Chapter 7
When dawn peeked up over the horizon, Granny was the first to get up. She took over for Wolf so he could get a few hours of sleep. "You okay on food Dog?"
"Yeah I'm fine. I'll catch a few Z's before we head out."
Wolf retreated in to his tent, falling asleep the second he put his head on his arms. Granny started to make breakfast, some eggs and nuts. Red came out of her tent next, lulled in by the smell of some tea Granny put over the fire she built up. Memories of her late night talk with Wolf stirred in her mind. She couldn't help but feel a little closer to him now after their time spent together.
"Morning Granny. How'd you sleep?"
"Pretty good. How about you kiddo?"
"Fine, I guess. I couldn't sleep that well actually, but I managed to fall back asleep."
"Good. Do you want some eggs?" Granny asked.
"Sure."
Jack exit the tent next, followed by Twitchy. The squirrel jumped up on a stump being used as a chair, looking at the nuts eagerly. Granny handed some to him while Jack claimed some eggs for himself. "Thank you," he said quietly.
"How did you sleep Jack?" Granny asked.
"Fine," he answered, casting a glance at Red, who looked away. Granny caught the look faintly.
"That's nice."
"When do you think we can leave?" the blonde asked.
"Pretty soon I think. We should let Wolf get some rest though, he hasn't slept all night."
Jack nodded in silent agreement. After Granny went in to her tent to start packing up again Jack questioned, "How can you trust him?"
Red glanced to him, her mouth full of egg. "Hmm?"
"Wolf. How can you trust him? I mean, he's, an animal. He has fangs, claws, yellow eyes." Jack swallowed, bending his head down a little closer to Red. "He's a killer."
Offended, but knowing enough to not show her emotions, Red narrowed her eyes at him. "Jack, how would you even know something like that?"
"Well, I don't, but I know enough about wolves to know they're dangerous."
Red's narrowed eyes formed in to an upset frown. "You don't even know him. I've been Wolf's partner for six years. I know he wouldn't hurt a fly if he didn't have to. You shouldn't make stereotypes like that."
"It's just that I want to protect you!" Jack grabbed her hand, enclosing it in his. Red felt her skin prickle awkwardly, her hand feeling as if it were trapped.
"Erm, thanks Jack, but, I don't really need protection." Red could only imagine Wolf's face if he heard this. 'I want to protect you' yeah right. He'd die laughing, probably because he knew Red would do better protecting him rather than her. Awkwardly, Red pulled her hand from his back to her person, resting it against her stomach.
He looked to her desperately, searching her sapphire eyes. She blinked at him, coughed, then stood to her feet. "I'm gonna go get my things together. Talk to you later Jack."
The girl in the red hood walked away without another word. Jack looked after her pleadingly, but she didn't turn back for him. Confusion clotted his brain. How? How could Red not like hearing him say that? Didn't all girls want to hear a guy say to her that he'd always protect her?
A low, growling laugh sounded nearby. Jack looked to a now awake Wolf, who held his arms crossed over his chest, eyes bright in triumph. "You didn't actually think that would work did you?" he asked sarcastically. "Honestly I've known Red since she was thirteen and you think you can just come in here and lay some human charm on her?" He scoffed, "Please. Give me a break." Wolf gave him a pitying look. "You might know how to charm girls, Jackie, but you'll never understand Red. She's not just some girl."
"I know that!" Jack defended.
"Clearly not, or you would have figured out by now that Red is protecting you right now. Don't get it backwards."
Infuriated, Jack clenched his fists to his side before he stormed away from the fireplace. Wolf growled low with satisfaction, taking a bucket they brought along to throw it on the fire, putting it out completely. Granny came up to him, "Hey Wolfie, you giving the newbie a hard time?"
"Of course," he said, "we got a hard time too when we first joined. If he's going to tag along with us I think we get to have some fun with him."
Granny only smirked, glancing at the tent where Jack fled to. She then flickered her eyes over to where Red disappeared to back in her own tent. Her smirk grew a little, wiping it off as she started to help Wolf put away their little camp.
