Red and The Wolf

The forest didn’t whisper tonight as it usually did. On this calm night came the foot steps of dear old Red. Far in the distance atop the hill smoke brewing towards the sky.

“There she is.” Red quietly carrying her basket, quickly taking another look inside, seems all good to her. A breath leaving her and sail away. Making way towards the forest of the heavy cold. Embers in the distance raising her spirits towards grandmother’s house.

Towns people yammering within each step as bits of snow bite her ankles. The silent whisper making Red a slight unease. Pausing for a glance only seeing a forest at rest, though burning. As the towns people warning blur down into the frost.

Pushing on, clutching her basket as her breath became shallow. Staring down mere inches of a paw, deep impression, tear drops of red ink buried in the center. Bending down, fingers hovering feeling heat rise up. “Whom might you be?” A wicked thought plays within her mind, a phantom musk raining down her neck. Almost reaching inside basket, breaking back into the forest as silence returns. “This night will be promising as ever.” Pursuing on as the howling cold whips against her face.

Hollow breathes entering quicker and quicker through Red’s cloak. The basket weighs heavy in hand, icy grip, traces of the frost biting her flesh. She finds a tree baring her rest, eyes burring down under the night sky watching flurries land on her face. In the far distance staring at a far lit house, warm and warding off the winter moon.

“Almost there grandmother.” Grandmother’s fire licking her palms. The fresh smell of pastries entering. Aroma of flavors taking her away the world she lived in all her life. Grandmother’s warm embrace taking her away from the winter cold.

Only now staring at Grandmother does she notice something different. Red staring into hellion state of her Grandmother. “Grandmother, what big eyes you have?” A hazel ember hue spurs into her eyes, lusting after her own granddaughter.

“Better to see you with my dear.”

Grandmother pulls her hair back, only strands poking through her ear.

“Grandmother what big ears you have.”

Grandmother’s eyes glee. “The better to hear you with my dear.” Her lips pull back, turning white, pearly white fangs revealing themselves in a hellion smile.

“Grandmother, what big teeth you have.”

Grandmother locks her fingers on Red’s arms. “The better to eat with you my dear.” Teeth sinking down within her flesh.

Red waking up back into the forest, fresh white blanket covering her red cloak. Brushing frost off her lashes, hearing limps crack pushing off the tree. Falling down, hard on her knees, hands sinking within the fresh blanket. Raising her head as a light shrill escapes her.

Gathering herself slowly up, fingers trying to loop into a grip. “Almost there.” A whisper, enough to speak through the night. Edging through the snow up to Grandmother’s house. A thought occurs harsher than the cold eating at the numbing pain. A howl hasn’t entered since her fall under the tree.

A soft growl enters the midnight forest. Red turning around seeing what everyone has told her. Hot musk hitting her in a wave and thoughts of cold fade. Staring down at the hirsute wolf, watching an ember hue glow, through it’s ashen fur.

Red holding her resolve, eyes leveling with the wolf, fumbling in the basket knowing it’s still there.

The wolf flares, barking, like thunder cracking wood. Tail shifting, whipping air to ward away the snow.

Red lost within the wolf’s hue finds them entering a wave consuming her, taking away the forest around her.

Both staring at the other neither moving in the night. Red pulling out a glistening blade. Steam rises off the wolf reaching up through the trees, shaving snow off their branches.

“You’re finally here.”

Neither made a sound not even when the light to Grandmother’s went out.