In The Company of Little Red

                                                      In The Company of Little Red

                                                By Sarah Southwick

        In the woods, I lived as half man, half wolf abiding by the rules that the other wolves have given me. My father was a werewolf who left a human girl he thought he loved at the altar. He returned a year later to check on her but to his surprise, her new husband killed him, and then the girl and her new husband threw his body into the lake. I was born by a werewolf woman my father got with because it was more natural, I guess, to be with another werewolf than a human. She was also killed by a human. I was told humans were killers, just look at what they did to my father and mother!

So I lived with anger in my heart because of it. I lived in the deep darkness of the woods with the other werewolves. We would prey on the humans that would wander into the woods, killing them to get revenge for the pack members they murdered. I always thought, why would my father even want to fall for a human? The thought filled me with anger towards my father.

 I had to go for a run to let go of this anger but suddenly I heard something on a path that many men took to gather wood. No, it didn’t sound like a man at all, rather, a soft pitter patter of footsteps along the forest floor. I moved a little closer and saw a girl. She wasn’t just any girl. She was the most beautiful girl. She had a glowing braid, covered by a red hood that seemed to be attached to a bright red coat. She carried a basket in one hand and let her other hand fall graciously to her side. She was nothing like the ugly men I would see, marching along the path with their axes and musty scent. I tried to get a closer to make out more of her beauty but stepped on a twig which snapped. She stopped and looked around. I could see she pulled out a knife and was prepared to lash out at anything. Her eyes widened as she fearfully observed her surroundings. I stepped out of the shadows and smiled sincerely, hoping she would take my passive greeting. She looked at me with bright blue eyes and smiled back which surprised me.

“Hi,” she greeted me.

“Hi,” I answered back, “where are you headed in this cold day?”

“I am off to see my grandma and bring her the goodies I baked! She lives in the cabin just past these woods.” I paused and looked at her hand still tightly gripping her knife in her red coat pocket.

“Oh I have seen that cabin and it’s still quite a bit of walk. Aren’t you scared of wolves here in these woods?” I asked.

“No, not at all,” she said with a stern voice, “I am prepared!” She pulled out her knife and twirled it in her long fingers. “See?” She said

I chuckled a little knowing that the little 2 inch would merely tickle a wolf.

“What?!” she yelled.

“Oh, nothing,” I said as I stood there, admiring her beauty. I couldn’t believe how beautiful she was and how skewed my vision and thoughts were about humans and their evil ways. We headed towards her grandmother’s cabin and talked and laughed like we were old friends. I offered to carry her basket and she gave it to me with a smile. As the night grew darker, it got colder. I looked at her and saw she was shivering and holding on to her coat tightly.

“Hey, I know a short cut to your grandmas but it requires us getting of this trial for a bit.” She paused and looked at me with weary eyes.

“Oh, no thanks, I was told to never get off the path,” she said.

“But it will take you half the time and the night is only going to get colder.”

“No, I am ok” she answered.

“I can get to your grandma’s faster my way!”  I urged.

“Is that a bet?” she asked.

“Want to make it a game?” I insisted.

“Okay,” she replied.

“What happens if I win?” I asked. “What do I get?”

“A kiss,” she smiled and blushed. My eyes widened and a smile grew on my face. I wondered to myself how it would feel to kiss a beautiful girl like her.

“You’re on!” I said and trailed off. The short cut took me right to the cabin and I looked around fiercely to see if she was there. She was not and I was ecstatic! It was oddly bright around the woods and I looked around to find the light source. I looked up and noticed a full moon.

“Oh no!” I yelled. I could feel my transformation starting. My consciousness started fading. I have not yet learned how to properly control my wolf powers.  

“Who is there,” her grandmother yelled.

“Your granddaughter.” My wolf for answered as I slipped out of consciousness. Now my body is in full control by the wolf.

“Oh come in, my daring” the little old lady said generously. I walked into the old lady’s cabin. She took one look at me and glanced at the basket of her granddaughters. Her eyes widened as she yelled, “you evil wolf, what have you done with her!!!!!”

 My wolf-self was out of control and soon, the old lady became my dinner. I wrapped her bones up in the bed sheets and put them under the bed, I found new sheets to put on the bed, and then I heard a knock at the door. Still in my wolf form, the beautiful girl walked in and saw me. She suddenly turned pale and I thought she was surely going to reach for her knife but I was mistaken. She stared at me, confused, and then finally said “it’s you, isn’t it?”

