Two Wolves Chapter 13, a red riding hood, 2011 fanfic

Chapter 13:

An abandoned lighthouse.

A broken rotating glass mirror attached to a wooden machine looming overhead at the top of an old decrepit tower looking over the far edges of the blue ocean. It was a machine to attract lost sailors coming from the wide vast thunderous sea, although abandoned and old. The color of the peeling paint had faded long, long ago leaving almost no trace of its once bright pigments, unavailable for a rescue renovation. The doors were locked shut with heavy chains and the windows were completely boarded up, this lighthouse was sentenced to be alone and abandoned forever. Built nearly 300 years ago by the 4rd descendants of the founding fathers, it was considered a historic marvel due to the Great Raid nearly 200 years ago when the shore and the village (before it was a City) had been attacked by pirates intent on plundering and pillaging the thriving peoples of the coast.

Now only occupied by the squawking of seagulls, silent hermit crabs, and the dusty cobwebs inside the blackened tower, the lighthouse was never occupied or revisited again.

Completely unmanned.

Utterly empty.

Completely alone.

Absolutely haunted.

No one dare come here, not even the fishermen or drunkards.

This rocky shoreline of sharp rubble and black dirt crumbled into the water, further thinning the narrow brittle pathway making it almost impossible to take a morning stroll. A single misstep among the sharp rocks could potentially be fatal.

This place…

This terrible awful place…

This…

This is where she will die.

She could feel her life ending.

Her thighs were as cold as ice.

She couldn't feel her toes anymore, frozen into the dirt, stuck beneath the earth.

April lay with wide, pleading eyes at the bottom of a ditch while the blood that had kept her alive for nearly 38 years pulsed slowly and seeped into the grit and dirt beneath her. Drifting in and out of awareness, she could feel her blood slither out of her nose, it filled her lungs and she coughed, blowing scarlet bubbles that foamed over her chin. The murderer stood above her with a shovel in hand looking down upon her and for once, nearly on the brink of death, she was the most gorgeous woman ever seen. Squeezing the shovel with a gloved hand, the stranger stabbed the gravel deeply, shoved a heel on the rim for more penetration and began dumping pile after pile of black dirt upon her angelic form until her pale skin could no longer be seen. The murderer padded the dirt with a booted foot. It was still sandy, but the upcoming winter would soon harden the gravel like stone and no one will ever find her. Not even the Sheriff. Wiping a brow with the back of a gloved hand, the stranger slipped off the gloves and gazed towards the glow of the City anticipating the games waiting tonight at the Festival. This would be a splendid night. It was always splendid. Walking to an awaiting horse and personal belongings, the stranger clipped a black vest tightly around his waist arranging his red collar neatly against his neck, and straightening the silver cufflinks on both wrists. From a branch the stranger lifted a hat, brushed it off, and neatly placed it upon his head before pocketing his animal mask in his jacket pocket. Climbing to the saddle before riding to the far edge of the rocky shore, the stranger stopped there and smiled, gazing into the shifting hues of the horizon, from his pocket the stranger pulled a handsome wolf mask out and placed it onto his face, securing the string behind his head.

His red eyes blazing into the dark abyss.

Meanwhile:

Able Grey… Able Grey… where do I know that name from?

The name meant something, but what could it be? Cesaire had searched far and wide through the last minutes of the night, but could not find anything. His best chance was the Festival, today, and even then he might only catch a scent. But for now, his pup was in distress, he could feel it. It made him furious. Men and crooks hunted his pup last night. Hunted! That was never supposed to happen to her, ever. She was supposed to be safe. All the time. Throughout his life he had been hunted, and his goal was to have his daughter live differently than he did. Nothing was going right. In the end, he would find whoever is doing this and make them pay for what they've done. That was promise he was going to keep! He returned to his den to find his pup sitting on her bed with a solemn look on her face which only made his worries worse. He could smell her distress. He sat next to her.

"Baby? What is the matter?" he soothed, lifting her chin. He never liked it when she cried.

She wiped her tears away, looking at him, her face filled with anguish, feeling as if she had failed him.

