Red Riding Hood

The Beginning

Preferring the woods to the village, especially on a full moon night, William lurked in the shadows of the snow-covered forest. He smirked as the deer sensed him and fled the area. Smart deer. From somewhere nearby a lone wolf's howl interrupted the quiet of the night which made him pause. Listening, he recognized it as one of his kind, a wolf shifter, rather than one of the wild beasts that shared the forest. It was close, closer than he would have liked tonight, and sure enough the creature soon appeared before him. The air stilled as the creature trembled, a blur of fur and limb that occurred so fast most would not believe what they even saw.  Marcus, his most trusted friend and second in command now stood before him.

"Alpha, I came to find you. A few rogues were found outside the borders by the cottage south of here." His voice was strained; this was not good news.

William knew that cottage. Margaret, a witch and neither friend nor foe lived there. Normally this wouldn't be of interest or importance, only Marcus seemed off - anxious, and it didn't suit his friend at all. The longer they stayed together, the more it rubbed off onto him. There had been a strange air about all night, another reason to hide in the forest where nature would sooth their beasts and soul. 

"I will go check on the witch. Monitor the mutts, and kill them if they enter our land." William's order was final and with nothing else to say, Marcus nodded and shifted back to his wolf.

As a rule the witch stayed out of their business, and they stayed out of hers. If rogues were to hurt the old hag, their unspoken truce could change. William would not dare admit it to the other shifter, there was another reason he'd willingly volunteered to do something he could have sent any of his pack to do. She had something of his, though he didn't doubt that if the witch found out it would be he who needed protecting from her. Never mind the intruders.

He hurried now, slowing only as he neared the cottage. His senses were on high alert, as equally developed in his human form as when he ran as the beast. The rogues had not been close, not yet, and the cottage was as it should be. There was a distinct sourness to the air as he dared to closer, the magic that protected the witches dwelling strong which instantly made him rub his nose. 

Margaret was standing by the window, her own uncertainty regarding how this night would end lingering just on the outskirts of her vision. William saw her as she saw him, which Margaret took as another sign of trouble on its way yet her magic wavered, a free pass of sorts offered as she left her home to greet him halfway. 

"William, it has been some months," she greeted with a slight frown.

Margaret became instantly suspicious as she realized how long it had in fact been since his last visit. Raising her hand William felt the tingle inside his skull knowing she was trying to work out why he had come to her home. He didn't try to block her - not completely. Despite their truce, she had never trusted him. Until now.

"You came to protect me?" She croaked, almost amazed. 

"A witch may be useful to me one day," his voice was low, almost seductive as he didn't hide his wolfish charm. 

Unaffected she only rolled her eyes.

"I will indeed be in your debt. Your visit is well timed. You see my granddaughter is due to visit with me. As the first of the winter snows have arrived she is coming earlier than expected. I received notice that she would be leaving the village on this very afternoon." That meant she should have already arrived and Margaret was clearly alone. "What if they have her?" 

William understood, a tiny coil of fear snaking around his heart as another howl ruined the silence of the night.

"I will find her. I promise you I will allow no harm to befall her." William growled as he shifted, man and beast united.