(**)
"Wolf do you want to ride with me?"
The canine flicked his ears up at her in slight surprise, making sure not to give his emotions away. He felt pleased when he caught the jealous look in Jack's eyes a little ways off. Looking back to Red he answered, "Sure, mind if I drive?"
"Not at all," she seemed to deflate, giving him a grateful glance. Wolf nodded curtly at her. He could see she wanted a break from the drama Jack pushed on her from earlier. While Jack's budding relationship with her seemed to be wilting, the bond between Wolf and Red only grew stronger.
(**)
Red sighed contentedly as she surrendered the bike to Wolf, wrapping her arms around his waist, resting her head at the base of his shoulder. She knew she could count on Wolf. Ever since they settled their differences with the Hansel and Gretel case, they started to have a strange understanding of each other. Maybe it was because Wolf was an animal that their friendship continued to grow. He always seemed to know what she was going through, if she needed space or just wanted a chance to sit back, let him take over the controls.
Just like right now.
Wolf started the bike, following after Jack and Granny. They went at a slightly slower speed to the ones leading, staying close enough to know when to turn but fast enough to keep up. At one point during the drive Red straightened herself so she could whisper close to him, "Thanks Wolf."
He didn't respond to her, only flicking his ear to let her know he heard her. Wolf shifted on the bike, glancing back at her when she rested her head on his shoulder once more. He felt pride growing in him, a swell of cockiness blossoming in his chest. He growled at Jack in front of them, wishing the blonde idiot could hear him. Behind Wolf he felt Red laugh softly when she heard the growl. Above the roar of the bike he caught a flicker of her saying, "Something got you riled Wolf?"
"I don't like the blonde," he confessed.
"Well it's not really a secret that you do," she said back to him, chuckling. She spoke in a normal voice yet he could still hear her fine above the whipping wind.
Wolf grunted, fur prickling along his back when Red squeezed his waist a little more. "I'm glad you're my partner, Wolf," she admit quietly.
The canine felt pleased with what she said. "Right back at you Kid," he laughed, turning past a tree.
Wolf slowed to a stop as Granny did, halting alongside her. "What's up Gran?" Red asked, not noticing the dark looks the two boys were giving each other.
"Jackie here says that he recognizes this area, so we should take it on foot from here."
So soon? Red thought, immediately turning to Wolf, "Smell anything?"
Lifting his nose in the air, Wolf breathed in sharply, detecting the sharp sting of dark magic. Red judged by the expression twisting over his face that the witch must be close by. "Smell her?" she guessed.
Wolf's ears flattened back, keeping his lips down. "Yeah I smell her. Ugh, disgusting."
"Where is she?" Red asked. The four mounted off the bike, Twitchy running down Wolf's body to jump on to Red's.
Shaking his head, trying to get the smell out of his mind, Wolf pointed a furry finger, "That way." He covered his nose with a paw. "The smell of witch. I don't think I'll ever get it out."
The gang started following Wolf as he led them through the forest. Jack walked close to Red, much to Wolf's annoyance. He focused instead on the scent, following it closely. At a certain point he halted, muscles freezing. Red walked up to his side, "Wolf, what is it?"
"She's close," he growled softly. "Extremely-"
A high pitched laugh screeched. Wolf whipped around, searching for the sound. Red went back to back with him as the pair pushed Jack to the center, the HEA members forming a circle around him.
She chose to appear at that moment, wild dark hair with green streaks in it flying in a nonexistent wind. The witch smiled a pointed tooth smile, glaring at the group. "Ah so you came to get your sister back, did you blondie? Well I don't think you'll get a chance to save her, seeing as you'll both be dead."
"Forget it witch no way you're getting Jack!" Red glared, getting in a fighting position. Wolf lowered his head, curled his lips, letting out a low, viscous snarl. The young witch cackled, smiling at them.
