*Chapter 9: Red vs. Wolf Part 1*
The mother opened the door to see the men arriving with their horses, but there is Red with them, sitting behind the Woodsman. But, Grandmother isn't with them. What happened to her? Red got off the horse and was embraced by her mother.
"Oh thank goodness you're alright!" She says. "You've been gone for a long time, and I thought the Wolf might have-"
"Mother, I don't know what happened to Grandmother. She's not in the house, and the Wolf was out there waiting for me, and...he won't tell me where she is." Red said. "I don't think he ate her. He wants to eat me first." The mother bit her lower lip in worry. She saw the bite marks on Red's leg.
"Oh Red, you're bit."
"I'm fine, mother. It's nothing..." Red says as she lifts her foot to touch her ankle. She winced a little. "We just have to find Grandmother. She may be in serious danger."
"We'll search for her right now. And we will not return without her." The Woodsman promised. Red looked up at him. "Red, all I want you to do is rest up, heal your wound, and lock the doors of your house. Who knows the Wolf might return to the town?"
"He wants me." Red said. "If he breaks in my home, me and my mother will be prepared for a fight." The mother cupped her hands together in worry. "Mother, back at Grandma's, I'm faster than the Wolf and almost got eaten and then the Woodsman came in. So, I will lure the Wolf out of the house."
"But, Red-" The mother started.
"Trust me on this. I'm the Wolf's dinner tonight, but he will have something else for dinner, and will never eat anyone again." Red said. "Now listen, here's what we're gonna do when the Wolf arrives..."
The moon is full tonight, and the whole town is quiet. The doors and windows are locked up tight since the plan is in motion. The men are guarding around in each corner of Wills, and the farm where the animals are safe, most of them are in the barn.
In Red's room, she is looking out the window to see if she could find the Wolf, but there is nothing but men on their horses guarding every single corner. Red got her knife out, touching the blade. She wondered how the witch was doing and the animals she had met today. Still, she is very worried about her Grandmother. What did the Wolf do to her? He must've hid her somewhere in the woods.
"I hope she's okay..." Red says to herself. "Wherever you are, we will find you."
"You alright, Red?" The mother asks as she came in the room with Max. Red nodded a little. The mother notices the knife. "Where did you get that?"
"...A witch." Red replied. The mother sat next to Red, touching her shoulder. "Her name is Selena. She told me everything about Wolf. And...I know what happened to my father. The Wolf killed him." Red says. The mother shuts her eyes, trying to hold back her tears. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"...It's too much." The mother said. "I only want to protect you. The Wolf is...dangerous and will get anyone who gets in his way."
"He...only tricks the innocents like me. I fell for one. His...charm." Red says in a quiet tone. "He acts all guilty of what he did, and my mind was...I don't know...he made me feel bad for the creature like him. Now, I really regret it. He tricked me into getting those flowers for Grandmother, and he pretends to be her when I arrive." The mother embraced her daughter. Red felt Max's nose on her ankle wrapped in bandages. She pets her dog.
"Red, I really don't want you to take on the Wolf-"
"Mother, trust me. I will make sure he will never hurt anyone again." Red said with a look. "Grandmother is out there somewhere, and I have to get her back. I may be a child, but I am not afraid of the Wolf. He never scares me..." Then, the two hear their horse neighed in fright from outside. Red got up and look out the window to see the men looking around when they heard Sal. "He's here..."
"Oh dear..." The mother gasped. They then hear scratching noises from the door. Max growled as he picks up the scent he hates. The Wolf is outside. Red gripped on the knife, slowly leaving her room as the mother follows, holding Red's shoulders. "Red, don't open the door." The mother whispered.
"I got a plan. I'll unlock the door, we make a run for it to hide from the Wolf. He's after me, not you." Red said. "Mother, hide in the closet. Wolf will have my scent." The mother wanted to resist, but had to trust Red on this one. She's got plans for the Wolf. Max hide under the table with a cloth on top. Red slowly lifted the latch and rush towards her room and shuts her door halfway, waiting for the Wolf.
The front door opened slightly, and the Wolf sticks his nose out to sniff out Red's scent. He came all the way in the house and look around. He knew Red is hiding somewhere.
"Hmm. Too quiet in here." Wolf said. He walks in the room where the fireplace is, sniffing the floors. He is unaware that Red's mother is hiding in the closet. But, if the Wolf does smell her, he would care less and get her later. The Wolf continues to sniff around the house and stopped by the door of Red's room, and the scent is stronger. "There you are..." Wolf smirked, pushing the door open. He sees a lump in the bed. The Wolf walked in the room and jumped on the bed and uses his paw to pull the sheets, and there are pillows instead. The Wolf growled, and heard footsteps behind him, and the door is closed. "No!" He yelled and came up to the door, and began scratching and hitting the door.