Hearing her calm voice, I was able to clear my conscience and replied “yes.”

“Where is my grandma…?” I said.

“It’s only us two in the house...” I whispered as the moon fell behind the clouds. My human form came back and I looked at her and she was no longer afraid. She took off her red coat and walked up to me.

“What big arms you have.” She said.

“All the better to hug you with,” I replied with a smile holding her in my arms. She reached up and gave me the kiss she owed me.

“What big teeth you have.” She smiled.

“All the better to eat you with,” I sarcastically remarked. She laughed and I laughed along with her. In the moment I felt what love was and I could see why my father fell in love with a human girl but in my heart, I would never leave this girl like my father did. I was truly happy right here holding her.

Never Give Up

          Dorian was walking across the river, it was deep and swifter than he had expected. It was difficult crossing but not as difficult as his life had been these past few hours. His mind had wandered to his one true love, he had to get back to her. His life had taken him far away, down a strange path. He’ll never forget the day that he woke up and found himself being looked upon by those strange beings. He didn’t know where he was or how he got there.

          When Dorian woke up he asked questions like “where am I?” and “how did I get here?” These strange beings did not answer but somehow it was in his head, he knew what they thought. He was there for a clear purpose. Images flooded his mind of strong Well-To-Do men. The men were evil. They had to be stopped. Dorian didn’t know what to do but he knew he must do something. The next set of images came, they were of other strange beings. These beings were bad, they were going to try and stop him. With all of these thoughts whirling in his mind, one thing became clear. Dorian knew he had to get back to his family to protect them.

          The next thing Dorian knew, he was looking in the mirror at a different person. He knew it was him but the image that he saw was clearly not his image. What had happened to him? Did those strange beings change his appearance? Where was he? How did he get there? Why is he there? So many questions were running through Dorian’s mind and he did not have one answer. He knew the first thing he had to do was find out where he was. So he turned and walked out of the room.

          To Dorian’s surprise he realized he was at his friend Markus’s house. Markus was the one person in this whole work that Dorian knew he could trust. But where was he? All of a sudden, Dorian heard a familiar voice and soon came to realize that it was Markus’s voice. Dorian decided since his image has changed he may not want to approach Markus so he eavesdropped on the conversation instead. The first thing he heard Markus say was “I don’t know who this is in my house or where he came from”. The strange voice replied “This man is your enemy, he must die or he will harm you”. Hearing this, Dorian began to panic and decided that since his home was only across the river he should leave at this very moment and not count on his dear friends help.

          Half way across the river, a plan began to come to Dorian. He knew that since his looks had changed his wife would not know who he was. There must be a way that he could prove who he was to her since his image could not. Suddenly Dorian was pulled under water with such force that he could not break free. Under water, Dorian struggled to gain composure. Holding his breath, he slowly opened his eyes and almost inhaled with panic when he realized one of the beings from his abduction was wrapped around his leg drawing him downward. The evil green being smiled widely up at him. Just when Dorian thought his time came to an end a bright light shined from up above. A red being sliced through the water, severing the arms of the green being and quickly his smile disappeared. Dorian swam upward with all the strength that he had left. As Dorian emerged violently through the surface of the water, he inhaled deeper than he ever has before and thanked the red being that he was alive. Dorian slowly crawled from the water onto the dry land. Dorian then lost consciousness.

          Gabriella sat at home wondering what had become of Dorian. Three days ago he left to go get eggs from the store and he never returned. Gabriella filed a missing persons report earlier this morning. The police had put out an all-points- bulletin. The local news station had picked up the story and plastered Dorian’s face all over the place. Since that time, many strong Well-To-Do men had come to Gabriella with the intention of replacing her Dorian. This had become so tedious for her that Gabriella announced on the news to all of them. Her speech stated that if they wished to replace Dorian they would have to show that they were the most selfless man.  They must all come to her home today at 8pm.

          When Dorian gained consciousness he was lying on a dirty, little couch in a room that smelled of moth-balls. A television blared with the voice of his wife. As he began to make out the words, he realized she was trying to replace him. Dorian quickly got up to see what time it was. The clock read 7:00pm. But where the hell was he and how far from home was he? Dorian turned around because he heard a shrill cackle and a little old lady coughed and hacked as she laughed at the befuddled look on his face. Right before his eyes she transformed into a red being and thoughts entered his mind that he was only forty five minutes from home. Dorian knew exactly where he was and left immediately.

