Early in the mid-summer afternoon, nice time for everybody in the village to be out and about. The summertime always brings out everybody's inner beauty of the season, but my grandma says otherwise. She says the worst times always show people's true colors. I never fully understood what she meant by that, but I always kept it in mind.
I was out and about in the village today like always. The people around here were so nice and kind. Sadly I don't live in the village with them. I live far out in the woods with my grandma Anna. My parents are no longer here because of an incident that went on a couple of months after I was born. Apparently, they were killed by the village's monster! There have been stories going on about the monster for hundreds of years. I didn't think it was real because it all sounded like a scary campfire story.
My grandma always tells me to come home before the sun goes down. She doesn't want me out late at night because she says the monster will come to get me in the night. As a kid growing up she would always tell me stories about the monster. I've never seen it before but our elders of the town tell us what it looks like. They would describe it as a wolf but way too big to even be a wolf. If you ever saw the two right beside each other you would be able to tell the difference.
And like other wolves, it would come out at night to hunt its prey. I heard that none of the villagers would be out at night for they fear the wolf would come after them. Everybody would shut off their lights at the same time to note the people are sleeping. And every night they would set out an animal in the middle of the village so the wolf could prey on it. They would sacrifice animals such as sheep, pigs, goats, deer, chicken, moose, etc.
The proof of its presence is not only with the animals being gone the next day with bones shattered everywhere but with a dead human body that followed along. The villagers would be crowded around the dead body while the doctor, authorities, investigator, and huntsmen would be there. If you're wondering why the huntsmen would be present it's because they protect the village at night when the wolf comes.
Apparently, the huntsmen weren't successful at their jobs. The monster of our village would never be caught when it came lurking at night, sometimes the huntsmen would die, and other times they would catch the wrong wolf. I personally think they just don't know exactly what it looks like. One of the huntsman claim they know for sure what the wolf looks like because he's seen him with his own two red blazing eyes. That hunter was none other than Rogue Cheney. He was the one that took the job very seriously (not in a bad way).
While the other huntsman would come out during the night for their patrol, he would be out all day. He would sit and wait in the woods on high alerts in solemn silence. Whenever I walked back home I would spot him in the woods either sharpening the weapon he used or carving something on a tree. I sometimes would give him food because I wouldn't see him in the village all day. It made me wonder if he ever found interest in doing something else other than trying to kill the wolf. I never argued with it because people have stuff they like to do all the time. It's not that simple to break out of a habit.
For years I have been wearing this red hood that my grandmother had stitched up for me. I don't know why I like the hood so much, it was so different from everybody else's. I felt alive in my red hood because it was my style. One of the reasons people knew me in the town was because of my red hood. Nobody called me by my name except people who were close to me. Everybody always called me 'Red'!
At first, I found being called Red very offensive because that wasn't my name. That was until my grandma told me it was a compliment. For some reason, red was always a bad sign to me. Especially with what's going on it's a bad sign. To me than red meant danger and blood, but now it means to have courage and love.
I was so deep in thought that I didn't notice my best friend Levy tapping me on the shoulder and calling out my name. "Lu-chan, Lu-chan, LU-CHAN!" she yelled at the end shaking me. "Ahh...sorry Levy-chan I was in deep thought of something," I apologized to her. "You were staring at Rogue-Kun again, weren't you, " she smirked at me. "Uhh no, I don't even know where he's at, " I said being honest. I usually do look at Rogue but this time I was just in deep thought.
"Lu-chan he's right over there sharpening his weapon. I'm surprised he doesn't notice you looking at him on a daily basis, " she said crossing her arms. "I think he notices he just doesn't say anything, " I told her as we started down the street towards the pastry shop.
I go there every day to get either bread or cake. I have a friend name Erza Scarlet who's family gives me a great deal on bread. I'm their number one customer so whenever something new comes out they always let me know first. Also, they sometimes would let me taste it for free!
When Levy and I made it to the entrance I opened the door to be hit with the strong smell of freshly baked bread. I paused taking in big inhale and exhale for the dramatic effect. I was starting at all the options they had and I couldn't decide which one I wanted. All of them look so good to the point I wouldn't mind buying each and every one of them. But I wouldn't be able to carry them all home so I get a limited amount to carry in my basket.
"Good afternoon!" I excitedly greeted anybody who was in the shop. Surprisingly, there wasn't anybody present. I walked up to look at all that bread behind the glass. "Lu-chan you're drooling!" Levy said giggling at my admiration. "What, I can't help it, you know good and well how much I like the bread here, " I said. "I know, but you make me want to eat it, " she whined.
"How so?" I cheekily smiled at her. "Because you know I can't eat gluten it upsets my stomach, " she crossed her arms. I feel bad for her because she can't experience how the Belserion family bread taste. "Well, I'm sorry Levy-chan, I hate to show my love for bread," I said feeling bad. "It's okay, I should be used to it by now, it's been going on for years," she mumbled under her breath. She started to look around the shop and then tried to lodge over the counter to see if anybody was nearby.
"Where is everyone at?" she questioned still looking around the shop. "Maybe they're in the back making the bread," I wasn't too sure about it. "We would hear them in the back," she said stating facts. They are quite loud when handling the dough. "Maybe we should leave and go to another shop to get some food," I told her as we were about to leave until we saw scarlet hair from the corner of our eyes. "Wait don't go, sorry I'm a little late," said none other than Erza Scarlet. Well really her last name is Belserion, but everybody calls her Titania. She helps her family out with the pastry shop, but she also has another job as an armorer ( a person who makes, supplier, or repairer of weapons or armor).
