*Chapter 6: The Big Bad Wolf Meets Little Red Riding Hood*
Stepping on rocks to across the river at a time, Red jumped on the edge to climb on to get to the path that was close by to get to her Grandmother's house. Red made it to the top and sat by the tree and sighed a little. It's going to be a long trip back home after Grandmother's place. She placed her basket down and check on the food. At least they're not dirty. As Red was resting her legs and feet from walking, she found bushes filled with blueberries.
"Wow. I should pick them for me and Grandma." Red says, coming over to the blueberry bush. She picked them and put them in her basket, until she felt something behind her. She turned around and saw the birds. They are picking berries from the ground. Red smiled at them and went back to berry picking. From behind her, there are yellow eyes watching her from the bushes. No other than the Wolf himself. Red covered her basket with a clothe and walk along to get to the path. A Wolf came out from hiding and smirked.
"Who's that I see walking in these woods? Why it's Little Red Riding Hood." Wolf says as he slowly follows her trail, making sure Red doesn't hear him. His stomach growls as he smells Red's scent. How he wanted to eat her up. He hides behind each tree while watching his meal walk away. The Fox follows the Wolf silently.
"Wolf, how are you going to approach her?" Fox asked, laying low behind the bush. "Just pounce on her?"
"No. That would be too easy for me." Wolf says. "I have plans. I will have to act suave and charming, so she won't have to be afraid of me. Trust me, it works every time whenever I meet a lady. And you will be helping me." He shook a little and rush over to be ahead of Red. The Fox sat down and shook his head.
"Oh, I hope things don't go ugly." He said. He followed his master. Red found a path right in front of her. A sign points to the direction where she must go. Before she could get to the path, she hears a sound behind her. Like a buzzing around. She turned around to look above, and there is a bee hive with bees flying around it.
"Hm. At least it's not a Wolf." Red says to herself. She walked on and got on the path. "Finally. Now off to my Grandma's house." She reached down in her basket and got a blueberry and ate it. "Mmm. Tasty." She covers her basket and about to walk again until a voice is heard.
Hey there Little Red Riding Hood,
You sure are lookin' good,
You're everything a big bad wolf would want.
"Hello, young lady." A male voice asked from behind. Red turned and gasped at the sight of the Wolf by the tree, sitting calmly, moving his tail a little. He gave her a charming grin on his face, and his eyes are half lidded. Red reached inside her basket to find the knife Selena gave her, but the Wolf slowly approach her, still grinning. "Don't be afraid, my dear. I will not harm you." He says, circling around her, brushing his tail against Red's waist sides. Red remains still. Her hand in her basket only touches the food and the bottle of wine, but couldn't find the little knife.
"I don't want any trouble, Mr. Wolf." Red said slowly. "I know what you are trying to-"
"Oh, don't call me Mr. Wolf, dearest Little Red Riding Hood." Wolf says with a chuckle. "Wolf is fine. Mr. Wolf is my father. So, do you have a name, human cub?"
Little Red Riding Hood,
I don't think even big girls should,
Go walkin' in these spooky old woods alone.
Red sneered at him. He just called her Red Riding Hood. Red is her name. He would've known that. The Wolf stares at her, smiling again.
"So, it is Red, isn't it? That is a lovely name after all." He says. He stood in front and made a bow to her. "I am the Wolf, as you know. I'm very pleased to meet you, Little Red Riding Hood." He stood up straight.
"I know who you are, you Big Bad Wolf. You can't fool me that easily." Red said. "The other wolves are scared of you, even the witch. She told me so much about you." The Wolf make claw marks on the path, chuckling at the girl.
"So, you met Selena. I'm impressed you made it this far, Red. But I can track you. You can't fool this nose of mine." He said.
"You don't scare me." Red told him. "I'm not afraid of anything. That means I'm not afraid of you." The Wolf chuckled again.
What big eyes you have,
The kind of eyes that drive wolves mad.
So, just to see that you don't get chased,
I think I ought to walk with you for a way.
"You should be. I'm not saying you should be afraid of me. You should be afraid of other creatures of the forest." He said. "You never know what is lurking in these woods. Allow me to walk with you, to keep you safe until you are on your way, Red."
"No thanks." Red said. "You want to eat me." Again, the Wolf laughed and got in front from her walking away from him.
"That is so not true, Red. I don't have much of an appetite." He lied. "Why would I eat a little cute human cub like you?" He circles around her once more. "Trust me, Red. I only come here and say hello. That's proper." Red found a knife and took it out. She points at the Wolf who watches her. He would growl, but he had to keep calm in this situation.
"Stay away from me, Wolf! You killed my one family member years ago." Red says, glaring at the Wolf. "Don't act all innocent about it. I know what you did to my father. You betrayed him and the kind you are part of."
"Oh did I now?" Wolf asked, raising a brow at the fearless girl. Red nodded at him. "I was just hungry."
"For blood." Red corrected. "Most wolves aren't like that."
What full lips you have,
They're sure to lure someone bad.
So, until you get to grandma's place,
I think you ought to walk, with me and be safe.
The Fox was behind her since he had to back the Wolf up on this. Red focuses on the Wolf who stares at her.
