Given the lack of interest in the story, it will remain the original planned 4 chapters.
Today's RQW theme: Wolf!Ruby
Red pauses as she contemplates returning to camp, her head tilting upward as she scents the air. The sweat and steel of Cora's soldiers is faint, but present. The scouting mission has proved fruitful.
Though the regiment had failed to locate the rebel camp, Red is uncomfortable with how close they'd gotten. It'll be time to move camp again very soon. Her ears flick back and forth as she listens for any hint of company.
No fresh whiff or sound of soldiers. Her paws dig into the ground as she turns back to camp. A scent catches her by surprise on the return, and her mouth parts in wolfish grin as she allows herself a small diversion.
The turkey is sizeable and the camp cook greets her warmly when he catches sight of the bird. She waves at the lumbering man and hoists the fowl above her shoulder as she approaches him.
"Finally, something other than rabbit and deer," he says with a happy sigh, his bushy mustache hiding his top lip.
"Try not to get hair on anything this time," Regina's dry voice cuts in.
Red shakes her head and hands the bird over, ignoring Regina lingering on the edge of her periphery. "You could always prepare your own food, Witch."
Regina stretches and stands from the log she's been resting on. "I would, if everyone would stop jumping every time I so much as lift a finger."
As if to prove her point she abruptly moves to face the cook, who stumbles back in surprise.
"The people are smart not to trust you," Red says with a shrug. She turns back to the cook. "Oaken, is Snow here?"
"She made it back just before sundown, try over at the main tent." Oaken holds the turkey protectively to his burly chest, eyeing Regina warily.
Red sighs and looks toward the main tent. As much as she's looking forward to dinner, she needs to inform Snow of the patrol that had gotten too close to their hiding spot for comfort.
She has to suppress her irritation when Regina falls into step alongside her. Red says nothing, instead lengthening her strides so the much shorter woman begins to fall behind.
There's a waft of apples and then Regina's in front of her, a sour look on her face.
"What do you think you're doing?" Red forces her breathing to remain even; it's the last night of Wolfstime, and she needs to keep her temper.
"I need to speak with Snow, too." Regina's hands settle on her hips. "What's the use of me defecting from my mother if none of you ever let me do anything?"
Red's nostrils flare. She ignores the warm scent of Regina's magic. "Just having you here and not out terrorizing the people of the kingdom is a boon to our cause."
She thinks Regina is going to begin reciting some of her usual insults, but instead Regina remains silent for several beats.
"I'm still coming."
The words are soft but firm, and Red can only roll her eyes.
"As her majesty wishes," Red says sharply. She continues her brisk pace to the main tent.
The following morning, camp is busy as everyone works to break down tents and pack up supplies. Snow had agreed that it was time to move on, and the rebels are long used to the frequent moves.
Red's muscles are already carrying a slight ache from all the effort. The ache won't last long, not with the potency of the last full moon still lingering in her veins, but she enjoys the reminder of hard work all the same.
"Your fairies don't help you with this?" Regina asks as she leans back against a tree and watches the activity around her.
"They save their magic for more important things," Red says as she hoists a large keg up and over onto a waiting cart.
She's not certain why Regina has become her shadow, though she reasons it's probably some petty attempt at retaliation for Red's own watch-guarding. Snow had politely but resolutely rejected Regina's attempts for assistance the previous night.
A warm and pleasant tingle starts in Red's chest at the memory of Regina's ire.
"You're stronger than you look."
The tone makes Ruby's eyebrows rise. Regina had almost sounded...appreciative of the fact. She angles her head to catch Regina's expression.
Regina smirks. "The strong ones usually are thick, so it suits you."
Red snorts despite herself, turning away in time to hide her smile. In general Red would agree with Regina's assessment, less the personal insult, though she'll never say that out loud.
"At least I'm useful," Red quips as she leans over to reclaim her discarded cloak. The heavy lifting is usually left for her or Oaken, and now that Red's accomplished her task she wants to do a last circuit of camp - it's best that nothing is forgotten, even with the fairies lending their magic to hide the rebel presence.
Regina doesn't follow her.
Red is oddly triumphant, though the feeling fades as time passes. Though Regina has been part of or lead several terrible events, she could have killed Snow and everyone in camp a hundred times over. Red still isn't sure of Regina's motivations, but some small part of her sympathizes with Regina's frustration in not being allowed to help.
It had only been when Snow had taken up the mantle as the leader of the rebellion some years ago that Red and her kind had come to be at least somewhat accepted. Her own grandmother is stationed with another of the large camps as a scout, and several of their kin have similar functions in even smaller groups.
The skin of her neck tingles, and Red looks around. There's nothing wrong. She shakes her head. Her thoughts have unsettled her; better off not sympathizing with a dark witch.
They're less than halfway through their journey when the soldiers suddenly strike.
A cry sounds off only seconds before the men appear, a few precious seconds that allow most of Snow's rebels to arm themselves.
It's only when Red's ripping the throat out of an enemy combatant that she realizes she'd recognized the voice. She tucks the thought away as she continues in the fray, darting swiftly through the mass of fighting bodies and striking precisely. Her pack had taught her well, and she loses count of the men that fall to her teeth and claws.
The fight is over as quickly as it had begun, and Red is left staring at the wagon of injured and infirm. There's a distinctive purple barrier around it, and by the looks of fallen arrows and spears on the ground, the barrier had been put to good use.
The barrier flickers, and then Regina is stepping down from the wagon. She pauses in adjusting her cloak when she catches sight of Red, still in her wolf skin.
"Not a succubus," she says before turning away to assess the damage to their envoy.
Red's eyes flick to the wagon, where the small group is wide eyed and watching the departing witch. She follows in Regina's wake curiously.
"This was just a scouting party," Regina declares as she walks on, seemingly aware of Red's presence. "Pawns, sacrifices. Even if Mother never finds the bodies, she'll know where they were intended to search. She'll know one of your camps is near. I wouldn't recommend using any sites too near to this location."
It takes Red a moment to shift back into her human skin. She rubs at the blood and dirt coating her face. "Why are you telling me this?"
Regina turns abruptly, her eyes flaring purple for a moment. "Because they'll listen to you."
Red freezes and nods once, intent on the seriousness in Regina's expression.
"You've got a little something," Regina pauses and gestures to her face, her lips upturning in their usual smirk.
Red sighs and rolls her eyes, one hand rubbing fruitlessly at the mess around her mouth and cheeks. She doesn't follow Regina now, instead searching for the familiar figure of Snow.
