Chapter 4

Red felt a bit uneasy when Jack held on tightly to her waist. It felt a little hard to breathe with him holding on so strongly. There was nothing to be nervous about when she was driving. He could relax.

The brunette controlled the bike with a swaying ease. Every twitch of her hand when she steered made the machine obey, her grip on the handles relaxed. They weren't even going that fast; Jack didn't have to worry about anything, not while she was driving.

Jack shouted directions in to her ear every so often. Like, go left here, right, keep going straight, things like that. Red followed what he ordered, giving him a nod or shouting over the wind she understood.

Sunset came faster than expected. When the last rays lingered over the forest, Red slowed to a stop. Granny halted alongside her. "Okay we'll rest here for the night."

"Rest?" Jack asked as Red mounted off the bike, moving down the kickstand. "How can we rest? Jill is still out there-"

"And is still quite a ways away," Granny told him. "It'd be safer for us to rest now and be ready to go in the morning. The witch wants both of you, she won't do anything if she only has one."

The blonde continued to look confused, uncertain. He at last gave a nod, getting off of the bike to help set up. Wolf handed Red the larger bulky bag containing a couple tents. Starting to spread it out, Twitchy jumped from his hoodie, rushing to the other side to assist him.

"Do you need any help?" Jack asked Wolf.

"Nah I'm fine kid. Go see if the girls need any."

"They don't, trust me," Jack cast a look over at Red and Granny who already had the tent up.

Wolf glanced over in their direction. "Okay get some of the poles over here."

He smiled, eager to help. A few minutes later the tent was up. Twitch took his small sleeping bag in, followed by Jack. The blonde looked at Wolf as he started to set up a fire. "Wolf, aren't you going to put your sleeping bag in here?"

"Nah, I've got sentry duty tonight," he told him. "I won't be sleeping anytime soon." Reaching in to his front pocket Wolf pulled out some matches. Striking one against the box he tossed it casually in to a small pile of dead grass leading to the logs above. The flame caught as if by magic so in a few seconds a warm fire grew. Red and Granny exit their tent.

"Nice fire you got going there Wolf. Mind if we join?" Red asked, coming up beside him.

"I suppose I'll let you, for now."

"Why don't you go get some rest, we'll be safe."

The wolf nodded before taking his own sleeping bag into the tent. Red watched after him, sitting down cross legged at the fire. Jack took a spot next to her. "I'd be more worried about him. You girls are pretty tough."

"I take after my granny," Red smiled.

Granny smiled in return, taking out a package of hot dogs. "Hot dogs sound good?"

"Yeah they're great," Jack smiled.

"Sorry Wolf you can't have any, that'd be cannibalism!" Red called, knowing their furry companion was still awake.

"Haha you're so funny brat. Just wait till nightfall, I'll kill you in your sleep!"

The group laughed. Twitchy took out a bag of seeds instead of the hotdogs.

The team kept the fire going, roasting hotdogs over the fire with comfortable conversation. By nightfall Twitchy already went to bed. Wolf came out as Granny stood up to leave, "Hotdogs on the fire Wolfie, help yourself."

"Thanks Gran." Wolf took one still hovering over the fire, reaching between Red and Jack to grab the stick. "Oh by all means don't mind me, just getting some food."

"Sure thing Wolf," Red answered.

"Do you want a bun? Ketchup? Mustard?" Jack offered helpfully.

"You know I think I'll pass on this one," Wolf said, walking over to a cliff where the clearing dropped off. He started to eat. Red and Jack watched before turning back to each other.

"So are you and your sister close?" she asked.

"Pretty much. I've known her my whole life."

This was received with a smile. "I bet. I've never had a brother or sister, I've always been an only child."

"Is it lonely?" Jack risked a glance to her, curious.

"Very. I'm glad my granny could be with me so much, she's the one that made me who I am."

Jack smiled. A thought occurred to him, "So, what happened to your parents?"

Red's smile dropped. A misty look came over her eyes. Instantly Jack regretted his question. He started to take it back, but what's out is out. "I-I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"

"No, no it's okay." Red didn't see Wolf's ear twitch over in their direction, listening intently to the conversation. "It was a long time ago anyway. . ."

Jack felt concern itch in his heart. "You're obviously still upset about it."

"What? No I'm not." Wolf felt the defense in her tone. Back off Blondie, she doesn't want to talk about it, obviously. A blind mouse could see it, three of them actually.

"Yes you are. Come on. Tell me."

Red sighed, looked up at the stars, then stood to her feet. "You know it's getting pretty late, I think I'll go to bed."

"Red, wait I'm sorry! I didn't, I wasn't-"

"Goodnight Jack," she said a little coldly. Wolf listened as she entered her tent, could hear her silent, tearful gasp as memories flashed her mind.

Nobody knew what happened to Red's parents except for her and her Granny. Granny obviously wouldn't say anything without Red's permission though of course. Mr. and Mrs. Puckett might have been her children, but they were Red's parents. Even now it didn't seem Red got over them. Wolf at least knew it was smart enough to be polite and not ask. When she was ready, she would tell him. He believed that.

Jack went to bed after that as well. "Night Wolf."

"Night Blondie."

Filler!

Boring chapter. It'll get more exciting after this one, I promise.