hung low and shone against the brilliant black fur. The wolf shook itself off and crouched into a ready-defensive position. It's powerful legs worked extensively as it moved with me, never leaving my eyes while I slowly circled the beast. I could tell how powerful it was by the muscles that clenched in it's legs as it shifted back and forth. Gorgeous fur spread luminously down it's back and hung about half an inch off it's body, but mostly clung to the buff and built body.
Surprisingly, I wasn't scared. I was... interested. Intrigued. Captivated by the pure... beauty of this animal.
As I took in majesty of the creature, one thought flooded my head.
BEAUTIFUL.
This beautiful, powerful and majestic creature fascinated me. I slowly walked closer, reaching out a small hand-
A loud rap on my door shook me from my reverie.
"Red, you'd better wake up honey," came my mother's tired voice. "Don't want to be late, my special birthday girl..." her voice trailed off and I tried to keep the venom out of my voice as I called back "I'll be there in a minute... mother." No matter what anyone told me, I knew my mother was STILL hiding something from me. Besides, I didn't even know much to begin with. Endless nights with Mel and Derrick had educated me on the legends and I had my suspicions. However, my sickly sweet mother never broke her facade. I STILL don't really know WHY I'm being banished. I'm guessing it's something along the lines of 'Hide your children! Rachel's coming! Rachel's coming!' Another thing, no one ever called me 'Red' anymore... I'm guessing it had to do with that night.
I shivered as I thought about the crimson red stains on the pure white snow. Maybe I was strange because I was the girl who reached out to the wolf...
The wold growled, low and threatening as I came closer. Despite it's fearsome exhibition, it's eyes looked at me in confusion, trying to figure me out. Snarling at me, it crept closer and watched me push my frizzy hair out of my eyes and pull my red hood tighter around my cold ears. Recognition flashed in it's eyes and it gave out a yelp of surprise.
Don' yu' come an' closer. It's dangerous.
What? Where did that come from? I looked around for the owner in confusion until my eyes met the wolf's. OH. Okay, this was new. It's eyes were frantic and pleading.
"Closer to ... what? You're not dangerous? You're... powerful, that's all." I swear I saw the wolf smirk (as best as a wolf can smirk) before I got another message.
Not me darlin'. Ye jus' watch yur' back, a'right? The playful twinkle vanished and the frantic eyes were back, urging me away. There is an unspeakable danger comin'. I will come n' get ye' when yur' good n' ready, okay?
"Come get me...? Okay... Okay! So, um so... um..." I babbled, unsure of what to do. The beast lunged at me. Unafraid, I stepped closer and opened me arms, welcoming it. As if I got it's approval, the wolf stopped an inch away from me and nuzzled my hand. After another, dare I say, LOVING look, the wolf took off.
There I was, standing alone in a field of blood, making a deal with the devil.
Or at least that's what it probably looked like... to the 20-something people watching me judgmentally from the protection of the village.
I shuddered at the memory of prying eyes and went back to sorting through my clothes. Life definitely got harder after that, I spent a lot of time on my own, venturing out of the village more and more. For a 9 year old, it was good and bad. I learned to be independent a lot earlier than my siblings or any of the other kids in the pitiful little village. I began sneaking around, leaving early in the morning and coming home late at night. By the time I was 11, I spent more time away than at 'home'.
I spent a lot of time with Mel and Derrick, exploring the woods and reveling in the majesty of the lush greenery and the magic of the mountains and lake beyond the forest. It was magical.
But I felt the magic the most when I was there with my best friend. Zach and I steadily grew closer over the years. We'd both reached an understanding over the years: we both had pasts and villages that we'd rather stay away from. So we both met at the river every morning and explored. The possibilities were endless when I was with him. Now, 7 years later, we were closer than ever. I'd been to his village a few times, met his family and friends and he'd been to mine. His family had been so welcoming, I was confused as to why he insisted on leaving there... but he didn't say and I didn't push.
We'd lay outside and stare at the sky late into the night and watch the clouds become stars. We'd just dream. Dream of a different life, with a different situation, different opportunities and different people. We'd resolved that we'd meet in our new lives. We'd have the best of times in a world with wagons and caravans that could drive themselves, rocks we could talk into and communicate miles apart and mushrooms we could plug into our ears and hear music from. It would be a magical world indeed, with no worries. We even came up with out own saying for that world: Hakunah Matata - no worries.
Sighing, I flopped over to my trunk, pulling out old journals, scraps of parchment and lovable old junk. I grinned as I pulled out my Psaltery (***medieval-style guitar.. I'm going to refer to it as a guitar from here on, kay?) and plucked a few strings. I hummed as I plucked out a familiar tune and looked around the cluttered room.
"Look at this stuff, isn't it neat? Wouldn't you think my collection's complete? Wouldn't you think I'm the girl... The girl who has everything?" I murmured out the rest of the folk song as I thought about the story that went with it. Gosh, if there was another world, I'd jump into it, just like Ariel.
Successfully depressed, I placed my guitar in my bag and packed the rest of my clothes with important stuff.
Today was going to be a good day.
I was going to make sure of that.
I picked up my stuff and walked out of my room, head held high.
My name is Rachel. I'm 17 and I have a secret.
So like I said, not that much, but I'm already working on the next chapter right now! I might have it up by tonight even! ^_^
I'm thinking of making a series of one-shots about random stuff that the main story glazes over.
I'll probably be making one for the Disney references in the story! :D There are going to be a lot! I love everything Disney, so yeah...
The plot's really going to pick up in the next few chapters, so bear with me guys! I think it'll be a 20-ish chapter story sooo yah! There are going to be lots of pop culture references too, so see if you can catch them all :P
Read and review pleasee!
LOVE YOU GUYS 3
