The Castle of Dreams

- 7 - Following the Wolf's Tail

Rebecca was freaking out from the moment Wiley had woken her up this morning. But now? Ha, now she was hysterical. Both Wiley and Peyton had just dissapeared and left Rebecca all alone in the woods, in the middle of the night, following a wolf. What in the world was she going to do? She had no idea where the boys had gone, no idea where she was, no idea why she was there, and absouletly no idea why she was following a wolf somewhere. Rebecca panicked when she turned around to find the boys long gone. "Peyton! Wiley! Guys? Where are you??" She asked. The wolf howled again and Rebecca jumped and found herself on her knees. 'Oh my goodness, I am gonna die.' She thought to herself. Then she remembered what the boys had said before they had mysteriously dissapeared. The wolf could very possibly be leading Rebecca right towards Beckett. So, should she follow the wolf and hope she was getting closer to one of her friends or go in the only direction the two friends she had already found had gone in with hopes of finding them? Rebecca looked around the dark forest she was in and tried to think how much longer it was until sunrise. She had no idea, but she decided that she would follow the wolf. Rebecca didn't want to follow the wolf at all but Wiley and Peyton could handle themselves alone in the woods, Rebecca hated being alone but she figured following the wolf would be her best shot. The wolf would either track down a village where she could stay until her friends found her or better yet Beckett. So, she stood up and listened to the sounds of the forest for a moment. When the wolf howled again Rebecca followed the sound.

Just as the first few rays of sunlight began to shine down upon her Rebecca stumbled upon a small village that was just waking up for the day. Forgetting about the wolf, Rebecca pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders and gripped her basket as she walked around the village. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until she smelled the fresh bread coming from the bakery. Rebecca followed her nose over to the shop and saw the baker standing outside trying to sell his bread to the villagers walking by his cart. "Um, excuse me sir. But may I have a loaf of bread please?" Rebecca asked politely pulling a coin out of the small pouch she had in her basket. "Why of course, madam." The baker said taking the coin Rebecca was offering. His eyes widened in suprise and he looked at Rebecca curiosly. "Uh, is something wrong?" Rebecca asked the Baker. The baker shook his head. "Oh no, do you have something to hold the bread in?" He asked. Rebecca nodded and set her basket on the flat top surface of the cart. The baker dumped his entire tray of samples into the basket and then a tray full of loaves of bread, muffins and even cookies, that a young girl about Rebecca's age had just brought out from the shop. Both Rebecca and the other girl stared at the baker as he continued dumping pastries and breads into the basket. "All I wanted was a loaf of bread." Rebecca said. The baker looked up at her. "Yes, but I am giving you what you payed for." He said. Rebecca glanced at the girl confused but saw the girl staring at her. "I'll be right back to get more bread." The baker said and turned around and ran back into the shop. The young girl walked over to the cart. "Uh, sorry for staring. It's just your cape...red, does that by any chance make you little red riding hood??" She asked. Rebecca stared at the girl. "I think so. I'm actually looking for my fri-"

"Bucket?"

"Beckett. But yes, do you know him? Is he here?"

"Yes, he's here. But h-" the girl was cut off as a yell cut through the air. Rebecca immediately turned to the big hill. "Beckett!" She exclaimed. Turning back to the girl, she grabbed her basket off of the counter. "Tell the baker thank you for the bread." Rebecca said as she turned around and began walking towards the hill. "Wait! There's no wolf. There never is, don't fall for his trick!" The baker called coming back out of the shop. Rebecca turned to face him. "The story might say there's no wolf but I followed a wolf here, and that's my best friend up there, I have to help him. Thank you for the bread!" Rebecca said turning and running towards the hill with the baker calling after her and the girl just staring after her. Rebecca ran up the hill as fast as she could and froze when she got to the top. Not only was there a wolf, but there were dead sheep laying everywhere, and by one of the corners of the sheep's pen the wolf had Beckett cornered. Rebecca was terrified she couldn't help Beckett, what was she going to do against a wolf? "Hey you Big bad wolf!" Rebecca found herself yelling anyways. Both the wolf and Beckett looked over at Rebecca as if surprised to find someone standing there. "Rebecca?" Beckett asked softly. The wolf scratched at Beckett and then stalked towards Rebecca. Rebecca panicked. She wanted to run over to Beckett who was now hurt but on the other hand she wanted to run back down the hill. But she couldn't do either of those things at the moment. Slowly, Rebecca reached into her basket and grabbed something small and held it out in front of her. The wolf stalked closer and Rebecca squeaked. "Here, fetch!" She said turning quickly and throwing the muffin down the hill. The wolf rushed past her pushing her to the ground. Rebecca took a huge deep breath. She hadn't thought that would actually work but it did and she had saved herself and Beckett, well for now at least. "Rebecca?" Beckett asked. Rebecca's head snapped up and found Beckett right where the wolf had left him, she jumped to her feet and ran over to him. "Beckett! Oh my goodness gracious, are you alright?!?" She exclaimed examining the long scratch the wolf had made on Beckett's arm. Rebecca turned to her basket and tried to find the small first aid kit she knew was in there somewhere. "H-how did you find me?" Beckett asked never looking away from Rebecca's face. She looked even more beautiful without her glasses on, how that was even possible Beckett didn't know. "Why aren't you wearing your glasses?" He asked. Rebecca finally located the first aid kit. "Aha! I found it, and well I don't know but I don't seem to need them anymore." Rebecca said opening the small kit. She pulled out some bandage wrap and a small disinfectant wipe. "What do you mean you dont need them anymore? You've needed them since kindergarten!" Beckett said. Rebecca nodded and opened the wipe. "I know, it doesn't make sense but then again what does make sense anymore?" She said wiping the blood from the cut. Beckett winced when the cold wipe touched his cut. "Sorry!!!" Rebecca said.