          As Dorian approached his home, he realized that not only did he not look the same, but he also was not one of the strong Well-To-Do men. How would he gain access to this event? Dorian sneaks behind a Well-To-Do man, knocks him out, and then steals his ID. Once inside, he notices that all of the men who were images put in his mind by the beings were here. This was Dorian’s chance to not only win back his love but also eliminate the strong Well-To-Do men.

          The first man steps up to Gabriella and states “I have just given all of my wealth to the orphans in Africa to prove how selfless I can be to win you over”. Gabriella laughs and shouts “NEXT!” The next man steps up and says “I bought a zoo and will let everyone in for free to prove how selfless I can be”. Gabriella laughs out the word “next”. The third man, looking very intimidating, approaches Gabriella carrying a large rifle. He says “I will use my rifle to hunt down rabbits and chickens and feed everyone in the world.” Gabriella laughs so hysterically that she begins to cry. This man is so embarrassed and humiliated that he becomes very angry. He lifts his rifle and points it at her. As he pulls the trigger, Gabriella realizes that she will die. A split second before the bullet gets to her, a man dives in front of her, taking the bullet square in the chest. He falls to the ground, Gabriella goes down to him and says “that was the most selfless thing I have ever seen”. You are the only one I can truly love”. As the last word escapes her lips, and the last breathe escapes his, his image changes back to that of her husband, Dorian. Out of nowhere, a red being appears and a brilliant light is cast upon Dorian’s dead body. Moments later, his body arches and with a great inhale of air, Dorian is alive again. Each of the strong Well-To-Do men break down and cry. These men realize the evil they have done and change their ways. The red being recognizes this and tells Dorian “your task is complete”.

A Woman in the Company of Wolves

Four years, four years of searching and hoping against hope to find his baby girl.  There was not much left of his dear mother, whom his youngest child had gone off to see, but other than some charred clothing, his daughter was nowhere to be found.  Paw prints outside the home led many to believe wolves had a part to play, that they must have taken his beautiful daughter.  But as the days turned to weeks, the weeks to months, and now the months to years, many say it is time to accept that his little girl is gone forever.  However, a father’s love can go on forever, and with each hunt, he prayed he’d find her.  This particular hunt was different, it had been a very heavy snow laden winter and the sudden heat wave had caused massive flooding.  The once white covered forest floor was now muddy, leaving deep indentations in the ground with every step.  

Proceeding carefully, he came upon some tracks; multiple tracks of wolves, yet one set of tracks among them looked human.  The tracks headed up towards the mountains, but where did they originate?  Following the tracks backwards he came upon a small opening, a cave.  Cautiously he stepped into the cave, his feet meeting water.  Clearly the melting snow had flooded the cave, forcing the wolves to leave, but what of the human tracks that was in their company.  Carefully he began searching the cave, not much appeared to be there, but as he turned to leave discouraged, something caught his eye, something red.   

Floating in the water was a small crudely made book.  The binding was red string, its front and back a leather animal hide, and keeping it tied shut, a red ribbon.  He caressed the ribbon, the color reminded him of his daughter, it was her favorite color.  Pulling the ribbon he untied it and gently opened the now heavily water damaged book.  It was a diary, the words bled into each other making many pages illegible, but some sentences were clear enough to see.  The first page made his heart leap in his chest. 

It was her hand writing, she was alive, the wolves had taken her.  The remainder of the page was too damaged to read so he began flipping through the pages, finally some more writing could be made out.

People were close by, why didn’t she call out for help?  A few pages further in a line stands out, he reads it, then reads it again, confused.

Expecting, expecting what? Why is she excited about this?  His breathing hastens as he furiously flips through the pages for the answer.

She had children with a wolf.  He leans against the wall of the cave, not sure whether to be glad to find out his daughter is alive and that he is a grandfather or enraged that she appears to be willingly remaining with the wolf and bearing him children.  Unsure if he should continue reading he slowly starts flipping the pages, but page after page seems to be destroyed.  Since the diary was floating face up, majority of the back pages had been submerged.  A small sentence seems to have survived the long submersion.

She’s been gone 4 years, if they are 3 years old, then it was not too long after her disappearance that she conceived.  The book slips from his hands, landing open in the water.  As it sinks down three words catch his eyes and he realizes that his little girl is gone and all that remains is a woman in the company of wolves.