"It's entirely my fault, Papa. I know you said it wasn't my fault, but it is! I shouldn't have—" she burst into frustrated tears, wrapping her arms around him.

"Slow down, sweetheart. You're not in trouble," he cooed like he would to a babe, patting her back and softly asked, "Take a slow breathe and tell me what happened?"

"She knows!"

A million questions raced through his head. Blood drained from his face, looking from her to the bedroom door, then back to her, and to the bedroom door. The whips of hot panic slapped his backside. Suddenly his demeanor changed. The blonde girl, Vanessa, was behind that door, lying in bed, reeking of fear and weakness. He could smell her. Growling low in the back of his throat, he glared at that flimsy bedroom door but he continued to listen to his daughter.

"What do you mean?"

"She knows that I'm a wolf, Papa! She knows because she saw me! When I attacked Charz to rescue her! She saw what I really am," she sobbed into his chest.

He continued to look at that door, nothing but that door and asked softly, "Did she threaten you!?"

Valerie flinched, "What?"

"Did she threaten you!? I know what humans are like, Valerie. They fear what they cannot control," he asked, his voice slowly rising until he was almost yelling at her. "Did she threaten you? To expose you? Did she reveal a piece of silver!? If she threatened my baby girl, she'll be sorry. If she did— I won't hesitate to put her in her place!" He rose to his feet, slowly walking towards the bedroom door. He could smell the human girl in there. He grimly replied, "No one threatens a wolf's family... especially mine."

She took his hand in hers, and whispered, "She didn't threaten me, Papa. She was just scared and when she woke from her sleep, she asked me to leave the room, and give her plenty of space. I did as she asked. She was polite, really Papa."

He snarled, "She's a liability! I can't leave her around people."

She stepped in front of him, "It wasn't her fault, Papa! She was scared, yes! But I truly believe she won't tell anyone."

"Valerie, get out of my way. She can't be allowed to leave." He tore his steady gaze from the door and to his pup. "Like I said, Valerie… she can't be around people."

She realized what he meant and tried to stop him, "Papa!"

He reached for the doorknob, his eyes shifting to those of a predator.

"Papa wait!" she grabbed his hand, pulling him back. "Please! Please! This can't be like Daggorhorn all over again. Don't make this about control and power and deceit. Maybe if we just talk to her and settle we can settle everything?"

"Talk? I don't talk. I use my teeth and appetite to do the conversation." He moved to grab the doorknob once more.

She pulled him again, "Please! I'm begging you! We can't start our new lives this way! I know you're just trying to protect me, but this isn't the way to do it! We need to do this the right way! What happened last night was not your fault! She didn't do anything! She's a victim as much as I am. We both need you, Papa! You protect us! And I can protect her, too!" Valerie huffed, her fists rolling into tight balls, gaining courage.

"…Even if I need to protect her from you, too! Papa, please, you've always been there for me when I need you. She needs us, too! She doesn't deserve to die. I need you to do this for me, Papa! Me and Vanessa need you now more than ever! You can't keep doing this everywhere we go. You and I need to be equal and fair, even to those who don't deserve it. But this is April's daughter! You can't murder her daughter!"

Bam.

Suddenly, the pang of her tender words hit their target and Cesaire's eyes returned to their human orbs. It was true, and she was right. This was April's daughter! The woman he was trying to rescue. Nevertheless, Cesaire would not apologize for thinking of his pup first. Because she always came first.

She always, always came first.

"You're right," he whispered slowly. "I'll listen to you for now, baby girl. I am proud of you for being pure and good, as you always have been, and as you will always be. It is who you are. Your nature. Don't let the world spoil you," Cesaire smiled down at his pup, kissing her forehead, and giving her space. His wolf nature would be tame for now. He looked at the door one last time, thinking about Vanessa and how unpredictable she could be, and he stated firmly, "But if I ever get a whiff of anything threatening or menacing from that girl. Just one time! Just one good reason! Even the slightest hint of malice or deceit and it won't end well."