Outside the door, Red locked the door with a key and rush to the room and the mother came out of the closet. Max whines a little as he came out from under the table. Red and her mother ran out of the door to tell the Woodsman that the Wolf is inside.
"Anyone injured?" The Woodsman asks as he got the gun.
"No." The mother said by shaking her head. So, the Woodsman and his men went inside the house. Red chuckled a little.
"That was too easy." She says. "The Wolf is too naive and-" The window of Red's room broke, and there is a Wolf jumping out. Pieces of glass fly around him. Red's face turns into horror. "Oh god..."
"Red, run!" The mother cried out. The Wolf landed on the ground, grunting a little. He glares at the girl in a red cloak. Red quickly climbed on one of the men's horses, and took off down the road to lure the Wolf to the dark woods. The Woodsman looked out the broken window to see Red riding on the white horse and the Wolf is chasing her.
"There goes Red, and the Wolf is after her!" He cried out. "Men! Get your horses!"
Red turned back to see the Wolf running after her, and he is fast! Red made the horse run faster as they head down the path to get to the woods. She had to lose the Wolf somehow. Red needs help. A howl is heard from the woods far away, loud and clear. And that made the Wolf slow down a little and growled. Red didn't turn back to the Wolf and made the horse turn to the right to get off the path. She must find Selena. A same howl is heard. But, Red knew it's not the Wolf from behind. This howl sounds...high and feminine. Could it be one of those wolves from the cave with Selena? Just then, the horse neighed in agony and collapse on the grass, making Red fell down the hills. She coughed a little and look above her to see the Wolf on top of the white horse, holding him down.
"Let him go!" Red cried out. The Wolf bit on the horse's neck, drawing blood. He killed one of the men's horse. Red watched in horror. "Oh no..." Not wanting to watch anymore, she ran off, passing every tree. "I gotta find Selena. I need her help." She says. She hears the Wolf yelling from behind, he is still with the dead horse.
"Run, Little Red, run! I will find you again! The night is still young for the two of us!" He says. Red didn't look back as she ran. She can hear him laughing and saying things to her.
"Selena!" Red called. "If you can hear me, please help me!" The crows are flying in the night sky. Red looked up to see the full moon that is slowly turning orange to red... "Oh no, no, no, no, no..." Red whispered. The moon is red as blood. It's the Blood Moon. Wolves are very deadly when it's Blood Moon night. Red never realized it's tonight. "The Wolf will be worse than before..." Red says. "I gotta find Selena before it's too late."
"Red!" A voice called. Red stopped and looked around. "Red! Up here!" The girl looked up and saw the Woodpecker from before. "What are you doing here? It's the Blood Moon, and-"
"Woodpecker! Oh, am I glad to see you!" Red said with a smile. "Please tell me. Have you seen Selena anywhere in the woods or is she still in the cave with the wolves?"
"I never go to her cave at all!" The Woodpecker said. "But, I do hear a howl from the she-wolf. She is calling for you..." Red blinked. The female wolf is calling for Red? One of those wolves from the cave. "The she-wolf is ahead. The animals heard that you are danger. We will try to slow the Wolf down. We helped you before." The Woodpecker said. Red thanked him and ran off. The Woodpecker flew down on the ground and waited for the Wolf to arrive.
Red tripped on the vines, and winced in pain. She held her ankle and see blood soaking through the bandages. Footsteps were heard, and Red looked up to see the white and gray wolf with green eyes. This wolf is beautiful and...familiar somehow.
"Red Riding Hood. We meet again." She spoke. Red sat up in silent, staring at the she-wolf. "Do not be afraid. Just look into my eyes, and you will know who I am." Red did as she was told. Those green eyes, and that same voice...could it be...?
"...Selena?" Red wondered. The she-wolf smiled and made a nod.
"Yes, it's me. I transform into a wolf to help others, including you. I howled to lure you over here." She said. "Now, before you could ask any questions, you must go to the waterfall. I will meet you there."
"Wait, I don't know where the waterfall is, I didn't explore the whole forest!" Red exclaimed. "Take me there, please! The animals I met today will distract the Wolf for us." Selena stares at Red, then at the moon. She gestured Red to climb on her back. Red got on Selena's back and held her fur.
"Hang on, Red. We must hurry!" Selena says as she started to run.