So we have finally jumped! Sorry this is a day late. I had no internet yesterday. And I was doing so good too!
So, Jane is in a way representing whovians in a general sort of way. She's actually based on several of my whovian friends. Certian characteristics like her favorite things or what she looks like. So I was wondering any of you wanted something of yourself put into the character to help make her more relatable. Just review and give me something you like or the name of your pet, or a favorite memory that I might be able to weave into Jane's backstory. I can't make any promises that I'll be able to make "you" fit depending on my plot line but I'll try. And while you're at it you can tell me what you think so far.
Disclaimer: ... If you don't get it by now you never will.
Peter is a kind boy. He has an odd mixture of both brashness and shyness. He's shy toward Rose but still very proud. He carries himself like someone who is used to relying on himself. We says that he can offer us some bread to eat. We're very grateful for it. We haven't eaten since the day before.
"You sure your mom won't mind us coming over and eating your food?"
He looks at me and stands up straighter.
"I don't think she would. Not that I'd know."
The way he says it tells me that his mom isn't around. Rose gets the same impression.
"Then who do you live with?"
He hesitates a bit. Barely noticeable unless you're me. I hesitate constantly to keep my secrets straight.
"My gran. She's just a little ways into the woods."
"Into the woods, to grandmother's house,"
I sing softly, more to myself than anything. It's a play that doesn't exist as far as Rose is concerned. I checked. I was in the mood for Craige. But without Doctor Who I figured that the baker was close enough. Except it doesn't exist. Rose gives me the look. The look that says, stop quoting and focus. I stick my tongue out briefly but we continue to follow Peter into the woods.
We begin to travel into a darker part of the forest.
"It's a bit creepy living out here isn't it?"
Peter replies to Rose's question with bitterness.
"And dangerous."
"Why do you say that?"
Peter shrugs.
"It just is. No one goes into the woods alone any more. If you go in alone you never come out again."
"You come alone."
I know I'm pointing out the obvious but it's odd.
"And people hate me because of it. How horrible am I that not even the forest demon wants me?"
A chill goes down my spine. Something isn't right about this place. Rose doesn't look unaffected either.
"Is there a demon in the forest?"
He laughs. I can't tell if it's forced or not.
"It's just a story. People go missing in every forest. Here, people blame it on the 'demon.' There's no point in listening to my stories. No one does. I've told it too many times."
Rose looks at me with a smirk.
"What, like the boy who cried wolf?"
I can't help the small laugh that escapes me.
"Peter and the wolf?" I ask.
Peter looks at us with a confused look as we giggle.
"I don't understand."
Rose tries to explain.
"You know. Like the fairy tale?"
He looks at us with blank eyes.
"Never mind."
"Fairy tales aren't true. How come you're comparing me to one?"
He's trying to understand. I see an opportunity here. I can't pass this up.
"Because you are."
"But I'm not."
I grin. "Aren't we all? We're all stories in the end Peter. Just make it a good one eh?"
I'm quite proud of myself. Peter looks perplexed, and Rose is looking at me like I'm a genius. Thank you River Song and Eleven. Or Moffatt. Either way. It's a great quote. And I'm very happy I got to use it. Maybe I'll get to use it again. Or any other quotes. Maybe I can give the blink speech at some point. No. I'd rather not. That would mean having to run into the weeping angels and I do Not want to go there. It's hard enough watching it. Who wants to live it? Story of my life really I suppose.
We reach a small house. It's like a typical fairy tale cottage. I'm seriously beginning to think that maybe this is exactly the point. Maybe this is where fairy tales are real. Like that Once Upon a Time tv show. The boy who cried wolf. Peter and the wolf. Grandmothers house. The big bad wolf. Okay. I really, really don't like where this is going. After All, every fairytale needs a good old fashioned villain. Great, I'm quoting in my head now. Not that that's a new development. Focus!
We head inside.
"Gran. I brought you some guests for dinner."
A old woman faces us and gives a smile. She doesn't look kindly. She's wrinkly and rather brown, like dried sandpaper.
"Wonderful. Come in, come in."