"Smart little cub, aren't you?" Wolf asked. "Since you are the cub of that Huntsman, I did promise one thing to him before he dies. I promise to get his mate and his cub. So, the cub, is you all along." He slowly approach her. "But, I am not going to do that to you, Red. You are special in this world. Nothing I have never seen before. Believe me, I've been starving and been betrayed once before and I learned that the hard way." Red lowers her knife, looking into Wolf's eyes in silent. His tone sounds sadden, but it could be a trick.
"I'm with him for a long time, Red." Fox spoke. "He tries to change his ways. And when he saw you walking around these woods, he thought having humans and certain creatures as meals aren't worth his time." Red turned to him, then back at the Wolf who walks around her and the Fox.
"Now, if you really insists to walk alone, so be it." The Wolf spoke. "Be on your guard, Red. Because your cloak is like a target to bears or mountain lions if you go any further." He started to walk away slowly as the Fox follows him. Red puts away the knife and look ahead of her path, but turned back to the Wolf and the Fox. She doesn't know what to think. Should she let the Wolf come with her to keep her safe, or should she just walk alone?
I'm gonna keep my sheep suit on,
Till I'm sure that you've been shown.
That I can be trusted walkin' with you alone.
"Wolf." Red called. The Wolf smirked a little before turning to her. He leaned over to the Fox.
"Bingo." He whispered. "She needs me...for a time being."
"Please don't get me into this one, Wolf." Fox begged.
"Too bad. If things go wrong, you have to help me trap her!" The Wolf snapped. He turned to Red with a smile, hiding his devious emotion. "Change in mind, Red?"
"Well, if you are serious about you trying to change, then you can come along. I just need to get to my Grandmother's." Red says. Wolf nodded, wanting her to go on. He walked beside her. "She lives in the woods by the creek. I don't know how she does it, but I guess nothing went wrong at her house. You don't know where she lives, do you?"
"To be honest with you, yes." The Wolf replied. "I have pass by her house, but I never bother her, because I might frighten her because I am big. Everyone is afraid of me."
"Well, I'm not." Red said. "Just remember this, when there is a direction to my Grandma's house, you must be on your own way."
"Of course, Red." The Wolf says, hiding his smirk.
Little Red Riding Hood,
I'd like to hold you if I could,
But you might think I'm a big bad wolf, so I won't.
For a while, Red and the Wolf are walking down the path as the Fox is behind them. So far, things are going smoothly. Red still keeps her guard up, but she is having a good time talking to this Wolf. He's very calm and charming. Maybe he has changed, but unaware that it's a lie. The possums are hanging upside down on the trees, watching Red with the Wolf. One possum is shocked, but remain quiet as the Wolf gave her a warning stare if she said anything. Then there are skunks by the trees.
"The Wolf has the girl." A female skunk whispered. "What do we do?"
"Nothing." A male skunk replied. "The Wolf is deadly."
"But-"
"Don't do anything. We'll be his next meal if we interfere." They watched Red and the Wolf pass them. The Wolf is looking left and right since there are animals around. If they say anything or get into a way, things will go ugly.
What a big heart I have,
The better to love you with,
Little Red Riding Hood.
Even bad wolves can be good.
A sign is seen ahead, and Red knew she is getting close to her Grandmother's place. She turned to see the Wolf looking around in suspicion, like if something or someone is watching. But, nothing is around but her and Wolf.
"Uh, is everything alright?" She asked. The Wolf turned to her.
"Yes. I thought someone is here. I can smell 'em." He replied.
"...Okay. Well, this is your stop, Wolf. Thank you for walking with me on the safe side." Red said. The Wolf smiled at her.
"Of course, Red. It was such a nice stroll. Now, you be careful out there, and be safe when you return home." He said. Red walked away. "Oh, before you go to your Grandma's place, why not pick those flowers over here?" Red turned back and found flowers by the Wolf. "She would love those, don't you think?" Red thought about it, and nodded. She came over to the flowers and pick them. The Wolf said goodbye to her and went off the path that is across the girl. The Wolf chuckled evilly. "You won't be returning to your village, Little Red. You will be in my stomach." He ran through the woods to get to the house by the creek before Red does.
I'll try to be satisfied.
Just to walk close by your side,
Maybe you'll see things my way,
Before we get to grandma's place.
The Fox looked at Red who is busy picking some flowers, he left her to follow Wolf down to the woods. Red turned back to find out that she is alone. She didn't hear the Wolf say goodbye to her. Well, this is his stop like Red said. At least the Wolf didn't try to eat her. But, the Wolf killed the Huntsman. And he is being so friendly towards her.
"I guess he's telling the truth. He has changed." Red said. "Maybe that's why I let him come along. He didn't try to eat me or anything. But, should I tell the people of Wills about this?" She place the flowers in her basket and walk down the path. "I shouldn't. Mother will be upset if I tell her about the Wolf taking me to the right direction." She said.
Little Red Riding Hood,
You sure are lookin' good.
You're everything a big bad wolf could want.
She looked up at the sun and noticed it's been so long since she's been out. The sun was about to set. Red must hurry to her Grandmother's before nightfall. Her mother must be worried by now.
"I'm almost there, Grandma." Red said. "Just hang in there. I'm almost there to your house."