The alpha knew that his authority should not have been challenged, but his daughter was too important to him. She meant too much to him. Maybe he was going soft. Then again, maybe she would become a very strong Alpha female one day and lead a strong pack of her own. A stronger leader than even himself. And one day she'll lead a pack of her own when he's dead and gone and revolutionize the world of wolves. A day that would not come too soon. Cesaire turned and headed to his room to straighten his belongings then returned to the kitchen and set a kettle for tea. Valerie went to the door and peeked inside. Vanessa was sleeping, thankfully. That poor girl. It's been such a terribly long night for all of them. She closed the door softly.

"You can't keep doing that, Papa…"

He rotated the mug around in his hands, pretending he didn't understand her.

"Did you hear me?" she whispered, looking at him tenderly. She knew that she had disrespected his authority, but it was the right thing to do. "Papa…"

"Doing what?"

She looked at him, "You know what I mean."

He scoffed, looking everywhere in the room but her, folding his arms on the edge of the table shaking his head, "I will not apologize for anything. I am your father and you are my daughter, it is my first number one priority to protect you no matter what. Even if that means making the wrong choices for the better reasons…"

"But Papa—" she tried to argue.

"Valerie—" his voice held a soft tone of authority that would not tolerate being contradicted.

"Papa—"

"You and I are the only ones who differ from the rest, Valerie. We are wolves. Born and raised with wolf blood in our veins, and neither you nor I can do anything about it." He removed the whistling kettle from the burner and took two cups. "That means you and I are family, family until the end."

"Papa, but can't you please—"

"She is not wolf, Valerie."

"I understand that—"

"She is not my daughter! You are! You are the only person on this good green earth that matters in my life," suddenly he turned to face her, his voice rose higher and higher while his fist clenched and Cesaire pointed to chest, then to her. "No matter how much it hurts me to see you unhappy with the decisions I make, it'll hurt me even more to not have you at all. If I make absolutely no decision at all, I could lose you." He turned away struggling to keep an even tone. "You a-are… in everything I do. Every decision, every detail, and every choice I make… The city, our new lives, and our new names and even me working every day in that damned factory to support us! This home, paying for our clothes, food, and—and-and to make you happy…! " He stopped himself, lowered his voice, and tried to swallow the ball forming in his throat, and restarted. He refused to look at her directly anymore. Instead he focused his gaze at the wall, as if he was trying to read something from there, chewing the inside of his lip. Softly and slowly, he confessed, "I'm trying so hard to not fall apart…"

At this point, as he sat in his chair with two cups of hot tea; she felt a pang of love for her father. This reminded her of her early childhood, back in Daggorhorn, when she and Lucy were still causing mischief together. The way he looked at her, it reminded her of the time when she disobeyed him and decided to go to the lake pond and catch frogs with the other boys from her village, which resulted in the muddy destruction of her new church dress. Her mother scolded her for her disobedience. In the end, she learned that her father wouldn't have minded if she did ruin her dress. It was her mother that he was trying to protect her from, since her mother was very strict about appearances in the village. Susanne always felt so threatened by the eyes of everyone, especially the Lazars, that she and Lucy would always be urged to walk tall, smile, and act proud. She and her mother never saw eye to eye with anything. Her mother wanted her to dress pretty, smile pretty, and walk pretty every day of the month and for the rest of her life. It wasn't fair. But when all hope was lost and she needed a shoulder to cry on, her father was there.

He was always there.

"I keep you safe, baby girl. And I will protect you no matter what. And I know that I might get a few things wrong from time to time, that doesn't mean I'm not trying."

Valerie felt that pang grow every moment. His eyes told her his heart.

"I'm trying, baby…"

It was his way of apologizing, and maybe that was enough to keep the wolf satisfied. Valerie dropped her wall of uncertainty, came to him, and embraced her father tightly, sitting in his lap while he attempted to sooth himself. She was sorry, she truly was. For being so reckless and stupid! All of this—it was her fault. She knew it. And maybe her father was trying to protect her from the guilt, but she knew that there was no escape from either the guilt or consequences. His hand stroked her hair gently as she leaned against him, finding comfort in his protective embrace.

He'd been the Big Bad Wolf his entire life, snapping his jaws and striking fear into the hearts of everyone showing no mercy, but maybe she could change that.

"What do we do now, Papa?"