"Hi, Erza!" I greeted her with a warm smile. "Hi Lucy, I already have your stuff pre-packaged," she said rushing to the back. "Oh thanks, you don't have to be in a rush," I told her as she came back with a bag full of me and my grandma's favorite bread. "I know, but I gotta rush down to the building to repair the weapons and armor for the huntsmen," she said in a rush. "What's the point they never kill the wolf," Levy grumbled. "I know, but it could happen one day. I sometimes want to go out and help them finish the job, but my parents won't allow it," she sadly said looking down.
"Yeah especially with your dad already out there," I told her. "He's putting himself in more danger that way and under more stress. They once again caught another normal-sized wolf," she rolled her eyes in boredom. "I'm beginning to think they either don't know what it looks like or it doesn't exist," I blabbered because it was true. If they were out there killing normal sized wolves and not being able to tell the difference then something was really wrong. "Lucy the wolf does exist there's proof of its existence," Erza told me. "I know, but don't you think it's a bit odd that a big wolf lurks around the night to prey on this village," I asked them a bit confused.
"I know it doesn't sound as realistic as others make it, but you gotta keep in mind that our elders talk about it all the time like it's no joke," Levy said a bit unsure of my question. "Yeah my parents would tell me stories about the wolf just so I could go to bed at night because they say it knows when I'm awake," Erza agreed with her. "What she said, but besides, your grandma always tells you to leave an hour early before the sun goes down because you live outside the village," she said adding on to Erza's statement.
"I know the bad thing about it is that I live very far from here," I glared down at the ground thinking how much I'm going to have to walk after I leave. "And it's in the woods; too far from where the huntsmen patrol," Erza said in deep thought. "The only person who is that far out is Rogue," I told them as Levy cheekily smiled at him. "My dad says he takes his job way too seriously. The guy never leaves the woods and is always far out past the limit," Erza exclaimed. "That's a bit suspicious now that you say it out loud, you better watch yourself Lu-chan," Levy said with concern and suspiciousness in her voice.
"Yeah because my dad says he's usually not present when there's a dead body," Erza added on. "But is he really around for anything, he might just be anti-social," I said trying to defend him a bit. "Yeah, the keyword is might," she emphasized. I see Erza lean over the counter looking at something in worry. "What's wrong Erza?" I asked her.
"The sun is almost about to go down; it's getting dark," she told me. "Yeah, you should be getting home Lu-chan, Jet and Droy might be setting out the sacrifice for the night," Levy said agreeing with Erza. "Ok I'll be heading home, I'll see you guys tomorrow," I said my goodbyes. I grabbed the bread that Erza had pre-packaged for me and put it in my basket for my grandma and me. I put it in my basket that I always carry around and made my way out of the shop.
As I was walking out of the village I could see everybody getting prepared for the night. I see the middle of the town where Jet and Droy was tying a goat up to the pole. Poor goat it won't live the next day. I saw Jet drinking (most likely whiskey) while tying up the goat. Not good for him to be drinking at this time. Most people tend to act out when they drink. I just rolled my eyes and made my way into the woods towards my house.
The huntsmen were out in the woods on high alert waiting for the monster to show. I saw some of them sharpening their weapons and praying. Believe it or not, this was a very dangerous job. Whether they were killing the monster or a regular wolf. Most of them ran in packs so the job would be even more difficult. The sun started to quickly go down as I saw nothing but the skinny trees. I heard the crickets chirping and the owls hooting.
I looked around to see from afar a tall figure in the night. I felt goosebumps come up on my arm in fear of who it might be. Not that many people come out here far in the night. I started to speed up my walk because I didn't want to stay in the presence of whoever it might be. It got to the point I started to run looking back to see if anybody was behind me following. I got so caught up in running that I had bumped into somebody and fell back on my back.
I could hear my heart beating a bit fast as I slowly looked at who was in front of me. I was relieved when I saw it was just only Rogue. "Oh...Rogue, you scared me!" I caught my breath. "My apologies for that Lucy, but you should watch where you are going and get home as fast as you can," he simply said helping me up off the ground. "May I ask what are you doing so far out here, all the other huntsmen are near the village where the wolves go," I told him. He tilts his head down looking at the ground.
"I'm patrolling out here too because I know you and your grandma are the only people who live out here making you guys an easy target," he said. "Oh ok, here's you some bread, I haven't seen you come around the village today, so here you go," I said getting the smallest out of the basket. "Thanks!" he said taking the bread. "Have a safe night!" I bowed to him "You too!" he said walking away.
I felt a smile appear on my face then started towards my house. I wasn't from it now! When I did make it back home I had quietly opened the door not wanting to wake my grandma up from her slumber. I could spot her in bed already sound asleep. I quietly closed the door behind me as I still watched her. I removed my hood and shoes at the door so I could go put the bread up and get ready for bed.
When the bread was in the pantry I left towards my room to go put on my gown. As I changed from the clothes I wore today I could hear a loud howl from outside. I felt my heart stop for a quick second for me to hurriedly get into my gown and get under the sheets so the monster won't know that I'm awake. It could be a normal wolf, but I can't second guess what might be lurking out in the night. I just closed my eyes hoping that everybody would be safe tonight!
Thank you for reading the first chapter of Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf!