Twisted Fairytales

Little Red and the Huntsman (AU)

Once upon a time, there was a strange boy living in our quaint little village near the forest. He would always wear the same red cloak his Grandma had knitted for his adventures, the one that lapped over his ankles and concealed his face from the rest of the world. I had always thought that he was rather special, but I don't think I really understood how special until I saw it for myself.

One fine morning, I saw this "riding hood" walking along with a flimsy picnic blanket, so I figured he was most likely on his way to his grandmother's house again, per his mother's request and strict warning. I know this forest very well, and I'll have you know that it is far less dangerous than people say. After watching the boy's route so many times before, I had concluded that he enjoyed taking the scenic route rather than the shortcut by the house of the "crazy stalker boy" that the other villagers feared so much. (I personally don't take offense to it, but I find it funny that one could be so oblivious to my true nature.)

While he was distracted by the lavender patch, I made a break for the old cabin just beyond the moldy bridge. Along the way, I remembered the stalk of his favorite purple plant that I had plucked from the patch earlier and clumsily tucked it behind my ear, just for good luck. Once I arrived at the cabin, his grandma Eunice was waiting for me, equipped with all of the items I had requested for my inevitable stakeout.

"You watching carefully over my little Red, boy?" she asked. She, too, had her suspicions, and she worried that one day, her grandson's odd tendencies would be the death of her.

"Don't worry," I assured her. "He probably misses you very much and just wants to eat with you."

"Very well," she said, handing me the gear as well as the homemade apple pie she had promised me in exchange for my work. "This should help you, my good huntsman."

"I'll be careful."

With that, I promptly went outside and made preparations for the worst. I had everything I could need- a camera, binoculars, a ghost hunting kit, you name it. It might have been a bit much in hindsight, but I truly didn't know what to expect. After putting on her lucky sleeping cap for good measure, the kind granny went back to work on her knitting, as she always does.

A few minutes later, we heard a knock on the door.

Showtime.

Eunice threw her knitting needles aside and pulled the wool blankets over her eyes. "Who is it?" she called out. Then, a voice.

"Your favorite grandson?"

"Oh yes, my dear! Do come in!"

When Red entered the cabin, he left his cloak to hang by the door. With my trusty axe at the ready, only then did I remember that I had never actually seen him like this before and was quite new to his natural beauty. I may have felt a bit jittery at the sight, but his grandmother, on the other hand, reeled back in a pure panic only I could pick up on.

"I know it's been a long time, sweetie, but my, you've changed!" The grandmother beckoned Red to the bed to take a closer look. "Aren't you growing up to be such a big boy?"

"Why, yes, of course." A low growl escaped the boy's mouth, and he almost immediately bit his tongue.

"Is everything alright?" Eunice continued. "You sound unwell."

Wisps of golden brown hair stuck to Red's sweaty forehead and he looked... guilty, for whatever reason. "Well, you know, Grandma... allergy season is no joke." Red added a slight sneeze at the end to sound convincing, but now the superhero cape was off, I could see right through his sweet façade.

"Well, what big ears you have now!" the grandmother replied. "No wonder you wear your old Grandma's cloak around all day!"

Now, I don't have pointy ears myself, but I know for a fact that ears in general are a touchy subject for practically anyone nowadays. Red just played along with Eunice's forward remark, reaching back to nervously itch at his neck. "All the better to hear you with, Grandma."

"And what big eyes you have! Just like your mother."

I know that I had told Eunice to stall and all that, but I couldn't help but agree with her there. Even from outside, I could see those flickering yellow eyes shining through like magic stars. In fact, I was so mesmerized that I almost didn't catch his smile. I actually had to blink a few times in order to confirm that I was actually seeing fangs.

"All the better to see you with, Grandma." Red placed the basket down on the bed beside him to bite his growing nails frantically- hungrily, even.

"But, Red! What big teeth you have!" Eunice looked out of her window- right at me. "Why, you could win over any good huntsman with that smile."

I suppose she was slightly accurate with that assumption as well. He is the kind of boy to make you forget about all of the hefty preparations you've made and just run... literally. Before I could completely lose track of time and space, I came to my senses and rushed into the house to watch as the boy literally shapeshifted into a wolf before my eyes. I, unfortunately, was equipped with none of the items I had requested for my stakeout. I was quite literally just standing there.

I saw him towering Eunice, but I also saw her knitting needles at the ready on the nightstand. I just had to hope he was too distracted to sense me coming from behind.

"All the better to eat you with, Grandma."

I had a hunch that Eunice's sleeping cap wouldn't make for good protection against werewolves, so I then grabbed a hold of him suddenly and stabbed him in the back. He paused for a moment, then crashed to the ground with a loud, cold thump. Distraught and overwhelmed, I sank to my knees next to him, shamefully burrowing my face in my hands.

"Do not panic, my good huntsman." Eunice smiled and rose slowly from the bed so as not to aggravate the boy and gave me a firm pat on the back. "The needles weren't silver. He will be okay."

Then she suggested that I prepare some lavender tea for Red once he finally woke up. I figured that it was best to agree with her.

♡