He wiped his face," I'm going to try to find April. I have a feeling the murderer is still out there somewhere and his new hunting ground will be at the Festival. But I don't want to leave you and Vanessa here alone again, I can't. Not after what happened last night. If I could bring you both with me I would, I need to know that she will keep our secret safe. She does know that you killed a man."

"Maybe… we could trade."

"Trade?"

"Our secret for her mother… If we return April, she keeps our secret forever."

He considered this. "That could work."

"It will work."

"This is a big risk, baby girl. I know what humans are like and they are not to be trusted. You are a good girl, Valerie. Soon you will know what I speak of."

"I know, Papa…" Valerie looked at the door. "But if you let me speak to her… maybe she'll agree."

He stopped her, "Why not let me speak to her."

She gave him a look.

An untrusting look.

"Just trust me, I'll be gentle. Besides, she has just seen your wolf nature. She'll be frightened of you. Don't you think? And she and I have met before. I believe she will trust me more than you right now."

He was right. They didn't want to frighten the poor girl. They needed to be careful in their approach. Valerie watched her father go into the bedroom and close the door, and she could hear their voices come behind the door as she moved to sit at the table. Vanessa was saddened that her mother hadn't returned, yet. Cesaire shared with her sadness, expressing soft empathy, and coaxing her to rise and ready herself for breakfast. Half an hour later, she was smiling.

"Vanessa this is my daughter, Charlotte…" Cesaire introduced. "She is a very good girl, just like you. And I told her last night that I went searching for your mother…"

She nodded, "Yes, and thank you so much for looking for her. I appreciate it very much," She looked at the blonde girl and gave a dim smile. "And … I understand that there are some secrets that would be better off unsaid."

"Indeed," he replied, moving towards the kitchen area, "Breakfast will be ready soon."

"Thank you…" she replied, a little shaken.

"Of course."

"Take a seat."

Vanessa straightened her skirt and moved to sit at the opposite of Valerie. "Having a good morning?" she asked shyly.

Valerie nodded quickly," Yes thank you. Would you like some tea?" Saying anything to break the awkward silence that had descended on the room.

"Yes, please"

"Lemon or sugar?"

"Neither, thank you."

It was all fake: being polite, smiling, and courteous. It was all a rouse. They were measuring each other up, trying to calculate and predict the next knee-jerk reaction from the other. Would Vanessa jump from the table, screaming to escape and announce the arrival of wolves to the whole building? Would Valerie need to jump and stop her father from killing the poor girl? Would Cesaire threaten and keep Vanessa hostage here? Who knows what will happen.

As if reading his mind, Valerie gathered the plates and necessary utensils to finish setting the table for breakfast. Her father stabbed the cooked meat from the skillet and then prepared the dinner plates, serving their guest first, and then served themselves. Vanessa was indeed a gracious and polite girl; she was calm, almost too calm. Nevertheless, Cesaire could still smell her anxiousness. Their morning meal was quiet. Uncomfortable as it was, Vanessa smiled and thanked them for the meal, insisting it was the best meal she's had in a long time.

"I know you're wondering why I am not afraid of you…" Vanessa stated, looking at both of them sadly. She sipped on her tea, now turned cold, and smiled at them politely. "I've been wondering the same thing myself the entire night… I believe you want an answer, yes?"

The two wolves looked at each other, then to her.

"No."

"Yes."

They looked at eachother, then to her.

"No."

They glanced at eachother again, humor and a hint of annoyance on their faces, then to their guest.

"Yes.

"Yes."

"Then I shall tell you…" she straightened her back. "I just want my mother back safely. Have you ever loved someone so much that they completely become your world? That's who she was to me. And even if you are both wolves, I am not afraid, because you are searching for her. I just want my mother to be safe and live a long happy life. Because at the end of my journey… I have nothing to lose. So therefore, I do not fear what comes next. The Black Plague will come take me either way…"

Valerie touched her hand, "No, there has to be another way."

"I'm getting the money to find you medicine. You can still live…" Cesaire stated, looking at the poor girl. Unbeknownst to him, Valerie looked at him with all the love in the world, proud he was going to fight for her cause. "Your mother wanted me to do that for you."

She shook her head, her lips pressing together to suppress a sob.