"Oh you fools." She lowered down on to the ground, eying each of them. A wicked smile curled up her face. "If you want to capture me, why do you not chase me?" Her smooth, young features lifted in a smile. When she said this, her dark eyes drifted over to Wolf. The canine tensed, instincts jumping up.
In one fluid movement, she turned, and began to run.
"After her!" Red ordered, bolting after the witch. Growling, Wolf chased after Red on his back paws, struggling to keep up with her. Her red cloak whipped out behind her. Twitchy ran ahead, trying to stumble the witch, however she would speed ahead with a flick of her magic, sending the squirrel back to Red.
Wolf's ears flicked at every sound. Granny ran behind him alongside Jack. Wolf glared in irritation as Red's image as well as the witch's continued to get farther away. A high voice sounded in his head, "Oh, come now poochie, come catch me."
That witch! Wolf snarled, stretching out his legs. The voice echoed in his mind once again, "Come now dearie, you know you can catch me. Come on. Catch me if you can. Of course if you don't want to catch me I can have some fun with the little red hooded girl."
Not knowing where it came from, an instantaneous rage flared within Wolf. Roaring in fury he jumped to all fours, running five times faster than he ever could on his back paws. He heard Red gasp in shock as he streaked past her, bushy brown gray tail following him. He continued after the witch. The trees of the forest thinned out, giving way to a grassy area, where a cliff dropped off over an ocean. Standing near the edge of the cliff, the witch smiled upon his arrival.
Wolf stood to his back paws now, breathing calm, controlled, as if he merely walked there. Red came up behind him, gasping for air, her face turning a shade of pink. Granny and Jack followed in pursuit, stopping behind Red.
The fur going down Wolf's spine bristled, shooting up all over his body. His tail flashed back and forth as he glared at the witch. She began to levitate in the air, speaking out, her voice echoing above the trees, "I can see you all. I can look in to your souls and read your deepest, darkest desires, as well as your worst fear." Her eyes flashed as she looked to all of them. Wolf crouched, muscles tense. The witch rose her voice even more. "I shall take one of your desires, turn them a reality, to make this game interesting, see how it will turn out."
She glanced down at Wolf again, that cruel smile curling up her face. Wolf growled, darting forward on all fours, shooting at her like a bat out of hell. He snarled loudly, leaping up at her, bared fangs aiming right at her throat. "Wolf don't!" Red cried out.
Time slowed.
The witch lifted her arms in the air, speaking in a fluent chant in a different language. Wolf felt his mind flip through memories like a book, most of them of Red. A jolt of electricity went through him as he neared the witch. She looked at him, the gleam in her eyes strengthening. "And now the desire, becomes the reality," she whispers out.
A flash of light.
A scream following an explosion.
The witch cackles, disappearing in a puff of smoke.
Wolf collapses on to the ground, coughing, groaning.
The team wipes their hands through the air, trying to clear away the fumes. Red approached Wolf's figure. Her eyes watered, stinging slightly as she peered through the remaining smoke. She could see his silhouette, crouched on the ground, twitching slightly, moaning. "Wolf?" she called, voice a little scratched.
"I'm fine," he answered.
Still not able to see clearly, Red stepped forward, crouching down. She grabbed on to his arm, pulling him up. Her eyes narrowed as she heaved him to his feet. He seemed lighter now, the sleeves around his arms more open. What was up with that?
As Wolf stood, he stumbled back to the ground, groaning, "Cough- sorry. She must have given me quite a shock," he apologized.
The smoke cleared more. Red froze, staring into Wolf's eyes. He looked back, "What?"
Jack's mouth popped open. Granny widened her eyes. Twitchy let out a quick, "Whoa!" before darting away, hiding on top of Red's shoulder.
Red's hands dropped from Wolf's arm. She staggered back, mouth agape in shock. "W-Wolf," she stammered.
Kneeling on the ground, the pale human with bright yellow eyes merely stared at her in confusion. He tilted his head, dark gray brown hair flickering over his forehead. "What?" he asked innocently.
Let the drama begin.