She begins to pour us something to drink that resembles coffee.
"What are your names then?"
Rose looks at me and I give her a nod.
"I'm Miss Wolf and this is my friend Miss Ryder."
"Lovely names. What interesting cloaks you're wearing. Such bright colors. I have always been more partial to red myself but the blue is nice too."
SHe hands us the drinks and places a plate of cookies on the table. We cautiously eat and drink. Or at least I do. Rose seems to be much more relaxed. But something isn't right here. I can feel it. But the drink is good. Like warm honey. So I drink it.
"Oh dear. I'm out of water," Gran says when she looks into the bucket.
"Peter, why don't you take one of the girls to go get more from the well and the other can help me with dinner?"
"Yes ma'm."
Rose smiles.
"I'll help with dinner."
Gran smiles at me. Maybe I'm just being overly paranoid. And the bucket looks heavy. I better help Peter.
"Right. We'll go to the well then."
Peter and I head out.
"So...it's just you and your Gran then?"
"Yeah. I used to have a grandfather, but...he died."
"What happened?"
"The demon."
"I thought you said that was just a story."
"You said yourself. We're all stories. So why can't the stories be real?"
I can't believe how true that statement is. I'm literally living a story. I've become part of the story. It isn't just a plain old story any more. It's mine.
"Very true."
We reach the well and I notice that Peter is shaking.
"Are you all right?"
"Run."
"What?"
He looks at me and his eyes are no longer brown like before. I can't even really describe the color. It's green and orange and purple all at the same time.
"I don't want to hurt you. I never wanted to hurt any of them, but I have no control. You have to run," he says through gritted teeth.
"Peter what...?"
He's coming at me but I can tell he's fighting.
"I told you there was demon in the forest."
"You're the demon?"
"I'm the pet."
With that I can see that Peter isn't there anymore. And he lunges for me. I stumble away. This can't be happening. Maybe he's got an alien in his head. He is the pet. The master must be the Gran. Rose!
Peter is on me and his hands are on my neck. I blindly feel the ground, and my fingers clasp onto a rock. I thrust it against his head and he loses his grip. I turn and see him slaking himself and I know I can't afford to hesitate. So I hit him again and he falls to the ground, unconscious.
And then I start running. I run faster than I've ever run before. Rose is in danger. I can't let anything happen to Rose. I know that she won't jump back without me. She'll let herself get killed before leaving me behind so I run. I burst into the house and find that Rose is struggling for the upper hand.
The kind old woman isn't kind anymore. In fact, she doesn't even look human. Her skin looks more dried and cracked, like the scales of a crocodile. She's hissing and her tail has a sharp spear on the end that is doing it's best to harm my friend.
She hears me come in and she turns to me as Rose gets flung back.
"Oh, the little girl with the red hood."
"The name is Ryder."
"Little Red Riding Hood then. Yesssss. I think that's a good name for a dish."
I can't help it. It's hilarious. I laugh. Not a chuckle or a giggle but a full blown laugh. But she doesn't find any of it funny.
"What? Why are you laughing? I'm going to kill and eat you and your friend."
I continue to laugh.
"Into the woods to grandmother's house, little red riding hood went, and then the big bad wolf came."
I laugh a moment more but this isn't funny anymore so I stop. Abruptly. I can tell that this throws dear granny for a loop.
"You get one chance. Stop this now. Go back to where you came from. Let us go."
"Or what?"
I grin.
"Are you afraid of the big bad wolf?"
The poor woman doesn't know what to say to that. Rose is recovering I can see. She's beginning to try and find a way to defend us.
"If you mean your friend, then no. She's just a girl."
"Once upon a time, little red riding hood went to grandmothers house. And she said, my what big teeth you have."
"Better to eat you with."
I bark another laugh.
"The big bad wolf ate the grandma in the story, but I don't like that ending. How about, little red riding hood saves the wolf from the granny? And they live happily ever after. The end."
"I have a better ending. The granny eats the Ryder and the Wolf, and sleeps very good that night."
With that she lashes out. And Rose surges forward. Time seems to stop. Penny in the air.