Prompt: Retell a classic fairytale

Word Count: 878

The First Warren farms sometimes got warnings of wolves prowling at the border, slipping past the watches of the guards and alerting the residents. None of them were too worried, however, weapons within reach in case one or two did attempt to ravage the farms. Sometimes, a few of the younger kids thought it was funny to alert the farm of an oncoming wolf, only to dissolve into laughter and giggles.

Of course, all the kids learned at one point that the joke truly wasn't a joke and diverted their attention to other pranks and jokes.

Except for one.

Theo was, of course, a difficult youngling. For a few years, he didn't attempt to pull off the joke - too occupied with farmwork and the whirling changes of the war and their new king. The prank rarely crossed his mind, if at all.

When it lulled down into a drowsy peace, Theo felt it was a good idea to come down into the village after a long few hours of wandering the woods and begin screaming that there was a wolf. Broken out of their previous sense of safety, the residents armed themselves and began to wait for the oncoming attack.

Wait.

And wait.

And wait.

When no wolf or danger was forthcoming, they grumbled and shook their heads disappointedly at Theo.

"You shouldn't frighten people like that," Theo's mother said solemnly, shaking her head. Theo looked away, annoyed at the lack of reaction to the prank. From what his sister told him, when it was a newer novelty, a few people laughed and told them it was a good one! Why not for him?

Of course, jokes wore out over time. But Theo was determined to get his joke across, no matter how long it took. He had to live up to his sister's pranking reputation, after all!

So he waited for a year, his patience fraying thin every day. He repeated the joke, inciting the village in a panic, frayed tension from the lack of news about the war. No one looked at him disappointedly or forced a smile at him - the anger was plain on their faces, reminded again of his other attempts.

Theo's sister sighed. "Jokes wear out," she told Theo as they braided baskets under an apple tree. "And with the king gone on a war, telling everyone a wolf is coming isn't bound to end well." She smiled, flicking Theo's forehead. "Think of another prank, one that'll make us all laugh."

Theo sighed, but he didn't repeat the wolf prank anymore. Autumn and winter passed without any news from the king, and then he came back.

Theo was at the parade, watching the heroes return. They were bandaged and wounded and Theo knew that some were dead, but they were all smiling brilliantly. He returned to the woods that day, feeling happy that something broke through the drudgery of his normal life. His father and brothers were back, swapping stories about the courageousness of King Jupiter, Perkin One-Eye, and Ambassador Longtreader. Theo listened with rapt attention.

A few more weeks passed, news of an announced heir and the enemy regrouping to prepare an assault on First Warren reaching Theo. The king spoke a few days later, reassuring them that they had the numbers to beat back Morbin once and for all, ushering in the newest era of peace. Perhaps one of the longest, if they thoroughly defeated Morbin.

Theo was happy, and all thoughts of pranks and jokes and tricks left his mind. They were going to win! There were no more worries about his father being away at war, about his brothers dying in some fruitless cause! They could be a family again, after years and years of being apart.

He, his mother, and his sister watched the family go off to fight the final fight, at the crossing. They would come back victorious, Jupiter promised, hefting his gleaming sword. Theo felt a thrill rise in him, imagining them coming back victorious.

It did not happen.

Theo was wandering the woods again, gathering herbs for the winter store when he heard a growling.

A wolf.

A flash of fear shot through him as the gray-furred monster appeared from the brush, creeping towards him with bloodlust in his eyes. Behind him, Theo could see three others.

Panicked, Theo began running, acutely aware of the wolves following behind him. He attempted to throw them off by looping around large oak and pine trees, trying to make sure they didn't come near his home. Feeling like he shook them off his trail, he then began running towards the farms.

He needed to warn everyone.

"Wolf!" he shouted to the nearest farmer. The farmer scowled at him and ignored him, clearly remembering the former pranks Theo played. Theo stared desperately at him, repeating the words over and over again, trying to get everyone ready. No one listening, some of them clearly telling him it wasn't funny and they weren't to be bothered by him at all.

They did not listen.

And when the wolves broke through the tree line, hundreds in number, Theo felt horrible. His sister screamed, grabbing his arm and running, pulling him along. But they were too late, too late. The wolves cut through their ill-prepared fighters easily, screams cut off so easily. Theo and his sister kept running and running.

It was all Theo's fault.

This threw me off lolol

Theo is my brother's OC :) he might come up in future prompts!