"I can feel it…" Vanessa whispered, lifting her hands. Her pale trembling hands reached up into the air then her fingers stroked her face, as if painting her face with invisible black paint. "I-I-I have it in my bl-blood and my blood cannot be cured. Already, I c-can't feel my fingers and m-m-my skin is turning black…" The poor girl started to cry silently, tears streaking her face.

"No, there is hope for you Vanessa. You just have to hold on."

"No!"

"Vanessa—"

"No!" she covered her ears, "J-Just please, make it stop. Stop it."

Cesaire came to her, looked out the window, then to her, "I am going to find April and then you both can get out of the city together. You can leave this place and never come back and—"

Vanessa latched her hands onto his arm, pulling him close, "Promise me!"

"Promise you what?"

"Bury me next to my sister. Help my mother escape this place. Tell her that we'll be waiting for her. Tell her to be strong for me… I loved her…" Vanessa hunched over, spitting out blood, slowly sinking to the floor.

Cesaire looked at Valerie, "Open my bedroom door. Quickly!" He picked her up in his arms. "Quickly! She's tired and she's weak. Her blood- I can smell it. The Plague is overtaking her more and more every minute. She needs rest and she needs medicine."

Valerie pushed back the sheets and covered Vanessa, patting her head. She was asleep, for now. Cesaire followed his daughter of his room.

"Why is this happening to us!? Everything is wrong! Everything is so wrong!"

Valerie turned to her father, determination shining in her eyes.

"We need to split up, Papa. You need to find April. I can find the medicine." Valerie pointed out the window, to the cruel world, towards the open city rising with the heat of the blazing sun. "You go to the North and I go to the South. Tonight—you and I, together, as a family, as a pack will find the killer…"

The Festival

Hour one

Sunset

Cesaire's hands rested on his daughter's head, placing a lingering kiss on her forehead, "Be safe, my pup."

"Be safe, Papa."

"It's you and me."

"We're going to beat this world."

"Endure."

"And survive."

The last word was almost snarled, the conviction to protect his daughter at all costs shining through his determined face as he kissed her forehead once more. She kissed his forehead too, closing her eyes, wishing with all her heart that everything was going to be okay. Father and daughter stepped from each other, allowing as much space as possible on a relatively small roof of their apartment. Tonight was going to be the night when everything in her life would change and she would fully become a beast, a wolf like her father, the night she would accept her destiny and embrace the gift her father had sacrificed so much to give her. The city before them bloomed as the golden light and roar of festivities announced the beginning of the Festival. As everyone ran from their houses and out onto the street to light every candle every lamp every torch and every bonfire, Valerie and Cesaire awaited the Full Moon. As it rose the light and power and beauty of the enchanting Full Moon, shown powerfully upon the two wolves, Cesaire felt the rush of blood race through his veins like the tolling of a great bell. Brown human eyes melted into eyes of shining molten gold and human teeth morphed into sharpened fangs and canines. He was not a Wolf, yet, but instead he decided to enjoy the familiar sensations slowly, and Cesaire had no problem savoring the feeling of incredible power sinking into his body from the moonlight, but Valerie—Valerie held no words.

The power crashed upon her in a tidal wave of sensations.

Within her mind, she was howling. Howling as loud as she could until her ribs felt stretched and her lungs were on fire. Her whole body stretched as far as it could go. Her bones ached with a feverish fluency, as if trembling beneath the weight of a mighty mountain resting upon her shoulders. A liquid fire erupted in the water of her mind, burning streamers of joy and pain throughout her body and soul. Her eyes blinked a hundred times when she realized the Moon had transformed into… a silver glimmering diamond.

It shone so gloriously, instantly catching her love and affection.

The wonderful hoary silver color seemed too beautiful and wonderful to be true.

She truly was Mother Moon.

That's when she knew that anything in the world could happen.

For the first time in her life, she would walk side by side with the Mother Moon and her father, embracing the first wild adventure of her life with all the mystery and beauty in the world.

