I lay under a tree. It was blackened, and dead. Snow was starting to fall lightly, coating the ground and trees with snow. Oddly, the view was anything but beautiful. It was depressing. The sky was dark and starless, and the crooked trees gave the forest an eerie feeling. A chill ran up my spine, but not from the cold. My fur was standing on end.
This place, this forest , was terrible, but it was my home. I belonged here anyway. I was a monster, at least according to humans. I stood up and let out a loud sigh. I trudged back to my cave. Cave? It was more like a cage…A trap. It was dark, dusty, and smelled of rotting carcasses. I slipped inside, and was greeted by my lover.
“What is it, babe?” She asked, running her fingers through my tangled fur.
I shook her off of me, and sighed. “It is nothing important.” I whispered. “I have just been thinking about my life. At least I have you.”
“Yeah…” she whispered, her silvery fur reflecting the moonlight. “At least you have me…”
I looked at her curiously. I did not like the tone in her voice. It was sorrowful, and indicated something was wrong.
“What is wrong?” I asked her, clinging to her arm.
She looked me in the eye and let out a sigh. “Artemis…” She said. “I have to tell you something…”
I felt my grip tighten, and relaxed it.
“Artie…I’ve been seeing another wolf. I’m sorry, but I’m leaving.” She admitted, looking away from me.
I let go of her arm, and tried to keep myself from fainting.
“I’m sorry…” she said apologetically. “I know this must be unexpected…”
I held back my pain. “As unexpected as hair in soup…” I said.
She held out her hand to comfort me, but I turned away. That was when I caught it. A scent. An unmistakable scent. The scent of another male wolf.
“Go…” I growled. “Just go!”
She turned away and walked quickly out the door. I watched her until she was gone. Out of sight. Why? I thought miserably. Why would she leave? I sat with my back to the wall, crying quietly under my breath. I let out a small cry and walked out the door of the cave. I had to get out of there. His scent was everywhere. The wind whipped at my fur and froze my tears, but I was happy to be out of that hell-hole.
I walked down towards the pathway, lost in my own pathetic thoughts. It was not until I saw a flash of brilliant red that I turned to pay attention. I ran and hid myself behind a nearby tree, and focused on the colour. I stared at what awaited me. What caught my attention was a sheer cloak, red as blood. What made me keep looking was what was under it. A girl, with hair black as death and skin white as snow. Her lips were the same colour as her cloak, and her eyes…Her eyes. They seemed to look past the stars, with their dazzling green a reminder of a forest much more beautiful than this one. It tried to trigger memories long since forgotten in my memory.
“I think I will call you Red…” I said. “My little Red.”
