The Flame and the Wolf

I storm out of our cottage into the cold, snowy air. Even the harsh winters of Alynthia are better than listening to my mother's rubbish tales of how Red Riding Hood saved her ageing granny so heroically.

Little Red was witless in my opinion. If she had any sense at all, she would've been smart in her plans to save her Granny.

I trekked through the snow thinking that I could solve Red's problem so much more intelligently.

"Alyria Shade," I hear being called. I spin around and find that no one is there.

I shiver as I hear the breeze whisper, "We are the wind, Alyria, and we've come to offer you a challenge. You boast a better mind than dear Little Red? Well, we grant you the chance to prove that," the wind bellows as a single match materializes from the breeze of the wind.

I simply stare at the match thinking how mad this is when the wind declares, "Complete your quest in time you must, or life will end in a chilling gust. This is simply what we ask, for burning the match is a dangerous task."

The ominous words send a shiver down my spine but I find that I'm reaching for the match. I take hold of it as it bursts into flames and I feel an intense magical energy flowing through me.

I'm suddenly standing in a dark forest with a pathway leading through it. I look down and notice red. A red cape and a red woven basket with pastry inside.

I am Red Riding Hood.

A shrill AWOO wakes me from my daze as I spot a huge, grey creature in the line of trees: the wolf.

As fast as I can, I sprint down the pathway, fear controlling my feet. All I hear is a snarl as a heavy weight pins me to the floor from behind. I throw my basket as far as I can and rise to race further down the path as the wolf pounces on the basket.

My legs, as tired as they are, don't stop moving until I see a small cottage: granny's house. I dart into the house when I feel a bolt of pain through my left arm. I screech in terror as I see the bloody claw mark down my shoulder and finally realize the reality of this.

The wind said I had to complete my quest to return home. That means that I must save Granny.

I race into Granny's room and immediately notice that something is wrong. The wind blows ominously through the window and Granny is not in her bed.

I turn to the dark corner of the room. 'Oh grandma, what large teeth you have,' I think, as I see the blood-dripping teeth of the wolf right in front of my eyes.

I feel a chilling gust of wind and see a burnt-out matchstick lying on the ground before the world goes dark.