Cesaire's fur came like a burst of leaves upon a tree. His yellow eyes gleamed with a deadly charm while his paws grew to an enormous size. Falling to his knees, hunching his head down to the floor, he could feel his shoulders grow in large bulks, his bones popping from their places and mutating to a larger and broader size until they repositioned themselves into their new sockets. The ribcage of his body expanded enormously, cracking and building enough muscle and bulk to support his now heavy body. His head hung as a great muzzle formed from his jaw, his years moving to the top of his skull, covered in neat fur and becoming two perfect triangles on his head. The outrageous speed of his transformation looked painful, but in truth, it was no more painful than falling out of bed. Cesaire's metamorphosing was complete in a matter of seconds.

The Big Bad Wolf is back.

Shaking his thick mane from side to side, the Big Bad Wolf turned to his left to see his daughter blooming into the perfect killing machine, equipped with two triangle ears, four puppy paws, a wagging tail, a long snout, two blue eyes, and a beautiful-beautiful-beautiful blazing white coat as clean and soft as a romantic winter's tale. The young She-wolf trembled fiercely, unable to stand on all four limbs, but this was considered normal for her first shifting. He aligned his shoulder with her shoulder and pushed her up, a gentle gesture to encourage his pup to walk. The Big Bad Wolf lowered his head to her ear and snout, inspecting her every motion and every movement, licking the tip of her nose. He licked again, gaining her attention. Eyes blinking open, the young She-Wolf instantly understood it was the canine language, a gesture not unlike that of a kiss to the forehead or cheek, saying that he loved her and was very proud of her. He licked the tip of her nose again, nudging his paw upon her shoulder.

Canine language

She'll have to learn it quickly because her father stood over her opening his mouth releasing a rumble from within his throat, as if he was angry with her. But what could she have done to earn such reprimand? Until she realized he was lifting his left limb, thumping the black padding beneath his paw to the roof, lifting, and thumping again, lifting and thumping again and again. He repeated this, until she understood he was encouraging her to stand. Time was running out and the Mother Moon would only come to their aid until the break of dawn. Like a toddler, the newborn struggled to rise to all four limbs. It reminded her of a time when she witnessed a baby lamb rising to its wobbly legs. How foolish she must look! The newborn wolf steadied herself in her new body balancing her head as much as she could. Opening her eyes, she looked at her father and truly agreed that he truly was a fearsome formidable and intimidating wolf. His fur as black as night, canine teeth like swords, paws like deep thunder, and eyes burning with the glow of an angry sun.

Unafraid the smaller newborn came close, nuzzling her mane against his, a gesture of a hug. Sitting back on her haunches, she lifted her front paws and nipped her teeth at his ear; she gave a gesture of puppy-like joy! Before they separated, she licked his nose. For good luck. He nudged her forward and disappeared. Mother Moon, in all her beauty and power, shone down upon her two wolf children as they dashed throughout the city rooftops.

The Alpha and newborn dashed North and South across chimneys like two burglars, hunting and avoided the celebrating humans below. The newborn, Valerie, pointed her snout into the air capturing scents and smells and aromas she's never smelled before. She could smell cooking food, fresh ale in pubs, children eating caramel apples, roasting pig fat over a fire, human sweat coming from the performers dancing in the streets, burning tobacco in an old man's pipe, lathered soap upon dishes and pots, the petals on every flower in the city courtyard, the tiny smells upon each human infant resting on their mothers bosom, and the unique smell of each individual adult human.

Thousands of aromas filled the air like smog. In a content mood, she noticed her tail wagging back and forth calmly. Her white tail acted as a flag of her mood, temper, and attitude of her entire character without flaw. What an interesting experience to be a canine! Her ears were especially interesting, listening to the big booms and little booms the world made. So many creatures and humans were stomping like elephants and scurrying like mice, mixing together in a new symphony that she's never heard of. Dashing from rooftop to rooftop, her limbs propelled her through the air, confidently jumping great heights and daring hurdles through the tallest of houses and shops, until she was quite a good distance from her home destination. Her powerful hind legs propelled her body forward like speeding wind.

(A/N) Sorry it took so long but hopefully you will enjoy this chapter. I know I did. And I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to thank my Chief Editor SilverPaws! Thank you! This chapter would NOT have been possible if it weren't for you. I applaud you!)