The adventures of Red

Chapter 6: processing

Red starts to walk to the left as if she was going to walk home when all of a sudden she feels Zeke grab ahold of her elbow.
In a calming voice he say, " Red, please stop and talk to me. I am going through this with you."
"I just don't even, I can't even, it's just too much." Red stutters.
"Well I kind of understand what you are saying, full sentences would be helpful. But I can tell you I know how you are feeling. This whole situation is insane." Zeke says trying to calm Red. " At least walk with me please I want to show you something, plus if you go that way you'll fall into the stream."
Zeke grabs Red's hand and places it in the bend of his arm and starts to lead her through the woods. They walked in silence for hours just trying to wrap their minds around all of the information they have just received to day. Neither one of them really knew how long that had been walking,but by this time the sky was turning from black to blue so Zeke knew the sun would be coming up soon. Looking down at Red he asks, "Are you ready to talk?"
"Yeah, I think so." Red almost whispers.
"Ok, right this way." Zeke said leading Red to an opening in the woods. When they get passed the trees Red sees this big pond sitting there with Trees surrounding it from every direction. It is so quiet and peaceful, she was in awe.
"Wow this is beautiful." Red says.
"It's natures way of calming us." Zeke replies sitting on the grass.
"I can't believe I never knew all of this was out here in the woods" Red says in disbelief.
"All of this Red? Are you referring to the pond, or are you referring to me?"Zeke asked.
"All of it Zeke, you, your mom, our grandfathers, Granny, my mom's involvement, the cottage, the pond. I feel like a whole world has been hidden from me Zeke. It is all so overwhelming. I almost can't believe it's all real. Then they bring me out here to tell me they wolf man I just met today I am suppose to marry. What are they thinking?" Red rants.
"Wolf man? Should I be offended by that?" Zeke asks trying to lighten the mood.
"Stop joking Zeke, I'm so overwhelmed I don't even know how to process all of this. How are you just able to joke about it?" Red asks.
"I'm sorry Red. I guess I really didn't understand what you were feeling. I didn't think about the fact that you never knew anything about us. I have always known about the humans. I am fighting with the fact my Grandfather always talked so awful of the humans and to find out his best friend was human. I do have a question for you though." Zeke says with the moon lighting up his eyes.
"I will try to answer you question Zeke but please keep in mind, that my mind is pretty much blown at this point." Red responds.
"Well before all of this insanity tonight. Did you feel the spark Granny was talking about?" Zeke asked.
"To be honest Zeke, by the time Granny and Momma drug me out here to the woods I was still trying to process our day. I was trying to figure out how I felt about things. I mean there was definitely a connection with you the moment we met in the woods. But I'm 16 how am I suppose to know if there is a spark in one day. I mean I change my outfit twenty times before I find the one I want to wear for the day." Red kind of giggles.
"Ok then hear me out ok?" Zeke asks.
"Ok Zeke, what are you thinking?" Red asks.
"Forget all of this insanity tonight. I know before you say it that is going to be really difficult, but look at it as a dream if you have too. Then we, Zeke  motions his hands between the two of them indicating the two of them, just let things flow naturally. I really feel like we can be great friends. If we just stop our families from butting in." Zeke explains.
Red sat there thinking about Zeke said. After a few moments Zeke  said, "Oh look Red, the sun is coming up."
Red snuggles up into his chest as the beautiful morning light reflects off the pond. She felt a certain kind of peace sitting there enjoying the sun rise with Zeke. They sat there just like that, both trying to figure out how to put yesterday's events behind them. Red yawns, and Zeke looks down at her. "Come on Red let's get you home."he says ashes standing up from where he was sitting next to Red in the grass. He reaches down to help her stand up. They walked for a few moments before Red recognized where they were.
"Umm, Zeke? How is this even possible we walked for hours last night and now it only took five minutes to get back to the trail?
With a giggle Zeke says, "I walked you in big circles last night. I figured that you needed the fresh air and quiet to think. Which house do you want to go to?" Zeke asks trying to figure out which way they needed to go.
Red pulls her phone from her pocket to see them time, and her phone had died sometime through the night.
"Home, I should probably charge my phone and get a shower." Red says.
"Red I do have a question." Zeke says
"What's that Zeke?" Red asks
"Are you still wanting to hang out in the woods today?" He asks.
"Of course Zeke. I just really need a nap, so that way next time I know you aren't just walking me in circles." Red says with a giggle.
"Oh wow was that an actual laugh, hum must of done something right." Zeke says with a grin.
As they reach the back door Red says, "Let's stick to our normal plan that should be plenty of a nap."
"Ok, I will see you then." Zeke says with that same grin.
As Zeke walks back into the woods, Red turns and walks in the back door. As Red enters the kitchen she sees Momma sitting at the table drinking coffee.
"Hey Kiddo can we talk?" Grace asks.
"Can I have coffee first?" Red asked.
"Sure babe, it's been a long night." Grace answered with a comforting smile.
Red quietly but quickly makes herself a cup of coffee while sitting down at the table to talk to Momma."
"Look red I know that was a lot to take in last night, however you and Zeke both need to know the plan." Grace explains.
"Mama I don't mean to be rude, but I am only 16. How could you have already planned my whole life out like that but keep this whole other world from me?" Red asks determined for an answer.
"I know it seems strange but the only reason they feel like strangers is because once he turn four his wolf like features began to show. They were at the house one day when Daddy came home on leave home on leave he took one look at Ziques little wolf ears and he just couldn't accept them. He tried for a while but he had heard stories about Papa. It was too late. Grace explains.
"I don't understand how Penelope was your best friend. She obviously has wolf-like ears as well." Red argues, "plus on top of that how could you just walk away from your best friend like that?
"You're right that is true she does but when she leaves the woods she hides them. But Zeke's transformation as a boy wolf happened so quickly we could not hide it. There is still a lot more you don't know honey but please don't be like your dad and shut off from reality every myth and every fable came from somewhere and they have been told for as long as time." Grace says. Seeing all of the wheels turning in Red's her head Grace  says. "Go get some sleep kiddo it's almost 8 o'clock and I need to get headed to work Grace says kissing red lightly on the four head. "I will see you for dinner. I love you" Grace shouts almost running out the door. "
"Love you too," Red says rolling her eyes as she stands up from the table. Red walks into her room and hangs her cloak on the back of her chair and she sits down to take her boots off. Red tiredly stands up and walks over to the bed like a zombie and just falls right into her bed, quickly drifting off to sleep.